BL MSS Sloane 4106 22

BL MSS Sloane 4106, 22

Wright Vol 1, 15 Page 32

Transcribed and notes by Thomas Wright, ‘Queen Elizabeth and her times,’ London, 1838

Sir Nicholas Throgmorton (1) to Sir William Cecil . . . Dreux, June 24 1560

If I should discourse particularly unto you what these men (2) have done since my last letters, which were of the 7th, you would think me as fond in observing their doings as they mad in variable executing. But you may see what force fear hath, that occasioned such variety. One day they prepare a-pace to send great force into Scotland, and their captains and men of charge run to and fro ; the next day all is countermanded. They be in such security, as no man knoweth overnight where the King will lodge. To-morrow from all parts they have such news as doth greatly perplex them. Every day new advertisemens of new stirs, as of late again in Dauphiny, in Anjou, in Provence, and to make up their mouths, the King being in the skirts of Normandy, at Roan, upon Corpus Christi day there was somewhat to do about the solemn procession, so as there was many slain in both parts, but at length the churchmen had the worse, and for an advantage, the order is by the King commanded that the priests for their outrage shall be greivously punished. What judge you when the Cardinal of Lorraine is constrayned to commande to punish the clergy, and such as do find fault with others' insolency, contemning the reverent usage to the holy procession. You shall be better able to judge of these men's credits by such late printed books as herewith I send you.

I am sorry the way to come into Leith and to go from thence is so open ; for here is one arrived, named Vincent, of whose enterprise I did long ago advertise, that hath, as he braveth, been in Leith lately, and delivered thirty barrels of powder and ten thousand crowns, and in the execution of his enterprise sayth he did sink some of your victuallers. These men say now your seige is a . . . . The 21st of this month advertisement came to this court of the Dowager of Scotland's death; immediately whereupon they here sent to the sea with diligence: and yet till that tyme all things were stayed, and their forces and provisions erst prepared for that purpose were countermanded. Whereupon it riseth, whether they fear some mischance in Scotland by her death, and therefore will seek to prevent it by establishing a governor there in time ; or whether it be, that they hear of some extremity of their men in Leith, demanding present aid; or whether they see at this time any advantage upon the Queen's Majesty's navy, either to be out of their way, or to be retired out of the Firth, and therefore assure themselves of free passage through, I know not. But howsoever they send, I think it can be no great matter, because of their last, yea and perhaps that order may be broken too ere this letter come, to your hands. And yet I thought good to let you know this much hereof, praying in case you be yet in the North, that you will advertise the Duke of Norfolk and Mr. Winter (3) thereof, to the intent they may provide for their coming, for this determination holding, they shall shortly hear of them. If you be at the court, then it shall be well done, that my Lord Admiralf have also knowledge thereof from you. There is some bruit that the Almains (4) do begin to assemble, which doth perplex these men ; and the rather for that they fear the displeased number at home will conjoin with them.

Sir, I have proved a true prophet, for since the 27th of May, which time you departed from the court, I never received letter nor word forth of England. I am now at the town, where the antient famous religous Druids made their chiefe abode. (5)

Sir, the parson of Roxborough, named Car, passed from Scotland through England by a lend conduct, full fraught from thence, and is here arived, and hath been a good time past. I have spoken of him in my other letters. He assureth the Earls of Huntley, Mareschal, (6) Bothwell, Cassills, Montrose, (7) and many other noblemen to be heartily French; the whole clergy to be of the same affection. The whole Marches and Tyvedale, by the means of the Lord Hume, the Carrs, and Boughcleugh's, (8) to be assuredly at the French devotion. He hath (as he sayth) brought letters with him, signed with their hands, with overture of great things. Howsoever you do, retain the Prior of Saint Andrews to the English ; for these men mean once again to attempt to win him away ; for this subtile priest saith in him consisteth all. The Cardinall's letter to the Pope for the Provincial Council in France, and some other things you must forbear to knowledge of untill you repair to the court. I am in a way to discover a dangerous practise intended against her Majesty and her government; but I find mazes in it, and therefore must follow my bottom of thread. I fear it will prove as evil a matter as the Cardinal Pole's.

The Spaniards (9) be as loth to have any league betwixt England and Scotland as the French, and therefore, you can consider how much it importeth her majesty to keep that league entire, and for nobody's pleasure to dissolve it, for at length you shall see thereabouts will be the sticking on all sides : and so the French and Spaniards may win the dissolving thereof. They care for nothing else, for a little time, they say, will repair all other matters, if that be broken. I am greatly abused, so that league be well and mutually observed, if any one amity prove so necessary, so safe, and profitably for England, for in rerum natura it must be so. Thus I humbly take my leave of you, praying you to make my hearty commendations to Mr. Wotton. From Dreux, the 24th of June, 1560. (10)

Yours to use at command,

N. THROGHMORTON.

(1) Sir Nicholas Throgmorton was the fourth son of Sir George Throgmorton, of Loughton in Warwickshire. He was employed for several years, first in France, and afterwards in Scotland. He was afterwards made Chamberlain of the Exchequer, and chief butler of England. He died in 1570.

(2) The French.

(3) William Winter, afterwards knighted, and made vice-admiral to Lord Clinton

(4) The Germans, who bore good will to the French Protestants.

(5) Dreux, in Normandy, whose name has by some been supposed to be derived from that of the Druicls.

(6) William fourth Earl of Marischal. He took no very decided part in the troubles of Scotland during the reign of Mary.

(7) William Graham, second Earl of Montrose, who died in 1571.

(8) The Humes, the Kerrs of Fairnyhirst, and the Scotts of Buceletigh, had long been famous for their depredations on the English borders

(9) In Cecil's journal, we have a notable example of the duplicity of the Spaniards on this occasion. " March 10. M. de Glason [the Spanish envoy] came and joyned with the Bishop of Aquila to move revocation of the army out of Scotland, but Glason, privately to my Lord Admiral and me, the secretary, counselled us to the contrary."

(10) The letter is endorsed as having been received in Edinburgh on the 2nd of July, so that it must have come much more speedily than the news of the Queen's death had been carried to France.