Elizabeth: February 1564, 1-15 | British History Online

Pages 39-47

Calendar of State Papers Foreign: Elizabeth, Volume 7, 1564-1565. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1870.

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February 1564, 1-15



[Feb.]	123. Council of Trent.
	The Queen Mother sent to certain presidents, councillors, advocates, and the Procureur du Roy of the Parliament of Paris to understand their opinions about the decisions of the Council of Trent. On the first Monday in Lent the Cardinal of Lorraine presented to the Council the decisions of the Council, and having showed the advantages that would follow their observance in France, begged that the King would command that they should be published. He had beforehand persuaded the Queen Mother that this was very necessary for the repose of the kingdom, and that if it were not done the Pope, the King of Spain, and the Italian Princes would threaten them. Several of the Council opposed this, especially the Chancellor and the Presidents of the Parliament of Paris, saying that they were not reasonable, and were contrary to the privileges of the Gallican Church. The Chancellor and the Cardinal disputed rather sharply; the former saying that what his party could not accomplish with arms he was trying to bring about by crafty words. The Cardinal reproached him with always opposing any proposition for the good of France, and with forgetting the benefits which he had received from his family, using the word ingrat twice. The Chancellor replied that he had never received any benefit from him or his family, but that, after having done them much service, he had received the post of Master of Requests Extraordinary, which was usually given to lackeys, besides which he did not desire to pay his debts at the King's expense. They have as yet come to no decision, and it is thought that they will wait until they see what the King of Spain will do. Orig. Endd.: The Cardinal of Lorraine's negociation, and by Cecil: Feb. 1563. Fr. Pp. 3.
Feb. 1.	124. Antonio Bruschetto to Cecil.
	1. Sends his son Ludovico with letters received this day from Sor. Gurone, at Rome. Would himself have come, but is prevented by illness.—London, 1 Feb. 1564.
	2. P. S.—Seris has just given him Cecil's letter of 31 Jan., which he will forward to Sor. Gurone on Saturday, to whom it will be most satisfactory. He and the writer's son will keep Cecil well informed of all concerning the Pope and the Cardinals. Cecil can write in Latin, if he prefers it. Sebastiano Bruschetto is a good English scholar. Signed. Orig. Hol., with seal. Add. Endd. Ital. Pp. 3. (fn. 1)
[Feb. 3.]	125. The Queen to Throckmorton.
	By his letters by Somer, she perceives what communication he has had at the Bons Hommes with the Queen Mother. She seeks her advantage by dealing so apart with him, for Somer, who was present at the communication, reported the matter otherwise. Perceives such obstinate resolution in them to refuse that which would have contented her, that the next degree for her is to content herself with the three articles of a general and perpetual peace, and the mutual reservation of all rights. She allows these two articles and the reservation without the restitution of the hostages; so she commits the handling thereof to him, and not to Smith, because he dealt so lately to the contrary. He should not appear to be directed from her, but to seek occasion of himself to speak with the Queen; which obtained, he shall say, that having written hither what had passed, he perceives by answer made to him that either he mistook her, or else that she had mistaken Smith, for the Queen never heard that Smith or any other of her ministers allowed of the article of peace with the general reservation, nor of any other condition less than the ratification of the treaty of Cambresy. Therefore has lost his labour to write concerning the article of the hostages, and has cause to think there will be more difficulty than he can recover to persuade her to the general reservation without the restitution of the hostages.
	2. Considering both their determinations, it seems impossible to accord to either of these, therefore she has thought of another means, which she commits to be used by his discretion as a device of his own, viz., to make the peace with the reservation generally, as has been devised. As for the hostages (because they make a particular question and difficulty,) he shall make no mention of them in the treaty, but that either of them shall promise upon their honour that she shall put the hostages to liberty, and the King shall put him [Throckmorton] to liberty all upon one day. If question be made whether they shall not be permitted to come away at their pleasure, he shall say that the only means to come to peace is to have no mention of the hostages in this treaty, but yet to deliver them out of prison, foreseeing that he be delivered freely. If he cannot induce the Queen to this or such like, then she sees not but it will be labour lost, for she means not by any act to consent that the hostages shall depart hence as persons in whom she had no interest in respect to the treaty of Cambresy without she has caution according to the treaty. And though they be here but for a sum of money, yet if she should let them depart, having neither the money nor other hostages, nor yet caution of the merchants according to the treaty, she should thereby consent that the treaty was void, and so by her deeds lose that right to Calais, which only in general words she should reserve. This she cannot be induced to do, but will rather abide the worst that can be done against her, and do the worst she can against them; and so he may affirm. Orig. draft, in Cecil's hol., and corrected by him. Passages marked to be ciphered. Endd.: By Barnaby. Pp. 8.
Feb. 3.	126. The Queen to Throckmorton.
	1. That her alteration in appointing him to deal alone in this matter should not seem strange to Smith, she wills him secretly, in cipher (if he cannot speak with him), to signify to him not only what she has prescribed, but also upon what occasion she has so done for the furtherance of her service. —Windsor, 3 Feb. 1563.
	2. P. S.—Has thought of another means, viz., that if they will have the hostages return, then they may first give her a caution according to the treaty for 500,000 crowns. At the back is written: Mr. Hampton, add this to the letter, and write it in cipher. Orig. draft in Cecil's hol. Endd. Pp. 2.
Feb. 4.	127. Maitland to Cecil.
	Divers noblemen and others of Lord Bothwell's friends (having at last obtained the Queen's letters to Queen Elizabeth for his relief forth of England), have required him to write in his favour. Prays at his coming he may find his friendly assistance.—Edinburgh, 4 Feb. Signed. Orig. Hol. Add. Endd.: 4 Feb. 1563. Pp. 2.
Feb. 4.	128. Challoner's Accounts.
	Charges for the [hire of ten mules and two muleteers engaged by Challoner from Saragossa, 4 Feb. 1564, amounting to 1,514 reals, with a note of payments made to account. Orig. Span. Pp. 2.
Feb. 5. Labanoff, i. 198.	129. Queen Mary to the Queen.
	Bothwell's friends (understanding that he is to repair to her Court to obtain her former request, that he might have liberty to pass forth of England,) have put her in remembrance of it, wherefore he prays the Queen to grant him freedom to depart her realm.—Holyrood House, 5 Feb., 22nd Mary, 1563. Signed. Orig. Add. Endd.: Primo Feb. 1563. Broadside.
Feb. 5.	130. Valentine Browne to Cecil.
	Sends the surveyor's bill for the charges for 400 workmen.—Berwick, 5 Feb. 1563. Signed. Orig. Add. Endd. by Cecil's secretary. Pp. 2.
Feb. 5.	131. Works at Berwick.
	Estimate by Rowland Johnson for works to be done this summer at Berwick, after the rate of 400l. a month, including officers' and workmen's wages; total, 399l. 18s. 8d., with a note by Valentine Browne stating that by the device for the soldiers' work, there will be 116l. 13s. saved monthly, which will find one band of 100 soldiers. Also notes by Johnson of alterations to be made in the work and pay of labourers. Signed. Pp. 2.
[Feb. 5.]	132. Works at Berwick.
	Similar estimate by Roland Johnson to carry out the works at Berwick this summer at 300l. per month; total, 300l. 8s. Signed. Orig. Endd. P. 1.
Feb. 5.	133. Stopio to Mason.
	Wrote on Saturday last. Intelligence has arrived to-day from Constantinople of 5 Jan.—Venice, 5 Feb. 1564. Signed. Orig. Hol. Add. Endd. Ital. Pp. 2.
Feb. 6.	134. Randolph to Sir John Forster.
	1. The Queen of Scotland having licensed certain of her subjects to go into England to commune with Earl Bothwell, desires that Mr. Michell Balfoure, John Wymes, of Pettincie, James Ormeston of that ilk, Sir Walter Robartsone, and Mr. David Chalmer, with their servants, may have his licence to pass to the Earl.—Edinburgh, 6 Feb. 1563.
	2. P.S.—Asks for his licence for himself for post horses to go to Court. Copy. P. 1.
Feb. 6.	135. Rowland Johnson to the Privy Council.
	1. There are 60,000 feet of hewn stone and 3,000 chaldrons of lime, and the bulwarks and curtains are well furnished with stone to the height of the walls in every place so far as the stonework is begun. Sends an estimate after the rate of 300l. a month, and another of 400l. a month. Considering the work to be done here, and also the weakness of this town, both the new and the old, 400l. a month will be as little as can be to make this work in good strength this summer. If the stonework be brought to some good pass this summer, the earthwork for the ramparts and bulwarks and curtains may be done at their pleasures, and also the raising of the counterscrap outside the ditch, to make it as high as it may guard the walls. Asks them to confer with Lee whether they would have the walls made eighteen or twenty feet high.—Berwick, 6 Feb. 1563.
	2. P.S.—Encloses a bill for pickaxes, etc., and asks them to speak to Lee that he or his man bring fifty good workmen. Signed. Orig. Add. Endd. Pp. 3.
Feb. 6.	136. Rowland Johnson to Cecil.
	Sends certificate and estimates of the provision ready here for the works.—Berwick, 6 Feb. 1563. Signed. Add. Endd. Pp. 2.
Feb. 6.	137. Rowland Johnson to Cecil.
	1. In the bestowing of the 400l. a month towards carrying out the works, the most profitable way will be to lay it out as herein described.
	2. Has sent to London two barrels of salmon towards his Lent store. Signed. Orig. Hol. Pp. 3 and a slip.
Feb. 6.	138. Frederic II. of Denmark to the Queen.
	Desires permission for Bernard Moller to export 200 undyed cloths for the Danish soldiers without custom.—Colding, 6 Feb. 1564. Signed. Orig. Add. Endd. Lat. Pp. 3.
Feb. 6.	139. Valentine Dale to Cecil.
	The Regent rested most upon those points that had been beaten by her deputies. She thanked the Queen for justice in past things, supposing it yet not sufficient to appoint commissioners to hear such complaints, unless the like were done by others. She entered into the other matters of the edicts upon occasion of the Queen's letter to her by Secretary Torre, and said she would write her answer by him. She wishes the Diet to be at Bruges.—Bruges, 6 Feb. 1563. Signed. Orig., with seal. Add. Endd. Pp. 2.
Feb. 6.	140. — to Challoner.
	Statement of particulars respecting the seizure of the eight English ships by Don Alvaro de Baçan. Copy. Endd. by Challoner. Span. Pp. 3.
Feb. 7.	141. Randolph to Cecil.
	Writes in favour of Bothwell, for whom request has been made to him. Hopes he may find favour from the Queen.— Edinburgh, 7 Feb. 1563. Signed. Orig. Hol. Add. Endd. Pp. 2.
Feb. 8.	142. Mundt to Cecil.
	One named Argentloe, sent by the Queen Mother, has engaged Count Christopher of Oldenburg, for the French King's service. The French King has several of the German captains who helped Wilhelm Von Grombach when he held the chief town of the Bishop of Wurtzburg. The Vidame of Chartres has departed for France. M. De Passe (alias Spyfan) will shortly come from Geneva to see if he can convert the Dukes of Wurtemberg and Bipont to a more moderate doctrine about the Lord's Supper, for they are most earnest defenders of the doctrine of Brentius respecting ubiquity. The Elector Palatine openly affirms that this doctrine and action is to be referred solely to the spirit and to faith, and has so ordered it to be taught in his churches. It is important for the preservation of peace that this diversity of doctrine and separation of interests should be removed. All are anxious as to what the Pope and the plotters at Trent intend to do. Has been credibly told that the Emperor did not approve of the Council. The Papists boast that the King Catholic will enforce their decrees, and exult at the chance of war between England and Flanders. If the Adonis, whom Cecil knows, comes to England, they will gather much strength.—Strasburg, 8 Feb. 1564. Signed. Orig. Hol, with seal. Add. Endd. Lat. Pp. 3.
Feb. 10. Knox's Works, vi. 534.	143. John Spottiswood, John Knox, and John Craig to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York.
	John Baroune, minister of Christ, having complained to the General Assembly that his wife has rebelliously separated from his society and departed the realm, they desire them to apprehend her, or warn her to appear before the superintendents, ministers, and session of Edinburgh within sixty days after their summons, to answer to such crimes as shall be laid to her charge by her husband.—Edinburgh, 10 Feb. 1563. Signed. Orig. Add. Endd.: 14 Feb. 1563. Pp. 3.
Feb. 11.	144. The Queen to Randolph.
	Upon receipt of Queen Mary's letter of the 20th ult. in behalf of her subjects of Dundee the Queen commanded the Judges of her Admiralty to instruct themselves in the case. Sends their answer, whereby he shall easily judge how clear that matter is on her subjects' part by law and reason, and that Queen Mary ought to yield therein. Sends her late proclamation. Draft, corrected by Cecil. Endd. Pp. 3.
Feb. 11.	145. Throckmorton to Smith.
	At the despatch hereof he had not deciphered the commission for his proceedings, so could not participate the matter Has written to the Court to intimate his access thither as of himself, and has desired to confer with him before he confers with any other of this nation. Asks him to send the two articles for the peace, with the reservation of all rights to either Prince, which were handled by him and the French commissioners.—St. Germain, 11 Feb. 1563. Copy. Endd. Pp. 2.
Feb. 11.	146. Throckmorton to L'Aubespine.
	His last conference with the Queen Mother was concerning the peace. If she will grant him an audience he will inform her of the state of affairs in England. In this case he desires permission to confer with Smith. The bearer will bring him letters from the French Ambassador in England.—St. Germain, Feb. 1563. Copy. Endd.: 11 Feb. 1563. Fr. Pp. 2.
Feb. 11.	147. Valentine Dale to the Privy Council.
	The Regent, M. Barlemont, and M. D'Assonville have thanked the Queen for her amity and for the execution of justice. He answered that the Queen was desirous to avoid the complaints of the King of Spain's subjects, and as matters of question daily arose the Queen had ordained commissioners to hear such matters. The matters of the edicts or intercourse were not in his commission. He, thought that it would be more profitable to both countries that the traffic might remain as it did before the edicts.
	2. The Duchess answered that she would remit that matter to the Diet. M. D'Assonville and others declared to him afterwards that she was determined to make an edict shortly that none of that Low Country should colour the French goods upon great pains.—Bruges, 11 Feb. 1563. Signed. Orig., with seal. Add. Endd. Pp. 3.
[Feb.]	148. Complaint of the Merchants of Antwerp to the Regent.
	Having laden two ships and two "zebras" of Biscay on 2nd Nov. last past, the said vessels were attacked off the coast of Biscay by Thomas Cobham with three armed vessels. One of the ships and the zebras escaped with the loss of several of their crews, but the other ship was taken, her captain being slain. Her cargo is worth 50,000 ducats. Her crew of forty have been sent to the galleys. Cobham has taken the vessel into Waterford. This pirate is a brother of Lord Cobham, one of the Queen's Privy Council. Copy. Endd. Fr. Pp. 3.
[Feb.]	149. Articles by MM. D'Assonville and Hoper.
	A list of certain ships, goods, and merchants of the Low Countries seized by the English. Orig. Fr. and Lat. Endd.: Propounded by M. D'Assonville and D. Hoper, with the answers of the English Ambassador. Pp. 3.
[Feb.]	150. Clough to [Cecil].
	Has been to Aix la Chapelle to the sign of the Lion and inquired for "the party" to whom Cecil's letter was directed, of whom no one could tell him anything. Left a letter with the host, which if any such man should come he should deliver to him, directing him to come to Gresham's house in Antwerp. As for his secret the writer has spoken with such a man long ago, who, finding him not willing to meddle, entered with another who was a great loser by him. The mason here found fault with the pattern which he sent, as the pillars were one kind of work and the arches another. [Imperfect.] Orig. Hol. Injured by damp. Pp. 4.
[Feb.]	151. [John Marsh] to Cecil. (fn. 2)
	Since writing his letter, has seen a letter to a friend in which it is said that the merchants of the Bourse have devised a request to the Lords here touching the stay of payments and their commodities lying dead upon their hands. The Lords of this town and certain merchants will go to Brussels to sue to the Court, and the chief cause is lest this restraint cause bankruptcy on one side as well as the other. Orig. Hol., with seal. Add. Pp. 2.
[Feb.]	152. List of Spanish Ships.
	A list of ships and goods restored to the subjects of the King of Spain by the Queen's command without suit or process. Upwards of twenty-five ships, most of them lying at Dover, belonging to merchants of the Low Countries. Orig. Endd. Lat. Pp. 4.
[Feb.]	153. Affairs of Flanders.
	Suggestions as to the adoption of certain measures expedient for the easier settlement of disputes and better commercial intercourse between the Flemings and English. Orig. Lat. P. 1.
Feb. 12.	154. Intelligences from Rome and Vienna.
	1. Rome, 12 Feb. 1564. Last Monday the Ambassador of the King of the Romans made his entry, and delivered an admirable speech about his master's devotion to the Pope. The Ambassador of France has been ordered to return home immediately if any difficulty is raised about precedence. The Bull of Confirmation is being printed.
	2. Vienna, 9 Jan. Cardinal Madruccio arrived here on the 1st. The King of the Romans is at the Diet at Prague, where the Nuncio Delfino will go on the 8th. Orig. Endd. Ital. Pp. 4.
Feb. 12.	155. Translation of portions of the above into English. Endd. by Cecil. Pp. 2.
Feb. 13.	156. Secretary Bourdin to Throckmorton.
	In the absence of L'Aubespine he has received Throckmorton's letter of the 11th inst., and has communicated the contents to their Majesties, who have thought good to grant his request for an audience. M. De la Salle will bring him to the Court in a coach.—Fontainebleau, 13 Feb. 1563. Signed. Copy. Endd. Fr. Pp. 2.
Feb. 14.	157. Advices from Spain, Rome, and Vienna.
	1. Spain, 14 Feb. 1564. Arrival of the children of the King of the Romans and other personages in Spain. Appointment of Don Gabriel to be Governor of Milan.
	2. Rome, 4 Feb. Strait commandment given by the Pope for all Bishops to resort to their cures. The quarrel for the precedency continues, and keeps the Pope from going to any ceremonies.
	3. Vienna. Movements of the King of the Romans and the Archduke Charles. The Emperor's curiosities, viz., a vessel of agate, a written book, and three knives and a great nail found in a man's body. Endd.: 10 March 1564. Pp. 3.