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,

THis bearer your servant came hither the last of December, with your letters of the 25. and 26. of the same, wherein he used good di∣ligence; and for the contents thereof, her Majesty is very well satisfied with the diligence of your advertising, being before by reason of contra∣rious reports in great suspence what to think; for this French Ambass∣dor now being here, useth an ordinary manner to write unto her Ma∣jesty, in a certain general sort of the news of that Country, as favorably as he may on the Kings behalf, as reason is he should; but yet not without danger of discrediting himself by reporting: untruths. As I conjecture by your advertisements, it is likely that God hath already permitted some great effect to be wrought about this Christmas time, by some Battail stricken betwixt the two Armies; and howsoever it is, I do not doubt but you will advertise; and therein the will of God is to be obeyed with thanks, or with patience, as it pleaseth him to give his grace, or to chastise.

By your letters also, it appeared that the Prince of Orange, at the wri∣ting thereof, was still in the French Kings Dominions; and yet the com∣mon report at the same time was that he was departed towards Germany, whereof the Duke of Alva's friends, in the Low Countries, began to make some triumph.

The matter of the Queen of Scots remains in these termes; upon the accusation produced by her Commissioners, against the Earl of Murray, they have for their defence shewed so much matter to charge her with the procuring of the murther of her husband, as thereupon motion is made, on her behalf, for covering of her honor, to have some appoint∣ment betwixt her and her subjects, which is communed of secretly by two or three manner of wayes; that is to say, That she should affirm her resignation of her Crown to her Son, as it hath been made, and live here in England.

Or else her self and her Son to joyn in Title, and the Earl of Murray to remain Regent: Or, thirdly, her self to remain in Title Queen, and to live here in England secluded, and the Earl of Murray to continue Regent; which matters have so many pikes, as the venture is great to take hold of any one of them; nevertheless in the mean time outward∣ly she offereth to prove her self innocent, so she may be permitted to come to the Queens presence and answer for her self; which is thought to be the more earnestly required, because it is also thought assured it will be denyed; and now what is like to grow to be the end thereof, surely I cannot well guess; for as for my self, I finde my insufficiency to wade so deep, and the violence of the stream so great, as without good company assisting in Council, I dare not venture to make any passage; and so wishing you and my Lady, and yours, a fortunate good year, I end. Here is a stay made of certain treasure that came out of Spain to pass into Flanders, which we take to be Merchants, and not the Kings, as is alleadged; if it shall prove Merchants, we may be bolder to take the use of it, upon good Bonds, for an interest.

Yours assuredly, W. Cecil.

Jan. 3. 1568.