Simancas: June 1584 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers, Spain (Simancas), Volume 3, 1580-1586. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1896.

Citation:

'Simancas: June 1584', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain (Simancas), Volume 3, 1580-1586, ed. Martin A S Hume( London, 1896), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/simancas/vol3/pp527-528 [accessed 27 November 2024].

June 1584



1 June.	382. The King to the Count De Olivares. The same suggestion about the Duke of Guise's going to Scotland that his Holiness conveyed to you was also communicated to me by the Nuncio here, but it is not so easy a task to settle that country and free the king of Scotland ; and the passage of the Duke thither with so small a force and without money could hardly result in success, but more likely in the loss of a person who can always be of such great service to the Catholic cause in France. Besides which, as you will since have heard from Juan Bautista de Tassis, the duke of Guise should never stir out of his house, unless well supplied with forces ; and the affair will soon be more remote than ever, in consequence of the discussion in which they must all be immersed about the duke of Alençon. I am certainly anxious about this business, because it is so greatly in God's service that it behoves us all to aid it; and I understand that this help should not be confined to good wishes alone, but if anything is to be done it should be on solid foundation with foresight and caution, because, failing this, and if the secret leaks out, the Catholics there will be put to the sword, as they have been before ; above all if, with but small support, we lead them to make a move themselves, which would complete their ruin, and would deprive us of their help when it really might be of advantage, if they were preserved. I have on other occasions offered my forces to his Holiness, and I do the same now, although the many demands I have upon me for money, on account of matters as godly and necessary as this, make me poor. I am not asking that his Holiness should do impossibilities, but if anything is to be effected he must contribute very largely, and must find ways and means through his holy zeal to do much more than anyone has yet imagined. It appears to me that the first thing to be kept in view is to aid the principal enterprise promptly and substantially, and if time should fail for this, or other obstacles should make it impossible, the king of Scotland must be helped with some money—for I am not losing sight of him—and the English Catholics advised to be patient and steadfast, in the certain hope that aid will be forthcoming in due time. In the meanwhile, things could be prepared. Let his Holiness consider what had better be done in view of this reply to his communication. Report to me what he answers.—San Lorenzo, 1st June 1584.
4 June.	383. Count De Olivares to the King. [Extract.] His Holiness told me in the course of conversation that he hoped the queen of England would do something good. I pressed him with leading questions to discover whether he had any negotiations or understandings with her. He told me that he had not, but she was so much afraid of the Catholics and distrusted the heretics so greatly that he was inspired with this hope. I afterwards learnt from Cardinal Como (fn. 1) that the Nuncio in France had written saying that he had heard from a person whom the English Ambassador had told, that whenever any tumult took place, his mistress had a remedy ready at hand which was simply to hear a mass. I see some indications that the inquisition is carrying on some sort of negotiations with her, and, on my making a remark to one of the members to the effect that it was very desirable that your Majesty should know what was being done in this matter, he replied that when there was anything tangible he would not fail to inform your Majesty. (fn. 2) —Rome, 4th June.