CP, 152, 173
CP Volume 152 Folio 173-174
HMC Volume 1 Page 231 Number 733
Haynes Page 325 Number 330
Transcribed by Samuel Haynes in “A Collection of State Papers . . . 1542 to 1570” London, 1740
11 June 1560 Mr. Sccretary Cecill and Mr. Doctor Wootton, to the Lords of the Counsell
From the Original.
IT may please your Lordships. We doubte not but ye can considere, that we have to doo with Men here, that leave no waye unsought for their Purpose, and therfore we are more occupied in stopping and meeting with them to our poore Understandings. Your Lordships shall perceave by the Queene's Majestie's Lettres, that now we be all going into Scotlande; and besydes diverse other Causes, two principally move us to accorde therunto: The one is the Danger of the Queene's Lyfe, and the Discourage in the Towne, shall rather provoke the Ambassadors to be more ready to accorde; the other is, we see that, without being nigh the Place, we shall not without spence of much Tyme com to an ende. We trust on Satterday to be at Edenburghe, and on Sondaye in the Afternoone, and Monday in the Forenoone to enter into substantiall Talke. The Supply of the Southerne Men commeth very slowly, althoughe, as we heere by Reaporte, mervelously chargeable to the People by new Devises of Charges in arayeng of the Soldiours. We looke hourly to heare of the Estate of the Queene Dowager; on Satterday she was, as we heare saye, speachless. The Reporte is, that the Towne is much destitute of Victuels; but untill we know the Truethe more certainly, we will not affirme it, for som suspicion that we have of the contrary. Trew it is that d'Oysell offred to Sir Henry Percy to have some Communication, being afrayde of the Lord Gray's Crueltie. We thank your Lordships for imparting to us of the Lord Mountague's Lettres, with your Opinions and Determinations therupon. Indeede we think yt wear not amisse to let yt be understand to the King Catholiques Ministers, that we be entred into a very good Waye towards accorde, and that we fynde Things not so harde to accorde as was doubted upon; and by this meanes yt shalbe reason that the King of Spayne be neyther at coste of sending his Ships, nor at payne to name Umpers. And so we leave your good Lordshipps.
POSTSCRIPT. Your Lordship's shall perceave by my good Lord of Norfolk's Lettre, what he is advertised of the Queene Dowager's Dethe. Hereuppon will followe sondry Alterations: If the French will retorne now without following there Comission, although we will provoke them to contynew, what we shall doo: If they will require the Presence of some of there Collegees in the Towne; which we will not allowe without your order: If they will require Assistence of other Scottishmen, that were French, which we think not unreasonable, although we thynk none wilbe so bold; what we shall doo. Of these Thyngs we beseche your Lordships to think, and of such lyk, and to advertise us the Queene's Majestie's Pleasure. Your Lordships bumbly at Comand,
W. Cecill, N. Wotton.
To the Right Honorable and our very good Lords, the Lords of the Queene's Majestie's most honorable Privie Counsayle.
