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occafion fhall be offred, of a more graver fubiect. And fo, craving pardon for my boldnes to trouble you with fo long a letter, I humbly take my leaue. ffrom my Lord Ambaffadors lodging, at Edinburgh, this fixte of May, [1586].

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I RECEAVED a letter of yours of the date of the xvjth hereof, and haue feene another to the Mafter of Gray, wherevppon he craues my aduife towardes this mocion, made of late, of his iourney towardes my Lord of Leicester.

Truly, Sir, the gentleman doth not a little marvayle, howe it hath fallen oute, that he was firfte animated to the faid voyage, then difcharged, after noe fmall loffe of expenfes beftowed, as well for his particular preparacion, as for the enterteynement of diuers that would haue gone with him in companie; befides, in refpect of this discharge, he hath beene conftreyned to take a newe courfe with him self for his private affayres, by fettling his fortune with his Maifter, and enterteyning of his former credite in his companie.

In respect of theis promiffes, he prayeth me to confider with my felf, howe vnfeemelie it would be to haue to deale with the King, vppon the fuddain, in the contrary, in a matter where vnto he had not only yeilded of before, but by meanes procured all thofe matters. He is conftrayned to think vppon, by reafon of the mutacion that worldlie matters are fubiect vnto, and to imagine thence this deliberacion may alter, as others haue

From a copy bearing date 23d June 1586, in Cott. MSS. Calig. C. IX. fol. 237.

done, and by confequence indanger his credite and whole reputacion, befides the loffe of his goodes and fortune that he hath alreadie fufteyned, which are more then his ftate can beare; wherein I can be a witnes by my felf, that hath neither left nor fhall leaue any thing vndone, that may aduance either your Lordships defire, on his faid voyage or welfare. But what counfell is to be geuen in theis matters, hardlie can I tell, alwaies this farre we haue concluded to pray your Honor be affured that the fame mind to doe her Maieftie feruice, and to the faid Erle all the feruice and good offices he can devife, doth as yet remayne in his minde as before; but neither the meanes, neither the libertie of him felf, are fo great as before they were to performe that matter, which he with fo good will would accomplish. The nearest way how theis matters may be helped, he thinkes, wilbe that either her Maieftie or the faid Erle may be movid to write to his faid Soueraigne, that he may be perfwaded to geue comand to him to goe forward in the faid iourney; to this effect he did pray me to accompanie a letter to your Honour, which I could not refufe.

MR ARCHIBALD DOUGLAS TO SIR FRANCIS WALSINGHAMA

I HAUE noe further to write prefentlie, excepte that which I haue alreadie certified to my Lord Ambaffadour, who will make your Honour acquainted therewith.

your

I fend you herewithall this, with inclosed copie of a letter to the Master of Gray from my Lord the Erle of Leicester. By letteris from the faid Master, Honor will vnderftand of what intention he doth remayne towardes this voyage to the Lowe Countrey, and what impedimentes appeareth neceffary to be removed. I am of that opinion, if her Maieftie cannot be movid to write the King for the furthering of that iourney, neether that the Erle his lette can come hither with speede required in this matter, that it fhalbe well done that the Ambaffadour be inftructed to

1 From a copy dated 27th June 1586, in Cott. MSS. Calig. C. IX. fol. 241.

deale in this matter with the King, who hath, I affure you, conceaved a very good opinion of him.

Our

His Maieftie is presentlie here at Dunfermling with the said Master, and to remayne for the fpace of vij daies after the date hereof. Secretarie hath alfo beene heere to moue his Maieftie in fome matters tending to delay of his League, and for ftreight going forward in theis matters of Border; but hath not prevailed. The French Ambaffadour hath beene at Courte fince the arrival of this meffenger from that realme. His chiefeft errand was to folicit, that noe man fhould goe out of this realme to the Kinge of Navarre; and to fhow the King of his mafter his good fucceffe in bufenes at home, he doth conftantlie affirme that the Erle of Leicester is fick; whereof I haue thought good to make your Honour aduertifed. Comonly fuch proceedinge brutes from that careles notion of mens lives accompanied with ill effectes; at leaft experience may teach men that, in times paffed, fuch brutes hath not refen vnto fuch time as the intencion of the enemy was well founded. It hath pleafed him alfo to speake his pleasure of me to the King. But I beleeve the graunting of libertie to fuch men to come hither, by permiffion, shall breede more harme to the comon caufe, then against me in particular. And fo, Sir.

From Dumfermling.

THE MASTER OF GRAY TO SIR FRANCIS WALSINGHAM.1

I AM commandit by his Maieftie to vryt to you a feu lines, and, before God, if euer I haid credite at your hands, I must now imploy it for his Maieftie. In fome difficulties pat occuris in this meiting of the Comiffioners for the League, but cheifly in the nint article, vitche hes, as appeiris, proceedit from your felf, for if ye haid lattan it be in the forme it ves firfte fet doun, noe contrauenfion haid ryfin of it: Bot now the dif

From the original in Cott. MSS. Calig. IX. fol. 245.

ference is in the tym, vitche the King defyris to be from his Coronation, and it is fet doun in the fubfcriuit League only from the acceptation of the Gouernment in his auin hand. The caufe of this comes by reafon the King is informit, þat the fkaithes dune to England of lait yeiris ar fo gryt, þat he and his fubiects are not aible to repay them, vithout they be recompenfit by fume dune of befor by England to his realme and fubiects. Bot pis is a maiter that requyris a long difputation, and hardly can be defydit at þis tym. Thairfor, according to your defyr in a pairt, the Kings Maieftie craueis pat the nynt article be omittit in the League; and forder, þat the reasoning of it be continuit, ether to the meiting of the Lieutenantis for bothe the realmes, or than til futche tym as exprefly Commiffioners be deput for pat effect; vitche is, in þe felf, verie veichtie. Sir, lat it be dune, I pray you, for, befor God, the Kings Maiefties honourable and princely dealing at pis tym meritis more pan þat he craues, for he hes fhauin him felf fo veil affectit at this tym, þat many of his auin fubiects accomptis him a better English man than Scotife man. Thairfor, I pray you oneis agene, that he be accordingly delt vitheall, feing the maiter contrauentit is of no gryt importance, and futche a maiter as I am affurit the Queins Maieftie vil neuer mak a queftion in vith his Maieftie. The only regret is, pat the Noble menis stay at the meiting by it shall be fome quhat long, bot þe remed is the foner to heast anfuer. And I pray you lat it be, for you shall find many heir quho feikis no better occafion than this to caft all thingis afe. Mr Myllis can tell you quhou nobly and fracly the King fpak pis day in this maiter: fo in that I remit me to him.

Yesterday I refaueit from my Lord of Leicester dyuers letters, bot all tending to one effect, defyring þat he may fpeik vith me in Vest Holland; bot all ver befor Captaine Hakerftouns arryuell thair, fo pat nou I think he hes chaingit deliberation. Bot vpon vord from him, I fhall leaue no thing vndune þat I can, albeit in deid it lyis not in my hand to do fo mutche as of befor, for the reafonis conteinit in my former letteris. Bot the remedys ar to you knowin, and yit I fhall repet them fhortly: firft, in refpect pat it pleafis pe King nou to giue me pis fame place I haid of before, I can not leaue him, bot by his auin command. Secondly, feing I fruftrat bothe my felf, and all pe gentlemen and captaines my fodiouers,

to our gryt chairgis, it fhall be a thing not poffible to harnafs them the fecond tym vith out a gryt certaintie, for they fe all vorldly courfis fubiect to chaingeis. Than, ether the Quenis Maieftie, or my Lord, or bothe, muft craue it of the King, and prefent moyens must be fend for pe fatiffaction of the gentlemen. Bot I remit þis to your felf and all vther particularities to Mr Archibald Douglas, quho, I hoype, fhalbe schortly vithe you, fend by his Maieftie in maiters of importance to the Queins Maiestie. The King lykis verie veil of him. If my Lord of Leicester hes any forder to deall vithe him, yt fhalbe veil dune he fend it to your Honour, for he vil be at you vithin tuentie dayis, and hes to fatiffie my Lord from his Soueraine verie amply. The gryt heast shall mak me conclud in commiting you to Godis holy protection: From Dumfermeling, pis laft of Junij, 1586.

Your loving frend to be commaundit,

To the Ryght Honorable Sir Francis Walsinghame, principal Secreatary to the Queens Maieftie of England, and one of the Counfall thair.

SVS of Gray

SIR FRANCIS WALSINGHAM TO MR RANDOLPHE.1

SIR, I haue movid her Maieftie to write her letteris to the King for the imployment of the Mafter of Gray in the Lowe Countries. But she findeth his abode in that realme more neceffarie, ffor that the hath of

From the original Minute in Walsingham's hand, 22d July 1586, Cott. MSS. Calig. IX. fol. 277.

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