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| 5 Dec. |
431. Antonio De Guaras to (Zayas?).
On the 28th, 29th, and 30th ultimo I sent my last reports, and
I have now to advise that I have trustworthy information that
Egremont Ratcliff, who is a prisoner, has presented a written statement
to the Queen, and it is greatly feared that, as he was
concerned in the Northern rising, he will have denounced many
persons both absent and present.
The French captain, Norman, is still about the Court pushing his
request, although I have heard from a man who accompanies him
that he intends to go to Rochelle if these people will not grant
what he desires.
Hastings, the gentleman that the Queen sent to the prince of
Orange, has not returned yet, nor has Corbet, who went to his
Excellency, although answers have been sent to both of them by
the servants they sent to the Queen. This affair may turn out
hard to digest for them, as it was all hatched here, as I am
informed, in order to make the King think that, if the Queen sets
foot in the States, she is forced to do so out of fear of the French
or the king of Denmark, but the real object is to keep them (the
States) in hand to surrender them when it may appear desirable
after first trying to oust the Spaniards from Flanders ; and then
again negotiate for a confirmation of treaties and so protect herself
against the consequences of past bad acts and unneighbourly
conduct ; at the same time making a show of being forced to place
her army in Flanders to prevent injury to her own country. I
hear, on the other hand, that they will only decide upon the step
with great difficulty in consequence of the fear that, if they undertake
the task, the dangers and difficulties here may recommence,
and nothing will be done without much consideration and the
express consent of the Queen. As I wrote, they had sent the
Queen's ships to sea but have now ordered their re-call, the confusion
being such that the aspect of State affairs fluctuates from
day to day. They have said nothing to me at all, whereas in the
time of the duke of Alba the lord treasurer, Lord Burleigh, spoke
to me on the subject of Flanders in the Queen's name nearly every
week, saying that, if his Majesty was willing, she would gladly
intercede in order to bring about an honourable understanding
between his Majesty and the prince of Orange, and as I was
ordered by the Duke to listen to what they might say and report
the same, they were moved to send the envoys they dispatched, no
reply having been given to them through me after they had so repeatedly
approached me. Whatever evil thing happens it may be
believed that the Queen's own intention is a good one, but not so
those of many in authority who surround her.
As the thing is publicly talked about in the streets there is no
objection to my writing openly about the great enmity which exists
between the earl of Leicester and the earl of Essex, in consequence,
it is said, of the fact that whilst Essex was in Ireland his
wife had two children by Leicester. She is the daughter of Sir
Francis Knollys, a near relative of the Queen, and a member of
the Council, and great discord is expected in consequence.
News comes from Holland that Orange will summon the States
of that country and of Zealand to consider some means of
remedying their position, and in consequence of the murmurs of
the people and soldiers. If it were not for their obstinacy and his
forces the tow,ns would submit themselves to the King's mercy.
I have received news from the Court that the Queen is highly
offended at an English gentleman, named Capel, being so much
favoured by his Excellency, and especially at his having written
authorizing some Englishmen to arm against the rebels. He will
hear from some of his friends that the Queen will be glad if he
absents himself from Flanders and retires from the King's service
It is thought better that he should go to Germany or Italy as I
hear from persons who are concerned in these matters.
These people have lately given orders for the collection of sixty
thousand crowns and are going about the city changing the money
into gold. The congregations of our rebels are doing the same and
are sending the money to Orange, either for him or for Condé, and
it may well be supposed that, now that an arrangement has been
arrived at in France, they will not be idle in disturbing the States
through one or the other of these men.—London, 5th December
1575. |
| 10 Dec. |
432. Antonio De Guaras to (Zayas?).
I sent my last report on the 5th instant and have since received
his Excellency's letter of the 26th.
Some days since, it was announced in Court and here that the
city of Cologne was lending the Queen a great sum of money at
five per cent. per annum interest, which had been offered by her to
this city and to many private persons. It is not believed, but is
thought to be all an invention to make people believe that money
is coming hither, the sum being stated at five hundred thousand
crowns, in order to cover the many obligations they are incurring.
Those who know, say also that it is in order that, when money has
to be sent from here, the people may be told it is to pay this
loan as they are greatly averse to money being sent out of the
country. The murmurs in Court and in London respecting the
expected decree (in Flanders) suspending the payment of interest
on the money belonging to the Genoese and others, are incredibly
great, and some days ago, when Lord Burleigh, the Admiral, the
earl of Leicester and others were together, they asked me about it,
as if surprised, and seemed to think that it was a great hardship
for the persons interested. I told them there was no need for them
to be scandalised about it, as in this country it was a law of Parliament
that whoever lent money at usury, should lose principal
and interest, and should pay as much to the informer, and again as
much to the treasury. I said I did not understand that his
Majesty ordered the principal to be confiscated, but that in
accordance with the laws of the land and the permission of his
Holiness, the lenders should be satisfied with seven per cent. per
annum, aud that to charge thirty, forty, and fifty par cent. was an
action which I would leave to their own judgment as to whether it
was right or not. I said that, whilst what was done here seemed
extreme, what was done on our side appeared to be a charitable
reform, and they replied that it was indeed an admirable order, and
that the Genoese and others, marquisses, princes and counts, as they
were, would again have to return to their position as merchants, and
his Majesty would find his revenues relieved, although they hinted
that, in future, the credit of his Majesty would not be very secure. I
said that a Prince who was free from obligations and had fifteen
millions of ordinary revenue, besides twenty millions which it was
expected would be produced yearly by the tenths conceded to his
Majesty, particularly if they were extended, as was said, to the
Indies, could not be in great need, and in due time the tenths in
Flanders would also be paid. Such a prince as this, I said, with
such revenues and with great treasures in coined money had little
need of the cash of Genoese or other usurers, although money was
now in such a position that they'were very glad to get seven per
cent. for it. I said his Majesty had such great revenues that the Turk
would feel the effect thereof, and all our King's good friends, and
especially the Queen and the English, would be pleased thereat.
They agreed with me, but the vulgar people, ignorant as they are
and moved by their passions, murmur much about it.
By the last courier many letters have come from Flanders to
these people expressing the fears that were felt there that some new
discord was about to arise between their Majesties (Philip and
Elizabeth) although no reasons for it were alleged. Some of my
own acquaintances have been to me begging me to befriend them
in the interests of their property by telling them something about
it. I have satisfied them that it was all an illusion and have made
as light of it as possible. This suspicion seems to have arisen from
something said by Corbet or those who are with him, to the effect
that, if his mission was not successful, the Queen could not avoid
placing forces in the States to assist or protect Orange, but it is
nothing but gossip of the people and of distrustful merchants. The
general opinion is that Orange will come to a speedy and bad end,
and some people talk of sheltering him here and others at Embden,
as he dares not fly to Germany and the Danes will not think of
receiving him, as it was said here they would do. Moreover, the
French cannot give him hospitality and the English will hardly
dare to do so. All those who understand the matter affirm that
his Excellency is pressing him in such a way that, when Ziericzee
is lost, which, with God's help, it will be, he and his will be
desperate, and I am assured that if he can safely abandon the States,
he would fly hither or to some other safe place, to which course he is
persuaded especially by a cook of his, who has an estate of 300l. a year,
and is his close confidant and the only person in whom he dares to
trust, for if his Council imagined that he intended to escape they
would kill him or surrender him to us. This account has been
given to me word for word by a trustworthy person who says that
he knows him (Orange) to be so hardly pressed that, if his Majesty
were to offer him clemency and mercy, he would accept them and
abandon the cause, to which he has so often said that he was wedded.
I am told that in Ziericzee, the principal members of his Council,
the most obstinate of his adherents and the flower of his soldiery,
are collected, and if, which God grant, the same happens to them as
to the people of Haarlem, great confusion will fall upon his cause.
It is said that all Zealand is dismayed, as there is little defence in
the towns and the sea forces have melted away insensibly, so that
if his Excellency follows them up afloat, as it is believes he intends
to do, a speedy and bad end will surely reach them, especially if
eight or ten ships like those of Pedro de Valdés were to come this
spring to the Channel. As the ports here are secure for them and
victuals obtainable at fair price, this, it is thought, would finish
the business and, even if the rebel sea forces were not augmented,
the fishing boats and others might be followed and all supplies of
victuals prevented from reaching the rebels from England, the
Queen and Council having already forbidden victuals to be sent to
them openly.
I will give the answer in general terms, as I am instructed, to
the sailors and others who offer service.
Colonel Chester and the gentleman sent by the Queen to Orange
have not returned but are expected daily.
A man from the neighbourhood of Dortrecht tells me that the
people there are so determined in their obstinate defence and
treason that they are collecting forty thousand florins a month for
the expense of holding out, and he says that before Ziericzee was
surrounded, seven of the richest people there were taken to Middleburg
as they were considered suspect and desirous of submitting to
the King. It is said amongst the rebels here that Hermanus, their
great preacher, has arrived here, but is considered certain that he is
still in Ziericzee with the rest of the rogues.—London, 10th
December 1575. |
| 17 Dec. |
433. Antonio De Guaras to Zayas.
I sent my last statements on the 5th and 10th ultimo. Since
then all is tranquil here and there is nothing fresh to report. The
answer given in Flanders to the envoy Corbet who is expected, or
has arrived here, has changed the aspect of matters, and I am
informed from a good quarter that, as they have not been able to
compass what they desired, namely, that forces should be placed in
Holland and Zealand with the connivance of the Queen, they will
now try to do it without her aid. In the meanwhile, the ships
they had sent out with this object have been recalled and are now
with the rest. The person who gives me this information assures
me that there is great diversity of opinion amongst the people here ;
some say that, as Orange is certain to be ruined, since it is sure
that neither France nor Denmark will help him, he should be
openly assisted from here, whilst others advocate a contrary course
for fear that, in such case, total ruin might come to them through
Ireland, Scotland, or the North, where much discontent exists.
They are therefore in suspense, although their rejoicing is incredible
that Ziericzee should have been revictualled. They are daily
expecting the arrival of Chester, Hastings, and others, who were
sent to Orange, and who they say left there some time ago and
have been lost in a storm. If they were lost it would be a just
fate as they are ministers of evil. News comes from Flanders by
every post that there is a fear amongst the merchants that some new
dissension will break out between their Majesties, and the English
there are selling their properties at great loss, the Flemings doing the
same here. They all affirm that forces are to be sent from here to
seize Holland and Zealand, and fear that great evils will arise in consequence.
It is also publicly asserted that a great councillor has
divulged that his Majesty has used very hard words to the ambassador
Cobham respecting the action of the Queen, saying that he could
not tolerate her unneighbourly conduct in helping Orange. There
are many bad people in this city who have much influence on the
Council and are trying to stir up dissension, and these it is who are
making this assertion, saying that Cobham is returning with some
such reply. Amongst other things, persons in authority had, it is
said, ordered Captain Vaughan, who commands the "Castle of
Comfort," which was off the Isle of Wight with our fleet, to seize
as many of our ships as he could and take them into Flushing, where
he was to serve the Prince of Orange with his vessel, which is a very
powerful one. It is said that he did not do this in consequence of
certain hindrances, but in pursuance of the same policy, they have
recently captured a servant of Lord Windsor, who had served in
Flanders, because he was leaving, taking with him in his ship to
Flanders sixty mariners and a certain Captain Smith, who had also
served in Flanders. He had taken one of the Rochelle ships and
had been driven into Falmouth with his prize by a storm. They
took his prize from him, arrested him, and he is now in danger of
being hanged, on the charge of being a pirate ; but the worst
crime they will find in him is that he served us in Flanders. These
people here are so zealous in all that touches this question that I am
assured that if they do not openly send forces to the States they
will soon find some new means of helping Orange underhand.
Fresh news comes every hour and, since closing this, I have
received trustworthy information that on Thursday last the Queen
very loudly declared that she was against sending forces openly to
Zealand and Holland. She entered her chamber alone, slamming
her door after her and crying out that they were ruining her over
this business, and those who were there, her ladies-in-waiting and
others, were much distressed, saying that if she did not open the
door they would burst it open, as they could not bear her to be
alone in such trouble. Her grief arose from her having received
news that Orange was sending to her, with Chester and Hastings,
Aldegonde, and Count Culdenburg, and another of the principal
persons of his States, who were all in Flushing awaiting on opportunity
for passing over. It is supposed they came to offer on
behalf of Orange the possession of Zealand and Holland to the
Queen, and as it is expected that when Ziericzee surrenders, Orange
will not be able to resist longer, this will be carried into effect,
If they determine upon it, I am told by those who know, that all
the ports will be closed, ships and men will be sent within a
fortnight and possession will be taken before news of the intention
can leave the country.—London, 17th December 1575. |
| 20 Dec. |
434.
The above is a copy. Since then I take this opportunity of a
safe messenger to Flanders to say that the coming of persons I have
mentioned as being sent as an embassy by Orange to the Queen is
now made public. The merchants are so scandalized at the news
that the general talk amongst them and the people at large is of
the tribulation which they expect to come of it. The Court arrives
to-day at Hampton Court, where the whole of the Council is
ordered to meet to-morrow to discuss this matter before the arrival
of the envoys. Some are of the same opinion that I am, namely, that
these people will not determine to seize Holland and Zealand by
force ; but if they attempt it, it is to be expected that God will
deprive them of understanding, so that they may be ruined where
they hope to be saved. Outward appearances, nevertheless, would
seem to indicate that they intend to attempt the affair, and it is
now publicly said that the envoys only await favourable weather
to come from Flushing, disembarking at Berwick in the north for
greater security. A friend of mine tells me that the earl of Essex,
who has arrived from Ireland offers to command the enterprise.
He is the most passionate of all the heretics here, and very affectionate
and familiar, by letters, with the Count Palatine. He is
the man who came from Ireland so crestfallen at the ill-success of
his adventure there, and on arriving at home found the shameful
news about his own house, that I have mentioned. It is to be
hoped that his bad intentions and worse actions will meet with
their just reward.
Since writing the above I learn that those who are to come
hither are Count Culdenburg, Councillor Aldegonde, Paul Buiz,
and Secretary Tzuits. They left Flushing six days ago in four
ships of war, but were driven back to the island by contrary
winds. |
