CP, 152, 178

CP Volume 152 Folio 178

HMC Volume 1 Page 236 Number 744

Haynes Page 328 Number 334

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

20 June 1560 The Vicecount Mountague and Sir Thomas Chamberlayne to the Queen's Majesty

From the Original, with the Decyphering interlin'd

PLEASE your most excellent Majestie. Having this Day despeched from hens Frances Picher, your Majesties Post, with large Declaration of our Procedings with this King and his Ministers, apon your Letters unto us returned by the Corriour we sent you from hens: Being now sodenlie warnide of the Depeche of one this Night unto the French Courte, and so not able so shortlie to put the Duplicate of our former in Cipher, we have thought mete to collect into this the Some and Effect therof, to thintent your Majestie might breffly understande bothe as much as you desire to be satisfied of, touching this King's assured Amitie towards your Majestie, and his good Disposicion to the compounding of these Matters. Fyrst, if we have eny Judgement, we must, by the large and overt Conference, had with his Highnes and his Ministers at this Tyme joyntly, with other good Intelligences gotten, say to your Majestie, that you ought nether at this Tyme, nor from hence forth, if it will please your Majestie, to accept hym for your most assuryd good Brother and Frend; being content in the same common Respect, that bothe your Progenitors have alwayes had, to use hym with like Correspondence in Frindship, and followe his Advise and Counsaile, feare the common Enemy that hath byn; unto whome, these present Querrells compoundyd, he will have alwayes an Eye, both for your Majestie's Interest and suretie, and for his owne. So that for many ample Significations of his assured good Will, he, within three or foure Dayes sendythe Don John Pachece a Gentilman of his Chambre, unto your Majestie with his Advise and Resolution, how, and in what sorte you shold nowe accept Composition owt of Hand, for avoyding of greater Inconvenience, withouwt sticking at some Points of smalle Moment, as at the Breache of the last Leage with the Scotts, and redelyvery of theyr Hostages; which can be to your Majestie neither nowe, nor hereafter, any Assurance; Experience teaching sufficientlie to knowe theyr Fidelitie in keping Promys; which they never did. His Majestie also wold not have your Highnes greatlye to stand for this Tyme, at the keping still of three or four hundred, or three of foure Ensignes of Frenche Souldiors at the most, in Scotland; making strong Capitulations upon this Agrement in that behalf. As for the leaving of your Majestie's Armes and Titell, the suffering of the Scotts to be governid by their owne Lawes from hens forthe, with forgevenes for that is past, and the rasing of Liethe, this King understandith it to be almost agreed apon. His Majestie's Advyse ys, that in this Conclusion two speciall Articles might be remembred with Protestation: The one, that whensoever the French King hereafter goo abowt to put more or greater Nombers of Frenche Soldiours in Scotland, then the Nombres nowe agreed upon, your Majestie may seke to expulse the same, and therfore not to be imputyd a Violatour of the Comen Peas: The other Article, for eny Thing at this Tyme doon by your Majesties, the Frenche shall never impute you a Breker of the last League made at Cambersyes for Restitucion of Calles; meaning therby to take Advanntage in that Respect, and breake that Covenaunt. These be two Points, his Majestie saithe, of great Effect, so as, the Frenche King condesending to the same in this Conclusion, his Majestie is of Opinion, that bothe your Majestie and he have Thadvantage, if hereafter the Frenche wold start agayne, as they ar not to be trusted. This by any meane his Majestie and his Ministers thinketh most mete and convenient, your Highnes do ernestly bend yoursellf to this Composition, and that owt of Hand in any Wyse. And for that we hope Francs shall well arrive unto your Majestie, and almost assone as this, we wolde (as the sodeyn departure of this Messinger dothe also compell us) leave to be prolixious; beseching Almightie God long to prospere your Majestie to his Pleasure. Form Toledo the 20th of June, 1560. Your Majesties most humble and faythfull Subjects and Servants,

Anthony Mountague, T. Chamberlayne.

To the Quen's most excellent Majesty.