CP, 152, 177

CP Volume 152 Folio 177

HMC Volume 1 Page 236 Number 743

Haynes Page 327 Number 333

Transcribed by Samuel Haynes in “A Collection of State Papers . . . 1542 to 1570” London, 1740

19 June 1560 Mr. Secretary Cecill and Mr. Wootton to the Lords of the Counsell

IT may please your Lordships. Our Travels and Debates with these French Men be not muche lesse than theyrs of the Campe, with the Frenche beseged. We can get nothing but with racking and streyning; and we have it inwards; they allways will steale yt away in penning and wryting. If, on the other syde, sayre Words and Oches, specially of the Bishop, might enter into our Conceits to beleve him, we might have with lesse Care ended or this Tyme, but how well God knowethe. By our Letters to the Queene's Majestie and the Copies of certain Articles passed betwene us for their Entrie and Suspension of Armes and of other Articles which they have offred us, and yet not allowed by us, your Lordships shall perceave muche of our Proceedings. How these Matters of Scotlande will be accorded we knowe not: This Afternoone they shall meete. We pray your good Lordships to waye favorably with us: For on the one Parte, this Matter hath so many crooked Points in it to accorde, consydering we deale betwext a Prince and his Subiects, and we have to deale with so croked and subtil a Nation, and on the other Parte, we knew many Causes there before our comming, and perceave som moo in this our Army, since our comming, to induce us to forbeare a Warre, that truely we must confesse, that whatsoever we shall doo, may easily be reprehended; but doing the best we can, we trust we shall be excused, and the Matter beare the blasme. Suerly we cannot any wyse understande, but that the Nobilitie and Gentlemen with the common People doo well conceave the Frute of Amide betwexte these two Realmes, and be utterly bent against the Frenche; so as we be forced to procure them Favour and Entretaynement. We see also that this Counsell of Scotlande may be directed to doo any Thing that the Queen's Majestie will commaunde them, but how long that will indure, God knowethe. In the Matter of Redresse for usage of the Stile and Armes, we see the Frenche here rest only upon moderation therof, that the Dishonor of the Frenche and theyr Uncles doo not so ensue, as, they saye, we covett: And truely although theyr Doings have deserved the same, yet we knowe not whither her Majestie will rather have us fall in to the Warre, than lack our Wills in dishonoring of them. As for the Manner of Thamends and Recompence, it is rather moved, to offend them, than upon thope to obtayne any Thing. Neverthelesse when your Lordships have consydered all Things there, and yf it shall seeme meete that we shall upon any Advantages knowen to you, rather breake then conclude in that Poynte, or in other lyke, we can easily doo yt: And, for all the Doubtes here in the Campe, yf Monny may be sent and my Lord of Norfolke com in, there is no doubte but the Towne shal be in his Handes within ten Dayes, as I the Secretary am don plainly to understande. And thus being bolde to referre your good Lordships to such Advertisements, as we have made to her Majestie, we take our leave, and beseche the same to help us with a speedy and a certain Aunswear! For yt shall not be mete for us to tarry, untill we may make a second Depeche, for any Answer. If ther be any Matter omitted of us, wherof your Lordships thynketh mete to warne us, we besehce your good Lordships to doo it with all spede possible, and so we humbly take our leaves.

Postscript. At length we are agreed upon our Articles, wherof we cannot send you the Copy. Your Lordships at Commandment ,

W. Cecill, N. Wotton.

To the Right Honorable and our very good Lordes, the Lordes of the Queene's Majestie's Privie-Counsell.