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| [March 1.] |
729. Warrant to Thomas Gresham to pay 200l. in prest to Sir
William Pickering, Knt., and money for his diets at four marks a
day from the 8th inst. while engaged on her Majesty's service
abroad. [Draft. One page.] |
March 6.
Brussels. |
730. Cardinal Caraffa to Queen Mary. The two fathers who
bear this letter come from Italy to explain to her Majesty certain
matters pertaining to their congregation of Canons Regular. Begs
her to give them a favourable hearing, and send them away consoled by receiving justice, conformably to the hope they entertain.
[Italian. Half a page.] |
| March 10. |
731. Queen Mary to Thomas Gresham. Having given commission to Sir William Pickering, Knt., to repair to the King and
from him to go further into Germany or otherwise according to
the King's commands to take musters of 3,000 Germans for her
service, who will need money for the better dispatch of this
business, commands Gresham to lend him out of the money he
shall receive in the Low Countries such sums as shall be required by
the King's warrant. [Minute, autograph of Petre. Two pages.] |
March 10.
Arnheim. |
732. Philip, Count of Hornes, to Bernardo de Fresneda, Confessor
to King Philip II. Has received his letter by the archer, and has
written to his Lieutenant to know why he has not taken the oath.
His statement differs from what the archer says. Rumours from the
coast as to war with England. [Spanish. One page and a half.] |
March 12.
Greenwich. |
733. Instructions given by Queen Mary to Thomas Gresham,
sent to Flanders as her factor. |
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1. He is to take full information of the bargain offered to
Germayn Scioll by Chemany for 100,000l. for one year at 12 per
cent., and 1 per cent. for reward, brokerage, &c. |
|
2. He is to take full information of the quantities of powder,
saltpetre, and other provision to be made there for armour and
munitions, and to provide such parcels as shall be appointed by the
Queen or her Council. He is to go to Antwerp by post and to
ascertain as soon as possible from Chemany if the bargain will be
performed or not, and if it will to send word in post to England
with full information for the bonds to be made. |
|
3. He is then to repair to the King and deliver the letters which
he has for him communicating the effect of these instructions, and
to sue for his licence for the provision and conveyance of the powder
and munitions and the money necessary to be brought from
Flanders to England. |
|
4. The premises declared, and the King's pleasure known, he is
to go to Antwerp to get the 100,000l. from Scioll and to borrow
another 100,000l. for a year at interest not exceeding 14 per cent. |
|
5. If the bargain do not take place he is to endeavour to borrow
200,000l., or as much of it as he can, at not more than 14 per cent. |
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6. He is to have 20s. a day for his diet from the 10th March. |
|
7. He is to have four clerks at 16d. a day. |
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8. He is to be further allowed the expense of any provisions, or
of posting and messengers, to the King, Queen, or Council. |
|
9. He is to allowed house-hire for the keeping of treasure,
powder, &c., and for carriage of the same. |
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10. The Commissioners or Auditors of his account to allow him
all these expenses beyond his diet, and clerks, on his oath. |
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11. If the money now going to Flanders as valued money shall
fall, he is to have proper allowance. |
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12. In all other matters he is to act as directed by the Queen or
Council. [Two pages.] |
March 14.
Brussels. |
734. Francisco Bernardo de Fresneda (King Philip's Confessor) to
Queen Mary. Returns thanks for her Majesty's letter of 23d ult.
His Majesty has been unwell for some days, with his usual complaint,
occasioned by the ill success of affairs. Trusts she will not lay this
too much to heart. Hopes for peace with France by the intervention of England. [Spanish. Two pages.] |
March 14.
St. Omer. |
735. Emanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy, to same. She will
have been advertised that, soon after the French had entered
Calais, John Highfield, late Master of the Artillery there, came to
Bruges. From strong suspicion that there had been an understanding between him and the French, had caused him to be
arrested and detained at Bruges, where he has been until now.
Lately while repassing through that town was importuned by the
prisoner's wife to set him free. Sends her under the charge of a
French gentleman, Francis du Bourch, the bearer. [French. One
page. Indorsed by Petre.] |
| March 15. |
736. Instructions from Queen Mary to Sir William Pickering,
appointed to repair to the King, and by his order to receive 3,000
Germans for the Queen's service in England. He is to go to
Brussels, after receiving the Queen's letters or those of the Council
or others, to the King, and learn his pleasure concerning the levying
and sending over of the band. After this he is to repair to Thomas
Gresham and receive the sums necessary for that purpose by the
King's warrant, for which he is to ask. After seeing the money
safely carried he is to repair, with the persons appointed by the
King to assist him, to the places where the Germans are to be
levied, and bargain to the best advantage, taking such as are best
armed and so sorted as he knows most expedient for the service of
this realm. When levied he to take them to Dordrecht, or elsewhere appointed by the King, to embark them for Newcastle, and
either accompany them himself or commit them to responsible
persons, whom he shall order to see them delivered to the persons
appointed by the Earl of Westmoreland, the Queen's Lieutenant
there. The Queen allows him for his own diet, over and above
post-horses for him and his train, four marks a day and the
allowance of Thomas Daniel and Peter Smythe accompanying him,
of which money he is to receive 200 marks before going and the
rest from Gresham, as aforesaid. He is to write an account of
their embarkation and the probable time of their arrival at Newcastle. [Three pages.] |
March 15.
Brussels. |
737. Cardinal Caraffa to Queen Mary. Before leaving the King
and returning to Rome, as he is shortly about to do, thinks it his
duty at least to write to her Majesty, since he cannot go to kiss her
hands, and to beg that as the King has made him by his great
kindness his perpetual servant, she will deign to hold him hers in
similar manner. [Italian. One page.] |
March 16.
Brussels. |
738. Francisco Bernardo de Fresneda to same. Recommending
to her Majesty the bearer, a Canon Regular, who has business of his
order to attend to. [Spanish. One page] |
March 16.
Brussels. |
739. Same to same. A league has been entered into between
the Kings of France and Denmark with certain Easterling maritime
cities against King Philip, and those cities are preparing a large
fleet to aid the former Sovereign against his Majesty. Captain
Vogel has laboured much to dissolve this league; he has a cause
presently depending before her Majesty's Council which is solicited
by Doctor Quetiene, and for the speedy and favourable hearing of
which she is entreated, as Vogel is able to do her good service with
these Easterlings. Trusts that this trading with Muscovy and the
Indies will not cause great disturbances between Spain and England.
The fleet of the Easterlings seems to have offensive intentions
towards England, as her Majesty may see by a letter which he has
received from Count Hornes which he sends herewith. [Spanish.
Two pages.] |
March 17.
Lubeck. |
740. The Consuls and Senators of the Hanse Towns to same.
Credentials of Envoys again sent to her Majesty. [Latin.
Broadside on vellum.] |
March 17.
Rome. |
741. Sir Edward Carne to same. In his letter of the 12th had
mentioned the death of Cardinal Fano, the stay of his Holiness'
nephew, son of the Duke of Paliano, in France, the departure of
Francisco D'Este, and the none effect of such practices as he attempted
with the Pope. Also that Duke Octavio of Parma was in camp
against the Duke of Ferrara, that the realm of Naples was well
provided with horse and foot against all storms, and that his
Holiness was somewhat acrazed. Within the last two days a post
from the Duke of Paliano's son mentions his having received licence
to depart from Marseilles; and it is said that the Pope and the said
Duke are not contented with the resolution taken by Cardinal
Caraffa with his Majesty in relation to the recompence of the Duke.
This information came by a post from his Majesty to his agent,
Sign. Ascanio Caracciolo, on the 10th, but Cardinal Pacheco having
the same advertisements went straight to his Holiness that night,
and on the following night the like were communicated to the Pope
by a post from Cardinal Caraffa. Ever since the arrival of the post
Caracciolo has daily sued for audience of the Pope, but as yet cannot
be heard. The recompence is, that the Duke should have the
principality of Rustiane [Rossano] in Apulia, and 8,000 crowns
yearly out of the customs of silk in Naples. Hears that Cardinal
Caraffa is contented, forasmuch as his Majesty gave him 12,000
ducats per ann. of pension out of Toledo, and also letters of
naturality whereby he may be capax to receive 8,000 ducats more
in Spain, and has also had the priory of St. John in Naples. The
Cardinal of Naples has likewise provision for 4,000 or 5,000 ducats
in Spain. As far as he hears both Cardinals are contented, and
there is no great love between Caraffa and his brother the Duke.
Hears from Venice that the Duke of Urbino is become his Majesty's
servant, that his Majesty's Ambassador in Venice went to the Duke
therefor, and that it was effected by means of the Duke of Parma.
Understands that the French King would have all the French
Knights of Malta to come to Corsica and settle there in such place
as he will appoint them, and if they will not they shall have none
of the revenues that they have in France. The Turks are reported
to be setting forward their navy with all the haste they may, and
the Venetians to be arming 100 gallies. [Three pages.] |
March 18.
Paris. |
742. Lord Grey to [Sir William Petre]. Accepting Petre as one
of the chiefest of his friends is forced to declare his most miserable
adversity, which tends to the very utter undoing of him and his
house for ever; as he is rendered prisoner into the hands of Count
Rochefoucault, who is not only determined to levy unreasonable
ransom upon him, but also to send him to the place where he was
prisoner, and so to double his guards with such a payment to them
that without speedy remedy he may account himself a lost man.
Beseeches mediation with the Queen for redress. |
|
P.S.—1. Desires to be commended to the Lord Admiral, who
shall be partaker of this letter, having no time to write to him. |
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P.S.—2. Requests him to credit the bearer, Capell, who can
declare the least required for ransom. "Once again, take pity of
your dear friend, and help him in this misery who is almost in
despair." [One page. Indorsed by Petre.] |
March 18.
Frankfort on the Maine. |
743. "Recessus Francofortensis in Causa Religionis." Proceedings of the Frankfort Recess, and the names of those who adhere
to that and the Confession of Augsburg. [Latin. Twenty-one pages.] |
March 19.
Rome. |
744. Sir Edward Carne to Queen Mary. Wrote on the 17th by
a post from Naples passing to the King. The Pope's nephew has
not yet arrived, although a post came from him to his Holiness to
state that his passport had been amended and that he would leave
Marseilles on the morrow; but as yet there is no account of him,
which induces some to suppose that the Pope and the Duke show
themselves outwardly discontented with the recompence appointed
for the Duke for the state of the Colonnas here. As many, however,
think that inwardly they are very well contented, and would not
have it published till the return of Caraffa, trusting by that time
to have their nephew from France. In the meanwhile all the
resolution between his Majesty and the Cardinal is kept privy.
There is a saying that his Holiness will to Bologna after Easter,
and lie there this summer, because of the great scarcity of necessaries
here; though some say he will to Avignon in Provence. This he
cannot believe. The Venetians not only arm 100 gallies, but
also 30 ships and their great galeon for defence against the
Turks. [One page and a quarter.] |
March 24.
Onzaine. |
745. Lord Grey to Queen Mary. Supplicates her Majesty to consider
his estate and utter undoing as a miserable prisoner, without her
gracious favour and helping hand, as he has caused her to be
informed more at length by his cousin Hastings, who can more
lively express by words that which he fears he should trouble her
with by writing. [Half a page. Indorsed by Petre.] |
March 24.
Brussels. |
746. Emanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy, to same. Knowing
her by natural affection and divine inspiration to be so Catholic
and to hold in so great observance what pertains to the Christian
religion, feels he should greatly offend her piety if he were to
endeavour by reasons to render her more favourable to the poor
servants of the Church than she has ever been. Nevertheless he
cannot avoid recommending to her the two religious persons who
bear this letter for aid in regaining a benefice of St. Andrew, in the
diocese of Ely, which by Royal gift and consent of all the Barons
of the realm and the then Prelate of the diocese, was perpetually
united to the monastery of St. Andrew, in the city of Vercelli, and
possessed by it for more than 200 years. They beg her protection.
[French. One page. Indorsed by Petre.] |
March 26.
Rome. |
747. Sir Edward Carne to same. It is reported that the
Duke of Parma has recovered by force his town of Owarnison (sic),
which had been taken by the Duke of Ferrara two or three months
ago, and that 1,500 Gascons in it were all slain. The Duke
of Parma's army is now in the country of Reggio, which the
Duke of Ferrara holds. Caracciolo has been with the Duke of
Paliano offering on part of his Majesty the recompence which he
is contented to give him to release and forego the state of the
Colonnas. This the Duke did neither accept or forsake, but would
let all stand in suspense till the return of Cardinal Caraffa.
Notwithstanding Caracciolo on the King's behalf protested of his
said offerture, and that it staid not by his Majesty, but that the
recompence were made. The Duke's son is not yet returned.
News have come that on the 10th the Emperor resigned the Empire
in the Diet kept in Germany in favour of his brother the King of
the Romans, who is now elected Emperor. [One page and a
quarter.] |
| March 31. |
748. "Provisions made and to be made in Flanders as followeth."
A list of articles to be supplied by Alexander Bonvisi and Thomas
Gresham. [One page. Printed by Burgon, Vol. i., p. 477.] |
