Cotton MS Caligula C VII

This is a collection of original documents - including many reports from the English Ambassador in Edinburgh, Robert Bowes, as well as letters from James VI, Mary, Queen of Scots, and Catherine de Medici - alongside scribal copies from the early 17th century. Many of the originals of these copies are in London, The National Archives, State Papers Scotland, Series I: Elizabeth I, 1558-1603, SP 52 (SP 52/30-34 cover the period of this volume).

Contents:

ff. 1r-3r: A series of early 17th-century copies of letters or extracts of letters, 11 Apr - 3 May 1582, made up of:

f. 1r: Letter of Sir Henry Widdrington ('Woodrington'), Marshal of Berwick to Sir Francis Walsingham, 11 Apr 1582.

ff. 2r-v: Letter of Mary, Queen of Scots to her son, James VI, King of Scots, 16 Apr 1582.

f. 2v: Letter of Sir Walter Kerr of Cessford to Henry Scrope, 9th Baron Scrope of Bolton, 22 Apr 1582.

f. 2v: Letter of Henry Scrope, 9th Baron Scrope of Bolton to Sir Francis Walsingham, 23 Apr 1582.

f. 3r: Letter of Sir Henry Widdrington to Sir Francis Walsingham, 26 Apr 1582.

f. 3r: Letter of Sir John Forster to Sir Francis Walsingham, 3 May 1582.

ff. 6r-8v: 17th-century copies of papers, 4 May - 20 May, made up of:

ff. 6r-6v: Letter of Sir Henry Widdrington, Marshal of Berwick to Sir Francis Walsingham, 4 May 1582.

ff. 6v-7r: Letter of Sir Henry Widdrington, Marshal of Berwick to Sir Francis Walsingham, 15 May 1582.

ff. 7r-8v: Secret advertisements touching the affairs of Scotland from Philip Banbrigh [Banbridge], 20 May 1582. Incomplete.

ff. 9r-10v: Secrets advertisement from Scotland, 18 May 1582. Original. In Scots. A 17th scribe has added, 'in Mr Colvile hand' (i.e John Colville).

ff. 11r-12v; Letter of Sir Henry Widdrington to Sir Francis Walsingham, Berwick, 26 May 1582. Original. With address.

f. 13r: Letter of Mr G. Douglas to John Selby, Porter of Berwick, 30 May 1582. 17th-century copy.

ff. 16r-17v: Letter of John Carmichael to Archibald Douglas, 8th Earl of Angus, Carlisle, 1 Jun 1582. Original, with address.

f. 18r-19v; 17th-century copies of papers, 12-27 Jun 1582, made up of:

f.18r: Letter of P.A.G.H. at Edinburgh to James Terry a Jesuit in Paris, 12 Jun 1582.

f. 18r: Testimonial by Mr Thomas Randolph of the services of Mr Archibald Douglas, 20 Jun 1582.

ff. 18v-19v: Advertisements out of Scotland, 27 June 1582.

ff. 20r-v: Letter of James VI, King of Scots to Mary, Queen of Scots. Stirling, 27 (or 17) Jun 1582. In French. Original. 'A la royne ma mere'.

f. 21r: Letter of Sir Henry Widdrington to Sir Francis Walsingham, 30 Jun 1582. 17th-century copy.

ff. 22r-v: Form of the bond made amongst the noblemen enterprised against 'Dobany' (i.e Esmé Stuart, seigneur d'Aubigny and 1st Duke of Lennox), July 1582. 17th-century copy.

ff. 23r-24v: Letter of Roger Aston to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, Antwerp, 7 July 1582. Original.

ff. 26r-27v: 17th-century copies of papers, July 1582 made up of:

ff. 26r-27v: A copy of a royal proclamation in Scotland, 12 July 1582.

f. 27v: Letter of Henry Scrope, 9th Baron Scrope of Bolton to Sir Francis Walsingham, July 1582.

ff. 28r-28v: Letter of Sir Henry Widdrington to (?) Sir Francis Walsingham, Berwick, 19 Jul 1582.

ff. 32v-33r: Letter of George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury to Sir Francis Walsingham, Sheffield.4 Aug 1582.

f. 34r: Letter of the Prior of Pluscar [Pluscarden?], John Lustardin[?] to Archibald Douglas, 6 Aug 1582. 17th-century copy. the heading seems to give the name as noted, but other sources give the Prior of Pluscarden as John Dury.

ff. 35r-v: Letter of Mary, Queen of Scots to - Beaton, brother of James Beaton, Archbishop of Glasgow, Sheffield Castle, 22 Aug 1582. With some use of cipher at the head. In French. Late 16th- or early 17th-century copy.

ff. 36r-v: 17th-cenury copies of letters, 26-30 Aug 1582, made up of:

f. 36r: Letter of Robert Bowes to William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, 26 Aug 1582.

ff. 36r-37v: Letter of Mary, Queen of Scots to James VI, King of Scots, 30 Aug 1582.

f. 37v: 'Out of the Copie of a l[ett]re deciphred found wth. Wm. Holte sent as he affirmed from William Gibbe in Spayne to William Brereton alias Watts'.

ff. 37r-38v: Letter of Sir George Carey to William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, Berwick, 5 Sep 1582. Original. With address.

f. 39r: Letter of John Colville to Thomas Randolph, Stirling, 5 Sep 1582. Original, Author and recipient from a note by a 17th-century scribe. The letter is actually signed 'Nemo'. In Scots.

f. 40r: Lists of allegiances of Scottish noblemen, 5 Sep 1582. Divided into three groups: 'The names of the Noblemen and Lords yet standing with the Duke [of Lennox]', 'the last of August the king removing from St Johnsons to Sterling had these the day before with him', and 'The names of such as ar indifferent leaning to neither sid'. Possibly a 17th-century copy.

ff. 41r-v: Letter of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester to Archibald Douglas, 8th Earl of Angus, 7 Sep 1582. 17th-century copy.

ff. 43r-v: Letter of Robert Bowes, Berwick, 8 Sep 1582. The recipient is not given, though evidently an English peer. 17th-century copy.

ff. 45r-46v: Matters to charge the Earl of Lennox with, 1582. A 17th-century copy. A number of the charges are dated, the latest at 5 Aug. 17th-century copy.

ff. 47r-48v: Letter of Sir George Carey to William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, Berwick, 10 Sep 1582. Original With address and seal.

f. 50r: The answer of Esmé Stuart, Duke of Lennox to the articles put to him for delivering up Dunbarton and his departure out of Scotland, sent from Stirling to Windsor, 14 Sep (and received at Windsor 20 Sep). 17th-century copy.

f. 50v: Letter of - Douglas to Thomas Randolph, 12 Sep 1582. Copy.

ff. 51r-52v: Letter of Sir George Carey to William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, Stirling, 14 Sep 1582. Original. With address and endorsement by Burghley.

f. 53r: Letter of John Colvile [Colville], Stirling, 17 or 18 Sep 1582. There are three strokes after the 'xv', but not entirely clear that the first is intended. In Scots.

ff. 54r-55r: The form of the supplication to the King presented by the Lords, Sep 1582. Copy.

ff. 56r-59r: 17th-century copies of papers, 17-20 Sep 1580, made up of:

ff. 56r-58v: The remonstration of the offences of the Duke of Lennox, 17 Sep 1582.

f. 58v: Letter of John Colville to Thomas Randolph, 17 Sep 1582. (Extract).

f. 59r: Letter of Sir George Carey to William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, 20 Sep 1582. (Extract).

ff. 60r-61v: Letter of Sir George Carey to William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, 20 Sep 1582.

ff. 62r-v: Letter of Michel de Castelnau, seigneur de Mauvissière, French Ambassador in England, to James Beaton, Archbishop of Glasgow, London, 28 Sep 1582. Copy. In French.

ff. 64r-65v: Depositions of George Douglas, sent from Stirling 14 Sep 1582 and received at Windsor 20 Sep 1582. A later copy (which the scribe has dated 28 Sep 1582).

ff. 66r-67r: Copies of papers, 28-30 Sep 1582, in a later scribal hand, made up of:

ff. 66r-66v: Relaxation [i.e. pardon] by James VI, King of Scots, of Archibald Douglas, 8th Earl of Angus, Stirling, 28 Sep 1582.

ff. 66v-67r: Orders set down by the Queen and Privy Council to all postmasters between London and Berwick, 30 Sep 1582.

f. 68r: Letter of Sir Henry Cobham to Sir Francis Walsingham, Paris, 3 Oct 1582. Scribal copy.

ff. 69v-70v: Copies of papers, 17-18 Oct 1582, in a later scribal hand, made up of:

ff. 69v-70r: Copy of Mr [Robert] Bowes letter deciphered, 17 Oct 1582.

ff. 70r-v: Letter of Queen Elizabeth I to James VI, King of Scots, 18 Oct 1582.

ff. 71r-v: Letter of Robert Bowes, Edinburgh, 25 Oct 1582. Recipient not named, but addressed as your honour.

f. 73r: Letter of Catherine, Duchess of Guise to Mary, Queen of Scots, Paris, 28 Oct 1582. 17th-century copy. In French.

ff. 73v-74r: Informations given of the French Ambassador (Michel de Castelnau, seigneur de Mauvissière, French Ambassador in England) by William Fowler, 29 Oct 1582. 17th-century copy.

f. 75r: Letter of Catherine de Medici, Queen Mother of France, to Mary, Queen of Scots, 29 Oct 1582. In French. Original in her own hand and with her signature.

ff. 77r-81v: Letter of Mary, Queen of Scots to Queen Elizabeth I, Sheffield, 8 Nov 1582. In French. Original in her own hand and with her signature.

f. 83r: Letter of Alexander Seaton to the general of the Jesuits in Rome and found with William Holte, Seaton, 5 Nov 1582. In Italian. A 17th-century copy.

ff. 84r-v: Principal points on which Mary, Queen of Scots has written to Queen Elizabeth I, to which she desires Michel de Castelnau, seigneur de Mauvissière, French Ambassador in England, to obtain a speedy answer, Sheffield, 8 Nov 1582. Original, with Mary's signature. In French. For the letter itself, see ff. 77r-81v.

ff. 85r-v: Letter of Mary Queen of Scots to Michel de Castelnau, seigneur de Mauvissière, French Ambassador in England, Sheffield, 8 Nov 1582. With ff. 84r-v, and possibly ff. 77r-81v enclosed. Original, with Mary's signature and the postscript in her hand. With seal. In French.

ff. 86r-v: Letter of Mary, Queen of Scots to James Beaton, Archbishop of Glasgow, Sheffield, 8 Nov 1582. Original, with Mary's signature and the postscript in her hand. With seal. In French.

f. 87v Advertisements out of Scotland found in the Earl of Derby's house [Ferdinando Stanley, 5th Earl of Derby], 'just found', Nov 1582. 17th-century copy.

ff. 89r-90v: Letter of Sir Francis Walsingham to William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, 16 Nov 1582. Original, in Walsingham's hand.

f. 92r: Letter of James VI, King of Scots to Queen Elizabeth I, Holyrood, 17 Nov 1582. 17th-century copy. The text itself says December, but this has been corrected elsewhere on the page to November.

ff. 93r-v: Letter of Henry Killigrew to William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, 18 Nov 1582. 17th-century copy.

f. 96r: Extracts of certain advertisements touching Scotland and France, Nov 1582. 17th-century copy.

ff. 98r-v: Letter of Mary, Queen of Scots to Michel de Castelnau, seigneur de Mauvissière, French Ambassador in England, Sheffield, 12 Dec 1582. Original, with Mary's signature. With seal.

ff. 100r-v: Letter of Esmé Stuart, 1st Duke of Lennox to James VI, King of Scots, Glasgow, 18 Dec 1582. Original, evidently in Lennox's hand throughout and a personal cipher symbol at the end. In French.

ff. 101r-v: Letter of Bertrand de Salignac de la Mothe-Fénelon to Mary, Queen of Scots, Windsor, 21 Dec 1582. Original. In French.

f. 102r: Letter of James VI, King of Scots to Queen Elizabeth I, Holyrood House, 29 Dec 1582. 17th-century copy.

f. 103r: Letter of William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie to William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, Holyrood House, 29 Dec 1582.

ff. 104r-v: Letter of Robert Bowes, Edinburgh, 29 Dec 1582. Recipient addressed as Your Honour (?Sir Francis Walsingham). Original.

f. 106r: Letter of William Davison to (?)Sir Francis Walsingham, 1 Jan 1583. Original.

ff. 107r-v; Letter of Sir John Forster to Sir Francis Walsingham, my house near Alnwick, 1 Jan 1583. 17th-century copy.

ff. 107v-108r: Copy of the licence of James VI, King of Scots, for Sir Thomas Ker of 'Pharmihurst' [Ferniehirst] to depart Scotland and go to France, Holyrood House, 20 Dec 1582.

f. 109r: Notes by William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley on the measures to be taken in Scotland following the departure of Esmé Stuart, 1st Duke of Lennox. A 1ater scribal comment dates the notes to 28 Dec 1582. In Burghley's own hand.

ff. 110r-v: Letter of William Davison to William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, 3 Jan 1583.

ff. 111r-v: Two letters of William Fowler to Sir Francis Walsingham, both 4 Jan 1583. Both 17-century copies.

f. 112r: Letter of Sir Francis Walsingham to Robert Bowes, 4 Jan 1583. 17th-century copy.

f. 113r: Letter of Lord Claud Hamilton to Queen Elizabeth I, Widdrington, 16 Jan 1583. Original.

ff. 114r-116r: 17th-century copies of papers, 16-19 Jan 1583, made up of:

ff. 114r: Letter of Sir John Forster to Sir Francis Walsingham, my house near Alnwick, 16 Jan 1583. 17th-century copy.

ff. 114v-115v: The answers of Queen Elizabeth I to the articles propounded by John Colville, servant to the King of Scots and of his private counsel, on the behalf of King James, 18 Jan 1583.

ff. 115v-116r: Letter from Queen Elizabeth I to James VI, King of Scots, 18 Jan 1583.

f. 116r: 'Instructions' (intelligence) from William Fowler, 19 Jan 1583.

ff. 117r-118v: The sum of the conference between James VI, King of Scots and Bertrand de Salignac de la Mothe-Fénelon, French Ambassador to Scotland, 18 Jan 1584. In late 16th-century hand.

ff. 120r-122r: The substance of the negotiations of Bertrand de Salignac de la Mothe-Fénelon with James VI, King of Scots, Jan 1583. A 17th copy, which reproduces (in French) various positions and responses (one dated 20 Jan).

ff. 123r-v: Letter of Sir Thomas Kerr of Ferniehirst to Sir Francis Walsingham, Alnwick(?), 21 Jan 1583. Original. In Scots.

f. 124r: Letter of Sir Francis Walsingham to Robert Bowes, 6 Feb 1583. 17th-century copy.

ff. 125r-v: Letter of Robert Bowes to (?)Sir Francis Walsingham, Edinburgh, 7 Feb 1583. Original. Note that in ff. 128r-129v, which definitely is addressed to Walsingham, Bowes calls him Your Honour. In ff. 125r-v and 126r-127v, Bowes and Bowes/Davison address the recipient as 'Sir'.

ff. 126r-127v: Letter of Robert Bowes and William Davison to (?)Sir Francis Walsingham, Edinburgh, 7 Feb 1583. Original. Note that in ff. 128r-129v, which definitely is addressed to Walsingham, Bowes calls him Your Honour. In ff. 125r-v and 126r-127v, Bowes and Bowes/Davison address the recipient as 'Sir'.

ff. 128r-129v: Letter of Robert Bowes to Sir Francis Walsingham, Edinburgh, 7 Feb 1583. Original. With address.

f. 130r: Letter of N Bethune (wife of one of the Beatons) to Mary, Queen of Scots, 12 Feb 1583. in French. Original.

ff. 133r-134v: Letter of Sir Henry Cobham to Sir Francis Walsingham, Paris, 11 Feb 1583. 17th-century copy.

ff. 136r-v: Letter of Robert Bowes to (probably) Sir Francis Walsingham, Edinburgh, 12 Feb 1583. Original.

ff. 137r-138v: Letter of Robert Bowes and William Davison to Sir Francis Walsingham, Edinburgh, 18 Feb 1583. Original. The address to Walsingham has the injunction, 'For her Maiesties affaires'.

ff. 140r-141v: Letter of Robert Bowes and William Davison to (probably) Sir Francis Walsingham, Edinburgh, 21 Feb 1583. Original.

ff. 142r-v: Extracts of letters from Robert Bowes and to Robert Bowes and George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury. The recipient/author is Sir Francis Walsingham [M=Master?]. A scribal copy. The extracts are made up of:

f. 142r: Letter of Robert Bowes, 20 Feb 1583.

f. 142v: Letter to Robert Bowes, 23 Feb 1583.

f. 142v: Letter of M to Robert Bowes, 23 Feb 1583.

f. 142v: Letter of M. to George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury, n.d.

ff. 143r-144r: 'Advice' of Bertrand de Salignac de la Mothe-Fénelon after his repair into Scotland, 23 Feb 1583. In French. 17th-century copy.

ff. 145r-v: The answer of Queen Elizabeth I to Bertrand de Salignac de la Mothe-Fénelon after his repair into Scotland, 23 Feb 1583. In French. 17th-century copy.

ff. 146r-148v: Two letters of M (Sir Francis Walsingham) to Robert Bowes, 27 Feb 1583. 17th-century copies. The letters are ff. 146r-v and 146v-148v.

ff. 149r-151r: Articles presented by Robert Bowes and William Davison, ambassadors for the Queen of England, to James VI, King of Scots, for the better satisfaction of Her Majesty, 1 Mar 1583. 17th-century copy.

ff. 151r-v: Letter of William Davison to Sir Francis Walsingham, Edinburgh, 4 Mar 1583. 17th-century copy.

ff. 152r-v: Letter of Robert Bowes to (?) Sir Francis Walsingham, Edinburgh, 4 Mar 1583. the letter addresses the recipient as Your Honour and refers to the recipient's letter of 23 Feb. Original.

ff. 153r-155r: Letter of Robert Bowes and William Davison to (?)Sir Francis Walsingham, Edinburgh, 4 Mar 1583. the recipient is addressed as Your Honour.

ff. 156r-158v: Letter of Archibald Douglas to Sir Francis Walsingham, Berwick, 7 Jan [?1581]. Original. In Scots.

ff. 160r-v: Letter of Robert Bowes to (?) Sir Francis Walsingham, Edinburgh, 10 Mar 1583. Bowes addresses the recipient as 'Sir' and 'Your Honour'.

ff. 161r-162v: Letter of Robert Bowes and William Davison to (?) Sir Francis Walsingham, 10 Mar 1583. The recipient is addressed as Your Honour.

ff. 163r-v: Letter of Sir Henry Cobham to Sir Francis Walsingham, Paris, 11 Mar 1583. 17th-century copy.

ff. 164r-v: Anonymous letter of Scottish intelligence, 14 Mar 1583. Original. In Scots. The author signs himself, 'Youris in the olde maner 4^o' and adds a sprawling postscript. The author has been identified as John Colville (though not on the document itself) but the hand does not seem to match Colville's.

ff. 165r-v: Letter of M (Sir Francis Walsingham) to Robert Bowes and William Davison, 14 Mar 1583. 17th-century copy.

ff. 166r-169v: Letter of Robert Bowes and William Davison to Sir Francis Walsingham, Edinburgh, 18 Mar 1583. With address.

f. 170r: Letter of Robert Bowes and William Davison to (?) Sir Francis Walsingham, Edinburgh, 18 Mar 1583.

ff. 172r-173v: Letter of Anthony Standen to John Lesley [Leslie], Bishop of Ross, Florence, 23 Mar 1583. In English, with some Latin and Italian; the address is in Italian.

ff. 175r-v: Letter of William Fowler to Sir Francis Walsingham, 24 Mar 1583. 17th-century copy. Calendar of State Papers relating to Scotland and Mary, Queen of Scots, 1547-1603, ed. by William K. Boyd. Vol. 6: 1581-1583 (Edinburgh, Scotland: H.M. General Register House, 1910), pp.

ff. 176r-177v: Some notes that may be laid to the charge of Archibald Douglas collected upon the sight of his letters deciphered and otherwise found in his chamber when apprehended, 1582. A 17th-century copy. Calendar of State Papers relating to Scotland and Mary, Queen of Scots, 1547-1603, ed. by William K. Boyd. Vol. 6: 1581-1583 (Edinburgh, Scotland: H.M. General Register House, 1910), pp. 175-7, give the date as Sep 1582.

ff. 178r-v: Copy of letter of Bertrand de Salignac de la Mothe-Fénelon to M. Manningville (i.e. François de Roncherolles, Sieur de Maineville), French diplomat, 27 Mar 1583. 17th-century copy.

ff. 180r-181v: Letter of Robert Bowes to (?) Sir Francis Walsingham, Edinburgh, 28 Mar 1583. Original.

ff. 182-185v: 17th-century copies of letters, 27-29 Mar 1583, made up of:

f. 182r: Letter of James Stewart, Earl of Arran to Robert Bowes, Kinneil, 27 Mar 1583.

ff. 182r-v: Letter of M (Sir Francis Walsingham) to Robert Bowes, Richmond, 28 Mar 1583.

ff. 182v-183v: Letter of Robert Bowes to Sir Francis Walsingham, 28 Mar 1583.

ff. 183v-185r: Letter of François de Roncherolles, Sieur de Maineville to Bertrand de Salignac de la Mothe-Fénelon, Edinburgh, 28 Mar 1583. In French.

ff. 185r-v: Letter of François de Roncherolles, Sieur de Maineville to Bertrand de Salignac de la Mothe-Fénelon, Edinburgh,Edinburgh, 29 Mar 1583. Copy of second letter. In French.

ff. 186r-v: Answers to the notes presented 'to ws', James VI, King of Scots, by Robert Bowes and William Davison, English ambassadors, 29 Mar 1583. Date added by a later scribe. Original, signed by King James.

f. 187r: Letter of M (Sir Francis Walsingham) to Robert Bowes, 28 Mar 1583. 17th-century copy.

f. 187v: Letter of M (Sir Francis Walsingham) to Robert Bowes, 30 Mar 1583. 17th-century copy.

f. 188r: Letter of M (Sir Francis Walsingham) to Robert Bowes, 31 Mar 1583. 17th-century copy.

ff. 189r-v: Letter of M (Sir Francis Walsingham) to George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury, 1 Apr 1583. 17th-century copy.

ff. 189v-190v: Letter of Letter of Michel de Castelnau, seigneur de Mauvissière, French Ambassador in England, to Sir Francis Walsingham, London, 6 Apr 1583. In French. 17th-century copy.

ff. 191r-192v: Extracts of the 'greefes' (grievances) of Mary, Queen of Scots, with the answers to the same, 2 Nov 1582, 6 Apr 1583.

ff. 193r-194v: Letter of Robert Bowes to Sir Francis Walsingham, Edinburgh, 6 Apr 1583. Original. With address.

ff. 196r-197v: Letter of Robert Bowes to (?) Sir Francis Walsingham, Edinburgh, 7 Apr 1583. Original. Partly in cipher.

f. 198r: Letter of William Fowler to (?) Sir Francis Walsingham, London, Wednesday, Apr 1583. At the foot of an apparently anonymous letter is the symbol identified in John Bossy, Under the Molehill, 2001, p. 163, as that of Fowler.

ff. 199r-200v; Letter of Archibald Douglas to Sir Francis Walsingham, Tower of London, 12 Jan 1583. With address. Original. In Scots. Douglas gives the date as the twenty-fifth month of his imprisonment and the first of my imprisonment. the date comes from the endorsement but is consistent with other evidence of Douglas's imprisonment.

ff. 201r-203r: Letter of Robert Bowes deciphered, Edinburgh, 12 apr 1583. 17th-century copy.

f. 203v: Letter of M (Sir Francis Walsingham) to Robert Bowes, 16 Apr 1583. 17th-century copy.

f. 204r: Anonymous Letter, 16 Apr 1583. Identified by the scribe as by William Fowler (or rather a symbol identified as code for his name by the code for Fowler's name identified by John Bossy, Under the Molehill, 2001, p. 163) to Walsingham. However, Walsingham appears in the third person in the text and the letter veers in address between 'My Lord' and 'Your Honour'.

ff. 205r-v: Letter of Robert Bowes to (?) Sir Francis Walsingham, Edinburgh, 19 Apr 1583.

ff. 207r-208v: Letter of Robert Bowes to Sir Francis Walsingham, Edinburgh, 23 Apr 1583. Original. With address.

ff. 209r-210v: Letter of Robert Bowes to Sir Francis Walsingham, Edinburgh, 23 Apr. 1583. Original. With address.

ff. 211r-v: Letter of Henry Fagot to Sir Francis Walsingham, Apr [or June] 1583. 17th-century copy. In French. John Bossy, Under the Molehill (2001), pp. 157-169, questions the date from the original of this endorsement (The National Archives, SP 53/12, f. 153v) to April and argues that June is a much more likely date.

ff. 212r-v: Letter of M (Sir Francis Walsingham) to Robert Bowes, 25 April 1583. 17th-century copy.

ff. 214-v: Memoranda of information passed on from the French Embassy by Henry Fagot, 24-29 Apr 1583. In French. 17th-century copy. Headed in this copy 'Advertisements touchinge the Scottish affayres'. John Bossy, Under the Molehill (2001), p. 163, suggests the dates here are new style, so in English old style dating 14-19 Apr 1583.

ff. 215r: Heading only, from [symbol of] William Fowler to Sir Francis Walsingham, with date of April 1583 ('May' is crossed out).

ff. 216r-219v: Instructions of James VI, King of Scots with the advice of his Privy Council to William Stewart ('Collonel William Steward'), Ambassador to Queen Elizabeth I, Holyrood House, 1583.

ff. 220r-v: A memorial of certain special matters recommended by Queen Elizabeth I to William Stewart and John Colville, Ambssadors from James VI, King of Scots, May 1583.

ff. 221r: Letter of William Fowler to Sir Francis Walsingham, London, 'this thursday'. 1583. Evidently an original. The letter addresses the recipient as 'My lord'. Identification of author and recipient from annotation by a 17th-century scribe.

ff. 222r-223v: Letter of Robert Bowes to Sir Francis Walsingham, Edinburgh, 8 May 1583. Original.

ff. 224r-225v: 17th-century copies and extracts of letters, 7-13 May 1583, made up of:

f. 224r: Letter of John Colville to Sir Francis Walsingham, 7 May 1583.

f. 224v: Letter of William Fowler to Sir Francis Walsingham, May 1583. John Bossy, Under the Molehill (2001), p. 162 considers this a misdating.

ff. 224v-225r: Letter of M (Sir Francis Walsingham) to Robert Bowes, Greenwich, 9 May 1583.

ff. 225-v: Letter of William Fowler to Sir Francis Walsingham, 11 May 1583. The original letter is The National Archives, SP 52/32, no. 19.

f. 225v: Letter of William Fowler to Sir Francis Walsingham, London, 13 May 1583.

ff. 226r-228r: 17th-century copies of various papers relating to Anglo-Scottish relations, made up of:

ff. 226r-v: Certain heads to be considered by Her Majesty and weighed according to the importance they carry with them, 14 May 1583.

ff. 226v-227r: The answers made on oath ('by way of apostilles') to the particular causes propounded by the Scottish Ambassadors wherein they desire redress by way of justice.

ff. 227r-228r: A capitulation of Her Majesty's benefits as well before the nativity of His Majesty the King of Scots as after.

ff. 229r-230v: Letter of Robert Bowes to Sir Francis Walsingham, Edinburgh, 18 May 1583. Original, with address. There are summary marginal notes in another hand to the text of the letter itself.

ff. 231r-233r: Letter of Robert Bowes to Sir Francis Walsingham, Edinburgh, 21 May 1583. 17th-century copy.

ff. 234r-235v: Letter of Robert Bowes to Sir Francis Walsingham, Edinburgh, 29 May 1583. Original, with address.

ff. 237r-240v: 17th-century copies of letters and extracts, made up odf:

ff. 237r-v: Letter of M (Sir Francis Walsingham) to Robert Bowes, Greenwich, 29 May 1583.

ff. 237v-238r: Letter of M (Sir Francis Walsingham) to Robert Bowes, , with a copy of new offers made by Archibald Douglas for his repair into Scotland, London, 29 May 1583.

ff. 238r-v: The copy of certain notes necessary to be performed to Mr Archibald Douglas before he can be able to come to his trial for the abominable and cruel murder of the King of Scots's father of good memory.

ff. 238v-239r: Letter of William Fowler to Sir Francis Walsingham, 29 May 1583.

ff. 239v-240r: Letter of William Fowler to Sir Francis Walsingham, May 1583.

ff. 240r-v: Letter of William Fowler to Sir Francis Walsingham, May 1583.

ff. 241r-v: Letter of Robert Bowes to Francis Walsingham, 'Lythkoe'[Linlithgow?], 1 Jun 1583. 17th-century copy.

f. 242r: Letter of William Fowler to Sir Francis Walsingham, London, 5 Jun 1583. 17th-century copy.

ff. 242r-v: Letter of M (Sir Francis Walsingham) to Robert Bowes, 5 Jun 1583. 17th-century copy.

ff. 243r-244v: Letter of Robert Bowes to Sir Francis Walsingham, Edinburgh, 10 Jun 1583. Original. With address.

f. 245v: Letter of M (Sir Francis Walsingham) to Robert Bowes, 12 Jun 1583. 17th-century copy.

ff. 246r-v: Letter of M (Sir Francis Walsingham) to Robert Bowes, 12 Jun 1583. 17th-century copy.

ff. 247r-248r: Letter of Robert Bowes to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, Edinburgh, 29 June 1583. Original. With address and endorsement. The text itself says 299 Jun, but the contemporary endorsement and 17th-century note both date to 19 June.

ff. 249v-250v: Letter of Anthony Standen to James Beaton, Archbishop of Glasgow, Florence, 23 Jun 1583. 17th-century copy. In English.

ff. 251r-252v: Letter of Robert Bowes to Sir Francis Walsingham, 27 Jun 1583. Original, with address and endorsement.

ff. 253r-254v: Letter of Robert Bowes to Sir Francis Walsingham, 29 Jun 1583. 17th-century copy.

ff. 255r-v: Letter of Robert Bowes to (?) Sir Francis Walsingham, Edinburgh, 29 Jun 1583. Original, address lost. The recipient is addressed as Your Honour.

ff. 257v-258v: Letter of James VI, King of Scots to Queen Elizabeth I, St Andrews Castle, 2 Jul 1583. In Scots, Original, with James's signature and postscript in his hand.

ff. 260r-263r: Letter of Robert Bowes to (?) Sir Francis Walsingham, St Andrews, 3 Jul 1583. Original. No address. Bowes the recipient Your Honour.

ff. 263r-264v: Letter of Robert Bowes to Sir Francis Walsingham, St Andrews, 9 July 1583. Original. With address.

ff. 266r-267v: Letter of Robert Bowes to Sir Francis Walsingham, St Andrews, 9 July 1583. Original. With address.

ff. 268r-271r: Three letters of M (Sir Francis Walsingham) to Robert Bowes, all 10 Jul 1583. 17th-cenury copies: ff. 268r-269v, 269v-270r (in cipher deciphered), 270r-271r.

ff. 272r-274r: Letter of Robert Bowes to (?) Sir Francis Walsingham, Edinburgh, 13 Jul 1583. Original. No address. Bowes addresses the recipient as Your Honour.

ff. 275r-276v: Letter of Robert Bowes to (?) Sir Francis Walsingham, Edinburgh, 16 Jul 1583. Original. No address. Bowes addresses the recipient as Your Honour.

ff. 277r-281v: Two letters of M (Sir Francis Walsingham) to Robert Bowes, both 21 Jul 1583. 17th-century copies (ff. 277r-278r; ff. 278v-281v).

f. 281r: Letter of Sir Francis Walsingham ('M: Walsingham') to William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, 1 Jul 1583. Extract. 17th-century copy.

ff. 281r-v: Letter of Sir Francis Walsingham to William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, 12 Jul 1583. 17th-century copy.

ff. 282r-283r: The particular answers of Henry Scrope, 9th Baron Scrope of Bolton, to the several heads of the letters of the Privy Council, 20 Jul 1583. 17th-century copy.

ff. 284r-286v: Letter of Robert Bowes to (?) Sir Francis Walsingham, Edinburgh., 21 Jul 1583. Original. No address, but Bowes addresses the recipient as Your Honour.

ff. 287r-v: Letter of Archibald Douglas to Sir Francis Walsingham, York, 21 Jul 1583. 17th-century copy.

ff. 288r-289v: Letter of Robert Bowes to Sir Francis Walsingham, St Johnston [i.e. Perth], 25 Jul 1583. Original. With address.

f. 291r: Letter of Sir Walter Kerr of Cessford to John Selby ('Mr John a Selby'), Deputy Warden of the East Marches, Cessford, 25 Jul 1583. 17th-century copy.

ff. 292r-v: Collections (i.e. extracts) out of certain letters in French sent from Mary, Queen of Scots into France, 6 - 10 July 1583. 17th-century copies. Extracts have been translated into English.

ff. 293r-294v: Letter of Robert Bowes to Sir Francis Walsingham, [Edinburgh], 26 Jul 1583. 17th-century copy.

ff. 294v-295r: Letter of M (Sir Francis Walsingham) to Robert Bowes, 27 Jul 1583. 17th-century copy.

ff. 295r-v: Proclamation by James VI, King of Scots against posthumous defaming of Esmé Stuart, 1st Duke of Lennox, Perth, 27 Jul 1583. 17th-century copy.

f. 295v: The order of the discharge given to the servants of James VI, King of Scots, 29 Jul 1583. 17th-century copy.

f. 296r: Letter of Archibald Douglas, 8th Earl of Angus to unknown recipient, Carlisle, 29 Jul 1583. Original.

f. 297r: Proclamation of James VI, King of Scots, Perth, 30 Jul 1583. 17th-century copy.

ff. 297r-v: Letter of Robert Bowes to Sir Francis Walsingham, 31 Jul 1583. 17th-century copy.

f. 298r: Letter of Catherine de Medici, Queen Mother of France to Queen Elizabeth I, Monceaulx, 16 Jul 1583. In French. 17th-century copy. Delivered by Madame de Mauvissière.

ff. 299r-v, 303r: Letter of Robert Bowes to (?) Sir Francis Walsingham, Edinburgh, St Johnstons, 31 Jul 1583. Original. No address; Bowes addresses recipient as Your Honour. Some use of cipher.

ff. 300r-302r: Letter of Robert Bowes to (?) Sir Francis Walsingham, Edinburgh, St Johnstons, 31 Jul 1583. Original. No address; Bowes addresses recipient as Your Honour.

ff. 304r-307r: Instructions of Queen Elizabeth I for Sir Walsingham, our Principal Secretary of State, sent to James VI, King of Scots. This starts as a draft with many emendations by William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley. It turns (ff. 306v-307r) to a draft wholly in Burghley's hand.

ff. 308r-v: Letter of Sir John Forster to (?) Sir Francis Walsingham, my house near Alnwick, 6 Aug 1583. the recipient (Your Honour) is not stated.

ff. 309r-v: Letter of Queen Elizabeth I to James VI, King of Scots, 7 Aug 1583. Original. The letter, which addresses James VI as 'My deare Brother and Cousin' is unsigned, but the italic hand in which it is written may be the Queen's.

ff. 310r-v: Letter of Robert Bowes to (?) Sir Francis Walsingham, 8 Aug 1583. 17th-century copy.

ff. 311r-v: Letter of Michel de Castelnau, seigneur de Mauvissière, French Ambassador in England, to Sir Francis Walsingham, London, 8 Aug 1583. in French. 17th-century copy.

ff. 312r-313v: A memorial of the chief matters committed to the charge of Sir Francis Walsingham, sent to James VI, King of Scots. Original. A draft in the hand of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley.

ff. 315r-v: Letter of Archibald Douglas, 15 Aug 1583. Original. Unsigned. The identification and the date come from the annotation of the 17th-century scribe. In Scots.

ff. 316r-v: Letter of Robert Bowes to (?) Sir Francis Walsingham, St Andrews, 17 Aug 1583. Original. No address; Bowes writes to the recipient as 'Your Honour'.

ff. 317r-318r: Notes of some orders to be remembered for the better and more quiet rule of the Borders in time to come, Aug 1583. 17th-century copy.

ff. 319r-v: A note of objections against Esmé Stuart, 1st Duke of Lennox and James Stewart, Earl of Arran expressed in the Common Declaration published after the action in Ruthven, 3 Sep 1583. 17th-century copy.

f. 320r: Letter of Sir Francis Walsingham to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, Edinburgh, 5 Sep 1583. Original.

ff. 321r-v: Letter of the English Ambassadors to Scotland to Queen Elizabeth I, 11 Sep 1583. 17th-century copy.

f. 322r: Letter of Sir Francis Walsingham to 'my Lord', St Johnston, 11 Sep 1583. Delivered by Mr Ashbye. 17th-century copy.

f. 323r: Proclamation by James VI, King of Scots, Falkland, 21 Sep 1583. 17th-century copy.

f. 323v: Extract of the proclamation of James VI, King of Scots, touching the Ruthven Raiders, 'touchinge thenterprisers in thaction at Ruthen', 22 Sep 1583. 17th-centiury copy.

f. 325r: Deciphered letter to Mary, Queen of Scots, 26 Sep 1583. In French. 17th-century copy. Some use of ciphers.

ff. 326r-327r: The resolution taken for the stay of the spoils and murder committed in the West and Middle Marches of England upon the conference had with Henry Scrope, 9th Baron Scrope of Bolton and Sir John Forster by Sir Francis Walsingham, Sep 1583. 17th-century copy.

f. 328r: Letter of Sir Henry Widdrington to 'My verie good L[ord]' (? William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley), Berwick, 10 Oct 1583. 17th-century copy.

ff. 329r-330v: Letter of Henry Scrope, 9th Baron Scrope of Bolton to the English Privy Council, Carlisle, 23 Oct 1583. Original. With address.

f. 331r: Extracts out of the proclamations of James VI, King of Scots, 24, 31 Oct 1583. 17th-century copies.

f. 331v: Proclamation of James VI, King of Scots, Edinburgh, 24 Oct 1583. 17th-century copy.

ff. 333r-334v: Letter of Henry Scrope, 9th Baron Scrope of Bolton to Sir Francis Walsingham, Carlisle, 25 Oct 1583. Original. With address.

f. 336r: Proclamation of James VI, King of Scots, touching the King's remission for the action of Ruthven, 30 Oct 1583. 17th-century copy.

ff. 338r-v: Letter of Jean Scott, Lady Ferniehirst to Mary, Queen of Scots, 4 Nov 1583. A deciphered letter. 17th-century copy.

f. 340r: Commission granted by James VI, King of Scots to certain ministers and others to deal with his rebels, Holyrood House, 23 Nov 1583. 17th-century copy.

f. 340v: The speeches of James VI, King of Scots, delivered to the Lord of Tulluthie (i.e. David Carnegie of Colluthie and Kinnaird), Mr David Lindsay and Andrew Hay, 25 Nov 1583. 17th-century copy.

ff. 341r-v: Letter of Jean Scott, Lady Ferniehirst to Mary, Queen of Scots, 25 Nov 1583. A deciphered letter. 17th-century copy.

f. 343r: Licence offered by James VI, King of Scots, to John Colville to depart out of Scotland (but not to go to England or Ireland, 3 Dec 1583). 17th-century copy.

ff. 344r-345v: Letter of John Colville, Berwick, 8 Dec 1583. Original.

f. 346r: An Act of the Assembly against those Ruthven Raiders who do not submit, Holyrood House, 7 Dec 1583. 17th-century copy.

ff. 346v-347v: Letter of A. (?Alexander) Hay to Lady Lochleven (Agnes Leslie, wife of William Douglas of Lochleven), 12 Dec 1583. 17th-century copy.

ff. 349r-350r: Examination of Lord Henry Howard by Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon, 11 Dec 1583. Original.

ff. 351r-352r: Instructions of Henri III, King of France, to the French Ambassador, Michel de Castelnau, seigneur de Mauvissière, for his voyage into Scotland, St Germain-en-Laye, 17 Dec 1583. 17th-century copies.

ff. 353r-354v: The substance of the despatch of James VI, King of Scots to Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon, 26 Dec 1583. The despatch includes notes of the misbehaviour of the King's subjects endangering his estate subscribed with his own hand (ff. 353v-354v). 17th-century copy.

ff. 357r-359v: Letter of (?John) Keith to Queen Elizabeth I, Edinburgh, 1 Jan 1584. Original. With address. The surname is clear enough and the signature may include a 'J' at the front.

ff. 361r-362r: Examination of Lord Henry Howard, Jan 1584. An original, signed by Howard and counter-signed by Robert Beale.

ff. 365r-v: Copy of the general band subscribed by James VI, King of Scots, and nobility, after the Ruthven raid, Jan 1584. the signatories are the King, and the Earls of Angus, Huntley and Gowrie. 17th-century copy.

ff. 368r-v: Letter of Robert Bowes to Sir Francis Walsingham, 5 Feb 1584. 17th-century copy.

ff. 368v-369r: Letter of Robert Bowes to Sir Francis Walsingham, 13 Feb 1584. 17th-century copy.

ff. 369r-370r: Letter of Robert Bowes to Sir Francis Walsingham, 13 Feb 1584. 17th-century copy.

ff. 371r-v: Message of James VI, King of Scots to Queen Elizabeth I, by Col. William Stewart, 16 Feb 1584. 17th-century copy.

ff. 373r-374v: Letter of Robert Bowes to Sir Francis Walsingham, Berwick, 24 Feb 1584. Original. With address.

ff. 376r-v: Letter of John Colville to unnamed recipient, Edinburgh, 13 Mar 1584. Original. Colville calls him both 'Your Honour' and 'Your Lordship'.

ff. 377r-v: Letter of Robert Bowes to (?) Sir Francis Walsingham, Berwick, 15 Mar 1584. Original. No address; Bowes calls the recipient 'Your Honour'.

ff. 378r-379v: Letter of Robert Bowes to (?) Sir Francis Walsingham, Berwick, 15 Mar 1584. Original. No address; Bowes calls the recipient 'Sir' and 'Your Honour'.

ff. 380r-381v: Letter of Robert Bowes to Sir Francis Walsingham, Berwick, 20 Mar 1584. Original. With address. Bowes calls the recipient 'Sir' and 'Your Honour'.

f. 382r: Letter of Robert Bowes to (?) Sir Francis Walsingham, Berwick, 20 Mar 1584. Original. No address; Bowes calls the recipient 'Your Honour'.

f. 383r: Letter of Robert Bowes to (?) Sir Francis Walsingham, Berwick, 24 Mar 1584. Original. No address; Bowes calls the recipient 'Your Honour'.

ff. 384r-v: A paper of intelligence concerning Sir Thomas Kerr of Ferniehirst, the Earls of Gowrie and Bothwell, Michel de Castelnau, seigneur de Mauvissière and Mary Queen of Scots, 183. Perhaps part of a letter from William Fowler to Sir Francis Walsingham.