|
July 12.
|
263. COBHAM and SOMMERS to WALSINGHAM.
The 9th inst. in the evening, MM. de Bellivre, Brisson, and
Pinart came to us with a message from the king that they, having
waited on the Queen Mother to Mantes, had made relation of the
late negotiation passed in England, and that since their return the
king had considered the speech which Sommers had delivered.
Whereupon he commanded them to confer with us, which they were
ready to perform the next day, together with M. de la Mothe-Fnelon,
being also deputed by the king to join them.
To this it was answered that we had been bold to importune the
king for answer, because her Majesty desired to be resolved thereon,
the sooner in respect 'of' the time of the 6 weeks agreed upon by
the commissioners lately in England is nearly expired. Thus after
due thanks given for their courteous coming, they departed.
Next morning about 8 the above-named personages, and M. de
Vray appointed likewise by the king and Monsieur, repaired to us.
M. de Bellivre began first to declare how it appeared that the king,
upon the occasion of the late contract accorded by the commissioners
with her Majesty, had assigned them to join with us now, and to
deal for the accomplishing of the same contract, and also that they
might hear such demands as we had to propound ; for the king
had signified to them that he was inclined and fully bent to do for
his brother in case of the marriage all that he could, and so for the
Queen, with whom he desires to join in strait amity, which they
doubted not but will bring with it great good to both the realms.
They besought us to do our endeavour therewith, so that some
conclusion might follow, with such roundness as the King had commanded
them to use in these matters.
Hereto it was said that her Majesty, having been 'motioned' now
some years past for the marriage with Monsieur, had through that
occasion been ever since well-affected in amity to the king ; so far
that after she had heard tell how the King of Spain prepared an
army not only by levies in Spain, but also gathered in foreign
realms and led out of Italy and other parts, which he daily increased
and caused to be conducted so far that it soon after appeared that
those forces were ordained for Portugal, the Queen, considering how
these proceedings would prejudice the most Christian King
as well as herself and other princes, commanded me, Sir Henry
Cobham, to make overtures of those dangerous practices.
Which I did not fail to do at sundry times, as MM.
Bellivre and Pinart may well testify ; with whom, by order from
the king, I had treated a great part of these affairs. Whereupon
it was resolved by his Majesty that there should be some remedy
found to oppose against that wrongful rising greatness of the King
of Spain ; so his desire was that through a league offensive and
defensive there might be some assured strength and amity framed
for that purpose. This was afterwards treated of somewhat more
particularly, as M. Pinart might remember. But the advancing of
the league was referred to be further dealt in, because the king
thought good to stay 'as then,' and to follow the negotiation of the
marriage, the rather for the satisfying of Monsieur. He resolved
to send his commissioners to England, who, the Queen judged,
should have had power there to frame that league to such strong
effect that thereby the excessive ambition of the King of Spain
might be bridled. But it was answered by the commissioners that
they had no power to manage any other cause than the marriage.
So the negotiations being so far advanced as the commissioners
best know, and a time prefixed during which the Queen was to
consider of some important points, she thought good to send
Somers to understand the King's mind upon the propositions last
delivered to him, whereto we now trusted to have the answers by
them, to be signified to the Queen.
Then after long repetition of that which had been done in the
treaty in England touching the contract, and of the good disposition
they found in her Majesty, M. 'de' Brisson first said that the king
had imparted to them what Mr Somers had propounded to him ;
which was, her Majesty was desirous to know whether these actions
of Monsieur towards the Low Countries may not be effectually
prosecuted by the help of those countries and by the king and
Monsieur without any charge to her or her realm, for otherwise
she cannot conveniently without offence of her realm consent to the
marriage. The king having well considered this question finds that
she can well consent to be a looker-on, and suffer him to declare
himself openly in war ; which they say were not reasonable, and
that this proceeding does not agree with what her Majesty had said
to some of the commissioners, that she would send one fully
instructed, with authority to propound her demands and to conclude.
And therefore would not believe but that Somers being now sent
had such authority, which he had not uttered ; and therefore they
desired to see or hear what he had besides for the conclusion of the
matter, as they would shew their authority to conclude all things on
the king's part.
Thereto Somers told them that before the Queen could resolve a
full conclusion of the marriage, she desired to be satisfied upon
certain points touching the charges of Monsieur's enterprise, 'that'
otherwise the burden thereof, after marriage, might be thrown upon
her, which might breed a misliking in her subjects ; and that therefore
six weeks were agreed upon for 'respitt' by a private accord.
So it followed in congruity that she must first be resolved in the
point propounded by him or any other, and then to give her answer
in that time ; so that her Majesty had 'broken no course.'
To this they said that the same private accord concerned the king,
for any answer or clearing of points to come from him. But, said
they, it is until her Majesty and Monsieur may be mutually cleared
and satisfied of certain points between them. And thereof her Majesty
and Monsieur to certify the king within six weeks in writing ; and
therewith they showed the original observation, signed by the deputies
on both parts.
After long debating this matter, to maintain her Majesty's doing,
they said that the king had commanded them to tell us that unless
she would make it appear plainly to him what she would do, and
conclude for the marriage, he can make no answer to the matter
propounded. It was here moved to them some means might be
devised to maintain Monsieur's action towards the Low Countries
underhand or otherwise. They answered directly that the king
would do nothing underhand, for the forces which were now upon
the frontiers and elsewhere were so manifestly known that all the
world might see the meaning of them and that the king could not
disguise it. It was said to them that those forces were not
appointed for the king, for he had forbidden expressly that none
should pass out. They answered that those 'defences' were made
during the time of the treaty, the king being then indeed much
offended with the proceedings of his brother. But since the marriage
was agreed upon, he is of another mind ; for, said they, as soon as
the marriage shall be done, or Monsieur shall go into England to be
married, the king will put his army, together with Monsieur's, into
the field, and then would appoint a chieftain over them in
Monsieur's name, to proceed to the victualling of Cambray, and
would be present in his own person if need should require.
But we being not come so far, nor having any authority to deal
further, as they insisted and believed, as it seemed, that we had,
pressed again to have the king's answer to the motion made to him
by Somers, and that upon his answer thereunto her Highness
would send her resolution, thinking the time very long till she
heard from us.
They, finding that nothing else to conclude came from us, said
that the king had commanded them to answer us, that after the
marriage consummated, which he took to be agreed upon, the king
would do anything which he [qu. she] would desire, even to declare
himself openly against the King of Spain, were it tomorrow ; but
that he could not tell how all those charges should be borne until
he knew fully her Majesty's mind, what she would do. They then
pressed very earnestly to know what she would give, for there was,
said they, an offer made in England. It was answered that rather
than the enterprise should fail, she would contribute a reasonable
portion, to be agreed by persons authorised.
Then they said that it had need be great, for the king must bear
the burden of the war by his people, and the spoil of his country,
and so would not the Queen. They then demanded whether her
aid would be of men and ships. It was answered that if any aid
must be given, it was like it would be in money, for ships and men
would be too manifest ; which they liked not. This matter was
long debated ; they insisting still to have the Queen declare herself
openly with the king, and we defending that she would not marry
a husband and a war together after so long a happy peace. In the
end we said that king needed not to 'declare himself into' an open
war for this matter, but rather let his brother alone and himself not
seem to meddle but 'by the under hand,' as her Majesty might also
do. They said it might not be so, for he would not so hazard or
forsake his brother who was so dear to him, for he was his only
brother, and heir 'suppositife,' and was 'no more nor harder' than
another man. They assured us that he so loved his brother, that
for his cause he had offered and would perform as has been said.
They there made a discourse of the words and messages which the
king had sent to Monsieur by the Queen Mother, which they said
they heard, and likewise of his answers, mixed with such love,
reverence, and obedience towards the king as they never heard come
from any person ; wishing that we had heard them both, to testify
to her Majesty of the good intelligence there is between them.
After they had pressed us to utter more of her Majesty's intents,
(for all this while they had heard very little, and yet as much as we
knew in that matter), and had laid the king's mind open to us, to
do all that her heart would desire, so that she would promise to
marry, and that we on the other side had dealt as much as we could
to keep her from open charges, and her realm from war, wherein
we thought, and so said, that she was resolved, and so had she told
them in England, they said (and indeed upon our motion) that they
would propound some matters, whereof part had been spoken of in
England ; and so to win time to come to a conclusion, whereby it
should appear how much the king desired her Majesty's amity, and
the advancement of his brother. And so propounded to us three
points :
The first, that a day certain for the marriage may be set down ;
The second, that a league offensive and defensive may be made,
fully agreed upon, and ratified ; the same to be delivered to her
Majesty by deputies from the king immediately upon the words of
the marriage pronounced ;
The third, by a secret treaty apart, to determine upon the
matters for Monsieur's assistance in the Low Countries and for
rescuing Cambray.
Upon these three points they said the king rested, and desired
to be resolved by her Majesty. He for his part offers and
'assures' to perform that which on his part is to be done, even
now, if we had authority to deal therein. After we had answered
that they should not need to speak of Cambray, being to be done
presently, 'and was' a matter apart, not to be spoken of here, as
not hitherto moved, they said it was all one action of the Low
Countries, and must be of one match with the rest. [This passage
much marked by Walsingham.] To these points we said we would
advertise her Majesty as soon as we conveniently could.
In this conference when we saw time and opportunity meet, we
opened to them that seeing there was such difficulty that the
marriage could not well be without open charge to her Majesty and
danger of war to the realm, which they might well perceive she
would avoid as much as she could, we propounded to them two other
means to oppose the King of Spain's greatness, without marriage.
One, a like league being first made, to aid Don Antonio for Portugal ;
the other, by contributing under hand towards Monsieur's charges,
and so open war avoided.
They answered that as for Don Antonio, that matter 'followed in
order' to be in the secret treaty for the Low Countries, and as for
the other, they said assuredly that the king would do nothing that
way under hand. As for the league without marriage, the king
would make none, and in that case would live in amity with her
Majesty as his good sister, but would not abide to hear of any other
matter than of the marriage, nor would deal in any other thing as
the principal foundation and 'baze (as they termed it)' of all.
'For,' said they, 'the Queen is bound, and Monsieur is also bound,
by their several procurations, and the contract is made ; or else
what have they done in England?'
After we had divers ways debated these matters to this effect,
alleging that great causes are subject to many impediments, observing
our instructions, not forgetting the great disadvantage which her
Majesty's subjects trafficking into Spain would have in this course
which they sought, we desired to receive answer from the king
himself ; and so the same afternoon towards evening we went to
the Court at Saint-Maur. And they going an hour before, procured
us audience of the king and Queen Mother, being together in her
chamber.
There I, Sir Henry Cobham, put the king in remembrance of what
had been propounded to him by Somers, and since we had not been
directly answered thereto by his deputies, I desired him to make
us such an answer as might be to her Majesty's contentment ; which
she expects, considering the time passes fast away. The king
replied that he had heard from M. de Bellivre and the rest of the
conference which had passed between us and them that morning.
He much commended the Queen's care to live in peace in the way
she had so happily lived so many years, and as she would be loth
to have a husband that should bring her war, so should he be sorry
to have a brother that should bring a war upon his arms, for he
desired the repose of his people and countries that had been so long
travailed with wars'twenty-two years,' said the queen. As to the
matter propounded by Somers, he trusted that her Majesty would
bear a portion, seeing it was also profitable for her to impeach the
King of Spain's greatness. He said that one-third might be borne
by her, one-third by him, and the other third by his brother and
the States.
Thereto he was told that this was far from the course of her
Majesty's intention, who had often told his ambassador in England
that she would not be married to a war, but to a husband that might
bring her peace and means to continue it and to augment friendship.
Yet rather than these enterprises of Monsieur's should fail, to his dishonour,
which (sic) she has specially recommended, we thought she
would be content to contribute some convenient sum, as a fourth part,
beside what the States contribute monthly to him, as may be agreed
upon by persons thereunto authorised. He said it was very little
in respect of the great burden which would lie upon him by furnishing
men, artillery, and other things, beside the great spoil by
the soldiers upon his realm and subjects. As for doing it 'coverly'
under hand, he said that he could not do it so, for all the world may
see the great troops of horse and companies of foot that come every
day and lie in his country, 'and then,' said he, 'how can it be disguised?'
Therefore it must be done openly.
Thereunto I put him in remembrance that he was once of another
mind, to have the succours given 'convertly.' He said it was true ;
but that was before these companies of men of war were openly seen
and assembled. Then the Queen Mother wished that these matters
of the Low Countries might be well compounded, and her son soon
retired out of these actions, to save men, and avoid the war and
charges. She wished that Cambray might be restored to 'his'
former state of neutrality, and her son's men retired from thence.
This she said she had propounded to him ; and being requested to
tell what answer he made, 'it was,' said she, 'that the States' minds
must be known therein, and that he wished it had been propounded
sooner.'
To this it was said that the Queen would be very glad to hear of
an honourable composition which might bring peace ; but that in
this case, seeing that it touched Monsieur so much in honour, it
was to be doubted how she would like it. Yet if it might be done
with Monsieur's content, and with his honour, she might find it
good. The Queen Mother was asked if she found it good that Sir
H. Cobham should write to Monsieur, that her Majesty might
understand his mind. She answered that she had 'lever' that her
Highness would do it. And here it was further demanded, how
should Monsieur be assured that his men being out of Cambray
the enemy should be kept from entering and possessing it ; besides
that the town is Imperial, but the castle is not. She answered
that the Queen had credit with the States, and by her means to
them and to the Prince of Parma (as she herself would write to
him) it might be done.
It was further said to the king and to her that seeing the States
had chosen Monsieur, and he had accepted the government of the
countries, how should that be 'used' and his honour saved, leaving
such a principal key, which is now in his hands. She answered
'Il y faudra adviser.' And care must be had to avoid this war here,
and to deal in some other places further off to 'impeach' the
King of Spain. 'And so fell in purpose' of Don Antonio, who the
king said was in England, and that as he heard her Highness had
honourably used him ; and if she would furnish him with ships, he
would give him men. This coming thus in talk, I told him
that indeed he [sic] had heard that Don Antonio was in England
privily, come thither with a very small company ; but of his
entertainment I heard nothing ; and reminded him that in my last
audience I had signified to him that Jehan de Souza who was lately
in the company of Count Vimioso, as he knew, was repaired into
England with letters of credit from Don Antonio to make request to
her Majesty for men and ships, to which she would not hearken, nor
otherwise meddle until she had heard what his Majesty would do
in the enterprise of Portugal. For in that matter she was resolved
to 'correspond' with him. He thanked her, and said that those
matters might be treated of upon answer from her to the points
which he means now to deliver to us ; and might be put into a
private treaty to be made between them for the matters of the Low
Countries.
Then we returned to our first matter, and again desired his more
particular answer thereto. He answered, his deputies had propounded
three points to us that morning, as he himself would also
do then, as things wherein he desired to be fully resolved by her
Majesty. The first was (taking, he said, the marriage to be fully
agreed upon) that he prays her to 'take a day' within which to consummate
the marriage ; which day he there named as we have now
set it down. The second, that the marriage being promised to be done
by that day, he would upon knowledge thereof enter into a league
offensive and defensive with her ; the same to be ratified before, and
declared to her at the instant of the consummation of the marriage.
The third point is a secret agreement to be made between them for
the matters of the Low Countries. Of these three things he beseeches
her to send him her full resolution within eight or ten days at farthest,
for upon it depends all the course of his affairs, which, he said, are
very great. He assures her that she shall not only marry his
brother, but also himself, his realm, and all that he has, and shall
find him a good brother and a perfect friend in all things, with all
his means to be at her command, to do her honour and service ;
with as many other good words of amity as might be delivered.
Then, finding that in all this course, for anything that we could
do, nothing will be allowed here to be done under hand, but all
openly, which we perceive her Majesty does not yet like, for avoiding
of war, though the king declare himself, as he has largely offered
to do upon assurance of the marriage, and in case to yield to anything
she would require, I propounded to the king : That in case
upon just occasion the marriage should not take place (as great
causes are subject to many great impediments) whether some other
course might not be taken, both for a league betwixt their Majesties
and for other matters touching Monsieur's actions, as had been
before propounded, to impeach the greatness of the King of Spain.
The king answered that seeing he took the marriage to be agreed
upon, he would not alter from that as the principal foundation of
all. He desired it as much as anything in the world, for the
advancement of his brother, whom he loved very dearly, being both
of one ventre, and would not forsake him, and trusted there would
be no obstacle in that which is so concluded. He prayed us
earnestly to beseech her Majesty to send with speed her resolution
to these three points, upon which he stayed other great affairs ; and
then rehearsed again those three points, which we leave to her
Majesty's consideration.
This is the effect of our negotiations here, and we humbly beseech
that if things do not succeed according to her expectation, she will
think it has not been for lack of care to observe her directions, but
impute it to their resoluteness here, finding and following the things
already passed, from which they show they do not mean to vary.
We assure her that since our being with the king some of the
deputies have said to us that the motion now of a league and other
means without the marriage have been found exceeding strange
and very unpleasant to the king. We will not forget that the
Queen Mother standing by the king at our audience uttered sundry
speeches ; as that the king entered into a great charge for his
brother's cause ; that therewith she adventured the person of her
son, which much touched her ; that when a fourth part was spoken
of she said it was a very small thing in respect of their adventure
and the greatness of their cause, besides the spoils which this realm
will feel. And that as the Queen misliked of war, so did she also ;
and so wished earnestly that some means might be taken to help
that, as by the means before mentioned, or some other that may be
thought of.
Endd. : 12 July 1581. Copy of Sir Henry Cobham and Mr
Somers' letter to me. Marginal summaries in Walsingham's hand,
and his mark frequently appended. 12 pp. [France V. 111.]
|
