Cecil Papers: February 1597 | British History Online

Calendar of the Cecil Papers in Hatfield House: Volume 14, Addenda. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1923.

'Cecil Papers: February 1597', in Calendar of the Cecil Papers in Hatfield House: Volume 14, Addenda, (London, 1923) pp. 9-10. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-cecil-papers/vol14/pp9-10 [accessed 24 April 2024]

February 1597



	— to George Helduier.
[1597, Feb. 25.]	This is only to let you know of my welfare and my arrival here. After leaving Venice, as you know, I went to France and thence to Flanders. In leaving France, as I had no passport, I was stopped by the custom-house guards who demanded what money I was taking out of the country, and finding more than 60 crowns they took them from me. This gave me a great deal of trouble and I have not been able to recover all the money, &c. Italian. 3 pp. (174. 132.)
	"Cipher for Captain Bredgate."
[1597, Feb. 27.]	A letter in an easy cypher. "This alphabet is left by Matthew Bredgate to Sir Robert Cecil, principal Secretary to the Queen," and the key follows. ¼ p. (140. 60.)
	Anthony Kemis to the Earl of Essex.
[1596–7, Feb. 28.]	Here is in the Emperor's Court a great division amongst the Council about the appointing of the general of the Hungary wars; one part proceeding for Mattias and the other for Maximilian; but it is thought Maximilian shall continue his place. Here is also a secret speech that the King of France provides an army to go into Arragon. Their opinion is that if he does so he will more annoy the King of Spain with those wars than with any other he can make against him, and that he means to draw the forces of Barbary to join with him. Those of this opinion are men indifferently affected. The 17 of February the Prince of Transilvania arrived at Prague. He demands 20,000 men in the Emperor's pay for the better defending of his country, for that he is in doubt the Turk, being strong in the field, will send some more than ordinary forces against him this next summer. The King of Spain not long since sent to Ausbourg to borrow money, but was answered that the merchants of Jenna were examples for them who have lent so much unto him, and received so little from him that many of them are become bankrupt. Here are divers captains of Flanders, old servitors of the King of Spain, that seem greatly discontented with their usage by him, and somewhat inclined to the service of her Majesty, unto whom in all their discourses they show themselves greatly affected. Their general opinions are that most of the towns of Flanders do but expect opportunity to revolt. It is feared that the Turk this summer will besiege Vienna. He has taken of late a castle upon the Danube called Vicegrade, not very strong, but of great importance. The peasants of Lints, the next country unto Austria, are in arms to the number of 30,000 with 15 or 16 pieces of artillery. They have already taken divers castles. Certain numbers of soldiers were sent from Vienna against them, but returned well beaten. Prague, last of February. Holograph. Endorsed: Feb. 28, 96. 1 p. (199. 41.)
	Lady Elizabeth Cecil.
[1597, Feb.]	Odes entitled: "Carmina funebria in obitum clarissimæ fœmina Dominæ Elizabethæ, conjugis charissimæ honoratissimi viri Domini Roberti Cecilii, Equitis aurati, et Serenissimæ Reginæ Elizabethæ a Secretis conscripta ab alumnis Regiis Scholæ Westmonasteriensis." The scholars are:— William Osbolstan, Robert Hobbs; Robert Kyrkham "a te in baptismo susceptus"; Thomas Kempe; William Cornwallis; William Negos; Edward Martin; Thomas Aylesbury; Ralph Kidman; Paul Downton; Francis James; William Hancock; Peter Pywell; Robert Blower; George Hamden; Josua Blaxton; William Maxe; Thomas Harlodoe; Edmund Gunter. Latin and Greek. 25 pp. (277. 6.)