Simancas: April 1573 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers, Spain (Simancas), Volume 2, 1568-1579. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1894.

Citation:

'Simancas: April 1573', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain (Simancas), Volume 2, 1568-1579, ed. Martin A S Hume( London, 1894), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/simancas/vol2/pp467-468 [accessed 27 November 2024].

April 1573



7 April. B. M. Cotton, Galba, C. IV. Original draft.	383. Letter of Intelligence from London (unsigned) to the Duke Of Alba, Governor of the Netherlands. I wrote to your Excellency on the 30th ultimo. On the 2nd instant, Doctor Dale, the new Ambassador, left here for France. I am now in great hope of being able to discover the names of the persons who send such continual reports hither from Rome, France, Venice, and Padua. The English soldiers, who I said in my last were ready to leave for Zealand, have not left yet in consequence of the weather, nor have the stores and munitions of which it is said the rebels are in urgent need. I learn by letters of 29th ultimo brought by the last ordinary post of the victories gained by Don Fadrique (i.e., Don Fadrique de Toledo, son of the Duke of Alba), the great numbers of the rebels killed and captured, the breaking of the dike, the capture of ... (Sparen?) near Haarlem by M. de Bossu and of the great slaughter of the Flushing men by the people of Antwerp. We also hear of the reinforcement of Antwerp, which will render the entrance into Zealand easy ; all of which greatly grieves people here, who are making up news to a contrary effect. If they did not resort to these cunning tricks continually, disturbances would soon be raised in this country. As soon as they sent Dr. Dale off they began the letters for Scotland which are not yet finished. When they are ready for dispatch I shall be informed of some parts of the contents. The men from the Palatine, Saxony, and Count Ludovic are still here, and when they are dispatched I shall know their errands. I am informed that Montgomeri with his fleet was to leave yesterday, but his destination is not known, although some say it is Rochelle, where the king's forces have sunk more than 50 old ships to block the entrance and prevent succour from reaching the rebels. I will fulfil my duty to his Majesty and your Excellency by promptly and continually communicating all I can learn.— London, 7th April 1573.
9 April. B. M. Add. 26,056b. Transcript.	384. Juan De Salvatierra to the King. The bishops of London and Winchester and other prelates of England have agreed to petition the Queen to help Orange and Montgomeri, she being the defender of heresy and consequently obliged to prevent their being undone, they being of the same religion as herself. The Queen replied, as usual, that she did not wish to do anything against the King her brother. They then said that as she did not wish to run the risk herself, she should give them license to do so, and so enable them to discharge their duty and employ their revenues in defence of their faith. The bishop of London and his party have accordingly subscribed 20,000l., which they have sent to the prince of Orange, and the bishop of Winchester has raised 35,000l., which has been deposited in the Guildhall of London to be given to the Landgrave's son to raise troops. They have not handed him the money yet as they want him to give security for the fulfilment of his part. They gave a sum of money to him before for the Rochelle affair but he did not take the troops. It will be thus seen what the friendship of the Queen means and that she does her best to forward heresy. How much more holy and grateful would it be for the bishops of this country (i.e., Spain) to beg your Majesty to allow them to apply some of their revenues to the succour of the Catholics of Ireland and England against the enemies of the faith. It would be very welcome to the Lord that your Majesty should command this.