BHO

Elizabeth: November 1578, 6-10

Pages 270-277

Calendar of State Papers Foreign: Elizabeth, Volume 13, 1578-1579. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1903.

This free content was digitised by double rekeying and sponsored by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. All rights reserved.

Citation:
Please subscribe to access the page scans

This volume has gold page scans.
Access these scans with a gold subscription.Key icon

November 1578, 6-10

Nov. 6. 356. WALSINGHAM to DAVISON.
When I communicated to her Majesty the letter I received from you of the 26th ult. she looked to have heard somewhat of your repair to Duke Casimir and the Gantoys to persuade them in her name to such concurrence with the States by laying down the violent course of proceedings they were entered into, as was most necessary for strengthening themselves against the common enemy, and prosecuting their advantage upon Don John's death, and most expedient for attaining a secure peace. I excused the delay in your going thither by the common jealousy that was conceived that her Majesty took part in their design, which might haply have been increased in the minds of such as are apt to misjudge other men's actions, if you had repaired to them so soon before you had dealt with the States and others to assure them of the contrary ; which ground being laid, I thought you would not long delay to repair to them, to show them her Majesty's dislike of their proceedings, and what wrong they had done her by causing her to be misconceived of, for the favours she had formerly shown them. What moved her to look for this at your hands was that she had commanded Mr Secretary Wilson, as she told me, to write to you to that effect. You see that upon like occasions of service offered, you will not need to await direction from hence, but take all opportunity as it falls out to do what good you can, so that you fail not to acquaint her Majesty with your doings ; which will come well to pass both for the approbation of your service, and for the defrayment of such charges as you may be at. Her Majesty is sorry that the troubles sprung up in Flanders cannot be appeased ; being grieved that Duke Casimir's error is by certain malicious persons ascribed to her, and that by the same means the great cost of the army grows unfruitful, and the advantage they had of the enemy is lost ; who as is reported increases in strength. I trust you have remembered to send Baptista's account. If it be not already dispatched by the courier who is now coming, pray do not fail to send it by the next, and with it a note of the days of payment by the States of the sums borrowed of him as well as of Pallavicino. And you may do well, as advice from yourself, to let the States understand that they will do well to deal in time with Spinola and Pallavicino for a prolongation of the days of payment upon some convenient interest ; for if they look for their satisfaction from her Majesty, so long as they are by any way able to discharge it themselves, they will be much deceived. As for your suit, I have moved her Majesty in it, on speaking with her about your last letter, and I find her well disposed to pass it. Her only stay, as she showed me, proceeds from her thinking it will not serve your present necessity, being 'a benefit in expectation accompanied with casualty.' She assures me that she never meant to bestow it on Payne's son, nor has any disposition to bestow it on any other than you. I understand by the deputy of the merchants adventurers, and others who have been with me to acquaint me with their success in their suit in Holland and Zealand touching certain bonds which they have of them, which Lord Cobham and I recommended earnestly to the Prince and the States of those countries, that on the Hollanders' behalf they can receive no other answer than was then given to us ; namely that the money taken up by the Prince was employed wholly in the defence of Zealand, that no part of it came to them, that they gave no authority to Taffin to contract anything in their names, and therefore in justice the bonds could not be demanded of them. With which answer we resting not satisfied moved the Prince again for better contentment to the merchants, that her Majesty might receive satisfaction suitable to the charge she gave us therein ; which having fallen out contrary to our expectation and to the promise that some of them made, as Paul Buys, Dr. Francis [qy. Junius], and one other, and to that which by the Zealanders' obligation to the merchants and the Prince's instructions to Taffin should have been performed, whereby they seek relief from her Majesty by the usual means, which will fall out very prejudicious to the Hollanders and Zealanders, you will do well to make the Prince and States-General take such order with the States of Holland and Zealand by way of commission or otherwise, that the state of the case between those two Islands may be considered and such order taken that her Majesty's subjects may be satisfied in their lawful demands, lest they be otherwise provided for by order from hence, which will not fall out to be so well for the liking of those countries, and I would be loth should take effect.—Richmond, 6 Nov. 1578. Add. Endd. 2½ pp. [Holl. and Fl. X. 16.]
Oct. 26—Nov. 6. 357. Two extracts from Walsingham's letters of Oct. 26 and Nov. 6, translated into French by Davison, and endd. On the back, in Davison's writing, is a list of names : Embise, Creveld, gen., Hurlebleck, eschevin, Campen, Pœistre, Meighem, et envers 2 or 3 du 18. Conducteurs de ce farce, Beutrich, Dathenus. Fr. 1½ pp. [Ibid. X. 17.]
Nov. 7. 358. RAYMOND DE FORNARI to DAVIDSON.
I arrived safely at the camp with the money, and the next day we began to reckon part of it. On Thursday the camp moved from Ligny to Walhen [Walhain] ; the next day to 'Sidoigne,' thence to Tillemont, where we stayed two days, going on the second day to Leeuw ; from thence to St. Truyen in the territory of Liege, and from St. Truyen to Tongeren [Tongres], where we are waiting to-day, and no one knows which way we are going. It seems that the reiters are inclined, for want of pay, to make this ignorance a ground of mutiny ; for as it is conjectured, there is an intention to lead some of them towards the Meuse, and there dismiss them ; but no one knows the truth. They are devastating the country so that it is a pity ; sparing neither sacred things nor profane, and respecting neither sex nor age, but carrying off everything, to the very nails. Here indeed they stripped men and women as bare as nature made them, and turned them thus naked out of their houses, a pitiful sight to behold. M. d'Argenlieu's companies have decamped and gone off to Flanders, which causes great disgust. I could write a good deal, but for fear of the letter being intercepted by the enemy I leave it alone. The road is very dangerous and for this reason I have not ventured to start for Antwerp. I think from Maestricht I shall be obliged on my return to go by the Meuse to Dordrecht, seeing no other way open and safe. Captain Mornow with some Scotch fell in with 100 Spanish cavalry. They killed 40 of them and took two prisoners. Mr Norris, Morgan, Yorke, Bingham, and all the rest send their affectionate remembrances to you. I am writing in haste because a post whom Count Bossu is sending is taking horse to start.— Borchloen, 11 p.m. 7 Nov. 1578. Add. Endd. Fr. 1 p. [Holl. and Fl. X. 18.]
Nov. 9.
Lettres de C. de M. VI. 113 (but apparently not from the original).
359. QUEEN MOTHER to the QUEEN.
My son the Duke of Anjou having informed me that he was sending to you M. de Simier about a matter which I more than ever desire to see brought so to pass that I may have the satisfaction before I die of seeing one of the children of the king my lord who was so fond of you, brought so near to you that by doing you good service he may testify the friendship he bears you, and I also ; I have thought to accompany him with this present to testify my affection both in this matter, and to you personally, and to beg you this time to bring to effect that which I have so often sought of you. My only regret is that the business of my son the king on which I have come here will not permit me to be back again when my son goes to you, to have one of the greatest satisfactions I could have in seeing you both (toudeus) together. I hope, however, that God will allow me to effect that for which I came here, namely, to carry out in all points the edict of pacification which the king my son has granted to his subjects, as a thing done with the contentment of all, sworn by them, and promised by him. For this cause I lose the pleasure of seeing you which I have so much desired, and of which I do not despair, as you wish to see him ; which will not be in order to send him back to us, but to carry out so good a work. This being so, I feel sure you will like me to have the satisfaction of seeing you. I pray that God will grant me this favour, and will keep me in yours, not as I have hitherto been, but with the fortune to be a mother to you.—L'isle-en-J[ourdain], 9 Nov. 1578. Holograph. Add. Endd. by L. Tomson. Fr. 1½ pp. [France II. 82.]
Nov. 9. 360. Copy of the above made in England. Endd. by L. Tomson. Fr. 1 p. Also :
The French King to the Queen.
Heaven, all parts of which are moved by the Eternal who dwells and rules there, having as I believe willed to make a work as perfect as you are recognised throughout the universe to be, has also endowed you with a wit so bright and surpassing all others, that you will be well able to make choice of him who having dedicated himself to your service vows himself to it more and more, with all the affection and faithful service that the Creator has permitted his creatures to bear. I say this for a brother whom God has given me, who wishes by his affection to render himself acceptable to your perfection. I speak not only on account of his relationship, but because I think that if you honour him with your favour you will have no cause to repent it.—Paris. Forgive me for not signing at the foot, the page was full. Copy, made in England. Endd. by L. Tomson. Fr. 1 p. [France II. 83.]
361. Later copy, in a French hand, on paper watermarked 1799. 2½ pp. [Ibid. II. 83a.]
Nov. 9. 362. ROSSEL to WALSINGHAM.
I hope her Majesty approves of my giving a miscellaneous account of occurrents, good and bad, as the altered season brings them forth ; some trustworthy, others trivial with some appearance of truth, others as it were not credible ; leaving it to time to clear them up. I say this because in my former letters you may have found some details rather trifling and may condemn me for trifling in writing them. But I did it with a good intent, feeling sure that the adviser of her Majesty's agent, more solid through his being in familiar correspondence with (sic) will correct my discourses ; so I resolve to continue. In my last, of the 2nd, I gave the reason for the return of the commissioners sent to arrange the difficulties between those of Ghent and the Walloons. They were not to be reconciled, each being egged on by others ; the Walloons by the league of malcontents at Mons, the Gantois by Casimir, which some people imputed to her Majesty. If I dared to write and talk about it, I would tell you the truth of the proceedings recognised and discovered, eight months ago : when the threefold partition was negotiated. Mr Davison, with Councillor Meetkerke, and the burgomaster of Antwerp, 'Stralle,' have gone to Ghent to renew the negotiation ; I do not know whether by her Majesty's wish. M. de Rumer and M. d'Ohen, postmaster-general, follow them for the same purpose. It is all in vain, for the plot is decided upon. What is being done is only to amuse the ignorant ; but I suspect the people perceive it. In pursuance of this subject, MM. des Pruneaux and Rochepot have arrived at Antwerp. They call upon the Estates, on the part of Monsieur, to fulfil their promises, otherwise he will declare for the Walloons. You see that prince's holy intention. He excuses himself for taking Mortagne, an important place on the Scheldt near Tournay, between two navigable rivers, one coming from Hainault, the other from Artois ; where his French have killed a good many citizens of Tournay, on the pretence that they can cut off the access of victuals to the Gantois and bring those of Tournay to their devotion. Duke Casimir wants to be declared general of the army of Ghent, having previously published a justification which he is having printed. There is ambition for you! A counsellor of his, by name Salegre [Zuleger] not being disposed to back him in his design, has been dismissed. Beutrich came to Antwerp last night ; we shall learn to what end, in this Flanders affair. The men of M. d'Argentlieu's regiment have torn up their colours and are off to Ghent. All those who have followed Casimir will do the like. Captains have been deputed by the Gantois, and are at Brussels and Antwerp, debauching good soldiers from the camp, Scotch and others, to get them into their service. The consequences will be dangerous if Casimir's French who are at Ghent come to an understanding with those of M. d'Alençon. The Hollanders have cashiered Isenstein's regiment, which they were keeping at the camp, and have sent them back to the frontier of Holland to get their pay ; a timely stratagem. Our camp is around Leeuw and Diest. It is reported (l'on bruyt) that they have opened approaches to batter Leeuw. Certain news can hardly be had from the camp because they are surrounded by the enemy, and we can only get news with the provision and convoy. Affairs in France are strangely mixed. The Parliament of Dijon has made a complaint to the other parliaments of the king's permitting his brother to infringe the neutrality, sworn formerly by the king, between the county and duchy of Burgundy and the Swiss, and things stand on these terms : the said parliament wants to make war on the king, and have asked advice of the Prince of Orange (as he says) about the choice of a chief, to wit, Monsieur or M. de Guise ; a strange stratagem, and hard to believe. The Queen Mother has been (or is, if she be not dead, as has been stated) at Libourne, whence she has carried on hourly negotiation with the King of Spain, who is at Mousson [qy. Monçon]. The tendency of her negotiation is altogether against her Majesty and to the ruin of the Low Countries. I entreat you to consider deeply the position, Queen Mother at Libourne, the King at Fontainebleau, M. de Guise in the Duchy of Burgundy, Monsieur in Hainault, Casimir in Flanders, the Prince of Orange at Antwerp in Brabant. That is how they are mixed. Let us proceed. According to letters from Spain, intercepted since Don John's death, the eldest son of Spain, by name Ferdinand, is dead. You see the ordinary sequence : one casual thing brings about three mishaps. A personage of state, a man of business, report that the King of Spain has come to terms with the Genoese about the great bankruptcy ; under which he has begun to pay them. By the same it is agreed that they shall receive all the gold exported from Spain to recoin, and strike pistoles of a value enhanced by one-third, which shall bear the arms of Milan. All the money for the enemy's army comes to Paris, to the house of one Capelle near St. James the Great. Some comes to Rouen by favour of the Spanish merchants there ; but it is not known if practices and intelligences are afoot to surprise the money in question which will be ruinous to the enemy. A Spaniard named Malvande, retired to Rouen, the same who furnished 100,000 crowns to Don John after having conducted him by Antwerp as far as Mechlin and shown him the castle and the universities of the town, is in despair at Don John's death, foreseeing, with all the merchants who have withdrawn, an ill issue to their affairs. He would be glad of means to return here. We are informed that the enemy are so exhausted that they are seeking every means of peace ; and we are accordingly always in hope of some means propitious to peace. I know for certain of more than one practice on foot to get the Count of Buren out of Spain. There is great hope of being able to manage this, and the Prince takes a hand in it, which up to now he has never been willing to do. The negotiation mentioned in the last paragraph of my last has failed because it was not seen to in time. I have set down all the occurrences in confusion ; a chaos from which you will please supply her Majesty, and draw from it whatever may be of service to you, like a bee drawing the sweetness of her honey from a confusion of flowers. What may be drawn from these reports is the knowledge of the affairs of states in general, which may enable her Majesty to build up universal repose and peace.—Antwerp, 9 Nov. 1578. Add. Endd. Fr. 5¼ pp. [Holl. and Fl. X. 19.]
Nov. 10. 363. GILLES DE MONCHEAUX to FRANÇOIS DE MONCHEAUX.
Your packet of letters arrived safely by the hand of M. de Beaucamp, and as he was prevented from putting them into the hands of the person to whom they were addressed, the brother of Mme La Brieuse was so opportunely in this town that we showed them to him to know what he thought of it. He undertook to communicate them himself to M. de Cappres, who thinks it well they should be given to the person to whom they are addressed, after he had taken a copy of your letter. He found the discourse very good, and the last article in which you offer to make the journey. But there is, he says, a mistake where you say that his Majesty desires to maintain the Pacification of Ghent. Do not in future touch on that in your letters, if you send any ; because the people on all occasions talk only of maintaining it. He was surprised that there had been so much delay in writing and still more that the letter was not addressed to him, seeing the good offices he has for a long time past brought about for the King's service, putting himself out of favour with many, as he said to the said gentleman. That gentleman sent for me to sup with him yesterday evening at his brother-in-law's. He told me he was quite sure that the governor was now quite resolved to be reconciled with the King, and would do his best to bring others over ; for which reason he said you would do well to write to him and get the King and his Excellency to write to him and even our former governor ; saying that he was his good friend. An alderman was invited with me, to whom your letter was handed. This morning he laid it before a full assembly of magistrates, where the governor was sent for. They have returned the letter to the alderman, as well as the letter for Tournay, because it was not addressed to them, charging him to restore them to the person who handed them to him. Where it was found, I cannot say. The gentleman aforesaid commends himself to your favour. He has undertaken to deliver those for Douay, Lille, Tournay, Orchies. He starts to-morrow for Douay, next day Lille, &c.—From your house, St. Martin's eve, 1578. Copy. [Qy. from Poulet.] Endd. : 'A François de Moncheaux de la part de Gilles de Moncheaux, demeurant à Arras. Fr. 1 p. [Holl. and Fl. X. 20.]
Nov. 10. 364. DUKE CASIMIR to DAVISON.
I return the copy of the document which you sent me, and which you entitle a summary of what you set before me last Saturday in the name of your mistress. I have found several things in it which you have not yet said to me, and I find it throughout such that it is quite worth while for me—without troubling you further by discussing these things with you—to enlighten her Majesty on all the points of it, for her satisfaction. This I am sure will be easy, the document in question so far as it concerns me being wholly founded on false reasons and maxims. And I doubt strongly if her Majesty, whom I have always honoured for her prudence, has been willing thus to judge me without previous hearing ; though to tell the truth, I recognise no judges of my actions and conduct save God and the Empire. Meanwhile I would have you to know that nothing will be found in my actions unworthy of a prince, and for which I cannot account to God and man.—Ghent, 10 Nov. 1591. Add. Endd. Fr. 1 p. [Holl. and Fl. X. 21.]