II. 15. Sir Philip Hobbey departed toward France, with BOOK ten gentlemen of his own, in velvet coats and chains of gold. 16. Likewise did the bishop of Ely depart with a band of men well furnished. 20. A proclamation made, That whosoever found a seditious bill, and did not tear and deface it, should be a partaker of the bill, and punished as the maker. 21. My lord marquess of Northampton had commission to deliver the order, and to treat of all things, and chiefly of marriage for me to the lady Elizabeth his daughter. First, to have the dote 12000 marks a year, and the dowry at least 800000 crowns. The forfeiture 100000 crowns at the most if I performed not, and paying that to be delivered; and that this should not impeach the former covenants with Scotland, with many other branches. 22. He departed himself in post. 24. An earthquake was at Croidon and Blechinglee, and in the most part of Surrey, but no harm was done. 30. Whereas before commandment was given that 1600007. should be coined of three ounces in the pound fine, for discharge of debts, and to get some treasure, to be able to alter all, now was it stopped, saving only 80000l. to discharge my debts, and 10000 mark weight that the Foulcare delivered in the last exchange, at four ounces in the pound. 31. The musters deferred till after Midsummer. June. 2. It was appointed that I should receive the Frenchmen that came hither at Westminster, where was made preparation for the purpose, and four garnish of new vessels taken out of church-stuff, as miters, and golden-missals, and primers, and crosses, and reliques of Plessay. 4. Provision made in Flanders for silver and gold plate, and chains to be given to these strangers. 7. A proclamation set forth, that exchange, or re-exchange, should be made under the punishment set forth in king Henry the Seventh's time, duly to be executed. 10. Monsieur Mareschal departed from the court to PART Bulloigne in post, and so hither by water in his galleys and II. be Octavio. foists. In this month, and the month before, was great business *It should for the city of Parma, which duke *Horatio had delivered to the French king, for the pope ascited him, as holding it in capite of him, whereby he could not alienate it without the pope's will; but he came not at his day, for which cause the pope and imperialists raised 8000 men, and took a castle on the same river side. Also the French king sent monsieur de Thermes, who had been his general in Scotland, with a great piece of his gendarmory into Italy, to help duke Horatio. Furthermore the Turks made great preparation for war, which some feared would at length burst out. 21. I was elected of the company of St. Michael in France by the French king and his order. 13. Agreement made with the Scots for the borders, between the commissioners aforesaid, for both the parties. In this month Dragute, a pirat, escaped (Andrea Doria, who had closed him in a creek) by force of his galley-slaves, that digged another way into the sea, and took two of Andrea's galleys that lay far into the sea. 14. Pardon given to those Irish lords that would come in before a certain day limited by the deputy; with advertisement to the deputy to make sharp war with those that would resist; and also should administer my laws everywhere. 18. Because of my charges in fortifications at Calais and Barwick should be payed, it was agreed, that beside the debt of the realm 800007. there should be 400007. coined, three ounces fine, nine of allay; and 5000 pound weight should be coined in a standard of seven ounces fine at the least. 17. Soperantio came as ambassador from Venice, in Daniel Barbaro's place. 16. I accepted the order of monsegnieur Michael by promise to the French ambassador. 17. My lord marquess of Northampton came to Nants with the commissioners, and all those noblemen and gentle- BOOK men that came over-sea with him. 20. Upon advertisement of Scipperus coming, and rigging of certain ships in Holland; also for to shew the Frenchmen pleasure at their coming, all the navy that lay in Gillingham-water was appointed to be rigged, and furnished with ordnance, and lay in the river of Thames, to the intent, that if Scipperus came afterward, he might be met with, and at least the Frenchmen should see the force of my navy. 22. The lady Mary sent letters to the council, marvelling at the imprisonment of Dr. Mallet, her chaplain, for saying of mass before her houshold, seeing it was promised the emperor's ambassador she should not be molested in religion, but that she and her houshold should have the mass said before them continually. 24. They answered, That because of their duties to king, country, and friends, they were compelled to give her answer, That they would see, not only him, but also all other masssayers, and breakers of order, straitly punished. And that as for promise they had, nor would give none to make her free from the punishment of the law in that behalf. 18. Chastilion came to my lord marquess, and there banqueted him by the way at two times between Nantes and Chasteau Brian, where the king lay. 15. Mendoza, a gentleman of the king's chamber, was sent to him to conduct him to the court. 19. My lord marquess came to Chasteau Brian, where half a mile from the castle there met him-with an hundred gentlemen, and brought him to the court, booted and spur'd, to the French king. 20. The French king was invested with the order of the garter in his bed-chamber, where he gave a chain to the garter worth 2001. and his gown dressed with auglets worth 251. The bishop of Ely making an oration, and the cardinal of Lorrain making him answer. At afternoon the lord marquess moved the French king to the marriage of the Scots queen to be consummate, for whose hearing he appointed two commissioners.. II. PART 21. The cardinal of Lorrain, and of Chastilion, the constable, the duke of Guise, &c. were appointed commissioners on the part of France, who absolutely denied the first motion for the Scotch queen, saying, Both they had taken too much pains, and spent too many lives for her. Also a conclusion was made for her marriage to the dolphin. Then was proponed the marriage of the lady Elizabeth, the French king's eldest daughter; to which they did most chearfully assent. So after they agreed neither party to be bound in conscience nor honour, till she were twelve years of age and upwards. Then they came to the dote, which was first asked 1500000 scutes of France, at which they made a mock; after for donatio propter nuptias, they agreed that it should be as great as hath been given by the king my father to any wife he had. to 1400000 of crowns, 22. Our commissioners came which they refused, then to a million, which they denied ; then to 800000 crowns, which they said they would not agree to. 23. Then our commissioners asked what they would offer? First they offered 100000 crowns, then 200000, which they said was the most, and more than ever was given. Then followed great reasonings, and showing of precedents, but no nearer they would come. 24. They went forward unto the penalties of the parties misliked, after that the king's daughter were twelve and upwards, which the French offered 100000, 50000 crowns; or promise, that she should be brought, at her father's charge, three months before she were twelve, sufficiently jewelled and stuffed. Then bonds to be delivered alternatively at London, and at Paris, and so forth. 26. The Frenchmen delivered the foresaid answers written to my commissioners. July. 1. Whereas certain Flemish ships, twelve sail in all, six tall men of war, looking for eighteen more men of war, went to Diep, as it was thought, to take monsieur le mareschal by the way; order was given, that six ships being II. before prepared, with four pinnaces and a brigandine, BOOK should go both to conduct him, and also to defend, if any thing should be attempted against England, by carrying over the lady Mary. 2. A brigandine sent to Diep, to give knowledg to monsieur le mareschal of the Flemings coming; to whom all the Flemings vailed their bonnet. Also the French ambassador was advertised; who answered, That he thought him sure enough when he came into our streams, terming it so. 2. There was a proclamation signed for shortning of the fall of the mony to that day; in which it should be proclaimed, and devised, that it should be in all places of the realm within one day proclaimed. 3. The lord Clinton and Cobham was appointed to meet the French at Gravesend, and so to convey him to Duresme-place, where he should lie. 4. I was banqueted by the lord Clinton at Debtford, where I saw the Primrose and the Mary Willoughby launched. The Frenchmen landed at Rie, as some thought, for fear of the Flemings lying at the Lands-End, chiefly because they saw our ships were let by the wind that they could not come out. 6. Sir Peter Meutas, at Dover, was commanded to come to Rie to meet monsieur le mareschal, who so did; and after he had delivered his letters, written with mine own hand, and made my recommendations, he took order for horses and carts for monsieur le mareschal, in which he made such provision as was possible to be for the suddain. 7. Monsieur le mareschal set forth from Rie, and in his journey Mr. Culpepper, and divers other gentlemen, and their men, to the number of 1000 horse, well furnished, met him, and so brought him to Maidston that night. Removing to Westminster. 8. Monsieur le mareschal came to Mr. Baker's, where he was very well feasted and banqueted. 9. The same came to my lord Cobham's to dinner, and at night to Gravesend. |