Simancas: April 1562 | 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: April 1562', 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/pp233-236 [accessed 27 November 2024].

April 1562



2 April. B. M., MS. Brussels Archives Add. 28,173a.	157. Bishop Quadra to the Duchess Of Parma. I lately besought your Highness's permission to go to Flanders to put certain affairs of my own in order, and especially as regards my maintenance here which causes me great distress. I think well to send the bearer of this letter Alexander del Gesso to beg your Highness personally to grant me this favour and return at once with the answer, so that if your Highness thinks I had better not leave I may seek some other way out of my difficulties and fulfil my obligations although I am at a loss to know how I shall do it. The Swedish ambassador leaves here in three days. He says he is instructed to go to Scotland, and that five Swedish ships are waiting to escort him although he is still in fear that the English ships which left here, ostensibly for Berwick, may play him some trick. It seems he was going to speak to the Council about it. The Queen writes to the king of Sweden that although the invariable custom is when ambassadors are recalled to present a special letter to that effect it has not been done in this case. He appears so desirous of going, however, that she has not detained him and, notwithstanding the marriage negotiations having come to nothing, she still remained as friendly and kindly towards him as ever. It is believed that the King will do his best to get the queen of Scotland in the belief that many of his friends here would stand by him in an enterprise against this country and, certainly, if he is clever and this Queen do not alter her style of proceeding she may yet find herself deceived. The Scotch Parliament was sitting, and it is said they would resolve about sending to the Concilio and decide the question of the Queen's marriage. Her Majesty was recently in the city of St. Andrews, Several couriers have recently come hither from France, and others have gone thither. It is suspected that the French protestants expect to need the help of those here, which help will not fail them. God grant that they may be satisfied with staying at home and not try to disturb other people's houses. Lady Margaret will arrive here during the week, a prisoner, with her two sons. It is thought that after they have examined her she will be cast into the Tower like her husband. The Tower is already full of prisoners, and the suspicions of the Queen increase daily.—London, 3rd April 1562.
3 April.	158. Bishop Quadra to Cardinal De Granvelle. It is, in my opinion, already too late for his Majesty to favour Robert in his marriage affairs, as I am sure that his Majesty would lose the support of all the catholics here if it were seen that help were given him without any stipulation for the restoration of religion. It would also greatly offend Robert's enemies, whilst neither he nor the Queen would be bound to anything. She desires not to act in accord with his Majesty, as will have been seen by her behaviour in this case and all others, and I have already pointed out that the letter they requested was only to smooth over all difficulties here and carry out their intentions. She thinks she can marry, or unmarry even if she likes, now that she has the support of the heretics here and in France, and knows the trouble our affairs are in in the Netherlands. I am certain that this Queen has thought and studied nothing else since the King sailed for Spain, but how to oust him from the Netherlands, and she believes the best way to effect this is to embroil them over there on religious questions, as I wrote months ago. God grant that there may be none there (in Flanders) who wish the same. As to the French, heretics, and others, there is no doubt about their desires in the matter, and the Germans will certainly help to the same end. To this may be added that they can only be certain of the queen of Scots and the catholic faction in this way. Her (Elizabeth's) natural inclination is inimical to the King, and always has been so. She believes at once anything she is told to our prejudice, and all my attention and flattery, even in Robert's affair which she has so much at heart, have been powerless to bring her round to his Majesty's side, although I have certainly spared nothing, and cannot reproach myself with omitting anything in this matter which tended to the service of God and the King.— London, 2nd April 1562.
Simancas, B. M. MS., Add. 26,056a.	159. The aforegoing letter contains also the following paragraphs in this transcript :— Lady Margaret will arrive here to-day or to-morrow. Her sons remain at York in safe hands, and the going of the Duke of Norfolk with the other hunters in that direction was only to ensure the province against any rising that might take place on this account. The lawyers here are still busy about the question of the succession, and I hear they are much in favour of Lady Margaret. When they have made up their mind who is the rightful heir they will discuss how they shall publish it or if at all. I am sure it will all end by the Queen obtaining power, to select her own successor or leave the crown by will, and that Lady Margaret will thus be excluded, and the succession fall into the hands of some heretic, such as the earl of Huntingdon or the Earl of Hertford. Shan O'Neil and 10 or 12 of his principal followers have received the holy sacrament in my house with the utmost secresy as he refused to receive the Queen's communion. He has assured me that he is and will be perfectly steadfast on the question of religion. As to the rest, if his Majesty should intend to mend matters here radically as he writes me from Spain, I think this man will be a most important instrument. I am sending one of my servants to Brussels, and as I think it desirable to get rid of some papers which are not necessary to me, I take the opportunity of sending them by him. I have also instructed him to bring me the consecrated oils, as Catholics come to me for them.
11 April. Brussels Archives, B. M. MS., Add. 28,173a.	160. Bishop Quadra to the Duchess Of Parma. To your Highness' letter of the 4th instant giving me to understand that you do not consider it advisable that I should visit Flanders, as I had supplicated your Highness to allow me, I have only to say that I will obey in this as in all things, especially as I have now received a certain sum of money to meet part of my needs. I humbly thank your Highness for the provision you say you have made for me, and your promised intercession with his Majesty in my favour. The Swedish ambassador has been to take leave of me, and assures me of the deep obligation under which his King is to his Majesty and your Highness for the passport and preparations made in the ports in anticipation of his King's voyage. He says he greatly desires that this friendship may be cemented by the marriage of his King to one of the daughters of his Cæsarian Majesty, to whom I believe he has sent ambassadors to propose it. News comes from Scotland that the Queen has been in great peril of imprisonment, and some say even of death, from the duke of Chatelherault, the earl of Bothwell, and other conspirators. The plot, however, was discovered the day before it was to be attempted by the interception of certain monies which were being sent to the Earl for the payment of the people who were to rise. No other particulars are known, but as soon as anything is to be learnt I will advise your Highness. It is positively asserted here that the Landerave, (fn. 1) and the Count Palatine will help the Admiral of France, the prince of Condé and their party, and have sent to urge them to Stand firm and they shall not lack either money or men. I think well to inform your Highness of this, although I do not know it for certain. P.S.—I humbly salute your Highness for the favour you have deigned to extend to M. Robert, (fn. 2) respecting the license to export the horses, and also to Cobham to export the 50 harquebusses.—London, 11th April 1562.