the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester BY your Lordships of the twentieth of October sent by Mr. Killegrew I conceive great hope of her Majesties consideration of my chargable living here and because your Lordship hath been a most earnest furtherer of the same I most humbly thank you as also for that it pleaseth your Lordship to promise the continuance of your said furtherance when occasion shall be offered wherein the same will stand you in any stead which I will presume with that boldness to use as I hope your Lordship will imploy me wherein your Honour may have any use of my poor service The cause of my present sending is to advertise of the victory had by sea of the Christian against the Turk The Conflict was the seventh of the last moneth not far from Câ—rfu between Morea and Lepanto There escaped as the Venetian Ambassador gave me to understand onely four of two hundred Gallies other particularities as then he knew not I send your Lordship also a little Pamphlet that they have put in print here touching the said victorie of what credit I know not Whatsoever shew the King here giveth of joy outwardly inwardlie he doth not best like of the victorie as that thing which addeth too great an increase of reputation to the King of Spain I think therefore no time more fit to treat of Amitie then at this present I do not therefore doubt but that your Lordship will urge her Majestie most earnestlie to take profit of the time by sending with convenient speed him over whom she meaneth to use in this behalf And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humblie take my leave At Paris the seveâ—th of November 1571. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To my assured Friend Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador in France and my brother in Law Henry Killigrew Esq and to either of them HAving this present occasion to send two of my Lord of Oxfords men to Paris at his Lordships request I thought good also therewith to send to you this little Treatise therewith newly printed in Latine in commending or discommending the Qu. of Scots actions to further her Marriage with Bothwel I hear it is to be translated into English with addition of many other supplements of like condition The Queens Majestie hath sent for my Lord Gray to come thither into France and if his health cannot serve him Sir Peter Gray shall come Her Majestie with furtherance of her whole Councel is certainly resolved to send one thither My Lord of Hunsdon is at Berwick by computation yesternight and his Commission is to set a good face upon the matter to bring Grange and the Castle to the Kings devotion if he cannot we of her Councel are of opinion that England shall inforce them And yet it shall do well that no such thing be notified to the French King My Lord Marquis dyed at Warwick on Sunday the loss of a good Councellour The case of the Duke of Norfolk falleth even out by branches to be more odious The B. of Ross is in the Tower where he uttereth many things right plainly and yet you need not be known thereof I pray let the bearers hereof if they shall have need of your friendship find that your friendship is readier for my commendations I think to marry my daughter at Christmass From Richmond the first of November 1571. Yours assuredly Wil. Burleigh To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh BEsides Mr. Killigâ—â—ws advertisements as from the Court I thought good to give your Lordship to understand what they do here at Paris The Marshal de Coss hath been here imployed of late by the French King in procuring a Loan which is granted and the same is presently in leavying the people murmur much at it and yet do not refuse to pay it Marshal Montmorency repaired to this Town the third of this moneth accompanied with 300 horse The next day after his arrival he and the Marshal de Coss conferred with the chief of this Town about the plucking down of the Cross which was resolved on and the same presently put in execution the Masons employed in that behalf being guarded by certain Harquebusâ—ers The common people ease their stomacks onely by uttering certain seditious words which is born withal for that was doubted the Protestants by the overthrow of this Cross receive greater comfort and the Papists the contrary Touching my particular I find it will be the latter end of the next moneth before I shall return to my charge for that I am diseased by three sundry Carnosities which will require the longer time in the cure Thus much I thought good to give your Lordship to understand for that I fear her Majestie will think somewhat otherwise in my long stay here And so leaving further to trouble your Lordship at this present I most humbly take my leave the seventh of Decemb. 1571. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr the bearer hereof is one whom you may trust as I am informed And if he shall require you to send any his Letters to be conveyed into Scotland he is content that they shall come into my hands whereby I shall not be the worse informed of things meet to be known He can shew you both of Scotlands causes and of Englands Sir Thomas Smith is ready to depart thitherward from hence to morrow if the French Ambassadors Negotiation here with her Majestie this afternoon whilest I am writing this Letter do not prolong the same My Lord of Oxfords servants were constrained by contrary winds to tarry at Callis so as they came not hither before Sunday last at which time came also Fiasco the Genevoise who had likewise stayed at Callis for the same purpose and at his coming he maketh all to be sound between Spain and France and would not be known of the Spanish Ambassadors passage into the Low Countrey nor of any thing done in Henault and yet he did not understand by us here that he had any knowledge thereof from you And so I end wishing to hear of your amendment by Physick At Greenwich the fifth of December 1571 Yours assuredly William Burleigh To the Right honourable Francis Walsingham Esq her Majestes Ambassador Resident in France SIr such sufficient persons of understanding credit and acquaintance as this bearer Sir Thomas is may serve to excuse me from writing of any long Letters and therefore I mean to touch things by notes and peice-meals He can tell you of the Duke of Norfolks case but percase not when nor how it takes end neither can I help him to inlarge his knowledge but I think the Queens Majestie will therein deal more substantially then many do imagine He can tell you how straitly the Queen of Scots is kept having now but ten persons of her own of all
there was in the marriage which proceeding all should be as her Majestie pleased and that if he had been otherwise understood either he did not deliver his mind so clearly as he did mean or else his meaning was mistaken of us and of his Deputies for that he did never mean but that the league offence and the Marriage should go together and not otherwise Having heard this his Majesties conclusion and repeated it unto him I the Secretary said That seeing his Majestie was so resolved her Highness had in that case commanded me to return home my service being more needful there then here for causes which I remembred unto him and that he might think himself of some â—it time to treat further of these matters praying his Majestie to appoint when I might receive his commandments to her Majestie and to take my leave He said he would gladly have us at this marriage of the Duke of Ioyeuse the eighteenth of this moneth but seeing her Majestie had commanded me to return it should be when I would using many speeches full of affection to her Majestie to be uttered at my return to her Highness Then we went to the Queen Mother and rehearsed unto her what had passed by the King Whereunto she used in substance the like speeches the King had done adding more plainly that they feared such a league being made defensive and offensive the marriage would be clean broken with divers other speeches wherewith I think not needful to trouble her Majestie until my return At this time I the Secretary prayed Queen Mother to think well of these matters being of such importance against the time that I should come to take my leave of the King and her and so for that time we departed And for that we might doubt of some alteration we did forbear to send away this Corrier until we had taken our leave which was upon Thursday the twelfth of this present at which time there passed nothing from the King and Queen Mother but ordinary complements and specially recommending the Marriage Paris the 13 of September 1581. Francis Walsingham Henry Cobham Iohn Sommers Reservatio 12 Septembris NOs Fransciscus Walsingham c. Henricus Cobham c. Johannes Sommers c. Omnibus ad quos presentes pervenerint salutem ut supra Denuo tres integros Menses adjiciendos censemus quos mensis Septembris die 12 incipere intelligimus In cujus rei Testimonium has literas nostras mannuum uostrarum subscriptione munimus Data ex urbe Parisiorum 12 Septemb. 1581. Francis Walsingham Henry Cobham Io. Sommers FINIS AN ALPHABETICAL TABLE of the most Remarkable Things A ALva Duke 40 45 46 48 137 139 268 269 Offers 30000 Ducats to ransom the Earl of Northumberland 75. Plots against the Queen 299 Ambition indures no bridle 143 Anjou Duke Hen. 25. See Hen. 3. and Marriage Anjou and Alanson Duke Francis offered for an Husband to the Queen 195 196 257 297 331 333. Unhandsom 343. Of good parts 413 Against Rochel 308. A great Servant to the Queen 360 361 Answers to the French Embassador 271 By the Lord Burleigh concerning the Match with Duke Francis 335. See 348 Antonio of Portugal 354 379 388 393 394 398 421. 434 Anvile Marshal of France 343 Aremberg Grave 370 Argile Earl 4 36 299. A Traitor 302. Alwayes false 312 Arran Earl 412 Arras â—ardinal 123 Athol Earl 302 Aumale Duke 275 295 306 Austrian House the Popes Champion 121 Austria Don John 137 221 288. B Bedford Earle 13 Bellieure Monsieur 381 Beni Massino 271 Birac 95 Biron Baron 27 258 Bisegno Abbot 358 Bothwel Earle 13 151 Boughquien Lord 302 Brandenburgh Marquiss 301 303 Bricqmault Mons 34 Bricquemont hanged 278 379 282 Brulart Secretary of France 265 Buckhurst Lord 18 20 31 42 49 68. 69 Bull of Rome against the Queen 49 Bullen Duke 258 C Calliac Mons. 21 Cambray besieged by the Prince of Parma 381 384 385 Campian the Iesuite taken betrayes his friends 373 Candale Mons. 343 Capteni Thomas 94 Carew Francis 283. 285 Cassels Arch-Bishop a Traitor 58 73 74 75 77 Cavalcant Mons. 66 69 82 Cavannes Mons. 7. Hanged 279 Cecyl Sir William Baron Burleigh 51 An enemy to Popery 72 Zealous for the French match 81 115 234 153 Wearied with an idle Parliament 94 Complains of the Queens mercy 164 For the English honour ill used in Libels 327 328 Sincere 133 336 Hated by the Spaniards 162 164 Charles the Fifth 123 Arch Duke 98 Charls the Ninth of France 5. Puls down the Cross at Paris 151 The greatest dissembler of his age 49 82 83 118 122 124 125 135 143 144 161 169 173 220 251 252 306. Bloody 279 Chartres Vidam in England 260 263 265 Chastel Herault Duke 4 296 303 315 333 Chasteauneuâ— 333 334 Chastilion Cardinal 51 Clanlicard Earl 238 Cobham Sir Henry 22 67 71 285 356 Colignie Admiral of France 6 122 135 154 233 234 His advice to his King 241 Colonna Prospero 357 Commissioners to treat concerning the French Match 348 Como Cardinal 358 Common Prayer Book of England not indured by Papists 97 Conde Prince 6 17 122 240 Forced to go to Masse 245 Conference between Sir Francis Walsingham and Mons. de Foix 90 Betwixt Queen mother and Sir Francis Walsingham 429 Duke Montmorency and the English Lords 214 Crosse Marshal of France 151 258 388 Will not obey the Kings verbal command 396 Cotton Sir Thomas 57 Croque 165 177 181 202 203 D Dale Doctor 310 311 333 Darlie Lord Husband of the scots Queen 13 Derby Earl 303 De Foix Mons. 62 65 67 69 109. In England 129 218 317 318 De l'Archant 89 De la Guord Baron 266 280 305 332 De la Haye a faithless French man 57 De la Roche 33 34 95 167 168 Denmark King 183 Drake See Fran. 379 Dun Briton Castel taken 78 E Edenburgh the London of Scotland 334 Elizabeth Queen of England favours not the rebels of other Princes careful of the French of the Religion 2 3 19 23 A Monarch 3 Accountable to none for her actions 10 Had a Negative voice as it seems in Parliaments 203 215 219 Seems to desire the Match with Henry of France 29 40 Will not allow him the exercise of his Religion 65 66 89 98 110 111 113 129 130 132. See 330 335 339 340 See 115 116 138 155 199 Will not have the second Marriage go on 374 Pretends the dislike of her subjects to avoid it 354 Against any worship but of her owne Church 99 Irresolute as to the execution of the Duke of Norfolk 165 Enterview Betwixt the Queens of England and France propounded 271 272 277 For the young King of the Scots 178 Her civility to the Navarrois Queen Admiral c. 210 211 How she takes the Massacre 247 248 259 Sick of the Smal-Pox 274 Likes not the proceedings of France against Law 297 Protects the French fugitives and why 319 344. intercedes for them 263 265. Too sparing 372 375 379 387.
See Walsingham Abhors a war 374 377 Forward to advance the revolt of the Low-Countries 379 381 388 Cold in the cause of the Bastard Don Antonio 379 388 Aides him 383 Emden Countess 149 England no Country once so free from impositions 21 English how thought of by the French 325 Zealous Subjects for the Queen 335 341 Escars 8 Este Cardinal 357 F Felton sets up Pius his Bull against the Queen 49 Feria Duke 59 Ferrara Duke 42 43 Fernihurst Lord 373 Fitzmorris Iames 42 167 168 347 Flemming Lord 78 139 181 183 Flushing Rebels 217 Francis the Second of France 12 Francis of Anlanson and Anjou See Anjou Duke French greatness dangerous 127 Disorders in Government 240 246 Spoil the English 265 Their falsenesse and dissembling 276 Desirous to get Leicester and Burleigh into France 277 G Galloway Bishop 77 Gilbert Sir Hâ—mphrey 299 Glasgow Arch Bishop 299 302 Grandmont Mons. 267 Graunge Governour of Edenburgh Castle 151 152 Gray Baron Deputy of Ireland 359 373 389 Guarda Bishop 358 Guise house 36 for the Scots Queen 192 240 Duke 267 269 275 295 314 428. Cardinal 280 H Hamilton Earl 138 Hanging of Gentlemen not used in France 279 282 Harris Baron 134 Hawkins Sir Iohn 126 379 Henry the II King of France 12 Henry the III forbids exercise of Religion to the Hugonots 356 Earnest for the match with his brother and the League 376 Will have no League Offensive without it 440 His great charges in the Treaty 397 Henry the IV Prince of Navarre 16 245 Hosteni Duke 221 Hugonots of France 2 3. run themselves into the Kings nets 122 Their Lands on sale 245 Great servants of the English Queen 135 Love not the Cross 151. See Massacre Hume Lord 214 320 329 Hunsdon Baron 151 Huntley Earl 138 312 315 333 I Jenlis 223. defeated in Henault 225 Jersie Iland 272 Jesuites mortal enemies to the Queen 172 173 Inn Keepers of Kent 21 Inquisition 123 Instructions for the Earl of Worcester 318. For Sir Fra. Walsingham 352 For a League with France 355 Joyeuse Duke 294 440 K Katherine Queen Mother of France 6 12 35. per tot c. Killigrew Henry 145 Kirkaldie Iames 302 L Languedoc Hugoâ—ots rebel 294 Lansac Mons. 24 49 239 La Valette â— Leagues how made 171 414. With France publick and secret 355 Not liked without the Match 364 365 388 366 367 368 399 392. Causes of it 372 374 403 422 423. Leicester his good and pious sentences 47 51 69 82 105 116 324. To be fastned for the Match 104. Slights the Earle of Worcester 312 Lennox Earle 138 Levingston Lord 4 77 244 312 326 334 Liberty under the English Princes heretofore as great as any where 61 Lidington Lord 152 137 244. Lincoln Eâ—â—le Lord Admiral sent into France 201 205 219. Lodowick Count of Nassaw 54 121 123 176 184 333. Notably cheated by the French King 125 258 Longaville Duke 50 Lorrain Cardinal 8 38 73 74 77 123 167 168 314 331. Duke 88 301 Loughleuin Lord 302 Low-Countries the pretence of their Revolt 123 M Maine Duke 395 Malicorn Mons. 27 Mannesiere Mons. 240 265 287 288 297 298 299 301 304 305 307. Mary Queen of Scots 4 10 11 12 13 137 139 152. Not to be spoken for 321 Margaret of France reads the Bible 122 Martinengo Count 306 Marre Earl 138 299 Marriage treated betwixt Henry of Navarre and Margaret of France 122 135. Doubts in it 182 183 Betwixt the Queen and Henry of Anjou designed 55. Instructions concerning it 61 62 63. See 68 69 70 Articles of it 83 84 85 86 131 132. Counsellors imployed in it 66 83. Carryed on inconstantly 133. Not taken in earnest by the French 67. Betwixt the Queen and Francis of Anjou 218 226 227 229 230 330 331 336 339. Eagerly pursued 360 361 362. See 390 Marriage Solemnity betwixt Princes of different Faiths 175 Medina Coeli Duke 189 195 Memorials for Mr. Sommers 384 385 Mendoza thrust out of England for practising against the Queen 163 Mildmay Sir Walter Monluc Marshal 8 Montmorency Duke 8 97 102 108 151 188. In England 201 218 231 240 Monts in Henault besieged 245 taken 258 M organ General 217 M oreton Earl 77 138 244 299 Beheaded 431 Moth Fenelon French Embassador 30 90 138 141 c. Murther on shooters hill 347 N Navarre King turned by his wife 91 Queen 24 176 182 183 Nemours Duke 50 Nevers Duke 238 258 300 New star 299 Norfolk Duke 134. His plots discovered 137 140 148 Norris Sir Henry 19 18 19 20 22 23 Northumberland Earl 3 75 Executed 237 Nouë Mous. 184 297 301. Persidious 332 O Odonnel 359 373 Ogleby Lord 312 Olivarez Conde 40. More grave then wise 56 Orange Prince 48 122 144. To have been 〈…〉 of Bâ—abant c. if the Spaniard could have been beaten out 128. See 225 226 240. Retires into Germany 267 269 295 333 Ormond Earl 238. Discontented 373 Oxford Earl 134. Married to the Lord Burleighs daughter 164 P Parliament of 1571. impertinently busie 94. Bloody 203 219 Parma Prince 381 384 Perrot Sir John 347 Philip the second of Spain entertains the Queens fugitives 58 59. How he carried things towards the Queen 369 370 Pinart Secretary of France 23 31 122 305 309 375 Plots upon Ireland 58 Poigney Mons. 4 Popes Authority in England destructive to the Crown 4. Designs again England 36 Princes have no other bridle but Religion 91 Princes of Germany of the Reformed Churches 301 R Rebellion in the North coloured with Religion 3 Rhee Iland taken by the Rochellers 301 Religion is a constant perswasion confirmed by time 191. Cannot be more then a pretence to invade what is another mans 155 Ridolf 95 137 Rochel in rebellion 280 297 301 302 Besieged 331 Rolph a counterfeiter of the Kings hand 266 Romero Juliano 27 Ross Bishop 5. 77. restrained 107. in the Tower 151 Roulart Canon of Nostre Dam murthered 246 Rutland Earl 39 42 141 S Saint Andrewes Arch-Bishop taken 78 Sancerre besieged 332 348 Savoye Duke 287 293 303 Schomberg Baron 332 Scots Lords come to treat concerning their Queen without a Commission 77. Everlasting Rebels 101. Yet will not live without a Prince of their own 178. Gracious in France 244. Will do any thing for money 249 320 324 329. Seton Baron 27 36 95 177 181 Sidney Sir Henry 82 Sir Philip in France at the time of the Massacre 250. of rare parts 273 Skeldon 36 Smith Sir Thomas 51 54 134 152. imployed in France 153. Thinks Charles the Ninth a faithful Prince 169 180 261 318 Sommers Henry 354 Sora Duke 356 Spaniards of what carriage 56. Ambitious enemies to England 121. Conquer Portugal 358 Spanish greatness dangerous 354 355. Mony arrested 81 Spinoâ—a Cardinal 59 Story Doctor will not swear allegiance Hanged 105 Strozzi Peter 95 188 189 217 251 294 359 Stukeley 36 41. Knighted by the Spaniard 56 59. in disgrace 105 Suffex Earl 5 T Tauannes Viscount 258 Terçaera holds for Don Antonio 421 Tilignie Mons. 276 Time a great advantage in the minority of Princes 298 Throgmorton Sir Nicholas 45 287 Treaties of Princes Of the Queen with Charles the IX 155 156 157 158 c. 185. With Henry the III passages and propositions in it 399 400 401 423 Tresham Sir Thomas 390 Turein Vicount 367 385 V Valentinois Bishop 302 Valx Lord will take no Oath to the Queen 290 Venetians at sea 312 Victory at Lepanto 149 150 Viracque Mons. 137 315. taken 334 342 Vitelli Marquiss of Colona 44 48 223 Vimioso Conde 394 434 W Walsingham Sir Francis Embassador in France 1 c. Received by the King 22 23. Much mistaken in his French Creed 82 83 104 118 122 144 173 252. Calls Charls the IX sincere pius inimicus c. 175. Confesses his overmuch confidence 257. See 270 Thinks the French King the only dissembler 300. Sets spiâ—s over the Lord Seton acts without war◠〈…〉 Earnest for the match 96. Perswades to war with Spain 127. Would turmoil all other Princes and why 128. Undermines a Iesuite 172. Desires only not to lose by his service 188. His opinion of the Spaniards 234. Ill used in France 242. Called off 253. The Queenâ— great opinion of him 263 and love 275. Advises against the Queen of Scots life 267 268. Fearful every where of the Queens sparing 303 c. 357 426 427. Too open 322. Poor in France 326 327. Sent again into France 352. Blames the Queen and why 408. Calls the Scots Queen bosom Serpent 427. returnes 440. War when and what just 127. Necessary where 128 Westmoreland Earl 3 143 275 299 Williams Sir William 313 Worcester Earl 307. Abused by Leicecester 312. His instrnctions for his French Embassy 318. Dishonorably dealt with by the French 327. Will not see his sister the wife of a Rebel 328 Writing to the Scots Queen in linnen 328 * Quâ—re †Quere My Lord of Kildares man in the Tower hath by some fear of the Rack confessed all to be true wherewith he was charged which is to be kept awhile secret until some persons may be apprehended
for my stomack morning and evening and yet it is scarce able to resist the extream cold of the weather and now about 30 daies continual frost and snow and here is neither wood plenty nor good chimneys for fire and in my bed-chamber I can make no fire Good my Lord dispatch this Bearer with as much speed again as may be as it is promised in the Instructions This day the Queen of Navarr is looked for in the Court and hoped that the marriage shall go forward The foolish Cardinal went away as wise as he came he neither brake the marriage with Navarr nor got no Dismes of the Church of France nor perswaded the King to enter into the League with the Turk nor to accept the Tridentine or to break off Treaty with us and the foolishest part of all at his going away he refused a Diamond which the King offered him of 600 Crowns yet he was here highly feasted he and his Train cost the King above 300 Crowns a day as they said Thus I bid your Lordship heartily farewell From Blois March 3. by English account Th. Smith To my Lord Burleigh MY very good Lord I received your Letters by Monsieur de Crocques Kinsman after Mid-Lent-Sunday which was dated the sixth of March the King had then entred into a Diet which he keepeth still in his Câ—amber Some said it is because he had some hurt in one of his leggs which I could never perceive but he was one of the activest in all his actions as the Barriers Justs and other such Martial feats which were simulachra belli of all the rest in the Company Other of whose opinion I am think it is the Mothers drift to make him take under pretence of Phisick some rest from his inordinate hunting so early in the morning and so late at night without sparing frost snow or rain and in so desperate doings as makes her and them that love him to be often in great fear And the Queen possibly being now undoubtedly with child to cause her also to rest from that travel that both he may get somewhat more flesh and the Queen to retain more surety of that which is conceived Because of that Mr. Walsingham and I wiâ—t not what to do but Monsieur de Malvosire coming to us as he is appointed to see that we lack nothing and suppeth and dineth commonly with us we told him merrily that his Mistress for so we call the Scotch Queen had played now a wise part for she hath opened her self again and the good favour she beareth to Spain to make a perpetâ—al broil if she could betwixt England Scotland and France for she hath practised by Letters of late and sith the Dukes trouble which Letters are now come to light and known to have practised with the Duke of Alva to convey the young King out of Scotland into Spain the which thing I am sure you would like as ill as wee Yea saith he they may be counterfeit and made to hurt the poor Queen No quoth I the original Letters were shewed to Monsieur de Crocque and de la Mott and yet by the same de Crocque the King wrote to the Queens Majestie for her deliverance and sending of her into France What would she do here at liberty if being streightly kept and the matter so plainly known for the Bishop of Ross wrote sith he was in the Tower to her that all was discovered which he could not denie Well saith he indeed I have heard of such a thing but will you tell the King quoth I that so much I have told you and that the Queens Majestie is not very well pleased that she â—hould write so earnestly for her who will never cease to seek mischief and trouble to her Majestie and her Realm yea and set all the Princes together by the ears if she could he said he would and when we would come home to walk in the Garden at such time as the Queen Mother doth customarily walk there he would find the means we should speak with her when he came again he brought us word that it was true that he said for de la Mott had written the same to the King and the King so told him that it was true and said Ah! the poor fool will never cease while she lose her head In faith they will put her to death I see it is her own fault and follie I see no remedie for it I meant to help but if she will not be helped Ie ne puis mais that is I cannot do withall The 17 of this Month at afternoon Mr. Walsingham and I went with Mr. Malvosire into the Kings Garden at Blois and after a while walking the Queen Mother came to us to whom we declared That of late there was Letters intercepted of the Queen of Scots to the Duke of Alva the effect whereof we were willing to declare to the Kings Majestie or to her which was indeed to make a perpetual pique betwixt England Scotland France and Spain for that it was that he should take and convey away by his practise the young King and convey him into Spain And so quoth I where now by Gods grace we go about to make a perpetual amity betwixt England and France and by that joyntly to make a good union and peace in Scotland that the civil Wars might be compounded and cease and so these 3 Realms to be as it were all one for mutual defence this is a devise to make a perpetual pique broil and jealousie amongst us all and Spain Saitâ— Mr. Walsingham betwixt England and France thanks be to God no quarrels be pretended We demand nothing of you at this time nor you of us The occasion vvhy your League vvas so sure vvith Scotland to annoy us novv there is no such cause standing so sure on amity and therefore belike Spain vvould make that a pique to trouble us vvithall both and make us Warr and trouble that vvaies Saith the Queen There is no doubt but they vvill do vvhat they can for the King my Son is advertised that there is nothing that grieveth him more then to understand of this good League and perfect Amity vvhich is begun and I trust novv at an end betvvixt us they vvote not vvhich vvaies to turn them to break it But Madam quoth I these tvvo things coming together she to go about that disturbing of Scotland and England and that thing which should be as much displeasant to you as to us if your Majestie do well mark it and at the same time the King here to write for her delivery and to come into France and that when the chief treating of amity is in hand you shall not marvel though her Majestie do take it ill and I assure you that it is written to us that but that her Majestie hath known of long time the good affection that you Madam and the King your Son did bear to her and that we that are
potentissimum principem fratrem nostrum charissimum Gallorum regem residenti salutem Cum in tractatu qui inter Legatos nostros ad praedictam Principem missos ejusque serenissimi Regis Deputatos intercedit de amicitia pace renovanda augenda quae inter praedictum regem nos nostraque regna dominia subditos existit certi articuli de mercatorum nostrorum hinc inde comerciis negotiatione propositi fuerint de quibus propemodum quidem inter utrumque convenit nisi quod ante praefatam rei consummationem necessarium sit quosdam tà m à nostro quà m à praedicti regis parte constitui qui cum mercatorum prudentium consilio deliberent sintne illi articuli satìs ad rem aptè amplè compositi an vero alios quosdam immitores adjici expediat quibus commercii negotiorum ratio commodius regi exerceri possit Nos igitur de homine ad hanc rem idoneo cogitantes deque tua prudentia virtute industria in res nostras fide confidentes mandatorum procuratorum seu deputatum nostruÌ„ creamus constituimus per praesentes ut cum consilio principalium nostrorum si qui in illis partibus fuerit cum Regis praedict deputatis agas tractes unaque cum illis ea consideres statuas quae ad coâ—tinuendam augendam commercii intercessus necessitudinium necessaria vidâ—buntur Itemque de mertium vectigalibus tributis porteriis impositionibus iisque conditionibus quae ad mercatorum comertii libertatem securitatem pertinebunt rationes ineas Deque iis omnibus nos certiores facias ut re prope inspecta considerata quod é re fuerit decernamus concludamus quod ipsum simile à dict ' regis Legato hic fiet qui simile vicissim ab ipso rege mandatum habiturus est Et generaliter ut ea omnia tractes facias quae ad hanc rem necessaria erunt in tam amplis modo forma ac si in singulis magis speciale Mandatum haberes In cujus rei testimonium has litteras patentes â—ieri sigilli nostri impressione communi missimus Dat. in Regia nostra sancti Jacobi die mensis Maii Anno Dom. 1572. Regni vero nostri 14. Instructions given to the Earl of Lincoln Lord Admiral of England and one of the Lords of her Majesties privy Councel appointed by her Majestie to repair to the French King in Ambassage and at his arrival at Paris or elsewhere to be assisted for the execution of the matter underwritten with Sir Th Smith Chancellor of the Order and Fr. Walsingham Ambassador resident for her Majesty with the French King at St. Iames May 25. 1572. THe said L. Admiral shal have with him both Commission under the great Seal of England authorizing him and S. Th. Smith and Fr. Walsingham and Letters also to require the French K. to confirm the last treaty concluded at Blois by his oath whereupon he shall proceed first after his access to the K. obtaining by the Ambass resident for the demand of the said oath as is meet for the honor of the League of amity now concluded between their Maj. using therein all good speeches to assure him that according to such express words as are contained in the same Treaty for a mutual love and amity to be hereafter used and maintained between them her Maj. is fully bent in her heart to maintain the same on her part the rather because she doth assuredly hope that the K. wil do the like whereof his Maj. by his Ambass that he hath sent in the time of the late Treaty and negotiation of the same shewed many manifest arguments of his own special favourable directions of matters at sundry times resting in doubt between her Commissioners and his Maj. to more reasonable ends as appeared then otherwise would have 〈◊〉 ordered by his Ministers And so the L. Admiral having in this manner assured the K. of her Maj. ful and resolute determination to imbrace and hold fast this mutual amity he shal say that his coming thither is to visit the K. on her Maj. behalf and to attend upon his leasure and best oportunity to be present and to receive the K. oath to be made for ratifying of the said Treaty according to a clause in the said Treaty for that purpose And when the K. shal have accorded thereunto the said L. Admiral shal before hand percase by som privat conference had with some of the Secretaries of the State how and in what sort the ceremonies therof shall be observed so as the proceeding may be at the time at the solemnity thereof without any alteration And for the better proceeding herein the Lord Admiral shall have with him both Articles of the Treaties requiring the said oath and the manner form of like oath given by the said K. heretofore in like cases And the instrument also to be demanded in writing for testimony of the said oath with such other things as are thereto requisite so as the like manner may be used as near as may be agreeable to former usages and that there be with him present to assist him S. Th. Smith and the Ambass resident if they may be there to help And as for the place where the said oath should be given the said L. Admiral shal not refuse any that the K. shal appoint foreseeing only that he be not by reason thereof compelled to be present at any Mass to be said for the purpose but if it be in Church or Chappel he shal not refuse to require to take it in the same Furthermore although there is no other cause special of the sending of the L. Admiral at this time to the said K but to require his oath yet for that there may be many occasions offered of speeches in the matters where it shal be looked for that the said L. Admiral should answer the said K. to his satisfaction Therfore he wil in these things following accommodate himself as hereafter is mentioned wherein the said L. Admiral shal as occasion shall serve take the help of Sir Th. Smith who is also herein well acquainted In the matter of Scotland although the said L. Admiral be privy in what sort her Maj. hath hitherto proceeded so as he may by consideration thereof conjecture what is likely further to be her Maj. meaning yet to make her case the more plain he may wel hold opinion tht her Maj. meaneth not any thing more then that the Realm of Scotland may be brought to quietness and remain free from any invasion of any stranger wherby the liberty of that Crown and Nation should be impaired And he may wel remember of his own knowledge how often times since the Scotch Q. coming into our Realm we have bin wel disposed to have obtained an accord betwixt her and her Subjects but always when we were most earnest to have done her pleasure therein she
Crown especially being provoked thereto by the Pope which is my chief fear It may also be alledged that the offer of the marriage sheweth that they have no evil meaning towards her Majestie First it may be doubted whether considering how now adays their speech and meaning disagreeth they offer as they mean Secondly whether their intention of offering the said Match tend to our benefit or no. I was not heretofore so forward in believing all friendly offers to proceed of sincerity as I am now ready to think the same to proceed of abuse only to lull us asleep in security for any thing that I can perceive the best way not to be deceived by them is not to trust them The Gentleman himself who is offered I think honourably of him and if I could think so well of the rest I would then believe that their outward speech did consent to their inward meaning but the case standing as it doth I know not what to think I cannot therefore in this doubtful case but make her Majestie and my Lords of the Councel acquainted with these proceedings and leave to them to gather what may be their meaning here Methinks Queen Mothers calling back of her word touching her coming into England doth shew that they but dally It is not likely that the Ambassador without Commission would otherwise have made the offer besides the cold answer made to her Majesties request for the Vidame doth shew how they are affected To gratifie the King of Spain those 800 that came from Montz were put to the sword Methinks if there were that good will that they profess they should not have sticked with her Majestie in granting her request for the Vidam a thing both hononourable and profitable all circumstances considered I see rather mischief to be looked for then friendship from hence and therefore I cannot tell with what safety her Majestie may repair to Burdâ—aux and yet advise the contrary I would be loth having no other ground but suspicion I think the danger will be the less so long as Rochel holdeth out And so leaving further to trouble your Honour I most humbly take my leave At Paris the eighth of October 1572. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and his very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh YOur Lorpships of September 25 I have received beseeching you to pardon me in that I presently in answering of the same am driven to use the help and hand of another being not yet after my sickness restored to that strength as I can indure well to write I perceive that your Lordship by the contrary here is void of the Ambassadors speech doth well enough discern that the late cruelty here executed is void of all manner of just defence and therefore in Gods just judgement is like to receive just punishment and if the same doth not happen so soon as we desire our sins is the let They here are so far imbrued in blood as there is no end of their cruelty for no Town escapeth where any of the Religion is found without general murthering and sacking of them and yet they protest all this to be done against their will though it be evidently known that it is done by their Commandment This manner of proceeding seemeth to all men so strange as no man can tell what to judge of it openly no man dare but commend it privately few are found that do not utterly detest it I have not heretofore been so ready to commend their sincerity as I am now forced to set down their infidelity surely I cannot see that all their fair speeches and friendly offers tend to any other end but to abuse which would well appear if they were seized of Rochel In the mean while I do not think the contrary but that they will provoke the Duke of Alva now that the Prince of Orange retireth into Germany who of himself is enough bent as your Lordship knoweth to execute somewhat long time practised in England to the danger and disturbance of her Majestie It is the opinion here of all men of judgemâ—nt that her Majestie is to look for any mischief that either Spain or this Crown can yield And therefore if she shall not now seek to quiet her self they do not see any reason for her long to hope to keep the Crown upon her head The matter of it self is so apparent as he is of mean discourse that doth not so think The House of Guise who since the late murther seem to have some miscontentment was never to the outward shew in greater favor nor in greater jollity He hath often conference with such Scotishmen as are here of the Kings 〈◊〉 and therefore I am sorry to understand that they are not grown to any 〈◊〉 in Scotland though her Maj. pay dear for it as mony may do much with that nation I would both the union were made amongst them and they reduced under the Kings Government and divided from such allyance as they have with this Nation If these great Monarchies may have Scotland for their footing I fear the event will be over dangerous The Popes Legate who is at Avinion hath sent hither in post his Secretary to know the Kings pleasure what his resolution is touching his access as I hear the King will not yield thereto for the same will make it apparent to the world what the King of Spain and his intention is They think they may deal more covertly bringing the matters better to pass then by such open kind of dealing I cannot decypher any thing whether they proceed sincerely touching the pretended match for my opinion I think of it as of the rest of their friendly offers that these tend to nothing but to abuse Of late since the news of the Prince of Oranges retiring out of Flanders they seem not to be desirous thereof as before I judge if they were once seized of Rochel they will begin to renew their suit for the Queen of Scots or rather attempt somewhat for her delivery Their silence they use maketh me to suspect the more seeing the Queen of Scots friends bear such sway in the Court. I shall not need to recommend unto your Lordship my revocation for that I know your Lordship is careful of your self for the same And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the eighth of October 1572. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester IMmediately upon the receit of your Lordships Letters of the two and twentieth of September I requested Captain Lassetty whom your Lordship knoweth and is most willing to do your Lordship any service as one whom he most honoureth and thinketh himself most bound unto to make enquiry whether there were any of his Nation excellent in riding unplaced and had any desire to go into England After search made by him he found
the Scots our neighbours be awakened by your Beacons in France I have sent you a Scotish proclamation herewith Du Crocque and Viracque have already taken their leave of Scotland and be come to Barwick The 20 of this moneth they appointed to be here at Court. By that we can see the Lords in Scotland draw neerer and neerer to an accord that rather it is in hope then in despair These cruelties in France have helped not a little and now continuing much more will You gave good advice that all Scotish men should not be stayed no more they be not some of the late Commers have given the rest in Scotland a good to make them awake yet there may also be false brethren come amongst them which as reason is shall be stayed and sent back if they may be known Yet it is true That much water goeth by the Mill that the Miller knoweth not of but mans wisdom must provide as much as may be as it would always it cannot The answer of the Ambassador may justly seem to you to debar your coming home and to prolong it longer then you would yet I assure you your friends do not cease by all means possible to provoke her Majesty so much as may be for your Revocation and her Majesty is as carefull for you as any Prince may be for such a subject as you are of whom assure you her Highness maketh no small account and so it is reason You know that things go here slowly with much respect of irresolution but for my part I hope to see you here shortly there shall no occasion be left which I will not take to further it Although your friends here be as forward as may be yet your wife ceaseth not continually to cry on them Fare you well From Windsor the 13. of October 1572. Your assured friend Thomas Smith To the right Honorable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principall Secretary SIR it may please you to advertise her Majesty that of late the King and Queen mother have had sundry conferences with the Scotish Ambassador to whom there is repaired out of Flanders one English Gentleman called Tempest and another called Musgrave servant unto the Earl of Westmerland they both have also access unto the Duke de Aumale and to his Nephew the the Duke of Guyse Davy Chambers since his return out of England hath had also conference both with the King and the House of Guyse who hath let fall these words how that the death and execution of the Earl of Northumberland hath increased the number of the Queen of Scots friends and that she is now grown to have such a party in England as that five or six thousand shot with some good Leaders will make her strong enough to encounter any forces her Majesty can make It is also secretly whispered in Court that there is some new practice in hand for the Queen of Scots delivery the particularities I can by no means decipher but the circumstances of these conferences well weighed the conjecture is great that there 's somwhat a hatching Little Douglas who conveyed the Queen of Scots out of Loughtean departeth out of hand into Scotland who besides other conference with the King hath had long conference with the Queen mother the Ambassador being present And so for other matters referring your Honor to this Bearers report touching divers particularities I most humbly take my leave Sir I most humbly desire your Honor to further a most reasonable suit that this Bearer my Secretary is to prefer unto her Majesty as wel in respect of his great travell already taken under me in her Majesties service as also for that thereby he may receive encouâ—agement to continue the same and in time through the experience of his service and the good parts that are in him may hereafter grow able to serve her Majesty in a better calling For my own part I have no means to recompence him as you Sir well know and if therefore the consideration grow not by her Majesty neither he nor any other shall have courage to serve in aservice both so dangerous and painfull as this is wherein he serveth And so not doubting of any furtherance you may yeid him I leave to trouble your Honor any further taking my leave At Paris 18 of October 1572. Your Honors to command Fr. Walsingham To the right Honorable Sir Thomas Smith her Majestiess principall Secretary SIR I am glad by your Letters to receive some hope that there is good care taken to prevent such mischiefs as may happen notwithstanding untill such time as the root of the evill be removed it is rather to dream of remedies then to apply such as the disease requireth I am glad to hear that there is some hope that they will grow to an accord in Scotland if that postern gate were shut up and other inward medicines applied and her Majesty strengthened with the outward Amity of the Almain Princes she should be the more esteemed and feared of those that mean her not great good And though the remedies may seem chargeable yet considering the necessity of the same and that they may avoid both great charges and no small danger I hope her Majesty will prefer safety before cost especially when the diâ—bursing of one pound may save a thousand Surely Sir the more I observe their doings here the more I increase my jealousie of their evill meaning They never spake more fair to the Admirall then a few dayes before he died nothing was demanded by him that was not granted insomuch that Tilligni said to a Gentleman a friend of his a few days before the execution that their liberall granting of requests without any difficulty did make him to suspect some unsound and hollow meaning and thereupon alledged that Italian Proverb They never used fairer speech then presently they do nor greater protestations of Amity and because it is more then was accustomed and is now at such time as we have cause to suspect the contrary I cannot but be jealous of her Majesties safety so long as any thing is left undone that tendeth to her Majesties preservation And so leaving further to entertain your honour with my jealousies and fears I most humbly take my leave beseeching you to continue your assistance in procuring my revocation At Paris the 25 of October 1572. Your Honors to command Fran. Walsingham To the right Honorable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principall Secretary SIR although I had no express commandement from her Majesty to communicate unto the King and Queen Mother such an answer as was yeilded unto those things that were propounded by their Ambassador here notwithstanding I thought it convenient to impart the same unto Queen Mother as she that hath the Helm in hand to see in what sort the said answer would be interpreted at my access unto her I shewed her at large that the Ambassador had propounded four things unto certain Deputies by her Majesty of her Councell
be not provoked to answer to any of those points mentioned in them he should not minister occasion of talk on them and possibly they will say nothing and yet with you they will be busie which if it come to pass there is no doubt but you can and will answer to the effect of those Instructions and further as occasion shall be ministred But in one point that is for the breach of the abstinence in Scotland which then was not certain and now is certain hard it is if they be not questioning with you for I am sure de la Mâ—t will not be without his intelligence from Scotland nor negligent in advertising to France And upon occasion of time whether you be demanded or not it is thought meet that you take occasion to shew the King that to the grief of the Queens Majestie the Scots have not agreed but be broken again into hostilitie within themselves which although touâ—heth joyntly the Fr. K. and her Majestie because they two being Princes of so great authority and so conjoyned in love and amity and both by mutual consent by their Ambassadors labouring to bring them to unity peace and concord within themselves should be so illuded and scorned of a few petty companions that having all things offered unto them that they could desire reasonable and more yet they would still maintain war in their own Countrey and in the tender age of their young King whom to set up and Crown they were the first doers This injury you may say touched the King as well as the Queens Majestie because joyntly they both like Princes in most amitie agreed in their Leagues together to pacifie and unite Scotland in it self which now by discord intestine being disunited is brought almost to extreme poverty and misery The other cause toucheth more her Majestie because they being her Neighbours next adjoyning and bordering upon her Subjects while the Realm of Scotland was united and peace within it self if any of their Thieves and Out-laws had injury by theft or murther any of her Majesties Subjects upon complaint redress was had the Malefactors punished and he who had the injurie restored and so was it on both sides reciprocally Now in this Civil dissention miseries robberies stealth and murthers be committed daily and then the one part or the other beareth them out so that it were almost as good to have a border war betwixt England and Scotland for the poor men that do dwell thereabouts as civil wars betwixt the Scots themselves and therefore this breach betwixt the two parties must needs grieve her Majesties Subjects more then the French King being so far distant and so consequently her Honor who indeed doth take it and not without cause heavily for that they have not esteemed better her Majesties good will and desire that she had all their strifes and debates among themselves compounded and accorded and that they have set so light by the authoritie of the French King their brothers and heirs The young King is her Majesties near Kinsman and her Highness desireth not onely to have him preserved but also his Realm if it could be in quiet peace and good oâ—der and aboundance which without inward peace cannot be had and must needs think evil of these few petty companions being gotten into the Castle of Edenburgh which for their wilful obstination and private benefits shall keep that Realm still in that dissention and trouble in contempt of such Princes as the French King and her Majestie is whose design tended to nothing but to make unitie and concord among them there And therefore if Hume Castle and Fast Castle which her Highness hath detained hitherto in that hope upon accord to have rendred them to the Lord and owners thereof from whom they were before by just war taken Now her Majestie seeth no longer cause to detain but to render them according as is comprised in the Treatie not to them who have so evil deserved of her Majestie their own King and Countrey by their perverse obstinacy and of the French King also but one of the same Nation who acknowledgeth their King and is desirous of unitie peace concord and good government in that Realm and of this her design her Majestie thought meet to make her good brother the French King first privy unto for the love that she doth bear unto him and according to the Amity and Intelligence betwixt the two Realms I am glad to have this occasion to send this bearer Iohn Farry your man unto you for I assure you I do pitty your case that so many of your men be here together peradventure occasion may serve shortly to send you another yet methinks you forget me to send so often to others without any letters to me Fare you well From Somerset-house the nine and twentieth of January 1572. by English account I thank you for the case of Tools I yet have not leisure to understand them all nor looked not for so many nor on that sort When I shall understand the properties and use of them I shall have more cause to thank you Yours alwayes assured Tho Smith To the Earl of Leicester AFter the inclosing up of my other letters I received at one instant two sundry Letters of your Lordships the one of the eighth and the other of the nine and twentieth Touching the first your Honour doth concur with me in opinion as I conceive by the same that the matter which is the chiefest cause of my stay is but a meer entertainment the matter through misguiding is never like to come to issue If they mean otherwise which is most likely why should her Majestie endure to be any longer abused As your Lordship findeth the partie that dealeth there halting and divers in his tales even like unconstancie and doubleness do I find in him here that dealeth with me To disguise the matter they borrow certain names out of Amadis de Gaule wherein they deal most aptly to adde to a fained thing fained names They judge us to be very gross and do think that every fair and coloured speech is able to abuse us I cannot be otherwise perswaded but some here that rule all are acquainted with the matter for otherwise the partie that last came over would never have medled in the same God send it a better end then I look for For your Lordships good advice in the latter end of your letter I most humbly thank you and do think my self much bound to you for the same as for any other favour I have received at your Lordships hands since I entred into this service The best recompence I can make unto your Lordship as I know is to take profit thereof True it is that sometimes in requital unto some of my Friends who have given me large entertainments of the state of things whereof otherwise I have been ignorant I have also largelie made them partakers how things passed here and somewhat more largelie then I have
conference had of late with her Highness whereupon the King had commanded them to tell us that seeing that matter was now in so good terms he thought good to stay further proceeding in the Treaty of a League But to end first that which was first begun and in such forwardness which was the Marriage and that they thought we should have commandment from her Majestie very shortly in this behalf whereunto it was answered unto them that though we heard nothing thereof from her Majestie yet we would believe what they had said as written to the King from his Ambassador and that untill we might understand her Majesties pleasure herein we thought that this Negotiation for a League might well proceed to bring it to some good point and to win so much time seeing the King had consented and desired to have such a League with her Majestie Mr. de Chevereny said that the time would not be so long ere we should receive her Majesties pleasure and that they could not proceed any further in the Treaty seeing this was the Kings pleasure Then it was said by Pinart that the Ambassador had then written as so spoken by her Highness to him that she had rather marry a mean Gentleman of France then go now from that which was so farr proceeded in between her Highness and Monsieur Thus we being put off from our Negotiation and at a stay knew not how to proceed any further in any thing untill we may understand her Majesties pleasure which we beseech you to procure to be sent unto us in some certainty that an orderly and honourable course may be holden to grow to an end At this time Pinart as so commanded he said by the Queen Mother did very specially recommend to her Majesties consideration the estate of poor Don Anthonio and to remember the great charges he hath been at in providing shipping in England to be sent and to joyn with the French Kings ships under Captain Carles who he assured they had advertisement was gon to the sea seven daies ago thinking to meet with Don Anthonio's ships rigged in England at a Cape which he could not name And that unless the same depart not out of hand all the charge will be lost and that the King shall be fain to venture his ships alone if no other aid joyn with them He shewed there an advertisement came that day from the Isle of Tercera that the French have landed there taken the Isle and certain ships and put to the Sword 800 Spaniards among whom were they whose names were here in a scedule and that he thinketh they are gon to meet with the rest of the Spanish Fleet. And thus c. Paris the 27 of August Fr. Walsingham Henry Cobham Iohn Sommers To the Lord Treasurer MY very good Lord I send your Lordship here inclosed the last Article contained in mine instructions for the League which we have forborne to adde to those heads of a League which we exhibited to the Commissioners for that we find it somewhat darke and therefore doe pray your Lordships explanation therein For as we conceive of it it will restrain the French King from aiding of the Duke his brother which I think is not meant considering her Majesties promise to assist the Duke in the action I beseech your Lordship that we may have speedy resolution by way of Post or otherwise as by your Lordship shall be thought meet to such things as we send your Lordship by this dispatch After I had proceeded thus far in my Letter thinking that our conference with the Kings Commissioners would have bred some good accord touching the most parts of those points which were by us propounded unto them Upon the hope the King is put in by Letters lately come from his Ambassador resident there our further conference is staid as your Lordship may perceive by our general Letters which if it be not so throughly resolved on as the Ambassador conceiveth and as he hath reported to the King his Master whereof we her Majesties Ministers here stand in doubt having no confirmation thereof Then surely this report will doe a great deal of harm many waies and ministers to the persons named in mine other Letters matters of strange discourse Besides we that serve here cannot but be infinitely grieved to see the weighty cause we have in hand subject to so many interruptions especially of the alteration of proceeding upon occasion given from thence It were well her Majestie did capitulate with the Ambassador in these great matters not to advertise any thing without first making her privy thereunto as also that upon any such resolution taken with him we here might be acquainted withall to the end there might be concurrency with us Touching her Majesties pleasure for the return of Mr. Sommers I hope when her Majestie shall consider the weightiness of the cause we deal in and the number and sufficiency of the persons we are matched withall her Highness shall see more cause to send some other well chosen Civilians to assist us then to withdraw him from us Upon the perusing of a Letter that the Ambassador resident wrote unto me much to the same effect he had written to the King I thought good to send to Pinart to acquaint him with the contents of the said Letter which as I gave order to be declared unto him caried no other substance but a report of such speeches as her Majestie had delivered to the said Ambassador the same evening that he waited on her Majestie when she road abroad to take the aire wherein her Majestie did rather lay open unto him how she stood affected to the marriage then delivered him any resolution and that it was so it might well appear hereby for that her Highness doth not use to give her resolution in any matter of importance without the privity of her Councel and acquainting her Ambassador on this side therewith to the end there may be a concurrency between her Majesties Ministers and the King which being otherwise in this case I could not but rest doubtfull of the substance of the report And therefore was desirous if it might stand with the Kings pleasure considering the great charges his Majesties is at with us and the time that passeth away fruitlesly the Treaty might go on until we might receive further matter from her Majesty To this Pinart answered that he thought the request reasonable for that it was grounded upon great probability and would therefore the next morning move the King in the matter requiring in the mean season that as much might be delivered to some other of the Commissioners as had been to him especially to Chivergni Villequire which was offered to be done by the messenger I sent but they being in conference with the Queen mother and therefore for that time not to be dealt withal at his motion it was delivered to Bellieure whom they found in the utter Chamber of Queen mother who in like sort
Majestie and our Countrey the want of him will then appear greater For be it spoken without offence to any for counsel in peace and for conduct in war he hath not left of like sufficiency his successor that I know I will not dwell upon this matter for that it is no less unpleasant for your Lordship to read then for me to write And leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the fifth of March 1570. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honorable Sir William Cecil her Majesties principal Secretary SIr as I wrote unto you in my Letters of the 25 of February the Spanish Ambassador came to visit me who after some superfluous talk of love matters entred to talk of the unkindness that reigned between the Queens Majestie and his Master expressing with words of great vehemency the desire that they were drawn to some accord as a thing to the benefit of both Princes for saith he as the League between the house of Burgundy and England hath been the preservation of both the Countreys so the breach thereof might make them both a prey to their neighbours I shewed him that I was glad to hear that he was of that good opinion and therefore I doubted not but that he will use all those good offices that mâ—ght salve the unkindness The first to cause all those occasions that might breed any suspicion of evil meaning to be avoided The second to procure some grateful Ministers to be sent from the King his Master unto her Majestie to enter into some Treaty of accord To the first he said that her Majestie whatsoever was given out to the contrary needed not to doubt of the Kings sincerity towards her To the second he said he saw not how the King could do it with his honor considering how the D. Marquis Vitelli and the King his Masters Ambassador were rejected To that I replyed the offence grew by two of them and therefore ungrateful and most unfit to deal in that behalf And as for their having no direct Commission from the King but from him that had bred the offence in reason he was not fit to be imployed in that care The end of our talk was that he for his part and I for my part would not fail to think of those things that might best tend to breed reconcilement between our Princes But Sir to the end you may know the ground and spring of this alteration of so strange to become so familiar and curteous you shall understand that not past three days before he presented unto the King three requests from the D. Alva The first for that the D. vvas given to understand that the Prince of Orange maketh preparation in Germanie for Flanders that therefore it would please him in respect of the aid his Master had sent him in his civill troubles to send him the like number of Reisters for the better understanding of the said Princes entreprize The second that it would please him that he might leavie here such number of Catholiques as would willingly serve his Master against the said Prince The third that it would please him to stay certain ships there a preparing aâ— Rochel on the Princes behalf To the first the King answered That his treasures were so near spent that he took more care how to pay the Reisters to whom he was indebted for service in the last troubles then he was well able at this present to provide any succour or aid for the King his Master and hoped that seeing his necessity was such his said Master and good Brother would bear with all Touching the second he answered That if he should condescend to the leavying of such Catholiques as would be content to serve that thereupon the Hâ—gonots would take occasion to put themselves in Arms suspecting that the said leavie were but colourable and a device that might reach to themselves To the third he answered That he was informed that the said ships were prepared onely to be revenged oâ— certain of his Masters Subjects that had taken certain ships of those of the Religion and had drowned divers of the men and others they had delivered unto the inquisitors These answers falling not out to his contentment maketh him as I suppose to think that the friendship of England is worth the having The first of this moneth there arrived here the Count Olivares sent by the King of Spain to congratulate the marriage his train was onely in number 11. he is reported to be of livelihood fortie thousand Crowns a yeare his enterment here is nothing answerable to that my Lord of Buckhurst hath receiveâ— I mean to repair to see him as also to propound unto him if I see occasion thereto what by her Majestie I was appointed to declare unto the Spanish Ambassador The second of this moneth which was the day my Lord of Buckhurst took his leave there was set up a Bull which was at Ponte de St. Estienne of the same day that Feâ—ans was containing the self same matter which a servant of mine 〈◊〉 by reason he saw divers flocking about it tore it down and brought me the same whereupon my Lord of Buckhurst I upon conference before his said accesse immediatly broke with the King in that behalf The King called me unto him and asked me the contents of the said Bull whereof being advertised as also I presenting unto him so much of the said Bull as was given me by my servant he shewed himself very much moved thereat in such sort as we might very well see it was unseigned forthwith he called Lansac unto him and willed him to take order with the Judge Crimniall for the searching out of the setter of the same assuring us if by any means he could be found he should receive such punishment as such a persumption required considering the good Amitie between him and his good Sister I shewed him that if he did not take order in this the like measure might be measured to himself He answered that he did perceive that very well and that whosoever he were that should seem to touch in honour any of his Coâ—federates he would make account of him accordingly After my departure from the King Lansac told me in mine ear That he had gâ—â—at cause to guesse that this was some Spanish practise Thus Sir having made you partaker of such things as I thought me for her Majâ—sty to understand I most humbly take my leave From Paris the 5 of Mar. 1570. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham Post-Script Sir Mrâ—â—â— who willed me to write his name in Cipher gave me to understand that a friend of his who talked with an Italian Bishop of the house of Salmaâ—â—i who came lately hither from the Pope to congratulate the marriage did learn by him that he hath a practise in hand for England which would not be long before it brâ—ke forth and he further shewed
that one Merchant in this Town hath 14000 Câ—owns to be employed in that behalf To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester MY very good Lord I leave to my Lord of Buckhurst to shew you how every way he hath bâ—n honourably entertained therefore in this behalf this onely will I say That such hath bin my Lords good demeanour as also of the Gentleman of his train as the King and his Court resteth very well satisfied and giveth both him and them great commendations protesting that sithence his coming to the Crown there was not an Ambassador of like Honosur here which I do not learn at those hands that will report otherwise then they hear to speak that which may best content us but from them at whose hands I do assure my self to have received the truth and for the increase of this good report he spareth to use no cost or liberality to such as by the King appointment have given attendance on him Touching other things the Duke of Longueville is lately departed from the Court with discontentment for that the Precedentship is adjudged to the Duke of Nemours protesting That so long as the Queen Mother liveth he will not come to the Court for he judgeth her to be the cause thereof I heare secretly that there is not the best liking between the two Queens whereof the young Q. is like to have the worst by common judgement for that here whatsoever our Mother commandeth taketh place and standeth for law And therefore if her Majestie desire to take any profit of France she must onely be the Messias and Mediatour I could therefore have wished that her Majestie had amongst other things bestowed some Present upon her The Kings Request unto the Pope for Count Galliâ—â—zos delivery is quite rejected who protesteth That if all the Hugonots in France were incamped about Rome he would not deliver him The King with this proud and disdainfull answer is very much offended I would he would give the Hugonots leave to make some proof what they could do for his delivery Touching a Bull set up against the Queen the Kings discontentment therewith and certain requests presented by the Spanish Ambassador here to the King I referre your Honour to Mr. Secretaries Letters And so leaving further to trouble your Honour I most humbly take my leave Paris the 5 of March 1570. To the Right Honourable Mr. Francis Walsingham the Q. Majesties Ambassador in France SIr I would not suffer this bearer passe without my salutations Master Bealâ— came this morning by whom and by your Letters I have understood from you such things as are of moment and so have I imparted them to her Majestie and mean as shortly as I can to procure answer for the return of the bearer her Majestie as there is good cause alloweth well of your service and so I bid you well to do and heartily thank you for your singular care and good will which you shew unto my Lord of Rutland who advertiseth me of very countifull From Westminster primo Martii 1570. By your assured as I was wont William Cecil And as I am now ordered to Write William Burleigh Sir Henry Norris maketh friendly report of you to her Majestie and to all others I write not to my Lord of Buckhurst because I think he is on the way To my very loving friend Sir Francis Walsingham Ambassador Resident for the Queens Majesty in France MY Lord Ambassador since my last Letter unto you I have little new matter worth the writing saving now we are much troubled with the Scotish causes the Commissioners of both parties are now here to write unto you what the end will be certainly as yet I cannot we find both sides very stiffe and hitherto those for the Kings partie very resolute for the maintenance of his Authoritie her Majesties scrupulosity touching his Title and Government we partly know The unworthiness of their Queen to rule she granteth but the instances of their cause to depose her from her dignity she can hardly yet be perswaded in so yet she remaineth much perplexed on the one side she is loth to set her up or to restore to her her estate again On the other side she is as loth to defend that which she is not well perswaded to have justice with it Between these her Counsell chiefly seek for these two things that her self may be preserved in suretie and the true Religion maintained assuredly For as the state of the world standeth and upon through examination of this cause it appeares that both the waies be dangerous touching the Q. of Scots for there is danger for delivering of her to her Government so is there danger in retaining her in prison her friends abroad begin to speak proudly for her we were wont also to have friends of our side if need were but as farre as I can see there is none of that side of the sea to be found that be Princes absolute well our case is the harder and we must say Si Deus nobiscum quis contra nos Touching this matter as soon as it shall grow to any likelihood either of the one side or of the other I will advertise you and withall send you the reasons of the advice In the mean time whatsoever you may hear believe me there is no man in England can tell you which way it will go yet in respect of the King there and his continuall dealing for the said Q. her Majestie rather giveth in words more favorable that way then the other Mr. Norris is arrived here yesterday being Shrove-sunday when Mr. Secretary was created Baron of Burleigh and I think ere it be long shall have the office of privie Seal but as yet remaineth Secretary still and within a day or two Sir Thomas Smith is like to be called to assist him The Parliament is to begin the 2 of Aprill next the Queen Majestie thanks be to God is in very good health so are all your friends as you left them save Sir Nicholas Throckmorton our good friend Your wife was here lately to take her leave of her Majestie who used her very well and graciously I pray you let us hear as often as you can conveniently I would gladly understand of some good for the poore Cardinall Chastillion I desire and also long to heare of the Q. Majesties present how it is liked Thus with my heaâ—tie commendations I bid you heartily farewell the 26 March 1570. Your assured Friend R. Leicester To the Right Honourable my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester BY your Lordships of the 26 of February I find that there is some entrie made in the Scotish matters and that you see them so full of difficulties as whether on retaining or releasing there should be more safety you can hardly diâ—cern things well weighed as well at home as abroad The common opinion of such as are of judgement here and wish well unto her Majestie
said oâ—trage committed he hath justly incurred the Lord Deputies displeasure I shewed him that his confession of his fault was an argument of penitence And therefore that I doubted not that if he would seek pardon at her Majesties hands he should find her Majestie graciously affected towards him who hath alwaies been more naturally inclined to remit then to revenge I asked him how long it was since he departed out of Ireland He shewed me that it vvas about two years past And after he embarqued for Spain where ever since his departure from Nantes he hath continued having received ever after his arrival very honourable entertainment at the Kings hands who yearly gave him 2000 Docats pension He shevved me nothing of his conâ—erence he had at Nantes vvith L. and the C. neither did I seem to understand any thing thereof but made alwayes shew unto him to believe whatsoever he said as though I had never heard of him before nor of his proceedings I proceeded further with him and asked when he departed out of Spain He shewed me about the latter end of Ianury I told him that there were brutes given out here that the King of Spain had some intention to invade Ireland I asked him whether before his departure he heard any such matter Then he brake and shewed me that about September last one Stewkley arrived in Spain who after his access to Madrill before he had conference with the King or any great Personage he sent unto the said Archbishop to desire to come and speak with him To whom he returned answer by his Messenger that if he would come unto him he should be very welcome Whereupon Stewkley repaired unto him and after protestations had how glad he was to see him there whom he knew to be Catholikely bent he shewed him that his intention of his repair into that Countrey was to deal with the King of Spain about the reducing of Ireland unto his Government whereby Heresie might be expelled and true Catholique Religion planted and therefore desired him for that he was well acquainted with the Cardinal Spinoso President of the Councel that he would deal with him to procure him access unto the King To whom he replyed that he thought that the King in respect of the good Amitie between him and the Queens Majestie would be loath to deal therein And further that he for his own part though he desired the Catholique Religion to be there planted yet did he mislike of the means for that he would be loath to see his Countrey under any other Government then that of the Queens Majestie and her Successors And therefore he desired him to hold him excused in that he could not for those respects abovenamed be a mean to bring him acquainted with the said Cardinal President of the Councel Whereupon Stewkley departed from him and went to the Duke Feria and him acquainted with the cause of his repair thither and desired him to procure him access unto the King So the said Duke brought him to the King whom the King after conference had with him used very honourably and appointed him a very fair house and gave him six thousand Docats And besides that he doth give him daily allowance for the maintenance of his table which he taketh to be great for he spendeth at the least Thirty Ducats a day Two dayes after the King had conference with the said Stewkley the King sent for the Archbishop and asked him whether he did know the said Stewkley To whom he answered that he never saw him but here in Spain but by report he had heard that he had been a Pyrate on the sea of life dissolute in expences prodigal of no substance neither a man of any great account in his Countrey notwithstanding he heard he was a Gentleman born and descended from a good House Then the King told him of the offer that he had made touching the request of Ireland assuring him that he had dealt so before his coming with the Irish Nobility as he should find them ready to receive such Forces as he should send He wished the King not to be so light of belief for that Stewkley was not a man of that credit with the Irish Nobility to be able to bring any such matter to pass whom they knew to be but a shifter and one who for the maintenance of his prodigality seeketh to abuse all men With that the King replyed that besides Stewkleys own report of his ability in that behalf he was besides recommended to him by his Ambassador who willed to credit whatsoever he reported Upon the mentioning of the Ambassador he made a digression and told me that the Ambassador did great hurt in England which he did not learn by hearâ— say but by sight of his Letters and therefore wished that her Majestie would not long harbour so ill a gest The grand Prior was at the same time with the King and present at the Communication and said that the Archbishop would be loath that his Countrey should come under the Kings Government which he marvelled at considering the Kings liberality bestowed on him To whom he answered that so far forth as he might with his duty towards God and his Countrey the King should find him serviceable at all times towards him for whose prosperous estate for that his calling so required he would pray And so after this Communication had with the King he departed Not long after D. Feria meeting the said Archbishop entred into talk with him and asked his opinion of Stewkley He answered that he had made the King acquainted with his opinion and that he feared that if the King do deal with him he would abuse him Then D. Feria said that the likelihoods that Stewkley shewed the King of the enterprize were such as there were great cause why the King should imbrace the same For saith he besides the Irish Nobility he hath won a great number of the Queens Garison to be at his devotion as well Souldiers as Captains If the King saith the Archbishop believe what he saith then will there be no great difficulty in the interprize but when it cometh to the tryal it will fall out otherwise Well said the Duke I perceive you are not willing it should go forward and therefore you seek to deface this Gentleman whom we honour here with the name of the Duke of Ireland To that the Archbishop replyed that that Title and Calling was more then ever Ireland was acquainted withal and the more strange it will seem unto them for that he hath there nothing to take unto No saith the Duke I am sure if he might enjoy his own there it would well maintain that Calling Surely saith the Archbishop if the rest of his talk prove no truer then this then shall you see the King much abused by him After this talk passed between the Archbishop and the Duke Stewkley came and challenged the said Archbishop as he saith and told him that if he
as he could neither in Honour nor Conscience imbrace nor attempt therefore he thought it fit for him to declare unto him all such necessary circumstances as were fit for him to know in that behalf as well for the satisfying of his Majestie as also for his own honour who would be loath to be so evill an instrument as to perswade a Prince to attempt that thing that might not stand as well with Honour as Conscience First he shewed unto me that the cause of taking up of Arms in the Low-Countreys proceeded onely upon that the King of Spain sought to plant there by Inquisition the foundation of a most horrible Tyranny the overthrow of all freedoms and liberties a thing which his father Charls the fifth went about to have established there but seeing the same so much impugned by the Inhabitants of the said Countrey and that without their consent it could not be received unless he should violently by tyranny seek the establishment of the same contrary both to his Oath and their Priviledges he forbore to proceed in that behalf After the resignation of his Government unto his Son the Cardinal of Lorrain practised secretly with the Cardinal of Arras wars being then between France and the Low Countreys wishing them to advise the King of Spain to grow to peace discovering to him that the King of France his Father was reduced to that extremity as he should be forced to yield to any thing that the said King would request Further he signified unto him that unless there might grow peace between the two Princes the Catholique Religion could not long continue neither in France nor Flanders so great increase was daily here of Protestants which could by no means be suppressed but by establishing of an Inquisition in both Countreys Hereupon by the practise of the said Cardinals there grew a peace how dishonourable for France he referred to the Kings own judgement After the conclusion of the said Peace then did the Cardinal of Arras labour what he might by sundry practises to plant the said Inquisition seeking first by perswasion to induce men to like therof but as well Papists as Protestants misliked it alledging that it was against the Kings oath to seek to establish a thing so prejudicial to their priviledges which they were bound to maintain whereof they could see nothing but mischief would ensue and general destruction of that Countrey forasmuch as it would overthrow all Forreign traffick by which the Countrey was chiefly maintainedâ— when he saw it would not be planted by way of perswasion then sought he to do it by violence which the Nobility foreseeing they joyntly presented unto the Regent a Bill containing a declaration of the great and sundry inconveniences that would ensue if they proceeded in the establishing of the same Further they made choice of two Noble men whom with one consent they sent into Spain to declare in all their names the great mischiefs that should follow if the King should proceed therein and that it lay not in their power to retain the people from taking arms so much were they incensed against the said Inquisition and therefore they desired that the allowing or disallowing of the same might be committed over to the Assembly of the three Estates Of these doubtful means no redress followed but still the said Cardinal and his fautors proceeded in seeking to establish it contrary to all order and equity How afterwards the people took arms how the Nobility that were joyntly united to oppose themselves against the said Inquisition were after by practise and corruption divided what Tyranny hath been used by the Duke of Alva since his coming hither and how insolently he hath behaved himself both towards his Majestie and the Queen of England although unhonourable for them both in respect of their greatness at such a petty companions hands how his brother the Prince of Orange sought their delivery from so miserable a servitude though it pleased God at that time to make him the instrument who onely knoweth a sit time of the deliverance of the oppressed by the said Tyrant seeking by all means to be rid of the same did of late exhibite unto the Emperour at his last Assembly at Spires a book containing their griefs requesting him with all humility to be a means for their delivery from this their oppression a thing appertaining to his calling and the place he beareth in Christendom To this the Emperour in respect of the hope he hath of Spain gave a cold ear They now seeing themselves void of all help their natural Prince being so carried away by corruption of Councel from the due consideration that belongeth to a good Prince to have of good Subjects as he neither regardeth his Oath nor maintenance of such Priviledges as were confirmed by his Predecessors nor the dutiful manner of the proceeding of the Nobility in seeking by way of humble petition redresses of their griefs thinking themselves in conscience discharged from all duty of obedience they now throw themselves down before his Majestie with all humility beseeching him to take them to his protection and to procure their deliverance from the present Tyranny Now your Majestie seeth the state of their cause saith he you shall do well to weigh with your self whether the goodness thereof may incourage you to become Protector of this people reduced by Tyranny to great extremity by seeking their deliverance If you think in Conscience and Honour you may not you shall do well to forbear for otherwise the success cannot be good If you think you may then weigh in policy how beneficial it will be for you and how much your Father would have given to have had the like opportunity offered unto him that is now presented unto you Gratis which if you refuse the like you must never look for With this he shewed me that both the King and Queen Mother seemed to be very well satisfied and that the King said that like Counsellours by violating of his Edict had well nigh brought him into like terms with his Subjects whereof ensued the late trouble and that therefore now he thanked God that he had opened his eyes to discern what their meaning was The King thus imformed by him touching such circumstances as might induce him to think the enterprize both honorable and just he then proceeded as he shewed me to declare the easiness and great liklihood of good success of the same First he shewed me that all the inhabitants of the Low-Countries generally aswel of the one religion as of the other do mislike the Spanish tyranny and do desire nothing more then to be rid of the same Secondarily that all the Towns M. A. are ready to receive such Garrisons as shall be sent thither by order from his Brother Thirdly that other Towns upon his Frontiers whensoever they shall see any forces approach will be ready to receive them Fourthly that the present forces that the King of Spain hath there whom
he may trust are not in number 3000. Fiftly that with a dozen ships beside those that presently they have they will keep the Seas as no Spanish Forces shall come thither by Sea Lastly that the Princes of Germanie are most willing to joyn in the said enterprize so that the King will be content with Flanders and Artois which once pertained to the Crown of France and that Brabant Gelderland and the land Luxenburgh which once were fees of the Empire might be united again to the same and as for Zealand and the rest of the Islands said he they wish the Q. of England had them so that she would be content to joyn in this enterprize Aâ—ter he had made the King acquainted with these likelyhoods he seemed very well to like them especially if the Q. of England might be brought to be a party and to joyn with him and the Princes of Germanie in the said enterprize and therefore wished shee might be moved as from himself to see how she were inclined in that behalf for saith he if she being Lady of the narrow Seas do joyn in the matter with us I weigh not the King of Spain nor all the confederates He told me then that he shewed the King that as he thought she had been moved in that behalf already and that as he heard she was not enclined to be a dealer therein howbeit he knew not how her Majestie upon better consideration might sithence like thereof The matter being thus propounded to the King and Q. Mother afterwards it came to be considered of by certain chosen Councellers who all liked of the enterprize and saw great reason not to negâ—ect it Onely they saw two things to be provided for before they could advise them to enter into the same the one that he should first establish some gooâ— league with England the Princes of Germanie and that he meant presently to send ae Foix into England whose friendship and confederacy imported him very much for that the Princes of Germanie depended onely upon knowing how she would be enclined for that without her they would enter into no confederacy For the help of the second he said the King meant to tax generally through his Realm the Clergie with the payment of one years revenue This is asmuch as he imparted unto me touching his proceeding with the King saving that he shewed me That it is secretly agreed on between him and the King that Strozza who should imbarque about the midst of the next month shall do some enterprize in Spain onely to amaze the King there whom the King here meaneth notwithstanding to disallow openly Touching their State he telleth me they have much to do to bridle the people of the Low-Countrey from discovering of themselves by committing some rash enterprize and that they find the Papists no lesse inclined then the Protestants to seek with hazard of their lives deliverance from their present tyranny They find lack of money the greatest let having been much disapointed by them here the greatest help they have that way is from the D. of F. Before winter they mean to do nothing and then onely their intent is to enter into the T. M. then in the spring following if God shall so direct their intentions they meâ—â— to assâ—ile the Countrey two wayes with two severall Armies After he had thus made me understand both his proceedings with the King 〈◊〉 also their proceedings the present state of thir case and how they mean to proceed he theâ— desired me to propound to her Majestie on his behalf these particular points following First whether her Majestie can be content to joyn with him and the Prince of Orange in the enterpize Secondarily whether upon the former assurance offered her Majestie can be content to lend unto them the sum they required Thirdly that it would please her Majestie to suffer Hawkins underhand to serve them with certain sâ—ips and also to licence him to furnish them with certain victualls to be transported from thence whereof they have present need Lastly that it may please her Majestie to suffer certain Walloons being presently in Rye to the number of 800. to embarque themselves to repaire hither For the first he desireth her Majestie to consider how it will be no less honour for her to unite Zealand to the Crown of England then it was dishonour for her sister to lose Calais and further that by having Zealand she shall have the key of the Low-Countries she shall have a place allwayes for her ships to enter in unto to avoid thereby aswell the danger of the enemie as of the tempest Besides she having Zealand shall be better able to gather the Princes of Germanie enjoying Brabant and the rest of the Countries which were late federatories to the Empire to bridle F. for being overgreat And lastly that this enterprise being done by Protestants they receiving the honour thereof shall be better able by increase of credit with the King to continue his good devotion toward her in respect of the rare favours which they have received at her hands which they both do and alwayes will acknowledge For the second he desireth her Majestie to consider how evill affected Spain is towards her how he thinketh himself injured in respect of the arrest how naturally they are inclined to revenge though outwardly till convenient time do serve they can dissemble their malice how he intertaineth at his great Costs a subject of hers lately departed out of Ireland as also other Rebells of hers that daily repaire into Flanders who onely are stayed from molesting her at home in respect of the fame that the Duke of Alva hath of his Brothers enterprize And lastly how he is become a Protector of the Q. of Scots her dangerous enemy which she knoweth to be true Now if the lending of so small a sum may somewhat enable them to abate the pride of so great an enemy and cause her Majestie to spare the spending of ten times so much besides the hazard of her estate and people he desires her Majestie to weigh it in reason whether the disbursing may not stand with good policy Touching the third he saith that by having those ships of Hawkins he shall be able to keep more Spaniards who being settled there may become dangerous neighbours from landing in Flanders besides the victuals presently required shall serve to furnish Strozza whose enterprize going forward cannot but kindle warre betwixt France and Spain though the King disavow him he being a person of that quality here in respect of his office whereby at the least her Majestie may be looker on with her more safety For the last he hopeth that her Majestie will make no difficulty for that it is to disburden the Realm of so many strangers After he had thus imparted unto me those things which he would have me to propound unto her Majestie as also such reasons as might induce her to like thereof I shewed him that I would do
had misinformed her She told me further that the money was none of the Kings but part of that which she hath yearly from hence by virtue of her dowry By this your Lordship may see that the Ambassador dealeth somewhat cunningly in this behalf to gratifie the Queen of Scots Touching the solliciting of her liberty she shewed me that the King and she aswell in respect of the ancient League with Scotland as the alliance by marriage could in honour do no lesse then recommend her cause which she protested they never did with intention any way to perjudice her Majestie I then desired her first to consider whether the Amity of England might not be as beneficiall to France as that of Scotland Secondarily Whether they had that need at this present of the Amity and League of Scotland as heretofore they have had For the first I shewed her that France in respect of the greatness of some of their neer neighbours had need of the Amity of both England and Scotland For the second I told her that England had no foot in France Scotland was rather chargeable then profitable to France She replied That the King notwithstanding in honour could not but continue Amity and League with Scotland though he had not that use as before time I answered her That the King might continue his League with Scotland by joyning with the Queen my Mistris in the maintenance of the young Kings government there To this she answered That the king could not in honour abandon his sister in Law I answered That the Kings band towards his sister in Law is not more then of a naturall father towards his naturall child yet if the child grow to be dissolute and lewd whereby he is shaken off by his father the fault is not to be imputed to the father but to the child even so if the King in respect of the indignities committed by his sisteâ— in Law shall give over the protection of her the cause thereof is onely to be imputed to her misdemeannor unworthy of her calling and not to him I desired her to consider further that whereas she saith the King in Honour is bound to seek her liberty that he is more bound in honour to have regard of the Queen my â—istris safety First for that she is a Princesse of life vertuous in Government guided by Law and Justice in affection toward him sincere Now if by the Queen of Scots liberty procured by him the State should be disquieted what thing could happen that might touch the King more in honour conscience and as for any assurance or protestation that she might make to the King touching her peaceable behaviour toward the Q. my Mistress First I desired her to weigh that she was ambitious and therefore no Capitulation could serve for a bridle Secondly That she is most guided by the advice of those of her kindred who have been the greatest cause of the disquiet of Europe whereof she could be a witness Thirdly how that now she meaneth chiefly to depend upon Spain who will be alwaies provoking her to the disquieting of England and France These considerations said I Madam if you will well weigh I hope they will give you cause not to be over earnest in procuring any enlargment of liberty especially upon this late discovery of her evill meaning towards her Majestie In my private opinion you shall do well therefore to remit the same untill the coming of the Gentleman whom the Queens Majestie my Mistress meaneth to send So in the end she concluded that she would confer with the King her Son whom she assured me would be loath to do any thing that might any way discontent her Majestie or tend to her prejudice J. K. being by me so requested dealt very earnestly with her in that behalf shewing the unseasonableness of the time to commend a matter so unacceptable especially having intention to treat of some straight Amity Douglas in his return hither passed by Flanders he was accompained from Antwerp to Bruxels by the Earle of Westmerland and a dozen other of the Rebells where he had conference with the Duke of Alva and was as he secretly reporteth to a friend of his very Honourably used and put in comfort that there should be somewhat done shortly for the assistance of the Queen of Scots faction in Scotland and further that he doubted not but that there would come a time that there should also be somewhat done for her delivery which had not now to have been executed had not the jealousie of some French enterprize stayed him Iunius the Co. Palatines servant who had his dispatch at the King hands the second of this moneth shewed me that the message he had in commission to deliver to his Mr. and the rest of the Princes was that the said King was glad the said Princes were both content and desirous to enter into some straight League with him a thing necessary for both their preservations and to the end that the same might proceed he desired them that they would consider of the points and Articles to be agreed on as also of some convenient place for the meeting of their Deputies Whereof when he shall be advertised upon his return again he would not faile to send some personage of good calling with Authority to coâ—clude such points as shall be agreed upon After he had received his message he shewed me that he told the King that it were very necessary that the Queen of England were named to joyn in this League whereof he signified unto me that both the King and Queens Mother were most desirous thereof and therefore wished that there might be some means found that her Majestie might be moved in that behalf whereupon he and I after some conference had what way were best to be taken agreed upon a Letter to be sent by me to his Mr. as the best means to bring the same to passe which Letters I caused Mr. Beale to draw and sent to Mr. Iunius according as we resolved whereof I send your Lordship a Copy to the end your Lordship may see the course I have taken which I hope for that it tendeth to her Majesties safety will not mislike her Thus leaving further to trouble your Lordship at this present I most humbly take my leave At Blois the 7 of October 1571. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may please your Lordship to advertise her Majestie that the 22 of this moneth the King sent for me and at the time of my accesse he shewed me that he was given to understand that her Majestie meant to send certain Souldiers into Scotland which thing he would be sorry it should so fall out for that then he should be forced in respect of the ancient League with Scotland to strengthen the Queens party there by sending of forces thither and that therefore he desired her Majestie to
you a Commission under our great Seal of England wherein we have joyned with you our Ambassador Francis Walsingham and our servant H. Killegrew who is there with you wherein our meaning is that assoon as Walsingham shall come thither he shall joyn with you and within some convenient time Killegrew may return according to our first order given to him at his departure thither And yet untill VValsingham shall come thither Killegrew may remain as joyned And considering the whole burden of the matter of learning in conceiving the Articles of this Treaty shall rest almost wholly in this Treaty we would that when you are proceeded as far as you can and as you think meet that before you shall subscribe the Treaty you shall send the same hither to us to be more circumspectly perused and thereupon we will with like speed return it as we shall think meet and so may you reasonably declare your intention to the French King pretending your instruction of your self and therewith to use the same as they may not suspect it to come of any intention of delay At Westminster the 13 of February 1571. Wil. Burleigh To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh YOur Letters sent by the Scot dated the 6 of this month I have received he willed me to inform you that since his coming hither he hath learned that the King giveth but a deaf ear to their causes notwithstanding that they hope that upon Graunges brothers coming who is now at the Court there will be somewhat obtained for their relief which if it take not place then they mean to repair to Flanders where the Lord Seaton hath received from the Pope 20 thousand Crowns who is putting himself in readiness to repair into Scotland Further he willed me to shew your Lordship that the L. Fleming looketh for a Barque of his own to arrive at New-Haven about the end of this month in the which he meaneth to repair to Scotland with such forces as he can get either by consent from the King or by stealth otherwise This in effect is that which he willed me to impart unto your Lordship I find this he saith confirmed by other Intelligence I have Graunges brother as I learn meaneth to protest to the King that unless they may have Men Money and Munition out of hand for their relief that then they shall be driven to yield to such composition as will be made to the Queen of England which will not much tend to the benefit of France After Sir Tho. Smiths assurance of her Majesties intention I suppose the King will perswade them to fall to agreement among themselves without further intermedling in their causes From all the Ports both innormandy and Picardy Cane only excepted I learn there is no preparation of ships Shortly I hope to understand what is done in Cane And so leaving further to trouble your Lordship I most humbly take my leave at Paris the 29 of December 1571. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh TOuching your Lordships by Sir Tho. Smith according to her Majesties order I have caused the King to understand as well the trust she hath in him as also how much she desireth his presence at the Court whereby Sir Tho. Smith may be the better assisted by his advice some like office I have also used towords I. who hath alwaies been an especial furtherer of the cause From him who liveth not far from this Town I have received most earnest promise that he will do his uttermost and for that he is here imployed by the King in the punishment of those that committed the late disorder he hath written secretly to his friends to the Court to sound there in what state the matter standeth and as they find secretly to advertise Sir Thomas he protesteth that he would be loath to see her Majesty abused as any Subject she hath that loveth her most dearly He hath great hope that the matter will take good success for that he seeth the state of both Realms doth necessarily require so strait an amity as marriage bringeth He promiseth to use the more expedition in that which is committed to his charge to the end he may repair to the Court with the more speed Lineroles who by the House of Guise and the rest of the Spanish Faction was made an instrument to disswade his Master was slain the ninth of this Month his death yielded no small furtherâ—nce to the Cause I hope therefore Sir Thomas Smiths first dispatch will bring the Olive Branch And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave at Paris Decemb. 8. 1571. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham Your Lordships of the 8 by Sir Thomas Smith I have received and according to her Majesties order expressed in the same I have by means of a third person who heretofore hath been imployed betwixt us caused the person you know of to understand the great trust her Majestie reposeth in him as also her desire to have him at the Court during the time of Sir Tho. Smiths being there whereby he may the better have the assistance of his advice Touching the matter it self I know not how to judge of it for that I have been two Months absent from the Court as I have cause to doubt so have I cause more to hope to doubt for that her Majesties long deferring in sending may have bred some doubt here of her cold inclination that way and so cause them to give ear to some other offers having small hope of this To hope first for that there is no other match worthy the seeking elsewhere secondarily for that they begin to fear very much the greatness of Spain and therefore desire to be strengthned by the Arm of England and though that may be done by way of League yet they think the marriage the surest knot of amity After Sir Tho. Smith hath had audience it will then soon appear what is to be looked for in that behalf Lastly for that Lineroles the chief disswader of the Marriage is lately slain Marshal M. who is imploy'd here by the King in punishment of the authors of the late disorder meaneth to make the more haste to the Court to the end to further the matter whereof he hopeth there will grow success Thus leaving further to trouble your honour at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the last of December 1571. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham A minute of my Lord of Burleighs Letter to Sir Thomas Smith of the 28 of December SInce your departure from hence there hath no new thing of vallue happened but the discharging of the late Spanish Ambassador who hath both in Office and out of Office used himself very crookedly perniciously and maliciously against the State and namely and openly against me not forbearing but in open Coâ—cel
misliking that the Duke should die the next day and said she was and should be disquieted and said she would have a new Warrant made that night to the Sheriffs to forbear untill they should hear further and so they did Gods Will be fulfilled and aid her Majestie to doe her self good I have signed your Bill with your special money which though it be great yet being by you expended I would not but allow This matter of Monsieur is here grievously in secret taken and surely as it was not here well used in drawing it out at length which was pollitiquely done so hath it not been there friendly ordered and yet I do not so show mine opinion of her Majesties stomaking of that part which now is to be dissembled where the amity is so needfull I can write no more From Westminster Feb. 11. 1571. Yours assuredly W. Burliegh Barker being arraigned the last week confessed the Treasons and said That the beginning of his offence was in that he regarded more the love and pleasing of the Duke his Master then of the Prince and of his Countrey and so freely confirmed the Dukes guiltiness The next day Higford did also confess his fault terming it a concealment of his Masters Treasons and added that he did oftentimes disswade the Duke from the same These two open acts have fortified the Dukes Condemnation To the Queens Majesty PLeaseth it your Highnesse Yesterday the 21 of this Month Mr. Walsingham Mr. Killigrew and I had Audience first of the Q. Mother in her Chamber being by the young Queen and Madam Margaret to the Q. Mother I declared That I had received a Packet from your Highness to me and another to the King her Son which I sent immediately Yea saith she we have received it The Queen my Soveraign said I taketh in very good part the good inclination of the King and his Deputies towards a more streight amity and liketh well our doing hitherto so that we proceed to the perfecting and concluding and hath sent unto us a Power and Authority under the great Seal of England to conclude as appertaineth and so we are ready whensoever the Kings Deputies will to proceed as we have began To this the Queen answered That she was glad that her good sister took it well and she may see saith the Queen that we mean good saith and would proceed indeed to the streightest amity and love that can be betwixt two Princes and if you will even to morrow it were best to lose no time we quoth I are ready at all times and would be sorry to protract any time for both the Queen my Mistress would gladly have me at home otherwise to imploy me and I my self would gladly be there and therefore I pray your Majestie let no time be spared but from day to day let us be doing untill it be perfected which God willing shall be shortly Ye say well and it is best said she but Madam quoth I there is a matter which I must shew of among other there is one taken prisoner in Ireland named Stakbold who confesseth that the Card. of Lorain set him up to stirr up a Rebellion in Ireland to the maintenance of Iames Fitzmorris a Traitor and Rebel There you say this quoth she and laughed I am sure of the good will you bear to the Cardinal of Lorain It is true quoth I even for the good will I bear him for I can bear him no good will that attempteth any such thing and especially against the Queen my Mistriss but quoth I he indeed did it in the Kings name and yours the which thing although the Queen my Mistriss doth know well enough for the good will that you both do bear her not to be true yeâ— she willed me to shew it unto you and to pray you to call de la Rocha which is Knight of the Order and Gentleman of the Chamber to the King who was the Conductor of it who can tell your Majestie all the proceedings and that order may be taken in it and of this matter Monsieur L. Ambassador Mr. Walsingham can tell you more Then Mr. Walsingham declared the case unto her and that he had moved her in it almost a year since I am remembred said she that there was such a thing about to be done by the stirring of a Bishop that came out of Spain it was the Arch-Bishop of Cassils quoth I in Ireland as he calleth himself You know Monsieur L Ambassador saith she to Mr. Walsingham that the King my Sonne disavowed it and staied de la Roche that he should not go thither and that he should revoke all his Power Yet saith Mr. Walsingham there be twenty Harquebusiers or thereabouts remaining still and have remained there ever sithence in a Castle if it please you to speak with de la Roche he can tell your Majestie how it doth stand He is here in the Court saith she and goeth away shortly he shall be spoken withall and if any men be there the King my Sonne knoweth not of it and they shall be revoked Then Mr. Walsingham said there was two Hostages taken of that Fitzmorris who were at Nantes in the Governours House he prayed that they might also be delivered the Queen said she would send thither Then Mr. Killigrew delivered your Highness Letters unto her which she read very dilligently and for that matter she writeth to her Majestie I am sure will tell your Majesties Highness From thence we came to the Kings Chamber where I said to the King that we received a Packet from your Majestie and another for him which we sent to Monsieur Pinart and that your Highness was well pleased with our doings I have received the Packet said he and I am glad the Queen my Sister doth like of your doings here I would it were done saith he so soon as could be and if it be the longer a doing so it be well done it is well for I would have it substantially and firmly done as might be I desire nothing more I have also said I such Power sent me under the Great Seal of England as is required howbeit without that whatsoever I had agreed unto â— am sure the Queen my Mistriss would not have gon from it but at the Subscription it was then necessary to have had the power the which I have now and for other matters I trust we shall shortly make an end And for the general matters touching the Merchants to bring that Traffique into your Countrey and the benefit which the Low countrey had by it and would not acknowledge it but for the particularities of the Priviledges and such things because it would have some tract of time the Queens Majestie if it did so please you doth wish that you would send some power to your Ambassador Resident to Treat with her Highness Councel thereupon You say well saith he and my Ambassador hath written so to me and I will send to you when you shall
see the power that I will send him that you may judge of it but when meet you next To morrow Sir quoth I if you please and so from day to day untill we make an end Best of all saith he let it be even so Then I told the King that even now at this time by chance in examining of a prisoner in Ireland it falleth out and appeareth plain that the Cardinal of Lorain had not done enough to raise up troubles to your Majestie in your Realm and to trouble England and Scotland but he could not let the poor Realm of Ireland alone to be in quiet but there he would stirr upon Sedition and Rebellion also at the which the King laughed heartily and quoth I in this he abuseth your Majesties name and as of gift he would give the Counties of Ormond and Oosory to one Iames Fitzmorris a Rebel and promises aid of men and munition for them there to rebel against the Q. my Mistress In my name quoth he I never heard of it Jesus quoth he I could never think any trouble or hurt to my good Sister Sir quoth I here is the Article of Confession of one Stackbold who affirmeth this Here is at the Court as I hear say one de la Roche Knight of the Order and Gentleman of your Chamber who was the doer of it he can inform your Majestie at the full of the matter Well let me alone quoth he with it I will see it redressed well enough Then Mr. Walsingham somewhat more declared what had been done in the matter and shewed the King what the Queen Mother had said to us that de la Roche was now in the Court and therefore prayed him that he might be sent for and see order taken in that matter as appertained to the good will which he had to the amity of both the Realms which the King said he would After he said to the King that Mr. Killigrew should now depart home seeing he was come to his old Room but that we desired him to stay a day or two to heare our next meeting and to see how near we should come to agreement and so to bring to the Q. Majestie some good contentment Whereupon the King said that thing should be ordered and with such expedition that he should come home well-pleased and bring the Queens Majestie such word as she should therewith be contented peradventure more then she would think and so departed for that day This day we looked to be sent for but the King went on hunting and pretence was made to us that the Councel hath had the Bill which we delivered to the King in consideration and that they would have his Majesties advice of the day time and place of our meeting after they had consulted upon it to the intent we might after we once began continually travel untill the end were made This is so much as hitherto is done Thus we commit your Majestie to Almighty God From Blois Feb. 22. 1571. Your Majesties most humble Subjects and Servants Tho. Smith Fra. Walsingham To the Queens Majestie PLeaseth it your Majestie to be advertised the last of February when the Treaty of the League was in manner at a point and Master Killegrew was ready to take his leave of the King and Queen Mother we demanded audience and came all three to the Court we were first brought into the Kings Chamber where was also the Duke of Alanson and other Noblemen where I first declared to the King That his Deputies and we were now almost at a point and in all other things we thought we should agree He said he had understood that and was very glad of it hoping that this was but a beginning and that the Amity should increase daily and bring forth more fruit But Sir quoth I there is yet the matter of Religion not fully agreed upon without the which well provided for I know not how the League can go forward or be sure The King said he could not have it put in the League but it should be in such general words made that the matter of Religion should be contained Sir quoth I that cannot be nor no general words can contain it if the party that is bound will say that it is against his Conscience or he meant it not Why saith the King for that I will write to the Queen my sister with mine own hand what I mean even to that and that I will as well defend her in that case as if it were expressed in words Sir quoth I if you will have it in an Article by it self and as concluded betwixt you so as it be put it writing and sealed with the Great Seal of France as the true interpretation of your meaning in the League then we can be content with it although in the Treaty it be not specially put in but in general words for being so made it shall be of as much force by the Interpretation as the League Then Master Walsingham declared That it was more honourable for the King and more assurance that it were put expresly in the Treaty for then not onely the Princes of Germany but also other Kings which be of the Religion would be right glad to enter into it and by that means onely you should saith he be able to countervail the King of Spain yea and all the rest of Europe that should attempt any thing against you whereas if it be done in general words or underhand they will not trust the matter so much nor have so good colour or occasion to desire to enter into this League with you and what or whom need your Majestie fear being so well proped up and fortified with this so strong a League This may be saith the King hereafter my Councel telleth me it should be dangerous for me at this present to have it in express words but what maketh it matter I mean it so and what I once say I will keep it I will rather dye then not keep my promise Here I say it to you and will write it to the Queen my Sister How do you mean Sir quoth I in a writing after the fashion of a Treaty and sealed with your Great Seal of France or but in a Letter close In a Letter close saith he signed with my hand where I will express the same words are meant as you would have put in the League and I will promise that I will be ready to defend in that case as well as in any other and so I will indeed and that I say I will keep to dye for it Sir quoth I for you I do think no less and I am sure that the Queens Majestie our Mistris and we do take your Majestie to be a faithful Prince and constant in your words as any is living but vvhen we speak Treaties they be not made in words nor in such Letters missive but after another authentical sort sworn and sea led without which order I cannot for my
part take that it is substantially and orderly done and besides that this Treaty is not personal but is perpetual and is for you and your Successors Why saith he it is made for our two lives and one year after and then within that year if I should dye such a letter may be gotten And if my Son or whosoever should come after me should not keep his promise which he hath spoken and written I could wish him strangled and not alive Saith Mr. Walsingham though the Queens Majestie should peradventure be content with such assurance yet some of her Councel would not and leagues must be made not onely to satisfie the Prince but also the Subjects especially of such a one as this which is a comfort and assurance of all parties For when upon this hope they shall traffique here abroad in your Countrey and others and see in the Treaty no assurance for general words is holden for no assurance in this case they will be afraid to traffique or travel abroad And Sir ye had need consider well of it for as there be that do favour this league as we do there be other I warrant you which be of the Spanish faction and would be loth it should go forward and if they taking this advantage should perswade the Queen from it and in the mean while bring her some other offer and then this break off it would be hard to get it again Break off saith he I had rather dye I will satisfie the Queen my Sister well enough I do not doubt it though you be never so stiff I understand she will be content with such assurance as I tell you I do assure you Sir quoth I I do not know so much and think verily she will not be content and until know more from her Majestie I must still think so Well saith the King ye have coursed me a vvhile novv must I course you again for the Queen of Scots I must have that my request put into the Treaty for her make vvhat ansvver you vvill she is my Kinsevvoman and my Sister in lavv and she was my Soveraign and you do knovv the league vvhich is betvvixt that Realm and my Realm I can do no less then have the same inserted into the league Sir quoth I as vve have vvritten to your Deputies vve have no Commissions or Authority to treat of any such matter Touching the late Queen of Scots she vvas your Soveraign thanks be to God she is not novv vvith that he laughed and it is thought vvhen she vvas Queen here she deserved not very vvell neither of your Realm nor of your House and she is your Kinsvvoman so is she also to the Queen my Mistris but if she vvere your daughter or your son if he or she vvould procure your death or to have your Crovvn from you vvould you not see justice done on him or her that should attempt it What is that saith he so I repeated it again that if his son should attempt to depose him from his Crovvn or procure his death that he should be content that justice should rather be done then to be still in that danger Why saith he I do not require to have it put in the same league Saith Mr. Killegrew fire and vvater cannot be together the one is contrary to the other the league is made for a perpetual and strait Amity betvvixt you and the Queens Majestie of England and you vvould treat for the Queens most mortal and dangerous enemy this cannot stand together you must take her novv for dead and you cannot tell vvhether she be dead or alive and vvhy should you then require her to be put in the league And if it be so saith the King vvhat remedy then there can be no more suit made for her and so vve took our leave And from thence vve vvere conveyed to the Queen Mothers Chamber vvhere vvas the Lady Margaret and a great number of other Ladies vvhere first I declared to the Q. that vvhere she had promised me that for the Merchants that be in the Staple or Hanse they might have the exercise of their religion after the maner of the English Church now when we come to put it in the Treaty the Kings Deputies will not agree to it They say they heard nothing of it Yes said she I promised that they might have it in their house with the doors shut and in the English tongue Quoth I I pray you let them know so much for I do not think that ye have told them Yes saith she but you must not have this in the Treaty but by another way So quoth I Madam you still cut us off something as we but half agree to every thing but how shall it be that I might once see the manner of it and judge of it But for the greater matter we have with the King as touching the League in the which except these words be expressed we think the league not to bear the meaning which we do take it should and yet to please the King and to go so near as we could we were content if the King will with another Article or Treaty declarative made apart betwixt his Majestie and the Q. my Mistris under the great Seal of England and France declare that in general words he doth mean also in the matter of Religion to demand nothing else but the King now speaketh to us to do it by a Letter close missive the which for my part I do not esteem in such a case as this is and know not what it is and how it can be Why did you think saith she that the King my son would deceive you the Q. your Mistris my good sister would be content with it we know well enough Madam quoth I we know not so much nor I cannot believe it for my part But if she would what is that for us that be her Ministers which must be so much as our poor capacities will extend that we do wisely surely and substantially in such affairs for her Majestie as she doth put in our credit till we understand her mind be otherwise changed if you understand her mind to be otherwise then we yet do know she is our Soveraign and Mistress we must be content to obey Other talk we had about the matter each of us three with her much after that we had with the King but ever when she was brought to a strait that was her shift she knew well enough her Majestie would be content with such a letter and that so she was given to understand Till at the last I said that except there were further assurance for the matter of Religion we could not nor durst not subscribe the Treaty until we were better certified that your Highness would be so content for my conscience was against it to leave so great a point upon so little a hold Then as the King said he would speak with his Councel and we should know more The Queen
Mother said she would speak with her son in the matter Then I required her that she would do so much as call for Monsieur de Foix and shew him how she was agreed for the Merchants and that he would make haste with the Treaty as it was agreed upon saving for the mending of three or four words for I saw novv I must be fain to send into England before I can subscribe it She said she would not fail but that said she if it be but that doubt or some such small thing it might be let alone till one should come out of England The King my son will send over the Marshal Montmorency because the Queen your Mistris desired it and he desireth again that she would send hither my Lord of Leicester whom he desireth to see and honour for the good affection that he beareth to the Amity betwixt the two Realms and to acquit himself for the presents which he hath divers times sent unto him and then she doubted not all things should be done as your Majestie would desire Nay Madam quoth I I know the fashion of leagues it must be first agreed upon betwixt the Commissioners that no words be altered then subscribed with the hands of both the parties your Commissioners delivering the part signed with their hands to us and ours next to them then the Prince causeth it to be made under the great Seal of the Realm and so causeth it to be delivered each to others Ambassador he that cometh to see it sworn to may make a new League if the Princes will so to alter that he cannot for the Princes be bound to ratifie and swear to that the which the Commissioners were agreed upon And it were not wisdom to send such personages as your Majestie speaks of to an uncertain League you may consider my Mistress will not do it Well saith she I will speak with the King my self and send you Monsieur de Foix who shall treat with you of all these matters Then Mr Walsingham asked her if any thing were done as touching de la Roche and the matters in Ireland And she said yea and that de la Roche saith it is nothing and that there is not a French man there and that he will lay his head on it I pray you send home word that it may be tried out and if he do not say truth that he may feel smart for it and be well punished Then Mr. Killegrew took his leave of the Queen Mother and the Lady Margaret as he did before in the Kings Chamber of the King and the Duke for so they name the Duke d'Alanson of all whom he had gracious and gentle words as he can shew your Majestie he could not for divers respects conveniently have taken his leave before The younger Queen is taken here to be undoubtedly with child for she hath all the tokens of a woman that hath conceived and they gess she hath gone three moneths and more whereof the King and Queen Mother is not a little joyful Thus we most humbly commit your Highness to the tuition of Almightie God From Bloys the first of March 1571. Your Majesties most humble Subjects and Servants Tho Smith Fra Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh YOur Lordship by Sir Tho Smithes Letters unto her Majestie shall be fully informed what hath passed in Conference as well with the King as his Deputies touching the League to which I refer you Of late I caused one under the colour of a Catholique to repair unto one Darbishire an English Jesuit in Paris for that I understood that there is a concurrency of intelligence between him and those of Lorrain as also with those of the Scotish Queens faction The party I sent did seem very much to bewail the evil success that the late practises took in Scotland and that now he did fear their case will grow desperate especially for that Mathers enterprize was also discovered To this the Jesuit answered that the evil handling of matters was the cause that they took no better effect notwithstanding saith he be of good comfort and assure your self there are more Mathers in England then one who will not admit when time shall conveniently serve to adventure their lives in seeking to acquit us of that lewd woman meaning her Majestie For saith he if she were gone then would the hedge lie open whereby the good Queen that now is prisoner in whom resteth the present the right of this Crown should easily enjoy the same For besides that all the Catholiques within the Realm of England are at her devotion there are saith he God be thanked divers Heretiques that are well-affected towards her which is no small miracle that God hath so blinded theâ— eyes as that they should be inclined to her that in the end shall yeild unto theâ— their just desert unless they return unto the Catholique faith The other replyeâ— that for his part he could never hope to see her at liberty nor long to see her keâ—â— her head upon her shoulders and therefore could receive no great comfort 〈◊〉 way Well saith the Jesuit I tell you truly that I dare assure you she shall have no harm for she lacketh no friends in the English Court And as for her liberty saith he it standeth all good Catholiques in hand â—o much to seek it either by hook or by crook as no doubt but there are some good men that will venter a joynt to bring it to pass For if she were once possessed of the Crown of England it will be the onely way and mean to reform all Christendom in reducing them to the Catholique faith and therefore you must think that there are more heads occupied in this matter then English heads and that there are moe ways to the wood then one and therefore be of good courage and ere ever one year be at an end you shall know more Besides his villainous and undutiful language of her Majestie he used very lewd and bitter speeches against the Earl of Leicester and your Lordship This was the sum of their talk which I conferring and weighing with the former intended practises made me think it worth the advertisement that her Majestie may see how much they build upon the possibility of that dangerous woman whose life is a step unto her Majesties death for that they repute her for an undoubtable successor or rather which is a more danger for a right Inheritor And though I know her mischievous intentions are limitted that they can reach no further to her Majesties harm or prejudice then shall seem good to Gods providence yet is her Majestie bound for her own safety and her Subejcts to adde to the same his good providence her just policy so far forth as may stand with justice And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave At Bloys the second of March 1571. Your Honours to
Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Hononrable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester YOur Lordship at large by Sir Tho Smithes Letters unto her Majestie shall understand to what issue we are grown to touching this Treaty We can by no means nor perswasions we can use draw the King to any other interpretation of his meaning touching the point of Religion then by private Letters for that it should seem that their Ambassador from hence hath assured the King here that her Majestie will be content therewith For my private opinion seeing this League is to indure but during the lives of the two Princes and that the substance of all Leagues consisteth chiefly in the sincerity of the matters and that this Prince hath given great shew to the world of great â—incerity I think the private Letter bindeth as much in honour as any other Instrument or Contract that can pass between them can do in Law For if they should break the matter is not to be tryed in the Chamber imperial by way of pleading of what value the instruments are God and the Sword must be Judges so that then pleading must give place But this my good Lord is for my private opinion in matters of so great weight as leagues are I profess altogether ignorance If her Majestie can content her self with this private interpretation of the Kings meaning then if it would please her Majestie through your good motion to use some words of assurance towards the Ambassador there of the great good opinion she hath of the Kings sincerity and that she buildeth more upon his words then upon contract I know nothing can more content him for he desireth to be reputed a Prince that esteemeth his word and honour above his life Besides he wisheth himself to be in her Majesties good opinion before all other Princes and doth often take occasion to say that he hopeth there will be no less earnest good will and strait Amity between him and her Majestie then was between her Father and his Grandfather To nourish this opinion of Amity between them I take it to be the office of all those who truly love their Majesties as that League that tendeth greatly to both their sureties being knit together in perfect Amity which beside their particular safety will breed a great repose in all Europe especially for the cause of Religion And surely my Lord for the increase and nourishment of this friendship nothing can yield more furtherance then your access hither in ratification of the League a thing very much desired of their Majesties here as you perceive by Sir Tho Smithes Letter The motion at the first being made by the Queen Mother seemed strange unto us for her to name a particular person but when she shewed unto us that her Majestie the last Summer desired the Marshal Montmorency whereunto they did condescend and that they also mean to send him now for the confirmation of this League we had nothing to reply They say that the King in respect of the good offices that you had done between the two Crowns the great honour you had used towards his Ministers sent hither and certain prâ—sents that you had sent unto himself desireth very much both to see you and honour you Besides she said that your coming should be so grateful unto her and the King her Son as you might obtain any thing at his hands for the contentment of her Majestie so far forth as he might with his honour grant Surely my Lord though this voyage to your purse cannot but grow very chargable yet for the furtherance of the common cause of Religion for the increase of Amity between the two Princes and Crowns and for their own particular reputation never was there offered to your Lordship greater occasion both generally and particularly to do good then at this present Your Lordship can do more good in one hour here then twenty such petty companions as my self is can do in a whole year or possible in all our lives time I would I could so well hope of her Majesties leave as of your Lordships liking to take this journey upon you and then I would assure my self of your coming and by the same of as great good to ensue as ever followed of any others imployment in this voyage c. To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may pleas your Lordship to understand that Monsieur de la Mothe hath advertised their Majesties here that the Q. of Scots cause in England is not so desperate as we make it for that lately she hath received so much increase of liberty as that she went a Hawking with the Earl of Shrewsbury which advertisement here maketh them more earnest in her cause then they were wont for that they doubt one day she will come to the possession of the Crown of England either by succession or prevention and therefore the Councel here do advise the King so to deal for her as may continue in her an opinion that he is careful for her well own safety and cannot but do justice then call things proceed well and her Majestie may well perceive that any favour shewed unto her doth not onely breed disfavour but also danger and hindrance towards her self whereof Mr. Killegrew can inform her Majestie at large The opinion of the wisest sort of the Gentlemen of the Religion that are here is That the League it self shall not do more good then the imployment of two honourable Personages for the ratification of the same and therefore they desire me most earnestly to move her Majestie to concur with the King in this respect who hath to that end made choice of Montmorency hoping that her Majestie will choose one of quality somewhat answerable to his calling Besides the King and Queens desire as may appear by Sir Tho Smithes Letters the said Gentlemen do desire much the Earl of Leicesters coming as one very grateful unto their Majesties here and therefore shall be able to do very much good by the advancement of their causes whose increase of credit cannot but be beneficial unto her Majestie in considering the great good affection they bear towards her in regard of the great honour and benefits they have received at her Majesties hands and therefore their increase of credit shall breed increase of Amity a thing not unnecessary for her Majestie considering how she finds some of her neighbours affected abroad and her Subjects inclined at home Besides if her Majestie should not seem to be desirous of Montmorencies coming considering that he is no less willing to come then his Master is to send it might give him occasion to think that her Majestie maketh not that account of him that his great good will and devotion towards her deserveth whereof he letteth not to make demonstration outwardly as otherways of the which besides mine own experience during the time of my charge here Sir Tho Smith and Mr. Killegrew
the same time were letters intercepted of the Queen of Scots to the Duke of Alva whereby she giveth her self her Realm and her Son to be in the proâ—ection and government of the King of Spain And with that the L. Seton who had been there and sithence with the Duke of Alva driven by a Tempest into a Haven which by the Conspirators was appointed where the Flemings and Spaniards should arrive disguising himself like a Mariner went from thence and came as I told your Majesty into Scotland and into the Castle of Edenborough with some other of the Queens Majesties Rebels his papers and instructions being â—ound declared that in her Majesties name he had assured the Duke of Alva that with a small power they might bring into their hands the yong King of Scots and so carry him into Spain Then giveth comfort to other of the Rebels by other letters that shortly they shal return into Scotland This Madam quoth I is enough to make the Queen our Mistris to awake and to look about her and even at that same time cometh Monsieur de Crocque with the Kings letters and requireth the Scotch Queen to be set at liberty and to be sent into France Madam quoth I I pray your Majestie consider of the case and imagine you were the Q. of England my Mistris and that all these things at one time came to your consideration what would you think Ah Monsieur L'Ambassador quoth she we did know then of no such intent of the Q. of Scots you may be sure we would be as loath that any such thing should be attempted and rather loather Madam quoth I I do not doubt considering this good amity which is so forward betwixt the two Realms Well saith she she is allyed to the King and to me and brought up here and we for our part could do no less then intreat for her what we could obtain at the Queen my sisters hands She seeketh another way to ruinate her self to hurt her friends to deserve no pity nor favor and sorry we must be for her and if she be so dangerous as it appeareth we cannot nor dare not require liberty for her which is so perilous to the Queen my sisters state yet if it shall please her for our sake to give her her life and for the rest provide for her own safety as reason is she shall do a deed of price and in this matter we will trouble the Q. your Mistris no furthâ—â— Then quoth I one other thing there is touching Monsieur de Crocque his power or Commission for so we call it is not large enough for he hath as he saith but Commission to move them to Peace and Agreement To the which now of late they of the Castle do shew themselvs very obstinate perverse and unreasonable by reason of some offers from the Duke of Alva and some hope peradventure received from hence For where before they were content to require the Queens Majesties aid to come to a good agreement with the adverse faction so that the surety of their Persons Lands Goods and Honors might be provided for now they be so puffed up that they will not come to any abstinence of Civil war amongst themselves And surely the Queen my Mistris meant no other then to have brought them into quietness among themselves To the intent that the Realm might after agreement within it self enter into this League with the other two Realms making as it were for defence one whole Realm and so I have always told you Madam It is so saith she and we desire no other Well Madam quoth I if you then will concur with us the matter will be soon at a point Then Monsieur Crocque must have a larger Commission then yet he hath for he saith he hath but as I said before a Commission to make them to accord amongst themselves to choose a number of men to govern the Realm and never make mention of King nor Queen Why saith Master Walsingham that were a headless Government and when will they agree to it he that knoweth that Nation will never think that will come to pass and therefore that should be to make more dissention amongst them not to make a Peace Madam quoth I that Commission hath no Order nor Authority but as is said to continue trouble But Madam as in all matters hitherto we have well agreed betwixt the two Realms of England and France I pray you let us agree in this And if we speak reasonable the King shall concur with us if not let us hear answer to the contrary and we will answer The Queen my Mistris hath propounded this that they shall all agree to acknowledge the young King for King For as the for Queen she hath good cause not to trust her nor you neither Then for compounding how one shall agree with th' other for their Lands Offices and Goods that to be agreed by the mediation of wise and indifferent men whereof your Ambassador be it Monsieur de Croque or any other to be an Umpire and whom the Q. my Mistris shall appoint to be another So that they shall well know that these two Crowns as friends will make them by perswasion to agree to reason if not to joyn together to make them take reason against their wills Ye say well Monsieur Amb. saith she and you speak roundly and plainly as you were wont to do and I will speak with the K. my son and you shall have answer Madam said Mr. Walsingham Monsieur Amb. saieth here plainly unto you Yea saith she so he is wont I know him well enough Yea saith he but while two shall be at strife if ye would set up again the Scotch Queen whom by reason the Queen our Mistres cannot abide if in the mean time a third should come and set foot in Scotland would it not trouble you and us also Yes saith she and we should be as loath to see that as you Well Madam quoth I then take heed of the pick-thank for he is ready I know whom you mean quoth she and he is ready indeed and loves to be medling in every place but I doubt not but the Queen your Mistris and we shall agree it is our desire and that this amity may increase to make us both strong for all that Coast I hope so quoth I and would be loath that all labour for so little a matter should be lost Lost saith she fear you not your Queen can desire no reasonable thing at our hands but we will agree to it you shall judge your self and to morrow you shall have answer God willing but hear you nothing else of the other matter Madam quoth I I know not what you mean but surely notâ—ing is spoken not so much as from Mr Killegrew nor of the league but we look every day that our Currior should be here and then we shall be able to inform your Majesty Ye shall not marvail saith she that I
here now Ambassadors and Mr. Killegrew all with one tenor have written so much of the sincerity and sound dealing of the King and you and bound our credit therein that good faith was meant in all points her Majestie would have doubted and so we are willed to tell you The King my Son saith she meant no evil in it she is allied to him she hath many friends here and I tell you she hath one of the fairest Roses or Diamonds in France she meant her Dowry which is as is reported 120000 Franks by the year and therefore my son could no less doe then write earnestly for her mary not to offend my good sister the Queen We think surely that the Queen your Mistress will shew mercy unto her she is of so good nature and then if she were here she should be the less able to trouble you Yes Madam quoth I and you to she is now kept streighter then ever she was and hath not past ten as I hear say allowed about her of her own and yet she can do this and still practice the disturbing of the Queens Majestie and her Realm what would she doe being here at libertie it would not be long before she convey her self into Spain and then I doubt whether you or we should be long without Warr. Because you say so saith she he that is the King my sons Ambassador in Spain now wrote of late that the Duke de Medina Celi is yet in coming and taketh in men daily but he doth it with more leasure because he doth attend to hear word of some attempt to be done in England and then he cometh away strait This they look for still there whatsoever it be and so you may write to the Q. your Mistress Then she asked whether the Duke were executed we said no that we could learn No saith she belike the Queen will pardon him We answered we could not tell I would saith she she were in quiet from all these broils doe you know nothing how she can fancie the marriage with my Son the Duke of Alanson Madam you know me of old except I have a sure ground I dare affirm nothing to your Majestie Why saith she if she be disposed to marrie I do not see where she shall marrie so well and yet saith she I may as a Mother justly be accounted partial but as for those which I have heard named as the Emperors Son or Don Iohn d' Austria they be both lesser then my Son is and of less stature by a good deal and if she should marrie it were pitty any more time were lost Madam quoth I If it pleased God that she were married and had a child all these braggs and all these Treasons would soon be appaled and on condition she had a child by Mr. d' Alanson for my part I cared not if ye had the Q. of Scots here for ye then would be as carefull and jealous over her for the Q. my Mistresses suretie as we or as her self is That is true saith she and without this marriage saith she if she should marrie in another place I cannot see how this League and Amity would be so strong as it is True Madam quoth I the knot of bloud and marriage is a stronger Seal then that which is printed in wax and lasteth longer if God give good successe but yet all Leagues have not Marriage joyned with them as this may if it please God I would it had saith she then surely would I make a start over and see her my self the which I do most desire of all things Madam quoth I if I had now as ample a Commission for Mr. de Alanson as I had at the first for Monsieur the matter should soon by Gods grace be at an end Would you had saith she and if you had such a one when you are in England would you not come over again to execute it Yes Madam quoth I most gladly to so good an intent I would pass again the Sea if I were never so sick for it Then saith Mr. Walsingham And surely it was no Religion that made that stop in the marriage of Monsieur but some other thing No surely saith she he never shewed to me any other cause I assure you Madam saith Mr. Walsingham I can marvelous hardly believe it for at Gallion he was so willing and so well affected that me thought it did me much good when he spake of the Queen my Mistress or with any of her Ministers I perceived it in his words in his countenance in his gesture and all things but again when he came to Paris all was clean changed It is true Monsieur L. Ambassadeur saith she and it made me much to marvel at it but even at Gallion all other things liked him well but at the Religion he made a little stop but nothing so as he did after Upon this I bare him in hand for it grieved me not a little and the King my Son also as you know that of all evil rumors and tales of naughty persons such as would break the matter and were spread abroad of the Queen that those he did believe and that made him so backward And I told him it is all the hurt that evil men can do to Noble women and Princes to spread abroad lies and dishonourable tales of them and that we of all Princes that be women are subject to be slandered wrongfully of them that be our adversaries other hurt they cannot do us he said and swore to me he gave no credit to them he knew she had so vertuously Governed her Realm this long time that she must needs be a good and vertuous Princesse and full of honour and other opinion of her he could not have but that his conscience and his Religion did trouble him that he could not be in quiet and nothing else Other communication there was as is commonly wont to be in such meetings but this is the sum of that which is worth the writing that passed betvvixt us The 21 of this Month I received your Lordships Letters dated the 10. of the same The next day I spake again with the Queen Mother in the Garden and shewed her that the Queens Majestie did perceive that the King and she were carefull to advertise any such occurrents as might trouble her Highness and estate the which as she must needs take in most thankfull part so she had a desire to acquite the same with as much carefulness as may be and therefore willed me to signifie unto their Maj. such things as now of late be come to her knowledge And say that at Harvvich vvhich vvas the Port that Rodolph and other of that conspiracy appointed that the Spaniards and Flemings should arrive at from the Duke of Alva if the Treason had gon forvvard At that Port arrived the Lord Seaton whom she knevv vvell enough and from thence vvith tvvo other of the Earl of Northumberlands men disguised vvent into Scotland
and novv be in the Castle of Edenburgh and this being understood the Ship vvas stayed and searched and amongst other the confirmation of that vvhich I told you before vvas in the Scotch Queens Letters that she gave her self and her son novv the young King of Scotland vvholly into the hands of the King of Spain to be governed and ruled only by him and assure him that if he vvould send any povver the young King should be delivered into his hands For in the Ship it doth appear that the Lord Seton by his instructions is named the Scotch Queens Ambassador tovvards the Duke of Alva A goodly Ambassador saith the Queen And there in his Ambass he offereth the young King to be delivered into his hands to be conveyed into Spain And to animate him more to set up again the Scotch Queen and take the protection of her that she hath right both by Gods Law and mans Law to be Queen of England and also of Scotland and that she hath not only all those that be in trouble now but a great sort more in England on her part so that the King by setting her up should not only govern both these Realms but shall also set up in both again the Catholique Religion Alas saith the Queen that head of hers shall be never in quiet This quoth I toucheth us most the next toucheth the King your son I will shew unto you as I have it my Lord Burleigh writeth it unto me In the same ship amongst other was found a Letter of the Countess of Northumberland who was one of the chief stirrers in the last Rebellion Her husband the Earl is now prisoner in Scotland for the same purpose The Countess in her Letter writeth to her husband that the Duke of Guise hath of late been with the D. of Alva disguised and she affirmeth to her husband for certainty all the house of Guise and that faction will follow in all points the direction of the King of Spain Saith the Queen he was not for by reason of his Treaty of accord she meant between the Admiral and him which hath been long time in doing and yet taketh that small success every four daies we either hear from him or send to him so that we know certainly where he is and that he hath not been there he might well enough send some other person but somewhat there is we know well enough saith she that they incline somewhat that way of Spain and it may be nothing for it is the Spanish practice to aid themselves with lies and spread abroad that those and those be of the Faction to bring other in when indeed it is nothing so that used the Emperor Charls and so brought some by this means unto his lure before they were aware and that is a shrewd art quoth I to abuse rash fools Yes saith she but when at the last it is espied it makes them the more to be hated and other the harder to be abused by them Then she left that matter Jesu saith she and doth not your Mistress see that she shall be alwaies in danger untill she marry That once done and in some good House who dare attempt any thing against her Madam quoth I I think if she were once married all in England that had any traiterous hearts would be discouraged for one Tree alone may soon be cut down but when there be two or three together it is longer a doing and one shall watch for the other but if she had a child then all these bold and troublesome Titles of the Scotch Queen or other that make such gapings for her death will be clean choaked up I see she may have five or six saith she very well I would to God we had one No saith she two boys leâ—t the one should die and three or four daughters to make alliance with us again and other Princes to strengthen the Realm Why then quoth I you think that Monsieur le Duc shall speed With that she laughed and said Ie le desire infinitement and I would trust then to see three or four my self at the least of her race which would make me indeed not to spare Sea nor Land to see her and them And if she could have fancied my son d'Anjou saith she as you told me why not this of the same house Father and Mother and as vigorous and lusty as he and rather more and now he beginneth to have a beard come forth so that I told him the last day that I was angry with it for now I was afraid he would not be so high as his brethren Yea Madam quoth I a man doth commonly grow in height to his years the beard maketh nothing Nay saith she he is not so little he is so high as you or very near For that matter Madam quoth I I for my part make small account if the Queens Majestie can fancie him For Pipinus Brevis who married Bertha the King of Almains Daughter was so little to her that he is standing in Aquisgrave or Moguerre a Church in Almani she taking him by the hand and his head not reaching to her girdle and yet he had by her Charlemain the great Emperor and King of France which is reported to be almost a Giants stature And your Oliver Glesquim the Briton Constable that you make so much of and lieth buried amongst the Kings at St. Dennis if he were no bigger then is there pourtrayed upon his Tomb was very short scarcely four foot long but yet he was valiant hardly and couragious above all in his time and did us English men most hurt It is true saith she it is the heart courage and activity that is to be looked for in a man but hear you word of the Queens affection that way can you give me no comfort No I assure your Majestie quoth I for the Letters were written the 11 of this Month the same day or the next that our Currier went with the dispatch from hence Thus with much other talk in such sort the time was passed that day betwixt her Majestie and me All the world doth see that we doe wish her Majestie surety and long continuance that her marriage and issue of her Highness body should be the most assurance of her Highness and of the Wealth of the Realm The place where and the person whom I for my part remit to her Majestie but what doth her Majestie mean to maintain still her danger and not provide for her surety I assure your Lordship I can see no reason God preserve her Majestie long to Reigne over us by some unlooked for miracle for I cannot see by natural reason that her Highness goeth about to provide for it Thus I commit your Lordship to Almighty God From Blois March 22. 1571. by English account Th. Smith To my Lord of Burleigh MY Lord You must excuse us if the Queens Majestie or any other body do find fault that we send this man away
perswasions they were induced to accord with her Majestie that a Parliament should be holden with such speed as it might be and there these her Majesties motions were propounded and certain persons should have authority to treat hereof with her Majesties Councellours Whereupon her Majestie did look for some good success and before it could be granted thereunto to proceed her Majestie discovered daily most dangerous attempts of Treason both against her Person and Realm wholly and onely set forth by the said Queen of Scots And her Majestie found these new Treasons intended and almost brought to their mischievous perfection by not onely renewing of the former marriage with the Duke of Norfolk and by giving order for a Rebellion and Invasion of this Realm All which was by her devised set forth and delivered to be executed even in the very same time that her Majestie did deal so earnestly for her with her Subjects and was in hope to have obtained some reasonable end for her So also did she now discover the truth of her former practises in stirring of the first Rebellion onely to have by force obtained the marriage and with the same force sought the Crown All the which attempts the said Lord Admiral and Sir Tho Smith can orderly declare and so they shall do And they may well say That her Majestie cannot think any person to mean well towards her safetie that would after these things thus notified move her Majestie to hold her former course in favour of the said Scotish Queen And this hath been the cause why her Majestie hath not since this last discovery of these dangers in such sort answered both to the King and his Ministers upon their motions made in her favour And the Lord Admiral shall conclude that seeing the case is thus that to shew such favour to the Scotish Queen as is desired is most dangerous to her Majesties Crown and her Majestie cannot like of any motion to hazard her own Estate And besides the things intended by the Scotish Queen against her Majestie it is apparent she doth wholly give her self to the Duke of Alva and to the King of Spain which as it is many waies fully to be proved so may the Lord Admiral say That he can make it manifest by her own hand writing for which end he shall shew to the King a Letter of hers in Cypher to the Duke of Alva All which the Lord Admiral shall shew to the King to this end that both he may see the just causes her Majestie hath to hold the course she doth and that he also wil not molest her Maj. with any motions tending for favour of the Scotish Q. so greatly to her Maj. danger And to the matter of le Crocques stay here for a time before his departure into Scotland if any mention be thereof made by the King the said L. Admiral can tel the occasion thereof to have grown of the letters which le Crocque brought from the King to her Majestie in favour of the Scotish Queen for her liberty and return into France notwithstanding the king had been duly informed by her Majesties Ambassador that her Majestie could not with her surety suffer the same And threfore at that time she could not think that le Crocques negotiation coming with such letters could tend to pacifie the Realm of Scotland for her Majesties surety when before his â—nlay he was found to have charge from the Q. of Scots If any motion be made to the L. Admiral of a matter lately devised to offer to her Maj. Marriage with the Duke of Alanson the L. Admiral may well say that he hath no charge to speak thereof at this time but he may say that he is willed if occasion be so given to him to report what he heard her Majestie say that he was not so well used in the Treaty for the other brother the Duke of Anjou as was meet in the time of motion made for Amity both by that marriage and otherwise for that Monsieur de Foix being in England and dealing therein her Majestie did proceed honourably and plainly with him and with the French Ambassador that she would not assent to marry with him or with any other that would not consent with her in Religion contrary to the order of the Realm or at the least that would use any other Religion in any sort then might stand with the Church of God whereupon her Majestie was by them pressed but to consent to a sufferance of some secret usage of his Religion without offence of the Realm until he might be otherwise induced and perswaded in conscience It may be remembred that when her Majesties Ambassador made a report at de Foix return of her Majesties answer the King seemed not willing to receive that answer but that he desired that some might be sent to commune thereof with him who should find that the matter should be made clearer of these difficulties whereunto when her Majestie did not fully consent it was afterward by the Ambassador Resident oftentimes pressed that her Majestie would send some special person of trust for her self to the French King promising her Majestie that this matter should be facillitated and made easie to her contentation According whereunto her Majestie upon many solicitations specially by the said Ambassador in the King his Masters name did send Sir Tho Smith to understand the Kings meaning herein who can best tell how at the first entry he was answered with a direct contrary course to her Majesties expectation and otherwise then was mentioned by any Ambassador that ever treated therein with her Majestie or that ever Monsieur de Foix did ever speak or require which was that Monsieur de Anjou would in any wise have the exercise of his Religion here in England in like sort as he had in France A matter strange to be heard at that time when her Majestie was provoked to send one with hope that in the case of Religion she should receive such an answer as should content her Majestie Of this matter the L. Admiral shall inform himself more largely of Sir Tho Smith to the end that if the same be communed of he may both with the King and the Queen Mother so deal as it may be seen to them that her Majestie had cause to think very strangely thereof And were it not that she is entred into a streight Amity with the King she might justly challenge lack of friendship herein but so as the King be not ignorant but that her Majestie hath cause to think her self not well dealt withal she is content to pass it over without keeping the same in memory to nourish any unkindness And so the L. Admiral shall use his speech that the King may not think his speech to move any new offence Furthermore the said L. Admiral shall in all his speech with the King and also with the Queen Mother let it appear how much her Majestie esteemeth sundry offers
heart that may be for her Majesties safety And so leaving to trouble your Honor any further at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the tenth of August 1572. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham Sir I beseech you to signifie unto her Majesty that the Count Montgomery doth shew himself by sundry demonstrations worthy of the favour and honor he hath received at her Majesties hands I beseech your Honor therefore to put her Majesty in mind to use some such speeches towards his daughter at the Court as he may perceive that I do not forget to advertise her Majesty of the good will he beareth towards her To the right honorable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principall Secretary SIR in this my private Letter I thought good to tell you that how coldly soever you are affected towards marriage we mean not here to give you over but do think that time may work somewhat to the satisfying of our desire They think in the end necessity must make you yield thereto in respect of your safety which is the best ground of the hope they have they know well enough the coldness of your affection and therefore they hope that force will bring that to pass which love cannot This Sir for marriage matter I have earnestly written both to the Lord Treasurer and the Earl of Leicester to procure a stay of the revocation of those that are imployed in Flanders without the which the whole enterprise is in hazard in respect of the discouragement that will grow thereby And surely if the same take not good success it is evident what will be our danger to as many as will list to see I need not use towards you any perswasions to put to your helping hand which is forward enough in this case as one that foreseeth the mischief that otherwise will follow Whereas you write now that the Scots began somwhat to incline to an abstinence it seemeth very strange considering the issue of our Parliament and the late inlargement of the Queen of Scots liberty unless the Scots mean thereupon to establish the Government in their Queen if her Majesty had accepted the provision of her safety by her subjects in Parliament and not so soon have yielded to any enlargement those Scotch matters had been ere this accorded but we use to build with one hand and overthrow with another I can rather lament it then hope after any remedy And therefore to God I commit it And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the 10. of August 1572. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham To the right Honourable his very good Lord the Lord Treasurer I Refer your Honour to Sir Th. Smiths Letters touching that which hath past concerning the delivery of her Majesties resolution unto their Majesties thereof the offer propounded by the M. Montmorency and M. de Foix. They easily could be induced to hazard an enterview if they thought there were any earnest intention in her Majesty to marry but the doubt thereof maketh them stay to condiscend in that behalf notwithstanding they mean not to give over the matter utterly but do hope that necessity in time may induce her Majesty in respect of her safety and the gratifying of her subjects to yield her consent seeing that the difficulty consisteth in opinion chiefly I do what I can to nourish this opinion in them considering the broken state of Europe and how tickle her Majesty standeth if by an enterview there might grow any good I think I could easily bring it to pass but the experience I have had how this case of marriage is subject to many things maketh me to proceed warily according as I shall receive direction at your Lordships hands who shall guide my doings in this behalf Touching Flanders matters the King had proceeded to an open dealing had he not received advertisement out of England that her Majestie meant to revoke such of her subjects as are presently in Flanders whereupon such of his Councel here as incline to Spain have put the Queen Mother in such a fear that the enterprise cannot but miscarry without the assistance of England as she with tears had disswaded the King for the time who otherwise was very resolute Thus your Lordship seeth how the bruit of your fear there hath bred fear here whereof I fear there will follow fearfull effects unless God put to his helping hand The Admiral in this brunt whose mind is invincible and foreseeth what is like to insue doth not now give over but layeth before the King his peril if the Prince of Orange quail or at the least if the matter by composition may not be induced to that good pass as the Spaniards may be removed further off and the Country restored to its liberty and yet remain under the Government of Spain And though he cannot obtain what were requisite and necessary for the advancement of the Cause yet doth he obtain somewhat in conference with him He desired me to tell your Lordship that there is nothing in respect of himself that he desireth more after long troubles unless he saw the danger great and evident to as many as profess the Gospel as also particularly to the King his Master and to the Q. Majestie my Mistress whom he is bound to honour and serve during his life and if these Low-Country matters be not reduced to some good issue he would not now expose himself to new perils But the case now standing as it doth and foreseeing the mischief that will follow he saith he should be a Traitor to God and to his Country and unthankful to her Maj. if he should forbear to do what lieth in him to prevent the same and for that he knoweth your Lordship doth concur with him in the like desire he doth most earnestly desire you to be a mean to stay her Maj. revocation of those that be in Flanders which thing will breed no less incouragement to the enemies then discouragement to those that seek to further this cause the welldoing whereof saith he if I do not mistake doth as much import her Maj. as any one thing that hapned unto her since her coming to the Crown and therefore requireth rather assistance then hinderance Other particularities he willed me to impart unto your Lordship which for that I would be loath to trouble your Lordship with Cypher I have desired Mr. Killegrew to make you understand the same And so leaving to impart to your Honour any thing further at this time I most humbly take my leave At Paris August 10. 1572. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable his very good Lord the Earl of Leicester IT may please your Lordship to understand that upon advertisement com from the parties that her Maj. meant to revoke such as are imployed in the Low-Countries of her subjects the King here through the perswasions of such as are inclined to Spain
them put to the ransom for that justice taketh not place here they forbear to require redress but depart hence with great desire of revenge They prepare Bastile for some persons of quality It is thought that is for the Prince of Conde and his brethren The Marshal Montmorency is commanded as it is said to keep his house and to forbear to make any Assembly He is now at Chantilly The King is advertised that the Prince of Orange hath taken Mechelin and that he now marcheth towards Montz and that the Duke d' Alva shall be constrained to hazard the battel or to lose his Ordnance It is said that the King here meaneth to send to his support under the conduct of the Duke of Guise 4000 shot and 2000 horse And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the thirteenth of September Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principal Secretary SIr it may please you to advertise her Majestie that after I had closed up my present dispatch Monsieur Mansiere was sent to me from Q. Mother to request me to continue my good devotion towards this Crown to do such good offices as might breed continuance and especially to further the marriage To this I answered that I saw things fall out here in such sort as I had small cause to incourage me thereunto And as for the marriage I had some cause to doubt whether the matter was truly meant or no for divers reasons To that he answered that it were good the same scruples were taken away and therefore asked me if I would be content to let the Queen Mother understand the reasons that made me so to think To the which I answered I could be very well content if it shall please her Majestie to send for me that I might communicate them unto her Thereupon she sent for me and at my access she told me that she understood by Mannesiere that there rested in me some scruple touching the Kings and her sincere meaning concerning the late marriage propounded for the which she was sorry for that in respect of the place I held I might yield no small hinderance to the same She therefore desired me to know the reasons that moved me thereto to which she doubted not but to yield such answer as should breed satisfaction in me Thereupon I shewed her that true it was that as it becometh a good servant the jealousie of my Mistris's honour and surety made me to use some such speech towards her whereof when she should understand the reasons I hoped she would interpret the same in good part Then I shewed her that this late strange accident had bred in men dangerous discourses opinions and mistrusts amongst the which I was not free from my doubts and suspicions And as touching this scruple of the Kings and her sincere meaning touching this marriage I had three reasons that moved me thereto The first the violating of the late Edict and present severity used against those of the Religion The second the strange dealing in the first match propounded The third certain Discourses given out of the Conquest of England and Ireland Touching the first I shewed her that the chiefest causes that moved the Queen my Mistris to make account of the Amity of this Crown was that the King suffered certain of his Subjects to enjoy by the vertue of this Edict exercise of the same Religion her Majestie professed which was the chiefest ground of the League which being taken away the Amity could not but grow doubtful And this matter of an enterview suspected to be but to serve for an entertainment Touching the second I shewed her that this late accident giveth vehement suspicion that the first match propounded was also but a kind of entertainment to abuse those of the Religion Touching the Discourses though they did proceed from mean personages and that I hoped their Maj. were free from any such intentions yet the strangeness of the late accident could not altogether rest free from suspicion To this she generally replyed That she hoped that the late League was made not with the Admiral and those of the Religion but with the King and therefore she trusted that though her son for his surety sake had justly executed the heads of the Religion yet the said league should continue in his perfect strength for performation whereof there should never be found lack in the King You know saith she that there was good amity between King Francis and King Henry the eighth and yet they favoured not the Pope alike You know also saith she that notwithstanding the difference of Religion between my late husband and King Edward yet the same did not impeach the conclusion of a marriage between the same King and my daughter And as for the Edict saith she the King my sons meaning is not otherwise but that the same shall stand in force To this I replyed that true it was that the League was made with the King and not with the Admiral Notwithstanding that the liberty of conscience was not particularly granted unto him but generally to those of the Religion as to the Amity between the said Princes notwithstanding they were of contrary Religion I told her that the time was now altered for that then there was no general league made at Trent or at Bayonne generally against those of the Religion and surely Madam said I I fear that this late severity executed here will make all Princes of the Religion to repute the same a general denunciation of War against them which I fear will prove as bloody as ever war that hapned whereof the benefit would chiefly grow to the Turk Thereupon she took occasion to inveigh vehemently against the Admiral saying that the matter of Bayonne was a device of his to provoke such Princes as were allies and friends to this Crown to become enemies to the same For saith she the Assembly of Bayonne tended to other end but to make good chear and to the end you may see how little your Mistris was beholding to him you may see saith she a discourse found with his testament made at such time as he was sick at Rochel wherein amongst other advices that he gave to the King my son this is one that he willed him in any case to keep the Queen your Mistris and the King of Spain as low as he could as a thing that tended much to the safety and maintenance of this Crown To that I answered that in this point howsoever he was affected towards the Queen my Mistris he shewed himself a most true and faithful Subject to the Crown of France and the Queens Majestie my Mistris made the more account of him for that she knew him faithfully affected to the same The said discourse was all written with his own hand To the other two reasons she answered nothing but desired me that I
would not be carried away with reports of some seditious instruments that desired nothing else but to set Princes at discord In the end after long debating to and fro of the matter she desired me to protest unto the Queen my Mistris that she and her son desired nothing more then good amity and because the same might grow to more perfection they desired the finishing of this marriage propounded whereof she hoped there would grow safety and quiet to both Realms I then desired her to satisfie me in two points The one of the difficulty of Religion considering their late severity may be compounded if the enterview should go forward The other in what sort they mean to continue in observation of the said Edict To the first she told me that for the difficulty in Religion if there be no other let saith she I doubt not but it shall be so compounded as that it shall be to the contentment of your Mistris As for the second the Kings meaning is that they shall enjoy the liberty of their conscience What Madam said I and the exercise of their Religion to No said she my son will have exercise but of one Religion in his Realm Then said I how can it agree that the observation of the Edict whereof you willed me to advertise the Queen my Mistris that the same should continue in his former strength To that she said that they had discovered certain matters of late that they saw it necessary to abolish all exercise of the same Why Madam said I will you have them live without exercise of Religion Even saith she as your Mistris suffereth the Catholiques of England My Mistris did never promise them any thing by Edict if she had she would not fail to have performed it To that she said that the Queen my Mistris was to direct the Government of her own Countrey and the King his To that I answered that I did not move those questions of any curiosity but to render account to the Queen my Mistris of the proceedings who I knew desired that all things might pass in such sort as might be to their honour A third doubt I propounded how considering their late severity they could perform their promise with the Queen my Mistris if she should be assailed for the cause of Religion in yielding assistance To this she answered that if any yea saith she if the King of Spain I will not stick to move him shall enterprize any thing against her for the cause of Religion she shall not lack for any assistance that this Crown can give her Our desire is onely to reduce this Crown to a quiet state This speech I thought good to impart unto her Majestie referring unto her the consideration of the same Of late though I received ill usage of the people yet at their Majesties hands I find more favour then accustomed whereof I promised to advertise her Majestie La Roche who two years past was imployed in the enterprize at Ireland was lately here at the Court and from hence dispatched to Rochel which maketh men to suspect some enterprize that way And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the fourteenth of September 1672. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the right Honorable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principal Secretary SIr it may please you to advertise her Majestie that the tenth of this moneth the King and Queen Mother sent for me to the Louvre where first I spake to Queen Mother who shewed me that la Mot hath received such honour and good entertainment at her Majesties hands as that she and her Son the King could do no less then send for me and desire me to render unto her Majestie most hearty thanks for the same and further to shew unto her Majestie that forasmuch as they desire nothing more then some straiter amity with her which they think can by no means come to pass so well as by marriage and therefore the Kings meaning was that she and her son Duke d' Alanson should repair to Bulloin or Callis so that her Majestie will be content to repair to Dover to the end the enterview that hath been propounded might take some effect by some good advice that may be found out for the surety of both their Majesties which thing shall be best considered of how the same may come to pass Further she willed me to tell her Majestie that besides the great hope she had that the same enterview will breed a hope of straiter amity between the two Crowns she desired the same no less for the great good particular affection she had to see her Majestie whereof she would receive as great content as of any one thing that hath hapned unto her in her days To this I answered that I would not fail to advertise her Majestie thereof And thereupon according to the contents of her Majesties Letters of the two and twentieth of August I took occasion to protest unto her in her Majesties behalf that forasmuch as I had before advertised of her and the Kings misliking of an enterview in respect of the inconveniences that hath followed thereof her Majestie could not desire the same but rather refer it to the Kings and her consideration lest if the principal should not take place there might follow that inconvenience that by them was feared To this she answered that she would take the burthen and blame upon her and that whether the matter took effect or not the Kings meaning was to continue good amity with her Majestie I replyed that to see one in marriage is a thing in it self considered honest and allowable and that if the parties desire who sought the same took no place there could grow to him no reproach thereof but in opinion which had no reason of ground for that marriages have their beginning from above Upon that I concluded that for the Duke d' Alanson to see a Princess of her Majesties quality and calling was a thing honourable and that therefore whatsoever success the matter took seeing that marriages came from heaven there could in truth and reason grow to him no dishonour and that therefore unless he could put on that opinion considering the issue to be doubtful it were better not to proceed any further lest it might be an occasion of unkindness which might be unprofitable to both the Crowns To this she answered that she knew it to be ttue and that therefore they would refer the issue to God with intention to continue good friendship whatsoever grew of the matter So having ended with her I repaired to the King who onely willed me to give her Majestie thanks for the good entertainment given to la Motte as also to assure her that his intention and desire was no other but to continue or rather to increase amity with her And further to shew her that he would shortly send the Admirals process unto his Ambassador
strange being we had heard before of the daily murdering of those of the Religion there in France not only at Paris and Orleans but also at Lyons and Roan and divers other places and Cities of that Realm all the which was done by the Kings appointment and commandment whereupon when we had heard what he could say unto us he heard us so reply at that time as we do think he found himself unable to satisfie us And nevertheless we told him that we would be further advised for our answer which he should have within three or four daies whereupon communicating his Negotiation with our Councel upon their French tongue An answer was made as appeareth by this here inclosed which is the copy of that we delivered to Nicasius to interpret in French to the said de la Mott as our ful answer resolution at that time with the which as Nicasius reporteth de la Mott seemed very well content and satisfied In the which yet you may perceive that divers things are left to be ascertained to us by you wherefore you shall do well with convenient speed to demand audience of the King and there to declare both to him and to the Queen mother what hath passed betwixt his Ambassador and us and upon the points we did at that time stand and you may say as touching any worthy punishment executed upon his own Subjects we have not to deal therein but if they have worthily suffered we are sorry for their evil doings But yet the King to destroy and utterly root out of his Realm all those of that Religion that we profess and to desire us in marriage for his brother must needs seem unto us at the first a thing very repugnant in it self especially having before confirmed that liberty to them of the Religion by an Edict of his perpetual and irrevocable Of the which to whom that liberty was granted if any were partakers of any evil conspiracies against him specially women and children who we do understand are not yet spared And therefore if that Religion of it self be so odious unto him that he thinks he must root out all the professers of it how should we think his brother a fit husband for us or how should we think that the love may grow continue and increase betwixt his brother and us which ought to be betwixt the husband and the wife You had in our former Letters unto you things that we required you to decypher by all means that you could especially whether the King himself be inclined and bent to all these cruelties and the rooting out of true Religion or whether he be but overruled to the which Article hitherto you have not answered and yet these things might give great light unto us how to direct our actions in the conferences and talks with his Ambassador and we would have you to be earnest with him in that matter of Strozzi praying him frankly and roundly what he meaneth with that great Army of Ships and men of War which hath been kept a long time close and undiscovered to what intent or to what place it should be bent You may say we have the more desire to know his meaning and dealing herein because that of latâ— they of Strozzies Company there have spoiled divers of our Merchants some of their Artillery and Victuals other of their goods and Merchandizes as was accustomed betwixt the two Realms in times past the which kind of dealing is very much contrary to the amity and to such things as by his Ambassador is propounded unto us wherefore as we do go roundly and plainly to work with him to shew flatly that which we do think or doubt hereupon so we pray him with the same flatness and roundness to deal with us for that is the way to make continuance of amity and also increase and may induce us the sooner to come to a further resolution of such things as be required of us The Vidam of Chartres of whom we have great compassion is come into this Realm at whose humble and lamentable suit we have been content to write this Letter to my brother the French King in his favour which you shall deliver with as good words as you may to the French King and require his answer If this our Letter do chance to come to you in Paris or in the way coming from Paris towards England after you have obtained licence of the King to come away by favour of our Letters which we wrote unto him yet if you be not too far on the way or very near the sea-coast we would you should return in Poste or otherwise to the Court to have a direct answer of these Letters except that great and unfeigned danger of your self do move you to keep on your journey In which case you shall commit the doing of this message and receiving of answer to your Secretary whom you shall leave behind so that he be a man able to do this charge Given at Reading the 28 of September 1572. in the fourteenth year of our Reigne T. Smith The Ambassadors Message in three Points THat the King was of necessity for safeguard of his own life forced to cause such execution to be done upon the Admiral and his complices as was done for that he and they had conspired the death of the King of which matter the King was very well able to make a verification and that her Majesty should shortly see by the process of the Admiral now in making and that nothing was meant by the King against the cause of Religion That the King was most earnestly disposed to keep the League That he desired to have the marriage of his brother of Alanzon to proceed and to that end the Queen mother was content to come into the Realm with her son at such place and with such numbers as her Majesty here should allow Answers To the first That although the killing of the Admiral and the rest might probably move her Majestie to think ill thereof and to be right sorry that the King should suffer such an act to be done without order of justice yet her Majestie being advertised from the King that he was forced thereunto for safety of his own life and that thereof her Majestie should see good proof by such a process thereof to be sent to her Majestie as should verifie the same her Majestie is content to suspend her judgement against the King untill by the process she may see the truth and by the Kings further proceedings hereafter for continuance of his Edict for tolleration of Religion she may perceive what to judge of his intention for the cause of Religion To the second her Majestie thanketh the King for his so earnest an offer to continue the amity according to the late League made and doth again assure the King of her mind to keep it for her part so as howsoever the King shall by his deeds shew his affection therein her Majestie will
and children Christians as is now suspected and certified that thereabout it goeth and as some say is Master of Rochel when that is done what it will do and whether it will go further or no and if it do to what place I tell you truly many do doubt Divers of our Merchants resorting that way have found small courtesie at their hands no more then if they had been men with Pyrats This maketh our Merchants that they dare not yet adventure for Burdeaux and to doubt whether they may go thither this year or no. And I would mervellous fain know what manner of assurance you can make from thence Fare you well From Reading the six and twentieth of September 1572. YOu may perceive by her Majesties answer that she will not refuse the enterview nor marriage but yet she cometh near to them tam timido suspenso pede that they may have good cause to doubt The answer you see to de la Mot is addulced so much as may for she would have it so You have a busie piece of work to decypher that which in words is designed to the extremity in deeds is more then manifest neither you shall open the one nor they shall cloak the other The best is we stand I thank God upon our guard nor I trust shall be taken and killed asleep as the Admiral was the greatest matter for her Majestie and our safety and defence is earnestly of us attempted nor yet atchieved nor utterly in despair but rather in hope The Queens Majestie is in marvellous doubt for you she taketh as much care for you as any Prince can do for her Subject and she thinketh none can do what she would have done there as well as you You are happy in the one and her Majestie in the other seeing you are advertised so well hitherto God who hath hitherto delivered you will not yet leave you I doubt and I trust I need not fear I doth me good to see the Princely compassion that her Majestie doth take on the poor Vidame who is escaped by good fortune into England her Majestie hath written for him to the King the Copy I send you you shall do well to press the answer and bring it with you I dare say it will do you good if you can do it â—aeâ— est vicissitudo rerum humanarum haec est communis casus hominum All that be not bloody and Antichristian must needs condole and lament the misery and inhumanity of this time God make it short and send his Kingdom amongst us Fare you well once again the seveâ— and twentieth of September which is removing day to Windsore Yours alwayes assured Tho Smith The Copy of the Queens Majesties Letters to the French King for the Vidam de Charâ—res TReshault trespuissant et tresexcellent Prince nostre trescher et tresaimè bon frere et cousin salut Le Vidam de Chartres est retirè en nostre Royaulme et nous a donne a entendre par un sien escript supplicative la cause de sa venue aâ— nous et requirant de nous nostre favoâ—rable recommendation de son cas enuers vous et pour ce que l'avons troâ—ve de cocur loyal et fidel envers vous desirant tousiours sur toutes choses le tenir en repose et que par toutes occâ—sions que se presentoient non cesse de louer vos royalles virtus comme vostre tres affectionne subject dont en pouvons estre bons tesmoins Nous n'avous voulu faire moins aians compassion de l'estat miserable anquel il se troâ—ve pour lè present que recommander affectueusment a vous sa cause qui nous sâ—mble certes fort lamentable et qui merite secours aiant a celle fin envoyè a nostre Ambassadeur aupres de vous sa requeste qui vous la declarera plus amplement en quoy vous prions trescher tresame bon frere et cousin luy donner bonne et favorable aâ—dience et 〈◊〉 bonne response au fin que avec cela nous pussions comme en avons bon espoir consoler le poure desole Vidam a nous y faire gran plaisir comme scait le createur aâ—quel prions tresh ault tresexcellent trespuissant Prince nostre trescher tresame bon frere cousin vous avoir tousiours a tressainte garde De nostre Chasteaâ— de Windsore le 28 de Septemb. 1672. To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador Resident for her Majestie in France SIr the last Letters of yours by me received were those which yong Mr. Hopton brought hither since which time we have understood by report from Roan that on Thursday was sevennight there was a general slaughter made at Roan of all that could be imagined Protestants so as the very channels of the street did run blood we have heard diversly of Rochel by some that it is sacked by Strozzi by some that it holdeth out and that it is like so to do a long time As to the Ambassadors negociation here with us to seek to perswade us that the King was forced for safety of his own life to cause the execution to be done as it was and that thereof we shall see the proofs by the Admirals process you may imagine how hard a thing it is for us to be so perswaded against all our naturall senses and how they will accord these two jars we know not The Kings Letter first written after the Admirals death doth declare it to be done by manner of sedition and privately by the house of Guise who feared the Admiral and his would pursue against them the avenge for his hurt and the Kings own guard about the Admiral was forced and the King himself driven to hold his guards about him in the Louvre for his own defence and now yet it must needs be notified that the King did for his own surety cause the execution to be done By the dispatch that you shall receive from Master Secretary you shall understand what answer is made to the French Ambassador and upon what sort her Majestie hath forborn to resolve upon the enterview whereof her Majestie hath no misliking if it may appear that the King will forbear from persecuting the cause of Religion ACHE Rome A B Glasis nevertheless it will be very hard to perswade 3lca to like thereof I have imparted to her Majestie two things whereof your wife had in charge to make me privy of From Reading the five and twentieth of September 1572. Yours assuredly William Burleigh To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador Resident for her Majestie in France I will now my Lord Ambassador trouble you with some trifles of mine own leaving other matters to other advertisements I am very desirous to recover a Rider if any worthy the entertainment may be had whether there be any more at liberty that were appertaining to any of the late Lords that were murthered it
1572. Your Lordships to Command Fr. Walsingham To the right Honoâ—rable my very good Lord the Lord Treasurer IT may please your Lordship to understand that B. who hath great conference with B. G. in matters of greatest importance did discover to a friend of his who imparted the same unto me that he learned at his hands that the 19 of this moneth Queen Mother held a secret Councel at which was present onely the Cardinall of Lorain and two others In the which it was debated what course was to be taken for the appeasing of their troubles here And after long deliberation it was concluded That untill such time as England might be kept occupied there could grow no through redress here without hazarding of the whole estate and that therefore it was requisite now to yeild to them of Rochel any reasonable kind of surety they would require as also to other Towns in France that would not yeild And rather then fail to yeild to them so far as to let them have the liberty of their Religion to suffer the Nobility of the Country that inhabit near the Towns to live in the same to keep such Garrisons in the same as they may think fit for their surety with condition that the said Nobility shall deliver some of their children to be Hostages with the King for his assurance that the said Towns shall be kept to his use And amongst others it was agreed that the offers should be made to Count Mango to retire himself to Rochel with condition to yeild his son to be a Pledge These offers they think to be so large as they make full account they will be accepted This thing being done it is then concluded to send under the conduct of the Marquis de Maine 1000 shot which thing shall be done as proceeding from him himself in respect that he is the Queen of Scots kinsman and disavowed by the King who shall land at a place called Aier shall after they have joyned with the Qu. party repair to Edenburgh where Liddington and Grange Kirkaldie have promised to deliver up the Castle unto such as the King shall appoint upon recompence to receive some living here in France there leaving a sufficient Garrison they shall besides fortifie themselvs in the town of Loâ—ghbreton at Brochty besides Dundee at Haymouth And that this being done the Duke of Guyse and Chevalies shal come over with other forces to procure the delivery of the Queen of Scots such of the Queens friends as are in England wil incontinently take Arms who do give out to them here that her party and forces are so great there that having good Leaders munition they shal be able to make their party good enough to deliver the Queen of Scots in despite of her Majesty In the mean time till the King hath compounded with those Towns that now hold out they are resolved that the D. of Chastelrâ—â—lt and the â— of Huntly shall seem to yeild to any composition that the Regent will have them onely to keep out that her Majesty shall send thither no forces in assisting of the Regent which thing they have advertisements from their Ambassador that she hath meaning to do And for the communicating of those matters unto the Queens party there it is determined that Viraque shall depart thither forthwith he shall also have commission to bear the Regent in hand that the King here doth not mislike of the present government there nor that he is chosent Regent and to use all such like speeches as may entertain him for a time untill such things here be setled He shall also have charge to offer him the entertainment of men of Arms to all such young Gentlemen as are serviceable as well to them of one part as to those of the other Other particularities he said he learned of him which he might not utter and were of great consequence The Gentleman to whom this was discovered being a Scot is one whom I do very well credit and for that he is thought to incline towards the Queen of Scots the party above named did deal the more frankly with him and because I thought it necessary for her Majesty to understand so much I thought good to send this Messenger of purpose withall and have promised for his recompence to have 6 pounds 13 shillings 4 pence For that mine own men are not returned I am driven to use him If her Majesty desire to hear often from hence then must there be order taken for the sending back of those I send thither And so leaving c. At Paris the 24 of January 1572. Your Honors to command Fr. Walsingham Viraque is already departed and commanded to use all expedition possible To the right honourable Mr. Francis Walsingham Esquire her Majesties Ambassador in France SIR as Dido said Non ignara mali miser is succâ—rrere disco so I who know what things they be whch Ambassadors do most desire will not let you want that intelligence which I can give you by your man I send you the occurrents of the Scot. By my L. of Worcesters instruction you shal understand what is to be answered to all questions likely to be moved either to you or to him yet that all things might be perfect I have sent you a Peer of my L. Treasurers sent to me because the French Ambassador shewed the â— â—ajesty that the Emperours Master of the Horse who cometh for the Emperesse doth intend to hold the Child himself The Queens Majesty to save money will have my Lord do so too except as in the Instructions The childs name as the Ambassador told her Majesty should have the name of both the Godmothers and so be called Mary Elizabeth so neither shal strive with others for the name This is all I can say for that matter And for your return and successor as much as I could know I wrot to you by your servant Iacomo We have had intelligence lately from Rochel that there was a servant of the late Cardinall Chastillans put to death there for going about and conspiring to betray the town of Rochel and the same as he went to execution confessed that it was he that poisoned the same Cardinal in Eâ—gland whereby it may appear that this design of murdering had the plot laid long before and a man may doubt whether the Queen of Navarre passed out the same way I thank you for your notes which you sent me of the Comet or new Starre but in the placing of it your Astronomers and ours differ exceedingly Yours do place it in the 29 of Piscis and ours in the 7 degree of Taurus so they vary one whole sign and 8 degrees Your printed Book goeth upon it 〈…〉 If any hath more boldly written of it in print I pray you let me see it Our men do not deny but that he riseth in that degree of Piscis or the first of â— but it is one thing to rise with the degree
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 his Brother a League offensive and defensive and for the matters of the Low-Countries we will therein do as before is expressed if the secret aiding may in no sort be accepted by the French King And thus leaving to your discretion how to perswade Monsieur that thâ—s not assenting to the marriage proceedeth not of lack of Love or Good-will towards him but of meer necessity to avoid the just offence of our people you shall use all good perswasions to temper his misliking thereof with the assurance of the continuance of our love towards him in all his fortunes hereafter to follow And now when you shall return from Monsieur to the French King you are for answering the first point to shew our minde thereto with the like Arguments and Reasons as before is contained in that you shall have said to Monsieur which need not here to be repeated in writing And if the French King shall not allow of our foremost offer for our secret aiding of Monsieur in his actions but will refuse the same peremptorily and so procure Monsieur to leave his enterprize for lack of our further yielding then you shall yield to the second afore remembred that we will rather then the enterprize should fail and thereby the King of Spains greatness encrease joyn with the King as is remembred But except Monsieur shall object against the manner of our ayd in secret sort as is before remembred you shall not need to yield ours to offer to Monsieur that second degree nor make any mention thereof for after that being opened and the French King being therewith acqnainted before your access unto him it shall be in vain to stand with the French King upon the offer of the first degree for a secret ayd so as if you shall be urged by Monsieurs answers to fall to the second to yield to an open ayd then you may onely repeat the first to the King and therewith to add that if that manner of ayd shall neither content the French King nor Monsieur then we will assent to joyn with the French King in such manner as shall be found reasonable for us both and for the cause And so our meaning is that you shall if you can possible in this sort put of the marriage with yielding to this latter open sort of aiding if the secret ayd shall not be allowed and therewith you shall declare by this our Answer the other two points for a League offensive and defensive and for a secret accord for the Low Countries to be in a sort answered But for more particular instructions of you how to proceed in these two latter matters you shall have for them both a Commission general for your self and our Ambassador and Sommers to treat therupon and with the said Commission you shall have some other particular instructions such as the short time may yield And whensoever you shall enter to treat thereon after knowledge had from you there shall be more particular matters called to remembrance and sent unto you But now if you shall after all good Reasons used to perswade the staying of the marriage with the offers to joyn with the French King and both with aiding of his Brother and if it be moved to you or otherwise thought reasonable to be by you mentioned to joyn also in the ayding of Dâ—n Anthonio pretending to be the King of Portugal that notwithstanding this your proceeding that the King will yield to none of these but with the marriage as hitherto by his former Answers have appeared he would not you should persist in setting forth the necessities of the Crown of France both presently and for time to come as also you shall confess the like for England to begin timely to abate the King of Sp. greatness and that though there had been never marriage spoken of yea that wheresoever Monsieur may marry in an other place yet it shall prove a great error both in the Frinch King and us to leave the King of Spain to encrease to such greatness as hereafter neither the force of France nor England no nor any that may be confederate with them shall be able to withstand any thing that the King of Spain shall attempt And if these Reasons cannot prevail you shall leave off declaring your great grief that the forbearing of the marriage grounded upon the evident misliking of our subjects should be the cause of the forbearing to do so great a good to Christendom as the conjunction of the King and us might bring though the matter took not place and so you shall end and speedily advertise us of your proceedings Instructions for the treaty of a League offensive and defensive betwixt us and the French King and for other things depending thereupon ELIZABETH R. WHen it shall appear upon your other treating with the K. according to such other instructions as you have that it shal be required and found convenient that there be a League made for a strict Amity between us and the French King and that the same shall be found good for us both in respect of the King of Spains growing overgreat to continue a peaceable neighbor you shal require first that the Treaty made for a mutual defence betwixt the French Kings brother Charles the ninth and us and which also hath been confirmed by a special clause in the Treaty that shall now be newly made and thereupon shall it be considered what other new Covenants that are not already contained in the former Treaty shall be made to make our Amity streighter against any that shall commit any hostile act by invasion of any of our Countries which we now possess or have possessed any time these 20 yeers and to that end you shall move an assent that from henceforth we and the King shall during our lives be united in heart and minde for confirmation of our honors persons states dignities kingdoms and dominions to either of us belonging so as from henceforth we and the King shall be against all persons friends to friends and enemies to enemies notwithstanding any former Leagues or Confederations with any other or notwithstanding any Councels Perswasions or Motions to be made to either of us by any Potentate or person spiritual or temporal to the contrary of the tenour of this League Item You shall Covenant that if any King Potentate or other person shall offend or procure offence to us in our person honor dignity or estate or shall take away or impeach and 〈◊〉 any of our Kingdoms or Countries the French King shall repute and accept the same offence as done to himself or his Countries and shall in like manner with all his power impugn the same as though the offence were made to himself and we also shall be bound in like sort to the French King mutatis mutandis Item It shall be mutually covenanted that all Traytors and manifest Rebels against either of us shall be declared and used as enemies or Rebels of the other
is this day at Provence five leagues besides Chasteau Thiery It is advertised that the Emperour doth by little little amend of his disease having been carried to his Garden to take the ayre but no assurance of his full recovery The Cardinal d Este is returned to Rome having been met with the Duke of Sora the Popes son They do prepare ten Galleys at Naples besides others at Genua to transport the Empress into Spain Prospero Colonna is appointed General of the Men of War which are levied in the Dutchies of Milan and Tuscan There hath been a quarrel betwixt the Spaniards and Gentlemen Millanoises The King of Spain hath been received in Lisbona and held there his estate called Cortes There is a deprivation passed against the Bishop of Guarda for following the partie of Don Anthonio The Abbot of Bisegno Agent for the Catholike King at Rome hath with the Cardinal of Como sollicited the Pope for to intreat the French King to withdraw his brother from the enterprise of Flanders so as the Pope is resolved to send two Legats to the French King to continue the peace between the French King and the Catholike King Onchibli is departed from Constantinople with twenty five Galleys towards Affrica They advertise out of Spain that the Corn doth fail them this Harvest so as they doubt of famine c. Your Honours to Command Henry Cobham A son bon ami Mr. François de Walsingham M Onsieur de Walsingham j'ay une extreme contentement quand la Royne m a voula tant favouriser de vous avoir choisy pour faire ce royage vers le Roy mon Seignieur et frere me faisant bien par cela cognoistre les effectes de ses bonnes voluntés me comblant de tant d'obligations que je ne m'en pouroy jamais retirer si ce n'est par le continuel desir et inviolable affection que je ay de luy faire service Et ce suistres-aise de m'estre trouve y a propos que n'estant que fort peuesloigne de votre chemni vous me passies veoir sans perie de beaucoup de temps vous priant que se suit La Fere en Tartinois ou je seray aujourdhuy a coucher et croyez que vous seres le tres-bien venu comme iceluy que tient l'un de primiers bieux apres de celle que je honore et estime plus que Princesse que soit sus la terre et que tiens pour l'un de mes mieux amis Vous attendant en bon devotion de supplieray le Createur qu'il vous ayd Monsieur de Walsingham en sa tes Saincte et digne garde a Chasteau Thiery le dernier jour de Iuliel 1581. Votre bien affectione ami François To the right honorable Sir Francis Walsingham SIR The sending of this away by Mr. Mills to you moveth me to accompany him with a few lines We here have nothing to write unto you about the Negotiation but doe now from this day forward look to hear from you whereupon I think her Majestie will have some matter to be occupied withall VVe hear nothing of Monsieurs proceedings but the Spanish Ambassador warneth that the Prince of Parma is so strong and so bent to fight with Monsieur as he pretendeth that at the least Monsieur will forbear to adventure his own person He did yesterday by her Majesties appointment speak at Leicester House with my Lord of Ley and me to expostulate for her Majesties refusal to speak with him requiring to know the cause and being answered That we doubted not but that he oftentimes had been made privy that it was for that her Majestie had not received any Letters from the King Catholique for her satisfaction in the case of Invasion in Holland c. He saith that he never promised to procure Letters from the King neither was he ever required of her Majesties behalf but the Speeches were alwaies delivered to him that her Majestie would not speak with him untill she might be satisfied of those things in the case of Holland but saith it was not required that he should send to the King for any such satisfaction and yet he did for his own part write to the King and upon answer from the King he did let her Majestie understand that the Collection of the Souldiers the Arming and Victualing of the Ships and men were wholly by the directions of the Pope whom he could not deny and he had also cause to think that her Majestie meant not that he should procure Letters from the King for that Mr. Wilks said that her Majestie would send a Gentleman to the King or else write to him by the way of trade And for confirmation hereof he said that he heard that a kinsman of the Earl of Arundels and Master of the â— whom we took to be Tilney was named to go into Spain By the way he saith that you told him in presence of the Councel at Nonsuch that her Majestie had no League with the King of Spain but the States of the Low Countries I told him I was assured he mistook you for you might say that the League which was the greatest was with the Emperor Charls and so with the King of Spain in respect of the Dutchy of Burgundy and the Low-Countries but he flung away after his hot manner Now to end these matters for the discovery of a multitude of Popish subjects I think Mr. Beal writeth to you of a number of choice persons who being at least but fined upon that que Dam noble wil yield a great sum of money My Lord Grey and Tyrwick were about a Peace the 29 of July finding my Lord Deputies forces ready to enter one way and Sir Nicholas Malt by another way offering to my Lord Deputy to abide his Order for the matters between Odonell and the whole Countrie he hath wasted pretending to set upon Odonels son begotten of Tirleghes wives daughter which he had by Mac Connel by Ashton that came from Ireland we secretly understand that the new Earl Arrig with a great number are determined to keep Darbique from his intentions against the Religion and the King doth secretly assent thereto whether Ashton be deceived time will prove The King hath sent to Seffade 200 souldiers to enable him to compel his people to answer to Justice upon demand of England and great promises are made in the Kings behalf to keep amity with her Majestie And thus almost wearied I end expecting shortly to hear of your progress in your Ambassage which they there may enterprise a regress or a recess Her Majestie is in very good health thanked be God Greenwich where I am tyed by your absence and yet do little good Augâ—st 6. 1581. Your assured friend Will. Burleigh To her Majestie August 6. IT may please your most excellent Majestie I have imparted in my Letters directed to my Lord Treasurer the substance of that which passed
she should repair hither during 〈…〉 my being here to the end he might be informed what hope there was 〈◊〉 be had of the marriage without the 〈◊〉 he saw that his brothers enterprise would throw him into a Warr whereof 〈◊〉 was to bear the only 〈◊〉 Whereupon I did let her understand that 〈◊〉 the marriage I could say no â—ore to her then that which I had 〈◊〉 both unto her and to the Duke her son And as touching the doubt 〈◊〉 â—he King and she conceived 〈◊〉 he should be 〈◊〉 to bear the 〈◊〉 of the Wars alone I shewed 〈◊〉 that if it pleased her to call to 〈◊〉 the offer that had been made by the Ambassador resident and Mr. 〈◊〉 as also renewed by me both unto her and to the Duke both the King and she 〈◊〉 have cause to rest satisfied for that the said League proceeded and the other secret League for the matter of the Low-Countries there was such remedy offered as 〈◊〉 the King 〈◊〉 she 〈◊〉 have no â—ause to 〈◊〉 I did 〈◊〉 let her understand that the question was Whether it were 〈◊〉 to take some course for the resisting of the King of Spains greatness 〈◊〉 being confessed I shewed her it was then fit to consider whether the same might not be done without marriage seeing the said marriage 〈◊〉 to be accompanied with so many difficulties as there could be no present resolution taken 〈◊〉 whereunto she answered that there could not be so great a◠〈◊〉 for the maintenance of the association they were now to enter in by League as there was by marriage For said she the same 〈◊〉 that moved the 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 to proceed to the conclusion of the 〈◊〉 which is the misliking of the people in respect of the 〈◊〉 that the 〈…〉 bring withall may also draw her to leave off the association and some 〈…〉 that the Crown hath always carâ—ied unto Spain Whereupon â— decâ—ared â—nto her 〈◊〉 it was hard to make sound friendship which I thought might be performed best two waies The one to shew how little cause she 〈◊〉 to affect 〈◊〉 the other to set down before her such reasons as might 〈◊〉 the King and her to believe that the 〈◊〉 proceeding the same should be sincerely observed on her 〈…〉 unless there should be given some great cause by 〈…〉 contrary For the first I shewed her that the King of Spain 〈◊〉 long after that her Majestie did enter into the possession of the 〈◊〉 being solicited in a kind of sort by her Majesties Ambassador sent 〈◊〉 him to renew such Treaties as had passed between the House of 〈◊〉 and the Crown of England he could not be drawn to assenâ— thereto since which time as he was unwilling to renew the said Treaties so hath he not slackened to yeeld such fruites of enmitie against her Majestie as were publiquely known to the world as might appear by his Ministers dealing in furthering of the marriage between the Duke of Norfolk and the Queen of Scots the practising of the Rebellion in the North his nourishing since that time and maintaining of those that were then the principal Rebels being retired out of England And lastly the attempt of Ireland coloured with the Visor of the Popes Authority These things being then considered I did leave it unto her Majestie to judge what cause the Queen my Mistriss had to seek to reconcile her self or to trust Spain Touching the reasons that might induce them to think her Majestie would inviolably observe the intended league First she was to understand that the Amitie that we made most account of was that which this Crown had with the house of Burgundy and not with Spain and therefore those Countries being alienated from Spain and now reduced by a composition between the Duke and the States of that Country under the Government of her son and traffique being there established whereby there remaineth there commonly Goods appertaining to her Majesties subjects to the value neer of half a Million I did leave that unto her Majestie to judge whether it were not a good caution for the performance of that which should be promised on her Majesties behalf Secondarily If that would not serve to remove the diffidence then might there be Hostages given interchangeably on both parties whose promises her Majestie would not violate for the greatest kingdom in Europe Lastly I shewed her that I doubted not but that the Duke her son would become cautionary for the due observation of the same I prayed her then as I had laid before her such reasons as might induce them to stand more assured of the Queen my Mistresses performance of the said League then it seemed they were so I might without offence put the Queen my Mistress to stand in doubt of them First It was known that divers great personages of this Realm were more affected to the Amity of Spain then England whom the world thought would omit no means that they might put in execution to dissolve or rather to hinder before the Conclusion of the said Association Secondly Spain challengeth as of right in respect of assistance given in the time of the Civil war when the Count of Aremberg was sent into this Realm to that purpose to have the Amitie of that Crown preferred before England Lastly The consent in Religion between Spain and France which shall not lack any perswations that the Pope and other Catholike Princes can use to dissolve or hinder the intended Amitie may give just cause to the Queen to be doubtful of the performance on their behalfs of the said Association then any reason that may be alleadged on the other side Concerning the Queen my Mistris I prayed her that if the King and she did finde it necessary to abridge the King of Spains greatness and could confidently enter into the intended Association to consider that there were two occasions privately offered that required speedy resolution The one the assisting of Don Anthonio the other the prosecuting of the enterprise in Flanders for the first I shewed her that the Queen my Mistriss had assented to the preparing of certain ships with condition that the King her son would concur in the action or that she might be assured by the intended League to be assisted in case Spain in respect of the said support should attempt any thing against her Now forasmuch as the King and she seem to be resolute not to enter into the League without marriage I saw apparently that the enterprise which was privately to be put in execution or else would privately serve to no purpose would be quite overthrown Touching the enterprise of Flanders so honorably attempted by the Duke her son tending so greatly to the benefit of this Crown when the States shall see the said League not to take place whereby it was not likely to be accompanied with success that otherwise it might be the League going forword it would be no less discontentment to them then encouragement to their
sent 2. Whether her Majestie can yield to the support of the 6000 men named in the Treaty defensive for the space of four moneths at her charges and if we be by the Commissioners pressed to assent that her Majestie shall bear the charges any longer time then four months how farr forth she will yield in that case and if they shall require greater numbers then are above specified then to what numbers we shall yield and for how long time to be continued at her Majesties charges 3. If in case the said Commissioners not content with our answer shall insist still upon joynt Forces to be yielded to the Princes Confederates as by them was propounded we desire to know how far forth we shall yield therein and whether her Majestie in that behalf will be content to contribute a third or fourth part either in men or money and whether it shall not be meet to have the said joynt forces to be limitted by a certain number as also to a time in which they shall be imployed A Note of such things as are to be resolved by her Majestie touching the secret League 1. WHat summ of money her Majestie will be content to contribute and in what sort openly or secretly 2. To what summ we shall press the King to yield unto in proportion of that summ which her Majestie shall be pleased to supply whether double or trebble more then her Highness shall be content to contribute 3. How long her Majestie will be pleased to contribute the said summ and upon what considerations whether by way of loan or otherwise and if by way of loan what caution she will require and whether it were not meet to covenant with him to procure the bonds of the States ad majorem cautelam within some convenient time for the repayment of the same 4. Whether her Majestie could not best like that this secret Treaty between the King and her should pass only by mutual promise contained in privat Letters under their own hands To the Lord Treasurer IT may please your Lordship to advertise her Majestie that as by our last Letters to you of the 21 of this present we advertised of the Kings and Monsieurs consents that a League should be treated of without speaking of the marriage So the same day Messieurs Villquier la Mott Bellieur Brisson Pinart and Du. Uray coming to us from the King said that his Majestie desiring much the Queens Majesties amity and to have the same augmented by Treaties by marriage and by all other good means and finding some impediments in the matter of the marriage he had sent them to confer with us about such other means as might best serve to encrease the amity And so after divers speeches used to them again to signifie his H. reciproque inclination in that behalf We entred into talk of League defensive remembring the last made at Bloys in King Charles his time which they said if we found not to be sufficient it should be altered or enlarged And that they thought it good for both the Realms to add an Article to it to meet with dissentions and disorders committed on the Sea whereof they had heard very many Somewhat they also said touching a Staple to be established at Roan as is mentioned in the said Treaty but after they had heard good reasons which moved against the occasion of that Article they said little to it but earnestly desired that other for the maintenance of good intelligence and sure Trade between the Realms and Subjects Then something was also propounded for a League offensive where it was also remembred that there were two kinds of Leagues offensive the one where two Princes or more doe combine themselves against another Prince by name the other in general terms for conservation of Estates And for as much as France and England were at this time in amity with all Princes that League for conservation of Estates was thought but to be Treated of and argued and so no Prince could have just cause to be openly offended therewith And so without further entring into particularities untill our next meeting they departed On Wednesday the twentithird they came again and having shewed their Commission it was propounded That for a League offensive they said it was to be first accorded that either Princes should be friend to friends and enemy to enemies after invasion made upon either of them And for a second it was propounded That if either of the Princes Confederate should be assaâ—led the Prince assailed should be bound thereof to advertise the other Prince his Confederate who should send streight to the Prince that hath assailed to warne him to cease his Invasion and to repaire forthwith the wrongs done or else in case of refusal that the said Prince Confederate will denounce Warre to him that did assaile as he shall doe indeed if the Invader will not retire and repaire the wrongs within seven weeks This motion being found indifferent for both parts I the Secretary delivered to them certain other Notes taken out of other Treaties which they said they would answer at our next meeting Your Lordship doth herewith receive the copy thereof Here it was propounded by them That if either of the Princes Confederate should be invaded by another Prince and that the Prince invaded shall require his Confederate to declare open Warr and to enter into open acts of hostility with him against the Invader as bound by League after due admonition and summons made who shall bear the charge of the Forces of the Prince required whether shall he bear them alone or the Prince requiring to bear a portion thereof according to his quality and greatness These things being very considerable we deferred to answer them untill our next meeting and so did provide to answer as your Lordship shall see by notes sent herewith Beseeching your Lordship to procure her Majesties resolution and answer to us and that by her Highness direction and warrant these and other points that shall be thought meet may be resolved upon to be agreed unto here to come to an end without unnecessary spending of time and charges The next day the 24. whilst we looked for them according to appointment they sent us word that upon occasion of Letters which the King had received that day from his Ambassador in England the King had deferred their coming untill the next day and then they came and said VVe might well remember that from the beginning of this Negotiation and long before the King desired nothing more then the marriage which would bring with it all other good things for Leagues and streight bonds of amity such as her Majestie would desire and that since their being with us his Majestie had received Letters from his Ambassador Mr. Mannisiere on the 24. and another the 25. dated the 22. of this month by the which he gave the King very great hope of the marriage upon speeches proceeding from her Majestie in a long
they promise to themselves great support both from the Pope and Spain And yet have we neither power to provide Scotland nor to prevent that the greatness of Spain may no way hurt us yea rather such as have been perswaders both in the one and the other have reaped instead of thanks displeasure Paris September 3. Fr. Walsingham The substance of the Speeches that passed privatly between Queen Mother and me the Secretary in her Garden at the Teilliers the third of August 1581. 1. THe principal matters I dealt in with her Majestie in this conference was first to shew her whereon the stay of the ships in England prepared for Portugal proceeded 2. The causes that moved her Majestie to conceive that the King was not so forward now in seeking to prevent the Spanish greatness as by former overtures he seemed to be 3. That it was strange that the Duke her son dealing in a cause so many waies profitable for the Realm and honourable for himself should be so coldly assisted as he was 4. And lastly I prayed her that she would be a mean to the King that we might proceed in the Treaty considering the stay thereof grew upon no such cause as ought to hinder so profitable a matter for both Crowns For the first after I had let her understand how willing her Majestie would have been to have satisfied her request contained in her last Letter delivered by Mannesiere touching the said preparations I did acquaint her with the whole course of the proceeding in that cause and did shew unto her that Don Anthonio had no cause as it seemed she was informed to find himself agrieved with her Majestie neither for the stay of the ships nor for any charges that he had been at about the same for touching the stay that grew from hence he had rather cause to mislike with the King her son then with the Queen my Mistress for that the same aid was promised conditionally so that the said King would concur in the action which he refusing to do otherwise then in a naked sort by recommending the same to her Majestie it appeareth manifestly that the stay hath grown from hence and as for the charges I shewed her that whereas it was given out that he should sustain 100000 l. loss at the least I was well assured that it would not amount to much above 10000 l. To this she replyed That the King had already made appear unto the world how ready he was to assist Don Anthonio by sending of 500 men the last year to Vienna and by the 500 men sent this Spring to the Isle Tercera and of late by the four ships dispatched from Burdeaux under Captain Carlo to the said Isles which saith she doth shew manifestly how willing the King is to assist him though he would be loath to enter into any such open action as might tend to the violation of the Treaties between him and the King of Spain without he were assured that the marriage would take place Thereunto I replyed that the King might deal therein with much better colour and less danger then the Queen my Mistress for the first in respect of her pretence to the Crown of Portugal for the second for that the Subjects of this Crown have not so much goods in Spain as her Majesties have besides they might otherwise be relieved for that the King of Spain his Subjects both Spaniards and Portugals have great store of goods here Notwithstanding these Arguments she insisted still upon an earnest request that it would please the Queen to be content to suffer the ships to proceed in their voyage Then I asked her whether she could assure her Majestie that if any such arrest should happen to the King for the indempnity for her Subjects would do the like here as also otherwise to concur with her in common defence in case the King of Spain should attempt any thing against her For said I if her Majestie without some assurance should be thrown into Warr with the King of Spain and have her Subjects goods arrested and after should complain unto you of the same and desire the Kings aide you might with good reason answer her That you did not otherwise recommend the cause unto her then by referring to her good judgement to do therein as might be without the prejudice of her self or of her estate and so concluded with her that unless it would please the King by some particular Letter of his to assure the Queen that in case any such inconvenience might happen he would repute it done to himself and jovn with her in common defence if any such thing should be attempted against her Whereunto she answered That if the marriage might take place the King would very willingly assent thereto or any other thing her Majestie could desire but otherwise she thought he could very hardly be brought to yield thereunto I did then shew her that for some difficulties the marriage was accompanied withall it was thought meet by the King the Duke and her own assent that it should be suspended for a time and in the mean time the Treaty might be proceeded in which might yield a mutual assurance of common defence to both Crowns For said I if this mischief which is like to ensue the Spanish greatness should not receive present remedy it may grow uncurable and therefore to have it depend upon the marriage which in respect of the difficulties cannot so easily grow to a present resolution It seemeth that the proceeding in this case may be compared to a Phisitian that being moved to yield some present remedy to a dangerous disease that can abide no delay of time deferreth the same untill he may receive some druggs out of India or some other far part To this she said the fault was in her Majestie for that the matter depending only upon her assent all other things being agreed on the remedy might easily be put in execution And so fell into some long speech both of the desire she had that the same might take the great benefits that might grow thereby both to her Majesties own Realm and person as also to all Europe and the full assurance that the Duke her son did make considering how farrforth her Majestie had proceeded therein that she would not now frustrate the assured hope that he had received of the effectuating of that he had desired above any thing in the world And because said she there dependeth so many good things upon the conclusion thereof the King my son hath thought good by his Ambassador to press her Majestie to some present resolution therein After I had put her in remembrence of such difficulties as I had laid before her in former speech to shew that the marriage could not receive present resolution I did also let her understand that it was a thing that was to grow from above and had his hour appointed before the which it could not take place and therefore the