BOOK II. another letter from him,122 and discovers to us the important facts so perilous to Elizabeth, that she was then in correspondence with the duke of Alva; that the bishop of Ross was privy to it, and that thro him the duke of Norfolk was also consulted upon it.123 Something of consequence and anxiety for her benefit was expected by her in the summer, and she hopes he will not be betrayed."" The communications between Ridolfi and the French ambassador, and the precise share of the latter in the papal conspiracy, cannot be ascertained, because his confidential dispatches on this subject have not been published. But some intimations appear in the letters of Charles IX. and of his mother to their ambassador, de la Mothe Fenelon, which deserve our passing notice.125 me, while I shall esteem and respect you in all my doings, so long as I live, as you would wish your own to do.' Hardw. 194. 122 This day I received a letter from you by the bearer, whereby I perceive the thought you take of my health, which is much better than it was at his departing, but not yet very strong, nor quit of the soreness of my side. It causes me to be more heavy and pensive than I would or need to be.' ib. 194. 123I write to the bishop of Ross what I hear from the duke of Alva, governor of the Netherlands. Let me know your pleasure at length, in writing, which I shall answer.' ib. 194. We see the nature of her connexions with Alva, from the letter of Charles IX. to his ambassador, on 26th December 1570. 'I observe by your's that the lord Seton, who is gone to the duke of Alva, will be able to obtain so much of the secours which he required from him on the part of the queen of Scots, his mistress, and the means which Seton proposed to the duke to conduct the said secours so apropos, and to such places where, he said, they would be well received by the Scots, as you inform me.' Murray's MS. 124 But and this summer past, I hope by good all the year. God preserve you from all traitors, and make your friends true and con stant.' ib. 195. 125 I quote these letters of Charles from the copies in the hands of Mr. Murray, to whom I am indebted for the perusal of them. He purchased them of a French gentleman. They are the same which De Potter mentions to have been in the possession of M. Barrere. Lett. Pie V. Introd. p. 26. In the summer of 1569, the French king was apprised of the intended marriage of Norfolk and Mary, 120 altho Elizabeth was then wholly ignorant of the design; and he earnestly desired his representative in London to exert himself in every way to promote it, but as from himself, and to keep it a profound secret that the French government was urging it," and so to manage his own dealings in it, that his interference might remain entirely unknown.128 129 About a month afterwards we perceive allusions of Charles, to a commotion preparing in England,' to a league between the Catholic powers, suspected by Cecil to be forming against it,130 and to the 126 It was on 27 July 1569, that Charles IX. wrote from St. Germain: I am informed that the queen of Scotland is much advanced in the project of a marriage with the duke of Norfolk, and that they hope the things may be brought to some good end; which I much more desire than that it should be made with the bastard of Spain, as I know has been treated about.' MS. Murray. 127I beg you that zealously, but as of yourself and without making it known the least in the world, that I have written any thing to you upon it, you will do all that is possible to induce the queen of Scots to think well of this marriage; and so favor it by every means in your power, that it may be conducted to a good effect.' ib. MS. 128 Above all, take care to handle it so secretly that you may not be discovered by any one: and that it does not come to be known that any thing has been mentioned to you about it from this side.' ib. MS. He mentions that he had raised new levies of 8000 Swiss, besides 50 French ensigns, and that Philip was sending him 4000 Spaniards against the Huguenot army, and the foreign forces with which they threaten me.' ib MS. 6 129 I have well considered the ample memoir which you have sent me of the state of things au delà [in England], which altho they seem some little prepared for a commotion.' Lett. from Amboise, 19th Aug. 1569. MS. ib. 130 The opinion which they have got into their head of the league, which they say to be certain between the emperor, the king of Spain, and myself, as the secretary Cecil has been endeavoring to prove to you, by his reasons mentioned in your memoir, and which leads my good sister to a perpetual mistrust that I mean to attack her, of which I do not see any appearance: but rather that she has her eye open to draw from the misfortunes of my kingdom some advantage in her pretensions.' ib. MS. CHAP. XXVII. BOOK II. 133 French ministers dealings with English lords,13 with 135 131I approve of what you have had with the lords beyond.' MS. Murray. 132 I recommend to you the affair in my last despatch. Employ yourself in it so actively that the marriage may be completed, using all the best and most dexterous means.' Lett. ib. MS. 133 He directed Fenelon to urge Elizabeth to deny favor in her kingdom to my rebels: and as to the money which they are borrowing there on the jewels of the queen of Navarre.' ib. 134 See before, the letter of Pius V. quoted in notes 102, 103. 135 On 16 August Charles wrote, You think that I should write to thank some lords beyond for their good offices, in keeping peace between me and the queen. As to the letters, I will send them to you to assist you by them as much as you shall wisely judge to be expedient for the good of my service.' (Pour vous en aider, autant que vous jugerez sagement che apropos pour le bien de mon service.) Lett. MS. ib. This important despatch gives us the time of their treasonable conduct, August 1569. We find from the queen mother's letter of the 15 Aug. that at this critical time the Huguenots had been a fortnight besieging Poitiers. That the duke of Guise had entered it with 1200 gentlemen, to assist in its defence, and had made the finest sallies that had ever issued from a besieged place; and that by the 20th, there would be 5000 French chevaliers collected, whom they mean to employ in giving une bonne battaile, to put us at the end of our evils.' MS. ib. So that at no period could the secret treacherous machinations in her cabinet, to keep Elizabeth neutral, be more important to the successes of the papal party in France, nor more disadvantageous to the Huguenots. We learn also from a letter of Charles, dated 30 August, that his ministers of the 15th had noticed the earnest solicitations which the Huguenots were making to Elizabeth for her assistance. The king adds, Oppose them always. They have now besieged Poitiers above a month. They have found so much resistance that they are despairing of taking it by force, and mean to reduce it from want of food. But it is well provided, and in four or five days my army of seven 203 XXVII. were combating for their existence and safety, and CHAP. when the vigorous co-operation of England would have secured for the Reformation a permanent establishment in that fine country; when Elizabeth's decided aid would have given voice, heart, and intellectual freedom to some of the noblest minds, who only sought personal safety, by a just and sincere accommodation, to avow and cultivate their purer faith. In September exertions for the queen of Scots were resolved upon,16 and the French ambassador became active in the secret transactions connected with her, and to procure her liberation: 137 and was in direct or eight thousand horse, and fifteen or sixteen thousand foot, shall approach them so near as to make them raise the siege.' Thus the establishment of the reformed religion in France hung on this eventful moment; but the treason purchased by Pius V. and his agent Ridolfi, prevailed. Elizabeth was counselled against sending any effective succors, and from that moment the Protestant cause declined in France. All the money, troops and means which Pius could procure, were put in action against them; and he deprived them, by the secret treachery of these English lords, of the effectual, and of the only, friend, that could have defeated his oppressive plans. Her judgment was paralyzed by some false advisers in whom she was confiding. 136 On 1st September 1569, there is, among Mr. Murray's MS. the copy of a letter to the Card. de Lorraine, unsigned, but apparently from the ambassador, in which he mentions, With the equity of the cause of the queen of Scots, I see there is joined such a great interest of the reputation of the king, and of the honor of her crown, and also for the good of her affairs on her side, that I should ill discharge my duty if I did not employ myself with all my power in her restoration. In this I shall obey their majesties' commands. There is great need that their majesties correspond de delà, with what I may treat of thereupon.' MS. ib. 137 On 6th September, Cath. de Medicis' letter was, 'We are glad to see by yours of the 26th, that there is more hope for the arrangement of the affairs of the queen of Scots than in your preceding. It will not be forgotten in order to continually favor them, to hold the same language to the ambassador of England here, which you express there to my good sister.' MS.ib. On 14th September Charles wrote, By your despatch of the 5th, I see the new acrochements qui sont dressez a la reine d'Ecosse. As they are always finding some novelty to postpone the conclusion of her affairs, you will not cease to urge it, as you have well done thus far: and so much the more livelily, as they seem to be putting things off to a length too tedious.' He announces that the II. BOOK correspondence with her, expressing his regret that she had been transferred to Tutberry, as if it had caused some severe disappointment.138 In the next month we see again the irretrievable detriment to the French reformers, by Elizabeth's assisting arm being withheld. Left to their own private resources, when the French government had such supplies from the chief part of the papal world, the Catholic army gained over them that ruinous victory at Montcontour, which electrified Pius V. with so much transport. 139 The correspondence contains one incidental allusion to Ridolfi, as if this Frenchman had been concerned with him, and was interested in his having been unknown while in Flanders; 140 but the letters do not furnish any further lights on the French ambassador's share and practices in the conspiracy of Pius; yet the preceding traits are evidence, that he siege of Poitiers had been raised, and that the Huguenot forces had retreated, followed by my army.' Lett. MS. Murray. 138 This is a letter from him to her, dated 27th September 1569, beginning, Madame! I have been wonderfully troubled to hear that they have thus suddenly transported your majesty to Tutberry, and that the queen of England has been persuaded by those who love not your welfare.' MS. ib. As if the treacherous counsels of others had failed on this point against more honest advice. He mentions the bishop of Ross as making remonstrances to Elizabeth on behalf of Mary. MS. ib. 139 See his congratulating letters of 20th October 1569, to Charles IX. p. 84; of 19th October, to the duke of Florence, who was aiding the king with the papal forces, p. 89; and of 3d November, to his legate, p. 91. Charles thus announced it to his minister in England, on 4th October: Yesterday the duc d'Anjou forced my enemies to a battle, which he gained, with a great effusion of their blood, and is following his victory. The duke of Guise is wounded by an harquebuss in the foot; no great thing.' On 7th October he calls it 'une belle et heureuse victoire.' MS. ib. 140 On 20 January 1572, Remondouet wrote to Fenelon from Brussels, Ridolf has not been for some time in this quarter, that I know of, having gone from it to Italy above two months, as I have heard. He was well hidden in this city a month, without its being known who he was. Be assured that he lived very secretly at Antwerp.' Murray's MS. |