CP 152, 122
CP Volume 152 Folio 122
HMC Volume 1 Page 208 Number 667
Haynes Page 288 Number 274
Transcribed by Samuel Haynes in “A Collection of State Papers . . . 1542 to 1570” London, 1740
14 April 1560 The Quene's Majestie to the Duke of Norfolke, by Sir George Howard
From a Minute of Sir William Petre, interlined by Secretary Cacill.
By the QUEEN. RIGHT trustie and right entierly beloved Cosyn, we grete you well. We have as well received your Lettres by this Bearer Sir Geo. Howard, as also understand suche further Mater, as he had in charge to declare unto us; the grete Parte wherof might have byn as well sent, either by writing, or by some other Memorandum of lesse Note, than he is, considering the Place of his Charge at this present: And therfore we have thought mete to return hym agayn with spede, and mynde to directe our full Resolutions touching the Substancen of the Matters, with such spede as we may, by some other. And in the mean Season we think it convenient, that his return shuld not give occasion, either to the French, to stande more obstinately at their Defense, or surder of from reasonable Accorde; or to the Scotts to mistrust the Prosecution by us of this Mater begon, to the very ende that was first ment: And therfore woold, you shuld give order to the Lord Gray, like as we briefly advertysed hym, that, furthwith upon the arrivall of the said Sir George, the Siege shuld be more ernestly prosecuted, and the Treatie lesse regarded, except the same shall apparantly be seen, upon some Circumstance to us unknowen, hurtfull to the Cause. We woold also that the Scotts wer advertised, that we be fully determined, rather to augment our Army bothe by Sea and Lande, than that, for lacke of forse, the Exploite shuld be prolonged. Thies our Devise we thinke necessary to be published by all good meanes, upon Sir Geo. Howard's present Return, because the Expectacion therof, percase wold be otherwise, of the French, wherby they might, conceiveng some flacknes of our proceding by his comyng, make them bothe stowte in the Town, and more backward in the Treatie. And notwithstanding that we wold the Apparance of the Mater shuld outwardly thus tende thereto, yet may you give signification to Sir James Croffts or to Sir Raff Sadler, if he be in Scotland, that reasonable Offers to be made by the French to come to Accorde, be not contemned or neglected: And indede we thinke, the more hardly the French be handled by Siege, and the more Apparance be made, now uppon Sir George Howard's coming, to prosecute the Mater to the uttermost, the better shall the Communication be founde for our Purpose. As for the two Articles touching the Expulsion utterly of all the French, and the removing the Dowager from the Authoritie, although we meane shortly to advertise our Resolution therm, yet, upon this Bearers coming, we woold it might appere, that we will agree no otherwise, than shall same manifest for the Suertie of Scotland. Furdermore we understand by this Bearer, that ther is no necessary use of so great a Nomber of Horsmen, as we be charged withall in Scotland at this present, and therfore we pray you to have some good and spedy Consideration therof, and furthwith to understand the Opinions of suche expert Men as be with the Lord Gray, and his own also: And if it shall appere that Parcell of the same Nombers may be spared, than we woold that the sam wer done so dyscretely and covertly, as neither the French shuld conceyve any comfort, nor the Scotts dicomforte, by withdrawing; in which Mater percase ye shall fynde the Lord Gray more unwilling, for speciall Favour towards suche as be interteyned: But if ther be no other Cause, you may use therin more playness with hym on our behalf. And so we forbere to inlarge our furder Determination untill our next Depeche, by some other speciall Man of Trust and Knowlege.
