[ [21] “But now hes God’s providence sa altered the case, zea, changed it to the plat contrary, that now hes the Frensche taken zour place, and we, off very jugement, becum disyrous to have zow in theyr rowme. Our eyes are opened, we espy how uncareful they have been of our weile at all tymes, how they made ws ever to serve theyr turne, drew ws in maist dangerous weys for theyr commodite, and, nevertheless, wad not styck, ofttymes, against the natowr of the ligue, to contrak peace, leaving ws in weyr. We see that their support, off late zeres, wes not grantit for any affection they bare to ws, for pytie they had of our estate, for recompense of the lyke friendship schawin to theym in tyme of theyr afflictiones, but for ambition, and insatiable cupidite to reygne, and to mak Scotland ane accessory to the Crown of France.”
[ [22] “I wald ze should not esteme ws sa barayne of jugement, that we cannot forese our awne perril; nor sa foolische, that we will not study by all gude means to entertayne that thing may be our safetye; quhilk consistes all in the relaying of zour friendships.”
[ [23] “Tak hede ze say not hereafter, ‘Had I wist’; ane uncomely sentence to procede off a wyse man’s mouth.”
[ [24] “We seke nathing but that Scotland may remane, as of before, a fre realme, rewlit by hir hyenes and hir ministeres borne men of the sam; and that the succession of the Crowne may remane with the lawful blode.”
[ [25] Letter of Maitland of Lethington, “from the original in his own hand” (Cotton MSS., Roberston, App. No. II.).
[ [26] Spotswood, 146. It is needless to say that though Elizabeth may have used these words, she was bent on recovering Calais.
[ [27] “A Convenient Ayd of Men of Warre, on Horse and Foot, to joyne with the power of the Scottishmen, with Artailzie Munition, and all others Instrumentis of Warre mete for the Purpose, as weall by Sea as by Land.”
[ [28] Conventiones Scotorum contra Reginam Unionem Franciæ et Scotiæ designantem, et pro defensione contra Francos (Fœdera, xv. 569). Maitland of Lethington, in the letter in favour of an alliance between England and Scotland, from which quotations have just been given, proposes that Scotland should help to maintain order in Ireland. “The realme of Ireland,” he says, “being of natour a gode and fertill countrey, by reason of the continewalld unquietnes and lak of policy, ze knaw to be rather a burthen to zow then great advantage; and giff it were peaceable may be very commodious. For pacification quhayroff, it is not unknown to zow quhat service we ar abill to do.”
[ [29] They numbered between seven and eight thousand men. The expedition seems to have cost about £230,000 (Calendar of State Papers, Foreign, 1560, Preface, p. ix.).
[ [30] Keith, 131.