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| 4th April. |
23. The Same to the Same.
On the 30th ultimo I wrote to your Majesty by Gedinez, and the
next day I went to speak with the Queen. She was in a better
humour with me than I have ever seen her, and said that she had
heard the French had not come to terms with your Majesty, and
that I might be sure that she would not agree with them unless
your Majesty did so too, but that she would keep to her promises.
All this was without my saying anything. She said that the
French had sent Guido Cavalcanti hither three times, always with
the same thing, and that they had been answered as they deserved,
and yet they wanted to send him again. She is rather offended
with her commissioners : I do not know whether because they are
not conducting the business to her liking, or because they bear
themselves unworthily with the French. The latter is what she
gave me to understand, and I said that I had heard that it was so.
About the dispute. She told me it was decided to hold it in
English and in writing, each side signing what they said. On the
same day, Friday, the last day of March, there assembled in the
choir of the church at Westminster, in the morning, the persons
whose names I wrote to your Majesty, in the presence of the
Council and a great number of people of all sorts who had gathered
to hear them, and although they had been given to understand that
discussion was to be verbal and that all could give their vote,
Dr. Bacon, who is acting as Chancellor and Keeper of the Seals,
then announced that they had to dispute in writing. The Catholics
could not do this as they had been deceived ; but, nevertheless,
Dr. Cole, dean of St. Pauls, said something on the matter. As soon
as he had finished speaking one of the heretics rose, and kneeling
down with his back to the altar on which was the sacrament, he
prayed that God would inspire and enlighten those present to
understand the truth. When the prayer was ended, another of them
took out a book and read very diffusely all they had prepared and
devised on the first point. When this was done the Bishops wished
to follow up the discussion as they expected and reply to the
heretics' arguments, but Bacon would not allow it. The bishop of
Winchester said that as no one had spoken on their side, but Cole
and all of them had much to say, they should give them another day
so that they might reduce what they had to say to writing, since
they would not hear them now. If this were not done to give them
the same advantage as their opponents only one side would be heard,
and so, with great difficulty and bad grace, they gave them till the
following Monday when they again met at the same place and the
Catholics then wanted to read the written answer they had brought
according to the agreement, which answer I understand contained
many very good arguments, as indeed their adversaries must also
have thought and regretted, to judge from what followed. Bacon
told the Catholics that they had to pass on to the second article as
the first had already been discussed on Friday, and the Bishops
replied that they had not given their opinion upon the first article
as they had not been allowed to speak, but that they had now
brought their opinion in writing and begged that it might be read.
For this purpose Dr. Arceu (Harpsfield), archdeacon of St. Pauls,
rose four times with the paper in his hand and was refused
permission each time, Bacon urging them still to pass to the second
article, and they replying that they wished to be heard on the first ;
and as they claimed it as their right Bacon said they could hand in
their paper without reading it. To this the Bishops replied that as
their opponents had impressed their arguments on the minds of the
hearers it was not just that they should be prevented from doing
the same ; and, indeed, this was the reason for the discussion being
ordered as it was not necessary to meet for any other purpose. They
were again pressed to go on to the second article, and told that it was
the Queen's wish and command that they should do so, and on their
being asked whether they would obey or not the Bishops answered
that they could not do so without grave prejudice to their cause, and
complained of the many other unfair and injurious things that had
been done to them. As they remained firm in their position the abbot
of Westminster rose and said that although the Bishops were right,
and an injury was being done to them by forcing them to discuss the
second article when they had only come prepared to discuss the first,
yet, to obey the Queen's command he offered to reply to their
opponents' arguments on the second article. Although the Bishops
did not approve of this they would have put up with it if the
heretics had set forth their views, but even this could not be
arranged with them, and Bacon insisted that they (the Bishops)
should begin and speak on the second article. At such a manifest
injustice as this the bishops of Winchester and Lincoln said it was a
great shame that they should be treated so badly and made to raise
questions, they being Catholics and therefore not obliged to open
disputes, although they would gladly reply to them and justify the
Catholic doctrine to any who desired it, even though they were open
heretics. On one of the adversaries telling him that they were the
guardians of the churches, Bishop Baden (Bain) asked them of what
Church ; English or German, since in England there was only one
Church, with which they had nothing to do. If German, which one
did they mean, as they had heard there were several ; and, finally,
the matter was dealt with in a way that the heretics were routed
and the colloquy ended. (fn. 1) In the afternoon some of the Bishops
were summoned to the palace, and the bishops of Winchester and
Lincoln were sent prisoners in a boat to the Tower, as they had been
most conspicuous against the heretics, and their goods have been
sequestrated. I am also told to-day that they will send the other
six to the Tower, three Bishops and three Doctors who were in the
discussion, only leaving the abbot of Westminster, as he said he
would discuss the second article out of obedience. I hear also that
the Council has discussed whether the Bishops have given sufficient
cause to deprive them of their dignities, although others tell me
that the question discussed was that of the appropriation by the
Queen of all the ecclesiastical revenues in general. The Catholics
are disturbed to see the violence and injustice with which this
business is being treated.
A person that the bishop of Aquila told your Majesty was in the
habit of bringing me truthful information assures me that a marriage
is being discussed between the Queen and the Archduke Ferdinand,
and that Count George Helfenstein or another will shortly return
hither. I neither believe nor disbelieve any of these things, but
think well to keep your Majesty informed.
Guido Cavalcanti, or he who came with him, who, the Bishop
tells me, is called Monsieur de la Marche, (fn. 2) gave the Marquis of
Northampton 2,000 crowns from the king of France.
They tell me that Mason is expected back here. I do not know
why he went or why he returns, as they take very good care to
withhold all their affairs from me. I send this letter by the post to
Antwerp addressed to the factor to be forwarded at once to your
Majesty.—4th April 1559.
Document endorsed : "Copy of the letter written to his Majesty." |
| 11 April. |
24. The Same to the Same.
On the 4th instant I wrote to your Majesty by the ordinary
Antwerp post, and on the 7th Mason arrived with news of the
peace, at the same time as your Majesty's courier to me despatched
on the 5th, and another courier bringing me the same news from
your Majesty's Commissioners. On the same day I went to the
palace with the son of the Portuguese ambassador who came to
visit the Queen. The members of the Council and Mason came out
to us and I thought they looked downcast. We went in to see the
Queen, who received us graciously, and, seeing that your Majesty
had left to me in your letters the mode in which she should be told
of the arrangement with the French I thought most convenient, and
in keeping with my previous attitude to express my sorrow about
the marriage (fn. 3) as I was so devoted a servant of hers, and understood
what she had lost, and thus to throw a greater gloom over her and
them in this respect than has been thrown over them by seeing
your Majesty in close alliance and relationship with the king of
France. The Queen presently began to read the letters from
Portugal, which, being in Portuguese, she called me to help her to
read. I answered her that I was no longer any good for a secretary,
which she understood and smiled slightly. After this, when she
had finished with the Portuguese, she called me to her and asked
whether I had letters from your Majesty. I told her yes, and that
on the next day I would give her any information she wanted about
them, but that I could not do so then, as I was so angry with her
and so annoyed. She said that if I wanted to go out with the
Portuguese I could do so and she would send outside for me. This
she did, and on my return began to say she had heard your Majesty
was married, smiling, saying your name was a fortunate one, and
now and then giving little sighs which bordered upon laughter. I
told her that although I saw that this peace was a great boon to
Christendom I could not rejoice to see your Majesty married to
anyone else but her, nor at her refusing to believe all my importunities
and assurances of how desirable it would be for her to
marry your Majesty. To this she retorted that it was your Majesty's
fault it had fallen through and not hers, as she had given me
no reply, and that I had told her also that I had not written about
it to your Majesty. I told her she knew very well what the facts
were, and that I had not taken a reply because I understood what
kind of answer she would give me, and that in affairs of this
importance between two such great princes as your Majesty and
her it was my duty, if I could not bring about an agreement, to
give matters such a turn as to cause no anger or resentment on
either side, and this I had tried to do, although in so doing I had
leant more on her side than on your Majesty's, as she very well
knew. She confessed this was so, and afterwards went on to say
that your Majesty could not have been so much in love with her
as I had said, as you had not had patience to wait four months for
her ; and many things of the same sort, as if she was not at all
pleased at the decision adopted by your Majesty. She told me that
two or three of her Council must have been very glad at the news,
but she did not say who they were. What I have heard during the
short time since the news of the peace came, is that she and all the
rest of them have been much grieved to see your Majesty, and the
king of France so united, and they greatly fear that this friendship
may portend evil to them. During the time the Portuguese was
talking to the Queen and before we entered her room, I spoke
with nearly all the councillors separately, and Cecil, who is a
pestilent knave, as your Majesty knows, told me they had heard
your Majesty was going very shortly to Spain ; and amongst other
things he said that if your Majesty wished to keep up the war with
France, they for their part would be glad of it. I told him he could
tell that to people who did not understand the state of affairs in
England so well ns I did. What they wanted was something very
different from that, and they were blind entirely to their real
interests, and would now begin to understand that I had advised
what was best for the service of the Queen and the welfare of the
country. In short I left them that day as bitter as gall.
Paget is better and has gone twice or thrice to the palace in a
litter. I have arranged to see him to-day. He is greatly persecuted
and out of favour, and wishes to assure me that he is sound in
religious matters.
The two bishops are still in the Tower. He of Lincoln has a
quartan ague, and they say they will let him go home under sureties,
but I do not know for certain. They have not done anything with
the others yet. They have lately discussed in Parliament the
question of depriving the bishoprics of their valuable possessions, in
order to enable the Queen to bestow them upon whom she pleases,
and appoint to each Bishop a certain stipend in tithes and other
small matters. They are very steadfast and determined to die if
necessary.
Nothing more has been said about the disputation. The effect
has been a good one, and the matter ended in their seeing that
they were doing an injustice to the Bishops who, however, refused
to allow a wrong to be done to their cause, and this has greatly
encouraged the Catholics and thrown the heretics into some confusion.
Besides this the earl of Sussex (lord deputy) of Ireland,
although he is so great a heretic, told them in the Council that if
they try to make any change in religion there the province will
revolt. The Welsh have sent word to the earl of Pembroke not to
send them any heretic preacher, or he will never come back. I for
my part believe that the Queen would be glad not to have gone so
far in the matter of religion, and the peace which they thought to
turn to advantage for carrying out this wicked design is, by God's
will, that which they now fear most, and since God thus does your
Majesty's business, it is only just to reciprocate by promoting His
affairs. This matter of religion has been held in suspense hitherto,
and the blow miraculously kept from falling, sometimes by my
softly persuading the Queen, and sometimes by frightening her, and
urging her to give more time to the business. It was of the utmost
importance to get over Holy-week, as she was resolved on Friday to
confirm what Parliament had adopted. They give themselves up
for lost if your Majesty will not back them up, and they are so
alarmed lest the French should recall their forces from Italy
and send them over here, that Mason told me so the day before
yesterday, disgusted and sick of the way they had acted. He
told the Queen that your Majesty's marriage was arranged after he
left, and a courier who overtook him on the road brought him the
news. They consider that the peace is favourable and honourable
for your Majesty and the king of France, and for them the contrary.
I gather from certain things which your Majesty and your Council
asked the bishop of Aquila, and from what they write to me, that
they would have wished me to send my opinion about English
affairs. Even though I had a good opinion to give I could not well
give it without being thoroughly enlightened respecting the state
of all other matters across the sea, and I have consequently thought
best always to report to your Majesty the position of matters here
as I see and understand them, and the evil effects which might
arise from not being prepared for them in time, greater indeed than
those which have already arisen, which are not small, as we have
lost a kingdom, body and soul. Now, however, that God has
deigned to send this great boon of peace to Christendom, and your
Majesty is more at leisure to attend to other obligations, I think it
is time to consider how things are going to end here. This business
is divided into two heads, first, that of religion, and whether your
Majesty is bound in this respect I do not enquire, although the
Catholics claim that notwithstanding the country having been at the
disposal of your Majesty to be treated as you wished, it has come
to its present pass. The other head is the question of the State, and
the necessity of preventing the king of France from dominating the
kingdom, for which object he has two circumstances so favourable to
him, namely, the just claims of the queen of Scots and the great ease
with which he could take possession owing to the miserable state in
which the country is, as I have informed your Majesty several times
since I came hither, and I think it has been growing worse every hour.
I have done my best to carry out your Majesty's commands to try and
tranquilise the country and please the Queen, and to hold my hand
in religious affairs, and at the same time to push them on to make
peace without any responsibility weighing on your Majesty with
regard to the conditions under which it was made, and this I have
succeeded in doing as your Majesty is more free than ever therefrom.
But it behoves me to consider whether, with things as they
are, your Majesty can be assured of that which is desirable, because
as I understand—leaving aside God's affairs and religious matters
unredressed—now that these people are better able to do as they
like than at any time since this woman became Queen, all the time
which may be allowed them to carry out their heresies will be
pernicious to the tranquillity and quietude of the country, and may
give rise to tumult. And besides this, whenever the king of France
finds means in Rome to get this woman declared a heretic together
with her bastardy, and advances his own claim, your Majesty will
be more perplexed what to do than at present, because I do not see
how your Majesty could in such case go against God and justice
and against the Catholics who will doubtless join him (the king of
France) if he comes with the voice of the Church behind him. To
let him take the country, which he will do with so much ease that
I dread to think of it, would be to my mind the total ruin of your
Majesty and all your States, and seeing things in this light, as I do,
and to fail to inform your Majesty, would, in my opinion be a crime
worthy of punishment both towards God and your Majesty. They
tell me the Swedish ambassador has again pressed the matter of the
marriage and told the Queen that the son of the King his master
was still of the same mind, and asked for a reply to the letter he
brought last year. The Queen replied that the letter was written
when she was Madam Elizabeth, and now that she was queen of
England he must write to her as Queen and she would give an
answer. She did not know whether his master would leave his
kingdom to marry her, but she would not leave hers to be monarch
of the world, and at present she would not reply either yes or no.
With this message a secretary who came here this winter was
despatched, the ambassador remaining here. About a week ago this
secretary came back and brought a grand present of tapestries and
crmine for the Queen, and says that his master will send very
shortly one of the principal lords of his kingdom to treat of the
marriage. He had audience of the Queen yesterday. I do not
know what passed.
The (illegible (fn. 4) ) of Calais has come here on the same conditions
as Lord Grey. His wife begged the Queen that he might come
and kiss her hand, but the Queen said it was not proper for him to
come at present. He is being kept in the Control Chamber.
I had written thus far three days ago and have detained the post
in the hope of seeing the Queen before despatching the letter. I
have not seen her, but in order to keep your Majesty well informed
I have thought best to send it off. The only thing fresh that I can
say is that no class of people in the country, so far as I know, is
pleased with the way in which your Majesty has made peace. The
Catholics are grieved that your Majesty should have married away
from here, and the heretics are in a state of great alarm at the
thought that everybody is arming against them. The Queen has
already declared in Parliament that she will not be called head of
the church, whereat the heretics are very dissatisfied. Cecil went
yesterday to the lower house and told them from the Queen that
she thanked them greatly for their goodwill in offering her the
title of supreme head of the Church, which out of humility she
was unwilling to accept, and asked them to devise some other form
with regard to the supremacy or primacy. He was answered that
it was against the word of God and the Scripture, and they were
surprised at his coming to them every day with new proposals and
objections.
In four or five days I will send your Majesty an account of what
is done about the ships which have been taken here in spite of your
Majesty's safe-conducts, which in my opinion is a thing that should
not be allowed.—London, 11th April 1559.
Document endorsed : "London 1559, copy of letter written to his
Majesty 11 April." |
| 12 April. |
25. The King to the Count de Feria.
On the 6th instant I received the letter you sent by the courier
from Spain on the 30th ultimo, to which there is not much to reply
except that I am glad the bishop of Aquila had arrived safely, as
from what he will have told you and the despatch he bore you
will now be well advised of my wishes in respect of matters in
England and in accordance therewith you can with your usual
prudence forward them as you consider most desirable for our
interests.
I have read the memorandum you sent me of the points to be
discussed between the Catholics and the heretics and the names of
persons chosen by each side. It would undoubtedly be a good way
for the dispute to be in Latin and in writing for the reasons which
you give. Let me know the result of your good offices with the
Queen on the subject and the decision arrived at, as I shall be glad
be such as to redound to His service and the good of religion, and
that He will not allow wickedness to prevail and obscure the truth.
The Count de Luna (fn. 5) has written to me that the Emperor having
heard that I had not married the Queen of England, he had told
him he should be very glad to treat of the matter for one of his
sons, and His Majesty's ambassador has spoken to me here to the
same effect to learn my will, and in the event of its being
favourable to beg me to promote and favour his suit. I replied
that I would do so willingly, both because I thought it would be
very good for all parties, and because I was desirous of gratifying
His Majesty and forwarding the prosperity of my cousins. The
ambassador wished to inform his master of this before taking any
step, but I think best in every respect, and particularly to upset the
negotiations on the subject in London, to advise you at once of
what is taking place and tell you my will for your guidance. I
enjoin you therefore to endeavour to speak with the Queen as
soon as possible, and tell her that as the love I bear her is that of
a good brother, I am always thinking of what will conduce to her
welfare and the stability of her kingdom, and that it appears to me
that as she will have to marry a foreigner (which will be most
fitting as she knows) she can do no better than to take one of the
Emperor's sons for a husband, for the reasons which her good
judgment will perceive sooner than she can be told, both for the
good of Christianity in general, which should be the first aim of
princes, and for the special advantage of her own country, as by
making this match his Cæsarian Majesty will hold her as a daughter
and will thus aid and defend her with all the power of the Empire.
I on my part would do the same and should feel myself as much
bound to it as if she had married the prince my son, and thus by
drawing closer the bonds of relationship between us, the goodwill
and affection of all of us will become stronger and last for ever with
many other benefits which will scrue therefrom, which you can
point out so as to persuade her to accept this business with the
same earnestness and good feeling which have prompted me to
propose it. And signally will it tend to her own contentment and
repose if she determine to marry one of the archdukes my cousins,
because having no states of his own he would always be with her
and would help her to bear the burden of government of her
kingdom whilst these states of mine will remain the more united
to hers by reason of her husband being of our blood and of so near
kin, and she herself will be more feared and esteemed by her own
subjects and will have all the protection she may require. She will
have so many connections and of such strength and power that none
will dare to offend or vex her, whereas just the reverse will happen
if she marry a subject, as apart from the dissatisfaction of those who
were not related to the man she may choose, it might give rise to
such humours that although she is prudent enough to remedy them,
may cost her much trouble and perplexity to assuage. The aforegoing,
and as much more to the same effect as you think necessary,
you will place before her with the tact and suavity you know how
to be informed, and I hope to God (whose cause it is) that it will
to employ, so that what you say may persuade without vexing her ;
taking particular care always to banish any shadow of an idea she
may have, that because she did not marry me and I have entered
the French alliance, I shall take less interest in her affairs. You
will on the contrary assure her positively that this will not be so,
but that I am and shall remain as good a brother to her as before
and as such shall take very great interest in what concerns her,
and will try to forward her affairs as if they were my own. To
prove this by acts I send you order to undertake the present task
and propose this marriage to her as I believe no other could be so
suitable for her, although I believe the Emperor will very shortly
send a person specially to treat of the business. Advise me promptly
what answer she gives, so that in view thereof the necessary steps
may be taken, bearing in mind that any efforts you make to bring
this business to the desired end will be very agreeable to me.—
Brussels, 12th April 1559. |
| 14 April. |
26. The King to the Count de Feria.
This morning I received the letter you sent me by way of Antwerp
on the 4th instant, by which I have seen what had passed in the
colloquy between the Catholics and the heretics on the points which
had been proposed respecting our religion and also the result of the
dispute, which in truth has grieved me, although I still hope that
God will take up His cause and aid His ministers that they may
not be thus unjustly injured and maltreated. You will continue to
advise me what passes in this matter as fully as hitherto, as I desire
to know.
Respecting the marriage of the Queen with the archduke Ferdinand
my cousin, you will have learnt by what I wrote by the courier
of the 12th, what the Emperor's ambassador said to me, and how
glad I shall be that every effort should be made very earnestly on
behalf of him or the archduke Charles his brother, and so I beg
and enjoin you to do your best in this matter, which interests me
very much.
I am awaiting with impatience a reply to what I wrote you by
the bishop of Aquila, as I have decided, unless your reply should
make such a course undesirable, to order you to return hither, since,
as matters have changed so much, there is no longer any need for
you to remain there. As you have to leave I have thought of
appointing the bishop of Aquila as my ambassador to reside in
England, making due provision for his proper maintenance according
to his office and rank, and giving his bishopric to another who will
live in his diocese. I have understood that he wishes to leave it,
and I shall be glad for him to do so, as I need his services,
and this will do away with any scruples of conscience he may have.
I have been influenced thereto by thinking that as the Bishop is
already employed in these affairs he will manage them better than
a fresh person, and also by my satisfaction with him and his good
judgment and your own good reports of him, as well as the tact
he has hitherto shown, which we have every reason to believe he
will still exhibit in the future. As regards matters connected
with these states (Flanders) it has occurred to me to send Councillor
Dasonleville, who, as you know, is well versed in them and knows the
people ; but it is understood that the bishop will have precedence in
every way, and although as they are both my servants there will
have to exist the necessary good understanding between them, each
of them will conduct separately the affairs appertaining to him. I
have not thought well, however, to decide on either point until I have
let you know and obtained your opinion on the whole question, and
to gain time I have sent this by special courier. Consider the
matter well and send me at once your opinion as to what will be
best for my service, so that I may then decide and give the necessary
orders. In the meanwhile you will please me much by forwarding
in every possible way the negotiations for the marriage of the Queen
with one of my cousins, as in every respect it would suit us all to
bring it about.—Brussels, 14th April 1559. |
| 18 April. |
27. Count de Feria to the King.
I wrote to your Majesty on the 11th instant and on the 14th and
17th. I received your Majesty's letters of 12th and 14th in answer to
mine of the 30th March and 4th April. Since then the news is that
the Queen having sent to the Parliament to say that she did not
wish to take the title of "Head of the Church," and asking them to
think of some other style, they have agreed that she shall be called
"Governess of the Church," as it appears to them that it is different
if put in this way. The same decree declares that any persons who
refuse to take the oath to observe this shall lose their places and pay
if they be servants or officers of the Queen of any kind, and if they
be ecclesiastics or prebendaries in public schools shall be deprived of
their dignities, benefits or prebends ; and they add, moreover, that
anybody receiving or helping any recusant with money or otherwise
shall incur the same punishment as the principals, and their lives
shall be at the Queen's mercy, which is a sort of punishment contained
in a charter of the kingdom which commences "Premunire"
and which is now extended to these cases. The Act has already
passed the lower house, and has been proposed in the upper. The
archbishop of York has opposed it, and it has to be read some more
times before it can pass. This York (fn. 6) is a worthy man, and England
can never have had such Bishops as these before. The other Bishops
are still prisoners, and he of Lincoln is very ill. He will be a great
loss if he dies, as he is more spirited and learned than all the rest.
I have seen Paget, who is better in health than he has been,
although not free from ague and other ailments. He deplored with
me when he came in, that this country had lost your Majesty for
king and spoke very differently from what he had done on other
occasions when I had seen him. As I understand, the reason of this is
no doubt that he is undeceived and knows the Queen will not give him
either credit or authority. He said they considered him a Catholic
and thought he had close relations with me but God send him better
health if he is ever to be of any use or I have need of him. He
joked with me about the scant service your Majesty had received
for the pensions granted here, and says that Simon Renard (fn. 7) was
the inventor and not he. He goes to his house in a fortnight, as he
telis me, without any office or even being a member of the Council.
I spoke very lovingly to him and promised him I would have the
pension paid to him which was owing, and this I have done, and to
show him what a good master your Majesty was, he should be better
treated than ever now that you had no need of his help, and he took
no part in public affairs. I thought best to keep this man satisfied
and in good humour, as at all events he has been looked upon as a
servant of your Majesty, and he is a man of greater intelligence
and tact than the others.
Enclosed I send copy of the reply of the Council to the case stated
on your Majesty's behalf showing that the ships bearing your Majesty's
safe-conducts taken by the English should be restored, and I also
send copy of what the bishop of Aquila thinks might be replied after
consulting with the lawyers representing the merchants who are
moving the case, in order that your Majesty may order what you
may deem best. It seems to us here a very hard and unjust thing,
and against the old treaties. The loss to these poor merchants is
more than 150,000 ducats after bringing their goods over in
dependance on your Majesty's good faith and paying money for the
safe-conducts. Dr. Velasco has been informed of the business here,
and a lawyer who is pleading in the case for the owners of the goods
is going to Brussels and will explain it to whomever your Majesty
may command.
Your Majesty's subjects who come hither complain that the duties
have been raised here to such an extent on the goods in which they
deal that, according to them, they are doubled in violation of the
treaties. I have thought well to advise your Majesty of this, as if
these people here will not observe the treaties in this respect and
your Majesty should, notwithstanding this, wish to observe them on
your part, you may know what is happening, and will be able to
consider whether it will be advisable to treat the English as they
treat the subjects of your Majesty. They tell me the sum is a large
one, so large indeed that by the accounts the merchants give of the
cloths and other goods which are taken from here to your Majesty's
dominions it would amount to above 200,000 ducats a year. I do
not know whether these duties would all go to your Majesty or
some to the places in your dominions where this trade is carried on.
Paget tells me that this raising of duties in spite of the treaties was
began by the Emperor although these people have done it with a
heavier hand.
I note that your Majesty writes respecting the marriage of the
archduke Ferdinand with the Queen, and the same day that the
courier arrived with the letter I was about to despatch news to your
Majesty of what was being done here in the matter and about
Lord Robert, which is as follows. When the Emperor's ambassador
arrived here I understand that he had no instructions to treat of the
matter, but as so many loose and flighty fancies are about, some
of these people who went to and fro with him to the palace must
have broached the subject to him. One in particular I know of was
Challoner, who went to visit the Emperor on the Queen's behalf
when she succeeded to the throne. He is a great talker, but a perons
of no authority. At the same time the matter must have been
brought before Count Helfenstein by the Queen's asking him whether
he had instructions to speak to her on any other subject, which I
believe she did two or three times. He must thereupon have advised
his master, and about a week ago the said Count sent hither a German
who acts as his secretary, and who I am told is a lawyer, directed
to Challoner with a letter from the Emperor to the Queen and a
portrait of the archduke Ferdinand. The Secretary delivered the
letter in person, and in it His Majesty says that he desires to send
hither a person to treat with her (the Queen) of matters of closer
friendship than these respecting which Count Helfenstein visited her,
The Queen accepted the offer to send the person, and the German
returned with her letter and message the day before yesterday. As
I was assured that the matter was under discussion, and that this
secretary was here for the purpose, I thought I ought to so approach
the Queen and him that they might both understand that the
negotiations had your Majesty's accord and goodwill without binding
myself to them in a way that could cause inconvenience from my
having acted without your Majesty's orders. I therefore only told the
Queen, on the day the Portuguese went to take leave of her, that since
she had not married your Majesty I wished she would take the
person nearest to you in kin and kindness, and so gave her to understand
that I was informed of what was being discussed. I was going
in general terms to offer the secretary such assurances as were fitting,
seeing the friendship and relationship that exists between your
Majesty and the Emperor's sons, but as it happened" that the courier
arrived on the same day as I was to speak to him, I opened out
more with him, promising help and aid from your Majesty for the
affair, and telling him how, by order of your Majesty, I had
spoken to the Queen and tried to incline her towards it, and I advised
him also as to how he should proceed. I found him at first reserved
and close, but when he saw I was acting above board and I offered
to show him the instructions I had received from your Majesty
he made a clean breast to me and told me what he had come for, as
I have related above. He went to solicit his despatch when he left
me and returned in the afternoon very much more open and extremely
pleased to tell me how they would give him his despatch that
night or the next morning, and to ask me if he could do anything
for me in Flanders.
The same day I sent to beg an audience of the Queen and spoke
to her on this business, persuading her to it as your Majesty
commands. She told me that the Emperor had written to her, and
that up to the present she did not know what he wished to negotiate
with her. All this in fair words, and I do not think she faces the
business badly, nor indeed do any of them, although to say the truth
I could not tell your Majesty what this woman means to do with
herself, and those who know her best know no more than I do.
During the last few days Lord Robert has come so much into
favour that he does whatever he likes with affairs and it is even
said that her Majesty visits him in his chamber day and night.
People talk of this so freely that they go so far as to say that his
wife has a malady in one of her breasts and the Queen is only
waiting for her to die to marry Lord Robert. I can assure your
Majesty that matters have reached such a pass that I have been
brought to consider whether it would not be well to approach Lord
Robert on your Majesty's behalf, promising him your help and favour
and coming to terms with him.
The marriage with the archduke Ferdinand appears to me not to
be a bad expedient, as I see none better than he for matters on this
side, and so far as regards the other side your Majesty would
do well to attract and confirm him in his friendship, so that he
may see how useful it will be for his aggrandizement and stability.
I consider it of the greatest importance for your Majesty that this
matter should be settled, as there are certain circumstances in it that
require watching closely. The first is that the people both here and
on the other side have begun already to try to treat without the
intervention of your Majesty, as the Emperor's notification of it to
your Majesty was subsequent to sending orders to his ambassador
and writing to the Queen, and after the ambassador had sent his
secretary hither who certainly would not have seen me nor opened
out to me if I had not taken the steps I did. The Emperor and his
sons apparently will not understand that your Majesty's influence
in this matter is so great that it may be said to be in your gift, and
it is probable that they have given rise to the same feeling here.
To counteract this I think it will be best to buy Ferdinand's friendship
with money, as he has none, not only finding him a sum for his
coming hither if the affair is carried through, but also a regular
payment every year instead of the pensions which were paid to
these people here and which had have so little effect as your Majesty
has seen. Besides the ancient treaties between your Majesty's
predecessors and the kings of this country your Majesty could also
arrange with him, in the form which may seem best to you, to bind
himself to remedy and restore religion to which I cannot persuade
myself that your Majesty is indifferent. This appears to me to be
the best way for the present ; the cheapest and most convenient, and
to neglect any effort in this direction would be a great pity. If
Ferdinand is a man, backed up as he will be by your Majesty, he
will be able not only to reform religion and pacify the country, but
even though the Queen may die to keep the country in his first, and
if anything besides God's cause has led me to hope that your Majesty
might again get a footing here it was this. I feel sure that any of
your Majesty's affairs will encounter great difficulty in negotiation
with the Emperor and his sons, and as I look upon this matter as
of the highest importance for your Majesty and your dominions,
as well as for God's sake, I wish to leave no stone unturned. I
think it would be well to send a confidential person to negotiate
with the Emperor and his sons, and even to promise them that, on
condition that Ferdinand settles matters here in accordance with
the interests of God and the welfare and peace of Christendom, your
Majesty will be pleased to marry the Prince to a daughter of the
Emperor or of the king of Bohemia, which I think would be best and
would smooth and attract them very much to your Majesty. If I
could see this settled in addition to the peace I would cease troubling,
but otherwise your Majesty must pardon me, for I cannot hold my
peace seeing the gait things here are going.
The Chamberlain has come back more French than an inhabitant
of Paris. In order, as I suspect, to get off of his bad management
of the negotiations he must have tried to set the Queen against your
Majesty in the matter of the marriage, and has made religious affairs
worse, for his head is full of foolish things said by the constable on
his master's behalf. One of the things he told the Queen and me
was that he would bet that your Majesty was going to Spain at
once and would not be back in Flanders these seven years. The
said Chamberlain is going to France for the ratification of peace
with a great company of these young sparks, some of whom are
asking for payment of your Majesty's money to go and dance in
France with, which I intend very few of them shall do.
They tell me that Mason goes as ambassador resident to your
Majesty's court and Nicholas Throgmorton to France.
Up to the present the only pensions that have been paid are those
of the Lord Treasurer, the High Admiral, Paget, M. Montague, and
Jerningham. In addition to these I have paid what was owing to
the archers and other servitors and the gentlemen-in-waiting who
complained very much, and I thought best to close their mouths.
The servants who had board wages were paid up to the end of
1557, the pensioners up to end of 1558, and the archers the remainder
to the day the Queen died. I should like to pay up all these small
folks, but I would not give another groat to the lords, as it is of no
use. Your Majesty will please send instructions in this matter, and
also what shall be given to your Majesty's late chamberlain, (fn. 8) my
question as to what is to be done with him not having been answered.
He has gone to the Queen to complain of your Majesty and of me
for not paying him for his service.
What your Majesty has decided about the embassy here appears
to me satisfactory, although there are some objections which I will
explain to your Majesty when I arrive, and there will then be time
to remedy them. I would, however, beg your Majesty to grant the
Bishop sufficient money to fittingly maintain himself in his station,
as I am satisfied of his ability and goodness as well as his suitability
for the office ; but he is so modest that if he gets 200 ducats he will
say no more about it than if they gave him 200,000.
The bishop of Ely is up to the present time faithful in religion
although they do not think much of him here.—London 1559.
Document endorsed : "London 1559, copy of letter written to His
Majesty, 18th April." |
| 24 April. |
28. The King to the Count de Feria.
By your letter of the 11th instant, I have learnt the discussions
you have had with the Queen and Council about the peace and other
affairs you had in hand, and I cannot refrain from highly praising
the prudence and dexterity you have displayed. I thank you also
for the note you send me of the points which have to be borne in
mind and provided for in my interest to obviate what may happen
in England, which I can assure you is one of the things that is
giving me just now most anxiety. I have ordered it to be well
considered and discussed at once, and after due deliberation it
appears that at present the most advantageous course will be for
you to endeavour to confirm the Queen and her friends in the fear
you say they feel of the peril and danger in which they stand, so
that they may understand thoroughly that they are ruined unless
I succour and defend them. We have no doubt they will easily
grasp this if they think it over, as it is so very clear. The duke of
Alba, Ruy Gomez, and the bishop of Arras tell me that in the
conversations they had with the Queen's Commissioners at Chateau
Cambresi the latter confessed that this was so, and it is to be
supposed that they will have reported to the same effect and this
together with what you have told her (the Queen) will have set
her thinking in a matter that so deeply concerns her. When you
have frightened the Queen about this, in the manner you find most
suitable to open her eyes to her interests and to convince her of
the zeal which leads me to advise her, you will assure her from
me that I will never fail to help her in all I can to preserve her
realm and settle her affairs exactly the same as if they were my
own, both on account of the great love and affection I bear her,
from which neither the peace nor my alliance with France will
ever estrange me ; rather will I try to bind us closer by all the
kindness and good offices I can show, and also for my own interests,
which would be greatly injured if her kingdom were to fall into
other hands than hers, which God forbid. This might easily happen
if she do not provide against it, and at once adopt the only true
remedy, which is to forbid any innovations in religion which
usually cause risings and turbulence in countries and in the hearts
of subjects. If she do this and take one of the archdukes, my
cousins for a husband, respecting which I have already written to
you, she will smooth down and settle all her affairs and enjoy more
tranquillity and contentment than can be described, and I will
remain a good brother to her as she will see by my acts. You will
enlarge in this sense according as you see her disposition and the
conversation permits with all the tact and suavity you know how
to employ as you have done in other matters. This course has
seemed the best to follow with the Queen, because under this head
what is proposed is so absolutely true that you can bring as much
pressure to bear as may be needed, and that you may be provided at
all points, I have thought well to send you enclosed the letter for
her written with my own hand, the tenor of which you will see by
the copy. Amongst other points you may tell her not to wonder if
in these matters I press her more than is customary between princes,
but as they are so important and necessary to the welfare of her
realm, whose rehabilitation and preservation depend entirely upon
them, and concern me inasmuch as they concern her as well as
touching my own interests, I cannot and ought not to fail to do it
as a good brother.
I have been very glad to learn what you say about the Queen
refusing the title offered to her of supreme head of the Church, and
delaying her sanction to what had been done in Parliament, because
it looks as if there were still some hopes of salvation. Seeing this
and how damaging it would be if the Pope were to declare her a
bastard, which he might decide to do since I am not to marry her,
I thought it time to approach his Holiness, and I sent a despatch
on the subject to Rome advising his Holiness of the state of things
there and of the hopes still entertained of an amendment, which I
I was trying my best to bring about, and asking him not to make
any change until the result of my efforts were seen, of which result
I would inform his Holiness. This step was thought very desirable
in order to keep his Holiness in hand and delay the matter as was
in all respects to be desired. You will advise me of all that happens,
so that we may act accordingly.
A servant of mine belonging to that country advises me for
certain that two captains named Henry Strangways (Estranquis)
and William Wilford are arming and fitting out on their own
authority two ships of 140 tons each in the port of Southampton
or Plymouth, in which ships he says they have placed 50 gentlemen
with their servants and 500 soldiers, with the determination of
going out on a piratical voyage and to sack the island of Madeira'
One of them has experience of this who, he says, was at the sack of
La Palma and has been in France. As I am told these ships are to
leave at the end of this month, I enjoin you urgently to speak to
the Queen, and ask and beg of her from me to order enquiries to be
made about this and act in it as my goodwill towards her deserves
Postscript : After writing this I have received your last letter of
23rd (18th ?) instant, and have been glad of your news, although in the
matter of religion what you say about the Parliament having agreed
that the Queen should take the title of Governess of the Church
fills me with new anxiety, as it is so dangerous and troublesome on all
accounts. Advise me if it has passed the upper house and whether
the Queen has accepted it, and take the steps which may be advisable
in accordance with what I have said. The other points in your
letter shall be answered later so as not to detain this post.—Brussels,
24th April 1559. |
| 29 April. |
29. Count de Feria to the King.
I received your Majesty's letter of the 24th instant on the 27th
and went to the palace the next day. After giving your Majesty's
letter to the Queen I spoke to her in conformity with what had been
written to me. She heard me as she had heard me many times
before, only that on this occasion I spoke in your Majesty's name.
Although I tried to frighten her all I could, I kept in view the
necessity of not offending her as they have preached to her
constantly that your Majesty and the king of France hold her of
small account, and she thinks that the only thing she needs is to
get rich. I smoothed her down a good deal in this respect making
her understand that your Majesty was prompted only by your
great affection for her and considered her harm or advantage as your
own. She answered amiably that she thanked your Majesty for
your message. Subsequently in conversation with me she said three
or four very bad things. One was that she wished the Augustanean (fn. 9)
confession to be maintained in her realm, whereat I was much
surprised and found fault with it all I could, adducing the
arguments I thought might dissuade her from it. She then told me
it would not be the Augustanean confession, but something else like
it, and that she differed very little from us as she believed that God
was in the sacrament of the Eucharist, and only dissented from
three or four things in the Mass. After this she told me she did
not wish to argue about religious matters. I told her neither did
I, but desired to know what religion it was that she wanted to
maintain, as I understood that even those who were concerned in it
were not agreed one with the other, as was the case with all the
other heretics in Germany and everywhere else, and I was terrified
to see that whereas the other princes were laying down their arms in
order to cope with heresy, she with her kingdom tranquil and catholic,
was doing her best to destroy religion ; and besides this that she
wanted to revoke the good and holy laws that God, your Majesty
and the late Queen had enacted here. If for no other reason than
the great obligations she owed to your Majesty she should reconsider
this matter. I for my part had done my best that your Majesty
should not hear of the small respect that had been paid you in
certain things so as to maintain the good relations which I desired
to exist between you, but that the present state of things was very
grave and so notorious that your Majesty could not fail to hear of
it from other quarters even if I did not inform you. She answered
that she only intended to revoke laws that had been passed by the
late Queen before she married your Majesty. I told her it was all
one as they had been confirmed and upheld after her marriage. She
reminded me that she was her sister, but I pointed out how different
one obligation was from the other.
She also said that your Majesty well knew she had always been of
the same opinion, and the Queen as well, but I assured her that your
Majesty had never heard such a thing. She was very emphatic in
saying that she wished to punish severely certain persons who had
represented some comedies in which your Majesty was taken off. I
passed it by and said that these were matter of less importance
than the others, although both in jest and earnest more respect
ought to be paid to so great a prince as your Majesty, and I knew
that a member of her Council had given the arguments to construct
these comedies, which is true for Cecil gave them, as indeed she
partly admitted to me.
She then said that as these were matters of conscience, she should
in life and death remain of the same way of thinking, and would be
glad of three hours' talk with your Majesty. At the end of the
colloquy she said she hoped to be saved as well as the bishop of
Rome. I told her of the good offices your Majesty had rendered to
her with the Pope in order that he should not proceed against her,
and asked her not to let them persuade her that this was a small
matter, as for a schism less grave than heresy, a king of Navarre
had been deprived of his kingdom by a sentence of the Pope, and
remained without it to this day. I assured her that if the king of
France had ordered her and the Council how to govern, they could
not have acted more favourably for his ends than they had done,
and as I saw the ruin of her and her realm and was grieved thereat,
I could not refrain from telling her thus clearly and openly as she
had heard me say many times before. She now saw that your
Majesty ordered me to say the same things on your behalf so that no
effort on your part should be wanting as from a good brother and
friend. When I said any polite words of this sort in your Majesty's
name she expressed her thanks, the other things being said to
me in the course of conversation and not in reply to your Majesty.
At last she asked me when I should despatch an answer to your
Majesty, and I told her that on the previous day a courier had
brought me this letter, and the answer would be the course she
pursued in these affairs, and thus the matter rested. Many more
things to the same effect were said with which I will not tire
your Majesty. The courier came at a very opportune moment as
some Catholics had sent to beg me to speak to the Queen before
Padiament closed, which will now be soon. Indeed I thought it
would have ended this week, and it will certainly not pass next
week. In any case I think that when Parliament closes, your
Majesty should recall me as it would greatly alarm the wicked, and
confirm the godly in the opinion they hold that your Majesty has
ordered me to remain here only for this business. It is very
troublesome to negotiate with this woman, as she is naturally
changeable, and those who surround her are so blind and bestial
that they do not at all understand the state of affairs.
They talk a great deal about the marriage with archduke
Ferdinand and seem to like it, but for my part I believe she will
never make up her mind to anything that is good for her. Sometimes
she appears to want to marry him, and speaks like a woman
who will only accept a great prince, and then they say she is in
love with Lord Robert and never lets him leave her. If my spies
do not lie, which I believe they do not, for a certain reason which
they have recently given me I understand she will not bear children,
but if the Archduke is a man, even if she die without any, he will
be able to keep the kingdom with the support of your Majesty. I
am of this opinion, and the reasons I have shall be placed before
your Majesty when I arrive. I beg your Majesty to order this
business of the Archduke's marriage to be well-considered and
discussed, as the tranquillity of Christendom and stability of your
Majesty's dominions depend upon it.
I also spoke to the Queen and the Admiral about the ships which
your Majesty writes me are being armed by Strangways and Wilford,
and they promise me that the matter shall be remedied.
I have not yet been able to get the Cardinal's apology. The Queen
has promised me that she will have search made in a trunk of
papers she has belonging to the Cardinal, and if it is found she will
give it to me.
The Antwerp people have written to me about the robberies and
insults committed in this country on their merchants both in the
matter of the safe-conducts and the duties. Your Majesty has full
particulars of all this and will order what you think best, but I
know that by favour we shall do nothing with these people.
I am informed to day that a Frenchman has arrived here who
says that two or three days ago the eldest son of the constable (fn. 10) will
have left Paris to come hither and with him Monsieur de Noaillest (fn. 11)
to reside here as Ambassador. I should be glad to know before they
arrive, if possible, how your Majesty desires me to bear myself
toward them, as pending other instructions I think of sending to
meet them on the road and invite them to be my guests on the first
night of his arrival, so that people may see us very united and
friendly.
With the Chamberlain (fn. 12) there were going to France the sons of
some of the lords here, young fellows like lord Strange (fn. 13) and others
of the same sort, at which I was not well pleased, as there is no need
of their coming and chattering here of the splendours of the French
court, so in the course of conversation I mentioned the matter to the
Queen, and found she had already seen it and had forbidden their
going, although at first she had given them leave. She thanked me
heartily for reminding her of it.
I pray your Majesty to write me what is to be done with these
pensioners and servants, and especially with that former chamberlain
of your Majesty.
The bishop of Ely (fn. 14) has spoken to-day in Parliament very well
and like a good Catholic, saying that he will die rather than consent
to a change of religion.
Document endorsed : "Copy of the letter written to His Majesty
on the 29th April 1559." |