the King's title for the surety of his own, and the Regency of Murray in respect of his claim to be governor, as next heir to the Crown; for which causes it is likely Hamilton will hardly yield to the one or the other; and yet James Macgill,* an assured man to Morton, talks with me secretly of this matter, and (defending the right of the Earl of Lenox's son, as next heir in blood to the young King) confessed to me that he thought because it came by the mother it must return, by the law, to the mother's side, which was Hamilton; but it would put many men on horseback before it were performed; whereby you may see what leadeth in Scotland. There is some secret envy between Lydington and Macgill; and, as I think, if they agree not by the way, you will find Lydington wholly bent to composition, and Macgill, of himself, otherwise inclined. If the Queen's Majesty would assure their defence, you may deal with them both as you see cause.

Thus far of that I have gathered by them; wherein, if they do not alter, I am sure I do not err. And now, touching my opinion of the matter (not by way of advice, but as imparting to you what I conceive), I think surely no end can be made good for England except the person of the Scotch Queen be detained, by one means or other,

James Macgill, Clerk of the Rolls (Clericus Rotulorum Registri). He was sent to London soon after, accompanied by Lethington, to sue for Elizabeth's sanction to certain conditions which Murray had proposed for his own indemnification, in case he should proceed to the formal accusation to the Queen of Scots. It is well known that Elizabeth's refusal prevented any further proceedings.

in England. Of the two ends before written I think the first to be best in all respects for the Queen's Majesty, if Murray will produce such matter as the Queen's Majesty may, by virtue of her superiority over Scotland, find judicially the Scotch Queen guilty of the murder of her husband, and therewith detain her in England, at the charges of Scotland, and allow of the crowning of the young King, and Regency of Murray. Whereunto if Hamilton will submit himself, it were well done, for avoiding his dependency upon France, to receive him, with provision for indemnity of his title; and if he will not, then to assist Murray to prosecute him and his adherents by confiscation, &c. If this will not fall out sufficiently (as I doubt it will not) to determine judicially, if she deny her letters; then surely I think it best to proceed by composition, without show of any meaning to proceed to trial; and herein as it shall be the surest way for the Queen's Majesty to procure the Scotch Queen to surrender, &c., if that may be brought to pass, so, if she will by no means be induced to surrender, and will not end except she may be in some degree restored, then I think it fit to consider therein these matters following.

First, to provide for her and her son to remain in England at the charges of Scotland.

Secondly, to maintain in strength and authority Murray's faction, as much as may be, so as they oppress not unjustly Hamilton.

Thirdly, to compound the causes between Mur

ray and Hamilton, and their adherents; and to provide for Hamilton's indemnity in the matter of the title, to avoid his dependency on France.

Fourthly, that the Queen's Majesty order all differences that shall arise in Scotland: and to that end have security of both sides.

Fifthly, if Hamilton will wilfully dissent from order, it is better to assist Murray in the prosecuting of Hamilton by confiscation, although he fly therefore to France, than to put Murray any ways in peril of weakening.

And, lastly, to foresee that these Scots on both sides pack not together, so as to unwrap (under colour of this composition) their mistress out of all present slanders, purge her openly, show themselves satisfied with her abode here, and, within short time after, either by reconcilement or the death of the child, join together to demand of the Queen the delivery home of their Queen to govern her own realm, she also making the like request; and then the Queen, having no just cause to detain her, be bound in honour to return her into her realm, and for matters that in this time shall pass, have her a mortal enemy for ever after.* And thus, ceasing to trouble you any further, I wish to you as to myself.

It is a conjecture perhaps not entirely romantic, that Elizabeth's future conduct on this great occasion, so nearly according with the Earl's advice, was determined by this identical letter. That consideration alone, not to mention the profound wisdom and policy displayed by the writer, the clear and concise account given of the affairs of Scotland at that remarkable period, or the admirable terms in which the whole is couched, renders it an in

From York, the 22nd of October, 1568.

Yours, most assured,

T. SUSSEX.

No. XXXII.

(Talbot Papers, Vol. E. fol. 221.)

TO THE COUNTESS OF SHREWSBURY.

(Signature torn off.)

My most humble duty remembered unto your honourable good Ladyship. If it were not for my bounden duty's sake I would be loth to write, because there is so small certainty in occurrences; but (seeing I am bound to write) it is but small that I see with my own eyes that is worth writing, and therefore I am forced to supply by that I do hear; which I write as I hear by credible report, otherwise I should not write at all; and therefore if I do err it is pardonable. The news is here that my Lord your husband is sworn of the Privy Council; and that the Scottish Queen is on her journey to Tutbury, something against her will, and will be under my Lord's custody there.*

estimable curiosity. It may be proper to observe here that Mary had been for some months a prisoner in England (see the next letter), and that the Earl of Sussex was one of the Commissioners now sitting at York for the judicial investigation of the charges brought against her by Murray.

Mary's remarkable escape from Lochleven Castle, the decisive battle of Langside, and her flight into England, happened within the space of one fortnight. She arrived at Carlisle on the 16th of May, and was soon after waited on, with great respect, by Lord Scroop and Sir Francis Knollys, who remained as spies about her person till Elizabeth had determined how to dispose of her. At length the unjust expedient of imprisonment was VOL. I. 2 H

There is an Ambassador come out of the Low Countries from the Duke of Alva, who is in custody (as the other is) and is not yet permitted to say his message; and since his arrival there are three posts come thence, two strangers and one Englishman, whose letters are taken and sent to the Court, and they committed to custody.* The report is that the Duke of Alva hath, for the lack of money, disarmed the most part of his army; and they are not paid for that is past; but rob, and steal, and much molest the country. And, being divers garrisons at Maestricht of the Walloons, the Duke sent to discharge them, and sent Spaniards in their places; who have shut the gates of the Spaniards, and refuse to deliver the town

adopted, and on the 13th of July she was conducted to Bolton, a a house of Lord Scroop's on the borders of Yorkshire; but, upon some distrust of that nobleman's fidelity, was sent to the Earl of Shrewsbury's seat at Tutbury in Staffordshire, and placed under his care. This letter gives us the precise time of her going thither, as doth a succeeding one, of the 19th of August, of her removal to Sheffield.

* The war that separated the Netherlands from the Crown of Spain began about this time. The Duke of Alva's wanton severities afforded the former an ample pretext for their intended insurrection, and Elizabeth, who had assisted them privately with money, gladly seized this opportunity of weakening her great rival, under the cloak of her regard to the Protestant religion. The Court of Spain, already jealous of her interference, was provoked to open resentment by the following circumstance. Some Italian merchants there had projected a scheme for establishing a bank in the Low Countries, and for that purpose had embarked a great quantity of specie in certain Spanish vessels, which, being attacked by a French squadron, took refuge in our ports. The Spanish Ambassador claimed the money in the name of his master, but the Queen, finding it to be private property, locked it up, and offered security for its repayment to the right owners; upon which the ports of Spain and the Netherlands were immediately shut against our ships, and a kind of piratical war was carried on for some months.