Sir Nicholas Throkmorton to Queen Elizabeth, the 18th of July, 1567, from

Edinburgh.

[An Original. Paper Office.]

ir may please Your Majesty, yow might perceave by my letters of the 16th, how far I had proceded with these lords, and what was their answer; since which time I have spoken particularly with the Earle Morton, the Lord of Lidington, and Sir James Balfour, captain of this castle; at whose hands I cannot perceave that as yet access to the Queen to Lochleven will be granted me, staying themselves still by the absence of the lords and others their associates, which (they say) they look for within two days; and for that I find, by likelihood and apparent presumptions, that mine access to the Queen will hardly be granted, I have thought good not to defer this dispatch untill I have a resolute answer in that matter.

May it therefore please Your Majesty, to understand Robert Melvin returned from the Queen in Lochleven to this town, the 6th of July, and brought a letter from her written of her own hand to these lords, which doth contain, as I understand, matter as followeth-A request unto them to have consideration of her health, and if they will not put her to liberty, to change the place of restraint to the castle of Stirling, to the end she might have the comfort and company of her son, and if they will not change her from Lochleven, she required to have some other gentle-women about her, naming none.

...

To have her apothecary, to have some modest minister.- -To have an imbroiderer to draw forth such work as she would be occupied about, and to have a varlet of the chamber.-Touching the government of the realm she maketh two offers, which are but generally touched in her letter, the particularitys be not specified, but referred to Robert Melvin's credit, the one is to commit it only and wholly to the Earle of Murray, the other is to the lords whose names ensue, assisted with such others as they shall call unto them, that is to say, the Duke of Chattelrault, the Earls of Morton, Murray, Marr, and Glencairn.

She

She hath written unto them that I might have access unto her. requireth further, that if they will not treat her and regard her as their Queen, yet to use her as the King their sovereign's daughter (whom many of them knew), and as their Prince's mother. She will by no means yield to abandon Bothell for her husband, nor relinquish him; which matter will do her most harm of all, and hardeneth these lords to great severity against her.

She yieldeth in words to the prosecution of the murder.

I have the means to let her know that Your Majesty hath sent me hither for her relief.

I have also persuaded her to conform herself to renounce Bothell for her husband, and to be contented to suffer a divorce to pass betwixt them; she hath sent me word that she will in no ways consent unto that, but rather die; grounding herself upon this reason, taking herself to be seven weeks gone with child, by renouncing Bothell, she should acknowledge herself to be with child of a bastard, and to have forfeited her honour, which she will not do to die for it; I have perswaded her to save her own life and her child, to choose the least hard condition.

Mr. Knox arrived here in this town the 6th of this month, with whom I have had some conference, and with Mr. Craig also, the other minister of this town. I have perswaded with them to preach and perswad lenity. I find them both very austere in this conference, what they shall do hereafter I know not, they are furnished with many arguments, some forth of the Scripture, some forth of histories, some grounded (as they say) upon the laws of this realm, some upon practices used in this realm, and some upon the conditions and oth made by their Prince at her coronation.

The Bishop of Galloway, uncle to the Earle of Huntley, hath sent hither to these lords, that his nephew the Earle and some others of that side may, at Linlithgow or at Stirling, have some communication with some appointed on this side, assuring them that there is a good disposition in the lords of the other

party to concurre with these, assuring further that they will not dissent for triffles or unnecessary things, and (as I am given to understand) they can be pleased the Queen's restraint be continu'd untill the murder be pursued in all persons, whereby the separation of the Queen and Bothell is implyed, the preservation of the Prince, the security for all men, and a good order taken for the goveranance of the realm in tranquillity.

Captain Clerk, which hath so long served in Denmark and served at Newhaven, did, the 16th of this month (accompanyed with one of his soldiers, or rather the soldier as the greater fame goeth) kill one Wilson a seaman, and such a one as had great estimation with these lords, both for his skill, his hardyness, honesty, and willingness in this action; whereupon Clerk hath retired himself; their quarrel was about the ship which took Blacketer, which ship was appointed by these lords to go to the north of Scotland to impeach the passage of the Earle Bothell, in case he went either to the isles, or to any other place · by the death of this man this enterprise was dashed.

The Bishop of Galloway is come to Linlithgow, and doth desire to speak with the Lord of Lidington.

The Abbot of Killwinning hath sent for Sir James Balfour, captain of the castle, to have conference with him.

As I wrote unto Your Majesty in my last, the Hamiltons now find no matter to disever these lords and them asunder, but would concurr in all things (yea, in any extremity against the Queen) so as that they might be assured the Prince of Scotland were crouned King, and should die without issue, that the Earle of Lenox's son living should not inherit the croun of this realm, as next heir to his nephew.

And although the lords and councelors speak reverently, mildly, and charitably of their Queen, so as I cannot gather by their speech any intention to cruelty or violence, yet I do find by intelligence, that the Queen is in very great peril of her life, by reason that the people assembled at this convention do mind vehemently the destruction of her.

It is a public speech among all the people, and amongst all estates (saving of the counselors) that their Queen hath no more liberty nor privilege to commit murder nor adultery than any other private person, neither by God's laws, nor by the laws of the realm.

The Earl of Bothell, and all his adherents and associates, be put to the horn by the ordinary justice of this town, named the lords of the session; and commandment given to all shirriffs, and all other officers, to apprehend him, and all. other his followers and receiptors. The Earl of Bothell's porter, and one of his other servitors of his Chamber being apprehended, have confessed such sundry circumstances, as it appeareth evidently that he the said Earl was one of the principal executors of the murder, in his one person accompanyed with sundry others, of which number I cannot yet certainly learn the names but of three of them, that is to say, two of the Ormistons of Tivatdall, and one Hayborn of Bolton; the lords would be glad that none of the murderers should have any favour or receipt in England, and hereof their desire is, that the officers upon the border may be warned; Bothell doth still remain in the north parts; but the Lord Seaton and Fleming, which have been there, have utterly abandoned him, and do repair hitherwards.-The intelligence doth grow daily betwixt these lords, and those which held of; and notwithstanding these lords have sent an hundred and fifty harqubushers to Stirling, to keep the town and passage from surprise; and so have they done in like manner to St. Johnston, which be the two passages from the north and west to this town, I do understand the captain of Dunbar is much busied in fortifying that place, I do mervile the carriages be not impeached otherwise than they be.

Of late this Queen hath written a letter to the captain of the said castle, which hath been surprized; and thereby matter is discovered which maketh little to the Queen's advantage.

Thus, having none other matter worthy Your Majesty's knowledge, I beseech God to prosper Your Majesty with long life, perfect health, and prosperous felicity. At Edinburgh, the 18th of July, 1567.

Letter of Sir Nicholas Throkmorton to the Right Honourable the Earl of Leicester, Knight of the Order, and one of the Lords of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council.

[24th of July, 1567. Paper Office. From the original.]

By my former dispatches sent to Her Majesty and Mr. Secretary, since the 12th of July, Your Lordships might have perceived the state of this country, and to what end these matters be like to come: so as not to trouble Your Lordship with many words; this Queen is like very shortly to be deprived of her royal estate, her son to be crowned King, and she detained in prison within this realm, and the same to be governed in the young King's name by a councel, consisting of certain of the nobility, and other wise men of this realm; so as it is easy to be seen that the power and ability to do any thing to the commodity of the Queen's Majesty, and the realm of England, will chiefly, and in manner wholly, rest in the hands of these lords and others their associates assembled at Edinburgh. Now if the Queen's Majesty will still persist in her former opinion towards the Queen of Scotland (unto whom she shall be able to do no good), then I do plainly see that these lords and all their accomplices will become as good French as the French King can wish to all intents and purposes. And as for the Hamiltons, the Earls of Arguile, Huntlye, and that faction, they be already so far inchanted that way, as there needeth little devise to draw them to the French devotion. Then this is the state of things so come to pass of this country, that France has Scotland now as much conjoined unto them, to all purposes, as ever it was; and what an instrument the young Prince will prove to unquiet England, I report me to Your Lordship's wisdoms; and therefore, considering the weight of the matter and all the circumstances, I trust your Lordships will well bethink you in time (for 'tis high time) how to advise Her Majesty to leave nothing undone that may bring the Prince of Scotland to be in her possession, or, at the least, to be at her devotion. And, amongst other things that I can imagine for the first degree, nothing is more meet to bring this to effect than to allure this company here assembled to bear Her Majesty their favour. Some talk hath passed between the Lord of Liddington and me in certain conferences about this matter. By him I find that, when Her Majesty shall have won these men to her devotion, the principal point that will make them conformable to deliver their Prince into England will rest upon the Queen, and the realms enabling him to the succession of the crown of England for fault of issue of the Queen's Majesty's body; some other things will also be required, as the charge of the said Prince and his train to be at the charge of England. I do well perceive that these men will never be brought to deliver their Prince into England without the former condition, for the succession of England; for (saith Liddington) that taking place, the Prince shall be as dear to the people of England as to the people of Scotland; and the one will be as careful of his preservation as the other. Otherwise, he saith, all things considered, it will be reported that the Scottishmen have put their Prince to be kept in safety, as those which commit the sheep to be kept by the wolves. as for conclusion, Your Lordships may perceive here will be the scope of this matter. As unto the delivering of him upon hostages, he sayeth, let no man think that the condition of the succession not being accomplished, the nobility and the gentry will never consent to leave themselves destitute of their sovereign upon any hostages, neither upon any promises, nor likelihood of good to issue in time to come. It were not good for yourselves (saith he) that the matter were so handled; for then you should adventure all your goods in one ship, which might have a dangerous effect, considering the unwillingness of the Queen your sovereign to consent to establishing any successor to the crown. And then how unmete were it that Her Majesty have in her possession already all such persons as do pretend to it, or be inheritable to the crown, to have our Prince also in her custody. For so there might follow, without good capitulations, a strange and dangerous issue, tho' the Queen your mistress do think that such imaginations could not proceed but from busy heads, as you have uttered unto us on her behalf. What is come to pass since my last dispatch, and how

So

far forth things are proceeded, I refer Your Lordship to be informed by my letters sent unto Her Majesty at this time. And so I pray Almighty God preserve Your Lordship in much honour and felicity. At Edinburgh, this 24th of July, 1567.

It may please Your good Lordship to make My Lord Stuard partner of this letter.

The Queen to Sir Nicholas Throkmorton. By the Queen.

[6th Aug. 1567.]

TRUSTY and right well-beloved, we greet you well, for as much as we do consider that you have now a long time remained in those parts without expedition in the charge committed unto you, we think it not meet, seeing there hath not followed the good acceptation and fruit of our well meaning towards that state, which good reason would have required, that you should continue there any longer; our pleasure therefore is, that you shall, immediately upon the receipt hereof, send your servant Middlemore unto the lords and estates of that realm that are assembled together, willing him to declare unto them, that it cannot but seem very strange unto us, that you having been sent from us, of such good intent, to deal with them in matters tending so much to their own quiet and to the benefit of the whole estate of their country, they have so far forgotten themselves, and so slightly regarded us and our good meaning, not only in delaying to hear you and deferring your access to the Queen their sovereign, but also, which is strangest of all, in not vouchsafing to make any answer unto us. And altho' these dealings be such, indeed, as were not to be looked for at their hands, yet do we find their usage and proceeding towards their Sovereign and Queen to overpass all the rest in so strange a degree, as we for air part, and we suppose the whole world besides, cannot but think them to have therein gone so far beyond the duty of subjects as must needs remain to their perpetual tauche for ever. And therefore ye shall say, that we have tho't good without consuming any longer time in vain, to revoke you to our presence, requiring them to grant you liscence and pasport so to do, which when you shall have obtained, we will that you make your repair hither unto us with as convenient speed as you may. Given, &c. Indorsed, 6th August, 1567.

Throkmorton to the Right Honourable Sir William Cecil, Knight, one of her Majesty's Privy Council and Principal Secretary, give these.

SIR,

[12th Aug. 1567. Paper Office. From the original.]

WHAT I have learned, since the arrival of My Lord of Murray and Mons. de Linnerol, you shall understand by my letter to Her Majesty at this time. The French do, in their negotiations, as they do in their drink, put water to their wine. As I am able to see into their doings, they take it not greatly to the heart how the Queen sleep, whether she live or die, whether she be at liberty or in prizon. The mark they shoot at is, to renew their old league; and can be as well contented to take it of this little King (howsoever his title be), and the same by the order of these lords, as otherwise. Lyneroll came but yesterday, and me thinketh he will not tarry long; you may guess how the French will seek to displease these lords, when they changed the coming of la Chapelle des Oursins for this man, because they doubted that de la Chapelle should not be grateful to them, being a Papist. Sir, to speak more plainly to you than I will do otherwise, me thinketh the Earl of Murray will run the course that those men do, and be partaker of their fortune. I hear no man speak more bitterly against the tragedy, and the players therein, than he, so little like he hath to horrible sins. Fhear an inkling that Ledington is to go into France, which I do as much mislike as any thing for our purpose. I can assure you the whole Protestants of France will live and die in these men's quarrels; and, where there is bruit amongst you, that aid should be sent to the adverse party, and that Martigues should come hither with some force; Mons. Baudelot hath

assured me of his honour that, instead of Martigues coming against them, he will come with as good a force to succour them: and if that be sent under meaner conduct, Robert Stuart shall come with as many to fortify them. But the constable hath assured these lords, that the King meaneth no way to offend them. Sir, I pray you find my revocation convenient, and speed you to further it, for I am here now to no purpose, unless it be to kindle these lords more against us. Thus I do humbly take my leave of you, from Edinburgh, the 12th of August, 1567. Yours to use and command.

The Queen to Nicholas Throkmorton.

TRUSTY and well-beloved, we greet you well. We have, within these two days, received three sundry letters of yours, of the 20th, 22d, and 23d of this month, having not before those received any seven days before; and do find, by these your letters, that you have very diligently and largely advertised us of all the hasty and peremptory proceedings there; which as we nothing like, so we trust in time to see them wax colder, and to receive some reformation. For we cannot perceive that they with whom you have dealt can answer the doubts moved by the Hamiltons, who howsoever they may be carried for their private respects, yet those things which they move will be allowed by all reasonable persons. For if they may not, being noblemen of the realm, be suffered to hear the Queen their sovereign declare her mind concerning the reports which are made of her, by such as keep her in captivity, how should they believe the reports, or obey them, which do report it? and therefore our meaning is, you shall let the Hamiltons plainly understand that we do well allow of their proceedings (as far forth as the same doth concern the Queen their sovereign for her relief), and in such things as shall appear reasonable for us therein to do for the Queen our sister, we will be ready to perform the same. And where it is so required, that upon your coming thence, the Lord Scroope should deal with the Lord Herris to impart their meanings to us, and ours to them; we are well pleased therewith, and we require you to advertize the Lord Scroope hereof by your letters, and to will him to show himself favourable to them in their actions, that may appear plainly to tend to the relief of the Queen, and maintenance of her authority. And as we willed our secretary to write unto you, that upon your message done to the Earl of Murray, you might return, so our meaning is you shall. And if these our letters shall meet you on the way, yet we will have you advertise both the Lord Scroope and the Hamiltons of our meaning.

Indorsed. 29 Aug. 1567.

No. XXIII. (p. 175.)

Sir Nicholas Throkmorton to the Archbishop of St. Andrews and the Abbot

of Arbrothe.

[13th Aug. 1567. Paper Office. From a copy which Sir Nicholas sent to the Queen.]

AFTER my good commendations to Your good Lordships, this shall be to advertize you that the Queen's Majesty my sovereign having sent me hither her ambassador to the Queen her sister your sovereign, to communicate unto her such matter as she thought meet, considering the good amity and intelligence betwixt them, who being detained in captivity (as your Lordships know) contrary to the duty of all good subjects, for the enlargement of whose person, and the restitution of her to her dignity, Her Majesty gave me in charge to treat with these lords, assembled at Edenburgh, offering them all reasonable conditions and means as might be, for the safeguåra of the young Prince, the punishment of the late horrible murder, the dissolution of the marriage betwixt the Queen and the Earl of Bodwell, and lastly for their own sureties. In the nego tiation of which matters I have (as Your Lordships well know) spent a long time to no purpose, not being able to prevail in any thing with those lords to the Queen my sovereign's satisfaction. Of which strange proceedings towards