anglyng wand to catch some knoledg. And lykewise I thynk yow here of some expectation what shall follow of the rumor of the mariadg betwixt the Q. of Scotts and the L. Darlye.

The Lord of Lyddyngton cam hyther to obteyne the Q. Majesties consent, but he found great offence. Sir Nich. Throkmorton was sent to declare the miscontentment of hir Majesty, and meanes how to break it. He retorned on Frydaye well rewarded; but he cold not dissolve it, although he sayth it is mislyked of all the substance of the realme, and she hir self confesseth that if it were to be done she wold be otherwise advised; but she is determyned, and prayeth hir Maty here to comport with hir untill she will send on of hirs hyther (which shall be M. Hayes) to declare to the Quenes Majesty some reasons on hir behalf. I thynk my Lady Lennox shall be committed to some furder custodye; and my Lords hir husband and sonne shall forfayt that they may here with us. And because it is lykely ther fundation in England is uppon Papists, the Protestants here shall receave more comfort and the Papists more disgrace.

Th'Emperors Ambassador is not idle in his matter but presseth the matter for the Archduk discretly and diligently. One great obstacle is that the Q. Majesty will nedes see before she marry. And how that devise can be performed, if she shuld assent ether to the French Kyng, or to the Archduke, will prove hard. Hir Maty remembreth hir promiss to remayn free

untill she have well answered the French Kyng, and so hir Maty considereth mete for hir honor to doo; which causeth the Emperors ambassador to lack resolution, and yet he fyndeth, as I her, so generall a lykyng amongest the great Lords here that he is in great hope to spede. What shall follow God knoweth.

My Lord of Lecester furdereth the Quenes Majesty with all good reasons to take on of these great Prynces, wherin suerly perceaving his own cause not sperable, he doth honorably and wisely. I see few noblemen devoted to France; but I being Mancipium Regina, and lackyng witt for to expend so great a matter, will follow with service wher hir Maty will goo before.

Sir H. Sydney shall be Deputy in Irland. Shan O'neyle hath overthrowen James McOnele, and takyn hym and his brother, wherin a nombre of English soldiors being with Shan did only gayne the Victory. If now the Queens Majesty may have the possession of theis prisoners, it shall be proffitable: otherwyse Shanes victory will be dangerooss for Irland.

And thus you see I have scribled many thyngs in haste to satisfy your expectation, assuryng you my lesure is so lytle as I thynk this to be the twentyth Lettre all redy wrytten this daye on Sonday 3 Junij 1565.

Yours assured

W. CECILL.

LETTER CLXXIII.

Sir William Cecill to Sir Thomas Smith: still upon the Queen of Scot's marriage. The Scottish Lords disgusted. The Marriage of Lady Mary Gray.

[MS. LANSD. 102. art. 62. Orig.]

Mr. THOMWORTH was sent to the Queen of Scotts. Uppon this occasion, the Scottish Queen hath sent twise hyther to requere the Queens Majesty to declare for what causes she did mislyk of this Mariadg, offryng also to satisfy the same. In the meane tyme, troobles arrise there betwixt her and the Erle of Murraye and others being frendly to the common amyty of both the realmes; whereunto for sondry respects it semeth convenient for us to have regard. The Duke, the Erles of Argile, Murray, and Rothoss with sondry barons are joynid together, not to allow of the mariadg otherwise than to have the Religion stablished 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 herewith she

hath reteyned a gret nombre of Protestants from association oppenly with the other. She hath sent for the Erle Murray, but the mistrust is so farr 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 ayde hym. Nevertheless the Duke the Erles of Argile and Rothoss are togither with hym. We shall here by Mr. Tomworth what is most lykly to follow.

The Quenes Majesty, thanked be God, is well disposed towards mariadg. Th'Emperors Embassador is departed with an honorable answer, and hym self well satisfyed; and commen opinion is that the Archduke Charles will come; which if he doo, and will accord with us in Relligyon, and shall be allowable for his person to hir Majesty, than, except God shall purpoose to contynew his displesur ageynst us We shall see some success.

Here is a unhappy chance and monstruoos. The Serjeant Porter, being the biggest gentillman in this Court, hath marryed secretly the Lady Mary Grey; the lest of all the Court.

They are committed to severall a prisons. The offence is very great. And so now being hasted by

a separate.

the French amb". I end. From Wyndsor the 21 of August 1565.

Mary and Henry, King and Queen of Scots, a circular Letter declaring a Progress against the Rebels, and ordering men to join them at Edinburgh in

arms.

[MS. COTTON. CALIG. B. X. fol. 333 b. Orig.]

TRAIST freind, We grete you wele. That quhilk before we suspectit hes now declarit the self in deid, for oure rebelles hes reterit thame to the Incuntre, the suffering quhairof is na wayis to ws honorabill. We mynd, God willing, in proper personis to pas for thair persute, quhairunto it is neidfull that We be weill and substanciouslie accompaneit. We pray zow thairfor