Simancas: May 1585 | British History Online

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

Citation:

'Simancas: May 1585', 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/pp536-538 [accessed 30 April 2025].

May 1585



4 May. Paris Archives, K. 1563. 62.	393. Bernardino De Mendoza to the King. In the letter of which duplicate is enclosed, I reported to your Majesty the departure of Raleigh's ships for Norembega which has been confirmed by my confidant. The delegates from the Netherlands went over to England, and were immediately dispatched after an interview with the earl of Leicester, who told them when they had made their speech to him, that they must not take it amiss if he did not enter so warmly into their affair as formerly, as it was a matter for much consideration. Parliament had closed after having voted supplies estimated at 150,000l. sterling. Amongst other things they declared it high treason to acknowledge the queen of Scotland as heiress to the English Crown ; and subjected to the penalty of confiscation of goods those who harboured seminary priests for a first offence, and to that of high treason for a second. The Queen had ordered the fitting out of one of her ships called the "Red Lion" of 800 tons, the earl of Leicester's galleon, another called the "Primrose," and two other vessels, the statement being that Drake was going to take them out to meet your Majesty's Indian flotilla. Rumours were also current that the Queen had ordered the raising of some infantry, but it was not known whether the intention was to send them to Holland or to help the Prince of Bearn. A servant of Don Antonio had arrived in England to inform the Queen that his master would be glad to come to England on account of the disturbances here. Sampson is in great need in consequence of the imprisonment that has befallen him, and I cannot therefore refrain from again writing to beg humbly that your Majesty will be pleased to send him something as a subsidy towards his expenditure. His zeal and intelligence in your Majesty's service well deserve it. Lord Harry (Howard), who was Lord Chamberlain of England, has been made Lord Admiral, his former office having been conferred by the Queen upon Lord Derby.—Paris, 4th May 1585. Postscript.—Since closing this letter I have heard that the English Ambassador here has advices reporting that the earl of Arundel had taken ship to leave the country, but the wind being contrary, he had to put back, when he was captured and taken before the Queen. Note.—The above is accompanied by a letter from Don Bernardino to Juan de Idiaquez, the King's secretary, pressing very urgently that something should be done for Sampson, and asking whether he may burn the papers of a former Spanish Ambassador in Paris, Juan de Vargas, "as I can hardly keep my own papers, much less those of other people." Sampson, whose real name was Antonio de Escobar, was a Portuguese spy living in Paris, ostensibly favourable to Don Antonio, but really in the pay of Mendoza. He received constant news from the Portuguese attached to Don Antonio in England.
12 May. Paris Archives, K. 1563. 51.	394. Bernardino De Mendoza to the King. [Extract.] I hear from England by letter dated the 1st instant, that the Queen, learning that the earl of Leicester would not surrender his office of Master of the Horse on receiving that of Lord Steward, had suspended the appointments previously announced of lord Howard and lord Derby. General musters had been held all over the country, and the Queen had sent orders to the counties of Middlesex, Kent, Sussex, and Surrey, to hold themselves in readiness with arms and horses to muster at an hour's notice, under pain of death. —Paris, 12th May 1585.