Simancas: December 1583

Calendar of State Papers, Spain (Simancas), Volume 3, 1580-1586. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1896.

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'Simancas: December 1583', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain (Simancas), Volume 3, 1580-1586, (London, 1896) pp. 511-512. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/simancas/vol3/pp511-512 [accessed 26 April 2024]

December 1583

22 Dec.
Paris Archives, K. 1561.		 363. Juan Bautista De Tassis to the King.
Although I am sure Don Bernardino de Mendoza will give an account and explanation of the fresh persecution of Catholics in England, I think well also to send your Majesty a short relation which was given to me by one of our English friends, and to inform your Majesty what they think of it.
They are sure that nothing of this is caused by any real suspicion on the part of the Queen of the plan they have in hand, and God grant that they may be right. In conversation with one of them about it, I urged them by every possible means to have any suspicion on her part lulled, so that she may sleep soundly. They tell me that they have taken steps with this object, but not so ostentatiously as to attract attention, which I hope to God is true. The lady is so suspicious, that there was always danger in the matter being in so many hands. The point in the statement which alarms me most is that they have found two papers in Throgmorton's house, and the idea of what they may wring out of him about them by torture, although they tell me he is so faithful a gentleman that they have no fear of them getting anything incriminatory. With regard to the rest, it would seem there is little to fear. Lord Paget and Charles Arundel have taken refuge here, on account of this affair, they being Catholics and fearing arrest. Paget is the son of the Paget whom your Majesty will probably recollect. They have both secretly intimated their arrival to me, and ask me to convey their humble duty to your Majesty.—Paris, 22nd December 1583.
Dec.
Paris Archives, K. 1562.		 364. Account of Events in England.
A gentleman named Somerville, (fn. 1) being out of his mind, said in the presence of many others that it was necessary the queen of England should be killed, as she was the bane of the Catholic Church. The other gentlemen paid no attention to what he said, as they saw he was not in his right senses, but he continued in the same way of thinking and went towards London, saying openly that he was going thither to kill the Queen. He was arrested on the road by a judge, who sent him a prisoner to London. In the prison there he accused several persons, and amongst others his father-in-law (fn. 2) and a priest, his confessor. (fn. 3) Some of these persons are already in prison, and they are seeking the others on the charge of high treason for not having revealed to the Council the words of the madman. Four out of these persons are heretics, although adherents of the queen of Scotland. Lord Howard (fn. 4) is also a prisoner, accused of having spoken somewhat freely in favour of the queen of Scotland, and he is suspected of having some communication with her. Francis Throgmorton and a son of his named George (fn. 5) are also in the Tower of London, the former under suspicion of communicating with the queen of Scotland. They have found a box of his containing two papers, in one of which were enumerated all the ports on the English coast where a landing could be effected, and the other bearing the names of many principal English Catholics. They have put him to the torture dreadfully.

Footnotes

  • 1. John Somerville, of Elstow, Warwickshire. He was condemned to death for treason, and on the 19th December was brought from the Tower to Newgate, in order to be near Smithfield where he was to be executed on the following day. He strangled himself, however, two hours after his arrival in the prison.
  • 2. Edward Arden, of Park Hall, Warwickshire. Both he and his wife were put on their trial, and the man was executed in Smithfield as a traitor on the 20th December. His head, with that of Somerville, was placed on London Bridge, and his four quarters exposed on the City gates. Somerville's body was buried as a felo-de-se in Moorfields.
  • 3. Hugh Hall. His life was saved by his disclosures.
  • 4. Lord William Howard.
  • 5. George Throgmorton was the younger brother of Francis. Both were sons of Sir John Throgmorton, Chief Justice of Chester, who had been dismissed by Leicester's influence, and nephews of the famous Sir Nicholas Throgmorton, whom Leicester is suspected of having poisoned.
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