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March 3.
Brussels. |
333. Sir John Masone to Sir William Petre. Has received his
letter of the 22d February by Antonio Florebello, and offers his
hearty thinks for the short receiving of his money and Petre's
travail in bringing the same. Whensoever it shall come it is
already spent, and therefore more care does he take for the receipt
of that that shall be due again this month of March, as well diets
as fees, than he takes pleasure for the receiving of the past, which
as soon as it comes must be paid again; so as he sees the estate of
an Ambassador, that of himself is not able to bear the brunt, is
come to be most miserable. Therefore if Petre can with good
mean help him from it, like as he has always found him his especial
friend, so shall he reckon that agreement of friendship to pass all
the rest. In the meantime, he would to God Thomas Gresham,
who he hears is returned to Antwerp, might be his paymaster! The
Lord put some good man in mind, whom the Queen can be content
to believe, to advise her to take the measure of her realm and to
proportionate her receipts and expenses together, and to bring her
charges to the rate as they were at in her grandfather's time and
in the beginning of her father's. Good Lord! how often has he
heard this matter spoken of and wished for! and that he sees it not
executed, he must needs think they are not thoroughly reconciled
to God's favour. So long he sees shall they run to risk ere their
case shall be out of remedy; and then woe be to those that might
have holpen it in time! They have peace, they have such ways
to bring in money as they never had, and yet remain they needy
and most miserable. What is this but an evident sign of God's
displeasure? They see the sore and seek not to amend it; unless
it may be thought an amendment to hold away poor men's duties,
the satisfaction of which sort, notwithstanding wars and all other
extremities, other Courts have a special regard unto, who see that
of the contrary must needs ensue dishonour, shame, and displeasure
of Almighty God. Well! his writing will not help, and therefore
he says no more. The French still assemble on the English frontier,
for resisting of them sees no such preparation as were to be wished.
The States were appointed to meet here to-morrow for a new aid,
but the Queen not having returned from Antwerp it is doubtful if
the day will hold. During this extreme weather the Emperor has
been ill-troubled with his gout; but as the time amends so does
the disposition of his body. The Abbate has not had audience yet.
The Dowager of the Vaivode has by express Ambassador threatened
afresh the King of the Romans to seek aid at the Emperor's
hands, if she does not obtain her demands, which it is thought she
has already done by the French King's means. Italy is conveniently provided for. Don Bernardino de Mendoça, who before
had charge of the gallies of Naples, has arrived in Piedmont.
Shortly such news are expected from Sienna as shall be much contrary to the French reports. This day they look for the ordinary
of Milan. Pickering has been here some days, and will leave for
England on Thursday or Friday next. [Two pages.] |
March 6.
Calais. |
334. Sir Thomas Cornwallis to Sir William Petre. Last Tuesday
at seven o'clock p.m. took shipping at Dover, and arrived here at
one o'clock a.m. After opening of the gates participated to the Lord
Deputy and Council their Majesties' letters, and in consultation
agreed to apprehend all suspected persons within and without the
town. Although in the few whom they have this day examined
they have found nothing worth advertisement, and in the many still
to be subjected to inquiry they are likely to gather no knowledge of
any lewd practices attempted or devised, yet in their proceedings
they will do much pleasure to the commonwealth of the town and
the marches, in abandoning a great number of idle vagabonds and
masterless servants, whom, but upon this experience, he would have
not believed to be so numerous. For want of time has been unable
yet to learn anything of Anthony Coverer and Peter Hilliard. In
his haste had forgot to move her Majesty for a preacher. On his
arrival found one called Doctor Serles, a prebendary, sent hither
by Doctor Harpsfeld, Archdeacon of Canterbury, a man so rude,
unlearned, and barbarous, as the like was never heard in the place
of a preacher. In his opinion, for the advancement of God's glory,
the Queen's proceedings, the estimation of learning, and the people's
conversion, it had been better that her Majesty had spent 300l.
than such an unlearned man should have come among this people. Is
the better able to judge and report of him, having chanced this day
to hear him preach, and Petre's self shall judge, since at his next
coming he intends to bring the sermon penned. Wishes that Harpsfeld himself, or some other grave learned man, might with speed be
sent hither to repair this man's hurt. The French King has sent to
Ardres three ensigns of foot, and to Boulogne four ensigns, to
victual the pieces, it is understood. [Two pages. Indorsed by
Petre.] |
March 9.
Guisnes. |
335. Lord Grey to the Council. Although after the French
troops had victualled Ardres, this country should have been clear of
them, yet now M. St. André, the Count Rhinegrave, and the Captain
of Boulogne have arrived at Ardres with a great number of horsemen, and a greater power of French will this night encamp at
Fiennes, near this. This he cannot but further mislike, and be
jealous of their often recourse upon these marches in this sort. As
their refortifying Ardres is but a mean argument of a good errand
hitherwards, so he the rather mistrusts their quietness, for he has
apprehended four Frenchmen who came from Ardres yesterday and
were very curious in reviewing the ditches of the town. Although
these men excuse their fact by ignorance, yet because one of them
has served here in the wars and knows the English constitutions,
therefore conjectures some further matter will be bulted out. |
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P.S.—Has just been informed that at Boulogne are 18 cannons
ready mounted to carriage, which are intended to be brought to
Ardres; and that Senarpont, the Captain of Boulogne, has said that
he expects the French King there in person very shortly. [One
page and a quarter. Indorsed by Petre.] |
March 9.
Brussels. |
336. Sir John Masone to Sir William Petre. This morning
M. D'Arras informed the Cardinal's gentleman that the Emperor
intended to see him, and therefore required him to stay his departing. Such may be assigned to D'Arras's influence. In the afternoon the Abbate had access to the Emperor, from whom albeit he
had none other resolution but that previously declared to him by
D'Arras, yet it was a great comfort to see his person and have the
matter confirmed by his own mouth. He found the Emperor in
right good estate, although lately ill-handled by his familiar disease.
The Queen and D'Arras left this afternoon for Antwerp, where they
will probably remain till Easter, D'Arras in the meantime occasionally coming hither. Sig. Antonio Augustino, one of the Rota at
Rome, appointed the Pope's Nuncio to England, arrived here yesterday, and will proceed thither as soon as he has spoken with the
Emperor. The Emperor busily amasses his army, and by next
month he shall have a large force from Germany, among which will
be 1,500 horse out of Hungary. Lately several merchants have
resorted hither, dribling one after another for licence for grain,
some for one quantity some for another, and all bringing letters of
recommendation from the Council, written so as if one minute
served for all. The effect of this is that he has to repair to the
Queen, sue out the licence and deliver it to the merchant, which
kind of office has not heretofore, he thinks, been appointed to any
Ambassador. He has so often troubled her with these suits, that he
is thought to be a party with the merchant; wherefore he suggests
that if the realm stand in such necessity it were more honourable
that her Majesty should write to the Emperor for such aid as may
conveniently be spared; because if the present system continues it is
impossible to persuade them here that the meaning is for the particular profit of the merchants, whereby, besides a slender answer,
the Ambassador cometh in a slander. Therefore requests, that if
they will continue this mode of application, they will either write to
the Queen herself or frame the letters so that she may see the
requests emanate from their Lordships: "otherwise I may well obey
commandment, but I assure you it shall be with an ill will." [One
page and a half.] |
March 15.
Brussels. |
337. Sir John Masone to the Council. Yesterday received their
letter of the 9th, touching the Frenchmen haunting between Dover
and Calais; of this, although it appears that the men here were
before advertised, they take the warning in most thankful part.
Presumes they have heard of the surprise of Casale, the chief town
of Montferrat, belonging to the Duke of Mantua, by the French.
This is of much importance, as between that and Milan there is no
place of any strength, but as the castle still holds out, there is good
hope it may be recovered. For this purpose a large force is already
in order, the Spaniards of Naples having arrived and the Germans
levied by the Cardinal of Trent being not far off. Nevertheless
Brissac (for it was Birago who did the feat) has arrived there with
the body of the French army, and has brought with him 15 great
battering pieces in hope to win the castle before the joining of the
Imperial aid. The Castellan is accounted valiant and a very good
man of war, and has with him 200 Germans, which for the size of
the piece are considered sufficient. In the surprise there were not
past three of any name hurt or taken, whereof one was Count
Lodrogno and the other one Farnari. Letters from Florence of the
4th mention that the Genoese have come to parley. The Duke
requires that the talk shall not be confined to Sienna, but extend to
all other forts in their territory occupied by the French, and that
Pietro Strozzi be none of the Commissioners. [One page.] |
| March 16. |
338. " A note of all such bonds as the King's and Queen's
Majesties must make for the prolongation of the Spanish money, a
die xvj. of March a° 1554." [Four pages. With notes by Petre.] |
March 17.
Venice. |
339. Peter Vannes to the Council. On the 5th inst. received their
letter of the 12th ult., dated at Westminster, which gave him and
all the Queen's friends more joy than he can express. For though
by the letters of the Bishop of Norwich and others, they had general
advertisements of her Majesty's successes against the rebels, yet the
letter of the Council containing all the particulars of so goodly
a victory, and the names of the conspirators did justify the truth,
which had been contradicted otherwise. Repaired, with his household and some friends, to the Duke and Seigniory, and declared to
them that he had come by the Queen's express command to communicate to them the occurrences which had lately taken place in
England, which declaration he extended to her honour and the
praise of her Council and subjects. They took it in very good
part that she should vouchsafe to signify her proceeding in so great
affairs to them, and highly commended her great wisdom in
repressing so great a mischief before it had taken greater power,
alleging that in such cases nothing was so necessary as to withstand
the first brunt. After he had told them how secretly, advisedly,
and on what pretended ground the authors of the rebellion had
wrought this wickedness, what untrue persuasions they had used
to rouse the Queen's subjects, and in how many counties the conspiracy was ripe to break out at the same moment, describing the
counties and inclinations of the people, the qualities of the personages, and for what purpose each was meet, how the conspiracy
was at one point discovered, overthrown, and its chief authors
apprehended, the Duke and the Senate confessed with him that this
was only the hand and work of God, and that no man's providence,
no worldly counsel or strength, could have brought so great and
wickedly prepensed matters in so short a moment to so good an
end. The whole Seigniory received this communication with as great
pleasure as they could their own affairs, and took also great pleasure
to view the names of such noblemen, great lords, and most faithful
Councillors that had put their hands to his letter to the number of
16, with great attention hearkening unto him when he declared
particularly their virtues, qualities, strength, courage, reputation,
integrity, stedfast concord, and assured faithfulness towards the
Queen's Majesty. They were rejoiced also to hear of the great
preparations of war made by her in all parts of the realm, as she
thought convenient to be ready to repress any rebellion that by
the devil's instigation might arise, and to resist any great hostility
that, by land or sea, should appear against her. Assures them
that the crushing of the rebellion has not only purged the realm
of an inward sore, but has greatly increased the estimation of
England in these parts. Has thought good to send copies of their
advertisement into divers parts of Italy to quench untrue reports
from elsewhere. The siege of San Fiorenzo in Corsica, so long in
hand, has at length come to an end from lack of provisions and
aid, which was to have come by the French gallies, but which from
bad weather were too late, seven or eight gallies having been lost.
The garrison and inhabitants are to be allowed to depart in safety
with bag and baggage, leaving the ordnance and munitions behind;
the Italians to be landed at Leghorn, taking an oath not to serve the
French King for eight months; the Corsicans and Genoese to be
turned to the gallies, the Frenchmen into Provence. The Genoese
army has set forth to other places yet held by the French. The
Duke of Florence daily increases his camp against Sienna with
great bands from Naples and Lombardy. Those within Sienna
with all diligence furnish the town with provisions and fortify
it where needful, with mutual salutations of shot of artillery
between them and the fort, with divers skirmishing and robbery
about the countries on both sides. It is said that the Turk's army
will be sent in three score gallies to the service of the French King.
[Four pages and a quarter.] |
March 20.
Brussels. |
340. Sir John Masone to Sir William Petre. The inclosed
letters arrived this afternoon. By others of more recent date it is
understood that the castle of Casale is very well defended, and
has beat down in the adjacent town sundry houses and turrets,
the standing of which, by commodiously covering the enemy,
might have annoyed it. It has received, besides 400 Germans, 100
Spaniards; so that if the succour arrives in time, as there seems no
doubt it will, the French will not likely have to boast much of this
enterprise. The Marquis of Pescara, who is General of the light
horse, was at Mantua when Casale was surprised, and having received there 30,000 crowns for his wife's dowry, sent straight by the
ports 20,000 of these to Milan, to be employed for the Emperor's
service as need should require. The soldiers that remained in
Antwerp are discharged, and appointed to resort to Namur, because
the enemy begins to assemble at Marienburg and has already
done some hurt. |
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P.S.—The Siennese continue to parley; trusts the next letters
will bring good tidings of them. [One page.] |
March 21.
Brussels. |
341. Same to same. Letters received at the Court to-day
mention that the French having made a breach in the castle of
Casale, gave it a great and fierce assault on the 12th inst., but
were repulsed with the loss of at least 1,000 of not the worst of
their soldiers; so it is hoped until succour arrives it will hold
them in play. As yet the French have made no spoil in the town
beyond sacking the Jews and taking from the townsmen all kind
of weapons; if they fail in their attempts and are driven to avoid
again, it is to be feared these poor townsmen are like to feel to
their pains what they will do. Has spoken with Secretary Grasso
touching the safe conduct of the 150,000 crowns, and has delivered
him a memory thereof; he has promised to dispatch the matter.
[Half a page.] |
March 22.
Fontainebleau. |
342. Henry II., King of France, to Queen Mary. In favour of
William Le Gras, merchant of Paris, whose vessel had been captured
in 1542. [French. Broadside. Signed by his Majesty and
countersigned by De l' Aubespine.] |
March 28.
Westminster. |
343. Queen Mary to Sir John Masone. Understanding on the
late being here of Prothonotary Noailles, brother to the French
Ambassador Resident, that the French King was well willing to give
ear to some communication of peace, overtures had been made to
him by means of the English Ambassador. Sends copy of the
King's reply, and of a letter to the Emperor from her Majesty on
the same subject of peace, transmitted herewith. Desires him to
deliver it to his Majesty as soon as he conveniently may, procure
his resolution and answer, and ascertain what persons he shall be
pleased to appoint to communicate with the French Commissioners.
[Minute. Four pages and a half.] |
