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1551–2.
Jan. 1.
Cracow. |
524. Peter Kmitha, High Marshal of the Kingdom of Poland,
to King Edward VI. Although unknown to his Majesty, and
the letter of the King of Poland, his master, stands in no need of
support, yet the great affection which subsisted between him and the
deceased father of Albert Bischoff impels him to recommend the son
in the strongest manner for military employment by his Majesty,
and compensation of his sufferings. Such will strengthen the bonds
of friendship between the two sovereigns, and secure to his Majesty
the devotion of these foreigners. [Latin. One page and a half.] |
Jan. 8.
Halle. |
525. Sir Richard Morysine to Sir William Cecil. His letters to
the Council of the 3d inst., are to be sent by the Emperor's post,
when he supposes at this time they will look what he writes.
Wherefore he has written them not as wholly true, but wholly to be
seen of others. If they have looked, they will think he deserves
harm enough, that can so hide hurts past. Trusts their lordships
will consider that he, who is with this shame turned out of his house,
is now no more to go amongst those of Inspruck. If they meant it
not to more than to him, he had tarried in his house still. God send
him never to have to [live] among such a generation! Supposes he
[could die] if need be, much more quietly than live thus. If there
be any friends of his, he is sure he shall never tarry here past Easter.
Prays God he meet with no fouler play than he has hitherto. He
can bear words and go out of his house too, when he is compelled,
but he cannot live. If they kill him, they will do it with afflictions
of the mind, if other force come short thereof. He can abide the
hazard till Easter: if by that time he be no paschal sheep, let him
come out of Egypt, and taste of milk and honey at home. |
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P.S. Beseeches him to help his brother to such posting money
of Morysine's as he has laid out. If it were in reward, he that
rides over the mountains this weather deserves it, though it be a
right good one. [One page.] |
Jan. 13.
Greenwich. |
526. Minute of Council, to the effect that Chamberlain, his Majesty's Ambassador in Flanders, having been expressly prohibited by
the Emperor to have service of the Church of England in his house,
the Bishop of Ely and Secretary Petre are directed to inform the
Emperor's Ambassador in England that in like manner his Majesty
will not suffer him to have mass in his house, or any other thing
contrary to the ordinance of this realm accustomed. [Copy in handwriting. One page.]
Another in handwriting more modern. [Copy. One page.] |
Jan. 14.
Venice. |
527. Peter Vannes to Francis Yaxley. Thanks him for his affectionate letter of the 20th ult. There are little news here, and these
more fanciful than certain; but it is thought on one side that in the
beginning of the year there will be great and destructive wars, unless
God in his mercy should soften the hardened hearts of Princes. The
tempest seems likely to break upon Sienna, which from its beauty
and fertility, and small internal union, perhaps, is coveted by all
great Princes. The Viceroy of Naples, with a large force of Spaniards,
Germans, and some Italians, begins to march in that direction, expecting that on his reaching it he will receive every assistance from
the Duke of Florence, a neighbouring and powerful Prince affectioned
to the Emperor. On the other hand, the good advices and friendly
intervention of Mons. de Thermes have been productive of much good
in settling the civil discords and private enmities of that country,
and they are much disposed to defend themselves. Besides the Field
Marshals and ordinary troops, the French have there 10,000 infantry,
and there is no deficiency of fortifications, munitions, and provisions.
[Two pages.] |
Jan. 14.
Bruges. |
528. Sir Thomas Chamberlain to Sir William Cecil. Has sued
for some English merchants, apprehended by these folks at the sea,
to have their goods upon caution, until by the law the same were
tried to be theirs and none other, and farther binding themselves not
to carry the same anywhere else than to England, and to bring certificate that they have been there distributed and sold. To this day
can get no resolution of the Queen, and is weary of so much unkindness as is here ministered, as he has sufficiently told the Queen and
the Councillors. "There was a saying that the good man of this
place had taken his leave of the world, but it continueth not; wherefore I dare not write thereof." It is said the Court will go towards
Ghent and Brussels on Tuesday next. [Two pages.] |
Jan. 20.
Longmere. |
529. Sir William Pickering to same. Specially recommends
to his attention his "lean messenger," Sir Robert Ughtred,
who is fully conversant with Pickering's situation, and begs that
Ughtred's charges may be considered. "He came hither from Blois
by the posts, where he hath deferred his journey attending the French
King's letters which the Constable promised to send within four
days, and now it is large 16, and yet the same cannot be seen nor
heard of." [One page.] |
Jan. 23.
Halle. |
530. Sir Richard Morysine to Sir William Cecil. Perceives by his
servant Weston how much he is daily indebted to Cecil, to whom he
should long since have given part of his thanks, but that his friend
Bernardine catcheth all letters that come to him, and delivers them
not when he has read them, but when he pleases. Lies four or five
English miles from the Court, and will seek to go no nigher till he
hears some answer to the letters sent by his brother Hussey. If the
Lords bear this injury done as well to them as to him, he will never
blame the Emperor if he do them as many as he can. Florentius is
sick of a quartan at Inspruck, and does what he can with the Ambassador of Cleves, the little trub that was in England, to get such
news for Morysine as he can. But never servant so waited upon his
master, as Bernardine waits upon Florence to keep him from information. Yea, where Florence seeks, those doth Bernardine stuff
with false rumours, to the intent Morysine should send such
stuff home. Never knew spite but in this crouching and hypocritical wretch. Florence lies in the chamber of the Emperor's poticary,
whither Bernardine goes three or four times a day, and makes the
poticary believe he has wrenched his finger, and so comes as it were
for salve. By lying where he does, Florence might at some times
hear of the biggest news; and he might elsewhere learn plenty, if this
spiteful creature did not as much as lies in him to deface him. It is
much that such a man may do who cares almost neither what he
says nor what he does. If Bernardine tarry here, Morysine must
needs do the King as evil service as ever was done him. He shall
know nothing, besides his letters shall still be ransacked. To be
plain, he is in doubt of harm, if Bernardine be able to hire any that
dare do it. Howsoever the matter go, let them be sured. Mr. Mount
has been away a great while, and will come with all his heart, so this
man be not here. For he being here, Mount shall never do so much
with honesty, as he may trouble with his unhonest shifts. If neither
money will be gotten, nor licence, nor Stockton farm, nor anything
else, for God's sake let him be helped to beg at home, rather than to
dishonour his master with his beggary abroad! Would gladly that
Weston might have some despatch or other to him. If he is not on
the way, entreats Cecil to help him to it. Cares now but to come
home alive, so is he afraid of Italian practices. Let Cecil, for God's
sake, fear with him, and rid him of Bernardine, if it be possible, and
join him with his old Bernardine again, who does no more agree in
name than they swerve in all conditions. Abel had written to him
on the 11th of November, but the letter did not arrive till the 11th
of this month. In this Abel told him he might take up 100l. of his
in Antwerp; but he that caught the letter knew 100l. would have done
Morysine good, and therefore kept it till he might know by another
letter from Abel that the money is no more there. Had received
Abel's last letter before his first came to hand, lest he would have
written for the money. Craves the pity and help of his friends, if
they will see him any more. |
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P.S. Florence would have gone to commons with a number of
Italians, but Bernardine brought it to pass that they would none
of him. Is not 300 crowns a year, and a noble a day, well bestowed
upon such a man? [Three pages.] |
