Attorneys place p. 20. Sir Francis Bacon to Sir George Cary in France upon sending him his Writing In foelicem memoriam Elizabethae p. 21. A Letter to Sir George Villiers touching the difference between the Courts of Chancery and Kings Bench. p. 22. Sir Francis Bacon to the King concerning the Praemunire in the Kings Bench against the Chancery p. 23. A Letter to the King touching matter of Revenue and Profit p. 27. Sir Francis Bacon the Kings Attorney to the King touching the proceeding with Somerset p. 28. Sir Francis Bacon the Kings Attorney to Sir George Villiers concerning the proceeding with Somerset p. 30. Sir Francis Bacon the Kings Attorney giving account of an Examination taken of Somerset at the Tower p. 32. Sir Francis Bacon the Kings Attorney to Sir George Villiers touching the proceeding with Somerset p. 34. Sir Francis Bacon the Kings Attorney to Sir George Villiers of Account and Advice to His Majesty touching Somerset's Arraignment p. 35. Sir Francis Bacon the Kings Attorney and some great Lords Commissioners concerning the perswasion used to the Lord of Somerset to a frank Consession p. 36. Sir Francis Bacon to the King upon some inclination of His Majesty signified to him for the Chancellors place p. 38. Sir Francis Bacon the Kings Attorney returned with Postils of the Kings own Hand p. 39. The Copy of a Letter conceived to be written to the late Duke of Buckingham when he first became a Favourite to King James by Sir Francis Bacon afterwards Lord Verulam and Viscount St. Alban Containing some Advices to the Duke for his better direction in that eminent place of the Favourite Drawn from him at the intreaty of the Duke himself by much importunity p. 43. Sir Francis Bacon to Sir George Villiers of Advice concerning Ireland from Gorambury to Windsor p. 67. Sir Francis Bacon the Kings Attorney General to the Master of the Horse upon the sending of his Bill for Viscount sc. p. 69. Sir Francis Bacon to Sir George Villiers upon the sending his Pattent for Uiscount Villiers to be Signed p. 70. Sir Francis Bacon to the King about a Certificate of my Lord Coke's p. 72. A Letter to the King touching the Lord Chancellors place ibid. A Letter to the King of my Lord Chancellors amendment and the difference begun between the Chancery and Kings Bench. p. 75. Sir Francis Bacon the Kings Attorney to the King giving some account touching the Commendams p. 76. Sir Francis Bacon his Advertisement touching an Holy War to the Right Reverend Father in God Lancelot Andrews Lord Bishop of Winchester and Councellor of Estate to His Majesty p. 78. Sir Francis Bacon to the King about the Pardon of the Parliaments Sentence p. 81. Sir Francis Bacon to King James of a Digest to be made of the Laws of England p. 82. Sir Francis Bacon to the Right Honourabl◠〈◊〉 very good Lord the Earl of Devonshire Lord Lieutenant of 〈◊〉 p. 87. A Discourse touching Helps for the intellectual Powers by Sir Francis Bacon p. 97. Sir Francis Bacon to the King p. 101. C. Certain Copies of Letters written by Sir William Cecil Knight Secretary of Estate to Queen Elizabeth to Sir Henry Norris Knight Ambassador for the said Queen Resident in France Beginning the 10th of February 1566. and ending the 26th of September 15â—0 p. 105. The Lord Coke to King James touching trial of Duels out of England p. 193. H. The History of the Reign of King Henry the Eighth King Edward the Sixth Queen Mary and part of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth p. 194. I. A Copy of a Letter from His Majesty to the Lords read at Board Nov. 21. 1617. touching the abatement of His Majesties Houshold Charge p. 198. A Copy of His Majesties second Letter p. 199. A Letter from the King to his Lordship by occasion of a Book It was the Organon p. 200. To Our Trusty and Well-beloved Thomas Coventry Our Attorney-General ibid. S. A Letter written by Sir Philip Sidney unto Queen Elizabeth touching her Marriage with Mounsieur p. 201. My Lord Sanquir 's Case p. 209. My Lady Shrewsburies Case p. 212. T. Sir Nicholas Throckmorton then Ambassador in France to Queen Elizabeth touching a free Passage for the Queen of Scots through England into Scotland p. 214. Books Printed for and sold by G. Bedell and T. Collins Folio's Compleat AMBASSADOR Letters and Negotiations of the Lord Burleigh and Sir Francis Walsingham in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth Collected by Sir Dudly Diggs Bishop Andrews Sermons Halls Politicks Lord Bacons History of King Henry 7th * D'Avila's Civil Wars of France * Bishop Ushers Annals of the World * Titus Livius Roman History in English * Dr. Hammond on the New Testament * Paraphrase on the Psalms * Howe 's Chronicle of England * Lord Hobarts Reports with a large Table by Sir H. Finch * Bulstrodes Reports in Three Parts * Crooks Reports in Three Volumes * Lord Cooks Pleadings in English * Wingats Maxims of the Law * Styles Reports * Leonards Reports Second Part. Quarto's Mountagues Essayes Sennault's Christian Man Potters Number of the Beast 666. Grand Seignieurs Seuaglio Ross against Coparnicus touching the Earths motion French Letters touching His Majesties stedfastness in the Protestant Religion in French and English Character of CHARLES II. Articles or Treaty of Peace betwixt France and Spain Discourse for a King and Parliament Fumi Fugium A Discourse of the Air and Smoak of London by John Evelin Esq Lord Cooks Reading and Denshalls Reading on the Statute of Fines The Judges Arguments on the Liberty of the Subject Three Readings on Wills Jointures and forcible Entry Mr. Durhams Assize Sermon Dr. Thomas his Assize Sermon Playes * D'avenant's Wits * Platonick Lovers * Faithful Shepherdess by Fletcher Marriage of the Arts by Barten Hollyday The Bastard A Tragedy The Martyr A Tragedy The Just General Horratius in English A Tragedy Michaelmas Term. Combate of Love and Friendship Octavo's Gosses Tragedies Lucretius in Latine and English Faushawes La Fida Pastora Duke of Rohans Memoires and Discourses English Hyppolito Isabella Three Romances The Nuptial Lover Triumphant Lady Waterhouse his Apology for Learning Idem His Divine Tracts Idem His Discourse of Arms and Armory Botelers Sermons Compleat on several Subjects Instructions for a Library by Naudeus English Reliquiae Carolinae Dr. Taylors Offices or Liturgy Sheppard of Courts Of Corporations Lambords Archeion White of the Laws Parsons Law the last Edition Claytons Reports Fleetwoods Justice Stones Reading on the Statute of Bankrupts Wingats Body of the Law Noyes Maxims D'avenport's Abridgment of Cook on Littleton Abridgement of Acts. Twelves Compleat Justice Davis's Abridgement of Cooks Reports Tylenus Second Part against Baxter Jacksons Evangelical Temper Of Liberty and Servitude Haywards Edward 6th St. Chrysostom of Education Guuton of External Worship Supplementum Lucani per May. Thuan's Politick Maxims Mayerns Experiments Dr. Stuarts Sermons Ladies Cabinet Gees steps in four and twenties SIR FRANCIS BACON'S Letters c.
principal devisers thereof and if this be not true spir at Gilbert Bafour There were also words added which I am loth to report that touched the Queen of Scots which I hold best to be supprest Further such persons anointed are not to be thought ill of without manifest proof The next day following a second Proclamation was made repeating the former Bill willing the party to subscribe his name and he should be pardoned and have the money according to the first Proclamation The next day being the nineteenth of February a second Bill was set up in the former place offering to compear and avow the matter so as the money might be put into indifferent hands and that Sir Francis Bastine Joseph and Moses Mishe be taken and then he the exhibitor of the Bill would avow the whole matter and declare every mans act Thus far things passed till that day and since that I hear that much unquietness is like to grow about that matter and the common speech toucheth the Earles Bothwell and Huntly who remain with the Queen but how true the accusations are I will not take upon me to affirm the one or the other neither would I have you to utter any of these things to make condemnation of any of them but as reports not doubting but shortly God will cause the truth to be revealed There do adhere together with the Earl of Lenox the Earles of Argile Morton Athell Morrey Catness and Glencarne who mean to be at Edenburgh very shortly as they pretend to search out the malefactors Of late you wrote unto me of one King an Euglishman who doth misuse himself very much of whom if you would write unto me somewhat more particularly for the proof his Traiterous speeches whereby there might be some good ground made how to have him demanded you shall hear more thereof and so shall percase by the next though I do not hear from you and so fare you heartily well Yours assuredly W. Cecil Westm. 5. March 1566. Postscript Because I have not presently leisure to write to Mr. Man Ambassador in Spain I pray you to let him understand of such advertisments as I send you and such other things as you shall think meet And to convey the letters by the Spanish Ambassadors means Resident there in that Court To the Right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR I wrote of late to you that Sir Thomas Smith should come shortly thither but I think he shall not be there now so speedily as was meant for he shall first secretly pass over to Callis to be there the 3. April to demand the Town not that we think the Governour will deliver it But to avoid all Cavillation which they might invent for by Law it must be demanded at the very place and being not delivered the sum of five hundred thousand pounds is forfeited Master Winter shall pass secretly with him to take possession thereof if they shall deceive our expectation but not past three of the Council knoweth of Winters going The common fame in Scotland continueth upon the Earl Bothwell to be the principal Murtherer of the King and the Queens name is not well spoken of God amend all that is amiss We heard before your writing of the French attempt for the Prince We have no news but all well here the matters of Flanders go very hard for the Protestants and if God do not provide for their safety I look for their ruine I heard this day that Danvile should be slain fare you well Yours assuredly W. Cecil Westm. 21. March 1566. To the Right Honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR BY the Queens Majesties letters and by this bearer you shall understand how earnestly her Majesty is inclined to help the Count Rocandolse and since the writing of her Majesties letters she hath commanded me that you should make it a principal part of your request to the King and the Queen mother that considering the Count is a stranger born and is of the Order of France that his cause might be heard and ordered by the King and the others of the same order and to that end you shall prosecute your request that the whole cause may be removed from the Court of Parliament at Paris wherein her Majesty would have you by all good means to persist as in a request that of it self is honorable and sometimes as she thinketh usual At the least such as if any the like person being a stranger in her Realm and being honored with the Order of the Garter if he would require to have his causes wherein his life or honor were touched to be heard by her Majesty and her Knights of her Order he should not be denyed nor should be by any other Judges molested Thus I report to you her Majesties good pleasure and thereto do add my poor private request to beseech you not to be weary in the prosecution of this suit Yours assuredly W. Cecil Westm. 9. March 1567. To the Right Honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight Her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR YEsterday Mr. Smiths Son arrived with some Letters from you and him containing your troublesome negotiation whereof we hear thought very long He saith he was constrained to tarry six days at Hull and that his Father would be here this night you shall hereafter hear of some ill news out of Ireland and though it be not of great moment thanks be to God yet by report of ill friends they wil be amplified Indeed the 21. of April a Fire happened in a little Fort upon the Sea side at a place called the Dirrye which Mr. Randolphe first took in such sort as the houses being all covered with Straw the soldiers were forced to abandon it being two hundred and with their Captain Mr. Sentlo came by Sea to Knockvergus a Castle of the Queens but for all this it is meant to take again the place or a better and to prosecute the Rebel who is in declination The Queen of Scots I think will be wooed to marry the Earl Bothwell the principal of the Nobility are against it and are at Sterling with the Prince Fare ye well and as I wrot by Mr. Shute so assure your self of me as you mean your self to me Yours assuredly W. Cecil May 12. 1567. To the Right Honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR BY your last Letter of I understand of the intelligence was given unto you of preparation of eight Ships to be set out to the Seas which seemeth very strange and therefore the Ambassador here who could not get Audience of the Queens Majesty although he often demanded it since Mr. Smiths return was sent for to come to the Council and was roundly charged with certain depredations committed upon English Merchants in the West and also with this new preparation and therewith warned to advertise his Master
I know your Son Mr. William and other your servants hereto doth advertise you and therefore I pray you to bear with my shortness for I am almost smothered with business We look to hear of the apprehension of more of the Rebels I send you extracts of our letters out of the North as of late time they have come Yours assuredly W. Cecil Windsor-Castle 7. Jan. 1569. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador c. Advertisements from Lyexham 22. Decemb. 1569. THe two Rebellious Rebels went into Liddesdale in Scotland yester-night where Martin Elwood and others that have given pledges to the Regent of Scotland did raise their forces against them being conducted by black Ormeston an Out-law of Scotland that was a principal murtherer of the King of Scots where the fight was offered and both parties lighted from their horses and in the end Elwood said to Ormeston he would be sorry to enter deadly send with him by bloodshed but he would charge him and the rest before the Regent for keeping of the Rebels and it he did not put them out of the Country the next day he would do his worst against them whereupon the two Earls were driven to leave Liddesdale and to flye to one of the Armestronges a Scot upon the batable on the borders between Liddesdale and England the same day the Liddesdale men stole the horses of the Countess of Northumberland and her two women and ten others of their Company so as the Earls being gone the Lady of Northumberland was left there on foot at John of the Sides house in a Cottage not to be compared to many a Dog-kennel in England at their departing from her they went not above fifty horse and the Earl of Westmerland to be the more unknown changed his Coat of Plate and sword with John of the Sides and departed like a Scotish Borderer The rest of the Rebels are partly taken in the West Borders of England and partly spoiled by the English and Scotish Borderers By letters of the 24 The Rebels be driven to change their names their Horses and apparel and to ride like Liddesdale men The Regent of Scotland will be this night upon the Borders of Liddesdale The Earl of Cumberland the Lord Scroop and Mr. Leonard Dacre have shewed themselves very Honorable and diligent in their service at the Rebels entring into the West Marches and upon the scaling of the Rebels there be great numbers of them taken there There be in every of the Marches against Scotland sundry Bands of Horsemen and shot laid if they shall enter into the Realm again By letters of the last of December The Regent of Scotland is gone from Jedworth to Edenburgh and hath taken the Earl of Northumberland and six of his men with him Before his departure from Jedworth he sent for the Gentlemen of Tividale to come before him where all came saving the Lord of Farnehurst and the Lord of Bucklugh whereupon the Regent rode towards them but they hearing thereof suddainly rode away Robert Collingwood Ralph Swynton with others of their company were taken in East Tividale and delivered to the Regent who re-delivered them to their takers and charged them for their safe keeping Egremont Ratcliff with certain with him remain about Liddesdale And it is thought the Countess of Northumberland the Earl of West-merland Norton Markenfield Swynborne and Tempest are removed out Liddesdale to the Lords of Fernhurst and Buckclugh SIR I Doubt not but the report of the cruel murther of the Regent in Scotland will be diversly reported in those parts and diversly also received by some with gladness and by some with grief as I am sure it shall be of you the manner of it was thus as I have been advertised the 22. of the last moneth the Regent coming thorough the Town of Lithgo which is in the midway between Sterling and Edenburgh having in his company about a hundred persons was stricken with a Courrier about the Navell with the Pellet coming out about his Hucklebone which also slew a horse behinde him and of this wound he dyed the next day afterward within night the murtherer was one Hambleton of Bothwell-Hall who lay secretly in a house to attempt this mischief having shut the doors towards the street in such sort as no man could enter on the foreside to take him and so he escaped on the backside where he had a horse to serve his turn although he was pursued what is like to follow miserably to that Land I dare not judge but do fear that the death of so good a man will prove Initium multorum malorum At the writing hereof I know not what is done or intended but some write from thence That the Earls of Marr and Morton and other friends to the young King are come to Edenburgh and do in the Kings name preserve the State and do purpose to have the Land ruled by four Regents and one to be a Lieutenant for the wars to execute their directions a matter more probable in talk than in effect as I shall hereafter understand more so will I write It happend that at this time Sir Henry Gates and the Marshal of Berwick were at Edenburgh having been at Sterling with the Regent the Fryday before for the demanding in the Queens Majesties name of the Earl of Northumberland and other the Rebels and by direction of the Regent they attended at Edenburgh for answer to be given the day of his death which now is as our Lawyers call it sine die Mr. Randolph went from hence towards Scotland the 29. upon knowledge of the hurt and doubt of his life The same day also came Montlnet to her Majesties presence with the French Ambassador bringing his letters dated the 27. of December at which time I think they understand not of the stay of our Rebellion The sum of Montlnets message consisted upon these two heads request for restitution and liberty of the Queen of Scots and a declaration of the Kings inclination to peace with his subjects and their disguising with him by treating and suing for peace and yet amassing of new Forces in Almaine and seeking also to surprise the Kings Towns as Burdeaux and otherlike whereupon the King requireth the Queens Majesty not to favor his Rebels if they should seek any further succours from hence as they have done as persons unworthy of any favor They have made great instance to be answered for the first matter but the Queens Majesty hath hitherto deferred them but I think upon Monday next they shall have audience I forgat to shew you that in the request for the Queen of Scots he desired liberty to go to her and from thence to pass into Scotland which thing would not be granted unto him Upon the death of the Regent the Earl of Sussex and Mr. Sadler were admonished to stay there for that it was thought good that Mr. Sadler should have gone from thence into Scotland
that Business 28. 29. 30 31 32 33 c. His advice to Sir George Villiers concorning Ireland wherein three Propositions are acutely scan'd 1. Touching the Recusant Magistrates of Towns there 2. About roducing the Number of the Council from Fifty to twenty 3. That a means may be found to re-enforce the Army by 500. or 1000. men without increase of Charge 67 68 69. From him to the Duke when he first became a Favourite with somo directions or his demeanor in that eminent place ranked into eight material Heads with an ample and quaint gloss upon each of them most elegantly pen'd 43 44. Again to him upon sending his Pattent for Viscount Villiers with several Avisoes and incidently a Censure of the Cecils the Father and the Son Pag. 70 71. Sends the King a Certificate from the Lord Coke 72. Sends to the King an Essay of History of His Majesties time 9. Desires the History of Brittain may be written for three Observations 7 8. Sixty four years old in Age and three years and five months in misery desires neither means place nor imployment but a total remission of the sentence of the Upper House by the example of Sir John Bennet 81. To the King touching the Plantation of Ireland as formerly of the Union as being Brother thereunto 6. To the Earl of Salisbury touching his Book of the advancement of Learning saying He is but like a Bell-ringer to awake better spirits 9 10. Several Letters to great Personages in sending unto them his Book of advancement of Learning and the presenting of it to the King 10 11. To Dr. Plafer touching the Translating of it into Latine with many excellent Reasons to that Inducement 11 12. To Sir Thomas Bodley upon sending the same Book 13. To divers Friends upon sending unto them some other of his Books 13. 14 15 16. To Mr. Savil touching the Education of Youth and the improving the Intellectual Powers Pag. 17. A Factious Book stiling the Queen Misera Faemina the addition of the Popes Bull. 21. The business of the Commendams and the carriage of the Judges therein related to the King 76 77. Three Examples of great Calamity Demosthenes Cicero and Seneca A Discourse concerning his own Books 78 79 80. A learned and ample Discourse touching a Digest to be made of the Laws of England from 82. to 86. To the Earl of Devonshire a Letter Apologetical touching a common fame as if he had been false or ungrateful to the Earl of Essex something long but exquisitely pen'd from 87. to 104. A discourse touching Helps for the Intellectual Powers by Sir Fran. Bacoa Faber quisque fortunae suae an insolent saying except it be interpreted as an hortative to correct slâ—th and not as it soundeth an high imagination for any man to fathom all Accidents Faber quisque Ingenii sui more true and more profitable Divers manner of instances in Improvements not only in the body of man but in his mind and spirit and therein not only in his Appetite and Affection but in his Powers of Wit and Reason The Will most manageable and admitteth most Medicines for Cure The first is Religion 2. Opinion and Apprehension 3. Example 4. When one affection is corrected by another And lastly a Confirmation of all by custom and habit Five Rules for exercises Pag. 97 98 99 100 Sir Francis Bacon to the King modestly Apologetical intimating his former services and his present low condition after the sentence pronounced against him by the Lords Implores the King that he that hath born a bag may not in his age be forc'd to bear aWallet nor he that desired to live to study may not be driven to study to live 101 102 103 104 C. CEcil Sir William to Sir Henry Norris Ambassadour in France about his Entertainment there being Extraordinary and what the Reason should be Sha'ne Oneal sues to be received into the Queens favour 105 106. Taxes Mounsieur de Foix for breach of promise in not delivering Lestrille The News of the death of the King of Scots and the manner of it Earl Bothwell suspected 107 108. Callice demanded to be restored to the Queen according to the Treaty of Cambray More of the business of the murder of the King of Scots words which touch't that Queen but fit to be supprest Pag. 109 111. If Callice be not delivered 50000 l. is to be forfeited 110. Matters in Flanders go hard against the Protestants 111. Those of the Order of France if life or honour be touched to be tried by Kings and others of the same Order ibid. Marriage of the Queen of Scots to Bothwell the prime of the Nobility against it 112. The French Kings Letter touching Callice ill resented by the Queen The Queen of Scots married the 15th of May. 113. Bothwell prosecuted for the murder defended by the Queen and the Hambletons the Queen under restraint Sha'ne Oneal slain in Ireland by certain Scots 114. Sir Nicholas Throckmorton sent into Scotland to Negotiate a Pacification The two Factions of the Hambletons and Lenox's 115. The Prince of Scotland Crowned at Sterling the 29th of July 116. Queen Elizabeth offended with the Scotch Lords Murray like to be made Regent Advice to Sir Henry Norris touching his Expences 117. Murray made Regent my Lord of Sussex with the Emperour all Judges Officers c. At Antwerp compelled to attest the Catholick Faith 118. Bothwell reported to be taken at Sea 119 120. Dunbar rendred to the Regent the Keeper thereof adjudged to a new Punishment Pag. 120. Expectation of Marriage between the Queen and the Archduke Charles 121. Troubles in France between the Prince of Conde and the King 121 122. The Queen of Scots noted by the Parliament there to be privy to the murder of her husband 123. The Earl of Desmond and his brother in the Tower 125. Fishermen of Diepe taken at Rye with unlawful Nets 126. The Popes Ministers preferre the State of their corrupt Church before the Weal of any Kingdom 128. The Earl of Sussex his return The Prince of Orange his Son to be sent into Spain and doubted Egmond and Horn must follow ibid. Emanuel Tremelius sent into England by the Elector Palatine The Prince of Orange refuseth to be judged by the Duke of Alva The Hambletons continue their Faction The death of Sir Ambrose Cave 129. Beaton sent from Scotland into France for 1000. Harquebusiers Money and Ordnance 131. Devilish practice against the Queen The Scots Queen removed to Bolton Castle her demands of the Queen denied 133. The Queen of Scots submits her Cause to be heard and determined in England 134 135 136 c. What preparations in France intended for Scotland Great expectation of the success of matters in the Low Countries Pag. 137. Unhappy but incredible News out of Flanders The Duke of Norfolk the Earl of Sussex and Sir Walter Mildmay Commissioners in the North about the Queen of Scots business 138. She makes Arguile and Huntley Lieutenants and the
Duke of Chastillherault over all They raise Forces against the Regent are Routed 139. A Couragious Answer from Queen Elizabeth to the French Ambassadour and the Audience adjourned 140. She sends a Ring to Marshal Montmorancy his wife 141. The Bishop of Rhemes Ambassador from France is offended that the doctrine of Rome is said to be contrary to Christs deducing consequently that his Mr. should be reputed no Christian and how that Speech was salved The Cardinal Chastillons Wife comes over 141 142. The Reason of the Cardinals coming into England Ships sent by the Queen to preserve the Bourdeaux Fleet. The Queen of Scots Case not defensible and the Consequence thereof 144. Matters about the Queen of Scots Chastillion highly commended 144 145. The Cause of the Queen of Scots to be heard here 146. Passages touching the differences between the King and the Prince of Conde Pag. 147. Matters against the Queen of Scots very bad 148. Sir Henry Norris claims the Lord Dacres Lands 149. Three manner of wayes proposed for ending the Scottish differences 150. Spanish Treasure stayed ibid. 151 156. The Parliament of Scotland declares the Queen of Scots privy to the murder of her Husband 152. D'Assonvill comes over Without Commission and desires Conference with the Spanish Ambassadour but denied 153. Hawkins his Return to Mounts Bay from the Indies with Treasure The Queen of Scots at Tetbury under the charge of the Earl of Shrewsbury 153. The French Ambassadors Currier searched and the Reason of it 154. The Prince of Conde slain in Battel against the King 157. The 13th of March had two great Effects 158. Differences in Scotland accorded 159. But not observed 160. Sir William Cecil laments the misfortune of France means made to accord with the Low Countries Scottish Nobility reconciled 61. Original Letters intercepted by persons of credit in the FrenchCourt of advertisement concerning the Queen of Scots and the Duke of Anjou Pag. 161. That the said Queen should transfer her title on the said Duke to learn more truth hereof and advertise with speed The Queens Ships far excel others 162. The Queen of Scots excuseth her Transaction with the Duke of Anjou 163 164. A Rebellion in the West-part of Ireland and the Spaniards aid feared 164. My Lord of Shrewsbury strucken with a Palsie and a Phrensie 165. The Parisians execute two Merchants whom the King had pardon'd The English Ambassador taxed for dealing with the Kings Rebels 166. The Earl of Desmond's great Rebellion in Ireland but dispersed 167 168. An Italian sent hither upon a Devilish attempt An Insurrection in Suffolk Queen Elizabeth desires to be rid of the Queen of Scots 169. The Queen offended at the Duke of Norfolk about his Marriage Sir William Cecil his good Friend therein my Lords of Arundel and Pembroke confined to their Lodgings about it and so is the Lord Lumley My Lord of Huntington joined with the Earl of Shrewsbury in the custody of the Scots Queen 172. The King of Spains designs with the Irish. Pag. 173. The grand Rebellion in the North and the pretences thereof and their numbers and names 174 175. A Report of the death of the Count Nassau the Northern Rebellion scattered and their Ring-leaders fled 176. Extracts of Letters out of the north The two Rebellious Earls in Liddesdale but flee from thence The Countess of Northumberland and her attendants robbed in Scotland The Earls flee with about 50. horse Westmerland changeth his coat of plate sword and travails like a Scottish borderer many others taken 177 178 The Regent of Scotland takes the Earl of Northumberland and others The Lord Fernhurst and Bucklugh aiders of them p. 178 The Murther of the Regent of Scotland at Lithgo by Hambleton of Bothwell Hall The Earl of Sussex his wise and noble carriage The Hambletons strongly suspected for the murder and why 179 180 The French Embassador makes 3 demands of the Queen in behalf of the Queen of Scots p. 181 Sir William Cecil names to the Queen Mr. Francis Walsingham and Mr. Henry Killigrew to succeed Sir Henry Norris in France p. 182 The Earl of Sussex goes again into Scotland The Bishop of Ross writes a Book in defence of the Queen of Scots and dangerous against Queen Elizabeth Pag. 183. The Earls of Worcester and Huntington made Knights of the Order p. 184 The Earl of Sussex and the Lord Hunsdon enter Scotland with fire and sword 50. Castles and 300 Villages burnt p. 184 185 The Lord Scroop Warden of the West Marshes makes great devastation in Scotland The Castle of Hume surrendred to the Lords of Sussex and Hunsdon and well fortified for the Queens service A great part of the Scotish borderers obediently adhere to their King and offer dependance upon the Queens Majesty The contrary part act rebelliously A great meeting of Lords on both sides at Edenburgh in Armes to try who shall have the authority p. 186 187 Simon Musgrage General of the horse routs the Lord Maxell is in some distress by him but is relieved by the Lord Scroop 's forces and the Maxwels and several other Lords escaped by flight Drumlangricks servants and tenants although pretended favorers of the King and Queen cruel to the English Dumfriese a Receptacle of English Rebels p. 187 188 The Queen of Scots desires cessation of Armes the Bishop of Ross plots against the Queen p. 189 Sir Henry Norris to be revoked and Mr. Walsingham to go in his place ibid. The Marshal of Berwick betray'd by the Bishop of St. Andrews and other Lords who under colour and treaty with him intended to have slain him he destroys the Hambletons Castles and houses Pag. 190. The Earl of Southampton for complyance with the Bishop of Ross is committed close prisoner to the Sheriff of London The fond Lord Morley withdraws to Lovain p. 191 The French King mediates for the Queen of Scots the Queen keeps some Castles in Scotland until her subjects of England should have satisfaction p. 191 192 Sir William Cecil and Sir Walter Mildmay are sent Commissioners to the Scotch Queen and they like not the message The Lord Coke to King James touching tryal of Duels out of England occasioned by putting to death of Doubty beyond the Seas by Sir Francis Drake that crime tryable only before the Constable and Marshal of England p. 193 194 H. THe History of the Reign of King Henry the 8th King Edward the 6th Queen Mary and part of Queen Eliz. p. 194 195 I. Exquisitely begun but left imprfect Two Copies of Letters from King James to the Lords touching abatement of his houshold charge and the means of redresse p. 198 199 From the King to the Lord Bacon in commendation of his book caled the Organon To Sir Thomas Coventry Atturney General commanding him to prepare a pardon of the whole sentence pronounc'd against my Lord Bacon p. 200 201 S. SIr Philip Sidney to the Queen diswading her from her marriage with Mounsieur most elegantly and judiciously penned p. 201 202 203 A most quaint Speech made by the Lord Bacon then Sollicitor General at the arraignment of the Lord Sanquir as well in extenuation as aggravation of the murder of Turner 209 210 c. The Countess of Shrewsburies Case touching the Marriage of the Lady Arabella and her refusal to be examined therein 212 213. T. SIR Nicholas Throckmorton Ambassador in France to Q. Elizabeth touching a free passage for the Q of Scots through England into Scotland several Politick Reasons urged on both sides between him the Queen of Scots and the Queen-Mother of France 214 215 216 c. FINIS ERRATA PAge 72. line 16. for bnt read but. p. 89. l. 22. for Twilknam r. Twitnam p. 97 l. 3. for fortunas suas r. fortunae suae p. 116. l. 3. for Moleneux r. Molineux p. 120. in fine for name r. named p. 130. l. 9. for what r. with and l. 7. for not r. now p. 137. l. 12. for to r. to be p 165. l. 6. for there r. here p. 173. l. 9. or 10. for over r. fromus p. 182. l. 14. for inferrior r. inferior p. 208. l. 18. for Holladour r. Hollander and in the same line for le r. he p. 211. l. 21. for Luedia r. Suedia p. 224. l. 26. for Abeville r. Abbeville 27 E. 3. Cap. 1. 4 H. 4. Cap. 23. These that follow are but indigested Notes Entertainment above ordinary To know the cause thereof Her Majestie much mislikes of the Prince of Conde and Thadnur Lords of France The Lords of the Council do all they can to cover the same Her Majesty being a Prince her self is doubtful to give comfort to subjects Our Ambassador to comfort them nevertheless as occasion serves Expectation of the Queens marrying with the Archduke Charles In Scotland all quiet the Scotish Queen still in Loughlevin and in health Murray ruleth quietly as Regent Original lettere intercepted by persons of credit in the French ourt of Advertisement concerning the Q of Scots and Duke of Anjou That the said Scotish Queen should transfer her Title on the said Duke To learn more truth hereof and advertise with speed This precisely denyed by the other side To send a trusty person to Marcells 19. Febr. 1616. Note before this Statute Criminal Causes were often adjudged in Parliament
sorry that at present I am unfurnished to help you with a Secretary my servant Windebanke is sick Mr. Sommers will not be induced to leave his place So as nevertheless if I can procure you any other meet person by the next Messenger you shall hear I thank you for the Chart of Paris and for a written Book to the Queens Majestie whereof her Majesty would gladly know the Author And so I end Yours assuredly W. Cecil Richmond 14. July 1567. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR AT my last writing by Master Jenny I did not make any mention of answer to your request for the provision of a Secretary Because I heard that you meant to place one Molenenx if he might be recommended by me and truly if he be meet for the place I do well allow thereof for howsoever he did in times past misuse me I have remitted it and wish him well My Lord Keeper prayeth you to use some good means to inquire by the way of Orleans of Sir Ralph Pawlet what is become of him and where he is and how he doth It is certain on the 29. of July the Prince of Scotland was Crowned King at Sterling with all the Ceremonies thereto due and with a general applause of all sorts the Queen yet remaineth where she was Yours assuredly W. Cecil Windsor 5. Aug. 1567. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR YOu shall perceive by the Queens Majesties Letter to you at this present how earnestly she is bent in the favor of the Queen of Scots and truely since the beginning she hath been greatly offended with the Lords and howsoever her Majesty might make her profit by bearing with the Lords in this Action yet no councel can stay her Majestie from manifesting of her misliking of them So as indeed I think thereby the French may and will easily catch them and make their present profit of them to the damage of England and in this behalf her Majesty had no small misliking of that Book which you sent me written in French whose name yet I know not but howsoever I think him of great Wit and acquaintance in the affairs of the world It is not in my power to procure any reward and therefore you must so use the matter as he neither be discouraged nor think unkindness in me When all is done I think my Lord of Murray will take the Office of Regency and will so band himself with the rest as he will be out of peril at home And as for External power to offend them I think they are so skillful of other Princes causes and needs as I think they will remain without fear We are occupied with no news greater then this of Scotland We begin to doubt of the King of Spains coming out of Spain finding it more likely for his Son to come In Ireland all things proceed smoothly to make the whole Realm obedient the Deputie hath leave to come over to confer with the Queens Majesty upon the affairs My Lord of Sussex wrot from Augusta the 24. of July that he meant to be at Vienna the last of July and also that the Emperor meant to be there at the same time I must heartily pray you to bear with my advice that in your expences you have consideration not to expend so much as by your Bills brought to me by your servant Cartwright it seemeth you do for truely I have no Warrant to allow such several Fees as be therein contained neither did I know any of the like allowed to any of your predecessors and in the paying for your intelligences if you be not well ware you shall for the most part have counterfeited ware for good money In matters of importance or when you are precisely commanded to prosecute matters of weight it is reason your extraordinary charges be born but as to the common Advisees of the Occurrents abroad they are to be commonly had for small value and many times as news for news for at this day the common Advisees from Venice Rome Spain Constantinople Vienna Geneva Naples yea and from Paris are made so currant as every Merchant hath them with their letters from their Factors If I did not know your good Nature I would not thus plainly write and yet if I should not hereof warn you your expences might increase and I know not how to procure your payment and yet hereby I mean to do my best at all times to help you to allowance for all necessary expences and so take my leave Yours assuredly W. Cecil From the Mannor of Guilford 19. Aug. 1567. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR I Have had no good Messenger of good time to write unto you the Queens Majesty hath been abroad from Windsor these twenty dayes and returned on Saturday very well Lignerolls is come out of Scotland with very small satisfaction as I think he could not speak with the Queen no more then Sir Nicholas Throckmorton who also is returning The Hambletons hold out the Earl of Murray is now Regent the Queens Majesty our Sovereign remaineth still offended with the Lords for the Queen the example moveth her In Ireland all things prosper and be quiet Sir Henry Sydney shall come onely to confer and shall return to keep a Parliament in Ireland My Lord of Sussex was honorably received the fifth of August lodged and defrayed by the Emperor had his first Audience on the eight the Arch-Duke Charles was looked for within five days and now we daily look for Sir Henry Cobham to come in Post at the least within these ten days All things are quiet within this Realm thanked be Almighty God I have presently a paper sent me from Antwerp in French very strange containing an Edict to compell all Judges Governors all Officers and Councellors to give Attestation of the Catholick Faith if it should be true it should be a hazard to make a plain civil war My Lady your Wife came this night hither to Windsor whom I have warned to write to you by this bearer Yours assuredly W. Cecil Septem 3. 1567. To the Right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR YOu may perceive by the Queens letter how this noble man is partly of his own minde partly by perswasion stayed and surely if either the French King or the Queen should appear to make any force against them of Scotland for the Queens cause we finde it credibly that it were the next way to make an end of her and for that cause her Majesty is loth to take that way for avoiding of standers that might grow thereby I had provided a young man for you which could have served very well for writing and speaking of French and English but I durst not allow him to serve you in your
is quiet the Queen continueth in Lough-Levin in very good health and the Earle of Murray ruleth quietly as Regent and so I end Yours assuredly as your own W. Cecil Hampton Court 3. Nov. 1567 To the Right Honorable Sir Hen. Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR BEfore Mr. Bridges came who arrived here on Saturday last with your letters dated the 16. We were much troubled with variety of reports of the encounter betwixt the Constable and the Prince and by him we are well satisfied to hear that we think to be truth although otherwise men report on the other side Your servant Crips was sent hence and as I hear was stayed for lack of winde to pass six or seven days at Rye but seeing Mr. Bridges met him so neer Paris I think he came in safety to you And now for your further satisfaction I send this Bearer Mr. Jenny whom truly I think honest and careful and in the matter imputed unto him I take him to be cleer Mr. Bridges shews himself towards you very friendly and in his reports very wise and discreet surely I do like him well The oftner you can send the better it is in this busie time The French Ambassador perswadeth us that all our Merchants at Rohan are by his means at good liberty to use their Trade which if they be I know the thanks belong to you I wish to have a Callender of them which are with the Prince and also to see the Edicts that have lately passed from the King against them Yours assuredly to command W. Cecil To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France AFter my very hearty commendations my Lady your Bedfellow having not heard from you this good while hath thought good to send over one of hers purposely to see you and to bring her word again from you by whom I would not fail to write these few words unto you not having any thing to write at this time but of the prosperous state of all things on this side The last letters from you hither were by your servant Henry Crips who was dispatched home again towards you the fourth of this moneth the want whereof is not imputed to be in you for lack of diligence and good will to write but partly to the dangerous time and hard means to send when you would and partly for lack of knowledge of the doings of the contrary part which in such a time are not easily known but as you may you shall do well to advertise how things pass there at the full The French Ambassador was with the Queens Majesty on Wednes the 12. of this present who had no great news to impart to her Majesty but came onely as he said to see her Majesty His last letters out of France he said were of the 27. of October In talk with me he told me that by his letters he understood that the King had sent for you at the time of the sending away of his dispatch whereby he judged that you might have occasion to write hither shortly and that your Messenger was in likelihood on the way hitherwards so as if he be not hindred by the way your letters are looked for very shortly or for lack of his coming it will be indeed thought that he is stayed your next advertisement will shew it which is daily looked for And thus I wish you in this dangererous time all safety and health Your very assured loving friend W. Cecil From the Court at Hampton-Court 15. Nov. 1567. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR YOu must think that seeing all the parts of Christendom are intentive to hear of the maters of France we cannot be careless to whom the same belongeth next of all whatsoever the end thereof shall be Your last letters brought hither came with good speed being dated the 28. of December they came the fourth of this January Of the news therein contained mentioning the encounter betwixt Mountgomery and the Kings Vantguard about the 23. of December I had letters dated in Paris the 20. which did express the same more particularly but I dare not credit them Your good advice given to her Majesty in the said letter is well to be commended Of the state of our things here there is no new thing to write all things thanked be God are quiet In Scotland they have ended their Parliament wherein as I hear they have Enacted the Coronation of the King the Authority of the Regent to be good and have noted the Queen to be privy to the murther of her husband My Lady your wife hath been a little sick but is now well recovered and hath instantly required me to send away this bearer because she had writings to send you otherwise I would have had him stayed two days to have heard some more news from thence I thank you for the Articles which you last sent me but lacking the Articles of the other side I could not well understand those which you sent me And so I end Westm. 8. Jan. 1567. Yours assuredly to use or command W. Cecil To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR IT is to us here thought very long since we heard from you your last being of the fourth of this moneth sent by young Cornwallis specially because we are troubled with such diversity of reports that what may be taken for truth is uncertain Beside this I cannot but let you understand that the Lords of the Council are desirous to hear more largely and particularly how things do pass wherein they seem to require such a dilligence as Sir Tho. Smith was wont to use who sought to understand and so continually did write what was done almost every other day making as it were a Journal or a Diarium But in my opinion I have shewed them that it is not so easie for you to do it in this time considering the Armies and their accidents are far from Paris and as I think very great heed given that no advertisements should be given you but such as you should not think worthy of writing Nevertheless for their contentations I wish you would write of as many things as you can whereby they shall both be content and what they hear from other places of the same things they shall better discern what to think true 5. m. 3. to the disadvantage of R. All things here are in quietness I think Master Vice-Chamberlain shall be Deputy of Ireland for that Sir H. Sydney is sore vexed with the Stone in the Bladder and so I take my leave thanking you for the offer you have made me to provide for me certain Charts of the which I am bold to name nine as I have noted them in the paper included Yours assured W. Cecil 26. January 1567. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the
in exercise of his Religion he continually lamenteth that grave Councellors perswading peace are not of more power and credit in the Court. Whatsoever this French Ambassador shall report of him he cannot truly report any evil of him I hear La Mot is on his way at Callis to come hither I think surely some of yours are on the way I pray send me a Register or List of the Chieftains on the Kings part and also on the contrary Sir I do send you herewith a new Cipher Yours assuredly W. Cecil To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR YOur last letters that came to my hands were of the 29. of the last moneth by which you signified to me the advertisements which you then had of the taking of Angulesme since which time sundry reports are brought hither of Battels that should be betwixt the parties whereof lacking advertisements from your self I do give credit unto none by reason of the diversities of the reports On Sunday last La Mot was presented by Mounsieur de la Forest the former Ambassador whom the Queens Majesty hath admitted as Ambassador for the French King and seemeth to like well of his wisdom whereof hitherto for mine own part I have not had any proof The cause of the Queen of Scots is now to be heard here for which purpose the Duke of Norfolk and the Earl of Sussex are sent for from York and are to be here within these two days and presently the Earl of Murray the Earl Morton with certain other Noble men of his part are already come and on the Queens part the Bishop of Ross and the Lord Herryes be at London and do daily look for some other Commissioners to joyn with them because her Majesty meaneth to have the whole matter advisedly heard she hath appointed an Assembly not onely of her whole Council but of all the Earls of the Realm to be here the 18. of this moneth at which time her Majesty meaneth to have this cause of the Queen of Scots fully heard and therein to take such resolution and end as she shall be advised unto by her said Council and Estates The last letters which you sent unto the Queen wherein as her Majesty saith you made declaration of your Message done to that King concerning the Cardinal Chastillons being here was by her Majesty casually let fall in the fire and so burnt whereupon her Majesty being sorry for that she had not advisedly perused it willed me to write unto you for the copy of the same letter again which I pray you to send me by the next I would be glad to hear a brief or as they call it a list of the names of the principal persons that have a charge now in these wars in France on both parts with the contents as near as you can of their numbers After the writing hereof this present evening as the bearer hereof can tell Mr. Edmonds came hither with your letters to the Queens Majesty by which I am satisfied for those reports that were made of the great sights at Angulesme and of that which hath been here reported by the French Ambassador of the overthrow of Mouvans which I am glad is not true as he reported and so finding nothing else to be answered I thought good to dispatch this bearer with this my letter to the intent we might the sooner hear of your news whereupon dependeth the whole expectation of the Christian world Yours assuredly W. Cecil Hampton-Court 16. Nov. 1566. Postscript Before Mr. Edmonds came you may see what I wrote of the To the Right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR BY your last letter sent to me by this bearer your servant I perceived how good hap it was for our satisfaction here that your letters came not away with the report of the victory whereof the King there advertised you by a special Messenger untill you had also knowledge of the truth thereof by Villeroys coming from the Camp after the first message for like as the former part of your letters made mention of a great Victory for the King and an overthrow of the Princes whole Infantry So have many letters been written hither from Paris and other places according to the partial affections of the Writers in affirmance thereof adding for their confirmation certain solemnities by Processions and such like used at Paris for the same nevertheless I account the truth to be as in the latter part of your letter you write that there was no such manner of battel but certain skirmishes wherein there was no great inequality and yet because I hear it also credibly reported that the Prince of Conde lodged and kept the field where the skirmishes were I think his losses were less then the others whereof I think within a while to know the truth more particularly This matter of the Queen of Scots began to be heard and treated on at Westminster the 25. of the last moneth since which time there hath been sittings five or six several days and yesterday the Queen of Scots Commissioners having matter to answer whereby the Queen their Mistriss was charged with the murther of her husband they alleadged that they would go no further being so commanded by letters from her received since the beginning of this Commission and have required to speak with the Queens Majesty of whom they pretend they will desire to have the Queen their Mistriss to come to the presence of her Majesty and answer these causes her self whereunto how they shall be answered I cannot tell but for that purpose and others her Majesty hath presently sent for her Council who be here at present and so shall the Queen of Scots Commissioners be to morrow and hereafterward as matters shall fall out I will advertise you further and so take my leave Yours assuredly W. Cecil Hampton-Court 2. Decem. 1568. To the Right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR SInce my last writing by your servant Buffin I have forborn to write because I thought both to hear somewhat more from you and to have also somewhat here to write unto you Since which time I have received no letters from you but such as the poor Merchants of Ireland brought me being dated the 25. of the last moneth which came hither on Saturday last being the 11. of this moneth and considering the multitude of tales reported here to us of the conflict about the 18. I was nothing satisfied with the said last letters because touching that matter they did refer me to your former against which the French Ambassador here hath precisely given unto us news in the name of the King his Master wholly to the disadvantage of the Prince and therefore I wish you had written thereof now at the latter time somewhat more particularly I did of late write to you for the copy of the letter
should be conserved according to the Treaties And besides this it was added that seeing the Duke of Alva began the Arrest first it was reason they should also begin the release and so in the end D'Assonle ville appearing to be much miscontented was licensed to depart and so is gone having used all good gentle speech that could be during his being here notwithstanding the report of his great bravery made at Callis before his coming which either was not true or else purged his choler upon the Seas coming hither Thus having as time could serve me enlarged my letter I end with my hearty thanks to you for the Charts of France which I perceive are of the like as I had seen before so as I think there is no newer printed Yours assuredly as your own W. Cecil Westm. March 7. 1568. Postscript I would gladly know whether the paper you sent me containing the Emperors answer to the French Kings demand be to be allowed as true To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight c SIR BY the Queens Majesties letters you shall perceive in what sort the French Ambassador hath sought to frame a tale of slander against you her Majesty hath answered for you and as long as no other thing can be produced to touch you it is reason that her Majesty should answer as she doth Your servant Madder came safely hither four days past and I have heard from my Lady of Harts taking and the Queens Majesties letters from him Whereof as I know upon her advertisement to you you will use some roundness of speech by way of complaint there so have we here not forborn to charge the Ambassador with these dis-courteous dealings who promises earnestly to write to the King thereof The French Ambassador giveth out store of News of the overthrow of Montgomery the taking of his brother of Gonliss death of the Duke of Bipots sickness of his want of money to go to the Feild but we heard of many contraries to these and so I wish you your hearts desire Yours assuredly W. Cecil Westm. 14. March 1568. To the Right Honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR YOur servant Crips came hither yesternight as I perceive constrained to follow and accompany Monsieur de Montassyer who this day was brought to the Queens Majesties presence to report the Victory which God had given to the French King by a Battail as he termed it wherein was slain the Prince of Conde whereunto as I could conceive her Majesty answered that of any good Fortune hapning to the King she was glad but she thought it also to be condoled with the King that it should be counted a Victory to have a Prince of his blood slain and so with such like speech not fully to their contentation Before the coming of your letters we could not firmly believe the reports of the Prince of Conde's death but now the will of God is to be interpreted in this and all things to the best I am sorry to see you so troubled whereof her Majesty is so informed as she told the French Ambassador that if he will not procure the King his Master to cause you and yours to be otherwise entreated she will revoke you In the mean season I pray you keep your former courage contra audentior ito I have been and yet am not in sure health as your Son can inform you whereby I am not able to write any long letter when Madder was here I gave him a Memorial of sundry things of which I trust he hath by this time informed you at length We have heard nothing from Rochel since this re-encounter at Cognac but from Paris we hear that saving the loss of the Princes person the other part hath the greater loss in numbers and that the Admiral did defeat fourty Ensigns of Mounsieurs Army that offered to besiege him in Cognac hereof shortly the truth will be known I note that this 13. of March last past had two sundry great effects for upon that day when the Regent of Scotland should have fought with the Duke of Chastilherault they did notably accord the same day in this sort that the Duke acknowledged the young King and went with the Regent to Sterling and with him besides other Noblemen the Lord Herryes who had been here a vehement Commissioner for the Queen of Scots Besides it is accorded that for redress of all private quarrels there were four Noblemen named of either part to end all who should come to Edenburgh the tenth of April to treat thereupon and this was unwilling to the Queen of Scots who must needs be greatly perplexed therewith what will follow I know not but the Regent is now well obeyed the same day we see what was done in Poytiers wherein Gods judgements are not to be over much searched I send you within the Queens Majesties letter a paper in a new Cipher to which he desireth forasmuch as all power egal to be which I pray you do And thus I finde my self not able to indure any longer writing and therefore end Yours assuredly W. Cecil Westm. 6. April 1568. SIR AFter I had closed up this other Packet I had occasion to stay the bearer partly by indisposition of my health and also within a day after by reason of the coming of your Son John Norris with your letters of the 15. of this moneth who gave us here to understand of certain discomfortable news which were told him at Abeville and as it appeareth were in great haste sent before him by the Marshal de Cosse to the French Ambassador containing an absolute Victory by the Kings brother in a battail besides Cognac in which it was written that the Prince of Conde and the rest of the Nobility with him saving the Admiral and Dandelot who were fled were all slain and this news being here dispersed abroad I thought good to stay the sending away of this bearer until we might better understand what to think truth herein which being now four days and therein no confirmation of the aforesaid news but a doubtful maintenance of them whereby it is thought that either no part was true or not in such sort as was reported and therefore knowing the necessity of your mans service I do return him unto you We understand certainly out of Scotland that there hath been an accord by certain Articles made betwixt the Regent and the Duke of Chastilherault and his party wherein the obedience to the King is acknowledged and a Surcease untill the tenth of April at which time the Duke and eight more chosen on both parts shall meet at Edenburgh to confer of the estate of the Queen of Scots how she shall be reputed and likewise of recompences for the losses on both parts sustained in these civil wars and for performance of this Treaty the Duke the Earle of Cassels and the Lord Herryes remain with the Regent untill they put in their Sons for
Hostages and the Regent in the mean time intendeth to use his force to subdue the Out-laws upon our Frontiers I received letters even now out of Ireland by which it is written of the defeat of four hundred Irish and Scots onely by sixscore Englishmen I shall continually hearken for your letters to declare to us the truth of this great tale of the Battail of Cognac We hear that the Count Meighen is newly departed and fled into Germany upon fear Yours assuredly W. Cecil 27. March 1568. Postscrip The time serveth me not to write to you of your self for your motion of leaving that place To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight c. SIR SInce the coming hither of Harcourt who came hither on St. George his day as it seemeth with good haste we here have been much unsatisfied for that we could not imagine what to conceive to be the cause that in so long space we heard not from you having in the mean time so many divers tales as we were more troubled with the uncertainty then glad of the news and toadd more grief we could not hear from Rochel since the Re-encounter untill now by a Merchant that came hither within these two dayes past by whom we are more ascertained then before by him we understand that the loss of the Prince is more in reputation then in deed for that now the whole Army is reduced to better Order then it was before The Vidame of Charles is come to Plimouth and his wife as it is thought not being well liked of amongst the Nobility because he married so meanly indeed it must needs be some reproof to him to come away when service is requisite Since the accord made in Scotland the 13. of March at Easter last the Duke of Chastil-herault and his part hearing as it is thought of the death of the Prince of Conde and by brute that the Admiral and all that party were utterly subverted did go back from their agreement which was to acknowledge the young King and the Regent whereupon as we hear the Duke himself the Archbishop of St. Andrew the Lord Herryes and the Lord Rosbim are committed to the Castle of Edenburgh what will follow I know not God stay these troubles that increase so near us I think you do hear from Mr. Killigrew who is sent to the Palsgrave of Rheine and so I end Yours assuredly W. Cecil April 27. 1569. Postscript Sir to avoid some length of my own writing I do send you herewith the sum of the Negotiation lately with the French Ambassador and thereto have adjoyned the Copy of the Proclamation that is meant to be made by the Queens Majesty which is mentioned in the other writing and a Copy also of a clause contained in the French Kings Proclamation by all means you may well understand that which hath passed in this matter and shape your own speech there accordingly > W. Cecil To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight Ambassador in France SIR YOu have much satisfied us here with your letters sent by Madder who is able to explicate the affairs very sensibly and now I have thought good to address to you Hartcourte knowing that he is very serviceable unto you And as for any news to make recompence to you I have not and glad I am that our Country doth not yeild any such as France and yet in the way of Christian charity I do lament the misfortune of France marvailling that a Country that hath had so many wise men able to offend other Countries hath none to devise help for themselves I wish that you would learn of the Spanish Ambassador there whether he sent the letters which you delivered to him from the Queens Majesty There is some secret means made hither to come to accord with the Low Countries and therein I see the most doubt will be in devising assurance how to continue the accords Our Navy hath been ready these fourteen days at Harwich to go with the Merchants Fleet of Wooll and Cloth to Hamburgh and our Fleet that was appointed to Rochel is as we think there by means of the Easterly winds that hâ—th hindred and stayed the other Fleet. God send them both a good return for they are no small offence to our neighbors that to Hamburgh to the Duke of Alva and the other to the French The French Ambassador continueth a suitor that no Ambassador be sent to Rochell and that our Merchants cannot forbear specially for Salt which cannot be had in other places although even now great likelihood is of sufficiency to be had within these 12. moneths in England The Earl of Murray proceedeth still in uniting to him the Lords that were divorced from him and specially of late the Earl of Arguile is reconciled to him and the like is looked for of the Earl of Huntley I have no more but to end with my commendations Yours assured at command W. Cecil Greenwich 15. May 1569. SIR YOur last letters that came hither to my hands were written the 27. by which amongst other things you wrote of the brute of the impoisoning Dandelot by the means of an Italian of which matter we were here advertised almost ten days before the report was in part before he was sick such assurance have these Artizans of their works the will of God be fulfilled to the confusion and shame of such as work them and such great iniquities We have certain news from Rochell that Dandelot being opened the very poison was manifestly found in him The Queens Majesty of late was very credibly advertised by sight of original letters of persons of no small reputation in that Kings Court which have entreated of the matter whereof heretofore your self hath advertised concerning the D and for the transterring 3. And now her Majesty would have you use all good means that you can possible to learn some more truth hereof and thereof with speed to advise her Majesty for it is so precisely denyed on the other part here as nothing can be more The French Ambassador continueth complaining of lack of restitution in general yet I assure you he never is refused restitution upon any particular demand where contrarywise our Merchants are daily evil used at Rhoan and specially Callis and as it seemeth the Governor of Callis regardeth not the Ambassadors speeches or promises here or else it is Covenanted betwixt them to Boulster out their doings Mr. Winter departed from Harwich the 19. of May and came to Hamburgh the 23. remained there untill the 28. and returned safe to Harwich the first of June all in good safety with the Queens Ships leaving two there to return with our Merchants It is found that all the Ships in the Country dare not deal with six of the Queens being armed as they are motion is made of accord betwixt us and the Low Countries The Earl of Murray hath no resistance in Scotland Yours assuredly W. Cecil Greenwich 4. June
Majesties meaning in such sort as I need not to repeat or enlarge the same and the sooner that her Majesty may have answer hereof the better she will be content especially if the answer shall be good I send to you the Copies of the advertisements of my Lord of Sussex journey into Scotland the 17. of April and returning the 22. his Lordship entred the 27. to besiege as I think Hume Castle for the same hath been the receptacle of all the Rebels but at the writing hereof I am not ascertained what his Lordship hath done Of late the Bishop of Ross caused one of his servants secretly to procure the printing of a Book in English whereof before eight leaves could be finished intelligence was had which Book tendeth to set forth to the world that the Queen of Scots was not guilty of her husbands death a parable in many mens opinion next that she is a lawful heir to the Crown and herewith such reasons inserted as make unsound conclusions for the Queens Majesties present state Besides this a notable lye is there uttered That all the noble men that heard her cause did judge her innocent and therefore made suite to her Majesty that she might marry with my Lord of Norfolk With these and such like enterprises her Majesty hath been grieved with the said Bishop whereupon she hath the longer kept him from her presence but I think he will be spoken withall to morrow and so within two or three days it is likely he shall have access to her Majesty The Secretary in Scotland hath so discovered himself for the Queen of Scots as he is the instrument to increase her party having such credit with Grange who keepeth Edenburgh Castle as the Duke of Chastilherault the Lord Herries c. are now at liberty and thereby the party for the King is diminished you can judge what is ment to be done and I wish her Majesty to take such a way herein as may preserve her estate the device and execution whereof is found upon consultation very difficult and yet in all evils the least is to be chosen My Lord of Worcester and my Lord of Huntington are chosen Knights of the Order I cannot procure any resolution for your revocation untill it may be seen what will fall out there of the war betwixt the King and his subjects whereof daily there is expectation of some issue and the French Ambassador doth constantly affirm that the peace shall follow And so I end Yours assuredly W. Cecil Hampton-Court 4. May 1570. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident with the French King A note of a journey into Tividale by the Earl of Sussex her Majesties Lieutenant in the North begun the 17. of April 1570. and ending the 22. of the same THe 17. of April 1570. the Earl of Sussex and the Lord Hunsdon Governor of Berwick with all the Garrisons and power of the East Marches came to Warke and entered into Tividale in Scotland the 18. at the break of the day and burnt all Castles and Towns as they went untill they came to the Castle of Moss standing in a strong Marsh and belonging to the Lord of Fernhurst which they burnt and razed and so burnt the Country untill they came to Craling The same day Sir John Foster with all the Garrisons and force of the middle marches entred into Tividale and Expesgate head 16. miles from Warke and so burnt all the Country untill they came to a strong Castle called in the possession of the mother of the Lord of Fernhurst which he burnt and razed and so burnt all other Castles and Towns untill he came to Craling where both Companies met and so went up the River of Tivit and burnt and threw down all the Castles and Towns upon that River untill they came to Godworth where they lodged This day the Lord of Chesford Warden of the middle marches with the principal men of his kinde who had never in person received the Rebels nor invaded England and yet had evil men that had done both came in to the Lord Lieutenant and submitted himself and offered to abide order for his mens offences whereupon he was received as a friend and he and all his were free from any hurt The 19. the Army was divided into two parts whereof the one did pass the River of Tivit and burnt and razed the Castle of Fernhurst and all other Castles and Towns of the Lord of Fernhurst Hunthill and Bederoll and so passed on to Minte and the other part of the Army burnt in like sort on the other side of the River Tivit untill he came to Hawick where it was intended to have lodged that night for that the Bailiffs had the same morning offered to receive the Army and had therefore their Town assured but at the coming thither of the Army they had unthetched their houses and burnt the Thetch in the streets and were all fled so as no person could well enter for smoak which caused lack of victuals lodging and horsemeats and therefore the fire began by themselves in the Straw burnt the whole Town aftersaving Donn Lamorecks Castle which for his sake was spared and all the goods of the Town in it The 20. the Army went to Branshaw the Lord of Buckloughs house which was wholly overthrown with Powder and there divided and burnt on the North the River of Tivit more into the inland all the Castles and Towns in that Country which belonged wholly to the Lord of Bucklough and his kinsmen and returned that night to Jedworth The 21. the Army divided and one part went to the River of Bowbeat and burnt all on both sides of that River and the other part went to the River of Caile and burnt all on both sides of the River and met neer to Kelsaw where the Lord Lieutenant lodged that night of purpose to beset Hume Castle in the night and the Lord Hunsdon and the other part went to Warke to bring the Ordnance thence in the morning which was disappointed by the negligence of such as were left in charge who suffered the carriage horses to return after the Ordnance was brought thither so as for lack of horses to draw the Ordnance the Army was forced to return to Berwick the 22. All which time there was never any shew of resistance And the same time the Lord Scroope entred Scotland from the West Marches the 18 c. During which time the Marches in all places were so guarded as the Scots that did not shew themselves to offer fight in the field durst not offer to enter into England so as in the absence of the Army there was not one house burnt nor own Cow taken in England and it is conceived by such as know the enemies part of Tividale that there is razed overthrown and burnt in this journey above fifty strong Castles and Piles and above 300 Villages so as there be few in that Country that
entertainments in Forrein parts It had been an easie thing for you to set Carlile or some other blood-hound on work when your person had been beyond the Seas and so this news might have come to you in a packet and you might have looked on how the storm would pass but God bereaved you of this fore-sight and bound you here under that hand of a King that though abundant in Clemenev vet is no less ze lons of Justice Again when you came in at Lambeth you might have persisted in the denial of the procurement of the fact Carlile a resolute man might perhaps have cleared you for they that are resolute in mischief are commonly obstinate in concealing their porcurers and so nothing should have been against you but presumption But then also God to take away all obstructions of Justice gave you the grace which ought indeed to be more true comfort to you than any device whereby you might have escaped to make a clear and plain Confession Other impediments there were not a few which might have been an interruption to this dayes Justice had not God in his Providence removed them But now that I have given God the Honour let me give it likewise where it is next due which is to the King our Sovereign This Murther was no sooner committed and brought to his Majesties ears but his just indignation wherewith he first was moved cast it self into a great deal of care and prudence to have Justice done First came forth his Proclamation somewhat of a rare Form and devised and in esfect dictated by his Majesty himself and by that he did prosecute the Offendors as it were with the breath and blast of his Mouth Then did his Majesty stretch forth his long Arms for Kings have long Arms when they will extend them one of them to the Sea where he took hold of Grey shipped for Luedia who gave the first light of Testimony the other Arm to Scotland and took hold of Carlile ere he was warm in his house and brought him the length of his Kingdom under such safe watch and custody as he could have no means to escape no nor to mischief himself no nor learn no lessons to stand mute in which case perhaps this dayes Justice might have received a stop so that I may conclude his Majesty hath shewed himself Gods true Lieutenant and that he is no Respecter of persons but English Scottish Noblemen Fencer are to him alike in respect of Justice Nay I must say further That his Majesty hath had in this a kind of Prophetical Spirit for what time Carlile and Grey and you my Lord your self were fled no man knew whether to the four winds the King ever spake in a confident and undertaking manner That wheresoever the Offenders were in Europe he would produce them forth to Justice of which noble word God hath made him Master Lastly I will conclude towards you my Lord That though your Offence hath been great yet your Confession hath been free and your behaviour and speech full of discretion and this shews That though you could not resist the Tempter yet you bear a Christian and generous spirit answerable to the noble Family of which you are descended This I commend in you and take it to be an assured Token of God smercy and favour in respect whereof all worldly things are but Trash and so it is fit for you as your state now is to account them and this is all I will say for the present My Lady Shrewsburies Cause Your Lordships do observe the Nature of this Charge MY Lady of Shrewsbury a Lady wise and that ought to know what duty requireth is charged to have refused and to have persisted in refusal to answer and to be examined in a High cause of State being examined by the Council-table which is a Representative body of the King The nature of the cause upon which she was examined is an essential point which doth aggravate and encrease this contempt and presumption and therefore of necessity with that we must begin How graciously and Parent-like His Majesty used the Lady Arbella before she gave him cause of Indignation the world knoweth My Lady notwithstanding extreamly ill-advised transacted the most weighty and binding part and action of her life which is her Marriage without acquanting His Majesty which had been a neglect even to a mean Parent But being to Our Sovereign and she standing so near to His Majesty as she doth and then choosing such a Condition as it pleased her to chuse all parties laid together how dangerous it was my Lady might have read it in the fortune of that house wherewith she is matched for it was not unlike the case of Mr. Seymers Grandmother The King nevertheless so remembred He was a King as He forgot not he was a Kinsman and placed her only sub libera custodia But now did my Lady accumulate and heap up this offence with a far greater than the former by seeking to withdraw her self out of the Kings Power into Forreign Parts That this flight or escape into Forreign Parts might have been seed of trouble to this State is a matter whereof the conceit of a Vulgar person is not capable For although my Lady should have put on a mind to continue her Loyalty as nature and duty did bind her yet when she was in another sphere she must have moved in the motion of that O b and not of the Planet it self And God forbid the Kings felicity should be so little as she should not have envy and enviers enough in Forreign Parts It is true if any forreigner had wrought upon this occasion I do not doubt but the intent would have been as the Prophet saith They have conceived mischief and brought forth a vain thing But yet your Lordships know that it is Wisdom in Princes and it is a watch they owe to themselves and to their people to stop the beginnings of evils and not to despise them Seneca saith well Non jam amplius levia sunt pericula si levia videantur dangers cease to be light because by delpâ—sing they grow and gather strength And accordingly hath been the practice both of the Wisest and stoutest Princes to hold for matter pregnant of peril to have any near them in blood flie into Forreign Parts Wherein I will not wander but take the example of King Hen. 7. a Prince uot unfit to be parallel'd with his Majesty I mean not the particular of Perkin Werbeck for he was but an idol or a disguise but the example I mean is that of the Earl of Suffolk whom that King extorted from Philip of Austria The story is memorable That Philip after the death of Isabella coming to take Possession of His Kingdom of Castilia which was but Matrimonial to His Father in Law Ferdinando of Arragon was cast by weather upon the Coast of Tamouth where the Italian story saith King Henry used him in all things else as
a Prince but in one thing as a Prisoner for he forced upon him a Promise to restore the Earl of Suffolk that was fled into Flanders and yet this I note was in the 21. year of his Reign when the King had a goodly Prince at mans estate besides his daughters nay and the whole line of Clarence nearer in title for that Earl of Suffolk was Descended of a Sister of Edward 4. so far off did that King take his aim To this action of so deep consequence it appeareth you my Lady of Shrewsbury were privy not upon Forreign suspitions or strained inferences but upon vehement presumptions now clear and particular testimony as hath been opened to you so as the King had not only Reason to examine you upon it but to have proceeded with you upon it as for a great contempt which if it be reserved for the present your Ladiship is to understand it aright that it is not defect of proof but abundance of grace that is the cause of this proceeding And your Lady-ship shall do well to see into what danger you have brought your self All offences consist of the fact which is open and the intent which is secret this fact of Conspiring in the flight of this Lady may bear a hard and gentler construction if upon over much affection to your Kinswoman gentler if upon practice or other end harder you must take heed how you enter into such actions whereof if the hidden part be drawn unto that which is open it may be your overthrow which I speak not by way of charge but by way of caution For that which you are properly charged with you must know that all subjects without distinction of degrees owe to the King tribute and service not only of their deed and hand but of their knowledge and discoverie If there be any thing that imports the Kings service they ought themselves undemanded to impart it much more if they be called and examined whether it be of their own fact or of anothers they ought to make direct answer Neither was there ever any subject brought into causes of estate to trial judicial but first he passed examination for examination is the entrance of Justice in criminal causes it is one of the eyes of the Kings politique bodie there are but two Information and Examination it may not be endured that one of the lights be put out by your example Your excuses are not worthie your own judgment rash vowes of lawful things are to be kept but unlawful vowes not your own Divines will tell you so For your examples they are some erroneous traditions My Lord of Pembrook spake somewhat that he was unlettered and it was but when he was examined by one private Councellor to whom he took exception That of my Lord Lumley is a fiction the preheminences of Nobility I would hold with to the last graine but every dayes experience is to the contrary Nay you may learn dutie of my Lady Arbella her self a Lady of the Blood of an higher Rank than your self who declining and yet that but by request neither to declare of your fact yieldeth ingenuously to be examined of her own I do not doubt but by this time you see both your own error and the Kings grace in proceeding with you in this manner Sir Nicholas Throckmorton then Ambassadour in France to Queen Elizabeth touching a free Passage for the Queen of Scots through England into Scotland IT may please your Majesty to understand that the 17 of July I received your letters at Poisey of the 14 of the same by Francisco this bearer and for that I could not according to your Majesties instructions in the same letters accomplish the contents of them until Mounsieur d' Oysell had delivered your letters to the French King the Queen of Scotland and the Queen Mother who did not arrive at this Court till the 20th of this present I did defer to treat with any of the Princes of your Majesties answer to the said Mounsieur d' Oysell Nevertheless the 18th of this moneth I required Audience of the French King which was granted me the same day in the after-noon I repaired to his Court being at Saint Germanes and there the Queen-Mother accompanied with the King of Navarre and sundry other great personages was in the place of State to hear what I had to say to the King her son who was absent unto her I declared your Majesties pleasure according to my instructions concerning your acceptation of the Hostages already received and hereafter to be received signified to me by your Majesties letters of the 17 of June and as I wrote to your Majesty lately brought to me by Mounsieur de Noailles the 16 of July for answer whereunto the Queen Mother said Mounsieur l' Ambassadour we marvail greatly how it cometh to pass that the Queen your Mistress doth not make more stay to receive the King my sons Hostages than she hath done heretofore for from the beginning since the Hostages were sent into England neither the King my late Lord and Husband nor the late King my Son did either recommend the sufficiency of their Hostages by their Letters or cause their names to be recommended unto you the Ambassador but the presentation of them by our Ambassador in England did suffice thereunto I said Madam you know they be Hostages for a matter of some moment and if they should neither have the Kings assurance for their Validity nor the Queen my Mistris Ambassadours allowance of their sufficiency some personages might be sent which were neither meet for the King to send nor for the Queen my Mistris to receive and yet Madam the Queen my Mistris doth not require the manner of recommending the sufficiency of the Hostages for any doubt she hath that unmeet persons should be sent but rather because a friendly and sincere fashion of dealing should be betwixt her good Brother and her with whom her Majesty is so desirous to have a perfect assured Amity I said also That the King her Son hath notified both to my Lord of Bedford at his being here and unto me the names of some of the Hostages as the Count of Benon before his going into England as Mounsieur de Sualt who had the charge so to do could well inform her so as this motion need not seem strange for the newness The Queen answered Mounsieur l' Ambassadour we be well-pleased seeing your Mistriss doth require it that from henceforth either the Hostages shall have the King my Sons Letters of Recommendation or else their names should be notified unto you or any other her Ambassadour here and I pray you Mounsieur l' Ambassadour quoth she give the Queen your Mistris my good Sister to understand from me That if there be any thing in this Countrey that may please her she shall have it if I may know her liking I told the said Queen That I was sure your Majesty was of the same mind
March 30. 1663. Let this Collection of Letters and other Discourses be Printed HENRY BENNET SCRINIA CECILIANA MYSTERIES OF State Government IN LETTERS Of the late Famous Lord Burghley And other Grand Ministers of STATE In the Reigns of Queen ELIZABETH and King JAMES Being a further Additional Supplement of the CABALA AS ALSO Many Remarkable Passages faithfully Revised and no where else Published With two exact Tables The one of the Letters The other of Things most Observable LONDON Printed for G. Bedel and T. Collins and are to be sold at their Shop at the Middle-Temple-gate in Fleetstreet 1663. The Stationers To the READER Courteous Reader ALthough it be a received Position That Merit is worthier than Fame yet duly considered they ought to be inseparable the one being the just Guerdon of the other Upon that account we have presumed to make Publick these ensuing Memorials or Letters being Monuments of some late Eminent Patriots and Hero's of this Nation Who whilst they were Actors in such grand Affairs as suited with their high Service under their Sovereigns were deservedly Dignified here and Renowned abroad The first of these Worthies being Sir William Cecil Lord Burghley who was an unparallel'd Minister of State And as we conceive of the longest continuance that any Prince then or ever since with such Success enjoyed a person alwayes peaceable and moderate free from Covetousness or Ambition in the course of his Service rather willing to endure the Burthen than desiring the fruition of Honour or Profit profound in Judgment assisted with great Experience and therefore worthily celebrated both here and abroad as Pater Patriae and an indefatigable Votary to the Crown And for the matters and designs in the Letters themselves we shall be silent hoping the Fame of the person will be motive sufficient for you to purchase this Jewel Concerning the Times they were wheeled about with new and great Revolutions and Divisions not only at Home but also in France Scotland the Low Countries and generally in most of the other Kingdoms and States abroad Forâs Pugnae intus Timores Conspiracies Invasions and Insurrections amongst our selves War Devastations and Massacres amongst our Neighbours for the most part shadowed with the Vaile of Religion many Princes of the Blood and persons of great Authority being sacrificed on either part turbulent Times and of great mutations proper to try the Ability and Fidelity of a State Atlas wherein with what Wisdom he acquitted himself is referred to you to determine The next is Sir Nicholas Throckmorton Ambassador in France for Queen Elizabeth in the Infancy of her Reign we have nothing here of his remains but only his Letter to Her Majesty touching a free passage for the Queen of Scots through England wherein you will find variety of Politick Reasons pressed on each part with smart Judgment In the third place is Sir Philip Sidney that choice Darling of the Muses whom we suppose you will freely grant to have been Tam Marti quam Mercurio in whom England Netherland the Heavens and the Arts the Souldiers and the World did emulate a share here we have only a dissuasive Letter to the Queen touching Her Marriage with Mounsieur of France fortified with many pressing and effectual Reasons against that match and penned with a Politick and Ingenuous Stile And in the last place we present you with some Pieces of the inimitable Viscount St. Alban some in the Reign of the late glorious Queen and others in the Halcyon dayes of the late King James never before to our best knowledge made Publick deck't with many grateful Flowers of Philosophy History and Policy the Fall of the Earl of Somerset and the immediate Advance of the Duke of Buckingham with many other passages of moment and here you may observe the memorials of other worthy persons although the Title point only at Sir William Cecil for we conceive it not imaginable That such experienced and sure Masters of Knowledge would employ their thoughts in any thing sleight or superficial However we dare not assume that boldness as to write Encomiasticks of such great Personages that Right we suppose is much better performed by more quaint Pens already Lunae Radiis non maturescit Botrus And their Names and Honour still live in fresh memory Here you may safely turn Necromancer and consult with the dead or rather with the living for such Monuments as these survive Marble Dignum laude virum Musa vetat mori These are not like Augustus his two infamous Daughters or his unworthy Nephew Posthumus Agrippa Impostumes as he termed them that broke from him but pure and legitimate Issue of the nobler part which is with care exposed to publick View for the better accomodation of those that have been pleased to purchase the two former Volumes of the like Nature and Quality Temple-gate June 18. 1663. G. B. T. C. A TABLE of the LETTERS contained in this COLLECTION B. SIR Francis Bacon to the Lord Treasurer Burghley Pag. 1. Sir Francis Bacon to the Lord Treasurer Burghley p. 2. Sir Francis Bacon in recommendation of his Service to the Earl of Northumberland a few dayes before Queen Elizabeths death p. 4. Sir Francis Bacon to Mr. Robert Kempe upon the death of Queen Elizabeth p. 5. Sir Francis Bacon to Mr. David Foules in Scotland upon the entrance of His Majesties Reign ibid. Sir Francis Bacon to the King upon presenting his Discourse touching the Plantation of Ireland p. 6. Sir Francis Bacon to the Lord Chancellor touching the History of Britain p. 7. Sir Francis Bacon to the King upon the sending unto him a beginning of a History of His Majesties time p. 9. Sir Francis Bacon to the Earl of Salisbury upon sending him one of his Books of Advancement of Learning ibid. Sir Francis Bacon to the Lord Treasurer Buckhurst upon the same occasion of sending his Book of Advancement of Learning p. 10. A Letter of the like Argument to the Lord Chancellor ibid. Sir Francis Bacon of like Argument to the Earl of Northampton with Request to present the Book to His Majesty p. 11. Sir Francis Bacon his Letter of Request to Dr. Plafer to Translate the Book of Advancement of Learning into Latine ibid. Sir Francis Bacon to Sir Thomas Bodley upon sending him his Book of the Advancement of Learning p. 13. Sir Francis Bacon to the Bishop of Ely upon sending his Writing intituled Cogitata visa ibid. Sir Francis Bacon to Sir Thomas Bodley after he had imparted to him a Writing intituled Cogitata visa p. 14. Sir Francis Bacon to Mr. Matthew upon sending him part of Instauratio Magna p. 15. Sir Francis Bacon to Mr. Matthew touching Instauratio Magna p. 16. A Letter to Mr. Matthew upon sending his Book De Sapientia Veterum p. 17. Sir Francis Bacon to Mr. Savill ibid. Sir Francis Bacon to the King touching the Sollicitors place p. 18. Sir Francis Bacon to the King his Suit to succeed in the
accompt my thankfulness the less for that my disability is great to shew it but to sustain me in her Majesties grecious opinion whereupon I onely rest and not upon any expectation of desert to proceed from my self towards the contentment thereof But if it shall please God to send forth an occasion whereby my faithful affection may be tried I trust it shall save me melibour for ever making more protestation of it hereafter In the mean time howsoever it be not made known to her Majesty yet God knoweth it through the daily sollicitations wherewith I address my self unto him in unfeigned Prayer for the multiplying of her Majesties prosperities to your Lordship also whose recommendation I know right well hath been material to advance her Majesties good opinion of me I can be but a bounden servant So much may I safely promise and purpose to be seeing publick and private bonds vary not but that my service to her Majesty and your Lordship draw in a line I wish therefore to shew it with as good proof as I can say it in good faith c. Your Lordships c. Sir Francis Bacon in recommendation of his service to the Earl of Northumberland a few days before Queen Elizabeths death It may please your good Lordship AS the time of sowing of seed is known but the time of coming up and disclosing is casual or according to the season So I am a witness to my self that there hath been covered in my mind a long time a seed of affection and zeal towards your Lordship sown by the estimation of your vertues and your particular honours and favours to my brother deceased and to my self which seed still springing now bursteth forth into this profession And to be plain with your Lordship it is very true and no winds or noyses of civil matters can blow this out of my head or heart that your great capacity and love towards studies and contemplations of an higher and worthier nature then popular a Nature rare in the world and in a person of your Lordships quality almost singular is to me a great and chief motive to draw my affection and admiration towards you and therefore good my Lord if I may be of any use to your Lordship by my Head Tongue Pen Means or Friends I humbly pray you to hold me your own and herewithal not to do so much disadvantage to my good mind nor partly to your own worth as to conceive that this commendation of my humble service proceedeth out of any streights of my occasions but meerly out of an election and indeed the fulness of my heart And so wishing your Lordship all prosperity I continue Sir Francis Bacon to Mr. Robert Kempe upon the death of Queen Elizabeth Mr. Kempe This alteration is so great as you might justly conceive some coldness of my affection towards you if you should hear nothing from me I living in this place It is in vain to tell you with what a wonderful still and calme this wheel is turned round which whether it be a remnant of her felicity that is gone or a fruit of his reputation that is coming I will not determine for I cannot but divide my self between her memory and his name Yet we account it but as a fair morn before Sun rising before his Majesties presence though for my part I see not whence any weather should arise The Papists are conteined with fear enough and hope too much The French is thought to turn his practice upon procuring some disturbance in Scotland where Crowns may do wonders But this day is so welcome to the Nation and the time so short as I do not fear the effect My Lord of Southampton expecteth release by the next dispatch and is already much visited and much well wished There is continual posting by men of good quality towards the King the rather I think because this Spring time it is but a kinde of sport It is hoped that as the State here hath performed the part of good Attorneys to deliver the King quiet possession of his Kingdom so the King will re-deliver them quiet possession of their places rather filling places void than removing men placed So c. Sir Francis Bacon to Mr. David Foules in Scotland upon the entrance of His Majesties Reign SIR The occasion awaketh in me the remembrance of the constant and mutual good offices which passed between my good brother and your self whereunto as you know I was not altogether a stranger though the time and design as between brethren made me more reserved But well do I bear in mind the great opinion which my brother whose Judgment I much reverence would often express to me of the extraordinary sufficiency Dexterity and temper which he had found in you in the business and service of the King our Sovereign Lord. This latter bred in me an election as the former gave an inducement for me to address my self to you and to make this signification of my desire towards a mutual entertainment of good affection and correspondence between us hoping that some good effect may result of it towards the Kings service and that for our particulars though occasion give you the precedence of furthering my being known by good note unto the King so no long time will intercede before I on my part shall have some means given to requite your favours and to verifie your commendation And so with my loving commendations good Mr. Foules I leave you to Gods goodness From Graies Inne this 25th of March. Sir Francis Bacon to the King upon presenting his discoursetouching the Plantation of Ireland It may please your excellent Majesty I know no better way how to express my good wishes of a New-year to your Majesty then by this little book which in all humbleness I send you The stile is a stile of business rather then curious or elaborate And herein I was encouraged by my experience of your Majesties former Grace in accepting of the like poor field-fruits touching the Union And certainly I reckon this action as a second brother to the Union For I assure my self that England Scotland and Ireland well united is such a Trifoil as no Prince except your self who are the worthiest weareth in his Crown Si Potentia reducatur in actum I know well that for me to beat my brains about these things they be Majora quam pro fortuna but yet they be Minora quam pro studio voluntate For as I do yet bear an extream zeal to the memory of my old Mistriss Queen Elizabeth to whom I was rather bound for her trust than for her favour so I must acknowledge my self more bound to your Majesty both for trust and favour whereof I will never deceive the one as I can never deserve the other And so in all humbleness kissing your Majesties Sacred hands I remain Sir Francis Bacon to the Lord Chancellor touching the History of Britain It may please your good Lordship SOme
your Lordship with a work of my vacant time which if it had been more the work had been better It appertaineth to your Lordship besides my particular respects in some propriety in regard you are a great Governor in a Province of Learning and that which is more you have added to your place affection towards Learning and to your affection judgement of which the last I could be content were for the time less that you might the less exquisitely censure that which I offer to you But sure I am the Argument is good if it had lighted upon a good author but I shall content my self to awake better spirits like a bell-ringer which is first up to call others to Church So with my humble desire of your Lordships good acceptation I remain Sir Francis Bacon to the Lord Treasurer Buckhurst upon the same occasion of sending his book of Advancement of Learning May it please your good Lordship I have finished a work touching the advancement or setting forward of learning which I have dedicated to his Majesty the most learned of a Sovereign or temporal Prince that time hath known And upon reason not unlike I humbly present one of the books to your Lordship not onely as a Chancellor of an University but as one that was excellently bred in all learning which I have ever noted to shine in all your speeches and behaviours And therefore your Lordship will yield a gracious aspect to your first love and take pleasure in the adorning of that wherewith your self are so much adorned And so humbly desiring your favourable acceptation thereof with signification of my humble duty I remain A Letter of the like Argument to the Lord Chancellor May it please your good Lordship I humbly present your Lordship with a work wherein as you have much commandment over the Author so your Lordship hath also great interest in the argument For to speak without flattery few have like use of Learning or like judgement in learning as I have observed in your Lordship And again your Lordship hath been a great planter of Learning not only in those places in the Church which have been in your own gift but also in your commendatory Vote no man hath more constantly held Detur digniori and therefore both your Lordship is beholden to Learning and learning beholden to you Which maketh me presume with good assurance that your Lordship will accept well of these my labours the rather because your Lordship in private speech hath often begun to me in expressing your admiration of his Majesties Learning to whom I have dedicated this work and whose vertue and perfection in that kind did chiefly move me to a work of this nature And so with signification of my most humble duty and affection towards your Lordship I remain c. Sir Francis Bacon of like argument to the Earl of Northampton with request to present the book to his Majesty It may please your good Lordship HAving finished a work touching the Advancement of Learning and dedicated the same to his sacred Majesty whom I dare avouch if the records of time erre not to be the learnedst King that hath reigned I was desirous in a kind of congruity to present it by the learnedst Councellor in this Kingdom to the end that so good an argument lighting upon so bad an Author might receive some reparetion by the hands into which and by which it should be delivered And therefore I make it my humble suit to your Lordship to present this mean but well meant writing to his Majesty and with it my humble and zealous duty and also my like humble request of pardon if I have too often taken his name in vain not onely in the dedication but in the voucher of the authority of his speeches and writings And so I remain c. Sir Francis Bacon his Letter of request to Doctor Plafer to translate the book of Advancement of Learning into Latine Mr. Doctor Plafer A great desire will take a small occasion to hope and put in Tryal that which is desired It pleased you a good while since to express unto me the good liking which you conceive of my book of the advancement of Learning and that more significantly as it seemed to me then out of curtesie or civil respect My self as I then took contentment in your approbation thereof so I should esteem and acknowledge not onely my contentment increased but my labours advanced if I might obtain your help in that nature which I desire Wherein before I set down in plain terms my request unto you I will open my self what it was which I chiefly sought and propounded to myself in that work that you may perceive that which I now desire to be pursuant thereupon If I do not erre for any judgment that a man maketh of his own doings had need be spoken with a Si nunquam fallit Imago I have this opinion that if I had sought my own commendation it had been a much fitter course for me to have done as Gardners use to do by taking their Seeds and Slips and re ring them first into plants and so uttering them in pots when they are in flower and in their best state But for as much as my end was merit of the state of Learning to my power and not glorie and because my purpose was rather to excite other mens wits then to magnifie my own I was desirous to prevent the incertainess of my own life and times by uttering rather seeds then plants nay and further as the Proverb is by sowing with the Basket then with the hand Wherefore since I have onely taken upon me to ring a Bell to call other wits together which is the meanest office it cannot but be consonant to my desire to have that Bell heard as sarre as can be And since that they are but sparks which can work but upon matter prepared I have the more reason to wish that those sparks may flye abroad that they may the better find and light upon those minds and spirits which are apt to be kindled And therefore the privateness of the language considered wherein it is written excluding so many readers as on the other side the obscurity of the argument in many parts of it excludeth many others I must account it a second birth of that work if it might be translated into Latine without manifest loss of the sence and matter For this purpose I could not represent to my self any man into whose hands I do more earnestly desire that work should fall then your self for by that I have heard and read I know no man a greater Master in commanding words to serve matter Nevertheless I am not ignorant of the worth of your labours whether such as your place and profession imposeth on you or such as your own vertue may upon your voluntary election take in hand But I can lay before you no other perswasions then either the work it self may affect
of that fame and diligence saw it chiefly because I know not whether it may not serve him for some use in his Story wherein I would be glad he did right to the truth and to the memory of that Lady as I perceive by that he hath already written he is well inclined to do I would be glad also it were some occasion such as absence may permit of some acquaintance or mutual notice between us For though he hath many ways the precedence chiefly in worth yet this is common to us both that we serve our Sovereigns in places of Law eminent and not our selves only but that our Fathers did so before us and lastly that both of us love Learning and Liberal Sciences which was ever a bond of Friendship in the greatest distances of places But of this I make no farther request then your own occasions and respects to me unknown may further or limit my principal purpose being to salute you and to send you this Token whereunto I will add my very kind commendations to my Lady And so commit you both to Gods holy protection A Letter to Sir Geo. Villiers touching the difference between the Courts of Chancery and Kings Bench. Sir I Received this morning from you two Letters by the same bearer the one written before the other both after his Majesty had received my last In this difference between the two Courts of Chancery and Kings Bench for so I had rather take it at this time then between the persons of my Lord Chancellor and my Lord Chief Justice I marvaile not if rumour get way of true Relation for I know Fame hath swift wings specially that which hath black feathers but within these two days for sooner I cannot be ready I will write to his Majesty both the Narrative truly and my opinion sincerely taking much comfort that I serve such a King as hath Gods property in discerning truly of mens hearts I purpose to speak with my Lord Chancellor this day and so to exhibit that Cordial of his Majesties grace as I hope this other accident will rather rowse and raise his spirits then deject him or incline him to a relapse Mean while I commend the wit of a mean man that said this other day Well saith he next Term you shall have an old man come with a besom of Worm-wood in his hand that will sweep away all this For it is my Lord Chancellor his fashion especially towards the Summer to carry a posie of Worm-wood I writ this Letter in haste to return the Messenger with it God keep you and long and happily may you serve his Majesty Your true and affectionate servant Feb. 19. 1615. POST-SCRIPT Sir I humbly thank you for your inward Letter I have burned it as you commanded but the flame it hath kindled in me will never be extinguished Sir Francis Bacon to the King concerning the Praemunire in the Kings Bench against the Chancery It may please your most Excellent Majesty I Was yesterday in the Afternoon with my Lord Chancellor according to Your Commandment which I received by the Master of the Horse and find the old man well comforted both towards God and towards the world And that same middle comfort which is a divine and humane proceeding from your Majesty being Gods Leiutenant on earth I am perswaded hath been a great cause that such a sickness hath been portable to such an age I did not faile in my conjecture that this business of the Chancery hath stirred him He sheweth to despise it but yet he is full of it and almost like a young Duelist that findeth himself behind hand I will now as your Majesty requireth give you a true relation of that which passed neither will I decline your Royall Commandment for delivering my opinion also though it be a tender subject to write on But I that account my being but an accident to my service will neglect no duty upon self-safety First it is necessary I let your Majesty know the ground of the difference between the two Courts that your Majesty may the better understand the Narrative There was a Statute made 27. Ed. 3. Cap. 1. which no doubt in the principal intention thereof was ordained against those that sued to Rome wherein there are words somewhat general against any that questioneth or impeacheth any judgement given in the Kings Courts in any other Courts Upon these doubtfull words other Courts the Controversie groweth For the founder interpretation taketh them to be meant of those Courts which though locally they were not held at Rome or where the Popes Chair was but here within the Realm yet in their jurisdiction had their dependency upon the Court of Rome as were the Court of the Legat here and the Courts of the Arch-bishops and Bishops which were then but subordinate judgement seats to that high Tribunal of Rome And for this Construction the opposition of the words if they be well observed between the Kings Courts and other Courts maketh very much For it importeth as if those other Courts were not the Kings Courts Also the main scope of the Statute sortifieth the same and lastly the practice of many ages The other interpretation which cleaveth to the letter expoundeth the Kings Courts to be the Courts of Law only and other Courts to be Courts of Equity as the Chancery Exchequer-Chamber Dutchy c. though this also flyeth indeed from the letter for that all these are the Kings Courts There is also another Statute which is but a simple Prohibition and not with a penalty of Praemunire as the other is That after judgements given in the Kings Courts the parties shall be in Peace except the judgments be undone by Error or Attaint which is a legall form of reversall And of this also I hold the sounder interpretation to be to settle possessions against disturbances and not to take away remedy in equity where those judgments are obtained ex rigore juris and against good Conscience But upon these two Statutes there hath been a late conceipt in some that if a judgement passe at the Common-Law against any he may not after sue for relief in Chancery and if he do both he and his Councel and his Solicitor yea and the Judge in Equity himself are within the danger of those Statutes There your Majesty hath the true state of the question which I was necessarily to shew you first because your Majesty calleth for this relation not as news but as business Now to the Historical part It is the Course of the Kings Bench that they give in Charge to the Grand Jury offences of all natures to be presented within Middlesex where the said Court is and the manner is to enumerate them as it were in Articles This was done by Justice Crooke the Wednesday before the Term ended and that Article if any man after a judgement given had drawn the said judgement to a new examination in any other Court was by him
Reconciliation at least made between my Lord Chancellor and my Lord Chief Justice for this accident is a Banquet to all Somersets friends But this is a thing that falleth out naturally of it self in respect of the Judges going Circuit and my Lord Chancellors infirmity with hope of recovery And although this protraction of time may breed some doubt of mutability yet I have lately learned out of an excellent Letter of a certain King That the Sun sheweth sometimes watry to our eyes but when the Cloud is gone the Sun is as before God preserve Your Majesty Your Majesties most humble Subject and most bounden Servant Febr. 21. 1615. Your Majesties Commandment speaketh for pardon of so long a Letter which yet I wish may have a short continuance and be punished with fire A Letter to the King touching matter of Revenue and Profit It may please your Majesty I May remember what Tacitus saith by occasion that Tiberius was often and long absent from Rome In Urbe parva magna negotia Imperatorem simul premunt But saith he in recessu dimissis rebus minoris momenti summae rerum magnarum magis agitantur This maketh me think it shall be no incivility to trouble your Majesty with business during your aboad from London knowing your Majesties Meditations are the principal wheel of your estate and being warranted by a former commandment which I received from you I do now only send your Majesty these papers inclosed because I greatly desire so far forth to preserve my Credit with you as thus That whereas lately perhaps out of too much desire which induceth too much belief I was bold to say that I thought it as easie for your Majesty to come out of want as to go forth of your Gallery your Majesty would not take me for a dreamer or a projector I send your Majesty therefore some grounds of my hopes And for that paper which I have gathered of increasments sperate I beseech you to give me leave to think that if any of the particulars do fail it will be rather for want of workmanship in those that shall deal in them than want of materials in the things themselves The other paper hath many discarding cards and I send it chiefly that your Majesty may be the less surprized by projectors who pretend sometimes great discoveries and inventions in things that have been propounded and perhaps after a better fashion long since God Almighty preserve your Majesty Your Majesties most humble and devoted Servant and Subject April 25 1610. Sir Francis Bacon the Kings Attorney to the King touching the proceeding with Somerset It may please your most excellent Majesty AT my last access to your Majesty it was sit for me to consider the time and your journey which maketh me now trouble your Majesty with a remnant of that I thought then to have said besides your old Warrant and Commission to me to advertise your Majestie when you are aux champs of any thing that concern'd your service and my place I know your Majestie is Nunquam minus solus quam cum solus and I confess in regard of your great judgment unto which nothing ought to be presented but well weighed I could almost wish that the manner of Tiberius were in use again of whom Tacitus saith Mos erat quamvis praesentem scripto adire much more in absence I said to your Majestie that which I do now repeat that the Evidence upon which my Lord of Somerset standeth indicted is of a good strong thred considering impoysoning is the darkest of offences but that the thred must be well spun and woven together For your Majestie knoweth it is one thing to deal with a Jury of Middlesex and Londoners and another to deal with the Peers whose objects perhaps will not be so much what is before them in the present Case which I think is as odious to them as to the vulgar but what may be hereafter Besides there be two disadvantages we that shallgive in evidence shall meet with somewhat considerable the one that the same things often open'd lose their freshness except there be an aspersion of somewhat that is new the other is the expectation raised which makes things seem less then they are because they are less then opinion Therefore I were not your Attorney nor my self if I should not be very careful that in this last part which is the pinacle of your former Justice all things may pass sine offendiculo sine scrupulo Hereupon I did move two things which having now more fully explained my self I do in all humbleness renew First That your Majesty will be careful to chuse a Steward of Judgment that may be able to moderate the Evidence and cut off Digressions for I may interrupt but I cannot silence The other That there may be special care taken for the ordering of the Evidence not only for the knitting but for the list and to use your Majesties own word the confining of it This to do if your Majestie vouchsafe to direct it your self that is the best if not I humbly pray you to require my Lord Chancellor that he together with my Lord Chief Justice will confer with my self and my sellows that shall be used for the marshalling and bounding of the Evidence that we may have the help of his opinion as well as that of my Lord Chief Justice whose great travels as I much commend yet that same Plerophoria or over-confidence doth always subject things to a great deal of chance There is another business proper for me to crave of Your Majesty at this time as one that have in my eye a great deal of Service to be done concerning Your casual Revenue but considering times and persons I desire to be strengthned by some such form of Commandment under Your Royal Hand as I send You here inclosed I most humbly pray Your Majesty to think that I understand my self right well in this which I desire and that it tendeth greatly to the good of Your Service The Warrant I mean not to impart but upon just occasion Thus thirsty to hear of Your Majesties good health I rest Jan. 22. 1615. Sir Francis Bacon the Kings Attorney to Sir George Villiers concerning the proceeding with Somerset SIR I Thought it convenient to give His Majesty an account of that which His Majesty gave me in charge in general reserving the particulars for His coming And I find it necessary to know His pleasure in some things ere I could further proceed My Lord Chancellor and my self spent Thursday and Yesterday the whole Forenoons of both dayes in the Examination of Sir Robert Cotton whom we find hitherto but empty save only in the great point of the Treaty with Spain This Examination was taken before His Majesties Warrant came to Mr. Vice-Chamberlain for communicating unto us the Secrets of the Pensions which Warrant I received Yesterday morning being Friday and a meeting was appointed at my Lord Chancellors
in the Evening after Councel Upon which Conference we find matter of further Examination for Sir Robert Cotton of some new Articles whereupon to examine Somerset and of entring into Examination of Sir William Mounson Wherefore first for Somerset being now ready to proceed to examine him we stay only upon the Duke of Lenox who it seemeth is fallen sick and keepeth in without whom we neither think it warranted by His Majesties direction nor agreeable to His intention that we should proceed for that will want which should sweeten the Cup of Medicine he being his Countrey man and Friend Herein then we humbly crave His Majesties direction with all convenient speed whether we shall expect the Dukes recovery or proceed by our selves or that His Majesty will think of some other person qualified according to His Majesties just intention to be joined with us I remember we had speech with His Majesty of my Lord Hay and J for my part can think of no other except it should be my Lord Chancellor of Scotland for my Lord Binning may be thought too near allied I am further to know His Majesties pleasure concerning the day For my Lord Chancellor and J conceived His Majesty to have designed the Monday and Tuesday aftet St. Georges Feast and nevertheless we conceived also That His Majesty understood that the Examinations of Somerset about this and otherwise touching the Spanish practices should first be put to a point which will not be possible as time cometh on by reason of this accident of the Dukes sickness and the cause we find of Sir William Mounsons Examination and that divers of the peers are to be sent for from remote places It may please His Majesty therefore to take into consideration whether the days may not well be put off till Wednesday and Thursday after the Term which endeth on the Munday being the Wednesday and Thursday before Whitsontide or if that please not His Majesty in respect it may be His Majesty will be then in Town whereas these Arraignments have been still in His Majesties absence from Town then to take Munday and Tuesday after Trinity-Sunday being the Munday and Tuesday before Trinity Term. Now for Sir William Mounson if it be His Majesties pleasure that my Lord Chancellor and I shall proceed to the examination of him for that of the Duke of Lenox differs in that there is not the like cause as in that of Somerset then His Majesty may be pleased to direct his Commandment and Warrant to my Lord Chief Justice to deliver unto me the examinations he took of Sir William Mounson that those joyned to the information which we have received from Mr. Vice-Chamberlain may be full instructions unto us for his examination Further I pray let His Majesty know that on Thursday in the evening my Lord Chief Justice and my self attended my Lord Chancellor at his house for the setling of that scruple which His Majesty most justly conceived in the Examination of the Lady Somerset at which time resting on His Majesties opinion That that Evidence as it standeth now unclear'd must Secundum leges sanae Conscientiae be laid aside the question was Whether we should leave it out or try what a Re-examination of my Lady Somerset would produce Whereupon we agreed upon a Re-examination of my Lady Somerset which my Lord Chief Justice and I have appointed for Monday morning I was bold at that meeting to put my Lord Chief Justice a posing question which was Whether that opinion which his Brethren had given upon the whole Evidence and he had reported to His Majesty viz. That it was good Evidence in their opinions to convince my Lord of Somerser was not grounded upon this part of the Evidence now to be omitted as well as upon the rest Who answered confidently That no and they never saw the exposition of the Letter but only the Letter The same Thursday evening before we entred into this last matter and in the presence of Mr. Secretary Winwood who left us when we went to the former business we had conference concerning the frauds and abusive Grants passed to the prejudice of His Majesties State of Revenue where my Lord Chief Justice made some relation of his collections which he had made of that kind of which I will say only this that I heard nothing that was new to me and I found my Lord Chancellor in divers particulars more ready then I found him We grew to a distribution both of times and of matters For we agreed what to begin with presently and what should follow and also we had consideration what was to be holpen by Law what by Equity and what by Parliament Wherein I must confess that in the last of these of which my Lord Chief Justice made most accompt I make most doubt But the Conclusion was That upon this entrance I should advise and conferr at large with my Lord Chief Justice and set things on work The particulars I referr till His Majesties coming The learned Councel have attended me now twice at my Chamber to confer upon that which His Majesty gave us in Commandment for our opinions upon the Case set down by my Lord Chancellor whether the Statutes extend to it or no. Wherein we are more and more edified and confirmed that they do not and shall shortly send our Report to His Majesty Sir I hope you will bear me witness I have not been idle but all is nothing to the Duty I owe His Majesty for his singular favours past and present supplying all with love and prayers I rest Your true Friend and devoted Servant April 13. 1616. Sir Francis Bacon the Kings Attorney giving account of an Examination taken of Somerset at the Tower SIR I Received from you a Letter of very brief and clear directions and I think it a great blessing of God upon me and my labours that my directions come by so clear a Conduit as they receive no tincture in the passage Yesterday my Lord Chancellor the Duke of Lenox and my self spent the whole afternoon at the Tower in the examination of Somerset upon the Articles sent from his Majesty and some other additionals which were in effect contained in the former but extended to more particularity by occasion of somewhat discovered by Cottons examination and Mr. Vice-Chamberlains information He is full of protestations and would fain keep that quarter toward Spain clear using but this for Argument That he had such fortunes from his Majesty as he could not think of bettering his conditions from Spain because as he said he was no military man He cometh nothing so far on for that which concerneth the Treaty as Cotton which doth much aggravate suspicion against him The further particulars I reserve to his Majesties coming In the end tanquam obiter but very effectually my Lord Chancellor put him in minde of the state he stood in for the imprisonment but he was little moved with it and pretended carelesness of life
since ignominy had made him unfit for his Majesties service I am of opinion that the fair usage of him as it was fit for the Spanish examinations and for the questions touching the Papers and Dispatches and all that so it was no good preparative to make him descend into himself touching his present danger and therefore my Lord Chancellor and my self thought not good to insist upon it at this time I have received from my Lord Chief Justice the examinations of Sir William Mounson with whom we mean to proceed to further examination with all speed My Lord Chief Justice is altered touching the re-examination of the Lady and desired me that we might stay till he spake with his Majesty saying it could be no casting back to the business which I did approve My self with the rest of my fellows upon due and mature advice perfected our Report touching the Chancery for the receiving whereof I pray you put his Majesty in mind at his coming to appoint some time for us to wait upon him all together for the delivery in of the same as we did in our former Certificate For the Revenue matters I reserve them to his Majesties coming and in the mean time I doubt not but Master Secretary Winwood will make some kind of Report thereof to his Majesty For the conclusion of your Letter concerning my own comfort I can say but the Psalm of Quid retribuam God that giveth me favour in his Majesties eyes will strengthen me in his Majesty service I ever rest Your true and devoted Servant April 18. 1616. To requite your Post-script of excuse for scribling I pray you excuse that the Paper is not gilt I writing from Westminster Hall where we are not so fine Sir Francis Bacon the Kings Attorney to Sir George Villiers touching the proceeding with Somerset SIR I Have received my Letter from his Majesty with his marginal notes which shall be my directions being glad to perceive I understand his Majesty so well That little Charm which may be secretly infused into Somersets ear some few hours before his Tryal was excellently well thought of by his Majesty and I do approve it both for matter and time only if it seem good to his Majesty I would wish it a little enlarged For if it be no more but to spare his blood he hath a kind of proud humour which may over-work the Medicine Therefore I could wish it were made a little stronger by giving him some hope that his Majesty will be good to his Lady and child and that time when Justice and his Majesties Honour is once salved and satisfied may produce further fruit of his Majesties compassio which was to be seen in the example of Southampton whom his Majesty after attainder restor d and Cobham and Gray to whom his Majesty notwithstanding they were offendors against his own person yet spared their lives and for Gray his Majesty gave him back some part of his estate and was upon point to deliver him much more he having been so highly in his Majesties favour may hope well if he hurt not himself by his publick misdemeanor For the person that should deliver this message I am not so well seen in the Religion of his friends as to be able to make choice of a particular my Lord Treasurer the Lord Knolles or any of his neerest friends should not be trusted with it for they may go too far and perhaps work contrary to His Majesties ends Those which occur to me are my Lord Hay my Lord Burghley of England I mean and Sir Robert Carr. My Lady of Somerset hath been re-examined and His Majesty is sound both a true Prophet and a most just King in that scruple he made For now she expoundeth the word He that should send the Tarts to Helwish's wife to be of Overbury and not of Somerset But for the person that should bid her she saith it was Northampton or Weston not pitching upon certainty which giveth some advantage to the evidence Yesterday being Wednesday I spent 4 or 5 houres with the Judges whom His Majesty designed to take consideration with the four Judges of the Kings Bench of the Evidence against Somerset They all concurre in opinion that the questioning him and drawing him on to tryal is most honourable and just and that the Evidence is fair and good His Majesties Letter to the Judges concerning the Commendams was full of magnanimity and wisdome I perceive His Majesty is never less alone then when he is alone for I am sure there was no body by him to informe him which made me admire it the more The Judges have given day over till the second Saturday of the next term so as that matter may indure further consideration for His Majesty not only not to lose ground but to win ground To morrow is appointed for the examination of Somerset which by some infirmitie of the Duke of Lenox was put off from this day When this is done I will write more fully ever resting Your true and devoted servant May 2. 1616. Sir Francis Bacon the Kings Attorney to Sir George Villiers of Account and Advice to His Majesty touching Somerset's Arraignment SIR I Am far enough from opinion that the Redintegration or Resuscitation of Somersets fortune can ever stand with his Majesties honour and safety and therein I think I exprest my self fully to his Majesty in one of my former letters and I know well any expectation or thought abroad will do much hurt But yet the glimmering of that which the King hath done to others by way of talke to him cannot hurt as I conceive but I would not have that part of the Message as from the King but added by the Messenger as from himself This I remit to His Majesties Princely judgement For the person though he trust the Lieutenant well yet it must be some new man for in these cases that which is ordinary worketh not so great impressions as that which is new and extraordinary The time I wish to be the Tuesday being the even of his Ladies Arraignment For as His Majesty first conceived I would not have it stay in his stomack too long lest it sowre in the digestion and to be too neer the time may be thought but to tune him for that day I send herewithal the substance of that which I purpose to say nakedly and only in that part which is of tenderness for that I conceive was His Majesties meaning It will be necessary because I have distributed parts to the two Serjeants as that Paper doth express and they understand nothing of His Majesties pleasure of the manner of carrying the Evidence more than they may guess by observation of my Example which they may ascribe as much to my nature as to direction therefore that His Majesty would be pleased to write some few words to us all signed with His own Hand that the matter it self being Tragical enough bitterness and insulting be forborn and that
we remember our part to be to make him Delinquent to the Peers and not odions to the People That part of the Evidence of the Ladies Exposition of the Pronoun He which was first caught hold of by me and after by His Majesties singular Wisdom and Conscience excepted to and now is by her Re-examination retracted I have given order to Serjeant Montague within whose part it falleth to leave it out of the Evidence I do yet crave pardon if I do not certifie touching the point of Law for respiting the Judgment for I have not fully advised with my Lord Chancellor concerning it but I will advertise it in time I send His Majesty the Lord Stewards Commission in two several instruments the one to remain with my Lord Chancellor which is that which is written in Secretary hand for his Warrant and is to pass the Signet the other that whereunto the great Seal is to be affixed which is in Chancery hand His Majesty is to sign them both and to transmit the former to the Signet if the Secretaries either of them be there and both of them are to be returned to me with all speed I ever rest Your true and devoted Servant May 5. 1616. Sir Francis Bacon the Kings Attorney and some great Lords Commissioners concerning the perswasion used to the Lord of Somerset to a frank Confession It may please Your Majesty WE have done our best endeavours to perform Your Majesties Commission both in matter and manner for the examination of my Lord of Somerset wherein that which passed for the general was to this effect That he was to know his own Case for that his day of Trial could not be far off but that this dayes work was that which would conduce to Your Majesties Justice little or nothing but to Your Mercy much if he did lay hold upon it and therefore might do him good but could do him no hurt For as for Your Justice there had been taken great and grave opinion not only of such Judges as he may think violent but of the most saddest and most temperate of the Kingdom who ought to understand the state of the proofs that the Evidence was full to convict him so as there needed neither Confession nor supply of Examination But for Your Majesties Mercy although he were not to expect we should make any promise we did assure him That Your Majesty was compassionate of him if he gave you some ground whereon to work that as long as he stood upon his Innocency and Tryal Your Majesty was tyed in Honour to proceed according to Justice and that he little understood being a close Prisoner how much the expectation of the World besides Your love to Justice it self engaged Your Majesty whatsoever Your inclination were but nevertheless that a frank and clear Confession might open the gate of Mercy and help to satisfie the point of Honour That his Lady as he knew and that after many Oaths and Imprecations to the contrary had nevertheless in the end been touched with remorse confessed that she that led him to offend might lead him likewise to repent of his offence That the confession of one of them could not fitly do either of them much good but the confession of both of them might work some further effect towards both And therefore in conclusion we wished him not to shut the gate of your Majesties mercy against himself by being obdurate any longer This was the effect of that which was spoken part by one of us part by another as it fell out adding further that he might well discern who spake in us in the course we held for that Commissioners of Examination might not presume so far of themselves Not to trouble Your Majesty with Circumstances of his Answers the sequel was no other but that we found him still not to come any degree further on to confess only his Behaviour was very sober and modest and mild differing apparently from other times but yet as it seem'd resolv'd to expect his Tryal Then did we proceed to examine him upon divers Questions touching the Impoysonment which indeed were very material and supplemental to the former Evidence wherein either his Affirmatives gave some light or his Negatives do greatly falsifie him in that which is apparently proved We made this further observation That when we asked him some Question that did touch the Prince or some Forrain practice which we did very sparingly at this time yet he grew a little stirred but in the Questions of the Impoysonment very cold and modest Thus not thinking it necessary to trouble Your Majesty with any further particulars we end with Prayer to God ever to preserve Your Majesty Your Majesties most Loyal and Faithful Servant c. If it seem good unto Your Majesty we think it not amiss some Preacher well chosen had access to my Lord of Somerset for his preparing and comfort although it be before his Tryal Sir Francis Bacon to the King upon some inclination of His Majesty signified to him for the Chancellors place It may please your most Excellent Majesty THe last day when it pleased Your Majesty to express your self towards me in favour far above that I can deserve or could expect I was surprised by the Princes coming in I most humbly pray Your Majesty therefore to accept these few lines of acknowledgement I never had great thoughts for my self further then to maintain those great thoughts which I confess I have for your service I know what honour is and I know what the times are but I thank God with me my service is the principal and it is far from me under honourable pretences to cover base desires which I account them to be when men refer too much to themselves especially serving such a King I am afraid of nothing but that the Master of the Horse your excellent servant and my self shall fall out about this who shall hold your Stirrup belt but were Your Majesty mounted and seated without difficulties and distastes in your business as I desire and hope to see you I should ex animo desire to spend the decline of my years in my studies wherein also I should not forget to do him honour who besides his active and politick vertues is the best pen of Kings and much more the best subject of a pen. God ever preserve Your Majesty Your Majesties most humble Subject and more and more obliged Servant April 1. 1616. Sir Francis Bacon the Kings Attorney returned with Postils of the Kings own Hand It may please Your most Excellent Majesty YOur Majesty hath put upon me a work of providence in this great Cause which is to break and distinguish future events into present Cases and so to present them to your Royal Judgement that in this action which hath been carried with so great Prudence Justice and Clemency there may be for that which remaineth as little surprize as is possible but that things duly foreseen may have their remedies
such directions or significations of Your pleasure as this advertisement may induce and that with speed because the time cometh on Well remembring who is the person whom Your Majesty admitted to this secret I have sent this Letter open unto him that he may take Your Majesties times to report it or shew it unto You assuring my self that nothing is more firm than his Trust tyed to Your Majesties Commandments Your Majesties most humble and most bounden Subject and Servant April 28. 1616. The Copy of a Letter conceived to be written to the late Duke of Buckingham when he first became a Favourite to King James by Sir Francis Bacon afterwards Lord Verulam and Viscount St. Alban Containing some Advices unto the Duke for his better direction in that eminent place of the Favourite Drawn from him at the intreaty of the Duke himself by much importunity Noble SIR WHAT you requested of me by word when I last waited on you you have since renewed by your Letters Your requests are commands unto me and yet the matter is of that nature that I find my self very unable to serve you therein as you desire It hath pleased the King to cast an extraordinary eye of favour upon you and you express your self very desirous to win upon the Judgment of your Master and not upon his Affections only I do very much commend your noble ambition herein for Favour so bottomed is like to be lasting whereas if it be built upon the sandy foundation of personal respects only it cannot be long-lived Yet in this you have erred in applying your self to me the most unworthy of your servants to give assistance upon so weighty a subject You know I am no Courtier nor vers'd in State-affairs my life hitherto hath rather been contemplative then active I have rather studied Books then Men I can but guess at the most at these things in which you desire to be advised Nevertheless to shew my obedience though with the hazard of my discretion I shall yield unto you Sir In the first place I shall be bold to put you in minde of the present condition you are in you are not only a Courtier but a Bed-Chamber man and so are in the eye and eare of Your Master but you are also a favourite The Favourite of the time and so are in his bosome also The world hath so voted you and doth so esteem of you for Kings and great Princes even the wisest of them have had their friends their Favourites their Privadoes in all ages for they have their affections as well as other men of these they make several uses sometimes to communicate and debate their thoughts with them and to upon their judgments thereby sometimes to ease their cares by imparting them and sometimes to interpose them between themselves and the envy or malice of their people for Kings cannot erre that must be discharged upon the shoulders of their Ministers and they who are neerest unto them must be content to bear the greatest load Truly Sir I do not believe or suspect that you are chosen to this eminency out of the last of these considerations for you serve such a Master who by his Wisdom and Goodness is as free from the malice or envy of His Subjects as I think I may say truly ever any King was who hath sate upon His Throne before him But I am confident his Majesty hath cast His eys upon you as finding you to be such as you should be or hoping to make you to be such as he would have you to be for this I may say without flattery your out-side promiseth as much as can be expected from a Gentleman But be it in the one respect or other it belongeth to you to take care of your self and to know well what the name of a Favourite signifies If you be chosen upon the former respects you have reason to take care of your actions and deportment out of your gratitude for the Kings sake but if out of the latter you ought to take the greater care for your own sake You are as a new-risen starre and the eys of all men are upon you let not your own negligence make you fall like a Meteor The contemplation then of your present condition must necessarily prepare you for action what time can be well spar'd from your attendance on Your Master will be taken up by suitors whom you cannot avoid nor decline without reproach for if you do not already you will soon find the throng of suitors attend you for no man almost who hath to do with the King will think himself safe unless you be his good Angel and guide him or at least that you be not a Malus Genius against him so that in respect of the King Your Master you must be very wary that you give him true information and if the matter concern him in his Government that you do not flatter him if you do you are as great a Traytor to him in the Court of Heaven as he that draws his sword against him and in respect of the suitors which shall attend you there is nothing will bring you more honour and more ease then to do them what right in justice you may and with as much speed as you may for believe it Sir next to the obtaining of the suit a speedy and a gentle denial when the case will not bear it is the most acceptable to suitors they will gaine by their dispatch whereas else they shall spend their time and money in attending and you will gaine in the ease you will find being rid of their importunity But if they obtain what they reasonably desired they will be doubly bound to you for your favour Bis dat qui cito dat it multiplies the courtesie to do it with good words and speedily That you may be able to do this with the best advantage my humble advice is this when Suitors come unto you set apart a certain hour in a day to give them Audience If the business be light and easie it may by word only be delivered and in a word be answered but if it be either of weight or of difficulty direct the Suitor to commit it to writing if it be not so already and then direct him to attend for his Answer at a set-time to be appointed which would constantly be observed unless some matter of great moment do interrupt it when you have received the Petitions and it will please the Petitioners well to have access unto you to deliver them into your own hand let your Secretary first read them and draw lines under the material parts thereof for the matter for the most part lies in a narrow room The Petitions being thus prepared do you constantly set apart an hour in a day to peruse those Petitions and after you have ranked them into several Files according to the subject matter make choice of two or three Friends whose judgments and fidelities you believe you may
at a miserable loss for want of Learned menin that profession III. I come now to the consideration of those things which concern Councellors of State The Council Table and the great Offices and Officers of the Kingdom which are those who for the most part furnish out the honourable Board 1. Of Councellors there are two sorts The first Consiliarii nati as I may term them such are the Prince of Wales and others of the Kings Sons when he hath more of these I speak not for they are naturally born to be Councellors to the King to learn the Art of Governing betimes 2. But the ordinary sort of Councellors are such as the King out of a due consideration of their worth and abilities and withal of their fidelities to his person and his Crown calleth to be of Councel with him in his ordinary Government And the Councel Table is so called from the place where they ordinarily assemble and sit together and their Oath is the only ceremony used to make them such which is solemnly given unto them at their first admission These honourable persons are from thenceforth of that Board and Body They cannot come until they be thus called and the King at his pleasure may spare their attendance and he may dispence with their presence there which at their own pleasure they may not do 3. This being the quality of their service you will easily judge what care the King should use in his choice of them It behoveth that they be persons of great trust and fidelity and also of wisdom and judgment who shall thus assist in bearing up the Kings Throne and of known experience in publick affairs 4. Yet it may not be unfit to call some of young years to train them up in that trade and so fit them for those weighty affairs against the time of greater maturity and some also for the honour of their persons But these two sorts not to be tied to so strict attendance as the others from whom the present dispatch of business is expected 5. I could wish that their number might not be so over great the persons of the Councellors would be the more venerable And I know that Queen Elizabeth in whose time I had the happiness to be born and to live many years was not so much observed for having a numerous as a wise Councel 6. The duty of a Privy Councellor to a King I conceive is not only to attend the Councel Board at the times appointed and there to consult of what shall be propounded But also to study those things which may advance the Kings honour and safety and the good of the Kingdom and to communicate the same to the King or to his fellow Councellors as there shall be occasion And this sir will concern you more then others by how much you have a larger share in his affections 7. And one thing I shall be bold to desire you to recommend to His Majesty That when any new thing shall be propounded to be taken into consideration that no Councellor should suddenly deliver any positive opinion thereof it is not so easie with all men to retract their opinions although there shall be cause for it But only to hear it and at the most but to break it at first that it may be the better understood against the next meeting 8. When any matter of weight hath been debated and seemeth to be ready for a Resolution I wish it may not be at that sitting concluded unless the necessity of the time press it lest upon second Cogitations there should be cause to alter which is not for the Gravity and Honour of that Board 9. I wish also that the King would be pleased sometimes to be present at that Board it adds a Majesty to it And yet not to be too frequently there that would render it less esteemed when it is become common Besides it may sometimes make the Councellors not to be so free in their Debates in His Presence as they would be in His Absence 10. Besides the giving of Councel the Councellors are bound by their Duties Ex vi termini as well as by their Oaths to keep Councel therefore are they called De Privato Consilio Regis à secretioribus Consiliis Regis 11. One thing I add in the Negative which is not fit for that Board the entertaining of private Causes of Meum Tuum those should be left to the ordinary course and Courts of Justice 12. As there is great care to be used for the Councellors themselves to be chosen so there is of the Clerks of the Councel also for the secreting of their Consultations and methinks it were fit that His Majesty be speedily moved to give a strict Charge and to bind it with a solemn Order if it be not already so done that no Copies of the Orders of that Table be delivered out by the Clerks of the Councel but by the Order of the Board nor any not being a Councellor or a Clerk of the Councel or his Clerk to have access to the Councel-Books And to that purpose that the Servants attending the Clerks of the Councel be bound to Secresie as well as their Masters 13. For the great Offices and Officers of the Kingdom I shall say little for the most of them are such as cannot well be severed from the Councellorship and therefore the same rule is to be observed for both in the choice of them In the general only I advise this let them be set in those places for which they are probably the most fit 14. But in the quality of the persons I conceive it will be most convenient to have some of every sort as in the time of Queen Elizabeth it was one Bishop at the least in respect of questions touching Religion or Church Government one or more skilled in the Laws some for Martial affairs and some for I orreign affairs By this mixture one will help another in all things that shall there happen to be moved But if that should fail it will be a safe way to consult with some other able persons well versed in that point which is the subject of their Consultation which yet may be done so warily as may not discover them in end therein IV. In the next place I shall put you in mind of Forreign Negotiations and Embassies to or with Forreign Princes or States wherein I shall be little able to serve you 1. Only I will tell you what was the course in the happy dayes of Queen Elizabeth whom it will be no dis-reputation to follow she did vary according to the nature of the employment the quality of the persons she employed which is a good rule to go by 2. If it were an Embassy of Gratulation or Ceremony which must not be neglected choice was made of some noble person eminent in place and able in purse and he would take it as a mark of favour and discharge it without any great burthen to the
bounden Servant July 5. 1616. Sir Francis Bacon the Kings Attorney General to the Master of the Horse upon the sending of his Bill for Viscount sc. SIR I Send you the Bill for His Majesties Signature reformed according to His Majesties amendments both in the two places which I assure you were altered with great judgment and in the third place which His Majesty termed a question only But he is an idle body that thinketh His Majesty asketh an idle question and therefore His Majesties questions are to be answered by taking away the cause of the question and not by replying For the name His Majesties Will is a Law in those things and to speak the truth it is a well-sounding and noble name both here and abroad and being your proper name I will take it for a good sign that you shall give honour to your dignity and not your dignity to you Therefore I have made it Viscount Villiers and for your Barony I will keep it for an Earldom For though the other had been more orderly yet that is as usual and both alike good in Law For Ropers place I would have it by all means dispatched and therefore I marvaile it lingreth It were no good manners to take the business out of my Lord Treasurers hands and therefore I purpose to write to his Lordship if I hear not from him first by Mr. Deckome but if I hear of any delay you will give me leave especially since the King named me to deal with Sir Joseph Roper my self for neither I nor my Lord Treasurer can deserve any great thanks in this business of yours considering the King hath spoken to Sir Jo. Roper and he hath promised and besides the thing it self is so reasonable as it ought to be as soon done as said I am now gotten into the Countrey to my house where I have some little liberty to think of that I would think of and not of that which other men hourly break their head withal as it was at London Upon this you may conclude that most of my thoughts are to His Majesty and then you cannot be far off God ever keep you and prosper you I rest always Your true and most dutiful Servant The 5. of August one of the happiest dayes Sir Francis Bacon to Sir George Villiers upon the sending his Pattent for Viscount Villiers to be Signed SIR I Have sent you now your Patent of Creation of Lord Bletchly of Bletchly and of Viscount Villiers Beltchly is your own and I liked the sound of the name better then Whaddon but the name will be hid for you will be called Viscount Villiers I have put them in a Patent after the manner of the Patent for Earls where Baronies are joyned but the chief reason was because I would avoid double prefaces which had not been fit nevertheless the Ceremony of Robing and otherwise must be double And now because I am in the Countrey I will send you some of my Countrey fruits which with me are good Meditations which when I am in the City are choked with business After that the King shall have watered your new Dignities with the bounty of the Lands which he intends you and that some other things concerning your Means which are now likewise in intention shall be setled upon you I do not see but you may think your private Fortunes established and therefore it is now time that you should refer your Actions to the good of your Sovereign and your Countrey It is the life of an Oxe or Beast alwayes to eat and never exercise but men are born and specially Christian men not to cramb in their Fortunes but to exercise their Vertues and yet the other hath been the unworthy and thanks be to God sometimes the unlucky humour of great Persons in our times Neither will your future Fortune be the further off for assure your self that Fortune is of a Womans nature and will sooner follow by sleighting than by too much wooing And in this dedication of your self to the Publick I recommend unto you principally that which I think was never done since I was born and which because it is not done hath bred almost a Wilderness and Solitude in the Kings Service which is That you countenance and encourage and advance able men in all kinds degrees and professions For in the time of the Cecils the Father and the Son able men were by design and of purpose suppressed and though of late choice goeth better both in Church and Commonwealth yet money and turn-serving and cunning canvasses and importunity prevaileth too much And in places of moment rather make able and honest men yours than advance those that are otherwise because they are yours As for cunning and corrupt men you must I know sometimes use them but keep them at a distance and let it appear rather that you make use of them than that they lead you Above all depend wholly next unto God upon the King and be ruled as hitherto you have been by His Instructions for that is best for your self For the Kings care and thoughts for you are according to the thoughts of a great King whereas your thoughts concerning your self are and ought to be according to the thoughts of a modest man But let me not weary you the sum is That you think Goodness the best part of Greatness and that you remember whence your rising comes and make return accordingly God keep you August 12. 1616. Sir Francis Bacon to the King about a Certificate of my Lord Coke's It may please Your Excellent Majesty I Send your Majesty inclosed my Lord Coke's answers I will not call them rescripts much less Oracles They are of his own hand and offered to me as they are in writing not required by me to have them set down in writing though I am glad of it for my own discharge I thought it my duty as soon as I received them instantly to send them to Your Majesty and forbear for the present to speak further of them I for my part though this Muscovia-weather be a little too hard for my constitution was ready to have waited upon Your Majesty this day all respects set aside but my Lord Treasurer in respect of the season and much other business was willing to save me I will onely conclude touching these Papers with a Text divided I cannot say Oportuit haec fieri but I may say Finis autem nondum God preserve Your Majesty Your Majesties most humble and devoted Subject and Servant Feb. 14. at 12. a Clock I humbly pray Your Majesty to keep the Papers safe A Letter to the King touching the Lord Chancellors place It may please Your most Excellent Majesty YOur worthy Chancellour I fear goeth his last day God hath hitherto used to weed out such Servants as grew not fit for Your Majesty but now he hath gathered to himself a true sage or salvia out of Your Garden But Your Majesties service must not be mortal
Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR AFter my hearty commendations the Queens Majesty and my Lords of her Council have been reasonably well satisfied of late by your two dispatches wherein you have largely and well written the last being of the 29. sent hither by the means of Glover of Rohan the other of the 23. brought hither by this bearer your servant before the coming whereof we had plenty of uncertain news brought hither by the means of the passages sometimes from Diep sometime from Bulloigne but comparing them with yours we make them as refuse and yours as clean metal And truely I finde that to be true which you write that you see good cause to forbear writing of every thing there finding by experience that the greater part of reports brought thither proved not the truest I am glad there is no occasion here to requite you with any news for God blesseth us with continuance in our accustomed quietness for the which I wish we might but yield half the thanks The Queens Majesty is in good health and was purposed of late to have gone abroad for her Pastime as she did this time twelve moneths but the foulness of the weather hath letted it There were certain Scots which newly returned into Ireland about November last but they found themselves disappointed of such aide as they looked for and so are gone and scared whereby the Realm remaineth quiet The Earl of Desmond and his brother Sir John be here in the Tower chargeable rather with disorders for private quarrels then for any untruth whereupon some think that whilst they remain here good order may be better stablished there In Scotland things are quietly Governed by the Regent who doth acquit himself very honorably to the advancement of Religion and Justice without respect of persons My Lord of Sussex by his last letters of the 27. of January looked for his resolute answer in such sort at that time as he hoped to be at Antwerp before the end of this moneth What his answer is like to be I assure you on my Faith neither do I know nor can likely conjecture I perceive by some of your letters of late that you were somewhat troubled with light reports of news from hence and therein you thought it strange that you could not hear thereof from me You may be sure that in such a case I would have given you some knowledge if any thing had hapned More as yet I have not at this present but heartily to thank you for the young horse you have bestowed upon me wherein you see my overmuch boldness of your friendship as in many other things and so I heartily take my leave I wish to have a Bill of the names of the principal persons with the place Yours assured W. Cecil Westm. 12. Feb. 1567. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR YOur last letters be dated the 10. of Feburary by which they I perceive you did two days before make earnest suit on the behalf of the poor men at Marsciles wherein surely you did very charitably besides that it toucheth the Queens Majesty in honor to have them deliveed and so her Majesty alloweth your doings therein and therefore you may do well to continue it I doubt the former answer will be renewed that is to have the interest of D'Estrill fully remitted which belongeth properly to some of the Queens Subjects who have spent a great deal of money in the pursuit thereof by attendance onely for that purpose upon this Court more then two or three years which of my own knowledge I understand to be true insomuch as they have been forced to be relieved out of prison for very debt grown by this their suite Of late they of Rye took certain Fishers of Diepe which had come upon our shoar in the night and Fished with sundry Netts of unlawful size such as are both by the Ordinances of France and England on both sides condemned and being kept in Ward by them of Rye the Ambassador made earnest suite for them but after the Nets were brought up and some of the parties also and plainly proved before them that they were far unlawful It was agreed by my Lord Steward and the Officers of the houshold here in the favor of them That they should be released and have their Nets with faithful promise never to use the same again upon our Coast Hereof it may be you shall hear but I assure you considering the unreasonableness of their Nets I think they had too much favor in that the Nets were not burned The Queens Majesty this morning willed me to write unto you that you should obtain licence of the French King to send for by safe conduct your Nephew Champernoune which is with the Count Mountgomery whom his father thought to have remained in Normandy with the Countess but now since dinner I perceive by Sir Arthur Champernoune he would be loth to seem to send for him and therefore you may do herein as Sir Arthur Champernoune shall by his letter sent unto you at this time move you for indeed I think the Count Mountgomery would be very loth to part with him for opinion sake The Lord of Arbroth came lately out of Scotland this way and spoke with the Queens Majesty pretending to go into France to sollicite aide for the delivery of the Queen of Scots he came out of Scotland without licence or knowledge of the Regent there this way of late but I trust shortly to hear from of such things as he carryed with him Your admonition of O was well allowed of but about that matter we are otherwise occupied if things may fall out as are meant whereof I cannot write any more because as yet the Iron is not in the Forge I thank you for the Edicts published and printed in Paris which you sent me praying you that you will hereafter continue in the same mauner to send me any thing that is there published Having not heard of any thing from you since the 9. of this moneth this being the 26 I am in some perplexity what to think of matters there for howsoever rumors and news be brought from the Sea coast neither do I believe any for the truth but such as are confirmed by you And hereby you may perceive that the oftner you write the more pleasure you do me Yours assuredly W. Cecil West 26. Feb. 1567. Postscript I hear that Glover of Rohan is very ill used I wish you could help him as you shall understand his grief To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR YOur last letters that have come to my hands were of the 12. of Feb. brought hither by one Bogg of the French Kings Guard who having tarryed as he said fourteen days at Diep for lack of passage by that means came very slowly hither and therefore you must think we be here
it hath been answered untill her cause may appear more probable for her innocency the Queens Majesty cannot with honor receive her personally but if the Queen will by any manner of means honorable let her cause appear to be void of the horrible crime imputed to her for the murthering of her husband she shall be aided and used with all honor whereunto she will give no resolute answer other then that if she may come personally to the Queens Majesty then she will let it appear how she standeth in the cause Hereupon we stand at a brawl she much offended that she hath not her requests and we much troubled with the difficulties finding neither her continuance here good nor her departing hence quiet for us We here speak of one La Mote that should come hither Yours assured W. Cecil From Havering the 13. of July in haste Postscript And for and x I pray you put them in comfort that if extremity should happen they must not be left for it is so universal a cause as none of the Religion can separate themselves one from another we must all pray together and stand fast together and further c. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France AFter my hearty commendations though here be no great cause of present dispatch to you yet for the return of this bearer your servant Darrington having been long here and also to let you understand of the Queens Majesty proceedings with the Queen of Scots since her being in this Realm and since my last letters to you I have taken this occasion to return him to you The Queen of Scots having long laboured the Queens Majesty both by Messages and Letters to have aid of her Majesty against the Lords of Scotland and by force to restore her to her Realm her Majesty could not finde it meet in honor so to do but rather to seek all other good means to compass it with quiet and honor wherein much travailing hath been spent Finally the Queen of Scots hath agreed that her matter shall be heard in this Realm before some good personages to be deputed by the Queens Majesty to meet with some of the Lords of Scotland about New-Castle or Durham or neer this way as shall be found fit and so to be reported to her Majesty This way being now resolved upon and accepted of all parts the Earl of Murray hath offered to come himself in person if her Majesty finde it good accompanyed with others of meet condition to any place and at any time that her Majesty will appoint and because the Lord Herreys having long been here for the Queen of Scots and lately gone to her hath on his Mistrisses behalf required that speed might be used in this matter the Queens Majesty hath by her special letters required the Earle of Murray that all expedition may be made either for his own or else that some others may come chosen to be persons of wisdom and dexterity and void of all particular passion in such a cause as this is and upon his answer of the persons that shall be thus appointed there the Queens Majesty will with all speed send like fit personages from hence to meet with them and in the mean time where they the Lords of Scotland had summoned a Parliament of their three Estates to assemble in this next August her Majesty hath required them to suspend the holding of the Parliament untill the issue of this matter to be heard by her Majesty may come to some end In this meeting the Queens Majesty doth not mean to charge the Queen of Scots but will hear what the Lords can alleadge for themselves to defend all their doings and proceedings for imprisoning and deposing their Queen and other matters published by them and thereof to cause report to be made to her to be answered and likewise to carry such matters as are to come from her against them and upon hearing of all parts as matters shall in truth fall out so doth her Majesty mean to deal further therein as honor will lead and move her to do Whilst these things have been in doing the Queens Majesty hath been advertised though not from the Queen of Scots that she hath deputed the whole Government of her Realm of Scotland to the Duke of Chastilheraulte thereby both to make a party as may be supposed betwixt him and the Earl of Murray and also to be the earnester to procure Forreign aid for his maintenance whereof her Majesty is informed there is a great appearance having obtained of the French King good numbers of Harquebuziers and others ready to embarque for Scotland which being true her Majesty hath good cause to let the said King understand that it is against his promise as your self knoweth best And so hath also the said Queen assured her Majesty that she will not procure any Strangers to come into Scotland for her use untill it may appear what will ensue of this meeting But if the contrary fall out either by her own means or by the procuring of the said Duke of Chastilherault in France the Queens Majesty will not onely forbear to deal any further for the benefit of the Queen of Scots as hitherto her Highness hath done with all honor and sincerity having had as great care of her cause as she her self could have but shall be justly moved to do otherwise then the said Queen or her friends abroad would wish Thus much I thought good to impart unto you of these matters to the end that if you being there finde indeed that the said Duke doth obtain any such aide there to be sent into Scotland you may take occasion to deal therein with the King or with such as you know fittest for the stay thereof The Queen is now removed lately from Carlile to Bolton Castle a house of the Lord Scroops about 30. miles within the land fitter in all respects for her to lye at then Carlile being a Town for Frontier and War the Queens Majesty doth cause her to be very well and honorably used and accompanied And thus having no other present matter to write unto you I thought good herewith to return your servant to you wishing you right heartily well to do From the Court at Endfield the 25. of July 1568. After the end of this letter your servant Wall arrived here with your letters to the Lord Steward the Earl of Leicester and to me for answer to the letter which we wrote to you which letter after I had caused to be deciphered I sent to the Court to them my self being at my house near Waltham not well at ease nor in case to go to Court I long much to hear answer of letters sent by your Lackque touching the matter of an Italian whereof I doubt the Queens Majesty is more careful to hear then she doth here express at this time I have received a letter from an Italian there with you who
and as it seemeth to the advantage of that Queen she took such comfort thereof as she made the Earl of Arguile Lieutenant in one part and the Earl of Huntly in another and the Duke of Chastilherault over all so as they forthwith leavyed Forces and by Proclamation threatned the Regent and all his with fire and sword who upon the Queens request had forborn hostility untill the matter might be heard and upon the 16. day of this moneth the said Regent beginning a Parliament which was appointed six weeks before and quietly holding the same without any Armes about the 19. word came to him that the Earl of Arguile was come to Glasco with 2000. and the Earl of Huntley coming out of the North with a great power to joyn with Arguile and so to come to Sterling to surprise both the place and the King upon which occasion the Earl of Murray brake up the Parliament and sent all the power that he had to stay their joyning together and as I heard the Earl of Huntley is put to the worse and so fled home-ward hereof the Queen of Scots maketh great complaint to the Queens Majesty you may do well when you have done your great Message as you see cause you may charge the Queen Mother with the breach of promise if the Duke of Chastilherault be gone forwards towards Scotland with power Yours assuredly W. Cecil Bissiter 27. Aug. 1568. Postscript I have boldly received from you sundry books and I am bold to pray you to provide for me a book concerning Architecture intituled according to a paper here included which I saw at Sir Smith's or if you think there is any better of a late making of that argument To the Right Honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight Her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR YOur Lackquey arrived here on Friday in the afternoon and because the Bishop of Reynes hath not yet his audience I stay your servant Wall to bring the knowledge of that shall pass The Ambassador sent his Nephew Willcob to require Audience and that it might be Ordered to have her Majesties Council present at the Bishops Missado Her Majesty answered that they forgot themselves in coming from a King that was but young to think her not able to conceive an answer without her Council and although she could use the advice of her Council as was meet yet she saw no cause why they should thus deal with her being of full years and governing her Realm in better sort then France was so the audience being demanded on Saturday was put off untill Tuesday wherewith I think they are not contented The Cardinal Castillon lyeth at Shene Paris the rather to displease for Callis I think for E London demanded The Duke of Norfolke c. are gone to Yorke where the Dyet shall begin the last of this moneth It is Callice 90 London to the contrary shal be there any 9 7 3 590-0 Dover c. The success of the matters for good Sir I pray advertise me what you may reasonably think of practices what or any like to him I thank you for the book you sent me of Architecture but the Book which I most desired is made by the same Author and yet intituled Novels per bien bastir per Phileont de L'orn I thank you for your Placarts and instruments that you sent me by your Lackquey Yours assuredly as your brother W. Cecil Septem 27. 1568. Postscript And is well used by A the rather to displease all Papists I think he hath or shall shortly have such comfort for E as Steward demanded It is not meant if x shall be proved guilty of the Murther to restore her to V. howsoever her friends may brag to the contrary nor yet shall there be any haste made of her delivery untill the success of the matter of F and F be seen I pray you Sir advertise me what you may reasonably think of Sir Robert Staffords practices with D or any like him To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR AFter the letters of the Queens Majesty were closed up at Bissiter her Majesty stayed your Son that he might carry with him a letter for the Marshall Montmorancis wife for thanks for favor to my Lord Chamberlains daughter and for a token which her Majesty now sendeth by your Son being a Ring with a pointed Diamond I beseech you cause the letter to her to be indorsed as you shall think meet for I know not whether she be intituled Madam Lady Duchess of Calsho or Montmorancy or otherwise I write this upon the 20. being Sunday in the afternoon in Rycot where the Queens Majesty is well lodged to her great contentation as she hath commanded me to write to you lacking onely the presence of your self whom she wisheth here untill Thursday that she shall depart from hence of which Message I pray you take knowledge and give her Majesty thanks for she bad me to write thus very earnestly and so fare you well from your own house where also I am better lodged then I was in all this Progress We are truly certified by our own Ambassador from Spain who is on the way thorough France to return that the Prince is suddainly dead but by what occasion it is doubtful Yours assuredly W. Cecil 29. Aug. 1568. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR I Have as I lately signified unto you stayed this bearer John Wall your servant to the time that this Bishop of Rhemes should have his Audience and be answered he was heard on Tuesday and at his departure was required briefly to put in writing the sum of his speech which he did as shall appear by the Copy herewith sent unto you and yet in his speech he touched an offence in the latter end of your Message notingthe Doctrine of Rome to be contrary to Christs wherein he amplified before the Queens Majesty that seeing his Master holdeth the Doctrine of Rome therefore your Majesty should repute him no Christian which speech he said was hardly born by the king in an open Audience whereunto some answer hath been made as you may see to salve the matter by turning the sence that the Doctrine of Rome was contrary to Christs in derogating c. Onely in this was some difference made although indeed your writing was warranted by the Queens Majesties letter and therefore no fault in any wise found in your doings I do send you herewith the copy of the Bishops writing exhibited and the answer of her Majesty thereto which being put in French was yesterday before the Ambassador were admitted to her Majesties presence read unto them by one of the Clarks of the Council in the presence of the Council and afterward they were brought unto her Majesty who did confirm her former answer and so they departed without further debate thereof It was thought they would have used
which you wrote unto the Queens Majesty touching the speech that was uttered unto you by the King there concerning the Cardinal Chastillon for that as I wrote unto you the same letter by casualty was burned before it was thoroughly read and perused and hitherto I have not heard your answer to the same We have been here of late much occupied in the conference with the Commissioners of Scotland wherein there hath been eight or nine several Sessions the sum of the matter is this the Queens party began at York to accuse the Regent and his party whereunto they made their answer and defence after which the Queens party by replication maintained their accusation and then the conference there stayed whereupon the Regent being here with the Queens Majesty vehemently charged was driven for his defence to disclose a full Fardel of the naughty matter tending to convince the Queen as devisor of the murther and the Earl of Bothwell her Executor and now tâ—e Queens party finding the burthen so great refuse to make any answer and press that their Mistriss may come in person to answer the matter her self before the Queens Majesty which is thought not sit to be granted untill the great Blots of the marriage with her husband the murtherer and the evident charges by letters of her own to be the deviser of the murther be somewhat razed out or recovered for that as the matters are exhibited against her it is far unseemly for any Prince or chaste ears to be annoyed with the silthy noise thereof and yet as being a Commissioner I must and will sorbear to pronounce anything herein certainly although as a private person I cannot but with horror and trembling think thereof In your letters of the 25. you recommended unto me a cause of your own between you and one Brabrook wherein you write that one Tettersall your Atturney should have informed me but herein I have not a good while now dealt withall but whensoever any shall I shall be glad to shew you my friendship to my power sic de caeteris I am sorry to understand of the sickness of your Son Mr. William Norris and therefore I would be glad to hear from you of his recovery for indeed I do heartily like him and his condition I have also dealt with my Lord of Norfolks grace in your matter for your right to the Lord Dacres Lands wherein his Grace at the Council-table openly promised his favor I pray you Sir commend me to my good Lady your wife if there be any good Charte of France made since Mr. Oliver Trunkets impression having no date I would be glad to have one to behold therein the particular voyages and passages of these contrary powers And so I end Yours as your own W. Cecil Hampton-Court 14. Decemb. 1568. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambessador resident in France SIR THis bearer your servant came hither the last of December with your letters of the 25. and 26. of the same wherein he used good diligence and for the contents thereof her Majesty is very well satisfied with the diligence of your advertising being before by reason of contrarious reports in great suspence what to think for this French Ambassdor now being here useth an ordinary manner to write unto her Majesty in a certain general sort of the news of that Country as favorably as he may on the Kings behalf as reason is he should but yet not without danger of discrediting himself by reporting untruths As I conjecture by your advertisements it is likely that God hath already permitted some great effect to be wrought about this Christmas time by some Battail stricken betwixt the two Armies and howsoever it is I do not doubt but you will advertise and therein the will of God is to be obeyed with thanks or with patience as it pleaseth him to give his grace or to chastise By your letters also it appeared that the Prince of Orange at the writing thereof was still in the French Kings Dominions and yet the common report at the same time was that he was departed towards Germany whereof the Duke of Alva's friends in the Low Countries began to make some triumph The matter of the Queen of Scots remains in these termes upon the accusation produced by her Commissioners against the Earl of Murray they have for their defence shewed so much matter to charge her with the procuring of the murther of her husband as thereupon motion is made on her behalf for covering of her honor to have some appointment betwixt her and her subjects which is communed of secretly by two or three manner of wayes that is to say That she should affirm her resignation of her Crown to her Son as it hath been made and live here in England Or else her self and her Son to joyn in Title and the Earl of Murray to remain Regent Or thirdly her self to remain in Title Queen and to live here in England secluded and the Earl of Murray to continue Regent which matters have so many pikes as the venture is great to take hold of any one of them nevertheless in the mean time outwardly she offereth to prove her self innocent so she may be permitted to come to the Queens presence and answer for her self which is thought to be the more earnestly required because it is also thought assured it will be denyed and now what is like to grow to be the end thereof surely I cannot well guess for as for my self I finde my insufficiency to wade so deep and the violence of the stream so great as without good company assisting in Council I dare not venture to make any passage and so wishing you and my Lady and yours a fortunate good year I end Here is a stay made of certain treasure that came out of Spain to pass into Flanders which we take to be Merchants and not the Kings as is alleadged if it shall prove Merchants we may be bolder to take the use of it upon good Bonds for an interest Yours assuredly W. Cecil Jan. 3. 1568. SIR I Heartily thank you for the last letters of the first of this moneth wherein you did well deliver us from some perplexity being by the French Ambassador here otherwise advertised to the advantage of the Cardinalists his letters are dated the 30 of December from the King and I marvel to perceive by your letters that the skirmish should be the 23. and the advise should not come to you before the 28. for thereby it seemeth the Camp should be so far off as in four or five days tidings could not come but this I think may be said that evil news are brought to that Court slowly at the least they are uttered slowly Of this accident of Arrest you shall be by her Majesties letters fully advertised at the signing whereof her Majesty said that she would have sent a Gentle-man expresly to the King but she considered that being sent
but they both being come upon former licence near the City on the way upon desire to see her Majesty came hither yesterday unlooked for and although in the beginning of this Northern Rebellion her Majesty sometimes uttered some misliking of the Earl yet this day she meaning to deal very Princely with him in presence of her Council charged him with such things as she had heard to cause her misliking without any note of mistrust towards him for his fidelity whereupon he did with such humbleness wisdom plainness and dexterity answer her Majesty as both she and all the rest were fully satisfied and he adjudged by good proofs to have served in all this time faithfully and so circumspectly as it manifestly appeareth that if he had not so used himself in the beginning the whole North part had entred into the Rebellion Vsque ad 3. Febr. We have now letters out of Scotland that the Nobility which favoreth the young King have assembled themselves and made a reconciliation of divers persons that had particular quarrels one against another and as they pretend they will all joyn firmely in the revenge of the Murther and defence of their King the Lord Grange who keepeth the Castle of Edenburgh is reconciled to the Earl Moreton and become one of this Bonde and so doth Leddington also offer to be another The Duke of Chastilherault is streighter kept then he was before and it is commonly reportd that the Hambletons were the workers of this murther thus much being known of certain that the murtherer was a neer kinsman of the Dukes and that the Peece wherewith he murthered the Regent and the spare horses whereupon he escaped did all belong to the Abbot of Arbroth the Dukes second Son and the murtherer was received into Hambleton the Dukes house all which I trust God will see revenged The Rebellion moved in the West parts of Ireland this last Summer being also cherished with comfort out of Spaine is fully suppressed and the Country reduced to such quietness and obedience as the like hath not been in those parts these many yeers the heads being all taken and reduced to obedience saving one onely named Fitz Maurice who wandreth in the deserts without any succor making means to be received to mercy but he is of so little value as it is refused unto him For your own revocation from thence I am not unmindful but have attempted the same and so mean to continue it as I hope you shall shortly receive comfort Vsque ad 5. Febr. This day the 6. of Febr. the French Ambassador came with Montlovet to her Majesty to require answer to their demands which were three First to have the Queen of Scots delivered and restored Secondly that Montlovet might repair to the Queen of Scots Thirdly that he might repair into Scotland To all these her Majesty having her whole Council in her presence That for the first she said she had used the Queen of Scots with more honor and favor then any Prince having like cause would have done and though she was not bound to make account to any Prince of her doings yet she would impart to the King her good brother some reasonable consideration of her doings and so she ended her answer to that The other two requests depended so upon the first as she said she could not accord thereunto and so though she used good loving speech to satisfie him yet in brief they departed without obtaining their requests as shortly you shall understand more at length by the next Messenger and letters which in this behalf shall be sent unto you We hear that two Ships of war of St. Malloes under the conduct of the Lord Flemings brother arrived in Don Brittons Frith the tenth of January and have as I think victualled the Castle of Don Britton whereof will follow some further annoyance to Scotland And thus I am forced to end for the present by reason of multitude of other affairs Yours assuredly W. Cecil Hampton-Court Feb. 7. 1568. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident with the French King SIR AFter all the other letters in this Packet were sealed up your honest servant Mr. Rogers arrived here with your letters of the contents whereof concerning the crazed shaken Treaty of peace betwixt the King and his subjects I had plainly heard four or five days past from Rochel Your intelligences accord with the like as I have received from Rochel and as you do express to us the dangerous practices of our Adversaries there so I assure you the same are not by Councellors here neglected although I can give no assurance how they shall be avoided and yet I would not doubt but with Gods goodness their whole designs should prove frustrate if our Councels might take place I have named to the Queens Majesty two to be your successors both to be well liked if their livelihoods were answerable to their other qualities the one is Mr. Francis Walsingham the other is Mr. Hen. Killigrew who is indeed in livelihood much inferrior If I can procure that either of them or some other might relieve you I assure you there shall not lack any good will in me Yours assuredly W. Cecil Hampton-Court 7. Febr. 1569. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR YOur last letters are thus come to my hands Crips came with those of yours the 9. then Neal with those of the 25. of the last month and yesterday came the French Ambassadors Secretary with those of the first of March by all which is manifest the inward natural care that you take for the Queens Majesty and therein her Highness accepteth your zeal and duty most thankfully And yet I know not by what means her Majesty is not much troubled with the opinion of danger nevertheless I and others cannot be but greatly fearful for her and do and will do that in us may lye to understand thorough Gods assistance the attempts as for D many here and the most of this Council think the peril no less but rather greater if D forasmuch should Since the death of the Regent the Borderers have maintained our Rebels and invaded England wherefore for which purpose my Lord of Suffev is now ordered with an Army to invade them and make revenge whereof the Scots hearing do make all means they can to be reconciled but they must feel the sword and the fire-brand and because I will end my letter I will deliver to this bearer a short memorial of words to serve him for informing of you of the things of our State and so with my most hearty commendations I end being sorry that as yet I cannot perfect my intent for your return Your assured friend W. Cecil Hampton-Court 22. March 1569. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIR BY the Queens Majesty long letter you shall perceive her
have received the Rebels or invaded England that have either Castle for themselves or houses for their Tenants besides the loss and spoils of their other goods wherein nothing is reckoned of that was done in the other parts by the Lord Scroope for that it was not done within the County of Tividale c. The Rode of the Lord Scroope Warden of the West marches of England into Scotland Who the 17. of April at ten of the clock at night with three thousand Horse and Foot came to Ellesingham on the Wednesday at night and burned that Town in the morning being from Carlile twenty miles On Thursday he burned besides Hoddom the Maymes the Town and all the houses which is the Lord Herryes and from Carlile sixteen miles That day they burned Trayle-trow which is the Lord Maxwells from Carlile 16. miles They burned the Town of Reywell which is the Lord Coplands and the Lord Homeyn's from Carlile eighteen miles They burned the house of Copewell and the Demesne of the Lord Coplands from Carlile nineteen miles They burned the Town of Blackshieve which is the Lord Maxwells from Carlile 20. miles Item The Town of Sherrington of the same Lords twenty miles Item The blank end of the same Lords twenty miles Item The Town of Lowzwood of the same Lords twenty miles Goods taken the same Rode one thousand Neat and one thousand Sheep and Goats Of the Scots are taken one hundred Horsmen within a mile of Dunnforest Some say that Swynborne is taken SIR BY letters from my Lords of Sussex and Hunsdon of the 29. of April it is advertised that the Castle of Hume being besieged by them and the Battery laid the 27. of April the day following the Captain sent out a Trumpet to desire a Parlie which granted the Castle desired licence to send a Messenger to the Lord Hume to know his pleasure what they should do whereupon it was agreed a Messenger should pass and one was sent with him to see that no delay should be used the Messenger at his return brought Commission from the Lord Hume to deliver the Castle simply without condition trusting to their Honors for a favourable dealing with his men whereupon the Castle was received and all the Armor and Weapons and the people licenced to depart without Bag or Baggage and now the same remaineth newly fortified to the Queens Majesties charge more stronger then it was before to the intent the Rebels may not have their refuge thither as they had before By other letters of the first of May from my Lord of Sussex it is advertised that the most part of the March of East Tividale Esdale Ewesdale Wawcopdale and other parts upon the Borders from the East to the West Seas affirm their continuance of obedience to their King desire the Amity betwixt both Realms offer to spend their lives in the resisting of any Forreign power that shall offer the disturbance of either refuse dependence upon the French offer to depend upon the Queens Majestie and in their actions have refused to receive the Rebells or to assist the invaders of England the like whereof all others do offer that acknowledge that authority The contrary part openly receive the Rebels maintain the invaders of England share in their actions and ill meaning to England and seek dependence and maintenance of the French The Earls of Morton Murray and Glencarne with others of the Kings Council prepared to be at Edenburgh the 29. of the last whereupon the Duke of Chastilherault and Huntley went to Lithgo the 28. to stop their meeting and the 29. Morton went out of Edenburgh with a thousand men to meet the other Earls a By-wayl and so came together that night to Edenburgh with all their Forces or to fight for it in which time the Lords of Hume and Liddington be entred the Castle with Grange so as it is likely they will try shortly by the sword which side shall have the Authority W. Cecil IT may please you to be advertised according to my Lord Lieutenants direction I entered into Scotland on Tuesday at night last the 18. of this April and on Wednesday at night encamped at Heclesengham within Hoddom distant from Carlile 18. miles and within Scotland 12. miles and on Thursday in the morning I sent forth Simon Musgrave appointed by me as General of the Horsemen to burn and spoile the Country and to meet me at a place called Cambretreys and the said Simon burnt the Towns of Hoddome and the Maynes Troltrow Rovel and Calpoole the Town of Blackshaw Sherrington the Banck end within three miles of Dumfriese Lowgher and Lowgherwood and Hecklsengham which Towns were of the Lands of the Lord Herryes and Maxwell the Lord of Cockpoole and the Lord of Holmends and as the said Simon and his company came to old Cockpool there was the Lord Maxwell with his Forces and the Inhabitants of Dumfriese assembled and skirmished with the Couriers and compelled them to return unto the said Simon and then the said Simon marched unto the Town of Blackshaw with his Company where the Lord Maxwell was in order and his Forces and the said Simon and Fargus Graime with the number of a hundred Horse-men did give the charge upon the said Lord Maxwell and made him flee and his Company also In which fight there were a hundred prisoners taken whereof the principal was the Alderman of Dumfriese and 16. of the Burgesses thereof the rest were Footmen the chase was followed within one mile of Dumfriese after which conflict the said Simon returned to Blackshaw aforesaid and burnt it and seised a great number of Cattle and delivered the same unto certain Gentlemen and others to convey unto me and he the said Simon Rode with a hundred Horsmen to burn the Banck end Lowgher and Lowgherwood and as the said Gentlmen with their Company came to a streight place neer unto Old-Cockpool the said Lord Maxwell the Lord Carlile the Lords of Holme-ends Closburne Lorgg Hempsfeild Cowhill and Tenoll with the number of four hundred horsemen and six hundred footmen charged them very sore and forced them to alight and draw their company to a strong place to abide the charge of their enemies and so they remained untill the said Simon came unto them and alighted and put his Company in Order and set his Horse between his Company and the Sea and so stood in order to receive the enemy and in this sort continued charging and receiving their charges the space of three hours I being at Cambretreys aforesaid a place before appointed between me and the said Simon for his relief being distant from him three miles understanding of some distress sent my Band of Horsmen with my brother Edward Scroope and a hundred and fifty shot with Mr. Awdley and Mr. Herbert to their relief and the said Simon upon the coming of the said Band of horsemen and Shot gave the enemies the charge with all his Forces whereupon they fled in which
flight there was taken a hundred prisoners whereof some were of the petty Lords of the Country but the Lord Maxwell the Lord Carlile the Lord Johnson and the rest before named escaped by the strength of the Lord of Cockpools house and a great Wood and a Mauress that was neer there adjoyning and so the said Simon repaired to me with his Company and so we returned home And thus for this time I commit you to the Almighty Yours assured to command H. Scroop Carlile 21. April 1570. Postscript Drumlangricks servants and Tenants whom I had given charge that they should not be dealt withall for that he favored the Kings faction and the Queens Majesties were as cruel against us as any others Sir I have written to my Lord Lieutentant for 500. men but for fourteen dayes and with them I will undertake to march to Dumfriese and lye in that Town and burn and spoil it if the Queen Majesties think it good for the open receipt of her Majesties Rebels is there manifest SIR MY leasure serveth me as I was wont to have it all my time at command of others and none for my self and little for my private friends by the Queens Majesties letter you may perceive the state of things here God send her Majesty a good issue of this Scotish matter whereinto the entry is easie but the passage within doubtful and I fear the end will be monstrous By your letters of late time it hath seemed that the opinion was for the Queens Majesty to be delivered of the Scottish Queen but surely few here among us conceive it feasible with surety My Lord of Suffex useth his charge very honorably and circumspectly upon the Frontiers where indeed he hath made revenge and that only almost upon the guilty I do send you herewith a printed thing or two sent me from Scotland and so take my leave wishing for your own sake that peace might be seen there so as you might bring it for which purpose I trust surely her Majesty will send one for you Yours most assured W. Cecil 23. May 1570. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador c. SIR THis bearer came hither with good speed I do send you herewith a note of my Lord of Sussex his last letters from Berwick I do also send you in writing the Copy of that which the French Ambassador lately sent thither containing the sum of that which lately passed here betwixt the Queens Majesty and him wherein truely he hath not much differed from that which was accorded The Bishop of Ross departed on Friday last to the Scotish Queen to deal with her that some of her part might come hither out of Scotland to treat of her cause and that Arms might cease on both sides Since his going thither the Queens Majesty understandeth of a Practice that he had two dayes before his departure with a noble man of this Realm being a professed Papist contrary to his manner of dealing with the Queens Majesty whereupon her Majesty is not a little moved against him and therefore I think she will not deal with him at his return We look daily that peace will there be made though we see not how it shall continue but I trust thereby you shall be revoked and I think Mr. Walfingham shall come in your place I have no more at this present I received yesterday a letter from Paris of the 19. of May but I did before that receive another of the 24. Yours assuredly W. Cecil Hampton-Court 8. June 1570. To the right honorable Sir Henry Norris Knight the Queens Majesties Ambassador c. By Letters from Berwick 3. June THe Marshal of Berwick being at Edenburgh with certain Forces dealt with the Earls of Grange and Liddington to procure a surcease of Arms which taking no effect he went with the Noblemen of Scotland that joyned with him to Glasco from whence the Duke and his Associates fled upon their setting forth from thence the Marshal sent to the Bishop of St. Andrews and the Lords who were in Dumbarton Castle to Parly with them to procure an abstinence of Arms who appointed to meet them the next day at a Village half way betwixt Glasco and Dumbarton where missing them at the time appointed he went neerer to Dumbarton whereof he sent them word and thereupon they returned his Messenger and appointed to meet and speak with him out of the Castle so as he would bring but one or two with him and to put away his company and so soon as he had so done and that he was within their Shot they sent him word to look to himself and that they would not come to him and as he turned his Horse divers Harquebusiers laid for the purpose shot at him and they discharged a Falcon at him out of the Castle but he escaped without hurt hereupon the Noblemen which were with him burnt the Country thereabouts that belonged to the Hambletons burnt the Town of Hambleton and razed the Castle of Hambleton and two other principal houses of the said Dukes one in Lithgo and another called Kennell they have also thrown down the Abbot of Kilwrenings house and in effect all the principal houses of the Hambletons and have dealt with no other persons but with an Hambleton and so the Marshall is returned to Berwick c. SIR YEsterday did Crips arrive with your letters from Argenton and two days before came Rogers The Queens Majesty takes the Kings answer doubtful for his sending of Forces into Scotland and therefore hath caused the French Ambassador to understand and to advervise the King that if the King will send Forces thither she will take her self free from her promise of delivering the Q. of Scots of which matter I think he will advertise the King and as you have occasion you may take knowledge thereof for already her Majesty hath revoked her Forces out of Scotland leaving onely in Hume and Fast Castle a small Garrison where our Rebels were most maintained when they invaded England untill her Majesty may have some amends for her subjects losses My Lord of Sussex hath fully avenged the wrongs but yet our people have not recompence Mr. Drury the Marshall with a thousand Foot and four hundred Horse hath so plagued the Hambletons as they never had such losses in all the wars betwixt England and Scotland these fourty years The Queens Majesty hath hurt her Foot that she is constrained to keep her Bed-chamber and therefore the French Ambassador could not yesterday have Audience when he required but is willed to write that he hath to say I am sorry that your servants when they come tarry so long here as they do for it is not my fault and so I end Yours assuredly W. Cecil Oatlands 22. June 1570. Postscript The Earl of Southampton lately being known to have met in Lambeth Marsh with the Bishop of Ross is for his foolish audacity committed to the Sheriff of London closely to
Mistriss shall have me in her hands to do her will of me and if she be so hard-hearted as to desire my end she may then do her pleasure and make sacrifice of me peradventure that casualty might be better for me than to live in this matter quoth she Gods will be fulfilled I answered she might amend all this matter if she would and find more Amity of your Majesty and your Realm than of any other Prince or Countrey The Queen answered I have me thinketh offered and spoken that that might suffice the Queen my Sister if she will take any thing well at my hand I trust said she for all this we shall agree better than some would have us and for my part I will not take all things to the worst I hope also said she the Queen my Sister and Cosin will do the like whereof quoth she I doubt not if Ministers do no harm betwixt us and so the said Queen embraced me This is the sum of my Negotiations at these my last Audiences with the French King the Queen-Mother the King of Navarre the Queen of Scotland and the Constable whereof I have thought meet to enlarge to your Majesty in such fort as the same passed and was uttered betwixt us As far as I can perceive the said Queen of Scotland continueth her Voyage still and I hear that Villageigmon and Octavian have the principal order of her said Voyage and mean to sail along the Coast of Flanders and so to strike over to the North-part of Scotland as the wind shall serve she did once mean to use the West-passage but now she dares not trust the Duke of Chastillerault nor the Earl of Arguile and therefore dareth not to pass by the West-Seas The said Queen as I hear desireth to borrow of the French King a hundred thousand Crowns the same to be received again of her Dowry which is twenty eight thousand Crowns by the year the Queen-Mother is willing to help her the King of Navarre doth not further the matter but seeketh to abridge the sum After I had done my Negotiations at the Court I was constrained to dislodge from Poissey for the Assembly of the Clergy who meet there to the end of this month and the Ambassadours are now appointed to lodge at Paris The Queen of Scotland departed from St. Germanes yesterday 25. of July towards her Voyage as she bruiteth it she sendeth most of her Train strait to New-haven to embark and she herself goeth such a way between both as she will be at her choice to go to New-Haven or to Callis upon the sudden what she will do or where she will embark she will be acknown to never a Scotch man and but to few French And for all these shews and boasts some think she will not go at all and yet all her stuff is sent down to the Sea and none other bruit in her house but of her hasty going if it would please your Majesty to cause some to be sent privily to all the Ports on this side the certainty shall be better known to your Majesty that way by the laying of her vessels than I can advertise it hence She hath said that at her coming into Scotland she will forthwith rid the Realm of all the English men there namely of your Majesties Agent there and forbid mutual Traffick with your Majesties Subjects if she make the haste to embark that she seemeth to do she will be almost ready to embark by that time this shall come to your Majesties hands Two or three dayes ago the French King was troubled with a pain in his head and the same beginneth to break from him by bleeding at the nose and running at his ear it is taken to be the same disease in his head whereof his brother died but by voiding it which the other could not do that organ being stopped this King is well amended At the dispatch hereof the King of Navarre was unquieted by a flux and a vomit and the Queen Mother with a Fever I hear that in Gascony the people stir apace for Religion as they do in many other places and being there assembled to the number of four thousand have entred a Town thrown down the Images and put out the Priests and will suffer no Masse to be said there My Lord of Levistou being ready to go homewards into Scotland through England went to the Queen of Scotland for his leave so to do but she hath commanded him to tarry and wait on her and to meet her at Abevillo without letting him know any thing else he in doubt what she will do is content to expect her coming thither and to do then as she shall command him and seeing no likelihood of her short passing which he sath is uncertain but that she will go to Callis there to hover and hearken what your Majesty doth to stop her and according thereunto to go or stay he mindeth to get him home he hath required my Letters of recommendations to your Majesties Officers at his landing in England which for his good devotion towards your Majesty and for that he is one that wisheth the same well I have not refused him and so humbly beseech your Majesties good favour towards him at his coming to your Majesty for his Pass-port Here is a bruit that the Turk is greatly impeached both by a sort of Jewes within his own Countrey and also by the Sophy And thus I pray God long to preserve your Majesty in health honour and all felicity from Paris July 26. 1561. Your Majesties most humble and most obedient Subject and Servant N. Throckmorton FINIS The ALPHABETICAL TABLE B. BAcon Sir Francis not a man born under Sol that loves Honour nor under Jupiter that loves Business place of any reasonable countenance commands more wits than a mans own Pag. 1 2. Assures the Lord Burleigh that his endeavours shall not be in fault if diligence can intitle him unto it and wishes to shew his Service with as good proof as he can say it in good faith 3 4. Caresses the Earl of Northumberland 4 5. The entrance of King James a fair morning before the Sun rising This State performed the part of good Attorneys in delivering the King quiet possession 5 6. No Reason the World should reject Truth in Philosophy although the Author dissents in Religion 1â— Advice to the King touching his Revenue 27. The Kings Attorneys place and the value of it honestly The Chancellors placo usually conferred upon the Kings Council and not upon a Judge Reasons against the Lords Cook and Hubbart and the Archbishop The Body of Parliament men is Cardo rerum Part of the Chancellors place is Regnum Judiciale and since his Fathers time but too much inlarged Pag. 73 74. A Narration in several Letters of the differences between the Chancery and Kings Bench and the grounds thereof stated to the King 22 23 75. The Proceedings against Somerset and divers private Transactions touching