Add MS 33531

ff. 1r–222v: A volume of papers relating to border affairs between England and Scotland (1528–1594), Scottish state papers and correspondence (1449–1594), and the reign of James VI (1567–1594).

Among the papers relating to Mary, Queen of Scots, are transcripts of the proceedings of the Commissions at York and Westminster in 1568 (see ff. 42–70v). The collection seems to have belonged to Alexander Hay, of Easter Kennet, Clerk to the Privy Council (1564), Clerk of Register (d. 1594).

ff. 1r–4v, 8v: The treaty of peace with England, 15 November 1449. A translation from the Latin original.

f. 5r: Contents page for the volume, listing three items.

ff. 9r–10v: Copies of the proceedings of the Privy Council relating to the Lieutenancy of Colin Campbell, Earl of Argyle, in the Merse, Teviotdale and Lothian, 30 December 1528, 3 January 1529.

ff. 11r–12v: Copy of the commission of regency from James V to the Archbishops of St Andrews and Glasgow, George, Earl of Huntly, and others, during his absence in France, 29 August 1536, Stirling. In Latin.

ff. 13r–14v: Signed letter from Henry VIII to the Earl of Arran, 'Governour in Scotland', acknowledging the receipt of the insignia of the Garter belonging to the late king, James V, 24 May 1544, Hampton Court.

ff. 15v–16r: Commission from Mary Queen of Scots, to Masters David Paniter, Postulat of Ross, and John Hay, Postulat of the Isles, ambassadors to France, to seek aid against Henry VIII, 24 January 1547, Edinburgh. In Latin and on vellum. Countersigned by the Regent Arran. (For the instructions, see Additional MS 23108 f. 8.)

ff. 17r–18v: Letter in Latin from Cardinal Alessandro Farnese to Mary, Dowager Queen of Scotland, concerning the sees of Dunkeld and Glasgow, 26 March 1548, Rome.

ff. 19r–24v: Copies of letters in Latin from the town of Lübeck to Mary, Queen Dowager and Regent of Scotland, on a seizure of shipping; 8 and 23 October 1557.

ff. 25r–26v: Discourse in Latin on making war on England as the common enemy of the Pope, France and Scotland [1557?]

ff. 27r–30v: Letter in French and cipher from Henri Clutin, Sieur d'Oysell, to Mary, Queen Regent of Scotland, on bringing assistance to her from France, 7 December [1559], Paris.

ff. 31r–32v: Original letter from Sir William Cecil to William Maitland of Lethington, with advice on settling the government of Scotland; Westminster, 16 April [1560]

ff. 33r–34v: 'Jura et decisiones...pro prime exceptionis confirmatione proposite pro parte Davidis Lyndsaye de Edzell, Militis, adversus comitem Craufurdie' [c. 1565?]. In Latin.

ff. 35r–36v: Copy of 'A wryting pennit be ye secretar [William Maitland of Lethington] immediatlie efter the slauchter of Davie [Riccio] to hawe bein send to the haill nobilitie', March 1566.

ff. 37r–38v: Copies of depositions by Barbara Martine, Meg Crokat, and John Petcarne concerning 'the kingis slauchter', 11 February 1566.

ff. 39r–40v: Copy of a letter from Sir John Maxwell, Lord Herries, to George Gordon, Earl of Huntly, relating his negotiations with Elizabeth on behalf of Mary Queen of Scots, 31 July 1568, Dumfries.

ff. 42r–66v, 70v: Papers relating to the proceedings of the Commissions appointed to enquire into the accusations brought by James, Earl of Moray, and his party against Mary, Queen of Scots, held at York and Westminster, October–December 1568. For other papers, see Cotton MS Caligula C I.

ff. 42r–43r: The appointment of Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, Thomas, Earl of Sussex, and Sir Ralph Sadler as Commissioners for Queen Elizabeth, 20 September 1568 (a copy).

ff. 43r–v: The appointment of the Earls of Moray and Morton, Adam Bothwell, Bishop of Orkney, Robert Pitcairn, Commendator of Dunfermline, and Patrick, Lord Lindsay of the Byres, as Commissioners for James VI, 18 September 1568, Edinburgh (a copy).

f. 43v: The form of the oath taken by the commissioners for James VI.

f. 44r: The form of oath taken by the Commissioners for Mary, and their protestation against Elizabeth's jurisdiction, 7 October 1568.

ff. 44r–v: The protestation in answer to it by Elizabeth's commissioners.

ff. 44v–45r: A copy of the accusations by Mary's commissioners (John Leslie, Bishop of Ross, Robert, Lord Boyd, William, Lord Livingstone, John, Lord Herries, Gavin Hamilton, Commendator of Kilwinning, and Sir James Cockburn of Skirling) against Moray and his friends, 8 October 1568 [York]. See the original, Cotton MS Caligula C I, f. 259.

ff. 45r–v: Copy of the articles submitted by Moray to the English Commissioners, 9 October 1568 [York]. See the original, Cotton MS Caligula C I, f. 310.)

ff. 45v–47r: A copy of the answer of Moray and his colleagues to Mary's charges [14 October 1568]. See the original, Cotton MS Caligula C I, f. 266.

ff. 47r–50r: Copy of the reply and 'trew declaratioun' of Mary's commissioners to Moray's answer [16 October 1568, York]. See the original, Cotton MS Caligula C I, f. 268.

ff. 50r–v: Copy of the protestation of Moray and his colleagues, on exhibiting charges against Mary on 26 November 1568 at Westminster. See the original, Cotton MS Caligula C I, f. 303.

f. 50v: A copy of 'Ane eik' to their former answer at York, presented by Moray and his colleagues [26 November 1568, Westminster]. See the original, Cotton MS Caligula C I, f. 306.

ff. 51r–63v: 'Articles contenying certane coniectours presumptionis likliehoodis and circumstances, be the quhilkis it sall euidentlie appeare that, as James sumtyme Erle Boithulle wes the cheif executour of the horrible and unworthy murther perpetrat in the persoun of umquhile King Henry of gude memory, father to our said souerane lord, and the quenis lauchfull husband, Sa wes she of the foirknawlege counsell, deviser, perswader and commander of the said murther to he done and mantenar and fortefear of the executours therof. Diuidit in five partes." Presented by the same [6 December 1568, at Westminster]. This paper is generally known as 'The Book of Articles' and is said to be the only extant copy.

ff. 64r–66v: Copy of an Act of Parliament ratifying the retention of Mary's person, with the names of the three estates present, 15 and 16 December 1567, Edinburgh.

ff. 71r–72v: Declaration of the Earls of Huntly and Argyle, implicating Maitland and Moray in the murder of Darnley [January] 1569. See Caligula C I ff. 383–385 for another copy with Moray's original answer attached, dated 19 January 1569, London.

ff. 73r–74v: Signed letter from Mary to John Hamilton, Archbishop of St. Andrews,18 January 1569, Bolton. In cipher, with decipherment.

ff. 75r–76v: 'The heades of the commoning betuix my Lord Regentis grace & the nobilitie being with him on the ane part and the Erll of Cassillis, the Lord He[rries] and Abbot of Kilwynning, in name of the d[ukes] grace of Chastellerhault arid otheris noblemen his adherentis, on the other parte, at [Glas]gow, the xiij day of Marche 1568' [i.e. 1569].

ff. 77r–78v: Offers of John Grant of Feuchy to the Regent Moray for a pardon [March 1569].

ff. 79r–80v: Letter from Sir Nicholas Throckmorton to the Regent, with advice, 20 July 1569, Greenwich. Partly in cipher, with decipher.

ff. 81r–82v: William Stewart, a prisoner for conspiracy, to the Regent, 5 August 1569, Edinburgh Castle.

ff. 83r–88v: Second depositions of Nicholas Hawbert (or Hubert), called Paris, concerning the murder of Darnley, taken at St Andrews, 10 August 1569. A translation from the French original, for a copy of which see Cotton MS Caligula C I, f. 430. Cotton MS Caligula B IX, f. 456, is a copy of the first depositions, 9 August.

ff. 89r–90v: Copy of the depositions of John Hay of Talla concerning the murder, taken [September 1567], with the date 1569 added.

ff. 91r–92v: Copy of a letter from Elizabeth to the Earl of Sussex, Lieutenant General of the North, concerning the Regency of Scotland, 2 July 1570, certified by Thomas Randolph as a true copy.

ff. 93r–94v: Copy of a letter from Thomas, Earl of Sussex, to William Maitland of Lethington, relating to the meeting of Mary's supporters at Linlithgow, 4 July 1570, Alnwick.

ff. 95r–96v: Original signed letter from Elizabeth to Matthew Stewart, Earl of Lennox, Regent of Scotland, 7 December 1570, Hampton Court.

ff. 97r–98v: Original letter from John Lesley, Bishop of Ross, Alexander Gordon, Bishop of Galloway, and William, Lord Livingstone, Commissioners for Mary in England to Sir William Kirkcaldy, Laird of Grange, Captain of Edinburgh Castle, 20 January 1571, London.

ff. 99r–105v: Four letters, partly in cipher, from John Chisholme to the Laird of Grange, 6 and 24 February 1571 and no date, London.

ff. 107r–108v: Walsingham (English Ambassador to France) to Thomas Randolph, on Scottish affairs, 19 April 1572, Blois.

ff. 109r–110v: Charles Stewart, 5th Earl of Lennox to the Lords of the Council of Scotland, thanking them for their assistance in his 'advauncement to honor', 20 May 1572, Gray's Inn.

ff. 111r–112v: Original letter from Walsingham to Morton, 7 October 1572, Paris.

ff. 113r–114r: Draft letters from [James Douglas, Earl of Morton, Regent of Scotland, to Margaret, widow of Matthew Stewart, Earl of Lennox], at the English court, on the capture of Edinburgh Castle, the death of Lethington, etc., June 1573, Holyroodhouse.

ff. 115r–116v: Signed letter from Elizabeth to the Regent Morton, on the surrender of Edinburgh, Home, and Fast Castles, asking for consideration to be shown to Robert Melville, the Bishop of Ross, etc., and to the dead body of Lethington, 19 July 1573, Croydon.

ff. 117r–118v: Draft letter from the Regent Morton to [Robert Killigrew], 5 August 1573, Holyroodhouse. See Calendar of State Papers, Foreign, 1572–1574, p. 399.

ff. 119r–126v: Examination of Robert Melville of Murdocairnie, captured in Edinburgh Castle, on a proposed marriage between Queen Mary and Don Juan of Austria, his dealings for Queen Mary, the disposal of her jewels, the murder of Lennox, etc., 19 October 1573, Holyroodhouse.

ff. 127r–129v: Drafts of letters from Regent Morton to Elizabeth, on the surrender of Home and Fast Castles (f. 127r); to the Earl of Leicester (f. 128r) and Walsingham (f. 128v) and to 'ane nobleman in England' (f. 129r), November 1573.

ff. 131r–v: Copies of articles proposed by Frederick, Count Palatine to Elizabeth for a league with the Protestant Princes of Germany, with her answer, 18 and 21 December 1573. Copies. (See Calendar of State Papers, Foreign, 1572–1574, pp. 448–449).

ff. 133r–150v: Papers sent by Sir Archibald Ruthven, of Forteviot, Colonel in Livonia, to the Regent Morton, defending himself and his comrade Scots against accusations of John III, King of Sweden, 1573–1574. Included (ff. 147r, 149r) are two signed Latin letters from the king; Stockholm, 11 July and 15 November 1573.

ff. 151r–156v: Three letters from Sir Francis Walsingham, Secretary of State, to the Regent Morton, April, 13 July and 22 November 1575, London, Killingworth, and the court at Windsor,.

ff. 157r–158v: Complaints by the Regent Morton against Sir John Forster, English Warden of the Middle Marches [1575–1576?].

ff. 161r–164v: Articles and informationis of the wrangus usurpatioun of the Kingis Maiesties auctoritie, and oppresioun committit be Lord Robert Stewart [natural son of James V], Fewar of Orknay and Zetland', 16 December 1575.

ff. 165r–166v: Original letter from Walsingham to Morton, 12 February 1576, London.

ff. 167r–168v: Draft of a letter in Latin from James VI to the Emperor Rudolph, asking his good offices for James Adair for the recovery of debts, etc., due to him at Vienna, April 1578, Stirling.

ff. 169r–171v, 173r–174v: Signed instructions from James VI to Robert Pitcairn, Commendator of Dunfermline, as Ambassador to England, 17 June 1578, Stirling. Followed by the demands made by the Commendator, and the answers of Elizabeth, 'by thadvise of hir counsell', 3 July 1578, with a clause 'to be added', signed by Thomas Wilson, Master of Requests, relative to the marriage of James without her consent.

ff. 175r–176r: Draft of the three heads proposed by the English Ambassadors to the Council of Scotland, 15 September 1578; with the answer.

ff. 179r–182v: Draft of a letter from James to Elizabeth, December 1578, Stirling.

ff. 181r–182v: Notes presented to James by Robert Bowes and William Davison, English Ambassadors, 1 March 1583.

ff. 183r–186v: 'Memoriall of certaine speciall matters recommended by Her Majestie unto Coronnell [William] Steward and Mr. [John] Colvill, sent Ambassadors from the king of Scotts', followed by 'the principall beads of advice' [May 1583]. Signed by Sir Francis Walsingham.

ff. 187r–188v: Copy of a letter from Elizabeth to James, accrediting Sir Francis Walsingham as ambassador, 12 August 1583, Oatlands.

ff. 189r–190v: Elizabeth's grievances against James, presented to the Scottish Council by Walsingham, 1583.

ff. 191r–192v: Draft letter in Latin from James VI to Henry III of France, accrediting George, 5th Lord Seton, as ambassador, 26 October 1583, Stirling.

ff. 193r–194v: Draft letter from the Scotch Council to Sir John Forster, Warden of the English Middle March, relative to English prisoners taken at Preswen, 14 May 1584, Holyroodhouse.

ff. 195r–196v: Minutes on the formation of a body guard for the King, with lists of names [c. 1584].

ff. 197r–198v: Copy of a commission from Elizabeth to Henry, Lord Scroope, Warden of the West Marches, Sir John Selbie, William Bowes and Christopher Dacres, to enquire into the murder of Lord Francis Russell at a Wardens' Meeting at Cocklaw on 27 July, 3 September 1585, Nonsuch.

ff. 199r–210v: Papers relating to reforms in judicial procedure in Scotland, 22 July 1585 and no date.

ff. 211r–212v: Advice [from Alexander Hay ?] to James VI on the claims of Sir William Douglas of Glenbervie to be served heir to the Earl of Angus [August? 1588].

ff. 213r–214v: Complaints by the Lairds of Lochinvar [Sir John Gordon], Garlies [Alexander Stewart] and others against John, Lord Maxwell, for oppressions whilst he was Lieutenant of the West Marches [1588?]

ff. 215r–218v: Declaration by James VI., with interrogatories and answers, concerning 'Courtis of Justiciarie or Justice Aires', 7 December 1588 and no date.

ff. 219r–220v: Copies of letters from James VI to the English Wardens of the Marches before his going to Norway, 22 October 1589, Leith.

ff. 221r–222v: Proclamation by James VI on his arrangements for the governwent of the country during his absence [Leith, 22 Oct. 1589]. Signed by Alexander Hay, Clerk of Register. (See the Register of Privy Council, vol. iv. p. 423).

ff. 223r–224v: Copy of James's declaration of his reasons for going to Norway [22 October 1589, Leith].

ff. 225r–226v: 'Presentis fra y ambassadors fra Denmark & uther partis' [1589].

ff. 227r–228v: Copy of a letter from the Duke of Lennox and Council of Scotland to Elizabeth, on border affairs, 6 November 1589, Edinburgh.

ff. 229r–230v: James VI's draft confirmation in Latin of his contract of marriage with Anne of Denmark, 22 November 1589, Oslo.

ff. 231r–232v: Declaration by John, Lord Hamilton, of his intended proceedings as President of the Council for the Borders and Lanarkshire [1 December? 1589, Peebles].

ff. 233r–234v: Draft letter in Latin from the Council of Scotland to the Estates of Holland, on behalf of Captain Renton, 10 February 1590, Edinburgh.

ff. 235r–236v: Signed directions by James VI for the reception of himself and his queen on his return to Scotland, 'bro[ught] home be Williame Shaw, Master of Werk' [of the Works], 19 February 1590.

ff. 237r–238v: Proceedings at a Warden Court held at "Stawfurde," 12 March 1590.

ff. 239r–240v: Draft document from Alexander Hay, Clerk of Register, to Sir John Murray, Laird of Tullibardine, about the clan Gregor [1590?]

ff. 241r–242v: Draft letter of advice from Hay to Francis Stewart, Earl of Bothwell, Keeper of Liddesdale, relating to Border troubles [January 1590/1591?]

ff. 243r–246v: Copy of James VI's act of general revocation upon attaining his majority, Falkland, 17 June 1591.

ff. 247r–260r: Act relating to the coinage, passed 6 August 1591, with other related papers.

ff. 261r–262v: Memoir to be communicated to James about justice airs (circuit courts for administering justice), 9 October 1591.

ff. 263r–264v: Note of feuds between great families in Scotland from 1561 to 1579 [October 1591?]

f. 265r: Advice concerning public affairs, especially 'justice aires' [1591?]

ff. 267r–270v: Report by the Commissioners of the Exchequer to James VI on the state of the royal palaces and parks, 8 December 1591, Holyroodhouse. Signed by Mark Ker, Commendator of Newbattle, William, Lord Hay of Yester, Sir James Melvill of Halhill, and others.

ff. 271r–272v: 'Anent Castell Wardis' [c. 1591–1592?]

ff. 273r–274v: Original signed letter from James VI to the English Wardens of the Marches, when Sir Robert Ker of Cessfurd (junior) was made keeper of Liddesdale, Edinburgh, 29 January 1592.

ff. 275r–276v: Copy of a letter from Robert Bruce, a Jesuit, to a friend in Scotland, on receiving a remission from James VI [1592?]

ff. 277r–278v: List of noblemen and others summoned to meet the king in his expedition to the north against the Earls of Huntly and Errol [January 1593].

ff. 279v–280r: Gentlemen of the name of Gordon dwelling in Strathbogy, Mar, Garioch, Buchan and Banff [1592–3?]

ff. 281r–282v: Memoir of the capitulation James VI offered Francis, Earl of Bothwell [c. 11 September 1593].

f. 283r: Proclamation against the Earl of Bothwell after his attempt at Leith [April 1594].

ff. 283r–290v: Extracts from the negotiations for the league of peace between James VI and Elizabeth, May–June 1586, with memoranda of receipts and expenditure of the annuity paid to James under the treaty, 1586–1593.

ff. 291r–292v: 'Anent militarie goverment apud Danos' [c. 1594?] In Latin.

ff. 293r–294v: Landit men within the regalitie of Dunfermline [c. 1590?].

ff. 295r–296v: The taxt roll of the Shirefdome of Linlithgow [c. 1591–1592].