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Oct. 1.
Landau. |
[566. Roger Ascham to Sir Richard Morysine. Gives an account
of his inverview with M. D'Arras, to whom he had been sent by
Morysine to request that as the Portuguese Ambassador was at the
Court, he, as representative of England, might be permitted to
attend. This is refused; since unless, as in the present instance, the
Ambassadors had any special message from their masters, the
Emperor's enemies might, under pretence of the Ambassadors' retinues, have too open means to look into His Majesty's matters and
doings. Had requested that John Bernardine might attend the
Court, as other agents were there. This also refused, Bernardine
being specially obnoxious, and D'Arras threatened, that if he came
to the Court, he should be apprehended and imprisoned.
This letter, "from the Paper Office," apparently not now in that
repository, has been printed in the collection of State Papers compiled
by Lord Hardwicke, Vol. i., p. 48.] |
Oct. 2.
Rheims. |
567. Sir William Pickering to Sir William Cecil. Complains of
being misrepresented by some "pannion frontis prœfrictœ." Such
bruits must men abide sometimes that lead this life, quœ plus aloes
quam mellis habet, though they bear themselves never so uprightly.
Will send the pedigrees and books written for as soon as he can
procure them. Perceives that the King is well willing to any
restitution they may demand in matters of depredation, whether for
love or fear he knows not. (In cipher, deciphered.) On Michaelmas,
after the ceremonies of the Order, which was solemnly celebrated with
only two of the Knights, M. de Canaples and the Admiral; the Cardinal of Lorraine showed him the sainte ampoule wherewith the
Kings of France are consecrated, and which was sent from heaven
above a thousand years ago, since then miraculously preserved, and
by virtue whereof the Kings heal les escrouilles. "He spake of
other virtues, which, as I judged by his looks, he thought I little
believed." Mr. Barnaby [Fitzpatrick] wishes the Vice-Chamberlain
would send him the just measure and manner of quilting. Requests
the accompanying packet may be safely delivered to the Venetian
Ambassador, to whose colleague here he is much beholden, and recommends to his good services the bearer, John Hollingworth, servant
to Dr. Bruno, who has a suit to Norroy [William Harvey], king
of arms, wherein his furtherance is much desired. [One page.
Indorsed by Cecil.] |
Oct. 7.
Spires. |
568. [Sir Richard Morysine to the Council. Had received his
Majesty's instructions and their letters of the 24th September on the
4th inst., and forthwith made towards the Court. Gives a long and
circumstantial account of the hospitality and courtesies shown to
him by M. D'Arras, and of his interview and conversation with the
Emperor.
This letter, "from the Paper Office," like that from Ascham to
Morysine of 1st October, apparently not now there, has been
printed by Lord Hardwicke, Vol. i., p. 51.] |
Oct. 7.
Spires. |
569. Sir Richard Morysine to Sir William Cecil. Can for himself
say no more than Cecil must needs think, if he considers him but
within a kenning of an honest man. Will do his best to come
nearer the mark, which, in spite of fortune, he will shoot at, though
she still break his bow and do her best to unfeather his arrows.
Bernardine has a long season troubled him here: would be glad to
understand that his credit were no more at home than his honesty
has been abroad. Councillors, that lend their ears to such sycophants
as can say well but of the lewd, do as falsely accuse him with their
ears as the others do with their tongues. Prays God Bernardine
say but truth of him, and then had as lief he said all as left any part
unsaid. If things past be fittest to discourse things to come, doubts
not but he shall lead Cecil's conjectures so, as that that lieth hid in
the dark shall appear by things in the light. The sea has been long
blamed as a thing untrusty; no keeper of calms, but aye ready to
toss some new-come sailors; but if the earth will cherish such hurds
of vilety, as this is, he weens the sea will shortly be counted the
quieter place for a man to make his abode in. Bernardine has a
great sort of the conditions of Menon Thessalus; desires to be on
friendly terms with those in highest power, that he may not be
punished for any offences which he has committed, and thinks the
much shortest way to obtain what he wants is by lying, forswearing,
deceit, and servility (in Greek). Xenophon has the rest in Cyr. 2.
[Anabasis], and but that he writes Greek as he understands it, with
great difficulty, would have transcribed the passage at length. But
of him this is enough for Cecil to have, and too much for Morysine
to write. Cecil has given life to dead spirits that lay in Mr. Ascham.
They begin to shine, and will be able to wax hotly, if Weston might
bring his patent sealed. Cecil must pardon him for not writing at
this time, as he has his belly-full of writings, although only writing
for Morysine. Has need of his diets, and has written to the Duke of
Northumberland to help them to him. His letters of credit will
make him that he shall never be trusted, or never pay, if he should
borrow where is appointed. Had but two crowns and two shillings
paid him for a pound sterling, and thus had 600l. his last diets. He
will not crave, and yet they might give if they would do as well as
they speak fair. He must pay debts ere he comes home, or he may
chance sell land apace when he is at home. [Three pages. Indorsed
by Cecil.] |
Oct. 12.
Rheims. |
570. Sir William Pickering to Sir William Cecil. Entreating
payment of his diets, having at this instant not 20 crowns left,
so that he may not fall into his wonted fever again. The pestilence
is very hot in divers parts of France. [One page.] |
Oct. 15.
Venice. |
571. Peter Vannes to the Council. On the 11th had received
their letters from Basing of the 8th ult. Thanks them for their advertisement of the King's most prosperous and quiet estate, together
with the prudent government of his Highness' realm, which he has
declared to the Seigniory here, who received the same most gratefully.
However, at the same time their Lordships' letter arrived, some
merchants, by letters from Antwerp of the 18th ult., had been
informed that England was in much trouble, having all the ports and
passages stopped, and a rupture with France. These false tidings,
which had been much noised abroad here, were quenched by the
private letters which friends in London had addressed to him of the
20th ult. Mentions this to show the necessity of more frequent
communication from their Lordships for the avoiding of such evil and
naughty slanders. It is written that one half of the Turk's army is
ordered to return to Constantinople, and the other, of which
Dragut is General, to stay for the service of the French in his enterprise
against the realm of Naples next spring. The new King of Persia,
or Sophy, has declared war against the Turk, and entered into a
part of Syria, damnifying much that country, in defence of which the
Turk is preparing a large army to be sent thither under the command of Rustan Bascian [Bassa]. Letters from Vienna of the 29th
ult. state that Duke Maurice, after a long consultation with the King
of the Romans upon the proceeding of the wars against the Turks in
those parts, returned to Comorn where the strength of the Christian
army doth consist. Signor Sforza Pallavicino, who had been taken
prisoner by the Turk, has paid for his ransom 16,000 crowns, and is
created Master of the King of the Romans camp. There was good trust
that the country would be well defended; although rumour alleges
that the Turk has continually rather the advantage over the Christians
than otherwise. The Vaivode of Moldavia, who is a lieutenant in
those parts having about him a great guard of Tartarians and Turks,
coming towards Transylvania, has with all his company been slain
by the means of Signr. Giovanni Baptista Castaldo; and another
Vaivode has been elected, who, is a trusty friend to the King of the
Romans. Sienna as yet cannot agree upon any order for the government of their Commonwealth. There are there about 3,000
French soldiers under Mons. de Thermes, who it is said, will return
shortly to France, and the Cardinal of Ferrara, at request of the
Siennese, will go to Sienna to assist them for the better quietness of
their government. At present all the chief Counsellors of the French
King are at Ferrara, for behoof of his affairs in Italy, and to inform
him thereof by Mons. de Thermes. [Three pages.] |
Oct. 17.
Chioza. |
572. Fabritio di Grotti, Canceliere di Chioza, to [Francis Yaxley].
Yesterday Yanin and Vane, the knaves who swindled M. Ridolpho
and M. Francis, Englishmen, out of their money, were convicted by
the Podestà, and condemned each to pay his share of the money
within 20 days, and besides payment to be banished as robbers for
10 years, and in default of payment to be put in irons and sent to
the gallies for 10 years, with other penalties. The bearers hereof
are agents for the criminals, and wait upon Yaxley in order to procure the favour of his accepting what little they have in their power
to give. They are in very great distress, they have suffered long
confinement in a foul prison, and they will be banished; and he
appeals to Yaxley's generosity. [Italian. One page. Indorsed by
Yaxley.] |
Oct. 23.
Rheims. |
573. Sir William Pickering to Sir William Cecil. Cannot tell
whether he may impute it to his evil husbandry, or to the labyrinth
of his intolerable charges, or to both, that no money will abide with
him. He is still driven to make shifts and reshifts, whilst his own
is almost consumed with answering the interests, which he thinks
maxime proprium illi soli et semper; for since his coming on this
side the sea he was never clear a board with these bankers, and, by
God! is in at this hour 2,000 crowns thick, and with all this good
luck is added to his former fortunes that he is constrained to borrow
so much money as may despatch the bearer hereof to England. Implores the speedy payment of his diets, and the returning of the
bearer soon again, but not without his posting-money, as commonly
his fellows have returned. Has already written to the Duke of
Northumberland concerning his revocation, but has received no
reply. Requests him to solicit the passport for Crawford, who is an
honest gentleman, and one of whom he received much courtesy in the
camp. The Cardinal of Tournon is in great danger of his life at
Lyons, by a fervent fever. [Two pages.] |
Oct. 23.
Brussels. |
574. Sir Thomas Chamberlain to Sir William Cecil. Thanks
him for his letter of the 13th inst. Hears that the French King asks
seven years day of payment to restore to the English all that his
subjects have wrongly taken. If it be so, wishes that good pledge
were had for the performance, and assurance of better entreaty at
their hands henceforth. Touching Imperial matters, he perceives
that these folks make so little account of the friendship of England
in these their needy times, that if the Emperor should prosper he is
not likely to make greater reckoning of it so long as he lives. There
is talk here that Mons. de Courrieres should return again to England
and there succeed the evil Minister who has so long molested them.
Hopes such may be the case, as he never could perceive other in him
than good disposition toward amity, considering the same much more
necessary than the other's evil disposed nature can comprehend. The
poor merchants daily complain of molestation by sea or land; but
for all that he can allege to the Queen and Councillors does not see
them make much more of the amity than though they had never felt
or had need of the same. But herein Cecil must think that he talks
to him as his tutor, and not otherwise, protesting that his good
lesson has not been forgotten. Wishes God may give Cecil good
luck in his new office of Chancellor of the Order of the Garter. Has
endeavoured to procure for him information as to the ceremonies of
the Order of the Toison d'Or, but has been unsuccessful, the present
Chancellor thereof being a Frenchman born and as evil disposed to
the English as may be; the Treasurer is of the same sort; and the
other two officers are not here at present. But he has gathered a
few particulars from one of the stewards of the Queen's household,
who formerly held the office of Toison d'Or, and to whom he had
shown some civilities, feigning to him that he had great desire in
reading of stories and antiquities, and specially sought to know what
Princes heretofore had established for the advancement of nobility.
There are four officers belonging to the Order, a Chancellor, a Treasurer, a Greffier, and a Herald called Toison d'Or—Chief Herald and
King of Arms. Briefly describes their respective duties. At the
institution of the Order, these officers required to be gentlemen, but
now by favour mean men are crept in, which is here much misliked.
Mons. Granvelle got in the Treasurer, a very mean man, meaning
both to have him for an instrument there to persuade that he might
be taken into the Order, and also to reveal unto him what passed in
the Chapter. Such is the opinion of some people. [Seven pages.
Indorsed by Cecil.]
Extract from the preceding, so far as relates to the Toison d'Or,
in comparatively modern hand. [Three pages.] |
