BL MSS Cotton Caligula b x 96
BL MSS Cotton Caligula b. x, 96
Wright Vol 1, 14 Page 30
Transcribed and notes by Thomas Wright, ‘Queen Elizabeth and her times,’ London, 1838
Sir William Cecil to Queen Elizabeth, Edinburgh, June 21 1560
It maye please your most excellent Majesty, sence our common letters of the 19th, wherin we declared how farr we had preceded to that tyme, we fynd that this abstynence hath doone us much good divers wayes. The strength of the towne hath bene quyetly and truely viewed; there hath bene also meanes used to drawe some speciall men owt of the towne from the French; and at this present I perceyve the men of warr make litle dowt of wynning the towne, having the army here to besege it. Nevertheless, I and Mr. Wotton take another waye, and meane to obteyne that by treaty with a peace to follow, that others wold by loss of bloode, with a warr to follow. We dowt not but to obteyne all reasonable things saving suerty towards both these realmes, and such is the case being betwixt a prynce and subjects, as we knowe not howe to provide for suerty of subjects agaynst all adventures, without such dishonor to the Prynce as neyther wilbe graunted, nor can be reasonably demanded for subjects. I assure your Majesty, these cases be marveloose difficult to resolve, and yet considerynge I knowe the French mallice, and am wholly addict to your Majesties honor and suerty, I wold not yeld so much to the French Quene's honor in behalf of her subjects, if your coffers wer full to maynteane but one yere's warr, such wold be your honor, conquest, and suerty. Our gretest difficulties at this present will stand uppon continuance of the leage betwixt your Majestie and this realme, wherin I fynde the Scottes so peremptory, as they will stand fast therto that they will never accord to breake it of there part. Within two dayes it will appeare what shall insew thereof, for I see the French be as peremptory, so that except the moderation come of our part, I see no hope of accord. Thus much I am bold to trouble your Majestic in this matter. I understand by Mr. Petre's letters, (1) that your Majesty wold have me consider the advertisements owt of France brought by Mr. Joones, wherin I am to seke what to wryte, for I thynk they be such things as ar brought to your embassador to content hym, but how certen they be I knowe not, and uppon uncertentyes I can not advise any certeyne counsell. I thynk suerly France is disturbed, (2) but I see not lykelihode of contynuance, for either lack wil be in the author's being but popular to contynew, or els remedy wil be in the rulors, rather to yeld in some part, and so to dissolve the conjunction of nombers 7 than to lese there outward things by inward contention. The offer made of certen townes in Britaine and Normandy lyketh me well, and the same wold be so allowed, but I can not gyve your Majesty counsell to embrass things so fair of. No strength is tenable that is farr distant, nether behoveth it that the crowne of England should enter into warr with suerty of all Bretayne. Profitable it is for the tyme to dyvert the enemye by procuryng hym bussyness at home.
If it should not please God to gyve us his grace to make a peace presently, (whereof I wold be sorry,) there be many wayes to offend your enemy withall, without great chardge, whereof I will forbeare now to wryte, becawse I doo bend myself to peace. This aftemoone, Mr. Wotton and I should have herd the French and Scottes artillery, I should saye articles of there treaty, but they be so long in plantyng, as I thynk it wil be to-morrow in the morning before the battry will shoote of. The French seke all the wayes they can to putt a jelosy in the Scottes of us, so as we see what they shoote at; werein if there wer not more trust that the matters wold kepe them asonder and us together, than in any certenty of the nation of Scotland, I wold feare more then I doo. But suerly the hatred to the French is such, and the causes so many, the benevolence at this tyme towards England is so grete, and that with such desert, as I see not that in long tyme the French shall recover the inynde of Scottishmen agaynst us as in tymes past hath bene. Sence the Queue's deth, here be none in Scotland that dare openly shew favor to the French.
The Bishopps that be most offended, dare not shew any countenance to theis men, ne dare come out of the castle for hatred of the common people. We did offer to the Archbishop of St. Androos, (3) a gard to come to the ambassador's, but he durst not, and so the French ambassador went into the castell to hym and others. I will no more molest your Majesty, but use my contynuall prayer, that God wold direct your hart to procure a father for your children, and so shall the children of all your realme bless your sede. Nether peacenor warr without this will profitt us long. Which, in the name of God, (I am now a precher,) I humbly besech your Majestic to consider earnestly, for otherwise suerly God will require a sharp accompt at your hand, for 'your time lost, and the danger of bloodshed of your miserable people. I trust of your Majestie's pardon. From Edenburgh, the 21st of June, at four of clock in the afternoone, 1560.
Your Majestie's humble subject and unworthy servant,
W. CECILL.
(1) Sir William Petre, chancellor of the garter, and a principal secretary of state during the reigns of Henry VIII., Edward VI., Mary, and Elizabeth. He died in 1571.
(2) The religious troubles in France were just beginning.
(3) John Hamilton, natural son of James, first Earl of Arran, who had been made Abbot of Paisly in 1525. He was taken prisoner in Dumbarton Castle, and hanged at Stirling, April 1, 1570.
