Spain: June 1554, 1-15 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 12, 1554. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1949.

'Spain: June 1554, 1-15', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 12, 1554, (London, 1949) pp. 266-277. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/spain/vol12/pp266-277 [accessed 24 April 2024]

June 1554, 1–15



June 4. Brussels, E.A. 46.	The Emperor to Sigismund, King of Poland.
	(Abstract.)
	The Emperor believes that the news of the betrothal of his son, Prince Philip, and the Queen of England will have reached the King of Poland and feels sure that they will have given him great pleasure, as they augure well for the happiness of Christendom.
	The Prince is now about to undertake the journey to England in order to celebrate his nuptials in person, and such is his affection for the King of Poland that he had sent him letters inviting him to be present at the ceremony, which letters, together with others addressed to the Emperor, were thrown into the sea to prevent their falling into the hands of the French. Wherefore the Emperor is writing to beg the King to excuse the apparent forgetfulness, and assure him of his sorrow if the accident has caused the present invitation to arrive too late to enable the King to be present on this solemn occasion.
	Brussels, 4 June, 1554.
	Minute. Latin.
	Printed by Lanz, Correspondenz des Kaisers Karl V, III, 619.
June 4. Brussels, R.A. Prov. 13.	The Ambassadors in England to the Emperor.
	Sire: The Queen of England, having caused the Lady Elizabeth and Courtenay to be separately and securely confined in the castles which I mentioned in my last letters, has listened to the persuasions of her most trusty Councillors, and allowed the state of her kingdom, the discord prevalent in her Council, the discontent manifest in her subjects, the infidelity of those who are gathering together in London at the instigation of the French and heretics, to induce her to seek greater personal security by leaving London and coming to this place of Richmond. She travelled hither last Tuesday, accompanied by the Earl of Arundel, Paget, the Controller, the Chamberlain, the Vice-Chamberlain and Secretary Petre, whilst the other councillors remained in London to dispense justice during the present term, which ends next Saturday. We also attended her by her orders, and had lodgings given to us. And as we thought, from news received from Corunna, that his Highness might soon be arriving, we begged the Queen and Council to allow M. de Courrières and the Alcalde to be conducted to Southampton, in order to execute your Majesty's orders, make all necessary preparations and carry their instructions into effect at the place where his Highness is to land. The Queen and her Council approved, and in the presence of the Chancellor, the Bishop of Norwich, the High Treasurer and other members of the Council, it was decided that the commissaries and officers who had charge of the stores and lodgings should make detailed reports to M. de Courrières, and that the chamberlains, equerries and other officers who are to serve his Highness should meet at Southampton to enter upon the discharge of their duties. And in order that nothing remain undone because of lack of money the Lieutenant of Amont has raised 4,000 crowns to be used in purchasing provisions if necessary. The said gentlemen are leaving to-day, and as the Marquis de Las Navas is here and has executed his instructions he will accompany them in order to help in making preparations for his Highness's landing.
	And although the lack of unison in the Council, the personal ambitions of certain private individuals, the pertinacity of the heretics and French dislike of the match make it reasonable to entertain some fear of disturbances, we hope the English will understand the great benefits this alliance is conferring upon them and put up with it. Nonetheless, we will be diligent to render inconstancy harmless by means of foresight, and will inform your Majesty of hourly developments. The Lieutenant has begged the Council to continue to show his Highness goodwill, and be sure that they are highly valued.
	Paget still talks resentfully, but also says that he would sacrifice body and goods in your Majesty's and his Highness's service. Courtenay has unbosomed himself to one Sellier, who conducted him to the castle (fn. 1) where he now is, saying that Paget importuned him to marry the Lady Elizabeth, assuring him that if he did not do so the son of the Earl of Arundel would; and Hoby and Morison were also urged by Paget to induce him to consent. The Chancellor was displeased because, in his absence, Hoby was recommended to your Majesty, for he is one of the stubbornest heretics and worst subjects of the Queen, and greatly to be suspected of performing ill offices while he is over there, as Cheeke (fn. 2) (Shich) and Morison are believed to have done. The latter is presumed to have written and had printed the enclosed ballad (fn. 3) : against his Highness and the Queen. This ditty, the most scandalous and seditious that ever was seen, was scattered about the streets, and the Council desires us to send it to your Majesty in order to see whether these individuals' whereabouts might be discovered in Germany, whither Cheeke and Morison have departed.
	The day before the Queen departed from London the French ambassador demanded audience without having anything to say, and only wishing to see whether she were favourably disposed or not. When he said that the King, his master, desired to keep up friendly relations, though he was not encouraged by the Queen's attitude, she drily replied that the King and his ministers had in the past shown little love of peace, and for her conscience's sake she would not have done many of the things she had witnessed, for all the kingdoms in the world. The ambassador took this in bad part and grew so angry that he afterwards forced the Chancellor to tell him that his behaviour was likely to lead to trouble, and that his master would not put up with it if he were informed. He has reported this to the King and asked to be recalled, and has sent the enclosed note to the Lieutenant of Amont to beg him to ask for a safe-conduct for his return, as to which may your Majesty be pleased to signify your intentions. It seems likely that this kingdom will go to war with the French because of the continual provocations of the King and his ministers.
	Some think that the King is meditating an exploit, for the Deputies of Calais and Guines have written to the Queen that they hear the French mean to ask leave to pass through their territories to attack your Majesty's and, if it is refused, to do their worst.
	The Queen's Council has caused the King of France to be requested to order restitution to be made of M. de Courrières' and the Alcalde's horses and of their goods seized on the Queen's channel, and an answer is looked for. Paget told the Lieutenant that the English and your Majesty's ships had chased some French vessels as far as the Norman ports.
	Richmond, 4 June, 1554.
	Signed by both. Cipher. French.
	Printed by Weiss from a minute at Besançon (C.G. 73), Documents Inédits, Vol. IV, but wrongly dated “middle of June”; and by Tytler from the original, but with the omission of the first two paragraphs, The Reigns of Edward VI and Mary, Vol. II.
June 4. Brussels, E.A. 109.	Simon Renard to the Queen Dowager.
	Madam: I have obeyed the commands contained in your Majesty's letters of May 14th by handing over 1000 sun-crowns to M. de La Capelle for revictualling his Majesty's ships of which he is in command, as I have already written to you, and you will see by the enclosed copy of M. de La Capelle's receipt. May it therefore please your Majesty to order this sum to be returned to me. I was unable to send on your letters to M. de La Capelle with any degree of certainty that they would reach him, for he was at Falmouth with the Admiral of England a fortnight ago, and is said to have sailed towards Spain.
	Your Majesty has been pleased to write me letters recommending several of your subjects who have private suits pending here; but the present moment is not a favourable one for helping them, which I will do to the best of my ability as soon as an opportunity offers.
	I have sent to your Majesty, by the servants of Selliers, a gentleman of the Duchess of Lorraine, a blood-hound which I hope will stand the tests well. If not I will try to find a better one; for I hear your Majesty often hunts big game.
	Richmond, 4 June, 1554.
	Signed. French.
June 6. Brussels, E.A. 109.	M. De Vandeville to the Queen Dowager.
	Madam: M. Herryde Hare, an ensign under M.deBerlaymont, has told me that, on his way back from France, he left at Boulogne a Spaniard called Juan de Carvajal, who was waiting for others of his company. And now the Deputy of Calais tells me that one Pedro de Carvajal, brother or lieutenant of the other, has arrived at Calais and intends to proceed to Boulogne, which the Deputy has refused to allow him to do without informing me. I have begged him not to let the man go, and told him that I am informing your Majesty of his goodwill, towards the Imperial service, and shall soon have a reply from you. I have suggested that if he does not want to keep the Spaniard at Calais, he might hand him over to me; but I know not what he will say in reply. May you be pleased to send me instructions, for this Pedro has said at Calais that he is expecting others to join him.
	Gravelines, 6 June, 1554.
	Holograph. French.
June 7. Vienna, E. 1.	Mary I to the Emperor.
	We some time ago ordered our ambassador resident at your court to request you to give us permission to export from Spain a sum of money which is to be paid to us there by certain of your subjects. The time now approaches when we must send our agent, Thomas Gresham, to Spain on this business, and we pray you to give him a passport to enable him to take the sum of 500,000 ducats out of Spain. We assure you that we have always found Thomas Gresham to be a good and loyal servant, and we have now expressly charged him to acquit himself loyally of this mission and in no wise abuse the passport to be delivered to him, by granting which you will give us great pleasure and lay upon us an obligation which we shall ever recognise.
	Richmond, 7 June, 1554.
	Signed. French.
June 7. Brussels, R.A. Prov. 13.	Simon Renard to the Emperor.
	Sire: The Council sent word to me this morning that Gresham had written to the Queen that he was unable to make the arrangements for exporting the money because of Secretary Vargas's absence, and that as time was working against her (i.e. interest was accumulating), they desired both the Queen and me to write begging your Majesty to order the affair to be terminated. Remembering what your Majesty has already written to me on this subject, I thought it would be wrong to refuse; and indeed, Sire, unless the Queen is able to raise money, I foresee that the Council will temporise with the French.
	The Council is disputing whether the Queen is to be named before his Highness in public acts; but when I heard of it I told the Chancellor that no law, human or divine, nor his Highness's prestige and good name, would allow him to be named second, especially as the treaties and Acts of Parliament gave him the title of King of England. I know not what decision they will come to. On Tuesday, one of M. d'Egmont's servants arrived from Spain at Southampton to engage lodgings for his master. I have heard nothing from him, but expect news today. Nothing has been heard from the Marquis de Las Navas either. I hear Hoby has gone abroad to plot with the Duke of Savoy, and Morison is intriguing in the Count Palatine's (fn. 4) house in Germany. May your Majesty therefore be pleased to have them watched, for it has been discovered that Hoby gave his approval to the recent rebellion.
	Richmond, 7 June, 1554.
	Holograph. French.
	The second paragraph is printed by Tytler, The Reigns of Edward VI and Mary, Vol. II.
June 8. Brussels, E.A. 46.	The Emperor to the Ring of the Romans.
	(The only means of achieving the pacification of Germany seem to be to hold a Diet, and the Emperor, feeling unable to do so in person, desires the King of the Romans to preside.)
	The Licenciate (Games) will have told you how affairs are proceeding where France is concerned. There is no likelihood of peace as yet, although Cardinal Pole, the legate, has been negotiating there, and has now come hither with very little, or rather nothing at all, to go upon. It is true that the French talk about wishing the Queen of England to arrange a peace, but they have entered into no particulars, and do not lead one to suppose that they mean what they say. They are making warlike preparations. . . . . . .
	Don Pedro Laso has arrived here, and I have heard that you have instructed him to go over to England and assist at the wedding of the Prince, my son. I think he will soon be able to go, for it seems that the Prince will not delay, as news have arrived of his departure from Valladolid for Corunna, where all things are in readiness. I have no doubt that, as this marriage may be the source of great benefits to Christendom, you have its successful conclusion as much at heart as I have.
	Brussels, 8 June, 1554.
	Freuch. Minute.
	Printed by Lanz, Correspondenz des Kaisers Karl V, III, 622.
June 8. Besançon, C.G. 73.	The Emperor to the Ambassadors in England.
	Don Pedro Laso, master of the horse to the King of the Romans, our good brother, and Don Hernando de Gamboa, gentleman of the bed-chamber to the King of Bohemia, our son (in-law), have arrived here, sent by their august lords to assist at the solemnization of the marriage between the Prince, our son, and our good daughter, sister and cousin, the Queen of England. We desire, request and charge you to welcome them most favourably and honourably and to recommend them to the Queen, the Councillors and to whomsoever else you may think it well to present them, remembering the family ties between the Queen and ourselves, and our true, perfect and indissoluble friendship.
	The French ambassador, who will probably also assist at the ceremonies attendant on the marriage, may perhaps repeat his behaviour at the last Council of Trent, raise objections and demand precedence of the King our brother's ambassador, alleging as he did before that during our lifetime as Emperor, our brother can not put forward his claims as King of the Romans, nor claim precedence, being merely our coadjutor in the Empire; and consequently that master, in virtue of his title of Most Christian King, has a right to precede all other kings. If this difficulty arises, you will be careful to intervene and have the following considerations presented to the ambassador: Although we are still alive to enjoy our prerogatives as Emperor, our brother was crowned King of the Romans, with all the requisite ceremonies, and was and is received, revered and honoured as such not merely in the various provinces and States of the Empire, but throughout the whole of Christendom. Allege any other good reasons that may occur to you to satisfy him; and even if every other reason were to fail, the near relationship and affinity between the King, our brother, our son the Prince and the Queen, would suffice to justify the demand that the ambassador should be given place before all others at the marriage ceremonies. Were the French ambassador to declare himself not satisfied you will consult with the Councillors on other means of persuading him and inducing him to accept the facts; it were better he should not be present at the marriage ceremonies at all, than to permit him to take precedence to the detriment of the King, our brother. As to the King of Bohemia, there is no objection at all to allowing the French ambassador precedence over his, and you will formulate none, nor will Don Hernando (de Gamboa) do so. We recommend you to give the two ambassadors your full assistance if any other difficulty comes up in any question of precedence or other matters, and to second them in every way with recommendations and introductions.
	Brussels, 8 June, 1554.
	French. Signed, Charles; countersigned, Bave.
	Printed by Weiss, Documents Inédits, Vol. IV. The original minute is in Vienna, E. 23.
June 9. Brussels, R.A. Prov. 13.	Simon Renard to the Emperor.
	Sire: M. de La Capelle has written me a letter which I am sending on to your Majesty, saying that the ships of his fleet are only victualled for a fortnight, and that he wishes to know your Majesty's pleasure. I am sending off this courier in order to ascertain your intentions within the required time, and to beg you to make necessary provision, for I, as I said in my last letter, have already furnished M. de La Capelle with 1000 sun-crowns. The gentleman who brought the letter told me that M. de La Capelle suspected the Admiral of England of intriguing with the French or of evil designs against his Highness, for he sent off a vessel to France or Spain without M. de La Capelle's knowledge, and had communicated with one Killigrew, one of the captains of Falmouth castle, whose sons were in France. Moreover, when M. de La Capelle's soldiers went ashore, the Admiral's men tried to pick a quarrel and pushed and shoved them; the Admiral had small respect for M. de La Capelle, and the two had not met for a month, nor communicated except by messages; the Admiral called your Majesty's ships “muscle-shells”; and he gave me several other reasons to explain why M. de La Capelle never put into port, but was always under sail, and forbade his soldiers to go ashore. I had already been informed that there was something of the sort; but I replied that he must not be angry, but temporise and dissemble, adding that I trusted his task would soon be over and his Highness here, and I would supply to M. de Courrières 4000 or 5000 crowns, which I would borrow, to meet necessary expenses and avoid loss of prestige that might otherwise be suffered by your Majesty's fleet. I have now raised this sum to buy provisions; for M. de Courrières had no instructions to disburse money, though the purveyors demand payment.
	The Queen told me yesterday that Cardinal Pole had instructed his agent here to declare to her that he was sorely disappointed at having failed to persuade your Majesty and the King of France to make peace. His desire to serve the Christian Commonwealth was such, however, that he would like to make some further proposals to that end, in which she could be of great service. The best and quickest way, he thought, would be to cause commissioners and arbiters to discuss the points at issue; and if she were willing to write to your Majesty in commendation of this course, he thought it would be an excellent thing. She had no experience, the Queen pursued, of these matters, and knew not whether your Majesty would approve of her intervention, or whether it would be likely to do good or harm; wherefore she wished to hear from me how far the peace-negotiations had gone when the Cardinal dropped them, and whether she might comply with his request without displeasing your Majesty. In reply, I remarked that I had heard the French had shown small desire to make peace, for they were counting on their intrigues with Margrave Albrecht in Germany. They had made no reasonable proposals, but were merely trying to bring about a deceitful truce and suspension of arms to give them a few days' breathing space and time to raise money. To cause commissaries to meet would offer no particular advantages unless the French were prepared to hand over the places they had occupied since the beginning of this war, for otherwise I did not believe your Majesty would care to submit to arbitration, especially as the difficulties between the contending parties had been settled by treaties that had been sworn to and ratified by the present King, and a fresh conference would only call solemnly passed treaties into question and furnish the French with an excuse for breaking them whenever they felt inclined to ply their trade of faithlessness. It seemed to me that the war had been in progress three years without the King having accomplished any great feat or filling in the circle of his crescent with your Majesty's lands; and as it would be difficult for him to meet expenses in so many quarters much longer, he would have to make up his mind to conquer or yield. God was judge of good and evil intentions, and I could give her no advice on this matter, but must leave it to her own discretion, though I could assure her that no step of hers in the direction of peace would displease your Majesty, who had always loved peace and sacrificed your own to the public interests. The Queen replied that she would answer the Cardinal along these lines, The Queen is setting out on Wednesday on the road to Southampton. I trust that his Highness's arrival will not be attended with any disagreeable happenings; but there are many people here who do not like the match. I will do my best to find out any intrigues that may be brewing, and put a stop to them. It has been suggested to send the Lady Elizabeth to the Queen of Hungary's court, if her Majesty were willing; but no decision has yet been arrived at.
	The dispensation bulls following on the briefs have not arrived here.
	Richmond, 9 June, 1554.
	P.S. No news have yet come from Spain, from either the Marquis de Las Navas or anyone else.
	Printed by Weiss, in Documents Inédits, Vol. IV, but dated “middle of July.” Holograph. French.
	An extract from this letter is printed by Tytler, The Reigns of Edward VI and Mary, Vol. II.
June 11. Brussels, R.A.P. 13.	Simon Renard to the Emperor.
	Sire: On the 9th of this month the Queen and her Council had news that the French have sent to sea twenty well-equipped vessels that are now at anchor off Portland Harbour, between Falmouth and Southampton. Their object is most likely the Marquis de Las Navas and his passengers, or else some enterprise on the island near Portland to be undertaken with the knowledge and assistance of certain Englishmen. Messengers have been sent to the Lord Treasurer at Southampton and the Lord Admiral at Falmouth so as to ascertain the nature of the Frenchmen's plans and forestall them, with orders that pinnaces and ships be sent to warn the Marquis and others to make for Plymouth instead of Southampton.
	The Duke of Ferrara's (fn. 5) ambassador has arrived here, and had audience of the Queen. Following the charge contained in the Duke's letters he besought the Queen very earnestly to promote peace between your Majesty and the King of France. Whether he was moved by true zeal and his natural inclination, or by pressure from the French or the Cardinal of Ferrara (fn. 6) your Majesty will understand much better than I can explain.
	The Queen has been advised not to leave this town until she receives news of his Highness or the Marquis (de Las Navas). Everyone is amazed that no news should have come from Spain.
	Sire: As I have heard that your Majesty has ordered proceedings to be taken against the three Spaniards who are now prisoners at Gravelines, remembering what has been written to me on the subject, I cannot forbear humbly to observe to your Majesty that their punishment might cause bitterness between the men of various nationalities and give occasion for disorder. Nevertheless I submit entirely to your Majesty's wise commands.
	Richmond, 11 June, 1554.
	French. Signed original.
June 12. Vienna, E. 23.	The Emperor to Simon Renard.
	Carvajal, who has served some time as lieutenant of the company of light cavalry now under the orders of Don Henrique Manrique, left the company because of certain misdeeds of his, and took the road to France. We have since heard that he has been arrested at Calais.
	It is very important that we should have him in our hands to verify certain charges and hear his evidence on various accusations brought against hin. We desire you as soon as possible humbly to request the Queen of England, our good sister, daughter and cousin, that she may be pleased to command that the said Carvajal, now under arrest at Calais, may be delivered into our hands. We are presenting the same request to her on our own behalf and offering her reciprocity in any similar case. We charge and solicit you to accomplish this task with all speed, for several good reasons, and especially that greater evils may be provided against, which would certainly follow if the said Carvajal were to escape without rendering account of that which is imputed to him.
	We are sending a special courier with these letters, which we will now close.
	Brussels, 12 June, 1554.
	French. Copy of a minute.
June 12. Simancas, E. 808.	Mary I to the Princess of Portugal, Regent of Spain.
	Being in need of money in order to carry on most important public affairs, we have contracted with certain Antwerp merchants the loan of a sum which is to be paid in Spain, whither we are now sending the bearer of this letter, our agent Thomas Gresham. He will present to you the passport that has been delivered to him by our dear and well-beloved brother, father and perpetual ally, the Emperor, but we were unwilling to let slip this opportunity of visiting you with our letters. We pray you, therefore, not only, to enable this matter which concerns us so nearly to be rapidly terminated in a satisfactory manner, but to afford your protection to our agent in all he has to do, as we would not fail to favour your emissary in similar circumstances. We assure you that you will thus be doing us a kindness for which we will seek to requite you whenever you are pleased to demand it of us.
	Richmond, 12 June, 1554.
	Copy or decipherment. Spanish.
June 12. Brussels, E.A. 109.	The Bishop of Norwich to the Queen Dowager of Hungary.
	Madam: Before my departure from Brussels I spoke to his Imperial Majesty's councillors concerning three Spanish prisoners at Gravelines arrested because of an outrage they committed against Jacques Granado. As the Lord Deputy of Calais and the said Granado declared themselves satisfied, and begged for the prisoners' pardon, and for other considerations besides, I believed that his Majesty would show his customary clemency towards them. But having now heard that proceedings are being instituted against them I will make so bold, trusting that your Majesty will take it in good part, as to beseech you most humbly to be pleased to declare that both sides shall be considered to have received satisfaction, in view of the fact that there was no manslaughter and no wounds were inflicted.
	Rivalry between men of various nationalities gave rise to the quarrel; and for this reason may it please your Majesty to show them mercy. I offer no other excuse for my prayer than my quality of ecclesiastic, to which it has pleased God to call me, and the supplications of the poor prisoners. Nevertheless I submit to your Majesty's good pleasure and thank you most humbly for the favourable and kind welcome it has pleased you to grant me during my embassy, which has laid upon me the obligation to pray God unceasingly to grant the fulfillment of your Majesty's most noble desires.
	Richmond, 12 June, 1554.
	French. Holograph: Signed: Thomas Norwicen.
June 14. Besançon, C.G. 73.	The Bishop of Arras to Simon Renard.
	I am bound by the ties of long friendship to the Schorr family, in whose house I have dwelt both at Augsburg and Ulm; and as one of the brothers, Francisco by name, is about to journey to England where he is being called by business, I cannot forbear to beg you to grant him all the aid and support of which he may have need. Any favour you may render him I shall appreciate as much as if it had been done, to me personally, and I shall always consider myself your debtor for it.
	Brussels, 14 June, 1554.
	French. Signed.
June 14. Brussels, R.A. Prov. 13.	The Ambassadors in England to the Emperor.
	Sire: Last Saturday the Marquis de Las Navas landed at Plymouth, where he was honourably received by the Bishop of Lincoln (fn. 7) and several gentleman. The Admiral of England was also there, and fired off a salute which lasted a long time. He has written to me that he is greatly fatigued by the sea-voyage, and will rest for two or three days before setting out to come to Court and fulfill his mission. It seems from the information I have received that his Highness will not be here before the end of this month, for he has been delayed eight or ten days by most important business. I have received a sample of his Highness's livery, which the English archers are to wear. His Highness takes it that your Majesty will give him leave to accept the Order of the Garter which the Queen and the Knights have decided to confer upon him; the Queen is having a collar made for him, valued at some 7000 or 8000 crowns, and also several rich pieces of apparel. Apart from the preparations she is making, I do not see that the nobility or the people are doing much to get ready to welcome his Highness, and some persons take this to indicate that there is some conspiracy brewing under the leadership of the Earls of Arundel and Pembroke, and Paget, though the Chancellor pays small attention to it; and it is supposed that the end in view is to marry the Lady Elizabeth to the Earl of Arundel's eldest son.
	The Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London called together the various nations here and asked whether they meant to organise any celebration on his Highness's coming, and the Venetians, Florentines and Spaniards replied that they did not intend to be put to any expense; and the gentry do not seem to be preparing any tournaments or jousts, for they say they have not the means. The Earl of Derby has been plied until he seems to me to have been almost estranged from the Queen's service; and the disaffected are showing incredible ingenuity in stirring up the people. A Venetian sailor, known by the name of the Scribe (l'escrivain), says he saw 300 French sail at sea; some people assert that the Scots will make war on England as soon as his Highness lands, others that he is coming to seize the realm and hold it with his troops. Last Sunday, an arquebus was fired at a Catholic preacher in the middle of a sermon that was being listened to by 4000 persons, and no one knows who did it. The French say their King has gallant forces afoot in Italy and France, and that your Majesty will have your hands full.
	I am sorry to see Paget following the wrong path, forgetful of his duty to the Queen and going from bad to worse. It is said that he attempted to sell one hundred pounds' worth of land the other day, so that if his undertaking fails and he is arrested he may have the hundred pounds safe from confiscation. It is known for certain that he is plotting with Mason, who writes to him frequently and at length. If your Majesty wishes to have confirmation of this, you might easily do so, for he gets his letters by the couriers who come hither from your Court or from Antwerp, and you might acquire information that would be of great value to the Queen. It is said that the Duke of Ferrara's ambassador who has come to England has been instructed by the Duke, his master, to find out whether a marriage might not be arranged between his eldest son (fn. 8) and the Lady Elizabeth.
	London, 14 June, 1554.
	Signed. Partly cipher. French.
	Printed, with a brief omission, by Tytler, The Reigns of Edward VI and Mary, Vol. II.
June 15. Brussels, R.A. Prov. 13.	Simon Renard to the Emperor.
	Sire: At the very moment when your letters came I had been asking for a letter ordering the Deputy of Calais to hand over Carvajal. I easily obtained it, and am forwarding it to the Deputy, though I have a letter from M. de Vandeville dated the 13th instant saying that Carvajal had already been delivered up to him. So I have ordered this courier to give my letters to the Deputy and find out what has really happened, so that I may act accordingly.
	The Queen is leaving this place to-morrow, and will await the Marquis de Las Navas at Guildford. The French ambassador has sent word to the Chancellor that he has news that his Highness will reach this kingdom by the end of the month. I have sent to M. de Courrières 3000 ducats, over and above the 1000 sun-crowns already supplied to M. de La Capelle.
	The Council has decided that his Highness shall be named first in all public acts in England, and that the seals shall bear the arms of both realms.
	Richmond, 15 June, 1554.
	Signed. French.
	Printed, with the omission of the first paragraph, by Tytler, The Reigns of Edward VI and Mary, Vol. II.