and looking for more Buls from Rome and partly fearing that some change may come and then it may be laid to their charge would needs shift it from them and let the King do it alone And when once they had hope given them by their Ambassador in England that the Queens Majestie would so be content to have it in general words you might be sure we should never get them further but to be delivered as slightly as they could of that matter ye shall receive that fashion that we required in the figure O. delivered to Monsieur de Foix Feb. 28. ye shall receive also that which Monsieur de Foix delivered to us as a copie of a Letter whereby the King doth think wâ— should be satisfied noted and delivered to us the 29 of February and to it we have put what fault we do find with that Letter although the Queens Majestie should be content with that form This is the issue whereupon we do now stand The other great debatement was for the Queen of Scots which held us almost at every meeting to have her mentioned in the Treatie and that earnestly handled of them the 23 and 26 of February that I was fain once again to declare the evil deserts of the late Queen of Scots towards the Queens Majestie with her other behaviour at the whole length because Marshal Montmorency was not at the first Declaration and there Mr. Walsingham and Mr. Killigrew helped me with supply so far that at that present they seemed to give over and we in no wise would have her mentioned in this Treaty yet the 28 of February Mr. de Foix brought to us a writing for her which we send you noted M. to which you sent him the next day a Coppie of the same noted with our answer N. The same day at the afternoon we had audience of the King where he was also earnest with us as you may perceive by our Letters to the Queens Majestie B. the Queen Mother that day as good chance was had forgotten her self but the next day the first of March Mr. de Foix came to us and brought us a draught of the whole League in French because he said he was commanded to translate it into French that the King might understand it and so he gathered it as he thought of that which we were accorded we perused it with our Pamphils as Mr. Hall termeth them schediae or adversaria I mean those which one way or other by yea and nay had gone betwixt us some other tho will have them called pieces as some Frenchmen do name them and we did not much disagree and although he had made a new Preface in such matters we do not stick I am old I love not much talk and I would fain be dispatched honestly homewards so the effect be there indeed and our Queen not deceived I care for no more that done and referred again for again seeing they were offered unto us in Latine he came to us with a new Charge of the late Queen of Scots in the Queen Mothers name saying that by our other talk she had clean forgotten her but to do that thing which should do our friend he meant the King his Master good and us no hurt vve could not say nay he for affinity and consanguinity and that she vvas once his Soveraigne vvas bound in conscience and respect of the vvorld to require so much and to have it testified to the vvorld that he had done those good offices vve may ansvver as vve vvould it should not touch us they vvould take our ansvver vvhatsoever it vvas I told him vve had ansvvered first to the Deputies in vvords and had good causes vvhy vve could not do it of which she was one after that we had given our answer to him in writing Thirdly we had also spoken with the King and made him a direct answer that we could not meddle in any wise with that matter in the League we had no Commission we were precisely forbidden to meddle in that matter And therefore I never spake more of that matter to have that put in the Treaty for that will not be Upon that he began to amplifie in another long Oration for all his Reasons I was fain to say he must pardon me I know he is a good Rhetorician and he had Rhetorical ornaments at will to make and so had I on the contrary side if I would bestow my time on that sort We were the Queens Maâ—esties Servants we have shewed our Reasons so good that no man could deny that we should not agree upto it We have written the sum of our answer also wherewith they ought to be content Oh saith he she hath great kindred and alliance here in the Court and they will say that the King nor we have done our duties Will ye see the ansvver quoth I I thought once to send mary I vvould not have it sent This I send your Lordship to see it N. noted not to be declared quoth I because we would be dispatched of such matters yet as gently as we could and with as little evil speeches especially of such persons This I like well saith he let me have it I pray you belike quoth I you vvould please Mr. d' Aumale and the Cardinal of Lorrain vvith it It is even for that saith he they shall see that the King hath done so much as he can No quoth I it shall not need you have our ansvver already and if you doubt of it you It is no marvel though other would Inire gratiam cum anula hoste ejus quam aliquando regnaturam putant culpa sua and we thought not good to leave in their hands in writing tam acerbum de illa testimonium But surely if her Majestie go no better about to establish her Crown and surety she doth not then follow Solomon in making away Adonias and Ioab for the same purpose And I am afraid quod erit novissimus error pejor priori I thank your Lordship for your Letters of the 16 of February by Edwards and also of the 22 of the same by the Post. Although you write not so many Letters as I yet if you write so much stuff and answer all it is all one to me but in two things I yet find fault the one that in the Letter of the 22. you wrote nothing of the Office and that you make no mention at all of the Duke of Alanson They here look very undoubtedly for some hope The other grieveth me most of all that now the League is full done as I take it and almost as well as we can with yet I must not come home but tarry here still in this Countrie where I have felt since Candlemas the greatest cold that ever I felt and most continual except it were at Tholous where it did almost cost me my life and there had made an end of it if it had not been for the strong matters which I do use
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 considerâ—s dans si peu de temps ayant deliberé de depescher bien â—ost 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 obâ—ettre 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 avoâ—s de vous donnier entiere satisfaction et contentement de tous nous de portements que sera la â—in 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 prâ—voke 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
King of Spains offence yet she did offer to the King â—nthonio the service of certain good Vessels well armed victualled and furnished with men and munition largely to repair now in the latter end of August But the King prudently considering that the time was past for this year to recover any more Isles then he hath already and that such as hold for him could not be by the enmity assailed from henceforth until the next year did not accept our offer but finding the default of answer from the French King to have been the cause of our stay he meant onely to send away a few ships which himself had bought and armed here for the which her Majestie hath already yielded him a pass-port When you shall again deal with the King to have care of his Brother now entred into the Low-Countreys whose actions for the honour of that Crown are to be maintained you may shew him that we think he was not well counselled by such as moved him to yield to * Tanis the King of Spains Agent that 300000 or 400000 Crowns were by his special license carried from Lyons to the Prince of Parma which if the King had stayed but one moneth or twenty days to give license as he did to Tanis there had manifestly followed in the Prince of Parma's Army such a disaster as is notoriously known before the coming of that money that the said Army was ready for want of pay to have broken and especially all the Almaignes had revolted to the service of Monsieur le Duc which by the ayd of that money was altered to the disadvantage of the Duke his Brother And you may say to the King that by considering of this her Majestie doubteth that there are some in credit with him that regard not in their counsels what should be the means to stay the greatness of the King of Spain which causeth her Majestie to be more doubtful how she shal deal in any action tending to stay the said greatness except she might evidently see some more appearance of the French Kings determination to the same end which in this cause of his Brothers actions in the Low-Countreys both ought and might best appear by some honourable good support to be given to the Duke his Brother Greenwich the second of Sept. 1581. Will. Burleigh To Mr. Secretary SIR notwithstanding your later letters of the 28 of August importing many reasons to move her Majestie to give some better answers in particularities yet her Majestie reading them and being reasoned withal will admit no other answer then was directed by the letters written though not sealed up before your last What may further move her Majestie hereafter I know not but I see it common to great and small not to think of adversity in time of prosperity and so adversity cometh with double peril At this present Don Antâ—onio is come to take his leave of her Majestie he will press to have his jewel and so that you may be satisfied I agree to it and so sometimes doth her Majestie but in conclusion he would have the jewel answer for all the losses which of the 13000 l. I think will be about 3600 l. whereof 170 l. is desperate imprest and wages and victuals spent the rest falleth out in the resail of the victuals I appoint Mr. Mills to be in commission about this dissolution and sail who will better satisfie you then I can And so c. Septemb. 2. William Burleigh The Article onely enlarged in words I Tem it is good to covenant That neither of the Princes now confederated shall at any time hereafter the conclusion of this Treaty give open aid to any enemy of any third Prince with whom at the conclusion of this league they are in peace thereby manifestly to provoke the other third Prince for such aid so given to make war or invasion against the Prince that shall give such aid for that cause of aid given but that before the aid shall be so openly given the Prince meaning to give such aid should first advertise by his letters the other Confederate and have his allowance thereof in writing In which word of aiding shall not be meant any other kind of ayd but such open aid as shall make the enemy aided thereby able by such aid to use open hostility and to make war against the third Prince Will Burleigh Her Majestie doth not mislike of this Article but yet she can be content it be forborn The Queens Majestie commanded me to set down a case upon the Article herewith I Tem to covenant with the French King that he shall not give open ayd to any enemy of the King of Spain thereby to provoke him to make war upon the said French King but that he shall first advertise her Majestie thereof and have her allowance otherwise her Majestie shall not be bound to aid the French King or to make war upon the King of Spain In like manner the Queen of England shall not c. Ut supra mutatis mutandis An Answer of such things as are desired by her Majesties Commissioners to be resolved touching the League offensive consisting in three points To the first AT this time here is no other thing remembred necessary to be added To the second Her Majestie thinketh it better for you to offer a covenant such as you shall find contained in a treaty betwixt Henry the eighth and Charls the fifth 1522. in the second Article the sum whereof is That if any Prince or other person should offend the Emperor Charls in his Person Dignitie or States or shall take any thing from the said Emperour in that case he shall repute the same offence or wrong as done to himself and shall repell the same with all his power and shall yield at his own charges aids convenient to withstand the same and to the reciprock the Emperour was bound but for tempering these words which are in the Article Totis virâ—bus potentia sua propulsabit her Majestie would have these kind of words added Prout commodo id fieri possit habita ratione temporis loci ac etiam faâ—ultatis suae and the cause that moveth her Majestie to have rather such an Article of a general resistance then a particular Covenant for numbers of men or money is even as your selves made you answer to the first For until the manner of the Prince Invader be known and thereby consideration had what manner of ayd defensive shall be needful to withstand the same invasion or to revenge it the resolution cannot be particularly set down what numbers shall be requisite But if the French Commissioners shall mislike of such a kind of Article you may say the like hath been between Henry the eighth and Charls the fifth and yet if that will not satisfie it may be further covenanted That upon notification of the invasion and of the greatness thereof by the Prince invaded the Prince not invaded shall give such ayd
towards your good Cousins and Parsonages of great account and value The Duke thanking me for this my good relation requested the Gentleman to come unto him Whereupon I Francis Walsingham approaching near unto him making reverence I shewed him that you willed me to do your commendations to him and furtsher to tell him that your were glad to understand that he did so honorably concur together with the King his Brother in sincere and due observation of the Edict whereby he did not only get generally with all men the honour to be reputed a Prince of courage in time of war but also of Councel in time of peace which courage you doubted not but he would continue in respect of the good will he bare to the King and his Countrey and the regard that he had of his own honour And further I shewed him that your Majestie gave me commandment during my charge here to behave my self towards him and the King his Brother with that good respect as was fit for me towards your Cousins and Princes of that qualitie that they were of Whereunto he answered with great courtesie that he thanked your Majestie for your commendations as from a Princess of that honour you are and whom he so much reverenced Secondarily for the good encouragement you gave him to be a good instrument for the observation of the Edict which thing he was bound to do in respect of his dutie towards the King and his Countrey so shall your advertisement be of no small force with him in that behalf For my self he told me that during the time of my service here I should receive for your Majesties sake any favour he could do for me And after we had taken our leave of the Duke anon we were brought to the Duke of Alansons Chamber to whom after we had used part of such speeches as we thought aptest for his capacity and he making such answer as may be expected of his young years we departed from him returning to the place of our retreat and so that night to Paris This being as near as our memories can serve us of all that in this Presenting and Negotiation hath been either delivered by us or received from them the which we humbly submittting to your Majesties wisdom and consideration beseech the Almighty long to preserve you in all prosperity From Paris the nine and twentieth of Ianuary 1571. Your Majesties most humble Subjects and Servants Henry Norris Francis Walsingham To the Right Honorable Sir William Cecil her Majesties principal Secretary SIr I have received at Sir Henry Norris hands aswel all such Copies as concern the Scotish affairs whereby I may be the better directed hereafter how to proceed therein as also all other instructions as may concern her Majesties affairs Touching common matters I refer your Honour to this inclosed of common Occurrents The matters of secrecie here at the least such and so many as I can learn are these The Pope the King of Spain and the rest of the Confederates upon the doubt of a match between the Queen my Mistress and Monsieur do seek by what means they can to disswade and draw him from the same They offer him to be the head and chief executionar of the League against the Turk a thing now newly renewed though long ago meant vvhich League is thought to stretch to as many as they repute to be Turks although better Christians then themselves The cause of the Cardinal of Lorraigns repair hither from Reyms as it is thought vvas to this purpose The King as lately he uttered to le Sieur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seeming very much to mislike hereof utterred these vvords unto him If this matter go forvvard it behoâ—eth me to make some counter-league I find the Germans saith he vvell-affected tovvards me and as for the Queen of England I knovv she hath good cause to mislike of this League as I my self have and therefore I suppose vvould be glad to joyn vvith me To vvhom the other replied that he vvas glad that he savv his danger for that he hoped he vvould provide for the remedy and vvished his Majestie that he vvould not forstovv the matter And therefore advised him for that the Princes Ambassador of Germany vvere not departed that the matâ—er might be broken to them vvhich thing the King thought not convenient for that that he thought their Ansvver vvould be that they had no Commission to deal in any such matteer but rather thought it more meet to send one of his ovvn Then the other told him that if he did did send any body it behoved him to make choice of one that vvas no Catholique for othervvise he should not be to them either grateful or trustful Whereupon the King named Monsieur Biron though he be not thought to be a Hugonot yet is he not taken to be your enemie Whereupon the other answered that he had made choice of a very fit person After he had made me acquainted with this matter he asked me how I thought the King should find the Queen affected I asked him whether he had any Commission so far forth to deal with me He told me no but he desired me to say frankly my opinion how I judged the Queen my Mistress would be inclined To whom I answered that for my own private opinion I thought not but that her Majestie would very well like of it First in respect of the common cause of Religion Secondly in respect of the good will she beareth the King whose friendship above all other Princes she doth chiefly embrace And lastly in respect of her own safety And as for my self for these respects when the matter shall grow to some further moving it shall not lack any furtherance that I can give him The said party the day before this Message came unto me and told me that he was wished from I. to give me to understand that Malicorne who was sent into Spain to congratulate the Marriage and is lately returned reporteth that Iulian Remero at his being here was dispatched from the Court to Ireland where he was to do some great enterprise Further he reported unto me that the King here is angry for that his Congratulation was not accepted of the King of Spain in so good part as he looked for but seemed to take some exception of the Kings Letters for that certain words of controversie to be usually put in such Letters as passed between them were now omitted And further to the increase of this unkindness the King of Portugal to whom the Kings Sister was offered in Marriage sent an answer by Malicorne that they were both young and that therefore about eight years hence that matter might be better talked of which disdainful answer is accepted here in very ill part and is thought not to be done without the counsel of Spain And amongst all others none taketh the matter more grievously then Queen Mother who thinketh her self not a little injured for the late friendship she
to the tenor of her Letters dated the fifth of May I have given the pretended Archbishop to understand by my Letters who is now at Nantes how her Majestie doth not allow the slender manner of his submission neither can think him worthy of favour or grace unless upon warrant given by me he maketh his repair into Enâ—land and there with all humilitie sue unto her Majestie for the same Of late he hath sent from Nantes certain of his servants as I am enformed to what end I cannot learn I have enformed Captain Thomas how her Majestie upon information given by me doth accept in very good part his late service in the discovery of the pretended Archbishops practises and that she meaneth to consider thereof Whereupon he hath desired me in his name most humbly to desire her Majestie to be so good and gracious a Lady unto him as he may have some charge under her Majestie either in Ireland his native Countrey or elsewhere as one that desireth nothing more then to imploy the experience he hath gathered in these Civil Wars in her Majesties service Here there is very good account made of him And notwithstanding that the most part of the ordinary bands are discharged as well Captains as Souldiers yet hath he allowed by the King sixteen Crowns a moneth pension His Father whose name was Bathe was one of the Justices in Ireland his Brother is Recorder of Drogheda This I write touching his Parentage to the end her Majestie may the better conceive of his loyaltie I am given secretly to understand that Rodolphi had Letters of Credit given him by the Spanish Ambassador unto the Duke de Alva whereupon he had long conference with the Duke and was dispatched in post to Rome with Letters of Credit to the Pope as also with Letters of Credit to the King of Spain promising to be at Madril the 20 of this present moneth Touching the matter of secresie committed unto him I can learn nothing as yet notwithstanding I thought it my part to advertise your Lordship of thus much who perhaps by other advertisements can give some ghess what the same importeth The Scots here have some enterprize in hand as I am informed by the party whom I appointed to observe the Lord Seatons doings The Ambassador of late hath been at Court and is returned from thence with answer not altogether to his liking and saith that so long as the Marriage is in Treaty there is no hope of good here to be done for the help of their cause Birack who lately returned out of Scotland is in hope to return with new Forces which secretly he saith to his Friends dependeth onely upon the resolution of the marriage now in hand The Lord Seaton departeth hence out of hand into Flanders being sent for by her Majesties Rebels there who have somewhat in hand presently to be executed They of late have very importunately been in hand with me for passports but understanding they have such enterprize in hand I thought good in that behalf to make some stay for a time alledging that I have some order from her Majestie to make some stay therein until I be further advertised of her pleasure I hope her Majestie will not dissallow of this my doings though I do it without warrant Out of Brittain I am advertised that la Roche had discovered unto a Kinsman of his that his enterprize in Ireland was to have executed a plot of Conquest devised by Peter Strozza in King Henries time which if the match go not forward he is promised that he shall go in hand withal hereby it doth well appear that the expectation of this match is the onely stay of divers pretended mischiefs Here they are in some perplexitie for that they hear nothing of her Majesties answer being given to understand by the Ambassador that her Majestie had signified her mind unto me in that behalf Queen Mother denieth now that she prefixed a day of answer and that I did mistake her I must needs confess that in requiring the same she used such words as her Majestie hath no cause to be justly offended which omitting to impart unto her Majestie I do most humbly crave pardon at her hands being most heartily sorry that through my default there should grow any unkindness between them Her words were as followeth First she asked me after she had willed me to signifie unto her Majestie the Kings and her resolution in what time I might have answer I shevved her that I hoped vvithin ten or tvvelve days the rather for that I knovv my Mistress to be resolved and therefore the matter required the less deliberation Then she desired me to vvill her Majestie that they might have ansvver within ten dayes if it might be These circumstances by me omitted I perceive her Majestie the rather to mislike the limitation of the time for the vvhich as before so again I most humbly require her Majesties pardon And so c. At Paris the fourteenth of May 1571. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honorable Sir Francis Walsingham the Queenâ— Majesties Ambassador with the French King THere is nothing yet readie to send you touching the matter of Monsieur The Ambassador resident hath received Letters of late since yours came from the Queen Mother and from Monsieur de Foix touching that cause He shewed his Letter to me and my Lord of Burleigh and it appeareth that de Foix Letter doth qualifie much the dealing which you and Cavalcant had I mean he writeth in sort to continue the matter and as it were that there would be offer made by them But her Majestie hath handled the matter exceeding well with the Ambassador and giveth him no hope without yielding of their part to that she hath reformed in their first demands And as 〈◊〉 as I can perceive they will rather yield then break off God send all to be for his glory and our good and so farewel my good Walsingham In haste this seventh of May 1571. Your assured Friend Ro. Leicester Commend me to my Cousin your wife by the next you shall hear more of this matter To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester MY very good Lord the Protestants here do so earnestlie desire this match and on the other side the Papists do so earnestlie seek to impeach the same as it maketh me the more earnest in furthering of the same Besides when I particularly consider her Majesties state both at home and abroad so far forth as my poor eye-sight can discern and how she is beset with Forraign peril the execution whereof stayeth onely upon the event of this match I do not see how she can stand if this matter break off No particular respect as God is my witness moveth me to write thus earnestly but only the regard I have to Gods glory and her Majesties safetie They rest here somewhat perplexed for that the answer is so long deferred being
Currier who overtook him at Bullen arived here a day or two before him After the arrival of the said Currier it was given out here that l' â—â—chant brought but a cold answer whereby it might appear to them that his first assurance was not without good ground With this those that favored the marriage were very much appaled L' â—rchant being come and making so honourable a report of her Majesties sincerity and honourable dealing the same also being confirmed by Monsieur de la Mâ—ts Letters as a matter though desperate begaâ— again to revive Hereupon they have with certain choise Counsellors conferred what resolution is to be taken they have continued in Councel chiefly about this matter about the space of five or six days and yet cannot resolve what to do I am put in hope that though the matter proceed not yet that the Kings intention is to send some person of good quality as well to thank her Majestie for her honourable proceeding in this cause as also to desire continuance of good amity Of thus much I thought good to advertise her Majestie before hand and when they have fully resolved what they will do I mean to dispatch another And thus leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take leave From Melun the seven and twentieth of Iuly 1571. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester I Most humbly thank your Lordship for your frank and plain dealing towards me touching your opinion of their cause There is bred in them here now of late such a doubt before l' Archants arrival of her Majesties disposition to marry as they know not how to proceed This doubt is nourished by advertisements come from the Scotish Ambassador there with you who pretendeth to know all secrets of State If this distrust were not no doubt of it Religion would not be the let but to yield in Religion and afterwards to miss of their purpose they think would be a great touch in her This difference I fear me will quite overthrow the matter and therefore it behoveth her Majestie to look about her being invironed with many practises the executions whereof have staid upon the event of the match I do what I can to procure continuance or rather increase of amity The King himself as I learn is very well inclined thereto the rather through a mislike he hath of Spain I had well hoped there would have grown some broyâ— between them but that matter as far as I can learn will prove but a dream and now this match not proceeding as they seem much to doubt it the King as I suppose will be loath to attempt any thing against Spain though his will that way be good Her Majesties liberality bestowed on l' Archant was very well imployed for none can speak more honourably of her then he doth and as for your Lordship you have no cause to repent any courteâ—ie shewed unto him so good a report doth he make The like also doth one Cornet make that accompanied l' Archant The Ambassador there Monsieur de la Mot doth seek to salve all things that may breed an opinion in them here that her Majestie dealeth otherwise then sincerely his good offices that he hath done as well in this cause as otherwise deserve honourable considerations at her Majesties hands They have by the space of five or six days sate very hard in Councel about this matter no Councel dare devise as I can learn any thing in respect of the distrust they have I am put in good hope that if they mind not to proceed yet they purpose to make choice of some one of good calling to send over as well to thank her Majestie for her sincere dealing in this matter as also to desire continuance of amity This is as much as hitherto I can learn touching their intention concerning this matter wherewith I thought good to dispatch this bearer and after the through conclusion what they mind to do then â—orthwith I minde to dispatch another And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave From Melun the seven and twentieth of Iuly 1571. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may please your Lordship to advertise her Majestie that after I had closed up my first packet thinking to have sent this Bearer presently with the same Mr. Cavalcant came unto me sent by the Queen Mother to request me to forbear to sent to her Majestie for a day or two in which time they would grow to some through conclusion touching their answer and that then it was the Kings meaning to send for me and to impart the same unto me whereupon I thought good to stay for the satisfying of her request According to her promise I was sent for by the King at my access he told me that they had deliberated upon the answer received from her Majestie by l' Archant for that the same was of great weight and that his resolution after long deliberation was to send Monsieur de Foix forthwith unto her Majestie with his full intention touching the same who he hoped should find her not so resolute touching the point of Religion And further he willed me to tell her Majestie whatsoever should come of the cause that in respect of her honourable and sincere dealing in the same and the greaâ— confidence she shâ—â—â—d to repose in him she might assure herself as much of his friendship as of any other bodies in the earth and that she had full power to dispose of him and of his Realm to the benefit of her self and of her Subjects whose sword should be always ready to defend her against any that should attempt any thing against her He joyned his words and countenance so together as great demonstration outwardly of inward good will could not but be seen Having ended with the King I repaired to Queen Mother who used long speech in shewing the great affection she bare to the cause and that she was sorry that so hard a point as Religion should be the let to hinder a match whereof there would grow so great benefit to both the 〈◊〉 I told 〈◊〉 that if it pleased her she might remove that 〈◊〉 by the perâ—wading of 〈◊〉 Son to content himself with the exercise of our Religion She told me she could hardly do that for that it was a thing that touched his 〈◊〉 and reputation I willed her again on the other side to weigh what great reason the â—ueen my Mistress had not to yield to that point She shewed me that she could not deny but that her Majestie had some cause so to do notwithstanding she hoped there would be some â—elp found the party whom the King meant to send being so grateful unto her Majestie and having sundry reasons to alledge to shew
Serenissimus Dux non diutiùs utetur ritibus ceremoniis haud consentientibus cum Legibus Angliae quam quoad institutus persuasus fuerit ut Ecclesiae Anglicanae ritus sufficientes esse existimet ad Cultum divinum neque iis quidem consentientibus cum legibus Angliae ita utetur ut aut bonis subditis regni ad publicam offensionem aut malis ad violandas leges prebeatur sed semper quum publicae offensiones huic aut acciderint aut indubitatè ad futurae videbuntur unde tumultus in regno metui possint se adomnes suae Majestatis benevolas admonitiones cum pro honore securitate suae Majestatis quam pro communi tranquilitate regni conservanda modo forma se geret ut Reginae Consilio suo par esse atque conveniens videbitur Idemque per omnia permittit se prestiturum pro omnibus domesticis qui cum illo permittenter ad esse in aliquo suo cultu Religioso Postremo quia Regiae Majestati visum est Oratores falsos esse se non habuisse potestatem iis premissis ut proponuntur plenè assentiendi aequum esse etiam visum est suae Majestati ut illa responsa non tradantur tanquam ita maturé consult determinata à sua Majestate quin ut liceat suae Majestati detrahere aut ad ea aliquid adjicere impost erum et eò magis quia non fine multa persuasione cohortatione consiliorum suorum ad astentiendum multis praedictorum adducta est Et id circo etiam Majestas Sua petit à Christianissimo fratre suo Rege Christianissimo ut quanquam haec quae â— sua Majestate responsa sunt non sunt per omnia Regi placitura nulla tamen Diminutio mutuae amicitiae prioris intersuas Majestates subsequatur quia nihil potiâ—s habet in votis sua Majestas quam amicitiam mutuam cum Christianissimo fratre suo conservare atque augere To the Right honourable and my very Friend Francis Walsingham Esq her Majestes Ambassador Resident in France SIr as we here upon dispatches sent thither to you do not hear of long time of any answer from you are unquiet in our minds for the desire we have to understand the process of the causes in hand so I am assured you have not been out of trouble and care in that you have not of long time heard from hence in what sort Monsieur de Foix hath treated or rather been handled but this shall content you to think and therefore I do assure you that the negotiation hath had almost as many changes though not in contrarieties yet in varieties as it hath had days of conferences and sometimes moe If I may truly report that in some one days act one part of the day hath not been so seasonable as the other and therefore judge you if you had been advertised from one time to another how dissonant the same might have been in your ears how deformed in your eye and percase as herewith you may be justly grieved so would you ask of me the just cause thereof if you were with me which I would not refuse to declare conjecturally as I might but to write hereof I do forbear thinking that by other your friends Letters you will guess Monsieur de Foix hath had seven or eight special conferences with her Majestie and with us of her Councel And at the first he found such favourable answers as he accounted the matter his own to call you truly the 3368 tu wholly added with a certain circumscribld 4 s â— 477 â—â—â— t 418 and if any of them have principally or indirectly impugned the same as I cannot affirm truly therein he nor they shall have hereafter a quiet conscience Indeed we have cause to think that some for proof practising particularity have troubled quiet waters God give them grace to repent their errours The answers have been since they were first given in words altered in writing and directed so to be to the worse and thereby the Ambassador have been greatly perplexed to find the latter harder then the first and yet now as you shall see the words for the point of Religion thus her Majestie is resolved and so she doth pronounce to her Councel whom she seeth earnestly bent by all means to further this marriage for her own surety and for the avoiding of the inevitable Ruine of this Monarchy that surely so as Monsieur will forbear the mass she will assent to the marriage and this she confirmeth with all good speeches to give credit but yet all of us are not so perswaded not for doubt of her assertions which surely are agreeable to her mind when she uttereth them but for doubt that others misliking the same may indirectly draw her from her determination If you require of me what you may say her Majesties Letters will warrant you for words but what you may hope will succeed I can no more ascertain you then I can my self who am now to expect at Gods hands blessing or vengeance for it is likely his Majestie will no longer dissemble his determinations In the mean time the beholding of this cloud the time to creep nearer by prayer for fear and reverence of his mercy and to beseech him to direct the heart of her Majestie to chuse that which may be most to his glory Monsieur de Foix hath had good entertainment in all external offices well used by her Majestie defrayed for his diet at the time he hath been near the Court and in coming and returning my Lord of Buckâ—urst hath very courteously and honourably accompanied him during his being here and to increase his honour I caused my Lord of Oxford to attend on him in sundry places and by the way from London hither to Walâ—en he dined at my house as I doubt not but he and the Resident Ambassador have seen my hearty devotion to the marriage and indeed so is my judgement therein confirmed as I am not ashamed to utter my self howsoever it may be perilous to me when it shall not take place you see also how openly I deal with you I have declared to her Majestie the necessary occasion that you have this present moneth to attend Physick whereby the place you hold were meet to be supplyed by some such as her Majestie shall think convenient but I cannot have her direction fully to be declared But she saith that upon the next answer to come from you she will give you either authority to appoint Beal in your place as your Substitute or she will send Master Killigrew thither Monsieur de Foix hath very earnestly moved her Majestie to send some one person of credit to the French King to affirm and justifie the reasons of her answer or rather if the Marriage shall not take place to enter into the Treaty of some straiter allyance and confederacy which for my part I thought very reasonable and did assent and
to supply what else doth want in me and therefore besides that her Majesty hath here willed me to signifie unto you which is for the imparting of the proceedings in the case of her marriage heretofore how it hath from time to time past unto the Admiral there I have shewed you what I conceive of her Majesties inclination again towards the marriage of Monsieur which being a matter of greatest importance to her and us also I thought meet to let you know that the matter as it hath been a long while in a manner dead may be with more discretion revived and do not doubt but that it will be opened by the parties there again seeing her Majesty hath not yet clearly there denied it nor they fully answered her Majesties demands Other news we have none worth the writing but of her Majesties good estate which surely is such as I have not known been these many years Thus with my right hearty commendations I bid you farewell At Greenwich the 6 of Decemb. 1571. Your very Friend R. Leicester Instructions given to Sir Tho. Smith one of the Q. Majesties privy Councel and Ambassador in France and to Francis Walsingham Esq her Ambassador ordinary there and in his absence to her Majesties trusty servant H. Killegrew Esq. Given at Westminster Feb. 13. 1571. the 13. year of her Maj. reign YOu shal understand that after consideration had of all your Letters and memorials in writing of the Colloquie that had passed between you and our servant Hen. Killâ—grew with you on the one part and with the President Biraâ—e the Bishop of Limoyes and Mr. de Foix deputed from the French King to confer with you on their part from the 10 of the last month unto the 20 of the same we caus'd certain of our councel to confer with the French Amb. according to his request upon the same matters who did exhibit in writing the copies of the proceedings betwixt you and the said Deputies agreeable for the most part to those which were receiv'd from your self and he did propound four points comprehending the differences betwixt you and them the judgement whereof was referred as he said to the King his Master our good brother and us pretending with many good words that since the foundation of the Treaty was by your good means and the Kings Deputies with you there made manifest to be without any difference which was a declaration of a natural good will in both the P. to enter into some streight League of amity he doubted not but that these other particular differences which consisted but upon words should be easily and speedily compounded The first doubt as he said remaining undetermined was about the Article for mutual defence of either Prince against any other person that should invade either of them or their Countries In that you shall have these words inferted into the Article Etiam si causa religionis mutatio facta fuerit whereunto with these special words the Kings Deputies would not agree neither as he said might his Master without great inconvenience assent thereunto whereof he doubted not but he would have reasonable respect and not meaning thereby to forbear to be bound to do that which the special case of these words might import And so reporting many arguments to our Councel whereof he had made mention unto us two daies before at his last audience amongst the which one was of most weight as we took it That if such special mention should be made for the defence of Religion in a publike Treaty the King should thereby offend not only all other Princes Catholiques his Allies but also the greater part of his own States and Subjects which are of the Catholique Religion as the King himself also is And yet nevertheless the King was content as he said to have all other manner of good and effectual words and speeches inserted in the said Treaty to bind the King to a mutual defence against all manner of invasion for what cause pretext or colour soever it were yea and that without exception of any manner of cause Hereunto was answered on our part That considering there was no other likelihood of any pretence to invade us but upon the colour of Religion only and that on the Kings part there were many other causes and quarrels as Titles to Dominions and Territories and such like other might be devised for invasion and disturbance of his estate whereunto our aid or defence should be requisite It might be thought a very unequal Contract by general words certainly to conclude all his causes and by forbearing these special words of Religion to leave us utterly unprovided of aid and as to the remedy to have other manner of words inserted considering they should be but general it might be doubted that while the Invasion should be made or attempted against us for Religion or but for pretext of Religion and required for the same the King might then with colourable reasons being devised by such as were over-vehement and passionate in the Religion of Rome or in that which is called Catholike answer that he might not for his conscience satisfie or demand for aid in that behalf and that could not be intended to be lawfully that is by the Law of God included in the general words To this although the Ambassador replyed in his Masters name with the great assurance of his intention to give us aid against any Invasion though it were indeed for Religion which he said could not be but a pretence of the Invader for that the Invasion of the Realm was to be regarded and not any cause or pretext Yet the doubt herein remained betwixt them unresolved and so the Ambassador seemed not therein to be satisfied saving that in some secret speech afterward with one or two of our Councel apart although he would not have report thereof made he thought his Master might be induced by some secret means to make some particular promise betwixt his Master and us by writing separated from the publike Treaty for a special point of a mutual defence in case of Religion The second part of the doubt moved by the Ambassador was for the forme manner time and quality of the aid that should be mutually given wherein he pressed to have had the like manner as was contracted in Anno 1543. betwixt the Emperor Charls and the King our Father at which time either of the Confederates was bound to give such aid as might amount to the charges of 600 Crowns by the day for the space of 4 months in one year or else some other aid in certainty which he could not name but it may be the Kings Deputies there might mean such Treaties as had been before contracted between our Father and King Francis Grandfather to the King where there is one example of the Treaty of 1532. betwixt the said two Kings in both which Treaties the aids were born at the charges of the Confederate Prince that was required by the
Walsingham and I have concluded the League not without some difficulty for the Scotch matters which from the beginning have most interrupted and troubled us nevertheless we have also passed over them in the end we trust to your Highness contentation and all other things whereof we had instructions by your Majesties letters of the second of April We can perceive nothing in any wise but that the King here goeth as sincerely and tam bona fide with your Majesty as any Prince can and we suppose and trust certainly by Gods Grace that this league shall be as great an assurance and defence of your Majesty as ever was or can be The two Realms being so neer and ready to defend if it be required if Spain will now threaten or shew evil Offices as it hath done of late against your Highness surety it will be afraid hereafter seeing such a wall adjoyned And if it will not it may sooner feel the smart of evil doing then it would if the house of Burgundie will be friend whereof there is great reason to have much doubt yet nothing is done on your Majesties part to break the amity And peradventure this will make him the loather seeing so good or neer hand so good peradventure in time a better vent granted here for your Subjects and Merchants then that is I thank your Majesty most humbly that it pleased you in my absence to bestow on me the Chancelorship of the Order the which must needs be to me manifold times more welcom because that without my suit and in mine absence your Highness of your gracious goodness did remember me I pray God I may have that Grace to do your Majesty that service which may be acceptable to you as my heart doth desire Thus I commit your Highness to Almighty God with my dayly prayer that your Majesty 〈◊〉 long and most prosperously reign over us From Bloys April 22. 1571. By the Queen ELIZABETH R. TRusty and well beloved We greet you well where the French King our good brother did of late send hither to us Mr. de Crocque with his letters signifying to us thereby that upon such an agreement as had been lately made between you as our Ambassadors and his Deputies to have some Gent. sent on either part into Scotland to cease the Arms there he had for that purpose chosen and sent hither the said du Crocque And besides that did by the same letters give charge to the said du Crocque to make request unto us affectionately to put the Q. of Scots into liberty and to send her surely into France which he did earnestly move unto us in speech adding another desire by words of his own that he might also repair to the said Q. of Scots and visit and speak with her hereupon you well might think that we did finde all these proceedings very strange and not answerable to such other overtures of the inward friendship which our said brother hath professed to us by many other ways nor consonant to such things as you have declared to the said King to the Q. mother and other his Ministers on our behalf concerning the dangerous practises of late time attempted by the said Q. of Scots against us both for our person and Estate and so we did in some part declare unto the said du Crocque and to the French Ambassadors And yet we did not hereupon refuse that he should repair into Scotland although we did mislike of the request made for the Scotch Queens liberty at this time and did deny to him to repair to her but we did require him by way of advice until he might hear of Scotland in what terms the parties stood So as we might before his going by conference with him consider what means were best to use to bring the divisions to an accord in Scotland After which done within few days we understood that the L. Seaton who had been long in France for the Scotch Queen and after had been in the King of Spains Low-Countries with Commission and Title to be the Queen of Scots Ambassador there had by tempest of Seas been driven into Harwich and from thence passed disguised as a Mariner into Scotland and so entered into the Castle of Edenburgh with no smal comfort to them to persist in their obstinacie to maintain Civil war and by Gods goodness which in all causes we find always ready there were afterwards found in the ship at Harwich such matters in writing to prove the earnest continuance and prosecuting of the Scotch Queens practises against us the intention that they in the Castle should by no means come to accord that our Rebels in the Low-Countries should shortly return into Scotland that we were justly occasioned further to consider of this matter and to encrease our doubt herein we were shortly after these things discovered advertised out of Scotland that in very deed upon the Lord Seatons coming to the Castle upon intelligence of du Croques voyage thitherward and the L. Flemings journey to come by the West Seas with aid out of Britain they in the Castle were become very obstinate to hearken unto the reasonable offers either for Peace or for abstinence of war Whereupon we did cause by consent of our Councel to be imparted to the French Ambassador and to du Crocque the substance of the premisses which moved us to doubt whether the journey of du Crocque should be meet for us to assent unto without we should first impart our Conceptions to the French King and so required them to allow thereof and that we would write to the King and according as we should receive answer from him so they should understand our further pleasure At which time we understood that both the Ambassador and he took this stay somewhat strangely thinking that it might likewise seem strange to the King their Mr. considering that the said du Crocque coming thither was by agreement of you our Ambassador and the Kings Deputies And though the same was not denyed yet in our part it was said we doubted not but when the King shall understand that new occasions with the matter discovered tending in this his matter of voyage rather to the increase of the troubles in Scotland then to the pacifying thereof and likewise rather to our manifest perils and troubles then to our comfort and surety he would as our good brother and friend especially at this time being entring into so straight a profession of friendship as he maketh shew of would allow of our considerations of this stay and by some new order from him and Commission to du Crocque would provide for the remedies of the said inconvenience Thus much being passed the said dâ— Croque within two days after desired to speak privately with one of our Councâ—l by name the L. of Burleigh and for some considerations it was thought good that he should speak also with some others and so did with the Earl of
we do long so much for answer out of England it being 22 daies since Mr. Beal departed from hence and we thought but upon 15. the thing being here so desired of them so necessary as we think for us that the fault we find there we will not have found in us but rather send all that we have here and be sick for grief that we hear nothing from you then you would excuse us there by our like doings here Your Lordship may be well assured there is nothing more expected and looked for then the Queens Majesties resolution in these two points whereof for the one the League is accounted aâ— sure both of us and them the other for the marriage although in suspence yet in great hope so much as they get in uncertainly in such a matter on their side for our parts as we have said we can say nothing whereof we are more sorry and do lament in our hearts to see such uncertain so negligent and irresolute provision for the safety of the Queens Majesties person and of her Reigne over us God of his almighty and miraculous power preserve her long to Reigne over us What shall we say more that is done heretofore even to this day is written fully what shall be written fully what shall be written for you and what God hath disposed to be done we cannot know till we hear from you His grace and mercy turn all to the best and preserve her Majestie and your Lordship with long life and felicity From Blois this Palm Sunday 1571. Th. Smith To my Lord Burleigh YOur Lordships Letters of the 20 of March made us both Mr. Walsingham and me in the reading for we read them both together in a marvelous agony but having the medicine ready that her Majestie was within an hour recovered it did in part heal us again but as your Lordship writeth the care doth not yet cease in you you may be assured it doth as little cease in us calling to our remembrance and laying before our eyes the trouble the uncertainty the disorder the peril and danger which had been like to follow if at that time God had taken from us that stay of the Commonwealth and hope of our repose that Lanthorn of our light next God whom to follow nor certainly where to light another Candle but if the Queens Majestie do still continue in extremities to promise in recoveries to forget what shall we say but as Italians do Passato il pericolo gabbato il fanto And you shall perceive by our proceedings what justly may be required is easie to be done and done if her Majesty deceive her self and with irresolution make all Princes understand that there is no certainty in her Majestie nor her Councel but dallianâ—e and farding off of time her Majestie shall first discredit her Ministers which is not much but next and by them discredit her self to be counted as uncertain irresolute unconstant and for no Prince to trust unto but as to a Courtier who hath words at will and true deeds none Your Lordship must pardon me for I have here kept so long that I am now in an Ague both in body and spirit nor seeing no cause why Mr. Beal cometh not nor any reason shewed neither in her Majesties Letters nor yours why he doth not come as the humours in my body maketh an Ague in my body whereof I would it should make an end so this irresolution there with you I hope will help to conclude that I shall feel no more miseries which I fear those that come after us shall feel Quia non videbimus tempus visitationis nostrae Thus I commit your Lordship to Almighty God From Blois this Good-Friday 1571. Because the French King doth deal so plainly faithfully and frankly with the Q. Majestie at this time touching the matters in Scotland I pray move her Majestie to deal as frankly with him and let de Crocque be privy to your Instructions and let them be conformable to his and if he shall think so meet you may add more to them for they would have the Commission to be joyntly to doe and with common consent all things To my Lord Burleigh MY very good Lord With much difficulty at the last we have concluded the League and â—r Walsingham and I were fain to stand even to the breaking of all together The last Instructions seemed to us so precise for the Scotch matters we taking them as concluded between the Queens Majestie and Mr. de la Mot their Ambassador Resident there that he did not so conclude nor had no such authority but that it was referred again to us In fine after five or six daies debating the 14 of this month we came to this We yielded to put out and in those words as be in the Instructions as de la Mott required and to change one or two more which varied not the sentence but made it more clear and remitting to us the last Article of reservation to the Scots we remitted also to them the 24. because we would once be at a point And where reservation is needless in a League defensive where is â—o derogation to other Leagues defensives yet we would not that the Queens Majestie should seem any more to relent to them then they to her Highness All the rest they accorded to us as we would desire and in all points as is required in her Highness Letters to us as ye may perceive by the Treaty and by our demand in Latine and that which we followed or gave us reason why not which we send unto you indeed that word present is not so necessary nor effectual for when we speak Statum Scotiae and if you put praesentem and now it is in trouble and doubt may be made whether you would maintain the troubled State or no and so present shall be Determinatio diminuens as homo furibundus seminectus moribundus moriens somniens for so is a Commonwealth in sedition And again when you say Contra publicas Soctiae Leges consuetudines Parliamenta it is understood by common sense praesentes for Laws and Statutes abrogated or antiquated be not Laws so they confessed unto us that they got nothing by putting out praesentem or praesentis but that it lay not so open unto cavillations as though they should by special words maintain the troubled State or allow the Parlament whereby the Queen was deprived and the King allowed although indeed in tacite they would not deny but it was allowed and in the plain sense of the words wherein they said they did much for the Q. Maj. that they were content to make no mention of the Q. of being so their friend and allie but gave her over to the Q. Maj. and in all things relent to her Highness desires so they may have any colour to sâ—ve the K. their Masters honour Likewise where the maintaining of Rebels done by the Scots and the expulsion to expell them was set
is grown cold who before was very forward in so much as Commissions were granted ready to have been sealed for the leavying of men in sundry Provinces but herein nothing prevailed so much as the tears of his mother who without the Army of England cannot consent to grow to any open dealing And because they are as I suppose assured by their Ambassadors that her Majesty will not intermeddle they cannot be induced to make any overture Thus your L. sees that fear mistrust unles God sets to his helping hand is like to overthrow all To think that Spain will suffer us to overcome this brunt to live long in peace hath no reason for ground To seek now reconcilement with him in this his necessiâ—y there is likelihood he will yield thereto for no man can speak fairer then a Spaniard when he is underfoot but to think when the necessity is gone that he will forget what is past surely he knows not the Spanish nature that is of that opinion For the greatness of France I see no such ambition here why we should have cause much to fear it Pleasure and youth will not suffer us to take profit of advantages and those who rule under us are fearfull and irresolute How perplexed the Admiral is who foreseeth the mischief that is like to follow if assistance come not from above your Lordship may easily guess And surely to say truth he never shewed greater magnanimity nor never was better followed nor more honoured of those of the Religion then now he is which doth not a little appale the enemies In this storm he doth not give over the helm he layeth before the King and his Councel the peril and danger of his estate and though he cannot obtain what he would yet doth he obtain somewhat from him I am requested to desire your Lordship to hold him excused in that he writeth not for that at this time he is overwhelmed with affairs Furthermore he desired me from him that if her Majesty proceeded in revocation of those her subjects in Flanders it will breed such discouragement in those of the Country that are well affected to the cause as it will to all likelihood hazard the whole enterprise He therefore desireth your Lordship as you wish well to the cause and to the safety of her Majesty whose repose whatsoever is said to the contrary dependeth upon the good success of this enterprise to procure a stay to be made of the said revocation Touching Flushing he tels me that the matter shall be ended as there shall grow no just cause of jealousie which shall shortly appear by some offer that shall be made unto her Majesty of the same by those that are now possessors of it Other particularities he willed me to impart unto your Lordship which I requested Mr. Killigrew to make your Lordship acquainted withall for the avoiding of the tediousness of Cypher Touching the acceptation here of the answer unto the offer propounded by M. Montmo I refer your Lordship to Sir Smith's letters As far as I 〈◊〉 perceive they mean not to be discouraged with one Nay 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 Francis Walsinghâ—â— I have cause to render unto your Lordship my most hearty thanks for your late earnest dealing with her Majesty for my revocation I am also presently to request your Lordship to renew the same for that my charges here do grow daily more intolerable so that I am no more able to endure the weight of this burden To our trusty and welbeloved Francis Walsingham Esq our Ambassador resident with our good Brother the French King TRusty and welbeloved we greet you well Here hath been with us Monrieur de la Mâ—â— with special letters from the King Q. mother and the D. of Alanson who with the Ambassador resident hath here most earnestly 〈◊〉 to us touching the marrying with the D. of Alanson and upon the report of your speech to the King upon the two Letters we lately sent unto you there appeareth some mistaking either by you or by the King For in the Kings letter to the French Ambassador it is conceived that you should say that we did will you by our first letter to declare that the difference of the age of the Duke from ours was such as it was not possible for us to accord thereto and yet you should upon our second letter propound a motion of an enterview Which two declarations cannot but contain some absurdity as we think yourself can conceive And therefore we have answered that either you mistook our mind or our first letters and so misreported them as we cannot think you did or else the King mistook your words and that where you were by us commanded to say that the cause was very difficile which we think you did for so do our letters plainly direct you it is likely that the King understood it as was thought you had said impossible And so the Ambassador resident will not have us in any wise think but that the King or Q. mother mistook it Upon their further dealing in these matters at sundry times who never omitted any opportunity to advance the same it was at length by them propounded to us that we should be content to accord that the Duke might come hither and that all other Articles which were treated upon of the Duke d'Anjou might remain good for the Duke d'Alanson saving that the difficulty in Religion might rest in suspence and be determined upon his coming hither as we two should agree whereby they seemed to provide that the inconvenience which might ensue of the enterview if the principal matter took no place might be rejected to the article of Religion and so the honour of the Duke c. Hereunto we were loth to make any direct answer but remember it unto them what words both the D. of Montmorencie and the Q. mother used to you concerning the great misliking of an enterview as it seemed by their discourse of the inconvenience what hath followed of those enterviews but what those be and whether they know of any like our persons and other circumstances considered we cannot tell and therefore we seem very loth that there should any motion come from us of any enterview leâ—t the principal matter should not take place and therefore we can make no certainty There might indeed such inconvenience follow as hath been by them remembred and yet being still pressed by the Ambassador and 〈…〉 that if indeed we 〈◊〉 a disposition to marry as we had been content to affirm for necessity of our Realm though not for any particular motion for our own person then we would be content with this by them propounded for an enterview and therefore we did at good length make the answer in the 〈◊〉 of our Councel so well to shew them truly that we did continue
and that time we will hasten as we may I pray you buy me the Commentaries of Mathiolus upon Dioscorides translated into French and let it be bound there with two or three sheets of paper before and in the end That book was never wont to go from me and now I cannot tell how it is stoln from me because it was noted with my observations and notes I had rather have lost a far better thing and in London I cannot buy any other and therefore I pray you help me to one and I wil repay it where you will appoint in French Crowns with a hundred thanks Fare you well From Windsore the thirtieth of October 1572. Your assured Friend Th. Smith To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr yesterday came Williams your servant to Windsore with your Letters and Advertisements of that which he had to declare concerning Lions Florence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wherein I see strange dealing for the party once offered to remain Prisoner until the truth might be tryed and so to lose his head if the tale were not true wherefore I see it is good reason to be slow in credit to such matters Presently there is here one York come as he saith with Letters from Lyons of credit to the Queens Majestie and his message is to declare secretly the danger of and that if 3 would be so content E would come to lie into hall 2 with such other fond devices as for many respects the party is greatly suspected wherefore her Majestie hath willed me with all haste to will you by some good means to understand the truth of the party himself that is to say of Glasco and if he have not sent any such then with speed to advertise for I think it will be necessary for 3 in honour and for in safety to utter the matter or the party to Florence This messenger pretendeth great devotion in Religion and we understand that he is of great levity and fully meet for any dangerous enterprize I cannot write any more for haste of sending away this Pacquet because her Majestie would have speedy answer I trust you shall shortly hear of some comfort of a successor The Queens Majestie is content that I shall speak to Mr. Frâ—â—â—is Carew to supply that place with whom to morrow I will speak and that earnestly We are wont to have all evil news from thence but now we have also very evil news in our North parts The nine and twentieth of the last the good Regent of Scotland dyed as I think by a natural sickness and yet the certâ—â—nty is not known This will make our cause the worse in Scotland for I fear the conveyance away of the King and yet there is care taken for his safety but I can almost hope for no good using our selves â—all by heâ—ps and why the heaps fall not upon our selves personâ—lly I seâ— nothing to the let thereof in our selves God be merciful unto us Yesterday the French Ambassador sent me word to declare to her Majestie that the French Queen hath brought forth a Daughter and to know wheâ—her the Queens Majestie would be content to Christen it with her own name and to send my Lord of Leicester or me thither Her Majesties answer was That she would not desire to Christen it nor would send my Lord of Lâ—â—â—ester oâ— me but if the King would desâ—â—e her Majestie to be God-mother she would not refuse it but would send some person quâ—lified What will follow hereof I know not From my house at Westminster the third of November 1572. Your assured loving Friend William Burleigh To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador for the Queens Majestie in France MY Lord I do thank you for the speedy answer to my former letters which I wrote touching a Rider and I perceive you used so much care as you have already hearkned out one that is recommended very sufficient but his demands you think are very great and so they be indeed But as I am desirous to have such a man so am I loth to pay too dearly for him I would gladly hear how Moâ—ret doth imploy him now or whether you think him not a meet man for that purpose If he be of his wonted mind he is very desirous to return again hither and to serve very reasonable and I am given to understand that he hath profited very well in his profession since his being there If he be to be had reasonably and that you hear of his ability therewith of men of judgement to be confirmed I had rather have him then any other If he be not then this I say for the other whom I thank you again for I will give him 150 Crowns a year wages and his meat and drink and lodging in my house for him and his man and allowance in my stable for two horses and if he prove a man to my liking I think you do believe I can find in my heart to be better worth to him one way or another then 50 Crowns besides his wages If you can thus agree with him the sooner he come to me the better not doubting but that you will in the mean time make good inquiry of his trade and life and what his conditions be And if ever he have been honest I trust to keep him so and if his nature be not too bad I hope he shall be contented here with his usage as I mean he shall be treated And so Sir I most humbly desire you to let me have some description of the man by your next and what you think he will do Now Sir Touching our estate here First thanks be to God our Mistris is in very good health and I trust in God ere it be long will shew some care over us all The matters in Scotland stand but in tickle terms between the parties I mean between the King and the Queens side and so have they Agents for that the King left them who be now returned with better hope I think then in the end they shall have cause to bring their practises to pass Other particular news of weight here is none at this present worth the writing but that we are all here yet quiet and by Gods good assistance I trust shortly more certain hope we shall have of the continuance of it We your poor friends here are continually labourers for your coming home and surely I trust you shall return ere it be long For my own part I will not cease till it be granted and in hope of that I will forbear to write somewhat now which when you come home if you will affirm â— will tell you So my good Francis fare you well In some haste the seven and twentieth of October At Windsore I mean to morrow or next day being at London to visit your wife ceaseth vvho not to call daily upon all your friends here by your letters for your coming home I like not my
the answer as I cannot write any more I trust your old acquaintance Mr. Carew shall borrow your room shortly From my house in Westminster the seventh of November Yours assuredly William Burleigh To the right Honorable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principal Secretary SIr it may please you to advertise her Majestie that the King dispatched within these ten days Viracque with a good sum of money to entertain a party in Scotland until such time as he hath propounded the matter here in France One William Seers servant to the Earl of Westmerland arrived here the four and twentieth of this moneth sent hither by the said Earl Immediately upon his arrival Viracque went with him to the Court which is at this present at Monceaux He reporeth that in the North Countrey from York to the borders all the whole Countrey is at the Earls devotion so that a few men imployed there by the King may assure him that her Majestie shall be kept so occupied as she shall have no leisure to send any supply to Rochel I learn further that one Stephen Wilson a Scotish man taketh upon him to draw the Earl of Argile to be wholly at the Kings devotion so that the said Earl may receive that estate and honour that his Father had at the King his Predecessors hands The Bishop of Glasco hath had long and several conferences with the Legate since his last arrival If her Majestie do not compound the matter of Scotland before Viracque his coming she shall find more difficulty in the matter It is evident how much money may do with that Nation therefore it were well before his coming her Majestie took the benefit of the Market for that many Chapmen maketh deerer wares Such Noblemen of Scotland as are here were never so much made of I am well assured that the Duke of Alva not long sithence did write unto the King here in recommendation of the practice that tended to the disquiet of her Majestie but what it was or what answer was made I cannot learn At this present there is not that entertainment used towards the Legate that appertaineth to his calling and as heretofore hath been used which maketh all men of judgement to suspect that the same is done for the nonce to blind the eyes of all the Princes Protestants And that those speeches that were given out that the Marquis of Egremont departed without good satisfaction for that he obtained nothing of those things he propounded and that the Legate is like to obtain nothing of those things he is to propound are but to abuse the world Things do not pass here as they were wont to do through many hands besides the Duke of Nevers not many Counsellours that are made privy to the affairs of most secrecy As I learn secretly their Ambassador there findeth himself agrieved for that he receiveth not that good countenance and entertainment that he was wont to do Though I have most just cause to think that there is but little good meant towards her Majestie whatsoever outward shew is made yet in my poor opinion it were not amiss for her Majestie to use all outward shew and entertainment that may seem to appertain to good amity and yet not to omit any thing that tendeth to her safety And so for other matters referring your honour to these enclosed Occurrents I most humbly take my leave At Paris the seven and twentieth of November 1572. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable and his very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh YOur Lordships of the seventh I have received the Letters enclosed I have delivered to Steward for that Glascow â—8 was not here he therefore desired me to tell Davison that his absence is the cause why he hath not answer but by the next he shall hear from him in the mean time he bideth me tell him nn â—3 that he is now without fear of danger but that he hath many good friends who will suffer him to take no wrong He telleth me further that he is resolved to revenge the death of his friends hap what may hap He wisheth â—3 to look well to Scotland and that Munnesire is sent but to abuse her Majestie with 〈◊〉 words If Steward himself of the â—9 shall learn any thing that toucheth 〈◊〉 I shall be advertised from time to time I see more great cause now to nouriâ—h this humor contrary to my opinion in my last Letters for surely there are great mischiefs a brewing I am assured that within these eight days Florence 〈◊〉 protested that he should never be quiet so long as the exercise of Religion continued in any one place of Christendom I know further particularly that he said he will never forget New haven until revenge be made I never knew so deep a dissembler I am sure that the murther of the Admiral should have been executed at Bloys but that they saw him too well accompanied It is agreed that both he and Spain shall for the avoiding of suspicion of the Legats coming entertain the â—3 with good words and that Spain should make some shew to be glad to grow to some accord â— did send expresly Gentlemen unto me to know in what state and terms things do stand here being requested so to do by the Princes of Germany for that there are many contrary brutes there He sendeth me word that they mean shortly to call a Dyet to consult for their safety and for the revenge I have not yet dispatched the Gentleman but mean to do out of hand in such sort instructed as I hope shall rather heat then cool them I have requested H to be throughly advertised with all convenient speed how things do pass there c. Paris the six and twentieth of November 1572. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principal Secretary IT may please your honour to advertise her Majestie that the King here is given to understand from the Count de Lude who lieth at Morte how that they of Rochel have of late taken the Isle of Rez which hath bred great content here for it is a place of great importance by the having whereof they are Masters of the Haven and may thereby receive any succor by sea They have also taken in the same divers ships He doth further advertise that they have taken eight or ten Brittains laden with corn Touching the Kings intention for the besieging of Rochel this bearer shall inform you at the full who hath talked with one who knoweth what is resolved in that behalf There is daily here looked for the Master of the Emperors horse being sent hither to congratulate the Queens delivery as also to bring word that the Emperor hath chosen Monsieur and the Duke of Lorrain Knights of the Order of Toison By letters out of Germany they write that it was determined upon the news of the execution of those of the Religion here to have slain
Ambassador in France your Majestie knoweth in what state he is and the poor Gentlewoman his wife Yea saith she that pity of her is that maketh all this haste and I am sorry for her but there is no remedy he cannot now go before Midlent or Easter Well Madam quoth I seeing it be so may it please you may he be sure to go at Easter and may I write so to my Lord Ambassador Yea saith her Majestie now you have my Commission and so much I can say judge of it as you shall please but I assure you my Lord of Leicester my Lord Treasurer my Lord Admiral and I and some other of your friends have done what they can for your return but whether it be Fatis or what else hath letted I know not nor can guess but I perceive what is the issue at this time You are a wise man and can comfort your self with wisdom and patience and the rather if the promise do hold that by Easter you may return My Lord of Worcester bringeth full instructions for that he hath to do or may fall out in communication the which he must and will communicate unto you and use therein your advice I send you some Occurrents out of Scotland If you would know what we do here we play at tables dance and keep Christmas The Queens Majestie and all the rest of my Lords thanks be to God be in good health My Lord Privy-Seal what with age and sickness is not thought long to abide in this world and the Earl of Kents health is almost desperate Farewel From Hampton Court the twelfth of Ianuary 1572. Yours alwayes assured Tho Smith To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador Resident for her Majestie in France SIr I am both sorry and ashamed that I cannot write of any matter meet for satisfaction in your own case as I would and as I know you have had occasion to expect but the impediments thereof I know you shall understand by other your friends and therewith do assure you that whatsoever any of them do write of my former care taken for you and that I have now promised to follow I have as much or more and will continue and persevere to the utmost of my power and so wish you as much patience as you have cause of grief This bearer finding me here at my house at Westminster telleth me that he is dispatched from the Court I think iâ— needless to advertise you of the coming of my Lord of Worcester and for that I think surely that Mr. â—â—cretary doth advertise you of all things I do forbear Glasco Davisoâ— longeth to heâ—â— from Lyoâ—s 9 the ship abode in the place appoiâ—â—ed 23 days And so I end trusting to see you here amongst your friends within this â—ix weeks at the least to be revoked at that time From Westminster the â—2 of January 1572. Your assured friend Will. Burleigh To my very loving friend Mr. Francis Walsingham the Queens Majesties Ambassador in France THe cause of her Majesties longer stay of your abode there and not to send presently D. Dale is onely in respect of some persons you have there to deal withall which you may easily conceive whom I mean though I name them not the cause I write it not plain is lack of a cypher having worn mine to pieces this progress time in carriage and pray you to bear the more with this dark writing but it concerneth such as you wrote a little of to my Lord Treasurer Her Majesty doubteth greatly the state of that person and hath in expectation that some great matter will proceed from them and neither doth she think Dale to be a fit man to be imployed neither that the other will deal frankly with him as with you For my part I am perswaded that great matters will fall that way and surely you shall do well to enter the more speedily and deeply with them for the knowing of their whole intent I must but tell you mine own conceit I fear it be but a practice to dandle us for so many are acquainted here with the cause I mean of that Nation but it is impossible but that the Ambassador here must know it Besides I see that the hope of the marriage is still entertained here and our Mistres made to think it is ever â—incerely meant which if it were indeed and the other matters true of the parties disposition what could with-hold to put that in execution which were most like for him to get it for his own value must sue more for him then his friends commendation or else his party here will be little as I think But this manner of dealing I see serveth to no purpose but winneth them time and loseth us all good opportunities and hindreth your returâ— where your friends wish you both for your self and chiefly for her Majesties better service You shall do well therefore for her Majesty for I cannot imagine what good this great suspence will do her to seek by all means you can at their hands to know their full mind and the scope of their intent for by these the dealing of the Ministers here with her Majesty hath no cause to find any way direct or substantiall she takes great hinderance otherwise and no good shall come to them neither in this sort of proceedings And as none here are privy to the matter but my Lord Treasurer and I so is it too great a burthen so long to conceal her Majesties so great hindrance of her greater causeâ— as the time wants for lack of certainty through understanding the intent and bottom of this Cause which surely hitherto giveth more cause of suspition of practise then of good meaning And yet if it were minded as they pretend except they proceed otherwise then I perceive yet they do they shall rather hurt themselves and us both then further any good purpose that may bring hope of that good success we would wish Thus as well as I can utter my poor conceit both for your self and us and do wish you to deal accordingly with all speed and to return your answer thereof with all diligence you can and thereupon we wil take occasion again to procure your return which if staying might yield service to her Majesty and good to the Countrey I would no way hinder if you were my brother Otherwise finding no more cause then I do you have no friend here will further sooner the other My Lord of Worcester hath desired me to write to you that you would deal friendly and frankly with him he disableth himself and trusteth to your advice in all such sort as belongeth to his place I heartily require it for him onely it may suffice you to know he is a Papist and a favourer of all such especially a â— otherwise a good simple Gentleman and fit for the Christning Shew him I pray all the courtesie you can as I doubt not of it My Lord Privy Seal is dead this
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 hâ—r 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
Argument which her Majesties pleasure is we should use to induce them to think that she ought not to be burdened with any great charges touching the matter of Portugal considering the Queen mothers pretence we will not fail when we shall have to deal therewith to proceed accordingly though I am perswaded that the said Queens pretence is used but for a colour to justifie such assistance as they shall give rather then in hope of any benefit they look to receive thereby otherwise then that the King of Spains greatness shall be abated And so c. Paris this 28 of August 1581. Fr. Walsingham To Master Secretary SIR Since the departure of Iohn the Currier hence this is done Mr. Sommers is ordered to ride to Monsieur he hath secretly to carry with him so many pistolets as come to And there is just as much more to be provided which is here hard to be gotten My Lord of Leicester moved Palla Vicine to procure it by exchange at Paris which he took upon him but when I was curious how he would do it he answered me that every Crown would cost me four pence at the least and yet he could not so answer it but for a small sum and secondly for the time he could not answer me but that he must pass it forth to Antwerpe and then to Paris he also was moved to ride to Paris himself but the charge thereof must be layed to the former so as the sum would be slenderly pinched with such abatements Hereupon I stayed proceeding with him and have for the first half made means here and have gotten Paul Swallore Alderman Martins man to take charge of packing the wait is more then two spare horses can carry and now I am resolved to divide it into four portions and to commit to four the several portions to be carried upon a Pillion and so they may pass in post whereas otherwise being charged upon two horses they could not ride post with it I am now to pray you to advertise me what you can do there to have the rest paid there if the like sum shall be paid here with security by Exchange and what the charge will be or else whether you think the same were not best to be sent in specie thither to Monsieur himself which I think the best seeing therein are two inconveniences danger by sea to pass for La Motts knowledge and by Land by false brethren or Spaignoilists for I fear such secresie will not be kept of the next as I trust hitherto in this I have such crooked dealing here with Lopez for that the King urgeth the speedy delivery of the Jewel without satisfaction for your charge as I think Mr. Mills will advertise you the Queens Majestie for her part is content to stand to curtesie or to loss for the 5000. l. From Scotland we hear commonly evil that the King shall acknowledge to have by evil counsel of his subjects usurped the Crown and therefore he will resign it to his Mother and she to grant it back to be possessed joyntly We hear also that the Earl of Arraign is fully bent to make a Band of the Protestant Nobility to the contrary hereof I think my Lord of Leicester will write hereof to you for he hath dealt here in very wisely by means of Robert Ashton that was my Lady of Lenox servant at this time I have paid this bearer Philips 20. l. in name of his travel Greenwich the 27 August 1581. W. Burleigh To the Lord Treasurer MY very good Lord Finding by the inclosed that the Duke desireth that all expedition may be used in the transportation of the mony I thought it very necessary to send away this messenger with all speed whom I did imploy in this journey towards him And therefore found it expedient to send him unto you to the end he might make report both of the state of his Camp and of the present enterprise he hath in hand If your Lordship mark the Letter well you shall finde it written with very great judgement and in most thankful sort If this young Prince continue the course he hath begun there are few or none that promise greater things in our days then he The pain he taketh as this bearer can shew you is intollerable and his patience having to deal with so strange and â—nquiet humors as serve under him is admirable It offendeth the better sort here to see such Treasure spent here in preparations of Masks and other vanities and this poor Prince forced unless he were otherwise relieved to give over an enterprise so many ways profitable to this Crown Amongst other things I gave this bearer in his Instructions charge to know the Dukes pleasure whether I should make the King and his mother privy to the Loan and in what sort I should deliver it unto them In answer whereof he hath willed him to let me understand that he referreth the same to her Majesties best consideration for mine own particular opinion considering that the matter cannot be kept secret I think it meet they should be both made acquainted withal for that it might nourish or rather increase in the King a jealousie already conceived of some inward intelligence not to the best purpose between her Majesty and the Duke Besides it would serve to very good purpose to remove the opinion that both he and his mother have conceived that her Majesties friendship consisteth altogether in words who hitherto hath shewed more friendly and better effects then they thought both nature and policy ought to lead them to deal otherwise then they do This day I had long speech with Queen mother both about tha Portugal causes as also about our stay of the proceeding in the Treaty for the first I do finde by her that the King will attempt nothing by way of Occurrency with her Majesty without the marriage and as for our further proceeding in the Treaty I also learn by her that he is resolute to stay until he hear from his Ambassador hereof I will enlarge unto your Lordship more at length by the next the conclusion of her speeches were an earnest recommendation of the marriage without the which she said she saw there could be no sound friendship she also renewed her former request touching the support to be yielded to Don Anthonio letting me understand that the four ships were departed from Burdeaux with six hundred men at the least and therefore prayed me most effectually to recommend the same to her Majesty Whereas I perceive by your Letter of the one and twentieth sent by the Lady Marquesses brother that her Majesty is offended for that she is not more particularly informed of the state of both Armies I shall desire your Lordship to be an humble suitor in my behalf unto her Majesty that it will please her Highness to conceive better of my service here then I perceive she doth And as for the fault her Majestie findeth there lacketh no care
that the same cometh about by the corruption of M. a Burgonian who altogether ruleth the K. He therefore adviseth the K here to enter into amity of Suevia who shall always be ablâ— to bridle Denmark and that he findeth by advice had from Suevia that the K. will most willingly enter into league with him Standen who lately came out of Spain and arrived here secretly the 23 of this month gave out some speech unto a Frenchman whom he trusted of some hope there would be in England of change or ever Summer ended He staid here only one night I have written to Paris to have his doings observed to which place he is repaired At our access unto the Q. mother I shewed her what I had heard out of Britain touching the L. Flemings doings I therefore desired her M. to move the K. to write to the Governor of Britain to have an eye unto him and not to permit him to do any thing more then his pasport beareth lest otherwise it might breed some jealousie which thing she promiseth to do I know the K. hath lately written to the Governor of Newhaven to suffer none to imbarque for Scot. nor to do any thing that may any way offend her M. I send your Lp. here inclosed that lately I received from Paris from a Spaniard of mine acquaintance who is both wise and religious honest and learned The only cause why I send it is for that it toucheth an imprisonment I refer it to your Lp. to judge thereof as you shall think good I used the less hast in advertising for that otherwise advice hath been given in that behalf The Navar marriage is not yet concluded notwithstanding there is great hope that the same wil take place I forbear to send with the Ks. pacquer for that I attended the dispatch of Count Lodowicks man thinking to have sent by him but after that he understood her M. had banished these leud sea-robers it caused him to stay and yet he meaneth to send a gentleman to thank her M. for that undeserved favor she had shewed to these lewd Ministers He hath great conference with Q. mother and Monsr daily which maketh men to discourse diversly As soon as he is grown to some through conclusion he telleth me that he will send a gentleman over to her M. The Admiral is shortly to be looked for here and great hopes conceived of the compounding of the discord between him and the house of Guise For the conclusion of the Navar marriage there is 8 chosen to whom the matter is committed 4 for the K. and 4 for the Q. of Navar. For the K is chosen Birage Count de Rets Biron Malalieur For the Q. Count Lodowick Francourt her Chancellor De La Nove and her Secretary They are all as it is thought so well affected to the marriage as there is no doubt made of some good conclusion and so having nothing else to impart to your honor at present I most humbly take my leave At Blois March 29. 1571. Yours to command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honorable and his very good Lord the Lord Burleigh YOur Lp. may perceive by Sir T. Smiths letter unto her M. what we have done touching the inlargement of La Crocques Commission if the doubt of the Q. of Scots possibility were taken away the K. here would be content to yield to any thing that may tend to her M. safety but the same still hanging in suspence her M. must neither look for sound subjects at home not sure friendship abroad By letters from Paris March 28 I learn that Higgins is returned thither who as I am informed hath been at Rome he resorteth to the Scotch Ambassador as he was accustomed to which place also Standen repaireth since his return out of Spain where they have their conferences Higgius at his departure from Paris protested secretly to a friend of his that he would not return thither in 1 or 2 yeers seeing he saw no way with his Mr but one his sudden return shews there is somwhat a brewing At present there is also there Egmont Râ—teliff and Genny they past lately out of Spain this way One Chamberlain who conferred here with the K. Secretary of Spain is now repaired to the D. Alva Stukely is returned into Spain in company of I Doria he received great honor from the K. is put in hope shortly to be employ'd I send you by W Williams advertisements out of Britain touching the L Flemings doings besides I have twice moved the Q Mother in that behalf I did also at our conference with Mr. Limoges and du Foix make them acquainted with the matter who did assure us there should be redress 〈◊〉 out of hand From Bloys April 4. 1571. Fr Walsingham By the Queen ELIZABETH R. TRusty and right well-beloved We greet you well Since the receit of your Letters to us from you both joyntly dated the first of March and other your later Letters of the 8 directed to the Lord Burleigh in which your later Letters you did at length expresse your Negotiation in this matter of Treaty with the points not resolved we have had some cause to prolong our answer otherwise then we thought at the first partly at the request of the French Ambassador here who motioned unto us not to proceed to a final resolution of the matters in doubt untill he might receive some direction from the King his Master which when he had then were we also impeached from consideration of the same by reason of sudden sharp accident of sickness which as it continued with us some time so nevertheless in 7 or 8 daies by Gods goodness we were eased and do now take our selves to be very well recovered both of the danger and trouble thereof â— lacking nothing but some small time to recover the strength which we lost with the sharpness of the sickness And so now we have after some conference had with the Kings Ambassador resolved upon the matters in doubt and all the rest of the Articles of the Treaty which you shall understand to be in this manner following Where you did move to have inserted into the said Article the Clause of the mutual defence to be by special name for Invasion upon colour of Religion considering upon debate thereof the King hath offered to expound the same Clause to be meant by a special Letter according to a Coppy sent to us by you dated the 8 of March and on the backside marked with us We do not mislike the Contents of the Letter saving we would wish the effect thereof to be written in Latine as the Treaty is with the Kings stile so as it may also have the great Seal annexed thereunto The like thereof we will for our part accomplish and deliver to this Ambassador And so have we caused our resolution to be declared to their Ambassador and in some part of the Letter we have added some words to make the same both plainer and
fuller whereof we send you a Coppy in English And yet if you cannot obtain it to be put in Latine and under the great Seal we find no cause to stay the Treaty for that but to accept it as a Letter missive under the Kings hand and signet as it hath been already offered The second matter concerning the aid which now is by the Kings Deputies reduced to a specialty although we could have been content to have had it remain in generality yet the same being no greater then it is and the charge to be borne by the requirant we are contented therewith and think it nevertheless meet that the causes appointing the wages and stipends by either of us might be more particularly and certainly expressed for avoiding of ambiguity that is that the Prince requiring the aid and to pay the wages shall pay to every person both Captains Soldiers and Officers according to their several qualities both by Land and Sea wages certainly expressed how the numbers shall be accounted whether fully or with allowance of dead paies or lacks wherein because there may be diversities betwixt the usage of the two Countreys the certainty would be set down according to our manner As for example in the computation of the Band of 100. the manner here is to allow 8 dead paies to the hundred and no more which if they like they shall be so accorded or otherwise as they shal think it meetest so as the Article may be reciproque for us both as well in charge as in number The third matter in question is for Scotland wherein we have found great difficulty finding the Ambassador here more precise then we looked for or was reasonable considering the foundation and scope of this Treaty is to make a streight friendship betwixt the King and us and directly now to the contrary we see the pressing of the matter for the Queen of Scots as it is urged by the Article offered unto you which may seem to be of a strong Condition to be inserted into a Treaty containing a Form Historical or Narrative as they call it and not conventional The like also we find by the manner of du Crocques proceeding here for the said Queen of Scots neither of both being agreeable with the scope of the amity pretended And therefore we have caused the Ambassador to understand how much we mislike this manner of proceeding shewing him reasons for the same which we need not report unto you for that the argument therefore is at hand to every indifferent person And we have moved him that either the matter of Scotland might pass now in silence or rather the King would be contented that it may be Covenanted that we both shall defend the Kingdom of Scotland as it is possessed by the King as in all like cases in favour of the King and Prince being in possession that hath been used by other Princes neighbours and â—onfederates But hereunto the Ambassador would in no wise agree using no other reasons of value but that his Master shall thereby be taken as one that hath deprived the Queen of Scots his good Sister of her estate which indeed cannot justly be gathered for that our meaning is not to have it otherwise ordered but to have the state of the Realm to be preserved as we both find it which we take to be in the possession of the King being already Crowned and acknowledged by the 3 Estates of the Realm in full Parlament and acceptance of the Realm shall alter we must and ought to accept it as we should find it But this not satisfying the Ambassador we caused the writing which he required to be further considered and hereupon have caused another form to be drawn agreeable to such part of theirs as we may like and leaving the other part not by us allowable which hath been shewed unto him and after much argument not utterly misliked so as he might have some words of his own inserted into the same altogether prejudicial to our meaning which was declared unto him to be and so we would have you to do the like that conâ—idering the King is possessed of the Crown for the present and come to the same by order of the Laws of the Crown with the consent of the 3 estates and in Parlament our meaning is that he should be also defended by the form of the Article by us devised And so we send you the same Article in Latine although it was to him shewed in French which we would have to be inserted except otherwise they will be contented that the whole matter of Scotland be put in â—ilence and yet if they shall content themselves with the Article in form by us conceived then you shall move them to assent that in some one Article there may be a reservation made for the King of Spain and his Countries by name or if that cannot be contained then we would have you to procure that in a general Article being the 23 in number which Monsieur de Foix hath noted Delendum may be restored into the Treaty Of which Article mention being made to this Ambassador he seemeth to allow thereof The Article deviâ—ed for the suspencion of the Law of Aubani for Goods of strangers dying in France we like very well according to the Coppy brought to you the ninth of March by Florence which we return to you by these our Leâ—ters so that you make the word Francia Gallica or else add to the words in Francia sive alibi in dominiis regis Francâ—rum Lastly We think it good that some special Article be conceived to bind the King that all these things concerning the matter of Merchants within the Treaty should be inrolled and emologed in their Parlaments within some convenient time and the like to be done as the case shall require within our ordinary Court of Records at Westminster As for Commission to be sent to you Francis Walsingham our Ambassador Resident concerning some Treaty with the Merchants of that Country as is required We will understand the manner of the Commission sent to this Ambassador and so give order for the like This Ambassador hath been very earnest with us that Du Croque might repair into Scotland and until we may hear what the French King answereth to you in that matter upon the reasons as we did lately impart unto you whereupon we did stay him we have no meaning to let him depart For certainly we perceive that if the L. Seton had not come out of Flanders nor his coming expected from hence the matters of Scotland had been at an end before this time and now we go forwards Since we had determined upon the Articles of the Treaty the Ambassador hath dealt with him very earnestly to have some change of words which we newly sent to you to be placed instead of the Article that du Foix would needs have had for the matter of Scotland first in the second Article and fifth he would have