BL La 13, 22

BL MSS Lansdowne 13, 22
Wright: Queen Elizabeth and her Times Vol 1, 1838, No. 201 page 413
(Thomas Randolph, &c.) to Lord Scrope

Transcribed by Thomas Wright who notes: This letter is without signature, but was probably written by Randolph, who was now again in Scotland. Elizabeth had sent commissioners to endeavour to bring about an arrangement between the two contending parties, but her intentions were frustated by the obstinacy of those in the castle, who refused to acknowledge on any conditions the authority of the king and regent.

After our verie hartie recommendations unto your Lordship, we have receaved your Lordship's letter by this bearer, your servant, and perceive therby howe desyrous the Lord Herres is to have hymself and frends forborne in the tyme of this treatie of peace, to which purpose he was also in hande with us at his being here. No other answer can be given unto hym in our opinions then that which your Lordship hathe given, that if he sheweth hymself obedient to the Kyng and the authoritie nowe standing, he shall receive all the favour bothe towards hymself and frends that lawefully maye be shewed. Wherin also your Lordship's advise unto hym is verie good, that the sooner he do it the better.
His determination and promise to the Regent is to be here with his chief frends upon Fridaye in the Easter weeke, and then withoute farther respecte unto their doings in the castle, (1) to submit hym self unto the authorite. If he do thys, as we truste he wyll, what other reasonable requeste be made by hym, either for hym self or frends, we thynke it shall not be denyed hym by the Regent, and as we do fynd his good intent and meaning herin, so shall he have that furtherance that we can shewe hym.
Touching the matters we came for, we stande yet in verie uncertayne termes. The castle-men yelde nothing of their wyll, utterly myslyking this kynd of government. The Regent and his partie are reasonable enoughe to yelde unto any thinge that maye procure peace. La Crocke is looked for here verie shortelie. If he come with the lyke commission and mynde that we be of, we truste to put it to a shorte poynte.
The 25th of this instant, the moste partie of the noblemen that professe the King's obedience and divers other that this longe tyme have taken neither parte, mynde to be in this towne, intending all to do what may be done to bring this countrie to quietnes, which is the beste hope and likelihood we have of any good to be, either nowe or never.
The Regent is nowe at Sterlinge. The Earle of Morton hathe here the chief charge, and is day lie kepte occupied by those of the castle.
Oute of Englande we have not hearde very muche of late. By advertisement given from hence by us the shippe that the Lord Seton came in to Harwich, was stayed there. A box of the Lord Seton's found with letters, by the which a practice is discovered of some men's intent here to have found the meanes to have had the Kinge conveide owte of this countrie, into Spayne or Flanders. There wer also founde letters to some other in Scotlande, that had agreed for a some of money to have the Earle of Northumberland sett at liberty, and to have gone into Flanders (2). Bothe which matters being discovered, we dowte not some order wyll be shortely taken bothe for this King's better suretie, and for the Earl of Northumberland's deliverie owte of the place where he is, some other wayes.
Having nothing els to trouble your Lordship with, but the remembrance of our duties to yourself and your good Ladye, we hartely take our leave.
Upon your Lordship's man's arrivall we were over the water, and since our returne here have beene much occupied, so that ther is no faulte in your Lordship's servante for his longe abode here. (March 19, 1571.)

(1) The castle was still held by the party opposed to the government, headed by Grange and Lethington, and was besieged by Morton.
(2) "Whereas," says the Queen in her letter to Randolph of the same date as the present, (MS. Lansdowne, No. 13, Art. 54,) " the Lord Seton is come thither through our realme, though he escaped, unfortunately for himself, with a rebel, one of the Countess of Northumberland's men, yet the shippe that brought him and some of his servants was taken, and such secret writings of his, and of our rebells, as were left in the shippe to have been conveide after him by sea into Scotlande, are brought to such a lighte, as we have cause to thank God, to have such dangerous practises against us discovered. And theruppon we have stayed La Crocque for coming thither at this tyme, wishing that whilest he shall here staye you will make some speede there, for we cannot, as we think, convenyently staye him long here."