CP 138, 31b

From Waalt

CP Volume 138 Folio 31(b)

HMC Volume 1 Page 214 Number 684

Haynes Page 298 Number 291

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

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

From the D. of Norfolk's Book of Entiries.

ALTHOUGH at the wrytyng of your last Letters (good Mr. Secretarie) it did seame that ye did not certeinly, as then, knowe the Proceedinges at the Skyrmyshe uppon Munday was sevennight; yet, because I am sure, ye have received my Lettres, declaring that hoole Skyrmysshe, er this Tyme, with the Losse of the French, I well skryble no more of that Matter, saving onely to tell you, that, er I had any Advertisements from my Lord Gray of that Matter, it was Thirsday at Night, having all that Tyme fourteen of my Messengers ther with hym, of the whiche he wold not suffer one to com to me with the Declaration of the Newes. I have sent to my Lord Graye to have it amended; but whether Memorye serveth not, or good Will, I cannot tell, but myn Advertisements be rather flower then faster; but, seing no Request well serve, I woll sende thither, a Man of myn owne (Strange) wherbye I shalbe the habler to advertise, bothe with the more speede, and the more certeinlye. Nowe, whereas ye requyre me to shewe myn Opynyon unto you, as concernyng the State of Lythe, and our doings there, I well tell you my Mynde, whiche I woll wryte unto you with that Protestation, that I have alweis used unto you in my Declarations unto you heretofore: And yet I byleve in the Ende my Tale to be trewe; Lythe of it self is accompted no wais stronge, nor yet, I bileve, whensoever it shalbe tryed, woll not fall out to fynde in yt half the four thousand Men, that hath ben by our fearfull Men so often named; and yet a greate meynye of their best Captens slayne and hutte. I must needes saye playnelye unto you, therbe two in the Fild, the on so farr to seeke, thother so desperatt, as nothing proceedeth. My Lord Graye, I must nedes say trowthe, sheweth hymself forwarde ynoughe, but all is nott in hym that hath ben thought. I am a Subject, and will obeye; but if with my Allegiaunce I may, I will rather lye in Prisonne, then ever cum suche a Jorneye, where another shall have the doing, and I the Burthen. I dare say to you, if they wold ons goo in Hand withall, you shuld heare good Newes within three Daies after: But I cannot geate our Men to leave treating, whiche, you may be sure, shall never fall to our bent, except they synd themselfs unhable to defende. And bycause ye shalbe assured whens all this Desperation and Treatie comethe, I send you herwith a privatt Lettre of Mr. Crofft's addressed unto me, with my Answerr to the same. Ther is no way for you to further this Matter in myn Opynyon, but with dyrect forbydding of the Treatye, and commaunding the Battrye with the Assaulte. The Maryners offer, if they might have the Spoile, they will enter yt, or dye therfore; ther is no Defence to the Water-side warde, but Borders with Sande cast against it; and no other Part of the Towne muche stronger, except yt be towardes the Northwest Part of the Towne, where they have made a Cytydayle, whiche woll serve them to small Purpos, when they have lost the nether Part of the Towne. Whereas the Scotts were chardged, that they had not their full Nombers, dyvers Tymes by my Lord Gray and Sir James Croffts, they stoode in the Triall that they myst not one Man, and bicause, they wold be proved trewe of their Worde, they requyred that their Men might be called twise a Daye, and they shuld aunswer to their Names. You may then see, that the Message my Cousin Sir George Howard was comaunded to do, was nott trewe. Thus trusting that this Lettre shall satisfye you, to have good Hope of good Successe, if Treatye were leffte, and that I have donn my Dewtie, as muche as laye in my Power. I bydd you, &c.

Tho. Norffolk.