for I assure your Lordship my Lords here are in marvelous perplexity that there is no more done to

death, previous to the date of this letter, produced no alteration in their plans: The usurpation was continued, with circumstances the most aggravating and affronting to Elizabeth; and the French army in Scotland, which had been from time to time augmented by small reinforcements, became now very formidable. It is probable that the invasion of England in prosecution of these imaginary claims, was to have taken place early in the spring, but the Queen Regent was obliged to turn her arms against the Congregation, the inferior members of which, headed by Knox, had lately ravaged the most beautiful monuments of the ancient religion with a brutality unparalleled in the rudest ages. These tumults furnished an excuse for a further addition of foreign troops; and the arrival of 1000 French in September, who were immediately employed in fortifying Leith, induced Elizabeth to recur to arms. The Duke of Norfolk was appointed Lieutenant in the North, an English fleet took possession of Edinburgh Firth; and, in February, articles were signed at Berwick, with the Duke of Chatelherault, who now appeared at the head of the Congregation: That memorable party had lately placed itself under the protection of the Queen of England, who had hitherto counteracted the operations of the French by espousing its interest. In the mean time a powerful army besieged Leith, which, after an obstinate resistance, was given up to the English by a treaty, many very valuable papers relating to which are inserted in this collection. The Queen Regent expired during the siege; and Francis II. dying soon after, the youthful and ill-fated Mary left the soft refinements of a court which adored her, to become the nominal Sovereign of a people then distinguished only by the fierceness of their warlike spirit, and the growing virulence of religious party. It is said that Elizabeth, who had refused her even the common compliment of a safe conduct, had taken measures to intercept her on her passage. This assertion, though weakly supported, is not without probability. That aspiring Princess perhaps hoped by this one bold step to unite the Crown of Scotland with her own: And, if we consider the futile character of Chatelherault, who was next heir to the throne; the insanity of Arran his eldest son; the factious spirit which then divided the Court of France; the unpopularity of the French in Scotland; and the popularity of Elizabeth with the powerful and discontented body of reformers in that country; some reasonable grounds may be perceived for a conjecture which the humble compass of a note will not afford room for the further pursuit of.

wards Leith of this long time than they yet hear of; and for that purpose is Sir Peter Carew despatched with all speed northward, to understand the particular causes of this delay. It is thought marvellous strange that Calais and Guise could no longer hold out, and Leith preserve itself so long. There is appointed a force to be sent to Berwick with speed; the number is 3300 that shall be sent thither. There comes hither from the French King a special messenger to-morrow, one of his Privy Chamber; what news he brings is uncertain. The Lord Montague is removed from Spain, and Sir Thomas Chamberlain left as Ledger there. The answer of that message is reserved King of Spain's Ambassadors here, who have daily conference with the French Ambassadors.

The Queen's Majesty, God be thanked, is in good state of health, and removed the 13th of this month to Greenwich, where it is thought her

The history of Mary, with respect to this kingdom, is well known. Her crimes, her follies, and her misfortunes, have been so long the playthings of historical speculators that very little remains untold: most of that little may be found in the following sheets, and will require many separate remarks. I shall therefore only observe here, that Leicester's offer of marriage; Darnley's accession to the Scottish Throne, and his violent death; the murder of Rizzio; the horrid guilt of Bothwell, and Mary's unhappy passion for him; the tumults on that account; her subsequent flight into England; and her most unjust imprisonment there; compose, with the circumstances before mentioned, the grand outlines of this third period of Scottish history; which I have placed here merely because the letter before us is the first in this reign that alludes to our affairs with that country.

He was a zea

* Anthony Browne, first Viscount Montague. lous Roman Catholic, and was therefore appointed Ambassador to Madrid, as a person likely to gain credit there.

Highness will remain a good time. Thus, wishing your Lordship perfect health and long continuance, I humbly take my leave.

From Greenwich, the 16th of May, 1560. Your good Lordship's, bounden at commandment.

No. VI.

(Cecil Papers, 1560.*)

LORDS OF THE COUNCIL

TO SIR WILLIAM CECIL AND DR. WOTTON.

The

AFTER our right hearty commendations. Queen's Majesty having received Letters out of Spain, from our very good Lord, the Viscount Montague, and Sir Thomas Chamberlain, her Majesty's Ambassadors there; albeit, her Highness finds nothing in them of any great importance, nor can thereby understand any certain or particular matter that may discover the King of Spain's meaning, but only in general terms an uncertain answer, grounded, for the more part, upon the self matter and arguments that have been, heretofore, as you know, alleged by the Bishop of Aquila; yet hath her Highness thought good that the copy of the said letters should be sent unto you, which you shall receive herewith, to the

Probably written on the 11th or 12th of June, soon after which the King of Spain's mediatory proposals were delivered in explicit terms. (See Haynes, 325-328.) His interference was very little attended to in the treaty.

† Alvarez de Quadra, Bishop of Aquila, the Spanish Ambassador in Ordinary at the English Court. He died in London three years after.

VOL. I.

2 c

intent you may thereby see what the humour and disposition of those parties tend unto.

Marry, two points, we think, to be of special consideration in the same letters; the one, that the Duke of Alva says plainly that all things that have been imparted here to the Bishop of Aquila have been by the said Bishop signified and written over only as talk passed here with the Queen's Majesty, without requiring on her Highness' behalf the King's advice therein. Whereby appears an indirect dealing on the Bishop's part; for, as you, Mr. Secretary, do very well know, the said King, before her Majesty's Ambassador's going over, was, by her Highness's express letters addressed unto him for that purpose, referred unto the report of the said Bishop for the understanding of the state of things, and the Queen's Majesty's meaning and proceedings here, whereof it appears no mention nor remembrance is had there now. The other special matter to be noticed is that the French King is content the King of Spain shall name umpires for the compounding of the differences between the Queen's Majesty and him ; and neither do we know what can have moved this offer, nor upon what ground the King of Spain has accepted the same, unless it is that he takes hold of the motion made by the Queen's Majesty to be content, for the satisfaction and recompense done unto her by the French King in using her Majesty's style and bearing of her arms, to stand to the arbitrement of some such indifferent persons as should be named by the said King of

Spain. For the first point, it is meant the Bishop shall be talked withal here, and his manner of dealing herein plainly told him, in discharge of the Queen's Majesty's sincerity and upright meaning. And, for the second, it is thought good to be passed over in silence, without giving any answer thereunto, unless the same shall be specially moved unto the Queen's Majesty on the said King of Spain's behalf by his Ambassador; in which case such reasonable answer shall be devised for his satisfaction as may stand with the Queen's Majesty's honour.

Herewith we send also unto you an article of a letter from Mr. Gresham, touching such advertisements as have been brought unto him, together with an abstract of certain intelligences sent from Shirley, whereby you may perceive the preparation that is towards in those parts; although we do not think all to be gospel that is reported from France. For the better meeting wherewith, in all events, the Lord Admiral is written unto, and the duplicate of the same advertisements sent unto him; for which purpose also you may use your knowledge thereof according to your good wisdoms.