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4 Nov.
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388. The Same to the Same.
I have thanked the Queen for her congratulations at our Queen's
confinement, and informed her of her Majesty's recovery from her
severe illness afterwards ; and also for the disapproval and indignation
she had expressed with regard to the disorders in Flanders.
She replied graciously, and said, with regard to Flanders, she had
always suspected that the affair must have a leader, as she had said
on other occasions, and she was more pleased than she could say at
the prospect of your Majesty's voyage to the States. As I wrote in
mine of the 19th ult., this Queen is dissatisfied at what is being
done in Parliament with regard to the succession, and that I felt
sure that the gentlemen they call the Upper Chamber would meet
jointly with the Lower, which represents the people, to petition the
Queen. This, in fact, has been done without any dissentient vote,
except that of the Lord Treasurer, who was heard unwillingly by
the others.
The Queen was so angry, that she addressed hard words to the
duke of Norfolk, whom she called traitor or conspirator, or other
words of similar flavour. He replied that he never thought to have
to ask her pardon for having offended her thus. Subsequently they
tell me the Queen asserted that she addressed no such words to the
Duke. The earls of Leicester and Pembroke, the marquis of Northampton,
and the Lord Chamberlain, spoke to her on the matter, and
Pembroke remarked to her that it was not right to treat the Duke
badly, since he and the others were only doing what was fitting for
the good of the country, and advising her what was best for her,
and if she did not think fit to adopt the advice, it was still their
duty to offer it. She told him he talked like a swaggering soldier,
and said to Leicester that she had thought if all the world abandoned
her he would not have done so, to which he answered that he
would die at her feet, and she said that that had nothing to do with
the matter. She said that Northampton was of no account, and he
had better talk about the arguments used to enable him to get
married again, when he had a wife living, instead of mincing words
with her. With this she left them, and had resolved to order them
to be considered under arrest in their houses. This she has not
done, but she has commanded them not to appear before her. The
other day, when they were all met together with the Duke, Sussex
came to tell me what was going on,—although he did not tell me
fully what the Queen had said, he informed me generally that she
was greatly annoyed, and seeing the state in which affairs were, he
begged me to advise the Queen to remedy matters by effecting her
marriage, as he said she wished to do, taking that as an excuse for
proroguing the Parliament for six months, until it was seen what
could be done about the marriage. If she preferred to dissolve
Parliament, she should pledge her word to some of the leaders that
she would call them together again, shortly, in order that they might
settle the business favourably, and do their duty by the people,
because outside the Parliament discussion was not free. I believe
the Earl came at the request of all of them, as they, no doubt, wish
to come well out of it, now that they have opened up the question
of the succession, and are trying to maintain their own reputation
with the people, and satisfy the Queen at the same time. I told
him I would use all my efforts, as the matter was so important, both
for the Queen and the country, that a right solution should be
arrived at.
After having told the Queen what your Majesty ordered, as I have
already stated, she, with the confidence she usually shows in me,
began to speak upon the subject, complaining greatly of all of them,
and particularly of Leicester. She asked me what I thought of
such ingratitude from him, after she had shown him so much kindness
and favour, that even her honour had suffered for the sake of
honouring him. She was glad, however, of so good an opportunity
of sending him away, and the Archduke might now be quite free
from suspicion.
She also complained greatly of Sussex, and all the rest of them,
saying that they had abandoned her, and were all against her but
the Treasurer, which had so angered her that she had railed at
them. Since then, however, they had asked permission to speak to
her, which she would grant, on condition that one, or two at most,
only, came, and when Parliament was ended, which she thought to
dissolve soon, she would well punish the others.
I told her she had done wisely in consenting to listen to them,
and it would be better to do so one by one, so that she might get
at their opinions more freely, and even have a better opportunity
of persuading them. Since they had been assured of her intention
to marry, she should so order things that they might be convinced
of her sincerity in this, and in order to tranquillize them it would
be well to close Parliament for some time, giving them to understand
that it should only be suspended long enough to resolve about
the marriage, and then as soon as they were separated, she could do
as she liked. She said she thought well of this, but if she did not
dissolve Parliament, but only prorogued it, the laws of the country
would not allow her to punish them. When I pointed out to her
that she might satisfy them with the assurance that she would
summon another Parliament shortly if the marriage were not
effected, she approved of this although she seemed to think it an
affront to her dignity to adopt any compromise. I tried to
persuade her that she lost nothing with the people by so doing,
and it was better not to let them be dissatisfied, but to adopt
some such honest measure of getting out of the difficulty. We
conversed much upon this subject, and I tried to pacify her.
Although she did not distinctly say she would do as I recommended,
she said so in effect, and promised to listen to them one
by one, and in this way she has now been reconciled to them.
The next day Cecil sent to me to say that the Queen had given
orders to this effect, and said that she had been pacified by my
advice, and he thanked me greatly for it.
She dissembles, but she is still very angry with them, and they
remain dissatisfied.
She is greatly incensed with her bishops, and on this point I
helped her, although very cautiously that it might not look like
bias, pointing out to her how ungrateful they are. She does not
like them, although she pretends to, but she is not deceived.
Thirty members of the Upper Chamber and sixty of the Lower
have been deputed to discuss the action that is to be taken with
the Queen in the questions of marriage and the succession. They
met together on the 2nd instant, Saturday, but did not decide anything.
They say they will do so to-day, Monday. If anything is
heard before the courier leaves, I will advise. Cecil sends to say
he is sure everything will be favourably settled. I myself believe
that the Queen will give them fair words, with regard to the
marriage, and will defer the succession for a future time, and the
whole matter will thus be quieted for the present.
I wrote to your Majesty that the Queen had summoned Captain
Hawkins, respecting the ships which he had ready to send to Guinea
and the Indies. He came and was ordered, as also was the other
man they call Tenar, not to go to the places prohibited by your
Majesty under grave penalties, and the Judge of the Admiralty was
directed to treat in the same way the others who might wish to
make a similar voyage. There were different opinions in the
Council about it, but the Queen ordered it. It is very important,
and if your Majesty thinks well it might be advisable to say a word
to the Queen's Ambassador expressing thanks for her action in the
matter.
News arrived here six days ago that the Queen of Scotland was
dead or dying. This was brought by a courier who was going to
France with the intelligence. On the 1st inst. another arrived
advising her improvement. God give her health, for this would
be a great misfortune at such a time. Her child has also been ill,
but is now better. The Queen had made her will, leaving the
prince in charge of her brother, the earl of Murray, to whom also
was entrusted the principal part of the Government, jointly with
the Council, and she enjoined them all to make no changes in
religion, but to let all people live freely in accordance with their
conscience, as she had ordered. There has been no news since.
If she die, I feel sure that her recommendation with regard to
religion will not be observed. She commended her child greatly
to this Queen. No mention has been made of her husband, and it
is not known whether he has seen her.
Since closing the above, I have heard that the Queen of Scotland's
illness is a female complaint, which is called "Mal de madre,"
although it was stated to be a pain in the side.
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11 Nov.
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389. The Same to the Same.
The members of Parliament who had met, as I wrote your Majesty
on the 4th inst., resolved the same day to petition the Queen by
common consent to deal with the matter of the succession. She
summoned them the next day to give them her reply, and made
them a long speech, pointing out the dangers that might result
therefrom to the peace and order of the country. This she enforced
by examples, and said she was not surprised at the members of the
Lower Chamber treating this matter like inexperienced schoolboys
instead of as a matter of so great importance, but she marvelled
greatly that the lords had concurred and joined them in such action.
There were some of these lords, that when her sister was Queen
came to her and offered help, urging her to endeavour to obtain the
crown during her sister's life, and it might well be understood that
if her successor were nominated there would be no lack of people to
go on a similar errand to her to disturb the common peace, and if it
was necessary she would say who these men were. Then turning to
the Bishops who were present, she said, "And you doctors," (she
did not call them Bishops) "who are so fond of making speeches on
this subject, whilst some of you dared to say in past times, that
the Queen, my sister, and I were bastards it would be much better
if you looked after your own reformation, and gave a good example
in your own lives and families, instead of interfering in such
matters as this. The lords in Parliament ought to have shown
you this, but since they have not done so, I will do it myself. I
might well excuse myself from marrying in the face of pressure
from all of you, but having in view the good of the country, I am
determined to marry. It will be, however, with someone who
will not please you, which has been partly my reason for avoiding
it hitherto, but I will refrain no longer. Those who have shown
most anxiety that I should marry, have helped me but little to do
so now, because the man who is to be my husband is a foreigner,
and will not think himself very safe in your hands, if I, your
lawful Queen, am to be so thwarted, and I will not put up with
it." The speech was a long one, but this was the substance of it
gathered from a person who was present, and the Queen herself, who
gave me a very detailed account of all that had passed, thanking me
at the same time for the attachment I had shown to her at this
juncture, and swearing she would never forget it. I replied that I
merited no thanks for doing what your Majesty had expressly
ordered me to do, and that I should serve her with as much zeal
as I would my own master. She thanked me again very warmly
for the kindness your Majesty has shown, which she returned to the
best of her ability and good wishes.
She asked me if I had seen the earl of Leicester who has been ill,
and what he had said about these affairs. I told her I had not seen
him, because whilst he was not in her good favour, much as I liked
him and the other lords, I thought it my duty that she should know
that as your Majesty's minister, I was only attached to her.
She told me that many of them had asked pardon, saying they
had no intention of offending her, but rather of serving her, seeing
that the members of her Council who had spoken first, had requested
that the matter of the succession should be taken in hand, but that
they are quite willing to conform to her will. I told her I understood
that the members of the Lower House, notwithstanding the
answer given to them, again wanted to bring up the matter, and I
was surprised at the rashness and insolence they exhibited, and how
fond they were of their liberty, without thinking of the obedience
due to their Sovereign. She is fully alive to this, but I always
remind her of it on every occasion. She sometimes calls them the
Protestant gentlemen. She said that I was right, but she had sent
them an order not to discuss the matter under pain of punishment
for disobedience, and that all had now obeyed. Cecil told me that
the Queen could not avoid doing this, but I do not know if it will
be sufficient to bridle the insolence of these heretics.
She spoke at length to me about the Archduke's match. News
arrived here that he was killed in a battle, which they said, the
Emperor had fought with the Turk, of so bloody a character, that
although the Emperor had conquered, he has lost many troops, and
amongst them the Archduke Charles and the duke of Ferrara. This
came from so many quarters that it caused some anxiety, although
the truth was soon known, as I had a letter from Chantonnay,
written on the field two days after the date of this fiction. The
Queen told me that the false news had obtained more credit from
the fact that she, without knowing anything of it, had by chance
dressed in black, which they thought was for mourning. I have
repeated this to make clear the present position with regard to this
marriage.
I asked the Queen if she had appointed anyone to send to the
Emperor. She said that she should send the earl of Sussex, although
she was not quite decided. She had not liked to send before, in
order not to trouble the Emperor when he was in the field, but
would do so in eight or ten days, and Cecil afterwards confirmed
this. No one could go more fittingly than Sussex, if anything is to
be done in the business, but I now only believe what I see.
The Queen of Scotland is well. Her husband has been to visit
her and has returned. This Queen has sent to visit her, and written
a long letter in her own hand. Three days ago the earl of Bedford
left to go to the christening, and takes with him some of the Queen's
gentlemen, of the stedfast ones, besides his own. The one idea in
the choice of these courtiers was, that not one of them should be a
Catholic, and of course there is no doubt about Bedford's men. A
gentleman of the Queen's Chamber, named Somers, accompanies him
and takes the font, which I said was to be sent for the ceremony.
It is of gold and handsomely made. There is no news of the coming
of the duke of Savoy's representative. He no doubt went by sea
from Zealand.
The petition presented to Parliament by the Protestant Bishops
respecting their confirmation, passed the Lower Chamber without
opposition. In the Upper Chamber there were eleven votes against
it, but it was passed with the proviso that only the acts which they
had done in the discharge of their office were confirmed, excepting,
however, all matters relating to life or property.
The exception with regard to matters affecting life is explained
by the oath they demanded from Bonner, the good bishop of London,
and others, and they say that this was the principal reason why
they asked for a confirmation, although they gave out that it was
for other reasons. They are sorry that an exception has been made
as to their actions with regard to temporal property, as no definition
has been given as to what property is especially referred to, and as
they have not dealt fairly with their Church properties, they suspect
that this is an attempt to bring them to book in the matter. This
is not the case however, as I understand the intention is to prevent
the loss of temporal goods by those who refuse the oath. The
difficulty has been referred to the lawyers, and if they decide against
the Bishops, the latter will request a fresh declaration from Parliament,
which it is believed the Upper House will not give, as the
wording of the clause has been fixed, and they do not usually alter
what has already passed the House.
The Bill, as it is called, was opposed entirely by the earls of
Sussex, Northumberland, Westmorland, Exeter, Montague, and Lords
Morley, Morden, Dudley, Windsor, Darcy, and Cromwell. Sussex
spoke very well on the subject, but the matter was not properly
managed, as the Bishops themselves were present, which they ought
not to have been in the discussion of their own affairs, and their
presence no doubt influenced votes. There are 28 of them, and 35
lords. The Queen is being pressed not to assent to the Bill. She
told me that she would assent to what was just and honest, and
would not permit anything wrong. The ultimate resolution of
Parliament will soon be known.
Last night a paper was thrown down in the presence chamber,
containing in substance that Parliament had discussed the succession
as it was necessary for the good of the country, and that if the
Queen did not consent to the discussion, she would see some things
she would not like.
From Ireland, they say, that Randolph was with 600 men on the
frontier, but that nothing would be done as O'Neil had retired to
his mountains.—London, 11th November 1566.
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13 Nov.
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390. The Same to the Same.
On the 11th inst. I wrote to your Majesty, giving an account of
things here and what had been done in Parliament. The Queen,
seeing that they were determined to carry on the discussion about
the succession, sent them an order not to do so, but as after the
order was written, it was understood that the members thought that
during the sittings they had full liberty to treat upon matters
beneficial to the country, they have greatly resented the order, and
I am told that the Council have used their efforts with the Queen,
to allow Parliament to discuss freely this and other matters, since
the confirmation of their acts rests with her.
It appears that they claim the right to proceed in the appointment
of a successor to the crown, and in this case, although the Scotch
Queen has a large party in the House of Lords, it is thought that
Catharine would have nearly all of the members of the Lower
Chamber on her side. It seems therefore, that everything tends to
disturbance, but I do not believe that the matter will be carried
forward.
I wrote to your Majesty in the same letter, that the Queen is
apparently better disposed towards the Archduke's business, and
says she will despatch the earl of Sussex to the Emperor in seven or
eight days.
I received to-day a letter dated the 1st inst., from the queen of
Scotland by one of her servants who is on his way to France and
Rome. He has been instructed to tell me that the Queen had heard
that her husband had written to your Majesty, the Pope, the king
of France and Cardinal Lorraine, that she was dubious in the faith,
and asked me to assure your Majesty, that as regards religion she
will never with God's help fail to uphold it with all the fervour and
constancy which the Roman Catholic christian religion demands.
That in the religion in which she was born and bred she will remain
for ever, even though it may entail the loss of her crown and life,
and she will postpone all things for its benefit. Although she has
instructed this man to assure me verbally in the matter of the King
her husband, she has in addition, written to me as regards her
steadfastness in the faith, and her servant has shown me signed by
the hand of the Queen, his instructions in this respect, and has
himself confirmed it as an eye-witness, saying that when she was
supposed to be on the point of death, she had fulfilled all the holy
duties that the Catholic Church enjoins. She had confessed, had
had Mass said before her by her almoner, that she might adore the
Holy Sacrament, since her constant vomitings made it impossible
for her to receive it herself, she had demanded extreme unction with
pious devotion, although it was not necessary to administer it, and I
believe from all that has ever been heard of the Queen, she is as
faithful in religion as she professes to be. It seems to me, however,
difficult to believe that her husband should have taken such a
course, and it must be some French device to sow discord. They
are a strange people. This man bears the Queen's order with
consent of her lords for a Nuncio to go to Scotland, and to assure
the Pope that the Prince will be baptised in the Roman Church.—
London, 13th November 1566.
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16 Nov.
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391. The Same to the Same.
On the 13th, I wrote your Majesty by a courier on his way to
France, but as I do not know whether Don Francés has received the
letter, I send copy thereof herewith. The Queen having seen that
Parliament persisted in discussing the succession, notwithstanding
her orders, gave them a second intimation not to do so. The Lower
Chamber appointed thirty more members to consider what course
should be taken in the matter, but no resolution has yet been
arrived at.—London, 16th November 1566.
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25 Nov.
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392. The Same to the Same.
Notwithstanding the Queen's orders to Parliament, respecting
their discussion of the succession, and a more recent order that they
should not even discuss her prohibitions, or enquire as to whether
they were a violation of the privileges of Parliament, they have
nevertheless been discussing this last prohibition, although it was
thought they would not do so. I am told that the insolence of these
heretics, and their hankering after liberty in everything, is greatly
disgusting the Queen, and some people think that the pertinacity of
Parliament in insisting on dealing with these matters will lead to
disturbance, but as changes here are so continual, nothing can be
said for certain, although appearances certainly tend to trouble.
I send to ask secretary Cecil what the Queen was doing about
sending to the Emperor. He answered that the earl of Sussex had
been ordered to hold himself in readiness for the voyage. To judge
from appearances, the lords in the Upper House are united, and no
difference of opinion is known to exist.
From Ireland there is nothing fresh of importance. The queen
of Scotland came lately to visit the English frontier. She is well
Last night, one of her courtiers arrived here, and brings news that
the King is with his father, and is still on bad terms with the
Queen, all else being harmonious. The 12th proximo has been
fixed for the christening of the Prince, but no news has been
received of anyone to represent the duke of Savoy.
Since writing the above, I have been informed that the Queen
sent to Parliament to-day, saying, that notwithstanding the orders
she had given for them not to discuss the succession, it was not her
intention to deprive them of the freedom of speech, conferred by
their privileges. It is believed that an arrangement has been made
that they shall refrain from further considering the succession, and
will content themselves with vindicating the freedom of Parliamentary
discussion.
I have received letters from Cecilia, sister to the king of Sweden,
and the Margrave of Baden, her husband, on certain private business
they left with me here, and enclosing a letter to your Majesty.
They offer service in case it should be necessary in Flanders. I
reply fairly, both in view of eventualities, and because they are such
near neighbours to the States, although, I believe the Margrave is
not a Catholic, as his elder brother is, nor even so good a courtier
as he might be, as his letter shows. He means well, apparently
however, which is the thing to be considered in Germany.—London,
25th November 1566.
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