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Stanwardine Passy to Mr. Topcliffe, at the Court. |
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1594, Dec. 17. |
Sends true copies of two letters which came to hand since his departure, and looks for more. No news but a letter from Mr. Ryder in the Fleet, which Mr. Treaves brought this night late.—17 December '94. |
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Prefixed :—Copy of a private letter from a lady to her husband, on private matters, chiefly relating to payment of debts. |
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Holograph. French. ½ p. (29. 4.) |
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Count Maurice of Nassau to the Earl of Essex. |
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1594, Dec. 17/27. |
J'ay este bieu marry d'entendre, par ce que Monsieur de Vere m'a dit, que la Reyne auroit proposee de le rappeler avec son regiment hors de ces pays, pour l'emploier ailleurs; et à ce cause que sa retraite ne se pourra faire sans notable dommage et dangier de ces dites Provinces, lesquelles se trouvent maintenent tant despourveues de gens de guerre que jamais, a cause des raisons que j'ay escriptes particulierement a sa Majesté; et pour ce que je m'asseure entierement de votre bonne affection, tant devers ces dits pays en generale comme devers moy en particular, je n'ay peu laisser de vous prier tres affectueusement de la monstrer cette fois et a eulx et a moy par votre bonne intercession devers sa Majesté, affin qu'il luy plaise de consentir la continuation du dit Sieur et de son regiment par deca.—De La Haye, ce 27e de Decembre, 1394. |
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Signed. 1 p. (29. 54.) |
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Sir Horatio Palavicino to Sir Robert Cecil. |
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1594, Dec. 18. |
Thanks him for his kind reception of Giustiniano, who writes, however, that no order is taken about the writer's suspended pensions and the Queen's debt to him, and that Mr. Fortescue says the Queen will not listen to the matter. Bewails his hard lot and begs Cecil's assistance. The state of these provinces is so flourishing and the merchants in every city so wealthy, that the Queen need have no fear of being paid, if they are bound for the whole debt, of which his forms a part. Since coming here, has found the bonds are most ample, and that the interest up to 1581 was paid here in Delft and the Hague, with the intervention of Holland, and the other states, now united.—The Hague, 18 Dec., 1594. |
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Italian. Hol. Seal. 2 pp. (171. 34.) |
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The Lord Keeper (Puckering) to Sir Robert Cecil. |
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1594, Dec. 19. |
Thanks him for “this especial kind remembrance” and great kindness towards him, which he will ever requite as time and good occasion may afford. His honourable loving offers do but iterate his former like affections.—Kew, “my poor hermitage,” 19 December, 1594. |
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Signed. 1 p. (29. 34.) |
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Richard Carmarden to Sir Robert Cecil. |
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1594, Dec. 19. |
You wrote unto me on Saturday last to understand how far the office of packership might concern the Queen's good or harm in her customs. I then certified you thereof; but sithens I have further looked into the same, and do find it mightily to concern both her Highness' good and the good of her own merchants, who are by little and little daily eaten out by the Low Country merchants, as already they have eaten out the great counters of Italy. Therefore [it is] a thing very fit to be foreseen. And for the bearer hereof, son to Sir Nicholas Woderof, who had the same office granted him by general consent of Common Council during his father's mayoralty, [and] is resolved to serve the place himself and not by deputy, that gent I never saw until this day. He now serveth the Earl of Essex; his modesty and good carriage, with like general report here of them that know him better than myself, sheweth him to be Sir Nicholas' son, who whiles he lived here was as wise a gent as ever sat on the bench. I understand that this self willed man is bent to frustrate the former grant to this gent, of an ancient mere malice to his good father. I found her Majesty like unto herself, to have right yielded to this gent, and for my part wish it, and verily believe her Majesty shall find him fitter for her good service than any the Lord Mayor will appoint. I do know the man he would appoint, and the whole bench of Aldermen [is] against him; therefore I beseech your favourable report on this gent's behalf to her Majesty, and I must and will, if I be asked, justify the same. |
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As her Majesty hath a hard accompt of Young's customership, so we find little better of Phillips. But my lord your father hath taken order, in the presence of Mr. Chancellor, Mr. Fanshaw and myself, that no more money shall come to his hands; and I have dealt with him to offer satisfaction in payment to her Majesty for this debt, which is 10,000l., which he hath promised me yesternight to do. Your father is much disquieted therewith, which doth not a little hinder his health; yet he placed none of them. His lordship is now of my mind to have the moneys paid in monthly, as Billingsley doth, and will, whensoever any be appointed, provide so for it.—London, 19 December, 1594. |
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Holograph. Seal. 1½ pp. (29. 35.) |
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Sir William Cornwallis to Sir Robert Cecil. |
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1594, Dec. 20. |
I desire to see you before so long a parenthesis as twelve days will make, and will, if I may understand of your coming to the town. I find no disposition fit for a Court, least for a Court in Christmas, and for other consequences of such a time least of all fit or able; therefore I mean to ride 20 miles to a friend's house, there to rid thoughts with cards and counters, and to carry my wife even to save her life. After the time I will wait upon you first, and after upon the Court. And in the mean time to be forgotten is like, according to
some philosophers, the state of souls departed, that neither feel good nor hurt.—From Highgate, 20 December, 1594. |
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Signed. Seal. ¾ p. (29. 36.) |
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[Sir Robert Cecil] to [William Wickham,] Bishop of Lincoln. |
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1594, Dec. 20. |
It hath pleased her most excellent Majesty, out of her gracious opinion of your gravity, learning and integrity, to sign a congé d'eslire, with a letter of recommendation to the Dean and Chapter of Wynton' for your election to that see, being now void. Since which time there hath been a suit made by Sir Fra. Carowe, a gentleman well esteemed by her Majesty, for a lease in reversion of certain parcels here enclosed, for 60 years to be made from you to her Majesty to the intent to be put over to him; whereupon her Majesty, considering that it were fit that these things were promised in some such sort as the gentleman may know what to trust to before your election be fully completed, hath commanded me to suspend the sending out of my hands her writ signed until you might be informed of her pleasure, and I so assuredly advertised from you as I may certify her Majesty what purpose you have to gratify this gentleman, to whom her Majesty is extraordinarily disposed in regard that it is the first suit that ever he made unto her. For the matter I can say no more but this, that you shall never do it to any man more ready to requite it in anything wherein he may have occasion than he will be; and to that shall you be assured of this poor addition, that I shall take it exceeding thankfully, seeing I am used in it, if the rather for my sake he may be dispatched. |
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Endorsed :—“20 December 1594. Co[py] of my master's letter to the B[ishop] of Lyncolne.” |
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Draft, corrected by Cecil. 1 p. (29. 39.) |
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—to James Douglas, Laird of Spott. |
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[1594?] Dec. 20. |
I can put no doubt but that in mind you do condemn me for that I do not so frequently write unto you as both your present estate and mine doth require. Truly, if my excuse were not already partly to you known, I had need to write a greater apology for myself than this paper would contain. But seeing that the illness of this present time doth in some kind of itself declare that no great comfort could hitherto be written serving for remedy of either of our estates, and that by reason of the increasing of the credit of our common “unfreynd” with his Majesty our Sovereign, I believe you will the better excuse my forbearing. But at this time, having the commodity of this bearer, to whom and to his father we and all our friends are not smally beholden, I thought it my duty by him to visit you by these few lines, whereby please be informed that I have heard from our native country that our common enemy is like to find some contradictor at home to make head against him, while others may come in place, as also I do understand that Sir Hugh Carmichael doth as yet remain in France attending upon the coming of Mons. de Rawhan (Rohan), the chiefest man in Bretagne, who is to go to Scotland to visit the King our Sovereign, of whose house he is descended, and so by consequence of kindred to the Earl Bothwell, for whom it is thought he shall make intercession at the King's hands, and be able to prevail by reason of the said proximity of blood, as also by reason that it is believed that he shall have special direction from the King of France
for that effect. If these matters shall fall out as they are expected, then you and others may expect some relief of their passed grief. I moved the Earl of Cassilis, at his being here. to move his Majesty our Sovereign both in your cause and mine, and I do understand that he hath left nothing undone that he could to have done good, but could not prevail at that time; and therefore I have written this other letter to give his lordship most hearty thanks for his honest dealing passed and to crave continuance of his accustomed favour. I heartily pray you to cause the same to be safely conveyed to his hands with so much speed as you can. I do assuredly believe that God shall bless that noble man with such virtuous qualities that he shall be able to pleasure his friends hereafter. I would be glad to hear of your welfare when the occasion of any sure messenger shall be presented. I would have written such occurrents as hath fallen out in these parts and beyond sea, if this bearer had not been more able to declare them by speech than I by writing.—20 December, [1594?]. |
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Holograph, signed :—“Yours at all power to be commanded, whose handwriting is to you known.” |
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Two seals, broken. 1½ pp. (29. 40.) |
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Richard [Fletcher,] Bishop of Worcester to Sir Robert Cecil. |
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1594, Dec. 21. |
It hath been unto me grief without comfort that either my answers were not conformed to her Majesty's gracious propositions, or anything that I spake in zeal and jealousy of my calling should provoke her displeasure or disfavour towards me. I cannot but acknowledge her Highness' most princely care for the preservation of the church endowments; wherein, as her Majesty hath deserved great glory for all ages to come, so were it in us all ingiatitude without pardon if we should not, by such testimonies of gratuity as beseem us, answer it again to her royal expectation. I heartily pray you to think that all the preferments of that sort in the realm cannot give so much joy unto my poor heart as her Majesty's displeasure doth yield bitterness; I am, as this gentleman can tell you, sick and sorry out of measure. Let her Majesty understand without fiction how I lie here in ergastulo, prisoner to her displeasure, beseeching her to accept at my hands the willing tender of her desire for that 21 years in reversion of Harford, hoping her Highness will let a clause pass in the deed that if he make it over to any it may be the old tenant, and also with some good conditions for the see and succession.—From my house at Chelsea, 21 December, 1594. |
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[P.S. by the Bishop :] For the lease of Broxbourn, I include no clause for the relief of the tenant thereof. |
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Endorsed :—“The B[ishop] Almoner to my Master.” |
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Signed. 1 p. (29. 43.) |
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Sir Walter Ralegh to Sir Robert Cecil. |
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594, Dec. 21. |
My carelessness in losing the copy of the letter I cannot excuse, but it concerned nobody but myself and therefore the less matter; but how it came to the Earl's hand I beseech you learn by some means, that I may but know where it were lost or otherwise embezzled. What you have vouchsafed for the stay of my suits in law, especially for the widow Smith, I pray let me know, for I stay but for the wind to bring about the ship. I shall be wiser one day, and shall
withal, I hope, do you some service after so many of these troublesome affairs.—Sherborne, 31 December. |
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Endorsed :—1594. |
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Holograph. ½ p. (29. 44.) |
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Thomas Edmondes to [Lord Burghley.] |
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1594, Dec. 22. |
My last was of the 17th hereof by Painter the messenger, by the which I did advertise your lordship the mischievous attempt made on the King's person by a disciple and subbornist of the Jesuits, the which, thanks be to God, hath been accompanied with no other accidents of inconvenience to him than I did specify in my said first. The next day he did himself pluck out his tooth which the knife had piereed, and restrained himself to little speaking because of forcing the wound, which now is in good state of healing. I did visit him on her Majesty's behalf, which he did take thankfully, and prayed me to let her Majesty know that it was of no peril, and that he hoped to make his profit thereof upon the Jesuits; which accordingly hath been performed, for beating the iron while it was hot, the hatred thereof was so followed upon them, as albeit the guilty person would not (through their strong encharming) accuse them, to have been set a work by them, saying to the last hour of his death that he should be damned if he made other declaration than that he was practised thereunto by one that appeared to him in the likeness of the devil, and at other time two others in th' appearance of Spaniards, yet out of the manifestation of such a nursery, and their lives being sufficiently otherwise commonly detected, with the sentence given by the Court of Parlement upon the person, to be first burned with hot irons at the places of the town and afterwards to be drawn in pieces with four horses, which was accordingly executed the day following, they also received judgment to depart out of the town by the end of three days, and all out of the realm within 15, or otherwise to suffer death and their goods and lands confiscated to the King : in the happiness whereof all honest men do take great comfort and joy. Of the said Jesuits only his preceptor was taken prisoner, and his father and family. The said accident hath also procured another as good commodity, for where[as] the Court of Parlement, in all the time of the King's absence in Picardy, notwithstanding the King's often commandments, refused to verify th' edict for those of the Religion, staying to make instance to the King that the same might pass with restriction for those of the Religion to be admitted to office, but not to certain principal charges to be mentioned therein, whereby still to have left the note upon them, wherewith the King was greatly discontented against the said Court; now it is assured those of the religion that the said Edict shall forthwith pass fully, for that those that were enemies to the same, having been before great favourers and supporters of the cause of the Jesuits, and now therefore shamed and disgraced, have not such power and means to impeach the passing thereof. In the one and the other of these things Mons. Sancy hath been a great instrument. |
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The time of the King's voyage to Lyons is yet uncertain, and at the soonest cannot yet begin these three weeks, for that they are unprovided of money for the same, which they are now travailing to recover. By divers messengers of late come out of those parts, the King is advertised that while the Duke of Savoy had passed his troops into Savoy lo descend towards Lyons, Mons. Desdiguières hath passed into Piedmont to victual Cahors, and, as the bruit runneth, hath there taken a place called Myrondela, near to Peuerelle, a place not now strong, but of
strong seat to be made very good; which if it be true, it is thought it may be cause to give to the said Duke work of diversion; that also the Duke Esparnon persisteth in very dangerous terms to break out, and having only been held in by the Constable, in respect of an assurance of faith drawn by the Constable of him not to enter into action against the King until he had seen the King, in confidence that he should be able to procure his satisfaction with him; that impatient of so long staying he hath greatly insisted of late towards the Constable to be freed and discharged of his faith so given him in that behalf. The Constable is still at Lyons, and by his presence there and their expectation of the King's coming hath, as it is said, now better assured the town to the King's service. The ambassadors of Venice are departed thence to come hither to the King. It is also signified that the Dukes of Maine and Nemours have made their reconciliation together, with promise to make no peace but in common. The Duke of Maine is still in Burgundy, where he fortifieth his towns and useth great exactions for money. There hath been some brewing to set afoot a new treaty with the said Duke, wherein the Chevalier Breton doth make himself the instrument. Because of the King's indisposition, I have signified to Mons. Villeroy and Mons. Sancy her Majesty's order given to revoke her forces in Brittany, to be employed in Ireland, wherewith they were greatly astonished, and said that the same doth unhappily fall out in this time that the Duke of Mercure is treatiug of a peace, as also for that they have advice, but cannot assure it to be true, that there are 20 sails of Spaniards newly descended there, who will be able, if her Majesty do so abandon that province, to make a new fort or anything else. I told them the necessity her Majesty had to use them for her own important service in Ireland, where there is an appearance that she shall be forced to employ many men. They said that sith such is her Majesty's pleasure the King must yield unto it; and Mons. Sancy afterwards did particularly dilate with me that he was sorry we did so manifest to the world, upon every occasion, our fear and jealousy of their establishment, to the working of evil impression in the King and weakening of our amity with him, being that he held the good and welfare of our estate so straightly linked with theirs as of the one depended the other's conservation, and as therefore importing that we should run with the King a straighter course of amity and conjunction, so that on the other side the condition of their present estate meriteth not to minister to us yet such fear, which hath not in it that solidness which it carrieth shew of greatness. I told him that I did conceive her Majesty also did receive dicontentment for that Morlaix was not delivered to Sir John Norris, according to the contract for retreat of her people. He said that it was not now question for Morlaix, seeing her Majesty did so resolve, wherein the King would otherwise have striven to have given her contentment. |
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I have also spoken for the sending of the ratification of the last contract made with the French Ambassador, which is now ready, and I am promised shall be sent within three or four days, and am also promised to have forthwith an answer touching the delivery of her Majesty's ordinance at Dieppe. I have distributed among the best of the Court the declarations your lordship sent me of the treasons of Lopez and the rest, which have been here very welcome; but divers have since told me that they are sorry to see the same so basely (as they gave it term) and weakly written of a subject which deserved a stronger and sharp expressing. Herewith you shall receive the Edict touching the Duke of Guise's composition, which is all that is come forth of new since the last books I sent your lordship. |
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I must humbly acknowledge her Majesty's goodness in her care to exempt me of the chargeable voyage of Lyons, the which, for that it is not to begin so soon as was pretended, I humbly beseech you that I may in the meantime receive her Majesty's more certain direction how I shall govern myself.—From Paris, 22 December, 1594. |
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[P.S.]—The King hath, in respect of his indisposition, deferred the making of the knights of the St. Esprit, which should have been his new year's day work, and for the which numbers do attend until Sunday next. News is presently come, that the Spanish army having an enterprise upon the Montreuil, which was entertained with a double intelligence, divers have been overtaken and slain therein, and the rest of their troops that were there attending to assist to the same were charged and defeated by Mons. d'Humieres, to the number of 300 or 400. Those of Arras have yet returned no answer to the letter sent them, other than that which they made verbally to the trumpet, that they would send to the Archduke and receive his advice therein. |
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Endorsed :—“Mr. Edmonds.” |
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Holograph, unsigned. 22/3 pp. (29. 45.) |
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Richard Willoughby to Dr. Hawkins. |
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1594, Dec. 23. |
Since the taking of Javerino and the raising of the siege of Comar nothing of account hath been done in Hungary. Sinam Bassa had sore battered Comar, but Tifenbache coming to the succour, he would not abide the venture of battle, but retiring to Buda dissolved his camp. His soldiers are returned home rich and laden with prey, which encourageth the Turks to be very forward for this next year. The Turk maketh great preparation both by land and sea. In Caramania he hath enrolled 14,000 galliotti, and next year prepares to come forth with 200 sail. |
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The Pope procureth by all means to colleague the Christian Princes against the common enemy, and to that effect hath sent il signore Lotario Conti Da di Poli, with large commission, to deal with the Emperor, and il signore Gio. Franco Aldebrandino, generale della chiesa, very honourably accompanied into Spain. Cardinal Allen died at Rome of the stone. He was buried in the English College at the Pope's charges, who likewise hath placed his family with divers other Cardinals. He sheweth himself very hard for the reconciling of the King of France, for which cause M. de Perona, whom the King designed to send ambassador to Rome, deferreth his journey. The Cavallieri di Malta are in great dissension with the Cardinale, the Gran Maestro, and makes instance that their next Chapter, which is every “fey” (fifth?) year, may be in Rome, and that he give the account of 8,000 crowns which hath passed by his hands, charging him that he hath sent 400,000 crowns into France. The D. of Ferrara maketh soldiers, and offereth himself to be general of the Italians in Hungary, and to maintain 8,000 foot and 2,000 horse à guerra finita, if the Pope will invest Don Cesare, his nephew, in the State of Ferrara; for which effect he hath sent Montecattino, his secretary, to deal with the Pope and Cardinals. |
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The King of Spain makes great levies of men, though money be so scarce in Spain, the fleet not arriving this year, that they pay un per cento ogni mese. He dealeth with the Genoese and Focaris for four millions of gold to be paid in Milan, Flanders, and France. |
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Prince Doria, returning from Sicily and Naples (where he did nothing of account, the Turkish army retiring at his arrival) brought upon his
galleys 10 companies of Neapolitans and 4,000 Spaniards, which, being united with the forces of Milan, do begin to march towards Lyons, and after Christmas the governor, their general, departeth. He would neither visit nor present our three Venetian ambassadors passing through Milan to congratulate with the King of France. At Turin they shut the gates against them with some opprobrious words, but at last they are safely arrived in Grenoble, and received with great honour. The keys of the city were delivered unto them and they gave the watchword. They do long expect the King's coming to Lyons, and are afeared to go any further for the extortions of the Leaguers. The Duke of Savoy hath taken Bricorasco by force, but was fain to give to Digier's garrison in the castle 7,000 crowns, who departing poisoned the flour, whereby many of his soldiers died. Memoransi (Montmorency) is in Lyons to defend them against the Duke of Nemours. He hath taken Monlovello and fortifies it against the Duke of Savoy. He demands 30,000 crowns a month of the Lyonese, which makes them malcontent, having already contributed in divers payments to the King 300,000 crowns. The Duke de Nemours doth daily molest and damage them.—Padua, 23 December, [15]94. |
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Addressed :—“Al molto eccelente sigre. Doctore Haukines, suo sempre ossmo.” |
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Holograph. Seal. 2 pp. (29. 47.) |
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H. Maynard to Sir Robert Cecil. |
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1594, Dec. 23. |
My lord [Burghley] not being able himself to write to you, this sharp weather having increased his pain and procured him an ill night, hath willed me to let you understand that if any question should be moved by her Majesty who should defray the charges of the party that should go to Dantsic, his opinion is that if her Majesty would defray the one half thereof, the other half might be borne by the merchants trading [to] those countries, by an imposition, with their consents to be laid on their cloths, to raise the same moiety; for the company is to poor as it will be hard for them to bear the whole charge, or the one half by other means than some such course. For your coming hither, until you have despatched those businesses there, his lordship saith you shall not need, although you shall hear that his amendment is grown backwards.—From the Strand, 23 December, 1594. |
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Holograph. 2/3 p. (29. 48.) |
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[William Wickham,] Bishop of Lincoln, to Sir Robert Cecil. |
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1594, Dec. 24. |
Where it pleaseth her Majesty by you to recommend unto me a suit of Sir Francis Carew's concerning a lease to be had out of the see of Winton, I am a mere stranger to the state of that Bishopric and utterly ignorant of the thing required; and therefore can only assure you I will be always found ready to submit myself to any her Majesty's commandment which may stand with a good conscience; not doubting of her Majesty's gracious satisfaction herewith till I be better instructed in the knowledge of the thing.—From my lodging at Puddle Wharf, this 24 December, 1594. |
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Signed. ¼ p. (29. 49.) |
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The Lord Keeper (Puckering) to Sir Robert Cecil. |
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1594, Dec. 24. |
Being reading this enclosed and not through perused it, this messenger calling on me [to know] if I would [send] anything
to you, I have rather left to look on it as I would, than to hinder the course appointed, as you told me, leaving the same to some further time to read it by your means than at this present. |
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Endorsed : “24 December, 1594.” |
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Signed. ½ p. (29. 50.) |
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Richard Carmarden to Lord Burghley. |
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1594, Dec. 25. |
It hath pleased God this last night to take out of this life John Smyth, Mr. Coleshill his deputy, and one of his clerks was with me this morning to know what should be done with the Queen's books of accounts, the books of warrants and precedents, and the seals of the office : to whom I gave charge to see them all safe until her Majesty's pleasure were signified therein, for, notwithstanding this man's departure, the office is not fallen unto me till Mr. Coleshill's decease, but he being also so weak and impotent every way as he is neither able to execute nor to give direction to any man of sufficiency for the place. And for that presently, after the “holie daies,” there will be lading of ships with cloths for Middleburgh and other places; and seeing neither the customer nor packer's place at this present to be in any good execution, though I have hitherto humbly craved pardon of her Majesty from executing the office of surveyorship. the same being hitherto sufficiently executed by his now deceased deputy, yet now, seeing the great necessity thereof, I cannot but in duty humbly submit myself to her Majesty's good pleasure therein, so as Mr. Coleshill, who cannot live long, may be provided for as of late he hath been : for I will rather serve it freely during his life than either her Majesty's service should be neglected or the old gentleman by me wronged. [I] do so humbly crave that her Majesty's pleasure therein by your letters might be signified.—London, 25 December, 1594. |
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Signed. 1 p. (29. 51.) |
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M. Beauvoir LA Nocle, French Ambassador, to the Earl of Essex. |
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1594/5, Dec. 25./Jan. 4. |
Ce gentilhomme vous dira qu'il estoit pres de cinq heures quant il m'a trouvé et encores ce n'a pas esté en mon logis, ou, sitost que j'y ai esté arrivé, j'ay leu vostre lettre, qui m'a beauconp troublé, non tant pour le dommage que je me veoz preparé (car graces à Dieu je suis faict et accoustumé de souffrir des pertes et les porter avec patience, beaucoup plus grandes que cellecy,) que pour me veoir desdit de sa Majesté Serenissime d'une chose qui premierement m'a esté dicte de sa part par le Grand Tresorier et depuis confirmée par le mésme. Mais parceque l'heure est tardifve et que ce gentilhomme me demande ma responce, je vous supplie de dire de ma part à sa Majesté (si vous penses qu'elle n'en demeure point offencée, car pour mourir je ne luy voudrois desplaire) que j'ayme mieux perdre la partie, et fust elle deux fois plus grande, que de l'en troubler jamais ny l'en faire troubler. Je renvoye le tout à son equitable bonté et a sa bonne justice accoustumée. Mais je desire que en me faisant souffrir ceste perte elle croye de moy que je n'eusse jamais esté si mal habille homme que de m'obliger à Monsieur de Marchaumont si je ne me fusse fié et de sa parolle et de son commandement, qui fut en peu de mots, lorsque sa dite Majesté depeschoit les Sieurs de Stafford et de Palaissien, et que icy estoit un serviteur du dit Marchaumont poursuivant le dit Sieur de Staffort de sa debte, que je disse au dit serviteur qu'il ne poursuivist plus le dit de
Staffort, et que sans doubte, dans trois ou quatre mois elle donneroit ordre qu'il fust payé de ce que le dit Sieur de Staffort luy devroit. Par le Dieu vivant, Monsieur, ce sont les proprea mots desquelz m'usa le dit Sieur Grand Tresorier, dont je me devois bien constanter, consideré son auge, sa qualité et ses autres vertus. Neantmoings, pour m'aseurer mieux de la volonté de sa dite Majesté Serenissime, residant alors a Grenuiche, avant que de depescher l'homme du dit Marchaumont, je luy repetay les memes paroles du diet Sieur Grand Tresorier. Sur quoy Dieu m'est tesmoing que fort gracieusement elle me dit, “Il est vray, Ambassadeur, jay commandé a Milord Tresorier de le vous dire de ma part et vous prie d'en asseurer Marchaumont.” Je ne dis pas tout cecy pour plaider contre la Reyne, ce n'est point mon intention; qu'elle la face comme elle advisera pour le mieux. Si elle se resoult de me descharger, comme il me semble qu'elle me le doibt, je luy en seray obligé comme si elle m'en faisoit present. Sinon je ne laissay pas de demeurer son serviteur treshumble et de prier Dieu pour la longueur de ses jours en toutte prosperité et felicité, et que cependant son bon plaisir soit de me donuer mon passeport et jouir du benefice du congé que le Roy mon maistre m'a donné soubz son bon plaisir et lequel de sa grace elle m'a accordé il y a plus de deux mois. Je iray vendre une terre ou deux, je reviendray payer mes debtes, et contantant mes creanciors, je me contanteray moy mesme, de scavoir bien que je suis homme de bien et homme d'honneur. Je vous supplie aussi de procurer de sa Majesté qu'elle me donne le premier jour d'appres les festes ou tel autre qu'il luy plaira pour aller recepvoir ses commandemens.—De Londres, ce iiije Janvier, 1595. |
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Signed. 2 pp.
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