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INTRODUCTION

Cornell University Library

The

original of this

book

is in

the Cornell University Library.

There are no known copyright

restrictions intext.

the United States on the use of the

http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924091786057

INTRODUCTION.

In the year 1840 the Commissioners of the Public Eecords

caused the papers forming this collection to be bound in 74

volumescollection

as a class

by themselves.^

It is

not

known how

the

whether the papers were always together, or had been selected from the general body of State Papers norwas formedis

the precise date

when they begin known,all

for the reason

presently to be mentioned.

The evident intention

of the Record

Commission to keep them

together was unfortunately not

carried out, for the first 39 volumes were subsequently

broken

up and

their contents dispersed in several publications of the

Rolls Series.

Probably the

first

to take

any out of

their places

was Mr.

Markham

J.

Thorpe, editor of the Calendar of State Papers

relating to Scotland (1509-1603), inobserves, in the preface to hisfirst

two volumes, 1858, whop. xxvii,

volume,

that

it is

" difficult to determine in certain cases whether particular letters

should be classed with the Scotch papers or those relating to the Borders.

,

.

The Compiler has been

allowed, therefore,

occasionally to insert the letters of the Border officers

among the

Scotch papers,afiairs."

when

those letters referred exclusively to Scotch

Mr. Thorpe, however, gives no table showing

howin

many

letters

he transferred, and their identification would be

laborious, if indeed

now

practicable.

But most of the papers

these dispersed volumes, were incorporated in the Foreign Series

1

No. 40, hereafter mentioned, was long treated as a missing volume.6

viii

INTRODUCTION.11

of the Rolls publications, and will be found in the

volumes

of

Calendars

for the years

1558-1577, edited by the Eev. JosephJ. Crosbie.

Stevenson and the late Mr. A.these, the editors

In most,

if

not

all

of

have given tables of the Border Papers so taken,

a very excellent proceeding, especially considering that the contents of this Foreign Series relate to a dozen or

more

countries,is

including Scotland, then considered foreign.

The Editor

not

aware

if

any

of these first 39

volumes were examined by Mrs;

Everett Green for the Domestic Series of Eecord publicationsbut, so long ago as the year 1868, that lady

was allowed by

the Deputy-Keeper to select from the remaining volumes aconsiderable

number

of papers to be included in her work,is

and

that they were so taken

evident from the transfer slips with

date and signature remainingto see on

among the MSS.

It is

not easy

what

principle, if

any, they were so selected and

removeda

;

and, besides this, at one time the papers enclosed inleft,

document are removed and the covering oneis

at another

time the process

reversed

;

and, as the description of

the

papers removed gives neither date nor other particulars,identification of

the

them

is

often uncertain.

They must number

several hundreds at least.

The modeKeeper

in

which these

earlieritself

volumes have been thusto the

broken up does not commendof the Public Records,

present

Deputy

who

has cordially welcomed the

proposal by the head of

H.M. General Register House, Edinhis direction,

burgh, that the remaining portion shall form one of the Scottish

Record Publications issued underof the Treasury.

with the sanction

These remaining volumes are

now 35

in

number, for the missing volume, numbered 40, has been addedto

them

since they were

bound by the Record Commission. Thatfor fortifying

volume contains nothing but the curious schemethe English Border on the line of the

Roman

Wall,^ which,

1

No. 581.

INTRODUCTION.though without date,is

IX

possibly to be referred to th^ year 1587.*

The binding

is

apparently of the seventeenth century.title

To judge from the

of this collection, the historical init

quirer would naturally expect to find in

nothing more than

the correspondence between the English and Scottish wardens

on the business of their wardenries,either side,

viz.,

the inroads

made on

and themore

robberies, cruelties,

and murders constantly

perpetrated,

especially in the English

West and Middleandits

Marches, by the clans and broken

men

of Liddesdale

neighbouring dales, and the Debatable Land.^

But though there

are few documents to be found here such as those containedin

The Hamilton Papers, showing the

direct dealings of oneaffairs of international

government wdth the other in weightypolicy, there is perhaps a

more varied

interest to be recognised in

these

now under

consideration.

For the three Border wardens

of England, in addition to their proper duties, were also charged

with secret and confidential enquiries, so far as their abilityextended, into the internalintercourse ofits rulers;

affairs of Scotland, as well as

the

with the Continent, especially withthe longreports on

France and Spain

and

these

subjects

which they from time to time forwarded to the Secretaries ofState are abundant evidence of the efficient

manner

in

whichin

they discharged these onerous duties.truth, to be not less familiar with the

They were compelled,pen than the sword.

The

^

Since the text of the present volume was completed,

Mr

R. A. Roberts, one

of the Assistant-Keepers of the Records, has collected the original papers calen-

dared in the eleven volumes of the Foreign Series, and these arethemselves in nineteen volumes.

now bound by

The

text of the present

work thus begins with

the twentieth volume of the papers.

The

first

fourteen documents have there-

fore been transferred to their proper place in order of date in one or other of

the preceding volumes.^

Whether from

the lack of records, or that the poverty of the Scottish Border,little

with the exception of the Merse and Teviotdale, offered

temptation to the

EngKsh

riders, the incursions into Scotland,

except in case of a regular war, seem,

at all events from these papers, to have been but few and unimportant.

X

INTRODUCTION.it is

necessity for this vigilance,

hardly needful to say, arose from

the insecurity of Elizabeth's position.

While she held the Queen

of Scots a prisoner, whose title to the English throne

was

in the

opinion of

many

superior to her own, the constantly recurring

plots for Mary's freedom

and her

rival's death,

always coun-

tenanced

if

not instigated abroad, and the close neighbourhood

of Scotland, ruled

by

a minor, affording a sure retreat

whence

hostile emissaries could with ease enter her

kingdom, were a

perennial source of danger to be guarded against.risk

Nor was her

much

lessened even after the tragedy of Fotheringay had

removed the royal personage round

whom

these schemes had

revolved, herself no inactive promoter of them.certainty of

For the unfro

King James'swas

position, tossed to

and

by

several

powerful factions, and the doubtfulness of his constancy to " theReligion," asit

called, the successes of

Parma

in the

Low

Countries, and theto

avowed designs ofthe field whence

his master

and himself

make Scotland

an invasion of England

might be projected, kept Elizabeth's statesmen and lieutenantson the Border in constantactivity, not onlytill

the G-reat;

Armada hadfor,

sailed

and been defeated, but

for years afterwards

with perseverance worthy of a better cause, neither Philip

nor Parma abandoned their designs on England after that greatdisaster.

1560-1576.

With

these preliminary remarks

we proceed

to consider the

contents of this volume.

The

first

fourteen documents, ranging

from 1560 to 1576, are

isolated,

and seem to have been omitted byCalendar above described.of several of these

Mr

Thorpe from the collection styled the Conway Papers, formII.

ing an appendix to Vol.

of his

The very tender and fragmentary condition

mayfell

possibly account for this.is

One ^

refers to the rebellion of

George, Earl of Huntly, andat Corrichie,

dated a few weeks before he

Murray

his successful

opponent being then in

1

No.

2.

INTRODUCTION.favour with hisof whichvisitsis

xi

sister the

Queen

of Scots.

Another, the original 1560-1576

not here, has a curious reference to the frequent

paid by

Mary

to

Lord Darnley, then under some

infectiousothers,

complaint, several months before she married him.'^later in the

Two

same

year, from

Lord Bedford, then governor of Ber-

wick,* give a glimpse of the hostility of

Murray and the

Protest-

ant party to the marriage, their retreat to England, the strange

underhand policy of Elizabeth towards her presumed

friends,

and Mary's revenge

for Eizzio's death.

Another of these docuis

ments,^ the report on the minerals in Crawford Moor,date.

without

The

laird of Merchiston

named

in

it

being doubtless Sir

Archibald Napier,

who was master

of the Scottish Mint,

and

flourished from 1550 (the date of his distinguished son's birth)till

1608,

it

may

be a good deal later than the period here

assigned, as, except in the regencies of

Murray

or Morton,

it is

hardly conceivable that an Englishman of Bowes' rank would

have been permitted to make such researches before the unionof the Crowns.

In the year 1577, however, the series begins to show moreregularity (with the reservation alreadyferred),

1577.

made

as to papers trans-

and from that year

is

fairly continuous.

During the

seventeen years covered by this volume, the wardens for England

were Lord Hunsdon on the East March, Sir John Forster on theMiddle, and Henry and Thomas, lords Scrope, on the West.

On

the Scottish

side,

Lord

Hume

faced Hunsdon, the Lairds of

Cessford and Fernihirst

by turns governed the Middle March,intervals

and the Maxwells the West, withoffice of treasurer of

when Carmichael

and Johnston were in favour at Court.the

Robert Bowes held

Berwick, besides acting as ambassador

at Edinburgh, during a great part of these seventeen years,

a double duty, the due discharge of which proved to be beyondhis power.

iNo.

4.

2Nos.

5, 10.

8

No. 11.

xii

INTRODUCTION.For two years the records containlittle

1577-1580.

about Scotland, the

most interesting event being the building of the neAV pier atBerwick in 1577-8, of which a very particular descriptionis

given by Bowes and others in letters and reports to Burghley,^

showing

its

heavy

cost.

Yet there

are unmistakable allusions tois

the perilous state of Scotland, thatinterests there,

as concerned Elizabeth's

when thefall,

iron rule of

Morton was beginning

to

totter before hisIt is

in

two

letters

from Bowes to Burghley.^

not unlikely that the Eegent's demission of power, and

the rise of French influence over the youngof

Kjng by the agency

Esm^

Stuart of Aubigny, foreshadowing a change in the

relations of the

two

countries, occasioned the musters on the

English Border in the beginning of the year 1580,^ and the examination into the state of the Border boundaries and armaments offortresses later in that year.*

And

his^ imprisonment at its close

on charges which Elizabeth and her ministers must have shrewdlysuspected would undoubtedly bring

him

to the headsman's block,

doubtless caused the very searching commission of inquiry asto the able men, both horse

and

foot,

who could be summonedif

by the Warden

of the West Marches,

need

arose.

This long

array, giving the individual their equipment,is

names

of

nearly 9000

men and

a valuable record of the;

sturdy yeomen

of

Cumberland and Westmoreland

for,

with the exception of

Lowther, Aglionby, Salkeld, and a few mote of the gentlemen ofthe wardenry, most of the names arelocal antiquary.little

known exceptThe

to the

The arms and weaponsis

are not only given with jack, steel

muchcap,bill

detail,

but their absence

also noted.

and spear predominate next the Scottish Border, the bow and in the districts further south, and there are not above half a;

dozen guns or arquebusses

while two

men were

ready to face

the enemy, one with a pitchfork and the other with a pikestaff.1

Nos. 17, 28, 31, 37.Nos. 18,8tli

23

September 1577, and 34, 3rd September 1578.*

Nos. 47-50.

Nos. 76, 83, 89.

6

pp_ ^'j_qq

INTRODUCTION.The chances of Morton regaining power^ provedfutile,

xiii

and the

1581.

attempt to overthrow his supplanter Aubigny (now Earl and soonafter

Duke of Lennox), earnestly pressed by Elizabeth, completelyRandall and Hunsdon's joint endeavours toit

failing, in spite of

get up a case against him,^ her ambassador foundleave Edinburgh probably in,

necessary to

March 1580-1.

His letter to Huns-

don, unfortunately imperfect, gives some account of the French

embassy^ then in London on the Queen's treaty of marriagewith Anjou.

He was

followed

if

not preceded by the notorious

Archibald Douglas, whohad procured leave from Elizabeth to enter

England so early

as 3rdtill

February 1580-1, but remained probably29th July, when he came up to London

about the Borders

with an introduction to Burghley in the character of an innocent

manfate,

unjustly accused.*

It is strange that

he escaped his patron's

and lived

to be

ambassador for the son of Darnley.little

The

bluff

and outspoken Hunsdon thought

of him,

and said so

without loss of time^ to Burghley, who had written to him aboutDouglas.

He

disappeared from Scotland for four years, andfall

only emerged from his retreat on theIt

of his

enemy Arran.successive conto secure

may

be convenient to see

how

far the

spiracies of the ambitious

men around

the

young King

possession of his person, which took place during the six or

seven years after Morton's death, are illustrated by the contentsof this volume.

James, closely attended by the new Duke of Lennox andStewart, Earl of Arran,

amused himself in the autumn

of 1581 in

progressing about the west parts of his country, these two councillors being,

however, looked on with great suspicion by many,Presbyterianministers,

especially

the

who

feared that

the

influence of

Lennox might draw him towards France and Popery,

which they proposed to counteract by " some good exhortation"

I

P. 26.5

2

No. 87.

3

No. 96.

*

Nos. 88, 100,

No. 102.

Nos. 105, 107, 109.

XIV

INTRODUCTION.This course, however well meant,

1581-1583. in the next G-eneral Assembly.^

was not welcome

to James.

He was

desirous at this time to

surround himself with scions of his family, for he despatched a

messenger to Italy to

summon homeThe

the

young Eatl of Bothwelloutward concord

who was

to be such

a torment to him afterwards, but thenshort-livedlast long,

esteemed of great promise.^

between Lennox and Arran did not

the former desiring

an amnesty for two of Darnley's murderers, which the King and

Arran opposed.^

In addition, the injudicious appointment byStirling, as

Lennox, of Montgomery minister of

Bishop of Glas-

gow, roused a storm of opposition by the reformed clergy,

backed by most of the nobility.*

Here, however, theis

King

must have supported him,

for

an odd account

given of their

loving demeanour in public, the King throwing his arms round

the Duke's neck and kissing him.^

But the ministers, with;

popular opinion behind them, proved too strong

and

after

Montgomery had recantedcommunication, the

before

them under

threat of ex-

Duke was

obliged to retire to France, whereis

he died the next year."the" Eaid

This result

the only notice here of

of Euthven,"

which transferred

the custody offor a year

James

to Mar, Angus,;

and Gowrie, who sent Arran

to prison

but the King's escape from their keeping on 27thin

June 1583, and the way

which

it

was

effected are related.'

Also, the reappearance of Arran as chief in the King's councilsis

chronicled

;^

and in the same

letter the arrival

from France

of the son of the late Lennox,

who was

destined as second

Duke

to enjoy favour longer than his father.

1

P. 76.If the date of a paper

2

on the Scottish nobility (State Papers (Scotland),is

Vol. 43, No. 53), annotated by Lord Burghley,

correct,

Bothwell in 1589 This would

was only twenty-six, and

his

son and heir five years of age.

make him only eighteen8

in 1581,

when7

recalled to Scotland.

Nos. 112, 113, 114.

*Nos. 116, 119.No. 163.

sNo. 121.

6Nos. 140, 141.

8^0.188.

INTRODUCTION.

XV1584-1585.

Arran now resumed the career which in two years brought abouthis downfall.

He

instigated the

King

against the Presbyterian

ministers,^

whose friends among the

nobility, secretly

backed by

Elizabeth, assembled at Perth to concert a rising againstin

him

March 1584,^ but though they made appearance;

in the field,

matters were scarcely ripe for their enterprise

and, after pro-

curing the execution of Gowrie, with three relatives of the in-

surgent nobles, in revenge of the " Eaid of Ruthven," he drove

Angus, Mar, Glamis and others across the Border with many oftheir followers,

and the Catholic faction came into power,

one

reason possibly for the fresh musters on the English Marches.'

Arran being now chancellor of the kingdom and lieutenantgeneral of the Marches, the policy of Elizabeth and her ministers

was directed

to his ejection

from the strong position he

occupied in the King's favour, the plans suggested by some of

her instruments not stopping short of his death.

Hunsdon appears

to

have been the only

man who

believed in

him, and disapproved of the countenance given by Elizabeth to

Angus and the other banished noblemendrew acharacteristic letter to

in his wardenry,

which

him from Walsingham,* whateverKing's

its effect

may have

been.life,

A sort of sub-conspiracy against the1585, two of them being executed and

in

which some

west country gentlemen were involved, about the beginning of

many

banished, was pro-

bably got up by Arran to throw additional suspicion on thebanished noblemen.the mention of

So much

mayleft

perhaps be inferred from

it here.

The Masterhistory,

of Gray,first

who has

an unenviable reputation in

though at

he must have been on terms with Arran,

being sent up as ambassador,^

in the end

became a chief

in-

1

Nos. 202, 205.Nos. 253, 254, 255, 259, 260.Nos. 282, 285, 286, 319.

^

Nqs. 206, 212, 214, 215, 219, 224.

35

*8

No. 267.

in November 1584, Nos. 269, 272, 278.

XVI1584-1585.

INTRODUCTION.It

strument in effecting his downfall.

may have been from

some suspicion ofsador

his

honesty that he was succeeded as ambas-

by the

Justice- Clerk, Sir

Lewis Bellenden, who was sent

in February

1584-5

for the express purpose of

demanding not

only the nobles banished for the Perth assembly, but those in-

volved in the later conspiracy, though he too, was far from a

thorough partisan of the Arran government.-'

An

assembly,

including Huntly and seven other northern nobles, besides barons

and landed men, took place

in the

end of

May

at Aberdeen,^

but seems to have been no more than evidence of the feeling Gray, however, was now enlisted against Arran's misrule.against him, and in correspondence with

Walsingham throughpointed to Arran's

the Marshal of Berwick

;

^

and though too much trust was notindications

reposed

in

him, yet

many

insecurity.*

In this state of suspense, a catastrophe on the Middle March was

made the ground

of a

heavy charge against Arran

in his capacity

of lieutenant-general.

This was the death of Francis Lord

Russell, son-in-law of Sir

John

Forster,

on the 27th July, when,

attending a meeting between Sir John and the Laird of Fernihirst,

the opposite warden.

Though

at first expressly said

by

Forster, writing tothis admissiontion,

Walsingham on 28th July,

to be

an

accident,^

was almost immediately withdrawn by implica-

and an elaborate statement was drawn up and signed by

Forster and

more than thirty gentlemen

of his wardenry, assert-

ing

its

premeditation, from the large forces brought

by

Ferni-

hirst, his assault

on Forster's smaller body, and other circum-

stances, in complete variance with his first letter."

A corresponFernihirst

dence extending over several months took place, commissions

on both sides were appointed to investigate the

affair,

and some of

his clan

were outlawed on both sides of the Border

iNos. 285, 286, 287.*

2^0.318.^'Mo. 330.

3^0.319.

Nos. 323, 324.

Nos. 331, 332, 335, 337.

INTRODUCTION.for refusing to appear

xvii

and stand

their trial as accused persons, 1585-1586.side to prove

and every

effort

was made on the English

what

appears to have been a foregone conclusion with them, that

Arran and Fernihirst had planned Russell's death in revengefor his intercepting their lettersspecified.^.

on some occasion not preciselysee here, ever

Nothing, so far as

we can

came of;

it,

as the enemies of

Arran attained their object otherwise

for,

on Tuesday morning, the 2nd November 1585, Angus and theother banished lords with 7000 men, took the town of Stirling,

and on the next day came to terms with the King, who hadretired to the castle, thus effecting a nearly bloodless revolution.

Arran hadof

fled before their entrance.^

They found the Masterand honoursaffairs

Gray and Bellenden the Justice-Clerk with the King.^ Thevictorious party proceeded to divide officestheir friends,*

among themselves and

and

for

some time

proceeded with tolerable smoothness, disturbed

now and then byfears of the

secret messages between the King and Arran, andlatter regaining favour

by means

of the French ambassador.*

His prospects seem to have ended in

May

1587,

when

the

King

gave a curt dismissal to his petition for aid in his poverty.*Fernihirst, the chief agentRussell's death, died at

from the English point of view inafter the "

Aberdeen a few months

Raid

of Stirling," Forster pronouncing for his epitaph that he ought to have been hanged.'

A considerable

stir

was

raised in the beginning of

1586 amongin

the Protestant nobles and

clergy

and

their sympathisers

England, when Maxwell, Herries, andthe

manypublic

of the barons ofat Dumfries

West March attended mass

in

and

iPp. 191-209.8

^No3. 385-387.these two men, in conjunction with Archibald Douglas,is

The Etctive part which

took in preparing the success of the confederates' enterprise,the Hamilton Papers, Vol.*]Sros.

fully

shown

in

II. pp.

646-705.6

388-394.

Nos. 404, 405, 410, 412.

No. 516.

7 ]S[os.

417-421.

xvm1586-1587. neighbourhood.^

INTRODUCTION.Maxwell, who had taken thehis descenttitle

of

Morton

on the Eegent's death, in virtue of

from a co-heiress

of the third Earl, though he supported the banished lords intheir successful enterprise, did sofor

from hostility to Arran, not

any love of Protestantism.

The King, though perhaps

secretly indisposed to

meddle with him, was driven to dofar as

somethingdesired,

;

and though unable to go as

the

clergy

had Maxwell examined before the Council, and com-

mitted him to

ward

in

Edinburgh,^

all

doubtless

to

save

appearances,' for before

many weeks had

passed.

Maxwell wasstiU

again in authority, and his Jesuit friends at

New Abbey

unmolested, though closely watched by Scrope.*

Archibald Douglaslargeseal,^

now returned

to Scotland, fortified

by " a

and ample protection" under the King's own hand and

a change

in his fortunes doubtless due to the Protestant

party being in power.

For the next two years he appears as

an

ofl&cial

agent for the King at the English Court, receiving

instructions through his nephew, Eichard Douglas.

Though heit is

was styled byif

the latter the " lord ambassador,"^;

doubtful

he was so considered at the Scottish Court

at least others,

as Sir

William Keith and the Master of Gray,' were regularlyMait-

accredited to the English Court during his residence there.

land the Secretary,his bitter enemj^,

who becameand to

Chancellor about this time, was

his influence,

most probably,

is

to be

attributed the sudden reversal of Douglas's position, mentioned

by Hunsdon

in

two

letters to

Burghley in December 1587 and

January following.^iNos. 404-9.5

The

latter of these contains a strong proof2Nos. 407-9.for his action.

James may have had another good reasonfirst

According to No.

988, this was the

year of his receiving an instalment of the much-desiredviz.,

allowance from Elizabeth,

4000.

The

actual date of

payment

is

not stated,

but

it

was paid through EogerIt

Ashfcon, a messengerafter

who

passed often between

the Courts.

was most probably madesifo. 422.

he had called Maxwell to account.^j^os.9

*Nos. 411-12.8

No. 520.

462-471.

July 1587, Nos. 524, 528.

^os. 579, 582.

INTRODUCTION.of the King's dislike to him,

XIX

by

his refusal to receive

two

special 1586-1587.

hunting horses bought in England by Douglas, apparently infulfilment of a promisebefore,

made while

in favour

some monthsHis

and

at that time anxiously looked foris

by James/

formal dismissal by the King

described in another letter of

Hunsdon's to Burghley,^ and he appears only once in theremaining papers contained in this volume,viz. in

1594,

when

complaining of the stoppage of his letters to Scotland.^

Eesuming the main course

of events,

we

find incidental proof

that the successful Protestant nobles did not get their

own

way

at Court, for the

King refused

to dismiss at their bidding

Arran's brother. Sir William Stewart, another William Stewart(often confounded with him), and others of the late favourite'sfriends,*

and

in

other

ways showed

hiniself

averse to

an

absolute breach with the powerful Catholic party, preferring,it

may

be, to

keep them as a counterpoise to the demands of

their opponents.

Meanwhile the Commission to trywhich

his

deposed mother, tohere,^

which allusions are made on several occasionsat the foregone conclusion forit

had arrived

was appointed.

The

evasive conduct of Elizabeth in regard to Mary's death-warrantis

notorious,

and a

letter to Scrope

from Davison her secretary

(and scape-goat), only a week before the execution,^ indicatesher knowledge pretty clearly of what would be theresult,

under pretext of strengthening her West March against a

sudden outbreak from Scotland.

James, to keep up appearances

before his Catholic nobility, professed great indignation and

made

threats of revenge, but these were not considered serious

by the English wardens, onlyfact not easy to

"brags,"' and his personal actionIt is in

was confined to allowing incursions on the March.

understand that he could entertain any real

1

No. 509.

2

No. 599.

^

Nq. 953.'

*

No. 422.

5

Nos. 457, 461, 463, 474.

No. 480.

Nos. 484, 491, &c.

XX1587.aflfection for his

INTRODUCTION.mother,

whom

he had never seen, havifig beenold.

taken from her custody an infant of a year

Moreover, had

she been freed from captivity, she would surely have resumed

her rights as a crowned queen, her enforced resignation beingheld as voidreligion, in

by the Catholic powers and her

subjects of that

which case James would have been reduced to the

alternative of either accepting the rank of heir-apparent, or as

the

King

of the Protestant part of his subjects, heading a civilhis mother,

war against

a

r6le not

unknown

in Scottish his-

tory, but with his views

on church government an unlikelypractical

course for him.

But some other

and more powerful

considerations kept

him

quiet, the chief being his fear of his

succession to the English

Crown

;

while a more immediate,

if

minor one, was the possible non-payment of his allowance fromElizabeth, if he took action for revenge.^

But he appears

to

have either instigated or connived at the Catholic nobles, Huntly,Crawford, and others, entering into

correspondence with the

Kingself

of Spain, from

whom

as well as his general

Parma, he him-

appears to have received some communications of importance

through Colonel William Stewart, his emissary, which could notbut be hostile to Elizabeth.^also

The

letter

with this news contains

an account of a charge made in the King's presence by

Arran's brother, Sir William Stewart, accusing the Master of Grayof being the chief agent in the expedition of the banished lords

that ended in the capture of Stirling eighteen

months

before,

which, though stoutly deniedtrue.

by Gray, we know nowto ward,later, as

to be

The disputants having been committed

wereWals-

brought before the King and Council a fortnightingham's agent in Edinburgh reported to him.^having, however,

The accuserHuntly and

made

further charges, implicating

1

Singularly enough,

lie

was paid nothing by her during the year after his

mother's execution (1587), but the year following, he got

5000^

in

two pay-

ments (No. 988).

2

No. 510, 29th April.

No. 513.

INTRODUCTION.Lord Claud Hamilton,it;

xxi1587.

seems to have been thought expedient

to let the matter drop

but the Master of Gray found

it

con-

venient to go abroad for some time.^

This last document shows

the favour extended by the King to Catholics and Prelatists, and the dislike with which the Reformed Church regardedit. In the Parliament then held, the Archbishop of Glasgow, with Lesly, bishop of Ross, and two other Scottish bishops, were restored, as

were the

late notorious Earl of

Both well and his

man

" Black "

Ormiston,

the landsat

of the former, though mortgaged

and

sold,

being given to his nephew, Francis Stewart, the.such was his favour at that time with the King.

new

Earl,

And

a curious

scene

occurred

its

rising

on

29th July, when, after a

speech from the Chancellor Maitland, touching revenge for the

Queen's death,

all

the nobles

vowed on

their knees before the

Kinggoods,

to aid

him

therein, at the hazard of lands, lives,;

and

whenever he commanded

" but,"

adds the writer,is

"for maintenance ofprovision"

the gospel and ministry thereserious

nothe

made.^in

Though nothing

followed,

aspect of affairs

Scotland appeared so threatening that;

some precautions were thought necessary

and

in

December

1587 the Earl of Huntingdon was sent by Elizabeth as herlieutenant-general on the Border, with power to raise anof 10,000

army

men

for defence.^

Hereupon there ensued a curious

negotiation between the King, represented by Bothwell and Sir

John Carmichael, and HunsdonElizabeth, which

who was thenIt

at

Berwick

for

was carried on

for several months,

and then

ended abruptly on 31st March 1588.well sending his master of household tocredence, desiring a private meeting,

was begun by Botha specialsatisfy

Hunsdon with

when he would

1

No. 526.

2

No. 528.

Carvell to Walsingham.

Mr

Tytler {History of Scotland, vol.it

ix. p.

15) ante-dates this incident, representing

as occurring on the

news

of

the Queen's death reaching Scotland, whereas

five

months had elapsed.

3Nos. 565, 569.

xxu

INTRODUCTION.anddesire for peace, " if she

1587-1588. Elizabeth of the King's aflfection

would, deal kindly and well with him,"^ a significant hint, whichthe result shows to have been a request for money.

Hunsdon

wrote very plainly to the Queen and Burghley after his variousinterviews with Bothwell's envoy and Carmichael.

He

pointed

out the danger of trifling with James,

who was

pressed both

by

France and Spain to join them, gaveoffers

full details of the large

made

to

him by these powers, the

careful plans of

Parma,

and

his correspondence with the Catholic lords, allperil of delay,

showing the

imminent

and roundly told the Queen he had

kept back her letter to James, as most injudicious at the time.

He

took her to task for haggling about his allowance, whether

it

should be 4000 or 5000, as she would spend twice the her Border forces by the next Michaelmas.^character of

sum onon theis

The independent

Hunsdon

is

well

shown

in his last letter

subject to Burghley,^ where he tells the

Queen that he

sorry

he took so

much

trouble in a matter which she seems not to

think of any consequence.

But

it

appears likely, from somehis getting

indications, that James's object

had been served by

2000time,

of his allowance, which

must have been paid about

this

and was followed by 3000 more in September,*his goodwill in opposing the landing of

after

he

had shownships

any of the

of the

shattered Armada.^;

It

was not a costly mode

of securing his amity

but, on the other hand,

James by

refrain-

ing

from

hostility,

strengthened his hope of succession

to

Elizabeth, though any formal acknowledgment of his right was

out of the question with her.^It maj?^

not improbably have been about this time that the

proposal to restore the

Roman Wall was drawn up.' Yet like preit

parations elsewhere against the designs of Spain,late to have contemplated so great a work.

seems rather

The north of England

1

3rd Dec. 1587, p. 293.Nos. 633, 988.

^pp 294-320.may be new.of Sir Walter Scottis

The wide reading

seen

by the

sur-

name

" Tinlin,"

which occurs in the Lay of the

last Minstrel, as

that of a retainer of Buccleuch, occurring in the musters of

Cumberland.

Many

other surnames appear there

common

to

both sides of the Border.Besides thesebills of outrages,

there are several other docu-

ments which throw an interesting light on those wild regions,as

they must have been regarded by " inland men," in the

phrase of the time.

The

first

of these

is

a paper sent

by Scrope

to Burghley at the latter's request, on 12thchief noblesrelation

August 1581,* of the

and barons of the Scottish West March, and theiraflBnity.

by blood and

The next

is

a very remarkable

document, drawn up expressly

for Burghley's information

by

Thomas Musgrave, deputy-captainof 1583.*tricts

of Bewcastle, about the end

He

evidently had an intimate knowledge of the dis-

on both sides of that March, their boundaries, and their;

lawless inhabitants

and, from notes on the paper,

it

was

care-

1

Pp. 89, 347, 363, 558.

^

3

No. 103.

*

Nos. 101, 174, 176, pp. 347-352, 356-365, &c. Pp. 120-127.

INTRODUCTION.fully studied

xli

by the Lord High Treasurer, and kept

as a valu-

able reference.of Esk,

Musgrave's account of the origin of the Gramesis

andevil

their alliances,

likely to be true/ as also his remarks

on the

consequences of the inter-marriages between the

English and Scottish marchmen, their deadly feuds, and thedifficulty in

bringing them to justice for fear of bloody revenge.interest is

Another paper ofForster

an Assurance entered into byElliotstill

and Scrope with the heads of the

and Armfollowing

strongs of Liddesdale, in" Eastern's

December 1584,any recognised

the

Eve

"

(Shrove Tuesday), the wardens' reason beingorofficer.^

want of redress by the Kingpaper, also

Another

drawn out

for

Burghley by Edward Aglionby, aclear ac-

Cumberland gentleman, about March 1592,^ gives acount of the different divisions andofficers

both of the Englishduties,

and Scottish West Marches,

their

names and various

besides the surnames of both sides, their numbers, feuds, and

other information.

The

last

paper of this nature to which the Editor will draw

attention (for a general referenceest) is a bill of losses sustained

may

suffice to others of inter-

by the King and somejoined him.*

of his in-

land subjects, chiefly in Fife, during Bothwell's raid on Falkland,against the English borderersof the

who

The heavy

loss

King

in horses of value probably;

augmented

his ill-will

against Bothwell

for,

though generally reputed a timid man,as allusions in these papers show,his stud appears to

James was a great hunter,

and

would resent the way in whichcleared out

have been

by the

moss-troopers,

among whom

the Grames of

Netherby are prominent."John Armstrong of the HoUus," whose wife he calls sister of Walter Grame of Netherby, was possibly a grandson of the famous Johnnie Armstrong of Gilnockie, who lived at the Hollows tower near Langholm.1

2 *

No. 278.

^

No. 743.

No. 921.

This bUl, presented by Lord Maxwell as warden, to Lord Scropeis

on 9th December 1592,

misplaced here, the year having been altered by another

hand

to 1593.

xlii

INTEODUCTION.

Many other points of interest can be but briefly noticed. Among these are the report by Carey to Sir Eobert Cecill/ thatthe ambassadors ofday.

Denmark and Brunswick were drunk everyto attend the baptism of the Princeas appears elsewhere,till

They had been sent

of Scotland, which

was delayed,

James

got the

money from

Elizabeth to defray the cost, and spent their

time thus in northern fashion.

The embassy from the King ofoff"ers,

Spain to James about this time with greatpleasing to Elizabeth,' for

could not be

the

ambassador was her revolted

subject

Sir

William

Stanley,

who

in

1587 had surrendered

Deventer and Zutphen to the Spaniards, and deserted to themwith his regiment ofIrish.

The hurried mannersent

in

which Sussex, the English ambassador

down to

attend the Prince's baptism, was

summoned to startfor Stirling, shorn

from Edinburgh, which he had barely reached,of his state accoutrements and carriages,

which were behind him,^

contrasts oddly with the printed account of that solemnity.

James's

modes

of*

procuring

funds

in

emergencies

are

amusingly illustrated

during the

visit of a

noble personage of

Germany,and

his Queen's

kinsman, who arrived in November 1594,free of cost;

whom

he chose to entertain

but instead of

doing so out of his own purse, appears to have taken the unusualcourse of " requiring" a loan from the Lords of Session,law,

men

of

and writers in the courts of record (the College of

Justice),

which they are said to have willingly granted to the amount of

2000

sterling.

The papers,

of

which an outline has been given here,conceived opinionof

will not

probably alter the hitherto

the two

sovereigns, founded on a wider knowledge of their reigns.deceitfulness

The

and other bad

qualities of Elizabeth are as apparent

as ever, without

much

to

redeem them, and the King of Scots

1 ^

No. 965, 18th July 1594.No. 977.

2

Nos. 971, 973, 975.

*

No. 992.

INTEODUOTION.would have seen " many things notbeen able to peruse theto his advantage"

xliii

had he

letters of the English

statesmen and

their correspondents on the Border

and elsewhere.

His shiftytheir

dealings with the

Catholic

earls,

at one time courting

support, at another marching on them, wrecking their estates

and houses, were actions not

befitting an honest ruler

;

for, as

a

distinguished writer has pointed out,^ James himself had iasti-

gated their rebellion after the death of his mother,for

an assertionwasfor

which considerable evidence

may

be gathered among the

papers

now

printed.

His treatment of Bothwell, after prohis past oflfences,

fessedly pardoning

him and condoningin

hardly consistent with the word of a king.

The excuses

him may be summed upthe fear of his

his

constitutional timidity, his

upbringing, the influence of designing favourites, his poverty,life,

surrounded as he was by turbulent nobles,:

whom

he knew enough of history to dread

these and other

causes combined to

make James somethingclergy,

of a trimmer.viz.,

One

thing certainly was kept steadily before him,

to abate the

power of the reformedautocratic designs.

who had

often thwarted his

The only one

of Elizabeth's councillors

who spoke

at all

favourably of James, was Hunsdon, which seems strange, considering the different characters of thepolitician,

two men.

Himself an old

not unacquainted with Elizabeth's diplomacy, Hunsdon

seems to have compassionated the youth and poverty of the

King and

his isolated position,

and did not hesitate

to give his

royal cousin a sharp rebuke for her indifference and hardness in

her dealings.^

One valuable servantplots against her life

of Elizabeth passed away, in Sir Francis

Walsingham, whose unceasing vigilance had detected so manyand throne.

He

died in April 1590, thus

realising his desire, solemnly expressed to

Hunsdon

in a letter

1

Lord Crawford, Lives of

the Lindsays,

i.

p. 318.

^

pp. 310-12.

;

xliv

INTRODUCTION.

already noticed/ in which, referring to reports that his policyagainst Arran was designed to gain the favour of James, hesaid,

that he hoped never to live to see a successor to Elizabeth's

throne.

As

is

known,

Sir Robert Cecill succeeded to his office

but, notwithstanding this, his father the

Lord High Treasurer,tire,

whom

no amount of labour seemed to

appears to have

taken charge of

much

of the business

which had devolved on

his deceased colleague.this collection,

Throughout the whole of the papers in

even the longest of them bear the marks of the

careful

way

in

which the smallest

details

were examined, by theof State.

great minister,

who had

his eye

on

all affairs

In concluding this notice of the papers in the text, which are

now

printed for the

first

time in

all

their essential points, theis

Editor

mayis far

take the opportunity to observe that their value

not solely due to the novelty of the information they contain,

which

from being absolutely new.of

There are various well

known worksin

more or

less

authority that treat of this periodare BivreVs

whole or part.

Among these

Diary (1532-1605),

Calderwood's History of the Kirk of Scotland, The History of

King James

the Sext,

The Autobiography of James

Melville,

(1556-1610), Marjoreybank's ^nnaZs of Scotland (1513-1591),Moysie's Memoirs (1577-1603), and Archbishop Spottiswood's

History of the Church of Scotland.

Most

of these writers were

contemporary, and their testimony to the events under their

immediate cognizance

is

valuable, in spite of the bias with which

they severally wrote, according to their different predilections towards one form of church government or another.^

But the English wardens and other observersaffairs,

of Scottish

having no other end in view than to procure the best

account of what actually happened, for the eye of the Queen and

1 2

7tli

November 1584, No. 267.tlie

There also exist in print

Bowes' Correspondence, and Papers, ^c. relative

to the

Master of Gray, both actors in the events recorded here.

INTRODUCTION.her ministers,

xlv

may be relied on

for accuracy, especially wlien they

reported independently of each other.

Taking one instance

for

an example

:

no two accounts of the same occurrence canBirrel the

differ

more widely than those given byand the courtly Spottiswood

Edinburgh burgess

as to the King's

demeanour when

confronted at his bedroom door in the early morning by Bothwell sword in hand.

The comical description by the burgess

of

James's attempted flight

down

the back-stair, breeches under

his arm, at the dread apparition, turns out to be

much

nearer

the truth than the Archbishop's complimentary account of

James's noble words to his probable assassin, as we learn byseveral independent letters

and Bothwell's own story in the

present collection

;

and, in addition,

we

for the first

time get

the exact day and hour

when

the affair took place,

and the and

manner

in which

it

was brought about,

for dates in this

other cases are not as a rule given with precision by the writers

above named.

The documents calendared have been

treated in the

manner

now

generally adopted in similar Government publications, with

the view of obviating as far as possible the necessity of referring to the originals.letters are omitted,

The formal beginnings and endingsis

of

unimportant matter

curtailed, while all

important or novel details when placed within quotation marks,are given in the actual words

and spelling used by thepersonis

writers.

WithThe

trivial exceptions, the

first

used even when the

writer's actual

words are summarised.acknowledge thefacilities

editor, lastly, has to

and

assist-

ance which the deputy keeper,assistant officers

Mr Maxwell

Lyte, and his

have always afforded him in

his labours,

more

especially

Mr

E. Salisbury, the officer in charge of the LiteraryJ-

Search Room.

B.

London, February 1894.

CALEJ^fDAR

;

CALEroAR OF BORDER PAPERS.1560.

July 18.

1.

Royal Warrant.Warrantto

Roger Alford esq"^* to pay 20,000Z. to Valentyne Browne North, by the hands of Edward Hughes, out of the Queen's treasure received from Sir Thomas Gresham knight her majesty's agent in Flanders. Greenewich. Sign manual at top and signet at foot.esq^", treasurer in the

Countersigned: "Winchester.1 p.

Indorsed.

[1562.] Oct. 5.

2.

News from Scotland.

" From the Marshal of Barwyk of the v*^ of October. Fyrst, that ultimo Septembris last, three hundred men were embarqued with artyllery from Edinburgh and Donbar, to besiege the castle of Fyneletour kept by force by thErle of Huntleys second Sonne, owner of that castle. That to the game eude of siege, iiij^ men were sent by land, vytayled for xl dayes. That thErle of Huntley and his eldest sonne ar supposed to be of counsayll with the seconde sonne, for that being the Queue of Skottes at Endernesse, they assembled a greats power moch to her offence. rhe sayd second sonne and his company ar proclaymed traytors. Therle Bothwel vytayleth and fortefyeth his howse of thArmitage, meanyng to kepe it by force. In the beginneng of this October, capitayn Edmondston and vj other gentelmen of the Hamyltons embarqued at Lythe and Brent Island, with c horsemen and iij" fotemen, to be entreteigued in Fraunce the brute is, agaynst the Quenes wiU and commandment. Therle of Arren remayneth still in warde." JVo signature.1 p.

Indorsed.

1564

May

24.

3.

The Council of the North to the Privy Council.

" Yesterdaie I the Archbysshoppe of Yorcke. receaved from Sir a lettre with a painted paper therein," now enclosed to your lordships, "for that bothe the disordred and untrue writtinge thereof semed straunge unto us, and allso the tyme of the makinge thereof uncerteine," whether in the late Queen Mary's time or since, or in Flanders or elsewhere, or what the writer's object was. That the rest of these papers may not be spread abroad, we have ordered Sir Henry to take them into his keeping. Bysshoppthorpe. Signed : Tho. Ebor., Thomas Gargrave, Henry Savile. " P.S. Wee have allso sente for the said Marcke Anthonye to be farther examined."

Henry Gate

1 p.

Addressed.Sir

Indorsed

:

" Tharchbishop of York, &c., with a pictureof Charles,

sent

them from

H. Gates,

King

of Spayne, England, Ireland, &c.,

King Phillips sonne, called true made at Embden." Wafer signet:"T.Y." atsides.

a chevron, chargesApril 18.4.

indistinct, between 3 pelicans vulning ;

The Earl of Bedford to the Earl of

Leicester.

I have received your "gentle letter" of the 10th instant, and heartily

A

CALENDAR OF BORDER PAPERS.1565.for your friendly advice touching my coming up before St George's Feast, as I do for your other goodnesses and remembrances of me. M"^ Secretary, however, sent me the Queen's letter dispensing with my attendance, and leaving my coming up to my own convenience after her Majesty's service was done with the opposite warden here, with whom a meeting was appointed, though since " shotte " by him till a few days after Easter, which will prevent me starting till St George's feast be past. For I

thank you

.

must not break with them, as they have so often done with me, of policy, thinking I would have been sooner gone. " The Lord DaT[n]ley is verie often visited by that Queue,

peradventureas well in the

J

most extremitie of his sicknes, without all feare of syckenes or thinfection thereof, and ever sythens commeth verie often to him. I am sure the Protestants there will nothing like the same, and I am for my parte verie sorie therefore, allbeit I wold not wishe that my Ladies grace his mother should understand of my good affection therein. This newes a man of thErle of Lennoxs told me, who brought a letter to her grace." 1 hear it is now determined that the fortifications are to be taken in hand this summer, and though time has been lost, I hope the result will be good. '' Lett me ones agayne trouble you for the poore man Captaine Browne, he hathe done her Majestie verie good service, and being nowe at great charges for the folowing thereof, consumeth himselfe, and more shall do, unlesse your honorable lordshippes helpe be extended unto him. ... I wold in like maner crave your lordshippes good favour to Johnson the surveyor, who by his declaracion of things heretofore hidden, hathe gotten him selfe many enemies, and onelesse your lordshippe stand his good lord, maye thereBerwick. Signed : F. BediorA. fore fare the worse."here,

Modern copy. The original with the other letters of Bedford formed part of the Conway Papers, but is now missing. The flyleaf, however, No 56 of the Domestic State Papers (Elizabeth), Addenda, Vol. XII., addressed to Leicester, and thus indorsed : " 18 April 1565. My L. of Bedford to My L. of Leycestre," is in all likelihood that of the missing2 J pp.

letter.

[1565.]

Nov.

12.

5.

The Earl of Bedford to the Earl of

Leicester.

" It is nowe so long .eythens I heard from your lordshippe, as I do therefore in maner thinke my selfe halfe dead." I hear from friends above that the Queen thinks " verie evill of my service here," whether it be that I am too forward to help these good lords, I cannot guess. " For sythe I receyved her Majesties sharpe lettre of the xx*!' of the last, for the Erie of Murreys comming up, wherat her Majestie was oifended, I never herd word nor directe aunswere from her Majestie of suche thinges as I have twise

sythens written to her highenes for." I am well assured I have not gone beyond my commission, having been so wisely advised by your lordshippe, for if I had licenced the 300 men sent to Carlisle, to pass to the lords into "as her majesties lettres did warraunte and will me to do," Scotland, there would by this time have been some demonstration of the Scottish Queen's inclination to war, and I would have heen very loth to have heard from her Majesty thereon. I pray God will give her Majesty a better opinion of me, and myself grace to do her service, for I have not deserved " I most hartely praye your lordshippe lett me heare as well her displeasure. the worst as the best, if ther be any evill in it at all, that I may seeke with my selfe wherin I have offended, and so make my ptirgacion as well as I can, to take awaye from her Majestie that evill opinion, and frome me that great anguisshe and sorowe of heart I feele ; and even as you love me, good my Lord, satisfie me herin." I am sorry to hear from M'^ Eandolph of a rumour in Edinburgh, that your lordship and the Duke have fallen out, and sorrier that it has come

CALENDAR OF BORDER PAPERS.[1565.]" I have to the Queen of Scots, who I fear has too many friends at Court. herd indede that betwene your lordshippe and my Lord of Sussex, some like matter hath happened, which is not to be accompted of. I trust your wisdome shall waye matters well enoughe, and therof shall I be gladde with all my hearte, as he that hathe good cause to love and honour you while I lyve." The Earl Bothwell has set some of his rank riders to spoil the Scots that bring us victuals, but I hope we shall take some, as a watch is set near " It was written to me from thence that the mariage daye .^^ ^/ the Bound road. should be the xj'i' of this monethe. I have long desiered to heare therof, and am gladde if it be so. I praye God sende them as moche joye and good successe as can be desiered. I do not doubt but your lordshippe will have / .'!. in your good remembraunce the sure making of the joincture. My trust is ,, therefore your lordshippe will so honorably deals herin as she maye praye for youe all the dayes of her lief, whome you have so moche bounde unto you." ''' I send AP Randolph's letter to show how I get my Scottish news. Berwick. Signed: F. Bedford.,.

,

-,

.

2J

pjj.

Addressed.

Indorsed.

Damaged.

[Dec]

6.

Note of regulations for the Borders.

A

clause from the " Indent between the commissioners at Berwick in" is referred to.:

the yere 1556

There are 16 heads of orders

Extracts.3.

Warden meetings not

to be held on the very March, for all men,

ill

!

and such numbers of deadly feuds standing, Each warden therefore to meet it is hard to eschew brawling and bloodshed. his turn with the other, certain miles within his charge, at a town if possible, with not more than 100 men, under special assurance of the other officer. 8 and 9. No subject of either realm to plough, sow or pasture in the several grounds of the other, notwithstanding any lease or tolerance, under

and good, have

access in armour,

/

'

penalty of forfeiting allegiance. 10. The debateable ground between the East March of England and the Middle March of Scotland to be divided by commissioners if possible by a march dike, as was done on the West Border betwixt Eeddenburn and the

j

Fell.

special commission to be held twice yearly, to execute the penalty 11. of death on persons " thrice fowle." 13. All private trysting without the wardens' consent forbidden. 14. Marriages on the West March between English and Scots inhibited.

A

j^^

^,

*w' Selby came, he towlde them that he was no Skott but a frende of hys, and that they showlde answer hym the mony he payde for the horse whyche faylde hym by the way, and so returnde agayne without knowynge what he was. Beynge yn one of M'^ Selbys tenantes howse, byfor Mr Selby came, he harde the folkes of the howse talke of one Jhon Hewme brother too Alexander of Manderstone, that he was att a towne one the other syde of the water. Roger asktc, how heTwysell,

Apon

M'

CALENDAR OF BORDER PAPERS.1581.

73

myght speke with hym 1 They

anserde, they cowlde nott

tell.

Wherapon

Roger walkte too the water syde aud sani of M'' Selbys folkes with hym, wher the men of AInwyke came too hym, aud by chaiise Jhon Hewm came too the water syde, whome when Roger saw, lie callyd too hym, who presently knew hym at what tyme Mr Selby came too hym. So Jhou Hewme tooke a bote aud came over to them, aud supte with Mr Selby, whoo wolde a lett Roger have a horse of hys, but Jhou Hewme wolde nott lett hym, but sent for a horse of hys too be browght too the water syde for hym, and so aboute mydnyht they went theyr wayse. Thus Roger by goode chause lyght apon the man he wolde a wyshte for yn all Skottlaude beynge yn deede a ryght honeste man. Roger meanes too be eyther tomorow nyght or apon Weddensday at the fartheste, too returne agayne too Twysell, wher M' Selby shall attend hys cummynge, aud shall furnyshe hym eyther of horse, mouy, or any thynge els he shall waute, aud shall also have a commyssyon from me for poste horsys, yf he lyste too euse any, I have thowght goode too advertyse your lordshyp thus muche, that hyr Majesti may uuderstaude of hys safe passynge yutoo Skotlande and how sune he meanes too returne bake agayne. I canuott butt lett your lordshyp understaude that by my wantte of exercyse heere, I have gotten that whyche without present helpe att the begynnynge, I shall never cleere of, which ys the stone wherwith I assure yoar lordshyp I have byn grevosly tormeutyd of late, havynge I thynke asmuche gravell withyn me as wyll gravell the way betwene Hakney and Wansted And therfor 1 hope yf hyr Majesti have no uther servys too imploy me yn then I know of, or ys lykly too be, beynge heere the Marshall, the Tresorar and the geutylmau porter aud Sir Francys Russell at AInwyke, and commonly heere, that hyr majesti wyll gyve me iSSve'^a tyine too seke sume remedy for thys hellyshe dysease, whyche yf yt breede a whyle apon me 1 am afrayde wyll be incurable. Barwicke. 1 am seure your lordeshyp doothe nott thynke I am sorry of your havyuge of Waustede agayne. 1 assure you 1 hade els sowlde Hakiiey, whyche now I wyll nott." Signed : H. Hunsdon. " I can sende ye neyther raarlyon nor tassell of a goshawke yett that can kyll a partryge, for yt ys too sune, but I have a marlyon wyll kyll a larke yn the skeyse, and I hope by hawkynge tyme I shalbe able to sarve your turue. I have alreddy 4 caste of sore Skotshe fawcons, as fayre as ever I hade and shall have more shortly, of whych your lordshyp shalbe partaker of sum of them, yf ye leeke them for 1 aeude them up presently yn hope

!

nott too be longe after them."

2 pp.

Holograph.

Addressed.

Indorsed.

Aug.

18.

105.

SCROPE TO BURGHLEY.

Hearing that the Laird of Cesford came yesterday to " thArmytage," intending to keep courts this day and to-morrow, I have written to him, as your lordship advised, to appoint a short day for mutual delivery ofoffenders.

These are the news from Scotland, though I cannot certify them. " Yt is said the Kinge myndeth at this next parliamente to ititaile that crowne to those fowre howses ; viz., to the newe Duke* of Lenax, thErle of AthoU, the Lorde Robert, aud the younge Erie of Murrey. Argill, upon some variance betwen him and Arran, is deperted from the Cowrte into his oweu countrie, where it is thought there wilbe a convencion

some noble men. James Balflower the acquited by an assize.of*

principall

murderer of the

late

Kinge,

is

thereof

So created on the 5th of same month.

741581.

CALENDAR OF BORDER PAPERS.. .

Manye in that realme feare thalteracion of Duke of Levenaxes wiefe hath protested shehim, unlesse she have masse."1 p.

Eelegion, andwill not:

it is

said that theto

r.

,

Carlisle.

Signed

come into Scotlaude H. Scrope.

Addressed.

Indorsed by Burghley.

Sept. 4.

106.

Scrope to Burghley.

I send your lordship a letter received this forenoon from the Laird of Cessford, showing the resolute direction he has received to insist ou our meeting at " Gamelspeth." To which [ have replied that neither myself uor

deputy will seek redress there, being the meeting place for the Middle Marches, and never used by me for those eighteen years, or any of my predecessors but shall be ready to meet at Kirsoptoote for justice on any convenient day. His answer means only delay, and has caused farther disorder, the Liddesdales having made 6 new attempts within the last 8 days. This day I met the Earl of Morton and Lord Herries anxious for redress for this March, but though I answered them " absolutelie " that I could not proceed with them till Cessford made redress, I agreed with them to hold a March day at " Gretnoe kirke " on Tuesday the 3* October next, which unless I find conformity in Cessford, " I mynde not to kepe without hir Carlisle. Signed : H. Scrope. Majesties further direccion."

1 p.

Addressed.

Indorsed hy Burghley.

Sept. 21.

107.

Sir

Henry Woddryngton to Burghley.

Though I have no matter of any great importance, yet the following come to my knowledge. "The Kiiige of Scottes hathe bene at Dunbreton and Hamylton, and who with his councell returned to Glasco again, where he nowe remaynethare lately;

haith bene about to call a convenciou, but some discorde and disagrement happened amongst the cheif of the nobilitie, whereupon the purpose altered, and thErle of Argile is prohibite the Court and thought to lose his oflBce. And also the Duke of Leunoix is joyned with the ministerie, who hathe made great offers and promised to assist theim in all their actions for the confirmacion and mantenance of religion. Moreover it is gyven furthe that there are certen Frenchmen already shipped in France, and dayly expected to arryve in Scotland, to be a guard to the King, the nombre as yet is not certeulie kuowen. There parliament should have bene holden the xxiiij*'' of this next moneth. It is said yt shalbe rejorned, and proclamacion dayly lookt for, for the same. No speache of the Kiiiges returne to Edenbrough, but thought to make his abode longer at Glasco, then was determyued at his goynge thither." The state of the Borders and this town is very quiet. " For the trust and

chardge therof commytted untodiligBut care

my

haudes (God willinge) I shall use such

and

vigilant respect as apperteineth unto

my bowndenBerwick.

and

alledgiance, according to her Majesties expectacion."

dewtie Signed :

Henry Woddryngton.1 p.

Addressed.

Indorsed.

Sept. 29.

108.

Works,

&c.,

at Berwick.

A

" briefe declaracion " of the works and needful reparations done within and about this town as also at the fort and storehouses of the Holy Island, by the space of a year, beginning last of Sep-

tember 1580 and ending 29 September 1581, by command of the right honourable the Lord Hunsdon lord governor, and in his absence by other of the council which for the time had charge the particulars whereof appear more plainly in the of the town

engrossed books.

CALENDAR OF BORDER PAPERS.1581.Extracts.

75

Makiug a " gibetfc " [to haiig oue Robert Eippethe] in Tweedmouth by command of John Selbey esq. gentleman porter, days wages, timber and iron for chains to it, 13s. M. casting down a great dunghill containing 6 "powles" of earth standing by the fort upon the mount where the great windmill stood;

before, 60s.

;

copper, timber, nails, bringing coppersmiths from London, land

and water

Keswick by Newcastle to Berwick, for the brewhouse vessels in the old palace or office of victual, 239Z. 6s. &d.; timber,iron, &c., for the pier,

carriage of copper from

by command;

of the lord governor, 85Z. 2s. XO^d.

;

for

the" Towleboothe," U. 9s. Id. iu S* Nicholas ward, 39Z. 17s.

lime, slate;

5|d

and timber for the " Sesternhead " "iron, coales and other thinges" for the

2^d. ; " hordes, lead, nailes," (fee, for the governor's own lodging, 50Z. 12s. 3^d. Sum total of all the works and repairs, and wages of the chief officers and others lliSl. 3s. Wd.gate, 11. 8s.

Mary

7 pp.2.

A

Gpp.Sept. 30.109.

Indorsed. duplicate of the same. Indorsed: "M^ Threasurer."

......;

Bowes to Burghley.

As directed in your letters of the 12"', I send to your lordship a note works done here for the year ended at Michaelmas, and the chargiss thereof. Those with the expences of years before come to nearly lOOOZ. more than I received ^as my accounts will show for perfecting which I desire greatly to be licenced to come to Loudon. Charles Geldert, late comptroller of customs here, died on Thursday last, and his office being in your lordship's gift, it may please you to bestow it on John Aleyn gentleman, serving under Captain Nicholas Aryngtou, who I dare promise shall dutyfuUy perform the " duetyes of the rooms," and be found thankful and serviceable to your lordship. Having received letters from some noblemen and councillors in Scotland, " The King, accompanyed I have thought it my duty to signify the same. with the Duke of Lenox, thErle of Arreyn, the lordes Euthen, Seatou, Ogleby, and others, haith bene in progresse at Glascoe and other places thereabowtes. Nowe he is at Hammylton, and appoynted to passe from thence to Dunbarton, and after to retiirne to Edenburgh, whereunto he haith moche greater desyre to repayre and hasten, then some in his Court wold have hym. And albeit labour is made to delay his sayd returne to Edenburgh, yett in respect of his owne desyre, and for orderynge parliament causes, and present tyme of the wynter approchynge, but cheifly (as somme wise person affirmeth) that matters are not yett rype enowgh, it is hitherto pretended whereupon order is ment to be that he shall shortly come to Edenburgh, taken in all thaffayres, as by that state and counsell shalbe thought mete. It was in heade and purpose by some, to have had a convention at Glascoe, but that is defeyt, and the convention of the nobility and counsell shalbe at Edenburgh, where also the generall assembly of the ministery shalbe on the The parliament to begynne the xxiiij"' of October xvij*'' of the next months. next at Edenburgh, is thought shall hold, for the cheyfe courtyers do ernestly travell for the same, to thintent that Angus may be forfeytsd, and his possessions to be disposed, and the grauutes thereof (and of other lyke) to be confirmed yett sondry noblemen are moche against these. But fewe or none will stand and be seyne in counsell therein, especially if they see the Duke and Arrayne earnest in thadvancement of the holdynge of the parliament, and forfeytinge of Angus. And what the dispositions of the Duke and Arrayne shalbe herein and in others, it will appeare very shortly, and as by some that way, and knoweu to your lordship wilbe (I trust) spedily advertised to your lordship.of the

761581.

CALENDAR OF BORDER PAPERS.thought to be greatly estranged and. fallen from his former manners and affection towardes England. Sondry nobles lament this change, doubtynge the seqaele thereof, and many of the ministery and best affected, are in opiuyon and hope that is the worke of God, to teache them that they should not trust over moche in the power or

The Kynge

is

disposition in religion,

And these vertue of prynces, beynge men and subject to mans nature. ministers trust to see his recovery spedily, yet for the present they remayne in great feare, and for remedy therein, they intend in this next generall assembly, to provide and devise some good exhortacion and meane to be offered to hym. The favourites of the Kyngcs mother cary the greatest sway in Coarte, so farre as they thynke that no course shall prevails that lacketh commeudacion from her, a matter that is to holy for me, and vifhich I leave to wise consideration.

ThErle of Argyle is gone malcontent from the Courte, but his gentle nature, easy to be reconsiled, and the forward disposition of the Countesse* his wife, willynge to roonue in the Dukes coarse, are lyke euowgh to drawe hym agayne, and goe with the rest to worke the desyres of the present courtiours. It haith bene thought mete to send an ambassadour into England, and as some noblemen and of the counsell geveth out, with fayre wordes, which they thynke will please that nation, and worke the desyred effectes for them selfes. This 1 leave to the sight of the successe that will very spedilyappeare.

David Corlesse is sent aud departed into Italy with commandment from the Kynge to call home his lorde aud master thErle of Bothwellf aud devise is taken that in the way, he shalbe schooled at Paris by the Bishops of Glascoe. The nobleman is hitherto well disposed, and great expectacion is had of many good feates and dedes to grows by hym, if the sprynge thereof shall not be corrupted by the sayd bishops and other lyke ministers. The Lord Euthen holdyngs grsat in Courte, appeareth to remember and contynue his good devotion towardss her Majestie. He haith moche to doe He to kepe his credit in Courte and answer the trust of his frendss abrode. haith agreed with the Lorde Ogleby for the mariadge betwixt the Master of Ogleby the lordes eldest sonns and one of his dowghters. This Master of Ogeleby, with thAbbot of Keudore second sonne of thErle of Eothouse and the Master of Gray (bsynge all suspected to be infected with papistry aud practisynge thadvancement of there profession) are favourably receyved of the Kynge, to thofEence and greife of many good men. The Lards of Farnshirst is mads provost of Jedworth, and rsstorsd to ths posssssions belongynge aswell to hym sslfs as also to ths lards of Kyrkawdy,his lats father in lawe.

James Bawforde aud John Matland lyvs ystt in soms darkenss, and and counsells do most prevayle in all the resolutions in counsells. Of ths doynges of the ScottishSir

are not very openly seyne in Courte, yett there advises

in Fraunoe, your lordship will otherwise understand with better certenty then I can wryte thereof." Berwick. Signed : Eobert Bowes.

3 p2y. Addressed. Indorsed. Inclosed in the foregoing An abstract of the account No. 108, with slight variations.:

HppSept. 30.

110.

ScKOPE TO Burghley.

On occasion of a disorder lately committed by one Christofer Armestrang, "Johns Christie," and other Scots fugitives, in burning and spoiling about the Langholms, and taking prisonsr Hsrbert Maxwell the*

Widow

of the

Regent Moray,

t Francis Stewart, so created 16th June before.

CALENDAR OF BORDER PAPERS.1581.

77

captain, the Earl of Morton " so terming himself," the warden, demands delivery of certain English borderers who were present, and intends on Tuesday or Wednesday next to seek for the fugitives. As I have had fair

words both from the King and Cessford, that justice will be done for the Liddesdale men, though as yet without fulfilment, and at a late meeting with Morton it was publicly promised by him and myself, that whoever broke the peace before our next meeting, should forthwith be delivered on the "request of the warden ofiended," I have therefore determined to deliver such as on trial shall be proved guilty. Which being done in justice to him, if I shall not find redress made for the " Lyddesdales," I trust your lordship will not think it meet for me to proceed further, and thereon beg your opinion and advice. Carlisle. Sign^id : H. Scrope.

\\p.Oct.3.

Addressed.

Indorsed.

111.

WODDRYNGTON TO BUKGHLEY.

Having received " the Kinge of Scotland his lettre the second of this present instant, directed to my lorde governoure, or in his absence to his deputie, requyring licence for twoe gentlemen travellers with twoe servanteswith theim to passe thoroughe this towne and the boundes of the same without anie stop, treble or impediment, whose names are Thomas Macklellane of Bombie and David Cullace of Auchfersey, who intendes to make there accesse to the Court anf so into France and other forreyn countreys,^accordinglie I have granted theim pasporte" and they left the next day. The King and his council will be at Edinburgh within eight days at furthest, when they look to receive news from France, till which they stay proceedings. " Also there hathe bene consultacion amongst the ministerie with certen noblemen and gentlemen whome thei called unto theim, who have concluded to propound certen matter to the Kinge at his return to Edenbroughe, to what end or effect, I can not as yet understand, but suspected to be for variance in religion, which thei require to have refourmed. Moreover there is like to kindle great displeasure amongst the Humes, as, betwixt the Lorde Hume and Maunderston, the Lorde Hume and Sir James Hume of Coldingknowes. That matter which is betwixt the Lorde Hume and Sir James, is like to rise to be bote; the cause is for that the Lorde Hume hath dischardged Sir James of the lordship of Lawder who will take no dischardge at his handes. Further Sir William Carre warden, and Sir Thomas Carre nowe provost of Jedworth, are at point of falling furth, and great enmy tie is like to growe betwixt theim. The King and Counsell are verie much off'ended with the burninge of Langeum in Eusdale in the West Marches of Scotland, and keaping the captSn ofThe same prisoner, being the Lorde Maxwell his lande. Wherfore the said Lord Maxwell threatneth to revenge yt with burninge in

like

maner

in England."

Berwick.

Signed

:

Henry Woddryngton.

1 p.

Addressed.

Indorsed.

Oct. 13.

112.

FOESTER TO BURGHLEY.

" At this present a greate parliament is appoynted to houlde at Edenbrowghe by the Kinge of Scotland, whereunto letters is directed to all the nobellmen to make their present apperance. Greate controversie is like to arise betwene the nobilitie of that realme, and in speciallie betwene the Dewke and the Earle of Arrantt, and the Duke doeth labor all the freindes he can make for his purpose to be there, as Arrant doeth on thother side in But if this meanes noe dales of trewe can holde, but are shott by the warden of Scotland. Also I am credibelie advertised that the mynesters of Scotlaund doo dailie preache in everie browghe of that realme agenst the said Dewke, and that he seiketh to be made second person,like maner.

781581.

CALENDAR OF BORDER PAPERS.myndenge in tyme to goe abowte to alter the religion. Letters are casten into The the Kinges privie chamber, wheareat his Majestie is greatelie moaved. copie of which letter I have thought good, accordinge to my bounden dutie to The contrarie partie against whome send yowr honor humblie here inclosed. this letter is meut, have made great offers not onelie by greate rewardes gevenge, but also to defend the same action theie are chardged, by the sworde, and What that have done by publick proclamacion, to have the authors knowen. the sequell will growe unto, as yet is not unknowen, but as I shall learne secreatlie by those whome I use for perfect intelligence, so 1 shall not faile but from tyme to tyme impartte the present occurranttes thereof to your honor." At my house nigh Alnwick. Signed : John Forster.J p.Addressed.Indorsed.

[1581.]

Nov.

29.

113.

Sir John Selby to Thomas Fowler.

'

I enclose a letter which I pray you deliver to the Earl of Leicester " The parlyament in Scotland doth yet contynue ; the Duke of Lynnoxe dealt with the Kyug for the restoring of Bawfoure and Fernyhurst by parlyament who aledged that actes of parlyament heretoaffore have bene made that none of those which are accessary to the murther of his father, grandfather, or any of his regentes, should be restored. Wherwithall the Duke seemed discontented. I cannot knows what will ensue therof. The common voyce goeth that ther is grett apparance of dissention betwene the Duke aud the Earle of Arraine. I pray yow commend me unto my friend M'' Roger Ashton, and tell him the lettre which my lorde of Leycester sent unto him which came not to his handes before he came out of Scotland, is safiely retorned to me unbroken up, which I would have sent herin, but expecting his comming, I thought yt best to retaine yt with me." Berwick. Signed : Jhon Selby. " I do not heare but that the Earle of Aiigusse and his followers shalbe forfeyted att this parlyament. The Protestantes there conceaved some feare of late, occasioned by the entertainement geven to George Norton and one Markenfeild but God be thanked for that this feare is converted into so ernest an hatred against Papistes and their favorers, that there was never greater appearance of the

with speed.

contynuance of relligyon."1 p.

Addressed:

"To

.

.

.

M''

Thomas Fowler

at his house in Alders-

gate streete."

Indorsed.

Nov.

29.

114.

The same to Burghley.

" The names of the lordes that sate in counsel!, when the awnswer was given for Captaine Heringtons going into Schotland, were the Duke of Leunox, Lorde Eithven, Lorde Ogilby, Lorde Seton, Bishop of Hallyroodehouse. Abbot of Newbottle, Abbot of Dumferling. The Protestantes were in some feare that the papisticall religion was favoured by divers great ones, which proceaded of the intertainemeut that two English papistes lately arrived in Schotland, received of the Lord Seton. This matter passing from hand to hand amongest both the nobilitie and people, haith engendred in tliem all a wonderfuU hatred against all Papistes, protesting that whosoever maketh any least motion of alteration of religion shall not live. On the xxiij''^ of Novembre, the Duke dealt with the King for the restoring of Bawlfoure and Pharuehirst, who alledged that ane act of parliament was maid heretofore, that none of those which wer at the slaugchter of his father, his grandfather, or any his regentes, should be restored wherwith the Duke departed Whither the King haith maid hym any grauut since or not, I discontented. doe not heare. The Earle of Arraine, the Lord Lindsay, and many other of the nobilitie doe altogither dislike that either they or any other accessary;

CALENDAR OF BORDER PAPERS.[1581.Jto those

79

murders should be received into favour, [t is thought that the Earle of Angus and his followers wilbe forfaited about the ende of this parliament." Berwick. Signed : Jhon SeHiy. "I have presumed to writ a lettre unto your lordship which as I think is not yet come to your lordshipes handes, in the behalf of George Douglas of the Parkehead, a gentleman unto whom I was greatly beholding for the intelligence I continually received from hym, whilest he was in Schotland." 1 p. Addressed. Indorsed : " M'' Jo. Selbye."

1581. Dec. 12.

115.

Bowes to Burghley.

The charge of the works for the year ended at Michaelmas being thought very great, M"' Marshal and the rest of the council called and conferred with Thomas Barton and Rowland Johnson, who have examined and approved the same, amounting to 1148Z. 3s. lOd, as in a book subscribed by them, a double of which is herewith enclosed to your lordship, as another has been to the Lord Governor. And as the greater part of the charges has been made by M' Vernon by issue of victuals, who now requires payment at my hands, for which I have no supply, I humbly pray your lordship to see thereto. And being also deeply burdened by " other great somes of her Majesties treasure corned to my receipte and chardge," having all things ready for my discharge and account, the ordinary time for which approaches, and being also burgess of the parliament that shall (as reported here) begin the 18''' of next month, where I ought to be present to discharge the " brughe " and myself, I am a humble suitor for leave to repair to Loudon for those purposes. I have enclosed a paper with occurrences from Scotland. Berwick. Signed : Robert Bowes.1 p.

Addressed.

Indorsed.

1582. April 11.

116.

is a Convencion at Sterlinge, which beginneth the x"' of this instant, called (as it is said) for twoe causes the one, to appoint twoo noble men to send embassadours to the King of Denmarke, to move a mariadge to the said King for his daughter tor the King of Scottes the other cause (which is the speciall and greatest) is, sence the Kiuges goiuge to Sterlinge, the Duke hath created one Mongommery (who was minister of Sterling) bushopp ot Glasco, which the most as also the ministerye of of the lordes is against, and will not allowe of yt

WODDRYNGTON TO WALSINGHAM. " As I am credibly enfourmed, ther

Edenbrowghe with the rest of the ministery, is lykewise against yt, for that yt was sett downe in there last parlament, to have no moe busshoppes. The Duke, the viij*'' of this instant appointed the said newe busshoppe to preachebut the congregation refused the said ; church, and went to an other, so that ther came nether man, woman, nor The Duke hearing therof, it was lookt childe,' to the Cathedrall church