that touching that article ye shall, for a first degree, press as earnestly as you can that the said French King and Queen, and the said nobility of Scotland, may jointly covenant and agree as is contained in the articles of the said league. And in case, after you have pressed this point as earnestly as you can, you shall not be able to bring the French to agree thereunto, then, for a second degree, we would you travailed to persuade the French to permit that the said league may continue as it is now; or, if that cannot be granted, that then, at the least, the substance thereof (tending to the preservation of the liberties of Scotland) may be agreed by such contract between us and our nobility, and the French King and Queen of Scots, with the nobility of Scotland, as is contained in the said article of our former instructions. Finally, in all other points touching this treaty, and the order thereof, we refer the same to your good wisdoms and considerations, and to our said instructions; knowing you will use the same in such sort as shall best stand with our honour, and furtherance of our service, whereof we have no doubt. No. XIII. THE QUEEN TO SIR WILLIAM CECIL AND DR. WOTTON. By the Queen. TRUSTY and right well beloved, we greet you well; and, understanding by letters addressed VOL. I. 2 E hither from you our Secretary, that for your more certain and plain knowledge of our determinate pleasure whether you shall break off, if, for the league between us and the nobility of Scotland, you can neither obtain it to stand as. it is, nor continued, or accorded to be made, betwixt us and the French King and Queen, and nobilities of this our and their realm of Scotland. For answer whereunto; if the French Commissioners will by no means agree to either of the ways aforesaid (whereunto, nevertheless, we require you to press them by all the means and ways you may) in the end you may offer to them to have the same matters covenanted and concluded between us and the said King and Queen only, without any mentioning of the nobility of Scotland to be principal contrahentes; having, nevertheless, a special covenant made and inserted in this treaty, that a good number of the most noble men, and best cities, of this our realm, and likewise of the realm of Scotland, may be named in the treaty and be bound, not only for themselves, their heirs, and successors, to perform and keep all the articles and covenants contained in this treaty, but also to do all that in them and in every of them may be, that their Princes and Sovereigns shall perpetually hold and perform the same, in such or like form as was in times past concluded and agreed between our dearest late father, King Henry VIII. and the late King Francis, in the treaty of perpetual *To Sir William Petre. See the letter here alluded to, dated June 21st, in Haynes, page 329. peace; the copy whereof, for that purpose, you shall receive herewith. But, in the end, if you shall find the French Commissioners unwilling to agree to the end aforesaid, or some such like as may assure us of a continuance of this league and amity lately begun between us and the nobility of Scotland; we must needs think they mean only by practice to gain time, and by breaking this league already agreed upon to make themselves the stronger, which we must not willingly suffer. And, therefore, if in the end they will agree to none the ways aforesaid, nor any other of like effect, and that may assure us (beside their Prince's promise only) of the continuance of our amity with the nobility of Scotland, and preservation of their reasonable liberty; we would you should break off any further treaty. And as soon as you perceive that you shall not conclude, our pleasure is you do with diligence signify the same to our cousin of Norfolk, to the intent that he may with all good speed proceed with our army for Leith, and the rest, according to our former resolution; to whom we have also written, upon that knowledge from you, to go wards, in God's name, accordingly. In all which, and other your doings in this treaty, we doubt not you have, and will have, such foresight, as the Lords of Scotland may remain in courage; and well understand that we seek chiefly their surety, and liberty of that realm; and thereof you may assure them. for Given under our signet, at our manor of Greenof June, in the second year of our wich, the reign. No. XIV. (Cecil Papers. 1560.) LORDS OF THE COUNCIL TO SIR WILLIAM CECIL AND DR. WOTTON. By AFTER our right hearty commendations. your letters of the 8th of this month unto the Queen's Majesty * it appears that the execution of the article touching the ceasing of the preparation on both sides is, for the manner, and time when, and in what sort the same shall be performed, referred to be agreed upon between the Queen's Majesty, or us, and the French Ambassador resident here. According whereunto, the said Ambassador having conferred with us therein, it is in the end ordered as follows. It was first told him that the Queen's Majesty's forces remain only at two places; that is to say, in Scotland and at Portsmouth. And, like as her Highness had already given order for the ceasing of her Majesty's army that was in Scotland under the Duke of Norfolk, (saving only such a number as shall serve for the guarding of the holds upon the frontiers that are wont to be ordinarily kept in time of peace, whereof the French Commissioners can themselves be witnesses, having, we think, In Haynes, fol. 304. The letter before us was written in answer to it, probably on the 13th of July. seen the more part of the said soldiers discharged) so has her Highness also given order for the disarming of her navy, which is now in executing with as good speed as conveniently may be. The Ambassador was therefore told that if, upon his signifying of this order unto the King his master, the said King shall appoint some certain time. within twelve or fourteen days, when Mr. Throgmorton, her Majesty's Ambassador in France, may send some of his folks along the sea-coast, to see and understand how this article for the ceasing of preparations is observed in France, her Majesty will also, upon knowledge from her Highness' said Ambassador of the time that shall be there agreed upon for that purpose, take order here that the said French Ambassador shall then, at his liberty, send some such as he shall appoint unto Portsmouth, to see that her Majesty does the like on her side. And this is the order that has been taken with the said French Ambassador touching this matter, which her Highness has signified unto Mr. Throgmorton; and we also have thought good to impart the same unto you, to the end you may make the Commissioners privy thereunto, in case you shall think convenient. And, where, by your letters written to me, Sir William Petre, you signify the Lord Grey's request to have liberty to repair hither for fourteen days, wherein you desire to know her Majesty's pleasure; you shall understand that, her Highness having been moved therein, albeit she seems not unwilling to grant the said Lord Grey's request |