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: November 1567', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain (Simancas), Volume 1, 1558-1567, (London, 1892) pp. 681-685. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/simancas/vol1/pp681-685 [accessed 20 April 2024]
November 1567
| 1 Nov. |
449. The Same to the Same. Although things are quiet here, Catholics and heretics are equally anxious about events in France, both parties looking to their own objects. Notwithstanding the suspicions that exist that the Queen is helping the rebels I can find no confirmation of them. I notice however that when news comes favourable to the heretics the Councillors here are more pleased than otherwise, whilst they grieve if the heretics fail as they did in Flanders, where they are still not without hope, although affairs are tranquil there now. I am informed that a week since Cecil scolded the archbishop of Canterbury roundly for allowing too much liberty to the good bishop of Ely and Secretary Boxall who are in his keeping and the Archbishop immediately called his household together and told them he heard there were some papists amongst them whom, if he could discover them he would severely punish, as he was an enemy of all such. He ordered that the bishop of Ely and Boxall should communicate with nobody and should be kept close. Three days after the Archbishop summoned the Bishop and Boxall, and after they had dined with him he took them aside and told them not to be distressed or alarmed at what had been done with them as he had been compelled to do it. After he had reassured them he asked them if any reasons would excuse subjects rising against their rulers, to which the Bishop replied in the negative, and the Archbishop pointed out that some authorities held to the contrary. Boxall thereupon said only Calvinists and such like heretics did so for the apostles were always faithful to their Princes although they were pagans. Cecil asked the same question of the present bishop of Rochester, who is a Lutheran, and received a similar answer. It looks as if they were seeking an excuse for defending and aiding the rebels, but I do not believe the Queen can be pleased at such talk as she knows her danger and what it may lead to, I having pointed it out to her many times besides what she has witnessed in Scotland. They have sent hither from Bordeaux a statement of the causes which have led the people of Guienne to take up arms. The document was sent by an Englishman and it came into my hands in the English language. I send a copy herewith because it looks by its phraseology and arrangement as if it had been sent to them from here. On the 26th there arrived here a secretary of the English Ambassador in France who had passed the place where the prince of Conde is and brought letters from him to this Queen as well as a verbal mission. I have not learnt the purport of it. On the 25th whilst they were performing what they call the service in the Queen's chapel an Englishmen went up to the altar and cast down the cross and candlesticks upon which he stamped, and at the same time shouted heretical and shameful words. They at once arrested him, but there have been no lack of people to excuse him by calling him mad. He was examined on the matter by some members of the Council and upon being asked why he did it, he showed them a New Testament and said that that book had made him. He is in prison, but I do not believe they will hurt him much. —London, 1st November 1567. |
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| 8 Nov. |
450. The Same to the Same. On the 5th, I was with the Queen at Hampton Court and after discussing certain private business she told me how sorry she was for the king of France, and that she had sent to offer her good offices by Crispe who, as I wrote to your Majesty, had come hither from her Ambassador. This man was not detained by Condé although he fell into his hands, but he assured the Queen that when he showed him the packet he bore addressed to the Queen, Condé had kissed it and placed it on his head. This the Queen repeated to me and I told her that I heard also that she had written, but she gave no reply to this. When I said, however, that the rebels in France were similar to those in Scotland and elsewhere, their only object being disobedience, and that all Princes should join together to oppose them, she answered that it was so and this view of it ought to be considered quite apart from the question of religion, which last point did not please me. She said that they had given her to understand that when your Majesty's voyage was spoken of it was with the intention of invading this country which she did not believe. I said it was only an invention of people who wished to deceive her and alienate her from your Majesty's friendship for her own undoing. I said your Majesty had so many kingdoms of your own that you had no need to invade others, and much less those of your friends, and warned her not to allow herself to be led astray by such suspicions as the only object of them was to unsettle her. In fact nothing pleases people more here at present than the troubles of their neighbours, as they think whilst they last they themselves will be left in tranquillity. A gentleman named Henry Cobham arrived here yesterday who had accompanied the earl of Sussex to Vienna. He comes to communicate to the Queen what Sussex had done with the Emperor and the Archduke about the marriage in view of the determination of his Highness (conveyed to me by M. de Chantonnay) not to leave until he was certain that they would not take from him, or limit him in the exercise of, his religion. I have not yet learnt particulars. A person who understands the question tells me that he does not believe that the Queen and some of her Councillors will stick at this, although they are heretics, believing that when once the Archduke is here they will be able to do as they please with him, their great desire being the downfall of Robert. Although this person assures me of this I myself doubt it, although it is true that each one of them thinks more of his own ends than of religion which they take up for their profit and can drop for the same reason. Speaking to the Queen of the insolence of these heretics and their enmity to Princes, I pointed out to her what had happened in her own chapel when the Englishman cast down and trampled on the cross and candlesticks, and she replied that the man was mad and did not know what he was doing, recounting to me some of his follies, amongst others that he thought our Lady and St. John, who were on either side of the cross, were Jews who wanted to crucify Christ again. Others tell me the man is not mad, but an evil-minded rogue. The cross has not yet been set up again, but they say it is being repaired. The Archbishop of Armagh whom they had again arrested .. (fn. 1) brought to the Tower a prisoner two days since where they keep him very close—London, 8th November 1567. |
| 15 Nov. |
451. The Same to the Same. The French Ambasador was lately with the Queen and I gather from her that his object was to thank her from his King for the good offices she had promised in preventing any help or succour being given to the rebels from here. He also referred to the good will and aid he had found in your Majesty and that the duchess of Parma and the duke of Alba had offered help, the Duke himself saying that he would go with 16,000 infantry and 5,000 horse if necessary besides the cavalry he has sent. The Queen gave a fair and gracious reply with which the Ambassador was satisfied, but not with the Council, as they have hitherto shown that their only desire is the success of the people of their own religion. They fear that if religion is put on a good and proper footing there and the heretics are punished, they will not be safe themselves, being so near your Majesty's States and France. This is all the discourse of these people and to await the result of the present emotion in France about which information differs. The King writes to the Ambassador simply that he was gathering forces and hoped soon to bring the rebels to a knowledge of their duty. When I was with the Ambassador yesterday a messenger sent by the governor of Dieppe arrived who seemed to be a sensible man. He said that the duke of Guise had already arrived at Paris with Martigues, Monluc's people, and many others. He said the coast was quiet and obedient to the King as was Normandy, where it was feared the contrary would be the case. Five hundred horse had been sent to join those under Count Aremberg. There used to be a Spanish heretic called Ximenez alias M. de le Montana who served with Condé in the last rebellion. He went backwards and forwards with information both to France and Flanders, and as soon as he heard of the French rising he joined with others like him and went over with a quantity of arms. He and the rest of them were taken by a provost marshal and I had the Ambassador written to at once to beg that this man might not be released but kept and examined. But it was of no avail as they send word that they hanged him as soon as they caught him. The gentleman that the earl of Sussex sent to the Queen has been with her lately, and yesterday he came to my lodging with a letter from the Earl. He told me verbally that the Queen had been much pleased with what had been written and said to her on behalf of the Emperor and Archduke, and he has hopes of the marriage. I asked him whether the duke of Norfolk was coming to discuss the resolution he had brought with him and he said he thought he was as the matter was of great importance and, in the meanwhile, he (Cobham) was going to advise the countess of Sussex. Sidney the Viceroy of Ireland came to supper with me the night before last. He had heard from court (no doubt from his brother-in-law Lord Robert.) that the conditions brought by the gentleman presented many difficulties and he is still confident that the match will not be carried through although many people are of the contrary opinion. Sidney is much dissatisfied with the way in which the Queen has treated him as both he and others have told me. They say his treatment is in consequence of his not having managed the earl of Ormonde's affairs well. He thinks that considering his services and the success of his administration in Ireland he ought to be rewarded. Few of these people are contented because in these times and with their own conditions and character the only thing that can be done for them is to keep them in hand and cautiously show goodwill towards them. I have not been able to learn more of the message the Queen sent to her Ambassador (in France) by Crispe, but I understand that Lord Robert wrote to him to encourage and animate the heretics there as much as possible by fair words, but to promise them nothing. Nothing is said about Scotland. The French excitement seems to have put it out of people's heads. Ireland is also quiet. I do not suppose that the roads in France will be so closely guarded that Don Frances will be unable to advise your Majesty of events more rapidly than information can reach you from here, but I have still thought well to repeat what is said here about them in case this letter should arrive first, as I am sending it by sea from Flanders. A relative of the Admiral of France arrived here the night before last with letters for the Queen. This is kept secret and she has not spoken to him yet. I am told the letters are rather stale, as they are dated the 26th ultimo. He also found the roads closed and could not arrive earlier. He is addressed to Throgmorton.—London, 15th November 1567. |
| 22 Nov. |
452. The Same to the Same. The Queen is at Hampton Court and is well. She displays displeasure at the proceedings of the French rebels against the King, and I am doing my best to keep her in the same mind and so preserve peace and tranquillity here. This will be the easier from the news the king of France has written of the victory gained by his people over the rebels on the 12th instant. Nothing has been settled about the Archduke's affair since Cobham's arrival. The Queen summoned the duke of Norfolk to discuss the matter, but he excused himself on the plea of illness. He sent his opinion in writing, however, which is in favour of agreeing to the Archduke's terms about the exercise of his religion by himself and his household. It is thought that no decision will be arrived at until they see how French affairs turn out. Government in Scotland is now being conducted quietly and the Hamiltons are obedient. The Government have arrested 30 robbers who infested the frontier near Berwick and has executed them, which has tranquillised the neighbourhood. The Queen is still at Lochleven.—London 22nd November 1567. |