| 7 Nov. |
404. Antonio De Guaras to Zayas.
On the 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, and 31st, I sent my last reports,
and since then I have learned that the Vidame de Chartres has
gone to Flushing and disembarked there in the hope that Orange
would come to terms with Middleburg, where they say he will pass
the winter, partly in order to redress the robberies which some of
his people have openly committed there. No more victuals are to
be allowed to be sent from here, but there are now at Rye ten
ships of war from Flushing, awaiting others which are to join
them from Havre de Grace, Calais and elsewhere, to commit great
damage. An Easterling sloop is expected at (Harwich?) loaded
with four thousand galley-oars and many spars with quantities of
cordage, sulphur, &c. It will thence continue its voyage for
Barbary, the master being an Englishman, named John Rale, and
the mate another Englishman named Allen Macpes, the crew being
Easterlings. As other ships have gone thither on equally evil
errands, it might be well to take steps to capture this ship and
punish the men. In Northumberland there has appeared in the air
a white St. Andrew's Cross and near it a wolf, which animals are
unknown in this country. The people saw apparently a great
number of deer enclosed in a park, and the wolf singling out the
largest of them pursued it continually, taking no notice of the
others. The wolf was seen no more, but the deer comes alone
every day to the same place and is for two or three hours prancing
about in great terror. All the justices of that country have
informed the Council of this and there is much discussion about it.
Both in the Court and here the greatest of astonishment is
expressed, the general opinion being that the cross and the other
appearances are portents of great importance, and the affair has
made so much noise that I write about it, although these people
seem to attach too much weight to simple things like these. The
regent of Scotland is visiting the different parts of the country
and imposing heavy subsidies. He insisted that the earl of Athole
and his people should pay a certain great sum, which the Earl
refused to do, the dispute ending in the Earl being killed. He was
a friend of the queen of Scotland and of the earl of Argyll, and
dissensions have arisen in consequence. The Regent's wife has
died and he wants to marry the queen of Scotland with the
support of this Queen, but it may be supposed that they will not
listen to such a thing here, and still less will the queen of Scotland
herself entertain it.
As M. de Zweveghem will report, he was well received at Court
with the King's letter. He has taken leave and hopes to depart in
company with the master of requests, Dr. Wilson, but I am
informed to-day by a courtier that the Queen said that the doctor
would not leave for Flanders until an answer was received from
his Majesty. Lord North, who, as I reported, went to the king of
France, is understood to have arrived at Lyons and will soon be on
his way back.
Some time before the duke of Guise was killed, it was said here
that the deed would be done, as they knew beforehand that it was
intended. This was the case also with the queen (dowager?) of Scotland,
and with the last king of France, as many witnesses here can
testify, I myself amongst the number. Some of the people here
have arranged in Germany to serve the present king of France in
the same way. In connection with this, two days since, friend
Ougan (Huggins?) sent to say by his gentleman Heron, who is
known to you, that the supreme Secretary Walsingham whispered into
Ougan's (Huggins') ear these words : "Have you heard anything
of the King since the loss of Goleta?" "What king?" he said.
"The king of Spain," he replied. The answer was "No," and no
more was said. This Walsingham is of all heretics the worst. He
was ambassador in France and as he is in authority here and is the
right hand of Orange, any evil may be expected from him and his
friends in the Council. I have heard from a trustworthy source that
intelligence has been received that a secret rebellion is being
plotted in Bruges, but I have not been able to obtain particulars
about it. I have not been able either to learn any more about the
false coiners, excepting that they continue to work secretly. I have
received no answer to the letter, but hope someone abroad will
write to me. Bingham says he is attending to the preparation of
the service he has offered to perform.—London, 7th November
1574.
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| 28 Nov. |
405. Antonio De Guaras to Zayas.
On the 21st instant I sent my last report, and advice reaches me
from the Court since then that the Queen intended some days ago
to send Harry Cobham to Spain, but his departure is delayed, and,
for certain reasons, it is expected he will not now go.
I have learnt also that the chevalier Giraldi had been discussing
lately with Lord Burleigh and other councillors the agreement with
his King but could not come to terms, so that the business is now
in suspense until a reply is received from Portugal respecting the
article in dispute.
Dr. Wilson will, no doubt, have already arrived. He is charged, as
I have written, to offer her Majesty the Queen's intercession to
settle matters in Holland and Zealand and to bring those countries
into submission to the King. News has come from Ireland that
many provinces have risen against the earl of Essex (who commands
the Queen's army) it favour of O'Neil (?). The Viceroy,
Sir Harry Sidney, who is a very good gentleman, is leaving here on
his way thither.
A Scotsman was brought here a prisoner as, on his way through
Berwick from Scotland, they found two letters on him in a very secret
cipher which letters are said to be for the queen of Scotland. The
brother of the Count de Retz has arrived in Scotland by sea, sent
by the king of France, and his arrival has caused many rumours
here, as they do not know what his object is. The news of the
killing of the earl of Athole by the Regent is now contradicted.
I have also been informed that Killigrew, who was formerly
ambassador to Scotland, is again making ready to go thither.
They are preparing three of the Queen's ships, it is publicly
announced, to go against the pirates, but there is great suspicion
that Killigrew is going in them to fetch the prince of Scotland
hither, which has been discussed here for the last two years, the
intention being, for a great sum of money, to appoint him the successor
to the Crown. The Queen herself, however, is the person
who is least willing to do this. If Killigrew is not bound on this
errand, it is expected, from certain indications, that he will go
to receive Condé and the Vidame and others to carry them to
Rochelle, but, as every day some new purpose is adopted in State
affairs here, nothing is ever certain, and what is true one day is
often not true the next in consequence of the fickleness of these
people.
The Queen has appointed commissioners who are furiously
examining the principal Catholics, bishops, and others, who are
prisoners or under surety, the substance of their examination being
as follows.
If they recognise the Queen as head of the Church of England.
To this they have all replied to the same effect, although examined
separately, that they did not, and that the Supreme Pontiff is the
head of the Universal Church and vicar of our Lord Jesus Christ.
They were then asked if they recognised the Queen as sovereign,
to which they replied that they did.
They were next asked whether they accepted her as the
legitimate Queen ; to which they replied that they recognised her
as sovereign, and declined to say anything more in consequence of
the law.
They were asked who they considered was the heir to the throne
after this Queen ; to which they replied that that would be shown
by the royal pedigree.
They were then asked what was the Univeral Church of which
they spoke, and to this they replied, "The Roman Church, which
was gathered by the Holy Ghost at Trent, and it always would be
so considered by Catholics."
They were examined as to their belief in the Holy Sacrament,
and their reply was that they firmly believed in the real presence
contained therein after the sacramental words had been pronounced
by the priest. They said they believed in this presence, jointly
divine and human, as it was upon the Cross, true God and Man ;
and they added, with much constancy, that he who did not believe
this could not hope for salvation. They were then asked if the
service in use in churches here, by order of the Queen, was acceptable
to God, and they distinctly replied that it was not, as it was
performed outside of the unity of the church, and contrary to its
sacred doctrine. To all these things they, being all Catholics,
answered similarly, being ready to live or die in the truth,
which they hold before men, constant unto martyrdom. Each one had to
sign his name to his confession for the information of the Queen
and Council. People expect that severity will come of this. I
enclose herewith copy of the letter which I have received from the
queen of Scotland and of the reply which I sent to her, as also of
the cipher she had forwarded to me. This lady founds all her
hopes upon his Majesty, after God, and by a letter she has written
to an influential friend, who read it to me, it is certain that there is
nothing she desires more than to accept the proposition about Don
Juan of Austria, she having been persuaded by this personage
and others that it would be most important for the welfare of
Christendom. If it be his Majesty's will that this matter should
be considered, and communications have to be carried on with the
Queen about it, this cipher can be utilised for the purpose, it
being so obscure, without an alphabet, that it is impossible to
decipher it. It would be a great consolation for this princess
if she could be comforted and encouraged in writing and, leaving
aside the charity of the world, that such a turn should be given
to her affairs that God might place her once more in her proper
position, which is greatly desired by many. In such a happy
event she would be a saintly, chaste and Catholic princess, the
greatest lady on earth ; because England, Scotland, and Ireland is
so great an empire that it cannot be exaggerated. Although she
is now in the power of her enemies, who, being heretics and evil
men, traitorously accuse her of the crimes which they themselves
have committed, the good Queen herself being perfectly innocent,
and persecuted only by these tyrants because she is a Catholic ;
if his Majesty will graciously allow a letter for her contentment in
the business to be written, time might provide an opportunity for
her capture by the hands of high personages. If on our part
consent were given, this project would be certainly executed by
them. She writes respecting this to the person I have mentioned,
and desires above all things that her son should be married
to the eldest Infanta, for which purpose she will consent that the
man who now holds him shall take him to Spain.
This might be taken in hand before waiting for the French or
English to act similarly in their own interests, as it is so important
for the reformation of religion here that Flanders should be held
in safe subjection, the French curbed in their furious attacks of
ambition, as they always are when we are prosperous, and all
princes and potentates dumbfounded by the double alliances with
mother and son. I ask pardon if this business is too high for me
to touch, I being so humble a person. Friend Ougan (Huggins)
and Captain Ellis await a reply to their important propositions.
There is not so much talk about the false money for fear of its
getting wind It appears they are covering it up with silence.
This cipher being so simple and easy to discover, I will write if I
am al owed in that of the Queen (of Scots), which is so obscure that
it can never be deciphered. Amongst other things it must be borne
in mind that the Queen-Mother is no friend of the queen of Scots for
domestic reasons of little moment.—London, 28th November 1574.
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