SIR FRANCIS WALSINGHAM TO THE MASTER OF GRAY.'

SIR, the malitious oppofition and practife of Mr Archebalds enemies hath made his iuftificacion the more cleere, for that otherwife it would haue bin giuen out, by such as stand ill affected towards him, that the Kings fauor wrought by frends had preuailed more in furtherance of his iuftificacion, then his owne innocencie. And yet the world feeth that he muft confeffe, that, if he had not had foe honorable and constant a frend , as your felfe, the mallice of his enemies might haue preuayled foe farforth as to haue oppreffed his innocencie; and for that I doe profeffe my felfe to be one, (in refpect of the loue I beare him), that is intereffed in his fortune, I cannot but moft hartely thanke you for your good frendshippe fhewed vnto him, in a cafe þat foe greatly imported him, whome, I doubt not, but you fhall find towards you a moft conftant and thankefull gentleman, as well for the fame, as fondry other fauors fhewed vnto him. Touching your imployment in the Lowe Countries, though the Earle of Leyfter hath of late by his letteris revyued fome newe hope in you, I can noe wayes encourage you therevnto, for the refpectis conteyned in my laft letteris, and yet you fhall doe well to gratefie the Earle foe farre forth as to fend vnto him the troopes by him defired, if the King your Soueraigne fhall vnderhand permitt the fame. And as for yourselfe, if you will giue me leaue to be foe curious with you in your owne particuler, I could aduise you to spend the rest of the fomer in those countries in priuat fort, in company of Sir Phillip Siddney, who, I knowe, will vse you as his owne brother, befides the experience that you fhall gett, (which will be farre greater then if you were tied to a publike charge). You fhall, before you enter into any charge, firft acquaint yourselfe with the state of those countries, the manner of the feruice, the difpofition of the people, the entertainement and vfage of fuch as ferue vnder them, the

'From the original Minute, dated 4th June 1586, in Cott. MSS. Calig. C. IX. art. 61, fol. 128.

meanes that they haue for the continuance of the warres, and lastly, what wilbe our refolucion here, for the mayntenance of the Earles authoritie in fuch abfolute forte as was yealded vnto him by the Stats, whervpon cheefly dependeth the good or bad fucceffe of the cause; for, without the continuance of the faid authoritie, the former confufion takeing place þat was there before, his repaire hether will worke their vtter ouerthrowe. I haue, according to your requeft, recomended Captaine Hagerston, both vnto the Earle and to Sir Phillip Sidney, and I doubt not, (notwithstanding former informacions giuen against him), þat he shall receiue all honorable vsage at their hands for your fake. Sorie I am to vnderstand by you, that the late banifht Noblemen of that realme doe carrie them felues foe weakely fince their returne, as to fuffer them felues to be abufed by those who haue fought their ruine. Surely, Sir, the Kings difpenfacion with Arrens departure will reuiue fome vnneceffarie iealoufies here. I could wish therefore he would ether of himfelfe, or were aduifed by others, to take fome fuch courfe herein as might minifter noe caufe of fcandall. At the Court.

MEMORIAL CONCERNING A TREATY WITH SCOTLAND.'

In this point I miftruft pe Secretary wilbe curious, and take aduantage to cauell.

SCOTIA, JUNII 1586.

Memorial for Scotland.

THAT her Maieftie fubfcribe the articles of the League to be fent vnto the King.

THAT her Maieftie fatiffie him touching the inftrument for the affurance of the pencion yerely hereafter, title, &c.

1 Cott. MSS. Calig. C. IX. art. 61, fol. 128. From the circumstance of the hand-writing in the two columns being different, it is probable that this is the original Memorial. The first column appears to be the answers for Queen Elizabeth to the proposals in behalf of King James.

The cheefeft point of all.

Laftly, to aduife vpon the deliuery of the mony, what way is to be taken for þe affurance of the King, and fuche about him as may hold him at her Maiefties deuotion.

SIR FRANCIS WALSINGHAM TO THOMAS RANDOLPHE.'

SIR, Wheras in the Articles of the Treaty fubfcribed by their Maiefties, it is fpecially ordred in the 9th article therof, that the Princes fhall fend their Commiffioners, within 6 moneths after the ratificacion of the League, to here and determine of fuch iniuries and controuerfies as haue growne on the Borders fince this Kings gouerment; bycause it is intended that the fame fhall now be done at this meeting of Commiffioners, in reducing of thofe articles into the forme of other treaties, that 9th article is purpofely left out and omitted, as needleffe and impertinent to be inferted into the League. And to the end there may be noe obftacle or hinderance in the feruice, by reafon of any defect in the Commiffion of ether fide, I fend you herin inclofed the coppie of her Maiefties Commiffion, which I with you fhould fhewe, that they there may be furnished with the like from þat King, and that they may accomplish the contentis of the 9th article prefently; foe that thefe extraordinary caufes being compounded, the ordinary courfe of iuftice may proceed, by the frequent meeting of the Wardens of each Borders, to the reciproque comfort of the fubjects of both Realmes. And to the end the Commiffioners may not spend long time in this treaty, to their owne chargis and the chargis of the princes from whome they are fent, it hath bein thought meete pat the Treaty fhould be reduced into fome forme, and deliuered vnto the Earle of Ruttland and the Lord Eure, wherof I fend you a coppie, which you may communicate, if you fhall foe think good, vnto the Secretary there; which, conteyning the true fubftance of the articles, it is conceiued here, that they will not diflike of; but if they fhould diflike of, it were good that you and I,

1 From a copy, dated 5th June 1586, in Cott. MSS. Calig. C. IX. art. 61, fol. 128.

before the meeting, by our mutual letteris fhould confider therof, and take fome courfe for the remouing of the difficulties. From the Court.

This last night, fondry of the Bells, Carelells, Kirkpatricks, and other Scottishmen, to the nomber of 100 perfons or aboue, haue come into England, burnt vpon the water of Efke to the nomber of 80 houfes (as I am informed), taken away about a 100 head of nolte, and 40 nags, with a greate bootie of infight and other goods from her Maiefties fubiects in England, thus burned by them.

Poftfcript-Three dayes after, viz. the viijth of June, was the letter written for the addition to be made in the preface of the Treaty, and the IXth article thereof.

MR ARCHIBALD DOUGLAS TO SIR FRANCIS WALSINGHAM.1

VPON the receipt of your Honours laft letteris, I am nowe in dealing with the Mafter of Gray to reduce his unquiet ftate, through involving of himself in exceffive chardges and trouble of minde, to compaffe with his honour this intended voyage to the Lowe Countries, to fome more quiet ftay, by moving of him to be contented to remayne at home with his frends about the King, and in his accustomed credite. But trulie, if her Maieftie, or fome other, shall not confider of his loffe receaving by entertayning of captaines, and levying of foldiers, wherof fome nomber hath receaved money, I thinck he fhalbe vtterly vndone.

Yf it shall stand with her Maiefties pleasure, that he should accept a comiffion vppon him, ioyned with myfelf, who is like to be deftinate to doe the ceremony for obferuing of this league, I thinck it should doe him greate good many wayes, hereuppon, I pray you, let me have your Honours oppinion with as great speede as you fhall thinck meete.2

1 This is an extract from a letter of the 9th June 1586, in Cott. MSS. Calig. IX. art. 138, fol. 226.

• Randolphe, the English Ambassador, also writes (5th August 1586): Touchynge the Master of Grays aboade here, and staye of his jornaye, I have dealte with hym so ernestlie as I maye. Kerr, this gentleman, is sente agayne from him. Your Honour shall receave