Simancas: December 1564 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers, Spain (Simancas), Volume 1, 1558-1567. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1892.

Citation:

'Simancas: December 1564', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain (Simancas), Volume 1, 1558-1567, ed. Martin A S Hume( London, 1892), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/simancas/vol1/pp397-400 [accessed 27 November 2024].

December 1564



4 Dec.	278. The Same to the Same. By a servant of the king of Portugal leaving here on the 27th ultimo I wrote to your Majesty news up to that date. On the 3rd instant there arrived here some Portuguese sailors who had sailed on the 22nd ultimo by the coast of Galicia. I had them interrogated to learn whether they had any news or if they had heard anything of pirates, and they informed me that Thomas Stukeley, with a ship and a smack, had attacked a Portuguese ship from Viana, which had sought shelter in Mugia, and had taken it with all the fish, sails, and tackle, to the aggregate value of 1,500 ducats. On leaving Mugia, Stukeley had captured a Biscay ship loaded with iron and 2,000 ducats in money. The money and iron (which was worth 1,800 ducats more) belonged to some Portuguese merchants. He also took another merchant ship belonging to Pontevedra, loaded with Rivadavia wine, and committed other robberies, with the proceeds of which these sailors think he returned to Ireland. I at once sent information to Secretary Cecil in order that he might keep a look out in Ireland to capture and punish the thief, and Cecil assures me that fresh measures shall at once be adopted against this man, who has already been proclaimed a traitor, and other ships shall be sent out after him besides the three great vessels that are already seeking these men, under a captain called Peter Carew, a person in whom much confidence is placed. The Portuguese say that Stukeley goes under the guise of a merchantman for greater security. I will try to get the Queen to adopt measures in Ireland in case they should be able to lay their hands on him there, as I am given to understand that he has greatly offended the people here. I really think that they will keep the coast ports on the alert and will make some effort to capture this pirate. I will do my best to forward it. This Queen is well. She had intended to go for a few days hunting, but the weather has been so bad with high winds and heavy rains, that she has been unable to go.—London, 4th December 1564.
4 Dec.	The following memorandum is attached to the foregoing letter:— The earl of Arundel is still confined to his house and no one is allowed to enter or see him except those of his household. With regard to the statements of the prelates and governors respecting the persons for appointment to offices, the statements have all arrived and are kept by Cecil, who has not submitted them to the Council as he did those that arrived first, as they do not wish it to be seen how much more numerous the Catholics are than the others.
18 Dec.	279. The Same to the Same. This Queen was attacked with a fever 10 days since which was so severe as to cause her household some uneasiness. The fury of it has now abated and she is better but weak. On the 17th I had audience to conclude the business touching trade between Flanders and this country which the affair was finally settled to the satisfaction of all parties as I write in detail to the duchess of Parma. The winds have been so violent that much damage has been done at sea, and I am informed that some ships belonging to your Majesty's subjects have come to grief near some of the ports on this coast. I gave notice of this to the Council that they might write to the authorities of the places where the misfortunes had happened directing them to take charge under inventory of all the property that can be recovered until the owners are discovered, and it can be restored to them. This was at once ordered with all diligence and the letters have gone. All care will be taken that the loss shall be as small as possible. It was asserted that the order of St. Michael would not be given to the earl of Leicester, and that the Rheingraf would not come as Leicester had petitioned the Queen not to command him to receive it. The Queen now tells me that it will still be brought by the Rheingraf who will soon arrive here with it, and that it was only deferred because she had written to the Queen-Mother saying that to avoid jealousy being felt against Leicester by the other lords, she begged her to give the Order to some other who might receive it at the same time. This was conceded and this Queen was to choose the other recipient. I heard about it afterwards fully from Secretary Cecil who told me that Throgmorton was trying to have it given to the duke of Suffolk (fn. 1) whilst he (Cecil) had advised the Queen that it should not be given to so distinguished a personage as it was not prudent to place her subjects under obligations to France, and so perhaps without reason making herself disliked by other nations which were more friendly. The earl of Arundel went yesterday to the palace and was well received by the Queen. It is expected that he will again enter into his office at Christmas.—London, 18th December 1564.
18 Dec.	280. The Same to the Same. At Berwick on the Scotch frontier the earl of Bedford who is at present general there, and the Ambassador who recently left here for Scotland, Randolph by name, have had a meeting with Lord James, the queen of Scotland's brother, and secretary I ethington on behalf of the respective Queens. They say the discussion has been about the marriage of the Scotch Queen and that a proposal has been made to her by this Queen that she should choose between the following three Englishmen ; the earl of Leicester, the duke of Norfolk and the son of Lady Margaret Lennox, and in the event of her marrying either of them she will declare her heiress to the crown It is said that the conclusion arrived at by the queen of Scotland was that she was willing to marry an Englishman if the succession was declared, but not the earl of Leicester although she said nothing of the other two. It is also asserted that Lethiogton will soon be here to arrange this and other business. I am informed that the queen of Scotland has written to this Queen asking her still to give leave for Lady Margaret's son to come to his father in Scotland. I am also told that the French are endeavouring to arrange a marriage for the queen of Scotland in France, and have offered her several persons of that country. How these negotiations will end it is impossible to predict. On the 14th there arrived here a brother of the queen of Scotland's Ambassador in France, (fn. 2) who had recently passed through on his way from France to Scotland, and brought me a letter from Don Frances de Alava. He came to see me as soon as he arrived, and visited me for a short time the next morning, saying that he wished to take an answer back to Don Francés. I asked after his Queen who he said well and the country tranquil. All was well, only that his Queen did not marry. I wished him to stay and dine with me out of friendship for Don Francés, but he excused himself by saying that he was going to the palace to take leave of the Queen, and would return for my letter to Don Francés. As soon as he had gone Luis de Paz came and told me that this gentleman had sent to him to say that he wished to speak with him and asked him to be in my house at two o'clock in the afternoon, He waited for him until night when seeing that he did not come he went to his home. At one o'clock at night the gentleman arrived, having finished his business with the Queen, and asked me for Luis de Paz, who had been to Scotland in the guise of a merchant. I told him that he had just left the house, but I would send for him if he wished. He thought better however to go to Luis de Paz's house, and I sent someone to point it out to him. It appears he wished to ask him from Lethington with his compliments on behalf of the Queen whether he had any answer about the business he had discussed with him. He replied that he had not, but when he received any he would let him know. I had told Luis de Paz to answer thus if he were asked, as I had not been spoken to by them on the subject, and consequently I did not wish to treat of the matter in the way I am instructed to do, but preferred to wait and see what time and opportunity would bring forth, since they do not draw me out by speaking plainly. I have also borne in mind that the Emperor's death, and this Queen's hint to me that she wished to get married might have caused your Majesty to change your intentions, and I shall therefore hold back as much as possible. I would desire however to point out how important it is to keep the affairs of these two Queens well in view, seeing the evil that might result from the neglect of the countries upon which so much depends. This Queen has written to the king of France thanking him for the order of St. Michael, but asking him to defer sending it to the earl of Leicester. The King has consented, and replied that he will hold it back for her pleasure, so that the Rheingraf who was to have brought it will not come. I understand they they do not want to see him. Leicester has sent the king of France three horses caparisoned in the English style, two to the Queen, and one to the Constable, the three latter bridled. They say four of them are fairly good and the other two not. It looks as if the horses were running short as well as the men. The count of Luxemburg, a German Easterling, arrived here the other day. I have not been able to find out what is the object of his coming. The Secretary of the French embassy leaves to-morrow. The Ambassador who was going is now ordered to remain.—London, 18th December 1564.
23 Dec.	281. The Same to the Same. As I wrote to your Majesty on the 18th instant there is little to say in this except that the Queen is convalescent from her indisposition. I was with her yesterday and she asked particularly after the health of your Majesty, the Queen and his Highness. Five or six days since there arrived here the count of Luxemburg, a German married, I am told, to a sister of M. de Glajon. (fn. 3) I believe he served in the expedition that Madame undertook in Lorraine, and elsewhere. I sent to visit him, and he sent word to me that he was an affectionate servitor of your Majesty, but I have not been able to obtain any particulars of his objects in making the journey. The earl of Leicester has given him a good reception. It is he who always undertakes this duty. The earl of Bedford and Randolph, this Queen's Ambassador in Scotland, have met Lord James and Secretary Lethington at Berwick, and Bedford and Lethington had gone to the queen of Scotland. They say Lethington is coming here for these holidays. All else as usual.