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| March 12. |
7. Minutes for a letter to be written to J—. There is
no such disagreement as you speak of between the King of Scots
and the Queen. They agree but too well, the King being most
careful not to hinder his succession to the Crown, which they put
him in hope of, though they will not assure it. |
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The Queen relies chiefly on the Chancellor of Scotland, but opens
her purse to few or none, because both the Protestant factions, the
Chancellor's, and the Master of Glamis's, seek to fortify themselves
by her, and are content with opinion of her favour, and look for no
money. Bothwell is thought no friend to England. The King of
Scots can furnish no men for the King of Navarre, though he
wishes him well, and joined in treaty with the Germans for succour
to come thence. |
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The loans are to furnish the triple charge this summer in Brittany,
at sea, and with the army that comes out of Germany; it will cause
less discontent than the last, being assessed according to the subsidy
books, whereas the last was at the disposition of lieutenants and
their deputies in the shires. Men are willing, because they see the
necessity of helping the King of Navarre, and are angry that
Council does not help him more roundly. |
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The assistance given France with men is only to expel the
Spaniards from Brittany. Sir John Norris goes with 4,000 or 5,000
men, part to be taken from the Low Country garrisons, and others
to be sent in their places. The Queen is offended with the King
for suffering these maritime places to remain in the enemy's hands,
and will lend her force to restore them to obedience. |
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All ships are stayed except those with merchants' goods going to
Middleburg and Stade, who are to return by May, when the Lord
Admiral will go to sea with the whole navy, probably for the coast
of Brittany. Meanwhile the Earl of Cumberland is ready to depart
with 16 ships, and Lord Thos. Howard with 30, for the places where
the King [of Spain's] treasure is to be met with, the Indies, or
islands. Sir W. Raleigh and others are adventurers, and have some
of the Queen's best ships, furnished part at her charge, part at their
own. Order is taken to satisfy the Hollanders, to the discontent of
the adventurers who took their ships prize, but such ravenous hands
can hardly get sufficient reparation for remedy. There is a proclamation making it piracy to break bulk till a prize is brought home
and found lawful. |
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They think peace between Spain and Holland ridiculous, and
that the King only seeks it to divert them from assisting the King
of Navarre. |
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Hawkins, Frobisher, and Drake are little spoken of. Fenner was
to have been employed by Drake, but fell sick, so the adventurers
have trusted their ships to my Lord of Cumberland, who offered
those of Brittany to furnish some ships at his own charge to expel
the Spaniards, but it was resolved my Lord Admiral should go to
sea himself. |
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The not naming a Secretary proceeds from their quietness here,
and the Queen's slowness in bestowing places of importance; the
great ones about her would each have his friend. The Earl of Essex
labours for Davison's restitution; the Treasurer for his son, Rob.
Cecil, and is likely to prevail, and the Chancellor concurs, but
there is secret opposition, or the Queen is unwilling. Mr. Wotton
has been named; the Queen has a liking for Mr. Dyer, who is in
Germany. The Treasurer meanwhile executes this office, as almost
all other places of the realm, to the discontent of many. |
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There was a jar between the Treasurer and Archbishop of Canterbury, because the Treasurer said the spiritual courts would fall into
the prœmunire for taking oaths of men against law. The Archbishop answered stoutly, as if the other affected patronage of the
Puritans. The Treasurer was sick for a few days upon it. There
is little metal in these men about the Queen, to work on by division;
otherwise the State yields occasions enough. |
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The Earl [of Essex] and Raleigh are as they were when you
left, but the Earl is growing into the same vogue of Court; and
like enough, if he had a few more years, to carry Leicester's credit
and away. |
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Sir John Perrott, Sir Thos. Williams, Sir Nich. White, and Phil.
Williams are sent to the Tower; some accuse them deeply, others
ascribe it to the Chancellor, Sir John's adversary. |
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It is expected here that the Duke of Parma will come to Ostend;
so men and munition are sent to Sir Edward Norris at his request,
though they hold it a device to divert Sir John Norris from
Brittany. |
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The league have taken Feschamp and Honfleur, and the King
Chartres. They are displeased that the King's affairs go no better,
and say he is ill-counselled, and worse served. Soissons has come to
him again. |
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Clitheroe will be glad of such particulars as you can learn. Ask
particulars of Jaques' matter. [3 pages, draft by Phelippes, much
corrected.] |
