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
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
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
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
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
Currier who overtook him at Bullen arived here a day or two before him After the arrival of the said Currier it was given out here that l' â—â—chant brought but a cold answer whereby it might appear to them that his first assurance was not without good ground With this those that favored the marriage were very much appaled L' â—rchant being come and making so honourable a report of her Majesties sincerity and honourable dealing the same also being confirmed by Monsieur de la Mâ—ts Letters as a matter though desperate begaâ— again to revive Hereupon they have with certain choise Counsellors conferred what resolution is to be taken they have continued in Councel chiefly about this matter about the space of five or six days and yet cannot resolve what to do I am put in hope that though the matter proceed not yet that the Kings intention is to send some person of good quality as well to thank her Majestie for her honourable proceeding in this cause as also to desire continuance of good amity Of thus much I thought good to advertise her Majestie before hand and when they have fully resolved what they will do I mean to dispatch another And thus leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take leave From Melun the seven and twentieth of Iuly 1571. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester I Most humbly thank your Lordship for your frank and plain dealing towards me touching your opinion of their cause There is bred in them here now of late such a doubt before l' Archants arrival of her Majesties disposition to marry as they know not how to proceed This doubt is nourished by advertisements come from the Scotish Ambassador there with you who pretendeth to know all secrets of State If this distrust were not no doubt of it Religion would not be the let but to yield in Religion and afterwards to miss of their purpose they think would be a great touch in her This difference I fear me will quite overthrow the matter and therefore it behoveth her Majestie to look about her being invironed with many practises the executions whereof have staid upon the event of the match I do what I can to procure continuance or rather increase of amity The King himself as I learn is very well inclined thereto the rather through a mislike he hath of Spain I had well hoped there would have grown some broyâ— between them but that matter as far as I can learn will prove but a dream and now this match not proceeding as they seem much to doubt it the King as I suppose will be loath to attempt any thing against Spain though his will that way be good Her Majesties liberality bestowed on l' Archant was very well imployed for none can speak more honourably of her then he doth and as for your Lordship you have no cause to repent any courteâ—ie shewed unto him so good a report doth he make The like also doth one Cornet make that accompanied l' Archant The Ambassador there Monsieur de la Mot doth seek to salve all things that may breed an opinion in them here that her Majestie dealeth otherwise then sincerely his good offices that he hath done as well in this cause as otherwise deserve honourable considerations at her Majesties hands They have by the space of five or six days sate very hard in Councel about this matter no Councel dare devise as I can learn any thing in respect of the distrust they have I am put in good hope that if they mind not to proceed yet they purpose to make choice of some one of good calling to send over as well to thank her Majestie for her sincere dealing in this matter as also to desire continuance of amity This is as much as hitherto I can learn touching their intention concerning this matter wherewith I thought good to dispatch this bearer and after the through conclusion what they mind to do then â—orthwith I minde to dispatch another And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave From Melun the seven and twentieth of Iuly 1571. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may please your Lordship to advertise her Majestie that after I had closed up my first packet thinking to have sent this Bearer presently with the same Mr. Cavalcant came unto me sent by the Queen Mother to request me to forbear to sent to her Majestie for a day or two in which time they would grow to some through conclusion touching their answer and that then it was the Kings meaning to send for me and to impart the same unto me whereupon I thought good to stay for the satisfying of her request According to her promise I was sent for by the King at my access he told me that they had deliberated upon the answer received from her Majestie by l' Archant for that the same was of great weight and that his resolution after long deliberation was to send Monsieur de Foix forthwith unto her Majestie with his full intention touching the same who he hoped should find her not so resolute touching the point of Religion And further he willed me to tell her Majestie whatsoever should come of the cause that in respect of her honourable and sincere dealing in the same and the greaâ— confidence she shâ—â—â—d to repose in him she might assure herself as much of his friendship as of any other bodies in the earth and that she had full power to dispose of him and of his Realm to the benefit of her self and of her Subjects whose sword should be always ready to defend her against any that should attempt any thing against her He joyned his words and countenance so together as great demonstration outwardly of inward good will could not but be seen Having ended with the King I repaired to Queen Mother who used long speech in shewing the great affection she bare to the cause and that she was sorry that so hard a point as Religion should be the let to hinder a match whereof there would grow so great benefit to both the 〈◊〉 I told 〈◊〉 that if it pleased her she might remove that 〈◊〉 by the perâ—wading of 〈◊〉 Son to content himself with the exercise of our Religion She told me she could hardly do that for that it was a thing that touched his 〈◊〉 and reputation I willed her again on the other side to weigh what great reason the â—ueen my Mistress had not to yield to that point She shewed me that she could not deny but that her Majestie had some cause so to do notwithstanding she hoped there would be some â—elp found the party whom the King meant to send being so grateful unto her Majestie and having sundry reasons to alledge to shew
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
the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester BY your Lordships of the twentieth of October sent by Mr. Killegrew I conceive great hope of her Majesties consideration of my chargable living here and because your Lordship hath been a most earnest furtherer of the same I most humbly thank you as also for that it pleaseth your Lordship to promise the continuance of your said furtherance when occasion shall be offered wherein the same will stand you in any stead which I will presume with that boldness to use as I hope your Lordship will imploy me wherein your Honour may have any use of my poor service The cause of my present sending is to advertise of the victory had by sea of the Christian against the Turk The Conflict was the seventh of the last moneth not far from Câ—rfu between Morea and Lepanto There escaped as the Venetian Ambassador gave me to understand onely four of two hundred Gallies other particularities as then he knew not I send your Lordship also a little Pamphlet that they have put in print here touching the said victorie of what credit I know not Whatsoever shew the King here giveth of joy outwardly inwardlie he doth not best like of the victorie as that thing which addeth too great an increase of reputation to the King of Spain I think therefore no time more fit to treat of Amitie then at this present I do not therefore doubt but that your Lordship will urge her Majestie most earnestlie to take profit of the time by sending with convenient speed him over whom she meaneth to use in this behalf And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humblie take my leave At Paris the seveâ—th of November 1571. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To my assured Friend Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador in France and my brother in Law Henry Killigrew Esq and to either of them HAving this present occasion to send two of my Lord of Oxfords men to Paris at his Lordships request I thought good also therewith to send to you this little Treatise therewith newly printed in Latine in commending or discommending the Qu. of Scots actions to further her Marriage with Bothwel I hear it is to be translated into English with addition of many other supplements of like condition The Queens Majestie hath sent for my Lord Gray to come thither into France and if his health cannot serve him Sir Peter Gray shall come Her Majestie with furtherance of her whole Councel is certainly resolved to send one thither My Lord of Hunsdon is at Berwick by computation yesternight and his Commission is to set a good face upon the matter to bring Grange and the Castle to the Kings devotion if he cannot we of her Councel are of opinion that England shall inforce them And yet it shall do well that no such thing be notified to the French King My Lord Marquis dyed at Warwick on Sunday the loss of a good Councellour The case of the Duke of Norfolk falleth even out by branches to be more odious The B. of Ross is in the Tower where he uttereth many things right plainly and yet you need not be known thereof I pray let the bearers hereof if they shall have need of your friendship find that your friendship is readier for my commendations I think to marry my daughter at Christmass From Richmond the first of November 1571. Yours assuredly Wil. Burleigh To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh BEsides Mr. Killigâ—â—ws advertisements as from the Court I thought good to give your Lordship to understand what they do here at Paris The Marshal de Coss hath been here imployed of late by the French King in procuring a Loan which is granted and the same is presently in leavying the people murmur much at it and yet do not refuse to pay it Marshal Montmorency repaired to this Town the third of this moneth accompanied with 300 horse The next day after his arrival he and the Marshal de Coss conferred with the chief of this Town about the plucking down of the Cross which was resolved on and the same presently put in execution the Masons employed in that behalf being guarded by certain Harquebusâ—ers The common people ease their stomacks onely by uttering certain seditious words which is born withal for that was doubted the Protestants by the overthrow of this Cross receive greater comfort and the Papists the contrary Touching my particular I find it will be the latter end of the next moneth before I shall return to my charge for that I am diseased by three sundry Carnosities which will require the longer time in the cure Thus much I thought good to give your Lordship to understand for that I fear her Majestie will think somewhat otherwise in my long stay here And so leaving further to trouble your Lordship at this present I most humbly take my leave the seventh of Decemb. 1571. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr the bearer hereof is one whom you may trust as I am informed And if he shall require you to send any his Letters to be conveyed into Scotland he is content that they shall come into my hands whereby I shall not be the worse informed of things meet to be known He can shew you both of Scotlands causes and of Englands Sir Thomas Smith is ready to depart thitherward from hence to morrow if the French Ambassadors Negotiation here with her Majestie this afternoon whilest I am writing this Letter do not prolong the same My Lord of Oxfords servants were constrained by contrary winds to tarry at Callis so as they came not hither before Sunday last at which time came also Fiasco the Genevoise who had likewise stayed at Callis for the same purpose and at his coming he maketh all to be sound between Spain and France and would not be known of the Spanish Ambassadors passage into the Low Countrey nor of any thing done in Henault and yet he did not understand by us here that he had any knowledge thereof from you And so I end wishing to hear of your amendment by Physick At Greenwich the fifth of December 1571 Yours assuredly William Burleigh To the Right honourable Francis Walsingham Esq her Majestes Ambassador Resident in France SIr such sufficient persons of understanding credit and acquaintance as this bearer Sir Thomas is may serve to excuse me from writing of any long Letters and therefore I mean to touch things by notes and peice-meals He can tell you of the Duke of Norfolks case but percase not when nor how it takes end neither can I help him to inlarge his knowledge but I think the Queens Majestie will therein deal more substantially then many do imagine He can tell you how straitly the Queen of Scots is kept having now but ten persons of her own of all
Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Hononrable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester YOur Lordship at large by Sir Tho Smithes Letters unto her Majestie shall understand to what issue we are grown to touching this Treaty We can by no means nor perswasions we can use draw the King to any other interpretation of his meaning touching the point of Religion then by private Letters for that it should seem that their Ambassador from hence hath assured the King here that her Majestie will be content therewith For my private opinion seeing this League is to indure but during the lives of the two Princes and that the substance of all Leagues consisteth chiefly in the sincerity of the matters and that this Prince hath given great shew to the world of great â—incerity I think the private Letter bindeth as much in honour as any other Instrument or Contract that can pass between them can do in Law For if they should break the matter is not to be tryed in the Chamber imperial by way of pleading of what value the instruments are God and the Sword must be Judges so that then pleading must give place But this my good Lord is for my private opinion in matters of so great weight as leagues are I profess altogether ignorance If her Majestie can content her self with this private interpretation of the Kings meaning then if it would please her Majestie through your good motion to use some words of assurance towards the Ambassador there of the great good opinion she hath of the Kings sincerity and that she buildeth more upon his words then upon contract I know nothing can more content him for he desireth to be reputed a Prince that esteemeth his word and honour above his life Besides he wisheth himself to be in her Majesties good opinion before all other Princes and doth often take occasion to say that he hopeth there will be no less earnest good will and strait Amity between him and her Majestie then was between her Father and his Grandfather To nourish this opinion of Amity between them I take it to be the office of all those who truly love their Majesties as that League that tendeth greatly to both their sureties being knit together in perfect Amity which beside their particular safety will breed a great repose in all Europe especially for the cause of Religion And surely my Lord for the increase and nourishment of this friendship nothing can yield more furtherance then your access hither in ratification of the League a thing very much desired of their Majesties here as you perceive by Sir Tho Smithes Letter The motion at the first being made by the Queen Mother seemed strange unto us for her to name a particular person but when she shewed unto us that her Majestie the last Summer desired the Marshal Montmorency whereunto they did condescend and that they also mean to send him now for the confirmation of this League we had nothing to reply They say that the King in respect of the good offices that you had done between the two Crowns the great honour you had used towards his Ministers sent hither and certain prâ—sents that you had sent unto himself desireth very much both to see you and honour you Besides she said that your coming should be so grateful unto her and the King her Son as you might obtain any thing at his hands for the contentment of her Majestie so far forth as he might with his honour grant Surely my Lord though this voyage to your purse cannot but grow very chargable yet for the furtherance of the common cause of Religion for the increase of Amity between the two Princes and Crowns and for their own particular reputation never was there offered to your Lordship greater occasion both generally and particularly to do good then at this present Your Lordship can do more good in one hour here then twenty such petty companions as my self is can do in a whole year or possible in all our lives time I would I could so well hope of her Majesties leave as of your Lordships liking to take this journey upon you and then I would assure my self of your coming and by the same of as great good to ensue as ever followed of any others imployment in this voyage c. To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may pleas your Lordship to understand that Monsieur de la Mothe hath advertised their Majesties here that the Q. of Scots cause in England is not so desperate as we make it for that lately she hath received so much increase of liberty as that she went a Hawking with the Earl of Shrewsbury which advertisement here maketh them more earnest in her cause then they were wont for that they doubt one day she will come to the possession of the Crown of England either by succession or prevention and therefore the Councel here do advise the King so to deal for her as may continue in her an opinion that he is careful for her well own safety and cannot but do justice then call things proceed well and her Majestie may well perceive that any favour shewed unto her doth not onely breed disfavour but also danger and hindrance towards her self whereof Mr. Killegrew can inform her Majestie at large The opinion of the wisest sort of the Gentlemen of the Religion that are here is That the League it self shall not do more good then the imployment of two honourable Personages for the ratification of the same and therefore they desire me most earnestly to move her Majestie to concur with the King in this respect who hath to that end made choice of Montmorency hoping that her Majestie will choose one of quality somewhat answerable to his calling Besides the King and Queens desire as may appear by Sir Tho Smithes Letters the said Gentlemen do desire much the Earl of Leicesters coming as one very grateful unto their Majesties here and therefore shall be able to do very much good by the advancement of their causes whose increase of credit cannot but be beneficial unto her Majestie in considering the great good affection they bear towards her in regard of the great honour and benefits they have received at her Majesties hands and therefore their increase of credit shall breed increase of Amity a thing not unnecessary for her Majestie considering how she finds some of her neighbours affected abroad and her Subjects inclined at home Besides if her Majestie should not seem to be desirous of Montmorencies coming considering that he is no less willing to come then his Master is to send it might give him occasion to think that her Majestie maketh not that account of him that his great good will and devotion towards her deserveth whereof he letteth not to make demonstration outwardly as otherways of the which besides mine own experience during the time of my charge here Sir Tho Smith and Mr. Killegrew
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
proves an unreasonable charge to great numbers to the Queens Majestie having her offices of Houshold at Dover and her provisions thereby lost The Earl of Pembroke Lord Windsor and the Lord Buckhurst be at Dover with great and mighty trains Besides hither are come such leavies of Ladies to attend as husbands curse the delay The Queens Majestie is in health The Scotish Queen shall be touched with an Act of Parliament but it will not draw her to any more fear to offend then words will do From S. Iames the sixth of Iune 1572. Your assured loving Friend William Burleigh To my very loving Friend Francis Walsingham Esq her Majestes Ambassador Resident in France MR. Walsingham forasmuch as my Nephew Philip Sidney is licensed to travel and doth presently repair unto those parts with my Lord Admiral I have thought good to commend him by these my Letters friendly unto you as unto one I am well assured will have a special care of him during his abode there He is young and raw and no doubt shall find those Countreys and the demeanors of the people somewhat strange unto him and therefore your good advice and counsel shall greatly behove him for his better direction which I do most heartily pray you to vouchsafe him with any friendly assistance you shall think needful for him His father and I do intend his further travel if the world be quiet and you shall think it convenient for him otherwise we pray you we may be advertised thereof to the end the same his travels may be thereupon directed accordingly As for the boy Clark since I cannot obtain him as I desire I must content me I wish I had one of my Lord Cardinals Monks to see how devoutly he should be kept here But I pray you let it appear that it is great unkindness for one Nobleman to use unto another The boy hath sought sundry ways to return unto me as well by Letters to his Friends as by supplications to my self but I mind not to have him so The cause that I did so earnestly seek him was to punish him in example of others which if it will not be I will leave it for a time and hope to give you knowledge where he is shortly trusting you will give order that he may be suddenly apprehended And thus being forced to trouble you with a triâ—tle amongst so many great causes in these days with my commendations I bid you most heartily farewel From the Court the six and twentieth of May 1572. Your very Friend Ro. Leicester To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT hath pleased my Lord of Lincoln to promise me upon his experience had of the intollerable charges here through the daily increase of death to confer with your Lordship in what sort he may best deal with her Majestie for increase of my diet considering otherwise that I shall not be able to hold out my monethly charges drawing now to two hundred pounds the moneth notwithstanding my diet is thin my family reduced to as small a proportion as may be and my horse being onely twelve These things might seem unto your Lordship altogether incredible were there not so many Noblemen and Gentlemen to witness the same by their experience lately had of the extreme dearth here I have made my Lord acquainted how much I am bound to your Lordship and of the fatherly care it pleaseth you to have of me and that therefore I have besought him in moving or not moving her Majestie to yield to such directions as by conference it shall seem good unto you to give him for that I would be loth to procure any thing to be done that may not fall out to your Lordship contentation And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave From Paris the two and twentieth of Iune 1572. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To my very loving friend Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador for the Queens Majestie in France SIr I cannot let any your servants pass hence without some word I have looked for some knowledge of my L. Admirals arrival at Paris and thereupon stayed to send away this bearer until now that I hear by the French Ambassadors Letters hovv my Lord and you have been feasted and entertained which they here do give out with large speeches but how indeed the same is warranted I know not sure I am that they have been so feasted and entreated as none in my memory hath been greater The Queens Majestie before she gave her oath made a protestation that she was not in mind to break any jot of the Treaty and though the Castle of Hume and Fast Castle were not delivered yet the fault was not in her for she had propounded to the Lord Hume and to the Regent also her disposition to deliver it but the Lord Hume required that her Majestie vvould keep it still rather then deliver it so as it bred not an increase of their hateful dissention And hereupon her Majestie hath propounded to the Regent to be content that the Lord Hume may have it if he will be content to acknovvledge the King vvhich the Lord Hume offereth in vvords but the Regent saith that the Lord Hume hath promised to offer his obedience to the King to recover his houses and then he will ayd them of the Castle and this is indeed discovered to be true Besides this Fast Castle was in my Lord Humes hands but as a Tutor to an infant who is come to full age and followeth the Kings part Truly you may thus report to the King and assure him that her Majestie meaneth not to keep the one or the other although she might pretend matters against the Lord Hume for the damage that he did to England in keeping the Rebels in those Houses and invading the Realm From Westminster in haste the twentieth of Iune 1572. Yours assuredly William Burleigh The form of the Communication with the D. Montmorency de Foix and de la Mot which they had to finish matters expressed in the Treaty Iune 1571. present the Lord Keeper the Earls of Suffex and Leicester the Lord Chamberlain and Burleigh Mr. Comptroler Sir Ralph Sadler and Sir Walter Mildmay THe French by de Foix required That the Scotish Queen might have some favour upon the conclusion of this Treaty betwixt the Queens Majestie and the French King and that such favour might be shewed as might be granted with the surety and honour of the Queens Majestie That a surcease of Arms might be made in Scotland and thereupon a Parliament in Scotland and concord to be made for the State and Realm And if a Parliament could not be conveniently had that then there might be sent hither from both parties some persons to treat here a London with Deputies of the Queens Majesties and the French Kings That some order might be made concerning the establishing of a Traffique for Merchants in France wherein
the French shewed themselves ready to assent to assent to all reasonable requests and for that purpose they produced and delivered a Commission under the Great Seal of France Answers to these Points This case was not pursuant upon the Treaty The Scotish Queen had more favour then she deserved or then did well stand with the surety of the Queens Majestie Her evil parts against the Queens Majestie had been amply declared to the French and to the D. Montmorency and de Foix in France by our Ambassador The Nobility also and People now assembled in this Parliament had considered that the Queens Majesties surety could not be preserved without some severe proceeding against the Queen of Scots whereunto her Majestie had not yielded in such extremity And so the Scotish Queen had more favour indeed then either she deserved or then was thought meet by the whole Realm The second for surcease of Arms her Majestie had done therein as much as possibly she could by her Minister Sir Will Drury which she hath sent with le Crocque whereunto the Ambassador did assent with very good words of Sir Will Drury To the third it was thought that no Parliament should be holden whilest they were on both sides in arms and therefore the procuring of persons to come was not misliked To the fourth the Merchants should be spoken withal who had but small liking to any trade of Merchandize with France by reason they had by experience some evil usage of them in France specially at Roaâ— Replies of the French with some new matters As to the Scotish Queen de Foix confessed that he had no warrant to speak for her by force of the Treaty but by a special commandment apart And as to specifie the requests that be made for favour to her they said they meant no favour to be shewed to her against the Queens Majesties surety and therefore they desired only these things following That she might have brought to her all things necessary for her apparel and money also for the purpose That she might have a convenient number of Servants about her That her state might not be impaired That the Duke and the rest might be licensed to send to her certain letters from the French King and Queen Mother so as the same might be done with the privity of the Earl of Sâ—rewsbâ—ry As to the Commerce they agreed that it might be treated upon by the Ambassador Resident New Additions That according to the second article in the Treaty they might have the Queens Majesties Letter answerable to the Kings Letters That the third Article concerning the manner of redress of wrongs done by Scots men upon England that the same might be altered according to a writing which was devised by them to insert in the place of the said Article Answers to the new Requests They should have the Queens Majesties Letters The Article as it is ought to continue and is reasonable having respect to Scotland when private men do great injuries and spoils which if the King of that Realm cannot or will not amend of necessity the Kings of England must revenge upon the offenders To the Right Hononrable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh YOur Lordships of the twentieth of Iune sent by my servant Williams I have received touching her Majesties protestation before the giving of her oath For the not delivery of Hume and Fast Castle in Scotland according to the Treaty I will not fail to inform their Majesties when fit occasion shall be offered of the cause thereof The Ambassador of Scotland with the Lord Graunges brother since the Earl of Lincolns departure hath been often at the Court and are very importunate to have somewhat done for their Mistris As also in perswading their Majesties here to consent to the establishment of their Government of their said Mistris what their importunacy hath won I know not as yet but surely I fear as long as the woman liveth there will never grow good accord in Scotland nor continuance of repose in England nor perfect and sound amity between her Majestie and this Crown What is resolved here touching the enterprise of Flanders this bearer is throughly instructed who is to impart the same unto your Lordship And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave From Paris the eight and twentieth of Iune 1572. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester THis bearer cometh so throughly instructed touching the state of the Countrey and the Flanders proceedings as I forbear to trouble your Lordship to make recital of that by writing which he shall tell you by mouth After your Lordship hath throughly debated with him I hope it shall manifestly appear unto you that upon the good success or evil success of this common cause of Religion And besides the same not well proceeding her Majestie cannot promise to her self any great safety having so dangerous a neighbour whose greatness shall receive no small increase if he overcome this brunt I pray God therefore that her Majestie may incline to do that which may be for her safety And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present referring you wholly to this bearer I most humbly take my leave From Paris the eight and twentieth of May 1572. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and his very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh MAy it please your Lordship to understand that upon advertisement come hither from Flushing of the discords there for want of good Governor they have made choice of Monsieur Iunius to go thither out of hand with Commission to establish some policy there until the arrival of the Prince of Orange his brother He shall also have Commission for the sale of such goods as were lately taken For his better assistance in this behalf desireth your Lordships letter unto Captain Morgan there to assist him what lieth in him in the execution of the said Commission and that further it would please your Lordship to admonish him to retain his Souldiers in such order as may answer to the defence of a good cause For that he desireth very much to confer with Mr. Killegrew to make him fully acquainted with the state of their cause he meaneth to repair to Dover and there to imbarque where he hopeth to meet with him I perceive by him that if there be no assistance given underhand by her Majestie they shall be driven to yield to such inconveniences as shall be laid upon them by this Nation And further that they shall be forced to consent to have Strozi in Zealand unless they may have some supplies elsewhere For this cause chiefly the Gentleman who wisely respecteth the liberty of his Countrey and foreseeth the mischief that may follow if the necessity be not relieved disereth much to confer with Mr. Killegrew a thing most necessary and would himself
Alva It is thought for the help of this matter that his Majestie can be content to lend asmuch to the contrary party And so for forreign news referring your Honour to the Italian Occurrents I most humbly take my leave At Paris the eighteenth of Iuly 1572. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may please your Lordship to understand that the King dispatched one Monsieur de la Mole servant to Monsieur le Duc d' Alanson with Letters from their Majesties here unto the Q. Majestie to render unto her thanks for the rare entertainment and great honour done unto the Marshal as also to give her notice of the marriage to be solemnized between the King of Navarre and the Lady Margaret I think also he hath Letters from his Master to her Majestie as also some charge to say somewhat to her on his behalf He gave me but Scarborough warning and therefore your Lordship must bear with these scribled lines The Gentleman is a Provintial and so of a very good House and a very well qualified Courtier as I hear Yesterday I wrote at large unto your Lordship by Hollingshead who is returned by way of Diepe And therefore I defer to trouble you with many lines at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the one and twentieth of Iuly Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leceister BY a Gentleman called Monsieur de la Mole servant unto Monsieur le Duc D' Alanson sent by the King to her Majestie with Letters I had very short warning given me and therefore am driven to afford your Lordship the fewer lines The pretence of his coming is with letters of thanks for the honour done unto the Marshal as also to make her Majestie acquainted with the appointed time for the solemnization of the King of Navarres marriage But I take it the chief end of his coming is to present his Masters letters unto her Majestie as also to say somewhat unto her on his behalf The Gentleman is a Provintial and of a good house and one as I learn very well qualified Touching Flanders matters I wrote unto your Lordship at large by Holling-shead who departed yesterday homewards by way of Diepe And so leaving to impart unto your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the one and twentieth of Iuly Yours Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable and his very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may please your Lordship to understand that a certain Scottishman called George Torris who appertaineth as he saith to the Q. of Scots hath of late robbed here in Paris one Emanuel d' Ambugo a Portugal who heretofore about ten years past hath been imployed in message between the King of Portugal and her Majestie as by his passport may appear Now for that he is given to understand that he is retired into England he hath desired divers Gentlemen of this Court to request me to write unto your Lordship that by your good means such as he shall appoint to pursue the party may have authority so far forth as may stand with the Laws of the Realm to arrest him and such goods and Jewels as shall be found to appertain to the said Portugal To this effect and purpose he hath likewise procured the Kings Letters here And so leaving further to trouble your Honour in this behalf I most humbly take my leave From Paris the 22 of Iuly 1572. Yours Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable his very good Lord the Lord Treasurer TOuching the particulars of Ianlys overthrow I refer your Lordship to such incertainties as I have set down in the inclosed occurents Such of the Religion as before slept in security begin now to awake and to see their danger and do therefore conclude that unless this enterprise in the Low Countries have good success their cause groweth desperate They have therefore of late sent to the King who is absent from home to shew him than if the Prince of Orange quail it shal not lie in him to maintain him in his protection by vertue of his Edict they desire him therefore out of hand to resolve upon something that may be of his assistance offering themselves to imploy therein their lives lands and goods They see by the assistance given on the other side as by the Pope Florence Triers Baviers and Câ—lleyn who are not otherwise interessed in the Low Countrey or in this Cause but in respect of Religion who proceed roundly and resolutely in the matter that unlesse her Majesty and the Princes of Germany in like sort joyn with this Crown there is great doubt what shall be the even of this enterprise They have therefore requested me to desire your Lordship as you tender Gods glory and her Majesties safety to see if you can induce her upon overture first to be made by the King in this behalf to joyn with him in yeilding assistance They think to make the so that they might be in some assurance that her Majesty would give ear thereto They have also dispatched one of late to such Princes of Germany as favour the Cause to provoke them to proceed more resolutely and roundly in this matter laying before them the evident dangers that otherwise will ensue By one lately come from thence they understand that the said Princes begin to see the danger and are well bent to do any thing that may tend to remedy The parties above written desire to know with some speed how her Majesty will incline to the said overture for that thereafter they are to direct their affairs As I was writing I received the copie of a letter sent from Mounts which I send to your Lordship here inclosed by the which you may both perceive the state of the Countrey as also how many are retired thither of Ianlys company And so leaving further to trouble your Honor at this present beseeching God to bless you in your late honorable Calling with as good success as ever any that occupied that place I most humbly take my leave From Paris the 26 of July 1572. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable his very good Lord the Earl of Leicester YOur Lordship by these inclosed occurrents may perceive that Ianlys is overthrown whose it never could but breed danger to the cause so could it never breed more danger then presently upon the presently upon the Prince of Orangâ—s first entry into the Country a mean to discourage him and to encourage the enemy How much his well doing or evill doing importeth us I need not say any thing to your Lordship the thing being so apparant how dangerous it were to suffer him to quail it is no less evident how little hope there is he shall receive relief from us especially from the news of
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
she being through sickness in that time in state not to give audience To the first touching the Enterview The 2d touching the confirmation of the league with renewing of the Oath The third touching the establishing of Traffique The fourth the Kings requests to have the Lord Treasurer or the Earle of Leicester come over after the Queens delivery To these four Requests I made her acquainted with such answers as were made unto the same To the first touching the time she said that she wrote unto the Ambassador that in respect of the young Queens delivery which she thought would have been ere â—his time the meeting could not be before the twentieth of this moneth and that therefore he should move it against that time not meaning that it should be so precisely set down but it should be referred chiefly to her Majesties choice To the second touching the place she shewed me that forasmuch as she had never intention to come over the same being mistaken by the Ambassador and that the interview by Sea was thought inconvenient hearing that the Isles of Iersey did belong unto her Majesty she thought that that was a convenient place for the said Enterview and therfore she caused the Ambassador to propound it protesting that the same was void of any evill meaning or intention and that there were Letters written to the Ambassador for that purpose before the late execution here To the second touching the renewing of the Oath she said that the same proceeded of advertisements from the Ambassador that her Majesty should say that she could not tell what accompt or assurance to make of the late League concluded whereupon the King willed him to make offer unto her that what she could devise for the assurance and faithful keeping of the same he would most willingly put in execution and thereupon willed him to offer that if her Majesty should think it requisite the same should be confirmed by a new oath and as for my self saith she considering the same had not been violated of either party I concur with your Mistres in opinion thinking the same needless To the third touching the establishing of Traffique she said she saw some reason to think her Majesties answer reasonable That the time seemeth now improper considering the late disorder at Roan notwithstanding the Kings meaning was to take such order as well for the punishing of offenders as for the well using of Merchants as that they should have no just cause to fear to which purpose the King had written both to Caranges the Governour as also to the chief President there Touching the fourth concerning the Kings request for the coming over either of the Lord Treasurer or the Earl of Leicester she said that the same also proceeded of advertisement from the Ambassador that he thought that if their Majesties would require the coming over of either of them after the Queens delivery that the same would be yielded to whereupon the King gave him Commission to move her Majesty in that behalf he desiring nothing more then one of them to whom he knew he might communicate matters of weight as frankly as unto her Majesty and as touching any peril that might happen unto them she said that the King would take such order for safety as they should be in no less surety here then at home in her own realm To that I replied that it would be very hard for her Majesty or any other to be so perswaded in that behalf for that it was not possible any disorder in a State could be reduced to order without punishment and that therefore neither stranger nor their own subjects can make accompt to be in safety within their government so long as the malefactors should remain unpunished To this she said that the injuries done by those of the Religion against the Catholiques were so great as it was hard to bridle the peoples fury especially upon the discovery of this new Treason notwithstanding such order was taken that no publique person or Ambassador should be touched This was the sum of her reply unto such answers as were made by her Majesty to the Ambassador there I made her also acquainted with her Majeiesties answer to the Ambassador touching my Revocation To the which she said That the world would judge some alteration to be between the two Crowns if any such thing should be done without sending some other to supply my place I then delivered her a copie of the three Requests given to the Ambassador there to be exhibited unto their Majesties here in the behalf of the Merchants wherein she promised that there should be such order taken as should be to the contentment of her Majesty and the safety of her subjects and that already the matter had been considered of Being given to understand that the Baron de la Garde was arrived here I requested her Majesty that if it would please her to deal earnestly with him as well for the release of those English ships that were stayed already as also to give order that those that are now presently to repair to Burdeaux may pass to fro in safety without any molestation either with the Gallies or of the other ships there Whereupon she sent unto me the next day the said Baron de la Garde who after long circumstances used of the great good will he bare unto her Majesties Father and to her Majesty her selfe and to our Nation assured me that the ships that were staied were delivered That he had taken order before his departure from Brouage that our Merchants should pass freely without any molestation or trouble and that there were already some passed whom onely he did forbid that they should not touch at the Road before Rochel he shewed me that he had received such strait commandement at her Majesties hands for the well usage of our Merchants as I might assure my selfe they should have no just cause to complain She requested me in the conclusion of our talk to write unto her Majesty that she was given to understand that one Sorez their subject lately retired hither did seek some shipping there within her Majesties Dominions she therefore desired her that she would take order for some restraint to be made in that behalf for that he is so ill an Instrument as he would be glad to do somthing to breed unkindness between the two Crowns which occasion she said she hoped her Majesty would avoid Moreover she shewed me that divers of her subjects did complain of injuries done unto them by certain ships that lye about the Downs and the Isle of Wight and therefore desired me to write unto her Majesty that there might be some redress given in that behalf And so leaving to trouble your Honor any fnrther at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the 25 of October 1572. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham To the right honorable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principall Secretary SIR it may please
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
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
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
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
this day married to the Earl of Oxford to my comfort by reason of the Queens Majestie who hath very honourably with her presence and great favour accompanied it I am sorry that your health is not more sperable to be speedily recovered but I trust after you have rested so in convenient time the Medicines shall have more power to do their effects My Lord Gray of Wilton hath had the like disease this Summer and seemeth to be cured or eased by the industry of an Italian Phisitian here in London called Silva he is thought to be more experimented in Surgery then in Phisick for so is his father who lieth in the Savoy with the Duke if you will send me some note or description and therewith a note of their method in curing of you I would confer with this Silva and advertise you of my opinion I wish to hear more life of the matter of 57. And thus ending with my most hearty commendations c. From Westminster December 1571. Yours most assured Will. Burliegh To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr Though I had no great matter to you yet if I had my health being now subject to a combat with a Feaver whereof this day I have had an assault of a second fit I must be excused to hold my hand where my head is not able to command it as this bearer can inform you Since your Letters which came when Sir Tho. Smiths were brought I received from you two other of the 17. by which I see you are advertised from good places how things passed at the Court there and in that matter of the third person newly offered his age and other qualities unknown maketh me doubtfull how to use speech thereof The Ambassador hath dealt as he saith secretly with me And I have shewed no argument to one hand or other as I may learn further from thence I will deal but fear occupieth me more in this cause of her Marriage whom God hath suffered to lose so much time then for my next fit and yet truely I have more cause then before time for it cometh of a great cold and a Rhume fallen into my Lungs where it is lodged as yet without moving but in respect of other things I see and suffer I weigh not my own carcase The Queens Majesty hath been alwaies a merciful Lady and by mercy she hath taken more harm then by justice and yet she thinks that she is more beloved in doing her self harm God save her to his honour long among us Mather hath in presence of my Lord of Leicester Mr. Treasuror Mr. Mildmay manfully charged Borgest the Spanish Ambassadors Secretary that his Master and he both inticed Mather to murther me and Borgest denying it Mather hath offered to try it Con la spada c. From Westminster the 23 of January 1571. Your loving Friend Will. Burleigh To Francis Walsingham Esq the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr I have nothing to write worth your good hearing for that I might write is not to my liking but Gods will be fulfilled This day the Marshal of Berwick and Mr. Randolph are gone for Scotland matters I mistrust not the matter by their handling but they lack that which others should handle you know what I mean and yet here hath lacked no solicitation I have not been able by a cold to see her Majestie these eight daies and this day I am in Phisick throughly sick and I write as you see like one unsetled and surely in mine opinion others though very few lack not to sollicite by speech oportune importune The Spanish late Ambassador passed hardly over conducted by Hawkins to Callais and like himself at Gravelin he turned out all the English men that he found and yet he knoweth that here remaineth Monsieur Sweringham at the request of the Duke of Alva Here is no small expectation whether the Duke shall die or continue prisoner I know not how to write for I am here in my Chamber subject to reports which are contrariwise Mather and Berny besides that they intended to kill me have now plainly confessed their intention and desire to have been rid of the Queens Majesty but I think she may by justice be rid of them Mather denieth not but that he was a 8 2 0 6 and now saith he is a 0 2 1 0 6. I wish him grace From Westminster the second of February 1571. Yours assuredly W. Burliegh To the right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr I heartily thank you for your frequent Letters and especially for that of the 9. whereby you will not be afraid of the Scotch preparation of force out of that Country indeed they should much disturb our proceedings there privatly for Mr. Drury and Mr. Randolph are there about this instant labouring to reconcile them of the Castle to the Kings side but this French Ambassador understandeth the matter to be only about the Treaty of abstinence untill la Croque may come whose haste I wish were retarded with a fit of my gout The Queens Majesty is very earnest that you should return to the Court specially because she would have you joyn with Sir Tho. Smith in this Treatie and when I excused your absence for the recovery of your full healing she said that she understood that you were healed almost one month past and thereto I said that as you were healed so was there as much need for you to rest for the confirmation of your healing or otherwise you should suffer a relapse with as great peril as before Well quoth she see you write to him that it is my desire and will him to find means to repair gently to the Court and there he may rest him But for all this it were better her Majestie should mislike of your tarrying if it be necessary whereby you may after that serve her better then by going now to doe one piece of service thereby be made unable to do the rest of many I cannot write you what is the inward cause of the stay of the Duke of Norfolks death only I find her Majestie diversly disposed sometime when she speaketh of her Majesties danger she concludeth that justice should be done another time when she speaketh of his nearness of bloud of his superiority in honour c. she stayeth As upon Saturday she signed a Warrant for the Writs to the Sheriffs of London for his execution on Monday and so all preparations were made with the expectation of all London and concourse of many thousands yesterday in the morning but their coming was answered with another ordinary execution of Mather and Berny for conspiring the Queens Majesties death and of one Rolph for counterfeiting the Queens Majesties hand twice to get concealed Lands And the cause of this disappointment was this suddenly on Sunday 〈◊〉 in the night the â—ueens Majestie sent for me and entred into a great
see the power that I will send him that you may judge of it but when meet you next To morrow Sir quoth I if you please and so from day to day untill we make an end Best of all saith he let it be even so Then I told the King that even now at this time by chance in examining of a prisoner in Ireland it falleth out and appeareth plain that the Cardinal of Lorain had not done enough to raise up troubles to your Majestie in your Realm and to trouble England and Scotland but he could not let the poor Realm of Ireland alone to be in quiet but there he would stirr upon Sedition and Rebellion also at the which the King laughed heartily and quoth I in this he abuseth your Majesties name and as of gift he would give the Counties of Ormond and Oosory to one Iames Fitzmorris a Rebel and promises aid of men and munition for them there to rebel against the Q. my Mistress In my name quoth he I never heard of it Jesus quoth he I could never think any trouble or hurt to my good Sister Sir quoth I here is the Article of Confession of one Stackbold who affirmeth this Here is at the Court as I hear say one de la Roche Knight of the Order and Gentleman of your Chamber who was the doer of it he can inform your Majestie at the full of the matter Well let me alone quoth he with it I will see it redressed well enough Then Mr. Walsingham somewhat more declared what had been done in the matter and shewed the King what the Queen Mother had said to us that de la Roche was now in the Court and therefore prayed him that he might be sent for and see order taken in that matter as appertained to the good will which he had to the amity of both the Realms which the King said he would After he said to the King that Mr. Killigrew should now depart home seeing he was come to his old Room but that we desired him to stay a day or two to heare our next meeting and to see how near we should come to agreement and so to bring to the Q. Majestie some good contentment Whereupon the King said that thing should be ordered and with such expedition that he should come home well-pleased and bring the Queens Majestie such word as she should therewith be contented peradventure more then she would think and so departed for that day This day we looked to be sent for but the King went on hunting and pretence was made to us that the Councel hath had the Bill which we delivered to the King in consideration and that they would have his Majesties advice of the day time and place of our meeting after they had consulted upon it to the intent we might after we once began continually travel untill the end were made This is so much as hitherto is done Thus we commit your Majestie to Almighty God From Blois Feb. 22. 1571. Your Majesties most humble Subjects and Servants Tho. Smith Fra. Walsingham To the Queens Majestie PLeaseth it your Majestie to be advertised the last of February when the Treaty of the League was in manner at a point and Master Killegrew was ready to take his leave of the King and Queen Mother we demanded audience and came all three to the Court we were first brought into the Kings Chamber where was also the Duke of Alanson and other Noblemen where I first declared to the King That his Deputies and we were now almost at a point and in all other things we thought we should agree He said he had understood that and was very glad of it hoping that this was but a beginning and that the Amity should increase daily and bring forth more fruit But Sir quoth I there is yet the matter of Religion not fully agreed upon without the which well provided for I know not how the League can go forward or be sure The King said he could not have it put in the League but it should be in such general words made that the matter of Religion should be contained Sir quoth I that cannot be nor no general words can contain it if the party that is bound will say that it is against his Conscience or he meant it not Why saith the King for that I will write to the Queen my sister with mine own hand what I mean even to that and that I will as well defend her in that case as if it were expressed in words Sir quoth I if you will have it in an Article by it self and as concluded betwixt you so as it be put it writing and sealed with the Great Seal of France as the true interpretation of your meaning in the League then we can be content with it although in the Treaty it be not specially put in but in general words for being so made it shall be of as much force by the Interpretation as the League Then Master Walsingham declared That it was more honourable for the King and more assurance that it were put expresly in the Treaty for then not onely the Princes of Germany but also other Kings which be of the Religion would be right glad to enter into it and by that means onely you should saith he be able to countervail the King of Spain yea and all the rest of Europe that should attempt any thing against you whereas if it be done in general words or underhand they will not trust the matter so much nor have so good colour or occasion to desire to enter into this League with you and what or whom need your Majestie fear being so well proped up and fortified with this so strong a League This may be saith the King hereafter my Councel telleth me it should be dangerous for me at this present to have it in express words but what maketh it matter I mean it so and what I once say I will keep it I will rather dye then not keep my promise Here I say it to you and will write it to the Queen my Sister How do you mean Sir quoth I in a writing after the fashion of a Treaty and sealed with your Great Seal of France or but in a Letter close In a Letter close saith he signed with my hand where I will express the same words are meant as you would have put in the League and I will promise that I will be ready to defend in that case as well as in any other and so I will indeed and that I say I will keep to dye for it Sir quoth I for you I do think no less and I am sure that the Queens Majestie our Mistris and we do take your Majestie to be a faithful Prince and constant in your words as any is living but vvhen we speak Treaties they be not made in words nor in such Letters missive but after another authentical sort sworn and sea led without which order I cannot for my
Mother said she would speak with her son in the matter Then I required her that she would do so much as call for Monsieur de Foix and shew him how she was agreed for the Merchants and that he would make haste with the Treaty as it was agreed upon saving for the mending of three or four words for I saw novv I must be fain to send into England before I can subscribe it She said she would not fail but that said she if it be but that doubt or some such small thing it might be let alone till one should come out of England The King my son will send over the Marshal Montmorency because the Queen your Mistris desired it and he desireth again that she would send hither my Lord of Leicester whom he desireth to see and honour for the good affection that he beareth to the Amity betwixt the two Realms and to acquit himself for the presents which he hath divers times sent unto him and then she doubted not all things should be done as your Majestie would desire Nay Madam quoth I I know the fashion of leagues it must be first agreed upon betwixt the Commissioners that no words be altered then subscribed with the hands of both the parties your Commissioners delivering the part signed with their hands to us and ours next to them then the Prince causeth it to be made under the great Seal of the Realm and so causeth it to be delivered each to others Ambassador he that cometh to see it sworn to may make a new League if the Princes will so to alter that he cannot for the Princes be bound to ratifie and swear to that the which the Commissioners were agreed upon And it were not wisdom to send such personages as your Majestie speaks of to an uncertain League you may consider my Mistress will not do it Well saith she I will speak with the King my self and send you Monsieur de Foix who shall treat with you of all these matters Then Mr Walsingham asked her if any thing were done as touching de la Roche and the matters in Ireland And she said yea and that de la Roche saith it is nothing and that there is not a French man there and that he will lay his head on it I pray you send home word that it may be tried out and if he do not say truth that he may feel smart for it and be well punished Then Mr. Killegrew took his leave of the Queen Mother and the Lady Margaret as he did before in the Kings Chamber of the King and the Duke for so they name the Duke d'Alanson of all whom he had gracious and gentle words as he can shew your Majestie he could not for divers respects conveniently have taken his leave before The younger Queen is taken here to be undoubtedly with child for she hath all the tokens of a woman that hath conceived and they gess she hath gone three moneths and more whereof the King and Queen Mother is not a little joyful Thus we most humbly commit your Highness to the tuition of Almightie God From Bloys the first of March 1571. Your Majesties most humble Subjects and Servants Tho Smith Fra Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh YOur Lordship by Sir Tho Smithes Letters unto her Majestie shall be fully informed what hath passed in Conference as well with the King as his Deputies touching the League to which I refer you Of late I caused one under the colour of a Catholique to repair unto one Darbishire an English Jesuit in Paris for that I understood that there is a concurrency of intelligence between him and those of Lorrain as also with those of the Scotish Queens faction The party I sent did seem very much to bewail the evil success that the late practises took in Scotland and that now he did fear their case will grow desperate especially for that Mathers enterprize was also discovered To this the Jesuit answered that the evil handling of matters was the cause that they took no better effect notwithstanding saith he be of good comfort and assure your self there are more Mathers in England then one who will not admit when time shall conveniently serve to adventure their lives in seeking to acquit us of that lewd woman meaning her Majestie For saith he if she were gone then would the hedge lie open whereby the good Queen that now is prisoner in whom resteth the present the right of this Crown should easily enjoy the same For besides that all the Catholiques within the Realm of England are at her devotion there are saith he God be thanked divers Heretiques that are well-affected towards her which is no small miracle that God hath so blinded theâ— eyes as that they should be inclined to her that in the end shall yeild unto theâ— their just desert unless they return unto the Catholique faith The other replyeâ— that for his part he could never hope to see her at liberty nor long to see her keâ—â— her head upon her shoulders and therefore could receive no great comfort 〈◊〉 way Well saith the Jesuit I tell you truly that I dare assure you she shall have no harm for she lacketh no friends in the English Court And as for her liberty saith he it standeth all good Catholiques in hand â—o much to seek it either by hook or by crook as no doubt but there are some good men that will venter a joynt to bring it to pass For if she were once possessed of the Crown of England it will be the onely way and mean to reform all Christendom in reducing them to the Catholique faith and therefore you must think that there are more heads occupied in this matter then English heads and that there are moe ways to the wood then one and therefore be of good courage and ere ever one year be at an end you shall know more Besides his villainous and undutiful language of her Majestie he used very lewd and bitter speeches against the Earl of Leicester and your Lordship This was the sum of their talk which I conferring and weighing with the former intended practises made me think it worth the advertisement that her Majestie may see how much they build upon the possibility of that dangerous woman whose life is a step unto her Majesties death for that they repute her for an undoubtable successor or rather which is a more danger for a right Inheritor And though I know her mischievous intentions are limitted that they can reach no further to her Majesties harm or prejudice then shall seem good to Gods providence yet is her Majestie bound for her own safety and her Subejcts to adde to the same his good providence her just policy so far forth as may stand with justice And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave At Bloys the second of March 1571. Your Honours to
complain I think the Earl of Northumberland suffered death this day at York for it was ordered that he was brought thither under the conduct of Sir Foster as yesterday for that purpose In Ireland the stirs of Munster are well overcome the chief Rebels fled and the rest conquered In Connaught some stir hath been by the Earl of Claâ—â—â—icards son for the which his father was imprisoned but now delivered and promiseth to appease the troubles This day the Earl of Ormond came hither out of Ireland who hath there done great service Now I end at Killingworth the 22 of August 1572. Yours assuredly William Burleigh To the right Honorable Sir Thomas Smith her Majestiess principall Secretary IT may please your Honor to advertise her Majesty that yesterday I sent my Secretary unto Q. Mother willing her in my name first to render unto her and to the Kings Majesty most humble thanks for the great care it pleased them to have of my safety and the preservation of the English Nation in this last tumult whereof I assured them I would not fail to make honorable report unto the Queens Majesty my Mistres And furthermore forasmuch as there were divers reports made of the late execution here and that I would be very loath to credit reports that it would please their Majesties to send me the very truth thereof to the end I might accordingly advertise the Queens Majesty my Mistress To the first she said that the King her son and she gave especiall commandement that good regard were had of me and all English men as that thing which tended to the preservation of the good amity between the King her Sonne and the Queens Majesty my Mistress And that if I could devise any better means for the better safeguard that I would but give them understanding thereof To the second she said that she doubted not but that Monsieur la Mott had long since advertised the Queens Majestie of the late accident here Nevertheless to gratifie me that she would cause Secretary Pinnart to send me an abstract of that which before the King her son had sent to his Ambassador there resident the which also I send you here inclosed This being in effect that which passed between her and my Secretary And having at this present no other thing to write of I leave to trouble your Honor any further and most humbly take my leave At Paris the 27 of August 1572. Your Honours to command Fr Walsingham The Duke of Nevers hath shewed himself much addicted to our Nation having not spared to come and visit men in his own person with offer of all kind of courtesie not only to me but also to divers of our English Gentlemen Besides that he did very honourably entertain three English Gentlemen who otherwise had been in great jeopardy of their lives To the right Honorable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principal Secretary MAy it please your Honour to advertise her Maj. that the first of this month I was sent for by the King and to the end I might pass with the more safety he sent to conduct me Count Laâ—sacque and Manefâ—es accompanied with a dozen other Gentlemen At my access unto his Maj. he shewed me that he sent for me to make me understand that whereas men might judge diversly of the late execution who were not advertised of the ground of his proceedings in that behalf he had therefore for the satisfying of the world caused the process to be made of the Admiral and the rest of his Conspirators which so soon as the same should be finished he would not fail to send unto her Maj. his good sister whom he did assure himself would interpret in good part his doings he being constrained to his great grief to do that which he did for his safety sake which if he had not done both he himself his Mother and Brethren had been in danger of their lives Furthermore he shewed me that he desired nothing more then to continue or rather to increase amity with her Majestie and therefore hoped that she would not take occasion upon this late proceeding to suspect the contrary for saith he on my honour and in the word of a Prince I have no other meaning To this I answered that her Majestie could not but accept in very good part the sending of the process as one that would be glad to understand the ground of the matter And if by the said process it should appear that they were guilty none should be more glad of the punishment of them then her Maj. who preferred his safety before any particular subject of what estate or Religion soever they were For the other part I shewed him that I hoped his Maj. who had made a straiter league with England then any of his Progenitors would not now be drawn easily to make light account thereof considering the profit that might grow to both the Crowns by the same Then I made him understand that three of our Nation were slain and that divers were spoiled for the which he shewed himself to be very sorry and said that if the parties offendors could be produced there should exemplary justice be used I shewed his Majestie it would be hard to produce them the disorder being so general the sword being committed to the common people In the end after thanks given for the care he had of my safety I departed from him and was conducted to Q. Mother who used like speech saving that she shewed me that the K. meaning was the heads of the Conspirators being now taken away to continue his Edicts and that every man should live in repose and liberty of his Conscience For that it was suspected that le Mote was staied in England I shewed their Maj. that it was the 20 of the last before he departed and that I hoped upon his return they should rest very well satisfied with such answer as he receiveth at her Majesties hands And so leaving further to trouble you at this present I most humbly take leave At Paris the second of September 1572. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principal Secretary SIr it may please you to advertise her Maj. That albeit it was shewed me as I wrote in my last that the heads being taken away the meaner sort should enjoy by vertue of the Edict both lives and goods and liberty of their consciences which thing also assured by print as by the inclosed may appear yet notwithstanding nothing thereof is performed but all extremity used which maner of proceeding is by the Catholiques themselves utterly condemned who desire to depart hence out of this Country to quit themselves of this strang kind of Government for that they see here none can assure themselves of either goods or life At Lyons Burdeaux and Orleans great and most barbarous cruelty hath been executed At Orleans divers of the Almains have been slain and spoiled the most part of
the Scots our neighbours be awakened by your Beacons in France I have sent you a Scotish proclamation herewith Du Crocque and Viracque have already taken their leave of Scotland and be come to Barwick The 20 of this moneth they appointed to be here at Court. By that we can see the Lords in Scotland draw neerer and neerer to an accord that rather it is in hope then in despair These cruelties in France have helped not a little and now continuing much more will You gave good advice that all Scotish men should not be stayed no more they be not some of the late Commers have given the rest in Scotland a good to make them awake yet there may also be false brethren come amongst them which as reason is shall be stayed and sent back if they may be known Yet it is true That much water goeth by the Mill that the Miller knoweth not of but mans wisdom must provide as much as may be as it would always it cannot The answer of the Ambassador may justly seem to you to debar your coming home and to prolong it longer then you would yet I assure you your friends do not cease by all means possible to provoke her Majesty so much as may be for your Revocation and her Majesty is as carefull for you as any Prince may be for such a subject as you are of whom assure you her Highness maketh no small account and so it is reason You know that things go here slowly with much respect of irresolution but for my part I hope to see you here shortly there shall no occasion be left which I will not take to further it Although your friends here be as forward as may be yet your wife ceaseth not continually to cry on them Fare you well From Windsor the 13. of October 1572. Your assured friend Thomas Smith To the right Honorable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principall Secretary SIR it may please you to advertise her Majesty that of late the King and Queen mother have had sundry conferences with the Scotish Ambassador to whom there is repaired out of Flanders one English Gentleman called Tempest and another called Musgrave servant unto the Earl of Westmerland they both have also access unto the Duke de Aumale and to his Nephew the the Duke of Guyse Davy Chambers since his return out of England hath had also conference both with the King and the House of Guyse who hath let fall these words how that the death and execution of the Earl of Northumberland hath increased the number of the Queen of Scots friends and that she is now grown to have such a party in England as that five or six thousand shot with some good Leaders will make her strong enough to encounter any forces her Majesty can make It is also secretly whispered in Court that there is some new practice in hand for the Queen of Scots delivery the particularities I can by no means decipher but the circumstances of these conferences well weighed the conjecture is great that there 's somwhat a hatching Little Douglas who conveyed the Queen of Scots out of Loughtean departeth out of hand into Scotland who besides other conference with the King hath had long conference with the Queen mother the Ambassador being present And so for other matters referring your Honor to this Bearers report touching divers particularities I most humbly take my leave Sir I most humbly desire your Honor to further a most reasonable suit that this Bearer my Secretary is to prefer unto her Majesty as wel in respect of his great travell already taken under me in her Majesties service as also for that thereby he may receive encouâ—agement to continue the same and in time through the experience of his service and the good parts that are in him may hereafter grow able to serve her Majesty in a better calling For my own part I have no means to recompence him as you Sir well know and if therefore the consideration grow not by her Majesty neither he nor any other shall have courage to serve in aservice both so dangerous and painfull as this is wherein he serveth And so not doubting of any furtherance you may yeid him I leave to trouble your Honor any further taking my leave At Paris 18 of October 1572. Your Honors to command Fr. Walsingham To the right Honorable Sir Thomas Smith her Majestiess principall Secretary SIR I am glad by your Letters to receive some hope that there is good care taken to prevent such mischiefs as may happen notwithstanding untill such time as the root of the evill be removed it is rather to dream of remedies then to apply such as the disease requireth I am glad to hear that there is some hope that they will grow to an accord in Scotland if that postern gate were shut up and other inward medicines applied and her Majesty strengthened with the outward Amity of the Almain Princes she should be the more esteemed and feared of those that mean her not great good And though the remedies may seem chargeable yet considering the necessity of the same and that they may avoid both great charges and no small danger I hope her Majesty will prefer safety before cost especially when the diâ—bursing of one pound may save a thousand Surely Sir the more I observe their doings here the more I increase my jealousie of their evill meaning They never spake more fair to the Admirall then a few dayes before he died nothing was demanded by him that was not granted insomuch that Tilligni said to a Gentleman a friend of his a few days before the execution that their liberall granting of requests without any difficulty did make him to suspect some unsound and hollow meaning and thereupon alledged that Italian Proverb They never used fairer speech then presently they do nor greater protestations of Amity and because it is more then was accustomed and is now at such time as we have cause to suspect the contrary I cannot but be jealous of her Majesties safety so long as any thing is left undone that tendeth to her Majesties preservation And so leaving further to entertain your honour with my jealousies and fears I most humbly take my leave beseeching you to continue your assistance in procuring my revocation At Paris the 25 of October 1572. Your Honors to command Fran. Walsingham To the right Honorable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principall Secretary SIR although I had no express commandement from her Majesty to communicate unto the King and Queen Mother such an answer as was yeilded unto those things that were propounded by their Ambassador here notwithstanding I thought it convenient to impart the same unto Queen Mother as she that hath the Helm in hand to see in what sort the said answer would be interpreted at my access unto her I shewed her at large that the Ambassador had propounded four things unto certain Deputies by her Majesty of her Councell
the answer as I cannot write any more I trust your old acquaintance Mr. Carew shall borrow your room shortly From my house in Westminster the seventh of November Yours assuredly William Burleigh To the right Honorable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principal Secretary SIr it may please you to advertise her Majestie that the King dispatched within these ten days Viracque with a good sum of money to entertain a party in Scotland until such time as he hath propounded the matter here in France One William Seers servant to the Earl of Westmerland arrived here the four and twentieth of this moneth sent hither by the said Earl Immediately upon his arrival Viracque went with him to the Court which is at this present at Monceaux He reporeth that in the North Countrey from York to the borders all the whole Countrey is at the Earls devotion so that a few men imployed there by the King may assure him that her Majestie shall be kept so occupied as she shall have no leisure to send any supply to Rochel I learn further that one Stephen Wilson a Scotish man taketh upon him to draw the Earl of Argile to be wholly at the Kings devotion so that the said Earl may receive that estate and honour that his Father had at the King his Predecessors hands The Bishop of Glasco hath had long and several conferences with the Legate since his last arrival If her Majestie do not compound the matter of Scotland before Viracque his coming she shall find more difficulty in the matter It is evident how much money may do with that Nation therefore it were well before his coming her Majestie took the benefit of the Market for that many Chapmen maketh deerer wares Such Noblemen of Scotland as are here were never so much made of I am well assured that the Duke of Alva not long sithence did write unto the King here in recommendation of the practice that tended to the disquiet of her Majestie but what it was or what answer was made I cannot learn At this present there is not that entertainment used towards the Legate that appertaineth to his calling and as heretofore hath been used which maketh all men of judgement to suspect that the same is done for the nonce to blind the eyes of all the Princes Protestants And that those speeches that were given out that the Marquis of Egremont departed without good satisfaction for that he obtained nothing of those things he propounded and that the Legate is like to obtain nothing of those things he is to propound are but to abuse the world Things do not pass here as they were wont to do through many hands besides the Duke of Nevers not many Counsellours that are made privy to the affairs of most secrecy As I learn secretly their Ambassador there findeth himself agrieved for that he receiveth not that good countenance and entertainment that he was wont to do Though I have most just cause to think that there is but little good meant towards her Majestie whatsoever outward shew is made yet in my poor opinion it were not amiss for her Majestie to use all outward shew and entertainment that may seem to appertain to good amity and yet not to omit any thing that tendeth to her safety And so for other matters referring your honour to these enclosed Occurrents I most humbly take my leave At Paris the seven and twentieth of November 1572. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable and his very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh YOur Lordships of the seventh I have received the Letters enclosed I have delivered to Steward for that Glascow â—8 was not here he therefore desired me to tell Davison that his absence is the cause why he hath not answer but by the next he shall hear from him in the mean time he bideth me tell him nn â—3 that he is now without fear of danger but that he hath many good friends who will suffer him to take no wrong He telleth me further that he is resolved to revenge the death of his friends hap what may hap He wisheth â—3 to look well to Scotland and that Munnesire is sent but to abuse her Majestie with 〈◊〉 words If Steward himself of the â—9 shall learn any thing that toucheth 〈◊〉 I shall be advertised from time to time I see more great cause now to nouriâ—h this humor contrary to my opinion in my last Letters for surely there are great mischiefs a brewing I am assured that within these eight days Florence 〈◊〉 protested that he should never be quiet so long as the exercise of Religion continued in any one place of Christendom I know further particularly that he said he will never forget New haven until revenge be made I never knew so deep a dissembler I am sure that the murther of the Admiral should have been executed at Bloys but that they saw him too well accompanied It is agreed that both he and Spain shall for the avoiding of suspicion of the Legats coming entertain the â—3 with good words and that Spain should make some shew to be glad to grow to some accord â— did send expresly Gentlemen unto me to know in what state and terms things do stand here being requested so to do by the Princes of Germany for that there are many contrary brutes there He sendeth me word that they mean shortly to call a Dyet to consult for their safety and for the revenge I have not yet dispatched the Gentleman but mean to do out of hand in such sort instructed as I hope shall rather heat then cool them I have requested H to be throughly advertised with all convenient speed how things do pass there c. Paris the six and twentieth of November 1572. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principal Secretary IT may please your honour to advertise her Majestie that the King here is given to understand from the Count de Lude who lieth at Morte how that they of Rochel have of late taken the Isle of Rez which hath bred great content here for it is a place of great importance by the having whereof they are Masters of the Haven and may thereby receive any succor by sea They have also taken in the same divers ships He doth further advertise that they have taken eight or ten Brittains laden with corn Touching the Kings intention for the besieging of Rochel this bearer shall inform you at the full who hath talked with one who knoweth what is resolved in that behalf There is daily here looked for the Master of the Emperors horse being sent hither to congratulate the Queens delivery as also to bring word that the Emperor hath chosen Monsieur and the Duke of Lorrain Knights of the Order of Toison By letters out of Germany they write that it was determined upon the news of the execution of those of the Religion here to have slain
see my successor in company with the Nobleman that repaireth hither And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave Paris the five and twentieth of December 1572. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable and his very good Lord the Lord Burleigh IT may please your Lordship to understand that since the writing of my last Letter I have spoken with Steward who knoweth not by whose procurement he was set on that discharged the Dagg against La Motte but doth ghess the party named in my last Letters should be the Authour thereof For other matters he saith all goeth well as you shall further understand by one sent for the purpose who imbarqueth at B. his name is R. he is of good quality and one that accompanied 8 I am warily dealt withal in the matter And for my self I dare not desire to know more then they are willing to make me acquainted withal Steward telleth me for certain that there are of late 800 at least of Strozzies company cut in piece which thing is kept very close for by others I can learn no such thing There arrived lately here a Gentleman out of Languedoc sent from Monsieur D'Aumale who reporteth that they of the Religion do hold at least in Town and Castle to the number of chosen Souldiers which Town can no way be taken but by famine for that they cannot possibly make any trenches about it the soil and seat being rocky Both the Admiral and De la Aumile do send the King word to send them both men and money or else there being there is to no purpose Upon these advertisements lately come from thence it is now thought that Monsieur shal go to Languedoc and that Monsieur Le Duc shall be imployed at Rochel Howsoever they shall be imployed it is held for certain that they depart from this Town about five or six days hence as well the two brethren as also the King of Navarre with the Prince of Conde I send unto your Lordship a lewd Letter written by Carpenter in defence of the late doings here the original written in Latin and afterwards translated into French Divers of those in Latin have been sent into Germany but the Authors lewdness is so well known as it will but little help their case They have also sent of them into Polonia for that the Bishop of Valence writeth that the late accident here will be one of the greatest lets of that they seek there It is reported also by Letters lately received out of Flanders that the Duke of Alva is so dangerously sick at ‑ Nunege as men do doubt of his recovery Furthermore they give out that there hath been of late a Conflict in Holland between the said Duke and the Prince of Orange in the which there were slain of the Dukes side 500 Spaniards and as they say a double number of the other but as yet the certainty is unknown And so beseeching your Honour to impart these Letters to the Earl of Leicester for that through the hasty departure of this messenger I had no leisure to write particularly unto him I leave c. At Paris the second of Ianuary 1572. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honoâ—rable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principal Sâ—â—retary SIr it may please you to advertise her Majestie that Monsieur Maâ—nâ—sire gave me to understand how that their Majesties here were given to understand from the Ambassador there that there should be certain ships to the number of fourteen preparing to repair to Rocâ—el and that though French men and Flemings bear the name of them yet were they not unfurnished of some English Marriners and that therefore they deâ—ire that it may please her Majestie to give order for the restraint thereof as to good amity appertaineth To this I answered that I would not fail to advertise her Majestie thereof notwithstanding I said it would be very hard to restrain them forasmuch as at this present there are a number of marriners and ships unset a work in respect of the unkindness between Spain and England which kind of people will hardly be restrained I willed him also to desire their Majesties to consider how the like falleth out in their Government here for that divers Gentlemen of good quality notwithstanding the League between the Turk and this Crown and notwithstanding an express inhibition of things did serve this last summer under those of the League some be conducted by the Marquis dâ— Mâ—in others under the conduct of the Count Martineâ—go the Kings Pensioner the which thing the Turk doth interpret in good part for that he knoweth that the same is done without the Kings consent the like consideration must their Majesties have also of her Majestie who is not able so to bridle her Subjects but that some of them will hazard themselves without having any regard to her Majesties commandment that unto their duties appertaineth To this Monsieur Mannesirâ— shewed me that he used like speech and perswasion towards the Queen Mother wherewith she seemed to be reasonably well satisfied The sixth of this moneth he was dispatched hence towards Câ—llis with certâ—in Coaches to meet the Barl of Worcester They have often sent unto me to know whether I heard anything of his coming wherein I have answered that since the twelfth of the last I heard nothing out of England which seemeth strange unto them considering that their Ambassador hath advertised that my Lord of Worcester should be forward the second of this Moneth Touching Monsieurs speedy departure from hence towards Rochel men of judgement do think it rather to fear the Rochellois to make them to condescend to an accord then indeed to have an intention to besiege them as yet considering that this time of the year is very unapt to besiege a Town scituate in a marsh Of late there hath been some purpose held with me whether I did not think that her Majestie by some perswasion used by me might be induced to be a Mediator unto the K. Whereunto I answered that I my self could hardly be perswaded to be a dealer in that behalf having that regard that a servant and a subject ought to have to the honour of his Prince and Mistris considering what evil success such Compositions heretofore have had as have passed between them King and his Subjects especially seeing those to enjoy the Kings ear who have both abused his ear and his honour having had more regard to their own particular passions then to that reverence and duty that becometh good Subjects to bear towards their Prince When I shall see said I such removed then I can tell what to answer in this behalf Our Merchants at the beginning here sith the last troubles received good expectation so far forth as concerned the obtaining of the Kings Letters but now that it â—â—meth to execution they find it but expedition in words so that I perceive
is this day at Provence five leagues besides Chasteau Thiery It is advertised that the Emperour doth by little little amend of his disease having been carried to his Garden to take the ayre but no assurance of his full recovery The Cardinal d Este is returned to Rome having been met with the Duke of Sora the Popes son They do prepare ten Galleys at Naples besides others at Genua to transport the Empress into Spain Prospero Colonna is appointed General of the Men of War which are levied in the Dutchies of Milan and Tuscan There hath been a quarrel betwixt the Spaniards and Gentlemen Millanoises The King of Spain hath been received in Lisbona and held there his estate called Cortes There is a deprivation passed against the Bishop of Guarda for following the partie of Don Anthonio The Abbot of Bisegno Agent for the Catholike King at Rome hath with the Cardinal of Como sollicited the Pope for to intreat the French King to withdraw his brother from the enterprise of Flanders so as the Pope is resolved to send two Legats to the French King to continue the peace between the French King and the Catholike King Onchibli is departed from Constantinople with twenty five Galleys towards Affrica They advertise out of Spain that the Corn doth fail them this Harvest so as they doubt of famine c. Your Honours to Command Henry Cobham A son bon ami Mr. François de Walsingham M Onsieur de Walsingham j'ay une extreme contentement quand la Royne m a voula tant favouriser de vous avoir choisy pour faire ce royage vers le Roy mon Seignieur et frere me faisant bien par cela cognoistre les effectes de ses bonnes voluntés me comblant de tant d'obligations que je ne m'en pouroy jamais retirer si ce n'est par le continuel desir et inviolable affection que je ay de luy faire service Et ce suistres-aise de m'estre trouve y a propos que n'estant que fort peuesloigne de votre chemni vous me passies veoir sans perie de beaucoup de temps vous priant que se suit La Fere en Tartinois ou je seray aujourdhuy a coucher et croyez que vous seres le tres-bien venu comme iceluy que tient l'un de primiers bieux apres de celle que je honore et estime plus que Princesse que soit sus la terre et que tiens pour l'un de mes mieux amis Vous attendant en bon devotion de supplieray le Createur qu'il vous ayd Monsieur de Walsingham en sa tes Saincte et digne garde a Chasteau Thiery le dernier jour de Iuliel 1581. Votre bien affectione ami François To the right honorable Sir Francis Walsingham SIR The sending of this away by Mr. Mills to you moveth me to accompany him with a few lines We here have nothing to write unto you about the Negotiation but doe now from this day forward look to hear from you whereupon I think her Majestie will have some matter to be occupied withall VVe hear nothing of Monsieurs proceedings but the Spanish Ambassador warneth that the Prince of Parma is so strong and so bent to fight with Monsieur as he pretendeth that at the least Monsieur will forbear to adventure his own person He did yesterday by her Majesties appointment speak at Leicester House with my Lord of Ley and me to expostulate for her Majesties refusal to speak with him requiring to know the cause and being answered That we doubted not but that he oftentimes had been made privy that it was for that her Majestie had not received any Letters from the King Catholique for her satisfaction in the case of Invasion in Holland c. He saith that he never promised to procure Letters from the King neither was he ever required of her Majesties behalf but the Speeches were alwaies delivered to him that her Majestie would not speak with him untill she might be satisfied of those things in the case of Holland but saith it was not required that he should send to the King for any such satisfaction and yet he did for his own part write to the King and upon answer from the King he did let her Majestie understand that the Collection of the Souldiers the Arming and Victualing of the Ships and men were wholly by the directions of the Pope whom he could not deny and he had also cause to think that her Majestie meant not that he should procure Letters from the King for that Mr. Wilks said that her Majestie would send a Gentleman to the King or else write to him by the way of trade And for confirmation hereof he said that he heard that a kinsman of the Earl of Arundels and Master of the â— whom we took to be Tilney was named to go into Spain By the way he saith that you told him in presence of the Councel at Nonsuch that her Majestie had no League with the King of Spain but the States of the Low Countries I told him I was assured he mistook you for you might say that the League which was the greatest was with the Emperor Charls and so with the King of Spain in respect of the Dutchy of Burgundy and the Low-Countries but he flung away after his hot manner Now to end these matters for the discovery of a multitude of Popish subjects I think Mr. Beal writeth to you of a number of choice persons who being at least but fined upon that que Dam noble wil yield a great sum of money My Lord Grey and Tyrwick were about a Peace the 29 of July finding my Lord Deputies forces ready to enter one way and Sir Nicholas Malt by another way offering to my Lord Deputy to abide his Order for the matters between Odonell and the whole Countrie he hath wasted pretending to set upon Odonels son begotten of Tirleghes wives daughter which he had by Mac Connel by Ashton that came from Ireland we secretly understand that the new Earl Arrig with a great number are determined to keep Darbique from his intentions against the Religion and the King doth secretly assent thereto whether Ashton be deceived time will prove The King hath sent to Seffade 200 souldiers to enable him to compel his people to answer to Justice upon demand of England and great promises are made in the Kings behalf to keep amity with her Majestie And thus almost wearied I end expecting shortly to hear of your progress in your Ambassage which they there may enterprise a regress or a recess Her Majestie is in very good health thanked be God Greenwich where I am tyed by your absence and yet do little good Augâ—st 6. 1581. Your assured friend Will. Burleigh To her Majestie August 6. IT may please your most excellent Majestie I have imparted in my Letters directed to my Lord Treasurer the substance of that which passed
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
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