liberty to resort to His Serene Majesty without suspicion of greater guards or more armed men about his person than the use was, that they be not affraid and hindered to resort; and further that the Segnieur de la Motte Fenelon sall liberally and freely speak to the said Serene King and council, requiring the reestablishing of that that may or hath been changed or altered.

And that he may know if the principalls of the nobility and other men of good behaviour of the towns and commonality of the contry conveens, and are content with the form of government presently with the said Serene King, to the end that if their be any miscontent he may travaile to agree them together, and that he return not without the certainty of the samine.

And if he may understand that there be any who have not used them so reverently towards the said Serene King their sovereign Lord, as the duty of their obedience required, that he may pray on this behalf of His Majesty Most Christian the said Serene King his good brother, giving him councill wholly to forget the same, and exhorting them to do their duty towards his Majesty, in time coming, in all respects with the obedience and true subjection they ought him.

And if the said Segnieur de la Motte perceves the said Serene King to be in any manner constrained of his person, authority, liberty, and disposition of his affairs, than he used to be, and not convenient for his royal dignity, or as the sovereignty of a Prince doth require, that he use all moyen lawful and honest to place him in the samine, and that he employ as much as the credit of His Most Christian Majesty may do toward the nobility and subjects of that contry, and as much as may his name, with the name of his crown towards the Scottish nation, the which he loves and confides in as much as they were proper Frenchmen.

And that he wittness to the said Serene King, and his estates, of his consent, and to all the nobility and principall personages of the contry, that His Most Christian Majestie will continue on his part in the most ancient alliance and confederacy, which he hath had with the said Serene King his good brother, praying his nobility and contry, with his principall subjects, to persevere in the samine, in all good understanding and friendship with him; the which, on his part, he shall do, observing the samine most inviolable.

Further His Most Christian Majesty understanding that the Serene King his good brother was contented with the Duke of Lenox, and his servise, the said Šignieur de La Motte had charge to pray His Serene Majesty that he might remaine beside him to his contentment, believing that he should more willing intertain the points of love and confederace, betwixt Their Majestys and their contrys, because he was a good subject to them both; and if he might not remain, without some alteration of the tranquility of his estate, that he might retire him to his own house in the said contry, in surenes, or if he pleased to return to France that he might surely and if it pleases His Serene Majesty, to cause cease and stay the impeachments, that are made of new upon the frontiers, to the effect that the natural Frenchmen may enter as freely into the contry, as they were wont to do of before.

And that there may be no purpose of diffamation, nor no speech but honourable of the Most Christian King, in that contry, but such like as is spoken most honourably of the Serene King of Scotland in France.

He had another head to propone, which he concealed till a little before his departure, to wit, that the Queen, the King's mother, was content to receive her son in association of the kingdom.

No. XLIII. (p. 249.)

Lord Hunsdane to Sir Francis Walsingham, the 14th of August, 1584 from Berwick.

ACCORDING to my former letters, touching my meeting with the Earl of Arran upon Wednesday last, there came hither to me from the Earle, the justice clerk, and Sir William Stuart, Captain of Dumbarton, both of the King's privie

council, to treat with me about the order of our meeting, referring wholly to me to appoint the hour, and the number we should meet withal; so as we concluded the place to be Foulden, the hour to be ten o'clock, and the number with ourselves to be 13 of a side; and the rest of our troops to stand each of them a mile from the town; the one on the one side, the other on the other side, so as our troops were two miles asunder; I was not many horsemen, but I supplied it with footmen, where I had 100 shot on horse, but they were very near 500 horse well appointed: According to which appointment, we met yesterday, and after some congratulations, the Earle fell in the like protestations of his good will and readiness to serve the Queen's Majesty, before any prince in the world, next his sovereign, as he had done heretofore by his letters, and rather more; with such earnest vows, as unless he be worse than a devil, Her Majesty may dispose of him at her pleasure; this being ended, I entered with him touching the cause I had to deal with him, and so near as I could, left nothing unrehearsed that I had to charge the King or him with any unkind dealing towards Her Majesty, according to my instructions, which without any delay he answered presently, as ye shall perceive by the said answer sent herewith; but I replying unto him, he amplified them with many moe circumstances, but to this effect: Then I dealt with him touching the point of Her Majesty's satisfaction, for the uttering such practices as has been lately set on foot for the disquieting of Her Majesty and her estate, who thereof made sundry discourses, what marriages have been offered to His Majestie by sundrie Princes, and by what means the Earle has sought to divert them, and for what causes: the one, for that be marriage with Spain or France, he must also alter his religion, which as he is sure the King will never doe, so will he never suffer him to hearken unto it, so long as he hath any credit with him; he denys not but the King has been dealt withal be practices to deal against Her Majesty, which he has so far denied and refused to enter into, as they have left dealing therein, but whatsoever the king or he knoweth therein, there shall be nothing hidden from Her Majesty, as Her Majesty shall know very shortly; surely it seems by his speeches, that if the King would have yielded thereunto, there had been no small company of French in Scotland ere now to disquiet Her Majesty. This being ended, I dealt with him earnestly for the stay of this Parliament, which now approacheth; or at the least that there may be nothing done therein, to the prejudice of these noblemen and others now in England, for the forfaulting of their livings and goods: hereupon he made a long discourse to me, first of the Earl of Angus dealing about the Earl of Morton, then of his going out, notwithstanding of sundrie gracious offers the King had made him, then of the road of Ruthven, how that presently after they had the King's Majesty in their hands, they imprisoned himself, dealt with the King for putting of the Duke out of the realme, the King refused so to do, they told him plainly that if he would not he should have the Earl of Arran's head in a dish; the King asked what offence the Earle had made? and they answered it must be so, and should be so; hereupon for the safeguard of Arran's life, the King was content to send away the Duke, and yet Arran afterwards sundrie times in danger of his life; I alledged unto him the king's letter to the Queen's Majesty, and his acts in council, that they had done nothing but for his servise, and with his good liking and contentment, who answered me, he durst do no otherwise, nor could not do any thing but that which pleased them, with such a number of other their dealings with the King whilest he was in their hands as are too long to be written, and too bad if they were true; I said the King might have let the Queen's Majesty's ambassador have known his mind secretly, and Her Majesty would have relieved him; he answered, that the King was not ignorant that the apprehensions in that manner proceeded from Mr. Bow's practice, and thereby durst not impart so much to him, and yet the King was content, and did give remission to as many as would acknowledge their faults, and ask remission, and such as would not, he thought fit to banish, to try their further loyalty, in which time they conspired the King's second apprehension, and the killing of the Earle, and others, and seduced the ministers to their faction, and yet not satisfied with the conspiracies and treasonable dealings (as he terms them), are entered into a third, being in England under Her Majesty's protection to dishonour Her Majesty as far as in them lieth, or at least to cause the VOL. III.-53

4.

King conceive some unkindness in Her Majesty, for harbouring of them; wrote to yow what the conspiracy was, the taking of the King, the killing of the Earle of Arran, and some others, the taking of the castle of Edin', and bringing home the Earles to take the charge of the King; all which (says he) is by Drummond confessed, and by the provost of Glencudden not greatly denied, and the Constable of the Castle thereupon fled; the Earl brought Drummond with him as far as Langton, where he lay, to have confessed the conspiracy before me, but having at his lighting received a blow on his leg with a horse, so as he could bring him no further, I replied that I thought verily they would not work any such practices in respect of the Queen's Majesty, abiding within her realme, and if there be any such practices they have proceeded from others, and they not privie unto them; and that if it be not apparently proved against them, that it will be thought to be some practice to aggravate the fault, and to make them the more odious to the King. He answered me, that it should be proved so sufficiently, that they should not be able with truth to deny it, for their own hands is to be showed to part of it, and therefore concluded, that if Her Majesty should so press the King for them at this time that would rather hinder this matter of the amity, nor further it, and that since they seek chiefly his life, he could not, in any reason, seek to do them any good; and besides he assured me, that if he would, he dared not, this last matter being fallen out, as it is; and surely if this matter had not fallen out, I would not have doubted the restoring of the Earl of Mar very shortly, if Her Majesty would have employed me therein, but for the Earl of Angus, I perceive the King is persuaded that both he, and the rest of the Douglasses, have conceived so mortall an hatred against him and the Earl of Arran, about the death of the Earl of Morton, as if they were at home, tomorrow next, they would not leave to practise and conspire the death of them both, and therefore a hard matter to do any thing for him: finally, he concluded and required me to assure Her Majesty from the King, that there shall nothing be hid from her, nor any thing left undone that may satisfie Her Majesty with reason, and that the King shall never do any thing, nor consent to have any thing done in her prejudice, so long as he had any credit with him, or authority under him. Having this far proceeded, he desired to show me his commission, which is under the great seal, to himself only, which is as large as may be, and yet sundrie of the privie councel there with him, but not one in commission, nor present, nor near us all this time, having spent almost five hours in these matters; he presented to me the Master of Gray, who delivered to me a letter from the King in his commendation, whom I perceive the King means to send to Her Majesty, and therefore requires a safe-conduct for his passage, which I pray yow procure, and to send it so soon as you may. I let him understand of the Lord Seaton's negociation with the French King. He swore to me, that Seaton was but a knave, and that it was partly against his will, that he should be sent thither. But his commission and instruction being of no great importance, he yielded the sooner; and if Seaton was gone beyond his instructions, which Arran drew himself, he will make Seaton smart for it. Touching William Newgate and Mark Golgan, he protested he never heard of any such; he says there was a little poor soul, with a black beard, come thither a-begging, who said he was an enemy to Desmond, to whom he gave a croun, but never heard of him since, and for any Scots man going into Ireland, he says there is no such matter; if there be, there may be some few raskals that he knows not of; and touching the coming of any Jesuits into Scotland, he says it is but the slanderous devise of the King's enemys, and such as would have the world believe the King were ready to revolt in religion, who the world shall well see will continue as constant therein, as what Prince soever professed it most: and the Earle himself dos protest to me, that to his knowledge, he never saw a Jesuit in his life, and did assure me if there was any in Scotland, they should not do so much harm in Scotland, as their ministers would do, if they preach such doctrine as they did in Scotland; and touching one Ballanden, of whem I wrote to yow, I heard from Mr. Colvil, the Earle avows constantly that he knows not, nor hath not heard of any such man, but he would inquire at the Justice clerk, and would inform me what he could learn of that: thus I have made yow as short a discourse as I can of so many matters, so long discoursed upon, but these are the

principal points of all our talk, so near as I can remember it, and for this time I commit yow to the Almighty. At Berwick the 14th of August, 1584.

The King is very desirous to have

my son Robert Carrie to come to him.

1 pray yow know Her Majesty's pleasure.

Arran's Answers to the Grieffs or Articles proponed to the Lord Hunsdane, set down in another Form.

As to the strait and severe persecution of all such, as have been noted to have been well affected to the Queen's Majesty, it cannot appear they were either for that cause punished, or hardly dealt with, since His Majesty of late has been so careful and diligent to choice out good instruments to deal betwixt Her Majesty and him, as His Majesty has done in electing of Your Lordship and me: besides that in all their accusations, their good will and affection born to Her Majesty was, at no time, laid to their charge, but capital actions of treason many way tried now be the whole three estates, and more than manifest to the world.

As for His Majesty inhibiting, by public proclamation, such as were banished, not to repair in England; the bruits and whisperings that came to His Majesty's ears of their conspiracies and treasons, which since syn they accomplished, so far as in them lay, moved His Majesty to inhibit them to repair to any place, so near His Majesty's realm, lest they should have attempted these things, which shortly they did attempt, being farther off, and more distant both by sea and land.

As for reception of Jesuits, and others, Her Majesty's fugitives, and not delivering them according to his promise, as Your Lordship propones, His Majesty would be most glad, that so it might fall out by Your Lordship's traviles, that no fugitive of either realme should be received of either, and when so shall be, it shall not fail on His Majesty's part, albeit in very deed this time bygone His Majesty has been constrained to receipt Her Majesty's mean rebells and fugitives, contrar his good naturall, since Her Majesty hath receipt, in effect, the whole and greatest rebells and traitors His Majesty in his own blood ever had; as for the agreement with His Majesty's mother anent their association, His Majesty has commanded me, in presence of your Lordship's servant, to assure Her Majesty and Your Lordship, in His Majesty's name, that it is altogether false, and an untruth, nor any such like matter done yet.

His Majesty has also commanded me to assure Your Lordship, that it is also false and untrue, that His Majesty has, by any means direct or indirect, sent any message to the Pope, or received any from him; or that His Majesty has dealt with Spain or any foreigners, to harm Her Majesty or her realm, which His Majesty could have no honour to do, this good intelligence taking place, as I hope in God it shall.

As concerning the contemptuous usage of Her Majesty's ministers sent unto His Majesty, His Majesty used none of them so, and if His Majesty had, sufficient cause was given by them, as some of their own writs do yet testify; as I more particularly showed Your Lordship at Foulden at our late meeting.

No. XLIV. (p. 251.)

The Scottish Queen's Offers upon the Effect of Her Liberty propounded by her Secretary Naw, November, 1584.

[Cott. Lib. Calig. c. viii. A Copy.]

THE Queen my mistress being once well assured of Your Majesty's amity, 1. Will declare openly that she will (as it is sincerely her meaning) straitly to join unto Your Majesty, and to the same to yield and bear the chief honour and respect, before all other Kings and Princes in Christendom.

2. She will swear, and protest solemnly, a sincere forgetfullness of all wrongs which she may pretend to have been done unto her in this realm, and will never in any sort or manner whatsoever, show offence for the same.

3. She will avow and acknowledge, as well in her own particular name, as

also for her heirs and others descending of her for ever, Your Majesty, for just, true, and lawful Queen of England.

4. And consequently, will renounce, as well for herself as for her said heirs, all rights and pretences which she may claim to the crown of England, during Your Majesty's life, and other prejudice.

5. She will revoke all acts and shews, by her heretofore made, of pretence to this said crown to the prejudice of Your Majesty, as may be the taking of the arms and stile of Queen of England, by the commandment of King Francis her late lord and husband.

6. She will renounce the Pope's bull for so much as may be expounded to turn in her favour, or for her behoof, touching the deprivation of Your Majesty, and will declare that she will never help and serve herself with it.

7. She will not prosecute, during Your Majesty's life, by open force or otherways, any public declaration of her right in the succession of this realm, so as secret assurance be given unto her, or at the least public promise, that no deciding thereof shall be made in the prejudice of her, or of the King her son, during Your Majesty's life, nor after your decease, untill such time as they have been heard thereupon, in publick, free, and general assembly of the Parliament of the said realm.

8. She will not practise, directly or indirectly, with any of Your Majesty's subjects, neither within nor out of your realm, any thing tending to war, civil or foreign, against Your Majesty and your estate, be it under pretext of religion, or for civil and politick government.

9. She will not maintain or support any of your subjects declared rebels, and convicted of treason against you.

10. She will enter into the association, which was showed her at Wingfield for the surety of Your Majesty's life, so as there be mended or right explicated some clauses which I will show to Your Majesty, when I shall have the copy thereof, as I have before time required.

11 She will not treat with foreign Kings and Princes, for any war or trouble against this state, and will renounce from this time, all enterprises made or to be made in her favour for that respect.

12. Furthermore, this realm being assailed by any civil or foreign war, she will take part with Your Majesty, and will assist you in your defence with all her forces and means, depending of herself with all her friends of Christendom. 13. And to that effect, for the mutual defence and maintenance of Your Majesty, and the two realms of this isle, she will enter with Your Majesty in a league defensive as shall be more particularly advised, and will perswade as much as in her, the King her son to do the like. The leagues with all parts abroad remaining firm, and especially the antient league between France and Scotland, in that which shall not be against this present.

14. She will enter into a league offensive, having good assurance or secret declaration and acknowledgment of her right in the succession of this crown, and promise that happening any breach betwixt France and this realm, (which she prayeth God never to happen,) the just value of her dowry shall be placed for her in lands of the revenue of the crown.

15. For assurances of her promises and covenants, she doth offer to abide herself in this realm for a certain time, (better hostage can she not give than her own person,) which, so as she be kept in the liberty here before propounded, is not in case to escape secretly out of this country, in the sickly state she is in, and with the good order which Your Majesty can take therein.

16. And in case Your Majesty do agree to her full and whole deliverance, tc retire herself at her will out of this realm, the said Queen of Scots she will give sufficient hostage for such time as will be advised.

17. If she abide in this realm, she will promise not to depart out of it without your licence, so as it be promised unto her that her state, in such liberty as shall be accorded unto her shall not be in any sort altered, untill after tryall to have attempted against your life, or other trouble of your estate.

18. If she go into Scotland, she will promise to alter nothing there in the religion which is now used there, she being suffered to have the exercise of hers, for her and her household, as it was at her return out of France; and further, to pull out every root of new division between the subjects, that none