|
Nov. 2.
Venice. |
434. Peter Vannes to the Council. Can never express the
gratitude he feels to the Queen and their Lordships. Will not
trouble her with a letter of thanks for their letter of 29th Sept.,
written by her command, but begs them to give his lowliest thanks
to her Majesty at a convenient opportunity. Will not now trouble
them with his own private matters as he doubts not but that their
promises and appointment have been long before this fulfilled.
[One page and a quarter. Indorsed by Petre.] |
Nov. 2.
Venice. |
435. Same to Sir William Petre. If ever before, now of necessity
must hold him excused that he is not able sufficiently to thank him.
His most gentle letter of the 28th September, has relieved him from
great misery to great joy, from great fear to an assured hope. What
more comfort could he have than to see thereby that the Queen
remains a gracious lady towards him, and that Petre has carefully
taken pain in the advancement of his doings and the procuring of
the sublevation of his necessity. [One page. Indorsed by Petre.] |
Nov. 2.
Venice. |
436. Same to the Council. The sudden stir at Rome between
the Pope and the Imperialists, arising rather out of vain suspicion
wrought by the French than any certain grounds, is at length
quenched. The Pope, upon receiving the King's letter, was much
satisfied, and boasted himself that his Majesty so lovingly had
written unto him. In addition, the broil was so wisely handled
by the King's Ambassadors and agents at Rome, that Don Bernardino, seeing the French brags were not at all to be feared for the
realm of Naples, did, according to the Pope's expectation, first
disarm a band of 12,000 men he had ready on the confines of
Naples and the Church's estate. This earnest demonstration has
stopped divers purposes devised by the French to be brought to
pass by the Pope's means under the pretence of all serving for the
safety of his person and conservation of the dignity of his Church.
The Pope seeing that Bernardino had disarmed, dismissed his own
troops, and discharged his general the Duke of Urbino and all
his other captains. Duke Octavio's preparations and expenses
are almost all melted away like fleeces of snow with the
shining of the sun. The Pope has openly said that he will
have no war with the Emperor nor with the King, and determines to keep himself neutral with all Christian Princes, hoping
to effect an universal peace on the arrival of the French Cardinals.
He has ordered all the people of Rome fit for its defence, to be
made ready by the chief of the wards and mustered; he will be
present on the day of muster. Men say this makes him the lustier,
and keeps people in reverence and obedience. It is reported that
many, for one cause and another, gape for the Cardinal's dignity
these Christmas holidays. Thinks "multi erunt vocati et pauci
electi," and prays God that of His infinite mercy He will grant
them His grace. In Piedmont the French, since his last, have done
nothing worth writing about but planted their men in divers
fortresses; all their Italian bands were near a mutiny on account
of non-payment of wages, but their Colonel, Capt. Birago, entertained them with policy and promises. The cause of their
retirement from the field may well have been their inability to
resist the Duke of Alva's camp. He supposes them by this to be
in the field, or else waiting until the first payment of the
Imperialists is wasted. But in this they will be deceived, for the
Duke, it is to be considered, comes out with some intelligences
to recover some of the lost pieces, and at least to fortify and
victual divers places of importance between Asti and Alexandria,
as Felisiano, Crescentino, Trino, and others; which will advance
and assure greatly the King's estates in those parts. Notwithstanding the French King has made Duke Octavio his General
in Tuscany, and spread abroad a great bruit for the taking of
Sienna with no effect, grounding his devices only upon the great
dearth in Tuscany and especially Sienna, the Imperialists and the
Duke of Alva have looked to it, and such provision has been
already made that these French devices will come to no good
end. For the more assurance the Duke has sent Capt. Vitello
with a great band of his camp to give aid in provisions this winter
in Sienna in a convenient place by the river Albia. By the last
letters from Constantinople of 1st Oct., it is written that the
Turk was making great preparations against Hungary to put the
Vaivode's son in Transylvania. [Four pages and a half. Indorsed by Petre.] |
| Nov. 11. |
437. Memorandum of arrears due to Sir Edward Carne for 113
days to the present inclusive, at fifty-three shillings and four-pence
per diem (301l. 6s. 8d.), and for three months, advanced by former
warrant (224l.), in all 525l. 6s. 8d. [Half a page.] |
Nov. 11.
Antwerp. |
438. Thomas Gresham to the Council. On the 8th inst. received
their letter of the 4th inst., informing him that they had received
her Majesty's bonds, and that her pleasure is, that the 1,000l. which
the staplers should have furnished, is to be taken up by exchange.
Sends a list of the persons from whom he has borrowed it, and the
amounts borrowed from each. Has received of the staplers 12,000l.,
and of the adventurers 25,085l. Sends a list of persons to whom
he has paid it, and of sums paid to them. Incloses a perfect note
how the bonds are to be made with the interest. The service
the merchants have done does not a little redound to the Queen's
honour and credit. Some of the adventurers cannot, and others
will not pay, so there lacks about 3,000l. which the Deputy and
the generalty decided should be taken up by them for three
months at their own risk. Fearing a fall of the exchange they
have taken it up at interest. Thought it good to advertise the
Council of their forwardness, that they may see these persons paid
their bills of debt on the proper days. Insists upon the necessity
of taking up money by interest and not by exchange, so as to
prevent a fall of the exchange and the consequent withdrawal
of the fine gold and silver out of England. Begs them to remem
ber the sum due to Anthony Bonvisi on the 25th January. Looks
daily for a passport from the King for the saltpetre and harness
which has lain here for a year and a half. Sends the bonds due
to Anthony Spinola. [Three pages and a half.] |
Nov. 30.
Venice. |
439. Peter Vannes to the Council. News is very scant. Touching
the affairs of Piedmont and Lombardy neither the French nor
the Imperialists have any power in the field, for the season and the
situation will not permit men to be abroad or any exploit to be
done. Both sides keep their men in garrison. The Duke of Alva
still furnishes and fortifies all necessary places, and so do the
French. Letters from Rome of the 23d inst. mention that the two
French Cardinals are arrived there and lodge in Cardinal Caraffa's
house. The Pope on the same night at supper, before many persons,
said he knew their arrival would be supposed to be for the sake of
inducing him to some war or league, or some like purpose, but that
this was untrue, for they had been sent by the French King to
treat of a general peace and to offer to his Holiness money, men,
and his own person, with authority to accommodate all things
according to his own pleasure, and that the French King would
abide by his decisions. If the Emperor would do the like he had
good hope to bring all things to a good end; the rather that he
trusted to find the King of England better inclined to peace than
the Emperor has shown himself in time past. Many persons think
the Pope will be attempted to be drawn into war; but the opinion
of wise men is that he will hold himself upright and enter now into
no war, as he wants money and expert captains, and that he will
be careful how he damages his estate without any appearance of
gain for other men's pleasure. The Marquis of Saria and Don
Garcilasso had not yet had answer of such things as they had
propounded to the Pope in the Emperor's and his Majesty's name,
touching the restitution of their estates to Marc Antonio and
Camillo Colonna, and the discharging of the sureties brought in
for divers great personages, friends and servants of the Emperor.
This matter the Pope seems to put off, as the persons are such as
he cannot place his whole confidence in them; also, notwithstanding
the Viceroy of Naples has discharged his troops from the confines,
the Pope in spite of agreement has not done the same, but still
keeps in readiness his whole number of horse and foot. If it might
consist with God's pleasure and the Emperor's satisfaction would
wish the King in his troublesome beginning of great affairs as long
as might be the fatherly assistance of the Emperor, whose great
wisdom and long experience would stand in great reputation in this
business to his Majesty. The Duke of Urbino has desired the
Pope to discharge him from the General Captainship of the Church,
and to this his Holiness has agreed. It is thought the Count
Montorio will enjoy the place. [Four pages and a half.] |
Nov. 30.
Rome. |
440. Sir Edward Carne to same. Yesterday process was made
in the consistory against Cranmer, late unworthy Archbishop of
Canterbury, and sentence will be pronounced at the next sitting.
In the consistory held on Wednesday, the Pope made a long oration
on the overture of the French King, with commendations of the
Emperor and the King, but especially of her Majesty. The effect
was the overture of all variance to be put in the hands of his
Holiness, whereupon the Cardinal of Lorraine made a long speech,
declaring the readiness of the French King to abide his Holiness'
order in all points whereof her Majesty had been apprized by
Carne's letter of the 25th. The Marquis of Marignano is departed
to God. Is informed by his factor that his diets cannot be paid
according to the warrant granted by their Majesties; begs their
Lordships will consider that he is far from home and where he can
have nothing but for money out of hand, and can procure none
except from home. He has had from his own people as much as
they could make to him, which is no hold here. His living is too
small, if he had here only a boy with him. Never yet could have
anything given him, whereby he shall have anything towards the
maintenance of his service, for all the service he did. [One page
and a quarter. Printed, except the latter portion, by Tytler,
Vol. ii., p. 486.] |
