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July 12.
Villach. |
548. John Frederick Duke of Saxony to King Edward VI.
Returns thanks for the joy manifested by his Majesty on learning
his liberation by the Emperor after his five years' detention, as communicated by Sir Richard Morysine and others. Still follows the
Emperor's Court, because these troublous times prevent him from
returning home safely. Congratulates him on the expulsion of Antichrist from England and the preaching of the word of God; and
doubts not that any errors still remaining in the Church of England
(for the rage of the devil has certainly prevented all being corrected
at once) will by his Majesty's care be speedily amended. [Latin.
Two pages. Indorsed by Cecil.] |
July 12.
Strasburg. |
549. Christopher Mount to the Council. The Marquis considering
himself unable to encounter the conjoined powers coming agains
him in Franconia, went with his cavalry and small artillery through
the country of Duke Maurice and John Frederick in great haste to
Saxony, leaving his infantry with the great artillery in four tenable
places, viz., Plassenberg, Landsberg, Collenbach, and Sueinfort; all the
rest of his country being burnt and destroyed by his enemies. The
Bishops, with those of Nuremberg, have besieged Sueinfort, but it is
so defended by the Marquis' men, that the Bishops and their adherents
have raised the siege and returned home. The Marquis is joined
in Saxony by the Count of Oldenburg, who has gathered 40 ensigns
of foot with the assistance and money of the sea-cities, to the intent
that the Marquis shall aid them against the Duke of Brunswick,
who has for a long time, and specially of late, troubled them. The
Marquis has taken and destroyed the most part of the dukedom of
Brunswick. It is reported that he will march towards France,
which besides being commodious for the Emperor, peradventure
might happen not evil for the Marquis to recover such money as he
claims from the French King. The Princes here are in a prime
intelligence joined together, and all these prepare and conduct
colonels over horse and foot. The King of the Romans has made a
league with Maurice, the Landgrave, and certain cities, and the
King has lately sent 2,000 horses to Maurice; but it is now reported
that the King's second son, the Archduke of Austria, has agreed
Maurice and the Marquis. The Duke of Wirtemberg is agreed with
the King of the Romans for 300,000 florins to be paid at divers
times, to keep his country still without any contradiction. The
Swiss have sent 10,000 men to the French King, and at the King's
request make ready 6,000 more to be sent to Piedmont. Maximilian is sick and weak, not without suspicion of poison. The Emperor has required aid of the Princes against the French king; this
has been refused, as has been a similar request to certain cities that
they should join with those of Nuremberg. What success this
indict diet will have is as yet doubtful. [Two pages. Three lines
in cipher, undeciphered. Indorsed by Cecil.] |
July 13.
Villach. |
550. Sir Richard Morysine to Sir William Cecil. His brother Hussey
and servant Weston speak so much of Cecil's gentleness, that he
weens he shall forget his own name ere he forgets what he owes to
Cecil. He will look for no blocks till he be coming home, nor then
either. His brother Stephen will provide him of coals and small
billets, which will serve his fires well enough. Thanks Cecil that
he brought him to despair of Mr. Cheke's life. If despair had not
done its worst, joys could now not have wrought in him that they
do. Sorrows are to be wished for when they be thus recompensed.
They have many plungings of diets, and many breakings of them up;
but they neither begin nor break up, but they have such thundering,
lightning, such rain and storms, that he still says heaven classicum
canit, and this gentle talk will come to cruelest blows. Desires
that they who decipher his letters may not keep in the name of the
person from whom he had the articles, as it would be a shame to
him if the person should take harm for showing him pleasure. Has
had no such help for German news since he came to this Court, if
this person may do him pleasure and not be known to do so where
he would not. He whose letters receive serving comments, being
amended in corners, has gone six days since to Venice with bag and
baggage. Thinks he has gotten him a new master as far as Rome,
for he was much conversant with the Nuncio's men while he tarried
here. Would be glad he came no more hither. "It was time to
let him go, yea, to drive him out of my house, when he uttered all
my talks and doings to all men with as many disadvantages to me
as he could. He told all men I was a preacher, and did use to
preach every day to my household. I did read them Bernardine's
[Ochine] Prediches for the tongue, and sometimes Machiavel. He
hath made such a work of it, and so did set me out for it to a number in Augusta, that I now do not marvel why the Emperor wrote I
was an apostle, a doctor, a preacher, and I know not what. Is not
wages well bestowed upon such a one, that shall do his best to
deface his Majesty's Ambassador, and to bear me fairest countenance
at home?" Prays Cecil may see that the Duke of Saxony receives
a letter from the King congratulating him on recovering his liberty,
and thanking him for using Morysine as he did and does, for his
Majesty's sake. Suggests that the letter should be writen by Cheke,
who has a will to write to a Protestant, and not by one who shall
do it only because he is commanded. Cecil made Mr. Ascham a
glad man by his letters; he takes great pains with Morysine, and
deserves better reward than he is able to give; yet if unable to do
Ascham good at others' hands, he must and will see that he has not
cause to lament such pains taken. Would be glad if Weston went
to the Duke of Northumberland. Writes to him, and his man can
tell him more than he can write. Cecil may have thanks of the
Duke to get him leave, and Morysine will owe Cecil a great many.
He must go by Grynstrop [Grynsthorpe?], as Lady Morysine is angry
with him, that being three times in England he saw not Charles.
There is also somewhat else, and therefore if it be not in his way, prays
Cecil to help to date his letters so that he may have one day to start
aside; whereby Cecil shall do unto divers great pleasures at once, to
a Duke, to a Duchess, to a woman with child, to his friend, &c. |
|
P.S. Desires (in Latin and Greek) to salute Lady Cecil. [Three
pages.] |
July 19.
Laon. |
551. Sir William Pickering to Sir William Cecil. The English
merchants are much grieved by the Council having assented to an
ordinance by the French that any of their goods found with those of
enemies shall be confiscated; which they say is a trap to catch both
friend and foe. Unless such ordinance is revoked, he doubts much
whether, notwithstanding any order here, the English merchants
shall ever recover the third part of their goods, dispersed in so many
parts. "Sir, think you what terms our merchants stand in, when
they borrow of me." [One page.] |
July 27.
Harburg. |
552. Otto, Duke of Brunswick and Lunenburg, to King Edward
VI. Requests payment of his pension, which has been suspended.
[Latin. Two pages.] |
| July. |
553. King Edward VI. to Christian, King of Denmark. Acknowledges his letter by James Deidonamus. Thanks him for his
expressions of friendship, and recognises the former amity subsisting
between him and his father, King Henry; which circumstances,
especially of a religious character, render the more necessary to be
firmly maintained. Has heard Deidonamus in reference to the
complaints of his Majesty's subjects; referred him instantly to the
Crown lawyers and the Council, to the latter of whom he shall have
access at all times. Justice so far as practicable has been done, whatever is alleged to have been taken for his use has been paid for, and
where parties have appeared to answer the charges against them
and have been convicted they shall be compelled to pay. Instances
the case of William Peck of Hull, who is asserted to have pillaged the
vessel of Andrew Bild, and who on account of other crimes and
piracies has been lately captured in Belgium, and is in prison; he
has left nothing at home out of which the injury to the said Andrew
can be compensated, but if he should at any time return justice
shall be enforced against him. The like promptitude shall be exhibited in future towards obtaining redress, and reciprocal conduct
is expected on part of his Majesty. All details will be fully communicated by Deidonamus, whose care and faithful discharge of
the duties entrusted to him are highly to be commended. [Latin.
Three pages. Draft.] |
