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2 March.
Estado, 840.
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735. Report of the Council Of State to Philip III. on the
English Succession.
In his vote on the question of the English succession count de
Olivares submitted the following fresh points. (fn. 1)
1. The manner in which it is to be proposed to the English
Catholics that they should choose one of themselves for King ; so
that evil-minded persons may not attribute our action to weakness,
but rather to generosity.
2. The manner in which it should be broached to the Pope, in
order that he may be impressed with your Majesty's generosity for
the sake of religion.
3. Whether it will be advisable for the Pope to represent the
matter to the king of France as a favour obtained—or sought—from
your Majesty, so as to bridle him (the king of France) and
lull his suspicions as much as possible.
4. What should be done about the present offer of the king of
France to co-operate in favour of some neutral candidate ; whether
he is to be trusted, or whether he only seeks to join us for the
purpose of discovering and upsetting your Majesty's plans.
5. The necessary conditions and offers of aid when the time
arrives.
6. Whether it will be advisable to touch at once upon the question
of return and gratitude to your Majesty for your renunciation and
promised aid, as others do ; and whether it will be well to come to
a formal arrangement with the Pope or not, on terms which will
not frighten them (the English), but will only have the appearance
of asking for concessions which they may reasonably grant.
7. What answer should be given if they broach the subject of
marriage, as they have done before.
Your Majesty was pleased to desire the opinion of the Council on
the above points, and as count de Olivares was the author of them,
he was desired to state his views prior to the discussion. He
observed that he did not see so much difficulty in the substance
of the points themselves, as in the manner and time for carrying
them into effect, there being so many antagonistic elements to
conciliate. We have to endeavour to preserve our prestige and
make a necessity appear a virtue. Whilst the fear that the Queen
may die makes haste of the greatest importance, it is equally
necessary that the affair should be managed in a circuitous way.
The haste, necessary as it is, must not be overdone, at least in
declaring the choice of the future King. It might produce great
difficulties, as has happened before in EDgland, but as the danger
would be still greater if no preparations or arrangements had been
made at the time of the Queen's death, and confusion and
discontent would prevail amongst the Catholics if they were kept
in suspense without any decision as to their proposals, it will be
advisable, so far as possible, to assure the principal point, whilst
proceeding to anticipate and arrange the questions arising out of it.
Points 1, 2, 3, and 4 are linked one with another, and may be
considered together. He (Olivares) is of opinion that, in order to
avoid the appearance of the change of front having originated with
your Majesty, advantage should be taken of what the duke of Sessa
recently wrote, to the effect that the Pope had suggested that your
Majesty and the king of France might agree as to who should be
king of England. His Holiness did not say that the suggestion
came from the king of France, or that the duke of Sessa was to
convey it to your Majesty. It was simply said by way of discourse ;
but as Secretary Villeroy's message to Hugh Owen, by his brother,
the canon of Humiéres (?) is so extremely slender a thread to seize
upon, it will be better in every respect to make use of the Pope's
suggestion. He (Olivares) therefore thinks that your Majesty
should order the duke of Sessa to say to the Pope, as if in reply to
his observation, that he had conveyed to your Majesty what his
Holiness had proposed (thus stretching a point to call it a proposal,
which, strictly speaking, it was not), and your Majesty had replied
praising his (the Pope's) holy zeal, and thanking him for the
goodwill which moved him. Your Majesty regarded the Pope's
opinion with the highest respect in all things, and you could
assure him that neither your Majesty nor your father had ever
had the intention of joining the crown of England to that of Spain.
All the expense you have incurred had had no other object than
zeal for the service of God, a desire to convert England to the Faith,
and to place on the throne a person who would uphold it. If
sometimes you had fixed your eyes on persons of your own blood
for the purpose, it was because you believed that in no other hands
would the Faith be more secure, and because the English themselves
had constantly urged you thereto for the same reason. They (the
English) also believed that such a person would enjoy greater
prestige, and would have the advantage of a renunciation of your
Majesty's own rights, which are stronger than any, even if the king
of Scotland were not ineligible for illegitimacy and heresy. This
has been the opinion, moreover, of his Holiness and his predecessors,
especially in respect to the Infanta and the Archduke ; but as their
Highnesses are a long while without having children it appears that
their candidature has become less desirable. As his Holiness now
thought that at the present time some other solution might be
adopted, and in order that some assurance should be given to the
king of France that no person should be chosen whom he would
oppose, your Majesty would be greatly influenced by the opinion of
his Holiness, whom you respect as a father. His Holiness is,
however, prayed to bear in mind the influence your Majesty will
naturally desire to exercise as to the approval of the person selected,
and the gratitude you will expect from him in return for the
renunciation of your rights, and the assistance you will have to give
him, The king of France should be satisfied with the assurance
that your Majesty does not desire the crown for yourself or your
sister, and leave the matter in the hands of his Holiness and your
Majesty. He should also be gratified that the crown of England,
which has been so inimical to that of France, a large part of which
country it claims, should not be joined to that of Scotland. The
Duke should not go beyond this by way of reply to the Pope.
The Duke might be instructed that in order to avoid delay, which
may be dangerous, he should arrange in his next audience that the
Pope should summon him to discuss the matter, which in the meanwhile
they will both have considered ; and in the second interview,
after listening to what the Pope has to say, he, the Duke, should
observe that he has been thinking over the matter, and, although he
is perhaps exceeding his duty in saying it, he is of opinion that it
will be difficult for the two Kings to agree upon a person whom
both will trust, and the attempt to do so might breed further discord
between them, as in these evil times the friend of one is nearly sure
to be the enemy of the other, and whilst they are quibbling as to
whom should be chosen, the Queen might die.
The Duke will hear what the Pope has to say to this, and will then
try to move his Holiness to exert his influence with the king of
France, pointing out in such terms as God's inspiration, and his own
wisdom will dictate, the difficulties in the way, and persuading him
to consent to the person chosen being an Englishman, selected by the
English Catholics without dictation from anyone. He (the Pope)
should also be moved to point out to the king of France, that the
persons elected will naturally and justly show gratitude to your
Majesty. In order to avoid obstacles, it will be better not to try to
finally settle the matter at once, but only to come to an understanding
with the Pope with regard to future action, it being
intimated that your Majesty acts thus generously out of respect for
his Holiness, knowing that this generosity is necessary for the
attainment of the object in view. As all this is so entirely in
accordance with what the Popes usually desire, the Duke will have
no difficulty about it. The Count (Olivares) considers the above the
best course to pursue to preserve our prestige.
The Duke (of Sessa) may also be requested to consider whether it
would not be better for the second step in the above proceedings to
be entrusted to Father Persons, who might be primed in the matter
by the Duke, after the first interview of the latter with the Pope,
and prior to the second audience ; so that Persons might speak to
the Pope at the proper time. It will also be advisable that the
Duke, as if of his own accord, should warn the Pope to be cautious,
lest the king of France should make a bad use of his Holiness'
condescension, and either make unreasonable demands, or divulge the
negotiation to the Queen so as to embroil matters. The Pope should
accordingly proceed warily with him from the first, so as to keep him
within bounds, and prevent him from making excessive demands.
He (the king of France) should, moreover, not be informed of the
whole plan or he might divulge it.
The Duke may also be instructed to lay down firmly and resolutely
as if on his own accord, in the course of the conference, the principle
that no other armed forces but those of your Majesty can be allowed
to enter England, in order to avoid the troubles which usually arise
from the employment of both (French and Spanish) together. Your
Majesty has, however, no wish to introduce more troops than may
be requested by the King (of England) himself, and only for so long
a time, and of the nationalities that he may desire, as your Majesty
has no end in view but the welfare of others. Father Persons may
be employed to say this, as if the idea originated with him. He
could enforce it by pointing out the mutual hatred of the French
and English, and the danger that the French might fall out with
your Majesty's troops, the discord thus arising giving an opportunity
for the king of Scotland to slip in between them. These
and other arguments would come better from Persons than from the
Duke.
The Duke should be warned that although the principle of the
matter should be adopted with all speed, in case the Queen should
die, much care must be taken not to signify the person until the
proper time, in order to avoid the danger above mentioned. When
the (English) Catholics consider a fitting season has arrived for
announcing their choice, it should be concealed from the king of
France more than from anyone. Even amongst the English
Catholics themselves no definite selection of their candidate should
be made prematurely, both on account of the danger alrendy
indicated, and because circumstances might subsequently make
another person preferable, or the jealousy of the rest of them
frustrate the design. The Duke will have to discuss all this fully
with Persons. The cry they (the English Catholics) will have to
raise in order to keep the matter afoot until the time for action
arrives (as they themselves will understand, and arrange better than
anyone) is that as good Englishmen they want a native King, and
no foreigner or subjection to the king of Scotland. This language will
attract to them many heretics and "politicians." There would be
no need for this cry to come to the Queen's ears, unless she were so
moribund as to inspire no fear, or wished to adopt some unfit
successor (of which she has hitherto shown no indication), or, again,
unless the king of Scotland raised an army for an appeal to arms ;
and even in this case the Catholics would be the first to offer
to defend themselves (i.e., their country).
If the Pope shall have made any further advance in the matter
since the Duke wrote the letter referred to, or any pressure shall
have been brought to bear by the king of France, the Duke had
better make the later action a basis for his proceeding, even at the
cost of delaying the reply for a few days. The Duke should also
arrange with the Pope for the business to pass through the hands
of the French Ambassador in Rome, and when his Holiness addresses
the Duke about it officially he should also take the same step with
the French Ambassador, enjoining upon him the utmost secrecy.
The Nuncios for the present should not be employed in the
business, as the lees people admitted into the secret the better.
The introduction of Persons into it will be a commencement to the
giving of a reply to the English Catholics. The Duke will give
him to understand as much as possible that our action has been
prompted by the Pope, or else by the delay in the birth of children
to the Infanta and the Archduke, upon whom they (the English
Catholics) had fixed. He might be told also that it would be
better that they should have a native King, chosen by themselves,
and that your Majesty was anxious as they for their success, and
would assist the person they might select as effectually as one
of your own blood. You would look upon him as such, and,
indeed, he would be so, for he would succeed to your Majesty's
rights.
A few days after these despatches had been sent to Rome,
Creswell might be told that his Holiness had opened certain
negotiations in the matter, and a reply had been sent to him at
once ; we only awaited his answer before arriving at a decision.
Shortly afterwards Creswell could be informed of the proposal and
reply, and his opinion upon the matter requested. If he is very
urgent, in consequence of the Queen's age, or if news comes of her
illness before a reply can reach us from Rome, Creswell may be
told what is being settled speedily ; and that the Archduke and
the Ambassador in Flanders have all necessary instructions as to
what they are to do if the event happens suddenly.
If the course here recommended be followed, it would be
advisable to send at once appropriate instructions and authority,
with a sum of money to be held available for the commencement
of the business, as it may be considered very probable that the
event may occur at any time, and much confusion and evil might
arise if due preparation had not been made.
When matters are more advanced, it might be arranged for
Persons to go to Flanders, where he could unite with the Archduke
and the Ambassador in adopting the measures that might be
necessary to carry out your Majesty's object. There would be no
need for him to come hither, and when the proper time arrived
his Holiness might strengthen him with a Cardinal's hat, of which
he would be worthy, whether he went to England or not. All this
might be carried out at the time that he (Persons) considered
advisable for the success of the cause, except the matter of the
Cardinalate, which of his own accord he will never say is
desirable.
With regard to the fifth point, when the matter is clearly
explained to Persons and Creswell, they may be told in general
terms that your Majesty will do all you can, as if the person selected
were your own son, which indeed you will consider him to be.
Although it may be somewhat premature, the Count (Olivares)
thinks that the aid your Majesty could afford them, without much
difficulty or expense, would be to land from the galleys in the port
indicated by the person selected a good large body of men, or if he
desired it, they might be sent up the Thames to London. These
men must, of course, be taken from the troops we are obliged to
keep in Flanders, and the lack of them there will not do so much
harm as the occupation of England will do good to Flemish affairs.
If the person elected have a following there will be no risk.
With the ships now in preparation, and those that, in any case, we
must have at sea, we could at any time enter quickly into
St. George's Channel, and land our men in an English port, as near
to the Scottish border as possible, devoted to the new King. The
whole of the troops on board might be landed, because, the Queen
being dead, we should not have to fear that the English fleet would
impede our return. We should not have to land any victuals, as
the King-elect would see to them, and we should only need some
warlike stores and money to enable us to hold our own for a time,
and avoid having to ask for anything immediately. These two
expeditions sent promptly to points so far apart, together with the
forces which it may be concluded the King-elect will have, should
suffice to win the game. The forces which would be insufficient for
an undertaking on our own account, will be more than enough to
help a native ruler, particularly if France can be prevented from
interfering.
With regard to the sixth point, this should be lightly touched
upon from the first with the Pope, in the manner already suggested,
and also similarly with Persons and Creswell, as representatives of
the Catholics ; so that when the matter has to be dealt with it may
not come upon them as a surprise. It may then be left until the
time for action arrives. The Count (Olivares) thinks that the best
opportunity for pressing and settling this point would be shortly
after the election of the King (of England). He (Olivares) thinks
that, in addition to repaying your Majesty your expenses within a
convenient period of years, they should make no difficulty in ceding
to your Majesty the Isle of Wight, and your Majesty should be
satisfied with this. He (Olivares) does not anticipate so much
advantage from the possession of the island, as does Purser Antonio
Gutierrez ; but there will be a very good pretext for demanding it
from the first for the purpose of harbouring the fleet, and subsequently
as a convenient point from which to relieve Flanders, and
to keep England (and even France) in subjection ; though in both
cases this must be done with dissimulation. He (Olivares) is of
opinion that we ought not to ask for a port in England itself, so
that it may not appear so evident that we want to keep our foot on
the neck of the King and his country, which would offend everyone
in England, and in France as well. The latter country even—with
however little reason—might make a similar demand for herself if
she met with any encouragement. In addition to this, we should
have to incur a great expense and trouble in fortifying such a port ;
besides which in time the king of England might go to war with us
and spoil all the friendship for the purpose of putting an end to so
obvious a subjection. If we possess the Isle of Wight we shall
have all we need, without so much ruffling their feelings. So
strongly is the Count (Olivares) of this opinion that he thinks, even
in the event of the English offering a port, it should not be
accepted.
In order to avoid other similar dangers the Count thinks that it
would be unwise to attempt (or even to consent thereto if they
should offer it) to make the new King simply the representative of
your Majesty, in respect of your rights to the crown ; or in any way
to make England a feudatory state. It is certain that after the
first need had passed, so important a monarch (as the king of
England) would resent the position, and instead of making
England a dependency, we should only make her and other
countries our enemies. Besides this, it would appear a very overbearing
act ; and your Majesty has a good example as to the amount
of loyalty exhibited by feudatory rulers in the case of Siena.
He (Olivares) would take no heed of Ireland, which is a noisy
business, and more trouble than advantage for your Majesty. At
the Isle of Wight we might stand on the alert, in case any schism
should occur amongst them (the English) during the election, which
should render an invasion of England necessary to stop it. This
step would, moreover, be agreeable to France and even to the Pope.
There are two other islands in the Channel (Jersey and Guernsey)
belonging to the crown of England, but they are not so commodious
nor have they so good a port as the Isle of Wight. They are nearer
the mouth of the Channel, and being quite close to the French
coast, their possession by your Majesty would arouse jealousy on
the part of the king of France. We should therefore, avoid mention
of them, or they may want to give them to us instead of the Isle of
Wight. Indeed, if need should arise for making some concession
to the French, the islands might be given to them, unreasonable as
this would be.
On the seventh point, inasmuch as France would be just as jealous
that the queen of England (i.e., the Queen-Consort) should be of
your Majesty's kin, as if the King were ; and as such a marriage
would additionally pledge your Majesty's prestige in the success of
the undertaking, and it might be of advantage to the Catholics to
have the disposal of both positions, which might enable them to
reconcile difficulties and silence discontent, the Count thinks that
your Majesty should reply to any fresh proposals for marriage from
the Catholics to the following effect. That your Majesty would be
very glad to form this fresh bond of union with them, but you are
moved to place their advantage before any interests of your own,
and think best to leave them absolute freedom of action in this
particular. Your Majesty thinks that they would thus be enabled
to conciliate more than one person, and the matter would be
proportionately facilitated. As for support and aid, that shall not
fail them in any case. If, however, time and circumstances should
render another course necessary to them, (which your Majesty would
regret), there would be no difficulty in granting their request, and
the choice of the person in such case should be left to them. To
this might be added, that God was blessing your Majesty with
offspring, and even if the present opportunity should be passed
over, another might occur for renewing the close bonds of ancient
kinship between the two crowns, which would afford your Majesty
great pleasure.
The Council is of opinion that count de Olivares has very
discreetly set forth the whole subject, and approves generally of the
methods proposed, with the following additional observations ;
taking each point seriatim. With regard to the first point, the
commendador mayor of Leon said that he had not been present at
the discussion of the question of the English succession, and is of
opinion that the negotiations with the Pope and the English
Catholics should not assume the form of proposals on our side, but
rather that of replies to their proposals ; as in that case our prestige
is the better safeguarded, and our action cannot be attributed to
weakness, but only to your Majesty's ardent desire to see England
brought to obey the apostolic see and to her ancient condition.
With regard to the manner proposed for carrying out the second
point, he approves of the recommendations adopted with regard to
the replies and negotiations to be entrusted to the duke of Sessa
and Father Persons, but he is of opinion that nothing should be
said at present about the cession of your Majesty's rights, but would
rather hold this back to be used as a dowry in a marriage, or in case
of a war with France. The Catholics might be assisted in all other
respects in their selection of a candidate.
The count de Chinchon agreed with the Commendador Mayor with
regard to his first suggestion ; but he saw no objection to the Pope
being informed that the country (England) rightly belonged to your
Majesty, and that in justice you should endeavour to obtain it
for the Infanta ; but if for the service of God and the welfare of
religion it should be better for the English to choose a native
monarch, and the person chosen possessed the fitting qualities, your.
Majesty would disregard your own advantage in the matter, and
would willingly cede your rights, on just and reasonable conditions,
to the King selected.
The counts de Miranda and Alba, F. Gaspar de Cordoba, the
Constable, and the marquis de Poza confirmed the decision already
arrived at with regard to these two points ; and it was unanimously
agreed that in any case, whether your Majesty's rights to the
English crown were to be used by yourself or transferred to another,
your Majesty should be fully prepared and armed ; as otherwise we
shall not succeed in our object, and your Majesty's generosity in
ceding your rights will not be properly appreciated.
The count de Olivares' third point was agreed to by the Council.
With regard to the fourth point it was thought that the duke of
Sessa, when he opened the negotiations with the Pope, might ask his
Holiness what his feeling was respecting the person to be selected
for the English throne ; whether the new King should be a native
of the country, and whether the Pope had thought of any person
who would suit, and who could be implicitly trusted by his Holiness
and your Majesty. The object of this would be to prove to the
Pope that your Majesty has no wish to take the selection entirely
on your own shoulders, and to associate him with your Majesty in
the matter, so as to ensure his support. There would be no
objection to the Duke's being informed that, if the king of France is
desirous of agreeing to a neutral person, your Majesty will be pleased
to come to a friendly understanding with him.
With regard to the fifth and sixth points, the Council is of opinion
that the consideration may be deferred for the present, as they
depend upon the success of other prior points.
As to the seventh point, when the (English) Catholics mention
marriage they may be told that your Majesty will always act as
will be best for them. This will be to show them that your
Majesty's sole object is their welfare, rather than any advantage of
your own.—2nd March 1603.
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3 March.
Estado, 840.
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736. Count De Caracena to the King.
Don Cornelius O'Driscoll, lord of Baltimore, has handed to me
the enclosed memorials, begging leave to go to Ireland and help the
other Catholics there, in whose name, he says, he came to give your
Majesty an account of affairs. Your Majesty will see the reasons
he gives for his request, and for supplies in kind being sent instead
of money, as well as the urgent need for promptness.
I beg your Majesty to have a speedy resolution adopted, as
O'Driscoll's great anxiety is that he should not break his promise to
return with the assistance your Majesty might grant, which promise
he ought, he thinks, to have fulfilled long ago. If these pataches are
to go to Ireland, he might be allowed to go with the succour which
is sent in them.
As the season is so far advanced I beg for prompt instructions.—
La Coruña, 3rd March 1603.
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737. Cornelius O'Driscoll to Count De Caracena.
Don Cornelius O'Driscoll, lord of Baltimore, begs your Excellency to
obtain permission for him to go to his own country, in order to fulfil
his word to the Catholic gentlemen, and do his duty to the King and
his country. He assures your Excellency that there are very few
who can do as much as he can, and it appears that the Catholics are
even now feeling the want of him for so long. He has certain
gentlemen who follow and serve him, and in view of his long absence
they were in despair, as were also his wife and vassals. If your
Excellency does not remedy this he believes that the Catholic cause
will greatly suffer by his absence. He is so unhappy that he knows
no rest night or day at the thought that he is not in a place where
he may be of use to your Majesty and the Catholics ; and there is
nothing in the world that will do him good, except to go and strive
for his native land.
In good truth he assures your Excellency that if he be not
allowed to do this speedily all the (Catholic) gentlemen will come to
Spain and serve his Majesty elsewhere. If they are not soon helped
to struggle for the faith of Christ in their own land, the supplicant
and the rest of the Catholic gentlemen will have but little confidence.
He therefore earnestly begs and beseeches your Excellency,
for the sake of God's cause, if only to write a letter endeavouring
to obtain permission for him to go soon, before the gentlemen are
reduced to despair ; as the presence of a person of such good service
(as himself) will encourage them to hold out.
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3 March (?).
Estado, 840.
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738. Cornelius O'Driscoll to Count De Caracena.
If his Majesty intends to send any stores to the Catholics, who
are in arms in the province of Munster, they should be sent in kind,
and not in money, which cannot be laid out in any part of Ireland,
and is of no use unless they (the Catholics) come to Spain. If it be
decided to send them aid, and any delay is to occur, it would be well
to grant them a dispatch boat to carry to them at once such supplies
ar are needed to relieve their pressing wants. As he knows no
person but your Excellency to aid him in this important matter, he
pleads for your intercession. He offers to risk his own person in
the voyage in the dispatch boat, as he knows the coast better than
anyone. He also thinks that it would be advisable that some person
should be appointed by his Majesty to distribute what is sent, even
though he take with him but a hundred soldiers, and the Irishmen
who are here (i.e., Coruña). This person would efficiently rule
them pending the arrival of further aid, and the ignorant people
would obey him. The supplies his Majesty might send would be
placed in safety and always at his disposal.
They (the Catholics) are so hardly pressed by the heretics that
they cannot sow their fields, and have no food. For God's sake let
the above matter be dispatched speedily, for otherwise the Catholics
will be utterly unable to help one another.
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March.
Estado, 840.
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739. Council Of State to Philip III.
Count de Caracena, in his letter of the 3rd instant, encloses two
memorials handed to him by Don Cornelius O'Driscoll, lord of
Baltimore. One of these sets forth that if your Majesty pleases to
send aid to the Catholics who are holding out in the province of
Munster, it should take the form of provisions, as it is impossible to
lay out money there, and it is useless to them unless they come
to Spain. He therefore begs your Majesty to grant a dispatch-boat
(patache) to the said Catholics for the purpose of carrying to them
what they urgently require, thus enabling them to be always
ready for the enemy. He (O'Driscoll) offers, in his own person, to
risk the voyage in the dispatch-boat, as he knows the coast well ;
but he considers that it would be advisable for some person representing
your Majesty to go also, for the purpose of handing over
the above-mentioned assistance, even though he takes with him no
more than a hundred soldiers and the Irishmen now in Coruña.
He craves your Majesty's permission to go and aid the other
Catholics in Ireland, on whose behalf he came hither to give your
Majesty an account of their condition. Not only is he greatly
wanted there for your Majesty's service, but he also gave his pledge
to his associates that he would return speedily, and he is apprehensive
of the distrust that his delay may breed amongst the Catholics.
He is quite inconsolable about this, and he earnestly begs your
Majesty to be pleased to come to a speedy resolution on it, and in
the matter of sending a person in the dispatch-boats to represent
your Majesty, as the season is already far advanced.
The Council is of opinion that it would be very desirable to provide
three or four thousand ducats for count de Caracena to employ
in the purchase of such stores as may seem needful to O'Driscoll,
and send them with him to Ireland in the charge of some person
who will distribute them according to the Count's order. (fn. 2)
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18 March.
Estado, 840.
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740. Father Joseph Creswell to (the Duke Of Lerma?).
I have not been to the palace when your Excellency commanded
me, in order not to occupy your time, and because I hoped to obtain
the necessary replies through other channels. As, however, a
longer delay has occurred than I expected, I decided yesterday to
bring to your Excellency's notice the critical state of these affairs.
On the one hand I am being pressed so urgently from England to
send them a reply, either yes or no, to the proposals submitted, and
on the other hand I experience so much difficulty in obtaining it,
that in order to get out of the dilemma, before the whole business
bursts, I thought well to come to a clear understanding with the
Father Confessor, as your Excellency will see by the two documents
I have given to Don Rodrigo to read to you and return to me. The
fact is, that unless a decision be adopted before Easter in the matters
proposed, I can devise no other means of justifying my long silence
than to send to England the same documents that are now in
possession of Don Rodrigo ; advising at the same time that I have
sent copies thereof to his Majesty since they were handed to the
Father Confessor. This is the last action I can take in the matter.
I should like to say one word to your Excellency before Holy Week,
but as none of the days mentioned for an audience is before that
week, I will not act contrary to your Excellency's orders without
permission.—18th March 1603. Signed, Joseph Cresuelo.
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March?
Estado, 840.
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741. Father Joseph Creswell to Philip III.
I beg your Majesty to be pleased to give an answer to the
Catholics of England, with regard to the proposals they have submitted
and your Majesty has referred to the Council of State, with
regard to the succession to the crown of England, as great difficulties
arise from the delay that is taking place.—S.D. Signed, Joseph
Cresuelo.
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742. Father Joseph Creswell to Philip III.
For the very grave reasons that have been already submitted to
your Majesty, and others which are now occurring, (fn. 3) it is necessary
that your Majesty should have a very trustworthy person in the
Flemish ports, authorised to act when needful, and keep in hand
affairs that demand mature consideration and a reply from here.
In fact, the person in question should be one to whom we may
entrust the most secret and important of the correspondence with
the English Catholics. Some of your Majesty's Ministers think that
Frederico Spinola would be a fit person. Your Majesty will know
best whether he is to be trusted in the matter of secresy. If so,
there seems to be no objection to him, as he may have means of
communication through his countrymen, and by virtue of the
office he holds under your Majesty.
Either with him, or with some other person, the recent proposals
and the business of the ports, etc., will have to be discussed immediately.
There is danger in delay.—Joseph Cresuelo.
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743. Father Joseph Creswell to Philip III.
In accordance with the decision your Majesty may adopt with
regard to the English succession, it will be necessary to draw up the
edict and have it re-printed, with the same secresy as was previously
observed. A number of copies will have to be sent to Flanders, to
the charge of the person who is to manage the correspondence. If
this step be taken in due time, it will be worth 10,000 men when
the opportunity arrives, as was seen by the example of Queen Mary,
who, by taking a similar step, gained the crown of England.—
Joseph Cresuelo.
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744. Father Joseph Creswell to Philip III.
With regard to the 100,000 ducats to be paid by Ambrosio
Spinola, I pray your Majesty will give orders to the Father
Confessor, either that the resolution should be promptly carried out,
or that I should have permission to undeceive the persons to whom
the promise was made. They have spent, and are spending, money
on the public service, trusting on the pledge given to their
messenger at San Lorenzo by count de Miranda, and the delay in
the matter looks very bad. They are, moreover, persons of so
much importance that the whole success of the affair depends upon
keeping them, and this can only be done by straightforward and
punctual dealing.—Joseph Cresuelo.
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26 March.
Estado, 840.
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745. Earl of Bothwell to (the Duke of Lerma?).
I discussed with your Excellency last year the matters which I
now again submit in somewhat different terms. You enjoined me
not to communicate these points to any member of the Council, and
I therefore set forth certain heads which his Majesty may lay before
the Council, whilst the present document, which is of greater
importance, I deliver into your Excellency's own hand to be dealt
with as you think best. I would, however, beg your Excellency to
remember the great difference that exists between negotiating in
Scotland in its present state and negotiating here. If matters there
are not concluded at once the opportunity is lost ; and if the following
proposals are entertained, I would beg that the affair should be
dispatched immediately, so that all necessary preparations may be
made before October.
As no answer had been received to the letters and advices from
the Scottish Catholics which I handed to your Excellency, I
concluded that his Majesty was disinclined to listen to them ; and I
therefore wrote to certain friends and kinsmen of mine—men of
great experience—urging them to find some easier and surer means
of establishing the faith and forwarding his Majesty's interests.
They reply acceding to the first part of the proposals ; namely,
the undertaking of the Catholics to hand over to me for my security
the four fortresses mentioned. With regard to the second point,
they have made such arrangements as will force the King to raise
a guard of 600 men—200 cavalry and 400 infantry—under the
command of Viscount Ochiltree, a kinsman and vassal of my own,
and a brother-in-law of Baron Fernihurst, who has come hither with
this mission. The difficulty, however, which arises on this point is
that the King and Court are on bad terms with the nobles and
gentry, who are unwilling to contribute in any way to the cost of
the guard, as they consider that it is being raised only at the
instance of the courtiers, and not from any real need for it on the
part of the King. For this reason they (the Catholics) request me,
since the opportunity is at hand and everything ready, to beg his
Majesty to assist them with the necessary funds to raise the guard,
and to pay what they have arranged to the said Earl (Viscount?),
who undertakes to deliver into my hands the King and all his
children, and on my arrival there to receive 600 Spanish soldiers as
a guard. The Viscount undertakes also to resign the captaincy of
the guard to me the moment I arrive. For this purpose they (the
Catholics) request that a sum of 50,000 ducats should be lodged
with any person whom his Majesty may choose in Antwerp ; and
as security we pledge ourselves to carry the plan into effect or die
in the attempt. We also agree to place in his Majesty's hands as
hostages our sons and heirs—I, the Viscount, and Baron Fernihurst—
the son of the latter being now here. When these three hostages
are handed over, we request that the sum of 50,000 ducats should be
at once paid to us for the purpose above-mentioned, and for the pay
of the guard until fresh reinforcements can be sent by his Majesty, if
necessary. The Catholics on their side pray for the assurance
which from so Christian a monarch may be expected by those who
are ready to risk their lives, estates, and children in the execution
of so signal a service.
In order to prove to your Excellency how anxious they are to
serve his Majesty, and to establish a perpetual friendship between
the two countries, they promise to deliver to me the person of the
Prince, so that his Majesty may have him married or do as he likes
with him. As these proposals appear to me to be both easy and
safe of execution, I beg to lay them before his Majesty and your
Excellency ; and I would urge that all that is suggested is so greatly
to the advantage of his Majesty, and the injury of his enemies, that
an answer as to his Majesty's intentions is greatly to be desired. I
have been especially enjoined to declare to his Majesty that the
success of the business depends largely upon energetic action. I
am also requested to confer with various persons from Scotland,
some of whom will come to France or Flanders to meet me ; but
with others I shall have to correspond by means of trustworthy
couriers. I am without sufficient resources for this purpose, and I
beg his Majesty to grant me a sum of 2,000 crowns here, and 4,000
crowns in France or Antwerp, to pay couriers, and entertain the
gentlemen who may come over. If any difficulty presents itself to
your Excellency I beg you will be good enough to summon me, and
I will give you the fullest possible satisfaction, or else that you
will refer the business to two members of his Majesty's Council, one
of State and the other of War. Time is so short that I earnestly
beg that I may be dispatched as soon as possible.
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746. Memorial from the Earl Of Bothwell to Philip III.
Francis Stuart, earl of Bothwell, admiral of Scotland, submitted
to your Majesty last year a memorial on behalf of the Catholics of
Scotland, setting forth their great desire to establish the Catholic
faith there. No decision having been arrived at in the matter,
they have now sent hither Andrew Ker, Baron Fernihurst, to beg your
Majesty to give a reply to the proposals contained in the said
memorial, and also to the new offers now submitted to your Majesty.
He therefore humbly begs your Majesty to be pleased to despatch the
said Baron as speedily as possible with the condescension which
your Majesty usually extends to those who serve the Catholic faith,
and that your Majesty will accept the proposals made by the
Catholics, as follows : First, the Catholics offer in the service of God
and your Majesty to establish the faith in Scotland, to reinforce
Ireland with troops and stores, and hamper the queen of England
from the west coast of Scotland. In order to hold Ireland, and
oppose the said re-inforcements, she will be obliged to maintain an
extremely powerful fleet in those seas, as well as a double force to
hold the passage from Dover to Calais. In addition to this, she
must keep another force on the Scottish border to prevent the Scots
from entering England. All this will involve so excessive an outlay
that the Queen will be compelled to abandon the fleets she is fitting
out, or intends to fit out, against your Majesty.
As a security for the fulfilment of these promises the Catholics bind
themselves to surrender for your Majesty's use to the earl of Bothwell
four of the principal fortresses in Scotland, one of which, Dumbarton,
is impregnable and forms the key of the provinces, standing, as it does,
in a position which commands the confluence of the three rivers
which divide the said provinces, the entrance to which it completely
dominates. The fortress is so well armed with cannon that it will
be impossible to blockade it, and your Majesty will be able to
reinforce it at any time, as the Queen could not impede it unless she
had a force in each of the four provinces.
Another of the fortresses is called Broughty, on the east coast, at
the mouth of the Tay. This fortress entirely commands one of the
principal countries and cities in Scotland, where the greater part of
the shipping of the country is owned.
The third fortress is Blackness, an extremely important position,
dominating the entrance to the Forth, and provides a landing-place
of four leagues in extent in the principal county of Scotland.
The last of the four is the castle of Hermitage, which is an
impregnable place on the English border. For seven leagues round
the country is impracticable for battery-artillery, and the castle is
garrisoned by the bravest and noted fighting men in Scotland. It
is, moreover, well supplied with cannon and stores of all kinds.
In all assurance, the Catholics beg your Majesty to send some
trustworthy person to Scotland to examine these fortresses. Baron
Fernihurst will guarantee his safety, and, as a hostage therefor, will
leave his eldest son here, he having brought him hither for that
purpose.
The Catholics undertake to arrange everything as set forth above,
with your Majesty's aid and protection ; and request with this
object 4,000 soldiers maintained at your Majesty's cost ; and in the
event of your Majesty desiring to prosecute the war against England
they will provide for your Majesty's service 26,000 Scotsmen, to be
paid by your Majesty for the duration of the war. In security for
this they will leave their sons in your Majesty's hands as hostages ;
and in order that your Majesty may be recouped for the expenses of
the war the Catholics undertake, when the faith is established in
Scotland, to pay to your Majesty the third part of the ecclesiastical
revenues, until the whole cost shall have been reimbursed.
In addition to the above, Baron Fernihurst also brings proposals
for a reconciliation between the Earl (Bothwell) and the king of
Scotland on the following terms. First, that his eldest son shall
marry the marquis of Huntly's daughter without a dower ; secondly,
that he shall surrender the possession of the viscounty of Coldingham
(?) to Viscount Hume, who holds it since the Earl was banished
from Scotland ; and thirdly, that he shall forgive all his enemies and
forego all claims of any sort against them. The Earl, however,
cannot, either for reasons of state, or as a matter of equity, accept
these conditions, unless it be for your Majesty's advantage. In
the first place, he has no will in the matter apart from your
Majesty's wishes, and in addition to this he cannot be expected to
marry his son without a dower, after so much trouble, loss of friends
and relatives, and the total ruin of his own estate. His other
children, moreover, would thus be plundered, and unable to maintain
themselves as befits their quality, in consequence of the
decrease of revenue and the surrender of the viscounty. His loss of
income would be 10,000 crowns a year, and to surrender this would
be indirectly to admit that he was culpable of the offences with
which the King charges him, although he has been acquitted by the
Scottish Parliament. This would be a great stain upon the honour
and reputation of himself and his house ; and in addition to all this
he is in great doubt as to whether the King would keep his word,
he having broken it so often, and being desirous that he (the Earl)
should promise to forgive all his enemies.
The above memorial embodies the Catholic proposals, and the Earl
humbly begs your Majesty to have them considered, keeping in view
the zeal for the service of God and your Majesty which prompts
them.
A note is appended to the aforegoing documents in which the
duke of Lerma, by order of the King, refers them to the Council of
State.—Valladolid, 26th March 1603.
The report of the Council of State is to the effect that the earl
of Bothwell's proposals are so important that, in order that they
may be thoroughly sifted and considered, it will be well to accede to
his wish and refer the whole matter for investigation to two
members of the Council to be nominated by his Majesty.
With regard to the proposed reconciliation between Bothwell and
the king of Scotland, the Council is of opinion that the king of
Spain should not intervene in any way, but let Bothwell do the best
he can, because otherwise the king of Spain would render himself
liable to recompense Bothwell for what he surrendered at his (the
King's) request. This would be a large sum and any such liability
should be avoided, as no countervailing advantage would be gained
by it.
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