283. The Same to the Same.
Although I have written that this Queen has been ill with catarrh
she has also had an attack of the pains in the head to which she is
subject. They inform me that the physicians who attend her
consider her constitution a weak and unhealthy one. It is true
young people can get over anything, but your Majesty should note
that she is not considered likely to have a long life.
The earl of Leicester is still in favour. He shows the same
goodwill towards your Majesty's interests. I believe he desires to
please everybody as he seems well disposed and has no inclination
to do harm. The French Ambassador cultivates his friendship both
in obedience to instructions from the King and because Leicester's
father was attached to the French, and he also has a liking for them,
although if he tells the truth his affection for and desire to serve
your Majesty are much stronger. He was considered here more
Catholic than Protestant, but recently he has done two things that
make some people think he is not so. First, the Queen having
ordered the image to be placed in her chapel he had it removed, and
next, when the men they call ministers and ecclesiastics here were
ordered to wear a proper dress in accordance with the ancient
custom of the country and to put on a surplice during the service,
the ministers complained to him saying that they wished to make
Papists of them, and by his help the order lias been dropped, as have
some other measures of amendment. The Queen, as usual, has a
cross upon the altar. If what some people say is to be believed she
is not comfortable with her Protestants nor with the doctrines of the
other side either, and, in the meanwhile, provides no amendment
and gives ground for the assertion that she is an atheist and
Leicester as well. I ought not to presume to judge thus freely.
The king of France has gained little credit and few friends by his
offer of the order of St. Michael to these people but, on the contrary,
has turned such friends as he had into enemies. It has done
Leicester more harm than good, as the jealousy of him has increased,
and I understand that he knows it. He told me the other day that
he was quite satisfied with his St. George. When I first arrived
here I had imagined Secretary Cecil, judging by the accounts given
me, to be very different from what I have found him in your
Majesty's affairs. He is well disposed towards them, truthful, lucid,
modest and just, and, although he is zealous in serving his Queen,
which is one of his best traits, yet he is amenable to reason. He
knows the French and, like an Englishman, is their enemy. He
assures me on his oath, as I have already said, that the French have
always made great efforts to attract to their country the Flanders
trade, offering heavy security for its safety. With regard to his
religion I say nothing except that I wish he were a Catholic, but to
his credit must be placed the fact that he is straightforward in affairs
and shows himself well affected towards your Majesty, for which I
thank him, and, with fair words that pledge me to nothing, I let him
know that your Majesty looks to him to dispose matters favourably
as necessity may occur, for he alone it is who makes or mars business
here.
I wrote to your Majesty that the earl of Bedford and the queen
of Scotland's secretary named Lethington were going to have an
interview with that queen after their conference at Berwick.
Letters have now been received here saying that they were not going
into Scotland, but that Lethington was still coming hither. I am
informed that the queen of Scotland is pressing this Queen very
hard to declare herself in the mitter of the succession, and it is
thought that if she does not do so some movement will be made
and that the queen of Scotland will be aided by the French.
It is understood here that the earl of Arundel's business is all
ended in merrymakings although no decision has yet been actually
adopted about him. I have been waiting some days for a Catholic
who is very diligent in affairs here to give me a statement about the
succession in case of the Queen's death. As he still delays I have
read authorities on the subject and consulted learned persons and
now enclose the statement of the matter as I understand it which
I believe to be correct. I could send the whole descent but do not
do so in order to avoid confusion.—London, 2nd January 1565.
Note in margin.—Statement not sent. |
| 8 Jan. |
284. The Same to the Same.
I wrote to your Majesty by way of Flanders that this queen had
been unwell but had recovered, and that affairs here were as usual,
except that great satisfaction existed at an arrangement having
been made about trade with Flanders. I hear that the same pleasure
exists there by a letter from the town of Antwerp which I have
received. I have not yet received advice from the Duchess of
Parma, but I have no doubt she will be equally pleased, as the
settlement arrived at was exactly as she sent it, signed by herself
without the change of a single word.
I have taken and am taking every possible step for the greater
security of the sea, which is quite necessary, as there are still thieves
about. As I have advised, some of the Queen's ships have sailed to
capture them, and they have been proclaimed traitors. At the ports
measures have been ordered to capture them, and ships are not
allowed to leave without giving sureties, but withal, necessity and
recklessuess make it hard to put an end to them, although some of
them are in jail.
About 10 days since one of these pirates, called Cucon (Cook ?),
robbed a Flemish ship bound to Portugal He came to Southampton
to discharge what he had taken, and carried it secretly by night to
a house he has in the country near there. The officers of the law
were advised and took steps at once. The merchandise was captured,
and some of the thieves, although the principal one escaped. Notice
of the capture was given and the men who had been robbed arrived
here three days ago, and will have their property restored. The
thieves will be punished.
These fresh depredations gave me an opportunity for again pressing
the matter here, whereupon they replied that they knew not what
else they could do, but if I could suggest any other remedy besides
those adopted, they would employ it. I believe they are in earnest.
They had arranged a joust of 12 a side for Twelfth Day, but it
rained so heavily that the affair could not come off until the next day
(yesterday), when the morning turned out bright and fine. When I was
with the Queen a few days before she had asked me to come to the
palace to see her feast, but I did not intend to go, the earl of Leicester
having neglected to send me word of it again as he undertook to do.
The day of the feast, however, the Queen sent word that I was to go,
which I did, feeling sure that the French Ambassador would not
be there, as I had sent word to him that the Queen desired my
presence, as he usually does when he goes to the palace to avoid our
being there together. I went early as they requested me, and
Secretary Cecil and the Chamberlain put me in the gallery from
which the Queen generally sees the feasts. There were three or
four compartments divided by cloths, and they took me into one
adjoining that of the Queen, and adorned in the same way as hers.
Soon afterwards the Queen came and entered the compartment
where I was, calling me to her. I was with her at the window
until the entry and a good number of the jousters had run when
she said she would be glad if I would go again into the compartment
I was in before she came, as she wished to entertain the French
Ambassador for a short time, he having come, and she did not wish
us to be both there together, but would call me again. I went as
desired, and after the Frenchman had been there a little while he
went away and the Queen called me to her again. I was with her until
the end of the joust when she went indoors to warm herself, taking
me with her, and told ine that the French Ambassador had wished
to come, but that she being a woman and not adroit enough to settle
points of precedence, had not thought well to have us both in her
presence at the same time. She then asked me to stay and sup
with the earl of Leicester, so that I might see the whole of the
entertainment, as she wished to rest for a short time. I therefore
went with Leicester to his lodgings where the principal people of
the court sat down to supper, and afterwards was taken to the
presence chamber, and from there to the privy chamber, where I
was with the Queen for a short time. About 8 o'clock she descended
to the first hall, which had been prepared, and there after dancing
for a while they had a tourney on foot, which lasted till about 11.
The Queen then sent for the challengers and their opponents, and
thanked them for what they had done, whereupon I left her in her
apartments.
After I returned home I learnt that they had kept the French
Ambassador waiting a good while in a corridor where those who
came with me were assembled until the lists were opened, and he was
admitted as I have related. He went away ill-pleased and showed
it when he left. Those who saw him told me that he might have
saved himself the pains of coming, as he had received advice from
me, and there is little need to bring on these questions of precedence
here.—London, 8th January 1565.
Postcript : Secretary Cecil tells me that the Ambassador the
Queen has in Madrid has begged leave to return, which has been
given him on the ground of ill-health. The secretary will remain
to receive letters until another person goes to replace him. |
