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| 19 Mar. |
18. Count de Feria to the King.
On the 6th instant I wrote by the bishop of Aquila. I have since
had a long conversation with the Treasurer of the Household (fn. 1) about
the affairs of religion and the obligations the Queen and country are
under to your Majesty, and although he is not so good a Catholic as
he should be, he is the most reasonable of those near the Queen.
She knew he was coming to speak with me on that day to St. James'
Park, and told him to ask me to go with him to another park higher
up near the execution place, so that the earl of Pembroke and other
gentlemen who were walking in St. James' Park should not see us.
The Earl and the others who were walking would have been just as
shy of speaking to me where the Queen or the Treasurer saw us. I
say this to show how suspicious and distrustful they are. The
conversation amounted to my saying that the Queen and they would
be undone if they changed the religion. This I said without
mentioning your Majesty. The Treasurer at the beginning of the
interview had promised me that the Queen would not take the title
of head of the church. A week after I went to see the Queen to beg
her to have a remedy found for the ill-treatment of your Majesty's
subjects in this country. A great company of the boatmen who get
their living by bringing over goods from Flanders came to me on
that day to complain that many of their number had been robbed
and murdered between Gravesend and here, their boats boarded and
their goods taken. I found her resolved about what was yesterday
passed in Parliament, and which Cecil and Vice Chamberlain Knollys
and their followers have managed to bring about for their own ends.
She said after a time that she could not marry your Majesty
as she was a heretic. I was much surprised to hear her use such
words and begged her to tell me the cause of so great a change since
I last discussed the subject with her, but she did not enlighten me.
These heretics and the devil that prompts them are so careful
to leave no stone unturned to compass their ends that no doubt
they have persuaded her that your Majesty wishes to marry her
for religious objects alone, and so she kept repeating to me that
she was heretical and consequently could not marry your Majesty.
She was so disturbed and excited and so resolved to restore religion
as her father left it, that at last I said that I did not consider she was
heretical and could not believe that she would sanction the things
which were being discussed in Parliament, because if she changed
the religion she would be ruined, and that your Majesty would not
separate from the union of the church for all the kingdoms of the
earth. She said then much less would you do it for a woman. I
did not want to be all rigour, so I said that men did more for a
woman than for anything else. She said she would not take the title
of head of the church, but that so much money was taken out of
the country for the Pope every year that she must put an end to
it, and that the Bishops were lazy poltroons. I replied that the
poltroons were the preachers that she listened to, and that it added
little to her honour and was a great scandal that so many rognes
should come from Germany, and get into the pulpit before her and
great congregations to preach a thousand absurdities, without being
learned or worthy to be listened to. After we had been talking
for half an hour Knollys came in and said supper was ready, a
new thing, and as I think arranged by those who are working this
wickedness, for there is nothing that annoys them more than that
I should speak to her. I took my leave saying that she was not
the Queen Elizabeth that I knew and that I was very dissatisfied
with what I had heard, and if she did what she said she would be
ruined. This was Tuesday evening and the next day there was no
sermon at the palace as she was unwell ; and truly I do not think
her health is good. The Treasurer of the household (although he is
a favourite with the Queen) is not at all discreet, nor is he a good
Catholic, as I have said, but still he behaves better than the others.
Cecil is very clever but a mischievous man and a heretic, and
governs the Queen in spite of the Treasurer, for they are not at all
good friends and I have done what I can to make them worse.
This is the history up to then. Ever since, these heretics have been
trying to carry through what they had proposed before, and by way
of compromise on Wednesday the 15th instant, they brought forward
the same as they proposed at the opening of Parliament, only more
moderate. This was that she could take the title of supremacy if
she chose, the Pope's authority being abolished in any case. This
was to be sworn to by all who hold any office or benefice from the
Queen, and in case of refusal they were to be deprived. In the same
manner all ecclesiastics, the graduates of the universities and the
scholars would lose all the rights, places and profits they held. All
agreed to this except the earl of Shrewsbury, Lord Montague, the
Bishops and the abbot of Westminster. I believe some of the lords
were not present, but I shall find out how each one acted and let
your Majesty know. The earl of Sussex distinguished himself in
being the greatest rogue of them all, as I always expected he would,
for he never deceived me. Paget has not left his house as he has a
bad quartan ague and is very ill.
The same day that this was decided in Parliament the Queen
received news of the heads of agreement arrived at in Chateau
Cambresi. As regards this country she (the Queen) will ill repay
your Majesty for all the benefit received at your hands, for believe
me, she will arrange with the French without standing out about
Calais if they will settle the Scotch business. This has always been
my opinion since the discussion commenced, as your Majesty will
recollect. Nothing else could be expected of them. A secretary of
the Queen Regent of Scotland has arrived here who they say rules
her body and soul. He came last year and they have now given
him leave to go over to France which was not done before. There
has been a truce signed for two months commencing a week ago.
Your Majesty already knows that what is decided in Parliament is
of no effect if it be not confirmed by the Sovereign, and they tell
me that the Queen will probably confirm this week the abominable
decree they have adopted. (fn. 2) She told me some days since to delay
writing to your Majesty as she had not confirmed anything yet, and
although I fear it will have but small effect, I purpose speaking to
her to-morrow or the day after, as it is well to leave no remedy
untried whilst the patient still breathes ; although in this case he
may be considered dead. The Catholics say your Majesty must
help them, and they and the heretics take so much account of me
that from having seen Dr. Velasco and the others who came from
Spain leave here in the three boats belonging to this house, they soon
said in London that I had gone with the Bishop of (to?) Rome. They
have been in great fear that if they change the religion your
Majesty will abandon them and I think this has made them pause.
The country is in the same state as the bishop of Aquila will have
represented to your Majesty, only that my views have since been
amply confirmed and things cannot last at the present rate.
Mason, who was ambassador to his late Majesty, (fn. 3) left here two
days after the Bishop, and the Queen tells me that he is going to
Cambresi to see the Commissioners on certain points that can be
explained better verbally than by letter.
All the Bishops here are determined to die for the faith, and your
Majesty would be surprised to see how firm and steadfast they have
been and are. If I had money and authority from your Majesty, I
would willingly rather give it to them than pay the pensions of
these renegades who have sold their God and the honour of their
country. I am sure that religion will not fall, because the Catholic
party is two-thirds larger than the other, but I could wish that the
work were done by your Majesty's hands, and that God should not
be delivered over to the enemy.
I humbly beg your Majesty to forgive me for departing thus
from my story, but I am so distressed at what is happening here
that I cannot help saying what I do. Three or four Spaniards have
arrived here from Geneva full of false doctrine. It would be well to
have some precaution taken on the coast of Flauders to prevent such
vile rabble coming over, at least Spaniards, as the heretics greatly
congratulate themselves upon their coming. Those who have arrived
say that some forty more Spaniards and one Antwerp man are still
in Geneva and are expected to come here. I have decided in accord
with Friar Juan de Villagarcia and Dr. Velasco to try and seize
them, their wickedness being proved, and throw them into the river.
I must do it so dexterously and secretly as to give no ground for
complaint to the Queen or her people.
I am told also that news has been received of the coming of Pedro
Martin (Peter Martyr (fn. 4) ) Friar Bernardino de Siena (fn. 5) and Calvin. (fn. 6)
I beg your Majesty to have the measures taken to remedy this as
you wrote to me. Calvin is a Frenchman and a great heretic.—
London, 19 March 1559.
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| 23 Mar. |
19. The King to the Count de Feria.
By your letters and by the bishop of Aquila I am informed of
the Queen's decision about the marriage, and, although I cannot
help being sorry that the affair has not been arranged, as I greatly
desired and the public weal demanded, yet as the Queen thinks it
was not necessary and that with good friendship we shall attain
the same object, I am content that it should be so. I advise you of
this that you may inform the Queen from me, and at the same
time repeat my offers of assistance and co-operation for the good
government of her realm, and assure her that I will preserve the
good friendship and brotherhood that I have hitherto maintained.
Even besides this if it should be necessary that I should render her
any service in the matter of her marriage I will do so with all the
goodwill that I have ever shown in matters that concern her.—
Brussels, 23rd March 1559. |
20. The Same to the Same.
Your letter by the bishop of Aquila received. He has related
at great length what you confided to him, and I was glad to hear so
detailed an account of the state of affairs in England as I was
very anxious to know the exact position, and I am quite satisfied
with the way in which he has laid it before me. I also highly
approve of the manner in which you have proceded in all things,
and the prudence, moderation and zeal you have shown in your
dealings with the Queen and the rest, for which I thank you, and
charge you to continue the same care, diligence and good will in the
guidance of affairs touching my interests.
The affairs entrusted to the Bishop being of such importance I sent
him at once to Cambresi to obtain the opinion of my Council of
State who are there arranging for peace. The Bishop has returned
with their answer, and after consulting with those of my Council
who reside here I have resolved as follows.
First. Having regard to what you write and the Bishop tells me,
there seems reason to fear that religious affairs having reached their
present pitch, revolutions or disturbances might result therefrom
either from the Catholics resenting the carrying out of the new
decisions or from the discontent that is shown by some of the Queen's
proceedings and mode of Government, or again by the incitement
of the French, and I therefore think that, to avoid this and the
inconveniences which might result, and which are so great and
evident that I need not recapitulate them, that all your efforts should
be directed to smooth matters down as much as possible and use
every means that the Queen should not proceed so rigorously
as she seemed to intend to enforce the oath that Parliament had
determined upon. In case this cannot be managed you will try to
keep in the good graces of the Queen and lead her to rely upon my
friendship implicitly so that no opportunity shall be presented for
the French to be appealed to in case of necessity, although it seems
most unlikely that she should trust people who have the claims they
have on her kingdom and are only waiting for a chance to try and
oust her from it. You will use for this object all the fair words,
arguments and compliments you may think fitting and efficacious,
but at the same time you must be very careful not to let the Catholics
despair of our friendship, but rather seek opportunities of favouring
them with the Queen, giving them to understand that you will
always do so.
The main end and aim that you must have in view in all things
is to obstruct and impede, by every way, form and means, any
rupture between the Catholics and heretics in England, this being
the best course for the pacification of the country, and for the welfare
of our interests, as it will deprive the French of any excuse for
putting their foot in the country, which is the thing principally to
be avoided. With this object you must so guide and direct things
as far as possible to attain and preserve harmony ; making yourself
a mediator and employing those means which you see fitting with
your great knowledge of English affairs.
If in spite of all your efforts you cannot obviate a rupture between
Catholics and heretics you must endeavour by all means to let me
know at once the state of affairs and I will instruct you how you
are then to proceed. If however a disturbance happen so suddenly
that you have no time to consult me, you will mediate and try to
pacify without declaring yourself for either party until you have
advised me and received my reply, but if you see the Catholic
side strong and firmly established and the heretics weak, you will
not fail to secretly favour the former and supply them underhandedly
with money, whilst on the other hand you will give fair words to
the heretics to put them off their guard and prevent them from
calling in the French.
For this and the payment of the pensions you must have a supply
of money, and I have ordered, in addition to the 20,000 ducats
that were sent to you the other day, another 40,000 to be sent to you.
20,000 at once by way of Antwerp, which will arrive as soon as the
Bishop and the other 20,000 in a few days, as all could not be sent
together. It will be well not to let be it known there that you have any
more money than is necessary to pay what we owe, as it may arouse
suspicion and distrust, and this would be inconvenient. You can
employ it in the way you think advisable, either in paying the
pensioners something or in gaining friends or succouring and
maintaining Catholics and others, whom you think might be useful
to prevent a rupture, as already mentioned, or indeed in any way
you think best for our object in the exercise of your prudence. You
must keep principally in view by all ways and means to avoid a
rupture, the importance of which is so great that I cannot be satisfied
without repeating it so many times. To help what may be desirable
in England I have thought wise to publish that I have for the present
abandoned my voyage to Spain, with the excuse that I await here
the arrival of the Prince my son for his marriage. It will be well
for you to spread this in England so as to give more encouragement
to our friends. I have also ordered, in case of necessity, that money
should be got to fit out a fleet in a short time, so that it may be
ready to carry men over to England if required. I have not had it
done at once so as not to arouse the jealousy of the English and
in order that people may not think it is for my voyage to Spain.
Men will also be got ready here, so that if it should be necessary
they can be sent to the place where they may be wanted.
Whilst this was being written your letter of the 19th instant
arrived, and I was much pained to learn what you say is
happening in the matter of religion and the resolution adopted
in Parliament on the subject. I approve of the steps you took with
the Queen, and I am very anxious to know whether they have been
of any avail, as she told you not to advise me until she let you
know. I do not think that I need alter anything that has been
written above except to enjoin you again very emphatically to carry
out my wishes with all possible diligence and let me know what
happens by every opportunity. As the Queen might perhaps think
I was offended at her rejection of the marriage, I thought well
to write you a separate letter that you might show to her. Do
so, and intimate as from me that I am quite satisfied with what
pleases her, with such complimentary words and offers of service
as you may see advisable and in substantial accord with the contents
of the letter. The bishop carries this despatch back with him and
has been present at all the discussions on the matter. You will
therefore hear from him full particulars as he is thoroughly well
informed about it. I have ordered the bishop to speak about a certain
apology which was written by Cardinal Pole touching the matters
which the Pope had had laid before him and treating also of other
things that perhaps had better not be published. I have been told
that this apology has come into possession of the Queen amongst
the other papers left by the Cardinal which were seized by her orders,
and it would be well for many reasons to get hold of it. I charge
you therefore dexterously to get it away from the Queen, or whoever
may have it, employing your usual tact in obtaining it. When
obtained please send it to me.
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In the handwriting of the King :—
It will be well to delay as much as possible the payment of the
pensions except those most necessary for the success of our present
affairs, so that this money now sent may go as far as possible, for
although the sum may not be large, in my present circumstances
I shall feel the want of it, but am anxious to do nothing that shall
stand in the way of the arrangement of my business.— Gruniendal,
23rd March 1559. |
| 24 Mar. |
21. Count de Feria to the King.
On the 19th instant I wrote to your Majesty by a courier who
went over with Dr. Velasco. On the same day, Palm Sunday,
there were great rejoicings at the palace on the arrival of a son
of the Chamberlain with news of the peace, and also because Parliament
had passed on the previous day the Act mentioned in my
former letter against the authority of the Pope. On the next day,
Monday, I went to speak with the Queen, and as I was waiting in
the presence chamber the earl of Sussex and the Admiral separately
caught sight of me and fled from me, as if I were the person they had
injured. When I went in to speak to the Queen I said that I had
heard she had received letters from her Commissioners acquainting
her with the help and support they had received from your
Majesty's Commissioners. She answered that she had, and seemed
grateful, but was indignant with her own representatives for
agreeing to such terms, as she appeared to think that the 500,000
crowns to be paid by the French if they do not restore Calais within
eight years was too little. She went on in this way, but her anger
was all pretended, and she is really very much pleased and her
people as well. They all see, good and had alike, the great service
your Majesty has rendered them. They tell me that the common
people laugh at the idea of the French giving up Calais to them
again, and are dissatisfied with the agreement made, although they
are very thankful to your Majesty. I am sure that the news of
peace made the Parliament come to the decision I have mentioned.
They were much afraid that your Majesty would abandon them, for
truly they are very weak, and anyone speaking to them strongly in
the name of the Catholics would carry them with him. I said to
the Queen that I was surprised that she had allowed Parliament to
go so far in the matter of religion ; but since it had come to so bad
a decision I hoped that she would act more wisely in so far as the
confirmation was concerned, and that as she had asked me not to
write to your Majesty until her confirmation was given [had
refrained from doing so, and I was now afraid that if your Majesty
learnt what was going on from any other source you would be angry
with me for delaying the information so long, so that as I had
trusted to her and the whole business was entirely in her hands, I
begged of her to consider deeply before acting. She replied that she
did not think of calling herself head of the church, or of administering
sacraments, and then went on to say some false and foolish things
about the present occurrences, and asked me scornfully whether your
Majesty would be angry at all this and at the mass being said in
English. I said that I thought your Majesty would be much
pained thereat, but I did not know how you would take it, although
I feared she would be ruined if it went on as I had told her before
on my own account as a person who wished her well, and who would
be sorry to see her destruction. She asked me who could bring it
about, your Majesty or the king of France. I answered that I said
nothing in your Majesty's name, and that you had done nothing
more in the matter than to commend the question of religion to her
when she first succeeded to the crown. I said she had seen hitherto
whether your Majesty was a friend or an enemy, and that I, in
compliance with your Majesty's orders that I should serve her, could
not help telling her the truth when I saw her in such a dangerous
way, as I knew what forces she had, as well as those of your
Majesty and the king of France, and was convinced that her strength
lay in the friendship of your Majesty. She said that she had no
idea of making war in France, but meant to hold her own in her
kingdom, as her father had done. I replied that they were deceiving
her and she could not hold her own, and that it was a pity and a
shame to hear the things they made her believe ; and, as to restoring
religion as her father left it, she knew that king Henry burnt
Lutherans, whilst all those who were now preaching to her were
either Lutherans or Zuinglians. She denied this and was much
surprised. I told her I was more astonished at the manner in which
these religious questions were settled than I was at the decisions
arrived at, bad as they were ; and to convince her that these
poltroons who preached to her were Lutherans and Zuinglians I would
give her notes of some of the abominable and bestial things they
had preached before her. She asked me to do so, and wanted to
know who had written the notes for me. I told her I had, and
have wise and godly people here who are capable of stating the
truth, and that as she wished it I would send her a paper in which
these things were set forth, and she could have it considered and
answered in writing. I sent her a paper that had been prepared
by Friar Juan de Villagarcia, which I thought very good.
I think when I left her on that occasion she was rather kinder
than she had been the last time, but it will not be by such talks as
these that she or they will be softened. I thought well to send
her the paper, as I verily believe they have never told her the truth
in these matters in all her life, except when the late Queen sent
some of the Bishops to speak with her, and in that way she would
have hated it, even if they had agreed with her. The next day I
wrote to her begging her not to take any step in the Parliament
business until I had seen her after these holidays. She sent to say
she would answer when she saw me. I took this course in order to
prevent the confirmation of the Parliament's decisions until after
Easter, as the heretics have made a great point of having them
confirmed before.
Last night the Queen sent to say she would see me at 9 o'clock
this morning, and just as I was ready to go a message came for me
to put off my visit, as she was very busy. She had resolved to go
to Parliament to-day at 1 o'clock, after dinner, and there, all being
assembled, to confirm what they had agreed to in the matters they
have discussed, although I do not know for certain what this is.
Her going was, however, postponed till next Monday week the
3rd April. I do not know why, but I see that the heretics are very
downcast in the last few days. I am doing everything in the world
that I can to lengthen the life of this sick man until God and your
Majesty provide a remedy.
It would be well that the Pope should be informed of the way in
which the designs against religion are passed in Parliament now, as
it is very different from what was done in the time of king Henry
and Edward VI. If he decide to proceed against the Queen and
kingdom he should leave out the bishops and others who were
against the measure in Parliament and the ecclesiastics who assembled
in synod in the cathedral of London, and who issued a very Catholic
declaration proclaiming the truth and denouncing the attacks which
were directed against it. All the Catholics in the country who had
no voice in Parliament, the majority indeed, should also be excepted.
It is, in my opinion, of great importance that this distinction should
be made in the bull, both to favour and confirm the Catholics, and
to confound and injure the heretics. It is a great pity that the
Queen has no one near her, man or woman, to advise her. except to
her injury, in a matter of this importance.
I have forgotten to write to your Majesty that lady Catherine, (fn. 7)
who is a friend of mine and speaks confidentially to me, told me
that the Queen does not wish her to succeed, in case of her (the
Queen's) death without heirs. She is dissatisfied and offended at
this, and at the Queen's only making her one of the ladies of the
presence, whereas she was in the privy-chamber of the late Queen,
who showed her much favour. The present Queen probably bears
her no goodwill. I try to keep lady Catherine very friendly, and she
has promised me not to change her religion, nor to marry without
my consent. She has been hitherto very willing to marry the earl
of Pembroke's son, but she has ceased to talk about it as she used
to. The bishop will have told your Majesty what passed between
the earl of Pembroke and me on this matter.
Document endorsed : "Copy of the letter written to His Majesty
24th March 1559." |
| 30 Mar. |
22. The Same to the Same.
The bishop of Aquila arrived here before daybreak to-day,
30th March, with your Majesty's letters. By them, and from what
he tells me, I understand your Majesty's wishes and will endeavour
to carry them out to the best of my ability. I do not think that, up
to the present, any of the roads your Majesty wishes to take have
been closed, and I will try, in any case, to do what has to be done
with as little cost and risk as possible. I wrote to your Majesty on
the 24th, and since then the Queen has commanded the persons,
whose names are given in the enclosed memorandum, (fn. 8) to meet on
each side to dispute on the three articles set forth. I have been
pleased to bring the matter to this point, and am now trying to
devise means to avoid any trick or subtilty in the form of the
dispute, which the heretics may take advantage of afterwards. The
best way that has occurred is that the dispute should be in Latin
and in writing, and that each disputant should sign what he says.
The Queen at first had consented to this, but afterwards they sent
to the Catholics to say that the dispute was to be in vulgar English,
verbal and in Parliament which would be very bad. I shall go to
the Queen to-morrow and see whether I cannot persuade her to
return to the former conditions. I try all I can to keep her
pleasant and in good humour, and, although sometimes I speak to
her very freely, as I ought to do, having right and truth on my
side, yet I think that for this very reason she does not get tired
of me, but likes to discuss matters with me, and to such an extent
is this so, that she does not want her people to hear of our
intercourse and they on their side are very suspicious that the
coolness they discover in her about heresy is owing to my efforts
on your Majesty's behalf, which is quite true, for if it were not
for your Majesty all would have sunk into the pit already.
I send this letter by Godincz, the courier, on his way from Spain,
who has just arrived, and in order not to detain him I do not
answer the bishop's dispatch.—30th March 1559.
Document endorsed : "1559, copy of the letter written to his
Majesty on the 30th March." |