as for her Majestie In the end he said he would write but that it would be two moneths before he could receive answer in the mean time he wished her Majestie to think of his Master as she would wish him to think of her Stewkley he protested never to have heard of If in the rest he be no sincerer then in this then is he Don Francisco not so sincere as he protesteth As for any attempts by Iulio Romero to be done in Ireland tell your Mistress saith he in few words that you her Ambassador â—ere knoweth that they be no Spaniards that have the enterprize in hand I told him that whatsoever I knew he might assure himself her Majestie could not be ignorant of And whereas said I you think that they be Frenchmen I assure my self to the contrarie for that the King hath so assured me He shewed me that he thought the King in that behalf sincere and that if there were any such matter it proceeded not from him but from others This Sir was in effect what I could ghess proceeded between us never spake I with a prouder man or with one more disdainful in countenance and in speech I suppose he is somewhat disquieted to see the honourable entertainment used towards my Lord of Buckhurst and therefore think him the rather to be excused besides he seemeth to be no better affected towards me then I am towards him which is such and no further forth then may concern her Majesties service I mean to have little else to do with him Sir touching de la Roches matter before my Lord of Buckhursts repair to the Court we upon conference agreed that he should make some entry into the matter and then afterwards cause the King to call me to inform what I had learned touching Roches proceeding in that behalf And so at the time of access according to the order agreed between us being called by the King I shewed his Majestie that notwithstanding he was otherwise informed the said de la Roch had been in Ireland and that he had left certain Souldiers there For whose safety he had brought hither two sons of one Fitzmorice to be here in place of hostages who remain now in Brest in Britain at a Kinsmans of the said de la Roch. And fuâ—ther I shewed him that the said de la Roch was lately departed out of the Town who before his going secretly gave out that he was dispatched about some enterprise I desired therefore his Majestie that according to his promise and the great Amitie he professed to her Majestie my Mistress he would procure some redress in that behalf which he with great earnestness protested to us I also desired his Majestie that it would please him to give me leave to deliver to some one about him a memorial to put him in remembrance thereof which his Majestie willingly granted and appointed one Gerâ—lomo Gondi a Gentleman of his Chamber to be the partie The like speech I used to the Queen Mother who gave great assurance that there should be speedy redress thereof I look shortly out of Britain to be advertised throughly by a Messenger that I sent expresly for that purpose touching the enterprise where also I have taken such order as I shall not fail to be advertised from time to time of such preparations as there shall be made whereof there may grow any suspition of any intention to attempt any thing that may touch her Majesties Dominions Concerning the having of any intelligence in Spain I hope to procure that one of the Kings Ambassadors men upon some pension shall advertise from time to time how things pass there According as her Majestie hath commanded me I will not be unmindful touching the league hoping not to omit any occasion or opportunitie that may serve that purpose so far forth as my poor skill and experience may stretch Touching my Lord of Buckhursts entertainment here which is very honorable and such as the like hath not been used towards any other I refer you to his Lordships own Letters I find him a Gentleman very wise and discreet and very careful to do that thing that may be for her Majesties Honour wherein he spares no cost And leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave beseeching God to send you better health then by your Letters I perceive you have From Paris the 25 of Febr. 1571. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To my very Friend Sir Francis Walsingham Ambassador Resident for the Queens Majestie in France MY Lord Ambassador I thank you for your Letters lately received from you the last being the ninth of Febr. wherein you give very good advice touching the matter of Monsieur and for my own part I am of the same mind to wish sinceritie and honourable dealing in it that either upon very good deliberation it may be embraced or in time and in best sort put from too much entrance for neither is our case meet to dally nor his person for to be abused as he will think if he miss his desire how fair soever we speak him Therefore for my own part I wish all things to be throughly considered of him that her Majestie may fully understand the condition of his person before-hand which is one of the causes that moved me to say unto you as I did before your departure for I find matter that is like to come in question and I perceive her Majestie more bent to marry then heretofore she hath been God make her fortunate therein to his glory and our comforts Touching the matter of Ireland Master Secretary made me privy to your Letters and you do well to follow the matter earnestly and to enquire further thereof by all means you can devise for her Majestie is also advertised that the King of Spain hath like intention and almost ready to put his practise in execution whereupon her Majestie doth mean forthwith to take some order for that Realm We have lost on Monday our good Friend Sir Nicholas Throckmorton who dyed in my house being there taken suddenly in great extremity on Tuesday before his lungs were perished but a sudden cold he had taken was the cause of his speedy death God hath his soul and we his friends great loss of his body The Queens Majestie God be thanked hath her health well and hath summonded a Parliament which shall begin the 13 of April next Thus with my hearty commendations I bid you heartily farewel this 14 of Febr. 1571. Your assured Friend R. Leicester To the Right Honourable my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester YOur Lordships of the 14 I received the 16 of this present and was most sorry as I had just cause by the same to understand of the loss of so dear a friend as Sir Nicholas was unto me whose lack if it were but private only to his Friends the loss were great but if it be weighed generally in respect of her
morning Her Majesty in good health So God be with you In all haste this 12 of January 1572. Your assured friend Ro. Leicester To the Right honorable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principall Secretary SIR if the cause of my stay here grow onely in respect of her Majesties service as by your Letters I am assured though I have as much cause to desire my return as any other that ever was imployed in the like service yet can I with more patience digest the same as he that thinketh both his travell substance and life as well imployed in her service as any other subject she hath I hope when her Majesty shall find my stay here not needfull she will tender my case and yeild to my Revocation Sithence the Cardinall of Lorains arrivall here the direction of Scotish matters are committed to his charge The Lord Levingston and the Lord Ogleby look shortly to be dispatched hence who receive at the Cardinals hands great entertainment and great promises of great good that they and divers others of their Nation shall receive at the Kings hands here Amongst others they have commission to assure D. Castelherault to be retored to the Kingdom here and that the Marshall Montmorency shall be otherwise recompenced That the Lo. Arboth shall be General of the Scotish men at Arms. That the Lo. Clade shall have the reversion after Losses death of the Captainship of the Guard That the Lo. Huntley and the Earle of Argile shall have the great Order sent unto them and assurance of great pensions And though it seemeth by the occurrents out of Scotland that the said Earle of Argile inclineth to the King yet the best there are of another opinion and think him to favour the Queens part which they are resolved to maintain I am advertised by one at whose hands I have received advertisements that the Cardinall of Lorain hath brought from Rome for Monsieur to marry with his Neece who as I hear as he doth hope after the marriage of Polonie so he doth not greatly like thereof and would be loath that Monsieur should be removed so far off The Marshall Tavannes who was held here for dead is now in some hope of recovery And so c. At Paris the 21 of January 1572. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord Treasurer YOur Lordships of the 14 of this moneth I have received by the which I perceived two sundry Letters which I sent you by the Vidams man with certain books are not come to your hands which maketh me to mistrust some some wrong measure for that he departed the second of this moneth The matter of most importance contained in the same was touching a Gentleman of â— departed hence to 2 â— 6. 4 with intention to imbarque there if the Barque were not departed Steward who is gone to Rochel as I sent your Lordship word by my servant William Williams promised before his departure to have come and seen me and to have had some conference with me which he did not but sent onely his man unto me with a fond Cypher requesting me to hear often from me To whom I answered That the Cypher he sent me was not for the purpose and as for writing often I told him I could not tell what to answer untill I might speak with his Master and that therefore I desired most earnestly to confer with him before his departure as well of that as of other matters notwithstanding his own promise and my request he is now departed so that considering his loose kind of dealing I cannot tell what to judge of the matter If the party that cometh over do not deal more orderly and roundly there then I am dealt with here I think it were well if it were at some end for that I fear the issue will prove such as the parties are that deal in it who are over young and lack experience that were fit to guide a matter of so great weight I serve in the same but for a distributer of Letters and yet as it should seem the chief cause of Religion groweth thereby If I thought there were good faith meant therein or that by good guiding there might grow good effect to the benefit of her Majesty I should then with the less grief continue my abode here Such Letters as I received lately from Davison I know not what to do with having no sure means how to convey them for one of mine own cannot with safety travell that way And as for any of this Nation I find none whom I may trust in that behalf and therefore untill such time as I hear further from your Lordship what liking you have of the overture that shall be made by them that I sent over who as I am informed by Steward is to grow to some through resolution I mean not to deal any further with them unless I see they proceed more orderly Of this loose kind of dealing I thought good to advertise to the end you may rather grow to some through conclusion with the said party there At Paris the 20 of January 1572. Your Honours to command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester YOur Lordships of the 12 of this present I have received and though I cannot at large write unto you touching the contents of the same through this Bearers hast for his own particular affairs yet I thought to write these few scribled lines in answer Touching Stewards matter which as I perceive is the chiefest cause of my stay here I assure your Lordship I know not what to think of it They deal very warily with me and seem to have more will to deal with you there then with me here I stand but in stead of a Post to receâ—ve to deliver Letters By one that departed from thence I am shewed that you shal be ful informed what is their intention in that behalf I fear the issue thereof will be such as are the dealers therein In my Lord Treasurers Letter in respect of the Cypher you shall more plainly know my meaning If my stay here imported her Majesties service I could not so importunately seek my return though I have more them just cause so to do being rather overpressed then over-charged But seeing I do but servâ— here to entertain a broken matter having no great credit with the parties otherwise then in generall terms I hope through your Lordships good assistance her Majesty will tender my cause by sending over my successor Now that the Cardinall of Lorain is arrived here who beareth the whole sway in the affairs they conclude somwhat touching Scotish matters In the mean time there is one lately dispatched hence with great offers to entertain the Queens party as your Lordship may perceive by the inclosed And so leaving further to trouble your Honor at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the 20 of January
then to the truth of the matter and this being granted as in honour it cannot be denied specially betwixt friends as we make account of them both in all our honorable causes we doubt not but we shall well see that in stead of request or expostulation made to us we shall be found to have deserved praise and thanks for our doings past and shall not be disallowed in forbearing hereafter to grant simply to the requests as they are made And after the King and his Mother shall grant to us this reasonable request you shall proceed and say First we require our good Brother to consider what part of his request hath been alreadie accomplished of our natural disposition and next what part we have not as yet yielded unto and then also he shall see uponwhat just reasons we forbear to assent to the rest of their requests as it is made where we are required to use all honest and gracious treatment due to a Queen of her qualitie The truth is since her flying into our Realm where she escaped an evident danger of her life we caused her to be alwaies honorably attended by persons of Nobilitie and such as were of the ancient Families of our Realm we have entertained her at our charges with a company of her own of such Lords and Ladies as she her self made choice of to remain with her and appointed her houses of such Commoditie of pleasures and pastimes as the Countrey would afford And herein being constrained to say somewhat more for our self then otherwise we would but to answer calumniations we are assuredly informed that for her own Person her Diet and commoditie of Pastâ—me meet for the conservation of her health she for the most part when she lived at her own will in Scotland had no better Entertainment or Diet but rather many times worse and baser as it is well known to all persons that understand both So as for the state and honest and favourable treatment of her own Person we are sure no lack can be found suppressed or rather untrulie reported of us wherein we have been much wronged contrary to our deserts the King our good Brother aâ—d his Mother not a little abused with such untruths If fault have been found that she hath not been used according as a Q. of her quality if therein be meant that she hath not such honour done in the services of her as are due to a Queen she herself is to answer to the same for by her own servants she hath been and is continually served And we think not but that they have therein accomplished their duties according to her desire at the least to speak the truth we are crediblie informed that in Scotland she had commonly less reverence done to her in her services by the self same servants then hath been by them here And as to such of ours as have attended upon her we think they have not forborn to do their duties at all times agreeable to her estate except per case she her self have of her courtesie at sometimes remitted some part thereof to them But for our part truly notwithstanding such great offences as she hath diversly made unto us we have been alwaâ—es careful of her person to be honorably used and of her health to be by all possible good means preserved esteeming it our honor so to have her treated and used being brought into calamity and flying into our Realm as she did But now if the rest that be required be not granted that is to have her aided with our power to the restitution of her Realm we trust to make it manifestly appear that to consent thereunto as is required were not only a great follie in us and dangerous to our Estate but against all common reason and such an errour that neither Prince nor private person having any sense of understanding would commit the circumstances being well considered And though many things be well known commonly to the world for maintenance of this our judgment yet the beginning of these things could not be known to the King our good Brother in respect of his young years and to the Q. Mother though they have been well known yet either her time since occupied with her own dangerous causes or the continuance of perpetual informations for the Scotish Queen or else some part thereof touching the time of her worthie husband King Henry and her son also King Francis may per case have brought the most part of things to oblivion or at least have altered her judgement or else move her to give the less heed to them being now remembred nevertheless as briefly as we can with passing over of a great number of accidents and scruples of offences and especially such as concerned the time of King Henry or King Francis the â—econd which were of no less importance then the assailing of our Crown and Title as the world knoweth we will lay before their eyes these things following to shew how the acts and dealings of the Scotish Q. towards us have provoked us to deal in another manner with her then hitherto we have First she is the person by whom and for whom only it is manifestly known that our Kingdom and Crown was Challenged almost as soon as Almightie God called us by right thereunto And how many waies that Challenge was furthered and maintained prosecuted and published needeth not to be recited for all Nations of Christendom understand it And if we should enter to inform our good Brother the King of the particularities thereof howsoever the same should touch the time of his noble Father King Henry and his Brother King Francis it may be thought he being Son and Brother of such Kings yet he would in his judgement inwardly with himself think us not well used But for avoiding of things displeasant and considering since the same unkindness was shewed in his Fathers and Brothers times a reconciliation of Amitie hath followed which we observe firmlâ— we will omit all other parts and remember only the things done by the Scotish Queen after the death of her husband King Francis when she was at her own libertie We sent our Ambassador to her and being in France we required according to a certain Tâ—eatie of Peace concluded in Iuly 156C by sufficient Commission from King Francis the second her husband and the Q. her self under the several hands and seals aswel of Scotland as of France to confirm the said Treaty as was by their Commissioners having Authoritie covenanted and concluded In which Treatie was concluded Articles of good Amitie betwixt us and her in our Countreys and those as beneficial for her as for us And also a provision and especial Covenant that she should forbear from thenceforth to attempt or offer us any like wrong by challenging of our Crown as she had done before time To this our request delay was made not with alledging any thing to the contrary of our right or maintenance of her former
of the Realm and that also with her consent as they affirm her party was overthrown in her own sight and she thereby forced to escape by flying with a very small number And being hardly pursued she was driven for safety of her life to enter into a simple vessel and crossing over an Arm of the sea came into England unknown in the Port where she landed yea she herself dissembled her person for a time But yet shortly after being discovered who she was and we hearing thereof within three or four daies for sooner we could not in respect of the distance of the place set forth by Commandment to have her comforted and honourably used And afterwards warned certain persons of honor and credit to attend and wait upon her to bring her from the borders of our Realm where she was in manifest danger of her contrary part of Scotland to be suprized And granted her to remain further within our Realm in a Castle of an ancient Nobleman with all her company that escaped with her and with some others that did also follow her and there she had such entertainment altogether upon our charges as was meet for a Queen and for a person brought into such calamity or for one that had notoriously challenged our Crown and would not perform that she was bound to do for our satisfaction After she had been there some time and that she had now through her whole Realm been newly charged with the former crimes as to have been directly the procurer and deviser of the horrible murther of her husband to have married the principal murtherer to have defended and succord all the rest of the murtherers whereof some of the principal were her own servants with a number of infamous crimes We caused her to be friendly dealt withal to understand what she would have us to do for her that with our honour we might do to relieve her of the infamies wherein we were nearly touched even in the inward part of our heart considering the fresh death of her husband was not yet punished he being next Kinsman both to her and us living on the King our Fathers side and on hers also After many things propounded at length she agreed that her cause of Criminations should be tryed as one that was not guilty of the principal crime the murther and that we should have her allegations for her defence whereunto we assented assuring her that if by any means it might appear that she was not to be duly charged to be a deviser and procurer thereof as she was charg'd her accusers should be with all severity punished as reason was And she should have our aid to be speedily restored to her State but what followed hereupon and what was the cause why she did not cause her Commissioners to answer to the matters produced against her we do omit for this time having been heartily sorry that where so many matters were produced to charge her to be culpable and she by her Commissioners thereof made privy did not suffer the same to be further tried of what value they were to have such credit as they did pretend And in this great matter being so hainous it is well to be considered of our good Brother and Sister to what respect more of her honor and care of her then of our self we hitherto forbore to notifie abroad the mutitudes of the Arguments produced against her by which if we had been by any waies disposed to hinder her as per case some of her friends would have thought of us we could have made and yet can make no small advantage to abase her estimation to the whole vvorld and yet publish nothing but the only rude and bare arguments and matters as they have been manifestly and orderly produced leaving to the vvorld to consider of the same as should seem most profitable But herein have we esteemed more her honor then our ovvn profit having an intention to overcome evil if it might be vvith good and the rather for that Almightie God hath so fortified our estate othervvise vvith his blessings and so abased hers vvith the lack thereof as vve thank him vve have no need of such means to abase our Enemies or evil vvillers And thus far did things pass until this last year in vvhich time vvhilest vve vvere occupied and travelling at her request vvith the States of her Realm vvho had accepted and acknovvledged her son as their King to come to some Conformitie vvith her for her return into her Realm and for a concord to be made betvveen her and her States she again had vvithout our knovvledge entred into a secret dealing of marriage vvith a principal Nobleman of our Realm and not contented therevvith vvhen vve did mislike it she by her Ministers entred into such an intelligence vvith certain of our Noblemen in the North part of our Realm as they novv since Michaelmas burst out into an open Rebellion making their outvvard shevv of intent to change the state of Religion contrary to the Laws of our Realm but in very deed as manifestly it is to us more known and truly discovered their meaning was chiefly to set up her not onely in her own Countrey but in this our Realm And though it pleased God to animate all our Subjects generally of all Estates so to accord to serve us in the speedie suppression hereof yet her manner of unkind dealing against us in this daâ—gerous sort is not the less to be weighed in respect of that which was by her intended to our utter subversion a matter worthie consideration of all such as have States and Governmeâ—t and that mean to preserve them from subversion by such Rebellions wherein the verie Crown of the Prince is sought And thus having as shortly as so many matters of so many years continuance could suffer passed over no small number of unkind and dangerous enteprises against us and contrariwise of our manifold kind and aboundant benefits towards her in all her necessities we doubt not but now if the requests that are made to us to aid her to our power to restore her forthwith to her Realm shall be applid to the former things preceding no indifferent person of any judgement will or can think it in conscience reasonable to move us to commit such a dangerous folly as to be the authour our self to hazard our own Person our State our quietness of our Realm and People at one instant without further consideration how we might preserve the same as God hath given them unto us and not to be lost as it were wilfully and with contemning or neglecting of the wisdom that God hath bestowed upon us to possess and to maintain our Crown and Dignitie with publike peace and quietness amongst our Subjects And therefore although now lately in this time of Rebellion whereunto we well understand that she hath a party we did cause her to be removed further into our Realm from the parties where the Rebellion
doth much desire the consideration of the Kings honour the continuance of the Amity with him she most heartily wisheth that he might so use the matter in time as the world might find him excusable in one of these two sorts that is that either it might be made manifest to indifferent persons that is to such as are not known to have born deadly malice to the Admiral and his party now murthered That if the confirmations that were given to the King of the Admirals evil intention and conspiracy against him were grounded upon truth and not upon malice or pretext and if 〈◊〉 informations might bee verified then might the King be excused in some part both towards God and the world in permitting the Admirals enemies by force to prevent his enterprizes although indeed the same informations had been true yet the manner of the cruelty used cannot be allowed in any Kingdom or Government and least in that place where the King might by order of justice have done due execution both to the Admiral and all others that should have proved offenders for it cannot be denyed that the same forces that murthered so many might have more easily attached them all or the principals and brought them to answer to justice when the King would and of all others the Admiral being on his bed lamed both on the right hand and left arm lying in danger under the cure of Chyrurgions being also guarded about his private house with a number of the Kings guard might have been by a word of the Kings mouth brought to any place to have answered when and how the King should have thought meet But the fault thereof as to the disorder in proceeding howsoever the information had been true her Majestie forbeareth to impute to the King and leaveth the same to the burthen of others about him whose age and knowledge ought in such a case to have foreseen how offenders ought to be justified with the sword of the Prince and not with the bloody swords of murtherers being also the mortal enemies of the party murthered The information whereof for the recovery of the Kings honour which is by the facts of others herein greatly touched her Majestie leaveth to the King to be considered and wisheth him commodity to do what shall be to Gods honour and to his praise But on the other side if such informations were so suddenly given to the King against the Admiral shall not be duly and manifestly without subornation proved true as therein surely the manner of the circumstances do lead all indifrent persons to think the same not onely falsly forged of the private deadly malice to the Admiral and his parties but also perillously devised to weaken the K. Estate and to deprive him of the great honor and surety that daily was growing unto him by counsels or services of the Admiral and his friends now murthered that her Majestie findeth the case of so great importance to be pitied wishing him grace to have power by faithful Counsellours and Servants to make an example to the world of the same manner of punishment of such detestaand trayterous attempts whereby not onely his honour which is now much blemished may be saved but principally himself and his person and surety being in good time provided for and if it shall please him herein to require the use of her Majesties advice and of her assistance she shall not fail but to shew her self in this time a perfect friend to him by all goods means that is in her power And after many good speeches used to the Ambassador she concluded That as the Ambassador required of her she could rather condole with the King this miserable accident then to condemn him until she should see more caus by the manner of his proceeding which he should use hereafter for the recovery of his honour And as to the Admiral she confesseth That she was very sorry for his death as for one whom she thought a good Minister to continue amity betwixt their two Majesties and she had cause to bewail the rest of the Noblemen for the like cause but otherwise the Ambassador could well tell that in former times she did never allow the taking of arms contrary to the Kings Commandment but now perceiving upon the Kings receiving them to grace and taking them to his protection and that it was by consequence of things maâ—ifest that the taking of arms was not against the Kings Estate or Person but to defend themselves in the profession of their Religion according to the Kings own Edicts and Grants her Majestie did greatly lament their death and doth surely perswade her self that if the King shall not use his power to make some amends for so much blood so horribly shed God who seeth the hearts of all as well Princes as others will shew his justice in time and place when his honour shall therein be glorified as the Author of all Juâ—â—ice and the Revenger of all blood sheding of the innocâ—â—ts In this manâ—er at the least to this purpose with some largeâ— discourse to the Ambassadors contentation hath her Majestie uttered her meaning and according thereunto willâ—th â—hat you her Ambassador shall take convenient time to declare what she hath thought meet and yet you shall well consider aforehand how and in what sort you may communicate all this So as both he may well uâ—derstand iâ— and reserve so much thereof to himself as shall seem meet to be kept from others that have been Procureâ—s or Consenters to this murther For such how near soever they be to the King in place of service or in degree of blood may not be privy thereto And therefore you must also first consider and seek to understand whether indeed the King was no otherwise induced to this then as the Ambassador here reporteth oâ— whether the report be not devised to cover the Kings honour to us-ward For if he were privy to the intention of the murther indeed as God forbid that ever he was then this manner of dealing with him in many parts is to be forborn as your self can well judge which is to be left to your discretion using then but such part thereof as may declare her Majesties grief for the accident and so to use good words toward him of her Majesties disposition to continue the amity But if ye shall truly perceive that the King is grieved with the accident and that he hath a disposition to revenge it upon the Authors and Executors and that you find a good will to receive her Majesties opinion and to use such advice as you shall give him â—ecretly thâ—â— shall you deal inwardly with him with assurance of her Majesties friendship to the utmost of her power and require him that he will utter his mind plainly unto you or otherwise by some such of his own as he may well trust to impart it to us and it is to be left to your own consideration how you shall deal with the
strange being we had heard before of the daily murdering of those of the Religion there in France not only at Paris and Orleans but also at Lyons and Roan and divers other places and Cities of that Realm all the which was done by the Kings appointment and commandment whereupon when we had heard what he could say unto us he heard us so reply at that time as we do think he found himself unable to satisfie us And nevertheless we told him that we would be further advised for our answer which he should have within three or four daies whereupon communicating his Negotiation with our Councel upon their French tongue An answer was made as appeareth by this here inclosed which is the copy of that we delivered to Nicasius to interpret in French to the said de la Mott as our ful answer resolution at that time with the which as Nicasius reporteth de la Mott seemed very well content and satisfied In the which yet you may perceive that divers things are left to be ascertained to us by you wherefore you shall do well with convenient speed to demand audience of the King and there to declare both to him and to the Queen mother what hath passed betwixt his Ambassador and us and upon the points we did at that time stand and you may say as touching any worthy punishment executed upon his own Subjects we have not to deal therein but if they have worthily suffered we are sorry for their evil doings But yet the King to destroy and utterly root out of his Realm all those of that Religion that we profess and to desire us in marriage for his brother must needs seem unto us at the first a thing very repugnant in it self especially having before confirmed that liberty to them of the Religion by an Edict of his perpetual and irrevocable Of the which to whom that liberty was granted if any were partakers of any evil conspiracies against him specially women and children who we do understand are not yet spared And therefore if that Religion of it self be so odious unto him that he thinks he must root out all the professers of it how should we think his brother a fit husband for us or how should we think that the love may grow continue and increase betwixt his brother and us which ought to be betwixt the husband and the wife You had in our former Letters unto you things that we required you to decypher by all means that you could especially whether the King himself be inclined and bent to all these cruelties and the rooting out of true Religion or whether he be but overruled to the which Article hitherto you have not answered and yet these things might give great light unto us how to direct our actions in the conferences and talks with his Ambassador and we would have you to be earnest with him in that matter of Strozzi praying him frankly and roundly what he meaneth with that great Army of Ships and men of War which hath been kept a long time close and undiscovered to what intent or to what place it should be bent You may say we have the more desire to know his meaning and dealing herein because that of latâ— they of Strozzies Company there have spoiled divers of our Merchants some of their Artillery and Victuals other of their goods and Merchandizes as was accustomed betwixt the two Realms in times past the which kind of dealing is very much contrary to the amity and to such things as by his Ambassador is propounded unto us wherefore as we do go roundly and plainly to work with him to shew flatly that which we do think or doubt hereupon so we pray him with the same flatness and roundness to deal with us for that is the way to make continuance of amity and also increase and may induce us the sooner to come to a further resolution of such things as be required of us The Vidam of Chartres of whom we have great compassion is come into this Realm at whose humble and lamentable suit we have been content to write this Letter to my brother the French King in his favour which you shall deliver with as good words as you may to the French King and require his answer If this our Letter do chance to come to you in Paris or in the way coming from Paris towards England after you have obtained licence of the King to come away by favour of our Letters which we wrote unto him yet if you be not too far on the way or very near the sea-coast we would you should return in Poste or otherwise to the Court to have a direct answer of these Letters except that great and unfeigned danger of your self do move you to keep on your journey In which case you shall commit the doing of this message and receiving of answer to your Secretary whom you shall leave behind so that he be a man able to do this charge Given at Reading the 28 of September 1572. in the fourteenth year of our Reigne T. Smith The Ambassadors Message in three Points THat the King was of necessity for safeguard of his own life forced to cause such execution to be done upon the Admiral and his complices as was done for that he and they had conspired the death of the King of which matter the King was very well able to make a verification and that her Majesty should shortly see by the process of the Admiral now in making and that nothing was meant by the King against the cause of Religion That the King was most earnestly disposed to keep the League That he desired to have the marriage of his brother of Alanzon to proceed and to that end the Queen mother was content to come into the Realm with her son at such place and with such numbers as her Majesty here should allow Answers To the first That although the killing of the Admiral and the rest might probably move her Majestie to think ill thereof and to be right sorry that the King should suffer such an act to be done without order of justice yet her Majestie being advertised from the King that he was forced thereunto for safety of his own life and that thereof her Majestie should see good proof by such a process thereof to be sent to her Majestie as should verifie the same her Majestie is content to suspend her judgement against the King untill by the process she may see the truth and by the Kings further proceedings hereafter for continuance of his Edict for tolleration of Religion she may perceive what to judge of his intention for the cause of Religion To the second her Majestie thanketh the King for his so earnest an offer to continue the amity according to the late League made and doth again assure the King of her mind to keep it for her part so as howsoever the King shall by his deeds shew his affection therein her Majestie will
do the like to her power To the third her Majestie would that the King should â—nderstâ—â—d that she did in the motion of the marriage before this latâ— accident of the Admirals death plainly proceed with the Ambassador and with la Mot so she must plainly deal with the King That this acâ—ident of murthering the Admiral and of so general a slaughter of them of the Religion there hath made such alteration in her Majestie and hath moved such doubts in her minde how to interpret of the offers of this marriage and of this enterview by coming of the Queen Mother with her son as her Majestie cannot but suspend her resolution therein until she may understand some further answer to things which the Ambassador had in charge to deal with the King particularly to understand his mind of which her Majestie as yet had received no answer from her Ambassador nor any signification that he hath as yet had speech with the King thereof And besides that as to his last offer of the Queen Mother to come into any part of the Realm with Monsieur d'Alanson her Majestie cannot but interpret the offer very thankfully though she had not received from her Ambassador the Queen Mothers meaning to be such for her words to him were not further but that she would be content to comâ— with her son to Bulloign or to Callis and that she desired that the Queens Majestie would come to Dâ—ver and so then there might be an enterview and communication upon the Sea betwixt Dover and Calais or Bulloign a matter that seemed surely very strange to her Majestie and seeing that her Ambassador had no such offer made for her coming aland within the Realm as the French Ambassador offereth her Majestie meaneth therein to be better advertised by her own Ambassador who shall have charge therein to understand her mind and the Kings And upon knowledge thereof her Majestie will grow to a further resolution to the which it will be a great furtherance if the proof were verified as is said of the just causes given by the Admiral and his Complices for the execution of them And that his further proceedings with the observation of his Edicts for the cause of religion might more clearly appear to her Highness wherby her Majestie shall have good cause to see what is meet for her to do in the further proceeding both for the enterview and for the marriage In both which her Majestie shall be very glad to understand that she may have the same likelihood of the good to follow to her self and Coâ—ntrey for continuance of the amity that was propounded unto her when it was last renewed at la Mots before the death of the Admiral And her Majestie assureth the King that on her part she meaneth to observe the Amity by all good means as shall be to her possible and shall be very glad to find the like answeâ—able on his part and therewith doth presently require the King to give her to understand what his meaning may be in the keeping of so great a Navy and Army nâ—ar Burdeaux and Rochel under the rule of Strozzi which is an occasion why her Subjects and Merchants who were wont all the year and specially about this time to traffique that way for wines and other things be now put in doubt and great feaâ— and dare not adventure according to the assured amity betwixt the two Realms and the rather because now of late divers of her Merchants have been spoiled about Rochel and Burdeaux by those of Strozzies band not onely of victual and munition but also of money and merchandizes and some of them also of their lives To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr although I suppose you are now on your way hitherwards for by Walter Williams I sent you her Majesties Letters for license of your return for a time yet if my Lettâ—rs can find you there or by the way I would not have you ignorant of that which I can shew you I know by self how Ambassadors be to know what is done in their own Countrey The cruel murthers at Roan is now long ago written unto us when we thought all had been done and by the same letters was written unto us that Diepe was kept close and the same execution of the true Christians looked for there but as then not executed howbeit Sigoigne did warrant all our Englishmen to be out of danger and not to be afraid But what warrant can the French make now Seals and Words of Princes being traps to catch innocents and bring them to the Butchery If the Admiral and all those murthered on that bloody Bartholomew day were guilty why were they not apprehended imprisoned interrogated and judged but so much made of as might be with-in two hours of the assumation is that the manner to handle men either culpable or suspected so is the Journeyer slain by the Robber so is the Hen of the Fox so the Hinde of the Lyon so Abel of Cain so the innocent of the wicked so Abner of Ioab but grant they were guilty they dreamt treason that night in their sleep what did the innocent men women and children at Lyons what did the sucking children and their mothers at Roan deserve at Cane at Rochel what is done yet we have not heard but I think shortly we shall hear Will God think you still sleep Will not their blood ask vengeance shall not the earth be accursed that hath sucked up the innocent blood poured out like water upon it I am most sorry for the King whom I love whom I esteem the most worthy the most faithful Prince of the world the most sincere Monarch now living I am glad you shall come home and would wish you were at home out of that Countrey so contaminate with innocent blood that the Sun cannot look upon it but to prognosticate the wrath and vengeance of God The ruine and desolation of Ierusalem could not come till all the Christians were either killed there or expelled from thence but whether do I run driven with just passions and heats The Scots both the parties in words shew themselves desirous of accord willing to come to reason but indeed they seem not so as both Monsieur de Crocque and Mr. Killegrew do fear the old Enemies be so hard to compound and the new possessions so hard to part from but as yet we cannot despair till they both have met together and heard joyntly what both the parties can say which so soon as it can be done Mr. Killegrew hath promised to write to me what is done and what he thinketh may be done What Strozzies hovering cloud which hath so long gone in a mist will brew at the last and what design so long cloaked will break out upon is no marvel though they and we and all the world doubt and if it be to besiege Rochel and to execute more slaughter upon men women
and children Christians as is now suspected and certified that thereabout it goeth and as some say is Master of Rochel when that is done what it will do and whether it will go further or no and if it do to what place I tell you truly many do doubt Divers of our Merchants resorting that way have found small courtesie at their hands no more then if they had been men with Pyrats This maketh our Merchants that they dare not yet adventure for Burdeaux and to doubt whether they may go thither this year or no. And I would mervellous fain know what manner of assurance you can make from thence Fare you well From Reading the six and twentieth of September 1572. YOu may perceive by her Majesties answer that she will not refuse the enterview nor marriage but yet she cometh near to them tam timido suspenso pede that they may have good cause to doubt The answer you see to de la Mot is addulced so much as may for she would have it so You have a busie piece of work to decypher that which in words is designed to the extremity in deeds is more then manifest neither you shall open the one nor they shall cloak the other The best is we stand I thank God upon our guard nor I trust shall be taken and killed asleep as the Admiral was the greatest matter for her Majestie and our safety and defence is earnestly of us attempted nor yet atchieved nor utterly in despair but rather in hope The Queens Majestie is in marvellous doubt for you she taketh as much care for you as any Prince can do for her Subject and she thinketh none can do what she would have done there as well as you You are happy in the one and her Majestie in the other seeing you are advertised so well hitherto God who hath hitherto delivered you will not yet leave you I doubt and I trust I need not fear I doth me good to see the Princely compassion that her Majestie doth take on the poor Vidame who is escaped by good fortune into England her Majestie hath written for him to the King the Copy I send you you shall do well to press the answer and bring it with you I dare say it will do you good if you can do it â—aeâ— est vicissitudo rerum humanarum haec est communis casus hominum All that be not bloody and Antichristian must needs condole and lament the misery and inhumanity of this time God make it short and send his Kingdom amongst us Fare you well once again the seveâ— and twentieth of September which is removing day to Windsore Yours alwayes assured Tho Smith The Copy of the Queens Majesties Letters to the French King for the Vidam de Charâ—res TReshault trespuissant et tresexcellent Prince nostre trescher et tresaimè bon frere et cousin salut Le Vidam de Chartres est retirè en nostre Royaulme et nous a donne a entendre par un sien escript supplicative la cause de sa venue aâ— nous et requirant de nous nostre favoâ—rable recommendation de son cas enuers vous et pour ce que l'avons troâ—ve de cocur loyal et fidel envers vous desirant tousiours sur toutes choses le tenir en repose et que par toutes occâ—sions que se presentoient non cesse de louer vos royalles virtus comme vostre tres affectionne subject dont en pouvons estre bons tesmoins Nous n'avous voulu faire moins aians compassion de l'estat miserable anquel il se troâ—ve pour lè present que recommander affectueusment a vous sa cause qui nous sâ—mble certes fort lamentable et qui merite secours aiant a celle fin envoyè a nostre Ambassadeur aupres de vous sa requeste qui vous la declarera plus amplement en quoy vous prions trescher tresame bon frere et cousin luy donner bonne et favorable aâ—dience et 〈◊〉 bonne response au fin que avec cela nous pussions comme en avons bon espoir consoler le poure desole Vidam a nous y faire gran plaisir comme scait le createur aâ—quel prions tresh ault tresexcellent trespuissant Prince nostre trescher tresame bon frere cousin vous avoir tousiours a tressainte garde De nostre Chasteaâ— de Windsore le 28 de Septemb. 1672. To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador Resident for her Majestie in France SIr the last Letters of yours by me received were those which yong Mr. Hopton brought hither since which time we have understood by report from Roan that on Thursday was sevennight there was a general slaughter made at Roan of all that could be imagined Protestants so as the very channels of the street did run blood we have heard diversly of Rochel by some that it is sacked by Strozzi by some that it holdeth out and that it is like so to do a long time As to the Ambassadors negociation here with us to seek to perswade us that the King was forced for safety of his own life to cause the execution to be done as it was and that thereof we shall see the proofs by the Admirals process you may imagine how hard a thing it is for us to be so perswaded against all our naturall senses and how they will accord these two jars we know not The Kings Letter first written after the Admirals death doth declare it to be done by manner of sedition and privately by the house of Guise who feared the Admiral and his would pursue against them the avenge for his hurt and the Kings own guard about the Admiral was forced and the King himself driven to hold his guards about him in the Louvre for his own defence and now yet it must needs be notified that the King did for his own surety cause the execution to be done By the dispatch that you shall receive from Master Secretary you shall understand what answer is made to the French Ambassador and upon what sort her Majestie hath forborn to resolve upon the enterview whereof her Majestie hath no misliking if it may appear that the King will forbear from persecuting the cause of Religion ACHE Rome A B Glasis nevertheless it will be very hard to perswade 3lca to like thereof I have imparted to her Majestie two things whereof your wife had in charge to make me privy of From Reading the five and twentieth of September 1572. Yours assuredly William Burleigh To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador Resident for her Majestie in France I will now my Lord Ambassador trouble you with some trifles of mine own leaving other matters to other advertisements I am very desirous to recover a Rider if any worthy the entertainment may be had whether there be any more at liberty that were appertaining to any of the late Lords that were murthered it
some unplaced and in that profession very excellent but the entertainment they require is so unreasonable and so far exceedeth your Lordships offer as I dare not deal with them They ask 300 Crowns a year besides meat and drink and the finding of their horse and the least they can be reduced unto is 200 Crowns True it is that such of the Noblemen as entertain them do give them no less wages He useth towards them what perswasions he may to induce them to think that 150 Crowns in England will go further then 300 here but as yet no perswasions will serve to make them so to think I say therefore to conclude any thing with them I mind not until I hear further from your Lordship Of late doubting that there is no good meant towards you from hence and having some cause to suspect some Irish practises and knowing that Capt. Lassetty doth understand the state and weakness of that Countrey I have entertained him with some hope to be entertained of her Majestie his imperfections I know well enough notwithstanding his service may be profitable and if it be to no other end yet were the entertainment of him necessary in respect of the harm he may do At all times when any danger did seem to grow towards her Majesty he hath requested me to present to her his service though that Nation be very much inclined to treason yet surely I think him in that point to stand much upon his honor Because I would be loath long in vain to entertain him with that hope I beseech your Lordship that I may by the next hear what your opinion is in this behalf Captain Massino del Beni whom your Lordship knoweth who is now retired into Germany requested me to desire your Lordship to offer his service unto her Majesty who in respect of Religion and the zeal and honor he beareth towards her Majesty would be glad to sacrifice his life in her defence If your Lordship think the same might be received then would he repair thither if otherwise he would be glad to know it because he meaneth to take some other course to direct himself I am the willinger at this point to offer the service of Souldiers for that I fear her Maiesty shall have iust cause to use them considering how slenderly we are furnished at home for now that the Prince of Orange is retired her Majesty may not long look to live in repose I am sorry that the union of Scotland is not already made which I fear will be cause of both their and our ruine If that footing-place were taken away from our foraign enemies our danger would be the lesse Money will do any thing with that Nation as your Lordship knoweth which if her Majesty stick to disburse she shall find neither profit nor surety in it The tempest that hangeth over our head is to mans judgment apparent so great as if she overslip any remedy that may be used she must not long look to keep the State that she now enjoyeth If the great strength and power of her enemies be weighed with her weakness the danger cannot but seem the greater if any thing be omitted to be done that may â—end to her safety If England and Scotland be united and such unsound members cut off as have been the cause of inward corruption both her enemies shall have less will to attempt any thing against her safety and she remain in less perill of such mischiefs as otherwise are like to fall upon her Violent diseases must have violent remedies if her Majesty do not not now think her State to stand in extremity things at home well considered both she and the same are in more danger I beseech your Lordship to pardon my passion in this behalf the suspition I have of the evill meaning here towards her Majesty maketh me to be thus carried away as I am And so leaving further to trouble your Lordship at this present I must humbly take my leave At Paris the 8 of October 1572. Your Honours to command Francis Walsingham Answers to the French Ambassador given by word of mouth by my Lord Treasurer in the Councell Chamber in Octob. 1572 FOr the Kings answer to the advice of her Majesty given in two points viz. that the King would cause the world to understand of his deed upon the Admirals death somwhat better then yet it did Secondarily that he would see that his Edicts be better observed her Majesty meaneth not to reply thereto wishing that both in the one and the other the King find good success To the motion of the Enterview to be before the 20 of October and iâ— to the Queen Mothers letter is to be at the Isle of Iersey seemed to her majesty so strange both for the time and place as if the Admirall had not shewed the Letters from the King and Qu. Mother to that effect her Majesty should either not have believed it or that the Ambassador had mistaken the same as without long speech the Ambassador may easily perceive for the 20 day of October is not 14 days off from the time of the motion nor one month from the date of the Kings letter and Iersey is a place so far distant as neither King of this land would adventure to sail unto for many causes nor yet any Merchant would take upon him to pass thither almost in that time Besides that the late proceedings in France to the destruction of all sorts of her Majesties Religion which also is not ceased to her Majesties understanding cannot but argue this manner of motion very absurd and besides ingender in the subjects of this Realm such conceits as it were a dangerous thing for Councellors to be so careless of their Prince as to give ear to such motions and it is the stranger now to make this motion by letters of the 23 of September when the French Ambassador the same 23 of September did say at Reading to the Queens Majesty that the Queen Mother was content to come into any place of this Realm which is now strangely changed that the â—ueens Majesty should come to her over the Sea to the coast of France being more then three days sailing except she might have wind at her commandment And in this matter also the Queens Majesty can give no answer untill she hear answer from her Ambassador to her letters sent after the Kings letters were dated As to the offer of continuance of Amity renewing the League by a new Oath the Queens Majesty meaneth nothing more then to continue the Amity And for renewing of any Oath she knoweth no cause of her part to be required a new Oath for that she hath not violated the same nor meaneth to do and trusteth as much in the Kings part that he will keep it without any new Oath As for the proceeding for the establishing of a commerce in certain Towns in France it is over-evident by the late murther in Roan which the
King saith was by the mean people how unmeet it were at this time to motion such a matter unto her Merchants who be now marvellously intimerated and before these murthers did hear not most willingly thereof because of divers evill treatments that they have suffered at Roan and divers other places and therefore this matter is to be suspended untill the Merchants may understand that the King shall have corrected the late murthers at Roan that they shall not attempt the like another time upon them and that they may perceive that the King is so willing to do justice upon the Catholiques which may have the murtherers that they may assure them that under his protection they may go safe and not fear the rage of the furious people As to the sending of the Earl of Leicester or Lord Treasurer after the Queens avouchment her Majesty indeed is very sorry that there is such an alteration of occasion of doing such an office for as her Majesty before had intention to have sent either one of them or such other as should be as agreeable to the King so now there is to all the world one great cause that her Majesty may not with honor nor with law of nature send any whom she loveth to be in danger as it seemeth they may be though the King have never so good a meaning For by the death of so many whom the King doth not avow nor yet punish the murtherers what surety can strangers have especially when the King pretendeth as by his own letters appeareth that it is the fury of the Catholiques against those of the Religion As to the difficulties found by her Ambassadors return and to leave a Secretary there in respect of the danger wherein he is at this time her Majesty thinketh that the King might otherwise think thereof for when he saith he will revoke also his Ambassador from hence if hers should come for a time It is well known with what liberty and surety his Ambassador may and doth travell in this Realm who may go when he will without danger and without fear of mind do his negotiation where contrariwise her Ambassador dare not go out of his doors without a guard being to his great charge and disquieting And so the Queens request is to have her Ambassador from thence but for such a time as the tempest may cease in France and the murtherers be in awe of the King by Justice REQUESTS That the Kings Declarations maintained in his Letters for our Merchants good usage at Burdeaux and elswhere may be published in print as his otheâ— Edicts are That it may be also notified that the King will have the English Merchants restored to their goods which were left in the hands of his subjects that have been murthered for that many of them in Roan and elswhere were by way of Merchandise indebted to the English That for the hearing of English complaints for causes both in Normandy and Gascoigne there might be some extraordinary indifferent Commissioners to hear the same with expedition whereupon if the Merchants shall find favour and justice they may be the more easily induced to allow the Conditions of a Commerce To the right honorable and his very good Lord the Earl of Leicester IT may please your Lordship to understand that by certain that returned from Frankfort Mart I understand that one of the Gentlemen that departed hence with intention to accompany your Nephew Mr. Philip Sidney to Heâ—delberg died by the way at a place called Bladin in Lorain who by divers conjectures I took to be the Dean of Winchester who as I advertised your Lordship by Mr. Argall I employed to encounter the evill practices of your said Nephews servants If therefore your Lordship he now being void shall not speedily take order in that behalf if already it be not done the young Gentleman your Nephew shal be in danger of a very lewd practice which were great pitie in respect of the rare gifts that are in him Touching news I refer your Honor to these inclosed occurents and the report of this Bearer to whom I have given order to communicate certain things unto you And so leaving further to trouble your Honor at this present I most humblie take my leave At Paris the 17 of October 1572. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham To the right worshipful Francis Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador resident in France SIR I shewed to the Queens Majesty and my Lords of the Councell both your letters to me written the 8 of this instant the one contained your negotiation the other was a discourse both wisely written and very well liked On Thursday last Monsieur du Crocque was here and had audience given him by my Lord Treasurer my Lord Chamberlain and my Lord of Leicester because the Queens Majesty was not at time perfectly whole of the small Pox as the Physicians did say although her Majesty and a great sort more will not have it so now it makes no matter what it was thanks be to God she is perfectly whole and no sign thereof left in her face On Sunday he had his answer given unto the Steward of his house the sum and substance whereof I send you here inclosed whereby you may know his negotiation which was long in words to make us believe better of that King then yet we can and replied as I understand liberally enough although in that Prince and Countrey who have so openly and injuriously done against Christ who is Truth Sincerity Faith Pitie Mercy Love and Charity nothing can be too sharply and severely answered Yet Princes you know are acquainted with nothing but Doulceur so must be handled with Doulceur especially amongst and between Princes And therefore to temperate as you may perceive not that they may think the Queens Majesty and her Councell such fools that we know not what is to be done and yet that we should not appear so rude and barbarous as to provoke where no profit is to any man I think I for my part do not doubt but you will use this answer as you were wont gravely and wisely for the King there will look to have it as well at your hands as at his Ambassadors You are carefull as wisdom doth lead you of the wel-doing here in England which needs must be well esteemed of her Majesty and all her Councell and I tell you we are not so remiss and negligent as peradventure another that knoweth not would think In time things be done unlooked for as well for mischief as that was in France as to good and remedy where God giveth grace and circumspection Truth it is that God disposeth all whatsoever a man doth purpose as Divines do say and it is his gift if wise men do provide for mischief to to come and yet whatsoever they do devise the event doth come of him onely who is the God of hope and fear beyond hope and expectation because you shall understand that even
you to advertise her Majesty that the young Queen was brought to bed of a daughter the 22 of October whose Nativity was consecrated with the blood of Briquemont and Cavannes who the same day between the hours of 5 and 6 in the evening were hanged by Torch-light the King Queen mother and the King of Navarre with the Kings brethren and Prince of Conde being lookers on As Briquemont was going up the ladder the Under-Provost of the Town said that the King had sent him to know whether he could say any thing touching the late Conjuration which if he would confess he would save his life Whereunto he answered that the King had never a more faithful nor a more truer subject then he was but this I know proceeded not of himself but of evil Counsellours about him and so lifting up his eyes to heaven he said O my God upon whose Tribunal Seat I stand and whose face I hope shortly to see thou knowest well that I know nothing nor did not so much as once think of any Conjuration against the King nor against his Estate though contrariwise they have untruly put the same in my process but I beseech my God that he will pardon the King and all those that have been the cause of this my unjust death even as I desire pardon at thy hands for my sins and offences committed against thy Divine Majestie Being then drawn up another step on the ladder he uttered onely these words I have somewhat to utter unto the King which I would be glad to communicate unto him but said he I see that I may not and so shrunk up his shoulders to forbear to use any further speech As his constancy generally was much commended so was his death much bewailed of many Catholiques that were beholders of the same Cavannes used no speech but shewed himself void of all magnanimity who before his death in hope of life made some shew to relent in Religion Two things were generally much misliked at this execution the one the presence of the King as a thing unworthy the Head of justice to be at the execution of justice the other that Briquemont being a Gentleman was hanged a thing very rare in France especially he being reputed of his enemies to be innocent of that thing which lately had been laid to his charge About an hour after the execution the cruel and bloody people of this Town not content with their death took them down from the Gallows and drew them about the streets thrusting them through their bodies with daggers and shooting of dags at them cutting off their ears and omitting no other kind of villanous and barbarous cruelty It was thought also that there should have been another general day of execution of as many as have been known at any time to have been of the Religion the stay whereof I am credibly informed was procured by the Queen Mother who with no small difficulty and intercession obtained the same at the Kings hands who protested that the same was but deferred for a time The King is grown now so bloody minded as they that advised him thereto do repent the same and do fear that the old saying will prove true Malum consilium consultori pessimum At the time of my Congratulation of the birth of the child I used these speeches following to the King Sir knowing the mutual good will that is between my Mistris the Queen and your Majestie as between whom good and evil pleasures and displeasures are common I could do no less being her Minister here but congratulate as well the prosperous delivery of the Queen your Majesties wife as also the Nativity of the yong Princess your daughter who is as it were a pledge of some issue-male to follow that may hereafter supply the Royal Seat that you presently enjoy which when it cometh to pass no Prince Neighbor Ally or Confederate will be more glad thereof then the Queens Majestie my Mistris Whereunto the King answered after private thanks given unto me for the office of Congratulation that I did use such speech as appertained to the good amity between them which was That pleasures and displeasures should be common to either of them which as I look for no less aâ— my good sisters hands your Mistris so she may assure her self saith he at my hands and I wish that my Ambassador might have occasion to use like office of Congratulation towards hâ—r as you do here towards me I thanked his Majestie for wishing that wish for that it was a general desire to as many as truly loved her Majestie As I was taking my leave he told me that they of Rochel against whom he did mean presently to send his Forces did give out that her Majestie promiseth to send them succours which thing saith he I do not believe considering the good intelligence that is between us To this I replyed that if his Majestie should give credit to any such thing he should do her Majestie great wrong considering the late protestation I made unto him on her Majesties behalf that her meaning was not to do any thing that may tend to the violating of the late League concluded between them As for the Brutes given out by them of Rochel who are now in desperation I shewed him that men in that state are glad to give out any thing that may draw others to joyn with them in assistance He answered that he believed it was so And so I took my leave of him I was then brought unto Queen Mother unto whom I used like speech of Congratulation After which speech I shewed her that the King had made me acquainted with certain brutes given out by them of Rochel of some ayd promised by her Majestie which thing very honourably said I he protesteth he would not believe Whereupon she shewed me how it was true that certain Letters were lately intercepted sent by them of Rochel in the which there was mention made that her Majestie underhand had promised to assist them that the Count Montgomery would repair unto them with the said assistance but for my part saith she I know the Queen your Mistris to be too honourable and too wise to intermeddle in any such matter who I know will give the King my son leave to deal with his subjects as shall seem best unto himself I shewed her that in so judging of her Majestie she judged rightly and that I hoped she would give more credit to her Majesties late protestation touching the inviolable observing of the late League then to any brutes that should be given out by desperate men This was the effect of that which passed between us for that present About the seven and twentieth of the last there arrived here a Currier out of Spain sent from the Ambassador Resident there who hath brought unto them very grateful news especially Monsieur as I hear seemeth to be most contented with the same He hath lately had great conference with the
same being uncertain might perhaps receive later resolution then the disease required and that therefore in the mean time other remedies might be well enough proceeded in which could breed no hinderance in the Marriage and were most necessary whatsoever become of the same Then I proceeded to the second point shewing that the Queen my Mistriss did of late note a great coldness in the King touching the overture made for the impeaching of the King of Spains greatness and that the Reasons that moved her so to do were these First that the last yeer both her son and she upon the death of the late King of Portugal did declare unto her Majesties Ambassador Resident here how necessary it was both for themselves and her Majesty to have an eye to the King of Spains greatness and to that purpose did require that the said Ambassador might have Commission to treat with such as they should appoint in that behalf which being assented unto and thereupon a conference following and overtures made to that purpose the conclusion was referred to be treated of by such Commissioners as should be sent by the King from hence thither at the time of whose repair her Majesty did look that there would have been some proceeding therein which falling out otherwise was found very strange Secondly that daintiness that the King did make to concur with her Majesty in this matter of Portugal and the sundry impediments that the Duke hath received in this occasion of the Low Countries instead of furtherance being the principal means to abate the King of Spains greatness And lastly the permission made to the King of Spains Ministers for the passage of certain money to be conveighed through this Realm to the Prince of Parma These things I told her did give her Majesty just cause to think that the King had no disposition to break with Spain in seeking to impeach his greatness and therefore prayed her she would deal plainly with the Queen my Mistris letting her understand what her intention was in that behalf For said I the Queen my Soveraign is a Princess that desireth to live in repose and to maintain good Amity with the Princes her neighbours and had not waded so far in this behalf but only upon the Kings motion And therefore if the King doth now see no such danger to grow by the King of Spains greatness as before it seemed he did her Majesty I know would forbear any further dealing in that behalf who being furnished with ships for her defence by sea and her subjects being well armed by land and carrying the earnest love and affection towards her they do in respect of the happy government they have enjoyed under her Highness should I doubt not but be able to withstand the King of Spains malice in case he should attempt any thing against her Besides I did let her understand that whereas it was publikely given out here that her Majestie was greatly weakned by the alteration in Scotland and the taking away of the Earl Morton as also that there were of her own Realm persons of great quality alienated from her in respect of Religion For the first that divers of those in Scotland that for some particular quarrels that they had with Morton were glad to concur with those that sought to make him away yet are so affected to the Amity of England in respect of Religion as when any thing should be attempted against her Majestie Morton himself would not have been more ready to oppose himself against any such attempts then they will be And as for the great personages that though I did assure my self that none of them carried so evil meaning as to attempt any thing against her Majesty but rather would be content to hazard their lives as duty commanded them yet if they were so evil disposed the subjects of the Realm being generally so well affected to her Majesty as they are and grown to that judgement now as they affect not the persons of those great ones as in former times they have done but do rather look into the cause then behold the persons they should not be able to draw in great numbers after them to the execution of any undutiful action To this after she had heard me attentively she replyed that at the time of the conference between the Kings deputies and her Majesties Ambass Resident then they did as it were assure themselves that themarriage should take place no other impediments being then alleadged but the troubles of this Realm which by the mediation of the D. were in good way of speedy composition and in hope thereof they were willing to have taken any course that her Majesty should have thought good and do still continue in the same purpose and minde so as the same might take place without the which she said she did not see how the King her son should be throughly backed in case he should enter into any action against the King of Spain for that there might be many perswasions and devises used to dissolve such Treaties as should onely consist of Ink and Paper And as for the enterprise of Portugal she said that if the King of Spain might be kept from the possession of the Isle of Tercera which might keep him as well from enjoying such benefits as might grow out of the conquest depending upon the said Crown as also from the Indies in his own possession Portugal would rather be a burthen to him then otherwise And as for the Dukes enterprise she said that the King her son this Realm being greatly weakned by civil wars was loath to enter into a war with the King of Spain unless he might be assuredly well backed which no way they could make account of without the marriage whereupon she took occasion to shew that it would be a very honorable course for the King and the Queens Majesty to seek by way of mediation to compound the troubles between the king and his subjects and the Low-Countries whereto if the king should not assent then might the two Crowns with more honor concur in the action by seeking to restore them to their liberties whereunto I replyed that the Queen my Mistress had made it apparant to the world that she had sundry ways sought when the time served more aptly then now to bring it to pass But for the present whosoever doth consider to what extreme degrees of alienation from the King the said subjects of the Low Countries are grown unto having beaten down his Arms and renounced his Government how impossible it is to draw the Prince of Orange any ways to trust the King or the King to be reconciled unto him in respect of a book written by the said Prince wherein the Kings honor is greatly touched shall see no reason to hope for any reconciliation and that the Authors of that device do propound the same but for a delay to serve the King of Spains turn To this she replied nothing and did also