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6th Sept.
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380. The Same to the Same.
The Queen came to Oxford on the last day of the month, as
I wrote to your Majesty. I thanked her for her kindness in sending
me news of the Queen's confinement, and told her what your Majesty
had ordered me to say upon the subject. She thanked me and
showed great pleasure that your Majesty had ordered her to be
advised, with the many kind words she knows so well how to
employ. She said how important the maintenance of your Majesty's
succession was to your old friends and allies, and I pointed out to
to her how much more reason she had to be pleased than others,
seeing the friendship that had so long existed between the countries,
and she then began to speak very angrily about the rioters in the
Netherlands, saying that they deserved a heavy punishment, as their
cause had neither reason, virtue nor religion, the only aim being
liberty against God and Princes. I pushed this matter as far as
I could, showing her by examples how important it was that all
Princes should try to remedy such insolence, and should join together
for the punishment of these common enemies. She thought the
same as I did, and explained to me as she had done on previous
occasions, her action with regard to France when she occupied
Havre de Grace. She said her only intention was to recover Calais
which her friends thought would not be given up at the time agreed
upon, and she thought also that the duke of Guise had some bad
intention against France, and her action was not in any way to
injure the King. She said that if the leaders of the Netherlands
come to her for help or countenance she would answer then in a way
that should make them understand how she held your Majesty's
interests, and she cursed subjects who did not recognise the mercy
that God had shown them in sending them a Prince of so much
clemency and humanity as your Majesty. Her words and action,
and those of her counsellors are good, and they all condemn the
disorder which has arisen in Flanders, marvelling greatly that
something more has not been done in Antwerp and elsewhere.
When I said to the earl of Leicester, that now that the prince of
Orange was there, he being a person of such eminence and so
faithful to your Majesty, I hoped that matters would be remedied,
he told me that he considered the prince of Orange was faithful as
I said. I thank them for their expressions of good will, and desire
to serve your Majesty, and try to maintain them in their good
disposition. The Queen has not said anything to me yet about the
Archduke's affair, nor has Danet returned home until the Queen
arrives in London, where the matter will be discussed. I am told
that the Queen is displeased with Danet for not bringing a written
reply signed by the Emperor, instead of a verbal one. He answers
that as he only took a letter of credence the only reply the Emperor
would, make was in a similar form, and he could not force the
Emperor to do otherwise.
I am told now that Leicester is endeavouring to get this Parliament
to deal with the succession, so that by this means the Archdukes
business may be upset, and the Queen not pressed about the marriage.
and he may then treat of his own affair more at his leisure.
It is feared that there is trouble in Ireland, and that the Queen
will spend large sums of money this winter which will avail but
little for the future. As I have written, this Queen suspects that the
queen of Scotland is in treaty with O'Neil, and I have been trying
to discover if there is any foundation for it. The earl of Sussex
tells me there is, because when he was governor of Ireland, he seized
letters which proved it. The viceroy of Ireland has proclaimed O'Neil
a traitor by public edict on the ground that he is in treaty with
foreign Princes.
This Queen has been received in the University as Princes
generally are where they are welcome, that is to say, with
applause and rejoicing. Four speeches at separate places were
delivered to her on her entrance, three in Latin and one in Greek,
all praising her virtues and learning, and expressing joy at her visit.
Every day since she has been here she has attended public lectures
in various sciences, and at night has gone to see comedies and
tragedies in Latin and English. Yesterday was the last day of the
exercises, and the Queen gave thanks in Latin, in well chosen words.
In the various lectures, disputations, and comedies only ordinary
matters have been treated, and nothing has been said about religion,
except on the last occasion, when the subject was theology. The man
they call the bishop of Salisbury praised the Queen in a few words
for having maintained in her realm the truth of the gespel, and by
his showing the Queen may be sure, and everyone satisfied that this
country possesses the faith that is best for it.
This afternoon at four o'clock the Queen left here, and will arrive
to-morrow at Lord Windsor's house. The earl of Leicester has
requested leave to visit the earl of Pembroke, who lives 40 miles
from here, and is a great friend of his, but he will return in five
days.—Oxford, 6th September 1566.
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14 Sept.
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381. The Same to the Same.
The ceremonies and exercises at Oxford were so long and
continuous that there was no time to speak to the Queen of anything
else, nor did I wish to endeavour to do so, unless she commenced as
I wished her to think that I had taken the journey only to accompany
her. I did not even have time to speak to Secretary Cecil about
matters for some time, and then what I heard from him in substance
was that the Queen was annoyed at the Archduke's reply as she
thought he was asking a great deal, which showed that he was not
very anxious to conclude the business, and those who were against it
(by which I understood he meant Lord Robert and his friends, although
he did not name them) encouraged the Queen in this belief and
urged her since nothing had been done in the marriage, to deal with
the question of the succession in order, amongst other things, to show
the queen of Scotland that they were willing to forward her interests.
This is far from the truth, as they have no intention of serving
her, nor Katharine nor anyone else, but only to delay and upset the
Archduke's suit. To effect this they may suggest that the kingdom
should elect its own sovereign if the Queen were to die, and thus
there would be no reason to press the Queen in this Parliament,
either about the marriage or the succession. All this is directed
towards hindering the Archduke, and benefiting Leicester's claims,
and he (Cecil) asked me to take an opportunity to press the
Queen to consider the matter well and give a favourable answer to the
Emperor. He thought that nothing would have so much influence
with the Queen as a letter from your Majesty. I answered, after
thanking him, that the Queen should not wonder at the tone of the
Archduke's answer, considering that he had been pressed to abandon
his religion, a thing which ought not to be proposed to the lowest
man in the world for the sake of interest, and if proposed should not
be accepted. The Archduke seeing such pretensions as these, and
hearing from several quarters that the Queen did not wish to marry
at all, acted wisely in making demands on his side, as it would not
be prudent for him to risk a loss without some chance of gain.
Cecil assured me that he was certain the Queen wished to marry,
and it was more necessary for her to do so than she herself knew.
I was right, he said, in my remark that people announced that the
Queen did not wish to marry, but they did it only to delay the
business and discourage the Emperor. With regard to the principal
point of religion, the Archduke ought not to be asked to change
his faith, and he said that Thomas Danet had been delighted with
the Archduke's manner and appearance, and the Queen was quite
satisfied now in that respect.
I asked him why Danet had gone home so soon. He said it was
in consequence of his being unwell, but as I have written to your
Majesty, this was not the reason, but because the Queen was angry
with him for not bringing a written and signed answer. I told
Cecil that as to your Majesty writing to the Queen I thought that
unnecessary, as she had letters from your Majesty to the same effect
when the matter was in hand before, and I had spoken to her on
the subject several times.
On the same day I chatted with the Queen on the road for almost
a couple of leagues, and after having related many things which had
happened when your Majesty was here, and when her marriage with
you was proposed (which is a thing she does not forget) she spoke
about the Emperor and the Archduke, although very lightly and
when we were already near Lord Windsor's house where she was to
stay. I therefore did not think it a good time to prolong the subject
and did not reintroduce it until the next day, when she began again
to complain of the Archduke for having asked for new conditions,
and unjust ones, as she thought, as they seemed to infer that he held
her of small account. I answered that she had no reason for thinking
that, considering that so many great Princes had sought her, and how
notorious were her merits and grandeur, she ought not therefore to
think that the Archduke who was so anxious to marry her, would
ask anything against her dignity, but only such things as were proper
under the circumstances. He also thought no doubt that if all his
conditions were not granted, that such as were reasonable might be
agreed to. She said that she believed this because the Emperor
in conversation with Danet had answered these words— "Iniquum
petit est cequum ferat :" but affairs of this sort ought not to be spun
out, and if the match were not to be carried through she must make
up her mind to do her best for her country and subjects. I think
she would like the Archduke to have been more gallant and
affectionate, and have hurried his coming hither. When I told her
how much more powerful honour and duty were to virtuous Princes
than desiro, and said that the Archduke having the war on hand
could not well leave the Emperor, she said that this was the cause
of his delay in coming, as she had been informed. I told her I was
surprised that so many demands had been made in regard to religion,
as it was not a matter which could be adopted or abandoned at will,
but must be treated according to the understanding, and from what
I gathered from her, there was not so much difference between
them that all these difficulties need arise. She said that it was the
Emperor, and not she who had imposed conditions in this respect.
Cecil seems to desire this business so greatly that he does not
speak about the religious point, but this may be deceit, as his wife
is of a contrary opinion, and thinks that great trouble may be caused
to the peace of the country through it. She has great influence
with her husband, and no doubt discusses the matter with him, but
she appears a much more furious heretic than he is. Until the
Queen comes hither, I understand nothing will be decided.
It is believed for certain that Parliament will meet although some
people still doubt it. They think that if the Queen does not marry
or proclaim a successor, they will not vote her any supplies. The
marriage question is as I have described it, and the matter of the
succession will not be settled. The Queen will never consent to it,
as she understands very well that it will not be to her advantage.
The heretics are furiously in favour of Catharine although somewhat
divided, some wishing, for the earl of Huntingdon, who is the
man to suit them best. They are powerful in Parliament, as there
was a great ado here a year and a half ago in order that all those
who were elected for shires and boroughs to vote in the Commons
should be heretics, and what with them and the new bishops they
should thus have a majority especially as the nobles are divided,
and they can settle the succession on a heretic if the Queen
wishes it. As I have said, however, she will not allow it, and
when she herself spoke to me on the matter, and said it would
be necessary to discuss it if the marriage were not effected, I replied
that this was a good business to talk about but a bad one to do.
She said I was right. The Queen came to Windsor on the 9th inst
and I asked leave to come to London. After she had said much, as
she always does with regard to her love for your Majesty, and desire
to please you she asked me to beg your Majesty not to forget her.
I keep her in a good humour, as it is necessary for the present, and
I think it would be well that your Majesty should say a few words
to her Ambassador, thanking the Queen for her love and friendship.
By letters of the 27th ultimo news comes from Ireland, that the
Queen's troops are on John O'Neil's borders, and had entered
his territory of which O'Neil being advised he posted himself in
a wood and killed a hundred men, fifteen of them being people of
rank in the country and both forces had then retired to their
quarters. Captain William Pierce, who is in a castle belonging to
the Queen in the North of Ireland, called Knockfergus, sallied out
and overran O'Neil's lands on that side, and took four hundred head
of cattle. They write that O'Neil has one thousand one hundred
good horse, and seven or eight thousand infantry, of whom six
hundred are harquebussiers. Thirteen days ago, Captain Randolph
and his thousand Englishmen, sailed from Bristol and will now
have arrived in Ireland. They say that O'Neil will be able to do
much damage to the English this winter, as his people are used to
the country and more accustomed to the cold and hardship than the
Queen's troops.
Scotland is tranquil. The earl of Murray is with the Queen, and
assisting in the Government. Secretary Lethington is said to
remain there, and has not asked the Queen's pardon as the rest of the
conspirators have done, affirming that he had committed no fault,
and will not ask or beg for pardon, but that if he is to blame, he
wishes to be punished. The King and Queen are now good friends,
but not with the same love and kindness as before the murder of
Secretary David.
Foix, who was French Ambassador here, and was appointed to go
to Rome, will not go there, the present Ambassador tells me, as the
Pope's Nuncio in France has told the King, that his Holiness will
not receive him.
The duke of Norfolk arrived last night by post, and sent his
secretary to see me this morning to say that as the Duke had to see
the Queen at once he had not come to visit me, but would do so on
his return to ask after your Majesty's health. I understand he
comes to help in the Archduke's business as the has hitherto done.
He wishes to show the country that he desires the Queen to marry
in a way fitting to her rank, and he therefore has great influence
and many friends, being the most powerful person in the realm.
They have news here that your Majesty is going to Flanders, and
the good and the bad people look forward to this, but with very
different emotions. I am still told that a rising here is expected, as
I wrote to your Majesty on the 23rd. I have not appeared curious
in the matter, as great caution is needed with these people.
Gresham, the Queen's factor who went to Antwerp, as I told your
Majesty he was to do, has written that he has got the money, and
will shortly return.—London, 14th September 1566.
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21 Sept.
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382. The Same to the Same.
The Queen is at Richmond, and will come here in six or seven
days. The Council has been summoned there, for the purpose, it is
said, of arranging what is to be done in Parliament, and that when
the question of succession is raised for various opinions to be
expressed in order that nothing may be concluded, whereupon the
Queen seeing the difficulty and difference of opinion, shall ask that
power shall be given her to appoint whom she likes, and when she
pleases, for her own ends. It will not be a bad arrangement for
her if she can carry it through, but it is very difficult, and they
will probably not agree to it easily. The earl of Northumberland
has excused himself from coming to Parliament, as have other
Catholics, to the Queen's pleasure. It does not seem a wise thing
to do, if they have any object they wish to carry.
The troops taken to Ireland by Randolph, have arrived, but they
say that O'Neil is too strong for them to do much harm, and a larger
number will have to be sent if they wish to press him.
Scotch affairs appear to be quiet, and the Queen has gone to visit
some places in the country, leaving her child to the care of the
Countesses of Murray and Argyll, one of whom is her sister, and
the other her sister-in-law. This is a sign that she has more
confidence in the two Earls than hitherto.—London, 21st September
1566.
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28 Sept.
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383. The Same to the Same.
This Queen's Ambassador has written that your Majesty's voyage
to Flanders is certain, and says that he, himself, is preparing for the
journey. I hear the same by letter of the 6th instant, from the
grand commander of Castille, and from other quarters. This news
has given as much joy and encouragement to good men here, as it
has caused sorrow and fear to those who are otherwise and from this
may be judged the joy which the Catholics and faithful subjects of
your Majesty in those States feel at your coming, as your Majesty
will learn from the duchess of Parma, who is in the midst of the
trouble. They are in such a state, that every day's delay seems
years to them, and the more the voyage is deferred, the more difficult
will the remedy be. The heretics are making great efforts to show
that your Majesty will not make the voyage for the purpose of
weakening them, the Catholics, and making them despair. But they
will deceive themselves, and with the help of God and the necessary
rapidity with which your Majesty will take your measures, they
will be frustrated.
The Queen arrived here yesterday evening. Parliament, they say,
will be deferred for some days, but still will be summoned.
As I am closing this, nothing new is known from Ireland or
Scotland. This Queen has not appointed the person who is to go
to the prince of Scotland's christening, although a silver font is
finished to be sent for the ceremony. I hear from France that the
Christian King will send Count Segny. If he is a Catholic, as I
suppose, and this Queen sends the earl of Bedford, there will not
be much agreement between them as regards religion. At this point
I am informed that Scotland is so tranquil, that the earl of Murray
goes to Mass with the Queen, which is good news if true. I hear
it from a good source.—London, 28th September 1566.
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