Source:
Original letters illustrative of English history, series 1, volume 2, page 277, edited by Henry Ellis, 1825
Above: Queen Elizabeth I of England, artist unknown.
The 1,000th post on this blog!
The letter:
ELIZABETH R. By the Queen.
Right trusty and right welbelovid Cosin and Counsellor we greete yow well. Whereas the Queene of Scotts hath ben destitute of a Frenche Secretary sens the death of Rollet, and hath by her awne lettres, and by meanes out of France, desyred us to suffer an other to come and supplye that place about her; which we have hitherto forborne to graunt, for dyvers good causes, and emong other, for the evell offices whiche her other Secretary did there, wherof yow ar not ignorant. Now forasmuche as the bearer hereof, called de Naou, a Frencheman, hath ben chosen and recommended to us by our brother the Frenche King, with request that he may gooe to her and serve her as her Secretary, and hath promised that he shall carye himself in that even maner that becommeth an honest mynister, nor shall practise any hurtfull or offensyve thing, which he himself hath also vowed and promisid heere, with offer that if he shall at any tyme be fownd fawtye, he submittith him self to any punishment: Upon these respects, and at her earnest request, we ar pleased that the said de Naou shall resort thither and abyde with her as her Secretary. And so our pleasour is yow shall receave him into her company, and suffer him to serve her in that place; admonishing him now, at his entrey, and also herafter, to have consideracion of the caution whiche our said brother the Frenche King hath gyven us for him; and also of his awne promes, as he will avoyd the danger wherin he hath condempnid himself, if he shalbe herin fownd faultye. Geven vnder our Signet at our Mannor of Saint James the XXIXth of Marche, 1575. in the xvijth yere of our Reign.
To our right trusty and right welbeloved
Cosin and Counsellor, the Erle of
Shreusbury, Erle-Marshall of England.
With modernised spelling:
ELIZABETH R. By the Queen.
Right trusty and right well-beloved Cousin and Counsillor, We greet you well. Whereas the Queen of Scots hath been destitute of a French secretary since the death of Rollet, and hath by her own letters, and by means out of France, desired Us to suffer another to come and supply that place about her; which We have hitherto forborne to grant, for diverse good causes, and among other[s], for the evil offices which her other secretary did there, whereof you are not ignorant. Now forasmuch as the bearer hereof, called de Nave, a Frenchman, hath been chosen and recommended to Us by Our brother the French King, with request that he may go to her and serve her as her secretary, and hath promised that he shall carry himself in that even manner that becometh an honest minister, nor shall practise any hurtful or offensive thing, which he himself hath also vowed and promised here, with offer that if he shall at any time be found faulty, he submitteth himself to any punishment: Upon these respects, and at her earnest request, We are pleased that the said de Nave shall resort thither and abide with her as her secretary. And so Our pleasure is you shall receive him into her company, and suffer him to serve her in that place; admonishing him now, at his entry, and also hereafter, to have consideration of the caution which Our said brother the French King hath given Us for him; and also of his own promise, as he will avoid the danger wherein he hath condemned himself, if he shall be herein found faulty. Given under Our Signet at Our Manor of Saint James the XXIXth of March, 1575. in the XVIIth year of our reign.
To our right trusty and right well-beloved
Cousin and Counsillor, the Earl of
Shrewsbury, Earl-Marshal of England.
Notes: In accordance with the nobility's ideals in the early modern era, kings and queens considered themselves siblings; when talking to someone of a lower rank than their own, they would refer to that person as "my cousin", regardless of whether or not they were related.
suffer = to allow.
offices = services.
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