Simancas: October 1584

Calendar of State Papers, Spain (Simancas), Volume 3, 1580-1586. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1896.

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Citation:

'Simancas: October 1584', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain (Simancas), Volume 3, 1580-1586, ed. Martin A S Hume( London, 1896), British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/simancas/vol3/pp528-529 [accessed 4 December 2024].

'Simancas: October 1584', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain (Simancas), Volume 3, 1580-1586. Edited by Martin A S Hume( London, 1896), British History Online, accessed December 4, 2024, https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/simancas/vol3/pp528-529.

"Simancas: October 1584". Calendar of State Papers, Spain (Simancas), Volume 3, 1580-1586. Ed. Martin A S Hume(London, 1896), , British History Online. Web. 4 December 2024. https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/simancas/vol3/pp528-529.

October 1584

8 Oct.
Paris Archives, K. 1448. 20.
384. The King to Juan Bautista De Tassis.
[Extract.]
The person who suggests to you that the English ambassador there (in France) may be bought with money, would have to be very trustworthy indeed for us to believe him. Even if the go between is to be trusted, the ambassador may be of such sort as to cheat both sides, selling you false news for your money, and boasting in England of his having done so, which would be worse than the loss of the money. No fixed pension can therefore be granted to him, but you may first ask him to furnish information, and promise that it shall be well rewarded if it proves valuable. This really would be advantageous and the intelligence could be well paid for according to its value. (fn. 1) —The Pardo, 8th October 1584.

Footnotes

  • 1. This appears to refer to Charles Arundel's first suggestion that Sir Edward Stafford, the English ambassador, might be bribed to betray his trust in favour of Spain. It will be seen in the course of the correspondence that Mendoza, after his arrival in France, successfully concluded the bargain.