History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland, Book 3 · Letter 12
Monsieur L'Ambassadour,
I Thank the Queen, my good sister, for this gentle visitation and congratulation of this my recoverie, and though I be not yet in perfect health, yet, I thank God, I feele my selfe in a very good case, and in way of a full recoverie. And for answer to your demand (quoth she) of my Ratification, I do remember all these things that you have recited unto me: And I would the Queen my good sister should think that I do deferre the resolute answer in this matter, and performing thereof, untill such time as I might have the advises of the Nobles and States of mine own Realme, which I trust shall not be long a doing, for I intend to make my voyage thither shortly.Faire words to no purpose. And though this matter (quoth she) doth touch me principally, yet doeth it also touch the Nobles and States of my Realm too: and therefore it shall be meet that I use their advises therein. Heretofore they have seemed to be grieved, that I should do any thing without them. And now they would be more offended, if I should proceed in this matter of my selfe without their advises. I do intend (quoth she) to send Monsieur Dosell to the Queen your Mistresse my good sister, who shall declare that unto her from me, that I trust shall suffice her. By whom I will give her to understand of my journey into Scotland, I mean to embarke at Calice. The King of France hath lent me certain Galleyes and Ships to convey me home,That was a secret Lardon. and I intend to require of my good Sister those favours that Princes use to do in those cases.She meant she would seek a safe conduct. And though the termes wherein we have stood heretofore, have been somewhat hard, *Ever till that she may shew her evill will.yet I trust that from henceforth we shall accord together as Cosins and good Neighbours. I mean (quoth she) to retire all the French men forth of Scotland, who had given jealousie to the Queen my Sister, and discontent to my Subjects; so as I will leave nothing undone to satisfie all parties,If France would have sustained rhem they had not yet departed. The second secret Lardon. The Arms of England were usurped. trusting the Queen my good Sister will do the like; and that from henceforth none of my disobedient Subjects (if there be any such) shall finde ayd or support at her hands. I answered, That I was not desirous to fall into the discourse how those hard termes first began, nor by what means they were nourished, because therein I must charge some party with injury, and perill offered to the Queen my Mistresse, which was the very ground of those matters. But I was well assured there could be no better occasion offered to put the former unkindnesse in forgetfulnesse, then by ratifying the Treatie of Peace, for that should repay all injuries past. And Madame, quoth I, where it pleased you to suspend and delay the ratification, untill you have the advices of the Nobles and States of your Realm, the Queen my Mistresse doth nothing doubt of their conformitie in this matter,Your Papists and ours have practised, and still practise division. So that she might have England to the Popes Religion I think she said not amisse. The feare of God in the heart of Elias … disobedi… to cursed …. because the Treatie was made by their consents. The Queen answered, yea, by some of them, but not by all; it will appeare, when I come amongst them, whether they be of the same minde that you say they were then of: But of this I assure you, Monsieur Lambassadour (quoth she) I for my part am very desirous to have the perfect and the assured amity of the Queen my good sister, and will use all the means I can, to give her occasion to think that I mean it indeed. I answered, Madame, the Queen my Mistresse you may be assured will use the like towards you, to move you to be of the same opinion towards her. Then (said she) I trust the Queen your Mistresse will not support nor encourage none of my Subjects to continue in their disobedience, nor to take upon them things that appertain not to Subjects (this we may answer here, It appertaineth to Subjects to worship God as he hath commanded,N…te. and to suppresse Idolatry,… his … well to … as … the subjects. by whom so ever it be erected or maintained.) You know (quoth she) there is much adoe in my Realme about matters of Religion. And though there be a greater number of a contrary Religion unto me then I would there were, yet there is no reason that Subjects should give a Law to their Soveraigne, and specially in matters of Religion, which I feare (quoth she) my Subjects shall take in hand (answer for the part of Scotland, and if so they had done, they had escaped Gods heavie indignation which hath been felt, and still hangeth over this Realm, for the Idolatry, and other abominations committed in the same, which shall not cease till that it be suppressed) I answered, Madame, your Realme is in none other case at this day, then all other Realms through Christendome are. The proofe whereof you see verified in this Realm. And you see what great difficultie it is to give order in this matter, though the King of France and all his Councell be very desirous thereunto. Religion is of the greatest force that may be; you have been long out of your own Realm, so as the contrary Religion to yours had won tbe upper hand, and the greatest part of your Realme: Your mother was a woman of great experience of deep dissimulation and policy, as they terme it now adayes, and kept that Realme in quietnesse, till she began to constrain mens consciences; and as you think it unmeet to be constrained by your subjects, so it may please you to consider, The matter is as intolerable to them to be constrained by you,Note. in matters of conscience; for the duty due to God cannot be given to any other, without offence of his Majesty. Why (said she) God doth command subjects to be obedient to their Princes, and commandeth Princes to read his Law, and governe thereby themselves, and the people committed to their charges. Answer. Yea, Madame (quoth I) in those things that be not against his Commandments. Well (quoth she) I will be plain with you: The Religion that I professe, I take to be most acceptable to God; and indeed, neither do I know,The third Lardon of accusing England of inconstancy in Religion. nor desire to know any other. Constancy doth become all folks well, but none better then Princes, and such as have rule over Realmes, and specially in matters of Religion (the Turke is as constant in his Alcoran, as the Pope and his Sect are in his Constitutions) I have been brought up (quoth she) in this Religion, and who might credit me in any thing, if I should shew my selfe light in this case. And though I be young, and not well learned, yet I have heard this matter oft disputed by my Uncle the Cardinall, with some that thought they could say somewhat in the matter; and I found therein no great reason to change my opinion (neither yet did the high Priest, when Christ Jesus did reason in his presence. But what was the Cardinall compelled to confesse at Poysie?) Madame (quoth I) if you will judge well in that matter, you must be conversant in the Scriptures, which are the Touch-stone to try the right from the wrong. Peradventure you are so partially affected to your Uncles arguments, that you could not indifferently consider the other party: Yet this I assure you, Madam (quoth I) your Uncle the Cardinall, in conference with me about these matters, hath confessed, That there be great errours and abuses come into the Church, and great disorder in the Priests and Clergie,Notwithstanding his own disorder. in so much that he desired and wished that there might be a Reformation of the one, and of the other. I have oftentimes heard him say the like (quoth she.) Then I said, Well, I trust God will inspire all you that be Princes, that there may be some good order taken in this matter, so as there may be one Unity in Religion thorow all Christendom. God grant (quoth she) but for my part you may perceive I am none of those that will change my Religion every yeer. And, as I told you in the beginning, I mean to constrain none of my subjects, but would wish that they were all as I am; and I trust they shall have no support to constrain me. I will send Monsieur Dosell (quoth she) to you before he go, to know whether ye will any thing in England. I pray you so order your self in this matter betwixt the Queen my good sister and me, that there may be perfect and assured Amity betwixt us; for I know (quoth she) Ministers may do much good and harm. I told her I would faithfully and truely make declaration of all that she said unto me, unto your Majestie; and trusted that she would so satisfie your Majesty by Monsieur Dosell in all things, as I should hereafter have no more occasion to treat with her of any thing, but of the encrease of Amity, of which there should be no want on her behalf. This is the effect of the Queen of Scotlands answer to your Majesties demand of her said Ratification, and of my Negotiation with her at this time.
These advertisements somewhat exasperated the Queen of England, and not altogether without cause; for the Armes of England were before usurped by our Soveraigne, and by her husband Francis; and Elizabeth Queen of England was of the Guysians reputed little better then a Bastard. It was appointed that this title should be renewed. But hereof had our ill counselled and misled Queen no pleasure, and especially after that her husband was dead; for, thought she, the shew of England shall allure many suiters to me. The Guisians, and the Papists of both Realms, did not a little animate her in that pursuit: The effect whereof will sooner appear then the godly of England would desire. Queen Elizabeth, we say, offended with the former answer, wrote unto the Nobility and States of Scotland in form as followeth.