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530. Henry Maynard to Lord Burghley. |
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1587, May 1. |
I attended my Lord Chancellor this morning, and delivered unto him your Lordship's message. His Lordship willed me to let you understand that he findeth himself much troubled with a message Mr. Varney brought him yesterday from the Court : that her Majesty should much repent her of the committing of the Great Seal unto him, as that an occasion was thereby given to the world to talk diversely thereof. Therefore, he is this afternoon gone to the Court with a resolution that, if he found her Majesty to continue that conceit, to deliver up the Seal again, rather than to keep it with her discontentment, to his disgrace.—1 May 1587. |
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1 p. [Murdin, p. 589. In extenso.] |
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531. T. Hudson to Archibald Douglas. |
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1587, May 1. |
I am not in use to write occurrents to your lordship, but such as I learn of Thorny Murray, who is now become my schoolmaster in the art of “knyffing.” For this cause I will begin at your lordship, and crave at your hand a book of Peter Martyr's common-places, in English, because it is not here to be had. And, for that your lordship marvels what I have to do therewith, you shall understand that the “barnes” are now all grown old, and seeing they thrive not so well as your Lordship would wish them in this world, they are making for the world to come. Some of them protesting for heaven through their purgatory in marriage, and some coming holy after following your Lordship's good example of chastity.—Holyrood House, 1 May 1587. |
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1 p.
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532. Robert Carvyle to Sir Francis Walsingham. |
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1587, May 4. |
This day Browns, the French Ambassador's man, came to this town with a packet from his master to pass southwards, which was presently sent away. He is now in as great credit as ever he was with his master, so as I trust shortly he will bring his purpose to some effect. This day likewise I met with Robert Carr, which as yet could not give me any intelligences worth writing, but he is purposely gone to Edinburgh to the Convention which holdeth the 10th inst., to learn and know as much as in him lieth. And thereupon you shall be further advised.—Berwick, 4 May 1587. |
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½ p.
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533. Sir Francis Walsingham to Archibald Douglas. |
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1587, May 7. |
For answer of his two requests, he shall understand that, for the first, touching M. du Bartras, her Majesty hath appointed that he shall be here tomorrow to take his leave. Touching : the second, for Doctor Michaeli, thinks it best, because it will be long ere he shall be able to obtain such a letter as is desired from her Majesty, to recommend his cause to Lord Buckhurst.—The Court, 7 May 1587. |
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½ p.
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534. John Taylor to the Queen. |
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1587, May 8. |
For a lease in reversion, in consideration of his services and loss of his office of receipt of the Duchy of Lancaster. |
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Endorsed :—8 May 1587. |
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Note by Dr. V. Dale that the Queen grants the petition. |
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1 p.
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535. The Earl of Arundel to Lord Burghley. |
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1587, May 11. |
My special good Lord,—I am loth to trouble your lordship often with my letters, and yet, since your favour is so great, and so sundry ways declared towards me, and I have no other means to acknowledge how much I am bound, and to show my thankful mind, but only by writing, I could not pass over in silence your lordship's most honourable and fatherly dealing towards me in your late speeches with her Majesty in my behalf. And, as I understand by J. Cornwallis that they were as favourable as myself could wish, so must I acknowledge myself much more bound unto your lordship for them (if it be possible for me to be more, who was before as much bound as any man could be). But what may I say ? or how may I in some sort express your lordship's goodness ? that not only spake in my behalf, but undertook, like a most natural father (as I am bound during life to acknowledge you) for my duty and loyalty to her Majesty. If I should not show my thankful mind for this your lordship's singular goodness, I were the most ungrateful man that ever lived. Nay, if I should not ever seek and study with the duty and love of a son to deserve by all means possible some part of your lordship's most honourable favour, I were unworthy to live. And therefore, to dissemble with your lordship who hath dealt so favourably and fatherly with me, I know were a great and odious offence, neither would I do it for the whole world, I protest, nor yet fail in the performance of any part of that which your lordship hath promised to her Majesty in my behalf. For, being in prison and unable any other ways to serve her, her Majesty hath and shall, God willing, continually have my daily prayers for her happiness
and preservation, proceeding from a most loyal and faithful heart. And, if it please her Majesty of her gracious goodness to set my body at liberty (which I hope by the mercy of God and your lordship's most honourable favour to obtain), she shall at all times have both it and my life ready to be ventured and employed in any service it shall please her to command. And I would think myself most happy, if I might have thereby any opportunity to give her Majesty a manifest testimony and assurance of my faith and loyalty to her, which while I live shall continue firm, constant and unmovable. And, for my conscience, since it hath pleased her Majesty to deal so graciously with many other of her subjects in that behalf, I cannot but hope to receive her most gracious and favourable toleration, and especially for that in all other services whatsoever no man shall be found either more willing or more ready than myself to show his most loyal heart and affectionate duty towards her Majesty. And thus commending both myself and my cause to your lordship's fatherly protection and favourable consideration, I beseech God that you may find in heaven all that goodness you have bestowed upon me on earth; and that He will with many happy years both bless and continue your most honourable estate.—This 11th of May, 1587 Your lordship's faithful son ever at your commandment most assured.—Arundell. |
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Holoyraph. 1 p.
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536. R. Douglas to Archibald Douglas. |
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1587, May 12. |
I wrote this other letter almost even as his Majesty commanded for answer to your last, and for such general things as were meet to be declared and opened by you to that State : which because it is framed to that end purposely, if you think expedient you may show it to such as you think meetest. But in very deed I find the King very well disposed to continue friendship to that country, if he can any ways be satisfied in . . . . . . of foreign princes; and for contribution of his own subjects, who . . . . . . . . most all now, except some particulars altogether devoted for their private interest to foreign courses, would be glad he embraced that way. As to the point of your letter wherein ye wrote that, if it so pleased his Majesty, ye could be content to come in this country, and open by word what course ye had holden in your proceedings, and give sufficient reasons for them, his Highness answered, that it was not necessary, for you could do him better service at this time where you were than here. So indeed I think it unmeet you should make any such offer. The Secretary, if he be not your friend, whereof I doubt greatly, may easily as time goes, considering the present sway he bears, bring you in common danger which hardly ye might eschew. I am to speak to him this day upon you by his own appointment. What answer I can hear of him I shall not fail to let you understand with speed. The Master of Gray (for what cause I wrote to you and others) is brought to the inconvenience ye have heard of. His friends find great fault with my lord of Leicester for giving a double of a letter he wrote to his lordship concerning his mother to Sir Alexander Stewart, which is come into the King's hands. Restalrig will let you understand further of the matter, and of the Master's mind, to whom I refer me, for I have conferred with him thereupon. His abbacy should be disposed to the Earl of Huntly for his brother by the Secretary's procurement, which has offended Mr. Keith, who thought it should have remained in the King's own hands, and he looked to have his part thereof at the least, if not all, I understand by the laird of P. that Mr. Keith is like now to fall from
the Secretary, at whose devotion you know he has been this good while, and would be glad to enter in sure friendship with you. He confesseth that passionately, on some misreports, he has not made hitherto so good report of you to his Majesty as he would now he had done, but promises to amend that fault hereafter. He desires you to stop the Secretary from performing in that country ought of what by his dealing he has promised the King, and then he warrants his Majesty shall receive here such advertisements as it shall please you to have communicated, and return you answer thereafter, and that you shall have sufficient proof of his true and constant friendship, if once it were begun. |
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His credit with his Majesty appears to me to be as great as ever it was, and for my own part I take him to be an honest gentleman where he promises, but I dare not interpose my judgment, or take upon me to give advice, in a matter of such consequence. |
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The King, in private conference with me, amongst other matters told me, that he was informed that there was some discord fallen out betwixt you and the Queen of the realm, and that you had asked licence to depart the realm, and asked me whether it was so. I answered that surely I had heard no such matter, and that the contrary thereof appeared by your letters, where ye wrote that ye had had long conference with her upon the first of May. I find him far better minded towards you than before, and to approve your judgment in many things, and to acknowledge your good mind to do him service. |
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There is no other thing to be concluded at this time, saving the grant of a taxation of 30s. of every pound land, which will amount to a very great sum, and a Parliament to be holden in the beginning of July after the King is major. Our Denmark ambassadors are ready almost to take their journey, but yet it is thought that, if M. du Bartas shall make any overture for the King's marriage, they shall be discharged to insist greatly upon the point. His Majesty seems to like far better of the King of Navarre than of his cousins of Guise, and wishes him daily good success, and that his good meaning will increase at Du Bartas' arrival. His Majesty said to me himself that the greatest liking he had at this present of the Queen of England was for the help he heard she was furnishing to the King of Navarre and the Protestants. |
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His Majesty will be very glad to hear frequently from you. And I must request you to end the matter for Wallace. I marvel ye write nothing what ye have done for Mr. Thomas Cranstoune, who, put to the — by the Secretary for a cruel cause, is already upon the border of England, &c.—From Edinburgh, this 12 of May 1587. |
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2½ pp.
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537. Richard Douglas to Archibald Douglas. |
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1587, May 22. |
Your letters of the 3rd of May were delivered to me the 10th of that same month by Robert Carwell, the first day of our Convention, for which cause, the nobility being convened and with his Majesty, it was impossible for me to have him at convenient leisure that day. Always, I showed his Majesty that I received letters from you concerning his service, and that Mons. du Bartas was arrived at London, ready by this to take his journey towards his Highness, to whom he was directed. Of that his Majesty was so glad that he could not contain to say that he was the welcomest man that came to him this long time, which he should be about to let him understand at his arrival. And, as for you letters, because he was then occupied with weighty matters, and ready to go in person to the Council, he desired
me that I would come this morning, what time his Majesty should take some hour to read them and advise thereupon; which, this day, about 8 in the morning it pleased his Highness to perform. For, there being in the Cabinet alone, he caused me to be called, and read very diligently your letter, and to every point thereof gave his several answer, which his Majesty commanded me to write to your lordship with diligence. |
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First, there could nothing be more agreeable to his Highness than Mons. du Bartas' coming in this country, for whose courteous and honest entertainment you made him at your house his Majesty gives you hearty thanks, and counts the same as acceptable service as your lordship could in any ways have done him. So soon as we understand of his coming to Berwick, the Laird of Easter Wemyss, with some other gentlemen, amongst whom I mind to be directed by his Majesty, are appointed to meet him, to make him the best entertainment by the way they can, and to conduct him to this town, where his Highness minds to abide his coming. |
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His Majesty seems to be well contented with the promotion of Sir Christopher Hatton to the office of Great Chancellor, as a gentleman whose worthiness and wisdom are convenient for such a dignity; as also glad that Sir Francis Walsingham is created Chancellor of the Duchy, but sorely displeased with the death of the Earl of Rutland, of whom you know he made no small accompt. |
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His Majesty, likewise, is of your opinion that the present dealing for peace betwixt the King of Spain and the Queen of that realm shall produce no good effect, but rather turn to worse, and therefore marvels that she takes so little regard for the keeping of that she had in the Low Countries. He rests gladly contented with Lord Leicester's deliberation and resolution to take his dependence with the rest of his friends upon his Majesty, and is well satisfied with the reasons you wrote that moved him, but specially for the benefit of the professed religion in both the realms, for the advancement whereof his Highness will omit nothing [that] can lie in his power, whereof the daily proof appears in his actions. |
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His Majesty desires you very effectuously, and commanded me two diverse times, not to forget to write to you, that you should in his name thank my Lord of that his honest and friendly offer, and that his Highness accepted the same, and would esteem thereof as his lordship did desire, notwithstanding of whatsomever causes of suspicion he had in the contrary. Surely I find his Majesty very well minded towards my lord, and it has pleased him to be very plain with me in that matter, in so far that he said he knew his lordship not to have been upon the Council of his mother her death, nor no principal cause thereof, and therefore he would the more esteem of his lordship. And, therefore, if your lordship could move my lord to write to his Majesty some friendly letter, with general declaration of his own good meaning towards his Majesty's service, I believe his Highness might be moved to make answer to the same, which might do good, and be an overture to further and more particular dealing. |
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As touching the rest of the councillors, his Majesty could be contented to have their favour, and that they were assured also of his towards them, but he will not in any ways seem to seek it, but, if they please, they may either deal with you, and you certify his Majesty thereof, or else, if they please, write to the Secretary, whom his Highness has commanded to receive letters from that country, and by his direction to answer the same. As to that part of your letter wherein, for satisfying of the Secretary, who, alleging ignorance of your courses and proceedings,
refused to have dealing with you or meddle with your matters, you set down the ground whereupon your course is founded, and the scope whereunto your proceedings tend, I could not as yet have the commodity, for his great business about the beginning of this Convention, to confer with him thereupon, and receive his answer, but I mind to await upon his first leisure, and to understand and report his answer there anent, which I shall write to you immediately thereafter. But his Majesty himself rests very well satisfied with your honest intention, and desires you to continue as you have begun in advancing of his service there by such ways as you think yourself most convenient, which now, as of before, he remits to your own wisdom and discretion. He says he will move the Secretary to receive your writings, and to make answer to them also, and to deal with you in all matters [that] may concern his service. |
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His Majesty rested very well satisfied with the answer you made to that Queen and her Counsellors touching the perfecting of the league, for you may be well assured, so long as he rests unsatisfied for the wrong and injury offered him, he neither can nor will touch that matter. His Highness likewise approves and allows your opinion and advice touching the motion that was made for sending an ambassador unto this country, and thinks the reasons you set down very sufficient; and confesses that it were very unmeet that any should be sent hither until the time matters were come to a further maturity and ripeness, and almost finally agreed upon. What conditions or offers would best please his Majesty, surely, I can [? not] as yet learn, but I shall be about one of these days, when I espy a convenient time, to enquire and thereafter advertise you. |
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That report which you wrote of Denmark, and of preparation for war there, with the construction made there by some of that King's meaning, the King can hardly be persuaded to believe, as indeed it carries little or no likelihood, but if so were, his Majesty will be found able enough to defend his own against whatsomever potentate, without the assistance of any foreign prince. Always, he cannot but think well of the favourable mind you testify borne to him by these four Counsellors, who, if they shall prove indeed, as they would appear, his friends, he doubts nothing but matters shall fall out to his contentment, and to the profit of both the countries. |
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As to the last point you wrote with your own hand, his Majesty rests very well satisfied therewith, and thinks it a great point, but yet he says they must go farther with him, and give him more. What this more is, I have not as yet learnt. And thus far to your lordship's letter. |
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Indeed, I perceive in his Majesty a very good and constant mind to continue and proceed farther in sure amity and friendship with that country, if he be honourably handled by them, and that only for love he bears naturally to them, and for the benefit of the religion, notwithstanding sundry great persuasions and motives, not without apparent reason, he has daily in the contrary, by divers who are about him, and others of the nobility, and that not of the lesser sort, to whom at the length, if no reason be offered him from thence, it may be, constrained by necessity, he may yield. But you know how far of his own inclination his Majesty is bent in the contrary. |
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The state of this country was never in greater quietness nor it is presently, for his Majesty has taken at this time such a virtuous and commendable course in agreeing his nobility, and taking away all kinds of controversy against them, that he has acquired himself a great reputation amongst his own subjects, together with a sincere love of them
all towards him, for the fatherly care his Highness shows to have over them all. He has at this time taken great pains in agreeing Huntly and Athol, Angus and Montrose, with all the rest of his nobility, who seemed to have had any suspicion of any jar or quarrel amongst them. As for the Earl of Crawfurd and the Master of Glamis, they have both subscribed a blank, submitting themselves to his Majesty's pleasure, to be filled as he thinks most convenient, and tomorrow that matter is to be finally decided. In like manner his princely care, which at this time he has shown for the maintenance of the true religion professed in this country, has confirmed the good opinion, not without cause conceived of many, of the great zeal he has always had in religion; for his Highness has taken order for banishing of all persons as, namely, priests and Jesuits, who were sent into this country for seducing of the weaker sort, and has by good reasons himself moved the Earl of Huntly, not only to subscribe the Articles of our religion, but also to communicate, which they are to do this Sunday following in the Abbey with his Majesty. |
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The Master of Gray's state you have heard, or know sufficiently by my brother's report, but the first day of the Convention, which was the 10th of this month, he and Sir William were both brought before the Council. Sir William persisted in his accusation, and the Master in his former denial; sundry witnesses were examined, but nothing confessed by them that could in any wise hurt the Master, till, at the last, the Master himself confessed some points to the King in privy conference, wherefore he craved his Majesty's pardon, and came as guilty in his will. The matter was this : that by the King's knowledge he had written into France to them of the House of Guise accusing England for the death of his Majesty's mother, persuading them to offer to the King the mean how to be avenged thereof, but yet with this condition, that his Majesty should grant liberty of conscience with free exercise of the Catholic religion, as they call it, throughout this country, not only to Scottish men, but to all “refugiatt” Englishmen, as amply as the King of France granted at the beginning the exercise of our religion to his subjects, and, if his Highness refused this, that they should refuse him all kind of aid; assuring them that at the length his Majesty would be content with these conditions. This is the principal cause that has moved his Majesty to deal so hardly with him at this time, suppose he confessed somewhat, also, that, before his last being in England, he had written into that country against our Sovereign his mother her life. And this is the only cause his Majesty commands you to publish in that country to his friends of his severity against him. His life, at the earnest intercession of the Lord Hamilton, is granted, but he is to be banished of the country, and to lose his benefice. The Lord Maxwell was to have departed the realm, as you heard, the 10th of May, but, at the request of some of his friends, alleging his inability to be so soon provided, his departure is prolonged for 20 days yet. My lord of Angus is not as yet come to the Convention; the reason is because his Majesty, heavily offended with the slaughter of John Maxwell, commanded his lordship to ride in that country about the beginning of this Convention, because then they would suppose it least danger, to see if he could apprehend any of them who were culpable of that crime, and bring them to justice; which matter he is presently about, but is looked for the 13th of this month to be here. All other matters take so good success as any man could wish, to the great contentment of his Majesty and all his well-affected subjects. The Convention, I think, shall dissolve after the 14th of this month. wherein the greatest work I think that ever was done in this
country is now fully accomplished, that, is, the perfect union of the whole nobility of this country to follow his Majesty in whatsoever course best shall please him. And this, I think, should greatly move that Queen and her Counsellors to come to some resolution for satisfying his Majesty in honour, for fear it grew with long delay to some greater inconvenient, especially, so many being bent to move his Highness to some violent course against them, from which, notwithstanding, so long as he may with honour, his Majesty is minded to abstain. |
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Roger Ashton has his service commended to your lordship, and thanks you for the pains you have taken in furthering his suit. His credit with his master is greater than ever, and therefore I think that they there should make good account of him, and seek to please him so far as reason is, for, surely, he may do great good for the advancing of that friendship they ought to desire of his Majesty. There is some little pamphlets, containing verses very despiteful against that Queen for the death of the Queen of Scotland, come out of France, which when they were presented to his Majesty, he made very little account of them, saying to him who presented them, he liked not to hear nor read matters dishonourable, or containing reproach, whether they were true or forged, against any prince, and with these words did cast them out of his hand. The same I have sent to you with this packet, for they are very despiteful. His Majesty remains very well satisfied with the letter Mons. de Moulins sent him, which I delivered, and I hope he shall write to him very shortly, as also to your lordship, with his own hand, whereupon I am to give now very diligent attendance, for I see him better disposed that way nor ever he was.—Edinburgh, 22 May 1587. |
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Holograph. 6 pp.
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538. Robert Long, Thomas Alderton, and Thomas Williams, to the Queen. |
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1587, May 26. |
For lease in reversion, for services as ordinary servants, of the Queen.—26 May 1587. |
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Note by Dr. Dale that the Queen grants a lease of 40l.
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1 p.
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