Calendar of State Papers, Spain (Simancas), Volume 1, 1558-1567. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1892.
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'Simancas: September 1562', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain (Simancas), Volume 1, 1558-1567, (London, 1892) pp. 259-261. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/simancas/vol1/pp259-261 [accessed 25 April 2024]
September 1562
| 15 Sept. B. M. MS., Brussels Archives, Add. 28,173a. |
183. Bishop Quadra to the Duchess of Parma. I spoke to the Queen yesterday to the effect contained in the open letter to His Majesty, which I enclose, and have nothing to add here on that head, except that this place is full of the news that the troops that were to embark to-morrow will not do so. Founded on the reasons I write to His Majesty my own opinion is that they will persevere in their plan of occupying these places, as they always have it in their power to make peace by means of the queen of Scotland, who is so deeply interested. At least I am sure this has been the intention of the Queen for some time past. I understand that the ambassador Challoner has written on the subject of which I have spoken, so ominously that it has necessarily alarmed some people here. They say that the Queen was quite furious at the Council, and replied to some of them who opposed this expedition that if they were so much afraid that the consequences of failure would fall upon them she herself would take all the risk, and would sign her name to it. They tell me that two of these captains are so eager that they went to offer their services secretly to the Queen, and said that if she would give them six ships they would go and break the dykes at Zealand and so destroy the country. They were thanked, and told that if need should arise the Queen would avail herself of their services. I am also told that a document signed jointly by certain Frenchmen and Englishmen is current, in which the signatories undertake to fit out some ships and take them out to pillage. All this will depend upon the result of the main business, and I will advise your highness of anything fresh that occurs.—London, 15th September 1562. |
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| 15 Sept. |
184. Bishop Quadra to the King. Arthur Pole, nephew of the late Cardinal Pole, son of his brother Walter, is determined to leave England on pretext of religion, but the truth is that he is going to try his fortune and pretend to the Crown with the help of the Catholics here. His claim is not worth much, but his indignation has been aroused and ambition encouraged at seeing that the heretics want to make the earl of Huntingdon king, who is the son of a niece of the Cardinal, and, in fact, if the Crown came to the descendants of the duke of Clarence, which they call the house of the white rose he (Pole) would be one degree nearer than Huntingdon, as will be seen by the genealogical tree I sent your Majesty last year. This lad is turbulent and not very prudent, but spirited and daring. They say he is poor, and his relations are poorer still, but the earl of Northumberland has given him a sister of his in marriage, and Lord Loughborough keeps him in his house and treats him as his son, so help will not be lacking for the enterprise. He sent word to me that if your Majesty would entertain and employ him he would place himself at your Majesty's disposal with a dozen young gentlemen of high position, and he asked me for a letter to madame with assistance for him to leave the country. I excused myself from granting either request as well as I could, without offending him, and he then went to the French ambassador and offered himself for the present war. The ambassador also excused himself and advised him not to go to France by telling him that the Guises through their connexion with the queen of Scotland would not like to see another pretender to the English throne. I think, nevertheless, that he will leave here. The French ambassador had some conversation with me about it, and unthinkingly asked for information about the persons interested. It is possible they (the French) may receive Pole to further embarrass the Queen. He pretends to be able to do a great deal, and really if he obtained important support he could be very troublesome.— London, 15th September 1562. |
| 19 Sept. B. M. MS., Brussels Archives. Add. 28,173a. |
185. Bishop Quadra to the Duchess of Parma. On the 15th instant I wrote to your Highness by special courier, giving an account of my interview with the Queen to convey to her what His Majesty had ordered me, and as you will no doubt have received this despatch I will not repeat its contents. The troops which we were in doubt about their embarking for Normandy are now being shipped. There are 10 standards going at present ; they make out that they are of 300 men each, but my information places them at less than 200 each. Captain Vaughan who is going in command of them is to place them in Havre de Grace and Dieppe. They say the second detachment will soon be ready, double the number, and will be accompanied by the earl of Warwick himself, so that I suppose Lord Grey is not going, although if the Queen would extend to his heirs a life grant he has of 500 marks he would go. Instead of Grey they are to give the Earl four advisers besides his brother-in-law, Henry Sidney, who accompanies him without any appointment. The Councillors are Mason, Petre, Packington, and Poynings. George Howard (fn. 1) goes as Campmaster-General, and a son of the Chamberlain called Charles Howard is to be general of cavalry. This latter, however, is to be when there is any cavalry to command, and at present I see no signs of it. These troops, as I say, are now being shipped, and yet there are people of position, and even councillors, who still maintain that it will end in nothing, and is only bounce to help the prince of Condé rather than deeds. The people who say this have many plausible reasons for their belief, but I, who know that these affairs are not being controlled by reason but by chimeras, believe, as I always have done, that they will persevere in their plans, and that the expedition will be carried out. These folks announce that they have great promises from Germany. I believe the foundation of this is that the duke of Holstein has written accepting the post that Henry Knollys was sent to offer him, namely, that the places in Normandy should be handed over to him with a sum of money, which of course he would accept. This is enlarged here into the announcement that many German princes write to the Queen to this effect. Lord Grey will return to Warwick (Berwick ?), where they have ordered the garrison to be reinforced by two more companies.— London, 19th September 1562. |