|
Feb. 3.
Augsburg. |
287. Sir Richard Morysine to Cecil. Has now in all received
three letters from him; as glad of these as sorry that any sent from
him should come short. Was in his last letter, as by this is sure
Cecil perceives, wonderfully cumbered for lack of money. At home
he had not many that ever he durst open his lips to borrow of them
any money; and here he would fain be taken for no beggar, not
that he passes so much to be one, as that, being so counted, he shall
be less able to do good service. The rest of his calling be able to
lash and lay on, and he, poor soul, must oft lose his night's rest,
for that he cannot day it as others do. Thanks him for his friendship and services. If he had heard of his money before, his warm
letter, which he sent last of all, had frozen itself to nothing. "Let
my lady, your wife, take heed she writes no Greek, for if she do,
Joannes Sturmius is like to see it Mr. Ascham hath already done
her errand to him, and, I do believe, you and she shall shortly see
their letters in print. I will not, for all my saying, do more than
shall stand well with both your pleasures; and yet, lest she chide
me for some others' quarrel, it were my best to say I would show
her letters to strangers; so I know she would be afraid to chide me.
But, what she will, she can write to few that will give her more
thanks for a curst letter than I. And yet, let her take heed, for I
can, as you may see by my last, speak apace when I am angry." His
wife sends her commendations to Cecil and his lady, wishing that when
the former is at Court without her the latter were here. Is glad
Mr. Pickering goeth into France, and hopes he shall easily maintain
amity at the Court there. Ωσπερ μεν η ειρηνη τοις ανθρωποις τ'αγαθα παντα τικτει ουτω δε πολλα τα λυπαρα, και κακα εκ του πολεμου γινεται. He means as he writes, and wishes they might for three years war
with nobody. [Three pages.] |
Feb. 7.
Florence. |
288. Francis Peyto to the Earl of Warwick. Hears nothing
farther of the General Council proclaimed at Rome. Some doubt
expressed as to its proceeding, as many things may fall before Mayday to let the same. Favours have been offered to him of late, as,
with the occasion of their so granting, the inclosure will show; to
these his reply is deferred, because they be from Rome removed.
It is such as may both well excuse the not accepting, and also still
maintain him in his credit. The Pope gives himself good time in
feasts and triumphs which have been made this carnival. He is
liberal of his pardons, for in this city be many of his jubilees. He is
known altogether to be imperial, and only favourer of that faction.
He rather attendeth to enrich his own, than of Cardinals to augment the number; for hitherto there is but one that hath the hat,
where many more were hoped. The Genoese are deceived in their
vain hope, for at present Don Diego is there, and doth eftsoons
return the labourers to the fortress, with whom it is there now
matter of state that will with words gainsay the same. So is the
liberty there enlarged! Spaniards keep them under awe, whose
number daily increaseth in the country thereabouts, but in the city
not yet received. On the 25th ult. Don Garcia, son to the Viceroy
of Naples, and brother to the Duchess here, passed in post this way
to Augsburg. He seeks from the Emperor the reversion of Prince
Doria's room upon the seas. Hitherto he has only had charge of
the Neapolitan galleys, with which he has so well behaved, especially in the late taking of Africa, that he is thought likely to obtain
his object; and the rather because of his brother-in-law, the Duke,
a man of whose help oftimes the Emperor is served, and maketh
good stay in his affairs in Italy. He is also a Prince of wise and
notable government, as by his proceedings daily is declared. It is
thought that the Bishop of Rome and the Duke here will shortly
raise some men to send to the service of the Emperor in Hungary,
where he has recently gained from the Turk a strong fortress, with
the death of many that were therein. |
|
P.S. Has just received from Rome a letter of 31st January, copy
of which he annexes to the inclosure. Is uncertain what may be
the foundation of these conjectures, but will prove if he may learn
the same. [One page and a half.] Incloses, |
|
288. I. Copy letter from Rome of 17th January. Advises him
to prevent Henry Stafford, who, at coming home, is likely
to do him small pleasure, with a wise letter to some of
his friends. He may thank his Lord's Grace and his
uncle, who has of late spoken to the former in his behalf,
and obtained a promise of effectual recommendation of
him to any Prince of Italy, where he thinks he may best
be entertained, and like a gentleman, in case he would
willingly forsake all that he has in England, and return
to Christ's laws. Writer will communicate his mind
more at length in next letter; meanwhile, let him consider
which he should prefer of these four, the Duke of Florence,
Duke of Urbino, Duke or Cardinal of Mantua, or Don
Diego, all of whom are his Lord's entire friends. Were
the writer to choose, he would select Urbino, for the quietness of that state, before the rest; he has a singular friend
in good estimation both with the Duke and Duchess
there to further Peyto in that behalf; but let him do as
his heart likes best. |
|
288. II. Letter of 31st January. Of his Lord of Sarum, and
the writer's love and affection towards him, he needs never
to doubt, for he shall find them always ready to his
advancement. By a former letter he might perceive in
what state Mr. Thomas Stafford, his Lord's nephew, stands
with his Grace, whom writer takes to be of such grace and
qualities that perchance the time may come that both he
and Peyto may be glad, not only to serve him, but that
he ever came into these parts. He is not a little affectionate to Peyto upon his uncle's report and that of the
writer; so that Peyto, being little older than he, may be
hereafter better able to serve him than the writer, whose good
years be almost past. No man living knows what he may
come to. Conjectures more things than may be thought on,
and therefore writes this as a warning, that when the
time comes, Peyto may say the writer prophesied this long
before. Let him in the meanwhile proceed diligently in
obtaining virtue, and serve God faithfully, and put not
all his confidence and trust in a little plot of land he has
at home, which every hour may be taken from him. Has
been absent from Rome with his Lord's Grace for 15 days,
for which reason he did not write last week. [One page.] |
Feb. 7.
Blois. |
289. Sir John Masone to the Council. Had received by Francisco
their letter of the 29th January, on Monday, the 2d curt., at 7 p.m.
Next morning requested audience, which was deferred for two days
on account of the great pastimes invited. Gives an account of
the King's and courtiers' tilting, the processions and masks, to which
the Ambassadors were invited, and had places prepared for them;
and of the grand banquet made by the Cardinal of Lorraine, at
which the King himself was steward of the feast and the Constable
clerk of the kitchen, "to which also were bade the Ambassadors, to
see but not to feed." He "never saw a more goodly or a richer
sight. A man would have thought that all the jewels in Christendom had been assembled together, so gorgeously were the dames
beset with great numbers of them, both their heads and bodies."
On Friday had audience of the King after dinner. Details at much
length their conversation, and a subsequent one with the Constable,
in both of which the most positive assurances of friendship and
disclaimer of any hostile intentions were given. The general belief
is, that the preparations are designed against the Emperor, whose
Ambassador "standeth in such doubt, as he hath already sent
away his wife." Divers bands have been sent lately to Piedmont
and some into Burgundy; and the Emperor, on the other side,
makes himself strong in both places. The preparations made of
soldiers are most in Gascoigne and Burgundy. The Swiss are, by
all means, entertained, and so are all such states of Italy as these
men make any account of. The strife between the Bishop of Rome
and the King for the archbishopric of Marseilles is ended, and the
Bishop for this time hath his mind. The harangue against the
English made at Court was by the prothonotary Monluc, in presence
of the King, the Queen of Scots, the Cardinal of Lorraine, and
Mons. de Guise, assembled to discuss the pacification of matters in
Scotland. "It should seem he brast out therewith ex abundantia
cordis, and of his cankered malice towards us." Had brought the
matter of the lewd book before the Council; states what occurred on
the occasion. Has discovered that the author is Peter Hogue, "who
hath long served in all practices between the subjects and the Prince
against whom this King hath meant hostility. He was first Secretary to Rincon, and sithen to Poulin, and lastly he was joined with
Monluc in Scotland and Ireland, and was at the commotion time
in habit dissembled in England. But, finally being sent to the
Emperer's countries to make some stir there, he is taken, and lieth
by the feet in Riplemonde, like to have that that he hath long sithen
deserved." This Peter wrote the book, but as far as he can learn
it was published by the said malicious Monluc, who is now in Gascony, and to whom they have promised shortly to speak withal.
Concerning the service of his religion, he has ever since his coming to
the Court, used on the holidays, for the most part, the communion,
and some time in the working days the common prayers, which he
causes to be done in the open place where he dines and sups, and
at such an hour as the end thereof, for the most part, meets with
the beginning of his dinner, and hitherto never found any man fault
therewith, and yet have a good number at Sunday times come to
the God-speed of it, as well Frenchmen as Scots. Is informed
that certain rovers have gone from these quarters to lie about the
coast of Devonshire and Cornwall, among which, besides Scots and
French, are many Englishmen. The blind Scot, that nameth himself Archbishop of Armachan [Armagh], passed by this Court five
or six days ago, and was very much made of; he has gone in
post to Rome, being appointed to be one of the doers in the
Council. Captain Poulin is restored to liberty. Chastillon is now
in great credit. His heart is made to bleed by hearing the base sort
of the Court, both Scots and French, who are glad to hear anything
to the disadvantage of the English doctrine, talk of the buying and
selling of offices in England, the decaying of grammar schools and
the Universities, with many other enormities, which they show one
to another, printed in English books, and set forth by English
preachers. Rolfe has come in his old age to be a student in Orleans.
The Portuguese Ambassador, having a suit in England for certain
plate and other things spoiled upon the sea, has requested him to
write to their Lordships for favourable justice. He is a right honest
man, therefore it were a good deed if he might be restored to some
part of what he has lost. Desires to know what answer he shall
give to the Earl of Huntly, who often sends to him touching his
passport. [Eleven pages.] |
| Eod. die. |
Copy of the preceding in Sir John Masone's Letter-Book.
[Eleven pages and a half.] |
Feb. 16.
Westminster. |
290. The Council to Sir John Masone. Acquaint him with the
proceedings at their conferences with Mons. de Lansac on the subjects
of his mission, viz., the settling of differences between them and the
Scots as to boundaries, the ransom of prisoners, free traffic on sea
and land between the English and Scots, &c. The main propositions
had been agreed to, and what remained are to be arranged by Masone
and Sir William Pickering, who is shortly to be sent to France on a
special mission. The Bishop of Winchester was yesterday deprived
of his bishopric, "and in his disobedience and obstinate refusing
of the King's Majesty's mercy and favour, showed not only a wilful
pride, but also a cankered heart of an evil subject." [Six pages.
Draft.] |
| Eod. die. |
Contemporary copy of the preceding. [Six pages.] |
| Eod. die. |
Copy of the preceding in Sir John Masone's Letter-Book, with
copy of the articles delivered by Mons. de Lansac, and extract from
a treaty between Edward IV. and James III. of Scotland, referred
to in the letter, and which are not in the drafts. [Nine pages.] |
Feb. 17.
Westminster. |
291. Same to same. Sir William Pickering has departed with
a joint commission for Masone and himself, as mentioned in their
former letter; think that as Masone has more readiness in the
French tongue, that he should take upon him the handling of the
arguments contained in the instructions sent in their last. On the
same day that Lansac had received his answer, news arrived from
the Captain of Berwick and Sir Robert Bowes that the Governor
was at Edinburgh with all the French troops in Scotland and the
complement of five or six Scottish ships, for the purpose, as was
reported, of going to the borders to punish certain thieves in Liddesdale, but in reality, as the Captain of Berwick was informed, to
make a sudden attack upon that town. Of this they had apprized
Lansac and the French Ambassador, who were immediately to
despatch a messenger to Scotland to prevent hostilities. [Three
pages and a half. Draft.] |
| Eod. die. |
Copy of the preceding in Sir John Masone's Letter-Book. [Two
pages and a half.] |
Feb. 18.
[Westminster.] |
292. Instructions from the King and Council to Sir John Masone
and Sir William Pickering, sent to the French King for the purpose
of settling the mission of Mons. Lansac by an amicable arrangement of all the differences between England and Scotland. [Eighteen
pages. Draft.] |
| Eod. die. |
Copy of the preceding in Sir John Masone's Letter-Book. [Eight
pages.] |
Feb. 19.
Antwerp? |
293. John Dymock to Cecil. Magdeburg is besieged by Duke
Maurice, and within these 20 days the inhabitants have given
him two or three hot skirmishes, and have taken the Earl of Anholt
with 30 or 40 gentlemen prisoners. The citizens of Magdeburg
are victualled for two years and are not minded to yield, unless that
they may remain by their privileges and their religion. Duke
Maurice's soldiers begin to murmur for want of pay. The King of
Denmark has sent his Ambassador to the Emperor, and so have the
six Wendish cities, to see if they can obtain peace for Magdeburg
and Bremen, and if they cannot, then they will help them to the
uttermost of their power. It is true that the Earl of Heydek and
the company of the Earl of Mansfeldt, of which Walderdon was
general, did disperse themselves, and of them Duke Maurice had five
ensigns, and the rest do gather again in the land of Lunenburg.
The two young Earls of Mansfeldt, with the Earl of Heydek, are now
at Hamburg. All these news are confirmed by Courtpenynck's
letter of the 5th curt. Sends the picture of the Prince of Denmark,
which can be made more perfectly by Mr. William, the King's
Majesty's painter. [One page.] Annexed, |
|
293. I. "Intelligence from Cortpenny and others." Loose notes
and opinions. [Latin. Four pages.] |
| Feb. 22. |
294. The Council to Sir Richard Morysine. Thank him for
his frequent letters. If they do not write to him as often as he
could desire, he must think nevertheless that his labours are well
liked. In his last letter he mentioned that he would speak to Mr.
D'Arras for licence to have Collen cleves, lint, and certain lasts of
powder, according to a minute which they had sent to him, although
the terms of the same be strange and unknown as they must be to
him who have not haunted the wars, neither is a master of ordnance,
as his predecessor was. The Collen cleve is a staff commonly bought
at the city of Cologne, whereof the lance or staff is made that a man
of arms runneth withal; and if he yet doubts, then be they that the
Latin men call hastœ purœ. He has judged right enough upon the
lint. He may choose whether he will sue by the name of a last or
of a rental. The Bishop of Winchester is deprived of his bishopric
by ordinary judgment, in which process he has had as much liberty
and help as the law could anywise give him. He had counsellors both
on the ecclesiastical law and that of the realm, and, because they
should not make any pretext of fear, they were required to give the
Bishop what counsel they could for his just defence, and to speak
themselves what they could by their learning. Notwithstanding this,
the Bishop's fault was such, by his long continued contumacy, as no
text could justly defend him; and to augment his own fault, in the
very process of his defence he misused himself so much as if his crime to
which he answered had not been sufficient to have taken his bishopric
away. His lewd behaviour and disobedience in excusing of disobedience would not permit him to remain a Bishop at liberty which
could not be an obedient subject at a bar. He railed upon his
judges, sought to defame the whole estate of the realm, and in the
whole showed himself a subject utterly given to disquiet. Of late
the Emperor's Ambassador has moved them that the Lady Mary
might freely retain the ancient religion in such sort as her father
left it in this realm, according to a promise made to the Emperor,
until the King should be of more years. They denied such promise
had been made, except to this extent, that the King was content to
bear with her infirmity that she should for a season hear the mass in
her closet or privy chamber only, whereat there should be present no
more than they of her chamber, and no time appointed, but left to
the King's pleasure. Such permission the Lord Treasurer and Lord
Paget had made relation of to the Ambassador's predecessor at
Bridewell. Although they positively assured the Ambassador that
no such promise was ever made, yet these their answers he would
nowise admit, but as he is a man much unbroken and rude, he still
pressed them with the promise, and would not receive their flat
denial. Therefore they bore with him so far as to agree that he
should have a resolute answer in three days; and as he had alleged
the promise was made to the Emperor himself by some of the envoys,
the Lord Treasurer, Lord Paget, Sir William Petre, and Sir Philip
Hoby went to him and showed that such had been made neither in
the realm nor out of it; showing him also by divers reasons why
such a reason could not be made, considering the example too
perilous in any commonwealth to grant a subject licence to violate
a law, and too dangerous for a Christian Prince to grant a liberty
that one of his subjects should use a religion against the conscience
of the Prince. In the end he still beat upon the promise without
any other proof than his own affirmance. Wherefore they demanded
from him what answer he had touching the privilege of Mr. Chamberlain in Flanders to use the manner of their church; and they now,
as he says he has yet no answer, inform Morysine of these particulars
for his guidance. [Five pages. Draft.] |
Feb. 23.
Blois. |
295. Sir John Masone to the Council. Three or four days since
was informed by a wise man and of practice, whom the French
King uses often in his secret affairs in Germany, that notwithstanding all their fair words and specious appearance, the King and Court
are bent upon war with England, and assuredly will if the Turk
comes into Hungary. That this is prompted by Mons. de Guise
and his house, in so much as it is already half concluded to send
away the Queen of Scots with all convenient speed, and with her
300 or 400 men of arms, and 10,000 foot. His informant is much
affected to the English religion, and having a great desire to go to
England to see Bucer, may probably accompany Masone on his return,
when their Lordships may learn more. Endeavouring subsequently
to ascertain what ground there was for such assertions, had learned
that lately the King was highly irritated by a letter from Lord
Maxwell complaining of the refusal of his safe conduct; which
feeling has been fomented by the Queen of Scots and her house,
who bear in this Court the whole swing. "The Scottish Queen
desireth as much our subversion, if it lay in her power, as she desireth
the preservation of herself, whose service in Scotland is so highly
taken here, as she is in this Court made a goddess. Mons. de Guise
and M. d'Aumale, and the Cardinal of Lorraine, partly at her egging,
and partly upon an ambitious desire to make their house great, be
no hindrance of her malicious desire." The Constable, he thinks,
would be content things proceeded otherwise. Recommends vigilance;
Fistula dulce canit volucrem dum decipit auceps. "The credit of
the house of Guise in this Court passeth all others. For albeit the
Constable hath the outward adminstration of all things, being for
that service such a man as hard it were to find the like, yet have
they as much credit as he with whom he is constrained to sail, and
many times to take that course that he liketh never a whit."
Francisco has arrived with their Lordships' letter announcing their
intention to send Pickering: as it may be sometime before they can
have speech with the King, who is abroad hunting, and will not be
within eight miles of the town for five or six days, sends back
Francisco, who will inform them of the precarious state of his health,
which compels him for the most part to keep his bed. In case it
shall please God in the mean season either to call for him, or to continue him in this weakness, their Lordships shall not do amiss to
give Pickering commission to do the errand alone, wherein peradventure he will otherwise be scrupulous. The malapert glory of
the Bishop of Winchester that was is in no place better known than
in this Court. This day a great many Scottish gentlemen were
despatched with commission to take shipping in Flanders. [Six
pages. Indorsed by Cecil.] |
| Eod. die. |
Copy of the preceding in Sir John Masone's Letter-Book. [Six
pages and a half.] |
Feb. 24.
Augsburg. |
296. Sir Richard Morysine to Cecil. What should he look for
Cecil's long letters, when the shortest be so comfortable to him?
It is his comfort that all his doings do not displease. His trust is
his time weareth fast away, and that some good chance or other will
send him home. If ever he comes home again, and may do anything
with those that do send him abroad, he thinks he can say so much
for poor men tarrying at home, that he shall be the last that shall be
sent with any great Court to shame himself. His continual fear to
lack, or rather his own continual lacks, must needs grieve him, and
yet do they not half as much as that he is forced still to weary the
Lords with his beggarly complaints. He thinks they would reckon
him worthy some help, if they knew how his things waste away.
He could write of his beggary till to-morrow, and find matter plenty.
If he goes to anything else, now the Lords' letters are done and he
almost tired, Cecil sees œgri hominis somnia how they hang together. Makes suit that some clerk of the Council might write but
this much to men that serve abroad, "your letters written such or
such a day are received," &c. If Cecil were in this case, he would
think it as necessary as anything can be. Unquietness beareth
such a rule in men's heads, while they may doubt whether things
come as they be sent or no, that he shall do nothing wisely that
feeleth that trouble, if he be no wiser than the writer is. Cecil sees
he is troubled, therefore will no longer trouble Cecil. [Two pages.] |
| Feb. 25. |
297. List of despatches sent this day to Sir John Masone and
Sir William Pickering, viz.:—
1. Credentials for Sir William Pickering as Ambassador.
2. Instructions for Sir William Pickering.
3. Letter of revocation of Sir John Masone.
4. Letters from the Council to Sir John Masone.
5. Letters to Sir William Pickering to send Thomas Dannett.
[Half a page. Indorsed by Cecil.] |
Feb. 25.
Westminster. |
298. Letter from King Edward VI. to Sir John Masone. Revoking his appointment as Ambassador, and notifying that of Sir
William Pickering as his successor in office. [One page. Copy in
Sir J. Masone's Letter-Book.] |
Feb. 26.
Blois. |
299. Sir John Masone to the Council. The secret agent bearing
their letter of 28th January arrived on the 24th curt. "He took
not so much leisure in his journey hitherward, as he seemed desirous
to make haste to return again." Being afraid of his personal safety,
he next evening brought as his substitute Lord Grange [Kirkaldy],
who has promised to communicate to Masone all that he can learn,
and tells him that the departing of the Queen of Scots, and the men
of war had been talked of, but would not likely take place this year.
In future correspondence Lord Grange will be named Coraxe.
Hears nothing of Sir William Pickering's arrival. [One page;
noted by Masone to have been written in cipher. Copy in Sir
J. Masone's Letter-Book.] |
Feb. 27.
Westminster. |
300. The Council to Sir John Masone and Sir William Pickering.
Express his Majesty's and their own commendation of his services
and regret for his illness, but request that, if he possibly can, he will
remain and assist Sir W. Pickering at the commencement of his
embassy, and thereafter return to England. Whereas they had
intended Sir W. Pickering to return with answer, now desire him to
send Mr. Dannet sufficiently instructed of their whole proceedings;
and touching the offence taken at the refusal of Lord Maxwell's safe
conduct, direct them to explain that the frequent passage of Scots
and French through England is cumbrous and hurtful, and that
twice as many of the French King's servants as of his Majesty's,
pass through the realm. [Two pages. Draft. Two rough drafts
annexed.] |
| Eod. die. |
Copy of the preceding in Sir John Masone's Letter-Book. |
