Calendar of State Papers, Spain (Simancas), Volume 1, 1558-1567. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1892.
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'Simancas: October 1567', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain (Simancas), Volume 1, 1558-1567, (London, 1892) pp. 677-681. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/simancas/vol1/pp677-681 [accessed 25 April 2024]
October 1567
| 4 Oct. |
444. The Same to the Same. Pasquier, who came from the king of France for Scotland treated with this Queen as to the means to be adopted for the liberating the queen of Scotland and settling affairs there, and he asked her to send thither a person of rank who could jointly with him take fresh action. In conversation with the Queen the latter expressed her opinion that since fair words had availed nothing with them, it would be necessary to deal with the business in a way that if the lords did not do as they were asked they should be threatened with an appeal to arms. Pasquier thought this ought not to be done unless it were to be carried into effect, and he said that merely verbal threats would only result in further embroiling the business with a loss of dignity. It was at last decided that he should communicate with his King on the point, and she in the meanwhile would consult her Council. The nephew (fn. 1) of the French Ambassador here was accordingly sent to the King, and from what I can learn they will not conduct this business in the way suggested, nor should the King threaten what he does not mean to perform, especially as the lords, knowing that the season is so far advanced, would be sure that any army against them would be of no use for the present. So far as I can gather it is all show and compliment, for these people will never let the French go to Scotland, nor will the French like them to enter the country. News comes that the earl of Argyll and others have again come to terms with Murray, and have laid siege to the castle of Dunbar, which still holds out for Both well, who they say is in Sweden, where he took refuge after the naval battle in which he was routed by Lord Grange, who did not however capture him as was expected. I have been anxious that these people should not come to a close friendship with the French as a consequence of their present negotiations, more out of fear of the forces in Flanders and jealousy of their neighbours than for any love between them, but I can find no signs of it, and these people would only agree to it as a last resource. Their only object is to preserve themselves, for they neither have troops or money. It is true that they may have secret treaties with the heretics in France and elsewhere from the vague talk and threats in which they indulge, but I do not believe they will take any steps unless under pressing necessity as they know full well what threatens them at home, and if they once were to begin, and the Catholics were to get help they would find themselves in dire straits. I have always seen that heretics proceed in this way more from fear than from anything else. A ship of 250 tons has been secretly fitted out here. It does not carry goods, but only men and munition, and has 17 pieces of artillery, two of bronze and the rest of cast iron. Four more ships also are ready in other ports, two in Portsmouth and two in a neighbouring port. These latter are small, but the others are respectively 150 and 50 tons, which they say also are going to Guinea. It is not known whether they will join Hawkins, who if they did would thus go very strong. We shall soon know ; some think they may go to New Spain, but I have not been able to speak to the Queen about it as they have been fitted out secretly.—London, 4th October 1567. |
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| 13 Oct. |
445. The Same to the Same. News was published here on the 3rd that the queen and king of France had been captured by the Huguenots, and five or six days before, Cherburg, a port of Normandy, had been occupied by M de Montgomeri, and other news of the same sort. As the authors were not known it was not considered true, as the inventions here are so continual that few days pass without some new sensation. Within three days this Queen received letters from her Ambassador in France saying that the Queen-Mother had asked him to inform his mistress of what had happened on the road from Meaux to Paris and the plot formed by the Huguenots against her and her son, with the conditions they had made her accept. This Queen at once sent to the French Ambassador here to assure him how much she grieved at the event, saying that not only would she not help those who had committed so great a treachery, but she would not allow any help to be given to them from this country. If his King wished she would send some one on her behalf to endeavour to bring them to terms. The Ambassador thanked her for her assurance that she would not help the Huguenots and said the sooner they knew of it the better. With regard to her proposal for acting as intermediary he did not think well to suggest that to the King as he knew how to treat his own subjects. The Ambassador has been much grieved as news here cannot always be believed, and he has received no information direct and fears his despatches have been intercepted. He has sent two members of his household by Dieppe and Calais, but they have not returned. He and Pasquier went to ask the Queen whether she had any further particulars and for Pasquier to take leave on his return to France, as he thinks Scotch affairs may now be left alone, and he ought to return to serve his King. I have not learned the rest of this Queen's Ambassador's news, but as soon as his despatch arrived the Queen ordered the secret door of her chamber to be closed, and that all should enter by the presence chamber. She was reticent all day and showed great sorrow at what had happened. The next day hearing that a gentleman wished to ask leave to go to France and help the rebels she was extremely angry and swore that if anybody should ask such a thing she would have his head off. Many of the heretics who had taken refuge here from Flanders have gone to France on the reception of this news, publishing amongst themselves that the French business would soon be ended, and then they would settle things in Flanders to their taste, not leaving a single one of the duke of Alba's Spaniards. They are as giddy and boastful about this as they are blind in their heresy. These people go over from here to Dieppe, but I hear the Queen will not allow harquebusses nor pistols to be sent thither. All here appears so quiet that there are no signs of any understanding between this Queen and the French heretics. Nevertheless those who discuss the matter think there must have been some correspondence between heretics, and, amongst other things, they point out how soon the news was known here, saying that they knew here that the heretic intention was to capture the King and Queen and the first announcement was merely founded upon that knowledge. What more attracts attention to this is that in all these disastrous Scotch affairs people knew here what was going on on the same day that events happened, and it is well known that at heart all heretics are one, because although they may differ in opinions they do not differ in their desires, and no doubt a close understanding exists everywhere. The castle of Dunbar, which had been besieged by the lords, has surrendered, but there is nothing new beyond this. In my last I said they were again fitting out five vessels, it was said for Guinea, but there are six. On being informed that those that Hawkins sent last year had gone to places prohibited by your Majesty in the Indies ; notwithstanding the Queen's order to the contrary, and the giving of security before they sailed, I thought well to write to the Queen setting forth all the details in order that she should act with more vigour. I sent the letter to Windsor, and copy goes herewith. It would be advisable for your Majesty to summon the English Ambassador there and ask him to write thanking the Queen from your Majesty for the steps she has already taken and repeating your especial pleasure if she would consent not only to provide such remedy as she has already done but in cases where her orders are not obeyed that she should punish severely those who disobey, that they may learn, besides what I tell them, how great is the importance your Majesty attaches to this. It would be a matter of grave inconvenience if this business were not really stopped, because as the profit is very large and some of the Councillors are interested, assistance is needed to break up the trade, as they give the Queen to understand that her subjects are injured by preventing them from making their profits in these adventures. The Queen came yesterday to Hampton Court, she is well, although she has suffered from toothache lately. She will only be there a few days as she does not like the house, and would never go to it only that she does not wish it to fall into decay. Since .she was ill of small-pox she has been much afraid of the place, and this is the first time she has returned to it. Her reason for not coming direct here was because some children near her house at Westminster have been ill of this disease. I am informed that Hawkins and his fleet left Plymouth on the 1st instant.—London, 13th October 1567. |
| 14 Oct. |
446. The King to Guzman De Silva. I have acknowledged some of your letters and now advise receipt of those of 7th, 14th, 21st, 26th and 28th June ; 5th, 12th, 21st and 26th July, 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th August and 6th and 13th ultimo, and thank you for your continual care in keeping me well informed. I also received the memoranda relative to the negotiations between the Queen and the Ambassadors from the Emperor and approve of your action in this matter. You acted very wisely in Melvin's communication to you about the bringing up of the prince of Scotland and it was well to advise us of it by the letter you sent through Don Frances de Alava. No answer has yet been sent to you as it was thought that no steps could be taken and the Scots will never hand the Prince over to anyone, as has since been proved. Nothing therefore remains but to thank you. I approve of your part in the conversation with the Queen respecting her desire to help the queen of Scotland in her troubles and your assurance of my affection for her and good wishes for the prosperity of her country. You did very well also in satisfying Sussex with regard to the distrust he said the Queen felt as to my real desire for the Archduke's marriage. Whenever the question is raised and on any opportunity that occurs you can repeat the assurance of my good will towards the Queen and my desire to maintain my amity with her. With regard to the ships being fitted out for Hawkins it will be well to keep urging the Queen and Council not to allow these expeditions to go to any place where my vassals may receive damage, as they owe thus much to the friendship between us ; and you acted wisely in sending a man to Plymouth to learn particulars of the ships nnd forces that are to go. You will keep us informed on this. With regard to the naval preparations in England in consequence of my voyage to Flanders I can only say that I was glad to hear of them.—Madrid, 14th October 1567. |
| 15 Oct. |
447. The Same to the Same. You have been informed of the intention I bad of going by sea this summer to my States of Flanders, and the fleet that had been prepared for my voyage. Although all possible efforts have been made to prepare for my departure certain of them have encountered so much difficulty and the arrival of the duke of Alba in Flanders having been more delayed than was expected in consequence of his illness on the voyage, the length and hardness of the journey and other reasons it has not been possible for me to undertake the voyage thus at the beginning of the winter, as the danger of passing the seas and risking my person in such bad weather would be great, and I have therefore resolved to defer my departure until the spring, and I advise you of this that you may inform the Queen thereof.— Madrid, 15th October 1567. |
| 18 Oct. |
448. Guzman De Silva to the King. The Queen is still at Hampton Court and, being better in health there than her fear of the place had led her to expect, will probably stay there all the month. Cecil tells me there is no news from Sussex but they expect here shortiy one of the Queen's gentlemen that accompanied him, the Archduke being already in Vienna. Nothing certain is known from France, the Ambassador himself having received no letters since the beginning of the disturbance, no doubt owing to the closing of the ports. I heard that Cecil had news that the prince of Conde had gone out with a strong force of cavalry to break up a body of infantry that was marching on Calais and other fortresses in Picardy. He sends to tell me that he has no letters but hears from a friend of his by way of Calais that the prince of Conde had had an encounter with an infantry force which he had routed, killing 2,000 of them and himself losing 400 horse. Nothing new from Scotland and no doubt all will be quiet there now as Dunbar has been surrended to the government and the earl of Argyll has submitted and there is no one to cause disturbance. It was said that Bothwell had fled to Sweden, but it appears now that he has gone to Denmark. The viceroy of Ireland is expected every day ; he has been delayed longer than was thought. His wife sends to tell me to-day that she looks for him hourly. This is a sign that things are tranquil there as they have been lately. The Queen awaits him to put things in order. They tell me that both in O'Neil's country and elsewhere they refuse to receive any other religion than the Catholic, and I do not believe they will do much to force them. Pasquier took leave of the Queen on the 13th and is going to serve his King as he thought there was now no need to proceed in the Scotch affairs. He has not yet left. There is no movement here, nor can I learn that this Queen has any understanding with the French heretics, although there is some suspicion that her Councillors may incline her that way if the commotion continue or she sees an opportunity. The ships about which I wrote in my last, it is thought will not sail for Guinea, because, besides the sureties they demand from them that they shall not go to your Majesty's Indies, the man who was fitting them out who is a merchant here has stopped payment and his creditors have seized the ships. It is not yet known, however, whether the creditors will agree to send the vessels on their voyage. —London, 18th October 1567. |