Cecil Papers: March 1587 | British History Online

Calendar of the Cecil Papers in Hatfield House: Volume 3, 1583-1589. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1889.

Citation:

'Cecil Papers: March 1587', in Calendar of the Cecil Papers in Hatfield House: Volume 3, 1583-1589( London, 1889), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-cecil-papers/vol3/pp234-240 [accessed 28 September 2024].

March 1587



	494. Anthony Todd and Robert Thomas to the Queen.
1586/7, March 1.	For lease in reversion, for their services as gentleman of the chapel, and keeper of the stable.—1 March 1586.
	Note by Dr. Valentine Dale that the Queen grants a lease of 20 l.
	1 p.
	495.—Robert Carvyle to Archibald Douglas
1586/7, Mar. 6.	Has been in Scotland ever since the last of February, and could get no dispatch until Monday the 6th instant, when he received (at the hands of the Secretary who ruleth the Court) a letter from him to Mr. Cary, by the King's warrant, which was to this effect :—
	That the King would receive no Ambassador yet, partly by reason of his heaviness and sorrowing for his mother, and also because he is not resolved that the Queen is so sorry for his mother's death as he was informed she was; and further, because he cannot stay the rigour of his people, who, as he himself can bear witness, are so wickedly bent and evil given, that libels are daily set up in the open street, and cast into the pulpit, both against the King himself, the Master of Gray, Mr. Archibald Douglas, and the preachers. Copies of two of these against the Queen, very odious and detestable, which were set up at his lodging, he sends herewith.
	For all this stir, he finds the Secretary very well inclined towards her Majesty, and in favour of the maintenance of peace and amity, and the King himself also.—Berwick, 6 March 1586.
	1 p.
	496.—Alexander Avenon, and others, to the Queen.
1586/7, Mar. 9.	In the matter of their suit against Sebastian Harvey, son of Sir James Harvey, Mr. Archibald Douglas had procured letters for Harvey's enlargement, detained for resistance of a decree in Chancery. Pray that the cause may be heard by Parliament.
	Endorsed :—9 March 1586.
	[Note by Dr. Dale that the Queen refers the petition to the Lord Treasurer and the Earl of Leicester.]
	1 p.
	497. The Earl of Angus to the “Young Laird of Quhittingsham” [Whittingham].
1586/7, March 12.	Being in doubt whether he should be found at London or in Flanders, he stayed till Whittingham's brother Richard assured him of his abode in London. Looks to see him in this country within twenty days at furthest.—Dalkeith, 12 March 1586.
	P.S.—If there be such a gentleman as Captain Alexander Murray, the speedy runner, at London, desires to be heartily commended to him.
	1 p.
	498. [R. Douglas] to [Archibald Douglas].
1586/7, Mar. 13.	Has waited upon his coming down to Berwick ever since March 3, and marvels at his stay. He and many others beseech him to hasten thither.—Edinburgh, this 13th of March.
1586/7, Mar. 13.	Much damaged. ½ p.
	499. R. Douglas to Archibald Douglas.
1586/7, March 14.	Has this morning spoken with the Secretary at great length, and communicated to him the greater part of his instructions.
	Finds him very well minded in all matters that concern the King's service in this country, and he esteems very well of his lordship's advertisements, and of the course he counsels his Majesty to take for the welfare of his service. Of his lordship himself, however, he has a very hard opinion, saying that he lies heavily burdened with this last matter, and that, if he had not assured that state that his Majesty would not be so grieved therewith, they had not proceeded with her in that fashion : which he says was reported to the King by one to whom his lordship himself declared that his Majesty would not be much grieved therewith.
	Cannot as yet be resolved whether the Secretary will deal with his lordship or not, but he is to accompany him to his Majesty to-morrow, when he will understand both their minds at greater length.
	The King himself keeps his own mind very close, and very few, he thinks, know his resolution; but believes, if his honour might be sure, he could be moved to hearken to reasonable offers.
	The Convention is deferred until the 9th of next month, at which time many suspect some dangerous alterations in this state. The Bishop of Glasgow is rehabilitated, but not of Council, and appointed Agent in France for his Majesty.
	The King is credibly informed from France that the English Ambassador resident there has owned in open Council that there was nothing done in this last execution but by advice of his Majesty, assured to them by his Ambassador in England, wherewith the King is heavily offended, and the suspicion had of his lordship is greatly augmented. Albeit he knows and has affirmed it to be an untruth, yet it will serve much to his lordship's purgation if he will make it evident.—Edinburgh, 14 March 1586.
	Signed :—“Your loving nepveu to do you service, R. Douglas.”
	2½ pp.
	500. R. Douglas to the Laird of Whittingham.
1586/7, Mar. 18.	Informs him of the state of a lawsuit in which he is engaged, and suggesting that, if he is unable to return home, his depositions should be taken by commission.—Whittingham, 18 March 1586.
	Addressed :—“To my loving brother the Laird of Quhittinghame.”
	1 p.
	501. Sir Bobert Melvill to Archibald Douglas.
1586/7, March 20.	I received your writing, whereby I understand that my brother remains at Fotheringham Castle, and the occasion of his stay is that the Queen's Majesty there has been called with her Council since the execution of our King's mother. I wish to God that disagreement had been before in that point, where in my simple opinion should have succeeded better for the weal of both realms and her Majesty's faith. As for my brother, I remit his coming or abiding to her Majesty's discretion. I was appointed to meet Master Carey and the laird of Cowdenknows, and delivered to his Majesty such credit in Court as we received of him. Concerning her Majesty's part, whereof he has received answer by the Secretary, whereas ye are informed that his Majesty has spoken to your disadvantage, the truth is you lack not “unfriends.” And as for that point where you desire me to answer as a friend should for another, I have “usit” myself in that behalf towards you no otherwise than I would be done unto. Albeit it is hard for the present to any friend to satisfy all speeches, the people here are so inflamed. I pray God turn it to better, in whose protection I commit you. Order is taken that hereafter none shall write or receive letters from thence by his Majesty's knowledge.—Bruntelond [Burnt Island], 20 March.
1586/7, March 20.	1¼ pp.
	502. John Burstall and Nicholas Barry.
1586/7, March 22.	Warrant under the Privy Signet for a pension of 2s. per diem to John Burstall, gent., late lieutenant under Captain Ovington at the winning of “Sutven Sconces” in the Netherlands, where he was dangerously wounded; and of 20d. per diem to Nicholas Barry, gent., a long and faithful servitor in the wars, having lost divers tall men his sons in her Majesty's service.—Greenwich, 22 March, 29 Elizabeth.
1586/7, March 22.	1 p.
	503. Sir Francis Walsingham to Archibald Douglas.
1586/7, March 23.	Sends him two letters, and a commission for his nephew. One of the letters is to the Secretary, the other to his friend Ashton.
	Cannot find in his heart to write to the Master of Gray, seeing his “unconsient and yll dealing.” Prays him to excuse his not writing to D. Ogle, and to let him understand how thankfully he takes his frequent advertisements.
	Holds his present despatch of his nephew done to good purpose.
	Her Majesty is violently bent against Mr. Davison, which seemeth to proceed of a desire she hath thereby to satisfy the King his sovereign. Would there were some better course of satisfaction taken, which he supposes, if he be well counselled, can yield no great contentment unto him.—The Court, 20 March 1586.
	1 p.
	501. R. Douglas to Archibald Douglas.
1586/7, Mar. 23.	As I wrote to you in my last I was to go over into Lauderdale to speak at length with the Secretary, and to know his mind towards you and upon the instructions you gave me, so now, having been with him, and had sufficient time to be resolved of that whereof most I doubted, I would not fail to let you understand it, to the end you may the better know how to behave yourself towards him, and others also, with whom you must needs have to do. Upon the 22nd of this month I came to him, being busily occupied with his masons and workmen at the building of his house in the Forth of Lauder, where, after a general conference upon the state of both the countries, how that his Majesty was by this present doing of England driven to two great extremities : either to suffer the greatest shame that could be done to any prince, or else, to eschew that and repair his honour, to be driven to enter friendship with enemies to his religion and State. I took occasion to inquire what he thought of the advice set down by you in my instructions, and his opinion of the overtures and means devised there by you. His answer was, that for his own part, as he could not nor would resolve whether the King were in any wise minded to deal or have to do with England hereafter or not, so he could not think but that was a mere scoffing and scorning of his Majesty to desire that he should deal in that fashion. Whereupon, I answered, that since I knew perfectly no man living more desirous or willing to do the King service in that country than you were, and very few, or none, that had so good moyen to do it, by reason of your credit and favour there, it were very well that he who was the King's principal minister, and upon whom chiefly the state of this country did repose, should, laying aside all particular jealousies and occasions of discord risen upon light grounds, enter in dealing with you, in receiving your advertisements and giving you his best advice, to the end his Majesty's service might the better go forward; whereunto I took upon me to persuade you, affirming that I knew perfectly that, for the advancement of his Majesty's affairs, you would be glad, forgetting all by past, to enter in a sure friendship with him. His answer was, that for him he had already a greater burden upon his shoulders than he could well discharge, and that he was seeking by all means some help for the affairs he was burdened with already, much as he thought it wisdom or anyways convenient to take any further upon him, and, for foreign affairs, he protested that in no manner would he credit with you, but so far as his master would command him, and to deal with you, whom he esteemed his unfriend, and to have done such evil offices for the King, as ye were unworthy to live, altogether he refused. Whereupon he deduced at length what had been your part in this last matter, and that ye had been the only cause of this late execution, together with a long commemoration of evil offices done against himself, and hard speeches had by you upon him to all them of the Council, in calling him a passionate fool, and showing a forged bond, as he called it, of his given to the Earl of Arran. Hereupon I began to make your purgation of that matter concerning the King's mother, saying, that I thought him not so unwise as to think that it lay in your hands to alter a fixed determination of the whole Council of England, in a matter of so great consequence as that was, together with some other reasons meet for that purpose; and, as for that which concerned him, I prayed him that he would not be so facile as to believe every light and vain report made of you to him by your unfriends, until he had tried it by yourself; and, as for ray part, who was daily conversant with you, and knew your actions perhaps better than them who had maliciously reported them to him, I protested before God that I never heard you speak of him otherwise than became you, except it were to regret and complain that he had not used you so friendly as ye looked for, nor that you had not found that friendship at his hands that you thought you had deserved of him and his house. But, for all this, and all other reasons I could use, I could find nothing in him that I looked for, nor could move him to esteem well of you, nor get to grant to enter in any dealing with you. What should be the reason of this obstinate and not dissimulate malice towards you, surely, for my own part, I cannot see, except it be that he thinks his state at home so surely settled that it cannot lie in your hands to shake it; and that, by the moyen I wrote to you, of before, he minds so overlay you where ye are, and that his credit there should serve to discredit you, whereof, because ye are sufficiently forewarned, I think your wisdom will take order as ye think meetest for yourself. He does all things here as I wrote to you of before, but any competitor, except it be he that was Earl of Arran, who has lately written a letter to the King, accusing him of treason, that he with the late banished lords should have conspired to put the King in England, and desired the King not to trust him, for sundry causes specified in his letter. But this, like unto the rest of that man's forged lies, I fear me shall not be sufficient to diminish the Secretary's credit, to whom the King has communicated this matter, as he does all others. What you wish me to do further with the Secretary I pray you let me understand, and, if ye think it good to write to him, I shall deliver it; but, for my own part, surely suppose the man ye were in dealing will be not so meet as Mr. Vere, yet, as matters go now, I see not with whom else ye can deal presently. I shall cause some, whom ye know to have credit that way, sound the Master of Glamis, who is presently, and, I think, shall be until the convention in August, and if he can find him minded your way, I shall go to him myself, and speak with him, and thereafter advertise you. This is the fourth time since my coming into this country that I have written to you, and yet never since heard from you, whereof, surely, I marvel, since I looked by your frequent letters to have had occasion of new matter to speak with his Majesty, and the King himself looked ere now to have heard from you. The Secretary says that in all my instructions, nor yet in all the letters sent from you to the King, there is never one answer to any point committed to your charge at your departure, whereof he says the King marvels.
	The state of matters here remains as it was almost at my last writing. I am to go to Court to-morrow, where, what is a-doing or what other thing I can learn, ye shall be soon thereafter advertised. I am also to crave the opinion of some men of law how to do about your parsonship of Glasgow, whereof I can get never a penny. The Secretary says your act of pacification and rehabilitation will not, except they were confirmed by Parliament, be sufficient to restore you or possess you in your living. For this lam to enter in process this next session, which is prorogued to the 15th of May. There is a Parliament to be after Midsummer, that the King be of lawful age, wherein I must travail earnestly to have your act of pacification confirmed, which your enemies will hinder by all means possible. Because I must needs for your business attend upon the Court, I have bought a horse for a hundred marks; and, because it will be very chargeable to me, I pray your lordship to take some order, because ye know I cannot do it of myself, how I may have silver, and to write to your creditors to give me some, and send me their obligations. That of the Prior of Munimuth I think I shall get with time, but he is now in the north land that I cannot have him to seek it. Your lordship sees I am now become “ane effrontit beggar,” but the home paper does not blush. I hope your lordship has directed away ere now my man Willie Hill with the memorial I wrote for. Whensoever I write I must not forget to recommend Alexander Murray, and Wallace's pardon; he says, if he have it not by such a day goon after Easter that the judges by commissioners come into the country, it will be to his great danger, therefore I must request you to be the more earnest, and not I only, but John of Cranston and Mark Hume, whom you will oblige by doing thereof.
	My father and mother think themselves obliged for the care I assured them you had of the boy James, and that he should be brought up in virtue. I assured them that before my coming from you, your lordship had placed him with Mr. John Douglas, wherein I hope you will take care I be not found a liar. And so I take my leave.—From Woddesly, 23 March 1586.
	Holograph. Seals. 4½ pp.
	505. J. Piournet (?) to Archibald Douglas.
1587, Mar. 27.	I wrote to your lordship with your servant Patrick Thomson, and now am constrained to write further, as I am in distress. The mayor of Sandwich has written to his deputy to bring the prize to the haven of Sandwich, and because I refused to obey, he sent for me, and has commanded me to prison, or else to bring her in, which on no ways I would grant. Am not in the mind to do it until I get further news from the King of Navarre's ambassador, or else from my lord Cobham. Wherefore it will please you to further my brother Robert Graham to get such letters as will serve the turn, as also to get me a letter that in times coming they “mell” not with me, unless I do hurt to her Majesty's subjects. I have written to Mons. Boussanvale [Buzenval] for a commission to a ship of our town, which I will pray you to speak to him for it, and that I may have it sold me.—Sandwich, 27 March 1587.
1587, Mar. 27.	1 p.
	506. Soldiers for the Marches.
1587, Mar. 29.	Warrant under the Privy Signet for the pay and conduct money of 200 soldiers for the West and Middle Marches.—Greenwich, 29 March, 29 Elizabeth.
1587, Mar. 29.	1 p.
	507. Richard Douglas to Archibald Douglas.
1587, Mar. 31.	I received a letter from you by my brother, wherein first you marvel that I should have written to you, that it was his Majesty's pleasure that you should deal earnestly that offers should be made unto him from that country, but never condescending what kind of offers he would have made, nor what would best satisfy him, nor by what order you should deal. Indeed, if I had left that undesired of his Majesty, you had good reason to accuse my foolish and indiscreet both writing and dealing. But the truth is, that I insisted as earnestly as I could with his Majesty upon those heads, but for nothing I could say could I move his Majesty to condescend to particulars, but held him in the general that it was his pleasure that you should travail for offers, the order and manner referring to yourself, and the quality to his own liking after the hearing of them.
	I am very glad that it has pleased you to send home my brother, who can at his return assure you that matters go not here as you thought and reason would they should, for the answers he has had of the King will make you believe mine before received, and that he would not answer to every point as you and I both thought he should have done for the advancement of his own service. The rest of your letter contained only a rehearsal of such lies as by your unfriends have been reported to his Majesty, and spread in the country, of your behaviour and actions in that country prejudicial to his service and honour, whereof you desire me to insist with his Majesty to know the reporters, which I assure you I shall do so soon as I can any ways espy convenient time, and his Majesty's mind any ways quieted, nor troubled with the tooth ache, and with that letter the late Earl of Arran had written to him, accusing the Secretary and the last banished Lords, which is now at a trial. As for that of the English Ambassador resident in France that you say you understand not what I mean thereby, the trouble of it was, that he in open Council should have avowed that the execution done upon the Queen, his mother, was not but his Majesty's advise confirmed by his Ambassadors. But because this report was not made to me by the King himself, I will not trouble his Majesty therewith. But my brother in the next conference with the King, when occasion shall be offered to speak of these lies, wherewith you have been unjustly slandered, among the rest shall inquire the truth of the matter, and know his Majesty's mind thereanent. I look not that the Secretary shall show me such favour as to give me the name of the author of that I wrote of.
	I marvel I forgot the matter of Throgmorton, for indeed the King took it very well, and thought you had done him therein acceptable service. My Lord Treasurer's letter, amongst the rest of my instructions, his Majesty caused to be given to the Secretary, but I will send it with my brother, or in our next letters. The intercepting of letters, so far as I can understand, does not come of his Majesty, for I cannot learn that ever he sees them, but of some who are curious to understand what you write and what is written to you, to see if in any ways they can make their profit of them, or hurt you thereby.
	Matters here are like to draw to a very great confusion, and this letter of Arran's is thought not to be written without the advice of the rest of that faction, which increases the jealousy and mistrust betwixt the two parties marvelously. Hamilton, Angus, Mar, the Master of Gray, and the Secretary, are in this town very earnest with the King about a trial of the matter. What it will grow unto about the Convention it will be known, until which time the King is minded to remain in this town. It is secretly whispered that he minds shortly over the water, which if he do, it will augment the suspicion sundry persons have that this matter is not devised without his own knowledge, &c.—From Edinburgh, this last of March 1587.
	2¾ pp.
	508. Jenett Reid to her Husband.
1587, Mar. 31.	Understands by James Nicoll that he and his company are in good health. Gives particulars of home affairs.—Leith, 31 March 1587.
	Addressed :—“To her well-beloved husband William Purves, Master of the ship of Leith called the Gallioun, presently in London.”
	1 p.
	509. Sir William FitzWilliam, Lord Deputy of Ireland.
1587, March.	Warrant under the Signet for a grant to Sir William Fitz William or his assigns of a lease [in reversion, for fifty years, of lands within the survey of the Court of Exchequer, to the value of 100l. a year.
1587, March.	Sign Manual. 1 p.