|
Sept. 2.
Plassenberg. |
234. Albert Marquis of Brandenburg to the Council. Incloses
memorial by the commanding officers of certain troops raised for
the service of the Crown of England under his authority, complaining of want of pay, and recommends the bearer, Count Castel,
who will explain all circumstances, to the favourable consideration
of the Council. [German. Three pages.]
Memorial inclosed, dated 23d June. [German. Four pages.] |
Sept.
(prior to 6th.) |
235. Commission from Henry II., King of France, to certain Commissioners appointed to meet with those of the Emperor for the
purpose of settling commercial disputes between their subjects in
Flanders. [Three pages. Copy.] |
Sept. 6.
Oatlands. |
236. The Council to Sir John Masone. Have frequently written
as to the prisoners of Guernsey and Jersey, and are surprised that any
should still be there. He may give letters of credence to the Scots
ex gratia, but not by reason of former custom alleged, which was not
so. Desire him to confer farther with André de Boses, merchant of
Lyons, as to an alleged counterfeiting of the King's coin. The French
Ambassador had applied for the names of those who were to be
appointed Commissioners to meet those of France for deciding
maritime causes: to this they had replied that while most Continental Courts acted upon the rules of the civil law, none but the
Admiralty Court did so in England, and to its jurisdiction they
proposed to commit the adjudication of such causes. Instead therefore of appointing Commissioners, they proposed that two of their
own number should be nominated to act as permanent judges of
appeal from the Admiralty Court, should its judgments prove
unsatisfactory to the parties. The French Ambassador had also
applied on behalf of his master for the release of the Archbishop of
Glasgow, on the ground of his having merely omitted a formality;
nevertheless though it is not so, but the thing very material, and
though the Archbishop is a prisoner of good price, and should pay
20,000 crowns for his ransom, yet out of regard to the French King,
his Majesty is pleased to let him go freely. Send copy of report of
the Commissioners on the northern frontiers as to the conduct of
the Scots and their views of the peace. [Six pages. Copy in Sir
J. Masone's Letter-Book.] |
Sept. 10.
Poissy. |
237. Sir John Masone to the Council. For the last 10 or 12
days the Queen of Scots has been so dangerously ill of the prevailing flux, that her recovery was doubted, but within the last
two she is considered to be out of danger. On Sunday the Duke
of Angoulême was baptized by the name of Charles Maximilian,
so given by the Deputy of the King of Bohemia (no longer called
Archduke), who being godfather had place above the King of
Navarre. The deputy godmother was the King's bastard daughter,
who held the infant in place of the Duchess of Ferrara. Mentions
the entertainment and presents given to the Deputy and his suite.
The non-arrival of the Dowager Queen of Scotland had caused
considerable alarm at the Court, lest the recent storms should have
driven her to the coast of Flanders, but they have been relieved
by hearing that she did not embark until last Saturday. Immediately on his return M. de Thermes is to go as Ambassador
to Rome, and the present one there, M. d' Urfé, is to come to be
governor of the Dauphin in room of the late M. de Humiez. Revision
of the mintage. M. de Biez is released from close confinement, and
it is thought will eventually be restored altogether, much to the disappointment of Chastillon. Three or four ships have lately arrived
from England laden with images, which have been sold at Paris,
Rouen, and other places, and being eagerly purchased, give to the
ignorant people occasion to talk according to their notions; which
needed not had their Lordships' command for defacing of them been
observed. The Sherif had attempted to surprise Oran, but being chased
by Don Bernardine de Mendoça, had gone to Argel [Algiers] to see if
he could succeed better there. "This good fellow seemeth to be indifferent to all men, and careth not of what religion he be from whom
he may catch any place to put his foot in." Dragut Rey lately had
made a descent on the African coast. Urges the regular payment of
his salary, to prevent the necessity of his borrowing, which he must
do at 40 per cent. besides interest, in consequence of the depreciation
of the currency, so that his daily allowance of five marks a day does
not yield him 40 shillings, while his expenses amount to double
that sum. The French King leaves this about Monday or Tuesday
next week, and is to spend six or seven days at Anet, a residence of
Madame de Valentinois, intending to enter Rouen on the 25th if no
alteration in his plan. The Constable has had leave of absence till
the King arrives at Anet, and has gone to his house called Chantilly.
[Three pages. Copy in Sir J. Masone's Letter-Book.] |
Sept. 14.
Poissy. |
238. Sir John Masone to the Council. Had their letters of the
6th, and on the 13th audience of the French King, who was attended
by the Cardinal of Lorraine acting in absence of the Constable. The
King returned thanks to his Majesty for the enlargement of the
Archbishop of Glasgow, and was contented with the appointment of
two Privy Councillors as Judges of Appeal from the Admiralty Court,
of the delays and lack of justice in which he had heard many complaints. As to the Scots taken at St. Andrew's, he would defer the
question of their full liberty till the arrival of the Queen Dowager,
when that and all other matters connected with Scotland should be
adjusted; but in the meanwhile would take steps to restrain the
Scots on the borders. Has not lately seen De Boses, whom he believes to be attending on the Constable, but expects to see him at
Rouen. The Emperor's Ambassador here has written to the one in
England to get him two geldings, and has requested Masone to be
the means of procuring a licence for exporting them, notwithstanding
the prohibition by reason of their great scarcity. "There is a little
square between the Duchess of Valentinois, who ruleth the roast, and
the Constable; a great many of the Court wisheth the increase thereof.
He is very ill beloved, for that he is a hinderer of all men saving his
own kinsfolks, whom he doth so advance as no man may have anything by his will but they, and for that also he feedeth every man
with fair words, and performeth nothing." The King leaves for
Rouen to-morrow, taking en route the Constable's houses, then
Roche Guyon, and so to Anet. [Five pages and a half. Copy in
Sir J. Masone's Letter-Book.] |
Sept. 14.
Poissy. |
239. Sir John Masone to the Right Honourable Mr. William Cecil,
one of the King's Highness's two principal Secretaries. Congratulating him upon his appointment, and eulogising the character of his
Secretary, Lord. [Two pages. Printed by Tytler, Vol. i., p. 319.] |
Sept. 14.
Poissy. |
240. John Lord to Cecil. Return thanks for being continued
in his service, and will return as soon as his lord can dispense
with his attendance. [One page.] |
Sept. 28.
Oatlands. |
241. The Council to Sir John Masone. Desiring him to endeavour to obtain redress for a poor Irishman who had been plundered
of all his goods to the value of 200l. by some French seaman, he
being unable to have recourse to the law by reason of his poverty.
[Half a page. Copy in Sir J. Masone's Letter-Book.] |
Sept. 30.
Oatlands. |
242. Same to same. Inform him of what passed on the preceding
day between them and the Master of Erskine, Ambassador from
Scotland, touching the disputes concerning Edrington (called by
the English Cawe Mill), the fishing of half the Tweed, another
piece of ground on the middle marshes called the Threpeland, and
the debateable land. Had referred him for any explanation of the
treaty to the French King, and, as the said Erskine was going to
France, they desire Masone to act according to the instructions previously given to him. Send copy of letter from Sir John Wallop,
and a chart of the boundaries of the English possessions round Calais
and Guisnes, to be used when necessary; with general directions for
his conduct in the matter. [Five pages and a half. Copy in Sir
J. Masone's Letter-Book.] |
Sept. 30.
Oatlands. |
243. Draft of the latter half of the preceding letter, so far as
relates to Sir John Wallop's letter. [Four pages.] |
