A LETTER BY FRANCIS WALSINGHAM TO QUEEN ELIZABETH

Francis Walsingham was an able minister, sent by the Queen as Ambassador to Paris, while she was still playing with the scheme of the Anjou marriage. During his absence he wrote this exceedingly plainspoken criticism that on more than one occasion her schemes very nearly brought ruin.

The document cited is an authentic letter.

It may please your most excellent Majestie, The Laws of Ethiopia, my native soil, are very severe against those, that condemn a person unheard ; but most sharp against such as judge amiss of those that sit in Princely Chair, as gods here on earth. To tell your Majestie what others conceive upon the late stay of our proceedings here (as by the Letter it pleased your Majestie to vouchsafe to write unto me, it seemeth you conceive who cannot think that such effects should grow of naked and weak causes) I hope is not to condemn, when I either look into your Majesties own Princely judgement, who for your own Highness sake, ought to have care to preserve your Ministers credit; or consider mine own duty, which teacheth me not to condemn those that I am bound to defend, I should then be worthy of the most sharp punishment that either the Ethiopian or Draco's Law can yield, if I should unwittingly, by wrong supposal grow to so a hard a censure, as to think that your Majestie should prefer in matter of trust, a stranger to a servant, that in loyalty will give place neither to subject nor to stranger.

I cannot deny, but I have been infinitely grieved to see the desire I have had to do your Majestie some acceptable service (in the present charge committed unto me) so greatly crossed. But I will leave to touch my particular, though I have as great cause as any man that ever served in the place I now unworthily supply, being at home subject to sundry strange jealousies, and in foreign service to displeasure, though I dare make the greatest enemy I have the censurer of mine action and proceedings in such foreign actions as have been committed unto me.

If either ambition or riches were the end of my strife, my grief would be the less. But now to the publique, wherein if any thing shall escape my pen, that may breed offence, I most heartily beseech your Majestie to ascribe it to love, which can never bring forth evil effects, though sometimes it may be subject to sharp censures.

And first, for your Majesties Marriage if your Majestie mean to remember, that by the delay your Honours useth therein, you lose the benefit of time, which (if years be considered) is not the least to be weighed ; if you mean it not, then assure yourselfe it is one of the worst remedies you can use (howsoever your Majestie conceiveth it) that it may serve your turn. And as for the league we were in hand withal if the King would have assented that the same should have proceeded in general terms, according to such direction as we have lately received from your Majestie, I am for sundry causes led to think that it would have proved unprofitable, as generally I know that there is a president to confirm the same, but if in that time a King of Scots, pretending a title to the crown of England, was like by matching with Spain, to have wrought that peril towards your Majesties father, as he is towards you, he would not then have stood upon generality, as your Majestic doth now.

For in diseased bodies, there is not alwaies like use of medicines ; sometimes when your Majestie doth behold in what doubtful terms you stand with Foreign Princes, then you do wish with great affection, that opportunities offered had not been slipped. But when they are offered to you (if they be accompanied with charges) they are altogether neglected. Common experience teacheth, that [it] is as hard in a pollitique body, to prevent any mischief without charges, as in a natural body diseased, to cure the same without pain.

Remember, I humbly beseech your Majestie, the respect of charges hath lost Scotland ; and I would to God I had no cause to think that it might put your Highness in peril of the loss of England ; I see it, and they stick not to say it, that the only cause that moveth them here, not to weigh your Majesties friendship is for that they see your Majestie doth fly charges otherwise then by doing somewhat underhand it is strange, considering in what state your Majestie standeth, that in all the directions that we have now received, we have special charge not to yield to any thing that may be accompanied with charges.

The general League must be without any certain charges. The particular League with a voluntary, and no certain charge, as also, that that is to be attempted in favour of Don Anthonio; the best is, that if they were (as they are not) inclined to deal in any of these points, then they were like to receive but small comfort for any thing that we have direction to assent unto. Heretofore your Majesties predicessors, in matters of peril, did never look into the charges, when their treasure was neither so great as your Majesties is, nor subjects so wealthy, nor so willing to contribute.

A person that is diseased, if he look only upon the medicine, without regard of the pain he sustaineth, cannot in reason and nature, but abhor the same ; if therefore no peril, why then it is in vain to be at any charges ; but if there be peril, it is hard that charges should be preferred before peril; I pray God the abatement of the charges towards that noble man that hath the custody of the bosom-serpent (Mary Queen of Scots.), hath not lessened his care in keeping of her. To think that in a man of his birth and quality, after twelve years travel in charge of such weight, to have an abatement of allowance, and no recompense otherwise made, should not work discontentment, no man that hath reason can so judge: and therefore, to have so special a charge committed to a person discontented, every body seeth it standeth no way with pollicy, what dangerous effects this loose keeping hath bred (the taking away of Morton, the alienation of the King, and a general revolt in Religion, intended only by her charges) doth shew. And therefore that is like to grow thereby, is so fatal, as it can no way be prevented.

If this sparing and improvident course be held stille, the mischief's approaching being so apparent as they are, I conclude therefore, having spoken in heat of duty, without offence to your Majestic, that no one that serveth in place of a Counceller, that either weigheth his own credit, or carrieth that sound affect to your Majestie as he ought to do, that would not wish himself in the farthest part of Ethiopia, rather than enjoy the fairest Palace in England.

The Lord God therefore direct your Majesties heart to take that way of councel that may be most for your honour and safety. September 2 [1581].