|
April 6.
Westminster. |
133. The Council to Sir Philip Hoby. Had received his letters
of 31st March and 1st and 2d April. Are much gratified by the
Emperor giving licence for soldiers to enter the King's service, his
evil taking of the Frenchmen passing through his pale, and his promises of support in case of any invasion by the French. Desire him
to return their hearty thanks to the Emperor, and to ask if he will
permit some of the soldiers to pass by four, five, or six, file a file, by
land to Calais, where it is intended to employ them as occasion
serves. Also to thank Mons. D'Arras, Mons. Monfauconet, Mons.
De Rie, the Ambassador from Florence, and others his Majesty's
good friends and willers. Desire him to explain the cause of the
wants of Boulogne and the disorders there, which are now all settled.
Should liberty be given for the soldiers to pass by land, he is
instantly to apprize Dymock. If Captain Ventura will serve the
King on the same terms as other Italians, they are willing to treat
with him for himself and 200 footmen. [Two pages. Draft.] |
April 11.
Bremen. |
134. John Dymock to Sir Philip Hoby, Knight and Ambassador
for the King's Majesty in the Emperor's Court. Has received his
letter of the 25th March. Has done all that in him lies with the
Lords of Bremen and Hamburg, but at no hand can have grant for
ships or liberty to bring strange vessels into their ports, so as to
convey men to England. Has since then been to the Lady of
Embden with like want of success, so that he has been unable to
engage any soldiers, but he upholds them with good words until he
can ascertain the pleasure of the Council. All fear that after the
arrival of his son in Brussels the Emperor will attack these countries.
The Rhinegrave has laboured much by the King of Denmark with
the Lords of Hamburg and Bremen, and has threatened, that if
they allow any men to be conveyed out of their rivers, both the
King of Denmark and the French King will capture their ships
wherever they find them. By means of a merchant is to get four
great ships, which shall go to the Elbe and wait there 20 days
for whatever lading shall come aboard of them. Has also sent to
Amsterdam to freight other four ships in like manner. Within the
same space will see to collect his men, and with 20 small vessels
have them all taken aboard at one tide. Can have horsemen enough,
but their freight will be very chargeable; besides they will not
serve under five dollars per diem for every horse and man. Requests
him to write to the Protector to arrange for his drawing upon some
merchant at Antwerp for 2,000l. sterling to be repaid there, as he
fears he shall not have money enough to pay a whole month's wages,
bounty, and victualling the ships, which will cost about 700l. or
800l. sterling. Farther financial details and suggestions. All the
cities and towns here are busy fortifying themselves. Hopes he
may come to a good end in this journey, as it is too weighty for one
man alone to compass these things. [Three pages.] |
April 17.
[Westminster.] |
135. The Council to Sir Philip Hoby, Knight and Ambassador for
the King's Majesty in the Emperor's Court. Instructing him to communicate with the Emperor in regard to the suppression of a horde of
pirates some 20 sail strong, composed of lawless men of all nations,
who have been ravaging the coast of Ireland as well as spoiling some
of the Emperor's subjects. In regard of the subsidy to his Majesty
granted in the last Parliament, the subjects of the Emperor residing
in England shall be treated as heretofore they have been under
similar grants. [Three pages. Draft.] |
April 18.
Hamburg. |
136. John Dymock to the Lord Protector and the Council. Has
received their letters of 25th March and 1st April. The soldiers cannot be conveyed to England in either of the ways which they propose. Neither can he get the ships for the Elbe, the Lords of Bremen
having had knowledge of his design and stayed them. Can devise
no manner of transport, unless they can have leave from the Emperor
for the men to pass through the Low Countries, or arrest as many
hoys on the Thames as will serve for the number of men, and send
them on the Elbe or the Weser, when he will find means to ship
them. If they desire to keep Duke Otho's men in their service, they
must somewhat amend his son's living, or else help him out of debt
and let him return to his father, as 500 crowns are not sufficient
to maintain him in England. [Two pages.] |
April 20.
Antwerp. |
137. William Dansell to the Lord Protector. Sends packet from
John Dymock at Bremen, who desires its instant despatch, and to
know whether Dansell has orders to supply him with money for the
King's service. Has provided such munitions as he had charge to
do; and has acquired money sufficient to pay the King's debt, due
on 20th May, at 13 per cent., without taking any goods with it.
If more money be wanted for his Majesty, he can procure to the
extent of 100,000l. for 14 per cent., without taking any wares with
it; this is not overmuch, as the Emperor himself even to his own
subjects pays 15, 16, and often 18 per cent. [One page.] |
April 24.
Harburg. |
138. John Dymock to the Lord Protector. Letter of credence for
Andries Ryenhorde, Chancellor to Duke Otho of Lunenburg, sent to
England upon business of his master. [One page.] |
April 25.
Greenwich. |
139. The Council to William Dansell. Have received his letter
of the 20th, and replied to Dymock by the inclosed. Lazarus
Tucker has informed them by Bruno that he expects payment on
the 15th of May, the day on which the money is due, or else that
he shall have notice before then that the King will take longer day;
wherefore desire him to arrange with Tucker for the continuance of
the loan at 12 per cent. Decline to borrow more at the per-centage
mentioned in his letter, and show how the Emperor's financial arrangements are made, in a manner very different from that of the
King's Majesty. [Two pages. Draft.] |
April 27.
Hamburg. |
140. John Dymock to the Lord Protector and the Council. His
difficulties are entirely from want of ships, which if he had, his men
would be ready in ten days, and be embarked at one tide. Constant
trafficking goes on between the Kings of France and Denmark, the
Rhinegrave, and others. The post which he sent into Denmark to
Sir John Borthwick has returned bringing back his letters, as Sir
John had left the King's Court and gone to Sweden; but he has
written to him by a post sent from the Lords of these cities to the
King of Sweden, and is in expectation daily of a reply. The King
of Denmark, being much ruled by his Councillors, who are all imperialists, will receive the Interim, and has written to the Lords of
Hamburg that they should do the like. It is reported that the
Duke of Wirtemberg has received the Interim, and his subjects
have raised against him 16,000 men, who carry a black ensign,
having on one side a crucifix and on the other a plough. Captain
Hackford has sent to offer men on certain terms; if they accept
them, they must order money to be sent from Antwerp. [Four
pages.] |
April 29.
Greenwich. |
141. The Council to William Dansell. Inform him that Charles
de Guevara, a Spaniard, has engaged to conduct hither 100 horsemen, to be at Calais by the 7th of June, and desire him to advance
to the said Guevara a certain sum (left blank), taking security for
its repayment in case the contract shall not be fulfilled. Also to pay
to a certain Albanois in prest for him and other 30 Albanois an
amount (likewise left blank). [One page. Draft.] |
