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| 1 May. |
18. Guzman de Silva to the King.
Nothing fresh from Scotland. I believe these people have a good
understanding with the Regent and his government, in spite of this
Queen's attempt to conceal it. Their carelessness about the frontier
and laxity at Berwick are a good argument of this, and it is
further confirmed by a letter that this Queen has written to the
king of Denmark (copy of which I enclose) against the earl of
Bothwell, no doubt at the request of the Regent and his friends.
I am told that the details of the partition of some of the lands of
John O'Neil amongst certain English persons have arrived in
Ireland, and that an uncle of his, who is also called O'Neil, has
joined with a neighbour named O'Donell, determined to resist the
division, and it is feared that greater dissentions will result than
in the past. This O'Neil is married to a daughter of the earl of
Argyll, and it is said that he will therefore have the aid of the Scotsmen
of the adjacent isles. This would somewhat disturb these folks,
but much more if the Queen of Scots should gain her freedom. I
had an appointment for an audience this afternoon, when I intended
to speak to the Queen about the export of bread stuffs to Biscay
and Asturias, but when I arrived at the gate of the palace I met
a gentleman sent by the Queen to ask me to put off the interview
till to-morrow, as she was somewhat inconvenienced with some
medicine she had taken. Almost immediately afterwards another
courtier came to say that the Queen, having heard that I had
arrived, would make an effort to receive me. I went up to the
presence chamber where I learned from her doctor, whom she had
sent to entertain me, and from others, what her condition was, and
refrained from importuning her in consequence. I went to the
Council with Cecil to despatch certain private subjects' business,
and the Queen sent thither to say that she would be glad if I
would return to-morrow, as I had not cared to see her this afternoon.
After I had done my business, the Secretary asked me what
news I heard from Flanders. I told him, in short, that the
duke of Alba, having received information that some show of disturbance
was being made on the borders of Gueldres, had sent
troops to Maestricht and Namur, and was still continuing the
necessary measures to punish the disturbers. It was certain, however,
that all would end as the similar attempt did some months
ago, as it could have no support, and there was no one in Germany
or elsewhere who would, for the sake of other people, undertake so
dangerous and fruitless a step as to show himself an enemy of your
Majesty's states. Cecil replied that he agreed with me, but he had
been informed that great hatred had been aroused in Germany at
the rigorous measures of repression which had been adopted by the
duke of Alba in the States, as it was alleged that the Spaniards
wished to expel all the natives therefrom and take possession of
everything. I said it was no new thing for rebels against their
sovereign to invent such stories as these to cause hatred and envy.
He laughingly said, no it was not, only that the Spanish nation was
a strange one, and wanted to be mistress of the world, and it
was currently reported in Flanders that the Spaniards were coming
over to this country tempted by the riches of the sea, but if they
did, he said, they would find they had some queer cattle to deal
with. I told him I did not believe, nor should he, that there was
any such talk amongst Spaniards, who were a very temperate and
modest people, especially as they had not the same amount of
liberty as the English, who are allowed with impunity to say whatever
they like. He said that some persons had certainly spoken
in the sense he had mentioned, but they were not party men. I
replied that doubtless those who spread such tales were the
rebel scamps who came hither from Flanders, against whom I had
not yet complained, as he knew, to the Queen and Council, but I
could assure him that it was my intention to represent to the Queen
that, in the interests of herself and her country, she should take
care that those who took refuge here should not be allowed to
return, alone or with others, to commit fresh offences in the
States. I said it was quite enough, surely, to receive them here,
without their making of this friendly country a centre from
whence they could sally for the purpose of insults such as these, and
then be received here again as before. I thought this should be
altered as, from small beginnings, great troubles ensued. He
thought that it would be very proper and just to remedy the
matter, and the Queen ought to give it her best consideration.
Although I do not know what will be done or how, I should be
glad of some step being taken which would moderate somewhat
these impudent Flemings here. A man has arrived here from
the Regent of Scotland. Cecil tells me that his only errand is to
arrange about the thieves that infest both sides of the border.
He (Cecil) says that his Queen cannot endure the treatment of the
Queen of Scots, and her imprisonment in the name of the Regent,
and of the child they call King. I do not believe him on either
point, and think they are still at their plots and combinations, and
that it is all a blind, although the Queen has several times said the
same to me as the Secretary.—London, 1 May 1568. |
| 8 May. |
19. The King to Don Juan de Zuniga. (fn. 1)
Draft headed : Respecting the departure of the English
ambassador here.
Having heard that the ambassador from the Queen of England
resident here did not conduct himself in a way fitting to his office
and the interests of his sovereign, and that, in his conversation
and actions, he did not proceed with due respect to religion and
veneration to the holy see; and, bearing in mind the difficulties
that might arise from his presence in this court and the danger of
contagion to others from his bad example, I have resolved to order
him to leave my court and await outside of it the orders of his
mistress. It seems to me needful for the service of God and the
public welfare to banish such a person from my court and from
conversation with my subjects, and nothing in the world, however
great, no consideration however grave, shall ever make me waver
in the slightest degree in my determination to avoid the least
offence to God Almighty ; whose service and the observance of
whose holy faith I place before all my interests and acts, and
prefer to everything in this life, even my own existence. I have
thought well to advise you of this, in order that you may report
the same to His Holiness in my name, giving him the letter I write
to him in your credence. You will tell him the resolution I have
taken, of which I am well satisfied and am sure His Holiness will
be so, as I desire so earnestly that my actions and proceedings
may content one whom I love, esteem, and reverence as a father.
—Madrid, 8th May 1568.
Postscript in the King's hand : The letter for His Holiness
does not go, as it is unnecessary. The above says that I have
ordered the man to leave here and wait outside the orders of his
Queen. I have written to her and asked her by my ambassador
to recall him, and if not, I shall be obliged to expel him. |
| 11 May. |
20. Guzman de Silva to the King.
I wrote to your Majesty on the 8th, saying I had received on
the 6th the despatch of the 6th April, and that the Queen had fixed
an audience for me on the 9th instant. I went, and, handing her
your Majesty's letter, watched her countenance closely whilst she
was reading it. When she came to the latter part, about the
ambassador, she changed colour, and seemed somewhat annoyed,
asking me what it meant. I related the matter in accordance with
your Majesty's instructions, in general terms, without reciting
details, concluding by saying that, considering the man's conduct,
he might more fittingly be called a perturber than an ambassador.
She said she was much surprised at what I told her, but asked me
for particular instances for her information. I replied that I had
already told her that your Majesty had ordered a gentleman of
your household to be despatched, who would give her such information
as would enable her to judge of the whole case with full
knowledge, and in the meanwhile, she might be assured of the
love and affection with which your Majesty had always regarded
all that concerned her, and the consideration and gentleness with
which you proceeded towards your friends. As an instance, which
would enable her to see the way her ambassador had acted in other
things, I might tell her, however, that a person in whom I had full
confidence had written to me that, at a dinner at which many
persons, Spaniards and others, were present, he presumed to say,
publicly and impudently, that only your Majesty defended the
papal sect, and that in the end the prince of Condé and his followers
would prevail ; that the Pope was a canting little monk, and other
expressions of a similar sort. She replied that these were very
insignificant matters, of which no notice should be taken. I said,
in Spain, on the contrary, they were so important that, if the
man had not been a public person and her minister, his punishment
would have been exemplary ; to which she replied that, even if
there were reasons why your Majesty would not receive him
personally, he still might remain in the court as before. She said,
when the bishop of Aquila was plotting against her and the peace
of her realm, of which she was fully informed, she had seized
some letters of his from the courier, but had refrained from
opening them, except in his presence, and had shown him what
he himself had signed, and yet she had taken no further steps
against him. She was therefore grieved that her ambassador
should be treated as he had been, especially as, at this time, suspicious
and comments would arise therefrom, and this way of
treating ambassadors was the forerunner of greater unpleasantness,
particularly coming, as it did, on the top of the news about the
league, and I should hear the next day what would be said in
London about it. I answered that, as to the comments and
opinions which would be current everywhere, they might easily be
disposed of by her at once appointing another ambassador, as your
Majesty asked ; some person to whom you could show the true love
and friendship you felt towards her, as your Majesty had always
done, and in the meanwhile the matter might be kept secret, as it
should be by me. She said, when she sent this ambassador, she
considered him rather an adherent of the old religion than a
Protestant, and she was therefore the more surprised that he should
not have acted sensibly, but she had been told that some of the
ambassadors she had sent there had not lived according to the
English laws. I said her former ambassadors had acted prudently
by avoiding all cause for scandal, and her servants might well
learn discretion from her own wise moderation in these matters
here. This man, however, no doubt, had been carried away by
passion, or had been ruled by orders from elsewhere. The Queen
asked me what I meant by that ; did I mean that he had acted
under the instructions of others? I said that, judging from his
actions, it might be so suspected.
Her reply was that she greatly regretted that her ambassador
should have said or done anything to offend your Majesty, as that
was quite against her wish and instructions to him, and, if it
be so, that she will have him punished in a way that will prove to
your Majesty her goodwill and friendship ; but you must allow her
not to condemn her minister until she had the whole case before
her and had heard him in his defence ; as until then she was compelled
by her position not to condemn him or to admit that he had
offended. Perhaps, she said, your Majesty has had a one-sided or
untrue account given to you, as is often the case with sovereigns,
as she well knew from her own experience. Here she stopped, and
I continued : "And I will add in your Majesty's name that, if you
find the ambassador to blame, you will send for your ambassador
some such a person as my King suggests." She replied : "Yes,
yes, I say so and I will do it." She was annoyed at first, but
became calmer afterwards, and seemed satisfied with what I said
from your Majesty about the league. In addition to what your
Majesty directed me to write about it on the 6th, I also showed
what was said in your Majesty's letter of the 12th, which came
very appropriately.—London, 11th May 1568. |
| 13 May. |
21. The King to Guzman de Silva.
Such of your letters as require reply will be best answered by
telling you that, on our resolution as to the English ambassador's
banishment from here being conveyed to him, he decided to go to
Barajas, where I ordered a lodging to be provided for him, and
his house here is still considered to be in his occupation. It will
be well that the Queen should learn this from you, as if casually
on your own account, so that she may see the respect and kind
treatment accorded to him, in his character of her minister, he
himself having richly deserved to be burnt at the stake, as will be
seen by the report borne by Don Guerau de Spés, a Catalonian
knight of the order of Calatrava, whom I have appointed for the
mission and have sent for to come here. I may tell you openly that
I am sending him with the intention, if matters are settled satisfactorily,
of appointing him to succeed you there. Bearing in mind your
services and my satisfaction with you, I have decided to send you
to Venice to continue in that republic your duties as my ambassador.
Don Guerau takes with him the necessary instructions and information,
so that, after he is informed of the position of things
there, you can leave when you like. It will be well, however, for
you to keep this secret until due time for many good reasons, and
I have only had the duke of Alba informed of my intention in this
respect. You will also keep him informed of what is done, for his
guidance.—Aranjuez, 13th May 1568. |
| 14 May. |
22. Guzman De Silva to the King.
At 10 o' clock yesterday morning the courier arrived that your
Majesty sent by sea on the 6th ultimo, and at the same time
arrived Dr. Arias Montano and Harrington who crossed in the same
vessel. Bad weather had driven them into an Irish port called
Youghal, which accounts for their being so long delayed. The
despatches for the duke of Alba I will send by the ordinary
to-morrow, as there seems no need for greater haste, the duplicates
having already reached him.
On the afternoon of the 11th, the person sent by the Queen's
ambassador arrived here, as your Majesty informed me he would,
and he was for more than an hour with Cecil on the same evening
in London. The next day Cecil went to Greenwich, where there
have been many council meetings. I have been unable to discover
the account the man brought to the Queen, although I have a
person on the look-out for it ; but I learn that the ambassador is
returning and begs urgently for his recall. I detain the courier
until I see the result of this man's coming, in order to advise your
Majesty, seeing that I have already sent by way of Flanders an
account of what passed between the Queen and me on the matter,
and send copy of the same herewith to Don Francés de Alava. I
think these council meetings are about Scotland, as I am told they
are much annoyed at the liberation of the Queen of Scots. A
gentleman sent by the latter to visit this Queen, and give her an
account of her successful attempt, arrived here three days ago and
came to see me to-day on his Queen's behalf. He said he did not
bring me a letter from her, as she was always accompanied by
people before whom she could not write, but had instructed him to
inform me of her deliverance, as she knew I should be glad to hear
of it, and in order that I might convey the intelligence to your
Majesty. Now that she is free, she says, she will take steps to
show how blameless she was in the events which are attributed to
her in the past, and that those who had kept her in durance were
the principal culprits, as she will more fully inform your Majesty
and the Christian King. She begged me to advise and enjoin her
what she ought to do, and she would esteem it a favour as she
always used to do. I replied suitably, as I thought, both as to the
pleasure with which your Majesty would hear of her liberation, and
your personal esteem of her and desire for her welfare ; and also
as to myself, that I should be very glad to use my good offices in
her interests in consideration of what I understood to be your
Majesty's goodwill towards her and her affairs. This man assures
me that she is as firm and constant in the Catholic faith as ever,
and that she has need to be very careful now how she proceeds.
I asked him if she had resources to stand against her enemies, to
which he replied that she had, as a great part of the lords and
nearly all the people were on her side, and that the earl of Argyll
had already sent to her offering his services. If she were not so
poor in consequence of all her jewels and property having been
taken from her, and her having escaped with no other clothes but
the servant's garb she wore, all would be well. This man begs me
to write to the duke of Alba to ask him to seize and detain the
Queen's jewels in case they should have been taken to Antwerp for
sale. La Mothe is coming here for French ambassador but not
until July. He is considered to be a Catholic. I have no reply
yet about the exportation of breadstuffs.—London, 14th May 1568. |
| 16 May. |
23. Guzman de Silva to the King.
Secretary Cecil has sent to say that two places have been
appointed where the persons who have been authorised to export
grain for Biscay and Asturias will find most convenience for doing
so, and he promises me a list of the persons so authorised, who will
have to take an oath not to go elsewhere.
The details and mode of proceeding in this business I will learn
later. I have always been of opinion that it would be made profitable
to English subjects, as it usually is, but still if they carry food
in sufficient quantities it will also be of advantage to Biscay and
Asturias.
A person has arrived from Berwick who says that the earl of
Murray the Regent has 3,000 men, and that 900 only still stood by
the Queen. The castle of Hamilton where the Queen is, is not
considered strong, but the Queen of Scot's servant tells me she
can go to Dumbarton, which is stronger and near the sea. The
folks here are anxious about this business, and the Council is for
ever sitting. I do not know what they will decide to do.
The reports about the Scots having crossed over from the islands
to Ireland are still current, and, if true, they cannot fail to disturb
people here.
Secretary Cecil has sent me, by the Queen's orders, the enclosed
copy respecting what was written by a certain Dr. Gonzalo de
Illescas in a "Pontifical and Catholic History," and asked me to read
it and say what I thought of it. I replied that it appeared to me
to show great indiscretion and disrespect on the part of the writer,
and I was quite sure that, if your Majesty heard of it, you would
not only have the book altered, but would punish the author. I
referred the note to Arias Montano as I did not know anything of
this Gonzalo de Illescas. He tells me that he understands he is a
person of little prudence, and that the book had been examined by
Father Pedro Juan de Lastanosa by order of the Council, and he
would report upon it. As it is a question that touches the honour
of a marriageable princess of high lineage and gifts, if only God
would make her a Catholic, I have thought well to inform your
Majesty, although I said to the man who brought me the note that
if I made a grievance and wrote to your Majesty of all the
scurrilous things they say in this country about your royal person
I should have to write nearly every day. I said that great Princes,
as they could not shut everybody's mouth, had to content themselves
with doing their duty and taking no notice. They could not help
difference of opinion amongst men. I expect when I have audience
to-morrow the Queen will mention the matter to me, and, in that
case, I shall tell her that her ambassador who sent her the paper
might well have had the evil remedied in Spain, without troubling
her about it, and that in matters of this sort "the reciter is as bad
as the rhymer."
The statement of what happened at the escape of the Queen of
Scots made by her gentleman here is enclosed. (fn. 2)
With regard to my request to the Queen that she would order
such means to be adopted in the ports as will prevent those from
the Netherlands who have taken refuge here from returning to the
States to do damage, the enclosed decree has been issued.—London,
16th May 1668. |
| 20 May. |
24. The King to Guzman de Silva.
I note what passed when the ambassador of my nephew the King
of Portugal went to speak with the Queen, and I am glad you
accompanied and guided him in the interests of his embassy. I am
greatly displeased that the Queen and her courtiers should have
treated him with the coolness you describe, as the Latin letter does
not seem to me to contain any expressions which justify such
treatment, and I am of the same opinion as you, that they made
this a pretext to pick a quarrel so as to avoid coming to close
quarters with him about the demands he has to make of them. I
had a copy sent at once to the Portuguese ambassador here, Don
Francisco Pereira, that he might send it to the King, my nephew,
that he may take such course as may be necessary.
In the meanwhile, you will aid the ambassador to the best of
your ability whenever opportunity occurs, and will promptly give
me an account of all that is done and happens, as I am as much
interested in my nephew's affairs as my own, indeed I consider them
as such, as my affection for the King is that of a father for his son.
—Aranjuez, 20th May 1568. |
| 21 May. |
25. Guzman de Silva to the King.
I have already written to your Majesty that, although it would
have been possible for me to send back at once the courier that
brought me your letters of 6th ultimo, as I had discussed with the
Queen the matter of her ambassador, I thought better to delay his
departure until I could see her again, and learn what she had heard
from the man the ambassador had sent hither, and whether she
had come to any decision. After having spoken to her on several
other subjects and purposely avoided this one, in order to see
whether she would broach it first, she referred to it in almost the
same words as when I discussed it with her before ; expressing
regret that any minister of hers should have acted in a way displeasing
to your Majesty, whereas she had no greater desire than to
gratify you. She nevertheless requested your Majesty to allow her
to keep one ear open to obtain full information, as was her royal
duty, and said that she would not retain a person near your Majesty
who was unable to please you. She thought this man would have
done so, as he was considered moderate in religion and had no love
for the French, and this is why she had sent him. She was therefore
much surprised that he had acted contrarily, although he had
recently sent her a special messenger to say that after your Majesty
had appointed many audiences for him, and he had gone to the
palace, (fn. 3) you had not received him, either on the plea that you were
indisposed or busy ; whereat he was much surprised, as he did not
know what he had done to deserve your Majesty's displeasure, and
assured her that there was nothing he would wish for better (if he
were not an ambassador fulfilling a public office) than to be put into
prison and tried, so that his innocence might be proved or he be
punished for his offence. She said that, although he wrote to this
effect, she did not learn either from his letter or the statement of
his messenger that your Majesty had actually refused to receive him
or had sent him out of Madrid ; and she wished you had let her
know if you were unwilling to treat with him, rather than allow
him to go so many times to the palace for audience and return
without it, as she said he had done nineteen times. I do not know
whether she made a mistake of ten. (fn. 4) She could only believe that
your Majesty's displeasure must have been caused by tales of
somebody inimical to the ambassador or herself, and suggested
that it might be the duke of Feria (fn. 5) in consequence of what
had passed with him respecting the earl of Arundel. I begged
her to believe that your Majesty had not acted without just and
sufficient reasons, the extreme gentleness, moderation and consideration,
with which you proceeded with all persons being
notorious, and, above all, with the ministers of such a good friend
as she was. It was quite foreign, I said, to your royal spirit and
dignity to take offence without ample cause, and I did not believe
that the duke of Feria was inimical to her, indeed, he had rather
proved otherwise by the care he took to honour and entertain her
subjects, nor would he be prejudiced against her ambassador, unless,
indeed, he thought the latter was not serving her successfully.
She replied that certainly he (the duke of Feria) had never been
friendly towards her since she gave him the answer she did
about the marriage with your Majesty, and he (the Duke) had
told her himself that he should never in his life forget her reply.
As for the duke's kindness to her subjects, that was owing to the
Duchess, and she knew he was offended with her ambassador about
the earl of Arundel's affair. I said the ambassador had shown
a lack of perspicacity and prudence in writing as he had done,
and that he might far better have smoothed the matter over,
instead of making mischief between two persons of such position
as theirs. She tried to exonerate him by saying that the earl
had heard of it from other sources, and not from the ambassador,
and that she had told me herself at the time that she had been
informed of it. I said, to convince her that the matter had not
arisen from any ill-feeling on the part of the Duke or any other
person, but from the fault of the ambassador, I had a letter from
Prince Ruigomez (fn. 6) in which he writes to me, with his own hand,
that the ambassador had acted in a way that made it impossible to
treat him otherwise than had been done. She would understand, I
said, from the reticence, calmness, and moderation, with which the
Prince always spoke, that these words conveyed much more than I
could venture to imagine or describe. The Queen checked herself
for a moment and then said the ambassador had written that
Prince Ruigomez had always shown him great kindness and a good
disposition towards her affairs, no doubt carrying out in this your
Majesty's wishes, and she greatly appreciated the care and uprightness
with which, she was assured, he proceeded. She carried
the matter no further, and I afterwards discussed it with Cecil, who
said almost the same as the Queen about inimical persons having
influenced your Majesty against the ambassador. He said, perhaps
these persons were some of the Englishmen resident in your
Majesty's court, who may have spoken with undue freedom of the
Queen and this country, and the ambassador may have deemed it
necessary to reply to them. I said it was quite unnecessary,
knowing him as I did, for me to say more than that it would be
best for this man to come home, and much to the Queen's advantage
to send another person, even if for no other reason but your Majesty's
wish ; and if I were one of the Queen's councillors, this reason would
be sufficient, without seeking any other, because the person least fit
to uphold the dignity of two brother sovereigns was one who was
hateful to one of them. Cecil said he was of opinion, and always
had been, that it would be better to choose some other person to
replace the ambassador, although he was sure the man had not
misconducted himself, at least intentionally, and again cautiously
hinted at suspicions of the duke of Feria, which suspicions I tried
to allay.—London, 21st May 1568. |
| 22 May. |
26. Guzman de Silva to the King.
As soon as the arrival of the queen of Scotland in this country
was known, the Council met to consider what was to be done with
her ; whether she was to be treated in accordance with her present
or her former position. It is said that this Queen took the part of
the queen of Scotland, but her views did not prevail as a majority of
the Council was of a different opinion. The duke of Norfolk and
the earls of Arundel and Leicester were ordered to be summoned,
so that a full Council might decide what was to be done. I think
they must be somewhat embarrassed, as this Queen has always
shown goodwill to the queen of Scots, and the Council, or a majority
of it, has been opposed to her and leant to the side of the Regent
and his Government. If this Queen has her way now, they will be
obliged to treat the queen of Scots as a sovereign, which will offend
those who forced her to abdicate, so that, although these people are
glad enough to have her in their hands, they have many things to
consider. If they keep her as if in prison, it will probably
scandalise all neighbouring princes, and if she remain free and able
to communicate with her friends, great suspicions will be aroused.
In any case it is certain that two women will not agree very long
together. I am informed that orders are to be sent to Berwick for
50 harquebussiers to leave there to serve as a guard to the queen
of Scots. I have seen a letter from the earl of Bedford to the
Regent in favour of the gentleman whom this Queen sent thither,
named Leighton. He requests that he be very well received, and
since the French ambassador was allowed to see the Queen, that he
(Leighton) might also see her. He (Bedford) recommends the Regent
to use every effort to prevent the Queen from slipping out of their
hands, and now that she had, as was reported, taken refuge in
Dumbarton and was well surrounded, measures should be taken at
once to cut off supplies. He said they should do very promptly
what had to be done, in order that the Queen and her friends might
not escape and join with foreigners, whose presence in Scotland
would embarrass them, and, if they succeeded in succouring the
Queen and remained in her service, they would certainly pull down
religion, which must be borne in mind. Other things to the same
effect were contained in the letter, which was very remarkable as
coming from a councillor, as such persons do not usually speak at
random on these matters like private people.—London, 22 May
1568. |
| 23 May. |
27. The King to Guzman de Silva.
After the enclosed had been written, your letter of the 19th April
was received, and we are sorry you still continued unwell, although
we trust in God, since you so willingly devote yourself to His
work and the interests of religion, that He will restore you to
perfect health. For the reasons you give it was quite right of you
not to speak to the Queen about the export of grain to the coast
of Spain, and the more especially as, thank God, it will be no
longer necessary, since the season is so propitious that a very
abundant harvest is expected everywhere. However, if any parcels
have been sent, those who bring them will lose nothing, as it will
be willingly bought up to supply the demand pending the gathering
of the new harvest.
As to the marriage of the Archduke to the Queen, I am
becoming more confirmed every day in my belief that it is nothing
but a trick and pastime from beginning to end, and that she is
deceiving Sussex and Leicester as well as she does others.
The English ambassador told Zayas that the audience he had
requested of me was for the purpose, amongst other things, of
showing me the enclosed paper copied from a book called "Pontifical
History," which was recently printed by a Dr. Illescas, and, as the
book bears the statement that it was issued with my license, the
Queen had supposed that I had read and passed it. Zayas undeceived
him as to this, and gave him to understand that these
matters are disposed of by my council without my seeing them,
and assured him that I knew nothing about it, but that if I had
seen the expressions I would not have allowed them, which is true.
This quieted the ambassador, and, on Zayas referring the matter
to me, I ordered notice to be given to the Cardinal-President, who
had already ordered all copies that could be obtained to be withdrawn
in consequence of certain other impertinent things contained
in the book, and that it should be reprinted at Salamanca, leaving
out all objectionable portions, and amongst others the contents of
the paper, and any other expression touching the dignity and
estimation of the Queen. It is well that you should know this, so
that, if she or her ministers should mention the matter to you again
you may satisfy them by telling them the truth as stated above.—
Aranjuez, 23rd May 1568. |
| 24 May. |
28. Guzman De Silva to the King.
By a letter from Secretary Gabriel de Zayas I learn that, on the
20th ultimo, he had conveyed to the English ambassador in Spain
your Majesty's message respecting the course you had thought well
to adopt towards him in accordance with the communication I had
made to this Queen on the subject from your Majesty. As I
thought the ambassador would send an account of the matter
hither, and it was desirable for me to know what had been decided
about it, I took the opportunity afforded by Cecil's coming from
Greenwich last night to call upon him early this morning, with the
excuse of asking him for particulars of the persons who were to take
breadstuffs to Biscay, and as to the assurance they would carry it
thither, and to no other place. I told him that I had heard that
Secretary Zayas had conveyed the message to the ambassador, and he
(Cecil) thereupon flew into a great rage. He said such a proceeding
towards the ambassador of a friendly prince had never been heard
of before, except when a pretext for war was sought, and it was a
great piece of disrespect and insult towards his Queen, showing
a desire to pick a quarrel with her, as had been already stated in
certain quarters, and it now befitted the Queen to be prepared.
He said it would have been only right for your Majesty to have
advised the Queen that you were dissatisfied with her ambassador
and desired his recall, giving particulars of his transgressions before
taking such a course as this, in order that the Queen herself might
punish him, instead of your Majesty's doing it, as no superiority
could exist between equals. He asked me whether I had told the
Queen this, and said the members of the Council would take the
matter up, as they thought it should not be passed over. He said
it had been decided to recall the ambassador and the letter was
already written, but he did not know now how it would end. He
knew that the ambassador's enemies had influenced your Majesty,
as one of them, when in a passion, had threatened him (the
ambassador) that they would do so. He (Cecil) recollected when
the Emperor, your Majesty's father, was dissatisfied with two
ambassadors from the King (Henry VIII.), and with one, to such
an extent, that he said that, but for respect to the King, he would
have had him thrown out of window. He nevertheless took the
course of requesting the King to recall them, without having made
any public demonstration against them. He (Cecil) asked me to
tell him what had moved your Majesty to do as you had done, and
said that he was informed from Madrid that I had been making
mischief from here against the ambassador, and had been instrumental
in angering your Majesty with him ; and asked how should
I feel if anyone were to act in that way towards me ? He said he
had also been told that, since your Majesty had shown your displeasure,
the Inquisitors had examined certain Englishmen against
the ambassador, threatening them to compel them to say what was
required of them. I let him talk on, and, when he had done, I
waited a little for him to recover somewhat from his rage, and then
went up to him laughing and embraced him, saying that I was
amused to see him fly into such a passion over what I had told
him, because I knew he understood differently, and that the affair
was of such a character as to be only as good or as bad as the
Queen liked to make it. She could take it as a good sister and
friend, as I hoped she would, and had shown signs of doing which
was the easiest, most just, and even most necessary way, since it
was only right to take the actions of a friend in good part, at least
until bad intention be proved, or she could, for other reasons, look
at in a different light, which might make it more difficult, to the
prejudice of his Queen and of your Majesty. I did not believe,
however, that any sensible man who had the interests of the Queen
at heart would do this, and it was for this reason, and my zeal to
preserve this friendship, that, as soon as I heard of it, I wished to
let him know so as to be beforehand with the mischief makers,
and because I knew him to be faithful to the Queen and well
disposed towards your Majesty's affairs. I meant him to make use
of my information privately in favour of the objects I had stated.
He asked me whether I had not told him in order that he might
convey it to the Queen and Council, to which I replied no, that
I had only told him privately as a friend, and with this he became
calmer. I said, as to its being a demonstration, such things were only
done in time of war or as a pretext for it, as he had said, but this
was out of the question in this case with the present friendship and
alliance and without any cause, and particularly as your Majesty
was desirous of seeing in your Court some fitting man as a successor
to this ambassador, as I had told the Queen and him, and
the sooner such a man was sent the sooner would friends and
enemies see the good reception your Majesty would give him, and
how much you honoured and loved his mistress. As to the idea that
the ambassador's enemies had influenced your Majesty, I said he
was to believe no such thing, and that your Majesty was not to be
persuaded except of the truth, as would in due time plainly appear,
and, with regard to the Emperor's action with King Henry's
ambassadors, no doubt the reasons were different from the present
case, and I thought he (Cecil) would agree with me in this,
knowing how carefully and considerately your Majesty always
acted, and it should suffice for the Queen, the Council, and all the
world that your Majesty had ordered a certain course to be taken
to be sure that just and ample reasons existed for doing so without
my justifying it. The inquisitors, I assured him, were not in the
habit of obtaining evidence by threats, but with the greatest
gentleness, and, as for the statement that I had made mischief
about the ambassador, that was absurd. I had in fact no knowledge
that anything was being done against him, and knew nothing
at all about the matter until I received your Majesty's despatch
ordering me to inform the Queen. I had indeed been very sorry
that your Majesty had been compelled to take the course you did,
more sorry, perhaps, than any member of the Queen's Council that
her ambassador had given cause for it, being, as he was, a minister
of hers. In reply to his question as to whether I had told the
Queen when I spoke to her about it that it was your Majesty's
intention to take this course with the ambassador, I said yes, I had,
and him (Cecil) as well. He said he did not recollect that I had
told him, and I replied that he must have forgotten it amidst other
matters.
He gave me to understand that the Council regarded me with
suspicion, and blamed him greatly for giving credit to all I told
him, hinting that the Queen did the same. I said he knew full
well, from long communication with me, how mistaken the Council
was in this, how many good offices I had done, and how straightforwardly
I had always acted with him. As regarded the Queen
(whom I knew they had been trying to persuade that I was
deceiving her), if I did not know her and had not experience of
her great talent, I should be grieved to think that she might allow
herself to be misled by them ; but I know well that no one would
make her believe anything about me against her own knowledge
and experience of the attachment with which I had always served
and advised her for the best. I said she was the best witness, and,
in continuance of my good offices, I desired to conduct this business
in a way to prove that nobody had been in fault except the
ambassador himself, and so to banish any contrary suspicion. With
reference to his question as to how I should feel if I were treated in
the same way, I said, that although I should grieve, being a minister
of your Majesty, if the Queen were to do it without any fault of
mine, yet, if I were to blame, I would endure it with patience.
I told him he was the only person to whom I had communicated
the banishment of the ambassador from the court, without
desiring him to convey the intelligence to the Queen and Council
because I had understood already that they had decided to recall
the man, and I did not wish that the recall should be delayed on
this account ; but I am quite sure he will at once tell the Queen
and Council what passed between us. In the course of the conversation,
he said that the English complained that they could
never get justice done to them (in Spain), and, even though your
Majesty issued decrees for it to be done, they were not obeyed, and
no notice was taken of them by the officers of justice, whereat he
said he was much surprised. I said that was new to me, and
asked him for a statement of complaints. At last he seemed more
tranquil.—London, 24th May 1568. |
| 31 May. |
29. Guzman de Silva to the King.
I have already written to your Majesty the answer given to the
Portuguese ambassador, and do not again refer to it here except to
say that, when he again requested audience of the Queen to discuss
the reply, she referred him to the Council. They confirmed the
answer previously given; whereupon the ambassador was again
offended, and told them that, if they did not agree to what his master
demanded, they would have a war on their hands. I understand
that they made light of this, in the belief that the forces of
Portugal cannot do them much .harm, in which I think they are
mistaken, for, considering the state they are in, a smaller power
still could make things uncomfortable for them. The warrants
were dispatched yesterday for those who have been appointed to
take breadstuffs to Biscay, &c, and, at the same time, three licenses
were given for Spanish ships which are here to load food for the
same destination. It is not much, but under cover of these permits,
with a little scheming (without which nothing can be done here),
they will take as much as they can ship.
The queen of Scots is at Carlisle on the Scotch frontier. The
Council has been considering lately what they shall do with her,
but I do not know that any decision has been arrived at, although
it will not be long delayed. The French ambassador, who went to
Scotland, came the day before yesterday to my lodging, and told
me that this Queen had asked him to assure his master, from her,
that the life of the queen of Scots would be safe here. The servant
of the Queen's ambassador (in Spain) is leaving from day to day,
but still does not start. They say he bears the ambassador's letters
of recall.—London, 31st May 1568. |