Smith to the Lord Burleigh 202 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh ib. Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 203 Earl of Leicester to Sir Francis Walsingham ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester 204 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh ib. The Queen to Sir Francis Walsingham 205 Instructions for the Earl of Lincoln Ambassador extraordinary to the French King 206 Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 212 Earl of Leicester to sir Francis Walsingham ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 213 Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 214 Conference betwixt Duke Montmorency and some of the Queens Councel ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir William Cecil 216 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester ib. Sir William Cecil to Sir Francis Walsingham 217 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester ib. Sir William Cecil to Sir Francis Walsingham 218 Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir William Cecil ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 219 Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir William Cecil 221 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester 222 Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir William Cecil 223 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester 224 Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir William Cecil ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir William Cecil 225 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester ib. The Queen to Sir Francis Walsingham 226 Q. Elizabeth to Sir Francis Walsingham 228 Sir William Cecil to sir Francis Walsingham 230 Sir Tho. Smith to Sir Francis Walsingham ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir Tho. Smith 231 Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir Tho. Smith 232 Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir William Cecil ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester 234 The Queen to Sir Francis Walsingham 235 Sir Tho. Smith to Sir Francis Walsingham 236 Sir William Cecil to Sir Francis Walsingham 237 Sir Tho. Smith to Sir Francis Walsingham 238 Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir Tho. Smith 239 Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir Tho. Smith ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir Tho. Smith 240 Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir Tho. Smith 243 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 245 Lord Burleigh Earl of Leicester Sir Francis Knowles Sir Tho. Smith to Sir Francis Walsingham 246 Lord Burleigh to sir Francis Walsingham 250 251 Earl of Leicester to sir Francis Walsingham ib. Sir Tho. Smith to sir Francis Walsingham 252 253 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lords of her Majesties Councel ib. The Queen to sir Francis Walsingham 259 Sir Tho. Smith to sir Francis Walsingham 262 The Queen to the French King on the behalfe of the Vidam of Chartres 263 Lord Burleigh to sir Francis Walsingham 264 Earl of Leicester to sir Francis Walsingham ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to sir Tho. Smith 265 Sir Francis Walsingham to sir Tho. Smith 267 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 269 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester 270 Answers to the French Ambassador 271 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester 273 Sir Tho. Smith to sir Francis Walsingham 274 Sir Francis Walsingham to sir Tho. Smith 275 Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir Tho. Smith 276 twice Sir Francis Walsingham to sir Tho. Smith 278 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 281 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester 282 Sir Tho. Smith to Sir Francis Walsingham ib. The Lord Burleigh to sir Francis Walsingham 283 Earl of Leicester to Sir Francis Walsingham 284 285 Sir Francis Walsingham to sir Tho. Smith 86 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 287 Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir Tho. Smith ib. Earl of Leicester to sir Francis Walsingham 288 Lord Burleigh to sir Francis Walsingham 289 Sir Francis Walsingham to sir Tho. Smith ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 290 Sir Francis Walsingham to sir Tho. Smith 291 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 292 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester 293 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 294 Sir Francis Walsingham to sir Tho. Smith 295 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 296 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 297 The Queen to Sir Francis Walsingham ib. Sir Tho. Smith to Sir Francis Walsingham 299 Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 301 Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir Tho. Smith ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester 302 Sir Francis Walsingham to the L. Burleigh 303 Sir Francis Walsingham to the L. Burleigh 304 306 Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir Thomas Smith 307 Sir Fr. Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester 308 Sir Francis VValsingham to the Lords of the Council ib. Sir Thomas Smith to sir Francis Walsingham 310 Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham ib. Earl of Leicester to Sir Francis Walsingham 311 Sir Francis Walsingham to sir Thomas Smith 312 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 313 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 314 Sir Thomas Smith to Sir Francis Walsingham 315 Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 316 317 Instructions for the Earl of VVorcester 318 Earl of Leicester to Sir Francis Walsingham 322 Sir Thomas Smith to sir Francis Walsingham 324 Sir Francis VValsingham to the Earl of Leicester 325 Sir Francis Walsingham to sir Thomas Smith 326 Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 327 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 328 Sir Francis Walsingham to sir Thomas Smith 329 331 332 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 333 Sir Thomas Smith to sir Francis Walsingham ib. Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 334 Answer of the Queen to the French Ambassador comcerning the Duke Alanson 335 Lord Burleigh to the French Ambassador 3â—9 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 343 Sir Francis Walsingham to sir Thomas Smith 344 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Earl of Leicester 345 Sir Thomas Smith to Sir Francis Walsingham 346 Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 346 347 The Queen to Sir Francis Walsingham 348 Answer to the French Ambassadors ib. The Queen to King Henry of France 351 Instructions for Sir Francis Walsingham in his second French Ambasiy 352 353 c. For a League with France 355 Sir Francis Walsingham to Sir Henry Cobham and Mr. Sommers 356 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh ib. Sir Henry Cobham to Sir Francis Walsingham 357 Francis of Valois Duke of Anjou and Alanson to Sir Francis Walsingham 358 Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 359 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Queen 360 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 363 Lo. Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 372 Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 374 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 375 Sir Francis Walsingham Sir Henry Cobham John Sommers to the Lord Burleigh 376 Lo. Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 377 379 Sir Francis Walsingham Sir Henry Cobham John Sommers to the
there was in the marriage which proceeding all should be as her Majestie pleased and that if he had been otherwise understood either he did not deliver his mind so clearly as he did mean or else his meaning was mistaken of us and of his Deputies for that he did never mean but that the league offence and the Marriage should go together and not otherwise Having heard this his Majesties conclusion and repeated it unto him I the Secretary said That seeing his Majestie was so resolved her Highness had in that case commanded me to return home my service being more needful there then here for causes which I remembred unto him and that he might think himself of some â—it time to treat further of these matters praying his Majestie to appoint when I might receive his commandments to her Majestie and to take my leave He said he would gladly have us at this marriage of the Duke of Ioyeuse the eighteenth of this moneth but seeing her Majestie had commanded me to return it should be when I would using many speeches full of affection to her Majestie to be uttered at my return to her Highness Then we went to the Queen Mother and rehearsed unto her what had passed by the King Whereunto she used in substance the like speeches the King had done adding more plainly that they feared such a league being made defensive and offensive the marriage would be clean broken with divers other speeches wherewith I think not needful to trouble her Majestie until my return At this time I the Secretary prayed Queen Mother to think well of these matters being of such importance against the time that I should come to take my leave of the King and her and so for that time we departed And for that we might doubt of some alteration we did forbear to send away this Corrier until we had taken our leave which was upon Thursday the twelfth of this present at which time there passed nothing from the King and Queen Mother but ordinary complements and specially recommending the Marriage Paris the 13 of September 1581. Francis Walsingham Henry Cobham Iohn Sommers Reservatio 12 Septembris NOs Fransciscus Walsingham c. Henricus Cobham c. Johannes Sommers c. Omnibus ad quos presentes pervenerint salutem ut supra Denuo tres integros Menses adjiciendos censemus quos mensis Septembris die 12 incipere intelligimus In cujus rei Testimonium has literas nostras mannuum uostrarum subscriptione munimus Data ex urbe Parisiorum 12 Septemb. 1581. Francis Walsingham Henry Cobham Io. Sommers FINIS AN ALPHABETICAL TABLE of the most Remarkable Things A ALva Duke 40 45 46 48 137 139 268 269 Offers 30000 Ducats to ransom the Earl of Northumberland 75. Plots against the Queen 299 Ambition indures no bridle 143 Anjou Duke Hen. 25. See Hen. 3. and Marriage Anjou and Alanson Duke Francis offered for an Husband to the Queen 195 196 257 297 331 333. Unhandsom 343. Of good parts 413 Against Rochel 308. A great Servant to the Queen 360 361 Answers to the French Embassador 271 By the Lord Burleigh concerning the Match with Duke Francis 335. See 348 Antonio of Portugal 354 379 388 393 394 398 421. 434 Anvile Marshal of France 343 Aremberg Grave 370 Argile Earl 4 36 299. A Traitor 302. Alwayes false 312 Arran Earl 412 Arras â—ardinal 123 Athol Earl 302 Aumale Duke 275 295 306 Austrian House the Popes Champion 121 Austria Don John 137 221 288. B Bedford Earle 13 Bellieure Monsieur 381 Beni Massino 271 Birac 95 Biron Baron 27 258 Bisegno Abbot 358 Bothwel Earle 13 151 Boughquien Lord 302 Brandenburgh Marquiss 301 303 Bricqmault Mons 34 Bricquemont hanged 278 379 282 Brulart Secretary of France 265 Buckhurst Lord 18 20 31 42 49 68. 69 Bull of Rome against the Queen 49 Bullen Duke 258 C Calliac Mons. 21 Cambray besieged by the Prince of Parma 381 384 385 Campian the Iesuite taken betrayes his friends 373 Candale Mons. 343 Capteni Thomas 94 Carew Francis 283. 285 Cassels Arch-Bishop a Traitor 58 73 74 75 77 Cavalcant Mons. 66 69 82 Cavannes Mons. 7. Hanged 279 Cecyl Sir William Baron Burleigh 51 An enemy to Popery 72 Zealous for the French match 81 115 234 153 Wearied with an idle Parliament 94 Complains of the Queens mercy 164 For the English honour ill used in Libels 327 328 Sincere 133 336 Hated by the Spaniards 162 164 Charles the Fifth 123 Arch Duke 98 Charls the Ninth of France 5. Puls down the Cross at Paris 151 The greatest dissembler of his age 49 82 83 118 122 124 125 135 143 144 161 169 173 220 251 252 306. Bloody 279 Chartres Vidam in England 260 263 265 Chastel Herault Duke 4 296 303 315 333 Chasteauneuâ— 333 334 Chastilion Cardinal 51 Clanlicard Earl 238 Cobham Sir Henry 22 67 71 285 356 Colignie Admiral of France 6 122 135 154 233 234 His advice to his King 241 Colonna Prospero 357 Commissioners to treat concerning the French Match 348 Como Cardinal 358 Common Prayer Book of England not indured by Papists 97 Conde Prince 6 17 122 240 Forced to go to Masse 245 Conference between Sir Francis Walsingham and Mons. de Foix 90 Betwixt Queen mother and Sir Francis Walsingham 429 Duke Montmorency and the English Lords 214 Crosse Marshal of France 151 258 388 Will not obey the Kings verbal command 396 Cotton Sir Thomas 57 Croque 165 177 181 202 203 D Dale Doctor 310 311 333 Darlie Lord Husband of the scots Queen 13 Derby Earl 303 De Foix Mons. 62 65 67 69 109. In England 129 218 317 318 De l'Archant 89 De la Guord Baron 266 280 305 332 De la Haye a faithless French man 57 De la Roche 33 34 95 167 168 Denmark King 183 Drake See Fran. 379 Dun Briton Castel taken 78 E Edenburgh the London of Scotland 334 Elizabeth Queen of England favours not the rebels of other Princes careful of the French of the Religion 2 3 19 23 A Monarch 3 Accountable to none for her actions 10 Had a Negative voice as it seems in Parliaments 203 215 219 Seems to desire the Match with Henry of France 29 40 Will not allow him the exercise of his Religion 65 66 89 98 110 111 113 129 130 132. See 330 335 339 340 See 115 116 138 155 199 Will not have the second Marriage go on 374 Pretends the dislike of her subjects to avoid it 354 Against any worship but of her owne Church 99 Irresolute as to the execution of the Duke of Norfolk 165 Enterview Betwixt the Queens of England and France propounded 271 272 277 For the young King of the Scots 178 Her civility to the Navarrois Queen Admiral c. 210 211 How she takes the Massacre 247 248 259 Sick of the Smal-Pox 274 Likes not the proceedings of France against Law 297 Protects the French fugitives and why 319 344. intercedes for them 263 265. Too sparing 372 375 379 387.
See Walsingham Abhors a war 374 377 Forward to advance the revolt of the Low-Countries 379 381 388 Cold in the cause of the Bastard Don Antonio 379 388 Aides him 383 Emden Countess 149 England no Country once so free from impositions 21 English how thought of by the French 325 Zealous Subjects for the Queen 335 341 Escars 8 Este Cardinal 357 F Felton sets up Pius his Bull against the Queen 49 Feria Duke 59 Ferrara Duke 42 43 Fernihurst Lord 373 Fitzmorris Iames 42 167 168 347 Flemming Lord 78 139 181 183 Flushing Rebels 217 Francis the Second of France 12 Francis of Anlanson and Anjou See Anjou Duke French greatness dangerous 127 Disorders in Government 240 246 Spoil the English 265 Their falsenesse and dissembling 276 Desirous to get Leicester and Burleigh into France 277 G Galloway Bishop 77 Gilbert Sir Hâ—mphrey 299 Glasgow Arch Bishop 299 302 Grandmont Mons. 267 Graunge Governour of Edenburgh Castle 151 152 Gray Baron Deputy of Ireland 359 373 389 Guarda Bishop 358 Guise house 36 for the Scots Queen 192 240 Duke 267 269 275 295 314 428. Cardinal 280 H Hamilton Earl 138 Hanging of Gentlemen not used in France 279 282 Harris Baron 134 Hawkins Sir Iohn 126 379 Henry the II King of France 12 Henry the III forbids exercise of Religion to the Hugonots 356 Earnest for the match with his brother and the League 376 Will have no League Offensive without it 440 His great charges in the Treaty 397 Henry the IV Prince of Navarre 16 245 Hosteni Duke 221 Hugonots of France 2 3. run themselves into the Kings nets 122 Their Lands on sale 245 Great servants of the English Queen 135 Love not the Cross 151. See Massacre Hume Lord 214 320 329 Hunsdon Baron 151 Huntley Earl 138 312 315 333 I Jenlis 223. defeated in Henault 225 Jersie Iland 272 Jesuites mortal enemies to the Queen 172 173 Inn Keepers of Kent 21 Inquisition 123 Instructions for the Earl of Worcester 318. For Sir Fra. Walsingham 352 For a League with France 355 Joyeuse Duke 294 440 K Katherine Queen Mother of France 6 12 35. per tot c. Killigrew Henry 145 Kirkaldie Iames 302 L Languedoc Hugoâ—ots rebel 294 Lansac Mons. 24 49 239 La Valette â— Leagues how made 171 414. With France publick and secret 355 Not liked without the Match 364 365 388 366 367 368 399 392. Causes of it 372 374 403 422 423. Leicester his good and pious sentences 47 51 69 82 105 116 324. To be fastned for the Match 104. Slights the Earle of Worcester 312 Lennox Earle 138 Levingston Lord 4 77 244 312 326 334 Liberty under the English Princes heretofore as great as any where 61 Lidington Lord 152 137 244. Lincoln Eâ—â—le Lord Admiral sent into France 201 205 219. Lodowick Count of Nassaw 54 121 123 176 184 333. Notably cheated by the French King 125 258 Longaville Duke 50 Lorrain Cardinal 8 38 73 74 77 123 167 168 314 331. Duke 88 301 Loughleuin Lord 302 Low-Countries the pretence of their Revolt 123 M Maine Duke 395 Malicorn Mons. 27 Mannesiere Mons. 240 265 287 288 297 298 299 301 304 305 307. Mary Queen of Scots 4 10 11 12 13 137 139 152. Not to be spoken for 321 Margaret of France reads the Bible 122 Martinengo Count 306 Marre Earl 138 299 Marriage treated betwixt Henry of Navarre and Margaret of France 122 135. Doubts in it 182 183 Betwixt the Queen and Henry of Anjou designed 55. Instructions concerning it 61 62 63. See 68 69 70 Articles of it 83 84 85 86 131 132. Counsellors imployed in it 66 83. Carryed on inconstantly 133. Not taken in earnest by the French 67. Betwixt the Queen and Francis of Anjou 218 226 227 229 230 330 331 336 339. Eagerly pursued 360 361 362. See 390 Marriage Solemnity betwixt Princes of different Faiths 175 Medina Coeli Duke 189 195 Memorials for Mr. Sommers 384 385 Mendoza thrust out of England for practising against the Queen 163 Mildmay Sir Walter Monluc Marshal 8 Montmorency Duke 8 97 102 108 151 188. In England 201 218 231 240 Monts in Henault besieged 245 taken 258 M organ General 217 M oreton Earl 77 138 244 299 Beheaded 431 Moth Fenelon French Embassador 30 90 138 141 c. Murther on shooters hill 347 N Navarre King turned by his wife 91 Queen 24 176 182 183 Nemours Duke 50 Nevers Duke 238 258 300 New star 299 Norfolk Duke 134. His plots discovered 137 140 148 Norris Sir Henry 19 18 19 20 22 23 Northumberland Earl 3 75 Executed 237 Nouë Mous. 184 297 301. Persidious 332 O Odonnel 359 373 Ogleby Lord 312 Olivarez Conde 40. More grave then wise 56 Orange Prince 48 122 144. To have been 〈…〉 of Bâ—abant c. if the Spaniard could have been beaten out 128. See 225 226 240. Retires into Germany 267 269 295 333 Ormond Earl 238. Discontented 373 Oxford Earl 134. Married to the Lord Burleighs daughter 164 P Parliament of 1571. impertinently busie 94. Bloody 203 219 Parma Prince 381 384 Perrot Sir John 347 Philip the second of Spain entertains the Queens fugitives 58 59. How he carried things towards the Queen 369 370 Pinart Secretary of France 23 31 122 305 309 375 Plots upon Ireland 58 Poigney Mons. 4 Popes Authority in England destructive to the Crown 4. Designs again England 36 Princes have no other bridle but Religion 91 Princes of Germany of the Reformed Churches 301 R Rebellion in the North coloured with Religion 3 Rhee Iland taken by the Rochellers 301 Religion is a constant perswasion confirmed by time 191. Cannot be more then a pretence to invade what is another mans 155 Ridolf 95 137 Rochel in rebellion 280 297 301 302 Besieged 331 Rolph a counterfeiter of the Kings hand 266 Romero Juliano 27 Ross Bishop 5. 77. restrained 107. in the Tower 151 Roulart Canon of Nostre Dam murthered 246 Rutland Earl 39 42 141 S Saint Andrewes Arch-Bishop taken 78 Sancerre besieged 332 348 Savoye Duke 287 293 303 Schomberg Baron 332 Scots Lords come to treat concerning their Queen without a Commission 77. Everlasting Rebels 101. Yet will not live without a Prince of their own 178. Gracious in France 244. Will do any thing for money 249 320 324 329. Seton Baron 27 36 95 177 181 Sidney Sir Henry 82 Sir Philip in France at the time of the Massacre 250. of rare parts 273 Skeldon 36 Smith Sir Thomas 51 54 134 152. imployed in France 153. Thinks Charles the Ninth a faithful Prince 169 180 261 318 Sommers Henry 354 Sora Duke 356 Spaniards of what carriage 56. Ambitious enemies to England 121. Conquer Portugal 358 Spanish greatness dangerous 354 355. Mony arrested 81 Spinoâ—a Cardinal 59 Story Doctor will not swear allegiance Hanged 105 Strozzi Peter 95 188 189 217 251 294 359 Stukeley 36 41. Knighted by the Spaniard 56 59. in disgrace 105 Suffex Earl 5 T Tauannes Viscount 258 Terçaera holds for Don Antonio 421 Tilignie Mons. 276 Time a great advantage in the minority of Princes 298 Throgmorton Sir Nicholas 45 287 Treaties of Princes Of the Queen with Charles the IX 155 156 157 158 c. 185. With Henry the III passages and propositions in it 399 400 401 423 Tresham Sir Thomas 390 Turein Vicount 367 385 V Valentinois Bishop 302 Valx Lord will take no Oath to the Queen 290 Venetians at sea 312 Victory at Lepanto 149 150 Viracque Mons. 137 315. taken 334 342 Vitelli Marquiss of Colona 44 48 223 Vimioso Conde 394 434 W Walsingham Sir Francis Embassador in France 1 c. Received by the King 22 23. Much mistaken in his French Creed 82 83 104 118 122 144 173 252. Calls Charls the IX sincere pius inimicus c. 175. Confesses his overmuch confidence 257. See 270 Thinks the French King the only dissembler 300. Sets spiâ—s over the Lord Seton acts without war◠〈…〉 Earnest for the match 96. Perswades to war with Spain 127. Would turmoil all other Princes and why 128. Undermines a Iesuite 172. Desires only not to lose by his service 188. His opinion of the Spaniards 234. Ill used in France 242. Called off 253. The Queenâ— great opinion of him 263 and love 275. Advises against the Queen of Scots life 267 268. Fearful every where of the Queens sparing 303 c. 357 426 427. Too open 322. Poor in France 326 327. Sent again into France 352. Blames the Queen and why 408. Calls the Scots Queen bosom Serpent 427. returnes 440. War when and what just 127. Necessary where 128 Westmoreland Earl 3 143 275 299 Williams Sir William 313 Worcester Earl 307. Abused by Leicecester 312. His instrnctions for his French Embassy 318. Dishonorably dealt with by the French 327. Will not see his sister the wife of a Rebel 328 Writing to the Scots Queen in linnen 328 * Quâ—re †Quere My Lord of Kildares man in the Tower hath by some fear of the Rack confessed all to be true wherewith he was charged which is to be kept awhile secret until some persons may be apprehended
Lord Burleigh 380 Memorial for Mr. Sommers 384 Private Memorials for him 385 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 386 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Queen 387 Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 388 389 390 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Queen ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh twice 392 Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 392 394 Sir Francis Walsingham Sir Henry Cobham John Sommers to the Lord Burleigh 396 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh ib. Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 397 Points accorded and not according upon the League Offensive and Defensive 400 401 402 403 Sir Francis Walsingham Sir Henry Cobham John Sommers to the Lord Burleigh ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 407 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh ib. Sir Francis Walsingham to the Duke of Anjou 409 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 410 Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 412 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 413 Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 414 Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham Sir Henry Cobham and John Sommers 419 Lord Burleigh to Sir Francis Walsingham 422 423 Answer to the Commissioners concerning the League Offensive ib Sir Francis Walsingham to the Queen 426 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 428 Conference betwixt the Queen Mother and Sir Francis Walsingham 429 Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lord Burleigh 434 439 Sir Francis Walsingham Sir Henry Cobham John Sommers to the Lord Burleigh ibid. NEGOTIATIONS OF STATE AFFAIRS BETWEEN The Lord Burleigh and Sir Francis Walsingham in the Reigns of Qu Elizabeth and Charls the 9. of France Anno Dom 1570. Instructions for Francis Walsingham Esquire sent by the Queens Majesty to the French King for the Matters following the 11 of August 1570. in the 12 year of Her Majesties Reign ELIZABETH R. FIrst you shall conferr with our Ambassador Sir Henry Norris knight upon this Charge now committed unto you and as you two shall think best to proceed therein for our Service so we are well content to allow your doings and for the repair and delivery of our Letters to the French King and to the Queen Mother with such other circumstances thereto belonging you shall also follow the advice and discretion of our said Ambassador The charge which we doe commit to you resteth only and principally upon this speciall Matter following whereunto we will that you direct your whole actions We desire that the Accord betwixt the King our good Brother and the Prince of Navarre Prince of Condé and the Admirall with the rest of the Company being the Kings Subjects might be made as favourable for the reasonable contentation and surety of the said Princes and their party as may be possible to the maintenance and continuance of them in the liberty of their Consciences for the cause of Religion And because we consider that there is no small labour made by some directly to impeach this accord and by some others though not openly to withstand is yet by doubtfull dealing in the granting to their Requests to ruine the said Princes and their party in the end We finde it the more necessary for us to use all good means to countervail such contrary labours and to procure not only a good Accord but therewith a continuance thereof as a matter which in our Conscience and Honor we think good both for the King and his whole Estate And therefore after you shall understand the state of the Negotiation of this matter by the Deputies of the two Princes with the King and wherein it shall be profitable for them that our Ambassador and you shall deal with the King or Queen-Mother in our Name Our meaning is you shall in this manner or the like declare our Intentions as Grounds whereupon you may lay the rest of our Reasons and perswasions that shall be thought good to be propounded to the King First you shall say that we earnestly request the King to set apart all manner of Jealousie that either hath been or may be insinuated to him of our meaning in this cause betwixt him and his Subjects for that we mean as well and so alwayes have to him and his Estate as if we were his naturall Sister and never had any intention to maintain or comfort any of his Subjects against him to move any trouble to his estate or to diminish any parcell of his Crown And yet you shall say That we will in this sort be plain with him thinking yet best to agree with good Friendship and Honor that we could never be well satisfied or content in our minds to have the said Princes and their party for professing of the Religion whereof they have freedom granted to them to be overthrown or distressed by means of partiality of their private Enemies as long as they never required in substance any other thing of the King then a permission to enjoy the benefit of the former Edicts granted unto them for the exercise of their Religion In the which we doe also consider that they had been so long suffered as a great portion of people of his Realm had been in their young years therein nourished and established and without opinion of damnation of their souls they could not change the same so as we pray the King to take this our plain dealing in good part and to interpret of our advice that we are bold to give him as one that meaneth first and principally best to him and his estate and no otherwise to his Subjects then shall in our Judgment further the quietness repose and augmentation of him in Honour Wealth and Surety You shall next to this say that we have partly considered of such Petitions and Demands as we be informed his Subjects have in most humble sort required to be granted to them And we note the substance of them to consist specially upon these points The first that they may be restored to his favour and grace as most humble and faithfull Subjects a thing most meet for a King to be granted both readily and bountifully and consequently to serve him with their lives lands and goods a thing also for a King most profitable to imbrace accept And the next that they may be permitted to serve almighty God by exercise of Christian Religion according to their Profession and to quietness of their Conscience a thing also in the sight of God most commendable and needfull of all Christian Subjects And last that they may have assurance hereof in some better sort then by former experience they have had a matter of most moment to be regarded for a full perfection of all the rest and without the which the rest are of no account In these Suits most humbly presented of Subjects to a most Christian King of so great a multitude of People consisting of such sundry kinds and estates of Princes of his blood of noble Captains of learned men meet for Government and Counsel of valiant
other Princes Then she made great protestation of her indifferencie and that she is no less affected in good will towards her Majestie whom it pleaseth saith she to do me the honour as to call me by the name of a Mother then to the Queen of Scots her Daughter in Law And therefore in wishing her liberty I do it saith she as much for the Q. your Mistress quientness sake as for any other respect which without her libertie can hardly grow unto her This Sir in effect was the whole course of the speech that passed from her in that behalf which she had then with me apart the King being then in talk with my Lord Ambassador Then she caused the King to deal with me in that behalf to whom I shewed the state of her cause according to the contents of my Instructions wherewith he seemed to be satisfied He told me that he wished that the Queen his good Sister according to her merciful inclination would have some compassion of her cause and grow to some speedy conclusion in that behalf I told him that I doubted not but that her Majestie would for his sake do that which should be to his contentation so far forth as might stand with her hononr and safetie Then he protested that otherwise he would not desire it Thus having imparted to your honor the effect of my Negotiation to the end you may advertise her Majestie I most humblie take my leave From Paris the 29 of August 1570. Your Honours to command F. Walsingham I have caused by my Lord Ambassadors means according to her Majesties order Monsieur Cavanes one of the Commissioners for the Princes to advertise them of her Majesties intention of sending me into these parts as tending chiefly to their benefits which thing he hath alreadie advertised and as I learn there cometh forthwith a Gentleman from the Queen of Navarre and the rest of the Nobilitie the King here being made privy thereof to give her Majestie thanks for the great favour shewed them in this their troubles Thus Sir having advertised you of the Accomplishment of that which was appointed to me to be done by vertue of my Instructions to the end you may impart the same to her Majestie I most humbly take my leave The Copy of my Letter to the Earl of Leicester RIght Honourable and my very good Lord for that I know my Lord Ambassador here imparteth unto your Lordship the present state of things here I shall need the less to trouble your Lordship in that behalf Touching my Message of Congratulation the King accepteth the same in very good part he professeth good will towards the Queen my Mistress and touching the Peace he protesteth to keep and observe the same inviolably which his proceedings hitherto doth very well confirm the same The mutinous Messiems of Paris he hath fundry times since his repair hither very sharply rebuked and charged them with contempt he adviseth them to take another course and saith he will be known to be a King And therefore for that his meaning is that the Edict should be duly observed he commandeth them straitly to look to the due observations of the same The like advertisement hath he given to the Presidents of his Parliament here who seem as yet to stand in some terms with him For whereas the King would have them sworn to the observation of the Edict they refuse the same alledging that in the entrance into their Government they ordinarily take an oath to observe all such Edicts as by the King shall be published what will be the issue of the refusal I know not The King telleth them that the passions of some of his Councellors hath been of more value then his Authoritie and therefore he assureth them which he confirmeth with many an oath that unless they turn over another leaf he will provide him of new Presidents and extend such punishment towards them as their contempt deserveth and may be admonishment to others to avoid the like As I can gather in the time of my short abode here by such a Conference aâ— I have had with some of judgement I find the grounds of the continuance of the Peace to be in number five his own disposition necessitie pleasure the Kings misliking with certain of his Council and his late favouring of others His disposition of Peace is not grown to-him of late but hath been from the beginning as those that have well observed him do testifie and therefore there is the more hope of continuance of the same His necessity hath two parts first he lacketh treasure to maintain the charges of further Wars Secondly those that have served him in these wars are grown so weary of them as men judge that hardly they could have been drawn to continue them any longer Pleasure and Warrs are direct contraries and he being so much inclined to the one as he is an enemy unto the other it is thought therefore that hardly any thing will bring him to do that that may hinder his pleasure His misliking towards the house of Giuse continueth who have been the nourishers of these wars And though of late the Cardinal of Lorrain hath had access to the Kings presence yet is he not repaired in credit neither dealeth he in Government His favour to Montmorencie a chief worker of this Peace increaseth who now carrieth the whole sway of the Court and is restored to the Government of Paris besides he hath procured the displacing of Monluc Monsieur d'Escars and la Valeâ—t and procured to be placed in their rooms c. These my Lord be the grounds that I can gather of the new accord the doubts of the not continuance are in number three First it is thought that this Marriage with the Emperours daughter may draw him from this peaceable inclination Secondly the great conference that is between the Q. Mother and the Cardinal breedeth some doubt of some practise to impeach the same Lastly it is a common fear that Monsieur can hardly digest to live in the degree of a Subject having already the reputation of a King he seemeth yet to run one course with the King in liking and misliking but so to continue it is altogether thought unlikely I have been desirous underhand to search out somewhat touching the thing your Lordship gave me secret informations of yet I can learn nothing thereof though that would be dangerous yet I pray God there be not a thing attempted of more danger which may with more ease be brought to pass I leave your Lordship to consider by that which hath been shewed both hope and fear of the continuance of this peace What will be the issue of this Tragedy I pray God that fall out that may be to his glory and so committing your Lordship to his tuition I most humbly take my leave From Paris the 29 of August 1570. Yours to Command Francis Walsingham To Master Secretary SIr being in doubt whether I might return before
advise given or no my Negociation being done in the end I concluded with my self that it was better to stay and to attend her Majesties order then to return home at all adventure This therefore shall be to desire your Honor that I may by your good means understand her Majesties pleasure in this behalf Touching the state of things here I forbear to write unto your honour for that I know my Lord Ambassador hath fully advertised you And so leaving further to trouble you at this present I most humbly take my leave To our trusty and well-beloved Francis Walsingham Esq present in the Court of France about our affairs ELIZABETH R. TRusty and well-beloved we great you well we perceive by your Letters written from Paris the 29 of the last moneth unto our Secretary how diligently and orderly you have performed the Message and Charge committed unto you which we take in very good and acceptable part being glad to understand your abilitie and fitness to do us further service hereafter And where among other things you desire to know our pleasure for your return unto us or further stay there Forasmuch as we have made choice of you to be our Ambassador Resident with our good Brother the French King instead of Sir Henry Norris whom we are very shortly to revoke we would be very glad so it would stand with your commoditie and without returning back hither you did remain there still for that purpose which if you can do upon signification thereof unto us we shall give order for our Letters of Credence to be addressed unto the said King and to be sent forthwith unto you for your placing with him as our Ambassador Resident there Howbeit if the necessitie of your business be such as you must of force be driven to return over and to settle your things here before you can be able to do us service there then are we well contented if there be no other remedie that you repair over some short while to prepare your self to return back again for our service with as convenient speed as may be Given under our signet at Rycot the 7 of September the 12 year of our Reign 1570. To our Right trusty and well-beloved Sir Henry Norris our Ambassador Resident with our good Brother the French King ELIZABETH R. TRusty and right well-beloved we greet you well whereas Monsieur Moulenet being lately with us did not only bring several Letters from the French King our good Brother and the Queen Mother by which the said King and she expresly required us to use towards the Queen of Scots all honest and favourable treatment due to a Queen of her quality and to set her at libertie and aid her to be restored to her Realm with Authoritie due to her but also according to the credit given by the said Letters he the said Moulenet did at length with very earnest speech deal with us therein alledging that in this doing we should much satisfie the King his Master and procure to our self great honor adding many other Allegations to induce thereunto to the maintenance of the said Moulenets speeches and negotiations Thereunto we have made some brief Answers as the time then served and as we thought meet to satisfie them But yet finding them to continue in their earnest solicitations and in the end earnestly requesting our Answer to the French King we told them that the time did not then conveniently serve us to send such an answer to them as the case required to our good Brother but we would shortly impart our meaning herein more at large by you being our Ambassador there Resident in such sort as we trusted our said Brother and the Queen Mother should find the same reasonable And so will we that you shall with your best opportunitie resort to them both and declare unto them that because of the length and varietie of the matters which we have committed unto you to be declared yet per case it be hard for you to express the same so orderly and readily in speech as you gladly would do you may require of the King license to read unto them in such sort as you have turned it into French a thing usual to this their Ambassador and not to be misliked especially in you that most herein use their language and not your own natural as their Ambassador doth here to his great commoditie And this being granted when you read it our meaning is not you shall deliver the same out of your hands to be kept or copied unless it be very earnestly prest by them And thus it followeth that you shall declare We have considered of the Letters sent unto us by Moulenet from them both with also the further explanation of the Contents thereof by him according to the credit given unto him The sum whereof was to require our favour towards the Queen of Scots in using her with favourable treatment due to a Queen of her qualitie and aiding her with our power to be restored to her Realm and obedience of her Subjects And though we did suddenly say somewhat to Moulenet on our own part to have satisfied him as we have done the like at sundrie other times to their Ambassador here Resident yet not knowing how they have conceived or delivered our speeches to the King our good brother nor how therewith he is satisfied which we are desirous to do in all reasonable requests according to the good Amitie that is and ought to be between us we have thought good at some more length to impart to our good Brother and Queen Mother both our doing and meanings in all this case of the Queen of Scots nothing doubting but the same being by them considered with their indifferent judgements it shall appear that we have done nothing hitherto in this case contrary to honour and reason or otherwise then very necessary and urgent cause hath moved us or might have moved any other Prince having the like cause neither yet in deeming the request of our good Brother the King in such sort and condition as it it made have we given him any occasion of offence towards us And this to do we are moved in good will in respect of the mutual Amitie that is betwixt the King and us and not of any necessitie we have to be accountable to any person for our actions and so we trust the King will accept the same in friendly manner And before he shall know what is to be said on our part we do earnestly require them both as a good Brother and a good Sister according to the fervent offers of their good amitie and perfect love made to us not only by their Letters but by Messages that they both will give ear hereunto as Princes and Persons standing indifferent in this cause without declination of their affection or adverting their judgements to the instigations of any particular persons that are more affectionate of nature to the person of the said Queen
with sickness or to follow his pleasures refer me over to his mother or to Monsieur his brother Whether it be her Majesties pleasure I shall treat with them For that the King giveth a deaf eare to a long negotiation whether having occasion to deal with him from her Majestie in some matter of weight and length I shall not exhibite the same to him in writing declaring first by mouth the effect thereof and if I shall exhibite it in writing whether her Majestie shall not think it most expedient to deliver the same either in Italian or Latin for avoiding of such Cavelling as may be made upon the translation to French whereof Sir Henry Norris hath had experience How far forth and in what sort from time to time I shall deal with the Rebells that presently are retired into France or hereafter shall retire How I shall behave my self in any publick Assembly towards the Ambassador aswell of Spain as of Portugall either in taking or giving place To my very loving Friend Francis Walsingham Esq appointed for Ambassador to the French King SIr I send you herewith the Queen Majesties instructions as they are finished and her Majesties pleasure is that you should not forbear your journey but proceed and if on the way you come to certain knowledge of the Kings speedier entrie into Paris meet to accelerat my Lord of Buckhurstes comming thither her Majestie would have you send some in haste back And so not well able to write any further but to end with my heartie wishing you a prosperous journey to your hearts desire 23 December 1570. Yours assuredly William Cecil Instructions â—iven to our trusty and wel-beloved servant Fra. Walsingham Esq presently sent to be our Ambassador Resident with our good Brother the French King the 19 of December 1570. ELIZABETH R. FOrasmuch as we are already determined to license our trustie and wel-beloved Sir Henry Norris Knight who hath of a long time served us faithfully as our Ambassador with the French King our good Brother to repaire over unto us and to leave that place and that we have made speciall choice of you upon a singular liking of your vertuousand good conditions to serve us in the same place wherein we trust our expectations shall be well satisfied of your fidelitie and diligence And for the rest also we doubt not but by the experience which you shall daiely have you shall be able to accomplish that which shall be requisite and for the better instruction of you we have thought meet to cause to be delivered unto you in writing these few things hereafter following by way of memoriall After you have delivered you letters and and bin presented to the King by our foresaid Ambassador whom you shall suceed for the doing whereof our said Ambassador can sufficiently direct you and will we doubt not but make good recommendations of you to the French King to the Queen Mother and others such as shall be thought meet we will that you shall use such speech unto them that it may appeare that your special Charge is to be a Minister for the conservation of the good Amitie that is betwixt us and the King and Consequently to preserve Concord and mutuall entercourse betwixt the Subjects of both our Countries according to the good Treaties that remaine betwixt us for that purpose and therefore considering you are so determined for your dutie sake to us and for the good that may ensue thereof you shall require them if at any time any thing to the contrarie shall be conceived of you as we trust shall not because you mean to give no occasion yet it may please them before any such judgement be conceived of you it may be in some wise declared as they may understand our answer wherewith you doubt not but to satisfie them Your office consisting of sundry parts the first and principall shall be to continue there aswell to execute our commandement and to deliver our letters and messages upon matters occurrent as to require and to receive answers and to the best that you can to procure thereupon reasonable and speedy resolutions as the nature of the matter shall import for the well doing whereof we must referre you hereafterwards to such particular directions as we shall send you by our speciall Letters whereby you shall be best directed in manner to proceed The second shall be to have continual regard to all manner of their doings there aswell private as publick that may be prejudiciall to us or our estate And therefore after good consideration and knowledge thereof had to advertise us diligently and secretly and to this end you shall do well to require of our said Ambassador your predecessor some good information by what means you may attaâ—n to the knowledge of things needfull and requisite and whom you may best trust and use to attaine to the more certenitie and if any thing be discovered unto you at any time that shall seem of importance that the information thereof may well abide the time of your advertisement to us and to answer again we leave it to your consideration and discretion to omit no time convenient but to resort to the King or some other as you shall think meet to declare what you understand and mislike and in what sort it is hurtfull to the Amitie betwixt us And therefore to require some information or some plain answer meet to be imparted to us for discharge of your duty And that in this behalf you shall not use by way of complaint upon any light intelligence but you do first by conference of things together find the matter to be true and worthy of complaint least hereafter lesse regard be had to you when you shall have just cause to complain The third is to have regard to such suites as our Subjects using the trade of Merchandise within those Realms shall have cause to make that they may have by your soliciting readie expedition with justice upon causes of depredations or arrests or any such injuries or molestations and therein to solicite such of the Kings Counsell as you shall find to have charge thereof letting them to understand that besides the bond of Justice whereunto they do direct the King such favourable expedition of our Subjects shall provoke us and our ministers to do the like and shall also breed mutuall love betwixt the Subjects on both parties and give cause to a more frequentation of intercourse of Merchants being a thing beneficiall to both the Realms And because you shall be the more able to understand and to treate in your conferences negotiation upon any thing generally touching the Amitie betwixt the King and us or more particularly for the deciding and determining of any causes that may come in controversie for the trade and intercourse of Merchandise betwixt the Subjects of both our Countries kingdoms you shall do well to have with you some Copies of the treaties now remaning in force betwixt us
and the King by the which you shall be very well informed directed as by certain rules how to treate and deal in all causes that may there come in controversie and thereby be bound to require due observation as cause and matter shall require We doubt not but you do consider how profitable a thing it is for quietness of us and our Realm to have that party in France which hath professed reformation of Religion to be maintained and contained in the favor which the King hath granted them by his Edict And therein vve vvould have you at all times when occasion shall be given you let it appear to the King that vve think nothing can procure more assurance of inward quietness in his Realm then the due observation of those things which he hath granted to his subjects in his Edict and you may say that he hath more cause by experience to believe us therein then any other Prince that is his Allie besides us that shall be of a contrary mind And so experience hath taught us already to think and may well ascertain him considering he hath seen and felt the continuance of the troubles of his Realm whilst he followed the advise of other Princes and Potentates and disswading him from granting such favour as he hath done to his subjects And in any other thing wherein you shall be able at any time to further and advance the observation of the matters of the Edict in favour of them of the Religion we would you should endeavour your self in such sort as may stand with our honour And of this our intention we will that you give understanding to such of the principals of that part as have interest therein which you shall best do by the advise of your predecessor who has best acquaintance with these persons Lastly for certain matters lately treated of here by the French Ambassador as touching the Queen of Scots cause and the preparations of ships and men of war made in Brittanie you shall at your coming to our Ambassador learn in what state he hath left those things and how he hath answered the King and so you may persist in the same course untill you shall be by us otherwise directed We have by our Letters to our foresaid Ambassador willed him to make deliverie unto you of all such our Plate as he had delivered unto him at his entrie into his charge which you shall receive of him by Indenture if you shall have need thereof Where we meant that you should have accompained the Lord of Buckhurst in his journey to the French King so have bin presented with him to the said King now that we cannot understand the certainty of the said Kings entrie into Paris at which time our meaning was and is that the said Lord of Buckhurst should be there we would not that you should abide any longer but proceed in your journey and if on your way you do perceive that the Kings entry will be now in the beginning of Januarie our will is that you shall without attending any longer for the coming of the said Lord of Buckhurst proceed by our Ambassadors means to be presented to the King and to take the place of our ordinarie Ambassador so as our former Ambassador Sir Henry Norris may return at his Commodity We would have you inform your self by the judge of the Admiraltie of all causes depending betwixt our subjects and those of France upon pretence of depredations that you may the better answer complaints which either ours or the others shall make And farther we would have you to acquaint your self by his means with a complaint lately exhibited by the French Ambassador in the name of the Merchants of Roan and what answers hath bin made to the same by such as we did ordain to devise the same whereof the said Judge was one You shall also receive a complaint which certain of our Merchants of London trading to Roan do presently make for the Innovation of certain taxations by the Magistrates of Roan upon the goods of our said subjects contrarie to the common use whereupon you shall being well informed of the inconveniencie thereof and the injustice sollicite the remedie thereof so as time shall conveniently require William Cecil Ended the 22 of December 1570. To the right Honourable and his very good Lord the Earle of Leicester MY very good Lord I write unto you at this present rather to use this as an earnest of my diligence hereafter to follow then for any good matter that I have to write Passing through Canterbury I visited the Cardinal and delivered unto him your Lordships Letters who gave me as much light as he could touching the present state of France concerning the matter whereof it pleased your Lordship to give me a watch-vvord there passed nothing betvvixt us The picture your Lordship desired I vvill take order shall be sent to you vvith vvhat convenient speed may be beseeching your Lordship vvherein my poore service may stand you in stead to use me with such boldness as I may thereby assure my self that your Lordship maketh accompt of me and so further leaving to trouble your Lordship at this present I most humbly take my leave at Bullen the second of Ianuary 1571. Your Lorships to command Fr. Walsingham To the right Honourable Sir William Cecill her Majesties principall Secretary SIr I arrived here at Bullen the first of this month where I could learn nothing worthy the advertisement for you know Sir that frontier news are never of any great value onely this I learned of the Governours Son in law here a Gentleman of good accompt and one of the Order who accompanied with divers other Gentlemen came to visit me from the said governour Monsiuer de Calliac who told me that the Kings entrie is deferred untill the middest of Febr. but hereof for the observing of the time here is no more assurance than there was before of the first of Ianuary Leaving Bullen I have not forgot to enform your honour of the great exactions used by the Inn-keepers at Gravesend Canterbury Dover in the prices of Victualls whereof besides mine own experience I learned by certain strangers that passed over with me they are so great as in no Countrie is used the like where all things bear so unreasonable prices in the market and the people so free from impositions of the Prince Surely Sir it were well done that there might by your good means and furtherance some order be taken for the Redress hereof aswell for her Majesties honour as for the ease of the poore travellers Thus Sir having no further matter worthy the advertisment I leave to trouble your honour most humbly taking my leave from Bullen the second of Ianuary 1571. Your Honours most bounden Fr. Walsingham To the right Honourable Sir Walter Mildmay one of her Majesties privie Counsell SIr you know that Frontiers are commonly better furnished with fables then of matters of truth and
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
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
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
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 to make his means unto us for our favour If he shall shew himself repentant of his former fault and disposed to live hereafter dutiful he shall be provided of as good a living as heretofore he hath had And if he shall not obtain our favour as he desireth at his coming your warrant shall serve him to return safely out of our Realm which manner of usage you shall say is very rare in us but upon your instance we have yielded thereunto And so we pray you use it and give him warrant under your hand accordingly And if you shall find that he hath sought to abuse you as we perceive by your Letters you have some reason to doubt then shall you forbear to deal with him in the former sort and yet procure so much intelligence as you may at his hands and after you shall discover his continuance in falshood and practise there as you can see occasion and can gather matter against him so deal with the King there as by all good means that may be specially considering the Amitie so often of late time assured to us by the King he may be delivered as an open known Rebel and Traytor especially in these practises used by him in Spâ—â—n however he himself hath discovered his evils with the excuses And we have some cause the more to doubt his lewdness there for that Rogers who brought your Letters reported that after he was come from Paris about St. Dennis he met with an Irish man who told him that this Archbishop had been secretly at the Court and was readie to be dispatched away into Spain by the means of the Cardinal of Lorrain which if it were true we cannot think but you have within a short time after been made privie hereof by the Irish man And so according as you shall find the matter we leave it to your discretion The Scotish Ambassadors who have been here with us the Bishop of Ross the Bishop of Gallaway and the the Lord Leviston as from their Queen the Earl Mâ—rton and others as from her son now amongst them accepted as King the said Queen as they think being justly deposed have been long here and troubled not a little us and our Councel After much debating of the cause we minding to make if it might be a final end to the assurance of our selves our Estates and to the reducing of that Realm into quiet in it self without bloodshed or further occasion of intestine War and continual dissention in a Realm so near adjoyning to us found at the last that the said Earl Morton and his Colleagues had no sufficient Commission to treat of that matter which as we thought was most necessarie to be treated of if we should do any good in it which was my final end and purpose that is the ayding of our Sister the Scots Queen without impairing of our estate and â—uretie and without putting the Realm of Scotland in an extriâ—able danger of sedition and intestine war Whereupon we were inforced now at the 〈◊〉 after much debating with both the parties so to leave the matter 〈◊〉 with each of their contentations as we think both by going home for a time the one to have ample Commission to treat with us as appertaineth to that effect we may do that good herein that we desire the other to refresh themselves for a time till the other having Commission may be made a partie which hitherâ—o without Commission from their partie which be on the young Kings side can be accounted but as private persons and not to be dealt withal in reason to do any thing which may be accounted of just moment and effectual in Law And they â—ffirm that without Parliament there can be made no Commission neither to them nor to any other to treat of such matter Whereupon their Parliament begun and for fear of prejudicing the Queens partie in that behalf at our motion surceased and prorogued until May day next They go home to it there to have such ample Power Commission and Authoritie given to them or others to treat with us and the Queen of Scots partie for a final end which done and and 〈◊〉 we 〈◊〉 shortlie to make an end of this controversie to the pleasure of God and contentation of all parties if it might be This you may shew to the King our good Brother that it is our design and purpose and hitherto in this sort we have travelled and have good hope to bring it to pass And if the King shall thus reply But if they will give no Commission or otherwise defer it of purpose without answering any thing what we will then do you may say that we have thought upon that case That if they shall seek to look onely but upon delaies and upon set purpose and obstinatelie go about to defraud our intent which is to unitie and quiet there we must leave that partie which is unreasonable and obstinate and conclude with the other partie which will hear and understand reason And so God willing we intend to do the good success whereof we do not doubt but the King our good Brother shall see and well allow of Given under our Signet at our Pallace of Westminster the eighth day of April in the thirteenth year of our Reign To the Right Honourable my very good Friend Sir Francis Walsingham Ambassador Resident for the Queens Majestie in France SIr my hard case is such as either by business in health or by dolour in sickness I cannot account my self a freeman but a slave to serve or an offender to suffer torment The will of God be fulfilled in me to his honour for otherwise I find no comfort in this world of this enough I am forced to write this in my bed with my hand whilest I groan for pain in my knee and foot and therefore I must be short I could no sooner get answer to your Letters brought by Rogers Your Lordships brought yesterday by Harcourt were I think welcome and well interpreted by her Majestie for I sent them with my own sentence aforehand of my good allowance of your discretion in your choise of taking and leaving The Queen of Scots you see is deferred whereof that portion which is written was for my ease indited by Sir Thomas Smith You must make the best of it and seek out reasons to satisfie them there that will mislike the delay Indeed it hath been onely devised to win delay I thank you for your private Letter Even now we have very good news from the borders that Dun-Britten Castle was taken on Monday last in the night by cunning where was taken the Archbishop of Saint Andrews and the Lord Flenning the manner how it was taken is not signified But it is of a greater importance then Edenborough Castle considering it was receptaculum to all the Scotish Queens Forraign ayd From Westminster out of my bed this Saturday at five of the clock the seventh of March 1571. Your assured
being so small the surety offered sufficient and the benefit that thereby might have risen unto her Majestie so great that the same would not have been denied for saith she Let her Majestie assure her self that Spain will never forget the arrest of the money which she shall find when occasion of revenge shall be offered They do here with great desire expect Mr. Cavalcants coming and as I judge by some Letters received from their Ambassador they conceive great hope to proceed certain speech passed between Tilligney and the King which I have imported to my Lord of Leicester maketh me think that the Religion will be no let c. And so c. Paris the 22 of Aprill 1571. Your Honours to command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable Sir Francis Walsingham her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr I most heartily thank you for your so well advised Letters and considering I find them so circumsâ—ectly written and the matters contained so well digested I cannot but give you knowledge of my well liking of your service whereof to my power I will also procure the Q. Majestie to conceive the like good opinion I am sorry that the Q. Majestie findeth occasion to pretermit this late motion whereof it is likely she might reap great fruit to the quietness of her own Countries you must make the best that you can to content the parties I need not vvrite more because this bearer Mr. Beale is so sufficient to vvhom I have also shevved some of our occurrents From Westminster the 14 of Aprill 1571. Your assured loving friend Will. Cecill I forgot my nevv vvord Will. Burleigh To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh I Was glad by your Lordships of the 7 and 14 of April to understand the good liking you have of my ravv dealing in matters of such vveight as I am novv imployed in next her Majestie to your Lordships contentation do I chiefly seek as his vvhom in this calling I see hath chief regard to Gods glory and her Majesties safety I am sorry the request I preferred took no better effect I pray God it may be kept secret that thereby there may grovv no evill effect vvhereof I have some cause to doubt by the experience I have had since my coming hither The fault I knovv but no remedie I hope after The enterprise vvithin this moneth vvill break forth and I hope to good effect by that I have further understood of their matter and surely the match proceeding nothing could be more sit in my poor opinion then for us to have been dealers in the same thereby to have avoided others Thus I am bold to write as a private man in a private Letter having no opinion as an Ambassador And thus having nothing else at this present to trouble your Lordship with I most humbly take my leave From Paris the 22 of Aprill Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham To my very friend Sir Fr. Walsingham Ambassador Resident for the Queens Majestie in France TOuching the Archb. you shall understand her Majesties pleasure by her Letters My Brother Sidney the Deputy of Ireland is arrived here as farre as we can learn by him there is great jarre between that Prelate and Prince Stewkley which hath caused his great mislike to remain in Spain it may be to good purpose if it be possible to recover him and get him hither For the other greatest matter you shall shortly receive her Majesties full resolution it appeareth her Majestie hath good liking to proceed if reason take place in the conditions God send such speed as may be to the glory of the Almighty God and her Majesties good satisfaction I suppose the dispatch will be ready to depart by Sunday or Monday at the farthest I pray you send me another Cipher more easie then the last So with my hearty commendations I bid you farewell In haste this good Friday Your assured friend R. Leicester To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Earle of Leicester SEeing her Majestie hath good liking to proceed as appeareth by your Lordships Letters dated on Friday last I am glad to conceive great hope by certain speech lately passed between the King and Tillignâ—y that Religion will not be the let which is the chiefest thing I respect in this match About an 8 dayes past the King entring into talke with him concerning this match Tilligney shewed him that it seemed strange to the world that Monsieur considering that this matter was in treaty grew every day more suspicious then the other To that the King replied That his Brother if there fell out no other let but Religion would be ruled by him And because saith he I may the better bring the matter to passe I will have my Brother with me out of this Town and divide him from certain superstitious Fryers that seek to nourish this new holiness in him And I doubt not saith he within these few dayes so to work my Brother as he will yield to any thing that I will require Two dayes after the King called again Tilligney unto him and asked him whether he lately had any talk with his Brother He shewed him that the same day at dinner Monsieur called him unto him whose whole course of talk was onely in commendation of the Q. Majestie and of the great desire he had to have so happy and so honorable a match whereby saith Tilligney I see him so farre in as I hope he will not make any difficulty at Religion which will be the chiefest matter the Queen will stick in No saith the King observe my Brother well you shall see him every day lesse superstitious then other This I thought good at large to set down aswell in respect of the match as also that your Lordship may see the great hope that may be gathered by this speech of the Kings revolt from Papistry Surely I am of opinion that if this match go forward it will set the triple Crown quite aside According to your Lordships request I have sent you this inclosed Cipher and â—o leaving further to trouble your Lordship at this present referring you over for other matters unto my Lord of Burleighs Letters c. From Paris the 22 of Aprill 1571. Your Lordships to Command Fr. â—alsingham To our trusty and welbeloved Sir Francis Walsingham Ambassador Resident in France ELIZABETH R. RIght trusty and welbeloved we greet your well The bearer hereof Sr. Cavalcant hath bin here and imparted to us certain matters as it seemeth committed to his charge whereunto the Ambassador here being also by him made privy they both have received our answer to such Articles as â—â—th been by them propounded And of the same and of our further pleasure how you shall proceed you shall by our other Letters and instructions more amply understand Given under our Signet at our Palace of Westminster the 17 day of Aprill 1571. the 13 year of our Reign To our
Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Hononrable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester YOur Lordship at large by Sir Tho Smithes Letters unto her Majestie shall understand to what issue we are grown to touching this Treaty We can by no means nor perswasions we can use draw the King to any other interpretation of his meaning touching the point of Religion then by private Letters for that it should seem that their Ambassador from hence hath assured the King here that her Majestie will be content therewith For my private opinion seeing this League is to indure but during the lives of the two Princes and that the substance of all Leagues consisteth chiefly in the sincerity of the matters and that this Prince hath given great shew to the world of great â—incerity I think the private Letter bindeth as much in honour as any other Instrument or Contract that can pass between them can do in Law For if they should break the matter is not to be tryed in the Chamber imperial by way of pleading of what value the instruments are God and the Sword must be Judges so that then pleading must give place But this my good Lord is for my private opinion in matters of so great weight as leagues are I profess altogether ignorance If her Majestie can content her self with this private interpretation of the Kings meaning then if it would please her Majestie through your good motion to use some words of assurance towards the Ambassador there of the great good opinion she hath of the Kings sincerity and that she buildeth more upon his words then upon contract I know nothing can more content him for he desireth to be reputed a Prince that esteemeth his word and honour above his life Besides he wisheth himself to be in her Majesties good opinion before all other Princes and doth often take occasion to say that he hopeth there will be no less earnest good will and strait Amity between him and her Majestie then was between her Father and his Grandfather To nourish this opinion of Amity between them I take it to be the office of all those who truly love their Majesties as that League that tendeth greatly to both their sureties being knit together in perfect Amity which beside their particular safety will breed a great repose in all Europe especially for the cause of Religion And surely my Lord for the increase and nourishment of this friendship nothing can yield more furtherance then your access hither in ratification of the League a thing very much desired of their Majesties here as you perceive by Sir Tho Smithes Letter The motion at the first being made by the Queen Mother seemed strange unto us for her to name a particular person but when she shewed unto us that her Majestie the last Summer desired the Marshal Montmorency whereunto they did condescend and that they also mean to send him now for the confirmation of this League we had nothing to reply They say that the King in respect of the good offices that you had done between the two Crowns the great honour you had used towards his Ministers sent hither and certain prâ—sents that you had sent unto himself desireth very much both to see you and honour you Besides she said that your coming should be so grateful unto her and the King her Son as you might obtain any thing at his hands for the contentment of her Majestie so far forth as he might with his honour grant Surely my Lord though this voyage to your purse cannot but grow very chargable yet for the furtherance of the common cause of Religion for the increase of Amity between the two Princes and Crowns and for their own particular reputation never was there offered to your Lordship greater occasion both generally and particularly to do good then at this present Your Lordship can do more good in one hour here then twenty such petty companions as my self is can do in a whole year or possible in all our lives time I would I could so well hope of her Majesties leave as of your Lordships liking to take this journey upon you and then I would assure my self of your coming and by the same of as great good to ensue as ever followed of any others imployment in this voyage c. To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may pleas your Lordship to understand that Monsieur de la Mothe hath advertised their Majesties here that the Q. of Scots cause in England is not so desperate as we make it for that lately she hath received so much increase of liberty as that she went a Hawking with the Earl of Shrewsbury which advertisement here maketh them more earnest in her cause then they were wont for that they doubt one day she will come to the possession of the Crown of England either by succession or prevention and therefore the Councel here do advise the King so to deal for her as may continue in her an opinion that he is careful for her well own safety and cannot but do justice then call things proceed well and her Majestie may well perceive that any favour shewed unto her doth not onely breed disfavour but also danger and hindrance towards her self whereof Mr. Killegrew can inform her Majestie at large The opinion of the wisest sort of the Gentlemen of the Religion that are here is That the League it self shall not do more good then the imployment of two honourable Personages for the ratification of the same and therefore they desire me most earnestly to move her Majestie to concur with the King in this respect who hath to that end made choice of Montmorency hoping that her Majestie will choose one of quality somewhat answerable to his calling Besides the King and Queens desire as may appear by Sir Tho Smithes Letters the said Gentlemen do desire much the Earl of Leicesters coming as one very grateful unto their Majesties here and therefore shall be able to do very much good by the advancement of their causes whose increase of credit cannot but be beneficial unto her Majestie in considering the great good affection they bear towards her in regard of the great honour and benefits they have received at her Majesties hands and therefore their increase of credit shall breed increase of Amity a thing not unnecessary for her Majestie considering how she finds some of her neighbours affected abroad and her Subjects inclined at home Besides if her Majestie should not seem to be desirous of Montmorencies coming considering that he is no less willing to come then his Master is to send it might give him occasion to think that her Majestie maketh not that account of him that his great good will and devotion towards her deserveth whereof he letteth not to make demonstration outwardly as otherways of the which besides mine own experience during the time of my charge here Sir Tho Smith and Mr. Killegrew
potentissimum principem fratrem nostrum charissimum Gallorum regem residenti salutem Cum in tractatu qui inter Legatos nostros ad praedictam Principem missos ejusque serenissimi Regis Deputatos intercedit de amicitia pace renovanda augenda quae inter praedictum regem nos nostraque regna dominia subditos existit certi articuli de mercatorum nostrorum hinc inde comerciis negotiatione propositi fuerint de quibus propemodum quidem inter utrumque convenit nisi quod ante praefatam rei consummationem necessarium sit quosdam tà m à nostro quà m à praedicti regis parte constitui qui cum mercatorum prudentium consilio deliberent sintne illi articuli satìs ad rem aptè amplè compositi an vero alios quosdam immitores adjici expediat quibus commercii negotiorum ratio commodius regi exerceri possit Nos igitur de homine ad hanc rem idoneo cogitantes deque tua prudentia virtute industria in res nostras fide confidentes mandatorum procuratorum seu deputatum nostruÌ„ creamus constituimus per praesentes ut cum consilio principalium nostrorum si qui in illis partibus fuerit cum Regis praedict deputatis agas tractes unaque cum illis ea consideres statuas quae ad coâ—tinuendam augendam commercii intercessus necessitudinium necessaria vidâ—buntur Itemque de mertium vectigalibus tributis porteriis impositionibus iisque conditionibus quae ad mercatorum comertii libertatem securitatem pertinebunt rationes ineas Deque iis omnibus nos certiores facias ut re prope inspecta considerata quod é re fuerit decernamus concludamus quod ipsum simile à dict ' regis Legato hic fiet qui simile vicissim ab ipso rege mandatum habiturus est Et generaliter ut ea omnia tractes facias quae ad hanc rem necessaria erunt in tam amplis modo forma ac si in singulis magis speciale Mandatum haberes In cujus rei testimonium has litteras patentes â—ieri sigilli nostri impressione communi missimus Dat. in Regia nostra sancti Jacobi die mensis Maii Anno Dom. 1572. Regni vero nostri 14. Instructions given to the Earl of Lincoln Lord Admiral of England and one of the Lords of her Majesties privy Councel appointed by her Majestie to repair to the French King in Ambassage and at his arrival at Paris or elsewhere to be assisted for the execution of the matter underwritten with Sir Th Smith Chancellor of the Order and Fr. Walsingham Ambassador resident for her Majesty with the French King at St. Iames May 25. 1572. THe said L. Admiral shal have with him both Commission under the great Seal of England authorizing him and S. Th. Smith and Fr. Walsingham and Letters also to require the French K. to confirm the last treaty concluded at Blois by his oath whereupon he shall proceed first after his access to the K. obtaining by the Ambass resident for the demand of the said oath as is meet for the honor of the League of amity now concluded between their Maj. using therein all good speeches to assure him that according to such express words as are contained in the same Treaty for a mutual love and amity to be hereafter used and maintained between them her Maj. is fully bent in her heart to maintain the same on her part the rather because she doth assuredly hope that the K. wil do the like whereof his Maj. by his Ambass that he hath sent in the time of the late Treaty and negotiation of the same shewed many manifest arguments of his own special favourable directions of matters at sundry times resting in doubt between her Commissioners and his Maj. to more reasonable ends as appeared then otherwise would have 〈◊〉 ordered by his Ministers And so the L. Admiral having in this manner assured the K. of her Maj. ful and resolute determination to imbrace and hold fast this mutual amity he shal say that his coming thither is to visit the K. on her Maj. behalf and to attend upon his leasure and best oportunity to be present and to receive the K. oath to be made for ratifying of the said Treaty according to a clause in the said Treaty for that purpose And when the K. shal have accorded thereunto the said L. Admiral shal before hand percase by som privat conference had with some of the Secretaries of the State how and in what sort the ceremonies therof shall be observed so as the proceeding may be at the time at the solemnity thereof without any alteration And for the better proceeding herein the Lord Admiral shall have with him both Articles of the Treaties requiring the said oath and the manner form of like oath given by the said K. heretofore in like cases And the instrument also to be demanded in writing for testimony of the said oath with such other things as are thereto requisite so as the like manner may be used as near as may be agreeable to former usages and that there be with him present to assist him S. Th. Smith and the Ambass resident if they may be there to help And as for the place where the said oath should be given the said L. Admiral shal not refuse any that the K. shal appoint foreseeing only that he be not by reason thereof compelled to be present at any Mass to be said for the purpose but if it be in Church or Chappel he shal not refuse to require to take it in the same Furthermore although there is no other cause special of the sending of the L. Admiral at this time to the said K but to require his oath yet for that there may be many occasions offered of speeches in the matters where it shal be looked for that the said L. Admiral should answer the said K. to his satisfaction Therfore he wil in these things following accommodate himself as hereafter is mentioned wherein the said L. Admiral shal as occasion shall serve take the help of Sir Th. Smith who is also herein well acquainted In the matter of Scotland although the said L. Admiral be privy in what sort her Maj. hath hitherto proceeded so as he may by consideration thereof conjecture what is likely further to be her Maj. meaning yet to make her case the more plain he may wel hold opinion tht her Maj. meaneth not any thing more then that the Realm of Scotland may be brought to quietness and remain free from any invasion of any stranger wherby the liberty of that Crown and Nation should be impaired And he may wel remember of his own knowledge how often times since the Scotch Q. coming into our Realm we have bin wel disposed to have obtained an accord betwixt her and her Subjects but always when we were most earnest to have done her pleasure therein she
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
if any great thing should be done Scotland is very well come forward to an universall agrement sith Duâ—Crocque and Viraque went away The Duke and Earle of Huntly be come in from them and all their followers to acknowledge the King and his Regent None holds out but Grange and Liddington who keep the Castle The King and the Lord Regent not being able for fair means to get them to the unity of the whole Realm offering unto them all reasonable conditions that they can demand so that they will leave the Castle and to keep no longer Edenburgh which is the London and Paris of Scotland in subjection unto them yet cannot be heard and therefore is required of the Queens Majesty to bring them to order the which the Queen may do for any league treaty or promise heretofore made and so I think will do if there be no remedy Du Viraque who is thought to be sent to keep them still in dissention by good hap and contrary winds was driven with six ships of Scotland into Scarbrough-Haven stayed there by there by the Lord President In the mean while was the Duke and the Earl agreed with the Regent and the Scotish Ships departed He is now thought to be in the way to come to London for so my Lord president appointed but not yet come A man of his taken in Scotland hath confessed that he was sent back under another pretence to cast into the Sea the most part of his writitings the which he did which declareth good plain dealing The Lo. Leviston is now come to London pretending his desire to have his Conscence at liberty but not yet trusted that he meaneth the quiet of Scotland words have escaped him and his Companions by the way which have not fallen to the ground Farewell from Greenwich the nineteenth of March 1572. Your assured friend Tho. Smith To my very loving friend Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador for her Majesty with the French King SIR your letters brought to me were of the 11 of March dated at St. Cloud and the next former were of the 25 of February for which I thank you that you do so carefully advertise me of the state of things as I find you have done when I have been more answerable then now I can be The reason of my frequent absence is the intervall of times when here I am no less mindfull of your causes both such as belong to her Majesty and such as belong to your self then any other to my power is or can be and even now on Wednesday last her Majesty hath signed all things meet to revoke you and to send another in your place wherein I know you haue found cause to think the time long and so have your friends been lately grieved with it but I trust now to see you shortly to your contentation You shall understand that the French Ambassador hath of late time been very earnest with her Majestie in certain causes as first in offering by all good speeches the continuance of the Amitie and with complaining as grievously that the Q. Majesties offering of Montgomery to be aided as he is with mony c. must needs move the â—ing to think his Amity contemned And with some sweet minatories he intrated that he might be staied c. He also reneweth the marriage matter and thereto requireth a resolute answer as a thing necessary to be ended the one way or the other for honor of all parties He also hath seemed greatly offended with the stay of Viraque at Scarborough He hath made suit that for the Queen of Scots some ther in France meaning two or three might come hither to bring the said Queen money and account of her Estate In the end came hither an Agent named Chasteau Neuf from the Camp afore Rochel his coming was as we perceive to disswade Montgomery from going to Rochel but he brought loving letters to her Majesty from M. le Duc. To these things briefly you shall know the Answers His offers of Amity have been thankfully accepted and it hath been told him that his Majesty is more bound to the Queens Majesty for her perseverance then any other upon like cause For though it be manifestly seen and fully discovered by such as are arrived in Scotland out of France having been dealers with the King in France and others there how the King is disposed against the Queens Majesty and this Realm to offend it when his own troubled causes shall be setled and how he persecuteth the Protestants being of the Queens Religion yet her Majesty hath resolved to persevere in her League meaning first to see the breach come indeed first from the French King then she doubteth not by Gods Grace to preserve her and her Realm whereunto she also findeth all her people so willing to withstand all forces force as she hath much ado to detain them from adventuring in great numbers to pass to Rochel of their own charges and those are not of the popular but Noblemen and Gentlemen of Ancient and great livelihoods who surely have offered of their own charges to finde an Army of 20000 footmen and 2000 horsemen for six months in Gascoyn and so earnest they have been that it is already known to themselves both where the men are to be had and the money onely they desire but a permission and truely her Majesty hearing hereof hath shewed her self much offended herewith and with great charge for fear of her indignation of the same the Ambassador confessed he had understanding whereupon he was constrained to confess how much his Master was bound unto her Majestie All this you may notifie unto the King and amplifie it for it is true and meet to be uttered As for the stay of Montgomery it was said that he desired to depart the Realm considering her Majesty refused to aid him and therefore her Majesty thought it a cruel part to stay him whom she was not disposed to aid And for his manner of departure the Ambassador could tell how much he was grieved with that her Majesty had caused all such as were on the Sea for him and Rochel to be apprehended and all that which they had taken from other the French Kings subjects to be restored as indeed the like general speedy restitution hath not been made in my time so as therewith also the King hath cause to commend her Majesties observation of the League For the Marriage her Majesty caused me privately to confer with the Ambassador and her Majesty hath willed me to let him know that you shall make the Answer and yet he shall be acquainted with it and so this it is her Majesty would have you to let the King and his Mother understand that she cannot accord to take any person to her husband whom she shall not first see Secondly she cannot assent that any person which shall be her husband shall with her Authority and assent use any manner of Religion in outward exercise that is
meet to impart unto her Majestie with such Letters as I do presently send unto her for that I know her Majestie doth look that I should reserve something to be imparted to her self The Vice-Count of Turayne a Gentleman very dear unto Monsieur for many respects and one whose advice he doth use in matters of great trust did let me understand the morning I departed that now the matter of marriage seemed to stand in doubtfull tearms they are in very great doubt this War which Monsieur doth now embrace is in danger to quail for two reasons The one for that the King by whom the action is to be countenanced if any good success be to be looked for in that doubting lest her Majestie will draw her neck out of the Collar after that he hath once broken with the King of Spain whereof he is very jealous will undoubtedly leave Monsieur in the Briers when he shall see so little hope in the marriage which he only reputeth as the surest bond for the inviolable observation of the intended association against the King of Spain The other for that divers who now offer to assist Monsieur both with money and otherwise for the advancement of this enterprise in hope that the marriage should have taken place whereby he shall be able to satisfie them hereafter seeing his principal support likely to fail him by these means will also withdraw their helping hands from him and then he shall be constrained with dishonour and loss of his reputation to relinquish the action He did then let me understand that hitherto he had received no help nor assistance from the King his brother as by Sir Henry Cobham was advertised and that his only support was procured to him by the Queen his mother but the same so small as it was not of any moment to the purpose of that he wanteth And therefore he prayed me to consider of the matter as of a thing of great weight and importance and herein the Queen my Mistress saith he was her self not a little interessed being likely that if the Duke shall abandon the enterprise of the King of Spain her professed enemy having none to oppose themselves against him he is likely by mans judgement very shortly to become an absolute Conqueror which of what consequence it was likely to fall out for her Majestie all men of judgement were able to look into besides the danger of some enterprise likely to be set abroach for the revenging of civil troubles within this Realm if the action go not forward which will fall out very ill for those of the Religion being at this present reduced to a very weak estate by reason of their late rendring of their Towns of assurances All which inconveniences were likely to ensue without some present support from her Majestie which he thought might be performed with the loan of 100000 Duckets wherewith Monsieur should be able not only to relieve the Town of Cambray but also to keep the field three months together and yet notwithstanding his great want and the weight and importance of the cause cannot he be perswaded himself to become a suitor to her Majestie for such a supply for that being fully perswaded to prosecute constantly the matter of the match he thinketh this request would hinder his purpose therein fearing lest he should therein give her Majestie occasion to think that he sought the match to another end then by him was meant These speeches the Vice-Count delivered unto me as if himself without Commission as he said from Monsieur though for my part I did not think but that it was done with his privity requesting me very earnestly I would effectually recommend the motion of the supplying of Monsieur with the said sum for the setting forward of his enterprise wherein he said the cause required present resolution lest for lack of support the enterprise should be given over and thereupon desired to know in what time that I hoped to have answer I shewed him within ten daies he did assure me that the Duke would accept in better part the loan of 100000 Duckets now then if her Majestie should freely give him a million at another time so earnestly doth he embrace this enterprise of the Low-Countries and therefore said he to have his necessity relieved at this present through her Majesties goodness should bind the young Prince to remain continually at her devotion and to do her alwaies what service he might This in substance was the speech the Vice-Count delivered me he seemed to be greatly perplexed that the enterprise should stand upon so doubtfull terms considering what did depend thereon The Chancellor and the rest of his Councel did very much doubt the issue of the matter for lack of support being otherwise furnished with such forces as they doubt not shall be able to over-match the enemy so that by paying of them they might be kept under discipline which otherwise the army being compounded of voluntaries they fear will be subject to infinite and most dangerous disorders her Majestie I doubt not considering how greatly the yielding of support importeth her will take some such like resolution therein as the weight of the cause meriteth Besides if it so touch not her Majestie in surety as it doth yet the Duke well deserving of her Highness which is as great as ever any Prince did shew by effect require some Princely consideration of this present necessity especially her Majestie having by her late Letters put him in comfort thereof when any just occasion should be offered wherein to employ her as well for the satisfaction of the Vice-Count as that the cause it self requireth it I pray your Lordship that I may receive speedy resolution herein Having thus far proceeded in this Letter being departed to a place called Carlay about ten Leagues distant from Fere I received the inclosed from Queen Mother by the which as your Lordship may perceive she desired me if I were not departed or 〈…〉 to return back again Whereupon I thought good in hope thaâ— by 〈◊〉 I should be able to receive some such 〈◊〉 as might lead me to judge what would be the issue of those things 〈…〉 committed to 〈◊〉 charge to 〈…〉 bearer So according to her request being returned hither yesterday I had 〈◊〉 yesternight to repair unto her this moâ—ning by eight of the â—â—ock where at the time of my access after I 〈◊〉 made her acquainted with the substance of my châ—â—ge touching the Kings three Propositions propounded to her Majesties Ambassador and Mr. 〈◊〉 and her Majesties several answers to the same with such 〈…〉 did induce her to resolve as she 〈◊〉 â—he did then 〈◊〉 unto me that the 〈◊〉 her son being very desirous to know her Majestâ—â—◠〈◊〉 touching the 〈◊〉 especially the Duke his brother being so 〈◊〉 forth 〈◊〉 as he was in the enterprise of the Low 〈◊〉 being 〈◊〉 within eight 〈…〉 of the enemy and the most part of his 〈…〉 assembled thoughâ— good
to do and then prayed us all again particularly as he had done before thereto I the Secretary said that her Majestie should be speedily advertised of this his Answer and request praying his Majestie that because these other things required speedy resolution and among other the case of Don Anthonio it would please him to deliver his pleasure so soon as might be whereunto he consented Then we went to the Queen his mother being in her Chamber where I the Secretary remembring unto her what had passed between her and me before and how I had at this time proceeded with the King and what answer his Majestie had made I prayed her to procure the Kings resolution therein with speed which she promised she would do this was the effect of our Negotiation at this time whereof we have thought meet to advertise her Majestie in the mean time until we may further understand of the Kings Deputies how other things will be answered and offered to be treated upon And so we take our leave of your Lordship from Paris this tenth of August 1581. Your Lordships to Command Fr. Walsingham Henry Cobham Iohn Sommers To the Right Honorable my good friend Sir Francis Walsingham SIR Your servant Watson brought hither at dinner time this day being Sunday the thirteenth your Letters that is your common Letter dated the tenth from you the ordinary Ambassador and Master Sommers containing your Negotiation with the French King and your private Letter dated the eleventh with another of your own to her Majestie and one from Pinart as her Majestie informed me by the Treaty with the King it seemeth the King refuseth not to have a Treaty of streighter Amity and yet he carpeth upon the marriage by your Letter to her Majestie as she telleth me you think there may be a Treaty without the marriage but not without charge And therein her Majestie saith she had as good be as charge with a marriage as without and therefore she hath again willed me to write unto you That if Monsieurs action may be continued towards the Low-Countries she can be content to be at some reasonable charge by Contribution with the French King to maintain the same so it be underhand to bring her into no war otherwise she will not you shall consent without making her privy and having her answer and for a Treaty offensive and defensive she can also be content therewith but not thereby directly to enter into a war in this sort she hath willed me expresly to write unto you not allowing any Argument to the contrary whereof I made divers and those apparant necessary for by these means the King of Spains greatness shall grow to such ripeness as hereafter no open force shall withstand it And it is not likely that the French King will aide his brother which he cannot to any purpose do secretly where her Majestie will do it but underhand For the matter mentioned by the Viscount Turraign both my Lord of Leicester and I have dealâ— very earnestly with her and she hath answered my Lord of Leicester that she hath given a full order to you for the same but by me she answereth that you know her meaning to be that if the French King shall not ayd his Brother she will not see him abandoned But I desired to know how she would ayd him and the Viscounts motion importeth both necessity and speed to be relieved she answereth that until she may hear from you what the French King will do for his brother she will answer no more particularly This evening she willed me to advertise you that she is in great doubt that the Queen mother will induce Monsieur to leave the enterprise of Cambray with an intention to compass the marriage and then she saith if the marriage shall not follow Monsieur shall be dishonored and the King of Spain shall prosper hereof she commanded me to write to you that you should have thereof good regard In this sort I am commanded to write unto you but in what sort you shall deal to remedy this inconvenience neither by her Majestie can I direct you nor of my self can I inform you but I know you will do your best as the place and time shall serve and more cannot be required Her Majestie would have Master Sommers to return and so she willed me to signifie her pleasure and yet I told her that he was in Commission and might hardly be spared but yet she commanded me so to write if his being there cannot be spared you may do well to write so otherwise I do leave the matter to your consideration I know it will greatly grieve you not to have a good Answer to the matter for the Loan moved by the Viscount but surely all means are used here to help but none prevail as yet The Letter written from Master Cobham the ninth of August consisted on two points very contrary the first shewed the French Kings allowance to have Don Anthonies case furthered here as also it was there The second contained matter of great appearance that Monsieur should be withdrawn from offending of Spain and contrariwise to marry which two points cannot concur Master Beal hath the ciphered Letter of Twyns to procure to be interpreted but as yet it is not done and so with my paper I end From Greenwich the 13 of August 1581. Yours assured William Burleigh To the Right Honourable and my very good Friend Sir Francis Walsingham SIR since my writing yesternight though the Letters be not gone yet her Majestie by way of repetition hath willed me again to warn you that you be not overtaken with this that her Majestie doubteth that the Queen mother will withdraw Monsieur from the Low-Countries actions meaning thereby to obtain the marriage which her Majestie cannot allow in any sort to have the action left how you shall be able to order this you must there seek the way For ayding of Monsieur these are her Majesties words that if you finde the King not willing to support his brother rather then the action shall fail you shall say that her Majestie will not see him destitute but the sum she will not name till she hear from you we are desirous to hear how the King will deal to ayd Don Anthonio for her Majestie here is in such a suspence as at this present the journey stayeth namely because besides her 5000. l. there is demanded 2500. l. more which she will not yield and neither Drake nor Hawkins will go onward further and upon some scruples Mr. Bingham York Fenton and Ward do forbear her Majestie saith you know some cause why Mr. York should not be trusted She speaketh of a practisement by him in the Thames mouth whereof she hath willed me to write to you that you should call it to memory I renewed my opinion that you could not spare Mr. Sommers whereunto she answered that if you could not you should do as you thought best although she said she would
but both in this and all the rest of your Charge you will joyn your self with our Ambassador who for his Acquaintance and his Experience can very sufficiently inform you how to deal If any thing shall be moved to you for the Queen of Scots cause you may say that before your departure and within two or threes daies after that Monsieur de Poigney had been with us we had certain intelligence from Scotland that the Lord Levinston which was sent from the Queen of Scots to solicite the leavying of Arms and to bring some of the Nobilitie to confer both with us and her for ending of the troubles had been with the Duke of Chastelheranlte the Earl of Argile and others joyned with them before the 20 of the last moneth for so his own Letters do testifie to our Cousin the Earl of Sussex our Lieutenant upon our borders towards Scotland and that he found them well content with the Articles accorded by us with the French Ambassador and the Bishop of Ross and that he was well forward in his Commission so as we do look now daily both for a general ceasing of Arms there and for the access of the Noblemen on both parties of that Realm here to treat and conclude upon the Queen of Scots cause And if any further matter be moved unto you in this you shall say that you have no more to say therein When you have been with the King and entred so far into this Charge as our Ambassador and you may see likelihood of the end hereof we would be advertised with all speed possible And if our Ambassador and you think that the hastie yielding of the Deputies in their negociation may bring peril to the cause we think it good that they might be induced to stand somewhat hard therein as policie may serve them without making to them any further aids of money But as yet we do rather give them some countenance to use more earnestness for their own suretie Cecil To the Right Worshipful my very loving Friend Mr. Francis Walsingham Esquire SIr the French Ambassador hath sent hither a Servant of his to demand audience of the Queens Majestie who reporteth that he is to advertise her Majestie of the conclusion of the Peace which was published on Thursday last And for that I could not as yet this morning speak with her Majestie I thought good to give you signification thereof to the intent you might stay until I have herein spoken with her Majestie and by my next Letters advertise you whether her pleasure be that you should wholly stay or otherwise go on your journey with some other Instructions And so I wish you well to do from Chenys this Sundaie morning the 13 of August 1570. Your assured William Cecill To the Right Honorable Sir William Cecill Principal Secretary to her Majestie According to your Honours order I mean to stay till I hear further from you how her Majestie meaneth to dispose of my service and so in the mean time leaving to trouble you I most humblie take my leave From London the 13 of August 1570. Your Honors to Command Francis Walsingham To our trusty and well-beloved F. Walsingham Esq. presently sent unto the French King ELIZABETH R. TRusty and well-beloved we great you well having this daie received Letters from the French King by his Ambassador making mention of towardness of a Peace made with his Subjects so as the Ambassador affirmeth that he taketh it to be assuredly published at Paris the II of this moneth and yet because otherwise we do not make full account thereof but think it meet you shall keep on your journey with this order that if it be not accorded before your coming then you shall proceed as before you were appointed and if it be concluded then shall you deliver these our Letters which we now send directlie to the French King by which we do signifie unto him how we had dispatched you before to move him to make some good end with his subjects and now hearing by his Ambassador of the conclusion we cannot forbear but charge you to proceed specially to congratulate with him for so happy a benefit as by his reconciliation of his Subjects to him we certainly are perswaded that God could not give him a greater And so our pleasure is you shall use all good language to express the joy thereof and to offer all manner of endeavour that is in our power to further the good keeping and continuance thereof And in like manner we would have you by means of our Ambassador to cause the Admiral and his party to understand our intention in the sending of you this time making it appear to them how careful we are of their well-doings and shall be willing to do any thing in our power reasonable to continue to them the fruits of this Accord And to let them also understand that the special sending of you over at this time was chiefly for their cause Given under our Signet at Henly the 15 of August the 12 year of our Reign 1570. A Copy of the Letter sent to Master Secretary touching the negotiation had with the King the 28 of August 1570. SIr it may please your Honour to advertise her Majestie that the King accepted in very good part her Congratulation as from his good Sister and Neighbour who hath alwaies wished his well-doing and prosperity for these were his words after Congratulation done to the King The Queen Mother having inquired of me of the well-doing of her Majestie asked me how the Queen of Scots did I answered her that at my departure for any thing that I knew to the contrary she did very well then she proceeded to enquire of me touching her present estate I answered according to the tenor of my Instructions in what state she stood at my departure wherewith she seemed to rest very well satisfied And then she fell to protestation that for her own part she was so well perswaded of the Queens Majesties merciful disposition as she knew right well that if she did deal any thing hardly with the Queen of Scots it rather proceeded from some of her Ministers then from her Majesties self I replied that I was glad to understand that she conceived so well of the Queen my Mistress's good disposition so was I sorry that she should think that she would be by any of her Ministers or Councellours drawn to any thing eitheâ— towards her or any other that might not stand with her honour for that her skill and years was now to direct and not to be directed I desired her therefore in her Majesties name that she would evermore reserve an ear for her a thing that would not in equity be denied to the meanest person in France who in all her actions hitherto towards the Queen of Scots had dealt with that regard to her honour as she was right able to justifie herself both towards the King her good Brother as also toward all
respects if all be so well as outwardlie it sheweth then is he of bodie sound enough And yet at this present I did not finde him so well coloured as I esteemed him to be at my last being here Since my Arrival here there hath been great search made by divers means how I am inclined to Monsieurs attempt My general answer is that I left my private passions behind me and do here submit my self to the passions of my Prince to execute whatsoever she shall command me as precisely as I may not presuming to do any thing further then I shall be commanded And as for her marriage whensoever it shall please God to incline her to that Change I should forget my dutie towards her and my Countrey if I should not like very well thereof though my present calling requiretâ— me to do no more neither in that nor in any other thing further forth then I am prescribed This answer seemeth very well to satisfie those that would further this matter for that I vvas fore-judged to be a very passionate Enemy Touching the pictures your Lordship desired they can by no means be gotten for no man may make any counterfeit of the King or his Brother vvithout license if he do the punishment is great Thus having imparted to your Honour that which at this present I thought worthy the advertisement I most humbly take my leave From Paris the 28 of Ianuary 1571. Your Lordships to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honorable Sir Walter Mildmay of her Majesties Privy Councel SIr I most humbly thank you for your favour promised me by your Letters of the 16 of this Moneth touching my allowance for transportation Surely Sir I find my charges daily increase through the extream prises of things here The expences of my horses at this instant grow to 4 l. the day and yet is my daily diet through the meaness thereof not such as the place I supply requireth True it is the entry causeth the dearth to be so great and some hope there is that hereafter things will be more reasonable but in the mean time I find the burthen over heavie and when things shall be best cheap yet shall I find it heavie enough But herewith I leave further to trouble you at this instant The 25 of this instant moneth I was presented unto the King at Madrill where he now presently lieth being received by him with great courtesie and favour as also by his Mother and Brethren I leave Sir to you to gess the cause of this kindness and yet I should do Monsieur de la Motte Ambassador with her Majestie great wrong if I should not acknowledge some part of this good entertainment to proceed from the good report he hath made of me as one that will do what lieth in me to entertain the Peace Touching the state of things here I refer you to this inclosed Note of Occurrents and though they seem to give some doubt of the Kings sincerity yet surely Sir they that know him throughly are of opinion that if the matters grow to new troubles he will incline to those of the Religion This Oration Sir whereof I send you a Copie pronounced and delivered to him and to the Ambassador of the Princes of Germany hath put him in some good courage whereas before by the faction of the Guises he was put in great fear of the Catholicks aswel Forraign as at home Thus Sir you see for that he is not settled in Religion how he is carried away with wordly respects a common misery to those of his Calling God make those of his calling more truly Religious then we are To whose tuition I most humbly take my leave and commit you to God At Paris the 27 of Ianuary 1571. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham Sir I beseech you when you have read and perused this Oration that then it would please you to send the same to Sir N. Thorckmorton To the Right Honourable Sir William Cecill her Majesties principal Secretary SIr it may please you to be advertised that the last of Ianuary I received a Letter from my Lord of Buckhurst by one Hollinshed wherein he gave me his notice of proceedings onward on his journey hithervvard Whereupon I sent forth M. Beal to the Court being still at Madrill to advertise the King and Queen Mother from me First that the said Lord of Buckhurst who was deputed from the Queen my Mistress to Congratulate his Marriage had sent over thirty of his Train and that he himself about the first of this moneth was minded to be at Dover there to imbark himself and the residue of his Company Secondarily for that I heard the Queens Majestie was sick whereby it was doubtful when she should be in state able without her trouble or some peril to give the said Lord Buckhurst access unto her to execute his charge from the Queens Majestie my Mistress that therefore I desired to know of his Majestie and the Queen his Mother whether there were any hope of her Majesties speedy recovery whereby the said Nobleman may proceed in his journey to accomplish his said charge or otherwise whether I might not with his advice and favour write unto the said Nobleman some Letters of stay or return if he were passed the sea or onward his voyage until such time as he should be hereafter further advertised of her Majesties speedy recovery In answer whereof I received this inclosed from Secretary Pynart and for that Mr. Beal whom he made privy to his Letter did not see his answer directly touching that point which concerned his access to the Queen he desired to know what was the Kings mind in that behalf To whom he answered for that it was doubtfull by reason of the Queens sickness whether the Lord of Buckhurst should have any access unto her the only stay of her Entry and Coronation therefore the King referreth it to my Lords own judgement whether he will come now or stay until the other Entry I have made my Lord privy of my proceedings herein as also what answer I received from the King referring him to do therein as his Instructions should best direct him I have made him also acquainted with my private opiâ—ion in this behalf which is if her Majesties direction may bear it rather to proceed then otherwise First in respect his coming now will be here accepted in as good part as at any time hereafter Secondarily in respect of her Majesties charges and his own Thirdly in respect that the Governour of Picardie Monsieur de Paâ—ne and other Gentlemen who are appointed to repair to to Bullen to receive him should lose their labour if he should not proceed forward And as touching the Queens sickness whereby his access unto her to congratulate the Marriage growth doubtful judged here the chief cause of her repair hither I do not think the contrary but that her Majesties honourable and good meaning will be accepted in as good part
as for her Majestie In the end he said he would write but that it would be two moneths before he could receive answer in the mean time he wished her Majestie to think of his Master as she would wish him to think of her Stewkley he protested never to have heard of If in the rest he be no sincerer then in this then is he Don Francisco not so sincere as he protesteth As for any attempts by Iulio Romero to be done in Ireland tell your Mistress saith he in few words that you her Ambassador â—ere knoweth that they be no Spaniards that have the enterprize in hand I told him that whatsoever I knew he might assure himself her Majestie could not be ignorant of And whereas said I you think that they be Frenchmen I assure my self to the contrarie for that the King hath so assured me He shewed me that he thought the King in that behalf sincere and that if there were any such matter it proceeded not from him but from others This Sir was in effect what I could ghess proceeded between us never spake I with a prouder man or with one more disdainful in countenance and in speech I suppose he is somewhat disquieted to see the honourable entertainment used towards my Lord of Buckhurst and therefore think him the rather to be excused besides he seemeth to be no better affected towards me then I am towards him which is such and no further forth then may concern her Majesties service I mean to have little else to do with him Sir touching de la Roches matter before my Lord of Buckhursts repair to the Court we upon conference agreed that he should make some entry into the matter and then afterwards cause the King to call me to inform what I had learned touching Roches proceeding in that behalf And so at the time of access according to the order agreed between us being called by the King I shewed his Majestie that notwithstanding he was otherwise informed the said de la Roch had been in Ireland and that he had left certain Souldiers there For whose safety he had brought hither two sons of one Fitzmorice to be here in place of hostages who remain now in Brest in Britain at a Kinsmans of the said de la Roch. And fuâ—ther I shewed him that the said de la Roch was lately departed out of the Town who before his going secretly gave out that he was dispatched about some enterprise I desired therefore his Majestie that according to his promise and the great Amitie he professed to her Majestie my Mistress he would procure some redress in that behalf which he with great earnestness protested to us I also desired his Majestie that it would please him to give me leave to deliver to some one about him a memorial to put him in remembrance thereof which his Majestie willingly granted and appointed one Gerâ—lomo Gondi a Gentleman of his Chamber to be the partie The like speech I used to the Queen Mother who gave great assurance that there should be speedy redress thereof I look shortly out of Britain to be advertised throughly by a Messenger that I sent expresly for that purpose touching the enterprise where also I have taken such order as I shall not fail to be advertised from time to time of such preparations as there shall be made whereof there may grow any suspition of any intention to attempt any thing that may touch her Majesties Dominions Concerning the having of any intelligence in Spain I hope to procure that one of the Kings Ambassadors men upon some pension shall advertise from time to time how things pass there According as her Majestie hath commanded me I will not be unmindful touching the league hoping not to omit any occasion or opportunitie that may serve that purpose so far forth as my poor skill and experience may stretch Touching my Lord of Buckhursts entertainment here which is very honorable and such as the like hath not been used towards any other I refer you to his Lordships own Letters I find him a Gentleman very wise and discreet and very careful to do that thing that may be for her Majesties Honour wherein he spares no cost And leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave beseeching God to send you better health then by your Letters I perceive you have From Paris the 25 of Febr. 1571. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To my very Friend Sir Francis Walsingham Ambassador Resident for the Queens Majestie in France MY Lord Ambassador I thank you for your Letters lately received from you the last being the ninth of Febr. wherein you give very good advice touching the matter of Monsieur and for my own part I am of the same mind to wish sinceritie and honourable dealing in it that either upon very good deliberation it may be embraced or in time and in best sort put from too much entrance for neither is our case meet to dally nor his person for to be abused as he will think if he miss his desire how fair soever we speak him Therefore for my own part I wish all things to be throughly considered of him that her Majestie may fully understand the condition of his person before-hand which is one of the causes that moved me to say unto you as I did before your departure for I find matter that is like to come in question and I perceive her Majestie more bent to marry then heretofore she hath been God make her fortunate therein to his glory and our comforts Touching the matter of Ireland Master Secretary made me privy to your Letters and you do well to follow the matter earnestly and to enquire further thereof by all means you can devise for her Majestie is also advertised that the King of Spain hath like intention and almost ready to put his practise in execution whereupon her Majestie doth mean forthwith to take some order for that Realm We have lost on Monday our good Friend Sir Nicholas Throckmorton who dyed in my house being there taken suddenly in great extremity on Tuesday before his lungs were perished but a sudden cold he had taken was the cause of his speedy death God hath his soul and we his friends great loss of his body The Queens Majestie God be thanked hath her health well and hath summonded a Parliament which shall begin the 13 of April next Thus with my hearty commendations I bid you heartily farewel this 14 of Febr. 1571. Your assured Friend R. Leicester To the Right Honourable my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester YOur Lordships of the 14 I received the 16 of this present and was most sorry as I had just cause by the same to understand of the loss of so dear a friend as Sir Nicholas was unto me whose lack if it were but private only to his Friends the loss were great but if it be weighed generally in respect of her
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
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
that the King his Master was glad to entertain any Gentleman of countenance that offered him service as also to honour them with the honour of Knighthood I then made him acquainted with the couse of Stenklies life as also how little he had to take to and therefore willed him to consider how unworthy he was of any honour or entertainment in respect of himself But said I being as he is a Rebell unto the Queens Majestie with whom the house of Burgundy hath had so long Amitie and to be used with that honour and entertainment at his Masters hand gave her occasion to think that kind of Amitie not to answer best to such good will as outwardly is professed and so c. At Paris the 19 of March 1571. Your Honours to command Francis Walsingham To our trusty and welbeloved Sir Francis Walsingham Ambassador Resident with the French King ELIZABETH R. TRusty and welbeloved we greet you well we have seen the severall Letters which you lastely wrote of the 5 of this moneth to the Lord of Burleigh our Secretary together with a Letter sent to you out of Spain of the 25 of Ianuary and do like well of your dilligence used herein and having well considered and looked further into â—he matter and comparing your advertisement with others of like sort and finding the same to be of great importance we have resolved to send out of hand a Gentleman to the King of Spain both to decipher by speech with him and by other means to understand the Kings intention herein and also to deal roundly and plainly vvith him in the matter and in the mean time vve do give order for all events for vvithstanding of any enterprize as vvell by sending of our ships to the sea-coast of Ireland as by other Forces to be sent into Ireland And for that much time may pass before vve can have ansvver from thence we pray you continue your travel and care to understand further as much as you may thereof and to advertise as matter may be further discovered worthy of knowledge Touching the matter of Credit sent to you from Rochel whereof you gave knowledge by Beal we pray you as of your self to learn further thereof and to discover their intentions and the likelihood of their intentions and what are the meanest sums of money to be demanded and what are best assurance and assoon as you can to advertise us without giving any token that you are thus directed to do For other matters we refer you to the advertisements of our pleasure signified lately by the Letters of the Lord of Burleigh And whereas an ancient and very good servant of ours Sir Thomas Cotton Knight hath occasion to complain as he informeth of the evil dealing of one Loen de la Hay a Subject of the French King who being once our Prisoner of War and licensed to depart upon his faith upon condition to redeem and send home freely a son of the said Sir Thomas Cotten then Prisoner or else within a time limitted to return again as his Prisoner hath performed neither of both besides a good sum of money which he lent to de la Hay at his departure yet unpaid We have thought good to recommend the same matter unto you and for the better instruction therein you shall receive herewith the request of the said Sir Thomas Cotten praying you to take some convenient time to open the matter to such of the Kings Councel or to himself if occasion may serve and to such other as you shall think able and well-affected to do any good therein and to seek by all good means that some reason may be had of the said de la Hay in this so plain and justificable a case so as our said Servant may have no further cause of Suit to the King for lack of justice the partie being well able to pay as is enformed If you shall have any occasion to deal with the Spanish Ambassador there you may be bold to shew him of these reports that we hear from Spain and if he shall hear of any our preparations by Sea and Land that the same is for our defence and if we shall be offended we will use them not onely for defence but to offend for our Revenge Given under our Signet at our Mannor of Greenwich the tenth of March 1570. in the thirteenth year of our Reign To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Ambassador for the Queens Majestie in France SIr by the Queens Majesties Letters you may understand how well she liketh your diligence and besides that which is therein contained I am commanded specially to write to you that it is to her related that certain reports are made there as she thinketh by practice from thence of such as do not in with that a meaneth and so much in any place affirme And if L. shall by any occasion deal vvith you A. vvill that you do so assure him for A. knovveth not of any 0234 colour that doth mislike hereof Herein I am commanded to to vvrite earnestly unto you and to vvill you by no means to hinder the proceeding for it is meant as to me it appeareth very earnest and some offence here taken vvith H. for an opinion of cold dealing After the signing of her Majesties Letters she commanded me as she reposed trust in me that I should not be remiss herâ—in And so I pray you consider thereof and advertise me vvhat you hear and find thereof I make haste to end because I have many things to do From Greenvvich the tenth of March 1570. Your assured loving Friend Will. Burleigh I have no more leisure but to pray you to commend me to my Lord of Rutland To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh HEr Majesties of the tenth of March I received the vvhich I perceive her Majestie hath sundrie vvaies advertisements of the Irish enterprize vvhereof as I had cause before to doubt so have I novv more cause then before and therefore am glad to understand that there is order taken for the vvithstanding of all events that may happen in that behalf It may therefore please your Lordship to signifie unto her Majestie that the 24 of this moneth the Archbishop of Cassels sent unto me two of his Servants to know whether he might come to speak with me or no. I answered them that whensoever he would come he should be verie welcome and for that he should not lose his labour in coming I shewed them that he should find me at home both that day and the day following So the next day being the 25. he repaired unto me his first speech tended to his justification for departing out of Ireland without her Majesties leave saying that being deprived from his living and another substitute in his place who he confessed to have outraged before his departure necessitie inforced him to depart to seek maintenance some other where and the rather for that in respect of the
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
sorts She pretendeth a great fear of her life and craveth a ghostly Father being Catholique He can tell you that the Queens Majestie hath plainly notified to the Estates of Scotland that she will never suffer the Scotish Queen to have her Government in Scotland and at this present we are in hand to make an accord betwixt Liddington and Graunge in the Castle and the Regent c. difficulties are rather particular then publike They in the Castle look to have their Offices and Lands restored and for surety that Graunge may remain Captain of the Castle The other party are greedy to keep that they have catched as of Bishopricks and Abbeys c. I think next avoidance might help but greediness and mistrust keeps them asunder and I fear more the wilfulness of the Kings party then the conformation of the adverse Now for the principal matter of Sir Tho Smith I have at such length explained that in his instructions whereof he will make you privy as I need not adde any more I. Dover A. was never 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then now I am commanded to move you to advise some secret ways with St T Smith how if K. be not at Court he might secretly procure to be there at Sr. Tho. Smiths being there and also by secret means Sir Tho. Smith may understand his opinion in the greatest mater as one whom we think of such dexterity in his actions of such dutifull good will hitherward as no advice nor direction shall be given to our prejudice All this I write by commandment and that after Mr. S. departure from this place so as I have not specially informed him hereof and therefore I pray you impart this to him adding this caution that Mr. Smith do not appear to any others to deal with him for so may he best serve the purpose Now Sir you may think that I am not a little perplexed in this matter when I consider with my self the doubtfulness that you have signified unto me of Callais 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereof I never made A. privy nor any other almost and now finding here on the other a contrary intention which surely is earnestly meant and not the less for the cause of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I am doubly troubled and therefore the good order either to conclude or break off must lie in the wisdom of the Ministers there to whom I wish the assistance of Gods Spirit Sir my infirmity as Sir Tho. Smith can inform you hath been so lingring upon me as I have bin though not idle yet an unprofitable servant and thereby impedited to sollicite your suit unto her Majesty wherein I will assoon as I may imploy my whole power as if it were for my self And so now I end wishing to hear of your cure of your infirmity with speed and surety At Greenwich Decemb. 7. 1571. Yours assuredly Will. Burleigh To my loving Friend Mr. Francis Walsingham Ambassador for the Queens Majesty in France Mr. Walsingham It is now somewhat long since I wrote unto you of our news the cause hath been partly for lack of special matter and partly being at all times absent when your dispatches were made but having presently some matter of moment worthy the writing to you I will not fail to deal plainly with you even as I think and as the cause requireth Among other matters that Sir Tho. Smith hath in charge to deal with the King he hath also certain instructions from her Majesty which are also to understand how he shall answer if the matter of her marriage be any more propounded or talked of with him and because I have alwaies heretofore seen in you a good inclination to further the same as a matter for her self her estate and ours all through the hope of her issue to be preserved by which for mine own part I was and am of like opinion God is my judge only for the same respect being verily perswaded otherwise hardly shall she her self be in safety for her own time or her people and Realm left in surety after her except some such way be taken as marriage whereof finding now again an appearance of a full determination in her Majestie to like of marriage and to my judgement resolved not to refuse any reasonable conditions that to her honour shall be offered by that King for Monsieur I thought good to let you understand it that if the matter be renewed on their parts that you may deal accordingly therein who being in dispair of her good liking as good cause both you and we here have had so to doubt might perhaps make the less account of it and I supposing in dealing with Mr. Tho. Smith he will affirm thus much of her present disposition which I assure you she hath so earnestly and assuredly affirmed unto me as I verily think yet once again that with good handling good conclusion will follow And thus much her Majesty is pleased I should signifie unto you and Henry Killegrew that you should appoint some trusty and discreet Messenger fully instructed with all the proceedings hitherto past in this matter touching the Marriage to be sent to the Admiral and to impart the same wholly unto him with demonstration of her trust and affiance in him to give her the best and friendliest advice and let him know upon what points they stick at it and if he shall seem to be earnest and to allow of the matter and to have it go forward then would she have him at Court at this present of Mr. Smiths being there that he may the better from time to time be privy to their dealings and her determinations also for that she doth mean freely and frankly to impart all things to him from time to time that shall concern her therein not doubting he will have due regard every way of her Mejesties honour and specially to foresee that she be not abused or ill handled by sinister practises of some that be great enemies to this matter Her Majesty hath her self somewhat opened her mind to the Count Montgomery who this day hath taken his leave and is departed and the sooner to deal with the Admiral hereabout and as you shall find the Admirals devotion in this matter so shall it be well done to use as speedy advertisement as you can to her Majesty thereof You have often times Mr. Walsingham wisely warned us and put us in mind to seek some waies to stablish her Majesteries state and the lacks declared both want of friendship abroad and of our doubtfull state at home it falls out daily too manifest and without some remedy will prove a danger unrecoverable the means for help be easily seen and perceived and I suppose yet not without hope to be obtained God grant us that foresight and wisdom that we willingly refuse them not Well I can but pray for the best and discharge my duty according to the small understanding I have that some good may take place which I shall never cease to wish
you a Commission under our great Seal of England wherein we have joyned with you our Ambassador Francis Walsingham and our servant H. Killegrew who is there with you wherein our meaning is that assoon as Walsingham shall come thither he shall joyn with you and within some convenient time Killegrew may return according to our first order given to him at his departure thither And yet untill VValsingham shall come thither Killegrew may remain as joyned And considering the whole burden of the matter of learning in conceiving the Articles of this Treaty shall rest almost wholly in this Treaty we would that when you are proceeded as far as you can and as you think meet that before you shall subscribe the Treaty you shall send the same hither to us to be more circumspectly perused and thereupon we will with like speed return it as we shall think meet and so may you reasonably declare your intention to the French King pretending your instruction of your self and therewith to use the same as they may not suspect it to come of any intention of delay At Westminster the 13 of February 1571. Wil. Burleigh To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh YOur Letters sent by the Scot dated the 6 of this month I have received he willed me to inform you that since his coming hither he hath learned that the King giveth but a deaf ear to their causes notwithstanding that they hope that upon Graunges brothers coming who is now at the Court there will be somewhat obtained for their relief which if it take not place then they mean to repair to Flanders where the Lord Seaton hath received from the Pope 20 thousand Crowns who is putting himself in readiness to repair into Scotland Further he willed me to shew your Lordship that the L. Fleming looketh for a Barque of his own to arrive at New-Haven about the end of this month in the which he meaneth to repair to Scotland with such forces as he can get either by consent from the King or by stealth otherwise This in effect is that which he willed me to impart unto your Lordship I find this he saith confirmed by other Intelligence I have Graunges brother as I learn meaneth to protest to the King that unless they may have Men Money and Munition out of hand for their relief that then they shall be driven to yield to such composition as will be made to the Queen of England which will not much tend to the benefit of France After Sir Tho. Smiths assurance of her Majesties intention I suppose the King will perswade them to fall to agreement among themselves without further intermedling in their causes From all the Ports both innormandy and Picardy Cane only excepted I learn there is no preparation of ships Shortly I hope to understand what is done in Cane And so leaving further to trouble your Lordship I most humbly take my leave at Paris the 29 of December 1571. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh TOuching your Lordships by Sir Tho. Smith according to her Majesties order I have caused the King to understand as well the trust she hath in him as also how much she desireth his presence at the Court whereby Sir Tho. Smith may be the better assisted by his advice some like office I have also used towords I. who hath alwaies been an especial furtherer of the cause From him who liveth not far from this Town I have received most earnest promise that he will do his uttermost and for that he is here imployed by the King in the punishment of those that committed the late disorder he hath written secretly to his friends to the Court to sound there in what state the matter standeth and as they find secretly to advertise Sir Thomas he protesteth that he would be loath to see her Majesty abused as any Subject she hath that loveth her most dearly He hath great hope that the matter will take good success for that he seeth the state of both Realms doth necessarily require so strait an amity as marriage bringeth He promiseth to use the more expedition in that which is committed to his charge to the end he may repair to the Court with the more speed Lineroles who by the House of Guise and the rest of the Spanish Faction was made an instrument to disswade his Master was slain the ninth of this Month his death yielded no small furtherâ—nce to the Cause I hope therefore Sir Thomas Smiths first dispatch will bring the Olive Branch And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave at Paris Decemb. 8. 1571. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham Your Lordships of the 8 by Sir Thomas Smith I have received and according to her Majesties order expressed in the same I have by means of a third person who heretofore hath been imployed betwixt us caused the person you know of to understand the great trust her Majestie reposeth in him as also her desire to have him at the Court during the time of Sir Tho. Smiths being there whereby he may the better have the assistance of his advice Touching the matter it self I know not how to judge of it for that I have been two Months absent from the Court as I have cause to doubt so have I cause more to hope to doubt for that her Majesties long deferring in sending may have bred some doubt here of her cold inclination that way and so cause them to give ear to some other offers having small hope of this To hope first for that there is no other match worthy the seeking elsewhere secondarily for that they begin to fear very much the greatness of Spain and therefore desire to be strengthned by the Arm of England and though that may be done by way of League yet they think the marriage the surest knot of amity After Sir Tho. Smith hath had audience it will then soon appear what is to be looked for in that behalf Lastly for that Lineroles the chief disswader of the Marriage is lately slain Marshal M. who is imploy'd here by the King in punishment of the authors of the late disorder meaneth to make the more haste to the Court to the end to further the matter whereof he hopeth there will grow success Thus leaving further to trouble your honour at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the last of December 1571. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham A minute of my Lord of Burleighs Letter to Sir Thomas Smith of the 28 of December SInce your departure from hence there hath no new thing of vallue happened but the discharging of the late Spanish Ambassador who hath both in Office and out of Office used himself very crookedly perniciously and maliciously against the State and namely and openly against me not forbearing but in open Coâ—cel
see the power that I will send him that you may judge of it but when meet you next To morrow Sir quoth I if you please and so from day to day untill we make an end Best of all saith he let it be even so Then I told the King that even now at this time by chance in examining of a prisoner in Ireland it falleth out and appeareth plain that the Cardinal of Lorain had not done enough to raise up troubles to your Majestie in your Realm and to trouble England and Scotland but he could not let the poor Realm of Ireland alone to be in quiet but there he would stirr upon Sedition and Rebellion also at the which the King laughed heartily and quoth I in this he abuseth your Majesties name and as of gift he would give the Counties of Ormond and Oosory to one Iames Fitzmorris a Rebel and promises aid of men and munition for them there to rebel against the Q. my Mistress In my name quoth he I never heard of it Jesus quoth he I could never think any trouble or hurt to my good Sister Sir quoth I here is the Article of Confession of one Stackbold who affirmeth this Here is at the Court as I hear say one de la Roche Knight of the Order and Gentleman of your Chamber who was the doer of it he can inform your Majestie at the full of the matter Well let me alone quoth he with it I will see it redressed well enough Then Mr. Walsingham somewhat more declared what had been done in the matter and shewed the King what the Queen Mother had said to us that de la Roche was now in the Court and therefore prayed him that he might be sent for and see order taken in that matter as appertained to the good will which he had to the amity of both the Realms which the King said he would After he said to the King that Mr. Killigrew should now depart home seeing he was come to his old Room but that we desired him to stay a day or two to heare our next meeting and to see how near we should come to agreement and so to bring to the Q. Majestie some good contentment Whereupon the King said that thing should be ordered and with such expedition that he should come home well-pleased and bring the Queens Majestie such word as she should therewith be contented peradventure more then she would think and so departed for that day This day we looked to be sent for but the King went on hunting and pretence was made to us that the Councel hath had the Bill which we delivered to the King in consideration and that they would have his Majesties advice of the day time and place of our meeting after they had consulted upon it to the intent we might after we once began continually travel untill the end were made This is so much as hitherto is done Thus we commit your Majestie to Almighty God From Blois Feb. 22. 1571. Your Majesties most humble Subjects and Servants Tho. Smith Fra. Walsingham To the Queens Majestie PLeaseth it your Majestie to be advertised the last of February when the Treaty of the League was in manner at a point and Master Killegrew was ready to take his leave of the King and Queen Mother we demanded audience and came all three to the Court we were first brought into the Kings Chamber where was also the Duke of Alanson and other Noblemen where I first declared to the King That his Deputies and we were now almost at a point and in all other things we thought we should agree He said he had understood that and was very glad of it hoping that this was but a beginning and that the Amity should increase daily and bring forth more fruit But Sir quoth I there is yet the matter of Religion not fully agreed upon without the which well provided for I know not how the League can go forward or be sure The King said he could not have it put in the League but it should be in such general words made that the matter of Religion should be contained Sir quoth I that cannot be nor no general words can contain it if the party that is bound will say that it is against his Conscience or he meant it not Why saith the King for that I will write to the Queen my sister with mine own hand what I mean even to that and that I will as well defend her in that case as if it were expressed in words Sir quoth I if you will have it in an Article by it self and as concluded betwixt you so as it be put it writing and sealed with the Great Seal of France as the true interpretation of your meaning in the League then we can be content with it although in the Treaty it be not specially put in but in general words for being so made it shall be of as much force by the Interpretation as the League Then Master Walsingham declared That it was more honourable for the King and more assurance that it were put expresly in the Treaty for then not onely the Princes of Germany but also other Kings which be of the Religion would be right glad to enter into it and by that means onely you should saith he be able to countervail the King of Spain yea and all the rest of Europe that should attempt any thing against you whereas if it be done in general words or underhand they will not trust the matter so much nor have so good colour or occasion to desire to enter into this League with you and what or whom need your Majestie fear being so well proped up and fortified with this so strong a League This may be saith the King hereafter my Councel telleth me it should be dangerous for me at this present to have it in express words but what maketh it matter I mean it so and what I once say I will keep it I will rather dye then not keep my promise Here I say it to you and will write it to the Queen my Sister How do you mean Sir quoth I in a writing after the fashion of a Treaty and sealed with your Great Seal of France or but in a Letter close In a Letter close saith he signed with my hand where I will express the same words are meant as you would have put in the League and I will promise that I will be ready to defend in that case as well as in any other and so I will indeed and that I say I will keep to dye for it Sir quoth I for you I do think no less and I am sure that the Queens Majestie our Mistris and we do take your Majestie to be a faithful Prince and constant in your words as any is living but vvhen we speak Treaties they be not made in words nor in such Letters missive but after another authentical sort sworn and sea led without which order I cannot for my
can give good testimony and therefore I doubt not her Majestie wil have good consideration thereof accordingly Your Lordship at large by Sir Tho Smith is advertised how strangely the Article of Provision for the King of Spain was taken by his Deputies Surely if her Majestie persist in that point to have him specially provided for I perceive then that this Treaty is at the best for that they themselves confess that the end of this League is onely to bridle his greatness therefore to provide for his safety who seeketh both their destructions they cannot tell what to judge what it meaneth especially seeing that of late he hath no way deserved at her Majesties hands any such favour If therefore her Majestie do think that this Prince is of any value who is towards all men sincere towards her Majestie well affected towards Religion pius Inimicus she must not weigh him in one ballance with Spain who is of word unsincere in affection towards her Majestie maliciously bent and the common Enemy to our Religion If her Majestie mean to take profit of his friendship the next way shall be to strengthen her self with the Amity of others in such sort as she shall have no need of it for it is the nature of a proud man to make best account of them that least esteem him for whosoever yieldeth to him increaseth his pride which thing those that deal with the Spanish Nation find to be most true So long as the late Catholique League made remaineth in force her Majestie nor any other Princes of the Religion can promise unto themselves any thing at Spains hands but as much mischief as he can do them which thing her Majestie with the rest shall find to be true by too dear an experience if the same be not holpen by some counter league The consideration whereof maketh the German Princes now who otherwise are slow in their counsels determinations to think it necessary for them to joyn in this counter-league which thing your Lordship may perceive by this inclosed letter which lately I received from the Count Palatine touching that point whereas he referreth me to his servant Iuniuâ— with whom I have had conference I have committed the report thereof to this bearer M. Beal Touching the Marriage in Treaty here betwixt the Prince of Navarre and the Lady Margaret Sir Tho Smith Mr. Killegrew and I knowing how much the success of the same might further the cause of the Religion and finding the greatest difculty to be the manner of the solemnizing of the same we sent unto the Queen of Navarre a Copy of the Treaty of the marriage betwixt King Edward and the latâ— Q. of Spain the Kings sister here wherein it was agreed as your Lordship knoweth that she should be married according to the form of our Church This Coâ—y of the Treaty as the Queen of Navarre her self told Sir Thomas Smith and me standeth her in very good stead whom she sent for the 7 of this moneth to come and speak with her At our access she told us that she did not send for us before she did make Queen Mother acquainted therewith not saith she in respect of my self but in respect of her Majestie towards whom I would be loth to ingender any jealousie considering that she is growing to so good Amity with this Crown For as for my self I am not afraid to make known to all the world the great good will I bear towards her Majestie to whom I am as much bound as ever one Prince was to another And because saith she you are Ministers to her Majestie here I thought good to make you acquainted in what state and terms the Treaty of the marriage standeth betwixt their Majesties here and me saith she there is no difference but only the manner of solemnization I have alledged the Treaty which you sent me whereunto they take exceptions such as are of no great value and therefore said she I cannot tell what to judge of the matter because amongst the rest of the exceptions they say it was no true Copy of the Treaty I have sent for you Monsieur Smith saith she to know because you were a dealer in the same whether you will not justifie it to be a true Copy to whom Sir Tho Smith answered that knowing the great good will her Majestie did bear her and how much she desired the good success of that marriage as a thing that tended to the advancement of Religion and repose of this Realm he could not but in duty avow the same and be willing to do any good office that might advance the said marriage She made us acquainted with divers other particularities which I thought good rather to refer to the report of this bearer then to commit them to writing The Copy of the Letter which I send unto your Lordship here inclosed sent unto her from her Son which she delivered unto us secretly to read may shew you how full of jealousie the matter is and therefore until the same be concluded I hold it for doubtful She findeth here a great stay of Count Lodovicus's advice who surely is the rarest Gentleman which I have talked withal since I came to France c. Your Lordships to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Queens most excellent Majestie PLeaseth it your Majestie the thirtieth of March at night we received your Majesties Letters of the twentieth of the same whereupon asking audience the next day because the King himself was yet in his Diet we did speak with the Queen Mother in her Chamber where I began to declare unto her Highness that by Letters from her Majestie we had understood two things whereof we were sorry the one that your Highness having received the dispatch from us of our negotiation here as touching the league and amity willing to dispatch our Currier again with your resolution which we doubt not should be to her and the K. contention their Ambassador Resident required that your Majestie would not write your answer or resolution unto us until he had his Currier come for whom he looked every day Saith the Q. that is because he would coucur with you I think so said I and it is well and I trust we shall so concur to a perpetual and strait Amity I hope saith she but yet he vvrote not so much to us that he spake to the Queen to forbear his resolution to you but onely that he looked for his Currier The other is more grievous to us because we take the time lost and some evil suspicion may be conceived but I trust the Amity is so begun between the two Realms that there shall no suspicion have place after that the one hath understood the other Monsieur de Crocque arrived into England as your Majesty knoweth with Commission from hence to help Scotland to a quietness in her self and to concur with him whom the Queen our Mistris should send for that purpose for aid and even at
praesentis status commutandi conditio And in the beginning of the eight he would have these words added Aut unus illorum seperatim de consensu tamen alterius but we did not accord thereunto whereof he seemed very doubtfull how the King would assent to the rest and although it may be that he shall be also earnestly pressed therewith yet except you should see it stay the Treaty we would not have you yield But otherwise we do not mean you should stay the Treaty for these few words And where in the former part of our Letter we have willed you that there may be a special Article of reservation of Treaties with the King of Spain if you find that offensive to the expedition of the Treaty then we can be content only with the general Article of the 34. We require you to use all speed that you can herein for it may be we shall send the person that shall come from hence within eight daies after we may have knowledg thereof and then it may be that the same shall meet with you and Sir Tho. Smith return you back with him in Commission whereof you shall certainly know our mind by the next Given under our signet at our Palace of Westminster the second of April 1571. in the 13 year of our Reigne To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr I heartily thank you for your sundry Letters all which with one Letter and many thanks must be answered I have imparted unto Mr. Smith such things of publique as I know he will impart unto you and the rest as common to you both by the Q. Majesties Letters I am very sorry to see you so decayed by service and of so good cause I mean good sound service so evil effect but so blind is Fortune as sometimes she dealeth blanks instead of good payment I have not omitted to express your charge your expence your decay and yet your request to return without her Majesties burthen but as the first have been and are hurtfull unto you so the last which is your return shall be most hurtfull to her Majestie and so she well considereth And so I trust she will presently refresh you though not restore you as I have desired and so I think you shall understand from Sir Walter Mildmay your very friend and mine also in very deed most assured who was present when her Majestie yielded to some part of my request for you You did very well to press the King as you did in the case of la Roches practising in Ireland which is very true howsoever he denieth it and you may avow that he hath the Rebels son I mean Iames Fitzmorris son in Hostage at Britain he would be hearkened for and demanded to be delivered We hear daily of great preparations in Britain upon pretence of a Voyage into the Indies or into Flanders I wis they seek no Indians in Ireland or in Scotland As soon as it shall be determined who shall come from thence I will send thither or deliver to this Ambassador a safe conduct for so the Ambassador requireth By my next you shall receive a Commission for your self to Treat for the matter of the Merchants And so now wearied I end From Westminster the second of April 1571. Yours assuredly W. Burliegh To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh BY your Lordships of the second of April I perceive that through your Lordships most carefull and friendly declaration made unto her Majestie of my decayed estate she doth graciously consider thereof and meaneth to doe somewhat for my relief that I may with the better courage imploy my self in her service I hope her Majestie shall find my care and diligence in this service such as she shall have no cause to think any consideration had of me evil bestowed I crave no recompence I only desire to return home in no worse state then I went forth Touching the chief stay here made in the conclusion of the League I refer your Lordship to Sir Tho. Smith Such as here do not affect the same did what they might to procure a new sending about the Scottish Earl thinking that time by delay might have brought forth somewhat to have overthrown the whole Both Monsieur Montmorency and Monsieur de Foix did deal very effectually and earnestly to bring the matter to that good conclusion that it is come to And the King in the end shewed himself very resolute in the matter as he doth in all those things that concern his honour and benefit and misliked the doubt propounded by those that went about to perswade him to think otherwise then honourably touching her Majesties intention concerning the Scotch Affairs That Strozzas preparation should tend either for Scotland or Ireland your Lordship need not to fear such as he is chiefly guided by in that matter are very well affected towards her Majestie Of late there hath been hard hold for the overthrow of this enterprise the King is resolute in the matter otherwise it had been quite broken They of the Robe Longue do fear that it will breed a pile betwixt this Crown and Spain and they would be loath the King should now enter into Wars for that they doubt that the managing of the Affairs should come then to the hands of others They perswade 2 iâ— diminish They perswade 4 that if 3 have good success therein it will diminish his reputation These respects do make the said parties to become enemies to the Wars because lack of money is the only let that is alleadged they do all that they may to hinder all such devices from taking place as lately have been offered to supply that want Amongst these difficulties it will be hard to judge what will be the issue of this matter By the last advertisement out of Spain they write that D. Medina Celi stayeth his Voyage into Franders only in doubt that Strozza should doe some enterprise in those parts I am assured that they have seen A z. with 1 T t 6 a. Egremont Ratcliff and Genney are departed from Spain they giving out before their departure that they went to return into Flanders This day there is a Gentleman arrived sent hither from the Kings Agent in Flanders who bringeth word of some alteration there the particularities I cannot yet learn The T. sent me word that he was glad that the League was concluded notwithstanding he willed the messenger to tell me that unless the Queen my Mistress did proceed roundly in cutting off the inward diseases at home this outward medicine would stand her in no stead and hereof said he you shall see by dangerous experience unless the remedy be applyed in time The same party if your Lordship remember it gave me warning of a practice for the delivery of the Queen of Scots and therefore it is the rather to be weighed and I judge it cometh from the L. who hath it
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
made to her by the Kings Letters to his Ambassador here of daily increase of this Amity now newly established between them And though her Majestie doth not percase so often answer these his kindnesses in words or writing yet he shall be assured that whensoever occasion shall be given to shew the like affection in deeds she will not be behind him Besides the letters to the King and Q. Mother he shall have also her Majesties letters to the Q. of Navarre whom he shall visit and most heartily salute in her Majesties name and let her understand how glad heâ— Majestie is and doth thank God for the benefit of the Peace which he hath given to her and to all others that now of a long time have for defence of their consciences suffered great calamities with her wherein surely her sincerity and constancy hath won to her no small honour in the world but most of all the blessing of God to indure with her and her posterity And next to this her Majestie doth rejoyce that she hath so wisely and honourably considered of the marriage of the Prince her Son with the daughter of Fâ—ance whereby both the good love of the French King to her Estate shall probably have continuance and her self shall live by Gods grace to see the good success of her son in her own time to her comfort The said Lord Admiral shall also give the Admiral of France and others of the Nobility joyned with him to understand how glad her Majestie is of the continuance of the Pacification of their troubles and doth hope that they will let their sincerity and their good meaning appear so to the King as he may comfortably continue his favours towards them and that their adversaries who have heretofore slandered their actions as though they had not been founded upon conscience may be ashamed to have abused themselves and so shall the honour of God indeed by their manifest and good conversations increase to the confusion of them that by untruths have maliciously sought to keep the same under and to oppress it And for the House of Guise the L. Admiral shall not forbear to salute them of his own part according to their degrees if he shall see that they give countenance to him as to accept it And if any of them shall motion matters to him as of the Q. of Scots he may say if she had been counselled by her friends to have been grateful to her Majestie or to have forborn the seeking to offend her Majestie she might thereby have done her self good and been the cause of quietness to the Countrey but she hath so manifestly taken other courses as surely either her friends that evil counselled her or her self must be accounted the principal cause of her trouble And so he shall use his speech of her These instructions the L. Admiral shall communicate with Sir Tho Smith and the Resident Ambassador and upon the sight of them Sir Tho Smith shall understand it to be her Majesties pleasure that he shall accompany and be assistant to the L. Admiral in the time of the Kings giving of his Oath And when the L. Admiral shall have done his Commission and delivered the rest of his charge contained in these Instructions the said Sir Tho Smith shall no longer abide in France but shall return at his most commodity W. Burleigh Postscript In the matter concerning the offer of the marriage of Monsieur Alanson if thereof any speech be used by the K. notwithstanding the former Instruction in the articles above expressed how to answer to the K. upon some consideration thereof The L. Admiral shal at the first say that although he hath no chargeto treat thereof yet he is willed by her Majestie to give them thanks for the desire it seemeth he hath to have alliance with her Majestie by marriage as not onely shewing her own disposition towards her Majestie at which time his youth seemed to be impediment and now secondly for his brother Monsieur d' Anjou wherein also the inequality of years did at the first stay her Majestie wherein also she did overcome her judgement by perswasion and rested in the end upon the matter of Religion which of all other things is the greatest stay that can be and now the motion of the yongest brother cannot in her opinion by reason of the inequality of years but make a full stay in her Majestie as she thinketh the same ought also to work the like in the judgement of the King and of the Queen his Mother And having said this then may the said L. Admiral proceed to say somewhat as is above prescribed of her Majesties misliking for the dealing in the cause of Monsieur de Anjou using the same nevertheless as it breed no offence in the King To my very Friend Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador for the Queens Majestie in France SIr I heartily thank you for your Letters of the nine and twentieth of the last and specially for that which you write to her Majestie As to the matters of the King of Spains Low-Countreys we have great cause to bear a jealous countenance thereto for as being in the Spaniards hands we lacked Traffique with surety so if the Maritine part come to those where you are not onely the Traffique into those parts for our Merchants will be regulated by them but our soveraignty upon the narrow Seas will be abridged with danger and dishonour And notwithstanding this I see lack of disposition to provide the remedy where it should chiefly be and I trust with importunity we that see into the perils shall obtain somewhat if not our consciences shall be quiet though our minds shall not As to your Letters to her Majestie forasmuch as the Duke of Norfolk had suffered upon Munday and your Letters came on Tuesday I thought it not amiss to tell the Queens Majestie that I had Letters from you to her which I thought were onely to shew her the opinion of wisemen and her Majesties well-wishers in France both for the Queen of Scots and the Duke of Norfolk whereupon she bad me open the letters and so I did in her presence and she being somewhat sad for the Duke of Norfolks death I took occasion to cut off the reading thereof and so entred into speech of the Queen of Scots which she did not mislike and commended your care and diligence As for the party your dear friend I did not speak with him nor he never accompanied me nor once ever spake one word to me of the matter as he was wont to do in other matters I disallow not his private affection to the party but his judgement I do dissallow in preferring private to publike I do return to you the Commission amended in your name which was the errour of the writer you may proceed thereto as you see time The French Ambassador hath no Commission to require the like looking for it as he saith when Montmorency shall come whose delay
proves an unreasonable charge to great numbers to the Queens Majestie having her offices of Houshold at Dover and her provisions thereby lost The Earl of Pembroke Lord Windsor and the Lord Buckhurst be at Dover with great and mighty trains Besides hither are come such leavies of Ladies to attend as husbands curse the delay The Queens Majestie is in health The Scotish Queen shall be touched with an Act of Parliament but it will not draw her to any more fear to offend then words will do From S. Iames the sixth of Iune 1572. Your assured loving Friend William Burleigh To my very loving Friend Francis Walsingham Esq her Majestes Ambassador Resident in France MR. Walsingham forasmuch as my Nephew Philip Sidney is licensed to travel and doth presently repair unto those parts with my Lord Admiral I have thought good to commend him by these my Letters friendly unto you as unto one I am well assured will have a special care of him during his abode there He is young and raw and no doubt shall find those Countreys and the demeanors of the people somewhat strange unto him and therefore your good advice and counsel shall greatly behove him for his better direction which I do most heartily pray you to vouchsafe him with any friendly assistance you shall think needful for him His father and I do intend his further travel if the world be quiet and you shall think it convenient for him otherwise we pray you we may be advertised thereof to the end the same his travels may be thereupon directed accordingly As for the boy Clark since I cannot obtain him as I desire I must content me I wish I had one of my Lord Cardinals Monks to see how devoutly he should be kept here But I pray you let it appear that it is great unkindness for one Nobleman to use unto another The boy hath sought sundry ways to return unto me as well by Letters to his Friends as by supplications to my self but I mind not to have him so The cause that I did so earnestly seek him was to punish him in example of others which if it will not be I will leave it for a time and hope to give you knowledge where he is shortly trusting you will give order that he may be suddenly apprehended And thus being forced to trouble you with a triâ—tle amongst so many great causes in these days with my commendations I bid you most heartily farewel From the Court the six and twentieth of May 1572. Your very Friend Ro. Leicester To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT hath pleased my Lord of Lincoln to promise me upon his experience had of the intollerable charges here through the daily increase of death to confer with your Lordship in what sort he may best deal with her Majestie for increase of my diet considering otherwise that I shall not be able to hold out my monethly charges drawing now to two hundred pounds the moneth notwithstanding my diet is thin my family reduced to as small a proportion as may be and my horse being onely twelve These things might seem unto your Lordship altogether incredible were there not so many Noblemen and Gentlemen to witness the same by their experience lately had of the extreme dearth here I have made my Lord acquainted how much I am bound to your Lordship and of the fatherly care it pleaseth you to have of me and that therefore I have besought him in moving or not moving her Majestie to yield to such directions as by conference it shall seem good unto you to give him for that I would be loth to procure any thing to be done that may not fall out to your Lordship contentation And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave From Paris the two and twentieth of Iune 1572. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To my very loving friend Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador for the Queens Majestie in France SIr I cannot let any your servants pass hence without some word I have looked for some knowledge of my L. Admirals arrival at Paris and thereupon stayed to send away this bearer until now that I hear by the French Ambassadors Letters hovv my Lord and you have been feasted and entertained which they here do give out with large speeches but how indeed the same is warranted I know not sure I am that they have been so feasted and entreated as none in my memory hath been greater The Queens Majestie before she gave her oath made a protestation that she was not in mind to break any jot of the Treaty and though the Castle of Hume and Fast Castle were not delivered yet the fault was not in her for she had propounded to the Lord Hume and to the Regent also her disposition to deliver it but the Lord Hume required that her Majestie vvould keep it still rather then deliver it so as it bred not an increase of their hateful dissention And hereupon her Majestie hath propounded to the Regent to be content that the Lord Hume may have it if he will be content to acknovvledge the King vvhich the Lord Hume offereth in vvords but the Regent saith that the Lord Hume hath promised to offer his obedience to the King to recover his houses and then he will ayd them of the Castle and this is indeed discovered to be true Besides this Fast Castle was in my Lord Humes hands but as a Tutor to an infant who is come to full age and followeth the Kings part Truly you may thus report to the King and assure him that her Majestie meaneth not to keep the one or the other although she might pretend matters against the Lord Hume for the damage that he did to England in keeping the Rebels in those Houses and invading the Realm From Westminster in haste the twentieth of Iune 1572. Yours assuredly William Burleigh The form of the Communication with the D. Montmorency de Foix and de la Mot which they had to finish matters expressed in the Treaty Iune 1571. present the Lord Keeper the Earls of Suffex and Leicester the Lord Chamberlain and Burleigh Mr. Comptroler Sir Ralph Sadler and Sir Walter Mildmay THe French by de Foix required That the Scotish Queen might have some favour upon the conclusion of this Treaty betwixt the Queens Majestie and the French King and that such favour might be shewed as might be granted with the surety and honour of the Queens Majestie That a surcease of Arms might be made in Scotland and thereupon a Parliament in Scotland and concord to be made for the State and Realm And if a Parliament could not be conveniently had that then there might be sent hither from both parties some persons to treat here a London with Deputies of the Queens Majesties and the French Kings That some order might be made concerning the establishing of a Traffique for Merchants in France wherein
the French shewed themselves ready to assent to assent to all reasonable requests and for that purpose they produced and delivered a Commission under the Great Seal of France Answers to these Points This case was not pursuant upon the Treaty The Scotish Queen had more favour then she deserved or then did well stand with the surety of the Queens Majestie Her evil parts against the Queens Majestie had been amply declared to the French and to the D. Montmorency and de Foix in France by our Ambassador The Nobility also and People now assembled in this Parliament had considered that the Queens Majesties surety could not be preserved without some severe proceeding against the Queen of Scots whereunto her Majestie had not yielded in such extremity And so the Scotish Queen had more favour indeed then either she deserved or then was thought meet by the whole Realm The second for surcease of Arms her Majestie had done therein as much as possibly she could by her Minister Sir Will Drury which she hath sent with le Crocque whereunto the Ambassador did assent with very good words of Sir Will Drury To the third it was thought that no Parliament should be holden whilest they were on both sides in arms and therefore the procuring of persons to come was not misliked To the fourth the Merchants should be spoken withal who had but small liking to any trade of Merchandize with France by reason they had by experience some evil usage of them in France specially at Roaâ— Replies of the French with some new matters As to the Scotish Queen de Foix confessed that he had no warrant to speak for her by force of the Treaty but by a special commandment apart And as to specifie the requests that be made for favour to her they said they meant no favour to be shewed to her against the Queens Majesties surety and therefore they desired only these things following That she might have brought to her all things necessary for her apparel and money also for the purpose That she might have a convenient number of Servants about her That her state might not be impaired That the Duke and the rest might be licensed to send to her certain letters from the French King and Queen Mother so as the same might be done with the privity of the Earl of Sâ—rewsbâ—ry As to the Commerce they agreed that it might be treated upon by the Ambassador Resident New Additions That according to the second article in the Treaty they might have the Queens Majesties Letter answerable to the Kings Letters That the third Article concerning the manner of redress of wrongs done by Scots men upon England that the same might be altered according to a writing which was devised by them to insert in the place of the said Article Answers to the new Requests They should have the Queens Majesties Letters The Article as it is ought to continue and is reasonable having respect to Scotland when private men do great injuries and spoils which if the King of that Realm cannot or will not amend of necessity the Kings of England must revenge upon the offenders To the Right Hononrable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh YOur Lordships of the twentieth of Iune sent by my servant Williams I have received touching her Majesties protestation before the giving of her oath For the not delivery of Hume and Fast Castle in Scotland according to the Treaty I will not fail to inform their Majesties when fit occasion shall be offered of the cause thereof The Ambassador of Scotland with the Lord Graunges brother since the Earl of Lincolns departure hath been often at the Court and are very importunate to have somewhat done for their Mistris As also in perswading their Majesties here to consent to the establishment of their Government of their said Mistris what their importunacy hath won I know not as yet but surely I fear as long as the woman liveth there will never grow good accord in Scotland nor continuance of repose in England nor perfect and sound amity between her Majestie and this Crown What is resolved here touching the enterprise of Flanders this bearer is throughly instructed who is to impart the same unto your Lordship And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave From Paris the eight and twentieth of Iune 1572. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester THis bearer cometh so throughly instructed touching the state of the Countrey and the Flanders proceedings as I forbear to trouble your Lordship to make recital of that by writing which he shall tell you by mouth After your Lordship hath throughly debated with him I hope it shall manifestly appear unto you that upon the good success or evil success of this common cause of Religion And besides the same not well proceeding her Majestie cannot promise to her self any great safety having so dangerous a neighbour whose greatness shall receive no small increase if he overcome this brunt I pray God therefore that her Majestie may incline to do that which may be for her safety And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present referring you wholly to this bearer I most humbly take my leave From Paris the eight and twentieth of May 1572. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and his very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh MAy it please your Lordship to understand that upon advertisement come hither from Flushing of the discords there for want of good Governor they have made choice of Monsieur Iunius to go thither out of hand with Commission to establish some policy there until the arrival of the Prince of Orange his brother He shall also have Commission for the sale of such goods as were lately taken For his better assistance in this behalf desireth your Lordships letter unto Captain Morgan there to assist him what lieth in him in the execution of the said Commission and that further it would please your Lordship to admonish him to retain his Souldiers in such order as may answer to the defence of a good cause For that he desireth very much to confer with Mr. Killegrew to make him fully acquainted with the state of their cause he meaneth to repair to Dover and there to imbarque where he hopeth to meet with him I perceive by him that if there be no assistance given underhand by her Majestie they shall be driven to yield to such inconveniences as shall be laid upon them by this Nation And further that they shall be forced to consent to have Strozi in Zealand unless they may have some supplies elsewhere For this cause chiefly the Gentleman who wisely respecteth the liberty of his Countrey and foreseeth the mischief that may follow if the necessity be not relieved disereth much to confer with Mr. Killegrew a thing most necessary and would himself
Alva It is thought for the help of this matter that his Majestie can be content to lend asmuch to the contrary party And so for forreign news referring your Honour to the Italian Occurrents I most humbly take my leave At Paris the eighteenth of Iuly 1572. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may please your Lordship to understand that the King dispatched one Monsieur de la Mole servant to Monsieur le Duc d' Alanson with Letters from their Majesties here unto the Q. Majestie to render unto her thanks for the rare entertainment and great honour done unto the Marshal as also to give her notice of the marriage to be solemnized between the King of Navarre and the Lady Margaret I think also he hath Letters from his Master to her Majestie as also some charge to say somewhat to her on his behalf He gave me but Scarborough warning and therefore your Lordship must bear with these scribled lines The Gentleman is a Provintial and so of a very good House and a very well qualified Courtier as I hear Yesterday I wrote at large unto your Lordship by Hollingshead who is returned by way of Diepe And therefore I defer to trouble you with many lines at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the one and twentieth of Iuly Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leceister BY a Gentleman called Monsieur de la Mole servant unto Monsieur le Duc D' Alanson sent by the King to her Majestie with Letters I had very short warning given me and therefore am driven to afford your Lordship the fewer lines The pretence of his coming is with letters of thanks for the honour done unto the Marshal as also to make her Majestie acquainted with the appointed time for the solemnization of the King of Navarres marriage But I take it the chief end of his coming is to present his Masters letters unto her Majestie as also to say somewhat unto her on his behalf The Gentleman is a Provintial and of a good house and one as I learn very well qualified Touching Flanders matters I wrote unto your Lordship at large by Holling-shead who departed yesterday homewards by way of Diepe And so leaving to impart unto your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the one and twentieth of Iuly Yours Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable and his very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may please your Lordship to understand that a certain Scottishman called George Torris who appertaineth as he saith to the Q. of Scots hath of late robbed here in Paris one Emanuel d' Ambugo a Portugal who heretofore about ten years past hath been imployed in message between the King of Portugal and her Majestie as by his passport may appear Now for that he is given to understand that he is retired into England he hath desired divers Gentlemen of this Court to request me to write unto your Lordship that by your good means such as he shall appoint to pursue the party may have authority so far forth as may stand with the Laws of the Realm to arrest him and such goods and Jewels as shall be found to appertain to the said Portugal To this effect and purpose he hath likewise procured the Kings Letters here And so leaving further to trouble your Honour in this behalf I most humbly take my leave From Paris the 22 of Iuly 1572. Yours Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable his very good Lord the Lord Treasurer TOuching the particulars of Ianlys overthrow I refer your Lordship to such incertainties as I have set down in the inclosed occurents Such of the Religion as before slept in security begin now to awake and to see their danger and do therefore conclude that unless this enterprise in the Low Countries have good success their cause groweth desperate They have therefore of late sent to the King who is absent from home to shew him than if the Prince of Orange quail it shal not lie in him to maintain him in his protection by vertue of his Edict they desire him therefore out of hand to resolve upon something that may be of his assistance offering themselves to imploy therein their lives lands and goods They see by the assistance given on the other side as by the Pope Florence Triers Baviers and Câ—lleyn who are not otherwise interessed in the Low Countrey or in this Cause but in respect of Religion who proceed roundly and resolutely in the matter that unlesse her Majesty and the Princes of Germany in like sort joyn with this Crown there is great doubt what shall be the even of this enterprise They have therefore requested me to desire your Lordship as you tender Gods glory and her Majesties safety to see if you can induce her upon overture first to be made by the King in this behalf to joyn with him in yeilding assistance They think to make the so that they might be in some assurance that her Majesty would give ear thereto They have also dispatched one of late to such Princes of Germany as favour the Cause to provoke them to proceed more resolutely and roundly in this matter laying before them the evident dangers that otherwise will ensue By one lately come from thence they understand that the said Princes begin to see the danger and are well bent to do any thing that may tend to remedy The parties above written desire to know with some speed how her Majesty will incline to the said overture for that thereafter they are to direct their affairs As I was writing I received the copie of a letter sent from Mounts which I send to your Lordship here inclosed by the which you may both perceive the state of the Countrey as also how many are retired thither of Ianlys company And so leaving further to trouble your Honor at this present beseeching God to bless you in your late honorable Calling with as good success as ever any that occupied that place I most humbly take my leave From Paris the 26 of July 1572. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable his very good Lord the Earl of Leicester YOur Lordship by these inclosed occurrents may perceive that Ianlys is overthrown whose it never could but breed danger to the cause so could it never breed more danger then presently upon the presently upon the Prince of Orangâ—s first entry into the Country a mean to discourage him and to encourage the enemy How much his well doing or evill doing importeth us I need not say any thing to your Lordship the thing being so apparant how dangerous it were to suffer him to quail it is no less evident how little hope there is he shall receive relief from us especially from the news of
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
in the same mind to marry for the benefit of our realm with any meet person of Princely estate that should be offered unto us with 〈◊〉 conditions as we might like also To 〈◊〉 this matter of enterview to the consideration and wisdom of the King and Q. mother to be so ordered as whatsoever might hereof succeed no inconvenience should ensue and so with some large speech to that end we did conclude that we durst not desire the enterview for the same reason After which answer made and as it seemed by them very well allowed they required some brief note of the points of the matters might be given them in writing which we did cause to be conceived and delivered agreeable to the Copy that herewith we send you And howsoever they shall make report of our answer we would that you should not omit to persist directly in this but loth we would be that the Duke her son should come hither if the matter should not take place lest more offence might thereof follow then we thought meet concerning the perfection of the amity that is between us And yet our meaning is not hereby that they should think that we are not so disposed to marry or that we are determined to mislike of the matter aforehand or not disposed at all to allow of him but that only we are fearful that if there should happen at his coming some cause of misliking or forbearing to accept him which surely to us is uncertain and without sight cannot be made certain then some great unkindness should follow by their misconceiving of our dealing where now there is no cause of kindness and friendship whereof we do not earnestly desire to have continuance without interruption in that behalf As you shall find this matter likely to proceed so we would have you not only to advertise us but to have good regard that if you find any scruple thereof that great unkindness shall arise of his coming if the matter shall not take place that before any preparation be there made of his coming you do advertise us with speed for otherwise the unkindness may happen to be greater in respect of the charges Given at Killingworth the 22 of August 1572. T. Smith To the right worshipful Mr. Francis Walsingham Ambassador Resident in France SIr I am sorry that so good a matter should upon so nice a point be deferred We may say that the Lover will do little if he will not take the pains once to see his Love but she must first say yea before he see her or she him Twenty ways might be devised why he might come over and be welcome and possibly do more in an hour then he may in two years Cupido ille qui vincit omnia in oculos insidet ex oculis ejaculatur in oculos utriusque videndâ— nonsolum ut ait poeta foemina virum sed vir foeminam What force I pray you can hear-say and I think and I trust do in comparison of that Cum prasens praesentem tuetur alloquitur furore forsitan amoris ductus amplectitur and saith to himself and openly that she may hear Teneo ne te mea an etiamnum somno volunt famina videri cogi ad id quod maximum cupiunt If we be cold it is our part besides the person the sex requireth it Why are you cold Is it not a young mans part to be bold couragious and to adventure If he should have he should have but honorificam repulsam The worst that can be said of him is but a Phaeton quam si non tenuit magnis tamen excidit ansis So far as I can conceive Hac est sola nostra anchora hac jacenda est in nobis alea. In our instability unum momentum est uno momento perfectum factum as dictum stabilitatem facere posest or else nothing is to be looked for but still and continual dalliance and doubtfulness so far as I can see Indeed as yet there is no revocation neither done nor meant of our men at Flujhing or in Flanders howsoever the brute is made there with you Truth it is that certain more that would have gone over from hence were stayed for fear of too much disorder for lack of some good head and wise and expert Captain but they that be there be neither yet revoked nor discouraged although the Duke of Alva by letters this last week required that they should be revoked but he is gently answered with a dilatory and doubtful answer If you there do tergiversari and work tam timide and underhand with open and outward Edicts besides excuses at Rome and at Venice by your Ambassadors you I say which have Regem expertem otii laboris amantem cujus gens bellicosa jampridem assueta est cadibus tam exterioris quam vestri sanguinis quid faciemâ—s gens otiosa paci assueta quibus imperat Regina ipsa pacis atque quietis amantissima And I pray you who hath removed from thence with any authority a society or preparation in such a matter either to her Highness or to her Councel And this for that matter How far the Scots have gone you may perceive by this inclosed both the parties have subscribed and sealed to it and both the parties have written letters of thanks to her Majesty for the pains taken by the Marshal of Barwick and have promised to stand to that order which is very honorable both to the King there and to our Queen here and not dishonorable to the Scotish King that in his infancie such a noble personage should accord to make quietness in his Realm Thus I bid you most heartily farewell From Killingworth Aug. 22. 1572. Your assured friend Tho. Smith To the right worshipful Francis Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador resident in France SIr I know how faithfully you shall be both by her Majesties letters and Mr. Secretaries certified of her Majesties pleasure This Gent. la Mot hath well behaved himself here to the great contentation of her Majesty and her Court and I think also he well deserved Surely the choice of him was good and as it seemeth the Queens Majesty is come neerer to the matter then I hoped If there may now any amendment grow to this usage and that he would come I assure you I see no cause to doubt for in that matter consisteth the only apparent stay â—ur men in Zealand are evil used by the French there and howsoever the Admiral hath lately born you in hand I doubt our intention shall be disappointed or at worst as it is justly doubted that the Princes Captain at Flushing is corrupted and become Spanish in secret sort whereof I pray you advertise the Admiral In Scotland the abstinence is not well kept by the Kings party as reason would The Town of Edenburgh is wholly at the direction of the Regent and contrary to the covenant he keeps his men of war there whereof they of the Castle
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
Queen Mother and others there for it is not certain how far she and others have entred into the matter not with what honor they are carried But according as you shall see meet you may impart unto her how greatly hâ—â— Majestie is perplexed herein what to think and what assurance to make of the things intended in this late amity And you may also say unto her that the Queens Majestie cannot enough maâ—vel that she being of such wisdom as she is and having such experience as she had of the extreme hatred of the factions there against the Admiral did not aâ—â—he first take order that the informations should be examined and the Admiral and others of his party suspected charged tryed and so by order of justice proâ—eeded which had been honorable to the King and good in the sight of God and so either the guilty had duly suffered â—r the innocent blood hâ—d been saved You shall also procure some good assurance from them such as may â—e had for the safety of the English Merchants now repairing to the Vintage aâ—d therefore procure that some order may be given from the K. both to the town of Burdeaux to the Governor there and to Strâ—zzi and to the Conductors of his Army And for your self it is her Majesties desire that you were here from thâ—t place and so her meaning is to devise for your revocation but presently it cannot without some note of the breach of amity be done Nevertheless you may do well not only to keep your home as you are desirous but to carry you both to the K. Q. Mother by way of complaint shew your unwillingness to â—arry and your 〈◊〉 to be â—â—voked thence for your surety Where we understand that the English Gentlemen that were in Paris at the time of the execution of the murther were forced to retire to your house where they did wisely for your care of them we and their friends are beholding to you and now we think good that they be advised to return home and namely we desire you to procure for the Lord Wharton and Mr. Philip Sidney the Kings license and safe conduct to come thence and so we do require you to give them true knowledge of our minds herein And if her Majestie could think that the French King would be content that you might come home with pretence to be absent from thence whilst this Realâ— were in more quietness and so to leave a Secretary there and to return again to your charge she is well content you shall so do And therein you may do will to assay the Kings minde and to advertise hither Fare you heartily well From Woodstock the ninth of September Your loving Friends William Burleigh Ro Lecester F. Knowles T. Smith Iames Croft To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq her Majestes Ambassador Resident in France SIr I see the Devil is suffered by the Almighty God for our sins to be strong in following the persecution of Christs members and therefore we are not onely vigilant of our own defence against such trayterous attempts as lately have been put in ure there in France but also to call our selves to repentance Of the Queens Majesties answer to this Ambassador I have at good length comprized the same in writing which cometh now unto you signed by the Councel which you are to use according as the time shall teach you For although the Ambassador hath seemed to gain so much credit with her Majestie as she thinketh that the King is not guilty of the murthers otherwise then he reporteth And further that although the Ambassador saith that the King willed him to assure her Majestie that the Navy prepared by Strozzi should not any ways endamage her Majestie we have great cause in these times to doubt all fair speeches and therefore we do presently put all the Sea-coasts in defence and mean to send the Queens Majesties Navy to the Seas with speed and so to continue until we see further whereunto to trust I pray you do your best to discover the intention of that Navy and let us now frequently hear from you as you may and if I could have had my mind you had been presently revoked and onely a Secretary lefâ— there I desire to have knowledge oâ— as many of the Principals as were slain and what Protestants did escape We are much perplexed with varity of reports and your Letters or Messengers with credit may much please us here Pynassy hath been here and is not yet departed we had desire rather to hasten my brother Killegrew who departed hence towards Scotland on Sunday last to supply Drewries room with le Crocque because my Lord of Hunsdon is here and therefore M. Drewry cannot be spared from Berwick The whole Councel shal be here by to morrow but beforehand we that are here wil not be idle I cannot speak for my self to give order to the Realm God keep you and comfort his afflicted Church We know not but the Prince of Orange is much stronger then the two Dukes and that Macklin by him hath been taken the 29 of the last and great likelihood is that Antwerp shall yield Our men in Flushing agree not well with the French but now we think upon this misery their French will not â—e so lordly From Woodstock the ninetâ—enth of September 1572. Your assured loving Friend William Burleigh To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassadâ—r for the Queens Majestie in France SIr yesternight after your servant was departed Faunt and my Cousin came hither and although I had before moved her Majestie that she would require you to return yet I could not then obtain it as I did this morning And so now I have obtained a Letter from her Majestie to the French King which Master Secretary sendeth you as by his Letter you may perceive From Woodstock the twelfth of September 1572. Yours assuredly William Burleigh To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassadâ—r Resident for her Majestie in France THe lamentable Tragedy that hath been there used of late doth make all Christians look for a just revenge again at Gods hands as it hath pleased him to fear us and so pinch us in the mean time with the scourge of correction by the sufferance of his people thus to be murthered but our sins deserve this and more but I trnst he will hold his holy hand over us not to reward us altogether as we deserve but somewhat in his correction comfort us that we may see as well the fall of his and our enemies as the blood of his Saints to be so innocently spilt even for his mercies let him turn it ten fold upon their heads that they triumph not over much to the utter hearts grief of his poor flock If that King be Author and doer of this Act shame and confusion light upon him be he never so strong in the sight of men the Lord hath not his power for nought if he be not the
that I received at Brâ—larts hands of such things as I propounded unto him on her Majesties behalf to be communicated unto the King and to the Queen his Mother Le Roches often repairing to the Court maketh me to suspect some enterprize to be done in Ireland The passages here be kept so strait as by no means I can imploy any man in Brittain towards the sea-side as well for the discovery of the said le Roches enterprize as also for the observing of Strozzies doings for though it be said that the said Army is dispersed yet know I not what I think it were good to imploy some Western Barque that way under the colour of merchandize for the discovery of the doings The Duke of Guise of late hath often conference with certain of the Scotish Guard though sithence the late murther he sheweth outwardly some miscontentment He was never in greater jollity then presently he is especially since the news of the Prince of Orange ' s retiring They begin now to discourse here that it would be a deed of charity for the Princes Catholiques not onely to set the Queen of Scots at liberty but also to restore her to her right Her Majestie is not ignorant what I have written touching the opinion of wise men what is to be done in that behalf for her safety If that sore be not saved I fear we shall have a Bartholomew Breakfast or a Florence Banqâ—â—t So they terme the late execution here Monsieur Grandmont hath Commission from the King to suppress all preaching in the Countrey of Berry and to plant there the Catholique Religion which is a verification of the Kings intention touching the observation of his Edict irrecoverable for the tolleration of Religion For that I hear that all Scotish men are stayed at the Ports that come hence I will make some stay to give them passports if the stay proceeded in respect of carrying over of secret â—â—â—ters from hence there will grow little help and remedy thereof that way for that the Scotish Ambassadors Letters do pass in the Kings Pacquets methinks the return of the Scots might rather do good then harm for that the most part of them detest their proceedings here the report whereof will do no harm to the furtherance of the accord I would be glad to understand her Majesties pleasure especially for the Lord Levingston I and mine and divers of our Nation never received the like pleasure at their hands as lately we have done I have stayed for her Majesties service here Mr. Herbert by whom I receive good assistance I would therefore he might receive some good words from her Majestie to encourage him in the same for he is one that hath very very good parts in him and may hereafter grow a good and profitable servant Touching my return home I hope her Majestie will have just consideration of me who do now remain here without her benefit for a colour of their Ministers there to practise that thing there which is to her danger 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 Lordships to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principal Secretary SIr I most humbly thank you for the care you have every way of me and especially in that you would not suffer me to be ignorant hovv things do pass there vvith you vvhich giveth me no small light to direct my course here and yet vvhat direction can I receive that may vvell guide me vvhere I find neither faith nor constancy to build on it should but minister unto you grief for me to amplifie this matter and no great contentment to my self It is our part novv rather to think on some remedies for the mischiefs that are like to come then to rest amazed vvith the passed miseries I am sorry to hear that the accord in Scotland is not made and yet so long as la Crocque remaineth in Scotland vvhat cause have we to hope after it seeing that upon this alteration the end of his staying there is rather to impeach then to further the same if we think otherwise we do but dream our selves I am sorry to see the Ambassadors fair speech take such place as it doth methinks the late fresh experience we have had of that unsincerity should teach us to take profit of others harms Surely considering how things do proceed here and weighing the great presumption there is how that the trâ—e Monarchies of Europe are bent not onely to disquiet but also to displace her Majestie and to substitute some other it were no more then necessary policy to cut them off from so convenient a footing place as Scotland is which thing might easily be brought to pass if her Majestie would proceed roundly weighing that the Scots are not a little alienated from this Nation upon this late accident If her Majestie would joyn pensioâ—s with perswasions the thing in my opinion might easily be brought to pass not only to unite them under the Government of the King but also divide them from such League and Allyance as they have with this Crown There is Sir as you know another remedie which as it hath been long sithence needful to put in execution so was it never more needful then presently If her Majestie stick now to spend or put in execution all those things that tend to her safety she must not long look to live in repose nay she must not long look to keep the Crown upon her head The cause of her former quietness proceeded of her neighbours unquietness which being removed she must now make another account The Admiral is now dead and the Duke of Guise liveth the Prince of Orange is retired out of Flanders but the Duke of Alva remaineth there still I need not to conclude for that to mans judgement it is apparent what will follow Is it time now think you Sir to stir or is it not time to omit any remedy that may tend to her Majesties safety As far as I can learn there is none yet sent to deal with the Princes of Germany and yet there is here almost daily conference between the Popes Nuncio the Ambassador of Spain and them here they omit nothing that may tend to our peril I would we were as careful not to omit any thing that may tend to our safety It may be said that I fear too much Surely considering the state we stand in I think it less danger to fear too much then to little It may be said also that the jealousie that Spain hath of the greatness of France will not suffer him to indure to let France have any footing in England and that like affection reigning in France if Spain should attempt any thing I confess it to be true and yet I see no reason but that they both may consent to advance a third person who pretendeth right to the
she being through sickness in that time in state not to give audience To the first touching the Enterview The 2d touching the confirmation of the league with renewing of the Oath The third touching the establishing of Traffique The fourth the Kings requests to have the Lord Treasurer or the Earle of Leicester come over after the Queens delivery To these four Requests I made her acquainted with such answers as were made unto the same To the first touching the time she said that she wrote unto the Ambassador that in respect of the young Queens delivery which she thought would have been ere â—his time the meeting could not be before the twentieth of this moneth and that therefore he should move it against that time not meaning that it should be so precisely set down but it should be referred chiefly to her Majesties choice To the second touching the place she shewed me that forasmuch as she had never intention to come over the same being mistaken by the Ambassador and that the interview by Sea was thought inconvenient hearing that the Isles of Iersey did belong unto her Majesty she thought that that was a convenient place for the said Enterview and therfore she caused the Ambassador to propound it protesting that the same was void of any evill meaning or intention and that there were Letters written to the Ambassador for that purpose before the late execution here To the second touching the renewing of the Oath she said that the same proceeded of advertisements from the Ambassador that her Majesty should say that she could not tell what accompt or assurance to make of the late League concluded whereupon the King willed him to make offer unto her that what she could devise for the assurance and faithful keeping of the same he would most willingly put in execution and thereupon willed him to offer that if her Majesty should think it requisite the same should be confirmed by a new oath and as for my self saith she considering the same had not been violated of either party I concur with your Mistres in opinion thinking the same needless To the third touching the establishing of Traffique she said she saw some reason to think her Majesties answer reasonable That the time seemeth now improper considering the late disorder at Roan notwithstanding the Kings meaning was to take such order as well for the punishing of offenders as for the well using of Merchants as that they should have no just cause to fear to which purpose the King had written both to Caranges the Governour as also to the chief President there Touching the fourth concerning the Kings request for the coming over either of the Lord Treasurer or the Earl of Leicester she said that the same also proceeded of advertisement from the Ambassador that he thought that if their Majesties would require the coming over of either of them after the Queens delivery that the same would be yielded to whereupon the King gave him Commission to move her Majesty in that behalf he desiring nothing more then one of them to whom he knew he might communicate matters of weight as frankly as unto her Majesty and as touching any peril that might happen unto them she said that the King would take such order for safety as they should be in no less surety here then at home in her own realm To that I replied that it would be very hard for her Majesty or any other to be so perswaded in that behalf for that it was not possible any disorder in a State could be reduced to order without punishment and that therefore neither stranger nor their own subjects can make accompt to be in safety within their government so long as the malefactors should remain unpunished To this she said that the injuries done by those of the Religion against the Catholiques were so great as it was hard to bridle the peoples fury especially upon the discovery of this new Treason notwithstanding such order was taken that no publique person or Ambassador should be touched This was the sum of her reply unto such answers as were made by her Majesty to the Ambassador there I made her also acquainted with her Majeiesties answer to the Ambassador touching my Revocation To the which she said That the world would judge some alteration to be between the two Crowns if any such thing should be done without sending some other to supply my place I then delivered her a copie of the three Requests given to the Ambassador there to be exhibited unto their Majesties here in the behalf of the Merchants wherein she promised that there should be such order taken as should be to the contentment of her Majesty and the safety of her subjects and that already the matter had been considered of Being given to understand that the Baron de la Garde was arrived here I requested her Majesty that if it would please her to deal earnestly with him as well for the release of those English ships that were stayed already as also to give order that those that are now presently to repair to Burdeaux may pass to fro in safety without any molestation either with the Gallies or of the other ships there Whereupon she sent unto me the next day the said Baron de la Garde who after long circumstances used of the great good will he bare unto her Majesties Father and to her Majesty her selfe and to our Nation assured me that the ships that were staied were delivered That he had taken order before his departure from Brouage that our Merchants should pass freely without any molestation or trouble and that there were already some passed whom onely he did forbid that they should not touch at the Road before Rochel he shewed me that he had received such strait commandement at her Majesties hands for the well usage of our Merchants as I might assure my selfe they should have no just cause to complain She requested me in the conclusion of our talk to write unto her Majesty that she was given to understand that one Sorez their subject lately retired hither did seek some shipping there within her Majesties Dominions she therefore desired her that she would take order for some restraint to be made in that behalf for that he is so ill an Instrument as he would be glad to do somthing to breed unkindness between the two Crowns which occasion she said she hoped her Majesty would avoid Moreover she shewed me that divers of her subjects did complain of injuries done unto them by certain ships that lye about the Downs and the Isle of Wight and therefore desired me to write unto her Majesty that there might be some redress given in that behalf And so leaving to trouble your Honor any fnrther at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the 25 of October 1572. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham To the right honorable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principall Secretary SIR it may please
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
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
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
Almains the King can besiege neither Rochel nor any other Town for the Frenchmen are not fir for the keeping of Artillery nor to make the body of the battel of footmen The King doth send into Germany to see if he can appease the Almains as also to procure succours if he shall need them He hath received at their hands many a churlish answer and notwithstanding without respect had of the difference of their degrees he for beareth not to woo them The nineteenth of this moneth there arrived here the Bishop of Valences Secretary out of Polonia who giveth them great hope of the Election of Monsieur and yet some part of his tale giveth men cause to judge that there is no great reason so to think for that he saith by the reason of the plague that there reigneth the Nobility to whom the election appertaineth have not yet assembled so that all this hope seemeth to be grounded upon some particular conference that the Bishop hath had with some of the said Electors who perhaps when the matter shall come to through debating will change their opinion Men of judgement here that know that Countrey do think that if the Bishop of Valence had had a million of gold accompanied with his eloquence to be stow amongst them he might then be able to do somewhat but otherwise they think that eloquence without treasure will gain no Kingdom The Venetians of late have taken four French ships and have put some of them to torture to make them confess the colouring of certain Turkish goods as which news the King was very much offended and therefore hath given them leave of Marseilles to use all means of revenge From Antwerp they write that the Duke of Alva by the benefit of the last frost hath taken certain Towns in Holland which thing is not altogether believed for that the Ambassador here hath received no letters for confirmation of the same The news of the Earl of Morton to be chosen Regent Boughan and the Lords of Lougâ—leuin to have the Government of the King doth very much mislike them and therefore her Majestie hath cause the more to like of it And so leaving to trouble your Honour any further at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the two and twentieth of December 1572. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and his very good Lord the Earl of Leicester MY very good Lord I had very well hoped that the reasons for my return would have countervailed any that Mr. Carew could alledge for his stay I forbear to express my grief for that I am somewhat in hope some other shall be choâ—en that shall not slip his head out of the collar I beseech your Lordship therefore to continue your assistance in that behalf Touching the hope of having Rochel by composition the wind is come about they being now perswaded that there is no way to have it but by force whatsoever her Majestie saith to the contrary they cannot here but believe that they of Rochel receive encouragement from her Majestie to hold out The Switzers as I am given to understand have concluded at a late Diet held by them to give no succour this way which falleth out contrary to their way Those people are not so gross but that they foresee the end that the late accident here tendeth to I would others whom it toucheth as nearly would so think The late election of the Regent in Scotland doth altogether miscontent them here and some threatnings are given out that it shall not so long stand for good for that the same passed not with the content of both parties but onely by the choice of one faction So leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the two and twentieth of December 1572. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh STeward being made acquainted with the contents of your Lordships Letters telleth me that 9 meaneth to stand upon the denial and therefore requested me with all diligence to dispatch this messenger and in his name 3 to deny also if any question shall be moved in that behalf That Davison never propounded any such matter notwithstanding he desireth that the ship may stay at 2 â—â— 6 ry 9 or 10 days that if upon better consideration reason shall move him to alter his opinion he may take the benefit thereof if necessity shall force him thereto He willeth me further to advertise your Honour that 9 meaneth to send a Gentleman expresly with full mind unto Davison with order to communicate the same from him to 3 to whom he desireth that there may be credit given I perceive by them that they cannot tell well what to resolve until there be conference had with â— if they mean not to take profit of the ship I have taken order with them to send one to the Port to cause him to depart Because your Lordship is sometimes absent from the Court I thought good to send your Lordship the Copy of the Letter I write to Master Secretary besides the contents whereof I learn that Monsieur D'Aux is stoln away from Constantinople and is presently retired to Ragusa where he remaineth the cause of his departure from thence is unknown unto the King who is very much offended withal He hath expresly sent a messenger unto him to will him upon his allegiance to return unto Constantinople and to continue his charge there Some do gâ—ess that the cause of his departure from thence was for that he feared that the King would take some order for the murthering of him there as suspected of Religion The Cardinal of Lorrain hath took upon him before his departure from Rome to promise the Pope that the King here should enter into the League which thing is thought not fit at this time until the King hath appeased his troubles at home It is thought that one chief cause of the Duke of Savoys coming tendeth to make some complot against Geneva as also to conclude some straiter amity then heretofore hath been between this Crown and Spain the means whereof is thought to be the marriage of Monsieur and the King of Spains daughter They seem here to be no less sorry for the E. of Derby then for D. Chasteirault what moveth them so to be I know not Though there hath grown some alteration in her Majesties resolution touching my return by the choice of Mr. Carew yet I hear there lacketh no care in your Lordship to find out some other to supply the room for the which I have most just cause to render unto your Lordship most humble thanks And thus having nothing else to impart unto your Lordship I most humbly take my leave At Paris the two and twentieth of December 1572. Your Honours to command F. Walsingham SIr the day after Monsieur Mannesires arrival which was the 23 of this
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
of the Zodiack and to stand in a place after Sexion of the Zodiack and our men do find him far above the Moon and above the height of the Sphere of Venus Then it cannot be a temporarie Comet Now things above the Moon do rise and die which was never believed afore but either a new star made or an old star new seen Fare you well From Hampton Court the 13 of January 1572. Your assured friend Tho. Smith Part of my Lord Treasurers letter to me touching the enterview and such things as have passed for marriage FIrst for the matter of Monsieur d' Anjou and next to the Duke of Alanson I trust I need not make any other rehearsall then your self can gather by the instructions you had when you were sent into France after that Du Foix had been here who departed fully answered saving in the Article of Religion which was also so tempered as that he pleaded no misliking but but that it was restrained with the words that the Duke should use no Religion that was contrary or repugnant Ecâ—lesiae vel verbo Dei and how you found Monsieur altered from the offers of du Foix in that he would have his Religioâ— wholly as he had in France Now you can also tell how the Offer of the Duke of Alanson was begun and how prosecuted here by Monsieur and du Foix. And since that time this Ambassadour there could find the Queen Mother It ought to be remembred with what absurd Offers it hath been handled To have an Enterview it was required that the Queens Majesty would repair to Dover and the Queen Mother and the Duke should come to Bulloigne and the advice that they should meet upon the Sea in October All which was taken off and utterly misliked as vain and ridiculous A more foolish motion was made that the Queen would meet with the â—ueen Mother at Iersey such a device as argued either a gross ignorance in them that named Iersey as not knowing how farre it was by Sea from England or else a flat mock in offering a thing so unreasonable and to say the truth impossible And surely it could not have been better acquitted then to have required the Queen Mother â—o come into the Isle of Scotland to have spoken with the Queens Majesty the next year if she would make her progress to Berwick Since these follies passed they have by the Ambassadour generally pressed the Queens Majesty to the Duke but no special dealing hath been for any enterview or for answer how he will accord in Religion in which last consisteth the greatest difficulty of treating so as his person might by sight be first allowed Thus much of this matter To my very loving friend Francis Walsingham Esq the Queens Majesties Ambassadour with the French King SIR this day I received your Letters with two French Books the one of Carpenter the Apostate the other by an unknown malicious French Writer taught by a rebellious crafty Papist of England wherein though he meant maliciously to the State yet he rometh his choler and despite chiefly against me and my Lord Keeper by Nick-names God amend his spirit and confound his malice And for my part if I have any such malicious or malignant spirit God presently so confound my body to ashes and my soul to perpetuall torment in hell I know not whether you shall be able to understand the Author but if by the Printer it might be found out I would gladly bestow any reward upon the discovery if it cannot be found then I wish that some means were used as of your self to Queen Mother that the print may be destroyed For otherwise we shall think our selves considering the places we do hold in this estate not well considered by that estate I have not imparted any thing to my Lord of Worcester but leave the order of the whole to your direction This licentiousness to inveigh against men by name in printed bookes that use not by books to provoke any is in all good Estates intolerable God send this Estate no worse meaning servants in all respects then we two have been who indeed spared not labour nor care to serve our Queen and Countrey and if we had not we may truly avow neither our Queen nor Countrey had enjoyed that common repose that it hath done I am required to recommend my Lord of Worcester unto you which I need not because you know his Office and cause of coming and besides you shall find him a Nobleman of great gentleness and thankfulness And therefore you shall find cause to shew him all good Offices and favours And if my hearty commendations of his Lordship may do any thing in his gratification I pray you his Lordship may understand my good will for in very truth I love him dearly And so I end From my House at Theobals where are with me Mr. Ralph Sadler and divers others as Mr. Denny your good friend The 14 of January 1572. Your assured loving friend W. Burleigh Sir when I consider of this lewd Book I think it will be replied unto you That it is reason that answer be made to such books as are published for the condemning of the Queen of Scots And so for my part I yield that Writers answer matters But to have the Duke of Norfolks cause brought in question and Us that are Councellors to the Queen to be so maliciously and falsly calumnied may not wel stand with the term of the Amity professed But yet I leave all to your consideration and wisdom Instructions for the Earl of Worcester ELIZABETH R. FIrst you shall make our Ambassador there resident Mr. Francis Walsingham privy of the office which at this time you have to do and the Letters which you have to deliver and confer with him of the manner of the Court and the use at this present and as he shall be able to inform you and you of your wisdom and discretion do understand with all convenient Honour Amity and Love you shall deliver our Letters and do such offices as to our Ambassage doth appertain And if the Emperors Ambassador hold the child himself you may also do it but if that you shall perceive that any device or other sinister means shall be given about to bring you to their mass or any other superstitious ceremonies which the order of our Realm doth not allow you shall not consent nor assist it but rather absent your self and understanding that before with honourable excuse require the Queen Mother that the Queen of Navarre to whom we have in this case written our special Letters to be our deputy for you or in the absence or let of her any other Princess or Noblewoman whom it shall please the Queen Mother to appoint and address to it according as we have also written to the said Queen Mother And you shall not need to break neither with the King nor Q. Mother nor any other or any matter but of such courtesies and other Court-like
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
secretly given to understand that the King here is offered by the Princes of the League support of money upon condition that the next year he will enter into the League if by his mediation the peace of the Turk and them of the League shall not follow And so for Italian news referring your Honour to these inclosed occurrents I most humbly take my leave To the Earl of Leicâ—ster YOur Lordship by Mr. Secretaries Letters shall understand at large what success the Marshal hath had in Provence how he hath prospered at the siege of Sansarra and what is lately done at Rochel who as yet continue still resolute never to yield Notwithstanding le Noues abandoning of them I am very sorry to condemn that Gentleman though he be generally condemned by others until I hear what he can say for himself If he be not well able to excuse this his doing in this behalf I will learn thereby the less to build upon any man who I perceive when God withdraweth his staying hand are more weak then weakness itself This Example therefore and others are to teach us to build upon God and to weigh man as he is They are much perplexed here with the Count Montgomeries preparation they have therefore given order all along the sea-coasts to withstand his Landing fearing that if he once land he will draw great numbers unto him They give it out that it will not be possible for him to enter the Haven of Rochel through certain ships sunk in the channel But if he enter it is certainly thought that Monsieur shal be driven to leavie his siege Upoâ— the event of his Entry wise men shall be able to judge what shall be the issue of this trouble here Howsoever he speed I believe most assuredly this Realm shall not be free from trouble until there be vengeance taken for the innocent blood shed here and peradventure God will have it to be the work of his own hand for that we are so ready to depend rather upon men then upon him I am glad that the accord in Scotland is in so good forwardness for I fear if their own troubles here were settled we should not long be free from troubles that way Touching a Rider your Lordship shall understand that there is by the procurement of the Italian Captain one stayed for you in Italie for that here is none worth the having who is both skilful and honest If your Lordship will have him then must you send into Italy a Bill of Credit for so much money as may defray his charge into England C. Massino shal inform your Lordship of the means how to send to the Gentleman that hath provided the said Rider who is acquainted with the matter by the Italian Captain and therefore shall repair to your Lordship to know your mind in this behalf To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador Resident for her Majestie in France AFter my hearty commendations At the last we have not onely gotten your revocation and Doctor Dales dispatch signed but have also set him forward and am glad that you shall now come out of that bloody Countrey and so be all your friends The news of Iames Kirkaldy was not altogether true but true it was that by treason of the Souldiers he was two or three days in Blackness and the Keeper thereof Alexander Stuard and his brother prisoners but by the same sleight was the â— day taken away again and Alexander Stuard and his brother delivered and so Iames Kirkaldy brought prisoner to the Regent and all the money which he brought out of France and was unspent which was 33000 Crowns delivered to the Regents hands and the Castle of Blackness to Alexander Stuard to keep it to the Kings use sith which time also the Duke of Chastelherauld and the Earl of Huntley be come in and sworn to the King for themselves and all their kinn and followers and very friendly agreed with the Regent who hath behaved himself in all his actions very wisely and very moderately There is none left now but Lidington and Grange in the Castle of Edenburgh which refuse the King and the Regents authority in all Scotland who must either yield or else they will be pulled out by the ears De la Noues revolting doth seem strange and maketh some men to suspect that he hath been of longer time such a one I trust you shall come now into a quieter Countrey And so I bid you most heartily farewell Your very Friend Thomas Smith To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador for the Queen's Majestie in France SIr the best news I can send you is that Mr. Dale your successor taketh his journey hence on Wednesday next I dare say you will wish him a speedy passage Since I wrote to you by Walter Williams this French Ambassador hath had new conference with her Majestie to have procured some alteration for his advantage of such speeches as I delivered to him in conference of the matters of the Duke of Alanson whereof I wrote to you And because he would obtain the same he offered his dispatch which I thought he would have made before me and now you may see how late it is for on Friday last he was here with her Majestie and in the end her Majestie yielded she would consider with me what might be altered upon the former answer which he had put in good length in writing whereof I send you the Copy the same being drawn by the Ambassadour as you may ghess to his advantage yet agreeable with the substance of my speeches Hereupon the Queens Majestie considering the writing and finding it of some length willed me to return it to the Ambassadour and to write to him as I did the Copy as I first conceived it in English so I did send it him and now ye may see what is passed in this matter wherewith the Ambassador doth send this his servant He did also on Friday sollicite Viracques dispatch whereunto her Majestie assented but since that yesterday her Majestie had Letters from Berwick by which she understandeth that his coming into Scotland is so much misliked both of the Hamiltons Huntley and the rest The Regent will not license him to come in so as his journey shall be lost and to tarry at Berwick were not convenient so I think this is not to depart so soon The Ambassador saith that the Duke his Master writeth vehemently to move the Queens Majestie about ayding of the Count Mountgomery wherein her Majestie hath throughly answered him that he is departed without any her ayd directly and indirectly and truly he departed with great mislking in that all his French ships were taken as Pyrats the men to the number of 〈◊〉 imprisoned and many died some hanged and all their prizes taken from them so as you may avow that the C. had cause of no small offence And if he have any favour without her Majs kowledge it is by some bargain made
by Merchants of France with the English Merchants for money to be given for salt c. Hereof the Ambassador desireth that you will inform the King that his report may accord with the same We do also stay the Lord Levingstone for like respect as we do Viracque And thus I â—nd not doubting but Mr-Secretary writeth of other common things Yours assuredly William Burleigh Iames Fitz-morice the Rebel with all his sequel submitted himself to Sir Iohn Parrot in Ireland so that all Munster is free from Rebellion Here hâ—th been a murther committed about Shooters-hill somewhat to the reproof of this place and herein I have used such care as the party is taken being one Brown an Irish man who had served and is put from my Lord of Oxfords seruice To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador Resident for her Majestie in France SIr now cometh your Successor so long desired I doubt not but both for his own comfort that he may willingly enter into that charge which for the Queens Majesties service you will sufficiently instruct him how he shall best serve and therein so deal with him And if in conference you find any rawness and imperfection you do not forbear but like a Tutor teach him to inform for so I know he shall be greatly bound to you and so it is necessary Let him also understand whom he may trust and so to use them that it good will and conscience be they take no harm wherein I have straitly charged him to be religious Procure the Queen Mother to think well of him I am very fearful that he shall do well for many causes but for none more then to avoid the Queens Majesties displeasure which I am assured of for that I did chuse him to relieve you If he should not content her Majestie in this service he hath required me that you would give leave and perswade that your Secretary might continue with him a while Now I end because he is going From London the first of April 1572. Yours assuredly William Burleigh By the QUEEN To our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Francis Walsingham our Ambassador Resident with our good Brother the French King ELIZABETH R. TRusty and well-beloved we greet you well Whereas you often made suit unto us to be revoked from that charge albeit we could have been well pleased that you should have tarried there still for the great sufficiency that we know in you and the faithful and discreet handling for our service yet we have thought good at your friends requests and desires for your return to yield unto your suit And therefore we let you wot That seeing you are so desirous to return home we have made choice of our trustie and well-beloved Valentine Dale Doctor of the Law and one of our Masters of the Requests extraordinarie this bearer to be your Successor there and to that end have written our Letters to the King our good brother and to the Queen Mother Wherefore our pleasure is That you do not onely repair with him unto them with the delivery of our said Letters but also before your departure from thence participate unto him all your instructions and such other things as you shall think meet and expedient for him to know for the furtherance of our service And also as you can bring him acquainted with those by whom he may have best understanding of that Court and the affairs necessary for us to be known And that you do leave with him such vessel plate and other furniture that you have of ours taking his writing under his hand and seal of the receit of the same for your discharge These things done we are pleasedâ— that you make your repair unto us with some convenient speed as you shall think meet Given under our Signet at our Mannor of Richmond the nineteenth of March 1572. in the fifteenth year of our Reign Response faicte aux Messieurs les Ambassadeur de France 20 August 1573. PRemierement que le Message qu'a este envâ—yé d'icy a l'Amb de la Royne resident en France on a esté mal rapporté on mal entendu par le dict Ambassadeur Car il ne s'accorde pas avec ce qu'en a esté faict dans les Lettres du Roy treschrestiâ—n escripts a son Ambassadeur En ce seroyt vrayment une grande absurdité si sa Majeste premierement a son Ambassadeur eust mandé dire qu'il estoit impossible que le mariage eust en effect et puis apres incontinent eust demandé ou parlé d'une entreveue vray est que par les premiers le dit Ambassadeur avoit charge de dire que pour la difference des aages sa Majeste trouve la chose fort difficile de'accorder tel mariage Et que pour raison de cés difficultés son entendement ne se pouvoit de faire de doubtes qu'on y trouvoit si ne se pouvoit trouver quelque aide expedient pour recompense Et ce fut la somme des premieres Lettres comme il pourroit apparoistre par la copie Les secondes que suyvoyent les aide incontinent apres avoyent cecy en somme a l'Ambassadeur qu'il avoit en charge de dire que sa Majeste voyant la continuelle sollicitation du Roy et de la Royne mere du Roy en ce cas de marriage Et mesmes plus fresches Lettre bayllees par l'Ambassadeur du dit Sr Roy environ le 23 Iuin a la maison de Monsieur Tresorier trouve bon apres avoir escript sa premiere lettre de adjouster encores cecy a la seconde a finde fairâ— apparoistre l'esgard qu'elle avoit des asâ—iduelles requestes du dit Sr. Roy. Cest quelle trouve deux principax empeschements entre aultres l'une la cause de la Religion se pourroit remedier par quelque conformitâ— procedant du Duc mesme Ainsi l'autre pourroit sembler estre difficile plust osten opinion qu'en substance Et qu'anssi elle veoit pour le plus souvent que rien ne governe pluâ— aux mariges ou doibt bien considerer comment une pourroit estre agreeable a l autre que de satisfaire leurs opinions par la veüe de l'un et l'autre especialement en ce cas icy considerant que ceulx que ont veâ— le Duc n'osent affirmer s'il pourroit estre agreeable ou non a sa Majeste combien qu en plusieurs choses ils se prisent fort semblablement sa Majeste y adjouste encores pour estre aussi declaré par son Ambassadeur que d'autant quelle pensoit cecy estre chose qu'on luy accorderent pas facilement combien toutesfois qu'on l uy a faict personage d'aussi grand estat qu est le Duc D Alanâ—on quelle le remectoit a la consideration du dit Roy et Royne dont elle luy donne charge de dire qu'elle n'avoit pensé d'en faire
is this day at Provence five leagues besides Chasteau Thiery It is advertised that the Emperour doth by little little amend of his disease having been carried to his Garden to take the ayre but no assurance of his full recovery The Cardinal d Este is returned to Rome having been met with the Duke of Sora the Popes son They do prepare ten Galleys at Naples besides others at Genua to transport the Empress into Spain Prospero Colonna is appointed General of the Men of War which are levied in the Dutchies of Milan and Tuscan There hath been a quarrel betwixt the Spaniards and Gentlemen Millanoises The King of Spain hath been received in Lisbona and held there his estate called Cortes There is a deprivation passed against the Bishop of Guarda for following the partie of Don Anthonio The Abbot of Bisegno Agent for the Catholike King at Rome hath with the Cardinal of Como sollicited the Pope for to intreat the French King to withdraw his brother from the enterprise of Flanders so as the Pope is resolved to send two Legats to the French King to continue the peace between the French King and the Catholike King Onchibli is departed from Constantinople with twenty five Galleys towards Affrica They advertise out of Spain that the Corn doth fail them this Harvest so as they doubt of famine c. Your Honours to Command Henry Cobham A son bon ami Mr. François de Walsingham M Onsieur de Walsingham j'ay une extreme contentement quand la Royne m a voula tant favouriser de vous avoir choisy pour faire ce royage vers le Roy mon Seignieur et frere me faisant bien par cela cognoistre les effectes de ses bonnes voluntés me comblant de tant d'obligations que je ne m'en pouroy jamais retirer si ce n'est par le continuel desir et inviolable affection que je ay de luy faire service Et ce suistres-aise de m'estre trouve y a propos que n'estant que fort peuesloigne de votre chemni vous me passies veoir sans perie de beaucoup de temps vous priant que se suit La Fere en Tartinois ou je seray aujourdhuy a coucher et croyez que vous seres le tres-bien venu comme iceluy que tient l'un de primiers bieux apres de celle que je honore et estime plus que Princesse que soit sus la terre et que tiens pour l'un de mes mieux amis Vous attendant en bon devotion de supplieray le Createur qu'il vous ayd Monsieur de Walsingham en sa tes Saincte et digne garde a Chasteau Thiery le dernier jour de Iuliel 1581. Votre bien affectione ami François To the right honorable Sir Francis Walsingham SIR The sending of this away by Mr. Mills to you moveth me to accompany him with a few lines We here have nothing to write unto you about the Negotiation but doe now from this day forward look to hear from you whereupon I think her Majestie will have some matter to be occupied withall VVe hear nothing of Monsieurs proceedings but the Spanish Ambassador warneth that the Prince of Parma is so strong and so bent to fight with Monsieur as he pretendeth that at the least Monsieur will forbear to adventure his own person He did yesterday by her Majesties appointment speak at Leicester House with my Lord of Ley and me to expostulate for her Majesties refusal to speak with him requiring to know the cause and being answered That we doubted not but that he oftentimes had been made privy that it was for that her Majestie had not received any Letters from the King Catholique for her satisfaction in the case of Invasion in Holland c. He saith that he never promised to procure Letters from the King neither was he ever required of her Majesties behalf but the Speeches were alwaies delivered to him that her Majestie would not speak with him untill she might be satisfied of those things in the case of Holland but saith it was not required that he should send to the King for any such satisfaction and yet he did for his own part write to the King and upon answer from the King he did let her Majestie understand that the Collection of the Souldiers the Arming and Victualing of the Ships and men were wholly by the directions of the Pope whom he could not deny and he had also cause to think that her Majestie meant not that he should procure Letters from the King for that Mr. Wilks said that her Majestie would send a Gentleman to the King or else write to him by the way of trade And for confirmation hereof he said that he heard that a kinsman of the Earl of Arundels and Master of the â— whom we took to be Tilney was named to go into Spain By the way he saith that you told him in presence of the Councel at Nonsuch that her Majestie had no League with the King of Spain but the States of the Low Countries I told him I was assured he mistook you for you might say that the League which was the greatest was with the Emperor Charls and so with the King of Spain in respect of the Dutchy of Burgundy and the Low-Countries but he flung away after his hot manner Now to end these matters for the discovery of a multitude of Popish subjects I think Mr. Beal writeth to you of a number of choice persons who being at least but fined upon that que Dam noble wil yield a great sum of money My Lord Grey and Tyrwick were about a Peace the 29 of July finding my Lord Deputies forces ready to enter one way and Sir Nicholas Malt by another way offering to my Lord Deputy to abide his Order for the matters between Odonell and the whole Countrie he hath wasted pretending to set upon Odonels son begotten of Tirleghes wives daughter which he had by Mac Connel by Ashton that came from Ireland we secretly understand that the new Earl Arrig with a great number are determined to keep Darbique from his intentions against the Religion and the King doth secretly assent thereto whether Ashton be deceived time will prove The King hath sent to Seffade 200 souldiers to enable him to compel his people to answer to Justice upon demand of England and great promises are made in the Kings behalf to keep amity with her Majestie And thus almost wearied I end expecting shortly to hear of your progress in your Ambassage which they there may enterprise a regress or a recess Her Majestie is in very good health thanked be God Greenwich where I am tyed by your absence and yet do little good Augâ—st 6. 1581. Your assured friend Will. Burleigh To her Majestie August 6. IT may please your most excellent Majestie I have imparted in my Letters directed to my Lord Treasurer the substance of that which passed
great forwardness to have taken effect whereof I had never doubt so that it might have pleased her Majestie to have kept a consonant course there In like sort as your Lordship can well remember was Sir Francis Bryans Negotiation crossed at Rome I cannot but pray to God so to bless her Majesties resolution to marry with that good effect that may be to her own comfort and the benefit of her Realm Your Lordships Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable Sir Francis Walsingham SIr I thank you for acquainting me with that you write to her Majestie whereof you sent me a copy but until this afternoon I had it not whereas the original from your self was delivered to her Majestie the delay as Mr. Mills told me of the delivery grew for that your Cousin had not time to deliver it yesterday to Mr. Mills who also was absent But having now read it I see you have great cause why her Majestie should be well content with your actions in all occurring with the course appointed you and lo now this evening without using any token of sight of your letters I repeated to her Majestie that the course you held to procure the League without marriage was specially committed to you to obtain against which it was certain that Monsieur for his particular and all his Ministers for his sake would spurn and so in doing your duty you were subject to their misliking Hereupon I found heâ— to assent to that I said But she added that she wished that Monsieâ—r might have been perswaded thereto I answered that she her self should not be able to perswade him to content himself and much less her Ministers This afternoon finding her Majestie unwilling to send the Fleet to the Azores whereby charge should grow without profit it was motioned that in the mean time that her Majestie should be assured of the French Kings actions to concur with hers two or three of the ships with a Bark should forthwith repair to the Tercera with some Captains Souldiers Powder and Munition to comfort the â—slanders to stand fast and to direct to be furnished for the defence of the Island until more forces might come a matter as my Lord of Leicester saith Don â—nthonio desireth Whereupon this evening Sir Francis Drake and Hâ—wkins are gone to him and so I think the ships shall away to morrow if it alter not By the next you shall know though the French King to our Ambassador there and by his own said that he would aid Don Anthonio yet these being but words changeably by a Prince if now he shall reveal to you his minde it is reasonable to say that though it will require some longer time to contract a treaty hereupon yet if it please him to write a letter to her Majestie to assure her that he will joyn with her in aiding Don Anthonio and if for her action the King of Spain shall offer offence to her Majestie or her subjects he shall repute the quarrel his own joyntly with her in defence of her and offence of the King of Spain such a writing may animate her Majestie to that which I think otherwise she will not resolve Her Majestie mâ—â—neth to send the Lord Howard to Monsieur to visit him Yours assuredly William Bâ—rleigh To Mr Secretary SIR when I had made up your Packet being come late this Evening about the many matters spoken of in one of my Letters The â—ueens Majestie sent Mr Mâ—ldmay to inform me to wâ—ite as followeth This day the French Ambassador with the Fr Portuguese Consul Perdonâ— were with her Majestie with Letters from the Qu. mother of great earnestness to her Majestie to aide Don Anthonio by that name but not by that of the K. Anthony whereof the Fr Ambassador made reason for the Q. mothers pretence but from the French King her Majestie had no Letter Thereupon her Majestie is scrupulous doubting to give occasion of a Warr to be born by her self alone and the more She doubteth finding the Fr King so precise in his Brothers cause We finde in a Letter of Tuyns here decyphered that the King sent Gondy to him with ample Commission to carry away the 300000 Crowns wherewith the Prince of Parma became so lusty Her Majestie would have you decypher in this matter of Portugal Tâ—is day Don or King Anthonio hath pressed the Q. Majestie to have restitution of his Diamond and by Mr Weldmore he would have sent to my Lady for it but I mean my Ladies answer shall be that it was left with her by you and that without your commandment she may not deliver it except such money be paid as she knoweth you have borrowed upon it Her Majestie will not have it detained for her â—000 l. which I see she could be content to lose so he were satisfied Surely Mr Secretary the cause hath been but lightly conducted and many things overcharged For I have seen a Note of yours amounting not much above 3000 l. and it is brought almost to 14000 l. and the King Anthony regardeth nothing therein done but remitteth his payment to the Island or rather to the pay of the King of Spa Indies yet we here do what we can to content him I hear that the Count Vimioso will be here within these two dayes he is altogether French and will seek to draw this King into France where his life I fear will be vendible From my House the 24 night of August at eleven of the Clock Your assured Friend W Burghley To the Right Honorable Sir Francis Walsingham SIR where by my last Letters I made doubt unto you of the going forth of the Ships in the Voyage intended as before your going over you were acquainted with yet now at the last her Majestie is resolved that 4. onely shall goe forth under the charge of William Hawkins wherof the Primrose is the chiefest And least occasion should fall out of service by Land Capt. Norris is appointed for that purpose It is thought meet that such Victuals as were provided for tâ—e other Ships and cannot well be kept should forthwith be uttered and sold. Nevertheless the ships to be in a readiness upon a short warning as further shall be advertised from you of the French Kings resolution Her Majestie seemeth resolutely bent not to exceed 5000 l. whereby your charge is the greater which I have assayed to qualifie as if it had been my own case And thus constrained to be shorter then I would otherwise for the dispatch of this Bearer c. Greenwich late in the night August 24. 1581. William Burleigh To the Lord Treasurer IT may please your Lordship after the long stay from proceeding in our Negotiation upon such reasons as in our former letters we have advertised Du Vray came unto us on Friday to acquaint us with such answer as he had received from the Duke his Master touching the furtherance of the league desired The sum of the speeches that he delivered unto us being this
Argument which her Majesties pleasure is we should use to induce them to think that she ought not to be burdened with any great charges touching the matter of Portugal considering the Queen mothers pretence we will not fail when we shall have to deal therewith to proceed accordingly though I am perswaded that the said Queens pretence is used but for a colour to justifie such assistance as they shall give rather then in hope of any benefit they look to receive thereby otherwise then that the King of Spains greatness shall be abated And so c. Paris this 28 of August 1581. Fr. Walsingham To Master Secretary SIR Since the departure of Iohn the Currier hence this is done Mr. Sommers is ordered to ride to Monsieur he hath secretly to carry with him so many pistolets as come to And there is just as much more to be provided which is here hard to be gotten My Lord of Leicester moved Palla Vicine to procure it by exchange at Paris which he took upon him but when I was curious how he would do it he answered me that every Crown would cost me four pence at the least and yet he could not so answer it but for a small sum and secondly for the time he could not answer me but that he must pass it forth to Antwerpe and then to Paris he also was moved to ride to Paris himself but the charge thereof must be layed to the former so as the sum would be slenderly pinched with such abatements Hereupon I stayed proceeding with him and have for the first half made means here and have gotten Paul Swallore Alderman Martins man to take charge of packing the wait is more then two spare horses can carry and now I am resolved to divide it into four portions and to commit to four the several portions to be carried upon a Pillion and so they may pass in post whereas otherwise being charged upon two horses they could not ride post with it I am now to pray you to advertise me what you can do there to have the rest paid there if the like sum shall be paid here with security by Exchange and what the charge will be or else whether you think the same were not best to be sent in specie thither to Monsieur himself which I think the best seeing therein are two inconveniences danger by sea to pass for La Motts knowledge and by Land by false brethren or Spaignoilists for I fear such secresie will not be kept of the next as I trust hitherto in this I have such crooked dealing here with Lopez for that the King urgeth the speedy delivery of the Jewel without satisfaction for your charge as I think Mr. Mills will advertise you the Queens Majestie for her part is content to stand to curtesie or to loss for the 5000. l. From Scotland we hear commonly evil that the King shall acknowledge to have by evil counsel of his subjects usurped the Crown and therefore he will resign it to his Mother and she to grant it back to be possessed joyntly We hear also that the Earl of Arraign is fully bent to make a Band of the Protestant Nobility to the contrary hereof I think my Lord of Leicester will write hereof to you for he hath dealt here in very wisely by means of Robert Ashton that was my Lady of Lenox servant at this time I have paid this bearer Philips 20. l. in name of his travel Greenwich the 27 August 1581. W. Burleigh To the Lord Treasurer MY very good Lord Finding by the inclosed that the Duke desireth that all expedition may be used in the transportation of the mony I thought it very necessary to send away this messenger with all speed whom I did imploy in this journey towards him And therefore found it expedient to send him unto you to the end he might make report both of the state of his Camp and of the present enterprise he hath in hand If your Lordship mark the Letter well you shall finde it written with very great judgement and in most thankful sort If this young Prince continue the course he hath begun there are few or none that promise greater things in our days then he The pain he taketh as this bearer can shew you is intollerable and his patience having to deal with so strange and â—nquiet humors as serve under him is admirable It offendeth the better sort here to see such Treasure spent here in preparations of Masks and other vanities and this poor Prince forced unless he were otherwise relieved to give over an enterprise so many ways profitable to this Crown Amongst other things I gave this bearer in his Instructions charge to know the Dukes pleasure whether I should make the King and his mother privy to the Loan and in what sort I should deliver it unto them In answer whereof he hath willed him to let me understand that he referreth the same to her Majesties best consideration for mine own particular opinion considering that the matter cannot be kept secret I think it meet they should be both made acquainted withal for that it might nourish or rather increase in the King a jealousie already conceived of some inward intelligence not to the best purpose between her Majesty and the Duke Besides it would serve to very good purpose to remove the opinion that both he and his mother have conceived that her Majesties friendship consisteth altogether in words who hitherto hath shewed more friendly and better effects then they thought both nature and policy ought to lead them to deal otherwise then they do This day I had long speech with Queen mother both about tha Portugal causes as also about our stay of the proceeding in the Treaty for the first I do finde by her that the King will attempt nothing by way of Occurrency with her Majesty without the marriage and as for our further proceeding in the Treaty I also learn by her that he is resolute to stay until he hear from his Ambassador hereof I will enlarge unto your Lordship more at length by the next the conclusion of her speeches were an earnest recommendation of the marriage without the which she said she saw there could be no sound friendship she also renewed her former request touching the support to be yielded to Don Anthonio letting me understand that the four ships were departed from Burdeaux with six hundred men at the least and therefore prayed me most effectually to recommend the same to her Majesty Whereas I perceive by your Letter of the one and twentieth sent by the Lady Marquesses brother that her Majesty is offended for that she is not more particularly informed of the state of both Armies I shall desire your Lordship to be an humble suitor in my behalf unto her Majesty that it will please her Highness to conceive better of my service here then I perceive she doth And as for the fault her Majestie findeth there lacketh no care
King of Spains offence yet she did offer to the King â—nthonio the service of certain good Vessels well armed victualled and furnished with men and munition largely to repair now in the latter end of August But the King prudently considering that the time was past for this year to recover any more Isles then he hath already and that such as hold for him could not be by the enmity assailed from henceforth until the next year did not accept our offer but finding the default of answer from the French King to have been the cause of our stay he meant onely to send away a few ships which himself had bought and armed here for the which her Majestie hath already yielded him a pass-port When you shall again deal with the King to have care of his Brother now entred into the Low-Countreys whose actions for the honour of that Crown are to be maintained you may shew him that we think he was not well counselled by such as moved him to yield to * Tanis the King of Spains Agent that 300000 or 400000 Crowns were by his special license carried from Lyons to the Prince of Parma which if the King had stayed but one moneth or twenty days to give license as he did to Tanis there had manifestly followed in the Prince of Parma's Army such a disaster as is notoriously known before the coming of that money that the said Army was ready for want of pay to have broken and especially all the Almaignes had revolted to the service of Monsieur le Duc which by the ayd of that money was altered to the disadvantage of the Duke his Brother And you may say to the King that by considering of this her Majestie doubteth that there are some in credit with him that regard not in their counsels what should be the means to stay the greatness of the King of Spain which causeth her Majestie to be more doubtful how she shal deal in any action tending to stay the said greatness except she might evidently see some more appearance of the French Kings determination to the same end which in this cause of his Brothers actions in the Low-Countreys both ought and might best appear by some honourable good support to be given to the Duke his Brother Greenwich the second of Sept. 1581. Will. Burleigh To Mr. Secretary SIR notwithstanding your later letters of the 28 of August importing many reasons to move her Majestie to give some better answers in particularities yet her Majestie reading them and being reasoned withal will admit no other answer then was directed by the letters written though not sealed up before your last What may further move her Majestie hereafter I know not but I see it common to great and small not to think of adversity in time of prosperity and so adversity cometh with double peril At this present Don Antâ—onio is come to take his leave of her Majestie he will press to have his jewel and so that you may be satisfied I agree to it and so sometimes doth her Majestie but in conclusion he would have the jewel answer for all the losses which of the 13000 l. I think will be about 3600 l. whereof 170 l. is desperate imprest and wages and victuals spent the rest falleth out in the resail of the victuals I appoint Mr. Mills to be in commission about this dissolution and sail who will better satisfie you then I can And so c. Septemb. 2. William Burleigh The Article onely enlarged in words I Tem it is good to covenant That neither of the Princes now confederated shall at any time hereafter the conclusion of this Treaty give open aid to any enemy of any third Prince with whom at the conclusion of this league they are in peace thereby manifestly to provoke the other third Prince for such aid so given to make war or invasion against the Prince that shall give such aid for that cause of aid given but that before the aid shall be so openly given the Prince meaning to give such aid should first advertise by his letters the other Confederate and have his allowance thereof in writing In which word of aiding shall not be meant any other kind of ayd but such open aid as shall make the enemy aided thereby able by such aid to use open hostility and to make war against the third Prince Will Burleigh Her Majestie doth not mislike of this Article but yet she can be content it be forborn The Queens Majestie commanded me to set down a case upon the Article herewith I Tem to covenant with the French King that he shall not give open ayd to any enemy of the King of Spain thereby to provoke him to make war upon the said French King but that he shall first advertise her Majestie thereof and have her allowance otherwise her Majestie shall not be bound to aid the French King or to make war upon the King of Spain In like manner the Queen of England shall not c. Ut supra mutatis mutandis An Answer of such things as are desired by her Majesties Commissioners to be resolved touching the League offensive consisting in three points To the first AT this time here is no other thing remembred necessary to be added To the second Her Majestie thinketh it better for you to offer a covenant such as you shall find contained in a treaty betwixt Henry the eighth and Charls the fifth 1522. in the second Article the sum whereof is That if any Prince or other person should offend the Emperor Charls in his Person Dignitie or States or shall take any thing from the said Emperour in that case he shall repute the same offence or wrong as done to himself and shall repell the same with all his power and shall yield at his own charges aids convenient to withstand the same and to the reciprock the Emperour was bound but for tempering these words which are in the Article Totis virâ—bus potentia sua propulsabit her Majestie would have these kind of words added Prout commodo id fieri possit habita ratione temporis loci ac etiam faâ—ultatis suae and the cause that moveth her Majestie to have rather such an Article of a general resistance then a particular Covenant for numbers of men or money is even as your selves made you answer to the first For until the manner of the Prince Invader be known and thereby consideration had what manner of ayd defensive shall be needful to withstand the same invasion or to revenge it the resolution cannot be particularly set down what numbers shall be requisite But if the French Commissioners shall mislike of such a kind of Article you may say the like hath been between Henry the eighth and Charls the fifth and yet if that will not satisfie it may be further covenanted That upon notification of the invasion and of the greatness thereof by the Prince invaded the Prince not invaded shall give such ayd
received a Letter from the Duke of Alva signifying thereby to us that the matter vvhich he had to impart to us from the King his Master vvas only an offer from the said King to do any good office that in him might lie to procure some good end of the cause betvvixt us and the Q. of Scots vvithout any particular respect to himself but only for the common quietness of us both and of our Countries And in this behalf the Duke requireth to understand in what sort we will have the King to deal assuring us of the said Kings earnest intention to pleasure us in any thing he may Of thus much you shall say vve thought good to advertise the Ambassador and to let him understand that vve do very thankfully accept the Kings offer and would be glad to take the good vvill and friendship if there vvere any cause thereof in this office as at this time there is not for he shall understand that we have already entred so far into a treatie with the Q. of Scots for all causes and differences betwixt us and her as there remaineth nothing of any great value or difference betwixt us so as the finall ending thereof resteth upon the execution of the matters accorded and some further treatie remaineth now to compound certain matters betwixt her and her Subjects for which purpose there be commissioners already come hither from her and a part of the Nobility of Scotland and such as are to come as Commissioners from the other part are as we think on their journey hitherward We have also by these last Letters of the Duke in expresse words that he himself is earnestly disposed to do any thing that may maintain the Amitie that is betwixt the King and us and particularly that he hath accorded to have restitution made as our Merchants on both sides have thought it meet and meaneth to send over some speciall person of credit to explain some small differences rising thereof and to put the whole in execution These kinds of dealings and offices you may say are very agreeable unto us who by many means made it appeare that the late differences have not grown of us nor as we think of the Kings own disposition but by untowardness of ministers and now whilest we are well content therevvith vve are sorry to think that certain reports vvhich vve heare of Spain should be true either in whole or in part and as vve vvould be gladest they vvere false so are vve desirous that vve might knovv them certainly from the King to be false And you shall say because vve have seen some proof of that Ambassadors good disposition to the Amitie betvvixt the Kings his Master and us vvherâ—in he is much to be commended and that he may vvith more expedition and readiness by the way of France certifie the King and procure some Answer we have heard and known it to be true that certain savage Rebels being men of no value had fled out of our Realm of Ireland into Spain and to cover their lewdness and to procure both relief for themselves and such like as they be in Ireland they do pretend their departure out of the Realm for matter of Religion when indeed they be neither of one nor other Religion but given to beastuallity and yet have they wit enough to shew hypocrisie for their purpose Sithence the first arrival of these we know also that an Englishman a Subject of ours namely Stewkley not unknown as we think for his former prodigal life both in Spain and other places and notwithstanding great favours shewed unto him divers times upon hope of amendment and some tokens of his repentance he did this last summer pretending to come out of Ireland hither suddenly turn his course into Spain and as we hear hath light into the company of the aforesaid Fugitives and Rebels pretending by his superfluous expences which is altogether of other mens goods to be a person of some quality and estimation and able to do some great thing in Ireland whereas indeed he hath not the value of a Marmaduc in land or livelihood he hath so solicited the King or some about him with vain motions as it is by him bruted and otherwise also with some credit reported unto us which yet we do not believe that the K. will send a Captain of his such a one as Iulian Romero or such like with a number of Souldiers into Ireland to follow some vain device of those Rebels whereof we cannot but marvel that the King or any of his Councel being of experience can so lightly give any credit to such a companion as Stewkley is which could never live long in any quiet condition at home of whom we are not disposed to say much because we cannot say any good of him But may say it shall be sufficient that his conditions may be only enquired of and then we doubt not whosoever shall know them will take heed how to adventure any thing with him And yet whatsoever it is we cannot but find it strange that he or any such Fugitives moving matters of attempt as Rebels either should be allowed or hearkned unto For whatsoever hath been conceived that any person of any degree being the King of Spains Subject coming into our Realm of late years as many have done for safety of their lives for matter of their consciences as we alwaies understood yet we do assure by our Honour that there was never person of any degree that did motion unto us any matter offensive to the King or his Low-Countreys when opportunity served for such purposes that was ever allowed by us or any such motion or that ever received reward or comfort therein but was rejected such hath been our sincerity in these times not to give any comfort to the hurt of the King or of his Countreys And now if these reports which we hear should be true we might think our selves evilly recompenced and should be provoked for our defence to use such means as otherwise of our selves we did never allow or like And so we trust in reason the Ambassador himself might think and the conservation of the Amity betwixt the King and us and the restitution of the former and Trade betwixt our Countreys and Subjects so we pray him to solicite some Answer in this case For whilest we should remain in doubt hereof we cannot but foresee and to procure how to impeach any such attempts wherein would appear that whereof we shall be sure that we have some cause to doubt of the Kings good will Thus you see how we mean to have by this occasion some knowledge if it may be of the Kings intention although we meant not to omit otherway to come to the truth hereof doubting not but you will also use such good means as you can to discover the truth and not forget the former matter concerning that which certain of the French Kings Captains have attempted in Ireland and the bringing from
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
Suffex L. Chamberlain and the L. of Burleigh with whom together he heard such reasons alleadged for the stay of his journey until the King might be thereof advertised as in the end he did not shew any other misliking but that he would willingly tarry here and send to the King his Master to understand his further pleasure and wished that we would likewise advertise the King by our Ambassador there And thus you see how we have dealt with du Croque since his coming and what either the Ambassador or he shall advertise we know not but besides this which we have written unto you you shall understand by a memorial in writing which you shall receive from the L. Burleigh the further circumstances of the Conferences had at two several times betwixt our Councel and him which when you have considered with these the premises afore written we would have you to impart the same to the King in the best sort you shall finde convenient to move him to interpret these our doings to the best as reason ought to do And in the end to procure that du Croque may have larger Commission to treat of the matters in Scotland in such sort as we may accord thereto with our surety For otherwise you may well say that the labors of us both shall be but lost You shall further understand that since the comhither of Mr. Beal with your last letters and other writings of your negociation about the new Treaty we have considered thereof and have forborn to resolve what our Answer shall be to the points by you suspended until we may have further conference with this Ambassador here who hearing of the return of our servants Hen. Killegrew and Beal hath required that we would forbear to resolve and to return our answer unto you until he might have commodity to speak with us which he looketh daily to have by the coming of a Currier from thence which he doth hourly look for and this is the cause why at this present we do stay the return of Beal unto you wishing you in the mean time to give them no occasion to doubt but that our answers of the Treaty shall be found reasonable Given under our Signet at our Palace of Westminster March 20. 1571. In the fourteenth yeer of our Reign To the Right Honourable and his very good Lord the Lord Burleigh SInce I wrote last to your Lp. there hath here fallen out nothing worthy the Advertisement The matter of marriage between the Prince of Navar and the Lady Margaret continueth doubtful whereof Sir Tho. Smith and I have more cause so to judge for that the 4 of this month it pleased the Q. of Navar to send for us to dinner Immediately upon our coming she shewed unto us how with the consent of the Q. mother she had sâ—nt for us as the Ministers and Ambassadors of a Christian Princess whom she had sundry causes to honor to confer with us and certain others in whom she reposed great trust touching certain difficulties that were impeachments to the marriage which thing she would communicate to us after dinner She said to us that now she had the Woolf by the ears for that in concluding or not concluding the marriage she saw danger every way and that no matter though she had dealt in matters of consequence did so much trouble her as this for that she could not tell how to resolve amongst divers causes of fear she shewed unto us that two chiefly troubled her The first that the K. would needs have her son and L. Margaret the marriage proceeding to be Courtiers and yet would not yield to grant him any exercise of Religion the next way to make him become an Atheist as also thereby no hope to grow of the Conversion of the L. Margâ—ret for that she would not resort to any Sermon The second that they would needs condition with the L. Margaret remaining constant in the Catholike Religion should have whensoever she went into the Country of Bern her Mass a thing which in no wise she can consent unto havinâ— her Country cleansed from all Idolatry Besides saith she the L. Margaret remaining a Catholike whensoever she shal come to remain in the Country of Bern the Papists there wil take her part which will breed division in the Country and make her more unwilling to give ear to the Gospel they having a staff to lean to After dinner ended she sent for us into the Chamber where we found a dozen others of certain Gent. of the Religion and their Ministers She declared unto us briefly what had passed between the K. Q mother and her touching the marriage as also what was the present cause of the stay of the same wherein she desired us severally to say our opinion and that sincerely as we would answer unto God The stay stood upon 3 points First whether she might with a good Conscience substitute a Papist for her sons Proctor for the Fiansals which was generally agreed she might 2ly whether the Proctor going to Mass incontinently after the Fiansals which was expresly forbidden by his letter procuratory would nâ—t breed an offence to the godly It was agreed that forasmuch as he vvas justly forbidden the same by his letter procuratory the same could justly minister no offence for that he vvas no longer a Proctor then he kept himself vvithin the limits procuratory of the letter procuratory 3ly Whether she might consent that the vvord Fiansal might be pronounced by a Priest in his priestly attire vvith his Surplice and Stoal This latter point vvas long debated and for the Ministers concluded that the same thought it vvere a thing indifferent could not but breed a general offence unto the godly she protested that she vvould never consent to do that thing vvhereof there might grovv any publike scandal for that she knevv she said she should soincur Gods high displeasure upon vvhich protestation it vvas generally â—oncluded that in no case she might yield thereto her ovvn Conscience gainsaying the same so that novv the marriage is held generally for broken Notvvithstanding I am of a contrary opinion and do think assuredly that hardly any cause vvill make them break so many necessary causes there are why the same should proceed By the next I shal be able to advertise your L. of the certainty of this mariage What hath been done upon the receipt of your Lps. dated thâ— 6 and 11 of this month you may perceive by Sir T. Smiths letters vvritten at large Of late I learn by one that lately is come out of Denmark that there is a great league grovvn betvvixt the D. of Alva and the K. there and that there should be some practise in hand there for some enterprise to be done either in Scotland or England For the accomplishment thereof the D. desireth of the K. certain ships Touching the said amity grown of late between the K. and D. this Ks. Ambassador there doth advertise thereof and sheweth