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March. 7.
Blois. |
301. Sir John Masone and Sir William Pickering to the Council.
Sir William Pickering arrived at Blois on the 26th ult., the King
then being absent at the hunting, 22 English miles from that place.
They had audience of him at Vendôme, on the afternoon of Wednesday the 3d inst. Report at great length the particulars of their
conference, at which the King seemed willing to accede to the propositions of Pickering, and said that he had caused the Queen of Scots
to repair to the Court from her house at Chateaudun, would speak
with her that day, and as shortly as might be would give such a
resolute answer as he doubted not would well content Pickering.
Next morning the Constable sent to inform them that the King
was going a hunting that day, and on the following to Chateau
Renauld, there to remain till Sunday; wherefore recommended them
to return to Blois, whither the King would come on Monday or
Tuesday at the farthest, when they should have their answer. As
soon as that is known, Pickering will return to England, for five or
six days at the utmost, on most urgent private business, travelling
by post; in the meantime send this by Francisco to apprize them
how far matters have proceeded. [Eight pages.] |
| Eod. die. |
Copy of the preceding in Sir John Masone's Letter-Book. [Eight
pages.] |
March 7.
Blois. |
302. Sir John Masone to Cecil. Is so feeble that he finds it a pain
even to dictate to an amanuensis, but nevertheless, be he never so
weak, he must bestow a few lines on the acknowledgment of Cecil's
great friendship in procuring him his revocation so readily. "Master
Pickering, with weeping eyes, hath so earnestly declared the necessity
of his return into England, as I have adventured for him that that
few would do for their friends, which is my life. And the rather
have I done it, for that he hath laid his honesty to pledge to be here
again within three weeks, which time I intend to pass in some
village with mine ass, which I am enjoined to suck in mine old days.
If the nurse's milk, as physicians say, do much to the nature of the
child, you shall see me grow to a witty man." Trusts he shall have
his friendship as much in the speedy sending back of Sir William
Pickering. [One page.] |
March 17.
Blois. |
303. Henry II., King of France, to King Edward VI. Acknowledging receipt of his letter by Sir William Pickering, and his concession of such points as had been urged by Lansac; for the completing
of what remains will shortly despatch a gentleman who will pass
through England to Scotland. [Countersigned by Bochetel. One
page. French.] |
March 17.
Blois. |
304. Sir John Masone to Cecil. Requests that there may be
no delays in the business of Sir William Pickering, who has promised
to return within 18 or 20 days. "These men sithen this last commission seem much altered in disposition towards us, and in all men's
opinions we are like this year as the last to be friends. If they
mean otherwise, they be devils and no men." The Master of Erskine,
whom he takes to be a very honest man, and given to peace and unity,
will, with M. de Lansac, within two days be in England. [One page.] |
March 18.
Blois. |
305. Same to the Council. The French King, having been detained longer than he intended, did not return till late on Wednesday
last. On Saturday Pickering and he dined with M. de Guise and
the Constable, and thereafter had audience of the King, at which
time they expected to have had answer; but that was deferred till
this Tuesday, when the King sent M. de Lansac to Pickering with a
fair chain of 700 crowns, very little lacking. Lansac mentioned
that the French Ambassador in Scotland, the Master of Erskine, and
himself were appointed to act as Commissioners on the affairs of the
frontiers; but the fourth, who it is supposed will be a bishop, had
not been determined upon. Lansac is to be despatched on Thursday,
and is to visit the King of England and the Council on his way.
The Constable and Masone have had much conversation on affairs in
general, in the course of which the former desired that these visitations between the two Princes might be often, and that now and then
the King of England would send to visit this King with some commodity of the realm, either with dogs, bows, or arrows, &c., and his
master again would do the like with horse, harness, and other the
commodities of this realm. Such, he said, had been the old manner
of entertaining of friendship. The Constable afterwards alluded to
their having suppressed the late lewd book entitled La response du
peuple Anglois, and wished that the English would contend with
them in signs of amity. He then said that their Lordships, in denying him a safe conduct, which at the first bruit had not been most
pleasantly taken, had done Lord Maxwell a better turn than they
were aware of, for he was in Scotland in three days, and in case he
had passed by England it would have cost him much more. The
Constable farther complained of the tardiness of justice in England,
instancing the case of a robbery of a French merchant at Dover;
also complained that M. de Lansac's servant had been robbed on this
side of Calais during his recent journey, notwithstanding he had
a passport. M. d'Estrees, the Master of the Ordnance, has lately
been to Brest for the purpose of shipping certain ordnance and
munition under the charge of a Scottish gentleman. These are
said to be for Scotland, but Masone is much afraid that they are intended for Ireland. The Scots begin to mislike very much their
coming hither; and in case they were at home again, he thinks a
great many of the best of them would hardly be allured out. The
building of the forts in Scotland is also distasteful to them, as they
fancy that these are meant more for the keeping short of them than
for the safety of the country. Since her coming hither, the Queen
has well provided for herself and her friends, having obtained 50,000
francs per ann. for the maintenance of her estate, and 50,000 more
to bestow as she shall see cause. The intended disarmament of the
galleys has been stayed, it is supposed, on account of some design
against Parma. Some of Chastillon's captains have been sent to
Provence to have 24 ensigns of soldiers in readiness to march at an
hour's notice. Some think there is to be a sudden exploit upon
Lorraine, whence Mons. de Vaudemont has lately arrived. Mr. Dudley
had informed him that two of the English garrison of Berwick who
had long and secret conference with the Vidame while at Edinburgh, are presently in France; having heard no more from him,
presumes that Mr. Dudley has communicated with their Lordships
thereon. The King goes to Brittany shortly after Easter. Hopes
that Pickering will arrive ere then. [Six pages.] Incloses, |
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305. I. Complaint by Jean Turquois, servant of M. de Lansac,
that he had been robbed of 41 crowns of the sun near
Calais, notwithstanding he had exhibited his passport.
[In French. Half a page.] |
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305. II. Letter by John Watson to Masone, as to the suppressing
of the book complained of; "and as that matter is well
appeased, so the preachers of Paris this Lent speak their
pleasure of us, and, forgetting all honesty, call us heretics
and count us with the Lutherans by name; and Dr.
Smyth's good furtherance lacks not thereunto in his
letters." [Half a page. Both indorsed by Masone.] |
| Eod. die. |
Copy of the preceding in Sir J. Masone's Letter-Book, without the
inclosures. [Seven pages.] |
March 20.
Blois. |
306. Sir John Masone to the Council. Requesting a safe conduct
for the Archbishop of Glasgow and his retinue, desiring to go to
and return from Scotland through England. [Half a page.] |
March 21.
Blois. |
307. Henry II., King of France, to King Edward VI. Re-credentials of the Sieur de Lansac, sent to England on the matters
contained in the letter brought by Sir William Pickering [Countersigned by Bochetel. One page. French.] |
March 23.
Augsburg. |
308. Sir Richard Morysine to Cecil. Perceives by Mr. Hales
that his ciphering now doth as much cumber Cecil as his lying too
open at the first gave occasion for warning him to play closer. Sees
that in vitium ducit culpœ fuga si caret arte, and will from henceforth mean to hit the mean. Were Cecil in his place, believes that
he would send few of those things open-faced that are now covered
with cipher. Mr. Hales says he is too merry. He must answer
and say they be morosiores quam quibus morem gerere vel queat
vel velit, that cannot allow him more mirth than he at any times
hitherto has used. Mr. Hales writes that he has spoken to Cecil to
help that the Lords may license him to have his diets in leather.
"If you think I could be content to put you in silk, see that you
help to clad me in leather." It is a mean spur to service to be
always wanting; but he dares not touch this string, it maketh him
all day after out of temper. [Three pages.] |
March 23.
Blois. |
309. Sir John Masone to the Council. Although the Master of
Erskine and M. de Lansac were to have left last Thursday, they had
been detained until this present Tuesday, "the occasion whereof is
the far lying of the Chancellor from the Court, without whom,
albeit he be removed from the seal, they conclude no great matter
here; so much do they esteem a wise and a faithful servant, notwithstanding some displeasure taken with him upon a private matter. The Master of Erskine seems to be of a plainer sort than many
are of that country, and to mean very much the sincere reconciliation
of the two nations together. M. de Lansac has everywhere made
honourable report of their Lordships' courteous handling of him.
M. d'Estrees has returned, but the vessel mentioned in his letter
of the 18th has been stayed. The Rhinegrave has returned from
Denmark to a house of his wife in Gascony, albeit he was in sundry
places by the way narrowly laid for. The Turk prepares 200 galleys
for the recovery of Africa, to the great fear of all the coast of Italy,
Sicily, and the islands in the Mediterranean. Much practice of late
to make Parma hold of the French King in like manner as the
state of Mirandola, and M. de Thermes, under pretence of going to
Rome as Ambassador, has been some time there for that purpose, to
the concluding whereof M. St. Pierre has very lately been despatched hence in post. The Bishop of Rome winks at this, and
thereby has provoked the choler of the Emperor, who cannot but
must much storm thereat, since it will give the French King a hold
to do great harm in Italy when he pleases. There has been a great
skirmish between Don Fernando and Signor Octavio touching the
question of the frontiers of Parma and Piacenza, wherein many men
are miscarried; and news have been received that Signor Octavio
has beaten down all the Emperor's arms and crosses, and planted in
their places the arms of France. Recommends the case of the
French merchant at Dover, as one very evident, even by the deposi
tions of the inhabitants of Dover, and demanding speedy justice.
Begs them to hasten the return of Pickering. [Three pages. Partly
in cipher, deciphered.] |
| Eod. die. |
Copy of the preceding in Sir J. Masone's Letter-Book. [Three
pages.] |
