CP 138, 27a

CP Volume 138 Folio 27(a)

HMC Volume 1 Page 202 Number 655

Haynes Page 278 Number 262

Transcribed by Samuel Haynes in “A Collection of State Papers . . . 1542 to 1570” London, 1740

6 April 1560 From my Lord his Grace and the Counsaile here, to Mr. Secretarye

From the D. of Norfolk's Book of Entries.

YOU shall receive herewith suche Lettres as we have from the Campe. And where, in one of them it shall appere, what Disposytion is in the Lord Gray to bisiege Edinburgh Castell, whiche for our Parts we thinke not Expedyent to be attempted, as we have aunswered hym allredye: Both for that we consider that the Quene's Majestie, as we take yt, would haue no suche Extremytie used to the Dowagier being in the seid Castell; and agen, for that we thinke it might not only be a Meane, to make that Lord Erskyn an utter Ennemye, (who percase may be a Freend, or at lest a Newter) but also to withdrawe the Hearts of the Scottishe Nation from us, when they shall see us leave the Pursute of the Frenche Ennemy in Leghe, and assaile the Scotts in Edinburgh Castell. Nevertheles you shall do well to consider it there, and to advertise hither the Quene's Majestie's Pleasure, and your Advises therein, to the Intent the same may be attempted hereafter, or left undonn, as the Caase shall require. You shall likewise perceive howe my Lord Gray and the rest are perplexed with that they understand of the Revocation of the Navie, out of the Frythe; whiche in deed is to be considered, and in our Opynyons not to be revoked thens, so longe as the Army shall remeyne in Scotland; trusting that the Doubt thereof shall cause them to use the more Expedytion in their Enterprise; whereunto we have, and shall provoke them by all Meanes we can to devise, although they feare that the lacke of the Batterye last depeched from thens, may be sum hynderaunce thereof. And so praying you to hast hither the Treasure, whereof, as ye may perceive, ther is grete lack. We bid you, &c.

Tho. Norffolk, R. Sadler, F. Leeke.