Challenges But yet she must now being a Widow and sole Governor of her Kingdom of Scotland in these causes have the presence of some of her Nobilitie or Counsellours of the Scotish Nation at whose coming she would confirm the said Treatie This was not much misliked of us Shortly some of her Nobilitie and Counsellours came to her from Scotland and then being eâ—tsoons required in most friendly manner to be remembred of her promise by the Ambassador having Commission so to do and offering to deliver unto her the reciprocal of our part under our Great-Seal it was again deferred until she should her self return into Scotland which she said should shortly be and then she would not fail to perform it well though these delays were not convenient to nourish friendship but rather to ingender suspicion with some other practises then discovered yet in respect of our natural desire to have her come into her own Kingdom and then to live neighbourly with us we forbore to shew any great offence for those great delays And when she returned into Scotland we eâ—tsoons sent to her and demanded the same again with offer of all manner of good friendship which being again deferred upon pretence she was not fully settled in her Realm we forbore also for that time though not without great cause of misliking and then in the mean season following notwithstanding many good offices used on our part by sending sundry times both Messages and Ambassadors to visit her to offer unto her all good offices It chanced that a young Nobleman our near Kinsman brought up in our Court named the Lord Darlie was secretly intised to pass into Scotland upon other pretences for private suits for Lands and such like And there without our knowledge according to the same former practises whereof we were not altogether ignorant though we would not seem so jealous of the same he was suddenly accepted by that Q. to be affied in contract of Marriage with her as one thought to be a meet person to work troubles in our Realm for her advantage yea contrary to the advice of the wiser sort of her Councel and consequently contrary to our will and liking was married to her in all haste And after that it was there devised to make him an instrument to work danger to us and our Estate by sundry practises not only with certain of our subjects but also with some forein persons as far forth as the power of the same Q. and her said husband being our borne Subject could extend In which their doings sundry their practises were discovered to us and made frustrate And yet after that nevertheless when the said Queen had a Son of that marriage we were of nature moved to set aside all unkindnesses and did send thither an Ambassador a person of honour the Earl of â—edford to assist the Christening of her Son to whom we also were Godmother At which time unkindness being known to be between her and her husband although he had grievously offended us we having compassion of the unnatural discord betwixt them and fearing some event thereof caused our said Ambassador at that time to use all the good means he could with her to repair the same which he was not able to do such was become her misliking of her husband although in him on the other side as we heard say was found all manner of lowliness meet for him to recover her favour And then also we required her to perform that which in Justice and Honor she was bound to do and had so often delayed which was to confirm the Treatie afore concluded sending unto her at the same time under our hand and seal the reciprocal for our part But then she began to alledge a matter not before heard of which was that from some words in a certain part of the Treaty it was doubted that she might be prejudiced in such right as she pretended to be due to her next after us and the children of our bodie whereof we being advertised caused it to be answered that if there were any such words we were content they should be rased out of the Treaty and she should not be moved to confirm any such Clause But that answer being not accepted which was very strange and unreasonable a new matter of delay was invented pretending that she would send some of hers shortly into England to treat with us thereupon and so finish that which we did demand vvhereof indeed nothing ever follovved vvell although vve had these great causes of miscontentation as indeed indifferent persons may well perceive and did novv clearly see vvhereunto these delays did tend very ungrateful and not vvithout danger if vve should not regard our self vvell yet vvhen a miserable calamitie ensued shortly after to her that the King her husband vvith vvhom of late she vvas grievously offended vvas cruelly strangled and horriblie murthered and the principal murtherer named the Earl Bothewell having a vertuous lavvful vvife of a great house living because suddenly her husband being first immediately upon the murther committed and directly and openly imputed to him advanced by her to high degrees of honor and estates of lands vvho nevertheless vildly misused her to the great grief of all her subjects and friends vve vvere stricken vvith invvard compassion of this her great extream miseries and infamie vvhich vvas spread upon her and sent to her special Messengers not then to request her as vve had done before to confirm the Treaty but to have regard unto her honour and to relinquish such an odible person being the known murtherer of her husband an unlawful person to be married to her and generally so evil a man in all vices as he had the common name to excel all others in iniquitie wherein no advice of ours could prevail But in the end he being hated of all her Estates and seeking by force to subdue them that intended to prosecute the Murtherers was forced to flie the Realm And leaving her lamentably in the field desolate she was conducted from thence to a place of restraint where she refused to renounce the said Murtherer whilest she was thereby in present danger to have her life taken away from her by furie of her Nation as she well knoweth We by speedy Messages and other kind of earnest means used towards them that were most irritated against her saved her life A benefit such as she never received the like of any worldly creature and full glad we were that God gave us such power and disposition of mind to bestow so great a benefit of her who nevertheless had offered us the greatest worldly injuries that could be devised It followed that when she had found means to escape to her libertie whereof we were very glad she sell again by Gods suffering into a second calamitie as dangerous as the former for having attempted by force to overcome the party that adhered to her son that was then crowned and accepted King by the States
Almains the King can besiege neither Rochel nor any other Town for the Frenchmen are not fir for the keeping of Artillery nor to make the body of the battel of footmen The King doth send into Germany to see if he can appease the Almains as also to procure succours if he shall need them He hath received at their hands many a churlish answer and notwithstanding without respect had of the difference of their degrees he for beareth not to woo them The nineteenth of this moneth there arrived here the Bishop of Valences Secretary out of Polonia who giveth them great hope of the Election of Monsieur and yet some part of his tale giveth men cause to judge that there is no great reason so to think for that he saith by the reason of the plague that there reigneth the Nobility to whom the election appertaineth have not yet assembled so that all this hope seemeth to be grounded upon some particular conference that the Bishop hath had with some of the said Electors who perhaps when the matter shall come to through debating will change their opinion Men of judgement here that know that Countrey do think that if the Bishop of Valence had had a million of gold accompanied with his eloquence to be stow amongst them he might then be able to do somewhat but otherwise they think that eloquence without treasure will gain no Kingdom The Venetians of late have taken four French ships and have put some of them to torture to make them confess the colouring of certain Turkish goods as which news the King was very much offended and therefore hath given them leave of Marseilles to use all means of revenge From Antwerp they write that the Duke of Alva by the benefit of the last frost hath taken certain Towns in Holland which thing is not altogether believed for that the Ambassador here hath received no letters for confirmation of the same The news of the Earl of Morton to be chosen Regent Boughan and the Lords of Lougâ—leuin to have the Government of the King doth very much mislike them and therefore her Majestie hath cause the more to like of it And so leaving to trouble your Honour any further at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the two and twentieth of December 1572. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and his very good Lord the Earl of Leicester MY very good Lord I had very well hoped that the reasons for my return would have countervailed any that Mr. Carew could alledge for his stay I forbear to express my grief for that I am somewhat in hope some other shall be choâ—en that shall not slip his head out of the collar I beseech your Lordship therefore to continue your assistance in that behalf Touching the hope of having Rochel by composition the wind is come about they being now perswaded that there is no way to have it but by force whatsoever her Majestie saith to the contrary they cannot here but believe that they of Rochel receive encouragement from her Majestie to hold out The Switzers as I am given to understand have concluded at a late Diet held by them to give no succour this way which falleth out contrary to their way Those people are not so gross but that they foresee the end that the late accident here tendeth to I would others whom it toucheth as nearly would so think The late election of the Regent in Scotland doth altogether miscontent them here and some threatnings are given out that it shall not so long stand for good for that the same passed not with the content of both parties but onely by the choice of one faction So leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the two and twentieth of December 1572. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh STeward being made acquainted with the contents of your Lordships Letters telleth me that 9 meaneth to stand upon the denial and therefore requested me with all diligence to dispatch this messenger and in his name 3 to deny also if any question shall be moved in that behalf That Davison never propounded any such matter notwithstanding he desireth that the ship may stay at 2 â—â— 6 ry 9 or 10 days that if upon better consideration reason shall move him to alter his opinion he may take the benefit thereof if necessity shall force him thereto He willeth me further to advertise your Honour that 9 meaneth to send a Gentleman expresly with full mind unto Davison with order to communicate the same from him to 3 to whom he desireth that there may be credit given I perceive by them that they cannot tell well what to resolve until there be conference had with â— if they mean not to take profit of the ship I have taken order with them to send one to the Port to cause him to depart Because your Lordship is sometimes absent from the Court I thought good to send your Lordship the Copy of the Letter I write to Master Secretary besides the contents whereof I learn that Monsieur D'Aux is stoln away from Constantinople and is presently retired to Ragusa where he remaineth the cause of his departure from thence is unknown unto the King who is very much offended withal He hath expresly sent a messenger unto him to will him upon his allegiance to return unto Constantinople and to continue his charge there Some do gâ—ess that the cause of his departure from thence was for that he feared that the King would take some order for the murthering of him there as suspected of Religion The Cardinal of Lorrain hath took upon him before his departure from Rome to promise the Pope that the King here should enter into the League which thing is thought not fit at this time until the King hath appeased his troubles at home It is thought that one chief cause of the Duke of Savoys coming tendeth to make some complot against Geneva as also to conclude some straiter amity then heretofore hath been between this Crown and Spain the means whereof is thought to be the marriage of Monsieur and the King of Spains daughter They seem here to be no less sorry for the E. of Derby then for D. Chasteirault what moveth them so to be I know not Though there hath grown some alteration in her Majesties resolution touching my return by the choice of Mr. Carew yet I hear there lacketh no care in your Lordship to find out some other to supply the room for the which I have most just cause to render unto your Lordship most humble thanks And thus having nothing else to impart unto your Lordship I most humbly take my leave At Paris the two and twentieth of December 1572. Your Honours to command F. Walsingham SIr the day after Monsieur Mannesires arrival which was the 23 of this
do understand were by him shewed to the Lord of Buckhurst in writing as followeth The first Article of their demand was to understand both very speedily and certainly of the truth of our firm resolution to marry To which you may constantly answer that as the Lord of Buckhurst hath already said so are we resolved for the benefit of our Realm and contentation of our Subjects to marry with some person of Kingly blood and quality meet for us and our Countrey and that we are free from all manner of impediments to marry where we shall please And because that we perceive that notwithstanding the like answer hath been made in our name by some other who hath of late time earnestly required to know our mind in this case yet it is doubted by sinister reports that we have not a resolute mind to marry but that we have a disposition rather to hear of motions and suits for Marriage with Princes and great Estates then finally to accept any of them how honourable or reasonable soever the conditions might be that should be offered Therefore you shall in times convenient and as you shall be by some objections provoked say that we are very sorry that our former dealings in like cases of Marriage moved to us from other Princes hath not been better understood on our behalf then it seemeth they have been whereby some prejudice is grown to make more doubtfulness to be conceived in our Answers then we mean For the alteration of which untrue conceptions we cannot but generally answer except it were particularly remembred with vvhat Prince moving matter of marriage to us we did deal doubtfully And therefore you shall say that it is not unknown to the world for how many Kings Princes and Estates motions of marriage hath been made to us and if the same were well considered and our answers from time to time truly known certainly there was no cause to mislike the same though the motions took no place neither could any of the parties think themselves touched in honour by this though their desires took no effect In the beginning of our Reign that is not unknown how vve had no disposition of our own nature to marry no otherwise then it is manifestly known that vvhen the King our dear Father reigned and many times pressed us earnestly to marry nor vvhen in the late King our Brothers time the like vvas renevved unto us even for such as then presently vvere in real possession of Kingdoms vvhen vve lived but in a private state as a daughter or as a sister of a King yet could vve never induce our mind to marry but rather did satisfie our self with a solitary life If also it be considered vvho they vvere that in the first part of our Reign motioned marriage unto us and hovv inconvenient such a match vvas both for our self for matter of conscience and for discontentation of our people as then the time vvas vve doubt not but vve might challenge to our selves some praise in that vve yielded not thereto vvhen all other vvorldly respects of honour wealth and greatness besides the worthiness of the person were evident to have provoked us thereto But therein and in all other motions of marriage following our answers were such as if they were known with their circumstances we would not doubt but to have a general allowance and commendation for our sinceritie in dealing as now it seemeth that the world which commonly erreth in such reports hath also erred in this and sundry other things touching us which time we doubt not shall make manifest for truly whilest we continued as it were settled by natural disposition in a determination not to marry we did so also plainly answer all persons and required that the motions might be stayed wherewith if the parties or their Ministers would not be satisfied but would continue rather still their motions what default was this in us Yea it is very true that some parties being answered by our own mouth and that deliberately and frequently yet would they not accept the same for a final answer wherein as we could not but esteem their affection very great towards us so truly did we give them no new cause to hope of any change of our mind to marriage Nevertheless after some course of years passed we confess that the state of our Realm the continual urgent and frequent solicitations not only of our Counsellours to whom we alwaies think meet to give ear but also of the whole Estates of our Subjects being many times assembled in our Parliament did stir us to some further consideration by the weight of their reasâ—â—s then naturally of our self we had been induced unto And therefore we yielded thus far to their importunitie that for such great necessities concerning the universal state of our Realm as were plainlie laid before us we would not refuse to hear of any honourable motions to be made to us for any person of a Royal blood that might be meet for us and our Realm and that we would commend our heart to be directed by Almighty God to follow that which might be to the comfort of our loving Subjects And this mind we did continue and did so far proceed as reasonablie we might with our honour and with regard to the estate of our Policie And howsoever the world may mis-judge of prolongation of such matters by us certainlie the same was not of any intent in us to continue the same without purpose to conclude But such were the terms and difficulties in some points necessarilie to be provided as the lack of satisfaction of us therein was the onelie cause to us known of the prolongation All this we find meet at length to impart unto you to the end that you may also in like manner thereby with truth satisfie the hard opinion that as iâ— seemeth is conceived of us because it is seen that many suits hath been made to us and by great Estates for marriage and none hath taken effect And as heretofore of late years the solicitation of our loving Subjects generallie did induce us for their sakes to hearken to motions of marriage and to incline our selves thereto So may you for more assurance of our firm determination to marrie affirm to them that have judged doubtfullie of us that we do now indeed find in our own judgement upon good respects the motions of our people not only necessary for them our Realms and Dominions but also convenient for our selves so as a person may be offered to us agreeable for our honour and meet for the state and pollicie of our Kingdoms And thus much may fully satisfie for justification of our doings against sinister conceptions and also for a certainty for our determination being accompanied with a further resolution growing of our judgement otherwise then aforetime The second points is to know whether now that we have perceived by the Lord of Buckhurst the good disposition of the King and the Queen Mother
and so of late in respect of this imploying of him have taken upon me to assure him that he shall receive some comfortable words from her Majestie and therefore I am to desire your Lordship to move her Majestie therein The 29 of March the Archbishop sent one of his men to me willing me to send some trustie servant of mine to whom from time to time he might communicate the Spanish Enterprize and so gave me knowledge thereof between whom passed this speech following After ordinary salutations done I shewed him that your Lordship willed me to signifie unto him that you had written to the Queens Majestie in his behalf and that you hoped shortly to receive some answer and that after receipt had thereof you would not fail to advertise him Further that you willed him to deal plainly with you as you for your part minded to deal honourably with him and that if it pleased him to advertise your Lordship of any thing either by word of mouth or by writing that you promised of your honour to to keep the same with all secresie and that you offered your self most ready to pleasure him in any thing that you could do for him I thank my Lord Ambassador quoth he in that it pleaseth his Lordship thus honourably to deal with me and if that by his good means I may be brought into my Princess's favour and enjoy my living I should think my self most bound unto him and besides make him privie of all Stewkleys practises The onely cause of my coming out of Spain was to obtain license to return into my Countrey with my Princess's favour if it might be and to â—schew the name of a Traytor although one Huggins whom for certain unseemly words he used against Mr. the Queens Majesties Ambassador I reprehended hath written divers Letters to Master Secretarie Cecil and the rest of the Councel and so incensed them against me as that they have me in great suspicion After this he asked me whether I knew if any should be sent into Spain about this matter I told him I knew not Yes quoth he your Lordship told him so I answered that it might well be so but that I knew nothing thereof Well saith he it is more then time that she did send both for that the Queens Majestie hath many Traytors in Ireland of the Irish men and English Souldiers there and also because the King of Spain doth what he can to win the French Kings Brother on his side And surely saith he if the match go not forward between her Majestie and Monsieur it is to be feared that he will joyn with the King of Spain in that enterprize I told him that the common report was here that Mounsieur did concur in all things with the King and that the King himself had made such Protestations of Amitie and Friendship towards the Queens Majestie as that he in respect of his honour would not nor any of his Subjects for fear of his displeasure durst not attempt any thing to infringe the same Well saith he I beseech God they may long continue in Amitie In the mean time I will remain here as one not known until I know her Majesties pleasure If I might go into my Countrey with her good leave and license I doubt not but what I could do much good there for that the most part of the Nobility are of some affinity with me and will I am assured be much ruled by my counsel If I cannot obtain this benefit at her Majesties hands after I have dispatched my business here I will return into Spain where I have been most honourably entertained at the Kings hands having had during the time of my abode there besides two two thousand Ducats for my annual pension sometimes one hundred Ducats sometimes two hundred Ducats and sometimes three hundred Ducats when the Court did remove And to this end saith he have I left four of my train at Nantes in Brittain with some part of my goods to the end that if I go into England I might send for them hither if not I might take them with me when I go into Spain He told me further that Fitzmorice ' s son was at Morles in Brittain that Stewkley had sent one out of Spain to learn what he did there and to discredit him if it were possible That the Duke D'alva hath offered thirty thousand Ducats for the Earl of Northumberlands ransome And so fearing that I have over troubled your Honour I most humbly take my leave From Paris the fourth of April 1571. Your Lordships to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester MAdam de Mâ—vie desired me to recommend unto your Lordship the Petition of her Daughter hoping by your good means unto her Majestie there shall be no deliverie made of her without her special consent in respect of the interest she hath in her in right of a Mother the cause of her staying there being such as it is I did assure her that she could not lack any protection that you could give who did honour in her the religious respect that she had in the match of her daughter Touching the provision of Mules your Lordship sent me word of I will not fail to cause some care to be used for the procuring of them I hear the King maketh provision for some to present unto her Majestie notwithstanding because the same is not certain I think it not fit to stay to proceed otherwise And so c. At Paris the fifth of April 1571. Your Lordships to Command Fr. Walsingham To our trusly and well-beloved Sir Francis Walsingham our Ambassador Râ—sident with our good Brother the French King ELIZABETH R. TRustie and well-beloved we greet you well we have perceived by your Letters written to the Lord of Burleigh in what sort you have lately conferred with an Irish man naming himself the Archbishop of Cassels upon occasion sought by him to make his submission and suit to us for his offence in departing out of Ireland And considering the conditions of the party and the profit that might follow by his discovering of the practices wherewith he is so throughly acquainted we can be content that if you shall find it likely that he meaneth dutifully to ask pardon as he pretendeth by his speech that then you shall give him comfort to continue with the same dutifulness and loyal meaning and provoke him to make repair hither into England where you may assure him he shall not find lack of grace if he humblie desire it and by his truth hereafter deserve it And if you find him very difficult to be perswaded with such general speech without further assurance from us you shall say that you have written so effectually unto us with assirmation of your good liking of his dealing with you in so plain terms as he had done as ye have power from us to warrant him to come into this our Realm safely
think one of the other nothing doth so much rule both parties as to have their own opinions satisfied and seeing that in respect thereof nothing can make so full a satisfaction to us for our opinion nor percase in him of us in respect of the opinion he may conceive of the excess of our years above his as that either of us might by some convenient means with our own eyes satisfie our own conceits A matter we know somewhat difficult but yet such as in like cases hath been yielded to us though by other impediments not perfected And nevertheless how this may be granted or allowed by the King and the Queen Mother to be done without offence we do leave it to them in whom we perceive by our Ambassadors speech their stay consisted when the Duke himself both by his Letters to the Ambassador as otherwise hath shewed himself thereto disposed that is to come hither in person for the which we cannot but greatly esteem his love and affection that he beareth to us This you may say is as much as we can conceive of the matter and if it were not for the desire we have to deal plainly in this matter being so much provoked by the great good will we find in them there we would not in that sort propound such a matter neither do we otherwise propound it but that it may be friendly interpreted and not to conceive that thereby we mean any abuse to the disgrace of the Duke whom we have great cause to love and esteem but that surely in this sort our opinion by sight may be satisfied which otherwise we perceive cannot be by report of any others for that none of our own dare adventure to deliver their advice for our own liking of him as the case is we plainly affirm that so as the difficulty of the matter of Religion be provided for and that all other points concerning the marriage may be performed as was communed upon in the person of Monsieur de Anjou we find â—o cause of doubt but that the King and Queen Mother shall obtain their desire And after you have declared thus much and because it is likely that they will object that either this purpose of his coming over to us cannot be granted in respect of the honour of the King for that heretofore no like usage hath been in the Marriages of the children of France with any strange Prince or that they shall doubt that this is by us in such sort propounded as thereby to increase our own reputation without any intent to marry him though his person might not mislike us To such objections you may answer thus To the first you may say as of your self that you are not so acquainted with their own stories and with the marriage of the children of France yet you dare affirm that you know there can be no example shewed of the like of this that is that either elder Son of France or any younger was at any time to be matched in Marriage with such a Prince having such Kingdoms as we have by whom such an advancement might have grown as may by Marriage with us both to the Duke himself and to the King and Crown of France and therefore this special cause can have no former example answerable to rule this but this ought to be followed with all manner of means and all respects set aside And as to the second part that may be objected you shall affirm certainly in our name that we have no meaning hereby to gain any particular estimation to our self but do plainly and simply seek hereby to procure the satisfaction of our own mind in this difficulty as touching his person wherein no other of our own dare deal with us nor we can otherwise be satisfied And for the preservation of the Dukes estimation and honour we shall be as carefull as his own brother the King shall be And therefore you shall conclude that howsoever we have thus propounded our own conception in the matter we desire not that the King or the Queen Mother should do or consent to any thing that might any wise seem for them dishonourable to the Duke Finally if you shall perceive that they shall stick only upon the reputation of his honour that is to come and not be allowed for his person you may as of your self propound it as you see cause that the matter of Religion may be outwardly so left in dispence as the breaking off if any so should follow either on his part or on ours may to the world be thereto imputed And besides that his coming may be secretly and privatly without any outward pomp or shew whereof we leave the consideration to themselves Given under our Signet at Gorambury the 25 of July 1572. in the fourteenth year of our Reigne To the right honorable and my very good friend Francis Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador in France SIr I am privately so occupied as I cannot write much and if I had I could not write much more then the Queens Majestie hath done in her Letters by the first you may perceive what was intended and by the second what she would to be amended Surely she findeth the Marriage to be necessary for her and yet the opinion of others misliking of the party for his person doth more hinder her purpose then her own conceit I see such extremities on both sides as I can make no choice for no Marriage all evils must be looked for and by Marriage without liking no good can be hoped therefore to God I leave it I see your Negotiation shall be full of 〈◊〉 God direct you The Queen is very irresolute to these As to country matters I can write no more and now I am out of the Office of the Secretary and yet I cannot be discharged of my ordinary cares From 〈◊〉 the 27 of July 1572. Your assured Friend W. Burleigh To the â—ight Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIth my last writing to you there hath been no news worth the writing all mens eyes and ears are now occupied in expectation of the events of Flanders and the Low-Countrie We say here that they of 〈◊〉 be very strong and have sent over Sir Humsrey Gilbert with his Band of Englishmen and some Frenchmen who hath taken certain Towns of Sluse and assieged the Castle That Bruges did consult whether they should receive the Protestants and Sir Humsrey or no and doth incline rather to receive them then the Garrison of the Duke of Alva The Queens Majesty hath begun her Progress and from Havering instead of Enfield lay at Theobakls my Lord Treasurers House three daies now is merry at my Lord Keepers House called Gorambury beside St. Albans and to morrow goeth to Dunstable and the next day to Woborn and endeth her Progress at Windsor the 24 of September What Count Lodovâ—ck doth about â—onsieur in Henuaulâ— we have not so often news as in the
complain I think the Earl of Northumberland suffered death this day at York for it was ordered that he was brought thither under the conduct of Sir Foster as yesterday for that purpose In Ireland the stirs of Munster are well overcome the chief Rebels fled and the rest conquered In Connaught some stir hath been by the Earl of Claâ—â—â—icards son for the which his father was imprisoned but now delivered and promiseth to appease the troubles This day the Earl of Ormond came hither out of Ireland who hath there done great service Now I end at Killingworth the 22 of August 1572. Yours assuredly William Burleigh To the right Honorable Sir Thomas Smith her Majestiess principall Secretary IT may please your Honor to advertise her Majesty that yesterday I sent my Secretary unto Q. Mother willing her in my name first to render unto her and to the Kings Majesty most humble thanks for the great care it pleased them to have of my safety and the preservation of the English Nation in this last tumult whereof I assured them I would not fail to make honorable report unto the Queens Majesty my Mistres And furthermore forasmuch as there were divers reports made of the late execution here and that I would be very loath to credit reports that it would please their Majesties to send me the very truth thereof to the end I might accordingly advertise the Queens Majesty my Mistress To the first she said that the King her son and she gave especiall commandement that good regard were had of me and all English men as that thing which tended to the preservation of the good amity between the King her Sonne and the Queens Majesty my Mistress And that if I could devise any better means for the better safeguard that I would but give them understanding thereof To the second she said that she doubted not but that Monsieur la Mott had long since advertised the Queens Majestie of the late accident here Nevertheless to gratifie me that she would cause Secretary Pinnart to send me an abstract of that which before the King her son had sent to his Ambassador there resident the which also I send you here inclosed This being in effect that which passed between her and my Secretary And having at this present no other thing to write of I leave to trouble your Honor any further and most humbly take my leave At Paris the 27 of August 1572. Your Honours to command Fr Walsingham The Duke of Nevers hath shewed himself much addicted to our Nation having not spared to come and visit men in his own person with offer of all kind of courtesie not only to me but also to divers of our English Gentlemen Besides that he did very honourably entertain three English Gentlemen who otherwise had been in great jeopardy of their lives To the right Honorable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principal Secretary MAy it please your Honour to advertise her Maj. that the first of this month I was sent for by the King and to the end I might pass with the more safety he sent to conduct me Count Laâ—sacque and Manefâ—es accompanied with a dozen other Gentlemen At my access unto his Maj. he shewed me that he sent for me to make me understand that whereas men might judge diversly of the late execution who were not advertised of the ground of his proceedings in that behalf he had therefore for the satisfying of the world caused the process to be made of the Admiral and the rest of his Conspirators which so soon as the same should be finished he would not fail to send unto her Maj. his good sister whom he did assure himself would interpret in good part his doings he being constrained to his great grief to do that which he did for his safety sake which if he had not done both he himself his Mother and Brethren had been in danger of their lives Furthermore he shewed me that he desired nothing more then to continue or rather to increase amity with her Majestie and therefore hoped that she would not take occasion upon this late proceeding to suspect the contrary for saith he on my honour and in the word of a Prince I have no other meaning To this I answered that her Majestie could not but accept in very good part the sending of the process as one that would be glad to understand the ground of the matter And if by the said process it should appear that they were guilty none should be more glad of the punishment of them then her Maj. who preferred his safety before any particular subject of what estate or Religion soever they were For the other part I shewed him that I hoped his Maj. who had made a straiter league with England then any of his Progenitors would not now be drawn easily to make light account thereof considering the profit that might grow to both the Crowns by the same Then I made him understand that three of our Nation were slain and that divers were spoiled for the which he shewed himself to be very sorry and said that if the parties offendors could be produced there should exemplary justice be used I shewed his Majestie it would be hard to produce them the disorder being so general the sword being committed to the common people In the end after thanks given for the care he had of my safety I departed from him and was conducted to Q. Mother who used like speech saving that she shewed me that the K. meaning was the heads of the Conspirators being now taken away to continue his Edicts and that every man should live in repose and liberty of his Conscience For that it was suspected that le Mote was staied in England I shewed their Maj. that it was the 20 of the last before he departed and that I hoped upon his return they should rest very well satisfied with such answer as he receiveth at her Majesties hands And so leaving further to trouble you at this present I most humbly take leave At Paris the second of September 1572. 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 Maj. That albeit it was shewed me as I wrote in my last that the heads being taken away the meaner sort should enjoy by vertue of the Edict both lives and goods and liberty of their consciences which thing also assured by print as by the inclosed may appear yet notwithstanding nothing thereof is performed but all extremity used which maner of proceeding is by the Catholiques themselves utterly condemned who desire to depart hence out of this Country to quit themselves of this strang kind of Government for that they see here none can assure themselves of either goods or life At Lyons Burdeaux and Orleans great and most barbarous cruelty hath been executed At Orleans divers of the Almains have been slain and spoiled the most part of
the answer as I cannot write any more I trust your old acquaintance Mr. Carew shall borrow your room shortly From my house in Westminster the seventh of November Yours assuredly William Burleigh To the right Honorable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principal Secretary SIr it may please you to advertise her Majestie that the King dispatched within these ten days Viracque with a good sum of money to entertain a party in Scotland until such time as he hath propounded the matter here in France One William Seers servant to the Earl of Westmerland arrived here the four and twentieth of this moneth sent hither by the said Earl Immediately upon his arrival Viracque went with him to the Court which is at this present at Monceaux He reporeth that in the North Countrey from York to the borders all the whole Countrey is at the Earls devotion so that a few men imployed there by the King may assure him that her Majestie shall be kept so occupied as she shall have no leisure to send any supply to Rochel I learn further that one Stephen Wilson a Scotish man taketh upon him to draw the Earl of Argile to be wholly at the Kings devotion so that the said Earl may receive that estate and honour that his Father had at the King his Predecessors hands The Bishop of Glasco hath had long and several conferences with the Legate since his last arrival If her Majestie do not compound the matter of Scotland before Viracque his coming she shall find more difficulty in the matter It is evident how much money may do with that Nation therefore it were well before his coming her Majestie took the benefit of the Market for that many Chapmen maketh deerer wares Such Noblemen of Scotland as are here were never so much made of I am well assured that the Duke of Alva not long sithence did write unto the King here in recommendation of the practice that tended to the disquiet of her Majestie but what it was or what answer was made I cannot learn At this present there is not that entertainment used towards the Legate that appertaineth to his calling and as heretofore hath been used which maketh all men of judgement to suspect that the same is done for the nonce to blind the eyes of all the Princes Protestants And that those speeches that were given out that the Marquis of Egremont departed without good satisfaction for that he obtained nothing of those things he propounded and that the Legate is like to obtain nothing of those things he is to propound are but to abuse the world Things do not pass here as they were wont to do through many hands besides the Duke of Nevers not many Counsellours that are made privy to the affairs of most secrecy As I learn secretly their Ambassador there findeth himself agrieved for that he receiveth not that good countenance and entertainment that he was wont to do Though I have most just cause to think that there is but little good meant towards her Majestie whatsoever outward shew is made yet in my poor opinion it were not amiss for her Majestie to use all outward shew and entertainment that may seem to appertain to good amity and yet not to omit any thing that tendeth to her safety And so for other matters referring your honour to these enclosed Occurrents I most humbly take my leave At Paris the seven and twentieth of November 1572. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable and his very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh YOur Lordships of the seventh I have received the Letters enclosed I have delivered to Steward for that Glascow â—8 was not here he therefore desired me to tell Davison that his absence is the cause why he hath not answer but by the next he shall hear from him in the mean time he bideth me tell him nn â—3 that he is now without fear of danger but that he hath many good friends who will suffer him to take no wrong He telleth me further that he is resolved to revenge the death of his friends hap what may hap He wisheth â—3 to look well to Scotland and that Munnesire is sent but to abuse her Majestie with 〈◊〉 words If Steward himself of the â—9 shall learn any thing that toucheth 〈◊〉 I shall be advertised from time to time I see more great cause now to nouriâ—h this humor contrary to my opinion in my last Letters for surely there are great mischiefs a brewing I am assured that within these eight days Florence 〈◊〉 protested that he should never be quiet so long as the exercise of Religion continued in any one place of Christendom I know further particularly that he said he will never forget New haven until revenge be made I never knew so deep a dissembler I am sure that the murther of the Admiral should have been executed at Bloys but that they saw him too well accompanied It is agreed that both he and Spain shall for the avoiding of suspicion of the Legats coming entertain the â—3 with good words and that Spain should make some shew to be glad to grow to some accord â— did send expresly Gentlemen unto me to know in what state and terms things do stand here being requested so to do by the Princes of Germany for that there are many contrary brutes there He sendeth me word that they mean shortly to call a Dyet to consult for their safety and for the revenge I have not yet dispatched the Gentleman but mean to do out of hand in such sort instructed as I hope shall rather heat then cool them I have requested H to be throughly advertised with all convenient speed how things do pass there c. Paris the six and twentieth of November 1572. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principal Secretary IT may please your honour to advertise her Majestie that the King here is given to understand from the Count de Lude who lieth at Morte how that they of Rochel have of late taken the Isle of Rez which hath bred great content here for it is a place of great importance by the having whereof they are Masters of the Haven and may thereby receive any succor by sea They have also taken in the same divers ships He doth further advertise that they have taken eight or ten Brittains laden with corn Touching the Kings intention for the besieging of Rochel this bearer shall inform you at the full who hath talked with one who knoweth what is resolved in that behalf There is daily here looked for the Master of the Emperors horse being sent hither to congratulate the Queens delivery as also to bring word that the Emperor hath chosen Monsieur and the Duke of Lorrain Knights of the Order of Toison By letters out of Germany they write that it was determined upon the news of the execution of those of the Religion here to have slain
see my successor in company with the Nobleman that repaireth hither And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave Paris the five and twentieth of December 1572. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable and his very good Lord the Lord Burleigh IT may please your Lordship to understand that since the writing of my last Letter I have spoken with Steward who knoweth not by whose procurement he was set on that discharged the Dagg against La Motte but doth ghess the party named in my last Letters should be the Authour thereof For other matters he saith all goeth well as you shall further understand by one sent for the purpose who imbarqueth at B. his name is R. he is of good quality and one that accompanied 8 I am warily dealt withal in the matter And for my self I dare not desire to know more then they are willing to make me acquainted withal Steward telleth me for certain that there are of late 800 at least of Strozzies company cut in piece which thing is kept very close for by others I can learn no such thing There arrived lately here a Gentleman out of Languedoc sent from Monsieur D'Aumale who reporteth that they of the Religion do hold at least in Town and Castle to the number of chosen Souldiers which Town can no way be taken but by famine for that they cannot possibly make any trenches about it the soil and seat being rocky Both the Admiral and De la Aumile do send the King word to send them both men and money or else there being there is to no purpose Upon these advertisements lately come from thence it is now thought that Monsieur shal go to Languedoc and that Monsieur Le Duc shall be imployed at Rochel Howsoever they shall be imployed it is held for certain that they depart from this Town about five or six days hence as well the two brethren as also the King of Navarre with the Prince of Conde I send unto your Lordship a lewd Letter written by Carpenter in defence of the late doings here the original written in Latin and afterwards translated into French Divers of those in Latin have been sent into Germany but the Authors lewdness is so well known as it will but little help their case They have also sent of them into Polonia for that the Bishop of Valence writeth that the late accident here will be one of the greatest lets of that they seek there It is reported also by Letters lately received out of Flanders that the Duke of Alva is so dangerously sick at ‑ Nunege as men do doubt of his recovery Furthermore they give out that there hath been of late a Conflict in Holland between the said Duke and the Prince of Orange in the which there were slain of the Dukes side 500 Spaniards and as they say a double number of the other but as yet the certainty is unknown And so beseeching your Honour to impart these Letters to the Earl of Leicester for that through the hasty departure of this messenger I had no leisure to write particularly unto him I leave c. At Paris the second of Ianuary 1572. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honoâ—rable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principal Sâ—â—retary SIr it may please you to advertise her Majestie that Monsieur Maâ—nâ—sire gave me to understand how that their Majesties here were given to understand from the Ambassador there that there should be certain ships to the number of fourteen preparing to repair to Rocâ—el and that though French men and Flemings bear the name of them yet were they not unfurnished of some English Marriners and that therefore they deâ—ire that it may please her Majestie to give order for the restraint thereof as to good amity appertaineth To this I answered that I would not fail to advertise her Majestie thereof notwithstanding I said it would be very hard to restrain them forasmuch as at this present there are a number of marriners and ships unset a work in respect of the unkindness between Spain and England which kind of people will hardly be restrained I willed him also to desire their Majesties to consider how the like falleth out in their Government here for that divers Gentlemen of good quality notwithstanding the League between the Turk and this Crown and notwithstanding an express inhibition of things did serve this last summer under those of the League some be conducted by the Marquis dâ— Mâ—in others under the conduct of the Count Martineâ—go the Kings Pensioner the which thing the Turk doth interpret in good part for that he knoweth that the same is done without the Kings consent the like consideration must their Majesties have also of her Majestie who is not able so to bridle her Subjects but that some of them will hazard themselves without having any regard to her Majesties commandment that unto their duties appertaineth To this Monsieur Mannesirâ— shewed me that he used like speech and perswasion towards the Queen Mother wherewith she seemed to be reasonably well satisfied The sixth of this moneth he was dispatched hence towards Câ—llis with certâ—in Coaches to meet the Barl of Worcester They have often sent unto me to know whether I heard anything of his coming wherein I have answered that since the twelfth of the last I heard nothing out of England which seemeth strange unto them considering that their Ambassador hath advertised that my Lord of Worcester should be forward the second of this Moneth Touching Monsieurs speedy departure from hence towards Rochel men of judgement do think it rather to fear the Rochellois to make them to condescend to an accord then indeed to have an intention to besiege them as yet considering that this time of the year is very unapt to besiege a Town scituate in a marsh Of late there hath been some purpose held with me whether I did not think that her Majestie by some perswasion used by me might be induced to be a Mediator unto the K. Whereunto I answered that I my self could hardly be perswaded to be a dealer in that behalf having that regard that a servant and a subject ought to have to the honour of his Prince and Mistris considering what evil success such Compositions heretofore have had as have passed between them King and his Subjects especially seeing those to enjoy the Kings ear who have both abused his ear and his honour having had more regard to their own particular passions then to that reverence and duty that becometh good Subjects to bear towards their Prince When I shall see said I such removed then I can tell what to answer in this behalf Our Merchants at the beginning here sith the last troubles received good expectation so far forth as concerned the obtaining of the Kings Letters but now that it â—â—meth to execution they find it but expedition in words so that I perceive
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