History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland, Book 3 · Letter 13 – Letter 14
The Queen of Englands Letter to the States of Scotland.
RIght Trusty, and Right entirely Beloved Cousins, We greet you. We doubt not, but as our meaning is, and hath alwayes been, since our Raigne, in the sight of Almighty God straight and direct towards the advancement of his Honour, and Truth in Religion; and consequently, to procure Peace, and maintain Concord betwixt both these Realms of England and Scotland; So also our outward acts have well declared the same to the world, and especially to you, being our neighbours, who have tasted and proved in these, our friendship and earnest good will, more then we think any of your antecessors have ever received from hence; yea, more then a great number of your selves could well have hoped for of us, all former examples being well weighed and considered. And this we have to rejoyce of, and so may ye be glad, That where in the beginning of the troubles in that Countrey, and of our succours meant for you, the jealousie, or rather the malice of divers, both in that Realme and in other Countreys was such, both to deprive both us in the yeelding, and you in requiring our ayd,Note this false lye, and see how it answers to the calumnies of these dayes. that we were noted to have meant the surprise of that Realm, by depriving of your Soveraigne the Queen of her Crown; and you, or the greatest part of you, to have intended by our succour the like; and either to prefer some other to the Crown, or else to make of that Monarchie a Common-weale; matters very slanderous and false. But the end and determination, yea, the whole course and processe of the action on both our parts have manifested, both to the slanderers, and to all others, That nothing was more meant and prosecuted, then to establish your Soveraigne the Queen, our Cousin and Sister in her State and Crowne, the possession whereof was in the hands of strangers. And although no words could then well satisfie the malicious, yet our deeds do declare, That no other thing was sought, but the restitution of that Realme to the ancient Liberty, and as it were to redeem it from Captivity. Of these our purposes and deeds,The Peace and Contract at Leith. there remaineth among other arguments good testimony, by a solemne Treaty and Accord made the last yeer at Edinburgh, by Commissioners sent from us, and from your Queen, with full Authority in writing under both our Hands, and the great Seals of both our Realms, in such manner as other Princes our Progenitors have always used. By which Treaty and Accord, either of us have faithfully accorded with other, to keep Peace and Amity betwixt our selves, our Countreys and subjects. And in the same also a good Accord is made, not onelyonly of certain things happened betwixt us, but also of some differences betwixt the Ministers of the late French King your Soveraigns husband and you the States of that Realm, for the alteration of Laws and Customs of that Countrey attempted by them. Upon which Accord there made and concluded, hath hitherto followed, as you know, surety to your Soveraignes State, quietnesse to your selves, and a better Peace betwixt both Realms, then ever was heard of in any time past. Neverthelesse how it happeneth we know not (we can, for she in her conceit thinketh her selfe Queen of both) That your Soveraigne either not knowing in this part her owne felicity, or else dangerously seduced by perverse Counsell,Many Princes little regarded that. whereof we are most sorry; being of late at sundry times required by us, according to her Bond with us, signed with her own Hand, and sealed with the great Seal of that Realme, and allowed by you, being the States of the same, to ratifie the said Treaty, in like manner as we by writing have done, and are ready to deliver it to her, who maketh such delatory answers thereunto, as what we shall judge thereof, we perceive by her answer, That it is fit for us to require of you: For although she hath alwayes answered since the death of her husband, That in this matter she would first understand the mindes of certain of you, before that she would make answer. And so having now of long time suspended our expectation, in the end, notwithstanding that she hath had conference both by Messengers, and by some of your selves, being with her, yet she still delayed it, alleadging to our Ambassadour in France (who said that this Treaty was made by your consents) it was not by consent of you all; and so would have us to forbear, untill she shall returne into that her Countrey. And now seeing this her answer depended, as it should seem by her words, upon your opinions, we cannot but plainly let you all understand, That this manner of answer, without some more fruit, cannot long content us: We have meant well to our sister your Queen in time of offence given to us by her We did plainly, without dissimulation, charge her in her own doubtfull state: while strangers possessed her Realme, we stayed it from danger. And now, having promised to keep good Peace with her, and with you her subjects, we have observed it; and shall be sorry if either she or you shall give us contrary cause.All power is not then in the Prince, if the States have any, as they have. In a matter so profitable to both the Realmes, we think it strange that your Queene hath no better advice: And therefore we do require you all, being the States of that Realme, upon whom the burden resteth, to consider this matter deeply,Note this, and to make us answer, whereunto we may trust. And if you shall think meet she shall thus leave the Peace imperfect, by breaking of her solemne promise, contrary to the order of all Princes, we shall be well content to accept your answer, and shall be as carelesse to see the Peace, as ye shall give us cause; And doubt not, by the grace of God, but whosoever of you shall incline thereto, shall soonest repent. You must be content with our plain writing. And on the other side, if you continue all in one minde, to have the Peace inviolably kept, and shall so by your advice procure the Queen to ratifie it, we also plainly promise you, That we will also continue our good disposition to keep the same in such good termes as now it is: And in so doing, the honour of Almighty God shall be duely sought and promoted in both Realms, The Queen your Soveraigne shall enjoy her State with your surety, and your selves possesse that which ye have with tranquility; to the encrease of your Families and Posterities, which by the frequent Wars heretofore your antecessors never had long in one state. To conclude, we require you to advertise us of what minde you be, specially if you all continue in that minde, that you mean to have the Peace betwixt both the Realmes perpetually kept: And if you shall forbear any longer to advertise us, ye shall give us some occasion of doubt, whereof more hurt may grow then good. From, &c.
These Letters received and perused, albeit the States could not be convened, yet did the Councell, and some others also in particular, return answers with reasonable diligence. The Tenour of our Letters was this:
MADAME,
PLease your Majestie, that with judgement we have considered your Majesties Letters: And albeit the whole States could not suddenly be assembled, yet we thought expedient to signifie somewhat of our mindes unto your Majestie. Far be it from us, that either we take upon us, That infamy before the world, or grudge of conscience before our God, that we should lightly esteem the observation of that Peace lately contracted betwixt these two Realmes. By what motives our Soveraigne delayed the ratification thereof, we cannot tell: But of us (of us, we say, Madame, that have protested fidelity in our promise) her Majesty had none. Your Majestie cannot be ignorant, That in this Realme there are many enemies; and farther, That our Soveraigne hath Councellors, whose judgements she in all such causes preferred to ours.Note. Our obedience bindeth us, not onelyonly reverently to speak and write of our Soveraigne, but also to judge and thinke: And yet your Majestie may be well assured, That in us shall be noted no blame, if that Peace be not ratified to your Majesties contentment: For God is witnesse, That our chief care in this earth, next the glory of God, is, That constant Peace may remain betwixt these two Realmes, whereof your Majestie and Realme shall have sure experience, so long as our counsell or votes may stop the contrary. The benefit that we have received is so recent,Note the Scots acknowledgement. that we cannot suddenly bury it in forgetfulnesse. We would desire your Majesty rather to be perswaded of us, That we to our powers will studie to leave it in remembrance to our posterity. And thus with lawfull and humble commendation of our service, we commit your Majesty to the Protection of the Omnipotent.
Of Edinburgh the sixteenth day of Iuly, 1561.
There were some others that answered some of the Ministers of England somewhat more sharply, and willed them not to accuse nor threaten so sharply, till that they were able to convince such as had promised fidelitie, of some evident crime, which although they were able to lay to the charge of some, yet respect would be had to such as long had declared themselves constant procurers of quietnesse and peace. The sudden arrivall of the Queen made great alteration even in the Councell, as after we will hear. In this mean time, the Papists by surmising troubled what they might, their Posts, Letters, and Complaints were from day to day directed, some to the Pope, some to the Cardinall of Loraine, and some to our Queen. The principall of those Curriers were Master Steven Wilson, Master Iohn Leslie, called Nolumus and Volumus, Master Iames Throgmorton, and others, such as lived, and still live by the traffique of that Romane Antichrist.
The Preachers vehemently exhorted us to establish the Book of Discipline, by an Act and publike Law; affirming, That if they suffered things to hang in suspence, when God had given unto them sufficient power in their hand, they should after sob for it, but should not get it. The Books of Discipline have been of late so often published, that we shall forbear… to Print them at this time, hoping that no good men will refuse to follow the same, till God in a greater light establish a more perfect.
The end of the third Booke.