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| Jan. 12. |
85. Thos. Rogers to Sec. Walsingham. On Tuesday Chas. Arundel
leaves this town, to join the Duke of Guise at Chalons, unless the
Duke comes here, and then he will go to Brittany. He told me he
was going an important journey to Spain, and could not tell, till
he had talked with the Duke of Guise, whether he should go round
by Italy or Lorraine. He tells all his practises to Thos. Fitzherbert,
and confers with him that was in England on Monsieur's business,
and he gives him money. Capt. Gaye has promised to help him with
1,000 or 1,500 men in Brittany. Paget and Arundel are not yet
made friends. Westmoreland is ill of an ague, and thinks he shall
never make them friends, for the Duke of Guise heard that a
gentleman was lately sent from England to murder him, and was
countenanced by Arundel, who thinks Paget raised this report, and
threatens to kill him, if he can prove it. |
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Lord Claude Hamilton returns to Scotland, the King having
written to him that he wants to ruin the Earls of Angus and Mar.
They want him there to make a new faction at his return, and have
made him a perfect papist; he dislikes Angus. |
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Durens, the Jesuit, has written from Scotland that the King is
safer than before, and that they have better means to send to him;
and that Angus and his company are not likely long to enjoy their
abode in Scotland, for Huntley, Hamilton, Maxwell, Lenox, &c. will
work their destruction. |
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It is said that the Kings of Spain and France, with the Pope,
Duke of Savoy, and Venetians, leagued to invade England, but deferred four months, on account of the state of Scotland. That the
Duke of Savoy would come down to the Low Countries, with 10,000
foot and 2,000 horse, as if to aid the Prince of Parma, and then
sail for England, in ships brought from Spain or that are making at
Antwerp, of which eight have arrived. The Pope will pay 4,000
Italians, and the King of Spain 4,000 old Flanders soldiers. Westmoreland hopes to be employed in that company, and is therefore
loth to go to the Duc de Mayenne. They hope the more in invading
England, because my Lord of Leicester is busied in Holland, with
the best English soldiers. |
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Dr. Allen has missed his cardinalship, and is told that no pensions
will be granted, and the 3,000 crowns that Pope Gregory gave to
the English seminary at Rome are taken away; so that this cold
weather many of the priests are preparing to go for England.
Morgan and Paget have sent Jonas Meredith, at the Queen of
Scots' expense, to Rome, to salve their credit, impaired by Arundel
and his party. He sent articles to get Meredith into the Inquisition.
Cornwallis is come. The book of maps, which Mrs. Tempest,
in London, gave him 10 crowns to buy, will be brought by a
Frenchman. There is joy that Gilbert Gifford escaped your hands
so easily. He writes that England fears to be invaded. Edmonds
the Jesuit writes from London that they hope calmer days in
England. |
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P.S.—Kemp the priest and four others, going from Rheims to
England, say, that Dr. Allen has written to Bayle to send most of
the seminaries to England, because of the Pope's hard dealing, and
the house being indebted 2,500 crowns. [3 pages, endorsed with
notes of the contents by Thos. Phelippes.] |
Jan. 18.
Alnwick. |
86. Sir John Forster to Sec. Walsingham. Some of my Lord of
Durham's men and others go about to prevent me of the parsonage
of Bywell, belonging to the house of Durham which I have possessed
16 or 18 years, and have a lease of for divers years. It lies in Bywell
lordship, whereof I have the rule. Pray write to the Dean of
Durham that I may have my lease renewed, paying as much as
any other, except the house of Durham keep it in their own occupation for their benefit, which I do not think they mean to do. I
should be loath to be prevented by any others, having been tenant
so long. |
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P.S.—I enclose news out of Scotland. [1 page.] |
Jan. 22.
Dunkirk. |
87. Stephen Lesieur to Sec. Walsingham. The bearer, Nich.
Tracy, is one of the four gentlemen that have been prisoners before me, and having asked for my letter to you, I could not refuse,
considering his honest mind, and desire to be beholden to you
above all others. His experience in martial affairs is not little; he
followed that profession in Ireland some years, and still intending
to do so, he came over, when both he, his brother, and the other
two were taken. If you employ him, I doubt not but he will
discharge his duty. He can tell you many things known to him
since his imprisonment. [1 page.] |
Jan. 24.
Alnwick. |
88. Sir John Forster to Sec. Walsingham. Nicholas Rydlie
of Willimonswick, who was appointed sheriff for Northumberland, died on the 16th inst. It seems, by the examination of two
men and a woman, all lewd persons, and by things found with
him after his death, that there was some witchcraft and other
devilish practices, and certain stuff was bought at York, from
whence they came in Mr. Vause's company. I have sent the
prisoners to the gaol at Newcastle, until the facts are known. I
advertise you that another sheriff may be appointed, and have also
informed the Lord Treasurer. [¾ page.] |
