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| Sept. 2. |
1537. Dr. Dale to Sir Thomas Smith and Francis Walsingham. |
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The Queen Mother arrived at Lyons the 27th August.
The Marshal de Retz was always on the wing of her. Some
of the guard marched two leagues before and some two
leagues after. The young Princes went in coach with her,
they had no open guard upon them. Their own guard
went with the train. The Queen Mother went by way of
Burgundy and Chalons, where she met the Swiss that
are newly come, to the number of 6,500. She made them
their pay and appointed them to march by little and little
to Dauphiny. Danville came to the King at Turin upon
assurance of the Duke of Savoy, and is returned to his
government with articles of pacification, to the effect that
they of religion shall give up their towns, upon promise that
they shall not be molested for matters of religion, without
any other assurance. The King keeps great state, and causes
his forces to approach daily towards them of religion. He
departed from Turin the 28th of August, and is looked for
about the 6th September. The Queen Mother was in mind
to go to Grenoble, but is advised by her Council to the
contrary. The common opinion is that there would be some
conclusion made with them of the religion, and that the King
will have peace. It is thought that the King will seek so
much advantage that they of the religion will hardly condescend to it. He makes no haste, neither with the reiters
or the Italians, because he hopes to make an end without
them. The young princes are put in hope of great things at
the coming of the King, and since coming to this town they
have gone alone in divers places to make merry. Means
were made that Montbrun should meet the King at Chambery,
but now he has advised himself to the contrary. The Duke
of Savoy has levied 500 horsemen and 4,000 footmen for the
King, with pay of three months. The Queen Mother in
full council told him that the King had no need of horsemen,
and appointed the footmen to remain in Savoy till the King
should have need, which answer is much misliked. It is
privily spoken that the Queen Mother does not like the
dealing of the Duke of Savoy in those matters. The Marshal
de Retz has been suitor to keep his old place of first
gentleman of the chamber, but the King has bestowed it
upon Villequier. Words of great displeasure have been uttered
against the Marshal withal. The King is not like to depart
from these parts for two months at least. They of Paris
make suit for him to repair thither, by the occasion of a
mutiny that was like to be there against the Huguenots, to
the extent to set the populace upon the town. The Protestants in Languedoc lately took twenty or thirty mules laden
with silk coming from Marseilles to this town, whereupon
there was a bruit that they were taken upon the way of
Italy, and that the Protestants lay between Italy and this
town to let the King's passage. It is said that the King will
forthwith besiege Noue. There are special ambassadors here
to congratulate from all parts, as well Protestant as other.
He that comes from the King of Spain stays about Bordeaux
for fear of the Protestants in those countries. Cannot understand of any great amity between the King and the King of
Spain, yet the King passed by some part of the state of
Milan and was honourably used. Don John of Austria met
him not, but made speed to Naples to the succour of Tunis
and La Goletta, which both are battered by the Turks at
once. It is much doubted lest succour will come very late,
if time of the year does not disperse the Turk's navy. The
French are in great jealousy of a reconciliation between the
Queen and the King of Spain. The pestilence is sore at
Geneva.—Lyons, 2 Sept. 1574. Signed.
Add. Endd. Pp. 3⅓. |
| Sept. 5. |
1538. Dr. Dale to Sir Thomas Smith and Francis Walsingham. |
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Has earnestly expostulated with the Queen Mother the
late stay of the merchants' ships, and complained of certain
spoils done in the Seine upon the Queen's subjects since
the last release obtained under the broad seal. Declared
to her that the Queen's goodwill by the late honourable
"funerals" of the King, and her other actions, purge all those
jealousies conceived without cause, and what misliking her
subjects had that this Court is so far from the sea to give any
redress. She answered that she was desirous to redress anything that was amiss, and denied that the last stay was by
her commandment, whereas she herself told him she had done
it herself, and no less is expressed in the letters patent of the
release. She said she had been advertised by De la Mothe of
the Queen's good intention and honourable dealing, to the
which her son would use the like correspondency. She cast
forth she had heard the Queen and the King of Spain were
agreed, and that Mendoza made up all for Spain. Said that
the doings of Mendoza were but for the intercourse of merchants, which is easier to be accorded by reason of their
evil treating in France. Learns none otherwise than of
some long abode of the King here, and that the Queen
Mother has a doubt of a league to be made between the
Princes Protestant. She makes account to get Noue by the
Rhone, and also Pouzin, upon the river, within this month,
and so by force or composition to have all at commandment
before any other stir, for they think to stay the doings of
M. de Thon with the Swiss. They know that the Prince of
Condé is in a poor case, and they practice daily to get him
to submit. The King shall lack the Marshal de Retz about
those things if he determine not to use him. The worst thing
that moves them is that they can make no reckoning of Spain.
All those sums of money that should come from the Venetians
and others in Italy are turned to good cheer. Cannot hear
that they of the religion are anything dismayed for all this,
for Montbrun was of very late taken Mur, a castle in
Dauphiny of good strength, where the country had bestowed
their victuals for their store, and Montpensier's men have
been beaten at Lusignan.—Lyons, 5 Sept. Signed.
Add. Endd. Pp. 3. |
| Sept. 5. |
1539. Dr. Dale to Francis Walsingham. |
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The likelihood is great that the King will endeavour to
make an end of his matters in this country before he depart
from hence, but how he shall be able to do it no man can
judge. His articles of composition are so strait, and the
places in the hands of them of the religion so many and so
well situated, and the Swiss, in whom he puts most trust,
so unmeet for winning of towns. If the Queen will join
with the rest of the princes at the beginning, the King may
be persuaded how hard it is to compass that he intends, and
so take another way. It is doubted lest the Prince of Condé
may be persuaded to submit himself, and some say that
Thon meets the King at Chambery.—Lyons, 5 Sept. Signed.
Add. Endd. Pp. 1⅓. |
| Sept. 7. |
1540. Wilkes' Oration to Catherine De Medicis. |
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Declares himself ready to justify himself from the charge
made against him in her letters to the Queen, that he had
endeavoured in the Queen's name to incite the Duke of
Alençon and the King of Navarre to rebellion, promising
them aid of money and men. Had not spoken but once
with the Duke with a letter from the ambassador, and twice
with the King of Navarre, once about the jewels of his
mother that are in the Queen's hand, and another to know
for Mr. Leighton whether his intercession for him and for
the Duke of Alençon had taken better effect. Knows he
would much offend the Queen if he were to deal for the
diminishing of the amity between the realms. Demands to
be confronted with the King of Navarre and the Duke of
Alençon, or any other of less quality that has told her these
things, that he may be able to purge himself from the accusation.
Endd. Fr. Pp. 62/3. |
| Sept. 8. |
1541. Charles de Montmorency, Count de Meru, to the
Queen. |
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Prays her to intercede with the King of France for the
liberty of the Duke of Montmorency his brother. Prays her
to appoint a time for him to have audience with her, that he
may be heard at greater length.—London, 8 Sept. 1574.
Signed.
Add. Endd. P. ½. |
| Sept. 9. |
1542. Secretary Cayas to Antonio Fogaça. |
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Acknowledges the receipt of his letters of 3rd June brought
by Roger Bodenham.—Madrid, 9 Sept. 1574. Signed.
Add. Span. P. ¼. |
| Sept. 10. |
1543. Thomas Wilkes to Francis Walsingham. |
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Arrived at Lyons his third of this present, and found the
Queen Mother removed towards Chambery to meet the King.
At her return on the 7th the Ambassador and he had audience,
when he delivered the Queen's letter. Urged her to bring
them forth that had accused him to her. She denied that the
Duke of Alençon and the King of Navarre had confessed anything, but that she had received it from others. Saw that it
grieved her to have the matter called any more in question,
so was fain to depart without any further ado. She required
the ambassador to foresee he would deal no more in any
practices, and willed him himself not to intrude in their affairs
any more, for he would repent it. Is advised to beware of
her for she is evil affected towards him. Prays for a second
letter from the Queen to be a shield against their privy
dealings, for he does not trust her. The King arrived on the
6th accompanied with the Duke of Savoy. He will either
repair to Molins or Avignon to give order for his wars against
the Protestants. He prepares an army of 30,000, whereof
are arrived about Lyons 6,500 Swiss. There are entered into
France 8,000 reiters under the conduction of Count Charles
and Bassompierre. The rest are levied under the Duke of
Montpensier, the Prince Dauphin, and others. The Duke of
Montpensier going to besiege Fontenay, met four cornets of
horsemen, which for the most part he slew, and took some of
the principal, which are all like to be put to the sword. The
Protestants in Albigeois, the third of this present surprised
Castres, a town of good strength and great importance. The
Secretaries come no more to the Council, but are directed by a
referendary. The Marshal de Retz is in his casu, and will
shortly retrograde if the Queen Mother hold him not up. It
is thought that there are 500 Savoyard horse gone to the
Protestants in Languedoc. The Duke of Alençon and the
King of Navarre are as he left them, constant and honest, and
the Queen Mother has abused them in report. Desires him
to stand his good friend for his allowance from Paris to Lyons,
which is 35 posts. If he do not it will undo him, he had need
be holpen or else he may go beg. Cannot as yet have any
convenient mean to speak to the Duke of Alençon and the
King of Navarre to see how they be satisfied.—Lyons,
10 Sept. 1574. Signed.
Partly in cipher, deciphered. Add. Endd. Pp. 3. |
| Sept. 10. |
1544. The Countess of Argyle to the Queen. |
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At the being here of her servants he travailed to bring the
cause between the Regent and the Earl of Murray's children
to some good end. Lately the Regent has desired the performance of some further surety than was contained in the
heads agreed upon before. It appears to her and to her
husband that the Regent is no ways of mind to make a
sure end in this behalf, but to drive time and allege fault on
their part. Sends copies of such things as have passed since
the travails taken by her ambassador. She will see the
Regent's mind towards herself and the Earl of Murray's
children. Prays her to write in her favour to the Regent for
relaxation from the horn, and a promise that during his
government she shall not be troubled in this case. If she
exhibit the jewels the Regent will retain them, and hold no
cause lawful why she should have the custody of them.—
Argyle, 10 Sept. 1574. Signed.
Add. Endd. Pp. 1¼. |
