Souldiers of great Burgesses rich Merchants yea of Women Children and all inferior sorts almost innumerable we cannot see but the more speedily the more bountifully and assuredly the King shall deal with them as a Father with his Children the more shall be his own quietness his comfort his riches his strength as we doubt not but he seeth without Declaration and glad we are to hear it commonly reported how well disposed he himself is to receive them to his favour And therefore you shall say it needeth not to discourse with him though he be young in years what infinite dis-commodities and lamentable mis-haps hath within a short time grown to his Estate by denying to his Subjects of their reasonable requests And though there be per case by some hard hearted persons cavilations found to reprehend some part of their requests in particular yet we require him to think how meet it is for him the Soveraign Prince not to want profit and honor of so general a Peace in his Kingdom by re-uniting to himself of such a multitude of serviceable Subjects which indeed is of such a moment as no cavilation would be admitted against any particular point that may stand with his Estate and accelerate the Peace But to consider the King being the Soveraign to command and they his Subjects to obey and so by nature alwaies to live in fear are to be rather comforted with a large grant to their requests and a full satisfaction of assurance then by denying any Portions of their demands to be nourished in doubt and anguish of mind whereby neither part should rest in assurance neither the King for he had denyed nor the Subjects for they could not obtain and so as it hapneth in sickness the recidivations might be most perilous And after you have dealt with the King for furtherance of any particular impediments you shall also say that we do promise the King and will be content to make any assurance that he shall require meet to be made betwixt Princes that if it shall please him to be a gracious Lord unto them at this time in their requests and not to abridge the same to their misliking whereby they may gather doubtfulness and fear of continuance of that which shall be granted them if any of them shall contrary to their promises and submissions attempt any thing directly or indirectly to the trouble of the Kings Estate and contrary to the duties of true Subjects we shall not only condemn them in our own judgemenâ— and so pronounce them to the world but shall also as the King shall find it meet prosecute them as common enemies to our selves And for any particular matter that you shall be by the Deputies of the Princes requested to further you shall do well to be instructed how to maintain their Demands which shall be committed to you with such reasons as may be agreeable to be mentioned by you having respect that you shall deal therein for us being a Queen and a Monarch with a like Prince And if any on the Kings behalf shall object to you that our dealing for those Princes and their company being subjects in this sort to have liberty granted to them for exercise of Religion in other sort then the King himself and the common Authority of the Realm doth profess is not agreeable with our own actions and proceedings against our Subjects that have lately sought in like manner liberty to use the Roman Religion contrary to our Profession you may answer thereto very well that if they mean this by a late rebellion stirred up this last year in a part of our North Countrey by the Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland First it is very true that they only coloured outwardly their rebellious attempts with a pretence of Religion And you may say seeing the matter is objected that it is well known and you are warranted to avow it that the principal cause of that Rebellion was wrought you will not say by the Queen of Scots but sure you are by her Ministers both here in England and Scotland and by some of the principal parties of the Nobility in Scotland that do hate Roman Religion Besides that it is evident that the two Earls that were the heads thereof before they did begin their Rebellion did at no time shew themselves unwilling to exercise the rights of the Religion established by Law in this Realm but as they gave their consents when the order thereof was first established in Parliament so did they ordinarily resort from the beginning of our Reign in all open places to the Churches and to Divine Services in the Church without contradiction or shew of misliking Thirdly if either they or any other of our Subjects would make request to be at liberty to acknowledge the Authority of the Church of Rome as the Pope would challenge it in this Realm and as by his Bulls and Decrees he doth declare his meaning how he would exercise it to the ruine of our Crown it is so manifest and that even by late experience notoriously well proved that such a provision to be granted induceth necessarily the party to be criminal of treason and as in no wise any such permission can be by us granted to any Subjects within our Realm without we would therewith also yield our Right and Royal Title to the will of Traytors wherein manifestly appeareth a notable difference betwixt such a permission as the Kings Subjects do require for exercise of their Religion which also hath been by the Kings Authoritie granted heretofore to them and the permission that were to be granted to any of our Subjects that would exercise the Roman Religion in our Realm and obey the Commandments Decrees and Bulls of the Pope for we never could perceive that the exercise of the Religion professed by the Princes and their adherents in â—rance did any way prejudice the Kings Title and Right to his Crown but that the Professors thereof did alwaies with all humbleness and constancie acknowledge and maintain the same without adhering to any other Power or Authoritie but we see it manifest and have lately proved it and duly punished it in such as seek to erect up the Authoritie of the Pope in our Realm and do directly and manifestly not onely impugn our Estate Royal but labour to remove us from the Throne of our Kingdom whereunto Almightie God hath placed maintained and preserved us a matter so manifestly full of danger as neither we may yield unto no nor none of our good Subjects will never assent thereto but in that quarrel will adventure all their lives lands and estates as of late against the Rebellion that was coloured with a pretence of Romish Religion we did sufficiently prove generally in all parts of our Realm and in all Estates and persons by the readiness of their service And thus you have a general note how to direct you in the prosecution of the purpose intended by this your journey not doubting
Maj. was earnestly moved by them all not to stay in this matter of her marriage with Mon. de Anjon so as he might be induced to consent with her in Religion or at the least not to have any exercise of Religion contrary to hers After this the Ambassador with l' Archant came again on Friday to her Maj. and renewing their former reasons requested of her Maj. to know her answer whether the Marshal Montmorency should not come in ambassage as before was signified to be the Kings desire Whereunto in brief the substance of her Majesties answer was that as she did greatly esteem the Kings amity and was desirous to conserve the same with mutual good will so was she very careful not to accord to any thing that in her opinion might in any wise impair the same by giving to him any cause or colour of unkindness and therefore she wished that the K. would well consider this matter difficulty of Religion before he should send his ambassage for considering with her self on the one part that she could not chang her mind herein nor as she thought could by any perswasion hereafter be moved to alter her determination although in most matters it is doubtful to determine de futurâ— but such was her mind resolute at this present and on the other part if the K. should hope that his Ambassador might by treaty alter her Majesties mind herein and that then indeed they should not be able so to do And thereupon the matter might break off she doubted how the French King might conceive some unkindness â—hereby although she her self were altogether free from giving cause thereof and for that purpose her Majestie required them in her name that the King would accept it for answer in as sincere part as she uttered it which was with aâ— eaâ—nest respect to keep the amity â— well begâ—n inviolated And so still being by the Ambassador instanted to give them a more comfortable answer for that thereby the King and his brother might doubt of her Majesties intention in the principal matter She answered them that truly this cause of Religion was directly for it self and that being assented unto by the K. and his brother she knew no cause in the rest of the things on her paâ—t to move any doubt but by reasonable treaty they might be accorded which said she did the rather declare to them because the K. might not think that if the point of Religion were by him and his brother assented unto that her Maj. had a meaning to make any difficulty in other points and that the rather because she had declar'd her mind plainly in two several writings the one being an answer to the K. demands the other containing demands agreeable to the like as were accorded betwixt K. Philip Q. Mary and so she concluded that she must remit the coming of the Ambassadors to the K. own judgment And thus they departed as it seemed by their speeches doubful of the substance of the matter and therefore they required to have the next day some conference with the E. of Leicester and the L. of Burleigh to declare their conceits upon the Q. Majesties answer and so they had on the next day following being Saturday where they stil pressed to have some reasonable answer that although the Q. would not presently assent to their request yet that if the Ambassador should come the cause might not be thus peremptory desperate but that in some sort it might be obtained that neither on the one part Monsieur should be condemned to the world and taken as a person excommunicated from the rest of Princes if he should not have the use of his Religion neither on the other part the Q. Majestie thereby should take any offence or that the least part of her Estate should be troubled for such was the resolute determination of Monsieur and his profession that from the first time he should enter into the Realm he would in no wise offend the meanest subject the had with many such speeches tending to perswade that Mon. would so use his religion or so forbear it in times and places as not to cause offence They were answered that the Q. Majestie could not give any other answer and that they might well perceive her sincerity in dealing to â—tter plainly her mind as she did and many reasons to maintain her resolution were to them remembred as principally her conscience next the desire she had to preserve the State in quietness which by granting him that should be her husband a power to break her laws in matter of such weight must needs induce an alienation from her of the minds and hearts of her good subjects being of her Râ—ligion â— and indurate the minds of others that though secretly yet truly are loath to obey the Laws if they might have any maintenance to the contrary which though Monsieur would not give them yet they would conceive a boldness to offend in the hope to be allowed by him In the end it was moved to know the opinions of the said E. L. Burleigh whether they thought it good that the Ambassadors should come Whereunto it was answered that the consideration thereof did more directly belong to the K. and that also they two could best give advice therein for they saw what was likely to be the issue of their coming If the stay were not in Religion there was no evident let seen in the matter and to speak truly she said two Lords said they could give them no hope that the â—â—bassage could 〈◊〉 her Majesties mind but that if they would demand of her Majestie a grant or toleration for Monsieur her Majestie would deny it And therefore if they could not like with the denying of it they must forbear to demand it Hereupon there followed some opinions on boâ—h parts that if Monâ—ieur should forbear to require it and thereby her Majesty should not grant it but that the matter should be 〈◊〉 and pass in silence it might be that Monsieurs friends might 〈◊〉 their good opinions of him as of one that hâ—d not changed his Religion and likewise the Q. Majesties good subjects should continue their opinions of her Maj. as of a Prince that would not assent to any thing against her Religion And with this kind of speech we ended To my very loving Friend Francis Walsingham Esq the Queens Majesties Ambassador with the French King AFter our very hearty commendations considering the Queens Majestie hath used our service joyntly in treating of the matter betwixt her Majestie and Monsieur de Anjoâ— and that you are to be burthened in the prosecution thereof we have thought good to write also to you joyntly how her Majestie hath proceeded since the arrival of Monsieur l' Archant you may perceive by her own Letters wherein also somewhat is touched for our dealing with them what the said l' Archant shall of himself report or what he shall bring from the Ambassador we cannot
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
them put to the ransom for that justice taketh not place here they forbear to require redress but depart hence with great desire of revenge They prepare Bastile for some persons of quality It is thought that is for the Prince of Conde and his brethren The Marshal Montmorency is commanded as it is said to keep his house and to forbear to make any Assembly He is now at Chantilly The King is advertised that the Prince of Orange hath taken Mechelin and that he now marcheth towards Montz and that the Duke d' Alva shall be constrained to hazard the battel or to lose his Ordnance It is said that the King here meaneth to send to his support under the conduct of the Duke of Guise 4000 shot and 2000 horse And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the thirteenth of September Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principal Secretary SIr it may please you to advertise her Majestie that after I had closed up my present dispatch Monsieur Mansiere was sent to me from Q. Mother to request me to continue my good devotion towards this Crown to do such good offices as might breed continuance and especially to further the marriage To this I answered that I saw things fall out here in such sort as I had small cause to incourage me thereunto And as for the marriage I had some cause to doubt whether the matter was truly meant or no for divers reasons To that he answered that it were good the same scruples were taken away and therefore asked me if I would be content to let the Queen Mother understand the reasons that made me so to think To the which I answered I could be very well content if it shall please her Majestie to send for me that I might communicate them unto her Thereupon she sent for me and at my access she told me that she understood by Mannesiere that there rested in me some scruple touching the Kings and her sincere meaning concerning the late marriage propounded for the which she was sorry for that in respect of the place I held I might yield no small hinderance to the same She therefore desired me to know the reasons that moved me thereto to which she doubted not but to yield such answer as should breed satisfaction in me Thereupon I shewed her that true it was that as it becometh a good servant the jealousie of my Mistris's honour and surety made me to use some such speech towards her whereof when she should understand the reasons I hoped she would interpret the same in good part Then I shewed her that this late strange accident had bred in men dangerous discourses opinions and mistrusts amongst the which I was not free from my doubts and suspicions And as touching this scruple of the Kings and her sincere meaning touching this marriage I had three reasons that moved me thereto The first the violating of the late Edict and present severity used against those of the Religion The second the strange dealing in the first match propounded The third certain Discourses given out of the Conquest of England and Ireland Touching the first I shewed her that the chiefest causes that moved the Queen my Mistris to make account of the Amity of this Crown was that the King suffered certain of his Subjects to enjoy by the vertue of this Edict exercise of the same Religion her Majestie professed which was the chiefest ground of the League which being taken away the Amity could not but grow doubtful And this matter of an enterview suspected to be but to serve for an entertainment Touching the second I shewed her that this late accident giveth vehement suspicion that the first match propounded was also but a kind of entertainment to abuse those of the Religion Touching the Discourses though they did proceed from mean personages and that I hoped their Maj. were free from any such intentions yet the strangeness of the late accident could not altogether rest free from suspicion To this she generally replyed That she hoped that the late League was made not with the Admiral and those of the Religion but with the King and therefore she trusted that though her son for his surety sake had justly executed the heads of the Religion yet the said league should continue in his perfect strength for performation whereof there should never be found lack in the King You know saith she that there was good amity between King Francis and King Henry the eighth and yet they favoured not the Pope alike You know also saith she that notwithstanding the difference of Religion between my late husband and King Edward yet the same did not impeach the conclusion of a marriage between the same King and my daughter And as for the Edict saith she the King my sons meaning is not otherwise but that the same shall stand in force To this I replyed that true it was that the League was made with the King and not with the Admiral Notwithstanding that the liberty of conscience was not particularly granted unto him but generally to those of the Religion as to the Amity between the said Princes notwithstanding they were of contrary Religion I told her that the time was now altered for that then there was no general league made at Trent or at Bayonne generally against those of the Religion and surely Madam said I I fear that this late severity executed here will make all Princes of the Religion to repute the same a general denunciation of War against them which I fear will prove as bloody as ever war that hapned whereof the benefit would chiefly grow to the Turk Thereupon she took occasion to inveigh vehemently against the Admiral saying that the matter of Bayonne was a device of his to provoke such Princes as were allies and friends to this Crown to become enemies to the same For saith she the Assembly of Bayonne tended to other end but to make good chear and to the end you may see how little your Mistris was beholding to him you may see saith she a discourse found with his testament made at such time as he was sick at Rochel wherein amongst other advices that he gave to the King my son this is one that he willed him in any case to keep the Queen your Mistris and the King of Spain as low as he could as a thing that tended much to the safety and maintenance of this Crown To that I answered that in this point howsoever he was affected towards the Queen my Mistris he shewed himself a most true and faithful Subject to the Crown of France and the Queens Majestie my Mistris made the more account of him for that she knew him faithfully affected to the same The said discourse was all written with his own hand To the other two reasons she answered nothing but desired me that I
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
in him and followed in all other Princes who preferre good Goverment and the preservation of their Subjects before tyrannie and destruction of the same I told him further that your Majestie hoped that he now findeth a difference between the advise of those Princes his neighbours that advised him to continue the Warres to the hazarding of his State and destruction of his Subjects and yours and other Princes that exhorted him to the contrary who judged alwaies Peace and concord tending most to his safetie and their preservation And therefore for that experience now the best means hath taught him to know the inconveniences of the one and the profit of the other your Majestie doubteth not but as of his own inclination he hath alwaies bin given rather to peace to preserve his subjects a property of a good and loving Prince then by sword and violence to consume them a thing most fit for a Tyrant So he will continue the said course that tendeth most to the due execution of his said Edict the only meanes to preserve quietness that now reigneth in his kingdome This course unto God so acceptable for himself so honourable and for his subjects so profitable if any should seek to impeach for that it is most commonly seen that good purposes aswell in Princes as privat men have many hinderers be he either a subject unnaturall or a neighbour evill affected as envious at his repose Your Majestie offereth your self with all aid and power to assist him to your uttermost against all such as shall seek or hinder him in so good and godly a purpose And as your Majestie resteth herein affected towards him so you doubt not but God who hath wrought this godly inclination will raise up other Princes to assist him and to be likewise affected towards him in this behalf And that therefore your Majestie prayeth God to blesse him in this course and to remove from him all such as shall hinder him in so noble an enterprise to whom your Majestie wisheth as prosperous successe as ever Prince had that occupied his place and Seat To this he answered that he had right good cause to accept in good part your Majesties advertisement whom he must needs acknowledge to have alwaies as his good Sister and as on carefull of his well doing advised him to that which was best both for himself and his Country he willed me therefore to assure your Majestie that the onely care he presently had was to entertain the peace whereof the Q. of Navar and the Princes of the Religion could well be witnesses as also generally the whole Realm To this I replied that I could not fail to advertise your Majestie both of his well accepting of your advertisment as also of the good inclination towards the sincere observation of the Edict which newes I did assure would be to your Majestie most welcome After I had thus ended with the King and finding the Queen his wife absent who by report the night past had a fit of a fever I signified unto him that I had further Commission from your Majestie to present unto her your Letters and shew unto her notwithstanding you Majestie had made choise of a personage honourable to congratulate their Marriage whose comming onely staied upon the certainty of his entrie yet your pleasure was that in the mean time I should have also executed the said office which I would have gladly done if it might have bin without her trouble whereunto he answered that the night passed she had the fit of a fever which he thought would not long coâ—tinue But hoped that within four or five daies she would be in that good state of health as I might have accesse unto her unto whom he assured me that both your Majesties Letters as also the office of congratulation whereunto I was appointed should be accepted in very good part as from their good and loving Sister This is the effect of my speech unto the King from your Majestie the which ended making our reverences we were conducted by Monsieur de Laâ—sac to the Queen Mother and because incontinent after dinner we understood by Sig. Gondi some alteration of wonted custom and that we should for the Solemnitie visit apart the Queen Mother and her two Sons we thereupon resolved to keep one course in our several speeches to them and coming to the Queen I Sir Henry Norris declaring the qualitie of the Gentleman your Majestie had sent to be presented your Ambassador Resident his good inclination towards the continuance of the Amitie between your Majestie and the King her Son she eftsoons answered that she nothing doubted of your Majesties good election she required the Gentleman to come to her Then I Frâ—ncis Walsingham after due salutation presented your Majesties Letters and used to her speeches as before to the King concerning your Majesties charge given me for the entertaining of the good Amitie between the King her Son and you I also recommended unto her the observation of the Edict being so requested to do by the Deputies of the Princes of the Religion as also so to do the like to the Kings Brethren My speech therefore from your Majestie unto her in this behalf was that you were glad to hear that she had not only the reputation and honour to be a chief maker of Peace and Union lately accorded but also to be a chief Conserver of the same wherefore as one that wished unto her all honour and reputation you could but wish unto her preservation in this course so much to her honour to the Kings safety and to the general benefit of his Countrey Whereunto she answered that she could not but accept in very good part both recommending your choice so well inclined to entertain the Amitie between your Majesties as they were fully assured thereof by their Ambassador Resident in England doubting not but such effects should follow as should redound to both your Majesties contentations Being thus licensed of the Queen we were streight brought to Monsieur de Anjous Chamber where I Sir Henry Norris declaring this Gentleman to be sent by your Majestie to succeed me was not only commanded by you to entertain the good Amitie but likewise to bear that respect unto him and the Duke his Brother as towards your good Cousins and Parsonages of great account and value The Duke thanking me for this my good relation requested the Gentleman to come unto him Whereupon I Francis Walsingham approaching near unto him making reverence I shewed him that you willed me to do your commendations to him and further to tell him that your were glad to understand that he did so honorably concur together with the King his Brother in sincere and due observation of the Edict whereby he did not only get generally with all men the honour to be reputed a Prince of courage in time of war but also of Councel in time of peace which courage you doubted not but he would continue in
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 shereof worthy to be honoured in him and followed in all other Princes who preserve good Goverment and the preservation of their Subjects before tyrannie and destruction of the same I told him further that your Majestie hoped that he now findeth a difference between the advise of those Princes his neighbours that advised him to continue the Waves to the 〈…〉 of his State and destruction of his Subjects and 〈◊〉 and other Princes that exhorted him to the contrary who judged alwaies Peace and concord tending most to his safetie and their preservation And therefore for that experience now the best means hath taught him to know the inconveniences of the one and the profit of the other your Majestie doubteth not but as of his own inclination he hath alwaies bin given rather to peace to preserve his subjects a property of a good and loving Prince then by sword and violence to consume them a thing most fit for a Tyrant So he will continue the said course that tendeth most to the due execution of his said Edict the only meanes to preserve quietness that now reigneth in his kingdome This course unto God so acceptable for himself so honourable and for his subjects so profitable if any should seek to impeach for that it is most commonly seen that good purposes aswell in Princes as privat men have many hinderers be he either a subject unnaturall or a neighbour evill affected as envious at his repose Your Majestie offereth your self with all aid and power to assist him to your uttermost against all such as shall seek or hinder him in so good and godly a purpose And as your Majestie resteth herein affected towards him so you doubt not but God who hath wrought this godly inclination will raise up other Princes to assist him and to be likewise affected towards him in this behalf And that therefore your Majestie prayeth God to blesse him in this course and to remove from him all such as shall hinder him in so noble an enterprise to whom your Majestie wisheth as prosperous successe as ever Prince had that occupied his place and Seat To this he answered that he had right good cause to accept in good part your Majesties advertisement whom he must needs acknowledge to have alwaies as his good Sister and as on carefull of his well doing advised him to that which was best both for himself and his Country he willed me therefore to assure your Majestie that the onely care he presently had was to entertain the peace whereof the Q. of Navar and the Princes of the Religion could well be witnesses as also generally the whole Realm To this I replied that I could not fail to advertise your Majestie both of his well accepting of your advertisment as also of the good inclination towards the sincere observation of the Edict which newes I did assure would be to your Majestie most welcome After I had thus ended with the King and finding the Queen his wife absent who by report the night past had a fit of a fever I signified unto him that I had further Commission from your Majestie to present unto her your Letters and shew unto her notwithstanding you Majestie had made choise of a personage honourable to congratulate their Marriage whose comming onely staied upon the certainty of his entire yet your pleasure was that in the mean time I should have also executed the said office which I would have gladly done if it might have bin without her trouble whereunto he answered that the night passed she had the fit of a fever which he thought would not long continue But hoped that within four or five daies she would be in that good state of health as I might have accesse unto her unto whom he assured me that both your Majesties Letters as also the office of congratulation whereunto I was appointed should be accepted in very good part as from their good and loving Sister This is the effect of my speech unto the King from your Majestie the which ended making our reverences we were conducted by Monsieur de Lassac to the Queen Mother and because incontinent after dinner we understood by Sig. Gâ—ndi some alteration of wonted custom and that we should for the Solemnitie visit apart the Queen Mother and her two Sons we thereupon resolved to keep one course in our several speeches to them and coming to the Queen I Sir Henry Norris declaring the qualitie of the Gentleman your Majestie had sent to be presented your Ambassador Resident his good inclination towards the continuance of the Amitie between your Majestie and the King her Son she estsoons answered that she nothing doubted of your Majesties good election she required the Gentleman to come to her Then I Frâ—ncis Walsingham after due salutation presented your Majesties Letters and used to her speeches as before to the King concerning your Majesties charge given me for the entertaining of the good Amitie between the King her Son and you I also recommended unto her the observation of the Edict being so requested to do by the Deputies of the Princes of the Religion as also so to do the like to the Kings Brethren My speech therefore from your Majestie unto her in this behalf was that you were glad to hear that she had not only the reputation and honour to be a chief maker of Peace and Union lately accorded but also to be a chief Conserver of the same wherefore as one that wished unto her all honour and reputation you could but wish unto her preservation in this course so much to her honour to the Kings safety and to the general benefit of his Countrey Whereunto she answered that she could not but accept in very good part both recommending your choice so well inclined to entertain the Amitie between your Majesties as they were fully assured thereof by their Ambassador Resident in England doubting not but such effects should follow as should redound to both your Majesties contentations Being thus licensed of the Queen we were streight brought to Monsieur de Anjous Chamber where I Sir Henry Norris declaring this Gentleman to be sent by your Majestie to succeed me was not only commanded by you to entertain the good Amitie but likewise to bear that respect unto him and the Duke his Brother as
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
said oâ—trage committed he hath justly incurred the Lord Deputies displeasure I shewed him that his confession of his fault was an argument of penitence And therefore that I doubted not that if he would seek pardon at her Majesties hands he should find her Majestie graciously affected towards him who hath alwaies been more naturally inclined to remit then to revenge I asked him how long it was since he departed out of Ireland He shewed me that it vvas about two years past And after he embarqued for Spain where ever since his departure from Nantes he hath continued having received ever after his arrival very honourable entertainment at the Kings hands who yearly gave him 2000 Docats pension He shevved me nothing of his conâ—erence he had at Nantes vvith L. and the C. neither did I seem to understand any thing thereof but made alwayes shew unto him to believe whatsoever he said as though I had never heard of him before nor of his proceedings I proceeded further with him and asked when he departed out of Spain He shewed me about the latter end of Ianury I told him that there were brutes given out here that the King of Spain had some intention to invade Ireland I asked him whether before his departure he heard any such matter Then he brake and shewed me that about September last one Stewkley arrived in Spain who after his access to Madrill before he had conference with the King or any great Personage he sent unto the said Archbishop to desire to come and speak with him To whom he returned answer by his Messenger that if he would come unto him he should be very welcome Whereupon Stewkley repaired unto him and after protestations had how glad he was to see him there whom he knew to be Catholikely bent he shewed him that his intention of his repair into that Countrey was to deal with the King of Spain about the reducing of Ireland unto his Government whereby Heresie might be expelled and true Catholique Religion planted and therefore desired him for that he was well acquainted with the Cardinal Spinoso President of the Councel that he would deal with him to procure him access unto the King To whom he replyed that he thought that the King in respect of the good Amitie between him and the Queens Majestie would be loath to deal therein And further that he for his own part though he desired the Catholique Religion to be there planted yet did he mislike of the means for that he would be loath to see his Countrey under any other Government then that of the Queens Majestie and her Successors And therefore he desired him to hold him excused in that he could not for those respects abovenamed be a mean to bring him acquainted with the said Cardinal President of the Councel Whereupon Stewkley departed from him and went to the Duke Feria and him acquainted with the cause of his repair thither and desired him to procure him access unto the King So the said Duke brought him to the King whom the King after conference had with him used very honourably and appointed him a very fair house and gave him six thousand Docats And besides that he doth give him daily allowance for the maintenance of his table which he taketh to be great for he spendeth at the least Thirty Ducats a day Two dayes after the King had conference with the said Stewkley the King sent for the Archbishop and asked him whether he did know the said Stewkley To whom he answered that he never saw him but here in Spain but by report he had heard that he had been a Pyrate on the sea of life dissolute in expences prodigal of no substance neither a man of any great account in his Countrey notwithstanding he heard he was a Gentleman born and descended from a good House Then the King told him of the offer that he had made touching the request of Ireland assuring him that he had dealt so before his coming with the Irish Nobility as he should find them ready to receive such Forces as he should send He wished the King not to be so light of belief for that Stewkley was not a man of that credit with the Irish Nobility to be able to bring any such matter to pass whom they knew to be but a shifter and one who for the maintenance of his prodigality seeketh to abuse all men With that the King replyed that besides Stewkleys own report of his ability in that behalf he was besides recommended to him by his Ambassador who willed to credit whatsoever he reported Upon the mentioning of the Ambassador he made a digression and told me that the Ambassador did great hurt in England which he did not learn by hearâ— say but by sight of his Letters and therefore wished that her Majestie would not long harbour so ill a gest The grand Prior was at the same time with the King and present at the Communication and said that the Archbishop would be loath that his Countrey should come under the Kings Government which he marvelled at considering the Kings liberality bestowed on him To whom he answered that so far forth as he might with his duty towards God and his Countrey the King should find him serviceable at all times towards him for whose prosperous estate for that his calling so required he would pray And so after this Communication had with the King he departed Not long after D. Feria meeting the said Archbishop entred into talk with him and asked his opinion of Stewkley He answered that he had made the King acquainted with his opinion and that he feared that if the King do deal with him he would abuse him Then D. Feria said that the likelihoods that Stewkley shewed the King of the enterprize were such as there were great cause why the King should imbrace the same For saith he besides the Irish Nobility he hath won a great number of the Queens Garison to be at his devotion as well Souldiers as Captains If the King saith the Archbishop believe what he saith then will there be no great difficulty in the interprize but when it cometh to the tryal it will fall out otherwise Well said the Duke I perceive you are not willing it should go forward and therefore you seek to deface this Gentleman whom we honour here with the name of the Duke of Ireland To that the Archbishop replyed that that Title and Calling was more then ever Ireland was acquainted withal and the more strange it will seem unto them for that he hath there nothing to take unto No saith the Duke I am sure if he might enjoy his own there it would well maintain that Calling Surely saith the Archbishop if the rest of his talk prove no truer then this then shall you see the King much abused by him After this talk passed between the Archbishop and the Duke Stewkley came and challenged the said Archbishop as he saith and told him that if he
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
SIr after I had written my other Letters yesterday there happened some alteration in this great matter of moment Where the Queens Majestie Majestie had determined besides her answer to the French Articles to have also sent you certain other Articles to be demanded of them there whereby the whole cause should be opened and nothing left behind in silence so that both parties might have understood their mutuall intentions Now suddainly her Majestie hath thought good at this time to send onely the French Articles and her answers and for the rest she meaneth to reserve untill she may understand how her answers are taken and specially how the knotty point of Religion will be smoothed And the cause of this change as I conjecture groweth of some late intelligence brought thence that if the Queens Majestie will stand earnestly upon that point for Religion it shall be assented unto which causeth her to proceed thus confidently And for my part I wish most heartily that it may so succeed but that onely I must fear except you shall moderate the matter better they there will imagine that this matter of Religion is but projected to colour the delay in breaking off for indeed in like cause so did the Emperor for his Brother the Arch-Duke Charles As I cannot instruct you how to dissolve this doubt there but as cause shall be given So I know your wisdome sufficient to invent sufficient answers to mollifie their hard conceits Thus you see how inwardly I deale with you and trust you will so use it I find Mr. Cavalcant very well disposed and sorry to see these occasions given though surely he seeth here the Queen Majesties disposition directly to his contentation From Westminster the 19 of Aprill 1571. Your assured friend Williamâ— Burleigh To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may please your Lordship to advertise her Majestie that Mr. Cavalcant arrived here the 24 of this moneth by whom I received her Majesties Letters the contents whereof after I had perused and conferred with him touching his proceedings and for that the King and Queen Mother were departed out of this Town the one to St. Disier the other to Monceaux to bring the Duke and Dutchess of Lorrain onward on their way It was agreed between us that he should repaire the next morning to Monceaux to Queen Mother there to deliver her Majesties Letters as also her answers to the Articles propounded by the King Touching his proceeding with her I referre your Lordship to his own Letters By him I understood at his return that Queen Mother would speak with me at her repaire to the Town if I had any thing to say unto her So the 26 of this moneth she repaired hither and for that during the time of her abode here she could have no leasure she sent me word that the next day in the morning I should repaire unto her to come four English miles from Paris and that there I should have Audience So according to her appointment I repaired thither the next morning and at the time of my accesse unto her presence I shewed her that I was come thither to know how she rested satisfied with the answer she received from her Majestie by Master Cavalcant to those Articles which were propounded by the King and her to the end I might advertise her Majestie She shewed me that the Answers made unto their Articles seemed to her not to be direct saving thaâ— which was made unto the second Article concerning Religion which saith she is very hard and neerly toucheth the honour of my Son so far forth that if he should yield thereto the Queen your Mistress should also receive some part of the blemish by accepting for a husband such a one as by sudden change of Religion might be thought through worldly respects void of all Conscience and Religion I replyed that I was willed to say to her from her Majestie that she doubted not but that Monsieur her Son by her good perswasion would take in good part her said answers who meant not such sudden change of Religion as that he or his houshold should be compelled to use the Rites of the English Church contrary to his or their Consciences But forasmuch as the granting unto him the exercise of his Religion being contrary to her Laws might by an example breed such an offence as was like to kindle such trouble as lately reigned in France whereof both herself and her son had good experience She therefore hoped that he who if the match proceeded was to sail with her in in one ship and to run with her one fortune would not require a thing that she by no means could yield to who tendred nothing more then the quiet and repose of her Subjects and therefore in respect â—hereof could by no means consent to any such permission as might by any likelihood disturb the same To this she replyed that the not having the exercise was as much as to change his Religion which thing he could not do upon a sudden without the note to be of no Religion which dishonour I am sure no respect can draw him to endanger himself And as he in respect of the said ignominie is resolved fully not to yield so can I with no reason perswade him thereto and as for any peril that may happen by the same I think it shall be the best way of safety of your Mistress who alwayes by the way of his Brothers sword should be the better able to correct any such evil Subjects as should go about to disturb the repose and quiet of her Estate which she may assure herself he will do without having respect to any Religion whereof some tryal lately hath been made by his consenting with the King to have some good justice and example of punishment done at Roan In answer whereof I besought her to consider as well the Queens damage as her sons honour I shewed her that of this permission great mischiefs would ensue First the violating of her Laws Secondarily the offence of her good and faithful Subjects And lastly the encouragement of the evil affected Which three mischiefs if you will weigh said I together with your Sons honours you shall finde them of great moment and that the Queens Majestie my Mistress hath great cause to stand to the denial of any such permission whereof is likely to ensue such manifest peril And as for the ayd of the Kings sword I shewed her that the example by permission would do much more hurt then either his own or his Brothers sword could do good for that the issue of our mischief by civil dissention falls out commonly to be sudden and short but very sharp and were not drawn in length as those that happened in other Countreys we having neither walled Towns nor Fortresses to retire to thereby to protract our Wars To this she answered that her Son would soon be overcome by the Queens perswasions in
that behalf who was more zealous then able to defend his Religion whereby the same inconvenience of example will not long last For saith she it is generally feared by the Catholiques that this match will breed a change of Religion throughout all Europe In the end she concluded that neither Monsieur her Son nor the King nor herself could ever yield to any such sudden change for any respect whatsoever neither could her Majestie desire it considering how much it would touch his reputation whom she is to match withal if it proceed I asked then of her whether she would have me so to advertise her Majestie She desired me in any cause so to do and to know directly whether by yielding or not yielding to the said second Articles with all reasonable cautions she meant to proceed or forbear whereof she desired her Majestie at the farthest to give answer within ten days for that the King stayeth his progress onely upon that and if so be she mean to proceed then to send the Articles that are to be propounded by her Majestie Monsieur de la Mothe Fenelon as I learn by Monsieur de Foix hath given very honourable report of the Queens Majesties proceedings assuring them that there is nothing but sincerity meant If her Majestie resolve to proceed I learn then that Monsieur de Foix shall come over with the Kings Answer to such Articles as shall be propounded by the Queens Majestie and so to grow to some through conclusion And so having nothing else to advertise her Majestie at this present I most humbly take my leave of your Honour At Paris the eight and twentieth of April 1571. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham The CONFERENCE between me and Monsieur de Foix. FOr my first entry in our Conference Iâ— shewed him that I was glad that it was my hap to be appointed to deal with him who did concur with me in like affection towards this cause being drawn by publique respects as wishing well unto our Countreys and Princes and therefore the rather hoped that the success would be thereafter I shewed him that great matters before they could be brought to an end could not but be full of great difficulties which if by the good discretion of those which are Dealers and Instruments in the same were not qualified a profitable matter might by evil handling quail and take no effect I shewed him therefore that this matter being in appearance so good and profitable to both our Countreys as I for my part would not fail to do therein what there might lie in me to remove such difficulties as might rise so far forth as might stand with the Queens Honour and Safety And if I did any way fail it should be for lack of judgement and experience and not lack of good will I shewed him that by perusing the answer to the Articles I found only the difficulty to be in Religion which by his good help might be reduced to accord there was no doubt but that the matter would take that effect we both desired To this Monsieur de Foix answered that he was the rather willing to deal in this matter for that he was well perswaded of my good inclination in that behalf protesting that he never more earnestly travelled in matter in his life which Monsieur could very well witness whose perswasions to him chiefly to enter into the matter through the honourable report he made of her Majesties rare vertues and gifts wherein through the Counter practises of divers other he found no small difficulty Monsieur being by them perswaded that it would be his hap to march in rank with the forsaken which scruple being by me saith he removed if the matter should not take that success I desire would be no less cause of displeasure then otherwise of comfort if the same take good effect Touching the present difficulty of Religion if her Majestie continue still resolute to maintain her answer I see the matter at an end For saith he Monsieur hath either Religion or no Religion If he have Religion then Religion being a constant perswasion confirmed by time cannot but in time be removed and not upon the sudden if he have no Religion then he is unworthy of your Mistress and the place and degree he beareth And surely saith he as Religion in all persons is to be desired so in none more then in Princes who have no other bridle to stay them from evil then Religion And as for Monsieur saith he I know him to be religious in his kind wherein I suppose he is not so assuredly grounded but that there may grow alteration and â—hange thereof in time through the Queens good perswasions whereof we have seen good experience of womens vertue in that place Constantine was converted by his Mother Helena the King of Navarre by the Queen his wife and therefore can I not doubt but this match proceeding Monsieur will be turned by his wife who is of that good disposition and nature as in all his proceedings he is not transported and carried away by passion but guided and conducted by reason To this I replyed That the Queens Majestie wished not such sudden change of Religion as might breed irreligion but onely the forbearing of the exercise whereof might breed by permission both offence and stirrs in her Estate and as for the Examples of Constantine and the rest they are common for both for as many wives have been turned by their husbands as husbands by their wives To this he answered that to live without exercise of Religion was as much as to be of no Religion and saith he the Queens Majestie I know is honourable and would not have him 〈◊〉 with so great a spot as to be thought an Atheist whom she mâ—ant so sâ—â—aitly to tye her self to as of two to become one who is to participate with him both in honour and dishonour To this I replyed that if it were true that I had heard Monsieuer was not so far from our Religion having had some introduction therein by Curuvalet his Governour lately deceased and therefore if it please him to water those seeds that he had already received by some conference â—he should be able easiely to discern that the change of his Religion should breed unto him no dishonour at all it being no less fault to continue in error then commendable to come from error to truth I desired him to consider with me both the inconvenience that would grow to Monsieur by persisting in his Religion and also what greater inconvenience would come unto the Queens Majestie my Mistress by permission of exercise of the same Touching the inconvenience that would happen to Monsieur I told him that it is held for a general Maxime that no Prince that is a stranger and cometh to rule in a Forraign Countrey can be welcome or well received by the Inhabitants Therefore Monsieur coming into England except it were by accident in respect of the partialities said
Thus having some circumstances to give you some light but what you shall find by your light God knoweth I doubt the worst and so I have said but yet the opinion conceived by her Majestie maketh her to believe the contrary It were strange that any one man should give comfort to the Ambassador in the cause and yet the same man to perswade the Queens Majestie that she should persist both these things are done but I dare not affirm by any one and thus I end In Scotland the Q. partie have recovered Edenburgh Town by Granges favour And yet presently he tearmeth himself the Kings subject and so they are like to fray together or else to come to consultation amongst themselves to govern the Realm without deciding the Kings title or the Queens I cannot tell whether the greater part like better a or of none for so their writings and words purport making no mention of King or Queen but of Magistrates to conserve the peace and liberty of their Country And so I am forced to leave of and so I end from Westminster the 11 of May 1571. Your assured loving friend Wil. Burleigh To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may please your Lordship to advertise her Majestie That the 20 of this month I repaired to Galleon where I had Audience at the Queen Mothers hands to whom I declared at large such reasons as moved her Majestie to maintain her first answer touching the Article of Religion the repetition whereof I leave at this present to put down the same containing no other thing then that which was perscribed me by her Majesties last Letters dated the 11 of May. To this the Queen Mother answered That she saw very well that the reasons alleadged by her Majestie were not lightly to be weighed and that therefore she would consult with the King and Monsieur in that behalf and that the next day I should receive answer By certain that wish well to the cause I was advised to deal with Monsieur himself so repairing unto him I shewed him That I was appointed by her Majestie to make him understand the great inconvenience that would follow by such permission as he required touching the exercise of his Religion as also that her Majestie though otherwise she could wish him reduced from error to truth yet did not presse him to any such sodaine change of Religion as might cause him to be reputed for an Atheist onely this she desired that he would forbear the use of his private Masse in respect of the great inconvenience that would follow and that further he would examine whether he might not with good devotion serve God with such form of prayer as publiquely is used in our Realm being in effect nothing else c. To this he answered That he rather desired to be a meane to redresse inconveniencies then to breed any to be a comfort then a discomfort and that he thought it would otherwise fall out After he had thus ended he replyed That though he was of years young yet any time these five years there have been overtures of marriage made unto him and that he found in himself no inclination untill this present to yield to any But saith he I must needs confesse that through the great commendations that is made of the Q. your Mistress for her rare guifts aswell of mind as of body being as even her very enemies say the rarest creature that was in Europe these 500. years my affection grounded upon so good respects hath now made me yield to be wholly hers And that therefore saith he if I thought that there could ensue any inconvenience to her disquiet through me I would rather wish my self never to have been born Touching my request for the exercise of my Religion considering the same toucheth my soul conscience being but private for my self in some private place I suppose there will grow no such offence thereof as will breed any disquiet oâ— alteration of state and therefore I hope she will dispence with me in that behalf I replyed That I hoped that when he had well weighed the inconvenience that would follow that without scruple of conscience he might well with good devotion frequent the exercise of our Church service he would not insist upon any dispensation To that he answered that he knew not how God hereafter would dispose his heart and that therefore for the present he desired her to weigh in her own conscience what it were to do any thing with scruple and remorse of conscience and so desired me to present on his behalf his most affectionate and humble commendation and to assure her That she onely had Authority to command him The next day as I was appointed I repaired to the Court and there having accesse unto the King I shewed that I doubted not but that his Mother had made him acquainted with such reasons as lead the Q. Majesty my Mistris to maintain her former answer in respect of the great inconveniences that would ensue aswell perjudiciall to Monsieur his brother as to her Majestie I shewed him That I was now onely to request him from her Majestie that he would perswade his Brother that in respect of the said inconveniences not to be so resolute in requiring a tolleration that might prove so dangerous as also to advise him to examine whether he might not with good conscience serve God according to such form of prayers as is usually practised throughout her Dominious To this the King answered That the reasons alleadged by her Majestie were of great moment he willed me therefore to desire her Majestie in his name that the Articles by her to be propounded might be sent that the whole matter might be joyntly considered of And to assure her that he doubted not but that his Brother would be ruled by him so farre forth as might stand with honour reason and conscience After I had thus euded with the King I repaired to Q. Mother to whom I made report of such answer as I received from the Kings hands which she said I had well conceived for that it was the self same that they had resolved on between themselves she willed me to desire her Majestie that her demand might be at the first propounded reasonable and well qualified to the end this matter might come the sooner to conclusion and therefore she wished that if it might so lie in her that the Ambassador might be made acquainted with them before the sending of them over who can give before hand some light what the King in reason will consent unto whereby to breed the more expedition she concluded with me that I should assure her Majestie that aswell touching Religion as other points reason should decide on their parts all such difficulties as should rise It is thought that Monsieur de Foix shall be sent over with the Kings answers unto her Majesties demands he sheweth himself not unthankfull for such honour
Mother and Monsieur which will much further the matter and it is reason that my Lord of Leicester be assured of favours both there and at home for some that like not this match may otherwise engender doubts in his Lordship And yet surely at this present he dealeth earnestly with her Majestie in the furtherance of the match you shall do well to let his Lordship understand what good opinion is had of him for so doing The matters in Scotland go hardly for us the Queens party by Granges means occupieth Edenburgh and the King is constrained to keep in Sterling both parties are in arms which yet are used defensive The Queen party hath had Money and Ammunitions from France The Bishop of Ross is still restrained and so deserveth The Queen liketh not of the Bishop of Glascows coming into the Realm Dr Story suffered at Tyborn on Fryday and there refused to give alleagiance to the Queens Majestie and professed to dye as the King of Spains Subject and so being arraigned on the Tuesday before at the Kings Bench he would not answer to the Indictment alledging that he was not a Subject of the Realm whereupon without further Tryal he was condemned as guilty of the Treasons contained in the Indictments The practises of Stewkley are abated in Spain by discovery of his lewdness and insufficiency Huggins is here arrived and so fare you well From Westminster the fifth of Iune 1571. Yours assuredly William Burleigh I send you a Note of our late Acts in Parliament To my very Friend Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador for the Queen Majestie in France I Have received your Letters by this Bearer who brought me also Letters from the King Queen Mother and Monsieur whom I perceived hath conceived good opinion of my devotion for the furtherance of the matter of marriage with the Queens Majestie I have thought good to return this Bearer again for that he desired speedy dispatch to whom I have imparted the state of that matter which onely doth stand upon the Article of Religion to which her Majestie will by no means relent All other Articles are reasonable and her Majestie hath shewed her Demands to this Ambassador and hath dispatched the same to you which I think will be with you before this For the other point touching Religion if I might advise them thereof they should not speak of it at all for sooner will her Majestie yield to reason himself that shall have that interest in her that shall be her husband then by any Contract or other Declaration And finding her Majestie disappointed upon the argument of that point to proceed as she hath seemed in the matter I cannot but hope of very good success to which for my part in respect of her Majesties surety and hope of universal good to the cause of Religion I must with well and further the best I can according to your advice whereof I thank you and am glad to see your consideration thereof This Bearer shall further declare some part of my minde unto you for that I know him to be honest and trusty and well devoted to her Majestie and the cause of Religion Thus with my most hearty commendations I bid you farewel In haste this seventh of Iune 1571. Your assured Friend Ro Leicester By the QUEEN To our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Francis Walsingham our Ambassador Resident with our good Brother the French King ELIZABETH R. RIght Trusty and Well-beloved we greet you well although we did heretofore think it reasonable to forbear the sending of any Articles to contain the Demands on our part until we might have a resolute Answer from the King to our former Answers made to his Articles sent hither by Cavalcant and namely to the Article touching Religion Yet finding by your Letters and the continual solicitation of the French Ambassador here Resident how earnestly the King desireth to see our Demands which when he shall have he will make answer to the former we are contrary to our own disposition induced by these means to send the same at this time as you shall receive the same in Articles whereof you shall advertise the King and Queen Mother and let them understand that were it not for the earnest solicitation of the Ambassador we would have forborn so to have done for that we take it it may be interpreted in some manner to touch us in honour that not having knowledge how the King will satisfie us in the matter of Religion which is the principal we should pass further into the Treaty of all the rest altogether upon uncertainty what to hope in the principal But to their satisfaction herein you shall say that we not onely caused the Earl of Leicester and Lord Burleigh whom onely of our Councel we have used herein according to our former agreement to impart our Demands in certain Articles to the French Ambassador but have also sent them now in writing to be by you shewed unto them having therein followed for the most part the form of things granted to our late Sister of Noble Memory Queen Mary as by the Treaty of Marriage betwixt King Philip and her may appear And further you shall say that these Articles are but briefly and summarily conceived by our foresaid Counsellours who have not the knowledge of the forms of Law requisite in such case so as we reserve to our selves power if the substance of them shall be granted to cause the same to be in form of Law inlarged by such others of our Councel as by learning can better do the same Besides we do deliver these Demands to be joyntly considered with the Articles of our first Answer to the Demands on their part brought by Cavalcant We perceive by the French Ambassador that certain Clauses which we agreed should be added to some of the first Articles were not contained in the Writing by you there shewed And not knowing whether in the writing of them there the same Clauses were omitted for more surety we send you a new Copy hereof to be shewed as you shall have occasion And if indeed those Clauses shall appear to have been omitted in the former the same was omitted but by the Writer If the King or any other shall press you to understand of our proceedings with the Queen of Scots as in misliking the restraint of the Bishop of Ross or in not determining her cause you shall for the first say that the evil parts done by the Bishop of Ross are such and so dangerous to us and our State as no Prince could suffer as we think the like without some sharp revenge For where in the late Rebellion in the North we understood that he had given the Heads of that Rebellion comfort to enter into the same which he could not deny being charged therewith but that secretly they had sent to him for ayd and comfort afore their Rebellion although he yield the same unto them nor thought it meet to utter the same and so
Currier who overtook him at Bullen arived here a day or two before him After the arrival of the said Currier it was given out here that l' â—â—chant brought but a cold answer whereby it might appear to them that his first assurance was not without good ground With this those that favored the marriage were very much appaled L' â—rchant being come and making so honourable a report of her Majesties sincerity and honourable dealing the same also being confirmed by Monsieur de la Mâ—ts Letters as a matter though desperate begaâ— again to revive Hereupon they have with certain choise Counsellors conferred what resolution is to be taken they have continued in Councel chiefly about this matter about the space of five or six days and yet cannot resolve what to do I am put in hope that though the matter proceed not yet that the Kings intention is to send some person of good quality as well to thank her Majestie for her honourable proceeding in this cause as also to desire continuance of good amity Of thus much I thought good to advertise her Majestie before hand and when they have fully resolved what they will do I mean to dispatch another And thus leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take leave From Melun the seven and twentieth of Iuly 1571. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Earl of Leicester I Most humbly thank your Lordship for your frank and plain dealing towards me touching your opinion of their cause There is bred in them here now of late such a doubt before l' Archants arrival of her Majesties disposition to marry as they know not how to proceed This doubt is nourished by advertisements come from the Scotish Ambassador there with you who pretendeth to know all secrets of State If this distrust were not no doubt of it Religion would not be the let but to yield in Religion and afterwards to miss of their purpose they think would be a great touch in her This difference I fear me will quite overthrow the matter and therefore it behoveth her Majestie to look about her being invironed with many practises the executions whereof have staid upon the event of the match I do what I can to procure continuance or rather increase of amity The King himself as I learn is very well inclined thereto the rather through a mislike he hath of Spain I had well hoped there would have grown some broyâ— between them but that matter as far as I can learn will prove but a dream and now this match not proceeding as they seem much to doubt it the King as I suppose will be loath to attempt any thing against Spain though his will that way be good Her Majesties liberality bestowed on l' Archant was very well imployed for none can speak more honourably of her then he doth and as for your Lordship you have no cause to repent any courteâ—ie shewed unto him so good a report doth he make The like also doth one Cornet make that accompanied l' Archant The Ambassador there Monsieur de la Mot doth seek to salve all things that may breed an opinion in them here that her Majestie dealeth otherwise then sincerely his good offices that he hath done as well in this cause as otherwise deserve honourable considerations at her Majesties hands They have by the space of five or six days sate very hard in Councel about this matter no Councel dare devise as I can learn any thing in respect of the distrust they have I am put in good hope that if they mind not to proceed yet they purpose to make choice of some one of good calling to send over as well to thank her Majestie for her sincere dealing in this matter as also to desire continuance of amity This is as much as hitherto I can learn touching their intention concerning this matter wherewith I thought good to dispatch this bearer and after the through conclusion what they mind to do then â—orthwith I minde to dispatch another And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave From Melun the seven and twentieth of Iuly 1571. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may please your Lordship to advertise her Majestie that after I had closed up my first packet thinking to have sent this Bearer presently with the same Mr. Cavalcant came unto me sent by the Queen Mother to request me to forbear to sent to her Majestie for a day or two in which time they would grow to some through conclusion touching their answer and that then it was the Kings meaning to send for me and to impart the same unto me whereupon I thought good to stay for the satisfying of her request According to her promise I was sent for by the King at my access he told me that they had deliberated upon the answer received from her Majestie by l' Archant for that the same was of great weight and that his resolution after long deliberation was to send Monsieur de Foix forthwith unto her Majestie with his full intention touching the same who he hoped should find her not so resolute touching the point of Religion And further he willed me to tell her Majestie whatsoever should come of the cause that in respect of her honourable and sincere dealing in the same and the greaâ— confidence she shâ—â—â—d to repose in him she might assure herself as much of his friendship as of any other bodies in the earth and that she had full power to dispose of him and of his Realm to the benefit of her self and of her Subjects whose sword should be always ready to defend her against any that should attempt any thing against her He joyned his words and countenance so together as great demonstration outwardly of inward good will could not but be seen Having ended with the King I repaired to Queen Mother who used long speech in shewing the great affection she bare to the cause and that she was sorry that so hard a point as Religion should be the let to hinder a match whereof there would grow so great benefit to both the 〈◊〉 I told 〈◊〉 that if it pleased her she might remove that 〈◊〉 by the perâ—wading of 〈◊〉 Son to content himself with the exercise of our Religion She told me she could hardly do that for that it was a thing that touched his 〈◊〉 and reputation I willed her again on the other side to weigh what great reason the â—ueen my Mistress had not to yield to that point She shewed me that she could not deny but that her Majestie had some cause so to do notwithstanding she hoped there would be some â—elp found the party whom the King meant to send being so grateful unto her Majestie and having sundry reasons to alledge to shew
as he could neither in Honour nor Conscience imbrace nor attempt therefore he thought it fit for him to declare unto him all such necessary circumstances as were fit for him to know in that behalf as well for the satisfying of his Majestie as also for his own honour who would be loath to be so evill an instrument as to perswade a Prince to attempt that thing that might not stand as well with Honour as Conscience First he shewed unto me that the cause of taking up of Arms in the Low-Countreys proceeded onely upon that the King of Spain sought to plant there by Inquisition the foundation of a most horrible Tyranny the overthrow of all freedoms and liberties a thing which his father Charls the fifth went about to have established there but seeing the same so much impugned by the Inhabitants of the said Countrey and that without their consent it could not be received unless he should violently by tyranny seek the establishment of the same contrary both to his Oath and their Priviledges he forbore to proceed in that behalf After the resignation of his Government unto his Son the Cardinal of Lorrain practised secretly with the Cardinal of Arras wars being then between France and the Low Countreys wishing them to advise the King of Spain to grow to peace discovering to him that the King of France his Father was reduced to that extremity as he should be forced to yield to any thing that the said King would request Further he signified unto him that unless there might grow peace between the two Princes the Catholique Religion could not long continue neither in France nor Flanders so great increase was daily here of Protestants which could by no means be suppressed but by establishing of an Inquisition in both Countreys Hereupon by the practise of the said Cardinals there grew a peace how dishonourable for France he referred to the Kings own judgement After the conclusion of the said Peace then did the Cardinal of Arras labour what he might by sundry practises to plant the said Inquisition seeking first by perswasion to induce men to like therof but as well Papists as Protestants misliked it alledging that it was against the Kings oath to seek to establish a thing so prejudicial to their priviledges which they were bound to maintain whereof they could see nothing but mischief would ensue and general destruction of that Countrey forasmuch as it would overthrow all Forreign traffick by which the Countrey was chiefly maintainedâ— when he saw it would not be planted by way of perswasion then sought he to do it by violence which the Nobility foreseeing they joyntly presented unto the Regent a Bill containing a declaration of the great and sundry inconveniences that would ensue if they proceeded in the establishing of the same Further they made choice of two Noble men whom with one consent they sent into Spain to declare in all their names the great mischiefs that should follow if the King should proceed therein and that it lay not in their power to retain the people from taking arms so much were they incensed against the said Inquisition and therefore they desired that the allowing or disallowing of the same might be committed over to the Assembly of the three Estates Of these doubtful means no redress followed but still the said Cardinal and his fautors proceeded in seeking to establish it contrary to all order and equity How afterwards the people took arms how the Nobility that were joyntly united to oppose themselves against the said Inquisition were after by practise and corruption divided what Tyranny hath been used by the Duke of Alva since his coming hither and how insolently he hath behaved himself both towards his Majestie and the Queen of England although unhonourable for them both in respect of their greatness at such a petty companions hands how his brother the Prince of Orange sought their delivery from so miserable a servitude though it pleased God at that time to make him the instrument who onely knoweth a sit time of the deliverance of the oppressed by the said Tyrant seeking by all means to be rid of the same did of late exhibite unto the Emperour at his last Assembly at Spires a book containing their griefs requesting him with all humility to be a means for their delivery from this their oppression a thing appertaining to his calling and the place he beareth in Christendom To this the Emperour in respect of the hope he hath of Spain gave a cold ear They now seeing themselves void of all help their natural Prince being so carried away by corruption of Councel from the due consideration that belongeth to a good Prince to have of good Subjects as he neither regardeth his Oath nor maintenance of such Priviledges as were confirmed by his Predecessors nor the dutiful manner of the proceeding of the Nobility in seeking by way of humble petition redresses of their griefs thinking themselves in conscience discharged from all duty of obedience they now throw themselves down before his Majestie with all humility beseeching him to take them to his protection and to procure their deliverance from the present Tyranny Now your Majestie seeth the state of their cause saith he you shall do well to weigh with your self whether the goodness thereof may incourage you to become Protector of this people reduced by Tyranny to great extremity by seeking their deliverance If you think in Conscience and Honour you may not you shall do well to forbear for otherwise the success cannot be good If you think you may then weigh in policy how beneficial it will be for you and how much your Father would have given to have had the like opportunity offered unto him that is now presented unto you Gratis which if you refuse the like you must never look for With this he shewed me that both the King and Queen Mother seemed to be very well satisfied and that the King said that like Counsellours by violating of his Edict had well nigh brought him into like terms with his Subjects whereof ensued the late trouble and that therefore now he thanked God that he had opened his eyes to discern what their meaning was The King thus imformed by him touching such circumstances as might induce him to think the enterprize both honorable and just he then proceeded as he shewed me to declare the easiness and great liklihood of good success of the same First he shewed me that all the inhabitants of the Low-Countries generally aswel of the one religion as of the other do mislike the Spanish tyranny and do desire nothing more then to be rid of the same Secondarily that all the Towns M. A. are ready to receive such Garrisons as shall be sent thither by order from his Brother Thirdly that other Towns upon his Frontiers whensoever they shall see any forces approach will be ready to receive them Fourthly that the present forces that the King of Spain hath there whom
move the same but finding now that he hath secretly named me for that place I do coldlieâ— deal therein knowing both my insufficiency and doubting of the success thereof but whether any shall come or who shall I surely cannot gess The Queens Majestie would have you to enquire what becometh of Liggons my Lord of Norfolks servant that hath of long time been about Paris and the Court. Here is some matter presently discovered that my Lord of Norfolk should still mind this matter of the Scotish Queen for there is intercepted a good portion of money in gold that was and by Letters in Cypher directed to my Lord of Harrife for help of the Scotish Queens party in Scotland and the same was sent by one Higford the Dukes Secretary who was by order from hence taken and committed at London and this day is examined by Sir Thomas Smith who yesterday went thither for that purpose What will follow I cannot now write but sorry I shall be that my Lord of Norfolk shall be found undutiful and yet if he be I am glad it shall be known and so I end with my prayer From Audeley-Inne by Walden the second day of September 1571. Your assured Friend William Burleigh I send you something from Scotland whereby you may see how small the Queen of Scots party is in Scotland To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may please your Lordship to advertise her Majestie that according to her order prescribed me by her Letters bearing date the second of September I made report unto the King here of that which passed in sundry Conferences between her Majestie and his Ministers Monsieur de Foix and his Ambassador Resident as also apart with her Majesties Councel His answer was that he had great cause to give her Majestie thanks for her honourable enterâ—ainment given unto de Foix. until whose coming he could say nothing in answer of that which had passed by conference He protested that he desired nothing more then straight Amity with her Majestie and therefore thinking marriage the best means for the accomplishing thereof it should be no small grief unto him if the same should not take place whereby that perfect Amity might ensue that might be beneficial to both the Crowns This was the effect of this present answer Her Majestie is very much beholding to the D 3. who standeth most earnestly in defence of her honour against any that seek any way to touch the same she seemeth to think her self much bound to her Majestie for that it pleased her Majestie to vouchsafe once to write I suppose a few lines of thanks bestowed on her again from her Majestie would win her to be a good instrument to give advertisements of such things as are sit for her Majestie to know Queen Mother is much governed by her and therefore she may be the better able to do the greater good And if may further please her Majestie to bestow some ring on her I think the profit that would grow thereof in time will make her Majestie think it well bestowed Of late there is a great sum of money to the sum of 15000 franks made here in Poictu by the Queen of Scots Officers an the same barrel'd up and sent to Paris and from thence as I hear it shall be conveyed into Scotland to those of her faction there yet as I am informed that ill success that the money that they sent before had maketh them to stand in doubt to convey it by sea and therefore if they may conveniently they would rather make it over to London by exchange whereunto by your Lordships order if there may an eye be had it will easily be discovered the sum being so great The Admiral arrived here the twelfth of this Moneth Touching the manner of his receiving I refer you to the report of this Gentleman Mr. Lyster her Majesties servant whom I have throughly instructed what I have truly learned in that behalf The day after his arrival he sent a Gentleman unto me with this Message that in respect of the place I hold he was bound for the great favour shewed by her Majestie generally unto them of the Religion in the time of their necessity as also particularly unto his Brother to have come and visited me but he desired me to consider what suspicion would grow thereof which might rather do harm then good notwithstanding he assured me that her Majestie should always find him ready to serve her with the hazard both of life and goods whensoever any occasion should be presented to shew the affection and good will he beareth her Majestie in respect of the bond he oweth her Generally all those of the religion who are the flower of France do make like protestation assuring her Majestie that when occasion or tryal shall be offered she shall find them no less ready to serve her then if they were her own natural Subjects The Marriage between the Prince of Navarre is not so forward as Queen Mother was in preparation at Paris who had provided both Jewels and Wedding-garments The onely impediment as I hear is Religion There departeth shortly towards the concluding of this matte towards the Q. of Navarre who is now gone to Arragon to certain Baynes there for her health Byron and Beaâ—voys Co. Lo. left a man here of purpose to attend her Majesties answer touching those things that I propounded on his behalf in my letter sent by Mr. Dannet The resolution of that enterprize stayeth onely upon the expectation what her Majestie will do and it is feared that the matter will be so long protracted as the opportunity of the enterprize will be let slip which if it so fall out the unkindness between this Crown and Spain will be reconciled which I fear will not tend most to her Majesties safety and so do as many fear as love her Majesty here The house of Guise secretly doth travel by all means to break the Amity with England for that they think nothing will more prejudice the Queen of Scots their Kinswoman then the same Touching my own private estate my disease groweth so dangerously upon me as I most humbly desire her Majestie to take some speedy order for some to supply my place I hope my life shall stand her Majestie in more stead then my death and upon these extream points standeth the defering of the cure I hope therefore her Majestie will have consideration of it accordingly Thus leaving further to trouble your Lordship at this present I most humbly take my leave At Blois the sixteenth of September 1571. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may please your Lordship to advertise her Majestie that within three days after Monsieur de Foix arrival the King sent for me and after my access unto him he willed me first in his name to thank her Majestie for the honourable entertainment
to supply what else doth want in me and therefore besides that her Majesty hath here willed me to signifie unto you which is for the imparting of the proceedings in the case of her marriage heretofore how it hath from time to time past unto the Admiral there I have shewed you what I conceive of her Majesties inclination again towards the marriage of Monsieur which being a matter of greatest importance to her and us also I thought meet to let you know that the matter as it hath been a long while in a manner dead may be with more discretion revived and do not doubt but that it will be opened by the parties there again seeing her Majesty hath not yet clearly there denied it nor they fully answered her Majesties demands Other news we have none worth the writing but of her Majesties good estate which surely is such as I have not known been these many years Thus with my right hearty commendations I bid you farewell At Greenwich the 6 of Decemb. 1571. Your very Friend R. Leicester Instructions given to Sir Tho. Smith one of the Q. Majesties privy Councel and Ambassador in France and to Francis Walsingham Esq her Ambassador ordinary there and in his absence to her Majesties trusty servant H. Killegrew Esq. Given at Westminster Feb. 13. 1571. the 13. year of her Maj. reign YOu shal understand that after consideration had of all your Letters and memorials in writing of the Colloquie that had passed between you and our servant Hen. Killâ—grew with you on the one part and with the President Biraâ—e the Bishop of Limoyes and Mr. de Foix deputed from the French King to confer with you on their part from the 10 of the last month unto the 20 of the same we caus'd certain of our councel to confer with the French Amb. according to his request upon the same matters who did exhibit in writing the copies of the proceedings betwixt you and the said Deputies agreeable for the most part to those which were receiv'd from your self and he did propound four points comprehending the differences betwixt you and them the judgement whereof was referred as he said to the King his Master our good brother and us pretending with many good words that since the foundation of the Treaty was by your good means and the Kings Deputies with you there made manifest to be without any difference which was a declaration of a natural good will in both the P. to enter into some streight League of amity he doubted not but that these other particular differences which consisted but upon words should be easily and speedily compounded The first doubt as he said remaining undetermined was about the Article for mutual defence of either Prince against any other person that should invade either of them or their Countries In that you shall have these words inferted into the Article Etiam si causa religionis mutatio facta fuerit whereunto with these special words the Kings Deputies would not agree neither as he said might his Master without great inconvenience assent thereunto whereof he doubted not but he would have reasonable respect and not meaning thereby to forbear to be bound to do that which the special case of these words might import And so reporting many arguments to our Councel whereof he had made mention unto us two daies before at his last audience amongst the which one was of most weight as we took it That if such special mention should be made for the defence of Religion in a publike Treaty the King should thereby offend not only all other Princes Catholiques his Allies but also the greater part of his own States and Subjects which are of the Catholique Religion as the King himself also is And yet nevertheless the King was content as he said to have all other manner of good and effectual words and speeches inserted in the said Treaty to bind the King to a mutual defence against all manner of invasion for what cause pretext or colour soever it were yea and that without exception of any manner of cause Hereunto was answered on our part That considering there was no other likelihood of any pretence to invade us but upon the colour of Religion only and that on the Kings part there were many other causes and quarrels as Titles to Dominions and Territories and such like other might be devised for invasion and disturbance of his estate whereunto our aid or defence should be requisite It might be thought a very unequal Contract by general words certainly to conclude all his causes and by forbearing these special words of Religion to leave us utterly unprovided of aid and as to the remedy to have other manner of words inserted considering they should be but general it might be doubted that while the Invasion should be made or attempted against us for Religion or but for pretext of Religion and required for the same the King might then with colourable reasons being devised by such as were over-vehement and passionate in the Religion of Rome or in that which is called Catholike answer that he might not for his conscience satisfie or demand for aid in that behalf and that could not be intended to be lawfully that is by the Law of God included in the general words To this although the Ambassador replyed in his Masters name with the great assurance of his intention to give us aid against any Invasion though it were indeed for Religion which he said could not be but a pretence of the Invader for that the Invasion of the Realm was to be regarded and not any cause or pretext Yet the doubt herein remained betwixt them unresolved and so the Ambassador seemed not therein to be satisfied saving that in some secret speech afterward with one or two of our Councel apart although he would not have report thereof made he thought his Master might be induced by some secret means to make some particular promise betwixt his Master and us by writing separated from the publike Treaty for a special point of a mutual defence in case of Religion The second part of the doubt moved by the Ambassador was for the forme manner time and quality of the aid that should be mutually given wherein he pressed to have had the like manner as was contracted in Anno 1543. betwixt the Emperor Charls and the King our Father at which time either of the Confederates was bound to give such aid as might amount to the charges of 600 Crowns by the day for the space of 4 months in one year or else some other aid in certainty which he could not name but it may be the Kings Deputies there might mean such Treaties as had been before contracted between our Father and King Francis Grandfather to the King where there is one example of the Treaty of 1532. betwixt the said two Kings in both which Treaties the aids were born at the charges of the Confederate Prince that was required by the
Prince invaded To which motion of the said Ambassador our Councel made such Answers by imparting to him the forms of former Treaties made both with the house of Burgundy and with the French Kings as he in the end seemed satisfied with such form of aid to be mutually agreed upon as you your self have propounded to them in your Paper delivered the 18 of the last in an Article verbatim taken out of a Treaty betwixt the Emperor Charls and the King our Father in the year 1548. being before that first devised in a Treaty at Cambray in the year 1529 and one principal reason to appoint that manner of aid better then any other was this If the aid should be given in a certainty and at the cost of the Prince that was not invaded upon every request of a Confederate there might great inconvenience follow in that one Prince might oftner burthen his Confederate in demanding succours without great necessity and in greater numbers then needfull was if the charges of the said succours should be maintained by the Confederate that so sent them and not by himself Whereas on the other part if the Prince that should demand succours should bear the charges of them himself he would never demand the same oftner nor in greater numbers nor keep them longer in pay then should be needfull And accordingly to this reason it was declared to the Ambassador That in all Treaties betwixt this Realm and France and also Burgundy the like Covenants were made in all Leagues saving one time with the Emperor Charls 1543. at which time the Treaty was made both Offensive and Defensive against the French King and yet in the same year 1546. the same clause for aid was by Treaty betwixt the said Princes revoked having not been at any time put in execution and the ancient manner of aid to be at the charges of the Prince demandant and with these and such like reasons the Ambassador seemed to be fully satisfied The third matter of doubt moved by the Ambassador was for the cause of Scotland that is in what sort that State might be comprehended in this Treaty and thereupon it was said to the Ambassador That we had no other intention in the matter of Scotland but to have the hostility and civil wars to cease and the Government of the Realm to be established to the contentation of the Nation for which purpose we had sent to both parties at difference to accord upon an abstinence from war so as they might the better Treat and accord amongst themselves which if they would not we would be content that any such whom the French King our brother should send thither should joyntly with some of ours imploy themselves with the credit and amity amongst us two to direct them to accord amongst themselves and therein we had no meaning to withdraw them from the ancient Intelligence with the Crown of France but that they might have and keep the amity with us both With which answer and resolution the Ambassador seemed well content requiring as the King his Master had forborn at our request to send any force to either party whereby to hinder any accord so we would do the like which was agreed unto him Lastly He moved the matter concerning the Article for the resort of our Merchants to some Ports of France with such liberties and securities as they had in other Regions offering that the King his Master was content to yield therein to any reasonable demand to the benefit of our Subjects To which answer was made That the Case did belong to our Merchants to consider what was meet for them who should be spoken withall and thereupon answer should be given This was the sum of that which passed betwixt the Ambassador and such of our Councel as were appointed to deal with him who were the Lord Keeper of our great Seal the Earl of Leicester the Lord Admiral the Lord of Burghly and Sr. Walter Mildmay And now although you may perceive by this Conference had with the Ambassador what be the things that we have cause to like or mislike upon the questions moved yet upon some further instruction of you we will summarily inform you what we like of the substance of the Articles sent unto us from you being propounded as well by the Kings Deputies as by your self First to the Articles in Latine delivered by the French Ambassador dated the 17 of January we mislike not of the first Article for the continuance of former Treaties in their force which is necessary to be specially for the saving of our rights and pretences to Callais according to the Treaty therefore made and remaining yet in force so as it be added to the end of the Article with Condition that nothing in any former Treaty be by this clause continued that shall be repugnant or derogatory to the Articles of this present Treaty The second and third prohibiting any aid to be given to any persons that shall invade and to make a League for a mutual defence against all persons that shall invade upon any cause We mislike not the Tenor of the said Articles so as the words added in the second Article of your Writing dated the 18 of January which are these Etiamsi fuerit religionâ—â— causa praetextu aut colore which we would have you earnestly press upon such reasons to be inserted as your self hath already remembred and therein we would have you secretly to cause them of the Religion there to understand of your demand and to help to further it and yet if you cannot have the same words to be specially inserted then you may according to your own offers insert into the Article these words â—ub quocunque praetextu vel colore quavis de causa nulla omnino qualicunque excepta and besides these you shall in secret manner move and most earnestly press it that some special promise may be made in a secret writing betwixt the King and us signed and sealed mutually with both our hands for that purpose expresly if any Invasion should be made as though the same had been expressed in the Treaty without which secret provision to be made considering the matter hath been in question we would be very loath that you should accord We do not like that which is devised by them which beginneth Conventum est quod quotiescunque ullus princeps c. wherein they would have aid given if any person go about to change or alter any Laws or Edicts against the will of the Prince but we rather like to have the aid only given in case of invasion or purpose of invading For by the words of this Article we may percase hereafter be required to aid that King in the breaking of his own Edicts for Religion in case he himself shall be thereto willing and that either of this Subjects or any others shall attempt or alter the Edicts that may be made against the Religion reformed The Article beginning
Conventum est quod fadus liga is not to be misliked for continuance of this Treaty although the third Article of your writing beginning Tempus vero durationis seemeth plainer and better and agreeth with the like in former times The sixth being imperfect beginning De tempore antem modo would be supplyed with the like Clause and Article at length mutatis mutandis and as you have excerped out of the year 1546. and as in the last of your writing of the 18 of January Now for our opinion of the Articles presented by you to the French the 18. we do like well enough of the Preface and for the first Article you may perceive well enough what we would have added thereto That nothing should be continued in former Treaties being repugnant to this The second for a Covenant of a League to be defensive we think not amiss thereof although the second and third of the French contain them plain enough in fewer words so as the one or the other may serve To the third of yours we like as before is mentioned The fourth beginning Et quamvis supervacuum may be forborn considering the substance thereof is contained in the second delivered by the French the 17 of January The last of yours concerning the manner of aid we like best as before is said according to the Article of the Treaty of An. 1549. As to the third Article delivered by you the 18 of January in one writing to the Kings party concerning the Arrest to be made of the Subjects of other Princes if any other Subjects should be arrested in a strange Country for matter of Religion we would not mislike if you could obtain the same but for that we think it very hard to be granted by the French King as the time is we will not 〈◊〉 you much to press it But as to the other matter of our Merchants we do 〈◊〉 of the manner of Articles presented by you and yet we cannot presently 〈◊〉 in what form to have the same conceived fit for our Merchants and for 〈…〉 and therefore except you shall be shortly advertised from us how to 〈…〉 more particularly we would have you insert some general clause in the Treaty for such a purpose and besides that also to move it to the King that there may be some Colloquie had here betwixt the Kings Ambassador here Râ—sident having authority therefore and such as we shall appoint after conference had with our Merchants to Treat with the said Ambassador thereupon Some other doubts may appear in the Writing sent from you whereof the Ambassador made no mentâ—â—n and yet fit for you to understand or mind therein if you shall thereto be pressed but except you be pressed thereto by the other party we think it good that you should not remember the same but if they will needs move the same unto you then you shall answer as followeth First in the paper intituled with the letter B. and brought to you by Monsieur Pinarts brother the 16. there are two doubts moved in the third Article beginning A este auxi and answer made though not satisfactory in the fourth beginning Sur le premier For the first we do not mislike but that one of the Confederates should be bound to defend the other being invaded although the other Prince may pretend that he hath been thereto provoked by the Prince invaded So as the provocation be not first given by any open War or Invasion made by the Prince that shall require aid for it is not consonant to reason that the one Prince Confederate should be aided by another where he himself that requireth the aid hath by his own Invasion of another Prince provoked himself to be invaded And if they shall not like of that exception where the Prince invaded gave occasion by former invasion then you shall accord to have the words general as have been in former Treaties And for this matter you may gather some light by the Treaty called L'Esclarissement of the peace made in An. 1545. in the exposition of the sixth and seventh Articles betwixt the Emperor Charls and the King our Father The second seemeth doubtfull to be answered that is considering the charges of the aid shall be born by the Prince requirant it may be permitted that the succours given may continue in the pursuit of the Invader out of the Country of the Prince invaded But therein it is reason that some time be thereunto limited that is by the space of 6 or 7 daies at the most to be out of the said Country or rather some distance of a league or two but if the Deputies there treating with you can be content to have the cause so conceived as the aid shall not exceed the limits of the Confederate Country you shall like it best And so you may let it alone in general words as heretofore the same hath been in former Treaties without raising up of such questions The fifth Article beginning Item à este en avant we think it reasonable that the Prince that shall defend the other may continue their treats which he hath with the Prince against whom the aid shall be given and suffer Traffique and Commerce for their Subjects mutually saving only it may be provided that he shall not suffer any Armor nor Munition of Warre or other like things to be carried out of his Countrey to the offence of the Prince whom he shall aid As to the last Clause of the Writing concerning Scotland we do not disallow of the Answer in the Margent made by you in Latin but yet our meaning is not to have any Article in the Treaty comprehending that matter In this sort we have thought meet to instruct you and considering the former Treaties betwixt us and the French King shall continue and be confirmed hereby we see no cause to remember you of the inserting of any other necessary Articles which have been heretofore comprised in former Treaties so as nevertheless it be provided by a special Article that by this Treaty nor by any part thereof any thing be derogatory to such other Treaties as we have and be now in force with any other Prince and namely with the King of Spain and as to the comprehension of any Princes according to the ancient manner of Treaties we would have you to enquire the intention of the French Kings Deputies whom they mean to comprehend and as near as you can to comprehend the same saving only the Bishop of Rome and that Sea and not forget the Emperor besides in person the Princes of the Empire and the Electors of the same and namely the Count and Countess of Embden and the Count and Sonetie of Hanze And if they will needs have mention made of Scotland we can be content that the same shall be if we will not accept the name of the King by the name Regnum Scotiae or Regnum status Scotiae we do for these purposes send
from A. he will by no means make me to understand any particularities for fear of w. he dares not repair to me And so leaving any further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave from Blois the 22 of April 1571. Your Honours to command F. Walsingham To the right honorable and my very good friend Francis Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador in France SIr Now that this Treaty is so well concluded to the apparent contentation of her Majestie and with the good liking of the French King I wish all good means used on all parts to nourish your planting that first the glory of God and next the two Realms and Princes may long see the fruits to grow thereof The matters of the Low-Countries are now in farther terms to relieve themselves of Pharaohs cruelties used by Duke Alva then when you wrote last hither of the Communication which you had with the Count. Here is all covert means to let them of the Low-Countries pass home to the help of the liberty of the Countrie and I wish it were done rather by themselves then by others that percase would not suffer them long to enjoy their liberty when it should be recovered percase it will not be liked here I cannot write more presently for I do this in haste being absent from the Court and have not your Cypher about me I have written of more matters to Sir Tho. Smith who will make you thereof partaker From my house in Westminster the 23 of April 1571. Your assured friend W. Burleigh To Francis Walsingham Esq the Queens Majesties Ambassador Resident in France Mr. Walsingham Like as I am to yield you my hearty thanks for your pains and travel bestowed about the recovery of Clerk my boy so do I most earnestly pray you to present my humble thanks unto the Kings Majestie there for the honour and favour it hath pleased him to do me in that behalf I understand by the Post of Roan he is retained with the Cardinal of Burbon in which respect because I have not my self any acquaintance with the said Cardinal I have written my earnest Letter to Monsieur D' Anville requesting him to deal earnestly with the said Cardinal for restitution of the boy which I do not desire so much for any account I make of him as to make him an Example unto other our servants not to persume hereafter so to abuse their Masters The truth is he was a poor mans son being left unto me I had some care to see him well brought up in vertue and good qualities especially in Musick wherein finding himself to have a little cunning away he is thus run from me desirous belike of more liberty without having been any waies evil intreated or for any other cause in the world the which if I should over-slightly let slip it would no doubt give too much encouragement to others his like after to play the like lewd part Therefore as you began so I pray you continue your friendly travel therein that I may have him sent over unto me again which I only desire as I said for example sake For if I wisht that the said Cardinal or any other Noble man in those parts had any liking to him I would most willingly either send him again or some other of that profession perhaps better quallified then he and so I pray it may be signified unto them from me Thus with my hearty commendations I bid you farewell From the Court the 23 of April 1571. Your assured Friend Ro Leicester To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may please your Lordship to understand that La Croques long stay bred in them here some strange imaginations as also the slow proceeding in the Treaty Touching Merchants Causes I hope by the Ambassadors last dispatch by the which I received your Lordships of the 22 of April all will be salved whereby this last Treaty lately concluded may yield that good fruit that is hoped for I send your Lordship here inclosed Mr. Mounts Letters to the Contents whereof I refer you The Count Palatine by a servant lately sent hither desired me to write unto your Lordship that he may be informed what Pacieco is and whether he appertain to her Majestie as he pretendeth This he desired me to procure with as much convenient expedition as I might I beseech your Lordship therefore by the next that I may understand what I shall write to him in that behalf These advises out of Germany and Swisserland I received from your Lordship thereby may perceive that the holy Fathers intention is not only to trouble England but all other places that profess the Gospel For the avoiding to trouble your Lordship with C. within the I send you herewith inclosed you shall find what I know concerning Blasco Monsieur Montmorency stayeth his setting forward from hence untill I know the certain day of my Lord Admirals departure from hence The King as Monsieur Lansac told me who came lately from the Court about the latter end of this Month will be at Madrill So leaving to trouble your Lordship any further I most humbly take my leave From Paris the 9 of May 1571. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham Letters to my Lord of Burleigh MY very good Lord what hath passed between the King here and Q. Mother and us we have at large written to the Q. Maj. what hath past between the Deputies and us You shal perceive by the whole draught of the League now ready to be signed unto us But because in the instructions we were commanded to signe it before it were sent thither into England to be better considered we thought best to make the stay thereupon that except the express words for Religion were in it we durst not signe it and unless we did first understand her Majesties pleasure whether so she would be content there is no alteration from the Article of 1546. in the Esclaircissement which Article is also in three Treaties with France 1515. and 1546. saving they have specified the number of Souldiers both by Sea and Land The which we could by no means obtain of them to leave it in generality After that we had gotten of them that it should not be sumptibus requisitis which to bring to pas we had very much to do And seeing it is reciproque and no great number we thought it not much amiss All the rest went easie enough even that of the Merchants and they confessed that in these general words the matter of Religion is also contained So that if for the inquisition our matters be staied if the Queens Majestie do require that aid for their deliverance as is there expressed the King is bound to do it because there is Iusserit aut permiserit The greatest debating was for two things The one to have Religion expresly mentioned in the Treatie the which I perceive some of the Deputies partly having benefices
and novv be in the Castle of Edenburgh and this being understood the Ship vvas stayed and searched and amongst other the confirmation of that vvhich I told you before vvas in the Scotch Queens Letters that she gave her self and her son novv the young King of Scotland vvholly into the hands of the King of Spain to be governed and ruled only by him and assure him that if he vvould send any povver the young King should be delivered into his hands For in the Ship it doth appear that the Lord Seton by his instructions is named the Scotch Queens Ambassador tovvards the Duke of Alva A goodly Ambassador saith the Queen And there in his Ambass he offereth the young King to be delivered into his hands to be conveyed into Spain And to animate him more to set up again the Scotch Queen and take the protection of her that she hath right both by Gods Law and mans Law to be Queen of England and also of Scotland and that she hath not only all those that be in trouble now but a great sort more in England on her part so that the King by setting her up should not only govern both these Realms but shall also set up in both again the Catholique Religion Alas saith the Queen that head of hers shall be never in quiet This quoth I toucheth us most the next toucheth the King your son I will shew unto you as I have it my Lord Burleigh writeth it unto me In the same ship amongst other was found a Letter of the Countess of Northumberland who was one of the chief stirrers in the last Rebellion Her husband the Earl is now prisoner in Scotland for the same purpose The Countess in her Letter writeth to her husband that the Duke of Guise hath of late been with the D. of Alva disguised and she affirmeth to her husband for certainty all the house of Guise and that faction will follow in all points the direction of the King of Spain Saith the Queen he was not for by reason of his Treaty of accord she meant between the Admiral and him which hath been long time in doing and yet taketh that small success every four daies we either hear from him or send to him so that we know certainly where he is and that he hath not been there he might well enough send some other person but somewhat there is we know well enough saith she that they incline somewhat that way of Spain and it may be nothing for it is the Spanish practice to aid themselves with lies and spread abroad that those and those be of the Faction to bring other in when indeed it is nothing so that used the Emperor Charls and so brought some by this means unto his lure before they were aware and that is a shrewd art quoth I to abuse rash fools Yes saith she but when at the last it is espied it makes them the more to be hated and other the harder to be abused by them Then she left that matter Jesu saith she and doth not your Mistress see that she shall be alwaies in danger untill she marry That once done and in some good House who dare attempt any thing against her Madam quoth I I think if she were once married all in England that had any traiterous hearts would be discouraged for one Tree alone may soon be cut down but when there be two or three together it is longer a doing and one shall watch for the other but if she had a child then all these bold and troublesome Titles of the Scotch Queen or other that make such gapings for her death will be clean choaked up I see she may have five or six saith she very well I would to God we had one No saith she two boys leâ—t the one should die and three or four daughters to make alliance with us again and other Princes to strengthen the Realm Why then quoth I you think that Monsieur le Duc shall speed With that she laughed and said Ie le desire infinitement and I would trust then to see three or four my self at the least of her race which would make me indeed not to spare Sea nor Land to see her and them And if she could have fancied my son d'Anjou saith she as you told me why not this of the same house Father and Mother and as vigorous and lusty as he and rather more and now he beginneth to have a beard come forth so that I told him the last day that I was angry with it for now I was afraid he would not be so high as his brethren Yea Madam quoth I a man doth commonly grow in height to his years the beard maketh nothing Nay saith she he is not so little he is so high as you or very near For that matter Madam quoth I I for my part make small account if the Queens Majestie can fancie him For Pipinus Brevis who married Bertha the King of Almains Daughter was so little to her that he is standing in Aquisgrave or Moguerre a Church in Almani she taking him by the hand and his head not reaching to her girdle and yet he had by her Charlemain the great Emperor and King of France which is reported to be almost a Giants stature And your Oliver Glesquim the Briton Constable that you make so much of and lieth buried amongst the Kings at St. Dennis if he were no bigger then is there pourtrayed upon his Tomb was very short scarcely four foot long but yet he was valiant hardly and couragious above all in his time and did us English men most hurt It is true saith she it is the heart courage and activity that is to be looked for in a man but hear you word of the Queens affection that way can you give me no comfort No I assure your Majestie quoth I for the Letters were written the 11 of this Month the same day or the next that our Currier went with the dispatch from hence Thus with much other talk in such sort the time was passed that day betwixt her Majestie and me All the world doth see that we doe wish her Majestie surety and long continuance that her marriage and issue of her Highness body should be the most assurance of her Highness and of the Wealth of the Realm The place where and the person whom I for my part remit to her Majestie but what doth her Majestie mean to maintain still her danger and not provide for her surety I assure your Lordship I can see no reason God preserve her Majestie long to Reigne over us by some unlooked for miracle for I cannot see by natural reason that her Highness goeth about to provide for it Thus I commit your Lordship to Almighty God From Blois March 22. 1571. by English account Th. Smith To my Lord of Burleigh MY Lord You must excuse us if the Queens Majestie or any other body do find fault that we send this man away
this overthrow it grieves me not a little to think of it considering what dependeth thereon and I hope God will make my fear vain To suffer him to miscarry knowing our own danger were to lack both policy and magnanimity We cannot deny but upon that that lately hath been discovered that if God had not raised up the Prince of Orange to have entertain'd Spain a dangerous fire ere this time had bin kindled in our own home To assist him therefore is to assist our selves for that we are to run one fortune with him the difference is that by miscarrying the mischief shal first touch him and then consequently as many of us as profess one Religion with him for the supply that is given by the Pope Florence and divers Catholique Princes in Germany sheweth that the quarrel is mixt and consisteth as well of Religion as oâ— state They fail not to make demonstration thereof and therin they shew their courage and â—eal contraiwise we do things underhand and thereby do discover both lack of zeal and courage No Councellors enterprise accompanied with fear had ever good success for there can be no greater enemy to sound councel then fear The Gentlemen of the Religion here since the late overthrow of Ianlis weighing what dependeth upon the Pr of Orange overthrow have made demonstration to the King that his enterprise lacking good success it shal not then he in his power to maintain his Edict They therefore desire him to weigh whether it were better to have forein war with advantage or inward war to the ruine of himself and his Estate The King being not here his answer is not yet received They hope to receive some such resolution as the danger of the cause requireth in the mean time the M. desired me to move your Lordship to deal with her Majesty to know whether she upon overture to be made to the King cannot be content to joyn with him in assistance of this poor Prince seeing that as well in Estate as Religion it doth so neerly touch her Surely though it import the King very much to look to it yet it importeth more her Majestie who is to look for nothing else Spain overcoming this brunt then the extremity of such mischiefs as he can work her My good Lord therefore as you never lack'd to further such causes as concern Gods glory and her Majesties safety so I do not doubt but that you will with that care and courage which this weighty cause requireth yield what aid and assistance you possibly may And so leaving further to trouble your Honor at this present I most humbly take my leave From Paris the 26 of July 1572. Your Honours to command F. Walsingham By the QUEEN To our right trusty and well-beloved Francis Walsingham Esq our Ambassador Resident with our good brother the French King ELIZABETH R. TRusty and well-beloved we greet you well Where at the being here with us of the D. of Montmorency he du Foix after their other ordinary matter of ratification of the Treaty passed over did many times very earnestly deal with us and in like manner with sundry of our Councel to move us to incline to an offer of marriage which the French K. and Q. â—other willed them to make to us for the D. of Alanzon and that we found the matter somewhat strange considering some things past not in good order as you know in the matter of like offer for Mr. de Anjon wherein the said Mont. and his Colleague laboured much to satisfie us but especially considering the youngness of the years of the Duke of Alanson being compared to ours so for those respects although we could give them no answer of comfort to content them yet such was their importunacy in reciting of many reasons and arguments to move us not to mislike thereof in respect as well of the strength of the friendship which this amity should give to the continuance of this last League and Confederation as also of the worthiness of the said D. of Alanzon for his excellent vertues and good conditions which they alleadge to be in him with sundry other arguments tending to remove the difficulties and to gain our contentation and liking of the said Duke And in them after their many conferences had both with us and with our Councel when we perceived them very much perplexed to see our strangeness from assenting to their desires and how loath they were to have any flat denial we were advised to forbear from making of a plain refusal and to expect the return of the Lord Admiral by whom and by others of his company we might understand what might be further conceived of the personage and conditions of the said Duke And so our answer to them at their departure was this That we found such difficulties in this matter specially for the difference of his age as presently we could not digest the same but such was the importunacy of our own subjects of all estates to have us to marry as we would forbear to give any such resolute answer as might miscontent the said Ambassador and as we knew would much grieve our people at this time and so we would take some further time to be advertised of the matter And after one months space we would make a direct answer to the French King which also we would first communicate to the said D. of Montmorency to be by him if he so would delivered over to the said King And so with this answer they departed whereupon after the return of our Admiral we have considered with him and with some others that were there by whom we find that indeed the conditions and the qualities of the said D. as farr forth as they could by their observation gather or by report of others understand were nothing inferior to M. de Anjou but rather better to be liked but as to his visage and favour every body doth declare the same to be far inferior and that specially for the blemishes that the small pox hath wrought therein so as his young years considered the doubtfulness of the liking of his favour joyned therewith wherin no body that hath seen him can otherwise report although otherwise to all purposes he is commended before his brother we cannot indeed bring our mind to like of this offer specially finding no other great commodity offered to us with him whereby the absurdity that in the general opinion of the world might grow to commend this our choice after so many refusal of others of great worthiness might be counterprised or in some manner recompenced Wherefore according to our answer made to the said Ambassador we have determined that you shall in our answer made to the said Ambassador we have determined that you shall in our name say as followeth to Montmorency Or if he shall desire that you your self considering the answer is not plausible shall make it to the King then you shal so do requiring him to be present
would not be carried away with reports of some seditious instruments that desired nothing else but to set Princes at discord In the end after long debating to and fro of the matter she desired me to protest unto the Queen my Mistris that she and her son desired nothing more then good amity and because the same might grow to more perfection they desired the finishing of this marriage propounded whereof she hoped there would grow safety and quiet to both Realms I then desired her to satisfie me in two points The one of the difficulty of Religion considering their late severity may be compounded if the enterview should go forward The other in what sort they mean to continue in observation of the said Edict To the first she told me that for the difficulty in Religion if there be no other let saith she I doubt not but it shall be so compounded as that it shall be to the contentment of your Mistris As for the second the Kings meaning is that they shall enjoy the liberty of their conscience What Madam said I and the exercise of their Religion to No said she my son will have exercise but of one Religion in his Realm Then said I how can it agree that the observation of the Edict whereof you willed me to advertise the Queen my Mistris that the same should continue in his former strength To that she said that they had discovered certain matters of late that they saw it necessary to abolish all exercise of the same Why Madam said I will you have them live without exercise of Religion Even saith she as your Mistris suffereth the Catholiques of England My Mistris did never promise them any thing by Edict if she had she would not fail to have performed it To that she said that the Queen my Mistris was to direct the Government of her own Countrey and the King his To that I answered that I did not move those questions of any curiosity but to render account to the Queen my Mistris of the proceedings who I knew desired that all things might pass in such sort as might be to their honour A third doubt I propounded how considering their late severity they could perform their promise with the Queen my Mistris if she should be assailed for the cause of Religion in yielding assistance To this she answered that if any yea saith she if the King of Spain I will not stick to move him shall enterprize any thing against her for the cause of Religion she shall not lack for any assistance that this Crown can give her Our desire is onely to reduce this Crown to a quiet state This speech I thought good to impart unto her Majestie referring unto her the consideration of the same Of late though I received ill usage of the people yet at their Majesties hands I find more favour then accustomed whereof I promised to advertise her Majestie La Roche who two years past was imployed in the enterprize at Ireland was lately here at the Court and from hence dispatched to Rochel which maketh men to suspect some enterprize that way And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the fourteenth of September 1672. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the right Honorable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principal Secretary SIr it may please you to advertise her Majestie that the tenth of this moneth the King and Queen Mother sent for me to the Louvre where first I spake to Queen Mother who shewed me that la Mot hath received such honour and good entertainment at her Majesties hands as that she and her Son the King could do no less then send for me and desire me to render unto her Majestie most hearty thanks for the same and further to shew unto her Majestie that forasmuch as they desire nothing more then some straiter amity with her which they think can by no means come to pass so well as by marriage and therefore the Kings meaning was that she and her son Duke d' Alanson should repair to Bulloin or Callis so that her Majestie will be content to repair to Dover to the end the enterview that hath been propounded might take some effect by some good advice that may be found out for the surety of both their Majesties which thing shall be best considered of how the same may come to pass Further she willed me to tell her Majestie that besides the great hope she had that the same enterview will breed a hope of straiter amity between the two Crowns she desired the same no less for the great good particular affection she had to see her Majestie whereof she would receive as great content as of any one thing that hath hapned unto her in her days To this I answered that I would not fail to advertise her Majestie thereof And thereupon according to the contents of her Majesties Letters of the two and twentieth of August I took occasion to protest unto her in her Majesties behalf that forasmuch as I had before advertised of her and the Kings misliking of an enterview in respect of the inconveniences that hath followed thereof her Majestie could not desire the same but rather refer it to the Kings and her consideration lest if the principal should not take place there might follow that inconvenience that by them was feared To this she answered that she would take the burthen and blame upon her and that whether the matter took effect or not the Kings meaning was to continue good amity with her Majestie I replyed that to see one in marriage is a thing in it self considered honest and allowable and that if the parties desire who sought the same took no place there could grow to him no reproach thereof but in opinion which had no reason of ground for that marriages have their beginning from above Upon that I concluded that for the Duke d' Alanson to see a Princess of her Majesties quality and calling was a thing honourable and that therefore whatsoever success the matter took seeing that marriages came from heaven there could in truth and reason grow to him no dishonour and that therefore unless he could put on that opinion considering the issue to be doubtful it were better not to proceed any further lest it might be an occasion of unkindness which might be unprofitable to both the Crowns To this she answered that she knew it to be ttue and that therefore they would refer the issue to God with intention to continue good friendship whatsoever grew of the matter So having ended with her I repaired to the King who onely willed me to give her Majestie thanks for the good entertainment given to la Motte as also to assure her that his intention and desire was no other but to continue or rather to increase amity with her And further to shew her that he would shortly send the Admirals process unto his Ambassador
laying before her besides my private affairs the great danger I live in here through the disquietness of this State and the great hatred borne to our Nation her Maj. hath so far yielded thereto as she hath for that purpose written this Letter which I am now to present unto your Maj. So he took the Letter and read it and after he had read it he shewed me that if he should consent to my departure according to his good sisters request he must then also revoke his Ambassador which thing saith he cannot but make it appear to the world that thâ— amity lately concluded betwixt us were broken or at the least not very sound when we do leave the use of necessary Ministers that may communicate between us such things as may increase and continue amity I shewed that her Majesties meaning to call me home for a time had no other respect but to my particular safety without any intention to diminish amity and that the example was not strange for that Sir Nicholas Throgmorton had done the like To that he reply'd that touching danger he should come in his own person to relieve me rather then I should sustain any harm and as for the example he said that at that time there was not that perfect amity that is now In conclusion he desired me to press him no further in the matter untill such time as he might hear from his Ambassador for that he did mean to answer her Majesties Letter written in that behalf And so for that time I took my leave After my departure from him Duke de Alanzon sent for me into his Chamber to come and speak with him At my access he shewed me that he was very sorry that both I and our Nation had in these troubles been so outraged as he understood we were I know saith he you are wise and can consider of the time If hereafter either you your self or any of your Nation shall stand in need of my friendship or assistance you shall do me wrong to use the help of any other but of me for the honour your Mistress did unto la Mott doth bind me to be her servant during my life and an advocate for your Nation And so he licensed me to depart desiring me to present unto her Majestie his most humble and affectionate commendations Your Honour by the King and his Mothers answers may see great protestations of amity I am sorry that I cannot yield that assurance thereof that heretofore I have done wherein I may seem to have dealt over-confidently but I know that your Honours do consider that my error in that behalf was common with a great many wiser then my self and therefore I hope you do hold me excused Seeing now there is here neither regard had to either word writing or Edict be it never so solemnly published nor to any protestation made heretofore to forein Princes for the performance of the same Seeing the King persecuteth that Religion with all extremity that her Majestie professeth and now is like to be an instrument to execute any thing by this people offered unto him to the prejudice of her Majesty Seeing that they that now possess his ear are sworne enemies unto her Majestie and nourishers of the late amity are separated from him seeing that the Kings own conscience so common a companion is fear with Tyranny maketh him to repute all those of the Religion as well at home as abroad his enemies and so consequently not to wish one of them alive I leave to your Honours now to judge what account you may make of the amity with this Crown If I may without presumption or offence say my opinion considering how things presently stand I think less peril to live with them as enemies then as friends The King Queen Mother and Monsieur have their Councel apart but first before things are communicated with the King they are debated between Queen Mother and Monsieur the Duke of Nevers and Tavannes The Duke of Nevers hath well nigh daily conference with the Prince Nuncio the Ambassador of Spain and the extraordinary Ambassador of Venice Iohn Michal and what they treat is kept most secret and for mine own part I am now divided from all means to discover any thing so that I now stand her Majestie in no further stead here but to present unto her ordinary Palace news There daily remain great number of both horsemen and footmen towards S. Q. as it is said to the relief of the D. of Almain The Marshal de Cosse hath Commission sent him as I am informed to execute as many of the Religon within his charge as have been known in these late Wars to have served the Princes and born charges if the Marshal Montmorency had been in this Town at the day of execution both he with all his brethren the Duke de Bulloign and Marshal had been slain as I am credibly informed It is said that both Spain and Portugal make great preparation by Sea It is thought that so long as Rochel holdeth out Strozzi shall be entertained from executing any other enterprise and yet there is no word come that Byron shall be received It is thought that the late murder at Roan will make them of Rochel more resolute And so leaving to trouble your Honour any further at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the 24 of September 1572. To the right honorable his very good Lords the Lords of her Majesties most honorable privy Councel IT may please your Honours to understand that the King here is advertised sundry waies as I learn that the Prince of Orange and the Duke of Alva are like to grow to an accord which thing is both feared and misliked at the least they would have the world so to judge their speech and meaning doth now so far disagree as it is hard to grow to any grounded opinion touching their proceedings It was held here for certain that Monts was rendred the 19 day of this month by composition that Count Lodovick and the heads that were in that Town issued at such time as certain of the Duke of Alvas horsemen were distressed which was the 9 of this month The Articles of the Composition are not yet certainly known but it is given out they departed with Ensignes displayed and bagg and baggage As I shall further understand so shall I further advertise touching Flanders matters And so leaving further to trouble your Honor at this present I most humbly take my leave From Paris Sept. 25 1572. Your Honours to command Francis Walsingham By the QUEEN To our trusty and well-beloved Francis Walsingham Esq our Ambassador Resident with our good brother the French King ELIZABETH R. TRusty and well-beloved we greet you well De la Mott the French Ambassador on Munday the 22 of this Month having asked Audience came to our Court at Reading and there had long communication with us the which seemed to us at that time the more
strange being we had heard before of the daily murdering of those of the Religion there in France not only at Paris and Orleans but also at Lyons and Roan and divers other places and Cities of that Realm all the which was done by the Kings appointment and commandment whereupon when we had heard what he could say unto us he heard us so reply at that time as we do think he found himself unable to satisfie us And nevertheless we told him that we would be further advised for our answer which he should have within three or four daies whereupon communicating his Negotiation with our Councel upon their French tongue An answer was made as appeareth by this here inclosed which is the copy of that we delivered to Nicasius to interpret in French to the said de la Mott as our ful answer resolution at that time with the which as Nicasius reporteth de la Mott seemed very well content and satisfied In the which yet you may perceive that divers things are left to be ascertained to us by you wherefore you shall do well with convenient speed to demand audience of the King and there to declare both to him and to the Queen mother what hath passed betwixt his Ambassador and us and upon the points we did at that time stand and you may say as touching any worthy punishment executed upon his own Subjects we have not to deal therein but if they have worthily suffered we are sorry for their evil doings But yet the King to destroy and utterly root out of his Realm all those of that Religion that we profess and to desire us in marriage for his brother must needs seem unto us at the first a thing very repugnant in it self especially having before confirmed that liberty to them of the Religion by an Edict of his perpetual and irrevocable Of the which to whom that liberty was granted if any were partakers of any evil conspiracies against him specially women and children who we do understand are not yet spared And therefore if that Religion of it self be so odious unto him that he thinks he must root out all the professers of it how should we think his brother a fit husband for us or how should we think that the love may grow continue and increase betwixt his brother and us which ought to be betwixt the husband and the wife You had in our former Letters unto you things that we required you to decypher by all means that you could especially whether the King himself be inclined and bent to all these cruelties and the rooting out of true Religion or whether he be but overruled to the which Article hitherto you have not answered and yet these things might give great light unto us how to direct our actions in the conferences and talks with his Ambassador and we would have you to be earnest with him in that matter of Strozzi praying him frankly and roundly what he meaneth with that great Army of Ships and men of War which hath been kept a long time close and undiscovered to what intent or to what place it should be bent You may say we have the more desire to know his meaning and dealing herein because that of latâ— they of Strozzies Company there have spoiled divers of our Merchants some of their Artillery and Victuals other of their goods and Merchandizes as was accustomed betwixt the two Realms in times past the which kind of dealing is very much contrary to the amity and to such things as by his Ambassador is propounded unto us wherefore as we do go roundly and plainly to work with him to shew flatly that which we do think or doubt hereupon so we pray him with the same flatness and roundness to deal with us for that is the way to make continuance of amity and also increase and may induce us the sooner to come to a further resolution of such things as be required of us The Vidam of Chartres of whom we have great compassion is come into this Realm at whose humble and lamentable suit we have been content to write this Letter to my brother the French King in his favour which you shall deliver with as good words as you may to the French King and require his answer If this our Letter do chance to come to you in Paris or in the way coming from Paris towards England after you have obtained licence of the King to come away by favour of our Letters which we wrote unto him yet if you be not too far on the way or very near the sea-coast we would you should return in Poste or otherwise to the Court to have a direct answer of these Letters except that great and unfeigned danger of your self do move you to keep on your journey In which case you shall commit the doing of this message and receiving of answer to your Secretary whom you shall leave behind so that he be a man able to do this charge Given at Reading the 28 of September 1572. in the fourteenth year of our Reigne T. Smith The Ambassadors Message in three Points THat the King was of necessity for safeguard of his own life forced to cause such execution to be done upon the Admiral and his complices as was done for that he and they had conspired the death of the King of which matter the King was very well able to make a verification and that her Majesty should shortly see by the process of the Admiral now in making and that nothing was meant by the King against the cause of Religion That the King was most earnestly disposed to keep the League That he desired to have the marriage of his brother of Alanzon to proceed and to that end the Queen mother was content to come into the Realm with her son at such place and with such numbers as her Majesty here should allow Answers To the first That although the killing of the Admiral and the rest might probably move her Majestie to think ill thereof and to be right sorry that the King should suffer such an act to be done without order of justice yet her Majestie being advertised from the King that he was forced thereunto for safety of his own life and that thereof her Majestie should see good proof by such a process thereof to be sent to her Majestie as should verifie the same her Majestie is content to suspend her judgement against the King untill by the process she may see the truth and by the Kings further proceedings hereafter for continuance of his Edict for tolleration of Religion she may perceive what to judge of his intention for the cause of Religion To the second her Majestie thanketh the King for his so earnest an offer to continue the amity according to the late League made and doth again assure the King of her mind to keep it for her part so as howsoever the King shall by his deeds shew his affection therein her Majestie will
do the like to her power To the third her Majestie would that the King should â—nderstâ—â—d that she did in the motion of the marriage before this latâ— accident of the Admirals death plainly proceed with the Ambassador and with la Mot so she must plainly deal with the King That this acâ—ident of murthering the Admiral and of so general a slaughter of them of the Religion there hath made such alteration in her Majestie and hath moved such doubts in her minde how to interpret of the offers of this marriage and of this enterview by coming of the Queen Mother with her son as her Majestie cannot but suspend her resolution therein until she may understand some further answer to things which the Ambassador had in charge to deal with the King particularly to understand his mind of which her Majestie as yet had received no answer from her Ambassador nor any signification that he hath as yet had speech with the King thereof And besides that as to his last offer of the Queen Mother to come into any part of the Realm with Monsieur d'Alanson her Majestie cannot but interpret the offer very thankfully though she had not received from her Ambassador the Queen Mothers meaning to be such for her words to him were not further but that she would be content to comâ— with her son to Bulloign or to Callis and that she desired that the Queens Majestie would come to Dâ—ver and so then there might be an enterview and communication upon the Sea betwixt Dover and Calais or Bulloign a matter that seemed surely very strange to her Majestie and seeing that her Ambassador had no such offer made for her coming aland within the Realm as the French Ambassador offereth her Majestie meaneth therein to be better advertised by her own Ambassador who shall have charge therein to understand her mind and the Kings And upon knowledge thereof her Majestie will grow to a further resolution to the which it will be a great furtherance if the proof were verified as is said of the just causes given by the Admiral and his Complices for the execution of them And that his further proceedings with the observation of his Edicts for the cause of religion might more clearly appear to her Highness wherby her Majestie shall have good cause to see what is meet for her to do in the further proceeding both for the enterview and for the marriage In both which her Majestie shall be very glad to understand that she may have the same likelihood of the good to follow to her self and Coâ—ntrey for continuance of the amity that was propounded unto her when it was last renewed at la Mots before the death of the Admiral And her Majestie assureth the King that on her part she meaneth to observe the Amity by all good means as shall be to her possible and shall be very glad to find the like answeâ—able on his part and therewith doth presently require the King to give her to understand what his meaning may be in the keeping of so great a Navy and Army nâ—ar Burdeaux and Rochel under the rule of Strozzi which is an occasion why her Subjects and Merchants who were wont all the year and specially about this time to traffique that way for wines and other things be now put in doubt and great feaâ— and dare not adventure according to the assured amity betwixt the two Realms and the rather because now of late divers of her Merchants have been spoiled about Rochel and Burdeaux by those of Strozzies band not onely of victual and munition but also of money and merchandizes and some of them also of their lives To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr although I suppose you are now on your way hitherwards for by Walter Williams I sent you her Majesties Letters for license of your return for a time yet if my Lettâ—rs can find you there or by the way I would not have you ignorant of that which I can shew you I know by self how Ambassadors be to know what is done in their own Countrey The cruel murthers at Roan is now long ago written unto us when we thought all had been done and by the same letters was written unto us that Diepe was kept close and the same execution of the true Christians looked for there but as then not executed howbeit Sigoigne did warrant all our Englishmen to be out of danger and not to be afraid But what warrant can the French make now Seals and Words of Princes being traps to catch innocents and bring them to the Butchery If the Admiral and all those murthered on that bloody Bartholomew day were guilty why were they not apprehended imprisoned interrogated and judged but so much made of as might be with-in two hours of the assumation is that the manner to handle men either culpable or suspected so is the Journeyer slain by the Robber so is the Hen of the Fox so the Hinde of the Lyon so Abel of Cain so the innocent of the wicked so Abner of Ioab but grant they were guilty they dreamt treason that night in their sleep what did the innocent men women and children at Lyons what did the sucking children and their mothers at Roan deserve at Cane at Rochel what is done yet we have not heard but I think shortly we shall hear Will God think you still sleep Will not their blood ask vengeance shall not the earth be accursed that hath sucked up the innocent blood poured out like water upon it I am most sorry for the King whom I love whom I esteem the most worthy the most faithful Prince of the world the most sincere Monarch now living I am glad you shall come home and would wish you were at home out of that Countrey so contaminate with innocent blood that the Sun cannot look upon it but to prognosticate the wrath and vengeance of God The ruine and desolation of Ierusalem could not come till all the Christians were either killed there or expelled from thence but whether do I run driven with just passions and heats The Scots both the parties in words shew themselves desirous of accord willing to come to reason but indeed they seem not so as both Monsieur de Crocque and Mr. Killegrew do fear the old Enemies be so hard to compound and the new possessions so hard to part from but as yet we cannot despair till they both have met together and heard joyntly what both the parties can say which so soon as it can be done Mr. Killegrew hath promised to write to me what is done and what he thinketh may be done What Strozzies hovering cloud which hath so long gone in a mist will brew at the last and what design so long cloaked will break out upon is no marvel though they and we and all the world doubt and if it be to besiege Rochel and to execute more slaughter upon men women
entertainment as shall be ministred unto you But if it shall happen the King or Queen Mother or any such person to go further with you and to feel you with words in any of the points hereafter mentioned we think it honourable for you not to shew your self ignorant of our mind therein nor how things have proceeded heretofore in those matters and how they stand at this present And therefore we have thought good to inform you in those points whereupon it is most likely they will make some mentioning and questioning with you to know our further resolution and mind therein that as in all other matters likely to be moved unto you you shall do well first to confer with our Ambassador there by whom you shall understand how things have gone hitherto And for this time you may say besides all other things whereof they be already fully advertised of our mind we think it now reason that the matter of Religion be first esclared for because that there in his Realm there hath been made great alteration in that point since the late communication thereof and therefore it is now reason that we should the more carefully provide that the difference therein should breed no disturbance disquietness or doubt in ours And as the said King hath held a stiff hand to maintain onely one Religion in his Realm although he with open Edicts did profess the protection of two and the defence of them both indifferently so it behoveth us rather who did maintain but one onely in our Realm and never yielded to the other by any Edict or Protection or favour now at this time not to change our course but to profess all one thing which we have done sith we came to our Crown and to suffer no permission or winking at of any other Religion then that which we and our Realm hath always held and maintained and by Gods grace intend always to do and so much the rather we have cause to require it at this present time because that in the dealing with Mon. D'Anjoâ— in the treatie with Mon. De Foix matters were made more easie and temperate to the which we did the rather incline when it should come to the knitting up that Sir Tho Smith now our Secretary was sent then such things were required as never before were expected as open Mass a Church a Chappel proper and all such solemnity of other ceremonies and abuses which our Realm and policie cannot suffer whereupon necessitie was for us clearly and plainlie to break off and least the same inconvenience should follow or that protracting of time should be thought but a dissembled entertainment of other cause then we have in mine you may say that we pray the King and Queen Mother to cause first this point of Religion to be clearlie esclared and opened that upon that we may more clearly judge what is to be done of us to the proceeding any further of that matter of marriage And you may say more that it is that point that we have thus long attended that our Ambassador there Resident should have certified us from their Majesties so that before we have answer from them of these points by reason we cannot proceed to go any further in this matter in which heretofore we have not been answered and the answer thereof lieth in their hands As concerning the demands that such as of late were fled hither sithence these late troubles that we should rather admonish them or command them to avoid the Realm as Rebels to the French King our brother You may say that we do understand of no Rebellion that ever they were privy â—nto and can perceive nothing but that they are well affectionated to their Prince but when such common murthering and slaughter was made generally throughout France of those who professed the same Religion that it was natural for every man to fly for his own defence and for the safetie of his life and it is the priviledge of all Realms to receive such woful and miserable persons as do fly to it onely for defence of their lives And for their return the chiefest of them have been spoken unto and they make their answer that the same rage of their enemies which made them first to fly hither doth still continue the cause of their tarrying here for as they then did kill with fury and as it may appear the greatest number of those that were killed without the commandment or avow of the King so it is most like they would execute still their malice if the persons were there against whom it was then and is yet inflamed notwithstanding any letters declaratory or other prohibition by the King as it is manifest and notorious that very many have been publiquely and are almost daily slain and murthered in France that be of their Religion sith these contrary Edicts were published and cryed by sound of trumpet And therefore until they may see that the quiet of the Realm be better established the fury of the people and the bloody murtherers appeased they will live here and obey the Kings Edicts They think themselves unsure there and prayed us of our mercy to have compassion of their miserie And if so be the King you may say would suffer them to enjoy their revenues whether they remained here or went into any other Countrey you may say that we suppose they would be as faithful subjects to him as any other in his Realm for other we espie none in them And if we can perceive at any time that they were otherwise minded or should attempt any thing for the disquietness of his person or Realm you may say we will not suffer them to remain within our Realm And as for the Commerce and Traffique of our Merchants there was nor is in us any difficultie why not thereby as by all other waies the Amitie and League should not in all points be perfected But such things have sith that time happened in that Realm that even to this day our Merchants be in horrour and fear to meddle therein especially to go much within the Land sith such libertie is given or suffered into the hands of the popular to kill or murther whom they could without punition therefore or justice nevertheless we are in hope that in time the King will peovide that he shall be better obeyed and that his sword of justice shall rule and not the unbounded lust of the populer to the which no wise man or careful of his life will hazard himself we could not but as a good Princess and mother of the Commonwealth bear with our Subjects in this fear so probable Nevertheless we shall give order that our Secretarie and others who do favour the cause shall be joyned in Commission to treat with his Ambassador here and as shortlie as time will serve and as our Merchants do by little and little get more boldness to traffique there and no part of that which was begun for the more streighter
in her Conscience contrary and repugnant to the direct word of Almighty God and so consequently prohibited by the Laws of the Realm whereupon these two Consequences do necessarily follow that in this case of Marriage with Monsieur de Duc if he will obtain her his wife without sight of him her Majesty cannot be had and yet therein hâ—r Majesty is very loath that he shoâ—ld think that she desireth his coming but as himself shall finde it meet by the advise of the King his brother and the Queen mother to whom she remitteth the consideration hereof with this assurance that she meaneth in good faith to marry with him if upon his sight the one may like of the other and that for the cause of Religion as he and she may so accord as that which he shall demand be assented unto without offence of her Conscience or without trouble of her Estate and that that point of Religion is thought meetest to be left at large to be communed upon betwixt themselves so as if it should mishap that one of them might not fully like of the other as to a conclusion of marriage that the refusal or breaking up might be imputed the cause of Religion and so either party might honorably be discharged to the world and no occasion grow thereby of unkindness betwixt them This is the substance of her Majesties resolution whereof to make the Ambassador here privy she seemeth not to mislike thereof and in the end concluded with me that she took this course to be agreeable to the same resolution which was delivered at Killingworth the last of August to him and La Mott. And so I think it in substance the same whereof I do herewith send to you the last two Articles of that Answer in French as then it was given to which news you may refer this new Answer And now to add of mine own you shall understand that I see the imminent perils to this State and namely how long soever she shall by course of nature live and Reign the success of this Crown so manifestly uncertain or rather so manifestly prejudicious for the State of Religion that I cannot but still persist in seeking for marriage for her Majestie and finding no way that is liking to her but this with the Duke I do force my self to pursue it with desire and do flatter my fancie with imaginations that if he should come hither her Majesty would not refuse him and for his Religion methinks if he may be otherwise liked he would not lose a Queen with a Kingdom for a Priests blessing of a Chalice I cannot imagine that his Religion is rooted that it may not be transported Now if I am deceived yet for the time it easeth me to imagine that such a sequel may follow but you have cause better to guess hereat then I for I guess at nothing but at the Queens Majesties disposition which I take firmly to be bent to marriage but you on the other part may guess whether he may be liked whether he may be induced to be qualified in his Religion yea whether his marriage be meant seriously and sincerely on that part and upon these conceits you have cause to imagine more certainly what ought to be looked for or desired then I can But now turning my paper I will leave and end this matter praying you heartily to impart unto me your conceit herein if thereby you see cause to stay my course you see how long I have tarried in this matter for the rest of the point for Viracques sending for me to come to the Scottish Queen and for the matters of Scotland I doubt not but Mr. Secretary hath enlarged his knowledg therein to you And for more surety because at the writing hereof he is gone into Essex I will upon the closing up of my Letter impart by speech some part thereof to this bearer Walter Williams to excuse me of longer writing Notwithstanding Gordens denyal to be privy to the Book lewdly augmented with a blasphemous Prologue I understand out of Scotland that he is therewith well acquainted wherefore I pray you search it better out and let me understand what is now become thereof And thus I end on Good-Friday at night the 20 of March 1572. Your assured loving friend Wâ— Burleigh Response de la Roigne d'Angle au Sr. de la Mott Fenelon Amb. du Roy tres-chrestien Fait par Mr. Le Grand Tresorier le 18 Marc. 1573. QUe se Maj. voyant que le Roy tres-christien son bon frere la Royne sa me re perseuerent en le honeste desir de demander son alliance encores que de puis le mois de Aoust dernier plusieurs choses soient entrevennes de la costè par les quelles ell ' a une grande occasion de ne suiure le propos Neant moins a le prochas elle returne maintenant aux mesmes termes on les choses en estoient demâ—ures le 20 du dit mois d' Aoust lors que elle seant en son conâ—eil a Kellingworth present le Sr. de la Mott fist une forme de response au dit Sr. Ambas suivant la quelle elle dit de noveau Que pour le bien de ses subjectes lesquels monstrent de preveoir beaucoup de grandes dangiers en ce Royaume si elle les de laisse sans quelque lignèe prouvenant de elle et sans successeur a fin de les satesfaire quelle est firmement resolue de se marier de quelque bon et grand lieu selon elle si elle peult trouver quelqu'n qui à elle et son estate soit convenable Et sur le offre que les Maj. tres-christienes luy font de Mr. le Duc d' Alanson le frere et fils elle trouve que la partie est fort honorable si toutes autres choses y peâ—vent convenir dont estime qu'il en consiste une bonne partie en l'enterveüe d'eux deux tant a cause de l'inequalite de lâ—aage que pour le rapport que ceux qui ont veu M. le Duâ— ont fait de son visage a fin de veoir s'ily aura mutuel consentement entre â—ux Car ainsi at elle tousiours respondu a toutes autres Princes qui l'ont recerché ce qu'un chascun scait bien que beaucoup ont faict qu â—elle ne achepteroit jamais aucun pour mary si elle ne lâ—eust primierement veue Que neant moins pour le miscontentement et autres displaisirs que pourroient succeder de la dit entreveâ—e si d'adventure les choses ne sortient a effect â—t craignant pour cela quelque diminution d'amitie en lieu qu'elle la veut augmenter elle ne scait que desirer la dessus advis remettant a les Maj. tres-christienes le â—it point d' entreveue scachant trop bien qu'elles ne consillerent
she should repair hither during 〈…〉 my being here to the end he might be informed what hope there was 〈◊〉 be had of the marriage without the 〈◊〉 he saw that his brothers enterprise would throw him into a Warr whereof 〈◊〉 was to bear the only 〈◊〉 Whereupon I did let her understand that 〈◊〉 the marriage I could say no â—ore to her then that which I had 〈◊〉 both unto her and to the Duke her son And as touching the doubt 〈◊〉 â—he King and she conceived 〈◊〉 he should be 〈◊〉 to bear the 〈◊〉 of the Wars alone I shewed 〈◊〉 that if it pleased her to call to 〈◊〉 the offer that had been made by the Ambassador resident and Mr. 〈◊〉 as also renewed by me both unto her and to the Duke both the King and she 〈◊〉 have cause to rest satisfied for that the said League proceeded and the other secret League for the matter of the Low-Countries there was such remedy offered as 〈◊〉 the King 〈◊〉 she 〈◊〉 have no â—ause to 〈◊〉 I did 〈◊〉 let her understand that the question was Whether it were 〈◊〉 to take some course for the resisting of the King of Spains greatness 〈◊〉 being confessed I shewed her it was then fit to consider whether the same might not be done without marriage seeing the said marriage 〈◊〉 to be accompanied with so many difficulties as there could be no present resolution taken 〈◊〉 whereunto she answered that there could not be so great a◠〈◊〉 for the maintenance of the association they were now to enter in by League as there was by marriage For said she the same 〈◊〉 that moved the 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 to proceed to the conclusion of the 〈◊〉 which is the misliking of the people in respect of the 〈◊〉 that the 〈…〉 bring withall may also draw her to leave off the association and some 〈…〉 that the Crown hath always carâ—ied unto Spain Whereupon â— decâ—ared â—nto her 〈◊〉 it was hard to make sound friendship which I thought might be performed best two waies The one to shew how little cause she 〈◊〉 to affect 〈◊〉 the other to set down before her such reasons as might 〈◊〉 the King and her to believe that the 〈◊〉 proceeding the same should be sincerely observed on her 〈…〉 unless there should be given some great cause by 〈…〉 contrary For the first I shewed her that the King of Spain 〈◊〉 long after that her Majestie did enter into the possession of the 〈◊〉 being solicited in a kind of sort by her Majesties Ambassador sent 〈◊〉 him to renew such Treaties as had passed between the House of 〈◊〉 and the Crown of England he could not be drawn to assenâ— thereto since which time as he was unwilling to renew the said Treaties so hath he not slackened to yeeld such fruites of enmitie against her Majestie as were publiquely known to the world as might appear by his Ministers dealing in furthering of the marriage between the Duke of Norfolk and the Queen of Scots the practising of the Rebellion in the North his nourishing since that time and maintaining of those that were then the principal Rebels being retired out of England And lastly the attempt of Ireland coloured with the Visor of the Popes Authority These things being then considered I did leave it unto her Majestie to judge what cause the Queen my Mistriss had to seek to reconcile her self or to trust Spain Touching the reasons that might induce them to think her Majestie would inviolably observe the intended league First she was to understand that the Amitie that we made most account of was that which this Crown had with the house of Burgundy and not with Spain and therefore those Countries being alienated from Spain and now reduced by a composition between the Duke and the States of that Country under the Government of her son and traffique being there established whereby there remaineth there commonly Goods appertaining to her Majesties subjects to the value neer of half a Million I did leave that unto her Majestie to judge whether it were not a good caution for the performance of that which should be promised on her Majesties behalf Secondarily If that would not serve to remove the diffidence then might there be Hostages given interchangeably on both parties whose promises her Majestie would not violate for the greatest kingdom in Europe Lastly I shewed her that I doubted not but that the Duke her son would become cautionary for the due observation of the same I prayed her then as I had laid before her such reasons as might induce them to stand more assured of the Queen my Mistresses performance of the said League then it seemed they were so I might without offence put the Queen my Mistress to stand in doubt of them First It was known that divers great personages of this Realm were more affected to the Amity of Spain then England whom the world thought would omit no means that they might put in execution to dissolve or rather to hinder before the Conclusion of the said Association Secondly Spain challengeth as of right in respect of assistance given in the time of the Civil war when the Count of Aremberg was sent into this Realm to that purpose to have the Amitie of that Crown preferred before England Lastly The consent in Religion between Spain and France which shall not lack any perswations that the Pope and other Catholike Princes can use to dissolve or hinder the intended Amitie may give just cause to the Queen to be doubtful of the performance on their behalfs of the said Association then any reason that may be alleadged on the other side Concerning the Queen my Mistris I prayed her that if the King and she did finde it necessary to abridge the King of Spains greatness and could confidently enter into the intended Association to consider that there were two occasions privately offered that required speedy resolution The one the assisting of Don Anthonio the other the prosecuting of the enterprise in Flanders for the first I shewed her that the Queen my Mistriss had assented to the preparing of certain ships with condition that the King her son would concur in the action or that she might be assured by the intended League to be assisted in case Spain in respect of the said support should attempt any thing against her Now forasmuch as the King and she seem to be resolute not to enter into the League without marriage I saw apparently that the enterprise which was privately to be put in execution or else would privately serve to no purpose would be quite overthrown Touching the enterprise of Flanders so honorably attempted by the Duke her son tending so greatly to the benefit of this Crown when the States shall see the said League not to take place whereby it was not likely to be accompanied with success that otherwise it might be the League going forword it would be no less discontentment to them then encouragement to their
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
with my own hand or any long Letter by my enditing of the hand of another and therefore now I am enforced for that â—ittle I have to say to use another hand You shall perceive by the Queens Majesties Letters what I have been inforced with some pain to indite by reason of my restless sickness and business and therefore I mean not to repeat any part thereof unto you wishing you to supplie any defects in the manner of writing with your own natural discretion This I will add that I do hear out of Flanders that one is coming hither named Monsieur Senigam to make an end of the long talk that hath been of the mutual restitution of the Ships and Wares arrested and thereupon it may be that some further Treatie of the opening of the entercouse may follow It is also written from thence that one is come to take the place of this wrangling Ambassador who I think shall be of the low Countries named Seignieur Front one of the long Robe that was here in Commission with the Marquess Vitells Here do daily come into our Ports by drifts of winds certain Hulks of Spain and Portugal with great riches which though they are to be stayed yet surelie I trust there shall lack no diligence to cause the riches of them to be duly preserved for the owners And if you shall hear any other report as it may be I assure you it shall be against the good meaning of her Majestie and her Councel For the matters of Spain besides that which is written in the Queens Letters I do hear that Stewkley hath caused one Mr. Huggins to be imprisoned charging him to the King that he hath advertised sundrie things of that Court to my Lord of Leicester and me wherein Stewkley sheweth his traiterous meaning to his Countrey We find it so hard here by reason of this restraint to send any meet person into Spain to discover things there and I cannot tell whether you might find some there that might be trusted in respect of the common accord of our Religion to be used under some other colour of Errand thither to discover this Kings practises and if you can so do with any reasonable charge I wish you so to to and the same shall be satisfied Since the writing of the Queens Letter I find that the E. Morton was come to Barwick the fifth of this moneth with the rest of the Commissioners of that part so as I look hourly for his arrival here and that may you affirm to the satisfaction of some there that be so greedie in the Queen of Scots cause It is here determined by the Queens Majestie that there shall be a plain somewhat before Easter which is desired not to continue long and so I wish it I doubt not but by this time the Lord of Buckhurst hath either visited the King or known when he shall and I trust my Lord of Rutland hath been a Courtier before this time for whom I dare be bold to thank you upon the presumption I have that you shew him friendship which I know he will of himself deserve yet I cannot but adde thanks to his deserts for the desire I have to see good proof of him to the honour of himself and of his Countrey I have no other thing but that this afternoon God hath called to his mercie Sir Nicholas Throckmorton having been sick not past six or seven daies of a Plurisie joyned with a disease called Periplen he doth but lead the way to us whereof I for my part have had sufficient schooling by my present sickness I pray you commend me to my Lord of Buckhurst and whilest he is there an Ambassador I think you may do well to make him partaker of your charge From Westminster the February 1571. Yours assuredlie William Cecill To the Right Honorable Sir William Cecil her Majesties principal Secretary SIr it may please you to advertise her Majestie that according to her Commandment I repaired to the Spanish Ambassador and declared to him from point to point so much as is prescribed by her Majesties Letters especially not forgetting to dilate that point that concerned her Majesties good opinion conceived of him in respect of the good offices that he had done from time to time to salve the differences and unkindness that depend between her Majestie and his Master His answer was in the Spanish tongue which I understood not and other tongue then Spanish he would not vouchsafe to speak and therefore Sir I may rather tell you by gess then otherwise First he seemed to be agreived that he never heard any thing of the message he sent about three moneths sithence by Sir Henry Norris which concerned that point that the Duke of Alva lately hath communicated to her Majestie touching the Kings offers to be a Mediator between the Queen of Scots and her Majestie he said that she did never use Don Francisco for so he named himself but by fits who from time to time towards her Ambassador had alwaies used himself so sincerely as they could not but report that Don Francisco was a Gentleman of great sinceritie And if it had pleased her Majestie to have used him throughlie he would have done offices worthie of Don Francisco When I came to that point that concerned the brutes touching the King his Masters intention in attempting somewhat that might not best agree to good Amitie whereof though her Majestie had cause somewhat to doubt in regard of his intertaining of her Irish Rebels and the Countenance given to Stewkley yet being of her own nature not easily drawn to condemn upon brutes without good ground especially being lately entertained by friendly offers arguments of good meaning therefore desired him onely to be a mean to procure at the Kings hand some good assurance that these be but vain brutes and that his meaning is to continue good Amitie and to avoid all such occasions as might breed any contrarie effect To this after some time spent in exclamations and admirations he answered That nothing could seem so strange unto him as her Majestie being a Prince of that wisdom and experience that she is of should once give ear to such vain bruits as thereby to doubt that his Master considering the long Amitie that hath been between the House of Burgundy and England would now attempt any thing that might breed any breach thereof And as for sending to his Master he said the way was long and that it would be two moneths at the least before he could have any Answer He said therefore he would write to the Duke of Alva in that behalf I shewed that my Commission was to request to procure satisfaction from the King and as for the Duke of Alva her Majestie lacked no means to send unto him no more she did not to send unto the King but would have been glad as one well perswaded of him to have used his help therein as a thing as beneficial for his Master
to offer the person of Monsieur they might be assured of our continuance in this resolution and whether we will accept this motion in good part and will be pleased to hear further of it To this you may answer That for continuance in our resolution generally to marry we trust there is no cause to doubt the things before affirmed being remembred and how we will accept this offer of Monsieur we cannot but plainly confess it an argument of great good will in the King and the Queen his Mother considering how that the King is married there can be no greater nor worthier offer made by the Crown of France then of Monsieur D. Anjou and therefore we do thankfully accept it But whether we shall be pleased to hear further of this motion is very doubtful for us to answer thereto not that we are ignorant what answer were meet but that the interpretation thereof may be conceived otherwise then we mean And if any impediment shall hereafter justly follow of the cause without our default the same might be imputed to us as others in like cases have been And surely knowing the wisdom of Queen Mother and her experience in such causes of matrimonie we would think that without demanding this point of us she herself can best tell what is meetest to be further done herein For now that she knoweth our resolute determination towards marriage and with what manner of person it is to be considered by her that if such things as are requisite for the contentation of both our persons and for the necessary conditions of the whole cause shall be found agreeable then this offer shall not onely be thankful but by all good probabilitie take the effect that is by the offer intended And if otherwise there should any just and necessary impediment happen either for lack of satisfaction of our own natural expectation concerning our person or of reasonable accord upon the conditions requisite specially for such as may conserve the state and policy of our Realm yet we see not but the good will of either party should be allowed as well in us for yielding to hear and consider of so honourable an offer as for them that made it And herein you shall say that we pray the Queen Mother not to be over curious in requiring so precise an answer until the matter may be further treated upon and explained and not to think it any touch to the honour of her Son to be named a Suitor to us as others of as great degree have been though the motions took no effect rather for other impediments then for any mislike of the persons And thus much we would have her perswaded that as we did at the first honourably forbear to hear of some offers because the impediments were at the first beginning manifest although the persons were worthy to be liked So in this cause if we did perceive any such impediment of weight and apparence or that we had conceived by any report any just cause of misliking of this offer we would surely deal plainly with the King and Queen Mother and would most heartily thank them for so honorable an offer and yet give them manifest occasion to forbear And truly we cannot give any ansvver hereto but leave this point to the vvisdom of Queen Mother vvho is not ignorant vvhat is belonging to such a matter as this is specially tovvards us being a Queen never married and having Kingdomes to be provided for with reasonable conditions for satisfactions of our loving Subjects whom though we know are so desirous to have us marry as they will not mislike of any marriage that may content us yet shall we not take such advantage of their free good will but that they shall plainly understand that we will joyn with our private satisfaction the regard of their quietness and surety The third is not by us dissallowed that this matter may be treated upon between you as our Ambassador and Monsieur de Foix untill the matter may be brought to more ripeness so as the King may without hazarding of his honour send a Noble Ambassador And yet you may add as of your self that you think that the matter would be more readily expedited for the mutuall understanding of our minds on both parties by sending of some such speciall person as Monsieur de Foix upon some other pretence And if you can so compasse it we think many scruples would be avoided better then can be by Letters sent unto you and if Foix may come then shall you do well to advise him to think of all circumstance aforehand And yet afterwards the King if cause shall so permit may send an honourable Ambassage for such a cause The fourth request is that we should send to you certain Articles for you to declare our intent toward Monsieur with authority for you to consent thereto so as the King should first deliver to you other Articles for Monsieur wherein we cannot but find many difficulties For how can we tell what were meet to propound untill we may understand what shall be first propounded by them that make the offer But if they seem not contented with this answer that then by your former motion they will not send any person hither you may say that if they will deliver to you their offers and demands you will promise that the same shall not be revealed to any person but to our self and one or two about us whose advice we will use And if you shall be demanded what you think would be looked for to be offered you may say that you think no lesse can be offered for conditions then was by the Emperour Charles with King Philip to Queen Mary And that further of necessity it must be specially prejudged that Monsieur shall not have Authority to exercise the form of Religion in England that is prohibited by the Laws of our Realm And though you be not instructed hereof yet would we that you should specially open this matter secretly to the Q. Mother and though we mean not to urge her Son to any change of conscience otherwise then we wish him to be directed to the best yet surely we cannot nor may not give him any authority to have any exercise in facts of such Rites as are prohibited by our Laws And as for his allowance of our Religion although we wish he might in conscience like it and if he did understand the form thereof truly we do not mistrust but he would not mislike it yet we shall onely require his presence in our Oratories and Churches And this you may say is one of the matters of greatest importance to be considered by the Queen Mother The fifth that this matter should not be opened to the French Ambassador here Resident which because it is required may be observed for surely we neither to him nor to any other use to deal in such matters but as we are provoked And yet why it should be kept secret we
see not considering it hath been already moved to us by sundry and by some that are by nature bound to the Crown of France and that do think in their conscience the matter to be both honourable and profitable to the Crown of France And you shall say to the Queen Mother that she shall not mislike of us though we think so well of our selves and our estate that if God shall order this her motion to take effect it shall be the best marriage for the honour of the King her Son for the weal of his Crown and for the commendation of the Q. Mother that any Q. attempted this many hundred years for France And yet we are content to keep this motion secret according to the request meaning to make none other privy to the same but to such of our privy Councell as are known we have just cause to trust both for their fidelities and secresie that is our Cousin the Earle of Leicester whom you may say that whatsoever may be otherwise doubted we find ready to allow of any marriage that we shall like and withall marriages with any Prince ' stranger most of all this with the Crown of France the other is Sir William Cecill Lord of Burleigh and our principall Secretary and is well known to be a dutifull servant in any thing meet and agreeable for us and our Realm and so may you make report of them both The sixth is that we would not make delay in answer as we doe not The seventh to understand whether we can be pleased that Master Cavalcant shall be used any further herein which we remit to the consideration of the Q. Mother he being an honest Gentleman and to our knowledge alwaies disposed to do good offices betwixt us and the Crown and therefore not to be dissallowed by us if the Q. Mother shall like of him And yet we require you to have regard that his dealings therein considering that he departed lately from hence may not be conceived as directed by us You shall do well to deal warily with the Q. Mother in the matter of Religion for the D. her Son not as we would presse him to make a change of his Religion although we wish it But that if he should marry with us that he should not be warranted to do any act contrary to our Laws Given under our Signet at Greenwich the 24 of March 1571. To the Queens Majesties Ambassador in France Mr. Francis Walsingham SIr if you consider how weary I may be in the first and second writing of the Queens Majesties Letters to you not being void of other business you will allow a short Letter at this time If I be not much deceived Colly Weston North-hampton 〈…〉 in this wherefore you shall do well not to be over superstitious considering the necessity of this time and the dangers â— wise men there do find this matter for â— not unmeet for C. God onely knoweth the successe We here and the good there have a great losse of the Cardinall Chastillon who is thought to have been poisoned by some French Apostata or Counterâ—eit I pray you hasten Mr. Cobham towards Spain and as soon as you can let us know what you shall receive from thence This case of â— is deferred onely to see some event of the matter for 88. for if that succeed not as is now mentioned the perill is the greater by â— And what is done therein for sparing of writing you shall learn by Master Cobham By your Letter brought by my Lord of Buck. I understaâ—d the excesse of your charges there whereof my Lord of Buckhurst hath not as yet conferred with me But I will further your relief therein to my uttermost and as cause requireth Commend me humbly to my Lord of Rutland to whom I write but a short Letter From Greenwich the 24 of March 157â— Your assured loving friend William Burleigh After I had written this which with the Queens Majesties I meant to have sent by Master Henry Cobham her Majestie commanded for more haste to send some speciall conveyer with them and so I send Harcourt I am in doubt that if this matter for Religion be not well conceived by them there the adversaries to the marriage will take great advantage thereof and urge the persisting in it of purpose to dissolve the same So as I had rather the speech hereof might have come from the Queen Mother or the others to you and so you might answer them as you are warranted then to begin abruptly of your self I wish they would give you occasion so to do which if they doe not then must you needs open it unto them March 25 1570. To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may please your Lordship to advertise her Majestie that hers of the 24 of March I received the 26 of the same the contents whereof after I had well weighed and therewithall considered the great practises that are daily used here to stop that the match between her Majestie and Monsieur might not take effect which lacketh not also any such help as may from her own subjects there with you be ministred to breed an opinion in Monsieur that all is but dalliance and that he is like to march in the end in rank with the number of the forsaken whereupon as it should seem a few dayes past he used this talk with Monsieur de Foix saying Monsieur you and others have brought me to yield to this match but I feare that by the next dispatch you shall well perceive that there is no other meaning in the Queen of England but dalliance and that you and I shall be sorry that ever we waded so far And surely said he for my own part unlesse I shall find the answer direct I will never enter farther into the matter These speeches and practises after I had well weighed and seeing the answers in her Majesties Letters very fit and convenient to be made by her in respect of the quality of her person and sex had not the world mistaken her former proceeding in marriage matters But now in respect of the said mistakings fearing that the same being made according to the course appointed by her Majestie would have seemed more doubtfull then direct and so have utterly overthrown the matter I was very much perplexed what course to take when I my self saw it most safe for me to follow the course by her Majestie prescribed whatsoever came of it But when I beheld her Majesty first how she in her own judgement did think it expedient for her to marry Secondarily that if her Majestie did mean to marry abroad this was the only Gentleman fit for her to marry Thirdly the discontentment of her subjects for not marrying Fourthly how presently she is beset with a number of forrain practices the execution whereof onely stayeth upon the event of this match I then resolved that it was most fit for me to forget my self and
Right trusty and welbeloved Sr. Fr. Walsingham our Ambassador Resident in France ELIZABETH R. RIght trusty and welbeloved we greet you well you shall understand that the French Ambassador and Cavalcant having speciall credit to move to us the matter of marriage with Monsieur de Anjou have propounded to us certain Articles in French whereof you shall herewith receive a Copy To the which after some conference had by our commandment betwixt our Councellors the Earle of Leicester and the Lord of Burleigh for us and the said Ambassador and Cavalcant of the other party our said Councellors have delivered such answers in writing to them as also we send you herewith In the debating whereof the Ambassador hath with great earnestness misliked sundry of them in this manner following â—hat in the first he maketh doubt that the usage of the matrimony by the orders of this our Realm may contain matters which should be repugnant to the Dukes conscience and namely that he should at that time be urged to receive the Sacrament according to the institution of this our Church whereupon such words as are now at the last agreed in the answer we think ought and doth satisfie them though he pretend still some doubt And yet if by the answer they there shall not be satisfied then you may do well to impart to Monsieur de Foix the very order of the Book for that cause And though the receiving of the Sacrament at that time be in some part there mentioned yet that being not out of necessity you may of your self give them some cause to hope that it may for reasonable respect be forborn and so they shall have reason to be content with it The clause to have the Dukes Ministers in was inserted upon such motion made by the Ambassador In the second he hath found most difficulty for that by our answer he saith no grant is made by us that the Duke shall have liberty for himself and his domestiques to use his own Religion which he saith he would not require but to be permitted withall these cautions and conditions That he should use his Religion in secret place and manner and with such circumspection as thereby no manner of publique offence should grow to our Subjects but hereto he could not have us yield being answered That we doubted not but that Monsieur de Anjou would by the advice of Queen Mother be contented with our answers being well weighed in that we are content that by no means he nor his Domestiques shall be compelled to use the Rites of our Religion otherwise then shall be agreeable with his conscience But as for exercise of his own Religion being specially forbidden by our Laws we cannot without manifest offence and perill to our State accord thereto And so we would have you to use all good perswasions to induce them to be content with our answer in this behalf for the better maintenance whereof you may require that it may be considered what perill it might be to the quietness of our State to have one that should be our husband by his example in our house to give comfort to our Subjects that presently are well devoted to obey our Laws to break them which may so fall out in processe of time as we might repent that ever we had been so evill advised And therefore specially you shall require Queen Mother to have good consideration hereof as one that by her own experience of Government hath tasted of no small trouble growing by such permission although she have now at length prudently brought a stay in the Realm and in any wise you shall give them no other comfort in this behalf but return to us their answer The third Article is agreeable to the like Article conceived in a treaty of marriage betwixt King Philip and our late Sister Q. Mary so as thereto no exception hath been made by the Ambassador The fourth though it was misliked by the Ambassador yet it cannot be otherwise by us ordered and so the Ambassador was peremptorily answered The fifth though it did not like the Ambassador for that there is no expresse sum of yearly revenues named to be allowed to the Duke yet he hath accepted it with generall words And herein to maintain our answer you may truly affirm that King Philip had no manner of thing allowed him but sustained all his own charge and gave also to Noblemen Gentlemen and Yeomen of our Nation good entertainment In the sixth the Ambassador hath alledged no misliking but on our part you may see by the latter part of the Article that it is meet that we should know the interest that the Duke hath in his severall Dominions and how the same are to succeed to his children as well Sons as Daughters if there be no Sons and so you shall require a particular answer thereto The seventh is agreeable to the like clause of an Act of Parliament whereof you shall receive better information in another writing containing such thing as on our part are to be demanded And yet the Ambassador hath earnestly required that if the Duke should overlive us and have a child living that should be Heir to the Crown he might continue the Title of a King with his addition to be called Rex pater and if no child should be living that then he may be called Rex dotarius which we think rather of matters of form then of substance and meeter to be thought of when greater matters are accorded then now and so we have forborn to alter the Article In this sort you see the manner of our answers And although by our Letters yesterday we signified unto you that we would give some instructions how to propound other things to our benefit and so we did also let the French Ambassador understand yet upon some better consideration we have forborn thinking it meet that this matter concerning the point of Religion were first on both parties determined before we should proceed in the rest for this being accorded there is no great difficulty in the rest and this being not accorded to our contentation the rest are not to be dealt in and if it be misliked that we do not give you Commission to propound other things as perchance the Ambassador here will give them some hope that we now meant to do you may confesse that we have indeed considered of other things requisite wherein we think there will rest no difficulty But we hold it most agreeable to the Queen Mothers own intention that the matter might be so dealt in as it might speedily appeare what were to be hoped of herein And considering this matter for the Religion seemeth of such substance as none of the rest is we think it best to have this first treated of And so either to proceed or forbear wherein we trust our sincerity shall well appeare And so we would have you to expresse our good meaning Given under our Signet at our Pallace of
I as you know are to Protestants and Catholiques either of these two would be glad to be assured of Monsieur In reason now it is to be weighed with which of these two he is to joyn with the Protestants he shall favour those whom the Queen especially favoureth he shall concur with her in the maintenance of the present State and Government he shall gain the favour of her Majesties Councellours in whom she reposeth her greatest trust and lastly he shall continue the Realm in repose and quietness Iâ— on the other side he persist in his Religion first he shall not gain the Catholiques unless they may have the like libertie as he himself enjoyeth Secondarily they are already devoted unto the Queen of Scots and so misliking nothing more then of his Marriage doubting thereby to grow the prejudice of her Title whereby we may conclude that by all likelihood by having of it he shall not joyn the good wills of the Catholiques unless they may participate with him in like liberty and on the other side it will breed misliking of him with the Protestants doubting the exercise of his Religion will breed some unquietness in the State and consequently he will be misliked of both which inconvenience of misliking I wished him to perswade Monsieur well to weigh Touching the inconvenience that would grow to the Queen I shewed him the same would rise three manner of ways First by breach of Law Secondly by offence of her good Subjects and Thirdly by the encouragement of evil Subjects Which said I if you will well weigh are of much more moment then any may happen to Monsieur he being only touched by relenting in honour the Queens Majestie my Mistress both in honour and safety he as a private person she being as a Monarch and a Prince whose Kingdoms were to participate any inconvenience that might befall unto her To this he replyed that his relenting in Religion being matter of conscience was an inconvenience of more weight then any that might happen to the Queen In the end after many replications on both sides to and fro he concluded that he was well assured that Monsieur in no case would be brought upon a sudden to yield to any change of Religion for no respect and yet that he doubted not but within a â—mall timâ— after the Match the same would easily be brought to pass without any great difficulty He willed me to consider how much this match was misliked by the Catholiques and how much on the other side desired of those of the Religion here and that in his opinion and conscience nothing could more further Religion throughout Christendom then this match To this I answered that her Majestie was on the other side fully bent to maintain her answer to the second Article or otherwise resolved not to proceed and so we ended This Conference was between us the day after Master Cavalcants arrival Master Cavalcant being present And so c. From Paris the eight and twentieth of April 1571. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To our right trusty and well-beloved Francis Walsingham Esquire our Ambassador Resident with our good Brother the French King ELIZABETH R. RIght trusty and well-beloved we greet you well By your Letters of the two and twentieth of April sent to the Lord of Burleigh we perceive in what sort you have dealt with the Irish Fugitive Morris fitz-Gibbons naming himself Archbishop of Cassel and having considered his request in a Paper subscribed with his hand we do not so much disallow his request to have our pardon and his restitution of his Bishoprick if we shall so please as the slender manner of his suit being void of all recognition of his offences and therewith his desire to repair out of that Countrey into Ireland without first coming hither where he ought by his submission to recover his pardon And therefore we would that you should inform him by Letters or by Message and upon your informations of his petitions we do not allow of his manner of so slender submission and petition And if he will not humblie require pardon for his offences and shew himself repentant and disposed to live hereafter in Ireland like a faithful Subject we mean not to bestow upon him either pardon or Bishoprick But if he will upon your warrant come hither into England he shall find us ready to shew him grace according to his humbleness in suing for it This you may let him know and express the same unto him in such sort as you shall see cause for except you shall understand certainly of him we understand there is no great account to be made of him as he pretendeth for himself neither is he of kin to the Earl of Desmond as he alledgeth nor of any credit in England And yet we are content to draw him home by means not dishonourable We do well allow of the Irish man whom you have imployed to attend upon him but whether it be Captain Thomas or Henry is not expressed and we would have you to assure him that he shall be considered by us And we pray you to advertise us in what sort you think best to have him rewarded Given under our Signet at our Pallace of Westminster the fifth of May 1571. and in the thirteenth year of our Reign To the Right Honourable Sir Francis Walsingham Ambassador for the Queens Majestie in France SIr for answer to your Letters concerning the Iewd Lozell of Ireland intituling himself Archbishop of Cassels the Queens Majesties will serve And for reward of the Irish man I pray you advertise your opinion by your next I hear by many means out of Spain that the King is therein rather counselled by Epimetheus then Prometheus he hath imployed much money upon Stewkley and now findeth him not worthie of any more Our Parliament is dailie new with child with projects for Laws that I was never more wearie Your Letters for the matters of D. hath driven us to the wall and particularly offended the Queens Majestie But the French Ambassador hath Letters from the Queen Mother and from de Foix wherein the matters are more tempered and I think he hath Commission to qualifie that hard Article that cannot be there digested It is too true that I perceive that you wrote to Master Hennage that some comfort here hath made you hardlier answered Indeed I wish things were not subject to sudden changes but Gods will be done for I cannot tell how to satisfie doubts but must refer me to his power to direct me As I received news out of Scotland so I send you them we have matters revealed which will shortly disgrace â—8 and offend â—2 and yet nothing shall be justly imployed to the Queens Majestie but that she is of meer necessity forced in extremities to use new remedies Yours assuredly William Burleigh To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh IT may please your Lordship to advertise her Majestie that according
advertised from their Ambassador I had order from her Majestie in that behalf Your Lordship therefore shall do well if there be none sent before the arrival of this Messenger to hasten the same with all speed And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave at Paris the fourteenth of May 1571. Your Lordships to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lords the Earle of Leicester and my Lord of Burleigh I Thought good to advertise her Majestie with speed that they rest here in very good opinion of the matter and that if the Articles were here that are to be propounded by her Majestie it would make them more reasonable in the point of Religion Thus farre I hear they are come on that they are content that that Article shall be left out uncapitulated Montmorency who is now at the Court hath done very good offices herein They stand upon this as I learn that her Majestie promised to deliver her Articles assoon as she could receive the King and that therefore without the having of them will not deal so frankly as otherwise they would for that the same being promised and not come breedeth mistrust I beseech your Lordships therefore for putting away all jealousie to deal earnestly with her Majestie for the present sending of them with all speed for that by her Majesties Letters I perceive they are in a readiness To morrow I repaire to the Court to deliver my message whereof they have an inkling by the Ambassadors Letters who doth deal very honorably towards her Majestie Thus for haste leaving further to trouble your Lordships at this present I most humbly take my leave At Vernon the 19 of May 1571. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham To our Right trusty and well beloved Francis Walsingham Esq our Ambassador Resident with our good Brother the French King ELIZABETH R. RIght trusty and welbeloved we greet you well after we heard the contents of your Letters sent hither concerning your communication with the Queen Mother and also with Monsieur de Foix upon the answer we sent you by Cavalcant to the Articles brought by him we understood also by the French Ambassador here resident that he had received Letters from the Q. Mother and de Foix concerning the same matters And though the answer made to you as by your Letters we conceive were more peremptory then such as the Letters to this Ambassador which we have seen did purport adding thereunto some dulcimes to qualifie the same especally in answering that which we could not but object as strange that the Q. Mother required to have answer from us within the space of ten dayes yet to omit rehearsalls either the contents of your Letters or of the Letters sent to this Ambassador we think best to impart unto you which we will you shall impart to the Q. Mother or to the King which is thus we find more great and urgent causes to move us to persist in our former answer in the Article of Religion both for our conscience our safety honour and quietness then can be be alledged or imagined for the conscience and honour of Monsieur de Anjou and the reasons hereof as apparent in this sort following First if we shall grant a permission to Monsieur to have the use of his Religion which we take principally to consist in the having saying and hearing of the private Masse though the same should be secret for the place and rarely for the time and not frequented with numbers yet it might seem doubtfull to us how without offence of conscience such a tolleration might be by us permitted Secondarily though our conscience should not be offended yet we are well assured that our realm being not void of diversities of opinions herein though indeed presently we find no disobedience worthy of any accompt against our Laws there could not any such exercise of Religion be used by our sufferance by a person of such estimation as one being allowed to be our husband should be but that the same would breed such a misliking to our best subjects and servants as surely should diminish their great love toward us and consequently hazard some inward troubles within our Realm by occasion that one part now dutifully obeying us would grow doubtfull of our conscience in the observations of our Laws and another part would be imboldened by example of that which our husband should be permitted to do should attempt to neglect our Laws and multiply occasions discords and seditions and these perills are so evident to follow and so dangerous if they should follow as surely if we should not aforehand so consider them we might condemn our selves of great folly as not having due regard either to our own particular estate or to the common quietness of our Realm whereof hitherto we thank Almighty God through his speciall goodness we have had the effects of much contentation On the other part we see no such matter of weight to be considered for Monsieur that either his conscience his honour or safety should be troubled impeached or indangered although we perceive that the Queen Mothers speeches seem to tend thereto for where it is said and that by answer if he should come hither and live without his own Religion he should be accompted as one of no Religion and in time comming he should be as de Foix saith an Atheist and so neither could we in right esteem him to have any faith neither should he keep the reputation that he hath Of all which certainly if we could think that by our answer and his yielding thereto any hurt might happen to him we should utterly condemn our selves and readily Reform the same or else forbear to give any answer at all but you shall say That we require the Queen Mother or the King or if the cause so require Monsieur himself to consider better of our answer we leave him freedome to use our Religion in that we are content not to constrain him or any of his otherwise to use it then it shall please him saying That we think it expedient that if he should be our husband he should accompany us to the Church and why he should not or may not use our manner of prayers and divine Service certainly we think no reason can be yielded by any that knoweth the same and will compare it to that which the Church of Rome doeth use For in ours there is no part that hath not been yea that is not at this day used in the Church of Rome as of late the same hath been allowed by the last Councell at Trent and if any thing be more in ours the same is part of the holy Scripture Now therefore why it should be objected That Monsieur should live here without Religion if he shall be present at ours there is no cause except it may be objected that ours is in the English tongue and not understood but to satisfie
that the same is also in the Latin tâ—â—gue as the service of the Church of Rome and so ordered to be used in our Universities And if the Latin tongue should not content it is also or may be translated into the French either of which his own ministers might use at his pleasure in places convenient whereby he might serve God devoutly and thereby not to be counted irreligious or an Atheist And if it should be objected that by this means it might be esteemed that he might make a change of his faith in matters of questions in Religion certainly herein it might also be truly answered that although we can be glad that all persons should by Gods inspiration change from ignorance or errour to knowledge and truth yet mean we not to prescribe to him or any person that they should at our motion or in respect of us change their Religion in matters of faith Neither doth the usage of the divine Service of England properly compell any man to alter his opinion in the great matters now in controversie in the Church Onely the usage thereof doth direct men daily to heare and read the Scriptures to pray to almighty God by daily use of the Psalter of David and of the ancient Prayers Anthemes and Collects of the Church even the same which the universall Church hath used and doth yet use Lastly if any one part of our Articles and Ceremonies should mislike him as surely we cannot conjecture of any such Yet therein the rest not being by him misliked some tolleration might be to forbear the same untill he might better consider thereof And to that which is said That we permit Ambassadors to use the Religion of Rome First we never made any grant thereof to any whereby in that respect his conscience is free But being suffered that is to say not molested therein by any of our ministers of our Laws the difference is apparent between another Princes servant comming onely but as a Messenger or tarrying to do Messages which is the office of an Ambassador and one that is to be our husband that is in respect of Religion our head and in order to be joynt Governor of our Realms and subjects with us that is to assist us in maintenance of our Laws in punishing offenders in giving good example to our Subjects in counselling us how to maintain the quietness of our estate and preserve to us and to himself for our sake the love which he shall find is born to us by our subjects And how contrary it shall be to all those that he may doe as Ambassadors are suffred to doe in whom neither we nor our People can have any such Opinion of carriage for us or them or for our Laws or quietness every person understandeth Yea commonly Subjects think the contrary of all Ambassadors of strange Princes though all give not like cause Thus you see what we think meet to answer at this time having some reasonable Causes to move us to think That if the matter be as earnestly meant as is by the Ambassadors words pretended they will not be so precise as to demand any conditions in the case of Religion whereof our estate may come in danger or our present quietness come in doubt And therefore you shall be the more earnest in setting forth the dangers that necessarily may follow The Ambassador hath required us to send you the rest of such demands as is meet for our part whereunto we were once inclined and have them in readiness But now we find it convenient first to understand the resolution of this matter of Religion before we will propound the rest whereby no delay of time shall follow if in the first we may accord for we may speedily by Post send you the same demands if cause so require Given under our signet at our Pallace of Westminister the 11 day of May 1571 and in the 13 year of our Reign To the Right Honourable Fr. Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr by the Queens Majesties Letters you shall understand what you are directed to do and say and therefore I must forbear to deal therein with you considering you are prescribed But I will friendly let you know how the answer hath proceeded and so the cause and circumstance known you may the better conceive the inward sense of the Message At the first coming of your Letters hither with the answer from Queen Mother In A was very sorry to judge the matter so perplexed and almost desperate Whereby I then judged there was here a plaine forward intention to proceed in the cause if this let for Religion should not be a stay After two daies the French Ambassador had Letters and the Queens Majestie was by some informed that saw the Letters that there was no such difficulty in that matter of Religion Nevertheless the Ambassador himself being appointed to conferr with my Lord of Leicester and me made the cause very hard alledging directly that Monsieur would never sustaine that dishonour as to come hither with an accompt to the world that he should have no Religion and then I answered as is contained in the Queens Majesties Letters setting out the neerness of ours to such as was good and found in the Roman adding that we omitted nothing but those which were impious and doubtfull to be against the Scriptures And so with us he ended with this request that the Queens Majestie would grant these words quod which sentence I found imperfect and so yet do I reported this to the Queens Majestie After this I was by one of some value secretly informed that if this matter of Religion were earnestly sticked unto and peremptorily pressed it would be obtained whereupon the answer was conceived and I commanded to report it to the French Ambassador who hearing it seemed much dismayed and concluded That he saw not but this answer should make a breach and end of the whole For if the answer saith he be grounded upon the Queens conscience then saith he there is no qualification to be hoped for Thus I reported and thereupon I saw her Majestie was perplexed and wished I had forborn to have made the principall foundation upon her Majesties conscience which I was commanded to do and therefore no fault in me And to remedie the matter I was willed speedily to advertise the Ambassador secretly that I was larger in explication of her Majesties conscience then I see since my speaking with him was meant and that the principall reasons were the other of the misliking of her good subjects and of the danger to lose their good wills c. And so did I by a little writing advertise him whereby what conceit he gathereth I know not but by some others I heare that he still judgeth it broken After this I was commanded also to temper the sentence in the Queens Majesties Letters as you perceive for it is not as it was an assertion of direct necessity but of possibility
he willed me to assure her that he would never forget and further to signifie unto her that he made choise of the Marshal Montmâ—rency and Monsieur de Foix to send over with his full mind touching the Articles that have been propounded of either side and that he therefore desired by the said Gentlemen to understand when it shall be her Majesties pleasure that they shall come over to treat in that behalf Having then done with the King the Queen Mother called me unto her and told me that of late certain had gone about to perswade the King her Son that her Majestie meant nothing less then to proceed in this marriage using sundry perswasions to induce her to believe the same Notwithstanding she assured me that such is the great good opinion that they all have of her Majesties sincerity upon good grounds in respect of her Majesties honourable dealing as no such brutes and sinister practises can prevail with them to make them think otherwise then honourable of her Majestie and yet she did assure me that the same did proceed from such persons as they might easily have been abused had not her Majesties own sincere dealing assured them of the contrary I shewed her that if she or the King should otherwise think of her Majestie they should do her great wrong and give her just cause to think her sincere dealing unsincerely requited This was the effect of my present negotiation And so c. At â— the twentieth of Iune 1571. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To my very loving Friend Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador for the Queens Majestie in France I Have written by du Pine of late to you and before that as I think you have received her Majesties Answer and such Articles as she doth think meet to be demanded Her Majestie doth stand still very stiff touching the point of Religion required of that side and as far as I can perceive she will hardly relent to any other qualification then you know of and that being granted to her I suppose there will be no other difficultie And surely in this if Monsieur remit the whole to her Majestie there is no doubt but by that means he shall obtain more then we wish and more then is reasonable or at the least convenient to be openly contracted by them For as by the one that may be had which is to be born withal for a time in hope of better so by the other it will altogether encourage such as are already too high and most meetest to be kept under even for both their sureties For this cause it is onely to be wished for these respects the first to the universal good of the cause of Religion the other for the quietness of our present Estate And for these causes sake I pray God to prosper it accordingly and I see no cause grâ—atly to doubt if that point of Religion be yielded on that side unto The Ambassador here doth very honestly and well in the matter and surely doth good offices between their Majesties For my part I perceive by you that I have cause to thank him for his particular affection towards me I can but thank him here And I pray you as you may have occasion use this favour for me as it may appear to the Kings Majestie there how much his Ambassador hath made me know of his good acceptance of my good devotion towards the encrease of the good Amitie between our good Soveraign and him which doth give me great encouragement to go alway the more forward so far forth as with my duty to her Majestie I may Thus having no other matter presently to write to you I bid you farewel in haste the ninth of June 1571. Your assured Friend Ro. Leicester To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh THe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shewed me his Mistresses Letters dated the seventh of this moneth him to advertise A. that their of great moment in hand to impart he seeketh with England and therefore roundly forward with the matter furthe to advertise A. that there is a practise in the stealing away of the Scotish Q. whereunto him to have regard This as I can gather come from â—54 who discovereth it to his Master he hath not yet imparted the same unto A. by the reason of his absence about ten days past it was bruted here for most certain truth that the Scotish Queen was escaped into Flanders Of late days of these common brutes there have followed shrewd effects whereof your Lordship shall do well to advertise her Majestie to have an eye that way The King is not yet returned to Galleon but remaineth still at Paris which divers of my fellows find themselves agrieved withal especially Spain There rise daily new causes of unkindness between the two Princes Spain seemeth to set the King here very light which ingendreth in him a great desire of revenge and lacketh but treasure to make open demonstration thereof And so c. At Loveirs the five and twentieth of June 1571. Your Lordships to Command Fr. Walsingham By the QUEEN To our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Francis Walsingham Esq our Ambassador Resident with our good Brother the French King ELIZABETH R. RIght Trusty and Well-beloved we greet you well Forasmuch as the French Ambassador here joyntly with Monsieur de l' Archant Captain of the Guard of Monsier D. Anjoâ— treated with us to have our consent that the Marshal Montmorency and others nominated with him for the French King might come hither as they say to treat and conclude the matter moved betwixt us and the said Monsieur we think it necessary to impart unto you what hath passed therein at some length which we have ordered to be put in writing by the Lord of Burleigh to the intent that on the one part you should not be ignorant and on the other part you should be better instructed how to treat upon the matter both with the King or any other that shall in this matter have Commission to treat with you In all our dealings with them you shall find that we have in no wise yielded to grant to Monsieur a liberty for exercise of his Romish Religion neither have we any inclination to yield thereto and yet for the benefit of our Realm rather then for any particular inclination to marriage we have resolved this marriage to be meet for us so as the difficulty of Religion be well accorded And where in the last end upon conference had by the Ambassador and Lord of Archant with the Earl of Leicester and the Lord of Burleigh it may appear to you that they finding a resolute determination of their Ambassadors should demand of us a liberty for Monsieur in the cause of Religion it should be denied then did they thereupon seem to yield and by way of demand require to know how it might be liked if the demand of Religion were utterly forborn and put to silence Our meaning is not
that you should make any mention hereof to the King or any other except it be first moved to you And then in that case you may well say that if it be not demanded by them in Treaty then shall there need no contradiction to be made in Treaty and if they think the honour of Monsieur preserved in that it is not denied him as likewise the honour of us should be preserved in that we have not assented thereto And that there shall not be no further meaning by Monsieur herein but that as it shall not be by way of Treaty demanded before Marriage so he will be also content after marriage to forbear the use of it then may you seem to agree thereto For otherwise you may plainly say either to Monsieur himself or to some other in credit about him whom you may trust that the forbearing of it by way of Treaty shall not content us only but also the forbearing of the use of it And so we require you to express the same plainly where you shall see cause for we cannot esteem it a plain dealing to pass it over with silence in the Treaty and yet to be in doubt whether the same shall be used indeed and thereby move a new controversie between him and us of more danger then is meet to be suffered to follow for lack of plain dealing with them herewith included shall you have in writing the sum of the Conference had at this time by which you may be fully informed And whereas prssport was required by de l' Archant for the Marshal Montmorency Monsieur de Foix and Monsieur de Chiverny we thought once to have sent it unto you to the end if the King would send them you might deliver the same but sithence we have thought better to stay it until we might know the Kings answer to you Given under our Signet at our Honor of Hampton Court the ninth of Iuly 1571. in the thirteenth year of our Reign A summary of the several answers made by the Queens Majestie to the French Ambassador and Mr. ◠' Archant to their Message and Request THey first said That the French King Queen Mother and Monsieur de Anjou thanked her Majestie for her sincere manner of dealing hitherto and that having considered such answers as her Majestie had made to the first demands and the last Articles delivered by her Ambassador containing things to be demanded on her part which her Majestie had done upon earnest solicitation of the King on his part The King their Master and the Queen his Mother thought fit to send this Gentleman to notifie their great liking to proceed and to finish the matter and therefore were determined to send hither an Ambassage of honourable and wise persons that is to say the Marshal of Montmorency Monsieur de Foix and Monsieur de Chiverny Chancellor to Monsieur to treat and conclude the same if so her Majestie would think meet and would grant them her license and conduct to come who also were in such readiness and immediately upon the return of Monsieur de l' Archant they would forthwith take their journey hither To this her Majestie answered That she also thanked the King and the Queen Mother for their manner of friendly dealing in prosecuting this matter so earnestly and for her sincere dealing with them she doubted not but her doings should always thereof make good proof But as to the matter of Monsieur and her she could not understand that it was in such forwardness as by their speeches she gathered that the Ambassadors might come in such sort as by their speeches it seemed to end and conclude it for that she as yet understood not the difficulties risen upon the first answer that were by the King conceived namely in the matter of Religion neither yet how her last Articles of her Demands were accepted by the King althogh she confess that she thought there could be no mislike in those last Articles considering there was nothing contained in them but that which already had been granted by King Philip to Q. Mary her sister so as then her Majestie concluded that except the King would declare his contentation and his Brothers agreeable to her Majasties minde already declared in the matter of Religion that is that she could not grant unto Monsieur liberty to exercise the Roman Religion in any 〈◊〉 contrary to her Laws she saw it but labor lost to send any Ambassadors To this the Ambassador l' Archant for answer used long speeches in declaring how the King Q. Mother and his brother desired nothing more then the honor of her Maj. and the weal of her Estate so likewise hoped that her Maj. would have due regard of the honour and estate of Monsieur that should not be judged by the world to be without a Religion which must needs be if he should live here without the exercise of his Religion and yet his meaning was not to use the same in any sort to be offensive to her Majestie or to breed offence to the quiet estate of the Realm And so further they used many arguments to move her Maj. to yield to their desire But her Maj. persisted in her former determination that she could neither with conscience nor yet in respect of policy grant to Mon. such liberty as was required and added that she was not of mind that Mon. should be constrained to live here without exercise of religion for if the form of the religion in England as it is established by the Laws of the Realm were considered by them as it might easily be considering that it was published and to be seen both in Latin French it should be found that there is nothing in the same contrary to the Roman religion differing only that the same is translated out of the Latin tongue into English and that some things for reasonable respects are omitted and not used in the Church of England so as whosoever shall use the same service cannot be accounted without Religion nor to do any thing repugnant to the Roman Religion In this sort with speeches at more length tending to these ends they departed from her Majestie upon their first access and afterwards they made means that her Maj. would be pleased to give them some better answer and in like manner her Majestie thought her determination so reasonable for her to hold as she rather thought that they had some further power to yield to her And because her Maj. understood that the French King had concluded this matter with the rest of his Councel and by nominating Ambassadors had made the cause patent her Maj. hitherto having not imparted it to any others but with two of her Councel as she was required so to keep it secretly on the French Kings behalf Now she commandeth that the whole proceedings from the beginning should be declared to her Councel and so being done the same were very well allowed by her Councellors and her
him into the fire that he may know what it is to serve against God I would your Lordship knew the Gentleman for courage abroad and counsell at home they give him here the reputation to be another Ol he is in speech eloquent pithy but which is chiefest he is in Religion as Religious in life as he is sincere in profession I hope God hath raised him up in these days to serve for an instrument for the advancement of his glory I beseech your Lordship to credit this bearer touching my particular state To whom leaving to trouble your Honour at this present I refer you I beseech your Lordship to procure out of hand that I may know what her Majestie meaneth to do in this matter At Paris the twelfth of August 1571. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham To the Right honourable and my very loving Friend Francis Walsingham Esq her Majestes Ambassador Resident in France SIr this bearer my Lord of Rutlands servant can more commodiously report unto you the arrival of Monsieur de Foix then I can now write and so I refer the report thereof to him Yesterday your long Letters sent by my Cousin Dannet came to my hand even within a quarter of an hour before de Foix came to her Majesties presence I fear the offers of so great Amitie will diminish or divert the former intention of the marriage without which the French Amity shall serve to small purpose but to make us ministers of their appetites and those fulfilled to cast us off Surely I could have wished that the extremity of the marriage had been seen before these baits of Amity had been thrown before us I see those most liked by such as I could not find to like of the marriage But all this is contrary to your self At Hatfield the sixteenth of August 1571. Your assured Friend William Burleigh To my very Friend Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador for the Queen Majestie in France I Have received your Letters written with Cypher by Dannet The matter is of great importance I am most glad to see them at this point I think her Majestie shall be advised not to lose all these good advantages offered her specially when they tend both to the setting up of Gods true Religion and establishing of her own surety with augmentation of her Crown For my part I never found cause since her Reign that moveth me more to further it and be you assured I will do all that is possible that somewhat may come thereof You shall understand as soon as is possible her resolution but I think it will be five or six days near hand first by reason of the other matters which de Foix who had his access yesterday the fifteenth of this moneth and was as graciously used at her Majesties hands as ever I saw any Ambassador he had loving talk and hath already entred into this matter and this day my Lord Keeper my Lord Chamberlain my Lord of Burleigh and my self are appointed to confer with him He standeth stiff to have Religion for Monsieur her Majestie standeth as stiff in denial and so I think meaneth to do For this time I can say no more Your assured Friend Ro Leicester To our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Francis Walsingham Esq our Ambassador Resident in France ELIZABETH R. TRusty and Well-beloved we greet you well and though we think you had some great desire to hear how Monsieur de Foix hath here proceeded with us in his charge and the rather because we understand that within a few days after the first Speech with us and Conference with our Councel he dispatched Letters or Message thither yet surely until this present we could not ascertain you of any thing certainly concluded with him by reason that he being not satisfied with our answers doth still persist in seeking to induce us to reform our answer more towards his satisfaction But now you shall understand that he and the Ambassador Resident having had sundry Conferences with us and apart with our Councel at all times the weight of the matter hath chiefly depended upon the cause of Religion For they requiring a toleration and we denying they offering to have it tempered and moderated as our Councel shall devise to avoid offence of our Conscience and of the Dukes the same was found always either impossible or so hard as by no device such a mean in plain terms by words or writing could be found to satisfie them or our selves So as in the end they desired as we would be content to agree secretly that he should not be impeached in the secret use of his Religion if we would not consent to a toleration and so you shal see by writing which you shal receive herewith what hath been said by our Councel thereto and with the same writing also two answers to two other matters by them onely propounded because to the same there was no answer satisfactory given in our former writings to their first demands In this writing now delivered to them we perceived them most troubled with a phrase added of great necessity for our purpose and specially for satisfying of our conscience that the Duke shall not be molested for using of any Rites not repugnant unto the word of God which words being in a writing delivered unto them first the one and twentieth of this moneth was afterwards now in the last of August by their importunity as now you see altered from the words Verbo Dei to Ecclesiae Dei which in our judgment is all one and yet finding themselves therewith better content then with the other we yielded to have it so altered Besides this writing because we know not how our answer in the Article of Religion shall be there imparted we have also by express speech declared to Monsieur de Foix that as we shall be well content that our answer may satisfie Monsieur de Anjou for his honour for that we have in some sort yielded to him to use other Ceremonies then ours so that as they be not repugnant to the Church of God and with such other cautions as in our writing are further contained so our meaning is to be declared plainly to Monsieur de Anjou that we cannot permit him at his coming to have the use of any private Mass which speech we have plainly uttered unto him because there should no misconceiving be gathered of our answer whereby the Duke might hope of a sufferance for that we cannot find it without peril of our Estate and quietness to yield thereunto And thus having imparted unto you how we have answered him we will that you also after the consideration of the same and of the answer given unto him in writing which we herewith send shall resort to the King and affirm the same to be our mind And if you shall find them doubtful how to interpret our answer that is whether we having our mind satisfied in the cause of Religion can be content to proceed in
the marriage You shall assure the King that the rest of the things being by him assented unto and ordered to be performed we mean sincerely to proceed in further treaty of the marriage according to our former answer And if they shall so move it unto you we can be content that special Commissioners may be sent from thence hither to treat and conclude with us and our Councel as reason shall require And for that we have causes to think that sundry there and some being of Credit will seek to provoke the King to a misliking of our answer and to conceive that we have not had a sincere intention in this matter from the beginning you shall do your best and so we warrant you to assure the King of the contrary whatsoever malice shall devise against us And where we had occasion by some of your Letters to some here to think that now at Monsieur de Foix coming hither though the matter of the Marriage should not take effect yet that some motion of a further league of Amity might be made betwixt us and the King You shall understand that not only no motion hath been made thereof unto us but upon indirect speeches used by some of our trusty Ministers to de Foix in that purpose he hath earnestly declared that without prosecution of the marriage he had no Commission to deal in any other matter at all but said that he usted that the King his Master would continue Amity with us except contrary cause should be offered by us Now therefore considering you may see that we have not made any great difficulty in the matter of Religion which we cannot see how it may be yielded unto Monsieur and his Domestiques though the number shall be never so small without peril by discontentation of our best Subjects and comfort to the worse it shall be your part to insist earnestly to let it be well understood how sincerely we have dealt therein and how free we ought to be from the calumniation of certain persons that will never be content to say well of us how well soever we do The occasion of the long abode here of Monsieur de Foix shall appear to you we doubt not by the Letters of my Lord of Burleigh As for satisfaction of your desire to have some to assist you in service now this moneth whilest you shall attend the recovery of your health upon the next answer to be made us of these our Letters you shall also have order for some to be assistant to supply your place Given under our Signet the Second of September 1571. in the thirteenth year of our Reign 24 August postea ultima Augusti 1571. Summarium corum que serenissima Regina suasu consiliâ— suâ—rum Consiliariorum proposuit in Colloquiâ— de tribus Articulis cum illustriss Or atoribus Christianissimi Regis Ad primum de Coronat Ducis SErenissima Regina non potest sine assensu trium ordinum seu statuum regnisui concedere ut serenissimus Dux post nuptias celebratas coronetur ut Rex verem ut habiatur coronetur ut Rex respectu matrimonii cum Regina sine aliquo prejudicio juris tituli suae Majestatis aut hered aut success ejus si id fieri potest communi consilio consensu eorum statuum Majestas sua libenter assensura est dabit operam ut serenissimi ducis honor amplitudo eo modo augeatur eò libentiùs quia per accessionem aliquam ad ejus amplitudinem Majestatis suae splendor gloria etiam incrementum capiet Ad secundum de conjuâ—ctione in administratione regnorum Secundò existimat sua Majestas ut concedatur serenissâ—mo duci ut ipse sereniss Dux uná cum serenissima Regina consorte sua constante Matrimonio stilo honore nomine Regio censeatur gaudeat eandemque serenissimaâ— Reginam consortem suam in foelici regnorum dominiorum administratione gubernatione adjuvet tanquam maritus salvis tamen juribus legibus consuetudinibus regni ut in tertâ—o Articulo prioris scripti intitulati explanatio Articulorum c. continetur Ad tertium de toleranda religione Ducis Tertio ubi ab oratore postulatum est quemadmodum à Rege Christianissimo mandatis se habuisse asseruit ut scripto authentico valido facultas concederet dicto serenissimo Duci domesticis ejus excercendum suae religionis in Angliâ quod cum propter multas graves causas à Majestate Reginae fieri non posse responsum esset Agitatum postea inter dictos oratores consiliarios dicte Reginae ut saltem privato aliquo singrapho Reginae serenissimae serenissimus Dux certior redderetur futurum esse ut nullo modo impedritur in hoc regno religionem suam excercere Quod cum ad Maiestatem Reginae relatum esset ita consiliariis suis responsum dari vâ—sum est Imprimis quod existimatur Serenissimum ducem non futurum alienum à Religione ecclesiae Anglicanae si de ea benè candidè recâ—è informaretur maximè expedire etiam videbatur si de hac causa exercendae religionis nihil ageretur in aliquo tractatu aut Colloquio sed quae in eâ apparebant difficultates controversie mutuò utriusque Principìs colloquio componerentur Sed cum id Oratoribus nullo modo placere videatur non absurdum esse putabatur si hoc modo utriusque menti conscienti consulatur Si serenissimus dux temporibus usitatis divinorum officioruÌ„ uná cum serenissimâ—â— Reginâ in oratoriis suis adesse volet neque Religionis Anglicanae institutiones rationes audire ediscere temporibus congruis recusabit Eadem seremsâ—ima Regina assentietur ut neque ipsemet dux neque sui domestici contra conscientiam suam aut illorum cogantur ritibus aut ceremoniis Ecclesiae Anglicanae eo modo uti quo subditi regni ex legibus obligaâ—tur donec instituti alitâ—r persuasi fuerint Porró idem serenissimus Dux is numerus domesticorum suorum de quo postea convenietur non molestabuntur per leges hujus regni propter usurpationem aliorum divinorum rituum ceremoniarum Ecclesiarum Ecclesiae Dei non apertè repugnantium modo it fiat in loco certo eoque privato secreto ut conscientiis suis satisfaciant ut nulla ex ea varietate occasio manifesta detur subditis regni ad violendas leges Ecclesiasticas Et cum multa alia petenda sunt â— serenissimo Duce ut per Christianissimum Regem fratrem suum per seipsum pactis caveantur ut juramentis etiam confirmentur quemadmodum oratoribus non est negatum nec tamen clausula subsequens eodem modo ab ipso serenissimo Duce exigenda obtinenda est quo presens hoc responsum in superioribus tribus Clausulis contentum à sua Majestate Regia postulabitur Quae dicendaâ— sunt ex parte Ducis
part take that it is substantially and orderly done and besides that this Treaty is not personal but is perpetual and is for you and your Successors Why saith he it is made for our two lives and one year after and then within that year if I should dye such a letter may be gotten And if my Son or whosoever should come after me should not keep his promise which he hath spoken and written I could wish him strangled and not alive Saith Mr. Walsingham though the Queens Majestie should peradventure be content with such assurance yet some of her Councel would not and leagues must be made not onely to satisfie the Prince but also the Subjects especially of such a one as this which is a comfort and assurance of all parties For when upon this hope they shall traffique here abroad in your Countrey and others and see in the Treaty no assurance for general words is holden for no assurance in this case they will be afraid to traffique or travel abroad And Sir ye had need consider well of it for as there be that do favour this league as we do there be other I warrant you which be of the Spanish faction and would be loth it should go forward and if they taking this advantage should perswade the Queen from it and in the mean while bring her some other offer and then this break off it would be hard to get it again Break off saith he I had rather dye I will satisfie the Queen my Sister well enough I do not doubt it though you be never so stiff I understand she will be content with such assurance as I tell you I do assure you Sir quoth I I do not know so much and think verily she will not be content and until know more from her Majestie I must still think so Well saith the King ye have coursed me a vvhile novv must I course you again for the Queen of Scots I must have that my request put into the Treaty for her make vvhat ansvver you vvill she is my Kinsevvoman and my Sister in lavv and she was my Soveraign and you do knovv the league vvhich is betvvixt that Realm and my Realm I can do no less then have the same inserted into the league Sir quoth I as vve have vvritten to your Deputies vve have no Commissions or Authority to treat of any such matter Touching the late Queen of Scots she vvas your Soveraign thanks be to God she is not novv vvith that he laughed and it is thought vvhen she vvas Queen here she deserved not very vvell neither of your Realm nor of your House and she is your Kinsvvoman so is she also to the Queen my Mistris but if she vvere your daughter or your son if he or she vvould procure your death or to have your Crovvn from you vvould you not see justice done on him or her that should attempt it What is that saith he so I repeated it again that if his son should attempt to depose him from his Crovvn or procure his death that he should be content that justice should rather be done then to be still in that danger Why saith he I do not require to have it put in the same league Saith Mr. Killegrew fire and vvater cannot be together the one is contrary to the other the league is made for a perpetual and strait Amity betvvixt you and the Queens Majestie of England and you vvould treat for the Queens most mortal and dangerous enemy this cannot stand together you must take her novv for dead and you cannot tell vvhether she be dead or alive and vvhy should you then require her to be put in the league And if it be so saith the King vvhat remedy then there can be no more suit made for her and so vve took our leave And from thence vve vvere conveyed to the Queen Mothers Chamber vvhere vvas the Lady Margaret and a great number of other Ladies vvhere first I declared to the Q. that vvhere she had promised me that for the Merchants that be in the Staple or Hanse they might have the exercise of their religion after the maner of the English Church now when we come to put it in the Treaty the Kings Deputies will not agree to it They say they heard nothing of it Yes said she I promised that they might have it in their house with the doors shut and in the English tongue Quoth I I pray you let them know so much for I do not think that ye have told them Yes saith she but you must not have this in the Treaty but by another way So quoth I Madam you still cut us off something as we but half agree to every thing but how shall it be that I might once see the manner of it and judge of it But for the greater matter we have with the King as touching the League in the which except these words be expressed we think the league not to bear the meaning which we do take it should and yet to please the King and to go so near as we could we were content if the King will with another Article or Treaty declarative made apart betwixt his Majestie and the Q. my Mistris under the great Seal of England and France declare that in general words he doth mean also in the matter of Religion to demand nothing else but the King now speaketh to us to do it by a Letter close missive the which for my part I do not esteem in such a case as this is and know not what it is and how it can be Why did you think saith she that the King my son would deceive you the Q. your Mistris my good sister would be content with it we know well enough Madam quoth I we know not so much nor I cannot believe it for my part But if she would what is that for us that be her Ministers which must be so much as our poor capacities will extend that we do wisely surely and substantially in such affairs for her Majestie as she doth put in our credit till we understand her mind be otherwise changed if you understand her mind to be otherwise then we yet do know she is our Soveraign and Mistress we must be content to obey Other talk we had about the matter each of us three with her much after that we had with the King but ever when she was brought to a strait that was her shift she knew well enough her Majestie would be content with such a letter and that so she was given to understand Till at the last I said that except there were further assurance for the matter of Religion we could not nor durst not subscribe the Treaty until we were better certified that your Highness would be so content for my conscience was against it to leave so great a point upon so little a hold Then as the King said he would speak with his Councel and we should know more The Queen
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
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
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
think one of the other nothing doth so much rule both parties as to have their own opinions satisfied and seeing that in respect thereof nothing can make so full a satisfaction to us for our opinion nor percase in him of us in respect of the opinion he may conceive of the excess of our years above his as that either of us might by some convenient means with our own eyes satisfie our own conceits A matter we know somewhat difficult but yet such as in like cases hath been yielded to us though by other impediments not perfected And nevertheless how this may be granted or allowed by the King and the Queen Mother to be done without offence we do leave it to them in whom we perceive by our Ambassadors speech their stay consisted when the Duke himself both by his Letters to the Ambassador as otherwise hath shewed himself thereto disposed that is to come hither in person for the which we cannot but greatly esteem his love and affection that he beareth to us This you may say is as much as we can conceive of the matter and if it were not for the desire we have to deal plainly in this matter being so much provoked by the great good will we find in them there we would not in that sort propound such a matter neither do we otherwise propound it but that it may be friendly interpreted and not to conceive that thereby we mean any abuse to the disgrace of the Duke whom we have great cause to love and esteem but that surely in this sort our opinion by sight may be satisfied which otherwise we perceive cannot be by report of any others for that none of our own dare adventure to deliver their advice for our own liking of him as the case is we plainly affirm that so as the difficulty of the matter of Religion be provided for and that all other points concerning the marriage may be performed as was communed upon in the person of Monsieur de Anjou we find â—o cause of doubt but that the King and Queen Mother shall obtain their desire And after you have declared thus much and because it is likely that they will object that either this purpose of his coming over to us cannot be granted in respect of the honour of the King for that heretofore no like usage hath been in the Marriages of the children of France with any strange Prince or that they shall doubt that this is by us in such sort propounded as thereby to increase our own reputation without any intent to marry him though his person might not mislike us To such objections you may answer thus To the first you may say as of your self that you are not so acquainted with their own stories and with the marriage of the children of France yet you dare affirm that you know there can be no example shewed of the like of this that is that either elder Son of France or any younger was at any time to be matched in Marriage with such a Prince having such Kingdoms as we have by whom such an advancement might have grown as may by Marriage with us both to the Duke himself and to the King and Crown of France and therefore this special cause can have no former example answerable to rule this but this ought to be followed with all manner of means and all respects set aside And as to the second part that may be objected you shall affirm certainly in our name that we have no meaning hereby to gain any particular estimation to our self but do plainly and simply seek hereby to procure the satisfaction of our own mind in this difficulty as touching his person wherein no other of our own dare deal with us nor we can otherwise be satisfied And for the preservation of the Dukes estimation and honour we shall be as carefull as his own brother the King shall be And therefore you shall conclude that howsoever we have thus propounded our own conception in the matter we desire not that the King or the Queen Mother should do or consent to any thing that might any wise seem for them dishonourable to the Duke Finally if you shall perceive that they shall stick only upon the reputation of his honour that is to come and not be allowed for his person you may as of your self propound it as you see cause that the matter of Religion may be outwardly so left in dispence as the breaking off if any so should follow either on his part or on ours may to the world be thereto imputed And besides that his coming may be secretly and privatly without any outward pomp or shew whereof we leave the consideration to themselves Given under our Signet at Gorambury the 25 of July 1572. in the fourteenth year of our Reigne To the right honorable and my very good friend Francis Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador in France SIr I am privately so occupied as I cannot write much and if I had I could not write much more then the Queens Majestie hath done in her Letters by the first you may perceive what was intended and by the second what she would to be amended Surely she findeth the Marriage to be necessary for her and yet the opinion of others misliking of the party for his person doth more hinder her purpose then her own conceit I see such extremities on both sides as I can make no choice for no Marriage all evils must be looked for and by Marriage without liking no good can be hoped therefore to God I leave it I see your Negotiation shall be full of 〈◊〉 God direct you The Queen is very irresolute to these As to country matters I can write no more and now I am out of the Office of the Secretary and yet I cannot be discharged of my ordinary cares From 〈◊〉 the 27 of July 1572. Your assured Friend W. Burleigh To the â—ight Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIth my last writing to you there hath been no news worth the writing all mens eyes and ears are now occupied in expectation of the events of Flanders and the Low-Countrie We say here that they of 〈◊〉 be very strong and have sent over Sir Humsrey Gilbert with his Band of Englishmen and some Frenchmen who hath taken certain Towns of Sluse and assieged the Castle That Bruges did consult whether they should receive the Protestants and Sir Humsrey or no and doth incline rather to receive them then the Garrison of the Duke of Alva The Queens Majesty hath begun her Progress and from Havering instead of Enfield lay at Theobakls my Lord Treasurers House three daies now is merry at my Lord Keepers House called Gorambury beside St. Albans and to morrow goeth to Dunstable and the next day to Woborn and endeth her Progress at Windsor the 24 of September What Count Lodovâ—ck doth about â—onsieur in Henuaulâ— we have not so often news as in the
doth much desire the consideration of the Kings honour the continuance of the Amity with him she most heartily wisheth that he might so use the matter in time as the world might find him excusable in one of these two sorts that is that either it might be made manifest to indifferent persons that is to such as are not known to have born deadly malice to the Admiral and his party now murthered That if the confirmations that were given to the King of the Admirals evil intention and conspiracy against him were grounded upon truth and not upon malice or pretext and if 〈◊〉 informations might bee verified then might the King be excused in some part both towards God and the world in permitting the Admirals enemies by force to prevent his enterprizes although indeed the same informations had been true yet the manner of the cruelty used cannot be allowed in any Kingdom or Government and least in that place where the King might by order of justice have done due execution both to the Admiral and all others that should have proved offenders for it cannot be denyed that the same forces that murthered so many might have more easily attached them all or the principals and brought them to answer to justice when the King would and of all others the Admiral being on his bed lamed both on the right hand and left arm lying in danger under the cure of Chyrurgions being also guarded about his private house with a number of the Kings guard might have been by a word of the Kings mouth brought to any place to have answered when and how the King should have thought meet But the fault thereof as to the disorder in proceeding howsoever the information had been true her Majestie forbeareth to impute to the King and leaveth the same to the burthen of others about him whose age and knowledge ought in such a case to have foreseen how offenders ought to be justified with the sword of the Prince and not with the bloody swords of murtherers being also the mortal enemies of the party murthered The information whereof for the recovery of the Kings honour which is by the facts of others herein greatly touched her Majestie leaveth to the King to be considered and wisheth him commodity to do what shall be to Gods honour and to his praise But on the other side if such informations were so suddenly given to the King against the Admiral shall not be duly and manifestly without subornation proved true as therein surely the manner of the circumstances do lead all indifrent persons to think the same not onely falsly forged of the private deadly malice to the Admiral and his parties but also perillously devised to weaken the K. Estate and to deprive him of the great honor and surety that daily was growing unto him by counsels or services of the Admiral and his friends now murthered that her Majestie findeth the case of so great importance to be pitied wishing him grace to have power by faithful Counsellours and Servants to make an example to the world of the same manner of punishment of such detestaand trayterous attempts whereby not onely his honour which is now much blemished may be saved but principally himself and his person and surety being in good time provided for and if it shall please him herein to require the use of her Majesties advice and of her assistance she shall not fail but to shew her self in this time a perfect friend to him by all goods means that is in her power And after many good speeches used to the Ambassador she concluded That as the Ambassador required of her she could rather condole with the King this miserable accident then to condemn him until she should see more caus by the manner of his proceeding which he should use hereafter for the recovery of his honour And as to the Admiral she confesseth That she was very sorry for his death as for one whom she thought a good Minister to continue amity betwixt their two Majesties and she had cause to bewail the rest of the Noblemen for the like cause but otherwise the Ambassador could well tell that in former times she did never allow the taking of arms contrary to the Kings Commandment but now perceiving upon the Kings receiving them to grace and taking them to his protection and that it was by consequence of things maâ—ifest that the taking of arms was not against the Kings Estate or Person but to defend themselves in the profession of their Religion according to the Kings own Edicts and Grants her Majestie did greatly lament their death and doth surely perswade her self that if the King shall not use his power to make some amends for so much blood so horribly shed God who seeth the hearts of all as well Princes as others will shew his justice in time and place when his honour shall therein be glorified as the Author of all Juâ—â—ice and the Revenger of all blood sheding of the innocâ—â—ts In this manâ—er at the least to this purpose with some largeâ— discourse to the Ambassadors contentation hath her Majestie uttered her meaning and according thereunto willâ—th â—hat you her Ambassador shall take convenient time to declare what she hath thought meet and yet you shall well consider aforehand how and in what sort you may communicate all this So as both he may well uâ—derstand iâ— and reserve so much thereof to himself as shall seem meet to be kept from others that have been Procureâ—s or Consenters to this murther For such how near soever they be to the King in place of service or in degree of blood may not be privy thereto And therefore you must also first consider and seek to understand whether indeed the King was no otherwise induced to this then as the Ambassador here reporteth oâ— whether the report be not devised to cover the Kings honour to us-ward For if he were privy to the intention of the murther indeed as God forbid that ever he was then this manner of dealing with him in many parts is to be forborn as your self can well judge which is to be left to your discretion using then but such part thereof as may declare her Majesties grief for the accident and so to use good words toward him of her Majesties disposition to continue the amity But if ye shall truly perceive that the King is grieved with the accident and that he hath a disposition to revenge it upon the Authors and Executors and that you find a good will to receive her Majesties opinion and to use such advice as you shall give him â—ecretly thâ—â— shall you deal inwardly with him with assurance of her Majesties friendship to the utmost of her power and require him that he will utter his mind plainly unto you or otherwise by some such of his own as he may well trust to impart it to us and it is to be left to your own consideration how you shall deal with the
inconvenience hapned as also to assure him of her Majesties disposition to continue the amity upon such certain informations as I could gather here of the manner of the Kings proceedings in this late accident and finding him to avow aswel by speech as by the continuance of most extreme severity towards those of the Religion that the said accident proceeded of himself though her Majestie is otherwise informed by the Ambassador I thought therefore good both towards him and his mother according to the direction of your Honours letters to use such speeches as the time of my repair to the Court which was the one and twentieth of this moneth would permit I was first brought unto Q. Mother to whom I shewed that her Maj. willed me to say That she was not a little stonished and perplexed upon the hearing of the late miserable and most lamentable accident in such sort as she knew neither what to say or judge of the matter seeing those murthered without pity and compassion without regard had either of age or sex without ordinary form of justice who upon the assurance of the Kings word laying all suspicion aside did misdoubt nothing less then that which hapned unto them who thought their lives then in most safety when by proof it appeared they were in most danger How these things may pass and the King receive no touch and blemish in honour is a thing which the Queen my Mistris saith she chiefly feareth besides she hath willed me to say unto you That she doth not a little marvel that you being a Prince of that judgement you are and so well experimented in matters of Government knowing the passions and factions that reign in your State could be induced so easily to yield to an execution not to be allowed in all mens judgement in any sort or Commonwealth as the parties to be executed before due examination had of such informations as in reason it appeareth were given against them for as easily might the said persons havâ— been arrested as slain And so being arrested afterwards have been produced before the ordinâ—ry justice to have received being found guilty punishment according to their demerits otherwise being found innocent to have been restored both to honour and liberty which kind of proceeding might have saved the blood of many an innocent which now through the fury and rage of the people was shed and the King had remained justified in honour She desireth your Majestie to interpret this her plain speech in good part as proceeding from one that wisheth well both to the King and you and cannot therefore but condole and bewail this accideâ—t whereon dependeth both your honour and the repose of your Estate notwithstanding she hopeth that the King will yield justification of this fact as he shall remain justified of God and the world To this she answered That she nothing marvelled that the Queen my Mistris was astonished with the accident for that the execution was performed with a great deal more cruelty then was intended by the King who saith she is no Tyrant nor was easie to be induced to do that which he did had he not been provoked thereto by the apparent danger which he saw growing both to himself and to me his Mother and his Brethren if present execution had not been done which shall well appear by the process which my son meaneth to send unto the Queen your Mistris And whereas the Queen your Mistris doth seem to marvel that I should be easily induced to yield to any execution a kind of speech that somewhat toucheth me to be done before due examination had of the informations I being as she saith so well acquainted with factions reigning in this State You may tell her that present mischief cannot abide delayed remedies for saith she we were informed by persons not to be suspected as drawn by passion or faction being rather tied to the Admiral both by Religion and Amity yet moved in conscience to prefer their Prince before any private person for that those of the Religion had they not been prevented at the time that they were had seized within two hours after one of the gates of our Pallace of the Louvre and so consequently our persons which enterprize to have been executed was agreed the same afternoon that the Admiral was hurt And that they had some such meaning it may be gathered for that the Count of Montgomery the same morning that this enterprize should have been executed with a Troop of Horse stayed a good while at Pre de Clerces to attend what the other should do within Hereupon I took occasion to say unto her That although I had no Commission to reply yet I hoped her Majestie would give me leave to say somewhat in the justifying of the said Count of Mongomery for that heretofore it pleased her to bear with the liberty of my speech And so I shewed her that Friday at night after the Admiral was hurt between nine and ten of the clock the said Count came unto my lodging and amongst other communication he said That as he and those of the Religion had just occasion to be right sorry for the Admirals hurt so had they no less cause to rejoyce to see the King so careful as well for the curing of the Admiral as also for the searching out of the party that hurt him No small argument saith he of the Kings sincerity which kind of speech seemed to be void of all conspiracy and miscontentment And touching his being au Pre de Clerces I told her that an English Gentleman who was lodged not far from the said Count went unto him that morning that the execution was done in my name desiring him to send me word what stirr there was in the Town His answer was That true it was some stirr was in the Town and the King had taken so good order therein as all was appeased and that he had placed such guards about the Admirals house as he was in safety This answer Madam said I shewed that his intention in staying Aâ— pre de Clerces was void of any evil meaning And as for his Troop as I learn it was under forty horse of the which all was unarmed and of them four only had Pistols which sheweth plainly that he was very slenderly appointed for the execution of any Enterprise To this her only answer was That she thought not the Count so guilty as the rest And further she shewed me that sithence his departure he had written to the King her son as well Letters for his justification as also of submission In the end she willed me to desire her Majestie to content her self with such relation as should be made with their Ambassador there touching their proceedings here as the King her son and she did rest satisfied with such relations as were made of her proceedings in like cases there by her Ministers here And so making great protestation of the Kings and her earnest desire for
to continue or rather to increase the amity she ended From her I was conducted to the King at my access I shewed unto him that I was willed from her Majestie to say unto him That though she was much astonished at the first report made of the great slaughter and horrible murder without regard either had to sex or age of those of the Religion who laying aside all distrust and reposing themselves upon his words did most confidently throw themselves into the arms of his protection notwithstanding such was the opinion she had of his sincerity such the reverence she bare towards his Princely state and such the particular affection she bare towards his person as she resolved not to pronounce any thing in prejudice of his honour untill she might be fully informed of the manner of the proceeding in that behalf I further shewed him that after by his Ambassador her Majestie was informed of the progress and success of the matter She then as one that wished the conservation of his honour and of the continuance of the good amity between them could not but wish also that with all expedition he would make it manfest to the world that the information which was given unto him of the Admirals evil intention and conspiracy were grounded upon truth and not upon mallice or pretext and if the information might be so verified then should his Majestie in some part be excused both towards God and the world in permitting the Admirals enemies by force to prevent his enterprises Upon this he brake off my speech and shewed me that he had cause many waies to think himself most bound unto her Majestie his good sister but at this present chiefly for that she staid from condemning him before she was informed of the manner of his proceedings also for the good advice she giveth him to seek to justifie himself towards the world which councel saith he I mean to follow as shall appear unto her by the process I mean to send unto her and also to the other Princes that I had most cause to do as I did And as for the cruelty saith he exercised both here in my Town of Paris and elsewhere it is a thing that hath hapned against my will to my great grief Of late saith he the like disorder hath been committed at Roan for the which I am very sorry and therefore for the redress thereof I have all this morning been devising with my Councel for exemplary Justice to be done upon those which shall be found to be offenders Besides saith he my meaning is to dispatch my Governors into their several charges to see such Ordinances observed as to me shall seem fit to be set forth He forbare to mention the Edict already made and now wholly violated tending to the repose and tranquillity of the Realm I shewed him that I had more to say unto him from her Majesty and so I proceeded and declared unto him that her Majesty as one that wisheth well unto him could have wished that although the said information had been found true that he had proceeded otherways for that the manner of the cruelty used cannot be allowable in any kingdom or government and least of all in that place where his Majesty might by order of justice have done due execution both of the Admiral and others that should be proved offenders for it cannot be said I denied but that the same forces that murthered so many might more easily have attached them all or the principals and brought them to answer to Justice where his Majesty would And of all other the Admiral being in his bed lamed both on the right hand and left arm and lying in danger under the cure of Surgeons being also guarded about his private house with a number of his Majesties guard might have been by a word of his Majesties mouth brought to any place to have answered when and how his Majesty should have thought meet but the fault hereof as to the disorder in proceeding howsoever the information had been true her Majesty forbeareth to impute to his Majesty and leaveth the same to the burthen of others about him whose age and knowledg ought in such a case to have foreseen how offenders ought to have been chastifed with the sword of the Prince and not with the bloody sword of murtherers being also the mortal sworn enemies of the parties murthered The information whereof for the recovery of his Majesties honour which is by the faults of others herein greatly touched her Majesty leaveth to his Majesty to be considered and wisheth him commodity to do that which might be to Gods honour and his praise To that he answered me seeming with that kind of speech to be somwhat moved That the loss of life and kingdom goeth neer to a Prince Thereupon I considered the manner of the proceedings here being fully resolved to use all manner of rigor and extremity and that therefore the advice that her Majesty gave were bootless and can do no good I shortning my speech concluded with him That her Majesty willed me to say to him that she thought it her part presently rather to condole with him this miserable accident then to condemn him till sâ—e should see more cause by the manner of his proceedings which he should hereafter use for the recovery of his honour To this he answered that he thanked her Majesty and so protested that he had no other meaning but to continue good amity with her and that though he sought to reform his own Realm touching Religion yet he hoped that the said amity lately concluded should continue firm between them without alteration for that the King his father and K. Edward my good sisters brother did not leave to be good friends notwithstanding the contrariety of religion To that I said that I was well assured that her Majesty had no other meaning I then moved him for some order to be given both to the Governor of the Town of Burdeaux as also to Strozzi and the Conductors of his Army that our Merchants that repair to the Vintage might pass to and fro safely without any way being outraged and that also during the time of his abode at Burdeaux they might not be molested for religion To this his answer was that there might be such order taken as they should not at any way be molested by any of his subjects and besides that if there could be a place of traffique agreed upon they should enjoy the exercise of their religion according to the late Treaty Then I shewed him that I was to move his Majestie in a thing that particularly touched my self and so declared unto him that about three months past I wrote very earnestly to divers of my friends to move her Majestie either for my revocation or else to repair home for a time which thing as her Majestie did not then fully deny so did she not yield thereto but now the matter being renewed unto her Maj. they
and children Christians as is now suspected and certified that thereabout it goeth and as some say is Master of Rochel when that is done what it will do and whether it will go further or no and if it do to what place I tell you truly many do doubt Divers of our Merchants resorting that way have found small courtesie at their hands no more then if they had been men with Pyrats This maketh our Merchants that they dare not yet adventure for Burdeaux and to doubt whether they may go thither this year or no. And I would mervellous fain know what manner of assurance you can make from thence Fare you well From Reading the six and twentieth of September 1572. YOu may perceive by her Majesties answer that she will not refuse the enterview nor marriage but yet she cometh near to them tam timido suspenso pede that they may have good cause to doubt The answer you see to de la Mot is addulced so much as may for she would have it so You have a busie piece of work to decypher that which in words is designed to the extremity in deeds is more then manifest neither you shall open the one nor they shall cloak the other The best is we stand I thank God upon our guard nor I trust shall be taken and killed asleep as the Admiral was the greatest matter for her Majestie and our safety and defence is earnestly of us attempted nor yet atchieved nor utterly in despair but rather in hope The Queens Majestie is in marvellous doubt for you she taketh as much care for you as any Prince can do for her Subject and she thinketh none can do what she would have done there as well as you You are happy in the one and her Majestie in the other seeing you are advertised so well hitherto God who hath hitherto delivered you will not yet leave you I doubt and I trust I need not fear I doth me good to see the Princely compassion that her Majestie doth take on the poor Vidame who is escaped by good fortune into England her Majestie hath written for him to the King the Copy I send you you shall do well to press the answer and bring it with you I dare say it will do you good if you can do it â—aeâ— est vicissitudo rerum humanarum haec est communis casus hominum All that be not bloody and Antichristian must needs condole and lament the misery and inhumanity of this time God make it short and send his Kingdom amongst us Fare you well once again the seveâ— and twentieth of September which is removing day to Windsore Yours alwayes assured Tho Smith The Copy of the Queens Majesties Letters to the French King for the Vidam de Charâ—res TReshault trespuissant et tresexcellent Prince nostre trescher et tresaimè bon frere et cousin salut Le Vidam de Chartres est retirè en nostre Royaulme et nous a donne a entendre par un sien escript supplicative la cause de sa venue aâ— nous et requirant de nous nostre favoâ—rable recommendation de son cas enuers vous et pour ce que l'avons troâ—ve de cocur loyal et fidel envers vous desirant tousiours sur toutes choses le tenir en repose et que par toutes occâ—sions que se presentoient non cesse de louer vos royalles virtus comme vostre tres affectionne subject dont en pouvons estre bons tesmoins Nous n'avous voulu faire moins aians compassion de l'estat miserable anquel il se troâ—ve pour lè present que recommander affectueusment a vous sa cause qui nous sâ—mble certes fort lamentable et qui merite secours aiant a celle fin envoyè a nostre Ambassadeur aupres de vous sa requeste qui vous la declarera plus amplement en quoy vous prions trescher tresame bon frere et cousin luy donner bonne et favorable aâ—dience et 〈◊〉 bonne response au fin que avec cela nous pussions comme en avons bon espoir consoler le poure desole Vidam a nous y faire gran plaisir comme scait le createur aâ—quel prions tresh ault tresexcellent trespuissant Prince nostre trescher tresame bon frere cousin vous avoir tousiours a tressainte garde De nostre Chasteaâ— de Windsore le 28 de Septemb. 1672. To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador Resident for her Majestie in France SIr the last Letters of yours by me received were those which yong Mr. Hopton brought hither since which time we have understood by report from Roan that on Thursday was sevennight there was a general slaughter made at Roan of all that could be imagined Protestants so as the very channels of the street did run blood we have heard diversly of Rochel by some that it is sacked by Strozzi by some that it holdeth out and that it is like so to do a long time As to the Ambassadors negociation here with us to seek to perswade us that the King was forced for safety of his own life to cause the execution to be done as it was and that thereof we shall see the proofs by the Admirals process you may imagine how hard a thing it is for us to be so perswaded against all our naturall senses and how they will accord these two jars we know not The Kings Letter first written after the Admirals death doth declare it to be done by manner of sedition and privately by the house of Guise who feared the Admiral and his would pursue against them the avenge for his hurt and the Kings own guard about the Admiral was forced and the King himself driven to hold his guards about him in the Louvre for his own defence and now yet it must needs be notified that the King did for his own surety cause the execution to be done By the dispatch that you shall receive from Master Secretary you shall understand what answer is made to the French Ambassador and upon what sort her Majestie hath forborn to resolve upon the enterview whereof her Majestie hath no misliking if it may appear that the King will forbear from persecuting the cause of Religion ACHE Rome A B Glasis nevertheless it will be very hard to perswade 3lca to like thereof I have imparted to her Majestie two things whereof your wife had in charge to make me privy of From Reading the five and twentieth of September 1572. Yours assuredly William Burleigh To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador Resident for her Majestie in France I will now my Lord Ambassador trouble you with some trifles of mine own leaving other matters to other advertisements I am very desirous to recover a Rider if any worthy the entertainment may be had whether there be any more at liberty that were appertaining to any of the late Lords that were murthered it
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
some unplaced and in that profession very excellent but the entertainment they require is so unreasonable and so far exceedeth your Lordships offer as I dare not deal with them They ask 300 Crowns a year besides meat and drink and the finding of their horse and the least they can be reduced unto is 200 Crowns True it is that such of the Noblemen as entertain them do give them no less wages He useth towards them what perswasions he may to induce them to think that 150 Crowns in England will go further then 300 here but as yet no perswasions will serve to make them so to think I say therefore to conclude any thing with them I mind not until I hear further from your Lordship Of late doubting that there is no good meant towards you from hence and having some cause to suspect some Irish practises and knowing that Capt. Lassetty doth understand the state and weakness of that Countrey I have entertained him with some hope to be entertained of her Majestie his imperfections I know well enough notwithstanding his service may be profitable and if it be to no other end yet were the entertainment of him necessary in respect of the harm he may do At all times when any danger did seem to grow towards her Majesty he hath requested me to present to her his service though that Nation be very much inclined to treason yet surely I think him in that point to stand much upon his honor Because I would be loath long in vain to entertain him with that hope I beseech your Lordship that I may by the next hear what your opinion is in this behalf Captain Massino del Beni whom your Lordship knoweth who is now retired into Germany requested me to desire your Lordship to offer his service unto her Majesty who in respect of Religion and the zeal and honor he beareth towards her Majesty would be glad to sacrifice his life in her defence If your Lordship think the same might be received then would he repair thither if otherwise he would be glad to know it because he meaneth to take some other course to direct himself I am the willinger at this point to offer the service of Souldiers for that I fear her Maiesty shall have iust cause to use them considering how slenderly we are furnished at home for now that the Prince of Orange is retired her Majesty may not long look to live in repose I am sorry that the union of Scotland is not already made which I fear will be cause of both their and our ruine If that footing-place were taken away from our foraign enemies our danger would be the lesse Money will do any thing with that Nation as your Lordship knoweth which if her Majesty stick to disburse she shall find neither profit nor surety in it The tempest that hangeth over our head is to mans judgment apparent so great as if she overslip any remedy that may be used she must not long look to keep the State that she now enjoyeth If the great strength and power of her enemies be weighed with her weakness the danger cannot but seem the greater if any thing be omitted to be done that may â—end to her safety If England and Scotland be united and such unsound members cut off as have been the cause of inward corruption both her enemies shall have less will to attempt any thing against her safety and she remain in less perill of such mischiefs as otherwise are like to fall upon her Violent diseases must have violent remedies if her Majesty do not not now think her State to stand in extremity things at home well considered both she and the same are in more danger I beseech your Lordship to pardon my passion in this behalf the suspition I have of the evill meaning here towards her Majesty maketh me to be thus carried away as I am And so leaving further to trouble your Lordship at this present I must humbly take my leave At Paris the 8 of October 1572. Your Honours to command Francis Walsingham Answers to the French Ambassador given by word of mouth by my Lord Treasurer in the Councell Chamber in Octob. 1572 FOr the Kings answer to the advice of her Majesty given in two points viz. that the King would cause the world to understand of his deed upon the Admirals death somwhat better then yet it did Secondarily that he would see that his Edicts be better observed her Majesty meaneth not to reply thereto wishing that both in the one and the other the King find good success To the motion of the Enterview to be before the 20 of October and iâ— to the Queen Mothers letter is to be at the Isle of Iersey seemed to her majesty so strange both for the time and place as if the Admirall had not shewed the Letters from the King and Qu. Mother to that effect her Majesty should either not have believed it or that the Ambassador had mistaken the same as without long speech the Ambassador may easily perceive for the 20 day of October is not 14 days off from the time of the motion nor one month from the date of the Kings letter and Iersey is a place so far distant as neither King of this land would adventure to sail unto for many causes nor yet any Merchant would take upon him to pass thither almost in that time Besides that the late proceedings in France to the destruction of all sorts of her Majesties Religion which also is not ceased to her Majesties understanding cannot but argue this manner of motion very absurd and besides ingender in the subjects of this Realm such conceits as it were a dangerous thing for Councellors to be so careless of their Prince as to give ear to such motions and it is the stranger now to make this motion by letters of the 23 of September when the French Ambassador the same 23 of September did say at Reading to the Queens Majesty that the Queen Mother was content to come into any place of this Realm which is now strangely changed that the â—ueens Majesty should come to her over the Sea to the coast of France being more then three days sailing except she might have wind at her commandment And in this matter also the Queens Majesty can give no answer untill she hear answer from her Ambassador to her letters sent after the Kings letters were dated As to the offer of continuance of Amity renewing the League by a new Oath the Queens Majesty meaneth nothing more then to continue the Amity And for renewing of any Oath she knoweth no cause of her part to be required a new Oath for that she hath not violated the same nor meaneth to do and trusteth as much in the Kings part that he will keep it without any new Oath As for the proceeding for the establishing of a commerce in certain Towns in France it is over-evident by the late murther in Roan which the
King saith was by the mean people how unmeet it were at this time to motion such a matter unto her Merchants who be now marvellously intimerated and before these murthers did hear not most willingly thereof because of divers evill treatments that they have suffered at Roan and divers other places and therefore this matter is to be suspended untill the Merchants may understand that the King shall have corrected the late murthers at Roan that they shall not attempt the like another time upon them and that they may perceive that the King is so willing to do justice upon the Catholiques which may have the murtherers that they may assure them that under his protection they may go safe and not fear the rage of the furious people As to the sending of the Earl of Leicester or Lord Treasurer after the Queens avouchment her Majesty indeed is very sorry that there is such an alteration of occasion of doing such an office for as her Majesty before had intention to have sent either one of them or such other as should be as agreeable to the King so now there is to all the world one great cause that her Majesty may not with honor nor with law of nature send any whom she loveth to be in danger as it seemeth they may be though the King have never so good a meaning For by the death of so many whom the King doth not avow nor yet punish the murtherers what surety can strangers have especially when the King pretendeth as by his own letters appeareth that it is the fury of the Catholiques against those of the Religion As to the difficulties found by her Ambassadors return and to leave a Secretary there in respect of the danger wherein he is at this time her Majesty thinketh that the King might otherwise think thereof for when he saith he will revoke also his Ambassador from hence if hers should come for a time It is well known with what liberty and surety his Ambassador may and doth travell in this Realm who may go when he will without danger and without fear of mind do his negotiation where contrariwise her Ambassador dare not go out of his doors without a guard being to his great charge and disquieting And so the Queens request is to have her Ambassador from thence but for such a time as the tempest may cease in France and the murtherers be in awe of the King by Justice REQUESTS That the Kings Declarations maintained in his Letters for our Merchants good usage at Burdeaux and elswhere may be published in print as his otheâ— Edicts are That it may be also notified that the King will have the English Merchants restored to their goods which were left in the hands of his subjects that have been murthered for that many of them in Roan and elswhere were by way of Merchandise indebted to the English That for the hearing of English complaints for causes both in Normandy and Gascoigne there might be some extraordinary indifferent Commissioners to hear the same with expedition whereupon if the Merchants shall find favour and justice they may be the more easily induced to allow the Conditions of a Commerce To the right honorable and his very good Lord the Earl of Leicester IT may please your Lordship to understand that by certain that returned from Frankfort Mart I understand that one of the Gentlemen that departed hence with intention to accompany your Nephew Mr. Philip Sidney to Heâ—delberg died by the way at a place called Bladin in Lorain who by divers conjectures I took to be the Dean of Winchester who as I advertised your Lordship by Mr. Argall I employed to encounter the evill practices of your said Nephews servants If therefore your Lordship he now being void shall not speedily take order in that behalf if already it be not done the young Gentleman your Nephew shal be in danger of a very lewd practice which were great pitie in respect of the rare gifts that are in him Touching news I refer your Honor to these inclosed occurents and the report of this Bearer to whom I have given order to communicate certain things unto you And so leaving further to trouble your Honor at this present I most humblie take my leave At Paris the 17 of October 1572. Your Honours to command Fr. Walsingham To the right worshipful Francis Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador resident in France SIR I shewed to the Queens Majesty and my Lords of the Councell both your letters to me written the 8 of this instant the one contained your negotiation the other was a discourse both wisely written and very well liked On Thursday last Monsieur du Crocque was here and had audience given him by my Lord Treasurer my Lord Chamberlain and my Lord of Leicester because the Queens Majesty was not at time perfectly whole of the small Pox as the Physicians did say although her Majesty and a great sort more will not have it so now it makes no matter what it was thanks be to God she is perfectly whole and no sign thereof left in her face On Sunday he had his answer given unto the Steward of his house the sum and substance whereof I send you here inclosed whereby you may know his negotiation which was long in words to make us believe better of that King then yet we can and replied as I understand liberally enough although in that Prince and Countrey who have so openly and injuriously done against Christ who is Truth Sincerity Faith Pitie Mercy Love and Charity nothing can be too sharply and severely answered Yet Princes you know are acquainted with nothing but Doulceur so must be handled with Doulceur especially amongst and between Princes And therefore to temperate as you may perceive not that they may think the Queens Majesty and her Councell such fools that we know not what is to be done and yet that we should not appear so rude and barbarous as to provoke where no profit is to any man I think I for my part do not doubt but you will use this answer as you were wont gravely and wisely for the King there will look to have it as well at your hands as at his Ambassadors You are carefull as wisdom doth lead you of the wel-doing here in England which needs must be well esteemed of her Majesty and all her Councell and I tell you we are not so remiss and negligent as peradventure another that knoweth not would think In time things be done unlooked for as well for mischief as that was in France as to good and remedy where God giveth grace and circumspection Truth it is that God disposeth all whatsoever a man doth purpose as Divines do say and it is his gift if wise men do provide for mischief to to come and yet whatsoever they do devise the event doth come of him onely who is the God of hope and fear beyond hope and expectation because you shall understand that even
you to advertise her Majesty that the young Queen was brought to bed of a daughter the 22 of October whose Nativity was consecrated with the blood of Briquemont and Cavannes who the same day between the hours of 5 and 6 in the evening were hanged by Torch-light the King Queen mother and the King of Navarre with the Kings brethren and Prince of Conde being lookers on As Briquemont was going up the ladder the Under-Provost of the Town said that the King had sent him to know whether he could say any thing touching the late Conjuration which if he would confess he would save his life Whereunto he answered that the King had never a more faithful nor a more truer subject then he was but this I know proceeded not of himself but of evil Counsellours about him and so lifting up his eyes to heaven he said O my God upon whose Tribunal Seat I stand and whose face I hope shortly to see thou knowest well that I know nothing nor did not so much as once think of any Conjuration against the King nor against his Estate though contrariwise they have untruly put the same in my process but I beseech my God that he will pardon the King and all those that have been the cause of this my unjust death even as I desire pardon at thy hands for my sins and offences committed against thy Divine Majestie Being then drawn up another step on the ladder he uttered onely these words I have somewhat to utter unto the King which I would be glad to communicate unto him but said he I see that I may not and so shrunk up his shoulders to forbear to use any further speech As his constancy generally was much commended so was his death much bewailed of many Catholiques that were beholders of the same Cavannes used no speech but shewed himself void of all magnanimity who before his death in hope of life made some shew to relent in Religion Two things were generally much misliked at this execution the one the presence of the King as a thing unworthy the Head of justice to be at the execution of justice the other that Briquemont being a Gentleman was hanged a thing very rare in France especially he being reputed of his enemies to be innocent of that thing which lately had been laid to his charge About an hour after the execution the cruel and bloody people of this Town not content with their death took them down from the Gallows and drew them about the streets thrusting them through their bodies with daggers and shooting of dags at them cutting off their ears and omitting no other kind of villanous and barbarous cruelty It was thought also that there should have been another general day of execution of as many as have been known at any time to have been of the Religion the stay whereof I am credibly informed was procured by the Queen Mother who with no small difficulty and intercession obtained the same at the Kings hands who protested that the same was but deferred for a time The King is grown now so bloody minded as they that advised him thereto do repent the same and do fear that the old saying will prove true Malum consilium consultori pessimum At the time of my Congratulation of the birth of the child I used these speeches following to the King Sir knowing the mutual good will that is between my Mistris the Queen and your Majestie as between whom good and evil pleasures and displeasures are common I could do no less being her Minister here but congratulate as well the prosperous delivery of the Queen your Majesties wife as also the Nativity of the yong Princess your daughter who is as it were a pledge of some issue-male to follow that may hereafter supply the Royal Seat that you presently enjoy which when it cometh to pass no Prince Neighbor Ally or Confederate will be more glad thereof then the Queens Majestie my Mistris Whereunto the King answered after private thanks given unto me for the office of Congratulation that I did use such speech as appertained to the good amity between them which was That pleasures and displeasures should be common to either of them which as I look for no less aâ— my good sisters hands your Mistris so she may assure her self saith he at my hands and I wish that my Ambassador might have occasion to use like office of Congratulation towards hâ—r as you do here towards me I thanked his Majestie for wishing that wish for that it was a general desire to as many as truly loved her Majestie As I was taking my leave he told me that they of Rochel against whom he did mean presently to send his Forces did give out that her Majestie promiseth to send them succours which thing saith he I do not believe considering the good intelligence that is between us To this I replyed that if his Majestie should give credit to any such thing he should do her Majestie great wrong considering the late protestation I made unto him on her Majesties behalf that her meaning was not to do any thing that may tend to the violating of the late League concluded between them As for the Brutes given out by them of Rochel who are now in desperation I shewed him that men in that state are glad to give out any thing that may draw others to joyn with them in assistance He answered that he believed it was so And so I took my leave of him I was then brought unto Queen Mother unto whom I used like speech of Congratulation After which speech I shewed her that the King had made me acquainted with certain brutes given out by them of Rochel of some ayd promised by her Majestie which thing very honourably said I he protesteth he would not believe Whereupon she shewed me how it was true that certain Letters were lately intercepted sent by them of Rochel in the which there was mention made that her Majestie underhand had promised to assist them that the Count Montgomery would repair unto them with the said assistance but for my part saith she I know the Queen your Mistris to be too honourable and too wise to intermeddle in any such matter who I know will give the King my son leave to deal with his subjects as shall seem best unto himself I shewed her that in so judging of her Majestie she judged rightly and that I hoped she would give more credit to her Majesties late protestation touching the inviolable observing of the late League then to any brutes that should be given out by desperate men This was the effect of that which passed between us for that present About the seven and twentieth of the last there arrived here a Currier out of Spain sent from the Ambassador Resident there who hath brought unto them very grateful news especially Monsieur as I hear seemeth to be most contented with the same He hath lately had great conference with the
and that time we will hasten as we may I pray you buy me the Commentaries of Mathiolus upon Dioscorides translated into French and let it be bound there with two or three sheets of paper before and in the end That book was never wont to go from me and now I cannot tell how it is stoln from me because it was noted with my observations and notes I had rather have lost a far better thing and in London I cannot buy any other and therefore I pray you help me to one and I wil repay it where you will appoint in French Crowns with a hundred thanks Fare you well From Windsore the thirtieth of October 1572. Your assured Friend Th. Smith To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq her Majesties Ambassador Resident in France SIr yesterday came Williams your servant to Windsore with your Letters and Advertisements of that which he had to declare concerning Lions Florence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wherein I see strange dealing for the party once offered to remain Prisoner until the truth might be tryed and so to lose his head if the tale were not true wherefore I see it is good reason to be slow in credit to such matters Presently there is here one York come as he saith with Letters from Lyons of credit to the Queens Majestie and his message is to declare secretly the danger of and that if 3 would be so content E would come to lie into hall 2 with such other fond devices as for many respects the party is greatly suspected wherefore her Majestie hath willed me with all haste to will you by some good means to understand the truth of the party himself that is to say of Glasco and if he have not sent any such then with speed to advertise for I think it will be necessary for 3 in honour and for in safety to utter the matter or the party to Florence This messenger pretendeth great devotion in Religion and we understand that he is of great levity and fully meet for any dangerous enterprize I cannot write any more for haste of sending away this Pacquet because her Majestie would have speedy answer I trust you shall shortly hear of some comfort of a successor The Queens Majestie is content that I shall speak to Mr. Frâ—â—â—is Carew to supply that place with whom to morrow I will speak and that earnestly We are wont to have all evil news from thence but now we have also very evil news in our North parts The nine and twentieth of the last the good Regent of Scotland dyed as I think by a natural sickness and yet the certâ—â—nty is not known This will make our cause the worse in Scotland for I fear the conveyance away of the King and yet there is care taken for his safety but I can almost hope for no good using our selves â—all by heâ—ps and why the heaps fall not upon our selves personâ—lly I seâ— nothing to the let thereof in our selves God be merciful unto us Yesterday the French Ambassador sent me word to declare to her Majestie that the French Queen hath brought forth a Daughter and to know wheâ—her the Queens Majestie would be content to Christen it with her own name and to send my Lord of Leicester or me thither Her Majesties answer was That she would not desire to Christen it nor would send my Lord of Lâ—â—â—ester oâ— me but if the King would desâ—â—e her Majestie to be God-mother she would not refuse it but would send some person quâ—lified What will follow hereof I know not From my house at Westminster the third of November 1572. Your assured loving Friend William Burleigh To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador for the Queens Majestie in France MY Lord I do thank you for the speedy answer to my former letters which I wrote touching a Rider and I perceive you used so much care as you have already hearkned out one that is recommended very sufficient but his demands you think are very great and so they be indeed But as I am desirous to have such a man so am I loth to pay too dearly for him I would gladly hear how Moâ—ret doth imploy him now or whether you think him not a meet man for that purpose If he be of his wonted mind he is very desirous to return again hither and to serve very reasonable and I am given to understand that he hath profited very well in his profession since his being there If he be to be had reasonably and that you hear of his ability therewith of men of judgement to be confirmed I had rather have him then any other If he be not then this I say for the other whom I thank you again for I will give him 150 Crowns a year wages and his meat and drink and lodging in my house for him and his man and allowance in my stable for two horses and if he prove a man to my liking I think you do believe I can find in my heart to be better worth to him one way or another then 50 Crowns besides his wages If you can thus agree with him the sooner he come to me the better not doubting but that you will in the mean time make good inquiry of his trade and life and what his conditions be And if ever he have been honest I trust to keep him so and if his nature be not too bad I hope he shall be contented here with his usage as I mean he shall be treated And so Sir I most humbly desire you to let me have some description of the man by your next and what you think he will do Now Sir Touching our estate here First thanks be to God our Mistris is in very good health and I trust in God ere it be long will shew some care over us all The matters in Scotland stand but in tickle terms between the parties I mean between the King and the Queens side and so have they Agents for that the King left them who be now returned with better hope I think then in the end they shall have cause to bring their practises to pass Other particular news of weight here is none at this present worth the writing but that we are all here yet quiet and by Gods good assistance I trust shortly more certain hope we shall have of the continuance of it We your poor friends here are continually labourers for your coming home and surely I trust you shall return ere it be long For my own part I will not cease till it be granted and in hope of that I will forbear to write somewhat now which when you come home if you will affirm â— will tell you So my good Francis fare you well In some haste the seven and twentieth of October At Windsore I mean to morrow or next day being at London to visit your wife ceaseth vvho not to call daily upon all your friends here by your letters for your coming home I like not my
Cypher I have I will make new and send it you and then you shall hear of a matter worthy the writing We hear here that Montmoreâ—cy is in some danger Your very Friend Ro. Leicester To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq her Majestes Ambassador Resident in France YOur messenger that brought your dispatch of the five and twentieth of October arrived here the second of November and my Lord Treasurer imparted unto me such matters as you advertised him of by whom again you shall understand her Majesties pleasure for that I think his Cypher is better then mine I am loth to enter into some of tâ—ose things which I am very desirous else to say somewhat to you of but not doubting but his Lordship will signifie the whole I will now forbear and descend to smaller matters And to answer you for the two Captains you wrote to me to move her Majestie for she is now pleased to entertain the one him that hath most means am I lothest to name lest he might be suspected In this mysterie you know whom I mean and shall also by your servant she is content with 50 l. yearly whether it will like him or no I know not if it do not we will do what we can to increase it also the other her Majestie yet is not minded to use his service We perceive the party Saint 4 is very coy in his dealing but surely he is not to be blamed the world being there with you as it is You shall hear of another manner of matter I am sure by my Lord Treasurer which is lately offered me here but we greatly suspect it to be some practise or else the choice is not well made of the party in my opinion And you shall do well to understand it with all expedition as I am sure my said Lord doth advise you throughly therein for it is of consequence and it behoveth us withal speed to know whether it be right or wrong if it be wrong by my consent there shall be right example made of the like c. The Regent of Scotland is dead as we are advertised this day I suppose it to be very true I trust her Majestie will not lose the opportunity offered there If the Emperor be dead also it will make a great change I hope better for Christendom I mean for good Christians I have sent you a letter two days ago by a Scotchman one Dâ—uglas wherein I have sent you my mind touching the Rider whom I desire greatly to have if I may reasonably have him You shal perceive by this Letter at large that if I may have him for 150 Crowns a year for himself and to give him meat and drink and his man with a couple of horse found in my stable I think I shall be worth to him otherwise half as much more if he like me well as I mean he shall try me and I him for a year And if so he be content the sooner he come the better God send him to be an honest man and I warrant you he shall be very well entreated For his sufficiency I leave it to your good enquiry I trust shortly you shall be at home I have not ceased daily since your wives arrival to call upon her Majestie for it and she is fully agreed thereto and hath named some for your successor I think Francis Carew shall be the man as it is yet resolved or Henry Cobham but one of them I care not who shall be hastned for your sake assure your self I pray you shew all the favour and countenance you can to Benedict Spinola he hath a great cause there in hand which he hath heard you have favourably furthered He hath required my thanks he is my dear friend and the best Italian I know in England Her Majestie hath written for him Let his brother know that I have written to you I pray you if the Rider conclude I am sure Spinola ' s brother if he be there will answer his brother here again So good Francis fare you well Your good wife is in health In haste the second of November Your assured Friend Ro Leicester To the Right Honourable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principal Secretary IT may please you to advertise her Majestie that Standen arrived here lately in post out of Flanders where he staied onely five daies and had daily conference for the time of his aboâ—e there with the Scotish Ambassador together with Lâ—ggens who at his return which was by post accompanied him into Flanders Those that observed the manner of their conferences his coming and returning by post being accompanied by Liggens at his return maketh the Sotchmen that wish continuance of quiet in their Countrey to fear that there is some dangerous practise in hand The said Ambassador doth now daily repair to the Court and hath often conference with the Queen Mother at an extraordinary time in the morning when as commonly no Ambassador hath access but in the afternoon Not long â—ince in talk apart with his friends he said that if the troubles of Scotland had not been his Mistris had been at libertie and perhaps enjoyed a better Crown then Scotland is He said further that if his Mistris had as many good friends in Scotland as she hath in England she had not long remained in prison as she doth Thus you see how dangerous a ghest her Majestie harboureth The Spanish Marquis who is come hither to congratulate the Queens delivery under the colour of the same as I learned secretly he hath commission to treat secretly of three points The one to cause the King to enter into the League The other to the marriage between Monsieur and his Masters daughter The third to propound some way for the Scotish Queens delivery Being procured thereto by the house of Guise in recompence of the execution done upon them of the Religion whereby the King of Spain acknowledgeth to have saved the Low-Countreys The Cardinal of Lorrain by his Letters procured the King to write earnestly to his Ambassador in Turky to cause him to travel by all means to compound the differences between him and the Princes of the League The Almains do fear much the election of the Emperors second son in Polonia as that thing which will make the house of Austria too great And so for other matters referring your Lordship to these enclosed Occurrents I most humbly take my leave At Paris the twelfth of November Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable and my very good Lord the Lord of Burleigh MY very good Lord touching the Scotish matters her Majestie desiâ—eth to be advertised of your Lordship shall understand that I should know the partie my self ever since my repair hither who is of the Religion and though not taken heretofore to be very zealous yet always reputed to be very honest He had been slain if he had not been saved by â— in this last broil with whom he is most
unto her that way Her Majestie can of her self well enough judge of the peril besides I know she lacketh not good advice and if sparing be not the let I hope all will do well And so for other matters referring your Honour to the Lord Treasurers Letters and this bearer I most humbly take my leave At Paris the fifth of December 1572. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable and his very good Lord the Lord Treasurer YOur Honour by Master Secretaries Letters shall understand that the Isle of Rez is taken by them of Rochel that there is some hope conceived in Germany of the Elector Brandenburgh to the Kingdom of Polonia That the Ambassador of Spain here giveth out that the fifteenth of the last Moneth Zatphen in Gelderland was taken That certain of the Princes ships are lately distressed and that the two Dukes are at Boisleduc The Legats doings are kept very secret in so much that his Secretary is not made acquainted with them for the avoiding of suspicion The Ambassador of Spain hath no great conference with him but by a third person named L. Angrâ—lettâ— Auditâ—re della Rota who passeth daily to and fro between them he is one in whom the Pope layeth the chiefest weight of his legation in respect of his wisdom and experience The Duke of Savoys repair hither in person maketh men to think that the unity between this Crown and Spain is like to grow great for that he is termed here Lame du Rey du esquire and that therefore the matters of treaty between them are of great weight I know that sithence my coming to the Countrey the King hath openly used some speeches of misliking of the said Duke but this late change changeth all things upside down The doubt of the Turks great preparation for the next year is a great bridle of their intentions For the removing of this impediment the last of this moneth they dispatched hence their Ambassador to make great offers both in Spains and the Venetians behalf to draw him to an accord The Venetians as I am credibly informed have been these three years past at the charge of 800 000 the moneth and therefore would be glad to be rid of so weighty a burthen And so having nothing else to impart unto your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the fifth of December 1572. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable and his very good Lord the Lord Treasurer BEcause this bearer promised to see my letters safely delivered unto your Lordship I thought I would not let him go without them The Legate stayeth here until there come resolution touching that they have lately treated here which they have dispatched both toward Rome and Spain by two sundry Curriors The King is of late advertised that the number of those of the Religion in Lanquedoc is encreased very much and that there are joyned with them 600 horsemen and 1500 footmen that are departed out of their Countrey of Bern who by the way have distressed the most part of Count Ioyeux Company They have taken also upon the edge of Languedoc a certain place called Sanins where their Gun-powder is made this encrease of their number maketh the King irresolute what to do Before these advertisements he was determined to have besieged Sancerre but now he is advised to march toward them in Languedoc The new accidents that happen make them to change their purposes Of late there is one arrived here from the Duke of Baviers whose coming is thought to proceed through the Cardinal of Lorrains perswasions with commission to make great offers to the King from the Duke to the end encourage him both to the imbracing of the league as also to proceed to the rooting out of those of the Religion here Monsieur de la Mot hath of late earnestly recommended to their Majesties here certain requests commended unto him by my Lords of her Majesties Counsel Whereupon Pynartâ—ent â—ent unto me to assure me that there shall be such justice done to her Subjects as her Majestie shall have just cause to rest contented therewith And so having nothing else to impart unto your Honor at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the tenth of September 1572. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable Sir Thomas Smith her Majesties principal Secretary SIr It may please you to advertise her Majestie that by advertisement lately come to this Court from Rochel the King is given to undeâ—stand that Strozzâ— hath taken Marans not far from Rochel where he put to the sword two Companies of Souldiers placed there by the Rochellois Further he is given to understand that de la Noue is entred into Rochel being sent thither by the King having beforehand given oath that he would faithfully travel to reduce them to yield who by perswasion hath much wrought with them as they are content to grow to some capitulation which proceedeth chiefly through a disagreement that is between the Rochellois and such strangers as are repaired thither Also it is said that the Baron de le guard hath taken three ships laden with corn by them of Rochel These sundry newes hath put them of this Court in great jollity for that they hope shortly to reduce the Realm to inward quietness There are marched out of Burgundy a Captain footmen and certain horsemen levied by the Duke of Guise and the Duke of Aumale whether they shall be imployed at Sancerre or whether they shall march directly to Languedoc it is not as yet concluded The Duke of Guise arrived here the twelfth of this moneth who is marvellously well accompanided The Cardinal of Lorrain his Uncle is daily looked for here as also the Cardinal of Guise his Cousin By Letters of the fifth of this moneth out of Flanders they write that the D. of Alva doth distribute his Army into Garrisons and that the Roysters do remain at the Forrest of Arden and in the Land of Luxenburg where they commit great spoils and outrages being not yet payed for that the D. of Alva pretendeth not to have wherewithal to discharge them They write further that the Prince of Orange remaineth at Dortrecht where he maketh collection of money for the levying of forces for the next Spring From Cullen they write that there are certain Commissioners repaired thither sent by the Emperor as it is said to treat some accord between the Prince of Orange and the D. of Alva notwithstanding they do give out other causes of their coming By Letters from Vienna they advertise that the Emperor is repaired into Bohemia to procure the election of his Son which being done he meaneth to repair to Germany and there to keep a Diet for the election of the King of Romans Further they advertise that the great Turk of late hath sent unto him a present commending him very much for the keeping of his promise and the
observation of the accord between them requesting him to continue the same Touching the election of the King of Polonia they write that the Elector Brandenburg is most like to be chosen notwithstanding they have great hope of Monsieurs election which men of great judgement do think to be void of any good ground By letters out of Italy they write that the Turk will have in a readiness against the next Spring 400 Gallies whereof they are very much afraid the rather for that their own Forces by sea do decay the greatest part of their slaves for the furniture being decayed by sickness this last voyage And so leaving further to trouble your Honour at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the eighteenth of December 1572. Your Honours to Command Fr. Walsingham To the Right Honourable and his very good Lord the Lord of Treasurer BEcause Steward is absent from the Court I can by no means decypher what is the end of Monsieur de la Noue's travel If there be no mystery in the matter then are others doing not so well grounded as they make men believe So soon as I shall be able to decypher any further of the matter I will not fail to advertise your Lordship It is here said that Monsieur de la Mot hath advertised how that her Majesties meaning is to execute the Queen of Scots Whereupon such as favour her do discourse that it were good to stay the Noblemen that shall be sent hither by her Majestie for the Christening as a pledge for the said Queens safety that their Majesties here should have such intention I know not The Legate as I am most credibly informed hath amongst other Articles of his Instructions commandment earnestly to commend the Queen of Scots cause to the King here and to devise with him some mean for her delivery whereby England may be reduced to the Catholique faith The Scotish Ambassador hath more often recourse unto him then any other Ambassador here which maketh me the rather to doubt some practise Hamilton brother to him that killed the Regent hath sent this message unto D. Chasteauherauld following that is to do what he may to keep the Castle of Edenburgh and to maintain his party until Whitsundy next assuring him that by that time they shall have assistance both from the Pope Spain and this Crown The party himself that is to do the message made me acquainted with all which is now departed towards Scotland and hath promised me to declare no less to Mr. Randolph who knoweth him And so leaving further to trouble your Honor at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the eigh and twentieth of December 1572. Your Honours to Command Fra Walsingham To the Right Honourable and his very good Lord the Earl of Leicester WHat hope they have here to compound with Rochel and by what means your Lordship shall understand by Mr. Secretaries Letters as also what is written from Flanders Germany and Italy If Rochel may be reduced to compound as they hope for they think it will be a means to cause the other Towns to yield the sooner It is said that the Rochellois are drawn the rather to give ear to a composition for that they see there is no hope of Forreign succours and yet when a man considereth what is past a man would think there could grow unto him no greater danger no other way then to grow to composition I cannot therefore think but that there is some other mysterie in the matter more then I can as yet decypher The hope of composition doth put them in great comfort that they shall shortly settle their inward troubles which I fear will breed some troubles to their neighbors And so having nothing else to advertise your Lordship at this present I most humbly take my leave At Paris the eighteenth of December 1572. Your Honours to Command Francis Walsingham To the Right Honourable and his very good Lord the Lord Treasurer IT may please your Lordship to understand that after the closing up of my Letters to Mr. Secretary I was given to understand that by a Currier lately repaired hither from Rochel they have received from Monsieur de la Noue certain Articles of composition propounded by them of Rochel unto the King Amongst the rest I do understand First that they may have the free exercise of their Religion as heretofore they have had Secondly that they may keep inviolably the old and ancient liberties of their Town Thirdly that instead of Monsieur de Byron they may have la Noue to be their Governor It is though there that the King will consent unto their Articles with intention to observe them as he hath done others before He thinketh that the Composition with Râ—chel will serve for an introduction to others that hold out to do the like the hope whereof doth make them here very merry For other advertisements out of Germany Flanders and Italy I refer your Lordship to Master Secretaries Letters At Paris the eighteenth of December 1572. Your Honours to command Francis Walsingham To our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Francis Walsingham Esq our Ambassador Resident in France ELIZABETH R. TRusty and well-beloved we greet you well there hath been with us Monsieur de Mannesire with the Letters from the King and Queen Mother and the Duke of Alanson His credence was in three points The continuance of the Amity That we should be God-mother to the Infant and to pursue still the request of marriage with the Duke of Alanson To whom we answered First that as for amity having it of late by league so straitly made betwixt us on our behalf we never attempted nor minded to attempt any thing that should impair it but rather do study and wish to encrease the same if we could and therefore you may say it is that and the good will appertaining to that Amity that made us by you before and now by de Mannesire to declare what we have heard of our good brotheâ— which we are sorry to hear First the great slaughter made in France of Noblemen and Gentlemen unconvicted and untryed So suddenly as it is said at his commandment did seem so much to touch the honour of our good brother as we could not but with lamentation and with tears of our heart hear it of a Prince so near allied unto us and in a chain of undissoluble love knit unto us by league and oath That being after excused by a conspiracy and treason wrought against our good Brothers own person which whether it were true or false being in another Princes Kingdom and Jurisdiction where we have nothing to do we mind not to be curious yet that they were not brought to answer to Law and Judgement before they were executed those who were found guilty We do hear it marvellously ill taken as a thing of a terrible and dangerous example and are sorry that our good brother was so ready to condescend
to any such Councel whose nature we took to be more humane and noble but when more was added unto it that women children maids young infants and sucking babes were at the same time murthered and cast into the river and that liberty of execution was given to the vilest and basest sort of the popular without punishment or revenge of such cruelty done afterwards by Law upon those cruel murtherers of such innocents this encreased our grief and sorrow in our good brothers behalf that he should suffer himself to be led by such inhumane Councellours And now sithence it doth appear by all doings both by the Edicts and otherwise that the rigor is used onely against them of the Religion reformed whether they were of any conspiracy or no and that contrary to the Edict of Pacification so oftentimes repeated they of the reformed Religion are either driven to fly to dye or to recant or lose their offices whereby it doth appear by all actions now used by our good brother that his scope and intent doth tend only to subvert that Religion that we do profess and to root it out of his Realm at the least all the strangers of all Nations and Religions so doth interpret it as may appear by the triumphs and rejoycings set out aswel in the Realm of France as others which maketh that it must needs seem very strange both to us and to all other that our good brother should require us to be Godmother to his dear childe we being of that Religion which he doth now persecute and cannot abide within his Realm And if we should believe the perswasion of others and the opinion of all strangers our friends who be not our Subjects we should in no case condescend to any association in that or any other matter But as we have always hitherto had special love to our good brother in his younger age and a desire to the consideration of his good estate and quietness which we have in deeds manifestly shewed never seeking any advantage of time against him as peradventure other Princes would have done but ever sought to preserve his Estate and his Subjects of what estate or condition in Religion whatsoever they were exhorting them to unity and concord and with loyal hearts to live together in quiet under our good brother without offering injury the one to the other glad of their agreement and sorry of their division and discord so the late league of straiter amity made betwixt our good brother and us to the which he did so frankly and lovingly condescend or rather procure it at our hands is so fresh in our memory that we cannot suffer that in any jot it should be diminiished but rather encreased daily so long as our good brother doth shew the like unto us and that maketh us to interpret all things in better part then otherwise by any means they can appear such is our love to our good brother and so can we be content to perswade our selves for the love that we do bear unto him and for the hope of his continuance in our begun amity without faintness or dissimulation And this for the matter of Amity For continuance of declaration of which amity we said to Mannesire we would not be slack in any good office doing at the request of our good brother And so notwithstanding the doubts and impediments beforementioned we intend to send a worthy personage a noble man of our Realm to repair to his Court and to visit the King our good brother and the Queen Mother and the rest who have written in our behalfs and to do that office which is required as appertaineth wishing that these spiritual alliances may be to us our comfort and conservation of the amity begun betwixt us To the motion of the marriage with the Dâ—ke of Alanson wherein de Mannesire seemed somewhat earnest after declaration of inconveniences that might come in that marriage by the diversity of age and Religion which we termed in our talk extream and true impediments we made this final resolution and answer That forasmuch as we had given to our Ambassador resident there charge to demand and make relation of certain things touching that matter to the King and Queen Mother to the which you had no answer but of the Queen Mother in a certain generallity before that we shall have a special answer to them we cannot well resolve the which once being done we shall the better understand what to answer for any other proceeding in that request To the Right Honourable Francis Walsingham Esq Ambassador Resident for her Majestie in France SIr I heartily thank you for your often advertisements and also that you are so careful for our estate the which so far as I can learn dependeth only upon the providence of God as it hath done always but is easily sustained by the policy of men and yet hath sped better then any man would think and so I pray God it may do still De Mannesire hath been honourably received and friendly and yet to say the truth sith those late and execrable murthers of the true servants of God there the minds of the most number are much alienated from that Nation even of the very Papists much more of the Protestants here and if in countenance and entertainment some coldness might appear it must be ascribed to our English nature which as yet cannot dissemble so deeply as the French can and hath done but I am sure De Mannesire hath no cause to complain In Scotland after the death of the Earl of Marre the late Regent about the four and twentieth of November they chose the Earl of Morton Regent with a great common consent of the Lords Bâ—rgesses in Scotland who as we hear say doth very carefully and wisely endeavor himself to reconcile as much as may be the Lords one with another and to appease both the factions which I fear will not be but with some charge to the Queens Majestie and some grief to the French Ministers and Procurers who can least abide quietness in that Realm Mr. Killâ—grew is yet there still who assoon as they appear to agree within themselves shall return as he would gladly do hither to receive some thanks for his pains I pray God for so much as he hath deserved for his integrity and diligence Our men be all come from Flushing either before or at or sith their returning the most part all sick Sir Humphrey Gilberts sickness is turned into a Quartain some of them that came with him be buried at London I thank you for the Matthiolus you sent unto me I like it well but yet if I could recover mine own I noted through with mine own hands I would like it far better but he that stole it from me doth think that I shall have it again of that price I pray you buy me a case of Instruments such as be to be sold in the Palace I mean containing two compasses or three a
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
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
two days taken up the enchange of certain Treasures of the Town 300000 franks to what end I know not He is now retired from hence to Rome the cause of his departure as it is thought is to remove the suspicion from the Protestants that they suspect nothing of the great conferences had at sundry times between Queen Mother and him Here since the departure of the King upon the good assurance that hath been given me by divers of the good offices that the Lord Levingston will do in Scotland at his return I have taken upon me to give to him a passport with condition that if her Majestie shall not like thereof then he to return hither back again who promiseth to yield such satisfaction to her Majestie as she shall not repent her of any favour she shall shew him The Gentleman feareth that if he should not depart hence before Easter he should be constrained to yield to their superstition or to hazard his life in refusing the same which is the cause why I grant him the same pasport without hearing from her Majestie Schomberg is lately sent hence into Germany as it is thought to two purposes the one to observe their doings there the other to make some levy of both horsemen and footmen if he shall see any preparations of succours for them of the Religion here There arrived lately a noble Gentleman sent hither by the King of Portugal to congratulate the Queens delivery and as it is said to renew the offer of succour by sea It is said that the Baron de la Guard is dead and that Monsieur le Duc d' Alanson desired to have the charge by sea whereto Queen Mother would by no means consent as Mannesire shewed me It is also reported that Monsieur De la Noue hath discharged himself to Monsieur of his promise made to the King and professeth to live and dye with those of Rochel And so leaving c. hoping that her Majestie will take order by sending over Mr. Dale that I shall be the next Messenger my self I most humbly take my leave At Paris the 26 of February 1572. To Mr. Secretary SIr this Gentleman the bearer hereof whom I dispatch in all haste shall shew you the particularities of the late skirmish happened between the Camp and those of Rochel to the end you may impart the same unto her Majestie In the which skirmish D. d' Aumale and Schavigur were slain two of the chiefest executors of the late murthers here God of his good beginning doth give us some hope that the blood of the innocent shall not beunrevenged They of Sancerre the night after the breach was made which was about the latter end of the last moneth issued out of the Town and gave the Camp a Camisadâ— who kept very negligent watch so that they entred into their Trenches as it is said and slew 200 at the least and three or four Captains of good conduct Hereupon it is said that Shaâ—ers who is the General for the King is commanded to levy the siege and to repair to Rochel I am credibly informed that there should be certain Letters entercepted sent out of Germany from Count Lodowick amongst the which there was one directed to Count Montgomery wherein was mention made of assurance of succours to be given to them of the Religion here out of Germany I have divers causes to conjecture that the party which brought these Letters was directed unto me This interception maketh them here much doubt Germany Sir Mr. Dale had need to bring with him over a greater train then he shall be well able to maintain if her Majestie look to hear often from him and if his servants shall be stayed ordinarily as mine are And so c. At Paris the tenth of March. To my Lord Treasurer IT may please your Lordship to understand as I was upon my departure from this town towards the Court I received this inclosed from my Scretary Thevewes the things contained in the same are here very rife and confirmed with great earnestness and others notwithstanding some here of judgment considedering what good success they have lately had at Rochel how much their enemies are therewith appalled and how the giving out of these bruits may serve the Kings turn many ways do not credit them for my own opinion I assure your Lordship I know not what to judge I have seen within these few moneths so many strange and unlikely things come to pass as I do rather suspend my judgment then utterly not believe it If her Majesty do not hear from me with that speed that were requisite when there falleth out here matters worthy advertisement I am justly to be excused for that I have none to send my servants being all staid there and not one sent over which thing if it be not by some device remedied I know not to what use an Ambassador will serve And so having c. To the right honorable Francis Walsingham Esquire her Majesties Ambassador in France SIR you may think it strange that I have writ no oftner to you then I have done and that I have no sooner dispatched your successor unto you but I think you know well enough the stile and order of the Court. Yesterday was the first day that I could get your dispatch signed and the same night I sent word to your wife and sent word to Dr. Dale who hath been with me in the morning and prepareth to take his journey straight after the holidays towards you whereof I thought good to give you warning by your servant for before her Majesty had signed I durst never adventure to affirm any thing for fear of contrary winds the which is no news in this Court Well now I trust you be pleased if with nothing else yet at the least with your return Montgomery is gone from hence whether he hath taken shipping or no I know not but I suppose he hath With his tarrying so long here the Queens Majestie was fain to send to apprehend the Pirats of all nations thereabouts who under the colour of the Prince of Orange and the Count Montgomery robed all manner of Englishmen and strangers some of them are like to pay for it and the rest be gone or will be glad to go for it was time for justice to awake Of Casteauneufs coming hither on D' la Motts errand I think my Lord Treasurer hath written unto you who is privater of it then I am and the answer The pretence was to bring recommendations and excuse from the Duke of Alanson of his absence at my Lo. of Worcesters being there the cause not pretended what preparation was here to help Rochel And he might easily see there was none by common consent and the Princes avow What Montgomery for commiseration or love of private men especially strangers can get is hard and I fear by the event will not appear so much as is thought and spoken of and were expedient at this time
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
Princes Protestants pour la defense de la Religion et pour assister aux attempts de ceux qui voudroint invahir ce Royaume dont pour toucher le paix a touts inconvenients que pourroient sur venir en l'amitie et bonne ligue qu'est de present entre leur Maj. et entre leur deux Royaumes Il ni voir aucun rien de plus expedient que de le confirmer et estraindre d'advantage par ce mariage A Copie of the Lord Treasurers Letter to the French Ambassador MOnsieur I Ambassador according to your motion I conferred with her Majestie upon the alteration or qualification of some points in the writing which you sent me as concerning the matter of Religion to be tolerated for Monsieur le Duc and after some long speeches passed herein her Majestie collected in a few words that she would it should by me be imparted unto you meaning to abridge the length of the form First That the King hath known her disposition to marriage and upon what cause since the first motion for Mr. d' Anjou and therein how she alway resolved not to marry without mutual sight and liking nor yet to have the matter of Religion to be a cause of trouble to her state and of the same minde she hath been and yet is for Monsieur d' Alanson Now what is to be done further by Monsieur le Duc she leaves that to the King and him with this that if he should thus think beforehand if he should come percase liking should not ensue that then he should conceive such offence thereof as his good will should turn into hatred her Majestie thinketh it not meet that in such case he should come at all but if onely the matter of Religion should breed such difficulty betwixt them as howsoever the one should like of the other yet in respect of the satisfaction in that behalf the marriage should not take place it were honorable enough for both or either of them though upon the enterview the marriage did not succeed And therefore no offence ought to follow or an alteration of good will which is that her Majestie desireth to be conserved whatsoever happen of the matter of marriage Thus after much long speech passed between her Majestie and me praying you according to the knowledge that she is assured you have of her sincere meaning by conference with her Majestie you will also deliver it to the King To the Lord Treasurer IT may please your Lordship to advertise hâ—r Majestie That upon the receipt of your Lordships Letters of March 20 I communicated to Q. mother her Majesties Answer touching the marriage matter which I thought to begin withal and concerning the other three points to say nothing but as occasion shall be ministred by her For the marriage I shewed her that her Majestie could not speak more cleerly in the matter then heretofore she hath done which was that she could not accord to take any for her husband whom she should not first see Secondarily That she cannot assent that any man that shall become her husband shall with her Authority and assent use any manner of Religion in outward exercise that is in her Conscience contrary to the direct Word of God and so consequently prohibited by the Laws of her Realm To the first of these two points she answered that the King and she could not consent to his coming over without surety that the marriage should proceed To the second She said that it was neither honorable for him to abandon his Religion upon the sudden neither could her Majestie require to have a husband to live without exercise of his Religion and as for those words whereas she saith that he cannot consent that he shall have any manner of Religion methinks said she the words be very dark and therefore I would be glad to know of you what they mean To that I answered that I had not Commission to interpret them but in my private opinion her Majesties meaning was to debar him of the exercise of any Religion repugnant to the Laws of the Realm Upon these two points there passed between us long debating I shewed her how necessary the contentation of the eye was in marriage and that her Majestie by none that heretofore had seen him could receive any such satisfaction as were requisite Further I used divers Arguments to prove unto her that if the matter did not succeed yet could there not grow any dishonour unto him otherwise then in opinion For the second I shewed her that as her Majestie had at all times cause to stick upon this point of Religion so never more then at this present considering what lately had passed here which had generally bred in her Majesties subjects great jealousie of this Crown seeing them so earnestly bent to oppress those that profess the same Religion that they do In the end she desired me in this behalf to shew unto her Majestie touching the interview that the King and she could not consent that the Duke should come over unless he might be assured to speed for that otherwise he returning without speeding should receive great dishonor which might hinder some honorable offer lately made unto him And after other Covenants that depend upon the conclusion of the said marriage which heretofore in the other Treatie were reduced to a reasonable accord shall be so secretly debated here by some choice persons elected for the purpose with her Majesties Ambassador here resident at the same time as shall not be made common to the world and then the same being agreed upon and assurance being given unto the King and her by some Letter of her own hand writing that her intention is to proceed to the consummation of the marriage he should not fail to come over and yet should he give outto the world that he adventureth to come over upon no other assurance then upon good hope I shewed her that in this point the Queen my Mistriss as I took it was fully resolved not to receive any to her husband before she shall see him Notwithstanding Madam quoth I I will make her acquainted with your requests in this behalf And as for Religion saith she we onely require that he may have some secret exercise for himself and some few of his that he shall bring over with him with this Caution that her Majestie should depute some whom she should think fit for the purpose to see that none of her subjects should resort to the same I shewed her that I would make her Majestie privy to these her requests though said I as far as I can perceive I see her Majestie resolved to accept neither of them So proceeding in further talk she shewed me that she hoped howsoever the marriage took place the Amity notwithstanding lately concluded would continue I shewed her that if there grow any violating thereof the cause should rather proceed from them then from his Majestie though Madam I know
observation of the League which thing she acknowledged to be true and therefore as they had cause did think themselves beholding to her Maiestie This in sum was the effect which passed between her Majestie and me And so leaving c. At Mouel the first of April 1572. To the Lord Treasurer FOr satisfying of your Lordships request touching my private opinion of the marriage The great impediment that I find in the same is the contentment of the eye The Gentleman sure is void of any good favour besides the blemish of the small pocks Now when I weigh the same with the delicacie of her Majesties eye and considering also that there are some about her in credit who in respect of their particular interesses having neither regard unto her Majestie nor to the preservation of our Countrey from ruine will rather increase the misliking by defacing of him then by dutifully laying before her the necessity of her marriage and that in true choice the satisfaction of the ear importeth more then that of the eye specially that seeing to one of her quality there is not allotted that choice that is to other common personages I hardly think that there will ever grow any liking for the Gentleman himself his favour excepted he hath many of those good parts that I would desire to be in one whom I would wish to be her Majesties husband if the other impediments were removed And as for his Religion I do not doubt upon conference had with some but that he would be reduced to any conformity so that the sticking in that matter proceedeth rather from others then from himself and yet they not moved thereto of conscience But for other respects whether this marriage be sincerely meant or no is a hard point to judge where dissimulation taketh so deep root In my opinion I think rather no then yea not for that they desire it not onely as a thing both honourable and profitable but also necessary in respect to have a vent for the separation of the brethren But because they are altogether perswaded that her Majestie hath no intention to marry a thing partly proceeding from her own disposition and partly through the disswasion of others who are not unknown to them and therefore partly do use the same but for an entertainment in respect of their troubled state at home Such presumptions as I have to lead me so to think I hope shortly to impart unto your Lordship c. The first of April 1572. To Sir Thomas Smith SIr it may please you to advertise her Majestie how that the twentieth of this moneth there arrived one here sent to the King from the Marshal D'Anville who reporeth that the said Marshal hath lost at sundry assaults at Sancerre in Berie fifteen hundred footmen besides fifty Gentlemen of whom there is very good account made Amongst the rest there is very great moan made for the loss of Monsieur D'Candales a Gentleman of a very ancient house and one who married with Montmorencies sister He reporteth further that there is in D'Anville's camp great scarcity of victuals which proceedeth for lack of payment so that if in time the King take not some order for the redress thereof the said Marshal shall be constrained to break up his camp Upon this discouragement of D'Anvile the strength and number of the Protestants increaseth daily they having at this present as it is reported of Castles and Holds almost a hundred and of good fighting men eighteen thousand yet dispersed in the said Holds but like to assemble when the season of the year shall serve for the purpose The 21 of this moneth word was brought to the Court how those of the Kings Camp that lay before Sansarra as they gave assault to the Town the day before sustained a great repulse and lost six score of their best Soldiers whereupon they are driven to raise the siege By Letters sent from Rochel of the 21 of this present the King is advertised how the Count de Retz is hurt in the rains of the back with a harquebush shot out of Rochel and some say he can hardly escape itâ— others that he is not in any danger and yet the pellet cannot be gotten By Letters also of the 26 sent from Rochel to certain private friends they are advertised that there was no battery laid there before the 24 although it hath been bruted that it is long sithence that Monsieur had beaten down a certain Bastion called L'Evangile Though it is reported of La Noue that he should bring with him to Monsieurs Camp thirty Gentlemen yet the Queen Mother her self at my last access told me that there arrived with him but twelve amongst the which she named none of name unto me but onely Rochnart By others I learn that La Noue escaped very hardly out of the Town with the safety of his life It is said that the King shall have 6000 Switzers notwithstanding that it was otherwise concluded by the Cantons in the last Diet and therefore being contrary to their conclusion it is thought there will grow some trouble among themselves When they come the Kings determination is to make a Camp volant to go from place to place with intent to detain all such of the Religion as are thought to be men of Conduct Upon the news of Montgomeries preparations there is order taken along the Sea-coasts of Britain Normandy and Picardie to withstand his landing They make full account that it is not possible for him to enter the Haven of Rochel in respect of the passage that is quite stopped with stones and timber howbeit others of judgement say that if he bring forces enough with him to withstand the Kings Galleys the spring-tide will favour him all this moneth as that the stopping of the Haven cannot be any impeachment unto him and that if he once enter Monsieur shall be driven to leavie his siege for that I am credibly informed he hath not in his whole Camp above 7000 Souldiers By the letters of Italy as also out of Germany it is said that the Duke Elector of Saxonie is arrived secretly at the Emperors Court what should be the cause of his repair thither men do rather ghess at then know all men conclude that it is for matter of great weight and importance The Marshal Montmorency is departed lately from the Court some men say neither with his own satisfaction nor yet with the Kings others affirm the contrary By letters sent from Antwerp of the twentieth of March it is reported that there was a sore conflict at sea betwixt the Prince of Oranges men and the Duke of Alva's in the which those for the Duke of Alva had the worst and were constrained to retire themselves within the River to a certain place called Berge where they are besieged by the Prince of Orange's ships so as it is thought they can hardly escape In this conflict besides divers others a Spaniard being General was slain I am
to lay distrust aside not doubting but in time the King would deal we should see very honourably the cause whereof Pinart did assure us with most earnest protestations as a man that was acquainted with the secrets and inwards of the Kings own soul. At the end of our conference upon the Speeches I the Secretary delivered unto them how that her Majestie understanding of this alteration with the King for entring into the association would cause the preparations for Portugal to stay Pinart desired very earnestly in Queen mothers name that in no case they might stay but be furthered with all convenient expedition and that she would take it as a singular favour done to her self by her Majestie in case she would go forward therewith as she had begun assuring us that there were at Bourdeaux certain ships in a readiness likewise to set forwards towards the Isles to be imployed in this service Your Honours to command Francis Walsingham Henry Cobham Io. Sommers A Memorial for Mr. Sommers FIrst you shall declare to the Duke That whereas the King had yielded to proceed to the Treaty without marriage the same resolution was altered by a request made by Du. Vray in his name that it might not be proceeded in without the said marriage whereupon our Negotiation in that behalf is stayed untill the King and the Queen his Mother shall by Secretary Pinart understand his determination touching the continuance of the said stay by Du. Uray procured that whereas I the Secretary at the time of my being with him did pray his Highness considering the proceeding in the League did require expedition that it would please him to recommend the same unto â—he King He did then declare unto me that though he could not recommend the same in respect of the doubt and conceived that it might impeach the marriage which was the matter he chiefly sought yet considering he found by me that it tended to the advancement of her Highness service he would not impeach or hinder the same we are therefore to pray his Highness it would please him for the satisfaction of the Queen my Mistress havâ—ng advertised her of his promise made in that behalf to let us understand the cause of the alteration thereof that it shall be meet to lay before him the benefit that may grow by the said League unto the enterprise that he hath in hand by comforting his own party in the Low-Countries by discomforting the adverse party as also that it will serve to very good purpose to remove the jealousnesse here within this Realme and thereby to continue the present peace whereby he may the better prosper in his present actions that we doe not see how it may greatly hinder his intended pursuit of the Marriage but will rather further the same for that it will breed a good satisfaction in her Majesties Subjects and to put them in hope to receive more fruit of the Marriage when they shall see these two Crownes to be knit together in amity against their common Enemy the King of Spain That we hearing of certain bruites given out at Paris not by mean and base persons but by such as doe pretend to know how matters of importance dâ—e passe how that there should be some overture made hy his Highness of a marriage with Spain which we for our parts can in no case beleeve considering the earnest protestations that have been made by the King his Mother and himself touching his intention for the continuance of the pursuit of the Marriage and therefore did think meet in respect of the Honour that we think our selves bound to bear towards one that hath so well deserved of the Queen our Mistress to acquaint him therewith to the end we may receive from himself some such matter as may yield satisfaction to her Majestie upon the hearing of the said bruit That we esteem him to be a Prince of so great honour so long as he shall pursue the Marriage with her Majestie not to entertain any other Besides knowing how greatly those Marriages knit between persons in nearness of bloud are condemned in the opinion of the world being both against the Law of God and Nature we cannot be perswaded that he being a Prince of that integrity and one that is guided by conscience in all his actions can be drawn thereunto That it is also given out that in consideration of the said Marriage the Prince of Parma will be induced to withdraw his siege from Cambray as also to yield to a surceasance of Arms with the States of the Low-Countries for the space of five or six moneths that in the mean time there may be some way found for the pacifying of those Countries and the reducing of them to the obedience of the King of Spain with the preservation of their Liberties That we have cause to believe some part of this for that at our conference here with the High-Commissioners it was declared unto us that Bellieure was sent unto the Prince of Parma for that purpose that if the same might be brought to pass for the surety of the States none would be more glad of it then the Queen our Mistress who hath desired nothing more then the repose of that Countrey that herein we cannot but let him understand how men of judgement doe see this project is onely layed to stop the pretended course for the impeaching of the greatness of the King of Spain For they that consider how greatly the States are alienated from the King of Spain and how resolutely the King is bent not to yield to them in matter of exercise of Religion so no reason that ever there can grow any good by any such Treaty unless it be unto the King of Spain And therefore we as those that wish him all honour doe pray to God also that it fall not out so that some part of that project doe not tend to his disadvantage August 14. Private Memorials for Mr. Sommers YOu may besides the Points contained in this Memorial add such other things as you can call to remembrance and shall think meet for the advancement of her Majesties service If you shall find the Vice-Count of Tâ—raigne there you shall doe well to impart our proceeding unto him here with the King and to pray his assistance if he shall like to deal in the Cause to remove the impediments that the Treaty may proceed considering the benefits that may ensue thereby as well to the furtherance of the Dukes actions as to remove the jealousies here within the Realm You may also declare unto him that touching the sum of money which he desired me to procure at her Majesties hands for the Dukes support that her Majestie having been moved therein is very wilâ—ing upon notice given that he standeth in need thereof being not otherwise furnished by the King as her Majestie hath been certainly informed that he was to see him supplyed of some convenient summe And therefore if it please the Duke
conceiveth it that it may serve your turn And as for the league we were in hand withal if the King would have assented that the same should have proceeded in general terms according to such direction as we have lately received from your Majestie I am for sundry causes led to think that it would have proved unprofitable as generally I know that there is a president to confirm the same but if in that time a King of Scots pretending a title to the Crown of England was like by matching with Spain to have wrought that peril towards your Majesties father as he is towards you he would not then have stood upon generality as your Majestie doth now For in diseased bodies there is not alwaies like use of medicines sometimes when your Majestie doth behold in what doubtful terms you stand with Forreign Princes then you do wish with great affection that opportunities offered had not been slipped But when they are offered to you if they be accompanied with charges they are altogether neglected Common experience teacheth that is as hard in a pollitique body to prevent any mischief without char ges as in a natural body diseased to cure the same without pain Remember I humbly beseech your Majestie the respect of charges hath lost Scotland and I would to God I had no cause to think that it might put your Highness in peril of the loss of England I see it and they stick not to say it that the only cause that moveth them here not to weigh your Majesties friendship is for that they see your Majestie doth fly charges otherwise then by doing somewhat underhand It is strange considering in what state your Majestie standeth that in all the directions that we have now received we have special charge not to yield to any thing that may be accompanied with charges The general Leagùe must be without any certain charges The particular League with a voluntary and no certain charge as also that that is to be attempted in favour of Don Anthonio the best is that if they were as they are not inclined to deal in any of these points then they were like to receive but small comfort for any thing that we have direction to assent unto Heretofore your Majesties predicessors in matters of peril did never look into the charges when their Treasure was neither so great as your Majesties is nor Subjects so wealthy nor so willing to contribute A person that is diseased if he look only upon the medicine without regard of the pain he sustaineth cannot in reason and nature but abhor the same if therefore no peril why then it is in vain to be at any charges but if there be peril it is hard that charges should be preferred before peril I pray God the abatement of the charges towards that Noble man that hath the custody of the bosom-serpent hath not lessened his care in keeping of her To think that in a man of his birth and quality after twelve years travel in charge of such weight to have an abatement of allowance and no recompence otherwise made should not work discontentment no man that hath reason can so judge and therefore to have so special a charge committed to a person discontented every body seeth it standeth no way with pollicy what dangerous effects this loose keeping hath bred the taking away of Morton the alienation of the King and a general revolt in Religion intended only by her charges doth shew And therefore nothing being done to help the same is a manifest argument that the peril that is like to grow thereby is so fatal as it can no way be prevented If this sparing and improvident course be held still the mischief approaching being so apparent as they are I conclude therefore having spoken in heat of duty without offence to your Majestie that no one that serveth in place of a Counceller that either weigheth his own credit or carrieth that sound affection to your Majestie as he ought to do that would not wish himself in the farthest part of Ethiopia rather then enjoy the fairest Palace in England The Lord God therefore direct your Majesties heart to take that way of councel that may be most for your honour and safety September 2. F. Walsingham To the Lord Treasurer MY very good Lord the day following my conference with Queen Mother La Mot repaired unto me sent from her to give me thanks for the speech I had used towards her the day before and prayed me that I would further some good and speedy resolution of the marriage He did acknowledge in talk that passed between us touching my Negotiation with the said Queen that that point which I touched concerning the employment of Monsieur in the Low-Countries for the avoiding of the devision that might grow between the two brethren is a matter that those that wish well unto the King and desire the continuance of the repose of that Realm had great care of which was not the least cause that moved them greatly to desire the marriage which not taking place they saw his employment in the Low-Countries very necessary letting me understand that they found it strange that they heard nothing of 〈…〉 of any intelligence that passed between the Prince of Orange and the Duke 〈◊〉 greatly to the end that the said Duke might be known of the people of the Low-Countries he might be drawn to make his residence at Antwerp 〈◊〉 some of the inward places of the Countrie I see it a general opinion among 〈◊〉 wisest sort here considering the general evil satisfaction that the people have of the present government that it will be very hard to maintain good concord between the two brethren in case the Duke should reside here within the Realm And it is most assured that the affection that the Nobility here do bear to Monsieur which hath appeared by his late Army compounded of voluntaries the same consisting principally of Noblemen and Gentl. hath greatly increased the Kings jealousie towards him and hath not been the least hinderance of that support that otherwise the said King might have been drawn to have given The Duke of Guise is of late crept into a very inward credit with the said King which ought to move her Majestie to be more carefull of the matters of Scotland for that there are daily consultations in the Dukes house especially since advertisements are come hither out of Scotland that the King doth submit himself to any such direction as his mother shall give him even so far forth as the yielding up of the Government to her if she shall think it meet Douglass attendeth some answer from her touching some things that he hath not long since sent unto her upon the return whereof they are to grow to a through resolution for the causes of that Realm I find confirmed by divers that a general hope is conceived of alteration of Religion in that Realm ere a year come about in furtherance whereof