|
| April 16. | Duke Casimir to the Queen. |
|---|
| There is nothing he desires more than to have good news of
the health and prosperity of her Majesty, on whom depends the
safety of Christendom; expecting and hoping that she will be
able to relieve and redress those affairs which tend evidently to
utter desolation and ruin. Is now sending to her his counsellor,
Dr. Pierre Denais, the bearer of this, to whom he prays her
Majesty to give credit as to himself.—Heidelberg, 16 April,
1588.
Signed "Vostre treshumble and tres-affectionné cousin, J. Casimir." Add. Endd. French. 1 p. [German States V. 74.] |
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| April 16. | The Same to Walsingham. |
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| Recommending the above mentioned Dr. Denais confidently
to his kindness and assistance; knowing the affection which
his honour bears to himself.—Heidelberg, 16 April, 1588.
Signed. Add. Endd. French. ¾ p. [Ibid. V. 75.] |
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| April 17/27. | The Princess of Bouillon to Walsingham. |
|---|
| I have heard too much from my late mother and my brothers of
your good will towards them to be in doubt of your regret and
compassion on seeing this house made destitute in so short a
time, and thus I feel assured that, from memory of them, you will
compassionate me in this great loss, for solace wherein, hoping
nothing more than to inherit the honour of the favour of the
Queen your mistress, I pray you to assure her that she can
do honour to no one more devoted to her service. And for
your own part, Monsieur, do me the favour to continue to me
the good will which I shall hold most dear, knowing my brother's
great obligations to you—the proofs of one of which have fallen
into my hands since the day when it pleased God to take him
from me—which I hold as done to myself, to be requited with all
the affection of my soul. |
|---|
| Having learnt from M. de Torcay [Torcy] that you are acquainted with him, I have begged him to give you a full account of
what has passed here, which it may please you to communicate
to the good friends of this house; and as the bearer of this is his
son, who is returning into England to dwell there, I recommend him to you as the son of a gentleman for whom I have a
singular esteem, apart from the many good services which I
have received from him during his banishment for the Religion,
which may God preserve in this desolate place, against the
will of those who put all their strength in opposition thereto.—
Sedan, 27 April, 1588. |
|---|
| Apparently holograph. Signed Charlote de la Marck. Add.
Endd. French. 1 p. Seal. [France XVIII. 70.] |
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| April 19/29. | Stephen Powle to Walsingham. |
|---|
| His last was of the 14th inst., since when his servant has
arrived with his honour's order for his return and for the receipt of 50l. sterling. Is leaving with all speed, possibly
this day, for England. Feels himself highly favoured by the
sending of the allowance for his charges, which are recompensed, far above the worth of his small deserts, by his honour's
gracious approbation of his year's service in Italy. Is returning by way of Hamburg, and hopes to be in England by the
end of May.—Venice, 29 April, stilo novo, 1588. |
|---|
| The Duke of Arscott arrived yesterday, but with no other man
of account and only four servants. He goes from hence to
Loretto and so to Rome. "He shall be feasted this day of the
Flemings at Muran[o], at the Spanish Consul's house; but
there is no speech that the Signory will give him any extraordinary entertainment. |
|---|
| Add. Endd. 1 p. [Venice I. 27.] |
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| April 20. | Hotman to Walsingham. |
|---|
| Has been in bed for ten days with a fever. Asks for a
passport for the Duchess of Angoulesme to transport four geldings into France.—London, 20 April, 1588. |
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| Signed. Add. Endd. French. 1 p. [France XVIII. 71.] |
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| April 20/30. | French Advertisements. |
|---|
| Bellievre and La Guiche are returned from those of the League,
and report to the King that they received but slight and jesting
answers. The Dukes of Guise and Mayne refuse to come both to
the meeting, alleging the need for one of them to stay upon the
frontier, by reason of the levy made by the Almains. |
|---|
| De Mayne seems weary of the war, but Guise and d'Aumale,
being ambitious and in desperate state, are constrained to keep
themselves in arms. |
|---|
| Guise pretends two causes of discontent; the dispossessing
of Brissac from the charge of the castle of Angers and the
removing of the captain of the citadel of Valence. |
|---|
| Cardinal Bourbon is gone towards those of the League, and
promises "to win them to draw their forces out of Picardy, or
otherwise he will forsake them. |
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| D'Espernon offers to resign his colonelship of the footmen,
"because it is grudged at that he hath so many offices," but
keeps the placing and appointing of officers, so that all the infantry remains at his devotion. |
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| Duke Casimir has motioned a match between the young Elector
and the daughter of the late Duke of Bouillon. |
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| The Count of Soissons had mass said at Pau, but the ministers
caused some present at it to be imprisoned; who are come to
complain to the King. |
|---|
| Bellievre and Pinard proposed in Council "that it was most
necessary for the realm to have a peace; but Queen Mother
and others objected many difficulties therein, whereat the King
was much offended, and went away in great choler. |
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| Endd. with date. 1 p. [Newsletters IX. 40.] |
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| April 23./May 3. | M. de L'Aubespine Chasteauneuf to Walsingham. |
|---|
| According to a letter received yesterday from France, the
King's agent in Spain writes that the King of Spain had
announced his departure from Madrid to Lisbon, in order to
dispatch his fleet; which, as they published, was to set out on
the 8th of May at the latest, to come hither. The said agent
writes—as a man conversant with that court—that he supposes
this report is spread on purpose to be published in France and
here; and does not believe that the army will be ready so soon
nor that the King is going to Lisbon. |
|---|
| Thought he ought to inform his honour of this, and sends him
a letter from M. de Lanssac which he prays him to show to her
Majesty, whereby she will see how much he is her humble
servant.—London, 3 May. |
|---|
| Signed. Add. Endd. French. ½ p. [France XVIII 72.] |
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| Enclosing. |
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| M. de Lanssac to M. de Chasteauneuf. |
|---|
| Expressing his pleasure at Madame's return, and on hearing the honourable discourses which it has pleased the Queen
to hold with her concerning himself. Is much honoured that so
great and virtuous a princess deigns to remember a poor and
aged gentleman like himself. Prays his Excellency to kiss her
hands humbly on his behalf, and render her the thanks due to her
greatness and his humble reverence.—Paris, 25 April, 1588.
[n.s.] |
|---|
| Postscript. Begs to be commended to the Lord Treasurer
and Monsicur 'Hauvourt' the Admiral. |
|---|
| Signed. Add. Endd. French. 1 p. Seal. [France XVIII.
72 i.] |
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| April 23. | Stafford to Walsingham. |
|---|
| I send your honour what M. de Reaux brought to the King,
both about the Prince of Conde's death and him that should
have killed the King of Navarre. He has now taken leave and
is departing. |
|---|
| "Touching the Prince's death he demanded that the page (who
was the minister of it) might be delivered, that justice might
be done of him. The King answered him that he would do
anything he could to punish them that were guilty of it. As
for the page, he did not hear what was become of him, but if
they could learn where he were, he would see justice should
be done of him; and if his [the Prince's] wife were guilty of it,
she should have justice. But he did not demand of the King
to have any one sent down to look into the process, as it was
thought he would. |
|---|
| "Touching the other, that should have killed the King of
Navarre, he desired the King . . . to appoint some gentlemen
there in the country to assist with the King of Navarre's provost at the making of his process. The King answered that
he did not think it reasonable nor honourable for him to send
anyone to assist the King of Navarre's provost at it; but if
the King of Navarre would send him either to the Marshal of
Matignon or to the court of the parliament of Bordeaux, he
did assure him he should have justice; or else, if he would
deliver him to be sent hither, he himself would hear his examination and see him punished according to his merits; that
the world might not think it were a thing forced out of him
contrary to the truth. |
|---|
| "Monsieur d'Espernon is departed towards Normandy and is
thought will arrive at Rouen tomorrow. There are many here
(who like not that he should plant himself there) have gone
about to persuade the King to call him back again, putting many
fears into his head of the troubles that are like to arise upon his
arrival there; but they have not prevailed. |
|---|
| "Here is nothing come of their treating at Soissons. It was
said that Monsieur de Bellievre should return this day; but he
hath sent one secretly from thence with a billet, and writes
that he is stayed there, and not stayed [sic]; which is thought to
proceed of the rumour that was given out that the King would
do justice of the authors of these last broils that were towards;
for so he was determined; but he is not now so earnest as he
was. |
|---|
| "That which I sent your honour of the enterprises of Sedan
and Jametz are confirmed since to be true, and to be more than
that which I writ. Here is a speech that M. de Montpensier
and the Marshal d'Aumont will go to Sedan, but it is not certain,
neither do they know whether they of Sedan will receive them
in when they come." |
|---|
| It is written from Rome that they now thought the army of
Spain would go towards Algiers. There is nothing fresh from
Spain. |
|---|
| "The King keeps his Swisses still here about the town, with
some other forces, though all stirs be pacified. |
|---|
| "Some say that the Duke of Guise will come hither and they
are making some little provision for him at his house; but for
all that I believe it not. The League (though some here hold
it up all they can), was never so bare, neither hath any one
of them almost a penny. The clergy is their only support here,
and doth keep the towns in liking with them, and withdraws them
all they can from the King." |
|---|
| I have seen by letters, and M. Pinard also told me that our
Commissioners had met and conferred with the Duke of Parma
in tents near Ostend.—Paris, 23 April, 1588. |
|---|
| Signed. Add. Endd. 1¾ pp. [France XVIII. 73.] |
|---|
| April 24. | Stafford to Walsingham. |
|---|
| The night before last a courier came from Spain to the ambassador, with a packet to be sent away with all diligence to
the Prince of Parma. What it contained the ambassador cannot tell (whereat he is very angry). He had only one letter
in the packet, by which they advertise him that the Lisbon fleet
will meet that of Biscay and Galicia on May 15 by their account;
that the whole will be near two hundred sail, small, great and
for carriages; that they have aboard near 20000 persons, with
soldiers and mariners, "comprehending an hundred and fifty religious men. |
|---|
| "That all this is for England. That they mean to take some
place upon the sea coast fit to fortify. That the most they fear
is to be charged with horsemen at their first landing." |
|---|
| This is the contents of the ambassador's letter; whether of
purpose written that he may give it out, or whether it be a
truth I know not; but he does not hide it, and so it may be
only a policy. |
|---|
| He sent this morning for my Lords of Westmoreland and Paget,
Charles Paget, Morgan and D. Wendooe [Dr. Nicholas Wendon]
and told them "they must now pray and make themselves ready,
for ere long now they should be restored into their country and
goods . . . and [must] go down the best appointed they could
to the Prince of Parma, and attend a good hour. And particularly told my lord of Westmoreland that his master (he hoped)
ere many months would set him in the same estate and better
in his own country than ever he was. He answered he should
be beholding to him when he were in it, for so great a good,
but for preparing himself without means he could not do that
which he had a good will to do, as my Lord Paget there and
others had, that had made banks afore they came and were
well stored to do it. The ambassador neither did offer him
means nor did answer him a word, but took my lord Paget,
Charles Paget and Throckmorton and Morgan aside, and talked
with them earnestly a great while; which doth make me to
conceive that he meaneth rather to give out these things than for
a truth, or else he would have offered my lord of Westmoreland
some means, upon so near a pinch and so near an execution in
England. |
|---|
| "They all dined with him. After dinner, they went away all
together, and desired my lord of Westmoreland to go with them,
. . . to my Lord Paget's lodging, where they were in the greatest
jollity in the world; my Lord Paget telling my lord of Westmoreland than upon the new news they had, that he should
not want of any reasonable thing he could furnish him. |
|---|
| "They began to give out hard words of the Bishop of Glasgow
and the King of Scots, who they say upon his letters beginneth
to fear this too great army of Spain to put footing in their
realm, lest they should be more than quarter-masters in their
country; that they are afraid lest the Scots will play (as they
term it) a Scottish trick, and be glad to compound with the
Queen. |
|---|
| "Notwithstanding this, the Earl Morton and Simpell, who
departed secretly from this town, as I have afore written to
you, . . . are embarked at Dunkirk on Sunday was fortnight
for Scotland, with letters to the King and divers of the nobility;
the said Morton having assured to put certain havens upon
the west of Scotland into the Spaniards' hands for their landing when they come, and to make a great party there to assist
them. |
|---|
| "That at his coming home, all possible means shall be done to
make Liddington the chancellor away, because he is altogether
of the Queen's faction. |
|---|
| "That young Bettan [Beaton], the Bishop of Glasgow's kinsman is new arrived out of Scotland hither, who doth bring word
that there will be shortly a change in Scotland. |
|---|
| "That the Earl Huntley, 'Crayford' and others that are Catholic
in heart are now in court, and in favour with the King. |
|---|
| "My lord Paget, Charles Paget, both Throgmortons (the
younger of the which hath by this last dispatch a pension granted
of forty crowns a month) and Morgan, presently sent for their
tailor to make them apparel and to put themselves in equipage. |
|---|
| "They give out in their secret Council that the army doth mean
to go about the north-west of Ireland, as far from Drake as
they can, and not to meet with him if they can choose; and mean
to land about Cockermouth. That they look for certain horsemen out of Scotland and a good party in the north; besides intelligences which they do assure themselves of; that they have
by Allen the Cardinal's means in Lancashire. |
|---|
| "Morgan and Paget have still letters out of England of the
chiefest things that pass; and by them and other means the
Spanish ambassador hath, he is assured, and doth, upon that,
assure it into Spain, that Sir Francis Drake hath not threescore
sail in all, and my Lord Admiral a good many less. |
|---|
| "The French agent in Spain hath made a dispatch hither
the day before yesterday, by the which he writeth that the
army doth make account to be ready the fifteenth of May to join
altogether; that still they give it out for England, but he is of
opinion a good part of it shall go for the Indias, both because it
is most necessary for him to send thither, to have a return, as
also that they give out that they have discovered a new country,
more rich in gold and silver than any they have yet found; but
so full of stout people that they cannot master them. That the
King of Spain is very well. |
|---|
| "They give out here (but they give out so many tales that
there is almost nothing to be believed but that which a man
seeth) that there is a Frenchman among the Moors which they
call le mignon Francoys, that they make a great account of; and
that there are up in arms already 12000 Moors, and that their
number increaseth daily. |
|---|
| "There are some returned from Frankfort fair; and among
the rest, Batista de Puis, who doth assure of a great levy in
Germany, but taketh it to be for the defence of themselves, to
the number in all parts of 15000 reisters. |
|---|
| "He telleth me that he knoweth for certainty (and that the
Chancellor of 'Hedelberg', he passing that way, did not deny it
unto him, but marvelled where he had it) that there is sent into
England out of Germany unto her Majesty a gentleman and a
doctor very secretly . . . That the princes hold an assembly
at Hambourg, where the King of Denmark shall meet with them.
That the Duke of Saxony taketh our confession and doth put
from him the Ubiquetaries. |
|---|
| "That at Hedelberg they have certain news that Tassis and
three hundred Spaniards are slain afore Bonne. |
|---|
| "That the Polonian crowned King [Sigismond of Sweden] is a
wise and a mighty prince, and that Maximilian being prisoner
and sick, the Chancellor retired him into his house; where his
wife being brought a-bed, Maximilian did, at his request christen
[i.e. stand godfather to] his child. Upon this they made, I
think, a bruit to run here . . . that the King of 'Suedland' was
dead and that his son was run away out of Poland to take possession of his kingdom; and that thereupon, in spite, the Chancellor had set Maximilian out of prison and would crown him
King.—Paris, 24 April, 1588. |
|---|
| Holograph. Add. Endd. 4 pp. [France XVIII. 74.] |
|---|
| April 25. | Stafford to Walsingham. |
|---|
| "This bearer is a friend's son of yours, who, being brought
up with my Lord of Pembroke, and from thence sent for to be
with the King of Navarre by his father, hath been ever since
with me; his father being for his religion in that poor estate at
Sedan that he hath enough to do to find himself and his poor
family. He is now (being not able to pass to the King of
Navarre, and my lord of Pembroke having written that he would
be very glad he should return unto him) to return thither" and
having letters from his father and from Mademoiselle of Bouillon (fn. 1) for her Majesty, your honour and others, I have given him
this packet and pray you to be good to him for his father's sake.—
Paris, 25 April, 1588. |
|---|
| Holograph. Add. Endd. ¾ p. [France XVIII. 75.] |
|---|
| April 26./May 6. | Passport from the King of Navarre for the sieurs Joachim
and Jacques Bellue, brothers, together with their agents, ships,
merchandise and mariners, going from Rouen and the coast of
Normandy to 'Marceylle' and to Alarache, Fez and Morocco, in
the ship named the [blank], laden with merchandise; both for
going and returning, to be allowed to pass without any trouble
or hindrance, either to the persons, ships or merchandise, but
rather to be given all favour and assistance of which they may
stand in need. Offering, in like case, to do the same.—La
Rochelle, 6 May, 1587 [sic]. |
|---|
| Certified by Stafford as a true copy, but endorsed by Walsingham's clerk as "April 1588." French. 1 p. [France 76.] |
|---|
| April 27. | Stafford to Walsingham. |
|---|
| "For all the cunning that Queen Mother hath used to make
the King afraid of M. d'Epernon's danger, if he did not call him
back out of Normandy, by reason, as she said, that M. d'Aumale
and d'Elbœuf are there, and assemble forces to trouble and
impeach him, he would not be persuaded unto it, but still will
have him go forward, and this day, I think he maketh his entry into Rouen. It is hoped that the King, discovering
they have gone about to make him afraid in this of forces in the
air, and finding in it their inability to perform anything, will
not so easily be made afraid . . . hereafter." |
|---|
| "If Epernon get Newhaven into his hands, as it is hoped he
will . . . and by that means do stablish Normandy, it is a shrewd
blow for them as any they had a good while. . . . |
|---|
| "M. Bellievre is marvellously discontented of this last stay
that they have made of him, under the colour of cunning making
him to dislodge out of the faubourgs of Soissons to come
into the town; and hath spoken very roundly and plainly to
the Duke of Guise; whereat at the first the Duke answered him
very highly and impudently; but as I hear, the other hath
replied so unto him that he speaketh mildlier a great deal
than he did, and upon that, it is certainly expected that M.
Bellievre will be here tomorrow or the next day at the farthest
. . . |
|---|
| The chiefs of the League "have not a penny from hand to
mouth." M. d'Aumale's receiver general is trying at this hour
to borrow a thousand crowns here, and cannot get it. He has
declared that M. d'Aumale "hath neither house, land nor cottage
but is engaged for as much as it [is] worth; that they receive not
one penny of all their living and that if they had laid down arms,
they must needs starve." |
|---|
| The King went yesterday to the Bois de Vincennes and forbids
anybody to trouble him there, as he means to be at rest and
purge himself. I hope we shall see ere long some better effects. |
|---|
| "The Ambassador's wife hath served Villeroy's turn, who is
mortal enemy unto Pinart, to put into Queen Mother's head
some jealous conceit of Pinart, and goeth about by that means
also to have Pinart's son's going into Scotland coverted to
some that Villeroy would appoint; and indeed his journey is
stayed, but without doubt it will not be broken, I think. Pinart
is upon this, marvellously animated against Villeroy" and though
he dare not show it, if he can cross him, he will. He is also daily
"more and more animated against the League, at these stirs
that should have been which I writ to you of in my last. In a
roll that was brought to the King, Pinart was the fifth man in it
that should have been dispatched. It maketh him more affectionate than he was. |
|---|
| "Queen Mother's comb is almost cut with Epernon's going,
and that no cunning would call him back. She is afraid that
the King will discover her art.—Paris, 27 April, 1588. |
|---|
| Holograph. Add. Endd. 1¾ pp. [France XVIII. 77.] |
|---|
| April 27./May 7. | J. de Castro to Walsingham. |
|---|
| The revolution of the times would, it seems, have him honour
this day for ever, since it commits to his hands the enterprise
for his fatherland, wherein he serves both the most Serene
Queen and that realm by means of his most illustrious lordship.
The glorious fame which her Majesty has throughout the world
inspirits him to believe that nothing can greatly affright so
lofty and rare a princess in pursueing such an enterprise,
seeing that she has great natural parts, a most flourishing
realm, large forces by sea and land; vessels and wealth. And
that is not all; for the chief felicity of her realms consists in
her supreme council, whence is derived a reputation so high
that the enemy's dread thereof is as great as that of all others
for him; to which is joined the renown of his most illustrious
lordship, whose praises fill the mouths of men, strangers though
they be. |
|---|
| For himself he is called Dom Joam de Castro, of one of the chief
noble families of Portugal; being one of the four gentlemen
who, in May of last year, desiring no longer to serve Don
Antonio, left England and came hither into France (he not
being nominated for King, since he judged himself to be unworthy of so lofty a designation) when they would rather have
put all to the hazard than incurred what followed: to wit
that the said gentleman excused himself from accompanying
them, not to mention many private grievances which he had
against them. It is grievous to see that they can go forth for
the freedom of the fatherland only with infamy and eternal
dishonour of the royal house of Portugal, and humiliation of
the name of Portuguese, for love whereof they desire rather
contempt, dishonour, death, banishment, hunger, thirst, nakedness; for when all is said, it is the same fatherland, though
not possessed by a native Portuguese King; and they will not
be deterred by his shameful behaviour and dealing with factions
discovered in that kingdom [England] or in Portugal. |
|---|
| And for the discharge of what they have honourably done, he
refers the whole matter to his lordship, without desiring more
credit than he can claim for the success of the past, justice and
reason and the success of the present; he [Antonio] preferring to
be the vassal of the King of Castile and to abandon himself to his
enemy, renouncing the hope—by the aid of Her Majesty—of coming
to be as fortunate and honoured as were his forefathers, and it
seeming that the planet of his father, the Infant Dom Luis, does
not influence him in this his last quarrel. For he has sold himself
to the King of Castile and made an accord with him and is now
leaving that kingdom [England] without any ceremony [shown] to
the most serene Queen, understanding so ill the sovereign protection which he has had there, and the false estimate he is
making of the strength of his enemies. |
|---|
| And since King Philip is so much the enemy of that realm and
of her Majesty more than all, as is shown by his designs and
the rumours of Armadas, wherewith perhaps rather to menace
her than to attack in strength; assuming that the English
forces are a match for him; it would be better not to keep
them stationary, but that they should go and attack the enemy
at home . . . And since the King has made peace with Dom
Antonio, he may perhaps begin to withdraw his forces from
thence. |
|---|
| It may be that he will have the signed agreement published,
for the sake of his reputation with the world, and thinking
thereby to crush the hearts of the Portuguese; disabusing them
of any hopes they may still have by showing them that he
whom they sought for their defender and liberator has gone
to surrender himself and crave for mercy; seeing that the
princes in those parts had devised no help, nor was any lord
powerful enough to endeavour his restoration; which could not
fail to have great effect in breaking their spirits and causing
them to retire; as the writer believes by the little knowledge
he has of the lords of those parts and of the ill-government,
poor spirit and great incapacity of Dom Antonio, which makes
him unable to restore and preserve himself in power; as befel
him in Portugal in all the time of King Dom Sebastian, of the
Queen, Donna Caterina and of the Cardinal King Dom Henry.
. . . . . |
|---|
| And if (returning to the former subject) King Philip, instead of publishing the agreement, should remain quiet; yet
he will still have the said gentleman in his power, or could
give him up on terms which may be considered already attained, seeing the humour of the Portuguese, who deem the
matter to be already settled; making account of him [the King
of Spain] as their head, and having no fear of Dom Antonio,
since he has neither parts nor power, more than as a sort
of corsair—with which [life?] he was better pleased than with
the rule of those parts—united to the odium in which he is
held, and the determination of those of that kingdom to compass his ruin, as was shown by the rising in 1584 . . . . |
|---|
| Wherefore, since Don Antonio is already for the King of
Castile, and is at heart his vassal; in what he today promises
and affirms, he is not to be believed. |
|---|
| If the most gracious Queen desires to aid some gentleman of
Portugal to liberate that realm, the writer pledges her his
word to do her a notable service, and one of great consequence
to her realm, by embarrassing the enemy in Portugal; and
never can that country better effect its liberty than now. . . . .
And if this seems good to her Most Serene Majesty and to
his illustrious lordship, he will with as much speed as possible
(for at the commencement of this business, speed is the
most important thing of all) betake himself to Portugal; so
getting the better, in point of time, both of the enemy and of
Don Antonio; that they may not send someone first to cheat
the people with inventions, as is their custom, . . . whereby
such an enterprise would be subject to much prejudice, if
not prevented by diligence . . . |
|---|
| But as they must go each one in his own way to this end;
and have no possibility of moving in their favour the lord of
that realm . . . . they will not be able to undertake the enterprise without the aid of the most serene Queen . . . . yet with
two hundred crowns he would keep his word, and they would
do that realm good service against the enemy, and there will be
seen by this very paucity [that they are led the rather by] the
desire of enterprise than the greed for money. |
|---|
| In England he did not in person treat of this business;
thinking it not to be convenient; there being much suspicion
on the part of every great personage upon his recent arrival;
wherefore he resolved thus to act [sic] in the absence of Dom
Antonio de Meneses; a very illustrious hidalgo of that realm,
as is known to all the world; for in their desires to serve her
most gracious Majesty; in love of the fatherland, and in courage and fitness for the enterprise, not only is he as good as the
writer but better, if such a one there can be, and is going, on
his part, to do service of another sort in that realm, and to
offer for her more than he professes—even his blood. . . . . . |
|---|
| Is staying in Paris, in the fauburg of St. Germain, outside the Porte de Bussi, in the house of an apothocary, by
name Monsieur Foge; and is now hastening with this letter to
Mr. Haquin [i.e. Hawkins, but should be Hakluyt] the minister
and secretary of her Majesty's ambassador . . .—Paris, 7 May,
1588. |
|---|
| Holograph. Add. Endd. Portuguese, 6½ pp. [France XVIII. 78.] |
|---|
| [Sent to England enclosed in Staffords packet of May 5.] |
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| April 28. | Duke Casimir to the Queen. |
|---|
| Recommending to her favour the bearer, Martin Ganser, a
citizen of Nuremberg. The matter which takes him to England
proceeds entirely from his good will and affection to Thomas
Neucklin and Rudolff Burnet, factors for Robert Barmby, a
citizen of London; to furnish whom with 14000 florins he not
only employed all his means but borrowed money and became
answerable for them in the said town of Nurnberg; which he
has been obliged to leave for lack of means to satisfy the
debt, after seeing the said Neucklin and Burnet secretly withdraw from the town, without repaying or discharging him for
what he had furnished and borrowed. |
|---|
| And for this cause, he must absent himself from his house,
with his wife and four children, good citizen and comfortable
as he was, and fall into poverty, as he will more amply explain
to her Majesty if she will be pleased to listen to him. Implores
her to do so, being assured that when she hears how he has
been treated she will grant his humble prayer; which is that
he may be paid with prompt justice; having regard to the
ruin into which he has fallen by obliging her subjects.—Heydelburg, 28 April, 1588. |
|---|
| Signed. Add. Endd. French. 2 pp. [German States V.
76.] |
|---|
| April 29. | Buzanval to Walsingham. |
|---|
| Sees by their dates that the letters sent him have been detained a fortnight in Paris. Believes that Mr. Stafford will
have sent his honour all that has been said as to the attempt
upon the life of the King of Navarre. God has miraculously delivered him. His Majesty writes that he has given charge to
M. du Plessis to advertise him of all the details, but du Plessis'
letters have not yet arrived. Almost thinks it to be due to
mistaken deciphering of the said letters that they have sent his
honour word that he was ill spoken of therein, and hopes he
will learn the truth. |
|---|
| Prays him to grant an interview to the Sieur de Cœdor, who
has business with the Admiral, and desires his mediation and
favour.—London, 29 April, 1588. |
|---|
| Holograph. Add. Endd. French. 1 p. [France XVIII.
79.] |
|---|
| April 29. | Stafford to the Queen. |
|---|
| Bellievre returned on Saturday, (fn. 2) "marvellous evil contented
with the Duke of Guise's manner of dealing with him, and did
plainly tell the King that he could in few words express to him
all that he had gathered; which was that either he must determine to give them that which was not fit for a King to grant—
which is all that they asked—or else to show himself a King and
to make them to know him so. Whereupon the King grew
into a great choler and told his mother that they might see
what her delays and expectations came unto. That he would
take another course. And so went his way, but in a great choler. |
|---|
| "The next morning he came to Queen Mother again, and
there he plainly resolved to seek all the help of his friends, and
to hazard all rather than to be in this state he was in; and put
his mother in remembrance of the advice your Majesty gave
him; that there was no remedy but he would follow it. His
mother answered him again, that which she had counselled him
she had done it for the best, as she thought; but that she could
not now advise him to any other course than that which were
fit, for that she must be of his mind to; but that if first he would
send M Bellievre again to them, to deal plainly with them and
offer them what he thought reason, and if they did not accept
of it and acknowledge their duties, that then nobody should
be readier to further any course against them than she; and
that if this did any good, that she stood still in that mind that
[it were] better to yield a little more than was reason, than (as
things and this state stood) to hazard things with too great
promptitude and to put them to desperation. |
|---|
| "This the whole Council advised the King to follow, whereupon
he agreed unto it once more, with protestation never to send
more, but to take a new course. Bellievre kneeling down upon
one of his knees to the King, humbly beseeched him that another
might be sent to them, that he might go no more, for that it was
not possible for a true and faithful servant of the King's to
go and hear them speak so insolently. Yet the King's will
was he should go for the last time, and so was resolved that
this day in the afternoon he should be dispatched and go to
Domartin to bed and to carry this resolute message. |
|---|
| "I can assure your Majesty that the Council was not so soon
broken and the King gone out, but Queen Mother dispatched in
all posthaste to the Duke of Guise to advise him by all means
to speak gently to Monsieur Bellievre and to agree to anything,
and if the Duke would believe her counsel, he should presently,
this dispatch received, redispatch one hither with all diligence to
take knowledge of these bruits and alarms that they give the
King of him in this town and to offer thereupon all humility to
the King, to show him that how evil soever he hath been used, he
will rather be undone than the King should have cause to conceive anything against him, and that if he did come himself and
use those speeches to the King, she durst warrant it, would turn
but to his good. And if he did resolve upon the last, if he met M.
Bellievre by the way, to turn him back again with him hither, if
he did but send to do it with that speed that the bearer might
be here by this day at noon, afore Bellievre parted, which might
easily [be] done, being but twenty leagues between this and
Soissons. |
|---|
| "This for fear the King should not know, myself found means
to let him know, which he thanked me greatly for, but he said
he knew it afore and bid (fn. 3) [?] let him alone. |
|---|
| "All this, I beseech your Majesty, may be kept very secret,
for else all must needs be bewrayed from whence it cometh, and
I shall undo them, and be frustrate of the like for your Majesty's
service hereafter. I leave your Majesty, for troubling you, to
the rehearsal of the rest of our late bruits and alarms here to
the letter I write to Mr. Secretary." |
|---|
| "Thus I commit your lordship to the keeping of God."—Paris,
29th April, 1588. |
|---|
| Copy by Stafford himself, sent to Burghley. At the head
of the letter is written "My very good lord, this copy following
and Mr. Secretary's letters will make me not long at this time." |
|---|
| Add. Endd. by Burghley. 2¼ pp. [France XVIII. 80.] |
|---|
| [April 29.] | Stafford to Walsingham. |
|---|
| "After I had closed up my dispatch and sent it to one that
went to Rouen, to be delivered to this bearer, who was there
tarrying, according to my commandment, to see what Epernon
did, I went to the 'lover' [Louvre] to go to the Council, where
I was appointed about an English merchant's cause, having
hour at two of the clock. I met upon Notre Dame 'brigge' one
coming to me from a friend of mine to advertise me that at
the same instant that he sent him, the Duke of Guise was arrived
and lighted at the Queen Mother's house, only with twelve horse.
I left "Mr" for that to go forward to the 'Louver', where I
found all the guards in [ar]ray, posting about to send for the
Swissers and to have everybody in a readiness. |
|---|
| "I went in and sent the Chancellor [Chiverny] word, who
was with the King, that though I had come thither by their appointment, seeing a new accident come, if it pleased them, I
would come another day. He came out to me himself; [said]
that they thanked me [but] that with all their hearts, they
would sit and not give me pains to return, if I would, but that
this accident happening, if it pleased me, they would take what
day I would appoint; so I offering them to take their opportunity,
I went my way; and by the way found all the gentlemen coming
in at the lower gate by flocks, and all the world in a murmur,
and Swisses and soldiers coming that way from all places and
met at the gate. Bellievre, booted, coming in to the King from
the Queen Mother, I asked him if he was so soon come home.
He shook 'the head' very soberly and told me that he that he went
to was come unlooked for, and so went by in haste to the King.
I left one of mine behind to follow him all the day and to see what
became of him; and sent another to the Queen Mother's to see
what was done there; and myself came home, and sent to see
if he that carried the packet to Rouen (Roan) were not gone, to
send it me again; and finding that he parted not till morning,
thought good to add this to the packet. |
|---|
| "My men returning brought me word that Bellievre, as soon
as he had been with the King, not tarrying above a quarter of
an hour there, went again to the Queen Mother's; and presently
after his coming, the Queen Mother, not being able to go
[i.e. walk] was carried in a chair, and the Duke of Guise afoot
by her, went to the 'Lover', where at the entry, nobody in the
world saluted the Duke; went up the back stairs to the Queen
regnant's lodging, and at the entry, everybody forbidden to
enter but the Duke, Bellievre and the Queen Mother; where the
King and they stayed three hours and the Duke of Guise came
down alone the back way and nobody with him, and went to the
hostel of Guise, with those few that came with him that stayed
in the court; and at his going out, nobody offered to come to
him to salute him. |
|---|
| "There are, above all the guards, four hundred Swissers sent
for and be gone to the 'Lover'; the rest in arms in the faubourgs,
and all the captains of the town commanded to watch and ward. |
|---|
| "They speak diversely of his coming, and Queen Mother made
it strange to see him. God save us all. In haste. |
|---|
| Holograph. Add. Endd. with date. [France XVIII. 81.] |
|---|
| May [beginning of.] | Advertisements out of Germany. |
|---|
| 4000 lansquenets and 1000 horse, levied by Marquis Charles
at 'Inspruck', have passed by Freiburg to go into Flanders. |
|---|
| In February last there were also levied 3000 foot and 300 horse,
to be employed into Poland for Maximilian, but that enterprise
being broke they are to be sent into Flanders. |
|---|
| May 4, stilo novo, sundry waggons, laden with armour were
sent from Insp[ruck] into Flanders. Also 40 horses laden with
barrels of harquebusses, made in Milan. |
|---|
| There are levies generally made throughout Germany, said
to be for Poland, but they pass up toward 'Augusta' [Augsburg]
and Bavaria. |
|---|
| "The levies which Casimir is said to make are nothing so gr[eat]
as they have been given forth; for he seemeth in manner not
to stir." |
|---|
| Endd. ¾ p. Injured by damp. [Newsletters XXVII. 23.] |
|---|