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Oct. 6.
Rouen. |
244. Sir John Masone to the Council. Describes the entry of
the French King into Rouen on the 1st of the month, the preparations in the city not having been completed by the 25th ult.,
in consequence whereof he had to reside in an abbey half a mile
distant; but had kept the feast of St. Michael very solemnly within
the city, when the order was conferred upon the Rhinegrave only,
although there were four vacancies. Sets forth the various pageants
exhibited. Has had communications with the Constable in regard to
the Scots; the settlement of these matters is deferred until the arrival of the Master of Erskine, who is expected in three or four days.
Has been spoken to on the subject of the commercial Commissioners,
and had seen De Boses about the counterfeiting of the English money.
Has this day waited upon the Queen Dowager of Scotland, who
arrived on the 25th ult. with a large retinue of Scottish gentlemen, and had been received with much honour. Africa had been
carried by assault on the 20th ult. with great loss. The English
merchants much alarmed at the prospect of a war with France.
Sends the names of the principal Scots who are with the Queen
Dowager, and who are squabbling greatly among themselves about
their lodgings. The King will remain eight or ten days, and then
visit Dieppe and his other fortresses on the sea coast. The Empercr
is still hot about the Council. The Pope's Nuncio and the Venetian
Ambassador have been frequently of late with the King. The
Duke D'Aumale is very desirous to have a portrait of the King of
England, which he says was promised to him by his Majesty on his
leaving England; urges that it may be sent to him while he is here
as he speaks very highly of the King and of the realm, and of the
courtesy which he met with there. [Six pages. Copy in Sir J.
Masone's Letter-Book. Printed, with small omission, by Tytler,
Vol. i., p. 325.] |
Oct. 18.
Antwerp. |
245. Joachim Kundelfinger to the Council. He arrived here on
the 3rd inst. with fifty master mine-workers, and applied to Sir
Thomas Chamberlain, the Ambassador, and Mr. Dansell, the Agent
for his Majesty, for such need as he had to do, as Doctor Brown shall
more fully declare. But they made him answer, that for lack of
commission from their Lordships they could not help him of his
request. Wherefore requests they will make such expedition of his
dispatch hence towards England with these workmen as may seem
to them good. [One page.]
This letter was probably accompanied by the following:—
"Extraict des Instructions de Syre Thomas Chamberlain et Joachim Gondelfinger, Commiz vers Dennemarck et Scweden. L'an
v.c. 49."—As soon as possible after the departure of Gondelfinger
1,000l. worth of good kersies. of such colour as he may wish, are to
be consigned to Wolff Reytweiser, at Antwerp, to be forwarded to
Nuremberg, for exchange with the Governor of Sibenburgen in
Hungary, in order that by the exchange of these and other cloths such
fair amount of gold or ducats of Hungary may be annually derived,
as the said Gondelfinger shall to the best of his ability arrange for
the benefit of his Majesty. As soon as these matters are arranged
he is to return to the Court with as much expedition as possible to
give an account of his proceedings, and settle with the Council, and
to bring with him to England, on as reasonable terms as he can, the
following persons for his Majesty's service:—
One of the most experienced and sworn master mining engineers.
A good metal-founder. Two others for making shafts, tunnels, and
trenches of mines, called in German Schirpffer. Two carpenters
to descend into mines, and prop each side of such shafts, and passages: called in German, Steyper. One who thoroughly understands the art of draining and carrying off water. One who
understands the assaying of all metals Two smiths for making the
necessary tools for the pioneers and others. Two colliers to work
the large coal of the mines. Two who understand the separation of
the sulphur before melting. Twenty pioneers, good, strong, and
experienced, unmarried if possible: all who have harness and weapons
to bring the same with them, and each to have a long harquebuse.
One who understands the baking of rock alum. Two with the seed
of the pine and deal, to sow the same according to the nature of
the soil, to increase the forests both of England and Ireland. All
these to be Germans, and brought to England by sea from Frankfort,
the best way he can. |
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Inasmuch as the above-mentioned kersies have not been sent to
Gondelfinger, and he has brought the said persons to Antwerp at his
own expense, and these Germans will not cross the sea without
money, and his own is all spent, and he cannot obtain any at Antwerp, he therefore begs the Lords of the Council will send him as
soon as possible the sum of 400l. sterling. [French. Two pages.] |
Oct. 19.
Rouen. |
246. Sir John Masone to the Council. Incloses a letter from the
Constable to their Lordships in favour of Sir Anthony Guidotti, and
requests their early and favourable attention to the business which
takes him to England. [One page. Copy in Sir J. Masone's
Letter-Book.] |
Oct. 19.
Dieppe. |
247. Same to same. Narrates his conferences with the Constable
and the Council in reference to the merchants' complaints and the
Scottish affairs, concerning which he can as yet have no satisfaction.
It appears to him "that they would fain the Scots had their minds,
and yet for that they see the treaty beareth not them therein, they
cannot tell what to make of the matter." The Master of Erskine,
who arrived on the 12th, is appointed to go to Flanders to conclude
a peace, and they will probably defer reply to all matters until his
return, shaping their proceedings upon the result of his mission.
Much talk among the inferior members of the Court since the coming
of the Scots, and specially of Erskine, that Ireland is theirs whenever the King shall give them a signal, that Calais is not a seven
nights' work, and that the dissensions in England are great. Sees
not that cheer in their countenance as he thinks he has seen heretofore. The Emperor's Ambassador haunts the Court much, on pretence
of the Scottish matters. The French King makes great warlike
preparations, and has increased his troops on the frontiers. "The
gentleman of Brittany, named M. de Botte, and commonly called Le
Beau Breton," who was sent to Ireland at the concluding of the peace.
only returned within three days, and reports that the greater part
of Ireland is subject to the Earl of Desmond. Has been visited by
nearly all the Scots gentlemen, except the Earl of Huntly and George
Douglas. Mentions the conversation of others, to whom he gave
ear as to Scots, and framed his answers accordingly. The Earl of
Glencairn complains grievously of the detention of his two sons, his
father for whom they were hostages being dead, and especially of
their treatment by the Archbishop, who kept them two years in his
kitchen, and still keeps them without the increase either of learning
or of any other good virtuous nurture. If such be the case, urges
the amendment of it. Great excitement caused by a rumour of the
slaying of the Vidame of Chartres. Much controversy between the
French King and the Bishop of Rome as to ecclesiastical patronage
in France, which the Cardinal Salmoneta has come to pacify, and
since his arrival has received two abbeys from the King. Chastillon,
being disappointed in his expectations of great recompence for his service about Boulogne, has left the Court in displeasure, and has been in
his house the last two months, willing not to return till the King expressly sends for him. Signor Horatio [Farnese], who it is thought is
to marry the King's bastard daughter, a match long talked of, has left
Rome for the Court. Had written thus far at Rouen, now concludes
at Dieppe, where are four fine ships of war ready to be put to sea,
one of 400, two of 250, and the fourth of 110 or 111 tons. The
King arrived here yesterday with great solemnity. On Monday he
goes to Havre de Grace, and thence continues his winter progress.
Julian de Medicis, the Queen's cousin, having arrived here lately from
England, expresses his sense of the great courtesy which he met with
there from his Majesty and the Council. Having inquired as to
the commissions touching depredations upon the sea, is informed
that no farther proceedings shall be taken therein until they hear
from the French Ambassador in England. [Twelve pages. Copy in
Sir J. Masone's Letter-Book.] |
Oct. 21.
Dieppe. |
248. Sir John Masone to the Council. Details at length his
conference with the Constable, who had sent to inform him of the
sudden termination of the proceedings of the Commissioners for
defining the limits, and who requested that the English Commissioners should be instructed to return, as their departure might
give rise to sentiments injurious to the friendship existing
between the two countries. In the end the Constable proposed
that either the Commissioners should return, of which he was very
desirous, or that a special Commissioner should be sent to France, who
with the Ambassador should settle the matter with the French
Council. Should this alternative be adopted, suggests the appointment of Mr. Shelley as one fully qualified for it by his knowledge of
the language and previous experience. Such a quantity of English
money circulates in France, that there is in a measure no other gold
to be seen, by reason of the great depreciation of the currency in
England. The Irishman has been dispatched with the King's letter,
the copy of which, herewith sent, shows that although the Commissioners be not yet out, summary order in such cases is taken. The
French King is in high favour with the merchants by reason of his
just paying of the interest: he is already indebted in more than
1,500,000 ducats, yet large sums come daily from Antwerp to the
bank of Lyons for his use as he may need it. By such means the
Emperor has carried on his wars for many years, and his example
seems followed by the French King. A fort is in course of being
erected at Dieppe, which it is thought will cost 100,000 crowns
before it is completed. Engineers shortly go to Scotland to plan
fortifications on the coast there. [Seven pages. Copy in Sir J.
Masone's Letter-Book.] |
Oct. 22.
Dieppe. |
249. Same to same. Has this morning been informed by a
gentlemen straight from the Court that the French King has altered
his intention of going to Blayse [Blois], and that immediately after
Allhallow-tide he designs to go into Picardy with a small train.
The reason assigned for this change in his plans is a report that
the Emperor is dangerously ill. [One page. Copy in Sir J.
Masone's Letter-Book.] |
Oct. 27.
Westminster. |
250. The Council to Sir John Masone. Have received his last
three letters, and commend his diligence. They are willing to
entertain the Constable's proposition for a renewed negotiation by
the same or other Commissioners, as he may prefer, but in the
meanwhile require that the French troops quartered at Sandingfeld
shall be withdrawn. Mention their subsequent interview with the
French Ambassador on the same subject, and the right of the
English to the disputed boundaries. Send memorial of certain
depredations by the French on some natives of Jersey, transmitted to
them by Sir Hugh Paulet, the Captain of said island; also another
touching an Englishman, named Broughton, prisoner in the hands
of Mons. de Brissac. [Seven pages. Copy in Sir J. Masone's
Letter-Book.] |
| Oct. |
251. Proposal, by medium of Dr. Bruno, from Albert Marquis of
Brandenburg, to raise troops for the service of King Edward VI.,
for which he shall have a pension of 2,000l. per ann., and the
command of said troops. Refers to proposed marriage of the
Marquis with the Princess Mary. Table showing descent of the
Marquis from Frederick Burgrave of Nuremberg. [French. Five
pages. Indorsed by Cecil, "Doct. Brunonis et Alb. Brandb. mq.
opinio."] |
| Oct. |
252. Discourse by Dr. Bruno, wherein enumerating the various
Sovereigns and Princes of Europe favourable to Protestantism, he
proposed that each should send learned men, such as Bucer, Melancthon, &c., to the next pretended Council, for the purpose of disputing
with the Papists, and if they should be unable to prevail, then to
form a general league, and invoking King Edward to take the
initiative. [Latin. Five pages. Indorsed by Cecil, "Discursus
D. Brunonis."] |
| Oct. |
253. "Articles of the credence of the messenger from the Princes
of Germany." With reference to forming a general league in defence
of Protestantism; wherein is to be considered "the colour and craft
whereby the war shall be dissembled not to be made for religion,"
and in such respect the league to be regulated by the terms of a
"treaty of the Duke of Prussia with Mr. Alasco, had three years
past." [Four pages. Indorsed by Cecil.] |
