Simancas: November 1574

Calendar of State Papers, Spain (Simancas), Volume 2, 1568-1579. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1894.

This free content was digitised by double rekeying. All rights reserved.

Citation:

'Simancas: November 1574', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain (Simancas), Volume 2, 1568-1579, ed. Martin A S Hume( London, 1894), British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/simancas/vol2/pp486-489 [accessed 3 December 2024].

'Simancas: November 1574', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain (Simancas), Volume 2, 1568-1579. Edited by Martin A S Hume( London, 1894), British History Online, accessed December 3, 2024, https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/simancas/vol2/pp486-489.

"Simancas: November 1574". Calendar of State Papers, Spain (Simancas), Volume 2, 1568-1579. Ed. Martin A S Hume(London, 1894), , British History Online. Web. 3 December 2024. https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/simancas/vol2/pp486-489.

November 1574

7 Nov. 404. Antonio De Guaras to Zayas.
On the 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, and 31st, I sent my last reports, and since then I have learned that the Vidame de Chartres has gone to Flushing and disembarked there in the hope that Orange would come to terms with Middleburg, where they say he will pass the winter, partly in order to redress the robberies which some of his people have openly committed there. No more victuals are to be allowed to be sent from here, but there are now at Rye ten ships of war from Flushing, awaiting others which are to join them from Havre de Grace, Calais and elsewhere, to commit great damage. An Easterling sloop is expected at (Harwich?) loaded with four thousand galley-oars and many spars with quantities of cordage, sulphur, &c. It will thence continue its voyage for Barbary, the master being an Englishman, named John Rale, and the mate another Englishman named Allen Macpes, the crew being Easterlings. As other ships have gone thither on equally evil errands, it might be well to take steps to capture this ship and punish the men. In Northumberland there has appeared in the air a white St. Andrew's Cross and near it a wolf, which animals are unknown in this country. The people saw apparently a great number of deer enclosed in a park, and the wolf singling out the largest of them pursued it continually, taking no notice of the others. The wolf was seen no more, but the deer comes alone every day to the same place and is for two or three hours prancing about in great terror. All the justices of that country have informed the Council of this and there is much discussion about it. Both in the Court and here the greatest of astonishment is expressed, the general opinion being that the cross and the other appearances are portents of great importance, and the affair has made so much noise that I write about it, although these people seem to attach too much weight to simple things like these. The regent of Scotland is visiting the different parts of the country and imposing heavy subsidies. He insisted that the earl of Athole and his people should pay a certain great sum, which the Earl refused to do, the dispute ending in the Earl being killed. He was a friend of the queen of Scotland and of the earl of Argyll, and dissensions have arisen in consequence. The Regent's wife has died and he wants to marry the queen of Scotland with the support of this Queen, but it may be supposed that they will not listen to such a thing here, and still less will the queen of Scotland herself entertain it.
As M. de Zweveghem will report, he was well received at Court with the King's letter. He has taken leave and hopes to depart in company with the master of requests, Dr. Wilson, but I am informed to-day by a courtier that the Queen said that the doctor would not leave for Flanders until an answer was received from his Majesty. Lord North, who, as I reported, went to the king of France, is understood to have arrived at Lyons and will soon be on his way back.
Some time before the duke of Guise was killed, it was said here that the deed would be done, as they knew beforehand that it was intended. This was the case also with the queen (dowager?) of Scotland, and with the last king of France, as many witnesses here can testify, I myself amongst the number. Some of the people here have arranged in Germany to serve the present king of France in the same way. In connection with this, two days since, friend Ougan (Huggins?) sent to say by his gentleman Heron, who is known to you, that the supreme Secretary Walsingham whispered into Ougan's (Huggins') ear these words : "Have you heard anything of the King since the loss of Goleta?" "What king?" he said. "The king of Spain," he replied. The answer was "No," and no more was said. This Walsingham is of all heretics the worst. He was ambassador in France and as he is in authority here and is the right hand of Orange, any evil may be expected from him and his friends in the Council. I have heard from a trustworthy source that intelligence has been received that a secret rebellion is being plotted in Bruges, but I have not been able to obtain particulars about it. I have not been able either to learn any more about the false coiners, excepting that they continue to work secretly. I have received no answer to the letter, but hope someone abroad will write to me. Bingham says he is attending to the preparation of the service he has offered to perform.—London, 7th November 1574.
28 Nov. 405. Antonio De Guaras to Zayas.
On the 21st instant I sent my last report, and advice reaches me from the Court since then that the Queen intended some days ago to send Harry Cobham to Spain, but his departure is delayed, and, for certain reasons, it is expected he will not now go.
I have learnt also that the chevalier Giraldi had been discussing lately with Lord Burleigh and other councillors the agreement with his King but could not come to terms, so that the business is now in suspense until a reply is received from Portugal respecting the article in dispute.
Dr. Wilson will, no doubt, have already arrived. He is charged, as I have written, to offer her Majesty the Queen's intercession to settle matters in Holland and Zealand and to bring those countries into submission to the King. News has come from Ireland that many provinces have risen against the earl of Essex (who commands the Queen's army) it favour of O'Neil (?). The Viceroy, Sir Harry Sidney, who is a very good gentleman, is leaving here on his way thither.
A Scotsman was brought here a prisoner as, on his way through Berwick from Scotland, they found two letters on him in a very secret cipher which letters are said to be for the queen of Scotland. The brother of the Count de Retz has arrived in Scotland by sea, sent by the king of France, and his arrival has caused many rumours here, as they do not know what his object is. The news of the killing of the earl of Athole by the Regent is now contradicted.
I have also been informed that Killigrew, who was formerly ambassador to Scotland, is again making ready to go thither. They are preparing three of the Queen's ships, it is publicly announced, to go against the pirates, but there is great suspicion that Killigrew is going in them to fetch the prince of Scotland hither, which has been discussed here for the last two years, the intention being, for a great sum of money, to appoint him the successor to the Crown. The Queen herself, however, is the person who is least willing to do this. If Killigrew is not bound on this errand, it is expected, from certain indications, that he will go to receive Condé and the Vidame and others to carry them to Rochelle, but, as every day some new purpose is adopted in State affairs here, nothing is ever certain, and what is true one day is often not true the next in consequence of the fickleness of these people.
The Queen has appointed commissioners who are furiously examining the principal Catholics, bishops, and others, who are prisoners or under surety, the substance of their examination being as follows.
If they recognise the Queen as head of the Church of England. To this they have all replied to the same effect, although examined separately, that they did not, and that the Supreme Pontiff is the head of the Universal Church and vicar of our Lord Jesus Christ. They were then asked if they recognised the Queen as sovereign, to which they replied that they did.
They were next asked whether they accepted her as the legitimate Queen ; to which they replied that they recognised her as sovereign, and declined to say anything more in consequence of the law.
They were asked who they considered was the heir to the throne after this Queen ; to which they replied that that would be shown by the royal pedigree.
They were then asked what was the Univeral Church of which they spoke, and to this they replied, "The Roman Church, which was gathered by the Holy Ghost at Trent, and it always would be so considered by Catholics."
They were examined as to their belief in the Holy Sacrament, and their reply was that they firmly believed in the real presence contained therein after the sacramental words had been pronounced by the priest. They said they believed in this presence, jointly divine and human, as it was upon the Cross, true God and Man ; and they added, with much constancy, that he who did not believe this could not hope for salvation. They were then asked if the service in use in churches here, by order of the Queen, was acceptable to God, and they distinctly replied that it was not, as it was performed outside of the unity of the church, and contrary to its sacred doctrine. To all these things they, being all Catholics, answered similarly, being ready to live or die in the truth, which they hold before men, constant unto martyrdom. Each one had to sign his name to his confession for the information of the Queen and Council. People expect that severity will come of this. I enclose herewith copy of the letter which I have received from the queen of Scotland and of the reply which I sent to her, as also of the cipher she had forwarded to me. This lady founds all her hopes upon his Majesty, after God, and by a letter she has written to an influential friend, who read it to me, it is certain that there is nothing she desires more than to accept the proposition about Don Juan of Austria, she having been persuaded by this personage and others that it would be most important for the welfare of Christendom. If it be his Majesty's will that this matter should be considered, and communications have to be carried on with the Queen about it, this cipher can be utilised for the purpose, it being so obscure, without an alphabet, that it is impossible to decipher it. It would be a great consolation for this princess if she could be comforted and encouraged in writing and, leaving aside the charity of the world, that such a turn should be given to her affairs that God might place her once more in her proper position, which is greatly desired by many. In such a happy event she would be a saintly, chaste and Catholic princess, the greatest lady on earth ; because England, Scotland, and Ireland is so great an empire that it cannot be exaggerated. Although she is now in the power of her enemies, who, being heretics and evil men, traitorously accuse her of the crimes which they themselves have committed, the good Queen herself being perfectly innocent, and persecuted only by these tyrants because she is a Catholic ; if his Majesty will graciously allow a letter for her contentment in the business to be written, time might provide an opportunity for her capture by the hands of high personages. If on our part consent were given, this project would be certainly executed by them. She writes respecting this to the person I have mentioned, and desires above all things that her son should be married to the eldest Infanta, for which purpose she will consent that the man who now holds him shall take him to Spain.
This might be taken in hand before waiting for the French or English to act similarly in their own interests, as it is so important for the reformation of religion here that Flanders should be held in safe subjection, the French curbed in their furious attacks of ambition, as they always are when we are prosperous, and all princes and potentates dumbfounded by the double alliances with mother and son. I ask pardon if this business is too high for me to touch, I being so humble a person. Friend Ougan (Huggins) and Captain Ellis await a reply to their important propositions. There is not so much talk about the false money for fear of its getting wind It appears they are covering it up with silence. This cipher being so simple and easy to discover, I will write if I am al owed in that of the Queen (of Scots), which is so obscure that it can never be deciphered. Amongst other things it must be borne in mind that the Queen-Mother is no friend of the queen of Scots for domestic reasons of little moment.—London, 28th November 1574.