Scrinia Ceciliana, mysteries of state & government in letters of the late famous Lord Burghley, and other grand ministers of state, in the reigns of Queen Elizabeth, and King James, being a further additional supplement of the Cabala.

SIR,

I Am constrained to use the hand of my servant in writing unto you, be∣cause I find it somewhat grievous to use mine own at this present: The Queens Majesty hath received your letters with very good conten∣tation, and alloweth your manner of beginning and proceeding, as well, I dare assure you, as your self could devise; which I do not in words onely speak, but wish you to take them for as good a truth as I can in∣form.

The rare manner of your entertainment hath moved the Queens Majesty to Muze upon what course it should be, being more then hath been used in like cases to her Ambassadors; and such as besides your own report hath been by others very largely advertised; and for that in such things guesses be but doubtful, I pray you by your next advertise me what your self doth think of it; and in the mean time, I know you are not untaught to judge of the difference of fair words from good deeds, as the sayingis, Fortuna cum adblanditur captum advenit: The Queens Majesty meaneth to require this Ambassador expresly to write unto the King there, in how good part she taketh this manner of grate∣full acceptation of you her servant there, giving him to understand how good report you have made thereof, and how much comforted you are, by this manner, to proceed in her service there.

I would have had her Majesty to have written her own letters to the King, hereof; But her Majesty made choice rather to speak with the Ambassador, which she will do tomorrow, who cometh hither, and La Croq which cometh out of Scotland, and departeth shortly from hence thither into France, having been a good time in manner as an Ambassador with the Scotish Queen.

Monsieur Moret is, I think, on the way coming hither out of Scotland; my Lord of Bedford, who came long ago out of Scotland, arrived here but of late, and hath brought us good report from the Scotish Queen, of her good disposition to keep peace and amity with the Queens Majesty.

Of late Shane Oneal hath made means to the Lord Deputy of Ire∣land,

to be received into Grace, pretending that he hath not meant any manner of unlawfulness unto the Queen; by which is gathered, that he groweth weary of his lewdness; and yet I think he is not otherwise to be reformed, then by sharp prosecution, which is in∣tended to be followed no whit the less for any his fair writings, as rea∣son is.

Of the troubles of the Low Countries, I think you be as well adver∣tised there as we can be here; and of the likelihood of the Kings not coming into the Low Countries.

I cannot tell whether you are yet acquainted with Captain Cockburne, whose humor when you know, as I think Barnaby can shew you, I doubt not but you shall have of his hand no lack of intelligence, which you must credit as you shall see cause by proof of the event; he writ∣eth almost weekly to me, and looketh for as many answers, which I can∣not have leisure to make him; but I pray let him understand that I accept his writing in very good part.

The manner of the dealing with them there for the particular causes contained in your instructions is very well to be liked; and I wish the success of the answers to prove as good as the beginning hath appear∣ance, and especially for the relief of the poor Prisoners in the Gallies, whose stay, I fear, will grow indirectly by Monsieur de Foix, to get thereby the acquital of Lestrille, whom surely he is bound in honor to see restored.

Since I had written thus much by my servants hand, and meant yester-night to have ended the letter; I thought good to stay untill this pre∣sent, that I knew by the French Ambassador, what De la Crocq should do here; and amongst other things, the Queens Majesty hath very ear∣nestly expressed to the Ambassador her good liking and estimation of your Honorable entertainment, whereof you did advertise her Ma∣jesty; and contrary to her former determination, did tell La Crocq, that he should carry her Majesties letters to the French King, of special thanks for the same; besides words of visitation, nothing passed this day otherwise; and therefore meaning not to keep your servant any longer, I end, with my very hearty commendations to your self, and my Lady, and wish as well to you and all yours, as to my self:

Yours assuredly, W. Cecil.

Feb. 10. 1566.

To the Right Honorable, Sir Hen. Norris Knight, the Queens Majesties Ambassador in France.

Notes

• Entertain∣ment a∣bove ordi∣nary.
• To know the cause thereof.