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Nov. 2-17.
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480. THE HANSE TOWNS and the MERCHANTS ADVENTURERS.
At a meeting of the cities of the Hanse, held at Lneburg in
1580 on Nov. 2, and ended on Nov. 17, it was decreed by the
delegates of the cities who were present :
That from henceforth the same duty shall in all the Hanse towns
be levied on English goods as has since the year '60 been exacted
on Hanse goods in England, viz. 7 per cent. without any offer of
drawback or of restitution as caution, and that no English goods be
exported without such payment, notwithstanding they have paid in
one or more other towns. Extreme means however to be reserved
for further consideration.
All moneys so raised to be devoted to the common purposes of
the Hanse towns and their exchanges.
Further an oath in the following terms is to be taken by every
person exporting from any Hanse town goods which may be suspected
of belonging to Englishmen, or being destined for them ; I
swear that in the goods which I am exporting either by land or
water no Englishman to my knowledge has any part or share ; and
that they are in no way intended for them or for their benefit, nor
to be exported to them to my knowledge or desire.
Copy, certified by Matthias Tost, notary of Elbing. German and
Latin. Endd. 2 pp. [Hanse Towns I. 62.]
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481. Another copy of the Latin version. Endd. 1 p.
[Ibid. I. 62a.]
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Nov. 3.
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482. COBHAM to [the SECRETARIES].
There is newly come a 'secretary from Germany,' this king's
ambassador with the great Turk. He reports that when he came
away the messenger from the Sophy was still at Constantinople,
having brought requests for the redeeming of 'Tiphlys,' and the
razing of 'Carse,' a fortress lately made by the Turks on the
frontier ; and thereon peace was to be concluded. These demands
were refused by the Grand Signior, but afterwards upon news
coming that 20,000 Turks had been overthrown when coming to the
succour of 'Carse,' which is environed by the Persians, the
messenger was desired to stay, for the great Turk will further
consider the demands. So it is supposed that peace will be concluded,
the rather because sundry of the older and chief Bassas
are deceased, and no great choice of experienced persons to supply
their places. He reserves the place of first vizier to the Bassa who
is in command against the Persians, and has for the present
appointed a cousin of his own, who married his sister, to supply the
place. He has commanded the Admiral of the seas to provide 200
galleys against the beginning of the year, to which they already
'address great preparations.' The truce with the Spanish king
ends in January.
Upon knowledge of the death of the Duke of Savoy, part of the
horsemen who were in Flanders and appointed to return to Naples,
were stayed in the duchy of Milan, where they still remain.
The Duke of Ferrara shows himself affected to the Christian
king, and the Cardinal of Ferrara has dealt earnestly with the
Signiory of Venice to borrow money for him.
It is advertised that Marcantonio Colonna will pass into Spain
to be 'chief of the wars' for Ireland and for those coasts.
Nothing is known for certain of the conclusion of the peace ; but
they have sent news that Marshal Biron's troops have sought to
surprise the King of Navarre ; and that notwithstanding this treaty
they use hostility, taking castles and strong places.
It is advertised from Scotland that H.M. ambassador had returned
from the King, with a secret letter only and small satisfaction.
Sir James Balfour has left Dieppe towards Scotland, though he
has given out he went toward Flanders.Moret, 3 Nov. 1580.
Add. and endt. gone. 1 pp. [France IV. 173.]
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Nov. 3.
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483. COBHAM to [? WALSINGHAM].
The king's keeping his chamber 'in this his diet,' the Queen
Mother's leaving Fontainebleau for Chenonceau and her return to
Olinville, where she is 'straightly' lodged with a small train, the
scattering of the Council and courtiers, breeds a deep doubt lest
aliquid.monstri alant. It seems strange to everyone save those who
are acquainted with the 'intrinsecal' meaning.
Queen Mother at my last audience was earnest with me about the
matter of Portugal, and to have some further negotiations between
the king and her Majesty, as I signified in my letter sent by John
de Vicques.
Secretary Pinart upon every occasion seems gracious to me.
From him I am advertised of the Spanish king's death (but how
truly I cannot tell) upon occasion of sending my man for a passport
for this bearer.
The king has now given orders to the captains of his guard next
week to divide their companies into three parts, one to be gone
before the other, to meet him at his appointed journey to Moulins
in Bourbonnais, where he intends to meet his Queen returning from
the 'baynes,' and to pass together towards Blois ; and that the
rest of the Court and the ambassadors shall go the next way to
Orleans, and so to Blois.
I have not heard anything of Mr Stafford, therefore I cannot tell
you how far he 'is passed,' or anything else concerning him.
They advertise from Antwerp that the Papists have joined the
Lutherans against the Calvinists, a matter which the Papists
practise daily in all countries, that they may divide those of the
Religion, who profess the abolishing of the Pope.
Pray help me to some final good end of my suit according to her
Majesty's liking. I would be glad it were the better, and to some
purpose, for I have need of it, and God knows if I shall live to
return for another suit.Moret, 3 Nov. 1580.
Add. and endt. gone. 1 p. [Ibid IV. 174.]
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Nov. 6.
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484. GILPIN to WALSINGHAM.
I have received your packet, and delivered M. du Plessis and
Fremyn. Richard Some is 'forth a town' upon Mr Norris's
business, and I keep that directed to him till his return. The other
to the Prince and M. Villiers shall be sent by a sure messenger on
Monday or Tuesday next, till which time I stay by the persuasion
of M. Ymans, who hopes to procure the States' letters to his
Excellency and those assembled in Holland, to 'diligent' their
resolution and answer. Those of Flanders and Zealand are not
yet heard of, so that I cannot write you anything else of those
proceedings than was signified in my former.
Spinola, as he tells me, is minded to depart for England by the
next ship, which will be to-morrow, and I myself did and do hope
if I can get licence, or you do not command me to the contrary,
to make a start over. Yet I would first know your pleasure touching
my continuing to solicit the end of this long suit, as one who
desires nothing so much as to do you service.
The enclosed Rossel sent me from Ghent, thereby advertising
how matters pass in those quarters. And though I know my
occurrents to be slender and of small moment, I would not omit to
certify them.
In Friesland all continues in the former terms, save that it is
reported that the English companies are in mutiny for want of pay
and will not be pacified unless all the arrearages for their service
in Mechlin and Lyre be paid them.
Meanwhile it is reported that the enemy has environed the town
where they lie, and think for want of victuals to distress them ; but
the river Rhine running along that place, will 'rencounter' their
purpose.
M. de Licques, who is governor of Louvain, learning of the Scots'
mutiny at Vilvorde, practised to win them, offering to pay all the
arrearages, and six months' pay in advance, so that they would
yield the place to the Prince of Parma, and accept his service. This
offer the Scots made show of hearkening to, and drew 400 of the
enemy with M. de Licques to the town walls upon hope to enter ;
and after issuing out with good force of horse and foot, forced them
to save themselves by flight, in which enterprise they slew a few of
them and took a few prisoners. But the rest escaped, because it was
so near night ; which time the enemy had taken, fearing, notwithstanding
promises, that which fell out.
In Ninove this week there has also been discovered a practice of
intelligence to surprise the town ; and those that were of the
faction having been taken were executed to the number of 16 or 20 ;
the chief of this feat, a corporal, being drawn to pieces with four
horses.
The Malcontents that were about Flanders abide in no place, but
range the country to and fro, with a show of besieging sundry
places, and yet do nothing.
It is said by some that the commons in Artois and 'Henegowe'
are so weakened by these wars that the fear of insurrection has so
far 'taken place' in the chief of the Malcontents, that they are
making suit by the Duchess of Parma's means to the King to desire
his consent to grow to some agreement with the States.
Captain 'Mournowe' overthrew a band of the Malcontents' horsemen
this week near Dixmuyden.
In this town the Protestants have so wrought this week that
another of the Papist churches is to be given them for their exercise ;
the number growing daily, to the glory of God, and comfort of His
people.Antwerp, 6 Nov. 1580.
Add. Endd. by Walsingham. 2 pp. [Holl. and Fl. XIII. 72.]
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Nov. 10.
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485. DUKE CASIMIR to WALSINGHAM.
Having at this time no other means of showing my friendly
remembrance of you, I have, as I mentioned in my last, sent you
some of the choicest wine, red and white, which grows in my
territories, and is one of the greatest temporal blessings that the
Lord causes this land to bring forth. I am consigning it, with
other wine, to the Earl of Leicester, and asking him kindly to
forward it to you. Please accept it in good part ; and both because
wine has been created to give joy and comfort to man, and particularly
in memory of me, drink it as heartily as I pray for your
health and long life.Fridelsheim, 10 Nov. 1580.
P.S.As for the Diet (journe) of Nuremberg, which I mentioned
in my last, I have just heard that it is postponed.
Add. Endd. Fr. 1 p. [Germ. States II. 7.]
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