|
1554–5. Jan. 10.
Brussels. |
314. Sir John Masone to Sir William Petre. The gentleman
sent hither from the Cardinal has not as yet had audience, albeit
Masone has not let to travail for him in that behalf as earnestly as
conveniently he might. Since his coming several others have been
heard and dispatched. Fears he must still tarry longer, the Queen,
M. D'Arras, and the rest of the Council having gone to Antwerp,
and the Emperor remaining as it were alone, somewhat troubled
still with his gout. Cannot tell the meaning of this long deferring.
Thinks it could not hurt to give the world to understand that this
side could be content to talk of peace and upon reasonable conditions to come also to some conclusion therein. The French have
had such experience that they are able to do, as better it had been
they had not learned so much. Some here let not to say that this
staying hangs upon hope of the aid of England. As God will
ordain the matter, so must it be; but a great adventure will it be,
being not yet recovered of their late sickness acquired by the like
accident, to put themselves in danger of falling down again. If
he hears not shortly of some aid of money out of England, extremity
will drive him to make his refuge to her Majesty, who he trusts will
either call him home or else see him so furnished with her allowance,
or at least with his own, as he may be able to continue the place in
such a sort as to her honour is requisite. [Two pages.] |
Jan. 19.
Brussels. |
315. Sir John Masone to Queen Mary. Having received her
Majesty's letter of the 30th December, first communicating with
the Count of Egmont, he repaired to the Duchess of Arschot and
delivered the Queen's letter. The Duchess greatly rejoiced in the
honour done to her by this appointment. The day of the christening
was the 19th, at which time he resorted to her house a little before
the hour and delivered to her her Majesty's cup and 40 angels.
She was accompanied to the Count of Egmont's house by the
Duchess of Lorraine and all the nobility of the Court, male and
female. The baptismal ceremony was very solemn, a bishop executing it, and other things requisite so rich and well in order, as it
was right worthy the sight and as appertained to the estate of such
a nobleman. The other godmother was the Duchess of Lorraine,
and the godfather Frederick the Count Palatine, whose deputy was
the Count of Edstein sent hither on purpose. His present was two
crosses of jewels, the one of diamond for the child, the other set
with four fair rubies, one fair diamond and one emerald, for the
mother. The christening was in the evening, so as by the end
thereof it was supper time. The supper and banquet was right
stately, in which her Majesty's cup so walked up and down from
man to woman and woman to man as he dares answer few were
there that carried not both their bellies and heads full freighted to
bed. Had declared to the Countess in what good part the request
of her and her husband to make their daughter a Christian woman
had been taken by her Majesty, who would willingly have done the
same in person had the distance not been so great. She desires her
most grateful thanks may be given to the Queen. There had been
some doubt as to the naming of the child, the Countess having
already a daughter of the name of Mary; but at last it was resolved
she should be called Mary Christiana, after her Majesty and the
Duchess of Lorraine, whose name is Christiana. Letters of the
5th from Casale in Piedmont mention that the French have razed
Mazin [Massa] and having attempted some other places had been
well driven from them. No further fear need be had of them.
Had the captain of Ivrea been a man, as he has declared himself a
beast, that town had been saved, and then this had been as ill a
journey as ever the French made in their lives. The town had
been cowardly rendered to them by its captain, whose name is
Moral, and who there for is imprisoned. Mazin was valiantly
defended, and its captain has won much honour; had it been guardable he would have made good account of it. As it is, it was dearly
gotten; the captain and soldiers in the end departing by composition
with their bodies and baggage. The Emperor has sent thither 4,000
foot and 1,000 horse, which with the former garrison and some
others from Sicily and Naples, it is trusted shall be able shortly to
make the enemy weary. There have come from Germany to the
Court four Ambassadors, viz., from Duke Augustus, Duke of Brunswick, Hans Frederick's son and heir, and the Landgrave of Hesse.
It is thought they come on their own private matters. The Duke
of Brunswick and the Landgrave are reconciled and a marriage
between their children is settled. No news from Sienna for some
time. [Two pages and a quarter.] |
Jan. 27.
Poissy. |
316. Dr. Wotton to the Council. Shortly before Christmas
the Venetian Ambassador, Barbadico or Barbarico, after a very
brief residence, was suddenly recalled without taking leave, on
account of his selling a ship laden with corn to the Genoese;
either because he ought to have sold it at Venice, where there is
no great plenty, or because the French King had remonstrated to
the Seigniory that he should sell his corn to the King's enemy.
He is likely to be mulcted in great sums of money, and held incapable to occupy any such preferments as are usually the reward
of Envoys who have served their time. The Scottish infantry are
going back, and it is said that some French are to accompany
them. The Earl of Huntly is said to be very straitly imprisoned.
The King probably intends to be so strong, that though the Scots
would make any business, yet the French shall be able to keep
the fortresses in Scotland. There has been with the King an
Italian, from the Duke of Urbino, who has made a piece of ordnance,
divided into six or seven score pieces, so that so many men may
with ease each carry a piece. This was tried at Paris in his
Majesty's presence, with another piece of brass of the like size,
viz., that of a sacre, and with like powder; and the Italian's shot
farther and pierced deeper than the French piece. The Italian
has offered to make his Majesty such a one as shall shoot a stone
of 500 weight. The King has cassed 30 out of every 100 horse
and foot in his service; and these 30 are to have no wages for
the last five months and a half, for which, as they allege, they
have served. Much talk here of a communication of peace by her
Majesty and the Legate. The Marquis of Marignano has been
repulsed in an assault on Sienna: Strozzi supposed to be still in
Grosseto. A Lord of Germany, supposed to be one of the Duke
of Brunswick's, has recently arrived at the Court, but he cannot
ascertain who he is. He is believed to have come from Italy.
Received on the 20th, by Francisco the courier, their letters of 5th
December and 16th inst. On Wednesday the 23d had audience
of the King, when Francisco received his passport and proceeded
on his journey. Presented her Majesty's letter. Discoursed to the
King of the evils which had arisen in England during the past
500 years, when the Sovereign was a minor, which had brought
the realm into great danger, but never more so than in the late
reign, when the governors had not only sought much more their
own advantage than the King's benefit, but had travailed all that
they could to fill the kingdom with the most abominable heresies
that ever were in the Church of Christ. To remedy which the
Parliament had passed an Act whereby, in case of her Majesty's
demise, leaving issue, the King should have the government of the
child and the realm. His Majesty received the communication
very gently, and expressed himself highly gratified by these wise
proceedings, the reduction of England to the Church, &c. The
Constable had even exceeded the King's commendations of her
Majesty, and has been more than usually courteous to Wotton, to
whom next day he sent half a wild boar, killed by the King on
the preceding day. Is frequently used to send him venison: begs
they will cause the like to be done to the French Ambassador in
England. The Constable had asked Francisco where Ruy Gomez
was; and being informed that he was in England, said, "That is
well," as though he had meant somewhat else thereby. Francisco
met at Calais one of the Emperor's Secretaries going into England,
and requested him to inquire of Wotton whether a Spanish gentleman sent from the Emperor passed this way towards Spain. Learns
from the postmasters that a few days since one Francisco de
Mendoza did so pass. Beseeches them to intercede with their
Majesties for the liberation from the Tower of Sir Gawen Carew,
who is married to his sister. [Seven pages and a half. The first
portion in cipher, undeciphered.] |
Jan. 28.
Breste. |
317. Nicholas Radzivil, Duke of Olika, to Queen Mary. In
favour of [Laurence Fentzel], a citizen of Dantzic, whose business
will be explained by Jerome Makowieczki, of the Chamber of the
King of Poland. [Latin. One page and a half.] |
| January. |
318. Queen Mary to Dr. Wotton. Desires him to inform the
French King of the proceedings of Parliament, touching the restitution of the Pope's authority, and the establishment of matters of
religion in the realm. [One page.] |
| [January.] |
319. "Thomas Gresham, remembrance for the monies of Spain."
[Three pages, with notes by Petre.] |
| [January.] |
320. "A note of all the Queen's Highness' debts in Flanders,"
by Thomas Gresham. [One page, with notes on reverse by
Petre.] |
