|
| Sept. 4/14. | De l'Aubespine-Chasteauneuf to Walsingham. |
|---|
| Memoire to which he desires reply in writing, seeing that
owing to the great affairs of the lords of the Council he cannot
go to them. |
|---|
| Desires to be informed why Nau, the Queen of Scots' secretary,
and others of her servants have been taken from her and
brought hither prisoners; that he may give an account to the
King his master. |
|---|
| Also in what state the said Queen is, having heard that she
is strictly shut up and deprived of most of her servants and
ladies; a thing which he cannot believe, in face of her Majesty's
assurances that she would treat her well and favourably, as a
sovereign princess who has had the honour to be Queen of
France, and is her near relative. |
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| Desires also that the said Nau and others, servants of the
said lady, subjects of the King, may be favourably treated. |
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| There is a Scot named Critton [Creichton] and another named
Erady [qy. Patrick Addie], canon of Perowne in France, prisoners in the Tower, for whose delivery the King has written to
her Majesty. This she promised shortly, and the ambassador,
now hearing that she has ordered them to be set free, prays
that it may be done, and they sent back to France. |
|---|
| Mr. Walsingham has a letter which the Queen Mother wrote
to her Majesty, to allow one of her servants to buy twenty
hackneys for her stable. The merchant having bought them
at this St. Bartholomew's Fair, the ambassador prays Mr. Walsingham to send him a passport for their leaving the kingdom,
or at any rate a reply from her Majesty. And so to regulate
the excitement of the people that none of his servants may be
abused by word or deed. |
|---|
| Depredations. That justice may be done to Francois Le
Pape [see particulars of his case under date Aug. 10, above].
For three months Sir William Courtney has entertained him with
fair words, but offers him less than half. The lords are prayed
to put an end to the matter, as Le Pape can no longer support
the costs and delays. |
|---|
| To give judgment upon the report of the Judge of the Admiralty
concerning the woad taken by Mr. Crouk of [South] Hampton
and others, accompanying the Prince of Condé to La Rochelle. |
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| To dispatch for Jehan D'Orval of Havre de Grace the letters
he needs for the restitution of the eleven hundred ecus sol stayed
at the Rye, and which he wishes to send into France; according
to orders given by her Majesty. |
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| To give order upon the requests of Hierosime Andre, merchant of Rouen; Romain de la Gorsse, merchant of Blaye, and
Guillaume Michelot of St. Malo, which were yesterday presented
to the Lord Treasurer. |
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| To allow the merchants of Calais to transport the cloths bought
at this fair to Calais, according to the liberty of mutual commerce. |
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| To reply to the memoires delivered at the last conference, both
on the matter of the Earl of Leicester's placard, and the order
taken in the King's Council in regard to depredations. |
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| To take order upon the request of Martin Noel concerning the
robbery by Captain Remond.—London, 14 September, 1586.
Signed. Countersigned by Le Sueur. Fr. 4 pp. [France XVI.
49.] |
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| Sept. 4. | Horatio Palavicino to Walsingham. |
|---|
| My last was of the 21 ult., of which I sent a copy on the
26, since which I have received no letters from thence, Castelvetro not being yet arrived. God knows how I long for them,
especially as for two days a rumour has been spread abroad,
founded upon letters from Antwerp and Cologne, of strange conspiracies against her Majesty's own person, and although it
is generally concluded that by a merciful providence of God
she is safe, and the malefactors taken, yet my heart is filled
with horror at the thought of her danger; and little as I allow
myself lightly to believe the things that are written hither, yet
I may not be incredulous of any sort of action proceeding
from so fierce and cruel an enemy as we have on our hands.
Therefore I am eagerly waiting for some certainty, praying
God not to withdraw from us his greatest protection in the person
of her Majesty, so many times attacked, and so necessary to us for
the quiet of the kingdom. |
|---|
| Saracino has at length arrived, but without money, saying
in excuse that owing to the difficulty of the journey he was not
able by any means to get it through; so that there is wanting
one of those foundations for a treaty which we held for certain.
M. de Guitry is ill with grief, and I am greatly distressed,
because the thing is reduced to what Duke Casimir shall bring;
or if he should not bring enough, to doing the whole ourselves,
according to the last commission; since otherwise the cause is
in manifest danger of miscarrying, there being no appearance
from France of a good peace, but rather that the League is
bestirring itself more boldly than ever, and full of its usual
designs. Wherefore I am resolved to use all diligence to learn
as soon as possible the result of Duke Casimir's negotiations,
even by going to meet him; and if I do not find sufficient
result for our need, I shall certainly offer him the whole sum of a
hundred thousand crowns, believing that now or never will be
the time to employ them, and that her Majesty will approve
the action. I will give your honour notice of it as soon as
possible, and will tell you by what means it will be fitting to
send the money. Meanwhile you will do me a very great
favour, by writing to me, by a speedy way, how you approve of
my intention. |
|---|
| Duke Casimir's delay vexes me very much, but he has been
greatly retarded by those whom he went to see by the way.
The two principal ambassadors have returned from France without having negotiated anything at all, as you will have been
already informed, and also of the state of the affairs of that
kingdom.—Francfort, 4 September, 1586. |
|---|
| Duke Casimir writes to me that it is thanks to him that the
Duke of Brunswick let the reiters of the Count de Mœurs pass,
for which I will thank him on his return.
Add. Endd. Italian. 1¾ pp. [Germany, States IV. 79.]
The words in italics, in cipher, deciphered. |
|---|
| Two copies of the above, signed by Palavicino. Addressed
and endorsed. [Ibid. IV. 80, 81.] |
|---|
| Another copy in his own hand, endorsed by him as copy of
his letter to Mr. Secretary, and evidently sent to Burghley,
being endorsed by Maynard. [Ibid. IV. 82.] |
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| Sept. 4/14. | Lazaro Grimaldo to Horatio Palavicino. |
|---|
| Yours of August 6 has only arrived today. My last to you
was on the 17th of the same, and I have not written since,
having so far had nothing further from Spain. I have communicated the contents of yours to the Prince Doria, and he is
awaiting a declaration of what her Majesty demands from his
King for her security and the quiet of the Low Countries, as
I wrote in mine of the 17th, because this being known, it will
be possible to judge how our negotiation may be conducted.
Better security the Queen cannot have than the word of the
King, his Majesty having always kept it; and the moderation
of his mind being so well known to all the world should make
the Queen and her Council quite easy. The said King, as he
has the title of Catolico, has also the reality thereof, and this
must be taken for granted as a chief and firm foundation. |
|---|
| If the essential points are agreed upon, it will be possible
to treat, if it be agreed that the said Princes shall make a
confederation together for mutual defence if they should be
troubled in their States, and lending of aid for the recovery of
what was seized unlawfully, and this is what I advised in my
other letters; desiring extremely an agreement between the said
Princes, for which I shall work as much as ever I can, as I
many times have written. |
|---|
| As to the progress of the war in Flanders, I shall not
enter into discourse, referring myself to the results which shall
be seen. To the ministers of the King, it appears that they
are losing nothing on their side; they hope every day for
greater success, and live in expectation of the storming of
Berck. |
|---|
| Of the return of the Cavalier Drake into Ireland, we have
here no other advice than that which your honour gives to
Signor Fabritio, your brother. It is believed that he has done
harm enough, which will turn to the distress of the poor people,
but that the King will feel it very little, and her Majesty derive
small benefit from it. The Spaniards presume that he has not
dared to set foot on land in the Indies, and assure themselves
that he will not be able to do so in the future. |
|---|
| The Prince does not yet start for Turin, waiting to know from
that Duke when it will be convenient for him to go there;
and so far as one can see, the journey may be deferred for
some days.—Genoa, 14 September, 1586.
Add. Endd. by Maynard. Italian. 1½ pp. [Germany, States
IV. 83.] |
|---|
| Sept 4/14. | Anthonio de Castiglio to Dr. Hector Nunez. |
|---|
| Jeronimo Pardo arrived here on July 20, so far after his
time that I had trouble to get his safe-conduct, as he can tell you. |
|---|
| I have not entered into the principal matter "to justify the
cause of the King our lord, although he have many good reasons
in his side," but moved by your first letter, telling me her
Majesty's good intent, as I always understood when in that
realm, especially from Secretary Walsingham, when I came
away: for then we talked alone of this matter of the peace,
which he thought most fit for her Majesty's service and the
quiet of her realms. I assure you peace will be well received
here; but they must be agreed in two principal points; "the
first in forgetting all offences and wrongs past . . . the second
that we cannot hope upon any agreement . . . if we do not
proceed with reputation of both these crowns; and this is
impossible to agree, in case your worship understandeth [not] the
great wrong offered by the Englishmen, as it is to give laws
unto so mighty a prince in matters of religion; with so small
regard that I 'darse' not show the articles which you do send
unto me, fearing that they will not admit them, and not trusting
that the ministers of his Majesty (in whom hith'erto' I had most
hope) would not think well of me in the receiving of them . . .
considering that the words of the same articles doth promise
moderation, and this may be ruled by the wisdom of the Queen's
Majesty, which hath more understanding of the world and less
trust in his felicity than the Prior of Crato. I hope in our
Lord, that seeing the King's Majesty never pretended to usurp
other men's estates, (as experience doth show) they would not
deny him his own." |
|---|
| I have determined not to show the articles to any, till I hear
from your worship that there may be some moderation of them;
for as set down, they cannot be showed to the Earl of Kildare,
nor can I do better with them than stir new war. If there
were found any way to treat, as I say, I have sure hope that
it might come to a good end, and considering its great weight
for both these realms you may prove what may be done in it,
and tell me what I can do, before the preparations of war
go forward; "and the Queen shall have no more cause to call me
Merline. And if I were as near as you, I could show her that
I am not a magician, but that I had read sometimes the words
that Cæsar did answer unto the Helvetians, being deceived by
some prosperous successes; and by the good usage made unto
the same ship, your worship may judge what credit is to be
given unto my words. . . ."—Lisbon, 14 September, 1586.
Endd. 1 p. [Portugal II. 23.]
Translation, apparently not always accurate. |
|---|
| [Aug. or Sept.] | "The heads of a letter to be written by Mr. Dr. Hector
[Nunez] to D[on] Antonio Castilio." (fn. 1) |
|---|
| "To let him to understand that he findeth her Majesty to
continue her former good disposition to have the interruption
of the amity and the unkindness between her and the Catholic
King compounded in some honourable sort for the common
benefit of both their subjects and the general good of
Christendom. |
|---|
| "That the greatest difficulty will consist in matter of caution
and surety, forasmuch as the doubt and jealousy of the King's
good meaning towards her Majesty is greatly increased upon
the late discovery of the most wicked and devilish practice,
both against her person and this realm; for that it falleth
out upon the examination of those conspirators that the King's
minister in France, D. Bernardin was privy thereunto. |
|---|
| "That it is thought that those of the people of the United
Provinces will stand greatly upon point of religion, and although
it may seem a very hard matter for the King to yield unto,
yet men of best judgment, even such as be. Catholics, are of
opinion that the said King, in respect of the miserable state
those countries stand in, ought in consequence to yield so far
forth in that point as is contained in the Pacification of Gaunt,
which may be handled in such sort as the said King, without
touch of honour or conscience may assent thereunto by remitting the point of religion to the General States of the
whole Provinces, to assent or differ accordingly as they shall
be directed by their own consciences, upon whose souls his
Majesty may lay the burden thereof. |
|---|
| "The wisest sort of the Catholics here do fear greatly that
if those countries should not be reconciled to the King before
his death, that they will then wholly not only revolt from the
obedience of Spain, but also in religion, the most part of the
meaner sort of that country being enemies to the Catholic
Religion. And therefore they hold it a better course that a
toleration be granted to a few than that the Catholic religion
should be thrust out of the whole countries."
Endorsed as in headline; and (in another hand) "April 1587,"
but this is cancelled. Clerical draft, but with many corrections and
insertions by Walsingham. 1¼ pp. [Spain II. 70.] |
|---|
| Sept. 6. | Abel Berner and Olaus Mathei, envoys of the King of
Denmark, to Walsingham. |
|---|
| Their entire confidence in his kindness gives them courage
once more to approach him. They are exceedingly grateful for
his kind offices in assisting their business in regard to the tax on
fish and cloth; and had no small hope that they should have
a declaration from her Majesty without encountering further
difficulty from delay, especially as they learned from John
Stack (sent again to his honour by his own order) that the
business was not to be dealt with in the ordinary course by the
Lord Treasurer, but that his honour had desired that the said
Stack should have a definite and acceptable answer as soon
as possible. As however the said Treasurer, after many applications, yesterday told Stack (in Berner's presence, and when
both humbly prayed for expedition) that he, Stack, and the
furtherance of his cause had been referred to his honour: they
now again apply to him, and very reverently implore him, as
he loves his Majesty the King of Denmark, to deign so to take
order that, as soon as possible, they may be informed of her
Majesty's decision, and what is to be the result of the whole
business. Not indeed from any doubt or fear as regards the
matter; but driven by necessity against their will, they press it
the more earnestly and unseasonably; chiefly because with the
[passing of] summer they are deprived of the convenience of
navigation, and the longer they are detained, so much the more
violence of the winds and tempestuous nights are to be expected. |
|---|
| There is now nothing to delay their return to Denmark save
their expectation of the Queen's decree in this matter of portdues; and his honour, in his great wisdom may easily judge
that the longer detention of these two Icelandic ships, with so
great a number of sailors and royal servants (especially now
that almost all their provisions are exhausted, as was to be
expected from the length of time taken by so great a journey)
cannot be without great inconvenience. They do not wish to
trouble him further or to appear to doubt his goodwill towards
the King of Denmark, which on the contrary, at their return they
will praise and sound abroad to everyone.—In great haste, from
John Stack's house, 6 Sept., 1586. |
|---|
| Postscript by Berner.—Is very glad to have the letters for
the Chancellor, Nicolas Kaas, knowing that nothing more acceptable or pleasing could be given him. Has asked the bearer
to deliver them as soon as possible.
Add. Endd. Latin. 3 pp. [Denmark I. 86.] |
|---|
| Sept. 10. | Dr. P. Beutterich to Horatio Palavicino. |
|---|
| I cannot tell you where you can meet my master. He
sent me word on the 24th of August that he hoped to be at
Francfort at the close of the fair, but I do not believe it,
for many reasons. However, I have assured him that the
Queen had increased her aid by a good sum, which will replace
what is wanting elsewhere, and believe that upon this he will
treat with some of the Colonels. It will be at your discretion
to go to meet him by way of Cassel, which I believe he will
take. In any case, it would be expedient for him to be
certainly informed of what you have in charge and that speedily,
in order to gain time; and if you would tell me some particulars,
I could negotiate more surely for the advancement of affairs.—
Fridelsheym, 10 September old style, 1586.
Holograph. Endd. Add. to Palavicino as ambassador for the
Queen of England. Fr. 1 p. [Germany, States IV. 84.] |
|---|
| Sept. 11. | Stafford to Burghley. |
|---|
| As my two letters to Mr. Secretary will give you the news,
I will not trouble your lordship by repeating them. |
|---|
| "The true advertisement that toucheth certain letters written
and returned from the French ambassador's wife to the Duke
of Guise's mother cometh from Simier to me, who is contented I
shall make your lordship partaker and to know whence it cometh;
but he will not by any means Mr. Secretary should know it,
for he feareth old grudge would make him careless to keep it,
if he knew it came from him. But he maketh account of your
lordship, as his good friend. . . . I would have written it to
the Queen, but I am afraid she hath lost my cypher, as she
hath done once or twice, and so I beseech you tell her Majesty. |
|---|
| "It is likely he may in this serve the turn to good purpose
. . . for he is in love with the French ambassador's wife's
sister's daughter and the ambassador's wife sendeth all her
letters for Guise's mother to her sister to deliver, and Simier
knoweth all of her daughter, who is as far in love with Simier
as he with her. This last I beseech your honour not to tell
the Queen, for your honour knoweth [her] humour, that being
angry with any love may make her in a choler utter all." But
the Queen must know it comes by Simier, that he may have
thanks. Being kept close, we may know more hereafter.—Paris,
11 September, 1586.
Holograph. Add. Endd. 1 p. [France XVI. 50.]
[The words printed in italics, in this and the following letters
are in cipher, mostly undeciphered.] |
|---|
| Sept 11. | Horatio Palavicino to Burghley. |
|---|
| Sends his lordship copies of his letters of the 4th and of
today to Mr. Secretary, and explains his reasons for not accepting as positive certain orders which he received with the letters
of June 29, but which seemed to be stayed by the letter of the
30th. Now however, as they are both necessary and confirmed
he will delay no longer, but at once give orders for the moneys in
the best way he can, and although, as his Lordship kindly judges,
he is caught somewhat unprovided, hopes to be able to give
satisfaction to Duke Casimir. Prays his lordship to send off
the warrant. It will suffice for the present to put five thousand
lire into his men's hands for immediate use, reserving the
rest to be given out as needed. Rejoices over the good news
of her Majesty's health, and the preservation of herself and
her kingdom, learned from Castelvetro.—Francfort, 11 September, 1586.
Add. Endd. Italian. 1¼ pp. [Germany, States IV. 85.] |
|---|
| Sept 11. | Horatio Palavicino to Walsingham. |
|---|
| I wrote to your honour on the 4th, and now send you a copy.
On the 7th Castelvetro arrived, bringing your letter of the 5th
ult., and told me of the conspiracy, the taking of the conspirators,
and the good state in which things now are, by God's grace
and the vigilance of her Majesty's ministers. I praise the
divine goodness, by which her Majesty and her State are always
preserved, and the baffled adversaries receive the due reward
of their villainous designs. |
|---|
| I am sure also that this our happy success will be to the
great disadvantage of that iniquitous league against Christendom,
and hope that this beginning of confusion may lead to the
like in all their other enterprises. |
|---|
| The confirmation of her Majesty's new order to succour this
levy with other fifty thousand crowns has wonderfully uplifted
the hearts of the Navarrese ministers, as you will see by what
Signor Quitry writes, which has confirmed and will confirm in
the King of Navarre the hope of succour, and will draw him away
from any thought of a disadvantageous peace. |
|---|
| And for my own particular, it confirms and increases my
resolution to go on with all possible diligence, and by all the
means I can, to overcome the difficulties of these times, hoping so
to do that it shall not be from any lack on my part if Casimir
has not entire reason to embrace the enterprise. |
|---|
| I wrote in my last that I thought of going to meet him, and
sent to Beuterich to know which way he would return, fearing to
miss him. But the effect of his reply (as you will see by the
annexed letter [see preceding page] induces me to remain here,
which indeed it is necessary for me to do; especially as Beuterich
has great hope that he may have already negotiated with the
colonels, and that the affair is put in train; of which, when I
can assure your honour, I shall not lose an hour. |
|---|
| Meanwhile I pray that, with the Lord Treasurer, you will
have the usual warrant dispatched there, so that my men may
use the money for the business which may presently begin
here, and all be done with that ease and advantage which I
endeavour. I shall not leave these parts until all is in order,
and as little shall I depart without your express directions, so
that if there is need for me to follow Casimir, I may be able
to carry out the will of her Majesty. |
|---|
| As to the voyage of Sir Francis Drake, I have always considered the disturbance, the loss and the diversion of the enemy
as much as the booty which he might bring, because from these
result in so many ways such advantages as are of the highest
importance to the conclusion of the war; since he [the King
of Spain] thus loses much of his revenues, greatly increases his
expenses and occupies so many of his men, of which at present
he is very short; it being certain that one year of war in the
Indies will cost the Spaniards more than three in the Low
Countries. Therefore, nothing is more necessary than the
return of a good fleet into those parts, and establishing a
footing in a fitting place for hostilities by land and sea, which
will be a meeting-place for all men who may wish to go to
fight there; hoping that many will gather there of all nations
and that the Cimerroni will be well inclined to join themselves to
our men, seeing the firm and strong hope of establishing themselves with them. God grant that her Majesty may take the
best resolution in all things.—Francfort, 11 September, 1586.
Add. Endd. Signed. Italian. 2½ pp. [Germany, States IV.
86.] |
|---|
| Also a copy of the same, in Palavicino's writing, noted by
him as copy of the letter to Mr. Secretary and endorsed by
Burghley's secretary, but not signed or dated. [Ibid, IV. 87.] |
|---|
| Sept. 13/23. | The Due de Mercœur to M. de Chasteauneuf. |
|---|
| In reply to remonstrances from the Privy Council to the ambassador, complaining that by the Duke's orders English ships
had been stayed at St. Malo, Morlaix and other places of his
government, for what cause they knew not, considering the
friendship between the two realms:—he states that at the beginning of last Lent a ship of his, laden with furniture and
wines for his house at Lamballe was taken by certain English
and carried into the port of "Monteboy" [qy. Mounts' Bay]
where goods and ship were detained. |
|---|
| Thereupon he stayed three English ships in the river of
"Dynan" near St. Malo and at St. Brieu, two laden with wines
and the third empty, but shortly afterwards had them freed and
restored, as is proved by a quittance of which he sends a copy.
The third was not withdrawn from forgetfulness. Since then, he
has had three barques stayed at Morlaix, and the goods put into
a safe place, till he should have satisfaction for his loss. Sends
proofs of this, and also the information asked for regarding
his said loss, showing the justification he had for staying the
said goods, which do not amount to more than 4000 crowns,
while what he lost was estimated at 12000, for which he begs
the ambassador to have right done him as soon as possible,
seeing that the goods are decaying from day to day. |
|---|
| He wishes to God that the English (at the cost of his demand
ing no recompense himself) had taken nothing from the King's
subjects, and especially from "these countries" for it is great
pity to see the number of merchants of this province who
have been so spoiled by the English that the most part will be
poor ever afterwards. Quite recently they have taken ten or
twelve ships belonging (amongst others) to merchants of St.
Brieu and Morlaix, and many of the crews (equipage) drowned,
there having been found, on the coast of Treguyer ten bodies
tied together and without their heads. Prays the ambassador
to make protest in the matter, as if by his means some order
be not taken, commerce must cease; and to let him have a
reply at latest by the 25th of next month.—Nantes, 23 September,
1586.
Copy. Endd. Fr. 1½ pp. [France XVI. 51.] |
|---|