in this Book INstructions for Sir Francis Walsingham sent Ambassador into France 1 Sir William Cecil Lord Burleigh to Sir Francls Walsingham 5 Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir William Cecil ib. Q. Elizabeth to Sir Francis Walsingham ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir William Cecil 6 To the Earl of Leicester 7 The Queen to Sir Francis Walsingham 9 The Queen to Sir Henry Norris ib. Doubts of Sir Francis Walsingham 17. c. Sir William Cecil to Sir Francis Walsingham 18 Instructions by the Queen to Sir Francis Walsingham ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester 2â— To Sir William Cecil ib. To Sir Walter Mildmay ib. Sir Henry Norris and Sir Francis Walsingham to the Queen 22 Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir William Cecil 26 Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir William Cecil 28 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester 28 29. Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir Walter Mildmay 30 Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir William Cecil 31 Monsieur Pinart to Sir Francis Walsingham 32 Sir William Cecil to Sir Henry Norris and Sir Francis Walsingham ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir William Cecil 33 Earl of Leicester to Sir Francis Walsingham ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester 34 Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir William Cecil ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester 35 Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir Walter Mildmay 38 Sir William Cecil to Sir Francis Walsingham 39 Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir William Cecil ib. The Queen to Sir Francis Walsingham ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir William Cecil 42 Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir William Cecil ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester 43 Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir William Cecil 45 Earl of Leicester to Sir Francis Walsingham 47 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester 48 Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir William Cecil ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester 50 Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham ib. Earl of Leicester to Sir Francis Walsingham 51 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester 52 Sir William Cecil to Sir Francis Walsingham 53 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 55 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 56 The Queen to Sir Francis Walsingham ib Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 57 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord of Burleigh 58 Instructions of the Queen concerning the Match with France 62 c. L. Burleigh to Sir Fr. Walsingham 66 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 67 Earl of Leicester to Sir Francis Walsingham 71 The Queen to Sir Francis Walsingham ib. L. Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 72 Sir Francis Walsingham to the L. Burleigh ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to the L. Burleigh 73 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester 76 The Q. to Sir Francis Walsingham ib. Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 78 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 79 Sir Francis Walsingham to the L. Burleigh 81 Lo. Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to the L. Burleigh ib. Earl of Leicester to Sir Francis Walsingham 82 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester ib. The Q. to Sir Francis Walsingham 83 L. Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 87 L. Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to the L. Burleigh 88 The Q. to Sir Francis Walsingham 93 L. Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 94 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh ib. Earl of Leicester to Sir Fr. Walsingham 96 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester and L. Burleigh 97 The Queen to Sir Francis Walsingham ib. Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 100 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 101 Sir Francis Walsingham to the L. Burleigh 103 Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 104 Earl of Leicester to Sir Francis Walsingham 105 The Queen to Sir Francis Walsingham 106 L. Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 108 Sir Francis Walsingham to the L. Burleigh 109 Earl of Leicester to Sir Francis Walsingham 110 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh ib. The Queen to Sir Francis Walsingham 111 Earl of Leicester and Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 115 Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 115 Earl of Leicester to Sir Francis Walsingham 116 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 117 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir William Cecil 118 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester 119 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester 120 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 121 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 123 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester 127 Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 129 Earl of Leicester to Sir Francis Walsingham ib. The Queen to Sir Francis Walsingham ib. L. Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 134 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 135 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord of Burleigh 136 Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 137 L. Burleigh to Sir Fr. Walsingham 138 Earl of Leicester to Sir Francis Walsingham 139 L. Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 140 Sir Francis Walsingham to the L. Burleigh 141 Sir Francis Walsingham to the L. Burleigh 144 The Q. to Sir Francis Walsingham 145 Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 146 Earl of Leicester to Sir Francis Walsingham ib. Instructions for Hen. Killegrew Esq Ambassador in France during the absence of sir Francis Walsingham 147 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 149 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester 150 Sir William Cecil to Sir Francis Walsingham 151 Sir Francis Walsingham to the L. Burleigh ib. Lo. Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham twice 152 Earl of Leicester to Sir Francis Walsingham 153 Instruction for sir Thomas Smith Ambassador Entraorninary in France 154 Sir Francis Walsingham to the L. Burleigh twice 160 Lord Burleigh to Sir Thomas Smith 161 L. Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 163 L. Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 164 Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham twice 165 Sir Thomas Smith and Sir Francis Walsingham to the Queen 166 169 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 172 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester 173 Sir Francis Walsingham to the L. Burleigh 174 Sir Thomas Smith to the Queen 176 The Queen to Sir Francis Walsingham 180 Sir Francis Walsingham to the L. Burleigh 182 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 184 The Q. to Sir Thomas Smith and Sir Francis Walsingham 185 Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 187 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 188 Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 189 Earl of Leicester to Sir Francis Walsingham 190 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh ib. Sir Tho. Smith to the Lord Burleigh 191 Sir Tho. Smith to the Lord Burleigh 193 Sir Tho. Smith to the Lord Burleigh 198 Sir Tho. Smith to the Lord Burleigh twice 199 Sir Tho. Smith to the Lord Burleigh 200 Sir Tho.
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
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
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
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
Ambassador in France your Majestie knoweth in what state he is and the poor Gentlewoman his wife Yea saith she that pity of her is that maketh all this haste and I am sorry for her but there is no remedy he cannot now go before Midlent or Easter Well Madam quoth I seeing it be so may it please you may he be sure to go at Easter and may I write so to my Lord Ambassador Yea saith her Majestie now you have my Commission and so much I can say judge of it as you shall please but I assure you my Lord of Leicester my Lord Treasurer my Lord Admiral and I and some other of your friends have done what they can for your return but whether it be Fatis or what else hath letted I know not nor can guess but I perceive what is the issue at this time You are a wise man and can comfort your self with wisdom and patience and the rather if the promise do hold that by Easter you may return My Lord of Worcester bringeth full instructions for that he hath to do or may fall out in communication the which he must and will communicate unto you and use therein your advice I send you some Occurrents out of Scotland If you would know what we do here we play at tables dance and keep Christmas The Queens Majestie and all the rest of my Lords thanks be to God be in good health My Lord Privy-Seal what with age and sickness is not thought long to abide in this world and the Earl of Kents health is almost desperate Farewel From Hampton Court the twelfth of Ianuary 1572. Yours alwayes assured Tho Smith To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador Resident for her Majestie in France SIr I am both sorry and ashamed that I cannot write of any matter meet for satisfaction in your own case as I would and as I know you have had occasion to expect but the impediments thereof I know you shall understand by other your friends and therewith do assure you that whatsoever any of them do write of my former care taken for you and that I have now promised to follow I have as much or more and will continue and persevere to the utmost of my power and so wish you as much patience as you have cause of grief This bearer finding me here at my house at Westminster telleth me that he is dispatched from the Court I think iâ— needless to advertise you of the coming of my Lord of Worcester and for that I think surely that Mr. â—â—cretary doth advertise you of all things I do forbear Glasco Davisoâ— longeth to heâ—â— from Lyoâ—s 9 the ship abode in the place appoiâ—â—ed 23 days And so I end trusting to see you here amongst your friends within this â—ix weeks at the least to be revoked at that time From Westminster the â—2 of January 1572. Your assured friend Will. Burleigh To my very loving friend Mr. Francis Walsingham the Queens Majesties Ambassador in France THe cause of her Majesties longer stay of your abode there and not to send presently D. Dale is onely in respect of some persons you have there to deal withall which you may easily conceive whom I mean though I name them not the cause I write it not plain is lack of a cypher having worn mine to pieces this progress time in carriage and pray you to bear the more with this dark writing but it concerneth such as you wrote a little of to my Lord Treasurer Her Majesty doubteth greatly the state of that person and hath in expectation that some great matter will proceed from them and neither doth she think Dale to be a fit man to be imployed neither that the other will deal frankly with him as with you For my part I am perswaded that great matters will fall that way and surely you shall do well to enter the more speedily and deeply with them for the knowing of their whole intent I must but tell you mine own conceit I fear it be but a practice to dandle us for so many are acquainted here with the cause I mean of that Nation but it is impossible but that the Ambassador here must know it Besides I see that the hope of the marriage is still entertained here and our Mistres made to think it is ever â—incerely meant which if it were indeed and the other matters true of the parties disposition what could with-hold to put that in execution which were most like for him to get it for his own value must sue more for him then his friends commendation or else his party here will be little as I think But this manner of dealing I see serveth to no purpose but winneth them time and loseth us all good opportunities and hindreth your returâ— where your friends wish you both for your self and chiefly for her Majesties better service You shall do well therefore for her Majesty for I cannot imagine what good this great suspence will do her to seek by all means you can at their hands to know their full mind and the scope of their intent for by these the dealing of the Ministers here with her Majesty hath no cause to find any way direct or substantiall she takes great hinderance otherwise and no good shall come to them neither in this sort of proceedings And as none here are privy to the matter but my Lord Treasurer and I so is it too great a burthen so long to conceal her Majesties so great hindrance of her greater causeâ— as the time wants for lack of certainty through understanding the intent and bottom of this Cause which surely hitherto giveth more cause of suspition of practise then of good meaning And yet if it were minded as they pretend except they proceed otherwise then I perceive yet they do they shall rather hurt themselves and us both then further any good purpose that may bring hope of that good success we would wish Thus as well as I can utter my poor conceit both for your self and us and do wish you to deal accordingly with all speed and to return your answer thereof with all diligence you can and thereupon we wil take occasion again to procure your return which if staying might yield service to her Majesty and good to the Countrey I would no way hinder if you were my brother Otherwise finding no more cause then I do you have no friend here will further sooner the other My Lord of Worcester hath desired me to write to you that you would deal friendly and frankly with him he disableth himself and trusteth to your advice in all such sort as belongeth to his place I heartily require it for him onely it may suffice you to know he is a Papist and a favourer of all such especially a â— otherwise a good simple Gentleman and fit for the Christning Shew him I pray all the courtesie you can as I doubt not of it My Lord Privy Seal is dead this
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
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
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
being so small the surety offered sufficient and the benefit that thereby might have risen unto her Majestie so great that the same would not have been denied for saith she Let her Majestie assure her self that Spain will never forget the arrest of the money which she shall find when occasion of revenge shall be offered They do here with great desire expect Mr. Cavalcants coming and as I judge by some Letters received from their Ambassador they conceive great hope to proceed certain speech passed between Tilligney and the King which I have imported to my Lord of Leicester maketh me think that the Religion will be no let c. And so c. Paris the 22 of Aprill 1571. Your Honours to command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable Sir Francis Walsingham her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr I most heartily thank you for your so well advised Letters and considering I find them so circumsâ—ectly written and the matters contained so well digested I cannot but give you knowledge of my well liking of your service whereof to my power I will also procure the Q. Majestie to conceive the like good opinion I am sorry that the Q. Majestie findeth occasion to pretermit this late motion whereof it is likely she might reap great fruit to the quietness of her own Countries you must make the best that you can to content the parties I need not vvrite more because this bearer Mr. Beale is so sufficient to vvhom I have also shevved some of our occurrents From Westminster the 14 of Aprill 1571. Your assured loving friend Will. Cecill I forgot my nevv vvord Will. Burleigh To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh I Was glad by your Lordships of the 7 and 14 of April to understand the good liking you have of my ravv dealing in matters of such vveight as I am novv imployed in next her Majestie to your Lordships contentation do I chiefly seek as his vvhom in this calling I see hath chief regard to Gods glory and her Majesties safety I am sorry the request I preferred took no better effect I pray God it may be kept secret that thereby there may grovv no evill effect vvhereof I have some cause to doubt by the experience I have had since my coming hither The fault I knovv but no remedie I hope after The enterprise vvithin this moneth vvill break forth and I hope to good effect by that I have further understood of their matter and surely the match proceeding nothing could be more sit in my poor opinion then for us to have been dealers in the same thereby to have avoided others Thus I am bold to write as a private man in a private Letter having no opinion as an Ambassador And thus having nothing else at this present to trouble your Lordship with I most humbly take my leave From Paris the 22 of Aprill Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham To my very friend Sir Fr. Walsingham Ambassador Resident for the Queens Majestie in France TOuching the Archb. you shall understand her Majesties pleasure by her Letters My Brother Sidney the Deputy of Ireland is arrived here as farre as we can learn by him there is great jarre between that Prelate and Prince Stewkley which hath caused his great mislike to remain in Spain it may be to good purpose if it be possible to recover him and get him hither For the other greatest matter you shall shortly receive her Majesties full resolution it appeareth her Majestie hath good liking to proceed if reason take place in the conditions God send such speed as may be to the glory of the Almighty God and her Majesties good satisfaction I suppose the dispatch will be ready to depart by Sunday or Monday at the farthest I pray you send me another Cipher more easie then the last So with my hearty commendations I bid you farewell In haste this good Friday Your assured friend R. Leicester To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Earle of Leicester SEeing her Majestie hath good liking to proceed as appeareth by your Lordships Letters dated on Friday last I am glad to conceive great hope by certain speech lately passed between the King and Tillignâ—y that Religion will not be the let which is the chiefest thing I respect in this match About an 8 dayes past the King entring into talke with him concerning this match Tilligney shewed him that it seemed strange to the world that Monsieur considering that this matter was in treaty grew every day more suspicious then the other To that the King replied That his Brother if there fell out no other let but Religion would be ruled by him And because saith he I may the better bring the matter to passe I will have my Brother with me out of this Town and divide him from certain superstitious Fryers that seek to nourish this new holiness in him And I doubt not saith he within these few dayes so to work my Brother as he will yield to any thing that I will require Two dayes after the King called again Tilligney unto him and asked him whether he lately had any talk with his Brother He shewed him that the same day at dinner Monsieur called him unto him whose whole course of talk was onely in commendation of the Q. Majestie and of the great desire he had to have so happy and so honorable a match whereby saith Tilligney I see him so farre in as I hope he will not make any difficulty at Religion which will be the chiefest matter the Queen will stick in No saith the King observe my Brother well you shall see him every day lesse superstitious then other This I thought good at large to set down aswell in respect of the match as also that your Lordship may see the great hope that may be gathered by this speech of the Kings revolt from Papistry Surely I am of opinion that if this match go forward it will set the triple Crown quite aside According to your Lordships request I have sent you this inclosed Cipher and â—o leaving further to trouble your Lordship at this present referring you over for other matters unto my Lord of Burleighs Letters c. From Paris the 22 of Aprill 1571. Your Lordships to Command Fr. â—alsingham To our trusty and welbeloved Sir Francis Walsingham Ambassador Resident in France ELIZABETH R. RIght trusty and welbeloved we greet your well The bearer hereof Sr. Cavalcant hath bin here and imparted to us certain matters as it seemeth committed to his charge whereunto the Ambassador here being also by him made privy they both have received our answer to such Articles as â—â—th been by them propounded And of the same and of our further pleasure how you shall proceed you shall by our other Letters and instructions more amply understand Given under our Signet at our Palace of Westminster the 17 day of Aprill 1571. the 13 year of our Reign To our
potentissimum principem fratrem nostrum charissimum Gallorum regem residenti salutem Cum in tractatu qui inter Legatos nostros ad praedictam Principem missos ejusque serenissimi Regis Deputatos intercedit de amicitia pace renovanda augenda quae inter praedictum regem nos nostraque regna dominia subditos existit certi articuli de mercatorum nostrorum hinc inde comerciis negotiatione propositi fuerint de quibus propemodum quidem inter utrumque convenit nisi quod ante praefatam rei consummationem necessarium sit quosdam tà m à nostro quà m à praedicti regis parte constitui qui cum mercatorum prudentium consilio deliberent sintne illi articuli satìs ad rem aptè amplè compositi an vero alios quosdam immitores adjici expediat quibus commercii negotiorum ratio commodius regi exerceri possit Nos igitur de homine ad hanc rem idoneo cogitantes deque tua prudentia virtute industria in res nostras fide confidentes mandatorum procuratorum seu deputatum nostruÌ„ creamus constituimus per praesentes ut cum consilio principalium nostrorum si qui in illis partibus fuerit cum Regis praedict deputatis agas tractes unaque cum illis ea consideres statuas quae ad coâ—tinuendam augendam commercii intercessus necessitudinium necessaria vidâ—buntur Itemque de mertium vectigalibus tributis porteriis impositionibus iisque conditionibus quae ad mercatorum comertii libertatem securitatem pertinebunt rationes ineas Deque iis omnibus nos certiores facias ut re prope inspecta considerata quod é re fuerit decernamus concludamus quod ipsum simile à dict ' regis Legato hic fiet qui simile vicissim ab ipso rege mandatum habiturus est Et generaliter ut ea omnia tractes facias quae ad hanc rem necessaria erunt in tam amplis modo forma ac si in singulis magis speciale Mandatum haberes In cujus rei testimonium has litteras patentes â—ieri sigilli nostri impressione communi missimus Dat. in Regia nostra sancti Jacobi die mensis Maii Anno Dom. 1572. Regni vero nostri 14. Instructions given to the Earl of Lincoln Lord Admiral of England and one of the Lords of her Majesties privy Councel appointed by her Majestie to repair to the French King in Ambassage and at his arrival at Paris or elsewhere to be assisted for the execution of the matter underwritten with Sir Th Smith Chancellor of the Order and Fr. Walsingham Ambassador resident for her Majesty with the French King at St. Iames May 25. 1572. THe said L. Admiral shal have with him both Commission under the great Seal of England authorizing him and S. Th. Smith and Fr. Walsingham and Letters also to require the French K. to confirm the last treaty concluded at Blois by his oath whereupon he shall proceed first after his access to the K. obtaining by the Ambass resident for the demand of the said oath as is meet for the honor of the League of amity now concluded between their Maj. using therein all good speeches to assure him that according to such express words as are contained in the same Treaty for a mutual love and amity to be hereafter used and maintained between them her Maj. is fully bent in her heart to maintain the same on her part the rather because she doth assuredly hope that the K. wil do the like whereof his Maj. by his Ambass that he hath sent in the time of the late Treaty and negotiation of the same shewed many manifest arguments of his own special favourable directions of matters at sundry times resting in doubt between her Commissioners and his Maj. to more reasonable ends as appeared then otherwise would have 〈◊〉 ordered by his Ministers And so the L. Admiral having in this manner assured the K. of her Maj. ful and resolute determination to imbrace and hold fast this mutual amity he shal say that his coming thither is to visit the K. on her Maj. behalf and to attend upon his leasure and best oportunity to be present and to receive the K. oath to be made for ratifying of the said Treaty according to a clause in the said Treaty for that purpose And when the K. shal have accorded thereunto the said L. Admiral shal before hand percase by som privat conference had with some of the Secretaries of the State how and in what sort the ceremonies therof shall be observed so as the proceeding may be at the time at the solemnity thereof without any alteration And for the better proceeding herein the Lord Admiral shall have with him both Articles of the Treaties requiring the said oath and the manner form of like oath given by the said K. heretofore in like cases And the instrument also to be demanded in writing for testimony of the said oath with such other things as are thereto requisite so as the like manner may be used as near as may be agreeable to former usages and that there be with him present to assist him S. Th. Smith and the Ambass resident if they may be there to help And as for the place where the said oath should be given the said L. Admiral shal not refuse any that the K. shal appoint foreseeing only that he be not by reason thereof compelled to be present at any Mass to be said for the purpose but if it be in Church or Chappel he shal not refuse to require to take it in the same Furthermore although there is no other cause special of the sending of the L. Admiral at this time to the said K but to require his oath yet for that there may be many occasions offered of speeches in the matters where it shal be looked for that the said L. Admiral should answer the said K. to his satisfaction Therfore he wil in these things following accommodate himself as hereafter is mentioned wherein the said L. Admiral shal as occasion shall serve take the help of Sir Th. Smith who is also herein well acquainted In the matter of Scotland although the said L. Admiral be privy in what sort her Maj. hath hitherto proceeded so as he may by consideration thereof conjecture what is likely further to be her Maj. meaning yet to make her case the more plain he may wel hold opinion tht her Maj. meaneth not any thing more then that the Realm of Scotland may be brought to quietness and remain free from any invasion of any stranger wherby the liberty of that Crown and Nation should be impaired And he may wel remember of his own knowledge how often times since the Scotch Q. coming into our Realm we have bin wel disposed to have obtained an accord betwixt her and her Subjects but always when we were most earnest to have done her pleasure therein she
unto her that way Her Majestie can of her self well enough judge of the peril besides I know she lacketh not good advice and if sparing be not the let I hope all will do well And so for other matters referring your Honour to the Lord Treasurers Letters and this bearer I most humbly take my leave At Paris the fifth of December 1572. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable and his very good Lord the Lord Treasurer YOur Honour by Master Secretaries Letters shall understand that the Isle of Rez is taken by them of Rochel that there is some hope conceived in Germany of the Elector Brandenburgh to the Kingdom of Polonia That the Ambassador of Spain here giveth out that the fifteenth of the last Moneth Zatphen in Gelderland was taken That certain of the Princes ships are lately distressed and that the two Dukes are at Boisleduc The Legats doings are kept very secret in so much that his Secretary is not made acquainted with them for the avoiding of suspicion The Ambassador of Spain hath no great conference with him but by a third person named L. Angrâ—lettâ— Auditâ—re della Rota who passeth daily to and fro between them he is one in whom the Pope layeth the chiefest weight of his legation in respect of his wisdom and experience The Duke of Savoys repair hither in person maketh men to think that the unity between this Crown and Spain is like to grow great for that he is termed here Lame du Rey du esquire and that therefore the matters of treaty between them are of great weight I know that sithence my coming to the Countrey the King hath openly used some speeches of misliking of the said Duke but this late change changeth all things upside down The doubt of the Turks great preparation for the next year is a great bridle of their intentions For the removing of this impediment the last of this moneth they dispatched hence their Ambassador to make great offers both in Spains and the Venetians behalf to draw him to an accord The Venetians as I am credibly informed have been these three years past at the charge of 800 000 the moneth and therefore would be glad to be rid of so weighty a burthen And so having nothing else to impart unto your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the fifth of December 1572. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable and his very good Lord the Lord Treasurer BEcause this bearer promised to see my letters safely delivered unto your Lordship I thought I would not let him go without them The Legate stayeth here until there come resolution touching that they have lately treated here which they have dispatched both toward Rome and Spain by two sundry Curriors The King is of late advertised that the number of those of the Religion in Lanquedoc is encreased very much and that there are joyned with them 600 horsemen and 1500 footmen that are departed out of their Countrey of Bern who by the way have distressed the most part of Count Ioyeux Company They have taken also upon the edge of Languedoc a certain place called Sanins where their Gun-powder is made this encrease of their number maketh the King irresolute what to do Before these advertisements he was determined to have besieged Sancerre but now he is advised to march toward them in Languedoc The new accidents that happen make them to change their purposes Of late there is one arrived here from the Duke of Baviers whose coming is thought to proceed through the Cardinal of Lorrains perswasions with commission to make great offers to the King from the Duke to the end encourage him both to the imbracing of the league as also to proceed to the rooting out of those of the Religion here Monsieur de la Mot hath of late earnestly recommended to their Majesties here certain requests commended unto him by my Lords of her Majesties Counsel Whereupon Pynartâ—ent â—ent unto me to assure me that there shall be such justice done to her Subjects as her Majestie shall have just cause to rest contented therewith And so having nothing else to impart unto your Honor at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the tenth of September 1572. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principal Secretary SIr It may please you to advertise her Majestie that by advertisement lately come to this Court from Rochel the King is given to undeâ—stand that Strozzâ— hath taken Marans not far from Rochel where he put to the sword two Companies of Souldiers placed there by the Rochellois Further he is given to understand that de la Noue is entred into Rochel being sent thither by the King having beforehand given oath that he would faithfully travel to reduce them to yield who by perswasion hath much wrought with them as they are content to grow to some capitulation which proceedeth chiefly through a disagreement that is between the Rochellois and such strangers as are repaired thither Also it is said that the Baron de le guard hath taken three ships laden with corn by them of Rochel These sundry newes hath put them of this Court in great jollity for that they hope shortly to reduce the Realm to inward quietness There are marched out of Burgundy a Captain footmen and certain horsemen levied by the Duke of Guise and the Duke of Aumale whether they shall be imployed at Sancerre or whether they shall march directly to Languedoc it is not as yet concluded The Duke of Guise arrived here the twelfth of this moneth who is marvellously well accompanided The Cardinal of Lorrain his Uncle is daily looked for here as also the Cardinal of Guise his Cousin By Letters of the fifth of this moneth out of Flanders they write that the D. of Alva doth distribute his Army into Garrisons and that the Roysters do remain at the Forrest of Arden and in the Land of Luxenburg where they commit great spoils and outrages being not yet payed for that the D. of Alva pretendeth not to have wherewithal to discharge them They write further that the Prince of Orange remaineth at Dortrecht where he maketh collection of money for the levying of forces for the next Spring From Cullen they write that there are certain Commissioners repaired thither sent by the Emperor as it is said to treat some accord between the Prince of Orange and the D. of Alva notwithstanding they do give out other causes of their coming By Letters from Vienna they advertise that the Emperor is repaired into Bohemia to procure the election of his Son which being done he meaneth to repair to Germany and there to keep a Diet for the election of the King of Romans Further they advertise that the great Turk of late hath sent unto him a present commending him very much for the keeping of his promise and the
Amitie betwixt us and our Realmes be left unperfect and unaccomplished on our behalf For Scotland you may say that Monsieur de Crocque ' s going away so soon wherefore we were very sorry because he tarried not until the peace was concluded we suffered our servant Henry Killegrew to sollicite the conclusion of peace And although there appeared great likelihood from time to time to follow of an universal peace and very reasonable conditions offered yet they of the Castle as appeareth not minding to have any peace would not agree to them wherefore as it appeareth they are like again to have civil Wars a thing most displeasant to us being their next Neighbours and for our part we think they have misused both him our good brother and us the King to imploy Monsieur de Crocque and us the Marshal of Berwiâ—k first and now Henry Killegrew whereas it appeareth they meant nothing less then agreement especially two or three of them in the Castle who have offered unto them all humanitie their lands livings and offices and whatsoever could be reasaonably desired yet will not condescend for common quiet to acknowledge their King and to deliver him that hold having as good offered them for their own suerty which in common peace should seem needless so that for ought that can appear unto us we think it not fit that we or our good brother should suffer such outrage at their hands or our two travels being Princes to be had in so little reguard besides that we have kept in our hands the Castle of Hume at our charge being to us no profit or commoditie but that we desire to bridle both the parties to come to an accord For being by the League bounden to deliver it but any of the Scotish if we should have delivered it to any of the adverse party though the peace had followed we know not how to compel them to render the same to the natural Lord thereof to whom we most desired to render the same although he had smally deserved that kindness at our hands if we had delivered it to him before we doubted there should have bin occasion to make him hold out more obstinately from the Agreement and Peace who as it appeareth is too much obstinate without it And as we have divers times by our Ambassador there and writing declared to them that assoon as they were come to a full Agreement and Peace within themselves we would most willingly render the same Castle and the Territory thereof to the said Lord Huâ—â— So you may say that our good brother shall well perceive that if yet they will grow to common peace within themselves the Castle of Hume shall be streight restored to the Lord Hume as it hath been often declared both to him and them before And if he and the rest will not come to Peace and Accord peradventure we shall deliver it as we may well do unto them of that Nation out of whose hands the Lord Hume shall have enough to do to get it which is nothing in our default which desires them most earnestly to have them at quiet and peace within themselves and to be ruled by justice so should our Subjects near adjoyning to them be in more rest and have better justice upon the Out-laws and Thieves who do offer daily injury to our Subjects without redress because of the civil troubles And if any mention be made unto you of the Scotish Queen either for her life or for her deliverance that you should be a mean to us for her You shall answer that her attempts be known to have been such both towards us and our Realm as you cannot gladly hear her spoken of and that you could not think your self a good Subject if once you should open your lips for her and therefore you shall require that they will no more speak to you of her nor of any such matters Given at our Mannour of Hampton Court the eleventh of January 1572. in the one and twentieth year of our Reign Thomas Smith I think it shall not be against the Queens Majestie to offer that if Hume Castle shall be delivered to the Kings party that there shall be assurance given to restore it to the Lord Hume when he shall recognize the King as heretofore he did William Burleigh To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador Resident for her Majestie in France MR. Walsingham I have received your Letters sent by Williams I perceive it is hard to recover a Rider but to pay too dearly for him I will stay therefore till better occasion shall serve and do heartily thank you for your good remembrance and travel therein I wrote of late to you which Letter I hope be come safely to your hands the rather for that I write somewhat openly for want of a ready cypher for these causes I have since considered more of the person and the matter and surely I can no way perswade my self that the cause you should stay for is any way sincerely meant there but rather a meer practise to entertain us here and to discover of the other side what may be under the hope that by that means many may be drawn unto for no other way but this have they left to beguil the world especially us and those they seek to destroy seek narrowly and deeply into it and in the mean time consider how slightly the great post haste matter was slipt off that our ship tarried so long for what was it else but a plain work to hold us with such a sudden amazed chance the same in their opinion we should believe their case to be as dangerous as they would make it Weigh also the pretty escape of the disguised attempt of the party that seemed to be in so great peril who can believe other then that it was a made matter to continue a belief whom they think they have inchaunted at their wills Let us examine also the instruments what they be those of the most arrantest sort of Papists those here never counted setled or informed in Religion Besides the process of the doings over both sides doth shew no good end towards but even a stratagem it will prove in my opinion and therefore I am the more careful that we may so espy it and so use it as it may return upon their own necks For my own part I promise you I did suspect it the first time of his opening of the matter for truth will seek no angles Truly he was fain to seek all his brains to make any matter worthy of credit for these suspicions were found even at the first he was divers in his tales his Letters delivered assuredlie were counterfeit and so was driven in the end to confess in a manner albeit in a sort they were after confirmed there from you to his better credit for first he avowed they were all the parties own hands Next he said after the Letters were compared with others of the parties
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
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.
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
and the King by the which you shall be very well informed directed as by certain rules how to treate and deal in all causes that may there come in controversie and thereby be bound to require due observation as cause and matter shall require We doubt not but you do consider how profitable a thing it is for quietness of us and our Realm to have that party in France which hath professed reformation of Religion to be maintained and contained in the favor which the King hath granted them by his Edict And therein vve vvould have you at all times when occasion shall be given you let it appear to the King that vve think nothing can procure more assurance of inward quietness in his Realm then the due observation of those things which he hath granted to his subjects in his Edict and you may say that he hath more cause by experience to believe us therein then any other Prince that is his Allie besides us that shall be of a contrary mind And so experience hath taught us already to think and may well ascertain him considering he hath seen and felt the continuance of the troubles of his Realm whilst he followed the advise of other Princes and Potentates and disswading him from granting such favour as he hath done to his subjects And in any other thing wherein you shall be able at any time to further and advance the observation of the matters of the Edict in favour of them of the Religion we would you should endeavour your self in such sort as may stand with our honour And of this our intention we will that you give understanding to such of the principals of that part as have interest therein which you shall best do by the advise of your predecessor who has best acquaintance with these persons Lastly for certain matters lately treated of here by the French Ambassador as touching the Queen of Scots cause and the preparations of ships and men of war made in Brittanie you shall at your coming to our Ambassador learn in what state he hath left those things and how he hath answered the King and so you may persist in the same course untill you shall be by us otherwise directed We have by our Letters to our foresaid Ambassador willed him to make deliverie unto you of all such our Plate as he had delivered unto him at his entrie into his charge which you shall receive of him by Indenture if you shall have need thereof Where we meant that you should have accompained the Lord of Buckhurst in his journey to the French King so have bin presented with him to the said King now that we cannot understand the certainty of the said Kings entrie into Paris at which time our meaning was and is that the said Lord of Buckhurst should be there we would not that you should abide any longer but proceed in your journey and if on your way you do perceive that the Kings entry will be now in the beginning of Januarie our will is that you shall without attending any longer for the coming of the said Lord of Buckhurst proceed by our Ambassadors means to be presented to the King and to take the place of our ordinarie Ambassador so as our former Ambassador Sir Henry Norris may return at his Commodity We would have you inform your self by the judge of the Admiraltie of all causes depending betwixt our subjects and those of France upon pretence of depredations that you may the better answer complaints which either ours or the others shall make And farther we would have you to acquaint your self by his means with a complaint lately exhibited by the French Ambassador in the name of the Merchants of Roan and what answers hath bin made to the same by such as we did ordain to devise the same whereof the said Judge was one You shall also receive a complaint which certain of our Merchants of London trading to Roan do presently make for the Innovation of certain taxations by the Magistrates of Roan upon the goods of our said subjects contrarie to the common use whereupon you shall being well informed of the inconveniencie thereof and the injustice sollicite the remedie thereof so as time shall conveniently require William Cecil Ended the 22 of December 1570. To the right Honourable and his very good Lord the Earle of Leicester MY very good Lord I write unto you at this present rather to use this as an earnest of my diligence hereafter to follow then for any good matter that I have to write Passing through Canterbury I visited the Cardinal and delivered unto him your Lordships Letters who gave me as much light as he could touching the present state of France concerning the matter whereof it pleased your Lordship to give me a watch-vvord there passed nothing betvvixt us The picture your Lordship desired I vvill take order shall be sent to you vvith vvhat convenient speed may be beseeching your Lordship vvherein my poore service may stand you in stead to use me with such boldness as I may thereby assure my self that your Lordship maketh accompt of me and so further leaving to trouble your Lordship at this present I most humbly take my leave at Bullen the second of Ianuary 1571. Your Lorships to command Fr. Walsingham To the right Honourable Sir William Cecill her Majesties principall Secretary SIr I arrived here at Bullen the first of this month where I could learn nothing worthy the advertisement for you know Sir that frontier news are never of any great value onely this I learned of the Governours Son in law here a Gentleman of good accompt and one of the Order who accompanied with divers other Gentlemen came to visit me from the said governour Monsiuer de Calliac who told me that the Kings entrie is deferred untill the middest of Febr. but hereof for the observing of the time here is no more assurance than there was before of the first of Ianuary Leaving Bullen I have not forgot to enform your honour of the great exactions used by the Inn-keepers at Gravesend Canterbury Dover in the prices of Victualls whereof besides mine own experience I learned by certain strangers that passed over with me they are so great as in no Countrie is used the like where all things bear so unreasonable prices in the market and the people so free from impositions of the Prince Surely Sir it were well done that there might by your good means and furtherance some order be taken for the Redress hereof aswell for her Majesties honour as for the ease of the poore travellers Thus Sir having no further matter worthy the advertisment I leave to trouble your honour most humbly taking my leave from Bullen the second of Ianuary 1571. Your Honours most bounden Fr. Walsingham To the right Honourable Sir Walter Mildmay one of her Majesties privie Counsell SIr you know that Frontiers are commonly better furnished with fables then of matters of truth and
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
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
see not considering it hath been already moved to us by sundry and by some that are by nature bound to the Crown of France and that do think in their conscience the matter to be both honourable and profitable to the Crown of France And you shall say to the Queen Mother that she shall not mislike of us though we think so well of our selves and our estate that if God shall order this her motion to take effect it shall be the best marriage for the honour of the King her Son for the weal of his Crown and for the commendation of the Q. Mother that any Q. attempted this many hundred years for France And yet we are content to keep this motion secret according to the request meaning to make none other privy to the same but to such of our privy Councell as are known we have just cause to trust both for their fidelities and secresie that is our Cousin the Earle of Leicester whom you may say that whatsoever may be otherwise doubted we find ready to allow of any marriage that we shall like and withall marriages with any Prince ' stranger most of all this with the Crown of France the other is Sir William Cecill Lord of Burleigh and our principall Secretary and is well known to be a dutifull servant in any thing meet and agreeable for us and our Realm and so may you make report of them both The sixth is that we would not make delay in answer as we doe not The seventh to understand whether we can be pleased that Master Cavalcant shall be used any further herein which we remit to the consideration of the Q. Mother he being an honest Gentleman and to our knowledge alwaies disposed to do good offices betwixt us and the Crown and therefore not to be dissallowed by us if the Q. Mother shall like of him And yet we require you to have regard that his dealings therein considering that he departed lately from hence may not be conceived as directed by us You shall do well to deal warily with the Q. Mother in the matter of Religion for the D. her Son not as we would presse him to make a change of his Religion although we wish it But that if he should marry with us that he should not be warranted to do any act contrary to our Laws Given under our Signet at Greenwich the 24 of March 1571. To the Queens Majesties Ambassador in France Mr. Francis Walsingham SIr if you consider how weary I may be in the first and second writing of the Queens Majesties Letters to you not being void of other business you will allow a short Letter at this time If I be not much deceived Colly Weston North-hampton 〈…〉 in this wherefore you shall do well not to be over superstitious considering the necessity of this time and the dangers â— wise men there do find this matter for â— not unmeet for C. God onely knoweth the successe We here and the good there have a great losse of the Cardinall Chastillon who is thought to have been poisoned by some French Apostata or Counterâ—eit I pray you hasten Mr. Cobham towards Spain and as soon as you can let us know what you shall receive from thence This case of â— is deferred onely to see some event of the matter for 88. for if that succeed not as is now mentioned the perill is the greater by â— And what is done therein for sparing of writing you shall learn by Master Cobham By your Letter brought by my Lord of Buck. I understaâ—d the excesse of your charges there whereof my Lord of Buckhurst hath not as yet conferred with me But I will further your relief therein to my uttermost and as cause requireth Commend me humbly to my Lord of Rutland to whom I write but a short Letter From Greenwich the 24 of March 157â— Your assured loving friend William Burleigh After I had written this which with the Queens Majesties I meant to have sent by Master Henry Cobham her Majestie commanded for more haste to send some speciall conveyer with them and so I send Harcourt I am in doubt that if this matter for Religion be not well conceived by them there the adversaries to the marriage will take great advantage thereof and urge the persisting in it of purpose to dissolve the same So as I had rather the speech hereof might have come from the Queen Mother or the others to you and so you might answer them as you are warranted then to begin abruptly of your self I wish they would give you occasion so to do which if they doe not then must you needs open it unto them March 25 1570. To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may please your Lordship to advertise her Majestie that hers of the 24 of March I received the 26 of the same the contents whereof after I had well weighed and therewithall considered the great practises that are daily used here to stop that the match between her Majestie and Monsieur might not take effect which lacketh not also any such help as may from her own subjects there with you be ministred to breed an opinion in Monsieur that all is but dalliance and that he is like to march in the end in rank with the number of the forsaken whereupon as it should seem a few dayes past he used this talk with Monsieur de Foix saying Monsieur you and others have brought me to yield to this match but I feare that by the next dispatch you shall well perceive that there is no other meaning in the Queen of England but dalliance and that you and I shall be sorry that ever we waded so far And surely said he for my own part unlesse I shall find the answer direct I will never enter farther into the matter These speeches and practises after I had well weighed and seeing the answers in her Majesties Letters very fit and convenient to be made by her in respect of the quality of her person and sex had not the world mistaken her former proceeding in marriage matters But now in respect of the said mistakings fearing that the same being made according to the course appointed by her Majestie would have seemed more doubtfull then direct and so have utterly overthrown the matter I was very much perplexed what course to take when I my self saw it most safe for me to follow the course by her Majestie prescribed whatsoever came of it But when I beheld her Majesty first how she in her own judgement did think it expedient for her to marry Secondarily that if her Majestie did mean to marry abroad this was the only Gentleman fit for her to marry Thirdly the discontentment of her subjects for not marrying Fourthly how presently she is beset with a number of forrain practices the execution whereof onely stayeth upon the event of this match I then resolved that it was most fit for me to forget my self and
to think onely of her Majestie and of her safety like that Roman that notwithstanding a Law was made that no man should hazard to come on the Wall without consent of the Magistrate yet he seeing the enemy preparing for the scale and that the delay of time in asking the Magistrates consent might have hazarded the losse of the City preferring a publick safety before his private perill repaired to the Walls and repulsed the enemy the matter afterward being called in question he was acquited of the penalty and adjudged a good member of the City like consideration made me to take this course following In my proceeding with Queen Mother somewhat swarving from the precise course of her Majesties instructions yet notwithstanding keeping my self within the compasse of the same with due regard had both to her Honour and the place her Majestie beareth Touching the first point I alleadged precisely and wholly what her Majestie appointed me to say unto her touching the justification of her proceeding in causes of marriage whose answer was that that she did object unto my Lord of Buckhurst she objected rather as a common opinion conceived then that her self believed it being not ignorant that the common sort that understand not the secresie of Princes proceeding are alwaies drawâ— to believe the worst But saith she I hope her sincere and direct proceeding in this now offered match will breed due justification of her former proceedings in those marriage causes Touching the second I shewed her that her Majestie had conceived by my Lord of Buckhurst that she desired to understand whether the King and she making an offer of Monsieur the same would be accepted in good part at her Majesties hand of this second point I left out these words Whether she would be pleased to hear further of it In answer of this second point I shewed her from her Majestie that she did impute it as an argument of great good will in both her and the King considering how that the King being married there could be no greater nor worthier offer made by the Crown of France then Monsieur and that therefore her Majestie doth most thankfully accept the same and further that she willed me to say unto her that if her Majestie did preceive any apparent cause to mislike of the matter she would then deal plainly with the King in thanking him for his good will and in desiring to proceed no further herewith she seemed to be satisfied Notwithstanding for that this match did stand upon two necessary points the satisfaction of both their persons and necessary accord upon certain conditions that therefore her Majestie desir'd her as a Prince indowed with kingdomes could not but with her own private satisfaction have a due regard of her subjects repose and safety by way of Capitulation that if thereupon there should grow any just cause of breach yet that friendship and good Amitie might still continue the good will of either party being to be allowed their 's in making so honourable an offer and her Majestie in yielding to give eare to the same To this she replied that she could have wished that the answer had been more direct not so much for her own satisfaction as for others in whom there rested as yet some scruple and the rather saith she for that if in the handling of this Matter there be used plainness Ceremonies being set apart whatsoever issue the matter taketh yet friendship could not in reason but continue Then I proceeded to the third shewing her that her Majestie was well content that I as her Ambassador should treat upon this matter with Monsieur de Foix which course I shewed her in my private opinion would draw the matter by often sending to and fro to a great length whereby that expedition would not follow thereof that were to be wished And that therefore if that they would not follow thereof that were to be wished And that therefore if that they would make choise of some speciall person to send over upon some other pretence with full commission to treat hereof many scruples thereby would be avoided which otherwise might breed delay of time And touching the person I told her none could be more faithfull unto her Majestie then Monsieur de Foix. In this behalf she told me she would first deal with the King as also touching the fourth point how her Majestie could not tell what to propound untill she saw what was by them first propounded who by order were first to propound and after she had dealt with the King touching these two points she promised I should the next day have answer by Master Cavalcant which she performed whose answer was that for the more expedition the King and she thought it good to send Master Cavalcant both speedily and secretly over who should come fully instructed with their resolute intention touching this match who thinketh that he shall bring with him the Articles they mean to propound unto her Majestie and further that if upon his return they find her by her answers fully resolute to proceed That then for the better ripening of the matter against the time that an Honourable Ambassadge should be sent Monsieur de Foix should come over upon some other pretence I forbeare at this present to deal touching Monsieurs having the exercise of his Religion first for that they finding her Majesties answers not wholly resolute would have suspected it for a quarrel of breach Secondarily for that without all suspition in due place it may be be propounded amongst her Majesties Articles Touching the first point I forbeare to say any thing for that they mean sometimes as I learn to use their Ambassador there Resident with her Majestie as one whom they esteem and trust I did not forget to tell her that her Majestie for the more secret handling of the matter had made choise of two onely Counsellors unto whom she had communicated the matter the one the Earle of Leicester whom she findeth well to allow of any marriage which her Majesty liketh though otherwise wrongfully doubted so specially of this that is now in Treaty The other the Lord of Burleigh of whose fidelity her Majestie hath had tryall ever since she came to her Crown â—o this she answered that these two Councellors being of her Majesties choise she would not but very well allow of and as for my Lord of Leicester she said she had many waies good cause to judge him a furtherer of the match and therefore was glad of her Majesties choise and hoped thereby of the better successe The last point concerning Master Cavalcant she said she thought him fit to deal in it as one that before time had done good offices between the two Crownes and therefore she rather wished him to be admitted a Dealer I may not omit here to say mine opinion of him which is that her Majestie could not have allowed a Gentleman more faithfully inclined to her Majestie nor more fit for his
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
Right trusty and welbeloved Sr. Fr. Walsingham our Ambassador Resident in France ELIZABETH R. RIght trusty and welbeloved we greet you well you shall understand that the French Ambassador and Cavalcant having speciall credit to move to us the matter of marriage with Monsieur de Anjou have propounded to us certain Articles in French whereof you shall herewith receive a Copy To the which after some conference had by our commandment betwixt our Councellors the Earle of Leicester and the Lord of Burleigh for us and the said Ambassador and Cavalcant of the other party our said Councellors have delivered such answers in writing to them as also we send you herewith In the debating whereof the Ambassador hath with great earnestness misliked sundry of them in this manner following â—hat in the first he maketh doubt that the usage of the matrimony by the orders of this our Realm may contain matters which should be repugnant to the Dukes conscience and namely that he should at that time be urged to receive the Sacrament according to the institution of this our Church whereupon such words as are now at the last agreed in the answer we think ought and doth satisfie them though he pretend still some doubt And yet if by the answer they there shall not be satisfied then you may do well to impart to Monsieur de Foix the very order of the Book for that cause And though the receiving of the Sacrament at that time be in some part there mentioned yet that being not out of necessity you may of your self give them some cause to hope that it may for reasonable respect be forborn and so they shall have reason to be content with it The clause to have the Dukes Ministers in was inserted upon such motion made by the Ambassador In the second he hath found most difficulty for that by our answer he saith no grant is made by us that the Duke shall have liberty for himself and his domestiques to use his own Religion which he saith he would not require but to be permitted withall these cautions and conditions That he should use his Religion in secret place and manner and with such circumspection as thereby no manner of publique offence should grow to our Subjects but hereto he could not have us yield being answered That we doubted not but that Monsieur de Anjou would by the advice of Queen Mother be contented with our answers being well weighed in that we are content that by no means he nor his Domestiques shall be compelled to use the Rites of our Religion otherwise then shall be agreeable with his conscience But as for exercise of his own Religion being specially forbidden by our Laws we cannot without manifest offence and perill to our State accord thereto And so we would have you to use all good perswasions to induce them to be content with our answer in this behalf for the better maintenance whereof you may require that it may be considered what perill it might be to the quietness of our State to have one that should be our husband by his example in our house to give comfort to our Subjects that presently are well devoted to obey our Laws to break them which may so fall out in processe of time as we might repent that ever we had been so evill advised And therefore specially you shall require Queen Mother to have good consideration hereof as one that by her own experience of Government hath tasted of no small trouble growing by such permission although she have now at length prudently brought a stay in the Realm and in any wise you shall give them no other comfort in this behalf but return to us their answer The third Article is agreeable to the like Article conceived in a treaty of marriage betwixt King Philip and our late Sister Q. Mary so as thereto no exception hath been made by the Ambassador The fourth though it was misliked by the Ambassador yet it cannot be otherwise by us ordered and so the Ambassador was peremptorily answered The fifth though it did not like the Ambassador for that there is no expresse sum of yearly revenues named to be allowed to the Duke yet he hath accepted it with generall words And herein to maintain our answer you may truly affirm that King Philip had no manner of thing allowed him but sustained all his own charge and gave also to Noblemen Gentlemen and Yeomen of our Nation good entertainment In the sixth the Ambassador hath alledged no misliking but on our part you may see by the latter part of the Article that it is meet that we should know the interest that the Duke hath in his severall Dominions and how the same are to succeed to his children as well Sons as Daughters if there be no Sons and so you shall require a particular answer thereto The seventh is agreeable to the like clause of an Act of Parliament whereof you shall receive better information in another writing containing such thing as on our part are to be demanded And yet the Ambassador hath earnestly required that if the Duke should overlive us and have a child living that should be Heir to the Crown he might continue the Title of a King with his addition to be called Rex pater and if no child should be living that then he may be called Rex dotarius which we think rather of matters of form then of substance and meeter to be thought of when greater matters are accorded then now and so we have forborn to alter the Article In this sort you see the manner of our answers And although by our Letters yesterday we signified unto you that we would give some instructions how to propound other things to our benefit and so we did also let the French Ambassador understand yet upon some better consideration we have forborn thinking it meet that this matter concerning the point of Religion were first on both parties determined before we should proceed in the rest for this being accorded there is no great difficulty in the rest and this being not accorded to our contentation the rest are not to be dealt in and if it be misliked that we do not give you Commission to propound other things as perchance the Ambassador here will give them some hope that we now meant to do you may confesse that we have indeed considered of other things requisite wherein we think there will rest no difficulty But we hold it most agreeable to the Queen Mothers own intention that the matter might be so dealt in as it might speedily appeare what were to be hoped of herein And considering this matter for the Religion seemeth of such substance as none of the rest is we think it best to have this first treated of And so either to proceed or forbear wherein we trust our sincerity shall well appeare And so we would have you to expresse our good meaning Given under our Signet at our Pallace of
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
Mother and Monsieur which will much further the matter and it is reason that my Lord of Leicester be assured of favours both there and at home for some that like not this match may otherwise engender doubts in his Lordship And yet surely at this present he dealeth earnestly with her Majestie in the furtherance of the match you shall do well to let his Lordship understand what good opinion is had of him for so doing The matters in Scotland go hardly for us the Queens party by Granges means occupieth Edenburgh and the King is constrained to keep in Sterling both parties are in arms which yet are used defensive The Queen party hath had Money and Ammunitions from France The Bishop of Ross is still restrained and so deserveth The Queen liketh not of the Bishop of Glascows coming into the Realm Dr Story suffered at Tyborn on Fryday and there refused to give alleagiance to the Queens Majestie and professed to dye as the King of Spains Subject and so being arraigned on the Tuesday before at the Kings Bench he would not answer to the Indictment alledging that he was not a Subject of the Realm whereupon without further Tryal he was condemned as guilty of the Treasons contained in the Indictments The practises of Stewkley are abated in Spain by discovery of his lewdness and insufficiency Huggins is here arrived and so fare you well From Westminster the fifth of Iune 1571. Yours assuredly William Burleigh I send you a Note of our late Acts in Parliament To my very Friend Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador for the Queen Majestie in France I Have received your Letters by this Bearer who brought me also Letters from the King Queen Mother and Monsieur whom I perceived hath conceived good opinion of my devotion for the furtherance of the matter of marriage with the Queens Majestie I have thought good to return this Bearer again for that he desired speedy dispatch to whom I have imparted the state of that matter which onely doth stand upon the Article of Religion to which her Majestie will by no means relent All other Articles are reasonable and her Majestie hath shewed her Demands to this Ambassador and hath dispatched the same to you which I think will be with you before this For the other point touching Religion if I might advise them thereof they should not speak of it at all for sooner will her Majestie yield to reason himself that shall have that interest in her that shall be her husband then by any Contract or other Declaration And finding her Majestie disappointed upon the argument of that point to proceed as she hath seemed in the matter I cannot but hope of very good success to which for my part in respect of her Majesties surety and hope of universal good to the cause of Religion I must with well and further the best I can according to your advice whereof I thank you and am glad to see your consideration thereof This Bearer shall further declare some part of my minde unto you for that I know him to be honest and trusty and well devoted to her Majestie and the cause of Religion Thus with my most hearty commendations I bid you farewel In haste this seventh of Iune 1571. Your assured Friend Ro Leicester By the QUEEN To our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Francis Walsingham our Ambassador Resident with our good Brother the French King ELIZABETH R. RIght Trusty and Well-beloved we greet you well although we did heretofore think it reasonable to forbear the sending of any Articles to contain the Demands on our part until we might have a resolute Answer from the King to our former Answers made to his Articles sent hither by Cavalcant and namely to the Article touching Religion Yet finding by your Letters and the continual solicitation of the French Ambassador here Resident how earnestly the King desireth to see our Demands which when he shall have he will make answer to the former we are contrary to our own disposition induced by these means to send the same at this time as you shall receive the same in Articles whereof you shall advertise the King and Queen Mother and let them understand that were it not for the earnest solicitation of the Ambassador we would have forborn so to have done for that we take it it may be interpreted in some manner to touch us in honour that not having knowledge how the King will satisfie us in the matter of Religion which is the principal we should pass further into the Treaty of all the rest altogether upon uncertainty what to hope in the principal But to their satisfaction herein you shall say that we not onely caused the Earl of Leicester and Lord Burleigh whom onely of our Councel we have used herein according to our former agreement to impart our Demands in certain Articles to the French Ambassador but have also sent them now in writing to be by you shewed unto them having therein followed for the most part the form of things granted to our late Sister of Noble Memory Queen Mary as by the Treaty of Marriage betwixt King Philip and her may appear And further you shall say that these Articles are but briefly and summarily conceived by our foresaid Counsellours who have not the knowledge of the forms of Law requisite in such case so as we reserve to our selves power if the substance of them shall be granted to cause the same to be in form of Law inlarged by such others of our Councel as by learning can better do the same Besides we do deliver these Demands to be joyntly considered with the Articles of our first Answer to the Demands on their part brought by Cavalcant We perceive by the French Ambassador that certain Clauses which we agreed should be added to some of the first Articles were not contained in the Writing by you there shewed And not knowing whether in the writing of them there the same Clauses were omitted for more surety we send you a new Copy hereof to be shewed as you shall have occasion And if indeed those Clauses shall appear to have been omitted in the former the same was omitted but by the Writer If the King or any other shall press you to understand of our proceedings with the Queen of Scots as in misliking the restraint of the Bishop of Ross or in not determining her cause you shall for the first say that the evil parts done by the Bishop of Ross are such and so dangerous to us and our State as no Prince could suffer as we think the like without some sharp revenge For where in the late Rebellion in the North we understood that he had given the Heads of that Rebellion comfort to enter into the same which he could not deny being charged therewith but that secretly they had sent to him for ayd and comfort afore their Rebellion although he yield the same unto them nor thought it meet to utter the same and so
he willed me to assure her that he would never forget and further to signifie unto her that he made choise of the Marshal 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
both how inconvenient it would bâ— for her Son to live without some kinde of toleration as also that there would not follow by the same that inconvenience in her Estate as she feâ—â—ed In the end she concluded whatsoever in the matter through this hard poinâ— should become that both she and the King were infinitely bound unto her Majestie for her honourable and sincere dealing in this cause And that for her own part she would bear no less affection towards her thâ—n if she were her own natural daughter After I had done with her Monsieur came unto me and desired me on his behalf to renâ—er unto her Majestie most humble thâ—nks for the great liberality bestowed on his servant l' Archant who had made such report of her Majesties rare and Princely vertues as it was an intolerable grief unto him to see so great a block to lie in the way as the point of Religion which so nearly touched both his Honour and his Conscience to keep him from the attaining to the 〈◊〉 good hap that ever in the world could happen unto him He protested how he wished so that the same were â—â—removed he had lost an arm or a leg But howsoever saith he the matter fall out I shall desire her to make account of me as of a Champion ready at all times to hazard my life in her defence during my life against any that shall attempt any thing against her This in effect is as much as passed from them at this 〈◊〉 Nâ—gotiaâ—on And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this preâ—eâ—t I most humbly tâ—ke my leave At Melun the last of Iuly 1571. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honoâ—rable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester AFter long deliberation the King is 〈◊〉 to send over forthwith Monsieur de Fâ—ix with his 〈…〉 touching the matter in hand who as I suppose hath Commission â—o conclude either marriage or some 〈…〉 between the two Câ—owns They rest here very wâ—ll perswaded of her Majesties sincerity So that the matter resting now on those good 〈◊〉 if you find not in her Majestie 〈…〉 to marry a thing most 〈◊〉 for our stâ—ggering Sâ—ate then were it expedint to take good hold of 〈◊〉 which may serve to ease us for a 〈◊〉 though our disease 〈…〉 Her Majestie is bound to the Gentleman 〈◊〉 â—ow cometh he 〈◊〉 every way in defence of her honour as much as if he were her 〈…〉 he is like to â—ear a great 〈◊〉 in this Government and 〈…〉 affected as he is to her Majestie he may stand her in great stead therefore you shall do well to advise her Majestie both honourably to use and liberally to reward him And as for your particular part you cannot be more beholden to a stranger I doubt not therefore but that your Honour will use him accordingly Touching the point of Religion though some hope came lately from their Ambassador of some toleration they are grown more stiff in that point then before I am not to advise in so great a matter What my opinion is in that behalf I refer your Lordship to my former Letters Great practises are here for the impeachment of this match the P. Nuncio Spain and Portugal are daily Courtiers to disswade this Match The Clergy here have offered Monsieur a great pension to stay him from proceeding In conclusion there is nothing left undone that may be thought fit to hinder For a day or two it was given out that the matter was quite broken and that Monsieur had no meaning to procced In respect of this brute at the time of my being at the Court he used great words of assurance that there was no such matter and that he remained still most constantly affected saying that if it were his mishap not to proceed in this match he could not but think himself most unhappy He protested that he wished the loss of an arm or a leg as that difficulty might be so ordered as he might not be touched in Conscience and Honor. I used sundry perswasions to induce him to content himself with the form of our Prayer and not to stand so much upon a toleration which might be prejudicial both to her Majestie and himself the match proceeding In outward shew he seemed to have no disposition to râ—lent For certain respects they desire Monsieur de Foix coming to be kept secret until his arrival Besides Cavalâ—â—nts general good offices he doth in this cause your Honour is particularly beholding to him for the good office he useth towards you The desire I have to dispatch this bearer with some speed will not suffer me any longer to trouble you with these scribled lines And therefore in haste I commit your Lordship to Gods protection who send you to grow to some conclusion as may be to Gods glory and her Majesties safety From Melun the one and thirtieth of Iuly 1571. Your Lordships to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leceister MY Lord if neither Marriage nor Amity may take place the poor Protestants here do think then their case desperatâ— they tell me so with tears and therefore I do believe them And surely if they say nothing beholding the present state here I could not but see it most apparent What to hope of the marriage I know not because it hath so many overthrows both here and there If it may be to Gods glory and her Majesties safety and contentment I then wish it otherwise at an end Touching the conclusion of some League and Amity I hope every one doth wish it that desireth her Majesties safety and the benefit of our Countrey notwithstanding there lieth a block in the way whereat divers may stumble The block is our ancient League with the House of Burgundy which by entring into some strait League with France may somewhat be touched and for that the one cannot yield that profit that the other may at the first sight it may seem dispâ—table whether the same is to be received otherwise then after the accâ—stomed manner but if the circumstances of the present time be duly considered this block may be removed and the Amity that will be proffered profitably received The house of Burgundy till of late days was ever inferiour to England and so depended thereon but now being tyed to the house of Austria he is grown to the greatness as of inferior he is become superior of a good quiet Neighbor a most dangerous and ambitious Neighbor which we shall speedily finde if we do not speedily provide for it How evilly they rest satisfied with us in respect of the Injuries received it is well known how naturally they are inclined to Revenge the world hath had sufficient tryall of If presently they forbear it is not for lack of good will but in respect of the incommodity of the time which if the jealousie between them and France were taken away we should soon
given unto de Foix which he did repute to be done unto himself for that it was done for his sake Secondarily he willed me to shew unto her that he was glad to understand by him and receive at so good restimony of the great affection that her Majestie beareth unto him and of the desire she had not onely to continue in good Amity with him but also to encrease the same Lastly he willed me to shew unto her that her answer touching the point of Religion is very hard and that therefore he trusteth that the Gentleman whom he is put in hope she will send over shall have authority to qualifie the same as also to treat of some other matters to be propounded that may tend to the encrease of further Amity which he above all things desireth who shall be unto him very welcome and that he will strive with her in honouring of such Ministers as shall come from her Majestie whereby the good will he hath to honour her may appear After he had ended in this behalf he desired me to recommend again unto her Majestie Moris Chamails the Brittain on whose behalf he had lately written and sent his Letters unto his Ambassador to be delivered unto her Majesty and that he hoped for his sake that the said party should receive redress and come to an end of his long suit whereby he might have more cause to yield like justice to her Majesties Subjects at such time as they shall have recourse unto him for the same In this behalf I understand that the Councel here have promised him that if by the Ambassadors means his cause shall receive no end that then he shall have a Letter of Mart given him I find him very importunate and one that maketh very lewd reports how that he hath been put in fear of his life and that therefore he dare not return to follow his suit I beseech your Lordship that by your means I may receive some order from her Majestie how to answer him I was sent unto by the Lord Admirall to desire your Lordship to be a mean unto her Majestie that whereas there was delivered unto his late brother the Cardinall a Bill signed with her Majesties hand for the receipt of certain Jewells engaged that it would please her Majestie for that the said Bill is onely signed and not sealed which being sent unto me they will deliver the other unsealed upon the receipt of the same This he willed me to shew you that he doth it rather to content the Queen of Navarre then that he thinketh the other bill insufficient who thinketh his said Brother to have used some negligence in this behalf Thus leaving further to trouble your Lordship at this present I most humbly take my leave At Blois the 23 of September 1571. Your Honour to command Fr. Walsingham To Fr Walsingham Esq the Q. Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr you see that our Northern Planets have their influences to make changes as others in the Meridionall have howsoever Monsieur de Foix or the French Ambassador shall advertise of the cause now happened concerning the Duke of Norfolk this is the truth and so you may avow it The money was taken being by the Dukes commandment as he avoweth and confesseth received by Barker his man from the French Ambassador to have been sent to Banister the Dukes man dwelling about Shrewsbury to one Lowther and other of the Dukes servants secretly kept upon the West-borders and by him should have been sent to the Lord Harries and by him to Riddington There was in the Bag also Letters from the French Ambassador to Viraque in Cipher hereof Monsieur de Foix made mention before his departure and did think there was no other matter against the Duke which I would there had not but sith there was much other of great danger God is to be thanked that it is discovered as now it is There is found a long discourse about the D. sent from the Queen of Scots in Cipher to him the 7 of February last by which the said Q. layeth before the D. how she is Councelled from Spain to fly into Spain misliking utterly of the French by reason of the doubt of the Q. marriage with Anjou She doth also use hard words against the Queen Mother she doth also in this discourse conclude that she will make a semblance to the Spaniard of the liking of Don Iohn of Austria although she assureth the Duke of Norfolk of her countenance she moveth that Ridolf may be sent to Rome and to be directed wholly by the Duke of Norfolk with many moe things of such sort The Duke hath confessed the receipt of this from the Queen of Scots but denieth he was privie of Ridolfs going otherwise then that he was earnestly required by the Bishop of Ross to instruct him and write by him to the Duke of Alva to require aid of men and money for the Queens party in Scotland wherein he saith he did refuse to deal for the perill thereof He confessed that he had received four Letters from the Scotish Queen within this Twelve months and did answer them by Writing and all in Cyphering but his were only of Thanks and to move the Queen of Scots to depend only upon the Queens Majesty but herein the Duke can make none of us to credit him He saith also that before the sending of this money he helped the French Ambassador to send his Packet to Viracque in July We have also found his Cypher betwixt the Scotish Queen and him but all his writings are conveyed which he saith were by him burnt Now have we great cause to think that he was privy to the dangerous practise whereof we found Ridolph to have dealt in with the Duke of Alva in offering him that a Rebellion should be moved here this Summer if the Duke of Alva would assist it but of this the Duke will not be known But we do find more presently a smell that 258. Deep whereas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 28 at 740 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are at this time much perplexed herewith and secretly disposed to no good but there is waite laid upon them Now for Scotland the fourth of this moneth Huntley and Hamilton with others to the number of 300 secretly stole into Sterling in the night by Corruption of one Bell of Sterling who had a postern of a wall into the privy Garden they addressed themselves to the lodging of the Earle of Lennox the Regent Morton Glencarn Lord Rithill Mookgill and suddenly without any great resistance took them and was carrying them out of the Town with intent to have killed them but rescue came out of the Castle and so they were all saved but the Regent who was slain with a pistolet by one Calder who being taken confessed that Huntley and Lord Hamilton did so command him he is executed and so also is Bell that betrayed the Town the Regent lived 8 houres and died stoutly and godly The Earle
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
Prince invaded To which motion of the said Ambassador our Councel made such Answers by imparting to him the forms of former Treaties made both with the house of Burgundy and with the French Kings as he in the end seemed satisfied with such form of aid to be mutually agreed upon as you your self have propounded to them in your Paper delivered the 18 of the last in an Article verbatim taken out of a Treaty betwixt the Emperor Charls and the King our Father in the year 1548. being before that first devised in a Treaty at Cambray in the year 1529 and one principal reason to appoint that manner of aid better then any other was this If the aid should be given in a certainty and at the cost of the Prince that was not invaded upon every request of a Confederate there might great inconvenience follow in that one Prince might oftner burthen his Confederate in demanding succours without great necessity and in greater numbers then needfull was if the charges of the said succours should be maintained by the Confederate that so sent them and not by himself Whereas on the other part if the Prince that should demand succours should bear the charges of them himself he would never demand the same oftner nor in greater numbers nor keep them longer in pay then should be needfull And accordingly to this reason it was declared to the Ambassador That in all Treaties betwixt this Realm and France and also Burgundy the like Covenants were made in all Leagues saving one time with the Emperor Charls 1543. at which time the Treaty was made both Offensive and Defensive against the French King and yet in the same year 1546. the same clause for aid was by Treaty betwixt the said Princes revoked having not been at any time put in execution and the ancient manner of aid to be at the charges of the Prince demandant and with these and such like reasons the Ambassador seemed to be fully satisfied The third matter of doubt moved by the Ambassador was for the cause of Scotland that is in what sort that State might be comprehended in this Treaty and thereupon it was said to the Ambassador That we had no other intention in the matter of Scotland but to have the hostility and civil wars to cease and the Government of the Realm to be established to the contentation of the Nation for which purpose we had sent to both parties at difference to accord upon an abstinence from war so as they might the better Treat and accord amongst themselves which if they would not we would be content that any such whom the French King our brother should send thither should joyntly with some of ours imploy themselves with the credit and amity amongst us two to direct them to accord amongst themselves and therein we had no meaning to withdraw them from the ancient Intelligence with the Crown of France but that they might have and keep the amity with us both With which answer and resolution the Ambassador seemed well content requiring as the King his Master had forborn at our request to send any force to either party whereby to hinder any accord so we would do the like which was agreed unto him Lastly He moved the matter concerning the Article for the resort of our Merchants to some Ports of France with such liberties and securities as they had in other Regions offering that the King his Master was content to yield therein to any reasonable demand to the benefit of our Subjects To which answer was made That the Case did belong to our Merchants to consider what was meet for them who should be spoken withall and thereupon answer should be given This was the sum of that which passed betwixt the Ambassador and such of our Councel as were appointed to deal with him who were the Lord Keeper of our great Seal the Earl of Leicester the Lord Admiral the Lord of Burghly and Sr. Walter Mildmay And now although you may perceive by this Conference had with the Ambassador what be the things that we have cause to like or mislike upon the questions moved yet upon some further instruction of you we will summarily inform you what we like of the substance of the Articles sent unto us from you being propounded as well by the Kings Deputies as by your self First to the Articles in Latine delivered by the French Ambassador dated the 17 of January we mislike not of the first Article for the continuance of former Treaties in their force which is necessary to be specially for the saving of our rights and pretences to Callais according to the Treaty therefore made and remaining yet in force so as it be added to the end of the Article with Condition that nothing in any former Treaty be by this clause continued that shall be repugnant or derogatory to the Articles of this present Treaty The second and third prohibiting any aid to be given to any persons that shall invade and to make a League for a mutual defence against all persons that shall invade upon any cause We mislike not the Tenor of the said Articles so as the words added in the second Article of your Writing dated the 18 of January which are these Etiamsi fuerit religionâ—â— causa praetextu aut colore which we would have you earnestly press upon such reasons to be inserted as your self hath already remembred and therein we would have you secretly to cause them of the Religion there to understand of your demand and to help to further it and yet if you cannot have the same words to be specially inserted then you may according to your own offers insert into the Article these words â—ub quocunque praetextu vel colore quavis de causa nulla omnino qualicunque excepta and besides these you shall in secret manner move and most earnestly press it that some special promise may be made in a secret writing betwixt the King and us signed and sealed mutually with both our hands for that purpose expresly if any Invasion should be made as though the same had been expressed in the Treaty without which secret provision to be made considering the matter hath been in question we would be very loath that you should accord We do not like that which is devised by them which beginneth Conventum est quod quotiescunque ullus princeps c. wherein they would have aid given if any person go about to change or alter any Laws or Edicts against the will of the Prince but we rather like to have the aid only given in case of invasion or purpose of invading For by the words of this Article we may percase hereafter be required to aid that King in the breaking of his own Edicts for Religion in case he himself shall be thereto willing and that either of this Subjects or any others shall attempt or alter the Edicts that may be made against the Religion reformed The Article beginning
we do long so much for answer out of England it being 22 daies since Mr. Beal departed from hence and we thought but upon 15. the thing being here so desired of them so necessary as we think for us that the fault we find there we will not have found in us but rather send all that we have here and be sick for grief that we hear nothing from you then you would excuse us there by our like doings here Your Lordship may be well assured there is nothing more expected and looked for then the Queens Majesties resolution in these two points whereof for the one the League is accounted aâ— sure both of us and them the other for the marriage although in suspence yet in great hope so much as they get in uncertainly in such a matter on their side for our parts as we have said we can say nothing whereof we are more sorry and do lament in our hearts to see such uncertain so negligent and irresolute provision for the safety of the Queens Majesties person and of her Reigne over us God of his almighty and miraculous power preserve her long to Reigne over us What shall we say more that is done heretofore even to this day is written fully what shall be written fully what shall be written for you and what God hath disposed to be done we cannot know till we hear from you His grace and mercy turn all to the best and preserve her Majestie and your Lordship with long life and felicity From Blois this Palm Sunday 1571. Th. Smith To my Lord Burleigh YOur Lordships Letters of the 20 of March made us both Mr. Walsingham and me in the reading for we read them both together in a marvelous agony but having the medicine ready that her Majestie was within an hour recovered it did in part heal us again but as your Lordship writeth the care doth not yet cease in you you may be assured it doth as little cease in us calling to our remembrance and laying before our eyes the trouble the uncertainty the disorder the peril and danger which had been like to follow if at that time God had taken from us that stay of the Commonwealth and hope of our repose that Lanthorn of our light next God whom to follow nor certainly where to light another Candle but if the Queens Majestie do still continue in extremities to promise in recoveries to forget what shall we say but as Italians do Passato il pericolo gabbato il fanto And you shall perceive by our proceedings what justly may be required is easie to be done and done if her Majesty deceive her self and with irresolution make all Princes understand that there is no certainty in her Majestie nor her Councel but dallianâ—e and farding off of time her Majestie shall first discredit her Ministers which is not much but next and by them discredit her self to be counted as uncertain irresolute unconstant and for no Prince to trust unto but as to a Courtier who hath words at will and true deeds none Your Lordship must pardon me for I have here kept so long that I am now in an Ague both in body and spirit nor seeing no cause why Mr. Beal cometh not nor any reason shewed neither in her Majesties Letters nor yours why he doth not come as the humours in my body maketh an Ague in my body whereof I would it should make an end so this irresolution there with you I hope will help to conclude that I shall feel no more miseries which I fear those that come after us shall feel Quia non videbimus tempus visitationis nostrae Thus I commit your Lordship to Almighty God From Blois this Good-Friday 1571. Because the French King doth deal so plainly faithfully and frankly with the Q. Majestie at this time touching the matters in Scotland I pray move her Majestie to deal as frankly with him and let de Crocque be privy to your Instructions and let them be conformable to his and if he shall think so meet you may add more to them for they would have the Commission to be joyntly to doe and with common consent all things To my Lord Burleigh MY very good Lord With much difficulty at the last we have concluded the League and â—r Walsingham and I were fain to stand even to the breaking of all together The last Instructions seemed to us so precise for the Scotch matters we taking them as concluded between the Queens Majestie and Mr. de la Mot their Ambassador Resident there that he did not so conclude nor had no such authority but that it was referred again to us In fine after five or six daies debating the 14 of this month we came to this We yielded to put out and in those words as be in the Instructions as de la Mott required and to change one or two more which varied not the sentence but made it more clear and remitting to us the last Article of reservation to the Scots we remitted also to them the 24. because we would once be at a point And where reservation is needless in a League defensive where is â—o derogation to other Leagues defensives yet we would not that the Queens Majestie should seem any more to relent to them then they to her Highness All the rest they accorded to us as we would desire and in all points as is required in her Highness Letters to us as ye may perceive by the Treaty and by our demand in Latine and that which we followed or gave us reason why not which we send unto you indeed that word present is not so necessary nor effectual for when we speak Statum Scotiae and if you put praesentem and now it is in trouble and doubt may be made whether you would maintain the troubled State or no and so present shall be Determinatio diminuens as homo furibundus seminectus moribundus moriens somniens for so is a Commonwealth in sedition And again when you say Contra publicas Soctiae Leges consuetudines Parliamenta it is understood by common sense praesentes for Laws and Statutes abrogated or antiquated be not Laws so they confessed unto us that they got nothing by putting out praesentem or praesentis but that it lay not so open unto cavillations as though they should by special words maintain the troubled State or allow the Parlament whereby the Queen was deprived and the King allowed although indeed in tacite they would not deny but it was allowed and in the plain sense of the words wherein they said they did much for the Q. Maj. that they were content to make no mention of the Q. of being so their friend and allie but gave her over to the Q. Maj. and in all things relent to her Highness desires so they may have any colour to sâ—ve the K. their Masters honour Likewise where the maintaining of Rebels done by the Scots and the expulsion to expell them was set
to shew unto her Majestie Duke d' Alanson who was there present desired me to present unto her Majestie his most humble and affectionate commendations and to shew her that so great was the honour that she did unto his servant la Mote as he desired nothing more then to have occasion to shew himself thankful by doing her service and that therefore it would please her to make account of him as of one that is wholly hers In this time of trouble he hath often sent unto me and offered me some of his guard for my surety La Motte shewed himself most thankful for the honour he hath received and every man maketh most honourable report of her Majestie wherefore she may think the good usage of him very well imployed on him The Lord Levingston and divers other Scotish Gentlemen who see here no way to enjoy the liberty of their conscience do desire passport wherein I mean to use less difficulty then heretofore I have done for that they seem upon the last accident to desire most perfect Amity between the two Crowns of England and Scotland in respect of the common cause of Religion I suppose passing by that way and receiving good entertainment at her Majesties hands they will rather do good then harm at home by making them in the Countrey understand what had passed here and the danger that is like to follow without perfect union between the said Crowns Some of the wisest sort of them here that before were enemies and now are become friends do wish that her Majestie sought to make some reconciliation between the Earl Morton and the Lord Lidington and that her Majestie by some pension did make both him and others assured to her They think that her Majestie by so doing in disbursing of two or three thousand pounds a year may save the disbursing of many thousands besides the avoiding of many dangerous practises that are like to grow that way This device might seem to savour of the particular benefit were not the circumstances of the present time reasonable for the same The Ambassador of Scotland telleth such of his Nation as are here that the Kings meaning is to make as great account of them as ever he did That those of the guard for their better entertainment shall have a Captain of their own Nation and further that the Kings meaning is to erect again certain men of Arms under the conduct of some Nobleman of that Nation I leave to her Majestie to consider what this courtesie to that Nation meaneth Sir I beseech you to move her Majestie that for the time that I shall remain here which I hope shall not be long I may hear often from her whereby I may the better know how to direct my course This inclosed Letter of Montmorency was sent me from Secretary Pynart whereby it may appear that he was procured to write to their Majesties And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this Present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the fourteenth of September Your Honours to command F. Walsingham To the Right Honourable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principal Secretary SIr it may please you to advertise her Majestie That of late the King here was advertised from his Ambassador Resident in Flanders how that the ninth of this moneth the Prince of Orange approaching near unto Montz and being fully resolved to fight with his enemy commanded forth of his Army four hundred footmeen and five hundred light horsemen the Prince himself and the rest of his Army following them somewhat afar off in very good order On the righr hand of his Battaile there stood a mill where he planted six pieces of Artillery as well to defend himself as to offend his enemy with more advantage The Duke of Alva likewise sent out against the Prince five hundred Spaniards Harquebushiers and six hundred light horsemen with Harquebushiers a Crock on the right hand of them he set two thousand Rutters and on the left wing as many In this sort they came at length to hand strokes the fight dured a long time to wit from twelve of the clock at noon to six of the clock at night but in the end by means of the Prince of Oranges Artillery the Duke of Alva's horsemen were put in so great disorder as they were constrained to retire themselves into their Tents not without great loss The number of them that were slain is not yet certainly known although it is reported that the Duke hath lost above three thousand men This victory is thought to proceed of 250 horsemen who issued forth of Montz during the Conflict and set upon the tail of the Duke Alva's Army who also afterwards joyned with the Prince of Orang◠Thus much I thought good to write to the end her Majestie may understand how things pass in Flanders Touching the state of this Countrey there is nothing meant but extremity towards those of the Religion On Sunday last which was the fourteenth of this moneth the young Princess of Conde was constrained to go to Mass being threatned otherwise to go to prison and so consequently to be made away The Prince of Conde hath also yielded to hear Mass upon Sunday next being otherwise threatned to go to the Bastile where he is not like long to serve The Friday before Queen Mother told me that no bodies conscience for saith she here is the King of Navarre the Prince of Conde and divers others in this Court that live with liberty of conscience and so shall continue notwithstanding saith she that the King could be content and could wish that they were all converted and become Catholiques And I do perceive that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and therefore I hope her Majestie will stand upon her guard and strengthen her self with the Amity of the Protestant Princes of Germany who as I hear are awake and marvellously stomach this late cruelty and do think that the danger thereof will reach to themselves if they do not seek to prevent it I hope also her Majestie will establish things in such 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and wil not suffer her to be abused with her fair speech having had so late experience of her faithless dealing when the King is once possessed of Rochel which he hopeth to have shortly Strozzees voyage is then directly to Scotland All the Hugonote lands which will amount to many millions shall be sold and imployed in the Conquest of Countreys which I hope in God will prove an account without the host if God do not blinde the eyes of the Princes of the Religigion who joyning together shall be able to make their parts good against any of those that shall have will to do them harm One Roulart a Catholique and Canon of Nostre Dame and also a Counsellour in the Parliament uttering certain speeches in misliking this lawless kind of proceeding without justice was apprehended and committed to prison and in prison murthered
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
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
Almains the King can besiege neither Rochel nor any other Town for the Frenchmen are not fir for the keeping of Artillery nor to make the body of the battel of footmen The King doth send into Germany to see if he can appease the Almains as also to procure succours if he shall need them He hath received at their hands many a churlish answer and notwithstanding without respect had of the difference of their degrees he for beareth not to woo them The nineteenth of this moneth there arrived here the Bishop of Valences Secretary out of Polonia who giveth them great hope of the Election of Monsieur and yet some part of his tale giveth men cause to judge that there is no great reason so to think for that he saith by the reason of the plague that there reigneth the Nobility to whom the election appertaineth have not yet assembled so that all this hope seemeth to be grounded upon some particular conference that the Bishop hath had with some of the said Electors who perhaps when the matter shall come to through debating will change their opinion Men of judgement here that know that Countrey do think that if the Bishop of Valence had had a million of gold accompanied with his eloquence to be stow amongst them he might then be able to do somewhat but otherwise they think that eloquence without treasure will gain no Kingdom The Venetians of late have taken four French ships and have put some of them to torture to make them confess the colouring of certain Turkish goods as which news the King was very much offended and therefore hath given them leave of Marseilles to use all means of revenge From Antwerp they write that the Duke of Alva by the benefit of the last frost hath taken certain Towns in Holland which thing is not altogether believed for that the Ambassador here hath received no letters for confirmation of the same The news of the Earl of Morton to be chosen Regent Boughan and the Lords of Lougâ—leuin to have the Government of the King doth very much mislike them and therefore her Majestie hath cause the more to like of it And so leaving to trouble your Honour any further at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the two and twentieth of December 1572. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and his very good Lord the Earl of Leicester MY very good Lord I had very well hoped that the reasons for my return would have countervailed any that Mr. Carew could alledge for his stay I forbear to express my grief for that I am somewhat in hope some other shall be choâ—en that shall not slip his head out of the collar I beseech your Lordship therefore to continue your assistance in that behalf Touching the hope of having Rochel by composition the wind is come about they being now perswaded that there is no way to have it but by force whatsoever her Majestie saith to the contrary they cannot here but believe that they of Rochel receive encouragement from her Majestie to hold out The Switzers as I am given to understand have concluded at a late Diet held by them to give no succour this way which falleth out contrary to their way Those people are not so gross but that they foresee the end that the late accident here tendeth to I would others whom it toucheth as nearly would so think The late election of the Regent in Scotland doth altogether miscontent them here and some threatnings are given out that it shall not so long stand for good for that the same passed not with the content of both parties but onely by the choice of one faction So leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the two and twentieth of December 1572. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh STeward being made acquainted with the contents of your Lordships Letters telleth me that 9 meaneth to stand upon the denial and therefore requested me with all diligence to dispatch this messenger and in his name 3 to deny also if any question shall be moved in that behalf That Davison never propounded any such matter notwithstanding he desireth that the ship may stay at 2 â—â— 6 ry 9 or 10 days that if upon better consideration reason shall move him to alter his opinion he may take the benefit thereof if necessity shall force him thereto He willeth me further to advertise your Honour that 9 meaneth to send a Gentleman expresly with full mind unto Davison with order to communicate the same from him to 3 to whom he desireth that there may be credit given I perceive by them that they cannot tell well what to resolve until there be conference had with â— if they mean not to take profit of the ship I have taken order with them to send one to the Port to cause him to depart Because your Lordship is sometimes absent from the Court I thought good to send your Lordship the Copy of the Letter I write to Master Secretary besides the contents whereof I learn that Monsieur D'Aux is stoln away from Constantinople and is presently retired to Ragusa where he remaineth the cause of his departure from thence is unknown unto the King who is very much offended withal He hath expresly sent a messenger unto him to will him upon his allegiance to return unto Constantinople and to continue his charge there Some do gâ—ess that the cause of his departure from thence was for that he feared that the King would take some order for the murthering of him there as suspected of Religion The Cardinal of Lorrain hath took upon him before his departure from Rome to promise the Pope that the King here should enter into the League which thing is thought not fit at this time until the King hath appeased his troubles at home It is thought that one chief cause of the Duke of Savoys coming tendeth to make some complot against Geneva as also to conclude some straiter amity then heretofore hath been between this Crown and Spain the means whereof is thought to be the marriage of Monsieur and the King of Spains daughter They seem here to be no less sorry for the E. of Derby then for D. Chasteirault what moveth them so to be I know not Though there hath grown some alteration in her Majesties resolution touching my return by the choice of Mr. Carew yet I hear there lacketh no care in your Lordship to find out some other to supply the room for the which I have most just cause to render unto your Lordship most humble thanks And thus having nothing else to impart unto your Lordship I most humbly take my leave At Paris the two and twentieth of December 1572. Your Honours to command F. Walsingham SIr the day after Monsieur Mannesires arrival which was the 23 of this
communicated the things unto her Majestie because it passed the bounds of my function here which is onelie to advertise Notwithstanding seeing the same is not used with that secresie as is fit I will avoid hereafter to offend Touching the Counts being acquainted with the matter of secrecie your Lordship shall understand that the partie that made me acquainted withal delivered me certain Letters sent from the place you wot of which I caused my men to deliver unto him by the which he came to the knowledge of the matter Now to come to your Lordships latter letter I see great cause to confer the likelihood of my letters of the four and twentieth of the last for that there is great hope conceived here that by large offers they have lately made to such Towns as hold out they will grow to a composition which in the end will be neither good for themselves nor for us howsoever the Ambassador there speaketh by the absence of some from hence I cannot be able to discover any more touching the Scotish affairs then alreadie I have done And now that the Court removeth I am cut off from all means to have any great intelligence either for that matter or others especially for that I shall be constrained for lack of abilitie to remain here still being unfurnished of all means to follow the Court And then seeing my remaining here shall be unprofitable unto her Majestie and to my undoing I hope her Majestie will no longer defer my revocation which I doubt not your Lordship will further as much as you may And so leaving c. To Sir Thomas Smith SIr after the closing up of my other Letters I received yours of the nine and twentieth of Ianuary Touching the contents of the same I will not fail upon the next convenient occasion to deal with her Majestie here concerning the Scotish matters though I be not provoked by them because I am directed so to do Notwithstanding in my poor opinion as I mean here to say nothing but to do somewhat that may tend to the continuance of the troubles there until such time as ther own things being settled at home they proceed in prosecuting their other practises so were it not amiss for her Majestie to use like silence and to provide to withstand their malice but herein I am to do as I am commanded The Scotish Ambassador is advertised by the ship late arrived out of Scotland into Flanders how that Iames Cancald is arrived at a place if I do not mistake it called Aberdeny in the Earl of Huntleys Countrey to which place Viracque who latelie departed from hence is appointed to repair The Lord Levingston desireth most earnestly to have a passport to pass through England for that he is wearie of this Countrey and would fain be at home He promiseth to communicate to her Majestie at his arrival at the Court such things as she shall not repent the granting of the same And if sâ—e shall have any doubt of him he will be content to remain their Prisoner for mine own opinion I think it not amiss to grant it him for that I learn by some of credit that he communicateth his secrets to that he misliketh their doings here and the pretended enterprize towards our Island as one that tendeth to the overthrow of Religion and the ruine both of England and Scotland I have promised by the next to give him a resolute answer and therefore I beseech you to put her Majesty in mind of the same Now to come to mine own particular I had well hoped my stay here should not have been so long protracted and that my miserable case should have been otherwise weighed especially seeing my state here should breed but a hinderance to my self and no benefit to her Majesty For now the Court removeth from hence I shall be driven to remain here and not to follow the same for lack of ability having neither furniture money nor credit I beseech you Sir therefore to lay my case before her Majesty who I hope will so graciously consider the same as I shall be presently relieved and others receive no discouragement to accept like service And so leaving further to trouble your Honor at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the sixth of February 1572. To the right Honorable Francis Walsingham Esq the Queens Majesties Ambassadour in France SIR I have received your Letters of the 20 of this moneth with the ticket after your accustomed manner concerning and was on Friday last with the party on whom you made mention to be from he spake with Glasco and Davison with him I see there was a great mistaking of our doings for by Davisons writing of a ship sent to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 imagining that Hall 3. had a meaning to provoke Glascoâ—9 â—9 to come hither whereupon this last Gentleman came to enquire of Hall some assurance if should so do to enquire 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This you must think must needs appear very strange Whereupon before Davison I did declare that all that was done came of him with earnest and lamentable requests to have Glasco preserved because he said that had gotten such knowledge of the same as the same would tend to the ruine of and so the party that now was sent is departed well certified of the truth but not satisfied of his request It is good to deal warily herein for some cause to mistrust that Davison and all his partners do nothing herein without knowledge of and therefore it is in such sort herein ordered as there can be no advantage taken I trust And so also you may look to your doings as I see you are disposed by the occasion of the fond handling that you see I am much perplexed with the dishonor done to my Lord of Worcester her Majesties Ambassador on the seas before Bulloign Wherefore by his own report I know you shall know the truth better then I yet do know I could wish my self a meet person for the service upon the seas to avenge it I have received your French lying book which might trouble me if my life had merited such vile and spitefull poisoned speech but I trust God will suffer the good to think of me as I have deserved I have imparted to the French Ambassador my misliking of this lewd Book in that it hath been translated by a man of note in that Court and he sheweth himself to procure the suppression of it What he will or can do herein I know not After the writing of the former part hereof your later Letters of the 24 were brought to me by which you advertise of the like likely Councell there intended for the appeasing of those inward troubles in that Realm and of the pretended favours to be shewed to them of the religion in odium tâ—rtii according to which devises hath already been begun here by this Ambassador with the French King here and such is his vehemency of speech and fair offers as he
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
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
Majestie had been already mindfull thereof and I would not fail to sollicite it at mine access unto the King Du Uray returning to me after the report that he and his associates appointed to confer with me had made to conferr with his Highness told me that whereas they had perswaded him seeing your Majesties resolution was signified to forbear to prosecute it any further they found his affection so setled that he minded not so to give it over and how that they perceived by him that after he had once taken order for the matters of Cambray he will make a voyage over to your Majestie to lay down before you his own reasons himself with this affection notwithstanding that if his reasons and perswasions shall not be found meet to take place he will never hate where he once loved but will for ever imbrace the amity of your Majestie and the Realm Also your Majestie by these Letters written to my Lord Treasurer shall understand what passed this day between Queen Mother and me at the time of my audience which I thought meet to impart unto the Duke who being then in bed when I had finished with Queen Mother I desired that I might have the honour as to speak with him at his bed-side which it pleased him to assent unto who after I had let him understand the substance of that which passed between his mother and me praying his assistance to remove the impediments that I saw she did stand upon which was to have the League accompanied with the marriage for that it greatly imported the action he had in hand that the League were presently proceeded in To this he answered That the matter of a League partained to his brother the matter of marriage saith he is the only matter that concerneth me which notwithstanding the small hope I put him in yet was he resolute not to give it over And thereupon fell into very earnest request with me that I would plainly let him know whether I had not some further matter to deliver then that I had yet imparted unto him touching the marriage whereof when I assured him I had none to impart unto him he did then declare unto me as he did before that I should find the King very resolute not to imbrace the League without the marriage I did then shew him that I hoped that if he and his mother with that affection that the cause it self did merit did joyn together they might so dispose the Kings mind before hand to give better ear to the League then his Highness did put me in comfort wherein I shewed him that I should hope he would deal the more effectually if he could lay aside his affection and look into the cause as a politique Prince ought to do preferring the publique especially his honour being so farr ingaged as it was before his private desires but in the humor I found now I shewed him that I greatly suspected the Kings resolution grew through his perswasion wherewithall he was very merry and did let me understand again that it was very hard for a man upon the sudden to lay aside an affection which he had harbored in his breast so long a season Touching this subject there passed many pleasant speeches from his Highness which he delivered with a singular grace as any person that ever I knew I presume the rather to write these particularities to your Majestie for that by some speech that passed from him I perceived I should do a thing very agreeable to him to acquaint your Majestie withall Amidst these publique matters I may not forget with all humility to signifie unto your Majestie how infinitely I think my self bound unto you for the gracious usage of the she-Ethiopian your comfortable Postscript in the Earl of Leicesters Letters other your most gracious and favourable speeches given out publiquely since my departure of the good opinion it pleaseth your most excellent Majestie to hold of your poor and unprofitable servant which though the undeserved favours cannot increase my wonted care yet do they minister unto me a most singular comfort by making my service less burthenous through your Highness gracious acceptation of the same The Lord bless the rest of your Majesties years with that happiness of Government which hitherto through Gods goodness you have enjoyed and confound those which wish the contrary Your Majesties most humble Subject Fran. Walsingham To the right honorable my very good Lord the Lord Treasurer MY very good Lord It may please your Lordship to advertise her Majestie that on Wednesday last being the 20 day of August I arrived at the Castle of Fere in Tartinois a house of Montmorencies about the 11 in the morning somewhat sooner then the Duke looked for me through the negligence of the Gentleman whom he sent to visit me at Meaulx whom I prayed to advertise the said Duke that I meant to be at the place above mentioned the self-same morning I arrived there notwithstanding I found before my coming thither a Lodging very well furnished prepared for me and order given for my Diet and for the placing of my horses in the stable belonging to the said Castle immediately upon my repair thither the Duke sent his Chancellor Mr. le President Reyne and Kingsey his Secretary to excuse the Duke that there was sent no body to meet me After that divers Gentlemen as Farmangues and other of quality came by his order to visit me so that there lacked no good will in his Highness to make it appear that he was most ready to honour such as should be sent unto him from her Majestie I doe the rather dwell upon the setting forth of the manner of the entertainment lest perhaps some other might advertise that forasmuch as there was no body sent to meet me by the way the Ministers sent from thence be not received here with the like regard and care as they are there I do assure your Lordship that no man could have more care to excuse the omitting of the ceremony in that there was none sent me by the way then the Duke had Besides in this time his Highness is to be excused for omitting of ceremonies being overcharged with affairs having especially to direct an Army compounded of voluntaries about three of the clock the same afternoon I had access unto him and after I had acquainted him with the points propounded by the King to her Majesties Ambassador and Mr. Sommers before I did let him understand what answer was made by her Majestie to the same he shewed me that the King his brother was most resolute not to proceed in the amity untill it might appear what might become of the marriage and therefore he advised me to think how I might be able to satisfie him therein for that otherwise he saw no likelihood that the other two points touching the League and the secret Treaty should take any effect Wherein I replyed that I doubted not but that the King his brother being
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
conceiveth it that it may serve your turn And as for the league we were in hand withal if the King would have assented that the same should have proceeded in general terms according to such direction as we have lately received from your Majestie I am for sundry causes led to think that it would have proved unprofitable as generally I know that there is a president to confirm the same but if in that time a King of Scots pretending a title to the Crown of England was like by matching with Spain to have wrought that peril towards your Majesties father as he is towards you he would not then have stood upon generality as your Majestie doth now For in diseased bodies there is not alwaies like use of medicines sometimes when your Majestie doth behold in what doubtful terms you stand with Forreign Princes then you do wish with great affection that opportunities offered had not been slipped But when they are offered to you if they be accompanied with charges they are altogether neglected Common experience teacheth that is as hard in a pollitique body to prevent any mischief without char ges as in a natural body diseased to cure the same without pain Remember I humbly beseech your Majestie the respect of charges hath lost Scotland and I would to God I had no cause to think that it might put your Highness in peril of the loss of England I see it and they stick not to say it that the only cause that moveth them here not to weigh your Majesties friendship is for that they see your Majestie doth fly charges otherwise then by doing somewhat underhand It is strange considering in what state your Majestie standeth that in all the directions that we have now received we have special charge not to yield to any thing that may be accompanied with charges The general Leagùe must be without any certain charges The particular League with a voluntary and no certain charge as also that that is to be attempted in favour of Don Anthonio the best is that if they were as they are not inclined to deal in any of these points then they were like to receive but small comfort for any thing that we have direction to assent unto Heretofore your Majesties predicessors in matters of peril did never look into the charges when their Treasure was neither so great as your Majesties is nor Subjects so wealthy nor so willing to contribute A person that is diseased if he look only upon the medicine without regard of the pain he sustaineth cannot in reason and nature but abhor the same if therefore no peril why then it is in vain to be at any charges but if there be peril it is hard that charges should be preferred before peril I pray God the abatement of the charges towards that Noble man that hath the custody of the bosom-serpent hath not lessened his care in keeping of her To think that in a man of his birth and quality after twelve years travel in charge of such weight to have an abatement of allowance and no recompence otherwise made should not work discontentment no man that hath reason can so judge and therefore to have so special a charge committed to a person discontented every body seeth it standeth no way with pollicy what dangerous effects this loose keeping hath bred the taking away of Morton the alienation of the King and a general revolt in Religion intended only by her charges doth shew And therefore nothing being done to help the same is a manifest argument that the peril that is like to grow thereby is so fatal as it can no way be prevented If this sparing and improvident course be held still the mischief approaching being so apparent as they are I conclude therefore having spoken in heat of duty without offence to your Majestie that no one that serveth in place of a Counceller that either weigheth his own credit or carrieth that sound affection to your Majestie as he ought to do that would not wish himself in the farthest part of Ethiopia rather then enjoy the fairest Palace in England The Lord God therefore direct your Majesties heart to take that way of councel that may be most for your honour and safety September 2. F. Walsingham To the Lord Treasurer MY very good Lord the day following my conference with Queen Mother La Mot repaired unto me sent from her to give me thanks for the speech I had used towards her the day before and prayed me that I would further some good and speedy resolution of the marriage He did acknowledge in talk that passed between us touching my Negotiation with the said Queen that that point which I touched concerning the employment of Monsieur in the Low-Countries for the avoiding of the devision that might grow between the two brethren is a matter that those that wish well unto the King and desire the continuance of the repose of that Realm had great care of which was not the least cause that moved them greatly to desire the marriage which not taking place they saw his employment in the Low-Countries very necessary letting me understand that they found it strange that they heard nothing of 〈…〉 of any intelligence that passed between the Prince of Orange and the Duke 〈◊〉 greatly to the end that the said Duke might be known of the people of the Low-Countries he might be drawn to make his residence at Antwerp 〈◊〉 some of the inward places of the Countrie I see it a general opinion among 〈◊〉 wisest sort here considering the general evil satisfaction that the people have of the present government that it will be very hard to maintain good concord between the two brethren in case the Duke should reside here within the Realm And it is most assured that the affection that the Nobility here do bear to Monsieur which hath appeared by his late Army compounded of voluntaries the same consisting principally of Noblemen and Gentl. hath greatly increased the Kings jealousie towards him and hath not been the least hinderance of that support that otherwise the said King might have been drawn to have given The Duke of Guise is of late crept into a very inward credit with the said King which ought to move her Majestie to be more carefull of the matters of Scotland for that there are daily consultations in the Dukes house especially since advertisements are come hither out of Scotland that the King doth submit himself to any such direction as his mother shall give him even so far forth as the yielding up of the Government to her if she shall think it meet Douglass attendeth some answer from her touching some things that he hath not long since sent unto her upon the return whereof they are to grow to a through resolution for the causes of that Realm I find confirmed by divers that a general hope is conceived of alteration of Religion in that Realm ere a year come about in furtherance whereof