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| Feb. 21. |
1019. Lord Grey to Cecil. |
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Desires him to remember how he has been suitor to the
Queen and the Lords of the Council for 200l. to be lent
him till Michaelmas next, for the payment to Sir Thomas
Grey's son for his house at Horton. As the day of payment
presently comes, he desires the order may be given for the
sum to be delivered to him out of the mass that shall come
next to Berwick.—Berwick, 21 Feb. Signed. |
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Orig. Add. Endd. by Cecil's secretary. Pp. 2. |
| Feb. 22. |
1020. The Earl of Bedford to the German Protestants. |
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When the writer, the Earl of Bedford, and Throckmorton
arrived at the French Court they found there Immanuel
Tremellius, who was pleading for the cause of the Gospel in
regard to the city of Metz. They have had a long conference with him respecting matters which concern both
parties, the persons addressed and the writers, which they
are sure will have the approval of the Queen. They request
that credence may be given to the said Tremellius. Signed
by Bedford and Throckmorton, and add.: To the Electors and
States of the Confession of Augsburg. |
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Copy. Endd.: 22 Feb. 1560. Lat. Pp. 2. |
| Feb. 22. |
1021. Another copy of the above. |
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Endd. Lat. Pp. 2. |
| Feb. 22. |
1022. Instructions for Tremellius. |
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The writers, (viz. the Earl of Bedford and Throckmorton,)
having spoken with the Queen Mother, the King of Navarre,
and others of the Council of France on matters of religion,
do not find any better way of hindering France from agreeing
to the proposed Council to be held at Trent, than for the
Protestant Princes of Germany to send some wise envoys
who shall object to it on the grounds of its being called by
the Pope, and held in an episcopal town, and therefore not
free. Wherefore they shall exhort the French not to recognize the Council, as being likely to cause many troubles
and dissentions; and say that, nevertheless, the Princes are
always desirous that the controverted articles should be
argued. If a free National Council shall be held in France,
they will send learned men to assist at it. The envoys
should also be sent at once.—Fontainebleau, 22 Feb. 1560. |
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Copy. Endd. French. Pp. 3. |
| Feb. 22. |
1023. John Shers to Cecil. |
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1. Harps still on one string. The Pope braves still of his
Council toward at Trent. Yesterday (by the Pope's order), his
Legate here had audience of this Senate. His chief request
was for free passage without let or custom, for all provisions
to pass through this state towards Trent for the Council;
which has been granted. But wise men here think that the
good Pope minds that this Council, although not free nor
general, should go forward. Matters might come into
question which the Papists cannot abide. Some think it
suffices for him to have made this demonstration towards
a Council to the world, and to pass over during his time,
and let those who govern hereafter shift as best they may. |
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2. All was not true which he wrote in his last letter
that the Emperor would (as it were) assist the Pope for
this Council at Trent ; another, as the Legate had devised to
divulge here of the consent of the other Princes with Spain
and France, but that the Emperor had said to the Pope's man
(sent to him) that he was content, so that the Princes and
Estates of the empire could admit the same; and to that end
the Emperor gave his letter to the Pope's man to take to
these Princes, then at their Diet. |
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3. The letters, however, were not much to the purpose
for these Protestants would not admit the man to declare
his message. |
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4. From Rome the news is that in the last Consistory the
Pope showed yet a zeal towards this Council, and appointed
the Cardinals of Mantua and Puteo to be Legates to the
same, with a provision of a thousand crowns a month to each,
and that shortly he would appoint a third Legate with a like
provision, and the Bishops "Weriniensis" and of Salerno are
appointed assistants to them. |
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5. The Pope being informed that France will no longer
stand to the payments of the Annates, is much troubled, and
he was to despatch one to France to stop that decree. |
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6. The prolonging and daily tormenting of the Caraffas
has brought many things to light, and puts other Cardinals
into prison. Pisa, that was in by the last news, is by those
of this week examined for forgery as a false witness bearer
and for perjury. Last week Carpi was commanded to keep
his house, and some write the same of Vitelli. The Duke of
Parma is called to answer to Urbino for the duchy of
Camerino. |
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7. Cardinal Farnese has departed by post secretly into
Spain, and of this there is a great discourse of a practice
between Florence and the Pope to abase all the Cardinals
"papable," and also theirs that are able to make a part, so
that Florence may always have a Pope for his purpose if this
one should fail, and he to defend this Pope's kindred. |
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8. News from Naples state that the Moors have besieged
the Goletta with twelve thousand men, not with any hopes
of taking it, but to let the victualling and manning of it
before the Turk's army come. This week other letters from
Constantinople say that the Turk makes great provision for
that purpose. |
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9. This week the Duke of Savoy's Ambassador has tried
to persuade this estate to enter into a league with the Duke
against Geneva and the Protestant Swiss, for the recovery
of certain parcels of his dominions. The Ambassador used
many words with little effect ; he mentioned the Duke's
title to the kingdom of Cyprus, and that he would relieve
the same if they would aid him to recover his own against
these rebels, as he called them; but he was answered time
did not serve for them to enter into wars, and that they
knew of no title the Duke had to Cyprus, and that their
title was as good, with peaceable possession these sixty
years and more. The Ambassador said that divers Princes
had offered the Duke great sums of money for his right to
the same, but the Duke bearing such love towards their
estate, he would not offend them; and therefore desired in
case they would not enter into war, that they would aid
him with money, and he would release that title. The
Pope's Legate joined with him in this behalf, but they did
not prevail. They said that when the Duke's title might
appear unto them, they would commune farther of it. This
is very secret, for he [Shers] had it of the Ambassador's
secretary, who wrote back the answer to the Duke. M. Di
Colinquis is still at Rome, a suitor for the said Duke to the
Pope for money, but is fed with fair words, with which the
Duke cannot maintain wars.—Venice, 22 Feb. 1561. Signed. |
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Orig. Hol., with seal. Add. Endd. by Cecil's secretary:
22 Feb. 1560. Pp. 6. |
| [Feb. 22.] |
1024. Charges against the Caraffas. |
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The heads of the process of accusation against the Caraffas,
consisting of twenty-three charges, including those of evil
living, assassination, heresy, treason, and perversion of
justice. |
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Copy. Lat. Pp. 2, and a portion of a leaf. |
| Feb. 23. |
1025. John Abington to Cecil. |
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Has tarried here looking for Mr. Brown's coming, and has
satisfied the soldiers and labourers with all kind of victuals
of his own provision and remain. Understands by letters from
Brown to his deputy that he cannot be here before the Annunciation of our Lady; the which time the writer cannot tarry.
According to Cecil's order, he and Mr. Brown's deputy have
chosen the Mayor and four of the best merchants in Berwick
to see the state of the corn delivered there and at Holy
Island. They found all the wheat good and worth 20s. the
quarter; the rye good, and worth 15s. the quarter. They
price the best Cambridgeshire malt at 13s. 4d. the quarter
and the second at 12s.; the best Lincoln and Yorkshire at
11s., the second at 10s., the best Norfolk at 9s. the second at
8s. 6d. or 8s. They appraised 1,082 quarters of oats at 4s.
the quarter, and 842 quarters at 3s. 8d. the quarter.
Although Mr. Grimstone wrote to the Lord Treasurer that
all the corn was decayed, yet upon view of skilful men it is
found worth these prices. There remain but twenty quarters
of wet wheat and sixty of malt, which came in the bottom of
ships. Intends to leave two of his clerks to settle the debts
due for wages, with orders to sell the damaged corn, and to
let the Mayor know unto whom, and for what price they sold
it.—Berwick, 23 Feb. 1560. Signed. |
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Orig. Add. Endd. by Cecil's secretary. Pp. 4. |
| Feb. 25. |
1026. The Earl of Rutland to Cecil. |
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1. On Friday the 21st he came to York, accompanied with
divers gentlemen of the country; since then all the ordinary
and many of the extraordinary Councillors have remained
with him, all of whom are very willing to preserve justice.
Lord Wharton is very willing to give his advice in all things.
Has hitherto found no great matter, as the country seems in
good order. Will advertise of the estate of the sitting hereafter. Has sent for all the justices of the peace in Yorkshire
to be here before the assizes, thereby to better understand
the estate of the country. Have begun to take order for
the execution of the article touching the retaining of the
Queen's tenants and farmers, and have written to the Wardens
to make certificate of their good opinion how the statute for
enclosures may be speedily executed on the frontiers.—York,
25 Feb. 1560. Signed. |
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2. P. S.—Does not find the country forward in religion, the
Archbishop should bring some good preachers. "If he could
bring down Mr. Whitehead with him, I believe his credit will
do much good in these parts." |
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Orig., with armorial seal. Add. Endd. by Cecil's secretary.
Pp. 2. |
