BL Caligula, c. vi, 31

BL MSS Cotton Caligula, c. vi, 31
Wright: Queen Elizabeth and her Times Vol 1, 1838, No. 144 page 304
Sir Henry Norris to Cecil, Paris, 9 Feb 1568.

Transcribed by Thomas Wright. who notes: The religious war in France during the year 1569, raged with great violence. This, commonly known as the third civil war, originated in a treacherous attempt by the Queen-mother to seize upon the Prince of Conde and the Admiral Coligny. They received intelligence of their danger, fled to Rochelle, the stronghold of the Protestants, and were there joined by Jane, Queen of Navarre, with her infant son, and others of their party. The Catholics gained the victory of Jarnac, where the Prince of Conde was slain, on the 13th March, and afterwards, in the same year, that of Moncontour.

Considering, right honorable, the aptnes of this tyme, I thought it my bounden duty to advertise your Honor that it is determined, as I can learne, not to ende the controversy by battaile, if it may be, but rather by delayes to weary the adverse partie, which pollicie what it may do in continuance of tyme, God knoweth, wherefore the aforesaid consydered as also the importance of the thing not only in this realme, but to all other favourers of God's cause, I wish your Honor to consider of it, whether now the demand of Callice were not verie expedient, and surely, Sir, (under your Honor's corrcction,) I think you should now have reason at theire hands more than aforetimes, which if it did not take good effect for yourselves, yet surelie in my opinion it should be a meane to make peace betwixt the French King and the Protestants of France, otherwise I much doubt the service of the Prince of Conde and th' Admirall. And further, I think that so apt tyme is not to be had in our daies, this omitted. Whereof, having put your Honor in mynde, trusting you will have the same in remembrance, I leave the further consideration thereof to your most grave and wise judgment.
Sir, being the 7th of this instant at the courte, an earnest suitor in the behalfe of the poore men of Mercolles who surely be in greate miserie, requiring the Quene-mother to have no lesse consideration of them than the Quene's Majestie my mestres had to a number of the King's subjectes when peace was concluded twixt their Majesties, amongst which was one John Rybault, a man of more importance for his experience and knowledge, then all these, albeit that, contrarie to his alleadgeance, being then her Highnes' pensioner, yet he sought to conveye from her Majestie certaine hostages to her great discontentation, yet notwithstanding as soone as the Kinge her sonne did write to her Majestie in his behalf, his release was forthwith graunted, which considered, I trusted that she would not stick to graunt this her Majestie'sr equest, being bothe reasonable and condescended unto at the concluding the peace twixt their Majesties, that the prisoners on each partie should be set at libertie. Whereunto she answered, that she thought, and was assured, that the King her sonne, who then was sicke in his bed, would not deny his good sister any thinge that he thought might be acceptable to her Majestie, and she would not faile to make him forthwith privie to my demand and request, and returne me a speedie answer, which I will not faile eamestlie to travaile in till I bringe it by Godde's helpe to some end.
It may please your Honor to be further advertised, that the 5th of this present, the Quene-mother being in the towne at Mounser de Strosse's house, my next neighbour, she came through a close into my garden, whereof I being advertised, wente towardes her, where, after she had perused the close out of which she found a dore into the fields, whereof I have a key, and was sometime wonte to passe that waie into the open fields, for which commoditie I rather hire my house, and tooke a lease thereof for yeares, then for anie other belonging to it, as also to be out of the corrupt ayre of the towne, which surely is such as none other to be compared to Paris, which after she had well viewed, she said, she muche marvailed I durst in this troublesome tyme lye so void of neighbours.
Whereunto I answered, that I thought myself here under the King her sonne's protection, no lesse then if I were in the towne, trusting also that their care was no lesse of me for her Majestie's sake, whose place I here held, then anie of them of my calling within the towne, whereof she said I might be well assured. Thus ending this conversation for that present. After my negociation ended, she againe fell into talke of my house, required me I would come into the towne, where lodgings mete should be provided for me, and a verie commodious . . . lest some inconvenience growe to me from the mutinous multitude, which should be no small greife to her and the Kinge her sone, which surelie, though it shal be greatlie to my hinderance, having made my provision there, yet being by her thus warned, I must be forced, if she require further, to do it.
This courte is greatlie abashed, theire King sicke, theire realme divided, and the Spanishe newes latelie arrived, from whence it is now thought no suche aide shall come as was hoped, for the bruite goeth that there are three thousand roysters coming to the King under the conduct of Volardus van Mansfeilde, and eight hundreth more under the conduct of the young Count Ringrave, which, as it is said, be come to Verdon. The King of Spaine doth arme, if the late newes be not a lett thereof, eight thousand footemen, not knowen whither to be employed, hither or into Flanders.
The armies doth nothing worthy advertisement. Bloys is not yet wonne, though there be two great breaches, and they have indured three assaults, at which hath bene a great number loste.
The 8th of this present there came to this courte news that the Cardinall of Lorreine scaped verie hardly in Reignes [Rheims], where going into his coache he was shott at with a harquebuse, which missing him, strake one of his called Ince, an Italian, and striking him through the bodie, he fell dead, which fact was done the ... of this present.
Thus ceasing further to trouble your Honor, I committ the same to Godd's mercifull protection. From Paris, this 9th of February, 1568. Your honor's assured to command,

Henry Norris