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 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
and to make his means unto us for our favour If he shall shew himself repentant of his former fault and disposed to live hereafter dutiful he shall be provided of as good a living as heretofore he hath had And if he shall not obtain our favour as he desireth at his coming your warrant shall serve him to return safely out of our Realm which manner of usage you shall say is very rare in us but upon your instance we have yielded thereunto And so we pray you use it and give him warrant under your hand accordingly And if you shall find that he hath sought to abuse you as we perceive by your Letters you have some reason to doubt then shall you forbear to deal with him in the former sort and yet procure so much intelligence as you may at his hands and after you shall discover his continuance in falshood and practise there as you can see occasion and can gather matter against him so deal with the King there as by all good means that may be specially considering the Amitie so often of late time assured to us by the King he may be delivered as an open known Rebel and Traytor especially in these practises used by him in Spâ—â—n however he himself hath discovered his evils with the excuses And we have some cause the more to doubt his lewdness there for that Rogers who brought your Letters reported that after he was come from Paris about St. Dennis he met with an Irish man who told him that this Archbishop had been secretly at the Court and was readie to be dispatched away into Spain by the means of the Cardinal of Lorrain which if it were true we cannot think but you have within a short time after been made privie hereof by the Irish man And so according as you shall find the matter we leave it to your discretion The Scotish Ambassadors who have been here with us the Bishop of Ross the Bishop of Gallaway and the the Lord Leviston as from their Queen the Earl Mâ—rton and others as from her son now amongst them accepted as King the said Queen as they think being justly deposed have been long here and troubled not a little us and our Councel After much debating of the cause we minding to make if it might be a final end to the assurance of our selves our Estates and to the reducing of that Realm into quiet in it self without bloodshed or further occasion of intestine War and continual dissention in a Realm so near adjoyning to us found at the last that the said Earl Morton and his Colleagues had no sufficient Commission to treat of that matter which as we thought was most necessarie to be treated of if we should do any good in it which was my final end and purpose that is the ayding of our Sister the Scots Queen without impairing of our estate and â—uretie and without putting the Realm of Scotland in an extriâ—able danger of sedition and intestine war Whereupon we were inforced now at the 〈◊〉 after much debating with both the parties so to leave the matter 〈◊〉 with each of their contentations as we think both by going home for a time the one to have ample Commission to treat with us as appertaineth to that effect we may do that good herein that we desire the other to refresh themselves for a time till the other having Commission may be made a partie which hitherâ—o without Commission from their partie which be on the young Kings side can be accounted but as private persons and not to be dealt withal in reason to do any thing which may be accounted of just moment and effectual in Law And they â—ffirm that without Parliament there can be made no Commission neither to them nor to any other to treat of such matter Whereupon their Parliament begun and for fear of prejudicing the Queens partie in that behalf at our motion surceased and prorogued until May day next They go home to it there to have such ample Power Commission and Authoritie given to them or others to treat with us and the Queen of Scots partie for a final end which done and and 〈◊〉 we 〈◊〉 shortlie to make an end of this controversie to the pleasure of God and contentation of all parties if it might be This you may shew to the King our good Brother that it is our design and purpose and hitherto in this sort we have travelled and have good hope to bring it to pass And if the King shall thus reply But if they will give no Commission or otherwise defer it of purpose without answering any thing what we will then do you may say that we have thought upon that case That if they shall seek to look onely but upon delaies and upon set purpose and obstinatelie go about to defraud our intent which is to unitie and quiet there we must leave that partie which is unreasonable and obstinate and conclude with the other partie which will hear and understand reason And so God willing we intend to do the good success whereof we do not doubt but the King our good Brother shall see and well allow of Given under our Signet at our Pallace of Westminster the eighth day of April in the thirteenth year of our Reign To the Right Honourable my very good Friend Sir Francis Walsingham Ambassador Resident for the Queens Majestie in France SIr my hard case is such as either by business in health or by dolour in sickness I cannot account my self a freeman but a slave to serve or an offender to suffer torment The will of God be fulfilled in me to his honour for otherwise I find no comfort in this world of this enough I am forced to write this in my bed with my hand whilest I groan for pain in my knee and foot and therefore I must be short I could no sooner get answer to your Letters brought by Rogers Your Lordships brought yesterday by Harcourt were I think welcome and well interpreted by her Majestie for I sent them with my own sentence aforehand of my good allowance of your discretion in your choise of taking and leaving The Queen of Scots you see is deferred whereof that portion which is written was for my ease indited by Sir Thomas Smith You must make the best of it and seek out reasons to satisfie them there that will mislike the delay Indeed it hath been onely devised to win delay I thank you for your private Letter Even now we have very good news from the borders that Dun-Britten Castle was taken on Monday last in the night by cunning where was taken the Archbishop of Saint Andrews and the Lord Flenning the manner how it was taken is not signified But it is of a greater importance then Edenborough Castle considering it was receptaculum to all the Scotish Queens Forraign ayd From Westminster out of my bed this Saturday at five of the clock the seventh of March 1571. Your assured
Mother and Monsieur which will much further the matter and it is reason that my Lord of Leicester be assured of favours both there and at home for some that like not this match may otherwise engender doubts in his Lordship And yet surely at this present he dealeth earnestly with her Majestie in the furtherance of the match you shall do well to let his Lordship understand what good opinion is had of him for so doing The matters in Scotland go hardly for us the Queens party by Granges means occupieth Edenburgh and the King is constrained to keep in Sterling both parties are in arms which yet are used defensive The Queen party hath had Money and Ammunitions from France The Bishop of Ross is still restrained and so deserveth The Queen liketh not of the Bishop of Glascows coming into the Realm Dr Story suffered at Tyborn on Fryday and there refused to give alleagiance to the Queens Majestie and professed to dye as the King of Spains Subject and so being arraigned on the Tuesday before at the Kings Bench he would not answer to the Indictment alledging that he was not a Subject of the Realm whereupon without further Tryal he was condemned as guilty of the Treasons contained in the Indictments The practises of Stewkley are abated in Spain by discovery of his lewdness and insufficiency Huggins is here arrived and so fare you well From Westminster the fifth of Iune 1571. Yours assuredly William Burleigh I send you a Note of our late Acts in Parliament To my very Friend Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador for the Queen Majestie in France I Have received your Letters by this Bearer who brought me also Letters from the King Queen Mother and Monsieur whom I perceived hath conceived good opinion of my devotion for the furtherance of the matter of marriage with the Queens Majestie I have thought good to return this Bearer again for that he desired speedy dispatch to whom I have imparted the state of that matter which onely doth stand upon the Article of Religion to which her Majestie will by no means relent All other Articles are reasonable and her Majestie hath shewed her Demands to this Ambassador and hath dispatched the same to you which I think will be with you before this For the other point touching Religion if I might advise them thereof they should not speak of it at all for sooner will her Majestie yield to reason himself that shall have that interest in her that shall be her husband then by any Contract or other Declaration And finding her Majestie disappointed upon the argument of that point to proceed as she hath seemed in the matter I cannot but hope of very good success to which for my part in respect of her Majesties surety and hope of universal good to the cause of Religion I must with well and further the best I can according to your advice whereof I thank you and am glad to see your consideration thereof This Bearer shall further declare some part of my minde unto you for that I know him to be honest and trusty and well devoted to her Majestie and the cause of Religion Thus with my most hearty commendations I bid you farewel In haste this seventh of Iune 1571. Your assured Friend Ro Leicester By the QUEEN To our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Francis Walsingham our Ambassador Resident with our good Brother the French King ELIZABETH R. RIght Trusty and Well-beloved we greet you well although we did heretofore think it reasonable to forbear the sending of any Articles to contain the Demands on our part until we might have a resolute Answer from the King to our former Answers made to his Articles sent hither by Cavalcant and namely to the Article touching Religion Yet finding by your Letters and the continual solicitation of the French Ambassador here Resident how earnestly the King desireth to see our Demands which when he shall have he will make answer to the former we are contrary to our own disposition induced by these means to send the same at this time as you shall receive the same in Articles whereof you shall advertise the King and Queen Mother and let them understand that were it not for the earnest solicitation of the Ambassador we would have forborn so to have done for that we take it it may be interpreted in some manner to touch us in honour that not having knowledge how the King will satisfie us in the matter of Religion which is the principal we should pass further into the Treaty of all the rest altogether upon uncertainty what to hope in the principal But to their satisfaction herein you shall say that we not onely caused the Earl of Leicester and Lord Burleigh whom onely of our Councel we have used herein according to our former agreement to impart our Demands in certain Articles to the French Ambassador but have also sent them now in writing to be by you shewed unto them having therein followed for the most part the form of things granted to our late Sister of Noble Memory Queen Mary as by the Treaty of Marriage betwixt King Philip and her may appear And further you shall say that these Articles are but briefly and summarily conceived by our foresaid Counsellours who have not the knowledge of the forms of Law requisite in such case so as we reserve to our selves power if the substance of them shall be granted to cause the same to be in form of Law inlarged by such others of our Councel as by learning can better do the same Besides we do deliver these Demands to be joyntly considered with the Articles of our first Answer to the Demands on their part brought by Cavalcant We perceive by the French Ambassador that certain Clauses which we agreed should be added to some of the first Articles were not contained in the Writing by you there shewed And not knowing whether in the writing of them there the same Clauses were omitted for more surety we send you a new Copy hereof to be shewed as you shall have occasion And if indeed those Clauses shall appear to have been omitted in the former the same was omitted but by the Writer If the King or any other shall press you to understand of our proceedings with the Queen of Scots as in misliking the restraint of the Bishop of Ross or in not determining her cause you shall for the first say that the evil parts done by the Bishop of Ross are such and so dangerous to us and our State as no Prince could suffer as we think the like without some sharp revenge For where in the late Rebellion in the North we understood that he had given the Heads of that Rebellion comfort to enter into the same which he could not deny being charged therewith but that secretly they had sent to him for ayd and comfort afore their Rebellion although he yield the same unto them nor thought it meet to utter the same and so
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
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
Cypher I have I will make new and send it you and then you shall hear of a matter worthy the writing We hear here that Montmoreâ—cy is in some danger Your very Friend Ro. Leicester To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq her Majestes Ambassador Resident in France YOur messenger that brought your dispatch of the five and twentieth of October arrived here the second of November and my Lord Treasurer imparted unto me such matters as you advertised him of by whom again you shall understand her Majesties pleasure for that I think his Cypher is better then mine I am loth to enter into some of tâ—ose things which I am very desirous else to say somewhat to you of but not doubting but his Lordship will signifie the whole I will now forbear and descend to smaller matters And to answer you for the two Captains you wrote to me to move her Majestie for she is now pleased to entertain the one him that hath most means am I lothest to name lest he might be suspected In this mysterie you know whom I mean and shall also by your servant she is content with 50 l. yearly whether it will like him or no I know not if it do not we will do what we can to increase it also the other her Majestie yet is not minded to use his service We perceive the party Saint 4 is very coy in his dealing but surely he is not to be blamed the world being there with you as it is You shall hear of another manner of matter I am sure by my Lord Treasurer which is lately offered me here but we greatly suspect it to be some practise or else the choice is not well made of the party in my opinion And you shall do well to understand it with all expedition as I am sure my said Lord doth advise you throughly therein for it is of consequence and it behoveth us withal speed to know whether it be right or wrong if it be wrong by my consent there shall be right example made of the like c. The Regent of Scotland is dead as we are advertised this day I suppose it to be very true I trust her Majestie will not lose the opportunity offered there If the Emperor be dead also it will make a great change I hope better for Christendom I mean for good Christians I have sent you a letter two days ago by a Scotchman one Dâ—uglas wherein I have sent you my mind touching the Rider whom I desire greatly to have if I may reasonably have him You shal perceive by this Letter at large that if I may have him for 150 Crowns a year for himself and to give him meat and drink and his man with a couple of horse found in my stable I think I shall be worth to him otherwise half as much more if he like me well as I mean he shall try me and I him for a year And if so he be content the sooner he come the better God send him to be an honest man and I warrant you he shall be very well entreated For his sufficiency I leave it to your good enquiry I trust shortly you shall be at home I have not ceased daily since your wives arrival to call upon her Majestie for it and she is fully agreed thereto and hath named some for your successor I think Francis Carew shall be the man as it is yet resolved or Henry Cobham but one of them I care not who shall be hastned for your sake assure your self I pray you shew all the favour and countenance you can to Benedict Spinola he hath a great cause there in hand which he hath heard you have favourably furthered He hath required my thanks he is my dear friend and the best Italian I know in England Her Majestie hath written for him Let his brother know that I have written to you I pray you if the Rider conclude I am sure Spinola ' s brother if he be there will answer his brother here again So good Francis fare you well Your good wife is in health In haste the second of November Your assured Friend Ro Leicester To the Right Honourable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principal Secretary IT may please you to advertise her Majestie that Standen arrived here lately in post out of Flanders where he staied onely five daies and had daily conference for the time of his aboâ—e there with the Scotish Ambassador together with Lâ—ggens who at his return which was by post accompanied him into Flanders Those that observed the manner of their conferences his coming and returning by post being accompanied by Liggens at his return maketh the Sotchmen that wish continuance of quiet in their Countrey to fear that there is some dangerous practise in hand The said Ambassador doth now daily repair to the Court and hath often conference with the Queen Mother at an extraordinary time in the morning when as commonly no Ambassador hath access but in the afternoon Not long â—ince in talk apart with his friends he said that if the troubles of Scotland had not been his Mistris had been at libertie and perhaps enjoyed a better Crown then Scotland is He said further that if his Mistris had as many good friends in Scotland as she hath in England she had not long remained in prison as she doth Thus you see how dangerous a ghest her Majestie harboureth The Spanish Marquis who is come hither to congratulate the Queens delivery under the colour of the same as I learned secretly he hath commission to treat secretly of three points The one to cause the King to enter into the League The other to the marriage between Monsieur and his Masters daughter The third to propound some way for the Scotish Queens delivery Being procured thereto by the house of Guise in recompence of the execution done upon them of the Religion whereby the King of Spain acknowledgeth to have saved the Low-Countreys The Cardinal of Lorrain by his Letters procured the King to write earnestly to his Ambassador in Turky to cause him to travel by all means to compound the differences between him and the Princes of the League The Almains do fear much the election of the Emperors second son in Polonia as that thing which will make the house of Austria too great And so for other matters referring your Lordship to these enclosed Occurrents I most humbly take my leave At Paris the twelfth of November Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh MY very good Lord touching the Scotish matters her Majestie desiâ—eth to be advertised of your Lordship shall understand that I should know the partie my self ever since my repair hither who is of the Religion and though not taken heretofore to be very zealous yet always reputed to be very honest He had been slain if he had not been saved by â— in this last broil with whom he is most
as many Catholiques of the French as were found there which afterwards upon better consideration was stayed for that they thought the same would prove but a poor revenge notwithstanding this Nation groweth so hateful there as for avoiding of danger such of them as travel in those parts are driven to take upon them the names of Burgundians They write also that there is hope that the Elector Brandenburgh shall be chosen King of Polonia which news doth nothing content those here Further they do advertise that the Princes of Germany are in great jealousie of the Legats repair hither and that thereupon they do put themselves in order of defence for that they think his repair hither cannot be but to continue some dangerous practise A day or two after the Legat had made his entry the Court of Parliament sent unto him according to the ancient custom to see his faculties To whom he answered that the intention of his coming was not to execute the office of a Legat but only to visit the King and to treat with him certain private and particular matters Touching the manner of his receiving and entertainment since his access to the King this bearer shall enform you They do all what they can to make the world believe that his coming is not grateful unto them The Ambassador of Spain doth give out that the five and twentieth of the last moneth Zutphen was taken by the Duke of Alva and that eight or ten of the Princes ships have been also lately distressed Pynart of late willed my Secretary to tell me that whereas heretofore Monsieur de la Mot had usually certain imposts of wine granted to him he is afraid that he shall be debarred of the same or at the least some part of the quantity cut off which thing he wisheth not to be done at this time for that it may give the King occasion to think that his Ministers are not so grateful towards her Majestie as heretofore they have been Seeing that the Gentleman is not to make any long abode there being in hope of revocation me thinks it should be well done if he were used as he may return with good satisfaction And so having nothing further to impart unto your Honour at this time I most humbly take my leave AT Paris the fifth of December Your Honours to Command Fra Walsingham To the Right Honourble and his very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh SInce I last wrote unto your Lordship Steward repaired not unto me for that there is an eye had to such as resort to my house He sendeth me word that Glasco 4 â—9 party increaseth in strength which will well appear when the season shall serve His letters of advice this bearer shall deliver you The party that is recommended unto you from Berwick telleth me that Iames Kirkaldy departeth hence out of hand with such money as Viracque should have carried into Scotland for that he hath gotten license to stay here for a moneth for that the King mindeth to imploy him there as an Ambassador Resident Further he telleth me that de la Mot hath advertised the King how that the Lord Athol is won to be of the Queens party which now sithence the death of the Regent is grown far the stronger And to the end that Liddington may travel more earnestly in strengthening the faction there is some offer made unto him of some great pension he saith mâ—â—eover that the Bishop of Glasco giveth him to understand that with some assistance of money the Lord Athol and the Lord Argile being revolted from the Kings side as they are they shall be more able to make their party good against any force her Majestie shall send until such time as he hath setled his things here Touching Seers the Earl of Westmerlands man I can by no means learn what answer he received at the Kings hands He telleth me only that he stayed here four days These his advertisements I have confirmed otherwise and therefore I do the rather credit them They have written to the Ambassador to use all the means that may be possible whatsoever it cost to have the Queen of Scots spoken withal willing him in any case to beware to use in that behalf any Hugonot The B. of Glasco hath lately divers times conference for the devising of some good means for that purpose one whom he meant to imploy in that behalf discovered no less unto me who thinketh that there is some practise for the stealing of her away They caused of late Briquemont and Cavannes a little before their death to subscribe to certain blanks which they have filled up with such matter as may best prove that there was a conspiracy pretended Which blanks so filled up they sent by Fregoz and one Carpenter into Germany to shew some unto the Princes there for the better justifying of the late execution If Kirkaldy be well used by Mr. Killegrew he will be no evil instrument he desireth much the revenge of that that hath been lately done here At Paris the fifth of December Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable and his very good Lord the Earl of Leicester RIght Honourable the King here is advertised that they of Rochel have of late taken the Isle of Rez and divers ships in the same a thing that imported the Rochellois much for that thereby they have the Haven free and at their commandment and may receive such succours as may come unto them by sea This Court is much agrieved with all aswell in this as in other matters that things frame so untowardly and go backwards The wisest sort do not stick to say that the greatest troubles are now but a beginning If it shall prove true that they write out of Germany which is that the Marquis of Brandenburgh is like to be chosen King of Polonia they may perhaps have just cause to repent their late doings but howsoever that fall out we shall see that God will work somewhat whereby it may appear the blood of his Saints to be dear unto him Perhaps we did build too much before upon the courage and wisdom of them that be dead He can raise up stones to set forth his glory so that we need not doubt to see the revenge unless our sins be the let What is meant by the King touching the besieging of Rochel this bearer shall impart unto your Lordship as also the manner of the entertainment of the Legat and how they seek to make the world believe that they are not content with his coming nor he with his entertainment They say here that the Kings side in Scotland is much weakned and the other side far the stronger they have therefore dispatched of late from hence some to keep the Queens party in courage until they have setled things at home I find therefore her Majestie shall have great difficulty to settle things here in such sort as may prevent such mischiefs as hereafter may grow
Smith to the Lord Burleigh 202 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh ib. Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 203 Earl of Leicester to Sir Francis Walsingham ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester 204 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh ib. The Queen to Sir Francis Walsingham 205 Instructions for the Earl of Lincoln Ambassador extraordinary to the French King 206 Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 212 Earl of Leicester to sir Francis Walsingham ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 213 Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 214 Conference betwixt Duke Montmorency and some of the Queens Councel ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir William Cecil 216 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester ib. Sir William Cecil to Sir Francis Walsingham 217 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester ib. Sir William Cecil to Sir Francis Walsingham 218 Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir William Cecil ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 219 Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir William Cecil 221 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester 222 Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir William Cecil 223 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester 224 Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir William Cecil ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir William Cecil 225 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester ib. The Queen to Sir Francis Walsingham 226 Q. Elizabeth to Sir Francis Walsingham 228 Sir William Cecil to sir Francis Walsingham 230 Sir Tho. Smith to Sir Francis Walsingham ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir Tho. Smith 231 Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir Tho. Smith 232 Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir William Cecil ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester 234 The Queen to Sir Francis Walsingham 235 Sir Tho. Smith to Sir Francis Walsingham 236 Sir William Cecil to Sir Francis Walsingham 237 Sir Tho. Smith to Sir Francis Walsingham 238 Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir Tho. Smith 239 Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir Tho. Smith ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir Tho. Smith 240 Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir Tho. Smith 243 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 245 Lord Burleigh Earl of Leicester Sir Francis Knowles Sir Tho. Smith to Sir Francis Walsingham 246 Lord Burleigh to sir Francis Walsingham 250 251 Earl of Leicester to sir Francis Walsingham ib. Sir Tho. Smith to sir Francis Walsingham 252 253 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lords of her Majesties Councel ib. The Queen to sir Francis Walsingham 259 Sir Tho. Smith to sir Francis Walsingham 262 The Queen to the French King on the behalfe of the Vidam of Chartres 263 Lord Burleigh to sir Francis Walsingham 264 Earl of Leicester to sir Francis Walsingham ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to sir Tho. Smith 265 Sir Francis Walsingham to sir Tho. Smith 267 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 269 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester 270 Answers to the French Ambassador 271 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester 273 Sir Tho. Smith to sir Francis Walsingham 274 Sir Francis Walsingham to sir Tho. Smith 275 Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir Tho. Smith 276 twice Sir Francis Walsingham to sir Tho. Smith 278 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 281 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester 282 Sir Tho. Smith to Sir Francis Walsingham ib. The Lord Burleigh to sir Francis Walsingham 283 Earl of Leicester to Sir Francis Walsingham 284 285 Sir Francis Walsingham to sir Tho. Smith 86 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 287 Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir Tho. Smith ib. Earl of Leicester to sir Francis Walsingham 288 Lord Burleigh to sir Francis Walsingham 289 Sir Francis Walsingham to sir Tho. Smith ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 290 Sir Francis Walsingham to sir Tho. Smith 291 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 292 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester 293 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 294 Sir Francis Walsingham to sir Tho. Smith 295 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 296 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 297 The Queen to Sir Francis Walsingham ib. Sir Tho. Smith to Sir Francis Walsingham 299 Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 301 Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir Tho. Smith ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester 302 Sir Francis Walsingham to the L. Burleigh 303 Sir Francis Walsingham to the L. Burleigh 304 306 Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir Thomas Smith 307 Sir Fr. Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester 308 Sir Francis VValsingham to the Lords of the Council ib. Sir Thomas Smith to sir Francis Walsingham 310 Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham ib. Earl of Leicester to Sir Francis Walsingham 311 Sir Francis Walsingham to sir Thomas Smith 312 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 313 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 314 Sir Thomas Smith to Sir Francis Walsingham 315 Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 316 317 Instructions for the Earl of VVorcester 318 Earl of Leicester to Sir Francis Walsingham 322 Sir Thomas Smith to sir Francis Walsingham 324 Sir Francis VValsingham to the Earl of Leicester 325 Sir Francis Walsingham to sir Thomas Smith 326 Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 327 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 328 Sir Francis Walsingham to sir Thomas Smith 329 331 332 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 333 Sir Thomas Smith to sir Francis Walsingham ib. Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 334 Answer of the Queen to the French Ambassador comcerning the Duke Alanson 335 Lord Burleigh to the French Ambassador 3â—9 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 343 Sir Francis Walsingham to sir Thomas Smith 344 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester 345 Sir Thomas Smith to Sir Francis Walsingham 346 Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 346 347 The Queen to Sir Francis Walsingham 348 Answer to the French Ambassadors ib. The Queen to King Henry of France 351 Instructions for Sir Francis Walsingham in his second French Ambasiy 352 353 c. For a League with France 355 Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir Henry Cobham and Mr. Sommers 356 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh ib. Sir Henry Cobham to Sir Francis Walsingham 357 Francis of Valois Duke of Anjou and Alanson to Sir Francis Walsingham 358 Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 359 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Queen 360 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 363 Lo. Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 372 Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 374 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 375 Sir Francis Walsingham Sir Henry Cobham John Sommers to the Lord Burleigh 376 Lo. Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 377 379 Sir Francis Walsingham Sir Henry Cobham John Sommers to the
Lord Burleigh 380 Memorial for Mr. Sommers 384 Private Memorials for him 385 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 386 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Queen 387 Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 388 389 390 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Queen ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh twice 392 Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 392 394 Sir Francis Walsingham Sir Henry Cobham John Sommers to the Lord Burleigh 396 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh ib. Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 397 Points accorded and not according upon the League Offensive and Defensive 400 401 402 403 Sir Francis Walsingham Sir Henry Cobham John Sommers to the Lord Burleigh ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 407 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to the Duke of Anjou 409 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 410 Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 412 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 413 Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 414 Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham Sir Henry Cobham and John Sommers 419 Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 422 423 Answer to the Commissioners concerning the League Offensive ib Sir Francis Walsingham to the Queen 426 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 428 Conference betwixt the Queen Mother and Sir Francis Walsingham 429 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 434 439 Sir Francis Walsingham Sir Henry Cobham John Sommers to the Lord Burleigh ibid. NEGOTIATIONS OF STATE AFFAIRS BETWEEN The Lord Burleigh and Sir Francis Walsingham in the Reigns of Qu Elizabeth and Charls the 9. of France Anno Dom 1570. Instructions for Francis Walsingham Esquire sent by the Queens Majesty to the French King for the Matters following the 11 of August 1570. in the 12 year of Her Majesties Reign ELIZABETH R. FIrst you shall conferr with our Ambassador Sir Henry Norris knight upon this Charge now committed unto you and as you two shall think best to proceed therein for our Service so we are well content to allow your doings and for the repair and delivery of our Letters to the French King and to the Queen Mother with such other circumstances thereto belonging you shall also follow the advice and discretion of our said Ambassador The charge which we doe commit to you resteth only and principally upon this speciall Matter following whereunto we will that you direct your whole actions We desire that the Accord betwixt the King our good Brother and the Prince of Navarre Prince of Condé and the Admirall with the rest of the Company being the Kings Subjects might be made as favourable for the reasonable contentation and surety of the said Princes and their party as may be possible to the maintenance and continuance of them in the liberty of their Consciences for the cause of Religion And because we consider that there is no small labour made by some directly to impeach this accord and by some others though not openly to withstand is yet by doubtfull dealing in the granting to their Requests to ruine the said Princes and their party in the end We finde it the more necessary for us to use all good means to countervail such contrary labours and to procure not only a good Accord but therewith a continuance thereof as a matter which in our Conscience and Honor we think good both for the King and his whole Estate And therefore after you shall understand the state of the Negotiation of this matter by the Deputies of the two Princes with the King and wherein it shall be profitable for them that our Ambassador and you shall deal with the King or Queen-Mother in our Name Our meaning is you shall in this manner or the like declare our Intentions as Grounds whereupon you may lay the rest of our Reasons and perswasions that shall be thought good to be propounded to the King First you shall say that we earnestly request the King to set apart all manner of Jealousie that either hath been or may be insinuated to him of our meaning in this cause betwixt him and his Subjects for that we mean as well and so alwayes have to him and his Estate as if we were his naturall Sister and never had any intention to maintain or comfort any of his Subjects against him to move any trouble to his estate or to diminish any parcell of his Crown And yet you shall say That we will in this sort be plain with him thinking yet best to agree with good Friendship and Honor that we could never be well satisfied or content in our minds to have the said Princes and their party for professing of the Religion whereof they have freedom granted to them to be overthrown or distressed by means of partiality of their private Enemies as long as they never required in substance any other thing of the King then a permission to enjoy the benefit of the former Edicts granted unto them for the exercise of their Religion In the which we doe also consider that they had been so long suffered as a great portion of people of his Realm had been in their young years therein nourished and established and without opinion of damnation of their souls they could not change the same so as we pray the King to take this our plain dealing in good part and to interpret of our advice that we are bold to give him as one that meaneth first and principally best to him and his estate and no otherwise to his Subjects then shall in our Judgment further the quietness repose and augmentation of him in Honour Wealth and Surety You shall next to this say that we have partly considered of such Petitions and Demands as we be informed his Subjects have in most humble sort required to be granted to them And we note the substance of them to consist specially upon these points The first that they may be restored to his favour and grace as most humble and faithfull Subjects a thing most meet for a King to be granted both readily and bountifully and consequently to serve him with their lives lands and goods a thing also for a King most profitable to imbrace accept And the next that they may be permitted to serve almighty God by exercise of Christian Religion according to their Profession and to quietness of their Conscience a thing also in the sight of God most commendable and needfull of all Christian Subjects And last that they may have assurance hereof in some better sort then by former experience they have had a matter of most moment to be regarded for a full perfection of all the rest and without the which the rest are of no account In these Suits most humbly presented of Subjects to a most Christian King of so great a multitude of People consisting of such sundry kinds and estates of Princes of his blood of noble Captains of learned men meet for Government and Counsel of valiant
but both in this and all the rest of your Charge you will joyn your self with our Ambassador who for his Acquaintance and his Experience can very sufficiently inform you how to deal If any thing shall be moved to you for the Queen of Scots cause you may say that before your departure and within two or threes daies after that Monsieur de Poigney had been with us we had certain intelligence from Scotland that the Lord Levinston which was sent from the Queen of Scots to solicite the leavying of Arms and to bring some of the Nobilitie to confer both with us and her for ending of the troubles had been with the Duke of Chastelheranlte the Earl of Argile and others joyned with them before the 20 of the last moneth for so his own Letters do testifie to our Cousin the Earl of Sussex our Lieutenant upon our borders towards Scotland and that he found them well content with the Articles accorded by us with the French Ambassador and the Bishop of Ross and that he was well forward in his Commission so as we do look now daily both for a general ceasing of Arms there and for the access of the Noblemen on both parties of that Realm here to treat and conclude upon the Queen of Scots cause And if any further matter be moved unto you in this you shall say that you have no more to say therein When you have been with the King and entred so far into this Charge as our Ambassador and you may see likelihood of the end hereof we would be advertised with all speed possible And if our Ambassador and you think that the hastie yielding of the Deputies in their negociation may bring peril to the cause we think it good that they might be induced to stand somewhat hard therein as policie may serve them without making to them any further aids of money But as yet we do rather give them some countenance to use more earnestness for their own suretie Cecil To the Right Worshipful my very loving Friend Mr. Francis Walsingham Esquire SIr the French Ambassador hath sent hither a Servant of his to demand audience of the Queens Majestie who reporteth that he is to advertise her Majestie of the conclusion of the Peace which was published on Thursday last And for that I could not as yet this morning speak with her Majestie I thought good to give you signification thereof to the intent you might stay until I have herein spoken with her Majestie and by my next Letters advertise you whether her pleasure be that you should wholly stay or otherwise go on your journey with some other Instructions And so I wish you well to do from Chenys this Sundaie morning the 13 of August 1570. Your assured William Cecill To the Right Honorable Sir William Cecill Principal Secretary to her Majestie According to your Honours order I mean to stay till I hear further from you how her Majestie meaneth to dispose of my service and so in the mean time leaving to trouble you I most humblie take my leave From London the 13 of August 1570. Your Honors to Command Francis Walsingham To our trusty and well-beloved F. Walsingham Esq. presently sent unto the French King ELIZABETH R. TRusty and well-beloved we great you well having this daie received Letters from the French King by his Ambassador making mention of towardness of a Peace made with his Subjects so as the Ambassador affirmeth that he taketh it to be assuredly published at Paris the II of this moneth and yet because otherwise we do not make full account thereof but think it meet you shall keep on your journey with this order that if it be not accorded before your coming then you shall proceed as before you were appointed and if it be concluded then shall you deliver these our Letters which we now send directlie to the French King by which we do signifie unto him how we had dispatched you before to move him to make some good end with his subjects and now hearing by his Ambassador of the conclusion we cannot forbear but charge you to proceed specially to congratulate with him for so happy a benefit as by his reconciliation of his Subjects to him we certainly are perswaded that God could not give him a greater And so our pleasure is you shall use all good language to express the joy thereof and to offer all manner of endeavour that is in our power to further the good keeping and continuance thereof And in like manner we would have you by means of our Ambassador to cause the Admiral and his party to understand our intention in the sending of you this time making it appear to them how careful we are of their well-doings and shall be willing to do any thing in our power reasonable to continue to them the fruits of this Accord And to let them also understand that the special sending of you over at this time was chiefly for their cause Given under our Signet at Henly the 15 of August the 12 year of our Reign 1570. A Copy of the Letter sent to Master Secretary touching the negotiation had with the King the 28 of August 1570. SIr it may please your Honour to advertise her Majestie that the King accepted in very good part her Congratulation as from his good Sister and Neighbour who hath alwaies wished his well-doing and prosperity for these were his words after Congratulation done to the King The Queen Mother having inquired of me of the well-doing of her Majestie asked me how the Queen of Scots did I answered her that at my departure for any thing that I knew to the contrary she did very well then she proceeded to enquire of me touching her present estate I answered according to the tenor of my Instructions in what state she stood at my departure wherewith she seemed to rest very well satisfied And then she fell to protestation that for her own part she was so well perswaded of the Queens Majesties merciful disposition as she knew right well that if she did deal any thing hardly with the Queen of Scots it rather proceeded from some of her Ministers then from her Majesties self I replied that I was glad to understand that she conceived so well of the Queen my Mistress's good disposition so was I sorry that she should think that she would be by any of her Ministers or Councellours drawn to any thing eitheâ— towards her or any other that might not stand with her honour for that her skill and years was now to direct and not to be directed I desired her therefore in her Majesties name that she would evermore reserve an ear for her a thing that would not in equity be denied to the meanest person in France who in all her actions hitherto towards the Queen of Scots had dealt with that regard to her honour as she was right able to justifie herself both towards the King her good Brother as also toward all
other Princes Then she made great protestation of her indifferencie and that she is no less affected in good will towards her Majestie whom it pleaseth saith she to do me the honour as to call me by the name of a Mother then to the Queen of Scots her Daughter in Law And therefore in wishing her liberty I do it saith she as much for the Q. your Mistress quientness sake as for any other respect which without her libertie can hardly grow unto her This Sir in effect was the whole course of the speech that passed from her in that behalf which she had then with me apart the King being then in talk with my Lord Ambassador Then she caused the King to deal with me in that behalf to whom I shewed the state of her cause according to the contents of my Instructions wherewith he seemed to be satisfied He told me that he wished that the Queen his good Sister according to her merciful inclination would have some compassion of her cause and grow to some speedy conclusion in that behalf I told him that I doubted not but that her Majestie would for his sake do that which should be to his contentation so far forth as might stand with her hononr and safetie Then he protested that otherwise he would not desire it Thus having imparted to your honor the effect of my Negotiation to the end you may advertise her Majestie I most humblie take my leave From Paris the 29 of August 1570. Your Honours to command F. Walsingham I have caused by my Lord Ambassadors means according to her Majesties order Monsieur Cavanes one of the Commissioners for the Princes to advertise them of her Majesties intention of sending me into these parts as tending chiefly to their benefits which thing he hath alreadie advertised and as I learn there cometh forthwith a Gentleman from the Queen of Navarre and the rest of the Nobilitie the King here being made privy thereof to give her Majestie thanks for the great favour shewed them in this their troubles Thus Sir having advertised you of the Accomplishment of that which was appointed to me to be done by vertue of my Instructions to the end you may impart the same to her Majestie I most humbly take my leave The Copy of my Letter to the Earl of Leicester RIght Honourable and my very good Lord for that I know my Lord Ambassador here imparteth unto your Lordship the present state of things here I shall need the less to trouble your Lordship in that behalf Touching my Message of Congratulation the King accepteth the same in very good part he professeth good will towards the Queen my Mistress and touching the Peace he protesteth to keep and observe the same inviolably which his proceedings hitherto doth very well confirm the same The mutinous Messiems of Paris he hath fundry times since his repair hither very sharply rebuked and charged them with contempt he adviseth them to take another course and saith he will be known to be a King And therefore for that his meaning is that the Edict should be duly observed he commandeth them straitly to look to the due observations of the same The like advertisement hath he given to the Presidents of his Parliament here who seem as yet to stand in some terms with him For whereas the King would have them sworn to the observation of the Edict they refuse the same alledging that in the entrance into their Government they ordinarily take an oath to observe all such Edicts as by the King shall be published what will be the issue of the refusal I know not The King telleth them that the passions of some of his Councellors hath been of more value then his Authoritie and therefore he assureth them which he confirmeth with many an oath that unless they turn over another leaf he will provide him of new Presidents and extend such punishment towards them as their contempt deserveth and may be admonishment to others to avoid the like As I can gather in the time of my short abode here by such a Conference aâ— I have had with some of judgement I find the grounds of the continuance of the Peace to be in number five his own disposition necessitie pleasure the Kings misliking with certain of his Council and his late favouring of others His disposition of Peace is not grown to-him of late but hath been from the beginning as those that have well observed him do testifie and therefore there is the more hope of continuance of the same His necessity hath two parts first he lacketh treasure to maintain the charges of further Wars Secondly those that have served him in these wars are grown so weary of them as men judge that hardly they could have been drawn to continue them any longer Pleasure and Warrs are direct contraries and he being so much inclined to the one as he is an enemy unto the other it is thought therefore that hardly any thing will bring him to do that that may hinder his pleasure His misliking towards the house of Giuse continueth who have been the nourishers of these wars And though of late the Cardinal of Lorrain hath had access to the Kings presence yet is he not repaired in credit neither dealeth he in Government His favour to Montmorencie a chief worker of this Peace increaseth who now carrieth the whole sway of the Court and is restored to the Government of Paris besides he hath procured the displacing of Monluc Monsieur d'Escars and la Valeâ—t and procured to be placed in their rooms c. These my Lord be the grounds that I can gather of the new accord the doubts of the not continuance are in number three First it is thought that this Marriage with the Emperours daughter may draw him from this peaceable inclination Secondly the great conference that is between the Q. Mother and the Cardinal breedeth some doubt of some practise to impeach the same Lastly it is a common fear that Monsieur can hardly digest to live in the degree of a Subject having already the reputation of a King he seemeth yet to run one course with the King in liking and misliking but so to continue it is altogether thought unlikely I have been desirous underhand to search out somewhat touching the thing your Lordship gave me secret informations of yet I can learn nothing thereof though that would be dangerous yet I pray God there be not a thing attempted of more danger which may with more ease be brought to pass I leave your Lordship to consider by that which hath been shewed both hope and fear of the continuance of this peace What will be the issue of this Tragedy I pray God that fall out that may be to his glory and so committing your Lordship to his tuition I most humbly take my leave From Paris the 29 of August 1570. Yours to Command Francis Walsingham To Master Secretary SIr being in doubt whether I might return before
advise given or no my Negociation being done in the end I concluded with my self that it was better to stay and to attend her Majesties order then to return home at all adventure This therefore shall be to desire your Honor that I may by your good means understand her Majesties pleasure in this behalf Touching the state of things here I forbear to write unto your honour for that I know my Lord Ambassador hath fully advertised you And so leaving further to trouble you at this present I most humbly take my leave To our trusty and well-beloved Francis Walsingham Esq present in the Court of France about our affairs ELIZABETH R. TRusty and well-beloved we great you well we perceive by your Letters written from Paris the 29 of the last moneth unto our Secretary how diligently and orderly you have performed the Message and Charge committed unto you which we take in very good and acceptable part being glad to understand your abilitie and fitness to do us further service hereafter And where among other things you desire to know our pleasure for your return unto us or further stay there Forasmuch as we have made choice of you to be our Ambassador Resident with our good Brother the French King instead of Sir Henry Norris whom we are very shortly to revoke we would be very glad so it would stand with your commoditie and without returning back hither you did remain there still for that purpose which if you can do upon signification thereof unto us we shall give order for our Letters of Credence to be addressed unto the said King and to be sent forthwith unto you for your placing with him as our Ambassador Resident there Howbeit if the necessitie of your business be such as you must of force be driven to return over and to settle your things here before you can be able to do us service there then are we well contented if there be no other remedie that you repair over some short while to prepare your self to return back again for our service with as convenient speed as may be Given under our signet at Rycot the 7 of September the 12 year of our Reign 1570. To our Right trusty and well-beloved Sir Henry Norris our Ambassador Resident with our good Brother the French King ELIZABETH R. TRusty and right well-beloved we greet you well whereas Monsieur Moulenet being lately with us did not only bring several Letters from the French King our good Brother and the Queen Mother by which the said King and she expresly required us to use towards the Queen of Scots all honest and favourable treatment due to a Queen of her quality and to set her at libertie and aid her to be restored to her Realm with Authoritie due to her but also according to the credit given by the said Letters he the said Moulenet did at length with very earnest speech deal with us therein alledging that in this doing we should much satisfie the King his Master and procure to our self great honor adding many other Allegations to induce thereunto to the maintenance of the said Moulenets speeches and negotiations Thereunto we have made some brief Answers as the time then served and as we thought meet to satisfie them But yet finding them to continue in their earnest solicitations and in the end earnestly requesting our Answer to the French King we told them that the time did not then conveniently serve us to send such an answer to them as the case required to our good Brother but we would shortly impart our meaning herein more at large by you being our Ambassador there Resident in such sort as we trusted our said Brother and the Queen Mother should find the same reasonable And so will we that you shall with your best opportunitie resort to them both and declare unto them that because of the length and varietie of the matters which we have committed unto you to be declared yet per case it be hard for you to express the same so orderly and readily in speech as you gladly would do you may require of the King license to read unto them in such sort as you have turned it into French a thing usual to this their Ambassador and not to be misliked especially in you that most herein use their language and not your own natural as their Ambassador doth here to his great commoditie And this being granted when you read it our meaning is not you shall deliver the same out of your hands to be kept or copied unless it be very earnestly prest by them And thus it followeth that you shall declare We have considered of the Letters sent unto us by Moulenet from them both with also the further explanation of the Contents thereof by him according to the credit given unto him The sum whereof was to require our favour towards the Queen of Scots in using her with favourable treatment due to a Queen of her qualitie and aiding her with our power to be restored to her Realm and obedience of her Subjects And though we did suddenly say somewhat to Moulenet on our own part to have satisfied him as we have done the like at sundrie other times to their Ambassador here Resident yet not knowing how they have conceived or delivered our speeches to the King our good brother nor how therewith he is satisfied which we are desirous to do in all reasonable requests according to the good Amitie that is and ought to be between us we have thought good at some more length to impart to our good Brother and Queen Mother both our doing and meanings in all this case of the Queen of Scots nothing doubting but the same being by them considered with their indifferent judgements it shall appear that we have done nothing hitherto in this case contrary to honour and reason or otherwise then very necessary and urgent cause hath moved us or might have moved any other Prince having the like cause neither yet in deeming the request of our good Brother the King in such sort and condition as it it made have we given him any occasion of offence towards us And this to do we are moved in good will in respect of the mutual Amitie that is betwixt the King and us and not of any necessitie we have to be accountable to any person for our actions and so we trust the King will accept the same in friendly manner And before he shall know what is to be said on our part we do earnestly require them both as a good Brother and a good Sister according to the fervent offers of their good amitie and perfect love made to us not only by their Letters but by Messages that they both will give ear hereunto as Princes and Persons standing indifferent in this cause without declination of their affection or adverting their judgements to the instigations of any particular persons that are more affectionate of nature to the person of the said Queen
then to the truth of the matter and this being granted as in honour it cannot be denied specially betwixt friends as we make account of them both in all our honorable causes we doubt not but we shall well see that in stead of request or expostulation made to us we shall be found to have deserved praise and thanks for our doings past and shall not be disallowed in forbearing hereafter to grant simply to the requests as they are made And after the King and his Mother shall grant to us this reasonable request you shall proceed and say First we require our good Brother to consider what part of his request hath been alreadie accomplished of our natural disposition and next what part we have not as yet yielded unto and then also he shall see uponwhat just reasons we forbear to assent to the rest of their requests as it is made where we are required to use all honest and gracious treatment due to a Queen of her qualitie The truth is since her flying into our Realm where she escaped an evident danger of her life we caused her to be alwaies honorably attended by persons of Nobilitie and such as were of the ancient Families of our Realm we have entertained her at our charges with a company of her own of such Lords and Ladies as she her self made choice of to remain with her and appointed her houses of such Commoditie of pleasures and pastimes as the Countrey would afford And herein being constrained to say somewhat more for our self then otherwise we would but to answer calumniations we are assuredly informed that for her own Person her Diet and commoditie of Pastâ—me meet for the conservation of her health she for the most part when she lived at her own will in Scotland had no better Entertainment or Diet but rather many times worse and baser as it is well known to all persons that understand both So as for the state and honest and favourable treatment of her own Person we are sure no lack can be found suppressed or rather untrulie reported of us wherein we have been much wronged contrary to our deserts the King our good Brother aâ—d his Mother not a little abused with such untruths If fault have been found that she hath not been used according as a Q. of her quality if therein be meant that she hath not such honour done in the services of her as are due to a Queen she herself is to answer to the same for by her own servants she hath been and is continually served And we think not but that they have therein accomplished their duties according to her desire at the least to speak the truth we are crediblie informed that in Scotland she had commonly less reverence done to her in her services by the self same servants then hath been by them here And as to such of ours as have attended upon her we think they have not forborn to do their duties at all times agreeable to her estate except per case she her self have of her courtesie at sometimes remitted some part thereof to them But for our part truly notwithstanding such great offences as she hath diversly made unto us we have been alwaâ—es careful of her person to be honorably used and of her health to be by all possible good means preserved esteeming it our honor so to have her treated and used being brought into calamity and flying into our Realm as she did But now if the rest that be required be not granted that is to have her aided with our power to the restitution of her Realm we trust to make it manifestly appear that to consent thereunto as is required were not only a great follie in us and dangerous to our Estate but against all common reason and such an errour that neither Prince nor private person having any sense of understanding would commit the circumstances being well considered And though many things be well known commonly to the world for maintenance of this our judgment yet the beginning of these things could not be known to the King our good Brother in respect of his young years and to the Q. Mother though they have been well known yet either her time since occupied with her own dangerous causes or the continuance of perpetual informations for the Scotish Queen or else some part thereof touching the time of her worthie husband King Henry and her son also King Francis may per case have brought the most part of things to oblivion or at least have altered her judgement or else move her to give the less heed to them being now remembred nevertheless as briefly as we can with passing over of a great number of accidents and scruples of offences and especially such as concerned the time of King Henry or King Francis the â—econd which were of no less importance then the assailing of our Crown and Title as the world knoweth we will lay before their eyes these things following to shew how the acts and dealings of the Scotish Q. towards us have provoked us to deal in another manner with her then hitherto we have First she is the person by whom and for whom only it is manifestly known that our Kingdom and Crown was Challenged almost as soon as Almightie God called us by right thereunto And how many waies that Challenge was furthered and maintained prosecuted and published needeth not to be recited for all Nations of Christendom understand it And if we should enter to inform our good Brother the King of the particularities thereof howsoever the same should touch the time of his noble Father King Henry and his Brother King Francis it may be thought he being Son and Brother of such Kings yet he would in his judgement inwardly with himself think us not well used But for avoiding of things displeasant and considering since the same unkindness was shewed in his Fathers and Brothers times a reconciliation of Amitie hath followed which we observe firmlâ— we will omit all other parts and remember only the things done by the Scotish Queen after the death of her husband King Francis when she was at her own libertie We sent our Ambassador to her and being in France we required according to a certain Tâ—eatie of Peace concluded in Iuly 156C by sufficient Commission from King Francis the second her husband and the Q. her self under the several hands and seals aswel of Scotland as of France to confirm the said Treaty as was by their Commissioners having Authoritie covenanted and concluded In which Treatie was concluded Articles of good Amitie betwixt us and her in our Countreys and those as beneficial for her as for us And also a provision and especial Covenant that she should forbear from thenceforth to attempt or offer us any like wrong by challenging of our Crown as she had done before time To this our request delay was made not with alledging any thing to the contrary of our right or maintenance of her former
was stirred and there forbad resort to be made unto her as before was common for all persons but of her own Countrey and ours we see not why this our dealing in so dangerous a time should be blamed being assured that no Christian Prince in like case would have done less And therein we durst appeal to the judgement of any Prince or Potentate in the world that will profess any indifferencie in judgement yea we dare think that even herself and her most affectionate friends cannot think us here to have dealt unreasonably The like might be thought also in that we have of late restrained one whom she used as her Ambassador being a Bishop whom we used almost as one of our own for her sake upon due information that he hath been a principal motioner and nourisher of this late Rebellion by divers means A matter to be as much allowed for us to do in the stay from subversion of our Realm as were to stay and restrain one that would bring more fire to a Citie which he hath already set on fire In this sort we have so nearly represented to the King our good Brother and the Queen his Mother some part of such circumstances of the Queen of Scots cause as we doubt not but reason honor and good will shall move them to conceive of us as we should be the like to conceive of them if they had the like cause with any other Prince as we have with the Queen of Scots having thought meet to omit a multitude of other circumstances tending also to this end because we would not extend this our letter to overmuch length for wearying the King with Declaration thereof But if the King could but imagine or the Queen Mother for him how some other Prince might have attempted the like dangers to his Estate and Crown and continued the like offences towards him where he had shewed kindness we are assured they might think it somewhat in us if we should after the truth declared move the King for any particular respect of a third person to consent to that which should plainly after hazard his Estate being our Friend and by some such imagination of a like cause we think their judgements shall be best directed thereof Sorry would we be that any like indeed should happen unto him to inform him how to judge in our case When you have thus done if the King or his Mother shall object any thing hereupon as it were in excuse of the Queen of Scots or intreating further for her you may say in answer That whatsover it shall please them to move unto you you will make report thereof and doubt not howsoever the Queen of Scots doings have deserved other dealing yet our natural inclination towards her is by our doings so manifest as in any reasonable request we doubt not but we should be found reasonable to have regard to the King our good Brothers motions and requests that may stand with our honor and safetie to accord unto and so we trust the K. meaneth not to propound any thing unto us otherwise then in good terms of friendship whereby alwaies they that are to make demands or requests to their friends do regard how they may stand to the safetie of their friends and so hath Moulenet and the French Ambassador certified unto us that the intention of our good Brother is to no other end You shall also inform the King that after we had given order to cause thus much to be written his Ambassador came to us and signified the good will of our good Brother in imparting to us the double of such answers as he had made to the Demand of the Queen of Navarre and the Prince of Navarre and Conde and others for the which his dealing with us in such friendly sort to make us participate of his doings we heartily thank him and as we answered his Ambassador so you may say also to the Queen That except we might understand what the said Queen and the rest with others have to say to this offer we cannot give any resolute judgement thereof But we think the King shall do a godly act and both honourable and profitable to himself and his Country if he shall give them assurance of their lives So as they may change that common opinion which is in the World that they have their lives more safe whilest they take up Armes then they were in time when the peace was granted to them such hath bin the insolency of evil ministers to break the Kings commandement and endanger the Credit of his word and promise And in our opinion nothing is so hard in all this matter as assurance to them to enjoy that which shall be granted and if our Credit or opinion with them may help them to accept the Kings favour so as we might see in what sort they might therefore be sure notwithstanding the interruptions of evill ministers we would be glad to be the furtherer of so good an act as thereby the King might have an universall quietness in his Countries The Ambassador also now moved us that we would take Care that no aid of Armor or Weapon should be by us or our license Conveyed to Rotchel to the maintenance of the Kings Subjects there whom he nâ—meth Rebells whereunto our answer was that we did direct no person thither or licensed any to carry any thing thither that might offend the King But generally we must permit our subjects as Merchants to resort for their trade to all places indifferent in France wishing that they might find like trade in others parts for their necessitie as they do by likelyhood in Rotchel and that we would not doubt but they would follow their Comodity in other places and not at Rotchel for generally Merchants follow where gain is most with surety and friendly usage and so you may make report to the King Lastly the Ambassador moved us in the Kings name to understand whether he might assure the King that we made no leavie of Souldiers in Almaigne as it was commonly reported whereunto we answered that presently we made none but yet we have such friendship with sundrie Princes of Almaigne as if we should have need to require any numbers for our service if any unkindness by force should be offered us by any our neighbours we can speedily thereof be furnished and for the state of our Realm we are determined indeed to prepare a force both by Sea and by land whereof if the King shall hear we require him to conceive no jealousie of our evill meaning towards him and his Countries trusting that from him no occasion shall grow to alter our Amitie Given under our signet at our Honour of Hampton Court the 23 of Febr. 1569 in the 12 yeare of our reigne A Note of such doubts as I desired to be resolved of by her Majestie before my entring into my charge WHether I should treat onely with the King and in Case the King either
with sickness or to follow his pleasures refer me over to his mother or to Monsieur his brother Whether it be her Majesties pleasure I shall treat with them For that the King giveth a deaf eare to a long negotiation whether having occasion to deal with him from her Majestie in some matter of weight and length I shall not exhibite the same to him in writing declaring first by mouth the effect thereof and if I shall exhibite it in writing whether her Majestie shall not think it most expedient to deliver the same either in Italian or Latin for avoiding of such Cavelling as may be made upon the translation to French whereof Sir Henry Norris hath had experience How far forth and in what sort from time to time I shall deal with the Rebells that presently are retired into France or hereafter shall retire How I shall behave my self in any publick Assembly towards the Ambassador aswell of Spain as of Portugall either in taking or giving place To my very loving Friend Francis Walsingham Esq appointed for Ambassador to the French King SIr I send you herewith the Queen Majesties instructions as they are finished and her Majesties pleasure is that you should not forbear your journey but proceed and if on the way you come to certain knowledge of the Kings speedier entrie into Paris meet to accelerat my Lord of Buckhurstes comming thither her Majestie would have you send some in haste back And so not well able to write any further but to end with my heartie wishing you a prosperous journey to your hearts desire 23 December 1570. Yours assuredly William Cecil Instructions â—iven to our trusty and wel-beloved servant Fra. Walsingham Esq presently sent to be our Ambassador Resident with our good Brother the French King the 19 of December 1570. ELIZABETH R. FOrasmuch as we are already determined to license our trustie and wel-beloved Sir Henry Norris Knight who hath of a long time served us faithfully as our Ambassador with the French King our good Brother to repaire over unto us and to leave that place and that we have made speciall choice of you upon a singular liking of your vertuousand good conditions to serve us in the same place wherein we trust our expectations shall be well satisfied of your fidelitie and diligence And for the rest also we doubt not but by the experience which you shall daiely have you shall be able to accomplish that which shall be requisite and for the better instruction of you we have thought meet to cause to be delivered unto you in writing these few things hereafter following by way of memoriall After you have delivered you letters and and bin presented to the King by our foresaid Ambassador whom you shall suceed for the doing whereof our said Ambassador can sufficiently direct you and will we doubt not but make good recommendations of you to the French King to the Queen Mother and others such as shall be thought meet we will that you shall use such speech unto them that it may appeare that your special Charge is to be a Minister for the conservation of the good Amitie that is betwixt us and the King and Consequently to preserve Concord and mutuall entercourse betwixt the Subjects of both our Countries according to the good Treaties that remaine betwixt us for that purpose and therefore considering you are so determined for your dutie sake to us and for the good that may ensue thereof you shall require them if at any time any thing to the contrarie shall be conceived of you as we trust shall not because you mean to give no occasion yet it may please them before any such judgement be conceived of you it may be in some wise declared as they may understand our answer wherewith you doubt not but to satisfie them Your office consisting of sundry parts the first and principall shall be to continue there aswell to execute our commandement and to deliver our letters and messages upon matters occurrent as to require and to receive answers and to the best that you can to procure thereupon reasonable and speedy resolutions as the nature of the matter shall import for the well doing whereof we must referre you hereafterwards to such particular directions as we shall send you by our speciall Letters whereby you shall be best directed in manner to proceed The second shall be to have continual regard to all manner of their doings there aswell private as publick that may be prejudiciall to us or our estate And therefore after good consideration and knowledge thereof had to advertise us diligently and secretly and to this end you shall do well to require of our said Ambassador your predecessor some good information by what means you may attaâ—n to the knowledge of things needfull and requisite and whom you may best trust and use to attaine to the more certenitie and if any thing be discovered unto you at any time that shall seem of importance that the information thereof may well abide the time of your advertisement to us and to answer again we leave it to your consideration and discretion to omit no time convenient but to resort to the King or some other as you shall think meet to declare what you understand and mislike and in what sort it is hurtfull to the Amitie betwixt us And therefore to require some information or some plain answer meet to be imparted to us for discharge of your duty And that in this behalf you shall not use by way of complaint upon any light intelligence but you do first by conference of things together find the matter to be true and worthy of complaint least hereafter lesse regard be had to you when you shall have just cause to complain The third is to have regard to such suites as our Subjects using the trade of Merchandise within those Realms shall have cause to make that they may have by your soliciting readie expedition with justice upon causes of depredations or arrests or any such injuries or molestations and therein to solicite such of the Kings Counsell as you shall find to have charge thereof letting them to understand that besides the bond of Justice whereunto they do direct the King such favourable expedition of our Subjects shall provoke us and our ministers to do the like and shall also breed mutuall love betwixt the Subjects on both parties and give cause to a more frequentation of intercourse of Merchants being a thing beneficiall to both the Realms And because you shall be the more able to understand and to treate in your conferences negotiation upon any thing generally touching the Amitie betwixt the King and us or more particularly for the deciding and determining of any causes that may come in controversie for the trade and intercourse of Merchandise betwixt the Subjects of both our Countries kingdoms you shall do well to have with you some Copies of the treaties now remaning in force betwixt us
therefore I leave to make you partaker of such brutes as are here occurrent at the Governours hands here I was well received who is one that hath alwaies shewed himself well inclined to our Nation in these times of jealousie and unkindnesse that hath raigned betwixt the two Countries Touching my own particular if my charges continue as they begin whereof there is small hope to the contrary except there be some extraordinary consideration had of me by your good means in transportation my allowance will not suffice to beare half my charges I would therefore most humblie desire you at the time of the receipt of the bill to weigh it accordingly Before my departure I was earnestly requested by Mr. H. Cobham to recommend unto you a cause in controversie between him and Mr. Cartwright committed to your hearing and redresse who desireth your convenient favour which I beseech you Sir the rather he may receive for my sake And so leaving further to trouble your Lordship at this present I commit you to Gods protection From Bullen the 2 Ianuary 1571. Your Lordships to command Fr. Walsingham To the Queen most excellent Majesty MAy it please your most excellent Majestie to be advertised receiving your Highness Letters of the 16 of Ianuary and perceiving your gracious pleasure touching my Revocation I cannot but aswell for this as your most favourable acceptance of my service during my residence here in most humble wise acknowledge those favours of you And after having conference with Mr. Francis Walsingham at good large further of your Majesties meaning we both sent to the Court to demand Audience but the King being then newly removed from Chantilly and the Queen Mother repairing hither to Paris our Audience was by her deferred untill the Kings coming to Madrid where the Court being setled the 21 of Ianuary we were requested in the Kings name to come thither the 25 of the same and repairing thither at the pointed time we were entertained by Monsieur de Lause who by the Kings appointment dined with us After dinner being once ended Chevalier de Sener was likewise sent from the King to accompany us so after we were advised by Sir Gihoronovi Gondi to repaire to the Kings presence and staying a while in the Chamber of presence being curteously intertained by the Duke of Nevers and the Nobilitie The King came forth Then I Sir Henry Norris drawing near to him said That her Majestie perceiving nothing more necessarie to entertain the good Amitie and intelligence between Princes then their devotion of good Ministers had chosen this Gentleman Mr Francis Walsingham being discended of a good house approved vertue and like sincerity to succeed me and to reside your Majesties Ambassador near his person not doubting but according to your Majesties charge given him in that behalf he would use all means possible to entertaine the good and neighbourly Amitie between your Majestie and likewise the continuance of the entercourse and traffique between your Realms and Subjects which I praied God long to continue to his glory to the increase of your Honours and tranquilitie of your Realms and all Christendom Also I declared that your Majestie had sent certain Letters unto him his wife and mother whereupon the King giving you most hearty thanks of your choise of a Gentleman so well qualified and desirous to continue that thing which he so much wished he required me to cause the Gentleman to come to him Then I Francis Walsingham being thus presented by Sir Henry Norris after ordinary salutations done I delivered your Majesties Letters which after he had caused to be read by his Secretarie Pinart I shewed him the great charge you gave me so to direct my course in this service as might best tend to the maintenance of the good Amitie between your Majesties as also the free traffique and Intercourse between the Subjects of both your Realms which thing aswell for duties sake towards your Majestie as the reverence I beare him and the great benefit that would grow to both your Realms I said I would not faile to observe with what care and sincerity I might And therefore desired him that I might come to my answer which I doubted not should be such as he should rest therewith satisfied and I justified To this after enquire made of your Majesties health he answered That he he could not but conceive great hope of continuance of Amitie betwixt her Majestie and him for that you had made choise of one to supplie this place so well inclined to entertain it as he hath given him to understand by his Ambassador that I was he said therefore that I was very welcome and should at all times receive at his hands for your Majesties sake gracious Audience for the which I rendred him most humble thanks and told him That I hoped that I should do nothing unworthy the good opinion he had conceived of me And touching the gracious Audience promised I doubt not but that his Ministers both heretofore had and hereafter should receive the like at your Majesties hands Those ordinarie Ceremonies ended being requested by the Deputies of the Princes of the Religion to recommend their cause at this present for it is generally conceived that the Ambassador sent hither from the Princes of Germany who besides congratulating the Marriage recommended the observation of the Edict which was a thing procured by your Majestie as with whom you have some secret league do concurre in all things that tend to the advancement of Religion me thought I could do no lesse but say somwhat in that behalf both for that I thought the opinion conceived of the League and concurrencie worthy the nourishment as also for that by your Majesties instructions I am appointed to do any thing that may advance their cause so farre forth as may stand with your Honour and to that end your Majestie may judge whither I kept my self within that compasse I thought it my dutie to send you the effect of that I said whereby if I failed in any thing being by your Majestie admonished thereof I may hereafter avoid to offend in the like I declared unto him that your Majestie willed me to signifie unto him that you as his good and loving sister who wished unto him all prosperitie and thinketh none so great as quietness of Government do not a little rejoyce to heare of the great care he taketh for the due observation of the Edict lately published as that thing which maketh him honourable and of great reputation with all Princes that are not carried away with passion and that you do not a little wonder to see his Majestie in these young years able through his great foresight and wisdome to quench a fire of so great a Consequence and danger as lately was kindled and dispersed through his whole Realm and now through Gods goodness and his good order was at this presence utterly extinguished an example for the rareness thereof worthy to be honoured
in him and followed in all other Princes who preferre good Goverment and the preservation of their Subjects before tyrannie and destruction of the same I told him further that your Majestie hoped that he now findeth a difference between the advise of those Princes his neighbours that advised him to continue the Warres to the hazarding of his State and destruction of his Subjects and yours and other Princes that exhorted him to the contrary who judged alwaies Peace and concord tending most to his safetie and their preservation And therefore for that experience now the best means hath taught him to know the inconveniences of the one and the profit of the other your Majestie doubteth not but as of his own inclination he hath alwaies bin given rather to peace to preserve his subjects a property of a good and loving Prince then by sword and violence to consume them a thing most fit for a Tyrant So he will continue the said course that tendeth most to the due execution of his said Edict the only meanes to preserve quietness that now reigneth in his kingdome This course unto God so acceptable for himself so honourable and for his subjects so profitable if any should seek to impeach for that it is most commonly seen that good purposes aswell in Princes as privat men have many hinderers be he either a subject unnaturall or a neighbour evill affected as envious at his repose Your Majestie offereth your self with all aid and power to assist him to your uttermost against all such as shall seek or hinder him in so good and godly a purpose And as your Majestie resteth herein affected towards him so you doubt not but God who hath wrought this godly inclination will raise up other Princes to assist him and to be likewise affected towards him in this behalf And that therefore your Majestie prayeth God to blesse him in this course and to remove from him all such as shall hinder him in so noble an enterprise to whom your Majestie wisheth as prosperous successe as ever Prince had that occupied his place and Seat To this he answered that he had right good cause to accept in good part your Majesties advertisement whom he must needs acknowledge to have alwaies as his good Sister and as on carefull of his well doing advised him to that which was best both for himself and his Country he willed me therefore to assure your Majestie that the onely care he presently had was to entertain the peace whereof the Q. of Navar and the Princes of the Religion could well be witnesses as also generally the whole Realm To this I replied that I could not fail to advertise your Majestie both of his well accepting of your advertisment as also of the good inclination towards the sincere observation of the Edict which newes I did assure would be to your Majestie most welcome After I had thus ended with the King and finding the Queen his wife absent who by report the night past had a fit of a fever I signified unto him that I had further Commission from your Majestie to present unto her your Letters and shew unto her notwithstanding you Majestie had made choise of a personage honourable to congratulate their Marriage whose comming onely staied upon the certainty of his entrie yet your pleasure was that in the mean time I should have also executed the said office which I would have gladly done if it might have bin without her trouble whereunto he answered that the night passed she had the fit of a fever which he thought would not long coâ—tinue But hoped that within four or five daies she would be in that good state of health as I might have accesse unto her unto whom he assured me that both your Majesties Letters as also the office of congratulation whereunto I was appointed should be accepted in very good part as from their good and loving Sister This is the effect of my speech unto the King from your Majestie the which ended making our reverences we were conducted by Monsieur de Laâ—sac to the Queen Mother and because incontinent after dinner we understood by Sig. Gondi some alteration of wonted custom and that we should for the Solemnitie visit apart the Queen Mother and her two Sons we thereupon resolved to keep one course in our several speeches to them and coming to the Queen I Sir Henry Norris declaring the qualitie of the Gentleman your Majestie had sent to be presented your Ambassador Resident his good inclination towards the continuance of the Amitie between your Majestie and the King her Son she eftsoons answered that she nothing doubted of your Majesties good election she required the Gentleman to come to her Then I Frâ—ncis Walsingham after due salutation presented your Majesties Letters and used to her speeches as before to the King concerning your Majesties charge given me for the entertaining of the good Amitie between the King her Son and you I also recommended unto her the observation of the Edict being so requested to do by the Deputies of the Princes of the Religion as also so to do the like to the Kings Brethren My speech therefore from your Majestie unto her in this behalf was that you were glad to hear that she had not only the reputation and honour to be a chief maker of Peace and Union lately accorded but also to be a chief Conserver of the same wherefore as one that wished unto her all honour and reputation you could but wish unto her preservation in this course so much to her honour to the Kings safety and to the general benefit of his Countrey Whereunto she answered that she could not but accept in very good part both recommending your choice so well inclined to entertain the Amitie between your Majesties as they were fully assured thereof by their Ambassador Resident in England doubting not but such effects should follow as should redound to both your Majesties contentations Being thus licensed of the Queen we were streight brought to Monsieur de Anjous Chamber where I Sir Henry Norris declaring this Gentleman to be sent by your Majestie to succeed me was not only commanded by you to entertain the good Amitie but likewise to bear that respect unto him and the Duke his Brother as towards your good Cousins and Parsonages of great account and value The Duke thanking me for this my good relation requested the Gentleman to come unto him Whereupon I Francis Walsingham approaching near unto him making reverence I shewed him that you willed me to do your commendations to him and further to tell him that your were glad to understand that he did so honorably concur together with the King his Brother in sincere and due observation of the Edict whereby he did not only get generally with all men the honour to be reputed a Prince of courage in time of war but also of Councel in time of peace which courage you doubted not but he would continue in
respect of the good will he bare to the King and his Countrey and the regard that he had of his own honour And further I shewed him that your Majestie gave me commandment during my charge here to behave my self towards him and the King his Brother with that good respect as was fit for me towards your Cousins and Princes of that qualitie that they were of Whereunto he answered with great courtesie that he thanked your Majestie for your commendations as from a Princess of that honour you are and whom he so much reverenced Secondarily for the good encouragement you gave him to be a good instrument for the observation of the Edict which thing he was bound to do in respect of his dutie towards the King and his Countrey so shall your advertisement be of no small force with him in who is one that hath alwaies shewed himself well inclined to our Nation in these times of jealousie and unkindnesse that hath raigned betwixt the two Countries Touching my own particular if my charges continue as they begin whereof there is small hope to the contrary except there be some extraordinary consideration had of me by your good means in transportation my allowance will not suffice to beare half my charges I would therefore most humblie desire you at the time of the receipt of the bill to weigh it accordingly Before my departure I was earnestly requested by Mr. H. Cobham to recommend unto you a cause in controversie between him and Mr. Cartwright committed to your hearing and redresse who desireth your convenient favour which I beseech you Sir the rather he may receive for my sake And so leaving further to trouble your Lordship at this present I commit you to Gods protection From Bullen the 2 Ianuary 1571. Your Lordships to command Fr. Walsingham To the Queen most excellent Majesty MAy it please your most excellent Majestie to be advertised receiving your Highness Letters of the 16 of Ianuary and perceiving your gracious pleasure touching my Revocation I cannot but aswell for this as your most favourable acceptance of my service during my residence here in most humble wise acknowledge those favours of you And after having conference with Mr. Francis Walsingham at good large further of your Majesties meaning we both sent to the Court to demand Audience but the King being then newly removed from Chantilly and the Queen Mother repairing hither to Paris our Audience was by her deferred untill the Kings coming to Madrid where the Court being setled the 21 of Ianuary we were requested in the Kings name to come thither the 25 of the same and repairing thither at the pointed time we were entertained by Monsieur de Lause who by the Kings appointment dined with us After dinner being once ended Chevalier de Sener was likewise sent from the King to accompany us so after we were advised by Sir Gihoronovi Gondi to repaire to the Kings presence and staying a while in the Chamber of presence being curteously intertained by the Duke of Nevers and the Nobilitie The King came forth Then I Sir Henry Norris drawing near to him said That her Majestie perceiving nothing more necessarie to entertain the good Amitie and intelligence between Princes then their devotion of good Ministers had chosen this Gentleman Mr. Francis Walsingham being discended of a good house approved vertue and like sincerity to succeed me and to reside your Majesties Ambassador near his person not doubting but according to your Majesties charge given him in that behalf he would use all means possible to entertaine the good and neighbourly Amitie between your Majestie and likewise the continuance of the entercourse and traffique betwen your Realms and Subjects which I praied God long to continue to his glory to the increase of your Honours and tranquilitie of your Realms and all Christendom Also I declared that your Majestie had sent certain Letters unto him his wife and mother whereupon the King giving you most hearty thanks of your choise of a Gentleman so well qualified and desirous to continue that thing which he so much wished he required me to cause the Gentleman to come to him Then I Francis Walsingâ—â— being thus presented by Sir Henry Norris after ordinary salutations done I delivered your Majesties Letters which after he had caused to be read by his Secretarie Pinart I shewed him the great charge you gave me so to direct my course in this service as might best tend to the maintenance of the good Amitie between your Majesties as also the free traffique and Intercourse between the Subjects of both your Realms which thing aswell for duties sake towards your Majestie as the reverence I beare him and the great benefit that would grow to both your Realms I said I would not faile to observe with what care and sincerity I might And therefore desired him that I might come to my answer which I doubted not should be such as he should rest therewith satisfied and I justified To this after enquire made of your Majesties health he answered That he he could not but conceive great hope of continuance of Amitie betwixt her Majestie and him for that you had made choise of one to supplie this place so well inclined to entertain it is he hath given him to understand by his Ambassador that I was he said therefore that I was very welcome and should at all times receive at his hands for your Majesties sake gracious Audience for the which I rendred him most humble thanks and told him That I hoped that I should do nothing unworthy the good opinion he had conceived of me And touching the gracious Audience promised I doubt not but that his Ministers both heretofore had and hereafter should receive the like at your Majesties hands Those ordinarie Ceremonies ended being requested by the Deputies of the Princes of the Religion to recommend their cause at this present for it is generally conceived that the Ambassador sent hither from the Princes of Germany who besides congratulating the Marriage recommended the observation of the Edict which was a thing procured by your Majestie as with whom you have some secret league do concurâ—e in all things that tend to the advancement of Religion me thought I could do â—o lesse but say somwhat in that behalf both for that I thought the opinion conceived of the League and concurrenâ—ie worthy the nourishment as also for that by your Majesties instructions I am appointed to do any thing that may advance their cause so farre forth as may stand with your Honour and to that end your Majestie may judge whither I kept my self within that compasse I thought it may dutie to send you the effect of that I said whereby if I failed in any thing being by your Majestie admonished thereof I may hereafter avoid to offend in the like I declared unto him that your Majestie willed me to signifie unto him that you as his good and loving sister who wished unto him all
prosperitie and thinketh none so great as quietness of Government do not a little rejoyce to heare of the great care he taketh for the due observation of the Edict lately published as that thing which maketh him honourable and of great reputation with all Princes that are not carried away with passion and that you do not a little wonder to see his Majestie in these young years able through his great foresight and wisdome to quench a fire of so great a Consequence and danger as lately was kindled and dispersed through his whole Realm and now through Gods goodness and his good order was at this presence utterly extinguished an example for the rareness shereof worthy to be honoured in him and followed in all other Princes who preserve good Goverment and the preservation of their Subjects before tyrannie and destruction of the same I told him further that your Majestie hoped that he now findeth a difference between the advise of those Princes his neighbours that advised him to continue the Waves to the 〈…〉 of his State and destruction of his Subjects and 〈◊〉 and other Princes that exhorted him to the contrary who judged alwaies Peace and concord tending most to his safetie and their preservation And therefore for that experience now the best means hath taught him to know the inconveniences of the one and the profit of the other your Majestie doubteth not but as of his own inclination he hath alwaies bin given rather to peace to preserve his subjects a property of a good and loving Prince then by sword and violence to consume them a thing most fit for a Tyrant So he will continue the said course that tendeth most to the due execution of his said Edict the only meanes to preserve quietness that now reigneth in his kingdome This course unto God so acceptable for himself so honourable and for his subjects so profitable if any should seek to impeach for that it is most commonly seen that good purposes aswell in Princes as privat men have many hinderers be he either a subject unnaturall or a neighbour evill affected as envious at his repose Your Majestie offereth your self with all aid and power to assist him to your uttermost against all such as shall seek or hinder him in so good and godly a purpose And as your Majestie resteth herein affected towards him so you doubt not but God who hath wrought this godly inclination will raise up other Princes to assist him and to be likewise affected towards him in this behalf And that therefore your Majestie prayeth God to blesse him in this course and to remove from him all such as shall hinder him in so noble an enterprise to whom your Majestie wisheth as prosperous successe as ever Prince had that occupied his place and Seat To this he answered that he had right good cause to accept in good part your Majesties advertisement whom he must needs acknowledge to have alwaies as his good Sister and as on carefull of his well doing advised him to that which was best both for himself and his Country he willed me therefore to assure your Majestie that the onely care he presently had was to entertain the peace whereof the Q. of Navar and the Princes of the Religion could well be witnesses as also generally the whole Realm To this I replied that I could not fail to advertise your Majestie both of his well accepting of your advertisment as also of the good inclination towards the sincere observation of the Edict which newes I did assure would be to your Majestie most welcome After I had thus ended with the King and finding the Queen his wife absent who by report the night past had a fit of a fever I signified unto him that I had further Commission from your Majestie to present unto her your Letters and shew unto her notwithstanding you Majestie had made choise of a personage honourable to congratulate their Marriage whose comming onely staied upon the certainty of his entire yet your pleasure was that in the mean time I should have also executed the said office which I would have gladly done if it might have bin without her trouble whereunto he answered that the night passed she had the fit of a fever which he thought would not long continue But hoped that within four or five daies she would be in that good state of health as I might have accesse unto her unto whom he assured me that both your Majesties Letters as also the office of congratulation whereunto I was appointed should be accepted in very good part as from their good and loving Sister This is the effect of my speech unto the King from your Majestie the which ended making our reverences we were conducted by Monsieur de Lassac to the Queen Mother and because incontinent after dinner we understood by Sig. Gâ—ndi some alteration of wonted custom and that we should for the Solemnitie visit apart the Queen Mother and her two Sons we thereupon resolved to keep one course in our several speeches to them and coming to the Queen I Sir Henry Norris declaring the qualitie of the Gentleman your Majestie had sent to be presented your Ambassador Resident his good inclination towards the continuance of the Amitie between your Majestie and the King her Son she estsoons answered that she nothing doubted of your Majesties good election she required the Gentleman to come to her Then I Frâ—ncis Walsingham after due salutation presented your Majesties Letters and used to her speeches as before to the King concerning your Majesties charge given me for the entertaining of the good Amitie between the King her Son and you I also recommended unto her the observation of the Edict being so requested to do by the Deputies of the Princes of the Religion as also so to do the like to the Kings Brethren My speech therefore from your Majestie unto her in this behalf was that you were glad to hear that she had not only the reputation and honour to be a chief maker of Peace and Union lately accorded but also to be a chief Conserver of the same wherefore as one that wished unto her all honour and reputation you could but wish unto her preservation in this course so much to her honour to the Kings safety and to the general benefit of his Countrey Whereunto she answered that she could not but accept in very good part both recommending your choice so well inclined to entertain the Amitie between your Majesties as they were fully assured thereof by their Ambassador Resident in England doubting not but such effects should follow as should redound to both your Majesties contentations Being thus licensed of the Queen we were streight brought to Monsieur de Anjous Chamber where I Sir Henry Norris declaring this Gentleman to be sent by your Majestie to succeed me was not only commanded by you to entertain the good Amitie but likewise to bear that respect unto him and the Duke his Brother as
towards your good Cousins and Parsonages of great account and value The Duke thanking me for this my good relation requested the Gentleman to come unto him Whereupon I Francis Walsingham approaching near unto him making reverence I shewed him that you willed me to do your commendations to him and furtsher to tell him that your were glad to understand that he did so honorably concur together with the King his Brother in sincere and due observation of the Edict whereby he did not only get generally with all men the honour to be reputed a Prince of courage in time of war but also of Councel in time of peace which courage you doubted not but he would continue in respect of the good will he bare to the King and his Countrey and the regard that he had of his own honour And further I shewed him that your Majestie gave me commandment during my charge here to behave my self towards him and the King his Brother with that good respect as was fit for me towards your Cousins and Princes of that qualitie that they were of Whereunto he answered with great courtesie that he thanked your Majestie for your commendations as from a Princess of that honour you are and whom he so much reverenced Secondarily for the good encouragement you gave him to be a good instrument for the observation of the Edict which thing he was bound to do in respect of his dutie towards the King and his Countrey so shall your advertisement be of no small force with him in that behalf For my self he told me that during the time of my service here I should receive for your Majesties sake any favour he could do for me And after we had taken our leave of the Duke anon we were brought to the Duke of Alansons Chamber to whom after we had used part of such speeches as we thought aptest for his capacity and he making such answer as may be expected of his young years we departed from him returning to the place of our retreat and so that night to Paris This being as near as our memories can serve us of all that in this Presenting and Negotiation hath been either delivered by us or received from them the which we humbly submittting to your Majesties wisdom and consideration beseech the Almighty long to preserve you in all prosperity From Paris the nine and twentieth of Ianuary 1571. Your Majesties most humble Subjects and Servants Henry Norris Francis Walsingham To the Right Honorable Sir William Cecil her Majesties principal Secretary SIr I have received at Sir Henry Norris hands aswel all such Copies as concern the Scotish affairs whereby I may be the better directed hereafter how to proceed therein as also all other instructions as may concern her Majesties affairs Touching common matters I refer your Honour to this inclosed of common Occurrents The matters of secrecie here at the least such and so many as I can learn are these The Pope the King of Spain and the rest of the Confederates upon the doubt of a match between the Queen my Mistress and Monsieur do seek by what means they can to disswade and draw him from the same They offer him to be the head and chief executionar of the League against the Turk a thing now newly renewed though long ago meant vvhich League is thought to stretch to as many as they repute to be Turks although better Christians then themselves The cause of the Cardinal of Lorraigns repair hither from Reyms as it is thought vvas to this purpose The King as lately he uttered to le Sieur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seeming very much to mislike hereof utterred these vvords unto him If this matter go forvvard it behoâ—eth me to make some counter-league I find the Germans saith he vvell-affected tovvards me and as for the Queen of England I knovv she hath good cause to mislike of this League as I my self have and therefore I suppose vvould be glad to joyn vvith me To vvhom the other replied that he vvas glad that he savv his danger for that he hoped he vvould provide for the remedy and vvished his Majestie that he vvould not forstovv the matter And therefore advised him for that the Princes Ambassador of Germany vvere not departed that the matâ—er might be broken to them vvhich thing the King thought not convenient for that that he thought their Ansvver vvould be that they had no Commission to deal in any such matteer but rather thought it more meet to send one of his ovvn Then the other told him that if he did did send any body it behoved him to make choice of one that vvas no Catholique for othervvise he should not be to them either grateful or trustful Whereupon the King named Monsieur Biron though he be not thought to be a Hugonot yet is he not taken to be your enemie Whereupon the other answered that he had made choice of a very fit person After he had made me acquainted with this matter he asked me how I thought the King should find the Queen affected I asked him whether he had any Commission so far forth to deal with me He told me no but he desired me to say frankly my opinion how I judged the Queen my Mistress would be inclined To whom I answered that for my own private opinion I thought not but that her Majestie would very well like of it First in respect of the common cause of Religion Secondly in respect of the good will she beareth the King whose friendship above all other Princes she doth chiefly embrace And lastly in respect of her own safety And as for my self for these respects when the matter shall grow to some further moving it shall not lack any furtherance that I can give him The said party the day before this Message came unto me and told me that he was wished from I. to give me to understand that Malicorne who was sent into Spain to congratulate the Marriage and is lately returned reporteth that Iulian Remero at his being here was dispatched from the Court to Ireland where he was to do some great enterprise Further he reported unto me that the King here is angry for that his Congratulation was not accepted of the King of Spain in so good part as he looked for but seemed to take some exception of the Kings Letters for that certain words of controversie to be usually put in such Letters as passed between them were now omitted And further to the increase of this unkindness the King of Portugal to whom the Kings Sister was offered in Marriage sent an answer by Malicorne that they were both young and that therefore about eight years hence that matter might be better talked of which disdainful answer is accepted here in very ill part and is thought not to be done without the counsel of Spain And amongst all others none taketh the matter more grievously then Queen Mother who thinketh her self not a little injured for the late friendship she
hath professed to Spain He forgot not to renew the speech that passed between us touching the League desiring me to use some means to feel how her Majestie is inclined which I promised to do And therefore I shall desire you to move her Majestie in that behalf that I may receive some direction how to proceed therein And so leaving further to trouble your honor at this present I most humbly take leave From Paris the 28 of Ianuary 1571. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham The Lord Seton who lately came out of Flanders to demand succour as I am informed is deferred over for answer untill the Entry be past He â—â—eth here as I am given further to understand with good store of Horse and Armour and very well furnished with money To the Right Honorable Sir William Cecill her Majesties Principal Secretary SIr after the closing up of my Letters I was certified by a Gentleman that came presently from the Court that the King is grown very sick of a burning Ague whereupon it is thought that the time appointed for the entry should be put over until after Easter I will seek by what means I can for the certaintie and so afterwards advertise you So leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humblie take my leave From Paris the 28 of Ianuary Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honorable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester RIght Honourable and my very good Lord touching the present state of France I refer you to the common Occurrents here inclosed and leave unto you by them to judge what likelihood there is of continuance of the Peace lately here amongst them accorded The best ground of continuance that I can learn by those that can best judge is the Kings own inclination which is thought sincerely to be bent that way Touching his affection towards the Queen my Mistress if outward entertainment may be a just argument of inward affection then surely there is great likelihood of continuance of Amitie and Concord For first I was in all those places where the King had Governors very well received Then at the time when Sir Henry Norris and I were appointed to have access to the Court for my presentment which was at Madrill we were invited to dinner presently upon our Arrival there Laufay by the Kings appointment received us and brought us to the place where our dinner was prepared where we lacked no store of good meat immediately after dinner Chevaleir Thaers sent by the King came and told us that he was readie to give us audience to whom we repaired and were most graciously received at his hands who made great demonstration by outward speech and countenance of great good will towards the Queen my Mistress Besides my ordinarie speeches concerning her Majesties charge to behave my self in such sort as might tend to the best continuance of Amitie between their Majesties I recommended the Peace being so requested by the Deputies of those of the Religion which he seemed to accept in very good part Having thus ended with his Majestie finding the new Q. not there for that it was given out she was sick of a fever I declared unto him that I had Commission from the Queens Majestie to have presented unto her her Majesties Letters as also to have used some office of Congratulation of the late Marriage between them notwithstanding that her Majestie had made choice of a Personage of calling honourable to do that office whose coming stayeth only upon the certaintie of the knowledge of his Majesties entry for that by the Q. Majestie my Mistress he is appointed to honour the same The King alledged sickness for excuse and told me that there should be another time appointed me for the execution of her Majesties Commission in that behalf which both of him and her could not but be accepted in as good part as it was meant Having thus ended with the King whereas before it was customably to be found as I learned by Sir Henry Norris to have present at the Audience both Queen Mother and the Kings Brethren in place with the King we found now each of them to keep their several Estate and so were driven to repair unto them all severally to their Chambers and though from her Majestie I had no further Commission to have done any Message but to the King and unto the two Queens yet for that at my last being there exception was taken at me for omitting my dutie to Monsieur and besides being requested by the Deputies of the Religion to recommend the observation of the Edict unto them severally therefore after access had to Queen Mother my Letters being delivered and certain ordinary speeches used with the recommendation of those of the Religion I repaired to Monsieur who very courteously and with good countenance received me To whom my speech from her Majestie was that she willed me to present unto him her commendations and further to say unto him that she was glad to understand that he did concur together with the King in that good and honourable meaning of the observation of the Edict whereby he did not only win generally the reputation and honour to be thought a Prince of courage in time of War but also of Councel in time of Peace which courage she doubted not but that he would continue in respect of the good will he beareth to the King and his Countrey and the regard he had to his own honour Whereunto he answered with great courtesie that he thanked her Majestie First for her commendations as from a Princess of honour that she was and whom he so much reverenced Secondarily for the good encouragement that she gave him to be a good instrument for the observation of the Edict which thing as he was bound to do in respect of his Duty towards the King and his Countrey so should her Majesties advertisement be of no small force with him in that behalf For my self he told me that during my service here I should receive for her Majesties sake any favour that he could shew me Having thus done I repaired to his Brother to whom I used besides Commendations some short Speech in recommendations of the Edict for manners sake I do rather my very good Lord dwell upon those particularities in respect of your Lordships request In observing Monsieur I had at this present by reason the place served very well for the purpose good occasion to view him in stature by judgement of others that viewed us talking together he was esteemed three fingers higher then my self in complexion somewhat sallow his bodie of very good shape his leg long and small but reasonably well proportioned what helps he had to supply any defects of nature I know not touching the health of his person I find the opinion diverse as I know not what to credit and for my own part I forbear to be over curious in the search threof for divers
respects if all be so well as outwardlie it sheweth then is he of bodie sound enough And yet at this present I did not finde him so well coloured as I esteemed him to be at my last being here Since my Arrival here there hath been great search made by divers means how I am inclined to Monsieurs attempt My general answer is that I left my private passions behind me and do here submit my self to the passions of my Prince to execute whatsoever she shall command me as precisely as I may not presuming to do any thing further then I shall be commanded And as for her marriage whensoever it shall please God to incline her to that Change I should forget my dutie towards her and my Countrey if I should not like very well thereof though my present calling requiretâ— me to do no more neither in that nor in any other thing further forth then I am prescribed This answer seemeth very well to satisfie those that would further this matter for that I vvas fore-judged to be a very passionate Enemy Touching the pictures your Lordship desired they can by no means be gotten for no man may make any counterfeit of the King or his Brother vvithout license if he do the punishment is great Thus having imparted to your Honour that which at this present I thought worthy the advertisement I most humbly take my leave From Paris the 28 of Ianuary 1571. Your Lordships to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honorable Sir Walter Mildmay of her Majesties Privy Councel SIr I most humbly thank you for your favour promised me by your Letters of the 16 of this Moneth touching my allowance for transportation Surely Sir I find my charges daily increase through the extream prises of things here The expences of my horses at this instant grow to 4 l. the day and yet is my daily diet through the meaness thereof not such as the place I supply requireth True it is the entry causeth the dearth to be so great and some hope there is that hereafter things will be more reasonable but in the mean time I find the burthen over heavie and when things shall be best cheap yet shall I find it heavie enough But herewith I leave further to trouble you at this instant The 25 of this instant moneth I was presented unto the King at Madrill where he now presently lieth being received by him with great courtesie and favour as also by his Mother and Brethren I leave Sir to you to gess the cause of this kindness and yet I should do Monsieur de la Motte Ambassador with her Majestie great wrong if I should not acknowledge some part of this good entertainment to proceed from the good report he hath made of me as one that will do what lieth in me to entertain the Peace Touching the state of things here I refer you to this inclosed Note of Occurrents and though they seem to give some doubt of the Kings sincerity yet surely Sir they that know him throughly are of opinion that if the matters grow to new troubles he will incline to those of the Religion This Oration Sir whereof I send you a Copie pronounced and delivered to him and to the Ambassador of the Princes of Germany hath put him in some good courage whereas before by the faction of the Guises he was put in great fear of the Catholicks aswel Forraign as at home Thus Sir you see for that he is not settled in Religion how he is carried away with wordly respects a common misery to those of his Calling God make those of his calling more truly Religious then we are To whose tuition I most humbly take my leave and commit you to God At Paris the 27 of Ianuary 1571. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham Sir I beseech you when you have read and perused this Oration that then it would please you to send the same to Sir N. Thorckmorton To the Right Honourable Sir William Cecill her Majesties principal Secretary SIr it may please you to be advertised that the last of Ianuary I received a Letter from my Lord of Buckhurst by one Hollinshed wherein he gave me his notice of proceedings onward on his journey hithervvard Whereupon I sent forth M. Beal to the Court being still at Madrill to advertise the King and Queen Mother from me First that the said Lord of Buckhurst who was deputed from the Queen my Mistress to Congratulate his Marriage had sent over thirty of his Train and that he himself about the first of this moneth was minded to be at Dover there to imbark himself and the residue of his Company Secondarily for that I heard the Queens Majestie was sick whereby it was doubtful when she should be in state able without her trouble or some peril to give the said Lord Buckhurst access unto her to execute his charge from the Queens Majestie my Mistress that therefore I desired to know of his Majestie and the Queen his Mother whether there were any hope of her Majesties speedy recovery whereby the said Nobleman may proceed in his journey to accomplish his said charge or otherwise whether I might not with his advice and favour write unto the said Nobleman some Letters of stay or return if he were passed the sea or onward his voyage until such time as he should be hereafter further advertised of her Majesties speedy recovery In answer whereof I received this inclosed from Secretary Pynart and for that Mr. Beal whom he made privy to his Letter did not see his answer directly touching that point which concerned his access to the Queen he desired to know what was the Kings mind in that behalf To whom he answered for that it was doubtfull by reason of the Queens sickness whether the Lord of Buckhurst should have any access unto her the only stay of her Entry and Coronation therefore the King referreth it to my Lords own judgement whether he will come now or stay until the other Entry I have made my Lord privy of my proceedings herein as also what answer I received from the King referring him to do therein as his Instructions should best direct him I have made him also acquainted with my private opiâ—ion in this behalf which is if her Majesties direction may bear it rather to proceed then otherwise First in respect his coming now will be here accepted in as good part as at any time hereafter Secondarily in respect of her Majesties charges and his own Thirdly in respect that the Governour of Picardie Monsieur de Paâ—ne and other Gentlemen who are appointed to repair to to Bullen to receive him should lose their labour if he should not proceed forward And as touching the Queens sickness whereby his access unto her to congratulate the Marriage growth doubtful judged here the chief cause of her repair hither I do not think the contrary but that her Majesties honourable and good meaning will be accepted in as good part
thence a young Boy the son of Iames Fitzmorice a Rebel Given under our Signet at our Pallace of Westminster the 11 of February 1571. in the thirteenth year of our Reign To the Right Honourable Sir William Cecill her Majesties principal Secretary SIr the 14 of this moneth I presented the Earl of Rutland to the King at Madrill taking opportunity thereto by preferring certain Merchants causes The King embraced him and told him that coming from her Majestie with her Letters of Commendations he could not but be very welcome and should receive at his hands from time to time during his abode here any honour or favour he could shew him and as I was departing he called me unto him and asked me what was done touching the Queen of Scots matter I told him That of late I heard nothing saving by certain Letters that there were Commissioners come out of Scotland from both parties so that as I thought the matter was fallen now to some Treaty He willed me to recommend the matter in his name to the Queens Majestie and to tell her that he doubted not but by her good means it should grow to some speedy end as should be to her honour and his contentment and so promising his Majestie not to fail in that behalf I departed for that present I shall therefore desire your Honour to inform her Majestie thereof as also to procure at her hands what answer I shall make in this behalf Touching the state of things here I learn secretly by the F. that the House of Guise seeketh to make a match between the Cardinal of Este and the Kings Sister for that the Duke of Ferrara hath no issue and by common opinion is like to have none which thing they seek the more earnestly to impeach the likelihood of marriage between the Prince of Navarre and the said Kings Sister The 22 of this moneth my Lord of Buckhurst is looked for here his lodging and all other things fit for his entertainment being provided at the Kings charges if promise be kept The new Queen is now well recovered and removeth from Madril to this Town the 20 of this moneth so that I purpose my Lord of Buckhurst shall have access unto her whereof she is over dangerous a thing not very well liked of this Nation Touching la Roches attempt I can learn nothing more then that I have advertised neither can I learn that in Britain there is any preparation of ships but of such as belong unto Merchants And thus leaving to trouble your Honour I most humbly take my leave From Paris the eighteenth of February 1571. To the Right Honorable Sir William Cecil her Majesties principal Secretary SIr I would be loath in any Letter that is to be shewed unto her Majestie to make mention of any thing that may any way concern Monsieur for that her Majestie doth suspect that I am inclined that way in respect of his Religion and therefore Sir I shall desire you to use this Letter as private to your self and as for my inclination to Monsieur for that I hear he may be drawn to be of any religion I see so great necessitie of her marriage as if it may be her Majesties contentment and the benefit of the Realm by judgement of those that are fit to deal and advise in a matter of so great weight I can be content as becometh me to subscribe the same The matters that I thought to make you privie of in this private Letter are these First I understand that Monsieur not long sithence hath given out certain speeches to those that are nearest about him that he maketh no great account to match with the Queens Majestie through the perswasions of the House of Guise and the Spanish Ambassador who do not stick to use many dishonorable arguments to disswade him from the same Besides they use some arguments of danger towards us making the conquest of England a matter of no great consequence in respect of the intelligence they have there no small number of evil affected Subjects and of those some of no mean quality The A. of late had talk with touching the opinion of the enterprise he shewed me that he whosoever he was that should attempt the matter should fail of his reckoning like him that made accompt without his host The A himself seemeth to to have no great liking thereof but seemeth to be very well inclined towards The Spanish A. to divert them from Flanders would be glad to set them in hand in England and yet would he be loath that France should have any further interest in England then it hath And as for the House of Guise unless they mean to make an unnatural match between Monsieur and their Neece they would be loath in respect of her possibilitie that he should have any further foot in England then he hath but they both think it easilier atchieved by Marriage then by Sword aud would be glad to divert him from the way of likelihood and to direct him to that way that carrieth least possibilitie These being the things I thought worthy of advertisement at this present I leave further to trouble your Honour most humbly take my leave From Paris the Eighteenth of Februarie 1571. To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester MY very good Lord as there is nothing more desired of one sort then two marriages the one between the Queen my Mistress and Monsieur the other between the Prince of Navarre and the Kings sister so is there nothing more impugned by the contrary part wherein the Popes Nuncio and the Spanish Ambassador do not fail to do what lieth in them for the impeachment thereof And in this behalf they want not what assistance the House of Guise and their adherents can yield For the let of the first they alledge Heresie For the let of the latter they secretly seek to match between the Cardinal of Este and the Kings said Sister for that the Duke of Ferara his Brother hath neither issue nor by common judgement is like to have any This is rather intended then any just cause of hope conceived that it will come so to pass for that as I hear Queen Mother seemeth not to like thereof Touching my Lord of Rutlands access to the King and his Brethren I leave you to the report of his own Letters My Lord of Buckhurst about the two and twentieth of this moneth is looked for here who as I suppose shall be honourably received and as honourably used during the time of his abode here Thus for the rest referring your Lordship to this inclosed of common Occurrents I most humbly take my leave At Paris the seventeenth of February 1571 Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honorable Sir Francis Walsingham the Queens Majesties Ambassador with the French King SIr if my sickness alone were considered or my irksome business laid thereto perused I cannot think but you would excuse my not writing
with my own hand or any long Letter by my enditing of the hand of another and therefore now I am enforced for that â—ittle I have to say to use another hand You shall perceive by the Queens Majesties Letters what I have been inforced with some pain to indite by reason of my restless sickness and business and therefore I mean not to repeat any part thereof unto you wishing you to supplie any defects in the manner of writing with your own natural discretion This I will add that I do hear out of Flanders that one is coming hither named Monsieur Senigam to make an end of the long talk that hath been of the mutual restitution of the Ships and Wares arrested and thereupon it may be that some further Treatie of the opening of the entercouse may follow It is also written from thence that one is come to take the place of this wrangling Ambassador who I think shall be of the low Countries named Seignieur Front one of the long Robe that was here in Commission with the Marquess Vitells Here do daily come into our Ports by drifts of winds certain Hulks of Spain and Portugal with great riches which though they are to be stayed yet surelie I trust there shall lack no diligence to cause the riches of them to be duly preserved for the owners And if you shall hear any other report as it may be I assure you it shall be against the good meaning of her Majestie and her Councel For the matters of Spain besides that which is written in the Queens Letters I do hear that Stewkley hath caused one Mr. Huggins to be imprisoned charging him to the King that he hath advertised sundrie things of that Court to my Lord of Leicester and me wherein Stewkley sheweth his traiterous meaning to his Countrey We find it so hard here by reason of this restraint to send any meet person into Spain to discover things there and I cannot tell whether you might find some there that might be trusted in respect of the common accord of our Religion to be used under some other colour of Errand thither to discover this Kings practises and if you can so do with any reasonable charge I wish you so to to and the same shall be satisfied Since the writing of the Queens Letter I find that the E. Morton was come to Barwick the fifth of this moneth with the rest of the Commissioners of that part so as I look hourly for his arrival here and that may you affirm to the satisfaction of some there that be so greedie in the Queen of Scots cause It is here determined by the Queens Majestie that there shall be a plain somewhat before Easter which is desired not to continue long and so I wish it I doubt not but by this time the Lord of Buckhurst hath either visited the King or known when he shall and I trust my Lord of Rutland hath been a Courtier before this time for whom I dare be bold to thank you upon the presumption I have that you shew him friendship which I know he will of himself deserve yet I cannot but adde thanks to his deserts for the desire I have to see good proof of him to the honour of himself and of his Countrey I have no other thing but that this afternoon God hath called to his mercie Sir Nicholas Throckmorton having been sick not past six or seven daies of a Plurisie joyned with a disease called Periplen he doth but lead the way to us whereof I for my part have had sufficient schooling by my present sickness I pray you commend me to my Lord of Buckhurst and whilest he is there an Ambassador I think you may do well to make him partaker of your charge From Westminster the February 1571. Yours assuredlie William Cecill To the Right Honorable Sir William Cecil her Majesties principal Secretary SIr it may please you to advertise her Majestie that according to her Commandment I repaired to the Spanish Ambassador and declared to him from point to point so much as is prescribed by her Majesties Letters especially not forgetting to dilate that point that concerned her Majesties good opinion conceived of him in respect of the good offices that he had done from time to time to salve the differences and unkindness that depend between her Majestie and his Master His answer was in the Spanish tongue which I understood not and other tongue then Spanish he would not vouchsafe to speak and therefore Sir I may rather tell you by gess then otherwise First he seemed to be agreived that he never heard any thing of the message he sent about three moneths sithence by Sir Henry Norris which concerned that point that the Duke of Alva lately hath communicated to her Majestie touching the Kings offers to be a Mediator between the Queen of Scots and her Majestie he said that she did never use Don Francisco for so he named himself but by fits who from time to time towards her Ambassador had alwaies used himself so sincerely as they could not but report that Don Francisco was a Gentleman of great sinceritie And if it had pleased her Majestie to have used him throughlie he would have done offices worthie of Don Francisco When I came to that point that concerned the brutes touching the King his Masters intention in attempting somewhat that might not best agree to good Amitie whereof though her Majestie had cause somewhat to doubt in regard of his intertaining of her Irish Rebels and the Countenance given to Stewkley yet being of her own nature not easily drawn to condemn upon brutes without good ground especially being lately entertained by friendly offers arguments of good meaning therefore desired him onely to be a mean to procure at the Kings hand some good assurance that these be but vain brutes and that his meaning is to continue good Amitie and to avoid all such occasions as might breed any contrarie effect To this after some time spent in exclamations and admirations he answered That nothing could seem so strange unto him as her Majestie being a Prince of that wisdom and experience that she is of should once give ear to such vain bruits as thereby to doubt that his Master considering the long Amitie that hath been between the House of Burgundy and England would now attempt any thing that might breed any breach thereof And as for sending to his Master he said the way was long and that it would be two moneths at the least before he could have any Answer He said therefore he would write to the Duke of Alva in that behalf I shewed that my Commission was to request to procure satisfaction from the King and as for the Duke of Alva her Majestie lacked no means to send unto him no more she did not to send unto the King but would have been glad as one well perswaded of him to have used his help therein as a thing as beneficial for his Master
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
were not as he was a man of the Church he would be revenged of him for the report he made of him In the end after report made of this talk passed touching Stewkleys proceedings he concluded that the cause of his departure out of Spain was onely that he saw great likelihood that this enterprize should go forward and therefore would be loath as one descended from the house of Desmond to be suspected by his abode there to be a favourer of the said enterprize hating nothing more then the name of a Traytor I told him that I was very glad to here this talk pass from him whereof I promised him not to fail to make her Majestie privy hoping that he meant sincerely touching the practice I shewed him that her Majestie was neither ignorant nor unprovided of the remedy notwithstanding I did assure him that her Majestie could not but take it in good part if his meaning and words agreed both his withdrawing himself from thence as also in that he did discover unto me her Minister here what he knew touching the same I prayed him therefore to use plainness with me and told him that if it fall out otherwise First he should be reputed a Traytor and so little trusted of those whose turn he should seek to serve it being held for a common rule That a Traytor to his own Countrey came never to be true to another Secondarily that if he were partaker of the enterprize the matter was provided for and so their attempt not like to take effect whereby he should grow odious to those that he should procure to enter into the same And lastly I willed him to consider what benefit would grow to Ireland his Countrey if it should be reduced to the Spanish Government who doth rule altogether by Tyranny as divers of the Countreys where they do govern witness whereof he as a Traveller could not be ignorant whereas now they enjoy as great liberty as any Nation doth and if there be any defect it proceedeth frâ—m themselves who cannot yield to imbrace such good orders as her Majestie carefully for their benefit hath sought lately to place there amongst them to reduce them from Barbarousness to Civility He then protested that her Majestie should find him sincere though he were out of hope of all favour in respect of his honour and the love that he bare to his own Countrey But saith he if it might please her Majestie so far forth to be my good and gracious Lady and Soveraign as for that my Successor is dead to restore me to my Countrey and Place I will then give to you in writing her Ambassador here both the manner of the Conspiracy as also the remedy I shewed him that I would not fail to advertise her Majestie thereof notwithstanding I thought good to desire his return at this present considering the suspicion conceived of him would breed some doubt of sincerity for that it might be thought that his coming home now was rather to give notice to the evil affected Subjects of his Countrey how things passed in Spain then otherwise He replyed that if he had meant any such matter he might have gone directly from Spain into Ireland Then he told me that he feared that your Lordship had not conceived very well of him through Huggins report I made as though I never heard of Huggins and shewed him that your Lordship was not one that would lightly condemn any man and therefore willed him not to doubt that if you might find him sincere none would be more ready to further him in getting her Majesties favour then your Lordship Unasked he shewed me that Huggins was returned again to Prison which thing I seemed not to regard I asked him vvhen Stewkley vvas to imbark He thought not much before the end of April I asked him vvhether it vvas true that Iulian Romerâ— vvas appointed to that enterprize He told me that he heard so This vvas in effect the talk that passed betvveen us vvhich I thought good to set dovvn at length to the end that your Lordship might the better judge both of the matters and of the man For my ovvn opinion I cannot tell vvhat to think of him to suspect that he meaneth not good faith I have these causes First I am informed that tvvo Irish men sent from him out of Spain vvere the cause of Roches enterprize Secondarily I am also informed that he vvas sent for out of Spain by the Cardinal of Lorain Thirdly for that he vvisheth the young Boy Fitzmâ—rice's son in Spain that is novv at Brest in Brittain Lastly I do not forget his Nation and Religion I have placed some especially about him to vvhom he repaireth as also vvho repairs to him I find the Irish Captain here vvhom I desired my Lord of Buckhurst to recommend unto her Majestie serviceable in this behalf It shall go very hard but I vvill give a great ghess of the cause of his coming He desireth to knovv vvithin tvventy daies hovv her Majestie inclineth to his request The onely hope I have of him is that I imagine that he mislikes that Stewkley should have the glory of the enterprize that they both pretended and that he first set abroach and therefore vvould be glad to do any thing vvhich might impeach the same Novv having made your Lordship acquainted vvith that vvhich passed betvveen us I attend her Majesties pleasure herein how I shall direct my self And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave From Paris the 19 of March 1570. Your Lordships to Command Francis Walsingham Touching the other matter of credit committed to B. relation I hope to be able to advertise in what estate things stand within these ten daies To our Right trusty and well-beloved Sir Francis Walsingham our Ambassador Resident with our good Brother the French King ELIZABETH R. TRusty and well-beloved we greet you well forasmuch as by the Lord of Buckhurst we do understand in what sort the Queen Mother hath moved unto him the matter of marriage for her son Monsieur D' Anjou with us and in what sort both the King her Son her Self and Monsieur being the party are desirous that the same might take place and that for the first entry into the matter in respect of the doubtfulness that is generally conceived of our resolute determination to marry that is by the Queen Mother required that none might deal there in the same betwixt them and us but you as our Ambassador and that with none of their Councel but with Monsieur de Foix we have thought meet plainly to inform you in what sort you shall deal not doubting but you will so use the same to all respects as may concern our estimation in due honour according to the place we hold and for the quality of our person and sex And because you shall the more orderly proceed herein we do conceive our answer by way of Articles which we
do understand were by him shewed to the Lord of Buckhurst in writing as followeth The first Article of their demand was to understand both very speedily and certainly of the truth of our firm resolution to marry To which you may constantly answer that as the Lord of Buckhurst hath already said so are we resolved for the benefit of our Realm and contentation of our Subjects to marry with some person of Kingly blood and quality meet for us and our Countrey and that we are free from all manner of impediments to marry where we shall please And because that we perceive that notwithstanding the like answer hath been made in our name by some other who hath of late time earnestly required to know our mind in this case yet it is doubted by sinister reports that we have not a resolute mind to marry but that we have a disposition rather to hear of motions and suits for Marriage with Princes and great Estates then finally to accept any of them how honourable or reasonable soever the conditions might be that should be offered Therefore you shall in times convenient and as you shall be by some objections provoked say that we are very sorry that our former dealings in like cases of Marriage moved to us from other Princes hath not been better understood on our behalf then it seemeth they have been whereby some prejudice is grown to make more doubtfulness to be conceived in our Answers then we mean For the alteration of which untrue conceptions we cannot but generally answer except it were particularly remembred with vvhat Prince moving matter of marriage to us we did deal doubtfully And therefore you shall say that it is not unknown to the world for how many Kings Princes and Estates motions of marriage hath been made to us and if the same were well considered and our answers from time to time truly known certainly there was no cause to mislike the same though the motions took no place neither could any of the parties think themselves touched in honour by this though their desires took no effect In the beginning of our Reign that is not unknown how vve had no disposition of our own nature to marry no otherwise then it is manifestly known that vvhen the King our dear Father reigned and many times pressed us earnestly to marry nor vvhen in the late King our Brothers time the like vvas renevved unto us even for such as then presently vvere in real possession of Kingdoms vvhen vve lived but in a private state as a daughter or as a sister of a King yet could vve never induce our mind to marry but rather did satisfie our self with a solitary life If also it be considered vvho they vvere that in the first part of our Reign motioned marriage unto us and hovv inconvenient such a match vvas both for our self for matter of conscience and for discontentation of our people as then the time vvas vve doubt not but vve might challenge to our selves some praise in that vve yielded not thereto vvhen all other vvorldly respects of honour wealth and greatness besides the worthiness of the person were evident to have provoked us thereto But therein and in all other motions of marriage following our answers were such as if they were known with their circumstances we would not doubt but to have a general allowance and commendation for our sinceritie in dealing as now it seemeth that the world which commonly erreth in such reports hath also erred in this and sundry other things touching us which time we doubt not shall make manifest for truly whilest we continued as it were settled by natural disposition in a determination not to marry we did so also plainly answer all persons and required that the motions might be stayed wherewith if the parties or their Ministers would not be satisfied but would continue rather still their motions what default was this in us Yea it is very true that some parties being answered by our own mouth and that deliberately and frequently yet would they not accept the same for a final answer wherein as we could not but esteem their affection very great towards us so truly did we give them no new cause to hope of any change of our mind to marriage Nevertheless after some course of years passed we confess that the state of our Realm the continual urgent and frequent solicitations not only of our Counsellours to whom we alwaies think meet to give ear but also of the whole Estates of our Subjects being many times assembled in our Parliament did stir us to some further consideration by the weight of their 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
to offer the person of Monsieur they might be assured of our continuance in this resolution and whether we will accept this motion in good part and will be pleased to hear further of it To this you may answer That for continuance in our resolution generally to marry we trust there is no cause to doubt the things before affirmed being remembred and how we will accept this offer of Monsieur we cannot but plainly confess it an argument of great good will in the King and the Queen his Mother considering how that the King is married there can be no greater nor worthier offer made by the Crown of France then of Monsieur D. Anjou and therefore we do thankfully accept it But whether we shall be pleased to hear further of this motion is very doubtful for us to answer thereto not that we are ignorant what answer were meet but that the interpretation thereof may be conceived otherwise then we mean And if any impediment shall hereafter justly follow of the cause without our default the same might be imputed to us as others in like cases have been And surely knowing the wisdom of Queen Mother and her experience in such causes of matrimonie we would think that without demanding this point of us she herself can best tell what is meetest to be further done herein For now that she knoweth our resolute determination towards marriage and with what manner of person it is to be considered by her that if such things as are requisite for the contentation of both our persons and for the necessary conditions of the whole cause shall be found agreeable then this offer shall not onely be thankful but by all good probabilitie take the effect that is by the offer intended And if otherwise there should any just and necessary impediment happen either for lack of satisfaction of our own natural expectation concerning our person or of reasonable accord upon the conditions requisite specially for such as may conserve the state and policy of our Realm yet we see not but the good will of either party should be allowed as well in us for yielding to hear and consider of so honourable an offer as for them that made it And herein you shall say that we pray the Queen Mother not to be over curious in requiring so precise an answer until the matter may be further treated upon and explained and not to think it any touch to the honour of her Son to be named a Suitor to us as others of as great degree have been though the motions took no effect rather for other impediments then for any mislike of the persons And thus much we would have her perswaded that as we did at the first honourably forbear to hear of some offers because the impediments were at the first beginning manifest although the persons were worthy to be liked So in this cause if we did perceive any such impediment of weight and apparence or that we had conceived by any report any just cause of misliking of this offer we would surely deal plainly with the King and Queen Mother and would most heartily thank them for so honorable an offer and yet give them manifest occasion to forbear And truly we cannot give any ansvver hereto but leave this point to the vvisdom of Queen Mother vvho is not ignorant vvhat is belonging to such a matter as this is specially tovvards us being a Queen never married and having Kingdomes to be provided for with reasonable conditions for satisfactions of our loving Subjects whom though we know are so desirous to have us marry as they will not mislike of any marriage that may content us yet shall we not take such advantage of their free good will but that they shall plainly understand that we will joyn with our private satisfaction the regard of their quietness and surety The third is not by us dissallowed that this matter may be treated upon between you as our Ambassador and Monsieur de Foix untill the matter may be brought to more ripeness so as the King may without hazarding of his honour send a Noble Ambassador And yet you may add as of your self that you think that the matter would be more readily expedited for the mutuall understanding of our minds on both parties by sending of some such speciall person as Monsieur de Foix upon some other pretence And if you can so compasse it we think many scruples would be avoided better then can be by Letters sent unto you and if Foix may come then shall you do well to advise him to think of all circumstance aforehand And yet afterwards the King if cause shall so permit may send an honourable Ambassage for such a cause The fourth request is that we should send to you certain Articles for you to declare our intent toward Monsieur with authority for you to consent thereto so as the King should first deliver to you other Articles for Monsieur wherein we cannot but find many difficulties For how can we tell what were meet to propound untill we may understand what shall be first propounded by them that make the offer But if they seem not contented with this answer that then by your former motion they will not send any person hither you may say that if they will deliver to you their offers and demands you will promise that the same shall not be revealed to any person but to our self and one or two about us whose advice we will use And if you shall be demanded what you think would be looked for to be offered you may say that you think no lesse can be offered for conditions then was by the Emperour Charles with King Philip to Queen Mary And that further of necessity it must be specially prejudged that Monsieur shall not have Authority to exercise the form of Religion in England that is prohibited by the Laws of our Realm And though you be not instructed hereof yet would we that you should specially open this matter secretly to the Q. Mother and though we mean not to urge her Son to any change of conscience otherwise then we wish him to be directed to the best yet surely we cannot nor may not give him any authority to have any exercise in facts of such Rites as are prohibited by our Laws And as for his allowance of our Religion although we wish he might in conscience like it and if he did understand the form thereof truly we do not mistrust but he would not mislike it yet we shall onely require his presence in our Oratories and Churches And this you may say is one of the matters of greatest importance to be considered by the Queen Mother The fifth that this matter should not be opened to the French Ambassador here Resident which because it is required may be observed for surely we neither to him nor to any other use to deal in such matters but as we are provoked And yet why it should be kept secret we
discretion and secresie to deal in a matter of such consequence In the end having finished this point to leave the better taste with her of the matter I concluded being so warranted by my instructions that if this motion of hers should take effect the like never happened these many hundred yeares in respect of the great profit that would redound to both the Realms To this she answered that as she never desired any thing with like earnestness as she did this so if the same should not take place nothing could more grieve her For saith she besides the great benefit that will grow hereby unto both the Crowns on the successe of this match dependeth the quietness of all Europe This being all the talk that passed between Queen Mother and me I leave to trouble your Lordship any further humbly taking leave From Paris the second of Aprill Francis Walsingham To my very friend Sir Fr. Walsingham Ambassador for the Queens Majestie in France I Have upon the receipt of your Letter written by Sir E. Gilbert dealt with her Majestie touching your chargeable dwelling there I trust her Majestie will have due consideration thereof You shall perceive by her Majesties Letters her further pleasure touching Monsieur whose cause hath been broken to her by my Lord of Buck from the Queen Mother we perceive they deal very daintily and doubt much her Majesties intention to marriage at least that she had rather hear of it then perform it But assuredly I do verily believe her Majesties mind herein is otherwise then it hath been and more resolutely determined then ever yet at any time before yet doe they mean to deale so secretly on that side as though they will not yet believe it And accordingly her Majestie mindeth not to deal but as privatly as may be devised that if that should not take effect the lesse reproach is to either party her Majestie hath onely broken this matter with my Lord of Burleigh and me and I think will not use any more till some apparance fall out what is like to become of the matter The person of Monsieur is very well liked of his conversation is harder to know I see her Majestie misliketh not of his estate For she is of mind to marry with the greatest and he is left almost alone the greatest to be had The conditions will be all wherein I am right glad and we are bound to thank God to see her Majestie so well to stand to the maintenance of the cause of Religion For as there will be no great difficulty in respect of his person and estate to cause a marriage between them so yet I perceive with the impeachment any way of the true Religion here now established she will for no cause deal with him as you may perceive by her Majesties own Letters to you Albeit she doth not mean in respect of his policy to drive him in open shew in the mean time to renounce his own profession but conditionally that if they should match then wholly to maintain this aswell privatly as publiquely God send her Majestie alwaies during her life so to stand to the defence of so just a cause and withall his blessings upon her for us all that we may live and see her bring forth of her own body as may hereafter suceed her aswell in that happinesse as in the enjoyning of her kingdome So not doubting but we shall shortly hear from you I commit you to God In hast this 23 of March 1571. Your assured friend R. Leicester To our trusty and right welbeloved Francis Walsingham Esq our Ambassador Resident with our good Brother the French King ELIZABETH R. TRusty and welbeloved we greet you well we have seen your Letters of the 11 of this moneth written to the Lord of Burleigh our Secretary and perceive thereby your diligence in exploring further certain matters practised in Spain where you formerly wrot your doings wherein we doe well commend you and according to our former resolution whereof we lately advertised you we do now send unto the King of Spain this bearer our servant Henry Cobham one of our Gentlemen Pensioners for whose speedier and surer passing thither we have directed him to passe by you both to conferre with you and to utter unto you certain things from us wherein you shall give him credit and also to procure from the King our good Brother his passport and surety to passe throughout that Realm into Spain and likewise to return wherein we pray you to use some diligence to obtain the same for our said servant as you can consider the cause doth require we have instructed this said bearer of the Queen of Scots cause and have willed him to impart the same to you and having well conceived it we would have you there to let the Queen Mother understand so much thereof as shall be meet that she may know our sincere dealing therein And in your speech to her you may say that we do somewhat marvell that she doth so often sollicite and presse in the said Queen of Scots cause considering that we have not omitted to do any thing for her benefit which time and commodity would yield and that with reason we might do And specially we do the more marvell of the late urging of us therein considering the motion of the matter which she lately uttered to my Lord of Buckhurst Given under our Signet at our Mannor of Greenwich the 26 of March 1571. in the 13 yeare of our raign To the Queens Majesties Ambassador in France Mr. Fr. Walsingham my assured friend AFter I had sealed up my other Letters with Mr. Cobham I received yours of the 18 by Mr. York whereof I thought good to give you knowledge I am also to ascertain you that although the contrary may be reported my Lord of Leicester finding just occasion thereto doth by all good means to my knowledge further the marriage and therefore I think it reason that by such good means as your self may think meet both the Q. Mother and Monsieur de Anjou might understand his disposition so as he may be well thought of herein And if he find that his doing may be liked there if God be content with the cause it is very probable that it may take effect you see how plain I deal with you and the rather because I find by my Lord of Buckhurst that upon the hope you have of the amendment of Monsieur in Religion you do not mislike of the matter Surely if Monsieur be not rooted in opinion of evill Religion as by his young years it is not likely there might be argument made that marriage here with England would be becoming a Professor of the Gospel considering the towardness of him to be a Martiall Prince he may prove a Noble Conquerer of all Popery in Christendome with such aids as may joyn with him in the Empire and other where I wish he were capable of such a designe You see still the more I
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
SIr after I had written my other Letters yesterday there happened some alteration in this great matter of moment Where the Queens Majestie Majestie had determined besides her answer to the French Articles to have also sent you certain other Articles to be demanded of them there whereby the whole cause should be opened and nothing left behind in silence so that both parties might have understood their mutuall intentions Now suddainly her Majestie hath thought good at this time to send onely the French Articles and her answers and for the rest she meaneth to reserve untill she may understand how her answers are taken and specially how the knotty point of Religion will be smoothed And the cause of this change as I conjecture groweth of some late intelligence brought thence that if the Queens Majestie will stand earnestly upon that point for Religion it shall be assented unto which causeth her to proceed thus confidently And for my part I wish most heartily that it may so succeed but that onely I must fear except you shall moderate the matter better they there will imagine that this matter of Religion is but projected to colour the delay in breaking off for indeed in like cause so did the Emperor for his Brother the Arch-Duke Charles As I cannot instruct you how to dissolve this doubt there but as cause shall be given So I know your wisdome sufficient to invent sufficient answers to mollifie their hard conceits Thus you see how inwardly I deale with you and trust you will so use it I find Mr. Cavalcant very well disposed and sorry to see these occasions given though surely he seeth here the Queen Majesties disposition directly to his contentation From Westminster the 19 of Aprill 1571. Your assured friend Williamâ— Burleigh To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may please your Lordship to advertise her Majestie that Mr. Cavalcant arrived here the 24 of this moneth by whom I received her Majesties Letters the contents whereof after I had perused and conferred with him touching his proceedings and for that the King and Queen Mother were departed out of this Town the one to St. Disier the other to Monceaux to bring the Duke and Dutchess of Lorrain onward on their way It was agreed between us that he should repaire the next morning to Monceaux to Queen Mother there to deliver her Majesties Letters as also her answers to the Articles propounded by the King Touching his proceeding with her I referre your Lordship to his own Letters By him I understood at his return that Queen Mother would speak with me at her repaire to the Town if I had any thing to say unto her So the 26 of this moneth she repaired hither and for that during the time of her abode here she could have no leasure she sent me word that the next day in the morning I should repaire unto her to come four English miles from Paris and that there I should have Audience So according to her appointment I repaired thither the next morning and at the time of my accesse unto her presence I shewed her that I was come thither to know how she rested satisfied with the answer she received from her Majestie by Master Cavalcant to those Articles which were propounded by the King and her to the end I might advertise her Majestie She shewed me that the Answers made unto their Articles seemed to her not to be direct saving thaâ— which was made unto the second Article concerning Religion which saith she is very hard and neerly toucheth the honour of my Son so far forth that if he should yield thereto the Queen your Mistress should also receive some part of the blemish by accepting for a husband such a one as by sudden change of Religion might be thought through worldly respects void of all Conscience and Religion I replyed that I was willed to say to her from her Majestie that she doubted not but that Monsieur her Son by her good perswasion would take in good part her said answers who meant not such sudden change of Religion as that he or his houshold should be compelled to use the Rites of the English Church contrary to his or their Consciences But forasmuch as the granting unto him the exercise of his Religion being contrary to her Laws might by an example breed such an offence as was like to kindle such trouble as lately reigned in France whereof both herself and her son had good experience She therefore hoped that he who if the match proceeded was to sail with her in in one ship and to run with her one fortune would not require a thing that she by no means could yield to who tendred nothing more then the quiet and repose of her Subjects and therefore in respect â—hereof could by no means consent to any such permission as might by any likelihood disturb the same To this she replyed that the not having the exercise was as much as to change his Religion which thing he could not do upon a sudden without the note to be of no Religion which dishonour I am sure no respect can draw him to endanger himself And as he in respect of the said ignominie is resolved fully not to yield so can I with no reason perswade him thereto and as for any peril that may happen by the same I think it shall be the best way of safety of your Mistress who alwayes by the way of his Brothers sword should be the better able to correct any such evil Subjects as should go about to disturb the repose and quiet of her Estate which she may assure herself he will do without having respect to any Religion whereof some tryal lately hath been made by his consenting with the King to have some good justice and example of punishment done at Roan In answer whereof I besought her to consider as well the Queens damage as her sons honour I shewed her that of this permission great mischiefs would ensue First the violating of her Laws Secondarily the offence of her good and faithful Subjects And lastly the encouragement of the evil affected Which three mischiefs if you will weigh said I together with your Sons honours you shall finde them of great moment and that the Queens Majestie my Mistress hath great cause to stand to the denial of any such permission whereof is likely to ensue such manifest peril And as for the ayd of the Kings sword I shewed her that the example by permission would do much more hurt then either his own or his Brothers sword could do good for that the issue of our mischief by civil dissention falls out commonly to be sudden and short but very sharp and were not drawn in length as those that happened in other Countreys we having neither walled Towns nor Fortresses to retire to thereby to protract our Wars To this she answered that her Son would soon be overcome by the Queens perswasions in
that behalf who was more zealous then able to defend his Religion whereby the same inconvenience of example will not long last For saith she it is generally feared by the Catholiques that this match will breed a change of Religion throughout all Europe In the end she concluded that neither Monsieur her Son nor the King nor herself could ever yield to any such sudden change for any respect whatsoever neither could her Majestie desire it considering how much it would touch his reputation whom she is to match withal if it proceed I asked then of her whether she would have me so to advertise her Majestie She desired me in any cause so to do and to know directly whether by yielding or not yielding to the said second Articles with all reasonable cautions she meant to proceed or forbear whereof she desired her Majestie at the farthest to give answer within ten days for that the King stayeth his progress onely upon that and if so be she mean to proceed then to send the Articles that are to be propounded by her Majestie Monsieur de la Mothe Fenelon as I learn by Monsieur de Foix hath given very honourable report of the Queens Majesties proceedings assuring them that there is nothing but sincerity meant If her Majestie resolve to proceed I learn then that Monsieur de Foix shall come over with the Kings Answer to such Articles as shall be propounded by the Queens Majestie and so to grow to some through conclusion And so having nothing else to advertise her Majestie at this present I most humbly take my leave of your Honour At Paris the eight and twentieth of April 1571. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham The CONFERENCE between me and Monsieur de Foix. FOr my first entry in our Conference Iâ— shewed him that I was glad that it was my hap to be appointed to deal with him who did concur with me in like affection towards this cause being drawn by publique respects as wishing well unto our Countreys and Princes and therefore the rather hoped that the success would be thereafter I shewed him that great matters before they could be brought to an end could not but be full of great difficulties which if by the good discretion of those which are Dealers and Instruments in the same were not qualified a profitable matter might by evil handling quail and take no effect I shewed him therefore that this matter being in appearance so good and profitable to both our Countreys as I for my part would not fail to do therein what there might lie in me to remove such difficulties as might rise so far forth as might stand with the Queens Honour and Safety And if I did any way fail it should be for lack of judgement and experience and not lack of good will I shewed him that by perusing the answer to the Articles I found only the difficulty to be in Religion which by his good help might be reduced to accord there was no doubt but that the matter would take that effect we both desired To this Monsieur de Foix answered that he was the rather willing to deal in this matter for that he was well perswaded of my good inclination in that behalf protesting that he never more earnestly travelled in matter in his life which Monsieur could very well witness whose perswasions to him chiefly to enter into the matter through the honourable report he made of her Majesties rare vertues and gifts wherein through the Counter practises of divers other he found no small difficulty Monsieur being by them perswaded that it would be his hap to march in rank with the forsaken which scruple being by me saith he removed if the matter should not take that success I desire would be no less cause of displeasure then otherwise of comfort if the same take good effect Touching the present difficulty of Religion if her Majestie continue still resolute to maintain her answer I see the matter at an end For saith he Monsieur hath either Religion or no Religion If he have Religion then Religion being a constant perswasion confirmed by time cannot but in time be removed and not upon the sudden if he have no Religion then he is unworthy of your Mistress and the place and degree he beareth And surely saith he as Religion in all persons is to be desired so in none more then in Princes who have no other bridle to stay them from evil then Religion And as for Monsieur saith he I know him to be religious in his kind wherein I suppose he is not so assuredly grounded but that there may grow alteration and â—hange thereof in time through the Queens good perswasions whereof we have seen good experience of womens vertue in that place Constantine was converted by his Mother Helena the King of Navarre by the Queen his wife and therefore can I not doubt but this match proceeding Monsieur will be turned by his wife who is of that good disposition and nature as in all his proceedings he is not transported and carried away by passion but guided and conducted by reason To this I replyed That the Queens Majestie wished not such sudden change of Religion as might breed irreligion but onely the forbearing of the exercise whereof might breed by permission both offence and stirrs in her Estate and as for the Examples of Constantine and the rest they are common for both for as many wives have been turned by their husbands as husbands by their wives To this he answered that to live without exercise of Religion was as much as to be of no Religion and saith he the Queens Majestie I know is honourable and would not have him 〈◊〉 with so great a spot as to be thought an Atheist whom she mâ—ant so sâ—â—aitly to tye her self to as of two to become one who is to participate with him both in honour and dishonour To this I replyed that if it were true that I had heard Monsieuer was not so far from our Religion having had some introduction therein by Curuvalet his Governour lately deceased and therefore if it please him to water those seeds that he had already received by some conference â—he should be able easiely to discern that the change of his Religion should breed unto him no dishonour at all it being no less fault to continue in error then commendable to come from error to truth I desired him to consider with me both the inconvenience that would grow to Monsieur by persisting in his Religion and also what greater inconvenience would come unto the Queens Majestie my Mistress by permission of exercise of the same Touching the inconvenience that would happen to Monsieur I told him that it is held for a general Maxime that no Prince that is a stranger and cometh to rule in a Forraign Countrey can be welcome or well received by the Inhabitants Therefore Monsieur coming into England except it were by accident in respect of the partialities said
to the tenor of her Letters dated the fifth of May I have given the pretended Archbishop to understand by my Letters who is now at Nantes how her Majestie doth not allow the slender manner of his submission neither can think him worthy of favour or grace unless upon warrant given by me he maketh his repair into Enâ—land and there with all humilitie sue unto her Majestie for the same Of late he hath sent from Nantes certain of his servants as I am enformed to what end I cannot learn I have enformed Captain Thomas how her Majestie upon information given by me doth accept in very good part his late service in the discovery of the pretended Archbishops practises and that she meaneth to consider thereof Whereupon he hath desired me in his name most humbly to desire her Majestie to be so good and gracious a Lady unto him as he may have some charge under her Majestie either in Ireland his native Countrey or elsewhere as one that desireth nothing more then to imploy the experience he hath gathered in these Civil Wars in her Majesties service Here there is very good account made of him And notwithstanding that the most part of the ordinary bands are discharged as well Captains as Souldiers yet hath he allowed by the King sixteen Crowns a moneth pension His Father whose name was Bathe was one of the Justices in Ireland his Brother is Recorder of Drogheda This I write touching his Parentage to the end her Majestie may the better conceive of his loyaltie I am given secretly to understand that Rodolphi had Letters of Credit given him by the Spanish Ambassador unto the Duke de Alva whereupon he had long conference with the Duke and was dispatched in post to Rome with Letters of Credit to the Pope as also with Letters of Credit to the King of Spain promising to be at Madril the 20 of this present moneth Touching the matter of secresie committed unto him I can learn nothing as yet notwithstanding I thought it my part to advertise your Lordship of thus much who perhaps by other advertisements can give some ghess what the same importeth The Scots here have some enterprize in hand as I am informed by the party whom I appointed to observe the Lord Seatons doings The Ambassador of late hath been at Court and is returned from thence with answer not altogether to his liking and saith that so long as the Marriage is in Treaty there is no hope of good here to be done for the help of their cause Birack who lately returned out of Scotland is in hope to return with new Forces which secretly he saith to his Friends dependeth onely upon the resolution of the marriage now in hand The Lord Seaton departeth hence out of hand into Flanders being sent for by her Majesties Rebels there who have somewhat in hand presently to be executed They of late have very importunately been in hand with me for passports but understanding they have such enterprize in hand I thought good in that behalf to make some stay for a time alledging that I have some order from her Majestie to make some stay therein until I be further advertised of her pleasure I hope her Majestie will not dissallow of this my doings though I do it without warrant Out of Brittain I am advertised that la Roche had discovered unto a Kinsman of his that his enterprize in Ireland was to have executed a plot of Conquest devised by Peter Strozza in King Henries time which if the match go not forward he is promised that he shall go in hand withal hereby it doth well appear that the expectation of this match is the onely stay of divers pretended mischiefs Here they are in some perplexitie for that they hear nothing of her Majesties answer being given to understand by the Ambassador that her Majestie had signified her mind unto me in that behalf Queen Mother denieth now that she prefixed a day of answer and that I did mistake her I must needs confess that in requiring the same she used such words as her Majestie hath no cause to be justly offended which omitting to impart unto her Majestie I do most humbly crave pardon at her hands being most heartily sorry that through my default there should grow any unkindness between them Her words were as followeth First she asked me after she had willed me to signifie unto her Majestie the Kings and her resolution in what time I might have answer I shevved her that I hoped vvithin ten or tvvelve days the rather for that I knovv my Mistress to be resolved and therefore the matter required the less deliberation Then she desired me to vvill her Majestie that they might have ansvver within ten dayes if it might be These circumstances by me omitted I perceive her Majestie the rather to mislike the limitation of the time for the vvhich as before so again I most humbly require her Majesties pardon And so c. At Paris the fourteenth of May 1571. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honorable Sir Francis Walsingham the Queenâ— Majesties Ambassador with the French King THere is nothing yet readie to send you touching the matter of Monsieur The Ambassador resident hath received Letters of late since yours came from the Queen Mother and from Monsieur de Foix touching that cause He shewed his Letter to me and my Lord of Burleigh and it appeareth that de Foix Letter doth qualifie much the dealing which you and Cavalcant had I mean he writeth in sort to continue the matter and as it were that there would be offer made by them But her Majestie hath handled the matter exceeding well with the Ambassador and giveth him no hope without yielding of their part to that she hath reformed in their first demands And as 〈◊〉 as I can perceive they will rather yield then break off God send all to be for his glory and our good and so farewel my good Walsingham In haste this seventh of May 1571. Your assured Friend Ro. Leicester Commend me to my Cousin your wife by the next you shall hear more of this matter To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester MY very good Lord the Protestants here do so earnestlie desire this match and on the other side the Papists do so earnestlie seek to impeach the same as it maketh me the more earnest in furthering of the same Besides when I particularly consider her Majesties state both at home and abroad so far forth as my poor eye-sight can discern and how she is beset with Forraign peril the execution whereof stayeth onely upon the event of this match I do not see how she can stand if this matter break off No particular respect as God is my witness moveth me to write thus earnestly but only the regard I have to Gods glory and her Majesties safetie They rest here somewhat perplexed for that the answer is so long deferred being
advertised from their Ambassador I had order from her Majestie in that behalf Your Lordship therefore shall do well if there be none sent before the arrival of this Messenger to hasten the same with all speed And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave at Paris the fourteenth of May 1571. Your Lordships to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lords the Earle of Leicester and my Lord of Burleigh I Thought good to advertise her Majestie with speed that they rest here in very good opinion of the matter and that if the Articles were here that are to be propounded by her Majestie it would make them more reasonable in the point of Religion Thus farre I hear they are come on that they are content that that Article shall be left out uncapitulated Montmorency who is now at the Court hath done very good offices herein They stand upon this as I learn that her Majestie promised to deliver her Articles assoon as she could receive the King and that therefore without the having of them will not deal so frankly as otherwise they would for that the same being promised and not come breedeth mistrust I beseech your Lordships therefore for putting away all jealousie to deal earnestly with her Majestie for the present sending of them with all speed for that by her Majesties Letters I perceive they are in a readiness To morrow I repaire to the Court to deliver my message whereof they have an inkling by the Ambassadors Letters who doth deal very honorably towards her Majestie Thus for haste leaving further to trouble your Lordships at this present I most humbly take my leave At Vernon the 19 of May 1571. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham To our Right trusty and well beloved Francis Walsingham Esq our Ambassador Resident with our good Brother the French King ELIZABETH R. RIght trusty and welbeloved we greet you well after we heard the contents of your Letters sent hither concerning your communication with the Queen Mother and also with Monsieur de Foix upon the answer we sent you by Cavalcant to the Articles brought by him we understood also by the French Ambassador here resident that he had received Letters from the Q. Mother and de Foix concerning the same matters And though the answer made to you as by your Letters we conceive were more peremptory then such as the Letters to this Ambassador which we have seen did purport adding thereunto some dulcimes to qualifie the same especally in answering that which we could not but object as strange that the Q. Mother required to have answer from us within the space of ten dayes yet to omit rehearsalls either the contents of your Letters or of the Letters sent to this Ambassador we think best to impart unto you which we will you shall impart to the Q. Mother or to the King which is thus we find more great and urgent causes to move us to persist in our former answer in the Article of Religion both for our conscience our safety honour and quietness then can be be alledged or imagined for the conscience and honour of Monsieur de Anjou and the reasons hereof as apparent in this sort following First if we shall grant a permission to Monsieur to have the use of his Religion which we take principally to consist in the having saying and hearing of the private Masse though the same should be secret for the place and rarely for the time and not frequented with numbers yet it might seem doubtfull to us how without offence of conscience such a tolleration might be by us permitted Secondarily though our conscience should not be offended yet we are well assured that our realm being not void of diversities of opinions herein though indeed presently we find no disobedience worthy of any accompt against our Laws there could not any such exercise of Religion be used by our sufferance by a person of such estimation as one being allowed to be our husband should be but that the same would breed such a misliking to our best subjects and servants as surely should diminish their great love toward us and consequently hazard some inward troubles within our Realm by occasion that one part now dutifully obeying us would grow doubtfull of our conscience in the observations of our Laws and another part would be imboldened by example of that which our husband should be permitted to do should attempt to neglect our Laws and multiply occasions discords and seditions and these perills are so evident to follow and so dangerous if they should follow as surely if we should not aforehand so consider them we might condemn our selves of great folly as not having due regard either to our own particular estate or to the common quietness of our Realm whereof hitherto we thank Almighty God through his speciall goodness we have had the effects of much contentation On the other part we see no such matter of weight to be considered for Monsieur that either his conscience his honour or safety should be troubled impeached or indangered although we perceive that the Queen Mothers speeches seem to tend thereto for where it is said and that by answer if he should come hither and live without his own Religion he should be accompted as one of no Religion and in time comming he should be as de Foix saith an Atheist and so neither could we in right esteem him to have any faith neither should he keep the reputation that he hath Of all which certainly if we could think that by our answer and his yielding thereto any hurt might happen to him we should utterly condemn our selves and readily Reform the same or else forbear to give any answer at all but you shall say That we require the Queen Mother or the King or if the cause so require Monsieur himself to consider better of our answer we leave him freedome to use our Religion in that we are content not to constrain him or any of his otherwise to use it then it shall please him saying That we think it expedient that if he should be our husband he should accompany us to the Church and why he should not or may not use our manner of prayers and divine Service certainly we think no reason can be yielded by any that knoweth the same and will compare it to that which the Church of Rome doeth use For in ours there is no part that hath not been yea that is not at this day used in the Church of Rome as of late the same hath been allowed by the last Councell at Trent and if any thing be more in ours the same is part of the holy Scripture Now therefore why it should be objected That Monsieur should live here without Religion if he shall be present at ours there is no cause except it may be objected that ours is in the English tongue and not understood but to satisfie
Thus having some circumstances to give you some light but what you shall find by your light God knoweth I doubt the worst and so I have said but yet the opinion conceived by her Majestie maketh her to believe the contrary It were strange that any one man should give comfort to the Ambassador in the cause and yet the same man to perswade the Queens Majestie that she should persist both these things are done but I dare not affirm by any one and thus I end In Scotland the Q. partie have recovered Edenburgh Town by Granges favour And yet presently he tearmeth himself the Kings subject and so they are like to fray together or else to come to consultation amongst themselves to govern the Realm without deciding the Kings title or the Queens I cannot tell whether the greater part like better a or of none for so their writings and words purport making no mention of King or Queen but of Magistrates to conserve the peace and liberty of their Country And so I am forced to leave of and so I end from Westminster the 11 of May 1571. Your assured loving friend Wil. Burleigh To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may please your Lordship to advertise her Majestie That the 20 of this month I repaired to Galleon where I had Audience at the Queen Mothers hands to whom I declared at large such reasons as moved her Majestie to maintain her first answer touching the Article of Religion the repetition whereof I leave at this present to put down the same containing no other thing then that which was perscribed me by her Majesties last Letters dated the 11 of May. To this the Queen Mother answered That she saw very well that the reasons alleadged by her Majestie were not lightly to be weighed and that therefore she would consult with the King and Monsieur in that behalf and that the next day I should receive answer By certain that wish well to the cause I was advised to deal with Monsieur himself so repairing unto him I shewed him That I was appointed by her Majestie to make him understand the great inconvenience that would follow by such permission as he required touching the exercise of his Religion as also that her Majestie though otherwise she could wish him reduced from error to truth yet did not presse him to any such sodaine change of Religion as might cause him to be reputed for an Atheist onely this she desired that he would forbear the use of his private Masse in respect of the great inconvenience that would follow and that further he would examine whether he might not with good devotion serve God with such form of prayer as publiquely is used in our Realm being in effect nothing else c. To this he answered That he rather desired to be a meane to redresse inconveniencies then to breed any to be a comfort then a discomfort and that he thought it would otherwise fall out After he had thus ended he replyed That though he was of years young yet any time these five years there have been overtures of marriage made unto him and that he found in himself no inclination untill this present to yield to any But saith he I must needs confesse that through the great commendations that is made of the Q. your Mistress for her rare guifts aswell of mind as of body being as even her very enemies say the rarest creature that was in Europe these 500. years my affection grounded upon so good respects hath now made me yield to be wholly hers And that therefore saith he if I thought that there could ensue any inconvenience to her disquiet through me I would rather wish my self never to have been born Touching my request for the exercise of my Religion considering the same toucheth my soul conscience being but private for my self in some private place I suppose there will grow no such offence thereof as will breed any disquiet oâ— alteration of state and therefore I hope she will dispence with me in that behalf I replyed That I hoped that when he had well weighed the inconvenience that would follow that without scruple of conscience he might well with good devotion frequent the exercise of our Church service he would not insist upon any dispensation To that he answered that he knew not how God hereafter would dispose his heart and that therefore for the present he desired her to weigh in her own conscience what it were to do any thing with scruple and remorse of conscience and so desired me to present on his behalf his most affectionate and humble commendation and to assure her That she onely had Authority to command him The next day as I was appointed I repaired to the Court and there having accesse unto the King I shewed that I doubted not but that his Mother had made him acquainted with such reasons as lead the Q. Majesty my Mistris to maintain her former answer in respect of the great inconveniences that would ensue aswell perjudiciall to Monsieur his brother as to her Majestie I shewed him That I was now onely to request him from her Majestie that he would perswade his Brother that in respect of the said inconveniences not to be so resolute in requiring a tolleration that might prove so dangerous as also to advise him to examine whether he might not with good conscience serve God according to such form of prayers as is usually practised throughout her Dominious To this the King answered That the reasons alleadged by her Majestie were of great moment he willed me therefore to desire her Majestie in his name that the Articles by her to be propounded might be sent that the whole matter might be joyntly considered of And to assure her that he doubted not but that his Brother would be ruled by him so farre forth as might stand with honour reason and conscience After I had thus euded with the King I repaired to Q. Mother to whom I made report of such answer as I received from the Kings hands which she said I had well conceived for that it was the self same that they had resolved on between themselves she willed me to desire her Majestie that her demand might be at the first propounded reasonable and well qualified to the end this matter might come the sooner to conclusion and therefore she wished that if it might so lie in her that the Ambassador might be made acquainted with them before the sending of them over who can give before hand some light what the King in reason will consent unto whereby to breed the more expedition she concluded with me that I should assure her Majestie that aswell touching Religion as other points reason should decide on their parts all such difficulties as should rise It is thought that Monsieur de Foix shall be sent over with the Kings answers unto her Majesties demands he sheweth himself not unthankfull for such honour
we were content to pass over the same with hope that he would attend his causes only according to the place he held to be as an Agent or Minister for her and not to intermeddle as he had done with our Affairs and to trouble our State nevertheless within a few moneths after he did eftsoons secretly by night which was the last Summer enter into such intelligences and practises with some of our Nobility as we could not endure the same but for a time restrained him of his libertie until he promised never to be found in the like to offend us Contrary whereunto he hath now of new entred into practises by his Letters and Ministers to stir up secretly some new Rebellion in our Realm and hath for that purpose dealt by his Ministers with certain our Fugitives and Rebels in the the King of Spains Low-Countreys As also with the Duke of Alva and further prosecuted his intentions to that purpose by sending both to the Pope and to the King of Spain of all which his doing we have full proof and in certain part to prove the same his own Confessions and manifestly argue his guiltiness Now therefore you shall require the King or his Mother if they shall deal with you herein to interpret well of our doings for that we may not endure such kind of dealing as may so indanger or at the least trouble our Estate And for this purpose if you shall be required why we do refuse to grant to the Bishop of Glascow passport you shall say it is upon the self same ground for we do well know his conditions and specially how unmeet a man he is to come hither to do any good office betwixt the Queen his Mistress and us who we know hath rather been a maintainer then a pacifier of discord betwixt us in times past And for our intention towards the Queens of Scots although her Minister the Bishop of Ross hath otherwise deserved yet we do continue in minde to proceed to the hearing and ordering of her cause upon the coming of certain Noblemen out of Scotland both for her and the King her Son the delay whereof hath lately grown by the renewing of arms on both sides whereof being by an express Messenger of ours now very lately sent into Scotland to both parties earnestly charged by us either of the parties do charge the other and excuse themselves and yet at length they are now content to re-enter again into Treaty offering to send hither their Commissioners For which purpose we have even this day returned answer to them of our contentation to hear them and have required both parties to lay down their Arms which we doubt not but they will and so doing we trust shortly some good end will follow for so is our desire and full purpose and so shall it appear by our actions Of all this we thought good to inform you to the end you may the better answer thereto if speech be moved thereof or else not Given at Osterley the eighth of Iune 1571. and in the thirteenth year of our Reign To the Right Honourable and my very loving Friend Mr. Francis Walsingham Esquire Ambassador Resident in France SIr as I promised by my last Letters sent by your Italian so do I now dispatch Harcourt By her Majesties Letters you shall see your charge wherein God give you good success as I for my part sincerely mean even for his glory and for the surety of the Queen my Soveraign and weal of my Countrey wherein if I do dissemble I wish as I am writing the indignation of the Almighty Lord of Hosts The cause of the Queens Majesties persisting so hard in the cause of Religion wherein I rejoyce as the allowance of the matter is as I find and do disclose secretly an opinion that her Majestie conceiveth that if she will stand fast they will utterly yield Now how true that will fall out in the event or why she is so informed if it be not too certain you may ghess I hear by some other that du Pine saith so unto me he neither saith so nor doth answer to it though I do ask him thereof directly But this he saith that Monsieur will be content to have the point of Religion left free without any Capitulation This I pray you keep to your self for it may be mistaken of some I send you a a Book in French of the Common-prayer which is hardly gotten as this bearer can shew you I fear the first Articles were mistaken in that the Ambassador saith they lacked some clauses And I perusing my Copies find both sorts remaining with me that is one sort without these clauses added and another with them whereof I do now send you one I did name to the Ambassadour for the Queens Majesties Dowry Fourty thousand Crowns and since I find the Queens Majestie content with Thirty thousand for so was Queen Maries by the name of Three thousand pounds Flemish after fourty grooz to the pound which maketh but Thirty thousand Crowns French The Ambassador since he had his answer wrote to me to procure a more certain Answer what Monsieur should have and though it be not expressed in the first answers where properly it was to be answered yet I think it shall be no less then the Dowry of Kings Wives here hath been which is Ten thousand Marks or Twenty thousand Nobles Now I must wearily being assaulted with business of Scotland which is now in Arms and dangerously for our part and also fore Ireland which is onely in trouble for want of money give over c. From Osterly where the Queens Majestie is retired for this day and to morrow the seventh of Iune 1571. To the â—ight Hoâ—â—â—raâ—le and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may please your Honour to advertise her Majestie that the 19 of this Moneth having access unto the King I shewed unto the King her Majesties Articles using such speech before the delivery of the same as by mine instructions from her Majestie I was directed The King shewed me that he could not but accept in the best part her Majesties frank and confident dealing and that therefore he found himself most bound unto her willing me to assure her Majestie from him that this sincere and direct dealing should receive the like aquital at his hands Touching his answer unto the said demands he told me he would confer with his Councel and would within a day or two send for me to the Court to understand what would be his resolution The eighteenth of this Moneth he sent for me and there shewed me that upon conference with his Councel he was resolved forthwith to dispatch a Gentleman of his Chamber named de l' Archant being Captain of his Brothers guard to give her Majestie thanks for that it pleased her to deal so frankly with him and so sincerely as she had done in the Treaty of this weighty cause in hand which honourable proceeding of hers
he willed me to assure her that he would never forget and further to signifie unto her that he made choise of the Marshal Montmâ—rency and Monsieur de Foix to send over with his full mind touching the Articles that have been propounded of either side and that he therefore desired by the said Gentlemen to understand when it shall be her Majesties pleasure that they shall come over to treat in that behalf Having then done with the King the Queen Mother called me unto her and told me that of late certain had gone about to perswade the King her Son that her Majestie meant nothing less then to proceed in this marriage using sundry perswasions to induce her to believe the same Notwithstanding she assured me that such is the great good opinion that they all have of her Majesties sincerity upon good grounds in respect of her Majesties honourable dealing as no such brutes and sinister practises can prevail with them to make them think otherwise then honourable of her Majestie and yet she did assure me that the same did proceed from such persons as they might easily have been abused had not her Majesties own sincere dealing assured them of the contrary I shewed her that if she or the King should otherwise think of her Majestie they should do her great wrong and give her just cause to think her sincere dealing unsincerely requited This was the effect of my present negotiation And so c. At â— the twentieth of Iune 1571. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To my very loving Friend Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador for the Queens Majestie in France I Have written by du Pine of late to you and before that as I think you have received her Majesties Answer and such Articles as she doth think meet to be demanded Her Majestie doth stand still very stiff touching the point of Religion required of that side and as far as I can perceive she will hardly relent to any other qualification then you know of and that being granted to her I suppose there will be no other difficultie And surely in this if Monsieur remit the whole to her Majestie there is no doubt but by that means he shall obtain more then we wish and more then is reasonable or at the least convenient to be openly contracted by them For as by the one that may be had which is to be born withal for a time in hope of better so by the other it will altogether encourage such as are already too high and most meetest to be kept under even for both their sureties For this cause it is onely to be wished for these respects the first to the universal good of the cause of Religion the other for the quietness of our present Estate And for these causes sake I pray God to prosper it accordingly and I see no cause grâ—atly to doubt if that point of Religion be yielded on that side unto The Ambassador here doth very honestly and well in the matter and surely doth good offices between their Majesties For my part I perceive by you that I have cause to thank him for his particular affection towards me I can but thank him here And I pray you as you may have occasion use this favour for me as it may appear to the Kings Majestie there how much his Ambassador hath made me know of his good acceptance of my good devotion towards the encrease of the good Amitie between our good Soveraign and him which doth give me great encouragement to go alway the more forward so far forth as with my duty to her Majestie I may Thus having no other matter presently to write to you I bid you farewel in haste the ninth of June 1571. Your assured Friend Ro. Leicester To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh THe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shewed me his Mistresses Letters dated the seventh of this moneth him to advertise A. that their of great moment in hand to impart he seeketh with England and therefore roundly forward with the matter furthe to advertise A. that there is a practise in the stealing away of the Scotish Q. whereunto him to have regard This as I can gather come from â—54 who discovereth it to his Master he hath not yet imparted the same unto A. by the reason of his absence about ten days past it was bruted here for most certain truth that the Scotish Queen was escaped into Flanders Of late days of these common brutes there have followed shrewd effects whereof your Lordship shall do well to advertise her Majestie to have an eye that way The King is not yet returned to Galleon but remaineth still at Paris which divers of my fellows find themselves agrieved withal especially Spain There rise daily new causes of unkindness between the two Princes Spain seemeth to set the King here very light which ingendreth in him a great desire of revenge and lacketh but treasure to make open demonstration thereof And so c. At Loveirs the five and twentieth of June 1571. Your Lordships to Command Fr. Walsingham By the QUEEN To our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Francis Walsingham Esq our Ambassador Resident with our good Brother the French King ELIZABETH R. RIght Trusty and Well-beloved we greet you well Forasmuch as the French Ambassador here joyntly with Monsieur de l' Archant Captain of the Guard of Monsier D. Anjoâ— treated with us to have our consent that the Marshal Montmorency and others nominated with him for the French King might come hither as they say to treat and conclude the matter moved betwixt us and the said Monsieur we think it necessary to impart unto you what hath passed therein at some length which we have ordered to be put in writing by the Lord of Burleigh to the intent that on the one part you should not be ignorant and on the other part you should be better instructed how to treat upon the matter both with the King or any other that shall in this matter have Commission to treat with you In all our dealings with them you shall find that we have in no wise yielded to grant to Monsieur a liberty for exercise of his Romish Religion neither have we any inclination to yield thereto and yet for the benefit of our Realm rather then for any particular inclination to marriage we have resolved this marriage to be meet for us so as the difficulty of Religion be well accorded And where in the last end upon conference had by the Ambassador and Lord of Archant with the Earl of Leicester and the Lord of Burleigh it may appear to you that they finding a resolute determination of their Ambassadors should demand of us a liberty for Monsieur in the cause of Religion it should be denied then did they thereupon seem to yield and by way of demand require to know how it might be liked if the demand of Religion were utterly forborn and put to silence Our meaning is not
that you should make any mention hereof to the King or any other except it be first moved to you And then in that case you may well say that if it be not demanded by them in Treaty then shall there need no contradiction to be made in Treaty and if they think the honour of Monsieur preserved in that it is not denied him as likewise the honour of us should be preserved in that we have not assented thereto And that there shall not be no further meaning by Monsieur herein but that as it shall not be by way of Treaty demanded before Marriage so he will be also content after marriage to forbear the use of it then may you seem to agree thereto For otherwise you may plainly say either to Monsieur himself or to some other in credit about him whom you may trust that the forbearing of it by way of Treaty shall not content us only but also the forbearing of the use of it And so we require you to express the same plainly where you shall see cause for we cannot esteem it a plain dealing to pass it over with silence in the Treaty and yet to be in doubt whether the same shall be used indeed and thereby move a new controversie between him and us of more danger then is meet to be suffered to follow for lack of plain dealing with them herewith included shall you have in writing the sum of the Conference had at this time by which you may be fully informed And whereas prssport was required by de l' Archant for the Marshal Montmorency Monsieur de Foix and Monsieur de Chiverny we thought once to have sent it unto you to the end if the King would send them you might deliver the same but sithence we have thought better to stay it until we might know the Kings answer to you Given under our Signet at our Honor of Hampton Court the ninth of Iuly 1571. in the thirteenth year of our Reign A summary of the several answers made by the Queens Majestie to the French Ambassador and Mr. ◠' Archant to their Message and Request THey first said That the French King Queen Mother and Monsieur de Anjou thanked her Majestie for her sincere manner of dealing hitherto and that having considered such answers as her Majestie had made to the first demands and the last Articles delivered by her Ambassador containing things to be demanded on her part which her Majestie had done upon earnest solicitation of the King on his part The King their Master and the Queen his Mother thought fit to send this Gentleman to notifie their great liking to proceed and to finish the matter and therefore were determined to send hither an Ambassage of honourable and wise persons that is to say the Marshal of Montmorency Monsieur de Foix and Monsieur de Chiverny Chancellor to Monsieur to treat and conclude the same if so her Majestie would think meet and would grant them her license and conduct to come who also were in such readiness and immediately upon the return of Monsieur de l' Archant they would forthwith take their journey hither To this her Majestie answered That she also thanked the King and the Queen Mother for their manner of friendly dealing in prosecuting this matter so earnestly and for her sincere dealing with them she doubted not but her doings should always thereof make good proof But as to the matter of Monsieur and her she could not understand that it was in such forwardness as by their speeches she gathered that the Ambassadors might come in such sort as by their speeches it seemed to end and conclude it for that she as yet understood not the difficulties risen upon the first answer that were by the King conceived namely in the matter of Religion neither yet how her last Articles of her Demands were accepted by the King althogh she confess that she thought there could be no mislike in those last Articles considering there was nothing contained in them but that which already had been granted by King Philip to Q. Mary her sister so as then her Majestie concluded that except the King would declare his contentation and his Brothers agreeable to her Majasties minde already declared in the matter of Religion that is that she could not grant unto Monsieur liberty to exercise the Roman Religion in any 〈◊〉 contrary to her Laws she saw it but labor lost to send any Ambassadors To this the Ambassador l' Archant for answer used long speeches in declaring how the King Q. Mother and his brother desired nothing more then the honor of her Maj. and the weal of her Estate so likewise hoped that her Maj. would have due regard of the honour and estate of Monsieur that should not be judged by the world to be without a Religion which must needs be if he should live here without the exercise of his Religion and yet his meaning was not to use the same in any sort to be offensive to her Majestie or to breed offence to the quiet estate of the Realm And so further they used many arguments to move her Maj. to yield to their desire But her Maj. persisted in her former determination that she could neither with conscience nor yet in respect of policy grant to Mon. such liberty as was required and added that she was not of mind that Mon. should be constrained to live here without exercise of religion for if the form of the religion in England as it is established by the Laws of the Realm were considered by them as it might easily be considering that it was published and to be seen both in Latin French it should be found that there is nothing in the same contrary to the Roman religion differing only that the same is translated out of the Latin tongue into English and that some things for reasonable respects are omitted and not used in the Church of England so as whosoever shall use the same service cannot be accounted without Religion nor to do any thing repugnant to the Roman Religion In this sort with speeches at more length tending to these ends they departed from her Majestie upon their first access and afterwards they made means that her Maj. would be pleased to give them some better answer and in like manner her Majestie thought her determination so reasonable for her to hold as she rather thought that they had some further power to yield to her And because her Maj. understood that the French King had concluded this matter with the rest of his Councel and by nominating Ambassadors had made the cause patent her Maj. hitherto having not imparted it to any others but with two of her Councel as she was required so to keep it secretly on the French Kings behalf Now she commandeth that the whole proceedings from the beginning should be declared to her Councel and so being done the same were very well allowed by her Councellors and her
Maj. was earnestly moved by them all not to stay in this matter of her marriage with Mon. de Anjon so as he might be induced to consent with her in Religion or at the least not to have any exercise of Religion contrary to hers After this the Ambassador with l' Archant came again on Friday to her Maj. and renewing their former reasons requested of her Maj. to know her answer whether the Marshal Montmorency should not come in ambassage as before was signified to be the Kings desire Whereunto in brief the substance of her Majesties answer was that as she did greatly esteem the Kings amity and was desirous to conserve the same with mutual good will so was she very careful not to accord to any thing that in her opinion might in any wise impair the same by giving to him any cause or colour of unkindness and therefore she wished that the K. would well consider this matter difficulty of Religion before he should send his ambassage for considering with her self on the one part that she could not chang her mind herein nor as she thought could by any perswasion hereafter be moved to alter her determination although in most matters it is doubtful to determine de futurâ— but such was her mind resolute at this present and on the other part if the K. should hope that his Ambassador might by treaty alter her Majesties mind herein and that then indeed they should not be able so to do And thereupon the matter might break off she doubted how the French King might conceive some unkindness â—hereby although she her self were altogether free from giving cause thereof and for that purpose her Majestie required them in her name that the King would accept it for answer in as sincere part as she uttered it which was with aâ— eaâ—nest respect to keep the amity â— well begâ—n inviolated And so still being by the Ambassador instanted to give them a more comfortable answer for that thereby the King and his brother might doubt of her Majesties intention in the principal matter She answered them that truly this cause of Religion was directly for it self and that being assented unto by the K. and his brother she knew no cause in the rest of the things on her paâ—t to move any doubt but by reasonable treaty they might be accorded which said she did the rather declare to them because the K. might not think that if the point of Religion were by him and his brother assented unto that her Maj. had a meaning to make any difficulty in other points and that the rather because she had declar'd her mind plainly in two several writings the one being an answer to the K. demands the other containing demands agreeable to the like as were accorded betwixt K. Philip Q. Mary and so she concluded that she must remit the coming of the Ambassadors to the K. own judgment And thus they departed as it seemed by their speeches doubful of the substance of the matter and therefore they required to have the next day some conference with the E. of Leicester and the L. of Burleigh to declare their conceits upon the Q. Majesties answer and so they had on the next day following being Saturday where they stil pressed to have some reasonable answer that although the Q. would not presently assent to their request yet that if the Ambassador should come the cause might not be thus peremptory desperate but that in some sort it might be obtained that neither on the one part Monsieur should be condemned to the world and taken as a person excommunicated from the rest of Princes if he should not have the use of his Religion neither on the other part the Q. Majestie thereby should take any offence or that the least part of her Estate should be troubled for such was the resolute determination of Monsieur and his profession that from the first time he should enter into the Realm he would in no wise offend the meanest subject the had with many such speeches tending to perswade that Mon. would so use his religion or so forbear it in times and places as not to cause offence They were answered that the Q. Majestie could not give any other answer and that they might well perceive her sincerity in dealing to â—tter plainly her mind as she did and many reasons to maintain her resolution were to them remembred as principally her conscience next the desire she had to preserve the State in quietness which by granting him that should be her husband a power to break her laws in matter of such weight must needs induce an alienation from her of the minds and hearts of her good subjects being of her Râ—ligion â— and indurate the minds of others that though secretly yet truly are loath to obey the Laws if they might have any maintenance to the contrary which though Monsieur would not give them yet they would conceive a boldness to offend in the hope to be allowed by him In the end it was moved to know the opinions of the said E. L. Burleigh whether they thought it good that the Ambassadors should come Whereunto it was answered that the consideration thereof did more directly belong to the K. and that also they two could best give advice therein for they saw what was likely to be the issue of their coming If the stay were not in Religion there was no evident let seen in the matter and to speak truly she said two Lords said they could give them no hope that the â—â—bassage could 〈◊〉 her Majesties mind but that if they would demand of her Majestie a grant or toleration for Monsieur her Majestie would deny it And therefore if they could not like with the denying of it they must forbear to demand it Hereupon there followed some opinions on boâ—h parts that if Monâ—ieur should forbear to require it and thereby her Majesty should not grant it but that the matter should be 〈◊〉 and pass in silence it might be that Monsieurs friends might 〈◊〉 their good opinions of him as of one that hâ—d not changed his Religion and likewise the Q. Majesties good subjects should continue their opinions of her Maj. as of a Prince that would not assent to any thing against her Religion And with this kind of speech we ended To my very loving Friend Francis Walsingham Esq the Queens Majesties Ambassador with the French King AFter our very hearty commendations considering the Queens Majestie hath used our service joyntly in treating of the matter betwixt her Majestie and Monsieur de Anjoâ— and that you are to be burthened in the prosecution thereof we have thought good to write also to you joyntly how her Majestie hath proceeded since the arrival of Monsieur l' Archant you may perceive by her own Letters wherein also somewhat is touched for our dealing with them what the said l' Archant shall of himself report or what he shall bring from the Ambassador we cannot
tell but percase you shall hear somewhat thereof Indeed we were informed that her Majesties answer did not content them whereupon we being desirous that they should not conceive thereof worse then was meant did confer with them on Saturday last as is mentioned in the Q. Majesties Letter and after long maintenance of her Majesties reasons and therewith giving them sufficient hope so as the matter of Religion might be concluded they descended to the devise of forbearing that article whereunto her Majestie hath directed you what to say if it be treated upon and thereto we refer you As for the inward intention of her Majestie in this case we cannot certainly give you to understand more then it pleaseth her to utter To the matter it self she yieldeth as to a matter necessary for her Estate and Realm otherwise we see no particular forwardness such as is commonly between persons that are to â—e married And now her Majestie sheweth no let but this matter of Religion as if either that may be well accorded or well buried we see no impediment of any moment we can but counsel you as we use do our selves that is to do and serve as she directeth us and for the rest to commit the success to Almighty God who direct you in this service to her Majesties contentation with regard of Gods honour and the weal of our Countrey From Hampton Court the eighth of July 1571. Your very loving Friends Ro Leicester Will Burleigh To the Right Honourable and my very loving Friend Francis Walsingham Es abque her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr I am in doubt whether to write or no for to write nothing were to discomfort you and to write something with uncertainty cannot comfort and yet in extremities the lesser is to be admitted I assure you that I cannot assure you from hence what is to be looked for by the Q. Majesties manner of answers as this time she is not unwarned how dangerous it were if in her default the matter taketh not success and she seemeth to conceive thereof and pretendeth that she seemeth that if the matter of Religion may be granted there will be no other difficulty but whether she is perswaded that therein the breach will be on that side and so she to escape the reproof I cannot tell God direct the matter for I have done my uttermost and so hath other Councellours here My Lord Keeper hath earnestly dealt in it and so hath my Lord of Sussex my Lord of Leicester hath in my dealings also joyned earnestly with me and among the rest of the Councellours I know none directly against it From Spain we have no good answer and therefore this amity were needful to us but God hath determined to plague us the hour is at hand his will be done with mercy The Gentleman hath a Chain of one hundred and sixty pound which was not easily had The Queens Majestie hath sent her Letters to the King Queen Mother and Monsieur l' Archant From Hampton Court the ninth of Iuly 1571. Yours assuredly William Burlâ—igh Chesholâ— the Queen of Scots servant that passed lately from Diepe with money and munition is taken by the Regent at Lethe To my very Friend Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador for the Queens Majestie in France MR. Walsingham you shall at length understand her Majesties resolution touching her answer to the Gentleman Monsieur l' Archant for mine own part what opinion I have of this great matter I will deal plainly with you even as I find her Majesties disposition For her desire to marriage I perceive it continueth still as it was which is very cold nevertheless she seeth it is so necessary as I believe she yieldeth rather to think it fit to have a husband then willing to have any found indeed for her And I fear so it will appear in this matter with Monsieur For as you shall perceive by the Articles passed already there is among them all but one that maketh the difficulty which is his demand to have his private exercise of his Religion so it doth appear if he would omit that demand and put it in silence yet will her Majestie straitly capitulate with him that he shall in no way demand it hereafter at her hands Which scruple I believe will utterly break off the matter wherefore I am in small hope that any marriage will grow this way I pray God that some other amity may be accepted and yet I was at the first in full conceit that her Majesty meant earnestly to proceed therein and that she had so advisedly thought of the matter as any reason being offered it should not be refused whereupon as my part was I did deal to the furtherance thereof by all the good means I could which not taking effect accordingly I shall be most sorry albeit I do not mistrust the goodness of God but whatsoever shall fall out it is his providence for the best or at the least for our just scourge for our deserts towards him I can say no more but Almighty God strengthen her Majesties true zeal to Religion and failing of this match that she will allie her self with such other Princes abroad as will earnestly joyn with her therein And for this matter of her Majesties marriage you shall do well to observe all their doings upon this answer and gather the certainty as you may what they intend whether to yield to her Majestie absolutely or no if they will yield then it must needs proceed if not then must we provide in other sort and the sooner the better and if they do accord to her Majesties request touching the cause of Religion certainly she saith there shall be no other difficulty God direct us to his glory and so I make an end of it Mr. Cobham is returned out of Spain where we have no cause to look for any friendship The King used him gently but those of Authority and Credit about him most proudly and arrogantly What terms we stand in in other places is easily known Thus are we with our neighbor in all places without friendship God protect and defend us who is onely able and must do it for any policy is used Thus with my most hearty commendations I bid you heartily farewel In haste this seventh of Iuly 1571. Your assured Friend Râ— Leicester To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may please your Lordship to advertise her Majestie that within two or three days after l' Archantâ— departure from hence there came Letters hither out of England sent as I am informed from the Ambassador there by the which he did assure those that are enemies to the match that her Majestie had nothing less then intention to marry whereof he was well assured by those about her and therefore willed them to be of good comfort and never to doubt of the matter After l' Archants leave taking and departing out of England the said Ambassador dispatched a
Currier who overtook him at Bullen arived here a day or two before him After the arrival of the said Currier it was given out here that l' â—â—chant brought but a cold answer whereby it might appear to them that his first assurance was not without good ground With this those that favored the marriage were very much appaled L' â—rchant being come and making so honourable a report of her Majesties sincerity and honourable dealing the same also being confirmed by Monsieur de la Mâ—ts Letters as a matter though desperate begaâ— again to revive Hereupon they have with certain choise Counsellors conferred what resolution is to be taken they have continued in Councel chiefly about this matter about the space of five or six days and yet cannot resolve what to do I am put in hope that though the matter proceed not yet that the Kings intention is to send some person of good quality as well to thank her Majestie for her honourable proceeding in this cause as also to desire continuance of good amity Of thus much I thought good to advertise her Majestie before hand and when they have fully resolved what they will do I mean to dispatch another And thus leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take leave From Melun the seven and twentieth of Iuly 1571. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester I Most humbly thank your Lordship for your frank and plain dealing towards me touching your opinion of their cause There is bred in them here now of late such a doubt before l' Archants arrival of her Majesties disposition to marry as they know not how to proceed This doubt is nourished by advertisements come from the Scotish Ambassador there with you who pretendeth to know all secrets of State If this distrust were not no doubt of it Religion would not be the let but to yield in Religion and afterwards to miss of their purpose they think would be a great touch in her This difference I fear me will quite overthrow the matter and therefore it behoveth her Majestie to look about her being invironed with many practises the executions whereof have staid upon the event of the match I do what I can to procure continuance or rather increase of amity The King himself as I learn is very well inclined thereto the rather through a mislike he hath of Spain I had well hoped there would have grown some broyâ— between them but that matter as far as I can learn will prove but a dream and now this match not proceeding as they seem much to doubt it the King as I suppose will be loath to attempt any thing against Spain though his will that way be good Her Majesties liberality bestowed on l' Archant was very well imployed for none can speak more honourably of her then he doth and as for your Lordship you have no cause to repent any courteâ—ie shewed unto him so good a report doth he make The like also doth one Cornet make that accompanied l' Archant The Ambassador there Monsieur de la Mot doth seek to salve all things that may breed an opinion in them here that her Majestie dealeth otherwise then sincerely his good offices that he hath done as well in this cause as otherwise deserve honourable considerations at her Majesties hands They have by the space of five or six days sate very hard in Councel about this matter no Councel dare devise as I can learn any thing in respect of the distrust they have I am put in good hope that if they mind not to proceed yet they purpose to make choice of some one of good calling to send over as well to thank her Majestie for her sincere dealing in this matter as also to desire continuance of amity This is as much as hitherto I can learn touching their intention concerning this matter wherewith I thought good to dispatch this bearer and after the through conclusion what they mind to do then â—orthwith I minde to dispatch another And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave From Melun the seven and twentieth of Iuly 1571. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may please your Lordship to advertise her Majestie that after I had closed up my first packet thinking to have sent this Bearer presently with the same Mr. Cavalcant came unto me sent by the Queen Mother to request me to forbear to sent to her Majestie for a day or two in which time they would grow to some through conclusion touching their answer and that then it was the Kings meaning to send for me and to impart the same unto me whereupon I thought good to stay for the satisfying of her request According to her promise I was sent for by the King at my access he told me that they had deliberated upon the answer received from her Majestie by l' Archant for that the same was of great weight and that his resolution after long deliberation was to send Monsieur de Foix forthwith unto her Majestie with his full intention touching the same who he hoped should find her not so resolute touching the point of Religion And further he willed me to tell her Majestie whatsoever should come of the cause that in respect of her honourable and sincere dealing in the same and the greaâ— confidence she shâ—â—â—d to repose in him she might assure herself as much of his friendship as of any other bodies in the earth and that she had full power to dispose of him and of his Realm to the benefit of her self and of her Subjects whose sword should be always ready to defend her against any that should attempt any thing against her He joyned his words and countenance so together as great demonstration outwardly of inward good will could not but be seen Having ended with the King I repaired to Queen Mother who used long speech in shewing the great affection she bare to the cause and that she was sorry that so hard a point as Religion should be the let to hinder a match whereof there would grow so great benefit to both the 〈◊〉 I told 〈◊〉 that if it pleased her she might remove that 〈◊〉 by the perâ—wading of 〈◊〉 Son to content himself with the exercise of our Religion She told me she could hardly do that for that it was a thing that touched his 〈◊〉 and reputation I willed her again on the other side to weigh what great reason the â—ueen my Mistress had not to yield to that point She shewed me that she could not deny but that her Majestie had some cause so to do notwithstanding she hoped there would be some â—elp found the party whom the King meant to send being so grateful unto her Majestie and having sundry reasons to alledge to shew
see the experience thereof to renew traffick with them before they do think themselves revenged or that their pride or greatness be some way abated were but to present them a fit opportunity of revenge Now if the dangerous greatness of the house of Austria be well considered the miscontentment they have in respect of the injuries received their natural inclination to revenge and the unseen traffick of our Merchants as yet These considerations well weighed the case may seem somewhat altered And though France cannot yield like profit that Flanders doth yet may it yield some profit with less hazard and more safety In this case two things I consider chiefly First That the house of Austria is become the Popes Champion and professed enemy unto the Gospel and daily practiseth the rooting out of the same And therefore we that are Professors of the Gospel ought to oppose ouâ— selves against it The other that the entrance into the league with France will not onely be an advancement of the Gospel there but also elsewhere and therefore though it yieldeth â—ot so much temporal profit yet in respect of the spiritual fruit that thereby may ensue I think it worthy the imbracing or rather to say better I think we have cause to thank God that offereth us so good occasion both to advance his glory and also for her Majesties safety I doubt not but your Lordship will do your uttermost that this occasion offered may not grow to be fruitless And so most humbly desiring your Lordship to pardon these my scribled lines I leave further to trouble your Honour At Melun the third of August 1571. Your Lordships to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh THe Spanish Ambassador having audience the sixth of this moneth declared to the King that his Master could not endure the great spoils made by certain ships of the P. of Orange harboured in Rochel where they made open sale of the said spoils they take contrary to all good amity Besides he shewed the King that he heard that C. L. had secret conference with his Majestie who was a Rebel and sought to disquiet his Master by his indirect practises therefore he protested that unless there grew some speedie redress thereof there could not but grow was betwixt him and his Master To this the King answered that the Prince of Orange was a P. of the Empire with whom he had good amity and therefore could not deny him the use of his Ports no more then he doth to all other Princes his Confederates And as for conference had with the Count Lewiâ— of Nassaw he told him that he was misinformed But if it were so said he what just cause should your Master have to complain or to think himself injured he being also a Prince of Germany and neither Pensionary nor Subject of his Masters and therefore he may not look to give Laws to France And as for fearing us with wars you do mistake us let every one saith he do therein what best liketh him At Queen Mothers hands he found the like answer who is very much incensed against Spain being throughly perswaded that her daughter was poysoned They here of the Religion do most humbly desire her Majestie that in talk with Monsieur de Foix it would please her to use some speech of liking of the Kings calling of the Princes and the Admiral to the Court and that it would further like her Majestie to say that so rare a Subject as the Admiral is was not to be suffered to live in such a corner as Rochel and though the King be now very well affected towards him yet they do assure themselves that her Majesties commendations in respect of the great good will and reverence the King beareth her will very much advance his credit for as I am informed sundry waies the King is glad when he may take occasion to praise her Majestie and to express how much he is bound unto her The King requested me by Secretary Pynart to recommend unto her Majestie one Morris Chamails suit whereof I send your Lordship herein enclosed a copy of the Bill he exhibited unto the King I find them here reasonably inclined to do justice with such expedition as this Countrey yieldeth in such causes as I recommended We have received order from the King to repair to Blois where the Princes and the Admiral are to meet him about the first of this next moneth There are many practises to overthrow this journey but the King sheweth himself to be very resolute I am most constantly assured that the King conceiveth of no subject that he hath better then of the Admiral and great hope there is that the King will use him in matters of greatest trust for of himself he beginneth to see the insufficiency of others some for that they are more addicted to others then to himself others for that they are more Spanish then French or else given more to private pleasures then publike There is none of any account within this Realm whose aswel imperfections as vertues he knoweth not Those that do love him do lament that he is so much given to pleasure they hope the Admirals access unto the Court will yield some redress in that case Q. Mother seeing her son so well affected towards him laboureth by all means to cause him to think well of her she seemeth much to further the meeting The marriage between the P. of Navarre and the L. Margaret is not yet throughly concluded Religion being the onely let the Gentlewoman being most desirous thereof falleth to reading of the Bible and to the use of the Prayers used by them of the Religion The marriage between the P. of Conde and the Marquis of List is throughly concluded as I hear I refer your Lordship touching the privat state of my diseased body as also of my purs unto the bearers report whom I shall desire you to credit And so leaving further to trouble your Lordship at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris this twelfth of August 1571. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may please your Lordship to understand that after C. L. had had sundry secret Conferences with the King and Queen Mother as also with certain chosen Counsellours he sent unto me desiring me to devise some means how we might meet secretly whereupon we agreed upon the means and so came to conference First he protested unto me that upon the great good opinion he conceived of me by the report of those whom he did well credit he did frankly discover unto me both what passed between him and the King and also the present state of their cause First he shewed unto me that he declared unto him that he enterprize wherewith he had been made acquainted by others as also he was presently to recommend unto him might seem to be such
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
of Marre is by Parliament chosen Regent The Earles of Argile Cassills Egliton and Crawford the Lord Bloy and Sr. Iames Finch are sworn to the Regent There are Letters on the way to the Queens Majestie from the now Regent by Cockburn who is also come into France A. seemeth very sorry that the matter of Deep in which D. at this time is so backward and still she hopeth that you will set Deep 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 again and so she bad me now write to you The Q. Majestie saith untill she heare from you she cannot tell whom to send thither The French Ambassador is earnest to have his money again and I answer his Secretary that it must be demanded of them to whom he delivered it wherewith he is much offended with me At Markhall the 14. and 17. of September 1571. Your assured friend Wil. Burleigh To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr after the writing of my other Letters we understand that the murther of the late Regent by Huntley and Hamilton hath irritated the Nation of Scotland that the party of the King is thereby greatly increased and the Nobility of that side have made solemne oath and band to be speedily avenged thereof The French Ambassador sent yesterday his Secretary to me to let the Queens Majestie understand that his Mr. had received Letters from the French King directed joyntly to him and to dé Foix as answering them two for their Letters which they sent immediately after their first Audience noting thereby that at the writing of those Letters de Foix was not at the Court noâ— looked for and therewith he motioned that he might speak with her Majestie for the relief of the Queen of Scots considering that she had her number lessened and that also he might have his Majesties money lately intercepted being sent towards Viracque herewith her Majestie was so offended that he should meddle with the Queen of Scots matters as she commanded me to say to his Secretary that she could not like his manner of entermedling at this time with the Queen of Scots causes considering her Majestie findeth her doings not only dangerous to her quietness but bent also to depend upon others then the Fr. King and therefore she required him to forbeare and give her leave to consider in her own Realm what is meet for her surety and when time shall seem meet it shall well appeare that she hath done nothing toward the Q. of Scots but in reason and honour she might have done much more and she hath deferred the Ambassadors comming to her Majestie untill she shall be at Pichmond which shall be about the 27 of this moneth you may boldly affirm that her Majestie is well able to prove that the Q. of Scots hath by the advice of the Duke of Alva fully resolved to depend upon the King of Spain and to match her self with Don Iohn of Austria and her Son with the King of Spains daughter All these things her Majestie willed me also to signifie unto you at this time and that as you had occasion you should generally signifie there that her Majestie hath just cause to proceed otherwise then hitherto she doth to restrain the practise intended to her estate by the Queen of Scots and so she trusteth that the Fr. King will Honourably think of her actions both with her own subjects and with the Queen of Scots as shall be necessary for her own surety and yet you may assure them there that there is nothing done toward the Queen but she is restrained to have such free conference and intelligence as of late time she hath had with her Majesties subjects for otherwise she is right honourably entetained and well used Now must I end for I am fully occupied in making my imperfect house ready for the Queens Majestie against Saturday At Theobalds my house in Chesthunt the 20 of September 1571. Your assured loving friend Will. Burleigh To my very loving Friend Francis Walsingham Esq the Queens Majesties Ambassador with the French King IT is long now since you had any Letter of mine but so it happened indeed that the messengers were dispatched as I could not have time but because I know you were fully advertised of all things I made the lesse matter now have I thought meet to advertise you again though there is no new accident of the marriage matter to write of and I suppose my Lord of Burleigh hath written plainly to you his opinion how little hope there is that ever it will take place for surely I am now perswâ—ded that her Majesties heart is nothing inclined to marry at all for the 〈◊〉 â—as ever brought to as many points as we could devise and alwayes she was bent to hold with the difficultest For my part iâ— grieveth my heart to think of it seeing no way so farre as I can think serveth how she can remain long quiet and safe without such a strong alliance as marriage must bring for other Amities may serve for a time but there is no account to be made of them longer then to serve the turn of each party and her Majesties yeares running away so fast causeth me almost to dispaire of long quietness We long heâ—e to heare how matters stand upon de Foix return her Majestie is till perswaded that they will yield in the matter of Religion for Monsieur and so doing she seemeâ—â— that she will according to her word proceed but to say my conscience I think she had rather he stood fast to it and rather increased some hard point then yielded in it well I commit the to almighty God with my continuall prayer for her long preservation Of the committing of the Duke of Norfolk to the Tower I doubt not but you have heard ere now his cause goeth hard even to his own confession because such causes be doubtfull till they be brought to some certainty I will forbeare till my next but thus much appeareth vehement suspicion of more ill then I ever thought could fall out in him but his deserts crave as they deserve and I believe her Majestie will proceed according to equity and justice what cause soever she hath to use little mercy I have spoke very earnestly to her Majestie touching the relief of your estate she hath promised earnestly forthwith to help you Monsieur de Foix therein played the part of a right honest Gentlemen and a very friend he hath declared to my Lord of Burleigh and me and also to her Majestie her self so much of your extream chargeable living there as surely besides that it did much further the matter he deserved thanks for such an unlooked for office at his hands truely he did it wisely and honestly for you The Regent Lennox is slain of late Marre is chosen in his place God defend all my friends from that soile The money that you heard my Lord of Norfolk did send toward Scotland was the French Ambassadors indeed
but it little helpeth the D. case I pray you give little Leicester thanks for his often writing to me and commend me to my Lord of Rutland and his wife Thus having nothing else to write but of her Majesties good health I bid thee farewell this 20 of September Your assured friend Ro. Leicester To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr since Monsieur de Foix departure these things have happened The D. of Norfolk is charged with the countenance of dangerous practises with the Queen of Scots as that he hath sent money into Scotland to maintain her party in the Castle for proof whereof Letters are intercepted in Cipher by one Higgford his Secretary who is now in the Tower and confesseth that the Duke commanded him to write to one Law Banister the Dukes man that he should see secretly conveyed 600 l. to the Lord Harrise to be by him conveyed to Liddington Graunge The Duke at the first denied all manner of knowledge thereof but now at his committing to the Tower he yieldeth and asketh pardon thereofâ— but yet the money is said to have been by the Fr. Ambassador delivered to Barâ—or the Dukes man to be conveyed to Viracque how this is true time must teach sure we are that they in the Castle have been payed divers times with English Angells and Royalls There are also found about the Duke certain writings by which appeareth that the Duke was acquainted with the voiage that Ridolph made to Rome and to Spain hereupon the Queens Majestie is grievously offended both toward the Queen of Scots and the D. and hath strengthned her from intelligence At this time the matters of Scotland are also intricate the Queens party much diminished by the deserting of the 〈◊〉 of Argile Egliton and Cassillâ— and yet by a stratagem on Monday last as night the case had like to have been much altered The Earle of Huntley and Lord Hamilton with Bucklough and Fernichurst accompained with 40 horsemen entred by stealth into the Town of Sterling after midnight they took the Regent in his bed and the Earles Argile Moretâ—n Cassills c. and whilest these being prisoners were at the Town gate to be carried away with their takers the rest of the company spoiling the Town they of the Castle of Sterling issued out and so resued the prisoners saving that in the conflict the Regent and 16 more of his Gentlemen were slain as it is written Thus it is written unto me but I dare not affirm it untill I heare it again As for the motion made by de Foix that some person might be sent thither to affirme his message and to maintain that with the Queen Majesties honour wherein by de Foix I was named the Queens Maâ—estie doth forbeare untill she may heare from you for according to the answer that shall be made her Majestie will send a person either mean or great By reason that I was named I have had lesse occasion to motion it but surely it had done well to have fed the French humour and many things may better be said by an expresse messenger then by the report of an Ambassador Lieger whose commission groweth by writing Truly the more matters are discovered the more necessary it is seen that her Majestie should marry The Queens Majestie returneth towards London from hence to Hundon and so to my house in Chesthunt and so to S. Iame's and hence to Richmond And so having commodity by this honest Gentleman Mr. Clarke I end From Lees the 28 of September 1571. Your assured loving friend W. Burleigh To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh YOur Lordships of the 17 20 of September sent by Har I received the 28 of the same which came in very good time for that there is most earnest soliciting here by the Ambassadors Lord Fleming and Duglas for present aid to be sent into Scotland therefore after I had well perused the contents thereof I took occasion by presenting the Earle of Rutland at his leave taking to make Q. Mother acquainted with so much of the same as I thought â—it for her to know I shewed her that if it might so like her I would declare unto her at large the present state of England as also my private opinion in some points not by Commission as an Ambassador but as a private Gentleman that desireth nothing more then good Amity between both the two Crowns and therefore wish all jealousie to be removed for that there could be no perfection of friendship where jealousie was a party First touching the state of England I made her privy what had passed between their Ambassador Monsieur de la Mot and the Duke of Norfolk touching the money as also the pacquet conveyed by Virague I made her also acquainted with the contents of the discourse 〈◊〉 by the 〈◊〉 of Scotsâ— to the Duke I shewed her further that Monsieur 〈…〉 sending for Audience to have moved her majestie for relief of the Queen of Scots did not best like her In the end I concluded with that point that concerned the Duke of Alva's advice given to the said Queen aswell for her own marriage as her sons as also not to depend any longer upon France Then touching my private opinion I shewed her I was sorry first that their Ambassador should have intelligence with the Duke who was discovered to be a dangerous subject Secondarily That he should be so earnest in seeking the liberty of the Queen of Scots unto the Queen my Mistress a most dangerous enemy these things I feare said I may breed in the Queen my Mistress some opinion that the friendship professed is not altogether sincere and therefore I wished that the King and she in seeking the Queen of Scots liberty would not forget to have regard to the Queen of Englands safety especially now seeing the Queen of Scots seeketh to quit her self of his protection To this she answered That as on the one side she was glad to understand that these practises were discovered so was she sorry that there should fall out any thing that might breed any suspicion in her Majestie of any evill meaning on their behalf who wished asmuch good to her Majestie as to their own selves And as for de la Mots doing I know saith she aswell for his duty towards the King my Son who would not have him deale in any thing that might any way prejudice the Queen your Misterss as also for the particular good will he beareth unto her was altogether void of any evill meaning and so I hope she will interpret it The money saith she as I am informed by the Scots Ambassador was sent by him to de la Mot to be conveyed to the Queen of Scots who as he shewed quite was void of mony I then replied That the money was sent over to another end as the Duke himself had confessed and that therefore the Ambassador
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
perceive so entirely as I think none could come more grateful unto you and surely so do I find him to love and care for you as none can do more to a natural brother I am greatly perplexed with the strangeness of 2 4. In Dover 7 0 d m t m o t m for surely at this time there groweth daily more cause then other to have 57 Callice A M. And so when you shall understand the state of things here you will judge This bearer can tell you who is likely to come thither for surely there are many impediments why I cannot but the principal is for that I am far unmeet to treat of any thing out of England being as I am known only meet to speak as my mother taught me Of Scotland this bearer can report to you and so can he of the Scotish Queen of the Duke of Norfolk and all the matter He can also tell you of a sudden alarm given to me specially yesternight by her Majestie being suddenly sick in her stomack and as suddenly relieved by a vomit You must think such a matter would drive men to the end of their wits but God is the stay of all that put their trust in him At Richmond the twentieth of October 1571. Yours assuredly William Burleigh To my very Friend Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador for the Queens Majestie in France MR. Walsingham this bearer is so fully instructed as I shall need the less to trouble you with any tedious Letter for both touching our opinion of the marriage of the Amity as also of the Queen of Scots the Duke of Norfolk c. I have at large delivered it to this bearer And last of all for your self I assure you I have most earnestly travelled with her Majestie and let her fully understand your estate and how chargably your service there hath been already to you Her answers be so gracious and do promise so earnestly to see you shortly recompenced as I have no doubt but it will prove no less in deed then in word and to my power I will not cease to put her still in rememmembrance of you Thus with my hearty commendations I bid you farewel In some haste the twentieth of October 1571. Your assured Friend Ro Leicester Instructions for Henry Killegrew Esq sent into France to supply the place of Francis Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador Resident with the French King during the time that the said Walsingham shall be absent from the Court of France to recover his health for such infirmities as he is troubled withal YOu shall repair to our Ambassador Francis Walsingham and let him understand as he shall perceive by our Letters now sent to him that your coming is to supplie his room for such a season as shall be needful for him to attend his recoverie of his infirmities as he is molested withal and assoon as you may for the speedy relieving of him you shall repair with him to the French King our good brother or otherwise by his direction if it so be that for his infirmitie he may not without some great hinderance repair to the Court with you and you shall deliver the Kings Letters which for this purpose are directed to our good brother the King and to Queen Mother for to credit you in the absence of our Ambassador After that you are so notified and allowed of the King and Queen Mother you shall also at time convenient salute the French Queen and Monsieur de Anjou and also Angoulemse the Kings brethren with such good usual speeches as may seem agreeable You shall also let the King understand that since the arrival of Monsieur de Foix there at the Court we have heard both by Letters of our own Ambassador and since that by the report of Monsieur de la Mot the Kings Ambassador in what good part the King hath accepted our friendly and plain manner of dealing with him in the negotiation of the matter for the which Monsieur de Foix was sent hither and how well Monsieur de Foix hath reported our good usage of him for the Kings sake of all which we are very glad to see our good meaning to be so well interpreted and allowed for ever to that end indeed we did direct our meaning and intention to make some demonstrations of our heartie good will towards our good brother especially by many things confirmed to us of late time not only in the honourable usuage of our Ministers and Servants but in so earnest prosecution of this matter of marriage of his brother the Duke of Aâ—jou And considering we perceive by his Ambassador that he will not enter into any direct judgement upon our answer given to Monsieur de Foix neither to accept it until that some special person of value and credit with us may be sent unto them to treat further thereupon and that he doth certainlie look that we will send some such person thither upon the report of Monsieur de Foix who indeed at his departure did intreat us so to do yet he had no certain promise of us for the same but that we would first understand how the King our good brother should allow of our answer and so thereafter to do We now finding not onely the expectation of our said good brother but his desire also that one such person might come from us are minded within short time to send forth such a one as shall be meet for that purpose to deal with our said good brother for declaration of our mind in that matter or in any other which we mean to defer onely until we may at more length more largely understand the whole intention and progress of certain dangerous practises begun against us and our State by the Scotish Queen and some of our natural Subjects which being lately discovered doth alreadie manifestly appear to have been of long time intended and by Gods goodness staied in such sort as before the execution thereof we have knowledge of a great part thereof and doubt not by the continuance of the same goodness of God both to understand the rest and to understand the danger intended whereof when the whole shall be further known to us we will make our said brother private thereto as to one that for the assured friendship that we conceive in him will be both glad that God hath defended us from such dangers and also willing by his good concurrency in friendship to assist us in our State against the like And yet you shall say to our good brother because he shall not be ignorant of these matters for such part as shall be to us discovered you shall shew him that whereas about two years past the Queen of Scots had practised to have married wâ—thout our knowledge with one of our greatest Subjects the Duke of Norfolk wherewith for many great reasons we were justly offended both against her and the said Duke having for that purpose restrained the said Duke but from his common
liberty leaving him the use of all his Lands and Goods and meaning by degrees to receive him to our grace as we did in some part diminish the demonstration of our offence upon signification of his repentance and protestation never to deal in that matter or any such like and the like declaration did the Queen of Scots make to us from the beginning both by her sundry messages and specially by multitude of her Letters to us which do remain with us written of her own hand And though we had many sparks of suspetion that their meaning was not fully agreeable to their Words Letters Promises and Oathes which made us not hastie in the full deliverie of the Duke yet now we have manifestly found by their practises with sundrie others and by their own Letters which we have in great number that even from the beginning that we did find fault with the said practises for marriage and that they did solemnly revoke their intentions with firm promises in writing never to deal therein any further They did not onely secretlie continue their first intents of marriage against our will but the rest also of our dangers that properlie we did at the begining conjecture to have been joyned to that marriage which now are so manifestlie discovered as no answer can excuse the same and that is in one word to express the whole under colour of restoring her to libertie to deprive us of our Crown and erect her up in our place and that by force not onely by Rebellion to be stirred up in our Realm but by bringing in of Forreign Forces to assist that enterprize against such power as we should have had of faithful natural Subjects in our defence This intention of the Queen of Scots you shall assure our good brother is not to us by conjectures as for the most part the greatest Treasons are that they be not executed but by manifest writing of the Queen of Scots own hand by confession of such as be apprehended and are guiltie thereof themselves and have confessed it voluntarilie with tokens of great repentance And in all these their practises we are much comforted to find it declared yea by the Queen of Scots own writings that she and her partie much misliked the Friendship between our good brother the French King and us and specially gave charge that in seeking of Forreign Forces to invade our Realm none of the French Kings Ministers should be made participant judging by plain speeches and words in writing that she the Scotish Queen would wholly follow the directions of the King of Spain and would procure her son to be transported thither and to entice their friendship she would shew her self willing to marrie Don Iohn of Austria This in sum you may assure the French King we can in substance manifest even by the Scotish Queens writings to the Duke of Norfolk which we have divers ways confirmed by writings and Confessions of others And until this whole Tree shall be fully discovered as well in the branches as in the roots which we trust God will display afore our eyes we have thought meet to impart in this manner so much thereof praying our good brother to shew herein the office of a good perfect friend that is in case of all such danger as this is touching our life our State and the ruine of our Realm and faithful Subjects not to credit the false report of any that to our prejudice shall labour to deprave our doings in the procuring of our own safety and quietness of our State and the continuance of Peace in our Realms and Dominions For surely we do not herein any thing but in the sight of God we are bound in nature to do for our selves and in dutie for our Realm At Richmond the nineteenth of October 1571. Burleigh To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may please your Lordship to understand that finding the King absent from Bloys as also all those from whom I was wont to receive any light of their proceeding here whereby my abode there was to no great purpose finding also my disease to increase upon me and the time fit for the cure to slip away I thought it good to repair to Pariâ— having taken order before my departure for the excuse of my going away without taking leave of the King he being then well near thirtie Leagues from Bloys at a house of Marshal Villeâ—ile not far from Aâ—giers At my access hither I found Master Killegrew who delivered me her Majesties Letters by the which I have just cause to think my self most bound to her Majestie for accepting my simple service as also for the care she hath of my health by sending this Gentleman to relieve me I have conferred with him and made him acquainted with my proceeding in this charge as also with the present state of this Countrey The chief cause of my sending at this present is to advertise her Majestie of the late victorie had by the Princes Confederates against the Turk The particularities whereof as I received them from the Venetian Ambassador were these That the seventh of c. It is much feared by those of judgement here that this Victory though generallie it may grow to Christendom profitable yet particularlie it may prove dangerous to some in that it is likely to increase the reputation and greatness of Spain which may breed some change here and may cause the King to relent over much to Spain the reason of the fear is that Queen Mother who directeth all things here is of nature fearful and therefore they doubt that those that incline to Spain who are in best credit with her will take profit of the Victorie and make her an instrument to perswade the King to dissemble the Injuries received at Spains hands and to encline him to run one course with him for a time Of these fears I thought good to advertise refâ—â—ring the consideration thereof unto her Majestie One Waldie servant unto the Countess of Emden being sent from her unto her Majestie with certain Letters is stayed in the Town through sickness whereby he cannot perform his voyage He desired me to convey over these Letters he hath unto her unto a servant of his Mistris's resident in London whom he meaneth to make his substitute for the delivery of the said Letters as also to make your Lordship acquainted with the causes of his stay His Commission as I gather by him is two ends the one to desire her Majestie that by her aid there may be some order taken for the clearing of the narrow seas of Pyrats the other to move her Majestie to grant to the Subjects of the said Commonwealth an exemption of a certain custom in respect of the favour shewed her Majesties Subjects Thus leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humblie take my leave At Paris the eighth of November 1571. Your Lordships to Command Fr. Walsingham To
to supply what else doth want in me and therefore besides that her Majesty hath here willed me to signifie unto you which is for the imparting of the proceedings in the case of her marriage heretofore how it hath from time to time past unto the Admiral there I have shewed you what I conceive of her Majesties inclination again towards the marriage of Monsieur which being a matter of greatest importance to her and us also I thought meet to let you know that the matter as it hath been a long while in a manner dead may be with more discretion revived and do not doubt but that it will be opened by the parties there again seeing her Majesty hath not yet clearly there denied it nor they fully answered her Majesties demands Other news we have none worth the writing but of her Majesties good estate which surely is such as I have not known been these many years Thus with my right hearty commendations I bid you farewell At Greenwich the 6 of Decemb. 1571. Your very Friend R. Leicester Instructions given to Sir Tho. Smith one of the Q. Majesties privy Councel and Ambassador in France and to Francis Walsingham Esq her Ambassador ordinary there and in his absence to her Majesties trusty servant H. Killegrew Esq. Given at Westminster Feb. 13. 1571. the 13. year of her Maj. reign YOu shal understand that after consideration had of all your Letters and memorials in writing of the Colloquie that had passed between you and our servant Hen. Killâ—grew with you on the one part and with the President Biraâ—e the Bishop of Limoyes and Mr. de Foix deputed from the French King to confer with you on their part from the 10 of the last month unto the 20 of the same we caus'd certain of our councel to confer with the French Amb. according to his request upon the same matters who did exhibit in writing the copies of the proceedings betwixt you and the said Deputies agreeable for the most part to those which were receiv'd from your self and he did propound four points comprehending the differences betwixt you and them the judgement whereof was referred as he said to the King his Master our good brother and us pretending with many good words that since the foundation of the Treaty was by your good means and the Kings Deputies with you there made manifest to be without any difference which was a declaration of a natural good will in both the P. to enter into some streight League of amity he doubted not but that these other particular differences which consisted but upon words should be easily and speedily compounded The first doubt as he said remaining undetermined was about the Article for mutual defence of either Prince against any other person that should invade either of them or their Countries In that you shall have these words inferted into the Article Etiam si causa religionis mutatio facta fuerit whereunto with these special words the Kings Deputies would not agree neither as he said might his Master without great inconvenience assent thereunto whereof he doubted not but he would have reasonable respect and not meaning thereby to forbear to be bound to do that which the special case of these words might import And so reporting many arguments to our Councel whereof he had made mention unto us two daies before at his last audience amongst the which one was of most weight as we took it That if such special mention should be made for the defence of Religion in a publike Treaty the King should thereby offend not only all other Princes Catholiques his Allies but also the greater part of his own States and Subjects which are of the Catholique Religion as the King himself also is And yet nevertheless the King was content as he said to have all other manner of good and effectual words and speeches inserted in the said Treaty to bind the King to a mutual defence against all manner of invasion for what cause pretext or colour soever it were yea and that without exception of any manner of cause Hereunto was answered on our part That considering there was no other likelihood of any pretence to invade us but upon the colour of Religion only and that on the Kings part there were many other causes and quarrels as Titles to Dominions and Territories and such like other might be devised for invasion and disturbance of his estate whereunto our aid or defence should be requisite It might be thought a very unequal Contract by general words certainly to conclude all his causes and by forbearing these special words of Religion to leave us utterly unprovided of aid and as to the remedy to have other manner of words inserted considering they should be but general it might be doubted that while the Invasion should be made or attempted against us for Religion or but for pretext of Religion and required for the same the King might then with colourable reasons being devised by such as were over-vehement and passionate in the Religion of Rome or in that which is called Catholike answer that he might not for his conscience satisfie or demand for aid in that behalf and that could not be intended to be lawfully that is by the Law of God included in the general words To this although the Ambassador replyed in his Masters name with the great assurance of his intention to give us aid against any Invasion though it were indeed for Religion which he said could not be but a pretence of the Invader for that the Invasion of the Realm was to be regarded and not any cause or pretext Yet the doubt herein remained betwixt them unresolved and so the Ambassador seemed not therein to be satisfied saving that in some secret speech afterward with one or two of our Councel apart although he would not have report thereof made he thought his Master might be induced by some secret means to make some particular promise betwixt his Master and us by writing separated from the publike Treaty for a special point of a mutual defence in case of Religion The second part of the doubt moved by the Ambassador was for the forme manner time and quality of the aid that should be mutually given wherein he pressed to have had the like manner as was contracted in Anno 1543. betwixt the Emperor Charls and the King our Father at which time either of the Confederates was bound to give such aid as might amount to the charges of 600 Crowns by the day for the space of 4 months in one year or else some other aid in certainty which he could not name but it may be the Kings Deputies there might mean such Treaties as had been before contracted between our Father and King Francis Grandfather to the King where there is one example of the Treaty of 1532. betwixt the said two Kings in both which Treaties the aids were born at the charges of the Confederate Prince that was required by the
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
directing his Speech to me saying that I had been and was the cause of all the unkindnesse that had chanced betwixt the King his Master and the Q. Maj. whereunto as it became me for truths sake I answer'd with more modest terms then he deserved and referred my self to all the Lords in Councel to report of me whether any thing had beene said or done by me from the beginning of these broils concerning him or his Master or the Arrest that had not been ordered and directed by her Majestie in Councel all which the whole Lords did affirm and my Lord of Sussex in the Italian tongue did very plainly and very earnestly confirm it but yet his cholor would not be so tempered and so he was dismissed and Mr. Knolls appointed to tend on him at his house This was done the thirteenth of this Month and untill the 24 he could not be gotten out of the Town and then he went to Greenwich and on Saint Stephens day to Gravesend where he yet remaineth but this day or to morrow he is to remove to Canterbury and Iohn Hawkins with whom he is well enough agreed notwithstanding the braw that had been for Hawkins spoyl in the Indies is now appointed to pass him over at Dover to Callais in a Ship of the Queens Majesties and to confirm the continuance of his mallice where there was a full determination made by Treaty by one Monsieur of the Low-Countrie and Thomas Fiascio a Genevoise for a mutual restitution on both parts and the same part in writing to have been sealed and subscribed he hath so handled the matter as by his addition of certain words the whole is become void For if our Merchants should admit his device they should be without all surety of their Goods in Spain and contrariwise the Spaniards should first have theirs arrested here whereby it is likely that the intent of this Treaty will break off and therewith our Merchants are best contented For now considering the breaking off proceedeth from the other party it is intended that there shall be a speedy sale of the strangers Commodities and therewith our own Merchants shall be duely recompenced At this present there is another come from the King of Portugal to move an end of all arrest and renew the Traffique between this Realm and his whereby it is manifestly seen that there shall follow a very good vent for all Commodities that Spain was wont to expend As yet there is no accord known to us betwixt the Kings party in Scotland and them of the Castle for that they of the Castle cannot have their reasonable demands for the restitution of their Lands and Goods well assured The French Ambassador lately by the Queens Majesties appointment dealt with my Lord of Leicester and me upon these Points following which he said he was willed to doe by his Masters Letters of the first of this Moneth For offer of Amity by Marriage or League To complain of the intention of her Majestie to send force into Scotland to aid the Kings party with a kind of threatning that the King might not endure but aid the other party with force and in speech hereof a request that some expedition might be made to procure the Queen of Scots restitution with the Queens Majesties assurance To demand restitution of money that was intercepted being sent towards Scotland for Viraque alleadging that the one half was the Kings money and that though the Queen Mother had otherwise at the first spoken to Mr Walsingham yet she now understandeth the contrary by the Kings Treasurers who sent it To these was answered To the first That you had Commission amply to satisfie the King To the second That nothing was intended to be done by force if they that were of the Castle would abide by their own offers which they had made to the Queens Majestie by Messages and Letters viz. That they would accord with the other party so as the Queens Majestie would provide for their honours lives and their Lands and Goods which her Majestie intended to doe and therein to doe nothing that should be prejudicial to the ancient League betwixt the French King and the Crowne of Scotland and so was told him that you had Commission to declare to the King wherewith the Ambassador seemed very well content As to devise any way expedient for the Scotch Queen absolutely was answered That the Queens Majestie would never assent thereto neither would any Counceller of this estate willingly permit any consultation to be made thereof such was her known malice to the Queens Majestie The third for the money we told him as plain a tale to the contrary and vouched the Bishop of Ross his Confession thereof but the Ambassador would still have us believe him which he could not obtain This Treaty was long on both sides and ended in good sort and friendly In the end he was earnest for his freedom of impost for 30 tonn we said that he should be free from as much as he should spend in his house but that contented him not finally considering the terms of towardness to friendship he shall have his own desire whereby spending seven or eight tonn the rest shall pay for his expences Of all these things I have thought good to scribble to you this Childermas day in my bed and am bold to send this Letter unsealed in a Letter of Mr. Walsinghams because he shall not be ignorant I think the Duke shall be arraigned on Monday the 14 of the next Month. At Westminster the 28 of December 1571. Your assured friend W. Burleigh To the right honorable and my very good friend Mr. Francis Walsingham her Majesties Ambassador in France SIr You shall understand that immediately after Sir Tho. Smith had taken his leave of the Court a servant of my brother Killigrews named Geofery came to the Court with Letters from you and from the Court and before this bearer can come to you I doubt not but you shall have understanding by Mr. Smith what charge he hath and therein here is now an earnest determination to spend time no longer then honour will spare and so I thinâ— this bearer will say of his knowledge who surely maketh good demonstration of his honest meaning to all Parties and therein he is to be comforted On Friday last the Spanish Ambassador was sent for to the Councell and in the Queens name commanded to depart the Realme the same hath beene oftentimes intended but never put in execution before this present and now provoked by intelligence of certain new practises within this Realm to perswade the Subjects that the King his Master would aid them with power this Spring c. he hath also lately searched for certain Barons Walls he shall depart by Dover into the Low-Country I can write no more for lack of leasure being occasioned to write at this time divers waies and not unoccupied with feasting my friends at the marriage of my daughter who is
this day married to the Earl of Oxford to my comfort by reason of the Queens Majestie who hath very honourably with her presence and great favour accompanied it I am sorry that your health is not more sperable to be speedily recovered but I trust after you have rested so in convenient time the Medicines shall have more power to do their effects My Lord Gray of Wilton hath had the like disease this Summer and seemeth to be cured or eased by the industry of an Italian Phisitian here in London called Silva he is thought to be more experimented in Surgery then in Phisick for so is his father who lieth in the Savoy with the Duke if you will send me some note or description and therewith a note of their method in curing of you I would confer with this Silva and advertise you of my opinion I wish to hear more life of the matter of 57. And thus ending with my most hearty commendations c. From Westminster December 1571. Yours most assured Will. Burliegh To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr Though I had no great matter to you yet if I had my health being now subject to a combat with a Feaver whereof this day I have had an assault of a second fit I must be excused to hold my hand where my head is not able to command it as this bearer can inform you Since your Letters which came when Sir Tho. Smiths were brought I received from you two other of the 17. by which I see you are advertised from good places how things passed at the Court there and in that matter of the third person newly offered his age and other qualities unknown maketh me doubtfull how to use speech thereof The Ambassador hath dealt as he saith secretly with me And I have shewed no argument to one hand or other as I may learn further from thence I will deal but fear occupieth me more in this cause of her Marriage whom God hath suffered to lose so much time then for my next fit and yet truely I have more cause then before time for it cometh of a great cold and a Rhume fallen into my Lungs where it is lodged as yet without moving but in respect of other things I see and suffer I weigh not my own carcase The Queens Majesty hath been alwaies a merciful Lady and by mercy she hath taken more harm then by justice and yet she thinks that she is more beloved in doing her self harm God save her to his honour long among us Mather hath in presence of my Lord of Leicester Mr. Treasuror Mr. Mildmay manfully charged Borgest the Spanish Ambassadors Secretary that his Master and he both inticed Mather to murther me and Borgest denying it Mather hath offered to try it Con la spada c. From Westminster the 23 of January 1571. Your loving Friend Will. Burleigh To Francis Walsingham Esq the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr I have nothing to write worth your good hearing for that I might write is not to my liking but Gods will be fulfilled This day the Marshal of Berwick and Mr. Randolph are gone for Scotland matters I mistrust not the matter by their handling but they lack that which others should handle you know what I mean and yet here hath lacked no solicitation I have not been able by a cold to see her Majestie these eight daies and this day I am in Phisick throughly sick and I write as you see like one unsetled and surely in mine opinion others though very few lack not to sollicite by speech oportune importune The Spanish late Ambassador passed hardly over conducted by Hawkins to Callais and like himself at Gravelin he turned out all the English men that he found and yet he knoweth that here remaineth Monsieur Sweringham at the request of the Duke of Alva Here is no small expectation whether the Duke shall die or continue prisoner I know not how to write for I am here in my Chamber subject to reports which are contrariwise Mather and Berny besides that they intended to kill me have now plainly confessed their intention and desire to have been rid of the Queens Majesty but I think she may by justice be rid of them Mather denieth not but that he was a 8 2 0 6 and now saith he is a 0 2 1 0 6. I wish him grace From Westminster the second of February 1571. Yours assuredly W. Burliegh To the right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr I heartily thank you for your frequent Letters and especially for that of the 9. whereby you will not be afraid of the Scotch preparation of force out of that Country indeed they should much disturb our proceedings there privatly for Mr. Drury and Mr. Randolph are there about this instant labouring to reconcile them of the Castle to the Kings side but this French Ambassador understandeth the matter to be only about the Treaty of abstinence untill la Croque may come whose haste I wish were retarded with a fit of my gout The Queens Majesty is very earnest that you should return to the Court specially because she would have you joyn with Sir Tho. Smith in this Treatie and when I excused your absence for the recovery of your full healing she said that she understood that you were healed almost one month past and thereto I said that as you were healed so was there as much need for you to rest for the confirmation of your healing or otherwise you should suffer a relapse with as great peril as before Well quoth she see you write to him that it is my desire and will him to find means to repair gently to the Court and there he may rest him But for all this it were better her Majestie should mislike of your tarrying if it be necessary whereby you may after that serve her better then by going now to doe one piece of service thereby be made unable to do the rest of many I cannot write you what is the inward cause of the stay of the Duke of Norfolks death only I find her Majestie diversly disposed sometime when she speaketh of her Majesties danger she concludeth that justice should be done another time when she speaketh of his nearness of bloud of his superiority in honour c. she stayeth As upon Saturday she signed a Warrant for the Writs to the Sheriffs of London for his execution on Monday and so all preparations were made with the expectation of all London and concourse of many thousands yesterday in the morning but their coming was answered with another ordinary execution of Mather and Berny for conspiring the Queens Majesties death and of one Rolph for counterfeiting the Queens Majesties hand twice to get concealed Lands And the cause of this disappointment was this suddenly on Sunday 〈◊〉 in the night the â—ueens Majestie sent for me and entred into a great
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
can give good testimony and therefore I doubt not her Majestie wil have good consideration thereof accordingly Your Lordship at large by Sir Tho Smith is advertised how strangely the Article of Provision for the King of Spain was taken by his Deputies Surely if her Majestie persist in that point to have him specially provided for I perceive then that this Treaty is at the best for that they themselves confess that the end of this League is onely to bridle his greatness therefore to provide for his safety who seeketh both their destructions they cannot tell what to judge what it meaneth especially seeing that of late he hath no way deserved at her Majesties hands any such favour If therefore her Majestie do think that this Prince is of any value who is towards all men sincere towards her Majestie well affected towards Religion pius Inimicus she must not weigh him in one ballance with Spain who is of word unsincere in affection towards her Majestie maliciously bent and the common Enemy to our Religion If her Majestie mean to take profit of his friendship the next way shall be to strengthen her self with the Amity of others in such sort as she shall have no need of it for it is the nature of a proud man to make best account of them that least esteem him for whosoever yieldeth to him increaseth his pride which thing those that deal with the Spanish Nation find to be most true So long as the late Catholique League made remaineth in force her Majestie nor any other Princes of the Religion can promise unto themselves any thing at Spains hands but as much mischief as he can do them which thing her Majestie with the rest shall find to be true by too dear an experience if the same be not holpen by some counter league The consideration whereof maketh the German Princes now who otherwise are slow in their counsels determinations to think it necessary for them to joyn in this counter-league which thing your Lordship may perceive by this inclosed letter which lately I received from the Count Palatine touching that point whereas he referreth me to his servant Iuniuâ— with whom I have had conference I have committed the report thereof to this bearer M. Beal Touching the Marriage in Treaty here betwixt the Prince of Navarre and the Lady Margaret Sir Tho Smith Mr. Killegrew and I knowing how much the success of the same might further the cause of the Religion and finding the greatest difculty to be the manner of the solemnizing of the same we sent unto the Queen of Navarre a Copy of the Treaty of the marriage betwixt King Edward and the latâ— Q. of Spain the Kings sister here wherein it was agreed as your Lordship knoweth that she should be married according to the form of our Church This Coâ—y of the Treaty as the Queen of Navarre her self told Sir Thomas Smith and me standeth her in very good stead whom she sent for the 7 of this moneth to come and speak with her At our access she told us that she did not send for us before she did make Queen Mother acquainted therewith not saith she in respect of my self but in respect of her Majestie towards whom I would be loth to ingender any jealousie considering that she is growing to so good Amity with this Crown For as for my self I am not afraid to make known to all the world the great good will I bear towards her Majestie to whom I am as much bound as ever one Prince was to another And because saith she you are Ministers to her Majestie here I thought good to make you acquainted in what state and terms the Treaty of the marriage standeth betwixt their Majesties here and me saith she there is no difference but only the manner of solemnization I have alledged the Treaty which you sent me whereunto they take exceptions such as are of no great value and therefore said she I cannot tell what to judge of the matter because amongst the rest of the exceptions they say it was no true Copy of the Treaty I have sent for you Monsieur Smith saith she to know because you were a dealer in the same whether you will not justifie it to be a true Copy to whom Sir Tho Smith answered that knowing the great good will her Majestie did bear her and how much she desired the good success of that marriage as a thing that tended to the advancement of Religion and repose of this Realm he could not but in duty avow the same and be willing to do any good office that might advance the said marriage She made us acquainted with divers other particularities which I thought good rather to refer to the report of this bearer then to commit them to writing The Copy of the Letter which I send unto your Lordship here inclosed sent unto her from her Son which she delivered unto us secretly to read may shew you how full of jealousie the matter is and therefore until the same be concluded I hold it for doubtful She findeth here a great stay of Count Lodovicus's advice who surely is the rarest Gentleman which I have talked withal since I came to France c. Your Lordships to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Queens most excellent Majestie PLeaseth it your Majestie the thirtieth of March at night we received your Majesties Letters of the twentieth of the same whereupon asking audience the next day because the King himself was yet in his Diet we did speak with the Queen Mother in her Chamber where I began to declare unto her Highness that by Letters from her Majestie we had understood two things whereof we were sorry the one that your Highness having received the dispatch from us of our negotiation here as touching the league and amity willing to dispatch our Currier again with your resolution which we doubt not should be to her and the K. contention their Ambassador Resident required that your Majestie would not write your answer or resolution unto us until he had his Currier come for whom he looked every day Saith the Q. that is because he would coucur with you I think so said I and it is well and I trust we shall so concur to a perpetual and strait Amity I hope saith she but yet he vvrote not so much to us that he spake to the Queen to forbear his resolution to you but onely that he looked for his Currier The other is more grievous to us because we take the time lost and some evil suspicion may be conceived but I trust the Amity is so begun between the two Realms that there shall no suspicion have place after that the one hath understood the other Monsieur de Crocque arrived into England as your Majesty knoweth with Commission from hence to help Scotland to a quietness in her self and to concur with him whom the Queen our Mistris should send for that purpose for aid and even at
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
be so inquisitive for gladly would I learn somewhat of the Queen my sisters minde and make this Amity Si estroictè as may be This is the sum of that which passed at that time viz. the last day of March betwixt the Queen mother and us The next day the first of April Monsieur de Foix came to our lodging at afternoon and shewed that upon our talk with Q. mother of the which she had at large declared unto the King because some things were in doubt the King according to the promise of the Q. mother had sent them to us both to be satisfyed in our doubts and to give us a reasonable answer betwixt them and Mr. Walsingham and me all was repeated again The doubt your Majestie and your Councel found and the insufficiency of his Commission was at all points debated again at full each of us serving others turn to make probable what we said and they what they said And first we beat them with reason from the choosing of indifferent men that should rule neither in the Princes nor the Queens name that we said was rather the Aristocratia as they would have it First the Scots will never choose such they of that Nation were never wont to be governed but under a King yea and hardly would their Kings govern of whom the most part they have slain themselves Then they have elected already and Crowned their King to whom by right it is due For as for their Queen she is by them deposed She is in England and worthily kept so straightly that when it pleased her Majesty she might justly have the reward of her deserts and if they were too earnest to set her up or for her liberty they may peradventure be an occasion to shorten her life It was also brought in that the League that France had was not with the person but with the Realm and seat thereof They said the King could not with his honor so long as she lived consent to the deposing of her being his Allie and confederate nor to the setting up of her son who is not a Kings son but hath all his right from her onely Why quoth we then you do wrong will you interrupt the doings of the Realm whosoever is King there and acknowledged King to him are you allyed They came to this that if the Scots did universally agree to it they must be content And as for the Q. they had heard and known too much by her and although some excuse may be made for her by the grief of her long imprisonment yet she hath gone about too much and against her own friends and her own safety and her sons and the whole Realms But say they Scotland is a free Nation and we do claim no superiority over them and therefore the King cannot command them nor compel them but by perswasion and by intreaty what can be gotten by them to be done that is reasonable and now that the Q. is prisoner with you and not like to come to them why should they not obey the yong Prince whom if his mother were dead they must needs obey and why should not all be done in his name as when we had King Iohn prisoner did not all France obey to Charles the fifth his son To him quoth we as Regent but now if the one shall obey as to the Prince the other as to the King there shall be no rule nor order Upon this was some dispute between us In fine we concluded consulere in Commune that they should send such Instructions to Mr. de Croque for that purpose to make the Realm of Scotland so in accord that they may perfectly agree to â—oyn with the amity betwixt England and France and that the Articles of his Instructions might be such as your Majesty shall think them reasonable for your Majesties surety And those to be shewed to your Majesty to judge upon upon which your Majesty shall also joyn for the same purpose with the same or such Articles as ye shall devise that by common consent of both the Realms such an accord shall be made by the consents of the Scots themselves or by the mediation common of both your Ambassadors That neither your Majesty nor the King shall be accounted to lose any thing of the old Amity of Scotland but joyntly to aid them to be of one accord in subjection to one K. that both your Commissioners or Ambassadors shal declare that as Princes united in most straight Amity that which shal please the one shal please the other and to the contrary who shall displease either shall displease both And if any shall be so obstinate that they will not come to accord by good and reasonable conditions that they shall look for no ayd from hence by any means but rather the contrary 〈◊〉 second of April becâ—use I and Mr. Walsingham both were somewhat sick that night both Mr. de Limoges and de Foix came to us and said that Q. mother having again conferred with the King and they both likeing well our frank and round dealing willed them to shew us what Articles or Instructions their Majesties had devised for the matter of Scotland to be compounded because from henceforth there should be plain dealing and full union betwixt the two Realms and all one desire to quiet all parties that way we seeing the Articles said that for so much as we could understand we liked them well and they had gone as far as yesterday they told us they could go But to give judgment of liking or not liking them we referred to your Majesty And if du Crocque do shew the same to your Majesty we doubted not but whosoever the Q. did send by her commandment also should be shewn to him or to the Ambassador the Instructions and Commission which your Majesty would send by him so that there may appear plain dealing and perfect union and intelligence betwixt these two Princes and that no other subtlety or craft was meant but sincerely to follow the true amity which now was begun That both in heart words and deeds it was meant it should go forward to the benefit of all the three Realms and we trust to the great assurance and contentation of your Majesty And if it shall please your Majesty to hear our poor advice that which is for the assurance of your Person and Crown as ye are a Prince lawful and natural and have a Crown Imperial so to do it by your Laws as Gods Laws and yours will it to be done Foraign Princes that be your friends will and must take it well Such as be not shall rather laugh at you and be glad of it that you do it not and when they shall see time take occasion to indanger your Majesty thereby God long preserve your Majesty to his honor and your Majesties contentation From Blois the third of April 1573. To the Queens Majesty PLease it your Highness to be advertised At the last Mr.
Walsingham and I have concluded the League not without some difficulty for the Scotch matters which from the beginning have most interrupted and troubled us nevertheless we have also passed over them in the end we trust to your Highness contentation and all other things whereof we had instructions by your Majesties letters of the second of April We can perceive nothing in any wise but that the King here goeth as sincerely and tam bona fide with your Majesty as any Prince can and we suppose and trust certainly by Gods Grace that this league shall be as great an assurance and defence of your Majesty as ever was or can be The two Realms being so neer and ready to defend if it be required if Spain will now threaten or shew evil Offices as it hath done of late against your Highness surety it will be afraid hereafter seeing such a wall adjoyned And if it will not it may sooner feel the smart of evil doing then it would if the house of Burgundie will be friend whereof there is great reason to have much doubt yet nothing is done on your Majesties part to break the amity And peradventure this will make him the loather seeing so good or neer hand so good peradventure in time a better vent granted here for your Subjects and Merchants then that is I thank your Majesty most humbly that it pleased you in my absence to bestow on me the Chancelorship of the Order the which must needs be to me manifold times more welcom because that without my suit and in mine absence your Highness of your gracious goodness did remember me I pray God I may have that Grace to do your Majesty that service which may be acceptable to you as my heart doth desire Thus I commit your Highness to Almighty God with my dayly prayer that your Majesty 〈◊〉 long and most prosperously reign over us From Bloys April 22. 1571. By the Queen ELIZABETH R. TRusty and well beloved We greet you well where the French King our good brother did of late send hither to us Mr. de Crocque with his letters signifying to us thereby that upon such an agreement as had been lately made between you as our Ambassadors and his Deputies to have some Gent. sent on either part into Scotland to cease the Arms there he had for that purpose chosen and sent hither the said du Crocque And besides that did by the same letters give charge to the said du Crocque to make request unto us affectionately to put the Q. of Scots into liberty and to send her surely into France which he did earnestly move unto us in speech adding another desire by words of his own that he might also repair to the said Q. of Scots and visit and speak with her hereupon you well might think that we did finde all these proceedings very strange and not answerable to such other overtures of the inward friendship which our said brother hath professed to us by many other ways nor consonant to such things as you have declared to the said King to the Q. mother and other his Ministers on our behalf concerning the dangerous practises of late time attempted by the said Q. of Scots against us both for our person and Estate and so we did in some part declare unto the said du Crocque and to the French Ambassadors And yet we did not hereupon refuse that he should repair into Scotland although we did mislike of the request made for the Scotch Queens liberty at this time and did deny to him to repair to her but we did require him by way of advice until he might hear of Scotland in what terms the parties stood So as we might before his going by conference with him consider what means were best to use to bring the divisions to an accord in Scotland After which done within few days we understood that the L. Seaton who had been long in France for the Scotch Queen and after had been in the King of Spains Low-Countries with Commission and Title to be the Queen of Scots Ambassador there had by tempest of Seas been driven into Harwich and from thence passed disguised as a Mariner into Scotland and so entered into the Castle of Edenburgh with no smal comfort to them to persist in their obstinacie to maintain Civil war and by Gods goodness which in all causes we find always ready there were afterwards found in the ship at Harwich such matters in writing to prove the earnest continuance and prosecuting of the Scotch Queens practises against us the intention that they in the Castle should by no means come to accord that our Rebels in the Low-Countries should shortly return into Scotland that we were justly occasioned further to consider of this matter and to encrease our doubt herein we were shortly after these things discovered advertised out of Scotland that in very deed upon the Lord Seatons coming to the Castle upon intelligence of du Croques voyage thitherward and the L. Flemings journey to come by the West Seas with aid out of Britain they in the Castle were become very obstinate to hearken unto the reasonable offers either for Peace or for abstinence of war Whereupon we did cause by consent of our Councel to be imparted to the French Ambassador and to du Crocque the substance of the premisses which moved us to doubt whether the journey of du Crocque should be meet for us to assent unto without we should first impart our Conceptions to the French King and so required them to allow thereof and that we would write to the King and according as we should receive answer from him so they should understand our further pleasure At which time we understood that both the Ambassador and he took this stay somewhat strangely thinking that it might likewise seem strange to the King their Mr. considering that the said du Crocque coming thither was by agreement of you our Ambassador and the Kings Deputies And though the same was not denyed yet in our part it was said we doubted not but when the King shall understand that new occasions with the matter discovered tending in this his matter of voyage rather to the increase of the troubles in Scotland then to the pacifying thereof and likewise rather to our manifest perils and troubles then to our comfort and surety he would as our good brother and friend especially at this time being entring into so straight a profession of friendship as he maketh shew of would allow of our considerations of this stay and by some new order from him and Commission to du Crocque would provide for the remedies of the said inconvenience Thus much being passed the said dâ— Croque within two days after desired to speak privately with one of our Councâ—l by name the L. of Burleigh and for some considerations it was thought good that he should speak also with some others and so did with the Earl of
fuller whereof we send you a Coppy in English And yet if you cannot obtain it to be put in Latine and under the great Seal we find no cause to stay the Treaty for that but to accept it as a Letter missive under the Kings hand and signet as it hath been already offered The second matter concerning the aid which now is by the Kings Deputies reduced to a specialty although we could have been content to have had it remain in generality yet the same being no greater then it is and the charge to be borne by the requirant we are contented therewith and think it nevertheless meet that the causes appointing the wages and stipends by either of us might be more particularly and certainly expressed for avoiding of ambiguity that is that the Prince requiring the aid and to pay the wages shall pay to every person both Captains Soldiers and Officers according to their several qualities both by Land and Sea wages certainly expressed how the numbers shall be accounted whether fully or with allowance of dead paies or lacks wherein because there may be diversities betwixt the usage of the two Countreys the certainty would be set down according to our manner As for example in the computation of the Band of 100. the manner here is to allow 8 dead paies to the hundred and no more which if they like they shall be so accorded or otherwise as they shal think it meetest so as the Article may be reciproque for us both as well in charge as in number The third matter in question is for Scotland wherein we have found great difficulty finding the Ambassador here more precise then we looked for or was reasonable considering the foundation and scope of this Treaty is to make a streight friendship betwixt the King and us and directly now to the contrary we see the pressing of the matter for the Queen of Scots as it is urged by the Article offered unto you which may seem to be of a strong Condition to be inserted into a Treaty containing a Form Historical or Narrative as they call it and not conventional The like also we find by the manner of du Crocques proceeding here for the said Queen of Scots neither of both being agreeable with the scope of the amity pretended And therefore we have caused the Ambassador to understand how much we mislike this manner of proceeding shewing him reasons for the same which we need not report unto you for that the argument therefore is at hand to every indifferent person And we have moved him that either the matter of Scotland might pass now in silence or rather the King would be contented that it may be Covenanted that we both shall defend the Kingdom of Scotland as it is possessed by the King as in all like cases in favour of the King and Prince being in possession that hath been used by other Princes neighbours and â—onfederates But hereunto the Ambassador would in no wise agree using no other reasons of value but that his Master shall thereby be taken as one that hath deprived the Queen of Scots his good Sister of her estate which indeed cannot justly be gathered for that our meaning is not to have it otherwise ordered but to have the state of the Realm to be preserved as we both find it which we take to be in the possession of the King being already Crowned and acknowledged by the 3 Estates of the Realm in full Parlament and acceptance of the Realm shall alter we must and ought to accept it as we should find it But this not satisfying the Ambassador we caused the writing which he required to be further considered and hereupon have caused another form to be drawn agreeable to such part of theirs as we may like and leaving the other part not by us allowable which hath been shewed unto him and after much argument not utterly misliked so as he might have some words of his own inserted into the same altogether prejudicial to our meaning which was declared unto him to be and so we would have you to do the like that conâ—idering the King is possessed of the Crown for the present and come to the same by order of the Laws of the Crown with the consent of the 3 estates and in Parlament our meaning is that he should be also defended by the form of the Article by us devised And so we send you the same Article in Latine although it was to him shewed in French which we would have to be inserted except otherwise they will be contented that the whole matter of Scotland be put in â—ilence and yet if they shall content themselves with the Article in form by us conceived then you shall move them to assent that in some one Article there may be a reservation made for the King of Spain and his Countries by name or if that cannot be contained then we would have you to procure that in a general Article being the 23 in number which Monsieur de Foix hath noted Delendum may be restored into the Treaty Of which Article mention being made to this Ambassador he seemeth to allow thereof The Article deviâ—ed for the suspencion of the Law of Aubani for Goods of strangers dying in France we like very well according to the Coppy brought to you the ninth of March by Florence which we return to you by these our Leâ—ters so that you make the word Francia Gallica or else add to the words in Francia sive alibi in dominiis regis Francâ—rum Lastly We think it good that some special Article be conceived to bind the King that all these things concerning the matter of Merchants within the Treaty should be inrolled and emologed in their Parlaments within some convenient time and the like to be done as the case shall require within our ordinary Court of Records at Westminster As for Commission to be sent to you Francis Walsingham our Ambassador Resident concerning some Treaty with the Merchants of that Country as is required We will understand the manner of the Commission sent to this Ambassador and so give order for the like This Ambassador hath been very earnest with us that Du Croque might repair into Scotland and until we may hear what the French King answereth to you in that matter upon the reasons as we did lately impart unto you whereupon we did stay him we have no meaning to let him depart For certainly we perceive that if the L. Seton had not come out of Flanders nor his coming expected from hence the matters of Scotland had been at an end before this time and now we go forwards Since we had determined upon the Articles of the Treaty the Ambassador hath dealt with him very earnestly to have some change of words which we newly sent to you to be placed instead of the Article that du Foix would needs have had for the matter of Scotland first in the second Article and fifth he would have
praesentis status commutandi conditio And in the beginning of the eight he would have these words added Aut unus illorum seperatim de consensu tamen alterius but we did not accord thereunto whereof he seemed very doubtfull how the King would assent to the rest and although it may be that he shall be also earnestly pressed therewith yet except you should see it stay the Treaty we would not have you yield But otherwise we do not mean you should stay the Treaty for these few words And where in the former part of our Letter we have willed you that there may be a special Article of reservation of Treaties with the King of Spain if you find that offensive to the expedition of the Treaty then we can be content only with the general Article of the 34. We require you to use all speed that you can herein for it may be we shall send the person that shall come from hence within eight daies after we may have knowledg thereof and then it may be that the same shall meet with you and Sir Tho. Smith return you back with him in Commission whereof you shall certainly know our mind by the next Given under our signet at our Palace of Westminster the second of April 1571. in the 13 year of our Reigne To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr I heartily thank you for your sundry Letters all which with one Letter and many thanks must be answered I have imparted unto Mr. Smith such things of publique as I know he will impart unto you and the rest as common to you both by the Q. Majesties Letters I am very sorry to see you so decayed by service and of so good cause I mean good sound service so evil effect but so blind is Fortune as sometimes she dealeth blanks instead of good payment I have not omitted to express your charge your expence your decay and yet your request to return without her Majesties burthen but as the first have been and are hurtfull unto you so the last which is your return shall be most hurtfull to her Majestie and so she well considereth And so I trust she will presently refresh you though not restore you as I have desired and so I think you shall understand from Sir Walter Mildmay your very friend and mine also in very deed most assured who was present when her Majestie yielded to some part of my request for you You did very well to press the King as you did in the case of la Roches practising in Ireland which is very true howsoever he denieth it and you may avow that he hath the Rebels son I mean Iames Fitzmorris son in Hostage at Britain he would be hearkened for and demanded to be delivered We hear daily of great preparations in Britain upon pretence of a Voyage into the Indies or into Flanders I wis they seek no Indians in Ireland or in Scotland As soon as it shall be determined who shall come from thence I will send thither or deliver to this Ambassador a safe conduct for so the Ambassador requireth By my next you shall receive a Commission for your self to Treat for the matter of the Merchants And so now wearied I end From Westminster the second of April 1571. Yours assuredly W. Burliegh To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh BY your Lordships of the second of April I perceive that through your Lordships most carefull and friendly declaration made unto her Majestie of my decayed estate she doth graciously consider thereof and meaneth to doe somewhat for my relief that I may with the better courage imploy my self in her service I hope her Majestie shall find my care and diligence in this service such as she shall have no cause to think any consideration had of me evil bestowed I crave no recompence I only desire to return home in no worse state then I went forth Touching the chief stay here made in the conclusion of the League I refer your Lordship to Sir Tho. Smith Such as here do not affect the same did what they might to procure a new sending about the Scottish Earl thinking that time by delay might have brought forth somewhat to have overthrown the whole Both Monsieur Montmorency and Monsieur de Foix did deal very effectually and earnestly to bring the matter to that good conclusion that it is come to And the King in the end shewed himself very resolute in the matter as he doth in all those things that concern his honour and benefit and misliked the doubt propounded by those that went about to perswade him to think otherwise then honourably touching her Majesties intention concerning the Scotch Affairs That Strozzas preparation should tend either for Scotland or Ireland your Lordship need not to fear such as he is chiefly guided by in that matter are very well affected towards her Majestie Of late there hath been hard hold for the overthrow of this enterprise the King is resolute in the matter otherwise it had been quite broken They of the Robe Longue do fear that it will breed a pile betwixt this Crown and Spain and they would be loath the King should now enter into Wars for that they doubt that the managing of the Affairs should come then to the hands of others They perswade 2 iâ— diminish They perswade 4 that if 3 have good success therein it will diminish his reputation These respects do make the said parties to become enemies to the Wars because lack of money is the only let that is alleadged they do all that they may to hinder all such devices from taking place as lately have been offered to supply that want Amongst these difficulties it will be hard to judge what will be the issue of this matter By the last advertisement out of Spain they write that D. Medina Celi stayeth his Voyage into Franders only in doubt that Strozza should doe some enterprise in those parts I am assured that they have seen A z. with 1 T t 6 a. Egremont Ratcliff and Genney are departed from Spain they giving out before their departure that they went to return into Flanders This day there is a Gentleman arrived sent hither from the Kings Agent in Flanders who bringeth word of some alteration there the particularities I cannot yet learn The T. sent me word that he was glad that the League was concluded notwithstanding he willed the messenger to tell me that unless the Queen my Mistress did proceed roundly in cutting off the inward diseases at home this outward medicine would stand her in no stead and hereof said he you shall see by dangerous experience unless the remedy be applyed in time The same party if your Lordship remember it gave me warning of a practice for the delivery of the Queen of Scots and therefore it is the rather to be weighed and I judge it cometh from the L. who hath it
and looking for more Buls from Rome and partly fearing that some change may come and then it may be laid to their charge would needs shift it from them and let the King do it alone And when once they had hope given them by their Ambassador in England that the Queens Majestie would so be content to have it in general words you might be sure we should never get them further but to be delivered as slightly as they could of that matter ye shall receive that fashion that we required in the figure O. delivered to Monsieur de Foix Feb. 28. ye shall receive also that which Monsieur de Foix delivered to us as a copie of a Letter whereby the King doth think wâ— should be satisfied noted and delivered to us the 29 of February and to it we have put what fault we do find with that Letter although the Queens Majestie should be content with that form This is the issue whereupon we do now stand The other great debatement was for the Queen of Scots which held us almost at every meeting to have her mentioned in the Treatie and that earnestly handled of them the 23 and 26 of February that I was fain once again to declare the evil deserts of the late Queen of Scots towards the Queens Majestie with her other behaviour at the whole length because Marshal Montmorency was not at the first Declaration and there Mr. Walsingham and Mr. Killigrew helped me with supply so far that at that present they seemed to give over and we in no wise would have her mentioned in this Treaty yet the 28 of February Mr. de Foix brought to us a writing for her which we send you noted M. to which you sent him the next day a Coppie of the same noted with our answer N. The same day at the afternoon we had audience of the King where he was also earnest with us as you may perceive by our Letters to the Queens Majestie B. the Queen Mother that day as good chance was had forgotten her self but the next day the first of March Mr. de Foix came to us and brought us a draught of the whole League in French because he said he was commanded to translate it into French that the King might understand it and so he gathered it as he thought of that which we were accorded we perused it with our Pamphils as Mr. Hall termeth them schediae or adversaria I mean those which one way or other by yea and nay had gone betwixt us some other tho will have them called pieces as some Frenchmen do name them and we did not much disagree and although he had made a new Preface in such matters we do not stick I am old I love not much talk and I would fain be dispatched honestly homewards so the effect be there indeed and our Queen not deceived I care for no more that done and referred again for again seeing they were offered unto us in Latine he came to us with a new Charge of the late Queen of Scots in the Queen Mothers name saying that by our other talk she had clean forgotten her but to do that thing which should do our friend he meant the King his Master good and us no hurt vve could not say nay he for affinity and consanguinity and that she vvas once his Soveraigne vvas bound in conscience and respect of the vvorld to require so much and to have it testified to the vvorld that he had done those good offices vve may ansvver as vve vvould it should not touch us they vvould take our ansvver vvhatsoever it vvas I told him vve had ansvvered first to the Deputies in vvords and had good causes vvhy vve could not do it of which she was one after that we had given our answer to him in writing Thirdly we had also spoken with the King and made him a direct answer that we could not meddle in any wise with that matter in the League we had no Commission we were precisely forbidden to meddle in that matter And therefore I never spake more of that matter to have that put in the Treaty for that will not be Upon that he began to amplifie in another long Oration for all his Reasons I was fain to say he must pardon me I know he is a good Rhetorician and he had Rhetorical ornaments at will to make and so had I on the contrary side if I would bestow my time on that sort We were the Queens Maâ—esties Servants we have shewed our Reasons so good that no man could deny that we should not agree upto it We have written the sum of our answer also wherewith they ought to be content Oh saith he she hath great kindred and alliance here in the Court and they will say that the King nor we have done our duties Will ye see the ansvver quoth I I thought once to send mary I vvould not have it sent This I send your Lordship to see it N. noted not to be declared quoth I because we would be dispatched of such matters yet as gently as we could and with as little evil speeches especially of such persons This I like well saith he let me have it I pray you belike quoth I you vvould please Mr. d' Aumale and the Cardinal of Lorrain vvith it It is even for that saith he they shall see that the King hath done so much as he can No quoth I it shall not need you have our ansvver already and if you doubt of it you It is no marvel though other would Inire gratiam cum anula hoste ejus quam aliquando regnaturam putant culpa sua and we thought not good to leave in their hands in writing tam acerbum de illa testimonium But surely if her Majestie go no better about to establish her Crown and surety she doth not then follow Solomon in making away Adonias and Ioab for the same purpose And I am afraid quod erit novissimus error pejor priori I thank your Lordship for your Letters of the 16 of February by Edwards and also of the 22 of the same by the Post. Although you write not so many Letters as I yet if you write so much stuff and answer all it is all one to me but in two things I yet find fault the one that in the Letter of the 22. you wrote nothing of the Office and that you make no mention at all of the Duke of Alanson They here look very undoubtedly for some hope The other grieveth me most of all that now the League is full done as I take it and almost as well as we can with yet I must not come home but tarry here still in this Countrie where I have felt since Candlemas the greatest cold that ever I felt and most continual except it were at Tholous where it did almost cost me my life and there had made an end of it if it had not been for the strong matters which I do use
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
Q. of treason and yet we fear our Q. will scant agree to it Great suit is made by the nether house to have execution of the Duke but I see no likelihood I have no leisure therefore I commit you to God In haste this 21 of May 1572. Yours assured Ro Leicester To the Right Honourable his very good Lord the Earl of Leicester YOur Lordships of the 21. I have received touching your servant I shall not need say more then was contained in my last Letters Here at this present we are altogether entertained with Flanders matters having received certain news from thence that certain by order from Count Lodovick are seised of Valentiennes and Monts in Henault where it is said the Court remaineth and that from thence he sent Mr. de la Nue in great diligence towards Bruxels with six hundred horses where if he hap to find the Duke de Alva he hopeth to make short Wars the Town of Bruxels being better affected to the Count then to the D. It is said here that Doway and Lisle should also be taken by certain appointed by him for the purpose but that is not certain If the Duke of Alva retire to Antwerp as it is thought he will then those of judgement here are of opinion that the whole Country will revolt The heads of those that he doth imploy of his Country are Ianlis de la Nue Buckanans the number of his horsemen are twelve hundred the most part of them Gentlemen Of footmen he hath only five thousand the most part of them Gascoins It will shortly be seen to what issue this Tragedy will come If occasion so fall out I mean to advertise often thinking it necessary for her Majestie to know how things proceed there and yet when I consider how things of moment tending to safety proceed at home I know not what to judge necessary unless it be for every man particularly to provide for the cross And so leaving further to trouble your Lordshop at this present I most humbly take my leave From Paris the 29 of May 1571. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh AS I wrote unto your Lordship in my last Letters that I thought it necessary for her Majesty to know how things proceeded in Flanders so I thought good to put the same in execution at this present upon certain advertisements lately come from thence A Currier past this way as I am credibly informed the 27 of this month sent by the D. of Longueville to the King with this news that on Saterday last the 24 of the same Valentiennes should be taken and the next day after Monts in Henault and that from thence with great celerity the C. Lodovick should send five hundred horse to Bruxels under the conduct of Mr. de la Nue where if he hap to find the D. of Alva it will grow to short Wars in respect of the intelligence they have with the Town who undertook with the aid of 100 soldiers to take the D. prisoner if he retire to Antwerp as it is thought he wil then is it likely that all the whole Country will revolt I the rather credit this news for that it agreeth with the plot laid by C. Lodovick before his departure from hence who told me that he hoped to give the Duke of Alva an alarm ere 8 daies came to an end in place where he should least look for it There will shortly be great guess given what wil be the event of these matters The Prince of Orange most assuredly is onward on his way with 4000 horse whose enterprise on the other side is like to have the better success upon this good beginning laid by his brother I hope things will be so ordered as others shall not grow over great wherein I have been no evil instrument I send your Lordship by this bearer a note of the names of those of quality which doe accompany the Marshal as also the number which I had sent before with this bearer to deliver a note thereof to such as shall be appointed by her Majestie to receive the Marshal at Dover M. de Battaliâ— who was the third Commissioned is departed this world who before his death did much lament the dissembling of his religion and advised to resort to the reformed Churchs and to bring up his children in the Religion professed in the same I forgat in my last that Mr. Montmorency at the request of certain Italians whom he favoureth moved me to write unto her Majestie that it would please her to write a Letter unto his Master desiring him to write unto his Ambassador at Rome to deal with his friends there to procure the delivery of Guidi Giovetti who is imprisoned there by the Inquisitors a thing that his service done unto the Crown of England did as it were crave at her Majesties hands who he knew being naturally pittifully inclined would do any thing that might seem to tend to his delivery For mine own opinion I think her Majesties Letters unto Queen Mother would do a great deal more good who by the Duke of Florence his means may bring it the more easily to pass especially this Pope being his Creature And so leaving to trouble your Lordship any further I humbly take my leave From Paris May 29. 1571. Yours Honours to command F. Walsingham To our trusty and well-beloved Francis Walsingham Esq our Ambassador Resident with our good brother the French King TRrusty and well-beloved we greet you well Where in the last Treaty concluded at Blois betwixt our trusty and well-beloved Councellor Sir Th. Smith and you as our Ambassador and the Duke of Montmorency and other of the Commissioners and Deputies of the French King our good brother it was amongst other things covenanted That within four months after the date of the said Treaty the same should be by us ratified authorized and confirmed by our Letters Patents signed with our own hand and sealed with our great Seal and delivered to the Ambassador of the French King having authority to require the same For this purpose we would first have you to understand of some of the Kings Councel or of the Queen Mother the Kings pleasure at what time you might attend on him to receive the same ratification For the receiving whereof you shall say you are authorized by our Letters directed to the said King being in your custody which we therefore do now send you and so you shall at time convenient receive it and safely send it to us affirming that we on our part are also ready to deliver the like ratification to his Ambassador whensoever he shall require the same Given under our signet at our Mannor of St. James the 26 of May 1571. ELIZABETH ELizabethae Dei gratia Angliae Franciae Hiberniae Regina fidei Defensor c. Fideli praedilectissimo Consiliario nostro Francisco Walsingham Legato nostro apud serenissimum
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
made to her by the Kings Letters to his Ambassador here of daily increase of this Amity now newly established between them And though her Majestie doth not percase so often answer these his kindnesses in words or writing yet he shall be assured that whensoever occasion shall be given to shew the like affection in deeds she will not be behind him Besides the letters to the King and Q. Mother he shall have also her Majesties letters to the Q. of Navarre whom he shall visit and most heartily salute in her Majesties name and let her understand how glad heâ— Majestie is and doth thank God for the benefit of the Peace which he hath given to her and to all others that now of a long time have for defence of their consciences suffered great calamities with her wherein surely her sincerity and constancy hath won to her no small honour in the world but most of all the blessing of God to indure with her and her posterity And next to this her Majestie doth rejoyce that she hath so wisely and honourably considered of the marriage of the Prince her Son with the daughter of Fâ—ance whereby both the good love of the French King to her Estate shall probably have continuance and her self shall live by Gods grace to see the good success of her son in her own time to her comfort The said Lord Admiral shall also give the Admiral of France and others of the Nobility joyned with him to understand how glad her Majestie is of the continuance of the Pacification of their troubles and doth hope that they will let their sincerity and their good meaning appear so to the King as he may comfortably continue his favours towards them and that their adversaries who have heretofore slandered their actions as though they had not been founded upon conscience may be ashamed to have abused themselves and so shall the honour of God indeed by their manifest and good conversations increase to the confusion of them that by untruths have maliciously sought to keep the same under and to oppress it And for the House of Guise the L. Admiral shall not forbear to salute them of his own part according to their degrees if he shall see that they give countenance to him as to accept it And if any of them shall motion matters to him as of the Q. of Scots he may say if she had been counselled by her friends to have been grateful to her Majestie or to have forborn the seeking to offend her Majestie she might thereby have done her self good and been the cause of quietness to the Countrey but she hath so manifestly taken other courses as surely either her friends that evil counselled her or her self must be accounted the principal cause of her trouble And so he shall use his speech of her These instructions the L. Admiral shall communicate with Sir Tho Smith and the Resident Ambassador and upon the sight of them Sir Tho Smith shall understand it to be her Majesties pleasure that he shall accompany and be assistant to the L. Admiral in the time of the Kings giving of his Oath And when the L. Admiral shall have done his Commission and delivered the rest of his charge contained in these Instructions the said Sir Tho Smith shall no longer abide in France but shall return at his most commodity W. Burleigh Postscript In the matter concerning the offer of the marriage of Monsieur Alanson if thereof any speech be used by the K. notwithstanding the former Instruction in the articles above expressed how to answer to the K. upon some consideration thereof The L. Admiral shal at the first say that although he hath no chargeto treat thereof yet he is willed by her Majestie to give them thanks for the desire it seemeth he hath to have alliance with her Majestie by marriage as not onely shewing her own disposition towards her Majestie at which time his youth seemed to be impediment and now secondly for his brother Monsieur d' Anjou wherein also the inequality of years did at the first stay her Majestie wherein also she did overcome her judgement by perswasion and rested in the end upon the matter of Religion which of all other things is the greatest stay that can be and now the motion of the yongest brother cannot in her opinion by reason of the inequality of years but make a full stay in her Majestie as she thinketh the same ought also to work the like in the judgement of the King and of the Queen his Mother And having said this then may the said L. Admiral proceed to say somewhat as is above prescribed of her Majesties misliking for the dealing in the cause of Monsieur de Anjou using the same nevertheless as it breed no offence in the King To my very Friend Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador for the Queens Majestie in France SIr I heartily thank you for your Letters of the nine and twentieth of the last and specially for that which you write to her Majestie As to the matters of the King of Spains Low-Countreys we have great cause to bear a jealous countenance thereto for as being in the Spaniards hands we lacked Traffique with surety so if the Maritine part come to those where you are not onely the Traffique into those parts for our Merchants will be regulated by them but our soveraignty upon the narrow Seas will be abridged with danger and dishonour And notwithstanding this I see lack of disposition to provide the remedy where it should chiefly be and I trust with importunity we that see into the perils shall obtain somewhat if not our consciences shall be quiet though our minds shall not As to your Letters to her Majestie forasmuch as the Duke of Norfolk had suffered upon Munday and your Letters came on Tuesday I thought it not amiss to tell the Queens Majestie that I had Letters from you to her which I thought were onely to shew her the opinion of wisemen and her Majesties well-wishers in France both for the Queen of Scots and the Duke of Norfolk whereupon she bad me open the letters and so I did in her presence and she being somewhat sad for the Duke of Norfolks death I took occasion to cut off the reading thereof and so entred into speech of the Queen of Scots which she did not mislike and commended your care and diligence As for the party your dear friend I did not speak with him nor he never accompanied me nor once ever spake one word to me of the matter as he was wont to do in other matters I disallow not his private affection to the party but his judgement I do dissallow in preferring private to publike I do return to you the Commission amended in your name which was the errour of the writer you may proceed thereto as you see time The French Ambassador hath no Commission to require the like looking for it as he saith when Montmorency shall come whose delay
proves an unreasonable charge to great numbers to the Queens Majestie having her offices of Houshold at Dover and her provisions thereby lost The Earl of Pembroke Lord Windsor and the Lord Buckhurst be at Dover with great and mighty trains Besides hither are come such leavies of Ladies to attend as husbands curse the delay The Queens Majestie is in health The Scotish Queen shall be touched with an Act of Parliament but it will not draw her to any more fear to offend then words will do From S. Iames the sixth of Iune 1572. Your assured loving Friend William Burleigh To my very loving Friend Francis Walsingham Esq her Majestes Ambassador Resident in France MR. Walsingham forasmuch as my Nephew Philip Sidney is licensed to travel and doth presently repair unto those parts with my Lord Admiral I have thought good to commend him by these my Letters friendly unto you as unto one I am well assured will have a special care of him during his abode there He is young and raw and no doubt shall find those Countreys and the demeanors of the people somewhat strange unto him and therefore your good advice and counsel shall greatly behove him for his better direction which I do most heartily pray you to vouchsafe him with any friendly assistance you shall think needful for him His father and I do intend his further travel if the world be quiet and you shall think it convenient for him otherwise we pray you we may be advertised thereof to the end the same his travels may be thereupon directed accordingly As for the boy Clark since I cannot obtain him as I desire I must content me I wish I had one of my Lord Cardinals Monks to see how devoutly he should be kept here But I pray you let it appear that it is great unkindness for one Nobleman to use unto another The boy hath sought sundry ways to return unto me as well by Letters to his Friends as by supplications to my self but I mind not to have him so The cause that I did so earnestly seek him was to punish him in example of others which if it will not be I will leave it for a time and hope to give you knowledge where he is shortly trusting you will give order that he may be suddenly apprehended And thus being forced to trouble you with a triâ—tle amongst so many great causes in these days with my commendations I bid you most heartily farewel From the Court the six and twentieth of May 1572. Your very Friend Ro. Leicester To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT hath pleased my Lord of Lincoln to promise me upon his experience had of the intollerable charges here through the daily increase of death to confer with your Lordship in what sort he may best deal with her Majestie for increase of my diet considering otherwise that I shall not be able to hold out my monethly charges drawing now to two hundred pounds the moneth notwithstanding my diet is thin my family reduced to as small a proportion as may be and my horse being onely twelve These things might seem unto your Lordship altogether incredible were there not so many Noblemen and Gentlemen to witness the same by their experience lately had of the extreme dearth here I have made my Lord acquainted how much I am bound to your Lordship and of the fatherly care it pleaseth you to have of me and that therefore I have besought him in moving or not moving her Majestie to yield to such directions as by conference it shall seem good unto you to give him for that I would be loth to procure any thing to be done that may not fall out to your Lordship contentation And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave From Paris the two and twentieth of Iune 1572. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To my very loving friend Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador for the Queens Majestie in France SIr I cannot let any your servants pass hence without some word I have looked for some knowledge of my L. Admirals arrival at Paris and thereupon stayed to send away this bearer until now that I hear by the French Ambassadors Letters hovv my Lord and you have been feasted and entertained which they here do give out with large speeches but how indeed the same is warranted I know not sure I am that they have been so feasted and entreated as none in my memory hath been greater The Queens Majestie before she gave her oath made a protestation that she was not in mind to break any jot of the Treaty and though the Castle of Hume and Fast Castle were not delivered yet the fault was not in her for she had propounded to the Lord Hume and to the Regent also her disposition to deliver it but the Lord Hume required that her Majestie vvould keep it still rather then deliver it so as it bred not an increase of their hateful dissention And hereupon her Majestie hath propounded to the Regent to be content that the Lord Hume may have it if he will be content to acknovvledge the King vvhich the Lord Hume offereth in vvords but the Regent saith that the Lord Hume hath promised to offer his obedience to the King to recover his houses and then he will ayd them of the Castle and this is indeed discovered to be true Besides this Fast Castle was in my Lord Humes hands but as a Tutor to an infant who is come to full age and followeth the Kings part Truly you may thus report to the King and assure him that her Majestie meaneth not to keep the one or the other although she might pretend matters against the Lord Hume for the damage that he did to England in keeping the Rebels in those Houses and invading the Realm From Westminster in haste the twentieth of Iune 1572. Yours assuredly William Burleigh The form of the Communication with the D. Montmorency de Foix and de la Mot which they had to finish matters expressed in the Treaty Iune 1571. present the Lord Keeper the Earls of Suffex and Leicester the Lord Chamberlain and Burleigh Mr. Comptroler Sir Ralph Sadler and Sir Walter Mildmay THe French by de Foix required That the Scotish Queen might have some favour upon the conclusion of this Treaty betwixt the Queens Majestie and the French King and that such favour might be shewed as might be granted with the surety and honour of the Queens Majestie That a surcease of Arms might be made in Scotland and thereupon a Parliament in Scotland and concord to be made for the State and Realm And if a Parliament could not be conveniently had that then there might be sent hither from both parties some persons to treat here a London with Deputies of the Queens Majesties and the French Kings That some order might be made concerning the establishing of a Traffique for Merchants in France wherein
the French shewed themselves ready to assent to assent to all reasonable requests and for that purpose they produced and delivered a Commission under the Great Seal of France Answers to these Points This case was not pursuant upon the Treaty The Scotish Queen had more favour then she deserved or then did well stand with the surety of the Queens Majestie Her evil parts against the Queens Majestie had been amply declared to the French and to the D. Montmorency and de Foix in France by our Ambassador The Nobility also and People now assembled in this Parliament had considered that the Queens Majesties surety could not be preserved without some severe proceeding against the Queen of Scots whereunto her Majestie had not yielded in such extremity And so the Scotish Queen had more favour indeed then either she deserved or then was thought meet by the whole Realm The second for surcease of Arms her Majestie had done therein as much as possibly she could by her Minister Sir Will Drury which she hath sent with le Crocque whereunto the Ambassador did assent with very good words of Sir Will Drury To the third it was thought that no Parliament should be holden whilest they were on both sides in arms and therefore the procuring of persons to come was not misliked To the fourth the Merchants should be spoken withal who had but small liking to any trade of Merchandize with France by reason they had by experience some evil usage of them in France specially at Roaâ— Replies of the French with some new matters As to the Scotish Queen de Foix confessed that he had no warrant to speak for her by force of the Treaty but by a special commandment apart And as to specifie the requests that be made for favour to her they said they meant no favour to be shewed to her against the Queens Majesties surety and therefore they desired only these things following That she might have brought to her all things necessary for her apparel and money also for the purpose That she might have a convenient number of Servants about her That her state might not be impaired That the Duke and the rest might be licensed to send to her certain letters from the French King and Queen Mother so as the same might be done with the privity of the Earl of Sâ—rewsbâ—ry As to the Commerce they agreed that it might be treated upon by the Ambassador Resident New Additions That according to the second article in the Treaty they might have the Queens Majesties Letter answerable to the Kings Letters That the third Article concerning the manner of redress of wrongs done by Scots men upon England that the same might be altered according to a writing which was devised by them to insert in the place of the said Article Answers to the new Requests They should have the Queens Majesties Letters The Article as it is ought to continue and is reasonable having respect to Scotland when private men do great injuries and spoils which if the King of that Realm cannot or will not amend of necessity the Kings of England must revenge upon the offenders To the Right Hononrable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh YOur Lordships of the twentieth of Iune sent by my servant Williams I have received touching her Majesties protestation before the giving of her oath For the not delivery of Hume and Fast Castle in Scotland according to the Treaty I will not fail to inform their Majesties when fit occasion shall be offered of the cause thereof The Ambassador of Scotland with the Lord Graunges brother since the Earl of Lincolns departure hath been often at the Court and are very importunate to have somewhat done for their Mistris As also in perswading their Majesties here to consent to the establishment of their Government of their said Mistris what their importunacy hath won I know not as yet but surely I fear as long as the woman liveth there will never grow good accord in Scotland nor continuance of repose in England nor perfect and sound amity between her Majestie and this Crown What is resolved here touching the enterprise of Flanders this bearer is throughly instructed who is to impart the same unto your Lordship And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave From Paris the eight and twentieth of Iune 1572. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester THis bearer cometh so throughly instructed touching the state of the Countrey and the Flanders proceedings as I forbear to trouble your Lordship to make recital of that by writing which he shall tell you by mouth After your Lordship hath throughly debated with him I hope it shall manifestly appear unto you that upon the good success or evil success of this common cause of Religion And besides the same not well proceeding her Majestie cannot promise to her self any great safety having so dangerous a neighbour whose greatness shall receive no small increase if he overcome this brunt I pray God therefore that her Majestie may incline to do that which may be for her safety And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present referring you wholly to this bearer I most humbly take my leave From Paris the eight and twentieth of May 1572. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and his very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh MAy it please your Lordship to understand that upon advertisement come hither from Flushing of the discords there for want of good Governor they have made choice of Monsieur Iunius to go thither out of hand with Commission to establish some policy there until the arrival of the Prince of Orange his brother He shall also have Commission for the sale of such goods as were lately taken For his better assistance in this behalf desireth your Lordships letter unto Captain Morgan there to assist him what lieth in him in the execution of the said Commission and that further it would please your Lordship to admonish him to retain his Souldiers in such order as may answer to the defence of a good cause For that he desireth very much to confer with Mr. Killegrew to make him fully acquainted with the state of their cause he meaneth to repair to Dover and there to imbarque where he hopeth to meet with him I perceive by him that if there be no assistance given underhand by her Majestie they shall be driven to yield to such inconveniences as shall be laid upon them by this Nation And further that they shall be forced to consent to have Strozi in Zealand unless they may have some supplies elsewhere For this cause chiefly the Gentleman who wisely respecteth the liberty of his Countrey and foreseeth the mischief that may follow if the necessity be not relieved disereth much to confer with Mr. Killegrew a thing most necessary and would himself
the fifth of Iuly 1572. Yours assuredly William Burleigh To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh YOur Lordships of the second and fifth of Iuly sent by the Ambassadors servant I received the tenth of this moneth by the which I was glad to hear the particularities of the royal entertainment of the Marshal Montmorency who arrived the self same day I received your Lordships Letters He omitted no occasion to set out the great honor he received at her Maj. hands and withal so good as never able to yield the like The like speech passes from the rest of his train who all returned very well satisfied and cannot speak too much good of her Majeste The day following after his arrival Queen Mother sent for me and shewed me how the King her son who was gone to S. Germains desired her to send for me and to request me on his behalf to render unto her Maj. most hearty thanks for the great honor and good entertainment given unto the Marshal which he could not but interpret as a manifest argument of her Majesties unfained affection and good will she beareth him the which he desireth to will me to assure her Majestie that she should find him ready to serve and honour her during his life Furthermore she willed me to shew her Majestie both on his behalf and hers also that they pray God to direct her heart to yield to that resolution in the marriage lately propounded as might be to the increase and establishment of perfect Amity between the Crowns which thing they saw so necessary for both as they could not but wish and desire most earnestly And yet notwithstanding they protested that if they did not think the issue thereof would fall out to her good satisfaction and contentment they would in no case wish nor desire the same Touching the particularities that her Majestie desired to understand of the age stature conditions religion affection towards her Majestie and devotion of his followers and servants your Lordship shall understand that first touching his age as I was informed he was born the five and twentieth of April 1555. his stature and proportion of body the Lord Admiral Sir Tho Smith Mr. Killegrew and other of the Gentlemen that are here can better express by word of mouth then I can set down by paper Touching his conditions since the matter hath been in motion I have used what care and curiosity I might to be informed of them I find generally this opinion conceived of him that he is of as good and tractable a disposition as any other either Prince or Gentleman in France and withal is both wise and stout and subject to the French lightness insomuch as they do apply to him the French Proverb Qu'il a de plume en son cervean besides the general opinion I find the same confirmed by the Admiral Count Rochfoucouls Tilligny Bacquenaunt and divers others of the best judgement of the Religion with such earnest protestations as for mine own part I cannot but credit the same knowing what testimonies they have given to the world of ther zeal and Religion And as for the Admiral debating with him in this matter he hath protested sundry times to me calling God to witness that if he did not think the match proceeding would prove both honourable profitable and comfortable and for her safety in respect of the doubtful terms he standeth in he would not advise her unto it for any worldly respect And as for his Religion they have great hope grounded upon good conjectures that he is easie to be reduced to the knowledge of the truth and for mine own part I have many great reasons to induce me to think that if there be no other impediment then the use of his mass that he will be easily induced to the same Touching the affection towards her Majestie I am credibly informed that where it hath been objected unto him that he would be glad to have the title of a King he protested that if he were not moved with the great and honourable report of her Maj. rare vertues more then at any desire he had to a Kingdom he would never have desired the King nor the Queen his Mother to have made any motion thereof Many ways am I given credibly to understand that his affection is unfained and great Touching the devotion of his followers and servants to the propunded match I am also credibly informed that they do also earnestly desire the same especially those whose advice he chiefly useth who though they be not of the Religion yet are they not enemies to the same and rather incline that way then otherwise of the which a dozen of them were discharged of his brothers service in respect thereof This is that in sum which truly and sincerely I can learn in that behalf Touching Callis the Admiral made some overture at my request as a motion that proceeded from my self He findeth in their Majesties no disposition to yield thereunto I used some speech thereof also with de Foix and shewed him how that nothing would yield so much furtherance as the same We did at large debate that matter Pro contra in the end he protested most earnestly that he thought he knew it impossible to be brought to pass notwithstanding he could be content to devise any other thing that might breed satisfaction to her Majesties opinion conceived of some misliking that would grow by her choice of so young a Prince In this behalf saith he I have said lately so much to her Majestie grounded upon good reason that I see no cause but she should rest therewith satisfied In debate of this matter he asked me whether her Majestie would not be content as I thought having already foot in Flushing and the match proceeding to have the King pass in the Contract and Article to bind him and his Successors to assist her aswel for the conquering of the rest of the Island which would be more profitable to your Countrey then ten Calis's Of this thing saith he I have no Commission to make any overture as that thing that hath not yet fallen into consideration but onely I propounded it by way of communication in respect of desire I have to devise some remedy for the recompence of her Majesties opinion Notwithstanding saith he I have some reasons to lead me to think her Majesties yielding content to her match that the King will be easily induced thereto I shewed him that as I had no Commission to make any overture so had I no Commission to answer the same as a thing propounded unlooked for notwithstanding I agreed with him in opinion that Flushing would be more beneficial to us then Calis To come to your Letter of the fifth of this moneth I find the conjectures touching the â—3 reneweth the in o A D F â—4 altogether false and vain whereof I am assured of the contrary many ways and do much marvel what reason should
and to move the King and his mother to interpret the same to the best as indeed we mean it plainly and friendly and then you shal say that we have considered of the matter of the Kings offer unto us of M. de Alanzon in marriage And for the same we do most earnestly thank the King and the Q. Mother knowing manifestly that the same proceedeth of very manifest good will knowing perfect continuance of the amity lately contracted between us by this last Treaty And considering we have great desire to have the same amity continued and strengthned we are very sorry to find so great difficulties in this matter that should be a principal band thereof as we cannot digest the inconveniences of the same by reason of the difference of our ages to assent thereunto praying the K. and his Mother to assure themselves that there is no lack of desire in us to continue yea if it might be to increase this amity that maketh us think of the difficulties of this offer otherwise then we think all others do consider thereof and most conceive which proceedeth almost onely of the difference of the age of Monsieur de Alanzon and ours a matter that cannot be remedied either by the King his brother that desireth the match or by us so as the lack of not perfecting this band of amity after this manner cannot be imputed to either of us nor to the party himself of whose conditions and vertues truely you may say we hear so well as we cannot but esteem him very much and think him very well worthy to have as good fortune by marriage as he or any other might have by us And you may say if you so see cause that although we might have known thus much as concerning his age when the Ambassadors were here and therefore might at that time have given them that answer and not thus to have deferred it untill this time yet to satisfie the King therein you shall say True it is that although we our selves were of this mind from the beginning to think the match inconvenient for his age yet at the being here of the Ambassador we were continually laboured by our Councel and also by our Estates then assembled in Parlament in laying open before us the necessity of our marriage both for our own comfort and also for the weal of the Realm and some of them alleadging unto us that there would be no such difficulty in this matter of his years but the evil opinion that might be conceived thereof in the world to our lack might percase be recompenced with some other matter of advantage to us in our Realm in the sight also of the world as being overcome with the importunacy of their reasons we did yield to take some further consideration of the matter and to prove whether in som time we could work our mind to som other purpose or whether any such further matter might be offered with this match as might counterpoise in the judgement of the world the inconvenience of the difference of the age But so it is that in all this time we neither can find our mind altered nor yet hear of any other thing that might countervail the inconvenience but so for observing of our promise and especially because we mean to deal plainly with our good Brother and the Queen his Mother we do make them this Answer That surely we cannot find our self void of doubt and misliking to accept this offer which is principally for the difference of his years allowing nevertheless of his worthiness for his vertuous and honourable conditions as much as we can require in any Prince to be our husband And so we pray the King and his Mother that the Duke himself may understand our judgement to be of his worthiness And for the great good will we understand that he hath born to us we do assure him that we shall for the same esteem him at all times hereafter as well as any other Prince of his Estate reserving only the band of love that ought to accompany marriage Given under our signet at Theobalds the 23 of July 1572. the 14 year of our Reigne By the QUEEN To our trusty and well-beloved Francis Walsingham Esq our Ambassador Resident with our good brother the French King ELIZABETH R. RIght trusty and well-beloved We greet you well After we finished our other Letters and determined to have sent them away in such sort as you might have had them in convenient time to have delivered our answer according to our promise made to the Duke of Montmorency The French Ambassador here gave knowledge that he had received Letters from thence whereupon he required to have audience before we should send to you which we did accord and thereby our former Letters were staid contrary to our determinations and so we would it should be known when you shall find it requisite for answering to their expectation for the time limited for our Answer and therefore at the delivery of our former Letters of credit both to the King and to Montmorâ—â—â—y You 〈◊〉 say that you are to shew them our Answer as we did conceive it to be given when those Letters were written And upon the Ambassadors access after that time and delivery of Letters from the King Queen Mother and from Mr. De 〈◊〉 all full of purposes to further the matter of marriage besides the private earnest 〈◊〉 with us also of the French Ambassador to the same end we were occasioned thereby to do some further matter to our former Answer not being any waies so different as it doth alter our said Answer but in respect of our 〈◊〉 of the desire we see to be in the King and the Queen Mother and specially in the Duke of Alanson himself not only by their Letters to our selves but by the Dukes Letters to the French Ambassador we have thought convenient to inlarge our answer in some part to lay open before the King our conceit in the matter which you shall say we do of very sincerity of good will to be answerable with their earnest dealing with us to be nevertheless considered and ordered by them as they shall think best After you have used this kind of speech to them you shall say That when we think of this matter we find no other principal impediment but in the difference of the ages and the case of Religion And as to this which is the difficulty about Religion we do not think that such but the form and substance of our Religion being well made known to the Duke there is no such cause to doubt but by Gods goodness the same may be removed to the satisfaction of us both But as to the other which concerneth the person of the Duke of his age and otherwise for as much as the difficulties thereof may seem to consist rather in opinion then in matter indeed we do thereto thus yield to think that in marriage when the persons are to
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
Maritine parts which are next us if you have any certainties you shall do well from time to time to signifie unto us and we will concord with you for the requital Fare you well From St. Albons July 27. 1572. The Scots begin now somewhat to incline to an abstinence of War among themselves and to remit the matter to both the Princes of England and France Sâ—th the writing of this Letter Mr Holingshead came to the Court even at the closing thereof and brought me a Letter from you of the 18 of July and certain Edicts for the which I thank you Your Lordships alwaies assured Th. Smith To the right Honorable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principal Secretary IT may please you to advertise her Majestie that according to the direction of her Letters of the 23 of July I imparted unto M. Montmorency her Majesties resolution touching the offer propounded by him and du Foix I made him also acquainted with the Contents of her Majesties Letters of the 27. touching the interview for the better satisfying of the opinions of either party To the firstâ— he said he was sorry that the resolution fell out to be such considering how necessary it was the state of the time considered to have some sound amity and perfect intelligence between the two Crowns which could no way have so well come to pass as by the acceptation of the alliance offered and as saith he I am generally sorry for it so particularly in respect of the good will I bear towards her Majestie whom I see in great peril without this help To the second he said That though Monsieur le Duc was well inclined thereto yet in respect of the danger that commonly ensueth by enterviews he could in no respect give his consent and advice unless he were assured that there might grow a liking Hereupon I desired him that he would so deal with the King and his Mother and that this her Majesties resolution might be by their Majesties accepted in good part wherein he promised to do his endeavour After conference had with him I procured audience the next day thinking it expedient to let him have a daies respit to deal with their Majesties to frame their minds to the well interpreting of her Majesties resolution The next day repairing to the Court and finding the King occupied at the appointed hour of my access I began with the Queen Mother and first shewed her according to the Contents of the first Letter what was her Majesties resolution concerning the offer propounded by the M. Mount and the du de Foix on their behalf To the which she answered That she could not but be sorry for the same for that she saw it the only means to establish a perfect amity between the two Crowns Notwithstanding saith she that the same will not take place the King my Son is determined in any case to continue good amity with the Queen your Mistress Then I proceeded to the Contents of the second Letter and shewed her that her Majestie upon the receit of certain Letters from the King her self and Duc de Anjou Seeing their great and earnest desire of the proceeding of this match had enlarged her answer moved thereto by an earnest and sincere good will to shew her self answerable to their earnest dealing And therefore willed me to tell their Majesties that in her opinion the principal impediments consisted in the difference of their ages and the cause of Religion for the latter her Majestie hoped that the same might be so accorded as might be to the satisfaction of both parties For the first For as much as the difficulty might seem rather to consist in opinion then substance her Majestie desireth them to consider in Marriages a satisfaction of the opinions of the parties that were to match was most necessary and requisite and that therefore seeing that there could grow no satisfaction that way but by an enterview her Majestie could yield thereto if they should so like of it To this she answered That if she were assured that upon the enterview there might grow a liking she would most willingly give her consent but for as much as experience taught that of the meeting of Princes there followeth rather miscontentment then good liking she should not in respect of the danger therof yield her consent for that she would be loath and the King her Sonne and she desiring nothing more then good amity with her that there should fall out any occasion of miscontentment In the end after long speech had of great desire she had of this match and of the great good will and love the Duke beareth to her Majestie she concludeth that she hoped in time considering how necessary it was for her to marry as well for her own safety as for the benefit of her Subjects that God would so dispose her heart as she should prefer publique before private Affairs This in effect is the sum of that which passed from her at that time and so departing from her to the King I used the like speech unto him as before unto her at whose hands I received like answer which I suppose proceeded upon conference with the M. before hand and therefore they according in speech I forbare to make double repetition Touching their proceedings herein Flanders matters it may please you to advertise her Majestie That â—pon advertisement from thence that her Majestie meant to revoke such of her Subjects as presently are in Flanders The King here through the perswasion of his Mother advised thereto by such as incline to Spain is disswaded from overt dealing in that cause who before was very resolute in the matter But now for as much as it is here conceived that without her Majesties assistance he shall not be able to bear the brunt of so puissant an enemy The matter remaineth in suspence as yet what will be done Commonly it is given out the King will not meddle Such as do wish well unto her Majesty and are of the best judgment to see how much it importeth her repose the good or ill successe of that poor Prince do hope that the advertisement of the revocation is false her Majesty having so lately discovered the King of Spains malice towards her and therefore do think her inclined in policie rather to assist then discourage They say that nothing can more hinder the poor Princes enterprise then the said Revocation upon his first entry into the Country for that the people who were otherwise well inclined towards him and are fearfull of nature will thereby grow more fearfull and so forbear to do that that may further the enterprise because I know not her Majesties intention in this case I forbear to affirm or deny any thing in this behalf For my own private opinion having been acquainted with the malice of the Spaniards I cannot as duty bindeth me but wish him further removed in neighbourhood from her Majesty I pray God therefore to direct her Majesties
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
in the same mind to marry for the benefit of our realm with any meet person of Princely estate that should be offered unto us with 〈◊〉 conditions as we might like also To 〈◊〉 this matter of enterview to the consideration and wisdom of the King and Q. mother to be so ordered as whatsoever might hereof succeed no inconvenience should ensue and so with some large speech to that end we did conclude that we durst not desire the enterview for the same reason After which answer made and as it seemed by them very well allowed they required some brief note of the points of the matters might be given them in writing which we did cause to be conceived and delivered agreeable to the Copy that herewith we send you And howsoever they shall make report of our answer we would that you should not omit to persist directly in this but loth we would be that the Duke her son should come hither if the matter should not take place lest more offence might thereof follow then we thought meet concerning the perfection of the amity that is between us And yet our meaning is not hereby that they should think that we are not so disposed to marry or that we are determined to mislike of the matter aforehand or not disposed at all to allow of him but that only we are fearful that if there should happen at his coming some cause of misliking or forbearing to accept him which surely to us is uncertain and without sight cannot be made certain then some great unkindness should follow by their misconceiving of our dealing where now there is no cause of kindness and friendship whereof we do not earnestly desire to have continuance without interruption in that behalf As you shall find this matter likely to proceed so we would have you not only to advertise us but to have good regard that if you find any scruple thereof that great unkindness shall arise of his coming if the matter shall not take place that before any preparation be there made of his coming you do advertise us with speed for otherwise the unkindness may happen to be greater in respect of the charges Given at Killingworth the 22 of August 1572. T. Smith To the right worshipful Mr. Francis Walsingham Ambassador Resident in France SIr I am sorry that so good a matter should upon so nice a point be deferred We may say that the Lover will do little if he will not take the pains once to see his Love but she must first say yea before he see her or she him Twenty ways might be devised why he might come over and be welcome and possibly do more in an hour then he may in two years Cupido ille qui vincit omnia in oculos insidet ex oculis ejaculatur in oculos utriusque videndâ— nonsolum ut ait poeta foemina virum sed vir foeminam What force I pray you can hear-say and I think and I trust do in comparison of that Cum prasens praesentem tuetur alloquitur furore forsitan amoris ductus amplectitur and saith to himself and openly that she may hear Teneo ne te mea an etiamnum somno volunt famina videri cogi ad id quod maximum cupiunt If we be cold it is our part besides the person the sex requireth it Why are you cold Is it not a young mans part to be bold couragious and to adventure If he should have he should have but honorificam repulsam The worst that can be said of him is but a Phaeton quam si non tenuit magnis tamen excidit ansis So far as I can conceive Hac est sola nostra anchora hac jacenda est in nobis alea. In our instability unum momentum est uno momento perfectum factum as dictum stabilitatem facere posest or else nothing is to be looked for but still and continual dalliance and doubtfulness so far as I can see Indeed as yet there is no revocation neither done nor meant of our men at Flujhing or in Flanders howsoever the brute is made there with you Truth it is that certain more that would have gone over from hence were stayed for fear of too much disorder for lack of some good head and wise and expert Captain but they that be there be neither yet revoked nor discouraged although the Duke of Alva by letters this last week required that they should be revoked but he is gently answered with a dilatory and doubtful answer If you there do tergiversari and work tam timide and underhand with open and outward Edicts besides excuses at Rome and at Venice by your Ambassadors you I say which have Regem expertem otii laboris amantem cujus gens bellicosa jampridem assueta est cadibus tam exterioris quam vestri sanguinis quid faciemâ—s gens otiosa paci assueta quibus imperat Regina ipsa pacis atque quietis amantissima And I pray you who hath removed from thence with any authority a society or preparation in such a matter either to her Highness or to her Councel And this for that matter How far the Scots have gone you may perceive by this inclosed both the parties have subscribed and sealed to it and both the parties have written letters of thanks to her Majesty for the pains taken by the Marshal of Barwick and have promised to stand to that order which is very honorable both to the King there and to our Queen here and not dishonorable to the Scotish King that in his infancie such a noble personage should accord to make quietness in his Realm Thus I bid you most heartily farewell From Killingworth Aug. 22. 1572. Your assured friend Tho. Smith To the right worshipful Francis Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador resident in France SIr I know how faithfully you shall be both by her Majesties letters and Mr. Secretaries certified of her Majesties pleasure This Gent. la Mot hath well behaved himself here to the great contentation of her Majesty and her Court and I think also he well deserved Surely the choice of him was good and as it seemeth the Queens Majesty is come neerer to the matter then I hoped If there may now any amendment grow to this usage and that he would come I assure you I see no cause to doubt for in that matter consisteth the only apparent stay â—ur men in Zealand are evil used by the French there and howsoever the Admiral hath lately born you in hand I doubt our intention shall be disappointed or at worst as it is justly doubted that the Princes Captain at Flushing is corrupted and become Spanish in secret sort whereof I pray you advertise the Admiral In Scotland the abstinence is not well kept by the Kings party as reason would The Town of Edenburgh is wholly at the direction of the Regent and contrary to the covenant he keeps his men of war there whereof they of the Castle
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
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
Queen Mother and others there for it is not certain how far she and others have entred into the matter not with what honor they are carried But according as you shall see meet you may impart unto her how greatly hâ—â— Majestie is perplexed herein what to think and what assurance to make of the things intended in this late amity And you may also say unto her that the Queens Majestie cannot enough maâ—vel that she being of such wisdom as she is and having such experience as she had of the extreme hatred of the factions there against the Admiral did not aâ—â—he first take order that the informations should be examined and the Admiral and others of his party suspected charged tryed and so by order of justice proâ—eeded which had been honorable to the King and good in the sight of God and so either the guilty had duly suffered â—r the innocent blood hâ—d been saved You shall also procure some good assurance from them such as may â—e had for the safety of the English Merchants now repairing to the Vintage aâ—d therefore procure that some order may be given from the K. both to the town of Burdeaux to the Governor there and to Strâ—zzi and to the Conductors of his Army And for your self it is her Majesties desire that you were here from thâ—t place and so her meaning is to devise for your revocation but presently it cannot without some note of the breach of amity be done Nevertheless you may do well not only to keep your home as you are desirous but to carry you both to the K. Q. Mother by way of complaint shew your unwillingness to â—arry and your 〈◊〉 to be â—â—voked thence for your surety Where we understand that the English Gentlemen that were in Paris at the time of the execution of the murther were forced to retire to your house where they did wisely for your care of them we and their friends are beholding to you and now we think good that they be advised to return home and namely we desire you to procure for the Lord Wharton and Mr. Philip Sidney the Kings license and safe conduct to come thence and so we do require you to give them true knowledge of our minds herein And if her Majestie could think that the French King would be content that you might come home with pretence to be absent from thence whilst this Realâ— were in more quietness and so to leave a Secretary there and to return again to your charge she is well content you shall so do And therein you may do will to assay the Kings minde and to advertise hither Fare you heartily well From Woodstock the ninth of September Your loving Friends William Burleigh Ro Lecester F. Knowles T. Smith Iames Croft To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq her Majestes Ambassador Resident in France SIr I see the Devil is suffered by the Almighty God for our sins to be strong in following the persecution of Christs members and therefore we are not onely vigilant of our own defence against such trayterous attempts as lately have been put in ure there in France but also to call our selves to repentance Of the Queens Majesties answer to this Ambassador I have at good length comprized the same in writing which cometh now unto you signed by the Councel which you are to use according as the time shall teach you For although the Ambassador hath seemed to gain so much credit with her Majestie as she thinketh that the King is not guilty of the murthers otherwise then he reporteth And further that although the Ambassador saith that the King willed him to assure her Majestie that the Navy prepared by Strozzi should not any ways endamage her Majestie we have great cause in these times to doubt all fair speeches and therefore we do presently put all the Sea-coasts in defence and mean to send the Queens Majesties Navy to the Seas with speed and so to continue until we see further whereunto to trust I pray you do your best to discover the intention of that Navy and let us now frequently hear from you as you may and if I could have had my mind you had been presently revoked and onely a Secretary lefâ— there I desire to have knowledge oâ— as many of the Principals as were slain and what Protestants did escape We are much perplexed with varity of reports and your Letters or Messengers with credit may much please us here Pynassy hath been here and is not yet departed we had desire rather to hasten my brother Killegrew who departed hence towards Scotland on Sunday last to supply Drewries room with le Crocque because my Lord of Hunsdon is here and therefore M. Drewry cannot be spared from Berwick The whole Councel shal be here by to morrow but beforehand we that are here wil not be idle I cannot speak for my self to give order to the Realm God keep you and comfort his afflicted Church We know not but the Prince of Orange is much stronger then the two Dukes and that Macklin by him hath been taken the 29 of the last and great likelihood is that Antwerp shall yield Our men in Flushing agree not well with the French but now we think upon this misery their French will not â—e so lordly From Woodstock the ninetâ—enth of September 1572. Your assured loving Friend William Burleigh To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassadâ—r for the Queens Majestie in France SIr yesternight after your servant was departed Faunt and my Cousin came hither and although I had before moved her Majestie that she would require you to return yet I could not then obtain it as I did this morning And so now I have obtained a Letter from her Majestie to the French King which Master Secretary sendeth you as by his Letter you may perceive From Woodstock the twelfth of September 1572. Yours assuredly William Burleigh To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassadâ—r Resident for her Majestie in France THe lamentable Tragedy that hath been there used of late doth make all Christians look for a just revenge again at Gods hands as it hath pleased him to fear us and so pinch us in the mean time with the scourge of correction by the sufferance of his people thus to be murthered but our sins deserve this and more but I trnst he will hold his holy hand over us not to reward us altogether as we deserve but somewhat in his correction comfort us that we may see as well the fall of his and our enemies as the blood of his Saints to be so innocently spilt even for his mercies let him turn it ten fold upon their heads that they triumph not over much to the utter hearts grief of his poor flock If that King be Author and doer of this Act shame and confusion light upon him be he never so strong in the sight of men the Lord hath not his power for nought if he be not the
inconvenience hapned as also to assure him of her Majesties disposition to continue the amity upon such certain informations as I could gather here of the manner of the Kings proceedings in this late accident and finding him to avow aswel by speech as by the continuance of most extreme severity towards those of the Religion that the said accident proceeded of himself though her Majestie is otherwise informed by the Ambassador I thought therefore good both towards him and his mother according to the direction of your Honours letters to use such speeches as the time of my repair to the Court which was the one and twentieth of this moneth would permit I was first brought unto Q. Mother to whom I shewed that her Maj. willed me to say That she was not a little stonished and perplexed upon the hearing of the late miserable and most lamentable accident in such sort as she knew neither what to say or judge of the matter seeing those murthered without pity and compassion without regard had either of age or sex without ordinary form of justice who upon the assurance of the Kings word laying all suspicion aside did misdoubt nothing less then that which hapned unto them who thought their lives then in most safety when by proof it appeared they were in most danger How these things may pass and the King receive no touch and blemish in honour is a thing which the Queen my Mistris saith she chiefly feareth besides she hath willed me to say unto you That she doth not a little marvel that you being a Prince of that judgement you are and so well experimented in matters of Government knowing the passions and factions that reign in your State could be induced so easily to yield to an execution not to be allowed in all mens judgement in any sort or Commonwealth as the parties to be executed before due examination had of such informations as in reason it appeareth were given against them for as easily might the said persons havâ— been arrested as slain And so being arrested afterwards have been produced before the ordinâ—ry justice to have received being found guilty punishment according to their demerits otherwise being found innocent to have been restored both to honour and liberty which kind of proceeding might have saved the blood of many an innocent which now through the fury and rage of the people was shed and the King had remained justified in honour She desireth your Majestie to interpret this her plain speech in good part as proceeding from one that wisheth well both to the King and you and cannot therefore but condole and bewail this accideâ—t whereon dependeth both your honour and the repose of your Estate notwithstanding she hopeth that the King will yield justification of this fact as he shall remain justified of God and the world To this she answered That she nothing marvelled that the Queen my Mistris was astonished with the accident for that the execution was performed with a great deal more cruelty then was intended by the King who saith she is no Tyrant nor was easie to be induced to do that which he did had he not been provoked thereto by the apparent danger which he saw growing both to himself and to me his Mother and his Brethren if present execution had not been done which shall well appear by the process which my son meaneth to send unto the Queen your Mistris And whereas the Queen your Mistris doth seem to marvel that I should be easily induced to yield to any execution a kind of speech that somewhat toucheth me to be done before due examination had of the informations I being as she saith so well acquainted with factions reigning in this State You may tell her that present mischief cannot abide delayed remedies for saith she we were informed by persons not to be suspected as drawn by passion or faction being rather tied to the Admiral both by Religion and Amity yet moved in conscience to prefer their Prince before any private person for that those of the Religion had they not been prevented at the time that they were had seized within two hours after one of the gates of our Pallace of the Louvre and so consequently our persons which enterprize to have been executed was agreed the same afternoon that the Admiral was hurt And that they had some such meaning it may be gathered for that the Count of Montgomery the same morning that this enterprize should have been executed with a Troop of Horse stayed a good while at Pre de Clerces to attend what the other should do within Hereupon I took occasion to say unto her That although I had no Commission to reply yet I hoped her Majestie would give me leave to say somewhat in the justifying of the said Count of Mongomery for that heretofore it pleased her to bear with the liberty of my speech And so I shewed her that Friday at night after the Admiral was hurt between nine and ten of the clock the said Count came unto my lodging and amongst other communication he said That as he and those of the Religion had just occasion to be right sorry for the Admirals hurt so had they no less cause to rejoyce to see the King so careful as well for the curing of the Admiral as also for the searching out of the party that hurt him No small argument saith he of the Kings sincerity which kind of speech seemed to be void of all conspiracy and miscontentment And touching his being au Pre de Clerces I told her that an English Gentleman who was lodged not far from the said Count went unto him that morning that the execution was done in my name desiring him to send me word what stirr there was in the Town His answer was That true it was some stirr was in the Town and the King had taken so good order therein as all was appeased and that he had placed such guards about the Admirals house as he was in safety This answer Madam said I shewed that his intention in staying Aâ— pre de Clerces was void of any evil meaning And as for his Troop as I learn it was under forty horse of the which all was unarmed and of them four only had Pistols which sheweth plainly that he was very slenderly appointed for the execution of any Enterprise To this her only answer was That she thought not the Count so guilty as the rest And further she shewed me that sithence his departure he had written to the King her son as well Letters for his justification as also of submission In the end she willed me to desire her Majestie to content her self with such relation as should be made with their Ambassador there touching their proceedings here as the King her son and she did rest satisfied with such relations as were made of her proceedings in like cases there by her Ministers here And so making great protestation of the Kings and her earnest desire for
laying before her besides my private affairs the great danger I live in here through the disquietness of this State and the great hatred borne to our Nation her Maj. hath so far yielded thereto as she hath for that purpose written this Letter which I am now to present unto your Maj. So he took the Letter and read it and after he had read it he shewed me that if he should consent to my departure according to his good sisters request he must then also revoke his Ambassador which thing saith he cannot but make it appear to the world that thâ— amity lately concluded betwixt us were broken or at the least not very sound when we do leave the use of necessary Ministers that may communicate between us such things as may increase and continue amity I shewed that her Majesties meaning to call me home for a time had no other respect but to my particular safety without any intention to diminish amity and that the example was not strange for that Sir Nicholas Throgmorton had done the like To that he reply'd that touching danger he should come in his own person to relieve me rather then I should sustain any harm and as for the example he said that at that time there was not that perfect amity that is now In conclusion he desired me to press him no further in the matter untill such time as he might hear from his Ambassador for that he did mean to answer her Majesties Letter written in that behalf And so for that time I took my leave After my departure from him Duke de Alanzon sent for me into his Chamber to come and speak with him At my access he shewed me that he was very sorry that both I and our Nation had in these troubles been so outraged as he understood we were I know saith he you are wise and can consider of the time If hereafter either you your self or any of your Nation shall stand in need of my friendship or assistance you shall do me wrong to use the help of any other but of me for the honour your Mistress did unto la Mott doth bind me to be her servant during my life and an advocate for your Nation And so he licensed me to depart desiring me to present unto her Majestie his most humble and affectionate commendations Your Honour by the King and his Mothers answers may see great protestations of amity I am sorry that I cannot yield that assurance thereof that heretofore I have done wherein I may seem to have dealt over-confidently but I know that your Honours do consider that my error in that behalf was common with a great many wiser then my self and therefore I hope you do hold me excused Seeing now there is here neither regard had to either word writing or Edict be it never so solemnly published nor to any protestation made heretofore to forein Princes for the performance of the same Seeing the King persecuteth that Religion with all extremity that her Majestie professeth and now is like to be an instrument to execute any thing by this people offered unto him to the prejudice of her Majesty Seeing that they that now possess his ear are sworne enemies unto her Majestie and nourishers of the late amity are separated from him seeing that the Kings own conscience so common a companion is fear with Tyranny maketh him to repute all those of the Religion as well at home as abroad his enemies and so consequently not to wish one of them alive I leave to your Honours now to judge what account you may make of the amity with this Crown If I may without presumption or offence say my opinion considering how things presently stand I think less peril to live with them as enemies then as friends The King Queen Mother and Monsieur have their Councel apart but first before things are communicated with the King they are debated between Queen Mother and Monsieur the Duke of Nevers and Tavannes The Duke of Nevers hath well nigh daily conference with the Prince Nuncio the Ambassador of Spain and the extraordinary Ambassador of Venice Iohn Michal and what they treat is kept most secret and for mine own part I am now divided from all means to discover any thing so that I now stand her Majestie in no further stead here but to present unto her ordinary Palace news There daily remain great number of both horsemen and footmen towards S. Q. as it is said to the relief of the D. of Almain The Marshal de Cosse hath Commission sent him as I am informed to execute as many of the Religon within his charge as have been known in these late Wars to have served the Princes and born charges if the Marshal Montmorency had been in this Town at the day of execution both he with all his brethren the Duke de Bulloign and Marshal had been slain as I am credibly informed It is said that both Spain and Portugal make great preparation by Sea It is thought that so long as Rochel holdeth out Strozzi shall be entertained from executing any other enterprise and yet there is no word come that Byron shall be received It is thought that the late murder at Roan will make them of Rochel more resolute And so leaving to trouble your Honour any further at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the 24 of September 1572. To the right honorable his very good Lords the Lords of her Majesties most honorable privy Councel IT may please your Honours to understand that the King here is advertised sundry waies as I learn that the Prince of Orange and the Duke of Alva are like to grow to an accord which thing is both feared and misliked at the least they would have the world so to judge their speech and meaning doth now so far disagree as it is hard to grow to any grounded opinion touching their proceedings It was held here for certain that Monts was rendred the 19 day of this month by composition that Count Lodovick and the heads that were in that Town issued at such time as certain of the Duke of Alvas horsemen were distressed which was the 9 of this month The Articles of the Composition are not yet certainly known but it is given out they departed with Ensignes displayed and bagg and baggage As I shall further understand so shall I further advertise touching Flanders matters And so leaving further to trouble your Honor at this present I most humbly take my leave From Paris Sept. 25 1572. Your Honours to command Francis Walsingham By the QUEEN To our trusty and well-beloved Francis Walsingham Esq our Ambassador Resident with our good brother the French King ELIZABETH R. TRusty and well-beloved we greet you well De la Mott the French Ambassador on Munday the 22 of this Month having asked Audience came to our Court at Reading and there had long communication with us the which seemed to us at that time the more
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
do the like to her power To the third her Majestie would that the King should â—nderstâ—â—d that she did in the motion of the marriage before this latâ— accident of the Admirals death plainly proceed with the Ambassador and with la Mot so she must plainly deal with the King That this acâ—ident of murthering the Admiral and of so general a slaughter of them of the Religion there hath made such alteration in her Majestie and hath moved such doubts in her minde how to interpret of the offers of this marriage and of this enterview by coming of the Queen Mother with her son as her Majestie cannot but suspend her resolution therein until she may understand some further answer to things which the Ambassador had in charge to deal with the King particularly to understand his mind of which her Majestie as yet had received no answer from her Ambassador nor any signification that he hath as yet had speech with the King thereof And besides that as to his last offer of the Queen Mother to come into any part of the Realm with Monsieur d'Alanson her Majestie cannot but interpret the offer very thankfully though she had not received from her Ambassador the Queen Mothers meaning to be such for her words to him were not further but that she would be content to comâ— with her son to Bulloign or to Callis and that she desired that the Queens Majestie would come to Dâ—ver and so then there might be an enterview and communication upon the Sea betwixt Dover and Calais or Bulloign a matter that seemed surely very strange to her Majestie and seeing that her Ambassador had no such offer made for her coming aland within the Realm as the French Ambassador offereth her Majestie meaneth therein to be better advertised by her own Ambassador who shall have charge therein to understand her mind and the Kings And upon knowledge thereof her Majestie will grow to a further resolution to the which it will be a great furtherance if the proof were verified as is said of the just causes given by the Admiral and his Complices for the execution of them And that his further proceedings with the observation of his Edicts for the cause of religion might more clearly appear to her Highness wherby her Majestie shall have good cause to see what is meet for her to do in the further proceeding both for the enterview and for the marriage In both which her Majestie shall be very glad to understand that she may have the same likelihood of the good to follow to her self and Coâ—ntrey for continuance of the amity that was propounded unto her when it was last renewed at la Mots before the death of the Admiral And her Majestie assureth the King that on her part she meaneth to observe the Amity by all good means as shall be to her possible and shall be very glad to find the like answeâ—able on his part and therewith doth presently require the King to give her to understand what his meaning may be in the keeping of so great a Navy and Army nâ—ar Burdeaux and Rochel under the rule of Strozzi which is an occasion why her Subjects and Merchants who were wont all the year and specially about this time to traffique that way for wines and other things be now put in doubt and great feaâ— and dare not adventure according to the assured amity betwixt the two Realms and the rather because now of late divers of her Merchants have been spoiled about Rochel and Burdeaux by those of Strozzies band not onely of victual and munition but also of money and merchandizes and some of them also of their lives To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr although I suppose you are now on your way hitherwards for by Walter Williams I sent you her Majesties Letters for license of your return for a time yet if my Lettâ—rs can find you there or by the way I would not have you ignorant of that which I can shew you I know by self how Ambassadors be to know what is done in their own Countrey The cruel murthers at Roan is now long ago written unto us when we thought all had been done and by the same letters was written unto us that Diepe was kept close and the same execution of the true Christians looked for there but as then not executed howbeit Sigoigne did warrant all our Englishmen to be out of danger and not to be afraid But what warrant can the French make now Seals and Words of Princes being traps to catch innocents and bring them to the Butchery If the Admiral and all those murthered on that bloody Bartholomew day were guilty why were they not apprehended imprisoned interrogated and judged but so much made of as might be with-in two hours of the assumation is that the manner to handle men either culpable or suspected so is the Journeyer slain by the Robber so is the Hen of the Fox so the Hinde of the Lyon so Abel of Cain so the innocent of the wicked so Abner of Ioab but grant they were guilty they dreamt treason that night in their sleep what did the innocent men women and children at Lyons what did the sucking children and their mothers at Roan deserve at Cane at Rochel what is done yet we have not heard but I think shortly we shall hear Will God think you still sleep Will not their blood ask vengeance shall not the earth be accursed that hath sucked up the innocent blood poured out like water upon it I am most sorry for the King whom I love whom I esteem the most worthy the most faithful Prince of the world the most sincere Monarch now living I am glad you shall come home and would wish you were at home out of that Countrey so contaminate with innocent blood that the Sun cannot look upon it but to prognosticate the wrath and vengeance of God The ruine and desolation of Ierusalem could not come till all the Christians were either killed there or expelled from thence but whether do I run driven with just passions and heats The Scots both the parties in words shew themselves desirous of accord willing to come to reason but indeed they seem not so as both Monsieur de Crocque and Mr. Killegrew do fear the old Enemies be so hard to compound and the new possessions so hard to part from but as yet we cannot despair till they both have met together and heard joyntly what both the parties can say which so soon as it can be done Mr. Killegrew hath promised to write to me what is done and what he thinketh may be done What Strozzies hovering cloud which hath so long gone in a mist will brew at the last and what design so long cloaked will break out upon is no marvel though they and we and all the world doubt and if it be to besiege Rochel and to execute more slaughter upon men women
may by some inquiry be known unto you one of those I had leevest have if he may be had if not you know one Morret an Italian that served sometimes Mr. Denny I am informed that he is willing to come into this Countrey again so as his pardon may be obtained the fellow when he was here was thought honest onely his fact being set apart vvhich vvas not of pretended malice I knovv and therefore I can vvith a better will be a mean for him if he will be content to serve me And for his behaviour there I trust you will understand of it â—â—â—ce his coming whether he have well â—sed himself or no and whether as he is an Iâ—alian his hand be free from this last action or no if he were and that you may know no cause to the contrary I will be very glad to entertain him and will give thirty poâ—â—d a year meat and driâ—k and his horse found in my stable which offer if you shall think too little I will refer it to you praying your Lordship to do me thus much pleasure as to deal in this matter effectually for me to procure either this fellow or some other that may be a sufficient man of that profession and as he shall be I doubt not well contented and intreated so shall I also think my self beholding unto you and the sooner I may hear from yoâ— touching the same the better So with my right hearty commendatioâ—s I bid you farewell From Reading the two and twentieth of September 1573. Your very Friend Ro. Leicester To the Right Honourable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principal Secretary IT may please you to advertise her Majestie that at the time of the receit of her Letters of the seven and twentieth of September being through my late sickness in that state of strength as I could not without danger go out of my lodging I desired Monsieur Maâ—â—esirâ— who at that instant was sent by Queen Mother to visit me that I had by Letters lately received somewhat to communicate to her Majestie which thing I could not do in person without some peril and therefore desired him to know of the King and Queen Mother whether it were their pleasures that I should communicate it unto them by my Secretary or whether it would please them otherwise to send some hither to my lodging to receive that I had to say unto them whereof when Monsieur Mannesire had made relation unto their Majesties which was the fourth of this present the next day they sent Brulart one of the Secretaries of the Estate and the said Mannesire to receive that which I had to propound unto their Majesties here from her Majestie So aâ— their access I communicated unto them what was propounded by their Ambassador to her Majestie and what was her Majesties answer unto the same I also shewed them how hard it was for her Majestie to think considering the great severity intended towards those who professed one Religion with her that the King should think his brother a fit husband for her or that there could grow continue and increase that love that ought to be between the husband and the wife I also shewed them that she desired to understand roundly and frankly what the King meant by the great Army of Ships and Men of War which have been so long time betwixt Rochel and Burdeaux under the conduct of Strozzie which she desired to know the rather for that divers of her Merchants have been spoiled some of their Goods and Merchandizes others of their Artillery and some also slain for that the same kind of dealing is very much contrary to the Amity professed lately Lastly I did recommend the Vidams case according to such instructions as I received from him delivering her Majesties Letters unto Brulart to preseâ—â— unto the King The seventh of the same Brulart onely came unto me with the King and Queen Mothers answer After some speech had that the King and Queen Mother were sorry for my sickness he shewed me that Monsieur la Mot and I did agree touching the relation of that which passed betwixt her Majestie and him And as touching the first point the King and Queen Mothers answer wâ—s the process of the Admiral was still in hand which so soon as it shall be finished shall be sent to her according to his promise notwithstanding he had well hoped that her Majestie without any further suspence would have given credit to his word as he would have done in like case Touching the second his answer was that he was glad as well by la Mot as by me to understand that her Majestie did accept in so good part his assurance touching his intention to continue good amity with her and so she doth concur with him in like affection Concerning the third that as he desired the continuance of Amity so did he desire the marriage propounded for the encrease of the same and therefore wisheth that the enterview might proceed as a mean to accomplish the same and that whereas la Mot declared that the Queen Mothers intention was to come over that they misliked the same for that her meaning was rightly conceived by me in this sort that if her Majestie would be content to come to Dover she would then repair to Callis or Bulloign and conclude between them some certain mean for the enterview And as concerning that point whereas her Majestie doth desire to understand the Kings intention touching Strozzies Army his answer is that he hath lately given order for the disposition of the same whereof two thousand of them are drawn to other parts to furnish the Frontiers in Picardie in respect of the two great Armies that are in the Low-Countreys and that the King had never intention to imploy them any way to the disturbance of her Majestie whose amity he meaneth earnestly to imbrace And further his answer was That whereas violence had been used towards her Merchants aswel in body as in goods that he was most sorry for the same and therefore he had expresly written to the Baron de la Guarde as also to the Governors of the rest of the Ports to see her Majesties Subjects well and friendly used as appertained to good amity and that the King of late had caused a ship of Acerbo Velutellis one abiding in England to be released Touching her Majesties request for the Vidam his answer was That as he would be glad any way to gratifie her Majestie so could he not grant this her request without touch of his honour to suffer any of his Subjects to live in a Forreign Countrey with a kind of defiance of his sincerity and therefore he hoped that her Majestie would not desire the Vidams benefit with his prejudice notwithstanding for the gratefying of her Majestie he can be content that the Vidam shall return home and enjoy his livings here with such surety as he shall have no occasion to doubt his safety This was the Answer
that I received at Brâ—larts hands of such things as I propounded unto him on her Majesties behalf to be communicated unto the King and to the Queen his Mother Le Roches often repairing to the Court maketh me to suspect some enterprize to be done in Ireland The passages here be kept so strait as by no means I can imploy any man in Brittain towards the sea-side as well for the discovery of the said le Roches enterprize as also for the observing of Strozzies doings for though it be said that the said Army is dispersed yet know I not what I think it were good to imploy some Western Barque that way under the colour of merchandize for the discovery of the doings The Duke of Guise of late hath often conference with certain of the Scotish Guard though sithence the late murther he sheweth outwardly some miscontentment He was never in greater jollity then presently he is especially since the news of the Prince of Orange ' s retiring They begin now to discourse here that it would be a deed of charity for the Princes Catholiques not onely to set the Queen of Scots at liberty but also to restore her to her right Her Majestie is not ignorant what I have written touching the opinion of wise men what is to be done in that behalf for her safety If that sore be not saved I fear we shall have a Bartholomew Breakfast or a Florence Banqâ—â—t So they terme the late execution here Monsieur Grandmont hath Commission from the King to suppress all preaching in the Countrey of Berry and to plant there the Catholique Religion which is a verification of the Kings intention touching the observation of his Edict irrecoverable for the tolleration of Religion For that I hear that all Scotish men are stayed at the Ports that come hence I will make some stay to give them passports if the stay proceeded in respect of carrying over of secret â—â—â—ters from hence there will grow little help and remedy thereof that way for that the Scotish Ambassadors Letters do pass in the Kings Pacquets methinks the return of the Scots might rather do good then harm for that the most part of them detest their proceedings here the report whereof will do no harm to the furtherance of the accord I would be glad to understand her Majesties pleasure especially for the Lord Levingston I and mine and divers of our Nation never received the like pleasure at their hands as lately we have done I have stayed for her Majesties service here Mr. Herbert by whom I receive good assistance I would therefore he might receive some good words from her Majestie to encourage him in the same for he is one that hath very very good parts in him and may hereafter grow a good and profitable servant Touching my return home I hope her Majestie will have just consideration of me who do now remain here without her benefit for a colour of their Ministers there to practise that thing there which is to her danger And so leaving further to trouble your honour at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the eighth of October 1572. Your Lordships to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principal Secretary SIr I most humbly thank you for the care you have every way of me and especially in that you would not suffer me to be ignorant hovv things do pass there vvith you vvhich giveth me no small light to direct my course here and yet vvhat direction can I receive that may vvell guide me vvhere I find neither faith nor constancy to build on it should but minister unto you grief for me to amplifie this matter and no great contentment to my self It is our part novv rather to think on some remedies for the mischiefs that are like to come then to rest amazed vvith the passed miseries I am sorry to hear that the accord in Scotland is not made and yet so long as la Crocque remaineth in Scotland vvhat cause have we to hope after it seeing that upon this alteration the end of his staying there is rather to impeach then to further the same if we think otherwise we do but dream our selves I am sorry to see the Ambassadors fair speech take such place as it doth methinks the late fresh experience we have had of that unsincerity should teach us to take profit of others harms Surely considering how things do proceed here and weighing the great presumption there is how that the trâ—e Monarchies of Europe are bent not onely to disquiet but also to displace her Majestie and to substitute some other it were no more then necessary policy to cut them off from so convenient a footing place as Scotland is which thing might easily be brought to pass if her Majestie would proceed roundly weighing that the Scots are not a little alienated from this Nation upon this late accident If her Majestie would joyn pensioâ—s with perswasions the thing in my opinion might easily be brought to pass not only to unite them under the Government of the King but also divide them from such League and Allyance as they have with this Crown There is Sir as you know another remedie which as it hath been long sithence needful to put in execution so was it never more needful then presently If her Majestie stick now to spend or put in execution all those things that tend to her safety she must not long look to live in repose nay she must not long look to keep the Crown upon her head The cause of her former quietness proceeded of her neighbours unquietness which being removed she must now make another account The Admiral is now dead and the Duke of Guise liveth the Prince of Orange is retired out of Flanders but the Duke of Alva remaineth there still I need not to conclude for that to mans judgement it is apparent what will follow Is it time now think you Sir to stir or is it not time to omit any remedy that may tend to her Majesties safety As far as I can learn there is none yet sent to deal with the Princes of Germany and yet there is here almost daily conference between the Popes Nuncio the Ambassador of Spain and them here they omit nothing that may tend to our peril I would we were as careful not to omit any thing that may tend to our safety It may be said that I fear too much Surely considering the state we stand in I think it less danger to fear too much then to little It may be said also that the jealousie that Spain hath of the greatness of France will not suffer him to indure to let France have any footing in England and that like affection reigning in France if Spain should attempt any thing I confess it to be true and yet I see no reason but that they both may consent to advance a third person who pretendeth right to the
some unplaced and in that profession very excellent but the entertainment they require is so unreasonable and so far exceedeth your Lordships offer as I dare not deal with them They ask 300 Crowns a year besides meat and drink and the finding of their horse and the least they can be reduced unto is 200 Crowns True it is that such of the Noblemen as entertain them do give them no less wages He useth towards them what perswasions he may to induce them to think that 150 Crowns in England will go further then 300 here but as yet no perswasions will serve to make them so to think I say therefore to conclude any thing with them I mind not until I hear further from your Lordship Of late doubting that there is no good meant towards you from hence and having some cause to suspect some Irish practises and knowing that Capt. Lassetty doth understand the state and weakness of that Countrey I have entertained him with some hope to be entertained of her Majestie his imperfections I know well enough notwithstanding his service may be profitable and if it be to no other end yet were the entertainment of him necessary in respect of the harm he may do At all times when any danger did seem to grow towards her Majesty he hath requested me to present to her his service though that Nation be very much inclined to treason yet surely I think him in that point to stand much upon his honor Because I would be loath long in vain to entertain him with that hope I beseech your Lordship that I may by the next hear what your opinion is in this behalf Captain Massino del Beni whom your Lordship knoweth who is now retired into Germany requested me to desire your Lordship to offer his service unto her Majesty who in respect of Religion and the zeal and honor he beareth towards her Majesty would be glad to sacrifice his life in her defence If your Lordship think the same might be received then would he repair thither if otherwise he would be glad to know it because he meaneth to take some other course to direct himself I am the willinger at this point to offer the service of Souldiers for that I fear her Maiesty shall have iust cause to use them considering how slenderly we are furnished at home for now that the Prince of Orange is retired her Majesty may not long look to live in repose I am sorry that the union of Scotland is not already made which I fear will be cause of both their and our ruine If that footing-place were taken away from our foraign enemies our danger would be the lesse Money will do any thing with that Nation as your Lordship knoweth which if her Majesty stick to disburse she shall find neither profit nor surety in it The tempest that hangeth over our head is to mans judgment apparent so great as if she overslip any remedy that may be used she must not long look to keep the State that she now enjoyeth If the great strength and power of her enemies be weighed with her weakness the danger cannot but seem the greater if any thing be omitted to be done that may â—end to her safety If England and Scotland be united and such unsound members cut off as have been the cause of inward corruption both her enemies shall have less will to attempt any thing against her safety and she remain in less perill of such mischiefs as otherwise are like to fall upon her Violent diseases must have violent remedies if her Majesty do not not now think her State to stand in extremity things at home well considered both she and the same are in more danger I beseech your Lordship to pardon my passion in this behalf the suspition I have of the evill meaning here towards her Majesty maketh me to be thus carried away as I am And so leaving further to trouble your Lordship at this present I must humbly take my leave At Paris the 8 of October 1572. Your Honours to command Francis Walsingham Answers to the French Ambassador given by word of mouth by my Lord Treasurer in the Councell Chamber in Octob. 1572 FOr the Kings answer to the advice of her Majesty given in two points viz. that the King would cause the world to understand of his deed upon the Admirals death somwhat better then yet it did Secondarily that he would see that his Edicts be better observed her Majesty meaneth not to reply thereto wishing that both in the one and the other the King find good success To the motion of the Enterview to be before the 20 of October and iâ— to the Queen Mothers letter is to be at the Isle of Iersey seemed to her majesty so strange both for the time and place as if the Admirall had not shewed the Letters from the King and Qu. Mother to that effect her Majesty should either not have believed it or that the Ambassador had mistaken the same as without long speech the Ambassador may easily perceive for the 20 day of October is not 14 days off from the time of the motion nor one month from the date of the Kings letter and Iersey is a place so far distant as neither King of this land would adventure to sail unto for many causes nor yet any Merchant would take upon him to pass thither almost in that time Besides that the late proceedings in France to the destruction of all sorts of her Majesties Religion which also is not ceased to her Majesties understanding cannot but argue this manner of motion very absurd and besides ingender in the subjects of this Realm such conceits as it were a dangerous thing for Councellors to be so careless of their Prince as to give ear to such motions and it is the stranger now to make this motion by letters of the 23 of September when the French Ambassador the same 23 of September did say at Reading to the Queens Majesty that the Queen Mother was content to come into any place of this Realm which is now strangely changed that the â—ueens Majesty should come to her over the Sea to the coast of France being more then three days sailing except she might have wind at her commandment And in this matter also the Queens Majesty can give no answer untill she hear answer from her Ambassador to her letters sent after the Kings letters were dated As to the offer of continuance of Amity renewing the League by a new Oath the Queens Majesty meaneth nothing more then to continue the Amity And for renewing of any Oath she knoweth no cause of her part to be required a new Oath for that she hath not violated the same nor meaneth to do and trusteth as much in the Kings part that he will keep it without any new Oath As for the proceeding for the establishing of a commerce in certain Towns in France it is over-evident by the late murther in Roan which the
King saith was by the mean people how unmeet it were at this time to motion such a matter unto her Merchants who be now marvellously intimerated and before these murthers did hear not most willingly thereof because of divers evill treatments that they have suffered at Roan and divers other places and therefore this matter is to be suspended untill the Merchants may understand that the King shall have corrected the late murthers at Roan that they shall not attempt the like another time upon them and that they may perceive that the King is so willing to do justice upon the Catholiques which may have the murtherers that they may assure them that under his protection they may go safe and not fear the rage of the furious people As to the sending of the Earl of Leicester or Lord Treasurer after the Queens avouchment her Majesty indeed is very sorry that there is such an alteration of occasion of doing such an office for as her Majesty before had intention to have sent either one of them or such other as should be as agreeable to the King so now there is to all the world one great cause that her Majesty may not with honor nor with law of nature send any whom she loveth to be in danger as it seemeth they may be though the King have never so good a meaning For by the death of so many whom the King doth not avow nor yet punish the murtherers what surety can strangers have especially when the King pretendeth as by his own letters appeareth that it is the fury of the Catholiques against those of the Religion As to the difficulties found by her Ambassadors return and to leave a Secretary there in respect of the danger wherein he is at this time her Majesty thinketh that the King might otherwise think thereof for when he saith he will revoke also his Ambassador from hence if hers should come for a time It is well known with what liberty and surety his Ambassador may and doth travell in this Realm who may go when he will without danger and without fear of mind do his negotiation where contrariwise her Ambassador dare not go out of his doors without a guard being to his great charge and disquieting And so the Queens request is to have her Ambassador from thence but for such a time as the tempest may cease in France and the murtherers be in awe of the King by Justice REQUESTS That the Kings Declarations maintained in his Letters for our Merchants good usage at Burdeaux and elswhere may be published in print as his otheâ— Edicts are That it may be also notified that the King will have the English Merchants restored to their goods which were left in the hands of his subjects that have been murthered for that many of them in Roan and elswhere were by way of Merchandise indebted to the English That for the hearing of English complaints for causes both in Normandy and Gascoigne there might be some extraordinary indifferent Commissioners to hear the same with expedition whereupon if the Merchants shall find favour and justice they may be the more easily induced to allow the Conditions of a Commerce To the right honorable and his very good Lord the Earl of Leicester IT may please your Lordship to understand that by certain that returned from Frankfort Mart I understand that one of the Gentlemen that departed hence with intention to accompany your Nephew Mr. Philip Sidney to Heâ—delberg died by the way at a place called Bladin in Lorain who by divers conjectures I took to be the Dean of Winchester who as I advertised your Lordship by Mr. Argall I employed to encounter the evill practices of your said Nephews servants If therefore your Lordship he now being void shall not speedily take order in that behalf if already it be not done the young Gentleman your Nephew shal be in danger of a very lewd practice which were great pitie in respect of the rare gifts that are in him Touching news I refer your Honor to these inclosed occurents and the report of this Bearer to whom I have given order to communicate certain things unto you And so leaving further to trouble your Honor at this present I most humblie take my leave At Paris the 17 of October 1572. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham To the right worshipful Francis Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador resident in France SIR I shewed to the Queens Majesty and my Lords of the Councell both your letters to me written the 8 of this instant the one contained your negotiation the other was a discourse both wisely written and very well liked On Thursday last Monsieur du Crocque was here and had audience given him by my Lord Treasurer my Lord Chamberlain and my Lord of Leicester because the Queens Majesty was not at time perfectly whole of the small Pox as the Physicians did say although her Majesty and a great sort more will not have it so now it makes no matter what it was thanks be to God she is perfectly whole and no sign thereof left in her face On Sunday he had his answer given unto the Steward of his house the sum and substance whereof I send you here inclosed whereby you may know his negotiation which was long in words to make us believe better of that King then yet we can and replied as I understand liberally enough although in that Prince and Countrey who have so openly and injuriously done against Christ who is Truth Sincerity Faith Pitie Mercy Love and Charity nothing can be too sharply and severely answered Yet Princes you know are acquainted with nothing but Doulceur so must be handled with Doulceur especially amongst and between Princes And therefore to temperate as you may perceive not that they may think the Queens Majesty and her Councell such fools that we know not what is to be done and yet that we should not appear so rude and barbarous as to provoke where no profit is to any man I think I for my part do not doubt but you will use this answer as you were wont gravely and wisely for the King there will look to have it as well at your hands as at his Ambassadors You are carefull as wisdom doth lead you of the wel-doing here in England which needs must be well esteemed of her Majesty and all her Councell and I tell you we are not so remiss and negligent as peradventure another that knoweth not would think In time things be done unlooked for as well for mischief as that was in France as to good and remedy where God giveth grace and circumspection Truth it is that God disposeth all whatsoever a man doth purpose as Divines do say and it is his gift if wise men do provide for mischief to to come and yet whatsoever they do devise the event doth come of him onely who is the God of hope and fear beyond hope and expectation because you shall understand that even
she being through sickness in that time in state not to give audience To the first touching the Enterview The 2d touching the confirmation of the league with renewing of the Oath The third touching the establishing of Traffique The fourth the Kings requests to have the Lord Treasurer or the Earle of Leicester come over after the Queens delivery To these four Requests I made her acquainted with such answers as were made unto the same To the first touching the time she said that she wrote unto the Ambassador that in respect of the young Queens delivery which she thought would have been ere â—his time the meeting could not be before the twentieth of this moneth and that therefore he should move it against that time not meaning that it should be so precisely set down but it should be referred chiefly to her Majesties choice To the second touching the place she shewed me that forasmuch as she had never intention to come over the same being mistaken by the Ambassador and that the interview by Sea was thought inconvenient hearing that the Isles of Iersey did belong unto her Majesty she thought that that was a convenient place for the said Enterview and therfore she caused the Ambassador to propound it protesting that the same was void of any evill meaning or intention and that there were Letters written to the Ambassador for that purpose before the late execution here To the second touching the renewing of the Oath she said that the same proceeded of advertisements from the Ambassador that her Majesty should say that she could not tell what accompt or assurance to make of the late League concluded whereupon the King willed him to make offer unto her that what she could devise for the assurance and faithful keeping of the same he would most willingly put in execution and thereupon willed him to offer that if her Majesty should think it requisite the same should be confirmed by a new oath and as for my self saith she considering the same had not been violated of either party I concur with your Mistres in opinion thinking the same needless To the third touching the establishing of Traffique she said she saw some reason to think her Majesties answer reasonable That the time seemeth now improper considering the late disorder at Roan notwithstanding the Kings meaning was to take such order as well for the punishing of offenders as for the well using of Merchants as that they should have no just cause to fear to which purpose the King had written both to Caranges the Governour as also to the chief President there Touching the fourth concerning the Kings request for the coming over either of the Lord Treasurer or the Earl of Leicester she said that the same also proceeded of advertisement from the Ambassador that he thought that if their Majesties would require the coming over of either of them after the Queens delivery that the same would be yielded to whereupon the King gave him Commission to move her Majesty in that behalf he desiring nothing more then one of them to whom he knew he might communicate matters of weight as frankly as unto her Majesty and as touching any peril that might happen unto them she said that the King would take such order for safety as they should be in no less surety here then at home in her own realm To that I replied that it would be very hard for her Majesty or any other to be so perswaded in that behalf for that it was not possible any disorder in a State could be reduced to order without punishment and that therefore neither stranger nor their own subjects can make accompt to be in safety within their government so long as the malefactors should remain unpunished To this she said that the injuries done by those of the Religion against the Catholiques were so great as it was hard to bridle the peoples fury especially upon the discovery of this new Treason notwithstanding such order was taken that no publique person or Ambassador should be touched This was the sum of her reply unto such answers as were made by her Majesty to the Ambassador there I made her also acquainted with her Majeiesties answer to the Ambassador touching my Revocation To the which she said That the world would judge some alteration to be between the two Crowns if any such thing should be done without sending some other to supply my place I then delivered her a copie of the three Requests given to the Ambassador there to be exhibited unto their Majesties here in the behalf of the Merchants wherein she promised that there should be such order taken as should be to the contentment of her Majesty and the safety of her subjects and that already the matter had been considered of Being given to understand that the Baron de la Garde was arrived here I requested her Majesty that if it would please her to deal earnestly with him as well for the release of those English ships that were stayed already as also to give order that those that are now presently to repair to Burdeaux may pass to fro in safety without any molestation either with the Gallies or of the other ships there Whereupon she sent unto me the next day the said Baron de la Garde who after long circumstances used of the great good will he bare unto her Majesties Father and to her Majesty her selfe and to our Nation assured me that the ships that were staied were delivered That he had taken order before his departure from Brouage that our Merchants should pass freely without any molestation or trouble and that there were already some passed whom onely he did forbid that they should not touch at the Road before Rochel he shewed me that he had received such strait commandement at her Majesties hands for the well usage of our Merchants as I might assure my selfe they should have no just cause to complain She requested me in the conclusion of our talk to write unto her Majesty that she was given to understand that one Sorez their subject lately retired hither did seek some shipping there within her Majesties Dominions she therefore desired her that she would take order for some restraint to be made in that behalf for that he is so ill an Instrument as he would be glad to do somthing to breed unkindness between the two Crowns which occasion she said she hoped her Majesty would avoid Moreover she shewed me that divers of her subjects did complain of injuries done unto them by certain ships that lye about the Downs and the Isle of Wight and therefore desired me to write unto her Majesty that there might be some redress given in that behalf And so leaving to trouble your Honor any fnrther at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the 25 of October 1572. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham To the right honorable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principall Secretary SIR it may please
you to advertise her Majesty that the young Queen was brought to bed of a daughter the 22 of October whose Nativity was consecrated with the blood of Briquemont and Cavannes who the same day between the hours of 5 and 6 in the evening were hanged by Torch-light the King Queen mother and the King of Navarre with the Kings brethren and Prince of Conde being lookers on As Briquemont was going up the ladder the Under-Provost of the Town said that the King had sent him to know whether he could say any thing touching the late Conjuration which if he would confess he would save his life Whereunto he answered that the King had never a more faithful nor a more truer subject then he was but this I know proceeded not of himself but of evil Counsellours about him and so lifting up his eyes to heaven he said O my God upon whose Tribunal Seat I stand and whose face I hope shortly to see thou knowest well that I know nothing nor did not so much as once think of any Conjuration against the King nor against his Estate though contrariwise they have untruly put the same in my process but I beseech my God that he will pardon the King and all those that have been the cause of this my unjust death even as I desire pardon at thy hands for my sins and offences committed against thy Divine Majestie Being then drawn up another step on the ladder he uttered onely these words I have somewhat to utter unto the King which I would be glad to communicate unto him but said he I see that I may not and so shrunk up his shoulders to forbear to use any further speech As his constancy generally was much commended so was his death much bewailed of many Catholiques that were beholders of the same Cavannes used no speech but shewed himself void of all magnanimity who before his death in hope of life made some shew to relent in Religion Two things were generally much misliked at this execution the one the presence of the King as a thing unworthy the Head of justice to be at the execution of justice the other that Briquemont being a Gentleman was hanged a thing very rare in France especially he being reputed of his enemies to be innocent of that thing which lately had been laid to his charge About an hour after the execution the cruel and bloody people of this Town not content with their death took them down from the Gallows and drew them about the streets thrusting them through their bodies with daggers and shooting of dags at them cutting off their ears and omitting no other kind of villanous and barbarous cruelty It was thought also that there should have been another general day of execution of as many as have been known at any time to have been of the Religion the stay whereof I am credibly informed was procured by the Queen Mother who with no small difficulty and intercession obtained the same at the Kings hands who protested that the same was but deferred for a time The King is grown now so bloody minded as they that advised him thereto do repent the same and do fear that the old saying will prove true Malum consilium consultori pessimum At the time of my Congratulation of the birth of the child I used these speeches following to the King Sir knowing the mutual good will that is between my Mistris the Queen and your Majestie as between whom good and evil pleasures and displeasures are common I could do no less being her Minister here but congratulate as well the prosperous delivery of the Queen your Majesties wife as also the Nativity of the yong Princess your daughter who is as it were a pledge of some issue-male to follow that may hereafter supply the Royal Seat that you presently enjoy which when it cometh to pass no Prince Neighbor Ally or Confederate will be more glad thereof then the Queens Majestie my Mistris Whereunto the King answered after private thanks given unto me for the office of Congratulation that I did use such speech as appertained to the good amity between them which was That pleasures and displeasures should be common to either of them which as I look for no less aâ— my good sisters hands your Mistris so she may assure her self saith he at my hands and I wish that my Ambassador might have occasion to use like office of Congratulation towards hâ—r as you do here towards me I thanked his Majestie for wishing that wish for that it was a general desire to as many as truly loved her Majestie As I was taking my leave he told me that they of Rochel against whom he did mean presently to send his Forces did give out that her Majestie promiseth to send them succours which thing saith he I do not believe considering the good intelligence that is between us To this I replyed that if his Majestie should give credit to any such thing he should do her Majestie great wrong considering the late protestation I made unto him on her Majesties behalf that her meaning was not to do any thing that may tend to the violating of the late League concluded between them As for the Brutes given out by them of Rochel who are now in desperation I shewed him that men in that state are glad to give out any thing that may draw others to joyn with them in assistance He answered that he believed it was so And so I took my leave of him I was then brought unto Queen Mother unto whom I used like speech of Congratulation After which speech I shewed her that the King had made me acquainted with certain brutes given out by them of Rochel of some ayd promised by her Majestie which thing very honourably said I he protesteth he would not believe Whereupon she shewed me how it was true that certain Letters were lately intercepted sent by them of Rochel in the which there was mention made that her Majestie underhand had promised to assist them that the Count Montgomery would repair unto them with the said assistance but for my part saith she I know the Queen your Mistris to be too honourable and too wise to intermeddle in any such matter who I know will give the King my son leave to deal with his subjects as shall seem best unto himself I shewed her that in so judging of her Majestie she judged rightly and that I hoped she would give more credit to her Majesties late protestation touching the inviolable observing of the late League then to any brutes that should be given out by desperate men This was the effect of that which passed between us for that present About the seven and twentieth of the last there arrived here a Currier out of Spain sent from the Ambassador Resident there who hath brought unto them very grateful news especially Monsieur as I hear seemeth to be most contented with the same He hath lately had great conference with the
and that time we will hasten as we may I pray you buy me the Commentaries of Mathiolus upon Dioscorides translated into French and let it be bound there with two or three sheets of paper before and in the end That book was never wont to go from me and now I cannot tell how it is stoln from me because it was noted with my observations and notes I had rather have lost a far better thing and in London I cannot buy any other and therefore I pray you help me to one and I wil repay it where you will appoint in French Crowns with a hundred thanks Fare you well From Windsore the thirtieth of October 1572. Your assured Friend Th. Smith To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr yesterday came Williams your servant to Windsore with your Letters and Advertisements of that which he had to declare concerning Lions Florence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wherein I see strange dealing for the party once offered to remain Prisoner until the truth might be tryed and so to lose his head if the tale were not true wherefore I see it is good reason to be slow in credit to such matters Presently there is here one York come as he saith with Letters from Lyons of credit to the Queens Majestie and his message is to declare secretly the danger of and that if 3 would be so content E would come to lie into hall 2 with such other fond devices as for many respects the party is greatly suspected wherefore her Majestie hath willed me with all haste to will you by some good means to understand the truth of the party himself that is to say of Glasco and if he have not sent any such then with speed to advertise for I think it will be necessary for 3 in honour and for in safety to utter the matter or the party to Florence This messenger pretendeth great devotion in Religion and we understand that he is of great levity and fully meet for any dangerous enterprize I cannot write any more for haste of sending away this Pacquet because her Majestie would have speedy answer I trust you shall shortly hear of some comfort of a successor The Queens Majestie is content that I shall speak to Mr. Frâ—â—â—is Carew to supply that place with whom to morrow I will speak and that earnestly We are wont to have all evil news from thence but now we have also very evil news in our North parts The nine and twentieth of the last the good Regent of Scotland dyed as I think by a natural sickness and yet the certâ—â—nty is not known This will make our cause the worse in Scotland for I fear the conveyance away of the King and yet there is care taken for his safety but I can almost hope for no good using our selves â—all by heâ—ps and why the heaps fall not upon our selves personâ—lly I seâ— nothing to the let thereof in our selves God be merciful unto us Yesterday the French Ambassador sent me word to declare to her Majestie that the French Queen hath brought forth a Daughter and to know wheâ—her the Queens Majestie would be content to Christen it with her own name and to send my Lord of Leicester or me thither Her Majesties answer was That she would not desire to Christen it nor would send my Lord of Lâ—â—â—ester oâ— me but if the King would desâ—â—e her Majestie to be God-mother she would not refuse it but would send some person quâ—lified What will follow hereof I know not From my house at Westminster the third of November 1572. Your assured loving Friend William Burleigh To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador for the Queens Majestie in France MY Lord I do thank you for the speedy answer to my former letters which I wrote touching a Rider and I perceive you used so much care as you have already hearkned out one that is recommended very sufficient but his demands you think are very great and so they be indeed But as I am desirous to have such a man so am I loth to pay too dearly for him I would gladly hear how Moâ—ret doth imploy him now or whether you think him not a meet man for that purpose If he be of his wonted mind he is very desirous to return again hither and to serve very reasonable and I am given to understand that he hath profited very well in his profession since his being there If he be to be had reasonably and that you hear of his ability therewith of men of judgement to be confirmed I had rather have him then any other If he be not then this I say for the other whom I thank you again for I will give him 150 Crowns a year wages and his meat and drink and lodging in my house for him and his man and allowance in my stable for two horses and if he prove a man to my liking I think you do believe I can find in my heart to be better worth to him one way or another then 50 Crowns besides his wages If you can thus agree with him the sooner he come to me the better not doubting but that you will in the mean time make good inquiry of his trade and life and what his conditions be And if ever he have been honest I trust to keep him so and if his nature be not too bad I hope he shall be contented here with his usage as I mean he shall be treated And so Sir I most humbly desire you to let me have some description of the man by your next and what you think he will do Now Sir Touching our estate here First thanks be to God our Mistris is in very good health and I trust in God ere it be long will shew some care over us all The matters in Scotland stand but in tickle terms between the parties I mean between the King and the Queens side and so have they Agents for that the King left them who be now returned with better hope I think then in the end they shall have cause to bring their practises to pass Other particular news of weight here is none at this present worth the writing but that we are all here yet quiet and by Gods good assistance I trust shortly more certain hope we shall have of the continuance of it We your poor friends here are continually labourers for your coming home and surely I trust you shall return ere it be long For my own part I will not cease till it be granted and in hope of that I will forbear to write somewhat now which when you come home if you will affirm â— will tell you So my good Francis fare you well In some haste the seven and twentieth of October At Windsore I mean to morrow or next day being at London to visit your wife ceaseth vvho not to call daily upon all your friends here by your letters for your coming home I like not my
assuredly in great credit Steward at his return told me that â— meant to send him into England with letters of recommendation unto â— and at that time he also requested me to recommend him by letters which I promised to do he saying that he would send for them Knowing the familiaritie between the said party and the other abovenamed and knowing the trust that â— reposeth in him I thought I could no way be better informed of the truth of the matter then by him for that I know that if any such matters were he was acquainted with all I sent for the said party who secretly repaired to me and upon the first opening of the matter he dealt roundly with me assuring me that both he and the other sent before as men of special trust were imployed by â— but the latter onely with Letters of credit which the principal himself shall avow unto me if it were not for suspicion his doing being very narrowly observed As for the Coyness used by â— proceeded onely of forgetfulness through a dangerous sickness he had not long before I sent unto him He willed me to assure her Majestie that she might as well give credit unto him as to â— himself He told me he could not declare the contents of the parties Commission for that it was upon shutting of the gates but would find a time for that I perceived he was one whom â— trusted He desired that the matter might be communicated by her Majestie unto few for that he did assure me the D. had great intelligence in her Countrey He requested me also that the letters of the party might pass in my pacquet the same being so disguised as they will never be known This is asmuch as pâ—ssed between us And so leaving c. At Paris the twelfth of November 1572. Your Lordships 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 the eighteenth of this Moneth Monsieur Mannesire repaired unto me sent from the King and Queen Mother to shew me that they have made choice of him to be sent out of hand unto her Maâ—estie to invite her to be Gossip together with the Empress and the Duke of Savoy who as it is thought will be here in person He told me that the King willed him to assure her Majestie that there was no alteration in him of good will towards her Majestie and that in confirmation of the same he could do no less but desire her Majestie to be his Gossip Further I gathered by him he hath some charge to feel her Majesties mind and inclination towards Monsieur Duc d' Alanson from whom he hath a letter unto her Majestie Touching Monsieur Mannesire himself he doth all the good offices he may to continue amity betwixt her Majestie and his Master and is altogether altered from Spain and the house of Guise with vvhom I knovv he is quite out of credit for that he hath not seemed the best to like of the late proceedings Here he is in good opinion both vvith the King and Queen Mother and therefore being in credit and vvell-affected tovvards her Majestie he may by receiving good usage at her hands receive thereby incouragement also to continue his good affection The Legate is looked for here the four and tvventieth of this moneth the end of his coming is to tvvo purposes as it is said the one to procure the King to subscribe to the last Councel at Trent the other to suffer a levy of money to be made vvithin his Dominions termed by the name Crusado for the maintenance of the Turkish Wars They are advertised from the Ambassador at Rome hovv that the Christians Army is retired Don Iohn de Austria being already arrived at Messina and the Venetians being at Corfu And so having nothing else to advertise at this present c. At Paris the tvventieth of November 1572. Your Honours to command F. Walsingham To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador for the Queens Majestie in France MR. Walsingham First touching your revocation her Majestie is fully resolved thereof and that all the expedition that may be devised shall be used therein as you shall further understand from others Your good wife was here yesterday with me who prevented me meaning to have gone my self to her house to have â—een her for that she is so great as was 〈◊〉 meet for her to travel about Such was her earnestness of your coming away as she was come to me before I thought any body had known of my being in London and coming from Windsore my Lord Treasurer and I met with your messenger young Nicasius We find still new tragical parts playing in that Countrey among others none more strange and more unnatural then his last going in person to see one of his Subjects and eldest Souldiers executed an example used by no Christian but the most mighty God will not suffer long such Princes to dwell over his people As for his good intention to our Mistris and this Realm when he sheweth himself friendly to his own then we will hope he may be friendly to his neighbors Since the death of the Regent of Scotland we have not heard any thing what is done there You shall hear assoon as we are advertised of any thing worthy Touching the Rider I wrote of I have referred to this bearer to declare my mind unto you to have a good one I will be content to strain my self far We have no news here onely her Majestie is in good health and though you may hear of brutes of the contrary I assure you it is not as hath been reported Somewhat her Majestie hath been troubled with a spice or shew of the Mother but indeed not so The fits that she hath had hath not been above a quarter of an hour but yet this little in her hath bred strange brutes here at home God send her I beseech him a long life So I bid you heartily farewell the of November 1572. Your assured Friend Ro Leicester To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr your Letters sent by Niâ—asius his son came to my hands yesternight coming from the Court and therewith I also received a small pacquet of some advertisements for the which I thank you and shall to morrow impart it to her Majestie Where of late I wrote unto you of a person come as he saith from Florence but yet I cannot for certain respects but be jealous for such practises and therefore I am willed to require you to use some secret means how to understand the truth and to this end I do send you herewith certain Letters which the party hath written to Rome which you may peruse and use as you see cause The party remaineth here in London as in ape and yet I doubt the P. will smell of him I have commanded these letters for to have
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
observation of the accord between them requesting him to continue the same Touching the election of the King of Polonia they write that the Elector Brandenburg is most like to be chosen notwithstanding they have great hope of Monsieurs election which men of great judgement do think to be void of any good ground By letters out of Italy they write that the Turk will have in a readiness against the next Spring 400 Gallies whereof they are very much afraid the rather for that their own Forces by sea do decay the greatest part of their slaves for the furniture being decayed by sickness this last voyage And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the eighteenth of December 1572. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and his very good Lord the Lord of Treasurer BEcause Steward is absent from the Court I can by no means decypher what is the end of Monsieur de la Noue's travel If there be no mystery in the matter then are others doing not so well grounded as they make men believe So soon as I shall be able to decypher any further of the matter I will not fail to advertise your Lordship It is here said that Monsieur de la Mot hath advertised how that her Majesties meaning is to execute the Queen of Scots Whereupon such as favour her do discourse that it were good to stay the Noblemen that shall be sent hither by her Majestie for the Christening as a pledge for the said Queens safety that their Majesties here should have such intention I know not The Legate as I am most credibly informed hath amongst other Articles of his Instructions commandment earnestly to commend the Queen of Scots cause to the King here and to devise with him some mean for her delivery whereby England may be reduced to the Catholique faith The Scotish Ambassador hath more often recourse unto him then any other Ambassador here which maketh me the rather to doubt some practise Hamilton brother to him that killed the Regent hath sent this message unto D. Chasteauherauld following that is to do what he may to keep the Castle of Edenburgh and to maintain his party until Whitsundy next assuring him that by that time they shall have assistance both from the Pope Spain and this Crown The party himself that is to do the message made me acquainted with all which is now departed towards Scotland and hath promised me to declare no less to Mr. Randolph who knoweth him And so leaving further to trouble your Honor at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the eigh and twentieth of December 1572. Your Honours to Command Fra Walsingham To the Right Honourable and his very good Lord the Earl of Leicester WHat hope they have here to compound with Rochel and by what means your Lordship shall understand by Mr. Secretaries Letters as also what is written from Flanders Germany and Italy If Rochel may be reduced to compound as they hope for they think it will be a means to cause the other Towns to yield the sooner It is said that the Rochellois are drawn the rather to give ear to a composition for that they see there is no hope of Forreign succours and yet when a man considereth what is past a man would think there could grow unto him no greater danger no other way then to grow to composition I cannot therefore think but that there is some other mysterie in the matter more then I can as yet decypher The hope of composition doth put them in great comfort that they shall shortly settle their inward troubles which I fear will breed some troubles to their neighbors And so having nothing else to advertise your Lordship at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the eighteenth of December 1572. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable and his very good Lord the Lord Treasurer IT may please your Lordship to understand that after the closing up of my Letters to Mr. Secretary I was given to understand that by a Currier lately repaired hither from Rochel they have received from Monsieur de la Noue certain Articles of composition propounded by them of Rochel unto the King Amongst the rest I do understand First that they may have the free exercise of their Religion as heretofore they have had Secondly that they may keep inviolably the old and ancient liberties of their Town Thirdly that instead of Monsieur de Byron they may have la Noue to be their Governor It is though there that the King will consent unto their Articles with intention to observe them as he hath done others before He thinketh that the Composition with Râ—chel will serve for an introduction to others that hold out to do the like the hope whereof doth make them here very merry For other advertisements out of Germany Flanders and Italy I refer your Lordship to Master Secretaries Letters At Paris the eighteenth of December 1572. Your Honours to command Francis Walsingham To our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Francis Walsingham Esq our Ambassador Resident in France ELIZABETH R. TRusty and well-beloved we greet you well there hath been with us Monsieur de Mannesire with the Letters from the King and Queen Mother and the Duke of Alanson His credence was in three points The continuance of the Amity That we should be God-mother to the Infant and to pursue still the request of marriage with the Duke of Alanson To whom we answered First that as for amity having it of late by league so straitly made betwixt us on our behalf we never attempted nor minded to attempt any thing that should impair it but rather do study and wish to encrease the same if we could and therefore you may say it is that and the good will appertaining to that Amity that made us by you before and now by de Mannesire to declare what we have heard of our good brotheâ— which we are sorry to hear First the great slaughter made in France of Noblemen and Gentlemen unconvicted and untryed So suddenly as it is said at his commandment did seem so much to touch the honour of our good brother as we could not but with lamentation and with tears of our heart hear it of a Prince so near allied unto us and in a chain of undissoluble love knit unto us by league and oath That being after excused by a conspiracy and treason wrought against our good Brothers own person which whether it were true or false being in another Princes Kingdom and Jurisdiction where we have nothing to do we mind not to be curious yet that they were not brought to answer to Law and Judgement before they were executed those who were found guilty We do hear it marvellously ill taken as a thing of a terrible and dangerous example and are sorry that our good brother was so ready to condescend
to any such Councel whose nature we took to be more humane and noble but when more was added unto it that women children maids young infants and sucking babes were at the same time murthered and cast into the river and that liberty of execution was given to the vilest and basest sort of the popular without punishment or revenge of such cruelty done afterwards by Law upon those cruel murtherers of such innocents this encreased our grief and sorrow in our good brothers behalf that he should suffer himself to be led by such inhumane Councellours And now sithence it doth appear by all doings both by the Edicts and otherwise that the rigor is used onely against them of the Religion reformed whether they were of any conspiracy or no and that contrary to the Edict of Pacification so oftentimes repeated they of the reformed Religion are either driven to fly to dye or to recant or lose their offices whereby it doth appear by all actions now used by our good brother that his scope and intent doth tend only to subvert that Religion that we do profess and to root it out of his Realm at the least all the strangers of all Nations and Religions so doth interpret it as may appear by the triumphs and rejoycings set out aswel in the Realm of France as others which maketh that it must needs seem very strange both to us and to all other that our good brother should require us to be Godmother to his dear childe we being of that Religion which he doth now persecute and cannot abide within his Realm And if we should believe the perswasion of others and the opinion of all strangers our friends who be not our Subjects we should in no case condescend to any association in that or any other matter But as we have always hitherto had special love to our good brother in his younger age and a desire to the consideration of his good estate and quietness which we have in deeds manifestly shewed never seeking any advantage of time against him as peradventure other Princes would have done but ever sought to preserve his Estate and his Subjects of what estate or condition in Religion whatsoever they were exhorting them to unity and concord and with loyal hearts to live together in quiet under our good brother without offering injury the one to the other glad of their agreement and sorry of their division and discord so the late league of straiter amity made betwixt our good brother and us to the which he did so frankly and lovingly condescend or rather procure it at our hands is so fresh in our memory that we cannot suffer that in any jot it should be diminiished but rather encreased daily so long as our good brother doth shew the like unto us and that maketh us to interpret all things in better part then otherwise by any means they can appear such is our love to our good brother and so can we be content to perswade our selves for the love that we do bear unto him and for the hope of his continuance in our begun amity without faintness or dissimulation And this for the matter of Amity For continuance of declaration of which amity we said to Mannesire we would not be slack in any good office doing at the request of our good brother And so notwithstanding the doubts and impediments beforementioned we intend to send a worthy personage a noble man of our Realm to repair to his Court and to visit the King our good brother and the Queen Mother and the rest who have written in our behalfs and to do that office which is required as appertaineth wishing that these spiritual alliances may be to us our comfort and conservation of the amity begun betwixt us To the motion of the marriage with the Dâ—ke of Alanson wherein de Mannesire seemed somewhat earnest after declaration of inconveniences that might come in that marriage by the diversity of age and Religion which we termed in our talk extream and true impediments we made this final resolution and answer That forasmuch as we had given to our Ambassador resident there charge to demand and make relation of certain things touching that matter to the King and Queen Mother to the which you had no answer but of the Queen Mother in a certain generallity before that we shall have a special answer to them we cannot well resolve the which once being done we shall the better understand what to answer for any other proceeding in that request To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador Resident for her Majestie in France SIr I heartily thank you for your often advertisements and also that you are so careful for our estate the which so far as I can learn dependeth only upon the providence of God as it hath done always but is easily sustained by the policy of men and yet hath sped better then any man would think and so I pray God it may do still De Mannesire hath been honourably received and friendly and yet to say the truth sith those late and execrable murthers of the true servants of God there the minds of the most number are much alienated from that Nation even of the very Papists much more of the Protestants here and if in countenance and entertainment some coldness might appear it must be ascribed to our English nature which as yet cannot dissemble so deeply as the French can and hath done but I am sure De Mannesire hath no cause to complain In Scotland after the death of the Earl of Marre the late Regent about the four and twentieth of November they chose the Earl of Morton Regent with a great common consent of the Lords Bâ—rgesses in Scotland who as we hear say doth very carefully and wisely endeavor himself to reconcile as much as may be the Lords one with another and to appease both the factions which I fear will not be but with some charge to the Queens Majestie and some grief to the French Ministers and Procurers who can least abide quietness in that Realm Mr. Killâ—grew is yet there still who assoon as they appear to agree within themselves shall return as he would gladly do hither to receive some thanks for his pains I pray God for so much as he hath deserved for his integrity and diligence Our men be all come from Flushing either before or at or sith their returning the most part all sick Sir Humphrey Gilberts sickness is turned into a Quartain some of them that came with him be buried at London I thank you for the Matthiolus you sent unto me I like it well but yet if I could recover mine own I noted through with mine own hands I would like it far better but he that stole it from me doth think that I shall have it again of that price I pray you buy me a case of Instruments such as be to be sold in the Palace I mean containing two compasses or three a
present I had access unto the King at what time I made him acquainted with the contents of her Majesties Letters To the which he answered that touching the amity he received no small contentment as well by the assurance given unto him by Mannesire as also by me that her meaning is to continue the same without doing any thing that should be disagreeable thereto and thereupon he took great occasion to make great protestations of the greatest account that he made of her Majesties amity saying that he esteemed the same above any wordly thing In this point he was very long wherein I make the shorter recital because I kno◠〈◊〉 how his outward speech and his inward meaning do agree Then I proceeded to shew him what her Majestie conceived in respect of the good will she beareth him touching the slaughter of the Admiral and the rest of the Nobility of the Religion here without any form of justice a thing disallowed of all men though it were true that a conspiracy were made I further shewed him the redoubling of her Majesties grief as well to see such as by no means could be privy to any conspiracy given up even to the vile and base people whose execution was without respect of age or sex in a most barbarous sort as also to see those that are alive forced by Edicts lately set forth either to abjure their Religion to fly or else to be murthered a kind of proceeding which sheweth that his meaning is to root out all the professors of the Gospel within his Realm and therefore could not but make her Majestie to marvel that he should move her to be Gossip he persecuting with such severity those that profess one Religion with her To these he answered that touching the slaughter of the Admiral and the rest of the Nobility he had well hoped that her Maj. had been throughly satisfied by such demonstratioâ—s as had been made unto her there by his Ambassador of the cause of the same Touching those that â—ere killed by the fury of the people he said it was a thing that he was sorry for but could by no means remedy it For the third it was the revocation of the Edict of the liberty of Religion He said that his policy forced him so to do seeing the in convenience that otherwise would follow by the toleration of two sundry Religions To this I replyed that curiosity did not move her Majestie to use that kind of speech but the good will and affection that dependeth upon the amity lately concluded who was sorry to hear hard judgements of others touching such kind of proceedings whose opinions and advice if she of her self should follow she should then not onely refuse to be his Gossip but also forbear all other kind of intelligence with him and that those that do so advise her are not onely her own Subjects but also her Neighbours abroad Notwithstanding I shewed him that her Majestie as one that hath from his childhood been affected towards him who never took advantage of time to do any thing that might prejudice him as one in whom the late league hath taken so deep impression of amity as she cannot but interpret in good part any friendly request tending to amity and therefore for continuance and declaration of the same all doubts and impediments laid aside she intendeth to send a Nobleman as well to supply the office required as also to visit him To this the King answered that he could not but think himself most bound to her Majestie for accepting in good part this office of his which proceedeth onely of amity and good will to that end as her Majestie saith that this spiritual allyance may be to both their comforts And for further confirmation of the amity lately begun between them And as for the Nobleman saith he he shall be very welcome and receive such honour as appertaineth to one sent from a Princess whom I esteem so much Touching the third point concerning Monsieur D'Alanson he said not much but only this That the marriage betwixt her Majestie and him is a thing that he much desireth as that thing that would make a perfect uniting of their two Crowns After this speech upon complaint made by me of the small redress that our Merchants have at Roan at such Commissioners as lately by him were deputed for the remedy of such injuries as they had received in the time of the hurly burly He shewing me that Sorex and other Flemings were a rigging out to the number of fourteen sail in certain Creeks and Ports belonging to her Majestie for to repair with the same to Rochel wherein he desired her Majestie to take such order as may be agreeable to the good amity and league lately concluded between them This was in effect as much as passed between us at this present To the Queen Mother I could have no access for that she is not yet rid of her Cathera Monsieur Pynart sent me word by my Secretary that the Baron de la Guarde hath advertised that fifty English sail were about to have entred the Haven of Rochel had not he stayed them And whereat Pynart saith he doth much marvel considering the protestation that lately hath been made touching the continuance of the amity In answer hereof I sent him word that if they had been minded to have entred the Haven his forces could not have stayed them and that if her Majestie had intention to imploy any of her ships that way a quarter of that number would serve But this said I is but a cunning of his to cause the King to be cold in yielding redress to certain injuries that he had lately done to our Merchants who for spoils sake could have been contented to have his Master and the Queen my Mistris at variance And therefore is glad to send such vain advertisements Monsieur Mannesire who reporeth very honourably of her Majestie every way desired me in their Majesties name to hasten as much as I could the coming of that Nobleman whom her Majestie meaneth to send for that the Emperors Ambassador who is already arrived attendeth onely his coming Further of himself he desireth me to advise him not to bring any great train for that otherwise he shall be very much troubled to have horses provided for them for that saith he he cometh in post a dozen Gentlemen and half a score others shall be as honourable as though he came with two hundred The experience Sir that your self have had in this behalf cannot but make you to think Monsieur Mannesires opinion to be good as also give the like advice And if he did transport some Geldings of his own I would take it to be the best way for that otherways as you have some experience he shall be hardly provided The Emperors Ambassador who is Master of the horse hath not above twenty in his train I make full account according to her Majesties promise by her last letters to
morning Her Majesty in good health So God be with you In all haste this 12 of January 1572. Your assured friend Ro. Leicester To the Right honorable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principall Secretary SIR if the cause of my stay here grow onely in respect of her Majesties service as by your Letters I am assured though I have as much cause to desire my return as any other that ever was imployed in the like service yet can I with more patience digest the same as he that thinketh both his travell substance and life as well imployed in her service as any other subject she hath I hope when her Majesty shall find my stay here not needfull she will tender my case and yeild to my Revocation Sithence the Cardinall of Lorains arrivall here the direction of Scotish matters are committed to his charge The Lord Levingston and the Lord Ogleby look shortly to be dispatched hence who receive at the Cardinals hands great entertainment and great promises of great good that they and divers others of their Nation shall receive at the Kings hands here Amongst others they have commission to assure D. Castelherault to be retored to the Kingdom here and that the Marshall Montmorency shall be otherwise recompenced That the Lo. Arboth shall be General of the Scotish men at Arms. That the Lo. Clade shall have the reversion after Losses death of the Captainship of the Guard That the Lo. Huntley and the Earle of Argile shall have the great Order sent unto them and assurance of great pensions And though it seemeth by the occurrents out of Scotland that the said Earle of Argile inclineth to the King yet the best there are of another opinion and think him to favour the Queens part which they are resolved to maintain I am advertised by one at whose hands I have received advertisements that the Cardinall of Lorain hath brought from Rome for Monsieur to marry with his Neece who as I hear as he doth hope after the marriage of Polonie so he doth not greatly like thereof and would be loath that Monsieur should be removed so far off The Marshall Tavannes who was held here for dead is now in some hope of recovery And so c. At Paris the 21 of January 1572. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord Treasurer YOur Lordships of the 14 of this moneth I have received by the which I perceived two sundry Letters which I sent you by the Vidams man with certain books are not come to your hands which maketh me to mistrust some some wrong measure for that he departed the second of this moneth The matter of most importance contained in the same was touching a Gentleman of â— departed hence to 2 â— 6. 4 with intention to imbarque there if the Barque were not departed Steward who is gone to Rochel as I sent your Lordship word by my servant William Williams promised before his departure to have come and seen me and to have had some conference with me which he did not but sent onely his man unto me with a fond Cypher requesting me to hear often from me To whom I answered That the Cypher he sent me was not for the purpose and as for writing often I told him I could not tell what to answer untill I might speak with his Master and that therefore I desired most earnestly to confer with him before his departure as well of that as of other matters notwithstanding his own promise and my request he is now departed so that considering his loose kind of dealing I cannot tell what to judge of the matter If the party that cometh over do not deal more orderly and roundly there then I am dealt with here I think it were well if it were at some end for that I fear the issue will prove such as the parties are that deal in it who are over young and lack experience that were fit to guide a matter of so great weight I serve in the same but for a distributer of Letters and yet as it should seem the chief cause of Religion groweth thereby If I thought there were good faith meant therein or that by good guiding there might grow good effect to the benefit of her Majesty I should then with the less grief continue my abode here Such Letters as I received lately from Davison I know not what to do with having no sure means how to convey them for one of mine own cannot with safety travell that way And as for any of this Nation I find none whom I may trust in that behalf and therefore untill such time as I hear further from your Lordship what liking you have of the overture that shall be made by them that I sent over who as I am informed by Steward is to grow to some through resolution I mean not to deal any further with them unless I see they proceed more orderly Of this loose kind of dealing I thought good to advertise to the end you may rather grow to some through conclusion with the said party there At Paris the 20 of January 1572. Your Honours to command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester YOur Lordships of the 12 of this present I have received and though I cannot at large write unto you touching the contents of the same through this Bearers hast for his own particular affairs yet I thought to write these few scribled lines in answer Touching Stewards matter which as I perceive is the chiefest cause of my stay here I assure your Lordship I know not what to think of it They deal very warily with me and seem to have more will to deal with you there then with me here I stand but in stead of a Post to receâ—ve to deliver Letters By one that departed from thence I am shewed that you shal be ful informed what is their intention in that behalf I fear the issue thereof will be such as are the dealers therein In my Lord Treasurers Letter in respect of the Cypher you shall more plainly know my meaning If my stay here imported her Majesties service I could not so importunately seek my return though I have more them just cause so to do being rather overpressed then over-charged But seeing I do but servâ— here to entertain a broken matter having no great credit with the parties otherwise then in generall terms I hope through your Lordships good assistance her Majesty will tender my cause by sending over my successor Now that the Cardinall of Lorain is arrived here who beareth the whole sway in the affairs they conclude somwhat touching Scotish matters In the mean time there is one lately dispatched hence with great offers to entertain the Queens party as your Lordship may perceive by the inclosed And so leaving further to trouble your Honor at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the 20 of January
entertainment as shall be ministred unto you But if it shall happen the King or Queen Mother or any such person to go further with you and to feel you with words in any of the points hereafter mentioned we think it honourable for you not to shew your self ignorant of our mind therein nor how things have proceeded heretofore in those matters and how they stand at this present And therefore we have thought good to inform you in those points whereupon it is most likely they will make some mentioning and questioning with you to know our further resolution and mind therein that as in all other matters likely to be moved unto you you shall do well first to confer with our Ambassador there by whom you shall understand how things have gone hitherto And for this time you may say besides all other things whereof they be already fully advertised of our mind we think it now reason that the matter of Religion be first esclared for because that there in his Realm there hath been made great alteration in that point since the late communication thereof and therefore it is now reason that we should the more carefully provide that the difference therein should breed no disturbance disquietness or doubt in ours And as the said King hath held a stiff hand to maintain onely one Religion in his Realm although he with open Edicts did profess the protection of two and the defence of them both indifferently so it behoveth us rather who did maintain but one onely in our Realm and never yielded to the other by any Edict or Protection or favour now at this time not to change our course but to profess all one thing which we have done sith we came to our Crown and to suffer no permission or winking at of any other Religion then that which we and our Realm hath always held and maintained and by Gods grace intend always to do and so much the rather we have cause to require it at this present time because that in the dealing with Mon. D'Anjoâ— in the treatie with Mon. De Foix matters were made more easie and temperate to the which we did the rather incline when it should come to the knitting up that Sir Tho Smith now our Secretary was sent then such things were required as never before were expected as open Mass a Church a Chappel proper and all such solemnity of other ceremonies and abuses which our Realm and policie cannot suffer whereupon necessitie was for us clearly and plainlie to break off and least the same inconvenience should follow or that protracting of time should be thought but a dissembled entertainment of other cause then we have in mine you may say that we pray the King and Queen Mother to cause first this point of Religion to be clearlie esclared and opened that upon that we may more clearly judge what is to be done of us to the proceeding any further of that matter of marriage And you may say more that it is that point that we have thus long attended that our Ambassador there Resident should have certified us from their Majesties so that before we have answer from them of these points by reason we cannot proceed to go any further in this matter in which heretofore we have not been answered and the answer thereof lieth in their hands As concerning the demands that such as of late were fled hither sithence these late troubles that we should rather admonish them or command them to avoid the Realm as Rebels to the French King our brother You may say that we do understand of no Rebellion that ever they were privy â—nto and can perceive nothing but that they are well affectionated to their Prince but when such common murthering and slaughter was made generally throughout France of those who professed the same Religion that it was natural for every man to fly for his own defence and for the safetie of his life and it is the priviledge of all Realms to receive such woful and miserable persons as do fly to it onely for defence of their lives And for their return the chiefest of them have been spoken unto and they make their answer that the same rage of their enemies which made them first to fly hither doth still continue the cause of their tarrying here for as they then did kill with fury and as it may appear the greatest number of those that were killed without the commandment or avow of the King so it is most like they would execute still their malice if the persons were there against whom it was then and is yet inflamed notwithstanding any letters declaratory or other prohibition by the King as it is manifest and notorious that very many have been publiquely and are almost daily slain and murthered in France that be of their Religion sith these contrary Edicts were published and cryed by sound of trumpet And therefore until they may see that the quiet of the Realm be better established the fury of the people and the bloody murtherers appeased they will live here and obey the Kings Edicts They think themselves unsure there and prayed us of our mercy to have compassion of their miserie And if so be the King you may say would suffer them to enjoy their revenues whether they remained here or went into any other Countrey you may say that we suppose they would be as faithful subjects to him as any other in his Realm for other we espie none in them And if we can perceive at any time that they were otherwise minded or should attempt any thing for the disquietness of his person or Realm you may say we will not suffer them to remain within our Realm And as for the Commerce and Traffique of our Merchants there was nor is in us any difficultie why not thereby as by all other waies the Amitie and League should not in all points be perfected But such things have sith that time happened in that Realm that even to this day our Merchants be in horrour and fear to meddle therein especially to go much within the Land sith such libertie is given or suffered into the hands of the popular to kill or murther whom they could without punition therefore or justice nevertheless we are in hope that in time the King will peovide that he shall be better obeyed and that his sword of justice shall rule and not the unbounded lust of the populer to the which no wise man or careful of his life will hazard himself we could not but as a good Princess and mother of the Commonwealth bear with our Subjects in this fear so probable Nevertheless we shall give order that our Secretarie and others who do favour the cause shall be joyned in Commission to treat with his Ambassador here and as shortlie as time will serve and as our Merchants do by little and little get more boldness to traffique there and no part of that which was begun for the more streighter
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
hath brought the most of them to hearken to his pipe I have let her Majesty see and consider of your letters saving some concerning our occurrents here I will move her Majesty to be more earnest then yet she hath been There lacketh no no sollicitation for your revocation and untill my Lord of Worcesters return it shall be hard to obtain any resolute answer If the French King shall follow towards Rochel I would wish you to procure means to tarry in some convenient place near Paris and to send a Secretary to follow the Court with some pretence of lack of your health But hereof you shall best counsell your self And so I end From Westminster the 29 of January late in the night After I had supped here at my house all the Lords of the Councell and by their means 20 Lords more to the which I had commodity by the Queens Majesties being here at Somerset House Yours assuredly W. Burghley To my Lord of Burghley the 11 of February THis Letter I received the day of my Lord of Worcesters departure and because I doubted your Lordship would not wel read the same I thought good to copie it out what the effect thereof should be I know not it seemeth to me but a Riddle The party that brought them was as vain as vanity it self he shewed me that La. Motts departure without taking of his leave was for that he durst not repair unto me being very much suspected I told him he needed not fear so much for that he dealt not with me in any matter but that he might repair unto me any time safely without any danger for any thing that I know I have of late discovered one that carrieth a box of Linnen to the Queen of Scots who departeth not this town these three or four days I think your Lordship shall see somwhat written in some of the linnen contained in the same that shall be worth the reading Her Majesty under colour of seeing of the fashion of the Ruffes may cause the severall pieces of linnen to be held afore a fire whereby the writing may appear for I judge there will be some matter discovered which made me the more willingly grant the Pasport To my Lord of Burleigh I Should do my Lord of Worcester wrong if should not impart unto your Lordship both his dutifulness and discreet usage of the La. of Northumberland His sister sent unto him at the time of his abode here to the end your Lordship may make her Majesty acquainted with all First as soon as he heard of the said parties coming his Lordship made me privie thereof and shewed that though she was his sister yet in respect of her undutifull usage towards her Majesty he did respect her as a meer stranger and so meant to do untill such time as her peace were made He would not so much as vouchsafe to give ear to any Messenger or Message sent from her and therefore willed him to forbear to repair unto him The like usage towards the said Messenger did Charls Somerset use utterly refusing to speak with him And leaving c. At Paris the 12 of February 1572. To Sir Tho. Smith SIR According to your direction of your Letters the 29 of the last I shewed the King of the great grief that her Majestie had conceived that the travel both of his and her Ministers took no better effect touching the appeasing of the matters in Scotland as a thing dishonourable for them both to be deluded and scorned by such petty companions as those are that are in the Castle to whom was offered as much as they themselves could desire reasonable and more yet so are they carried away with their particular passions as they desired nothing more then to maintain still Warr in their Countrie not having such a respect to the tender age of their young King as they ought especially seeing that they were the first and chief doers in deposing of the Queen and setting up of him I shewed him also That though the Kings civil Warr and hostility touched both their Majesties generally as they that desired the repose of that Realm yet it touched the Queens Majestie more particularly for that during the time of these civil troubles amongst them her Majesties Subjects that are borderers are marvelously charged by outlaws and thieves whereof no redress can be had by reason of their inward troubles amongst themselves I declared unto him also that her Majestie in regard of the kindred betwixt the young King and her could not but wish his Realm to be in quiet and peace in this his minority which thing would not be brought to pass so long as these petty companions in the Castle through their own wilfulness obstinacy and private respects shall keep that Realm still in dissention and trouble in contempt of both him and her Majestie whose designe tended to no other end but to make unity and concord amongst them And therefore the King to this answered that he was sorry that their intentions in according of them took no better effect And as for Hume Castle he said that though by the League it was not expresly mentioned to be delivered to the L. Hume yet the meaning of it was so Whereunto I reply'd that the meaning of the clause in the League touching the rendring of Hume Castle had not respect to any particular person but generally to set that Country free from all forein forces and that therefore her Majestie might render the same to whom she would of that Nation To that the King replyed that he had rather it should remain in the Queens Majesties hands who saith he is a Prince honourable and sincere then to be delivered into the hands of any of the other party But herein saith he I will advise my self with my Councel and within a day or two make you acquainted with mine answer I told him according to my Lord of Worcesters Instructions that her Majestie delivering the same would capitulate with those to whom it should be delivered to restore the same to the L. Hume when he shall recognize the Kings authority as heretofore he hath done The King took occasion upon these Scottish matters to recommend unto the Earl of Worcester the Queen of Scots case To whom my Lord answered that such was their dangerous and unkind dealing towards her Majestie as he should forget the duty of a good Subject if he should once open his lips for her and therefore desired his Majestie to pardon him in that he refused to be a dealer in that behalf To this the King answered That he did not desire any favour to be shewed unto her otherwise then might be with the Queens Majesties safety At our access unto Queen Mother she desired my Lord that whereas there hath been long in Treaty a marriage between her Majestie and her Son M. Le Duc de Alanzon that he would therefore move her at his return that the same may grow to some conclusion
as that thing which she hoped would prove profitable unto her Majestie and beneficial unto her Realm and Subjects To this my Lord answered That the cause why the same grew not to some conclusion either off or on proceeds for that they have not made answer to certain things propounded by the Ambassador here Resident unto them whereunto she answered That she did not remember any thing whereunto they were so give answer whereupon I took occasion to shew her that there were two points to be answered The one concerning Religion the other concerning the interview For the point of Religion I shewed her that her Majestie in respect of the alteration that hath lately hapned in this Realm and that which passed in the Treaty of the Marriage between her and Monsieur de Anjou had cause to accord that point first as that thing which touched generally the quietness and repose of her Realm Touching the interview I told her that for as much as her Majestie could have no other way satisfaction then by the same the point of Religion once accorded some convenient means for the accomplishing of her said interview was to be devised To this she answered that her Son was of the same living that the other was and of the same Religion and therefore hoped should have no less favour then the other should have had touching the point of Religion for that it is a thing dishonourable and unchristian for a Prince to change his Religion upon the sudden To this I replyed that for mine own part I did not remember that while I had the dealing in the matter any liberty in that was accorded to Monsieur de Anjou And if it were Madam said I we see that a thing is tolerable in the other In conclusion my Lord requested in that she desired to grow to an end in this matter that she would roundly set down in her Letters what the King and she required touching that part of Religion To this she answered after some denial made thereof saying that their Ambassador should signifie in that behalf that she would be content so to do And touching the interview when matters of Religion should be once accorded she doubted not but there would be means found for the bringing of the same to pass as should be to her Majesties satisfaction I made her acquainted with the matters of Scotland touching Hume Castle whereunto I received like answer at her hands as at the Kings which was that after conference had with their Councel I should understand what was their mind and resolution in that behalf whereupon these Scottish matters she took occasion to recommend to my Lord the Queen of Scots to whom he gave like answer as before In the end as my Lord was ready to depart she shewed him that she was given to understand that there were certain ships a preparing in England by certain Rebels there whereof she desired her Majestie to give redress as appertained to good amity Whereunto my Lord answered that she might be assured that her Majestie had never any intention to tollerate any thing that might tend to the breach of the same so that if there were any preparation of ships in hand as he knew not of any he was well assured her Majestie was nothing privy thereunto as also that her Majesties Subjects were no dealers in the same who hath forbidden them expresly not to intermeddle Why then said she if they be strangers she ought to banish them and not to permit them to attempt any thing to the prejudice of this Countrey considering that she is as well bound to yield up ayd requiring the same at her hands as we to grant the like unto her upon like occasion and therefore she desired him to put her Majestie in mind that some order might be taken for the remedy of the same which he assured her he would at his return This was as much as passed at the time of my Lords taking of his leave The morning my Lord departed Queen Mother sent for me and shewed me that by Letters sent from Monsieur De la Mot they were given to understand that her Majestie let fall some speech that she could not think that the continuance of the Treaty of Marriage with Monsieur le Duc should be sincerely meant he being now retired from hence and imployed by the King at Rochel she therefore for the satisfaction of her Majestie requested me to desire the Earl of Worcester to signifie unto her that there is nothing that the King and she desireth more then the accomplishment of the said marriage and that to the end that the Earl should see the Duke the King stayed him here until Twelf-tide About which time they attended my Lords coming whereas otherwise he had departed together with Monsieur his brother before Christmass and said she if we had known the certainty of the Earls coming he should have come hither in post to the end he might have seen him I took occasion hereupon to tell her my private opinion if it would have pleased the King not to have imployed him in these wars against those of the Religion he should be in better opinion with her Majestie and more grateful to her Subjects To this she said that a young Prince that hath courage and desire to do his Prince service could not with his honour remain behind seeing his other brother imployed I have made my Lord acquainted with such Occurrents as are here to the end he should impart them to her Majestie by mouth And so leaving c. the 12 of February 1572. To Sir Thomas Smith IT may please your Lordship to advertise her Majestie that the King departed hence to St. Germains en Lay eight days past and that Queen Mother remaineth here still whereof the King hath great need and the same found hard to be recovered here Touching their proceedings against Rochel there repaired hither of late divers Curriers who use great silence which make men to doubt that things fall not out to their liking I learn notwithstanding that there is in the Kings camp great scarcity of victuals and a great number of Soldiers through cold and want of other necessaries are dead and do die daily That the Duke of Nevers hath taken upon him with the help of certain Italian Engineers to make certain Fortresses in the midst of the Haven to impeach all such as by sea would bring to the Rochellois any succour For the two Fortresses lately made at the Entry of the said Haven six ships notwithstanding passed by laden with corn and other munition as it is reported The common opinion is that it will be impossible by any device to make the said Fortresses that the Duke pretendeth to make There is secret whispering here of some intelligence given by Pacues of an intended enterprize by Montgomery in Picardie and that hereupon the King hath given order for the impeachment thereof The Cardinal of Lorrain hath within these
two days taken up the enchange of certain Treasures of the Town 300000 franks to what end I know not He is now retired from hence to Rome the cause of his departure as it is thought is to remove the suspicion from the Protestants that they suspect nothing of the great conferences had at sundry times between Queen Mother and him Here since the departure of the King upon the good assurance that hath been given me by divers of the good offices that the Lord Levingston will do in Scotland at his return I have taken upon me to give to him a passport with condition that if her Majestie shall not like thereof then he to return hither back again who promiseth to yield such satisfaction to her Majestie as she shall not repent her of any favour she shall shew him The Gentleman feareth that if he should not depart hence before Easter he should be constrained to yield to their superstition or to hazard his life in refusing the same which is the cause why I grant him the same pasport without hearing from her Majestie Schomberg is lately sent hence into Germany as it is thought to two purposes the one to observe their doings there the other to make some levy of both horsemen and footmen if he shall see any preparations of succours for them of the Religion here There arrived lately a noble Gentleman sent hither by the King of Portugal to congratulate the Queens delivery and as it is said to renew the offer of succour by sea It is said that the Baron de la Guard is dead and that Monsieur le Duc d' Alanson desired to have the charge by sea whereto Queen Mother would by no means consent as Mannesire shewed me It is also reported that Monsieur De la Noue hath discharged himself to Monsieur of his promise made to the King and professeth to live and dye with those of Rochel And so leaving c. hoping that her Majestie will take order by sending over Mr. Dale that I shall be the next Messenger my self I most humbly take my leave At Paris the 26 of February 1572. To Mr. Secretary SIr this Gentleman the bearer hereof whom I dispatch in all haste shall shew you the particularities of the late skirmish happened between the Camp and those of Rochel to the end you may impart the same unto her Majestie In the which skirmish D. d' Aumale and Schavigur were slain two of the chiefest executors of the late murthers here God of his good beginning doth give us some hope that the blood of the innocent shall not beunrevenged They of Sancerre the night after the breach was made which was about the latter end of the last moneth issued out of the Town and gave the Camp a Camisadâ— who kept very negligent watch so that they entred into their Trenches as it is said and slew 200 at the least and three or four Captains of good conduct Hereupon it is said that Shaâ—ers who is the General for the King is commanded to levy the siege and to repair to Rochel I am credibly informed that there should be certain Letters entercepted sent out of Germany from Count Lodowick amongst the which there was one directed to Count Montgomery wherein was mention made of assurance of succours to be given to them of the Religion here out of Germany I have divers causes to conjecture that the party which brought these Letters was directed unto me This interception maketh them here much doubt Germany Sir Mr. Dale had need to bring with him over a greater train then he shall be well able to maintain if her Majestie look to hear often from him and if his servants shall be stayed ordinarily as mine are And so c. At Paris the tenth of March. To my Lord Treasurer IT may please your Lordship to understand as I was upon my departure from this town towards the Court I received this inclosed from my Scretary Thevewes the things contained in the same are here very rife and confirmed with great earnestness and others notwithstanding some here of judgment considedering what good success they have lately had at Rochel how much their enemies are therewith appalled and how the giving out of these bruits may serve the Kings turn many ways do not credit them for my own opinion I assure your Lordship I know not what to judge I have seen within these few moneths so many strange and unlikely things come to pass as I do rather suspend my judgment then utterly not believe it If her Majesty do not hear from me with that speed that were requisite when there falleth out here matters worthy advertisement I am justly to be excused for that I have none to send my servants being all staid there and not one sent over which thing if it be not by some device remedied I know not to what use an Ambassador will serve And so having c. To the right honorable Francis Walsingham Esquire her Majesties Ambassador in France SIR you may think it strange that I have writ no oftner to you then I have done and that I have no sooner dispatched your successor unto you but I think you know well enough the stile and order of the Court. Yesterday was the first day that I could get your dispatch signed and the same night I sent word to your wife and sent word to Dr. Dale who hath been with me in the morning and prepareth to take his journey straight after the holidays towards you whereof I thought good to give you warning by your servant for before her Majesty had signed I durst never adventure to affirm any thing for fear of contrary winds the which is no news in this Court Well now I trust you be pleased if with nothing else yet at the least with your return Montgomery is gone from hence whether he hath taken shipping or no I know not but I suppose he hath With his tarrying so long here the Queens Majestie was fain to send to apprehend the Pirats of all nations thereabouts who under the colour of the Prince of Orange and the Count Montgomery robed all manner of Englishmen and strangers some of them are like to pay for it and the rest be gone or will be glad to go for it was time for justice to awake Of Casteauneufs coming hither on D' la Motts errand I think my Lord Treasurer hath written unto you who is privater of it then I am and the answer The pretence was to bring recommendations and excuse from the Duke of Alanson of his absence at my Lo. of Worcesters being there the cause not pretended what preparation was here to help Rochel And he might easily see there was none by common consent and the Princes avow What Montgomery for commiseration or love of private men especially strangers can get is hard and I fear by the event will not appear so much as is thought and spoken of and were expedient at this time
if any great thing should be done Scotland is very well come forward to an universall agrement sith Duâ—Crocque and Viraque went away The Duke and Earle of Huntly be come in from them and all their followers to acknowledge the King and his Regent None holds out but Grange and Liddington who keep the Castle The King and the Lord Regent not being able for fair means to get them to the unity of the whole Realm offering unto them all reasonable conditions that they can demand so that they will leave the Castle and to keep no longer Edenburgh which is the London and Paris of Scotland in subjection unto them yet cannot be heard and therefore is required of the Queens Majesty to bring them to order the which the Queen may do for any league treaty or promise heretofore made and so I think will do if there be no remedy Du Viraque who is thought to be sent to keep them still in dissention by good hap and contrary winds was driven with six ships of Scotland into Scarbrough-Haven stayed there by there by the Lord President In the mean while was the Duke and the Earl agreed with the Regent and the Scotish Ships departed He is now thought to be in the way to come to London for so my Lord president appointed but not yet come A man of his taken in Scotland hath confessed that he was sent back under another pretence to cast into the Sea the most part of his writitings the which he did which declareth good plain dealing The Lo. Leviston is now come to London pretending his desire to have his Conscence at liberty but not yet trusted that he meaneth the quiet of Scotland words have escaped him and his Companions by the way which have not fallen to the ground Farewell from Greenwich the nineteenth of March 1572. Your assured friend Tho. Smith To my very loving friend Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador for her Majesty with the French King SIR your letters brought to me were of the 11 of March dated at St. Cloud and the next former were of the 25 of February for which I thank you that you do so carefully advertise me of the state of things as I find you have done when I have been more answerable then now I can be The reason of my frequent absence is the intervall of times when here I am no less mindfull of your causes both such as belong to her Majesty and such as belong to your self then any other to my power is or can be and even now on Wednesday last her Majesty hath signed all things meet to revoke you and to send another in your place wherein I know you haue found cause to think the time long and so have your friends been lately grieved with it but I trust now to see you shortly to your contentation You shall understand that the French Ambassador hath of late time been very earnest with her Majestie in certain causes as first in offering by all good speeches the continuance of the Amitie and with complaining as grievously that the Q. Majesties offering of Montgomery to be aided as he is with mony c. must needs move the â—ing to think his Amity contemned And with some sweet minatories he intrated that he might be staied c. He also reneweth the marriage matter and thereto requireth a resolute answer as a thing necessary to be ended the one way or the other for honor of all parties He also hath seemed greatly offended with the stay of Viraque at Scarborough He hath made suit that for the Queen of Scots some ther in France meaning two or three might come hither to bring the said Queen money and account of her Estate In the end came hither an Agent named Chasteau Neuf from the Camp afore Rochel his coming was as we perceive to disswade Montgomery from going to Rochel but he brought loving letters to her Majesty from M. le Duc. To these things briefly you shall know the Answers His offers of Amity have been thankfully accepted and it hath been told him that his Majesty is more bound to the Queens Majesty for her perseverance then any other upon like cause For though it be manifestly seen and fully discovered by such as are arrived in Scotland out of France having been dealers with the King in France and others there how the King is disposed against the Queens Majesty and this Realm to offend it when his own troubled causes shall be setled and how he persecuteth the Protestants being of the Queens Religion yet her Majesty hath resolved to persevere in her League meaning first to see the breach come indeed first from the French King then she doubteth not by Gods Grace to preserve her and her Realm whereunto she also findeth all her people so willing to withstand all forces force as she hath much ado to detain them from adventuring in great numbers to pass to Rochel of their own charges and those are not of the popular but Noblemen and Gentlemen of Ancient and great livelihoods who surely have offered of their own charges to finde an Army of 20000 footmen and 2000 horsemen for six months in Gascoyn and so earnest they have been that it is already known to themselves both where the men are to be had and the money onely they desire but a permission and truely her Majesty hearing hereof hath shewed her self much offended herewith and with great charge for fear of her indignation of the same the Ambassador confessed he had understanding whereupon he was constrained to confess how much his Master was bound unto her Majestie All this you may notifie unto the King and amplifie it for it is true and meet to be uttered As for the stay of Montgomery it was said that he desired to depart the Realm considering her Majesty refused to aid him and therefore her Majesty thought it a cruel part to stay him whom she was not disposed to aid And for his manner of departure the Ambassador could tell how much he was grieved with that her Majesty had caused all such as were on the Sea for him and Rochel to be apprehended and all that which they had taken from other the French Kings subjects to be restored as indeed the like general speedy restitution hath not been made in my time so as therewith also the King hath cause to commend her Majesties observation of the League For the Marriage her Majesty caused me privately to confer with the Ambassador and her Majesty hath willed me to let him know that you shall make the Answer and yet he shall be acquainted with it and so this it is her Majesty would have you to let the King and his Mother understand that she cannot accord to take any person to her husband whom she shall not first see Secondly she cannot assent that any person which shall be her husband shall with her Authority and assent use any manner of Religion in outward exercise that is
in her Conscience contrary and repugnant to the direct word of Almighty God and so consequently prohibited by the Laws of the Realm whereupon these two Consequences do necessarily follow that in this case of Marriage with Monsieur de Duc if he will obtain her his wife without sight of him her Majesty cannot be had and yet therein hâ—r Majesty is very loath that he shoâ—ld think that she desireth his coming but as himself shall finde it meet by the advise of the King his brother and the Queen mother to whom she remitteth the consideration hereof with this assurance that she meaneth in good faith to marry with him if upon his sight the one may like of the other and that for the cause of Religion as he and she may so accord as that which he shall demand be assented unto without offence of her Conscience or without trouble of her Estate and that that point of Religion is thought meetest to be left at large to be communed upon betwixt themselves so as if it should mishap that one of them might not fully like of the other as to a conclusion of marriage that the refusal or breaking up might be imputed the cause of Religion and so either party might honorably be discharged to the world and no occasion grow thereby of unkindness betwixt them This is the substance of her Majesties resolution whereof to make the Ambassador here privy she seemeth not to mislike thereof and in the end concluded with me that she took this course to be agreeable to the same resolution which was delivered at Killingworth the last of August to him and La Mott. And so I think it in substance the same whereof I do herewith send to you the last two Articles of that Answer in French as then it was given to which news you may refer this new Answer And now to add of mine own you shall understand that I see the imminent perils to this State and namely how long soever she shall by course of nature live and Reign the success of this Crown so manifestly uncertain or rather so manifestly prejudicious for the State of Religion that I cannot but still persist in seeking for marriage for her Majestie and finding no way that is liking to her but this with the Duke I do force my self to pursue it with desire and do flatter my fancie with imaginations that if he should come hither her Majesty would not refuse him and for his Religion methinks if he may be otherwise liked he would not lose a Queen with a Kingdom for a Priests blessing of a Chalice I cannot imagine that his Religion is rooted that it may not be transported Now if I am deceived yet for the time it easeth me to imagine that such a sequel may follow but you have cause better to guess hereat then I for I guess at nothing but at the Queens Majesties disposition which I take firmly to be bent to marriage but you on the other part may guess whether he may be liked whether he may be induced to be qualified in his Religion yea whether his marriage be meant seriously and sincerely on that part and upon these conceits you have cause to imagine more certainly what ought to be looked for or desired then I can But now turning my paper I will leave and end this matter praying you heartily to impart unto me your conceit herein if thereby you see cause to stay my course you see how long I have tarried in this matter for the rest of the point for Viracques sending for me to come to the Scottish Queen and for the matters of Scotland I doubt not but Mr. Secretary hath enlarged his knowledg therein to you And for more surety because at the writing hereof he is gone into Essex I will upon the closing up of my Letter impart by speech some part thereof to this bearer Walter Williams to excuse me of longer writing Notwithstanding Gordens denyal to be privy to the Book lewdly augmented with a blasphemous Prologue I understand out of Scotland that he is therewith well acquainted wherefore I pray you search it better out and let me understand what is now become thereof And thus I end on Good-Friday at night the 20 of March 1572. Your assured loving friend Wâ— Burleigh Response de la Roigne d'Angle au Sr. de la Mott Fenelon Amb. du Roy tres-chrestien Fait par Mr. Le Grand Tresorier le 18 Marc. 1573. QUe se Maj. voyant que le Roy tres-christien son bon frere la Royne sa me re perseuerent en le honeste desir de demander son alliance encores que de puis le mois de Aoust dernier plusieurs choses soient entrevennes de la costè par les quelles ell ' a une grande occasion de ne suiure le propos Neant moins a le prochas elle returne maintenant aux mesmes termes on les choses en estoient demâ—ures le 20 du dit mois d' Aoust lors que elle seant en son conâ—eil a Kellingworth present le Sr. de la Mott fist une forme de response au dit Sr. Ambas suivant la quelle elle dit de noveau Que pour le bien de ses subjectes lesquels monstrent de preveoir beaucoup de grandes dangiers en ce Royaume si elle les de laisse sans quelque lignèe prouvenant de elle et sans successeur a fin de les satesfaire quelle est firmement resolue de se marier de quelque bon et grand lieu selon elle si elle peult trouver quelqu'n qui à elle et son estate soit convenable Et sur le offre que les Maj. tres-christienes luy font de Mr. le Duc d' Alanson le frere et fils elle trouve que la partie est fort honorable si toutes autres choses y peâ—vent convenir dont estime qu'il en consiste une bonne partie en l'enterveüe d'eux deux tant a cause de l'inequalite de lâ—aage que pour le rapport que ceux qui ont veu M. le Duâ— ont fait de son visage a fin de veoir s'ily aura mutuel consentement entre â—ux Car ainsi at elle tousiours respondu a toutes autres Princes qui l'ont recerché ce qu'un chascun scait bien que beaucoup ont faict qu â—elle ne achepteroit jamais aucun pour mary si elle ne lâ—eust primierement veue Que neant moins pour le miscontentement et autres displaisirs que pourroient succeder de la dit entreveâ—e si d'adventure les choses ne sortient a effect â—t craignant pour cela quelque diminution d'amitie en lieu qu'elle la veut augmenter elle ne scait que desirer la dessus advis remettant a les Maj. tres-christienes le â—it point d' entreveue scachant trop bien qu'elles ne consillerent
that there are bruits given out here to the contrary but I hope Madam the King and you rest satisfied if your Ambassador hath made you truly acquainted with her Majesties proceedings To that she answered that the King and she was to think themselves beholding to her Majesty notwithstanding that they would have wished that Montgomery had not received at her Majesties subjects hands that he doth though we know that Inhibition is made by her Majesty to the contrary I then shewed her that to the end she might understand how much she was beholding to my Mistris I would with her leave make her privy to such reasons as might have moved any other Prince but my Mistris who is consequently bent to make good Amity with them to yield to C. Montgomory all assistance First I shewed her that divers of her subjects of great quality courage and likelihood had laid before her Majestie sundry reasons to induce her to think that the fire lately kindled in France to the ruine of those of the Religion there if through Gods goodness it be not quenched is also so meant that it shall extend towards her saying that if she forbear to support them and suffer them to quaile she would be the cause of her own ruine and of her Realm besides laying before her danger they have laid before her also honor and profit and have shewed her that now is the time for her to recover such Provinces in this Countrey as appertain to the Crown of England And for the better incouragement have offered her to finde her an Army of 20000 footmen and 2000 horsemen for the space of six months Further I shewed her that late it hath been discovered by such as are in Scotland arrived out of France having been dealers with her Majestie and others here how they are disposed when their own troubled causes shall be setled to attempt somewhat against her Majestie Lastly I shewed her how her Majestie hath been put in minde how little account is had of the recommendations heretofore made by her and the Princes of Germanie of those of the Religion here seeing them persecuted with such extremity contrary to the assurance given by their Majesties unto such their Ministers as did recommend them which may give just cause to think her Amity is little esteemed All these courses notwithstanding which would move any other Prince such is her affection towards this Crown as she is fully resolved to persevere in her League meaning first indeed to see the breach come from the King and then she doubteth not in Gods goodness but that she shall preserve her self and her Realm against him or any other Prince that shall attempt any thing against her finding all her subjects most willing to withstand all forraign forces whatsoever is given out by certain Rebels To this she answered that she knew by advertisement come from the Ambassador that there was great sollicitation made by her subjects as also great offers and that therefore they acknowledged themselves much beholding to her Majestie for her intention to persevere in good Amity Now whereas you say there hath been discovered by certain apprehended in Scotland some intention of ours to disquiet her Majestie I protest saith she that both the King and I know of no such matter and that the parties that so do say do belieâ— us What Commission they have received from others of this Realm I know not but if it may be proved that they have received any they that have given them Commission shall receive such punishment as the Q. your Mistris can desire Our intention saith she touching the matters of Scotland was never other then to perswade them to accord and to acknowledge the â—ueens Majâ—sty their Mistris for their Governor To this I replyed in so doing they break the League for that it was contrary to that which vvas concluded in the same for that it vvas agreed that neither the one nor the other should give Lavv unto Scotland but should joyn in maintenance of that Government That they among themselves should agree upon to be most for their safety vvhich thing may give my â—istris just occasion to suspect that vvhich is discovered in Scotland the rather to be true Then she seeming to be sorry that she uttered so much that she could do no less but say somevvâ—t to recommend her câ—use 〈◊〉 the allyance and yet vvished any accord rather thâ—n they shâ—uld â—â—strâ—y one anoâ—her Upon this occasion she fell in to some purpose about the staying of Viracque and said that it vvas strange Ambassadors should be stayed vvho vvere alvvays persons priviledged vvithin the Dominions of their Confederates To that I ansvvered that it mighâ— seem more strange to the Queen my Mris. considering that it vvas agreed that the matters in Scotland should be treated in common that any should be sent secretly thither her Majesty not being made privy thereof vvhich gave her Majesty a great occasion to suspect that vvhich vvas discovered by certain taken in Scotland to be true seeing such dealing under hand the Queen my Mistris said I wâ—s rather perswaded that Viracque had been sent over by some of this Realm who envyed the good between the two Crowns then by the King and therefore shall be sorry to hear him be avowed to be his Minister To this she answered That the Queen my Mistris had been made acquainted of their intention to send Viâ—acqâ—e long since by their Ambassador to the end to joyn with Mr. Kâ—llegrew in the treaty of accord I told her that I thought that they should finde their Ambassador had failed to let her Majestie understand so much for that as I am informed she understood nothing of his going thither until such time as she heard of his stâ—y And as for his stay Madam quoth I though he avows himself to be the Kings Ambassador yet her Majesty hath given order throughâ—ut all her pâ—rts that all her persons whatsoever they pretend unless they be notoriously known to be Merchants or have pasports or safe-Conduct shall not onely be staied but also sent up to the Court and therefore this stay being generally upon good consideration considering the present state of Europe neither he nor any other that either hath been or shall be stayed can complain of any violating of any privi edge c. that appertaineth to any Ambassador She seemed to be very much intangled with this matter and had not therefore much to say for the staying of him Afterwards falling into Montgomeries matter I declared to her Majesty also at large how much he was aggrieved with that her Majesty had caused all such as were on the Seas for him and Rochel to be apprehended and all that which they had taken from others the French Kings subjects to be restored and that with such speed as the like speedy and general restitution hath not been in my time heretofore Whereby said I your Majesty hath just occasion to commend her Majesties
by Merchants of France with the English Merchants for money to be given for salt c. Hereof the Ambassador desireth that you will inform the King that his report may accord with the same We do also stay the Lord Levingstone for like respect as we do Viracque And thus I â—nd not doubting but Mr-Secretary writeth of other common things Yours assuredly William Burleigh Iames Fitz-morice the Rebel with all his sequel submitted himself to Sir Iohn Parrot in Ireland so that all Munster is free from Rebellion Here hâ—th been a murther committed about Shooters-hill somewhat to the reproof of this place and herein I have used such care as the party is taken being one Brown an Irish man who had served and is put from my Lord of Oxfords seruice To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador Resident for her Majestie in France SIr now cometh your Successor so long desired I doubt not but both for his own comfort that he may willingly enter into that charge which for the Queens Majesties service you will sufficiently instruct him how he shall best serve and therein so deal with him And if in conference you find any rawness and imperfection you do not forbear but like a Tutor teach him to inform for so I know he shall be greatly bound to you and so it is necessary Let him also understand whom he may trust and so to use them that it good will and conscience be they take no harm wherein I have straitly charged him to be religious Procure the Queen Mother to think well of him I am very fearful that he shall do well for many causes but for none more then to avoid the Queens Majesties displeasure which I am assured of for that I did chuse him to relieve you If he should not content her Majestie in this service he hath required me that you would give leave and perswade that your Secretary might continue with him a while Now I end because he is going From London the first of April 1572. Yours assuredly William Burleigh By the QUEEN To our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Francis Walsingham our Ambassador Resident with our good Brother the French King ELIZABETH R. TRusty and well-beloved we greet you well Whereas you often made suit unto us to be revoked from that charge albeit we could have been well pleased that you should have tarried there still for the great sufficiency that we know in you and the faithful and discreet handling for our service yet we have thought good at your friends requests and desires for your return to yield unto your suit And therefore we let you wot That seeing you are so desirous to return home we have made choice of our trustie and well-beloved Valentine Dale Doctor of the Law and one of our Masters of the Requests extraordinarie this bearer to be your Successor there and to that end have written our Letters to the King our good brother and to the Queen Mother Wherefore our pleasure is That you do not onely repair with him unto them with the delivery of our said Letters but also before your departure from thence participate unto him all your instructions and such other things as you shall think meet and expedient for him to know for the furtherance of our service And also as you can bring him acquainted with those by whom he may have best understanding of that Court and the affairs necessary for us to be known And that you do leave with him such vessel plate and other furniture that you have of ours taking his writing under his hand and seal of the receit of the same for your discharge These things done we are pleasedâ— that you make your repair unto us with some convenient speed as you shall think meet Given under our Signet at our Mannor of Richmond the nineteenth of March 1572. in the fifteenth year of our Reign Response faicte aux Messieurs les Ambassadeur de France 20 August 1573. PRemierement que le Message qu'a este envâ—yé d'icy a l'Amb de la Royne resident en France on a esté mal rapporté on mal entendu par le dict Ambassadeur Car il ne s'accorde pas avec ce qu'en a esté faict dans les Lettres du Roy treschrestiâ—n escripts a son Ambassadeur En ce seroyt vrayment une grande absurdité si sa Majeste premierement a son Ambassadeur eust mandé dire qu'il estoit impossible que le mariage eust en effect et puis apres incontinent eust demandé ou parlé d'une entreveue vray est que par les premiers le dit Ambassadeur avoit charge de dire que pour la difference des aages sa Majeste trouve la chose fort difficile de'accorder tel mariage Et que pour raison de cés difficultés son entendement ne se pouvoit de faire de doubtes qu'on y trouvoit si ne se pouvoit trouver quelque aide expedient pour recompense Et ce fut la somme des premieres Lettres comme il pourroit apparoistre par la copie Les secondes que suyvoyent les aide incontinent apres avoyent cecy en somme a l'Ambassadeur qu'il avoit en charge de dire que sa Majeste voyant la continuelle sollicitation du Roy et de la Royne mere du Roy en ce cas de marriage Et mesmes plus fresches Lettre bayllees par l'Ambassadeur du dit Sr Roy environ le 23 Iuin a la maison de Monsieur Tresorier trouve bon apres avoir escript sa premiere lettre de adjouster encores cecy a la seconde a finde fairâ— apparoistre l'esgard qu'elle avoit des asâ—iduelles requestes du dit Sr. Roy. Cest quelle trouve deux principax empeschements entre aultres l'une la cause de la Religion se pourroit remedier par quelque conformitâ— procedant du Duc mesme Ainsi l'autre pourroit sembler estre difficile plust osten opinion qu'en substance Et qu'anssi elle veoit pour le plus souvent que rien ne governe pluâ— aux mariges ou doibt bien considerer comment une pourroit estre agreeable a l autre que de satisfaire leurs opinions par la veüe de l'un et l'autre especialement en ce cas icy considerant que ceulx que ont veâ— le Duc n'osent affirmer s'il pourroit estre agreeable ou non a sa Majeste combien qu en plusieurs choses ils se prisent fort semblablement sa Majeste y adjouste encores pour estre aussi declaré par son Ambassadeur que d'autant quelle pensoit cecy estre chose qu'on luy accorderent pas facilement combien toutesfois qu'on l uy a faict personage d'aussi grand estat qu est le Duc D Alanâ—on quelle le remectoit a la consideration du dit Roy et Royne dont elle luy donne charge de dire qu'elle n'avoit pensé d'en faire
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
meet to impart unto her Majestie with such Letters as I do presently send unto her for that I know her Majestie doth look that I should reserve something to be imparted to her self The Vice-Count of Turayne a Gentleman very dear unto Monsieur for many respects and one whose advice he doth use in matters of great trust did let me understand the morning I departed that now the matter of marriage seemed to stand in doubtfull tearms they are in very great doubt this War which Monsieur doth now embrace is in danger to quail for two reasons The one for that the King by whom the action is to be countenanced if any good success be to be looked for in that doubting lest her Majestie will draw her neck out of the Collar after that he hath once broken with the King of Spain whereof he is very jealous will undoubtedly leave Monsieur in the Briers when he shall see so little hope in the marriage which he only reputeth as the surest bond for the inviolable observation of the intended association against the King of Spain The other for that divers who now offer to assist Monsieur both with money and otherwise for the advancement of this enterprise in hope that the marriage should have taken place whereby he shall be able to satisfie them hereafter seeing his principal support likely to fail him by these means will also withdraw their helping hands from him and then he shall be constrained with dishonour and loss of his reputation to relinquish the action He did then let me understand that hitherto he had received no help nor assistance from the King his brother as by Sir Henry Cobham was advertised and that his only support was procured to him by the Queen his mother but the same so small as it was not of any moment to the purpose of that he wanteth And therefore he prayed me to consider of the matter as of a thing of great weight and importance and herein the Queen my Mistress saith he was her self not a little interessed being likely that if the Duke shall abandon the enterprise of the King of Spain her professed enemy having none to oppose themselves against him he is likely by mans judgement very shortly to become an absolute Conqueror which of what consequence it was likely to fall out for her Majestie all men of judgement were able to look into besides the danger of some enterprise likely to be set abroach for the revenging of civil troubles within this Realm if the action go not forward which will fall out very ill for those of the Religion being at this present reduced to a very weak estate by reason of their late rendring of their Towns of assurances All which inconveniences were likely to ensue without some present support from her Majestie which he thought might be performed with the loan of 100000 Duckets wherewith Monsieur should be able not only to relieve the Town of Cambray but also to keep the field three months together and yet notwithstanding his great want and the weight and importance of the cause cannot he be perswaded himself to become a suitor to her Majestie for such a supply for that being fully perswaded to prosecute constantly the matter of the match he thinketh this request would hinder his purpose therein fearing lest he should therein give her Majestie occasion to think that he sought the match to another end then by him was meant These speeches the Vice-Count delivered unto me as if himself without Commission as he said from Monsieur though for my part I did not think but that it was done with his privity requesting me very earnestly I would effectually recommend the motion of the supplying of Monsieur with the said sum for the setting forward of his enterprise wherein he said the cause required present resolution lest for lack of support the enterprise should be given over and thereupon desired to know in what time that I hoped to have answer I shewed him within ten daies he did assure me that the Duke would accept in better part the loan of 100000 Duckets now then if her Majestie should freely give him a million at another time so earnestly doth he embrace this enterprise of the Low-Countries and therefore said he to have his necessity relieved at this present through her Majesties goodness should bind the young Prince to remain continually at her devotion and to do her alwaies what service he might This in substance was the speech the Vice-Count delivered me he seemed to be greatly perplexed that the enterprise should stand upon so doubtfull terms considering what did depend thereon The Chancellor and the rest of his Councel did very much doubt the issue of the matter for lack of support being otherwise furnished with such forces as they doubt not shall be able to over-match the enemy so that by paying of them they might be kept under discipline which otherwise the army being compounded of voluntaries they fear will be subject to infinite and most dangerous disorders her Majestie I doubt not considering how greatly the yielding of support importeth her will take some such like resolution therein as the weight of the cause meriteth Besides if it so touch not her Majestie in surety as it doth yet the Duke well deserving of her Highness which is as great as ever any Prince did shew by effect require some Princely consideration of this present necessity especially her Majestie having by her late Letters put him in comfort thereof when any just occasion should be offered wherein to employ her as well for the satisfaction of the Vice-Count as that the cause it self requireth it I pray your Lordship that I may receive speedy resolution herein Having thus far proceeded in this Letter being departed to a place called Carlay about ten Leagues distant from Fere I received the inclosed from Queen Mother by the which as your Lordship may perceive she desired me if I were not departed or 〈…〉 to return back again Whereupon I thought good in hope thaâ— by 〈◊〉 I should be able to receive some such 〈◊〉 as might lead me to judge what would be the issue of those things 〈…〉 committed to 〈◊〉 charge to 〈…〉 bearer So according to her request being returned hither yesterday I had 〈◊〉 yesternight to repair unto her this moâ—ning by eight of the â—â—ock where at the time of my access after I 〈◊〉 made her acquainted with the substance of my châ—â—ge touching the Kings three Propositions propounded to her Majesties Ambassador and Mr. 〈◊〉 and her Majesties several answers to the same with such 〈…〉 did induce her to resolve as she 〈◊〉 â—he did then 〈◊〉 unto me that the 〈◊〉 her son being very desirous to know her Majestâ—â—◠〈◊〉 touching the 〈◊〉 especially the Duke his brother being so 〈◊〉 forth 〈◊〉 as he was in the enterprise of the Low 〈◊〉 being 〈◊〉 within eight 〈…〉 of the enemy and the most part of his 〈…〉 assembled thoughâ— good
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
marriage as though the marriage should serve for all this charge and thereto her Majestie with some sharpness of speech added that she knew and saw it now true that the Queen Mother in counsel had before pronounced that if the marriage could be concluded the Queen of England should be put to the whole charges This is the substance of that I can wring from her for that she saith until she hear from you of your Negotiaon with the Kâ—she hath nothing here to 〈◊〉 of But she wished me to write to you as before is mentioned and she meaneth also to write some letters to Monsieur to give him some comfort as I think Marchemont had Letters and as I hear by report the contents are a report of your dealings and of Monsieurs resolute answers to you that the King his brother would in no sort consent to any thing without the marriage and so they stand like good Chapmen without falling in their bargain from the principal but by this time you can best judge what will follow The Queens Majestie asked me whether if in no letter from you to me you had recommended Monsieurs wisdom I said by no express speech I marvel thereof quoth she for to me in this letter he doth greatly commend him and so did by reading pronounce very great commendation of him by you but I saw not the words written I answered that always you above any other of her servants had ever commended him most I pray you remember to send â—s a Callender of Monsieurs Captains and Leaders with the numbers likely of all sorts and what his monethly pay may be in charge and how he hath been furnished of money towards this leavy I am sorry to see so large a time spent from the beginning of his preparations until this time and yet I think far off to put in execution that which he pretendeth I fear the Queen Mother finding the marriage desperate will practice with the Duke of Parma to withdraw his siege and that the Town may be relieved and so Monsieurs Honour saved and thereupon Monsieur may leave his general enterprize wherewith the Spaniards ought to be contented For thereby shall they have their wills in the Low-Countreys and so also the Queen Mother may save her son free from gun-shot and put up all her pretences and live without offence to the King of Spain Thus much of the French matters From Ireland I have not heard but once since you went which was by a letter from Waterhouse that the Lord Gray had advertised them they should send no victuals into Odonels Countrey but onely to Carlinfoord For when the Lord Gray came to the Black-water Tirch fled breaking his two Castles and sent my Lord Gray word that he would be at peace with Odonel and all others by his Lordships order Whereupon the Lord Gray sent Justice Dowdal to him to treat hereupon but more I have not heard My Lord of Ormond findeth himself greatly grieved upon his discharge not as he saith for his discharge but that he hath been wronged in not advertising how great prizes he hath done In Scotland the King pretendeth to keep Amity yet by Ashton secretly I learn that he will be wholly guided by her Majestie whereof she conceiveth hope I pray God she be not deceived therein and hereby I fear her Majestie will be the flower to hearken to the assistance with France and yet her Maj. uttereth not to me these Scotish matters but I learn them otherwise The Lord of Huntley is arived in Scotland and offered to Lord Ferihurst is fully restored and both these well accepted with the King We have gotten from Campian knowledge of all his peregrination in England as in Yorkshire Lancash Denbigh Northampton Warwick Bedford Buckingham c. hereof I am sure Mr. Beal will write unto you who hath herein with Mr. Hamon taken great pains We have sent for his hosts in all Countreys And thus I end doubting I shall weaâ—y you with reading as I am almost with writing This tenth of August 1581. Your assured loving Friend William Burleigh To the Right Honourable and my very good Friend Sir Francis Walsingham SIr after I had yesternight being Thursday written and sealed up my Letters I understand lately that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath informed her Majestie that Monsieur found himself greatly discontented with the manner of dealing with him in making the marriage so desperate as it seemed to him you came of purpose to break it and onely to sollicit the league with the K. upon which matter this forenoon her Majestie told me that she misliketh of your manner of proceedings as though you did not express the causes why she could consent to no marriage but abruptly shewed that she would not marry and so forthwith to deal with Monsieur for a league To this I made answer Madam it is to be seen in Mr. Secretaries Letters to me which I read to you that he did so proceed to open your mind for forbearing to marry as your self did determine with us all and as he is warranted by your instructions for Madam he did not say that you would not marry with him but that as the case standeth he being entred into a war you found it not good either for him or your self to assent to the marriage for so by your marriage your Realm joyntly with your marriage should enter into a war so as your speeches according to your instructions were not absolute to deny the marriage but to shew that the marriage could not content her subjects with a war joyned therewith and so using as many reasons as I could I ended that I could not see that you had done any thing but that I my self in your place would have done the same And I did put her Majestie in remembrance that all her resolutions with us of her Councel was that you should so deal as to acquit her of the marriage and if there might be a good amity made and by a league betwixt France and this Realm to abate the King of Spains greatness vvhich I did object required a present action and to that end you should so proceed as there might appear no hope of marriage For as long as France could perceive any hope thereof they would not assent to any league To this her Majestie could not but assent but finally she changed her opinion in saying that if she should make a league whereby a war might follow she said she had rather be at the charges of a war with the marriage then without a marriage But saith she let Walsingham know my minde to be this that I would gladly enter into a league with the French King onely with these conditions that if I were invaded he should help me and if he were inwaded I would help him and so to abate the King of Spains greatness She said she would concur with the French King to do that by aiding of Monsieur and also the King of
to do and then prayed us all again particularly as he had done before thereto I the Secretary said that her Majestie should be speedily advertised of this his Answer and request praying his Majestie that because these other things required speedy resolution and among other the case of Don Anthonio it would please him to deliver his pleasure so soon as might be whereunto he consented Then we went to the Queen his mother being in her Chamber where I the Secretary remembring unto her what had passed between her and me before and how I had at this time proceeded with the King and what answer his Majestie had made I prayed her to procure the Kings resolution therein with speed which she promised she would do this was the effect of our Negotiation at this time whereof we have thought meet to advertise her Majestie in the mean time until we may further understand of the Kings Deputies how other things will be answered and offered to be treated upon And so we take our leave of your Lordship from Paris this tenth of August 1581. Your Lordships to Command Fr. Walsingham Henry Cobham Iohn Sommers To the Right Honorable my good friend Sir Francis Walsingham SIR Your servant Watson brought hither at dinner time this day being Sunday the thirteenth your Letters that is your common Letter dated the tenth from you the ordinary Ambassador and Master Sommers containing your Negotiation with the French King and your private Letter dated the eleventh with another of your own to her Majestie and one from Pinart as her Majestie informed me by the Treaty with the King it seemeth the King refuseth not to have a Treaty of streighter Amity and yet he carpeth upon the marriage by your Letter to her Majestie as she telleth me you think there may be a Treaty without the marriage but not without charge And therein her Majestie saith she had as good be as charge with a marriage as without and therefore she hath again willed me to write unto you That if Monsieurs action may be continued towards the Low-Countries she can be content to be at some reasonable charge by Contribution with the French King to maintain the same so it be underhand to bring her into no war otherwise she will not you shall consent without making her privy and having her answer and for a Treaty offensive and defensive she can also be content therewith but not thereby directly to enter into a war in this sort she hath willed me expresly to write unto you not allowing any Argument to the contrary whereof I made divers and those apparant necessary for by these means the King of Spains greatness shall grow to such ripeness as hereafter no open force shall withstand it And it is not likely that the French King will aide his brother which he cannot to any purpose do secretly where her Majestie will do it but underhand For the matter mentioned by the Viscount Turraign both my Lord of Leicester and I have dealâ— very earnestly with her and she hath answered my Lord of Leicester that she hath given a full order to you for the same but by me she answereth that you know her meaning to be that if the French King shall not ayd his Brother she will not see him abandoned But I desired to know how she would ayd him and the Viscounts motion importeth both necessity and speed to be relieved she answereth that until she may hear from you what the French King will do for his brother she will answer no more particularly This evening she willed me to advertise you that she is in great doubt that the Queen mother will induce Monsieur to leave the enterprise of Cambray with an intention to compass the marriage and then she saith if the marriage shall not follow Monsieur shall be dishonored and the King of Spain shall prosper hereof she commanded me to write to you that you should have thereof good regard In this sort I am commanded to write unto you but in what sort you shall deal to remedy this inconvenience neither by her Majestie can I direct you nor of my self can I inform you but I know you will do your best as the place and time shall serve and more cannot be required Her Majestie would have Master Sommers to return and so she willed me to signifie her pleasure and yet I told her that he was in Commission and might hardly be spared but yet she commanded me so to write if his being there cannot be spared you may do well to write so otherwise I do leave the matter to your consideration I know it will greatly grieve you not to have a good Answer to the matter for the Loan moved by the Viscount but surely all means are used here to help but none prevail as yet The Letter written from Master Cobham the ninth of August consisted on two points very contrary the first shewed the French Kings allowance to have Don Anthonies case furthered here as also it was there The second contained matter of great appearance that Monsieur should be withdrawn from offending of Spain and contrariwise to marry which two points cannot concur Master Beal hath the ciphered Letter of Twyns to procure to be interpreted but as yet it is not done and so with my paper I end From Greenwich the 13 of August 1581. Yours assured William Burleigh To the Right Honourable and my very good Friend Sir Francis Walsingham SIR since my writing yesternight though the Letters be not gone yet her Majestie by way of repetition hath willed me again to warn you that you be not overtaken with this that her Majestie doubteth that the Queen mother will withdraw Monsieur from the Low-Countries actions meaning thereby to obtain the marriage which her Majestie cannot allow in any sort to have the action left how you shall be able to order this you must there seek the way For ayding of Monsieur these are her Majesties words that if you finde the King not willing to support his brother rather then the action shall fail you shall say that her Majestie will not see him destitute but the sum she will not name till she hear from you we are desirous to hear how the King will deal to ayd Don Anthonio for her Majestie here is in such a suspence as at this present the journey stayeth namely because besides her 5000. l. there is demanded 2500. l. more which she will not yield and neither Drake nor Hawkins will go onward further and upon some scruples Mr. Bingham York Fenton and Ward do forbear her Majestie saith you know some cause why Mr. York should not be trusted She speaketh of a practisement by him in the Thames mouth whereof she hath willed me to write to you that you should call it to memory I renewed my opinion that you could not spare Mr. Sommers whereunto she answered that if you could not you should do as you thought best although she said she would
her understand that Monsieur should give over the enterprise of Flanders for that they saw it was an impediment to the marriage that she should be loth considering how much it would touch him in honour and how dangerous it would be for them of the Low-Countries in case he should give over the same that her marriage should be accompanied with so dolorous effects And as she did then protest upon the overture made to give over the enterprise so we her ministers seeing the danger that might gâ—ow many wayes by the intended Treaty with the Prince of Parma serving better for the suffering of the King of Spain to grow to his greatness then for the relief of the poor afflicted in that Country could not in reason and our particular opinions having no Commission to deale therein see any likelihood that the same might take any good effect And therefore prayed them that unless they saw some other cause that might move them to take that course they would forbeâ—â— so to do This matter did minister unto us argument for the space of two houres at the least which for avoiding tediousness we think meet to omit And iâ— the end grew to this conclusion with them that either it would please them that we might proceed in the said Treaty or else that they would procure us audience that we might understand from the Kings own mouth the revocation of that he had assented unto letting them also understand that we did mean presently to advertise her Majestie of this change to the end that thereupon she might give order for the stay of the Ships prepared for Don Anthonio being well assured that her Majestie upon this alteration would forbear any further proceeding therein which we did the rather to let them understand for that it might provoke them to perswade the King to maintain his former resolution Whereupon they withdrawing themselves apart did afterwards let us understand that they would make report unto the King of that which had passed between us and in the mean time did earnestly pray us that we would forbear to advertise her Majestie as also not to disswade the going forward of the support appointed for Don Anthonio whereunto after most earnest request made by them we did assent with condition That we might receive answer by ten of the clock the next day and therein we did the more willingly yield for that they did put us in hope that we should receive answer from the King to our contentment The next day Monsieur de la Mot Buâ—zar and Pinart came to us and told us that the rest of their Colleagues and they had communicated with the King the Negotiation passed the day before between them and us and that they had remembred to his Majestie his Speech delivered unto us which we conceived to be this That he was pleased to appoint some to Treat with us touching a 〈◊〉 Amity to be had with her Majestie seeing there were such difficulties that did accompany the marriage That his Majestie answered That the alteration grew upon two causes the one of a motion made to him by me the Secretary for a further prolongation of certain daies to conserve the validity of the reservation the last prolongation being to expire within a day or two which motion gave him hope that the marriage might take effect The other upon a request made by Du. Uray in the name of the Duke his brother that the League in no case might be proceeded in without the Marriage which the King seeing the matter touched so greatly his brother in affection and honour could not deny his request And to the end he might understand his further mind therein he thought good to send Pinart unto him out of hand to acquaint him what had passed hitherto in the matter since our last audience upon whose return we should then understand the Kings further pleasure praying us in the mean time to have patience and to interpret the Kings answer touching the alteration in good part assuring us that this delay would rather further then hinder the matter we sought To these two allegations I the Secretary did reply That as for the first concerning my motion for a further prolongation the same grew only upon this that understanding as well by Monsieur as by the King himself and Queen Mother that their meaning was that the pursuit of the Marriage should be pursued still in hope that her Majestie might in time remove by her wisdom those difficulties for the which she could not presently for divers important causes proceed in the same I thought good for the more validity of the reservation to propound a further prolongation thereof considering that the last was to expire within two or three daies and therefore the King could take no just cause upon any motion to revoke his former resolution And as for the second concerning a request of Du Urayes made in the Duke his Masters name for the stay of the said Treaty unless it might be accompanied with marriage I alleadged that it seemed very unlikely that at the Queen mothers being with the Duke which was two daies after Du Uray was sent from the said Duke unto the King he propounded no such request unto her for the stay of the Treaty for if he had it was likely she would have acquainted the King withall and thereupon his Majestie would have framed his answer accordingly Which we finding not to fall out so cannot but greatly marvel at this change whereunto they replyed that though the Queen mother had indeed charged Du. Uray therewith yet he insisted still upon the same as a matter he had received in commandment from the Duke his Master and could not dispence with it without order from him We then finding by them that we could not prevail to induce them to assent to proceed to the Treaty untill they heard from the Duke thought good to forbear any further pressing of the matter and to attend Mr. Pinarts return and to the end we might know Monsieurs intent in that behalf we thought good to send Mr. Sommers forthwith as well to perswade with him to remove his impediments as also to acquaint him with such speeches as are given out here 〈◊〉 an intended marriage with Spain whereby we might as well â—ound him in the one as in the other In this conference we did let them understand of some cause we had to mistrust especially upon this voyage of Bellieure that they were loath to separate themselves from the amity of Spain praying them therefore that if they were so disposed we might know the truth thereof letting them understand â—hat the cause of our coming was not to dissolve any amity they had with 〈◊〉 or any other Prince otherwise then should stand with the Kings honour and his surety Whereupon they made great protestations that the King had great cause for sundry respects to look into the King of Spains greatness and therefore prayed us
to lay distrust aside not doubting but in time the King would deal we should see very honourably the cause whereof Pinart did assure us with most earnest protestations as a man that was acquainted with the secrets and inwards of the Kings own soul. At the end of our conference upon the Speeches I the Secretary delivered unto them how that her Majestie understanding of this alteration with the King for entring into the association would cause the preparations for Portugal to stay Pinart desired very earnestly in Queen mothers name that in no case they might stay but be furthered with all convenient expedition and that she would take it as a singular favour done to her self by her Majestie in case she would go forward therewith as she had begun assuring us that there were at Bourdeaux certain ships in a readiness likewise to set forwards towards the Isles to be imployed in this service Your Honours to command Francis Walsingham Henry Cobham Io. Sommers A Memorial for Mr. Sommers FIrst you shall declare to the Duke That whereas the King had yielded to proceed to the Treaty without marriage the same resolution was altered by a request made by Du. Vray in his name that it might not be proceeded in without the said marriage whereupon our Negotiation in that behalf is stayed untill the King and the Queen his Mother shall by Secretary Pinart understand his determination touching the continuance of the said stay by Du. Uray procured that whereas I the Secretary at the time of my being with him did pray his Highness considering the proceeding in the League did require expedition that it would please him to recommend the same unto â—he King He did then declare unto me that though he could not recommend the same in respect of the doubt and conceived that it might impeach the marriage which was the matter he chiefly sought yet considering he found by me that it tended to the advancement of her Highness service he would not impeach or hinder the same we are therefore to pray his Highness it would please him for the satisfaction of the Queen my Mistress havâ—ng advertised her of his promise made in that behalf to let us understand the cause of the alteration thereof that it shall be meet to lay before him the benefit that may grow by the said League unto the enterprise that he hath in hand by comforting his own party in the Low-Countries by discomforting the adverse party as also that it will serve to very good purpose to remove the jealousnesse here within this Realme and thereby to continue the present peace whereby he may the better prosper in his present actions that we doe not see how it may greatly hinder his intended pursuit of the Marriage but will rather further the same for that it will breed a good satisfaction in her Majesties Subjects and to put them in hope to receive more fruit of the Marriage when they shall see these two Crownes to be knit together in amity against their common Enemy the King of Spain That we hearing of certain bruites given out at Paris not by mean and base persons but by such as doe pretend to know how matters of importance dâ—e passe how that there should be some overture made hy his Highness of a marriage with Spain which we for our parts can in no case beleeve considering the earnest protestations that have been made by the King his Mother and himself touching his intention for the continuance of the pursuit of the Marriage and therefore did think meet in respect of the Honour that we think our selves bound to bear towards one that hath so well deserved of the Queen our Mistress to acquaint him therewith to the end we may receive from himself some such matter as may yield satisfaction to her Majestie upon the hearing of the said bruit That we esteem him to be a Prince of so great honour so long as he shall pursue the Marriage with her Majestie not to entertain any other Besides knowing how greatly those Marriages knit between persons in nearness of bloud are condemned in the opinion of the world being both against the Law of God and Nature we cannot be perswaded that he being a Prince of that integrity and one that is guided by conscience in all his actions can be drawn thereunto That it is also given out that in consideration of the said Marriage the Prince of Parma will be induced to withdraw his siege from Cambray as also to yield to a surceasance of Arms with the States of the Low-Countries for the space of five or six moneths that in the mean time there may be some way found for the pacifying of those Countries and the reducing of them to the obedience of the King of Spain with the preservation of their Liberties That we have cause to believe some part of this for that at our conference here with the High-Commissioners it was declared unto us that Bellieure was sent unto the Prince of Parma for that purpose that if the same might be brought to pass for the surety of the States none would be more glad of it then the Queen our Mistress who hath desired nothing more then the repose of that Countrey that herein we cannot but let him understand how men of judgement doe see this project is onely layed to stop the pretended course for the impeaching of the greatness of the King of Spain For they that consider how greatly the States are alienated from the King of Spain and how resolutely the King is bent not to yield to them in matter of exercise of Religion so no reason that ever there can grow any good by any such Treaty unless it be unto the King of Spain And therefore we as those that wish him all honour doe pray to God also that it fall not out so that some part of that project doe not tend to his disadvantage August 14. Private Memorials for Mr. Sommers YOu may besides the Points contained in this Memorial add such other things as you can call to remembrance and shall think meet for the advancement of her Majesties service If you shall find the Vice-Count of Tâ—raigne there you shall doe well to impart our proceeding unto him here with the King and to pray his assistance if he shall like to deal in the Cause to remove the impediments that the Treaty may proceed considering the benefits that may ensue thereby as well to the furtherance of the Dukes actions as to remove the jealousies here within the Realm You may also declare unto him that touching the sum of money which he desired me to procure at her Majesties hands for the Dukes support that her Majestie having been moved therein is very wilâ—ing upon notice given that he standeth in need thereof being not otherwise furnished by the King as her Majestie hath been certainly informed that he was to see him supplyed of some convenient summe And therefore if it please the Duke
spend even then when it concerneth your safety is publiquely delivered out here We find also the doubt thereof by the Commissioners particular and private speeches with us to be a principal impediment why the King here is loath to joyn in association with your Highness For the love of God good Madam look into your own estate and think that there can grow no perill so great as to have a War break out in your own Realm considering what number of evill Subjects you have and therefore your Majesty cannot redeem the perill that is like to grow thereby at too dear a price I hope your Majesty will bear with my boldness and interpret thâ— same to proceed of a care I have of your Highness preservation in that happy estate you have lived in these Three and twenty last years which I pray God to continue your Majesty in double those years According to your Majesties commandment I moved the King for the Marshall de Coss to attend upon Monsieur in the Voyage the rather at your Highness request he would see his Brother assisted not only with the said Marshall but also with divers others whose counsell and advice in those martiall Affairs he doubted not should serve greatly to the furtherance of his directions And thus craving pardon for my length in writing I humbly beseech the Almighty so to bless your Majesty with the prosperous Raign of many years as that your Enemies may have cause to envie your happiness and your faithfull Servants and Subjects cause to rejoyce and render unto him therefore their humble thanks And so c. Your Majesties humble Subject and faithfull Servant Francis Walsingham To the right Honourable my good Friend Sir Francis Walsingham SO often as I have opportunity I write to you now perceiving Mr. Vicechamberlaine sendeth this bearer to his Nephew at Paris I thought it not good to let him passe without my letter we doe now rather howerly then daily look to hear from you what passed between the persons deputed by the King to treate with you after the speech with the King the ninth of this month I hope you have received my Letters sent by Walton your servant and therefore I think it not needful to repeat the whole contents thereof but her M. suspendeth all resolute answers till she hear from you In no wise she would have the enterprise of the Low Countries lost but she will not particularly warrant you to offer aid She alledgeth that now the matter is so farr gone the King will not abandon it Her Majesty feareth that the Queen mother will contrarily withdraw the Duke her Son from it and then will say That the Queen must marry with him because she alledgeth no impediment but misliking of her people to have a Husband beginning a Warr. Her Majesty also is very cold in the cause of Don Anthonio alledging that she liked it but by opportunity of her Councell and now that all things are ready as ships Victuals Men c. the charges whereof cometh to 12000 pound she hath been moved to impart two thousand pound more as a thing needfull for the full furniture of this Voyage wherewith she is greatly offended with Mr Hawkins and Drake that the charges are grown so great above that was said to her when the five thousand pound was demanded of her They for Answer say That the number of ships is increased by a ship dearly provided by Mr Bingham without their knowledge hereupon her Majesty not content to give one penny more they were willed to abate the number and consequently the charge to rest at 12000 pound but they say all provisions are ready and answer given as they cannot possibly In the end Drake and Hawkins will make shift for 2000 pound and her Majesty so answered yet will not suffer them to depart untill she be well assured from you that the French will aid Don Anthonio for she feareth to be left alone She also is informed that the Fleets from the West-Indies arrived in Spain the 27 of July and also that the Island of Terceras is rendred to the K. of Spain All these things though these advertisements are not very certain do marvailously stay her Majesty from assenting to their departure and yet she loseth all the charges spent in vain the poor King utterly lost and therefore her Answer yesterday was that the voyage should continue in readiness but not depart untill this Evening before which time she looked to heâ—â— from you I wrote how upon some jealousâ—e conceived and upon some Articles presented to my Lord of Leicester by Bingham Fenton and York they with their own good wills are discharged but Mr Bingham and Fenton are promised all their charges Thus imagining that I should have some Letter from you before these will be at the Sea-side I end and yet I could not omit to write Since your departure we never heard from my Lord Deputy till even now that Mr Carew of Anthony is come by whom we understand that my L. hath honourably reduced Tirghley to peace and Commissioners assigned to hear the difference between him and Odonnell my L. Deputy is Umpire Tirghley pretendeth all obedience alledging that the southern Rebels have sollicited him to Rebell but he would never assent thereto Greenwich the Eighteenth of August Your assured Friend W Burghley To the Right Honorable Sir Francis Walsingham SInce the closing of my Letter writen within this hour her Majesty hearing of Mr Vice-Chamberlains mans going sent for me and willed me to let you know That she marvaileth she heareth nothing of your moving the King for aid for his Brother which she saith is a principall matter she willed you to doe And she saith considering Monsieur and his friends will doubt of your good 〈◊〉 to the Marriage you shall by earnest dealing with the King for assisting 〈…〉 qualifie their other doubt I told her Majesty 〈…〉 own knowledge you seemed to favour the Marriage no 〈…〉 your going in respect thereby to strengthen her against the King 〈◊〉 Spain more then I could perceive her Majesty for her own part willing to have it furthered And besides that your self objected That to divert you from this service that your Message being to procure a League and no marriage you said the former Opinion conceived of your unwillingness to the Marriage should be by Monsieur and his Friends supposed the cause or instrument of the breach of the marriage To conclude I find her Majestie in words more inclined to the marriage then at your departure But how long this inclination will continue I know not Greenwich August 17. Yours assuredly W. Burghley To the honorable Sir Francis Walsingham SIR Because this Bearer your servant is by you commanded to come without delay I cannot by him send any thing of moment for that your Letters came not before this forenoon by Iohn Wils by reason of contrary winds as he saith that kept him two daies from England and all this
of the state how Don Anthonio may be relieved wherein there hath been no delay of her part otherwise then that she would be well assured that for yielding Reâ—ief unto him which both the French King and Queen Mother have often sollicited she might not receive offence of the King of Spain but that the French King would joyn therein which her Majestie as well for the charges as to withstand the offence And yet in both their matters you must remember that her Majestie never yielded to proceed otherwise then that by secret Treaty she and the King both might accord thereupon to do all underhand as it might be and if any offence should be attempted against either of them for the same then by vertue of the general League they should mutually aide one another And if there shall be any motion made to you to have any open Warr made joyntly by both the Princes for the abatement of the King of Spain You may well answer that you have no Commission for the same and yet you shall advertise her Majestie how and by whom the same shall be mentioned unto you that she may better consider thereof for great incertainties may happen thereof if her Majestie should fall into open Warr upon hope of a mutual aide of the French King except there were some greater bond by other means then by Treaties and Leagues by writing her Majestie might percase lack such aid in time as were convenient and needfull for her And therefore I think that true that in one of your Letters you doe conceive of her Majesties meaning that if her Majestie should be forced to joyne with the French King in an open Warr it were better to be assured by marriage of the Prince to joyn with her then to depend upon the incertainty of the French King alone having no bond but a Treaty upon words and writing After her Majestie had read hitherto she willed me to reitterate more largely two reasons to you why her aides ought not to be such as percase will be demanded The one for that she hath no party interest in Monsieurs actions as France shall have The other for that Queen Mother hath an interest for Portugal and not her Majestie I need not to add these but to obey her commandments as I have done in all my Letters Greenwich August 24. at night W. Burleigh H Enry par la grace de Dieu Roy de France de Pologne a touâ— ceux que presentes lettres verront salut Comme nostre tres chere tres amiâ—e soeur cousine la Royne d'Angleterre ait comis deputè aulcuns ses Comissionaires Ambassadeurs pour traictes avec le nostres de quelques points articles qui restent desirent pour le commun bien de nous noz royaulmes subjects plus ample expression et augmentation des traictes faits entre noz Commissaires les siens pour lier et estraindre plus que jamaâ—s une parfaicte et sincere amitie entre nous et la dite dame Royne et aussi de certains articles concernants le traicte de mariage conclu entre les uns et les autres de nos dits Commissionaires l'onzieine jour de Iuin dernier passâ— et parcillement pour continuer selon qu' il sera a propos la reservation faicte par forme de sâ—â—xetâ— et caâ—tion avant que de signer le traict de mariage scavoir faisons que nous desirans commetre de nostre part des premiers et plus dignes de nostre consâ—ill et autres bons personages a nous se fealles pour traicter des choses susdites Avec les Commissaires et Ambassadeurs de nostre bonne soeur et coâ—sine a plain confians des personnes de nous amés et feaulx le sig Vicount de Cheuergny Messire Philippes Hâ—rault Conseillier en nostre conseil d'estat et privé grade de noz seaulx et Chancellier de noz deaux ordres René de Villequier Chevalier diceulx deux ordres Conseillier en noz dicts conseills Cap. de cent hommes d'armes de noz Ordonnances premier gentilhomme de nostre chambre Governeur nostre Lieuten General a Paris et a L. Isle de France Monsieur Pompone de Bellieure aussi Conseillier en noz conseills Barnabe Brisson et Barthram de Salignac c. Claude Pinart c. et Iaques Du Uray c. et ultres a ce noâ—â— mouvans nous les avons commis et deputes commettons et deputons et leuravons et au cinq quatre au trois d'entre eulx en l'absence ou empeschement des autres donnè et donnons plan pouvoir puissance auctorité commission et mandement speciall de traicter pour nous et en nostre nom des choses et affaires susdites et chacun d'iceulx avec les dits Commissaires deputes de la part de la Royne d'Angleterre nostre bonne soeur et pour cest effect faire passer accordâ—r et conclurre tous les articles et traictesque besoin sera et faire en cest â—ndroict et tout ce que en depend ce que nous fercons et faire pouvions si presents en personne y sâ—rions jaâ—ois qu'il y eust chose que requist mandement plus special qu'il nâ— est contenu en cas des presentes par lesquelles nous promettons en bonne foy et parolle du Roy avoir agreable tenir firme et stable tout ce que sera faict contenue et accordè par nosdits Commissaires és choses susdiâ—es et en chacun d' icelles sans jamais y contreueinr ny souffrir y estre contrevenu en aulcun maniere Mais les agreer et approuver par nos â—lettres patentes comme sera tenue de parte nostre bonne soeur et cosine la Royne d'Angleterre E'n tesmoing de quoy nous avons faict mettre nostre seel a ceâ—dites presentes Donne a Paris l'an de grace 1581. et de nostre regne le 8. le 23. d'Aoust Pinart HENRY R. A Messieurs de Walsingham Cobham et Sommers M Essieurs de W. C. et S. Ambass de lâ— Royne d'Angleterre Madame ma bonue soeur et cousine I'ay veu l'escrit que m'aves faict presenter signe de vos mains le jour de hier pour la prolongation encore de vingt jours de contènue en la contre lettre faicte accordèe et signèe en Angleterre par mes Commissaires et depputes et ceâ—x de madite bonne soeur en passant le contract de mariage d'entre elle et mon frere le duc d'Anjou la quelle prolongation desdites vingt jours I'accorde volontiers et ay bien agreable A Paris le 23. jour d'Aoust 1581. Pinart HENRY R. Memoire des poincts qui furent accordés en la conference entre les Commissaires du Roy tres-christien et ceulx de la seren Royne
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
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
Argument which her Majesties pleasure is we should use to induce them to think that she ought not to be burdened with any great charges touching the matter of Portugal considering the Queen mothers pretence we will not fail when we shall have to deal therewith to proceed accordingly though I am perswaded that the said Queens pretence is used but for a colour to justifie such assistance as they shall give rather then in hope of any benefit they look to receive thereby otherwise then that the King of Spains greatness shall be abated And so c. Paris this 28 of August 1581. Fr. Walsingham To Master Secretary SIR Since the departure of Iohn the Currier hence this is done Mr. Sommers is ordered to ride to Monsieur he hath secretly to carry with him so many pistolets as come to And there is just as much more to be provided which is here hard to be gotten My Lord of Leicester moved Palla Vicine to procure it by exchange at Paris which he took upon him but when I was curious how he would do it he answered me that every Crown would cost me four pence at the least and yet he could not so answer it but for a small sum and secondly for the time he could not answer me but that he must pass it forth to Antwerpe and then to Paris he also was moved to ride to Paris himself but the charge thereof must be layed to the former so as the sum would be slenderly pinched with such abatements Hereupon I stayed proceeding with him and have for the first half made means here and have gotten Paul Swallore Alderman Martins man to take charge of packing the wait is more then two spare horses can carry and now I am resolved to divide it into four portions and to commit to four the several portions to be carried upon a Pillion and so they may pass in post whereas otherwise being charged upon two horses they could not ride post with it I am now to pray you to advertise me what you can do there to have the rest paid there if the like sum shall be paid here with security by Exchange and what the charge will be or else whether you think the same were not best to be sent in specie thither to Monsieur himself which I think the best seeing therein are two inconveniences danger by sea to pass for La Motts knowledge and by Land by false brethren or Spaignoilists for I fear such secresie will not be kept of the next as I trust hitherto in this I have such crooked dealing here with Lopez for that the King urgeth the speedy delivery of the Jewel without satisfaction for your charge as I think Mr. Mills will advertise you the Queens Majestie for her part is content to stand to curtesie or to loss for the 5000. l. From Scotland we hear commonly evil that the King shall acknowledge to have by evil counsel of his subjects usurped the Crown and therefore he will resign it to his Mother and she to grant it back to be possessed joyntly We hear also that the Earl of Arraign is fully bent to make a Band of the Protestant Nobility to the contrary hereof I think my Lord of Leicester will write hereof to you for he hath dealt here in very wisely by means of Robert Ashton that was my Lady of Lenox servant at this time I have paid this bearer Philips 20. l. in name of his travel Greenwich the 27 August 1581. W. Burleigh To the Lord Treasurer MY very good Lord Finding by the inclosed that the Duke desireth that all expedition may be used in the transportation of the mony I thought it very necessary to send away this messenger with all speed whom I did imploy in this journey towards him And therefore found it expedient to send him unto you to the end he might make report both of the state of his Camp and of the present enterprise he hath in hand If your Lordship mark the Letter well you shall finde it written with very great judgement and in most thankful sort If this young Prince continue the course he hath begun there are few or none that promise greater things in our days then he The pain he taketh as this bearer can shew you is intollerable and his patience having to deal with so strange and â—nquiet humors as serve under him is admirable It offendeth the better sort here to see such Treasure spent here in preparations of Masks and other vanities and this poor Prince forced unless he were otherwise relieved to give over an enterprise so many ways profitable to this Crown Amongst other things I gave this bearer in his Instructions charge to know the Dukes pleasure whether I should make the King and his mother privy to the Loan and in what sort I should deliver it unto them In answer whereof he hath willed him to let me understand that he referreth the same to her Majesties best consideration for mine own particular opinion considering that the matter cannot be kept secret I think it meet they should be both made acquainted withal for that it might nourish or rather increase in the King a jealousie already conceived of some inward intelligence not to the best purpose between her Majesty and the Duke Besides it would serve to very good purpose to remove the opinion that both he and his mother have conceived that her Majesties friendship consisteth altogether in words who hitherto hath shewed more friendly and better effects then they thought both nature and policy ought to lead them to deal otherwise then they do This day I had long speech with Queen mother both about tha Portugal causes as also about our stay of the proceeding in the Treaty for the first I do finde by her that the King will attempt nothing by way of Occurrency with her Majesty without the marriage and as for our further proceeding in the Treaty I also learn by her that he is resolute to stay until he hear from his Ambassador hereof I will enlarge unto your Lordship more at length by the next the conclusion of her speeches were an earnest recommendation of the marriage without the which she said she saw there could be no sound friendship she also renewed her former request touching the support to be yielded to Don Anthonio letting me understand that the four ships were departed from Burdeaux with six hundred men at the least and therefore prayed me most effectually to recommend the same to her Majesty Whereas I perceive by your Letter of the one and twentieth sent by the Lady Marquesses brother that her Majesty is offended for that she is not more particularly informed of the state of both Armies I shall desire your Lordship to be an humble suitor in my behalf unto her Majesty that it will please her Highness to conceive better of my service here then I perceive she doth And as for the fault her Majestie findeth there lacketh no care
person in such sort as it appeareth he shall in the Low-Countreys and so with many other like speeches of his own conceit without affirmation of any such thing to proceed from her Majestie as hath been alledged there to you to be written by him he doth confess that his own principal desire is to have the marriage take place but doth not affirm any thing certain of her Majesties speech delivered unto him to move him to give any assurance by his writing to the King or to Monsieur neither yet to move them to despair thereof And to this end her Majestie hath required him to certifie the King how he hath been herewith by her Majestie charged and in what sort he hath answered for discharge of her Majestie so as hereupon her Majestie hopeth that the King will give order to his Commissioners to continue the Treaty begun with you which her Majestie would have you earnestly to press forward as a matter profitable as well for the French King and his Countreys as for her Majestie and not to interpret the proceeding therein to tend to the breaking off the marriage which you can tell upon what terms and just causes her Majestie hath suspended being therein not satisfied with any direct answer from the French King to clear the doubts and difficulties committed to the charge of you Master Secretary to deliver both to the French King and Monsieur Now concerning your several articles sent contained in your papers First of the general articles propounded Secondly of so many as you have already accorded and Thirdly of certain points not fully answered by you but reserved until you might receive some further direction from her Majestie for the same you shall understand that all these your writings have been here perused by such of the Councel as are present and report thereof here at the Court made to her Majestie with their several opinions which shall most properly appear by marginal notes in every of the same and if so be it shall chance that you cannot obtain of the French King that his Commissioners and you her Majesties Commissioners shall proceed in the Treaty for a league as you did begin and as the French did twice yield thereunto that is at your first coming to him from Monsieur and secondly after that by Pynart for the King and you Master Sommers for her Majesties part returned from Monsieur with his contentation that the Treaty might pass so as nothing thereby might be prejudicial to the cause of the marriage Then you may say to the King That your abode there is but superfluous and more chargeable for the said King then serviceable and therefore you shall desire him to license you to return which you may say will be by such as mislike of the good amity between her Majestie and the King be interpreted to the worst and will give them more comfort then were convenient at this time And if notwithstanding this allegation and reason yielded they will not proceed in the Treaty her Majesties pleasure is that you shall return and so also shall Master Sommers except you your selves see any cause probable for your abode until you may advertise us and know our pleasure Her Majestie commanded me to write to you that it is greatly misliked is greatly misliked that you have not more particularly and more earnestly moved the French King to give supprt to the Duke his brother in a cause so honourable for the honour of France and the Crown thereof And her Majestie understandeth that the King himself may think you as her Majecties Ministers careless herein of Monsieurs well doing And as I have heretofore written to you hereof so did I impart to her Majestie your answer that you had moved to the King at your first coming thither and of the French Kings answer But her Majestie thinketh you might have solicited such a matter both more earnestly and more often And so now I do notifie unto you her Majesties opinion at this time concerning the cause of Don Anthonio King of Portugal You shall declare either to the French King or Queen Mother if they shall give you any cause to speak thereof that there hath been no lack nor default in her Majestie that he hath not been in other sort relieved For as your self knoweth before your departure it was by us agreed what support he should have had of ships and men and munition according to his own desire and demand And to that end great sums of money have been laid out as therein you have a part of the burthen and accordingly the ships and men with victual and munition was ready two moneths past and as you also know it was by the King Don Anthonio agreed that he would not press us to grant him this support thereby to provoke the King of Spain to some hostility against our subjects trading in his Countreys except the French King should joyn with us in this action and thereof give us assurance Whereupon Don Anthonio sent himself a Count of his and other Messengers to sollicite the same to the French King but so the matter hath fallen out that we never could have any perfect answer from the King whereby we might be assured that he would joyn with us in this support But his Ambassadour here hath said that the King his Master especially thanketh us for our courtesies and reliefs towards Don Anthonio his Kinsman and exhorted us to proceed and he said there should be ships of France for his ayd And in like sort the Queen Mother required our Ambassador there to advertise us the like disposition in her but all this time we had no direct answer of assurance that the King would give him support Whereupon with very great charges the preparations of the ships and men in wages and in expence of victuals hath continued almost two whole moneths and thereby the said Don Anthonio hath lost the whole opportunity of the time of the year over-slipping the recovery of the good Isle Madera and of other Isles of the Azores saving Terceras which by Gods goodness was preserved by the Islanders and indeed not by any aid of the force of the French men For in very deed at the time of the repulse of the Spaniard which was on St. Iames day there were no French men there but onely An. Scabiny had been there before and was gone Westward as was supposed to make some profit of the straglers of the Italian fleet for otherwise he was not able to incounter the Fleet it self nor yet to offer fight with the Kings Armado sent under Pedro de Valdes besides this by this delay for lack of good answer from thence this King Anthonio doubteth of the constancy of a great number of his subjects in Portugal who secretly hoped upon his support and so now in the end though we could have no answer from thence whereby her Majestie might be build with assurance of the French Kings conjunction to adventure the
King of Spains offence yet she did offer to the King â—nthonio the service of certain good Vessels well armed victualled and furnished with men and munition largely to repair now in the latter end of August But the King prudently considering that the time was past for this year to recover any more Isles then he hath already and that such as hold for him could not be by the enmity assailed from henceforth until the next year did not accept our offer but finding the default of answer from the French King to have been the cause of our stay he meant onely to send away a few ships which himself had bought and armed here for the which her Majestie hath already yielded him a pass-port When you shall again deal with the King to have care of his Brother now entred into the Low-Countreys whose actions for the honour of that Crown are to be maintained you may shew him that we think he was not well counselled by such as moved him to yield to * Tanis the King of Spains Agent that 300000 or 400000 Crowns were by his special license carried from Lyons to the Prince of Parma which if the King had stayed but one moneth or twenty days to give license as he did to Tanis there had manifestly followed in the Prince of Parma's Army such a disaster as is notoriously known before the coming of that money that the said Army was ready for want of pay to have broken and especially all the Almaignes had revolted to the service of Monsieur le Duc which by the ayd of that money was altered to the disadvantage of the Duke his Brother And you may say to the King that by considering of this her Majestie doubteth that there are some in credit with him that regard not in their counsels what should be the means to stay the greatness of the King of Spain which causeth her Majestie to be more doubtful how she shal deal in any action tending to stay the said greatness except she might evidently see some more appearance of the French Kings determination to the same end which in this cause of his Brothers actions in the Low-Countreys both ought and might best appear by some honourable good support to be given to the Duke his Brother Greenwich the second of Sept. 1581. Will. Burleigh To Mr. Secretary SIR notwithstanding your later letters of the 28 of August importing many reasons to move her Majestie to give some better answers in particularities yet her Majestie reading them and being reasoned withal will admit no other answer then was directed by the letters written though not sealed up before your last What may further move her Majestie hereafter I know not but I see it common to great and small not to think of adversity in time of prosperity and so adversity cometh with double peril At this present Don Antâ—onio is come to take his leave of her Majestie he will press to have his jewel and so that you may be satisfied I agree to it and so sometimes doth her Majestie but in conclusion he would have the jewel answer for all the losses which of the 13000 l. I think will be about 3600 l. whereof 170 l. is desperate imprest and wages and victuals spent the rest falleth out in the resail of the victuals I appoint Mr. Mills to be in commission about this dissolution and sail who will better satisfie you then I can And so c. Septemb. 2. William Burleigh The Article onely enlarged in words I Tem it is good to covenant That neither of the Princes now confederated shall at any time hereafter the conclusion of this Treaty give open aid to any enemy of any third Prince with whom at the conclusion of this league they are in peace thereby manifestly to provoke the other third Prince for such aid so given to make war or invasion against the Prince that shall give such aid for that cause of aid given but that before the aid shall be so openly given the Prince meaning to give such aid should first advertise by his letters the other Confederate and have his allowance thereof in writing In which word of aiding shall not be meant any other kind of ayd but such open aid as shall make the enemy aided thereby able by such aid to use open hostility and to make war against the third Prince Will Burleigh Her Majestie doth not mislike of this Article but yet she can be content it be forborn The Queens Majestie commanded me to set down a case upon the Article herewith I Tem to covenant with the French King that he shall not give open ayd to any enemy of the King of Spain thereby to provoke him to make war upon the said French King but that he shall first advertise her Majestie thereof and have her allowance otherwise her Majestie shall not be bound to aid the French King or to make war upon the King of Spain In like manner the Queen of England shall not c. Ut supra mutatis mutandis An Answer of such things as are desired by her Majesties Commissioners to be resolved touching the League offensive consisting in three points To the first AT this time here is no other thing remembred necessary to be added To the second Her Majestie thinketh it better for you to offer a covenant such as you shall find contained in a treaty betwixt Henry the eighth and Charls the fifth 1522. in the second Article the sum whereof is That if any Prince or other person should offend the Emperor Charls in his Person Dignitie or States or shall take any thing from the said Emperour in that case he shall repute the same offence or wrong as done to himself and shall repell the same with all his power and shall yield at his own charges aids convenient to withstand the same and to the reciprock the Emperour was bound but for tempering these words which are in the Article Totis virâ—bus potentia sua propulsabit her Majestie would have these kind of words added Prout commodo id fieri possit habita ratione temporis loci ac etiam faâ—ultatis suae and the cause that moveth her Majestie to have rather such an Article of a general resistance then a particular Covenant for numbers of men or money is even as your selves made you answer to the first For until the manner of the Prince Invader be known and thereby consideration had what manner of ayd defensive shall be needful to withstand the same invasion or to revenge it the resolution cannot be particularly set down what numbers shall be requisite But if the French Commissioners shall mislike of such a kind of Article you may say the like hath been between Henry the eighth and Charls the fifth and yet if that will not satisfie it may be further covenanted That upon notification of the invasion and of the greatness thereof by the Prince invaded the Prince not invaded shall give such ayd
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
same being uncertain might perhaps receive later resolution then the disease required and that therefore in the mean time other remedies might be well enough proceeded in which could breed no hinderance in the Marriage and were most necessary whatsoever become of the same Then I proceeded to the second point shewing that the Queen my Mistriss did of late note a great coldness in the King touching the overture made for the impeaching of the King of Spains greatness and that the Reasons that moved her so to do were these First that the last yeer both her son and she upon the death of the late King of Portugal did declare unto her Majesties Ambassador Resident here how necessary it was both for themselves and her Majesty to have an eye to the King of Spains greatness and to that purpose did require that the said Ambassador might have Commission to treat with such as they should appoint in that behalf which being assented unto and thereupon a conference following and overtures made to that purpose the conclusion was referred to be treated of by such Commissioners as should be sent by the King from hence thither at the time of whose repair her Majesty did look that there would have been some proceeding therein which falling out otherwise was found very strange Secondly that daintiness that the King did make to concur with her Majesty in this matter of Portugal and the sundry impediments that the Duke hath received in this occasion of the Low Countries instead of furtherance being the principal means to abate the King of Spains greatness And lastly the permission made to the King of Spains Ministers for the passage of certain money to be conveighed through this Realm to the Prince of Parma These things I told her did give her Majesty just cause to think that the King had no disposition to break with Spain in seeking to impeach his greatness and therefore prayed her she would deal plainly with the Queen my Mistris letting her understand what her intention was in that behalf For said I the Queen my Soveraign is a Princess that desireth to live in repose and to maintain good Amity with the Princes her neighbours and had not waded so far in this behalf but only upon the Kings motion And therefore if the King doth now see no such danger to grow by the King of Spains greatness as before it seemed he did her Majesty I know would forbear any further dealing in that behalf who being furnished with ships for her defence by sea and her subjects being well armed by land and carrying the earnest love and affection towards her they do in respect of the happy government they have enjoyed under her Highness should I doubt not but be able to withstand the King of Spains malice in case he should attempt any thing against her Besides I did let her understand that whereas it was publikely given out here that her Majestie was greatly weakned by the alteration in Scotland and the taking away of the Earl Morton as also that there were of her own Realm persons of great quality alienated from her in respect of Religion For the first that divers of those in Scotland that for some particular quarrels that they had with Morton were glad to concur with those that sought to make him away yet are so affected to the Amity of England in respect of Religion as when any thing should be attempted against her Majestie Morton himself would not have been more ready to oppose himself against any such attempts then they will be And as for the great personages that though I did assure my self that none of them carried so evil meaning as to attempt any thing against her Majesty but rather would be content to hazard their lives as duty commanded them yet if they were so evil disposed the subjects of the Realm being generally so well affected to her Majesty as they are and grown to that judgement now as they affect not the persons of those great ones as in former times they have done but do rather look into the cause then behold the persons they should not be able to draw in great numbers after them to the execution of any undutiful action To this after she had heard me attentively she replyed that at the time of the conference between the Kings deputies and her Majesties Ambass Resident then they did as it were assure themselves that themarriage should take place no other impediments being then alleadged but the troubles of this Realm which by the mediation of the D. were in good way of speedy composition and in hope thereof they were willing to have taken any course that her Majesty should have thought good and do still continue in the same purpose and minde so as the same might take place without the which she said she did not see how the King her son should be throughly backed in case he should enter into any action against the King of Spain for that there might be many perswasions and devises used to dissolve such Treaties as should onely consist of Ink and Paper And as for the enterprise of Portugal she said that if the King of Spain might be kept from the possession of the Isle of Tercera which might keep him as well from enjoying such benefits as might grow out of the conquest depending upon the said Crown as also from the Indies in his own possession Portugal would rather be a burthen to him then otherwise And as for the Dukes enterprise she said that the King her son this Realm being greatly weakned by civil wars was loath to enter into a war with the King of Spain unless he might be assuredly well backed which no way they could make account of without the marriage whereupon she took occasion to shew that it would be a very honorable course for the King and the Queens Majesty to seek by way of mediation to compound the troubles between the king and his subjects and the Low-Countries whereto if the king should not assent then might the two Crowns with more honor concur in the action by seeking to restore them to their liberties whereunto I replyed that the Queen my Mistress had made it apparant to the world that she had sundry ways sought when the time served more aptly then now to bring it to pass But for the present whosoever doth consider to what extreme degrees of alienation from the King the said subjects of the Low Countries are grown unto having beaten down his Arms and renounced his Government how impossible it is to draw the Prince of Orange any ways to trust the King or the King to be reconciled unto him in respect of a book written by the said Prince wherein the Kings honor is greatly touched shall see no reason to hope for any reconciliation and that the Authors of that device do propound the same but for a delay to serve the King of Spains turn To this she replied nothing and did also
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.
of the Zodiack and to stand in a place after Sexion of the Zodiack and our men do find him far above the Moon and above the height of the Sphere of Venus Then it cannot be a temporarie Comet Now things above the Moon do rise and die which was never believed afore but either a new star made or an old star new seen Fare you well From Hampton Court the 13 of January 1572. Your assured friend Tho. Smith Part of my Lord Treasurers letter to me touching the enterview and such things as have passed for marriage FIrst for the matter of Monsieur d' Anjou and next to the Duke of Alanson I trust I need not make any other rehearsall then your self can gather by the instructions you had when you were sent into France after that Du Foix had been here who departed fully answered saving in the Article of Religion which was also so tempered as that he pleaded no misliking but but that it was restrained with the words that the Duke should use no Religion that was contrary or repugnant Ecâ—lesiae vel verbo Dei and how you found Monsieur altered from the offers of du Foix in that he would have his Religioâ— wholly as he had in France Now you can also tell how the Offer of the Duke of Alanson was begun and how prosecuted here by Monsieur and du Foix. And since that time this Ambassadour there could find the Queen Mother It ought to be remembred with what absurd Offers it hath been handled To have an Enterview it was required that the Queens Majesty would repair to Dover and the Queen Mother and the Duke should come to Bulloigne and the advice that they should meet upon the Sea in October All which was taken off and utterly misliked as vain and ridiculous A more foolish motion was made that the Queen would meet with the â—ueen Mother at Iersey such a device as argued either a gross ignorance in them that named Iersey as not knowing how farre it was by Sea from England or else a flat mock in offering a thing so unreasonable and to say the truth impossible And surely it could not have been better acquitted then to have required the Queen Mother â—o come into the Isle of Scotland to have spoken with the Queens Majesty the next year if she would make her progress to Berwick Since these follies passed they have by the Ambassadour generally pressed the Queens Majesty to the Duke but no special dealing hath been for any enterview or for answer how he will accord in Religion in which last consisteth the greatest difficulty of treating so as his person might by sight be first allowed Thus much of this matter To my very loving friend Francis Walsingham Esq the Queens Majesties Ambassadour with the French King SIR this day I received your Letters with two French Books the one of Carpenter the Apostate the other by an unknown malicious French Writer taught by a rebellious crafty Papist of England wherein though he meant maliciously to the State yet he rometh his choler and despite chiefly against me and my Lord Keeper by Nick-names God amend his spirit and confound his malice And for my part if I have any such malicious or malignant spirit God presently so confound my body to ashes and my soul to perpetuall torment in hell I know not whether you shall be able to understand the Author but if by the Printer it might be found out I would gladly bestow any reward upon the discovery if it cannot be found then I wish that some means were used as of your self to Queen Mother that the print may be destroyed For otherwise we shall think our selves considering the places we do hold in this estate not well considered by that estate I have not imparted any thing to my Lord of Worcester but leave the order of the whole to your direction This licentiousness to inveigh against men by name in printed bookes that use not by books to provoke any is in all good Estates intolerable God send this Estate no worse meaning servants in all respects then we two have been who indeed spared not labour nor care to serve our Queen and Countrey and if we had not we may truly avow neither our Queen nor Countrey had enjoyed that common repose that it hath done I am required to recommend my Lord of Worcester unto you which I need not because you know his Office and cause of coming and besides you shall find him a Nobleman of great gentleness and thankfulness And therefore you shall find cause to shew him all good Offices and favours And if my hearty commendations of his Lordship may do any thing in his gratification I pray you his Lordship may understand my good will for in very truth I love him dearly And so I end From my House at Theobals where are with me Mr. Ralph Sadler and divers others as Mr. Denny your good friend The 14 of January 1572. Your assured loving friend W. Burleigh Sir when I consider of this lewd Book I think it will be replied unto you That it is reason that answer be made to such books as are published for the condemning of the Queen of Scots And so for my part I yield that Writers answer matters But to have the Duke of Norfolks cause brought in question and Us that are Councellors to the Queen to be so maliciously and falsly calumnied may not wel stand with the term of the Amity professed But yet I leave all to your consideration and wisdom Instructions for the Earl of Worcester ELIZABETH R. FIrst you shall make our Ambassador there resident Mr. Francis Walsingham privy of the office which at this time you have to do and the Letters which you have to deliver and confer with him of the manner of the Court and the use at this present and as he shall be able to inform you and you of your wisdom and discretion do understand with all convenient Honour Amity and Love you shall deliver our Letters and do such offices as to our Ambassage doth appertain And if the Emperors Ambassador hold the child himself you may also do it but if that you shall perceive that any device or other sinister means shall be given about to bring you to their mass or any other superstitious ceremonies which the order of our Realm doth not allow you shall not consent nor assist it but rather absent your self and understanding that before with honourable excuse require the Queen Mother that the Queen of Navarre to whom we have in this case written our special Letters to be our deputy for you or in the absence or let of her any other Princess or Noblewoman whom it shall please the Queen Mother to appoint and address to it according as we have also written to the said Queen Mother And you shall not need to break neither with the King nor Q. Mother nor any other or any matter but of such courtesies and other Court-like