|
|
August.
Simancas,
B. M. M.S.,
Add. 26,056a.
|
55. The Bishop of Aquila to the Emperor.
Baron Preyner will have informed your Majesty that the affairs
of this country are in a very bad way, as the Queen has thought to
weaken the French by dragging them into a war in Scotland and
fomenting religious discord in that country and even in the State
itself. She favours the duke of Chatelherault with whom she
thought of marrying, and it is difficult to see now how she can
prevent her own house catching fire. I have no doubt the king of
France will very soon be able to dispose of this country with the
same troops that he will send to subdue Scotland. He is at present
submitting to any conditions for the purpose of separating these
people from their alliance with the Scotch rebels, and then, after he
has punished the latter, he will turn his army into this country.
This danger is enough to decide the Queen to marry the Archduke,
which would rescue her and give the country peace and strength,
but her religious feeling runs so high that she and her Councillors
will never dare to trust his Highness. They think it would be taken
as a sign tbat they had some secret understanding with my King
both in religion and in other matters. In addition to this they are
so taken up with the idea of their power and strength that it is
impossible to open their eyes although their feebleness is notorious,
and they have neither money nor fortresses in the country, they are
divided amongst themselves and have a wilful woman for a monarch.
My King has had all this clearly pointed out to them, but to no
purpose, notwithstanding that all the country is crying out that
salvation can only come from a marriage with the Archduke.
Perhaps time and the pressure of danger may bring the Queen to
consent to it, and if it do not then we shall not have lost much by
having patience and waiting six months.—London, August 1559.
|
| 18 Aug. |
56. The Bishop of Aquila to the King.
Since writing on the 14th instant I hear that the Queen has sent
all along the coast as far as Cornwall ordering men to be mustered
and those who have charge in time of war to be prepared in various
places as customary. They say it is done that, in case your Majesty
by stress of weather should be obliged to land on her coast, all
honour should be done to you, and in order that I may believe this
they have sent people to tell me so in the course of conversation.
Many believe these men are being mustered out of fear of your Majesty,
and to have them ready to embark if necessary in the ships that
are ready, to the number they say of 35 good vessels. The principal
reason, however, is to help in the Scotch business and prevent the
passage of the French thither which will be necessary if it be true
that the French are already embarking troops. There is great
excitement in London, and they say that the French refused
admittance into Calais to an English ship although they admitted
the passengers who were Flemings and others.
I received the other day a letter from your Majesty ordering me
to ask the Queen for the restitution of a ship which certain Englishmen
had stolen from some Portuguese and Flemings with her cargo
of sugar.
With this letter was enclosed one for the Queen herself. I heard
that the man who made this capture was one Strangways who has
become a pirate, and consequently it is needless to ask for restitution
as he is not under the Queen's control. I therefore decided only to
speak of the safety of navigation and the punishment of pirates and
others and to keep the letter for a better opportunity. The Queen
told me that she had sent out six ships in search of the pirate in
question, and if it cost her ten thousand pounds she would get hold
of him and have him executed, as he had been captured on previous
occasions but had been pardoned through the bought favour of her
sister's chamber-women and upon this she enlarged considerably. The
truth is that the Admiral and his companions having heard that this
man had made captures to the extent of fifty or sixty thousand
ducats they at once sent to take him, not for the sake of catching
him but to enrich themselves with the booty as they have done.
He was captured on the coast of France and the Admiral has taken
part of the plunder and divided the rest as he thought best, and
they are selling the goods publicly in London ; the Admiral meanwhile
interceding for the thief as he says he wants sailors for the
war. I, being informed of all this, at the solicitation of these
merchants decided to send your Majesty's letter to the Queen and
not to go myself as I had already spoken about the subject to her.
By another letter I recommended the affair to Cecil, who answers
me that he has not been able to hand your Majesty's letter to the
Queen as she is indisposed. The man who took my letters says
that as soon he gave them to him the latter said he would take the
letter to the Queen and try to get it attended to at once, without
saying anything about her being indisposed, and then after being inside
with her for two hours, the Council were summoned, and this answer
was sent me. I have thought best to send to your Majesty copies
of all the letters in order that you may see how these people proceed
and in what fashion. Cecil told the petitioner that the Queen had
spent so much money in sending after this pirate that what they
found in his ship would not cover the cost incurred. In his answer
to me he says nothing about restitution nor is it to be expected from
them, and I have therefore thought fit to advise your Majesty fully
so that if your Majesty pleases you may provide some redress to
these poor merchants. It is really pitable to see how cruelly they
are treated here.
A servant of the ambassador Throgmorton has been arrested in
Paris, and they are keeping him where he cannot be spoken to, and
great complaints have been made about it. I think that Throgmorton
is doing ill service to the king of France under the pretext of
religious affairs, and I have heard the same opinion from French
heretics here.
I have no doubt also that he knew all about the going of the
duke of Chatelherault or earl of Arran (for he is called by either
name) about whom no more is known except that he is here.
The earl of Bedford came here three days ago to tell the ambassador
that the affair of the Archduke's marriage was in a very good way
and he expected it would be settled, and he afterwards said what
I have written above, namely, that the Queen has sent many
gentlemen to the coast in order that your Majesty might be received
in safety and honour if by chance you landed on her shores. My own
belief is that he really only came to say this, and the talk about the
marriage was merely an excuse for coming. What he says about it
is nonsense.
The said earl of Bedford sent Guido Cavalcanti here to tell me
the same thing as if of his own accord two clays before, and afterwards
a brother of Cobham repeated it to me. As I see they are
trying to convince me that these preparations are compliments and
friendship I think well to inform your Majesty so that you may
know of them, whatever they may be.
The Swedish ambassadors are leaving much aggrieved and offended,
as I believe it was brought to their notice that they were being
made fun of in the palace, and by the Queen more than by anybody.
I do not think it matters much whether they depart pleased or
displeased.
Some Flemings in business here have asked for my help to
obtain exemption from the payment of the taxes paid to the Queen
by agreement and ancient custom. I have done so, but have asked
for a list of them to see whether there was any heretic amongst
them, and if so to take the opportunity of speaking to him, and at the
same time to advise the others that they will be taken care of. Those
who have obtained exemption are all Catholics and have promised
that if any one of them is known to go to a heretic sermon they will
undergo any penalty. I have learnt that the principal preacher they
(i.e. the heretics) have is a Zealander who was a canon in his own
country, a young and unlearned man. The bishop of Ely has sent
to say that he has asked for leave to come and see me sometimes,
but they have refused him. (fn. 1) It is certain that they all stand more
aloof from me than from the French. I think they are vexed at
losing their pensions and this, together with our different views
in religion, causes genuine enmity, although I have always avoided
opportunities when offence might be shown to me to the detriment
of your Majesty's service.
These Irishmen still solicit me. They say that the earl of
Clanrikarde, who was routed by the earl of Desmond, and not
captured as they said here, has already been reconciled to Desmond
by means of some of the Bishops and will be of the same opinion
as the rest in the proposed business. The earl of Sussex goes thither
soon and has ordered Parliament to be convoked on Michaelmas
Day when the change of religion is to be proposed.—London, 18th
August 1559. |
| 22 Aug. |
57. The King to the Bishop of Aquila.
I have ordered the claims of the Flemish merchants against the
English for merchandize taken from them to be looked into, but no
decision could be arrived at prior to my departure, and I have
therefore commanded that the matter should again be carefully
discussed and considered ; but I think that before any step is taken
it will be advisable to address the Queen again on the subject as you
will learn in detail from the letter of the Duchess (fn. 2) my sister, whom
I leave as governess of these States. I command and desire you to
fulfil the orders she may send you on the subject with the same zeal,
goodwill and care as if I wrote myself, and to take whatever steps
may be fitting, and she may dictate with the Queen and Council in
the forwarding of this business, which, as it closely touches the
interests of my Flemish subjects, I shall be glad for you to urge in
accord with the Duchess in the same manner as if I were here.—
Flushing, 22nd August 1559. |
| 23 Aug. |
58. The Bishop of Aquila to the King.
Friar Rodrigo Guerrero has heard from me your Majesty's gracious
promise and will go and kiss your Majesty's hand, trusting in your
promise and not venturing to place any further conditions on your
Majesty's goodness. I am sure, moreover, that he will have nothing
to fear, as he sees your Majesty wishes to reward him for the services
of himself and his forbears.—London, 23rd August 1559. |
59. The King to the Bishop of Aquila.
Having been absent from my Spanish dominions for so many
years, during which time my lord the Emperor has died, we have
decided to return to them, moved thereto by their need for our
presence, and by our desire to repay their great love and fidelity
towards us, and we have therefore this day embarked on the fleet
which we had ordered to be mustered for the purpose and with fair
weather are now about to set sail on our voyage with the help of
God. I thus advise you so that you may know where to write to me
in future which you will do in the same manner as hitherto giving
me full details of all that happens. You will use the private cipher
which you have for secret communications or else the general cipher
which I enclose. Advise the Queen of my departure and assure her
that wherever I may be I will look to her interests and try to please
her in all things.
As I leave my sister the Duchess, Madam Margaret, Governess of
these States, you will keep her well informed of all things touching
my interests in English affairs. You will perceive how important it
is that she should know from day to day what happens, and she will
take care to answer and iustruct you.
Francisco de Vargas to go as Ambassador to the Emperor, with
whom good relations and correspondence are to be kept up, as also
with Senor de Xansone (Chantonnay ?) Ambassador to France.—
Without date. |