BL Caligula, c. iv, 219

BL MSS Cotton Caligula, c. iv, 219
Wright: Queen Elizabeth and her Times Vol 1, 1838, No. 248 page 498
Sir H. Killigrew to Sir Francis Walsingham, Edinborough, the laste of June, 1574

Transcribed by Thomas Wright

Since my laste unto you I have bene at Sterling to visit the King in her Majestie's name, and met by the way the Countess of Marr, coming to Edenbourghe, unto whom I did her Majestie's commendations.
The King seemed to be very glad to heare from her Majestie, and could use prety speeches, as how much he was bound unto her Majestie, yea, more than to his owne mother. And at my departure he prayed me to thank her Majestie for the good remembrance she had of him, and farther desired me to make his harty commendations unto her Majestie. His Grace is well growne, both in body and spirit, since I was last here. He speaketh the French tongue marvaillous well, and that which seemed strange to me, he was able extempore, which he did before me, to reade a chapitre of the Bible out of Latin into French, and out of French after into English, so well as few men could have added any thing to his translation. His scholemasters, Mr. George Buchanan and Mr. Peter Yong, rare men, caused me to appoint the King what chapiter I would, and so did I, whereby I perceyved it was not studied for. They also made his Highnes dance before me, which he likewise did with a very good grace.
A prince sure of great hope, if God send him life. I used as good complements as I could with the Master of Erskyn and his wife, the scholemasters and others declaring what care her Majestie had of the King's well doing, and how thankfull their dilligent service ; that their owne lyves were no dearer unto them then his Highnes' prosperity, and prayed God to lend him life, that he might shew himself thankfull for her Majestie's greate benefits bestowed upon his Grace. And this was all I did at Sterling, whence being returned to this towne, I found the Regent not yet come back from Dugles Dale, nor loked for yet these two or three days, and therefore I have no farther to advertise then I did in my former letters.
I cannot learne of any practise to transport the King into France ; but there is a sister of my Lord Levingston's about the King, much suspected to be French, and the King's scholemasters are desirous to have him from the handling of women, by whom he is guyded and kept, saving when he goeth to his booke.
Whilest I was there, newes came that th'Erle of Glyncarne's daughter, Countess of Argyle, was brought to bed of a dead sonne, and in great danger of her lyfe.
In my returne from Sterling, I met with Robert Melvin, who desired me to yield his most humble thanks unto her Majestie for saving of his life. I see him so gratefull and willing to do her Majestie service, as I think favour well bestowed upon him, and therefore I pray you move her Majestie's name for the full pardoning of Melvile, who is yet prisonner in his own house, and under caution often thousand marks of this country, and hath no pardon, but may be executed as a contempned man to-morrow next. I finde, as I sayd before, the man so willing to do her Majestie any manner of service he may, as I am the more earnest to press your honour by this few lynes to remember him to her Majestie. I have also wrytten to my Lord of Leicester, touching the Countesse of Argyle's sute, which she desired might be delivered to her Majestie, by his Lordship's favorable meanes, and in my poore judgment, her Majestie shall do well to write her letter to the Regent's Grace in her favour and her husband's, who is a godly nobleman, and one that will be thankfull to her Majestie. This with the first occasion wold be remembered, and I withall commanded to follow the matter to an end.
For occurrents I have learned none since my last, but the rest of the pyrates that were taken at Montrose were brought this day to this towne, and are shortly to be brought to tryall of law.
The Duke's two sonnes, my Lord John and my Lord Claude, have written to welcome me into this country, and sent me a kinsman of theirs to sollicit some of their causes depending upon the pacifications at St. Johnstons which I shall accomplish.
By a Scottishman come lately out of Poole [Poland], I understand that the King was very sickly, and so straytely watched as he could not possibly steale away, having not above thirty Frenchmen in all left with him. This man was with the King himself to make offer of the Scottishmen's service that since were slayne in Sweden, whom the King wold faine have retayned, but the Poles wold none of them.
The Erle of Huntley is looked for to be here on Saturday next, with whom I shall then conferr, and wryte likewise unto the Duke and his sonnes of her Majesty's good favour towardes them in all their just causes, whereof they have already tasted. And thus abyding the Regent's coming, I take my leave for this tyme, committing your Honour to the Almightie.
From Edinborough, the laste of June, 1574. By your Honour's assured to command,

H. Kyllygrew