|
August 3.
Poissy. |
226. Sir John Masone to the Council. The Prior of Capua has
altered his intention of going to Scotland by way of England, and
has gone to Rouen, whence he will depart within three or four days.
Has this day been to Court for redress of injury done to certain
Englishmen in Brittany. Has been required to write for the good
entreating of the Queen Dowager of Scotland, in case she should
be driven by stress of weather into any English port, or require a
passport for a hackney or two. It is said she is to be married to
the King of Navarre, whom the Lady Margaret has refused.
Sends much general information relating to the Emperor's proceedings, and of those of the Bishop of Rome in regard of the French
bishops. Has had an interview with Geoffrey Pole [younger brother
of the Cardinal], who, being very desirous to return to England
requested him to write for permission to do so. In consequence
of Andelot not having returned from Spain, the King has deferred
his journey to Rouen, whither he will not likely go till the 15th of
next month. M. de Thermes comes from Scotland in the French
King's company. [Seven pages. Copy in Sir J. Masone's LetterBook. Printed, except one paragraph, by Tytler, Vol. i., p. 308.] |
August 11.
Venice. |
227. Francis Yaxley to Cecil. At Padua had met Mr. Stafford,
who desired to be remembered to him. Gives an account of the
honourable reception of the English Ambassador by the Doge and
Senate that day. Cannot hear anything of Sir John Thynne's
servant, who it is thought has returned to England. [One page.] |
August 11.
Windsor. |
228. The Council to Sir John Masone. On Sunday the 3d inst.
the French Ambassador had audience of his Majesty at Windsor,
when he exonerated Masone in the matter of the Scottish hostages,
and sought to transfer the blame to some of the Council, which
they repudiated. He also presented letters from the French King,
Queen Dowager of Scotland, and two from the Scottish Queen,
requesting a safe conduct for the galleys that were to convey
the said Queen Dowager and her suite, with permission to send
300 horses through England; which requests were acceded to, the
number of horses being reduced to 200. A safe conduct for Henry
Sinclair, Dean of Glasgow, and Thomas Menzies of Pitfoddels,
with 24 men and horses, has also been granted. The Ambassador
also intimated that the second payment for Boulogne was to be
ready there on the 4th inst., and requested the sending of Commissioners to receive the same and set free the three remaining hostages.
Farther, had arranged for an interview between the English
Commissioners on the Scottish border and the Scottish Commissioners touching the castle of Edrington and a fishing place in the
Tweed. Desired to communicate all the preceding to the French
King at his next audience. Instructions for the protection of
Somerset herald [Atkynson] from the effects of a liability for a
prisoner in France six years before. [Eight pages. Copy in Sir
J. Masone's Letter-Book.] |
| August 18. |
229. Instructions given by the Council to Sir Richard Morysine,
sent Ambassador to the Emperor Charles V. in room of Sir Philip
Hoby. [One page and a half. Copy.] |
August 18.
Guildford. |
230. The Council to Sir John Masone. Had been informed by
letters from Lord Dacre, Lord Warden of the West Marches, that
the Scots intend to invade the debateable land, on account of
the same being occupied by sundry English and Scottish fugitives,
who continually molest and annoy the Scots. Had communicated
this to the French Ambassador (already made aware of it by his
brother Ambassador in Scotland), who at first contended that such
would be no infraction of the treaty, but at length agreed to send
a special messenger to Scotland to endeavour to prevent such
attempt. Direct Masone to communicate this to the French King,
and insist upon his sending to Scotland to stay said enterprise,
otherwise it shall be considered as a breach of the treaty, and be met
accordingly. [Three pages. Copy in Sir J. Masone's Letter-Book.] |
August 21.
Oking. [Woking.] |
231. The Council to Sir John Masone. Since despatching their
last had received information of consequence from the borders,
whereof they forward copies for his use and guidance in communicating with the French King and his Council. [Eight lines. Copy
in Sir J. Masone's Letter-Book.] |
August 26.
Poissy. |
232. Sir John Masone to the Council. Had received their Lordships' letters, and communicated to the French King their concessions in regard of the Scottish Queen, as also the invasion of the
debateable land by 2,000 Scots and 400 or 500 Frenchmen. His
Majesty admitted that he had heard something of this previously,
but supposed it to have been a mere private quarrel between an
Englishman and a Scotchman concerning the erection of a border peel.
Expressed his regret and would issue immediate orders for the
prevention of such in future; and confidentially informed him
of a design by the Emperor and Lady Regent to send Skipperus
to the English coast to carry away the Lady Mary, and of the
Emperor's hatred of England, in despite of which he had made this
cruel inquisition for heresy in the Low Countries. Mentions his
conference with the Constable as to the affair of Somerset herald.
Great preparations are made for the reception of the Scottish
Queen, for whose coming the christening has been deferred, the
King desiring to have her as godmother. M. de Guise, with the
flower of the nobility, has gone to Dieppe to meet her. Before going
to Scotland the Prior of Capua provided for above 1,000 ells of white
damask wherewith to apparel the slaves and mariners. Again
applies in regard of liberating the French prisoners in Guernsey
and Jersey. Has often been required to write on behalf of a merchant of Orleans, whose ship of wines had been seized at Dover long
since by the late Admiral, but had positively refused to do so, the
matter being so old; yet the same being so pitiful, he cannot hold
his pen from recommending it to their Lordships, if there be any
remedy. [Seven pages and a half. Copy in Sir J. Masone's
Letter-Book.] |
August 28.
Poissy. |
233. Sir John Masone to the Council. Sends packet from the
Constable for the French Ambassador in England. This day the
Archduke's Master of the Horse, who acts as his Highness's proxygodfather, came to the Court with the Emperor's Ambassador from
Paris, and was met at St. Germain's by a number of gentlemen on
horseback, who escorted him hither, where the King received him in
the hall with very gladsome cheer. The christening is to be on
Sunday next. Inquiries whether the Commissioners for the merchants' matters have been appointed. Is daily applied to by Scotsmen, chiefly scholars, for safe conducts to the English Court, there
to procure passports for their own country, according, as they say,
to former custom: being doubtful, since the case of the Archbishop
of Glasgow, requests instructions hereon. The Prince of Melphi is
dead, and the command of his men of arms given to Marshal St.
André. The Cardinal of Amboise is also dead, and is succeeded
by the Cardinal of Vendôme in the Archbishopric of Rouen and
his other promotions. Two gentlemen arrived yesterday from the
King of Tunis, and presented to the French King two Morisco
horses and three very fair mares. The King intends to leave this
at the end of next week, and remaining some days at Anet, will
probably not enter Rouen till the 24th. [Two pages. Copy in Sir
J. Masone's Letter-Book.] |
