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| A.D. 1569. Jan. 1. |
1. Sir Henry Norris to Queen Elizabeth. |
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On December 28 came advertisement from the Duke of
Anjou of a skirmish with the Prince of Condé on the 23rd ult.
near Loudon, who made him retire three leagues. The day
after the skirmish, Monsieur thinking to have refreshed his
army at Montereau-belle, was prevented by the Prince who
was there before him, and constrained to seek another quarter
four leagues from thence. There is great penury in the
country where the armies be, and especially in the King's,
which coming after the Prince finds great want of all things
necessary. The day after Scomberg's arrival the King went to
Paris, and caused 12 pieces of brass to be drawn forth of the
arsenal for the new army that is levying to go against the
Prince of Orange. Sends both Scomberg's commission from
the King, and the Prince's answer to his ambassade, which
plainly discovers that he minds to the utmost of his power to
assist the afflicted, and help all such as unfeignedly make profession of the Gospel. The said Prince requesting to know
the King's meaning for the permission of the exercise of
religion; the King caused Scomberg to write to him that
being a sovereign prince he would not permit any other to
deal between him and his subjects. During Scomberg's being
at his camp the Duke of Lorraine sent to offer the Prince
passage through his country, who answered that he was not
yet ready to depart France, but that when he was he would
find the way having the keys with him. Understands that
the Prince stays upon the frontiers attending the instructions
of the Elector and other Princes of Germany, who are of the
association, how to proceed in the wars in the Low Countries and France; for these Princes esteem this motion of
religion common with them, and have no less care thereof
than of their own cause. The Prince of Orange has in his
army 1,400 French horsemen besides others of the Low
Countries, 4,000 French harquebusiers, 8,000 reiters, 8,000
lansquenets, and divers adventurers and footmen of the Low
Countries. It is thought that he will march to join the Prince
of Condé. The three small rivers on the other side of the
Loire will be no impediment, seeing that the Prince of Orange
has a bridge of boats with him carried in waggons. Thus
Her Majesty may perceive that the religion does not stand in
such dangerous terms as their enemies boast abroad. It is to
be feared lest this nation will destroy it selfwith its own divisions, giving themselves, their goods, and fortunes to such
strangers of either side as they have called to their aids.
The King still levies his new army, minding, as he told Norris,
to go in person against the Prince of Condé, and reckons to
be in the field within 14 days.—Paris, 1 Jan. Signed. |
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Add. Endd., with seal. Pp. 2½. |
| Jan. 1. |
2. Sir Henry Norris to Cecil. |
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Can very ill spare the bearer (Harcourt) whom he has found
very honest and trusty, and therefore desires Cecil to return
him as shortly as conveniently he may.—Paris, 1 Jan.
Signed. |
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Add. Endd., with seal. P. ¼. |
| Jan. 1. |
3. Sir Henry Norris to Cecil. |
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To the same effect as his letter to the Queen of this date.
Great is the rumour that is spread that the Queen doth aid
the Prince of Orange, but the French King speaks nothing
thereof.—Paris, 1 Jan. Signed. |
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Add. Endd., with seal. In cipher. Pp. 1⅓. |
| Jan. 1. |
4. Mr. Mather to— |
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Sends the same intelligence concerning the Prince of Condé
and the Duke of Anjou, and the levying of a new army by
the French King, as is contained in Norris's letter to the Queen
of this date. The King's army when assembled will be greater
than that with M. D'Anjou, especially of horsemen, by reason
of the reiters that are levied for the King. That of the Prince
of Orange will be rather stronger. Beseeches him after he
has read this to make the fire his secretary.—Paris, 1 Jan.
1568. Signed. |
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Pp. 1¾. |
| Jan. 1. |
5. Lope de la Sierra to Antonio Guarras. |
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Desires to be advertised what is spoken or heard of concerning the money. Has sent sundry times a boat to the
isle [of Wight] to see if the pirates were there still. Yesterday there were the three who took the ship of Marseilles,
joined with three Englishmen who tarry for their sailing out.
On Tuesday the captain of the isle received a packet of letters
from the Queen, and the next day very early he and the
Mayor sent for him and told him that it was necessary for
him to bring his ship upwards in a river which is on the
backside of the town, because they certainly knew that
even the same night all the pirates which were about the
isle would come and take him, and that the castles or bulwarks could not save him in the night. Told them that he
did not fear the Frenchmen but only the English, and that he
was in the Queen's house seeing he was in her haven, and
that it was better that they should take him. The same
morning they brought to the walls all the ordnance which
the town had, and also took all the chests with money out of
the Mayor's house, and set them in the town house where a
serjeant and one of the Mayor's servants keep them. They
told him that he might tarry there with the watchmen,
which he refused as he knew not what had been done, and
as he had given them a note of the contents of the chest,
they should deliver them likewise by account to him. They
continued to press him to take the ship up, saying that
there was water enough for her; and the next day he took
a boat and sounded all the river from where they lay to the
place where they said he should come, and found no water
and very little tide, so that if he had brought his ship there
at flood, he might have been without her at low water, which
he thinks they wished. Is sure that all this novelty of removing the money, the placing the ordnance, and that the ship
should be taken up the river, was done by virtue of the Queen's
commission, because it was done immediately upon the receipt
of the packet from the Court.—Antona [Southampton], 1
Jan. 1569. |
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Copy. Endd. Span. Pp. 2½. |
| Jan. 1. |
6. Symon Velho Bareto to Diego de [Vilha]. |
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Letter in Portuguese, apparently on business matters.—
London, 1 Jan. 1569. Signed. |
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Add. P. ½. |
| Jan. 2. |
7. Queen Elizabeth to Sebastian, King of Portugal. |
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Has received his letter dated from Lisbon on the kalends
of January last year, and communicated the contents to her
council. Has not been able to see any fresh reason for prohibiting her subjects from using the navigation to India and
Ethiopia, or for altering her answer on that point given to
his ambassador, Juan Pereira Damtas, some years ago. Trusts
that the ancient amity subsisting between their realms may
not receive any injury, and promises redress by due course of
justice for any wrongs which his subjects may sustain through
any of hers.—Hampton Court, 2 Jan. 1568. |
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Draft corrected by Cecil. Endd. Lat. Pp. 2. |
| Jan. 2. |
8. The Prince of Condé to the Queen. |
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Desires her to give credence to that which the bearer has
in charge to tell her from him.—2 Jan. Signed: Louis de
Bourbon. |
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Add. Endd. Fr. P. ½. |
| Jan. 3. |
9. Jan Heerremans to Jan den Vackerren. |
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Chiefly on private matters. There is great talk about a
war between the King of Spain and this Queen. Will write
soon to him again by an English ship which he understands
has license to come to Antwerp with cloth.—London, 3 Jan.
1568. Signed. |
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Add. Endd. Dutch. P. 1. |
| Jan. 4. |
10. Goods of Spaniards detained in England. |
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Answer of Thomas Fiesco to the objections of the Merchant
Adventurers. |
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Endd. by Cecil. Ital. Pp. 22/3. |
| Jan. 4. |
11. Petition of Tomaso Fiesco. |
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Begs that Her Majesty will cause restitution to be made of
certain goods and money belonging to the subjects of the
King Catholic. |
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Notes by Cecil in the margin. Endd. Ital. Pp. 2¾. |
| Jan. 4. |
12. Sir Henry Norris to Cecil. |
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Nothing of great moment has occurred since his last. The
King's army assembles at Château Thierry. The Prince of
Condé has taken the castle of Mirebeau being abandoned.
The Dukes of Ferrara and Florence have sent ambassadors to
the King. The Duke of Florence have sent bills of credit for
100,000 crowns. Beseeches him to have in his good remembrance Regius (in cipher) for the present he presents
Her Majesty withal; he is in great poverty being here where
men of his learning and knowledge are usually esteemed.—
Paris, 4 Jan. Signed. |
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Add. Endd., with seal. Pp. 1¾. |
| Jan. 4. |
13. The Vidame of Chartres to Cecil. |
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Has great expectations from the Queen and him when he
remembers how ready they were to assist when matters were
doubtful. Is glad that he selected Mr. Winter to send to
them. Advises him not to spare the Queen's money, as even if
the Treasury should be emptied of some millions during this
year, it will be the means of warding off war from England.
—4 Jan. 1569. Signed, Ferriere. |
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Add. Endd., with seal. Lat. Pp. 2. |
| Jan. 4. |
14. Civil War in France. |
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The treacherous attempts of the Cardinal of Lorraine and
his adherents to assassinate Condé, the Admiral, and others of
their party, and the revocation of all edicts in favour of those
of the reformed religion, having compelled them to take up
arms, their enemies have not been able to oppose them successfully in any quarter. Gives a detailed account of the move
ments of the armies of Condé and the Duke of Anjou, and
the skirmishes mentioned in Norris's letter of the 1st inst. |
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Endd: 4 of January 1568. Received from the Lord Admiral of France. Fr. Pp. 7. |
| Jan. 5. |
15. Arrest of Englishmen in the Low Countries. |
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Robert Harrison, of London, salter, reports that being at
Flushing, 8 Jan. 1568, he was told that all the English merchants at Antwerp and other towns throughout the Low
Countries, had been arrested, their counting-houses sealed up,
and ships and goods seized. From his own knowledge he
says that the masters of ships and others at Flushing were
in prison, and very hardly dealt with. |
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Endd. by Cecil. P. 1. |
| Jan. 5 & 6. |
16. Low Country Ships arrested in England. |
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List of 43 ships and hoys arrested by the serjeant of the
Admiralty, appertaining to the King of Spain's subjects, the
names of the masters and crews, and description of cargo
given. None of them carried more than four men, and their
cargoes consisted chiefly of cloth, sheepskins, hides, beer,
onions, and in one instance four dry vats of playing cards. |
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Endd. Pp. 3½. |
| Jan. 6. |
17. Proclamation by Queen Elizabeth. |
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Mentions all the circumstances relating to the arrest of her
subjects, and their goods in the Low Countries, and shows
that the protest that it was done in retaliation of the stay of
certain Spanish ships and money, was not correct, as the said
vessels were protected from the French, and the arrest of her
subjects was made before any similar measure was taken on
her part. By all lawful custom and usage she had a right to
borrow the said money, it being the property of private merchants, and being saved from the perils of the sea on her
territory.—Hampton Court, 6 Jan. 1569. |
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Draft. Endd. Lat. Pp. 4½. |
| Jan. 7. |
18. Seizure of the Spanish Money. |
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Deposition concerning the landing of the money taken in
the Spanish vessels seized at Plymouth, signed by the different
masters and pilots. |
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Endd. by Cecil. Span. P. 1. |
| Jan. 8. |
19. Don Guerau D'Espes to Gieronimo de Curiel. |
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Desires him to send a letter of exchange for 1,000 ducats,
and to stay Mr. Marron, that he come not into England
without further advice. Signed. |
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Add. Endd. by Cecil, with seal. Span. P. 1. |
| Jan. 8. |
20. Lord John Hamilton, Abbot of Arbroath, to Cecil. |
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Desires a passport for the bearer, whom he is sending to his
father in France.—Hamilton, 8 Jan. 1568. Signed. |
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Add. Endd. P. ¼. |
| Jan. 9. |
21. The Cardinal of Chatillon to Cecil. |
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Requests a passport for Laurence Hollingshed, whom he
sends into France with letters and despatches.—Shene, 9 Jan.
1569. Signed. |
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Add. Endd., with seal. Fr. P. ½. |
| Jan. 10. |
22. Sir Henry Norris to the Queen. |
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Doubts lest he waxes troublesome in making so often mention
of the enmity between the two houses of Guise and Montmorency. On the 23d ult. the Duke of Montmorency required
the captains and eschevins of Paris to come to the Louvre to
speak with him, and declared that their disorders and unaptness to be ruled was not unknown to the King, who had offered
him a garrison of 400 harquebussiers, to be entertained at the
charges of the town, but not being willing to charge them
without great occasion, he trusted the same should not be
needful, requesting them to behave better than they had done
heretofore. Vignolles, of the Court of Parliament, and Captain general of 22 ensigns, answered, that Paris was like
to a ship whereof the master neglecting his charge, it is
requisite that the pilots do put hand to the helm; whereunto
Montmorency coldly replied, "qu'il parloyt en curtault de
butique." This rude answer was thus made by Vignolles to
set on broach that which had been devised by the Cardinal of
Lorraine and his complices, who had caused it to be bruited
that Montmorency had secret intelligence with the Prince of
Orange, and had written to him to march hither, the King's
army not being ready to resist him, and had given forth that
he was in the King's disgrace. The next day M. Montmorency having notice of this, departed to Ecouen, where his
brother, M. D'Anville, lay very sick. The Cardinal thinking
that his absence would help to augment the suspect of the
rumour already spread abroad, and also to imprint some jealousy of him in the King's head, found great fault in his not
attending the King's coming to that town, he being governor
of the same. |
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2. Montmorency in order to purge himself of this suspect,
went to St. Maur des Fosses, where the King was, and with
him came Marshals Vielleville and Cosse, who held a council
with the King, the Cardinal of Lorraine not being called
thereunto. The Cardinal is much discontented that he cannot
make his brother, M. D'Aumale, lieutenant of this new army,
against which the marshals stoutly oppose themselves. During
Montmorency's absence the Parisians imprisoned 40 of the
wealthiest persons of the religion in that city, alleging against
them the loan of money to the Prince of Condé. The house
of a merchant at Toulouse being ransacked, there was found
promises of gentlemen and free distributions of money to the
sum of 2,000,000 francs. |
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The good disposition and order that is kept in the Prince's
army is much to be commended, nothing like oppressing the
country where they pass, as that of M. D'Anjou, which has
waxed hateful by their insolent behaviour, both to Protestants
and Catholics. M. D'Anjou has bestowed the greatest part of
his army in the towns upon the river of Loire. The Prince of
Condé now marches to Sancerre, which place Captain Brochart
holds for the religion against the Count Martinengo. The
town is not very strong of situation, but Brochart has filled a
great number of wine vats with earth, which serve for gabions,
and is a very strong kind of fortification. The Prince of
Orange will not alter anything in the answer which he sent
to the French King by Colonel Scomberg. The Prince of
Orange is yet at Vitry le Francois, where he attends the Duke
of Deux Ponts. |
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3. The King's reiters, to the number of 7,000, have sent to
the King that before they take their oath for his service they
may be assured not to be employed against them of the Confession of Augsburg. This day the Baron des Adrets arrived
with the forces of Provence and Dauphigny. Notwithstanding
all these preparations there is still some bruit of peace. |
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4. The alliance of the French King with the Emperor's
daughter is now clean out of hope, because she shall be given
to the King Catholic. |
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5. There has lately a general bruit arisen that 3,000 of Her
Majesty's subjects be disembarked at Rochelle in favour of the
religion, and that her nobility and gentry have declared to
her that if this King overcome the religion here, then, with
the assent of the other princes of this league and association,
they will endeavour to exterminate the same through Christendom, and therefore have in dutiful manner besought her to
assist them.—Paris, 10 Jan. Signed. |
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Add. Endd., with seal. Pp. 4½. |
| Jan. 10. |
23. Sir Henry Norris to Cecil. |
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There is great bruit that Her Majesty's fleet is arrived at
Rochelle and there landed 3,000 Englishmen; also that 10
English ships, joined with 10 others of the religion, being
minded to have landed in Brittany, were repulsed by the
inhabitants. The Duke of Alva who aforetime made great
offers of aid to the King, now makes a pastime of this their
misery, yet notwithstanding there is looked for out of Flanders
14 ensigns of infantry and 1,500 cavalry. Monsieur's army is
not in readiness to follow the Prince of Condé. It is thought
that the King will be in the field within these 10 days.—
Paris, 10 Jan. 1569. |
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2. P.S. There has been a motion made of peace in the
King's Council to this effect, that the Protestants should enjoy
the benefit of the King's edicts, and that Condé might have
the government of Saintonge, and that he might have leave
to join with the Prince of Orange to make war upon the
Spaniards in Flanders; but the King and Queen would give
no ear hereunto, the Cardinal of Lorraine persuading them that
it was dangerous anyway to further these Princes' designs.
Signed. |
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Add. Endd., with seal. Pp. 2. |
| Jan. 10. |
24. The Prince of Navarre to Cecil. |
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The bearer, M. de Dovet, is sent by his uncle, the Prince of
Condé and himself, to thank the Queen for the assistance
which she has given to them. Desires Cecil to continue his
favour towards the cause which they are supporting.—Thouars,
10 Jan. 1569. Signed: Henri. |
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Add. Endd. Fr. P. ¾. |
| Jan. 10. |
25. The Prince of Condé to Cecil. |
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Letter of credence for M. De Dovet sent to thank the
Queen for the support which she has given to their cause.—
Thouars, 10 Jan. 1569. Signed. |
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Add. Endd., with seal. P. ⅓. |
| Jan 10. |
26. Manifesto by Don Guerau D'Espes. |
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Whereas by the commandment of the Queen, a proclamation
was printed January 6, charging some fault to the Duke of
Alva for the arrest of the goods and persons of Englishmen
in the Low Countries, he gives knowledge of the truth as
follows:— |
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On the 23d Nov. he learnt that certain ships carrying the
King of Spain's treasure into Flanders were in great danger in
the west country from pirates. On the 29th Nov. he informed
the Queen of this and desired that commandment might be
given in her ports that no harm should be done to the said
ships, and that if needful the treasure might be transported
by land to Dover, and convoyed from thence by Her Majesty's
ships to Antwerp, all which was granted by her with a good
will. Upon this he wrote to the Duke of Alva, and in the
meantime heard that a few days before certain English pirates
had brought into Plymouth three Flemish and one Spanish
vessel very rich, and were dividing and selling the wares so
taken. The said pirates and men of the country also seized
other ships in the havens, and have favour and friendship in
the Court, and knowledge of them was given to the Earl of
Leicester and Cecil. On 12th December the Queen signed a
passport to carry the treasure by land or water with all haste,
and on the 13th ratified the same by her royal promise and
granted letters to her justices on the coasts, and to Admiral
Winter more favourable than the first which were sent by
messengers to Southampton, and afterwards to Plymouth and
Fowey. Notwithstanding this, on the same day that the
messenger departed from Southampton Edward Horsey, captain of the Isle of Wight, came on board the ship of Lope de
la Sierra, and landed from her 59 chests of treasure. |
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2. On December 21 he wrote hereof to the Duke of Alva,
and also to the Queen, requiring that her word, promise, and
passport might be kept. Had no answer in writing, but
some of her officers said that the treasure should be forthcoming
for the King, and that since granting the passport Her Majesty
had intelligence of other things upon the said matter. The
like was done with the zabras that were at Plymouth and
Fowey with like treasure,' and their sails and apparel removed,
and all writings, letters, and bills of lading taken away from
their masters. |
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3. Audience was prorogued till 29 December, when, with all
courtesy and meekness, he lamented these new enterprises
to the Queen, requiring that order should be taken according
to her promise, to all which she answered with very loving
words that the landing of the treasure was for the best, and
to be preserved for the King, wondering much at the boldness
of the said pirates. All this was accepted by Don Guerau
and great thanks given to Her Majesty, at the same time he
asked for the ships which had been promised for the conducting
the treasure to Antwerp. To the which Her Majesty showed
herself incontinent very contrary declaring that two Genoese
had informed her that the treasure did not belong to the King
of Spain but to certain merchants, and therefore she was
minded to retain it and pay the owners. Don Guerau hereupon delivered to her a letter of credit from the Duke of Alva,
wherein was contained that the said treasure was appertaining
to the said King Catholic, and that it was laden in Spain for
the paying of his men of war. Upon which matter the Queen
was very hard, and not so indifferent as upon other communications she was with him. So of this audience was taken no
other order but that within three or four days she would
cause him to be informed how the said treasure was appertaining to the merchants; which information was never given
to this day. Of these answers he did not remain satisfied
wherefore he sent his secretary to the Duke, not being well
pleased with the sitting of the Council so often with the
agents of the King of Spain's rebels; in prejudice, as may be
conjectured, of the ancient amity. The Duke had in the
mean season, with the first advice he had of the retaining of
the treasure, commanded the arrest of the goods and persons
of the Englishmen. Calls all the world to judge herein of the
proceedings of the Duke and himself. |
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Endd. by Cecil: 10 Jan. 1568. Span. Pp. 4¾. |
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27. Another copy. |
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Endd. Span. Pp. 4. |
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28. Another copy. |
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Endd. Span. Pp. 3½. |
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29. Another copy. |
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Endd. Span. Pp. 3. |
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30. Another copy. |
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Endd. Span. Pp. 3¼. |
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31. English translation of the above. |
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Endd. Pp. 3¼. |
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32. Another translation. |
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Endd. Pp. 3¼. |
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33. Another translation. |
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Endd. Pp. 3¾. |
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34. Another translation. |
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Endd. Pp. 3¾. |
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35. Another translation. |
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Endd. Pp. 4. |
| Jan. 10. |
36. The Cardinal of Chatillon to Cecil. |
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Repeats his request for a passport for Laurence Hollingshed,
whom he wishes to send into France about his affairs—Shene,
10 Jan. 1569. Signed. |
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Add. Endd. Fr. P. ¾. |
| Jan. 10. |
37. Commission for the Cardinal of Chatillon. |
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A long manifesto in the names of the Queen of Navarre,
the Princes of Navarre and Condé, and the rest of the leaders
of the Huguenot party, setting forth the different persecutions under which they suffered, and giving an account of the
attempt made by M. de Tavannes to seize the Prince and the
Admiral, and their subsequent proceedings, and commissioning the Cardinal of Chatillon to seek aid from the Queen of
England.—10 Jan. 1569. |
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Copy. Fr. Pp. 11½. |
| [Jan. 10.] |
38. The Spanish Ambassador's Manifesto. |
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Note of the depositions of certain of the Drapers' Company,
as to the promulgation of the Spanish ambassador's answer to
the Queen's proclamation touching the arrest of the Spanish
ships and treasure. |
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Endd. P. 1. |
| [Jan. 10.] |
39. The Spanish Ambassador's Manifesto. |
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Note of the depositions of certain of the Haberdashers'
Company, to the same effect as the above. |
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Endd. P. 1. |
| [Jan. 10.] |
40. The Spanish Ambassador's Manifesto. |
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Declaration of the reading of the Spanish Ambassador's
answer by John Baptista to certain English merchants at
the Pope's Head, in Lombard Street. |
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Endd. Written without signature on a small piece of
paper. |
| Jan. 10. |
41. Don Guerau D'Espes to Geronimo de Curiel. |
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Tells him not to be surprised if he hears that he is arrested,
for in this island are the enchantments of Amadis Archelaus,
and he will be the Queen Oriana's prisoner. Thinks that all
will end in a farce.—London, 10 Jan. 1569. Signed. |
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Add. Endd. by Cecil: "Against the Queen's Majesty
Oriana," with seal. Span. P. ½. |
| Jan. 11. |
42. George North to Cecil. |
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Thinking to increase his credit after Plymouth broils, he
went to Rochelle and joined the Prince's camp on the 31st
Oct. Gives an account in the form of a diary of the different
marches and skirmishes that he was engaged in from the
above date till 18 Nov., when he returned to Rochelle. The
Duke of Aumale seeking to cut off the Duke of Deuxpont,
has been overthrown by the Prince of Orange's vanguard.
Certain places have been taken by the Huguenots, and their
garrisons put to the sword.—Rochelle, 11 Jan. 1569. Signed. |
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Add. Endd., with seal. Pp. 3. |
| Jan. 11. |
43. The French Ambassador to [Cecil.]. |
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Complains of the delay in granting him a passport for M.
de la Croix, which has prevented his advertising his master of
the dispute between the Queen of England and the Duke of
Alva. Also demands that he may have the same privilege of
exemption from duty on French wines which his predecessors
have always enjoyed.—London, 11 Jan. 1569. Signed: De
la Motte Fenelon. Fr. P. ¾. |
| Jan. 11. |
44. The Queen to Sir Henry Norris. |
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Informs him of the circumstances which led to the arrest
of the Spanish ships, and of the subsequent proceedings with
the Spanish Ambassador, and orders him to communicate the
same to the French King and his council, and to the Spanish
ambassador resident at his court.—Hampton Court, 11 Jan.
1568. |
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Draft. Endd. Pp. 3. |
| Jan. 12. |
45. The Cardinal of Chatillon to Cecil. |
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Desires him to forward to Her Majesty the petition of the
bearers, certain poor Flemings and other subjects of the King
of Spain, who are fugitives on account of religion, and whose
goods have been seized during the late arrest.—Shene, 12
Jan. 1569. Signed. |
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Add. Endd., with seal. Fr. P. ½. |
| Jan. 12. |
46. Sir Henry Knollys to Cecil. |
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Went to the Spanish Ambassador and rendered to him his
letters, declaring; that in case he would advertise the Duke of
anything pertaining to his estate here in such sort as it might
appear that his information was agreeing with the truth, and
further provide that the carrier might have free passage to go
and to come; that they would according to the Queen's promise
take order for their conveyance. Whereunto he answered that
for the first he would think better of it, but that for the other
his letters could not bear the authority of a safe-conduct.
Knollys told him that albeit his letters were not for authority
sufficient, yet for to do him pleasure the Queen would adventure so far upon his credit. When they were come to their
chamber he sent his letters saying that after they had read
them they might send them open, which offer they thought it
not their part to refuse. By these Cecil may see his devotion,
his boldness, his stomach. In the meantime they watch the
fox with great diligence, but his burrow is large and full of
starting holes, and their nets be few, slender, and weak.
Doubts not but that he sees the peril, wherefore they hope
after speedy provision.—London, 12 Dec. 1568. Signed. |
|
Add. Endd. Pp. 1½. |
| Jan. 13. |
47. Charles Utenhove to Mundt. |
|
Desires him to forward certain letters to England, and to
ascertain whether the Queen will permit him to dedicate to
her the History of the Spanish Inquisition, which is about to
be printed, and in which its evil practices are discovered.—
Basle, 13 Jan. 1568. Signed. |
|
Add. Endd. by Mundt., with seal. Lat. P. ¾. |
| Jan. 14. |
48. Licence for the Earl of Murray. |
|
Licence for the Earl to purchase 18 geldings in England,
and transport them into Scotland.—Hampton Court, 14 Jan.
1569. Signed. |
|
Countersigned by John Somers. Broadside. |
| Jan. 14. |
49. The Privy Council to Don Guerau D'Espes. |
|
It appears that he gave on the 11th inst. to Sir Henry
Knollys certain letters addressed to the Duke of Alva and
Geronimo Curiel desiring that they might be sent open to the
Court. Find in them certain clauses not proper to have been
written by a friendly minister, or by one who desires to be
considered wise, well advised, or honest. Consider that his
writings are in many places false, scandalous, and unworthy
of a friendly minister. First, where he writes to Curiel a
letter composed of fantasies, taken from Amadis de Gaul, they
were in doubt whether it suited their honour and gravity to
send their opinion on this matter. They inform him that the
said letter is fantastic and unworthy a person holding his
office. The Queen's state and honour cannot be affected by
his scandalous and malicious tongue, and they intend to treat
him as a person unfit to come into her presence. Where in
his letter to the Duke of Alva that the nobility and the commonalty of England are ill-affected to the government, they
inform him that it is false, and that those who write it are
seditious persons and liars, and if he knew the contrary it was
his duty to notify them of it. Charge him with having misquoted the words of Her Majesty's proclamation. Also disavow his passionate charges against the chief secretary, who
has always given proof of his sincerity and good will to the
Queen's service, and also to preserve the amity betwixt her
and the King of Spain. As to the other writing in his name,
they find so much falsehood in it that they do not care to
make any particular reply. Are sorry that such an unworthy
person with so little discretion should have been appointed
by the King his master as ambassador. Profess their desire
to entertain and increase the amity between the two sovereigns.—14 Jan. 1568. |
|
Draft. Endd. by Cecil. Fr. Pp. 3¼. |
| Jan. 15. |
50. Sir Henry Norris to Cecil. |
|
The English merchants and their ships are arrested at
Rouen upon word being brought that certain ships of that
coast are stayed at Dartmouth. They have imprisoned a
great number of those of the religion fearing lest they should
aid the Prince of Condé with money. The Prince of Condé
is besieging Saumur and Pont-de-Ce. He has taken the abbey of St. Florens, putting to the sword 150 soldiers who were
in the same. On the 6th inst. the Duke of Guise and Count
Brissac thinking to have surprised the Count Montgomery,
were constrained to retire. It is bruited that M. D'Anjou will
go to levy the siege of Saumur. The Prince of Orange has
marched to Vaucouleurs to join the Duke of Deux-Ponts. The
Duke of Aumale will join the King with the reiters, the chief
captains whereof are the Marquis of Baden, the late Landgrave's son, Count Westleburg, and the two Rhinegraves.
Sends the King's ordinance commanding the Ban and ArriereBan to present themselves at his army.—Paris, 15 Jan. 1569.
Signed. |
|
Add. Endd., with seal. Pp. 2. |
| Jan. 15. |
51. The French Ambassador to Cecil. |
|
Thanks him for having obtained an audience for him with
Her Majesty, whom he will attend on Tuesday at 2 o'clock
in the afternoon. Desires a passport for one of his servants,
and also that he may have a letter of exemption from the duty
on wine forwarded to him.—London, 15 Jan. 1569. Signed. |
|
Add. Endd. Fr. P. ½. |
