Henry VIII: June 1541, 11-20

Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 16, 1540-1541. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1898.

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'Henry VIII: June 1541, 11-20', in Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 16, 1540-1541, (London, 1898) pp. 437-443. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol16/pp437-443 [accessed 19 April 2024]

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June 1541, 11–20

11 June. 899. Thome Scott to Sir Cuthbert Radclif.
R. O. Has received from the laird of Cesforthe, warden of the Middle Marches, Radclif's writing in answer to his letter touching “deny of redress.” Has informed the King and lords Maxwell and Flemyn of his towardness to justice. They have bid him advertise Radclif that if the lord Lieutenant return from London they will not fail to meet him at the usual places for Liddesdale. If he come not, they will cause their deputies to keep the meeting on 12 July. Requests him to send his bills of complaint. Hopes that they of Liddisdall “salbe reterit fra yair wikkit condicyons and in tym cumynge be better ordourit; quhairfor it will neid yor wisdomes yat ayre offissis to pas ye materis bi past in ye esyast mainer at canbe allwais ya doand yair possibilite to satify all partes complenand to yare utermast power.” Kelsou, 11 June.
Copy, p. 1. Add.: Lieutenant of the Middle Marches. Endd.
13 June. 900. Bury St. Edmund's Abbey.
Harl. MS.
370, f. 40b.
B.M.
Rental of knights' fees (fn. 1) of Bury St. Edmund's abbey, now in the King's hands, renewed 13 June 33 Hen. VIII.
Lat., pp. 9.
13 June. 901. Parliament of Ireland.
Statutes enacted by the Parliament held at Dublin, Monday, 13 June, to Wednesday, 20 July 33 Hen. VIII., and there prorogued to Monday, 7 Nov. following, thence to Thursday, 22 Dec., and thence to 15 Feb. (A.D. 1542), at Limerick, and there held until 7 March, and then adjourned to 12 June at Trym, and there held until 21 June, and thence adjourned to 6 Nov. at Dublin, and there held until 18 Nov. and thence prorogued to 17 April (A.D. 1543) at Dublin, and there held until 2 May, and thence prorogued to 6 Nov. at Dublin, and there held until 19 Nov. and dissolved.
[The above and the following list are abridged from Grierson's edition of 1786].
First session [13 June to 20 July 1541]:—
Chap. 1. The King to be king of Ireland. Rot. Parl. c. 3.
Chap. 2. For grey merchants.
Chap. 3. For plaints in assise.
Chap. 4. Consanguinity not within the fifth degree to be no challenge in jury cases.
Chap. 5. To be felony for servants to run away with their masters' chattels.
Chap. 6. Marriages. Rot. Parl. c. 7.
Chap. 7. Lords distraining upon lands to name the land, not the tenant. Rot. Parl. c. 8.
Chap. 8. Capacities. Rot. Parl. c. 9.
Chap. 9. Servants' wages. Rot. Parl. c. 11.
Chap. 10. Joint tenants. Rot. Parl. c. 12.
Chap. 11. Recovery in avoiding leases. Rot. Parl. c. 13.
Chap. 12. Tithes. Rot. Parl. c. 15.
Chap. 13. Attournements. Rot. Parl. c. 16.
Chap. 14. Erecting of vicarages. Rot. Parl. c. 6.
Chap. 15. Vagabonds. Rot. Parl. c. 14.
Titus, B. ix.
126b.
B. M.
2. Later copy of the preceding, with the omission of Chapters 14 and 15.
Pp. 17.
13 June. 902. Nich. Wotton to Henry VIII.
Vit. B., xxi.
f. 215.
B. M.
“And it please yor … knowledge when the D … newes that they have had … and queene of Navarre arryved at … xxiijth (as I remembre) of Maye. And that I … Frenche kinge had before that brought the Duke to th[e Queen] of Navarre, where they ij hadde communicacion to gyther … mariaige was not made but was delayed tyll the [King] of Navarres comminge. So that they reken surelye to ha[ve] verye shortelye tydinges of the solempnization of hit. And a[ll] be it that the contrey heere dothe moche rejoyce of the Duke's mariage (for that is the thinge that they have chieflye desyred, fearing to falle under the handes of th'Elector of Saxe yf the Duke shuld dye withowt yssue, wherunto though they have agreede and consentyd, yet yn deede they do verye muche abhorre hit) yet wold they mervelous fayne have hym at home agayne; for though they see no cawse why to suspecte the Frenche kinges faithe, yet they feare verye muche th'Emperor's craftye and besye witte, leste he ynvente summe Spaynysshe practise that might tourne the Duke to displeasur. And theref[ore] they ar not yn theyr myndes the beste pleasyd withe the [Duke's] longe taryeng yn France. And surelye I can not perce[yve that there] ar enye people bearithe more love to theyr pr[ince then th]ey dothe and the Geldrois as muche or rath[er] … of this affinite withe France … d they have had muche cownfort … therefor beare the better favor towardes … And lykewyse the Duke's neighbors seeme to [be well] inclyned towardes hym, as the bisshoppe of Coleyn, and the bisshoppe of Munster”; for these are the chief except the Emperor's countries, which, for Geldres' sake, have no cause to bear him good will. There is a rumor that, three days past, the Brabanters laid an ambush in a wood beside Wageninge, one of the strongest towns of Gelders, which was discovered by the brightness of the harness, and the town gates kept shut; but this tale seems unlikely, for I spake with one who was yesterday at Nymmeghe, the chief town of Gelders, and lying near Wageninge, “[by] whome I parceyve that th … of that mater … I can not take it but … To wryte unto your highness … upon such matters as have passed … the duke of Cleves; how be it that by enye … and comme to my knowledge I can not well percey[ve] … myndes theryn, otherwyse then hathe before ben signy[fied unto] yor Highnesse; yet when I consyder that where a[s in] tyme passed they usidde to participate muche of theyr aff[airs] unto me, to certify your Majesty thereof, they now, sendes (since) th[e] separacion, have kepte all theyr doinges as secrett from me as they cowde yn the world”; and whereas, before, the chief of the Council and all the Court came very familiarly to me, now no one comes but Olisleger. Before, when I lay in any town where the Court was, they sent me dinner and supper, meat and wine, which fashion they have now left. “These alterations of th[eyr] … and doinges sendes the said separacion seeme to me to s[how a great alter]acion of theyr myndes towardes yor Highnesse fr[om] … wordes (as I sayde) I can … ben written to yor Highnesse before.
“… of enye takinge up of lantzknechtes, neither … nor elyswhere.”
Dr. Olisleger is sore sick of an ague which has turned from a quotidian to a tertian, but his physician does not despair. Cleves, 13 June 1541.
Hol., pp. 4. Mutilated.
14 June. 903. Marillac to Francis I.
R. O.
Kaulek, 312.
(The whole
text.)
Continuing the matter described in his letters of the 22nd ult., which showed that the English would treat for closer amity provided the overture came from France, Norfolk came yesterday (fn. 2) to his lodgings, secretly, at an hour he had assigned the day before. After repeating what Marillac had said to him and what he had replied (adding that his fear of the envy which the others bore him had still kept him from speaking to the King, and asking whether Marillac had written of it to Francis and what reply was received), he counselled Marillac, if he had any charge to put forward some good thing, to do it as soon as possible; because, in two or three days, he was going north to attend the King, who ought soon to be about Lincoln, and in his absence could not do what he could wish to do to show his zeal for Francis's service, to which he well knew the other lords of the Council were not nearly so well inclined as himself, and also because the Emperor had afresh written to his ambassador to treat some affairs of importance (which he did not otherwise specify, except to say it lay with him and Marillac to hinder them and that, when these assemblies of Germany ended, the Emperor would return into Flanders towards Spain or else pass into Italy).
Considers that in this fashion of dealing there was great dissimulation, and under these sweet words much poison, the only object being to warm matters up, so as to obtain from Francis some overture of what they wish for themselves, and to get themselves sought after all the more by making it appear that the Emperor is practising with them and that they are ready to agree with him if you do not hinder it; while in any case their condition may be thereby improved, either to obtain more easily what they ask if it came to treating, or else to be the more welcome to the Emperor by alleging that they had refused Francis's overtures. Marillac, accordingly, paid him back in his own coin; and, after thanking him for the trouble he took in coming to communicate so privately and giving advice and counsel, satisfied him upon the points he had mentioned. When he asked what Marillac had written, the latter replied that Norfolk had given him a lesson as to what he ought to do; for where he, a great lord of so great experience and authority in the affairs of England, made a difficulty in opening Marillac's suggestion to his master, how much more should Marillac hesitate to write to Francis what he had himself invented? He had indeed written, as he promised, part of it to certain of Francis's Council, as proceeding from Norfolk, leaving it to their discretion to speak to Francis of it; and he did not know whether they had done so, for he had as yet no reply from them, but if any came he would at once inform Norfolk. Did this to reserve an occasion of resuming the subject if necessary. As to the practises of the Emperor which they could hinder, said he could not think of a remedy because he did not know the disease; for Norfolk had said nothing of it except that he seemed to hint the marriage of lady Mary with the Emperor, which is difficult to believe, for reasons Marillac has before written. To put it forward the Emperor must send another minister, for he who is here has for six months not left his house, and scarcely even his bed.
Norfolk, seeing he could draw nothing else from Marillac, at leaving, said, in his ear, that if Marillac had not written he should write, and that he would not for a great deal have it known that he had come to visit him, as he did not know how his companions would take it. This showed still more the depth of the dissimulation; for such visits made in a town like London, two hours after midday, in company with more than 100 men, cannot be hidden; besides, on leaving he went straight to Court, from whence Marillac had been warned in the morning that the Council would send one of the greatest lords among them that day to speak with him (Marillac); who was thereby the better prepared to make no answer which could be ill interpreted.
Had already written the above in cipher, the day before yesterday, thinking to despatch the packet then; when his cousin arrived with what Francis wrote on the 2nd, ensuing which he was yesterday in Court to present Francis's cordial recommendations. Norfolk at once came to ask if he had no answer about that which he last told Marillac. Replied, according to the instruction received, that those to whom he wrote said they referred it entirely to him to write of it to Francis if he thought good, since it concerned his charge; but he dared not do so. Prayed him earnestly if he had not spoken of it to the King his master, [not] to open it as coming from Marillac, for, besides incurring his master's indignation for meddling without commission, he would be rendered for ever powerless to serve the said King. Norfolk replied that he acted discreetly, but that he had more fear of being disavowed than that his master's service should suffer, inasmuch as, if matters were not pushed forward, he could [not] attain his pretended object, to hinder the thing that the Emperor was brewing, and for which his ambassador had come thither. After a pause, seeing Marillac remain resolute, Norfolk said he would himself make some design to break the intrigues of the Emperor, which he would declare to Marillac when they were in the North and could freely consult for the profit of their two masters. Reserves till then the putting forward the match (fn. 3) mentioned in Francis's letters.
When the countess of Salisbury was beheaded, sentence of death was pronounced upon one Master Nevel, a gentleman well known in this Court, and of mediocre wit (faculte), who, for not revealing the conspiracy lately made in the North which one of the conspirators had disclosed to him, has been led thither to be executed, although some maintained that he had been put to death in the Tower, as Marillac's last letters mentioned. It is said also that lord Lisle, deputy of Calais, and lord Lyonard de Clydas are in great danger of dying this week or the next, and that the son of the late lord Montagut, nephew of cardinal Pole, with great difficulty will be pardoned, although he is young and innocent of what his father and grandmother were charged with. Three of those of the North have since been publicly executed for the aforesaid conspiracy, two of whom were priests and the other a gentleman of the short robe, who were drawn, hanged, and quartered in the accustomed manner (fn. 4). Other servants of this King have been put to death for other causes, among whom were two archers (fn. 5) of the Guard who waylaid and robbed a merchant near the Court. The brother (fn. 6) of this King's ambassador with the Emperor has been more frightened than hurt; for, having struck another (fn. 7) in the King's house, he was condemned to lose his hand, was led by the executioner on to a scaffold, his hand bound to a block, and all the other mysteries done, even to pretending to deal the blow, and then his pardon was sent him.
There is here no talk but of preparations for going to the North, and nothing more is said about sending men over the sea, but rather some are returning because of the dearness of living there and the small wages. Likewise, most of the King's ships are sent back to the places where they are kept, out of the main river, and their artillery returned to the Tower.
Heard by this last despatch that Francis has given him the abbey of Saint Pere les Meleun, for which he thanks him.
French. Two modern transcripts, pp. 8 and pp. 9. Headed: London 14 June 1541.
14 June 904. Anne de Lorraine [Princess of Orange] to the Queen of Scotland.
Balcarres MS.
ii. 157.
Adv. Lib.,
Edin.
Writes by the bearer who is returning to her. Cannot see her as often as she would like, but begs she may have sometimes news of her. Understands from the bearer that she and hers are well and happy. Wishes always to do her service. “De Duhuist (Delft?) en Olante, ce xiiije de jun.” Her husband sends commendations. Signed: Vostre treshumble cousine, Anne de Lorraine.
Hol., Fr., p. 1. Add: A la Reine d'Ecosse.
16 June. 905. The Privy Council.
Nicolas'
P.C.P., vii.
198.
Meetings at Greenwich, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 16 June. Present: Chancellor (except on the 5th), Norfolk, Gt. Chamb., Hertford, Gt. Admiral, Durham (except on the 9th. 10th, and 11th), Treasurer (except on the 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, and 16th), Comptroller, Mr. of Horse, Vice-Chamb., Wriothesley, Sadler (except on the 9th, 10th, and 11th), Chanc. of Augm. (except on the 6th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, and 16th). No business recorded.
Note that on 13, 14, and 15 June the Council did not sit.
16 June 906. Carne and Vaughan.
R. O.
St. P., viii.
577.
Instructions to Sir Edw. Kerne and Stephen Vaughan sent to the Queen Dowager of Hungary, Regent of the Low Countries.
To deliver the King's letters of credence and commendations, and say that where a certain “alteration,” has lately grown by mistaking certain the King's doings in his late Parliament, and that upon the King's requests to the said Regent for redubbing of the same, she has required some persons to be sent to consult thereupon; the King, having special regard to his old amity with the Emperor, sends the said Kerne and Vaughan. They shall therefore ask her to appoint commissioners who may consult and conclude thereupon with expedition.
To these Commissioners they shall shew that the Act of 32 Henry VIII. merely repeats former Acts (enumerated) touching transport of merchandise. Explains them. Nevertheless the King's subjects have since the Act been unjustly handled, as signified by my lord of Winchester and Sir Hen. Knevet, the King's ambassadors with the Emperor, who reported that the Emperor referred the matter to the Regent. The King thereupon wrote to her, and she replied that she could not conclude the matter, but would refer to the Emperor. Since then the King sent his servant John Osborne to the Low Countries to buy certain things, and the Regent wrote that until she had an answer to her former letters she would not suffer the said things to be transported. This strange answer the King weighed considerately and resolved to send Kerne and Vaughan to declare the justice of his doings.
They shall then explain to the Commissioners the justice of the last statute and confute the proclamation thereupon set forth by them.
They shall declare to the Regent the King's receipt of her second letters of — (blank) May answering his by Osburn requesting her to despatch the things at once.
When they have concluded both with the Commissioners and the Regent they shall not take leave until they hear from the King.
Corrected draft, pp. 22. Endd.: Despatched the 16th of June 1541.
17 June. 907. The Privy Council.
Nicolas'
P.C.P., vii.
201.
Meeting at Greenwich, 17 June. Present: Chancellor, Gt. Chamb., Hertford, Gt. Admiral, Durham, Comptroller, Mr. of Horse, Vice-Chamb., Wriothesley, Sadler. Business:—Letter to the Abp. of Canterbury, who reported that a lewd fellow had forged a bill appointing him one of the beadmen of Canterbury, to cause the said fellow to be nailed by the ear to the pillory, next market day. Letter to the customers, &c., of Yarmouth to permit Jas. Sutton, one of the clerks of the Green Cloth, who is appointed to provide victual for Calais and Guisnes, to send it free of custom. The deputy of Ireland advertised, by a letter to him, Baron Welshe, John Mynne, and Wm. Cavendish, commissioners, that the three Commissioners may return; so that they may here make a transumpt of their survey, to be sent back by Cavendish, who is to return to Ireland to be there when the Vice-Treasurer's account is made. Letter written to Norfolk to send John Heron's letters touching Lionel Gray's accusation, and his own information “touching the surprisal of Berwick.”
17 June. 908. Ireland.
Irish Pat.
Roll, 33–35
Hen. VIII.
m. 1.
Grant to Sir Wm. Bermingham, in tail male, of the dignity of baron of Carbrie, with certain lands of Balibogan priory and Clonarde abbey. 17 June 33 Hen. VIII.
See Morrin's Calendar, p. 85.
18 June. 909. Rochester Cathedral.
See Grants in June, Nos. 36, 42.
18 June. 910. Chapuys to the Queen of Hungary.
Spanish
Calendar, VI.
i. No. 167.
She is doubtless aware that the English ambassadors have been soliciting a treaty of closer friendship with the Emperor, to be made within 6, 8, or 10 months, on condition that neither party should meanwhile treat to the prejudice of the other, and that the Emperor has consented and made promise to that effect on condition that Henry would do the like before Chapuys. Went accordingly on Sunday to the King, who made the reciprocal promise before him, and desired him to go to his Privy Council, who would show him the draft of his letter to the ambassadors, that his own despatch might correspond. For this purpose, went again to Court yesterday, where, as on the previous day, he was extremely caressed. The King had a conversation with him, saying he wondered how the Emperor could have consented to the Dowager Duchess of Milan's marriage with the Marquis de Pont, as Lorraine would give no assistance against France, the cardinal of Lorraine and M. de Guise being so partial to Francis, and they had lost authority by working the ruin of the High Constable of France, to which they and the cardinals of Tournon and Ferrara, besides the Admiral and Madame d'Estampes, had chiefly contributed. Moreover, the King held Anne of Cleves to be the lawful wife of the Marquis, for their engagement had never been annulled, and that was his own reason for repudiating her; and he was sorry he had not heard before of the Emperor's sanctioning such a marriage. He added that he suspected the duke of Lorraine had made some arrangement to hand over to Francis the rights which he claimed in Gueldres.
In two days Dr. Carne and Vaughan, once ambassador at the Queen's Court, will leave on a mission to her for the adjustment of mercantile differences, and Chapuys has been asked to write in their favour. Suggests a caution. Encloses copy of a billet which came inside another of Francis I. to his ambassador here, which will show the zeal they bear to your Majesty on that side. Begs it may be kept secret lest he get no more information from the same quarter. London, 18 June 1541.
Original at Vienna.
19 June. 911. The Privy Council.
Nicolas'
P.C.P., vii.
202.
Note that on 18 June the Council did not sit.
Meeting at Westm., 19 June. Present: Chancellor, Gt. Chamb., Hertford, Gt. Admiral, Mr. of Horse, Vice-Chamb., Wriothesley, Sadler, Chanc. of Augm., Chanc. of Tenths. No business recorded.
[19 June.] 912. King of Ireland.
Lamb. MS.
603, p. 99.
Proclamation for the pardon of prisoners when Henry VIII. was declared king of Ireland. Begins: “Honorable assembly, ye shall understand.”
Copy, p. 1. See Carew Calendar, No. 158.
Titus B. xi.
373.
B. M.
2. Later copy of the preceding.
P. 1.
19 June. 913. The Nuncio in France to —.
R. O. “Il motivo passato d'Inghilterra fu risoluto in fano, non solo giustificandolo qui in Inghilterra per il suo ambasciatore, et rincrescendoli molto che qui si fosse havuto tal sospetto et altra opinione di quella è in vero, et cosi medesimamente quei capi che sono in Cales, chiamati et fattoli banchetti dentro in Cales a certi Francesi che stanno a quelle frontiere, fecero le medesime scuse et le medesime esclamationi, et nondimeno con tutto questo ognuno sta in gelosia dell' altro per l'ordinario, et qualche cosa piu hora, quanto che i tempi et i mali d'hoggi di piu lo richiedono.
“Mons. di Vandome che ando all'hora in quelle parti non è tornato ancora alla Corte, ma si dice che sta li in certi suoi luoghi per sua comodita, ec. Di Corte di Francia in Sciattellaro, alli 19 di Giugno 1541 ec. Hiero Datari.”
Modern transcript from a Borghese MS. at Rome.
20 June. 914. The Privy Council.
Nicolas'
P.C.P., vii.
202.
Meeting at Westm., 20 June. Present: Chancellor, Hertford Durham, Chanc. of Tenths. Business:—Letter under Stamp to Ant. Rous, Treasurer of Works at Guisnes, that Jas. Sutton should be left at London for the continuance of provision, to whom he should send from time to time such money as he should levy of the price of the victuals there. Letter under Stamp to Dr. Wootton, ambassador with the duke of Cleves, when the Duke returned out of France, to take his leave and come home. Two similar letters to the earl of Cumberland and lord Dacres to certify whether the right of fishing about Carlisle belong to the Deputy Warden there or the captain of Carlisle. Lionel Gray dismissed for the time because the letters containing his accusation were with Norfolk; but commanded to appear again when the King came to York.

Footnotes

  • 1. Lists of these knights' fees, one of them dated 25 July 33 Hen. VIII. and another undated, will be found in the same MS. volume, ff. 25, 56, &c. On f. 87 is an inscription:— “This boke belongeth to John Southwell.”
  • 2. Presumably the 11th June. The transcripts (deciphers) of this letter are indeed dated at the head “14 June;” but no doubt the original was dated, according to the usual custom at the end; and it will be seen (p. 440) that the first part of the letter was written two days before the rest.
  • 3. Marriage of Charles duke of Orleans with one of Henry's daughters, as suggested in No. 885. Francis I. seems to have thought that though Mary was regarded by the King as illegitimate he considered Elizabeth legitimate.
  • 4. See note to No. 897.
  • 5. Their names are given by Hall and Wriothesley as Damport or Davenport and Chapman. They were hanged at Greenwich on the 9th June.
  • 6. Sir Edmund Knyvett.
  • 7. Thomas Clere. See No. 760.