you a Commission under our great Seal of England wherein we have joyned with you our Ambassador Francis Walsingham and our servant H. Killegrew who is there with you wherein our meaning is that assoon as Walsingham shall come thither he shall joyn with you and within some convenient time Killegrew may return according to our first order given to him at his departure thither And yet untill VValsingham shall come thither Killegrew may remain as joyned And considering the whole burden of the matter of learning in conceiving the Articles of this Treaty shall rest almost wholly in this Treaty we would that when you are proceeded as far as you can and as you think meet that before you shall subscribe the Treaty you shall send the same hither to us to be more circumspectly perused and thereupon we will with like speed return it as we shall think meet and so may you reasonably declare your intention to the French King pretending your instruction of your self and therewith to use the same as they may not suspect it to come of any intention of delay At Westminster the 13 of February 1571. Wil. Burleigh To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh YOur Letters sent by the Scot dated the 6 of this month I have received he willed me to inform you that since his coming hither he hath learned that the King giveth but a deaf ear to their causes notwithstanding that they hope that upon Graunges brothers coming who is now at the Court there will be somewhat obtained for their relief which if it take not place then they mean to repair to Flanders where the Lord Seaton hath received from the Pope 20 thousand Crowns who is putting himself in readiness to repair into Scotland Further he willed me to shew your Lordship that the L. Fleming looketh for a Barque of his own to arrive at New-Haven about the end of this month in the which he meaneth to repair to Scotland with such forces as he can get either by consent from the King or by stealth otherwise This in effect is that which he willed me to impart unto your Lordship I find this he saith confirmed by other Intelligence I have Graunges brother as I learn meaneth to protest to the King that unless they may have Men Money and Munition out of hand for their relief that then they shall be driven to yield to such composition as will be made to the Queen of England which will not much tend to the benefit of France After Sir Tho. Smiths assurance of her Majesties intention I suppose the King will perswade them to fall to agreement among themselves without further intermedling in their causes From all the Ports both innormandy and Picardy Cane only excepted I learn there is no preparation of ships Shortly I hope to understand what is done in Cane And so leaving further to trouble your Lordship I most humbly take my leave at Paris the 29 of December 1571. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh TOuching your Lordships by Sir Tho. Smith according to her Majesties order I have caused the King to understand as well the trust she hath in him as also how much she desireth his presence at the Court whereby Sir Tho. Smith may be the better assisted by his advice some like office I have also used towords I. who hath alwaies been an especial furtherer of the cause From him who liveth not far from this Town I have received most earnest promise that he will do his uttermost and for that he is here imployed by the King in the punishment of those that committed the late disorder he hath written secretly to his friends to the Court to sound there in what state the matter standeth and as they find secretly to advertise Sir Thomas he protesteth that he would be loath to see her Majesty abused as any Subject she hath that loveth her most dearly He hath great hope that the matter will take good success for that he seeth the state of both Realms doth necessarily require so strait an amity as marriage bringeth He promiseth to use the more expedition in that which is committed to his charge to the end he may repair to the Court with the more speed Lineroles who by the House of Guise and the rest of the Spanish Faction was made an instrument to disswade his Master was slain the ninth of this Month his death yielded no small furtherâ—nce to the Cause I hope therefore Sir Thomas Smiths first dispatch will bring the Olive Branch And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave at Paris Decemb. 8. 1571. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham Your Lordships of the 8 by Sir Thomas Smith I have received and according to her Majesties order expressed in the same I have by means of a third person who heretofore hath been imployed betwixt us caused the person you know of to understand the great trust her Majestie reposeth in him as also her desire to have him at the Court during the time of Sir Tho. Smiths being there whereby he may the better have the assistance of his advice Touching the matter it self I know not how to judge of it for that I have been two Months absent from the Court as I have cause to doubt so have I cause more to hope to doubt for that her Majesties long deferring in sending may have bred some doubt here of her cold inclination that way and so cause them to give ear to some other offers having small hope of this To hope first for that there is no other match worthy the seeking elsewhere secondarily for that they begin to fear very much the greatness of Spain and therefore desire to be strengthned by the Arm of England and though that may be done by way of League yet they think the marriage the surest knot of amity After Sir Tho. Smith hath had audience it will then soon appear what is to be looked for in that behalf Lastly for that Lineroles the chief disswader of the Marriage is lately slain Marshal M. who is imploy'd here by the King in punishment of the authors of the late disorder meaneth to make the more haste to the Court to the end to further the matter whereof he hopeth there will grow success Thus leaving further to trouble your honour at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the last of December 1571. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham A minute of my Lord of Burleighs Letter to Sir Thomas Smith of the 28 of December SInce your departure from hence there hath no new thing of vallue happened but the discharging of the late Spanish Ambassador who hath both in Office and out of Office used himself very crookedly perniciously and maliciously against the State and namely and openly against me not forbearing but in open Coâ—cel
the French shewed themselves ready to assent to assent to all reasonable requests and for that purpose they produced and delivered a Commission under the Great Seal of France Answers to these Points This case was not pursuant upon the Treaty The Scotish Queen had more favour then she deserved or then did well stand with the surety of the Queens Majestie Her evil parts against the Queens Majestie had been amply declared to the French and to the D. Montmorency and de Foix in France by our Ambassador The Nobility also and People now assembled in this Parliament had considered that the Queens Majesties surety could not be preserved without some severe proceeding against the Queen of Scots whereunto her Majestie had not yielded in such extremity And so the Scotish Queen had more favour indeed then either she deserved or then was thought meet by the whole Realm The second for surcease of Arms her Majestie had done therein as much as possibly she could by her Minister Sir Will Drury which she hath sent with le Crocque whereunto the Ambassador did assent with very good words of Sir Will Drury To the third it was thought that no Parliament should be holden whilest they were on both sides in arms and therefore the procuring of persons to come was not misliked To the fourth the Merchants should be spoken withal who had but small liking to any trade of Merchandize with France by reason they had by experience some evil usage of them in France specially at Roaâ— Replies of the French with some new matters As to the Scotish Queen de Foix confessed that he had no warrant to speak for her by force of the Treaty but by a special commandment apart And as to specifie the requests that be made for favour to her they said they meant no favour to be shewed to her against the Queens Majesties surety and therefore they desired only these things following That she might have brought to her all things necessary for her apparel and money also for the purpose That she might have a convenient number of Servants about her That her state might not be impaired That the Duke and the rest might be licensed to send to her certain letters from the French King and Queen Mother so as the same might be done with the privity of the Earl of Sâ—rewsbâ—ry As to the Commerce they agreed that it might be treated upon by the Ambassador Resident New Additions That according to the second article in the Treaty they might have the Queens Majesties Letter answerable to the Kings Letters That the third Article concerning the manner of redress of wrongs done by Scots men upon England that the same might be altered according to a writing which was devised by them to insert in the place of the said Article Answers to the new Requests They should have the Queens Majesties Letters The Article as it is ought to continue and is reasonable having respect to Scotland when private men do great injuries and spoils which if the King of that Realm cannot or will not amend of necessity the Kings of England must revenge upon the offenders To the Right Hononrable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh YOur Lordships of the twentieth of Iune sent by my servant Williams I have received touching her Majesties protestation before the giving of her oath For the not delivery of Hume and Fast Castle in Scotland according to the Treaty I will not fail to inform their Majesties when fit occasion shall be offered of the cause thereof The Ambassador of Scotland with the Lord Graunges brother since the Earl of Lincolns departure hath been often at the Court and are very importunate to have somewhat done for their Mistris As also in perswading their Majesties here to consent to the establishment of their Government of their said Mistris what their importunacy hath won I know not as yet but surely I fear as long as the woman liveth there will never grow good accord in Scotland nor continuance of repose in England nor perfect and sound amity between her Majestie and this Crown What is resolved here touching the enterprise of Flanders this bearer is throughly instructed who is to impart the same unto your Lordship And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave From Paris the eight and twentieth of Iune 1572. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester THis bearer cometh so throughly instructed touching the state of the Countrey and the Flanders proceedings as I forbear to trouble your Lordship to make recital of that by writing which he shall tell you by mouth After your Lordship hath throughly debated with him I hope it shall manifestly appear unto you that upon the good success or evil success of this common cause of Religion And besides the same not well proceeding her Majestie cannot promise to her self any great safety having so dangerous a neighbour whose greatness shall receive no small increase if he overcome this brunt I pray God therefore that her Majestie may incline to do that which may be for her safety And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present referring you wholly to this bearer I most humbly take my leave From Paris the eight and twentieth of May 1572. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and his very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh MAy it please your Lordship to understand that upon advertisement come hither from Flushing of the discords there for want of good Governor they have made choice of Monsieur Iunius to go thither out of hand with Commission to establish some policy there until the arrival of the Prince of Orange his brother He shall also have Commission for the sale of such goods as were lately taken For his better assistance in this behalf desireth your Lordships letter unto Captain Morgan there to assist him what lieth in him in the execution of the said Commission and that further it would please your Lordship to admonish him to retain his Souldiers in such order as may answer to the defence of a good cause For that he desireth very much to confer with Mr. Killegrew to make him fully acquainted with the state of their cause he meaneth to repair to Dover and there to imbarque where he hopeth to meet with him I perceive by him that if there be no assistance given underhand by her Majestie they shall be driven to yield to such inconveniences as shall be laid upon them by this Nation And further that they shall be forced to consent to have Strozi in Zealand unless they may have some supplies elsewhere For this cause chiefly the Gentleman who wisely respecteth the liberty of his Countrey and foreseeth the mischief that may follow if the necessity be not relieved disereth much to confer with Mr. Killegrew a thing most necessary and would himself
Challenges But yet she must now being a Widow and sole Governor of her Kingdom of Scotland in these causes have the presence of some of her Nobilitie or Counsellours of the Scotish Nation at whose coming she would confirm the said Treatie This was not much misliked of us Shortly some of her Nobilitie and Counsellours came to her from Scotland and then being eâ—tsoons required in most friendly manner to be remembred of her promise by the Ambassador having Commission so to do and offering to deliver unto her the reciprocal of our part under our Great-Seal it was again deferred until she should her self return into Scotland which she said should shortly be and then she would not fail to perform it well though these delays were not convenient to nourish friendship but rather to ingender suspicion with some other practises then discovered yet in respect of our natural desire to have her come into her own Kingdom and then to live neighbourly with us we forbore to shew any great offence for those great delays And when she returned into Scotland we eâ—tsoons sent to her and demanded the same again with offer of all manner of good friendship which being again deferred upon pretence she was not fully settled in her Realm we forbore also for that time though not without great cause of misliking and then in the mean season following notwithstanding many good offices used on our part by sending sundry times both Messages and Ambassadors to visit her to offer unto her all good offices It chanced that a young Nobleman our near Kinsman brought up in our Court named the Lord Darlie was secretly intised to pass into Scotland upon other pretences for private suits for Lands and such like And there without our knowledge according to the same former practises whereof we were not altogether ignorant though we would not seem so jealous of the same he was suddenly accepted by that Q. to be affied in contract of Marriage with her as one thought to be a meet person to work troubles in our Realm for her advantage yea contrary to the advice of the wiser sort of her Councel and consequently contrary to our will and liking was married to her in all haste And after that it was there devised to make him an instrument to work danger to us and our Estate by sundry practises not only with certain of our subjects but also with some forein persons as far forth as the power of the same Q. and her said husband being our borne Subject could extend In which their doings sundry their practises were discovered to us and made frustrate And yet after that nevertheless when the said Queen had a Son of that marriage we were of nature moved to set aside all unkindnesses and did send thither an Ambassador a person of honour the Earl of â—edford to assist the Christening of her Son to whom we also were Godmother At which time unkindness being known to be between her and her husband although he had grievously offended us we having compassion of the unnatural discord betwixt them and fearing some event thereof caused our said Ambassador at that time to use all the good means he could with her to repair the same which he was not able to do such was become her misliking of her husband although in him on the other side as we heard say was found all manner of lowliness meet for him to recover her favour And then also we required her to perform that which in Justice and Honor she was bound to do and had so often delayed which was to confirm the Treatie afore concluded sending unto her at the same time under our hand and seal the reciprocal for our part But then she began to alledge a matter not before heard of which was that from some words in a certain part of the Treaty it was doubted that she might be prejudiced in such right as she pretended to be due to her next after us and the children of our bodie whereof we being advertised caused it to be answered that if there were any such words we were content they should be rased out of the Treaty and she should not be moved to confirm any such Clause But that answer being not accepted which was very strange and unreasonable a new matter of delay was invented pretending that she would send some of hers shortly into England to treat with us thereupon and so finish that which we did demand vvhereof indeed nothing ever follovved vvell although vve had these great causes of miscontentation as indeed indifferent persons may well perceive and did novv clearly see vvhereunto these delays did tend very ungrateful and not vvithout danger if vve should not regard our self vvell yet vvhen a miserable calamitie ensued shortly after to her that the King her husband vvith vvhom of late she vvas grievously offended vvas cruelly strangled and horriblie murthered and the principal murtherer named the Earl Bothewell having a vertuous lavvful vvife of a great house living because suddenly her husband being first immediately upon the murther committed and directly and openly imputed to him advanced by her to high degrees of honor and estates of lands vvho nevertheless vildly misused her to the great grief of all her subjects and friends vve vvere stricken vvith invvard compassion of this her great extream miseries and infamie vvhich vvas spread upon her and sent to her special Messengers not then to request her as vve had done before to confirm the Treaty but to have regard unto her honour and to relinquish such an odible person being the known murtherer of her husband an unlawful person to be married to her and generally so evil a man in all vices as he had the common name to excel all others in iniquitie wherein no advice of ours could prevail But in the end he being hated of all her Estates and seeking by force to subdue them that intended to prosecute the Murtherers was forced to flie the Realm And leaving her lamentably in the field desolate she was conducted from thence to a place of restraint where she refused to renounce the said Murtherer whilest she was thereby in present danger to have her life taken away from her by furie of her Nation as she well knoweth We by speedy Messages and other kind of earnest means used towards them that were most irritated against her saved her life A benefit such as she never received the like of any worldly creature and full glad we were that God gave us such power and disposition of mind to bestow so great a benefit of her who nevertheless had offered us the greatest worldly injuries that could be devised It followed that when she had found means to escape to her libertie whereof we were very glad she sell again by Gods suffering into a second calamitie as dangerous as the former for having attempted by force to overcome the party that adhered to her son that was then crowned and accepted King by the States
thence a young Boy the son of Iames Fitzmorice a Rebel Given under our Signet at our Pallace of Westminster the 11 of February 1571. in the thirteenth year of our Reign To the Right Honourable Sir William Cecill her Majesties principal Secretary SIr the 14 of this moneth I presented the Earl of Rutland to the King at Madrill taking opportunity thereto by preferring certain Merchants causes The King embraced him and told him that coming from her Majestie with her Letters of Commendations he could not but be very welcome and should receive at his hands from time to time during his abode here any honour or favour he could shew him and as I was departing he called me unto him and asked me what was done touching the Queen of Scots matter I told him That of late I heard nothing saving by certain Letters that there were Commissioners come out of Scotland from both parties so that as I thought the matter was fallen now to some Treaty He willed me to recommend the matter in his name to the Queens Majestie and to tell her that he doubted not but by her good means it should grow to some speedy end as should be to her honour and his contentment and so promising his Majestie not to fail in that behalf I departed for that present I shall therefore desire your Honour to inform her Majestie thereof as also to procure at her hands what answer I shall make in this behalf Touching the state of things here I learn secretly by the F. that the House of Guise seeketh to make a match between the Cardinal of Este and the Kings Sister for that the Duke of Ferrara hath no issue and by common opinion is like to have none which thing they seek the more earnestly to impeach the likelihood of marriage between the Prince of Navarre and the said Kings Sister The 22 of this moneth my Lord of Buckhurst is looked for here his lodging and all other things fit for his entertainment being provided at the Kings charges if promise be kept The new Queen is now well recovered and removeth from Madril to this Town the 20 of this moneth so that I purpose my Lord of Buckhurst shall have access unto her whereof she is over dangerous a thing not very well liked of this Nation Touching la Roches attempt I can learn nothing more then that I have advertised neither can I learn that in Britain there is any preparation of ships but of such as belong unto Merchants And thus leaving to trouble your Honour I most humbly take my leave From Paris the eighteenth of February 1571. To the Right Honorable Sir William Cecil her Majesties principal Secretary SIr I would be loath in any Letter that is to be shewed unto her Majestie to make mention of any thing that may any way concern Monsieur for that her Majestie doth suspect that I am inclined that way in respect of his Religion and therefore Sir I shall desire you to use this Letter as private to your self and as for my inclination to Monsieur for that I hear he may be drawn to be of any religion I see so great necessitie of her marriage as if it may be her Majesties contentment and the benefit of the Realm by judgement of those that are fit to deal and advise in a matter of so great weight I can be content as becometh me to subscribe the same The matters that I thought to make you privie of in this private Letter are these First I understand that Monsieur not long sithence hath given out certain speeches to those that are nearest about him that he maketh no great account to match with the Queens Majestie through the perswasions of the House of Guise and the Spanish Ambassador who do not stick to use many dishonorable arguments to disswade him from the same Besides they use some arguments of danger towards us making the conquest of England a matter of no great consequence in respect of the intelligence they have there no small number of evil affected Subjects and of those some of no mean quality The A. of late had talk with touching the opinion of the enterprise he shewed me that he whosoever he was that should attempt the matter should fail of his reckoning like him that made accompt without his host The A himself seemeth to to have no great liking thereof but seemeth to be very well inclined towards The Spanish A. to divert them from Flanders would be glad to set them in hand in England and yet would he be loath that France should have any further interest in England then it hath And as for the House of Guise unless they mean to make an unnatural match between Monsieur and their Neece they would be loath in respect of her possibilitie that he should have any further foot in England then he hath but they both think it easilier atchieved by Marriage then by Sword aud would be glad to divert him from the way of likelihood and to direct him to that way that carrieth least possibilitie These being the things I thought worthy of advertisement at this present I leave further to trouble your Honour most humbly take my leave From Paris the Eighteenth of Februarie 1571. To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester MY very good Lord as there is nothing more desired of one sort then two marriages the one between the Queen my Mistress and Monsieur the other between the Prince of Navarre and the Kings sister so is there nothing more impugned by the contrary part wherein the Popes Nuncio and the Spanish Ambassador do not fail to do what lieth in them for the impeachment thereof And in this behalf they want not what assistance the House of Guise and their adherents can yield For the let of the first they alledge Heresie For the let of the latter they secretly seek to match between the Cardinal of Este and the Kings said Sister for that the Duke of Ferara his Brother hath neither issue nor by common judgement is like to have any This is rather intended then any just cause of hope conceived that it will come so to pass for that as I hear Queen Mother seemeth not to like thereof Touching my Lord of Rutlands access to the King and his Brethren I leave you to the report of his own Letters My Lord of Buckhurst about the two and twentieth of this moneth is looked for here who as I suppose shall be honourably received and as honourably used during the time of his abode here Thus for the rest referring your Lordship to this inclosed of common Occurrents I most humbly take my leave At Paris the seventeenth of February 1571 Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honorable Sir Francis Walsingham the Queens Majesties Ambassador with the French King SIr if my sickness alone were considered or my irksome business laid thereto perused I cannot think but you would excuse my not writing
with my own hand or any long Letter by my enditing of the hand of another and therefore now I am enforced for that â—ittle I have to say to use another hand You shall perceive by the Queens Majesties Letters what I have been inforced with some pain to indite by reason of my restless sickness and business and therefore I mean not to repeat any part thereof unto you wishing you to supplie any defects in the manner of writing with your own natural discretion This I will add that I do hear out of Flanders that one is coming hither named Monsieur Senigam to make an end of the long talk that hath been of the mutual restitution of the Ships and Wares arrested and thereupon it may be that some further Treatie of the opening of the entercouse may follow It is also written from thence that one is come to take the place of this wrangling Ambassador who I think shall be of the low Countries named Seignieur Front one of the long Robe that was here in Commission with the Marquess Vitells Here do daily come into our Ports by drifts of winds certain Hulks of Spain and Portugal with great riches which though they are to be stayed yet surelie I trust there shall lack no diligence to cause the riches of them to be duly preserved for the owners And if you shall hear any other report as it may be I assure you it shall be against the good meaning of her Majestie and her Councel For the matters of Spain besides that which is written in the Queens Letters I do hear that Stewkley hath caused one Mr. Huggins to be imprisoned charging him to the King that he hath advertised sundrie things of that Court to my Lord of Leicester and me wherein Stewkley sheweth his traiterous meaning to his Countrey We find it so hard here by reason of this restraint to send any meet person into Spain to discover things there and I cannot tell whether you might find some there that might be trusted in respect of the common accord of our Religion to be used under some other colour of Errand thither to discover this Kings practises and if you can so do with any reasonable charge I wish you so to to and the same shall be satisfied Since the writing of the Queens Letter I find that the E. Morton was come to Barwick the fifth of this moneth with the rest of the Commissioners of that part so as I look hourly for his arrival here and that may you affirm to the satisfaction of some there that be so greedie in the Queen of Scots cause It is here determined by the Queens Majestie that there shall be a plain somewhat before Easter which is desired not to continue long and so I wish it I doubt not but by this time the Lord of Buckhurst hath either visited the King or known when he shall and I trust my Lord of Rutland hath been a Courtier before this time for whom I dare be bold to thank you upon the presumption I have that you shew him friendship which I know he will of himself deserve yet I cannot but adde thanks to his deserts for the desire I have to see good proof of him to the honour of himself and of his Countrey I have no other thing but that this afternoon God hath called to his mercie Sir Nicholas Throckmorton having been sick not past six or seven daies of a Plurisie joyned with a disease called Periplen he doth but lead the way to us whereof I for my part have had sufficient schooling by my present sickness I pray you commend me to my Lord of Buckhurst and whilest he is there an Ambassador I think you may do well to make him partaker of your charge From Westminster the February 1571. Yours assuredlie William Cecill To the Right Honorable Sir William Cecil her Majesties principal Secretary SIr it may please you to advertise her Majestie that according to her Commandment I repaired to the Spanish Ambassador and declared to him from point to point so much as is prescribed by her Majesties Letters especially not forgetting to dilate that point that concerned her Majesties good opinion conceived of him in respect of the good offices that he had done from time to time to salve the differences and unkindness that depend between her Majestie and his Master His answer was in the Spanish tongue which I understood not and other tongue then Spanish he would not vouchsafe to speak and therefore Sir I may rather tell you by gess then otherwise First he seemed to be agreived that he never heard any thing of the message he sent about three moneths sithence by Sir Henry Norris which concerned that point that the Duke of Alva lately hath communicated to her Majestie touching the Kings offers to be a Mediator between the Queen of Scots and her Majestie he said that she did never use Don Francisco for so he named himself but by fits who from time to time towards her Ambassador had alwaies used himself so sincerely as they could not but report that Don Francisco was a Gentleman of great sinceritie And if it had pleased her Majestie to have used him throughlie he would have done offices worthie of Don Francisco When I came to that point that concerned the brutes touching the King his Masters intention in attempting somewhat that might not best agree to good Amitie whereof though her Majestie had cause somewhat to doubt in regard of his intertaining of her Irish Rebels and the Countenance given to Stewkley yet being of her own nature not easily drawn to condemn upon brutes without good ground especially being lately entertained by friendly offers arguments of good meaning therefore desired him onely to be a mean to procure at the Kings hand some good assurance that these be but vain brutes and that his meaning is to continue good Amitie and to avoid all such occasions as might breed any contrarie effect To this after some time spent in exclamations and admirations he answered That nothing could seem so strange unto him as her Majestie being a Prince of that wisdom and experience that she is of should once give ear to such vain bruits as thereby to doubt that his Master considering the long Amitie that hath been between the House of Burgundy and England would now attempt any thing that might breed any breach thereof And as for sending to his Master he said the way was long and that it would be two moneths at the least before he could have any Answer He said therefore he would write to the Duke of Alva in that behalf I shewed that my Commission was to request to procure satisfaction from the King and as for the Duke of Alva her Majestie lacked no means to send unto him no more she did not to send unto the King but would have been glad as one well perswaded of him to have used his help therein as a thing as beneficial for his Master
to think onely of her Majestie and of her safety like that Roman that notwithstanding a Law was made that no man should hazard to come on the Wall without consent of the Magistrate yet he seeing the enemy preparing for the scale and that the delay of time in asking the Magistrates consent might have hazarded the losse of the City preferring a publick safety before his private perill repaired to the Walls and repulsed the enemy the matter afterward being called in question he was acquited of the penalty and adjudged a good member of the City like consideration made me to take this course following In my proceeding with Queen Mother somewhat swarving from the precise course of her Majesties instructions yet notwithstanding keeping my self within the compasse of the same with due regard had both to her Honour and the place her Majestie beareth Touching the first point I alleadged precisely and wholly what her Majestie appointed me to say unto her touching the justification of her proceeding in causes of marriage whose answer was that that she did object unto my Lord of Buckhurst she objected rather as a common opinion conceived then that her self believed it being not ignorant that the common sort that understand not the secresie of Princes proceeding are alwaies drawâ— to believe the worst But saith she I hope her sincere and direct proceeding in this now offered match will breed due justification of her former proceedings in those marriage causes Touching the second I shewed her that her Majestie had conceived by my Lord of Buckhurst that she desired to understand whether the King and she making an offer of Monsieur the same would be accepted in good part at her Majesties hand of this second point I left out these words Whether she would be pleased to hear further of it In answer of this second point I shewed her from her Majestie that she did impute it as an argument of great good will in both her and the King considering how that the King being married there could be no greater nor worthier offer made by the Crown of France then Monsieur and that therefore her Majestie doth most thankfully accept the same and further that she willed me to say unto her that if her Majestie did preceive any apparent cause to mislike of the matter she would then deal plainly with the King in thanking him for his good will and in desiring to proceed no further herewith she seemed to be satisfied Notwithstanding for that this match did stand upon two necessary points the satisfaction of both their persons and necessary accord upon certain conditions that therefore her Majestie desir'd her as a Prince indowed with kingdomes could not but with her own private satisfaction have a due regard of her subjects repose and safety by way of Capitulation that if thereupon there should grow any just cause of breach yet that friendship and good Amitie might still continue the good will of either party being to be allowed their 's in making so honourable an offer and her Majestie in yielding to give eare to the same To this she replied that she could have wished that the answer had been more direct not so much for her own satisfaction as for others in whom there rested as yet some scruple and the rather saith she for that if in the handling of this Matter there be used plainness Ceremonies being set apart whatsoever issue the matter taketh yet friendship could not in reason but continue Then I proceeded to the third shewing her that her Majestie was well content that I as her Ambassador should treat upon this matter with Monsieur de Foix which course I shewed her in my private opinion would draw the matter by often sending to and fro to a great length whereby that expedition would not follow thereof that were to be wished And that therefore if that they would not follow thereof that were to be wished And that therefore if that they would make choise of some speciall person to send over upon some other pretence with full commission to treat hereof many scruples thereby would be avoided which otherwise might breed delay of time And touching the person I told her none could be more faithfull unto her Majestie then Monsieur de Foix. In this behalf she told me she would first deal with the King as also touching the fourth point how her Majestie could not tell what to propound untill she saw what was by them first propounded who by order were first to propound and after she had dealt with the King touching these two points she promised I should the next day have answer by Master Cavalcant which she performed whose answer was that for the more expedition the King and she thought it good to send Master Cavalcant both speedily and secretly over who should come fully instructed with their resolute intention touching this match who thinketh that he shall bring with him the Articles they mean to propound unto her Majestie and further that if upon his return they find her by her answers fully resolute to proceed That then for the better ripening of the matter against the time that an Honourable Ambassadge should be sent Monsieur de Foix should come over upon some other pretence I forbeare at this present to deal touching Monsieurs having the exercise of his Religion first for that they finding her Majesties answers not wholly resolute would have suspected it for a quarrel of breach Secondarily for that without all suspition in due place it may be be propounded amongst her Majesties Articles Touching the first point I forbeare to say any thing for that they mean sometimes as I learn to use their Ambassador there Resident with her Majestie as one whom they esteem and trust I did not forget to tell her that her Majestie for the more secret handling of the matter had made choise of two onely Counsellors unto whom she had communicated the matter the one the Earle of Leicester whom she findeth well to allow of any marriage which her Majesty liketh though otherwise wrongfully doubted so specially of this that is now in Treaty The other the Lord of Burleigh of whose fidelity her Majestie hath had tryall ever since she came to her Crown â—o this she answered that these two Councellors being of her Majesties choise she would not but very well allow of and as for my Lord of Leicester she said she had many waies good cause to judge him a furtherer of the match and therefore was glad of her Majesties choise and hoped thereby of the better successe The last point concerning Master Cavalcant she said she thought him fit to deal in it as one that before time had done good offices between the two Crownes and therefore she rather wished him to be admitted a Dealer I may not omit here to say mine opinion of him which is that her Majestie could not have allowed a Gentleman more faithfully inclined to her Majestie nor more fit for his
directing his Speech to me saying that I had been and was the cause of all the unkindnesse that had chanced betwixt the King his Master and the Q. Maj. whereunto as it became me for truths sake I answer'd with more modest terms then he deserved and referred my self to all the Lords in Councel to report of me whether any thing had beene said or done by me from the beginning of these broils concerning him or his Master or the Arrest that had not been ordered and directed by her Majestie in Councel all which the whole Lords did affirm and my Lord of Sussex in the Italian tongue did very plainly and very earnestly confirm it but yet his cholor would not be so tempered and so he was dismissed and Mr. Knolls appointed to tend on him at his house This was done the thirteenth of this Month and untill the 24 he could not be gotten out of the Town and then he went to Greenwich and on Saint Stephens day to Gravesend where he yet remaineth but this day or to morrow he is to remove to Canterbury and Iohn Hawkins with whom he is well enough agreed notwithstanding the braw that had been for Hawkins spoyl in the Indies is now appointed to pass him over at Dover to Callais in a Ship of the Queens Majesties and to confirm the continuance of his mallice where there was a full determination made by Treaty by one Monsieur of the Low-Countrie and Thomas Fiascio a Genevoise for a mutual restitution on both parts and the same part in writing to have been sealed and subscribed he hath so handled the matter as by his addition of certain words the whole is become void For if our Merchants should admit his device they should be without all surety of their Goods in Spain and contrariwise the Spaniards should first have theirs arrested here whereby it is likely that the intent of this Treaty will break off and therewith our Merchants are best contented For now considering the breaking off proceedeth from the other party it is intended that there shall be a speedy sale of the strangers Commodities and therewith our own Merchants shall be duely recompenced At this present there is another come from the King of Portugal to move an end of all arrest and renew the Traffique between this Realm and his whereby it is manifestly seen that there shall follow a very good vent for all Commodities that Spain was wont to expend As yet there is no accord known to us betwixt the Kings party in Scotland and them of the Castle for that they of the Castle cannot have their reasonable demands for the restitution of their Lands and Goods well assured The French Ambassador lately by the Queens Majesties appointment dealt with my Lord of Leicester and me upon these Points following which he said he was willed to doe by his Masters Letters of the first of this Moneth For offer of Amity by Marriage or League To complain of the intention of her Majestie to send force into Scotland to aid the Kings party with a kind of threatning that the King might not endure but aid the other party with force and in speech hereof a request that some expedition might be made to procure the Queen of Scots restitution with the Queens Majesties assurance To demand restitution of money that was intercepted being sent towards Scotland for Viraque alleadging that the one half was the Kings money and that though the Queen Mother had otherwise at the first spoken to Mr Walsingham yet she now understandeth the contrary by the Kings Treasurers who sent it To these was answered To the first That you had Commission amply to satisfie the King To the second That nothing was intended to be done by force if they that were of the Castle would abide by their own offers which they had made to the Queens Majestie by Messages and Letters viz. That they would accord with the other party so as the Queens Majestie would provide for their honours lives and their Lands and Goods which her Majestie intended to doe and therein to doe nothing that should be prejudicial to the ancient League betwixt the French King and the Crowne of Scotland and so was told him that you had Commission to declare to the King wherewith the Ambassador seemed very well content As to devise any way expedient for the Scotch Queen absolutely was answered That the Queens Majestie would never assent thereto neither would any Counceller of this estate willingly permit any consultation to be made thereof such was her known malice to the Queens Majestie The third for the money we told him as plain a tale to the contrary and vouched the Bishop of Ross his Confession thereof but the Ambassador would still have us believe him which he could not obtain This Treaty was long on both sides and ended in good sort and friendly In the end he was earnest for his freedom of impost for 30 tonn we said that he should be free from as much as he should spend in his house but that contented him not finally considering the terms of towardness to friendship he shall have his own desire whereby spending seven or eight tonn the rest shall pay for his expences Of all these things I have thought good to scribble to you this Childermas day in my bed and am bold to send this Letter unsealed in a Letter of Mr. Walsinghams because he shall not be ignorant I think the Duke shall be arraigned on Monday the 14 of the next Month. At Westminster the 28 of December 1571. Your assured friend W. Burleigh To the right honorable and my very good friend Mr. Francis Walsingham her Majesties Ambassador in France SIr You shall understand that immediately after Sir Tho. Smith had taken his leave of the Court a servant of my brother Killigrews named Geofery came to the Court with Letters from you and from the Court and before this bearer can come to you I doubt not but you shall have understanding by Mr. Smith what charge he hath and therein here is now an earnest determination to spend time no longer then honour will spare and so I thinâ— this bearer will say of his knowledge who surely maketh good demonstration of his honest meaning to all Parties and therein he is to be comforted On Friday last the Spanish Ambassador was sent for to the Councell and in the Queens name commanded to depart the Realme the same hath beene oftentimes intended but never put in execution before this present and now provoked by intelligence of certain new practises within this Realm to perswade the Subjects that the King his Master would aid them with power this Spring c. he hath also lately searched for certain Barons Walls he shall depart by Dover into the Low-Country I can write no more for lack of leasure being occasioned to write at this time divers waies and not unoccupied with feasting my friends at the marriage of my daughter who is
Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Hononrable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester YOur Lordship at large by Sir Tho Smithes Letters unto her Majestie shall understand to what issue we are grown to touching this Treaty We can by no means nor perswasions we can use draw the King to any other interpretation of his meaning touching the point of Religion then by private Letters for that it should seem that their Ambassador from hence hath assured the King here that her Majestie will be content therewith For my private opinion seeing this League is to indure but during the lives of the two Princes and that the substance of all Leagues consisteth chiefly in the sincerity of the matters and that this Prince hath given great shew to the world of great â—incerity I think the private Letter bindeth as much in honour as any other Instrument or Contract that can pass between them can do in Law For if they should break the matter is not to be tryed in the Chamber imperial by way of pleading of what value the instruments are God and the Sword must be Judges so that then pleading must give place But this my good Lord is for my private opinion in matters of so great weight as leagues are I profess altogether ignorance If her Majestie can content her self with this private interpretation of the Kings meaning then if it would please her Majestie through your good motion to use some words of assurance towards the Ambassador there of the great good opinion she hath of the Kings sincerity and that she buildeth more upon his words then upon contract I know nothing can more content him for he desireth to be reputed a Prince that esteemeth his word and honour above his life Besides he wisheth himself to be in her Majesties good opinion before all other Princes and doth often take occasion to say that he hopeth there will be no less earnest good will and strait Amity between him and her Majestie then was between her Father and his Grandfather To nourish this opinion of Amity between them I take it to be the office of all those who truly love their Majesties as that League that tendeth greatly to both their sureties being knit together in perfect Amity which beside their particular safety will breed a great repose in all Europe especially for the cause of Religion And surely my Lord for the increase and nourishment of this friendship nothing can yield more furtherance then your access hither in ratification of the League a thing very much desired of their Majesties here as you perceive by Sir Tho Smithes Letter The motion at the first being made by the Queen Mother seemed strange unto us for her to name a particular person but when she shewed unto us that her Majestie the last Summer desired the Marshal Montmorency whereunto they did condescend and that they also mean to send him now for the confirmation of this League we had nothing to reply They say that the King in respect of the good offices that you had done between the two Crowns the great honour you had used towards his Ministers sent hither and certain prâ—sents that you had sent unto himself desireth very much both to see you and honour you Besides she said that your coming should be so grateful unto her and the King her Son as you might obtain any thing at his hands for the contentment of her Majestie so far forth as he might with his honour grant Surely my Lord though this voyage to your purse cannot but grow very chargable yet for the furtherance of the common cause of Religion for the increase of Amity between the two Princes and Crowns and for their own particular reputation never was there offered to your Lordship greater occasion both generally and particularly to do good then at this present Your Lordship can do more good in one hour here then twenty such petty companions as my self is can do in a whole year or possible in all our lives time I would I could so well hope of her Majesties leave as of your Lordships liking to take this journey upon you and then I would assure my self of your coming and by the same of as great good to ensue as ever followed of any others imployment in this voyage c. To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may pleas your Lordship to understand that Monsieur de la Mothe hath advertised their Majesties here that the Q. of Scots cause in England is not so desperate as we make it for that lately she hath received so much increase of liberty as that she went a Hawking with the Earl of Shrewsbury which advertisement here maketh them more earnest in her cause then they were wont for that they doubt one day she will come to the possession of the Crown of England either by succession or prevention and therefore the Councel here do advise the King so to deal for her as may continue in her an opinion that he is careful for her well own safety and cannot but do justice then call things proceed well and her Majestie may well perceive that any favour shewed unto her doth not onely breed disfavour but also danger and hindrance towards her self whereof Mr. Killegrew can inform her Majestie at large The opinion of the wisest sort of the Gentlemen of the Religion that are here is That the League it self shall not do more good then the imployment of two honourable Personages for the ratification of the same and therefore they desire me most earnestly to move her Majestie to concur with the King in this respect who hath to that end made choice of Montmorency hoping that her Majestie will choose one of quality somewhat answerable to his calling Besides the King and Queens desire as may appear by Sir Tho Smithes Letters the said Gentlemen do desire much the Earl of Leicesters coming as one very grateful unto their Majesties here and therefore shall be able to do very much good by the advancement of their causes whose increase of credit cannot but be beneficial unto her Majestie in considering the great good affection they bear towards her in regard of the great honour and benefits they have received at her Majesties hands and therefore their increase of credit shall breed increase of Amity a thing not unnecessary for her Majestie considering how she finds some of her neighbours affected abroad and her Subjects inclined at home Besides if her Majestie should not seem to be desirous of Montmorencies coming considering that he is no less willing to come then his Master is to send it might give him occasion to think that her Majestie maketh not that account of him that his great good will and devotion towards her deserveth whereof he letteth not to make demonstration outwardly as otherways of the which besides mine own experience during the time of my charge here Sir Tho Smith and Mr. Killegrew
perswasions they were induced to accord with her Majestie that a Parliament should be holden with such speed as it might be and there these her Majesties motions were propounded and certain persons should have authority to treat hereof with her Majesties Councellours Whereupon her Majestie did look for some good success and before it could be granted thereunto to proceed her Majestie discovered daily most dangerous attempts of Treason both against her Person and Realm wholly and onely set forth by the said Queen of Scots And her Majestie found these new Treasons intended and almost brought to their mischievous perfection by not onely renewing of the former marriage with the Duke of Norfolk and by giving order for a Rebellion and Invasion of this Realm All which was by her devised set forth and delivered to be executed even in the very same time that her Majestie did deal so earnestly for her with her Subjects and was in hope to have obtained some reasonable end for her So also did she now discover the truth of her former practises in stirring of the first Rebellion onely to have by force obtained the marriage and with the same force sought the Crown All the which attempts the said Lord Admiral and Sir Tho Smith can orderly declare and so they shall do And they may well say That her Majestie cannot think any person to mean well towards her safetie that would after these things thus notified move her Majestie to hold her former course in favour of the said Scotish Queen And this hath been the cause why her Majestie hath not since this last discovery of these dangers in such sort answered both to the King and his Ministers upon their motions made in her favour And the Lord Admiral shall conclude that seeing the case is thus that to shew such favour to the Scotish Queen as is desired is most dangerous to her Majesties Crown and her Majestie cannot like of any motion to hazard her own Estate And besides the things intended by the Scotish Queen against her Majestie it is apparent she doth wholly give her self to the Duke of Alva and to the King of Spain which as it is many waies fully to be proved so may the Lord Admiral say That he can make it manifest by her own hand writing for which end he shall shew to the King a Letter of hers in Cypher to the Duke of Alva All which the Lord Admiral shall shew to the King to this end that both he may see the just causes her Majestie hath to hold the course she doth and that he also wil not molest her Maj. with any motions tending for favour of the Scotish Q. so greatly to her Maj. danger And to the matter of le Crocques stay here for a time before his departure into Scotland if any mention be thereof made by the King the said L. Admiral can tel the occasion thereof to have grown of the letters which le Crocque brought from the King to her Majestie in favour of the Scotish Queen for her liberty and return into France notwithstanding the king had been duly informed by her Majesties Ambassador that her Majestie could not with her surety suffer the same And threfore at that time she could not think that le Crocques negotiation coming with such letters could tend to pacifie the Realm of Scotland for her Majesties surety when before his â—nlay he was found to have charge from the Q. of Scots If any motion be made to the L. Admiral of a matter lately devised to offer to her Maj. Marriage with the Duke of Alanson the L. Admiral may well say that he hath no charge to speak thereof at this time but he may say that he is willed if occasion be so given to him to report what he heard her Majestie say that he was not so well used in the Treaty for the other brother the Duke of Anjou as was meet in the time of motion made for Amity both by that marriage and otherwise for that Monsieur de Foix being in England and dealing therein her Majestie did proceed honourably and plainly with him and with the French Ambassador that she would not assent to marry with him or with any other that would not consent with her in Religion contrary to the order of the Realm or at the least that would use any other Religion in any sort then might stand with the Church of God whereupon her Majestie was by them pressed but to consent to a sufferance of some secret usage of his Religion without offence of the Realm until he might be otherwise induced and perswaded in conscience It may be remembred that when her Majesties Ambassador made a report at de Foix return of her Majesties answer the King seemed not willing to receive that answer but that he desired that some might be sent to commune thereof with him who should find that the matter should be made clearer of these difficulties whereunto when her Majestie did not fully consent it was afterward by the Ambassador Resident oftentimes pressed that her Majestie would send some special person of trust for her self to the French King promising her Majestie that this matter should be facillitated and made easie to her contentation According whereunto her Majestie upon many solicitations specially by the said Ambassador in the King his Masters name did send Sir Tho Smith to understand the Kings meaning herein who can best tell how at the first entry he was answered with a direct contrary course to her Majesties expectation and otherwise then was mentioned by any Ambassador that ever treated therein with her Majestie or that ever Monsieur de Foix did ever speak or require which was that Monsieur de Anjou would in any wise have the exercise of his Religion here in England in like sort as he had in France A matter strange to be heard at that time when her Majestie was provoked to send one with hope that in the case of Religion she should receive such an answer as should content her Majestie Of this matter the L. Admiral shall inform himself more largely of Sir Tho Smith to the end that if the same be communed of he may both with the King and the Queen Mother so deal as it may be seen to them that her Majestie had cause to think very strangely thereof And were it not that she is entred into a streight Amity with the King she might justly challenge lack of friendship herein but so as the King be not ignorant but that her Majestie hath cause to think her self not well dealt withal she is content to pass it over without keeping the same in memory to nourish any unkindness And so the L. Admiral shall use his speech that the King may not think his speech to move any new offence Furthermore the said L. Admiral shall in all his speech with the King and also with the Queen Mother let it appear how much her Majestie esteemeth sundry offers
she being through sickness in that time in state not to give audience To the first touching the Enterview The 2d touching the confirmation of the league with renewing of the Oath The third touching the establishing of Traffique The fourth the Kings requests to have the Lord Treasurer or the Earle of Leicester come over after the Queens delivery To these four Requests I made her acquainted with such answers as were made unto the same To the first touching the time she said that she wrote unto the Ambassador that in respect of the young Queens delivery which she thought would have been ere â—his time the meeting could not be before the twentieth of this moneth and that therefore he should move it against that time not meaning that it should be so precisely set down but it should be referred chiefly to her Majesties choice To the second touching the place she shewed me that forasmuch as she had never intention to come over the same being mistaken by the Ambassador and that the interview by Sea was thought inconvenient hearing that the Isles of Iersey did belong unto her Majesty she thought that that was a convenient place for the said Enterview and therfore she caused the Ambassador to propound it protesting that the same was void of any evill meaning or intention and that there were Letters written to the Ambassador for that purpose before the late execution here To the second touching the renewing of the Oath she said that the same proceeded of advertisements from the Ambassador that her Majesty should say that she could not tell what accompt or assurance to make of the late League concluded whereupon the King willed him to make offer unto her that what she could devise for the assurance and faithful keeping of the same he would most willingly put in execution and thereupon willed him to offer that if her Majesty should think it requisite the same should be confirmed by a new oath and as for my self saith she considering the same had not been violated of either party I concur with your Mistres in opinion thinking the same needless To the third touching the establishing of Traffique she said she saw some reason to think her Majesties answer reasonable That the time seemeth now improper considering the late disorder at Roan notwithstanding the Kings meaning was to take such order as well for the punishing of offenders as for the well using of Merchants as that they should have no just cause to fear to which purpose the King had written both to Caranges the Governour as also to the chief President there Touching the fourth concerning the Kings request for the coming over either of the Lord Treasurer or the Earl of Leicester she said that the same also proceeded of advertisement from the Ambassador that he thought that if their Majesties would require the coming over of either of them after the Queens delivery that the same would be yielded to whereupon the King gave him Commission to move her Majesty in that behalf he desiring nothing more then one of them to whom he knew he might communicate matters of weight as frankly as unto her Majesty and as touching any peril that might happen unto them she said that the King would take such order for safety as they should be in no less surety here then at home in her own realm To that I replied that it would be very hard for her Majesty or any other to be so perswaded in that behalf for that it was not possible any disorder in a State could be reduced to order without punishment and that therefore neither stranger nor their own subjects can make accompt to be in safety within their government so long as the malefactors should remain unpunished To this she said that the injuries done by those of the Religion against the Catholiques were so great as it was hard to bridle the peoples fury especially upon the discovery of this new Treason notwithstanding such order was taken that no publique person or Ambassador should be touched This was the sum of her reply unto such answers as were made by her Majesty to the Ambassador there I made her also acquainted with her Majeiesties answer to the Ambassador touching my Revocation To the which she said That the world would judge some alteration to be between the two Crowns if any such thing should be done without sending some other to supply my place I then delivered her a copie of the three Requests given to the Ambassador there to be exhibited unto their Majesties here in the behalf of the Merchants wherein she promised that there should be such order taken as should be to the contentment of her Majesty and the safety of her subjects and that already the matter had been considered of Being given to understand that the Baron de la Garde was arrived here I requested her Majesty that if it would please her to deal earnestly with him as well for the release of those English ships that were stayed already as also to give order that those that are now presently to repair to Burdeaux may pass to fro in safety without any molestation either with the Gallies or of the other ships there Whereupon she sent unto me the next day the said Baron de la Garde who after long circumstances used of the great good will he bare unto her Majesties Father and to her Majesty her selfe and to our Nation assured me that the ships that were staied were delivered That he had taken order before his departure from Brouage that our Merchants should pass freely without any molestation or trouble and that there were already some passed whom onely he did forbid that they should not touch at the Road before Rochel he shewed me that he had received such strait commandement at her Majesties hands for the well usage of our Merchants as I might assure my selfe they should have no just cause to complain She requested me in the conclusion of our talk to write unto her Majesty that she was given to understand that one Sorez their subject lately retired hither did seek some shipping there within her Majesties Dominions she therefore desired her that she would take order for some restraint to be made in that behalf for that he is so ill an Instrument as he would be glad to do somthing to breed unkindness between the two Crowns which occasion she said she hoped her Majesty would avoid Moreover she shewed me that divers of her subjects did complain of injuries done unto them by certain ships that lye about the Downs and the Isle of Wight and therefore desired me to write unto her Majesty that there might be some redress given in that behalf And so leaving to trouble your Honor any fnrther at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the 25 of October 1572. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham To the right honorable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principall Secretary SIR it may please
be not provoked to answer to any of those points mentioned in them he should not minister occasion of talk on them and possibly they will say nothing and yet with you they will be busie which if it come to pass there is no doubt but you can and will answer to the effect of those Instructions and further as occasion shall be ministred But in one point that is for the breach of the abstinence in Scotland which then was not certain and now is certain hard it is if they be not questioning with you for I am sure de la Mâ—t will not be without his intelligence from Scotland nor negligent in advertising to France And upon occasion of time whether you be demanded or not it is thought meet that you take occasion to shew the King that to the grief of the Queens Majestie the Scots have not agreed but be broken again into hostilitie within themselves which although touâ—heth joyntly the Fr. K. and her Majestie because they two being Princes of so great authority and so conjoyned in love and amity and both by mutual consent by their Ambassadors labouring to bring them to unity peace and concord within themselves should be so illuded and scorned of a few petty companions that having all things offered unto them that they could desire reasonable and more yet they would still maintain war in their own Countrey and in the tender age of their young King whom to set up and Crown they were the first doers This injury you may say touched the King as well as the Queens Majestie because joyntly they both like Princes in most amitie agreed in their Leagues together to pacifie and unite Scotland in it self which now by discord intestine being disunited is brought almost to extreme poverty and misery The other cause toucheth more her Majestie because they being her Neighbours next adjoyning and bordering upon her Subjects while the Realm of Scotland was united and peace within it self if any of their Thieves and Out-laws had injury by theft or murther any of her Majesties Subjects upon complaint redress was had the Malefactors punished and he who had the injurie restored and so was it on both sides reciprocally Now in this Civil dissention miseries robberies stealth and murthers be committed daily and then the one part or the other beareth them out so that it were almost as good to have a border war betwixt England and Scotland for the poor men that do dwell thereabouts as civil wars betwixt the Scots themselves and therefore this breach betwixt the two parties must needs grieve her Majesties Subjects more then the French King being so far distant and so consequently her Honor who indeed doth take it and not without cause heavily for that they have not esteemed better her Majesties good will and desire that she had all their strifes and debates among themselves compounded and accorded and that they have set so light by the authoritie of the French King their brothers and heirs The young King is her Majesties near Kinsman and her Highness desireth not onely to have him preserved but also his Realm if it could be in quiet peace and good oâ—der and aboundance which without inward peace cannot be had and must needs think evil of these few petty companions being gotten into the Castle of Edenburgh which for their wilful obstination and private benefits shall keep that Realm still in that dissention and trouble in contempt of such Princes as the French King and her Majestie is whose design tended to nothing but to make unitie and concord among them there And therefore if Hume Castle and Fast Castle which her Highness hath detained hitherto in that hope upon accord to have rendred them to the Lord and owners thereof from whom they were before by just war taken Now her Majestie seeth no longer cause to detain but to render them according as is comprised in the Treatie not to them who have so evil deserved of her Majestie their own King and Countrey by their perverse obstinacy and of the French King also but one of the same Nation who acknowledgeth their King and is desirous of unitie peace concord and good government in that Realm and of this her design her Majestie thought meet to make her good brother the French King first privy unto for the love that she doth bear unto him and according to the Amity and Intelligence betwixt the two Realms I am glad to have this occasion to send this bearer Iohn Farry your man unto you for I assure you I do pitty your case that so many of your men be here together peradventure occasion may serve shortly to send you another yet methinks you forget me to send so often to others without any letters to me Fare you well From Somerset-house the nine and twentieth of January 1572. by English account I thank you for the case of Tools I yet have not leisure to understand them all nor looked not for so many nor on that sort When I shall understand the properties and use of them I shall have more cause to thank you Yours alwayes assured Tho Smith To the Earl of Leicester AFter the inclosing up of my other letters I received at one instant two sundry Letters of your Lordships the one of the eighth and the other of the nine and twentieth Touching the first your Honour doth concur with me in opinion as I conceive by the same that the matter which is the chiefest cause of my stay is but a meer entertainment the matter through misguiding is never like to come to issue If they mean otherwise which is most likely why should her Majestie endure to be any longer abused As your Lordship findeth the partie that dealeth there halting and divers in his tales even like unconstancie and doubleness do I find in him here that dealeth with me To disguise the matter they borrow certain names out of Amadis de Gaule wherein they deal most aptly to adde to a fained thing fained names They judge us to be very gross and do think that every fair and coloured speech is able to abuse us I cannot be otherwise perswaded but some here that rule all are acquainted with the matter for otherwise the partie that last came over would never have medled in the same God send it a better end then I look for For your Lordships good advice in the latter end of your letter I most humbly thank you and do think my self much bound to you for the same as for any other favour I have received at your Lordships hands since I entred into this service The best recompence I can make unto your Lordship as I know is to take profit thereof True it is that sometimes in requital unto some of my Friends who have given me large entertainments of the state of things whereof otherwise I have been ignorant I have also largelie made them partakers how things passed here and somewhat more largelie then I have
King his Brother a League offensive and defensive and for the matters of the Low-Countries we will therein do as before is expressed if the secret aiding may in no sort be accepted by the French King And thus leaving to your discretion how to perswade Monsieur that thâ—s not assenting to the marriage proceedeth not of lack of Love or Good-will towards him but of meer necessity to avoid the just offence of our people you shall use all good perswasions to temper his misliking thereof with the assurance of the continuance of our love towards him in all his fortunes hereafter to follow And now when you shall return from Monsieur to the French King you are for answering the first point to shew our minde thereto with the like Arguments and Reasons as before is contained in that you shall have said to Monsieur which need not here to be repeated in writing And if the French King shall not allow of our foremost offer for our secret aiding of Monsieur in his actions but will refuse the same peremptorily and so procure Monsieur to leave his enterprize for lack of our further yielding then you shall yield to the second afore remembred that we will rather then the enterprize should fail and thereby the King of Spains greatness encrease joyn with the King as is remembred But except Monsieur shall object against the manner of our ayd in secret sort as is before remembred you shall not need to yield ours to offer to Monsieur that second degree nor make any mention thereof for after that being opened and the French King being therewith acqnainted before your access unto him it shall be in vain to stand with the French King upon the offer of the first degree for a secret ayd so as if you shall be urged by Monsieurs answers to fall to the second to yield to an open ayd then you may onely repeat the first to the King and therewith to add that if that manner of ayd shall neither content the French King nor Monsieur then we will assent to joyn with the French King in such manner as shall be found reasonable for us both and for the cause And so our meaning is that you shall if you can possible in this sort put of the marriage with yielding to this latter open sort of aiding if the secret ayd shall not be allowed and therewith you shall declare by this our Answer the other two points for a League offensive and defensive and for a secret accord for the Low Countries to be in a sort answered But for more particular instructions of you how to proceed in these two latter matters you shall have for them both a Commission general for your self and our Ambassador and Sommers to treat therupon and with the said Commission you shall have some other particular instructions such as the short time may yield And whensoever you shall enter to treat thereon after knowledge had from you there shall be more particular matters called to remembrance and sent unto you But now if you shall after all good Reasons used to perswade the staying of the marriage with the offers to joyn with the French King and both with aiding of his Brother and if it be moved to you or otherwise thought reasonable to be by you mentioned to joyn also in the ayding of Dâ—n Anthonio pretending to be the King of Portugal that notwithstanding this your proceeding that the King will yield to none of these but with the marriage as hitherto by his former Answers have appeared he would not you should persist in setting forth the necessities of the Crown of France both presently and for time to come as also you shall confess the like for England to begin timely to abate the King of Sp. greatness and that though there had been never marriage spoken of yea that wheresoever Monsieur may marry in an other place yet it shall prove a great error both in the Frinch King and us to leave the King of Spain to encrease to such greatness as hereafter neither the force of France nor England no nor any that may be confederate with them shall be able to withstand any thing that the King of Spain shall attempt And if these Reasons cannot prevail you shall leave off declaring your great grief that the forbearing of the marriage grounded upon the evident misliking of our subjects should be the cause of the forbearing to do so great a good to Christendom as the conjunction of the King and us might bring though the matter took not place and so you shall end and speedily advertise us of your proceedings Instructions for the treaty of a League offensive and defensive betwixt us and the French King and for other things depending thereupon ELIZABETH R. WHen it shall appear upon your other treating with the K. according to such other instructions as you have that it shal be required and found convenient that there be a League made for a strict Amity between us and the French King and that the same shall be found good for us both in respect of the King of Spains growing overgreat to continue a peaceable neighbor you shal require first that the Treaty made for a mutual defence betwixt the French Kings brother Charles the ninth and us and which also hath been confirmed by a special clause in the Treaty that shall now be newly made and thereupon shall it be considered what other new Covenants that are not already contained in the former Treaty shall be made to make our Amity streighter against any that shall commit any hostile act by invasion of any of our Countries which we now possess or have possessed any time these 20 yeers and to that end you shall move an assent that from henceforth we and the King shall during our lives be united in heart and minde for confirmation of our honors persons states dignities kingdoms and dominions to either of us belonging so as from henceforth we and the King shall be against all persons friends to friends and enemies to enemies notwithstanding any former Leagues or Confederations with any other or notwithstanding any Councels Perswasions or Motions to be made to either of us by any Potentate or person spiritual or temporal to the contrary of the tenour of this League Item You shall Covenant that if any King Potentate or other person shall offend or procure offence to us in our person honor dignity or estate or shall take away or impeach and 〈◊〉 any of our Kingdoms or Countries the French King shall repute and accept the same offence as done to himself or his Countries and shall in like manner with all his power impugn the same as though the offence were made to himself and we also shall be bound in like sort to the French King mutatis mutandis Item It shall be mutually covenanted that all Traytors and manifest Rebels against either of us shall be declared and used as enemies or Rebels of the other
to advertise me thereof I will not faile to doe mine endeavour to procure that the same may be sent over with as convenient speed as may be And in this behalf if you shall perceive at your coming there that the Duke is in no such necessity or that the Prince of Parma will retire his Forces whereby the victualing of the Towne of Cambray may be performed Then may you forbeare touching the offer of the money You may also declare unto the Vicecount that by the Lettets sent of late out of England from Marchiamont the D. may be put in more hope of the marriage then I could put him in at my being there and thereby he may perchance conceiue that I did not proceed so far forth as I had Commission in respect of some particular mislike I have of the marriage you shall therefore pray him in my name to use what perswasions he may to remove any such opinion from the Duke in whose good opinion I doe desire to remain assuring him that when the truth of my proceedings shall be known it will be found that I have dealt sincerely and accordingly as I did protest to the Duke my self And if you shall see any just occasion in such conference as shall pass between you and the said Duke to deliver any speech for my particular defence I shall then pray you to deal with him therein as in your good judgement and discretion shall be thought meet Fr. Walsingham To the right honorable my very good Lord the Lord Treasurer MY very good Lord by the general Letter and Copy of that I writ unto her Majestie your Lordship may conceive as much as we are able to decypher of the causes of their alteration here with us but the greatest cause of stay and hanging off for hearkening to our motion is a doubt they conceive that her Majestie will not resolutely imbarque her self into any such certain proportion of charges as both this action of the Low-Countrys and other charges which in time may be found necessary will require Spain and the Pope make great and large offers which are not lightly hearkened unto Now if we shall not in our treating be able to countervail them either with as good or with some such certainty as may be to their liking our conference will be to small purpose and in my simple opinion it were much better that we were revoked then that further imployment of time and charges should be fruitlesly expended and therefore I beseech your Lordship to be a mean to her Majestie that we may have some certainty set downn â—o us which in our conference with them we may deliver to them and that we may particularly know to what sum and for what time her Highness can be pleased to extend her aid and whether in case it be demanded of us and they will have it so concluded she can be content to enter into open Warre against the King of Spain or not for in these two points chiefly will all their treating consist wherein if we shal not be able to resolve them your Lordship can easily conceive what end our Negotiation will have I am given to understand that in case her Marriage shall not take place then the King will enter into a League Defensive onely adding to the Treaties already in force such other matters as shall be thought necessary for common defence I pray your Lordship therefore that we may know her Majesties mind in this and what shall be thought necessary meet to be added to the former Treaties And so I humbly take my leave of your Lordship Paris the 13 of August 1581. Your Lordships Fr. Walsingham To her Majestie August 13. IT may please your most excellent Majestie I know you cannot but find the Kings alteration of his former resolution very strange and thereforâ— would be glad to know the true cause of the change wherein I would to God I could satisfie your Majestie of with truth to think that the same proceeded of two causes alleadged by the King whereof we have in our general Letter unto the Lord Treasurer made mention I have many reasons to lead me to be of contrary opinion and have rather just cause to think that the ground of the change grew upon advertisements received from thence being put in hope that either your Majestie they insisting still upon the League with marriage will yield thereto or else in respect of the doubts they are put in that the marriage not taking place your Majestie will not go so resolutely forward in the prosecution of the Warr against Spain in case it should be found so expedient to enter into a publique and open Warr If your Majestie have conquered the diffâ—culty in your own nature as also other difficulties of Estate touching the marriage and shall be disposed to proceed to the effectuating thereof then we your poor Ministers here do hope that we shall not receive that disgrace as that your resolution therein shall rather be delivered by others then by us On the other side if that your Majestie shall not be disposed to enter into an open action against Spain with this Crown in respect of the charges then were it good that any further proceeding therein were forborn to give them occasion by the entertaining thereof to think that your Majestie dallieth with them both in marriage and League cannot but greatly exasperate them against you how your Majestie shall be able alone to bear the malice of Spain France and Scotland for such a concurrency against you is to be looked for I doe not see otherwise then to depend upon Gods goodness The consideration of this matter doth minister necessary questions in State The one Whether it were not better for your Majestie to joyn with France against Spain or to have them both with Scotland against you The other Whether it were not better to convey the Wars out of your own Realm by the intended association with this Crown or to have this Crown with the rest of the evil affected neighbours to assail you within your own Realm The solution is very easie for as in cure of a natural body being diseased it were evil advice â—o councel the application of inward medicines when outward will serve so were it less dangerous to attend a Warr at home the inward corruption being throughly looked into when that the same by some provident course by your Majestie taken may be put off the only difficulty resteth only upon charges which if the likelihood were would grow greater then your Estate or Crown might bear then were it reason for your Majestie to forbear the same for that Ultra posse non est esse and to stand upon your own defence But if the charges may be reduced into such a convenient proportion as the Crown may bear then were it very hard that treasure should be preferred before safety I beseech your Majestie that without offence I may tell you that your loathnesse to
found the message and request teasonable and concluded with Pinart that the next morning the King shall be moved in it when Pinart delivered this answer to my messenger he told him withal that the King upon the receit of this letter from his Ambassador had put on a resolution not to proceed in any League offensive unless the marriage were first fully accorded and that being done he would make a Treaty offensive not onely against one Prince but against all whatsoever With this I thought good to acquaint your Lordship notwithstanding I finde them full of alterations to the end that in case the King should dwell in this resolution I might receive her Majesties pleasure for my return humbly praying your Lordship to use the matter so that it may be no cause of stay in her Majestie with this dispatch For my own opinion I think that the King will stay in this resolution until he may hear from his brother to whom Du Uray this day hath dispatched a pacquet the 26 of August Francis Walsingham To the Lord Treasurer MY very good Lord whereas I perceive by your letters of the seventeenth of this present that her Majestie doth marvail that she heareth nothing of my moving of the King to assist his brother it may please your Lordship therefore to let her Highness understand that at the time of my first access unto the King I did very effectually recommend the same in general terms unto him and did receive from him assurance that he would have care of his brother as in honor and in nature he was bound thinking at the time of our conference when we should enter into the dealing for the secret Treaty the time would then have served most aptly to have furthered the same in a more particular sort which being stayed as your Lordship knoweth by a request made by Du Uray in the Duke his Masters name and being given to understand by good means that the King protested that unless he had been assured that the marriage would have taken place he would never have suffered his brother to have proceeded so far in the enterprise of the Low-Countries I thought it out of time to use any perswasion in furtherance of the assistance to be given to the said Duke unless I might have had some Authority to assure him of the marriage Besides If he should have demanded as it is probable he would what support her Majesty would have yielded for the good will she professeth to bear towards his said brother I was restrained to put him in any comfort thereof by her Majesties special direction for that as your Lordship knoweth her pleasure was I should make no offer of support unto the Duke unless I were assured that the King would not ayd him as also for that her Majesty did conceive that if the said King should know that his brother should be supported by her he would then forbear to yield any relief The case then standeth thus as I was neither able to assure him of the marriage without the which as it seemed he was altogether unwilling to imbark himself any way nor acquaint him with her Majesties determinations to assist his said brother whereby to have provoked him to have concurred with her Majesty being restrained as your Lordship seeth by her Majesty for the reasons above mentioned to make any offer of assistance in her Highnesses behalf I hope her Majesty upon due consideration thereof will rest satisfied it is a great grief to any minister that shall be imployed in any matter of that weight as those that are committed to any charge to have no certain directions I would to God her Highness would resolve one way or other touching the matter of her marriage the uncertain course that is now held in that behalf besides that it doth offend the Prince here and discredit her servants that deal therein especially being perswaded as they are that I have more authority then I have doth minister unto the Secretaries of forraign Princes matters of discourse greatly to her Majesties dishonor and extreme grief of us here that are acquainted withal as that when her Majesty is pressed to marry then she seemeth to affect a League and when a League is yielded unto then she liketh better of a marriage And when thereupon she is moved to assent to marriage then she hath recourse to the League when the motion for the League or any request is made for mony then her Majesty returneth to marriage as these things are delivered out here in discourse among the said Secretaries so are they all so conveyed and distributed into other Conrts through Europe whereof her enemies will make their profit to throw her into the hatred of all the world it shall be therefore most necessary for your Lordship and the rest of the Councel whose advice she doth use in this cause to move her Majesty earnestly to grow to some earnest resolution in that behalf as a thing that doth import her greatly both in honor and safety Paris August 20. Francis Walsingham Au Duc d'Anjou M On seigneur ayant tout a ceste heure receu lettres de la part de sa Maj. par lesquelles suis adverty que sa dite Maj. a accordée de fournir a vostre altesse la somme de 100000 escus n'ay voulu laisser l'opportunité d'en advertir icelle en toute diligence en estant pour ma part bien joyeula ne desirant chose plus au monde que de faire tres humbles services a s'on Altesse et esperant que ce bon fondement que sa Majestè a mais se combler á d'aultres fruicts a vostre souhait Au reste il plaira a vâ—stre Altesse d'estre adverti que par le moyen d'icelle estant les commissaires de la Maj. tres-christiens Et nous autres entres bien avant au traicte des l'amitie perpetuelle que sa Maj desire veoir establie entre ces deux couronnes comme chose fort a propos et duisantè a l'advancement des affaires que vostre A. a presentement en main et y ayant travaillé en sorte qu'estions bien prés a couronner l'ouurages tout soudain le 25 de se present mois par le commandement du Roy le dict traicté se rompt et demeure en suspens a l'occasion de quelque advertisement que par ses lettres l'un va donner Monsieur de la Muanissiere comme si la Maj. de la Royne ma maistresse auroit conclus entre elle et luy de donner vostre A sans plus de remises promesse reale de mariage entendant proceder si rondement et de bonne foy que la consummation ne demeureroit gueres a paracheuer dont peu le estre que Mr. Du Uray a desia adverty V. A. Chose que nous sembloit bien estrange n'en ayant receu mot de la part de sa Maj. comme n'en avons encores
they promise to themselves great support both from the Pope and Spain And yet have we neither power to provide Scotland nor to prevent that the greatness of Spain may no way hurt us yea rather such as have been perswaders both in the one and the other have reaped instead of thanks displeasure Paris September 3. Fr. Walsingham The substance of the Speeches that passed privatly between Queen Mother and me the Secretary in her Garden at the Teilliers the third of August 1581. 1. THe principal matters I dealt in with her Majestie in this conference was first to shew her whereon the stay of the ships in England prepared for Portugal proceeded 2. The causes that moved her Majestie to conceive that the King was not so forward now in seeking to prevent the Spanish greatness as by former overtures he seemed to be 3. That it was strange that the Duke her son dealing in a cause so many waies profitable for the Realm and honourable for himself should be so coldly assisted as he was 4. And lastly I prayed her that she would be a mean to the King that we might proceed in the Treaty considering the stay thereof grew upon no such cause as ought to hinder so profitable a matter for both Crowns For the first after I had let her understand how willing her Majestie would have been to have satisfied her request contained in her last Letter delivered by Mannesiere touching the said preparations I did acquaint her with the whole course of the proceeding in that cause and did shew unto her that Don Anthonio had no cause as it seemed she was informed to find himself agrieved with her Majestie neither for the stay of the ships nor for any charges that he had been at about the same for touching the stay that grew from hence he had rather cause to mislike with the King her son then with the Queen my Mistress for that the same aid was promised conditionally so that the said King would concur in the action which he refusing to do otherwise then in a naked sort by recommending the same to her Majestie it appeareth manifestly that the stay hath grown from hence and as for the charges I shewed her that whereas it was given out that he should sustain 100000 l. loss at the least I was well assured that it would not amount to much above 10000 l. To this she replyed That the King had already made appear unto the world how ready he was to assist Don Anthonio by sending of 500 men the last year to Vienna and by the 500 men sent this Spring to the Isle Tercera and of late by the four ships dispatched from Burdeaux under Captain Carlo to the said Isles which saith she doth shew manifestly how willing the King is to assist him though he would be loath to enter into any such open action as might tend to the violation of the Treaties between him and the King of Spain without he were assured that the marriage would take place Thereunto I replyed that the King might deal therein with much better colour and less danger then the Queen my Mistress for the first in respect of her pretence to the Crown of Portugal for the second for that the Subjects of this Crown have not so much goods in Spain as her Majesties have besides they might otherwise be relieved for that the King of Spain his Subjects both Spaniards and Portugals have great store of goods here Notwithstanding these Arguments she insisted still upon an earnest request that it would please the Queen to be content to suffer the ships to proceed in their voyage Then I asked her whether she could assure her Majestie that if any such arrest should happen to the King for the indempnity for her Subjects would do the like here as also otherwise to concur with her in common defence in case the King of Spain should attempt any thing against her For said I if her Majestie without some assurance should be thrown into Warr with the King of Spain and have her Subjects goods arrested and after should complain unto you of the same and desire the Kings aide you might with good reason answer her That you did not otherwise recommend the cause unto her then by referring to her good judgement to do therein as might be without the prejudice of her self or of her estate and so concluded with her that unless it would please the King by some particular Letter of his to assure the Queen that in case any such inconvenience might happen he would repute it done to himself and jovn with her in common defence if any such thing should be attempted against her Whereunto she answered That if the marriage might take place the King would very willingly assent thereto or any other thing her Majestie could desire but otherwise she thought he could very hardly be brought to yield thereunto I did then shew her that for some difficulties the marriage was accompanied withall it was thought meet by the King the Duke and her own assent that it should be suspended for a time and in the mean time the Treaty might be proceeded in which might yield a mutual assurance of common defence to both Crowns For said I if this mischief which is like to ensue the Spanish greatness should not receive present remedy it may grow uncurable and therefore to have it depend upon the marriage which in respect of the difficulties cannot so easily grow to a present resolution It seemeth that the proceeding in this case may be compared to a Phisitian that being moved to yield some present remedy to a dangerous disease that can abide no delay of time deferreth the same untill he may receive some druggs out of India or some other far part To this she said the fault was in her Majestie for that the matter depending only upon her assent all other things being agreed on the remedy might easily be put in execution And so fell into some long speech both of the desire she had that the same might take the great benefits that might grow thereby both to her Majesties own Realm and person as also to all Europe and the full assurance that the Duke her son did make considering how farrforth her Majestie had proceeded therein that she would not now frustrate the assured hope that he had received of the effectuating of that he had desired above any thing in the world And because said she there dependeth so many good things upon the conclusion thereof the King my son hath thought good by his Ambassador to press her Majestie to some present resolution therein After I had put her in remembrence of such difficulties as I had laid before her in former speech to shew that the marriage could not receive present resolution I did also let her understand that it was a thing that was to grow from above and had his hour appointed before the which it could not take place and therefore the
no reason that should move him to attempt the same considering how he hath been dealt withall especially upon the Kings denial to write his Letters to her Majestie if my first advice touching his repair into the Low-Countries had been followed both theâ—sles of the Asores had been preserved and also the East and West Indian Fleet defeated This day there is come advertisement out of Spain that the Fleet is arrived from the Moluccaes who besides the bringing of great quantity of Treasure have brought advertisements that the said Islanders have yielded to the Kings obedience I am very glad that the poor Prince resteth so well satisfied of my dealing towards him for I was in doubt that the Count Vinniâ—so who is a very vain man had sought to cause him to conceive otherwise of me then I deserved notwithstanding that it is apparent to all the world that the stay for the preparations for the Islands hath grown from hence no man being better acquainted with all then himself yet doth he blame her Majestie being carried away with a vain hope that the King here is greatly disposed to assist his Majestie when he shall repair thither which in the end will prove bnt an abuse and I pray God it be not with the peril of his person September 1581. Fr. Walsingham To the Lord Treasurer MY very good Lord by the general Letter your Lordship may perceive what resolution the King is grown unto touching the Treatie which considering the naked direction we received in case the Treatie had held falleth out very well Surely unless her Majestie shall hereafter be better inclined to prefer safetie before charges it shall be but in vain for her to have any dealing with forreign Princes and I would to God her Majestie had no need of forreign assistance Notwithstanding I see she is not disposed to redeem her peril otherwise then necessity shall lead her who is one of the most dangerous Pilots that can take the helm in hand for where necessity ruleth election and councel can take no place and though dealing underhand heretofore hath accidentally in respect of the weakness of the Princes her neighbours continued her Majestie in a peaceable kind of Government yet now that Scotland is aliened from her Highness and the King well near of years fit to match with the daughter of some Prince that may stand with him for his pretended title her Majestie is to look for another kind of reckoning That house that is most affected here to the said King and doth above others imbrace his cause never carryed greater sway then it doth presently upon such causes as I will open to her Majestie and your Lordship at my return I hope to depart hence on Thursday next and in the way to visit the Duke de Anjou with whom I think meet besides common dutie in respect of the good will he beareth to her Majestie to confer before my departure out of this Realm And therefore being doubtful where to find him and how long he will stay me I cannot certainly let your Lordship understand at what time I shall return to the Court there Septemb. 13. Fr. Walsingham To the Lord Treasurer IT may please your Lordship to understand that on Sunday the tenth of this moneth we had audience of the King where I the Secretary did remember unto him how far we and his Deputies had proceeded in the Treatie of the League defensive and offensive by his consent where by means of letters from his Ambassador in England the same was broken off for such causes as it was said as he had written whereof her Majestie being advertised from us and she having conferred thereupon with the said Ambassador found by the Copy of his Letters which he shewed for his excuse that the same was not in such terms as had been reported to have come from him as we thought his Majestie had been advertised from his said Ambassador by his last dispatch And therefore her Majestie had given us in charge to pray his Highness in her name that we might proceed with his Ministers in the treaty of that League being so necessary for both Realms for the causes which his Majestie had heretofore propounded The King answered with long speeches how much he desired her Majesties amity and especially to see the effect of this marriage upon condition to be shortned of six years of his life and how happy he would think himself if it might please her Majestie to think his brother worthy of that favour therein The great good which such a conjunction would bring to both Realms and further in effect the like speeches of affection as he had used before time and in this matter continuing still upon the point of the marriage as the strongest bond of amitie of all other And as for a league he said there was a already a league defensive between them which he was content to enlarge for the more assurance of his good will in any thing that might be found to lack or were meet to be added thereto But as for a league offensive he did alwaies wish and mean that it might go with the marriage Thereunto in answer divers reasons were used to move him to proceed to the Treaty begun and among other that there was none so strong a bond as that which was grounded upon necessity and that the cause of the necessity thereof at this time was not unknown to him that by the concluding of such leagues the marriage was not put back that the great benefit that this Realm was like to receive by it was not small by assuring a Countrey unto it where and by the help whereof this Realm had taken great loss of late years by two overthrows in the King his fathers time letting him also understand that her Majestie seeing the Duke in an enterprize so profitable for this Realm and honourable for himself instead of assistance to receive rather overthwarts and impediments had just cause to confirm her opinion touching the difficulty propounded for the stay in not proceeding in the marriage for seeing that if the same had proceeded the greatest burthen of the war must have lighted on her self the ability of the Duke and of the Sates being not such as was able to encounter the forces of so puissant a Prince as the King of Spain And therefore seeing his Majestie upon answer from his brother had consented that such league should be treated upon without speaking of the Marriage and Deputies appointed by him the same well begun and some particularities for a league offensive agreed upon her Majestie and all the world may find this alteration now to be very strange Hereunto after he had used many speeches of the former substance in general terms without answering any particularities offering himself and all his means to be at her Majesties devotion whose good will he sought with his soul and affection he concluded that there was no such surety in a league offensive as
but both in this and all the rest of your Charge you will joyn your self with our Ambassador who for his Acquaintance and his Experience can very sufficiently inform you how to deal If any thing shall be moved to you for the Queen of Scots cause you may say that before your departure and within two or threes daies after that Monsieur de Poigney had been with us we had certain intelligence from Scotland that the Lord Levinston which was sent from the Queen of Scots to solicite the leavying of Arms and to bring some of the Nobilitie to confer both with us and her for ending of the troubles had been with the Duke of Chastelheranlte the Earl of Argile and others joyned with them before the 20 of the last moneth for so his own Letters do testifie to our Cousin the Earl of Sussex our Lieutenant upon our borders towards Scotland and that he found them well content with the Articles accorded by us with the French Ambassador and the Bishop of Ross and that he was well forward in his Commission so as we do look now daily both for a general ceasing of Arms there and for the access of the Noblemen on both parties of that Realm here to treat and conclude upon the Queen of Scots cause And if any further matter be moved unto you in this you shall say that you have no more to say therein When you have been with the King and entred so far into this Charge as our Ambassador and you may see likelihood of the end hereof we would be advertised with all speed possible And if our Ambassador and you think that the hastie yielding of the Deputies in their negociation may bring peril to the cause we think it good that they might be induced to stand somewhat hard therein as policie may serve them without making to them any further aids of money But as yet we do rather give them some countenance to use more earnestness for their own suretie Cecil To the Right Worshipful my very loving Friend Mr. Francis Walsingham Esquire SIr the French Ambassador hath sent hither a Servant of his to demand audience of the Queens Majestie who reporteth that he is to advertise her Majestie of the conclusion of the Peace which was published on Thursday last And for that I could not as yet this morning speak with her Majestie I thought good to give you signification thereof to the intent you might stay until I have herein spoken with her Majestie and by my next Letters advertise you whether her pleasure be that you should wholly stay or otherwise go on your journey with some other Instructions And so I wish you well to do from Chenys this Sundaie morning the 13 of August 1570. Your assured William Cecill To the Right Honorable Sir William Cecill Principal Secretary to her Majestie According to your Honours order I mean to stay till I hear further from you how her Majestie meaneth to dispose of my service and so in the mean time leaving to trouble you I most humblie take my leave From London the 13 of August 1570. Your Honors to Command Francis Walsingham To our trusty and well-beloved F. Walsingham Esq. presently sent unto the French King ELIZABETH R. TRusty and well-beloved we great you well having this daie received Letters from the French King by his Ambassador making mention of towardness of a Peace made with his Subjects so as the Ambassador affirmeth that he taketh it to be assuredly published at Paris the II of this moneth and yet because otherwise we do not make full account thereof but think it meet you shall keep on your journey with this order that if it be not accorded before your coming then you shall proceed as before you were appointed and if it be concluded then shall you deliver these our Letters which we now send directlie to the French King by which we do signifie unto him how we had dispatched you before to move him to make some good end with his subjects and now hearing by his Ambassador of the conclusion we cannot forbear but charge you to proceed specially to congratulate with him for so happy a benefit as by his reconciliation of his Subjects to him we certainly are perswaded that God could not give him a greater And so our pleasure is you shall use all good language to express the joy thereof and to offer all manner of endeavour that is in our power to further the good keeping and continuance thereof And in like manner we would have you by means of our Ambassador to cause the Admiral and his party to understand our intention in the sending of you this time making it appear to them how careful we are of their well-doings and shall be willing to do any thing in our power reasonable to continue to them the fruits of this Accord And to let them also understand that the special sending of you over at this time was chiefly for their cause Given under our Signet at Henly the 15 of August the 12 year of our Reign 1570. A Copy of the Letter sent to Master Secretary touching the negotiation had with the King the 28 of August 1570. SIr it may please your Honour to advertise her Majestie that the King accepted in very good part her Congratulation as from his good Sister and Neighbour who hath alwaies wished his well-doing and prosperity for these were his words after Congratulation done to the King The Queen Mother having inquired of me of the well-doing of her Majestie asked me how the Queen of Scots did I answered her that at my departure for any thing that I knew to the contrary she did very well then she proceeded to enquire of me touching her present estate I answered according to the tenor of my Instructions in what state she stood at my departure wherewith she seemed to rest very well satisfied And then she fell to protestation that for her own part she was so well perswaded of the Queens Majesties merciful disposition as she knew right well that if she did deal any thing hardly with the Queen of Scots it rather proceeded from some of her Ministers then from her Majesties self I replied that I was glad to understand that she conceived so well of the Queen my Mistress's good disposition so was I sorry that she should think that she would be by any of her Ministers or Councellours drawn to any thing eitheâ— towards her or any other that might not stand with her honour for that her skill and years was now to direct and not to be directed I desired her therefore in her Majesties name that she would evermore reserve an ear for her a thing that would not in equity be denied to the meanest person in France who in all her actions hitherto towards the Queen of Scots had dealt with that regard to her honour as she was right able to justifie herself both towards the King her good Brother as also toward all
towards your good Cousins and Parsonages of great account and value The Duke thanking me for this my good relation requested the Gentleman to come unto him Whereupon I Francis Walsingham approaching near unto him making reverence I shewed him that you willed me to do your commendations to him and furtsher to tell him that your were glad to understand that he did so honorably concur together with the King his Brother in sincere and due observation of the Edict whereby he did not only get generally with all men the honour to be reputed a Prince of courage in time of war but also of Councel in time of peace which courage you doubted not but he would continue in respect of the good will he bare to the King and his Countrey and the regard that he had of his own honour And further I shewed him that your Majestie gave me commandment during my charge here to behave my self towards him and the King his Brother with that good respect as was fit for me towards your Cousins and Princes of that qualitie that they were of Whereunto he answered with great courtesie that he thanked your Majestie for your commendations as from a Princess of that honour you are and whom he so much reverenced Secondarily for the good encouragement you gave him to be a good instrument for the observation of the Edict which thing he was bound to do in respect of his dutie towards the King and his Countrey so shall your advertisement be of no small force with him in that behalf For my self he told me that during the time of my service here I should receive for your Majesties sake any favour he could do for me And after we had taken our leave of the Duke anon we were brought to the Duke of Alansons Chamber to whom after we had used part of such speeches as we thought aptest for his capacity and he making such answer as may be expected of his young years we departed from him returning to the place of our retreat and so that night to Paris This being as near as our memories can serve us of all that in this Presenting and Negotiation hath been either delivered by us or received from them the which we humbly submittting to your Majesties wisdom and consideration beseech the Almighty long to preserve you in all prosperity From Paris the nine and twentieth of Ianuary 1571. Your Majesties most humble Subjects and Servants Henry Norris Francis Walsingham To the Right Honorable Sir William Cecil her Majesties principal Secretary SIr I have received at Sir Henry Norris hands aswel all such Copies as concern the Scotish affairs whereby I may be the better directed hereafter how to proceed therein as also all other instructions as may concern her Majesties affairs Touching common matters I refer your Honour to this inclosed of common Occurrents The matters of secrecie here at the least such and so many as I can learn are these The Pope the King of Spain and the rest of the Confederates upon the doubt of a match between the Queen my Mistress and Monsieur do seek by what means they can to disswade and draw him from the same They offer him to be the head and chief executionar of the League against the Turk a thing now newly renewed though long ago meant vvhich League is thought to stretch to as many as they repute to be Turks although better Christians then themselves The cause of the Cardinal of Lorraigns repair hither from Reyms as it is thought vvas to this purpose The King as lately he uttered to le Sieur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seeming very much to mislike hereof utterred these vvords unto him If this matter go forvvard it behoâ—eth me to make some counter-league I find the Germans saith he vvell-affected tovvards me and as for the Queen of England I knovv she hath good cause to mislike of this League as I my self have and therefore I suppose vvould be glad to joyn vvith me To vvhom the other replied that he vvas glad that he savv his danger for that he hoped he vvould provide for the remedy and vvished his Majestie that he vvould not forstovv the matter And therefore advised him for that the Princes Ambassador of Germany vvere not departed that the matâ—er might be broken to them vvhich thing the King thought not convenient for that that he thought their Ansvver vvould be that they had no Commission to deal in any such matteer but rather thought it more meet to send one of his ovvn Then the other told him that if he did did send any body it behoved him to make choice of one that vvas no Catholique for othervvise he should not be to them either grateful or trustful Whereupon the King named Monsieur Biron though he be not thought to be a Hugonot yet is he not taken to be your enemie Whereupon the other answered that he had made choice of a very fit person After he had made me acquainted with this matter he asked me how I thought the King should find the Queen affected I asked him whether he had any Commission so far forth to deal with me He told me no but he desired me to say frankly my opinion how I judged the Queen my Mistress would be inclined To whom I answered that for my own private opinion I thought not but that her Majestie would very well like of it First in respect of the common cause of Religion Secondly in respect of the good will she beareth the King whose friendship above all other Princes she doth chiefly embrace And lastly in respect of her own safety And as for my self for these respects when the matter shall grow to some further moving it shall not lack any furtherance that I can give him The said party the day before this Message came unto me and told me that he was wished from I. to give me to understand that Malicorne who was sent into Spain to congratulate the Marriage and is lately returned reporteth that Iulian Remero at his being here was dispatched from the Court to Ireland where he was to do some great enterprise Further he reported unto me that the King here is angry for that his Congratulation was not accepted of the King of Spain in so good part as he looked for but seemed to take some exception of the Kings Letters for that certain words of controversie to be usually put in such Letters as passed between them were now omitted And further to the increase of this unkindness the King of Portugal to whom the Kings Sister was offered in Marriage sent an answer by Malicorne that they were both young and that therefore about eight years hence that matter might be better talked of which disdainful answer is accepted here in very ill part and is thought not to be done without the counsel of Spain And amongst all others none taketh the matter more grievously then Queen Mother who thinketh her self not a little injured for the late friendship she
as if by access unto her he might have executed the same for that the let and impediment groweth only from God and for confirmation thereof there was lately sent an Ambassador from Luca to execute the like office who by reason of her sickness could have no access and so was driven to deliver over his Message to the King which was accepted at his hands very graciously and so was dismissed as I heard rewarded with a very honourable Present Thus having been over long in this behalf I leave further to trouble your Honour and most humbly take my leave From Paris the first of February 1571. The Copy of Secretary Pynarts Letter MOnsieur je vous a envoye la pasporte que ce porteâ—r m' ay demandé de vostre parte Et j'ay faict entendre a leur Majestes conme vous m' avez mande que le my Lord de Buckhurst devoit arriver au jourdâ—y à Doâ—ure que desia aâ—cuns des gentlehommes de sa troupe estoient passes à Bullougne que vous desires d' entendre si les dictes Majesties auroient agreable que le dit Seigneur my Lord sa troupe se diminâ—ast que ie vous ferois plasir de vous mander quand feroit l' Entrée Surquoy les dictes Majesties m'ont faict dire que iceluy Sr my Lord de Buckhurst sa dicte troupe seront les tresbiens venus fort voluntiers venus receus mais que la maladie de la Royne avoit esté cause que l'on auise que le Roy seulement feroit sans grand ceremonie son entrée le primier dimanche de Quaresme prochaine que le sacre de la dicte Dame Royne son entrée estoient remis à une autre fois a cause de sa dicte maladie dont ie n'ay voulu faillir de vous advertir Et saluer pour la fin de ceste-cy vre bonne grace de mes bien humbles recommendations priant dieu Monsieur vous doner le bon jour An Chasteau Boulloigne le primier de feuriere 1571. Vre bien humble avous faire service Pynart To the Right Honourable Sir Henry Norris and Mr. Francis Walsingham Ambassadors for the Queens Majesties in France or to either of them I Am presently as this bearer can inform you unable to regard any matter and therefore excusable to you both though I write not any longer Letter this that I write is in my bed and therefore unperfect of necessitie Upon a Letter of yours Sir Henry Norris sent to me last by Nanfaâ—t which I shewed to her Majestie touching the advertisement that you had of the French attempts in Ireland Although her Majestie understood the like from Ireland and hopeth when the season of the year shall mend the same shall be remedied yet she complaineth hereof to the French Ambassador requiring to let the King understand that such kind of obliquites do not accord with the offers of the Kings Amitie so often by him the Ambassador remembred And in like manner her Majestie would that the King should be enformed by you both if your commoditie may serve to negotiate joyntly or else by you Mr. Walsingham if you be entred into your charge requiring the King that her Majestie may know his intention herein so as if those attempts be not speedily redressed and stayed by his Authoritie and according to his friendship that then her Majestie may otherwise provide for the remedie whereof cannot but follow such inconveniences as shall not be meet for their Amities You shall not make the matter dangerous of it self but onely the attempts of such as are his ordinary Subjects do shew a contrary effect of that which it hath pleased the King to offer to her Majestie and whereof her Majestie took great comfort I am utterly tired with this writing and am forced to remit the rest to this bearer In my bed at my house of Westminster the 26 of Ianuary 1571. Your assured loving friend at command William Cecil Totle Right Honourable Sir William Cecil her Majesties principall Secretary SIr the third of this moneth I received a Letter of yours directed to Sir Henry Norris and to me and after that I was entred into my charge and Sir Henry Norris had taken his leave of the King I as a thing pertaining to my charge forthwith sent to the Court for Audience which is appointed me the 6 of this present so soon as I shall receive the Kings answer to the message I shall do unto him in her Majesties name I shall not fail with speed to advertise If la Roches attempt be done with his privity as in reason hardly me thinketh otherwise it nothing agreeth to the great profession of good will he maketh here unto us her Majestities ministers Which to the outward shevv is done in that sincerity as he that trusteth least may right easely thereby be deceived And yet vvhen I consider hovv he is not fully restored to the reputation of a King and that daily many disorders of contempts are here committed I see some cause of stay in condemning but hereof by his ansvver or at least by execution of that vvhich he shall promise her Majestie shall vvhether invvard meaning or outvvard profession doe agree I vvas right sorry to understand that the gout hath of late newly assailed you after so small time of respit Surely Sir seeing that both God and Nature doe so require you must with importunacie desire her Majesty so to use your service as you may long serve of whose lack I pray God she may never have tryall And so leaving further to trouble your Honour beseeching him to send you your health and continuance of the same I most humbly take my leave From Paris the third of February 1571. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To my very loving friend Mr. Francis Walsingham Ambassador Resident for the Q. Majesty in France MAster Walsingham I thank you for your Letters vvritten at Bullen I doe make no lesse accompt of your good vvill indeed then you have offered and assure your self to find to my power as much Friendship at my hands as at any mans hands in England We have no cause of new matters to write unto you here hath bin and is much speech of the man and matter I talked with you of in my closet at Hampton Court as yet there is no overture made directly of that side and till then little will be said unto it in the mean I pray you inform your self throughly of them and let me hear some pâ—ecâ— of your opinion of them I confesse our estate requireth a match but God send us a good one and meet for all parties My Lord of Buckhurst will set forward in four or five daies after this date so my good Francis farewell in some hast this 16 of Ianuary 1571. Your assured Friend Robert Leicester To the right Honourable my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester YOur Lordships of the
that one Merchant in this Town hath 14000 Câ—owns to be employed in that behalf To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester MY very good Lord I leave to my Lord of Buckhurst to shew you how every way he hath bâ—n honourably entertained therefore in this behalf this onely will I say That such hath bin my Lords good demeanour as also of the Gentleman of his train as the King and his Court resteth very well satisfied and giveth both him and them great commendations protesting that sithence his coming to the Crown there was not an Ambassador of like Honosur here which I do not learn at those hands that will report otherwise then they hear to speak that which may best content us but from them at whose hands I do assure my self to have received the truth and for the increase of this good report he spareth to use no cost or liberality to such as by the King appointment have given attendance on him Touching other things the Duke of Longueville is lately departed from the Court with discontentment for that the Precedentship is adjudged to the Duke of Nemours protesting That so long as the Queen Mother liveth he will not come to the Court for he judgeth her to be the cause thereof I heare secretly that there is not the best liking between the two Queens whereof the young Q. is like to have the worst by common judgement for that here whatsoever our Mother commandeth taketh place and standeth for law And therefore if her Majestie desire to take any profit of France she must onely be the Messias and Mediatour I could therefore have wished that her Majestie had amongst other things bestowed some Present upon her The Kings Request unto the Pope for Count Galliâ—â—zos delivery is quite rejected who protesteth That if all the Hugonots in France were incamped about Rome he would not deliver him The King with this proud and disdainfull answer is very much offended I would he would give the Hugonots leave to make some proof what they could do for his delivery Touching a Bull set up against the Queen the Kings discontentment therewith and certain requests presented by the Spanish Ambassador here to the King I referre your Honour to Mr. Secretaries Letters And so leaving further to trouble your Honour I most humbly take my leave Paris the 5 of March 1570. To the Right Honourable Mr. Francis Walsingham the Q. Majesties Ambassador in France SIr I would not suffer this bearer passe without my salutations Master Bealâ— came this morning by whom and by your Letters I have understood from you such things as are of moment and so have I imparted them to her Majestie and mean as shortly as I can to procure answer for the return of the bearer her Majestie as there is good cause alloweth well of your service and so I bid you well to do and heartily thank you for your singular care and good will which you shew unto my Lord of Rutland who advertiseth me of very countifull From Westminster primo Martii 1570. By your assured as I was wont William Cecil And as I am now ordered to Write William Burleigh Sir Henry Norris maketh friendly report of you to her Majestie and to all others I write not to my Lord of Buckhurst because I think he is on the way To my very loving friend Sir Francis Walsingham Ambassador Resident for the Queens Majesty in France MY Lord Ambassador since my last Letter unto you I have little new matter worth the writing saving now we are much troubled with the Scotish causes the Commissioners of both parties are now here to write unto you what the end will be certainly as yet I cannot we find both sides very stiffe and hitherto those for the Kings partie very resolute for the maintenance of his Authoritie her Majesties scrupulosity touching his Title and Government we partly know The unworthiness of their Queen to rule she granteth but the instances of their cause to depose her from her dignity she can hardly yet be perswaded in so yet she remaineth much perplexed on the one side she is loth to set her up or to restore to her her estate again On the other side she is as loth to defend that which she is not well perswaded to have justice with it Between these her Counsell chiefly seek for these two things that her self may be preserved in suretie and the true Religion maintained assuredly For as the state of the world standeth and upon through examination of this cause it appeares that both the waies be dangerous touching the Q. of Scots for there is danger for delivering of her to her Government so is there danger in retaining her in prison her friends abroad begin to speak proudly for her we were wont also to have friends of our side if need were but as farre as I can see there is none of that side of the sea to be found that be Princes absolute well our case is the harder and we must say Si Deus nobiscum quis contra nos Touching this matter as soon as it shall grow to any likelihood either of the one side or of the other I will advertise you and withall send you the reasons of the advice In the mean time whatsoever you may hear believe me there is no man in England can tell you which way it will go yet in respect of the King there and his continuall dealing for the said Q. her Majestie rather giveth in words more favorable that way then the other Mr. Norris is arrived here yesterday being Shrove-sunday when Mr. Secretary was created Baron of Burleigh and I think ere it be long shall have the office of privie Seal but as yet remaineth Secretary still and within a day or two Sir Thomas Smith is like to be called to assist him The Parliament is to begin the 2 of Aprill next the Queen Majestie thanks be to God is in very good health so are all your friends as you left them save Sir Nicholas Throckmorton our good friend Your wife was here lately to take her leave of her Majestie who used her very well and graciously I pray you let us hear as often as you can conveniently I would gladly understand of some good for the poore Cardinall Chastillion I desire and also long to heare of the Q. Majesties present how it is liked Thus with my heaâ—tie commendations I bid you heartily farewell the 26 March 1570. Your assured Friend R. Leicester To the Right Honourable my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester BY your Lordships of the 26 of February I find that there is some entrie made in the Scotish matters and that you see them so full of difficulties as whether on retaining or releasing there should be more safety you can hardly diâ—cern things well weighed as well at home as abroad The common opinion of such as are of judgement here and wish well unto her Majestie
and our Country is That if the pretended match between her Majestie and Monsieur should not go forward then nothing can be so dangerous as her delivery for here they stand upon this point that neither the King can be safe nor the Realm â—uiet unlesse Monsieur be provided of some other harborage The places likely to be attained and fit for his calling where they would place him are two England and Scotland if England refuse then is Scotland more ready to receive him This well weighed though your Lorship with the rest of the Comissioners are both wise and of great experience notwithstanding so full of danger is the Cause as no resolution can possibly grow to you that shall be void of perill I pray God therefore in this hard case that that course may be taken wherein is least perill and most safety for her Majesty At this present there is no matter here worthy of your Lordships knowledge only I am to trouble you with mine own particular estate my charges grow here to be so great through the excessive deareness of the place as necessity forceth me at this present to make my moan unto your Lordship and to desire your aid that I may not be as I am overburdened whereby the care how to live may hinder the onely care I ought to have how to serve I have forborn hitherto to expresse my grief to the end that my Lord of Buckhurst's report might add some credit to my complaint And though my service cannot deserve so much as I am allowed yet my place and my estate requireth consideration to be had of the present time for otherwise I shall not be able to do that which shall be for her Majestites Honour and service when men of livelihood were imployed in this calling alwaies change of time bread change and of Allowance If any time therefore required consideration this chiefly for that never was the like dearth here and if any mans estate was to be weighed none more then mine that am far inferior in ability to any other that ever supplied this place I will not longer entertain your Lordship with this private cause but commit it to your good consideration assuring my self of any furtherance that you can give me And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave From Paris the 9 of March. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham To my very loving friend Mr. Francis Walsingham Esq the Q. Majesties Ambassador in France SIr I have received your Letters both by Mr. Wigmore and Beale as by Hâ—rcourt I did late advertise you And having made her Majesty partaker both by hearing them read and by her own reading I am in this sort directed to answer you To the first of the second that is to that of the 13 of Febr. brought by Beale her Majestie maketh good accompt of the person of him â— mean the 36 T s 4 t 10 30-0 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the intelligence which he gave you but it breedeth some doubt in her that the certainty can be no otherwise understood in that it is informed you that the practise continueth by late dispatching of an Englishman of high stature and lean of visage wherein is such incertainty as no man can thereby attain either to discover the practise or withstand it by apprehending the party and surely Sir her Majesty cannot but think but they that can attain to the knowledge of the practise may aswell attain to the knowledge of the parties name for they that are trusted with the matter may be trusted with the persons and so her Majestie wisheth you to endevour your self with such as you shall think good to come to the knowledge of some persons by stay of whom such a matter might be deciphered For mine own part I think it likely that these practises are devised but without more apparence I see no evident reason to move me that in the time when the Queen of Scots her self and her Factors are in hope to be delivered by treatie and with the favour of our Queen there should be any attempt otherwise for her escape wherein how cunning soever men be in device yet the execution standeth upon many adventures and any mischance hapning might breed ruin to the whole enterprise I have been acquainted with many of these like advertisement But surely I never found any substance in them in the event but yet with them and without them I ever find it good to be circumspect I write not to have you forbear from hearing and reporting of any the like but my experience serveth to move you to procure the givers of such things to discover the matters more certainly and so they are of more value The message sent you from Rochel of some dangerous intent upon Ireland from Spain hath more apparence for that we also hear it from Spain confirmed and it is the same that before I advertised you concerning Stukelie I also smell some purpose of the Count Lodowicks coming with his ships toward the Low-Countries to accompanie the designe for his brother the Prince of Orange whereof I would look for some better successe if I had not understanding thereof so many waies for the force of that enterprize should consist in suddenness and secresie which are not like to take place Thus much for your first Letter Now to the second brought by Wigmore the Q. Majestie liketh well of your proceedings with the Spanish Ambassador there and marvelleth that he should be so coy with you considering the reports of his former curtesies but by likelihood some other accident moved it which by you next speech will be better discovered The cause why that Ambassador could not be answered sooner of the matter whereof he advertised her Majestie from the Duke of Alva was for that her Majestie could not sooner hear thereof from the Duke If you shall find it convenient to impart matters to the said Ambassador you may let him know of these things following One Monsieur Senegen a Low-Countrie-man is comming to end the Treaty for restâ—tution on both sides of the Merchants goods There are lately come into the ports of the West certain Hulks laden from Spain and Portugall driven by Tempest And because they should be well used the Ambassador here for the King though in other things he be not used hath been dealt withall to name certain strangers Merchants to resort to the ports and they have speciall Authoritie from us to put the same in all good safety and that no dealing shall be by any to the impairing of the said goods And this speciall favour is shewed because the time of restitution is at hand And therefore we mean not to give any cause of quarreling There were also certain other ships of Warre that came from Spain being of the company which conducted the Queen of Spain into Spain which being furnished with Souldiers were favourably entertained and permitted to depart at their pleasure Of
see not considering it hath been already moved to us by sundry and by some that are by nature bound to the Crown of France and that do think in their conscience the matter to be both honourable and profitable to the Crown of France And you shall say to the Queen Mother that she shall not mislike of us though we think so well of our selves and our estate that if God shall order this her motion to take effect it shall be the best marriage for the honour of the King her Son for the weal of his Crown and for the commendation of the Q. Mother that any Q. attempted this many hundred years for France And yet we are content to keep this motion secret according to the request meaning to make none other privy to the same but to such of our privy Councell as are known we have just cause to trust both for their fidelities and secresie that is our Cousin the Earle of Leicester whom you may say that whatsoever may be otherwise doubted we find ready to allow of any marriage that we shall like and withall marriages with any Prince ' stranger most of all this with the Crown of France the other is Sir William Cecill Lord of Burleigh and our principall Secretary and is well known to be a dutifull servant in any thing meet and agreeable for us and our Realm and so may you make report of them both The sixth is that we would not make delay in answer as we doe not The seventh to understand whether we can be pleased that Master Cavalcant shall be used any further herein which we remit to the consideration of the Q. Mother he being an honest Gentleman and to our knowledge alwaies disposed to do good offices betwixt us and the Crown and therefore not to be dissallowed by us if the Q. Mother shall like of him And yet we require you to have regard that his dealings therein considering that he departed lately from hence may not be conceived as directed by us You shall do well to deal warily with the Q. Mother in the matter of Religion for the D. her Son not as we would presse him to make a change of his Religion although we wish it But that if he should marry with us that he should not be warranted to do any act contrary to our Laws Given under our Signet at Greenwich the 24 of March 1571. To the Queens Majesties Ambassador in France Mr. Francis Walsingham SIr if you consider how weary I may be in the first and second writing of the Queens Majesties Letters to you not being void of other business you will allow a short Letter at this time If I be not much deceived Colly Weston North-hampton 〈…〉 in this wherefore you shall do well not to be over superstitious considering the necessity of this time and the dangers â— wise men there do find this matter for â— not unmeet for C. God onely knoweth the successe We here and the good there have a great losse of the Cardinall Chastillon who is thought to have been poisoned by some French Apostata or Counterâ—eit I pray you hasten Mr. Cobham towards Spain and as soon as you can let us know what you shall receive from thence This case of â— is deferred onely to see some event of the matter for 88. for if that succeed not as is now mentioned the perill is the greater by â— And what is done therein for sparing of writing you shall learn by Master Cobham By your Letter brought by my Lord of Buck. I understaâ—d the excesse of your charges there whereof my Lord of Buckhurst hath not as yet conferred with me But I will further your relief therein to my uttermost and as cause requireth Commend me humbly to my Lord of Rutland to whom I write but a short Letter From Greenwich the 24 of March 157â— Your assured loving friend William Burleigh After I had written this which with the Queens Majesties I meant to have sent by Master Henry Cobham her Majestie commanded for more haste to send some speciall conveyer with them and so I send Harcourt I am in doubt that if this matter for Religion be not well conceived by them there the adversaries to the marriage will take great advantage thereof and urge the persisting in it of purpose to dissolve the same So as I had rather the speech hereof might have come from the Queen Mother or the others to you and so you might answer them as you are warranted then to begin abruptly of your self I wish they would give you occasion so to do which if they doe not then must you needs open it unto them March 25 1570. To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may please your Lordship to advertise her Majestie that hers of the 24 of March I received the 26 of the same the contents whereof after I had well weighed and therewithall considered the great practises that are daily used here to stop that the match between her Majestie and Monsieur might not take effect which lacketh not also any such help as may from her own subjects there with you be ministred to breed an opinion in Monsieur that all is but dalliance and that he is like to march in the end in rank with the number of the forsaken whereupon as it should seem a few dayes past he used this talk with Monsieur de Foix saying Monsieur you and others have brought me to yield to this match but I feare that by the next dispatch you shall well perceive that there is no other meaning in the Queen of England but dalliance and that you and I shall be sorry that ever we waded so far And surely said he for my own part unlesse I shall find the answer direct I will never enter farther into the matter These speeches and practises after I had well weighed and seeing the answers in her Majesties Letters very fit and convenient to be made by her in respect of the quality of her person and sex had not the world mistaken her former proceeding in marriage matters But now in respect of the said mistakings fearing that the same being made according to the course appointed by her Majestie would have seemed more doubtfull then direct and so have utterly overthrown the matter I was very much perplexed what course to take when I my self saw it most safe for me to follow the course by her Majestie prescribed whatsoever came of it But when I beheld her Majesty first how she in her own judgement did think it expedient for her to marry Secondarily that if her Majestie did mean to marry abroad this was the only Gentleman fit for her to marry Thirdly the discontentment of her subjects for not marrying Fourthly how presently she is beset with a number of forrain practices the execution whereof onely stayeth upon the event of this match I then resolved that it was most fit for me to forget my self and
discretion and secresie to deal in a matter of such consequence In the end having finished this point to leave the better taste with her of the matter I concluded being so warranted by my instructions that if this motion of hers should take effect the like never happened these many hundred yeares in respect of the great profit that would redound to both the Realms To this she answered that as she never desired any thing with like earnestness as she did this so if the same should not take place nothing could more grieve her For saith she besides the great benefit that will grow hereby unto both the Crowns on the successe of this match dependeth the quietness of all Europe This being all the talk that passed between Queen Mother and me I leave to trouble your Lordship any further humbly taking leave From Paris the second of Aprill Francis Walsingham To my very friend Sir Fr. Walsingham Ambassador for the Queens Majestie in France I Have upon the receipt of your Letter written by Sir E. Gilbert dealt with her Majestie touching your chargeable dwelling there I trust her Majestie will have due consideration thereof You shall perceive by her Majesties Letters her further pleasure touching Monsieur whose cause hath been broken to her by my Lord of Buck from the Queen Mother we perceive they deal very daintily and doubt much her Majesties intention to marriage at least that she had rather hear of it then perform it But assuredly I do verily believe her Majesties mind herein is otherwise then it hath been and more resolutely determined then ever yet at any time before yet doe they mean to deale so secretly on that side as though they will not yet believe it And accordingly her Majestie mindeth not to deal but as privatly as may be devised that if that should not take effect the lesse reproach is to either party her Majestie hath onely broken this matter with my Lord of Burleigh and me and I think will not use any more till some apparance fall out what is like to become of the matter The person of Monsieur is very well liked of his conversation is harder to know I see her Majestie misliketh not of his estate For she is of mind to marry with the greatest and he is left almost alone the greatest to be had The conditions will be all wherein I am right glad and we are bound to thank God to see her Majestie so well to stand to the maintenance of the cause of Religion For as there will be no great difficulty in respect of his person and estate to cause a marriage between them so yet I perceive with the impeachment any way of the true Religion here now established she will for no cause deal with him as you may perceive by her Majesties own Letters to you Albeit she doth not mean in respect of his policy to drive him in open shew in the mean time to renounce his own profession but conditionally that if they should match then wholly to maintain this aswell privatly as publiquely God send her Majestie alwaies during her life so to stand to the defence of so just a cause and withall his blessings upon her for us all that we may live and see her bring forth of her own body as may hereafter suceed her aswell in that happinesse as in the enjoyning of her kingdome So not doubting but we shall shortly hear from you I commit you to God In hast this 23 of March 1571. Your assured friend R. Leicester To our trusty and right welbeloved Francis Walsingham Esq our Ambassador Resident with our good Brother the French King ELIZABETH R. TRusty and welbeloved we greet you well we have seen your Letters of the 11 of this moneth written to the Lord of Burleigh our Secretary and perceive thereby your diligence in exploring further certain matters practised in Spain where you formerly wrot your doings wherein we doe well commend you and according to our former resolution whereof we lately advertised you we do now send unto the King of Spain this bearer our servant Henry Cobham one of our Gentlemen Pensioners for whose speedier and surer passing thither we have directed him to passe by you both to conferre with you and to utter unto you certain things from us wherein you shall give him credit and also to procure from the King our good Brother his passport and surety to passe throughout that Realm into Spain and likewise to return wherein we pray you to use some diligence to obtain the same for our said servant as you can consider the cause doth require we have instructed this said bearer of the Queen of Scots cause and have willed him to impart the same to you and having well conceived it we would have you there to let the Queen Mother understand so much thereof as shall be meet that she may know our sincere dealing therein And in your speech to her you may say that we do somewhat marvell that she doth so often sollicite and presse in the said Queen of Scots cause considering that we have not omitted to do any thing for her benefit which time and commodity would yield and that with reason we might do And specially we do the more marvell of the late urging of us therein considering the motion of the matter which she lately uttered to my Lord of Buckhurst Given under our Signet at our Mannor of Greenwich the 26 of March 1571. in the 13 yeare of our raign To the Queens Majesties Ambassador in France Mr. Fr. Walsingham my assured friend AFter I had sealed up my other Letters with Mr. Cobham I received yours of the 18 by Mr. York whereof I thought good to give you knowledge I am also to ascertain you that although the contrary may be reported my Lord of Leicester finding just occasion thereto doth by all good means to my knowledge further the marriage and therefore I think it reason that by such good means as your self may think meet both the Q. Mother and Monsieur de Anjou might understand his disposition so as he may be well thought of herein And if he find that his doing may be liked there if God be content with the cause it is very probable that it may take effect you see how plain I deal with you and the rather because I find by my Lord of Buckhurst that upon the hope you have of the amendment of Monsieur in Religion you do not mislike of the matter Surely if Monsieur be not rooted in opinion of evill Religion as by his young years it is not likely there might be argument made that marriage here with England would be becoming a Professor of the Gospel considering the towardness of him to be a Martiall Prince he may prove a Noble Conquerer of all Popery in Christendome with such aids as may joyn with him in the Empire and other where I wish he were capable of such a designe You see still the more I
I as you know are to Protestants and Catholiques either of these two would be glad to be assured of Monsieur In reason now it is to be weighed with which of these two he is to joyn with the Protestants he shall favour those whom the Queen especially favoureth he shall concur with her in the maintenance of the present State and Government he shall gain the favour of her Majesties Councellours in whom she reposeth her greatest trust and lastly he shall continue the Realm in repose and quietness Iâ— on the other side he persist in his Religion first he shall not gain the Catholiques unless they may have the like libertie as he himself enjoyeth Secondarily they are already devoted unto the Queen of Scots and so misliking nothing more then of his Marriage doubting thereby to grow the prejudice of her Title whereby we may conclude that by all likelihood by having of it he shall not joyn the good wills of the Catholiques unless they may participate with him in like liberty and on the other side it will breed misliking of him with the Protestants doubting the exercise of his Religion will breed some unquietness in the State and consequently he will be misliked of both which inconvenience of misliking I wished him to perswade Monsieur well to weigh Touching the inconvenience that would grow to the Queen I shewed him the same would rise three manner of ways First by breach of Law Secondly by offence of her good Subjects and Thirdly by the encouragement of evil Subjects Which said I if you will well weigh are of much more moment then any may happen to Monsieur he being only touched by relenting in honour the Queens Majestie my Mistress both in honour and safety he as a private person she being as a Monarch and a Prince whose Kingdoms were to participate any inconvenience that might befall unto her To this he replyed that his relenting in Religion being matter of conscience was an inconvenience of more weight then any that might happen to the Queen In the end after many replications on both sides to and fro he concluded that he was well assured that Monsieur in no case would be brought upon a sudden to yield to any change of Religion for no respect and yet that he doubted not but within a â—mall timâ— after the Match the same would easily be brought to pass without any great difficulty He willed me to consider how much this match was misliked by the Catholiques and how much on the other side desired of those of the Religion here and that in his opinion and conscience nothing could more further Religion throughout Christendom then this match To this I answered that her Majestie was on the other side fully bent to maintain her answer to the second Article or otherwise resolved not to proceed and so we ended This Conference was between us the day after Master Cavalcants arrival Master Cavalcant being present And so c. From Paris the eight and twentieth of April 1571. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To our right trusty and well-beloved Francis Walsingham Esquire our Ambassador Resident with our good Brother the French King ELIZABETH R. RIght trusty and well-beloved we greet you well By your Letters of the two and twentieth of April sent to the Lord of Burleigh we perceive in what sort you have dealt with the Irish Fugitive Morris fitz-Gibbons naming himself Archbishop of Cassel and having considered his request in a Paper subscribed with his hand we do not so much disallow his request to have our pardon and his restitution of his Bishoprick if we shall so please as the slender manner of his suit being void of all recognition of his offences and therewith his desire to repair out of that Countrey into Ireland without first coming hither where he ought by his submission to recover his pardon And therefore we would that you should inform him by Letters or by Message and upon your informations of his petitions we do not allow of his manner of so slender submission and petition And if he will not humblie require pardon for his offences and shew himself repentant and disposed to live hereafter in Ireland like a faithful Subject we mean not to bestow upon him either pardon or Bishoprick But if he will upon your warrant come hither into England he shall find us ready to shew him grace according to his humbleness in suing for it This you may let him know and express the same unto him in such sort as you shall see cause for except you shall understand certainly of him we understand there is no great account to be made of him as he pretendeth for himself neither is he of kin to the Earl of Desmond as he alledgeth nor of any credit in England And yet we are content to draw him home by means not dishonourable We do well allow of the Irish man whom you have imployed to attend upon him but whether it be Captain Thomas or Henry is not expressed and we would have you to assure him that he shall be considered by us And we pray you to advertise us in what sort you think best to have him rewarded Given under our Signet at our Pallace of Westminster the fifth of May 1571. and in the thirteenth year of our Reign To the Right Honourable Sir Francis Walsingham Ambassador for the Queens Majestie in France SIr for answer to your Letters concerning the Iewd Lozell of Ireland intituling himself Archbishop of Cassels the Queens Majesties will serve And for reward of the Irish man I pray you advertise your opinion by your next I hear by many means out of Spain that the King is therein rather counselled by Epimetheus then Prometheus he hath imployed much money upon Stewkley and now findeth him not worthie of any more Our Parliament is dailie new with child with projects for Laws that I was never more wearie Your Letters for the matters of D. hath driven us to the wall and particularly offended the Queens Majestie But the French Ambassador hath Letters from the Queen Mother and from de Foix wherein the matters are more tempered and I think he hath Commission to qualifie that hard Article that cannot be there digested It is too true that I perceive that you wrote to Master Hennage that some comfort here hath made you hardlier answered Indeed I wish things were not subject to sudden changes but Gods will be done for I cannot tell how to satisfie doubts but must refer me to his power to direct me As I received news out of Scotland so I send you them we have matters revealed which will shortly disgrace â—8 and offend â—2 and yet nothing shall be justly imployed to the Queens Majestie but that she is of meer necessity forced in extremities to use new remedies Yours assuredly William Burleigh To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may please your Lordship to advertise her Majestie that according
to the tenor of her Letters dated the fifth of May I have given the pretended Archbishop to understand by my Letters who is now at Nantes how her Majestie doth not allow the slender manner of his submission neither can think him worthy of favour or grace unless upon warrant given by me he maketh his repair into Enâ—land and there with all humilitie sue unto her Majestie for the same Of late he hath sent from Nantes certain of his servants as I am enformed to what end I cannot learn I have enformed Captain Thomas how her Majestie upon information given by me doth accept in very good part his late service in the discovery of the pretended Archbishops practises and that she meaneth to consider thereof Whereupon he hath desired me in his name most humbly to desire her Majestie to be so good and gracious a Lady unto him as he may have some charge under her Majestie either in Ireland his native Countrey or elsewhere as one that desireth nothing more then to imploy the experience he hath gathered in these Civil Wars in her Majesties service Here there is very good account made of him And notwithstanding that the most part of the ordinary bands are discharged as well Captains as Souldiers yet hath he allowed by the King sixteen Crowns a moneth pension His Father whose name was Bathe was one of the Justices in Ireland his Brother is Recorder of Drogheda This I write touching his Parentage to the end her Majestie may the better conceive of his loyaltie I am given secretly to understand that Rodolphi had Letters of Credit given him by the Spanish Ambassador unto the Duke de Alva whereupon he had long conference with the Duke and was dispatched in post to Rome with Letters of Credit to the Pope as also with Letters of Credit to the King of Spain promising to be at Madril the 20 of this present moneth Touching the matter of secresie committed unto him I can learn nothing as yet notwithstanding I thought it my part to advertise your Lordship of thus much who perhaps by other advertisements can give some ghess what the same importeth The Scots here have some enterprize in hand as I am informed by the party whom I appointed to observe the Lord Seatons doings The Ambassador of late hath been at Court and is returned from thence with answer not altogether to his liking and saith that so long as the Marriage is in Treaty there is no hope of good here to be done for the help of their cause Birack who lately returned out of Scotland is in hope to return with new Forces which secretly he saith to his Friends dependeth onely upon the resolution of the marriage now in hand The Lord Seaton departeth hence out of hand into Flanders being sent for by her Majesties Rebels there who have somewhat in hand presently to be executed They of late have very importunately been in hand with me for passports but understanding they have such enterprize in hand I thought good in that behalf to make some stay for a time alledging that I have some order from her Majestie to make some stay therein until I be further advertised of her pleasure I hope her Majestie will not dissallow of this my doings though I do it without warrant Out of Brittain I am advertised that la Roche had discovered unto a Kinsman of his that his enterprize in Ireland was to have executed a plot of Conquest devised by Peter Strozza in King Henries time which if the match go not forward he is promised that he shall go in hand withal hereby it doth well appear that the expectation of this match is the onely stay of divers pretended mischiefs Here they are in some perplexitie for that they hear nothing of her Majesties answer being given to understand by the Ambassador that her Majestie had signified her mind unto me in that behalf Queen Mother denieth now that she prefixed a day of answer and that I did mistake her I must needs confess that in requiring the same she used such words as her Majestie hath no cause to be justly offended which omitting to impart unto her Majestie I do most humbly crave pardon at her hands being most heartily sorry that through my default there should grow any unkindness between them Her words were as followeth First she asked me after she had willed me to signifie unto her Majestie the Kings and her resolution in what time I might have answer I shevved her that I hoped vvithin ten or tvvelve days the rather for that I knovv my Mistress to be resolved and therefore the matter required the less deliberation Then she desired me to vvill her Majestie that they might have ansvver within ten dayes if it might be These circumstances by me omitted I perceive her Majestie the rather to mislike the limitation of the time for the vvhich as before so again I most humbly require her Majesties pardon And so c. At Paris the fourteenth of May 1571. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honorable Sir Francis Walsingham the Queenâ— Majesties Ambassador with the French King THere is nothing yet readie to send you touching the matter of Monsieur The Ambassador resident hath received Letters of late since yours came from the Queen Mother and from Monsieur de Foix touching that cause He shewed his Letter to me and my Lord of Burleigh and it appeareth that de Foix Letter doth qualifie much the dealing which you and Cavalcant had I mean he writeth in sort to continue the matter and as it were that there would be offer made by them But her Majestie hath handled the matter exceeding well with the Ambassador and giveth him no hope without yielding of their part to that she hath reformed in their first demands And as 〈◊〉 as I can perceive they will rather yield then break off God send all to be for his glory and our good and so farewel my good Walsingham In haste this seventh of May 1571. Your assured Friend Ro. Leicester Commend me to my Cousin your wife by the next you shall hear more of this matter To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester MY very good Lord the Protestants here do so earnestlie desire this match and on the other side the Papists do so earnestlie seek to impeach the same as it maketh me the more earnest in furthering of the same Besides when I particularly consider her Majesties state both at home and abroad so far forth as my poor eye-sight can discern and how she is beset with Forraign peril the execution whereof stayeth onely upon the event of this match I do not see how she can stand if this matter break off No particular respect as God is my witness moveth me to write thus earnestly but only the regard I have to Gods glory and her Majesties safetie They rest here somewhat perplexed for that the answer is so long deferred being
that the same is also in the Latin tâ—â—gue as the service of the Church of Rome and so ordered to be used in our Universities And if the Latin tongue should not content it is also or may be translated into the French either of which his own ministers might use at his pleasure in places convenient whereby he might serve God devoutly and thereby not to be counted irreligious or an Atheist And if it should be objected that by this means it might be esteemed that he might make a change of his faith in matters of questions in Religion certainly herein it might also be truly answered that although we can be glad that all persons should by Gods inspiration change from ignorance or errour to knowledge and truth yet mean we not to prescribe to him or any person that they should at our motion or in respect of us change their Religion in matters of faith Neither doth the usage of the divine Service of England properly compell any man to alter his opinion in the great matters now in controversie in the Church Onely the usage thereof doth direct men daily to heare and read the Scriptures to pray to almighty God by daily use of the Psalter of David and of the ancient Prayers Anthemes and Collects of the Church even the same which the universall Church hath used and doth yet use Lastly if any one part of our Articles and Ceremonies should mislike him as surely we cannot conjecture of any such Yet therein the rest not being by him misliked some tolleration might be to forbear the same untill he might better consider thereof And to that which is said That we permit Ambassadors to use the Religion of Rome First we never made any grant thereof to any whereby in that respect his conscience is free But being suffered that is to say not molested therein by any of our ministers of our Laws the difference is apparent between another Princes servant comming onely but as a Messenger or tarrying to do Messages which is the office of an Ambassador and one that is to be our husband that is in respect of Religion our head and in order to be joynt Governor of our Realms and subjects with us that is to assist us in maintenance of our Laws in punishing offenders in giving good example to our Subjects in counselling us how to maintain the quietness of our estate and preserve to us and to himself for our sake the love which he shall find is born to us by our subjects And how contrary it shall be to all those that he may doe as Ambassadors are suffred to doe in whom neither we nor our People can have any such Opinion of carriage for us or them or for our Laws or quietness every person understandeth Yea commonly Subjects think the contrary of all Ambassadors of strange Princes though all give not like cause Thus you see what we think meet to answer at this time having some reasonable Causes to move us to think That if the matter be as earnestly meant as is by the Ambassadors words pretended they will not be so precise as to demand any conditions in the case of Religion whereof our estate may come in danger or our present quietness come in doubt And therefore you shall be the more earnest in setting forth the dangers that necessarily may follow The Ambassador hath required us to send you the rest of such demands as is meet for our part whereunto we were once inclined and have them in readiness But now we find it convenient first to understand the resolution of this matter of Religion before we will propound the rest whereby no delay of time shall follow if in the first we may accord for we may speedily by Post send you the same demands if cause so require Given under our signet at our Pallace of Westminister the 11 day of May 1571 and in the 13 year of our Reign To the Right Honourable Fr. Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr by the Queens Majesties Letters you shall understand what you are directed to do and say and therefore I must forbear to deal therein with you considering you are prescribed But I will friendly let you know how the answer hath proceeded and so the cause and circumstance known you may the better conceive the inward sense of the Message At the first coming of your Letters hither with the answer from Queen Mother In A was very sorry to judge the matter so perplexed and almost desperate Whereby I then judged there was here a plaine forward intention to proceed in the cause if this let for Religion should not be a stay After two daies the French Ambassador had Letters and the Queens Majestie was by some informed that saw the Letters that there was no such difficulty in that matter of Religion Nevertheless the Ambassador himself being appointed to conferr with my Lord of Leicester and me made the cause very hard alledging directly that Monsieur would never sustaine that dishonour as to come hither with an accompt to the world that he should have no Religion and then I answered as is contained in the Queens Majesties Letters setting out the neerness of ours to such as was good and found in the Roman adding that we omitted nothing but those which were impious and doubtfull to be against the Scriptures And so with us he ended with this request that the Queens Majestie would grant these words quod which sentence I found imperfect and so yet do I reported this to the Queens Majestie After this I was by one of some value secretly informed that if this matter of Religion were earnestly sticked unto and peremptorily pressed it would be obtained whereupon the answer was conceived and I commanded to report it to the French Ambassador who hearing it seemed much dismayed and concluded That he saw not but this answer should make a breach and end of the whole For if the answer saith he be grounded upon the Queens conscience then saith he there is no qualification to be hoped for Thus I reported and thereupon I saw her Majestie was perplexed and wished I had forborn to have made the principall foundation upon her Majesties conscience which I was commanded to do and therefore no fault in me And to remedie the matter I was willed speedily to advertise the Ambassador secretly that I was larger in explication of her Majesties conscience then I see since my speaking with him was meant and that the principall reasons were the other of the misliking of her good subjects and of the danger to lose their good wills c. And so did I by a little writing advertise him whereby what conceit he gathereth I know not but by some others I heare that he still judgeth it broken After this I was commanded also to temper the sentence in the Queens Majesties Letters as you perceive for it is not as it was an assertion of direct necessity but of possibility
had misinformed her She told me further that the money was none of the Kings but part of that which she hath yearly from hence by virtue of her dowry By this your Lordship may see that the Ambassador dealeth somewhat cunningly in this behalf to gratifie the Queen of Scots Touching the solliciting of her liberty she shewed me that the King and she aswell in respect of the ancient League with Scotland as the alliance by marriage could in honour do no lesse then recommend her cause which she protested they never did with intention any way to perjudice her Majestie I then desired her first to consider whether the Amity of England might not be as beneficiall to France as that of Scotland Secondarily Whether they had that need at this present of the Amity and League of Scotland as heretofore they have had For the first I shewed her that France in respect of the greatness of some of their neer neighbours had need of the Amity of both England and Scotland For the second I told her that England had no foot in France Scotland was rather chargeable then profitable to France She replied That the King notwithstanding in honour could not but continue Amity and League with Scotland though he had not that use as before time I answered her That the King might continue his League with Scotland by joyning with the Queen my Mistris in the maintenance of the young Kings government there To this she answered That the king could not in honour abandon his sister in Law I answered That the Kings band towards his sister in Law is not more then of a naturall father towards his naturall child yet if the child grow to be dissolute and lewd whereby he is shaken off by his father the fault is not to be imputed to the father but to the child even so if the King in respect of the indignities committed by his sisteâ— in Law shall give over the protection of her the cause thereof is onely to be imputed to her misdemeannor unworthy of her calling and not to him I desired her to consider further that whereas she saith the King in Honour is bound to seek her liberty that he is more bound in honour to have regard of the Queen my â—istris safety First for that she is a Princesse of life vertuous in Government guided by Law and Justice in affection toward him sincere Now if by the Queen of Scots liberty procured by him the State should be disquieted what thing could happen that might touch the King more in honour conscience and as for any assurance or protestation that she might make to the King touching her peaceable behaviour toward the Q. my Mistress First I desired her to weigh that she was ambitious and therefore no Capitulation could serve for a bridle Secondly That she is most guided by the advice of those of her kindred who have been the greatest cause of the disquiet of Europe whereof she could be a witness Thirdly how that now she meaneth chiefly to depend upon Spain who will be alwaies provoking her to the disquieting of England and France These considerations said I Madam if you will well weigh I hope they will give you cause not to be over earnest in procuring any enlargment of liberty especially upon this late discovery of her evill meaning towards her Majestie In my private opinion you shall do well therefore to remit the same untill the coming of the Gentleman whom the Queens Majestie my Mistress meaneth to send So in the end she concluded that she would confer with the King her Son whom she assured me would be loath to do any thing that might any way discontent her Majestie or tend to her prejudice J. K. being by me so requested dealt very earnestly with her in that behalf shewing the unseasonableness of the time to commend a matter so unacceptable especially having intention to treat of some straight Amity Douglas in his return hither passed by Flanders he was accompained from Antwerp to Bruxels by the Earle of Westmerland and a dozen other of the Rebells where he had conference with the Duke of Alva and was as he secretly reporteth to a friend of his very Honourably used and put in comfort that there should be somewhat done shortly for the assistance of the Queen of Scots faction in Scotland and further that he doubted not but that there would come a time that there should also be somewhat done for her delivery which had not now to have been executed had not the jealousie of some French enterprize stayed him Iunius the Co. Palatines servant who had his dispatch at the King hands the second of this moneth shewed me that the message he had in commission to deliver to his Mr. and the rest of the Princes was that the said King was glad the said Princes were both content and desirous to enter into some straight League with him a thing necessary for both their preservations and to the end that the same might proceed he desired them that they would consider of the points and Articles to be agreed on as also of some convenient place for the meeting of their Deputies Whereof when he shall be advertised upon his return again he would not faile to send some personage of good calling with Authority to coâ—clude such points as shall be agreed upon After he had received his message he shewed me that he told the King that it were very necessary that the Queen of England were named to joyn in this League whereof he signified unto me that both the King and Queens Mother were most desirous thereof and therefore wished that there might be some means found that her Majestie might be moved in that behalf whereupon he and I after some conference had what way were best to be taken agreed upon a Letter to be sent by me to his Mr. as the best means to bring the same to passe which Letters I caused Mr. Beale to draw and sent to Mr. Iunius according as we resolved whereof I send your Lordship a Copy to the end your Lordship may see the course I have taken which I hope for that it tendeth to her Majesties safety will not mislike her Thus leaving further to trouble your Lordship at this present I most humbly take my leave At Blois the 7 of October 1571. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may please your Lordship to advertise her Majestie that the 22 of this moneth the King sent for me and at the time of my accesse he shewed me that he was given to understand that her Majestie meant to send certain Souldiers into Scotland which thing he would be sorry it should so fall out for that then he should be forced in respect of the ancient League with Scotland to strengthen the Queens party there by sending of forces thither and that therefore he desired her Majestie to
the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester BY your Lordships of the twentieth of October sent by Mr. Killegrew I conceive great hope of her Majesties consideration of my chargable living here and because your Lordship hath been a most earnest furtherer of the same I most humbly thank you as also for that it pleaseth your Lordship to promise the continuance of your said furtherance when occasion shall be offered wherein the same will stand you in any stead which I will presume with that boldness to use as I hope your Lordship will imploy me wherein your Honour may have any use of my poor service The cause of my present sending is to advertise of the victory had by sea of the Christian against the Turk The Conflict was the seventh of the last moneth not far from Câ—rfu between Morea and Lepanto There escaped as the Venetian Ambassador gave me to understand onely four of two hundred Gallies other particularities as then he knew not I send your Lordship also a little Pamphlet that they have put in print here touching the said victorie of what credit I know not Whatsoever shew the King here giveth of joy outwardly inwardlie he doth not best like of the victorie as that thing which addeth too great an increase of reputation to the King of Spain I think therefore no time more fit to treat of Amitie then at this present I do not therefore doubt but that your Lordship will urge her Majestie most earnestlie to take profit of the time by sending with convenient speed him over whom she meaneth to use in this behalf And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humblie take my leave At Paris the seveâ—th of November 1571. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To my assured Friend Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador in France and my brother in Law Henry Killigrew Esq and to either of them HAving this present occasion to send two of my Lord of Oxfords men to Paris at his Lordships request I thought good also therewith to send to you this little Treatise therewith newly printed in Latine in commending or discommending the Qu. of Scots actions to further her Marriage with Bothwel I hear it is to be translated into English with addition of many other supplements of like condition The Queens Majestie hath sent for my Lord Gray to come thither into France and if his health cannot serve him Sir Peter Gray shall come Her Majestie with furtherance of her whole Councel is certainly resolved to send one thither My Lord of Hunsdon is at Berwick by computation yesternight and his Commission is to set a good face upon the matter to bring Grange and the Castle to the Kings devotion if he cannot we of her Councel are of opinion that England shall inforce them And yet it shall do well that no such thing be notified to the French King My Lord Marquis dyed at Warwick on Sunday the loss of a good Councellour The case of the Duke of Norfolk falleth even out by branches to be more odious The B. of Ross is in the Tower where he uttereth many things right plainly and yet you need not be known thereof I pray let the bearers hereof if they shall have need of your friendship find that your friendship is readier for my commendations I think to marry my daughter at Christmass From Richmond the first of November 1571. Yours assuredly Wil. Burleigh To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh BEsides Mr. Killigâ—â—ws advertisements as from the Court I thought good to give your Lordship to understand what they do here at Paris The Marshal de Coss hath been here imployed of late by the French King in procuring a Loan which is granted and the same is presently in leavying the people murmur much at it and yet do not refuse to pay it Marshal Montmorency repaired to this Town the third of this moneth accompanied with 300 horse The next day after his arrival he and the Marshal de Coss conferred with the chief of this Town about the plucking down of the Cross which was resolved on and the same presently put in execution the Masons employed in that behalf being guarded by certain Harquebusâ—ers The common people ease their stomacks onely by uttering certain seditious words which is born withal for that was doubted the Protestants by the overthrow of this Cross receive greater comfort and the Papists the contrary Touching my particular I find it will be the latter end of the next moneth before I shall return to my charge for that I am diseased by three sundry Carnosities which will require the longer time in the cure Thus much I thought good to give your Lordship to understand for that I fear her Majestie will think somewhat otherwise in my long stay here And so leaving further to trouble your Lordship at this present I most humbly take my leave the seventh of Decemb. 1571. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr the bearer hereof is one whom you may trust as I am informed And if he shall require you to send any his Letters to be conveyed into Scotland he is content that they shall come into my hands whereby I shall not be the worse informed of things meet to be known He can shew you both of Scotlands causes and of Englands Sir Thomas Smith is ready to depart thitherward from hence to morrow if the French Ambassadors Negotiation here with her Majestie this afternoon whilest I am writing this Letter do not prolong the same My Lord of Oxfords servants were constrained by contrary winds to tarry at Callis so as they came not hither before Sunday last at which time came also Fiasco the Genevoise who had likewise stayed at Callis for the same purpose and at his coming he maketh all to be sound between Spain and France and would not be known of the Spanish Ambassadors passage into the Low Countrey nor of any thing done in Henault and yet he did not understand by us here that he had any knowledge thereof from you And so I end wishing to hear of your amendment by Physick At Greenwich the fifth of December 1571 Yours assuredly William Burleigh To the Right honourable Francis Walsingham Esq her Majestes Ambassador Resident in France SIr such sufficient persons of understanding credit and acquaintance as this bearer Sir Thomas is may serve to excuse me from writing of any long Letters and therefore I mean to touch things by notes and peice-meals He can tell you of the Duke of Norfolks case but percase not when nor how it takes end neither can I help him to inlarge his knowledge but I think the Queens Majestie will therein deal more substantially then many do imagine He can tell you how straitly the Queen of Scots is kept having now but ten persons of her own of all
for my stomack morning and evening and yet it is scarce able to resist the extream cold of the weather and now about 30 daies continual frost and snow and here is neither wood plenty nor good chimneys for fire and in my bed-chamber I can make no fire Good my Lord dispatch this Bearer with as much speed again as may be as it is promised in the Instructions This day the Queen of Navarr is looked for in the Court and hoped that the marriage shall go forward The foolish Cardinal went away as wise as he came he neither brake the marriage with Navarr nor got no Dismes of the Church of France nor perswaded the King to enter into the League with the Turk nor to accept the Tridentine or to break off Treaty with us and the foolishest part of all at his going away he refused a Diamond which the King offered him of 600 Crowns yet he was here highly feasted he and his Train cost the King above 300 Crowns a day as they said Thus I bid your Lordship heartily farewell From Blois March 3. by English account Th. Smith To my Lord Burleigh MY very good Lord I received your Letters by Monsieur de Crocques Kinsman after Mid-Lent-Sunday which was dated the sixth of March the King had then entred into a Diet which he keepeth still in his Câ—amber Some said it is because he had some hurt in one of his leggs which I could never perceive but he was one of the activest in all his actions as the Barriers Justs and other such Martial feats which were simulachra belli of all the rest in the Company Other of whose opinion I am think it is the Mothers drift to make him take under pretence of Phisick some rest from his inordinate hunting so early in the morning and so late at night without sparing frost snow or rain and in so desperate doings as makes her and them that love him to be often in great fear And the Queen possibly being now undoubtedly with child to cause her also to rest from that travel that both he may get somewhat more flesh and the Queen to retain more surety of that which is conceived Because of that Mr. Walsingham and I wiâ—t not what to do but Monsieur de Malvosire coming to us as he is appointed to see that we lack nothing and suppeth and dineth commonly with us we told him merrily that his Mistress for so we call the Scotch Queen had played now a wise part for she hath opened her self again and the good favour she beareth to Spain to make a perpetâ—al broil if she could betwixt England Scotland and France for she hath practised by Letters of late and sith the Dukes trouble which Letters are now come to light and known to have practised with the Duke of Alva to convey the young King out of Scotland into Spain the which thing I am sure you would like as ill as wee Yea saith he they may be counterfeit and made to hurt the poor Queen No quoth I the original Letters were shewed to Monsieur de Crocque and de la Mott and yet by the same de Crocque the King wrote to the Queens Majestie for her deliverance and sending of her into France What would she do here at liberty if being streightly kept and the matter so plainly known for the Bishop of Ross wrote sith he was in the Tower to her that all was discovered which he could not denie Well saith he indeed I have heard of such a thing but will you tell the King quoth I that so much I have told you and that the Queens Majestie is not very well pleased that she â—hould write so earnestly for her who will never cease to seek mischief and trouble to her Majestie and her Realm yea and set all the Princes together by the ears if she could he said he would and when we would come home to walk in the Garden at such time as the Queen Mother doth customarily walk there he would find the means we should speak with her when he came again he brought us word that it was true that he said for de la Mott had written the same to the King and the King so told him that it was true and said Ah! the poor fool will never cease while she lose her head In faith they will put her to death I see it is her own fault and follie I see no remedie for it I meant to help but if she will not be helped Ie ne puis mais that is I cannot do withall The 17 of this Month at afternoon Mr. Walsingham and I went with Mr. Malvosire into the Kings Garden at Blois and after a while walking the Queen Mother came to us to whom we declared That of late there was Letters intercepted of the Queen of Scots to the Duke of Alva the effect whereof we were willing to declare to the Kings Majestie or to her which was indeed to make a perpetual pique betwixt England Scotland France and Spain for that it was that he should take and convey away by his practise the young King and convey him into Spain And so quoth I where now by Gods grace we go about to make a perpetual amity betwixt England and France and by that joyntly to make a good union and peace in Scotland that the civil Wars might be compounded and cease and so these 3 Realms to be as it were all one for mutual defence this is a devise to make a perpetual pique broil and jealousie amongst us all and Spain Saitâ— Mr. Walsingham betwixt England and France thanks be to God no quarrels be pretended We demand nothing of you at this time nor you of us The occasion vvhy your League vvas so sure vvith Scotland to annoy us novv there is no such cause standing so sure on amity and therefore belike Spain vvould make that a pique to trouble us vvithall both and make us Warr and trouble that vvaies Saith the Queen There is no doubt but they vvill do vvhat they can for the King my Son is advertised that there is nothing that grieveth him more then to understand of this good League and perfect Amity vvhich is begun and I trust novv at an end betvvixt us they vvote not vvhich vvaies to turn them to break it But Madam quoth I these tvvo things coming together she to go about that disturbing of Scotland and England and that thing which should be as much displeasant to you as to us if your Majestie do well mark it and at the same time the King here to write for her delivery and to come into France and that when the chief treating of amity is in hand you shall not marvel though her Majestie do take it ill and I assure you that it is written to us that but that her Majestie hath known of long time the good affection that you Madam and the King your Son did bear to her and that we that are
proves an unreasonable charge to great numbers to the Queens Majestie having her offices of Houshold at Dover and her provisions thereby lost The Earl of Pembroke Lord Windsor and the Lord Buckhurst be at Dover with great and mighty trains Besides hither are come such leavies of Ladies to attend as husbands curse the delay The Queens Majestie is in health The Scotish Queen shall be touched with an Act of Parliament but it will not draw her to any more fear to offend then words will do From S. Iames the sixth of Iune 1572. Your assured loving Friend William Burleigh To my very loving Friend Francis Walsingham Esq her Majestes Ambassador Resident in France MR. Walsingham forasmuch as my Nephew Philip Sidney is licensed to travel and doth presently repair unto those parts with my Lord Admiral I have thought good to commend him by these my Letters friendly unto you as unto one I am well assured will have a special care of him during his abode there He is young and raw and no doubt shall find those Countreys and the demeanors of the people somewhat strange unto him and therefore your good advice and counsel shall greatly behove him for his better direction which I do most heartily pray you to vouchsafe him with any friendly assistance you shall think needful for him His father and I do intend his further travel if the world be quiet and you shall think it convenient for him otherwise we pray you we may be advertised thereof to the end the same his travels may be thereupon directed accordingly As for the boy Clark since I cannot obtain him as I desire I must content me I wish I had one of my Lord Cardinals Monks to see how devoutly he should be kept here But I pray you let it appear that it is great unkindness for one Nobleman to use unto another The boy hath sought sundry ways to return unto me as well by Letters to his Friends as by supplications to my self but I mind not to have him so The cause that I did so earnestly seek him was to punish him in example of others which if it will not be I will leave it for a time and hope to give you knowledge where he is shortly trusting you will give order that he may be suddenly apprehended And thus being forced to trouble you with a triâ—tle amongst so many great causes in these days with my commendations I bid you most heartily farewel From the Court the six and twentieth of May 1572. Your very Friend Ro. Leicester To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT hath pleased my Lord of Lincoln to promise me upon his experience had of the intollerable charges here through the daily increase of death to confer with your Lordship in what sort he may best deal with her Majestie for increase of my diet considering otherwise that I shall not be able to hold out my monethly charges drawing now to two hundred pounds the moneth notwithstanding my diet is thin my family reduced to as small a proportion as may be and my horse being onely twelve These things might seem unto your Lordship altogether incredible were there not so many Noblemen and Gentlemen to witness the same by their experience lately had of the extreme dearth here I have made my Lord acquainted how much I am bound to your Lordship and of the fatherly care it pleaseth you to have of me and that therefore I have besought him in moving or not moving her Majestie to yield to such directions as by conference it shall seem good unto you to give him for that I would be loth to procure any thing to be done that may not fall out to your Lordship contentation And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave From Paris the two and twentieth of Iune 1572. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To my very loving friend Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador for the Queens Majestie in France SIr I cannot let any your servants pass hence without some word I have looked for some knowledge of my L. Admirals arrival at Paris and thereupon stayed to send away this bearer until now that I hear by the French Ambassadors Letters hovv my Lord and you have been feasted and entertained which they here do give out with large speeches but how indeed the same is warranted I know not sure I am that they have been so feasted and entreated as none in my memory hath been greater The Queens Majestie before she gave her oath made a protestation that she was not in mind to break any jot of the Treaty and though the Castle of Hume and Fast Castle were not delivered yet the fault was not in her for she had propounded to the Lord Hume and to the Regent also her disposition to deliver it but the Lord Hume required that her Majestie vvould keep it still rather then deliver it so as it bred not an increase of their hateful dissention And hereupon her Majestie hath propounded to the Regent to be content that the Lord Hume may have it if he will be content to acknovvledge the King vvhich the Lord Hume offereth in vvords but the Regent saith that the Lord Hume hath promised to offer his obedience to the King to recover his houses and then he will ayd them of the Castle and this is indeed discovered to be true Besides this Fast Castle was in my Lord Humes hands but as a Tutor to an infant who is come to full age and followeth the Kings part Truly you may thus report to the King and assure him that her Majestie meaneth not to keep the one or the other although she might pretend matters against the Lord Hume for the damage that he did to England in keeping the Rebels in those Houses and invading the Realm From Westminster in haste the twentieth of Iune 1572. Yours assuredly William Burleigh The form of the Communication with the D. Montmorency de Foix and de la Mot which they had to finish matters expressed in the Treaty Iune 1571. present the Lord Keeper the Earls of Suffex and Leicester the Lord Chamberlain and Burleigh Mr. Comptroler Sir Ralph Sadler and Sir Walter Mildmay THe French by de Foix required That the Scotish Queen might have some favour upon the conclusion of this Treaty betwixt the Queens Majestie and the French King and that such favour might be shewed as might be granted with the surety and honour of the Queens Majestie That a surcease of Arms might be made in Scotland and thereupon a Parliament in Scotland and concord to be made for the State and Realm And if a Parliament could not be conveniently had that then there might be sent hither from both parties some persons to treat here a London with Deputies of the Queens Majesties and the French Kings That some order might be made concerning the establishing of a Traffique for Merchants in France wherein
them put to the ransom for that justice taketh not place here they forbear to require redress but depart hence with great desire of revenge They prepare Bastile for some persons of quality It is thought that is for the Prince of Conde and his brethren The Marshal Montmorency is commanded as it is said to keep his house and to forbear to make any Assembly He is now at Chantilly The King is advertised that the Prince of Orange hath taken Mechelin and that he now marcheth towards Montz and that the Duke d' Alva shall be constrained to hazard the battel or to lose his Ordnance It is said that the King here meaneth to send to his support under the conduct of the Duke of Guise 4000 shot and 2000 horse And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the thirteenth of September Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principal Secretary SIr it may please you to advertise her Majestie that after I had closed up my present dispatch Monsieur Mansiere was sent to me from Q. Mother to request me to continue my good devotion towards this Crown to do such good offices as might breed continuance and especially to further the marriage To this I answered that I saw things fall out here in such sort as I had small cause to incourage me thereunto And as for the marriage I had some cause to doubt whether the matter was truly meant or no for divers reasons To that he answered that it were good the same scruples were taken away and therefore asked me if I would be content to let the Queen Mother understand the reasons that made me so to think To the which I answered I could be very well content if it shall please her Majestie to send for me that I might communicate them unto her Thereupon she sent for me and at my access she told me that she understood by Mannesiere that there rested in me some scruple touching the Kings and her sincere meaning concerning the late marriage propounded for the which she was sorry for that in respect of the place I held I might yield no small hinderance to the same She therefore desired me to know the reasons that moved me thereto to which she doubted not but to yield such answer as should breed satisfaction in me Thereupon I shewed her that true it was that as it becometh a good servant the jealousie of my Mistris's honour and surety made me to use some such speech towards her whereof when she should understand the reasons I hoped she would interpret the same in good part Then I shewed her that this late strange accident had bred in men dangerous discourses opinions and mistrusts amongst the which I was not free from my doubts and suspicions And as touching this scruple of the Kings and her sincere meaning touching this marriage I had three reasons that moved me thereto The first the violating of the late Edict and present severity used against those of the Religion The second the strange dealing in the first match propounded The third certain Discourses given out of the Conquest of England and Ireland Touching the first I shewed her that the chiefest causes that moved the Queen my Mistris to make account of the Amity of this Crown was that the King suffered certain of his Subjects to enjoy by the vertue of this Edict exercise of the same Religion her Majestie professed which was the chiefest ground of the League which being taken away the Amity could not but grow doubtful And this matter of an enterview suspected to be but to serve for an entertainment Touching the second I shewed her that this late accident giveth vehement suspicion that the first match propounded was also but a kind of entertainment to abuse those of the Religion Touching the Discourses though they did proceed from mean personages and that I hoped their Maj. were free from any such intentions yet the strangeness of the late accident could not altogether rest free from suspicion To this she generally replyed That she hoped that the late League was made not with the Admiral and those of the Religion but with the King and therefore she trusted that though her son for his surety sake had justly executed the heads of the Religion yet the said league should continue in his perfect strength for performation whereof there should never be found lack in the King You know saith she that there was good amity between King Francis and King Henry the eighth and yet they favoured not the Pope alike You know also saith she that notwithstanding the difference of Religion between my late husband and King Edward yet the same did not impeach the conclusion of a marriage between the same King and my daughter And as for the Edict saith she the King my sons meaning is not otherwise but that the same shall stand in force To this I replyed that true it was that the League was made with the King and not with the Admiral Notwithstanding that the liberty of conscience was not particularly granted unto him but generally to those of the Religion as to the Amity between the said Princes notwithstanding they were of contrary Religion I told her that the time was now altered for that then there was no general league made at Trent or at Bayonne generally against those of the Religion and surely Madam said I I fear that this late severity executed here will make all Princes of the Religion to repute the same a general denunciation of War against them which I fear will prove as bloody as ever war that hapned whereof the benefit would chiefly grow to the Turk Thereupon she took occasion to inveigh vehemently against the Admiral saying that the matter of Bayonne was a device of his to provoke such Princes as were allies and friends to this Crown to become enemies to the same For saith she the Assembly of Bayonne tended to other end but to make good chear and to the end you may see how little your Mistris was beholding to him you may see saith she a discourse found with his testament made at such time as he was sick at Rochel wherein amongst other advices that he gave to the King my son this is one that he willed him in any case to keep the Queen your Mistris and the King of Spain as low as he could as a thing that tended much to the safety and maintenance of this Crown To that I answered that in this point howsoever he was affected towards the Queen my Mistris he shewed himself a most true and faithful Subject to the Crown of France and the Queens Majestie my Mistris made the more account of him for that she knew him faithfully affected to the same The said discourse was all written with his own hand To the other two reasons she answered nothing but desired me that I
to shew unto her Majestie Duke d' Alanson who was there present desired me to present unto her Majestie his most humble and affectionate commendations and to shew her that so great was the honour that she did unto his servant la Mote as he desired nothing more then to have occasion to shew himself thankful by doing her service and that therefore it would please her to make account of him as of one that is wholly hers In this time of trouble he hath often sent unto me and offered me some of his guard for my surety La Motte shewed himself most thankful for the honour he hath received and every man maketh most honourable report of her Majestie wherefore she may think the good usage of him very well imployed on him The Lord Levingston and divers other Scotish Gentlemen who see here no way to enjoy the liberty of their conscience do desire passport wherein I mean to use less difficulty then heretofore I have done for that they seem upon the last accident to desire most perfect Amity between the two Crowns of England and Scotland in respect of the common cause of Religion I suppose passing by that way and receiving good entertainment at her Majesties hands they will rather do good then harm at home by making them in the Countrey understand what had passed here and the danger that is like to follow without perfect union between the said Crowns Some of the wisest sort of them here that before were enemies and now are become friends do wish that her Majestie sought to make some reconciliation between the Earl Morton and the Lord Lidington and that her Majestie by some pension did make both him and others assured to her They think that her Majestie by so doing in disbursing of two or three thousand pounds a year may save the disbursing of many thousands besides the avoiding of many dangerous practises that are like to grow that way This device might seem to savour of the particular benefit were not the circumstances of the present time reasonable for the same The Ambassador of Scotland telleth such of his Nation as are here that the Kings meaning is to make as great account of them as ever he did That those of the guard for their better entertainment shall have a Captain of their own Nation and further that the Kings meaning is to erect again certain men of Arms under the conduct of some Nobleman of that Nation I leave to her Majestie to consider what this courtesie to that Nation meaneth Sir I beseech you to move her Majestie that for the time that I shall remain here which I hope shall not be long I may hear often from her whereby I may the better know how to direct my course This inclosed Letter of Montmorency was sent me from Secretary Pynart whereby it may appear that he was procured to write to their Majesties And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this Present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the fourteenth of September Your Honours to command F. Walsingham To the Right Honourable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principal Secretary SIr it may please you to advertise her Majestie That of late the King here was advertised from his Ambassador Resident in Flanders how that the ninth of this moneth the Prince of Orange approaching near unto Montz and being fully resolved to fight with his enemy commanded forth of his Army four hundred footmeen and five hundred light horsemen the Prince himself and the rest of his Army following them somewhat afar off in very good order On the righr hand of his Battaile there stood a mill where he planted six pieces of Artillery as well to defend himself as to offend his enemy with more advantage The Duke of Alva likewise sent out against the Prince five hundred Spaniards Harquebushiers and six hundred light horsemen with Harquebushiers a Crock on the right hand of them he set two thousand Rutters and on the left wing as many In this sort they came at length to hand strokes the fight dured a long time to wit from twelve of the clock at noon to six of the clock at night but in the end by means of the Prince of Oranges Artillery the Duke of Alva's horsemen were put in so great disorder as they were constrained to retire themselves into their Tents not without great loss The number of them that were slain is not yet certainly known although it is reported that the Duke hath lost above three thousand men This victory is thought to proceed of 250 horsemen who issued forth of Montz during the Conflict and set upon the tail of the Duke Alva's Army who also afterwards joyned with the Prince of Orang◠Thus much I thought good to write to the end her Majestie may understand how things pass in Flanders Touching the state of this Countrey there is nothing meant but extremity towards those of the Religion On Sunday last which was the fourteenth of this moneth the young Princess of Conde was constrained to go to Mass being threatned otherwise to go to prison and so consequently to be made away The Prince of Conde hath also yielded to hear Mass upon Sunday next being otherwise threatned to go to the Bastile where he is not like long to serve The Friday before Queen Mother told me that no bodies conscience for saith she here is the King of Navarre the Prince of Conde and divers others in this Court that live with liberty of conscience and so shall continue notwithstanding saith she that the King could be content and could wish that they were all converted and become Catholiques And I do perceive that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and therefore I hope her Majestie will stand upon her guard and strengthen her self with the Amity of the Protestant Princes of Germany who as I hear are awake and marvellously stomach this late cruelty and do think that the danger thereof will reach to themselves if they do not seek to prevent it I hope also her Majestie will establish things in such 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and wil not suffer her to be abused with her fair speech having had so late experience of her faithless dealing when the King is once possessed of Rochel which he hopeth to have shortly Strozzees voyage is then directly to Scotland All the Hugonote lands which will amount to many millions shall be sold and imployed in the Conquest of Countreys which I hope in God will prove an account without the host if God do not blinde the eyes of the Princes of the Religigion who joyning together shall be able to make their parts good against any of those that shall have will to do them harm One Roulart a Catholique and Canon of Nostre Dame and also a Counsellour in the Parliament uttering certain speeches in misliking this lawless kind of proceeding without justice was apprehended and committed to prison and in prison murthered
Author but upon the sudden fear and practise brought suddenly to us as his Ambassador would have us think although the yielding unto it be horrible yet if frailty and fear hath constrained it and that his heart with due repentance seek the right satisfaction first of God and then of the world by prosecuting the enemies of God and his Realm that so entised them to it then may I hope that it was not his own consent or liking Otherwaies if he continue in confirming the fact and allowing the persons that did it then must he be a Prince detested of all honest men what Religion soever they have for as his fact was ugly so was it inhumane for whom should a man trust if not his Princes word and these men whom he hâ—th put to slaughter not onely had his word but his writing and not publique but private with open Proclamations and all other manner of Declarations that could be devised for the safety which now being violated and broken who can believe or trust him But Sir the Ambassador hath inwardly dealt of late with me and 〈…〉 me believe that we shall shortly see that this matter is not the Kings and that he doth 〈…〉 as he will make revenge of it God grant it be so but you may easily understand it and surely you shall do well inwardly as her Majestie hath written unto you but warily to discover it even with himself and if it may appear he stands in any fear of his person or doubts his force to assist him I know her Majestie will venter twenty thousand of her best subjects for him and with him in so good a quarrel For it is almost incredible that one so young and hitherto so plain so sincere and of so good disposition as you your self could not say too much of him could thus be transformed so suddenly so dishonourable from so good to ill Well you may shortly see it and I pray you let us hear from you as often as you may And so praying God to send you your health and safety I bid you farewel trusting you will be a mean for my Nephew Sidney that he may repair home considering the present state there In haste the 11 of Sept. Your very Friend Ro. Leicester To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador Resident for her Majestie in France SIr this accident in France seemeth to us so strange and beyond all expectation that we cannot tell what to say to it and the excuse tam that we wot not what to think of it The matter appeareth all manner of ways so lamentable the King so suddenly and in one day to have dispoiled himself and his Realm of so many notable Captains so many brave Souldiers so wise and so valiant men as if they were unguilty of that which is laid unto them it is most pitiful if they were guilty Cur mandati causa damnati sunt ac casi in such sudden and extreme dealings Cito sed sera penitentia solet sequi If it were sudden and not of long time premeditated before and if so the worse and more infamous Thus you see what privately any man may think of the fact I am glad yet that in those tumults and bloody proscriptions you did escape and the yong Gentlemen that be there with you and that the K. had so great care and pity of our Nation so lately with strait amity confederate with him yet we hear say that he that was sent by my Lord Chamberlain to be Schoolmaster to yong Wharton being come the day before was then slain Alas he was acquainted with no body nor could be partaker of any evil dealing How fearful and careful the mothers and parents be here of such yong Gentlemen as be there you may easily guess by my Lady Lane who prayeth very earnestly that her son may be sent home with asmuch speed as may be And if my Lady your wife with you daughter and the rest with such as may be spared were sent away home until this rage and tempest were somewhat appeased you shall be the quieter and disburthened of much of your care You would not think how muâ—â— we are desirous to hear what end these troubles will have whether it rangeth further into all France or dy or will cease here at Paris Our Merchants be afraid to go now into France and who can blame them who would where such liberty is given to Souldiers and where nec pietas nec justitia doth refrain and keep back the unruly malice and sword of the raging popular Monsieur la Mote is somewhat spoken to in this matter and now the vintage as you know is at hand and our traffique into Roan and other places in France is almost layed down with this new feat It grieveth no man in England so much as me and indeed I have in some respect the greatest cause Fare you well From woodstock the twelfth of September 1572. Yours alwayes assured Tho Smith My Lady Lane hath sent by your man thirty pound in gold to pay her sons debts there and charges in coming home I most heartily thank you for the book of the past troubles in France But alas who shall now write worthily of the treasons and cruelties more barbarous then ever the Scythians used Both my Lord Treasurer and I have been more then once or twice Sutors to her Majestie for your coming home and sometimes we had it granted and streight revoked the letters written and immediately called back you must I see endure for a time but I trust it will not be long To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador for the Queens Majestie in France SIr although as may appear in my former Letters that you were fain to be left without hope of returning so soon as you would wish yet yesterday Fawnte Argold and South coming out of France to the Court did so amplifie the cruel disorders there and thereupon your dangers in every mans ears whereof your friends made relation to her Highness that finally her Majestie was content to write this letter for your return hither to the French King whereof I send you herewith a copy And so she hath somewhat provided for you so shall you understand that her Highness hath been so awakened that care and provision also is taken for the defence of her Realm if this fire in France should attempt to come neerer hither Fare you well Woodstock the twelfth of September 1572. Your assured Friend Th. Smith To the Right Honourable his very good Lords the Lords of her Majesties most honourable privy Councel IT may please your Honours to understand that your letters of the ninth of this moneth I received the seventeenth of the same and having well perused and considered of the contents thereof and seeing a choice left unto you of me touching the speech that from her Majestie was to be used both towards the King and his Mother as might express her Maj. grief for the
some unplaced and in that profession very excellent but the entertainment they require is so unreasonable and so far exceedeth your Lordships offer as I dare not deal with them They ask 300 Crowns a year besides meat and drink and the finding of their horse and the least they can be reduced unto is 200 Crowns True it is that such of the Noblemen as entertain them do give them no less wages He useth towards them what perswasions he may to induce them to think that 150 Crowns in England will go further then 300 here but as yet no perswasions will serve to make them so to think I say therefore to conclude any thing with them I mind not until I hear further from your Lordship Of late doubting that there is no good meant towards you from hence and having some cause to suspect some Irish practises and knowing that Capt. Lassetty doth understand the state and weakness of that Countrey I have entertained him with some hope to be entertained of her Majestie his imperfections I know well enough notwithstanding his service may be profitable and if it be to no other end yet were the entertainment of him necessary in respect of the harm he may do At all times when any danger did seem to grow towards her Majesty he hath requested me to present to her his service though that Nation be very much inclined to treason yet surely I think him in that point to stand much upon his honor Because I would be loath long in vain to entertain him with that hope I beseech your Lordship that I may by the next hear what your opinion is in this behalf Captain Massino del Beni whom your Lordship knoweth who is now retired into Germany requested me to desire your Lordship to offer his service unto her Majesty who in respect of Religion and the zeal and honor he beareth towards her Majesty would be glad to sacrifice his life in her defence If your Lordship think the same might be received then would he repair thither if otherwise he would be glad to know it because he meaneth to take some other course to direct himself I am the willinger at this point to offer the service of Souldiers for that I fear her Maiesty shall have iust cause to use them considering how slenderly we are furnished at home for now that the Prince of Orange is retired her Majesty may not long look to live in repose I am sorry that the union of Scotland is not already made which I fear will be cause of both their and our ruine If that footing-place were taken away from our foraign enemies our danger would be the lesse Money will do any thing with that Nation as your Lordship knoweth which if her Majesty stick to disburse she shall find neither profit nor surety in it The tempest that hangeth over our head is to mans judgment apparent so great as if she overslip any remedy that may be used she must not long look to keep the State that she now enjoyeth If the great strength and power of her enemies be weighed with her weakness the danger cannot but seem the greater if any thing be omitted to be done that may â—end to her safety If England and Scotland be united and such unsound members cut off as have been the cause of inward corruption both her enemies shall have less will to attempt any thing against her safety and she remain in less perill of such mischiefs as otherwise are like to fall upon her Violent diseases must have violent remedies if her Majesty do not not now think her State to stand in extremity things at home well considered both she and the same are in more danger I beseech your Lordship to pardon my passion in this behalf the suspition I have of the evill meaning here towards her Majesty maketh me to be thus carried away as I am And so leaving further to trouble your Lordship at this present I must humbly take my leave At Paris the 8 of October 1572. Your Honours to command Francis Walsingham Answers to the French Ambassador given by word of mouth by my Lord Treasurer in the Councell Chamber in Octob. 1572 FOr the Kings answer to the advice of her Majesty given in two points viz. that the King would cause the world to understand of his deed upon the Admirals death somwhat better then yet it did Secondarily that he would see that his Edicts be better observed her Majesty meaneth not to reply thereto wishing that both in the one and the other the King find good success To the motion of the Enterview to be before the 20 of October and iâ— to the Queen Mothers letter is to be at the Isle of Iersey seemed to her majesty so strange both for the time and place as if the Admirall had not shewed the Letters from the King and Qu. Mother to that effect her Majesty should either not have believed it or that the Ambassador had mistaken the same as without long speech the Ambassador may easily perceive for the 20 day of October is not 14 days off from the time of the motion nor one month from the date of the Kings letter and Iersey is a place so far distant as neither King of this land would adventure to sail unto for many causes nor yet any Merchant would take upon him to pass thither almost in that time Besides that the late proceedings in France to the destruction of all sorts of her Majesties Religion which also is not ceased to her Majesties understanding cannot but argue this manner of motion very absurd and besides ingender in the subjects of this Realm such conceits as it were a dangerous thing for Councellors to be so careless of their Prince as to give ear to such motions and it is the stranger now to make this motion by letters of the 23 of September when the French Ambassador the same 23 of September did say at Reading to the Queens Majesty that the Queen Mother was content to come into any place of this Realm which is now strangely changed that the â—ueens Majesty should come to her over the Sea to the coast of France being more then three days sailing except she might have wind at her commandment And in this matter also the Queens Majesty can give no answer untill she hear answer from her Ambassador to her letters sent after the Kings letters were dated As to the offer of continuance of Amity renewing the League by a new Oath the Queens Majesty meaneth nothing more then to continue the Amity And for renewing of any Oath she knoweth no cause of her part to be required a new Oath for that she hath not violated the same nor meaneth to do and trusteth as much in the Kings part that he will keep it without any new Oath As for the proceeding for the establishing of a commerce in certain Towns in France it is over-evident by the late murther in Roan which the
King saith was by the mean people how unmeet it were at this time to motion such a matter unto her Merchants who be now marvellously intimerated and before these murthers did hear not most willingly thereof because of divers evill treatments that they have suffered at Roan and divers other places and therefore this matter is to be suspended untill the Merchants may understand that the King shall have corrected the late murthers at Roan that they shall not attempt the like another time upon them and that they may perceive that the King is so willing to do justice upon the Catholiques which may have the murtherers that they may assure them that under his protection they may go safe and not fear the rage of the furious people As to the sending of the Earl of Leicester or Lord Treasurer after the Queens avouchment her Majesty indeed is very sorry that there is such an alteration of occasion of doing such an office for as her Majesty before had intention to have sent either one of them or such other as should be as agreeable to the King so now there is to all the world one great cause that her Majesty may not with honor nor with law of nature send any whom she loveth to be in danger as it seemeth they may be though the King have never so good a meaning For by the death of so many whom the King doth not avow nor yet punish the murtherers what surety can strangers have especially when the King pretendeth as by his own letters appeareth that it is the fury of the Catholiques against those of the Religion As to the difficulties found by her Ambassadors return and to leave a Secretary there in respect of the danger wherein he is at this time her Majesty thinketh that the King might otherwise think thereof for when he saith he will revoke also his Ambassador from hence if hers should come for a time It is well known with what liberty and surety his Ambassador may and doth travell in this Realm who may go when he will without danger and without fear of mind do his negotiation where contrariwise her Ambassador dare not go out of his doors without a guard being to his great charge and disquieting And so the Queens request is to have her Ambassador from thence but for such a time as the tempest may cease in France and the murtherers be in awe of the King by Justice REQUESTS That the Kings Declarations maintained in his Letters for our Merchants good usage at Burdeaux and elswhere may be published in print as his otheâ— Edicts are That it may be also notified that the King will have the English Merchants restored to their goods which were left in the hands of his subjects that have been murthered for that many of them in Roan and elswhere were by way of Merchandise indebted to the English That for the hearing of English complaints for causes both in Normandy and Gascoigne there might be some extraordinary indifferent Commissioners to hear the same with expedition whereupon if the Merchants shall find favour and justice they may be the more easily induced to allow the Conditions of a Commerce To the right honorable and his very good Lord the Earl of Leicester IT may please your Lordship to understand that by certain that returned from Frankfort Mart I understand that one of the Gentlemen that departed hence with intention to accompany your Nephew Mr. Philip Sidney to Heâ—delberg died by the way at a place called Bladin in Lorain who by divers conjectures I took to be the Dean of Winchester who as I advertised your Lordship by Mr. Argall I employed to encounter the evill practices of your said Nephews servants If therefore your Lordship he now being void shall not speedily take order in that behalf if already it be not done the young Gentleman your Nephew shal be in danger of a very lewd practice which were great pitie in respect of the rare gifts that are in him Touching news I refer your Honor to these inclosed occurents and the report of this Bearer to whom I have given order to communicate certain things unto you And so leaving further to trouble your Honor at this present I most humblie take my leave At Paris the 17 of October 1572. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham To the right worshipful Francis Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador resident in France SIR I shewed to the Queens Majesty and my Lords of the Councell both your letters to me written the 8 of this instant the one contained your negotiation the other was a discourse both wisely written and very well liked On Thursday last Monsieur du Crocque was here and had audience given him by my Lord Treasurer my Lord Chamberlain and my Lord of Leicester because the Queens Majesty was not at time perfectly whole of the small Pox as the Physicians did say although her Majesty and a great sort more will not have it so now it makes no matter what it was thanks be to God she is perfectly whole and no sign thereof left in her face On Sunday he had his answer given unto the Steward of his house the sum and substance whereof I send you here inclosed whereby you may know his negotiation which was long in words to make us believe better of that King then yet we can and replied as I understand liberally enough although in that Prince and Countrey who have so openly and injuriously done against Christ who is Truth Sincerity Faith Pitie Mercy Love and Charity nothing can be too sharply and severely answered Yet Princes you know are acquainted with nothing but Doulceur so must be handled with Doulceur especially amongst and between Princes And therefore to temperate as you may perceive not that they may think the Queens Majesty and her Councell such fools that we know not what is to be done and yet that we should not appear so rude and barbarous as to provoke where no profit is to any man I think I for my part do not doubt but you will use this answer as you were wont gravely and wisely for the King there will look to have it as well at your hands as at his Ambassadors You are carefull as wisdom doth lead you of the wel-doing here in England which needs must be well esteemed of her Majesty and all her Councell and I tell you we are not so remiss and negligent as peradventure another that knoweth not would think In time things be done unlooked for as well for mischief as that was in France as to good and remedy where God giveth grace and circumspection Truth it is that God disposeth all whatsoever a man doth purpose as Divines do say and it is his gift if wise men do provide for mischief to to come and yet whatsoever they do devise the event doth come of him onely who is the God of hope and fear beyond hope and expectation because you shall understand that even
to any such Councel whose nature we took to be more humane and noble but when more was added unto it that women children maids young infants and sucking babes were at the same time murthered and cast into the river and that liberty of execution was given to the vilest and basest sort of the popular without punishment or revenge of such cruelty done afterwards by Law upon those cruel murtherers of such innocents this encreased our grief and sorrow in our good brothers behalf that he should suffer himself to be led by such inhumane Councellours And now sithence it doth appear by all doings both by the Edicts and otherwise that the rigor is used onely against them of the Religion reformed whether they were of any conspiracy or no and that contrary to the Edict of Pacification so oftentimes repeated they of the reformed Religion are either driven to fly to dye or to recant or lose their offices whereby it doth appear by all actions now used by our good brother that his scope and intent doth tend only to subvert that Religion that we do profess and to root it out of his Realm at the least all the strangers of all Nations and Religions so doth interpret it as may appear by the triumphs and rejoycings set out aswel in the Realm of France as others which maketh that it must needs seem very strange both to us and to all other that our good brother should require us to be Godmother to his dear childe we being of that Religion which he doth now persecute and cannot abide within his Realm And if we should believe the perswasion of others and the opinion of all strangers our friends who be not our Subjects we should in no case condescend to any association in that or any other matter But as we have always hitherto had special love to our good brother in his younger age and a desire to the consideration of his good estate and quietness which we have in deeds manifestly shewed never seeking any advantage of time against him as peradventure other Princes would have done but ever sought to preserve his Estate and his Subjects of what estate or condition in Religion whatsoever they were exhorting them to unity and concord and with loyal hearts to live together in quiet under our good brother without offering injury the one to the other glad of their agreement and sorry of their division and discord so the late league of straiter amity made betwixt our good brother and us to the which he did so frankly and lovingly condescend or rather procure it at our hands is so fresh in our memory that we cannot suffer that in any jot it should be diminiished but rather encreased daily so long as our good brother doth shew the like unto us and that maketh us to interpret all things in better part then otherwise by any means they can appear such is our love to our good brother and so can we be content to perswade our selves for the love that we do bear unto him and for the hope of his continuance in our begun amity without faintness or dissimulation And this for the matter of Amity For continuance of declaration of which amity we said to Mannesire we would not be slack in any good office doing at the request of our good brother And so notwithstanding the doubts and impediments beforementioned we intend to send a worthy personage a noble man of our Realm to repair to his Court and to visit the King our good brother and the Queen Mother and the rest who have written in our behalfs and to do that office which is required as appertaineth wishing that these spiritual alliances may be to us our comfort and conservation of the amity begun betwixt us To the motion of the marriage with the Dâ—ke of Alanson wherein de Mannesire seemed somewhat earnest after declaration of inconveniences that might come in that marriage by the diversity of age and Religion which we termed in our talk extream and true impediments we made this final resolution and answer That forasmuch as we had given to our Ambassador resident there charge to demand and make relation of certain things touching that matter to the King and Queen Mother to the which you had no answer but of the Queen Mother in a certain generallity before that we shall have a special answer to them we cannot well resolve the which once being done we shall the better understand what to answer for any other proceeding in that request To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador Resident for her Majestie in France SIr I heartily thank you for your often advertisements and also that you are so careful for our estate the which so far as I can learn dependeth only upon the providence of God as it hath done always but is easily sustained by the policy of men and yet hath sped better then any man would think and so I pray God it may do still De Mannesire hath been honourably received and friendly and yet to say the truth sith those late and execrable murthers of the true servants of God there the minds of the most number are much alienated from that Nation even of the very Papists much more of the Protestants here and if in countenance and entertainment some coldness might appear it must be ascribed to our English nature which as yet cannot dissemble so deeply as the French can and hath done but I am sure De Mannesire hath no cause to complain In Scotland after the death of the Earl of Marre the late Regent about the four and twentieth of November they chose the Earl of Morton Regent with a great common consent of the Lords Bâ—rgesses in Scotland who as we hear say doth very carefully and wisely endeavor himself to reconcile as much as may be the Lords one with another and to appease both the factions which I fear will not be but with some charge to the Queens Majestie and some grief to the French Ministers and Procurers who can least abide quietness in that Realm Mr. Killâ—grew is yet there still who assoon as they appear to agree within themselves shall return as he would gladly do hither to receive some thanks for his pains I pray God for so much as he hath deserved for his integrity and diligence Our men be all come from Flushing either before or at or sith their returning the most part all sick Sir Humphrey Gilberts sickness is turned into a Quartain some of them that came with him be buried at London I thank you for the Matthiolus you sent unto me I like it well but yet if I could recover mine own I noted through with mine own hands I would like it far better but he that stole it from me doth think that I shall have it again of that price I pray you buy me a case of Instruments such as be to be sold in the Palace I mean containing two compasses or three a
Ambassador in France your Majestie knoweth in what state he is and the poor Gentlewoman his wife Yea saith she that pity of her is that maketh all this haste and I am sorry for her but there is no remedy he cannot now go before Midlent or Easter Well Madam quoth I seeing it be so may it please you may he be sure to go at Easter and may I write so to my Lord Ambassador Yea saith her Majestie now you have my Commission and so much I can say judge of it as you shall please but I assure you my Lord of Leicester my Lord Treasurer my Lord Admiral and I and some other of your friends have done what they can for your return but whether it be Fatis or what else hath letted I know not nor can guess but I perceive what is the issue at this time You are a wise man and can comfort your self with wisdom and patience and the rather if the promise do hold that by Easter you may return My Lord of Worcester bringeth full instructions for that he hath to do or may fall out in communication the which he must and will communicate unto you and use therein your advice I send you some Occurrents out of Scotland If you would know what we do here we play at tables dance and keep Christmas The Queens Majestie and all the rest of my Lords thanks be to God be in good health My Lord Privy-Seal what with age and sickness is not thought long to abide in this world and the Earl of Kents health is almost desperate Farewel From Hampton Court the twelfth of Ianuary 1572. Yours alwayes assured Tho Smith To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador Resident for her Majestie in France SIr I am both sorry and ashamed that I cannot write of any matter meet for satisfaction in your own case as I would and as I know you have had occasion to expect but the impediments thereof I know you shall understand by other your friends and therewith do assure you that whatsoever any of them do write of my former care taken for you and that I have now promised to follow I have as much or more and will continue and persevere to the utmost of my power and so wish you as much patience as you have cause of grief This bearer finding me here at my house at Westminster telleth me that he is dispatched from the Court I think iâ— needless to advertise you of the coming of my Lord of Worcester and for that I think surely that Mr. â—â—cretary doth advertise you of all things I do forbear Glasco Davisoâ— longeth to heâ—â— from Lyoâ—s 9 the ship abode in the place appoiâ—â—ed 23 days And so I end trusting to see you here amongst your friends within this â—ix weeks at the least to be revoked at that time From Westminster the â—2 of January 1572. Your assured friend Will. Burleigh To my very loving friend Mr. Francis Walsingham the Queens Majesties Ambassador in France THe cause of her Majesties longer stay of your abode there and not to send presently D. Dale is onely in respect of some persons you have there to deal withall which you may easily conceive whom I mean though I name them not the cause I write it not plain is lack of a cypher having worn mine to pieces this progress time in carriage and pray you to bear the more with this dark writing but it concerneth such as you wrote a little of to my Lord Treasurer Her Majesty doubteth greatly the state of that person and hath in expectation that some great matter will proceed from them and neither doth she think Dale to be a fit man to be imployed neither that the other will deal frankly with him as with you For my part I am perswaded that great matters will fall that way and surely you shall do well to enter the more speedily and deeply with them for the knowing of their whole intent I must but tell you mine own conceit I fear it be but a practice to dandle us for so many are acquainted here with the cause I mean of that Nation but it is impossible but that the Ambassador here must know it Besides I see that the hope of the marriage is still entertained here and our Mistres made to think it is ever â—incerely meant which if it were indeed and the other matters true of the parties disposition what could with-hold to put that in execution which were most like for him to get it for his own value must sue more for him then his friends commendation or else his party here will be little as I think But this manner of dealing I see serveth to no purpose but winneth them time and loseth us all good opportunities and hindreth your returâ— where your friends wish you both for your self and chiefly for her Majesties better service You shall do well therefore for her Majesty for I cannot imagine what good this great suspence will do her to seek by all means you can at their hands to know their full mind and the scope of their intent for by these the dealing of the Ministers here with her Majesty hath no cause to find any way direct or substantiall she takes great hinderance otherwise and no good shall come to them neither in this sort of proceedings And as none here are privy to the matter but my Lord Treasurer and I so is it too great a burthen so long to conceal her Majesties so great hindrance of her greater causeâ— as the time wants for lack of certainty through understanding the intent and bottom of this Cause which surely hitherto giveth more cause of suspition of practise then of good meaning And yet if it were minded as they pretend except they proceed otherwise then I perceive yet they do they shall rather hurt themselves and us both then further any good purpose that may bring hope of that good success we would wish Thus as well as I can utter my poor conceit both for your self and us and do wish you to deal accordingly with all speed and to return your answer thereof with all diligence you can and thereupon we wil take occasion again to procure your return which if staying might yield service to her Majesty and good to the Countrey I would no way hinder if you were my brother Otherwise finding no more cause then I do you have no friend here will further sooner the other My Lord of Worcester hath desired me to write to you that you would deal friendly and frankly with him he disableth himself and trusteth to your advice in all such sort as belongeth to his place I heartily require it for him onely it may suffice you to know he is a Papist and a favourer of all such especially a â— otherwise a good simple Gentleman and fit for the Christning Shew him I pray all the courtesie you can as I doubt not of it My Lord Privy Seal is dead this
observation of the League which thing she acknowledged to be true and therefore as they had cause did think themselves beholding to her Maiestie This in sum was the effect which passed between her Majestie and me And so leaving c. At Mouel the first of April 1572. To the Lord Treasurer FOr satisfying of your Lordships request touching my private opinion of the marriage The great impediment that I find in the same is the contentment of the eye The Gentleman sure is void of any good favour besides the blemish of the small pocks Now when I weigh the same with the delicacie of her Majesties eye and considering also that there are some about her in credit who in respect of their particular interesses having neither regard unto her Majestie nor to the preservation of our Countrey from ruine will rather increase the misliking by defacing of him then by dutifully laying before her the necessity of her marriage and that in true choice the satisfaction of the ear importeth more then that of the eye specially that seeing to one of her quality there is not allotted that choice that is to other common personages I hardly think that there will ever grow any liking for the Gentleman himself his favour excepted he hath many of those good parts that I would desire to be in one whom I would wish to be her Majesties husband if the other impediments were removed And as for his Religion I do not doubt upon conference had with some but that he would be reduced to any conformity so that the sticking in that matter proceedeth rather from others then from himself and yet they not moved thereto of conscience But for other respects whether this marriage be sincerely meant or no is a hard point to judge where dissimulation taketh so deep root In my opinion I think rather no then yea not for that they desire it not onely as a thing both honourable and profitable but also necessary in respect to have a vent for the separation of the brethren But because they are altogether perswaded that her Majestie hath no intention to marry a thing partly proceeding from her own disposition and partly through the disswasion of others who are not unknown to them and therefore partly do use the same but for an entertainment in respect of their troubled state at home Such presumptions as I have to lead me so to think I hope shortly to impart unto your Lordship c. The first of April 1572. To Sir Thomas Smith SIr it may please you to advertise her Majestie how that the twentieth of this moneth there arrived one here sent to the King from the Marshal D'Anville who reporeth that the said Marshal hath lost at sundry assaults at Sancerre in Berie fifteen hundred footmen besides fifty Gentlemen of whom there is very good account made Amongst the rest there is very great moan made for the loss of Monsieur D'Candales a Gentleman of a very ancient house and one who married with Montmorencies sister He reporteth further that there is in D'Anville's camp great scarcity of victuals which proceedeth for lack of payment so that if in time the King take not some order for the redress thereof the said Marshal shall be constrained to break up his camp Upon this discouragement of D'Anvile the strength and number of the Protestants increaseth daily they having at this present as it is reported of Castles and Holds almost a hundred and of good fighting men eighteen thousand yet dispersed in the said Holds but like to assemble when the season of the year shall serve for the purpose The 21 of this moneth word was brought to the Court how those of the Kings Camp that lay before Sansarra as they gave assault to the Town the day before sustained a great repulse and lost six score of their best Soldiers whereupon they are driven to raise the siege By Letters sent from Rochel of the 21 of this present the King is advertised how the Count de Retz is hurt in the rains of the back with a harquebush shot out of Rochel and some say he can hardly escape itâ— others that he is not in any danger and yet the pellet cannot be gotten By Letters also of the 26 sent from Rochel to certain private friends they are advertised that there was no battery laid there before the 24 although it hath been bruted that it is long sithence that Monsieur had beaten down a certain Bastion called L'Evangile Though it is reported of La Noue that he should bring with him to Monsieurs Camp thirty Gentlemen yet the Queen Mother her self at my last access told me that there arrived with him but twelve amongst the which she named none of name unto me but onely Rochnart By others I learn that La Noue escaped very hardly out of the Town with the safety of his life It is said that the King shall have 6000 Switzers notwithstanding that it was otherwise concluded by the Cantons in the last Diet and therefore being contrary to their conclusion it is thought there will grow some trouble among themselves When they come the Kings determination is to make a Camp volant to go from place to place with intent to detain all such of the Religion as are thought to be men of Conduct Upon the news of Montgomeries preparations there is order taken along the Sea-coasts of Britain Normandy and Picardie to withstand his landing They make full account that it is not possible for him to enter the Haven of Rochel in respect of the passage that is quite stopped with stones and timber howbeit others of judgement say that if he bring forces enough with him to withstand the Kings Galleys the spring-tide will favour him all this moneth as that the stopping of the Haven cannot be any impeachment unto him and that if he once enter Monsieur shall be driven to leavie his siege for that I am credibly informed he hath not in his whole Camp above 7000 Souldiers By the letters of Italy as also out of Germany it is said that the Duke Elector of Saxonie is arrived secretly at the Emperors Court what should be the cause of his repair thither men do rather ghess at then know all men conclude that it is for matter of great weight and importance The Marshal Montmorency is departed lately from the Court some men say neither with his own satisfaction nor yet with the Kings others affirm the contrary By letters sent from Antwerp of the twentieth of March it is reported that there was a sore conflict at sea betwixt the Prince of Oranges men and the Duke of Alva's in the which those for the Duke of Alva had the worst and were constrained to retire themselves within the River to a certain place called Berge where they are besieged by the Prince of Orange's ships so as it is thought they can hardly escape In this conflict besides divers others a Spaniard being General was slain I am
having from time to time made her privy to his proceedings therein whereof she never made shew to have any misliking especially as a matter tending to the hinderance of the marriage Thereupon I did at length let him understand the causes why the same marriage hath depended so long in Treaty the manner and course of proceeding with the Commissioners at the time of their being there and how her Majestie seeing her marriage subject to so great difficulties and thereby doubting greatly what issue the same would take could hardly have been induced to have assented to the coming of the Commissioners but upon hope that if such difficulties as were by her to be propounded accompanied with her Marriage could not be salved the said Commissioners might then have proceeded to the Treaty of a more streight League that thereby their travels might not be fruitless And in this behalf I did let them understand that her Majestie found her self grieved that the Commissioners had not authority to treat of the League without marriage especially that considering that not past four or five months before their coming over there was some overture made by certain Commissioners deputed by the King to treat with her Majesties Ambassador resident which she did look should have been prosecuted at the time of the repair of the said Commissioners and lest the same should have been forgotten or neglected she did send one especially to the Ambassador resident to require him in her Majesties name to advertise the King how that in respect of the doubt she had what issue the Treaty of marriage might take she found it necessary that they should have authority to treat of the said League which falling out contrary to her expectation made her proceed for the desire she had to send the said Commissioners away contented to the conclusion of the Treaty lest otherwise they might have seemed to come hither in vain And so much before the signing of the said Treaty she did declare unto the Commissioners so that thereby they might well perceive that this Treaty besides the reservation did not proceed in so clear a course as they perhaps had been informed And as for their objection that her Majestie was acquainted with the action of that War before that Monsieur did embrace that enterprise I shewed them that though she was acquainted with the enterprise yet did she not think that ever she should have been urged as lately she was to be a partaker of the charges of those Wars which could not but breed a discontentment in her Subjects who looked not into the pollitique cause that might move both Princes to concur in seeking to abate the King of Spains greatness but would ascribe the cause to the marriage which being accompanied with other discontentments was not to be made more grievous by the charges that the Warrs of the Low-Countries the marriage proceeding was like to throw upon her Majestie After this reply they proceeded further and did let me understand that whereas the hope of this marriage hath drawn the King to yield further in the allowing of this said enterprise then otherwise he would So the Duke feared that the said King upon knowledge of her Majesties resolution in the case of marriage would grow cold therein Besides divers others that were ready to assist him sundry waies especially with Treasure encouraged thereto by an assured hope of the marriage they feared that now they would upon doubt thereof draw backwards whereby they did see the said Dukes cause very greatly perplexed upon this her Majesties resolution and as for the offer of the League seeing the King as far as hitherto can be gathered resolute not to proceed therein without marriage they saw no great cause of hope to be relieved that way and so concluded that besides the hinderance that the said enterprise should receive by this her Majesties resolution they did not see how their Monsieurs honour and her Majesties could be salved without great touch to them both the cause being so far proceeded in as it was all men being in expectation that either the same should have taken place or else break off upon some substantial matter as might have yielded satisfaction to the world whereby both their honours might have been free from such slanders as are like to be thrown abroad throughout all Europe In answer of these points I let them understand for the first That touching the Kings growing cold in the cause I could not conceive how he being a Prince of judgement and assisted with wise Councel seeing how perillous the King of Spains greatness would be to the Crown of France could wax cold in a cause that so greatly touched him seeing the remedy offered might be performed as as well without marriage as by marriage And to inforce this matter I did lay before them divers reasons to shew the perils might ensue both to the Crown of France and England if the said League should not take place and also some other thing put privately in execution for the preventing thereof and therefore did let them understand that there was not so little an account to be made of her Majesties motion touching the League as by them it seemed there was for that heretofore upon like occasion the Crown of France hath desired the association of the Crown of England and therefore it would be thought strange the same being now offered it should be refused when never the like cause was offered to move them to embrace the same And as touching other mens withdrawing of their promised assistance especially of Treasure I did let them understand that as her Majestie by her Letters had offered to the said Duke to assist him as I supposed they were made acquainted withall with such means as were agreeable to her estate so should he find her ready to perform the same and as for the doubt conceived that after so far proceeding there could be no satisfaction yielded to the world I did let them understand that though they did not think the impediments alleadged by her Majestie to be of sufficient force to yield satisfaction yet I doubted not but that all wise men that do without passion consider how necessary it is for all Princes to tender the conservation of their Subjects good wils towards them seeing that by proceeding in this matter the same should be put in hazard for such causes as I had declared both to the Duke and them would upon understanding of the said causes rest satisfied and so in the end concluded with them after well near three hours conference that we were not now to look backward and to call in question such errors as perhaps had been committed in the prosecuting of the cause but to think of some such necessary way to be taken as may best serve to further the Dukes honourable enterprise and to knit the two Crowns in perfect amity The day following I had a second audience the substance whereof I have thought
she should repair hither during 〈…〉 my being here to the end he might be informed what hope there was 〈◊〉 be had of the marriage without the 〈◊〉 he saw that his brothers enterprise would throw him into a Warr whereof 〈◊〉 was to bear the only 〈◊〉 Whereupon I did let her understand that 〈◊〉 the marriage I could say no â—ore to her then that which I had 〈◊〉 both unto her and to the Duke her son And as touching the doubt 〈◊〉 â—he King and she conceived 〈◊〉 he should be 〈◊〉 to bear the 〈◊〉 of the Wars alone I shewed 〈◊〉 that if it pleased her to call to 〈◊〉 the offer that had been made by the Ambassador resident and Mr. 〈◊〉 as also renewed by me both unto her and to the Duke both the King and she 〈◊〉 have cause to rest satisfied for that the said League proceeded and the other secret League for the matter of the Low-Countries there was such remedy offered as 〈◊〉 the King 〈◊〉 she 〈◊〉 have no â—ause to 〈◊〉 I did 〈◊〉 let her understand that the question was Whether it were 〈◊〉 to take some course for the resisting of the King of Spains greatness 〈◊〉 being confessed I shewed her it was then fit to consider whether the same might not be done without marriage seeing the said marriage 〈◊〉 to be accompanied with so many difficulties as there could be no present resolution taken 〈◊〉 whereunto she answered that there could not be so great a◠〈◊〉 for the maintenance of the association they were now to enter in by League as there was by marriage For said she the same 〈◊〉 that moved the 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 to proceed to the conclusion of the 〈◊〉 which is the misliking of the people in respect of the 〈◊〉 that the 〈…〉 bring withall may also draw her to leave off the association and some 〈…〉 that the Crown hath always carâ—ied unto Spain Whereupon â— decâ—ared â—nto her 〈◊〉 it was hard to make sound friendship which I thought might be performed best two waies The one to shew how little cause she 〈◊〉 to affect 〈◊〉 the other to set down before her such reasons as might 〈◊〉 the King and her to believe that the 〈◊〉 proceeding the same should be sincerely observed on her 〈…〉 unless there should be given some great cause by 〈…〉 contrary For the first I shewed her that the King of Spain 〈◊〉 long after that her Majestie did enter into the possession of the 〈◊〉 being solicited in a kind of sort by her Majesties Ambassador sent 〈◊〉 him to renew such Treaties as had passed between the House of 〈◊〉 and the Crown of England he could not be drawn to assenâ— thereto since which time as he was unwilling to renew the said Treaties so hath he not slackened to yeeld such fruites of enmitie against her Majestie as were publiquely known to the world as might appear by his Ministers dealing in furthering of the marriage between the Duke of Norfolk and the Queen of Scots the practising of the Rebellion in the North his nourishing since that time and maintaining of those that were then the principal Rebels being retired out of England And lastly the attempt of Ireland coloured with the Visor of the Popes Authority These things being then considered I did leave it unto her Majestie to judge what cause the Queen my Mistriss had to seek to reconcile her self or to trust Spain Touching the reasons that might induce them to think her Majestie would inviolably observe the intended league First she was to understand that the Amitie that we made most account of was that which this Crown had with the house of Burgundy and not with Spain and therefore those Countries being alienated from Spain and now reduced by a composition between the Duke and the States of that Country under the Government of her son and traffique being there established whereby there remaineth there commonly Goods appertaining to her Majesties subjects to the value neer of half a Million I did leave that unto her Majestie to judge whether it were not a good caution for the performance of that which should be promised on her Majesties behalf Secondarily If that would not serve to remove the diffidence then might there be Hostages given interchangeably on both parties whose promises her Majestie would not violate for the greatest kingdom in Europe Lastly I shewed her that I doubted not but that the Duke her son would become cautionary for the due observation of the same I prayed her then as I had laid before her such reasons as might induce them to stand more assured of the Queen my Mistresses performance of the said League then it seemed they were so I might without offence put the Queen my Mistress to stand in doubt of them First It was known that divers great personages of this Realm were more affected to the Amity of Spain then England whom the world thought would omit no means that they might put in execution to dissolve or rather to hinder before the Conclusion of the said Association Secondly Spain challengeth as of right in respect of assistance given in the time of the Civil war when the Count of Aremberg was sent into this Realm to that purpose to have the Amitie of that Crown preferred before England Lastly The consent in Religion between Spain and France which shall not lack any perswations that the Pope and other Catholike Princes can use to dissolve or hinder the intended Amitie may give just cause to the Queen to be doubtful of the performance on their behalfs of the said Association then any reason that may be alleadged on the other side Concerning the Queen my Mistris I prayed her that if the King and she did finde it necessary to abridge the King of Spains greatness and could confidently enter into the intended Association to consider that there were two occasions privately offered that required speedy resolution The one the assisting of Don Anthonio the other the prosecuting of the enterprise in Flanders for the first I shewed her that the Queen my Mistriss had assented to the preparing of certain ships with condition that the King her son would concur in the action or that she might be assured by the intended League to be assisted in case Spain in respect of the said support should attempt any thing against her Now forasmuch as the King and she seem to be resolute not to enter into the League without marriage I saw apparently that the enterprise which was privately to be put in execution or else would privately serve to no purpose would be quite overthrown Touching the enterprise of Flanders so honorably attempted by the Duke her son tending so greatly to the benefit of this Crown when the States shall see the said League not to take place whereby it was not likely to be accompanied with success that otherwise it might be the League going forword it would be no less discontentment to them then encouragement to their
enemies Besides I did let her understand that it behoved the Queen my Mistriss if they did not embrace the League but upon such condition as she could not in reason agree unto to take some other way for the establishing of her own estate not doubting but that she would be as well able to withstand the malice of Spain as any other of her neighbours To this after she had declared how earnestly the King her son did affect the marriage considering he had no issue himself and had but one only brother upon whom and such issue as he should have depended the continuance of the house of Valois she prayed me to consider whether the King had not just cause to insist upon the said marriage and as for the League she said she had no Commission to wade therein but a matter that depended onely on the King and therefore because it required for the reasons by me alleadged expedition she advised me to make haste towards him I then prayed her that for as much as I did understand she did not mean to be at Paris in five or six days she would dispose his minde by Letters to imbrace the same which she promised to perform accordingly Touching the Companies that are to follow the Duke I can as yet deliver your Lordship no more but this in generality That he is to have six thousand footmen and two thousand six hundred Lances which as the report goeth are sufficiently appointed and in such good order as the like have not been seen this many yeers in France Their meaning is to joyn with the States Forces that are now in Flanders doubting nothing more then that the enemy will not encounter with them but withdraw himself into his holds I am promised a particular of all the Forces as soon as it cometh to my hands I will with the next dispatch send it to your Lordship Your Lordships assured Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honorable Sir Francis Walsingham SIr your servant Bonham this bearer came hither yesterday being Wednesday the ninth of this month about of the clock at which time I was on the North side of the water to have gone to Theobalds but by good fortune I had word of his arrival so as I returned being not gon from the water-side her Majestie had two or three days before spoken of you marvelling that she could not hear from you I answered always as now it proved true that the Letters or bearer should bring with them reasonable satisfaction For I knew certainly that you would be careful to delay no time of sending I delivered to her Majestie your Letters directed to her shewing her also that I had others directed to my self but she said she would first read her own first Monsieurs Letter and next yours so she having done asked me what you had written to me for said she I finde nothing in mine concerning the matters for which he went then I told her I would read yours to her But she using breath in speech said she would have me make report thereof which I said I could hardly do because you had written at such length what had passed in Colloquie first betwixt Monsieur and you secondly between certain of his Councel and you at several times Lastly between the Queen mother and you and so in the end she was content to hear the whole Negociation adding her self that by your Letters to her you had spoken to Monsieur being in his bed after his Mothers coming thither She added also that she perceived that Monsieur would come hither and receive his answer himself after his journey of Cambray Concerning the Negotiation she saith she would not have had you to have made direct mention of the league but that incidently it should have fallen out upon their objection that if her Majestie would not consent to the marriage with the war that then the war should cease Then thereupon she saith you might have thereto answered that in respect of the King of Spains greatness in growing it were good that there were such a league made betwixt the French King and her To this I answered that your ordâ—r in proceeding was warranted to you both by your instructions and also the same grounded upon the order of the French Kings answer to her Ambassador which was in three points The first to know the day of her marriage which being agreed unto they would enter into a league offensive and defensive And lastly to a secret Treaty for the matters of the Low-Countrey For orderly answer whereunto you were instructed to that which you did herewith I think she was satisfied at your well-doing But I found her touched with some fear that this league and secret treaty should be very chargeable unto her I told her that there would be no great matter managed that was free from charge and if she had no need of assistance to withstand her perils which she knew and so doth all the world besides see it manifestly otherwise she needed not to have sent you at this time Then also she spake of her ayd to Don Anthonio doubting how to use the matter both because the season of the year passeth away and that she could not be assured what course the French King would take therein without whose entring into the action she would be loath to adventure any thing and yet she added that the French Ambassadour told her two days since that the King his Master had willed him to thank her Majestie for the favours and supports that she gave to Don Anthonio but in the end for the matter she would stay until she should hear from you what the French King will do therein For the greatest important matter in the Letter expressed by the Viscount of Turayne I dealt with her Majestie earnestly therein and having made my Lord of Leicester first acquainted with your Letters next my L. Chamberlain and then Mr. Vice-Chamberlain I required the assistance of the said two letters as a matter most necessary for the French cause in hand as that which being neglected neither a league offensive nor yet hereafter any secret treaties could remedy Whereunto she told me as my Lord of Leicester said she told him the like that you had Commission to satisfie Monsieurs need therein but presently upon seeking to perswade her that words were no satisfaction but that deeds must do it and such a thing could not be perfected with words nor thoughts no nor in short time she answered me that you had warrant from her to yield to that which was required when you had found the Kings disposition desperate to help his brother For quoth her Majestie if he should any way open my good will herein to Monsieur afore the French Kings mind were fully known then the whole burthen should fall upon me as for more proof saith she you may see by the speeches of Monsieurs Councellours alledging that Monsieur had mony lent him by divers upon hope of the
day since her Majestie received your Letters my Lord Chamberlain and my Lord of Leicester by a former appointment were at Westminster to examin the Lord Vaux Sir Thomas Tresham and Mr. Griffin of which three the first two are close-prisoners in the Fleet who deny Campians being with them but they will take no oath the other confesseth plainly and simply By this occasion her Majestie forbeareth without advice to make any censure of your Letters or to give me any charge what to write to you She saith untill she shall hear what Mr. Bellieure shall do with the Prince of Parma and Pinart and Mr. Sommers with Monsieur she cannot guess what will be the event She denieth that any one here had any cause to give comfort to the marriage But truly I think some have had such a conceit and whether they have sent it over since I know not you shall do well to write to her Majestie or to me of the state and proceedings of Monsieur with his Army for she findeth fault therewith August 18. Yours assuredly W Burleigh Postscript I pray you in my name to thank Sir Henry Cobham for his Letters to me excusing me for not writing for want of leasure and matter To her Majestie August 16. 1581. MOst gracious Soveraigne The particular Letter it pleased your Highness of your Princely favour to voughsafe to write unto me did minister unto me two singular comforts The one that your mislike conceived of my dealing with the Duke is in part quallified The other for that it hath pleased your Majestie to lay open unto me your disposition touching the charge committed unto me whereby I may use the same as a load-star the beter to direct my course Touching the first I hope when your Majestie shall be throughly informed of my proceedings you shall find that I swerved not from your instructions I received nor yet had cause that indiscretion might lead me to take another course The principal cause why I was sent over as I conceive it and as I trust your Majestie can call it to remembrance was to procure a streighter degree of amity between the King and you without marriage and yet to carry my self in the procuring thereof as might not altogether break off the matter of marriage yet the success of my travel fell out so through Gods goodness as I did assuredly not without good ground make account that the amity would have taken place had it not been crossed by some practice as your Majestie may perceive by some former advertisements not yet discovered and yet both the King his Mother and Monsieur resolute to continue their former determination for the prosecutiou of the marriage which if I had made the case so desperate as I perceive your Majestie hath been informed then surely would they not have continued their disposition to follow the matter I was sundry times pressed both by them and their Ministers to yield a resolute answer whether I had power to say that your Majestie would not marry Whereunto I answered as I was directed that I had no such authority otherwise then to lay before them the impediments that made your Majestie doubtfull to proceed in the marriage which was to have the same accompanied with a Warr. This then being true as the effects do shew I hope your Majestie in the goodness of your own Princely nature and uprightness in your judgement will rest satisfied For otherwise If â— or any other like Minister imployed shall be condemned unheard it cannot but minister great cause of grief and discouragement Touching the other benefit received by your Majesties particular Letter by which you have so farr forth opened your self as if you shall of necessity be thrown into a Warr you find it more agreeable with your surety to have it accompanied with marriage then without I cannot but let your Majestie understand as I declared to you before my departure that if your Majestie shall be content to yield to marriage I am fully perswaded that the King will be induced to covenant with you that you shall be discharged of such burthen as the 〈◊〉 may cast upon you which is the only matter that we have presently to deal in considering that now your Majestie hath so far forth opened your self to Monsienr Marchiamont as to let him understand that if the impediment of the charges that the Warr may cast upon you may be removed your Highness seeth no cause why the marriage should not proceed For this thing being known to their Majesties all hope to procure the League without marriage is excluded I beseech your Majestie therefore we may receive your speedy direction in this case as also what other thing you would have annexed unto the marriage besides the removing of the impediments above mentioned And so with all humbleness do beseech God of his great and infinite goodness to bless all your Maâ—esties proceedings with that happy success as may be to your Highness particular content and the comfort of your best affected Subjects Your Highness poor Subject and Servant Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable and his very good Lord the Lord Treasurer MY very good Lord finding in a Letter written to me by Monsieur Marchiamont whereof I send your Lordship a copy that her Majestie hath so farr forth opened her self as that she hath signified unto him That so the burthen of the charges that the War may cast upon her be born by the King she seeth no impediment why she should not proceed to the marriage I see our Treaty of League without marriage utterly overthrown so that now there resteth nothing for us to doe here but to perswade the King to take upon him the burthen of the Warr as the only impediment in the marriage and therefore we are to pray your Lordship to procure her Majesties Warrant under her own Hand in plain and clear termes to proceed therein And if there shall be any thing besides that her Majestie shall desire to have annexed to her marriage that is not contained in the former Contract then we beseech your Lordship that we may understand her Majesties further pleasure therein for untill such time as we shall hear from her Majestie we have nothing to doe here the League without marriage being utterly broken off Your Honours to command Fra Walsingham To the Right Honourable and his very good Lord the Lord Treasurer MY very good Lord I have cause 〈◊〉 think my self infinitely bound to your Lordship for your honorable standing for my defence touching my proceedings here which my Lord of Leicester hath testified unto me that youâ— Lordship hath performed in most friendly sort If her Majestie upon this new resolution taken with Marchiamont be not resolved to marry then is she entred into a very dangerous course For as in mine other Letter I have written to your Lordship all hope of League is taken away which as your Lordship mâ—y perceive by former advertisements was in a very
sent 2. Whether her Majestie can yield to the support of the 6000 men named in the Treaty defensive for the space of four moneths at her charges and if we be by the Commissioners pressed to assent that her Majestie shall bear the charges any longer time then four months how farr forth she will yield in that case and if they shall require greater numbers then are above specified then to what numbers we shall yield and for how long time to be continued at her Majesties charges 3. If in case the said Commissioners not content with our answer shall insist still upon joynt Forces to be yielded to the Princes Confederates as by them was propounded we desire to know how far forth we shall yield therein and whether her Majestie in that behalf will be content to contribute a third or fourth part either in men or money and whether it shall not be meet to have the said joynt forces to be limitted by a certain number as also to a time in which they shall be imployed A Note of such things as are to be resolved by her Majestie touching the secret League 1. WHat summ of money her Majestie will be content to contribute and in what sort openly or secretly 2. To what summ we shall press the King to yield unto in proportion of that summ which her Majestie shall be pleased to supply whether double or trebble more then her Highness shall be content to contribute 3. How long her Majestie will be pleased to contribute the said summ and upon what considerations whether by way of loan or otherwise and if by way of loan what caution she will require and whether it were not meet to covenant with him to procure the bonds of the States ad majorem cautelam within some convenient time for the repayment of the same 4. Whether her Majestie could not best like that this secret Treaty between the King and her should pass only by mutual promise contained in privat Letters under their own hands To the Lord Treasurer IT may please your Lordship to advertise her Majestie that as by our last Letters to you of the 21 of this present we advertised of the Kings and Monsieurs consents that a League should be treated of without speaking of the marriage So the same day Messieurs Villquier la Mott Bellieur Brisson Pinart and Du. Uray coming to us from the King said that his Majestie desiring much the Queens Majesties amity and to have the same augmented by Treaties by marriage and by all other good means and finding some impediments in the matter of the marriage he had sent them to confer with us about such other means as might best serve to encrease the amity And so after divers speeches used to them again to signifie his H. reciproque inclination in that behalf We entred into talk of League defensive remembring the last made at Bloys in King Charles his time which they said if we found not to be sufficient it should be altered or enlarged And that they thought it good for both the Realms to add an Article to it to meet with dissentions and disorders committed on the Sea whereof they had heard very many Somewhat they also said touching a Staple to be established at Roan as is mentioned in the said Treaty but after they had heard good reasons which moved against the occasion of that Article they said little to it but earnestly desired that other for the maintenance of good intelligence and sure Trade between the Realms and Subjects Then something was also propounded for a League offensive where it was also remembred that there were two kinds of Leagues offensive the one where two Princes or more doe combine themselves against another Prince by name the other in general terms for conservation of Estates And for as much as France and England were at this time in amity with all Princes that League for conservation of Estates was thought but to be Treated of and argued and so no Prince could have just cause to be openly offended therewith And so without further entring into particularities untill our next meeting they departed On Wednesday the twentithird they came again and having shewed their Commission it was propounded That for a League offensive they said it was to be first accorded that either Princes should be friend to friends and enemy to enemies after invasion made upon either of them And for a second it was propounded That if either of the Princes Confederate should be assaâ—led the Prince assailed should be bound thereof to advertise the other Prince his Confederate who should send streight to the Prince that hath assailed to warne him to cease his Invasion and to repaire forthwith the wrongs done or else in case of refusal that the said Prince Confederate will denounce Warre to him that did assaile as he shall doe indeed if the Invader will not retire and repaire the wrongs within seven weeks This motion being found indifferent for both parts I the Secretary delivered to them certain other Notes taken out of other Treaties which they said they would answer at our next meeting Your Lordship doth herewith receive the copy thereof Here it was propounded by them That if either of the Princes Confederate should be invaded by another Prince and that the Prince invaded shall require his Confederate to declare open Warr and to enter into open acts of hostility with him against the Invader as bound by League after due admonition and summons made who shall bear the charge of the Forces of the Prince required whether shall he bear them alone or the Prince requiring to bear a portion thereof according to his quality and greatness These things being very considerable we deferred to answer them untill our next meeting and so did provide to answer as your Lordship shall see by notes sent herewith Beseeching your Lordship to procure her Majesties resolution and answer to us and that by her Highness direction and warrant these and other points that shall be thought meet may be resolved upon to be agreed unto here to come to an end without unnecessary spending of time and charges The next day the 24. whilst we looked for them according to appointment they sent us word that upon occasion of Letters which the King had received that day from his Ambassador in England the King had deferred their coming untill the next day and then they came and said VVe might well remember that from the beginning of this Negotiation and long before the King desired nothing more then the marriage which would bring with it all other good things for Leagues and streight bonds of amity such as her Majestie would desire and that since their being with us his Majestie had received Letters from his Ambassador Mr. Mannisiere on the 24. and another the 25. dated the 22. of this month by the which he gave the King very great hope of the marriage upon speeches proceeding from her Majestie in a long
conceiveth it that it may serve your turn And as for the league we were in hand withal if the King would have assented that the same should have proceeded in general terms according to such direction as we have lately received from your Majestie I am for sundry causes led to think that it would have proved unprofitable as generally I know that there is a president to confirm the same but if in that time a King of Scots pretending a title to the Crown of England was like by matching with Spain to have wrought that peril towards your Majesties father as he is towards you he would not then have stood upon generality as your Majestie doth now For in diseased bodies there is not alwaies like use of medicines sometimes when your Majestie doth behold in what doubtful terms you stand with Forreign Princes then you do wish with great affection that opportunities offered had not been slipped But when they are offered to you if they be accompanied with charges they are altogether neglected Common experience teacheth that is as hard in a pollitique body to prevent any mischief without char ges as in a natural body diseased to cure the same without pain Remember I humbly beseech your Majestie the respect of charges hath lost Scotland and I would to God I had no cause to think that it might put your Highness in peril of the loss of England I see it and they stick not to say it that the only cause that moveth them here not to weigh your Majesties friendship is for that they see your Majestie doth fly charges otherwise then by doing somewhat underhand It is strange considering in what state your Majestie standeth that in all the directions that we have now received we have special charge not to yield to any thing that may be accompanied with charges The general Leagùe must be without any certain charges The particular League with a voluntary and no certain charge as also that that is to be attempted in favour of Don Anthonio the best is that if they were as they are not inclined to deal in any of these points then they were like to receive but small comfort for any thing that we have direction to assent unto Heretofore your Majesties predicessors in matters of peril did never look into the charges when their Treasure was neither so great as your Majesties is nor Subjects so wealthy nor so willing to contribute A person that is diseased if he look only upon the medicine without regard of the pain he sustaineth cannot in reason and nature but abhor the same if therefore no peril why then it is in vain to be at any charges but if there be peril it is hard that charges should be preferred before peril I pray God the abatement of the charges towards that Noble man that hath the custody of the bosom-serpent hath not lessened his care in keeping of her To think that in a man of his birth and quality after twelve years travel in charge of such weight to have an abatement of allowance and no recompence otherwise made should not work discontentment no man that hath reason can so judge and therefore to have so special a charge committed to a person discontented every body seeth it standeth no way with pollicy what dangerous effects this loose keeping hath bred the taking away of Morton the alienation of the King and a general revolt in Religion intended only by her charges doth shew And therefore nothing being done to help the same is a manifest argument that the peril that is like to grow thereby is so fatal as it can no way be prevented If this sparing and improvident course be held still the mischief approaching being so apparent as they are I conclude therefore having spoken in heat of duty without offence to your Majestie that no one that serveth in place of a Counceller that either weigheth his own credit or carrieth that sound affection to your Majestie as he ought to do that would not wish himself in the farthest part of Ethiopia rather then enjoy the fairest Palace in England The Lord God therefore direct your Majesties heart to take that way of councel that may be most for your honour and safety September 2. F. Walsingham To the Lord Treasurer MY very good Lord the day following my conference with Queen Mother La Mot repaired unto me sent from her to give me thanks for the speech I had used towards her the day before and prayed me that I would further some good and speedy resolution of the marriage He did acknowledge in talk that passed between us touching my Negotiation with the said Queen that that point which I touched concerning the employment of Monsieur in the Low-Countries for the avoiding of the devision that might grow between the two brethren is a matter that those that wish well unto the King and desire the continuance of the repose of that Realm had great care of which was not the least cause that moved them greatly to desire the marriage which not taking place they saw his employment in the Low-Countries very necessary letting me understand that they found it strange that they heard nothing of 〈…〉 of any intelligence that passed between the Prince of Orange and the Duke 〈◊〉 greatly to the end that the said Duke might be known of the people of the Low-Countries he might be drawn to make his residence at Antwerp 〈◊〉 some of the inward places of the Countrie I see it a general opinion among 〈◊〉 wisest sort here considering the general evil satisfaction that the people have of the present government that it will be very hard to maintain good concord between the two brethren in case the Duke should reside here within the Realm And it is most assured that the affection that the Nobility here do bear to Monsieur which hath appeared by his late Army compounded of voluntaries the same consisting principally of Noblemen and Gentl. hath greatly increased the Kings jealousie towards him and hath not been the least hinderance of that support that otherwise the said King might have been drawn to have given The Duke of Guise is of late crept into a very inward credit with the said King which ought to move her Majestie to be more carefull of the matters of Scotland for that there are daily consultations in the Dukes house especially since advertisements are come hither out of Scotland that the King doth submit himself to any such direction as his mother shall give him even so far forth as the yielding up of the Government to her if she shall think it meet Douglass attendeth some answer from her touching some things that he hath not long since sent unto her upon the return whereof they are to grow to a through resolution for the causes of that Realm I find confirmed by divers that a general hope is conceived of alteration of Religion in that Realm ere a year come about in furtherance whereof
See Walsingham Abhors a war 374 377 Forward to advance the revolt of the Low-Countries 379 381 388 Cold in the cause of the Bastard Don Antonio 379 388 Aides him 383 Emden Countess 149 England no Country once so free from impositions 21 English how thought of by the French 325 Zealous Subjects for the Queen 335 341 Escars 8 Este Cardinal 357 F Felton sets up Pius his Bull against the Queen 49 Feria Duke 59 Ferrara Duke 42 43 Fernihurst Lord 373 Fitzmorris Iames 42 167 168 347 Flemming Lord 78 139 181 183 Flushing Rebels 217 Francis the Second of France 12 Francis of Anlanson and Anjou See Anjou Duke French greatness dangerous 127 Disorders in Government 240 246 Spoil the English 265 Their falsenesse and dissembling 276 Desirous to get Leicester and Burleigh into France 277 G Galloway Bishop 77 Gilbert Sir Hâ—mphrey 299 Glasgow Arch Bishop 299 302 Grandmont Mons. 267 Graunge Governour of Edenburgh Castle 151 152 Gray Baron Deputy of Ireland 359 373 389 Guarda Bishop 358 Guise house 36 for the Scots Queen 192 240 Duke 267 269 275 295 314 428. Cardinal 280 H Hamilton Earl 138 Hanging of Gentlemen not used in France 279 282 Harris Baron 134 Hawkins Sir Iohn 126 379 Henry the II King of France 12 Henry the III forbids exercise of Religion to the Hugonots 356 Earnest for the match with his brother and the League 376 Will have no League Offensive without it 440 His great charges in the Treaty 397 Henry the IV Prince of Navarre 16 245 Hosteni Duke 221 Hugonots of France 2 3. run themselves into the Kings nets 122 Their Lands on sale 245 Great servants of the English Queen 135 Love not the Cross 151. See Massacre Hume Lord 214 320 329 Hunsdon Baron 151 Huntley Earl 138 312 315 333 I Jenlis 223. defeated in Henault 225 Jersie Iland 272 Jesuites mortal enemies to the Queen 172 173 Inn Keepers of Kent 21 Inquisition 123 Instructions for the Earl of Worcester 318. For Sir Fra. Walsingham 352 For a League with France 355 Joyeuse Duke 294 440 K Katherine Queen Mother of France 6 12 35. per tot c. Killigrew Henry 145 Kirkaldie Iames 302 L Languedoc Hugoâ—ots rebel 294 Lansac Mons. 24 49 239 La Valette â— Leagues how made 171 414. With France publick and secret 355 Not liked without the Match 364 365 388 366 367 368 399 392. Causes of it 372 374 403 422 423. Leicester his good and pious sentences 47 51 69 82 105 116 324. To be fastned for the Match 104. Slights the Earle of Worcester 312 Lennox Earle 138 Levingston Lord 4 77 244 312 326 334 Liberty under the English Princes heretofore as great as any where 61 Lidington Lord 152 137 244. Lincoln Eâ—â—le Lord Admiral sent into France 201 205 219. Lodowick Count of Nassaw 54 121 123 176 184 333. Notably cheated by the French King 125 258 Longaville Duke 50 Lorrain Cardinal 8 38 73 74 77 123 167 168 314 331. Duke 88 301 Loughleuin Lord 302 Low-Countries the pretence of their Revolt 123 M Maine Duke 395 Malicorn Mons. 27 Mannesiere Mons. 240 265 287 288 297 298 299 301 304 305 307. Mary Queen of Scots 4 10 11 12 13 137 139 152. Not to be spoken for 321 Margaret of France reads the Bible 122 Martinengo Count 306 Marre Earl 138 299 Marriage treated betwixt Henry of Navarre and Margaret of France 122 135. Doubts in it 182 183 Betwixt the Queen and Henry of Anjou designed 55. Instructions concerning it 61 62 63. See 68 69 70 Articles of it 83 84 85 86 131 132. Counsellors imployed in it 66 83. Carryed on inconstantly 133. Not taken in earnest by the French 67. Betwixt the Queen and Francis of Anjou 218 226 227 229 230 330 331 336 339. Eagerly pursued 360 361 362. See 390 Marriage Solemnity betwixt Princes of different Faiths 175 Medina Coeli Duke 189 195 Memorials for Mr. Sommers 384 385 Mendoza thrust out of England for practising against the Queen 163 Mildmay Sir Walter Monluc Marshal 8 Montmorency Duke 8 97 102 108 151 188. In England 201 218 231 240 Monts in Henault besieged 245 taken 258 M organ General 217 M oreton Earl 77 138 244 299 Beheaded 431 Moth Fenelon French Embassador 30 90 138 141 c. Murther on shooters hill 347 N Navarre King turned by his wife 91 Queen 24 176 182 183 Nemours Duke 50 Nevers Duke 238 258 300 New star 299 Norfolk Duke 134. His plots discovered 137 140 148 Norris Sir Henry 19 18 19 20 22 23 Northumberland Earl 3 75 Executed 237 Nouë Mous. 184 297 301. Persidious 332 O Odonnel 359 373 Ogleby Lord 312 Olivarez Conde 40. More grave then wise 56 Orange Prince 48 122 144. To have been 〈…〉 of Bâ—abant c. if the Spaniard could have been beaten out 128. See 225 226 240. Retires into Germany 267 269 295 333 Ormond Earl 238. Discontented 373 Oxford Earl 134. Married to the Lord Burleighs daughter 164 P Parliament of 1571. impertinently busie 94. Bloody 203 219 Parma Prince 381 384 Perrot Sir John 347 Philip the second of Spain entertains the Queens fugitives 58 59. How he carried things towards the Queen 369 370 Pinart Secretary of France 23 31 122 305 309 375 Plots upon Ireland 58 Poigney Mons. 4 Popes Authority in England destructive to the Crown 4. Designs again England 36 Princes have no other bridle but Religion 91 Princes of Germany of the Reformed Churches 301 R Rebellion in the North coloured with Religion 3 Rhee Iland taken by the Rochellers 301 Religion is a constant perswasion confirmed by time 191. Cannot be more then a pretence to invade what is another mans 155 Ridolf 95 137 Rochel in rebellion 280 297 301 302 Besieged 331 Rolph a counterfeiter of the Kings hand 266 Romero Juliano 27 Ross Bishop 5. 77. restrained 107. in the Tower 151 Roulart Canon of Nostre Dam murthered 246 Rutland Earl 39 42 141 S Saint Andrewes Arch-Bishop taken 78 Sancerre besieged 332 348 Savoye Duke 287 293 303 Schomberg Baron 332 Scots Lords come to treat concerning their Queen without a Commission 77. Everlasting Rebels 101. Yet will not live without a Prince of their own 178. Gracious in France 244. Will do any thing for money 249 320 324 329. Seton Baron 27 36 95 177 181 Sidney Sir Henry 82 Sir Philip in France at the time of the Massacre 250. of rare parts 273 Skeldon 36 Smith Sir Thomas 51 54 134 152. imployed in France 153. Thinks Charles the Ninth a faithful Prince 169 180 261 318 Sommers Henry 354 Sora Duke 356 Spaniards of what carriage 56. Ambitious enemies to England 121. Conquer Portugal 358 Spanish greatness dangerous 354 355. Mony arrested 81 Spinoâ—a Cardinal 59 Story Doctor will not swear allegiance Hanged 105 Strozzi Peter 95 188 189 217 251 294 359 Stukeley 36 41. Knighted by the Spaniard 56 59. in disgrace 105 Suffex Earl 5 T Tauannes Viscount 258 Terçaera holds for Don Antonio 421 Tilignie Mons. 276 Time a great advantage in the minority of Princes 298 Throgmorton Sir Nicholas 45 287 Treaties of Princes Of the Queen with Charles the IX 155 156 157 158 c. 185. With Henry the III passages and propositions in it 399 400 401 423 Tresham Sir Thomas 390 Turein Vicount 367 385 V Valentinois Bishop 302 Valx Lord will take no Oath to the Queen 290 Venetians at sea 312 Victory at Lepanto 149 150 Viracque Mons. 137 315. taken 334 342 Vitelli Marquiss of Colona 44 48 223 Vimioso Conde 394 434 W Walsingham Sir Francis Embassador in France 1 c. Received by the King 22 23. Much mistaken in his French Creed 82 83 104 118 122 144 173 252. Calls Charls the IX sincere pius inimicus c. 175. Confesses his overmuch confidence 257. See 270 Thinks the French King the only dissembler 300. Sets spiâ—s over the Lord Seton acts without war◠〈…〉 Earnest for the match 96. Perswades to war with Spain 127. Would turmoil all other Princes and why 128. Undermines a Iesuite 172. Desires only not to lose by his service 188. His opinion of the Spaniards 234. Ill used in France 242. Called off 253. The Queenâ— great opinion of him 263 and love 275. Advises against the Queen of Scots life 267 268. Fearful every where of the Queens sparing 303 c. 357 426 427. Too open 322. Poor in France 326 327. Sent again into France 352. Blames the Queen and why 408. Calls the Scots Queen bosom Serpent 427. returnes 440. War when and what just 127. Necessary where 128 Westmoreland Earl 3 143 275 299 Williams Sir William 313 Worcester Earl 307. Abused by Leicecester 312. His instrnctions for his French Embassy 318. Dishonorably dealt with by the French 327. Will not see his sister the wife of a Rebel 328 Writing to the Scots Queen in linnen 328 * Quâ—re †Quere My Lord of Kildares man in the Tower hath by some fear of the Rack confessed all to be true wherewith he was charged which is to be kept awhile secret until some persons may be apprehended