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Sunday, November 10, 2024

John Lee to Lord Burghley, March 18, 1571/2.

Here John Lee, an agent of William Cecil, Lord Burghley, in Antwerp, informs his master on various ongoing matters. The city was the nexus of European commerce, economic and political. Information from all countries and parties was constantly flowing through. Every government in Europe or with business in Europe had agents in the city. Perhaps as much as half of the continent's international mail passed through the port arriving and/or departing on tall-masted ships to parts throughout the globe. More than half of the official secretaries and messengers of the countries on that globe ate, drank and kept rooms at the taverns as they passed through on their business.

In March 1572, England was trying to recover from rebellions in the Catholic north of the country to place Mary, Queen of Scots, on the throne. Mary was under house arrest at Sheffield Castle, as far away from potential allies as possible. As we see, Lee's news, then, largely regarded Mary's allies: the Scots, France and the Catholic church.

Of special interest is Lee's information that the Earl of Oxford already “has put away the Countess his wife” to revenge himself against Burghley for refusing to intercede with the Queen for the release of the head of his faction, the Duke of Norfolk. Oxford's wife was Burghley's daughter, Anne. At this point, they had only been married for a few months. If this was only a rumor, as of that point, it is an informative one as Oxford did, in fact, refuse to take up residence with Anne, his countess, and chose, instead, to live at the royal court without her.

Mr. Egremont' Ratclitfe will very shortly be sent hence, by appointment of the Duke of Alva, with letters of great importance to the King of Spain. The Earl of Westmoreland was earnestly requested by the Spanish Ambassador to take the carriage of them, but he refused. Mr. Ratcliffe signified to my man Butler (who has attended him ever since my last coming over, by my appointment, and who is not known to have ever attended upon me) that he would open his letters by the way, and disclose their secrets, trusting thereby to purchase grace of the Queen. Markenfeld has been sent from the Pope to the King of Spain, and it is thought that the latter will land certain men in Ireland, and that the Pope will presently send 12,000 crowns to be employed in Scotland. Lord Seaton has gone to confer with the Regent of Scotland, Earl Morton, and the Scotch King's party, to see if he can procure them to join with the Scotch Queen's party, to the behoof of the Queen of Scots.

There was a bruit that the Earl of Northumberland was delivered to Berwick, and Lord Seaton apprehended in England, which caused the Countess of Northumberland to send hither in haste, and both his sons (who remain here as pledges) came hither to learn the truth thereof.

The Papists in the Low Countries hope some attempt shortly against the Queen, for they hear that the French King has manned 20 ships of war, and that the Duke of Alva has sent into Germany to take up bands of horse and foot. They further affirm that there was like to have been a mutiny there the 27th of last month, when it was thought that the Duke of Norfolk should have passed; so that they be fully persuaded that the Queen dare not proceed further therein, and affirm that the Duke has secret friends, and such as may do very much with the Queen, and that the Earl of O[x]ford, who has been a most humble suitor for him, has conceived some great displeasure against you for the same, and has put away the Countess his wife. What other vain imaginations they have conceived of the Queen going to see the Earl of Sussex, and what words were spoken to him by her, I spare to write, nothing doubting but that the Queen rests in greater security than they imagine, which I pray God long to continue.


P. S. Thanks for your letter. If you would write to Norton, it might help me to find out what I cannot obtain by any other means.



Source: State Papers, Domestic Series, of the Reign of Elizabeth, Addenda 1566-1579 (1871). 386-7.


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