Addenda, Queen Elizabeth - Volume 34: November 1600

Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Elizabeth, Addenda 1580-1625. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1872.

'Addenda, Queen Elizabeth - Volume 34: November 1600', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Elizabeth, Addenda 1580-1625, (London, 1872) pp. 406-409. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/domestic/edw-eliz/addenda/1580-1625/pp406-409 [accessed 13 April 2024]

November 1600



Nov. ?	32. — to —. I hold Beauchamp as unfit to be a king as you do, but there is somewhat in it which time will more discover. Meanwhile take this I write as matter of guess, not of intelligence. The beginning of the Queen's time, there was much ado about a book written by Hales, in favour of the house of Suffolk; Bacon, Lord Keeper, was in trouble and disgrace for it a whole year, by Leicester's means, that could no way induce the countenancing of that house, which had such a cause of hatred to his. But the late Lord Burghley, secretary, rescued his brother-in-law out of the briars, having his hand in the matter, though not apparently, as well as he, as the pleaders for the Queen of Scots' title insinuated by their discourses, giving the cause for that they had, by their marriage, incorporated themselves into that house. You know what measure the Queen of Scots had at the Queen's hands during Burghley's reign, as we may term it, though in the latter time of his trouble, the hatred thereof was derived upon Walsingham, and Burghley had made his way with her; both the beginning came from his head, and his hand gave the greatest stroke for her end.
	It were absurd to think that a man of such huge possessions and authority, which he sought to make hereditary, and of that sublety and experience, seeing the Queen old, and the question of succession every day rudely sounded in their ears, should not consider of that point; that the old fox had not before his eyes the triple deadly feud of a son, a King, and a Scot; that he, delivering his young cub [Sir R.Cecil] lessons for maintaining the greatness he left him, set him down his counsel touching this point. They probably resolved never, if possible, to be at the King of Scots' mercy.
	It is true both father and son drew the King from depending of any other saint in this Court but themselves, but they served him to little purpose. Either they would not or durst not do what was required, but shifted things off, and you know the old saying, "Know me not now, and I will not know you when I arrive to my kingdom." They should have foreseen it; certain it is the Scotch King has fore spoken it. Now where should they find a tree to shade themselves under in England? having as little cause to seek a refuge in the other foreign title, which threatened too sharp a reformation for their honour or safety.
	The Secretary has found himself grieved with the imputation the libellers put upon him of being an Infantist. (fn. 1) Touching Arabella, I will say more anon; but for that concerns the present,— besides that Shrewsbury, her great kinsman, till of late was wholly Essex's and had a deadly feud with the Stanhopes, which lasts yet;—no marriage that the Cecilians could build on presented itself. And she being born on this side the water of Tweed only,—the Scottish King being otherwise in every degree jure et dignitate potior,—Arabella, otherwise in descent Scottish, were too nice a point to stand on. They have incorporated themselves anew with the house of Derby, but the right of that branch must be maintained with those quirks of law which cannot carry the people, and is besides in a female, fit enough to make a Queen Jane of, but has not yet been thought of for such purpose I dare say on this side.
	It rests therefore, passing over the other titles, that they had most reason to make account of that branch to which, before it was engrafted in the house of Suffolk, they were so much beholden, and which since they have made so much beholden to them. This mutual obligation; the inclination of our country to keep out strangers, and particularly an old beggarly enemy, the Scot, in whose mother's blood the whole State seemeth to have washed their hands; the fair colour given by some former proceedings in favour of the second sister, since the time of King Henry VIII., ratified by his will; the advantage the Queen's disposition to suppress all titles afforded men in their place to advance any title where time served; the opportunity time might minister to prepare for it, prevailing upon the Queen, as she increased in years and diminished in sense, all these might be great motives.
	If the Scotch King should happen to go to the other world, what an impediment were there removed, and advantage given to this title, during the minority of a child, and garboils ensuing in that mutinous country. You say he has been fair for it more than once; you know where the suspicion has alighted. All the world takes notice of the occasions taken to lay blocks in his way.
	The matter of Valentine Thomas, Ashfield, Sir W. Eure, and others, imprisoned only for being in Scotland, argue no good meaning towards him.
	On the other side, as at the beginning, old Burghley served this house's turn, to beat off the storm Leicester's malice raised against it for the marriage, so since their good will to it has been discovered. Beale's negotiation in Germany, about the validity thereof, is winked at. When upon Dr. Aubrey's death, the continuance of the appeal touching the marriage came to light, how soon was Stanhope, special actor therein, released! and, considering the course of our State, how soon the Earl of Hertford discharged, and how easily and privately censured and fined, as he assessed himself! When Beauchamp likewise was to have been transported, how easily was the Queen persuaded to confine him only in the midst of his own kindred! What cause there is of a concurrence of Sir John Stanhope's favour to that blood, mingled by marriage with his own, whose credit with the Queen and inwardness with the Secretary all men know; also of the Admiral's love to the house, though his sister, Hertford's wife, be dead. There is likelihood of Raleigh's concurrence—seeing Essex leans to the Scot—having seated himself in that part of the realm, who is the very Achitophel of all the plots of this age.
	You will say this conjecture is not slight of itself, but when there seemed to be some reason of the concurrence of a Catholic party, I so acquainted you with it as I do now with all this, that seeing it is a course in your judgement not to be embraced for the good of the Catholic cause, you may have an eye to it. But for the point, he wants those parts you would require in him; yet Essex being suppressed, which is not unlikely, the party, though his alliance be not with the nobility, will be greater than you think for, of noblemen and gentlemen of good worth, drawn in by the Secretary, the Admiral, and others, if their credit continue, so as he may have the start of all other competitors when the Queen dies, which will be a great advantage—before men can or dare declare themselves—to have the principal force, and the treasure of the realm put into his hands, with the name of a King; and it is not unlikely but, to keep the Catholics from drawing together to oppose, he may, by proclamation, set them free from the rigour of the present laws, and then all designs depending upon reformation of religion will fall to the ground. As for foreign Princes, he of France is most likely to afford what aid he can to keep the Scot from it, for the particular good of France. [2¼ pages. In Phelippes' hand, endorsed by him, "A note intercepted touching Beauchamp."]