BL MSS Harleian 6990, 2
BL MSS Harleian 6990, 2
Wright Vol 1, 23 Page 58
Transcribed and notes by Thomas Wright, ‘Queen Elizabeth and her times,’ London, 1838
Sir Nicholas Throgmorton (1) to Lord Robert Dudley Orleans, Dec. 31 1560
It may lyke your good Lordshippe, lately I receavyd from Sir Thomas Chamberlayne, her Majestie's ambassadeur in Spayne, a packet of letters, wherin I think ther be some of your Lordshippe's, answering those of yours which I sent him before, together with two litle malletts, conteying such things, I suppose, as her Majestie and you sent for. He required me to addresse his packet of letters and portmanteaus to my lady his wife, who shuld take order with one and other, according to his direction. Sence the deathe of the late King, (2) things proceade here in suche sorte, as those that were worst affected to the Queue's Majestie, and most desirous to trouble her realme, shall not have so good and ready meanes to excuse their malice, as they had in the late King's tyme. And yet, my Lord, this I trust shalbe no occasion to make her Majestie lesse considerate, or her counsell lesse provident, for assuredlie the Quene of Scotland, her Majestie's cosen, dothe carrye herselfe so honorably, advisedlie, and discretelye, as I cannot but feare her progresse. Me-thinketh it were to be wished of all wyse men and her Majestie's good subiects, that the one of these two Quenes of the ile of Brittaine were transformed into the shape of a man, to make so happie a marriage, as therbie ther might be an unitie of the hole ile and their appendances. Whosoever is conversant in storyes, shall well perceave estats hath by no one thing growen so greate, and lastyd in their greatnes, as by mariages, which have united countryes that do confyne together. The profe thereof is notoriously scene by the house of Austeriche, in whose handes the one halfe of Europe, being Christenyd, is at this daye, whiche is come to passe by marriage only. Their first ancestor was not many yeres ago a meane counte of Habsbourge in Swiserland. And as they have come to this greatnes by this meanes, so dothe that race retayne still that principle to mayntayne their greatnes, and to increase it. And that I beleve your Lordship shall se well verified by the bestowing of the prince of Spayne, and the emperor's children in marriage. My Lorde, lately here arrived from thence Monsieur de Morette, that was sent in legation from the Duke of Savoye to the Quene's Majestie, whiche in my simple opinion was evill forgotten, that he had no present. A newe discourtesie shewed to him and to his master by him, that was never used in my tyme to any prince or prince's minister. The honor that his master did to her Majestie did, in my simple opinion, deserve good acceptation; and the gentleman's negotiation and good affection to do her Majestie honour did deserve ordynarie courtoisie. Since his retorne to this courte, he hathe made so good reports of her Majestie, of her councell, and all her ministers, as he deserveth not to be forgotten, nor to be unkindly handled. And therefore yf it wold please youre Lordshippe so to remember her Majestie's honor as to be a meane that the gentleman, whiche shall come hether to condole, might bringe the said Monsieur de Morrette a chayne of four or five hundred crownes from her Majestie, yt should well repaire all that is past, and your Lordshippe shuld wynne to yourselfe moche honour.
Thus I take my leave of your good Lordship from Orleauns, the last day of December, 1560. (3)
(1) This letter is also without signature, but it is evidently written by the same person who wrote the preceding.
(2) Francis II., the husband of Mary of Scotland, died on the fifth of December, 1560.
(3) On the death of Francis II., France lost one excuse for meddling directly in the affairs of Scotland, but that country did not change the inclination of meddling, and since the great cause of jealousy between France and Spain was taken away, the marriage between Francis and Mary, Elizabeth lost the advantages given her by the Spanish intrigues. Mary soon after resolved to return to Scotland. But her ultimate designs, and those of her French friends, were made apparent by her refusing, contrary to all justice, to sign the treaty of pacification agreed to by her commissioners at Edinburgh.
