|
Jan. 6.
[Antwerp?] |
273. Gaeret Harman, goldsmith, to Sir William Cecil. After a
good passage he arrived at Antwerp on New-year's day, at 10 p.m.
whence he proceeded to Master Channerly [Chamberlain], at Brussels, and delivered the message. Received for answer that they
should have no need thereof, and it was hard to get it, because the
Lady Regent is not at Brussels, and that if application were made to
the Council for a passport, it might be thought suspicious; therefore
bids him make the best shift he can to get a good ship or two as
needs require and to get him to Zealand with Master Gondelfings
[Kundelfinger] and his company, and with the first wind to sea.
Requests Cecil to procure for him a passport, since without it he may
be stayed. Having a bit of the ore in his bag, he gave it to Gondelfings and the Burgomaster, the latter of whom immediately assayed it, and found it so good that there is no doubt if he have ore
enough the King shall receive such honest profit as will cause the
Council to regret that it has been so long delayed. Has had no
tidings of Dansell's coming, or of the money, which grieves him.
[Two pages.] |
Jan. 7.
Augsburg. |
274. Sir Richard Morysine to Cecil. Were well worthy blame,
and unworthy either to receive long or short letters from Cecil, if he
did not bid his shortest welcome and give most earnest thanks for
them. Master Hales plieth him with precepts, and breeds a desire in
him, as much as he can, to please them both. Ciphering is to him
such a pain, as he had rather do any drudgery than fall to it, and
yet will he lie no more so open as he has done. Winchester's fault
he can no way better amend, than in doing as he did, to be most
against him. Well likes Mr. Wotton's wariness, and where he can,
does mean to follow it. He does but tell reports for the most part,
which is, in his fancy, a good part of his service; as he can seldom
come where he may know whether they be true or otherwise. If
he does sometime say his conjecture, so it be thereafter hid under a
cipher, his lack of judgment, in guessing otherwise than it is, may
more justly be pitied than he shent for saying as he thinks. He
had rather seem unwise than unwilling to further as much as he
can; and what harm do councillors take, when he has said, which
may think as they see cause and do what they best like? That he is
so open, the fault is Fortune's, and many times not his. He sometimes hears news of importance when he has scarce time to write
them; if he shall send them, they must go as they may; if he stays
them for cipher, they may come thither by other means, and he be
shent for leaving his duty undone. He supposes his letters come
into England unseen; if they do not the Emperor is content men
shall write the success of rebels as well as his good fortunes.
He may be bold to favour that he ought, when W. made at his
discourses to set up that he ought to have beaten down. Will follow
him but when he is forced; learn to pardon faults, and he will make
the fewer. Cecil will perceive what charges will grow newly to him;
if the Emperor goes into Hungary, he must either send home his
wife or keep at Argentine [Strasburg]; do which he will, he is half
undone. Marvels that his diet money cometh not; if that will not
serve with more, is it reason he lacks it? Prays Cecil will cry upon
Mr. Hales to sell his western land; he left commission with him,
and writes every post to him for it. He would be able someways to
entice some to bring him advertisements. His geldings have hitherto
served, he must now seek other shifts. May no licence be granted to
him but licence to want, and few to pity him? " Good Mr. Cecil,
let me perceive that you have made my scuse of not writing, and
that he hath as well a mind to help me out of this beggary as
though I wrote daily. I wish you health, and my lady your wife
sick of child." |
|
P.S.—"You must in any wise help Christopher Mount to part of
his money; if not to all. I know he wanteth; and, as little plenty
as I have, I was driven to pity his needs more than mine own lacks.
You shall at once do pleasure to twain." [Three pages.] |
Jan. 8.
[Antwerp?] |
275. Gaeret Harman, goldsmith, to Sir William Cecil. Earnestly
desires that this money may be paid, as these men heartily desire
to serve the King. After the Burgomaster had twice or thrice
repeated the assay of the ore, he was as merry as if the King had
given him 100 pounds, and said that if he might have ore enough,
the whole realm should have cause to thank God for it. Out of
the 100 ounces would be got more than eight ounces of fine silver,
and half a hundred of good lead. If Cecil will show this letter to
the Council, they will see that he has always spoken the truth in
regard to this matter, and it were pity that men of no experience
should meddle in it, as they would lose the one half that God had
given to them. [One page.] |
Jan. 18.
Greenwich. |
276. The Council to Sir John Masone. Acknowledge his letter
of the 30th December, and commend his diligence. Desire to be
informed what he has done in regard to the lewd French book against
the King, and that he may let the French King know that, however
anxious they are to be on friendly terms with the Scots, the latter
will always provoke a breach of the peace. Dr. Smith has farthered
his own suit by printing at Paris a slanderous book against the
Bishop of Canterbury. He has once deceived an Ambassador in
Flanders, and by likelihood would deceive another in France; but
indeed they know him too well to be deceived by him. Mr. Chamberlain having lately been denied the service of his religion in
Flanders, they have caused the Emperor's Ambassador to procure
him liberty on pain of his own restraint here. Wish to know how
he is treated in this respect in France. Mr. Pickering's preparations
are well advanced, and the time of his departure will shortly
be made known. Orders have been issued for the payment of
Masone's diets. [Three pages. Copy in Sir J. Masone's LetterBook.] |
| Eod. die. |
Draft of the preceding. [Four pages.] |
Jan. 19.
Blois. |
277. Henry II., King of France, to King Edward VI. In favour
of Nicholas Guymonneau, a merchant of Orleans, whose vessel had
been captured by the English in 1547, during the time of peace.
[Broadside. French. Countersigned by De l'Aubespine.] |
Jan. 20.
Blois. |
278. Sir John Masone to the Council. Introducing the merchant
of Orleans mentioned in the preceding letter, and urging his suit,
the same being much made of by the French King and Court.
[One page and a half.] |
| Eod. die. |
Copy of the preceding in Sir J. Masone's Letter-Book. [One page
and a half.] |
Jan. 20.
Augsburg. |
279. Sir Richard Morysine to Cecil. Is his land so increased since
his coming out, or his substance so unknown, that men do think he
may serve the King without his diets? He would he could, not that
he cares, "if your intrade lasted no longer mine than I have to serve
here." If all his doings be still misliked, he is able to do no better,
is sorry for it, and wishes some wise men might shortly call a fool
home. He has written so much, and to so many, that he must have
a new matter ere he can write more, and come home to make more
friends ere he can write to any more. Shall he continue at his cares
where to have money, how to get his house found? What service
can a mind thus distempered think upon? or if he chance to think
upon any, how shall he do that he gladliest would? He prays God
he come no more home, if he has not in this little while spent a
thousand pounds within a fifty or three score. He does ask yet but
his diets, and if Mr. Hales would make as good haste in selling his
land as he does in entreating him to it, would spend his own first,
and cry for his allowances after. Does think there be that owe him
their help. If they be not able to pay presently, he will bear with
them; if they be, and will not, they do him a good deal of wrong.
He cannot serve without heart, nor live without money. Can less
bear this his infelicity, that he must be where spending is necessary,
where he must with unreasonable blushing borrow and still fail his
day. Had rather write of other things, but sorrow guideth his
heart, and his hand the pen. God send him once home, and he
trusts he shall better indent ere he come forth again. Will stop,
and let rage of his race, praying that by some means or other he
may be holpen to his due. " And thus in frost, all out of temper, I
wish you more than I care for myself, health. Yours in temper and
out of temper." [Two pages.] |
Jan. 22.
Blois. |
280. Sir John Masone to the Council. Requests passports for one
year may be granted to Sir Hugh Campbell, Sheriff of Ayr, his son
Matthew, their two wives, and eight servants, to go from and return
to France through England; and as Sir Hugh intends to purchase
here three or four curtalls, begs that they may be allowed to pass
without staying, any restraint to the contrary, if such there be, notwithstanding. [One page.] |
Jan. 22.
Blois. |
281. Same to same. Requesting passports for Mr. Hugh Kennedy
and Mr. Ringan (Ninian) Cranstoun, two Scottish gentlemen, with
seven or eight attendants, their horses and other necessaries, to go to
Scotland through England; also that such stoned horses or curtalls as
he might desire—one or two being at the most—shall pass without
restraint. [One page.] |
Jan. 23.
Blois. |
282. Same to same. Apprizes them of the departure of Mons. de
Lansac, a native of Guienne and "gentleman for the mouth," who
has been sent by the French King as a mediator for peace between
England and Scotland. Again refers to the case of the merchant of
Orleans mentioned in his letter of the 20th. The military preparations are supposed to be against the Emperor. "This Court was
never so secret, and therefore the harder it is to know any certainty
of things but as time shall reveal them." The Chancellor of France
has been recently dismissed, on the ground, as common report goes,
that he was too slow for the office; but wise men think there was
some other matter. " This Court is all set upon pastimes, and between Candlemas and Shrovetide shall the marriages go forward
with much triumph." [Four pages and a half.] |
| Eod. die |
Copy of the preceding in Sir John Masone's Letter-Book. [Four
pages.] |
Jan. 24.
Blois. |
283. Sir John Masone to the Council. Requesting letters of safe
conduct for Sir James Douglas, of Donnelanerycke (Drumlanrig),
with eight or ten servants, returning to Scotland through England,
and that the same may be sent by John Douglas, who will wait upon
their Lordships for Lord Maxwell's safe conduct. [One page.] |
Jan. 28
Greenwich. |
284. The Council to Sir John Masone. Introducing to him a secret
agent, "one that Balneys (Balneaves) the Scot hath committed of
trust to be in France," and who will bring to him as much intelligence as the Scots have. They have given him 10l. towards his
charge. [Half a page. Noted by Masone to have been written in
cipher. Copy in Sir John Masone's Letter-Book.] |
Jan 29.
Greenwich. |
285. Same to same. In consequence of intelligence received from
France, Scotland, and elsewhere, that the great military preparations
by the French are intended against England, they desire him to
learn from the French King himself their meaning in these preparations. [One page. Copy in Sir J. Masone's Letter-Book.] |
Jan. 31.
Greenwich. |
286. Same to same. Introducing the bearer, Mr. Dudley, who
accompanies the Vidame to France, and requesting that the usual
attentions and good services may be shown to him. [Half a page.
Copy in Sir J. Masone's Letter-Book.] |
