BHO

Mary: November 1555

Pages 195-198

Calendar of State Papers Foreign: Mary 1553-1558. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1861.

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November 1555

Nov. 2.
Venice.
434. Peter Vannes to the Council. Can never express the gratitude he feels to the Queen and their Lordships. Will not trouble her with a letter of thanks for their letter of 29th Sept., written by her command, but begs them to give his lowliest thanks to her Majesty at a convenient opportunity. Will not now trouble them with his own private matters as he doubts not but that their promises and appointment have been long before this fulfilled. [One page and a quarter. Indorsed by Petre.]
Nov. 2.
Venice.
435. Same to Sir William Petre. If ever before, now of necessity must hold him excused that he is not able sufficiently to thank him. His most gentle letter of the 28th September, has relieved him from great misery to great joy, from great fear to an assured hope. What more comfort could he have than to see thereby that the Queen remains a gracious lady towards him, and that Petre has carefully taken pain in the advancement of his doings and the procuring of the sublevation of his necessity. [One page. Indorsed by Petre.]
Nov. 2.
Venice.
436. Same to the Council. The sudden stir at Rome between the Pope and the Imperialists, arising rather out of vain suspicion wrought by the French than any certain grounds, is at length quenched. The Pope, upon receiving the King's letter, was much satisfied, and boasted himself that his Majesty so lovingly had written unto him. In addition, the broil was so wisely handled by the King's Ambassadors and agents at Rome, that Don Bernardino, seeing the French brags were not at all to be feared for the realm of Naples, did, according to the Pope's expectation, first disarm a band of 12,000 men he had ready on the confines of Naples and the Church's estate. This earnest demonstration has stopped divers purposes devised by the French to be brought to pass by the Pope's means under the pretence of all serving for the safety of his person and conservation of the dignity of his Church. The Pope seeing that Bernardino had disarmed, dismissed his own troops, and discharged his general the Duke of Urbino and all his other captains. Duke Octavio's preparations and expenses are almost all melted away like fleeces of snow with the shining of the sun. The Pope has openly said that he will have no war with the Emperor nor with the King, and determines to keep himself neutral with all Christian Princes, hoping to effect an universal peace on the arrival of the French Cardinals. He has ordered all the people of Rome fit for its defence, to be made ready by the chief of the wards and mustered; he will be present on the day of muster. Men say this makes him the lustier, and keeps people in reverence and obedience. It is reported that many, for one cause and another, gape for the Cardinal's dignity these Christmas holidays. Thinks "multi erunt vocati et pauci electi," and prays God that of His infinite mercy He will grant them His grace. In Piedmont the French, since his last, have done nothing worth writing about but planted their men in divers fortresses; all their Italian bands were near a mutiny on account of non-payment of wages, but their Colonel, Capt. Birago, entertained them with policy and promises. The cause of their retirement from the field may well have been their inability to resist the Duke of Alva's camp. He supposes them by this to be in the field, or else waiting until the first payment of the Imperialists is wasted. But in this they will be deceived, for the Duke, it is to be considered, comes out with some intelligences to recover some of the lost pieces, and at least to fortify and victual divers places of importance between Asti and Alexandria, as Felisiano, Crescentino, Trino, and others; which will advance and assure greatly the King's estates in those parts. Notwithstanding the French King has made Duke Octavio his General in Tuscany, and spread abroad a great bruit for the taking of Sienna with no effect, grounding his devices only upon the great dearth in Tuscany and especially Sienna, the Imperialists and the Duke of Alva have looked to it, and such provision has been already made that these French devices will come to no good end. For the more assurance the Duke has sent Capt. Vitello with a great band of his camp to give aid in provisions this winter in Sienna in a convenient place by the river Albia. By the last letters from Constantinople of 1st Oct., it is written that the Turk was making great preparations against Hungary to put the Vaivode's son in Transylvania. [Four pages and a half. Indorsed by Petre.]
Nov. 11. 437. Memorandum of arrears due to Sir Edward Carne for 113 days to the present inclusive, at fifty-three shillings and four-pence per diem (301l. 6s. 8d.), and for three months, advanced by former warrant (224l.), in all 525l. 6s. 8d. [Half a page.]
Nov. 11.
Antwerp.
438. Thomas Gresham to the Council. On the 8th inst. received their letter of the 4th inst., informing him that they had received her Majesty's bonds, and that her pleasure is, that the 1,000l. which the staplers should have furnished, is to be taken up by exchange. Sends a list of the persons from whom he has borrowed it, and the amounts borrowed from each. Has received of the staplers 12,000l., and of the adventurers 25,085l. Sends a list of persons to whom he has paid it, and of sums paid to them. Incloses a perfect note how the bonds are to be made with the interest. The service the merchants have done does not a little redound to the Queen's honour and credit. Some of the adventurers cannot, and others will not pay, so there lacks about 3,000l. which the Deputy and the generalty decided should be taken up by them for three months at their own risk. Fearing a fall of the exchange they have taken it up at interest. Thought it good to advertise the Council of their forwardness, that they may see these persons paid their bills of debt on the proper days. Insists upon the necessity of taking up money by interest and not by exchange, so as to prevent a fall of the exchange and the consequent withdrawal of the fine gold and silver out of England. Begs them to remem ber the sum due to Anthony Bonvisi on the 25th January. Looks daily for a passport from the King for the saltpetre and harness which has lain here for a year and a half. Sends the bonds due to Anthony Spinola. [Three pages and a half.]
Nov. 30.
Venice.
439. Peter Vannes to the Council. News is very scant. Touching the affairs of Piedmont and Lombardy neither the French nor the Imperialists have any power in the field, for the season and the situation will not permit men to be abroad or any exploit to be done. Both sides keep their men in garrison. The Duke of Alva still furnishes and fortifies all necessary places, and so do the French. Letters from Rome of the 23d inst. mention that the two French Cardinals are arrived there and lodge in Cardinal Caraffa's house. The Pope on the same night at supper, before many persons, said he knew their arrival would be supposed to be for the sake of inducing him to some war or league, or some like purpose, but that this was untrue, for they had been sent by the French King to treat of a general peace and to offer to his Holiness money, men, and his own person, with authority to accommodate all things according to his own pleasure, and that the French King would abide by his decisions. If the Emperor would do the like he had good hope to bring all things to a good end; the rather that he trusted to find the King of England better inclined to peace than the Emperor has shown himself in time past. Many persons think the Pope will be attempted to be drawn into war; but the opinion of wise men is that he will hold himself upright and enter now into no war, as he wants money and expert captains, and that he will be careful how he damages his estate without any appearance of gain for other men's pleasure. The Marquis of Saria and Don Garcilasso had not yet had answer of such things as they had propounded to the Pope in the Emperor's and his Majesty's name, touching the restitution of their estates to Marc Antonio and Camillo Colonna, and the discharging of the sureties brought in for divers great personages, friends and servants of the Emperor. This matter the Pope seems to put off, as the persons are such as he cannot place his whole confidence in them; also, notwithstanding the Viceroy of Naples has discharged his troops from the confines, the Pope in spite of agreement has not done the same, but still keeps in readiness his whole number of horse and foot. If it might consist with God's pleasure and the Emperor's satisfaction would wish the King in his troublesome beginning of great affairs as long as might be the fatherly assistance of the Emperor, whose great wisdom and long experience would stand in great reputation in this business to his Majesty. The Duke of Urbino has desired the Pope to discharge him from the General Captainship of the Church, and to this his Holiness has agreed. It is thought the Count Montorio will enjoy the place. [Four pages and a half.]
Nov. 30.
Rome.
440. Sir Edward Carne to same. Yesterday process was made in the consistory against Cranmer, late unworthy Archbishop of Canterbury, and sentence will be pronounced at the next sitting. In the consistory held on Wednesday, the Pope made a long oration on the overture of the French King, with commendations of the Emperor and the King, but especially of her Majesty. The effect was the overture of all variance to be put in the hands of his Holiness, whereupon the Cardinal of Lorraine made a long speech, declaring the readiness of the French King to abide his Holiness' order in all points whereof her Majesty had been apprized by Carne's letter of the 25th. The Marquis of Marignano is departed to God. Is informed by his factor that his diets cannot be paid according to the warrant granted by their Majesties; begs their Lordships will consider that he is far from home and where he can have nothing but for money out of hand, and can procure none except from home. He has had from his own people as much as they could make to him, which is no hold here. His living is too small, if he had here only a boy with him. Never yet could have anything given him, whereby he shall have anything towards the maintenance of his service, for all the service he did. [One page and a quarter. Printed, except the latter portion, by Tytler, Vol. ii., p. 486.]