"I think it very probable that the revelations that this lad is making everywhere may originate in the queen of England and her Council, and possibly with an object that Arthur himself does not yet understand. Perhaps, if they have determined to do away with the Scottish throne, they may encourage this lad to profess catholicism, and claim to be the Queen's son, in order to discover the minds of other Princes as to his pretensions, and the Queen may thereupon acknowledge him, or give him such other position as to neighbouring Princes may appear favourable. Or perhaps in some other way they may be making use of him for their iniquitous ends. I think also that the enclosed questions should be put to him to answer in writing-whether all at once or at various times I leave to you. I also leave for your consideration whether it would not be well to bring Arthur to San Geronimo, the Atocha, or some other monastery, or other house, where he might be more commodiously communicated with."-Cal. S. P., Simancas, vol. iv. p. 101. June 17, 1587.

"Sir Francis Englefield to the King.

"Very late last night Andres de Alba sent me what Arthur Dudley has written, which being in English, and filling three sheets of paper, will take some days to translate and summarize in Spanish. As, however, I have read it, I think well in the meantime to advise your Majesty that the effect of it is a discourse about his education, with the reasons and arguments which have led him to believe to be, as he calls himself, the son of the Queen. He then gives an account of his voyages away from England, in France and Flanders, showing that they had no other intention or motive than a desire, on his first voyage, to see strange countries. He returned in consequence of poverty, and subsequently set out on his second voyage for his own safety's sake. He mentions several things that happened in France and Flanders, and speaks of the letters that passed between him and the elector of Cologne, and says that his reason for coming to this country was a vow he had made to visit Our Lady of Montserrat, where he was shriven on the 13th of October of last year. He enumerates certain places in Spain where he has stayed, and the persons he has been living with. He adds that his intention was to go to France when he was detained in Giupuzcoa, and ends by begging his Majesty to accept and esteem him as the person he claims to be, and to protect him (although with the utmost secrecy). He indicates a desire also to write something in English, to publish to the world, and especially to England, who he is, as he thinks that those who have put the queen of Scotland out of the way will endeavour to send her son after her.

"As he replies in this discourse to some of the questions I sent to your Majesty on Monday, they may be modified accordingly before they are sent to him.-Madrid, 18th June, 1587.”—Ibid. p. 106.

66

Sir Francis Englefield to the King.

"I send your Majesty herewith a summary of all that Arthur Dudley had sent to me, and as it appears that some of the questions your Majesty has are answered therein, I have eliminated the 4th, 5th, and 6th questions and have added those I now enclose.

"I also send enclosed what I think of writing with the questions, as I think I had better defer my going thither until after he has sent his answers to them, as I find many things which he told me verbally have been omitted in his statement.

"When your Majesty has altered what you think fit, I will put my letter, which I will take or send as your Majesty orders, in conformity. As he says he is in want of paper, your Majesty had better order him to be supplied with as much as may be needed; because the more fully he writes the better shall we be able to discover what we wish to know.-Madrid, 20th June, 1587.” Ibid. P. 106.

"Sir Francis Englefield to the King.

Although the statement sent to me by Arthur Dudley omits many things that he told me verbally, which things must be inquired into more particularly, yet it appears evident from what he writes that he makes as light of the claims of Huntingdon, and of the sons of the earl of Hertford, as he does of the life of the king of Scotland; and it is also manifest that he has had much conference with the earl of Leicester, upon whom he mainly depends for the fulfilment of his hopes. This and other things convince me that the queen of England is not ignorant of his pretensions; although, perhaps, she would be unwilling that they should be thus published to the world, for which reason she may wish to keep him (Dudley) in his low and obscure condition, as a matter of policy, and also in order that her personal immorality might not be known (the bastards of princes not usually being acknowledged in the lifetime of their parents), and she has always considered that it would be dangerous to her for her heir to be nominated in her lifetime, although he alleges that she has provided for the earl of Leicester and his faction to be able to elevate him (Dudley) to the throne when she dies, and perhaps marry him to Arabella (Stuart). For this and other reasons I am of opinion that he should not be allowed to get away, but should be kept very secure to prevent his escape. It is true his claim

1

at present amounts to nothing, but, with the example of Don Antonio before us, it cannot be doubted that France and the English heretics, or some other party, might turn it to their own advantage, or at least make it a pretext for obstructing the reformation of religion in England (for I look upon him as a very feigned Catholic) and the inheritance of the crown by its legitimate master; especially as during this Queen's time they have passed an Act in England, excluding from the succession all but the heirs of the Queen's body. -Madrid, 22nd June, 1587.

"Note to the above letter, in the handwriting of the King. 'Since the other letters were written, the enclosed from Englefield has been handed to me.' It certainly will be safest to make sure of his (Dudley's) person until we know more about it.'”—Ibid. P. III.

(b) IN ENGLAND

The letter published by Ellis and referred to by Lingard pertaining to Arthur Dudley, except so much of it as concerns other matters, is as follows:

"B. C. an English Spy to his Government upon the preparation of the Spanish Armada.

(MS. Harl. 295, fol. 190. Orig.)

Madrid, 28th May, 1588.

"About xvi monthes agone was taken a Youthe entringe Spaine owte of France, about Fontarabie, who hathe gyven owte his person to be begotten betwene our Quene and the Erle of Leycester; borne att Hampton courte, and furthwith by the elder Assheley delyvered into the handes of one Southorne the servant to Mrs. Assheley, with charge upon payne of deathe that the sayde Southorne shoulde not revele the matter, but bringe ytt upp; who brought the babe to a myllers wyfe of Mowlsey to gyve ytt sucke, and afterwards the said Southorne goynge into his countrey whiche was Wurcester or Shropshier, caried with hym the chylde, and there brought ytt up in learnynge and qualyties. In the ende, discoveringe unto this youthe the whole secrete, he tooke a flyght over sees, where many yeres he hathe remayned untill his commynge hyther. His name is Arthure, and of xxvii yeres of age, or there about. This forsoothe ys his sayenge, and takethe upon hym lyke to the man he pretendethe to be; wherupon he wanteth no kepers, and is very solemply warded and served, with an expence to this Kinge of vi crownes a daye. If I had myne Alphabete I woulde saye more towchinge his lewde speches; and yf I maye I will do hym plesure, specially

beinge called to accompt about hym, as yt is tolde me I shall shortly be; the kinge beinge informed that aboute that time I served in Courte, whereby I maye saye somewhat to this matter.* Madrid the xxviiith of Maye 1588.

A LEWDE PASQUYLE SETTE FORTHE BY CERTEYN OF THE PARLYAMENT

MEN, 8 ELY.

PASQUILLO.

MOLYNEUX.

Quis regnaturus est super populum Israel.

BELL.

tollitur nomen euis de familia sua quia filium non habet.

MONSON.

date nobis possionem (sic) inter cognatos patris mei.

KYNGSMYLL.

dabitur hiis qui ei proximi sunt.

STRANGE.

Religio sancta et immaculata hec est.

WENTWORTHE.

Libertate qua vocati estis ambulate.

GOODIERE.

cum Juuenis eram loquebar vt iuuenis.

*"This sort of scandal was not confined to Queen Elizabeth. In the Lansdowne MS. 53, art. 79, is a very curious Examination taken by virtue of Letters from the Lords of Queen Elizabeth's Council in 1587, respecting one Anne Burnell, who was stated to have announced herself as the daughter of Philip King of Spain, and that " it might be Queen Mary was her mother," she being marked upon the reynes of her back " with the Arms of England. Her wits, it was discovered, were troubled, through great misery and penury, and the slighting of her Husband. To be serious, however, that Queen Elizabeth had her private attachments, no reasonable man who peruses the documents and histories of her time can doubt. They probably operated against her entering the married state more than any physical cause though to soothe the wishes of her people the Queen's intention of marrying continued to be rumoured and encouraged almost to the end of life."-Foot-note by Ellis to above letter.

age, insta, loquere, lege, scribe, tempestine et intempestine.

MARSHE.

Gentes et populos diuisit per regiones.

WYTHERS.

Judas mercator pessimus.

NUDIGATE.

Clamabo sicut tuba.

ARNOLDE.

tu dixisti.

DALTON.

non ego domine.

ALFORDE.

Audaces fortuna iuuat.

WORNCOMBE.

Esurii (sic) nec habeo quod manducem.