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| Oct. 5. |
1573. Instructions to Lord North, in special embassage to
the French King. |
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1. To communicate these instructions to the ambassador
resident, of whom he would do well to understand how
things have heretofore passed, that he may be better able to
frame his doings in this service. To declare to the King that
as they found the late King a good neighbour and ally, the
Queen would have great sorrow not to find like affection in
him. She has understood from his letters and those of his
mother that he desires greatly the continuance of their
friendship, and minding to leave nothing undone that may
tend to the firm continuance of the same, has sent him
(Lord North) to congratulate him that it has pleased God to
call him to that dignity, and that he is safely arrived into
his realm, after so long, painful, and dangerous journey. If
he understand that the Queen's advice in persuading the
King to grow in unity and accord with his subjects will be
accepted in good part, and will advance the same, he shall
declare that she is right sorry to understand the continuance
and increase of troubles in his realm, tending to its great
ruin and destruction, and wishes that the crown that has
long languished in civil troubles may by his discreet government be restored to its former and ancient quietness. She
doubts not if he lay before his eyes the great mischief and
enormities that have happened, and are like to happen
through the continuance of the troubles, that God will
incline his heart to take the counsel of his unfeigned friends
and allies. If he say it is not honourable for princes to
capitulate with their subjects, or permit diversity of religion,
or that large offers have been made to them of the religion
which they refuse to accept, he is to declare to him how
much more honourable it would be for him to remit part of
that worldly respect of honour, for the benefit of his realm
and all Christendom, and to think that the true honour of a
loving prince is to recover his subjects rather by mildness
than the sword. She would have him call to remembrance
the example of the King Catholic, who grew to composition
with the Moors, a people barbarous and enemies to Christ
and his religion; and of Charles the Seventh, who sought
to capitulate with the Duke of Burgundy his vassal, but
accorded him divers countries, sums of money, and other
things. That the permission of diversity of religion leads
not to the unquietness that is pretended, he may behold in
the estate of the empire, the kingdom of Poland, and other
hereditary dominions of the Emperor through which he has
of late passed. In her own realm, though she permit but one
exercise of religion, the same is established by the common
consent of the three estates of the realm in Parliament, and
had Parliament thought the permission of both religions
necessary, and the same had been established with her
consent, she would never have violated the same. Why they
of the religion refuse without greater assurance such offers
as he made to them, she takes to proceed for that the edicts
of the late King were not as well observed as his intention,
through factions and partialities that reigned among his
subjects in the time of his minority, nor the execution of
justice so equally administered as had been requisite. She
doubts not that peace being made, justice equally administered to all parties, and offenders on both sides punished,
he will be able to reduce his kingdom to as flourishing an
estate as heretofore it has been. |
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Before his repair to the King he is to procure some secret
conference with the ambassadors of the Princes of the Empire,
and signify to them that she understands how much their
masters desire her to join with them in recommending peace,
and has therefore appointed him to confer with them in that
behalf, and is to know how they have proceeded and what
answer they have received. |
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Is to declare to the King that she earnestly recommends Montmorency to him, for she always found the
late Constable his father and him well inclined to the continuance of the good amity between the realms, and as she
has found De Cosse the same, and a faithful servant to his
master, she cannot but in honour also recommend him. She
would advise the King to beware of hasty and violent
counsels against them, by the execution whereof in the
beginning of his reign his subjects may be alienated from
him. In the opening of these things he is to use as good,
effectual, and circumspect words as he may, assuring him
the Queen's recommendations proceed only from goodwill
towards him, and great desire for his honour and profit. He
is to pray the King to have a princely consideration for the
Lady Charlotte de Bourbon, daughter of the Duke of Montpensier, and that her relief may be accomplished according as
the honour and nearness of their blood requires. |
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2. To the Queen Mother he is to condole the death of the
late King, and congratulate her on the arrival and succession
of him that now is. To recommend the two Marshals and
the Lady Charlotte, as the King, in respect of her great
experience in matters of government, will be counselled and
directed by her. |
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3. He is to demand access to the late King's wife, and tell
her the great sorrow the Queen has conceived of her late
husband's death, and to make her offer of the Queen's friendship when it may stand her in any stead. |
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4. He shall use some ordinary salutation towards the
Duke of Alençon and the King and Queen of Navarre. |
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5. Before the taking of his leave he shall deal as earnestly
as he can with the King and Queen Mother for some good
order to be taken touching divers robberies and spoils committed upon the Queen's subjects trafficking in France and
Spain, and who, notwithstanding the late King's letters and
recommendations, have been slain, or compelled to return
home without restitution. He is to take the advice of the
ambassador therein, who is well acquainted with the said causes. |
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6. If the King or Queen Mother shall fall into any mention
of the Queen of Scots as misliking the Queen's dealing
towards her, he may answer that she cannot but marvel
much, considering she has from time to time acquainted them
with her dangerous proceeding towards her. If they could
weigh the Queen of Scots' dealing in their own person, they
would find her usage to be such as no prince would use but
herself, who is perhaps more inclined to pity than reason or
good policy would. She cannot but think that the misliking proceeds not altogether from themselves, but from the
solicitation of such as, transported with partiality in her case,
as care not, so they may further her, what becomes of the
good amity between France and England. |
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7. If he shall be demanded of the King of the Queen's
inclination to continue the league made with the late King,
he may answer, that when he shall demand the continuance
of the same, he doubts not but that he shall receive such
answer as shall be to his countenance.
Pp. 112/3. |
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1574. Draft of the same.
Endd. Pp. 11¾. |
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1575. Copy of the same.
Pp. 8⅓. |
| Oct. 5. |
1576. Private Memorial to Lord North touching his
Charge. |
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To remember to recommend to the King and Queen Mother
Nutshawe's and Warcup's cases. To procure the stay of the
"Prince" and the "Bear," two ships which spoiled divers of
the merchants last summer, and the apprehension of those
that were the heads in the same. To forbear to recommend
the two Marshals' causes till his second access, unless he see
great cause to the contrary. To give Madame Montmorency
secretly to understand that he has charge to recommend her
husband, and therefore would be glad to understand what
course it were best to take for the furtherance thereof. To
inform himself of the disposition and present state of the
Court there, as who are greatest, and how they are inclined
to the amity of England, and whether the Queen Mother has
that credit she had with the other son. To inform himself
who be addicted to the amity of Spain, and who to England,
to the end he may order his talk accordingly. If the Count
de Retz continue that favour and credit with the King he
enjoyed with the last, then were it expedient to visit him, and
use speech to him showing him the great reputation he has
gotten here with the Queen and the nobility by his wise
direction of himself when he was here, and the honourable
report he made of the Queen's entertainment, so that they
account him a favourer and nourisher of the amity, and
therefore the Queen gave him special charge to present her
commendations. It will not be out of purpose, as of himself.
to persuade him to further the peace, and that those Princes
of Italy, if it be true as commonly bruited, that persuade the
King to continue his wars, have more regard for the repose of
Italy than the benefit of France. They think that the King
would seek to recover certain members thereof that appertain
to France, if he were not bridled with home troubles. If the
King continue the wars, it were like to engender a great
jealousy and suspicion in the Princes Protestant of Europe
that the bruit of the Holy League is a matter of truth, which
would breed a dangerous division in Europe, whereof the
Turk should receive greatest profit. Therefore men think it
were better for the King to make a dishonourable peace, than
continue a war to the ruin of his estate. It is to be suspected
that those Princes of Italy who persuade him to the continuance of the wars, do it not without the practice and
privity of Spain, who having his own house afire is loth to
have his neighbour's quenched. If the King have any desire
to recover what appertains to him in Italy he never had like
advantage of time that now he has. It is hard to judge what
speech is to be delivered to the Count, unless it be deciphered
how he be affected to Spain. Some of these reasons delivered
to the Queen Mother as from himself would not a little
further the peace; it were, however, unfit to use them if he
decipher she affect any marriage for the King either with
Spain or the house of Austria. This kind of speech may be
used towards any of quality that is a good Frenchman and
not poisoned with Spanish pensions. To Mauvisière he shall
not do amiss to use him such speech as to induce him to
believe him more French than Spanish, for that the Frenchman is a good fellow, frank of nature, and most agreeable to
the disposition of an Englishman, whereas the Spaniard is
proud, and so insolent as naturally Englishmen abhor him,
and that therefore you think the amity of France more
necessary than that of Spain. He would think that the same
would take good effect if two lets could be removed, the persecuting them of the religion, and the favouring over much of
the Guises. If Mauvisière say it is dishonourable for a King
to capitulate with his subjects he knows how to answer him.
For the second, he may be told that if the King prefer a
particular friendship he bears one member of his realm
before the amity of England, he cannot but show himself as a
Prince more transported with private and particular passion,
than directed by that general zeal he ought to bear to his
estate. He may also be told, a thing not improper to be used
to men of the best judgment and towards the Queen Mother
herself, that the great mischief in that realm has grown of
the overgreatness of some Houses which have drawn them
into particular quarrels. Such mischief cannot be removed
till the heads of such Houses be ordered to retire from the
Court. It were better that a few were aggrieved than a realm
ruined. This manner of speech he shall use to such as he
shall discover not to be affected to the house of Guise. If he
find the house of Guise bear the great sway in Court, it will
be necessary for him, after the Spanish Ambassador has been
to visit him, to seek some apt means to have frequent conference with him, to nourish a jealousy of some strait amity
between England and Spain.
Endd. Pp. 4¼. |
| Oct. 6. |
1577. Traffic with the Low Countries. |
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"A declaration how, notwithstanding all ancient leagues
and privileges between Flanders and England, and the last
conclusion at Bristol in August 1574 between Her Majesty's
commissioners and King Philip's, yet our merchants have no
free traffic thither, and of late also had two of their ships
stayed by arrest at Sluse."
Endd. Lat. Pp. 1⅓. |
| Oct. 7. |
1578. Restoration of Territory to the Duke of Savoy. |
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Letters patent from the King of France to the Sieur Charles
de Biragues, commanding him to restore the towns of Pignerol,
Savillan, and La Perouse to the Duke of Savoy, or to whomsoever he shall depute to receive them, and discharging him
from his office of governor.—Lyons, 7 Oct. 1574. Signed.
Copy. Endd. Fr. Pp. 2. |
| Oct. |
1579. Other letters patent to the same effect.
Copy. Endd. Fr. Pp. 2. |
| Oct. 7. |
1580. Discharge to the Chancellor of France on affixing the seal
to the above letters patent.
Copy. Endd. Fr. P. 1. |
| Oct. 8. |
1581. Traffic with the Low Countries. |
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Copy of the declaration of 6th October touching the arrest
of the two English ships at Sluys; with the reply of the
King of Spain's commissioners promising that enquiry shall
be made into the circumstances of the case, but pointing out
that the subjects of the Queen of England cannot be suffered
to transgress the King's edicts prohibiting traffic and communications with his rebels and enemies.—8 Oct. 1574.
Endd. Lat. Pp. 3½. |
| Oct. 15. |
1582. H. Killegrew to Walsingham. |
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Thought to have seen him before now, but his harvest is
not all in the barn, which causes his absence for a while
longer. If the Regent deal so hardly with the Earl of
Argyle, fears some inconvenience will ensue thereof, wishes
it might be prevented by the Queen's mediation. Beseeches
to know what he thinks convenient and fit for him to write
to the Regent. Thanks him for his good gelding.—Hendon,
15 Oct. Signed.
Add. Endd. P. 1. |
| Oct. 17. |
1583. H. Killegrew to Walsingham. |
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Beseeches him to deal with the Queen to write to the
Regent according to the request in the Countess of Argyle's
letters. The Regent deals hardly, which he is heartily sorry
to see. Knows not what to write to any in that country till
he may speak with him.—London, 17 Oct. Signed.
Add. Endd. P. 1. |
| Oct. 23. |
1584. Dr. Dale to Sir Thomas Smith and Francis Walsingham. |
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1. The King has lingered in this town these 20 days wholly
in suspense upon the siege of Pouzin. Hearing that it was
forsaken, and that Marshal Bellegarde was entered, he made
preparation in all haste towards Avignon. The chief cause of
his resolution that way was to practise on M. Danville, with
whom the Duke of Savoy has dealt very honourably, and
sent him into his government with good and sufficient conduct, so that he got into Beaucaire and Montpelier before the
King was aware of it. His brother Thon appoints to come
to him from Geneva, with such men as he can gather. The
King sent the Cardinal of Bourbon to Avignon, under colour
he is the Pope's legate in that town, to win M. Danville by
fair promises to submit himself, or at least to come to the
court. M. Danville wrote to the King that he was ready to
render such towns as were at his commandment, his only
request was that his brother Montmorency might come to his
indifferent trial; he thought the example of his brother too
dangerous to come to the court, where they who seek the
ruin of his house have overmuch credit. M. de Retz was also
sent, partly to levy men in Provence, partly to use some of
his eloquence to Danville. While these things were in doing
the Lieutenant of Montpelier laid a train to surprise Danville,
which he discovered and apprehended the lieutenant, and it
is said has put him to execution, and declared himself openly.
It is said the Vicomte de Turenne and others are joined with
him. This matter has changed the determination of the
Court, and Marshal Bellegarde is come up from the camp at
Pouzin, and declares such difficulties to the King that the
resolution is again to remain in this town, and, if they do
remove, to go towards Paris. The loss of Pouzin little discourages them of the religion, because they had leisure to
withdraw themselves into the mountains, whither neither
horsemen nor footmen can follow them. They are ready for
the defence of any other town that shall be besieged. The
King's army is not in any way encouraged with this conquest,
being beaten with wet and weather, and divers hurt, slain,
and sick. Many slunk away, and at the end nothing the
more rid of their enemies. Upon the entry of the town there
was like to be a great mutiny between the reiters, Swiss, and
Italians, and so between them the town was burnt. The King
has but a small number of French soldiers thereabouts. The
Prince of Condé has been at Berne and Zurich, and has gone
back to Strasburg and has gotten some store of money. The
King moved the Cardinal of Bourbon to have gone to the
Prince at Geneva; it is thought that he would have been
induced to have forgot both his cardinalship and the state of
that town to attrap his nephew, if the Prince had tarried
there long. It is thought that Lord North's coming is
deferred upon M. Meru being in England, whom the King
doubted had bred some alteration with the Queen. The
Italians do not agree with the reiters, nor the reiters with
the Swiss, in anything saving in spoiling of this country.
There has been a mutiny or two between them already. The
Italians slip away daily. The great troop of reiters is
severed, some into Picardy, some into Champagne, and some
into Poitou, spoiling everywhere as they go. There is much
talk that La Noüe is like to get the isle of Marennes or Brouage,
or both. The King perceiving these difficulties has published
a new edict, more ample and with larger promises. There is
much debating in council upon the rendering of the towns in
Piedmont, yet the King has sent a secretary thither with open
commission for rendering them. The Count Baillen has been
here with the King to congratulate him. It is trusted that
the Queen and the King of Spain are fully agreed. Monsieur
and the King of Navarre have leisure to play at hand ball,
and to shoot for any affairs they are troubled withal. They
as much mislike their usage as they have done in times past,
and are as much doubted as ever they were. It does not
appear that the French are anything sorry for the loss of
La Goletta, which was lost for lack of men. The new fort of
Tunis holds as yet. The captain of the "Prince" and of
Strozzi's ships are sent for to answer such complaints as have
been made against them. Has dealt for their stay till he be
instructed by Lord North in what terms to deal for the
merchants. The "Ours" that did much harm is lost upon
the rocks, and the rest lay all the fault upon her.—Lyons,
23 Sept. 1574. Signed. |
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2. P.S.—Has advertisement that Lord North arrived in
Paris the 16th of this present.
Add. Endd. Pp. 3¾. |
| Oct. 23. |
1585. Thomas Wilkes to Francis Walsingham. |
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Has written to the Earl of Leicester touching the state of
the Duke of Alençon and the King of Navarre. By the
experience of the person he gave him special charge to sift
and try out, finds he has been made an instrument to abuse
them; it is now so gross that it is palpable. He has lately
accused an Almain that was wont to frequent them, to have
been in England and to have been a practiser not only with
them but to have dealt in Germany against the state there,
which is false. Makes relation of all he can learn from them
of Limoges, by whom unadvisedly this Almain has been
examined. Fears he abuses the Regent, it were well he were
looked to.—Lyons, 23 Oct. 1574. Signed.
Add. Endd. P. ¾. |
| Oct. 23. |
1586. Dr. Dale to Francis Walsingham. |
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There has been much expectation of Lord North's coming,
for it has been supposed by his long tarrying that the Queen
had hearkened another way. Has been with child himself to
learn somewhat thereof. The rigorous way the King has
begun has lost him his money and his subjects' hearts withal.
—Lyons, 23 Oct. Signed.
Add. Endd. Pp. 1⅓. |
