Henry VIII: December 1542, 21-25 | British History Online

Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 17, 1542. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1900.

'Henry VIII: December 1542, 21-25', in Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 17, 1542, (London, 1900) pp. 674-678. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol17/pp674-678 [accessed 26 April 2024]

December 1542, 21-25



21 Dec. Dasent's A.P.C., 66.	1223. The Privy Council. Meeting at St James's, 21 Dec. Present : Canterbury, Chancellor, Suffolk, Russell, Hertford, Winchester, Westminster, St. John, Cheyney, Gage, Browne, Wingfield, Wriothesley, Sadler, Baker, Dacres. Business :This day the Council assembled in the Star Chamber; and the earl of Casseilles, lords Glencarne, Somerwell, Maxwell, and all the other prisoners, being presented, were, after declaration by the lord Chancellor of the King's natural clemency and goodness, upon promise to be true prisoners, "reparted" to noblemen and gentlemen according to their rank.
21 Dec. R. O. [Spanish Calendar, VI. II., No. 85.]	1224. Chapuys to the Queen Of Hungary. Sent again yesterday to Secretary Wriothesley (as the deputy who has most credit) to know when they would reassemble and learn the resolution of the affairs treated. He answered coldly that he had spoken of it, and thought that the said affairs slept; and, to avoid talking further, sent Chapuys's man to the bp. of Westminster; who was astonished that the Secretary, who has the authority and the handling of affairs and the confidence (privault) of the King, should refer it to him. He told Chapuys's man, with emotion, how bitterly grieved he was that things were not concluded to the contentment of the two Princes, but that, to speak in confidence, the French were troubling our affairs with diabolical practices, and were evidently more subtle and cunning than the two Princes or their ministers; but he did not despair of a good resolution, and would himself do every good office; but now the Council were so busy with the Scottish affairs that they had hardly leisure to eat or drink. If any other of the deputies or of the Council had sent to tell Chapuys of French practices he would have suspected it done to make profit (although it is indicated by what the Secretary formerly hinted to his man and by the French ambassador's being in Court since his preceding letters), but coming from the bp., who is a man "rond, veritable et sans dissimulation," he takes it as true. The King will doubtless listen to the French, especially if they propose to do with cloisters and abbeys there as has been done here; which it once seemed that he desired, and Chapuys hinted to him, and declared to certain of his Council that he ought not to do, as, thereby, the King of France would become so rich as to make no account of him, but rather seek to make war on him, and also to assist the Scots with money. The King recently decided to send a gentleman of his chamber to the Emperor (Chapuys could not learn why), but yesterday Secretary Wriothesley sent to say that this is cancelled (led. voyage est rompu). Yesterday, about midday, were brought to the Tower 23 Scots, principal lords and gentlemen taken in the defeat of which Chapuys advertised her, who, as soon as they have promised before the Council not to leave without the King's licence, will be put, on parole, in the keeping of lords and gentlemen of their own rank. The Princess came to Court to-day, accompanied and met in triumphal manner, and passed through the midst of the city. London, 21 Dec. 1542. French. Modern transcript from Vienna, pp. 3.
21 Dec. Add. MS. 32,648 f. 230. B. M. Hamilton Papers, No. 263.	1225. Lisle and Others to the Council. Learn by sundry espials that the lord of Sesford and Mark Carr, with his son Davie, have entered into the house of Kelsoo and taken all the King's goods and sheep there to their own use, expelling Wm. Hameldon, who kept them. Mark has ridden to the Council to colour the matter. Dane Carr of Fernhurst has taken the ordnance that was at Jedworth to his own house, being at enmity with the said Mark. The lord of Bowcleugh has entered the abbey of Melros, alias Muros, and taken the King's sheep there, saying he will take them in part recompence of those the King took of his, and will also have the ground where they go to keep them on. The King, before his death, willed that all prisoners should be set at liberty, and the Duglasses called home if they would come; and that the governance during his child's nonage should be in the hands of Arren, Murray, Argyle, and Huntley, with the Cardinal to counsel them. Think this discord is likely to increase amongst them. Hear of no preparation against England. Alnwick castle, 21 Dec., 2 p.m. Signed : John Lisle : H. Cumberland : Cuth. Duresme : Rychard Maners. P. 1. Add. Endd. : a^o xxxiiij^o.
21 Dec. Add. MS. 32,648 f. 228 B. M. Hamilton Papers, No. 262.	1226. Lisle to Henry VIII. Sir Ric. Manners has told him that, coming through Yorkshire, he found at lord Dacres's a Scottish man taken at the late conflict, and having chanced to say that if the Scottish king had let our men to ransom they might have found the same favour now, the Scot replied that the fault was not in their King or Council. And thereupon lord Dacres plucked Manners by the sleeve and the conversation ceased. Afterwards lord Dacres said he plucked him by the sleeve because the Scot had showed him (Dacres) that it was at Sir Robert Bowes' suit that they were not put to ransom. Writes this that the Scot and Dacres may be examined. Espials, charged to feel the minds of the Scots towards Henry, think that divers of them will sue to him to receive them ere long. Has a half promise of the delivery of the two Charltons that murdered their keeper. Wrote of a skirmish between 80 Scots and 20 of his archers for the defence of a little town which the Scots came to burn. Has since learnt that of three sheaves of arrows only three could be found in the ground, that there were 140 Scots, of whom four have died since coming home and fourteen more are deadly wounded, and that six horses were killed out of hand. One archer was killed, but no more hurt. Thanks him profusely for a letter received. Alnwick castle, 21 Dec. Hol., pp. 3. Add. Endd. : a^o xxxiiij^o.
21 Dec. Add. MS. 32,648, f. 232. B. M. Hamilton Papers, No. 264. St. P. V. 230.	1227. Council Of Scotland to Henry VIII. Have received his writings, dated 10 Dec., directed to his nephew their Sovereign (whom God pardon!) to the effect that no declaration by ambassadors anent the murder of Somersyde herald can be sufficient unless the malefactors are first delivered. Their Sovereign died before these writings were presented, but they will omit nothing to satisfy him. Their Sovereign, understanding that heralds, ambassadors, and messengers must have surety to pass between princes, if any humane society is to exist, apprehended the committers of the slaughter (to be afterwards punished by Henry, and without intent to punish others in place of them), and they, ensuing that intention, will not fail to satisfy him. Your said nephew is departed this life to our great desolation and, we suppose, your no less displeasure and treistes, leaving a Princess, your pronete, to be heritor and queen of this realm; and, your blood reigning within this realm, we trust you will think it most needful to allay the diversity between the realms. To that effect we pray you to grant safe conduct to Robert, bp. of Orknay, John lord Erskyn, Sir Adam Otterburn of Reidhall, and Sir John Campbell of Lundy, with 40 horsemen, to repair to you to treat of peace; also that you will direct your wardens or others to treat an abstinence for five or six months. Edinburgh, "twentyane day of" Dec. 1542. Subscribed : "Zouris with maist humyll and lefull service, ye Counsale of Scotland." Pp. 2. Add. Sealed. Endd : xx^o Decembris a^o xxxiiij^o.
Royal MS. 18 B. VI. 149. B. M.	2. Copy of the foregoing in a letter book, from which it is printed in the State Papers. Pp. 2.
22 Dec. Dasent's A.P.C., 67.	1228. The Privy Council. Meeting at St. James's, 22 Dec. Present : Canterbury, Chancellor, Suffolk, Russell, Hertford, Winchester, Westminster, St. John, Cheyney, Gage, Browne, Wingfield, Wriothesley, Sadler, Baker, Dacres. Business :Letter to Philip Chewte to dismiss a ship laden with herring, which he stayed at Rye, upon recognisance (cited) of the owner, John Whight, to produce the Emperor's licence to convey it into France.
22 Dec. R. O. [Spanish Oalendar, VI. II., No. 86.]	1229. The Queen Of Hungary to Chapuys. Answers his letter of the 8th inst., viz. : Comparing the article of defence which the King of England's Council last exhibited with that in Chapuys's letters of the 2nd ult., she finds no sufficient change to prevent its acceptance. Gives reasons for thinking that the King might be gratified so far as to pass it. Suspects that the English opposition to naming the dukes of Cleves and Holstein is with a view to exclude them as rebels of the Empire and not to comprise them in the general clause of enemies; and, as the Emperor's insistance upon having them expressed seems due to the English deputies' unwillingness to exclude rebels of the Empire from hantize, Chapuys must foresee that, by the treaty, they will be effectually reputed enemies. Wrote to him to temporise until the Emperor's answer came to his letters of the 2nd ult.; but, considering that opportunities would be lost by delay, and that the time approaches for resolving how to conduct the war next year, she is constrained to require him to advance the treaty, and learn the King's intention before the king of France makes a new invasion upon the countries of her government (which he threatens to invade from all sides) inasmuch as the King of England's declaration could well alter the French designs. As to the Council's complaint that the bailly of Flissinge has arrested an English ship, he maintains that the ship was laden for France, contrary to the ordinances here, and the goods belonged to Frenchmen, the English only lending their name. An enquiry shall be made. Is pleased that he wrote of the good fortune (fn. 1) which the English have had against the Scots, and desires to know further particulars. French, pp. 3. Modern transcript from a Vienna MS., endorsed : 22 Dec. 1542.
23 Dec. R. O. [Spanish Calendar, VI. II., No. 87.]	1230. Chapuys to the Queen Of Hungary. Having this morning sent to the bp. of Winchester to solicit the answer and resolution of the affairs in treaty, he sent word that the delay was not to be imputed to anything but the weighty occupations in Court since the rout of the Scots, and that he would do his best to get a brief resolution; although he thought that it would not be so soon as he could desire, because news had come that the king of Scotland, soon after learning the defeat of his men, from grief, regret, and rage, fell ill and died within a few days, and his daughter and the Queen, his wife, were also very ill and despaired of by the physicians, and Earl Douglas, who was long banished from Scotland and maintained by this King, had already entered Scotland and retaken possession of his goods; and, upon these important occurrences, the King and all of them were as busy as possible. He also certified that these news were true and might be written to the Emperor and her. He gave no hint of the French practices, nor declared that the French ambassador was going to-day to Court. The other day the King received the Princess most benignly and politely, and talked with her most graciously. The Scottish prisoners have been distributed among the lords and gentlemen, as Chapuys said in his preceding letters. London, 23 Dec. 1542. French. Modern transcript from Vienna, pp. 2.
23 Dec. Royal MS. 18 B. VI. 149b. B. M.	1231. Council Of Scotland to Lisle. Received, by bearer, the King, his master's, letters to their King, whom God pardon! Have answered them according to the desire of the same, and to signify their Sovereign's death and other business concerning tranquillity between the realms. Pray him to send this answer surely, and appoint one of his deputies to meet one of the Scottish wardens, and receive the slayers of Somersyde herald, without any convocation of people. As one or two Scottish heralds should be at the delivery, and one of them should pass to the King, his master, for this and other matters of importance, pray him to send letters of safeguard to Ross and Rothissay heralds, or to one of them. Edinburgh, 23 Dec. Copy, pp. 2. Subscribed : Ye Counseill of Scotland. Add. copied : "To the right honorable ye lord Lyle, grete wardane of ye Eist and Myddle marchis of Ingland foranentts Scotland."
24 Dec. Dasent's A.P.C., 67.	1232. The Privy Council. Meeting at Hampton Court, 24 Dec. Present : Russell, Hertford, Winchester, Westminster, Cheyney, Gage, Wriothesley, Sadler. Business :Hanz van Fremont called up, but as he could not be brought to a reasonable point, the recognisance made by him and Throwar was discharged. [*** Next entry is 26 Dec.]
24 Dec. Add. MS. 32,648 f. 234. B. M. Hamilton Papers, No. 265.	1233. Lisle to Henry VIII. This day sundry intelligences out of Scotland agree that the earl of Anguishe and his brother are looked for daily, and will not be denied their lands; for the commonalty favour them, and the lords who have taken the rule (whereof the Cardinal is chief) have bruited that the King, on his death bed, commanded that they should be sent for and restored. Hears that the said lords will do their best to win them home. The captain of Dunbarr has refused to deliver the castle to the said lords. Has found "some folks" colder in practising with the said captain than he expected; for it was the first thing he delivered Sir George Duglas to practise in and nothing is done as yet. On Tuesday last proclamation was made in Edinburgh that all men should obey the Cardinal, Arrayne, Arguile, Huntley, and Murrey, as the only governors under the Princess Elizabeth (sic). The Cardinal was present at the publishing of the proclamation. The commonalty dread an English invasion, some of the best gentlemen of their Borders have "wished that your Grace had their Princess for my lord Prince." Scottish ships have taken three Englishmen laden with corn before Skarborro, the King's ships lying in the Humbber, as Lisle has advertised the Council. Alnwick castle, 24 Dec. 34 Hen. VIII. Hol., pp. 3. Add. Endd.