CP, 153, 6

CP Volume 153 Folio 6

HMC Volume 1 Page 239 Number 750

Haynes Page 332 Number 338

Transcribed by Samuel Haynes in “A Collection of State Papers . . . 1542 to 1570” London, 1740

23 June 1560. Mr. Secretary Cecill to Sir William Petre

From the Original.

SIR,

I MESURE the Desyre of yow there, by our owne here. Ye doo dayly make your Accompt of the Expence of our Tyme, and so doo we rest in expectation of some Intelligence from yow. This Daye the French and the Scottish Deputees dyning at my Lodgyng, we have proceded and accorded most part of the Articlees on both there Partes. Wherin our Presence prevaleth much, for suerly the Lords of Scotland wold yeld almost in no doutfull Matter, but to content us: And yet we doo not use any Perswasion to discorage them; but they understand, that we doo most covett an end by Peace; and they say, there Dett is so great to the Queen's Majesty, that, whatsoever shalbe willed to them in hir Majestie's Name, they will doo it to the Hazard of there Liffes and Landes. Theis French use this shyst to deny certen Matters, that there Instructions restrayneth them, and referreth them to the Quene decessed, but we brawle sometyme about such Matters. We fynd a great Commoditee in the Lord James and the Lord Ledyngton, who be well content to follow our Opinions in any thyng. Suerly the Lord James is a Gentleman of great wordynes. After to Morrow we will wryte more largely. If I were well resolved, whyther if the French Forcees were removed by accord, they wold ether more slowly, or quietly accord to other Thyngs; I cold in the one Case devise to remove them, and our owne also, and therby abridge Chargees, and at more Leasure and Consideration conclude theis Matters of Scotland: But I feare that nothing shall move them to fynish well with us, but there feare, they have, of the Loss of there Men; and yet at this present we ar content to treate more quietly, for that my Lord of Norfolk can not be yet redy for lack of Treasure. And so I end, trustyng that Tho. Bynks arrived there this Sonday. From Edenburgh the 23d of Junii, 1560. I pray yow, Sir, lett my poore Wiffe knowe that I am at this present in Helth, thanked be God. I pray yow, Sir, commend me to Mr. Tresorer. God save the Quene's Majesty. Yours assuredly,

W. Cecill.

To Sir William Petre Knight, Chancellor of the Garter, and of hir Majestie's Privee Counsell.