LETTER CLI.

Henry Lord Darnley, afterwards husband to the Queen of Scots, to Queen Mary of England.

[MS. COTTON. VESP. F. III. fol. 37 b. Orig.]

This Letter has been erroneously supposed to have been written to MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS, but that this was not the case is evident from an examination of its contents.

Lord Darnley, though vain, was accomplished, and of a literary turn. Beside the "Utopia Nova” mentioned in this Letter, some ballads are ascribed to him, and bishop Montagu informs us that he translated Valerius Maximus into English. a

LYKE as the Monumentes of auncient authors, moste

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triumphaunte, moste victorious, and moste gratious Princesse declare how that a certane excellent musician, Timotheus Musicus, was wounte with his swete proporcioned and melodious armonye to enflame Alexander the greate Quonquerour and King of Macedonia to civill warres, with a moste fervent desire: evenso, I remembring with my self oftentymes how that (over 10 and besides suche manifolde benefites as your Highnes hertofore haith bestoued on me) it haith pleased your moste excellente Maiestie laitlie to accepte a little Plote of my simple penning, which I termed Vtopia Nova; for the which it being base, vile, and

a Pref. to K. James's Works, fol. 1619.

maymed, your Maiestie haith gyven me a riche cheane of golde. The noyse (I say) of suche Instrumentes, as I heire now and then, (although ther melody diffre muche from the swete strokes and sounds of King Alexanders Timotheus) do not only persuade and move, yea pricke and spurre me forwarde, to endevoure my wittes daylie, (all vanities set aparte) to vertuous lerning and study, being therto thus encouraged, so oftentymes by your Maiesties manifolde benefites, giftes, and rewardes; but also I am enflamed and stirred, even now my tendre aige not withstanding, to be serving Your Grace, wishing euery haire in my heade for to be a wourthy souldiour, of that same self hert, mynde, and stomake that I am of. But wher as I perceave that neither my wite, power, nor yeares ar at this present coresponding unto this, my good will: thes shall be therfore (moste gratious Princesse) moste humbly rendring unto your Maiestie immortall thankes for your riche Cheane, and other your Highnes syndrie giftes, gyven unto me without anny my deservinges, from tyme to tyme. Trusting in God, one day, of my moste bounden duetie, to endevour my self, with my faithfull hertie service, to remembre the same. And being afraid, with thes my superflous woordes to interturbe (God forefende) Your Highnes, whois moste excellent Maiestie is alwaies, and specially now, occupied in most weightie maters, thus I make an end Praing unto Almightie God, moste humbly and faith

fully to preserve, keipe, and defende your Maiestie, long reigning ouer us all, your true and faithfull subjectes, a most victorious and triumphant Princesse, Amen. From Temple Newsome, the xxviij. of Marche, 1554.

Your Maiesties moste bounden and obedient

subjecte and seruaunt,

HENRY DERNLEY.

LETTER CLII.

Queen Mary to the Marquis of Winchester, Lord Treasurer.

[MS. COTTON. TIT. B. II. fol. 157. Orig. THE SIGNATURE AND POSTSCRIPT IN THE QUEEN'S HAND.]

My Lorde, forsomuche as at your departure frome me I made you a promys not to determyne the gyfte of anye lande wythowte your consent, wherfor I doo sende you here inclosyd a Byll which Sir Edmonde Peckham makethe requeste to have in suche sorte as yt shall appere unto you by the sayed bill, so that I shall desyre you to paruse yt well, and yf you thincke yt to be suche lande as I maye geve wythe my honor, I shall thincke yt verye well bestowyd, for that he is

one that hathe well desarvyd yt and hathe had no kynde of recompence, and thus wythe my verye hartie comendacions I comytt you into the handes of Almightie God. From Farname the iiijth. of Julye. Your Mystresse assured

Queen Mary to the Lord Privy Seal, upon the Arrival of Philip II.

[MS. COTTON. VESP. F. III. fol. 12. ENTIRELY IN THE QUEEN'S

HAND.]

Instructions for my Lorde Previsel.

FYRSTE to tell the Kyng the whole state of this Realme with all thyngs appartaynyng to the same, asmyche as ye knowe to be trewe.

Seconde to obey hys commandement in all thyngs. Thyrdly in all thyngs he shall aske your advyse, to declare your opinion as becometh a faythfull Conceyllour to do.

MARYE THE QUENE.

LETTER CLIV.

Letter of Privy Seal to the Clerk of the Queen's Stables.

[FROM THE ORIGINAL AMONG SIR WILLIAM MUSGRAVE'S PAPERS IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM.]

This Letter is curious, inasmuch as it explains what a Waggon or Chariot was in the days of Mary the First; such an one as was fit to convey the Ladies and Gentlewomen of her Privy Chamber.

By the Queen.

MARYE THE QUENE.

We will and commaunde you forthwithe uppon the sight hereof ye deliver or cause to be delivered to our trustie and welbeloved servaunte Edmonde Standen, clarke of our stable, one Wagon of tymbre work for Ladies and Gentlewomen of our Prevye Chamber with wheeles and axeltrees, strakes, nayles, clowts, and all maner of work thertoo apperteyninge; fine redde cloths to kever and line the same Wagon, fringed with redde sylke and lyned with redde buckeram paynted with redde colours; collers, drawghts of redde lether, hamer clothes with our Armes and badges of our colours; and all other things apperteininge unto the same Wagon: and these our Letters shalbe your sufficient warraunte and discharge on this behalfe at all tymes. Yeven under our signet at our Manour of Westminster the xxviiith, daye of Aprill in the thirde and fourthe Years of our Reign.