| 20 Mar. |
11. The Same to the Same.
The Queen has expressed to me her great satisfaction at the good
reception and treatment of the earl of Sussex, but did not even
drop a hint about the marriage, although there was ample
opportunity for her to do so on the 15th instant, when I spent the
whole afternoon with her in the country. She did not refer either
to the league, about which I have written, but she spoke shortly on
French affairs, and the arrangement now being discussed between
the King and his rebel subjects, as she had done on a previous
occasion at the beginning of the disturbances ; only that she now
said she did not know how such an arrangement could be made
compatible with the King's dignity. I said that at least, so far as
she was concerned, the King had not been prevented from having
satisfaction on the rebels, and carrying through the business with
the advantage that kings usually have over their subjects, as she
had been so firm and steadfast in refusing aid to them or
countenance their attempt against their sovereign. She replied
that what I said was perfectly true, and assured me that when she
sent troops to Havre de Grace in the former disturbances she did
so principally because she was persuaded that the Guises wanted
to get the King into their power and govern the country at their
pleasure. They had also designs against her, as the Queen of
Scotland was then married to the French king, and had declared
that when the time came for restoring Calais they would not give
it up. She went on to say that, with regard to the intention of
the Guises to take the King and Queen, not only was it publicly
stated, but she had received a letter from the queen of France,
which she still kept, telling her of it. The prince of Condé had
risen in consequence of this, and if she had not understood it in
this light she said she would never have sent her forces to France,
as she had refrained from doing on the present occasion. I replied,
praising her very much for what she had done and was doing, and
said she was being commended for it everywhere, seeing the
pressure that had been used to cause her to do otherwise ; whereupon
she showed great pleasure.
She also expressed her disapproval of the Count Palatine's action
in detaining the money and goods belonging to the merchants, and
she had said as much to the Count's representative here. I also
praised her for this, adding that it was understood that most of the
property belonged to persons who were coming to this country,
and that this would have a very bad effect on the prices of
merchandise here, besides causing her a loss of customs dues. It
is said that most of the property belonged to the Easterling
merchants from the maritime cities who are established here. I
wrote to your Majesty that the Queen had told me that she had
been requested, on behalf of the countess of Egment, to write to
your Majesty respecting the Count, but that she did not wish to
interfere in the matter. She has since told me that they write so
pitifully to her that she cannot help feeling compassion, and she
thinks of writing to your Majesty, but that she wished me to see
the letter before she sent it. I understood her intention to be to
write very circumspectly and carefully, and therefore replied that
she could well do so in the way that friends ask favours of one
another, and grant them out of kindliness and mutual affection,
and that many neighbours liked to be besought in honest causes
for divers reasons. The earl of Sussex tells me that he is gratified
because the Emperor was fully satisfied with the negotiations,
and he is convinced that the marriage will be carried through.
He said he had made every effort in his power, passing lightly over
some points that could not be avoided, and bringing into prominence
others where agreement was assured. As regards the question of
religion, upon which assurance was sought on the part of the
Archduke, that he and his household should not be coerced, Sussex
said he made such declarations on behalf of the Queen as satisfied
them ; without the need for written obligation, which it would
have been difficult for him to give, for many reasons, particularly
as there were people here who for their own ends wished to
obstruct the business. The Emperor, nevertheless, urged him to
send Cobham to the Queen on the matter, as he did, although he
was sure that no written obligation would be entered into, as in
effect was the case. He said that he thought what he had done in
the matter would be quite sufficient, as he, being so faithful a
servant of the house of Austria, would never have pressed the
Archduke to come if he had not felt certain that the match would
take place, and his verbal assurance be sufficient. The Emperor
and the Archduke himself, however, were so resolute about the
assurance, in accordance, they said, also with your Majesty's
opinion, that he was obliged to send Cobham. Notwithstanding
this he had discussed certain matters with the Emperor, which, if
the Queen agreed to them, as he hoped, would enable the Archduke
to find a good excuse for coming, which the Emperor had promised.
He (Sussex) had left a private cipher with the Emperor, so that
whatever was arranged might be absolutely secret, and nothing
known until the business was concluded. He had avoided telling
the Queen the substantial part of his negotiations pending the
arrival of the duke of Norfolk, in whose presence he wished the
matter to be discussed. He had spoken since his arrival, he said,
with the earl of Leicester, about the Emperor's and the Archduke's
pretensions respecting religion, in order to gain his support, which
he had promised, but that, if he did not fulfil his word and the
Queen would not agree, in consequence of the views of certain
persons, he (Sussex) was determined to publish the names of those
who had stood in the way of the match, so that the country might
know how he and others had striven to bring it about, for the
public good, and who had prevented it. Still, he said, he had
every confidence that it would be carried through successfully. I
replied that I approved of his intention, and was not surprised that
M. de Chantonnay was firm in his opinion that the Archduke
should insist upon an assurance as regards religion, which was a
point of the greatest importance, especially that, since he (Sussex)
left here, more rigour had been shown on the subject than
previously, which, of course, would be known verywhere, and
many persons probably might think that these demonstrations
were made for the very purpose of preventing the marriage, by
arousing the distrust of the Emperor and his brother, and causing
them to demand further assurances, which the people here know
would not be given, and so the affair might be upset. He knew,
I said, how these people had always tried to prevent it, and how I
had striven to bring it about, continually and unreservedly, except
on one point alone, namely, that there should be no cause for
resentment between the Queen and your Majesty if the match did
not take place, as I knew your Majesty held her friendship so dear
that it was my duty to refrain from anything that might jeopardise
it. He said that M. de Chantonnay had always said the same.
I took the opportunity of mentioning the league which certain
people here profess to be effected between your Majesty, the Pope,
the Emperor, the king of France, and other princes, against this
Queen, with the object of separating her from her friends, and said
that, as the news had come from Germany, he could say how false
it was, and I asked him not to fail to satisfy the Queen that it
was so, in order that her suspicions might be allayed. He replied
that he had heard something of this, and had inquired into the
matter in Germany, both from friends and foes, and had learnt that
such a league really had been proposed by certain princes, but not
with the intention stated, and with a different object. The rest, he
said, were simply fables and market-gossip, as he would assure the
Queen.
I wrote to your Majesty on the 8th instant that the duke of
Alba had reported on the 3rd a certain plot which these people had
made in Calais to recover the town with the aid of one of the
King (of France's) officers there, and the preparations which were
being made slowly with that object. The day fixed was to-day,
I am assured, but the matter has cooled ; perhaps owing to the
certainty now held of peace being made between the King and his
rebels, as they are watching here very closely what is going on in
France, and I am told receive advices from hour to hour. I, too,
am on the watch about this Calais affair, in order to report to the
duke of Alba. I have just been informed that the two vessels that
had been fitted out and manned, as was said in the council at the
request of the Regent Murray, to capture the earl of pothwell on
his way from Denmark to France, and the duke of Chalelherault
who was going from Dieppe to Scotland, were really intended for
another purpose, namely, to encounter the ships conveying the
Count de Buren. This having come to the ears of the Queen, she
made a show of anger that such a thing should be attempted
against your Majesty, and ordered the ships to be dismantled
immediately, which was done. It is quite possible that they may
have desisted from their intention owing to the Count de Buren
alone going in the ships, as they thought other persons were going
as well. These are very little people to attempt such a thing as this,
but I have my information from a good source.
On the 16th instant the ships conveying the Count de Buren passed
the Downs in sight of Dover, and with the present wind will have
already cleared these coasts.
These heretics are saying that their doctrines are being preached
in many parts, especially in Navarre on the French borders, and,
although this is not a fresh assertion, they are insisting more upon
it lately. I do not believe it, as the Inquisitors have not discovered
it, nor have I been able to obtain particulars, although I have tried
to do so.—London, 20th March 1568. |
| 27 March. |
12. Guzman de Silva to the King.
I received yesterday your Majesty's letter of the 19th ultimo,
by which I learn that mine of 10th January had come to hand.
The favour your Majesty desires to show to the archbishops of
Cashel and Armagh is of a piece with your Majesty's action in all
things fitting for the service of God and the universal church, for
which your reward will be long years of great happiness on earth
and an endless eternity in heaven. As I wrote to Secretary Gabriel
de Zayas, the business of the former prelate presents great difficulty,
and it appears imprudent to mention it to the Queen just now as
little good could come of it, seeing the usual suspicions of your
Majesty which are rife among these heretics ; besides which it
might be a source of grave inconvenience to the church in places
where this Queen has full power. It will be necessary, therefore,
if he designs to go and take up his functions, that the utmost
circumspection and caution should be used, as the only way in
which it could successfully be done is for him to be secretly hidden
amongst Catholics and safe from molestation by the heretics.It is
true that, for the sake of peace, the Catholics in certain parts
of Ireland are tolerated, but there is great vigilance used to
prevent the exercise of any authority by bull or order of his
Holiness. I will, however, carefully enquire and see what safely
can be done to comply with your Majesty's wishes, and the same
shall be done with regard to the imprisonment of the archbishop of
Armagh. I am anxious about this as they keep him closer than
ever, and in bad case for one of such poor health as he. The worst
of the matter is that your Majesty's favour for these good folks does
them more harm than good, so that it is necessary to act with the
utmost caution.
The Catholics of this country are numerous, but much molested.
I have been endeavouring lately, by means of a well-informed
Catholic, to get the names, not only of the principal party men, but
also of the private persons in the provinces, with a note of the
number of Catholics and Protestants in each county. I have been
pressing him for the list so that your Majesty may know the state
of the country, and, if he delays giving it to me, I will send the best
statement I can obtain.
I have been unable to learn anything about the Archduke's
match further than what I have written. I am told that the duke
of Norfolk will come hither to discuss it. I wrote to your Majesty
that I had been told by the earl of Sussex that a man had been
secretly sent hither by the prince of Condé and the Admiral. He
has now gone back. I do not know whether he will be captured
on the way, as they are on the alert to catch him all along the
coast, and to learn the particulars of his negotiations, although the
copy in French of the letter he brought to the Queen from his
principals, which I now enclose, lays bare the cause of his coming.
If Hawkins does not obey the Queen's orders about going to your
Majesty's Indies, steps shall be taken to have him punished.
Advices from Scotland say that those who are against the government
were still trying to obtain the Queen's release. The Regent
was to go and visit the Queen soon, and as the people here suspected
that he might givé her some extension of liberty, they have
written requesting him not to do so.
I have just been informed that, in addition to what is contained in
the enclosed copy of letter, the prince of Condé sent to say to the
Queen that, even if she would not help them with money or men,
she might make a demonstration of religious zeal. This has given
rise to some extraordinary proceedings, and, amongst others, the
arrest of one Wilson, who, I am informed, had authority from the
Pope to absolve and admit to the church those who became
Catholics, and who also was trying to collect subscriptions from
Catholics in aid of those who have taken refuge in Louvain. Of
these contributions he kept a list in a book with the names of the
donors, which book has been found on him, and much harm may
be done thereby. I am much surprised that this man did not come
to me as other good men come, I having been one of those who
recommended this subscription and promised my part. I will advise
your Majesty of the result.
A certain Emmanuel Tremelius has been here lately on behalf of
the count Palatine. He is a heretic who was formerly in one of
the universities here called Oxford, (fn. 1) and in the pay of the Queen.
He is the son of a Jew of Mantua. It is said he comes for the
purpose of arranging a league with this Queen, and will go on to
Scotland to discuss a similar matter with the Regent and his
government, taking letters from the folks here.—London, 27th March
1568. |