CP 154, 15
The Cecil Papers at Hatfield House
CP Volume 154 Folio 15 HMC Volume 1 Page 279 Number 918 Haynes Page 404 Number 406
Transcribed by Samuel Haynes
1563 The Lords of the Council to the Lord John Grey
From a Minute of Secretary Cecill.
AFTER our harty Commendations to your good Lordships. Although it may seme strange unto yow that without any former Knoledg gyven you, the Lady Catharn your Lordships Nepce, is appoynted to be removed out of the Towre to your Houss; yet we dout not but ye will thynk the Cause reasonable, whan ye shall understand it to be thus. The Quene's Majesty having Consideration that the Towre of London is envyroned with infection of the Plage, for the Danger that might ensue to your Nece ther, hath bene pleased of hir Compassion, to grant that she shuld be removed from thence, as uppon much humble Suyte hir Majesty hath granted the like to the Erle of Hertford; and meaning not that she shuld be at any other Liberty, but to be free from that Place of Danger, thought best, in respect your Lordship is a Nobleman, and of grave Consideration to regard any Trust committed to yow by hir Majesty, to committ the Custody of the said Lady to yow hir onely Uncle and next Coosyn. And thus hir Majesty willed us to shew yow the Occasion of her sending to yow, and hath commanded us also to wryte furder unto your Lordship, that hir Pleasure is, the said Lady, shall remayn with yow and yowr Wiffe, as in Custody, not to depart from yow untill hir Majesty's Pleasure shall be furder knowen, nether to have any Conference with any Person being not of yowr Howshold, without Knowledg of yowr Lord or yowr Wiff. Which hir Majesty meaneth she shuld understand of yowr Lordship, and observe, as some Part of hir Punishment; and therin hir Majesty meaneth herin to trye hir Diposition how she will obey that which she shall have in Commandment. And suerly of owr owne Parts, for that we wish she shuld not long lack hir Majesty's Favor, but recover it by all good Meanes, we hartely pray yowr Lordship to have regard, that she use hir self there in yowr Houss with no other Demcanor, than as though she were in the Towre, untill she may atteyne more Favor of hir Majesty: For we must lett yow know that which is trew, hir Majesty hath at this present ment no more by this Liberty, but that she be out of the Towre from Danger of the Plage. And so we pray yowr Lordship lett hir playnly understand.
