|
| April 1. |
48. The Council to Dr. Wotton. Inform him of his appointment
to be his Majesty's Commissioner for receiving the French King's
oath for observance of the defensive league recently concluded with
the Baron de la Garde; and that the Lord Cobham, Sir John Wallop,
and Sir Edward Wotton have been appointed Commissioners on
the King's part to settle the limits of the Boulognois. The Mary
Willoughby and other Scottish ships of war lie at Newhaven, and
issue at every tide for the interrupting and spoiling of the English
merchants who traffic that way, being supplied with all munitions
of men, victuals, and ordnance when they need them. Another
Scottish vessel, called the Great Spaniard, lies at Dieppe, pursuing
the same course, and is aided in France. The French Ambassador
has been spoken with regarding this; and Dr. Wotton is desired at
his next access to declare the same, and require reformation thereof,
according to reason and the amity subsisting between the two
Sovereigns. [Seven pages. Draft, corrected by Sir William Paget.] |
April 1.
Paris. |
49. Doctor Wotton to the Council. Announces the death of
Francis I. at the Castle of Rambouillet, on the preceding day at
noon. The Emperor is reported to be dangerously ill. It is
rumoured that the Constable [Montmorency] is to be revoked to
the Court. [Printed by Tytler, "England under the Reigns of
Edward VI. and Mary," Vol. i., p. 33.] |
April 3.
Bruges. |
50. Edward Carne to the Lord Protector. A post arrived from
the French Court between 10 and 11 o'clock last night, apprising
the Lady Regent of the death of the King of France. The Regent
has granted passport for the cables, hawsers, and other cordage for
his Majesty's use without payment of any custom, as required by
the letter from the Council of 16th ult. The Emperor is said to
have countermanded the Flanders horsemen, referred to in his
letter of the 31st ult. [One page.] |
April 6.
Paris. |
51. Dr. Wotton to the Council. Mentions the various changes at
Court and in the Government in consequence of the death of the
late King. Reports as to his Majesty's interment and of the
Emperor's proceedings. Requests a new commission for requiring
the confirmation and oath upon the new treaties. [Four pages.
Printed by Tytler, Vol. i., p. 35, with the omission of a few clauses
in the penultimate paragraph.] |
| April 12. |
52. The Council to Dr. Wotton. Inform him that his commission
as Ambassador Resident in France being void by the death of the
French King, it is the intention of His Majesty to continue him for
some time longer in the same capacity; and therefore a new commission is sent with letters of credence, to be presented by him to
the King of France, whom he is to solicit to appoint a day for taking
the oath for the observance of the treaty. He is farther informed
that the Scots having of late made many cruel incursions, the Lord
Warton, Lord Warden of the West Marches, had been compelled to
make reprisals, and had taken in an ambush the Laird Johnson, a
notable borderer of the Scottish side, with seven or eight mean
gentlemen and 120 or 140 common soldiers of his party, all of whom
were brought prisoners into England. Also that a subject and
denizen of the King's Majesty, commonly called Francis John, being
upon the seas, and meeting with a ship from France laden with
Scottish goods, had taken the same, by reason of his having previously lost a good portion of his substance by the Scots. That in
this ship was a Scottish gentleman, servant, as he alleged, to the
Vidame of Chartres, having letters with him from the late King to
his Ambassador in Scotland; the packet containing which being
brought to the Council, had by them been sent unopened to the
French Ambassador, and the Scot discharged by reason of his asserted
service to the Vidame. Desire Dr. Wotton to make such use of these
facts as may seem expedient to him in the circumstances, should any
question arise thereon. [Nine pages. Draft, corrected by Secretary
Petre.] |
April 15.
Bruges. |
53. Edward Carne to Sir William Petre. Has no news but what
he has sent to the Lord Protector. Entreats him to procure the warrant for his diets, and hopes that Mr. Hussey has spoken to him on
the subject. Assures him that he has here now [to pay] by the
above 100 marks for 100 pounds sterling, the exchange is so ill,
and so has been these 12 months and more; which keeps him the
barer and causes him to trouble his masters and friends the more.
[One page.] |
April 15.
Bruges. |
54. Same to the Lord Protector. Nothing has occurred since his
letter of the 3d, but news have lately arrived that Mons. de Groning
had been wounded, and another captain slain, by a gunshot from
Bremen; which injury M. de Groning had survived three days.
This the President Schore informs him happened by reason of his
own wilfulness: there had been sundry sorties and skirmishes, with
many slain and taken on either side; and at the end of the last M.
de Groning, "drawing too nigh to the town, gebarding himself too
nigh, was taken with a gun suddenly." The President also tells
him, that the Duke of Brunswick has gone to join them, and has
taken the castle of Dunelhorst belonging to Munster, called the
strongest hold in that quarter, and near Bremen, which is a great
aid to that town, and let to the Imperialists. They have burned all
the ships of Bremen, except 36, which they have taken. It is said
that the Count of Bure has been sent for, and is to succeed M. de
Groning, and that Mons. Brabanson will be left in his stead at
Frankfort. The Emperor is reported to have gone to Saxony, and
supposed to have arrived there by this time. [One page.] |
April 16.
Venice. |
55. Edmond Harvel to Sir William Paget. Although by private
letters he has been certified of the King's coronation, yet the absence
of official ones prevents him from notifying the same to the Duke
and Senate in a befitting manner, and interrupts his accustomed
familiar intercourse with the Court. Wherefore he requests that
such letters may be sent from the Council by every ordinary post.
Congratulates him on receiving the Garter. Hopes he will have
his poor friend in some small care and memory, as he has plainly
consumed his years and goods in the service of the late King.
Incloses letter to the Lord Protector. |
|
P.S. Sir Francis Bernard came late this evening, desiring that
Paget might be informed he still labours with the Senate for the
recovery of his goods, and till the matter is ended cannot write to
him or any about the Court. After his business is expedited intends
to repair to England. The Senate hopes continually to have
Ludovico de l'Armi in their hands, but it is thought that the
Emperor will not consent to their desire, but will feed them with
words. It is reported that said Ludovico should be delivered out
of prison with surety of 20,000 crowns, which the Cardinal of Trent
hath caused to be made for him, and that he should be departed for
England. This he thinks not credible. [One page and a half.] |
April 17.
Bruges. |
56. Edward Carne to the Lord Protector. Last evening the Lady
Regent received letters of the 12th inst., informing her that the
Emperor with the King of the Romans and Duke Maurice were at
Egra in Bohemia; and on that day the Duke of Alva marched with
the Emperor's vanguard to Saxony, and the Emperor marched
next morning. Some think he will give battle to the Duke of
Saxony; others not, as the latter has at least 5,000 or 6,000 horse
and 25,000 or 26,000 foot well appointed. 2,000 Bohemian light
horse are said to have left the service of the King of the Romans for
that of the Duke of Saxony; and the Emperor to have sent to
Spain with all diligence for more Spaniards. No farther news of
the army before Bremen. [One page. Printed by Tytler, Vol. i.,
p. 47.] |
April 17.
Bruges. |
57. Same to Sir William Petre. Has no news beyond what
are contained in his letter to the Lord Protector, except that
the Lady Regent makes preparations at Gand for celebrating
solemnly the exequies of the late King of France, and it is said that
she intends to be there on the 23d inst. [Half a page.] |
April 26.
Plantsenitz in Misnia. |
58. The Bishop of Westminster to Sir William Paget. Yesterday
had written by Honyngs, who for want of post-horses was detained
until to-day. Had been to see the bridge and the place where their
men passed the day before; gives an account of the engagement
from the information of an officer in the Emperor's light horse.
The Emperor is said to have summoned all the Duke's strongholds,
and it is thought that there will be no resistance. [One page and a
half. Printed by Tytler, Vol. i., p. 52.] |
