and looking for more Buls from Rome and partly fearing that some change may come and then it may be laid to their charge would needs shift it from them and let the King do it alone And when once they had hope given them by their Ambassador in England that the Queens Majestie would so be content to have it in general words you might be sure we should never get them further but to be delivered as slightly as they could of that matter ye shall receive that fashion that we required in the figure O. delivered to Monsieur de Foix Feb. 28. ye shall receive also that which Monsieur de Foix delivered to us as a copie of a Letter whereby the King doth think wâ— should be satisfied noted and delivered to us the 29 of February and to it we have put what fault we do find with that Letter although the Queens Majestie should be content with that form This is the issue whereupon we do now stand The other great debatement was for the Queen of Scots which held us almost at every meeting to have her mentioned in the Treatie and that earnestly handled of them the 23 and 26 of February that I was fain once again to declare the evil deserts of the late Queen of Scots towards the Queens Majestie with her other behaviour at the whole length because Marshal Montmorency was not at the first Declaration and there Mr. Walsingham and Mr. Killigrew helped me with supply so far that at that present they seemed to give over and we in no wise would have her mentioned in this Treaty yet the 28 of February Mr. de Foix brought to us a writing for her which we send you noted M. to which you sent him the next day a Coppie of the same noted with our answer N. The same day at the afternoon we had audience of the King where he was also earnest with us as you may perceive by our Letters to the Queens Majestie B. the Queen Mother that day as good chance was had forgotten her self but the next day the first of March Mr. de Foix came to us and brought us a draught of the whole League in French because he said he was commanded to translate it into French that the King might understand it and so he gathered it as he thought of that which we were accorded we perused it with our Pamphils as Mr. Hall termeth them schediae or adversaria I mean those which one way or other by yea and nay had gone betwixt us some other tho will have them called pieces as some Frenchmen do name them and we did not much disagree and although he had made a new Preface in such matters we do not stick I am old I love not much talk and I would fain be dispatched honestly homewards so the effect be there indeed and our Queen not deceived I care for no more that done and referred again for again seeing they were offered unto us in Latine he came to us with a new Charge of the late Queen of Scots in the Queen Mothers name saying that by our other talk she had clean forgotten her but to do that thing which should do our friend he meant the King his Master good and us no hurt vve could not say nay he for affinity and consanguinity and that she vvas once his Soveraigne vvas bound in conscience and respect of the vvorld to require so much and to have it testified to the vvorld that he had done those good offices vve may ansvver as vve vvould it should not touch us they vvould take our ansvver vvhatsoever it vvas I told him vve had ansvvered first to the Deputies in vvords and had good causes vvhy vve could not do it of which she was one after that we had given our answer to him in writing Thirdly we had also spoken with the King and made him a direct answer that we could not meddle in any wise with that matter in the League we had no Commission we were precisely forbidden to meddle in that matter And therefore I never spake more of that matter to have that put in the Treaty for that will not be Upon that he began to amplifie in another long Oration for all his Reasons I was fain to say he must pardon me I know he is a good Rhetorician and he had Rhetorical ornaments at will to make and so had I on the contrary side if I would bestow my time on that sort We were the Queens Maâ—esties Servants we have shewed our Reasons so good that no man could deny that we should not agree upto it We have written the sum of our answer also wherewith they ought to be content Oh saith he she hath great kindred and alliance here in the Court and they will say that the King nor we have done our duties Will ye see the ansvver quoth I I thought once to send mary I vvould not have it sent This I send your Lordship to see it N. noted not to be declared quoth I because we would be dispatched of such matters yet as gently as we could and with as little evil speeches especially of such persons This I like well saith he let me have it I pray you belike quoth I you vvould please Mr. d' Aumale and the Cardinal of Lorrain vvith it It is even for that saith he they shall see that the King hath done so much as he can No quoth I it shall not need you have our ansvver already and if you doubt of it you It is no marvel though other would Inire gratiam cum anula hoste ejus quam aliquando regnaturam putant culpa sua and we thought not good to leave in their hands in writing tam acerbum de illa testimonium But surely if her Majestie go no better about to establish her Crown and surety she doth not then follow Solomon in making away Adonias and Ioab for the same purpose And I am afraid quod erit novissimus error pejor priori I thank your Lordship for your Letters of the 16 of February by Edwards and also of the 22 of the same by the Post. Although you write not so many Letters as I yet if you write so much stuff and answer all it is all one to me but in two things I yet find fault the one that in the Letter of the 22. you wrote nothing of the Office and that you make no mention at all of the Duke of Alanson They here look very undoubtedly for some hope The other grieveth me most of all that now the League is full done as I take it and almost as well as we can with yet I must not come home but tarry here still in this Countrie where I have felt since Candlemas the greatest cold that ever I felt and most continual except it were at Tholous where it did almost cost me my life and there had made an end of it if it had not been for the strong matters which I do use
he willed me to assure her that he would never forget and further to signifie unto her that he made choise of the Marshal Montmâ—rency and Monsieur de Foix to send over with his full mind touching the Articles that have been propounded of either side and that he therefore desired by the said Gentlemen to understand when it shall be her Majesties pleasure that they shall come over to treat in that behalf Having then done with the King the Queen Mother called me unto her and told me that of late certain had gone about to perswade the King her Son that her Majestie meant nothing less then to proceed in this marriage using sundry perswasions to induce her to believe the same Notwithstanding she assured me that such is the great good opinion that they all have of her Majesties sincerity upon good grounds in respect of her Majesties honourable dealing as no such brutes and sinister practises can prevail with them to make them think otherwise then honourable of her Majestie and yet she did assure me that the same did proceed from such persons as they might easily have been abused had not her Majesties own sincere dealing assured them of the contrary I shewed her that if she or the King should otherwise think of her Majestie they should do her great wrong and give her just cause to think her sincere dealing unsincerely requited This was the effect of my present negotiation And so c. At â— the twentieth of Iune 1571. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To my very loving Friend Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador for the Queens Majestie in France I Have written by du Pine of late to you and before that as I think you have received her Majesties Answer and such Articles as she doth think meet to be demanded Her Majestie doth stand still very stiff touching the point of Religion required of that side and as far as I can perceive she will hardly relent to any other qualification then you know of and that being granted to her I suppose there will be no other difficultie And surely in this if Monsieur remit the whole to her Majestie there is no doubt but by that means he shall obtain more then we wish and more then is reasonable or at the least convenient to be openly contracted by them For as by the one that may be had which is to be born withal for a time in hope of better so by the other it will altogether encourage such as are already too high and most meetest to be kept under even for both their sureties For this cause it is onely to be wished for these respects the first to the universal good of the cause of Religion the other for the quietness of our present Estate And for these causes sake I pray God to prosper it accordingly and I see no cause grâ—atly to doubt if that point of Religion be yielded on that side unto The Ambassador here doth very honestly and well in the matter and surely doth good offices between their Majesties For my part I perceive by you that I have cause to thank him for his particular affection towards me I can but thank him here And I pray you as you may have occasion use this favour for me as it may appear to the Kings Majestie there how much his Ambassador hath made me know of his good acceptance of my good devotion towards the encrease of the good Amitie between our good Soveraign and him which doth give me great encouragement to go alway the more forward so far forth as with my duty to her Majestie I may Thus having no other matter presently to write to you I bid you farewel in haste the ninth of June 1571. Your assured Friend Ro. Leicester To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh THe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shewed me his Mistresses Letters dated the seventh of this moneth him to advertise A. that their of great moment in hand to impart he seeketh with England and therefore roundly forward with the matter furthe to advertise A. that there is a practise in the stealing away of the Scotish Q. whereunto him to have regard This as I can gather come from â—54 who discovereth it to his Master he hath not yet imparted the same unto A. by the reason of his absence about ten days past it was bruted here for most certain truth that the Scotish Queen was escaped into Flanders Of late days of these common brutes there have followed shrewd effects whereof your Lordship shall do well to advertise her Majestie to have an eye that way The King is not yet returned to Galleon but remaineth still at Paris which divers of my fellows find themselves agrieved withal especially Spain There rise daily new causes of unkindness between the two Princes Spain seemeth to set the King here very light which ingendreth in him a great desire of revenge and lacketh but treasure to make open demonstration thereof And so c. At Loveirs the five and twentieth of June 1571. Your Lordships to Command Fr. Walsingham By the QUEEN To our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Francis Walsingham Esq our Ambassador Resident with our good Brother the French King ELIZABETH R. RIght Trusty and Well-beloved we greet you well Forasmuch as the French Ambassador here joyntly with Monsieur de l' Archant Captain of the Guard of Monsier D. Anjoâ— treated with us to have our consent that the Marshal Montmorency and others nominated with him for the French King might come hither as they say to treat and conclude the matter moved betwixt us and the said Monsieur we think it necessary to impart unto you what hath passed therein at some length which we have ordered to be put in writing by the Lord of Burleigh to the intent that on the one part you should not be ignorant and on the other part you should be better instructed how to treat upon the matter both with the King or any other that shall in this matter have Commission to treat with you In all our dealings with them you shall find that we have in no wise yielded to grant to Monsieur a liberty for exercise of his Romish Religion neither have we any inclination to yield thereto and yet for the benefit of our Realm rather then for any particular inclination to marriage we have resolved this marriage to be meet for us so as the difficulty of Religion be well accorded And where in the last end upon conference had by the Ambassador and Lord of Archant with the Earl of Leicester and the Lord of Burleigh it may appear to you that they finding a resolute determination of their Ambassadors should demand of us a liberty for Monsieur in the cause of Religion it should be denied then did they thereupon seem to yield and by way of demand require to know how it might be liked if the demand of Religion were utterly forborn and put to silence Our meaning is not
as he could neither in Honour nor Conscience imbrace nor attempt therefore he thought it fit for him to declare unto him all such necessary circumstances as were fit for him to know in that behalf as well for the satisfying of his Majestie as also for his own honour who would be loath to be so evill an instrument as to perswade a Prince to attempt that thing that might not stand as well with Honour as Conscience First he shewed unto me that the cause of taking up of Arms in the Low-Countreys proceeded onely upon that the King of Spain sought to plant there by Inquisition the foundation of a most horrible Tyranny the overthrow of all freedoms and liberties a thing which his father Charls the fifth went about to have established there but seeing the same so much impugned by the Inhabitants of the said Countrey and that without their consent it could not be received unless he should violently by tyranny seek the establishment of the same contrary both to his Oath and their Priviledges he forbore to proceed in that behalf After the resignation of his Government unto his Son the Cardinal of Lorrain practised secretly with the Cardinal of Arras wars being then between France and the Low Countreys wishing them to advise the King of Spain to grow to peace discovering to him that the King of France his Father was reduced to that extremity as he should be forced to yield to any thing that the said King would request Further he signified unto him that unless there might grow peace between the two Princes the Catholique Religion could not long continue neither in France nor Flanders so great increase was daily here of Protestants which could by no means be suppressed but by establishing of an Inquisition in both Countreys Hereupon by the practise of the said Cardinals there grew a peace how dishonourable for France he referred to the Kings own judgement After the conclusion of the said Peace then did the Cardinal of Arras labour what he might by sundry practises to plant the said Inquisition seeking first by perswasion to induce men to like therof but as well Papists as Protestants misliked it alledging that it was against the Kings oath to seek to establish a thing so prejudicial to their priviledges which they were bound to maintain whereof they could see nothing but mischief would ensue and general destruction of that Countrey forasmuch as it would overthrow all Forreign traffick by which the Countrey was chiefly maintainedâ— when he saw it would not be planted by way of perswasion then sought he to do it by violence which the Nobility foreseeing they joyntly presented unto the Regent a Bill containing a declaration of the great and sundry inconveniences that would ensue if they proceeded in the establishing of the same Further they made choice of two Noble men whom with one consent they sent into Spain to declare in all their names the great mischiefs that should follow if the King should proceed therein and that it lay not in their power to retain the people from taking arms so much were they incensed against the said Inquisition and therefore they desired that the allowing or disallowing of the same might be committed over to the Assembly of the three Estates Of these doubtful means no redress followed but still the said Cardinal and his fautors proceeded in seeking to establish it contrary to all order and equity How afterwards the people took arms how the Nobility that were joyntly united to oppose themselves against the said Inquisition were after by practise and corruption divided what Tyranny hath been used by the Duke of Alva since his coming hither and how insolently he hath behaved himself both towards his Majestie and the Queen of England although unhonourable for them both in respect of their greatness at such a petty companions hands how his brother the Prince of Orange sought their delivery from so miserable a servitude though it pleased God at that time to make him the instrument who onely knoweth a sit time of the deliverance of the oppressed by the said Tyrant seeking by all means to be rid of the same did of late exhibite unto the Emperour at his last Assembly at Spires a book containing their griefs requesting him with all humility to be a means for their delivery from this their oppression a thing appertaining to his calling and the place he beareth in Christendom To this the Emperour in respect of the hope he hath of Spain gave a cold ear They now seeing themselves void of all help their natural Prince being so carried away by corruption of Councel from the due consideration that belongeth to a good Prince to have of good Subjects as he neither regardeth his Oath nor maintenance of such Priviledges as were confirmed by his Predecessors nor the dutiful manner of the proceeding of the Nobility in seeking by way of humble petition redresses of their griefs thinking themselves in conscience discharged from all duty of obedience they now throw themselves down before his Majestie with all humility beseeching him to take them to his protection and to procure their deliverance from the present Tyranny Now your Majestie seeth the state of their cause saith he you shall do well to weigh with your self whether the goodness thereof may incourage you to become Protector of this people reduced by Tyranny to great extremity by seeking their deliverance If you think in Conscience and Honour you may not you shall do well to forbear for otherwise the success cannot be good If you think you may then weigh in policy how beneficial it will be for you and how much your Father would have given to have had the like opportunity offered unto him that is now presented unto you Gratis which if you refuse the like you must never look for With this he shewed me that both the King and Queen Mother seemed to be very well satisfied and that the King said that like Counsellours by violating of his Edict had well nigh brought him into like terms with his Subjects whereof ensued the late trouble and that therefore now he thanked God that he had opened his eyes to discern what their meaning was The King thus imformed by him touching such circumstances as might induce him to think the enterprize both honorable and just he then proceeded as he shewed me to declare the easiness and great liklihood of good success of the same First he shewed me that all the inhabitants of the Low-Countries generally aswel of the one religion as of the other do mislike the Spanish tyranny and do desire nothing more then to be rid of the same Secondarily that all the Towns M. A. are ready to receive such Garrisons as shall be sent thither by order from his Brother Thirdly that other Towns upon his Frontiers whensoever they shall see any forces approach will be ready to receive them Fourthly that the present forces that the King of Spain hath there whom
but it little helpeth the D. case I pray you give little Leicester thanks for his often writing to me and commend me to my Lord of Rutland and his wife Thus having nothing else to write but of her Majesties good health I bid thee farewell this 20 of September Your assured friend Ro. Leicester To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr since Monsieur de Foix departure these things have happened The D. of Norfolk is charged with the countenance of dangerous practises with the Queen of Scots as that he hath sent money into Scotland to maintain her party in the Castle for proof whereof Letters are intercepted in Cipher by one Higgford his Secretary who is now in the Tower and confesseth that the Duke commanded him to write to one Law Banister the Dukes man that he should see secretly conveyed 600 l. to the Lord Harrise to be by him conveyed to Liddington Graunge The Duke at the first denied all manner of knowledge thereof but now at his committing to the Tower he yieldeth and asketh pardon thereofâ— but yet the money is said to have been by the Fr. Ambassador delivered to Barâ—or the Dukes man to be conveyed to Viracque how this is true time must teach sure we are that they in the Castle have been payed divers times with English Angells and Royalls There are also found about the Duke certain writings by which appeareth that the Duke was acquainted with the voiage that Ridolph made to Rome and to Spain hereupon the Queens Majestie is grievously offended both toward the Queen of Scots and the D. and hath strengthned her from intelligence At this time the matters of Scotland are also intricate the Queens party much diminished by the deserting of the 〈◊〉 of Argile Egliton and Cassillâ— and yet by a stratagem on Monday last as night the case had like to have been much altered The Earle of Huntley and Lord Hamilton with Bucklough and Fernichurst accompained with 40 horsemen entred by stealth into the Town of Sterling after midnight they took the Regent in his bed and the Earles Argile Moretâ—n Cassills c. and whilest these being prisoners were at the Town gate to be carried away with their takers the rest of the company spoiling the Town they of the Castle of Sterling issued out and so resued the prisoners saving that in the conflict the Regent and 16 more of his Gentlemen were slain as it is written Thus it is written unto me but I dare not affirm it untill I heare it again As for the motion made by de Foix that some person might be sent thither to affirme his message and to maintain that with the Queen Majesties honour wherein by de Foix I was named the Queens Maâ—estie doth forbeare untill she may heare from you for according to the answer that shall be made her Majestie will send a person either mean or great By reason that I was named I have had lesse occasion to motion it but surely it had done well to have fed the French humour and many things may better be said by an expresse messenger then by the report of an Ambassador Lieger whose commission groweth by writing Truly the more matters are discovered the more necessary it is seen that her Majestie should marry The Queens Majestie returneth towards London from hence to Hundon and so to my house in Chesthunt and so to S. Iame's and hence to Richmond And so having commodity by this honest Gentleman Mr. Clarke I end From Lees the 28 of September 1571. Your assured loving friend W. Burleigh To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh YOur Lordships of the 17 20 of September sent by Har I received the 28 of the same which came in very good time for that there is most earnest soliciting here by the Ambassadors Lord Fleming and Duglas for present aid to be sent into Scotland therefore after I had well perused the contents thereof I took occasion by presenting the Earle of Rutland at his leave taking to make Q. Mother acquainted with so much of the same as I thought â—it for her to know I shewed her that if it might so like her I would declare unto her at large the present state of England as also my private opinion in some points not by Commission as an Ambassador but as a private Gentleman that desireth nothing more then good Amity between both the two Crowns and therefore wish all jealousie to be removed for that there could be no perfection of friendship where jealousie was a party First touching the state of England I made her privy what had passed between their Ambassador Monsieur de la Mot and the Duke of Norfolk touching the money as also the pacquet conveyed by Virague I made her also acquainted with the contents of the discourse 〈◊〉 by the 〈◊〉 of Scotsâ— to the Duke I shewed her further that Monsieur 〈…〉 sending for Audience to have moved her majestie for relief of the Queen of Scots did not best like her In the end I concluded with that point that concerned the Duke of Alva's advice given to the said Queen aswell for her own marriage as her sons as also not to depend any longer upon France Then touching my private opinion I shewed her I was sorry first that their Ambassador should have intelligence with the Duke who was discovered to be a dangerous subject Secondarily That he should be so earnest in seeking the liberty of the Queen of Scots unto the Queen my Mistress a most dangerous enemy these things I feare said I may breed in the Queen my Mistress some opinion that the friendship professed is not altogether sincere and therefore I wished that the King and she in seeking the Queen of Scots liberty would not forget to have regard to the Queen of Englands safety especially now seeing the Queen of Scots seeketh to quit her self of his protection To this she answered That as on the one side she was glad to understand that these practises were discovered so was she sorry that there should fall out any thing that might breed any suspicion in her Majestie of any evill meaning on their behalf who wished asmuch good to her Majestie as to their own selves And as for de la Mots doing I know saith she aswell for his duty towards the King my Son who would not have him deale in any thing that might any way prejudice the Queen your Misterss as also for the particular good will he beareth unto her was altogether void of any evill meaning and so I hope she will interpret it The money saith she as I am informed by the Scots Ambassador was sent by him to de la Mot to be conveyed to the Queen of Scots who as he shewed quite was void of mony I then replied That the money was sent over to another end as the Duke himself had confessed and that therefore the Ambassador
can give good testimony and therefore I doubt not her Majestie wil have good consideration thereof accordingly Your Lordship at large by Sir Tho Smith is advertised how strangely the Article of Provision for the King of Spain was taken by his Deputies Surely if her Majestie persist in that point to have him specially provided for I perceive then that this Treaty is at the best for that they themselves confess that the end of this League is onely to bridle his greatness therefore to provide for his safety who seeketh both their destructions they cannot tell what to judge what it meaneth especially seeing that of late he hath no way deserved at her Majesties hands any such favour If therefore her Majestie do think that this Prince is of any value who is towards all men sincere towards her Majestie well affected towards Religion pius Inimicus she must not weigh him in one ballance with Spain who is of word unsincere in affection towards her Majestie maliciously bent and the common Enemy to our Religion If her Majestie mean to take profit of his friendship the next way shall be to strengthen her self with the Amity of others in such sort as she shall have no need of it for it is the nature of a proud man to make best account of them that least esteem him for whosoever yieldeth to him increaseth his pride which thing those that deal with the Spanish Nation find to be most true So long as the late Catholique League made remaineth in force her Majestie nor any other Princes of the Religion can promise unto themselves any thing at Spains hands but as much mischief as he can do them which thing her Majestie with the rest shall find to be true by too dear an experience if the same be not holpen by some counter league The consideration whereof maketh the German Princes now who otherwise are slow in their counsels determinations to think it necessary for them to joyn in this counter-league which thing your Lordship may perceive by this inclosed letter which lately I received from the Count Palatine touching that point whereas he referreth me to his servant Iuniuâ— with whom I have had conference I have committed the report thereof to this bearer M. Beal Touching the Marriage in Treaty here betwixt the Prince of Navarre and the Lady Margaret Sir Tho Smith Mr. Killegrew and I knowing how much the success of the same might further the cause of the Religion and finding the greatest difculty to be the manner of the solemnizing of the same we sent unto the Queen of Navarre a Copy of the Treaty of the marriage betwixt King Edward and the latâ— Q. of Spain the Kings sister here wherein it was agreed as your Lordship knoweth that she should be married according to the form of our Church This Coâ—y of the Treaty as the Queen of Navarre her self told Sir Thomas Smith and me standeth her in very good stead whom she sent for the 7 of this moneth to come and speak with her At our access she told us that she did not send for us before she did make Queen Mother acquainted therewith not saith she in respect of my self but in respect of her Majestie towards whom I would be loth to ingender any jealousie considering that she is growing to so good Amity with this Crown For as for my self I am not afraid to make known to all the world the great good will I bear towards her Majestie to whom I am as much bound as ever one Prince was to another And because saith she you are Ministers to her Majestie here I thought good to make you acquainted in what state and terms the Treaty of the marriage standeth betwixt their Majesties here and me saith she there is no difference but only the manner of solemnization I have alledged the Treaty which you sent me whereunto they take exceptions such as are of no great value and therefore said she I cannot tell what to judge of the matter because amongst the rest of the exceptions they say it was no true Copy of the Treaty I have sent for you Monsieur Smith saith she to know because you were a dealer in the same whether you will not justifie it to be a true Copy to whom Sir Tho Smith answered that knowing the great good will her Majestie did bear her and how much she desired the good success of that marriage as a thing that tended to the advancement of Religion and repose of this Realm he could not but in duty avow the same and be willing to do any good office that might advance the said marriage She made us acquainted with divers other particularities which I thought good rather to refer to the report of this bearer then to commit them to writing The Copy of the Letter which I send unto your Lordship here inclosed sent unto her from her Son which she delivered unto us secretly to read may shew you how full of jealousie the matter is and therefore until the same be concluded I hold it for doubtful She findeth here a great stay of Count Lodovicus's advice who surely is the rarest Gentleman which I have talked withal since I came to France c. Your Lordships to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Queens most excellent Majestie PLeaseth it your Majestie the thirtieth of March at night we received your Majesties Letters of the twentieth of the same whereupon asking audience the next day because the King himself was yet in his Diet we did speak with the Queen Mother in her Chamber where I began to declare unto her Highness that by Letters from her Majestie we had understood two things whereof we were sorry the one that your Highness having received the dispatch from us of our negotiation here as touching the league and amity willing to dispatch our Currier again with your resolution which we doubt not should be to her and the K. contention their Ambassador Resident required that your Majestie would not write your answer or resolution unto us until he had his Currier come for whom he looked every day Saith the Q. that is because he would coucur with you I think so said I and it is well and I trust we shall so concur to a perpetual and strait Amity I hope saith she but yet he vvrote not so much to us that he spake to the Queen to forbear his resolution to you but onely that he looked for his Currier The other is more grievous to us because we take the time lost and some evil suspicion may be conceived but I trust the Amity is so begun between the two Realms that there shall no suspicion have place after that the one hath understood the other Monsieur de Crocque arrived into England as your Majesty knoweth with Commission from hence to help Scotland to a quietness in her self and to concur with him whom the Queen our Mistris should send for that purpose for aid and even at
with sickness or to follow his pleasures refer me over to his mother or to Monsieur his brother Whether it be her Majesties pleasure I shall treat with them For that the King giveth a deaf eare to a long negotiation whether having occasion to deal with him from her Majestie in some matter of weight and length I shall not exhibite the same to him in writing declaring first by mouth the effect thereof and if I shall exhibite it in writing whether her Majestie shall not think it most expedient to deliver the same either in Italian or Latin for avoiding of such Cavelling as may be made upon the translation to French whereof Sir Henry Norris hath had experience How far forth and in what sort from time to time I shall deal with the Rebells that presently are retired into France or hereafter shall retire How I shall behave my self in any publick Assembly towards the Ambassador aswell of Spain as of Portugall either in taking or giving place To my very loving Friend Francis Walsingham Esq appointed for Ambassador to the French King SIr I send you herewith the Queen Majesties instructions as they are finished and her Majesties pleasure is that you should not forbear your journey but proceed and if on the way you come to certain knowledge of the Kings speedier entrie into Paris meet to accelerat my Lord of Buckhurstes comming thither her Majestie would have you send some in haste back And so not well able to write any further but to end with my heartie wishing you a prosperous journey to your hearts desire 23 December 1570. Yours assuredly William Cecil Instructions â—iven to our trusty and wel-beloved servant Fra. Walsingham Esq presently sent to be our Ambassador Resident with our good Brother the French King the 19 of December 1570. ELIZABETH R. FOrasmuch as we are already determined to license our trustie and wel-beloved Sir Henry Norris Knight who hath of a long time served us faithfully as our Ambassador with the French King our good Brother to repaire over unto us and to leave that place and that we have made speciall choice of you upon a singular liking of your vertuousand good conditions to serve us in the same place wherein we trust our expectations shall be well satisfied of your fidelitie and diligence And for the rest also we doubt not but by the experience which you shall daiely have you shall be able to accomplish that which shall be requisite and for the better instruction of you we have thought meet to cause to be delivered unto you in writing these few things hereafter following by way of memoriall After you have delivered you letters and and bin presented to the King by our foresaid Ambassador whom you shall suceed for the doing whereof our said Ambassador can sufficiently direct you and will we doubt not but make good recommendations of you to the French King to the Queen Mother and others such as shall be thought meet we will that you shall use such speech unto them that it may appeare that your special Charge is to be a Minister for the conservation of the good Amitie that is betwixt us and the King and Consequently to preserve Concord and mutuall entercourse betwixt the Subjects of both our Countries according to the good Treaties that remaine betwixt us for that purpose and therefore considering you are so determined for your dutie sake to us and for the good that may ensue thereof you shall require them if at any time any thing to the contrarie shall be conceived of you as we trust shall not because you mean to give no occasion yet it may please them before any such judgement be conceived of you it may be in some wise declared as they may understand our answer wherewith you doubt not but to satisfie them Your office consisting of sundry parts the first and principall shall be to continue there aswell to execute our commandement and to deliver our letters and messages upon matters occurrent as to require and to receive answers and to the best that you can to procure thereupon reasonable and speedy resolutions as the nature of the matter shall import for the well doing whereof we must referre you hereafterwards to such particular directions as we shall send you by our speciall Letters whereby you shall be best directed in manner to proceed The second shall be to have continual regard to all manner of their doings there aswell private as publick that may be prejudiciall to us or our estate And therefore after good consideration and knowledge thereof had to advertise us diligently and secretly and to this end you shall do well to require of our said Ambassador your predecessor some good information by what means you may attaâ—n to the knowledge of things needfull and requisite and whom you may best trust and use to attaine to the more certenitie and if any thing be discovered unto you at any time that shall seem of importance that the information thereof may well abide the time of your advertisement to us and to answer again we leave it to your consideration and discretion to omit no time convenient but to resort to the King or some other as you shall think meet to declare what you understand and mislike and in what sort it is hurtfull to the Amitie betwixt us And therefore to require some information or some plain answer meet to be imparted to us for discharge of your duty And that in this behalf you shall not use by way of complaint upon any light intelligence but you do first by conference of things together find the matter to be true and worthy of complaint least hereafter lesse regard be had to you when you shall have just cause to complain The third is to have regard to such suites as our Subjects using the trade of Merchandise within those Realms shall have cause to make that they may have by your soliciting readie expedition with justice upon causes of depredations or arrests or any such injuries or molestations and therein to solicite such of the Kings Counsell as you shall find to have charge thereof letting them to understand that besides the bond of Justice whereunto they do direct the King such favourable expedition of our Subjects shall provoke us and our ministers to do the like and shall also breed mutuall love betwixt the Subjects on both parties and give cause to a more frequentation of intercourse of Merchants being a thing beneficiall to both the Realms And because you shall be the more able to understand and to treate in your conferences negotiation upon any thing generally touching the Amitie betwixt the King and us or more particularly for the deciding and determining of any causes that may come in controversie for the trade and intercourse of Merchandise betwixt the Subjects of both our Countries kingdoms you shall do well to have with you some Copies of the treaties now remaning in force betwixt us
therefore I leave to make you partaker of such brutes as are here occurrent at the Governours hands here I was well received who is one that hath alwaies shewed himself well inclined to our Nation in these times of jealousie and unkindnesse that hath raigned betwixt the two Countries Touching my own particular if my charges continue as they begin whereof there is small hope to the contrary except there be some extraordinary consideration had of me by your good means in transportation my allowance will not suffice to beare half my charges I would therefore most humblie desire you at the time of the receipt of the bill to weigh it accordingly Before my departure I was earnestly requested by Mr. H. Cobham to recommend unto you a cause in controversie between him and Mr. Cartwright committed to your hearing and redresse who desireth your convenient favour which I beseech you Sir the rather he may receive for my sake And so leaving further to trouble your Lordship at this present I commit you to Gods protection From Bullen the 2 Ianuary 1571. Your Lordships to command Fr. Walsingham To the Queen most excellent Majesty MAy it please your most excellent Majestie to be advertised receiving your Highness Letters of the 16 of Ianuary and perceiving your gracious pleasure touching my Revocation I cannot but aswell for this as your most favourable acceptance of my service during my residence here in most humble wise acknowledge those favours of you And after having conference with Mr. Francis Walsingham at good large further of your Majesties meaning we both sent to the Court to demand Audience but the King being then newly removed from Chantilly and the Queen Mother repairing hither to Paris our Audience was by her deferred untill the Kings coming to Madrid where the Court being setled the 21 of Ianuary we were requested in the Kings name to come thither the 25 of the same and repairing thither at the pointed time we were entertained by Monsieur de Lause who by the Kings appointment dined with us After dinner being once ended Chevalier de Sener was likewise sent from the King to accompany us so after we were advised by Sir Gihoronovi Gondi to repaire to the Kings presence and staying a while in the Chamber of presence being curteously intertained by the Duke of Nevers and the Nobilitie The King came forth Then I Sir Henry Norris drawing near to him said That her Majestie perceiving nothing more necessarie to entertain the good Amitie and intelligence between Princes then their devotion of good Ministers had chosen this Gentleman Mr Francis Walsingham being discended of a good house approved vertue and like sincerity to succeed me and to reside your Majesties Ambassador near his person not doubting but according to your Majesties charge given him in that behalf he would use all means possible to entertaine the good and neighbourly Amitie between your Majestie and likewise the continuance of the entercourse and traffique between your Realms and Subjects which I praied God long to continue to his glory to the increase of your Honours and tranquilitie of your Realms and all Christendom Also I declared that your Majestie had sent certain Letters unto him his wife and mother whereupon the King giving you most hearty thanks of your choise of a Gentleman so well qualified and desirous to continue that thing which he so much wished he required me to cause the Gentleman to come to him Then I Francis Walsingham being thus presented by Sir Henry Norris after ordinary salutations done I delivered your Majesties Letters which after he had caused to be read by his Secretarie Pinart I shewed him the great charge you gave me so to direct my course in this service as might best tend to the maintenance of the good Amitie between your Majesties as also the free traffique and Intercourse between the Subjects of both your Realms which thing aswell for duties sake towards your Majestie as the reverence I beare him and the great benefit that would grow to both your Realms I said I would not faile to observe with what care and sincerity I might And therefore desired him that I might come to my answer which I doubted not should be such as he should rest therewith satisfied and I justified To this after enquire made of your Majesties health he answered That he he could not but conceive great hope of continuance of Amitie betwixt her Majestie and him for that you had made choise of one to supplie this place so well inclined to entertain it as he hath given him to understand by his Ambassador that I was he said therefore that I was very welcome and should at all times receive at his hands for your Majesties sake gracious Audience for the which I rendred him most humble thanks and told him That I hoped that I should do nothing unworthy the good opinion he had conceived of me And touching the gracious Audience promised I doubt not but that his Ministers both heretofore had and hereafter should receive the like at your Majesties hands Those ordinarie Ceremonies ended being requested by the Deputies of the Princes of the Religion to recommend their cause at this present for it is generally conceived that the Ambassador sent hither from the Princes of Germany who besides congratulating the Marriage recommended the observation of the Edict which was a thing procured by your Majestie as with whom you have some secret league do concurre in all things that tend to the advancement of Religion me thought I could do no lesse but say somwhat in that behalf both for that I thought the opinion conceived of the League and concurrencie worthy the nourishment as also for that by your Majesties instructions I am appointed to do any thing that may advance their cause so farre forth as may stand with your Honour and to that end your Majestie may judge whither I kept my self within that compasse I thought it my dutie to send you the effect of that I said whereby if I failed in any thing being by your Majestie admonished thereof I may hereafter avoid to offend in the like I declared unto him that your Majestie willed me to signifie unto him that you as his good and loving sister who wished unto him all prosperitie and thinketh none so great as quietness of Government do not a little rejoyce to heare of the great care he taketh for the due observation of the Edict lately published as that thing which maketh him honourable and of great reputation with all Princes that are not carried away with passion and that you do not a little wonder to see his Majestie in these young years able through his great foresight and wisdome to quench a fire of so great a Consequence and danger as lately was kindled and dispersed through his whole Realm and now through Gods goodness and his good order was at this presence utterly extinguished an example for the rareness thereof worthy to be honoured
respect of the good will he bare to the King and his Countrey and the regard that he had of his own honour And further I shewed him that your Majestie gave me commandment during my charge here to behave my self towards him and the King his Brother with that good respect as was fit for me towards your Cousins and Princes of that qualitie that they were of Whereunto he answered with great courtesie that he thanked your Majestie for your commendations as from a Princess of that honour you are and whom he so much reverenced Secondarily for the good encouragement you gave him to be a good instrument for the observation of the Edict which thing he was bound to do in respect of his dutie towards the King and his Countrey so shall your advertisement be of no small force with him in who is one that hath alwaies shewed himself well inclined to our Nation in these times of jealousie and unkindnesse that hath raigned betwixt the two Countries Touching my own particular if my charges continue as they begin whereof there is small hope to the contrary except there be some extraordinary consideration had of me by your good means in transportation my allowance will not suffice to beare half my charges I would therefore most humblie desire you at the time of the receipt of the bill to weigh it accordingly Before my departure I was earnestly requested by Mr. H. Cobham to recommend unto you a cause in controversie between him and Mr. Cartwright committed to your hearing and redresse who desireth your convenient favour which I beseech you Sir the rather he may receive for my sake And so leaving further to trouble your Lordship at this present I commit you to Gods protection From Bullen the 2 Ianuary 1571. Your Lordships to command Fr. Walsingham To the Queen most excellent Majesty MAy it please your most excellent Majestie to be advertised receiving your Highness Letters of the 16 of Ianuary and perceiving your gracious pleasure touching my Revocation I cannot but aswell for this as your most favourable acceptance of my service during my residence here in most humble wise acknowledge those favours of you And after having conference with Mr. Francis Walsingham at good large further of your Majesties meaning we both sent to the Court to demand Audience but the King being then newly removed from Chantilly and the Queen Mother repairing hither to Paris our Audience was by her deferred untill the Kings coming to Madrid where the Court being setled the 21 of Ianuary we were requested in the Kings name to come thither the 25 of the same and repairing thither at the pointed time we were entertained by Monsieur de Lause who by the Kings appointment dined with us After dinner being once ended Chevalier de Sener was likewise sent from the King to accompany us so after we were advised by Sir Gihoronovi Gondi to repaire to the Kings presence and staying a while in the Chamber of presence being curteously intertained by the Duke of Nevers and the Nobilitie The King came forth Then I Sir Henry Norris drawing near to him said That her Majestie perceiving nothing more necessarie to entertain the good Amitie and intelligence between Princes then their devotion of good Ministers had chosen this Gentleman Mr. Francis Walsingham being discended of a good house approved vertue and like sincerity to succeed me and to reside your Majesties Ambassador near his person not doubting but according to your Majesties charge given him in that behalf he would use all means possible to entertaine the good and neighbourly Amitie between your Majestie and likewise the continuance of the entercourse and traffique betwen your Realms and Subjects which I praied God long to continue to his glory to the increase of your Honours and tranquilitie of your Realms and all Christendom Also I declared that your Majestie had sent certain Letters unto him his wife and mother whereupon the King giving you most hearty thanks of your choise of a Gentleman so well qualified and desirous to continue that thing which he so much wished he required me to cause the Gentleman to come to him Then I Francis Walsingâ—â— being thus presented by Sir Henry Norris after ordinary salutations done I delivered your Majesties Letters which after he had caused to be read by his Secretarie Pinart I shewed him the great charge you gave me so to direct my course in this service as might best tend to the maintenance of the good Amitie between your Majesties as also the free traffique and Intercourse between the Subjects of both your Realms which thing aswell for duties sake towards your Majestie as the reverence I beare him and the great benefit that would grow to both your Realms I said I would not faile to observe with what care and sincerity I might And therefore desired him that I might come to my answer which I doubted not should be such as he should rest therewith satisfied and I justified To this after enquire made of your Majesties health he answered That he he could not but conceive great hope of continuance of Amitie betwixt her Majestie and him for that you had made choise of one to supplie this place so well inclined to entertain it is he hath given him to understand by his Ambassador that I was he said therefore that I was very welcome and should at all times receive at his hands for your Majesties sake gracious Audience for the which I rendred him most humble thanks and told him That I hoped that I should do nothing unworthy the good opinion he had conceived of me And touching the gracious Audience promised I doubt not but that his Ministers both heretofore had and hereafter should receive the like at your Majesties hands Those ordinarie Ceremonies ended being requested by the Deputies of the Princes of the Religion to recommend their cause at this present for it is generally conceived that the Ambassador sent hither from the Princes of Germany who besides congratulating the Marriage recommended the observation of the Edict which was a thing procured by your Majestie as with whom you have some secret league do concurâ—e in all things that tend to the advancement of Religion me thought I could do â—o lesse but say somwhat in that behalf both for that I thought the opinion conceived of the League and concurrenâ—ie worthy the nourishment as also for that by your Majesties instructions I am appointed to do any thing that may advance their cause so farre forth as may stand with your Honour and to that end your Majestie may judge whither I kept my self within that compasse I thought it may dutie to send you the effect of that I said whereby if I failed in any thing being by your Majestie admonished thereof I may hereafter avoid to offend in the like I declared unto him that your Majestie willed me to signifie unto him that you as his good and loving sister who wished unto him all
towards your good Cousins and Parsonages of great account and value The Duke thanking me for this my good relation requested the Gentleman to come unto him Whereupon I Francis Walsingham approaching near unto him making reverence I shewed him that you willed me to do your commendations to him and furtsher to tell him that your were glad to understand that he did so honorably concur together with the King his Brother in sincere and due observation of the Edict whereby he did not only get generally with all men the honour to be reputed a Prince of courage in time of war but also of Councel in time of peace which courage you doubted not but he would continue in respect of the good will he bare to the King and his Countrey and the regard that he had of his own honour And further I shewed him that your Majestie gave me commandment during my charge here to behave my self towards him and the King his Brother with that good respect as was fit for me towards your Cousins and Princes of that qualitie that they were of Whereunto he answered with great courtesie that he thanked your Majestie for your commendations as from a Princess of that honour you are and whom he so much reverenced Secondarily for the good encouragement you gave him to be a good instrument for the observation of the Edict which thing he was bound to do in respect of his dutie towards the King and his Countrey so shall your advertisement be of no small force with him in that behalf For my self he told me that during the time of my service here I should receive for your Majesties sake any favour he could do for me And after we had taken our leave of the Duke anon we were brought to the Duke of Alansons Chamber to whom after we had used part of such speeches as we thought aptest for his capacity and he making such answer as may be expected of his young years we departed from him returning to the place of our retreat and so that night to Paris This being as near as our memories can serve us of all that in this Presenting and Negotiation hath been either delivered by us or received from them the which we humbly submittting to your Majesties wisdom and consideration beseech the Almighty long to preserve you in all prosperity From Paris the nine and twentieth of Ianuary 1571. Your Majesties most humble Subjects and Servants Henry Norris Francis Walsingham To the Right Honorable Sir William Cecil her Majesties principal Secretary SIr I have received at Sir Henry Norris hands aswel all such Copies as concern the Scotish affairs whereby I may be the better directed hereafter how to proceed therein as also all other instructions as may concern her Majesties affairs Touching common matters I refer your Honour to this inclosed of common Occurrents The matters of secrecie here at the least such and so many as I can learn are these The Pope the King of Spain and the rest of the Confederates upon the doubt of a match between the Queen my Mistress and Monsieur do seek by what means they can to disswade and draw him from the same They offer him to be the head and chief executionar of the League against the Turk a thing now newly renewed though long ago meant vvhich League is thought to stretch to as many as they repute to be Turks although better Christians then themselves The cause of the Cardinal of Lorraigns repair hither from Reyms as it is thought vvas to this purpose The King as lately he uttered to le Sieur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seeming very much to mislike hereof utterred these vvords unto him If this matter go forvvard it behoâ—eth me to make some counter-league I find the Germans saith he vvell-affected tovvards me and as for the Queen of England I knovv she hath good cause to mislike of this League as I my self have and therefore I suppose vvould be glad to joyn vvith me To vvhom the other replied that he vvas glad that he savv his danger for that he hoped he vvould provide for the remedy and vvished his Majestie that he vvould not forstovv the matter And therefore advised him for that the Princes Ambassador of Germany vvere not departed that the matâ—er might be broken to them vvhich thing the King thought not convenient for that that he thought their Ansvver vvould be that they had no Commission to deal in any such matteer but rather thought it more meet to send one of his ovvn Then the other told him that if he did did send any body it behoved him to make choice of one that vvas no Catholique for othervvise he should not be to them either grateful or trustful Whereupon the King named Monsieur Biron though he be not thought to be a Hugonot yet is he not taken to be your enemie Whereupon the other answered that he had made choice of a very fit person After he had made me acquainted with this matter he asked me how I thought the King should find the Queen affected I asked him whether he had any Commission so far forth to deal with me He told me no but he desired me to say frankly my opinion how I judged the Queen my Mistress would be inclined To whom I answered that for my own private opinion I thought not but that her Majestie would very well like of it First in respect of the common cause of Religion Secondly in respect of the good will she beareth the King whose friendship above all other Princes she doth chiefly embrace And lastly in respect of her own safety And as for my self for these respects when the matter shall grow to some further moving it shall not lack any furtherance that I can give him The said party the day before this Message came unto me and told me that he was wished from I. to give me to understand that Malicorne who was sent into Spain to congratulate the Marriage and is lately returned reporteth that Iulian Remero at his being here was dispatched from the Court to Ireland where he was to do some great enterprise Further he reported unto me that the King here is angry for that his Congratulation was not accepted of the King of Spain in so good part as he looked for but seemed to take some exception of the Kings Letters for that certain words of controversie to be usually put in such Letters as passed between them were now omitted And further to the increase of this unkindness the King of Portugal to whom the Kings Sister was offered in Marriage sent an answer by Malicorne that they were both young and that therefore about eight years hence that matter might be better talked of which disdainful answer is accepted here in very ill part and is thought not to be done without the counsel of Spain And amongst all others none taketh the matter more grievously then Queen Mother who thinketh her self not a little injured for the late friendship she
hath professed to Spain He forgot not to renew the speech that passed between us touching the League desiring me to use some means to feel how her Majestie is inclined which I promised to do And therefore I shall desire you to move her Majestie in that behalf that I may receive some direction how to proceed therein And so leaving further to trouble your honor at this present I most humbly take leave From Paris the 28 of Ianuary 1571. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham The Lord Seton who lately came out of Flanders to demand succour as I am informed is deferred over for answer untill the Entry be past He â—â—eth here as I am given further to understand with good store of Horse and Armour and very well furnished with money To the Right Honorable Sir William Cecill her Majesties Principal Secretary SIr after the closing up of my Letters I was certified by a Gentleman that came presently from the Court that the King is grown very sick of a burning Ague whereupon it is thought that the time appointed for the entry should be put over until after Easter I will seek by what means I can for the certaintie and so afterwards advertise you So leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humblie take my leave From Paris the 28 of Ianuary Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honorable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester RIght Honourable and my very good Lord touching the present state of France I refer you to the common Occurrents here inclosed and leave unto you by them to judge what likelihood there is of continuance of the Peace lately here amongst them accorded The best ground of continuance that I can learn by those that can best judge is the Kings own inclination which is thought sincerely to be bent that way Touching his affection towards the Queen my Mistress if outward entertainment may be a just argument of inward affection then surely there is great likelihood of continuance of Amitie and Concord For first I was in all those places where the King had Governors very well received Then at the time when Sir Henry Norris and I were appointed to have access to the Court for my presentment which was at Madrill we were invited to dinner presently upon our Arrival there Laufay by the Kings appointment received us and brought us to the place where our dinner was prepared where we lacked no store of good meat immediately after dinner Chevaleir Thaers sent by the King came and told us that he was readie to give us audience to whom we repaired and were most graciously received at his hands who made great demonstration by outward speech and countenance of great good will towards the Queen my Mistress Besides my ordinarie speeches concerning her Majesties charge to behave my self in such sort as might tend to the best continuance of Amitie between their Majesties I recommended the Peace being so requested by the Deputies of those of the Religion which he seemed to accept in very good part Having thus ended with his Majestie finding the new Q. not there for that it was given out she was sick of a fever I declared unto him that I had Commission from the Queens Majestie to have presented unto her her Majesties Letters as also to have used some office of Congratulation of the late Marriage between them notwithstanding that her Majestie had made choice of a Personage of calling honourable to do that office whose coming stayeth only upon the certaintie of the knowledge of his Majesties entry for that by the Q. Majestie my Mistress he is appointed to honour the same The King alledged sickness for excuse and told me that there should be another time appointed me for the execution of her Majesties Commission in that behalf which both of him and her could not but be accepted in as good part as it was meant Having thus ended with the King whereas before it was customably to be found as I learned by Sir Henry Norris to have present at the Audience both Queen Mother and the Kings Brethren in place with the King we found now each of them to keep their several Estate and so were driven to repair unto them all severally to their Chambers and though from her Majestie I had no further Commission to have done any Message but to the King and unto the two Queens yet for that at my last being there exception was taken at me for omitting my dutie to Monsieur and besides being requested by the Deputies of the Religion to recommend the observation of the Edict unto them severally therefore after access had to Queen Mother my Letters being delivered and certain ordinary speeches used with the recommendation of those of the Religion I repaired to Monsieur who very courteously and with good countenance received me To whom my speech from her Majestie was that she willed me to present unto him her commendations and further to say unto him that she was glad to understand that he did concur together with the King in that good and honourable meaning of the observation of the Edict whereby he did not only win generally the reputation and honour to be thought a Prince of courage in time of War but also of Councel in time of Peace which courage she doubted not but that he would continue in respect of the good will he beareth to the King and his Countrey and the regard he had to his own honour Whereunto he answered with great courtesie that he thanked her Majestie First for her commendations as from a Princess of honour that she was and whom he so much reverenced Secondarily for the good encouragement that she gave him to be a good instrument for the observation of the Edict which thing as he was bound to do in respect of his Duty towards the King and his Countrey so should her Majesties advertisement be of no small force with him in that behalf For my self he told me that during my service here I should receive for her Majesties sake any favour that he could shew me Having thus done I repaired to his Brother to whom I used besides Commendations some short Speech in recommendations of the Edict for manners sake I do rather my very good Lord dwell upon those particularities in respect of your Lordships request In observing Monsieur I had at this present by reason the place served very well for the purpose good occasion to view him in stature by judgement of others that viewed us talking together he was esteemed three fingers higher then my self in complexion somewhat sallow his bodie of very good shape his leg long and small but reasonably well proportioned what helps he had to supply any defects of nature I know not touching the health of his person I find the opinion diverse as I know not what to credit and for my own part I forbear to be over curious in the search threof for divers
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