Calendar of the State Papers of Scotland

11th February 1567. Add. MSS. 33, 531, fol.37. 471. Depositions on the King's murder.

In presence of the Earls of Huntly, Cassillis, Caithness, Sutherland, Bishops of Galloway, Ros, Comptroller, Justice clerk etc.

Barbara Mertine, sworn etc., depones that before the "crak rais," she passed to the window of her house in the "Freir wynd, fomentis " the Master of Maxwell's lodging, and heard 13 men come forth at the "Freir [yett]" and pass to the Cowgait and up the Freir wynd. Then the "crak rais" and 11 men came forth, 2 of whom had "cleir thingis" on them, and passed down the passage that "cummis fra the Freirs" and so to the town. She cried on them as they passed, called them traitors, and said they had been at some "evill turn."

May Crokat, spouse of John Stirling, servant to the bishop of Sa[ntandros], dwelling under the Master of Maxwell's lodging, depones she was lying in her house betwixt "hir twa twynnis " when the "crak [rais]" ... * thought it was the house above, "and come rynnand to [the door in her]* sark allane," and even as she come furth ... * there came out at the "Freir yett" 11 men, and she "clekit" one by his ... * which was of silk, and asked where the crak was? But they made no answer, and 4 went up the. wynd, and other 7 down to the Cowgate port etc.

John Petcarne, "chirurgeane," dwelling in said wynd ...* "archiers of the gard," depones: that he neither heard nor knew any¬ thing till about "four houris" . [till a servant?].* "of Senyeour Frances quha is a little lene fallow," came and cried on the deponent to come to his maister, which he did and remained with him till about "sex houris."

1 p. In the handxcriting of Alexander Hay. Damaged at right side

Note *. Torn off.

October 1569. 1194. The Queen of Scots' attendants.

Premierement: M. de Leviston, a gentleman and page; Madame de Leviston, a woman and man; M^lle de Cetton, a woman and man; M^lle [sic] de Leviston, wife to John of Levynston ; M^lle de Brusse, daughter to the Laird of Arthe; Courcelles, a French woman; Ellas Bog; Cristine Hog, wife to Sebastian; Gin Canatte, a maid; M. de Betton, "maitre dhostel"; M. de Craffort, "escuier tranchant"; M. du Castel, medecin; Le Contreolleur Gyott.

"Valletz de chambre": Bastien Pages; Balthazard Hully, " valett de gardero "; Guillebert Courlles, secretary ; Guillaume Douglas ; Ange Marie, "Itallion " ; Jaques Lader.

"Huissier de chambre": Archebel Betton. "Tailleur": Jacques de Senlis. "Portchaise": Florenc Brossier." Officiers de panneterie et eschansoundrie: Guillaume le seigneur "sommellier de panneterie"; Guyon Lasselan, aide; Didier Chiffard "sommellier de schan"; Gilles le Roidde, aide.

"Officiers de cuisine": EstienneHavet, "escuier"; MartinHuet, "maitre guetix"; Pierre Medart, "potaiger"; Jehan du Bois, "pastieur"; ung porteur; ung galloppin; ung huissier de cuisine.

"Serviteurs: Ung homme a Madamoiselle de Leviston ; ung homme an M^re dhostel; ung homme au medecin."

Note 1. Jane Kennedy.

4th May 1571. Shrewsbury to Burghley.

With much ado, I have brought this Queen to lessen her people as near thirty persons as I can, and not without weeping tears. She has willed me to tolerate nine persons below the thirty, till she may hear from the Bishop of Rosse again, and has promised me, that unless he obtains the Queen's favour, they shall not tarry either. I have agreed to give them the "ovarsyght" for a time. I have herewith sent the names of her people, as well of those that go away, as the rest that remain here, saving that the bishop of Galloway has willed me that his eldest son may tarry here. He is leavened in hope of entering into credit with this Queen, whom Beton, her Master of the Household, and the rest of the Papists about her, do not like, as the bishop says. I perceive he has written to your lordship therein. Signed: by Shrewesbury. ⅔ p. Holograph. Addressed. Indorsed (by Burghley's clerk).

Inclosure with the same:

My Lady Levingstoun, dame of honour to the Queen's majesty; Mrs. Setoun, "that bowskis¹ the Quene"; Mrs. Levingstoun, Mrs. Bruce, gentlewomen of the chamber; Mrs. Courcelles, Mrs. Kennedy, maids of the chamber.

My Lord Levingstoun; Mr. Betoun, Mr of the Household; Mr. Levingstoun, "gentilman servand"; Mr. Castell, "Phesitian"; Mr. Raulet, Secretary.

Bastiane Pages, groom of the chamber; Balthazar Huilly, Mr of the Wardrobe; James Lawder, groom and musician in the chamber; Gilbert Curll, groom of the chamber; William Dowglas, groom of the chamber.

Archibald Betoun, usher of the chamber; Thomas Archibald, "huissier, who goes afore the Quenis meit, and servis the Mr of the houshald"; Jacques de Senlis, groom of the wardrobe and tailor; William Blak, "who serves in absence of Florent, the tapissier."

Dedier Chifflard, "somlier"; Gwyon Loyselon, "pantlare"; Andrew Mackeson, "help to the somlier and pantlare and to serve Secretaire Raullet"; Estienne Havet, master cook; Martin Huet, foreman in the kitchen; Pierre Medart, "potagier "; "Johne" du Boys, "pastlare."

Mr. Bruce, gentleman servant to my Lord Levingstoun; Nicol Fisher, servant to my Lady Levingstoun; "Johne" Dumfreis, servant to Mr. Setoun. "

Permitted of my Lordes benivolence."

Christen Hog, Bastian's wife; Eles Bog, the M^r cook's wife; Christen Grame, my Lady Levingstoun's gentlewoman; Janet Lyndsaye, Mrs. Setoun's gentlewoman; Janet Spittell.

Robert Hamiltoun, to bear fire and water in the Queen's kitchen; Francois, to serve Mr. Castell, the Physician; Robert Liddell, "the Quene's lacquey"; Gilbert Bonnar, horsekeeper.

At the castell of Shefeild the iij^th daye of May 1571."

Thes ar to departe. The Laird of Gartly and his servant, George Levingstoun, Sandy Bog, Sandy the Mr cook's boy-gone into Scotland.

Mr. Niniane Winzet, Scottish secretary ("is a preste whyche I suspected at his furst cummynge, and tolde this quene off it. I think if you examen him offe his heddar cummynge hur enime the cardynall was preve therunto.")¹2

Angel Marie, perfumer; Guillaume Le Seigneur, "pantlare"; Giles Le Royde, help to the "somlier"; "Johne" Bog, "fruictier"; James Simpson. These go away by the Queen's command, and require their passport. John Levingstoun, my Lady Levingstoun's "lacquey "; "Tibault," MIr. Levingstoun's boy; Thomas Shery, Mr. Levingstoun's servant; " Daid," Bastian's boy; James Lawder's son.

The rest of my Lord Levingstoun's servandes to the nombre of iiij goes in Scotland with my Lord of Gallowaye. If there are any other persons in the castle or town, the Queen's majesty is not "acknowen of thame."

3 pp. Written by one of Mary's secretaries. Copy of the same in French. 3 pp.

Note 1. Dresses.

Noet 2. The words in brackets are in Shrewsbury's hands.

28th November 1580. 627. Shrewsbury To Burghley.

Received his letter of the 23rd instant on the 27th, at night, whereby he gives him understanding, as from the Queen of England, that one Marten, his attendant, is a busier dealer some way than is fit, and,considering his charge,that he should take order forremoving of him with speed; which was not long in doing. This much he must say of the gentleman, that he has showed great care of his duty to the Queen of England, and also professed great love and took great pains about him when he has been troubled with the gout; at whose hands he has been eased most when he had grief, which has not been this half year. Yet when he had it last, perceiving some love entering betwixt him and Jane Kenyte, the Scottish Queen's woman, he called him before him and told him the peril thereof, and he swore to him on a book he would have no further dealing with her therein; yet he never trusted him so well but he had good spial over him of his dealings in his house, and so was contented to give him leave to be all this summer from him, and at his return again, before he would grant him to continue in his house, he called him and her face to face to know what assurance of goodwill was betwixt them. They vowed there was no assurance betwixt them and openly acquitted each other, and since, for anything he knows or by spial can learn, he has performed it for his part. Because it was a matter of so small moment he thought it not good to have any further ado therein, and if he had not preceived he had given over his folly he should not have tarried with him, so his trust is her majesty will think of him, whatsoever his enemies give out, for he knows he is envied for doing his true service to her majesty. Cares neither for secret enemy at home nor for any enemy elsewhere, and his doings shall be such in her majesty's service that he wishes daily she might behold the same, and surely no earthly thing can give him that comfort as to be in her presence to acknowledge his duty. Desires him to utter to her that his only trust and comfort is in her. Sheffield. Signed: G. Shrewesbury. 1 pp. Holograph, also address. Indorsed.

8th October 1589. 234. William Asheby To Burghley.

The rumours geven out, right honourable, of the princes arrivall, and those assured in England for certein, causes me now to writ to your lordship, having [no] newse thereof, that the Earl of Lincolne m[ay] dispose of his journey hitherwardes there...¹ The wind has continued south and south-west since the princess's first embarking, which are flat contrary, and have been so strong as no vessel could come to bring news. The King lyeth at Cragmillar, hard by Edenbrowghe, retyred, and as a kind lover spends the t[yme] in sighing till he heare of the retorne of [Coronell] Steward, whom he sent to the sea the [28] of the last moneth, to the cost of Norway to seek out the fleet; whose retorne is dai[ly] expected and wished for, that his heighnes might understand some good newse of [his] love and joye. This long uncertainty brings fear of some disaster, that is increased by two ominous chances, as they are here interpreted. The [one] upon her embarking a great pe[ce in the] amiralles ship brake in shoting and killed tow o[r thre] of the gonners. Th'other chance hapened h[ere] in the Firth: a boote passing from Bru[nt] Island in Fiffe the 8 of Sept. towardes [Lythe], in the midwaie being under saile, and the tempest growing verie great caried th[em] with such force upon a ship under saile as the boote presentlie suncke, and almost a[ll the] passengers drowned; emongest whom was [Madam] Kenedie, who was with the late Quene in Eng[land], and divers gentlewomen and marcha[nts] of Edenbrowghe, to the nomber of fourtie that per[ished], with plate and hangings brought hither f[or] the mariage. which was all lost.

The King, somewhat passionate with these chances, long delay and contrary winds, flieth to God, and commands public fast and prayer. Yesterday the wind changed to the s..; if it hold two or three days, there is hope of Colonel Stewart's return with news of the princess. You shall be advertised within four days [of] his arrival if the posts do th[eir] d[uty]. Edinburgh.

Signed: W. Asheby. 21 pp. Holograph, also address. Indorsed by Burghley.

Notte 1. decayed.