Philip II, King of Spain | letter signed, to Alessandro Farnese, about the English recusant, Samuel Fernesley, 1586

Philip II, King of Spain

Letter signed ("Yo El Rey"), as King Spain and the Two Sicilies, to his nephew Alessandro Farnese, Prince of Parma, 29 July 1586

in Spanish, recommending Samuel Ferneley [or Fernesley], an English recusant, who has been forced to leave his country and home for the Catholic cause, asking Prince Alessandro to find him some post in his employ, where he can support himself in a manner suitable to his rank and abilities and, if he judges him of service, to advance him where the opportunity arises

"...Samuel Ferneley Ingles nos ha representado lo q[ue] ha que anda fuera de su tierra y casa por respecto de la causa catholica, suplicando nos fuessemos servido demandarle seria lar algun sueldo cerca de Vra persona con que se pueda sustentar...

1 page, folio, countersigned by Don Juan de Idiaquez, integral address leaf, papered seal of Spain, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, 29 July 1586

In 1586 Philip II was closely involved in promoting a rising of Roman Catholics in England, culminating in the Babington Plot to assassinate Elizabeth and replace her with Mary Queen of Scots. Alexander Farnese, the Prince of Parma, was to supply the land army for the invasion. On 7 July 1586, a letter by Anthony Babington to Mary was intercepted, and then Mary's reply on 17 July, ordering the would-be rescuers to assassinate Queen Elizabeth. The conspirators were arrested in early August 1586, so this letter coincides with the discovery and collapse of the Plot.

The English recusant mentioned here would appear to be Samuel Fernesley (c.1546-c.1610); he appears in a list drawn up in 1580 by Walsingham's spy Charles Sledd: "At Liones in France … Samuel Fernesley - merchant, brother to the said Walter, he hath bene the laste yeare at Jerusalem for devociouns sake & hath brought from there Agnus Deies & graynes & earth of the Sepuchur & doth disperse them abroade to sundry persons." (BL Add. 48029, ff.121-130). He is presumably also the Samuel Fernesley who entered Gonville & Caius College Cambridge in 1562 at the age of 16, having been at school at Elmdon in Suffolk.

Prince Alessandro Farnese (1545-1592) was nephew to Philip II and Governor of the Spanish Netherlands. Don Juan de Idiaquez was Philip's Secretary of State for War.