| 12 April. |
126. The Same to the Same.
I have received your Majesty's letter of the 17th ultimo advising
receipt of all mine up to the 22nd January, and I note the manner
in which your Majesty commands me to proceed in this business of
the Queen. By my two subsequent letters of 24th February and
24th March, relating Sidney's fresh conversation, your Majesty will
be informed of the new events and the manner in which I thought
best to treat them, and I now proceed to give an account thereof
for my own discharge and your Majesty's information.
On the occasion of Sidney's first conversation (although it was
not to be expected that the Queen would just yet give in altogether
and beg your Majesty's favour) I thought it was time, considering
the dangerous state of her affairs, for her to begin to recognise her
position, and I therefore replied somewhat dryly and distantly both
in order to sell her the business the more dearly and to give me
time to advise your Majesty and beg instructions, as I did in the
postscript of a letter which I had already written. Seeing however
that they were standing aloof from me and that Paget had interfered
with new plans, I judged that some inconvenience might arise from my
lukewarmness, and that the Queen might become suspicious, so
I thought well to be somewhat more agreeable to them. Without
therefore derogating from any of my influence in the affairs, I sought
a good opportunity to renew negotiations and carried them as far
as I thought necessary to gain the goodwill of Lord Robert and
calm the anxiety of the Queen without exceeding, your Majesty's
instructions, seeing that I was totally ignorant at the time of your
Majesty's designs and wishes. I considered well, that if they were
playing false with me, they might take advantage of the trick
to the prejudice of the Catholic party which might lose heart at
seeing your Majesty so fully falling in with the Queen's wishes, but
at the same time such a result did not appear to me to be irremediable
or so bad as might follow from my withdrawal from the affair,
I determined of the two evils to choose the least and put the best
face possible on it, whilst avoiding as far as I could the appearance
of doing so and letting the Catholics know that I was in treaty with
the Queen for their advantage and the restitution of religion, but
that I expected for sure that it would end as before only in talk
and trickery. I told them not to believe all they had about it or
think that your Majesty desired anything more than their and the
kingdom's welfare. I conveyed this to the archbishop of York, to
Viscount Montague, and to two or three more of their principal
doctors, and it had the effect of greatly consoling and reassuring
them. I was moved to take this course also because even before
Sidney spoke to me, the Queen and Robert were giving people to
understand that there was a perfect accord between us which they did
by means of constantly visiting and caressing me, so much so indeed
that not a day passed but people came and told me how much these
favours were being talked about in London. The only means I had
to obviate this inconvenience would have been to publish the contrary
and behave in an unfriendly way to them, which your Majesty had not
ordered me to do, nor could I see that any stiffness of mine would
do any good, as your Majesty does not desire to molest the Queen or
restore religion by force or disturb the country. To this must be
added the fact that Robert's enemies (whom the Queen principally
wished to intimidate by these demonstrations of accord with me)
are as heretical as she, and although they would like to ruin Robert
would never join with Catholics or help to restore religion, but
would declare in favour of the earl of Huntingdon, who is the
greatest heretic in the realm. I also considered, that although this
pretended understanding might somewhat damage the Catholic cause
by leading Catholics to doubt your Majesty's favour towards them,
it would damage the Queen much more by sowing discord between
her and the heretics, and this really has taken place, for she has
spoken to me very ill of the heretics, and is as offended with them
as she is with the Catholics. The latter have greatly profited by
the negotiations already, for since Sidney spoke to me they have not
been molested or persecuted in any way, and have not been so quiet
for three years previously as they have been in the last three months.
They are aware that this quietude comes from the negotiations I
have had with the Queen. I tell them that though there is no hope
that she will do anything good, but will be sure to cheat us at last,
yet to ensure their safety and give time for succour to reach them
by means of the Concilio or by other intervention of our Lord
I allow myself to be cheated willingly and pretend not to see through
it, whereat they are delighted and cease not to shower blessings on
your Majesty. These are the reasons which have moved me to listen
to the advances made to me, and with all caution and moderation
to soften my aspect towards them. Up to the present I see no
reason to repent of my action, as it seems to me that this affair is
progressing and the heretic cause becoming weaker, and the course
I have taken, although not quite the same as that which your
Majesty now commands, nevertheless leads to the same end and fulfils
the directions given to me not to allow myself to be taken in and
to encourage the Catholics and prevent them from losing heart by
reason of the close understanding and despatch of ambassadors to
Spain.
Replying to the other point of your Majesty's letter directing me
to negotiate clearly with the Queen, and in writing, your Majesty
will have seen by my letters that she has given me no opportunity of
doing this as she has not entered into the transactions so humbly
and submissively as to enable me to press her, and on the contrary
she has rather given me cause to fear through Paget's designs. Even
however if she came to me ever so humbly I do not see how I could
or ought to lay down conditions in exchange for the assurance of
your Majesty's favour until I knew for certain what your Majesty
would be disposed to do for her in the business. For this reason
I did not mention the point to Sidney or to Robert, and the
Queen, as I have said, has given me no opportunity. When they
talk to me about religion I always change the subject as I think
until I see the business on a solid basis I had better not touch
that part of the affair, which probably they introduce as a bait to
get me to open out more than I am inclined to do. If they are in
earnest there will be time to treat of religion, as they know full well
that your Majesty will not remain satisfied until that is settled, and
if they are acting falsely it will not be wise to give them an
opportunity of saying that your Majesty wished to sell them your
concurrence in exchange for the restitution of religion, which, however
just and holy such a bargain would be in our eyes, would seem
scandalous to heretics and would shock them much. Besides I never
should be able to bind the Queen, and if they had got from me all
they wanted for their purpose and then declined to fulfil their
promise they might really say that they had outwitted me. Having
therefore answered them on this point jokingly, and as if making
light of their offers, I have had time to learn your Majesty's will
and in the meanwhile learnt more of theirs, so that when I saw
them again approaching me I offered to meet the archbishop of
Canterbury or whomever else they pleased and spoke to Cecil in
the way I advised in my former letters. I do not think anything
has been lost by this conversation or by my coolness in the business
as they all know how I have treated the religious question whenever
it has been broached, and that I have kept nothing back. I
write this to your Majesty only to explain the reasons why I have
dallied with these people longer than I usually do. Things being
in this condition (which I can hardly call either assured or desperate)
I think that the Abbé Martinengo's visit will enable us to settle the
business very comfortably without having to mix it up with the
marriage question, because the Queen will then be obliged to declare
herself, and if her decision should be such as to please your Majesty, we
can go forward and help her in what she desires but if to the contrary
I can hold back and complain that they have failed in what they
voluntarily offered me and the affair will remain as it is now without
any detriment to your Majesty or cause of offence unless desired.
This would not be the case if the Nuncio came in consequence of any
promises made to your Majesty by the Queen, or indeed if any other
step had been taken founded on her words.
The Queen has summoned a great part of the gentlemen of the
country to celebrate the feast of St. George, and it is possible that
this may have been done in order to commence the deputation which
Cecil told me was to be held for the conclusion of this marriage.
I therefore think that the coming of the Nuncio should be accelerated
so that we may see the answers they give him before the Queen settles
her own affair which she could now do, having time, and being
popular in consequence of the news that she is to be represented in
the Concilio and is reconciled with your Majesty. But if she does not
act properly and people see the Nuncio unsuccessful and me offended
she might find herself in trouble and unable to carry out what she
wants so easily as she thinks. Even if she were to conclude the
marriage now, taking advantage of the opportunity, I believe that
at any time it was understood that she had lost your Majesty's favour
and aid she would be in the same straits as now, and worse, because
this marriage is of such sort that she will lose friends and influence
by it and make enemies. Lord Robert's recent discontent has ended
in her giving him an apartment upstairs adjoining her own, as
it is healthier than that which he had downstairs. He is delighted.
I have taken a lodging at Greenwich, whither the Queen goes
next week to receive the Nuncio in order that he may be able to
negotiate quickly and easily without going through the streets of
London, which would not be very safe as these people are now. I
have advised the Cardinal de Arras of this that he may tell him,
and when he arrives here I will help him all I can and will receive
the money which your Majesty orders me to receive from the Pope
for the prisoners, and will distribute it with the care and caution
which your Majesty commands.
I have received what was due to me for salary for this month.
I am obliged to beseech your Majesty, since it is your will that I
should stay here, to be pleased to order my wages to be paid to me
every month or in some other way that I can be sure of them as
I have no other means of sustenance, and what with setting up house
here and entertaining guests and other extraordinary expenses
I have spent very much more than the wages amount to, everything
here being very dear. I also beg your Majesty, instead of any grant
in aid being paid me, to order me to be paid what is owing to me
on account of the petition which is enclosed herewith, since it is only
justice, and all I ask is for the service of your Majesty.
Having written thus far I had an opportuuity of talking with
Lord Robert to whom I have not failed to say what your Majesty
ordered me to put them in spirits and lead them to decide the better.
He was excessively overjoyed at it and could not cease saying how
much he desired to serve your Majesty. It appears as if he had
made up his mind to be a worthy man and gain respect, and when
I told him your Majesty was glad to hear of his intention to try to
restore religion in the country, he answered me at once, without
stopping to think, that it was true he had that intention as also had
the Queen, who desired nothing else but to see herself free from
these dissensions and her country tranquil. I said we should see
whether that was so by the answer she gave to the Nuncio who was
coming. He asked me who he was and when he was coming. I
told him his name and that his visit was to be soon if the Queen
gave permission, about which he made no difficulty. We were quite
in accord in this matter and although I did not lay it down rigorously
nor as a condition yet he understood that they must conform to your
Majesty's wish in the religious affair if they want your Majesty's
countenance in the marriage business. This I said to him whilst
discussing the state of his affairs and advising him as if on my own
account. I find up to the present no reason to lose hope, but we
shall see more clearly on the arrival of the Nuncio, which, as I have
said, should be hastened as much as possible. Robert tells me that
Cecil will be firm about sending representatives to the Concilio and
there are some amongst the Bishops who are already beginning to
soften and bend to what the Queen desires, although others are very
stubborn. He also said that the Queen would make
Sidney a member of the Council and give him the office of
Privy Seal, of which I approved as it will serve Paget right for
figuring as a Catholic and planning what I have said against your
Majesty's interests.
Viscount Montague (fn. 1) has sent me word that Lord Robert has
written him a very loving letter with many promises and saying he
wishes to see him soon. I have advised him to come and speak with
me before he goes to the palace so that I may tell him he may speak
decidedly about sending to the Concilio, and encourage those who
think like him to press the Queen.—London, 12th April 1561. |
27 April.
(Italian.) |
127. Bishop Quadra to Lord Robert Dudley.
I hear from my friends and still more from common rumour, that
the councillors of the Queen have proclaimed me as a man suspected
of having some hand in the conspiracies which are believed to have
been plotted against Her Majesty by the Catholics of this country,
and as this is contrary to the service of the King my master, and
my own honour, I should have wished to satisfy the world publicly
with respect to it, the defamation having been public, but considering
that I cannot do this at the present time without prejudice to your
Lordship and your affairs which I have in hand, I have decided
to keep silent for the present, and only justify myself to your
Lordship that you may inform Her Majesty, as it is probable that
the councillors will have given to both of you the information
disseminated by the public voice.
Your Lordship knows that during the whole time I have been in
England (although several dangerous events have happened) no one
has ever heard, at least so far as I know, that I have done anything
against the Queen's interests.
When the Count de Feria was here the religion was changed
against much opposition, and although at the time the King my
master was in Flanders well armed, though peaceful, and the Queen
was new to the throne, unarmed and weak, yet there was no thought
on my master's side but to honour and help her in the settlement of
her kingdom, and aid her in the recovery of what was her own.
When peace was made and the King my master left Flanders,
suspicious of war with France arose, and ample opportunities
occurred of mischief and unfriendly offices ; yet again my master's
consideration and moderation towards this country were conspicuous ;
although if the contrary had been the case and the King had not
kindly helped to sustain it, the country might have felt some
inconvenieuce. All this was without the least thought in the world
of his own advantage, the negotiations, if not the hopes, of marrying
the Queen to his satisfaction having ceased ; and this is the extent
of the interest he can claim in England now. On all these occasions
whether I have rendered bad or good service to the small extent of
my powers can best be proved by the successful progress of events
of which the Queen could easily satisfy herself. When your own
matter was brought forward, at a time when rumours of all sorts
were rife, the Queen well knows that on my taking leave of her at
Windsor I told her that although I had hitherto conducted matters
according to the King's orders and as I had thought best for her
interests, and perhaps even had been troublesome in pressing the
Archduke Charles' business ; nevertheless, as I now saw the possibility
of other solutions perhaps more agreeable to her, I promised to serve
her in all things and to do anything she might command me. At
the same time I made clear, without any doubt, that I referred to
your affair to which I thought she was inclined. In all these
transactions and during nearly two years up to the present time,
no one has ever heard that I had done or even thought anything
against the life, honour, or estate of Her Majesty.
On the 22nd January I received a visit from Sir Henry Sidney
your brother-in-law, a true friend of mine, whom I esteem for his
sincerity and prudence, and his wish to serve the Queen and his
country. He said, in substance, that he thought I was overlooking
the interests of the King my master in one respect ; namely, that
knowing as I did the Queen's great affection for your Lordship, I
did not try to bring about the match, and offer to both of you the
countenance and aid of the King my master and thus earn the
eternal gratitude of your Lordship for so great a service. I answered
him that as the King did not know the Queen's intentions, except
that she said she did not think of marrying, he neither could nor
ought to offer any aid to this effect, or to propose another marriage
to her after she had so resolutely refused the Archduke Charles and
others. Sidney gave me many reasons to persuade me why I should
write, which I did, believing naturally that he spoke sincerely and
with foundation. Amongst other reasons he gave why I should
rejoice at this marriage, he told me that as your Lordship was
inclined to peace and concord and to the maintenance of friendship
with my King, there was reason to hope that you would do away
with religious prohibitions and persuade the Queen to the same end,
as she herself was not much inclined to them, and was believed to
be the less so, seeing the unsatisfactory result of the present dissensions.
To this I answered him that although there was nothing
in the world the King my master desired more than religious
concord, and particularly in this country, nevertheless, I did not
wish the question to be mixed up with other considerations because,
being a matter which concerned the soul, no one should dictate to
another, nor allow himself to be dictated to as to what he should
believe, for any advantage in the world, and that, married or single,
the Queen should seek the welfare of herself and her subjects by
every means in her power. This he agreed with, and assured me
that the intention of the Queen and the opinion of your Lordship
and all prudent men was that she should be represented in the
Concilio. I had no difficulty in believing this as it seemed just and
probable ; and I was confirmed in my belief shortly afterwards by
the Queen personally, who told me with her own lips several times
that she wished to send representatives to the Concilio, and by
Secretary Cecil who assured me that Her Majesty was about to
select ambassadors with that object and many other things which
proved to me Her Majesty's intentions, besides convincing me that
she approved of what your Lordship said to me on the matter one
morning in your chamber and one evening in the Savoy, and lately
again, when we were walking alone in the park, which will be too
fresh in your memory to need further reminder. I will only say
that, if I mistake not, you told me that if you married the Queen
you would go to the Concilio yourself if needful. I always listened
to these things from the Queen, your Lordship, and from Sidney
very modestly, preferring rather to praise the good intentions you
assured me you possessed than venturing to propose anything or
trying to impose conditions, as it seemed to me an improper thing to
introduce the question of religion amongst treaties of mundane
friendship and alliance. Even though, all this time, I thought
beyond doubt that the intention of the Queen and your Lordship
was to send representatives to the Concilio, and to join with us on
this occasion, and I was convinced that this was the most certain and
perfect remedy for the dissensions of the country, yet I took care
not to convey the hopes I had of this step to any person in the
world except to the King my master. Notwithstanding that your
Lordship told me yourself that you were a great friend of the
archbishop of York, who is in poison ; and that you would thank me
much if I would try to gain for him the good opinion of the Catholics
whom I knew, I did this indeed but in general terms and without
saying anything that could prejudice the authority of the Queen or
the honour of your Lordship, but only that the Archbishop was, in
my opinion, a wise and prudent person desirous of the tranquillity
of his country and not averse to the union and concord of religion.
At this juncture I received intimation of my King's will on these
matters which, as I have told your Lordship, was entirely in favour
and to the advantage of your cause, always however on the supposition
that what I had written to him of the intention of joining us
on religious matters by means of the Concilio, was true. At the
same time the Pope sent his Nuncio to invite the Queen to the
Concilio, and, believing as I did, that the matter was almost concluded,
and desiring always that the Catholics should be highly
pleased with your Lordship and assured of your good will and
sympathy, I allowed myself to say to one or two Englishmen of
good standing, sincere and peaceful and well disposed towards your
Lordship, that I hoped these prisoners would soon be set at liberty
and religious tranquillity might follow, so that no one should be
compelled to act against his conscience until the Concilio should
decide all these controversies. I was moved to this hope because I
knew that the Queen, persuaded by your Lordship who was very
favourable in this matter, was determined to send to the Concilio,
and that this would take place shortly as the Abbe Martinengo was
coming hither to invite her. It is true I said these words three
weeks ago, after hearing of the coming of the Abbe, and the reply of
the King my master, feeling sure, as your Lordship told me in the
park, that the Queen had decided to send to the Concilio and to do
what she and others so many times have promised and told me, and
not only to me, but have published to all London ; the councillors
themselves even saying it in the presence of many honourable gentlemen
and of the very Bishops who opposed the sending of representatives
to the Concilio.
Now, if for these words, which by passing from mouth to mouth
may have changed their sense, I am to be considered as a conspirator
against the Queen and declared as such by a certain councillor, whose
name for the present I withhold, I ask your Lordship whether this
is just, and if it be not the most iniquitous and shameful thing ever
heard of and the most injurious, not only to my own honour, and I
was never yet a conspirator, but also to the dignity of my King to
whom this country and you, especially and even the Queen, are so
deeply indebted. I say this is against his dignity because it is not
probable that such a man as I am would have the hardihood to act
here in the way I am accused of doing without instructions from my
Prince, in which case the King would be a false and treacherous
friend. There is not a man in the world who does not know how
contrary this is to the King's mode of proceeding and to all his
actions towards the Queen. This rumour also prejudices the poor
prisoners, who are not only called necromancers and devil's conjurers,
to make them odious and ridiculous, but are also traduced by
accusations of treason and rebellion, things far removed from the
virtue and prudence of their lives. It is not likely that prudent
men would have engaged in a conspiracy against their Queen without
support from any other Prince able to succour them. Affairs in
France are not now in such a condition as to make it credible that
the King should have favoured them in such an enterprise. The
Pope is a long way off and it is clear to all that his sole aim is to
hold the Concilio and duly perform what is best for his State, which
I know to be the case. There remains then, the King my master,
by whom they might have been favoured, but anyone who believes
that such was the case is vastly mistaken, and forms an unjust
judgment. Perhaps it is done with the object of slandering the
Catholic religion or quenching what little of it was still making way
in this country, by taking the lives and liberties of those who were
suspected of holding it in reverence. How useful and beneficial such
a course would be to the Queen is not for me to say, nor is it the
purpose of this letter which I write merely to say that a great
injury is being done me, and consequently to the King my master,
by bandying the names of his ministers about in the mouths of the
mob in this way. And this, too, notwithstanding my perfect
innocence, as I have had no other thought but to serve the Queen
in all ways and in the recent affair to serve your Lordship also, for
whose benefit alone I have ventured to speak on the subject with
the reserve and sobriety which I have already set forth as may be
ascertained from the persons, never more than one or two, to whom
I have mentioned it. I have thought proper to remind your Lordship
of these things that you may consider whether I have not cause
to complain and to inform the King of these proceedings, and,
perhaps even, for my own justification to make the whole case
public. My honour is so dear to me, and above all when that of my
master is involved, that I would rather die a thousand deaths than
that people should believe for a single day that I am not a sincere
and honourable gentleman as I am. To no other than to your
Lordship I commend myself with all my heart and humbly salute
you. Your Lordship's very humble and affectionate servant.—
Duranplazza (Durham Place) 27th April 1561.
Signed
IL Vescovo de la Quadra. |