|
June 1.
Brussels. |
382. Sir John Masone to the Council. The news of the election
of the Cardinal of Naples to the Pontificate, of which he apprized
their Lordships at Calais last night, has this day been confirmed by
a second courier, by whom he has received a packet of letters from
Lord Montague, and perceives by the letter to himself which
accompanied them, that their date is very stale, yet nevertheless he
sends them to the said Lords at Calais to be forwarded. This Pope,
whose assumed name is not mentioned, is at least 84 years old, and
therefore the Ambassadors had need make some haste lest he serve
them as the two others have done. One of the Dukes of Brunswick
who was lately in France, levies troops on the edge of Friesland,
abusing therein King Philip's name; this slight being made known
to the Emperor, he has by letter done all such as it appertains to
understand the falsehood meant therein. A daughter of the King
of Denmark has been married to the Duke of Mecklenburg. The
Duke of Holstein, brother to the King of Denmark, between whom
is no great agreement, is expected here in a few days. By two
ships lately arrived at Genoa with wheat from Constantinople it is
reported that at their departure the Turk's navy was almost ready
to set afloat, for which extreme diligence was used both by day
and by night. The army of the Duke of Florence is before Port
Ercole, in good hope to make a short enterprise thereof. The
Portuguese fleet of 20 sail arrived at Antwerp four days ago, laden
with spices and other merchandise, besides it is said a good quantity of money. The 6,000,000 agreed to be paid by the Low
Countries in six years, are now at a full point to take effect; there
has been some delay, because the Emperor and the Queen were
bent to have a good part levied upon merchandise, which for
sundry reasons is in the end not found convenient. [Two pages.] |
June 6.
Padua. |
383. Sir Philip Hoby to Sir John Masone. Although he has not
heard from him since the 5th ult., enters into no jealousy of his
lack of goodwill, but imputes his silence to occupation with
matters of greater weight. His letters, besides giving life to them
that lie slumbering from the dispatch of one post till the coming
of another, extinguish many false rumours spread here concerning
the Queen's health. Such reports emanated from the French
Ambassador, who is here for the recovery of his health, and who
affirmed that on the 7th of May the Queen was delivered of a mole
or lump of flesh, and was in great peril of death; and shortly
after, refreshing these his former inventions, asserted that subsequent letters confirmed the death of her Majesty, and that all
the havens, ports, and passages about England were stopped.
These his fond and fantastical inventions, much unmeet for such
an Ambassador, yea and worse than Boisdaulphin, had occasioned
general sorrow. The English Ambassador had done his utmost to
cease such news, although he had no letters until the one from
Masone, which enabled him authoritatively to contradict these
rumours. As his letter has done so much good, requests that he or
his Secretary will frequently write to him. Cheke daily amends,
and after this summer they trust to come together to Brussels to
visit Masone. About the end of the month, Hoby intends to depart
towards the bains. [Two pages. The signature and nearly the
entire letter half scored over in ink by Masone.] |
June 8.
Brussels. |
384. The Emperor Charles V. to Queen Mary. Returns thanks
for her letter of condolence on the death of his mother, the Queen
of Spain, conveyed by Sir George Howard. How much this weighs
upon him may be imagined; but as he has a firm hope that she
has left this world for the kingdom of heaven, and as all must go
the same way when it pleases God, he submits to His divine
providence. [French. One page.] |
June 9.
Brussels. |
385. The Queen Regent of Flanders to same. Thanks her
for the letter of condolence on the death of the Queen, her mother,
brought by Sir George Howard, bearer hereof. Regrets as much
as it is possible the loss of one so near to her. While acknowledging
that it is a law common to all beings, and that God commands
they should accept in patience all that He sends, she will follow her
Majesty's advice to leave all in His hands and at His disposal.
[French. One page. Indorsed by Petre.] |
June 9.
Brussels. |
386. Eleanor of Austria, widow of Francis I., King of France, to
same. Returns thanks for letter of condolence on the death of
her mother [Joanna], and hopes for her consolation that she may
soon receive intelligence of her Majesty's accouchement. [French.
One page. Signed by the Queen, and countersigned by De la
Monthe.] |
June 9.
Brussels. |
387. Sir John Masone to the Council. The bearer, Sir George
Howard, has done his commission here very well, and is much liked
by the Emperor, the Queen, and all with whom he has had to do.
Despairing of peace, as the French will come to no reason, they
provide with all possibility for the wars. The construction of the
Emperor's fort near Givet goes forward apace, albeit the French by
frequent skirmishes do all they can to let the work. In very few
days it will be tenable, whereby they shall not need to fear the
French meanings towards those quarters, where last year for a time
they took their pleasure. Martin Van Rossen is fallen very sick;
his loss at this time were great. Count Egmont has gone as the
Emperor's proxy to christen the Duke of Cleves' son. By this time
it is thought that the Duke of Alva is arrived in Milan; the
Duke of Savoy is gone to Nice, and is expected here again soon.
The armies of the Emperor and Duke of Florence lie at the siege
of Port Ercole, in which is Pietro Strozzi, with nearly 1,000
soldiers, composed of French, Italians, and Germans. The whole
hope of the French in its defence hangs upon the coming of the
Turk's navy, of which they ought rather to be ashamed, as this,
consisting of 70 gallies, was appointed to be afloat on the 20th or
29th ult. The French increase their strength in Piedmont, and so
does the Emperor; he has recently ordered thither from Hungary
1,600 horse. The Princess of Salerno is coming here to see what
she can do to make her husband's peace. The Duke of Brunswick,
of whom he wrote formerly, has, abusing the name of the Emperor
and the King of the Romans, raised in Westphalia and Friesland
1,600 horse and 5,000 or 6,000 foot, it is thought for the French
King's service. For breaking of him before he grows too far, the
Emperor devises the best ways he can, using therein the Duke of
Schwartzburg and the Duke of Holstein. [Two pages.] |
June 11.
Brussels. |
388. Sir John Masone to Sir William Petre. Letters from Italy
of the 2d, received this morning, mention that one of the bastions
made by the French for the defence of Port Ercole has been taken
by assault, and its captain, with 60 others, slain, and the rest
yielded to mercy. This is a good beginning, not merely as
encouraging the soldiers, but because the place serves well for
beating the rest with artillery; so if the Turk's navy does not make
haste, the wars of Tuscany are like to stand in right good case.
There are also news, not yet certain, that Aiace [Ajaccio] has
rebelled, and the inhabitants have made a great murder of the
French garrison there; if so, Calvi is like to have the better
speed. Martin Van Rossen is departed out of this world; in him
the Emperor has lost a good servant, not only for the leading of
his army in the Duke of Savoy's absence, but for the stay of
Guelderland, of which he was Marshal, with very great credit
there. The French, towards impeaching the progress of the fort at
Givet, have assembled about Avesnes; but being merely of their
own nation, without any Swiss or Germans, no great account is
made of them. There is a muttering that the Turk's navy has
been discovered, but finding no certain author, trusts it is merely
a vain talk. |
|
P.S.—For all Petre's travail in behalf of his diets due three months
since, he lacks yet 100l. thereof; and yet lacks not passing six
days of the time that the same are due to him afresh. But he has
written so pitiful a letter to the Lord Treasurer, as he trusts he
shall shortly be insured both of them and the others. [One page
and a half.] |
June 13.
Brussels. |
389. Same to the Council. The Prince of Orange is appointed both to the charge of the late Martin Van Rossen, and
the temporary command of the army in absence of the Duke of
Savoy. Van Rossen is much lamented, especially for the stay of
the Guelders, among which nation, being one of them himself, he
had notable good credit. The Turkish army, in numbers 60 gallies
and 20 small vessels of corsairs, has been discovered about Prevesa
in way to the Italian seas. The Admiral is Peluga Bassa, and the
Vice-Admiral Dragut Rey: in the captain galley are some Frenchmen, hostages that no conclusion should be made of peace with the
Emperor, notwithstanding the meeting of the Commissioners. The
King of Poland has sent an Ambassador with an honourable train,
to condole with the Emperor on his mother's death. He leaves
hence for England to do the like office to King Philip. The Emperor has sent 150,000 crowns to Augsburg to levy there 10,000
foot and some horse. The old Duke of Brunswick has offered to
furnish the Emperor out of hand with 2,000 horse, so he may
have commission to do so and money to pay them: this has been
accepted. The French are still strong in Piedmont and keep the
field. They endeavour to win the town of La Langa, which lying
on their confines makes the Genoese afraid lest, if it falls into the
hands of the French, the Turks shall winter thereabouts. Vulpiano
is very straitly besieged. The arrival of the Duke of Alva is
trusted to put things in better order and abate the courage of
those who by too many good successes already have promised
themselves to have fortune at their command. The Duke of
Savoy is expected to return about the 25th inst. [One page and
a quarter.] |
June 24.
Brussels. |
390. Sir John Masone to Sir William Petre. Such small occurrents at this Court as are worthy of advertisement, he has communicated to the Council. Sends him a letter lately received from
Italy [see Hoby's of the 6th inst. supra], by which he may see
the honest nature of the Frenchman, who makes as many bones
to set out to the world a shameful lie with a shameful tongue, as
he does to sup up a cup of good wine. Such kind of bruits many
ill men have devised, as well elsewhere as in Italy, of the long
keeping in of the Queen, who for that her Grace hath somewhat
longer deferred the discharging of her burden than the world
looked she would have done, devise the occasion of the stay as
pleaseth themselves. Surely if there were no wiser than he, her
Highness should come abroad and go to mass after her accustomed
sort, until such time she might be certain it were time to retire herself. Wherein, having all things ready as she has, could be none
inconvenience though she should travail within one day after her
being abroad. This long keeping in with such a multitude of women,
the time of the year being so hot, may breed by sickness many
dangers which by taking air might be avoided, besides a great
many bruits which thereby may be stayed. Had formerly written
how honourably the Emperor had dismissed Don Ferrante Gonzaga,
after he had lain a whole year at the Court to answer accusations
brought against him. Since his departure the Emperor has further
caused a declaration to be made to the world that he was not
culpable in any point of the same. Sends a copy of this which,
when Petre has read, he may show it to Lord Paget. Requests
that the inclosed packet from the Pope's Nuncio here may be sent
to the Lord Cardinal's house. [Two pages.] |
| June 27. |
391. The Marquis of Winchester and the Lord Chancellor [Gardiner] to Thomas Gresham. As the money of Spain is not like
to come to answer the Queen's pay to the English merchants on
15th July next, which amounts to 18,000l., request he will provide
10,000l. to satisfy the bills that his agent John Elliot will take
up in London by exchange for that purpose, to be repaid about
15th Sept. following, before which they trust the money will be
received from Spain. In this he must earnestly travail that there
be no lack, otherwise they know not how the Queen's credit shall
be kept. Beg him to write an account of his mind and proceedings
to Elliot and to themselves. Will provide the 8,000l. as they best
can. [One page.] |
