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Aug. 6.
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80. WILSON to DAVISON.
William Shotten, Englishman, has long been in the King's service,
hoping from time to time to receive the pay due to him. I am
moved at the pitiful state of his wife, having a charge of children,
and as I know the said Shotten to be an honest man I desire you to
intervene on his behalf with those in authority for his pay and
dispatch hither ; wherein you shall do a very good deed.—From the
Court at Richmond, 6 Aug. 1577.
P.S.—I have already noted this matter for Burley and Shotten to
Don John, and had promise of favour, as Burley could tell you, unto
whom give credit, and be good to him otherwise, for he is a tall
fellow of his hands, and honest in his behaviour.
Add. Endd. ½ p. [Ibid. II. 11.]
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Aug. 6.
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81. POULET to BURGHLEY.
I have asked Mr. Walsingham to send you a copy of my letter
about to be sent to her Majesty. One of my clerks being now in
England, I could not make another copy here. I know nothing
worthy of writing but what is contained in that letter.—Poictiers.
Aug. 6.
Add. Endd. ½ p. [France I. 11.]
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Aug. 7.
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82. POULET to [WALSINGHAM].
Please receive enclosed a copy of my letter to her Majesty, and
of another to my Lord of Leicester ; not doubting but that Nycasius
and my son are with you long before this time. I thank you for
your good remembrance in the dispatch of John Tupper. The bill
of depredations received is less than sufficient for any causes to enter
into any particular suit for anything mentioned in it ; the merchants
must use their several endeavours, and M. Dorsey being now here
is expressly reminded to give speedy justice. You would wonder
if you knew the practices here used to come within me, under colour
of great friendship, showing the distrust they have conceived of her
Majesty. For my part I hope by the grace of God to beat them with
their own rod. Please forward a copy of my letter to the Queen to
my Lord Treasurer if he be not at Court. The bearer, Mr. Throckmorton,
has prayed me to give him leave to go to England, being
required by his mother, as he says ; who has promised to get him
license to travel into Italy. To be plain with you, I think myself
very happy that I am honestly delivered of him. He is a very
young man, and has his imperfections, which time may mend.
In many things I have dealt very plainly with him ; thus he hath
been chargeable to his mother, which must be imputed folly,
having his meat and drink with me for himself and his man. His
mother prays that his coming over may seem to proceed of his own
request, because the Queen shall not be offended at it. Mr. Harvye,
who has lived so long in Spain and the Low Countries, passed
through this town of late, and brought me letters from Sir John
Smith.—Poitiers, 7 Aug. 1577.
1½ pp. (Address and endorsement gone.) [Ibid. I. 12.]
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[Aug. 7?]
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83. [POULET] to [LEICESTER].
My very good Lord, I forbear to trouble you with particulars of
my late negotiations with the French King and his mother, though
her Majesty will doubtless acquaint you with them, and they are
worth consideration as "a matter that may serve to decipher some
part of our French humors." I pray God they find not now her
Majesty is afraid of La Roche and his companions, and then they
will not fail to hold her at this bay until they have served the other
turns. You will find in my letter to her Majesty that the King
here makes mention of some ships that are gone forth already,
which, if I be not deceived, could not be given out by him to any
other end than to terrify her Majesty and withdraw her from some
other enterprise. And my last audience [on Aug. 3. See Lettres
de Catherine de Médicis, vol. v., p. 209] with Queen Mother serves
to confirm this conjecture. She is content to say upon these news of
preparations in England that the King will answer for La Roche's
doings, which he might not do if his ships were gone out already
with intent to attempt anything against her Majesty.
Draft. ½ p. [France I. 13.]
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84. Complaint of English
merchants to the
French King.
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Replies.
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By the privileges granted by
your predecessor, English merchants
trading at Rouen and elsewhere
in Normandy are exempt
from all imposts on bleached
cloth, canvas, woad (pastel), and
other goods transported by them ;
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The King will write to his
officers at Rouen to ascertain how
the English merchants have
hitherto discharged the marketdues,
and used the exemption ;
also as to the inconvenience of
carrying their goods to the halles.
For this he must be informed of
what is involved in their
demand.
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Nevertheless in the viscounty
of Rouen they are made to pay
2 sols, 6 deniers for one cwt. of
canvas and 10 sols for one cwt. of
bleached cloth ;
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And not content [sic] with this,
after the merchants have paid all
dues, they are compelled to carry
heavy goods to the halles and to
leave it on the quays, and not
permitted to transport them elsewhere,
whereby they receive
much damage.
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And whereas your Majesty has
lately imposed a market-tax on
such goods as corn, wine,
bleached cloth, canvas, and woad,
the farmers and receivers of that
subsidy want to levy it on goods
bought and embarked before the
publication of the edict imposing
it, and the English have been
obliged under that head to hand
over 360 crowns.
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The King will promptly order
restitution of the sum in question
on its being made apparent that
the facts are as stated.
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Further, the farmers want to
make the English pay for every
bale of 5 cwt. as much as has
hitherto been paid for those of 8
to 11 or 12 cwt. And for bales of
cloth weighing 10 cwt. as much
as for those of 18 to 22.
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Steps will be taken to regulate
this as soon as the King has heard
from his officers.
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The farmers also claim to make
them pay during the fairs held
in the town of Rouen, which used
to be free to all merchants,
French or foreign. And, in fact,
they have compelled them to pay
caution for goods loaded during
the fair.
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The King has deputed
Receiver-general Lefebure and
the advocate du Gué as commissioners
to consider what
regulations will fall to be made
regarding the traffic at the fair ;
and orders will be given in the
course of August.
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Moreover, another impost is
said to have been laid on all
drapery entering the port of
Rouen, which is so excessive that
commerce has been greatly diminished
thereby. If it comes into
force, the English merchants will
have to give up trading there, to
your loss and that of your
subjects.
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Before decided on the subject
of this article the King desires to
be informed if the impost is so
burdensome to the English merchants
that their business will be
diminished by it. He will write
to the customs officers.
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Therefore, being assured of
your goodwill towards the English
merchants, they beg your Majesty
to confirm them in the enjoyment
of their privileges, to order restitution
of the sums they have had
to pay, and to discharge their
cautions.
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—Done at the Council held by the
King at Poitiers, this 7 August,
1577.
(Signed) Pinart.
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Copy. Fr. 2 pp. [France I. 15a.]
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Aug. 7.
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85. MESSAGE from DON JOHN to the ESTATES.
[See below, no. 93.]
Endd. : Copie Apportée de la part de Son Altèze aux Etats et y
lue le viime d'aout 1577. Fr. 3 pp. [Holl. and Fland. II. 12]
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Aug. 8.
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86. DECLARATION made by the SEIGNEUR DE GROBBENDONCK on
behalf of his HIGHNESS to the ESTATES assembled at
BRUSSELS in virtue of his Credentials dated at NAMUR,
AUGUST 5.
His Highness having withdrawn to the castle of Namur for his
own safety, though foreseeing the perturbation which may ensue
among the Estates, he has provided for himself, yet has no intention
of burdening or constraining them, or in any way contravening the
pacification, or his promises to them.
He desires nothing but a good understanding with the Estates,
promising free passage and return to any who would come to him.
In regard to the question of giving him a guard, while he has
not thought it fitting to accept it with the limitations set by the
Estates, but claims to have it of such men and officers as he thinks
good, yet to free the Estates from any fear of his employing such
force adversely to the pacification and the edict, his Highness
(though he thinks he deserves that his promises should be trusted)
is willing that his men when taking the oath to his Majesty shall
also swear to maintain the pacification and the edict.
His Highness is content that all soldiers shall receive their discharge,
and that all new levies shall cease, he on his side giving the
necessary order, and that in any event all acts of hostility shall be
forbidden, provided that the same is done on the side of the Estates.
And finally, if distrust of his Highness has taken such deep
root in the hearts of the Estates by reason of his withdrawal as to
seem irremediable, whereby he might be held an unpropitious
governor of the country, he would be content that the Estates should
write to his Majesty by some trustworthy person, to say how matters
stand here, and how they are afraid that they cannot get on with
his Highness nor trust to him, in order that he may send another
Governor of the Blood, whether a son of the late Emperor or another ;
to which his Highness, desirous of tranquillity, promises willingly
to agree, and in the meantime to govern observing the pacification
to the best of his power, claiming from the Estates nothing but the
security of his person, and the two points so often offered by them,
the Catholic Religion and the obedience due to his Majesty.
Presented at Brussels in the Assembly of the Estates-General,
this 8th of August 1577, by me, (signed) Gaspar Schetz.
Copy. Fr. 3 pp. [Holl. and Fland. II. 13.]
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Aug. 8.
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87. DON JOHN to COLONEL FUGGER.
I have received yours of the 5th of this month stating that your
people had gone out of Antwerp. I had heard the news before and
was much distressed by it, seeing the great prejudice it will cause
to his Majesty's service. I am glad however that you saved your
life. Our Lord in His goodness will give us better fortune some
day ; thanking Him meanwhile for all. You will, I think, do well
to stay where you are till further orders from me, keeping your
people as best you can, for, to say the truth, I have at present no
means of sending you money, even if I had it. It is impossible,
owing to the crossgrained nature of this dangerous time. You must
get it in any way possible, by rating the villages near the town
where you are, but as moderately as you can. I cannot tell you the
perplexity in which I am for want of means. I am expecting
shortly the total remède of his Majesty, according to what I have
set forth to him by Escovedo. Earnestly entreating you to remain
in the devotion which you have hitherto shown, the more that I am
assured you would not fail in His Majesty's service, maintaining
your people as best you can without withdrawing them. I will send
the letters you require that they may obey you, and bear the respect
that reason requires. Our Lord keep your most illustrious person.
—Namur, 8 August 1577.
P.S.—I have brought up to this town your five companies and
seven of another regiment. As they have no commander and Baron
Frundsberg is ill, it is well you should come in this direction as soon
as possible, escaping as best you can and coming straight to me.
Endd. Copy. Fr. 1 p. [Ibid. II. 14.]
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Aug. 8.
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88. Another copy of the same.
2 pp. [Holl. and Fland. II. 15.]
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Aug. 9.
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89. WALSINGHAM to SIR ARTHUR CHAMPERNOWNE, MR.
EDWARD HORSEY, and MR. HENRY KILLIGREW.
Her Majesty was lately given to understand that the Prince of
Condé, in his voyage to Germany, meant to touch in England and
visit her Highness. The French Ambassador, having heard of this
intention, requested her that if the Prince should arrive she would
not suffer him to have any access to her, as otherwise it would be
a plain demonstration to the world of a disposition to violate such
treaties of amity as had passed between the two crowns if she should
admit to her presence so notorious an enemy to the King his master
as the Prince is known to be. Her pleasure therefore is, that in case
he shall arrive in this country, you repair unto him with all diligence,
and request him in her name for avoiding offence, to forbear
to repair hither. Assuring him notwithstanding that any other
favour she can show him consistently with her honour he shall receive
at her hands, and she is sorry that for the reasons given she
cannot receive him as befits a man of his quality and one who she
is sure is as devoted to her as she to him. Her Majesty thinks
it meet that his intention to repair hither, embarking as it is
thought about the 7th of this month, be left secret (the Ambassador
being now persuaded that he comes not), for if known it cannot be
without peril. The enclosed letter if he shall arrive there, [Isle
of Wight] you shall deliver to him, the same being from Du
Plessis, to let him know why her Majesty thinks it not fit that he
should repair to her, and to desire him to interpret it in good part.
—Richmond, 7 Aug. 1577.
Copy. ¾ p. [For. E. B. Misc. II.]
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Aug. 10.
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90. LEICESTER to WALSINGHAM.
Touching the Prince of Condé, since her Majesty has promised
the French King's Ambassador not to allow him either her country
or presence, her promise is to be performed. And the less offence
he shall take with her, and the less mistrust he will have perhaps
of her further favour of late granted for "Cass." But if it pleased
God and her Majesty I would the case were so as she would not only
allow him her presence, but that all the world might see she was
both willing (as she is able) to defend not only so good a cause, being
the general cause now of Christendom, but to provide like a wise
princess for her own safety and surety ; for so would all other princes
in Europe do. And all the world doth see if these her best friends
quail with this cause it is not possible for her Majesty
long to stand without God's miraculous assistance, for then
hath she all the mighty princes of the world against her,
and not one friend left to trust to or able to relieve her. God
Almighty direct her heart the best way for her preservation every
way. And so, returning both my brother's, my sister's, and my
own most hearty commendations to you, I bid you, good Mr.
Secretary, farewell.—This Saturday morning at Wanstead, 10 Aug.
My brother is yet nothing well, but amending prettily.
Holograph. Add. Endd. 1 p. [France I. 14.]
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Aug. 10.
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91. Resolution of the Estates-General for a levy, (in addition to
80,000 already voted, and to the 700,000 livres Artois, of
which Brabant is to furnish 100,000) of 2 millions of
gold, half to be paid within 4 months from the 1st September
next, and the other half in the next 4 months ; any
State in default for its quota to be liable to execution, with
costs, damages, and interest. Of this Brabant is to find
300,000 livres, with power to pay in two instalments of
125,000 and one of 50,000.—Given at Brussels, Aug. 10
1577. (Signed) Cornelius Weellemans.
Endd. : A Copy of the tax of the millions. 10 Aug. 1577. Fr.
1½ pp. Marginal notes by L. Tomson. [Holl. and Fland. II.
16.]
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