CP 138, 28b

From Waalt

CP Volume 138 Folio 28(b)

HMC Volume 1 Page 206 Number 662

Haynes Page 284 Number 269

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

10 April 1560 From my Lord his Grace to Mr. Secretarie

From the Duke of Norfolk's Book of Entries.

ALTHOUGHE, Mr. Secretarie, in our generall Letters, we have suffycyentlye declared the hoole State of Things here, yet I thought good to tell you playnlyne (as one with whom I am allweis bold to impart my hoole Mynde, for the greate Freendshippe I have fownde in you) our Conjectures here. Upon the State of the Caase, as it nowe standethe, as by our Lettres to my Lords of the Counsaile, you may well perceive, the Matter between the Frenche and us dependeth upon sum Communycacion betwene the Dowagier of Scotes and us, with the Lords of Scotland our Freendes, upon certen Artycles, whiche Sir G. Howarde bringeth unto you; whiche Requests as it seameth unto us, the Dowagier with som Qualyfycation may be brought to condiscend unto: Whiche althoughe they seame to be but small, yet when they shalbe well weyd, they doo, under the Coloure of a trewe Pretence to seek Amytie and Peace, cloak that, whiche I am affrayed (if it be not well considred) may torne the Quene's Majesty at this Tyme, to save a Pownd, and ere it be longe, cause here to spende tenn. I am sure ye cann well ynoughe consider, that, as longer as the Dowagier remayneth the Rewler, with a Garrison of Frenche, be it never so small, they may when their Strengthe is readye, and ours unfurnyshed, quickly revenge themselfs of them, whom the Quene's Majestie hath nowe taken to here Protection. In this Caase (methinks) the Quene's Majestie's Honour and the Sewertie of here Realme is muche to be regarded: For eyther ye shall see it com to this passe, orelse, for necessytes sake, the Scotts, to make amendes, shalbe faine to joyne themselfs with the Frenche to be our utter Ennemyes. Wherefore, good Mr. Secretarie, lett not a small Chardge nowe, caste awaye all that hath already ben spente. Thus wishing of your Resolutions there, I bydd you most hartely farewell, From Barwyck. Yours, &c.

Tho. Norffolk.