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March 1.
Paris. |
579. Dr. Wotton to Lord Paget, Lord Privy Seal, and Secretary
Sir William Petre. Has previously certified her Majesty of the
good will which the bearer, Kirkawdry, seemed to bear to England,
his discontent with the present state of Scotland, and his desire to
see it delivered from the yoke of the French and restored to its
former liberty. Also of his repeated offers to serve her Majesty,
to which no reply has been received. As he now returns to Scotland
through England, has advised him to communicate with them on
the subject of service, and should they think him meet for any
such, it is earnestly required that any dealing with him may be
reserved to themselves, for if the rest of the Council were made
privy to it the fact might escape and put his life in peril. Has
only known him since coming here, and, by the occasional intercourse had with him, thinks either he must be a very great and
crafty dissembler, or else he bears no good will at all to the
French, and next to his own country has a good mind to England.
Kirkawdry will declare to them at length the return of his father
and of Balneaves into Scotland, and for what purpose it is thought
they are revoked. Also that Melvin who accused the Bishop of
Durham has come hither recommended to the King by the Queen
Dowager of Scotland, and will tell them of the arrival of four
troops of Scottish horsemen and of a plan of Berwick, which the
King has howsoever gotten, and how the French are nothing sorry
for the death of the Earl of Douglas. He will also inform them of
a Scottish physician named Durham, married in London, who acts
as spy for the King and the Queen Dowager of Scotland, receiving
therefor a pension of 300 crowns; how ill the Bishop of St.
Andrew's can away with the rule of the French in Scotland;
of the arrival at the Court of a son of the Landgrave of Hesse, and
how greatly he is made of; the regret felt for the death of the
Marquis Albert here, and all other news spoken of at the Court.
[Cipher, deciphered. Two pages. Printed by Tytler, History of
Scotland, Vol. vi., App. p. 442.] |
March 3.
Rome. |
580. Sir Edward Carne to Queen Mary. Yesterday forenoon the
Duke of Guise, accompanied by Cardinal Caraffa, arrived here, and
was received with all the honour of the Court. His army, consisting
of 8,000 or 9,000 foot and 3,000 horse, have reached Arimony
[Rimini]. To-day he was in the Pope's chapel to take ashes from
his hand, and served him with water afterwards. He is much
esteemed here. Cannot learn whether his army is to remain here
or goes to invade Naples by Ascoli; but as far as he can hear
from the Ambassador of the Duke of Ferrara, the troops of the
latter do not remove thence. It is rumoured that there is some
variance betwixt him and the Duke of Guise; also that the Pope
intends shortly to make many Cardinals, and the report is that he
will make six French and six Italians of the French faction with
six of his kinsmen, to the intent that if he fail they may have
another French Pope. His army still lies about Tivoli and
Vicovaro. The Consistory will be held soon. [One page and
a half.] |
March 6.
Rome. |
581. Sir Edward Carne to Queen Mary. Repeats portion of the
intelligence conveyed in his letter of the 3d inst. All the soldiers
here are ordered to the Pope's camp at Tivoli, except 300 to guard
the gates, and on Monday or Tuesday next the army shall remove
towards Neptuno to attempt to recover it. Hears that it is so
well fortified and provided that this will be somewhat difficult.
The Duke of Ferrara's troops will not come here. Provision for
the war is so scarce that they lack 40,000 robbias of corn before the
new comes. Some say that the Duke of Alva has 50,000 ducats
to take up men in the confines of Hungary, and to have them by
water by the Gulf of Venice to Naples, which will be sooner than
through Lombardy, and that the Venetians have given them licence
for conveying them that way. The Consistory will probably be
held on Wednesday. Is just informed that the Pope and the Duke
of Guise do not all agree, for the Pope wishes the French to invade
Naples, and the French will not, knowing that they are far unable
for that enterprise, and further alleging that their coming was only
to defend the Church. They would rather invade Tuscany and
Sienna, but to this the Pope will not consent. One Villa, a
Ferrarese, has been sent by the Pope to Florence, supposed for
the purpose of essaying to draw the Duke to join with the Pope;
and if not, then the French will be set upon Tuscany. A Secretary
of the Duke of Florence, sent in a brigantine to Naples, on Monday
last fell upon a galley, and was taken prisoner and brought to
Palo beside Civita Vecchia, but previously threw his letters into
the sea. The Florentine Ambassador reported yesterday that the
Pope gave the said Secretary the brigantine and all that was taken
therein, and that the Pope speaks much good of the Duke, so much
so that he commanded Sign. Brandino, who is a great doer about
him, and most of all with Cardinal Caraffa, to be imprisoned in
St. Angelo for opening some letters of the Duke without any
commission. This so moved Cardinal Caraffa that yesterday he
would give audience to no man, Cardinals or others, for of all men
he favours Brandino, and did his utmost to save him from prison.
Is also informed that the Duke of Ferrara swerves from the Pope
and the French because they will not set upon Parma, whereat was
his stroke. It is said that to-morrow the Duke of Paliano and
Paulo Giordano de Vecinis shall receive the Order of France.
[Three pages.] |
March 14.
Parma. |
582. Cardinal Farnese to Queen Mary. Pays his respects to
her Majesty by the bearer the Cavalier Ardinghello, who, as agent
for the Duke his brother, goes with him into England. [Italian.
One page.] |
March 16.
Paris. |
583. Dr. Wotton to same. Sends the bearer, John Somer, his
Secretary, to England, properly instructed of all that needs to be
written at this time, and requests her Majesty to appoint somebody
to hear the report of that which he has to declare. [Cipher,
deciphered. Half a page.] |
1557. March 28.
Brussels. |
584. Emanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy, to same. Some days
since he wrote to her Majesty recommending Hans Elverdunk,
Hubrecht Van Breen, Leonard Vogel, and companions, merchants
resident in Antwerp, and requested licence for them to bring
from England 250 barrels of ale wherewith to supply the camp of
the King during the present war. Hearing that his letter has not
arrived, writes again. [French. One page. Indorsed by Petre.] |
