BL Caligula, b. ix, 282

BL MSS Cotton Caligula b. ix, 282
Wright: Queen Elizabeth and her Times Vol 1, 1838, No. 135 Page 287
Sir Francis Knollys to Cecil, Carlisle, July 7 1568

Transcribed by Thomas Wright

I received your letter of the second of Julye, together with her Highnes' letter directed to this Queene, this morning at four of the clocke, wherby you may perceyve that the postes make but slow spede, howsoever it chanceth. I could not delyver her Hyghnes' letter to this Quene untyll it was almost eleven of the clocke ; and although she semed at the fyrst that this her Hyghnes' letter did not press her to remove, otherwise than th'others afore had done, wheruppon I thought we should have fallen into a newe contention, yet in a whyle she semed not greatly to repugne or denye to remove hence uppon Mundaye or Tuesday next, before which tyme she lookes to have answer of her last letter wrytten to her Hyghnes, but how this moode woll hold we know not.
My Lorde Scroope, and divers of our company here, do thynk that our earnest contention in my last letters partly specifyed, and our determynation of refrayning of all intelligencies from her unless she wold remove, and our free offers in that behalffe unto her if she wold remove, hath made her more plyant herin than otherwyse she wold have bene; so that we trust we shall remove her hence upon Tuesdaye next towards Bolton Castle, according to her Hyghnes' pleasure. We marvell that we heare not of Mr. Skipworthe's comyng with the horses, nor yet of the lytter.
Yesterday, this Quene, among other wordes, fell into this speche, that altho she were holden here as a prisoner, yet she had frendes that wold prosecute her cause, and, sayth she, "I can sell my ryght, and there be that woll bye it, and peradventure it hathe bene in hand already." Wherbye she made me to thynk of your information touchyng the Cardinalle of Lorayne's practyse betweene her and the Duke of Anjoye. But whether she spake this bona fide, or to sett a good countenance of the matter as tho she could do great thyngs, I cannot tell.
She doth also give oute to the followers of her parte, great assurances in wordes of ayde oute of France before the mydst of this next August. I marvayle that you heard not from me of our moving of this Quene to remove hence before the date of this your last letter, for my letter of the 26th, and agayne of the 27th of the last month sygnifyed therof, as well my letter of the 28th ; but the postes are growne very slacke, howsoever it happens.
My Lorde of Murraye hath sent, by our messenger, to this Quene three coffers of apparyll, but because her Grace sayth that never a gowne is sent her hereby, but one of taffyta, and that the rest is but cloaks and coveryngs for saddylls, and sleaves, and partlettes, and qweyffes, and such lyke tryn- ketts, therfore we have sent to my Lorde of Murraye agayne for her desyred apparyll, remayning in Loghlevin; but she doth offer our messengers nothyng at all for their paynes and charges. Wherfore her Hyghhes is lyke to beare the charge therof also.
And thus, with my Lorde Scroope's most harty commendations and myn, I shall commyt you to God. From Carlylle, the 7th of Julye, at 5 of the clocke after noone, 1568. Yours assured,

F. Knollys.