that one Merchant in this Town hath 14000 Câ—owns to be employed in that behalf To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester MY very good Lord I leave to my Lord of Buckhurst to shew you how every way he hath bâ—n honourably entertained therefore in this behalf this onely will I say That such hath bin my Lords good demeanour as also of the Gentleman of his train as the King and his Court resteth very well satisfied and giveth both him and them great commendations protesting that sithence his coming to the Crown there was not an Ambassador of like Honosur here which I do not learn at those hands that will report otherwise then they hear to speak that which may best content us but from them at whose hands I do assure my self to have received the truth and for the increase of this good report he spareth to use no cost or liberality to such as by the King appointment have given attendance on him Touching other things the Duke of Longueville is lately departed from the Court with discontentment for that the Precedentship is adjudged to the Duke of Nemours protesting That so long as the Queen Mother liveth he will not come to the Court for he judgeth her to be the cause thereof I heare secretly that there is not the best liking between the two Queens whereof the young Q. is like to have the worst by common judgement for that here whatsoever our Mother commandeth taketh place and standeth for law And therefore if her Majestie desire to take any profit of France she must onely be the Messias and Mediatour I could therefore have wished that her Majestie had amongst other things bestowed some Present upon her The Kings Request unto the Pope for Count Galliâ—â—zos delivery is quite rejected who protesteth That if all the Hugonots in France were incamped about Rome he would not deliver him The King with this proud and disdainfull answer is very much offended I would he would give the Hugonots leave to make some proof what they could do for his delivery Touching a Bull set up against the Queen the Kings discontentment therewith and certain requests presented by the Spanish Ambassador here to the King I referre your Honour to Mr. Secretaries Letters And so leaving further to trouble your Honour I most humbly take my leave Paris the 5 of March 1570. To the Right Honourable Mr. Francis Walsingham the Q. Majesties Ambassador in France SIr I would not suffer this bearer passe without my salutations Master Bealâ— came this morning by whom and by your Letters I have understood from you such things as are of moment and so have I imparted them to her Majestie and mean as shortly as I can to procure answer for the return of the bearer her Majestie as there is good cause alloweth well of your service and so I bid you well to do and heartily thank you for your singular care and good will which you shew unto my Lord of Rutland who advertiseth me of very countifull From Westminster primo Martii 1570. By your assured as I was wont William Cecil And as I am now ordered to Write William Burleigh Sir Henry Norris maketh friendly report of you to her Majestie and to all others I write not to my Lord of Buckhurst because I think he is on the way To my very loving friend Sir Francis Walsingham Ambassador Resident for the Queens Majesty in France MY Lord Ambassador since my last Letter unto you I have little new matter worth the writing saving now we are much troubled with the Scotish causes the Commissioners of both parties are now here to write unto you what the end will be certainly as yet I cannot we find both sides very stiffe and hitherto those for the Kings partie very resolute for the maintenance of his Authoritie her Majesties scrupulosity touching his Title and Government we partly know The unworthiness of their Queen to rule she granteth but the instances of their cause to depose her from her dignity she can hardly yet be perswaded in so yet she remaineth much perplexed on the one side she is loth to set her up or to restore to her her estate again On the other side she is as loth to defend that which she is not well perswaded to have justice with it Between these her Counsell chiefly seek for these two things that her self may be preserved in suretie and the true Religion maintained assuredly For as the state of the world standeth and upon through examination of this cause it appeares that both the waies be dangerous touching the Q. of Scots for there is danger for delivering of her to her Government so is there danger in retaining her in prison her friends abroad begin to speak proudly for her we were wont also to have friends of our side if need were but as farre as I can see there is none of that side of the sea to be found that be Princes absolute well our case is the harder and we must say Si Deus nobiscum quis contra nos Touching this matter as soon as it shall grow to any likelihood either of the one side or of the other I will advertise you and withall send you the reasons of the advice In the mean time whatsoever you may hear believe me there is no man in England can tell you which way it will go yet in respect of the King there and his continuall dealing for the said Q. her Majestie rather giveth in words more favorable that way then the other Mr. Norris is arrived here yesterday being Shrove-sunday when Mr. Secretary was created Baron of Burleigh and I think ere it be long shall have the office of privie Seal but as yet remaineth Secretary still and within a day or two Sir Thomas Smith is like to be called to assist him The Parliament is to begin the 2 of Aprill next the Queen Majestie thanks be to God is in very good health so are all your friends as you left them save Sir Nicholas Throckmorton our good friend Your wife was here lately to take her leave of her Majestie who used her very well and graciously I pray you let us hear as often as you can conveniently I would gladly understand of some good for the poore Cardinall Chastillion I desire and also long to heare of the Q. Majesties present how it is liked Thus with my heaâ—tie commendations I bid you heartily farewell the 26 March 1570. Your assured Friend R. Leicester To the Right Honourable my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester BY your Lordships of the 26 of February I find that there is some entrie made in the Scotish matters and that you see them so full of difficulties as whether on retaining or releasing there should be more safety you can hardly diâ—cern things well weighed as well at home as abroad The common opinion of such as are of judgement here and wish well unto her Majestie
to think onely of her Majestie and of her safety like that Roman that notwithstanding a Law was made that no man should hazard to come on the Wall without consent of the Magistrate yet he seeing the enemy preparing for the scale and that the delay of time in asking the Magistrates consent might have hazarded the losse of the City preferring a publick safety before his private perill repaired to the Walls and repulsed the enemy the matter afterward being called in question he was acquited of the penalty and adjudged a good member of the City like consideration made me to take this course following In my proceeding with Queen Mother somewhat swarving from the precise course of her Majesties instructions yet notwithstanding keeping my self within the compasse of the same with due regard had both to her Honour and the place her Majestie beareth Touching the first point I alleadged precisely and wholly what her Majestie appointed me to say unto her touching the justification of her proceeding in causes of marriage whose answer was that that she did object unto my Lord of Buckhurst she objected rather as a common opinion conceived then that her self believed it being not ignorant that the common sort that understand not the secresie of Princes proceeding are alwaies drawâ— to believe the worst But saith she I hope her sincere and direct proceeding in this now offered match will breed due justification of her former proceedings in those marriage causes Touching the second I shewed her that her Majestie had conceived by my Lord of Buckhurst that she desired to understand whether the King and she making an offer of Monsieur the same would be accepted in good part at her Majesties hand of this second point I left out these words Whether she would be pleased to hear further of it In answer of this second point I shewed her from her Majestie that she did impute it as an argument of great good will in both her and the King considering how that the King being married there could be no greater nor worthier offer made by the Crown of France then Monsieur and that therefore her Majestie doth most thankfully accept the same and further that she willed me to say unto her that if her Majestie did preceive any apparent cause to mislike of the matter she would then deal plainly with the King in thanking him for his good will and in desiring to proceed no further herewith she seemed to be satisfied Notwithstanding for that this match did stand upon two necessary points the satisfaction of both their persons and necessary accord upon certain conditions that therefore her Majestie desir'd her as a Prince indowed with kingdomes could not but with her own private satisfaction have a due regard of her subjects repose and safety by way of Capitulation that if thereupon there should grow any just cause of breach yet that friendship and good Amitie might still continue the good will of either party being to be allowed their 's in making so honourable an offer and her Majestie in yielding to give eare to the same To this she replied that she could have wished that the answer had been more direct not so much for her own satisfaction as for others in whom there rested as yet some scruple and the rather saith she for that if in the handling of this Matter there be used plainness Ceremonies being set apart whatsoever issue the matter taketh yet friendship could not in reason but continue Then I proceeded to the third shewing her that her Majestie was well content that I as her Ambassador should treat upon this matter with Monsieur de Foix which course I shewed her in my private opinion would draw the matter by often sending to and fro to a great length whereby that expedition would not follow thereof that were to be wished And that therefore if that they would not follow thereof that were to be wished And that therefore if that they would make choise of some speciall person to send over upon some other pretence with full commission to treat hereof many scruples thereby would be avoided which otherwise might breed delay of time And touching the person I told her none could be more faithfull unto her Majestie then Monsieur de Foix. In this behalf she told me she would first deal with the King as also touching the fourth point how her Majestie could not tell what to propound untill she saw what was by them first propounded who by order were first to propound and after she had dealt with the King touching these two points she promised I should the next day have answer by Master Cavalcant which she performed whose answer was that for the more expedition the King and she thought it good to send Master Cavalcant both speedily and secretly over who should come fully instructed with their resolute intention touching this match who thinketh that he shall bring with him the Articles they mean to propound unto her Majestie and further that if upon his return they find her by her answers fully resolute to proceed That then for the better ripening of the matter against the time that an Honourable Ambassadge should be sent Monsieur de Foix should come over upon some other pretence I forbeare at this present to deal touching Monsieurs having the exercise of his Religion first for that they finding her Majesties answers not wholly resolute would have suspected it for a quarrel of breach Secondarily for that without all suspition in due place it may be be propounded amongst her Majesties Articles Touching the first point I forbeare to say any thing for that they mean sometimes as I learn to use their Ambassador there Resident with her Majestie as one whom they esteem and trust I did not forget to tell her that her Majestie for the more secret handling of the matter had made choise of two onely Counsellors unto whom she had communicated the matter the one the Earle of Leicester whom she findeth well to allow of any marriage which her Majesty liketh though otherwise wrongfully doubted so specially of this that is now in Treaty The other the Lord of Burleigh of whose fidelity her Majestie hath had tryall ever since she came to her Crown â—o this she answered that these two Councellors being of her Majesties choise she would not but very well allow of and as for my Lord of Leicester she said she had many waies good cause to judge him a furtherer of the match and therefore was glad of her Majesties choise and hoped thereby of the better successe The last point concerning Master Cavalcant she said she thought him fit to deal in it as one that before time had done good offices between the two Crownes and therefore she rather wished him to be admitted a Dealer I may not omit here to say mine opinion of him which is that her Majestie could not have allowed a Gentleman more faithfully inclined to her Majestie nor more fit for his
Currier who overtook him at Bullen arived here a day or two before him After the arrival of the said Currier it was given out here that l' â—â—chant brought but a cold answer whereby it might appear to them that his first assurance was not without good ground With this those that favored the marriage were very much appaled L' â—rchant being come and making so honourable a report of her Majesties sincerity and honourable dealing the same also being confirmed by Monsieur de la Mâ—ts Letters as a matter though desperate begaâ— again to revive Hereupon they have with certain choise Counsellors conferred what resolution is to be taken they have continued in Councel chiefly about this matter about the space of five or six days and yet cannot resolve what to do I am put in hope that though the matter proceed not yet that the Kings intention is to send some person of good quality as well to thank her Majestie for her honourable proceeding in this cause as also to desire continuance of good amity Of thus much I thought good to advertise her Majestie before hand and when they have fully resolved what they will do I mean to dispatch another And thus leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take leave From Melun the seven and twentieth of Iuly 1571. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester I Most humbly thank your Lordship for your frank and plain dealing towards me touching your opinion of their cause There is bred in them here now of late such a doubt before l' Archants arrival of her Majesties disposition to marry as they know not how to proceed This doubt is nourished by advertisements come from the Scotish Ambassador there with you who pretendeth to know all secrets of State If this distrust were not no doubt of it Religion would not be the let but to yield in Religion and afterwards to miss of their purpose they think would be a great touch in her This difference I fear me will quite overthrow the matter and therefore it behoveth her Majestie to look about her being invironed with many practises the executions whereof have staid upon the event of the match I do what I can to procure continuance or rather increase of amity The King himself as I learn is very well inclined thereto the rather through a mislike he hath of Spain I had well hoped there would have grown some broyâ— between them but that matter as far as I can learn will prove but a dream and now this match not proceeding as they seem much to doubt it the King as I suppose will be loath to attempt any thing against Spain though his will that way be good Her Majesties liberality bestowed on l' Archant was very well imployed for none can speak more honourably of her then he doth and as for your Lordship you have no cause to repent any courteâ—ie shewed unto him so good a report doth he make The like also doth one Cornet make that accompanied l' Archant The Ambassador there Monsieur de la Mot doth seek to salve all things that may breed an opinion in them here that her Majestie dealeth otherwise then sincerely his good offices that he hath done as well in this cause as otherwise deserve honourable considerations at her Majesties hands They have by the space of five or six days sate very hard in Councel about this matter no Councel dare devise as I can learn any thing in respect of the distrust they have I am put in good hope that if they mind not to proceed yet they purpose to make choice of some one of good calling to send over as well to thank her Majestie for her sincere dealing in this matter as also to desire continuance of amity This is as much as hitherto I can learn touching their intention concerning this matter wherewith I thought good to dispatch this bearer and after the through conclusion what they mind to do then â—orthwith I minde to dispatch another And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave From Melun the seven and twentieth of Iuly 1571. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may please your Lordship to advertise her Majestie that after I had closed up my first packet thinking to have sent this Bearer presently with the same Mr. Cavalcant came unto me sent by the Queen Mother to request me to forbear to sent to her Majestie for a day or two in which time they would grow to some through conclusion touching their answer and that then it was the Kings meaning to send for me and to impart the same unto me whereupon I thought good to stay for the satisfying of her request According to her promise I was sent for by the King at my access he told me that they had deliberated upon the answer received from her Majestie by l' Archant for that the same was of great weight and that his resolution after long deliberation was to send Monsieur de Foix forthwith unto her Majestie with his full intention touching the same who he hoped should find her not so resolute touching the point of Religion And further he willed me to tell her Majestie whatsoever should come of the cause that in respect of her honourable and sincere dealing in the same and the greaâ— confidence she shâ—â—â—d to repose in him she might assure herself as much of his friendship as of any other bodies in the earth and that she had full power to dispose of him and of his Realm to the benefit of her self and of her Subjects whose sword should be always ready to defend her against any that should attempt any thing against her He joyned his words and countenance so together as great demonstration outwardly of inward good will could not but be seen Having ended with the King I repaired to Queen Mother who used long speech in shewing the great affection she bare to the cause and that she was sorry that so hard a point as Religion should be the let to hinder a match whereof there would grow so great benefit to both the 〈◊〉 I told 〈◊〉 that if it pleased her she might remove that 〈◊〉 by the perâ—wading of 〈◊〉 Son to content himself with the exercise of our Religion She told me she could hardly do that for that it was a thing that touched his 〈◊〉 and reputation I willed her again on the other side to weigh what great reason the â—ueen my Mistress had not to yield to that point She shewed me that she could not deny but that her Majestie had some cause so to do notwithstanding she hoped there would be some â—elp found the party whom the King meant to send being so grateful unto her Majestie and having sundry reasons to alledge to shew
both how inconvenient it would bâ— for her Son to live without some kinde of toleration as also that there would not follow by the same that inconvenience in her Estate as she feâ—â—ed In the end she concluded whatsoever in the matter through this hard poinâ— should become that both she and the King were infinitely bound unto her Majestie for her honourable and sincere dealing in this cause And that for her own part she would bear no less affection towards her thâ—n if she were her own natural daughter After I had done with her Monsieur came unto me and desired me on his behalf to renâ—er unto her Majestie most humble thâ—nks for the great liberality bestowed on his servant l' Archant who had made such report of her Majesties rare and Princely vertues as it was an intolerable grief unto him to see so great a block to lie in the way as the point of Religion which so nearly touched both his Honour and his Conscience to keep him from the attaining to the 〈◊〉 good hap that ever in the world could happen unto him He protested how he wished so that the same were â—â—removed he had lost an arm or a leg But howsoever saith he the matter fall out I shall desire her to make account of me as of a Champion ready at all times to hazard my life in her defence during my life against any that shall attempt any thing against her This in effect is as much as passed from them at this 〈◊〉 Nâ—gotiaâ—on And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this preâ—eâ—t I most humbly tâ—ke my leave At Melun the last of Iuly 1571. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honoâ—rable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester AFter long deliberation the King is 〈◊〉 to send over forthwith Monsieur de Fâ—ix with his 〈…〉 touching the matter in hand who as I suppose hath Commission â—o conclude either marriage or some 〈…〉 between the two Câ—owns They rest here very wâ—ll perswaded of her Majesties sincerity So that the matter resting now on those good 〈◊〉 if you find not in her Majestie 〈…〉 to marry a thing most 〈◊〉 for our stâ—ggering Sâ—ate then were it expedint to take good hold of 〈◊〉 which may serve to ease us for a 〈◊〉 though our disease 〈…〉 Her Majestie is bound to the Gentleman 〈◊〉 â—ow cometh he 〈◊〉 every way in defence of her honour as much as if he were her 〈…〉 he is like to â—ear a great 〈◊〉 in this Government and 〈…〉 affected as he is to her Majestie he may stand her in great stead therefore you shall do well to advise her Majestie both honourably to use and liberally to reward him And as for your particular part you cannot be more beholden to a stranger I doubt not therefore but that your Honour will use him accordingly Touching the point of Religion though some hope came lately from their Ambassador of some toleration they are grown more stiff in that point then before I am not to advise in so great a matter What my opinion is in that behalf I refer your Lordship to my former Letters Great practises are here for the impeachment of this match the P. Nuncio Spain and Portugal are daily Courtiers to disswade this Match The Clergy here have offered Monsieur a great pension to stay him from proceeding In conclusion there is nothing left undone that may be thought fit to hinder For a day or two it was given out that the matter was quite broken and that Monsieur had no meaning to procced In respect of this brute at the time of my being at the Court he used great words of assurance that there was no such matter and that he remained still most constantly affected saying that if it were his mishap not to proceed in this match he could not but think himself most unhappy He protested that he wished the loss of an arm or a leg as that difficulty might be so ordered as he might not be touched in Conscience and Honor. I used sundry perswasions to induce him to content himself with the form of our Prayer and not to stand so much upon a toleration which might be prejudicial both to her Majestie and himself the match proceeding In outward shew he seemed to have no disposition to râ—lent For certain respects they desire Monsieur de Foix coming to be kept secret until his arrival Besides Cavalâ—â—nts general good offices he doth in this cause your Honour is particularly beholding to him for the good office he useth towards you The desire I have to dispatch this bearer with some speed will not suffer me any longer to trouble you with these scribled lines And therefore in haste I commit your Lordship to Gods protection who send you to grow to some conclusion as may be to Gods glory and her Majesties safety From Melun the one and thirtieth of Iuly 1571. Your Lordships to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leceister MY Lord if neither Marriage nor Amity may take place the poor Protestants here do think then their case desperatâ— they tell me so with tears and therefore I do believe them And surely if they say nothing beholding the present state here I could not but see it most apparent What to hope of the marriage I know not because it hath so many overthrows both here and there If it may be to Gods glory and her Majesties safety and contentment I then wish it otherwise at an end Touching the conclusion of some League and Amity I hope every one doth wish it that desireth her Majesties safety and the benefit of our Countrey notwithstanding there lieth a block in the way whereat divers may stumble The block is our ancient League with the House of Burgundy which by entring into some strait League with France may somewhat be touched and for that the one cannot yield that profit that the other may at the first sight it may seem dispâ—table whether the same is to be received otherwise then after the accâ—stomed manner but if the circumstances of the present time be duly considered this block may be removed and the Amity that will be proffered profitably received The house of Burgundy till of late days was ever inferiour to England and so depended thereon but now being tyed to the house of Austria he is grown to the greatness as of inferior he is become superior of a good quiet Neighbor a most dangerous and ambitious Neighbor which we shall speedily finde if we do not speedily provide for it How evilly they rest satisfied with us in respect of the Injuries received it is well known how naturally they are inclined to Revenge the world hath had sufficient tryall of If presently they forbear it is not for lack of good will but in respect of the incommodity of the time which if the jealousie between them and France were taken away we should soon
Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Hononrable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester YOur Lordship at large by Sir Tho Smithes Letters unto her Majestie shall understand to what issue we are grown to touching this Treaty We can by no means nor perswasions we can use draw the King to any other interpretation of his meaning touching the point of Religion then by private Letters for that it should seem that their Ambassador from hence hath assured the King here that her Majestie will be content therewith For my private opinion seeing this League is to indure but during the lives of the two Princes and that the substance of all Leagues consisteth chiefly in the sincerity of the matters and that this Prince hath given great shew to the world of great â—incerity I think the private Letter bindeth as much in honour as any other Instrument or Contract that can pass between them can do in Law For if they should break the matter is not to be tryed in the Chamber imperial by way of pleading of what value the instruments are God and the Sword must be Judges so that then pleading must give place But this my good Lord is for my private opinion in matters of so great weight as leagues are I profess altogether ignorance If her Majestie can content her self with this private interpretation of the Kings meaning then if it would please her Majestie through your good motion to use some words of assurance towards the Ambassador there of the great good opinion she hath of the Kings sincerity and that she buildeth more upon his words then upon contract I know nothing can more content him for he desireth to be reputed a Prince that esteemeth his word and honour above his life Besides he wisheth himself to be in her Majesties good opinion before all other Princes and doth often take occasion to say that he hopeth there will be no less earnest good will and strait Amity between him and her Majestie then was between her Father and his Grandfather To nourish this opinion of Amity between them I take it to be the office of all those who truly love their Majesties as that League that tendeth greatly to both their sureties being knit together in perfect Amity which beside their particular safety will breed a great repose in all Europe especially for the cause of Religion And surely my Lord for the increase and nourishment of this friendship nothing can yield more furtherance then your access hither in ratification of the League a thing very much desired of their Majesties here as you perceive by Sir Tho Smithes Letter The motion at the first being made by the Queen Mother seemed strange unto us for her to name a particular person but when she shewed unto us that her Majestie the last Summer desired the Marshal Montmorency whereunto they did condescend and that they also mean to send him now for the confirmation of this League we had nothing to reply They say that the King in respect of the good offices that you had done between the two Crowns the great honour you had used towards his Ministers sent hither and certain prâ—sents that you had sent unto himself desireth very much both to see you and honour you Besides she said that your coming should be so grateful unto her and the King her Son as you might obtain any thing at his hands for the contentment of her Majestie so far forth as he might with his honour grant Surely my Lord though this voyage to your purse cannot but grow very chargable yet for the furtherance of the common cause of Religion for the increase of Amity between the two Princes and Crowns and for their own particular reputation never was there offered to your Lordship greater occasion both generally and particularly to do good then at this present Your Lordship can do more good in one hour here then twenty such petty companions as my self is can do in a whole year or possible in all our lives time I would I could so well hope of her Majesties leave as of your Lordships liking to take this journey upon you and then I would assure my self of your coming and by the same of as great good to ensue as ever followed of any others imployment in this voyage c. To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may pleas your Lordship to understand that Monsieur de la Mothe hath advertised their Majesties here that the Q. of Scots cause in England is not so desperate as we make it for that lately she hath received so much increase of liberty as that she went a Hawking with the Earl of Shrewsbury which advertisement here maketh them more earnest in her cause then they were wont for that they doubt one day she will come to the possession of the Crown of England either by succession or prevention and therefore the Councel here do advise the King so to deal for her as may continue in her an opinion that he is careful for her well own safety and cannot but do justice then call things proceed well and her Majestie may well perceive that any favour shewed unto her doth not onely breed disfavour but also danger and hindrance towards her self whereof Mr. Killegrew can inform her Majestie at large The opinion of the wisest sort of the Gentlemen of the Religion that are here is That the League it self shall not do more good then the imployment of two honourable Personages for the ratification of the same and therefore they desire me most earnestly to move her Majestie to concur with the King in this respect who hath to that end made choice of Montmorency hoping that her Majestie will choose one of quality somewhat answerable to his calling Besides the King and Queens desire as may appear by Sir Tho Smithes Letters the said Gentlemen do desire much the Earl of Leicesters coming as one very grateful unto their Majesties here and therefore shall be able to do very much good by the advancement of their causes whose increase of credit cannot but be beneficial unto her Majestie in considering the great good affection they bear towards her in regard of the great honour and benefits they have received at her Majesties hands and therefore their increase of credit shall breed increase of Amity a thing not unnecessary for her Majestie considering how she finds some of her neighbours affected abroad and her Subjects inclined at home Besides if her Majestie should not seem to be desirous of Montmorencies coming considering that he is no less willing to come then his Master is to send it might give him occasion to think that her Majestie maketh not that account of him that his great good will and devotion towards her deserveth whereof he letteth not to make demonstration outwardly as otherways of the which besides mine own experience during the time of my charge here Sir Tho Smith and Mr. Killegrew
as many Catholiques of the French as were found there which afterwards upon better consideration was stayed for that they thought the same would prove but a poor revenge notwithstanding this Nation groweth so hateful there as for avoiding of danger such of them as travel in those parts are driven to take upon them the names of Burgundians They write also that there is hope that the Elector Brandenburgh shall be chosen King of Polonia which news doth nothing content those here Further they do advertise that the Princes of Germany are in great jealousie of the Legats repair hither and that thereupon they do put themselves in order of defence for that they think his repair hither cannot be but to continue some dangerous practise A day or two after the Legat had made his entry the Court of Parliament sent unto him according to the ancient custom to see his faculties To whom he answered that the intention of his coming was not to execute the office of a Legat but only to visit the King and to treat with him certain private and particular matters Touching the manner of his receiving and entertainment since his access to the King this bearer shall enform you They do all what they can to make the world believe that his coming is not grateful unto them The Ambassador of Spain doth give out that the five and twentieth of the last moneth Zutphen was taken by the Duke of Alva and that eight or ten of the Princes ships have been also lately distressed Pynart of late willed my Secretary to tell me that whereas heretofore Monsieur de la Mot had usually certain imposts of wine granted to him he is afraid that he shall be debarred of the same or at the least some part of the quantity cut off which thing he wisheth not to be done at this time for that it may give the King occasion to think that his Ministers are not so grateful towards her Majestie as heretofore they have been Seeing that the Gentleman is not to make any long abode there being in hope of revocation me thinks it should be well done if he were used as he may return with good satisfaction And so having nothing further to impart unto your Honour at this time I most humbly take my leave AT Paris the fifth of December Your Honours to Command Fra Walsingham To the Right Honourble and his very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh SInce I last wrote unto your Lordship Steward repaired not unto me for that there is an eye had to such as resort to my house He sendeth me word that Glasco 4 â—9 party increaseth in strength which will well appear when the season shall serve His letters of advice this bearer shall deliver you The party that is recommended unto you from Berwick telleth me that Iames Kirkaldy departeth hence out of hand with such money as Viracque should have carried into Scotland for that he hath gotten license to stay here for a moneth for that the King mindeth to imploy him there as an Ambassador Resident Further he telleth me that de la Mot hath advertised the King how that the Lord Athol is won to be of the Queens party which now sithence the death of the Regent is grown far the stronger And to the end that Liddington may travel more earnestly in strengthening the faction there is some offer made unto him of some great pension he saith mâ—â—eover that the Bishop of Glasco giveth him to understand that with some assistance of money the Lord Athol and the Lord Argile being revolted from the Kings side as they are they shall be more able to make their party good against any force her Majestie shall send until such time as he hath setled his things here Touching Seers the Earl of Westmerlands man I can by no means learn what answer he received at the Kings hands He telleth me only that he stayed here four days These his advertisements I have confirmed otherwise and therefore I do the rather credit them They have written to the Ambassador to use all the means that may be possible whatsoever it cost to have the Queen of Scots spoken withal willing him in any case to beware to use in that behalf any Hugonot The B. of Glasco hath lately divers times conference for the devising of some good means for that purpose one whom he meant to imploy in that behalf discovered no less unto me who thinketh that there is some practise for the stealing of her away They caused of late Briquemont and Cavannes a little before their death to subscribe to certain blanks which they have filled up with such matter as may best prove that there was a conspiracy pretended Which blanks so filled up they sent by Fregoz and one Carpenter into Germany to shew some unto the Princes there for the better justifying of the late execution If Kirkaldy be well used by Mr. Killegrew he will be no evil instrument he desireth much the revenge of that that hath been lately done here At Paris the fifth of December Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable and his very good Lord the Earl of Leicester RIght Honourable the King here is advertised that they of Rochel have of late taken the Isle of Rez and divers ships in the same a thing that imported the Rochellois much for that thereby they have the Haven free and at their commandment and may receive such succours as may come unto them by sea This Court is much agrieved with all aswell in this as in other matters that things frame so untowardly and go backwards The wisest sort do not stick to say that the greatest troubles are now but a beginning If it shall prove true that they write out of Germany which is that the Marquis of Brandenburgh is like to be chosen King of Polonia they may perhaps have just cause to repent their late doings but howsoever that fall out we shall see that God will work somewhat whereby it may appear the blood of his Saints to be dear unto him Perhaps we did build too much before upon the courage and wisdom of them that be dead He can raise up stones to set forth his glory so that we need not doubt to see the revenge unless our sins be the let What is meant by the King touching the besieging of Rochel this bearer shall impart unto your Lordship as also the manner of the entertainment of the Legat and how they seek to make the world believe that they are not content with his coming nor he with his entertainment They say here that the Kings side in Scotland is much weakned and the other side far the stronger they have therefore dispatched of late from hence some to keep the Queens party in courage until they have setled things at home I find therefore her Majestie shall have great difficulty to settle things here in such sort as may prevent such mischiefs as hereafter may grow
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
Amitie betwixt us and our Realmes be left unperfect and unaccomplished on our behalf For Scotland you may say that Monsieur de Crocque ' s going away so soon wherefore we were very sorry because he tarried not until the peace was concluded we suffered our servant Henry Killegrew to sollicite the conclusion of peace And although there appeared great likelihood from time to time to follow of an universal peace and very reasonable conditions offered yet they of the Castle as appeareth not minding to have any peace would not agree to them wherefore as it appeareth they are like again to have civil Wars a thing most displeasant to us being their next Neighbours and for our part we think they have misused both him our good brother and us the King to imploy Monsieur de Crocque and us the Marshal of Berwiâ—k first and now Henry Killegrew whereas it appeareth they meant nothing less then agreement especially two or three of them in the Castle who have offered unto them all humanitie their lands livings and offices and whatsoever could be reasaonably desired yet will not condescend for common quiet to acknowledge their King and to deliver him that hold having as good offered them for their own suerty which in common peace should seem needless so that for ought that can appear unto us we think it not fit that we or our good brother should suffer such outrage at their hands or our two travels being Princes to be had in so little reguard besides that we have kept in our hands the Castle of Hume at our charge being to us no profit or commoditie but that we desire to bridle both the parties to come to an accord For being by the League bounden to deliver it but any of the Scotish if we should have delivered it to any of the adverse party though the peace had followed we know not how to compel them to render the same to the natural Lord thereof to whom we most desired to render the same although he had smally deserved that kindness at our hands if we had delivered it to him before we doubted there should have bin occasion to make him hold out more obstinately from the Agreement and Peace who as it appeareth is too much obstinate without it And as we have divers times by our Ambassador there and writing declared to them that assoon as they were come to a full Agreement and Peace within themselves we would most willingly render the same Castle and the Territory thereof to the said Lord Huâ—â— So you may say that our good brother shall well perceive that if yet they will grow to common peace within themselves the Castle of Hume shall be streight restored to the Lord Hume as it hath been often declared both to him and them before And if he and the rest will not come to Peace and Accord peradventure we shall deliver it as we may well do unto them of that Nation out of whose hands the Lord Hume shall have enough to do to get it which is nothing in our default which desires them most earnestly to have them at quiet and peace within themselves and to be ruled by justice so should our Subjects near adjoyning to them be in more rest and have better justice upon the Out-laws and Thieves who do offer daily injury to our Subjects without redress because of the civil troubles And if any mention be made unto you of the Scotish Queen either for her life or for her deliverance that you should be a mean to us for her You shall answer that her attempts be known to have been such both towards us and our Realm as you cannot gladly hear her spoken of and that you could not think your self a good Subject if once you should open your lips for her and therefore you shall require that they will no more speak to you of her nor of any such matters Given at our Mannour of Hampton Court the eleventh of January 1572. in the one and twentieth year of our Reign Thomas Smith I think it shall not be against the Queens Majestie to offer that if Hume Castle shall be delivered to the Kings party that there shall be assurance given to restore it to the Lord Hume when he shall recognize the King as heretofore he did William Burleigh To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador Resident for her Majestie in France MR. Walsingham I have received your Letters sent by Williams I perceive it is hard to recover a Rider but to pay too dearly for him I will stay therefore till better occasion shall serve and do heartily thank you for your good remembrance and travel therein I wrote of late to you which Letter I hope be come safely to your hands the rather for that I write somewhat openly for want of a ready cypher for these causes I have since considered more of the person and the matter and surely I can no way perswade my self that the cause you should stay for is any way sincerely meant there but rather a meer practise to entertain us here and to discover of the other side what may be under the hope that by that means many may be drawn unto for no other way but this have they left to beguil the world especially us and those they seek to destroy seek narrowly and deeply into it and in the mean time consider how slightly the great post haste matter was slipt off that our ship tarried so long for what was it else but a plain work to hold us with such a sudden amazed chance the same in their opinion we should believe their case to be as dangerous as they would make it Weigh also the pretty escape of the disguised attempt of the party that seemed to be in so great peril who can believe other then that it was a made matter to continue a belief whom they think they have inchaunted at their wills Let us examine also the instruments what they be those of the most arrantest sort of Papists those here never counted setled or informed in Religion Besides the process of the doings over both sides doth shew no good end towards but even a stratagem it will prove in my opinion and therefore I am the more careful that we may so espy it and so use it as it may return upon their own necks For my own part I promise you I did suspect it the first time of his opening of the matter for truth will seek no angles Truly he was fain to seek all his brains to make any matter worthy of credit for these suspicions were found even at the first he was divers in his tales his Letters delivered assuredlie were counterfeit and so was driven in the end to confess in a manner albeit in a sort they were after confirmed there from you to his better credit for first he avowed they were all the parties own hands Next he said after the Letters were compared with others of the parties
as that thing which she hoped would prove profitable unto her Majestie and beneficial unto her Realm and Subjects To this my Lord answered That the cause why the same grew not to some conclusion either off or on proceeds for that they have not made answer to certain things propounded by the Ambassador here Resident unto them whereunto she answered That she did not remember any thing whereunto they were so give answer whereupon I took occasion to shew her that there were two points to be answered The one concerning Religion the other concerning the interview For the point of Religion I shewed her that her Majestie in respect of the alteration that hath lately hapned in this Realm and that which passed in the Treaty of the Marriage between her and Monsieur de Anjou had cause to accord that point first as that thing which touched generally the quietness and repose of her Realm Touching the interview I told her that for as much as her Majestie could have no other way satisfaction then by the same the point of Religion once accorded some convenient means for the accomplishing of her said interview was to be devised To this she answered that her Son was of the same living that the other was and of the same Religion and therefore hoped should have no less favour then the other should have had touching the point of Religion for that it is a thing dishonourable and unchristian for a Prince to change his Religion upon the sudden To this I replyed that for mine own part I did not remember that while I had the dealing in the matter any liberty in that was accorded to Monsieur de Anjou And if it were Madam said I we see that a thing is tolerable in the other In conclusion my Lord requested in that she desired to grow to an end in this matter that she would roundly set down in her Letters what the King and she required touching that part of Religion To this she answered after some denial made thereof saying that their Ambassador should signifie in that behalf that she would be content so to do And touching the interview when matters of Religion should be once accorded she doubted not but there would be means found for the bringing of the same to pass as should be to her Majesties satisfaction I made her acquainted with the matters of Scotland touching Hume Castle whereunto I received like answer at her hands as at the Kings which was that after conference had with their Councel I should understand what was their mind and resolution in that behalf whereupon these Scottish matters she took occasion to recommend to my Lord the Queen of Scots to whom he gave like answer as before In the end as my Lord was ready to depart she shewed him that she was given to understand that there were certain ships a preparing in England by certain Rebels there whereof she desired her Majestie to give redress as appertained to good amity Whereunto my Lord answered that she might be assured that her Majestie had never any intention to tollerate any thing that might tend to the breach of the same so that if there were any preparation of ships in hand as he knew not of any he was well assured her Majestie was nothing privy thereunto as also that her Majesties Subjects were no dealers in the same who hath forbidden them expresly not to intermeddle Why then said she if they be strangers she ought to banish them and not to permit them to attempt any thing to the prejudice of this Countrey considering that she is as well bound to yield up ayd requiring the same at her hands as we to grant the like unto her upon like occasion and therefore she desired him to put her Majestie in mind that some order might be taken for the remedy of the same which he assured her he would at his return This was as much as passed at the time of my Lords taking of his leave The morning my Lord departed Queen Mother sent for me and shewed me that by Letters sent from Monsieur De la Mot they were given to understand that her Majestie let fall some speech that she could not think that the continuance of the Treaty of Marriage with Monsieur le Duc should be sincerely meant he being now retired from hence and imployed by the King at Rochel she therefore for the satisfaction of her Majestie requested me to desire the Earl of Worcester to signifie unto her that there is nothing that the King and she desireth more then the accomplishment of the said marriage and that to the end that the Earl should see the Duke the King stayed him here until Twelf-tide About which time they attended my Lords coming whereas otherwise he had departed together with Monsieur his brother before Christmass and said she if we had known the certainty of the Earls coming he should have come hither in post to the end he might have seen him I took occasion hereupon to tell her my private opinion if it would have pleased the King not to have imployed him in these wars against those of the Religion he should be in better opinion with her Majestie and more grateful to her Subjects To this she said that a young Prince that hath courage and desire to do his Prince service could not with his honour remain behind seeing his other brother imployed I have made my Lord acquainted with such Occurrents as are here to the end he should impart them to her Majestie by mouth And so leaving c. the 12 of February 1572. To Sir Thomas Smith IT may please your Lordship to advertise her Majestie that the King departed hence to St. Germains en Lay eight days past and that Queen Mother remaineth here still whereof the King hath great need and the same found hard to be recovered here Touching their proceedings against Rochel there repaired hither of late divers Curriers who use great silence which make men to doubt that things fall not out to their liking I learn notwithstanding that there is in the Kings camp great scarcity of victuals and a great number of Soldiers through cold and want of other necessaries are dead and do die daily That the Duke of Nevers hath taken upon him with the help of certain Italian Engineers to make certain Fortresses in the midst of the Haven to impeach all such as by sea would bring to the Rochellois any succour For the two Fortresses lately made at the Entry of the said Haven six ships notwithstanding passed by laden with corn and other munition as it is reported The common opinion is that it will be impossible by any device to make the said Fortresses that the Duke pretendeth to make There is secret whispering here of some intelligence given by Pacues of an intended enterprize by Montgomery in Picardie and that hereupon the King hath given order for the impeachment thereof The Cardinal of Lorrain hath within these
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
25 of Ianuary I received the third of February by the which I perceive the matter your Lordship and I talked of hath bred some speech there with you and here the matter passeth not in great silence but is taken to be much more forward then I percieve it is I meane amongst the Common sort so far as I can learn there will be no further overture of this matter then alreadie is for here they stand upon the reputation and therefore would be loth to move speech unlesse they were in full hope to speed The experience of others that have heretofore attempted like matter maketh them more doubtfull how to proceed In my poore opinion the Commodities or discommodities of taking or refusing may easily be seen and therefore when they are once vveighed a speedie resolution vvere best to cut off many inconveniences that delay of time commonly bringeth By my last of the 27 of Ianuary I made your Lordship acquainted vvith my opinion so farre forth as I could enform my self using such circumspections in that behalf as is fit for me considering the jealousie already conceived of me But vvhen I shall be further enformed I vvill not fail further to advertise your Lordship And so for this time having no leisure to vvrite any more at large I most humblie take my leave from Paris the third of February 1571. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham To the right Honourable Sir William Cecil her Mejesties principall Secretarie SIr it may please you to advertise her Majestie that before I had accesse unto the King I sought by vvhat means I could to be informed of the Irish attempts by those of this country And being given to understand that de la Roch vvho as I learned by Rogers vvas the partie that should lead the Souldiers that made the invasion there vvas here in this Tovvn I found the means to cause Monsiuer Brickmals for that he said De la Roch had served under him to deal with him and to aske him whether he had not bin in Ireland who answered he had not bin there but in such cold terms he denied it as he gathered by divers circumstances and his manner of speech that true it was he had bin there which thing he seemed to be loth to affirme for that he said he was well assured that whosoever they were that dealt in the enterprise the King would disavow them Hereupon at the time of my accesse which was the 6 of Febr. at the Cardinall of Burbons Lodging in Paris I thought good to temper my speech accordingly in such mile sort using this speech following I told him after ordinary commendations done that though the Q. Majesty my Mistress was advertised from her Viceroy of Ireland That one de la Roch his Subject had landed certain men there who confederated with certain Rebells in that Island did commit by way of hostility certain out-rages not answerable to the good Amitie that rested between their Majesties Notwithstanding her Majestie was so well perswaded of his great good will and sincere affections towards her Majestie whereof she had received by his Ambassador from him so earnest assurance and protestation that she could not but do him wrong to think that this disoder should proceed from him but rather from some evill Minister of his such as do mislike and envie the good Amitie that presently resteth between them And therfore so doubted not but that his Majestie as her good Brother unto this good advertisement given would in such sort extend his Authority for the redresse of this inconvenience as she might have just cause to think that the new and earnest lately professed friendship was grounded on sincerity which could not but bring forth fruits answerable to the said profession To this in few words he answered That of his faith he knew of no such matter and therefore willed me to give him the names of all such as I could learn any waies offendors in that behalf and that he would so punish them as that her Majestie his good Sister should well pâ—rceive what good accompt he made of her friendship After I had thus ended with him I repaired to the Q. Mother both for that she ruleth all here as also for that the rest of the Ambassadors here observe the same course and declared unto her as unto the King that it was her Majesties pleasure that I should so do requiring her Majesties name to be a good mean to avoid all such offences as may any way impeach the good Amitie that presently is between the King her son and the Q. Majestie my Mistris I received at her hands for answer divers good words of assurance and continuance of Amitie which she promised to further so much as lay in her power and that she found the King her Son so well inclined thereto as the Q. my Mistris might full well assure her self that whosoever should go about to disturbe the same should receive such punishment as should be to the Q. my Mistris satisfactions I thanked her in her Majesties name and shewed her that I would not fail to make report unto the Q. my Mistris of this her good affection towards her Wherefore though herefore she had received good assurance yet that friendship vvas of that Nature as it is alvvaies desired to be entertained vvith the exercise of mutuall good offices This Sir vvas the effect of the speech that passed betvveen the Kings Majesty Q. Mother and me at this present accesse Novv to the end that there may be some triall vvhether these words were as well meant as they were uttered I have made choise of one to send to Britain to search out the names of the offenders to the end I may present them unto the King to see whether he will be as good as his word in punishing of them further by him that I said I meant to take order there to be advertised from time to time from thence of such preparations as may any vvay reach to any of her Majesties Dominions vvhich I see a thing very needfull because this Tovvn is full of brutes As I vvas in vvriting I vvas certified by one from vvhom my Predecessor Sir Henry Nâ—rris had his best intelligence who repaired secretly unto me and told me this news following How that the enterprise of Ireland is of great consequency and danger whereof though he thought the King was not privie yet he did assure me that the faction of Gâ—ise were great dealers in it Further he said that the Popes Nuntio labored what he might to draw Monsieur into the practise promising him for the maintenance thereof to be paid in Paris 100000 for his encouragement he made no difficulty to bring the said enterprise to passe in respect of the great intelligence that they have both in England and Ireland and that the same being won it would be an easie step to a step of more consequence meaning England Lastly he shewed me that if he would not
accept this enterprise yet notwithstanding it was resolved it should go forward and that the bills of credit for the said some of 100000 are already here if this advertisement prove as true as others that heretofore have bin given by him to my Predecessor then are they not to be neglected By another means I was advertised that Stewkley in Spain presented an instrument unto the King there not onely subscribed with the names of the most part of the Irish Noblity but also the names of divers in England of good quality ready to be at his devotion I learned further that of late fithence the Lord Setons comming hither there hath bin some greater conference between the Spanish Ambassador and the Ambassador of Scotland Further I learned that the greater part of those that are landed in Ireland were Levied by the Earle of Argile in the King of Spains name within the said Earles Government being promised pay by the said King of Spains Ministers they were imbarked at the Mule or streight of Kenutire One Skeldon an ordinary servant of the Q. of Scots arrived lately here with Letters of some importance as it is thought for that oftentimes he hath had accesse to the Court. Thus having made your Honour privy of all such things as I could learne I most humbly take my leave At Paris the 8 of Febr. 1571. To the Right Honourable Sir William Cecil her Majesties principall Secretary SIr I thought good to make you privie to this private Letter directed privatly to your self of certain talke passed between the Queens Mother and me which I desired her by protestation that she should receive at my hands as from a private person not having commission as a publike person to say any more then that which concerned le Roches attempt I protested unto her that the onely mark that I would shoot at during my service here should be to continue so much as might lie in so mean a Minister good Amitie between the two Crowns as a thing profitable unto them both And therefore I desired her Majesty first to consider how necessary it was for the safety of both Realms to have a firm league concluded between the two Princes Then to weigh how fit this present was for the same Touching the first point I shewed her that though France enjoyed now through Gods great goodness a generall peace with all his neighbours yet that it should so continue it was not to be looked for And that therefore in time of peace politique Princes were not unmindfull that after peace wars commonly follow for that the earth is subject to alterations In which consideration they commonly weigh the neighbours who are by consequence of reason likest to attempt any thing against them vvhich they see evidently to be that Prince that is nearest by situation and in forces mightiest against vvhom besides ordinary forces vvhich they have alvvaies prepared they seek to strengthen themselves and the Princes confederats Novv if your Majesty by this measure of mightiness and nearness measure your neighbours you shall then find that it is England whose conderatie is chiefly to be desired he that thinketh himself mightiest will be well advised before he deal with each of you Touching the other point I told her that I thought this time most fit first for that there was in both Princes a like affection being both of their own proper inclinations peaceably inclined with conformity of disposition as one of the best knots of assured friendship Then because there reigneth some unkindness between other 〈◊〉 neighbours with whom her Predecessors heretofore had both long and good unity These circumstances well weighed I concluded with her that the time was now fit and the thing it self most fit to be prosecuted and that her Majesty was most fit to bring the same to good effect as she in whom the King as he had just cause so to do reposed the direction of his whole Government To this she replied That first at my hands both the King and she did look for nothing else but good offices tending to the maintenance of good Amity Secondarily that as at present they enjoyed peace so they had good hope of the maintenance of the same generally with all their neighbours Lastly that she hoped that the Amity between the Q. my Mistris was of all parties very sincerely meant Notwithstanding if she should desire to enter into some streighter league she was of opinion nothing would be more gratefull to the King To this I answered that I was glad to receive at her hands so good hope of the Kings inclination in that behalf This in effect was that that passed between her Majesty and me The reasons that moved me to use this speech were these first for that Spain seemeth not to be at this present very well inclined towards the Q. my Mistris Secondarily for that the King hath no great liking of Spain as before advertised Lastly for that I was advertised how that the Admirall had advised lately the King and Q. Mother by his Letters to seek to strengthen himself by confederacy with the Princes of Germany and the Q. Majesty my Mistris Sir having now made you acquainted with my speech as also with the reasons that moved me thereto I shall most humblie desire you according to your promise to advertise me of my errors either in this or otherwise in this my present service which you shall perceive that I will accept in so good part as you shall think your advise well bestowed and thereby to be better able to serve her Majestie with more skill In my other Letters as that vvhich vvas to be shevved to her Majestie I forbeare to set dovvn the Popes Nuntios persvvasions he used tovvards a disswading Monsieur from the Q. vvhich were First she was an Heretique Secondarily that she was old by whom he could scarse hope after issue And lastly that England which he said he was well assured vvas the mark he chiefly shot at might be atchieved and that right easily by svvord to his great Honour and lesse inconvenience then making so unfit a match Thus you see Sir hovv they make the accompt vvithout their host I hope they shall have more vvill then povver to hurt us and that God vvill still reserve our poore Country for a sanctuary for his poor persecuted flock To vvhose tuition I commit you most humbly taking my leave From Paris the 8 of Febr. 1571. To the Right Honourable my very good Lord the Earle of Leicester SIthence I last wrote unto your Lordship which was the third of this moneth I have learned nothing fit for your knowledge saving of some practise that concerneth Ireland wherein I referre your Lordship to Mr. Secretaries Letters Touching the other matter they think here you do but dally and though no overture hath bin made notwithstanding I find this already hath bin done underhand if the matter go not forward will breed some disdaine for that they take their
with my own hand or any long Letter by my enditing of the hand of another and therefore now I am enforced for that â—ittle I have to say to use another hand You shall perceive by the Queens Majesties Letters what I have been inforced with some pain to indite by reason of my restless sickness and business and therefore I mean not to repeat any part thereof unto you wishing you to supplie any defects in the manner of writing with your own natural discretion This I will add that I do hear out of Flanders that one is coming hither named Monsieur Senigam to make an end of the long talk that hath been of the mutual restitution of the Ships and Wares arrested and thereupon it may be that some further Treatie of the opening of the entercouse may follow It is also written from thence that one is come to take the place of this wrangling Ambassador who I think shall be of the low Countries named Seignieur Front one of the long Robe that was here in Commission with the Marquess Vitells Here do daily come into our Ports by drifts of winds certain Hulks of Spain and Portugal with great riches which though they are to be stayed yet surelie I trust there shall lack no diligence to cause the riches of them to be duly preserved for the owners And if you shall hear any other report as it may be I assure you it shall be against the good meaning of her Majestie and her Councel For the matters of Spain besides that which is written in the Queens Letters I do hear that Stewkley hath caused one Mr. Huggins to be imprisoned charging him to the King that he hath advertised sundrie things of that Court to my Lord of Leicester and me wherein Stewkley sheweth his traiterous meaning to his Countrey We find it so hard here by reason of this restraint to send any meet person into Spain to discover things there and I cannot tell whether you might find some there that might be trusted in respect of the common accord of our Religion to be used under some other colour of Errand thither to discover this Kings practises and if you can so do with any reasonable charge I wish you so to to and the same shall be satisfied Since the writing of the Queens Letter I find that the E. Morton was come to Barwick the fifth of this moneth with the rest of the Commissioners of that part so as I look hourly for his arrival here and that may you affirm to the satisfaction of some there that be so greedie in the Queen of Scots cause It is here determined by the Queens Majestie that there shall be a plain somewhat before Easter which is desired not to continue long and so I wish it I doubt not but by this time the Lord of Buckhurst hath either visited the King or known when he shall and I trust my Lord of Rutland hath been a Courtier before this time for whom I dare be bold to thank you upon the presumption I have that you shew him friendship which I know he will of himself deserve yet I cannot but adde thanks to his deserts for the desire I have to see good proof of him to the honour of himself and of his Countrey I have no other thing but that this afternoon God hath called to his mercie Sir Nicholas Throckmorton having been sick not past six or seven daies of a Plurisie joyned with a disease called Periplen he doth but lead the way to us whereof I for my part have had sufficient schooling by my present sickness I pray you commend me to my Lord of Buckhurst and whilest he is there an Ambassador I think you may do well to make him partaker of your charge From Westminster the February 1571. Yours assuredlie William Cecill To the Right Honorable Sir William Cecil her Majesties principal Secretary SIr it may please you to advertise her Majestie that according to her Commandment I repaired to the Spanish Ambassador and declared to him from point to point so much as is prescribed by her Majesties Letters especially not forgetting to dilate that point that concerned her Majesties good opinion conceived of him in respect of the good offices that he had done from time to time to salve the differences and unkindness that depend between her Majestie and his Master His answer was in the Spanish tongue which I understood not and other tongue then Spanish he would not vouchsafe to speak and therefore Sir I may rather tell you by gess then otherwise First he seemed to be agreived that he never heard any thing of the message he sent about three moneths sithence by Sir Henry Norris which concerned that point that the Duke of Alva lately hath communicated to her Majestie touching the Kings offers to be a Mediator between the Queen of Scots and her Majestie he said that she did never use Don Francisco for so he named himself but by fits who from time to time towards her Ambassador had alwaies used himself so sincerely as they could not but report that Don Francisco was a Gentleman of great sinceritie And if it had pleased her Majestie to have used him throughlie he would have done offices worthie of Don Francisco When I came to that point that concerned the brutes touching the King his Masters intention in attempting somewhat that might not best agree to good Amitie whereof though her Majestie had cause somewhat to doubt in regard of his intertaining of her Irish Rebels and the Countenance given to Stewkley yet being of her own nature not easily drawn to condemn upon brutes without good ground especially being lately entertained by friendly offers arguments of good meaning therefore desired him onely to be a mean to procure at the Kings hand some good assurance that these be but vain brutes and that his meaning is to continue good Amitie and to avoid all such occasions as might breed any contrarie effect To this after some time spent in exclamations and admirations he answered That nothing could seem so strange unto him as her Majestie being a Prince of that wisdom and experience that she is of should once give ear to such vain bruits as thereby to doubt that his Master considering the long Amitie that hath been between the House of Burgundy and England would now attempt any thing that might breed any breach thereof And as for sending to his Master he said the way was long and that it would be two moneths at the least before he could have any Answer He said therefore he would write to the Duke of Alva in that behalf I shewed that my Commission was to request to procure satisfaction from the King and as for the Duke of Alva her Majestie lacked no means to send unto him no more she did not to send unto the King but would have been glad as one well perswaded of him to have used his help therein as a thing as beneficial for his Master
to the tenor of her Letters dated the fifth of May I have given the pretended Archbishop to understand by my Letters who is now at Nantes how her Majestie doth not allow the slender manner of his submission neither can think him worthy of favour or grace unless upon warrant given by me he maketh his repair into Enâ—land and there with all humilitie sue unto her Majestie for the same Of late he hath sent from Nantes certain of his servants as I am enformed to what end I cannot learn I have enformed Captain Thomas how her Majestie upon information given by me doth accept in very good part his late service in the discovery of the pretended Archbishops practises and that she meaneth to consider thereof Whereupon he hath desired me in his name most humbly to desire her Majestie to be so good and gracious a Lady unto him as he may have some charge under her Majestie either in Ireland his native Countrey or elsewhere as one that desireth nothing more then to imploy the experience he hath gathered in these Civil Wars in her Majesties service Here there is very good account made of him And notwithstanding that the most part of the ordinary bands are discharged as well Captains as Souldiers yet hath he allowed by the King sixteen Crowns a moneth pension His Father whose name was Bathe was one of the Justices in Ireland his Brother is Recorder of Drogheda This I write touching his Parentage to the end her Majestie may the better conceive of his loyaltie I am given secretly to understand that Rodolphi had Letters of Credit given him by the Spanish Ambassador unto the Duke de Alva whereupon he had long conference with the Duke and was dispatched in post to Rome with Letters of Credit to the Pope as also with Letters of Credit to the King of Spain promising to be at Madril the 20 of this present moneth Touching the matter of secresie committed unto him I can learn nothing as yet notwithstanding I thought it my part to advertise your Lordship of thus much who perhaps by other advertisements can give some ghess what the same importeth The Scots here have some enterprize in hand as I am informed by the party whom I appointed to observe the Lord Seatons doings The Ambassador of late hath been at Court and is returned from thence with answer not altogether to his liking and saith that so long as the Marriage is in Treaty there is no hope of good here to be done for the help of their cause Birack who lately returned out of Scotland is in hope to return with new Forces which secretly he saith to his Friends dependeth onely upon the resolution of the marriage now in hand The Lord Seaton departeth hence out of hand into Flanders being sent for by her Majesties Rebels there who have somewhat in hand presently to be executed They of late have very importunately been in hand with me for passports but understanding they have such enterprize in hand I thought good in that behalf to make some stay for a time alledging that I have some order from her Majestie to make some stay therein until I be further advertised of her pleasure I hope her Majestie will not dissallow of this my doings though I do it without warrant Out of Brittain I am advertised that la Roche had discovered unto a Kinsman of his that his enterprize in Ireland was to have executed a plot of Conquest devised by Peter Strozza in King Henries time which if the match go not forward he is promised that he shall go in hand withal hereby it doth well appear that the expectation of this match is the onely stay of divers pretended mischiefs Here they are in some perplexitie for that they hear nothing of her Majesties answer being given to understand by the Ambassador that her Majestie had signified her mind unto me in that behalf Queen Mother denieth now that she prefixed a day of answer and that I did mistake her I must needs confess that in requiring the same she used such words as her Majestie hath no cause to be justly offended which omitting to impart unto her Majestie I do most humbly crave pardon at her hands being most heartily sorry that through my default there should grow any unkindness between them Her words were as followeth First she asked me after she had willed me to signifie unto her Majestie the Kings and her resolution in what time I might have answer I shevved her that I hoped vvithin ten or tvvelve days the rather for that I knovv my Mistress to be resolved and therefore the matter required the less deliberation Then she desired me to vvill her Majestie that they might have ansvver within ten dayes if it might be These circumstances by me omitted I perceive her Majestie the rather to mislike the limitation of the time for the vvhich as before so again I most humbly require her Majesties pardon And so c. At Paris the fourteenth of May 1571. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honorable Sir Francis Walsingham the Queenâ— Majesties Ambassador with the French King THere is nothing yet readie to send you touching the matter of Monsieur The Ambassador resident hath received Letters of late since yours came from the Queen Mother and from Monsieur de Foix touching that cause He shewed his Letter to me and my Lord of Burleigh and it appeareth that de Foix Letter doth qualifie much the dealing which you and Cavalcant had I mean he writeth in sort to continue the matter and as it were that there would be offer made by them But her Majestie hath handled the matter exceeding well with the Ambassador and giveth him no hope without yielding of their part to that she hath reformed in their first demands And as 〈◊〉 as I can perceive they will rather yield then break off God send all to be for his glory and our good and so farewel my good Walsingham In haste this seventh of May 1571. Your assured Friend Ro. Leicester Commend me to my Cousin your wife by the next you shall hear more of this matter To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester MY very good Lord the Protestants here do so earnestlie desire this match and on the other side the Papists do so earnestlie seek to impeach the same as it maketh me the more earnest in furthering of the same Besides when I particularly consider her Majesties state both at home and abroad so far forth as my poor eye-sight can discern and how she is beset with Forraign peril the execution whereof stayeth onely upon the event of this match I do not see how she can stand if this matter break off No particular respect as God is my witness moveth me to write thus earnestly but only the regard I have to Gods glory and her Majesties safetie They rest here somewhat perplexed for that the answer is so long deferred being
he may trust are not in number 3000. Fiftly that with a dozen ships beside those that presently they have they will keep the Seas as no Spanish Forces shall come thither by Sea Lastly that the Princes of Germanie are most willing to joyn in the said enterprize so that the King will be content with Flanders and Artois which once pertained to the Crown of France and that Brabant Gelderland and the land Luxenburgh which once were fees of the Empire might be united again to the same and as for Zealand and the rest of the Islands said he they wish the Q. of England had them so that she would be content to joyn in this enterprize Aâ—ter he had made the King acquainted with these likelyhoods he seemed very well to like them especially if the Q. of England might be brought to be a party and to joyn with him and the Princes of Germanie in the said enterprize and therefore wished shee might be moved as from himself to see how she were inclined in that behalf for saith he if she being Lady of the narrow Seas do joyn in the matter with us I weigh not the King of Spain nor all the confederates He told me then that he shewed the King that as he thought she had been moved in that behalf already and that as he heard she was not enclined to be a dealer therein howbeit he knew not how her Majestie upon better consideration might sithence like thereof The matter being thus propounded to the King and Q. Mother afterwards it came to be considered of by certain chosen Councellers who all liked of the enterprize and saw great reason not to negâ—ect it Onely they saw two things to be provided for before they could advise them to enter into the same the one that he should first establish some gooâ— league with England the Princes of Germanie and that he meant presently to send ae Foix into England whose friendship and confederacy imported him very much for that the Princes of Germanie depended onely upon knowing how she would be enclined for that without her they would enter into no confederacy For the help of the second he said the King meant to tax generally through his Realm the Clergie with the payment of one years revenue This is asmuch as he imparted unto me touching his proceeding with the King saving that he shewed me That it is secretly agreed on between him and the King that Strozza who should imbarque about the midst of the next month shall do some enterprize in Spain onely to amaze the King there whom the King here meaneth notwithstanding to disallow openly Touching their State he telleth me they have much to do to bridle the people of the Low-Countrey from discovering of themselves by committing some rash enterprize and that they find the Papists no lesse inclined then the Protestants to seek with hazard of their lives deliverance from their present tyranny They find lack of money the greatest let having been much disapointed by them here the greatest help they have that way is from the D. of F. Before winter they mean to do nothing and then onely their intent is to enter into the T. M. then in the spring following if God shall so direct their intentions they meâ—â— to assâ—ile the Countrey two wayes with two severall Armies After he had thus made me understand both his proceedings with the King 〈◊〉 also their proceedings the present state of thir case and how they mean to proceed he theâ— desired me to propound to her Majestie on his behalf these particular points following First whether her Majestie can be content to joyn with him and the Prince of Orange in the enterpize Secondarily whether upon the former assurance offered her Majestie can be content to lend unto them the sum they required Thirdly that it would please her Majestie to suffer Hawkins underhand to serve them with certain sâ—ips and also to licence him to furnish them with certain victualls to be transported from thence whereof they have present need Lastly that it may please her Majestie to suffer certain Walloons being presently in Rye to the number of 800. to embarque themselves to repaire hither For the first he desireth her Majestie to consider how it will be no less honour for her to unite Zealand to the Crown of England then it was dishonour for her sister to lose Calais and further that by having Zealand she shall have the key of the Low-Countries she shall have a place allwayes for her ships to enter in unto to avoid thereby aswell the danger of the enemie as of the tempest Besides she having Zealand shall be better able to gather the Princes of Germanie enjoying Brabant and the rest of the Countries which were late federatories to the Empire to bridle F. for being overgreat And lastly that this enterprise being done by Protestants they receiving the honour thereof shall be better able by increase of credit with the King to continue his good devotion toward her in respect of the rare favours which they have received at her hands which they both do and alwayes will acknowledge For the second he desireth her Majestie to consider how evill affected Spain is towards her how he thinketh himself injured in respect of the arrest how naturally they are inclined to revenge though outwardly till convenient time do serve they can dissemble their malice how he intertaineth at his great Costs a subject of hers lately departed out of Ireland as also other Rebells of hers that daily repaire into Flanders who onely are stayed from molesting her at home in respect of the fame that the Duke of Alva hath of his Brothers enterprize And lastly how he is become a Protector of the Q. of Scots her dangerous enemy which she knoweth to be true Now if the lending of so small a sum may somewhat enable them to abate the pride of so great an enemy and cause her Majestie to spare the spending of ten times so much besides the hazard of her estate and people he desires her Majestie to weigh it in reason whether the disbursing may not stand with good policy Touching the third he saith that by having those ships of Hawkins he shall be able to keep more Spaniards who being settled there may become dangerous neighbours from landing in Flanders besides the victuals presently required shall serve to furnish Strozza whose enterprize going forward cannot but kindle warre betwixt France and Spain though the King disavow him he being a person of that quality here in respect of his office whereby at the least her Majestie may be looker on with her more safety For the last he hopeth that her Majestie will make no difficulty for that it is to disburden the Realm of so many strangers After he had thus imparted unto me those things which he would have me to propound unto her Majestie as also such reasons as might induce her to like thereof I shewed him that I would do
forbeare in that behalf and that that matter might be referred over to treaty untill the coming of him whom her Majestie meaneth to send whereby all unkindness might be avoided he willed me to desire her Majestie to interprete this is message in good part and to assure her that he is void of all evill meaning whose Amity he most earnestly desireth notwithstanding he may not in honour forbeare if he be urged thereto to assist them in respect of the said League I shewed him that I understood nothing of any such meaning of her Majesties sending of any forces thither but if it were so it then proceeded upon the discovery of certain dangerous practises of the Queen of Scots whereupon her Majestie is inforced every way to seek to do that thing that might tend to her safety and therefore if any such sending grow upon such respect he could not but allow thereof protesting that good will that he doth to her Majestie He answered me that now his meaning was not to recommend the liberty of the Queen of Scots but onely to recommend the liberty of the Country I told him in that behalf I doubted not but he should find the Queen my Mistress inclined to do any thing to agree to reason and stand with her safety but if her Majestie should have any intention to seek the liberty of the Queen of Scots in my private opinion I thought by no meanes he should prevaile she now of late being discovered to be so dangerous an enemy who hath as it were dismembred her Majesties politique body by corruption of sundry of her best qualified Subjects which thing said I if your Majestie could consider in the Queen my Mistress person I am sure your Majestie would forbeare at any time hereafter to recommend her cause His answer to that was that he meant not now to recommend the same and so he willed me to present his affectionate commendations unto her Majestie adding further that he hoped shortly to see one from her here to treat of such things as my tend to increase of good and perfect Amity between them he desired me to dispatch one with some intelligence to the end he may know her Majesties answer I am given secretly to understand that there are certain of the Guisian faction that have made offer unto the King to go and serve in Scotland of their own charges and that the King if he received not a good answer from her Majestie is determined to imploy them there are some also of that faction that go about to perswade him that her Majestie meaneth nothing less then to send any hither to treat of Amity and that all is but intertainment untill she have made full conquest of Scotland the King notwithstanding these lewd perswasions as I learn conceiveth a good and honourable opinion of her Majestie As I was writing I was given to understand that the morning the King sent for me there was long debate had in Councell whether he should recommend the Q. of Scots cause or not In the end after long debating through the earnest perswasions of some it was thought expedient to forbeare in that behalf and so concluded that he should onely recommend the liberty of the Countrey I am put in great hope that the King will be content to joyn with her Majestie in the establishing of the young Kings Government Surely if her Majestie send hither in time whilest her friends enjoy the credit of the Court here some parsonage of good quality whereby the King may think she maketh some account of him I think her Majestie shall obtain any reasonable thing at his hands that she her self can desire for she is perswaded that no Amity is so fit for him as that with her Majestie in respect that all occasions of quarrels are now taken away If it might so like her I would wish that her Maiestie would in talk with the Ambassador use some words of excuse in that she hath so long deferred the sending of the Gentleman that is here looked for as also two words of assurance of the great desire she hath of the increase of Amity with the King This I know would content him as also stop the mouthes of those that perswade the contrary Thus leaving further to trouble your Lordship I most humbly take my leave At Blois the nineteenth of October 1571. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Francis Walsingham Esq our Ambassador Resident in France ELIZABETH R. TRusty and well-beloved we greet you well we have presently sent the bearer hereof our trusty servant Henry Killegrew to supply the place that there you have to be our Ambassador Resident with the French King our good brother for the time that you shall be occasioned to be necessarily absent about the tendance to cure your self of such infirmities as to our grief we hear you are subject unto and glad therewith to hear that if you may have some respite and leisure from business to attend to your Cure you are in hope to be cured by certain Physicians that have taken upon them the charge thereof whereof we are both willing to further you and do earnestly charge you without either delay of time or care of our business to apply your self for that by your good service hitherto we do plainly perceive that our election of you hath been well answered and the continuance of you in that service is to be much desired by the recovery of your health And for that this bearer shall now supply your absence whom we know to be a faithful friend unto you we would you should instruct him in things meet to be known to him and to give him assistance of such of your servants as shall be to him needful for this purpose And for our further knowledge in things presently to be prosecuted and imparted to the King there we have also given to him knowledge thereof by special Instructions in writing signed with our hand have informed him and have willed him to make you partaker and to use your advise in what sort to communicate with our good brother the French King and assoons as you may recover your self to return to your former charge which we wish to be speedy both for your self and our service We require you so to do and to give us knowledge thereof for our meaning is assoon as you shall be able so to do this bearer Henry Killegrew shall return Given under our Signet at our Mannor of Richmond the twentieth of October 1571. in the thirteenth year of our Reign To the Right Honorable Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador for the Queens Majestie in France SIr though your leisure were more then it is yet the coming of this bearer my brother Killigrew is able to discharge me of all my care to write but yet I cannot let him depart without my Letter how short soever it is you know my brother so well and love and trust him as I
the same time were letters intercepted of the Queen of Scots to the Duke of Alva whereby she giveth her self her Realm and her Son to be in the proâ—ection and government of the King of Spain And with that the L. Seton who had been there and sithence with the Duke of Alva driven by a Tempest into a Haven which by the Conspirators was appointed where the Flemings and Spaniards should arrive disguising himself like a Mariner went from thence and came as I told your Majesty into Scotland and into the Castle of Edenborough with some other of the Queens Majesties Rebels his papers and instructions being â—ound declared that in her Majesties name he had assured the Duke of Alva that with a small power they might bring into their hands the yong King of Scots and so carry him into Spain Then giveth comfort to other of the Rebels by other letters that shortly they shal return into Scotland This Madam quoth I is enough to make the Queen our Mistris to awake and to look about her and even at that same time cometh Monsieur de Crocque with the Kings letters and requireth the Scotch Queen to be set at liberty and to be sent into France Madam quoth I I pray your Majestie consider of the case and imagine you were the Q. of England my Mistris and that all these things at one time came to your consideration what would you think Ah Monsieur L'Ambassador quoth she we did know then of no such intent of the Q. of Scots you may be sure we would be as loath that any such thing should be attempted and rather loather Madam quoth I I do not doubt considering this good amity which is so forward betwixt the two Realms Well saith she she is allyed to the King and to me and brought up here and we for our part could do no less then intreat for her what we could obtain at the Queen my sisters hands She seeketh another way to ruinate her self to hurt her friends to deserve no pity nor favor and sorry we must be for her and if she be so dangerous as it appeareth we cannot nor dare not require liberty for her which is so perilous to the Queen my sisters state yet if it shall please her for our sake to give her her life and for the rest provide for her own safety as reason is she shall do a deed of price and in this matter we will trouble the Q. your Mistris no furthâ—â— Then quoth I one other thing there is touching Monsieur de Crocque his power or Commission for so we call it is not large enough for he hath as he saith but Commission to move them to Peace and Agreement To the which now of late they of the Castle do shew themselvs very obstinate perverse and unreasonable by reason of some offers from the Duke of Alva and some hope peradventure received from hence For where before they were content to require the Queens Majesties aid to come to a good agreement with the adverse faction so that the surety of their Persons Lands Goods and Honors might be provided for now they be so puffed up that they will not come to any abstinence of Civil war amongst themselves And surely the Queen my Mistris meant no other then to have brought them into quietness among themselves To the intent that the Realm might after agreement within it self enter into this League with the other two Realms making as it were for defence one whole Realm and so I have always told you Madam It is so saith she and we desire no other Well Madam quoth I if you then will concur with us the matter will be soon at a point Then Monsieur Crocque must have a larger Commission then yet he hath for he saith he hath but as I said before a Commission to make them to accord amongst themselves to choose a number of men to govern the Realm and never make mention of King nor Queen Why saith Master Walsingham that were a headless Government and when will they agree to it he that knoweth that Nation will never think that will come to pass and therefore that should be to make more dissention amongst them not to make a Peace Madam quoth I that Commission hath no Order nor Authority but as is said to continue trouble But Madam as in all matters hitherto we have well agreed betwixt the two Realms of England and France I pray you let us agree in this And if we speak reasonable the King shall concur with us if not let us hear answer to the contrary and we will answer The Queen my Mistris hath propounded this that they shall all agree to acknowledge the young King for King For as the for Queen she hath good cause not to trust her nor you neither Then for compounding how one shall agree with th' other for their Lands Offices and Goods that to be agreed by the mediation of wise and indifferent men whereof your Ambassador be it Monsieur de Croque or any other to be an Umpire and whom the Q. my Mistris shall appoint to be another So that they shall well know that these two Crowns as friends will make them by perswasion to agree to reason if not to joyn together to make them take reason against their wills Ye say well Monsieur Amb. saith she and you speak roundly and plainly as you were wont to do and I will speak with the K. my son and you shall have answer Madam said Mr. Walsingham Monsieur Amb. saieth here plainly unto you Yea saith she so he is wont I know him well enough Yea saith he but while two shall be at strife if ye would set up again the Scotch Queen whom by reason the Queen our Mistres cannot abide if in the mean time a third should come and set foot in Scotland would it not trouble you and us also Yes saith she and we should be as loath to see that as you Well Madam quoth I then take heed of the pick-thank for he is ready I know whom you mean quoth she and he is ready indeed and loves to be medling in every place but I doubt not but the Queen your Mistris and we shall agree it is our desire and that this amity may increase to make us both strong for all that Coast I hope so quoth I and would be loath that all labour for so little a matter should be lost Lost saith she fear you not your Queen can desire no reasonable thing at our hands but we will agree to it you shall judge your self and to morrow you shall have answer God willing but hear you nothing else of the other matter Madam quoth I I know not what you mean but surely notâ—ing is spoken not so much as from Mr Killegrew nor of the league but we look every day that our Currior should be here and then we shall be able to inform your Majesty Ye shall not marvail saith she that I
and novv be in the Castle of Edenburgh and this being understood the Ship vvas stayed and searched and amongst other the confirmation of that vvhich I told you before vvas in the Scotch Queens Letters that she gave her self and her son novv the young King of Scotland vvholly into the hands of the King of Spain to be governed and ruled only by him and assure him that if he vvould send any povver the young King should be delivered into his hands For in the Ship it doth appear that the Lord Seton by his instructions is named the Scotch Queens Ambassador tovvards the Duke of Alva A goodly Ambassador saith the Queen And there in his Ambass he offereth the young King to be delivered into his hands to be conveyed into Spain And to animate him more to set up again the Scotch Queen and take the protection of her that she hath right both by Gods Law and mans Law to be Queen of England and also of Scotland and that she hath not only all those that be in trouble now but a great sort more in England on her part so that the King by setting her up should not only govern both these Realms but shall also set up in both again the Catholique Religion Alas saith the Queen that head of hers shall be never in quiet This quoth I toucheth us most the next toucheth the King your son I will shew unto you as I have it my Lord Burleigh writeth it unto me In the same ship amongst other was found a Letter of the Countess of Northumberland who was one of the chief stirrers in the last Rebellion Her husband the Earl is now prisoner in Scotland for the same purpose The Countess in her Letter writeth to her husband that the Duke of Guise hath of late been with the D. of Alva disguised and she affirmeth to her husband for certainty all the house of Guise and that faction will follow in all points the direction of the King of Spain Saith the Queen he was not for by reason of his Treaty of accord she meant between the Admiral and him which hath been long time in doing and yet taketh that small success every four daies we either hear from him or send to him so that we know certainly where he is and that he hath not been there he might well enough send some other person but somewhat there is we know well enough saith she that they incline somewhat that way of Spain and it may be nothing for it is the Spanish practice to aid themselves with lies and spread abroad that those and those be of the Faction to bring other in when indeed it is nothing so that used the Emperor Charls and so brought some by this means unto his lure before they were aware and that is a shrewd art quoth I to abuse rash fools Yes saith she but when at the last it is espied it makes them the more to be hated and other the harder to be abused by them Then she left that matter Jesu saith she and doth not your Mistress see that she shall be alwaies in danger untill she marry That once done and in some good House who dare attempt any thing against her Madam quoth I I think if she were once married all in England that had any traiterous hearts would be discouraged for one Tree alone may soon be cut down but when there be two or three together it is longer a doing and one shall watch for the other but if she had a child then all these bold and troublesome Titles of the Scotch Queen or other that make such gapings for her death will be clean choaked up I see she may have five or six saith she very well I would to God we had one No saith she two boys leâ—t the one should die and three or four daughters to make alliance with us again and other Princes to strengthen the Realm Why then quoth I you think that Monsieur le Duc shall speed With that she laughed and said Ie le desire infinitement and I would trust then to see three or four my self at the least of her race which would make me indeed not to spare Sea nor Land to see her and them And if she could have fancied my son d'Anjou saith she as you told me why not this of the same house Father and Mother and as vigorous and lusty as he and rather more and now he beginneth to have a beard come forth so that I told him the last day that I was angry with it for now I was afraid he would not be so high as his brethren Yea Madam quoth I a man doth commonly grow in height to his years the beard maketh nothing Nay saith she he is not so little he is so high as you or very near For that matter Madam quoth I I for my part make small account if the Queens Majestie can fancie him For Pipinus Brevis who married Bertha the King of Almains Daughter was so little to her that he is standing in Aquisgrave or Moguerre a Church in Almani she taking him by the hand and his head not reaching to her girdle and yet he had by her Charlemain the great Emperor and King of France which is reported to be almost a Giants stature And your Oliver Glesquim the Briton Constable that you make so much of and lieth buried amongst the Kings at St. Dennis if he were no bigger then is there pourtrayed upon his Tomb was very short scarcely four foot long but yet he was valiant hardly and couragious above all in his time and did us English men most hurt It is true saith she it is the heart courage and activity that is to be looked for in a man but hear you word of the Queens affection that way can you give me no comfort No I assure your Majestie quoth I for the Letters were written the 11 of this Month the same day or the next that our Currier went with the dispatch from hence Thus with much other talk in such sort the time was passed that day betwixt her Majestie and me All the world doth see that we doe wish her Majestie surety and long continuance that her marriage and issue of her Highness body should be the most assurance of her Highness and of the Wealth of the Realm The place where and the person whom I for my part remit to her Majestie but what doth her Majestie mean to maintain still her danger and not provide for her surety I assure your Lordship I can see no reason God preserve her Majestie long to Reigne over us by some unlooked for miracle for I cannot see by natural reason that her Highness goeth about to provide for it Thus I commit your Lordship to Almighty God From Blois March 22. 1571. by English account Th. Smith To my Lord of Burleigh MY Lord You must excuse us if the Queens Majestie or any other body do find fault that we send this man away
in the writing as a thing confessed both by the King here and the Q. Maj. they would have the rehersal made as of her Majesties relation and yet the thing done as her Highness requireth as you see in the Treaty These things when they come to conclusion your wisdom knoweth be not to be sticked upon so that the Q. Mother with her Honor hath done all that is desired of her Highness And as I hope and trust the best League that ever was made with France or any other Nation for her Majesties surety As yet we have not signed the Treaty but to morrow or the next day we shall have There hath been such variance betwixt us for some words and somewhat for slowness of Writers Thus in few words you have the reasons of our variances and agreements so that with the said and other which your Lordship can adjoyn all doubts and objections if any may be answered And so I commit your Lordship to almighty God from Blois April 17. 1571. To my Lord Burleigh MY very good Lord After the dispatch of our Post this here inclosed was brought to us to look upon to know what we thought upon it we answered for us we could not judge but her Majestie had well considered of it and we doubt not will either signe to the like as it is or with some other amendment but because the League is concluded and signed we have no more to do Dâ— Florence brought it and was content to leave it with us the which we thought convenient to take of him and send it your Lordship by Cavalcant somevvhat to consider of it before for their Ambassador shall present it to the Q. Majestie to have the like of her Highness Mr. Cavalcant also doth partly understand the reason of it vvhich is to satisfie such as would be glad to find any cavellation to mislike the League And therefore for our part vve vvish that her Majestie should condiscend to so much as conveniently her Highness may do because the King here dealeth so frankly and roundly vvith her Majestie And straightly after that I had written so farr came Monsieur brother and brought us a copy of a League in French and also of the reciproque Letters for the explication of the general words thereof to be understood also in matter of Religion This League in French serveth for three purpose the one the King here understands French and not Latine the other for the aid of horsemen and footmen The Latine at this day is forced to signifie the manner as it is now differing although it be the manner of the Romans the French is proper to the orders of the War at this day which be better known by that Language now then by Latine Now you having both the one may serve for the interpretation of the other although the very League is that which is in Latine and signed with â—ll our hands and Seals Thus I commit your Lordship to Almighty God From Blois April 22. at night To my Lord of Burleigh MY very good Lord I most heartily thank you for your Leters of the 28 of April wherin I greatly rejoyc'd that du Crocque is sent at the last into Scotland the staying of him was not well taken here for it bred some suspicion as of no plain dealing and the King here meaning surely for any thing I can yet perceive nothing but sincerity and plain and faithful dealing towards her Maj. is again for his part suspicious but I wil not swear for his Councel within these three daies there was a Letter of du Crocques to the King sent from the Court hither to Mr. de Montmorency and du Foix who sent to us immediately du Florence complaining very much that du Crocque had written to the King that he was in despair of his going into Scotland he thought verily the Q. would not let him go This thing somewhat amazed us both but so soon as we received your Letters which was yesterday the 8 of May and with them a Letter of Iohn Woods that du Crocque went into Scoland in May we went streight to visit the Marshal and du Foix imparted to them the news we knew and especially that du Crocque was gon we shewed them also the Articles propounded by her Maj. and their answers of the Castle wherein they might understand how sincerely the Q. Maj. meant Before du Crocque came they all liked very well yea and also that de la Mott and du Crocque did accept instead of that 5 Article and they doubted not both the Princes once binding themselves together to set a quiet in that Realm both the parties must needs content themselves to yield to reason And if the young King be established there as I have often written the K. here and the wiser of his Councel do desire no other Marry he must not seem to be the doer of it nor the condemner of her cause As for those Articles neither I nor 〈◊〉 Walsingham as we told plainly and I am sure Mr. du Foix will say as much in England did neither allow nor disallow for we had no Commission as we said and because it was referred to her Maj. we could not but leave them whole and intire for her Highness to judge upon I marvel my L. Admiral is so long before he set forward Marshal Montmorency and du Foix and all that should go with them be ready and attend only to hear when my L. Admiral doth set forward A man would marvel what a number of great persons both of the long and short Robe do desire to go with the Marshal and to see England and what shift he is fain to make to cut off his train and shake them off that desire to go let he should have too many he is surely a great Prince here marvelous wel belov'd and one that loves the Q. Maj. and our Nation as much as any Noble man in France I hope the Q. Maj. will give him the Order at his being there that he may follow his father therein he will esteem it much and I know not how it cometh to pass here is a rumor already spread that he amongst others was elected on S. Georges day and your Lordship also whereof I pray God give unto you long joy and many years to wear that Order I am glad the Treaty is liked Now it cannot be said her Maj. is altogether alone having so good a defence of so noble couragious and so faithfull a Prince of his word and so near a neighbour provided for and bespoken before hand against any need partly that and partly the trouble in Flanders which I trust God hath provided to deliver his poor servants there from the Antichristian Tyranny shall make her Highness enjoy more quietly both England and Ireland and a better neighbor of Scotland Thus I commit your Lordship to Almighty God Paris May 7. 1571. To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the
Q. of treason and yet we fear our Q. will scant agree to it Great suit is made by the nether house to have execution of the Duke but I see no likelihood I have no leisure therefore I commit you to God In haste this 21 of May 1572. Yours assured Ro Leicester To the Right Honourable his very good Lord the Earl of Leicester YOur Lordships of the 21. I have received touching your servant I shall not need say more then was contained in my last Letters Here at this present we are altogether entertained with Flanders matters having received certain news from thence that certain by order from Count Lodovick are seised of Valentiennes and Monts in Henault where it is said the Court remaineth and that from thence he sent Mr. de la Nue in great diligence towards Bruxels with six hundred horses where if he hap to find the Duke de Alva he hopeth to make short Wars the Town of Bruxels being better affected to the Count then to the D. It is said here that Doway and Lisle should also be taken by certain appointed by him for the purpose but that is not certain If the Duke of Alva retire to Antwerp as it is thought he will then those of judgement here are of opinion that the whole Country will revolt The heads of those that he doth imploy of his Country are Ianlis de la Nue Buckanans the number of his horsemen are twelve hundred the most part of them Gentlemen Of footmen he hath only five thousand the most part of them Gascoins It will shortly be seen to what issue this Tragedy will come If occasion so fall out I mean to advertise often thinking it necessary for her Majestie to know how things proceed there and yet when I consider how things of moment tending to safety proceed at home I know not what to judge necessary unless it be for every man particularly to provide for the cross And so leaving further to trouble your Lordshop at this present I most humbly take my leave From Paris the 29 of May 1571. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh AS I wrote unto your Lordship in my last Letters that I thought it necessary for her Majesty to know how things proceeded in Flanders so I thought good to put the same in execution at this present upon certain advertisements lately come from thence A Currier past this way as I am credibly informed the 27 of this month sent by the D. of Longueville to the King with this news that on Saterday last the 24 of the same Valentiennes should be taken and the next day after Monts in Henault and that from thence with great celerity the C. Lodovick should send five hundred horse to Bruxels under the conduct of Mr. de la Nue where if he hap to find the D. of Alva it will grow to short Wars in respect of the intelligence they have with the Town who undertook with the aid of 100 soldiers to take the D. prisoner if he retire to Antwerp as it is thought he wil then is it likely that all the whole Country will revolt I the rather credit this news for that it agreeth with the plot laid by C. Lodovick before his departure from hence who told me that he hoped to give the Duke of Alva an alarm ere 8 daies came to an end in place where he should least look for it There will shortly be great guess given what wil be the event of these matters The Prince of Orange most assuredly is onward on his way with 4000 horse whose enterprise on the other side is like to have the better success upon this good beginning laid by his brother I hope things will be so ordered as others shall not grow over great wherein I have been no evil instrument I send your Lordship by this bearer a note of the names of those of quality which doe accompany the Marshal as also the number which I had sent before with this bearer to deliver a note thereof to such as shall be appointed by her Majestie to receive the Marshal at Dover M. de Battaliâ— who was the third Commissioned is departed this world who before his death did much lament the dissembling of his religion and advised to resort to the reformed Churchs and to bring up his children in the Religion professed in the same I forgat in my last that Mr. Montmorency at the request of certain Italians whom he favoureth moved me to write unto her Majestie that it would please her to write a Letter unto his Master desiring him to write unto his Ambassador at Rome to deal with his friends there to procure the delivery of Guidi Giovetti who is imprisoned there by the Inquisitors a thing that his service done unto the Crown of England did as it were crave at her Majesties hands who he knew being naturally pittifully inclined would do any thing that might seem to tend to his delivery For mine own opinion I think her Majesties Letters unto Queen Mother would do a great deal more good who by the Duke of Florence his means may bring it the more easily to pass especially this Pope being his Creature And so leaving to trouble your Lordship any further I humbly take my leave From Paris May 29. 1571. Yours Honours to command F. Walsingham To our trusty and well-beloved Francis Walsingham Esq our Ambassador Resident with our good brother the French King TRrusty and well-beloved we greet you well Where in the last Treaty concluded at Blois betwixt our trusty and well-beloved Councellor Sir Th. Smith and you as our Ambassador and the Duke of Montmorency and other of the Commissioners and Deputies of the French King our good brother it was amongst other things covenanted That within four months after the date of the said Treaty the same should be by us ratified authorized and confirmed by our Letters Patents signed with our own hand and sealed with our great Seal and delivered to the Ambassador of the French King having authority to require the same For this purpose we would first have you to understand of some of the Kings Councel or of the Queen Mother the Kings pleasure at what time you might attend on him to receive the same ratification For the receiving whereof you shall say you are authorized by our Letters directed to the said King being in your custody which we therefore do now send you and so you shall at time convenient receive it and safely send it to us affirming that we on our part are also ready to deliver the like ratification to his Ambassador whensoever he shall require the same Given under our signet at our Mannor of St. James the 26 of May 1571. ELIZABETH ELizabethae Dei gratia Angliae Franciae Hiberniae Regina fidei Defensor c. Fideli praedilectissimo Consiliario nostro Francisco Walsingham Legato nostro apud serenissimum
perswasions they were induced to accord with her Majestie that a Parliament should be holden with such speed as it might be and there these her Majesties motions were propounded and certain persons should have authority to treat hereof with her Majesties Councellours Whereupon her Majestie did look for some good success and before it could be granted thereunto to proceed her Majestie discovered daily most dangerous attempts of Treason both against her Person and Realm wholly and onely set forth by the said Queen of Scots And her Majestie found these new Treasons intended and almost brought to their mischievous perfection by not onely renewing of the former marriage with the Duke of Norfolk and by giving order for a Rebellion and Invasion of this Realm All which was by her devised set forth and delivered to be executed even in the very same time that her Majestie did deal so earnestly for her with her Subjects and was in hope to have obtained some reasonable end for her So also did she now discover the truth of her former practises in stirring of the first Rebellion onely to have by force obtained the marriage and with the same force sought the Crown All the which attempts the said Lord Admiral and Sir Tho Smith can orderly declare and so they shall do And they may well say That her Majestie cannot think any person to mean well towards her safetie that would after these things thus notified move her Majestie to hold her former course in favour of the said Scotish Queen And this hath been the cause why her Majestie hath not since this last discovery of these dangers in such sort answered both to the King and his Ministers upon their motions made in her favour And the Lord Admiral shall conclude that seeing the case is thus that to shew such favour to the Scotish Queen as is desired is most dangerous to her Majesties Crown and her Majestie cannot like of any motion to hazard her own Estate And besides the things intended by the Scotish Queen against her Majestie it is apparent she doth wholly give her self to the Duke of Alva and to the King of Spain which as it is many waies fully to be proved so may the Lord Admiral say That he can make it manifest by her own hand writing for which end he shall shew to the King a Letter of hers in Cypher to the Duke of Alva All which the Lord Admiral shall shew to the King to this end that both he may see the just causes her Majestie hath to hold the course she doth and that he also wil not molest her Maj. with any motions tending for favour of the Scotish Q. so greatly to her Maj. danger And to the matter of le Crocques stay here for a time before his departure into Scotland if any mention be thereof made by the King the said L. Admiral can tel the occasion thereof to have grown of the letters which le Crocque brought from the King to her Majestie in favour of the Scotish Queen for her liberty and return into France notwithstanding the king had been duly informed by her Majesties Ambassador that her Majestie could not with her surety suffer the same And threfore at that time she could not think that le Crocques negotiation coming with such letters could tend to pacifie the Realm of Scotland for her Majesties surety when before his â—nlay he was found to have charge from the Q. of Scots If any motion be made to the L. Admiral of a matter lately devised to offer to her Maj. Marriage with the Duke of Alanson the L. Admiral may well say that he hath no charge to speak thereof at this time but he may say that he is willed if occasion be so given to him to report what he heard her Majestie say that he was not so well used in the Treaty for the other brother the Duke of Anjou as was meet in the time of motion made for Amity both by that marriage and otherwise for that Monsieur de Foix being in England and dealing therein her Majestie did proceed honourably and plainly with him and with the French Ambassador that she would not assent to marry with him or with any other that would not consent with her in Religion contrary to the order of the Realm or at the least that would use any other Religion in any sort then might stand with the Church of God whereupon her Majestie was by them pressed but to consent to a sufferance of some secret usage of his Religion without offence of the Realm until he might be otherwise induced and perswaded in conscience It may be remembred that when her Majesties Ambassador made a report at de Foix return of her Majesties answer the King seemed not willing to receive that answer but that he desired that some might be sent to commune thereof with him who should find that the matter should be made clearer of these difficulties whereunto when her Majestie did not fully consent it was afterward by the Ambassador Resident oftentimes pressed that her Majestie would send some special person of trust for her self to the French King promising her Majestie that this matter should be facillitated and made easie to her contentation According whereunto her Majestie upon many solicitations specially by the said Ambassador in the King his Masters name did send Sir Tho Smith to understand the Kings meaning herein who can best tell how at the first entry he was answered with a direct contrary course to her Majesties expectation and otherwise then was mentioned by any Ambassador that ever treated therein with her Majestie or that ever Monsieur de Foix did ever speak or require which was that Monsieur de Anjou would in any wise have the exercise of his Religion here in England in like sort as he had in France A matter strange to be heard at that time when her Majestie was provoked to send one with hope that in the case of Religion she should receive such an answer as should content her Majestie Of this matter the L. Admiral shall inform himself more largely of Sir Tho Smith to the end that if the same be communed of he may both with the King and the Queen Mother so deal as it may be seen to them that her Majestie had cause to think very strangely thereof And were it not that she is entred into a streight Amity with the King she might justly challenge lack of friendship herein but so as the King be not ignorant but that her Majestie hath cause to think her self not well dealt withal she is content to pass it over without keeping the same in memory to nourish any unkindness And so the L. Admiral shall use his speech that the King may not think his speech to move any new offence Furthermore the said L. Admiral shall in all his speech with the King and also with the Queen Mother let it appear how much her Majestie esteemeth sundry offers
proves an unreasonable charge to great numbers to the Queens Majestie having her offices of Houshold at Dover and her provisions thereby lost The Earl of Pembroke Lord Windsor and the Lord Buckhurst be at Dover with great and mighty trains Besides hither are come such leavies of Ladies to attend as husbands curse the delay The Queens Majestie is in health The Scotish Queen shall be touched with an Act of Parliament but it will not draw her to any more fear to offend then words will do From S. Iames the sixth of Iune 1572. Your assured loving Friend William Burleigh To my very loving Friend Francis Walsingham Esq her Majestes Ambassador Resident in France MR. Walsingham forasmuch as my Nephew Philip Sidney is licensed to travel and doth presently repair unto those parts with my Lord Admiral I have thought good to commend him by these my Letters friendly unto you as unto one I am well assured will have a special care of him during his abode there He is young and raw and no doubt shall find those Countreys and the demeanors of the people somewhat strange unto him and therefore your good advice and counsel shall greatly behove him for his better direction which I do most heartily pray you to vouchsafe him with any friendly assistance you shall think needful for him His father and I do intend his further travel if the world be quiet and you shall think it convenient for him otherwise we pray you we may be advertised thereof to the end the same his travels may be thereupon directed accordingly As for the boy Clark since I cannot obtain him as I desire I must content me I wish I had one of my Lord Cardinals Monks to see how devoutly he should be kept here But I pray you let it appear that it is great unkindness for one Nobleman to use unto another The boy hath sought sundry ways to return unto me as well by Letters to his Friends as by supplications to my self but I mind not to have him so The cause that I did so earnestly seek him was to punish him in example of others which if it will not be I will leave it for a time and hope to give you knowledge where he is shortly trusting you will give order that he may be suddenly apprehended And thus being forced to trouble you with a triâ—tle amongst so many great causes in these days with my commendations I bid you most heartily farewel From the Court the six and twentieth of May 1572. Your very Friend Ro. Leicester To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT hath pleased my Lord of Lincoln to promise me upon his experience had of the intollerable charges here through the daily increase of death to confer with your Lordship in what sort he may best deal with her Majestie for increase of my diet considering otherwise that I shall not be able to hold out my monethly charges drawing now to two hundred pounds the moneth notwithstanding my diet is thin my family reduced to as small a proportion as may be and my horse being onely twelve These things might seem unto your Lordship altogether incredible were there not so many Noblemen and Gentlemen to witness the same by their experience lately had of the extreme dearth here I have made my Lord acquainted how much I am bound to your Lordship and of the fatherly care it pleaseth you to have of me and that therefore I have besought him in moving or not moving her Majestie to yield to such directions as by conference it shall seem good unto you to give him for that I would be loth to procure any thing to be done that may not fall out to your Lordship contentation And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave From Paris the two and twentieth of Iune 1572. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To my very loving friend Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador for the Queens Majestie in France SIr I cannot let any your servants pass hence without some word I have looked for some knowledge of my L. Admirals arrival at Paris and thereupon stayed to send away this bearer until now that I hear by the French Ambassadors Letters hovv my Lord and you have been feasted and entertained which they here do give out with large speeches but how indeed the same is warranted I know not sure I am that they have been so feasted and entreated as none in my memory hath been greater The Queens Majestie before she gave her oath made a protestation that she was not in mind to break any jot of the Treaty and though the Castle of Hume and Fast Castle were not delivered yet the fault was not in her for she had propounded to the Lord Hume and to the Regent also her disposition to deliver it but the Lord Hume required that her Majestie vvould keep it still rather then deliver it so as it bred not an increase of their hateful dissention And hereupon her Majestie hath propounded to the Regent to be content that the Lord Hume may have it if he will be content to acknovvledge the King vvhich the Lord Hume offereth in vvords but the Regent saith that the Lord Hume hath promised to offer his obedience to the King to recover his houses and then he will ayd them of the Castle and this is indeed discovered to be true Besides this Fast Castle was in my Lord Humes hands but as a Tutor to an infant who is come to full age and followeth the Kings part Truly you may thus report to the King and assure him that her Majestie meaneth not to keep the one or the other although she might pretend matters against the Lord Hume for the damage that he did to England in keeping the Rebels in those Houses and invading the Realm From Westminster in haste the twentieth of Iune 1572. Yours assuredly William Burleigh The form of the Communication with the D. Montmorency de Foix and de la Mot which they had to finish matters expressed in the Treaty Iune 1571. present the Lord Keeper the Earls of Suffex and Leicester the Lord Chamberlain and Burleigh Mr. Comptroler Sir Ralph Sadler and Sir Walter Mildmay THe French by de Foix required That the Scotish Queen might have some favour upon the conclusion of this Treaty betwixt the Queens Majestie and the French King and that such favour might be shewed as might be granted with the surety and honour of the Queens Majestie That a surcease of Arms might be made in Scotland and thereupon a Parliament in Scotland and concord to be made for the State and Realm And if a Parliament could not be conveniently had that then there might be sent hither from both parties some persons to treat here a London with Deputies of the Queens Majesties and the French Kings That some order might be made concerning the establishing of a Traffique for Merchants in France wherein
Alva It is thought for the help of this matter that his Majestie can be content to lend asmuch to the contrary party And so for forreign news referring your Honour to the Italian Occurrents I most humbly take my leave At Paris the eighteenth of Iuly 1572. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may please your Lordship to understand that the King dispatched one Monsieur de la Mole servant to Monsieur le Duc d' Alanson with Letters from their Majesties here unto the Q. Majestie to render unto her thanks for the rare entertainment and great honour done unto the Marshal as also to give her notice of the marriage to be solemnized between the King of Navarre and the Lady Margaret I think also he hath Letters from his Master to her Majestie as also some charge to say somewhat to her on his behalf He gave me but Scarborough warning and therefore your Lordship must bear with these scribled lines The Gentleman is a Provintial and so of a very good House and a very well qualified Courtier as I hear Yesterday I wrote at large unto your Lordship by Hollingshead who is returned by way of Diepe And therefore I defer to trouble you with many lines at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the one and twentieth of Iuly Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leceister BY a Gentleman called Monsieur de la Mole servant unto Monsieur le Duc D' Alanson sent by the King to her Majestie with Letters I had very short warning given me and therefore am driven to afford your Lordship the fewer lines The pretence of his coming is with letters of thanks for the honour done unto the Marshal as also to make her Majestie acquainted with the appointed time for the solemnization of the King of Navarres marriage But I take it the chief end of his coming is to present his Masters letters unto her Majestie as also to say somewhat unto her on his behalf The Gentleman is a Provintial and of a good house and one as I learn very well qualified Touching Flanders matters I wrote unto your Lordship at large by Holling-shead who departed yesterday homewards by way of Diepe And so leaving to impart unto your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the one and twentieth of Iuly Yours Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable and his very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may please your Lordship to understand that a certain Scottishman called George Torris who appertaineth as he saith to the Q. of Scots hath of late robbed here in Paris one Emanuel d' Ambugo a Portugal who heretofore about ten years past hath been imployed in message between the King of Portugal and her Majestie as by his passport may appear Now for that he is given to understand that he is retired into England he hath desired divers Gentlemen of this Court to request me to write unto your Lordship that by your good means such as he shall appoint to pursue the party may have authority so far forth as may stand with the Laws of the Realm to arrest him and such goods and Jewels as shall be found to appertain to the said Portugal To this effect and purpose he hath likewise procured the Kings Letters here And so leaving further to trouble your Honour in this behalf I most humbly take my leave From Paris the 22 of Iuly 1572. Yours Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable his very good Lord the Lord Treasurer TOuching the particulars of Ianlys overthrow I refer your Lordship to such incertainties as I have set down in the inclosed occurents Such of the Religion as before slept in security begin now to awake and to see their danger and do therefore conclude that unless this enterprise in the Low Countries have good success their cause groweth desperate They have therefore of late sent to the King who is absent from home to shew him than if the Prince of Orange quail it shal not lie in him to maintain him in his protection by vertue of his Edict they desire him therefore out of hand to resolve upon something that may be of his assistance offering themselves to imploy therein their lives lands and goods They see by the assistance given on the other side as by the Pope Florence Triers Baviers and Câ—lleyn who are not otherwise interessed in the Low Countrey or in this Cause but in respect of Religion who proceed roundly and resolutely in the matter that unlesse her Majesty and the Princes of Germany in like sort joyn with this Crown there is great doubt what shall be the even of this enterprise They have therefore requested me to desire your Lordship as you tender Gods glory and her Majesties safety to see if you can induce her upon overture first to be made by the King in this behalf to joyn with him in yeilding assistance They think to make the so that they might be in some assurance that her Majesty would give ear thereto They have also dispatched one of late to such Princes of Germany as favour the Cause to provoke them to proceed more resolutely and roundly in this matter laying before them the evident dangers that otherwise will ensue By one lately come from thence they understand that the said Princes begin to see the danger and are well bent to do any thing that may tend to remedy The parties above written desire to know with some speed how her Majesty will incline to the said overture for that thereafter they are to direct their affairs As I was writing I received the copie of a letter sent from Mounts which I send to your Lordship here inclosed by the which you may both perceive the state of the Countrey as also how many are retired thither of Ianlys company And so leaving further to trouble your Honor at this present beseeching God to bless you in your late honorable Calling with as good success as ever any that occupied that place I most humbly take my leave From Paris the 26 of July 1572. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable his very good Lord the Earl of Leicester YOur Lordship by these inclosed occurrents may perceive that Ianlys is overthrown whose it never could but breed danger to the cause so could it never breed more danger then presently upon the presently upon the Prince of Orangâ—s first entry into the Country a mean to discourage him and to encourage the enemy How much his well doing or evill doing importeth us I need not say any thing to your Lordship the thing being so apparant how dangerous it were to suffer him to quail it is no less evident how little hope there is he shall receive relief from us especially from the news of
would not be carried away with reports of some seditious instruments that desired nothing else but to set Princes at discord In the end after long debating to and fro of the matter she desired me to protest unto the Queen my Mistris that she and her son desired nothing more then good amity and because the same might grow to more perfection they desired the finishing of this marriage propounded whereof she hoped there would grow safety and quiet to both Realms I then desired her to satisfie me in two points The one of the difficulty of Religion considering their late severity may be compounded if the enterview should go forward The other in what sort they mean to continue in observation of the said Edict To the first she told me that for the difficulty in Religion if there be no other let saith she I doubt not but it shall be so compounded as that it shall be to the contentment of your Mistris As for the second the Kings meaning is that they shall enjoy the liberty of their conscience What Madam said I and the exercise of their Religion to No said she my son will have exercise but of one Religion in his Realm Then said I how can it agree that the observation of the Edict whereof you willed me to advertise the Queen my Mistris that the same should continue in his former strength To that she said that they had discovered certain matters of late that they saw it necessary to abolish all exercise of the same Why Madam said I will you have them live without exercise of Religion Even saith she as your Mistris suffereth the Catholiques of England My Mistris did never promise them any thing by Edict if she had she would not fail to have performed it To that she said that the Queen my Mistris was to direct the Government of her own Countrey and the King his To that I answered that I did not move those questions of any curiosity but to render account to the Queen my Mistris of the proceedings who I knew desired that all things might pass in such sort as might be to their honour A third doubt I propounded how considering their late severity they could perform their promise with the Queen my Mistris if she should be assailed for the cause of Religion in yielding assistance To this she answered that if any yea saith she if the King of Spain I will not stick to move him shall enterprize any thing against her for the cause of Religion she shall not lack for any assistance that this Crown can give her Our desire is onely to reduce this Crown to a quiet state This speech I thought good to impart unto her Majestie referring unto her the consideration of the same Of late though I received ill usage of the people yet at their Majesties hands I find more favour then accustomed whereof I promised to advertise her Majestie La Roche who two years past was imployed in the enterprize at Ireland was lately here at the Court and from hence dispatched to Rochel which maketh men to suspect some enterprize that way And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the fourteenth of September 1672. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the right Honorable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principal Secretary SIr it may please you to advertise her Majestie that the tenth of this moneth the King and Queen Mother sent for me to the Louvre where first I spake to Queen Mother who shewed me that la Mot hath received such honour and good entertainment at her Majesties hands as that she and her Son the King could do no less then send for me and desire me to render unto her Majestie most hearty thanks for the same and further to shew unto her Majestie that forasmuch as they desire nothing more then some straiter amity with her which they think can by no means come to pass so well as by marriage and therefore the Kings meaning was that she and her son Duke d' Alanson should repair to Bulloin or Callis so that her Majestie will be content to repair to Dover to the end the enterview that hath been propounded might take some effect by some good advice that may be found out for the surety of both their Majesties which thing shall be best considered of how the same may come to pass Further she willed me to tell her Majestie that besides the great hope she had that the same enterview will breed a hope of straiter amity between the two Crowns she desired the same no less for the great good particular affection she had to see her Majestie whereof she would receive as great content as of any one thing that hath hapned unto her in her days To this I answered that I would not fail to advertise her Majestie thereof And thereupon according to the contents of her Majesties Letters of the two and twentieth of August I took occasion to protest unto her in her Majesties behalf that forasmuch as I had before advertised of her and the Kings misliking of an enterview in respect of the inconveniences that hath followed thereof her Majestie could not desire the same but rather refer it to the Kings and her consideration lest if the principal should not take place there might follow that inconvenience that by them was feared To this she answered that she would take the burthen and blame upon her and that whether the matter took effect or not the Kings meaning was to continue good amity with her Majestie I replyed that to see one in marriage is a thing in it self considered honest and allowable and that if the parties desire who sought the same took no place there could grow to him no reproach thereof but in opinion which had no reason of ground for that marriages have their beginning from above Upon that I concluded that for the Duke d' Alanson to see a Princess of her Majesties quality and calling was a thing honourable and that therefore whatsoever success the matter took seeing that marriages came from heaven there could in truth and reason grow to him no dishonour and that therefore unless he could put on that opinion considering the issue to be doubtful it were better not to proceed any further lest it might be an occasion of unkindness which might be unprofitable to both the Crowns To this she answered that she knew it to be ttue and that therefore they would refer the issue to God with intention to continue good friendship whatsoever grew of the matter So having ended with her I repaired to the King who onely willed me to give her Majestie thanks for the good entertainment given to la Motte as also to assure her that his intention and desire was no other but to continue or rather to increase amity with her And further to shew her that he would shortly send the Admirals process unto his Ambassador
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
assuredly in great credit Steward at his return told me that â— meant to send him into England with letters of recommendation unto â— and at that time he also requested me to recommend him by letters which I promised to do he saying that he would send for them Knowing the familiaritie between the said party and the other abovenamed and knowing the trust that â— reposeth in him I thought I could no way be better informed of the truth of the matter then by him for that I know that if any such matters were he was acquainted with all I sent for the said party who secretly repaired to me and upon the first opening of the matter he dealt roundly with me assuring me that both he and the other sent before as men of special trust were imployed by â— but the latter onely with Letters of credit which the principal himself shall avow unto me if it were not for suspicion his doing being very narrowly observed As for the Coyness used by â— proceeded onely of forgetfulness through a dangerous sickness he had not long before I sent unto him He willed me to assure her Majestie that she might as well give credit unto him as to â— himself He told me he could not declare the contents of the parties Commission for that it was upon shutting of the gates but would find a time for that I perceived he was one whom â— trusted He desired that the matter might be communicated by her Majestie unto few for that he did assure me the D. had great intelligence in her Countrey He requested me also that the letters of the party might pass in my pacquet the same being so disguised as they will never be known This is asmuch as pâ—ssed between us And so leaving c. At Paris the twelfth of November 1572. Your Lordships to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principal Secretary SIr it may please you to advertise her Majestie that the eighteenth of this Moneth Monsieur Mannesire repaired unto me sent from the King and Queen Mother to shew me that they have made choice of him to be sent out of hand unto her Maâ—estie to invite her to be Gossip together with the Empress and the Duke of Savoy who as it is thought will be here in person He told me that the King willed him to assure her Majestie that there was no alteration in him of good will towards her Majestie and that in confirmation of the same he could do no less but desire her Majestie to be his Gossip Further I gathered by him he hath some charge to feel her Majesties mind and inclination towards Monsieur Duc d' Alanson from whom he hath a letter unto her Majestie Touching Monsieur Mannesire himself he doth all the good offices he may to continue amity betwixt her Majestie and his Master and is altogether altered from Spain and the house of Guise with vvhom I knovv he is quite out of credit for that he hath not seemed the best to like of the late proceedings Here he is in good opinion both vvith the King and Queen Mother and therefore being in credit and vvell-affected tovvards her Majestie he may by receiving good usage at her hands receive thereby incouragement also to continue his good affection The Legate is looked for here the four and tvventieth of this moneth the end of his coming is to tvvo purposes as it is said the one to procure the King to subscribe to the last Councel at Trent the other to suffer a levy of money to be made vvithin his Dominions termed by the name Crusado for the maintenance of the Turkish Wars They are advertised from the Ambassador at Rome hovv that the Christians Army is retired Don Iohn de Austria being already arrived at Messina and the Venetians being at Corfu And so having nothing else to advertise at this present c. At Paris the tvventieth of November 1572. Your Honours to command F. Walsingham To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador for the Queens Majestie in France MR. Walsingham First touching your revocation her Majestie is fully resolved thereof and that all the expedition that may be devised shall be used therein as you shall further understand from others Your good wife was here yesterday with me who prevented me meaning to have gone my self to her house to have â—een her for that she is so great as was 〈◊〉 meet for her to travel about Such was her earnestness of your coming away as she was come to me before I thought any body had known of my being in London and coming from Windsore my Lord Treasurer and I met with your messenger young Nicasius We find still new tragical parts playing in that Countrey among others none more strange and more unnatural then his last going in person to see one of his Subjects and eldest Souldiers executed an example used by no Christian but the most mighty God will not suffer long such Princes to dwell over his people As for his good intention to our Mistris and this Realm when he sheweth himself friendly to his own then we will hope he may be friendly to his neighbors Since the death of the Regent of Scotland we have not heard any thing what is done there You shall hear assoon as we are advertised of any thing worthy Touching the Rider I wrote of I have referred to this bearer to declare my mind unto you to have a good one I will be content to strain my self far We have no news here onely her Majestie is in good health and though you may hear of brutes of the contrary I assure you it is not as hath been reported Somewhat her Majestie hath been troubled with a spice or shew of the Mother but indeed not so The fits that she hath had hath not been above a quarter of an hour but yet this little in her hath bred strange brutes here at home God send her I beseech him a long life So I bid you heartily farewell the of November 1572. Your assured Friend Ro Leicester To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr your Letters sent by Niâ—asius his son came to my hands yesternight coming from the Court and therewith I also received a small pacquet of some advertisements for the which I thank you and shall to morrow impart it to her Majestie Where of late I wrote unto you of a person come as he saith from Florence but yet I cannot for certain respects but be jealous for such practises and therefore I am willed to require you to use some secret means how to understand the truth and to this end I do send you herewith certain Letters which the party hath written to Rome which you may peruse and use as you see cause The party remaineth here in London as in ape and yet I doubt the P. will smell of him I have commanded these letters for to have
it were better for our â—erchants to lose that they sue for then to continue their suits The Kings Letters Patents sent to Roan to certain Presidents to see such Merchants there restored to their goods as sustained loss at the time of the late troubles are as much regarded as if â— had sent my Letters thither Our Nation is so evil liked here as whatsoever fair speech they use they think it injustice to do them justice Monsieur I a Mot as I learn hath sometimes written most earnestly to them here to cause them to do better justice then they do notwithstanding I see it prevaileth nothing at all And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the eleventh of January 1572. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honoâ—rable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester THis bearer besides the enclosed Occurents hath charge to communicate certain things unto your Lordship by mouth and therefore at this present I leave to troâ—ble your Lordship with many lines saving that I cannot but renew my old suit most humbly beseeehing your Lordship to continue the furtherance of my revocation Touching a Rider Captain Lassetty hath written both to Millan and Florence from the last he hath received answer that one worthy of entertainment will not be hired under 300 â— the year and such other benefit as by our Lordship is offered He looketh shortly to have answer from Millan I fear your Lordship shall hardly be furnished of such a one as you desire of that calling unless it would please God to make one of that profession to be of the Religion who then would be glad to have such an offer and to live in so good a Sanctuary as England is I do imploy divers in this behalf and by some I am put in hope to have your Lordships turn served And so having nothing to impart at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the eleventh of January 1572. Your Honours to command Fra Walsingham To the Right Honourable his very good Lords the Lords of her Majesties most honourable privy Councel ACcording to your Honours order by letters of the six and twentieth of October I recommended unto the King here this bearers brothers cause whereupon he directed his Letters to certain Presidents at Roan appointed by Commission to see such of our Merchants as sustained loss in the last troubles restored to their goods At whose hands neither by virtue of the Commission directed to them nor by the Kings particular recommendation he could receive any other answer then that they had advertised the King touching such information as they had received of the injury he pretended to be done unto his brother wheâ—â—by it may well appear that there is nothing less meant then to make restitution of the spoils as were made in the time of the disorders besides this bearer notwithstanding he had the Kings safe-guard which I procured him was sundry times like to have been assaulted as he informeth me by such as outraged his brother and his host also where he lay was threatned because he received him He making complaint thereof there could have no redress and I making complaint of it here unto the King and his Councel found as little Ere he could receive answer what information was sent hither he was driven to attend a moneth In the end he was answered that one of the Presidents deputed their Commissioner was repaired hither and had informed them how that this bearers brother was a lewd young man and riotously consumed his substance and therefore used this as a mean to defraud his Creditors and that he onely payed twenty Crowns for ransome to such as had imprisoned him and that the cause of imprisonment proceeded upon certain quarrels about a wife he had married at Roan contrary to the will of her friends Whereupon I sent word to Secretary Pynart who gave this answer that he might be well able to discern by this kind of proceeding what will they have to do justice in that the answer was not made at Roaâ— where he might have procured justification of his brothers behaviâ—ur and that therefore in apparence there is no other reason why the party should be driven to attend answer here but that they think onely by such kind of delays to make him weary of prosecuting the matter To this Pynart answered that forasmuch as the President was a publique person and of such integrity and uprightness as he could not be charged with any untruth or wrong done to any person and â—n the other side Stallenge one that was touched in his life and behaviour he could do nothing in his behalf Nevertheless he said that to gratifie me he would write again to the President if I thought his Letter would prevail any thing to the furtherance of the poor mans cause Your Honours may perceive by these answers what good will they bear to do justice considering that they had authority granted unto them to have determined the cause there But this answer they used for a delay to make him weary of prosecuting the matter I find them of late very slow to yield any expidition not onely in this bearers cause but also to such other of our Merchants as lately I have preferred and therefore considering how chargeable it would be for him to continue his suit here any longer and little hope there is of redress in the end I have advised him to repair to Roan to procure a testimonial as wel of his brothers behaviour and conversation as also of the evil usage he received during his abode there to the end that having informed your Honours thereof accordingly Your Honours may take order as to the same shall seem fit And so leaving to trouble your Honors any further at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the thirteenth of Ianuary 1572. Your Honours to command Fra Walsingham To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr I am sorry that I wot not what to write unto you things do fall out so here Dr. Dale was warned to dispatch and your revocation ready When it came to signing no such thing meant Dr. Dale wrote unto me he had provided half a score horse in his stable men to go with them and their own horses their liveries already bought and he altogether ready at my Lord Treasurers warning and mine and now understanding that he should not go the effect of this Letter I shewed this day unto her Majestie She beshrewed them it was long of Dr. Dale could not go before Midlent or Easter there was other matters which she would trust to no new men but to you and to none other Well Madam quoth I the poor man hath been already at these charges and chargeable it will be yet to him to put them away is loss to keep them charge besides my Lord
her understand that Monsieur should give over the enterprise of Flanders for that they saw it was an impediment to the marriage that she should be loth considering how much it would touch him in honour and how dangerous it would be for them of the Low-Countries in case he should give over the same that her marriage should be accompanied with so dolorous effects And as she did then protest upon the overture made to give over the enterprise so we her ministers seeing the danger that might gâ—ow many wayes by the intended Treaty with the Prince of Parma serving better for the suffering of the King of Spain to grow to his greatness then for the relief of the poor afflicted in that Country could not in reason and our particular opinions having no Commission to deale therein see any likelihood that the same might take any good effect And therefore prayed them that unless they saw some other cause that might move them to take that course they would forbeâ—â— so to do This matter did minister unto us argument for the space of two houres at the least which for avoiding tediousness we think meet to omit And iâ— the end grew to this conclusion with them that either it would please them that we might proceed in the said Treaty or else that they would procure us audience that we might understand from the Kings own mouth the revocation of that he had assented unto letting them also understand that we did mean presently to advertise her Majestie of this change to the end that thereupon she might give order for the stay of the Ships prepared for Don Anthonio being well assured that her Majestie upon this alteration would forbear any further proceeding therein which we did the rather to let them understand for that it might provoke them to perswade the King to maintain his former resolution Whereupon they withdrawing themselves apart did afterwards let us understand that they would make report unto the King of that which had passed between us and in the mean time did earnestly pray us that we would forbear to advertise her Majestie as also not to disswade the going forward of the support appointed for Don Anthonio whereunto after most earnest request made by them we did assent with condition That we might receive answer by ten of the clock the next day and therein we did the more willingly yield for that they did put us in hope that we should receive answer from the King to our contentment The next day Monsieur de la Mot Buâ—zar and Pinart came to us and told us that the rest of their Colleagues and they had communicated with the King the Negotiation passed the day before between them and us and that they had remembred to his Majestie his Speech delivered unto us which we conceived to be this That he was pleased to appoint some to Treat with us touching a 〈◊〉 Amity to be had with her Majestie seeing there were such difficulties that did accompany the marriage That his Majestie answered That the alteration grew upon two causes the one of a motion made to him by me the Secretary for a further prolongation of certain daies to conserve the validity of the reservation the last prolongation being to expire within a day or two which motion gave him hope that the marriage might take effect The other upon a request made by Du. Uray in the name of the Duke his brother that the League in no case might be proceeded in without the Marriage which the King seeing the matter touched so greatly his brother in affection and honour could not deny his request And to the end he might understand his further mind therein he thought good to send Pinart unto him out of hand to acquaint him what had passed hitherto in the matter since our last audience upon whose return we should then understand the Kings further pleasure praying us in the mean time to have patience and to interpret the Kings answer touching the alteration in good part assuring us that this delay would rather further then hinder the matter we sought To these two allegations I the Secretary did reply That as for the first concerning my motion for a further prolongation the same grew only upon this that understanding as well by Monsieur as by the King himself and Queen Mother that their meaning was that the pursuit of the Marriage should be pursued still in hope that her Majestie might in time remove by her wisdom those difficulties for the which she could not presently for divers important causes proceed in the same I thought good for the more validity of the reservation to propound a further prolongation thereof considering that the last was to expire within two or three daies and therefore the King could take no just cause upon any motion to revoke his former resolution And as for the second concerning a request of Du Urayes made in the Duke his Masters name for the stay of the said Treaty unless it might be accompanied with marriage I alleadged that it seemed very unlikely that at the Queen mothers being with the Duke which was two daies after Du Uray was sent from the said Duke unto the King he propounded no such request unto her for the stay of the Treaty for if he had it was likely she would have acquainted the King withall and thereupon his Majestie would have framed his answer accordingly Which we finding not to fall out so cannot but greatly marvel at this change whereunto they replyed that though the Queen mother had indeed charged Du. Uray therewith yet he insisted still upon the same as a matter he had received in commandment from the Duke his Master and could not dispence with it without order from him We then finding by them that we could not prevail to induce them to assent to proceed to the Treaty untill they heard from the Duke thought good to forbear any further pressing of the matter and to attend Mr. Pinarts return and to the end we might know Monsieurs intent in that behalf we thought good to send Mr. Sommers forthwith as well to perswade with him to remove his impediments as also to acquaint him with such speeches as are given out here 〈◊〉 an intended marriage with Spain whereby we might as well â—ound him in the one as in the other In this conference we did let them understand of some cause we had to mistrust especially upon this voyage of Bellieure that they were loath to separate themselves from the amity of Spain praying them therefore that if they were so disposed we might know the truth thereof letting them understand â—hat the cause of our coming was not to dissolve any amity they had with 〈◊〉 or any other Prince otherwise then should stand with the Kings honour and his surety Whereupon they made great protestations that the King had great cause for sundry respects to look into the King of Spains greatness and therefore prayed us
sent 2. Whether her Majestie can yield to the support of the 6000 men named in the Treaty defensive for the space of four moneths at her charges and if we be by the Commissioners pressed to assent that her Majestie shall bear the charges any longer time then four months how farr forth she will yield in that case and if they shall require greater numbers then are above specified then to what numbers we shall yield and for how long time to be continued at her Majesties charges 3. If in case the said Commissioners not content with our answer shall insist still upon joynt Forces to be yielded to the Princes Confederates as by them was propounded we desire to know how far forth we shall yield therein and whether her Majestie in that behalf will be content to contribute a third or fourth part either in men or money and whether it shall not be meet to have the said joynt forces to be limitted by a certain number as also to a time in which they shall be imployed A Note of such things as are to be resolved by her Majestie touching the secret League 1. WHat summ of money her Majestie will be content to contribute and in what sort openly or secretly 2. To what summ we shall press the King to yield unto in proportion of that summ which her Majestie shall be pleased to supply whether double or trebble more then her Highness shall be content to contribute 3. How long her Majestie will be pleased to contribute the said summ and upon what considerations whether by way of loan or otherwise and if by way of loan what caution she will require and whether it were not meet to covenant with him to procure the bonds of the States ad majorem cautelam within some convenient time for the repayment of the same 4. Whether her Majestie could not best like that this secret Treaty between the King and her should pass only by mutual promise contained in privat Letters under their own hands To the Lord Treasurer IT may please your Lordship to advertise her Majestie that as by our last Letters to you of the 21 of this present we advertised of the Kings and Monsieurs consents that a League should be treated of without speaking of the marriage So the same day Messieurs Villquier la Mott Bellieur Brisson Pinart and Du. Uray coming to us from the King said that his Majestie desiring much the Queens Majesties amity and to have the same augmented by Treaties by marriage and by all other good means and finding some impediments in the matter of the marriage he had sent them to confer with us about such other means as might best serve to encrease the amity And so after divers speeches used to them again to signifie his H. reciproque inclination in that behalf We entred into talk of League defensive remembring the last made at Bloys in King Charles his time which they said if we found not to be sufficient it should be altered or enlarged And that they thought it good for both the Realms to add an Article to it to meet with dissentions and disorders committed on the Sea whereof they had heard very many Somewhat they also said touching a Staple to be established at Roan as is mentioned in the said Treaty but after they had heard good reasons which moved against the occasion of that Article they said little to it but earnestly desired that other for the maintenance of good intelligence and sure Trade between the Realms and Subjects Then something was also propounded for a League offensive where it was also remembred that there were two kinds of Leagues offensive the one where two Princes or more doe combine themselves against another Prince by name the other in general terms for conservation of Estates And for as much as France and England were at this time in amity with all Princes that League for conservation of Estates was thought but to be Treated of and argued and so no Prince could have just cause to be openly offended therewith And so without further entring into particularities untill our next meeting they departed On Wednesday the twentithird they came again and having shewed their Commission it was propounded That for a League offensive they said it was to be first accorded that either Princes should be friend to friends and enemy to enemies after invasion made upon either of them And for a second it was propounded That if either of the Princes Confederate should be assaâ—led the Prince assailed should be bound thereof to advertise the other Prince his Confederate who should send streight to the Prince that hath assailed to warne him to cease his Invasion and to repaire forthwith the wrongs done or else in case of refusal that the said Prince Confederate will denounce Warre to him that did assaile as he shall doe indeed if the Invader will not retire and repaire the wrongs within seven weeks This motion being found indifferent for both parts I the Secretary delivered to them certain other Notes taken out of other Treaties which they said they would answer at our next meeting Your Lordship doth herewith receive the copy thereof Here it was propounded by them That if either of the Princes Confederate should be invaded by another Prince and that the Prince invaded shall require his Confederate to declare open Warr and to enter into open acts of hostility with him against the Invader as bound by League after due admonition and summons made who shall bear the charge of the Forces of the Prince required whether shall he bear them alone or the Prince requiring to bear a portion thereof according to his quality and greatness These things being very considerable we deferred to answer them untill our next meeting and so did provide to answer as your Lordship shall see by notes sent herewith Beseeching your Lordship to procure her Majesties resolution and answer to us and that by her Highness direction and warrant these and other points that shall be thought meet may be resolved upon to be agreed unto here to come to an end without unnecessary spending of time and charges The next day the 24. whilst we looked for them according to appointment they sent us word that upon occasion of Letters which the King had received that day from his Ambassador in England the King had deferred their coming untill the next day and then they came and said VVe might well remember that from the beginning of this Negotiation and long before the King desired nothing more then the marriage which would bring with it all other good things for Leagues and streight bonds of amity such as her Majestie would desire and that since their being with us his Majestie had received Letters from his Ambassador Mr. Mannisiere on the 24. and another the 25. dated the 22. of this month by the which he gave the King very great hope of the marriage upon speeches proceeding from her Majestie in a long
THE Compleat Ambassador OR TWO TREATIES OF THE INTENDED MARRIAGE OF QU ELIZABETH Of GLORIOUS MEMORY Comprised in LETTERS OF NEGOTIATION OF Sir Francis Walsingham her Resident in France TOGETHER With the Answers of the Lord BVRLEIGH the Earl of LEICESTER Sir THO SMITH and others Wherein as in a clear Mirror may be seen the Faces of the two Courts of England and France as they then stood with many remarkable passages of STATE not at all mentioned in any HISTORY Faithfully Collected by the truly Honourable Sir DVDLY DIGGES Knight late Master of the Rolls LONDON Printed by Tho Newcomb for Gabriel Bedell and Thomas Collins and are to be sold at their Shop at the Middle-Temple Gate in Fleetstreet 1655. To the Reader READER YOu are here presented with a PEICE never intended for the Press which hath slept long amongst the Papers of Sir DUDLEY DIGGES late Master of the Rolls a Personage of known Wisdom and Integrity and who understood well the value of this Manuscript which had nothing forged or supposititious in it There is no kind of Writing that men do generally with more greediness look into then LETTERS especially if they be Letters of State from Great and Wise Persons and in a Wise Time as these are And that appears in the Two Volumes of Letters lately printed under the Titles of CABALA and Secrets of Empire which have been very well resented and though indeed they have no Coherence of Time or Matter but are a Rapsodie of the dispersed thoughts of the Dead upon several occasions yet like a Prospect of Various Objects have delighted the Curious Eye This Collection being a continued Negotiation of Sir FRANCIS WALSINGHAM during his three years Residence as Ambassador in that Mysterious Treaty of Queen ELIZABETHS Marriage successively with the two Great Brothers of VALOIS wil without doubt meet with an equal if not a better reception and not onely please the Judicious sight with its Order and Uniformity like a large Prospect at sea but may be of great use to those Gentlemen that shall be bred up to serve Princes hereafter in this kind of Honorable Imployment And though the English have been hitherto so reserved as not to make publike the Treaties and Negotiations of their Ambassadors abroad so that we have hardly any notion of them hut by their Arms which are hung up in Inns where they passed yet the French and Italians who think themselves as wise and as good Polititians have frequently done it which we see and read with delight as giving a better account of Affairs Times and Persons then any History can do unless men of Action and great Statesmen could find leisure as CAESAR and some others did to set down with integrity the several Passages of their Times The Persons who acted this Scene and who speak by their Letters are the QUEEN her self LEICESTER BURLEIGH WALSINGHAM and Sir THOMAS SMITH such a Iuncto for abilities as were sufficient to govern the whole world but the chief ministerial parts lay upon BURLEIGH and WALSINGHAM two such Ministers of State as no age in this Nation hath produced their Equals Of her Royal-self whom all EUROPE did either honor or fear I shall onely say That as she had the judgement to make good choice of her Servants though she rewarded but sparingly like her Grandfather HENRY the seventh yet she had the Fortune to find them more loyal and secret then those Princes that succeeded her notwithstanding their great gifts and effusion of the Treasure of the Crown which now with their bodies lies buried in the Dust. And if at any time it concerned her to be well served it was in this great Treaty of a League and Marriage with FRANCE where she had to do with as cunning a Lady as her self the Queen Mother and with the King her Son CHARLS the ninth the deepest Dissembler that ever wore Crown For the Match it self whether it were really intended by the FRENCH I make some doubt of the first namely that with the D of ANjou afterwards HENRY the third but do rather think it was set on foot with design to amuse our Queen and the Protestant Princes of FRANCE and to breed a Confidence the better to draw them into the Net at Paris I mean the barbarous and bloody Massacre on St. Bartholomews Eve 1572. being the second year of this Negotiation and by reason of the close carriage thereof could never be discovered by our quick-sighted Ambassador with all his Spyes and Intelligencers till he was almost overwhelmed in it himself For the second Treatie which was set on foot in the year 1581. with Monsieur the Duke of ALANSON I do conceive that it was really intended by the FRENCH and by the chief of the ENGLISH Councel except LEICESTER who had pretensions of his own but for her own Mind what that really was I must leave as a thing doubly inscrutable both as she was a Woman and a Queen Concerning that Immortal hatred that grew between her and the Queen of SCOTS occasioned by difference in Religion contrary State-Interest Neighboring Kingdoms Emulation of Greatness and perhaps of Beauty too and wherein all the Princes of Christendom did interpose some one way and some another as will appear by these Letters I can resemble it to nothing better then the Poets faigned quarrel between JUNO and VENUS which did so often trouble the whole Family of their Gods and the Scots Queens assuming the Arms of ENGLAND in the time of her first Husband though she afterwards excused it as an act of constraint she being under obedience was that Manet alta mente Repostum That injury which could never be forgiven till it was expiated with her blood And though these Things were the main part of the Negotiation yet there falls in other important Matters concerning the Protestants of France and Germany the business of Ireland and the Low-Countreys the English Fugitives controversies about Merchant Affairs c. All so well digested and delivered in so plain and clear a stile without any pomp of Words or ostentation of Wit as renders the PEICE much more valuable to those that know a good Hand when they see it And if a man could be beholding to his Cyphers as Sir ROBERT NAUNTON saith speaking of these very LETTERS in his Fragmenta Regalia they would have told pretty Tales of the Times but I must leave the decyphering part to those that have more leisure and dexterity that way and conclude all with this reflection upon our Ambassador which will fall under the careful observers eye how vigilant he was to gather true Intelligence what Means and Persons be used for it how punctual he was in keeping to his Instructions where he was limitted and how wary and judicious where he was left free still advancing upon alloccasions the Reputation and Interest of his Great Mistris with a most lively and indefatigable Devotion October 16. 1654. A. H. A TABLE Of all the Letters contained
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
as if by access unto her he might have executed the same for that the let and impediment groweth only from God and for confirmation thereof there was lately sent an Ambassador from Luca to execute the like office who by reason of her sickness could have no access and so was driven to deliver over his Message to the King which was accepted at his hands very graciously and so was dismissed as I heard rewarded with a very honourable Present Thus having been over long in this behalf I leave further to trouble your Honour and most humbly take my leave From Paris the first of February 1571. The Copy of Secretary Pynarts Letter MOnsieur je vous a envoye la pasporte que ce porteâ—r m' ay demandé de vostre parte Et j'ay faict entendre a leur Majestes conme vous m' avez mande que le my Lord de Buckhurst devoit arriver au jourdâ—y à Doâ—ure que desia aâ—cuns des gentlehommes de sa troupe estoient passes à Bullougne que vous desires d' entendre si les dictes Majesties auroient agreable que le dit Seigneur my Lord sa troupe se diminâ—ast que ie vous ferois plasir de vous mander quand feroit l' Entrée Surquoy les dictes Majesties m'ont faict dire que iceluy Sr my Lord de Buckhurst sa dicte troupe seront les tresbiens venus fort voluntiers venus receus mais que la maladie de la Royne avoit esté cause que l'on auise que le Roy seulement feroit sans grand ceremonie son entrée le primier dimanche de Quaresme prochaine que le sacre de la dicte Dame Royne son entrée estoient remis à une autre fois a cause de sa dicte maladie dont ie n'ay voulu faillir de vous advertir Et saluer pour la fin de ceste-cy vre bonne grace de mes bien humbles recommendations priant dieu Monsieur vous doner le bon jour An Chasteau Boulloigne le primier de feuriere 1571. Vre bien humble avous faire service Pynart To the Right Honourable Sir Henry Norris and Mr. Francis Walsingham Ambassadors for the Queens Majesties in France or to either of them I Am presently as this bearer can inform you unable to regard any matter and therefore excusable to you both though I write not any longer Letter this that I write is in my bed and therefore unperfect of necessitie Upon a Letter of yours Sir Henry Norris sent to me last by Nanfaâ—t which I shewed to her Majestie touching the advertisement that you had of the French attempts in Ireland Although her Majestie understood the like from Ireland and hopeth when the season of the year shall mend the same shall be remedied yet she complaineth hereof to the French Ambassador requiring to let the King understand that such kind of obliquites do not accord with the offers of the Kings Amitie so often by him the Ambassador remembred And in like manner her Majestie would that the King should be enformed by you both if your commoditie may serve to negotiate joyntly or else by you Mr. Walsingham if you be entred into your charge requiring the King that her Majestie may know his intention herein so as if those attempts be not speedily redressed and stayed by his Authoritie and according to his friendship that then her Majestie may otherwise provide for the remedie whereof cannot but follow such inconveniences as shall not be meet for their Amities You shall not make the matter dangerous of it self but onely the attempts of such as are his ordinary Subjects do shew a contrary effect of that which it hath pleased the King to offer to her Majestie and whereof her Majestie took great comfort I am utterly tired with this writing and am forced to remit the rest to this bearer In my bed at my house of Westminster the 26 of Ianuary 1571. Your assured loving friend at command William Cecil Totle Right Honourable Sir William Cecil her Majesties principall Secretary SIr the third of this moneth I received a Letter of yours directed to Sir Henry Norris and to me and after that I was entred into my charge and Sir Henry Norris had taken his leave of the King I as a thing pertaining to my charge forthwith sent to the Court for Audience which is appointed me the 6 of this present so soon as I shall receive the Kings answer to the message I shall do unto him in her Majesties name I shall not fail with speed to advertise If la Roches attempt be done with his privity as in reason hardly me thinketh otherwise it nothing agreeth to the great profession of good will he maketh here unto us her Majestities ministers Which to the outward shevv is done in that sincerity as he that trusteth least may right easely thereby be deceived And yet vvhen I consider hovv he is not fully restored to the reputation of a King and that daily many disorders of contempts are here committed I see some cause of stay in condemning but hereof by his ansvver or at least by execution of that vvhich he shall promise her Majestie shall vvhether invvard meaning or outvvard profession doe agree I vvas right sorry to understand that the gout hath of late newly assailed you after so small time of respit Surely Sir seeing that both God and Nature doe so require you must with importunacie desire her Majesty so to use your service as you may long serve of whose lack I pray God she may never have tryall And so leaving further to trouble your Honour beseeching him to send you your health and continuance of the same I most humbly take my leave From Paris the third of February 1571. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To my very loving friend Mr. Francis Walsingham Ambassador Resident for the Q. Majesty in France MAster Walsingham I thank you for your Letters vvritten at Bullen I doe make no lesse accompt of your good vvill indeed then you have offered and assure your self to find to my power as much Friendship at my hands as at any mans hands in England We have no cause of new matters to write unto you here hath bin and is much speech of the man and matter I talked with you of in my closet at Hampton Court as yet there is no overture made directly of that side and till then little will be said unto it in the mean I pray you inform your self throughly of them and let me hear some pâ—ecâ— of your opinion of them I confesse our estate requireth a match but God send us a good one and meet for all parties My Lord of Buckhurst will set forward in four or five daies after this date so my good Francis farewell in some hast this 16 of Ianuary 1571. Your assured Friend Robert Leicester To the right Honourable my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester YOur Lordships of the
peny to be so good silver as they think them evill used if it may not passe as current To the end that there may grow lesse harm thereof as some there must needs your Lordship shall do well to hasten it to some 〈◊〉 with what speed you may which I pray God may be as good as ever happened in like case And so leaving further to trouble your Lordship at this present I most humbly take my leave committing you to his protection From Paris 8 February Your Lordships to command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable Sir Walter Mildmay one of her Majesties privy Counsell SIr I understand by my servant Mills who followeth my suite how it hath pleased you of late both to recomend the same unto Mr. Secretarie as also to the B. of London so that the hinderance I was like to receive by Mr. Haddo's death is now Sir by your good means remedied whereby I hope my cause will grow both to a speedy and a good end Sithence I last wrote to you there hath faln out here no alteration saving that the entrie which should have bin performed with preat solemnitie is now like to go forward the 6 of this next moneth being so published with the sound of the Trumpet without any great pompe of Ceremonies by reason of the new Queens sickness who is now in way of recovery Of late by her Majesties commandment I dealt with the King about de la Roches attempt in Ireland who denieth that ever he was acquainted with the matter and therefore promiseth to see him or any other that hath dealt in that behalf punished whensoever I shall enforme him of their names if the redresse hereof fall out to be better then heretofore was wont to be yielded by his predecessors of like promises in like cases it will be but all in words for such is the expedition of this Court in promise speedy in performing slow At this time surely there are great practises in hand for the invasion of Ireland wherein the Pope and Spain joyn And as for the Cardinall de Lorrain as he may may underhand he faileth not to further the same to his uttermost I have herein advertised her Majesty what I can learn in that behalf hoping that there will be good eye had thereto in time least Ireland through too much securetie be neglected as Callis was And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present with my humble commendations to my Lady I commit you to Gods protection From Paris the 8 of Febr. 1571. To the right Honourable Mr. Francis Walsingham Ambassadâ—r Resident for the Q. Majestie of England SIr my Lord of Rutland hath such confidence in your friendship as I think it superfluous otherwise therein then to thank you for the good offers you made him at your departure whereof he hath made to me on your behalf very good report In my opinion you shall do his Lordship a great pleasure to take occasion to present him to the King as soon as you may that he may be known before my Lord of Burkhâ—rst comming In expressing of his linage you may boldly affirme him to be a kin to the Q. Majestie both by King Henry the eight her Father and also by the Q. Mother and he is of the blood Royall in the same degree that my Lord of Huntingdon is the difference being onely that my Lord of Huntingdon is of a Brother of King Edward the 4. and my Lord Rutland of the Sâ—ster of the same King and indeed thereby he is as near in blood though further in danger of fortunes wheel which is busie with carriage of Kings Crowns to and fro I am not able to write any more by weakness of my bodie presently tormented with pain from my house at Westminster the 28 Ianuary 1571. Yours assuredly William Cecil To the right Honourable Sir William Cecil her Majesties principal Secretary SIr any that you shall at any time recommend cannot but receive at my hands any favour or friendship that I can shew them But my Lord of Rutland who besides your commendations and his own calling hath so many good parts in himself that do recommend him as he may well assure himself of any honour or aid that I can procure him Sithence my last which were dated the 8 of this moneth I have learned nothing to any great purpose The complaints of those of the Religion have here but a very deaf eare given unto them The King committeth them over to the Q. his Mother and to Monsieur his Brother being himself altogether given to pleasure To our trusty and welbeloved Francis Walsingham Esq our Ambassador Resident with the French King ELIZABETH R. TRusty and welbeloved we greet you well we have received Letters jointly from Sir Henry Norris our late Ambassador and you dated the 29 of the last moneth by the which we perceive in what sort you were presented to the King there by Sir Henry Norris as to remain our Ambassador And in what sort you did orderly proceed in declaration of our good will to continue the good Amitie with the King and to appoint you as minister for the same wherein we do not mislike of such speech as by our Letter appeared to us you used to the King to comfort him in the maintenance and continuance of the inward peace of his Realm according to the benefit of his Edict lately granted to his Subjects for the matter of Religionâ— We have also seen and considerâ—d another matter of some weight whereof you willed our Secretary by your private Letters to him to advertise us concerning some motion made unto you by le Sieurs de upon certain conferences had by the King with him and therein we find that which you answered to the said Sir J. A. to be discreet and agreable to our mind and and if you shall find any likelihood that such a matter may be further dealt in and that it be meant bona fide to proceed further we would have you not only as of your self but as occasion shall be given to further it in our name for we do hold it so good and beneficiall as we rather doubt that some impediment may grow to hinder the successe thereof then of any speedie furtherance And therefore you shall do well to look well into the matter what likelihood there may be to have it go forward before you discover our intention to the King otherwise then as you find necessary to provoke him thereto By some other your Letters we perceive that the King there is well content that the Lord of Buckhurst shall come forward notwithstanding the sickness of the Q. and so we would have him proceed notwithstanding the same After we had caused thus much to be written hereof we thought good to will you to take some occasion of speech with the King of Spains Ambassador there Resident and first to let him understand that now about the tenth of this moneth we have here
thence a young Boy the son of Iames Fitzmorice a Rebel Given under our Signet at our Pallace of Westminster the 11 of February 1571. in the thirteenth year of our Reign To the Right Honourable Sir William Cecill her Majesties principal Secretary SIr the 14 of this moneth I presented the Earl of Rutland to the King at Madrill taking opportunity thereto by preferring certain Merchants causes The King embraced him and told him that coming from her Majestie with her Letters of Commendations he could not but be very welcome and should receive at his hands from time to time during his abode here any honour or favour he could shew him and as I was departing he called me unto him and asked me what was done touching the Queen of Scots matter I told him That of late I heard nothing saving by certain Letters that there were Commissioners come out of Scotland from both parties so that as I thought the matter was fallen now to some Treaty He willed me to recommend the matter in his name to the Queens Majestie and to tell her that he doubted not but by her good means it should grow to some speedy end as should be to her honour and his contentment and so promising his Majestie not to fail in that behalf I departed for that present I shall therefore desire your Honour to inform her Majestie thereof as also to procure at her hands what answer I shall make in this behalf Touching the state of things here I learn secretly by the F. that the House of Guise seeketh to make a match between the Cardinal of Este and the Kings Sister for that the Duke of Ferrara hath no issue and by common opinion is like to have none which thing they seek the more earnestly to impeach the likelihood of marriage between the Prince of Navarre and the said Kings Sister The 22 of this moneth my Lord of Buckhurst is looked for here his lodging and all other things fit for his entertainment being provided at the Kings charges if promise be kept The new Queen is now well recovered and removeth from Madril to this Town the 20 of this moneth so that I purpose my Lord of Buckhurst shall have access unto her whereof she is over dangerous a thing not very well liked of this Nation Touching la Roches attempt I can learn nothing more then that I have advertised neither can I learn that in Britain there is any preparation of ships but of such as belong unto Merchants And thus leaving to trouble your Honour I most humbly take my leave From Paris the eighteenth of February 1571. To the Right Honorable Sir William Cecil her Majesties principal Secretary SIr I would be loath in any Letter that is to be shewed unto her Majestie to make mention of any thing that may any way concern Monsieur for that her Majestie doth suspect that I am inclined that way in respect of his Religion and therefore Sir I shall desire you to use this Letter as private to your self and as for my inclination to Monsieur for that I hear he may be drawn to be of any religion I see so great necessitie of her marriage as if it may be her Majesties contentment and the benefit of the Realm by judgement of those that are fit to deal and advise in a matter of so great weight I can be content as becometh me to subscribe the same The matters that I thought to make you privie of in this private Letter are these First I understand that Monsieur not long sithence hath given out certain speeches to those that are nearest about him that he maketh no great account to match with the Queens Majestie through the perswasions of the House of Guise and the Spanish Ambassador who do not stick to use many dishonorable arguments to disswade him from the same Besides they use some arguments of danger towards us making the conquest of England a matter of no great consequence in respect of the intelligence they have there no small number of evil affected Subjects and of those some of no mean quality The A. of late had talk with touching the opinion of the enterprise he shewed me that he whosoever he was that should attempt the matter should fail of his reckoning like him that made accompt without his host The A himself seemeth to to have no great liking thereof but seemeth to be very well inclined towards The Spanish A. to divert them from Flanders would be glad to set them in hand in England and yet would he be loath that France should have any further interest in England then it hath And as for the House of Guise unless they mean to make an unnatural match between Monsieur and their Neece they would be loath in respect of her possibilitie that he should have any further foot in England then he hath but they both think it easilier atchieved by Marriage then by Sword aud would be glad to divert him from the way of likelihood and to direct him to that way that carrieth least possibilitie These being the things I thought worthy of advertisement at this present I leave further to trouble your Honour most humbly take my leave From Paris the Eighteenth of Februarie 1571. To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester MY very good Lord as there is nothing more desired of one sort then two marriages the one between the Queen my Mistress and Monsieur the other between the Prince of Navarre and the Kings sister so is there nothing more impugned by the contrary part wherein the Popes Nuncio and the Spanish Ambassador do not fail to do what lieth in them for the impeachment thereof And in this behalf they want not what assistance the House of Guise and their adherents can yield For the let of the first they alledge Heresie For the let of the latter they secretly seek to match between the Cardinal of Este and the Kings said Sister for that the Duke of Ferara his Brother hath neither issue nor by common judgement is like to have any This is rather intended then any just cause of hope conceived that it will come so to pass for that as I hear Queen Mother seemeth not to like thereof Touching my Lord of Rutlands access to the King and his Brethren I leave you to the report of his own Letters My Lord of Buckhurst about the two and twentieth of this moneth is looked for here who as I suppose shall be honourably received and as honourably used during the time of his abode here Thus for the rest referring your Lordship to this inclosed of common Occurrents I most humbly take my leave At Paris the seventeenth of February 1571 Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honorable Sir Francis Walsingham the Queens Majesties Ambassador with the French King SIr if my sickness alone were considered or my irksome business laid thereto perused I cannot think but you would excuse my not writing
and our Country is That if the pretended match between her Majestie and Monsieur should not go forward then nothing can be so dangerous as her delivery for here they stand upon this point that neither the King can be safe nor the Realm â—uiet unlesse Monsieur be provided of some other harborage The places likely to be attained and fit for his calling where they would place him are two England and Scotland if England refuse then is Scotland more ready to receive him This well weighed though your Lorship with the rest of the Comissioners are both wise and of great experience notwithstanding so full of danger is the Cause as no resolution can possibly grow to you that shall be void of perill I pray God therefore in this hard case that that course may be taken wherein is least perill and most safety for her Majesty At this present there is no matter here worthy of your Lordships knowledge only I am to trouble you with mine own particular estate my charges grow here to be so great through the excessive deareness of the place as necessity forceth me at this present to make my moan unto your Lordship and to desire your aid that I may not be as I am overburdened whereby the care how to live may hinder the onely care I ought to have how to serve I have forborn hitherto to expresse my grief to the end that my Lord of Buckhurst's report might add some credit to my complaint And though my service cannot deserve so much as I am allowed yet my place and my estate requireth consideration to be had of the present time for otherwise I shall not be able to do that which shall be for her Majestites Honour and service when men of livelihood were imployed in this calling alwaies change of time bread change and of Allowance If any time therefore required consideration this chiefly for that never was the like dearth here and if any mans estate was to be weighed none more then mine that am far inferior in ability to any other that ever supplied this place I will not longer entertain your Lordship with this private cause but commit it to your good consideration assuring my self of any furtherance that you can give me And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave From Paris the 9 of March. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham To my very loving friend Mr. Francis Walsingham Esq the Q. Majesties Ambassador in France SIr I have received your Letters both by Mr. Wigmore and Beale as by Hâ—rcourt I did late advertise you And having made her Majesty partaker both by hearing them read and by her own reading I am in this sort directed to answer you To the first of the second that is to that of the 13 of Febr. brought by Beale her Majestie maketh good accompt of the person of him â— mean the 36 T s 4 t 10 30-0 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the intelligence which he gave you but it breedeth some doubt in her that the certainty can be no otherwise understood in that it is informed you that the practise continueth by late dispatching of an Englishman of high stature and lean of visage wherein is such incertainty as no man can thereby attain either to discover the practise or withstand it by apprehending the party and surely Sir her Majesty cannot but think but they that can attain to the knowledge of the practise may aswell attain to the knowledge of the parties name for they that are trusted with the matter may be trusted with the persons and so her Majestie wisheth you to endevour your self with such as you shall think good to come to the knowledge of some persons by stay of whom such a matter might be deciphered For mine own part I think it likely that these practises are devised but without more apparence I see no evident reason to move me that in the time when the Queen of Scots her self and her Factors are in hope to be delivered by treatie and with the favour of our Queen there should be any attempt otherwise for her escape wherein how cunning soever men be in device yet the execution standeth upon many adventures and any mischance hapning might breed ruin to the whole enterprise I have been acquainted with many of these like advertisement But surely I never found any substance in them in the event but yet with them and without them I ever find it good to be circumspect I write not to have you forbear from hearing and reporting of any the like but my experience serveth to move you to procure the givers of such things to discover the matters more certainly and so they are of more value The message sent you from Rochel of some dangerous intent upon Ireland from Spain hath more apparence for that we also hear it from Spain confirmed and it is the same that before I advertised you concerning Stukelie I also smell some purpose of the Count Lodowicks coming with his ships toward the Low-Countries to accompanie the designe for his brother the Prince of Orange whereof I would look for some better successe if I had not understanding thereof so many waies for the force of that enterprize should consist in suddenness and secresie which are not like to take place Thus much for your first Letter Now to the second brought by Wigmore the Q. Majestie liketh well of your proceedings with the Spanish Ambassador there and marvelleth that he should be so coy with you considering the reports of his former curtesies but by likelihood some other accident moved it which by you next speech will be better discovered The cause why that Ambassador could not be answered sooner of the matter whereof he advertised her Majestie from the Duke of Alva was for that her Majestie could not sooner hear thereof from the Duke If you shall find it convenient to impart matters to the said Ambassador you may let him know of these things following One Monsieur Senegen a Low-Countrie-man is comming to end the Treaty for restâ—tution on both sides of the Merchants goods There are lately come into the ports of the West certain Hulks laden from Spain and Portugall driven by Tempest And because they should be well used the Ambassador here for the King though in other things he be not used hath been dealt withall to name certain strangers Merchants to resort to the ports and they have speciall Authoritie from us to put the same in all good safety and that no dealing shall be by any to the impairing of the said goods And this speciall favour is shewed because the time of restitution is at hand And therefore we mean not to give any cause of quarreling There were also certain other ships of Warre that came from Spain being of the company which conducted the Queen of Spain into Spain which being furnished with Souldiers were favourably entertained and permitted to depart at their pleasure Of
these things you may give him knowledge to make him have a better taste in his mouth he may perchance contrariwise complain of spoile of his Masters Subjects by Pirats hanting the narrow Seas and specially about the Isle of Weight and I cannot deny the spoiles but surely they are committed by one Lubresst and others belonging to the Prince of Orange which we cannot remedie and yet Mr. Horsey is presently dispatched with Authority to set forth certain ships either to take them or to drive them from our Coast. I confesse to you privately they are too much favoured lucri causa but you may avow truly that the Q. Majestie doth in no wise favour them thus much to your second Letter Now to some credit given by Mr. Beale concerning â— a few words shall suffice if I cannot judge any thing in a â—2 â—3 â—4 â—6 â—8 the matter is much liked and all furtherers thereof allowed and all disswaders not liked I am commanded thus to write that if any mention should be made to you thereof you should shew your self willing to advertise and so you shall doe well The retardation used herein by H. is not liked by A. and the good will of L. in the furtherance is allowed By this you may perceive how to order your self and surely this principle I hold that no on thing shall warrant more suretie and quietness to the Queen Majestie the 3 5 7 in but the manner and circumstance are of the substance of my principall and not accedents Herein I deal boldly with you I find nothing in your writing or doing but allowable if otherwise I did I would advertise you for friendship to your self and for good will to the office you bear Although I cannot advertise you certainly as I would of the grant of your leases yet I am in that forwardness as I trust by next writing to send you knowledge thereof You must hereby be acquainted with the delayes of the Court. From Greenwich the third of March 1570. Sir Thomas Smith I trust shall be admitted to the Councell to morrow and shortly after to be Secretary I pray you Sir commend me to Master Cavalcant Yours assuredly William Burghley Having in this sort ended my Letters her Majestie repeated again unto me what I should write unto you of the great matter which I desired might be in a Letter from her self to you but her Majestie thought it sufficient to be imparted unto you in this sort following If any person of value shall deal with you to understand your mind in the case of her Majesties mariage you may say That at your coming from hence upon some common brute of such a matter concerning her Majestie and Monsieur D. Anjow you sought what to think or report thereof and this you are assured that at your coming out of England her Majestie upon consideration of the benefit of her Realm and to content her subjects resolved to marry if she should find a person in estate and condition fit for her to match withall and that she meant not to marry but with a person of the family of a Prince and you may add that you cannot by any means perceive that her Majestie is altered from that disposition so as you may conclude that if any such matter should be moved to you by any meet person to deal therein you will advertise her Majestie thereof and so would her Majestie you should do If God shall order this mariage or any other to take place you may well judge no time would be wasted otherwise then honour may require I am not able to discern what is best but surely I see no continuance of her quietness without a Marriage And therefore I remit the successe to almighty God This that I write privately to your self â— trust shall remaine to your self for so do I with your private Letters that no person seeth them but my self I am wearied with writing And the rest of things especially our Scotish matters I referre to Master Beales declaration 3. March 1570. Yours assuredly William Burghleigh To 〈◊〉 Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burghleigh YOur Lordship knoweth Necessity hath no Law and therefore I hope that my present request grounded on necessity will be weighed accordingly and surely if necessity forced me not thereto I would forbear to do it for many respects I do not doubt after my Lord of Buckhurstâ—s return you shall understand as vvell by himself as by others of his train the extremity of death that presently raigneth here vvhich is such that her Majesties allovvance doth not by 10 l. in the vveek defray my ordinary charge of houshold And yet neither my diet is like to any of my Predecessors nor yet the number of my horses so many as they heretofore have kept I assure you Sir of 800 l. that I brought in my purse into this Country I have not left in money and provision much above 300 l. farre contrary to that accompt that I made who thought to have hade 500 l. alvvaies aforehand to have made my provisions thinking by good husbandry somevvhat to have relieved my disability othervvise but my accompt vvas vvrong made and therefore my reckoning falleth short and so short that unless there be by your good means some consideration had of me I cannot but sink under the burthen I have written to my Lord of Leicester and unto Sir Walter in this behalf vvho I do assure my â—elf vvill joyn vvith you in this behalf I most humble therefore beseech you so to take care of me as I in caring hovv to serve may no vvay be dravvn from the same by taking care hovv to live and casting my care on you I leave further to trouble your Honour at this present beseeching God to blesse you in all your doings At Paris the 14 of March 157. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham I am sorry to accompany the thanks that I am bound to give your Lordship for obtaining my suite at her Majestie hands with a new request and so hard is my case that even necessity forceth me thereto And therefore the same being grounded on necessity will be weighed by your Lordship I hope accordingly To the Right Honourable my very good Lord the Lord of Buâ—leigh I Thought to send this bearer to attend upon your Lordship for such dispatch as it shall please her Majestie to make hitherward I forgate in my last to advertise you how I had been to visit Olivares whom I found more solemn after the Spanish fashion then wise I dealt with him about Stenklies attempt he protested they were but bruites I shewed him that the Queens Majestie was advertised otherwise and upon such likelihood as she had good cause to believe it For first said I the King giveth him a daily allowance Secondarily he hath advanced him to the Honour of Knight-hood Thirdly that the said Stenklies should entertain about him certain Engineers To the first objection he answered
write the more open I am and yet considering the trust I have in your secresie I trust nothing hereof shall have light to do me any hurt and so it is time to end From Greenwich the 25 of March late in the night 1571. Yours assuredly William Burleigh My stile of my poore degree is Lord of Burleigh To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh THis bearer shall make you Lordship acquainted with the present state of the matter which of credit you committed to his report at his last being with you and as at that time I did most earnestly request your Lordship that if you saw no likelihood of any good issue to grow by the revealing of the same â— So I cannot but renew my said request for surely in this my service nothing would more grieve me then that they of the Religion whom I wish chiefly to further should receive by me any hinderance Therefore I beseech your Lordship most earnestly so to use it as thre may grow to them rather helpe then hurte on at the least if there be no likelihood that that will fall out that were 〈◊〉 be desired which is help yet that the other might be avoided which is hurt And although it be my office to advertise and not to advice yet I shewed your Lordship at my departure that I vvould presume sometime as a private man and not as one that beareth a publique office to write my private opinion touching such accidents as should happen here which I do assure my self that your Lordship will keep privately unto your self whom I am bound to make acquainted vvith my follies in respect of your promise to admonish me of my faults Reasons in pollicy to give aid secretly I see to be these by consideration of the Circumstance of the time First in respect of the Spanish practise against Ireland thereby to divert them from the said enterprize Secondarily in respect of the likelihood that there will grow wars if the practise go forward between France and Spain whereby England shall live the quietlyer Thirdly That if the M. go forward then shall it be annexed unto England for that it is meant that M. shall be the head of the enterprize if the matter in the beginning take good success which in reason cannot do otherwise especially if England win in the same by reason of the Match and surely in my opinion no one thing will sooner draw Monsieur to encline to Religion then the hope of F 6. Lastly that whereas it is thought that amongst other Articles in the Treaty of the Marriage he will request some yearly pension if God should take away her Majestie he having no issue by her he may be perswaded by her Majestie giving assistance in the said enterprize to content himself with such a portion as shall fall unto him by Conquest for that her Majestie assisting full account is made that Spain the Inhabitants of the Low-Countries being quite aliened from him as they are shall not be able to defend the same And so desiring your Lordship to pardon this my swerving from my function which as I said before is onely to advertise I most humbly take my leave at Paris the fifth of April 1571. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh SIthence my last Letters unto your Lordship touching the Archbishop of Cassels I have thus proceeded I procured Captain Thomas the Irish man to repair unto the said Archbishop and to do him any friendship and service he might here shew him in this Court in respect he was a Nobleman and of his Countrey which being at my request he willingly did And the Archbishop seemed to take the same in very good part at his hands whereupon he desired the Captain to procure him access unto the Cardinal of Lorrain And so not long after he accompanied him to the Cardinal of Lorrain who talked with him the space of two hours but what Communication passed between him and the said Cardinal he could not draw from him yet thus much he signified unto him after his departure from him that hereafter there might be some occasion offered to imploy him to some good service and that therefore he should do very well to make such report of him as that he might grow in credit here and further that he should say that the Archbishop was a man of a noble family and of great reputation in his Countrey that Ireland of it self was but weak and easie to be gotten by the Enemy and such like talk to this effect After the Captain had made me privy hereof my counsel was that he should bear the Archbishop in hand to do so nevertheless I advised him that unto the Cardinal he should report namely that true it was that he was of a noble familie and allyed to the best in that Countrey yet of no such credit and reputation whereby he might be able to do much in his Countrey for that the heads of the house of Dâ—smond whereof he was descended were under guard in England And if he should enquire of Ireland that he should say it was â—ot so weak as the Archbishop reported it to be but that whosoever should attempt any thing against it should find it able enough to resist a multitude now that her Majestie had caused Garrisons and appointed certain ships to go on the seas Two days after the Captain was sent for by the Cardinal and being demanded what manner of man the Archbishop was of what estimation in his Countrey in what case Ireland stood in c. answered to every point as I required him Sithence which time I learn that the Cardinal maketh not that account of the Archbishop that he looked for at his hands And therefore considering that the Archbishop cannot take effect here and that he is in some necessity as by Letters he wrote to the Cardinal of late I perceived I think he would easily be gotten to utter such things as he knoweth of this Spanish Enterprize so he might be well assured of the Queens Majesties favour and be restored to his former living I have appointed another Irish Souldier to give attendance on him and to mark diligently whither and to whom he resorteth what company in like sort come unto him and to certifie me thereof Thus much have I learned of his proceedings since his coming to Paris especially through the Irish Captains means who hath dealt very dutifully in this behalf and hath been so ready to do what I willed him as I cannot but recommend him unto your Lordship He is very honest and civil and one that hath taken profit with these Civil Wars here besides of good Parentage breed and born in the English pale Sir Henry Norris hath heretofore had tryal of him we both have promised him in respect of his dutifulness as one worthy the entertaining to be a means unto her Majestie for him
and so of late in respect of this imploying of him have taken upon me to assure him that he shall receive some comfortable words from her Majestie and therefore I am to desire your Lordship to move her Majestie therein The 29 of March the Archbishop sent one of his men to me willing me to send some trustie servant of mine to whom from time to time he might communicate the Spanish Enterprize and so gave me knowledge thereof between whom passed this speech following After ordinary salutations done I shewed him that your Lordship willed me to signifie unto him that you had written to the Queens Majestie in his behalf and that you hoped shortly to receive some answer and that after receipt had thereof you would not fail to advertise him Further that you willed him to deal plainly with you as you for your part minded to deal honourably with him and that if it pleased him to advertise your Lordship of any thing either by word of mouth or by writing that you promised of your honour to to keep the same with all secresie and that you offered your self most ready to pleasure him in any thing that you could do for him I thank my Lord Ambassador quoth he in that it pleaseth his Lordship thus honourably to deal with me and if that by his good means I may be brought into my Princess's favour and enjoy my living I should think my self most bound unto him and besides make him privie of all Stewkleys practises The onely cause of my coming out of Spain was to obtain license to return into my Countrey with my Princess's favour if it might be and to â—schew the name of a Traytor although one Huggins whom for certain unseemly words he used against Mr. the Queens Majesties Ambassador I reprehended hath written divers Letters to Master Secretarie Cecil and the rest of the Councel and so incensed them against me as that they have me in great suspicion After this he asked me whether I knew if any should be sent into Spain about this matter I told him I knew not Yes quoth he your Lordship told him so I answered that it might well be so but that I knew nothing thereof Well saith he it is more then time that she did send both for that the Queens Majestie hath many Traytors in Ireland of the Irish men and English Souldiers there and also because the King of Spain doth what he can to win the French Kings Brother on his side And surely saith he if the match go not forward between her Majestie and Monsieur it is to be feared that he will joyn with the King of Spain in that enterprize I told him that the common report was here that Mounsieur did concur in all things with the King and that the King himself had made such Protestations of Amitie and Friendship towards the Queens Majestie as that he in respect of his honour would not nor any of his Subjects for fear of his displeasure durst not attempt any thing to infringe the same Well saith he I beseech God they may long continue in Amitie In the mean time I will remain here as one not known until I know her Majesties pleasure If I might go into my Countrey with her good leave and license I doubt not but what I could do much good there for that the most part of the Nobility are of some affinity with me and will I am assured be much ruled by my counsel If I cannot obtain this benefit at her Majesties hands after I have dispatched my business here I will return into Spain where I have been most honourably entertained at the Kings hands having had during the time of my abode there besides two two thousand Ducats for my annual pension sometimes one hundred Ducats sometimes two hundred Ducats and sometimes three hundred Ducats when the Court did remove And to this end saith he have I left four of my train at Nantes in Brittain with some part of my goods to the end that if I go into England I might send for them hither if not I might take them with me when I go into Spain He told me further that Fitzmorice ' s son was at Morles in Brittain that Stewkley had sent one out of Spain to learn what he did there and to discredit him if it were possible That the Duke D'alva hath offered thirty thousand Ducats for the Earl of Northumberlands ransome And so fearing that I have over troubled your Honour I most humbly take my leave From Paris the fourth of April 1571. Your Lordships to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester MAdam de Mâ—vie desired me to recommend unto your Lordship the Petition of her Daughter hoping by your good means unto her Majestie there shall be no deliverie made of her without her special consent in respect of the interest she hath in her in right of a Mother the cause of her staying there being such as it is I did assure her that she could not lack any protection that you could give who did honour in her the religious respect that she had in the match of her daughter Touching the provision of Mules your Lordship sent me word of I will not fail to cause some care to be used for the procuring of them I hear the King maketh provision for some to present unto her Majestie notwithstanding because the same is not certain I think it not fit to stay to proceed otherwise And so c. At Paris the fifth of April 1571. Your Lordships to Command Fr. Walsingham To our trusly and well-beloved Sir Francis Walsingham our Ambassador Râ—sident with our good Brother the French King ELIZABETH R. TRustie and well-beloved we greet you well we have perceived by your Letters written to the Lord of Burleigh in what sort you have lately conferred with an Irish man naming himself the Archbishop of Cassels upon occasion sought by him to make his submission and suit to us for his offence in departing out of Ireland And considering the conditions of the party and the profit that might follow by his discovering of the practices wherewith he is so throughly acquainted we can be content that if you shall find it likely that he meaneth dutifully to ask pardon as he pretendeth by his speech that then you shall give him comfort to continue with the same dutifulness and loyal meaning and provoke him to make repair hither into England where you may assure him he shall not find lack of grace if he humblie desire it and by his truth hereafter deserve it And if you find him very difficult to be perswaded with such general speech without further assurance from us you shall say that you have written so effectually unto us with assirmation of your good liking of his dealing with you in so plain terms as he had done as ye have power from us to warrant him to come into this our Realm safely
Thus having some circumstances to give you some light but what you shall find by your light God knoweth I doubt the worst and so I have said but yet the opinion conceived by her Majestie maketh her to believe the contrary It were strange that any one man should give comfort to the Ambassador in the cause and yet the same man to perswade the Queens Majestie that she should persist both these things are done but I dare not affirm by any one and thus I end In Scotland the Q. partie have recovered Edenburgh Town by Granges favour And yet presently he tearmeth himself the Kings subject and so they are like to fray together or else to come to consultation amongst themselves to govern the Realm without deciding the Kings title or the Queens I cannot tell whether the greater part like better a or of none for so their writings and words purport making no mention of King or Queen but of Magistrates to conserve the peace and liberty of their Country And so I am forced to leave of and so I end from Westminster the 11 of May 1571. Your assured loving friend Wil. Burleigh To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may please your Lordship to advertise her Majestie That the 20 of this month I repaired to Galleon where I had Audience at the Queen Mothers hands to whom I declared at large such reasons as moved her Majestie to maintain her first answer touching the Article of Religion the repetition whereof I leave at this present to put down the same containing no other thing then that which was perscribed me by her Majesties last Letters dated the 11 of May. To this the Queen Mother answered That she saw very well that the reasons alleadged by her Majestie were not lightly to be weighed and that therefore she would consult with the King and Monsieur in that behalf and that the next day I should receive answer By certain that wish well to the cause I was advised to deal with Monsieur himself so repairing unto him I shewed him That I was appointed by her Majestie to make him understand the great inconvenience that would follow by such permission as he required touching the exercise of his Religion as also that her Majestie though otherwise she could wish him reduced from error to truth yet did not presse him to any such sodaine change of Religion as might cause him to be reputed for an Atheist onely this she desired that he would forbear the use of his private Masse in respect of the great inconvenience that would follow and that further he would examine whether he might not with good devotion serve God with such form of prayer as publiquely is used in our Realm being in effect nothing else c. To this he answered That he rather desired to be a meane to redresse inconveniencies then to breed any to be a comfort then a discomfort and that he thought it would otherwise fall out After he had thus ended he replyed That though he was of years young yet any time these five years there have been overtures of marriage made unto him and that he found in himself no inclination untill this present to yield to any But saith he I must needs confesse that through the great commendations that is made of the Q. your Mistress for her rare guifts aswell of mind as of body being as even her very enemies say the rarest creature that was in Europe these 500. years my affection grounded upon so good respects hath now made me yield to be wholly hers And that therefore saith he if I thought that there could ensue any inconvenience to her disquiet through me I would rather wish my self never to have been born Touching my request for the exercise of my Religion considering the same toucheth my soul conscience being but private for my self in some private place I suppose there will grow no such offence thereof as will breed any disquiet oâ— alteration of state and therefore I hope she will dispence with me in that behalf I replyed That I hoped that when he had well weighed the inconvenience that would follow that without scruple of conscience he might well with good devotion frequent the exercise of our Church service he would not insist upon any dispensation To that he answered that he knew not how God hereafter would dispose his heart and that therefore for the present he desired her to weigh in her own conscience what it were to do any thing with scruple and remorse of conscience and so desired me to present on his behalf his most affectionate and humble commendation and to assure her That she onely had Authority to command him The next day as I was appointed I repaired to the Court and there having accesse unto the King I shewed that I doubted not but that his Mother had made him acquainted with such reasons as lead the Q. Majesty my Mistris to maintain her former answer in respect of the great inconveniences that would ensue aswell perjudiciall to Monsieur his brother as to her Majestie I shewed him That I was now onely to request him from her Majestie that he would perswade his Brother that in respect of the said inconveniences not to be so resolute in requiring a tolleration that might prove so dangerous as also to advise him to examine whether he might not with good conscience serve God according to such form of prayers as is usually practised throughout her Dominious To this the King answered That the reasons alleadged by her Majestie were of great moment he willed me therefore to desire her Majestie in his name that the Articles by her to be propounded might be sent that the whole matter might be joyntly considered of And to assure her that he doubted not but that his Brother would be ruled by him so farre forth as might stand with honour reason and conscience After I had thus euded with the King I repaired to Q. Mother to whom I made report of such answer as I received from the Kings hands which she said I had well conceived for that it was the self same that they had resolved on between themselves she willed me to desire her Majestie that her demand might be at the first propounded reasonable and well qualified to the end this matter might come the sooner to conclusion and therefore she wished that if it might so lie in her that the Ambassador might be made acquainted with them before the sending of them over who can give before hand some light what the King in reason will consent unto whereby to breed the more expedition she concluded with me that I should assure her Majestie that aswell touching Religion as other points reason should decide on their parts all such difficulties as should rise It is thought that Monsieur de Foix shall be sent over with the Kings answers unto her Majesties demands he sheweth himself not unthankfull for such honour
as he hath received at her Majesties hands who earnestly travelleth to remove such difficulties as do rise in this matter and to stand in her Majesties defence against those that seek any way to touch her in honour your Lordship shall therefore do well to move her Majestie that you by your private Letters may signifie unto him that her Majestie doth accept those good offices done by him in very good part It is further thought that Monsieur Montmorency shall be the Nobleman that shall be sent to ratifie such Articles as shall be accorded unto by the King he hath since his repaire unto the Court marvelously furthered this matter and hath caused them to grow so reasonable Monsieur de la Mot doth continually by his Letters make very honourable report of her Majestie touching her proceedings in this cause Monsieur de Foix hath willed me to advertise your Lordship that her Majesties direction to me and her speech delivered to their Ambassador did not agree for he writeth That her Majestie promiseth some qualification of her answer unto the second Article and I deny the receipt of any such thing he writeth that I should deliver unto the King her Majesties demand and I deny to have received any he therefore wisheth for the advoiding of jealousie that the same were reformed that the Articles be sent before the return of this bearer I do not mean to be known of the receipt of them untill I hear further of her Majesties pleasure Your Lordship shall do well by the next to send a Book of Common praiers translated in the French that I may present it unto Monsieur I have seen of them printed at Garnesey C. Lodowick desired me most earnestly to move her Majestie that it would please her to licence Hawkins underhand to serve him with certain ships which favour if it please her Majestie to shew him he hopeth she shall not have cause to forethink the same which Letter shall well appeare whensoever occasion shall be offered wherein he may do her service Mr. Cavalcant is here a very good instrument in this cause in hand and doth deal therein both sinceerly and discreetly and worthy of the trust that her Majestie doth put in him whose assistance by no means I could have lacked Thus leaving further to trouble your honour c. At Vernon the 25 of May 1571. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may please your Lordship to advertise her Majestie That Q. Mother sent lately unto me this Memoriall which I send your Lordship here inclosed requesting me that some good justice might be done therein The Memoriall is unperfect making no mention at all either of personship or place but he saith that Monsieur de la Mot can declare unto you at large the whole circumstance of the matter of late I find here in like causes reasonable expedition of Justice and therefore it may please your Lordship to take order that they may receive like measure Further she willed me to signifie unto her Majestie that touching the information given unto her how that the Scotish Ambassador here had dealt with her and Monsieur about some attempt against Ireland that she and Monsieur for his justification do avow that he never moved any such thing unto them And for that she understood that this report should be some let why the Scotish Ambassador obtained not a Pasporâ— lately demanded at her Majesties hand she desireth her for that she avoweth the report to be untrue to grant him the said Pasport with free egresse and regresse for her sake she willed me further to advertise her Majestie that he assureth her that his repaire thither to the Q. his Mistress is for no evill intent but chiefly to deal with her in some particular causes touching himself wherein if he should falsify his faith his comodity would be but small in respect of the living he presently enjoyeth in France I have of late granted Pasport alleadging that I am now so warned from home to certain Scotish men for that I see there is no cause of feare France being so well enclined toward us as they are And as for Flanders they begin now to stand upon their guard c. At Nantes the 26 of May 1571. Your Honours to command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable Fr. Walsingham Esq the Queen Majesties Ambassador in France SIr you must beare with my slow dispatches in returning your servants for that I cannot obtain such resolutions as may give cause to write whereupon I am forced to beare here patiently the lack I find and you must do the like on your part hoping that Deus dabit meliora Now I send away this bearer meaning and hoping to send herewith the great answer and to give you some light hereof Thus it is the French Ambassador upon the receipt of his last answers agreeable with your Letters pressed the Queens Majestie to have the rest of the Articles on her part which in no wise she would agree unto pretending that without a resolute answer to the Article of Religion this could not be wherewith the Ambassador was so wounded as indeed in conference with him I found him desperate of the matter and entred into passions But after some speechs used with him I pacified him with hope that the Q. Majestie might be by further perswasions induced to shew the rest of the Articles and so with some long labourious perswasions her Majestie was induced to agree that the Articles should be made ready and shewed as things earnestly pressed by that King and his Ambassador here with which pretence her Majestie thought her honour saved well hereof I was appointed to inform the Ambassador and then was I also commanded to put the Articles in readiness which were not unready as I conceived but ere I could finish them I was commanded to conclude them with a request to have Calais restored a matter so inconvenient to bring forth a marriage as indeed I thought it meant to procure a breach and so the matter continued in my opinion desperate but with good help it was remedied I desired that the Queens Majestie would let my Lord Marques the Earles of suffex and Leicester to see the Articles and so they did and very honorably and wisely gave counsell to forbeare that Toy of Calais and generally did further the prosecution of the marriage as a matter of all other most necessary at this time And now we take it that her Majestie intendeth it earnestly whereupon yesterday in the afternoone my Lord of Leicester and I have delivered unto the Ambassador a Copy of the Articles which at the first hearing he did not mislike what he will do this day I know not but certainly they are very reasonable Thus farre are we passed so I trust on Wednesday to dispatch Harcourt Yesterday came de Pine with Letters to my Lord of Leicester from the King the Q.
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
tell but percase you shall hear somewhat thereof Indeed we were informed that her Majesties answer did not content them whereupon we being desirous that they should not conceive thereof worse then was meant did confer with them on Saturday last as is mentioned in the Q. Majesties Letter and after long maintenance of her Majesties reasons and therewith giving them sufficient hope so as the matter of Religion might be concluded they descended to the devise of forbearing that article whereunto her Majestie hath directed you what to say if it be treated upon and thereto we refer you As for the inward intention of her Majestie in this case we cannot certainly give you to understand more then it pleaseth her to utter To the matter it self she yieldeth as to a matter necessary for her Estate and Realm otherwise we see no particular forwardness such as is commonly between persons that are to â—e married And now her Majestie sheweth no let but this matter of Religion as if either that may be well accorded or well buried we see no impediment of any moment we can but counsel you as we use do our selves that is to do and serve as she directeth us and for the rest to commit the success to Almighty God who direct you in this service to her Majesties contentation with regard of Gods honour and the weal of our Countrey From Hampton Court the eighth of July 1571. Your very loving Friends Ro Leicester Will Burleigh To the Right Honourable and my very loving Friend Francis Walsingham Es abque her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr I am in doubt whether to write or no for to write nothing were to discomfort you and to write something with uncertainty cannot comfort and yet in extremities the lesser is to be admitted I assure you that I cannot assure you from hence what is to be looked for by the Q. Majesties manner of answers as this time she is not unwarned how dangerous it were if in her default the matter taketh not success and she seemeth to conceive thereof and pretendeth that she seemeth that if the matter of Religion may be granted there will be no other difficulty but whether she is perswaded that therein the breach will be on that side and so she to escape the reproof I cannot tell God direct the matter for I have done my uttermost and so hath other Councellours here My Lord Keeper hath earnestly dealt in it and so hath my Lord of Sussex my Lord of Leicester hath in my dealings also joyned earnestly with me and among the rest of the Councellours I know none directly against it From Spain we have no good answer and therefore this amity were needful to us but God hath determined to plague us the hour is at hand his will be done with mercy The Gentleman hath a Chain of one hundred and sixty pound which was not easily had The Queens Majestie hath sent her Letters to the King Queen Mother and Monsieur l' Archant From Hampton Court the ninth of Iuly 1571. Yours assuredly William Burlâ—igh Chesholâ— the Queen of Scots servant that passed lately from Diepe with money and munition is taken by the Regent at Lethe To my very Friend Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador for the Queens Majestie in France MR. Walsingham you shall at length understand her Majesties resolution touching her answer to the Gentleman Monsieur l' Archant for mine own part what opinion I have of this great matter I will deal plainly with you even as I find her Majesties disposition For her desire to marriage I perceive it continueth still as it was which is very cold nevertheless she seeth it is so necessary as I believe she yieldeth rather to think it fit to have a husband then willing to have any found indeed for her And I fear so it will appear in this matter with Monsieur For as you shall perceive by the Articles passed already there is among them all but one that maketh the difficulty which is his demand to have his private exercise of his Religion so it doth appear if he would omit that demand and put it in silence yet will her Majestie straitly capitulate with him that he shall in no way demand it hereafter at her hands Which scruple I believe will utterly break off the matter wherefore I am in small hope that any marriage will grow this way I pray God that some other amity may be accepted and yet I was at the first in full conceit that her Majesty meant earnestly to proceed therein and that she had so advisedly thought of the matter as any reason being offered it should not be refused whereupon as my part was I did deal to the furtherance thereof by all the good means I could which not taking effect accordingly I shall be most sorry albeit I do not mistrust the goodness of God but whatsoever shall fall out it is his providence for the best or at the least for our just scourge for our deserts towards him I can say no more but Almighty God strengthen her Majesties true zeal to Religion and failing of this match that she will allie her self with such other Princes abroad as will earnestly joyn with her therein And for this matter of her Majesties marriage you shall do well to observe all their doings upon this answer and gather the certainty as you may what they intend whether to yield to her Majestie absolutely or no if they will yield then it must needs proceed if not then must we provide in other sort and the sooner the better and if they do accord to her Majesties request touching the cause of Religion certainly she saith there shall be no other difficulty God direct us to his glory and so I make an end of it Mr. Cobham is returned out of Spain where we have no cause to look for any friendship The King used him gently but those of Authority and Credit about him most proudly and arrogantly What terms we stand in in other places is easily known Thus are we with our neighbor in all places without friendship God protect and defend us who is onely able and must do it for any policy is used Thus with my most hearty commendations I bid you heartily farewel In haste this seventh of Iuly 1571. Your assured Friend Râ— Leicester To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may please your Lordship to advertise her Majestie that within two or three days after l' Archantâ— departure from hence there came Letters hither out of England sent as I am informed from the Ambassador there by the which he did assure those that are enemies to the match that her Majestie had nothing less then intention to marry whereof he was well assured by those about her and therefore willed them to be of good comfort and never to doubt of the matter After l' Archants leave taking and departing out of England the said Ambassador dispatched a
him into the fire that he may know what it is to serve against God I would your Lordship knew the Gentleman for courage abroad and counsell at home they give him here the reputation to be another Ol he is in speech eloquent pithy but which is chiefest he is in Religion as Religious in life as he is sincere in profession I hope God hath raised him up in these days to serve for an instrument for the advancement of his glory I beseech your Lordship to credit this bearer touching my particular state To whom leaving to trouble your Honour at this present I refer you I beseech your Lordship to procure out of hand that I may know what her Majestie meaneth to do in this matter At Paris the twelfth of August 1571. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham To the Right honourable and my very loving Friend Francis Walsingham Esq her Majestes Ambassador Resident in France SIr this bearer my Lord of Rutlands servant can more commodiously report unto you the arrival of Monsieur de Foix then I can now write and so I refer the report thereof to him Yesterday your long Letters sent by my Cousin Dannet came to my hand even within a quarter of an hour before de Foix came to her Majesties presence I fear the offers of so great Amitie will diminish or divert the former intention of the marriage without which the French Amity shall serve to small purpose but to make us ministers of their appetites and those fulfilled to cast us off Surely I could have wished that the extremity of the marriage had been seen before these baits of Amity had been thrown before us I see those most liked by such as I could not find to like of the marriage But all this is contrary to your self At Hatfield the sixteenth of August 1571. Your assured Friend William Burleigh To my very Friend Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador for the Queen Majestie in France I Have received your Letters written with Cypher by Dannet The matter is of great importance I am most glad to see them at this point I think her Majestie shall be advised not to lose all these good advantages offered her specially when they tend both to the setting up of Gods true Religion and establishing of her own surety with augmentation of her Crown For my part I never found cause since her Reign that moveth me more to further it and be you assured I will do all that is possible that somewhat may come thereof You shall understand as soon as is possible her resolution but I think it will be five or six days near hand first by reason of the other matters which de Foix who had his access yesterday the fifteenth of this moneth and was as graciously used at her Majesties hands as ever I saw any Ambassador he had loving talk and hath already entred into this matter and this day my Lord Keeper my Lord Chamberlain my Lord of Burleigh and my self are appointed to confer with him He standeth stiff to have Religion for Monsieur her Majestie standeth as stiff in denial and so I think meaneth to do For this time I can say no more Your assured Friend Ro Leicester To our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Francis Walsingham Esq our Ambassador Resident in France ELIZABETH R. TRusty and Well-beloved we greet you well and though we think you had some great desire to hear how Monsieur de Foix hath here proceeded with us in his charge and the rather because we understand that within a few days after the first Speech with us and Conference with our Councel he dispatched Letters or Message thither yet surely until this present we could not ascertain you of any thing certainly concluded with him by reason that he being not satisfied with our answers doth still persist in seeking to induce us to reform our answer more towards his satisfaction But now you shall understand that he and the Ambassador Resident having had sundry Conferences with us and apart with our Councel at all times the weight of the matter hath chiefly depended upon the cause of Religion For they requiring a toleration and we denying they offering to have it tempered and moderated as our Councel shall devise to avoid offence of our Conscience and of the Dukes the same was found always either impossible or so hard as by no device such a mean in plain terms by words or writing could be found to satisfie them or our selves So as in the end they desired as we would be content to agree secretly that he should not be impeached in the secret use of his Religion if we would not consent to a toleration and so you shal see by writing which you shal receive herewith what hath been said by our Councel thereto and with the same writing also two answers to two other matters by them onely propounded because to the same there was no answer satisfactory given in our former writings to their first demands In this writing now delivered to them we perceived them most troubled with a phrase added of great necessity for our purpose and specially for satisfying of our conscience that the Duke shall not be molested for using of any Rites not repugnant unto the word of God which words being in a writing delivered unto them first the one and twentieth of this moneth was afterwards now in the last of August by their importunity as now you see altered from the words Verbo Dei to Ecclesiae Dei which in our judgment is all one and yet finding themselves therewith better content then with the other we yielded to have it so altered Besides this writing because we know not how our answer in the Article of Religion shall be there imparted we have also by express speech declared to Monsieur de Foix that as we shall be well content that our answer may satisfie Monsieur de Anjou for his honour for that we have in some sort yielded to him to use other Ceremonies then ours so that as they be not repugnant to the Church of God and with such other cautions as in our writing are further contained so our meaning is to be declared plainly to Monsieur de Anjou that we cannot permit him at his coming to have the use of any private Mass which speech we have plainly uttered unto him because there should no misconceiving be gathered of our answer whereby the Duke might hope of a sufferance for that we cannot find it without peril of our Estate and quietness to yield thereunto And thus having imparted unto you how we have answered him we will that you also after the consideration of the same and of the answer given unto him in writing which we herewith send shall resort to the King and affirm the same to be our mind And if you shall find them doubtful how to interpret our answer that is whether we having our mind satisfied in the cause of Religion can be content to proceed in
of Marre is by Parliament chosen Regent The Earles of Argile Cassills Egliton and Crawford the Lord Bloy and Sr. Iames Finch are sworn to the Regent There are Letters on the way to the Queens Majestie from the now Regent by Cockburn who is also come into France A. seemeth very sorry that the matter of Deep in which D. at this time is so backward and still she hopeth that you will set Deep 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 again and so she bad me now write to you The Q. Majestie saith untill she heare from you she cannot tell whom to send thither The French Ambassador is earnest to have his money again and I answer his Secretary that it must be demanded of them to whom he delivered it wherewith he is much offended with me At Markhall the 14. and 17. of September 1571. Your assured friend Wil. Burleigh To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr after the writing of my other Letters we understand that the murther of the late Regent by Huntley and Hamilton hath irritated the Nation of Scotland that the party of the King is thereby greatly increased and the Nobility of that side have made solemne oath and band to be speedily avenged thereof The French Ambassador sent yesterday his Secretary to me to let the Queens Majestie understand that his Mr. had received Letters from the French King directed joyntly to him and to dé Foix as answering them two for their Letters which they sent immediately after their first Audience noting thereby that at the writing of those Letters de Foix was not at the Court noâ— looked for and therewith he motioned that he might speak with her Majestie for the relief of the Queen of Scots considering that she had her number lessened and that also he might have his Majesties money lately intercepted being sent towards Viracque herewith her Majestie was so offended that he should meddle with the Queen of Scots matters as she commanded me to say to his Secretary that she could not like his manner of entermedling at this time with the Queen of Scots causes considering her Majestie findeth her doings not only dangerous to her quietness but bent also to depend upon others then the Fr. King and therefore she required him to forbeare and give her leave to consider in her own Realm what is meet for her surety and when time shall seem meet it shall well appeare that she hath done nothing toward the Q. of Scots but in reason and honour she might have done much more and she hath deferred the Ambassadors comming to her Majestie untill she shall be at Pichmond which shall be about the 27 of this moneth you may boldly affirm that her Majestie is well able to prove that the Q. of Scots hath by the advice of the Duke of Alva fully resolved to depend upon the King of Spain and to match her self with Don Iohn of Austria and her Son with the King of Spains daughter All these things her Majestie willed me also to signifie unto you at this time and that as you had occasion you should generally signifie there that her Majestie hath just cause to proceed otherwise then hitherto she doth to restrain the practise intended to her estate by the Queen of Scots and so she trusteth that the Fr. King will Honourably think of her actions both with her own subjects and with the Queen of Scots as shall be necessary for her own surety and yet you may assure them there that there is nothing done toward the Queen but she is restrained to have such free conference and intelligence as of late time she hath had with her Majesties subjects for otherwise she is right honourably entetained and well used Now must I end for I am fully occupied in making my imperfect house ready for the Queens Majestie against Saturday At Theobalds my house in Chesthunt the 20 of September 1571. Your assured loving friend Will. Burleigh To my very loving Friend Francis Walsingham Esq the Queens Majesties Ambassador with the French King IT is long now since you had any Letter of mine but so it happened indeed that the messengers were dispatched as I could not have time but because I know you were fully advertised of all things I made the lesse matter now have I thought meet to advertise you again though there is no new accident of the marriage matter to write of and I suppose my Lord of Burleigh hath written plainly to you his opinion how little hope there is that ever it will take place for surely I am now perswâ—ded that her Majesties heart is nothing inclined to marry at all for the 〈◊〉 â—as ever brought to as many points as we could devise and alwayes she was bent to hold with the difficultest For my part iâ— grieveth my heart to think of it seeing no way so farre as I can think serveth how she can remain long quiet and safe without such a strong alliance as marriage must bring for other Amities may serve for a time but there is no account to be made of them longer then to serve the turn of each party and her Majesties yeares running away so fast causeth me almost to dispaire of long quietness We long heâ—e to heare how matters stand upon de Foix return her Majestie is till perswaded that they will yield in the matter of Religion for Monsieur and so doing she seemeâ—â— that she will according to her word proceed but to say my conscience I think she had rather he stood fast to it and rather increased some hard point then yielded in it well I commit the to almighty God with my continuall prayer for her long preservation Of the committing of the Duke of Norfolk to the Tower I doubt not but you have heard ere now his cause goeth hard even to his own confession because such causes be doubtfull till they be brought to some certainty I will forbeare till my next but thus much appeareth vehement suspicion of more ill then I ever thought could fall out in him but his deserts crave as they deserve and I believe her Majestie will proceed according to equity and justice what cause soever she hath to use little mercy I have spoke very earnestly to her Majestie touching the relief of your estate she hath promised earnestly forthwith to help you Monsieur de Foix therein played the part of a right honest Gentlemen and a very friend he hath declared to my Lord of Burleigh and me and also to her Majestie her self so much of your extream chargeable living there as surely besides that it did much further the matter he deserved thanks for such an unlooked for office at his hands truely he did it wisely and honestly for you The Regent Lennox is slain of late Marre is chosen in his place God defend all my friends from that soile The money that you heard my Lord of Norfolk did send toward Scotland was the French Ambassadors indeed
liberty leaving him the use of all his Lands and Goods and meaning by degrees to receive him to our grace as we did in some part diminish the demonstration of our offence upon signification of his repentance and protestation never to deal in that matter or any such like and the like declaration did the Queen of Scots make to us from the beginning both by her sundry messages and specially by multitude of her Letters to us which do remain with us written of her own hand And though we had many sparks of suspetion that their meaning was not fully agreeable to their Words Letters Promises and Oathes which made us not hastie in the full deliverie of the Duke yet now we have manifestly found by their practises with sundrie others and by their own Letters which we have in great number that even from the beginning that we did find fault with the said practises for marriage and that they did solemnly revoke their intentions with firm promises in writing never to deal therein any further They did not onely secretlie continue their first intents of marriage against our will but the rest also of our dangers that properlie we did at the begining conjecture to have been joyned to that marriage which now are so manifestlie discovered as no answer can excuse the same and that is in one word to express the whole under colour of restoring her to libertie to deprive us of our Crown and erect her up in our place and that by force not onely by Rebellion to be stirred up in our Realm but by bringing in of Forreign Forces to assist that enterprize against such power as we should have had of faithful natural Subjects in our defence This intention of the Queen of Scots you shall assure our good brother is not to us by conjectures as for the most part the greatest Treasons are that they be not executed but by manifest writing of the Queen of Scots own hand by confession of such as be apprehended and are guiltie thereof themselves and have confessed it voluntarilie with tokens of great repentance And in all these their practises we are much comforted to find it declared yea by the Queen of Scots own writings that she and her partie much misliked the Friendship between our good brother the French King and us and specially gave charge that in seeking of Forreign Forces to invade our Realm none of the French Kings Ministers should be made participant judging by plain speeches and words in writing that she the Scotish Queen would wholly follow the directions of the King of Spain and would procure her son to be transported thither and to entice their friendship she would shew her self willing to marrie Don Iohn of Austria This in sum you may assure the French King we can in substance manifest even by the Scotish Queens writings to the Duke of Norfolk which we have divers ways confirmed by writings and Confessions of others And until this whole Tree shall be fully discovered as well in the branches as in the roots which we trust God will display afore our eyes we have thought meet to impart in this manner so much thereof praying our good brother to shew herein the office of a good perfect friend that is in case of all such danger as this is touching our life our State and the ruine of our Realm and faithful Subjects not to credit the false report of any that to our prejudice shall labour to deprave our doings in the procuring of our own safety and quietness of our State and the continuance of Peace in our Realms and Dominions For surely we do not herein any thing but in the sight of God we are bound in nature to do for our selves and in dutie for our Realm At Richmond the nineteenth of October 1571. Burleigh To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may please your Lordship to understand that finding the King absent from Bloys as also all those from whom I was wont to receive any light of their proceeding here whereby my abode there was to no great purpose finding also my disease to increase upon me and the time fit for the cure to slip away I thought it good to repair to Pariâ— having taken order before my departure for the excuse of my going away without taking leave of the King he being then well near thirtie Leagues from Bloys at a house of Marshal Villeâ—ile not far from Aâ—giers At my access hither I found Master Killegrew who delivered me her Majesties Letters by the which I have just cause to think my self most bound to her Majestie for accepting my simple service as also for the care she hath of my health by sending this Gentleman to relieve me I have conferred with him and made him acquainted with my proceeding in this charge as also with the present state of this Countrey The chief cause of my sending at this present is to advertise her Majestie of the late victorie had by the Princes Confederates against the Turk The particularities whereof as I received them from the Venetian Ambassador were these That the seventh of c. It is much feared by those of judgement here that this Victory though generallie it may grow to Christendom profitable yet particularlie it may prove dangerous to some in that it is likely to increase the reputation and greatness of Spain which may breed some change here and may cause the King to relent over much to Spain the reason of the fear is that Queen Mother who directeth all things here is of nature fearful and therefore they doubt that those that incline to Spain who are in best credit with her will take profit of the Victorie and make her an instrument to perswade the King to dissemble the Injuries received at Spains hands and to encline him to run one course with him for a time Of these fears I thought good to advertise refâ—â—ring the consideration thereof unto her Majestie One Waldie servant unto the Countess of Emden being sent from her unto her Majestie with certain Letters is stayed in the Town through sickness whereby he cannot perform his voyage He desired me to convey over these Letters he hath unto her unto a servant of his Mistris's resident in London whom he meaneth to make his substitute for the delivery of the said Letters as also to make your Lordship acquainted with the causes of his stay His Commission as I gather by him is two ends the one to desire her Majestie that by her aid there may be some order taken for the clearing of the narrow seas of Pyrats the other to move her Majestie to grant to the Subjects of the said Commonwealth an exemption of a certain custom in respect of the favour shewed her Majesties Subjects Thus leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humblie take my leave At Paris the eighth of November 1571. Your Lordships to Command Fr. Walsingham To
this day married to the Earl of Oxford to my comfort by reason of the Queens Majestie who hath very honourably with her presence and great favour accompanied it I am sorry that your health is not more sperable to be speedily recovered but I trust after you have rested so in convenient time the Medicines shall have more power to do their effects My Lord Gray of Wilton hath had the like disease this Summer and seemeth to be cured or eased by the industry of an Italian Phisitian here in London called Silva he is thought to be more experimented in Surgery then in Phisick for so is his father who lieth in the Savoy with the Duke if you will send me some note or description and therewith a note of their method in curing of you I would confer with this Silva and advertise you of my opinion I wish to hear more life of the matter of 57. And thus ending with my most hearty commendations c. From Westminster December 1571. Yours most assured Will. Burliegh To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr Though I had no great matter to you yet if I had my health being now subject to a combat with a Feaver whereof this day I have had an assault of a second fit I must be excused to hold my hand where my head is not able to command it as this bearer can inform you Since your Letters which came when Sir Tho. Smiths were brought I received from you two other of the 17. by which I see you are advertised from good places how things passed at the Court there and in that matter of the third person newly offered his age and other qualities unknown maketh me doubtfull how to use speech thereof The Ambassador hath dealt as he saith secretly with me And I have shewed no argument to one hand or other as I may learn further from thence I will deal but fear occupieth me more in this cause of her Marriage whom God hath suffered to lose so much time then for my next fit and yet truely I have more cause then before time for it cometh of a great cold and a Rhume fallen into my Lungs where it is lodged as yet without moving but in respect of other things I see and suffer I weigh not my own carcase The Queens Majesty hath been alwaies a merciful Lady and by mercy she hath taken more harm then by justice and yet she thinks that she is more beloved in doing her self harm God save her to his honour long among us Mather hath in presence of my Lord of Leicester Mr. Treasuror Mr. Mildmay manfully charged Borgest the Spanish Ambassadors Secretary that his Master and he both inticed Mather to murther me and Borgest denying it Mather hath offered to try it Con la spada c. From Westminster the 23 of January 1571. Your loving Friend Will. Burleigh To Francis Walsingham Esq the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr I have nothing to write worth your good hearing for that I might write is not to my liking but Gods will be fulfilled This day the Marshal of Berwick and Mr. Randolph are gone for Scotland matters I mistrust not the matter by their handling but they lack that which others should handle you know what I mean and yet here hath lacked no solicitation I have not been able by a cold to see her Majestie these eight daies and this day I am in Phisick throughly sick and I write as you see like one unsetled and surely in mine opinion others though very few lack not to sollicite by speech oportune importune The Spanish late Ambassador passed hardly over conducted by Hawkins to Callais and like himself at Gravelin he turned out all the English men that he found and yet he knoweth that here remaineth Monsieur Sweringham at the request of the Duke of Alva Here is no small expectation whether the Duke shall die or continue prisoner I know not how to write for I am here in my Chamber subject to reports which are contrariwise Mather and Berny besides that they intended to kill me have now plainly confessed their intention and desire to have been rid of the Queens Majesty but I think she may by justice be rid of them Mather denieth not but that he was a 8 2 0 6 and now saith he is a 0 2 1 0 6. I wish him grace From Westminster the second of February 1571. Yours assuredly W. Burliegh To the right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr I heartily thank you for your frequent Letters and especially for that of the 9. whereby you will not be afraid of the Scotch preparation of force out of that Country indeed they should much disturb our proceedings there privatly for Mr. Drury and Mr. Randolph are there about this instant labouring to reconcile them of the Castle to the Kings side but this French Ambassador understandeth the matter to be only about the Treaty of abstinence untill la Croque may come whose haste I wish were retarded with a fit of my gout The Queens Majesty is very earnest that you should return to the Court specially because she would have you joyn with Sir Tho. Smith in this Treatie and when I excused your absence for the recovery of your full healing she said that she understood that you were healed almost one month past and thereto I said that as you were healed so was there as much need for you to rest for the confirmation of your healing or otherwise you should suffer a relapse with as great peril as before Well quoth she see you write to him that it is my desire and will him to find means to repair gently to the Court and there he may rest him But for all this it were better her Majestie should mislike of your tarrying if it be necessary whereby you may after that serve her better then by going now to doe one piece of service thereby be made unable to do the rest of many I cannot write you what is the inward cause of the stay of the Duke of Norfolks death only I find her Majestie diversly disposed sometime when she speaketh of her Majesties danger she concludeth that justice should be done another time when she speaketh of his nearness of bloud of his superiority in honour c. she stayeth As upon Saturday she signed a Warrant for the Writs to the Sheriffs of London for his execution on Monday and so all preparations were made with the expectation of all London and concourse of many thousands yesterday in the morning but their coming was answered with another ordinary execution of Mather and Berny for conspiring the Queens Majesties death and of one Rolph for counterfeiting the Queens Majesties hand twice to get concealed Lands And the cause of this disappointment was this suddenly on Sunday 〈◊〉 in the night the â—ueens Majestie sent for me and entred into a great
Mother said she would speak with her son in the matter Then I required her that she would do so much as call for Monsieur de Foix and shew him how she was agreed for the Merchants and that he would make haste with the Treaty as it was agreed upon saving for the mending of three or four words for I saw novv I must be fain to send into England before I can subscribe it She said she would not fail but that said she if it be but that doubt or some such small thing it might be let alone till one should come out of England The King my son will send over the Marshal Montmorency because the Queen your Mistris desired it and he desireth again that she would send hither my Lord of Leicester whom he desireth to see and honour for the good affection that he beareth to the Amity betwixt the two Realms and to acquit himself for the presents which he hath divers times sent unto him and then she doubted not all things should be done as your Majestie would desire Nay Madam quoth I I know the fashion of leagues it must be first agreed upon betwixt the Commissioners that no words be altered then subscribed with the hands of both the parties your Commissioners delivering the part signed with their hands to us and ours next to them then the Prince causeth it to be made under the great Seal of the Realm and so causeth it to be delivered each to others Ambassador he that cometh to see it sworn to may make a new League if the Princes will so to alter that he cannot for the Princes be bound to ratifie and swear to that the which the Commissioners were agreed upon And it were not wisdom to send such personages as your Majestie speaks of to an uncertain League you may consider my Mistress will not do it Well saith she I will speak with the King my self and send you Monsieur de Foix who shall treat with you of all these matters Then Mr Walsingham asked her if any thing were done as touching de la Roche and the matters in Ireland And she said yea and that de la Roche saith it is nothing and that there is not a French man there and that he will lay his head on it I pray you send home word that it may be tried out and if he do not say truth that he may feel smart for it and be well punished Then Mr. Killegrew took his leave of the Queen Mother and the Lady Margaret as he did before in the Kings Chamber of the King and the Duke for so they name the Duke d'Alanson of all whom he had gracious and gentle words as he can shew your Majestie he could not for divers respects conveniently have taken his leave before The younger Queen is taken here to be undoubtedly with child for she hath all the tokens of a woman that hath conceived and they gess she hath gone three moneths and more whereof the King and Queen Mother is not a little joyful Thus we most humbly commit your Highness to the tuition of Almightie God From Bloys the first of March 1571. Your Majesties most humble Subjects and Servants Tho Smith Fra Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh YOur Lordship by Sir Tho Smithes Letters unto her Majestie shall be fully informed what hath passed in Conference as well with the King as his Deputies touching the League to which I refer you Of late I caused one under the colour of a Catholique to repair unto one Darbishire an English Jesuit in Paris for that I understood that there is a concurrency of intelligence between him and those of Lorrain as also with those of the Scotish Queens faction The party I sent did seem very much to bewail the evil success that the late practises took in Scotland and that now he did fear their case will grow desperate especially for that Mathers enterprize was also discovered To this the Jesuit answered that the evil handling of matters was the cause that they took no better effect notwithstanding saith he be of good comfort and assure your self there are more Mathers in England then one who will not admit when time shall conveniently serve to adventure their lives in seeking to acquit us of that lewd woman meaning her Majestie For saith he if she were gone then would the hedge lie open whereby the good Queen that now is prisoner in whom resteth the present the right of this Crown should easily enjoy the same For besides that all the Catholiques within the Realm of England are at her devotion there are saith he God be thanked divers Heretiques that are well-affected towards her which is no small miracle that God hath so blinded theâ— eyes as that they should be inclined to her that in the end shall yeild unto theâ— their just desert unless they return unto the Catholique faith The other replyeâ— that for his part he could never hope to see her at liberty nor long to see her keâ—â— her head upon her shoulders and therefore could receive no great comfort 〈◊〉 way Well saith the Jesuit I tell you truly that I dare assure you she shall have no harm for she lacketh no friends in the English Court And as for her liberty saith he it standeth all good Catholiques in hand â—o much to seek it either by hook or by crook as no doubt but there are some good men that will venter a joynt to bring it to pass For if she were once possessed of the Crown of England it will be the onely way and mean to reform all Christendom in reducing them to the Catholique faith and therefore you must think that there are more heads occupied in this matter then English heads and that there are moe ways to the wood then one and therefore be of good courage and ere ever one year be at an end you shall know more Besides his villainous and undutiful language of her Majestie he used very lewd and bitter speeches against the Earl of Leicester and your Lordship This was the sum of their talk which I conferring and weighing with the former intended practises made me think it worth the advertisement that her Majestie may see how much they build upon the possibility of that dangerous woman whose life is a step unto her Majesties death for that they repute her for an undoubtable successor or rather which is a more danger for a right Inheritor And though I know her mischievous intentions are limitted that they can reach no further to her Majesties harm or prejudice then shall seem good to Gods providence yet is her Majestie bound for her own safety and her Subejcts to adde to the same his good providence her just policy so far forth as may stand with justice And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave At Bloys the second of March 1571. Your Honours to
Walsingham and I have concluded the League not without some difficulty for the Scotch matters which from the beginning have most interrupted and troubled us nevertheless we have also passed over them in the end we trust to your Highness contentation and all other things whereof we had instructions by your Majesties letters of the second of April We can perceive nothing in any wise but that the King here goeth as sincerely and tam bona fide with your Majesty as any Prince can and we suppose and trust certainly by Gods Grace that this league shall be as great an assurance and defence of your Majesty as ever was or can be The two Realms being so neer and ready to defend if it be required if Spain will now threaten or shew evil Offices as it hath done of late against your Highness surety it will be afraid hereafter seeing such a wall adjoyned And if it will not it may sooner feel the smart of evil doing then it would if the house of Burgundie will be friend whereof there is great reason to have much doubt yet nothing is done on your Majesties part to break the amity And peradventure this will make him the loather seeing so good or neer hand so good peradventure in time a better vent granted here for your Subjects and Merchants then that is I thank your Majesty most humbly that it pleased you in my absence to bestow on me the Chancelorship of the Order the which must needs be to me manifold times more welcom because that without my suit and in mine absence your Highness of your gracious goodness did remember me I pray God I may have that Grace to do your Majesty that service which may be acceptable to you as my heart doth desire Thus I commit your Highness to Almighty God with my dayly prayer that your Majesty 〈◊〉 long and most prosperously reign over us From Bloys April 22. 1571. By the Queen ELIZABETH R. TRusty and well beloved We greet you well where the French King our good brother did of late send hither to us Mr. de Crocque with his letters signifying to us thereby that upon such an agreement as had been lately made between you as our Ambassadors and his Deputies to have some Gent. sent on either part into Scotland to cease the Arms there he had for that purpose chosen and sent hither the said du Crocque And besides that did by the same letters give charge to the said du Crocque to make request unto us affectionately to put the Q. of Scots into liberty and to send her surely into France which he did earnestly move unto us in speech adding another desire by words of his own that he might also repair to the said Q. of Scots and visit and speak with her hereupon you well might think that we did finde all these proceedings very strange and not answerable to such other overtures of the inward friendship which our said brother hath professed to us by many other ways nor consonant to such things as you have declared to the said King to the Q. mother and other his Ministers on our behalf concerning the dangerous practises of late time attempted by the said Q. of Scots against us both for our person and Estate and so we did in some part declare unto the said du Crocque and to the French Ambassadors And yet we did not hereupon refuse that he should repair into Scotland although we did mislike of the request made for the Scotch Queens liberty at this time and did deny to him to repair to her but we did require him by way of advice until he might hear of Scotland in what terms the parties stood So as we might before his going by conference with him consider what means were best to use to bring the divisions to an accord in Scotland After which done within few days we understood that the L. Seaton who had been long in France for the Scotch Queen and after had been in the King of Spains Low-Countries with Commission and Title to be the Queen of Scots Ambassador there had by tempest of Seas been driven into Harwich and from thence passed disguised as a Mariner into Scotland and so entered into the Castle of Edenburgh with no smal comfort to them to persist in their obstinacie to maintain Civil war and by Gods goodness which in all causes we find always ready there were afterwards found in the ship at Harwich such matters in writing to prove the earnest continuance and prosecuting of the Scotch Queens practises against us the intention that they in the Castle should by no means come to accord that our Rebels in the Low-Countries should shortly return into Scotland that we were justly occasioned further to consider of this matter and to encrease our doubt herein we were shortly after these things discovered advertised out of Scotland that in very deed upon the Lord Seatons coming to the Castle upon intelligence of du Croques voyage thitherward and the L. Flemings journey to come by the West Seas with aid out of Britain they in the Castle were become very obstinate to hearken unto the reasonable offers either for Peace or for abstinence of war Whereupon we did cause by consent of our Councel to be imparted to the French Ambassador and to du Crocque the substance of the premisses which moved us to doubt whether the journey of du Crocque should be meet for us to assent unto without we should first impart our Conceptions to the French King and so required them to allow thereof and that we would write to the King and according as we should receive answer from him so they should understand our further pleasure At which time we understood that both the Ambassador and he took this stay somewhat strangely thinking that it might likewise seem strange to the King their Mr. considering that the said du Crocque coming thither was by agreement of you our Ambassador and the Kings Deputies And though the same was not denyed yet in our part it was said we doubted not but when the King shall understand that new occasions with the matter discovered tending in this his matter of voyage rather to the increase of the troubles in Scotland then to the pacifying thereof and likewise rather to our manifest perils and troubles then to our comfort and surety he would as our good brother and friend especially at this time being entring into so straight a profession of friendship as he maketh shew of would allow of our considerations of this stay and by some new order from him and Commission to du Crocque would provide for the remedies of the said inconvenience Thus much being passed the said dâ— Croque within two days after desired to speak privately with one of our Councâ—l by name the L. of Burleigh and for some considerations it was thought good that he should speak also with some others and so did with the Earl of
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
potentissimum principem fratrem nostrum charissimum Gallorum regem residenti salutem Cum in tractatu qui inter Legatos nostros ad praedictam Principem missos ejusque serenissimi Regis Deputatos intercedit de amicitia pace renovanda augenda quae inter praedictum regem nos nostraque regna dominia subditos existit certi articuli de mercatorum nostrorum hinc inde comerciis negotiatione propositi fuerint de quibus propemodum quidem inter utrumque convenit nisi quod ante praefatam rei consummationem necessarium sit quosdam tà m à nostro quà m à praedicti regis parte constitui qui cum mercatorum prudentium consilio deliberent sintne illi articuli satìs ad rem aptè amplè compositi an vero alios quosdam immitores adjici expediat quibus commercii negotiorum ratio commodius regi exerceri possit Nos igitur de homine ad hanc rem idoneo cogitantes deque tua prudentia virtute industria in res nostras fide confidentes mandatorum procuratorum seu deputatum nostruÌ„ creamus constituimus per praesentes ut cum consilio principalium nostrorum si qui in illis partibus fuerit cum Regis praedict deputatis agas tractes unaque cum illis ea consideres statuas quae ad coâ—tinuendam augendam commercii intercessus necessitudinium necessaria vidâ—buntur Itemque de mertium vectigalibus tributis porteriis impositionibus iisque conditionibus quae ad mercatorum comertii libertatem securitatem pertinebunt rationes ineas Deque iis omnibus nos certiores facias ut re prope inspecta considerata quod é re fuerit decernamus concludamus quod ipsum simile à dict ' regis Legato hic fiet qui simile vicissim ab ipso rege mandatum habiturus est Et generaliter ut ea omnia tractes facias quae ad hanc rem necessaria erunt in tam amplis modo forma ac si in singulis magis speciale Mandatum haberes In cujus rei testimonium has litteras patentes â—ieri sigilli nostri impressione communi missimus Dat. in Regia nostra sancti Jacobi die mensis Maii Anno Dom. 1572. Regni vero nostri 14. Instructions given to the Earl of Lincoln Lord Admiral of England and one of the Lords of her Majesties privy Councel appointed by her Majestie to repair to the French King in Ambassage and at his arrival at Paris or elsewhere to be assisted for the execution of the matter underwritten with Sir Th Smith Chancellor of the Order and Fr. Walsingham Ambassador resident for her Majesty with the French King at St. Iames May 25. 1572. THe said L. Admiral shal have with him both Commission under the great Seal of England authorizing him and S. Th. Smith and Fr. Walsingham and Letters also to require the French K. to confirm the last treaty concluded at Blois by his oath whereupon he shall proceed first after his access to the K. obtaining by the Ambass resident for the demand of the said oath as is meet for the honor of the League of amity now concluded between their Maj. using therein all good speeches to assure him that according to such express words as are contained in the same Treaty for a mutual love and amity to be hereafter used and maintained between them her Maj. is fully bent in her heart to maintain the same on her part the rather because she doth assuredly hope that the K. wil do the like whereof his Maj. by his Ambass that he hath sent in the time of the late Treaty and negotiation of the same shewed many manifest arguments of his own special favourable directions of matters at sundry times resting in doubt between her Commissioners and his Maj. to more reasonable ends as appeared then otherwise would have 〈◊〉 ordered by his Ministers And so the L. Admiral having in this manner assured the K. of her Maj. ful and resolute determination to imbrace and hold fast this mutual amity he shal say that his coming thither is to visit the K. on her Maj. behalf and to attend upon his leasure and best oportunity to be present and to receive the K. oath to be made for ratifying of the said Treaty according to a clause in the said Treaty for that purpose And when the K. shal have accorded thereunto the said L. Admiral shal before hand percase by som privat conference had with some of the Secretaries of the State how and in what sort the ceremonies therof shall be observed so as the proceeding may be at the time at the solemnity thereof without any alteration And for the better proceeding herein the Lord Admiral shall have with him both Articles of the Treaties requiring the said oath and the manner form of like oath given by the said K. heretofore in like cases And the instrument also to be demanded in writing for testimony of the said oath with such other things as are thereto requisite so as the like manner may be used as near as may be agreeable to former usages and that there be with him present to assist him S. Th. Smith and the Ambass resident if they may be there to help And as for the place where the said oath should be given the said L. Admiral shal not refuse any that the K. shal appoint foreseeing only that he be not by reason thereof compelled to be present at any Mass to be said for the purpose but if it be in Church or Chappel he shal not refuse to require to take it in the same Furthermore although there is no other cause special of the sending of the L. Admiral at this time to the said K but to require his oath yet for that there may be many occasions offered of speeches in the matters where it shal be looked for that the said L. Admiral should answer the said K. to his satisfaction Therfore he wil in these things following accommodate himself as hereafter is mentioned wherein the said L. Admiral shal as occasion shall serve take the help of Sir Th. Smith who is also herein well acquainted In the matter of Scotland although the said L. Admiral be privy in what sort her Maj. hath hitherto proceeded so as he may by consideration thereof conjecture what is likely further to be her Maj. meaning yet to make her case the more plain he may wel hold opinion tht her Maj. meaneth not any thing more then that the Realm of Scotland may be brought to quietness and remain free from any invasion of any stranger wherby the liberty of that Crown and Nation should be impaired And he may wel remember of his own knowledge how often times since the Scotch Q. coming into our Realm we have bin wel disposed to have obtained an accord betwixt her and her Subjects but always when we were most earnest to have done her pleasure therein she
the French shewed themselves ready to assent to assent to all reasonable requests and for that purpose they produced and delivered a Commission under the Great Seal of France Answers to these Points This case was not pursuant upon the Treaty The Scotish Queen had more favour then she deserved or then did well stand with the surety of the Queens Majestie Her evil parts against the Queens Majestie had been amply declared to the French and to the D. Montmorency and de Foix in France by our Ambassador The Nobility also and People now assembled in this Parliament had considered that the Queens Majesties surety could not be preserved without some severe proceeding against the Queen of Scots whereunto her Majestie had not yielded in such extremity And so the Scotish Queen had more favour indeed then either she deserved or then was thought meet by the whole Realm The second for surcease of Arms her Majestie had done therein as much as possibly she could by her Minister Sir Will Drury which she hath sent with le Crocque whereunto the Ambassador did assent with very good words of Sir Will Drury To the third it was thought that no Parliament should be holden whilest they were on both sides in arms and therefore the procuring of persons to come was not misliked To the fourth the Merchants should be spoken withal who had but small liking to any trade of Merchandize with France by reason they had by experience some evil usage of them in France specially at Roaâ— Replies of the French with some new matters As to the Scotish Queen de Foix confessed that he had no warrant to speak for her by force of the Treaty but by a special commandment apart And as to specifie the requests that be made for favour to her they said they meant no favour to be shewed to her against the Queens Majesties surety and therefore they desired only these things following That she might have brought to her all things necessary for her apparel and money also for the purpose That she might have a convenient number of Servants about her That her state might not be impaired That the Duke and the rest might be licensed to send to her certain letters from the French King and Queen Mother so as the same might be done with the privity of the Earl of Sâ—rewsbâ—ry As to the Commerce they agreed that it might be treated upon by the Ambassador Resident New Additions That according to the second article in the Treaty they might have the Queens Majesties Letter answerable to the Kings Letters That the third Article concerning the manner of redress of wrongs done by Scots men upon England that the same might be altered according to a writing which was devised by them to insert in the place of the said Article Answers to the new Requests They should have the Queens Majesties Letters The Article as it is ought to continue and is reasonable having respect to Scotland when private men do great injuries and spoils which if the King of that Realm cannot or will not amend of necessity the Kings of England must revenge upon the offenders To the Right Hononrable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh YOur Lordships of the twentieth of Iune sent by my servant Williams I have received touching her Majesties protestation before the giving of her oath For the not delivery of Hume and Fast Castle in Scotland according to the Treaty I will not fail to inform their Majesties when fit occasion shall be offered of the cause thereof The Ambassador of Scotland with the Lord Graunges brother since the Earl of Lincolns departure hath been often at the Court and are very importunate to have somewhat done for their Mistris As also in perswading their Majesties here to consent to the establishment of their Government of their said Mistris what their importunacy hath won I know not as yet but surely I fear as long as the woman liveth there will never grow good accord in Scotland nor continuance of repose in England nor perfect and sound amity between her Majestie and this Crown What is resolved here touching the enterprise of Flanders this bearer is throughly instructed who is to impart the same unto your Lordship And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave From Paris the eight and twentieth of Iune 1572. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester THis bearer cometh so throughly instructed touching the state of the Countrey and the Flanders proceedings as I forbear to trouble your Lordship to make recital of that by writing which he shall tell you by mouth After your Lordship hath throughly debated with him I hope it shall manifestly appear unto you that upon the good success or evil success of this common cause of Religion And besides the same not well proceeding her Majestie cannot promise to her self any great safety having so dangerous a neighbour whose greatness shall receive no small increase if he overcome this brunt I pray God therefore that her Majestie may incline to do that which may be for her safety And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present referring you wholly to this bearer I most humbly take my leave From Paris the eight and twentieth of May 1572. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and his very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh MAy it please your Lordship to understand that upon advertisement come hither from Flushing of the discords there for want of good Governor they have made choice of Monsieur Iunius to go thither out of hand with Commission to establish some policy there until the arrival of the Prince of Orange his brother He shall also have Commission for the sale of such goods as were lately taken For his better assistance in this behalf desireth your Lordships letter unto Captain Morgan there to assist him what lieth in him in the execution of the said Commission and that further it would please your Lordship to admonish him to retain his Souldiers in such order as may answer to the defence of a good cause For that he desireth very much to confer with Mr. Killegrew to make him fully acquainted with the state of their cause he meaneth to repair to Dover and there to imbarque where he hopeth to meet with him I perceive by him that if there be no assistance given underhand by her Majestie they shall be driven to yield to such inconveniences as shall be laid upon them by this Nation And further that they shall be forced to consent to have Strozi in Zealand unless they may have some supplies elsewhere For this cause chiefly the Gentleman who wisely respecteth the liberty of his Countrey and foreseeth the mischief that may follow if the necessity be not relieved disereth much to confer with Mr. Killegrew a thing most necessary and would himself
heart that may be for her Majesties safety And so leaving to trouble your Honor any further at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the tenth of August 1572. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham Sir I beseech you to signifie unto her Majesty that the Count Montgomery doth shew himself by sundry demonstrations worthy of the favour and honor he hath received at her Majesties hands I beseech your Honor therefore to put her Majesty in mind to use some such speeches towards his daughter at the Court as he may perceive that I do not forget to advertise her Majesty of the good will he beareth towards her To the right honorable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principall Secretary SIR in this my private Letter I thought good to tell you that how coldly soever you are affected towards marriage we mean not here to give you over but do think that time may work somewhat to the satisfying of our desire They think in the end necessity must make you yield thereto in respect of your safety which is the best ground of the hope they have they know well enough the coldness of your affection and therefore they hope that force will bring that to pass which love cannot This Sir for marriage matter I have earnestly written both to the Lord Treasurer and the Earl of Leicester to procure a stay of the revocation of those that are imployed in Flanders without the which the whole enterprise is in hazard in respect of the discouragement that will grow thereby And surely if the same take not good success it is evident what will be our danger to as many as will list to see I need not use towards you any perswasions to put to your helping hand which is forward enough in this case as one that foreseeth the mischief that otherwise will follow Whereas you write now that the Scots began somwhat to incline to an abstinence it seemeth very strange considering the issue of our Parliament and the late inlargement of the Queen of Scots liberty unless the Scots mean thereupon to establish the Government in their Queen if her Majesty had accepted the provision of her safety by her subjects in Parliament and not so soon have yielded to any enlargement those Scotch matters had been ere this accorded but we use to build with one hand and overthrow with another I can rather lament it then hope after any remedy And therefore to God I commit it And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the 10. of August 1572. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham To the right Honourable his very good Lord the Lord Treasurer I Refer your Honour to Sir Th. Smiths Letters touching that which hath past concerning the delivery of her Majesties resolution unto their Majesties thereof the offer propounded by the M. Montmorency and M. de Foix. They easily could be induced to hazard an enterview if they thought there were any earnest intention in her Majesty to marry but the doubt thereof maketh them stay to condiscend in that behalf notwithstanding they mean not to give over the matter utterly but do hope that necessity in time may induce her Majesty in respect of her safety and the gratifying of her subjects to yield her consent seeing that the difficulty consisteth in opinion chiefly I do what I can to nourish this opinion in them considering the broken state of Europe and how tickle her Majesty standeth if by an enterview there might grow any good I think I could easily bring it to pass but the experience I have had how this case of marriage is subject to many things maketh me to proceed warily according as I shall receive direction at your Lordships hands who shall guide my doings in this behalf Touching Flanders matters the King had proceeded to an open dealing had he not received advertisement out of England that her Majestie meant to revoke such of her subjects as are presently in Flanders whereupon such of his Councel here as incline to Spain have put the Queen Mother in such a fear that the enterprise cannot but miscarry without the assistance of England as she with tears had disswaded the King for the time who otherwise was very resolute Thus your Lordship seeth how the bruit of your fear there hath bred fear here whereof I fear there will follow fearfull effects unless God put to his helping hand The Admiral in this brunt whose mind is invincible and foreseeth what is like to insue doth not now give over but layeth before the King his peril if the Prince of Orange quail or at the least if the matter by composition may not be induced to that good pass as the Spaniards may be removed further off and the Country restored to its liberty and yet remain under the Government of Spain And though he cannot obtain what were requisite and necessary for the advancement of the Cause yet doth he obtain somewhat in conference with him He desired me to tell your Lordship that there is nothing in respect of himself that he desireth more after long troubles unless he saw the danger great and evident to as many as profess the Gospel as also particularly to the King his Master and to the Q. Majestie my Mistress whom he is bound to honour and serve during his life and if these Low-Country matters be not reduced to some good issue he would not now expose himself to new perils But the case now standing as it doth and foreseeing the mischief that will follow he saith he should be a Traitor to God and to his Country and unthankful to her Maj. if he should forbear to do what lieth in him to prevent the same and for that he knoweth your Lordship doth concur with him in the like desire he doth most earnestly desire you to be a mean to stay her Maj. revocation of those that be in Flanders which thing will breed no less incouragement to the enemies then discouragement to those that seek to further this cause the welldoing whereof saith he if I do not mistake doth as much import her Maj. as any one thing that hapned unto her since her coming to the Crown and therefore requireth rather assistance then hinderance Other particularities he willed me to impart unto your Lordship which for that I would be loath to trouble your Lordship with Cypher I have desired Mr. Killegrew to make you understand the same And so leaving to impart to your Honour any thing further at this time I most humbly take my leave At Paris August 10. 1572. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable his very good Lord the Earl of Leicester IT may please your Lordship to understand that upon advertisement com from the parties that her Maj. meant to revoke such as are imployed in the Low-Countries of her subjects the King here through the perswasions of such as are inclined to Spain
to shew unto her Majestie Duke d' Alanson who was there present desired me to present unto her Majestie his most humble and affectionate commendations and to shew her that so great was the honour that she did unto his servant la Mote as he desired nothing more then to have occasion to shew himself thankful by doing her service and that therefore it would please her to make account of him as of one that is wholly hers In this time of trouble he hath often sent unto me and offered me some of his guard for my surety La Motte shewed himself most thankful for the honour he hath received and every man maketh most honourable report of her Majestie wherefore she may think the good usage of him very well imployed on him The Lord Levingston and divers other Scotish Gentlemen who see here no way to enjoy the liberty of their conscience do desire passport wherein I mean to use less difficulty then heretofore I have done for that they seem upon the last accident to desire most perfect Amity between the two Crowns of England and Scotland in respect of the common cause of Religion I suppose passing by that way and receiving good entertainment at her Majesties hands they will rather do good then harm at home by making them in the Countrey understand what had passed here and the danger that is like to follow without perfect union between the said Crowns Some of the wisest sort of them here that before were enemies and now are become friends do wish that her Majestie sought to make some reconciliation between the Earl Morton and the Lord Lidington and that her Majestie by some pension did make both him and others assured to her They think that her Majestie by so doing in disbursing of two or three thousand pounds a year may save the disbursing of many thousands besides the avoiding of many dangerous practises that are like to grow that way This device might seem to savour of the particular benefit were not the circumstances of the present time reasonable for the same The Ambassador of Scotland telleth such of his Nation as are here that the Kings meaning is to make as great account of them as ever he did That those of the guard for their better entertainment shall have a Captain of their own Nation and further that the Kings meaning is to erect again certain men of Arms under the conduct of some Nobleman of that Nation I leave to her Majestie to consider what this courtesie to that Nation meaneth Sir I beseech you to move her Majestie that for the time that I shall remain here which I hope shall not be long I may hear often from her whereby I may the better know how to direct my course This inclosed Letter of Montmorency was sent me from Secretary Pynart whereby it may appear that he was procured to write to their Majesties And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this Present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the fourteenth of September Your Honours to command F. Walsingham To the Right Honourable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principal Secretary SIr it may please you to advertise her Majestie That of late the King here was advertised from his Ambassador Resident in Flanders how that the ninth of this moneth the Prince of Orange approaching near unto Montz and being fully resolved to fight with his enemy commanded forth of his Army four hundred footmeen and five hundred light horsemen the Prince himself and the rest of his Army following them somewhat afar off in very good order On the righr hand of his Battaile there stood a mill where he planted six pieces of Artillery as well to defend himself as to offend his enemy with more advantage The Duke of Alva likewise sent out against the Prince five hundred Spaniards Harquebushiers and six hundred light horsemen with Harquebushiers a Crock on the right hand of them he set two thousand Rutters and on the left wing as many In this sort they came at length to hand strokes the fight dured a long time to wit from twelve of the clock at noon to six of the clock at night but in the end by means of the Prince of Oranges Artillery the Duke of Alva's horsemen were put in so great disorder as they were constrained to retire themselves into their Tents not without great loss The number of them that were slain is not yet certainly known although it is reported that the Duke hath lost above three thousand men This victory is thought to proceed of 250 horsemen who issued forth of Montz during the Conflict and set upon the tail of the Duke Alva's Army who also afterwards joyned with the Prince of Orang◠Thus much I thought good to write to the end her Majestie may understand how things pass in Flanders Touching the state of this Countrey there is nothing meant but extremity towards those of the Religion On Sunday last which was the fourteenth of this moneth the young Princess of Conde was constrained to go to Mass being threatned otherwise to go to prison and so consequently to be made away The Prince of Conde hath also yielded to hear Mass upon Sunday next being otherwise threatned to go to the Bastile where he is not like long to serve The Friday before Queen Mother told me that no bodies conscience for saith she here is the King of Navarre the Prince of Conde and divers others in this Court that live with liberty of conscience and so shall continue notwithstanding saith she that the King could be content and could wish that they were all converted and become Catholiques And I do perceive that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and therefore I hope her Majestie will stand upon her guard and strengthen her self with the Amity of the Protestant Princes of Germany who as I hear are awake and marvellously stomach this late cruelty and do think that the danger thereof will reach to themselves if they do not seek to prevent it I hope also her Majestie will establish things in such 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and wil not suffer her to be abused with her fair speech having had so late experience of her faithless dealing when the King is once possessed of Rochel which he hopeth to have shortly Strozzees voyage is then directly to Scotland All the Hugonote lands which will amount to many millions shall be sold and imployed in the Conquest of Countreys which I hope in God will prove an account without the host if God do not blinde the eyes of the Princes of the Religigion who joyning together shall be able to make their parts good against any of those that shall have will to do them harm One Roulart a Catholique and Canon of Nostre Dame and also a Counsellour in the Parliament uttering certain speeches in misliking this lawless kind of proceeding without justice was apprehended and committed to prison and in prison murthered
Crown especially being provoked thereto by the Pope which is my chief fear It may also be alledged that the offer of the marriage sheweth that they have no evil meaning towards her Majestie First it may be doubted whether considering how now adays their speech and meaning disagreeth they offer as they mean Secondly whether their intention of offering the said Match tend to our benefit or no. I was not heretofore so forward in believing all friendly offers to proceed of sincerity as I am now ready to think the same to proceed of abuse only to lull us asleep in security for any thing that I can perceive the best way not to be deceived by them is not to trust them The Gentleman himself who is offered I think honourably of him and if I could think so well of the rest I would then believe that their outward speech did consent to their inward meaning but the case standing as it doth I know not what to think I cannot therefore in this doubtful case but make her Majestie and my Lords of the Councel acquainted with these proceedings and leave to them to gather what may be their meaning here Methinks Queen Mothers calling back of her word touching her coming into England doth shew that they but dally It is not likely that the Ambassador without Commission would otherwise have made the offer besides the cold answer made to her Majesties request for the Vidame doth shew how they are affected To gratifie the King of Spain those 800 that came from Montz were put to the sword Methinks if there were that good will that they profess they should not have sticked with her Majestie in granting her request for the Vidam a thing both hononourable and profitable all circumstances considered I see rather mischief to be looked for then friendship from hence and therefore I cannot tell with what safety her Majestie may repair to Burdâ—aux and yet advise the contrary I would be loth having no other ground but suspicion I think the danger will be the less so long as Rochel holdeth out And so leaving further to trouble your Honour I most humbly take my leave At Paris the eighth of October 1572. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and his very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh YOur Lorpships of September 25 I have received beseeching you to pardon me in that I presently in answering of the same am driven to use the help and hand of another being not yet after my sickness restored to that strength as I can indure well to write I perceive that your Lordship by the contrary here is void of the Ambassadors speech doth well enough discern that the late cruelty here executed is void of all manner of just defence and therefore in Gods just judgement is like to receive just punishment and if the same doth not happen so soon as we desire our sins is the let They here are so far imbrued in blood as there is no end of their cruelty for no Town escapeth where any of the Religion is found without general murthering and sacking of them and yet they protest all this to be done against their will though it be evidently known that it is done by their Commandment This manner of proceeding seemeth to all men so strange as no man can tell what to judge of it openly no man dare but commend it privately few are found that do not utterly detest it I have not heretofore been so ready to commend their sincerity as I am now forced to set down their infidelity surely I cannot see that all their fair speeches and friendly offers tend to any other end but to abuse which would well appear if they were seized of Rochel In the mean while I do not think the contrary but that they will provoke the Duke of Alva now that the Prince of Orange retireth into Germany who of himself is enough bent as your Lordship knoweth to execute somewhat long time practised in England to the danger and disturbance of her Majestie It is the opinion here of all men of judgemâ—nt that her Majestie is to look for any mischief that either Spain or this Crown can yield And therefore if she shall not now seek to quiet her self they do not see any reason for her long to hope to keep the Crown upon her head The matter of it self is so apparent as he is of mean discourse that doth not so think The House of Guise who since the late murther seem to have some miscontentment was never to the outward shew in greater favor nor in greater jollity He hath often conference with such Scotishmen as are here of the Kings 〈◊〉 and therefore I am sorry to understand that they are not grown to any 〈◊〉 in Scotland though her Maj. pay dear for it as mony may do much with that nation I would both the union were made amongst them and they reduced under the Kings Government and divided from such allyance as they have with this Nation If these great Monarchies may have Scotland for their footing I fear the event will be over dangerous The Popes Legate who is at Avinion hath sent hither in post his Secretary to know the Kings pleasure what his resolution is touching his access as I hear the King will not yield thereto for the same will make it apparent to the world what the King of Spain and his intention is They think they may deal more covertly bringing the matters better to pass then by such open kind of dealing I cannot decypher any thing whether they proceed sincerely touching the pretended match for my opinion I think of it as of the rest of their friendly offers that these tend to nothing but to abuse Of late since the news of the Prince of Oranges retiring out of Flanders they seem not to be desirous thereof as before I judge if they were once seized of Rochel they will begin to renew their suit for the Queen of Scots or rather attempt somewhat for her delivery Their silence they use maketh me to suspect the more seeing the Queen of Scots friends bear such sway in the Court. I shall not need to recommend unto your Lordship my revocation for that I know your Lordship is careful of your self for the same And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the eighth of October 1572. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester IMmediately upon the receit of your Lordships Letters of the two and twentieth of September I requested Captain Lassetty whom your Lordship knoweth and is most willing to do your Lordship any service as one whom he most honoureth and thinketh himself most bound unto to make enquiry whether there were any of his Nation excellent in riding unplaced and had any desire to go into England After search made by him he found
the Scots our neighbours be awakened by your Beacons in France I have sent you a Scotish proclamation herewith Du Crocque and Viracque have already taken their leave of Scotland and be come to Barwick The 20 of this moneth they appointed to be here at Court. By that we can see the Lords in Scotland draw neerer and neerer to an accord that rather it is in hope then in despair These cruelties in France have helped not a little and now continuing much more will You gave good advice that all Scotish men should not be stayed no more they be not some of the late Commers have given the rest in Scotland a good to make them awake yet there may also be false brethren come amongst them which as reason is shall be stayed and sent back if they may be known Yet it is true That much water goeth by the Mill that the Miller knoweth not of but mans wisdom must provide as much as may be as it would always it cannot The answer of the Ambassador may justly seem to you to debar your coming home and to prolong it longer then you would yet I assure you your friends do not cease by all means possible to provoke her Majesty so much as may be for your Revocation and her Majesty is as carefull for you as any Prince may be for such a subject as you are of whom assure you her Highness maketh no small account and so it is reason You know that things go here slowly with much respect of irresolution but for my part I hope to see you here shortly there shall no occasion be left which I will not take to further it Although your friends here be as forward as may be yet your wife ceaseth not continually to cry on them Fare you well From Windsor the 13. of October 1572. Your assured friend Thomas Smith To the right Honorable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principall Secretary SIR it may please you to advertise her Majesty that of late the King and Queen mother have had sundry conferences with the Scotish Ambassador to whom there is repaired out of Flanders one English Gentleman called Tempest and another called Musgrave servant unto the Earl of Westmerland they both have also access unto the Duke de Aumale and to his Nephew the the Duke of Guyse Davy Chambers since his return out of England hath had also conference both with the King and the House of Guyse who hath let fall these words how that the death and execution of the Earl of Northumberland hath increased the number of the Queen of Scots friends and that she is now grown to have such a party in England as that five or six thousand shot with some good Leaders will make her strong enough to encounter any forces her Majesty can make It is also secretly whispered in Court that there is some new practice in hand for the Queen of Scots delivery the particularities I can by no means decipher but the circumstances of these conferences well weighed the conjecture is great that there 's somwhat a hatching Little Douglas who conveyed the Queen of Scots out of Loughtean departeth out of hand into Scotland who besides other conference with the King hath had long conference with the Queen mother the Ambassador being present And so for other matters referring your Honor to this Bearers report touching divers particularities I most humbly take my leave Sir I most humbly desire your Honor to further a most reasonable suit that this Bearer my Secretary is to prefer unto her Majesty as wel in respect of his great travell already taken under me in her Majesties service as also for that thereby he may receive encouâ—agement to continue the same and in time through the experience of his service and the good parts that are in him may hereafter grow able to serve her Majesty in a better calling For my own part I have no means to recompence him as you Sir well know and if therefore the consideration grow not by her Majesty neither he nor any other shall have courage to serve in aservice both so dangerous and painfull as this is wherein he serveth And so not doubting of any furtherance you may yeid him I leave to trouble your Honor any further taking my leave At Paris 18 of October 1572. Your Honors to command Fr. Walsingham To the right Honorable Sir Thomas Smith her Majestiess principall Secretary SIR I am glad by your Letters to receive some hope that there is good care taken to prevent such mischiefs as may happen notwithstanding untill such time as the root of the evill be removed it is rather to dream of remedies then to apply such as the disease requireth I am glad to hear that there is some hope that they will grow to an accord in Scotland if that postern gate were shut up and other inward medicines applied and her Majesty strengthened with the outward Amity of the Almain Princes she should be the more esteemed and feared of those that mean her not great good And though the remedies may seem chargeable yet considering the necessity of the same and that they may avoid both great charges and no small danger I hope her Majesty will prefer safety before cost especially when the diâ—bursing of one pound may save a thousand Surely Sir the more I observe their doings here the more I increase my jealousie of their evill meaning They never spake more fair to the Admirall then a few dayes before he died nothing was demanded by him that was not granted insomuch that Tilligni said to a Gentleman a friend of his a few days before the execution that their liberall granting of requests without any difficulty did make him to suspect some unsound and hollow meaning and thereupon alledged that Italian Proverb They never used fairer speech then presently they do nor greater protestations of Amity and because it is more then was accustomed and is now at such time as we have cause to suspect the contrary I cannot but be jealous of her Majesties safety so long as any thing is left undone that tendeth to her Majesties preservation And so leaving further to entertain your honour with my jealousies and fears I most humbly take my leave beseeching you to continue your assistance in procuring my revocation At Paris the 25 of October 1572. Your Honors to command Fran. Walsingham To the right Honorable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principall Secretary SIR although I had no express commandement from her Majesty to communicate unto the King and Queen Mother such an answer as was yeilded unto those things that were propounded by their Ambassador here notwithstanding I thought it convenient to impart the same unto Queen Mother as she that hath the Helm in hand to see in what sort the said answer would be interpreted at my access unto her I shewed her at large that the Ambassador had propounded four things unto certain Deputies by her Majesty of her Councell
the answer as I cannot write any more I trust your old acquaintance Mr. Carew shall borrow your room shortly From my house in Westminster the seventh of November Yours assuredly William Burleigh To the right Honorable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principal Secretary SIr it may please you to advertise her Majestie that the King dispatched within these ten days Viracque with a good sum of money to entertain a party in Scotland until such time as he hath propounded the matter here in France One William Seers servant to the Earl of Westmerland arrived here the four and twentieth of this moneth sent hither by the said Earl Immediately upon his arrival Viracque went with him to the Court which is at this present at Monceaux He reporeth that in the North Countrey from York to the borders all the whole Countrey is at the Earls devotion so that a few men imployed there by the King may assure him that her Majestie shall be kept so occupied as she shall have no leisure to send any supply to Rochel I learn further that one Stephen Wilson a Scotish man taketh upon him to draw the Earl of Argile to be wholly at the Kings devotion so that the said Earl may receive that estate and honour that his Father had at the King his Predecessors hands The Bishop of Glasco hath had long and several conferences with the Legate since his last arrival If her Majestie do not compound the matter of Scotland before Viracque his coming she shall find more difficulty in the matter It is evident how much money may do with that Nation therefore it were well before his coming her Majestie took the benefit of the Market for that many Chapmen maketh deerer wares Such Noblemen of Scotland as are here were never so much made of I am well assured that the Duke of Alva not long sithence did write unto the King here in recommendation of the practice that tended to the disquiet of her Majestie but what it was or what answer was made I cannot learn At this present there is not that entertainment used towards the Legate that appertaineth to his calling and as heretofore hath been used which maketh all men of judgement to suspect that the same is done for the nonce to blind the eyes of all the Princes Protestants And that those speeches that were given out that the Marquis of Egremont departed without good satisfaction for that he obtained nothing of those things he propounded and that the Legate is like to obtain nothing of those things he is to propound are but to abuse the world Things do not pass here as they were wont to do through many hands besides the Duke of Nevers not many Counsellours that are made privy to the affairs of most secrecy As I learn secretly their Ambassador there findeth himself agrieved for that he receiveth not that good countenance and entertainment that he was wont to do Though I have most just cause to think that there is but little good meant towards her Majestie whatsoever outward shew is made yet in my poor opinion it were not amiss for her Majestie to use all outward shew and entertainment that may seem to appertain to good amity and yet not to omit any thing that tendeth to her safety And so for other matters referring your honour to these enclosed Occurrents I most humbly take my leave At Paris the seven and twentieth of November 1572. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable and his very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh YOur Lordships of the seventh I have received the Letters enclosed I have delivered to Steward for that Glascow â—8 was not here he therefore desired me to tell Davison that his absence is the cause why he hath not answer but by the next he shall hear from him in the mean time he bideth me tell him nn â—3 that he is now without fear of danger but that he hath many good friends who will suffer him to take no wrong He telleth me further that he is resolved to revenge the death of his friends hap what may hap He wisheth â—3 to look well to Scotland and that Munnesire is sent but to abuse her Majestie with 〈◊〉 words If Steward himself of the â—9 shall learn any thing that toucheth 〈◊〉 I shall be advertised from time to time I see more great cause now to nouriâ—h this humor contrary to my opinion in my last Letters for surely there are great mischiefs a brewing I am assured that within these eight days Florence 〈◊〉 protested that he should never be quiet so long as the exercise of Religion continued in any one place of Christendom I know further particularly that he said he will never forget New haven until revenge be made I never knew so deep a dissembler I am sure that the murther of the Admiral should have been executed at Bloys but that they saw him too well accompanied It is agreed that both he and Spain shall for the avoiding of suspicion of the Legats coming entertain the â—3 with good words and that Spain should make some shew to be glad to grow to some accord â— did send expresly Gentlemen unto me to know in what state and terms things do stand here being requested so to do by the Princes of Germany for that there are many contrary brutes there He sendeth me word that they mean shortly to call a Dyet to consult for their safety and for the revenge I have not yet dispatched the Gentleman but mean to do out of hand in such sort instructed as I hope shall rather heat then cool them I have requested H to be throughly advertised with all convenient speed how things do pass there c. Paris the six and twentieth of November 1572. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principal Secretary IT may please your honour to advertise her Majestie that the King here is given to understand from the Count de Lude who lieth at Morte how that they of Rochel have of late taken the Isle of Rez which hath bred great content here for it is a place of great importance by the having whereof they are Masters of the Haven and may thereby receive any succor by sea They have also taken in the same divers ships He doth further advertise that they have taken eight or ten Brittains laden with corn Touching the Kings intention for the besieging of Rochel this bearer shall inform you at the full who hath talked with one who knoweth what is resolved in that behalf There is daily here looked for the Master of the Emperors horse being sent hither to congratulate the Queens delivery as also to bring word that the Emperor hath chosen Monsieur and the Duke of Lorrain Knights of the Order of Toison By letters out of Germany they write that it was determined upon the news of the execution of those of the Religion here to have slain
to any such Councel whose nature we took to be more humane and noble but when more was added unto it that women children maids young infants and sucking babes were at the same time murthered and cast into the river and that liberty of execution was given to the vilest and basest sort of the popular without punishment or revenge of such cruelty done afterwards by Law upon those cruel murtherers of such innocents this encreased our grief and sorrow in our good brothers behalf that he should suffer himself to be led by such inhumane Councellours And now sithence it doth appear by all doings both by the Edicts and otherwise that the rigor is used onely against them of the Religion reformed whether they were of any conspiracy or no and that contrary to the Edict of Pacification so oftentimes repeated they of the reformed Religion are either driven to fly to dye or to recant or lose their offices whereby it doth appear by all actions now used by our good brother that his scope and intent doth tend only to subvert that Religion that we do profess and to root it out of his Realm at the least all the strangers of all Nations and Religions so doth interpret it as may appear by the triumphs and rejoycings set out aswel in the Realm of France as others which maketh that it must needs seem very strange both to us and to all other that our good brother should require us to be Godmother to his dear childe we being of that Religion which he doth now persecute and cannot abide within his Realm And if we should believe the perswasion of others and the opinion of all strangers our friends who be not our Subjects we should in no case condescend to any association in that or any other matter But as we have always hitherto had special love to our good brother in his younger age and a desire to the consideration of his good estate and quietness which we have in deeds manifestly shewed never seeking any advantage of time against him as peradventure other Princes would have done but ever sought to preserve his Estate and his Subjects of what estate or condition in Religion whatsoever they were exhorting them to unity and concord and with loyal hearts to live together in quiet under our good brother without offering injury the one to the other glad of their agreement and sorry of their division and discord so the late league of straiter amity made betwixt our good brother and us to the which he did so frankly and lovingly condescend or rather procure it at our hands is so fresh in our memory that we cannot suffer that in any jot it should be diminiished but rather encreased daily so long as our good brother doth shew the like unto us and that maketh us to interpret all things in better part then otherwise by any means they can appear such is our love to our good brother and so can we be content to perswade our selves for the love that we do bear unto him and for the hope of his continuance in our begun amity without faintness or dissimulation And this for the matter of Amity For continuance of declaration of which amity we said to Mannesire we would not be slack in any good office doing at the request of our good brother And so notwithstanding the doubts and impediments beforementioned we intend to send a worthy personage a noble man of our Realm to repair to his Court and to visit the King our good brother and the Queen Mother and the rest who have written in our behalfs and to do that office which is required as appertaineth wishing that these spiritual alliances may be to us our comfort and conservation of the amity begun betwixt us To the motion of the marriage with the Dâ—ke of Alanson wherein de Mannesire seemed somewhat earnest after declaration of inconveniences that might come in that marriage by the diversity of age and Religion which we termed in our talk extream and true impediments we made this final resolution and answer That forasmuch as we had given to our Ambassador resident there charge to demand and make relation of certain things touching that matter to the King and Queen Mother to the which you had no answer but of the Queen Mother in a certain generallity before that we shall have a special answer to them we cannot well resolve the which once being done we shall the better understand what to answer for any other proceeding in that request To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador Resident for her Majestie in France SIr I heartily thank you for your often advertisements and also that you are so careful for our estate the which so far as I can learn dependeth only upon the providence of God as it hath done always but is easily sustained by the policy of men and yet hath sped better then any man would think and so I pray God it may do still De Mannesire hath been honourably received and friendly and yet to say the truth sith those late and execrable murthers of the true servants of God there the minds of the most number are much alienated from that Nation even of the very Papists much more of the Protestants here and if in countenance and entertainment some coldness might appear it must be ascribed to our English nature which as yet cannot dissemble so deeply as the French can and hath done but I am sure De Mannesire hath no cause to complain In Scotland after the death of the Earl of Marre the late Regent about the four and twentieth of November they chose the Earl of Morton Regent with a great common consent of the Lords Bâ—rgesses in Scotland who as we hear say doth very carefully and wisely endeavor himself to reconcile as much as may be the Lords one with another and to appease both the factions which I fear will not be but with some charge to the Queens Majestie and some grief to the French Ministers and Procurers who can least abide quietness in that Realm Mr. Killâ—grew is yet there still who assoon as they appear to agree within themselves shall return as he would gladly do hither to receive some thanks for his pains I pray God for so much as he hath deserved for his integrity and diligence Our men be all come from Flushing either before or at or sith their returning the most part all sick Sir Humphrey Gilberts sickness is turned into a Quartain some of them that came with him be buried at London I thank you for the Matthiolus you sent unto me I like it well but yet if I could recover mine own I noted through with mine own hands I would like it far better but he that stole it from me doth think that I shall have it again of that price I pray you buy me a case of Instruments such as be to be sold in the Palace I mean containing two compasses or three a
Ambassador in France your Majestie knoweth in what state he is and the poor Gentlewoman his wife Yea saith she that pity of her is that maketh all this haste and I am sorry for her but there is no remedy he cannot now go before Midlent or Easter Well Madam quoth I seeing it be so may it please you may he be sure to go at Easter and may I write so to my Lord Ambassador Yea saith her Majestie now you have my Commission and so much I can say judge of it as you shall please but I assure you my Lord of Leicester my Lord Treasurer my Lord Admiral and I and some other of your friends have done what they can for your return but whether it be Fatis or what else hath letted I know not nor can guess but I perceive what is the issue at this time You are a wise man and can comfort your self with wisdom and patience and the rather if the promise do hold that by Easter you may return My Lord of Worcester bringeth full instructions for that he hath to do or may fall out in communication the which he must and will communicate unto you and use therein your advice I send you some Occurrents out of Scotland If you would know what we do here we play at tables dance and keep Christmas The Queens Majestie and all the rest of my Lords thanks be to God be in good health My Lord Privy-Seal what with age and sickness is not thought long to abide in this world and the Earl of Kents health is almost desperate Farewel From Hampton Court the twelfth of Ianuary 1572. Yours alwayes assured Tho Smith To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador Resident for her Majestie in France SIr I am both sorry and ashamed that I cannot write of any matter meet for satisfaction in your own case as I would and as I know you have had occasion to expect but the impediments thereof I know you shall understand by other your friends and therewith do assure you that whatsoever any of them do write of my former care taken for you and that I have now promised to follow I have as much or more and will continue and persevere to the utmost of my power and so wish you as much patience as you have cause of grief This bearer finding me here at my house at Westminster telleth me that he is dispatched from the Court I think iâ— needless to advertise you of the coming of my Lord of Worcester and for that I think surely that Mr. â—â—cretary doth advertise you of all things I do forbear Glasco Davisoâ— longeth to heâ—â— from Lyoâ—s 9 the ship abode in the place appoiâ—â—ed 23 days And so I end trusting to see you here amongst your friends within this â—ix weeks at the least to be revoked at that time From Westminster the â—2 of January 1572. Your assured friend Will. Burleigh To my very loving friend Mr. Francis Walsingham the Queens Majesties Ambassador in France THe cause of her Majesties longer stay of your abode there and not to send presently D. Dale is onely in respect of some persons you have there to deal withall which you may easily conceive whom I mean though I name them not the cause I write it not plain is lack of a cypher having worn mine to pieces this progress time in carriage and pray you to bear the more with this dark writing but it concerneth such as you wrote a little of to my Lord Treasurer Her Majesty doubteth greatly the state of that person and hath in expectation that some great matter will proceed from them and neither doth she think Dale to be a fit man to be imployed neither that the other will deal frankly with him as with you For my part I am perswaded that great matters will fall that way and surely you shall do well to enter the more speedily and deeply with them for the knowing of their whole intent I must but tell you mine own conceit I fear it be but a practice to dandle us for so many are acquainted here with the cause I mean of that Nation but it is impossible but that the Ambassador here must know it Besides I see that the hope of the marriage is still entertained here and our Mistres made to think it is ever â—incerely meant which if it were indeed and the other matters true of the parties disposition what could with-hold to put that in execution which were most like for him to get it for his own value must sue more for him then his friends commendation or else his party here will be little as I think But this manner of dealing I see serveth to no purpose but winneth them time and loseth us all good opportunities and hindreth your returâ— where your friends wish you both for your self and chiefly for her Majesties better service You shall do well therefore for her Majesty for I cannot imagine what good this great suspence will do her to seek by all means you can at their hands to know their full mind and the scope of their intent for by these the dealing of the Ministers here with her Majesty hath no cause to find any way direct or substantiall she takes great hinderance otherwise and no good shall come to them neither in this sort of proceedings And as none here are privy to the matter but my Lord Treasurer and I so is it too great a burthen so long to conceal her Majesties so great hindrance of her greater causeâ— as the time wants for lack of certainty through understanding the intent and bottom of this Cause which surely hitherto giveth more cause of suspition of practise then of good meaning And yet if it were minded as they pretend except they proceed otherwise then I perceive yet they do they shall rather hurt themselves and us both then further any good purpose that may bring hope of that good success we would wish Thus as well as I can utter my poor conceit both for your self and us and do wish you to deal accordingly with all speed and to return your answer thereof with all diligence you can and thereupon we wil take occasion again to procure your return which if staying might yield service to her Majesty and good to the Countrey I would no way hinder if you were my brother Otherwise finding no more cause then I do you have no friend here will further sooner the other My Lord of Worcester hath desired me to write to you that you would deal friendly and frankly with him he disableth himself and trusteth to your advice in all such sort as belongeth to his place I heartily require it for him onely it may suffice you to know he is a Papist and a favourer of all such especially a â— otherwise a good simple Gentleman and fit for the Christning Shew him I pray all the courtesie you can as I doubt not of it My Lord Privy Seal is dead this
1572. Your Lordships to Command Fr. Walsingham To the right Honoâ—rable my very good Lord the Lord Treasurer IT may please your Lordship to understand that B. who hath great conference with B. G. in matters of greatest importance did discover to a friend of his who imparted the same unto me that he learned at his hands that the 19 of this moneth Queen Mother held a secret Councel at which was present onely the Cardinall of Lorain and two others In the which it was debated what course was to be taken for the appeasing of their troubles here And after long deliberation it was concluded That untill such time as England might be kept occupied there could grow no through redress here without hazarding of the whole estate and that therefore it was requisite now to yeild to them of Rochel any reasonable kind of surety they would require as also to other Towns in France that would not yeild And rather then fail to yeild to them so far as to let them have the liberty of their Religion to suffer the Nobility of the Country that inhabit near the Towns to live in the same to keep such Garrisons in the same as they may think fit for their surety with condition that the said Nobility shall deliver some of their children to be Hostages with the King for his assurance that the said Towns shall be kept to his use And amongst others it was agreed that the offers should be made to Count Mango to retire himself to Rochel with condition to yeild his son to be a Pledge These offers they think to be so large as they make full account they will be accepted This thing being done it is then concluded to send under the conduct of the Marquis de Maine 1000 shot which thing shall be done as proceeding from him himself in respect that he is the Queen of Scots kinsman and disavowed by the King who shall land at a place called Aier shall after they have joyned with the Qu. party repair to Edenburgh where Liddington and Grange Kirkaldie have promised to deliver up the Castle unto such as the King shall appoint upon recompence to receive some living here in France there leaving a sufficient Garrison they shall besides fortifie themselvs in the town of Loâ—ghbreton at Brochty besides Dundee at Haymouth And that this being done the Duke of Guyse and Chevalies shal come over with other forces to procure the delivery of the Queen of Scots such of the Queens friends as are in England wil incontinently take Arms who do give out to them here that her party and forces are so great there that having good Leaders munition they shal be able to make their party good enough to deliver the Queen of Scots in despite of her Majesty In the mean time till the King hath compounded with those Towns that now hold out they are resolved that the D. of Chastelrâ—â—lt and the â— of Huntly shall seem to yeild to any composition that the Regent will have them onely to keep out that her Majesty shall send thither no forces in assisting of the Regent which thing they have advertisements from their Ambassador that she hath meaning to do And for the communicating of those matters unto the Queens party there it is determined that Viraque shall depart thither forthwith he shall also have commission to bear the Regent in hand that the King here doth not mislike of the present government there nor that he is chosent Regent and to use all such like speeches as may entertain him for a time untill such things here be setled He shall also have charge to offer him the entertainment of men of Arms to all such young Gentlemen as are serviceable as well to them of one part as to those of the other Other particularities he said he learned of him which he might not utter and were of great consequence The Gentleman to whom this was discovered being a Scot is one whom I do very well credit and for that he is thought to incline towards the Queen of Scots the party above named did deal the more frankly with him and because I thought it necessary for her Majesty to understand so much I thought good to send this Messenger of purpose withall and have promised for his recompence to have 6 pounds 13 shillings 4 pence For that mine own men are not returned I am driven to use him If her Majesty desire to hear often from hence then must there be order taken for the sending back of those I send thither And so leaving c. At Paris the 24 of January 1572. Your Honors to command Fr. Walsingham Viraque is already departed and commanded to use all expedition possible To the right honourable Mr. Francis Walsingham Esquire her Majesties Ambassador in France SIR as Dido said Non ignara mali miser is succâ—rrere disco so I who know what things they be whch Ambassadors do most desire will not let you want that intelligence which I can give you by your man I send you the occurrents of the Scot. By my L. of Worcesters instruction you shal understand what is to be answered to all questions likely to be moved either to you or to him yet that all things might be perfect I have sent you a Peer of my L. Treasurers sent to me because the French Ambassador shewed the â— â—ajesty that the Emperours Master of the Horse who cometh for the Emperesse doth intend to hold the Child himself The Queens Majesty to save money will have my Lord do so too except as in the Instructions The childs name as the Ambassador told her Majesty should have the name of both the Godmothers and so be called Mary Elizabeth so neither shal strive with others for the name This is all I can say for that matter And for your return and successor as much as I could know I wrot to you by your servant Iacomo We have had intelligence lately from Rochel that there was a servant of the late Cardinall Chastillans put to death there for going about and conspiring to betray the town of Rochel and the same as he went to execution confessed that it was he that poisoned the same Cardinal in Eâ—gland whereby it may appear that this design of murdering had the plot laid long before and a man may doubt whether the Queen of Navarre passed out the same way I thank you for your notes which you sent me of the Comet or new Starre but in the placing of it your Astronomers and ours differ exceedingly Yours do place it in the 29 of Piscis and ours in the 7 degree of Taurus so they vary one whole sign and 8 degrees Your printed Book goeth upon it 〈…〉 If any hath more boldly written of it in print I pray you let me see it Our men do not deny but that he riseth in that degree of Piscis or the first of â— but it is one thing to rise with the degree
be not provoked to answer to any of those points mentioned in them he should not minister occasion of talk on them and possibly they will say nothing and yet with you they will be busie which if it come to pass there is no doubt but you can and will answer to the effect of those Instructions and further as occasion shall be ministred But in one point that is for the breach of the abstinence in Scotland which then was not certain and now is certain hard it is if they be not questioning with you for I am sure de la Mâ—t will not be without his intelligence from Scotland nor negligent in advertising to France And upon occasion of time whether you be demanded or not it is thought meet that you take occasion to shew the King that to the grief of the Queens Majestie the Scots have not agreed but be broken again into hostilitie within themselves which although touâ—heth joyntly the Fr. K. and her Majestie because they two being Princes of so great authority and so conjoyned in love and amity and both by mutual consent by their Ambassadors labouring to bring them to unity peace and concord within themselves should be so illuded and scorned of a few petty companions that having all things offered unto them that they could desire reasonable and more yet they would still maintain war in their own Countrey and in the tender age of their young King whom to set up and Crown they were the first doers This injury you may say touched the King as well as the Queens Majestie because joyntly they both like Princes in most amitie agreed in their Leagues together to pacifie and unite Scotland in it self which now by discord intestine being disunited is brought almost to extreme poverty and misery The other cause toucheth more her Majestie because they being her Neighbours next adjoyning and bordering upon her Subjects while the Realm of Scotland was united and peace within it self if any of their Thieves and Out-laws had injury by theft or murther any of her Majesties Subjects upon complaint redress was had the Malefactors punished and he who had the injurie restored and so was it on both sides reciprocally Now in this Civil dissention miseries robberies stealth and murthers be committed daily and then the one part or the other beareth them out so that it were almost as good to have a border war betwixt England and Scotland for the poor men that do dwell thereabouts as civil wars betwixt the Scots themselves and therefore this breach betwixt the two parties must needs grieve her Majesties Subjects more then the French King being so far distant and so consequently her Honor who indeed doth take it and not without cause heavily for that they have not esteemed better her Majesties good will and desire that she had all their strifes and debates among themselves compounded and accorded and that they have set so light by the authoritie of the French King their brothers and heirs The young King is her Majesties near Kinsman and her Highness desireth not onely to have him preserved but also his Realm if it could be in quiet peace and good oâ—der and aboundance which without inward peace cannot be had and must needs think evil of these few petty companions being gotten into the Castle of Edenburgh which for their wilful obstination and private benefits shall keep that Realm still in that dissention and trouble in contempt of such Princes as the French King and her Majestie is whose design tended to nothing but to make unitie and concord among them there And therefore if Hume Castle and Fast Castle which her Highness hath detained hitherto in that hope upon accord to have rendred them to the Lord and owners thereof from whom they were before by just war taken Now her Majestie seeth no longer cause to detain but to render them according as is comprised in the Treatie not to them who have so evil deserved of her Majestie their own King and Countrey by their perverse obstinacy and of the French King also but one of the same Nation who acknowledgeth their King and is desirous of unitie peace concord and good government in that Realm and of this her design her Majestie thought meet to make her good brother the French King first privy unto for the love that she doth bear unto him and according to the Amity and Intelligence betwixt the two Realms I am glad to have this occasion to send this bearer Iohn Farry your man unto you for I assure you I do pitty your case that so many of your men be here together peradventure occasion may serve shortly to send you another yet methinks you forget me to send so often to others without any letters to me Fare you well From Somerset-house the nine and twentieth of January 1572. by English account I thank you for the case of Tools I yet have not leisure to understand them all nor looked not for so many nor on that sort When I shall understand the properties and use of them I shall have more cause to thank you Yours alwayes assured Tho Smith To the Earl of Leicester AFter the inclosing up of my other letters I received at one instant two sundry Letters of your Lordships the one of the eighth and the other of the nine and twentieth Touching the first your Honour doth concur with me in opinion as I conceive by the same that the matter which is the chiefest cause of my stay is but a meer entertainment the matter through misguiding is never like to come to issue If they mean otherwise which is most likely why should her Majestie endure to be any longer abused As your Lordship findeth the partie that dealeth there halting and divers in his tales even like unconstancie and doubleness do I find in him here that dealeth with me To disguise the matter they borrow certain names out of Amadis de Gaule wherein they deal most aptly to adde to a fained thing fained names They judge us to be very gross and do think that every fair and coloured speech is able to abuse us I cannot be otherwise perswaded but some here that rule all are acquainted with the matter for otherwise the partie that last came over would never have medled in the same God send it a better end then I look for For your Lordships good advice in the latter end of your letter I most humbly thank you and do think my self much bound to you for the same as for any other favour I have received at your Lordships hands since I entred into this service The best recompence I can make unto your Lordship as I know is to take profit thereof True it is that sometimes in requital unto some of my Friends who have given me large entertainments of the state of things whereof otherwise I have been ignorant I have also largelie made them partakers how things passed here and somewhat more largelie then I have
hath brought the most of them to hearken to his pipe I have let her Majesty see and consider of your letters saving some concerning our occurrents here I will move her Majesty to be more earnest then yet she hath been There lacketh no no sollicitation for your revocation and untill my Lord of Worcesters return it shall be hard to obtain any resolute answer If the French King shall follow towards Rochel I would wish you to procure means to tarry in some convenient place near Paris and to send a Secretary to follow the Court with some pretence of lack of your health But hereof you shall best counsell your self And so I end From Westminster the 29 of January late in the night After I had supped here at my house all the Lords of the Councell and by their means 20 Lords more to the which I had commodity by the Queens Majesties being here at Somerset House Yours assuredly W. Burghley To my Lord of Burghley the 11 of February THis Letter I received the day of my Lord of Worcesters departure and because I doubted your Lordship would not wel read the same I thought good to copie it out what the effect thereof should be I know not it seemeth to me but a Riddle The party that brought them was as vain as vanity it self he shewed me that La. Motts departure without taking of his leave was for that he durst not repair unto me being very much suspected I told him he needed not fear so much for that he dealt not with me in any matter but that he might repair unto me any time safely without any danger for any thing that I know I have of late discovered one that carrieth a box of Linnen to the Queen of Scots who departeth not this town these three or four days I think your Lordship shall see somwhat written in some of the linnen contained in the same that shall be worth the reading Her Majesty under colour of seeing of the fashion of the Ruffes may cause the severall pieces of linnen to be held afore a fire whereby the writing may appear for I judge there will be some matter discovered which made me the more willingly grant the Pasport To my Lord of Burleigh I Should do my Lord of Worcester wrong if should not impart unto your Lordship both his dutifulness and discreet usage of the La. of Northumberland His sister sent unto him at the time of his abode here to the end your Lordship may make her Majesty acquainted with all First as soon as he heard of the said parties coming his Lordship made me privie thereof and shewed that though she was his sister yet in respect of her undutifull usage towards her Majesty he did respect her as a meer stranger and so meant to do untill such time as her peace were made He would not so much as vouchsafe to give ear to any Messenger or Message sent from her and therefore willed him to forbear to repair unto him The like usage towards the said Messenger did Charls Somerset use utterly refusing to speak with him And leaving c. At Paris the 12 of February 1572. To Sir Tho. Smith SIR According to your direction of your Letters the 29 of the last I shewed the King of the great grief that her Majestie had conceived that the travel both of his and her Ministers took no better effect touching the appeasing of the matters in Scotland as a thing dishonourable for them both to be deluded and scorned by such petty companions as those are that are in the Castle to whom was offered as much as they themselves could desire reasonable and more yet so are they carried away with their particular passions as they desired nothing more then to maintain still Warr in their Countrie not having such a respect to the tender age of their young King as they ought especially seeing that they were the first and chief doers in deposing of the Queen and setting up of him I shewed him also That though the Kings civil Warr and hostility touched both their Majesties generally as they that desired the repose of that Realm yet it touched the Queens Majestie more particularly for that during the time of these civil troubles amongst them her Majesties Subjects that are borderers are marvelously charged by outlaws and thieves whereof no redress can be had by reason of their inward troubles amongst themselves I declared unto him also that her Majestie in regard of the kindred betwixt the young King and her could not but wish his Realm to be in quiet and peace in this his minority which thing would not be brought to pass so long as these petty companions in the Castle through their own wilfulness obstinacy and private respects shall keep that Realm still in dissention and trouble in contempt of both him and her Majestie whose designe tended to no other end but to make unity and concord amongst them And therefore the King to this answered that he was sorry that their intentions in according of them took no better effect And as for Hume Castle he said that though by the League it was not expresly mentioned to be delivered to the L. Hume yet the meaning of it was so Whereunto I reply'd that the meaning of the clause in the League touching the rendring of Hume Castle had not respect to any particular person but generally to set that Country free from all forein forces and that therefore her Majestie might render the same to whom she would of that Nation To that the King replyed that he had rather it should remain in the Queens Majesties hands who saith he is a Prince honourable and sincere then to be delivered into the hands of any of the other party But herein saith he I will advise my self with my Councel and within a day or two make you acquainted with mine answer I told him according to my Lord of Worcesters Instructions that her Majestie delivering the same would capitulate with those to whom it should be delivered to restore the same to the L. Hume when he shall recognize the Kings authority as heretofore he hath done The King took occasion upon these Scottish matters to recommend unto the Earl of Worcester the Queen of Scots case To whom my Lord answered that such was their dangerous and unkind dealing towards her Majestie as he should forget the duty of a good Subject if he should once open his lips for her and therefore desired his Majestie to pardon him in that he refused to be a dealer in that behalf To this the King answered That he did not desire any favour to be shewed unto her otherwise then might be with the Queens Majesties safety At our access unto Queen Mother she desired my Lord that whereas there hath been long in Treaty a marriage between her Majestie and her Son M. Le Duc de Alanzon that he would therefore move her at his return that the same may grow to some conclusion
enemies Besides I did let her understand that it behoved the Queen my Mistriss if they did not embrace the League but upon such condition as she could not in reason agree unto to take some other way for the establishing of her own estate not doubting but that she would be as well able to withstand the malice of Spain as any other of her neighbours To this after she had declared how earnestly the King her son did affect the marriage considering he had no issue himself and had but one only brother upon whom and such issue as he should have depended the continuance of the house of Valois she prayed me to consider whether the King had not just cause to insist upon the said marriage and as for the League she said she had no Commission to wade therein but a matter that depended onely on the King and therefore because it required for the reasons by me alleadged expedition she advised me to make haste towards him I then prayed her that for as much as I did understand she did not mean to be at Paris in five or six days she would dispose his minde by Letters to imbrace the same which she promised to perform accordingly Touching the Companies that are to follow the Duke I can as yet deliver your Lordship no more but this in generality That he is to have six thousand footmen and two thousand six hundred Lances which as the report goeth are sufficiently appointed and in such good order as the like have not been seen this many yeers in France Their meaning is to joyn with the States Forces that are now in Flanders doubting nothing more then that the enemy will not encounter with them but withdraw himself into his holds I am promised a particular of all the Forces as soon as it cometh to my hands I will with the next dispatch send it to your Lordship Your Lordships assured Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honorable Sir Francis Walsingham SIr your servant Bonham this bearer came hither yesterday being Wednesday the ninth of this month about of the clock at which time I was on the North side of the water to have gone to Theobalds but by good fortune I had word of his arrival so as I returned being not gon from the water-side her Majestie had two or three days before spoken of you marvelling that she could not hear from you I answered always as now it proved true that the Letters or bearer should bring with them reasonable satisfaction For I knew certainly that you would be careful to delay no time of sending I delivered to her Majestie your Letters directed to her shewing her also that I had others directed to my self but she said she would first read her own first Monsieurs Letter and next yours so she having done asked me what you had written to me for said she I finde nothing in mine concerning the matters for which he went then I told her I would read yours to her But she using breath in speech said she would have me make report thereof which I said I could hardly do because you had written at such length what had passed in Colloquie first betwixt Monsieur and you secondly between certain of his Councel and you at several times Lastly between the Queen mother and you and so in the end she was content to hear the whole Negociation adding her self that by your Letters to her you had spoken to Monsieur being in his bed after his Mothers coming thither She added also that she perceived that Monsieur would come hither and receive his answer himself after his journey of Cambray Concerning the Negotiation she saith she would not have had you to have made direct mention of the league but that incidently it should have fallen out upon their objection that if her Majestie would not consent to the marriage with the war that then the war should cease Then thereupon she saith you might have thereto answered that in respect of the King of Spains greatness in growing it were good that there were such a league made betwixt the French King and her To this I answered that your ordâ—r in proceeding was warranted to you both by your instructions and also the same grounded upon the order of the French Kings answer to her Ambassador which was in three points The first to know the day of her marriage which being agreed unto they would enter into a league offensive and defensive And lastly to a secret Treaty for the matters of the Low-Countrey For orderly answer whereunto you were instructed to that which you did herewith I think she was satisfied at your well-doing But I found her touched with some fear that this league and secret treaty should be very chargeable unto her I told her that there would be no great matter managed that was free from charge and if she had no need of assistance to withstand her perils which she knew and so doth all the world besides see it manifestly otherwise she needed not to have sent you at this time Then also she spake of her ayd to Don Anthonio doubting how to use the matter both because the season of the year passeth away and that she could not be assured what course the French King would take therein without whose entring into the action she would be loath to adventure any thing and yet she added that the French Ambassadour told her two days since that the King his Master had willed him to thank her Majestie for the favours and supports that she gave to Don Anthonio but in the end for the matter she would stay until she should hear from you what the French King will do therein For the greatest important matter in the Letter expressed by the Viscount of Turayne I dealt with her Majestie earnestly therein and having made my Lord of Leicester first acquainted with your Letters next my L. Chamberlain and then Mr. Vice-Chamberlain I required the assistance of the said two letters as a matter most necessary for the French cause in hand as that which being neglected neither a league offensive nor yet hereafter any secret treaties could remedy Whereunto she told me as my Lord of Leicester said she told him the like that you had Commission to satisfie Monsieurs need therein but presently upon seeking to perswade her that words were no satisfaction but that deeds must do it and such a thing could not be perfected with words nor thoughts no nor in short time she answered me that you had warrant from her to yield to that which was required when you had found the Kings disposition desperate to help his brother For quoth her Majestie if he should any way open my good will herein to Monsieur afore the French Kings mind were fully known then the whole burthen should fall upon me as for more proof saith she you may see by the speeches of Monsieurs Councellours alledging that Monsieur had mony lent him by divers upon hope of the
See Walsingham Abhors a war 374 377 Forward to advance the revolt of the Low-Countries 379 381 388 Cold in the cause of the Bastard Don Antonio 379 388 Aides him 383 Emden Countess 149 England no Country once so free from impositions 21 English how thought of by the French 325 Zealous Subjects for the Queen 335 341 Escars 8 Este Cardinal 357 F Felton sets up Pius his Bull against the Queen 49 Feria Duke 59 Ferrara Duke 42 43 Fernihurst Lord 373 Fitzmorris Iames 42 167 168 347 Flemming Lord 78 139 181 183 Flushing Rebels 217 Francis the Second of France 12 Francis of Anlanson and Anjou See Anjou Duke French greatness dangerous 127 Disorders in Government 240 246 Spoil the English 265 Their falsenesse and dissembling 276 Desirous to get Leicester and Burleigh into France 277 G Galloway Bishop 77 Gilbert Sir Hâ—mphrey 299 Glasgow Arch Bishop 299 302 Grandmont Mons. 267 Graunge Governour of Edenburgh Castle 151 152 Gray Baron Deputy of Ireland 359 373 389 Guarda Bishop 358 Guise house 36 for the Scots Queen 192 240 Duke 267 269 275 295 314 428. Cardinal 280 H Hamilton Earl 138 Hanging of Gentlemen not used in France 279 282 Harris Baron 134 Hawkins Sir Iohn 126 379 Henry the II King of France 12 Henry the III forbids exercise of Religion to the Hugonots 356 Earnest for the match with his brother and the League 376 Will have no League Offensive without it 440 His great charges in the Treaty 397 Henry the IV Prince of Navarre 16 245 Hosteni Duke 221 Hugonots of France 2 3. run themselves into the Kings nets 122 Their Lands on sale 245 Great servants of the English Queen 135 Love not the Cross 151. See Massacre Hume Lord 214 320 329 Hunsdon Baron 151 Huntley Earl 138 312 315 333 I Jenlis 223. defeated in Henault 225 Jersie Iland 272 Jesuites mortal enemies to the Queen 172 173 Inn Keepers of Kent 21 Inquisition 123 Instructions for the Earl of Worcester 318. For Sir Fra. Walsingham 352 For a League with France 355 Joyeuse Duke 294 440 K Katherine Queen Mother of France 6 12 35. per tot c. Killigrew Henry 145 Kirkaldie Iames 302 L Languedoc Hugoâ—ots rebel 294 Lansac Mons. 24 49 239 La Valette â— Leagues how made 171 414. With France publick and secret 355 Not liked without the Match 364 365 388 366 367 368 399 392. Causes of it 372 374 403 422 423. Leicester his good and pious sentences 47 51 69 82 105 116 324. To be fastned for the Match 104. Slights the Earle of Worcester 312 Lennox Earle 138 Levingston Lord 4 77 244 312 326 334 Liberty under the English Princes heretofore as great as any where 61 Lidington Lord 152 137 244. Lincoln Eâ—â—le Lord Admiral sent into France 201 205 219. Lodowick Count of Nassaw 54 121 123 176 184 333. Notably cheated by the French King 125 258 Longaville Duke 50 Lorrain Cardinal 8 38 73 74 77 123 167 168 314 331. Duke 88 301 Loughleuin Lord 302 Low-Countries the pretence of their Revolt 123 M Maine Duke 395 Malicorn Mons. 27 Mannesiere Mons. 240 265 287 288 297 298 299 301 304 305 307. Mary Queen of Scots 4 10 11 12 13 137 139 152. Not to be spoken for 321 Margaret of France reads the Bible 122 Martinengo Count 306 Marre Earl 138 299 Marriage treated betwixt Henry of Navarre and Margaret of France 122 135. Doubts in it 182 183 Betwixt the Queen and Henry of Anjou designed 55. Instructions concerning it 61 62 63. See 68 69 70 Articles of it 83 84 85 86 131 132. Counsellors imployed in it 66 83. Carryed on inconstantly 133. Not taken in earnest by the French 67. Betwixt the Queen and Francis of Anjou 218 226 227 229 230 330 331 336 339. Eagerly pursued 360 361 362. See 390 Marriage Solemnity betwixt Princes of different Faiths 175 Medina Coeli Duke 189 195 Memorials for Mr. Sommers 384 385 Mendoza thrust out of England for practising against the Queen 163 Mildmay Sir Walter Monluc Marshal 8 Montmorency Duke 8 97 102 108 151 188. In England 201 218 231 240 Monts in Henault besieged 245 taken 258 M organ General 217 M oreton Earl 77 138 244 299 Beheaded 431 Moth Fenelon French Embassador 30 90 138 141 c. Murther on shooters hill 347 N Navarre King turned by his wife 91 Queen 24 176 182 183 Nemours Duke 50 Nevers Duke 238 258 300 New star 299 Norfolk Duke 134. His plots discovered 137 140 148 Norris Sir Henry 19 18 19 20 22 23 Northumberland Earl 3 75 Executed 237 Nouë Mous. 184 297 301. Persidious 332 O Odonnel 359 373 Ogleby Lord 312 Olivarez Conde 40. More grave then wise 56 Orange Prince 48 122 144. To have been 〈…〉 of Bâ—abant c. if the Spaniard could have been beaten out 128. See 225 226 240. Retires into Germany 267 269 295 333 Ormond Earl 238. Discontented 373 Oxford Earl 134. Married to the Lord Burleighs daughter 164 P Parliament of 1571. impertinently busie 94. Bloody 203 219 Parma Prince 381 384 Perrot Sir John 347 Philip the second of Spain entertains the Queens fugitives 58 59. How he carried things towards the Queen 369 370 Pinart Secretary of France 23 31 122 305 309 375 Plots upon Ireland 58 Poigney Mons. 4 Popes Authority in England destructive to the Crown 4. Designs again England 36 Princes have no other bridle but Religion 91 Princes of Germany of the Reformed Churches 301 R Rebellion in the North coloured with Religion 3 Rhee Iland taken by the Rochellers 301 Religion is a constant perswasion confirmed by time 191. Cannot be more then a pretence to invade what is another mans 155 Ridolf 95 137 Rochel in rebellion 280 297 301 302 Besieged 331 Rolph a counterfeiter of the Kings hand 266 Romero Juliano 27 Ross Bishop 5. 77. restrained 107. in the Tower 151 Roulart Canon of Nostre Dam murthered 246 Rutland Earl 39 42 141 S Saint Andrewes Arch-Bishop taken 78 Sancerre besieged 332 348 Savoye Duke 287 293 303 Schomberg Baron 332 Scots Lords come to treat concerning their Queen without a Commission 77. Everlasting Rebels 101. Yet will not live without a Prince of their own 178. Gracious in France 244. Will do any thing for money 249 320 324 329. Seton Baron 27 36 95 177 181 Sidney Sir Henry 82 Sir Philip in France at the time of the Massacre 250. of rare parts 273 Skeldon 36 Smith Sir Thomas 51 54 134 152. imployed in France 153. Thinks Charles the Ninth a faithful Prince 169 180 261 318 Sommers Henry 354 Sora Duke 356 Spaniards of what carriage 56. Ambitious enemies to England 121. Conquer Portugal 358 Spanish greatness dangerous 354 355. Mony arrested 81 Spinoâ—a Cardinal 59 Story Doctor will not swear allegiance Hanged 105 Strozzi Peter 95 188 189 217 251 294 359 Stukeley 36 41. Knighted by the Spaniard 56 59. in disgrace 105 Suffex Earl 5 T Tauannes Viscount 258 Terçaera holds for Don Antonio 421 Tilignie Mons. 276 Time a great advantage in the minority of Princes 298 Throgmorton Sir Nicholas 45 287 Treaties of Princes Of the Queen with Charles the IX 155 156 157 158 c. 185. With Henry the III passages and propositions in it 399 400 401 423 Tresham Sir Thomas 390 Turein Vicount 367 385 V Valentinois Bishop 302 Valx Lord will take no Oath to the Queen 290 Venetians at sea 312 Victory at Lepanto 149 150 Viracque Mons. 137 315. taken 334 342 Vitelli Marquiss of Colona 44 48 223 Vimioso Conde 394 434 W Walsingham Sir Francis Embassador in France 1 c. Received by the King 22 23. Much mistaken in his French Creed 82 83 104 118 122 144 173 252. Calls Charls the IX sincere pius inimicus c. 175. Confesses his overmuch confidence 257. See 270 Thinks the French King the only dissembler 300. Sets spiâ—s over the Lord Seton acts without war◠〈…〉 Earnest for the match 96. Perswades to war with Spain 127. Would turmoil all other Princes and why 128. Undermines a Iesuite 172. Desires only not to lose by his service 188. His opinion of the Spaniards 234. Ill used in France 242. Called off 253. The Queenâ— great opinion of him 263 and love 275. Advises against the Queen of Scots life 267 268. Fearful every where of the Queens sparing 303 c. 357 426 427. Too open 322. Poor in France 326 327. Sent again into France 352. Blames the Queen and why 408. Calls the Scots Queen bosom Serpent 427. returnes 440. War when and what just 127. Necessary where 128 Westmoreland Earl 3 143 275 299 Williams Sir William 313 Worcester Earl 307. Abused by Leicecester 312. His instrnctions for his French Embassy 318. Dishonorably dealt with by the French 327. Will not see his sister the wife of a Rebel 328 Writing to the Scots Queen in linnen 328 * Quâ—re †Quere My Lord of Kildares man in the Tower hath by some fear of the Rack confessed all to be true wherewith he was charged which is to be kept awhile secret until some persons may be apprehended
Majestie and our Countrey the want of him will then appear greater For be it spoken without offence to any for counsel in peace and for conduct in war he hath not left of like sufficiency his successor that I know I will not dwell upon this matter for that it is no less unpleasant for your Lordship to read then for me to write And leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the fifth of March 1570. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honorable Sir William Cecil her Majesties principal Secretary SIr as I wrote unto you in my Letters of the 25 of February the Spanish Ambassador came to visit me who after some superfluous talk of love matters entred to talk of the unkindness that reigned between the Queens Majestie and his Master expressing with words of great vehemency the desire that they were drawn to some accord as a thing to the benefit of both Princes for saith he as the League between the house of Burgundy and England hath been the preservation of both the Countreys so the breach thereof might make them both a prey to their neighbours I shewed him that I was glad to hear that he was of that good opinion and therefore I doubted not but that he will use all those good offices that mâ—ght salve the unkindness The first to cause all those occasions that might breed any suspicion of evil meaning to be avoided The second to procure some grateful Ministers to be sent from the King his Master unto her Majestie to enter into some Treaty of accord To the first he said that her Majestie whatsoever was given out to the contrary needed not to doubt of the Kings sincerity towards her To the second he said he saw not how the King could do it with his honor considering how the D. Marquis Vitelli and the King his Masters Ambassador were rejected To that I replyed the offence grew by two of them and therefore ungrateful and most unfit to deal in that behalf And as for their having no direct Commission from the King but from him that had bred the offence in reason he was not fit to be imployed in that care The end of our talk was that he for his part and I for my part would not fail to think of those things that might best tend to breed reconcilement between our Princes But Sir to the end you may know the ground and spring of this alteration of so strange to become so familiar and curteous you shall understand that not past three days before he presented unto the King three requests from the D. Alva The first for that the D. vvas given to understand that the Prince of Orange maketh preparation in Germanie for Flanders that therefore it would please him in respect of the aid his Master had sent him in his civill troubles to send him the like number of Reisters for the better understanding of the said Princes entreprize The second that it would please him that he might leavie here such number of Catholiques as would willingly serve his Master against the said Prince The third that it would please him to stay certain ships there a preparing aâ— Rochel on the Princes behalf To the first the King answered That his treasures were so near spent that he took more care how to pay the Reisters to whom he was indebted for service in the last troubles then he was well able at this present to provide any succour or aid for the King his Master and hoped that seeing his necessity was such his said Master and good Brother would bear with all Touching the second he answered That if he should condescend to the leavying of such Catholiques as would be content to serve that thereupon the Hâ—gonots would take occasion to put themselves in Arms suspecting that the said leavie were but colourable and a device that might reach to themselves To the third he answered That he was informed that the said ships were prepared onely to be revenged oâ— certain of his Masters Subjects that had taken certain ships of those of the Religion and had drowned divers of the men and others they had delivered unto the inquisitors These answers falling not out to his contentment maketh him as I suppose to think that the friendship of England is worth the having The first of this moneth there arrived here the Count Olivares sent by the King of Spain to congratulate the marriage his train was onely in number 11. he is reported to be of livelihood fortie thousand Crowns a yeare his enterment here is nothing answerable to that my Lord of Buckhurst hath receiveâ— I mean to repair to see him as also to propound unto him if I see occasion thereto what by her Majestie I was appointed to declare unto the Spanish Ambassador The second of this moneth which was the day my Lord of Buckhurst took his leave there was set up a Bull which was at Ponte de St. Estienne of the same day that Feâ—ans was containing the self same matter which a servant of mine 〈◊〉 by reason he saw divers flocking about it tore it down and brought me the same whereupon my Lord of Buckhurst I upon conference before his said accesse immediatly broke with the King in that behalf The King called me unto him and asked me the contents of the said Bull whereof being advertised as also I presenting unto him so much of the said Bull as was given me by my servant he shewed himself very much moved thereat in such sort as we might very well see it was unseigned forthwith he called Lansac unto him and willed him to take order with the Judge Crimniall for the searching out of the setter of the same assuring us if by any means he could be found he should receive such punishment as such a persumption required considering the good Amitie between him and his good Sister I shewed him that if he did not take order in this the like measure might be measured to himself He answered that he did perceive that very well and that whosoever he were that should seem to touch in honour any of his Coâ—federates he would make account of him accordingly After my departure from the King Lansac told me in mine ear That he had gâ—â—at cause to guesse that this was some Spanish practise Thus Sir having made you partaker of such things as I thought me for her Majâ—sty to understand I most humbly take my leave From Paris the 5 of Mar. 1570. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham Post-Script Sir Mrâ—â—â— who willed me to write his name in Cipher gave me to understand that a friend of his who talked with an Italian Bishop of the house of Salmaâ—â—i who came lately hither from the Pope to congratulate the marriage did learn by him that he hath a practise in hand for England which would not be long before it brâ—ke forth and he further shewed