Calendar of State Papers, Spain (Simancas), Volume 2, 1568-1579. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1894.
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'Simancas: July 1575', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain (Simancas), Volume 2, 1568-1579, (London, 1894) pp. 495-500. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/simancas/vol2/pp495-500 [accessed 26 April 2024]
July 1575
| 4 July. |
414. Antonio de Guaras to Zayas. I sent my last report on the 28th ultimo. Since then people here have taken no further steps publicly in the enterprise of which I have written, but I am assured, by one who knows, that they have sent to Flanders a certain Sir Harry Wall (?) on the pretence of taking baths, but really as a spy, with six crowns a day for his pay. The friend was sent about the business I have mentioned, it having been entrusted to him. I wrote his name in mine of the 24th. The negotiation about the affair designated under the letter L is therefore in suspense. I will communicate what may be ordered to the other friend. (fn. 1) They are very proud here of the great compliment which has been paid to the earl of Pembroke and his people. With regard to the inspection of ships, it is to be supposed that the representations made to the English consul in Flanders will ensure that no ships shall leave here without their cargoes being first examined. Every one is in suspense to know the result of the siege of Buren, and, as the news is current that our people have taken an island in Holland, all good people here are in hopes of a victory over that bad town. It would be a long task to attempt to give an account of the many opinions expressed this week about the queen of Scotland, the Prince, her son, and the Regent. It is publicly affirmed that that Queen has been released from prison, that the Regent had been killed, and that the Prince had been captured from the man who holds him by the earl of Argyll, a friend of the Queen's, for the purpose of taking him to France. It is said that all this has caused great tumult in Scotland, but the whole of it is nothing but intrigue, as it is certain that the queen of Scotland is closely guarded and in great peril for her life, that the Regent and the Prince are quite well. The origin, no doubt, was that the people here had agreed with the Regent to seize the Prince for fear that the French might steal him. As things have turned out differently from what they expected, they have sent Killigrew as an ambassador to the Regent, and so, like the godless people they are, they wander astray. They have just printed a book advocating the death of the queen of Scotland. It is called the "Reveillematin des Francais," and, as it is of some size, and it no doubt will have reached you, I do not send it, but will do so if ordered. It is so malicious that it once more proves the wickedness of these people, but this is not by any means all ; for another sign of their wickedness is the new prognostication of which I enclose a copy. The wicked people are so iniquitous that a certain Englishman named Liquilston, who went from Ireland to Spain with Stukeley, and afterwards returned here, asserts, amongst many other lying and malicious things, that FitzWilliams told the Queen that the duchess of Feria had given him a ring to be conveyed in the name of the King to the queen of Scotland, and he delivered it to the queen of England, informing her of many things which he, Fitzwilliams, had discussed here with the late Don Guerau de Spes. The hatred they have against this saintly lady (the queen of Scotland) because she is a Catholic makes them give credit to any falsehood or foolishness about her, and many persons are still kept in prison only for being her friends and Catholics. The Government in its passion has allowed another book in English to be printed, full of incredible lies about the proceedings of the Holy Office in matters that have never been thought of before, invented for the sole purpose of leading the public astray upon the subject. It is now asserted that Cobham will not leave until they get news as to whether the English, who were imprisoned by the Inquisition, are released or not. God grant what I hear be not true, that the king of France will not live to the end of the year. Lord Kildare and his sons, and the other Irish prisoners, are closely guarded, but well.—London, 4th July 1575. |
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| 11 July. |
415. Antonio de Guaras to Zayas. My last report was dated the 4th instant. As I wrote, these people sent the friend, (fn. 2) as they did many others, with great secrecy on the business upon which they had resolved. I have since heard that he and the rest have landed at Embden and will raise troops as I said, in the land of the Palatine, going thence to carry out their project. I am informed by trustworthy people that the matter has been discussed this week by the Queen and Council for more than three hours, although it was announced at Court that they were dealing with Irish affairs, and taking measures to send troops and money to Ireland. It will be seen, without doubt, that they will attempt this enterprise, which they have been plotting for a long time past, and now think they will carry through successfully. I am told that they have decided that Cobham shall leave for Spain in a few days, but I learn that he goes rather as a messenger than to reside there as minister. His principal object is to take a message about the English prisoners there, and to learn for certain his Majesty's feelings with regard to friendship, of which the Queen cannot fail to be satisfied, as the King has always shown a friendly desire to continue the ancient alliance between this Crown and the House of Burgundy. Some of the principal captains are offering to go and serve the King in Flanders with such sailors as they can take with them, their only desire being to learn whether they will be received. I have given them hopes of a reply within a fortnight ; and, if I am instructed to say that their services will be accepted, I will see that they are sent on, but I have already let them know that they must not expect any payment until they get there ; afterwards, however, they will be well entertained in all honour and profit. I await his Excellency's reply to this by the first opportunity. As I have already reported, Orange offered the king of France to send his daughter to be married to whomever the King might choose. The Palatine and others are trying secretly to persuade the Queen-Mother to marry her to her son Alencon, and I am assured that, with the object of stopping this, some people of high position here have again resuscitated the talk of a marriage of this Queen with M. D'Alencon. Of course, it is only an intrigue to serve their own ends, but it is certain that the matter has been mooted again. The Queen is now hunting eighty miles from here, and about forty miles from where the queen of Scotland is. If they have an interview, as many think they will, we shall soon hear of it, but those who are well informed greatly fear that they will take her (the queen of Scots) out of the custody of the earl of Shrewsbury and bring her here, to be placed in the hands of the earl of Bedford, which, it is generally believed, would be to greatly imperil her life. In the meanwhile, Killigrew has left for Scotland to try to get hold of the Prince, and thus to prevent the French from obtaining possession of such a pledge. I have heard that the son of an Englishman named Chester, of Bristol, has been detained in the Canaries by the Holy Office, and he (Chester) has begged permission of the Government here to go and seize some of the King's subjects and bring them hither as prisoners until his son is set free. He was told by one of the principal Councillors that he might do as he asked if he would keep his prisoners in his own ship until resolution was taken in the matter, but he must not land them. With regard to the other friend who offered the service I have referred to, he is awaiting the reply of the person I mentioned, with whom I conferred about the business. The latter is hopeful of his success in it, if his friend is only firm in what I mentioned. (fn. 3) — London, 11th July 1575. |
| 18 July. |
416. Antonio de Guaras to Zayas. My last report was dated the 11th. Since then it is certain that these people are persevering in their enterprise. Two days ago an English captain named Kent (?) (fn. 4) left here for Embden, taking with him five or six officers. They were going to the land of the Palatine, where the troops are to be raised at a place called Heidelburg, where the other Englishmen that went from here have already arrived. Captain Bingham, M. de Meru, the Palatine, Condé, the Vidame de Chartres, and others are there, but the general public here have been kept quite ignorant of the business hitherto. They have not confided in Kent, or Morgan, or the other captains here, but a certain Huddon (?), son-in-law of the Lord Chancellor, has received two thousand crowns to fit out two ships at Plymouth for the reception of soldiers, and the Admiral is coming hither to inspect the Queen's ships. When least expected they will carry the business through, and I have been told that one of them when he left said that by St. Bartholomew's Day a great service would be done. The brother of Colonel Chester arrived here two days since with letters from the Englishmen there, and from Orange to the Queen and Council, and told a friend that his brother, the Colonel, would return hither on receiving the reply. All this shows that they are carrying on their scheme with great vigilance, but, as his Excellency has notice of it, he will take such steps as may be necessary in his Majesty's interests. Chester's brother brings news that Orange is so intimidated that as soon as he learns that any of our people are approaching the place where he is he runs away. He and all his people have been greatly grieved at the loss of Buren, and he has arrived at Delft, but was returning to Dortrecht to encourage his brother rebels. By the messenger who took this Queen's letter to the King respecting the English prisoners of the Holy Office, I have received the letter written to me on the 3rd June, and, as it arrived duly, I wrote to Lord Burleigh, sending him the letter to Court, in order that they might be satisfied with its prompt despatch and its contents. As the letter itself was so favourably, I did not go myself to carry intelligence of the matter. A week ago a meeting was called on the Scotch frontier to discuss certain differences which had arisen, the principal people and Governors of those parts having to attend with a stated number of followers on a certain day. They came, armed as usual, and it turned out that the Scots had a thousand horse hidden in a secret place. These and their companions fell upon the English to such good effect that they captured or killed all of them, to the number of over 600. Amongst the prisoners were Sir John Foster, the General of the marches, Sir Francis Russell, son of the earl of Bedford, prisoner and wounded, and they killed amongst others Sir George Heron. This news has thrown the Court into great dismay, but it is not known whether the Regent was privy to the affair, nor has any intelligence been received as to whether Killigrew was amongst those attacked. It is said that the prince of Scotland has been removed from the place where he was by his mother's friends, and people here murmur that the French are at the bottom of the business. The Queen, who is now at a castle belonging to Lord Leicester, called Kenilworth, has been entertained with much rejoicing there, and it is said that whilst she was going hunting on one of the days, a traitor shot a cross-bow at her. He was immediately taken, although other people assert that the man was only shooting at the deer, and meant no harm. The bolt passed near the Queen but did her no harm, thank God! It was thought that she was going to see the queen of Scotland, but the contrary now seems to be the case. Although it was said lately that Cobham would leave, he has not gone yet. When he is dispatched I will report, but there are signs that they will continue to delay his departure, as they have for a year past. These bad Englishmen, incited thereto by their hopes of gain, continue to carry oars to Barbary, and as they have already sold the four thousand which I said they had shipped at Dantzic, they are again shipping three hundred quintals of sulphur there to go to Barbary again. Captain Hawkins' ships were, with others, ready to sail from the coast of Plymouth for the purpose of plundering any stray ship they could sight belonging to the fleet from the Indies. That friend who offered his services has not yet received reply from his other friend. He expects it every day, and I will advise the decision he takes.—London, 18th July 1575. |
| 25 July. |
417. Antonio de Guaras to Zayas. On the 18th I sent my last report. In conformity with his Excellency's command I will send forward the Englishmen who offered their services, saying that their offers are accepted, in the belief that they are persons who will do their duty. Although the greater part of them are of good appearance and fair words, experience shows that these people are not to be trusted overmuch. I wrote to his Excellency that a difference had arisen in Flanders between the consuls of Spain and a scamp of an alderman of London, in whose favour the Queen has written several times to his Excellency. They have now agreed that the Councillor and I should arbitrate upon the matter with his Excellency's permission. We will do so when requested by both parties. The Queen and Council give wonderful support to their Englishmen, and no matter whether in France, Spain, or Flanders, if any grievance is suffered by them a great business is at once made of it, as if it were an important State matter. As I reported, the Admiral was on his way from Court to inspect the Queen's ships here. This he has done with great diligence, which surprised the sailors themselves. Two of the Queen's ships have been armed, called respectively, "The Cato" and "The Barque of Boulogne," which at once went to sea, doubtless to put into execution the enterprise they have in hand. It will be found that support will reach them in this enterprise by land and sea as soon as they begin it, and the sending of these two ships with such wonderful diligence is a sign that the day for the attempt is not far distant, and no doubt the day will be St. Bartholomew's. They were ordered to arrest the English ships which are serving in Flanders, and especially Captains Cotton and Carey, on the ground that they have taken certain prizes in this river. It will be necessary to warn these Captains at once to beware, as I write to his Excellency. People from Court say that Cobham has been made a knight, and had received his despatches to go to Spain. It is now said that he will go through France, and it is therefore believed that he is only going as a messenger, and not as resident ambassador, because it was formerly asserted that he would go from Plymouth and take his wife and family. The Councillor (fn. 5) and I think well to send on to his Excellency that English engineer of whom I have written several times, and who expects to be able to give important intelligence and information there. I have been informed that an extremely valuable English ship has arrived at Plymouth, which, it is believed, brings the proceeds of some raid committed in company with the negroes who are at war between Panama and Nombre de Dios. There are three or four other English ships in those parts, and the eight ships since sent off by Captain Hawkins and his friends, are on their way thither so that great robberies may be expected on the road to the Indies if a remedy be not found. It is reported from Scotland that the English prisoners they had taken have been set free, and no fresh event has occurred there. There is nothing more said about the prisoner that they took at Court, (fn. 6) as I mentioned before, and no one dares to mention the matter, which, indeed, few people can understand. To the surprise of all the world, seeing the results it may have, the people here have this week burnt alive two Flemish Anabaptists. (fn. 7) —London, 25th July 1575. |