William Cecil to Sir Thomas Smith, August 20, 1563.

In this series:

• William Cecil to Sir Thomas Smith, August 20, 1563.
• Excerpts from Letters about the Origin of the 1563 Plague.

The plague arrived in England together with troops that had been occupying New-Haven (modern Ambleteuse), an important Sea-port Town in France. The town had been betrayed to them by the French Huguenots. It was briefly a great coup and then the plague settled into the English garrison. A quick peace was agreed — apparently before the French were aware of the situation — the hostages mentioned below were held as guarantees for the return of Calais (which, of course, was never recovered) and the English soldiers returned through Kent to initiate one of the most devastating visitations of the plague in the country’s history. In fact, the plague would never again entirely leave England until it was extinguished by modern hygienic interventions during the early 19^th century. It merely moved around from one area of the country to another, and, then, inevitably back to London.

The English ambassador to France, Nicholas Throgmorton, in the meantime, had gone too far in supporting the Huguenot cause in the opinion of his hosts and was placed in prison. One of Cecil’s most trusted lieutenants, and personal friends, Sir Thomas Smith, was sent on a mission to  negotiate his release.

William Cecil to Sir Thomas Smith, August 20, 1563.

Sir, Sence Barloo's arryvall here, the 23 of this month, we can here of no manner of letters or message brought to the French ambassador,[1] who lyeth here at Eaton, better lodged than ever he was in England, at liberty to walk and ryde wher he will, and so he useth to ryde much abrode. And therfor if he do not make very good report, he doth not deserve so good handlyng. He percase thynketh that some body regardeth him, but he is not therof sure.

My Lord of Hertford and my Lady Catharine, because of the plague, are thus delyvered: he with his mother, as prisoner, she with her uncle my Lord John Grey.

The hostages,[2] also being afrayd of the plague, shall be put to some custody abrode, but not as prisoners. I think two of them to Sir Richard Blunt's howse, nere Reddyng, the other to Mr. Kenelm Throgmorton and Mr. Caroo. All our determinations depend upon such matter as we shall here from this French ambassador, who semeth much to muse that he can here nothyng.

We here of sondry attempts intended against the lles of Jersay and Gernsaye, for which purpose we have sent thither shipps and men.

They dye in London above one thousand in a weke.[3]

I can wryte no more by this brynger.

20 August, 1563.

Yours assured,

W. Cecill.

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[1] Queen Elizabeth and her Times: original letters…, 137n. “The French ambassador had been put under restraint on account of the imprisonment of Sir Nicholas Throgmorton by the French.” Smith has been sent to France to negotiate Throgmorton’s release.

[2] Ibid. ‘Given by the French for the delivery of Calais. They had lately made an attempt to escape. "June 19. All the hostages were taken going away with John Ribald."’ The French had failed to return Calais per the treaty to which they agreed after  they captured it from Mary I.

[3] Ibid. 138 “The plague began in London on the 2nd of August. It had been imported from Newhaven, and made its appearance first in Kent. The whole number who died of the infection this year in London and the out-parishes, was 20,136.”

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• Gossip as History: The Murder of Amy Robsart. February 17, 2020. "The first sudden death Leicester was rumored to have caused was that of his wife, Amy Robsart, in 1560. In that year, it was still not clear whether the Queen would marry. But certainly not her beloved Leicester if he were married."
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• Check out the English Renaissance Article Index for many more articles and reviews about this fascinating time and about the Shakespeare Authorship Question.
• Check out the English Renaissance Letter Index for many letters from this fascinating time, some related to the Shakespeare Authorship Question.