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June 4.
Brussels. |
693. The Bishop of Norwich, Sir Philip Hoby, and Sir Richard
Morysine to the Council. Acknowledge their letters of 31st May,
with schedule of instructions sent towards the King of the Romans
and his son. These they think the best that could be devised, and
the time best chosen for beginning of that matter. Deeply regret
their prolonged abode here, for which the Emperor's sickness is made
a constant excuse. They cannot, without special orders from the
Council, state the offers,—which are rather demands—received from
the French Ambassador; but by so communicating these unreasonable demands it might be taken unkindly, and his Majesty alleged
not to tender the Emperor's honour therein so much as had been
pretended, whereupon such answer might be made as would be contrary to the King's expectation. Beseech that the Council will prescribe to them whether to open to the Emperor, or for lack of him
to the Regent, these French offers as they be, or what else to do.
Last Wednesday D'Arras besought them to have more patience, for
whereas the gout had left the Emperor's leg, so that he thought
himself almost well, now it was come into his hand that presently
he could attend to no business. This morning have been informed
by a German secretary of the Emperor that the Rhinegrave and
Rokerett, another German captain, are together levying troops in
the Landgravate of Hesse for service of the French King. [Three
pages.] |
June 4.
Brussels. |
694. Same to Secretary Sir William Petre and Sir William Cecil.
Inclose letters for them received by Hoby from Mr. Sheres this
morning. Since making up their common letter to the Council this
afternoon they have been informed that the agent of the Fuggers
here has received letters from Augsburg of 30th ult., mentioning that
during the departure of Marquis Albert towards Maurice, they of
Nuremburg marched upon two towns which the Marquis had taken
from them. The garrisons left there being unable to defend, abandoned the towns, carrying with them their ordnance; but were pursued by the Nuremburg cavalry, who took seven pieces of artillery
from them. On hearing of this, the Marquis returned with such
speed that he overtook the Nuremburgers, and not only recovered
his artillery, but got two other of their castles; the one by composition, the other by force, in which he put all whom he found to the
sword. Request them to communicate these news to the Council.
[One page.] |
June 5.
Camp before Terouanne. |
695. Signor Battista dell' Insula to the Prince of Piedmont. Giving
a lucid account of the operations of the Imperial army against the
City of Terouanne, the battering down of some of the strongest
works, the filling up of the ditch, and preparations by mining for a
general assault. Their artillery have beaten to the ground the
steeple of the church within the town, which was very fair and of a
goodly height, as it looked over all the country round about, and
discovered whatsoever the besiegers did. Mons. Rieux is past recovery, he hath lost his speech and is in great pangs, and so sore that
he will not continue in life till to-morrow. It is understood that
the French make great preparations to succour the town. [Three
pages. Translation.] |
June 9.
Brussels. |
696. The Bishop of Norwich, Sir Philip Hoby, and Sir Richard
Morysine, to the Council. Yesterday afternoon, about 5 o'clock,
they had audience of the Regent, by whom they were assured of
the Emperor's desire for peace, and his estimation of the King's
desire to procure such, but that offers must proceed from France.
Thereafter were brought to the Emperor in his privy chamber,
where they found him sitting with his feet on a stool looking very
pale, weak, lean and feeble, but nothing so ill as they had believed,
for his eye was lively enough, and his speech sensible. To-day
or to-morrow look to hear of access given to the Legate, of whose
practices they have caused good search to be made, and find that
he is noticed and taken here to be French, and therefore not so
much regarded as he looked for. Besides he has to do with an
abbey which he should have in these parts, and with that and
dispensations is more occupied about his profit than about those
public matters which he pretends, or others of importance that
they can hear of. Mount is still here, and as some of the princes
are already at Frankfort and the rest looked for, his being there
now might serve well for intelligence of those affairs. [Two pages
and a half, the greater portion printed by Tytler, Vol. ii., p. 182.] |
June 10.
Greenwich. |
697. The Council to the Bishop of Norwich, Sir Philip Hoby,
and Sir Richard Morysine. Acknowledge their letters of 31st
May and 4th June. In absence of farther answer from France,
they are to proceed upon their first instructions. Some merchants
have exhibited a supplication to the King, that whereas they have
always in time past had liberty to bring out of the Low Countries
any money of the coinage of other nations, they have of late been
staid from that liberty upon a pretence of a new law made in the
last Parliament of England, for restraint of carrying out any
kind of coin. Desire that Hoby will explain to the Regent or
D'Arras that this is no new enactment, but only a renovation of
an old one made in the realm beyond memory of man, so that the
merchants may enjoy their accustomed liberty, whereby they may
be encouraged to continue their usual traffics, and desire him to
inform them of such answer as he shall receive when next he writes.
[Two pages. Draft.] |
June 22.
Poissy. |
698. Sir Thomas Chaloner to the Council. Requests an increase
of his allowance, as the scarcity of provisions, rents, and ordinary
charges are so increased by the wars, and the changes of the Court,
that it will be altogether impossible for him to maintain himself on
his present diets. [Two pages.] |
June 23.
Poissy. |
699. Dr. Wotton, Sir William Pickering, and Sir Thomas Chaloner
to the Council. Since the Queen's confinement the King has been
so much engaged in visiting, hunting, and amusements, that he did
not return to St. Germain until Friday last; and then the Cardinal
Legate having audience, and remaining at the Court until Monday,
and the King going a hunting on the following day, had farther
deferred their having access to him until Wednesday last. Previous
to their having audience they dined with the Constable, among
whose other guests was M. de Boisdaulphin, who expressed himself
highly gratified by the treatment which he had received while in
England. In conversation the Constable gave a long and animated
account of the various assaults on Terouanne, and the repulse of the
Imperial troops. Among those who had particularly distinguished
themselves was one Crayer, an Englishman (whom the Constable
wondrously commended), Captain of the French King's light horse,
who had contrived to throw into the town at its severest pressure 600 fresh soldiers, with ammunition, provisions, and medical supplies. After dinner they had audience of the King. His
Majesty stated that he had received intelligence of King Edward's
indisposition from Boisdaulphin, even about the same time that the
Queen, his wife, was in so great peril and danger by travail of her
late childbirth, as the surgeon was ready to have cut her open, in
case she should have died, for the saving of the child. Wherefore
being in a manner no less sorry for the one than for the other, it
moved him upon her good escape and deliverance to send De L'Aubespine to visit the King, his good son and brother, of whose good
recovery he has been and is very glad. His Majesty also mentioned
to them a report that the Prince of Spain had been murdered by one
of his servants while hunting, and that in consequence all passages
and ports in Spain, by land or sea, were stopped. Next day they
were informed by order of the Constable of the fall of Terouanne,
the tidings of which had arrived about supper-time the preceding
evening. It has been razed to the ground, and all its inhabitants
and garrison put to the edge of the sword. [Ten pages.] |
June 25.
Brussels. |
700. Sir Richard Morysine to Sir William Cecil. Thanks Cecil
that he made him his interpreter in Hoby's letters, and would gladly
expound three or four lines of Greek, if he would be good enough
to send them. His matter was unpleasant to them both; they wish
to hear what the fulness of the moon has brought forth; is there
hope or the contrary (in Greek)? If he will have them write long
letters to him, he must write long ones to them, which till they
know more, know nothing at all. Assure them first that the King
lives and then he will see that they live (in Greek). In the mean
season, like mariners that have lost their masts, let fall their anchors,
and know not where they shall be come, they stand upon the shore
and behold the ship, which still maketh proffer to go under the
waves. Help them if he can; if not, put to them the rest. [One
page.] |
June 26.
Rouen. |
701. Dr. Valentine Dale to Sir William Petre. Has informed the
Council of the order agreed and concluded by the French Commissioners, touching the receiving of evidence in England relating to
the merchants' suits. [One page.] |
