BL Caligula, b. ix, 177

BL MSS Cotton Caligula, b. ix, 177
Wright: Queen Elizabeth and her Times Vol 1, 1838, No. 48 Page 113
Randolph to Cecil, Edinburgh, Nov. 30 1562

Transcribed by Thomas Wright

Maye yt please your Honor, immediately upon the Quene's arrivall here, she fell acquainted with a new disease, that is common in this towne, called here the newe acquaintance, which passed also throughe her whole courte, nether sparinge lorde, ladie, nor damoysell, not so muche as ether Frenche or English. It ys a payne in their heades that have yt, and a sorenes in their stomackes, with a great coughe, that remaynethe with some longer with other shorter tyme, as yt findeth apte bodies for the nature of the disease. (1)
The Queue kepte her bedde six dayes. Ther was no appearance of danger, nor manie that die of the disease, excepte some olde folkes. My Lorde of Murraye is now presentlye in it, the Lorde of Lidingeton hathe had it, and 1 am ashamed to say that I have byne free of it, seinge it seketh acquayntance at all men's handes. By reasons of these occasions I have not scene her grace since she came to towne. I was the unwillinger also to resorte to the courte untyll the common brute of the takynge of Roan (2) was paste, where I shoulde either have harde that that wold have greved me, or perchance spoken that that sholde have greved other, for that I see nether measure in their joye, nor moderation in their doings, when anything (be it never so lyttle) come to their knowledge to be as theie desyer it. Hytherto theie knowe nothinge for certayne but that which I have reported by suche advertisement as I had from my Lord President of Yorke, and that in suche sorte that no we theie begyne to dowte what Honor was had of that victorie, or what great cause theie have to rejoice. Ther came nether shippe nor man by lande owte of France since Chatellet came to the courte (3).
Theie have as lyttle intelligence here as the coste is that theie bestowe to have it. Yet notwithstanding their neighbours of Barwicke wyll not spare to lette them knowe what theie here.
The Duke came unto thys towne upon Thursdaye laste. He brought with hym the Lord Gordon. By commandement of the Quene, upon Saturdaye he was committed unto the castle. Upon Sondaye at night the Duke supped with Mr. Knox, wher the Duke desyred that I shold be. Thre speciall pointes he hathe promised to perform to Mr. Knox before me : the one is never to goe for any respecte from that that he hathe promised to be, a professor of Christ's worde, and setter forthe of the same to his power : the nexte, alwayes to shewe hymself an obedyent subjecte to his sovereigne, as far as in duetie and conscience he is bounde : the thyrde, never to alter from that promes he hathe made for the mayntenance of peace and amytie betwene bothe the realmes.
I had of hym besides thys, nlanie good words myselfe touchinge thys latter poynte.
I wyll believe them all as I see them take effecte, but truste that it shall never lye in his worde alone. Before the parliament be appoynted, ther shal be a convention at newe yere's tyde.
We are desyrous to heare farther of the succes of things in France before we sommon our parliament, lest that we tyne our sillie poore masse agaynste our wylles.
There hathe beene here some good report made unto the Quene of the valiantnes of certayne of her subjectes in the defence of Roan, little I thynk to her Grace's contentment, but spoken by hym that yet never worde out of his mouthe came to her amisse, the Erie of Glencare, so that it was forced to be passed over in merrynes, whatsoever she thynketh. But yf neede were of anye suche men, in speciall of light horsemen, I beleeve ther wolde yet an honeste companie be founde that wolde be glade to receave entertaynment, and wold do well their partes.
I wryte it not unto your Honor, but that I thynke ther are of my owne countrie that can do as well as theie, but bycause I knowe clyvers here well wy Hinge, and wishe that ther sholde allwayes be some in the eye of the papystes, that theie sholde not over well conceave of the whole countrye.
I leave farther for this present to trouble your honour, most humblye takyng my leave. At Edenbourge, the laste of November, 1562.
Maye it please your Honor, Davis is arrived at the writing hereof; it wil be two dayes before he receave his answer, and more I thynke cannot be sayde then is alredy written.
Your Honor's allwayes to command,

Thos Randolphe

(1) This disease resembles strikingly the complaint of late so well known under the name of the influenza.
(2) Rouen, taken by the Duke of Guise from the Protestants and their English allies.
(3) Chastellet, the servant of M. d'Anville, who the year following was encouraged by the familiarity in which the Queen of Scots indulged him to make an attempt upon her honour, and was executed.