Your advertisement of that happy remove hath been greatly comfortable unto me. I will not say, in respect of myself, because my private interest hath no measure of comparison with Her Majesty's safety, and with the quiet of this realm. God grant a happy and speedy yssue to these good and godly counsels; and so I commit you to his merciful protection. From Chartley, the 10th of September, 1586.

No. XLIX. (p. 268.)

Letter from the King of Scots to Mr. Archibald Douglas, his Ambassador in England, October, 1586.

[Cott. Lib. Calig. C. 9. An original in the king's hand.]

RESERVE Up yourself na langer in the earnest dealing for my mother, for ye have done it too long; and think not that any your travellis can do goode if hir lyfe be takin, for then adeu with my dealing with thaime that are the special instrumentis thairof; and theirfore, gif ye looke for the contineuance of my favour towartis you, spair na pains nor plainnes in this cace, but reade my letter wrettin to Williame Keith, and conform yourself quhollie to the contentis thairof, and in this requeist let me reap the fruictis of your great credit there, ather now or never. Fairwell. October, 1586.

Letter to Sir William Keith, Ambassador in England, probably from Secretary Maitland, Nov. 27, 1586.

[A copy in the Collect. of Sir A. Dick. Vol. A. fol. 219.]

By your letters sent by this bearer (albeit concerning no pleasant subject), His Majesty conceives well of your earnestness and fidelity in your negotiations, as also of Mr. Archibald's activity and diligence, whom you so greatly praise and recommend, I wish the issue correspond to His Majesty's opinion, your care and travell, and his great diligence as you write. His Majesty takes this rigorous proceeding against his mother deeply in heart, as a matter greatly concerning him both in honour and otherwise. His Highnesses actions and behaviour utter plainly not only how far nature prevails, but also how he apprehends of the sequel of that process, and of what moment he esteems it. There is an ambassade shortly to be directed, wherein will be employed an Earl and two counsellors, on whose answer will depend the continuance or dissolution of the amity and good intelligence between the Princes of this isle. In the mean season, if farther extremity be used, and His Majesty's suit and request disdained, His Highness will think himself dishonoured and contemned far besides his expectation and deserts. Ye may perceive His Majesty's disposition by his letter to you, which you shall impart to Mr. Archibald, and both deal according thereto. I need not to recommend to you care, concerning your master's service both in weill and in honour. As you and your colleague shall behave yourself in this behalf, so for my own part will I interpret your affection to your master. I am glad of that I hear of yourseif, and I do fully credit that you write of Mr. Archibald, whose friends here make great account of his professed devotion to the Queen, besides the duty he owes to the King's Majesty her son. Farther I am constrained to remit to next occasion, having scarce time to scribble these few lines (which of themselves may bear witness of my haste). Wishing you a prosperous issue of your negociation, I commit you, &c. Halyrudhouse, Novr. 27th, 1586.

The people, and all estates here are so far moved by the rigorous proceedings against the Queen, that His Majesty, and all that have credit are importuned, may not go abroad for exclamations against them, and imprecations against the Queen of England.

and

No. L. (p. 269.)

To the King's Majesty, from Mr. Archibald Douglas.

[16 Oct. 1586. From the original in the Collect, of Sir A. Dick. Vol. B. fol. 324.]

PLEASE Your Majesty, I received your letter of the date the 28th of September, the 5th of October, which was the same day that I directed Wm. Murray towards Your Highness; by such letters as he carried, and others of several dates, Your Majesty may perceive that I had omitted nothing so far as my travel might reach unto, anent the performing of the two chief points contained in the said letter befor the receipt thereof, which by these presents I must repeat for answering of the saidis. As to the first, so far as may concern the interceding for the Queen Your Majesty's mother her life, I have divers times, and in every audience, travelled with this Queen in that matter, specially to know what her full determination must be in that point, and could never bring her to any further answer, but that this proceeding against her by order of justice was no less against her mind, than against their will that loved her best as towards her life she could give no answer thereunto, untill such time as the law hath declared whether she was innocent or guilty. Herewithal it was her pleasure thus far to inform me, that it was a number of the associants that earnestly pressed her that the law might proceed against her, giving reasons that so long as she was suffered to deal in matters, so long would never this realm be in quiet, neither her life, neither this state in assurance, and in the end they used this protestation, that if she would not in this matter follow their advice, that they should remain without all blame whatsoever should fall out; whereupon she had granted them liberty to proceed, lest such as had made the request might hereafter have charged herself with inconvenience if any should happen.

And by myself I know this her speech to be true, because both Papist and Protestant has behaved them, as it hath been her pleasure to declare, but upon divers respects, the one to avoid suspicion that otherwise was conceived against them, the other upon zeal, and care that they will be known to have for preser vation of their sovereign's life and state in this perilous time, upon consideration whereof, I have been constrained to enter into some dealing with both, wherewith I made Her Majesty acquainted; the Protestants, and such as in other matters will be known to bear no small favour unto Your Majesty's service, hath prayed that they may be excused from any dealing in the contrary of that, which by their oath they have avowed, and by their speech to their sovereign requested for, and that before my coming in this country; if they should now otherwise do, it would produce no better effect but to make them subject to the accusation of their sovereign, when it should please her to do it, of their inconstancy, in giving councell whereby they might incur the danger of ill councellors, and be consequent worthy of punishment. Such of the Papists as I did deal with, went immediately, and told Her Majesty what I had spoken to them, who albeit she understood the matter of before, sent for me, and declared to me my own speech that I had uttered to them, willing me for the weil of my maister's service to abstain from dealing with such, as were not yet sufficiently moved to think of my master as she did. I craved leave of Her Majesty, that 1 might inform them of Your Majesty's late behaviour towards her, and the state of this realm, whereunto with some difficulty she gave her consent. At my late departure from court, which was upon the 5th of this instant, and the day after that the lords of this grand jury had taken their leaves of Her Majesty to go northward to Fothringham, it was her pleasure to promise to have further speech in this matter at the returning of the said lords, and to give full answer according to Your Majesty's contentment to the remainder matters, that I had proponit in name of Your Majesty. As to the 2d part concerning the association, and desire that the promise made to the Master of Gray concerning Your Majesty's title may be fulfilled ; be fulfilled; it appears by the said letter, that the very point whereupon the question that may bring Your Majesty's title in doubt, hath not been rightly at the writing of the said letter considered, which I take to have proceeded for lack of reading of the act of parliament, wherein is fulfilled all the

promise made by the Queen to the said Master, and nothing may now cause any doubt to arise againt your said title, except that an opinion should be conceived by these lords of this Parliament that are so vehement at this time against the Queen Your Majesty's mother, that Your Majesty is, or may be proved hereafter assenting to her proceedings, and some that love Your Majesty's service were of that opinion that too earnest request might move a ground whereupon suspicions might grow in men so ill affected in that matter, which I tho't might be helped by obtaining of a declaration in parliament of Your Majesty's innocence at this time, and by reason that good nature and public honesty would constrain you to intercede for the Queen your mother, which would carry with itself, without any further, some suspicion that might move ill affected men to doubt. In my former letters I humbly craved of Your Majesty that some learned men in the laws might be moved to advise with the words of the association, and the mitigation contained in the act of parliament, and withall to advise what suspicious effects Your Majesty's request might work in these choleric men at this time, and how their minds might be best moved to receive reason ; and upon all these considerations they might have formed the words of a declarator of Your Majesty's innocence to be obtained in this parliament, and failing thereof, the very words of a protestation for the same effect that might best serve for Your Majesty's service, and for my better information. Albeit this was my simple opinion, I shall be contented to follow any direction it shall please Your Majesty to give; I have already opened the substance hereof to the Queen of this realm, who seems not to be offended herewith, and hath granted liberty to deal therein with such of the parliament as may remain in any doubt of mind. This being the sum of my proceedings in this matter, besides the remainder, contained in other letters of several dates, I am constrained to lay the whole open before Your Majesty, and to humbly pray that full information may be sent unto me what further to do herein; in this middle time, while I shall receive more ample direction I shall proceed and be doing according to such direction as I have already received. And so most gracious sovereign, wishing unto Your Majesty all happy success in your affairs, I humbly take my leave from London, this 16th of October, 1586. Your Majesty's most humble subject and obedt servant.

A Memorial for His Majesty by the Master of Gray.

[12th Jan. 1586. An original in his own hand in the Collect. of Sir A. Dick. Vol, A. fol. 222.]

Ir will please Your Majesty I have tho't meeter to set down all things as they occur, and all advertisements as they came to my ears, then jointly in a lettre. I came to Vare the 24th of Decr. and sent to Wm. Keith and Mr. Archibald Douglas to advertise the Queen of it, like as they did at their audience. She promised the Queen Your Majesty's mother's life should be spared till we were heard. The 27th they came to Vare to me, the which day Sir Robt, came to Vare, where they showed us how far they had already gone in their negociation, but for that the discourse of it is set down in our general letter, I remit me to it, only this far I will testify unto Your Majesty that Wm. Keith hath used himselt right honestly and wisely till our coming, respecting all circumstances, and chiefly his colleague his dealing, which indeed is not better than Your Majesty knows already.

The 29th day of Decr. we came to London, where we were no ways friendly received, nor after the honest sort it had pleased Your Majesty use her ambassadors; never man sent to welcome or convey us. The same day we understood of Mr. de Bellievre his leave taking, and for that the custom permitted not we sent our excuses by Mr. George Young.

The 1st day of Janty. Wm. Keith and his colleague according to the custom sent to crave our audience. We received the answer contained in the general letter, and could not have answer till the 6th day, what was done that day Your Majesty has it in the general, yet we was not out of esperance at that time, albeit we received hard answers.

The 8th day we speak with the Earl of Leicester, where our conferrence was, as is set down in the general. I remarked this, that he that day said plainly VOL. III.-55

the detaining of the Queen of Scotland prisoner was for that, she pretended a succession to this crown. Judge then by this what is tho't of Your Majesty, as ye shall hear a little after.

The 9th day we speak with the French ambassador, whom we find very plain in making to us a wise discourse of all his proceedings, and Mr. de Bellievre we thanked him in Your Majesty's name, and opened such things as we had to treat with this Queen, save the last point, as more largely set down by our general. It is tho't here, and some friends of Your Majesty's advised me, that Bellievre his negociation was not effectual, and that the resident was not privy to it, as indeed I think is true, for since Bellievre his perting, there is a talk of this Chasteauneuf his servants taken with his whole papers and pacquets, which he was sending in France, for that they charge him with a conspiracy of late against the Queen here her life. It is alledged his servant has confessed the matter, but whom I shall trust I know not, but till I see proof I shall account him an honest man, for indeed so he appears, and one (without doubt) who hath been very instant in this matter. I show him that the Queen and Earl of Leicester had desired to speak with me in private, and craved his opinion; he gave it freely that he tho't it meetest, I shew him the reason why I communicate that to him, for that I had been suspected by some of Her Majesty's friends in France to have done evil offices in her service, that he should be my witness that my earnest lealing in this should be a sufficient testimony that all was lies, and that this knave Naué who now had betrayed her, had in that done evil offices: ye desired me, seeing she saw only with other folks eyes, that I should no ways impute it to her, for the like she had done to himself by Naué his persuasion. I answered he should be my witness in that.

The 9th day we sent to court to crave audience, which we got the 10th day; at the first, she said a thing long looked for should be welcome when it comes, I would now see your master's offers. I answered, no man makes offers but for >some cause; we would, and like Your Majesty, first know the cause to be extant for which we offer, and likewise that it be extant till Your Majesty has heard us. I think it be extant yet, but I will not promise for an hour, but you think to shift in that sort. I answered, we mind not to shift, but to offer from our sovereign all things that with reason may be; and in special, we offered as is set down in our general, all was refused and tho't nothing. She called on the three that were in the house, the Earl of Leicester, my Lord Admiral, and Cham berlain, and very despitefully repeated all our offers in presence of them all. 1 opened the last part, and said, Madam, for what respect is it that men deal against your person or estate for her cause ? She answered, because they think she shall succeed to me, and for that she is a Papist; appearingly said I both the causes may be removed, she said she would be glad to understand it. If, Madam, said I, all that she has of right of succession were in the King our sovereign's person, were not all hope of Papists removed? She answered, I hope so. Then, Madam, I think the Queen his mother shall willingly demit all her rights in his person. She answered, she hath no right, for she is declared unhabil. Then I said, if she have no right, appearingly the hope ceases already, so that it is not to be feared that any man attempt for her. The Queen answered, but the Papists allow not our declaration; then let it fall, says I, in the King's person by her assignation. The Earl of Leicester answered, she is a prisoner, how can she demit? I answered, the demission is to her son, by the advice of all the friends she has in Europe, and in case, as God forbid, that any attempt cuttis the Queen here away, who shall party with her to prove the demission or assignation to be ineffectual, her son being opposite party, and having all the Princes her friends for him, having bonded for the efficacy of it with His Majesty of before? The Queen made as she could not comprehend my meaning, and Sir Robt. opened the matter again, she yet made as tho' she understood not. So the Earl of Leicester answered that our meaning was, that the King should be put in his mother's place. Is it so, the Queen answered, then I put myself in a worse case than of before: by God's passion, that were to cut my own throat, and for a dutchy or an earldom to yourself you or such as you would cause some of your desperate knaves kill me. No, by God, he shall never be in that place, I answered, he craves nothing of Your Majesty but only of his mother. The Earl of Leicester answered, that were to make him party to the Queen my mis

tress. I said, he will be far more party, if he be in her place through her death. She would stay no longer, but said she would not have a worse in his mother's place. And said, tell your King what good I have done for him in holding the crown on his head since he was born, and that I mind to keep the league that now stands between us, and if he break it shall be a double fault, and with this minded to have bidden us a farewell; but we achevit [i. e. finished arguing upon this point]. And I spake craving of her that her life may be spared for 15 days; she refused. Sir Robt, craved for only eight days; she said, not for an hour; and so geid her away. Your Majesty sees we have delivered all we had for offers, but all is for nothing, for she and her councel has laid a determination that they mind to follow forth, and I see it comes rather of her council than herself, which I like the worse; for without doubt, Sir, it shall cut off all friendship ye had here. Altho' it were that once they had meaned well to Your Majesty, yet remembring themselves, that they have medled with your mother's blood, good faith they cannot hope great good of yourself, a thing in truth I am sorry for; further Your Majesty may perceive by this last discourse of that I proponit, if they had meaned well to Your Majesty they had used it otherwise than they have done, for reason has bound them. But I dare not write all. I mind something to speak in this matter, because we look shurly our letters shall be trussit by the way.

For that I see private credit nor no means can alter their determination, altho’ the Queen again and the Earl of Leicester has desired to speak with me in particular; I mind not to speak, nor shall not; but assuredly shall let all men see that I in particular was no ways tyed to England, but for the respect of Your Majesty's service. So albeit, at this time I could not effectuate that I desired, yet my upright dealing in it shall be manifested to the world. We are, God willing, then to crave audience, where we mind to use sharply our instructions, which hitherto we have used very calmly; for we can, for your honour's cause, say no less for Your Majesty, than the French ambassador has said for his master. So I pray Your Majesty consider my upright dealing in your service, and not the effect; for had it been doable [i. e. possible to be done] by any I might have here had credit; but being I came only for that cause, I will not my credit shall serve here to any further purpose. I pray God preserve Your Majesty, and send you a true and sincere friendship. From London this 12th of Jan. 1586 I understand the Queen is to send one of her own to Your Majesty.

To the Right Hon. my Lord Vice-Chancellor and Secretary to His Majesty, from the Master of Gray.

[12th Jan. 1586. An original in the Collect. of Sir A. Dick. Vol. A. fol. 179.}

My Lord, I send you these lines with this inclosed to His Majesty, whereby Your Lordship shall understand how matters goes here. And before all things I pray Your Lordship move His Majesty to respect my diligence, and not the effect in this negotiation, for I swear if it had been for the crown of England to myself I could do no more, and let not unfriends have advantage of me, for the world shall see that I loved England for His Majesty's service only. I look shortly to find Your Lordship friend as ye made promise, and by God I shall be to you if I can. Wm. Keith and I devyset, if matters had gone well, to have run a course that Your Lordship might have here been in credit and others disappointed, but now I will do for you as for myself; which is to care for no credit here, for in conscience they mean not honestly to the King our sovereign, and if they may, he will go the get his mother is gone, or shortly to go, therefore My Lord, without all kind of scruple I pray you to advise him the best is not this way. They say here, that it has been said by one who heard it from you, that ye desired not the King and England to agree, because it would rack the noblemen, and gave an example of it by King James the Fourt. I answered in your name that I was assured you never had spoken it. Mr. Archibald is the speaker of it, who I assure Your Lordship has been a poison in this matter, for they lean very mickle to his opinion. He cares not, he says, for at length the King will be fain to deal this way, either by fair means or necessity, so that when he deals this course he is assured to be welcome; to set down all that is past of the like