<P_2.2,291>

<heading:edcomment:LETTER_SECRETARY_CECIL_TO_SIR_THOMAS_SMITH_IN_F
RANCE>

<heading:edcomment:THE_QUEEN_SEIZED_WITH_ILLNESS>

The Quenes Majesty fell perillosly sick on Saturday last ,
(WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,291.4)

the accident cam to that which they call diarrhoea .
(WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,291.5)

We feared a flux . (WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,291.6)

She is somwhat weakned , but in helth (WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,291.7)

and will attend hir affayres after Satyrday , which is to morrow ,
assure you . (WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,291.8)

She is clearly hoole , (WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,291.9)

but for the tyme she made us sore afrayed .
(WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,291.10)

Thanked be God for both . (WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,291.11)

For of both we take good : warned by hir sicknes , and comforted by hir
recovery . (WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,291.12)

xv. Decemb. 1564 . (WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,291.13)

Yours assured , W. Cecill . (WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,291.14)

<P_2.2,292>

<heading:edcomment:LETTER_SIR_WILLIAM_CECIL_TO_SIR_THOMAS_SMITH>_ @

{COM:rest_of_heading_omitted}

On Saturday the French ambassador was here with the Queens Ma=ty=. who
delt in twoo principall matters , the one to know hir plesur for the
offers made by the King his Master , to choose my Lord of Lecester and
any other to be named by hir Ma=ty=. to be of his Order . Wherunto hir
Ma=ty=. did resolve to have my Lord of Lecester to be chosen :
(WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,292.18)

but for the second place she wold herafter advertise the kyng hir
plesure . (WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,292.19)

The <P_2.2,293> second matter was to know hir plesure in his former
sutes made that the French Kings subjectes might resort with
commodities from the kyng of Spaynes low Countrees hyther , wherin
abowt x. dayes past he had a long debate with the Counsell , and wold
not be therin satisfyed allthough we shewed hym what yow had wrytten ,
and how yow found the Kyng and his Counsell satisfyed with your answers
made . (WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,293.20)

But now we had a very reddy answer to hym , that was because we had not
prohibited the French but for a season duryng theis differences with
Flaunders , we being now at an accord with them he shuld see that
liberty shuld be gyven shortly to all persons , and then the French
might use there plesur . (WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,293.21)

This knowledg gyven hym of our accord , semed to answer hym fully ,
(WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,293.22)

and he sayd that he was therof fully gladd .
(WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,293.23)

Now whylest I am wrytyng , I understand that meanes is made that Sir
Nicholas Throckmorton might goo to the French ambassador with report
that uppon instance made by my L. of Lecester hir Ma=ty= will name my
L. of Sussex for the second party , (WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,293.24)

and so untill I here more I doo forbeare wrytyng thereof .
(WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,293.25)

In Scotland ther hath bene a Perlement wherin nothyng is doone but the
restitution of the Erle of Lenox ; (WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,293.26)

as for my Ladyes clayme to Angush , by reason of the greatness of the
Erle Morton being Chancellor , nothyng is attempted .
(WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,293.27)

The Erle of Lennox frends wish that the L. Darly might marry with the
Scottish Quene : (WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,293.28)

and I see some devise to bryng the Quenes <P_2.2,294> Majesty not only
to allow therof , but also to move it to the Quene hir sistur :
(WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,294.29)

but I see no disposition therto in hir Majesty ;
(WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,294.30)

but she rather conynueth hir desyre to have my L. of Leicester
preferred that waye , for which purpose ther was this last month a
metyng at Barwyk with my Lord of Murray and the Lord of Ledyngton , but
yet covered with other matters : (WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,294.31)

and now of late it is from thence renewed , to know with what
conditions the Queens Majesty will preferr hym , wherein at this
present no full answer is yet gyven : (WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,294.32)

but to saye the truth of my knoledg in theis tyclle matters I can
affirm nothyng that I can assure to contynew .
(WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,294.33)

I see the Qu. Ma=ty= very desyrooss to have my L. of Lecester placed in
this high degree to be the Scottish Queen's husband ,
(WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,294.34)

but whan it commeth to the conditions which ar demanded , I see her
than remiss of hir ernestnes . (WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,294.35)

This also I see in the Qu. Ma=ty= a suficient contentation <P_2.2,295>
to be moved to marry abrood , and if it so may please Almighty God , to
leade by the hand some mete person to come and lay hand on hir to hir
contentation , (WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,295.36)

I cold than wish my self more helth to endure my yeres somewhat longar
to enjoye such a world here as I trust wold follow :
(WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,295.37)

otherwise I assure yow , as now thyngs hang in desperation , I have no
comfort to lyve . (WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,295.38)

The of Decemb. 1564 . (WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,295.39)

$Yours {TEXT:Your} assured for ever W. Cecill .
(WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,295.40)

<heading:edcomment:LETTER_SIR_WILLIAM_CECIL_TO_SIR_THOMAS_SMITH> _@

{COM:rest_of_heading_omitted}

Sir , I thynk the two Quenes have satisfyed ether themselves with their
enterviews , or rather filled the desyres of their traynes .
(WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,295.43)

Ther are sondry expectations of the fructs hereof , and as most
commenly used in Prynces casees , no small thyngs projected .
(WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,295.44)

I dowt not but though yow shal be farr off , yow will use a long
<P_2.2,296> anglyng wand to catch some knoledg .
(WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,296.45)

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 .
(WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,296.46)

The Lord of Lyddyngton cam hyther to obteyne the Q. Majesties consent ,
(WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,296.47)

but he found great offence . (WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,296.48)

Sir Nich. Throkmorton {COM:sic} was sent to declare the miscontentment
of hir Majesty , and meanes how to break it .
(WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,296.49)

He retorned on Frydaye well rewarded ; (WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,296.50)

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 advsised ;
(WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,296.51)

but she is determyned , (WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,296.52)

and prayeth hir Ma=ty= here to comport with hir untill she will send on
of hirs hyther <paren> which shall be M=.r= Hayes </paren> to declare
to the Quenes Majesty some reasons on hir behalf .
(WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,296.53)

I thynk my Lady Lennox shall be committed to some furder custodye ;
(WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,296.54)

and my Lords hir husband and sonne shall forfayt that they may here
with us . (WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,296.55)

And because it is lykely ther fundation in England is upon Papists ,
the Protestants here shall receave more comfort and the Papists more
disgrace . (WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,296.56)

Th'Emperors Ambassador is not idle in his matter
(WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,296.57)

but presseth the matter for the Archduk discretly and diligently .
(WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,296.58)

One great obstacle is that the Q. Majesty will nedes see before she
marry . (WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,296.59)

And how that devise can be performed , if she shuld assent ether to the
French Kyng , or to the Archduke , will prove hard .
(WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,296.60)

Hir Ma=ty= remembreth hir promiss to remayn free <P_2.2,297> untill she
have well answered the French Kyng , (WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,297.61)

and so hir Ma=ty= considereth mete for hir honor to doo ; which causeth
the Emperors ambassador to lack resolution ,
(WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,297.62)

and yet he fyndeth , as I her , so generall a lykyng amongest the great
Lords here that he is in great hope to spede .
(WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,297.63)

What shall follow God knoweth . (WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,297.64)

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 .
(WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,297.65)

I see few noblemen devoted to France (WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,297.66)

but I being <font> Mancipium Reginae </font> , and lackyng wit for to
expend so great a matter , will follow with service wher hir Ma=ty=
will goo before . (WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,297.67)

Sir H. Sydney shall be Deputy in Irland .
(WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,297.68)

Shan O'neyle hath overthrowen James M=c=Oncle , and takyn hym and his
brother , wherin a nombre of English soldiors being with Shan did only
gayne the Victory . (WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,297.69)

If now the Queens Majesty may have the possesion of theis prisoners ,
it shall be proffitable : (WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,297.70)

otherwyse Shanes vicory will be dangerooss for Irland .
(WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,297.71)

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 .
(WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,297.72)

Yours assured W. Cecill (WCECIL-1560-E1-P1,2.2,297.73)