Add MS 48049

This volume is made up of copies and drafts relating to Mary Queen of Scots and more broadly to Scottish politics in the reign of King James VI (up to c. 1600). The volume forms part of the papers collected by Robert Beale, Clerk of the Council, and there are many endorsements, memoranda and drafts in his hand.

Included are copies of correspondence and papers generated by negotiations between Mary, Queen of Scots, and the English government: with Sir William Cecil and Sir Walter Mildmay at Chatsworth, Oct 1570 (153r-172v) and with Robert Beale and George, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury at Sheffield, 1583-1584 (ff. 179r-229v). Most striking are two letters from Queen Elizabeth to Mary Queen of Scots (f. 199r: 27 May 1583 and ff. 282r-v where Beale has added to the bottom of the text sentences as from "El. R", which were evidently her holograph subscriptions to the formal text).

A number of these documents have been identified as originally amongst the papers of Thomas Norton (1530x1532-1584), at the time of his death and later coming into the hands of his friend Robert Beale. (Taviner, 'Robert Beale', drawing on the inventory of his manuscripts taken at his death in Cecil Papers, 140/5, http://search.proquest.com/docview/1858034158?accountid=9735 [accessed 7 Feb 2019]). The number of the item on the Norton inventory and the page reference to Taviner have been given in these cases.

Contents:

ff. 2v-3r: Genealogical table of the family of Edward III, late 16th century.

ff. 4r-8v. "Confutatio titulo Scotici ad Coronam Angliae", n.d. (1565?). Latin. References to the Suffolk family and Henry Stuart, Viscount Darnley, suggest the year of the marriage between Darnley and Mary, Queen of Scots, ff. 4, 6, 7v. Probably acquired by Robert Beale from Thomas Norton's papers (Norton inventory, no. 9; Taviner, 'Robert Beale', 272).

ff. 10r-29v. "The Q. of Scotts title confuted" (title-page, f. 10r.). (?1569). Apparently by Thomas Norton. A reply to arguments put by John Leslie, Bishop of Ross, in Book 2 of his A defence of the honour of . . . Marie Quene of Scotlande . . . with a declaration as well of her right . . . to the succession of the crowne of Englande. Possibly in Norton's own hand (compare with British Library, Lansdowne MS 31, f. 12). Ross's book was first published in 1569. (In the inventory of Norton's papers, 1584, possibly no. 28, "A discourse uppon the title of the Q. of Scottes to this crowne" or no. 29, "A defence of the Q. of Scottes title to the crowne of Englande, with an answer ther[in] without a beginning").

ff. 34r-37v. Papers relating to the dispute between James VI and the Kirk of Scotland, namely events after the Edinburgh riot of 17 Dec 1596, Dec 1596-Jan 1597. Copies. As follows:

f. 34r: Bond presented by the King for subscription by all ministers [20 Dec 1596].

ff. 34v-35v: "A Supplication to be made to his Ma[jes]tie and Estates contayning their Apologie, and the just and necessary cause of their absence and removing at this tyme".

ff. 36r-37v: "Reasounes induceing us rather to tak our tymesome flight the to susteirne Difficulties of long imprisonment at the last if not bloodie and barbarous cruelties" [early Jan.?] 1597. Possibly the "Apologie" of James Balfour and William Watson, see Calderwood, History of the Kirk, V, 575. Balfour and Watson were among ministers who fled from Edinburgh to avoid proceedings taken against them by the King, see Calderwood, History of the Kirk, V, 520-521. The 'Apology' etc., of another minister, Robert Bruce, is printed in Calderwood, History of the Kirk, V, 553-575.

ff. 38r-67r. "The Historie and lyfe of K[ing] James the sixt", n.d. late 16th century. The text covers the period 1566-1582. The full text of this anonymous work, written in different phases and probably by different authors, ends with the year 1617; it is printed under the title The Historie and Life of King James the Sext, ed. Thomas Thomson, Bannatyne Club, 13, 1825. The present text ends with the year 1582, p. 188 in the printed edition. From internal evidence, this opening section was probably written between 1588 and 1597. The hand of this text is the same as that for ff. 34r-37v.

ff 74r-103v: "Treatise to the Quene; title to the Crowne of Englande by the Scot: Q": treatise by Thomas Norton, addressed to Elizabeth I, on the title of Mary, Queen of Scots, to the English throne, 1571-1572. Notes and amendments, possibly in Norton's own hand, e.g, ff. 74r, 78r. For another copy, with see Add. 48098. Written while parliament was sitting (f. 103v), this addresses Queen Elizabeth as from "we" (meaning Parliament?). It was evidently written by Thomas Norton, a leading polemicist against the claims of Mary, Queen of Scots to the English crown, who was active in the parliaments of 1571 and 1572 in attempts to (at the least) bar Mary from the succession. There is another copy of the text, in another hand, with variations, in Add. Ms. 48049, ff. 74r-103v. The two copies can be identified as amongst Norton's papers at the time of his death: "A treatise written to her ma[jest]ie concerning the title of the Scottishe Queene to the crowne of England" and "A treatise written to her Ma[jes]tie against the Q. of Scottes" (Norton inventory, nos. 14, 54; Taviner, "Robert Beale, 272, 277). Variations between the two texts are generally minor, but a whole passage which presents the case for why it is lawful to execute Mary Queen of Scots is omitted from this version. f. 74r. is a title-page, with brief notes on the book in ink and (up-side) pencil jottings.

f. 104r: Genealogy of the Kings of Scotland from Robert Bruce to James VI, 1575. Endorsed in Robert Beale's hand "sent unto me by Mr Alexander Haye 1575 13 octobris".

ff. 105r-112v: "De statu Reginae Scotiae, Princess eius filii. Et totius Regni brevis narration ib anno 1540 unsque an[no] 78". Relation of the state of Scotland and the career of Mary, Queen of Scots, 1542-1578, prepared by John Leslie, Bishop of Ross, for Emperor Rudolf II, Oct 1578. Latin. Copy. Leslie undertook a mission to the Emperor, Sept-Oct 1578, with the aim of furthering the cause of Mary.

ff. 105r-112v: "De statu Reginae Scotiae, Princess eius filii. Et totius Regni brevis narration ib anno 1540 unsque an[no] 78". Relation of the state of Scotland and the career of Mary, Queen of Scots, 1542-1578, prepared by John Leslie, Bishop of Ross, for Emperor Rudolf II, Oct 1578. Printed from the present manuscript as an appendix to Lockie, 'The political career of the Bishop of Ross, 1568-80' (1953-54).

ff. 113r-116v: "A breife Collection of the whole Nobility of Scotland . . . ", April 1589. For another version in the same hand, with Lord Burghley's marginal genealogical notes and endorsement, dated 10 April 1589, The National Archives, SP 52/43, no. 35. Possibly enclosed in a letter from William Asheby, English envoy to Edinburgh, to Walsingham, dated 10 April, see The National Archives, SP 52/43, no. 34.

ff. 117v-118v. "Names of the Dukes Earles and Lordes of Scotland and howe they are affected", 1589. The list categorizes as good, bad, doubted or young, and also notes the kin connections of the nobles' wives.ff. 120r-122v: List of noblemen, bishops, abbots and priors (commendators) in Scotland, n.d. [Jan.-July 1574]. In Robert Beale's hand. The date is derived from internal evidence: John Douglas (d. 31 July 1574) is listed as Archbishop of St Andrews, and George Douglas (elected 22 Dec 1573) as Bishop of Moray.

ff. 124-128v. 'Certaine notes to be advised upon concerning the present state of the realme of Scotland', [summer?] 1583. A treatise written from an English Protestant viewpoint relating to Catholic, French and Spanish influence in Scotland during the ascendancy of Esmé Stuart, 1st Duke of Lennox: suggestions are made for strengthening the English alliance and the Protestant religion. Written after the death of Lennox in May 1583.

ff. 129r-132v. "Reasons to confute the opinion conceavid that the Duke of Lennox hath 17 Earles and 18 Lordes in Scotland for his assistaunce & that he is more strong then the noble men that have expelled him", Sep 1582-May 1583. Composed between the fall of Lennox and his death.

ff. 133r-136v: Documents relating to the overthrow of James Stewart, Earl of Arran; Oct-Nov 1585. Latin. Copies. A group of nobles returned from exile in England in late October, gathered an army and took Stirling Castle on 2 Nov, thereby getting control of the King. As follows:

ff. 133r-135r: Proclamation issued by the exiled nobles laying out their cause. A Latin copy, "Proclamatio per Scotos nobiles in Lucam edita, continens causas, quibus movebantur ad Regiam Maiestatem se se conferre Sterlinck secundo die Novembris'. . 1585. There is an English version, "Copie of the Proclamacion published by the Scottish LL[ords] upon their entrie into Scotland, dated Oct 1588, in British Library, Cotton MS Caligula C VIII, ff. 358r-360v.

ff. 135r-136r: Narrative of the attack on Stirling and subsequent events: "Narratio rerum gestarum a iuris nobilitatis scotiorum adversus religionis et legum patriorum oppressores", early Nov 1585. Copy, in Latin. Some passages are close to the account printed in English in Calderwood, Calderwood, History of the Kirk, IV, 389-393.

ff. 137r-142v: List of Scots noblemen, gentry and commendators of religious houses, noting significant personal characteristics and religious and political affiliations, 1581. Also listed are peers and prelates "zelous to the religion as it is nowe in Scotland professte", ff. 141v-142r, and others who are "Notorious Papistes" or "suspected", f. 142.

ff. 143r-148v. Account of the confession (the conference between the Earl and Mr John Durye and Mr Walter Balinquall) and execution of James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton, 2 June 1581. Copy. Endorsed by Robert Beale, f. 148v. For another copy see Add. 48027, ff. 137r-142v.

ff. 149r-150v. Memoranda on the revenue of Scotland; late 16th cent. With autograph note and endorsement by Beale.

ff. 151r-152v: 'The present state of the nobilitye of Scotland', n.d. [1577]. There are other copies in The National Archives, SP 52/27, ff. 41r-42v and British Library, Cotton MS Caligula C V, ff. 104r-105v; both give the date of 1577 which is confirmed by internal evidence.

ff. 153r-172v: Papers relating to negotiations conducted by Sir William Cecil and Sir Walter Mildmay with Mary, Queen of Scots, at Chatsworth, Sep-Oct 1570. Copies all in the same hand, and together forming a small booklet (ff. 153r is the title-page; ff. 153v-167r text; ff. 167v-172r blank and f. 172v endorsement. As follows:

f. 153r: Title-page: "The negotiation of the L[ord] Thre[ase]rer and S[i]r Walter Mildmay w[i]th the Scottish Queene at Chattsworth".

ff. 153v-154v: Commission from Elizabeth I to Sir William Cecil and Sir Walter Mildmay, Reading, 20 Sep 1570.

ff. 155r-156v: Two sets of articles put to Mary Queen of Scots by English envoys [5 Oct. 1570]. As follows:

ff. 155r-v, 156r-v: "Matters necessarie to be required of the Queene of Scottes for the particuler comoditie of the Queenes Ma[jes]tie and her Realme" (ff 155r-v) and "The manner of the assurances for the Premisses" (ff. 156r-v). For another copy of both, a draught with corrections in Cecil's hand, see The National Archives, SP 53/5, ff. 149r-150v. Both items are printed, together with the Queen's replies (ff. 158r-160r) in A Collection of State Papers ... left by William Cecill, ed. by S. Haynes and W. Murden, 2 vols (London, 1740-1759), I, 608-14, from Articles delivered to the Queen of Scots. 1. Document headed, "Articles delivered to the Queen of Scots..]. 1570. Hertfordshire: The Marquess of Salisbury (and related entries in Vol. 157) and The Answers of the Queen of Scots. vol. 157, The Marquess of Salisbury, Hertfordshire, 1570. ProQuest, https://search.proquest.com/docview/1858019376?accountid=9735 [accessed 1 March 2019]; SP Scot. 1569-1571, no. 506.

f. 157r: 'Reasons to move the Q[ueen] of Scottes to the articles for the Q[ueen] of England w[hi]ch may be used as cause shalbe geven by her maner of answers" [Sep?]. For another copy, see Cotton MS Caligula C I, ff. 425r-v.

ff. 158r-160r: Answers of the Queen of Scots to the articles and suggested safeguards, 6 Oct 1570 [recte 5 Oct]. For a draft of the answers, dated 5 Oct, with emendations later incorporated and a postscript omitted here, see British Library, Cotton MS Caligula C II, ff. 49r-53v.

ff. 160v-161r: Memoranda made by the envoys for Elizabeth I, Sir William Cecil and Sir Walter Mildmay, on Queen Mary's answers to the articles, enclosed in their letter to Elizabeth, 2 Oct 1570. There is another copy, The National Archives, SP 53/5, ff. 155r-156v. See ff. 164r-165v.

ff. 161v-163v: Letter from Elizabeth I to her envoys Sir William Cecil and Sir Walter Mildmay, from Windsor Castle, 13 Oct 1570.

ff. 164r-165v: Letter from Sir William Cecil and Sir Walter Mildmay to Elizabeth I, from Chatsworth, 2 Oct 1570 (for enclosure, see ff. 160v-161r).

ff. 166r-167r: Letter from Sir William Cecil and Sir Walter Mildmay to Elizabeth I, from Chatsworth, 5 Oct 1570.

ff. 173r-189r. Correspondence of George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury and Robert Beale, during negotiations with Mary, Queen of Scots, at Sheffield, April 1583. Copies. As follows:

ff. 173r-179r: Letter from George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury and Robert Beale to Queen Elizabeth I, from Sheffield Castle, 16 April 1583. Both signatures in Beale's hand.

ff. 179v-180r: Letter from George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury and Robert Beale to Walsingham, Secretary of State, from Sheffield Castle, 16 April 1583.

ff. 180v-181r: Letter from Robert Beale to Sir Francis Walsingham, from Sheffield Castle, 16 April 1583.

ff. 181v-182v: Letter from Robert Beale to Sir Francis Walsingham, from Sheffield Castle, 17 April 1583.

ff. 184r-184v: Letter from George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury and Robert Beale to Sir Francis Walsingham, from Sheffield Castle, 22 April 1583.

ff. 185r-189r: Letter from George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury and Robert Beale to Sir Francis Walsingham, from Sheffield Castle, 26 April 1583.

ff. 193r-198v: Narrative of negotiations at Sheffield between Mary, Queen of Scots, George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury and Robert Beale; 26-28 May 1584. A draft, with amendments and whole passages in Beale's own hand; endorsement in Beale's hand. there is another copy in BL, Cotton MS Caligula C VIII, ff. 57r-59v.

ff. 199r-208v. Papers relating to negotiations at Sheffield in May and June 1583 between Mary, Queen of Scots, George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury and Sir Walter Mildmay, which Beale attended, April-June 1583. Copies, with memoranda by Beale. This section, which ends with a blank (f. 209), bears contemporary foliation (ff. 2-13). As follows

f. 199r: Letter from Queen Elizabeth I to Mary, n.d. (27 May 1583). The date comes from the copy in British Library, Cotton MS Caligula C VIII, f. 85r , where the letter is described as "Creditt" for Sir Walter Mildmay. The version in Add MS 48049 has a passage added below the letter in the hand of Robert Beale: "Yo[u]r dearest Sister if it had pleased you so to have kept her El. R".

ff. 199v-200r: Proposals by Mary, extracted from letters sent by Robert Beale and George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury to the court during their negotiations at Sheffield in April 1583, April-May 1583.

ff. 200v-202r: Instructions from Elizabeth I to Shrewsbury and Mildmay, n.d. (24 May 1583). The date comes from the copy in Cotton MS Caligula C VIII, ff. 83r-84v.

ff. 202v-203v: Letter from George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury and Sir Walter Mildmay to Queen Elizabeth I, from Sheffield Castle, 4 June 1583. In Robert Beale's hand, "Copy of the first Letter unto her M[ajes]ty".

f. 204r: A note of three articles delivered to Mary, Queen of Scots, 2 Jun 1583. The date is derived from the account in Shrewsbury's and Mildmay's letter of 4 June (f. 202 v.).

ff. 204v-205v: Answers of the Queen of Scots to the articles in f. 204v above. [2?] June 1583. Note by Robert Beale: "The Scottishe Quenes answers delivred in writing".

ff. 206r-v: Letter from Queen Elizabeth I to Shrewsbury and Mildmay, from Greenwich, 11 June 1583. The copy in Cotton MS Caligula C VIII, ff. 86v-87r, and the (incomplete) draft in The National Archives, SP 53/12, ff. 76r-77v, date the letter to 10 June. Robert Beale notes as "The Q. Mtys Letter".

ff. 207r-208v: Letter from George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury and Sir Walter Mildmay to Queen Elizabeth I, carried by Beale, from Sheffield Castle, 17 June 1583. Beale notes as "The Copy of the Letter Sent by Robert Beale".

ff. 210r-219v: Instructions to George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury and Robert Beale for the conduct of their negotiations with Mary, Queen of Scots, Richmond, 6 April 1583. The original text, signed by Queen Elizabeth I (f. 210r) and Sir Francis Walsingham (f. 217v). Endorsed by Beale, who notes it 'B'.

ff. 220r-223v: Instructions to Robert Beale for the conduct of negotiations with Mary, Queen of Scots; Greenwich, 4 May 1584. The original text, signed by Queen Elizabeth I (f. 220r) and Sir Francis Walsingham (f. 221v).

ff. 224r-229v. Papers relating to negotiations at Sheffield between Mary, Queen of Scots, George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury and Robert Beale, May 1584. Copies. Endorsed by Beale, f. 229v. As follows:

ff. 224r-228v: Letter from Robert Beale and George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury to Sir Francis Walsingham, 16 May. The recipient is not named, but the original letter, with Walsingham's marginal notes, is The National Archives, SP 53/13, pp. 6-81.

ff. 228v-229v: Letter of Queen Elizabeth I to George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewbury, from Greenwich, 23 May 1584.

ff. 230r-233v. Instructions to William Ashby al. Asheby, envoy to Scotland; 30 June 1588. Draft, with amendments in Burghley's hand. endorsed "30 June 1588 Instructions for A.B. to be sent into Scoteland. T.1."

ff. 234r-237r:: Articles for negotiation between Mary, Queen of Scots, James VI and Elizabeth I, April 1582. There are separate series of articles for agreement by 'the Scotishe Queene and her sonne' (ff. 234r-236r); for James VI (f. 236v) and Elizabeth I (f. 237r) with autograph amendments and memoranda by Robert Beale. State Papers Scotland, 1581-1583, pp. 116-17 (Articles for a projected treaty, SP 53/12, ff. 13r-14r); pp. 113-5 (Letter of Mary Queen of Scots to Robert Beale, 16 Apr 1582, SP 53/12, ff. 11r-12v).

ff. 238r-239v: Letter from Elizabeth I to George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury, 4 May 1584. So identified from endorsement.

ff. 240r-244v. "A declaration of the Scotishe Queenes demeanors towardes her Ma[jes]tye, &c since her highness coming to the Crowne. An account of the actions of Mary, Queen of Scots towards Elizabeth I since the latter's accession, n.d. (1582). Written before the fall of the Duke of Lennox in Aug 158 (f. 244b); The document refers to negotiations between Beale and the Queen of Scots, probably those of Nov 1581, and was written before the fall of the Duke of Lennox in Aug 1582 (ff. 244r-244v).

ff. 246r-248v: Memorial of sundry breaches of promise made by King James VI towards Queen Elizabeth and others, and his answers and excuses for the same, n.d. (autumn 1583?). The memorial was written after the restoration of the Earl of Arran to favour and refers to James's letter to Elizabeth of 2 July 1583 as written July "last" (f. 248r).

ff. 249r-250v. Five causes against Mary, Queen of Scots, presented by the Attorney and the Solicitor-General to a Committee of Both Houses in the parliament of 1572, 13 May 1572. Probably a manuscript once owned by Thomas Norton (Norton inventory no. 20; Taviner, "Robert Beale", 273). Printed from the present manuscript in Hartley, pp. 270-272.

ff. 251r-256v. Memoranda and extracts from letters, by and concerning Mary, Queen of Scots and plots against Elizabeth I, covering the period 1574-1581, and n.d. As follows:

ff. 251r-252v: "Collections out of lettres": "Intertaynment of Rebelles" (f. 251r.) and "Delivery sought by practise wt. forain princes" (ff. 251v-252r). 1574-1578.

ff. 253r-254r: (b) 'Practisers and practises against her Mtie'; 4 Feb. 1582. Endorsed 'coll. 4 Feb. 1581.A.'.

ff. 255r-256v: Extracts from deciphered letters, and note from John Hawkins that he has been solicited by the King of Spain to join the rebels in restoring the Catholic faith and putting Mary on the throne. Text and endorsement probably in Robert Beale's hand; the endorsement notes the deciphered letters and also the "Names of persons wel affects to the Span[ish] faction".

ff. 257r-260v. Discourse by Thomas Randolph, relating to the good offices performed by Elizabeth I towards Scotland, 16 Feb. 1586 [or 1587]. Copy. Randolph was envoy to Scotland, Feb-July 1586, but the date, which comes from the endorsement, is clearly 1586, so either a clerical error or the date is 1587 new style.

ff. 261r-262v. Evidence of proposals for an Association between Mary, Queen of Scots, and James VI in the Crown of Scotland. [June 1583?]. In English and French. With notes at the end, dated 2 June, in the hand of Robert Beale. References to French embassies to Scotland in early 1583, to former negotiations between the author, presumably Beale and the Queen of Scots (f. 261r), and the date "2 June" (f. 261v), suggest the period of Beale's negotiations at Sheffield, May-June 1583.

ff. 263r-265v. Letter from Mary, Queen of Scots, to Elizabeth I, from Sheffield, 8 Nov. 1582. In French. A copy made for Michel de Castelnau, Seigneur de Mauvissière, French envoy to England, in the hand of Claude al. Jacques Nau, Mary's secretary. The original in Cotton MS Caligula C VII, ff. 77r-81v.

ff. 266r-267v. Letter from Mary, Queen of Scots, to supporters in exile on the continent; 8 April n.y. [1569]. English translation from cipher. Endorsed by Robert Beale "Coppy of a lettre from the Quene of Scottes, in the time of the Northern rebellion". A postscript asks the recipient, probably James Beaton, Archbishop of Glasgow, "to shewe this lettre to them whose names are in mine ordinarie letter". The letter is one of those excerpted in the collection dated 2 Feb 1582 (f. 253r). For the dating of the letter, and a transcription of it, see Basing, 'Robert Beale and the Queen of Scots' (1994), 67-68, 74-5.

ff. 268r-271v: Letter from Mary, Queen of Scots, to James Beaton, Archbishop of Glasgow. Dated "9 b' 1577" (f. 268r). Extracts, in French. Endorsed in the hand of Robert Beale (f. 271v). The complete letter is printed in Labanoff, iv, pp. 382-390; see also SP Scot. 1574-1581, no. 272, where dated 31 Aug 1577.

ff. 272r-273r: Letter from Mary, Queen of Scots, to Michel de Castelnau, Seigneur de Mauvissière, French envoy to England, from Sheffield, 22 March 1584. In French. Copy in the hand of the English agent in the French embassy, probably Laurent Feron. See John Bossy, Under the Molehill: An Elizabethan Spy Story (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2001), 44-61.

ff. 274r-274v: Letter from Mary, Queen of Scots, to Michel de Castelnau, Seigneur de Mauvissière, French envoy to England [22 March 1584]. In French. Copy probably in the hand of Laurent Feron. For date, identification of recipient and transcription, see Basing, 'Robert Beale and the Queen of Scots' (1994), 70, 77-80.

ff. 275r-276v. Letter from Mary, Queen of Scots, to Elizabeth I, from Sheffield, 27 May 1584. In French. Copy in the hand of Claude al. Jacques Nau, Mary's secretary, made for Robert Beale (endorsed "Pour Beale"). Also an endorsement in Beale's hand.

ff. 277r-279*v. Extracts from correspondence of Mary, Queen of Scots, and from other letters concerning plots against Elizabeth I, 1570-1577; Feb-March 1578. In French and English. Correspondents include Mary, Queen of Scots, Nicholas Sander, the Cardinal of Lorraine, James Beaton, Archbishop of Glasgow, and the Spanish ambassador de Spes. Recipients are Mary, Archbishop Beaton and Sir Francis Englefield. A concluding memorandum, f. 278v, refers to a letter from Sir Amyas Paulet of 12 Feb. 1578 warning of an intended invasion on behalf of Mary.

ff. 280r-281v. Letter from Mary, Queen of Scots, to Michel de Castelnau, Seigneur de Mauvissière, French envoy to England, 2 Jan 1584. In French. Copy, probably in the hand of Laurent Feron. Endorsed by Robert Beale, f. 281v.

ff. 282r-283v: Memorandum of letter from Elizabeth I to Mary, Queen of Scots; 4 May 1584. The date in the endorsement by Robert Beale of the present manuscript, 4 April 1584, is an error. For another copy, also a draft or memorandum, see The National Archives, SP 53/13, ff. 72r-73r. Beale, who delivered the letter, added to this version a passage not in either of the texts of the drafts: "Your Cousin even so is one as by desertes you might have had affectionate unto you El R".

ff. 284r-289v. Letter from Mary, Queen of Scots to James Beaton, Archbishop of Glasgow, from Sheffield, 6 Nov. 1577. In French. Extract from an original in cipher. Endorsed by Robert Beale, f. 289v.

ff. 290r-291v. Extracts from letters of and concerning Mary, Queen of Scots, 1577; Dec. 1578. Endorsed as sent with a letter to the Earl of Shrewsbury 14 Dec. 1578.

ff. 292r-293v. Letter from Mary, Queen of Scots, to Elizabeth I, 27 April [new style?] 1583. In French. A copy in the hand of Claude alias Jacques Nau, Mary's secretary. Endorsed by Robert Beale, who was at Sheffield in April 1583, and for whom this copy may have been made (see ff. 275r-276v).

ff. 294r-295v. Substance of instructions from Henry III, King of France, to Bertrand de Salignac, Sieur de la Mothe Fénélon, on his mission to Scotland, Nov 1582. French. Copy. State Papers Scotland, 1581-1583, 261-2 dates the item January 1583. Fénélon arrived in England on his way to Scotland on 18 Nov. 1582, but did not leave London for Edinburgh until late December.

ff. 296r-297v: Response of James VI to a memorial from Henry III of France, presented by Fénélon, French envoy to Scotland; 20 Jan 1583. In French. Copy. See also Cotton MS. Caligula CVII, ff. 121-122 for another copy.

ff. 298r-298v. Letter from Mary, Queen of Scots, to Elizabeth I; 18 Feb. 1583. English translation.

ff. 300r-300v: Letter from Mary, Queen of Scots to Elizabeth I, from Sheffield, 16 June 1583. French. In hand of Claude alias Jacques Nau, secretary to Mary, Queen of Scots.

ff. 301r-301v: Memorial from Claude alias Jacques Nau, secretary to Mary, Queen of Scots to Robert Beale on behalf of Queen Mary, Sheffield, 28 Apr 1583. In French. Endorsed by Robert Beale.

ff. 302r-303v: Letter Claude alias Jacques Nau and Gilbert Curll, secretaries to Mary, Queen of Scots to Sir Francis Walsingham, July 1587. In French. In Nau's informal hand; signed by Nau and Curll.

f. 304r-305v. Letter to Walsingham from Pierre Loyseleur, Sieur de Villiers, a Huguenot minister exiled in the Netherlands and in the service of the Prince of Orange; 8 Dec. 1582. In French. Endorsed; "1582 Decemb. 8 From Monsr de Villiers. Scotland. Advise. R".

ff. 306r-306v: Letter from Patrick O'Healy [O'Hely], Bishop of Mayo, to Pope Gregory XIII; Paris, 27 April 1578. In Latin. The name of the copyist has been heavily crossed out.

ff. 307r-308v: Letter from John Leslie, Bishop of Ross, to Cardinal Franciscus Alciatus, Protector of Ireland; late autumn 1579. Latin. Copy. Leslie refers to the arrival of Esme Stuart, Sieur D'Aubigny (later Duke of Lennox) in Scotland in Sep 1579 and other events of Sep and Oct in that year. Apparently the copy letter referred to in State Papers Foreign, 1581-1582, 34-5 and State Papers Scotland, 1574-1581, 625-7.

ff. 309r-310v. Letter from Thomas Fowler, an English agent in Scotland. to Sir Francis Walsingham, from Edinburgh, Easter Day [30 Mar] 1589. Endorsed by Robert Beale "31 March".

ff. 311r-314r. Extracts from the Basilikon Doron of James VI, c. 1600. Composed by James VI for his son, Prince Henry, in 1598, the work was first printed in 1599. The present extracts are more akin to the Anglicised texts of the early printed versions than to the King's original composition in Scots, Royal MS 18 B XV.

ff. 315r-317v. 'Propositiones ministrorum Scotie serenissimo regi oblatae': 27 propositions on church government and discipline, presented by Scots ministers to James VI, with the King's reply; late 16th cent. In Latin. Endorsement by Robert Beale.

ff. 319r-320v. Letter from James VI to Scots ministers in exile in London, from Falkland, 10 June 1584. Copy. The form of the letter is to a preacher in London exhorting him to return to London. Endorsed by Robert Beale: "The Scotish Kings Letter for Ministers". He also endorses it "The B. of St. Andrewes Lres Patentes", with beneath it " The letter wherin he sayeth that their is more religion in the K. then the Q. Mty:". There is another copy, dated 9 June in Cotton MS Caligula C VIII, ff. 66r-66v.

ff. 321r-v: Proclamation of James VI, Holyrood, 2 Jan 1596. Printed by Robert Walde-grave, Edinburgh. A proclamation ordering a general muster on 2 Feb and calling for peace on the Borders. Endorsed by Robert Beale. Text as ESTC S124088 (STC 21950), but an unrecorded edition.

ff. 322r-v: "The copie of the Proclamatioun . . . for ane conventioun of the Professouris of the trew Religioun . . . ", Edinburgh, 3 Oct. 1572. Printed by R. Lekpreuik, St Andrews. St Andrews. R. Lekpreuik. 1572. Endorsed by Robert Beale. As ESTC 124064 (STC 21940), but an unrecorded edition.

ff. 323r-324v. Proclamation of James VI against Patrick Gray, Master of Gray, Holyrood, 15 May 1587. Manuscript copy. With memorandum that the proclamation was read with sound of trumpet at the Market Cross, Edinburgh, on 26 June 1587. (Calderwood, iv, p. 614, gives the date of publication as 16 June).

ff. 325r-326v. Agreements concerning the government of the church of Scotland, made at the conference of ministers and councillors at Holyrood, 17, 19 Feb 1586. Endorsement by Robert Beale.

ff. 327r-328v: "The forme of certen devyces usit be Arren and Sir Robert Melvill againe Gowrye". An account of the examination and proceedings against William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie, by James Stuart, Earl of Arran and Sir Robert Melville, n.d. [30 April 1584]. the date comes from another copy, in Cotton MS Caligula C VIII, ff. 33r-34v.

ff. 329r-330v. Proposals presented to lords of James VI's party by Sir William Drury, special ambassador for Queen Elizabeth I, for a truce between the opposing factions in Scotland; 24 July 1572. For date, see endorsement cited State Papers Scotland, 1571-1574, p. 365.

ff. 331r-332v. Genealogy of the royal family of medieval Scotland, from Robert the Bruce to the generation of James I of Scotland, late 16th century. Endorsement by Robert Beale.

ff. 333r-337v. Material relating to Sir Francis Walsingham's mission to Scotland, Aug-Sept 1583. As follows:

ff. 333r-334v, 337v: Letter from Sir Francis Walsingham to Robert Beale, from St Johnston's, 12 Sept 1583. Signed and sealed; partly in cipher. (Printed, State Papers Scotland, 1581-1583, 606-607, from a draft, from The National Archives, SP 52/33, ff. 37r-38v; the present item has an extra concluding sentence. ff. 334r-v are Beale's translation of the ciphers and his endorsement. f. 337, a further address and endorsement of Beale's also dated 12 Sep 1583 may also belong with this letter.

ff. 336r-337v: "Such greives as Secretary Walsingham her Maties Ambassadour to the Kinge of Scottes, is directed to require satisfaction at his highnes handes'", n.d. (Aug-Sep 1583).

ff. 338r-339v. Memorandum from a representative of John Casimir, Count Palatine, to an envoy of Elizabeth I, concerning letters revealing Catholic plots to free Mary, Queen of Scots and gain control of James VI, n.d. (before 1587). Latin. Copy.

ff. 340r-357r: Discourse of Robert Beale addressed to William Cecil, Lord Burghley, on foreign affairs and the dangers to England; Beale advocates the death of Mary Queen of Scots. Written after the massacre of St Bartholomew [?late 1572]: the text refers to the defection of the Duke of Holstein to the Spanish cause, July 1572, and the murder of Coligny during the massacre, Aug 1572, ff. 346v, 350r. The discourse looks like a draft, and f. 343* is a loose leaf which has a lengthy passage that is to be inserted. One marginal note by Burghley at f. 352v. For a fair copy, see Cotton MS Titus F III, ff. 302r-308v.