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484. The Mint. |
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1577, Nov. 2. |
Warrant under the Privy Signet for the delivery of bullion to the Master Worker of the Mint.—Windsor Castle, 2 Nov. 1577. |
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1 p.
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485. Christopher Hoddesdon to Lord Burghley. |
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1577, November 6. |
Great rumours at Hamburg of threats to the Low Countries by Don John. Two marriages lately concluded : the Prince Elector of Brandenburg with the daughter of the Duke of Anhalt, and Duke Barnimius [?] of Pomerland with the daughter of Duke Julius of Brunswick. At the beginning of summer the King of Portugal wrote to the contractors of pepper to deal with some Prince of Germany
to assist him for his money with 10,000 soldiers, and to pass them thence into Portugal by sea. The contractors dealt with the Duke of Holstein, who was willing on certain conditions, of which some were that the soldiers should remain by their own religion, preachers being sent with them, that six months wages should be paid before the army started, and that for full performance of all covenants three towns in Germany should be bound to the said Duke. The King never made answer to these articles, wherefore it is thought, nowithstanding the great preparation of gunpowder, munition, meal, bacon, &c., that for want of men the King will give over his pretended voyage for Africa. From Nuremberg comes news that the Turk makes great preparation for war, and will not continue his league with the Emperor but invade Hungary next summer. His Corsairs have already done upon the Hungarians great outrages, and are now besieging St. Gertrude. The Danskers have not yet made their agreement with the King of Poland, but are in great hope of a good end. Forwards news from Rome, dated Sep. 14, Venice Sep. 27, Prague October 12, translated out of Dutch.—Hamburg, 6 Novr 1577. |
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Endorsed. 1 p.
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Enclosing :— |
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1. 1577, Sep. 14. News from Rome. |
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To day is come hither the Bp. of Cambray out of the Low Countries, who immediately repaired to the Pope and Cardinal Granvell. Don John has written to Osmaro, a Jesuit, and two others, to come to him to be used in handling with the States touching a peace for so much as concerneth religion. The King of Sweden has required of the Pope certain of the Jesuits, that in his Kingdom he may erect a College of the same. |
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2. 1577, Sept. 27. News from Venice. |
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The King of Spain has sent an Ambassador to Constantinople to hold up the Mahomet Bassa with the hope of peace. It is thought he will himself depart out of Spain to the Low Countries, because he doth take the uproars there very grievous. |
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3. 1577, October 12. News from Prague. |
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Departure from Vienna of the Archduke Matthew on the 3rd inst. for the governorship of the Netherlands, disguised as a horse keeper, by the help of the Lord of Down, at the instance of Walter van Malstede, one of the Ambassadors from the Netherlands. |
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2 pp. Contemporary copy. |
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486. John Weller. |
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1577, Nov. 10. |
The petition of John Weller, Armourer, for the payment of certain sums due to him for supplying munitions. |
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1 p.
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487. Wm. Phayre (a prisoner in the Tower) to Lord Burghley. |
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1577, Nov. 25. |
Details his intrigues with the Spaniards, for which he is now justly lying under sentence of death. Begs, however, that his life may be spared in order that he may henceforth devote it to the promotion of her Majesty's interests. His qualifications for so doing are as follows : “Credit with the Spanish nation — none better of an
Englishman; the like with papists within the land, long wished for of the rebels and fugitives beyond the seas; sufficient experience to practise according to any of his lordship's instructions; acquaintance with the humours and conditions of the Spaniards, Italians, and Frenchmen : and chiefly with the Portuguese, whose ambassador he would use to sow such jealousy between the houses of France and Spain that (as there is but little love already) no man should live to see them in perfect amity; languages, indifferent to deal with any stranger that hath travelled; not ignorant in the liberal sciences; with other virtues of the mind which he would use with all fidelity and diligence.” |
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Little can his death profit, which is his great grief, whereas if it were his lordship's pleasure that he might be employed and live, both his spirit and his heart promise to his country good service. |
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3 pp.
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