BL La 102, 62
BL MSS Lansdowne 102, 62
Wright: Queen Elizabeth and her Times Vol 1, 1838, No. 97 Page 205
Cecil to Sir Thomas Smith, Windsor, Aug. 21 1565
Transcribed by Thomas Wright
Sir, Ye shall understand by the Quene's Majestie's letters what hath passed betwixt the French ambassador and her. It semeth that he sendeth now his secretary to hasten his revocation. And for yours, I assure you I do all that I can, and am in some hope shortly to give you knowledg therof. Wherwith I meane to send your sonne, who was very wellcome to me, and well lyked. Wishing that he wer agayne with you, for that he semeth to have well profitted in observation of many thyngs there.
Mr. Tomworth (1) was sent to the Quene of Scotts uppon this occasion ; the Scottish Quene hath sent twice hyther to require the Quene's Majestie to declare for what causes she did mislike of this marriadg, offering also to satisfy the same. In the meantyme troubles arise there betwixt her and the Erle of Murraye and others being frendly to the warm amyty of both the realmes, wherunto for sundry respects it seemeth convenient for us to have regard. The Duke, the Erles of Argile, Murray and Rothoss, with sundry Barons, are joyned together not to allow of the marriadg, otherwise than to have the relligion established by law, but the Quene refuseth in this sort : she will not suffer it to have the force of law, but of permission to every man to lyve according to his conscience. And herwith she hath retayned a great number of Protestants from associating openly with the other. She hath sent for the Erle Murray, but the mistrust is so farre entred on both sydes, that I thynk it will fall to an evill end, for she hath putt the Erle of Murray to the horn, and prohibited all persons to ayd hym. Nevertheless, the Duke, the Erles of Argile and Rothoss are together with hym. We shall heare by Mr. Tomworth what is most lykely to follow. The French ambassador maketh hast to depeche his secretary, and that maketh me to hasten upp this letter.
You may perchans by some private letter herafter heare of a strange accident here, and therfore I will in few words gyve you some light. The Quene's Majesty is fallen into some mislyking of my Lord of Leicester, and he therwith much dismayed. You know how busy men in court will be to descant hereuppon. The Quene's Majesty letteth it appear in many overt speeches that she is sorry of her loss of tyme, and so is every good subject (2),
What shall follow of this God knoweth. For my part I will do that becometh an honest man, not to procure harm to hym, though I know he hath not lacketh procurers for my harme. But God forgive them, for I feare none of them, having so good a conscience of my well meaning both to her Majesty and the realme. If I wer as evill disposed as others, I could make a flame of this sparkell, but fiat voluntas Dei. The Quene's Majestie, thanked be God, is well disposed towards mariadg. Th’Emperor's embassador is departed with an honorable answer, and hymself well satisfyed; and common opinion is, that the Archduke Charles will come, which if he do, and will accord with us in relligion, and shall be allowable for his person to her Majestie, then, except God shall purpose to contynue his displeasur against us, we shall see some success.
Here is an unhappy chance and monstrous. The serjeant porter, being the biggest gentleman in this court, hath marryed secretly the Lady Mary Grey (3), the least of all the court. They are committed to severall prisons. The offence is very great.
And so now being hasted by the French ambassador, I end. From Wyndsor, the 21st of August, 1565. I thank you for your diligent advertisements. Your assured to command,
W. Cecill
(1) Tomworth was a gentleman of Elizabeth's privy chamber he is said by some to have behaved somewhat rudely in his mission. He was stopped on his return, because he had no passport. The passport had not been obtained, in order not to acknowledge Darnley as king.
(2) The foregoing paragraph is partly in cypher.
(3) Sister of the Lady Catherine Grey, who had already been imprisoned for a similar offence. The person she married was Martin Keys, groom-porter to Queen Elizabeth.
