|
July 1.
Knox, ii. 175. Keith, ii. 35. Calderw. ii. 137. | 283. The Queen to the Estates of Scotland. |
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| 1. Doubts not but as her meaning has always been straight
and direct towards the advancement of religion and conse
quently to procure peace and maintain concord between
England and Scotland, so her outward acts have well declared
the same, especially to them who have more tasted her
friendship than any of their ancestors have ever received.
and more than a great number of themselves could well hope
for. This she has to rejoice of, and so may they be glad, that
where in the beginning of the troubles in that country and
of her succours meant for them, the jealousy (or rather the
malice of divers, both in that realm and other countries,) was
such as to deprave both her in yielding and them in requiring
aid. She was noted to have meant the surprise of the realm
by depriving of the Queen of her right, and the greater part
of them to have intended the like, and either to prefer some
other to the Crown, or to make of the monarchy a commonwealth. But the end and the whole course of the action has
manifested that nothing more was meant than to establish
the Queen in her crown, the possession whereof was in the
hands of strangers. And though no words could satisfy the
malicious, yet their deeds declare that no other thing was
sought but the restitution of that realm to its ancient liberty.
Of this purpose there remains good testimony by a solemn
treaty and accord made last year at Edinburgh, by Commissioners sent with full authority under the Great Seals of both
realms, by which either has fully accorded with other to keep
good peace. In the same a good accord is made not only
of certain quarrels betwixt them, but also of some differences
betwixt the ministers of the late French King and the three
Estates of Scotland for the alteration of the laws and
customs of the country attempted by them; to which accord
there has followed a better peace than ever was heard of.
Nevertheless, their Sovereign (either not knowing in this part
her own felicity, or else dangerously seduced by perverse
counsel,) being of sundry times required according to her
bond (signed and sealed with the Great Seal, and allowed
by the Estates of the same,) to ratify the treaty in like manner
as the writer has done, and is ready to deliver it, makes
dilatory answers. For although she has always affirmed
since the death of her husband, that she would first understand the minds of certain of the Estates before making
answer, notwithstanding she has had conferences both by
messages, and by some of them being with her, she now alleges
that the treaty was not made by consent of all the Estates,
and so would forbear until she return into her own country. |
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| 2. Considering that her answer depends, as it should seem
by her words, upon the opinions of the Estates, the Queen
plainly lets them all understand that this manner of answer
cannot long content her. She has meant well to the Queen
of Scots; and in time of offence given by her, and whilst
strangers possessed her realm, she stayed it from danger; and
now, having promised to keep good peace with her and her
subjects, she has hitherto observed it, and will be sorry if
either of them give contrary cause. In a matter so pro
fitable to both realms she thinks it strange that the Queen
of Scots has no better advice, and therefore requires the
Estates to consider the matter deeply, and make answer
wherein she can trust; and if they think meet that their
Queen shall leave the peace imperfect by breaking her
solemn promise, she will be content to accept their answer,
and will be as careless to see it kept; and doubts not that
whosoever of them inclines thereto shall soonest repent. On
the other hand, if they continue all in mind to have the
peace inviolably kept, and will by their advice procure the
Queen to ratify it, she plainly promises them to continue
her good disposition to keep the same in such good terms as
it now is. In so doing the honour of God will be duly
promoted on both sides, their Queen shall enjoy her state
with surety, and they possess what they have with tranquillity,
which by the frequent wars heretofore their ancestors never
held long in one estate. Requires them to advertise her
of what mind they are; and if they forbear any long time
to do so, it will give her some occasion of doubt, whereof more
hurt may grow than good. |
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| Hol. Draft, in Cecil's writing. Endd.: 1561, primo Julii.
Pp. 7. |
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| July 1. | 284. The Queen to Randolph. |
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| 1. Sends her letters to the three Estates of Scotland,
whereof he will receive a copy, to the intent he may (before
delivery) use the advice of such of her assured friends as he
shall think meet for such a matter. The argument of the
letter is founded upon an answer made by the Scottish Queen
to the English Ambassador. Sends him a copy of such part
of the Ambassador's letter as concerns the same, which also
he may show to such as he thinks meet. (fn. 1) Thinks that Queen
Mary's coming home will alter many things in Scotland,
especially the progress of religion and the devotion of many
towards herself; to meet with which must either be devised
some letter to dissuade her coming, or, if she shall come, yet
beforehand to further both these in sort, such as neither she
nor hers shall easily or shortly alter. And because it may be
that some being hollow friends animate her to come and to
forbear the ratification of the treaty, the Queen writes so
that they will be occasioned by one means or the other
before Queen Mary's coming to show their intents, and if it
be politicly used, the three Estates may take good occasion to
press their Queen to ratify the treaty, and in their so doing
the Council in France will take occasion, finding them in
Scotland to have so great regard to her, rather to protract
than hasten Queen Mary's departure. |
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| 2. And because they wish to be secret and sure both in
religion and in friendship towards her, should they take any
strange conceit of her writing in the common letter,
Randolph is privately to ascertain them that she means not
to tax or note them, but thereby to provoke the backward
either to show themselves as they be, or else to amend and
adjoin themselves to the better. |
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| 3. Though he cannot communicate this to the whole Estates,
because there is no assembly of Parliament, yet he is to use
the advice of the wise there how it may be imparted to the
greater number, and some answer obtained before D'Oyzel's
coming. He is to make some answer within four or five
days, although it be but his own opinion and that of two or
three others. |
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| 4. Sends also a letter to the Duke of Châtellerault, (fn. 2) with
a copy thereof. Randolph is to assure him of her friendship
to see that he and his house take no wrong for his right and
title, failing the Scottish Queen without issue, whereof he is
also to assure the Earl of Arran. This she promises conditionally, so as they adjoin themselves to the promoting of
the cause of religion; otherwise she cannot, with her conscience, favour their estate. Writes also to Lord James, (fn. 3) of
whom she has as good and sound opinion as of any man in
Scotland, and would have him animated to proceed in the
honourable course that he has begun; assuring him that he
shall never lack her friendship to the maintenance of him and
his party in the cause of religion. For the rest of his proceedings refers him to her secretary. |
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| Hol. Draft, by Cecil. Endd. by Cecil: primo Julii 1561.
Pp. 4. |
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| July 3. | 285. Yearly value of St. Bees. |
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| Total yearly value of both spiritualities and temporalities
256l. 12s. 2d., whereof to the Bishop 143l. 16s. 2d., and to the
curate 16l. |
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| Copy. Endd. Pp. 3. |
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| July 3. | 286. Another copy of the above. |
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| Copy. Endd. Pp. 3. |
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| July 4. | 287. [Marsilio della Croce to Shers.] |
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| 1. Letters from Venice of the 7th ult. mention the departure thence of seven galleys, in addition to the forty
which had sailed to join the fleet, from which no intelligence has been received. The plague continues, but the
famine has abated, in consequence of the arrival of several
vessels laden with wheat and other provisions. There were
there eighty-four great ships. Rostan Bassa has intimated
to the Venetian Ambassador that the Signor will restore to
liberty all the ships and men which he has taken, upon certain conditions. It is stated from Persia that the Sofi has
excused himself to the Turk for not surrendering Bajazet,
which he says would be a dishonourable act, but has solicited his restitution to favour, and that a portion of Turkey
should be assigned to him. The Turk has sent some Belliarbei to the confines of Persia on their way to Capha, where
they were attacked by the Sofi. |
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| 2. Letters from Milan of the 25th ult. mention the arrival
of a gentleman of the Signor Don Emanuel, who left the
Catholic Court on the 6th ult., when the King was intending to go to Madrid; but, in consequence of information
respecting Milan, which was brought by the Count Brociardo,
the Court was transferred to Toledo. The Duke of Sessa was
expected at this Court, but he probably would not be there
until September. The plague was severe in Perpignan, 8,000
persons having died of it; the post did not enter the town in
consequence. The Duke of Nemours was expected in Milan,
in consequence of which the Marquis had not set out for
Casale. His brother, Don Cæsar, had gone to Spain to
negociate for the Duke of Mont'Alto, who was banished
from Naples for three years. The canton of Berne has
offered to restore to the Duke of Savoy two-thirds of
what he holds in that canton, but the Duke has refused
this offer. Jeronimo Della Scala is sent by the Pope to
the Swiss, and Gio. Angelo Ricerio is sent by the Commons
[of Milan] to discuss matters, but ineffectually. |
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| 3. On the day of Corpus Domini, (fn. 4) at Lyons, during the
procession, certain heretics threw the Sacrament to the ground
and trod it under foot; some persons were taken and
quartered. A disagreement has occurred between the inhabitants of Brescia and Cremona respecting the right of using
the River Oglio. On the 23rd [ult.] a proclamation was made
at Milan for the payment of a new subsidy, professedly for one
year only; but it was feared that it would become an annual
tax. On the 28th [ult.] the cross was given to the Cardinal of
Ferrara, who was accompanied to his house by the Cardinals,
who dined with him. He will set out on his mission within
four days, accompanied by 400 horse. His connexion with
the Guises makes him unacceptable. The King at his coronation is said to have ordered the liberation of all persons
imprisoned for religion, but they have again begun to make
tumults, and to hold conventicles under arms, whereat the
Catholics are in despair. |
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| 4. In Seville the affairs of religion are in a wretched condition; the whole realm is infected, being filled with heretics
from France and England, and other foreigners. In Rome
four sisters of Cardinal Borromeo had arrived; one is the
wife of Cæsar Gonzaga, the other of the Duke of Couza;
there are two others, girls of nine and ten years old. The
Pope goes out daily for recreation; he will return in two
days to St. Mark's. Bands of robbers were about Urbino,
where they committed numerous murders and pillaged the
country; great preparations are being made against them.
The Pope proposes, with the aid of the Romans, to cut a trench
from the Tiber through the meadows to "La Magliana,"
whence it will return to the Tiber; this is to strengthen the
Peninsula against the floods. It is reported from Naples
that twenty-eight galleys have left for Spain to convey troops
into Italy, and to check the disorders in Sicily; others think
they will go to barbary. . . . . The writer has been
unfortunate and in bad health.—Venice, 4 July 1561.
Signed, but signature defaced. |
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| Orig. Add. Endd.: Advertisements. The bottom half
of the last leaf is torn off. Ital. Pp. 6. |
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| July 5. | 288. Gresham's Memoranda. |
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| A remembrance to Cecil delivered by Gresham, 5th July
1561. |
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| 1. To get a warrant to take up, by exchange and reexchange, 5,000l. sterling. |
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| 2. Item, a like warrant, to whom the same shall be paid. |
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| 3. Also, an acquittance of the Lords for the receipt this day
of two "bands," one of Philip Van Goteshen, the other of
Balthazar Kennyng, and a warrant to pay the Count of
Mansfeld his pension. |
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| 4. A letter of thanks from the Queen to Paulus Van Dall
for service daily done to her, with a present of a fair ambling
gelding. |
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| 5. To appoint a day when he and the Commissioners may
meet for taking of his account. |
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| 6. For Cecil to help him with four warrants for books
against the Mercers' feast.—5 July 1561. |
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| Endd. Pp. 2. |
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| July 5. | 289. English Pirates. |
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| Inquisitions made in the presence of Charles De Smet
and Josse Van Hoorne, Echevins of Dunkirk, as to robberies committed upon the widow of the late Rowland
De Dryvere, Burgess of the said town, on 21 June last,
to the effect following: |
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| 1. Anthony Colin, master mariner, aged 49, deposes
that as he was returning from the fisheries, south of a place
called the "Ref," on the morning of the 14th of June, they
perceived three ships, of which the largest was painted red
and of about forty tons, the other, which was painted black,
was twenty-eight or thirty tons; and both had their sails
shaped like men-of-war. They asked them where they belonged to, and when they replied to Dunkirk, they cried out
to them to strike and go below, with many railing expressions; and on their asking whether there was war they immediately fired a "bass" and two or three arrows at them, so
that they were compelled to lower their sails and to go below.
Hereupon ten or twelve of the English boarded them and
took four nets, their clothes, a barrel of meat, their knives,
and other utensils. In the meanwhile another boat came on
board, the people in which also pillaged the ship, throwing
overboard some 300 fish and two casks of liver. After they
had thoroughly plundered the vessel they departed to their
ships and bore away to the north-west. The third vessel
remained near, but its crew did not come on board. |
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| 2. Anthony Leux, mariner and partner of the said Anthony
Colin, aged 28, and Jehan Schoonoghe, servitor, aged 20,
who was steering at the time, corroborate the above facts,
and add, that the pirates, before going away, cut in pieces
their halyards. |
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| 3. Sworn, in the presence of Charles De Smet and Josse
Van Hoorne, at Dunkirk, 5 July 1561. |
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| Orig. Endd. French. Pp. 5. |
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| July 6. | 290. The Queen to Count Mansfeldt. |
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| Desires him to abstain from levying soldiers for her
service. Gresham has orders to pay his pension up to the
festival of St. John the Baptist last past. He will recollect
that his contract with her has never at any time put him to
any inconvenience whatever.—London, 6 July 1561. |
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| Copy. Endd. Lat. Pp. 2. |
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| July 8. | 291. The Queen to the Lord Treasurer. |
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| Order is given that 5,000l. should be taken up by Gresham,
and another 5,000l. by Alderman Lodge and Martin, which
shall be paid to him. He shall send to her the sum of 3,000l.
at her coming to Somerset House; and to deliver to the cofferer, as parcel of the money due to him for the last quarter,
3,000l. With the remainder he shall pay the pensioners and
merchant adventurers, as far as the same will extend. Being
privy to the manner of taking up the said sum, he is to
repay it as soon as he can out of the revenue, with such
interest as shall be due. |
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| Draft, in Cecil's hol, and endd. by his secretary: 8 July
1561. P. 1. |
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| July 8. | 292. The Queen to Gresham. (fn. 5) |
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| He shall take up the sum of 5,000l. as if for his own use,
and pay it to the Lord Treasurer. |
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| Draft, in Cecil's hol. Endd.: 8 July 1561. |
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| 293. The Queen to Gresham. |
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| The Queen understands by Sir Richard Sackville his
readiness to take up money on her behalf; therefore she
requests him to take up by way of exchange the sum of
5,000l., using his own name, and to pay the same to the
Lord Treasurer, upon whose bill, and this letter, repayment
shall be made with interest before the end of November
next. |
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| Draft, in Cecil's hol. Endd.: 8 July 1561. |
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| July 8. | 294. Exportation of Arms into Russia. |
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| It having been reported in foreign parts that a great part
of the arms which the Queen had caused to be made in
Germany had been transported into Russia, to the damage
of Christendom, the Queen hereby causes proclamation to be
made that the said rumour is false, vain, and malicious. |
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| Draft, in Cecil's hol. Endd.: 8 July 1561. |
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| July 9. | 295. Thomas Snydall to Cecil. |
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| Cecil having written to Sir Richard Lee for his [Snydall's]
furtherance, Lee determined that he should have 2s. a day;
but when the pay came he received only 20d., and for ten
months he has only received 12d. His entertainment will
not suffice his ordinary charges. The reputation of Cecil's
letter may yet render him such allowance as he had last
pay, 20d. a day. If that rate shall not be thought meet
for him, he will be ready to take any pains further appointed
to him to merit his wages, or being paid, will otherwise
shift for himself. Has hitherto spent his time as overseer
to the works, without once setting his pen to book. If after
the next pay no entertainment is granted to him whereby he
may reasonably live, he begs to be appointed to some other
place, or that Cecil will take him into his own service.—
Berwick, 9 July 1561. Signed. |
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| Orig. Hol. Add. Endd. by Cecil's secretary. Pp. 4. |
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| July 10. | 296. Windebank to Cecil. |
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| 1. As yet they continue in their first house, nigh the Ambassador. They have been sundry times to the Court, and on
the 7th with Throckmorton, who (amongst other talk with
the King of Navarre) said that there were certain gentlemen
of England, naming Mr. Thomas, whom he would present to
him; whereunto the King said that for the time and place
and other circumstances he desired to be excused. So they
have not delivered any of M. De Seurre's letters, nor does
Throckmorton think that they will need to do so. Have sold
their two geldings for twenty-five crowns and the hobby for
forty, which money Mr. Thomas keeps, and wherein Windebank desires to know Cecil's meaning. Throckmorton advises
them to remain here till the end of August, and then to
travel to see the country for a month, and then to return to
Paris and continue there till May. |
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| 2. Cannot send an estimate of their monthly charges; but
hitherto the charges for their journey and other necessary
things for Mr. Thomas come to one hundred crowns. Beseeches him in his letters to Mr. Thomas to remember him
not to lose the commodity of the morning for his profiting
in any kind of thing. Cannot perceive that he has any mind
to the lute, but to "the cisterne" he has. The Court shortly
removes from this town. It is thought that the King's entry
shall not be until January or February. They are daily and
hourly in council for orders to be taken in matters of religion.
Paris, 10 July 1561. Signed. |
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| 3. P. S.—Mr. Sommer tells him that De la Haye makes
great suit to the King and Council for young Mr. Cotton to
be restored, and travails daily to have a letter from the Queen
Mother or King of Navarre to Madame Cresaque, for some
reasonable composition to be made between her and him, that
thereupon Mr. Cotton's son might be delivered. De la Haye
has written to the keeper of the Marshalsea, and he thinks
that he has included a letter to Sir Thomas Cotton. On the
9th instant, they received a bill of credit for 300 Δ from
Mr. Gresham's man at Antwerp. Yesterday Throckmorton
went to the Court to speak with the Queen of Scotland, to
whom he presented Mr. Thomas. |
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| Orig. Hol. Add. Endd. Pp. 3. |
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| July 10. | 297. Windebank to Cecil. |
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| 1. Still continue in their first house near Throckmorton's
and have been several times at Court, (fn. 6) where Mr. Thomas
has seen the manner of the King and Queen at their dinner.
Have sold their two geldings for twenty-five crowns and
Mr. Thomas's hobby saddle for forty crowns, which he has got
into his own hands and minds to employ according to his
own fantasy. Desires Cecil to write his pleasure herein. Because
Mr. Thomas must have a nag, they are constrained to buy
one and keep him in the stable for five or six sous per day.
They will buy one that will be able to endure travel wear if
they go to Rome. Whereas Cecil's mind was that they should
tarry in Paris until the King's entry, he informs him that
that will not be for four or five months, therefore Throckmorton advises them, both for Mr. Thomas' advancement in
the French tongue, by avoiding the company of Englishmen,
and also to avoid the danger of the corrupt air in Paris, which
is increased by the extreme heat, to go to Orleans and remain
there until the end of August, and then see the country,
wherein after a month spent to return to Paris again, and
there remain until May. |
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| 2. Whereas Cecil wished for an estimate of their monthly
charges, he cannot well send the same, as they are at no certainty for their stay here. Their journey to Paris has stood
them in about forty crowns, and certain necessaries have
cost them about sixty crowns. Begs him in his letters to
Mr. Thomas to remind him not to lose the commodity of some
part at least of the morning for his study, wherein his accustomed long lying in bed will much hinder him. Cannot
perceive that he has any mind to learn the lute, but to the
cithera he has. The Court removes very shortly from this
town, and it is not thought that the entry will be till January
or February. |
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| 3. Mr. Somer says that De la Haye makes great suit to the
King and Council for young Mr. Cotton to be restored; and
for that purpose sues to have a letter from the Queen Mother
or the King of Navarre to Madame De Cresaque to enter into
some composition with him. He has also written to the
keeper of the Marshalsea, where he was prisoner in England.
Have received on the 9th a bill of credit for 300 crowns from
Mr. Gresham's man at Antwerp. Yesterday Throckmorton
went to the Court to speak to the Queen of Scotland, to
whom he presented Mr. Thomas. |
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| Draft, in Windebank's hol. Endd.: 10 July 1561.
Pp. 4. |
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