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
that the same is also in the Latin tââgue 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
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
and the King by the which you shall be very well informed directed as by certain rules how to treate and deal in all causes that may there come in controversie and thereby be bound to require due observation as cause and matter shall require We doubt not but you do consider how profitable a thing it is for quietness of us and our Realm to have that party in France which hath professed reformation of Religion to be maintained and contained in the favor which the King hath granted them by his Edict And therein vve vvould have you at all times when occasion shall be given you let it appear to the King that vve think nothing can procure more assurance of inward quietness in his Realm then the due observation of those things which he hath granted to his subjects in his Edict and you may say that he hath more cause by experience to believe us therein then any other Prince that is his Allie besides us that shall be of a contrary mind And so experience hath taught us already to think and may well ascertain him considering he hath seen and felt the continuance of the troubles of his Realm whilst he followed the advise of other Princes and Potentates and disswading him from granting such favour as he hath done to his subjects And in any other thing wherein you shall be able at any time to further and advance the observation of the matters of the Edict in favour of them of the Religion we would you should endeavour your self in such sort as may stand with our honour And of this our intention we will that you give understanding to such of the principals of that part as have interest therein which you shall best do by the advise of your predecessor who has best acquaintance with these persons Lastly for certain matters lately treated of here by the French Ambassador as touching the Queen of Scots cause and the preparations of ships and men of war made in Brittanie you shall at your coming to our Ambassador learn in what state he hath left those things and how he hath answered the King and so you may persist in the same course untill you shall be by us otherwise directed We have by our Letters to our foresaid Ambassador willed him to make deliverie unto you of all such our Plate as he had delivered unto him at his entrie into his charge which you shall receive of him by Indenture if you shall have need thereof Where we meant that you should have accompained the Lord of Buckhurst in his journey to the French King so have bin presented with him to the said King now that we cannot understand the certainty of the said Kings entrie into Paris at which time our meaning was and is that the said Lord of Buckhurst should be there we would not that you should abide any longer but proceed in your journey and if on your way you do perceive that the Kings entry will be now in the beginning of Januarie our will is that you shall without attending any longer for the coming of the said Lord of Buckhurst proceed by our Ambassadors means to be presented to the King and to take the place of our ordinarie Ambassador so as our former Ambassador Sir Henry Norris may return at his Commodity We would have you inform your self by the judge of the Admiraltie of all causes depending betwixt our subjects and those of France upon pretence of depredations that you may the better answer complaints which either ours or the others shall make And farther we would have you to acquaint your self by his means with a complaint lately exhibited by the French Ambassador in the name of the Merchants of Roan and what answers hath bin made to the same by such as we did ordain to devise the same whereof the said Judge was one You shall also receive a complaint which certain of our Merchants of London trading to Roan do presently make for the Innovation of certain taxations by the Magistrates of Roan upon the goods of our said subjects contrarie to the common use whereupon you shall being well informed of the inconveniencie thereof and the injustice sollicite the remedie thereof so as time shall conveniently require William Cecil Ended the 22 of December 1570. To the right Honourable and his very good Lord the Earle of Leicester MY very good Lord I write unto you at this present rather to use this as an earnest of my diligence hereafter to follow then for any good matter that I have to write Passing through Canterbury I visited the Cardinal and delivered unto him your Lordships Letters who gave me as much light as he could touching the present state of France concerning the matter whereof it pleased your Lordship to give me a watch-vvord there passed nothing betvvixt us The picture your Lordship desired I vvill take order shall be sent to you vvith vvhat convenient speed may be beseeching your Lordship vvherein my poore service may stand you in stead to use me with such boldness as I may thereby assure my self that your Lordship maketh accompt of me and so further leaving to trouble your Lordship at this present I most humbly take my leave at Bullen the second of Ianuary 1571. Your Lorships to command Fr. Walsingham To the right Honourable Sir William Cecill her Majesties principall Secretary SIr I arrived here at Bullen the first of this month where I could learn nothing worthy the advertisement for you know Sir that frontier news are never of any great value onely this I learned of the Governours Son in law here a Gentleman of good accompt and one of the Order who accompanied with divers other Gentlemen came to visit me from the said governour Monsiuer de Calliac who told me that the Kings entrie is deferred untill the middest of Febr. but hereof for the observing of the time here is no more assurance than there was before of the first of Ianuary Leaving Bullen I have not forgot to enform your honour of the great exactions used by the Inn-keepers at Gravesend Canterbury Dover in the prices of Victualls whereof besides mine own experience I learned by certain strangers that passed over with me they are so great as in no Countrie is used the like where all things bear so unreasonable prices in the market and the people so free from impositions of the Prince Surely Sir it were well done that there might by your good means and furtherance some order be taken for the Redress hereof aswell for her Majesties honour as for the ease of the poore travellers Thus Sir having no further matter worthy the advertisment I leave to trouble your honour most humbly taking my leave from Bullen the second of Ianuary 1571. Your Honours most bounden Fr. Walsingham To the right Honourable Sir Walter Mildmay one of her Majesties privie Counsell SIr you know that Frontiers are commonly better furnished with fables then of matters of truth and
received a Letter from the Duke of Alva signifying thereby to us that the matter vvhich he had to impart to us from the King his Master vvas only an offer from the said King to do any good office that in him might lie to procure some good end of the cause betvvixt us and the Q. of Scots vvithout any particular respect to himself but only for the common quietness of us both and of our Countries And in this behalf the Duke requireth to understand in what sort we will have the King to deal assuring us of the said Kings earnest intention to pleasure us in any thing he may Of thus much you shall say vve thought good to advertise the Ambassador and to let him understand that vve do very thankfully accept the Kings offer and would be glad to take the good vvill and friendship if there vvere any cause thereof in this office as at this time there is not for he shall understand that we have already entred so far into a treatie with the Q. of Scots for all causes and differences betwixt us and her as there remaineth nothing of any great value or difference betwixt us so as the finall ending thereof resteth upon the execution of the matters accorded and some further treatie remaineth now to compound certain matters betwixt her and her Subjects for which purpose there be commissioners already come hither from her and a part of the Nobility of Scotland and such as are to come as Commissioners from the other part are as we think on their journey hitherward We have also by these last Letters of the Duke in expresse words that he himself is earnestly disposed to do any thing that may maintain the Amitie that is betwixt the King and us and particularly that he hath accorded to have restitution made as our Merchants on both sides have thought it meet and meaneth to send over some speciall person of credit to explain some small differences rising thereof and to put the whole in execution These kinds of dealings and offices you may say are very agreeable unto us who by many means made it appeare that the late differences have not grown of us nor as we think of the Kings own disposition but by untowardness of ministers and now whilest we are well content therevvith vve are sorry to think that certain reports vvhich vve heare of Spain should be true either in whole or in part and as vve vvould be gladest they vvere false so are vve desirous that vve might knovv them certainly from the King to be false And you shall say because vve have seen some proof of that Ambassadors good disposition to the Amitie betvvixt the Kings his Master and us vvherâin he is much to be commended and that he may vvith more expedition and readiness by the way of France certifie the King and procure some Answer we have heard and known it to be true that certain savage Rebels being men of no value had fled out of our Realm of Ireland into Spain and to cover their lewdness and to procure both relief for themselves and such like as they be in Ireland they do pretend their departure out of the Realm for matter of Religion when indeed they be neither of one nor other Religion but given to beastuallity and yet have they wit enough to shew hypocrisie for their purpose Sithence the first arrival of these we know also that an Englishman a Subject of ours namely Stewkley not unknown as we think for his former prodigal life both in Spain and other places and notwithstanding great favours shewed unto him divers times upon hope of amendment and some tokens of his repentance he did this last summer pretending to come out of Ireland hither suddenly turn his course into Spain and as we hear hath light into the company of the aforesaid Fugitives and Rebels pretending by his superfluous expences which is altogether of other mens goods to be a person of some quality and estimation and able to do some great thing in Ireland whereas indeed he hath not the value of a Marmaduc in land or livelihood he hath so solicited the King or some about him with vain motions as it is by him bruted and otherwise also with some credit reported unto us which yet we do not believe that the K. will send a Captain of his such a one as Iulian Romero or such like with a number of Souldiers into Ireland to follow some vain device of those Rebels whereof we cannot but marvel that the King or any of his Councel being of experience can so lightly give any credit to such a companion as Stewkley is which could never live long in any quiet condition at home of whom we are not disposed to say much because we cannot say any good of him But may say it shall be sufficient that his conditions may be only enquired of and then we doubt not whosoever shall know them will take heed how to adventure any thing with him And yet whatsoever it is we cannot but find it strange that he or any such Fugitives moving matters of attempt as Rebels either should be allowed or hearkned unto For whatsoever hath been conceived that any person of any degree being the King of Spains Subject coming into our Realm of late years as many have done for safety of their lives for matter of their consciences as we alwaies understood yet we do assure by our Honour that there was never person of any degree that did motion unto us any matter offensive to the King or his Low-Countreys when opportunity served for such purposes that was ever allowed by us or any such motion or that ever received reward or comfort therein but was rejected such hath been our sincerity in these times not to give any comfort to the hurt of the King or of his Countreys And now if these reports which we hear should be true we might think our selves evilly recompenced and should be provoked for our defence to use such means as otherwise of our selves we did never allow or like And so we trust in reason the Ambassador himself might think and the conservation of the Amity betwixt the King and us and the restitution of the former and Trade betwixt our Countreys and Subjects so we pray him to solicite some Answer in this case For whilest we should remain in doubt hereof we cannot but foresee and to procure how to impeach any such attempts wherein would appear that whereof we shall be sure that we have some cause to doubt of the Kings good will Thus you see how we mean to have by this occasion some knowledge if it may be of the Kings intention although we meant not to omit otherway to come to the truth hereof doubting not but you will also use such good means as you can to discover the truth and not forget the former matter concerning that which certain of the French Kings Captains have attempted in Ireland and the bringing from
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 ânlay 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
in conference both with the Duke and certain Commissioners appointed by him to conferr with me touching the said matters which by your Highness orderâ I was directed to communicate unto him The day following at such time as I took my leave of him I had long conference with him the principal points whereof I thought meet to impart to your Majesties self At my access unto him he took me aside into a place between the wall and his bed and caused me to sit down by him telling me that he was not now to confer with me as a brother of France but as a servant to the Queen my Mistress with a confident servant of hers and therefore would deal frankly and plainly with me And so at the first he declared unto me that he was very sorry to understand as well by my speeches as by the report of the Commissioners appointed to conferr with me that your Highness had taken so hard a resolution in a cause he had so long pursued and whereof he hoped presently to have received the fruits of his travel that his affection was not so light or so loosly setled as that he could resolve with himself to give over the matter so neither could he believe but that I had brought some matter of more comfort unto him Whereunto I replyed that it was hard to give Law to affection and therefore did leave it to his own best judgement to take such course therein as he thought meet But as touching the having of any Commission to deliver unto him any other matter then that I had already imparted unto him I did protest unto him I had not Then he declared unto me that seeing I had no other Commission he would forbear any further dealing with me in that case and so proceeded to let me understand how resolute I should find the King not to assent to League without Marriage besides he said he feared that this resolution of your Majesties might make the King grow cold in the action he had taken upon him I thereupon shewed him that I hoped when the King should duely consider such reasons as I was directed to lay before him for the necessity of the League being as he was a Prince of judgement and assisted with no ill Councel he would not reject so honourable and profitable an offer unless it were to gratifie him thinking that by standing upon the point of the marriage to be accompanied with the League and otherwise not to take place he should the rather draw your Majestie to marry upon doubt of such perils as otherwise might fall upon your Estate Whereupon he protested unto me that he had dealt very effectually with the King sundry waies by his Ministers and friends to induce him to proceed to the conclusion of the League and could never draw him to yield thereunto I then told him I feared I should hold him a very cold advocate in that cause notwithstanding I prayed him as one that professed to be so greatly devoted to your Majestie to let me understand what were the principal causes that might move the King to forbear to proceed in the League for that by knowledge of them aforehand I should be the better able to Treat with the King he then shewed me that besides the factions of the Court and the practises of such as were corrupted by Spain who did propound sundry impediments There were two principal matters that were put into the Kings head that wrought a stay in him in that behalf The one the doubt he had of your Majesties perseverance in the performing and due observation of the said League fearing lest when he should be imbarqued your Majestie would slip the Collar The second That some perswasions have been used towards him that England and the Low-Counntreys making profession of one Religion after that Spain and the Crown of France should be imbarqued in a Warre would become lookers on To the first doubt I shewed him that I heard his Highnesse would be respondent for your Majestie that you would not take so dishonorable a course as to abandon your associate without some special cause given The other I said was very weak for that no man of discourse or judgement could think that England and the Low-Countreys would minister unto France so just an occasion of offence whereby France and Spain growing to some composition might upon so just ground take some dangerous revenge He then did declare unto me that the Court was divided into factions and that such as were inclined unto Spain did seek by all means to make the King jealous of your Majesties friendship For removing whereof he said he had traveled with his friends to the uttermost of his power but that the nature of the King his brother was such that what he had once conceived he would not easily be removed from it and therefore was to be left to be wrought in time whereof he had some good experience touching this his enterprise upon the Low-Countries wherein though at some times he had found him favourable and forward enough to countenance him in the action yet soon after through the perswasion of such as had affected Spain he found him altered in so much that what could be drawn from him was rather by force then any good affection he seemed to bear to this enterprise which difficulties notwithstanding upon Declaration made by me how evil it would come to passe for the affairs of the Low-Countreys if the League between your Majestie and his Brother should not goe forward for that the better sort and such as doe affect this League would be discouraged and the contrary part much enlarged He answered me That he would doe any thing that might be for the Queens service I delivered also to his Highness the care that your Majestie hath of his safety and therefore that you wished that he should not goe this Voyage in person but commit the conduct of it to some other sufficient personage of quality and meet for the enterprise and moreover that your Majestie could not but advise him to seek to be advised and assisted with good and sufficient Councellers fit for the ordering of so great an enterprise After thanks rendred for your Majesties care of him he said that the Noble men and Gentlemen which were com to accompany him in this enterprise did it rather of affection they bear to his person then to the cause and therfore he could not but go in person with them especially seeing âhere is no one amongst them to whom the conduct of the action might be committed with the security of obedience due to him and freedom of jealousie as in a matter of so great consequence more to be desired As for a sufficient Councel to be about him it was his greatest care and therefore he desired your Majestie would be a means to the King his brother that he might have the Marshal of Cosse to attend upon him Whereunto I answered that your
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
to lay distrust aside not doubting but in time the King would deal we should see very honourably the cause whereof Pinart did assure us with most earnest protestations as a man that was acquainted with the secrets and inwards of the Kings own soul. At the end of our conference upon the Speeches I the Secretary delivered unto them how that her Majestie understanding of this alteration with the King for entring into the association would cause the preparations for Portugal to stay Pinart desired very earnestly in Queen mothers name that in no case they might stay but be furthered with all convenient expedition and that she would take it as a singular favour done to her self by her Majestie in case she would go forward therewith as she had begun assuring us that there were at Bourdeaux certain ships in a readiness likewise to set forwards towards the Isles to be imployed in this service Your Honours to command Francis Walsingham Henry Cobham Io. Sommers A Memorial for Mr. Sommers FIrst you shall declare to the Duke That whereas the King had yielded to proceed to the Treaty without marriage the same resolution was altered by a request made by Du. Vray in his name that it might not be proceeded in without the said marriage whereupon our Negotiation in that behalf is stayed untill the King and the Queen his Mother shall by Secretary Pinart understand his determination touching the continuance of the said stay by Du. Uray procured that whereas I the Secretary at the time of my being with him did pray his Highness considering the proceeding in the League did require expedition that it would please him to recommend the same unto âhe King He did then declare unto me that though he could not recommend the same in respect of the doubt and conceived that it might impeach the marriage which was the matter he chiefly sought yet considering he found by me that it tended to the advancement of her Highness service he would not impeach or hinder the same we are therefore to pray his Highness it would please him for the satisfaction of the Queen my Mistress havâng advertised her of his promise made in that behalf to let us understand the cause of the alteration thereof that it shall be meet to lay before him the benefit that may grow by the said League unto the enterprise that he hath in hand by comforting his own party in the Low-Countries by discomforting the adverse party as also that it will serve to very good purpose to remove the jealousnesse here within this Realme and thereby to continue the present peace whereby he may the better prosper in his present actions that we doe not see how it may greatly hinder his intended pursuit of the Marriage but will rather further the same for that it will breed a good satisfaction in her Majesties Subjects and to put them in hope to receive more fruit of the Marriage when they shall see these two Crownes to be knit together in amity against their common Enemy the King of Spain That we hearing of certain bruites given out at Paris not by mean and base persons but by such as doe pretend to know how matters of importance dâe passe how that there should be some overture made hy his Highness of a marriage with Spain which we for our parts can in no case beleeve considering the earnest protestations that have been made by the King his Mother and himself touching his intention for the continuance of the pursuit of the Marriage and therefore did think meet in respect of the Honour that we think our selves bound to bear towards one that hath so well deserved of the Queen our Mistress to acquaint him therewith to the end we may receive from himself some such matter as may yield satisfaction to her Majestie upon the hearing of the said bruit That we esteem him to be a Prince of so great honour so long as he shall pursue the Marriage with her Majestie not to entertain any other Besides knowing how greatly those Marriages knit between persons in nearness of bloud are condemned in the opinion of the world being both against the Law of God and Nature we cannot be perswaded that he being a Prince of that integrity and one that is guided by conscience in all his actions can be drawn thereunto That it is also given out that in consideration of the said Marriage the Prince of Parma will be induced to withdraw his siege from Cambray as also to yield to a surceasance of Arms with the States of the Low-Countries for the space of five or six moneths that in the mean time there may be some way found for the pacifying of those Countries and the reducing of them to the obedience of the King of Spain with the preservation of their Liberties That we have cause to believe some part of this for that at our conference here with the High-Commissioners it was declared unto us that Bellieure was sent unto the Prince of Parma for that purpose that if the same might be brought to pass for the surety of the States none would be more glad of it then the Queen our Mistress who hath desired nothing more then the repose of that Countrey that herein we cannot but let him understand how men of judgement doe see this project is onely layed to stop the pretended course for the impeaching of the greatness of the King of Spain For they that consider how greatly the States are alienated from the King of Spain and how resolutely the King is bent not to yield to them in matter of exercise of Religion so no reason that ever there can grow any good by any such Treaty unless it be unto the King of Spain And therefore we as those that wish him all honour doe pray to God also that it fall not out so that some part of that project doe not tend to his disadvantage August 14. Private Memorials for Mr. Sommers YOu may besides the Points contained in this Memorial add such other things as you can call to remembrance and shall think meet for the advancement of her Majesties service If you shall find the Vice-Count of Târaigne there you shall doe well to impart our proceeding unto him here with the King and to pray his assistance if he shall like to deal in the Cause to remove the impediments that the Treaty may proceed considering the benefits that may ensue thereby as well to the furtherance of the Dukes actions as to remove the jealousies here within the Realm You may also declare unto him that touching the sum of money which he desired me to procure at her Majesties hands for the Dukes support that her Majestie having been moved therein is very wilâing upon notice given that he standeth in need thereof being not otherwise furnished by the King as her Majestie hath been certainly informed that he was to see him supplyed of some convenient summe And therefore if it please the Duke
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 theâsles 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 Vinniâso 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
then to the truth of the matter and this being granted as in honour it cannot be denied specially betwixt friends as we make account of them both in all our honorable causes we doubt not but we shall well see that in stead of request or expostulation made to us we shall be found to have deserved praise and thanks for our doings past and shall not be disallowed in forbearing hereafter to grant simply to the requests as they are made And after the King and his Mother shall grant to us this reasonable request you shall proceed and say First we require our good Brother to consider what part of his request hath been alreadie accomplished of our natural disposition and next what part we have not as yet yielded unto and then also he shall see uponwhat just reasons we forbear to assent to the rest of their requests as it is made where we are required to use all honest and gracious treatment due to a Queen of her qualitie The truth is since her flying into our Realm where she escaped an evident danger of her life we caused her to be alwaies honorably attended by persons of Nobilitie and such as were of the ancient Families of our Realm we have entertained her at our charges with a company of her own of such Lords and Ladies as she her self made choice of to remain with her and appointed her houses of such Commoditie of pleasures and pastimes as the Countrey would afford And herein being constrained to say somewhat more for our self then otherwise we would but to answer calumniations we are assuredly informed that for her own Person her Diet and commoditie of Pastâme meet for the conservation of her health she for the most part when she lived at her own will in Scotland had no better Entertainment or Diet but rather many times worse and baser as it is well known to all persons that understand both So as for the state and honest and favourable treatment of her own Person we are sure no lack can be found suppressed or rather untrulie reported of us wherein we have been much wronged contrary to our deserts the King our good Brother aâd his Mother not a little abused with such untruths If fault have been found that she hath not been used according as a Q. of her quality if therein be meant that she hath not such honour done in the services of her as are due to a Queen she herself is to answer to the same for by her own servants she hath been and is continually served And we think not but that they have therein accomplished their duties according to her desire at the least to speak the truth we are crediblie informed that in Scotland she had commonly less reverence done to her in her services by the self same servants then hath been by them here And as to such of ours as have attended upon her we think they have not forborn to do their duties at all times agreeable to her estate except per case she her self have of her courtesie at sometimes remitted some part thereof to them But for our part truly notwithstanding such great offences as she hath diversly made unto us we have been alwaâes careful of her person to be honorably used and of her health to be by all possible good means preserved esteeming it our honor so to have her treated and used being brought into calamity and flying into our Realm as she did But now if the rest that be required be not granted that is to have her aided with our power to the restitution of her Realm we trust to make it manifestly appear that to consent thereunto as is required were not only a great follie in us and dangerous to our Estate but against all common reason and such an errour that neither Prince nor private person having any sense of understanding would commit the circumstances being well considered And though many things be well known commonly to the world for maintenance of this our judgment yet the beginning of these things could not be known to the King our good Brother in respect of his young years and to the Q. Mother though they have been well known yet either her time since occupied with her own dangerous causes or the continuance of perpetual informations for the Scotish Queen or else some part thereof touching the time of her worthie husband King Henry and her son also King Francis may per case have brought the most part of things to oblivion or at least have altered her judgement or else move her to give the less heed to them being now remembred nevertheless as briefly as we can with passing over of a great number of accidents and scruples of offences and especially such as concerned the time of King Henry or King Francis the âecond which were of no less importance then the assailing of our Crown and Title as the world knoweth we will lay before their eyes these things following to shew how the acts and dealings of the Scotish Q. towards us have provoked us to deal in another manner with her then hitherto we have First she is the person by whom and for whom only it is manifestly known that our Kingdom and Crown was Challenged almost as soon as Almightie God called us by right thereunto And how many waies that Challenge was furthered and maintained prosecuted and published needeth not to be recited for all Nations of Christendom understand it And if we should enter to inform our good Brother the King of the particularities thereof howsoever the same should touch the time of his noble Father King Henry and his Brother King Francis it may be thought he being Son and Brother of such Kings yet he would in his judgement inwardly with himself think us not well used But for avoiding of things displeasant and considering since the same unkindness was shewed in his Fathers and Brothers times a reconciliation of Amitie hath followed which we observe firmlâ we will omit all other parts and remember only the things done by the Scotish Queen after the death of her husband King Francis when she was at her own libertie We sent our Ambassador to her and being in France we required according to a certain Tâeatie of Peace concluded in Iuly 156C by sufficient Commission from King Francis the second her husband and the Q. her self under the several hands and seals aswel of Scotland as of France to confirm the said Treaty as was by their Commissioners having Authoritie covenanted and concluded In which Treatie was concluded Articles of good Amitie betwixt us and her in our Countreys and those as beneficial for her as for us And also a provision and especial Covenant that she should forbear from thenceforth to attempt or offer us any like wrong by challenging of our Crown as she had done before time To this our request delay was made not with alledging any thing to the contrary of our right or maintenance of her former
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 eâtsoons 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 eâtsoons 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 âedford 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
with sickness or to follow his pleasures refer me over to his mother or to Monsieur his brother Whether it be her Majesties pleasure I shall treat with them For that the King giveth a deaf eare to a long negotiation whether having occasion to deal with him from her Majestie in some matter of weight and length I shall not exhibite the same to him in writing declaring first by mouth the effect thereof and if I shall exhibite it in writing whether her Majestie shall not think it most expedient to deliver the same either in Italian or Latin for avoiding of such Cavelling as may be made upon the translation to French whereof Sir Henry Norris hath had experience How far forth and in what sort from time to time I shall deal with the Rebells that presently are retired into France or hereafter shall retire How I shall behave my self in any publick Assembly towards the Ambassador aswell of Spain as of Portugall either in taking or giving place To my very loving Friend Francis Walsingham Esq appointed for Ambassador to the French King SIr I send you herewith the Queen Majesties instructions as they are finished and her Majesties pleasure is that you should not forbear your journey but proceed and if on the way you come to certain knowledge of the Kings speedier entrie into Paris meet to accelerat my Lord of Buckhurstes comming thither her Majestie would have you send some in haste back And so not well able to write any further but to end with my heartie wishing you a prosperous journey to your hearts desire 23 December 1570. Yours assuredly William Cecil Instructions âiven to our trusty and wel-beloved servant Fra. Walsingham Esq presently sent to be our Ambassador Resident with our good Brother the French King the 19 of December 1570. ELIZABETH R. FOrasmuch as we are already determined to license our trustie and wel-beloved Sir Henry Norris Knight who hath of a long time served us faithfully as our Ambassador with the French King our good Brother to repaire over unto us and to leave that place and that we have made speciall choice of you upon a singular liking of your vertuousand good conditions to serve us in the same place wherein we trust our expectations shall be well satisfied of your fidelitie and diligence And for the rest also we doubt not but by the experience which you shall daiely have you shall be able to accomplish that which shall be requisite and for the better instruction of you we have thought meet to cause to be delivered unto you in writing these few things hereafter following by way of memoriall After you have delivered you letters and and bin presented to the King by our foresaid Ambassador whom you shall suceed for the doing whereof our said Ambassador can sufficiently direct you and will we doubt not but make good recommendations of you to the French King to the Queen Mother and others such as shall be thought meet we will that you shall use such speech unto them that it may appeare that your special Charge is to be a Minister for the conservation of the good Amitie that is betwixt us and the King and Consequently to preserve Concord and mutuall entercourse betwixt the Subjects of both our Countries according to the good Treaties that remaine betwixt us for that purpose and therefore considering you are so determined for your dutie sake to us and for the good that may ensue thereof you shall require them if at any time any thing to the contrarie shall be conceived of you as we trust shall not because you mean to give no occasion yet it may please them before any such judgement be conceived of you it may be in some wise declared as they may understand our answer wherewith you doubt not but to satisfie them Your office consisting of sundry parts the first and principall shall be to continue there aswell to execute our commandement and to deliver our letters and messages upon matters occurrent as to require and to receive answers and to the best that you can to procure thereupon reasonable and speedy resolutions as the nature of the matter shall import for the well doing whereof we must referre you hereafterwards to such particular directions as we shall send you by our speciall Letters whereby you shall be best directed in manner to proceed The second shall be to have continual regard to all manner of their doings there aswell private as publick that may be prejudiciall to us or our estate And therefore after good consideration and knowledge thereof had to advertise us diligently and secretly and to this end you shall do well to require of our said Ambassador your predecessor some good information by what means you may attaân to the knowledge of things needfull and requisite and whom you may best trust and use to attaine to the more certenitie and if any thing be discovered unto you at any time that shall seem of importance that the information thereof may well abide the time of your advertisement to us and to answer again we leave it to your consideration and discretion to omit no time convenient but to resort to the King or some other as you shall think meet to declare what you understand and mislike and in what sort it is hurtfull to the Amitie betwixt us And therefore to require some information or some plain answer meet to be imparted to us for discharge of your duty And that in this behalf you shall not use by way of complaint upon any light intelligence but you do first by conference of things together find the matter to be true and worthy of complaint least hereafter lesse regard be had to you when you shall have just cause to complain The third is to have regard to such suites as our Subjects using the trade of Merchandise within those Realms shall have cause to make that they may have by your soliciting readie expedition with justice upon causes of depredations or arrests or any such injuries or molestations and therein to solicite such of the Kings Counsell as you shall find to have charge thereof letting them to understand that besides the bond of Justice whereunto they do direct the King such favourable expedition of our Subjects shall provoke us and our ministers to do the like and shall also breed mutuall love betwixt the Subjects on both parties and give cause to a more frequentation of intercourse of Merchants being a thing beneficiall to both the Realms And because you shall be the more able to understand and to treate in your conferences negotiation upon any thing generally touching the Amitie betwixt the King and us or more particularly for the deciding and determining of any causes that may come in controversie for the trade and intercourse of Merchandise betwixt the Subjects of both our Countries kingdoms you shall do well to have with you some Copies of the treaties now remaning in force betwixt us
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 ãâã ãâã ãâã seeming very much to mislike hereof utterred these vvords unto him If this matter go forvvard it behoâeth 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 matâer 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
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
were not as he was a man of the Church he would be revenged of him for the report he made of him In the end after report made of this talk passed touching Stewkleys proceedings he concluded that the cause of his departure out of Spain was onely that he saw great likelihood that this enterprize should go forward and therefore would be loath as one descended from the house of Desmond to be suspected by his abode there to be a favourer of the said enterprize hating nothing more then the name of a Traytor I told him that I was very glad to here this talk pass from him whereof I promised him not to fail to make her Majestie privy hoping that he meant sincerely touching the practice I shewed him that her Majestie was neither ignorant nor unprovided of the remedy notwithstanding I did assure him that her Majestie could not but take it in good part if his meaning and words agreed both his withdrawing himself from thence as also in that he did discover unto me her Minister here what he knew touching the same I prayed him therefore to use plainness with me and told him that if it fall out otherwise First he should be reputed a Traytor and so little trusted of those whose turn he should seek to serve it being held for a common rule That a Traytor to his own Countrey came never to be true to another Secondarily that if he were partaker of the enterprize the matter was provided for and so their attempt not like to take effect whereby he should grow odious to those that he should procure to enter into the same And lastly I willed him to consider what benefit would grow to Ireland his Countrey if it should be reduced to the Spanish Government who doth rule altogether by Tyranny as divers of the Countreys where they do govern witness whereof he as a Traveller could not be ignorant whereas now they enjoy as great liberty as any Nation doth and if there be any defect it proceedeth frâm themselves who cannot yield to imbrace such good orders as her Majestie carefully for their benefit hath sought lately to place there amongst them to reduce them from Barbarousness to Civility He then protested that her Majestie should find him sincere though he were out of hope of all favour in respect of his honour and the love that he bare to his own Countrey But saith he if it might please her Majestie so far forth to be my good and gracious Lady and Soveraign as for that my Successor is dead to restore me to my Countrey and Place I will then give to you in writing her Ambassador here both the manner of the Conspiracy as also the remedy I shewed him that I would not fail to advertise her Majestie thereof notwithstanding I thought good to desire his return at this present considering the suspicion conceived of him would breed some doubt of sincerity for that it might be thought that his coming home now was rather to give notice to the evil affected Subjects of his Countrey how things passed in Spain then otherwise He replyed that if he had meant any such matter he might have gone directly from Spain into Ireland Then he told me that he feared that your Lordship had not conceived very well of him through Huggins report I made as though I never heard of Huggins and shewed him that your Lordship was not one that would lightly condemn any man and therefore willed him not to doubt that if you might find him sincere none would be more ready to further him in getting her Majesties favour then your Lordship Unasked he shewed me that Huggins was returned again to Prison which thing I seemed not to regard I asked him vvhen Stewkley vvas to imbark He thought not much before the end of April I asked him vvhether it vvas true that Iulian Romerâ vvas appointed to that enterprize He told me that he heard so This vvas in effect the talk that passed betvveen us vvhich I thought good to set dovvn at length to the end that your Lordship might the better judge both of the matters and of the man For my ovvn opinion I cannot tell vvhat to think of him to suspect that he meaneth not good faith I have these causes First I am informed that tvvo Irish men sent from him out of Spain vvere the cause of Roches enterprize Secondarily I am also informed that he vvas sent for out of Spain by the Cardinal of Lorain Thirdly for that he vvisheth the young Boy Fitzmârice's son in Spain that is novv at Brest in Brittain Lastly I do not forget his Nation and Religion I have placed some especially about him to vvhom he repaireth as also vvho repairs to him I find the Irish Captain here vvhom I desired my Lord of Buckhurst to recommend unto her Majestie serviceable in this behalf It shall go very hard but I vvill give a great ghess of the cause of his coming He desireth to knovv vvithin tvventy daies hovv her Majestie inclineth to his request The onely hope I have of him is that I imagine that he mislikes that Stewkley should have the glory of the enterprize that they both pretended and that he first set abroach and therefore vvould be glad to do any thing vvhich might impeach the same Novv having made your Lordship acquainted vvith that vvhich passed betvveen us I attend her Majesties pleasure herein how I shall direct my self And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave From Paris the 19 of March 1570. Your Lordships to Command Francis Walsingham Touching the other matter of credit committed to B. relation I hope to be able to advertise in what estate things stand within these ten daies To our Right trusty and well-beloved Sir Francis Walsingham our Ambassador Resident with our good Brother the French King ELIZABETH R. TRusty and well-beloved we greet you well forasmuch as by the Lord of Buckhurst we do understand in what sort the Queen Mother hath moved unto him the matter of marriage for her son Monsieur D' Anjou with us and in what sort both the King her Son her Self and Monsieur being the party are desirous that the same might take place and that for the first entry into the matter in respect of the doubtfulness that is generally conceived of our resolute determination to marry that is by the Queen Mother required that none might deal there in the same betwixt them and us but you as our Ambassador and that with none of their Councel but with Monsieur de Foix we have thought meet plainly to inform you in what sort you shall deal not doubting but you will so use the same to all respects as may concern our estimation in due honour according to the place we hold and for the quality of our person and sex And because you shall the more orderly proceed herein we do conceive our answer by way of Articles which we
do understand were by him shewed to the Lord of Buckhurst in writing as followeth The first Article of their demand was to understand both very speedily and certainly of the truth of our firm resolution to marry To which you may constantly answer that as the Lord of Buckhurst hath already said so are we resolved for the benefit of our Realm and contentation of our Subjects to marry with some person of Kingly blood and quality meet for us and our Countrey and that we are free from all manner of impediments to marry where we shall please And because that we perceive that notwithstanding the like answer hath been made in our name by some other who hath of late time earnestly required to know our mind in this case yet it is doubted by sinister reports that we have not a resolute mind to marry but that we have a disposition rather to hear of motions and suits for Marriage with Princes and great Estates then finally to accept any of them how honourable or reasonable soever the conditions might be that should be offered Therefore you shall in times convenient and as you shall be by some objections provoked say that we are very sorry that our former dealings in like cases of Marriage moved to us from other Princes hath not been better understood on our behalf then it seemeth they have been whereby some prejudice is grown to make more doubtfulness to be conceived in our Answers then we mean For the alteration of which untrue conceptions we cannot but generally answer except it were particularly remembred with vvhat Prince moving matter of marriage to us we did deal doubtfully And therefore you shall say that it is not unknown to the world for how many Kings Princes and Estates motions of marriage hath been made to us and if the same were well considered and our answers from time to time truly known certainly there was no cause to mislike the same though the motions took no place neither could any of the parties think themselves touched in honour by this though their desires took no effect In the beginning of our Reign that is not unknown how vve had no disposition of our own nature to marry no otherwise then it is manifestly known that vvhen the King our dear Father reigned and many times pressed us earnestly to marry nor vvhen in the late King our Brothers time the like vvas renevved unto us even for such as then presently vvere in real possession of Kingdoms vvhen vve lived but in a private state as a daughter or as a sister of a King yet could vve never induce our mind to marry but rather did satisfie our self with a solitary life If also it be considered vvho they vvere that in the first part of our Reign motioned marriage unto us and hovv inconvenient such a match vvas both for our self for matter of conscience and for discontentation of our people as then the time vvas vve doubt not but vve might challenge to our selves some praise in that vve yielded not thereto vvhen all other vvorldly respects of honour wealth and greatness besides the worthiness of the person were evident to have provoked us thereto But therein and in all other motions of marriage following our answers were such as if they were known with their circumstances we would not doubt but to have a general allowance and commendation for our sinceritie in dealing as now it seemeth that the world which commonly erreth in such reports hath also erred in this and sundry other things touching us which time we doubt not shall make manifest for truly whilest we continued as it were settled by natural disposition in a determination not to marry we did so also plainly answer all persons and required that the motions might be stayed wherewith if the parties or their Ministers would not be satisfied but would continue rather still their motions what default was this in us Yea it is very true that some parties being answered by our own mouth and that deliberately and frequently yet would they not accept the same for a final answer wherein as we could not but esteem their affection very great towards us so truly did we give them no new cause to hope of any change of our mind to marriage Nevertheless after some course of years passed we confess that the state of our Realm the continual urgent and frequent solicitations not only of our Counsellours to whom we alwaies think meet to give ear but also of the whole Estates of our Subjects being many times assembled in our Parliament did stir us to some further consideration by the weight of their reasââs then naturally of our self we had been induced unto And therefore we yielded thus far to their importunitie that for such great necessities concerning the universal state of our Realm as were plainlie laid before us we would not refuse to hear of any honourable motions to be made to us for any person of a Royal blood that might be meet for us and our Realm and that we would commend our heart to be directed by Almighty God to follow that which might be to the comfort of our loving Subjects And this mind we did continue and did so far proceed as reasonablie we might with our honour and with regard to the estate of our Policie And howsoever the world may mis-judge of prolongation of such matters by us certainlie the same was not of any intent in us to continue the same without purpose to conclude But such were the terms and difficulties in some points necessarilie to be provided as the lack of satisfaction of us therein was the onelie cause to us known of the prolongation All this we find meet at length to impart unto you to the end that you may also in like manner thereby with truth satisfie the hard opinion that as iâ seemeth is conceived of us because it is seen that many suits hath been made to us and by great Estates for marriage and none hath taken effect And as heretofore of late years the solicitation of our loving Subjects generallie did induce us for their sakes to hearken to motions of marriage and to incline our selves thereto So may you for more assurance of our firm determination to marrie affirm to them that have judged doubtfullie of us that we do now indeed find in our own judgement upon good respects the motions of our people not only necessary for them our Realms and Dominions but also convenient for our selves so as a person may be offered to us agreeable for our honour and meet for the state and pollicie of our Kingdoms And thus much may fully satisfie for justification of our doings against sinister conceptions and also for a certainty for our determination being accompanied with a further resolution growing of our judgement otherwise then aforetime The second points is to know whether now that we have perceived by the Lord of Buckhurst the good disposition of the King and the Queen Mother
SIr after I had written my other Letters yesterday there happened some alteration in this great matter of moment Where the Queens Majestie Majestie had determined besides her answer to the French Articles to have also sent you certain other Articles to be demanded of them there whereby the whole cause should be opened and nothing left behind in silence so that both parties might have understood their mutuall intentions Now suddainly her Majestie hath thought good at this time to send onely the French Articles and her answers and for the rest she meaneth to reserve untill she may understand how her answers are taken and specially how the knotty point of Religion will be smoothed And the cause of this change as I conjecture groweth of some late intelligence brought thence that if the Queens Majestie will stand earnestly upon that point for Religion it shall be assented unto which causeth her to proceed thus confidently And for my part I wish most heartily that it may so succeed but that onely I must fear except you shall moderate the matter better they there will imagine that this matter of Religion is but projected to colour the delay in breaking off for indeed in like cause so did the Emperor for his Brother the Arch-Duke Charles As I cannot instruct you how to dissolve this doubt there but as cause shall be given So I know your wisdome sufficient to invent sufficient answers to mollifie their hard conceits Thus you see how inwardly I deale with you and trust you will so use it I find Mr. Cavalcant very well disposed and sorry to see these occasions given though surely he seeth here the Queen Majesties disposition directly to his contentation From Westminster the 19 of Aprill 1571. Your assured friend Williamâ Burleigh To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may please your Lordship to advertise her Majestie that Mr. Cavalcant arrived here the 24 of this moneth by whom I received her Majesties Letters the contents whereof after I had perused and conferred with him touching his proceedings and for that the King and Queen Mother were departed out of this Town the one to St. Disier the other to Monceaux to bring the Duke and Dutchess of Lorrain onward on their way It was agreed between us that he should repaire the next morning to Monceaux to Queen Mother there to deliver her Majesties Letters as also her answers to the Articles propounded by the King Touching his proceeding with her I referre your Lordship to his own Letters By him I understood at his return that Queen Mother would speak with me at her repaire to the Town if I had any thing to say unto her So the 26 of this moneth she repaired hither and for that during the time of her abode here she could have no leasure she sent me word that the next day in the morning I should repaire unto her to come four English miles from Paris and that there I should have Audience So according to her appointment I repaired thither the next morning and at the time of my accesse unto her presence I shewed her that I was come thither to know how she rested satisfied with the answer she received from her Majestie by Master Cavalcant to those Articles which were propounded by the King and her to the end I might advertise her Majestie She shewed me that the Answers made unto their Articles seemed to her not to be direct saving thaâ which was made unto the second Article concerning Religion which saith she is very hard and neerly toucheth the honour of my Son so far forth that if he should yield thereto the Queen your Mistress should also receive some part of the blemish by accepting for a husband such a one as by sudden change of Religion might be thought through worldly respects void of all Conscience and Religion I replyed that I was willed to say to her from her Majestie that she doubted not but that Monsieur her Son by her good perswasion would take in good part her said answers who meant not such sudden change of Religion as that he or his houshold should be compelled to use the Rites of the English Church contrary to his or their Consciences But forasmuch as the granting unto him the exercise of his Religion being contrary to her Laws might by an example breed such an offence as was like to kindle such trouble as lately reigned in France whereof both herself and her son had good experience She therefore hoped that he who if the match proceeded was to sail with her in in one ship and to run with her one fortune would not require a thing that she by no means could yield to who tendred nothing more then the quiet and repose of her Subjects and therefore in respect âhereof could by no means consent to any such permission as might by any likelihood disturb the same To this she replyed that the not having the exercise was as much as to change his Religion which thing he could not do upon a sudden without the note to be of no Religion which dishonour I am sure no respect can draw him to endanger himself And as he in respect of the said ignominie is resolved fully not to yield so can I with no reason perswade him thereto and as for any peril that may happen by the same I think it shall be the best way of safety of your Mistress who alwayes by the way of his Brothers sword should be the better able to correct any such evil Subjects as should go about to disturb the repose and quiet of her Estate which she may assure herself he will do without having respect to any Religion whereof some tryal lately hath been made by his consenting with the King to have some good justice and example of punishment done at Roan In answer whereof I besought her to consider as well the Queens damage as her sons honour I shewed her that of this permission great mischiefs would ensue First the violating of her Laws Secondarily the offence of her good and faithful Subjects And lastly the encouragement of the evil affected Which three mischiefs if you will weigh said I together with your Sons honours you shall finde them of great moment and that the Queens Majestie my Mistress hath great cause to stand to the denial of any such permission whereof is likely to ensue such manifest peril And as for the ayd of the Kings sword I shewed her that the example by permission would do much more hurt then either his own or his Brothers sword could do good for that the issue of our mischief by civil dissention falls out commonly to be sudden and short but very sharp and were not drawn in length as those that happened in other Countreys we having neither walled Towns nor Fortresses to retire to thereby to protract our Wars To this she answered that her Son would soon be overcome by the Queens perswasions in
that behalf who was more zealous then able to defend his Religion whereby the same inconvenience of example will not long last For saith she it is generally feared by the Catholiques that this match will breed a change of Religion throughout all Europe In the end she concluded that neither Monsieur her Son nor the King nor herself could ever yield to any such sudden change for any respect whatsoever neither could her Majestie desire it considering how much it would touch his reputation whom she is to match withal if it proceed I asked then of her whether she would have me so to advertise her Majestie She desired me in any cause so to do and to know directly whether by yielding or not yielding to the said second Articles with all reasonable cautions she meant to proceed or forbear whereof she desired her Majestie at the farthest to give answer within ten days for that the King stayeth his progress onely upon that and if so be she mean to proceed then to send the Articles that are to be propounded by her Majestie Monsieur de la Mothe Fenelon as I learn by Monsieur de Foix hath given very honourable report of the Queens Majesties proceedings assuring them that there is nothing but sincerity meant If her Majestie resolve to proceed I learn then that Monsieur de Foix shall come over with the Kings Answer to such Articles as shall be propounded by the Queens Majestie and so to grow to some through conclusion And so having nothing else to advertise her Majestie at this present I most humbly take my leave of your Honour At Paris the eight and twentieth of April 1571. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham The CONFERENCE between me and Monsieur de Foix. FOr my first entry in our Conference Iâ shewed him that I was glad that it was my hap to be appointed to deal with him who did concur with me in like affection towards this cause being drawn by publique respects as wishing well unto our Countreys and Princes and therefore the rather hoped that the success would be thereafter I shewed him that great matters before they could be brought to an end could not but be full of great difficulties which if by the good discretion of those which are Dealers and Instruments in the same were not qualified a profitable matter might by evil handling quail and take no effect I shewed him therefore that this matter being in appearance so good and profitable to both our Countreys as I for my part would not fail to do therein what there might lie in me to remove such difficulties as might rise so far forth as might stand with the Queens Honour and Safety And if I did any way fail it should be for lack of judgement and experience and not lack of good will I shewed him that by perusing the answer to the Articles I found only the difficulty to be in Religion which by his good help might be reduced to accord there was no doubt but that the matter would take that effect we both desired To this Monsieur de Foix answered that he was the rather willing to deal in this matter for that he was well perswaded of my good inclination in that behalf protesting that he never more earnestly travelled in matter in his life which Monsieur could very well witness whose perswasions to him chiefly to enter into the matter through the honourable report he made of her Majesties rare vertues and gifts wherein through the Counter practises of divers other he found no small difficulty Monsieur being by them perswaded that it would be his hap to march in rank with the forsaken which scruple being by me saith he removed if the matter should not take that success I desire would be no less cause of displeasure then otherwise of comfort if the same take good effect Touching the present difficulty of Religion if her Majestie continue still resolute to maintain her answer I see the matter at an end For saith he Monsieur hath either Religion or no Religion If he have Religion then Religion being a constant perswasion confirmed by time cannot but in time be removed and not upon the sudden if he have no Religion then he is unworthy of your Mistress and the place and degree he beareth And surely saith he as Religion in all persons is to be desired so in none more then in Princes who have no other bridle to stay them from evil then Religion And as for Monsieur saith he I know him to be religious in his kind wherein I suppose he is not so assuredly grounded but that there may grow alteration and âhange thereof in time through the Queens good perswasions whereof we have seen good experience of womens vertue in that place Constantine was converted by his Mother Helena the King of Navarre by the Queen his wife and therefore can I not doubt but this match proceeding Monsieur will be turned by his wife who is of that good disposition and nature as in all his proceedings he is not transported and carried away by passion but guided and conducted by reason To this I replyed That the Queens Majestie wished not such sudden change of Religion as might breed irreligion but onely the forbearing of the exercise whereof might breed by permission both offence and stirrs in her Estate and as for the Examples of Constantine and the rest they are common for both for as many wives have been turned by their husbands as husbands by their wives To this he answered that to live without exercise of Religion was as much as to be of no Religion and saith he the Queens Majestie I know is honourable and would not have him ãâã with so great a spot as to be thought an Atheist whom she mâant so sââaitly to tye her self to as of two to become one who is to participate with him both in honour and dishonour To this I replyed that if it were true that I had heard Monsieuer was not so far from our Religion having had some introduction therein by Curuvalet his Governour lately deceased and therefore if it please him to water those seeds that he had already received by some conference âhe should be able easiely to discern that the change of his Religion should breed unto him no dishonour at all it being no less fault to continue in error then commendable to come from error to truth I desired him to consider with me both the inconvenience that would grow to Monsieur by persisting in his Religion and also what greater inconvenience would come unto the Queens Majestie my Mistress by permission of exercise of the same Touching the inconvenience that would happen to Monsieur I told him that it is held for a general Maxime that no Prince that is a stranger and cometh to rule in a Forraign Countrey can be welcome or well received by the Inhabitants Therefore Monsieur coming into England except it were by accident in respect of the partialities said
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 âmall 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 â8 and offend â2 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
as he hath received at her Majesties hands who earnestly travelleth to remove such difficulties as do rise in this matter and to stand in her Majesties defence against those that seek any way to touch her in honour your Lordship shall therefore do well to move her Majestie that you by your private Letters may signifie unto him that her Majestie doth accept those good offices done by him in very good part It is further thought that Monsieur Montmorency shall be the Nobleman that shall be sent to ratifie such Articles as shall be accorded unto by the King he hath since his repaire unto the Court marvelously furthered this matter and hath caused them to grow so reasonable Monsieur de la Mot doth continually by his Letters make very honourable report of her Majestie touching her proceedings in this cause Monsieur de Foix hath willed me to advertise your Lordship that her Majesties direction to me and her speech delivered to their Ambassador did not agree for he writeth That her Majestie promiseth some qualification of her answer unto the second Article and I deny the receipt of any such thing he writeth that I should deliver unto the King her Majesties demand and I deny to have received any he therefore wisheth for the advoiding of jealousie that the same were reformed that the Articles be sent before the return of this bearer I do not mean to be known of the receipt of them untill I hear further of her Majesties pleasure Your Lordship shall do well by the next to send a Book of Common praiers translated in the French that I may present it unto Monsieur I have seen of them printed at Garnesey C. Lodowick desired me most earnestly to move her Majestie that it would please her to licence Hawkins underhand to serve him with certain ships which favour if it please her Majestie to shew him he hopeth she shall not have cause to forethink the same which Letter shall well appeare whensoever occasion shall be offered wherein he may do her service Mr. Cavalcant is here a very good instrument in this cause in hand and doth deal therein both sinceerly and discreetly and worthy of the trust that her Majestie doth put in him whose assistance by no means I could have lacked Thus leaving further to trouble your honour c. At Vernon the 25 of May 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 Q. Mother sent lately unto me this Memoriall which I send your Lordship here inclosed requesting me that some good justice might be done therein The Memoriall is unperfect making no mention at all either of personship or place but he saith that Monsieur de la Mot can declare unto you at large the whole circumstance of the matter of late I find here in like causes reasonable expedition of Justice and therefore it may please your Lordship to take order that they may receive like measure Further she willed me to signifie unto her Majestie that touching the information given unto her how that the Scotish Ambassador here had dealt with her and Monsieur about some attempt against Ireland that she and Monsieur for his justification do avow that he never moved any such thing unto them And for that she understood that this report should be some let why the Scotish Ambassador obtained not a Pasporâ lately demanded at her Majesties hand she desireth her for that she avoweth the report to be untrue to grant him the said Pasport with free egresse and regresse for her sake she willed me further to advertise her Majestie that he assureth her that his repaire thither to the Q. his Mistress is for no evill intent but chiefly to deal with her in some particular causes touching himself wherein if he should falsify his faith his comodity would be but small in respect of the living he presently enjoyeth in France I have of late granted Pasport alleadging that I am now so warned from home to certain Scotish men for that I see there is no cause of feare France being so well enclined toward us as they are And as for Flanders they begin now to stand upon their guard c. At Nantes the 26 of May 1571. Your Honours to command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable Fr. Walsingham Esq the Queen Majesties Ambassador in France SIr you must beare with my slow dispatches in returning your servants for that I cannot obtain such resolutions as may give cause to write whereupon I am forced to beare here patiently the lack I find and you must do the like on your part hoping that Deus dabit meliora Now I send away this bearer meaning and hoping to send herewith the great answer and to give you some light hereof Thus it is the French Ambassador upon the receipt of his last answers agreeable with your Letters pressed the Queens Majestie to have the rest of the Articles on her part which in no wise she would agree unto pretending that without a resolute answer to the Article of Religion this could not be wherewith the Ambassador was so wounded as indeed in conference with him I found him desperate of the matter and entred into passions But after some speechs used with him I pacified him with hope that the Q. Majestie might be by further perswasions induced to shew the rest of the Articles and so with some long labourious perswasions her Majestie was induced to agree that the Articles should be made ready and shewed as things earnestly pressed by that King and his Ambassador here with which pretence her Majestie thought her honour saved well hereof I was appointed to inform the Ambassador and then was I also commanded to put the Articles in readiness which were not unready as I conceived but ere I could finish them I was commanded to conclude them with a request to have Calais restored a matter so inconvenient to bring forth a marriage as indeed I thought it meant to procure a breach and so the matter continued in my opinion desperate but with good help it was remedied I desired that the Queens Majestie would let my Lord Marques the Earles of suffex and Leicester to see the Articles and so they did and very honorably and wisely gave counsell to forbeare that Toy of Calais and generally did further the prosecution of the marriage as a matter of all other most necessary at this time And now we take it that her Majestie intendeth it earnestly whereupon yesterday in the afternoone my Lord of Leicester and I have delivered unto the Ambassador a Copy of the Articles which at the first hearing he did not mislike what he will do this day I know not but certainly they are very reasonable Thus farre are we passed so I trust on Wednesday to dispatch Harcourt Yesterday came de Pine with Letters to my Lord of Leicester from the King the Q.
Mother and Monsieur which will much further the matter and it is reason that my Lord of Leicester be assured of favours both there and at home for some that like not this match may otherwise engender doubts in his Lordship And yet surely at this present he dealeth earnestly with her Majestie in the furtherance of the match you shall do well to let his Lordship understand what good opinion is had of him for so doing The matters in Scotland go hardly for us the Queens party by Granges means occupieth Edenburgh and the King is constrained to keep in Sterling both parties are in arms which yet are used defensive The Queen party hath had Money and Ammunitions from France The Bishop of Ross is still restrained and so deserveth The Queen liketh not of the Bishop of Glascows coming into the Realm Dr Story suffered at Tyborn on Fryday and there refused to give alleagiance to the Queens Majestie and professed to dye as the King of Spains Subject and so being arraigned on the Tuesday before at the Kings Bench he would not answer to the Indictment alledging that he was not a Subject of the Realm whereupon without further Tryal he was condemned as guilty of the Treasons contained in the Indictments The practises of Stewkley are abated in Spain by discovery of his lewdness and insufficiency Huggins is here arrived and so fare you well From Westminster the fifth of Iune 1571. Yours assuredly William Burleigh I send you a Note of our late Acts in Parliament To my very Friend Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador for the Queen Majestie in France I Have received your Letters by this Bearer who brought me also Letters from the King Queen Mother and Monsieur whom I perceived hath conceived good opinion of my devotion for the furtherance of the matter of marriage with the Queens Majestie I have thought good to return this Bearer again for that he desired speedy dispatch to whom I have imparted the state of that matter which onely doth stand upon the Article of Religion to which her Majestie will by no means relent All other Articles are reasonable and her Majestie hath shewed her Demands to this Ambassador and hath dispatched the same to you which I think will be with you before this For the other point touching Religion if I might advise them thereof they should not speak of it at all for sooner will her Majestie yield to reason himself that shall have that interest in her that shall be her husband then by any Contract or other Declaration And finding her Majestie disappointed upon the argument of that point to proceed as she hath seemed in the matter I cannot but hope of very good success to which for my part in respect of her Majesties surety and hope of universal good to the cause of Religion I must with well and further the best I can according to your advice whereof I thank you and am glad to see your consideration thereof This Bearer shall further declare some part of my minde unto you for that I know him to be honest and trusty and well devoted to her Majestie and the cause of Religion Thus with my most hearty commendations I bid you farewel In haste this seventh of Iune 1571. Your assured Friend Ro Leicester By the QUEEN To our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Francis Walsingham our Ambassador Resident with our good Brother the French King ELIZABETH R. RIght Trusty and Well-beloved we greet you well although we did heretofore think it reasonable to forbear the sending of any Articles to contain the Demands on our part until we might have a resolute Answer from the King to our former Answers made to his Articles sent hither by Cavalcant and namely to the Article touching Religion Yet finding by your Letters and the continual solicitation of the French Ambassador here Resident how earnestly the King desireth to see our Demands which when he shall have he will make answer to the former we are contrary to our own disposition induced by these means to send the same at this time as you shall receive the same in Articles whereof you shall advertise the King and Queen Mother and let them understand that were it not for the earnest solicitation of the Ambassador we would have forborn so to have done for that we take it it may be interpreted in some manner to touch us in honour that not having knowledge how the King will satisfie us in the matter of Religion which is the principal we should pass further into the Treaty of all the rest altogether upon uncertainty what to hope in the principal But to their satisfaction herein you shall say that we not onely caused the Earl of Leicester and Lord Burleigh whom onely of our Councel we have used herein according to our former agreement to impart our Demands in certain Articles to the French Ambassador but have also sent them now in writing to be by you shewed unto them having therein followed for the most part the form of things granted to our late Sister of Noble Memory Queen Mary as by the Treaty of Marriage betwixt King Philip and her may appear And further you shall say that these Articles are but briefly and summarily conceived by our foresaid Counsellours who have not the knowledge of the forms of Law requisite in such case so as we reserve to our selves power if the substance of them shall be granted to cause the same to be in form of Law inlarged by such others of our Councel as by learning can better do the same Besides we do deliver these Demands to be joyntly considered with the Articles of our first Answer to the Demands on their part brought by Cavalcant We perceive by the French Ambassador that certain Clauses which we agreed should be added to some of the first Articles were not contained in the Writing by you there shewed And not knowing whether in the writing of them there the same Clauses were omitted for more surety we send you a new Copy hereof to be shewed as you shall have occasion And if indeed those Clauses shall appear to have been omitted in the former the same was omitted but by the Writer If the King or any other shall press you to understand of our proceedings with the Queen of Scots as in misliking the restraint of the Bishop of Ross or in not determining her cause you shall for the first say that the evil parts done by the Bishop of Ross are such and so dangerous to us and our State as no Prince could suffer as we think the like without some sharp revenge For where in the late Rebellion in the North we understood that he had given the Heads of that Rebellion comfort to enter into the same which he could not deny being charged therewith but that secretly they had sent to him for ayd and comfort afore their Rebellion although he yield the same unto them nor thought it meet to utter the same and so
he willed me to assure her that he would never forget and further to signifie unto her that he made choise of the Marshal Montmârency and Monsieur de Foix to send over with his full mind touching the Articles that have been propounded of either side and that he therefore desired by the said Gentlemen to understand when it shall be her Majesties pleasure that they shall come over to treat in that behalf Having then done with the King the Queen Mother called me unto her and told me that of late certain had gone about to perswade the King her Son that her Majestie meant nothing less then to proceed in this marriage using sundry perswasions to induce her to believe the same Notwithstanding she assured me that such is the great good opinion that they all have of her Majesties sincerity upon good grounds in respect of her Majesties honourable dealing as no such brutes and sinister practises can prevail with them to make them think otherwise then honourable of her Majestie and yet she did assure me that the same did proceed from such persons as they might easily have been abused had not her Majesties own sincere dealing assured them of the contrary I shewed her that if she or the King should otherwise think of her Majestie they should do her great wrong and give her just cause to think her sincere dealing unsincerely requited This was the effect of my present negotiation And so c. At â the twentieth of Iune 1571. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To my very loving Friend Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador for the Queens Majestie in France I Have written by du Pine of late to you and before that as I think you have received her Majesties Answer and such Articles as she doth think meet to be demanded Her Majestie doth stand still very stiff touching the point of Religion required of that side and as far as I can perceive she will hardly relent to any other qualification then you know of and that being granted to her I suppose there will be no other difficultie And surely in this if Monsieur remit the whole to her Majestie there is no doubt but by that means he shall obtain more then we wish and more then is reasonable or at the least convenient to be openly contracted by them For as by the one that may be had which is to be born withal for a time in hope of better so by the other it will altogether encourage such as are already too high and most meetest to be kept under even for both their sureties For this cause it is onely to be wished for these respects the first to the universal good of the cause of Religion the other for the quietness of our present Estate And for these causes sake I pray God to prosper it accordingly and I see no cause grâatly to doubt if that point of Religion be yielded on that side unto The Ambassador here doth very honestly and well in the matter and surely doth good offices between their Majesties For my part I perceive by you that I have cause to thank him for his particular affection towards me I can but thank him here And I pray you as you may have occasion use this favour for me as it may appear to the Kings Majestie there how much his Ambassador hath made me know of his good acceptance of my good devotion towards the encrease of the good Amitie between our good Soveraign and him which doth give me great encouragement to go alway the more forward so far forth as with my duty to her Majestie I may Thus having no other matter presently to write to you I bid you farewel in haste the ninth of June 1571. Your assured Friend Ro. Leicester To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh THe ãâã ãâã shewed me his Mistresses Letters dated the seventh of this moneth him to advertise A. that their of great moment in hand to impart he seeketh with England and therefore roundly forward with the matter furthe to advertise A. that there is a practise in the stealing away of the Scotish Q. whereunto him to have regard This as I can gather come from â54 who discovereth it to his Master he hath not yet imparted the same unto A. by the reason of his absence about ten days past it was bruted here for most certain truth that the Scotish Queen was escaped into Flanders Of late days of these common brutes there have followed shrewd effects whereof your Lordship shall do well to advertise her Majestie to have an eye that way The King is not yet returned to Galleon but remaineth still at Paris which divers of my fellows find themselves agrieved withal especially Spain There rise daily new causes of unkindness between the two Princes Spain seemeth to set the King here very light which ingendreth in him a great desire of revenge and lacketh but treasure to make open demonstration thereof And so c. At Loveirs the five and twentieth of June 1571. Your Lordships to Command Fr. Walsingham By the QUEEN To our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Francis Walsingham Esq our Ambassador Resident with our good Brother the French King ELIZABETH R. RIght Trusty and Well-beloved we greet you well Forasmuch as the French Ambassador here joyntly with Monsieur de l' Archant Captain of the Guard of Monsier D. Anjoâ treated with us to have our consent that the Marshal Montmorency and others nominated with him for the French King might come hither as they say to treat and conclude the matter moved betwixt us and the said Monsieur we think it necessary to impart unto you what hath passed therein at some length which we have ordered to be put in writing by the Lord of Burleigh to the intent that on the one part you should not be ignorant and on the other part you should be better instructed how to treat upon the matter both with the King or any other that shall in this matter have Commission to treat with you In all our dealings with them you shall find that we have in no wise yielded to grant to Monsieur a liberty for exercise of his Romish Religion neither have we any inclination to yield thereto and yet for the benefit of our Realm rather then for any particular inclination to marriage we have resolved this marriage to be meet for us so as the difficulty of Religion be well accorded And where in the last end upon conference had by the Ambassador and Lord of Archant with the Earl of Leicester and the Lord of Burleigh it may appear to you that they finding a resolute determination of their Ambassadors should demand of us a liberty for Monsieur in the cause of Religion it should be denied then did they thereupon seem to yield and by way of demand require to know how it might be liked if the demand of Religion were utterly forborn and put to silence Our meaning is not
the marriage You shall assure the King that the rest of the things being by him assented unto and ordered to be performed we mean sincerely to proceed in further treaty of the marriage according to our former answer And if they shall so move it unto you we can be content that special Commissioners may be sent from thence hither to treat and conclude with us and our Councel as reason shall require And for that we have causes to think that sundry there and some being of Credit will seek to provoke the King to a misliking of our answer and to conceive that we have not had a sincere intention in this matter from the beginning you shall do your best and so we warrant you to assure the King of the contrary whatsoever malice shall devise against us And where we had occasion by some of your Letters to some here to think that now at Monsieur de Foix coming hither though the matter of the Marriage should not take effect yet that some motion of a further league of Amity might be made betwixt us and the King You shall understand that not only no motion hath been made thereof unto us but upon indirect speeches used by some of our trusty Ministers to de Foix in that purpose he hath earnestly declared that without prosecution of the marriage he had no Commission to deal in any other matter at all but said that he usted that the King his Master would continue Amity with us except contrary cause should be offered by us Now therefore considering you may see that we have not made any great difficulty in the matter of Religion which we cannot see how it may be yielded unto Monsieur and his Domestiques though the number shall be never so small without peril by discontentation of our best Subjects and comfort to the worse it shall be your part to insist earnestly to let it be well understood how sincerely we have dealt therein and how free we ought to be from the calumniation of certain persons that will never be content to say well of us how well soever we do The occasion of the long abode here of Monsieur de Foix shall appear to you we doubt not by the Letters of my Lord of Burleigh As for satisfaction of your desire to have some to assist you in service now this moneth whilest you shall attend the recovery of your health upon the next answer to be made us of these our Letters you shall also have order for some to be assistant to supply your place Given under our Signet the Second of September 1571. in the thirteenth year of our Reign 24 August postea ultima Augusti 1571. Summarium corum que serenissima Regina suasu consiliâ suârum Consiliariorum proposuit in Colloquiâ de tribus Articulis cum illustriss Or atoribus Christianissimi Regis Ad primum de Coronat Ducis SErenissima Regina non potest sine assensu trium ordinum seu statuum regnisui concedere ut serenissimus Dux post nuptias celebratas coronetur ut Rex verem ut habiatur coronetur ut Rex respectu matrimonii cum Regina sine aliquo prejudicio juris tituli suae Majestatis aut hered aut success ejus si id fieri potest communi consilio consensu eorum statuum Majestas sua libenter assensura est dabit operam ut serenissimi ducis honor amplitudo eo modo augeatur eò libentiùs quia per accessionem aliquam ad ejus amplitudinem Majestatis suae splendor gloria etiam incrementum capiet Ad secundum de conjuâctione in administratione regnorum Secundò existimat sua Majestas ut concedatur serenissâmo duci ut ipse sereniss Dux uná cum serenissima Regina consorte sua constante Matrimonio stilo honore nomine Regio censeatur gaudeat eandemque serenissimaâ Reginam consortem suam in foelici regnorum dominiorum administratione gubernatione adjuvet tanquam maritus salvis tamen juribus legibus consuetudinibus regni ut in tertâo Articulo prioris scripti intitulati explanatio Articulorum c. continetur Ad tertium de toleranda religione Ducis Tertio ubi ab oratore postulatum est quemadmodum à Rege Christianissimo mandatis se habuisse asseruit ut scripto authentico valido facultas concederet dicto serenissimo Duci domesticis ejus excercendum suae religionis in Angliâ quod cum propter multas graves causas à Majestate Reginae fieri non posse responsum esset Agitatum postea inter dictos oratores consiliarios dicte Reginae ut saltem privato aliquo singrapho Reginae serenissimae serenissimus Dux certior redderetur futurum esse ut nullo modo impedritur in hoc regno religionem suam excercere Quod cum ad Maiestatem Reginae relatum esset ita consiliariis suis responsum dari vâsum est Imprimis quod existimatur Serenissimum ducem non futurum alienum à Religione ecclesiae Anglicanae si de ea benè candidè recâè informaretur maximè expedire etiam videbatur si de hac causa exercendae religionis nihil ageretur in aliquo tractatu aut Colloquio sed quae in eâ apparebant difficultates controversie mutuò utriusque Principìs colloquio componerentur Sed cum id Oratoribus nullo modo placere videatur non absurdum esse putabatur si hoc modo utriusque menti conscienti consulatur Si serenissimus dux temporibus usitatis divinorum officioruÌ uná cum serenissimââ Reginâ in oratoriis suis adesse volet neque Religionis Anglicanae institutiones rationes audire ediscere temporibus congruis recusabit Eadem seremsâima Regina assentietur ut neque ipsemet dux neque sui domestici contra conscientiam suam aut illorum cogantur ritibus aut ceremoniis Ecclesiae Anglicanae eo modo uti quo subditi regni ex legibus obligaâtur donec instituti alitâr persuasi fuerint Porró idem serenissimus Dux is numerus domesticorum suorum de quo postea convenietur non molestabuntur per leges hujus regni propter usurpationem aliorum divinorum rituum ceremoniarum Ecclesiarum Ecclesiae Dei non apertè repugnantium modo it fiat in loco certo eoque privato secreto ut conscientiis suis satisfaciant ut nulla ex ea varietate occasio manifesta detur subditis regni ad violendas leges Ecclesiasticas Et cum multa alia petenda sunt â serenissimo Duce ut per Christianissimum Regem fratrem suum per seipsum pactis caveantur ut juramentis etiam confirmentur quemadmodum oratoribus non est negatum nec tamen clausula subsequens eodem modo ab ipso serenissimo Duce exigenda obtinenda est quo presens hoc responsum in superioribus tribus Clausulis contentum à sua Majestate Regia postulabitur Quae dicendaâ sunt ex parte Ducis
forbeare in that behalf and that that matter might be referred over to treaty untill the coming of him whom her Majestie meaneth to send whereby all unkindness might be avoided he willed me to desire her Majestie to interprete this is message in good part and to assure her that he is void of all evill meaning whose Amity he most earnestly desireth notwithstanding he may not in honour forbeare if he be urged thereto to assist them in respect of the said League I shewed him that I understood nothing of any such meaning of her Majesties sending of any forces thither but if it were so it then proceeded upon the discovery of certain dangerous practises of the Queen of Scots whereupon her Majestie is inforced every way to seek to do that thing that might tend to her safety and therefore if any such sending grow upon such respect he could not but allow thereof protesting that good will that he doth to her Majestie He answered me that now his meaning was not to recommend the liberty of the Queen of Scots but onely to recommend the liberty of the Country I told him in that behalf I doubted not but he should find the Queen my Mistress inclined to do any thing to agree to reason and stand with her safety but if her Majestie should have any intention to seek the liberty of the Queen of Scots in my private opinion I thought by no meanes he should prevaile she now of late being discovered to be so dangerous an enemy who hath as it were dismembred her Majesties politique body by corruption of sundry of her best qualified Subjects which thing said I if your Majestie could consider in the Queen my Mistress person I am sure your Majestie would forbeare at any time hereafter to recommend her cause His answer to that was that he meant not now to recommend the same and so he willed me to present his affectionate commendations unto her Majestie adding further that he hoped shortly to see one from her here to treat of such things as my tend to increase of good and perfect Amity between them he desired me to dispatch one with some intelligence to the end he may know her Majesties answer I am given secretly to understand that there are certain of the Guisian faction that have made offer unto the King to go and serve in Scotland of their own charges and that the King if he received not a good answer from her Majestie is determined to imploy them there are some also of that faction that go about to perswade him that her Majestie meaneth nothing less then to send any hither to treat of Amity and that all is but intertainment untill she have made full conquest of Scotland the King notwithstanding these lewd perswasions as I learn conceiveth a good and honourable opinion of her Majestie As I was writing I was given to understand that the morning the King sent for me there was long debate had in Councell whether he should recommend the Q. of Scots cause or not In the end after long debating through the earnest perswasions of some it was thought expedient to forbeare in that behalf and so concluded that he should onely recommend the liberty of the Countrey I am put in great hope that the King will be content to joyn with her Majestie in the establishing of the young Kings Government Surely if her Majestie send hither in time whilest her friends enjoy the credit of the Court here some parsonage of good quality whereby the King may think she maketh some account of him I think her Majestie shall obtain any reasonable thing at his hands that she her self can desire for she is perswaded that no Amity is so fit for him as that with her Majestie in respect that all occasions of quarrels are now taken away If it might so like her I would wish that her Maiestie would in talk with the Ambassador use some words of excuse in that she hath so long deferred the sending of the Gentleman that is here looked for as also two words of assurance of the great desire she hath of the increase of Amity with the King This I know would content him as also stop the mouthes of those that perswade the contrary Thus leaving further to trouble your Lordship I most humbly take my leave At Blois the nineteenth of October 1571. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Francis Walsingham Esq our Ambassador Resident in France ELIZABETH R. TRusty and well-beloved we greet you well we have presently sent the bearer hereof our trusty servant Henry Killegrew to supply the place that there you have to be our Ambassador Resident with the French King our good brother for the time that you shall be occasioned to be necessarily absent about the tendance to cure your self of such infirmities as to our grief we hear you are subject unto and glad therewith to hear that if you may have some respite and leisure from business to attend to your Cure you are in hope to be cured by certain Physicians that have taken upon them the charge thereof whereof we are both willing to further you and do earnestly charge you without either delay of time or care of our business to apply your self for that by your good service hitherto we do plainly perceive that our election of you hath been well answered and the continuance of you in that service is to be much desired by the recovery of your health And for that this bearer shall now supply your absence whom we know to be a faithful friend unto you we would you should instruct him in things meet to be known to him and to give him assistance of such of your servants as shall be to him needful for this purpose And for our further knowledge in things presently to be prosecuted and imparted to the King there we have also given to him knowledge thereof by special Instructions in writing signed with our hand have informed him and have willed him to make you partaker and to use your advise in what sort to communicate with our good brother the French King and assoons as you may recover your self to return to your former charge which we wish to be speedy both for your self and our service We require you so to do and to give us knowledge thereof for our meaning is assoon as you shall be able so to do this bearer Henry Killegrew shall return Given under our Signet at our Mannor of Richmond the twentieth of October 1571. in the thirteenth year of our Reign To the Right Honorable Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador for the Queens Majestie in France SIr though your leisure were more then it is yet the coming of this bearer my brother Killigrew is able to discharge me of all my care to write but yet I cannot let him depart without my Letter how short soever it is you know my brother so well and love and trust him as I
sorts She pretendeth a great fear of her life and craveth a ghostly Father being Catholique He can tell you that the Queens Majestie hath plainly notified to the Estates of Scotland that she will never suffer the Scotish Queen to have her Government in Scotland and at this present we are in hand to make an accord betwixt Liddington and Graunge in the Castle and the Regent c. difficulties are rather particular then publike They in the Castle look to have their Offices and Lands restored and for surety that Graunge may remain Captain of the Castle The other party are greedy to keep that they have catched as of Bishopricks and Abbeys c. I think next avoidance might help but greediness and mistrust keeps them asunder and I fear more the wilfulness of the Kings party then the conformation of the adverse Now for the principal matter of Sir Tho Smith I have at such length explained that in his instructions whereof he will make you privy as I need not adde any more I. Dover A. was never ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã then now I am commanded to move you to advise some secret ways with St T Smith how if K. be not at Court he might secretly procure to be there at Sr. Tho. Smiths being there and also by secret means Sir Tho. Smith may understand his opinion in the greatest mater as one whom we think of such dexterity in his actions of such dutifull good will hitherward as no advice nor direction shall be given to our prejudice All this I write by commandment and that after Mr. S. departure from this place so as I have not specially informed him hereof and therefore I pray you impart this to him adding this caution that Mr. Smith do not appear to any others to deal with him for so may he best serve the purpose Now Sir you may think that I am not a little perplexed in this matter when I consider with my self the doubtfulness that you have signified unto me of Callais ãâã ãâã ãâã whereof I never made A. privy nor any other almost and now finding here on the other a contrary intention which surely is earnestly meant and not the less for the cause of ãâã ãâã I am doubly troubled and therefore the good order either to conclude or break off must lie in the wisdom of the Ministers there to whom I wish the assistance of Gods Spirit Sir my infirmity as Sir Tho. Smith can inform you hath been so lingring upon me as I have bin though not idle yet an unprofitable servant and thereby impedited to sollicite your suit unto her Majesty wherein I will assoon as I may imploy my whole power as if it were for my self And so now I end wishing to hear of your cure of your infirmity with speed and surety At Greenwich Decemb. 7. 1571. Yours assuredly Will. Burleigh To my loving Friend Mr. Francis Walsingham Ambassador for the Queens Majesty in France Mr. Walsingham It is now somewhat long since I wrote unto you of our news the cause hath been partly for lack of special matter and partly being at all times absent when your dispatches were made but having presently some matter of moment worthy the writing to you I will not fail to deal plainly with you even as I think and as the cause requireth Among other matters that Sir Tho. Smith hath in charge to deal with the King he hath also certain instructions from her Majesty which are also to understand how he shall answer if the matter of her marriage be any more propounded or talked of with him and because I have alwaies heretofore seen in you a good inclination to further the same as a matter for her self her estate and ours all through the hope of her issue to be preserved by which for mine own part I was and am of like opinion God is my judge only for the same respect being verily perswaded otherwise hardly shall she her self be in safety for her own time or her people and Realm left in surety after her except some such way be taken as marriage whereof finding now again an appearance of a full determination in her Majestie to like of marriage and to my judgement resolved not to refuse any reasonable conditions that to her honour shall be offered by that King for Monsieur I thought good to let you understand it that if the matter be renewed on their parts that you may deal accordingly therein who being in dispair of her good liking as good cause both you and we here have had so to doubt might perhaps make the less account of it and I supposing in dealing with Mr. Tho. Smith he will affirm thus much of her present disposition which I assure you she hath so earnestly and assuredly affirmed unto me as I verily think yet once again that with good handling good conclusion will follow And thus much her Majesty is pleased I should signifie unto you and Henry Killegrew that you should appoint some trusty and discreet Messenger fully instructed with all the proceedings hitherto past in this matter touching the Marriage to be sent to the Admiral and to impart the same wholly unto him with demonstration of her trust and affiance in him to give her the best and friendliest advice and let him know upon what points they stick at it and if he shall seem to be earnest and to allow of the matter and to have it go forward then would she have him at Court at this present of Mr. Smiths being there that he may the better from time to time be privy to their dealings and her determinations also for that she doth mean freely and frankly to impart all things to him from time to time that shall concern her therein not doubting he will have due regard every way of her Mejesties honour and specially to foresee that she be not abused or ill handled by sinister practises of some that be great enemies to this matter Her Majesty hath her self somewhat opened her mind to the Count Montgomery who this day hath taken his leave and is departed and the sooner to deal with the Admiral hereabout and as you shall find the Admirals devotion in this matter so shall it be well done to use as speedy advertisement as you can to her Majesty thereof You have often times Mr. Walsingham wisely warned us and put us in mind to seek some waies to stablish her Majesteries state and the lacks declared both want of friendship abroad and of our doubtfull state at home it falls out daily too manifest and without some remedy will prove a danger unrecoverable the means for help be easily seen and perceived and I suppose yet not without hope to be obtained God grant us that foresight and wisdom that we willingly refuse them not Well I can but pray for the best and discharge my duty according to the small understanding I have that some good may take place which I shall never cease to wish
this day married to the Earl of Oxford to my comfort by reason of the Queens Majestie who hath very honourably with her presence and great favour accompanied it I am sorry that your health is not more sperable to be speedily recovered but I trust after you have rested so in convenient time the Medicines shall have more power to do their effects My Lord Gray of Wilton hath had the like disease this Summer and seemeth to be cured or eased by the industry of an Italian Phisitian here in London called Silva he is thought to be more experimented in Surgery then in Phisick for so is his father who lieth in the Savoy with the Duke if you will send me some note or description and therewith a note of their method in curing of you I would confer with this Silva and advertise you of my opinion I wish to hear more life of the matter of 57. And thus ending with my most hearty commendations c. From Westminster December 1571. Yours most assured Will. Burliegh To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr Though I had no great matter to you yet if I had my health being now subject to a combat with a Feaver whereof this day I have had an assault of a second fit I must be excused to hold my hand where my head is not able to command it as this bearer can inform you Since your Letters which came when Sir Tho. Smiths were brought I received from you two other of the 17. by which I see you are advertised from good places how things passed at the Court there and in that matter of the third person newly offered his age and other qualities unknown maketh me doubtfull how to use speech thereof The Ambassador hath dealt as he saith secretly with me And I have shewed no argument to one hand or other as I may learn further from thence I will deal but fear occupieth me more in this cause of her Marriage whom God hath suffered to lose so much time then for my next fit and yet truely I have more cause then before time for it cometh of a great cold and a Rhume fallen into my Lungs where it is lodged as yet without moving but in respect of other things I see and suffer I weigh not my own carcase The Queens Majesty hath been alwaies a merciful Lady and by mercy she hath taken more harm then by justice and yet she thinks that she is more beloved in doing her self harm God save her to his honour long among us Mather hath in presence of my Lord of Leicester Mr. Treasuror Mr. Mildmay manfully charged Borgest the Spanish Ambassadors Secretary that his Master and he both inticed Mather to murther me and Borgest denying it Mather hath offered to try it Con la spada c. From Westminster the 23 of January 1571. Your loving Friend Will. Burleigh To Francis Walsingham Esq the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr I have nothing to write worth your good hearing for that I might write is not to my liking but Gods will be fulfilled This day the Marshal of Berwick and Mr. Randolph are gone for Scotland matters I mistrust not the matter by their handling but they lack that which others should handle you know what I mean and yet here hath lacked no solicitation I have not been able by a cold to see her Majestie these eight daies and this day I am in Phisick throughly sick and I write as you see like one unsetled and surely in mine opinion others though very few lack not to sollicite by speech oportune importune The Spanish late Ambassador passed hardly over conducted by Hawkins to Callais and like himself at Gravelin he turned out all the English men that he found and yet he knoweth that here remaineth Monsieur Sweringham at the request of the Duke of Alva Here is no small expectation whether the Duke shall die or continue prisoner I know not how to write for I am here in my Chamber subject to reports which are contrariwise Mather and Berny besides that they intended to kill me have now plainly confessed their intention and desire to have been rid of the Queens Majesty but I think she may by justice be rid of them Mather denieth not but that he was a 8 2 0 6 and now saith he is a 0 2 1 0 6. I wish him grace From Westminster the second of February 1571. Yours assuredly W. Burliegh To the right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr I heartily thank you for your frequent Letters and especially for that of the 9. whereby you will not be afraid of the Scotch preparation of force out of that Country indeed they should much disturb our proceedings there privatly for Mr. Drury and Mr. Randolph are there about this instant labouring to reconcile them of the Castle to the Kings side but this French Ambassador understandeth the matter to be only about the Treaty of abstinence untill la Croque may come whose haste I wish were retarded with a fit of my gout The Queens Majesty is very earnest that you should return to the Court specially because she would have you joyn with Sir Tho. Smith in this Treatie and when I excused your absence for the recovery of your full healing she said that she understood that you were healed almost one month past and thereto I said that as you were healed so was there as much need for you to rest for the confirmation of your healing or otherwise you should suffer a relapse with as great peril as before Well quoth she see you write to him that it is my desire and will him to find means to repair gently to the Court and there he may rest him But for all this it were better her Majestie should mislike of your tarrying if it be necessary whereby you may after that serve her better then by going now to doe one piece of service thereby be made unable to do the rest of many I cannot write you what is the inward cause of the stay of the Duke of Norfolks death only I find her Majestie diversly disposed sometime when she speaketh of her Majesties danger she concludeth that justice should be done another time when she speaketh of his nearness of bloud of his superiority in honour c. she stayeth As upon Saturday she signed a Warrant for the Writs to the Sheriffs of London for his execution on Monday and so all preparations were made with the expectation of all London and concourse of many thousands yesterday in the morning but their coming was answered with another ordinary execution of Mather and Berny for conspiring the Queens Majesties death and of one Rolph for counterfeiting the Queens Majesties hand twice to get concealed Lands And the cause of this disappointment was this suddenly on Sunday ãâã in the night the âueens Majestie sent for me and entred into a great
the same time were letters intercepted of the Queen of Scots to the Duke of Alva whereby she giveth her self her Realm and her Son to be in the proâection and government of the King of Spain And with that the L. Seton who had been there and sithence with the Duke of Alva driven by a Tempest into a Haven which by the Conspirators was appointed where the Flemings and Spaniards should arrive disguising himself like a Mariner went from thence and came as I told your Majesty into Scotland and into the Castle of Edenborough with some other of the Queens Majesties Rebels his papers and instructions being âound declared that in her Majesties name he had assured the Duke of Alva that with a small power they might bring into their hands the yong King of Scots and so carry him into Spain Then giveth comfort to other of the Rebels by other letters that shortly they shal return into Scotland This Madam quoth I is enough to make the Queen our Mistris to awake and to look about her and even at that same time cometh Monsieur de Crocque with the Kings letters and requireth the Scotch Queen to be set at liberty and to be sent into France Madam quoth I I pray your Majestie consider of the case and imagine you were the Q. of England my Mistris and that all these things at one time came to your consideration what would you think Ah Monsieur L'Ambassador quoth she we did know then of no such intent of the Q. of Scots you may be sure we would be as loath that any such thing should be attempted and rather loather Madam quoth I I do not doubt considering this good amity which is so forward betwixt the two Realms Well saith she she is allyed to the King and to me and brought up here and we for our part could do no less then intreat for her what we could obtain at the Queen my sisters hands She seeketh another way to ruinate her self to hurt her friends to deserve no pity nor favor and sorry we must be for her and if she be so dangerous as it appeareth we cannot nor dare not require liberty for her which is so perilous to the Queen my sisters state yet if it shall please her for our sake to give her her life and for the rest provide for her own safety as reason is she shall do a deed of price and in this matter we will trouble the Q. your Mistris no furthââ Then quoth I one other thing there is touching Monsieur de Crocque his power or Commission for so we call it is not large enough for he hath as he saith but Commission to move them to Peace and Agreement To the which now of late they of the Castle do shew themselvs very obstinate perverse and unreasonable by reason of some offers from the Duke of Alva and some hope peradventure received from hence For where before they were content to require the Queens Majesties aid to come to a good agreement with the adverse faction so that the surety of their Persons Lands Goods and Honors might be provided for now they be so puffed up that they will not come to any abstinence of Civil war amongst themselves And surely the Queen my Mistris meant no other then to have brought them into quietness among themselves To the intent that the Realm might after agreement within it self enter into this League with the other two Realms making as it were for defence one whole Realm and so I have always told you Madam It is so saith she and we desire no other Well Madam quoth I if you then will concur with us the matter will be soon at a point Then Monsieur Crocque must have a larger Commission then yet he hath for he saith he hath but as I said before a Commission to make them to accord amongst themselves to choose a number of men to govern the Realm and never make mention of King nor Queen Why saith Master Walsingham that were a headless Government and when will they agree to it he that knoweth that Nation will never think that will come to pass and therefore that should be to make more dissention amongst them not to make a Peace Madam quoth I that Commission hath no Order nor Authority but as is said to continue trouble But Madam as in all matters hitherto we have well agreed betwixt the two Realms of England and France I pray you let us agree in this And if we speak reasonable the King shall concur with us if not let us hear answer to the contrary and we will answer The Queen my Mistris hath propounded this that they shall all agree to acknowledge the young King for King For as the for Queen she hath good cause not to trust her nor you neither Then for compounding how one shall agree with th' other for their Lands Offices and Goods that to be agreed by the mediation of wise and indifferent men whereof your Ambassador be it Monsieur de Croque or any other to be an Umpire and whom the Q. my Mistris shall appoint to be another So that they shall well know that these two Crowns as friends will make them by perswasion to agree to reason if not to joyn together to make them take reason against their wills Ye say well Monsieur Amb. saith she and you speak roundly and plainly as you were wont to do and I will speak with the K. my son and you shall have answer Madam said Mr. Walsingham Monsieur Amb. saieth here plainly unto you Yea saith she so he is wont I know him well enough Yea saith he but while two shall be at strife if ye would set up again the Scotch Queen whom by reason the Queen our Mistres cannot abide if in the mean time a third should come and set foot in Scotland would it not trouble you and us also Yes saith she and we should be as loath to see that as you Well Madam quoth I then take heed of the pick-thank for he is ready I know whom you mean quoth she and he is ready indeed and loves to be medling in every place but I doubt not but the Queen your Mistris and we shall agree it is our desire and that this amity may increase to make us both strong for all that Coast I hope so quoth I and would be loath that all labour for so little a matter should be lost Lost saith she fear you not your Queen can desire no reasonable thing at our hands but we will agree to it you shall judge your self and to morrow you shall have answer God willing but hear you nothing else of the other matter Madam quoth I I know not what you mean but surely notâing is spoken not so much as from Mr Killegrew nor of the league but we look every day that our Currior should be here and then we shall be able to inform your Majesty Ye shall not marvail saith she that I
Lord of Burleigh IT may please your Lordship to understand that the last of this month the Marshal Montmorency will be at Bulloign with his Train who is glad to have the commodity to pass over in her Maj. ships Mr. de Battail is dangerously sick in this Town and is not in case to pass over at this present The 19 of this month when we went to take our leave of the Marshal he shewed unto us that certain Englishmen had made means unto him to go over with him whom he refused unless they could bring testimonial from us that they departed the Realm with her Maj. favour and licence notwithstanding I judge there are some under the colour to be of his Train that wil pass over wherfore I thought good to advertise your Lordship to the end there may be some order taken in that behalf There is one Chambers a Scotchman somtimes a Mr. of the Requests in Scotland who in Sir Hânry Norris his time was a great doer for the Duke of Chastelheraud he came over in Mr. de Foix Train whom I made privie that he was not very grateful to her Maj. and therefore wished him to leave him behind him he shewed that though heretofore he hath not bin the best instrument in the Scotch divisions yet he now wisheth nothing more then accord wherein he promiseth to do his uttermost and thinketh he may be able to do a great deal of good whereupon he hath made choice of him at this present for that he thinketh that if du Crocque do no good in the appeasing of the Scotch troubles that then the Kings pleasure is to imploy him in that behalf not withstanding he telleth me that his meaning was never to have him with him into Scotland if percase he shal be imployed in that behalf without making her Majestie privy thereof for that the King his Mr. hath no other meaning but to consult in common with her Maj. touching the best means to appease the said troubles for the best justifying of the said Chambers he did protest unto me most earnestly that both the Cardinal of Lorrain and the Bishop of Glasco did what they could by their friends in Court to impeach that Chambers might not go If du Crocque do no good I hope her Maj. shal find Mr. de Foix a very good instrument in those affairs Touching Flanders matters if the long gowns had not done somewhat to impeach them the matters had bin so forward that the Spaniards had never landed in Zealand to have hindred the siege of Middleburgh I hope shortly to send you word of somewhat done and put in execution to divert the said Spaniards for that I think it necessary for her Majesty to know how this thing past I mean to advertise often when any thing hapneth worthy of advertisement Count Lodovick departed this Town the 19 of this month with whom I have placed Mr. Morgan who will advertise from time to time how things do pass and so having nothing else to advertise your Honor at this present I most humbly take my leave From Paris May 21. 1571. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honorable Fr. Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador resident in France SIr I have long forborn to write to you partly for want of leasure partly for lack of special matter I doubt not but others do certifie you of our Parliament proceedings wherein there can be found no more soundness then in the common house and no lack appearing in the higher house but in the highest person such slowness in the offers of surety and such stay in resolution as it seemeth God is not pleased that the surety shall succeed To lament that secretly I cannot forbear and thereby with it and such like I am overthrown in heart as I have no spark almost of good spirits left in me to nourish health in my body being every 3d day thrown down to the ground so as now I am forced to be carried into the Parliament-house and to her Maj. presence and to lament it openly is to give more comfort to the adversaries These are our miseries such as I see no end thereof and amongst others shame doth as much trouble me as the rest that all persons shall behold our follies as they may think imputing these lacks and errors to some of us that are accounted inward Counsellours where indeed the fault is not and yet they must be so suffered and to be so imputed for saving the honour of the highest I think to send you presently the Commission to authorize you for treating of the Merchants causes not determined by the Treaty but hitherto I am not informed how to instruct you for indeed I see no likelihood of any great moment thereby so are our Merchants affected to traffique by the Low Countreys or to Germany My L. Admiral meaneth to be at Dover the last of this moneth At some length I have obtained the suit for you to the Q. Maj. which this day I will deliver to M. Dodington who surely hath as much care of you as if he were your brother or your servant Le Crocque is in Scotland where I think he shall do little good The matters of the Low-Countreys were hot awhile but now the Flemings are become cold The Duke incroacheth upon them of Zealand having by the treason of the Townsmen in armour recovered it and put in Garisons of the Spaniard Now notwithstanding Flushing which is not well governed for lack of a head we have suffered as many of the strangers to depart from hence as would but that is but a simple help If the Prince of Orange doth not follow this opportunity his case will never be recoverable hereafter From S. Iames the 21 of May 1572. Yours assured Will. Burleigh I pray you send me a particular declaration of the states and degrees of the principal persons that come with Montmorency To the Right Honourable and his very friend Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador for the Queens Majestie in France MR. Walsingham I have received your Letter touching my boy Clark I would have him again by his own submission for he hath made often means but in no wise will I receive him so for I stand to have him otherwise that others may fear to attempt the like when they shall perceive the friendship that I shall have there for it is not so much for his excellency or that I mean to make store of him again but rather to make him an example to run from his Master Therefore I pray you be most earnest to have him delivered As for Religion upon my credit he never knew what a Papist was till he came there from his cradle he hath been bred a Protestant but his brother served me thus before which if I cannot it will make me think unkindness and shew as little friendship if ever like cause serve on this side Our news is we are presently in hand to attaint the Scotish
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 triâtle 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
Alva It is thought for the help of this matter that his Majestie can be content to lend asmuch to the contrary party And so for forreign news referring your Honour to the Italian Occurrents I most humbly take my leave At Paris the eighteenth of Iuly 1572. 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 understand that the King dispatched one Monsieur de la Mole servant to Monsieur le Duc d' Alanson with Letters from their Majesties here unto the Q. Majestie to render unto her thanks for the rare entertainment and great honour done unto the Marshal as also to give her notice of the marriage to be solemnized between the King of Navarre and the Lady Margaret I think also he hath Letters from his Master to her Majestie as also some charge to say somewhat to her on his behalf He gave me but Scarborough warning and therefore your Lordship must bear with these scribled lines The Gentleman is a Provintial and so of a very good House and a very well qualified Courtier as I hear Yesterday I wrote at large unto your Lordship by Hollingshead who is returned by way of Diepe And therefore I defer to trouble you with many lines at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the one and twentieth of Iuly Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leceister BY a Gentleman called Monsieur de la Mole servant unto Monsieur le Duc D' Alanson sent by the King to her Majestie with Letters I had very short warning given me and therefore am driven to afford your Lordship the fewer lines The pretence of his coming is with letters of thanks for the honour done unto the Marshal as also to make her Majestie acquainted with the appointed time for the solemnization of the King of Navarres marriage But I take it the chief end of his coming is to present his Masters letters unto her Majestie as also to say somewhat unto her on his behalf The Gentleman is a Provintial and of a good house and one as I learn very well qualified Touching Flanders matters I wrote unto your Lordship at large by Holling-shead who departed yesterday homewards by way of Diepe And so leaving to impart unto your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the one and twentieth of Iuly Yours Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable and his very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may please your Lordship to understand that a certain Scottishman called George Torris who appertaineth as he saith to the Q. of Scots hath of late robbed here in Paris one Emanuel d' Ambugo a Portugal who heretofore about ten years past hath been imployed in message between the King of Portugal and her Majestie as by his passport may appear Now for that he is given to understand that he is retired into England he hath desired divers Gentlemen of this Court to request me to write unto your Lordship that by your good means such as he shall appoint to pursue the party may have authority so far forth as may stand with the Laws of the Realm to arrest him and such goods and Jewels as shall be found to appertain to the said Portugal To this effect and purpose he hath likewise procured the Kings Letters here And so leaving further to trouble your Honour in this behalf I most humbly take my leave From Paris the 22 of Iuly 1572. Yours Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable his very good Lord the Lord Treasurer TOuching the particulars of Ianlys overthrow I refer your Lordship to such incertainties as I have set down in the inclosed occurents Such of the Religion as before slept in security begin now to awake and to see their danger and do therefore conclude that unless this enterprise in the Low Countries have good success their cause groweth desperate They have therefore of late sent to the King who is absent from home to shew him than if the Prince of Orange quail it shal not lie in him to maintain him in his protection by vertue of his Edict they desire him therefore out of hand to resolve upon something that may be of his assistance offering themselves to imploy therein their lives lands and goods They see by the assistance given on the other side as by the Pope Florence Triers Baviers and Câlleyn who are not otherwise interessed in the Low Countrey or in this Cause but in respect of Religion who proceed roundly and resolutely in the matter that unlesse her Majesty and the Princes of Germany in like sort joyn with this Crown there is great doubt what shall be the even of this enterprise They have therefore requested me to desire your Lordship as you tender Gods glory and her Majesties safety to see if you can induce her upon overture first to be made by the King in this behalf to joyn with him in yeilding assistance They think to make the so that they might be in some assurance that her Majesty would give ear thereto They have also dispatched one of late to such Princes of Germany as favour the Cause to provoke them to proceed more resolutely and roundly in this matter laying before them the evident dangers that otherwise will ensue By one lately come from thence they understand that the said Princes begin to see the danger and are well bent to do any thing that may tend to remedy The parties above written desire to know with some speed how her Majesty will incline to the said overture for that thereafter they are to direct their affairs As I was writing I received the copie of a letter sent from Mounts which I send to your Lordship here inclosed by the which you may both perceive the state of the Countrey as also how many are retired thither of Ianlys company And so leaving further to trouble your Honor at this present beseeching God to bless you in your late honorable Calling with as good success as ever any that occupied that place I most humbly take my leave From Paris the 26 of July 1572. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable his very good Lord the Earl of Leicester YOur Lordship by these inclosed occurrents may perceive that Ianlys is overthrown whose it never could but breed danger to the cause so could it never breed more danger then presently upon the presently upon the Prince of Orangâs first entry into the Country a mean to discourage him and to encourage the enemy How much his well doing or evill doing importeth us I need not say any thing to your Lordship the thing being so apparant how dangerous it were to suffer him to quail it is no less evident how little hope there is he shall receive relief from us especially from the news of
this overthrow it grieves me not a little to think of it considering what dependeth thereon and I hope God will make my fear vain To suffer him to miscarry knowing our own danger were to lack both policy and magnanimity We cannot deny but upon that that lately hath been discovered that if God had not raised up the Prince of Orange to have entertain'd Spain a dangerous fire ere this time had bin kindled in our own home To assist him therefore is to assist our selves for that we are to run one fortune with him the difference is that by miscarrying the mischief shal first touch him and then consequently as many of us as profess one Religion with him for the supply that is given by the Pope Florence and divers Catholique Princes in Germany sheweth that the quarrel is mixt and consisteth as well of Religion as oâ state They fail not to make demonstration thereof and therin they shew their courage and âeal contraiwise we do things underhand and thereby do discover both lack of zeal and courage No Councellors enterprise accompanied with fear had ever good success for there can be no greater enemy to sound councel then fear The Gentlemen of the Religion here since the late overthrow of Ianlis weighing what dependeth upon the Pr of Orange overthrow have made demonstration to the King that his enterprise lacking good success it shal not then he in his power to maintain his Edict They therefore desire him to weigh whether it were better to have forein war with advantage or inward war to the ruine of himself and his Estate The King being not here his answer is not yet received They hope to receive some such resolution as the danger of the cause requireth in the mean time the M. desired me to move your Lordship to deal with her Majesty to know whether she upon overture to be made to the King cannot be content to joyn with him in assistance of this poor Prince seeing that as well in Estate as Religion it doth so neerly touch her Surely though it import the King very much to look to it yet it importeth more her Majestie who is to look for nothing else Spain overcoming this brunt then the extremity of such mischiefs as he can work her My good Lord therefore as you never lack'd to further such causes as concern Gods glory and her Majesties safety so I do not doubt but that you will with that care and courage which this weighty cause requireth yield what aid and assistance you possibly may And so leaving further to trouble your Honor at this present I most humbly take my leave From Paris the 26 of July 1572. Your Honours to command F. Walsingham By the QUEEN To our right trusty and well-beloved Francis Walsingham Esq our Ambassador Resident with our good brother the French King ELIZABETH R. TRusty and well-beloved we greet you well Where at the being here with us of the D. of Montmorency he du Foix after their other ordinary matter of ratification of the Treaty passed over did many times very earnestly deal with us and in like manner with sundry of our Councel to move us to incline to an offer of marriage which the French K. and Q. âother willed them to make to us for the D. of Alanzon and that we found the matter somewhat strange considering some things past not in good order as you know in the matter of like offer for Mr. de Anjon wherein the said Mont. and his Colleague laboured much to satisfie us but especially considering the youngness of the years of the Duke of Alanson being compared to ours so for those respects although we could give them no answer of comfort to content them yet such was their importunacy in reciting of many reasons and arguments to move us not to mislike thereof in respect as well of the strength of the friendship which this amity should give to the continuance of this last League and Confederation as also of the worthiness of the said D. of Alanzon for his excellent vertues and good conditions which they alleadge to be in him with sundry other arguments tending to remove the difficulties and to gain our contentation and liking of the said Duke And in them after their many conferences had both with us and with our Councel when we perceived them very much perplexed to see our strangeness from assenting to their desires and how loath they were to have any flat denial we were advised to forbear from making of a plain refusal and to expect the return of the Lord Admiral by whom and by others of his company we might understand what might be further conceived of the personage and conditions of the said Duke And so our answer to them at their departure was this That we found such difficulties in this matter specially for the difference of his age as presently we could not digest the same but such was the importunacy of our own subjects of all estates to have us to marry as we would forbear to give any such resolute answer as might miscontent the said Ambassador and as we knew would much grieve our people at this time and so we would take some further time to be advertised of the matter And after one months space we would make a direct answer to the French King which also we would first communicate to the said D. of Montmorency to be by him if he so would delivered over to the said King And so with this answer they departed whereupon after the return of our Admiral we have considered with him and with some others that were there by whom we find that indeed the conditions and the qualities of the said D. as farr forth as they could by their observation gather or by report of others understand were nothing inferior to M. de Anjou but rather better to be liked but as to his visage and favour every body doth declare the same to be far inferior and that specially for the blemishes that the small pox hath wrought therein so as his young years considered the doubtfulness of the liking of his favour joyned therewith wherin no body that hath seen him can otherwise report although otherwise to all purposes he is commended before his brother we cannot indeed bring our mind to like of this offer specially finding no other great commodity offered to us with him whereby the absurdity that in the general opinion of the world might grow to commend this our choice after so many refusal of others of great worthiness might be counterprised or in some manner recompenced Wherefore according to our answer made to the said Ambassador we have determined that you shall in our answer made to the said Ambassador we have determined that you shall in our name say as followeth to Montmorency Or if he shall desire that you your self considering the answer is not plausible shall make it to the King then you shal so do requiring him to be present
heart that may be for her Majesties safety And so leaving to trouble your Honor any further at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the tenth of August 1572. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham Sir I beseech you to signifie unto her Majesty that the Count Montgomery doth shew himself by sundry demonstrations worthy of the favour and honor he hath received at her Majesties hands I beseech your Honor therefore to put her Majesty in mind to use some such speeches towards his daughter at the Court as he may perceive that I do not forget to advertise her Majesty of the good will he beareth towards her To the right honorable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principall Secretary SIR in this my private Letter I thought good to tell you that how coldly soever you are affected towards marriage we mean not here to give you over but do think that time may work somewhat to the satisfying of our desire They think in the end necessity must make you yield thereto in respect of your safety which is the best ground of the hope they have they know well enough the coldness of your affection and therefore they hope that force will bring that to pass which love cannot This Sir for marriage matter I have earnestly written both to the Lord Treasurer and the Earl of Leicester to procure a stay of the revocation of those that are imployed in Flanders without the which the whole enterprise is in hazard in respect of the discouragement that will grow thereby And surely if the same take not good success it is evident what will be our danger to as many as will list to see I need not use towards you any perswasions to put to your helping hand which is forward enough in this case as one that foreseeth the mischief that otherwise will follow Whereas you write now that the Scots began somwhat to incline to an abstinence it seemeth very strange considering the issue of our Parliament and the late inlargement of the Queen of Scots liberty unless the Scots mean thereupon to establish the Government in their Queen if her Majesty had accepted the provision of her safety by her subjects in Parliament and not so soon have yielded to any enlargement those Scotch matters had been ere this accorded but we use to build with one hand and overthrow with another I can rather lament it then hope after any remedy And therefore to God I commit it And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the 10. of August 1572. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham To the right Honourable his very good Lord the Lord Treasurer I Refer your Honour to Sir Th. Smiths Letters touching that which hath past concerning the delivery of her Majesties resolution unto their Majesties thereof the offer propounded by the M. Montmorency and M. de Foix. They easily could be induced to hazard an enterview if they thought there were any earnest intention in her Majesty to marry but the doubt thereof maketh them stay to condiscend in that behalf notwithstanding they mean not to give over the matter utterly but do hope that necessity in time may induce her Majesty in respect of her safety and the gratifying of her subjects to yield her consent seeing that the difficulty consisteth in opinion chiefly I do what I can to nourish this opinion in them considering the broken state of Europe and how tickle her Majesty standeth if by an enterview there might grow any good I think I could easily bring it to pass but the experience I have had how this case of marriage is subject to many things maketh me to proceed warily according as I shall receive direction at your Lordships hands who shall guide my doings in this behalf Touching Flanders matters the King had proceeded to an open dealing had he not received advertisement out of England that her Majestie meant to revoke such of her subjects as are presently in Flanders whereupon such of his Councel here as incline to Spain have put the Queen Mother in such a fear that the enterprise cannot but miscarry without the assistance of England as she with tears had disswaded the King for the time who otherwise was very resolute Thus your Lordship seeth how the bruit of your fear there hath bred fear here whereof I fear there will follow fearfull effects unless God put to his helping hand The Admiral in this brunt whose mind is invincible and foreseeth what is like to insue doth not now give over but layeth before the King his peril if the Prince of Orange quail or at the least if the matter by composition may not be induced to that good pass as the Spaniards may be removed further off and the Country restored to its liberty and yet remain under the Government of Spain And though he cannot obtain what were requisite and necessary for the advancement of the Cause yet doth he obtain somewhat in conference with him He desired me to tell your Lordship that there is nothing in respect of himself that he desireth more after long troubles unless he saw the danger great and evident to as many as profess the Gospel as also particularly to the King his Master and to the Q. Majestie my Mistress whom he is bound to honour and serve during his life and if these Low-Country matters be not reduced to some good issue he would not now expose himself to new perils But the case now standing as it doth and foreseeing the mischief that will follow he saith he should be a Traitor to God and to his Country and unthankful to her Maj. if he should forbear to do what lieth in him to prevent the same and for that he knoweth your Lordship doth concur with him in the like desire he doth most earnestly desire you to be a mean to stay her Maj. revocation of those that be in Flanders which thing will breed no less incouragement to the enemies then discouragement to those that seek to further this cause the welldoing whereof saith he if I do not mistake doth as much import her Maj. as any one thing that hapned unto her since her coming to the Crown and therefore requireth rather assistance then hinderance Other particularities he willed me to impart unto your Lordship which for that I would be loath to trouble your Lordship with Cypher I have desired Mr. Killegrew to make you understand the same And so leaving to impart to your Honour any thing further at this time I most humbly take my leave At Paris August 10. 1572. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable his very good Lord the Earl of Leicester IT may please your Lordship to understand that upon advertisement com from the parties that her Maj. meant to revoke such as are imployed in the Low-Countries of her subjects the King here through the perswasions of such as are inclined to Spain
Queen Mother and others there for it is not certain how far she and others have entred into the matter not with what honor they are carried But according as you shall see meet you may impart unto her how greatly hââ Majestie is perplexed herein what to think and what assurance to make of the things intended in this late amity And you may also say unto her that the Queens Majestie cannot enough maâvel that she being of such wisdom as she is and having such experience as she had of the extreme hatred of the factions there against the Admiral did not aââhe first take order that the informations should be examined and the Admiral and others of his party suspected charged tryed and so by order of justice proâeeded which had been honorable to the King and good in the sight of God and so either the guilty had duly suffered âr the innocent blood hâd been saved You shall also procure some good assurance from them such as may âe had for the safety of the English Merchants now repairing to the Vintage aâd therefore procure that some order may be given from the K. both to the town of Burdeaux to the Governor there and to Strâzzi and to the Conductors of his Army And for your self it is her Majesties desire that you were here from thât place and so her meaning is to devise for your revocation but presently it cannot without some note of the breach of amity be done Nevertheless you may do well not only to keep your home as you are desirous but to carry you both to the K. Q. Mother by way of complaint shew your unwillingness to âarry and your ãâã to be ââvoked thence for your surety Where we understand that the English Gentlemen that were in Paris at the time of the execution of the murther were forced to retire to your house where they did wisely for your care of them we and their friends are beholding to you and now we think good that they be advised to return home and namely we desire you to procure for the Lord Wharton and Mr. Philip Sidney the Kings license and safe conduct to come thence and so we do require you to give them true knowledge of our minds herein And if her Majestie could think that the French King would be content that you might come home with pretence to be absent from thence whilst this Realâ were in more quietness and so to leave a Secretary there and to return again to your charge she is well content you shall so do And therein you may do will to assay the Kings minde and to advertise hither Fare you heartily well From Woodstock the ninth of September Your loving Friends William Burleigh Ro Lecester F. Knowles T. Smith Iames Croft To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq her Majestes Ambassador Resident in France SIr I see the Devil is suffered by the Almighty God for our sins to be strong in following the persecution of Christs members and therefore we are not onely vigilant of our own defence against such trayterous attempts as lately have been put in ure there in France but also to call our selves to repentance Of the Queens Majesties answer to this Ambassador I have at good length comprized the same in writing which cometh now unto you signed by the Councel which you are to use according as the time shall teach you For although the Ambassador hath seemed to gain so much credit with her Majestie as she thinketh that the King is not guilty of the murthers otherwise then he reporteth And further that although the Ambassador saith that the King willed him to assure her Majestie that the Navy prepared by Strozzi should not any ways endamage her Majestie we have great cause in these times to doubt all fair speeches and therefore we do presently put all the Sea-coasts in defence and mean to send the Queens Majesties Navy to the Seas with speed and so to continue until we see further whereunto to trust I pray you do your best to discover the intention of that Navy and let us now frequently hear from you as you may and if I could have had my mind you had been presently revoked and onely a Secretary lefâ there I desire to have knowledge oâ as many of the Principals as were slain and what Protestants did escape We are much perplexed with varity of reports and your Letters or Messengers with credit may much please us here Pynassy hath been here and is not yet departed we had desire rather to hasten my brother Killegrew who departed hence towards Scotland on Sunday last to supply Drewries room with le Crocque because my Lord of Hunsdon is here and therefore M. Drewry cannot be spared from Berwick The whole Councel shal be here by to morrow but beforehand we that are here wil not be idle I cannot speak for my self to give order to the Realm God keep you and comfort his afflicted Church We know not but the Prince of Orange is much stronger then the two Dukes and that Macklin by him hath been taken the 29 of the last and great likelihood is that Antwerp shall yield Our men in Flushing agree not well with the French but now we think upon this misery their French will not âe so lordly From Woodstock the ninetâenth of September 1572. Your assured loving Friend William Burleigh To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassadâr for the Queens Majestie in France SIr yesternight after your servant was departed Faunt and my Cousin came hither and although I had before moved her Majestie that she would require you to return yet I could not then obtain it as I did this morning And so now I have obtained a Letter from her Majestie to the French King which Master Secretary sendeth you as by his Letter you may perceive From Woodstock the twelfth of September 1572. Yours assuredly William Burleigh To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassadâr Resident for her Majestie in France THe lamentable Tragedy that hath been there used of late doth make all Christians look for a just revenge again at Gods hands as it hath pleased him to fear us and so pinch us in the mean time with the scourge of correction by the sufferance of his people thus to be murthered but our sins deserve this and more but I trnst he will hold his holy hand over us not to reward us altogether as we deserve but somewhat in his correction comfort us that we may see as well the fall of his and our enemies as the blood of his Saints to be so innocently spilt even for his mercies let him turn it ten fold upon their heads that they triumph not over much to the utter hearts grief of his poor flock If that King be Author and doer of this Act shame and confusion light upon him be he never so strong in the sight of men the Lord hath not his power for nought if he be not the
inconvenience hapned as also to assure him of her Majesties disposition to continue the amity upon such certain informations as I could gather here of the manner of the Kings proceedings in this late accident and finding him to avow aswel by speech as by the continuance of most extreme severity towards those of the Religion that the said accident proceeded of himself though her Majestie is otherwise informed by the Ambassador I thought therefore good both towards him and his mother according to the direction of your Honours letters to use such speeches as the time of my repair to the Court which was the one and twentieth of this moneth would permit I was first brought unto Q. Mother to whom I shewed that her Maj. willed me to say That she was not a little stonished and perplexed upon the hearing of the late miserable and most lamentable accident in such sort as she knew neither what to say or judge of the matter seeing those murthered without pity and compassion without regard had either of age or sex without ordinary form of justice who upon the assurance of the Kings word laying all suspicion aside did misdoubt nothing less then that which hapned unto them who thought their lives then in most safety when by proof it appeared they were in most danger How these things may pass and the King receive no touch and blemish in honour is a thing which the Queen my Mistris saith she chiefly feareth besides she hath willed me to say unto you That she doth not a little marvel that you being a Prince of that judgement you are and so well experimented in matters of Government knowing the passions and factions that reign in your State could be induced so easily to yield to an execution not to be allowed in all mens judgement in any sort or Commonwealth as the parties to be executed before due examination had of such informations as in reason it appeareth were given against them for as easily might the said persons havâ been arrested as slain And so being arrested afterwards have been produced before the ordinâry justice to have received being found guilty punishment according to their demerits otherwise being found innocent to have been restored both to honour and liberty which kind of proceeding might have saved the blood of many an innocent which now through the fury and rage of the people was shed and the King had remained justified in honour She desireth your Majestie to interpret this her plain speech in good part as proceeding from one that wisheth well both to the King and you and cannot therefore but condole and bewail this accideât whereon dependeth both your honour and the repose of your Estate notwithstanding she hopeth that the King will yield justification of this fact as he shall remain justified of God and the world To this she answered That she nothing marvelled that the Queen my Mistris was astonished with the accident for that the execution was performed with a great deal more cruelty then was intended by the King who saith she is no Tyrant nor was easie to be induced to do that which he did had he not been provoked thereto by the apparent danger which he saw growing both to himself and to me his Mother and his Brethren if present execution had not been done which shall well appear by the process which my son meaneth to send unto the Queen your Mistris And whereas the Queen your Mistris doth seem to marvel that I should be easily induced to yield to any execution a kind of speech that somewhat toucheth me to be done before due examination had of the informations I being as she saith so well acquainted with factions reigning in this State You may tell her that present mischief cannot abide delayed remedies for saith she we were informed by persons not to be suspected as drawn by passion or faction being rather tied to the Admiral both by Religion and Amity yet moved in conscience to prefer their Prince before any private person for that those of the Religion had they not been prevented at the time that they were had seized within two hours after one of the gates of our Pallace of the Louvre and so consequently our persons which enterprize to have been executed was agreed the same afternoon that the Admiral was hurt And that they had some such meaning it may be gathered for that the Count of Montgomery the same morning that this enterprize should have been executed with a Troop of Horse stayed a good while at Pre de Clerces to attend what the other should do within Hereupon I took occasion to say unto her That although I had no Commission to reply yet I hoped her Majestie would give me leave to say somewhat in the justifying of the said Count of Mongomery for that heretofore it pleased her to bear with the liberty of my speech And so I shewed her that Friday at night after the Admiral was hurt between nine and ten of the clock the said Count came unto my lodging and amongst other communication he said That as he and those of the Religion had just occasion to be right sorry for the Admirals hurt so had they no less cause to rejoyce to see the King so careful as well for the curing of the Admiral as also for the searching out of the party that hurt him No small argument saith he of the Kings sincerity which kind of speech seemed to be void of all conspiracy and miscontentment And touching his being au Pre de Clerces I told her that an English Gentleman who was lodged not far from the said Count went unto him that morning that the execution was done in my name desiring him to send me word what stirr there was in the Town His answer was That true it was some stirr was in the Town and the King had taken so good order therein as all was appeased and that he had placed such guards about the Admirals house as he was in safety This answer Madam said I shewed that his intention in staying Aâ pre de Clerces was void of any evil meaning And as for his Troop as I learn it was under forty horse of the which all was unarmed and of them four only had Pistols which sheweth plainly that he was very slenderly appointed for the execution of any Enterprise To this her only answer was That she thought not the Count so guilty as the rest And further she shewed me that sithence his departure he had written to the King her son as well Letters for his justification as also of submission In the end she willed me to desire her Majestie to content her self with such relation as should be made with their Ambassador there touching their proceedings here as the King her son and she did rest satisfied with such relations as were made of her proceedings in like cases there by her Ministers here And so making great protestation of the Kings and her earnest desire for
do the like to her power To the third her Majestie would that the King should ânderstââd that she did in the motion of the marriage before this latâ accident of the Admirals death plainly proceed with the Ambassador and with la Mot so she must plainly deal with the King That this acâident of murthering the Admiral and of so general a slaughter of them of the Religion there hath made such alteration in her Majestie and hath moved such doubts in her minde how to interpret of the offers of this marriage and of this enterview by coming of the Queen Mother with her son as her Majestie cannot but suspend her resolution therein until she may understand some further answer to things which the Ambassador had in charge to deal with the King particularly to understand his mind of which her Majestie as yet had received no answer from her Ambassador nor any signification that he hath as yet had speech with the King thereof And besides that as to his last offer of the Queen Mother to come into any part of the Realm with Monsieur d'Alanson her Majestie cannot but interpret the offer very thankfully though she had not received from her Ambassador the Queen Mothers meaning to be such for her words to him were not further but that she would be content to comâ with her son to Bulloign or to Callis and that she desired that the Queens Majestie would come to Dâver and so then there might be an enterview and communication upon the Sea betwixt Dover and Calais or Bulloign a matter that seemed surely very strange to her Majestie and seeing that her Ambassador had no such offer made for her coming aland within the Realm as the French Ambassador offereth her Majestie meaneth therein to be better advertised by her own Ambassador who shall have charge therein to understand her mind and the Kings And upon knowledge thereof her Majestie will grow to a further resolution to the which it will be a great furtherance if the proof were verified as is said of the just causes given by the Admiral and his Complices for the execution of them And that his further proceedings with the observation of his Edicts for the cause of religion might more clearly appear to her Highness wherby her Majestie shall have good cause to see what is meet for her to do in the further proceeding both for the enterview and for the marriage In both which her Majestie shall be very glad to understand that she may have the same likelihood of the good to follow to her self and Coântrey for continuance of the amity that was propounded unto her when it was last renewed at la Mots before the death of the Admiral And her Majestie assureth the King that on her part she meaneth to observe the Amity by all good means as shall be to her possible and shall be very glad to find the like answeâable on his part and therewith doth presently require the King to give her to understand what his meaning may be in the keeping of so great a Navy and Army nâar Burdeaux and Rochel under the rule of Strozzi which is an occasion why her Subjects and Merchants who were wont all the year and specially about this time to traffique that way for wines and other things be now put in doubt and great feaâ and dare not adventure according to the assured amity betwixt the two Realms and the rather because now of late divers of her Merchants have been spoiled about Rochel and Burdeaux by those of Strozzies band not onely of victual and munition but also of money and merchandizes and some of them also of their lives To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr although I suppose you are now on your way hitherwards for by Walter Williams I sent you her Majesties Letters for license of your return for a time yet if my Lettârs can find you there or by the way I would not have you ignorant of that which I can shew you I know by self how Ambassadors be to know what is done in their own Countrey The cruel murthers at Roan is now long ago written unto us when we thought all had been done and by the same letters was written unto us that Diepe was kept close and the same execution of the true Christians looked for there but as then not executed howbeit Sigoigne did warrant all our Englishmen to be out of danger and not to be afraid But what warrant can the French make now Seals and Words of Princes being traps to catch innocents and bring them to the Butchery If the Admiral and all those murthered on that bloody Bartholomew day were guilty why were they not apprehended imprisoned interrogated and judged but so much made of as might be with-in two hours of the assumation is that the manner to handle men either culpable or suspected so is the Journeyer slain by the Robber so is the Hen of the Fox so the Hinde of the Lyon so Abel of Cain so the innocent of the wicked so Abner of Ioab but grant they were guilty they dreamt treason that night in their sleep what did the innocent men women and children at Lyons what did the sucking children and their mothers at Roan deserve at Cane at Rochel what is done yet we have not heard but I think shortly we shall hear Will God think you still sleep Will not their blood ask vengeance shall not the earth be accursed that hath sucked up the innocent blood poured out like water upon it I am most sorry for the King whom I love whom I esteem the most worthy the most faithful Prince of the world the most sincere Monarch now living I am glad you shall come home and would wish you were at home out of that Countrey so contaminate with innocent blood that the Sun cannot look upon it but to prognosticate the wrath and vengeance of God The ruine and desolation of Ierusalem could not come till all the Christians were either killed there or expelled from thence but whether do I run driven with just passions and heats The Scots both the parties in words shew themselves desirous of accord willing to come to reason but indeed they seem not so as both Monsieur de Crocque and Mr. Killegrew do fear the old Enemies be so hard to compound and the new possessions so hard to part from but as yet we cannot despair till they both have met together and heard joyntly what both the parties can say which so soon as it can be done Mr. Killegrew hath promised to write to me what is done and what he thinketh may be done What Strozzies hovering cloud which hath so long gone in a mist will brew at the last and what design so long cloaked will break out upon is no marvel though they and we and all the world doubt and if it be to besiege Rochel and to execute more slaughter upon men women
and children Christians as is now suspected and certified that thereabout it goeth and as some say is Master of Rochel when that is done what it will do and whether it will go further or no and if it do to what place I tell you truly many do doubt Divers of our Merchants resorting that way have found small courtesie at their hands no more then if they had been men with Pyrats This maketh our Merchants that they dare not yet adventure for Burdeaux and to doubt whether they may go thither this year or no. And I would mervellous fain know what manner of assurance you can make from thence Fare you well From Reading the six and twentieth of September 1572. YOu may perceive by her Majesties answer that she will not refuse the enterview nor marriage but yet she cometh near to them tam timido suspenso pede that they may have good cause to doubt The answer you see to de la Mot is addulced so much as may for she would have it so You have a busie piece of work to decypher that which in words is designed to the extremity in deeds is more then manifest neither you shall open the one nor they shall cloak the other The best is we stand I thank God upon our guard nor I trust shall be taken and killed asleep as the Admiral was the greatest matter for her Majestie and our safety and defence is earnestly of us attempted nor yet atchieved nor utterly in despair but rather in hope The Queens Majestie is in marvellous doubt for you she taketh as much care for you as any Prince can do for her Subject and she thinketh none can do what she would have done there as well as you You are happy in the one and her Majestie in the other seeing you are advertised so well hitherto God who hath hitherto delivered you will not yet leave you I doubt and I trust I need not fear I doth me good to see the Princely compassion that her Majestie doth take on the poor Vidame who is escaped by good fortune into England her Majestie hath written for him to the King the Copy I send you you shall do well to press the answer and bring it with you I dare say it will do you good if you can do it âaeâ est vicissitudo rerum humanarum haec est communis casus hominum All that be not bloody and Antichristian must needs condole and lament the misery and inhumanity of this time God make it short and send his Kingdom amongst us Fare you well once again the seveâ and twentieth of September which is removing day to Windsore Yours alwayes assured Tho Smith The Copy of the Queens Majesties Letters to the French King for the Vidam de Charâres TReshault trespuissant et tresexcellent Prince nostre trescher et tresaimè bon frere et cousin salut Le Vidam de Chartres est retirè en nostre Royaulme et nous a donne a entendre par un sien escript supplicative la cause de sa venue aâ nous et requirant de nous nostre favoârable recommendation de son cas enuers vous et pour ce que l'avons troâve de cocur loyal et fidel envers vous desirant tousiours sur toutes choses le tenir en repose et que par toutes occâsions que se presentoient non cesse de louer vos royalles virtus comme vostre tres affectionne subject dont en pouvons estre bons tesmoins Nous n'avous voulu faire moins aians compassion de l'estat miserable anquel il se troâve pour lè present que recommander affectueusment a vous sa cause qui nous sâmble certes fort lamentable et qui merite secours aiant a celle fin envoyè a nostre Ambassadeur aupres de vous sa requeste qui vous la declarera plus amplement en quoy vous prions trescher tresame bon frere et cousin luy donner bonne et favorable aâdience et ãâã bonne response au fin que avec cela nous pussions comme en avons bon espoir consoler le poure desole Vidam a nous y faire gran plaisir comme scait le createur aâquel prions tresh ault tresexcellent trespuissant Prince nostre trescher tresame bon frere cousin vous avoir tousiours a tressainte garde De nostre Chasteaâ de Windsore le 28 de Septemb. 1672. To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador Resident for her Majestie in France SIr the last Letters of yours by me received were those which yong Mr. Hopton brought hither since which time we have understood by report from Roan that on Thursday was sevennight there was a general slaughter made at Roan of all that could be imagined Protestants so as the very channels of the street did run blood we have heard diversly of Rochel by some that it is sacked by Strozzi by some that it holdeth out and that it is like so to do a long time As to the Ambassadors negociation here with us to seek to perswade us that the King was forced for safety of his own life to cause the execution to be done as it was and that thereof we shall see the proofs by the Admirals process you may imagine how hard a thing it is for us to be so perswaded against all our naturall senses and how they will accord these two jars we know not The Kings Letter first written after the Admirals death doth declare it to be done by manner of sedition and privately by the house of Guise who feared the Admiral and his would pursue against them the avenge for his hurt and the Kings own guard about the Admiral was forced and the King himself driven to hold his guards about him in the Louvre for his own defence and now yet it must needs be notified that the King did for his own surety cause the execution to be done By the dispatch that you shall receive from Master Secretary you shall understand what answer is made to the French Ambassador and upon what sort her Majestie hath forborn to resolve upon the enterview whereof her Majestie hath no misliking if it may appear that the King will forbear from persecuting the cause of Religion ACHE Rome A B Glasis nevertheless it will be very hard to perswade 3lca to like thereof I have imparted to her Majestie two things whereof your wife had in charge to make me privy of From Reading the five and twentieth of September 1572. Yours assuredly William Burleigh To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador Resident for her Majestie in France I will now my Lord Ambassador trouble you with some trifles of mine own leaving other matters to other advertisements I am very desirous to recover a Rider if any worthy the entertainment may be had whether there be any more at liberty that were appertaining to any of the late Lords that were murthered it
that I received at Brâlarts hands of such things as I propounded unto him on her Majesties behalf to be communicated unto the King and to the Queen his Mother Le Roches often repairing to the Court maketh me to suspect some enterprize to be done in Ireland The passages here be kept so strait as by no means I can imploy any man in Brittain towards the sea-side as well for the discovery of the said le Roches enterprize as also for the observing of Strozzies doings for though it be said that the said Army is dispersed yet know I not what I think it were good to imploy some Western Barque that way under the colour of merchandize for the discovery of the doings The Duke of Guise of late hath often conference with certain of the Scotish Guard though sithence the late murther he sheweth outwardly some miscontentment He was never in greater jollity then presently he is especially since the news of the Prince of Orange ' s retiring They begin now to discourse here that it would be a deed of charity for the Princes Catholiques not onely to set the Queen of Scots at liberty but also to restore her to her right Her Majestie is not ignorant what I have written touching the opinion of wise men what is to be done in that behalf for her safety If that sore be not saved I fear we shall have a Bartholomew Breakfast or a Florence Banqâât So they terme the late execution here Monsieur Grandmont hath Commission from the King to suppress all preaching in the Countrey of Berry and to plant there the Catholique Religion which is a verification of the Kings intention touching the observation of his Edict irrecoverable for the tolleration of Religion For that I hear that all Scotish men are stayed at the Ports that come hence I will make some stay to give them passports if the stay proceeded in respect of carrying over of secret âââters from hence there will grow little help and remedy thereof that way for that the Scotish Ambassadors Letters do pass in the Kings Pacquets methinks the return of the Scots might rather do good then harm for that the most part of them detest their proceedings here the report whereof will do no harm to the furtherance of the accord I would be glad to understand her Majesties pleasure especially for the Lord Levingston I and mine and divers of our Nation never received the like pleasure at their hands as lately we have done I have stayed for her Majesties service here Mr. Herbert by whom I receive good assistance I would therefore he might receive some good words from her Majestie to encourage him in the same for he is one that hath very very good parts in him and may hereafter grow a good and profitable servant Touching my return home I hope her Majestie will have just consideration of me who do now remain here without her benefit for a colour of their Ministers there to practise that thing there which is to her danger And so leaving further to trouble your honour at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the eighth of October 1572. Your Lordships to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principal Secretary SIr I most humbly thank you for the care you have every way of me and especially in that you would not suffer me to be ignorant hovv things do pass there vvith you vvhich giveth me no small light to direct my course here and yet vvhat direction can I receive that may vvell guide me vvhere I find neither faith nor constancy to build on it should but minister unto you grief for me to amplifie this matter and no great contentment to my self It is our part novv rather to think on some remedies for the mischiefs that are like to come then to rest amazed vvith the passed miseries I am sorry to hear that the accord in Scotland is not made and yet so long as la Crocque remaineth in Scotland vvhat cause have we to hope after it seeing that upon this alteration the end of his staying there is rather to impeach then to further the same if we think otherwise we do but dream our selves I am sorry to see the Ambassadors fair speech take such place as it doth methinks the late fresh experience we have had of that unsincerity should teach us to take profit of others harms Surely considering how things do proceed here and weighing the great presumption there is how that the trâe Monarchies of Europe are bent not onely to disquiet but also to displace her Majestie and to substitute some other it were no more then necessary policy to cut them off from so convenient a footing place as Scotland is which thing might easily be brought to pass if her Majestie would proceed roundly weighing that the Scots are not a little alienated from this Nation upon this late accident If her Majestie would joyn pensioâs with perswasions the thing in my opinion might easily be brought to pass not only to unite them under the Government of the King but also divide them from such League and Allyance as they have with this Crown There is Sir as you know another remedie which as it hath been long sithence needful to put in execution so was it never more needful then presently If her Majestie stick now to spend or put in execution all those things that tend to her safety she must not long look to live in repose nay she must not long look to keep the Crown upon her head The cause of her former quietness proceeded of her neighbours unquietness which being removed she must now make another account The Admiral is now dead and the Duke of Guise liveth the Prince of Orange is retired out of Flanders but the Duke of Alva remaineth there still I need not to conclude for that to mans judgement it is apparent what will follow Is it time now think you Sir to stir or is it not time to omit any remedy that may tend to her Majesties safety As far as I can learn there is none yet sent to deal with the Princes of Germany and yet there is here almost daily conference between the Popes Nuncio the Ambassador of Spain and them here they omit nothing that may tend to our peril I would we were as careful not to omit any thing that may tend to our safety It may be said that I fear too much Surely considering the state we stand in I think it less danger to fear too much then to little It may be said also that the jealousie that Spain hath of the greatness of France will not suffer him to indure to let France have any footing in England and that like affection reigning in France if Spain should attempt any thing I confess it to be true and yet I see no reason but that they both may consent to advance a third person who pretendeth right to the
as many Catholiques of the French as were found there which afterwards upon better consideration was stayed for that they thought the same would prove but a poor revenge notwithstanding this Nation groweth so hateful there as for avoiding of danger such of them as travel in those parts are driven to take upon them the names of Burgundians They write also that there is hope that the Elector Brandenburgh shall be chosen King of Polonia which news doth nothing content those here Further they do advertise that the Princes of Germany are in great jealousie of the Legats repair hither and that thereupon they do put themselves in order of defence for that they think his repair hither cannot be but to continue some dangerous practise A day or two after the Legat had made his entry the Court of Parliament sent unto him according to the ancient custom to see his faculties To whom he answered that the intention of his coming was not to execute the office of a Legat but only to visit the King and to treat with him certain private and particular matters Touching the manner of his receiving and entertainment since his access to the King this bearer shall enform you They do all what they can to make the world believe that his coming is not grateful unto them The Ambassador of Spain doth give out that the five and twentieth of the last moneth Zutphen was taken by the Duke of Alva and that eight or ten of the Princes ships have been also lately distressed Pynart of late willed my Secretary to tell me that whereas heretofore Monsieur de la Mot had usually certain imposts of wine granted to him he is afraid that he shall be debarred of the same or at the least some part of the quantity cut off which thing he wisheth not to be done at this time for that it may give the King occasion to think that his Ministers are not so grateful towards her Majestie as heretofore they have been Seeing that the Gentleman is not to make any long abode there being in hope of revocation me thinks it should be well done if he were used as he may return with good satisfaction And so having nothing further to impart unto your Honour at this time I most humbly take my leave AT Paris the fifth of December Your Honours to Command Fra Walsingham To the Right Honourble and his very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh SInce I last wrote unto your Lordship Steward repaired not unto me for that there is an eye had to such as resort to my house He sendeth me word that Glasco 4 â9 party increaseth in strength which will well appear when the season shall serve His letters of advice this bearer shall deliver you The party that is recommended unto you from Berwick telleth me that Iames Kirkaldy departeth hence out of hand with such money as Viracque should have carried into Scotland for that he hath gotten license to stay here for a moneth for that the King mindeth to imploy him there as an Ambassador Resident Further he telleth me that de la Mot hath advertised the King how that the Lord Athol is won to be of the Queens party which now sithence the death of the Regent is grown far the stronger And to the end that Liddington may travel more earnestly in strengthening the faction there is some offer made unto him of some great pension he saith mââeover that the Bishop of Glasco giveth him to understand that with some assistance of money the Lord Athol and the Lord Argile being revolted from the Kings side as they are they shall be more able to make their party good against any force her Majestie shall send until such time as he hath setled his things here Touching Seers the Earl of Westmerlands man I can by no means learn what answer he received at the Kings hands He telleth me only that he stayed here four days These his advertisements I have confirmed otherwise and therefore I do the rather credit them They have written to the Ambassador to use all the means that may be possible whatsoever it cost to have the Queen of Scots spoken withal willing him in any case to beware to use in that behalf any Hugonot The B. of Glasco hath lately divers times conference for the devising of some good means for that purpose one whom he meant to imploy in that behalf discovered no less unto me who thinketh that there is some practise for the stealing of her away They caused of late Briquemont and Cavannes a little before their death to subscribe to certain blanks which they have filled up with such matter as may best prove that there was a conspiracy pretended Which blanks so filled up they sent by Fregoz and one Carpenter into Germany to shew some unto the Princes there for the better justifying of the late execution If Kirkaldy be well used by Mr. Killegrew he will be no evil instrument he desireth much the revenge of that that hath been lately done here At Paris the fifth of December Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable and his very good Lord the Earl of Leicester RIght Honourable the King here is advertised that they of Rochel have of late taken the Isle of Rez and divers ships in the same a thing that imported the Rochellois much for that thereby they have the Haven free and at their commandment and may receive such succours as may come unto them by sea This Court is much agrieved with all aswell in this as in other matters that things frame so untowardly and go backwards The wisest sort do not stick to say that the greatest troubles are now but a beginning If it shall prove true that they write out of Germany which is that the Marquis of Brandenburgh is like to be chosen King of Polonia they may perhaps have just cause to repent their late doings but howsoever that fall out we shall see that God will work somewhat whereby it may appear the blood of his Saints to be dear unto him Perhaps we did build too much before upon the courage and wisdom of them that be dead He can raise up stones to set forth his glory so that we need not doubt to see the revenge unless our sins be the let What is meant by the King touching the besieging of Rochel this bearer shall impart unto your Lordship as also the manner of the entertainment of the Legat and how they seek to make the world believe that they are not content with his coming nor he with his entertainment They say here that the Kings side in Scotland is much weakned and the other side far the stronger they have therefore dispatched of late from hence some to keep the Queens party in courage until they have setled things at home I find therefore her Majestie shall have great difficulty to settle things here in such sort as may prevent such mischiefs as hereafter may grow
it were better for our âerchants to lose that they sue for then to continue their suits The Kings Letters Patents sent to Roan to certain Presidents to see such Merchants there restored to their goods as sustained loss at the time of the late troubles are as much regarded as if â had sent my Letters thither Our Nation is so evil liked here as whatsoever fair speech they use they think it injustice to do them justice Monsieur I a Mot as I learn hath sometimes written most earnestly to them here to cause them to do better justice then they do notwithstanding I see it prevaileth nothing at all And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the eleventh of January 1572. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honoârable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester THis bearer besides the enclosed Occurents hath charge to communicate certain things unto your Lordship by mouth and therefore at this present I leave to troâble your Lordship with many lines saving that I cannot but renew my old suit most humbly beseeehing your Lordship to continue the furtherance of my revocation Touching a Rider Captain Lassetty hath written both to Millan and Florence from the last he hath received answer that one worthy of entertainment will not be hired under 300 â the year and such other benefit as by our Lordship is offered He looketh shortly to have answer from Millan I fear your Lordship shall hardly be furnished of such a one as you desire of that calling unless it would please God to make one of that profession to be of the Religion who then would be glad to have such an offer and to live in so good a Sanctuary as England is I do imploy divers in this behalf and by some I am put in hope to have your Lordships turn served And so having nothing to impart at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the eleventh of January 1572. Your Honours to command Fra Walsingham To the Right Honourable his very good Lords the Lords of her Majesties most honourable privy Councel ACcording to your Honours order by letters of the six and twentieth of October I recommended unto the King here this bearers brothers cause whereupon he directed his Letters to certain Presidents at Roan appointed by Commission to see such of our Merchants as sustained loss in the last troubles restored to their goods At whose hands neither by virtue of the Commission directed to them nor by the Kings particular recommendation he could receive any other answer then that they had advertised the King touching such information as they had received of the injury he pretended to be done unto his brother wheââby it may well appear that there is nothing less meant then to make restitution of the spoils as were made in the time of the disorders besides this bearer notwithstanding he had the Kings safe-guard which I procured him was sundry times like to have been assaulted as he informeth me by such as outraged his brother and his host also where he lay was threatned because he received him He making complaint thereof there could have no redress and I making complaint of it here unto the King and his Councel found as little Ere he could receive answer what information was sent hither he was driven to attend a moneth In the end he was answered that one of the Presidents deputed their Commissioner was repaired hither and had informed them how that this bearers brother was a lewd young man and riotously consumed his substance and therefore used this as a mean to defraud his Creditors and that he onely payed twenty Crowns for ransome to such as had imprisoned him and that the cause of imprisonment proceeded upon certain quarrels about a wife he had married at Roan contrary to the will of her friends Whereupon I sent word to Secretary Pynart who gave this answer that he might be well able to discern by this kind of proceeding what will they have to do justice in that the answer was not made at Roaâ where he might have procured justification of his brothers behaviâur and that therefore in apparence there is no other reason why the party should be driven to attend answer here but that they think onely by such kind of delays to make him weary of prosecuting the matter To this Pynart answered that forasmuch as the President was a publique person and of such integrity and uprightness as he could not be charged with any untruth or wrong done to any person and ân the other side Stallenge one that was touched in his life and behaviour he could do nothing in his behalf Nevertheless he said that to gratifie me he would write again to the President if I thought his Letter would prevail any thing to the furtherance of the poor mans cause Your Honours may perceive by these answers what good will they bear to do justice considering that they had authority granted unto them to have determined the cause there But this answer they used for a delay to make him weary of prosecuting the matter I find them of late very slow to yield any expidition not onely in this bearers cause but also to such other of our Merchants as lately I have preferred and therefore considering how chargeable it would be for him to continue his suit here any longer and little hope there is of redress in the end I have advised him to repair to Roan to procure a testimonial as wel of his brothers behaviour and conversation as also of the evil usage he received during his abode there to the end that having informed your Honours thereof accordingly Your Honours may take order as to the same shall seem fit And so leaving to trouble your Honors any further at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the thirteenth of Ianuary 1572. Your Honours to command Fra Walsingham To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr I am sorry that I wot not what to write unto you things do fall out so here Dr. Dale was warned to dispatch and your revocation ready When it came to signing no such thing meant Dr. Dale wrote unto me he had provided half a score horse in his stable men to go with them and their own horses their liveries already bought and he altogether ready at my Lord Treasurers warning and mine and now understanding that he should not go the effect of this Letter I shewed this day unto her Majestie She beshrewed them it was long of Dr. Dale could not go before Midlent or Easter there was other matters which she would trust to no new men but to you and to none other Well Madam quoth I the poor man hath been already at these charges and chargeable it will be yet to him to put them away is loss to keep them charge besides my Lord
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. ââcretary doth advertise you of all things I do forbear Glasco Davisoâ longeth to heââ from Lyoâs 9 the ship abode in the place appoiââed 23 days And so I end trusting to see you here amongst your friends within this âix weeks at the least to be revoked at that time From Westminster the â2 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 âincerely 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
morning Her Majesty in good health So God be with you In all haste this 12 of January 1572. Your assured friend Ro. Leicester To the Right honorable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principall Secretary SIR if the cause of my stay here grow onely in respect of her Majesties service as by your Letters I am assured though I have as much cause to desire my return as any other that ever was imployed in the like service yet can I with more patience digest the same as he that thinketh both his travell substance and life as well imployed in her service as any other subject she hath I hope when her Majesty shall find my stay here not needfull she will tender my case and yeild to my Revocation Sithence the Cardinall of Lorains arrivall here the direction of Scotish matters are committed to his charge The Lord Levingston and the Lord Ogleby look shortly to be dispatched hence who receive at the Cardinals hands great entertainment and great promises of great good that they and divers others of their Nation shall receive at the Kings hands here Amongst others they have commission to assure D. Castelherault to be retored to the Kingdom here and that the Marshall Montmorency shall be otherwise recompenced That the Lo. Arboth shall be General of the Scotish men at Arms. That the Lo. Clade shall have the reversion after Losses death of the Captainship of the Guard That the Lo. Huntley and the Earle of Argile shall have the great Order sent unto them and assurance of great pensions And though it seemeth by the occurrents out of Scotland that the said Earle of Argile inclineth to the King yet the best there are of another opinion and think him to favour the Queens part which they are resolved to maintain I am advertised by one at whose hands I have received advertisements that the Cardinall of Lorain hath brought from Rome for Monsieur to marry with his Neece who as I hear as he doth hope after the marriage of Polonie so he doth not greatly like thereof and would be loath that Monsieur should be removed so far off The Marshall Tavannes who was held here for dead is now in some hope of recovery And so c. At Paris the 21 of January 1572. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord Treasurer YOur Lordships of the 14 of this moneth I have received by the which I perceived two sundry Letters which I sent you by the Vidams man with certain books are not come to your hands which maketh me to mistrust some some wrong measure for that he departed the second of this moneth The matter of most importance contained in the same was touching a Gentleman of â departed hence to 2 â 6. 4 with intention to imbarque there if the Barque were not departed Steward who is gone to Rochel as I sent your Lordship word by my servant William Williams promised before his departure to have come and seen me and to have had some conference with me which he did not but sent onely his man unto me with a fond Cypher requesting me to hear often from me To whom I answered That the Cypher he sent me was not for the purpose and as for writing often I told him I could not tell what to answer untill I might speak with his Master and that therefore I desired most earnestly to confer with him before his departure as well of that as of other matters notwithstanding his own promise and my request he is now departed so that considering his loose kind of dealing I cannot tell what to judge of the matter If the party that cometh over do not deal more orderly and roundly there then I am dealt with here I think it were well if it were at some end for that I fear the issue will prove such as the parties are that deal in it who are over young and lack experience that were fit to guide a matter of so great weight I serve in the same but for a distributer of Letters and yet as it should seem the chief cause of Religion groweth thereby If I thought there were good faith meant therein or that by good guiding there might grow good effect to the benefit of her Majesty I should then with the less grief continue my abode here Such Letters as I received lately from Davison I know not what to do with having no sure means how to convey them for one of mine own cannot with safety travell that way And as for any of this Nation I find none whom I may trust in that behalf and therefore untill such time as I hear further from your Lordship what liking you have of the overture that shall be made by them that I sent over who as I am informed by Steward is to grow to some through resolution I mean not to deal any further with them unless I see they proceed more orderly Of this loose kind of dealing I thought good to advertise to the end you may rather grow to some through conclusion with the said party there At Paris the 20 of January 1572. Your Honours to command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester YOur Lordships of the 12 of this present I have received and though I cannot at large write unto you touching the contents of the same through this Bearers hast for his own particular affairs yet I thought to write these few scribled lines in answer Touching Stewards matter which as I perceive is the chiefest cause of my stay here I assure your Lordship I know not what to think of it They deal very warily with me and seem to have more will to deal with you there then with me here I stand but in stead of a Post to receâve to deliver Letters By one that departed from thence I am shewed that you shal be ful informed what is their intention in that behalf I fear the issue thereof will be such as are the dealers therein In my Lord Treasurers Letter in respect of the Cypher you shall more plainly know my meaning If my stay here imported her Majesties service I could not so importunately seek my return though I have more them just cause so to do being rather overpressed then over-charged But seeing I do but servâ here to entertain a broken matter having no great credit with the parties otherwise then in generall terms I hope through your Lordships good assistance her Majesty will tender my cause by sending over my successor Now that the Cardinall of Lorain is arrived here who beareth the whole sway in the affairs they conclude somwhat touching Scotish matters In the mean time there is one lately dispatched hence with great offers to entertain the Queens party as your Lordship may perceive by the inclosed And so leaving further to trouble your Honor at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the 20 of January
the Letters were of his own writing that escaped a late but the superscription the others Lastly he could not tell it for certainty for that it was sent to him But the message was surely delivered by the person himself which we after perceiving the party there to avow did alter the minds of some albeit for my part it would not enter into me Since how great suspicion again is given I refer to your self The matter known to many of his Countrey men as well as to you and yet a shew to be kept secret from the King who will believe it again his often sending his own servants and never none met withal who can think it likely Also the parties chief instruments there to be imployed being so great a Papist and not to take such a matter as was lately offered him in worse part then he doth who will believe there can be plain dealing in this case O it were a happy turn to make some small trial what we were there and that we might have occasion to trounse his companion here for his pains and yet to pay them with their own rod and seem to crave thanks for discovering to the King there such a dangerous practise which we may easily and well do And I dare venture my arm to be cut of that it will fall out a plain practise and in the end the King may take his advantage against her Majestie when he list and say justly that she was willing to offer him such an injury by entertaining such practise I am bold to discover thus much of mine own conceit to you you may use it to as you see cause But truly I for my duties sake do not spare to inform her Majestie what I think of it albeit she is yet somewhat loath to discredit the party there she is born in hand his love is great Now also a little further as your friend I will be bold with you I pray you consider accordingly of it We find certainly that oft-times your advertisements be made more common even of the greatest then is thought convenient You know what opinion is here of you and to what place all men would have you unto even for her Majesties sake besides that the place you alreadie hold is a Counsellours place and more then a Counsellours for a time for oft-times Counsellours are not made partakers of such matters as you are acquainted withal and do advertise hither so much the less are others to be acquainted with your secrets And the more boldlie this for that it hath been friendlie told me and in this sort That you have written sometimes more largelie to some private friends then almost to her Majesties self if it be so then I pray you accept this friendly if not yet I will tell the parties and their names And even upon this your last advertisement which you committed to your messenger to deliver to my Lord Treasurer and me the same was also communicated to others being no Councellors and by your Letters referred to receive the understanding at the Messengers hands and I will tell you what followed and this we speak upon knowledge before we had either imparted your Letters to her Majestie or scarce read them all I assure you the Count Montgomery was advertised being this day here in the Court of the matter which if it should grow further may happilie turn to that Gentlemans destruction besides the like secret matter which you committed to be delivered to my Lord Treasurer and me upon the slaughter when you durst not write was likewise communicated unto others which came also to our knowledge for it was in open talk within ten hours after we had it yet upon our honour we had not delivered it to any Councellour living one or other wherefore you may see it is not good to trust messengers nor to impart any of your weighty causes how near or dear soever they be to you for I assure you they go from friend to friend and my self have had them brought to see and yet I must say I saw no matter of so great weight albeit I saw that such were fitter to receive almost no letters then to send them abroad This I assure you Mr. Walsingham I do upon meer good will and honest friendship towards you and so I pray you take it And I desire you to commit this letter to Vulcan And being weary I commit you to God In haste the eighth of Ianuary 1572. Your assured Friend Ro Leicâster To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador for the Queen's Majestie in France I Have received your letters of the of this moneth and my Lord Treasurer hath imparted unto me his Letter which was sent with the Cypher as also since two other of the four and twentieth of this moneth which all contain matters of importance specially this last which is to be foreseen and for my part I believe the advertisement to be very likely and true the further you may grow into the certain knowledge thereof the better service you may do I perceive the King doth earnestly prosecute the reformation of his Subjects how God will prosper him methinks he should greatly fear for his victory doth not consist in his great numbers My hope and prayer is that our mighty God will shew his wonted mercie and grace towards innocents and his poor afflicted flock Here hath been of late a Gentleman for the partie you wot of one that I know and have seen him here before though he be not forward in Religion yet is he a faithful Gentleman and of great trust with his friend The matter doth stand very tickle and methinks they deal far more unsafely then if they had dealt by you and yet is it the cause of your stay onelie I am glad to hear of the good fortune of the Rochellers God send it to be true as also that the King is of no better credit with the Almains and Switzers I wrote of late to you of some length but it hath pleased Mr. Secretary to forget the sending these ten daies I pray you send me word whether it hath been opened or no. If I thought you should tarry longer there I would send you a Cypher but I think otherwise and therefore in that full hope I will forbear I thank you verie much for your mindfulness of the Rider if he be good your bargain is verie reasonable My Lord of worcester hath great judgement in those matters but I durst trust Claudio my old friend that he would not abuse me What you promise on my behalf shall be performed towards him to the uttermost Thus having no news but of our Mistris's perfect good health I bid you farewell In some haste the nine and twentieth of January 1572. Your very Friend Ro. Leicester To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr the Instructions of my Lord of Worcester have in them such a clause that if he
communicated the things unto her Majestie because it passed the bounds of my function here which is onelie to advertise Notwithstanding seeing the same is not used with that secresie as is fit I will avoid hereafter to offend Touching the Counts being acquainted with the matter of secrecie your Lordship shall understand that the partie that made me acquainted withal delivered me certain Letters sent from the place you wot of which I caused my men to deliver unto him by the which he came to the knowledge of the matter Now to come to your Lordships latter letter I see great cause to confer the likelihood of my letters of the four and twentieth of the last for that there is great hope conceived here that by large offers they have lately made to such Towns as hold out they will grow to a composition which in the end will be neither good for themselves nor for us howsoever the Ambassador there speaketh by the absence of some from hence I cannot be able to discover any more touching the Scotish affairs then alreadie I have done And now that the Court removeth I am cut off from all means to have any great intelligence either for that matter or others especially for that I shall be constrained for lack of abilitie to remain here still being unfurnished of all means to follow the Court And then seeing my remaining here shall be unprofitable unto her Majestie and to my undoing I hope her Majestie will no longer defer my revocation which I doubt not your Lordship will further as much as you may And so leaving c. To Sir Thomas Smith SIr after the closing up of my other Letters I received yours of the nine and twentieth of Ianuary Touching the contents of the same I will not fail upon the next convenient occasion to deal with her Majestie here concerning the Scotish matters though I be not provoked by them because I am directed so to do Notwithstanding in my poor opinion as I mean here to say nothing but to do somewhat that may tend to the continuance of the troubles there until such time as ther own things being settled at home they proceed in prosecuting their other practises so were it not amiss for her Majestie to use like silence and to provide to withstand their malice but herein I am to do as I am commanded The Scotish Ambassador is advertised by the ship late arrived out of Scotland into Flanders how that Iames Cancald is arrived at a place if I do not mistake it called Aberdeny in the Earl of Huntleys Countrey to which place Viracque who latelie departed from hence is appointed to repair The Lord Levingston desireth most earnestly to have a passport to pass through England for that he is wearie of this Countrey and would fain be at home He promiseth to communicate to her Majestie at his arrival at the Court such things as she shall not repent the granting of the same And if sâe shall have any doubt of him he will be content to remain their Prisoner for mine own opinion I think it not amiss to grant it him for that I learn by some of credit that he communicateth his secrets to that he misliketh their doings here and the pretended enterprize towards our Island as one that tendeth to the overthrow of Religion and the ruine both of England and Scotland I have promised by the next to give him a resolute answer and therefore I beseech you to put her Majesty in mind of the same Now to come to mine own particular I had well hoped my stay here should not have been so long protracted and that my miserable case should have been otherwise weighed especially seeing my state here should breed but a hinderance to my self and no benefit to her Majesty For now the Court removeth from hence I shall be driven to remain here and not to follow the same for lack of ability having neither furniture money nor credit I beseech you Sir therefore to lay my case before her Majesty who I hope will so graciously consider the same as I shall be presently relieved and others receive no discouragement to accept like service And so leaving further to trouble your Honor at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the sixth of February 1572. To the right Honorable Francis Walsingham Esq the Queens Majesties Ambassadour in France SIR I have received your Letters of the 20 of this moneth with the ticket after your accustomed manner concerning and was on Friday last with the party on whom you made mention to be from he spake with Glasco and Davison with him I see there was a great mistaking of our doings for by Davisons writing of a ship sent to ãâã ãâã imagining that Hall 3. had a meaning to provoke Glascoâ9 â9 to come hither whereupon this last Gentleman came to enquire of Hall some assurance if should so do to enquire ãâã ãâã This you must think must needs appear very strange Whereupon before Davison I did declare that all that was done came of him with earnest and lamentable requests to have Glasco preserved because he said that had gotten such knowledge of the same as the same would tend to the ruine of and so the party that now was sent is departed well certified of the truth but not satisfied of his request It is good to deal warily herein for some cause to mistrust that Davison and all his partners do nothing herein without knowledge of and therefore it is in such sort herein ordered as there can be no advantage taken I trust And so also you may look to your doings as I see you are disposed by the occasion of the fond handling that you see I am much perplexed with the dishonor done to my Lord of Worcester her Majesties Ambassador on the seas before Bulloign Wherefore by his own report I know you shall know the truth better then I yet do know I could wish my self a meet person for the service upon the seas to avenge it I have received your French lying book which might trouble me if my life had merited such vile and spitefull poisoned speech but I trust God will suffer the good to think of me as I have deserved I have imparted to the French Ambassador my misliking of this lewd Book in that it hath been translated by a man of note in that Court and he sheweth himself to procure the suppression of it What he will or can do herein I know not After the writing of the former part hereof your later Letters of the 24 were brought to me by which you advertise of the like likely Councell there intended for the appeasing of those inward troubles in that Realm and of the pretended favours to be shewed to them of the religion in odium târtii according to which devises hath already been begun here by this Ambassador with the French King here and such is his vehemency of speech and fair offers as he
two days taken up the enchange of certain Treasures of the Town 300000 franks to what end I know not He is now retired from hence to Rome the cause of his departure as it is thought is to remove the suspicion from the Protestants that they suspect nothing of the great conferences had at sundry times between Queen Mother and him Here since the departure of the King upon the good assurance that hath been given me by divers of the good offices that the Lord Levingston will do in Scotland at his return I have taken upon me to give to him a passport with condition that if her Majestie shall not like thereof then he to return hither back again who promiseth to yield such satisfaction to her Majestie as she shall not repent her of any favour she shall shew him The Gentleman feareth that if he should not depart hence before Easter he should be constrained to yield to their superstition or to hazard his life in refusing the same which is the cause why I grant him the same pasport without hearing from her Majestie Schomberg is lately sent hence into Germany as it is thought to two purposes the one to observe their doings there the other to make some levy of both horsemen and footmen if he shall see any preparations of succours for them of the Religion here There arrived lately a noble Gentleman sent hither by the King of Portugal to congratulate the Queens delivery and as it is said to renew the offer of succour by sea It is said that the Baron de la Guard is dead and that Monsieur le Duc d' Alanson desired to have the charge by sea whereto Queen Mother would by no means consent as Mannesire shewed me It is also reported that Monsieur De la Noue hath discharged himself to Monsieur of his promise made to the King and professeth to live and dye with those of Rochel And so leaving c. hoping that her Majestie will take order by sending over Mr. Dale that I shall be the next Messenger my self I most humbly take my leave At Paris the 26 of February 1572. To Mr. Secretary SIr this Gentleman the bearer hereof whom I dispatch in all haste shall shew you the particularities of the late skirmish happened between the Camp and those of Rochel to the end you may impart the same unto her Majestie In the which skirmish D. d' Aumale and Schavigur were slain two of the chiefest executors of the late murthers here God of his good beginning doth give us some hope that the blood of the innocent shall not beunrevenged They of Sancerre the night after the breach was made which was about the latter end of the last moneth issued out of the Town and gave the Camp a Camisadâ who kept very negligent watch so that they entred into their Trenches as it is said and slew 200 at the least and three or four Captains of good conduct Hereupon it is said that Shaâers who is the General for the King is commanded to levy the siege and to repair to Rochel I am credibly informed that there should be certain Letters entercepted sent out of Germany from Count Lodowick amongst the which there was one directed to Count Montgomery wherein was mention made of assurance of succours to be given to them of the Religion here out of Germany I have divers causes to conjecture that the party which brought these Letters was directed unto me This interception maketh them here much doubt Germany Sir Mr. Dale had need to bring with him over a greater train then he shall be well able to maintain if her Majestie look to hear often from him and if his servants shall be stayed ordinarily as mine are And so c. At Paris the tenth of March. To my Lord Treasurer IT may please your Lordship to understand as I was upon my departure from this town towards the Court I received this inclosed from my Scretary Thevewes the things contained in the same are here very rife and confirmed with great earnestness and others notwithstanding some here of judgment considedering what good success they have lately had at Rochel how much their enemies are therewith appalled and how the giving out of these bruits may serve the Kings turn many ways do not credit them for my own opinion I assure your Lordship I know not what to judge I have seen within these few moneths so many strange and unlikely things come to pass as I do rather suspend my judgment then utterly not believe it If her Majesty do not hear from me with that speed that were requisite when there falleth out here matters worthy advertisement I am justly to be excused for that I have none to send my servants being all staid there and not one sent over which thing if it be not by some device remedied I know not to what use an Ambassador will serve And so having c. To the right honorable Francis Walsingham Esquire her Majesties Ambassador in France SIR you may think it strange that I have writ no oftner to you then I have done and that I have no sooner dispatched your successor unto you but I think you know well enough the stile and order of the Court. Yesterday was the first day that I could get your dispatch signed and the same night I sent word to your wife and sent word to Dr. Dale who hath been with me in the morning and prepareth to take his journey straight after the holidays towards you whereof I thought good to give you warning by your servant for before her Majesty had signed I durst never adventure to affirm any thing for fear of contrary winds the which is no news in this Court Well now I trust you be pleased if with nothing else yet at the least with your return Montgomery is gone from hence whether he hath taken shipping or no I know not but I suppose he hath With his tarrying so long here the Queens Majestie was fain to send to apprehend the Pirats of all nations thereabouts who under the colour of the Prince of Orange and the Count Montgomery robed all manner of Englishmen and strangers some of them are like to pay for it and the rest be gone or will be glad to go for it was time for justice to awake Of Casteauneufs coming hither on D' la Motts errand I think my Lord Treasurer hath written unto you who is privater of it then I am and the answer The pretence was to bring recommendations and excuse from the Duke of Alanson of his absence at my Lo. of Worcesters being there the cause not pretended what preparation was here to help Rochel And he might easily see there was none by common consent and the Princes avow What Montgomery for commiseration or love of private men especially strangers can get is hard and I fear by the event will not appear so much as is thought and spoken of and were expedient at this time
if any great thing should be done Scotland is very well come forward to an universall agrement sith DuâCrocque and Viraque went away The Duke and Earle of Huntly be come in from them and all their followers to acknowledge the King and his Regent None holds out but Grange and Liddington who keep the Castle The King and the Lord Regent not being able for fair means to get them to the unity of the whole Realm offering unto them all reasonable conditions that they can demand so that they will leave the Castle and to keep no longer Edenburgh which is the London and Paris of Scotland in subjection unto them yet cannot be heard and therefore is required of the Queens Majesty to bring them to order the which the Queen may do for any league treaty or promise heretofore made and so I think will do if there be no remedy Du Viraque who is thought to be sent to keep them still in dissention by good hap and contrary winds was driven with six ships of Scotland into Scarbrough-Haven stayed there by there by the Lord President In the mean while was the Duke and the Earl agreed with the Regent and the Scotish Ships departed He is now thought to be in the way to come to London for so my Lord president appointed but not yet come A man of his taken in Scotland hath confessed that he was sent back under another pretence to cast into the Sea the most part of his writitings the which he did which declareth good plain dealing The Lo. Leviston is now come to London pretending his desire to have his Conscence at liberty but not yet trusted that he meaneth the quiet of Scotland words have escaped him and his Companions by the way which have not fallen to the ground Farewell from Greenwich the nineteenth of March 1572. Your assured friend Tho. Smith To my very loving friend Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador for her Majesty with the French King SIR your letters brought to me were of the 11 of March dated at St. Cloud and the next former were of the 25 of February for which I thank you that you do so carefully advertise me of the state of things as I find you have done when I have been more answerable then now I can be The reason of my frequent absence is the intervall of times when here I am no less mindfull of your causes both such as belong to her Majesty and such as belong to your self then any other to my power is or can be and even now on Wednesday last her Majesty hath signed all things meet to revoke you and to send another in your place wherein I know you haue found cause to think the time long and so have your friends been lately grieved with it but I trust now to see you shortly to your contentation You shall understand that the French Ambassador hath of late time been very earnest with her Majestie in certain causes as first in offering by all good speeches the continuance of the Amitie and with complaining as grievously that the Q. Majesties offering of Montgomery to be aided as he is with mony c. must needs move the âing to think his Amity contemned And with some sweet minatories he intrated that he might be staied c. He also reneweth the marriage matter and thereto requireth a resolute answer as a thing necessary to be ended the one way or the other for honor of all parties He also hath seemed greatly offended with the stay of Viraque at Scarborough He hath made suit that for the Queen of Scots some ther in France meaning two or three might come hither to bring the said Queen money and account of her Estate In the end came hither an Agent named Chasteau Neuf from the Camp afore Rochel his coming was as we perceive to disswade Montgomery from going to Rochel but he brought loving letters to her Majesty from M. le Duc. To these things briefly you shall know the Answers His offers of Amity have been thankfully accepted and it hath been told him that his Majesty is more bound to the Queens Majesty for her perseverance then any other upon like cause For though it be manifestly seen and fully discovered by such as are arrived in Scotland out of France having been dealers with the King in France and others there how the King is disposed against the Queens Majesty and this Realm to offend it when his own troubled causes shall be setled and how he persecuteth the Protestants being of the Queens Religion yet her Majesty hath resolved to persevere in her League meaning first to see the breach come indeed first from the French King then she doubteth not by Gods Grace to preserve her and her Realm whereunto she also findeth all her people so willing to withstand all forces force as she hath much ado to detain them from adventuring in great numbers to pass to Rochel of their own charges and those are not of the popular but Noblemen and Gentlemen of Ancient and great livelihoods who surely have offered of their own charges to finde an Army of 20000 footmen and 2000 horsemen for six months in Gascoyn and so earnest they have been that it is already known to themselves both where the men are to be had and the money onely they desire but a permission and truely her Majesty hearing hereof hath shewed her self much offended herewith and with great charge for fear of her indignation of the same the Ambassador confessed he had understanding whereupon he was constrained to confess how much his Master was bound unto her Majestie All this you may notifie unto the King and amplifie it for it is true and meet to be uttered As for the stay of Montgomery it was said that he desired to depart the Realm considering her Majesty refused to aid him and therefore her Majesty thought it a cruel part to stay him whom she was not disposed to aid And for his manner of departure the Ambassador could tell how much he was grieved with that her Majesty had caused all such as were on the Sea for him and Rochel to be apprehended and all that which they had taken from other the French Kings subjects to be restored as indeed the like general speedy restitution hath not been made in my time so as therewith also the King hath cause to commend her Majesties observation of the League For the Marriage her Majesty caused me privately to confer with the Ambassador and her Majesty hath willed me to let him know that you shall make the Answer and yet he shall be acquainted with it and so this it is her Majesty would have you to let the King and his Mother understand that she cannot accord to take any person to her husband whom she shall not first see Secondly she cannot assent that any person which shall be her husband shall with her Authority and assent use any manner of Religion in outward exercise that is
in her Conscience contrary and repugnant to the direct word of Almighty God and so consequently prohibited by the Laws of the Realm whereupon these two Consequences do necessarily follow that in this case of Marriage with Monsieur de Duc if he will obtain her his wife without sight of him her Majesty cannot be had and yet therein hâr Majesty is very loath that he shoâld think that she desireth his coming but as himself shall finde it meet by the advise of the King his brother and the Queen mother to whom she remitteth the consideration hereof with this assurance that she meaneth in good faith to marry with him if upon his sight the one may like of the other and that for the cause of Religion as he and she may so accord as that which he shall demand be assented unto without offence of her Conscience or without trouble of her Estate and that that point of Religion is thought meetest to be left at large to be communed upon betwixt themselves so as if it should mishap that one of them might not fully like of the other as to a conclusion of marriage that the refusal or breaking up might be imputed the cause of Religion and so either party might honorably be discharged to the world and no occasion grow thereby of unkindness betwixt them This is the substance of her Majesties resolution whereof to make the Ambassador here privy she seemeth not to mislike thereof and in the end concluded with me that she took this course to be agreeable to the same resolution which was delivered at Killingworth the last of August to him and La Mott. And so I think it in substance the same whereof I do herewith send to you the last two Articles of that Answer in French as then it was given to which news you may refer this new Answer And now to add of mine own you shall understand that I see the imminent perils to this State and namely how long soever she shall by course of nature live and Reign the success of this Crown so manifestly uncertain or rather so manifestly prejudicious for the State of Religion that I cannot but still persist in seeking for marriage for her Majestie and finding no way that is liking to her but this with the Duke I do force my self to pursue it with desire and do flatter my fancie with imaginations that if he should come hither her Majesty would not refuse him and for his Religion methinks if he may be otherwise liked he would not lose a Queen with a Kingdom for a Priests blessing of a Chalice I cannot imagine that his Religion is rooted that it may not be transported Now if I am deceived yet for the time it easeth me to imagine that such a sequel may follow but you have cause better to guess hereat then I for I guess at nothing but at the Queens Majesties disposition which I take firmly to be bent to marriage but you on the other part may guess whether he may be liked whether he may be induced to be qualified in his Religion yea whether his marriage be meant seriously and sincerely on that part and upon these conceits you have cause to imagine more certainly what ought to be looked for or desired then I can But now turning my paper I will leave and end this matter praying you heartily to impart unto me your conceit herein if thereby you see cause to stay my course you see how long I have tarried in this matter for the rest of the point for Viracques sending for me to come to the Scottish Queen and for the matters of Scotland I doubt not but Mr. Secretary hath enlarged his knowledg therein to you And for more surety because at the writing hereof he is gone into Essex I will upon the closing up of my Letter impart by speech some part thereof to this bearer Walter Williams to excuse me of longer writing Notwithstanding Gordens denyal to be privy to the Book lewdly augmented with a blasphemous Prologue I understand out of Scotland that he is therewith well acquainted wherefore I pray you search it better out and let me understand what is now become thereof And thus I end on Good-Friday at night the 20 of March 1572. Your assured loving friend Wâ Burleigh Response de la Roigne d'Angle au Sr. de la Mott Fenelon Amb. du Roy tres-chrestien Fait par Mr. Le Grand Tresorier le 18 Marc. 1573. QUe se Maj. voyant que le Roy tres-christien son bon frere la Royne sa me re perseuerent en le honeste desir de demander son alliance encores que de puis le mois de Aoust dernier plusieurs choses soient entrevennes de la costè par les quelles ell ' a une grande occasion de ne suiure le propos Neant moins a le prochas elle returne maintenant aux mesmes termes on les choses en estoient demâures le 20 du dit mois d' Aoust lors que elle seant en son conâeil a Kellingworth present le Sr. de la Mott fist une forme de response au dit Sr. Ambas suivant la quelle elle dit de noveau Que pour le bien de ses subjectes lesquels monstrent de preveoir beaucoup de grandes dangiers en ce Royaume si elle les de laisse sans quelque lignèe prouvenant de elle et sans successeur a fin de les satesfaire quelle est firmement resolue de se marier de quelque bon et grand lieu selon elle si elle peult trouver quelqu'n qui à elle et son estate soit convenable Et sur le offre que les Maj. tres-christienes luy font de Mr. le Duc d' Alanson le frere et fils elle trouve que la partie est fort honorable si toutes autres choses y peâvent convenir dont estime qu'il en consiste une bonne partie en l'enterveüe d'eux deux tant a cause de l'inequalite de lâaage que pour le rapport que ceux qui ont veu M. le Duâ ont fait de son visage a fin de veoir s'ily aura mutuel consentement entre âux Car ainsi at elle tousiours respondu a toutes autres Princes qui l'ont recerché ce qu'un chascun scait bien que beaucoup ont faict qu âelle ne achepteroit jamais aucun pour mary si elle ne lâeust primierement veue Que neant moins pour le miscontentement et autres displaisirs que pourroient succeder de la dit entreveâe si d'adventure les choses ne sortient a effect ât craignant pour cela quelque diminution d'amitie en lieu qu'elle la veut augmenter elle ne scait que desirer la dessus advis remettant a les Maj. tres-christienes le âit point d' entreveue scachant trop bien qu'elles ne consillerent
Princes Protestants pour la defense de la Religion et pour assister aux attempts de ceux qui voudroint invahir ce Royaume dont pour toucher le paix a touts inconvenients que pourroient sur venir en l'amitie et bonne ligue qu'est de present entre leur Maj. et entre leur deux Royaumes Il ni voir aucun rien de plus expedient que de le confirmer et estraindre d'advantage par ce mariage A Copie of the Lord Treasurers Letter to the French Ambassador MOnsieur I Ambassador according to your motion I conferred with her Majestie upon the alteration or qualification of some points in the writing which you sent me as concerning the matter of Religion to be tolerated for Monsieur le Duc and after some long speeches passed herein her Majestie collected in a few words that she would it should by me be imparted unto you meaning to abridge the length of the form First That the King hath known her disposition to marriage and upon what cause since the first motion for Mr. d' Anjou and therein how she alway resolved not to marry without mutual sight and liking nor yet to have the matter of Religion to be a cause of trouble to her state and of the same minde she hath been and yet is for Monsieur d' Alanson Now what is to be done further by Monsieur le Duc she leaves that to the King and him with this that if he should thus think beforehand if he should come percase liking should not ensue that then he should conceive such offence thereof as his good will should turn into hatred her Majestie thinketh it not meet that in such case he should come at all but if onely the matter of Religion should breed such difficulty betwixt them as howsoever the one should like of the other yet in respect of the satisfaction in that behalf the marriage should not take place it were honorable enough for both or either of them though upon the enterview the marriage did not succeed And therefore no offence ought to follow or an alteration of good will which is that her Majestie desireth to be conserved whatsoever happen of the matter of marriage Thus after much long speech passed between her Majestie and me praying you according to the knowledge that she is assured you have of her sincere meaning by conference with her Majestie you will also deliver it to the King To the Lord Treasurer IT may please your Lordship to advertise hâr Majestie That upon the receipt of your Lordships Letters of March 20 I communicated to Q. mother her Majesties Answer touching the marriage matter which I thought to begin withal and concerning the other three points to say nothing but as occasion shall be ministred by her For the marriage I shewed her that her Majestie could not speak more cleerly in the matter then heretofore she hath done which was that she could not accord to take any for her husband whom she should not first see Secondarily That she cannot assent that any man that shall become her husband shall with her Authority and assent use any manner of Religion in outward exercise that is in her Conscience contrary to the direct Word of God and so consequently prohibited by the Laws of her Realm To the first of these two points she answered that the King and she could not consent to his coming over without surety that the marriage should proceed To the second She said that it was neither honorable for him to abandon his Religion upon the sudden neither could her Majestie require to have a husband to live without exercise of his Religion and as for those words whereas she saith that he cannot consent that he shall have any manner of Religion methinks said she the words be very dark and therefore I would be glad to know of you what they mean To that I answered that I had not Commission to interpret them but in my private opinion her Majesties meaning was to debar him of the exercise of any Religion repugnant to the Laws of the Realm Upon these two points there passed between us long debating I shewed her how necessary the contentation of the eye was in marriage and that her Majestie by none that heretofore had seen him could receive any such satisfaction as were requisite Further I used divers Arguments to prove unto her that if the matter did not succeed yet could there not grow any dishonour unto him otherwise then in opinion For the second I shewed her that as her Majestie had at all times cause to stick upon this point of Religion so never more then at this present considering what lately had passed here which had generally bred in her Majesties subjects great jealousie of this Crown seeing them so earnestly bent to oppress those that profess the same Religion that they do In the end she desired me in this behalf to shew unto her Majestie touching the interview that the King and she could not consent that the Duke should come over unless he might be assured to speed for that otherwise he returning without speeding should receive great dishonor which might hinder some honorable offer lately made unto him And after other Covenants that depend upon the conclusion of the said marriage which heretofore in the other Treatie were reduced to a reasonable accord shall be so secretly debated here by some choice persons elected for the purpose with her Majesties Ambassador here resident at the same time as shall not be made common to the world and then the same being agreed upon and assurance being given unto the King and her by some Letter of her own hand writing that her intention is to proceed to the consummation of the marriage he should not fail to come over and yet should he give outto the world that he adventureth to come over upon no other assurance then upon good hope I shewed her that in this point the Queen my Mistriss as I took it was fully resolved not to receive any to her husband before she shall see him Notwithstanding Madam quoth I I will make her acquainted with your requests in this behalf And as for Religion saith she we onely require that he may have some secret exercise for himself and some few of his that he shall bring over with him with this Caution that her Majestie should depute some whom she should think fit for the purpose to see that none of her subjects should resort to the same I shewed her that I would make her Majestie privy to these her requests though said I as far as I can perceive I see her Majestie resolved to accept neither of them So proceeding in further talk she shewed me that she hoped howsoever the marriage took place the Amity notwithstanding lately concluded would continue I shewed her that if there grow any violating thereof the cause should rather proceed from them then from his Majestie though Madam I know
that there are bruits given out here to the contrary but I hope Madam the King and you rest satisfied if your Ambassador hath made you truly acquainted with her Majesties proceedings To that she answered that the King and she was to think themselves beholding to her Majesty notwithstanding that they would have wished that Montgomery had not received at her Majesties subjects hands that he doth though we know that Inhibition is made by her Majesty to the contrary I then shewed her that to the end she might understand how much she was beholding to my Mistris I would with her leave make her privy to such reasons as might have moved any other Prince but my Mistris who is consequently bent to make good Amity with them to yield to C. Montgomory all assistance First I shewed her that divers of her subjects of great quality courage and likelihood had laid before her Majestie sundry reasons to induce her to think that the fire lately kindled in France to the ruine of those of the Religion there if through Gods goodness it be not quenched is also so meant that it shall extend towards her saying that if she forbear to support them and suffer them to quaile she would be the cause of her own ruine and of her Realm besides laying before her danger they have laid before her also honor and profit and have shewed her that now is the time for her to recover such Provinces in this Countrey as appertain to the Crown of England And for the better incouragement have offered her to finde her an Army of 20000 footmen and 2000 horsemen for the space of six months Further I shewed her that late it hath been discovered by such as are in Scotland arrived out of France having been dealers with her Majestie and others here how they are disposed when their own troubled causes shall be setled to attempt somewhat against her Majestie Lastly I shewed her how her Majestie hath been put in minde how little account is had of the recommendations heretofore made by her and the Princes of Germanie of those of the Religion here seeing them persecuted with such extremity contrary to the assurance given by their Majesties unto such their Ministers as did recommend them which may give just cause to think her Amity is little esteemed All these courses notwithstanding which would move any other Prince such is her affection towards this Crown as she is fully resolved to persevere in her League meaning first indeed to see the breach come from the King and then she doubteth not in Gods goodness but that she shall preserve her self and her Realm against him or any other Prince that shall attempt any thing against her finding all her subjects most willing to withstand all forraign forces whatsoever is given out by certain Rebels To this she answered that she knew by advertisement come from the Ambassador that there was great sollicitation made by her subjects as also great offers and that therefore they acknowledged themselves much beholding to her Majestie for her intention to persevere in good Amity Now whereas you say there hath been discovered by certain apprehended in Scotland some intention of ours to disquiet her Majestie I protest saith she that both the King and I know of no such matter and that the parties that so do say do belieâ us What Commission they have received from others of this Realm I know not but if it may be proved that they have received any they that have given them Commission shall receive such punishment as the Q. your Mistris can desire Our intention saith she touching the matters of Scotland was never other then to perswade them to accord and to acknowledge the âueens Majâsty their Mistris for their Governor To this I replyed in so doing they break the League for that it was contrary to that which vvas concluded in the same for that it vvas agreed that neither the one nor the other should give Lavv unto Scotland but should joyn in maintenance of that Government That they among themselves should agree upon to be most for their safety vvhich thing may give my âistris just occasion to suspect that vvhich is discovered in Scotland the rather to be true Then she seeming to be sorry that she uttered so much that she could do no less but say somevvât to recommend her câuse ãâã the allyance and yet vvished any accord rather thân they shâuld ââstrây one anoâher Upon this occasion she fell in to some purpose about the staying of Viracque and said that it vvas strange Ambassadors should be stayed vvho vvere alvvays persons priviledged vvithin the Dominions of their Confederates To that I ansvvered that it mighâ seem more strange to the Queen my Mris. considering that it vvas agreed that the matters in Scotland should be treated in common that any should be sent secretly thither her Majesty not being made privy thereof vvhich gave her Majesty a great occasion to suspect that vvhich vvas discovered by certain taken in Scotland to be true seeing such dealing under hand the Queen my Mistris said I wâs rather perswaded that Viracque had been sent over by some of this Realm who envyed the good between the two Crowns then by the King and therefore shall be sorry to hear him be avowed to be his Minister To this she answered That the Queen my Mistris had been made acquainted of their intention to send Viâacqâe long since by their Ambassador to the end to joyn with Mr. Kâllegrew in the treaty of accord I told her that I thought that they should finde their Ambassador had failed to let her Majestie understand so much for that as I am informed she understood nothing of his going thither until such time as she heard of his stây And as for his stay Madam quoth I though he avows himself to be the Kings Ambassador yet her Majesty hath given order throughâut all her pârts that all her persons whatsoever they pretend unless they be notoriously known to be Merchants or have pasports or safe-Conduct shall not onely be staied but also sent up to the Court and therefore this stay being generally upon good consideration considering the present state of Europe neither he nor any other that either hath been or shall be stayed can complain of any violating of any privi edge c. that appertaineth to any Ambassador She seemed to be very much intangled with this matter and had not therefore much to say for the staying of him Afterwards falling into Montgomeries matter I declared to her Majesty also at large how much he was aggrieved with that her Majesty had caused all such as were on the Seas for him and Rochel to be apprehended and all that which they had taken from others the French Kings subjects to be restored and that with such speed as the like speedy and general restitution hath not been in my time heretofore Whereby said I your Majesty hath just occasion to commend her Majesties
Instructions bien amples pour traicter avec vous sur quelques points d'importance dout nous attendous plus prompte response pour selon icelle vous esclaircir sur les dites particularitez dedans le terme prefix mais d'autant que les choses que vous avez proposées tant a nostre Ambassadeur qu'a nostre dict et serviteur sommer sont de plus grande consequence que de pouvoir estre plemement considerâs dans si peu de temps ayant deliberé de depescher bien âost par devers vous un personnage instruict a plein de nostre intention et volunté quant aux dictes choses par vous proposses nous n'avons cependant voulu obâettre a fin que ne recevant nostre response au temps prefix vous n'estimiez que nostre intention n'est de nous tem au contraict de vous tesmoigner par la presente suivant le desir quâ a nous avoâs de vous donnier entiere satisfaction et contentement de tous nous de portements que sera la âin Instructions for Sir Francis Walsingham Knight her Majesties principal Secretary sent into France to the French King and to Monsieur the Duke of Anjou 22. of July 1581. ELIZABETH R. FOr that you are throughly acquainted with all the Negotiations passed concerning the marriage desired by Mr. and do know the causes of the prolongation of the conclusion thereof not to have proceeded of us without just grounds there shall be less need to enlarge these instructions by writing but to make rather a memorial for you of the matter in your own presence concluded for answer to such things as of late hath been delivered by the French King to Sommers for which purpose we have made special choice of you for the better satisfaction of the French King And our meaning is that you shall make the Duke acquainted with this your message and to cause the French King to accept the same your action in good part The matters propounded by the French King be these 1 A request upon a supposition made by the French King that the marriage was accorded that we would assign a day within which the marriage should be consummate and in some speech he also named a day 2 An offer that the marriage being promised and the day assigned that the King would upon knowlenge thereof enter with us into a League offensive and defensive and ratifie the same and cause it to be delivered at the instant of the consummation of the marriage 3 A motion that a secret agreement might be made apart betwixt the King and us for the matters of Low-Countries To these three you shall shew the Duke what we have resolved for answer to the King whereof we have willed you to make him acquainted and you shall move him by such Reasons as are both true and known to your self how loath we are to deliver any thing to his misliking if the necessity of the time and the matter did not force us thereto Therefore to the first request of the French King grounded upon the supposition that the marriage is accorded you shall shew him how that it is otherwise to be understood for that the whole Treaty indeed is suspended by an act accorded by the Commissioners whereof you can make him a particular declaration and for the purpose you shall shew him the cause of our long prolongation of the time therein limited which also we do give you authority by word in our general Commission further to enlarge as you shall see cause And to the request for assignation of a day for the marriage you shall declare that for divers considerations we cannot finde it good either for Monsieur or for our selves to assent to the marriage with him as the case standeth whereby he being already entred into an open war against the King of Spain should by marriage bring us our Realm also into a war which in no respect our Realm and subjects can accept with the marriageâ but the same would prove very ingrateful to our people and ingender a misliking of us both as you may well enlarge that point the rather considering it is seen how hardly many have been brought to allow of the marriage without any war And therefore upon this point we nevertheless thus concluded that though the marriage cannot be allowable with a war for those respects yet considering how necessary it is for the Crown of France as well as for ours yea for all Christendom that the King of Spains greatness should be impeached and this account of Monsieurs should be prosecuted in the Low-Countries we shall be content though we do not marry to joyn with the French King to ayd Monsieur with a reasonable portion so as it may not be so overtly as thereby to prâvoke a war upon us and our Realm and herewith you shall set forth the necessity of the continuance of Monsieurs actions now in hand as if he will answer that he will lean to our marriage you shall answer that there cannot be so much profit either to himself or to the French King and his Realm or to us and our Realm by the marriage as by the continuance of this action to the abating of the Spanish Kings greatness which if it be not interrupted speedily will so incounter both France and England as neither the marriage nor any conjunction of the forces of France and England can hereafter stay or remedy And if it shall be objected by Monsieur that the offer to ayd him secretly will serve him to no purpose For that he knoweth that the King his brother will either not ayd him at all or will not ayd him otherwise then secretly as will not serve him to purpose so as he must be forced to leave his enterprise you shall still maintain our offer to be reasonable But if you shall finde Monsieur so earnest to mislike thereof as you shall perceive him resolute to leave off the enterprize except we will joyn with the King in such manner of ayd as his brother will be content then you may after some pawsing say that if upon conference with the French it shall appear that he cannot be content with our secret ayd We would be content rather then the Dukes actions should utterly quaile to yield to joyn with the French King by League and Contract both to ayd him as shall be thought reasonable betwixt the King and us And also some other ways to impeach the King of Spains greatness but if the Duke could be contented with our secret ayd we think it should be no hinderance to him and yet a great contentation to us for so we might avoid the offence of our people and so you shall earnestly entreat the Duke to be content therewith As to the other two points for making of a League offensive and defensive and for a secret agreement for the matters of the Low-Countries we shall be ready to make with the
is this day at Provence five leagues besides Chasteau Thiery It is advertised that the Emperour doth by little little amend of his disease having been carried to his Garden to take the ayre but no assurance of his full recovery The Cardinal d Este is returned to Rome having been met with the Duke of Sora the Popes son They do prepare ten Galleys at Naples besides others at Genua to transport the Empress into Spain Prospero Colonna is appointed General of the Men of War which are levied in the Dutchies of Milan and Tuscan There hath been a quarrel betwixt the Spaniards and Gentlemen Millanoises The King of Spain hath been received in Lisbona and held there his estate called Cortes There is a deprivation passed against the Bishop of Guarda for following the partie of Don Anthonio The Abbot of Bisegno Agent for the Catholike King at Rome hath with the Cardinal of Como sollicited the Pope for to intreat the French King to withdraw his brother from the enterprise of Flanders so as the Pope is resolved to send two Legats to the French King to continue the peace between the French King and the Catholike King Onchibli is departed from Constantinople with twenty five Galleys towards Affrica They advertise out of Spain that the Corn doth fail them this Harvest so as they doubt of famine c. Your Honours to Command Henry Cobham A son bon ami Mr. François de Walsingham M Onsieur de Walsingham j'ay une extreme contentement quand la Royne m a voula tant favouriser de vous avoir choisy pour faire ce royage vers le Roy mon Seignieur et frere me faisant bien par cela cognoistre les effectes de ses bonnes voluntés me comblant de tant d'obligations que je ne m'en pouroy jamais retirer si ce n'est par le continuel desir et inviolable affection que je ay de luy faire service Et ce suistres-aise de m'estre trouve y a propos que n'estant que fort peuesloigne de votre chemni vous me passies veoir sans perie de beaucoup de temps vous priant que se suit La Fere en Tartinois ou je seray aujourdhuy a coucher et croyez que vous seres le tres-bien venu comme iceluy que tient l'un de primiers bieux apres de celle que je honore et estime plus que Princesse que soit sus la terre et que tiens pour l'un de mes mieux amis Vous attendant en bon devotion de supplieray le Createur qu'il vous ayd Monsieur de Walsingham en sa tes Saincte et digne garde a Chasteau Thiery le dernier jour de Iuliel 1581. Votre bien affectione ami François To the right honorable Sir Francis Walsingham SIR The sending of this away by Mr. Mills to you moveth me to accompany him with a few lines We here have nothing to write unto you about the Negotiation but doe now from this day forward look to hear from you whereupon I think her Majestie will have some matter to be occupied withall VVe hear nothing of Monsieurs proceedings but the Spanish Ambassador warneth that the Prince of Parma is so strong and so bent to fight with Monsieur as he pretendeth that at the least Monsieur will forbear to adventure his own person He did yesterday by her Majesties appointment speak at Leicester House with my Lord of Ley and me to expostulate for her Majesties refusal to speak with him requiring to know the cause and being answered That we doubted not but that he oftentimes had been made privy that it was for that her Majestie had not received any Letters from the King Catholique for her satisfaction in the case of Invasion in Holland c. He saith that he never promised to procure Letters from the King neither was he ever required of her Majesties behalf but the Speeches were alwaies delivered to him that her Majestie would not speak with him untill she might be satisfied of those things in the case of Holland but saith it was not required that he should send to the King for any such satisfaction and yet he did for his own part write to the King and upon answer from the King he did let her Majestie understand that the Collection of the Souldiers the Arming and Victualing of the Ships and men were wholly by the directions of the Pope whom he could not deny and he had also cause to think that her Majestie meant not that he should procure Letters from the King for that Mr. Wilks said that her Majestie would send a Gentleman to the King or else write to him by the way of trade And for confirmation hereof he said that he heard that a kinsman of the Earl of Arundels and Master of the â whom we took to be Tilney was named to go into Spain By the way he saith that you told him in presence of the Councel at Nonsuch that her Majestie had no League with the King of Spain but the States of the Low Countries I told him I was assured he mistook you for you might say that the League which was the greatest was with the Emperor Charls and so with the King of Spain in respect of the Dutchy of Burgundy and the Low-Countries but he flung away after his hot manner Now to end these matters for the discovery of a multitude of Popish subjects I think Mr. Beal writeth to you of a number of choice persons who being at least but fined upon that que Dam noble wil yield a great sum of money My Lord Grey and Tyrwick were about a Peace the 29 of July finding my Lord Deputies forces ready to enter one way and Sir Nicholas Malt by another way offering to my Lord Deputy to abide his Order for the matters between Odonell and the whole Countrie he hath wasted pretending to set upon Odonels son begotten of Tirleghes wives daughter which he had by Mac Connel by Ashton that came from Ireland we secretly understand that the new Earl Arrig with a great number are determined to keep Darbique from his intentions against the Religion and the King doth secretly assent thereto whether Ashton be deceived time will prove The King hath sent to Seffade 200 souldiers to enable him to compel his people to answer to Justice upon demand of England and great promises are made in the Kings behalf to keep amity with her Majestie And thus almost wearied I end expecting shortly to hear of your progress in your Ambassage which they there may enterprise a regress or a recess Her Majestie is in very good health thanked be God Greenwich where I am tyed by your absence and yet do little good Augâst 6. 1581. Your assured friend Will. Burleigh To her Majestie August 6. IT may please your most excellent Majestie I have imparted in my Letters directed to my Lord Treasurer the substance of that which passed
a Prince of wisdom and judgement would be satisfied with reason wherein I prayed his assistance though for some respects I thought him a very unfit advocate to plead in that cause and thereupon declared unto him the causes that made her Majestie to forbear to assent to the marriage Whereunto he answered That he hoped that his constant pursuit of the marriage so long a season omitting no means that in his judgement might seem meet to advance the same wherein he did appeal to the world his proceedings therein being publiquely known should not take so evil effect as now when he most assuredly looked to reap the fruits of his travel he should receive repulse to his own great dishonour but more to his grief And whereas her Majestie alleadged the War he was entred into for the relief of the poor afflicted in Flanders as a matter of very evil satisfaction to her Subjects he said it was no new matter but such as before had been propounded as he was before informed by her Majesties Commissioners at the time of the Treaty And for that at that time it did breed no breach or stay of the Treaty but that the same went forward he hoped that would not now be alleadged for an impediment Secondarily He said that the pursuit of those Wars considering how evil affected the King of Spain was towards her and the necessity that the poor afflicted in the Low-Countries had of present relief in whose fortune her Majestie was interessed it seemed strange unto him that a thing so beneficial to her Majestie should be a hinderance to the marriage Thereto I replyed That I thought it very necessary before I answered the said points to assure him that the allegation of the said impediment grew not for want of good will in her Majestie For when she did with the eye and affection of her natural body look into his constant love born towards her accompanied with many apparent effects that did shew that it was not feigned as the hazard he came in passing the Seas the imployment of sundry messengers especially men of that quality as lately were sent over and the goodness of his own nature whereof her Majestie at his last being with her grew to have so great a liking as she rested greatly afflicted and perplexed in mind because that in respect of those impediments that concerned her pollitique body which did so greatly import her as the alienation of her Subjects good wils from her in case her Majestie should be accompanied with a War she could not proceed as she did desire Touching the two points for the first I shewed him that though at the time of the Treaty mention was made how ingratefull it would be to her Subjects to have her marriage accompanied with a War yet was it never otherwise conceived neither by her Majestie nor by the Councel but that the charges of the War should be born by the King himself and by the States of the Low-Countries considering her Majestie was to reap no benefit by any such conquest as should be made otherwise then such as did depend upon the issue of her body which being a thing that was to grow from above was doubtfull and ministred no matter of present benefit in requital of the present charges Besides it would seem strange that the first day of her marriage the Treaty should be violated by the uniting of her Highness fortune with a husband that contrary to the said Treaty should throw her into a War which might minister further cause of miscontentment and breed an unnecessary and dangerous jealousie by carrying them into some doubt that as the Treaty was broken in one point so there would ensue some further breach thereof a matter of very dangerous consequence considering that in the due observation thereof consisted the preservation of their Liberties Touching the second I shewed him that if the League offensive and defensive might take place and the secret Treaty that this enterprise for the relief might very effectually go forward without the marriage And therefore her Majestie did greatly marvel to see the King so resolute as that without her marriage he would have no League when it is apparent to the world whatsoever become of the marriage that it were most necessary that such a League should be made as well for common defence as for the preventing and staying of the over-greatness of Spain In the end after much debating to and fro he shewed me that he was greatly grieved considering the assured hope he had put on that the marriage being a thing that he desired above any thing in the world even now when he looked it should come to a full conclusion after so long a pursuit so many messengers being employed a Treaty throughly concluded by persons of quality it should now grow from a conclusion to a kind of dissolution that he hoped I was come hither with matter of more comfort then he should receive thereby Thereupon I prayed his Highness to look well into the cause wherein if he could lay his own affection aside I doubted not but he should very apparently see that her Majestie esteemed nothing more then the good will and love of her Subjects the true strength and glory of a Prince had great reason to resolve as she did considering that the chief end of her marriage which was to content her people should be now performed with a farr contrary effect which could be no less grievous to his Highness if the marriage should proceed having protested alwaies as he hath done that unless it might be with her Majesties contentment and the good liking of her people he would never desire it and so concluded with him that I hoped after he had well digested the matter he should then see that her Majestie had just cause to grow to that conclusion which I had delivered unto him and he no less cause to content himself withall I prayed him that at my next access unto him for that the place was so furnished with Gentlemen and not that silence used that was fit I might have audience in some private place for that many times we could hardly one hear the other in respect of the noise About half an hour after my departure from him he sent his Chancellor the President Mr. de Preureaulx and Combelles unto me who did let me understand they were sent by his Highness to me to confer with me about that which I propounded unto him in her Majesties name letting me know from him that the Duke found it very strange that afteâ the matter of marriage had been drawn unto so great length even now when he did look for an execution of that which was accorded by Treaty there should be an impediment produced first by Mr. Sommers and now by me not new but such as before the time of the Treaty was thought upon besides that her Majestie was not ignorant how Monsieur had long before intreated the cause of the Low-Countries
marriage as though the marriage should serve for all this charge and thereto her Majestie with some sharpness of speech added that she knew and saw it now true that the Queen Mother in counsel had before pronounced that if the marriage could be concluded the Queen of England should be put to the whole charges This is the substance of that I can wring from her for that she saith until she hear from you of your Negotiaon with the Kâshe hath nothing here to ãâã of But she wished me to write to you as before is mentioned and she meaneth also to write some letters to Monsieur to give him some comfort as I think Marchemont had Letters and as I hear by report the contents are a report of your dealings and of Monsieurs resolute answers to you that the King his brother would in no sort consent to any thing without the marriage and so they stand like good Chapmen without falling in their bargain from the principal but by this time you can best judge what will follow The Queens Majestie asked me whether if in no letter from you to me you had recommended Monsieurs wisdom I said by no express speech I marvel thereof quoth she for to me in this letter he doth greatly commend him and so did by reading pronounce very great commendation of him by you but I saw not the words written I answered that always you above any other of her servants had ever commended him most I pray you remember to send âs a Callender of Monsieurs Captains and Leaders with the numbers likely of all sorts and what his monethly pay may be in charge and how he hath been furnished of money towards this leavy I am sorry to see so large a time spent from the beginning of his preparations until this time and yet I think far off to put in execution that which he pretendeth I fear the Queen Mother finding the marriage desperate will practice with the Duke of Parma to withdraw his siege and that the Town may be relieved and so Monsieurs Honour saved and thereupon Monsieur may leave his general enterprize wherewith the Spaniards ought to be contented For thereby shall they have their wills in the Low-Countreys and so also the Queen Mother may save her son free from gun-shot and put up all her pretences and live without offence to the King of Spain Thus much of the French matters From Ireland I have not heard but once since you went which was by a letter from Waterhouse that the Lord Gray had advertised them they should send no victuals into Odonels Countrey but onely to Carlinfoord For when the Lord Gray came to the Black-water Tirch fled breaking his two Castles and sent my Lord Gray word that he would be at peace with Odonel and all others by his Lordships order Whereupon the Lord Gray sent Justice Dowdal to him to treat hereupon but more I have not heard My Lord of Ormond findeth himself greatly grieved upon his discharge not as he saith for his discharge but that he hath been wronged in not advertising how great prizes he hath done In Scotland the King pretendeth to keep Amity yet by Ashton secretly I learn that he will be wholly guided by her Majestie whereof she conceiveth hope I pray God she be not deceived therein and hereby I fear her Majestie will be the flower to hearken to the assistance with France and yet her Maj. uttereth not to me these Scotish matters but I learn them otherwise The Lord of Huntley is arived in Scotland and offered to Lord Ferihurst is fully restored and both these well accepted with the King We have gotten from Campian knowledge of all his peregrination in England as in Yorkshire Lancash Denbigh Northampton Warwick Bedford Buckingham c. hereof I am sure Mr. Beal will write unto you who hath herein with Mr. Hamon taken great pains We have sent for his hosts in all Countreys And thus I end doubting I shall weaây you with reading as I am almost with writing This tenth of August 1581. Your assured loving Friend William Burleigh To the Right Honourable and my very good Friend Sir Francis Walsingham SIr after I had yesternight being Thursday written and sealed up my Letters I understand lately that ãâã ãâã ãâã hath informed her Majestie that Monsieur found himself greatly discontented with the manner of dealing with him in making the marriage so desperate as it seemed to him you came of purpose to break it and onely to sollicit the league with the K. upon which matter this forenoon her Majestie told me that she misliketh of your manner of proceedings as though you did not express the causes why she could consent to no marriage but abruptly shewed that she would not marry and so forthwith to deal with Monsieur for a league To this I made answer Madam it is to be seen in Mr. Secretaries Letters to me which I read to you that he did so proceed to open your mind for forbearing to marry as your self did determine with us all and as he is warranted by your instructions for Madam he did not say that you would not marry with him but that as the case standeth he being entred into a war you found it not good either for him or your self to assent to the marriage for so by your marriage your Realm joyntly with your marriage should enter into a war so as your speeches according to your instructions were not absolute to deny the marriage but to shew that the marriage could not content her subjects with a war joyned therewith and so using as many reasons as I could I ended that I could not see that you had done any thing but that I my self in your place would have done the same And I did put her Majestie in remembrance that all her resolutions with us of her Councel was that you should so deal as to acquit her of the marriage and if there might be a good amity made and by a league betwixt France and this Realm to abate the King of Spains greatness vvhich I did object required a present action and to that end you should so proceed as there might appear no hope of marriage For as long as France could perceive any hope thereof they would not assent to any league To this her Majestie could not but assent but finally she changed her opinion in saying that if she should make a league whereby a war might follow she said she had rather be at the charges of a war with the marriage then without a marriage But saith she let Walsingham know my minde to be this that I would gladly enter into a league with the French King onely with these conditions that if I were invaded he should help me and if he were inwaded I would help him and so to abate the King of Spains greatness She said she would concur with the French King to do that by aiding of Monsieur and also the King of
her understand that Monsieur should give over the enterprise of Flanders for that they saw it was an impediment to the marriage that she should be loth considering how much it would touch him in honour and how dangerous it would be for them of the Low-Countries in case he should give over the same that her marriage should be accompanied with so dolorous effects And as she did then protest upon the overture made to give over the enterprise so we her ministers seeing the danger that might gâow many wayes by the intended Treaty with the Prince of Parma serving better for the suffering of the King of Spain to grow to his greatness then for the relief of the poor afflicted in that Country could not in reason and our particular opinions having no Commission to deale therein see any likelihood that the same might take any good effect And therefore prayed them that unless they saw some other cause that might move them to take that course they would forbeââ so to do This matter did minister unto us argument for the space of two houres at the least which for avoiding tediousness we think meet to omit And iâ the end grew to this conclusion with them that either it would please them that we might proceed in the said Treaty or else that they would procure us audience that we might understand from the Kings own mouth the revocation of that he had assented unto letting them also understand that we did mean presently to advertise her Majestie of this change to the end that thereupon she might give order for the stay of the Ships prepared for Don Anthonio being well assured that her Majestie upon this alteration would forbear any further proceeding therein which we did the rather to let them understand for that it might provoke them to perswade the King to maintain his former resolution Whereupon they withdrawing themselves apart did afterwards let us understand that they would make report unto the King of that which had passed between us and in the mean time did earnestly pray us that we would forbear to advertise her Majestie as also not to disswade the going forward of the support appointed for Don Anthonio whereunto after most earnest request made by them we did assent with condition That we might receive answer by ten of the clock the next day and therein we did the more willingly yield for that they did put us in hope that we should receive answer from the King to our contentment The next day Monsieur de la Mot Buâzar and Pinart came to us and told us that the rest of their Colleagues and they had communicated with the King the Negotiation passed the day before between them and us and that they had remembred to his Majestie his Speech delivered unto us which we conceived to be this That he was pleased to appoint some to Treat with us touching a ãâã Amity to be had with her Majestie seeing there were such difficulties that did accompany the marriage That his Majestie answered That the alteration grew upon two causes the one of a motion made to him by me the Secretary for a further prolongation of certain daies to conserve the validity of the reservation the last prolongation being to expire within a day or two which motion gave him hope that the marriage might take effect The other upon a request made by Du. Uray in the name of the Duke his brother that the League in no case might be proceeded in without the Marriage which the King seeing the matter touched so greatly his brother in affection and honour could not deny his request And to the end he might understand his further mind therein he thought good to send Pinart unto him out of hand to acquaint him what had passed hitherto in the matter since our last audience upon whose return we should then understand the Kings further pleasure praying us in the mean time to have patience and to interpret the Kings answer touching the alteration in good part assuring us that this delay would rather further then hinder the matter we sought To these two allegations I the Secretary did reply That as for the first concerning my motion for a further prolongation the same grew only upon this that understanding as well by Monsieur as by the King himself and Queen Mother that their meaning was that the pursuit of the Marriage should be pursued still in hope that her Majestie might in time remove by her wisdom those difficulties for the which she could not presently for divers important causes proceed in the same I thought good for the more validity of the reservation to propound a further prolongation thereof considering that the last was to expire within two or three daies and therefore the King could take no just cause upon any motion to revoke his former resolution And as for the second concerning a request of Du Urayes made in the Duke his Masters name for the stay of the said Treaty unless it might be accompanied with marriage I alleadged that it seemed very unlikely that at the Queen mothers being with the Duke which was two daies after Du Uray was sent from the said Duke unto the King he propounded no such request unto her for the stay of the Treaty for if he had it was likely she would have acquainted the King withall and thereupon his Majestie would have framed his answer accordingly Which we finding not to fall out so cannot but greatly marvel at this change whereunto they replyed that though the Queen mother had indeed charged Du. Uray therewith yet he insisted still upon the same as a matter he had received in commandment from the Duke his Master and could not dispence with it without order from him We then finding by them that we could not prevail to induce them to assent to proceed to the Treaty untill they heard from the Duke thought good to forbear any further pressing of the matter and to attend Mr. Pinarts return and to the end we might know Monsieurs intent in that behalf we thought good to send Mr. Sommers forthwith as well to perswade with him to remove his impediments as also to acquaint him with such speeches as are given out here ãâã an intended marriage with Spain whereby we might as well âound him in the one as in the other In this conference we did let them understand of some cause we had to mistrust especially upon this voyage of Bellieure that they were loath to separate themselves from the amity of Spain praying them therefore that if they were so disposed we might know the truth thereof letting them understand âhat the cause of our coming was not to dissolve any amity they had with ãâã or any other Prince otherwise then should stand with the Kings honour and his surety Whereupon they made great protestations that the King had great cause for sundry respects to look into the King of Spains greatness and therefore prayed us
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 ãâã 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 Maâesties 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 ãâã 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 mây perceive by former advertisements was in a very
great forwardness to have taken effect whereof I had never doubt so that it might have pleased her Majestie to have kept a consonant course there In like sort as your Lordship can well remember was Sir Francis Bryans Negotiation crossed at Rome I cannot but pray to God so to bless her Majesties resolution to marry with that good effect that may be to her own comfort and the benefit of her Realm Your Lordships Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable Sir Francis Walsingham SIr I thank you for acquainting me with that you write to her Majestie whereof you sent me a copy but until this afternoon I had it not whereas the original from your self was delivered to her Majestie the delay as Mr. Mills told me of the delivery grew for that your Cousin had not time to deliver it yesterday to Mr. Mills who also was absent But having now read it I see you have great cause why her Majestie should be well content with your actions in all occurring with the course appointed you and lo now this evening without using any token of sight of your letters I repeated to her Majestie that the course you held to procure the League without marriage was specially committed to you to obtain against which it was certain that Monsieur for his particular and all his Ministers for his sake would spurn and so in doing your duty you were subject to their misliking Hereupon I found heâ to assent to that I said But she added that she wished that Monsieâr might have been perswaded thereto I answered that she her self should not be able to perswade him to content himself and much less her Ministers This afternoon finding her Majestie unwilling to send the Fleet to the Azores whereby charge should grow without profit it was motioned that in the mean time that her Majestie should be assured of the French Kings actions to concur with hers two or three of the ships with a Bark should forthwith repair to the Tercera with some Captains Souldiers Powder and Munition to comfort the âslanders to stand fast and to direct to be furnished for the defence of the Island until more forces might come a matter as my Lord of Leicester saith Don ânthonio desireth Whereupon this evening Sir Francis Drake and Hâwkins are gone to him and so I think the ships shall away to morrow if it alter not By the next you shall know though the French King to our Ambassador there and by his own said that he would aid Don Anthonio yet these being but words changeably by a Prince if now he shall reveal to you his minde it is reasonable to say that though it will require some longer time to contract a treaty hereupon yet if it please him to write a letter to her Majestie to assure her that he will joyn with her in aiding Don Anthonio and if for her action the King of Spain shall offer offence to her Majestie or her subjects he shall repute the quarrel his own joyntly with her in defence of her and offence of the King of Spain such a writing may animate her Majestie to that which I think otherwise she will not resolve Her Majestie mââneth to send the Lord Howard to Monsieur to visit him Yours assuredly William Bârleigh To Mr Secretary SIR when I had made up your Packet being come late this Evening about the many matters spoken of in one of my Letters The âueens Majestie sent Mr Mâldmay to inform me to wâite as followeth This day the French Ambassador with the Fr Portuguese Consul Perdonâ were with her Majestie with Letters from the Qu. mother of great earnestness to her Majestie to aide Don Anthonio by that name but not by that of the K. Anthony whereof the Fr Ambassador made reason for the Q. mothers pretence but from the French King her Majestie had no Letter Thereupon her Majestie is scrupulous doubting to give occasion of a Warr to be born by her self alone and the more She doubteth finding the Fr King so precise in his Brothers cause We finde in a Letter of Tuyns here decyphered that the King sent Gondy to him with ample Commission to carry away the 300000 Crowns wherewith the Prince of Parma became so lusty Her Majestie would have you decypher in this matter of Portugal Tâis day Don or King Anthonio hath pressed the Q. Majestie to have restitution of his Diamond and by Mr Weldmore he would have sent to my Lady for it but I mean my Ladies answer shall be that it was left with her by you and that without your commandment she may not deliver it except such money be paid as she knoweth you have borrowed upon it Her Majestie will not have it detained for her â000 l. which I see she could be content to lose so he were satisfied Surely Mr Secretary the cause hath been but lightly conducted and many things overcharged For I have seen a Note of yours amounting not much above 3000 l. and it is brought almost to 14000 l. and the King Anthony regardeth nothing therein done but remitteth his payment to the Island or rather to the pay of the King of Spa Indies yet we here do what we can to content him I hear that the Count Vimioso will be here within these two dayes he is altogether French and will seek to draw this King into France where his life I fear will be vendible From my House the 24 night of August at eleven of the Clock Your assured Friend W Burghley To the Right Honorable Sir Francis Walsingham SIR where by my last Letters I made doubt unto you of the going forth of the Ships in the Voyage intended as before your going over you were acquainted with yet now at the last her Majestie is resolved that 4. onely shall goe forth under the charge of William Hawkins wherof the Primrose is the chiefest And least occasion should fall out of service by Land Capt. Norris is appointed for that purpose It is thought meet that such Victuals as were provided for tâe other Ships and cannot well be kept should forthwith be uttered and sold. Nevertheless the ships to be in a readiness upon a short warning as further shall be advertised from you of the French Kings resolution Her Majestie seemeth resolutely bent not to exceed 5000 l. whereby your charge is the greater which I have assayed to qualifie as if it had been my own case And thus constrained to be shorter then I would otherwise for the dispatch of this Bearer c. Greenwich late in the night August 24. 1581. William Burleigh To the Lord Treasurer IT may please your Lordship after the long stay from proceeding in our Negotiation upon such reasons as in our former letters we have advertised Du Vray came unto us on Friday to acquaint us with such answer as he had received from the Duke his Master touching the furtherance of the league desired The sum of the speeches that he delivered unto us being this
That the Duke was contented that the treaty should go forward as a thing found necessary by her Majestie so that it might be no prejudice to the marriage And for that the Duke his Master rested assured of her Majestie that she had no such meaning as by the one to prejudice the other he did let us understand that by the said Dukes order he had imparted so much unto the King and that he thought upon the return of Monsieur Pynart who was looked for that evening we should know the Kings further pleasure touching our proceeding This report of Du Vray we thought good not to advertise before the ãâ¦ã Mr. Sommers from the D by whom we did look to be throughly ãâã of the truth who returning this last night delivered as much to us from ãâã Duke as your Lordship may perceive by his reports set down in writing sent down herewith This day la Mot and Pynart sent unto us to let us understand that the King meaneth to morrow in the morning to confer with his Councel about the cause we are come for praying us to excuse the delay that the King by reason of letters from the Duke his brother and others from the Duke du Main was so entertained as he had no leisure to consult touchiâg our said cause As for the manner of our proceeding in the Treaty with the French King or his Ministers we mean to observe the course prescribed by her Majestie as well contained in our Instructions as also in your Lordships letters of the 13 of this present And as touching the contents of the said letters whereas her Highness conceiveth by a letter written by me the Secretary the 10 of this present that a treaty without drawing her Majestie into charges will not be effected which causeth her Highness to put on a resolution that it is as good for her to be at charge with a marriage as without In which behalf for that the one seemeth to us to depend upon the other and both of them doubtful we neither receive perfect direction for the marriage nor for the charges without the marriage especially what sum her Majestie can be content to yield unto in case the contribution shall be accorded to be done underhand We humbly pray your Lordship that we may speedily have her Majesties resolution herein for that otherwise the treaty will be drawn into great length both to her Majesties and the Kings charge here besides that we know that it will breed some misliking and will be found strange that we should have authoâity to deal in general terms onely without entring into particularities but must be driven to send over for resolution in such points as might well be considered of before hand we are the rather moved to pray your Lordship to move her Majestie in these points for that we are given to understand they mean to grow here to deliberation in Counsel whether it shall be fitter for Monsieur to continue the prosecution of his action in the Low-Countreys or else having discharged his promise by releeving of Cambray to give over further proceeding therein In the debating whereof such as are affected to Spâin as we are informed mean to lay before the King such reasons as may induce him to think it not fit to concur with his brother in assisting him in his action in respect of the great charges which the following thereof wil require Besides divers other inconveniences that may accompany a war against such a Potent Prince as the King of Spain Others that consider the danger that may grow to this Crown if his greatness be not impeached do mean on the other side to perswade him to joyn with her Majestie upon the present occasions given for the abating of the said greatness Now to the end the King may stand assured how her Majestie will proceed in that behalf it is meant that we shall be effectually dealt withal both for the manner of the attempt and also for the charges wherein if we shall not be able to yield sufficient satisfaction it is to be doubted that the resolution will fall out that Monsieur shall be persvvaded to give over the enterprize whereunto without support and by the great offers likely to be made unto him he shall be of necessity forced to yield and run some such course as shall not be good for her Majesties safety Thus much we have thought good to impart unto your Lordship referring the same to her Majesties consideration praying your Lordship to procure her speedy resolution which may be without alteration or else it shall be thought here that all our doings are but dalliances Paris 21 of August Francis Walsingham Henry Cobham I. Sommers To the Lord Treasurer MY very good Lord your letter of the 17 sent hy Mr. Vice-Chamberlains man I have received the contents vvhereof I mean to send by the next Sorry I am to see her Majesty so apt to take offence against me which falleth not out contrary to my expectation and therefore I did protest unto her after it had pleased her to make choice of me to employ me this way that I should repute it a greater favour to be committed unto the Tower unless her Majesty may grow more certain in her Resolutions there Instead of Amity I fear her Highness shall receive enmity and we her Ministers here be greatly discomforted having no certain direction what to follow The Kings charges here are great for my Diet amounting to One hundred pound per diem And the charges of his Ambassador that he last sent over stood him in well near 60000 Crownes now in the end of it prove neither Marriage nor honourable Amity he may besides the dishonor think his charges hardly employed To think that the Amity such as may bring surety will be compassed we here see no reason so to conceive Now her Majesty finding it more for her surety to have the charges accompanied with marriage then without I pray your Lordship that we may have warrant to proceed accordingly and then by experience her Highness shall not finde that any particular passion beareth that sway with me as I finde She conceiveth it doth Whereas her Majesty would have me to signifie my knowledg touching Mr Gilbert York surely for mine own part I cannot but report well of the Gentleman and therefore her Majesty hath received information some other way The Marshall de Coss is greatly condemned here for that he did not accompany the Duke he required at the Kings hands a Warrant not contenting himself with a verball commandment The King answered him That he might as well without Warrant accompany his Brother in this Voyage as to take a Pension of him of 12000 Francks yearly which no Marshall of France ought to doe Besides this pension he hath in Abbies and other benefits bestowed on him by the Duke as I am informed 15000 Francks The rest of the Marshals Monsieur doth not desire And so c. August 21.
conference had of late with her Highness whereupon the King had commanded them to tell us that seeing that matter was now in so good terms he thought good to stay further proceeding in the Treaty of a League But to end first that which was first begun and in such forwardness which was the Marriage and that they thought we should have commandment from her Majestie very shortly in this behalf whereunto it was answered unto them that though we heard nothing thereof from her Majestie yet we would believe what they had said as written to the King from his Ambassador and that untill we might understand her Majesties pleasure herein we thought that this Negotiation for a League might well proceed to bring it to some good point and to win so much time seeing the King had consented and desired to have such a League with her Majestie Mr. de Chevereny said that the time would not be so long ere we should receive her Majesties pleasure and that they could not proceed any further in the Treaty seeing this was the Kings pleasure Then it was said by Pinart that the Ambassador had then written as so spoken by her Highness to him that she had rather marry a mean Gentleman of France then go now from that which was so farr proceeded in between her Highness and Monsieur Thus we being put off from our Negotiation and at a stay knew not how to proceed any further in any thing untill we may understand her Majesties pleasure which we beseech you to procure to be sent unto us in some certainty that an orderly and honourable course may be holden to grow to an end At this time Pinart as so commanded he said by the Queen Mother did very specially recommend to her Majesties consideration the estate of poor Don Anthonio and to remember the great charges he hath been at in providing shipping in England to be sent and to joyn with the French Kings ships under Captain Carles who he assured they had advertisement was gon to the sea seven daies ago thinking to meet with Don Anthonio's ships rigged in England at a Cape which he could not name And that unless the same depart not out of hand all the charge will be lost and that the King shall be fain to venture his ships alone if no other aid joyn with them He shewed there an advertisement came that day from the Isle of Tercera that the French have landed there taken the Isle and certain ships and put to the Sword 800 Spaniards among whom were they whose names were here in a scedule and that he thinketh they are gon to meet with the rest of the Spanish Fleet. And thus c. Paris the 27 of August Fr. Walsingham Henry Cobham Iohn Sommers To the Lord Treasurer MY very good Lord I send your Lordship here inclosed the last Article contained in mine instructions for the League which we have forborne to adde to those heads of a League which we exhibited to the Commissioners for that we find it somewhat darke and therefore doe pray your Lordships explanation therein For as we conceive of it it will restrain the French King from aiding of the Duke his brother which I think is not meant considering her Majesties promise to assist the Duke in the action I beseech your Lordship that we may have speedy resolution by way of Post or otherwise as by your Lordship shall be thought meet to such things as we send your Lordship by this dispatch After I had proceeded thus far in my Letter thinking that our conference with the Kings Commissioners would have bred some good accord touching the most parts of those points which were by us propounded unto them Upon the hope the King is put in by Letters lately come from his Ambassador resident there our further conference is staid as your Lordship may perceive by our general Letters which if it be not so throughly resolved on as the Ambassador conceiveth and as he hath reported to the King his Master whereof we her Majesties Ministers here stand in doubt having no confirmation thereof Then surely this report will doe a great deal of harm many waies and ministers to the persons named in mine other Letters matters of strange discourse Besides we that serve here cannot but be infinitely grieved to see the weighty cause we have in hand subject to so many interruptions especially of the alteration of proceeding upon occasion given from thence It were well her Majestie did capitulate with the Ambassador in these great matters not to advertise any thing without first making her privy thereunto as also that upon any such resolution taken with him we here might be acquainted withall to the end there might be concurrency with us Touching her Majesties pleasure for the return of Mr. Sommers I hope when her Majestie shall consider the weightiness of the cause we deal in and the number and sufficiency of the persons we are matched withall her Highness shall see more cause to send some other well chosen Civilians to assist us then to withdraw him from us Upon the perusing of a Letter that the Ambassador resident wrote unto me much to the same effect he had written to the King I thought good to send to Pinart to acquaint him with the contents of the said Letter which as I gave order to be declared unto him caried no other substance but a report of such speeches as her Majestie had delivered to the said Ambassador the same evening that he waited on her Majestie when she road abroad to take the aire wherein her Majestie did rather lay open unto him how she stood affected to the marriage then delivered him any resolution and that it was so it might well appear hereby for that her Highness doth not use to give her resolution in any matter of importance without the privity of her Councel and acquainting her Ambassador on this side therewith to the end there may be a concurrency between her Majesties Ministers and the King which being otherwise in this case I could not but rest doubtfull of the substance of the report And therefore was desirous if it might stand with the Kings pleasure considering the great charges his Majesties is at with us and the time that passeth away fruitlesly the Treaty might go on until we might receive further matter from her Majesty To this Pinart answered that he thought the request reasonable for that it was grounded upon great probability and would therefore the next morning move the King in the matter requiring in the mean season that as much might be delivered to some other of the Commissioners as had been to him especially to Chivergni Villequire which was offered to be done by the messenger I sent but they being in conference with the Queen mother and therefore for that time not to be dealt withal at his motion it was delivered to Bellieure whom they found in the utter Chamber of Queen mother who in like sort
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 ãâ¦ã of any intelligence that passed between the Prince of Orange and the Duke ãâã 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 ãâã some of the inward places of the Countrie I see it a general opinion among ãâã 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
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
let pass the permission given to the King of Spains Ministers for passing of mony without saying any thing to it whereon I forbear to press for that I was informed that the same was done without her privity to the other points of her reply I did onely touch two things the one that at the time of our Conference between the Ambassadors and the Deputies there was no mention made of marriage and so I shewed her that this impediment hath been found out but of late the other that I marvel seeing she her self did confess that it did greatly import to keep the King of Spain from the Island of Tercera that the King her son made so great difficulty in so necessary a matter to concur with her Majesty To the latter point she saith as hath been alledged before that the King had already given order for certain ships to be sent thither and prayed that her Majesty would be content to do the like In which point I concluded that though I would according to her request move her Majesty in that behalf yet I did shew her that I did greatly doubt that her Majesty would hardly be drawn to assent thereto without some letter of assurance from the King unto her as had been before moved And so leaving the matter of Portugal I descended to the third point touching the cold assistance given to the Duke letting her understand that I had special charge from her Majesty from time to time to recommend both unto the King and unto her his cause and therefore being given to understand that notwithstanding the earnest motion made on her Majesties behalf unto the King at my first audience he was weakly furnished of two principal matters incident to the enterprise he had in hand that is of Treasure and martial counsel I prayed her to have due consideration both of the person and of the action of the person for that he was her son and such a one as was like to yield as great honor as ever did childe to mother and for the action if the damage were considered that the Low-Countries have brought to this Crown since it was joyned with Spain having within the space of 24 years given them two notable overthrows as also ministred within three yeers time toward the charges of the war 360000000 florens It shall then appear that to reduce that Country to yield yeerly 3000000 towards the abating of the pride of him that gave the said overthrows to remove so potent an enemy from them and to transport the civil wars into a forraign Country out of this Realm that both the action and the Author is worthy of maintenance and therefore must needs follow that if so great benefits be neglected it seemeth that there hangeth some secret judgement of God over this Crown I did also put her in remembrance how happily this forrein imployment of the Duke her son did fall out to put by a thing that might have proved no less grievous to her Majesty then dangerous to the Realm and that was the division that might fall out between her two sons a matter that hardly would have been avoided if either he should live in the Court or out of the Court within this Realm considering that this said Realm in respect of the civil troubles is full of persons discontented and also of such as have no other virtue to get credit then by breeding of dissentions and though for the present it was known that there was good liking between the two Princes in outward appearance yet it is evidently known unto the world that the King heretofore hath stood in some jealousie of him which sparks being not throughly extinguished by evil disposed persons might easily kindle again With this speech she seemed to be greatly moved and letting me understand that she had care thereof and did what she might to procure him that support that was necessary acknowledging the enterprise to be both honorable and profitable But said she the King without the assurance of the marriage will not be drawn into any open breach with the King of Spain which he should hardly avoid if he should assist his brother in such sort as was meet she did also in a sort acknowledge that though heretofore there had been some jealousie between her two sons yet now there was great good-will and love between them notwithstanding that by some evil instruments there might be some disunion bred between them she did for the avoiding thereof amongst other respects greatly wish that the marriage might take place In the end of my speech I did lay before her such Reasons as might induce her to use some mediation towards the King for the removing of the impediment of our Treaty for that the same could no way prejudice the marriage whereunto she answered that the King was resolved touching the continuance of the stay until such time as he might hear from his Ambassador This in effect was that which past between us August 30. 1581. Francis Walsingham To the Lord Treasurer MY very good Lord I received by the last Messenger two Letters from your Lordship the one of the last of August and the other of the second of this present For the first I am very sorry that the King of Portugal is so greatly grieved as he is and yet if the answer made of the conference by those that were appointed to deal with Don Diego de Rotelia and Don Emanuel de Silva be by him well remembred he hath more cause to blame France then he Q. Majestie being at that time resolved that the preparation should not go forward unless the French King would concur as also that he himself should bear such loss as should fall out through the said preparation And whereas he findeth himself grieved for that his loss falleth out to be greater then he looked for whereof the greatest part of the blame is laid upon me surely no man is so much to be charged therewith as Doctor Lopes who sundry times in the Kings name desired me that the preparations might be greater then was first agreed upon for that the King doubted that those forces would not be sufficient And for the defraying of the charges he did assure me that the King did mean to procure some money out of the Low-Countries upon Jewels Seeing then that this encrease of charges grew upon the Kings own motion he cannot in reason be offended either with her Majestie nor with any of those that have been dealers in the same notwithstanding it were a very Princely part considering into what a perplexed estate the poor Prince is thrown for her Majestie to take upon her the discharge of the loss that is sustained in the said preparations whose estate I do not think yet so desperate but that God will one day raise him up again to pluck down the pride of him who is the sworn enemy both to God and her Majestie I do utterly mislike of his repair hither seeing
Q. of treason and yet we fear our Q. will scant agree to it Great suit is made by the nether house to have execution of the Duke but I see no likelihood I have no leisure therefore I commit you to God In haste this 21 of May 1572. Yours assured Ro Leicester To the Right Honourable his very good Lord the Earl of Leicester YOur Lordships of the 21. I have received touching your servant I shall not need say more then was contained in my last Letters Here at this present we are altogether entertained with Flanders matters having received certain news from thence that certain by order from Count Lodovick are seised of Valentiennes and Monts in Henault where it is said the Court remaineth and that from thence he sent Mr. de la Nue in great diligence towards Bruxels with six hundred horses where if he hap to find the Duke de Alva he hopeth to make short Wars the Town of Bruxels being better affected to the Count then to the D. It is said here that Doway and Lisle should also be taken by certain appointed by him for the purpose but that is not certain If the Duke of Alva retire to Antwerp as it is thought he will then those of judgement here are of opinion that the whole Country will revolt The heads of those that he doth imploy of his Country are Ianlis de la Nue Buckanans the number of his horsemen are twelve hundred the most part of them Gentlemen Of footmen he hath only five thousand the most part of them Gascoins It will shortly be seen to what issue this Tragedy will come If occasion so fall out I mean to advertise often thinking it necessary for her Majestie to know how things proceed there and yet when I consider how things of moment tending to safety proceed at home I know not what to judge necessary unless it be for every man particularly to provide for the cross And so leaving further to trouble your Lordshop at this present I most humbly take my leave From Paris the 29 of May 1571. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh AS I wrote unto your Lordship in my last Letters that I thought it necessary for her Majesty to know how things proceeded in Flanders so I thought good to put the same in execution at this present upon certain advertisements lately come from thence A Currier past this way as I am credibly informed the 27 of this month sent by the D. of Longueville to the King with this news that on Saterday last the 24 of the same Valentiennes should be taken and the next day after Monts in Henault and that from thence with great celerity the C. Lodovick should send five hundred horse to Bruxels under the conduct of Mr. de la Nue where if he hap to find the D. of Alva it will grow to short Wars in respect of the intelligence they have with the Town who undertook with the aid of 100 soldiers to take the D. prisoner if he retire to Antwerp as it is thought he wil then is it likely that all the whole Country will revolt I the rather credit this news for that it agreeth with the plot laid by C. Lodovick before his departure from hence who told me that he hoped to give the Duke of Alva an alarm ere 8 daies came to an end in place where he should least look for it There will shortly be great guess given what wil be the event of these matters The Prince of Orange most assuredly is onward on his way with 4000 horse whose enterprise on the other side is like to have the better success upon this good beginning laid by his brother I hope things will be so ordered as others shall not grow over great wherein I have been no evil instrument I send your Lordship by this bearer a note of the names of those of quality which doe accompany the Marshal as also the number which I had sent before with this bearer to deliver a note thereof to such as shall be appointed by her Majestie to receive the Marshal at Dover M. de Battaliâ who was the third Commissioned is departed this world who before his death did much lament the dissembling of his religion and advised to resort to the reformed Churchs and to bring up his children in the Religion professed in the same I forgat in my last that Mr. Montmorency at the request of certain Italians whom he favoureth moved me to write unto her Majestie that it would please her to write a Letter unto his Master desiring him to write unto his Ambassador at Rome to deal with his friends there to procure the delivery of Guidi Giovetti who is imprisoned there by the Inquisitors a thing that his service done unto the Crown of England did as it were crave at her Majesties hands who he knew being naturally pittifully inclined would do any thing that might seem to tend to his delivery For mine own opinion I think her Majesties Letters unto Queen Mother would do a great deal more good who by the Duke of Florence his means may bring it the more easily to pass especially this Pope being his Creature And so leaving to trouble your Lordship any further I humbly take my leave From Paris May 29. 1571. Yours Honours to command F. Walsingham To our trusty and well-beloved Francis Walsingham Esq our Ambassador Resident with our good brother the French King TRrusty and well-beloved we greet you well Where in the last Treaty concluded at Blois betwixt our trusty and well-beloved Councellor Sir Th. Smith and you as our Ambassador and the Duke of Montmorency and other of the Commissioners and Deputies of the French King our good brother it was amongst other things covenanted That within four months after the date of the said Treaty the same should be by us ratified authorized and confirmed by our Letters Patents signed with our own hand and sealed with our great Seal and delivered to the Ambassador of the French King having authority to require the same For this purpose we would first have you to understand of some of the Kings Councel or of the Queen Mother the Kings pleasure at what time you might attend on him to receive the same ratification For the receiving whereof you shall say you are authorized by our Letters directed to the said King being in your custody which we therefore do now send you and so you shall at time convenient receive it and safely send it to us affirming that we on our part are also ready to deliver the like ratification to his Ambassador whensoever he shall require the same Given under our signet at our Mannor of St. James the 26 of May 1571. ELIZABETH ELizabethae Dei gratia Angliae Franciae Hiberniae Regina fidei Defensor c. Fideli praedilectissimo Consiliario nostro Francisco Walsingham Legato nostro apud serenissimum