the woll fleete they aduised the King to send an Embassador legier for the Emperor as well to satisfie him for other matters by him required as to winne time thereby both to prepare a mart in England and to withdraw their goods out of Flanders So M r Wotton was dispatched with particuler instructions to desire the Emperor to be lesse violent in his requests And to aduertise him that the Lady Mary as she was his cozen so was she the Kings sister and which is more his subiect that seeing the K. was a soueraigne Prince without dependancy vpon any but God it was not reason that the Emperor should entermeddle either with ordering his subiects or with directing the affaires of his realme Thus much hee offered that what fauour the Kings subiects had in the Emperors dominions for their religion the same should the Emperors subiects receiue in England The Emperor pereeiuing that his threats were little regarded regarded little to threaten any more About the time that the Lady Mary should haue beene transported vnto Antwerp a rebellion was attempted in Essex where she then lay For furtherance whereof speeches were cast forth that strangers were arriued in England either to rule or to spoile the naturall inhabitants vpon this surmise many appointed to assemble at Chelinsforde and from thence to make pillage as their wants or wanton appetites should leade but the Principall being put to death and the residue pardoned all remained quiet Many Londoners also hunting after riot and ease contriued to tumult vpon May day pretending grieuances and fears from strangers but because where many are of counsaile counsell is hardly kept the enterprise was discouered and defeated before it was ripe herewith Lyon Gorran Ireland persons of meane condition but desperate and discontent endeauoured to raise a rebellion in Kent They often met and had conferences both priuate and long They seemed highly busied in minde and their heads trauailing with troubled thoughts which they often dissembled with impertinent speeches this was first discouered by one of their seruants doubtfull whether before knowing the mischiefe and vntill then secret or ignorant before and then first apprehending suspitions So they were apprehended and after conuiction the danger determined by their deaths Herewith rumors were raised of great discord and practises among the nobility for this cause the Lords assembled at London and feasted diuers daies together giuing order to apprehend the reporters of these surmises albeit happely not altogether vntrue For this cause gentlemen were newly commanded to remaine in the countrey to gouerne the people easy to be dealt with whilest they stand in feare The King being thus vncertaine of the faith both of his subiects and of his confederats intended by aliance to strengthen himselfe To this purpose one Bortwicke was sent to the King of Denmarke with priuate instructions to treat of a marriage betweene the Lady Elizabeth the Kings sister and the King of Denmarks eldest sonne But this Lady albeit she was furnished with many excellent endowments both of nature and education yet could shee neuer be induced to entertaine Marriage with any After this the Lord Marquis of Northampton was directed with a solemne embassage to the French King aswell to present him with the order of the garter as to treat with him of other secret affaires with him were ioyned in commission the Bishop of Elie S r Phillip Hobbie S t William Pickering S r Iohn Mason knights and M r Smith secretary of state The Earles of Worcester Rutland and Ormond were appointed to accompany them and likewise the Lordes Lisle Fitswater Bray Abergauennie and Yuers with other knights and gentlemen of note to the number of 26 and for auoiding immoderate and burthensome traine order was giuen that euery Earle should haue foure attendants euery Lord three euery Knight and Gentleman two The commissioners were not limitted to any number They arriued at Nants and were there receiued by Mounsier Chastilion and by him conducted to Chasteau Bryan where the French King then lodged they were twice banquetted by the way and the neerer they approached to the castle the more encreased the resort of the French nobility to doe them honour being come to the court they were forthwith brought to the King abiding then in his bedchamber Here the Marquis presented vnto him the order of the garter wherewith he was presently inuested and thereupon gaue for the garter a chaine worth 200 l and his gowne addressed with aglets esteemed worth 25 l. Then the Bishop of Ely in a short speech declared how desirous the King of England was not only to continue but to encrease amity with the French King That to this purpose he had sent the order of the garter to be both a testimony and tye of loue betweene them to which purpose chiefly those societies of honour were first deuised He further declared that they had commission to make ouerture of some other matters which was like to make the concord betweene the Kinges their realmes not only more durable but in all expectation perpetuall desiring the King to appoint some persons enabled with authority to treat with them To this speech the Cardinall of Lorraine answered that the French King was ready to apprehend and embrace all offers tending to encrease of amity and the rather for that long hostility had made their new friendship both more weake in it selfe more obnoxious to ielosies distrusts and therefore he promised on the Kings behalfe that commissioners should be appointed to treat with them about any matters which they had in charge praying to God that it might be a means not only to assure but to enlarge their late setled loue so a commission went forth to the Cardinall of Lorraine and Chastilion the Constable the Duke of Guise and certaine others at the first the English demanded that the young Queene of Scots might be sent into England for perfection of marriage betweene K. Edward and her but hereto the French answered that they had taken too much aduenture and spent too many liues vpon any conditions to let her goe and that conclusion had beene made long before for her marriage with the Dolphine of France Then the English proposed a marriage between their King and the Lady Elizabeth the French Kings eldest daughter to which the French did cheerefully encline So after agreement that neither partie should be bound either in conscience or in honour vntill the Ladie should accomplish 12 yeares of age they fell to treat of the portion which should be giuen with her in marriage The English first demanded 150000 crownes and offered that her dowrie should be so great as K. Henry the 8 th had giuen with any of his wiues The offer of dower was not disliked but for the portion some of the French wondred others smiled that so great a summe should be demanded The English descended to 1400000 crownes after by degrees fell so low as 800000 but the French
state To Clemencie he was much enclined especially in matters of blood and most especially if it were for Religion a vertue so much the more esteemed by how much it had beene lesse vsed before insomuch that albeit hee was most earnestly affected to that religion wherein hee had beene brought vp yet none were executed in his time for other religion but only two blasphemous Heretickes Ioane Butcher and George a Dutchman And when Ioane Butcher was to be burned all the counsaile could not procure him to set his hand to the warrant Wherefore they employed Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury to deale privatly with him for his subscription But the King remained firme both in reason and resolution affirming that he would not driue her headlong to the Divell but because Heretickes for the most part haue a straine of madnesse he thought it best to apply her with some corporall chastisemâ—…nts which with respit of time might happely reduce her to good order The Archbishop was violent both by perswasions and entreaties and when with meere importunity he had prevailed The King in subscribing his name said that he would lay all the charge thereof vpon the Archbishop before God Not many yeares passed but this Archbishop also felt the smart of the fire and it may be that by his importunity for bloud hee did offend for a good thing is not good if it be immoderatelie desired or done His courage did appeare in the great delight he tooke in representations of Battailes Skirmishes Assaults and of all kinde of military exercises his iudgment was great either for errors or fine contriuances in the field And no actions of Armes were executed in his time but he would perfectly vnderstand by what aduantages on the one side or ouersights on the other the euent succeeded He tooke great pleasure in exercises of actiuity whereto he much trained his servants And to that end he often appointed challenges among them for wrestling leaping running riding shooting at roues and at rounds and such like games and at riding and shooting would sometimes be of one of the sides He had 100 archers of his ordinary guard who once mustering before him shot two arrowes euery man together against an inch board of well seasoned timber All stroke through the board and their arrowes stucke in another board behinde and divers pierced both the boards generally none might be of his guard but besides of tall and comely stature such as were either good archers or wrastlers or easters of the barre or leapers or runners or of some other man-like qualitie He was exceeding skilfull in fortifications and bestowed great cost in strengthening Calleis Berwicke and other parts thereabout He knew all the principall ports in England Scotland Ireland France and other countries not farre distant how they â—…ay when the tyde served what vessels of burthen they could receiue and what windes served for entrance Touching his care and knowledge in affaires of state nothing was more conspicuous in him He was much conversant amongst his counsaile and would well vnderstand what matters passed their iudgments and vpon what grounds In matters discoursed by them he would often encounter their reasons and adde most liuely reasons of his owne In so much that at last they made an order that no matters of weight should be debated vnlesse he were present Admirable he was to collect the speeches and opinions of many and to draw their differences to a true head alwaies bending himselfe rather iudiciously to resolue then by doubts and distinctions to perplex a businesse he had a chest whereof he alwaies carryed the key about him for keeping record of such matters as were concluded by his counsaile And embracing businesse for part of his solace hee appointed set times with Doctor Coxe Master of his Requests for speeding poore mens causes without tedious attendance or delay Of all the Magistrates Iustices and Gentlemen of sort within his realme he 〈◊〉 their names their housekeeping their religion and manner of life Hee was skilfull in the exchange beyond the seas and in all the circumstances and practises thereof And so was he both skilfull and provident in matters of the Mint at home To Embassadors hee would giue answere vpon the suddaine and touch both orderly and fully vpon every part of their orations to the delight and admiration of all the hearers He much frequented sermons and penned notes with his owne hand his notes hee â—…yphered with greeke characters to the end that they who waited on him should not read them His disports were ingenuous and man-like whereby he alwaies learned somewhat And yet as well from these as from his businesses of state he dayly reserved some houres for his private studies and exercises with his Teachers These endeavours fell vpon so excellent a capacitie that in every short distance of time he made incredible increase both in learning and experience of affaires and consequentlie in loue of all men Presently after that he was setled in his governement D â— Wotton the kings Embassador resident with the Queene Dowager of Hungarie regent of the Low Countries vnder the Emperor was discharged of that attendance and addressed to the Emperors court there to reside Embassador for the king insteed of Doctor Bonner Bishop of London and of Sir Francis Bryan who were called home He was furnished with instructions that being first informed from the former Embassadors as wel of the general state of the Emperours court as of such particuler intelligeÌ„ces as might serue to advaÌ„ce the kings intentioÌ„s he should deale with the Emperor to declare al Scots for his enemies except such as should be friends to the King which should appeare by his safe conduct That because it had bin agreed betweene the Emperor and the late K. of England that the yeare next ensuing they should withioyne forces inuade the Territories of the French King he should moue the Emperor to aduise of some order and forme for those proceedings That whereas the Duke of Lorraine had bin late before at the Emperors court and made 〈◊〉 ouerture for peace or truce betweene the Emperour and the French King he should be informed by Sr Francis Bryan of the whole estate of that businesse and awaite opportunity to put the Emperor in remembrance that it had beene couenanted betweene him and the King of England that neither of them should treat of peace or truce with the French King or any other common enimy without consent of the other and that the King of England had well obserued that article in refusing to giue eare to the French embassador making overture for such a treatise That whereas it had beene agreed betweene him and the King of England that either of them should send certaine ships to sea well manned and apparelled for fight which all that yeere had beene performed by the king whereas the Emperour shifted the default vpon his officers in case he should not cause the said Navy to be forthwith
with knighthood 1000 crownes rewards 1000 crownes pension 250 c pensiō to his sonne The Earle of Warwicke was made generall warden of the North had 1000 markes land granted to him and 100 horsemen of the Kings charge M r Herbert his chiefe instrument was made president of Wales and had a grant of 500 l land and thus whether immoderate fauours breed first vnthankfulnesse and afterwards hate and therewith ambitious desires or whether God so punisheth immoderate affections it often happeneth that men are prone to raise those most who worke their ruine in the end Also the Lord Clinton who had beene deputie of Bulloine was made Lord Admirall of England The captains and officers were rewarded with lands leases offices and annuities the ordinary souldiers hauing all their pay and a moneths pay ouer were sent into their countries and great charge giuen that they should be well obserued vntill they were quietly setled at home The light horsemen men at armes were put vnder the Marquis of Northhampton captaine of the Pensioners All the guarde of Bulloine were committed to the Lord Admirall The chiefe captaines with 600 ordinaries were sent to strengthen the Frontires of Scotland Lastly strangers were dispatched out of the realme who after some idle expence of their monies time were likest to be forward either in beginning or in maintaining disorders Presently after this agreement of peace The Duke of Brunswicke sent to the King of England to offer his seruice in the Kings warres with 10000 men of his bande and to entreat a marriage with the Lady Mary the Kings eldest sister Answere was made touching his offer of aide that the Kings warres were ended And touching marriage with the Lady Mary that the King was in speech for her marriage with the Infanta of Portugall which being determined without effect he should fauourably be heard Vpon this also the Emperors Embassadors did expostulate with the King that he had brokē his league with the Emperor To this the King answered that because the Emperor failed in his performances the King was enforced to prouide for himselfe The Embassador desirous as it seemed to make a breach demanded boldly that the Lady Mary should haue the free exercise of the masse This did the King not only constantly deny but herevpon sermons were encreased at court and order taken that no man should haue any benefice from the King but first he should preach before him and in short time after vnder pretence of preparing for sea matters 5000 l were sent to relieue Protestants beyond the seas and further because the Emperor made diuers streight lawes against those of the religion Merchants were charged to forbeare their trade into Flanders so much as they could So as it appeares had some of the English nobility beene either lesse powerfull or more faithfull then they were the King had eares enough and hands enough aswell at home as among good friends abroad either to haue maintained warres against the French or to haue reduced them to a more honourable peace Warres being thus at good appointment peaceable busines was more seriously regarded and whereas an Embassador arriued from Gostaue King of Sweden to knit amity with the King for entercourse of merchants At last these articles were concluded 1 That if the King of Sweden sent Bullion into England he might carry away English commodities without custome 2 That he should carry Bullion to no other Prince 3 That if he sent Ozimus steele copper c. he should pay custome for English commodities as an English man 4 That if he sent other merchandise he should haue free entercourse paying custome as a stranger The mint was set to worke so as it gained 24000 l yearly to the King which should beare his charges in Ireland and bring 10000 l to the treasure 400 men were sent into Ireland and charge giuen that the lawes of England should there be administred the mutinous be seuerely suppressed Verily it may seene strange that among all the horrible hurries in England Ireland was then almost quiet But besides that the King drew much people from thence for seruice in his warres who happely would not haue remained quiet at home the gouernors at that time were men of such choice that neither the nobility disdained to endure their commande nor the inferior sort were suppressed to supply their wants Further 20000 l weight was appointed to be made so much baser as the King might gaine thereby 160000 l. Agreement was also made with Yorke M r of one of the mints that he should receiue the profit of all the Bullion which himselfe should bring and pay the Kings debts to the value of 120000 l and remaine accountable for the rest paying six shillings 8d the ounce vntill the exchange were equall in Flanders and afterwards six shillings 8d and further that he should declare his bargaine to any that should be appointed to ouersee him and leaue off when the King should please that for this the King should giue him 15000 l in prest and license to transport 8000 l beyond the seas to abase the exchange Herewith the base monies formerly coined were cried downe Now it is certaine that by reason of the long hostility which England held against Scotland and France peace was not so hardly concluded as kept But albeit occasions of breach were often offered yet the iudgement moderation of both parts sufficed either to auoide or apease them The Bishop of Glasco comming into England without safe conduct was taken prisoner The French Embassador made means to the King for his discharge but answere was made that the Scots had no such peace with the English that they might passe without safe conduct This was not denied by the M r of Erskine whereupon the Archbishop was retained prisoner but after a short time remitted to his liberty After this the Queene Dowag◅r of Scotland going from France to her countrey passed through England but the French Embassador first obtained her safe conduct she arriued at Portsmouth and was there encountered by diuers of the English nobility of highest quality and estimation as well for doing her honour as for that hauing such pledges she neede not feare at London she soiourned 4 daies being lodged in the Bishops pallace and defraied at the charge of the Citty in which time she was roially feasted by the King at Whitehall At her departure she was attended out of the Citty with all ceremonies pretending to state the Sheriffes of euery shire through which she passed receiued her accompanied with the chiefe gentlemen of the countrey as also they conveied her from one shire to another making alwaies prouision for her entertainment vntill shee came into the borders of Scotland The Earle of Maxwell came with a strong hand to the borders of England against certaine families of Scots who had yeelded to the King of England and the Lord Dacre brought his forces to their aide in which seruice his valour
heare matters of greatest moment debated because in these high passages nothing was thought to be done truly with maiesty nothing agreeable to the dignity of the state but in the presence of the King Generally all the counsaile agreed that none of them should make suit to the King for land or forfeitures aboue xx l or for reuersion of leases or any other extraordinary matter vntill the state of his Reuenewes should be further knowen Besides these commissions another went forth to ouersee and order the Kinges reuenewes and to cut off superfluous charges to ouersee all courts especially those of new erection as the court of augmentation and of first fruits and tenths and to prouide that the reuenewes were answered euery halfe yeare another went forth for debts owing to the King and to take accompt of paiments since the 35 of K. Henry the 8 th and in what manner the King had beene deceiued either by not accompting or accompting falsely Another also for taking away needlesse Bâ—…ulwarkes by vertue whereof diuerse were dimolished vpon the sea coasts in peace chargeable and little seruiceable in warre And further for more orderly and speedy dispatch of causes the King deliuered to his counsaile these Articles following 1 That all suits ' petitions and common warrants deliuered to the priuy counsell be considered by them on mundaies in the afternoone and answered oâ—… saturdaies in the afternoone and that those daies and no other be assigned to that purpose 2 That such suits and petitions as pertaine to any courts of law be referred to those courts where properly they are triable others to be determined with expedition 3 That in making warrants for money it be forseene that they be not for such matters as may be dispatched by warrants dormant least by such meanes accompts should be vncertaine 4 That vpon Sundaies they intend publique affaires of the Realme dispatch answeres to letters for good order of the state and make full dispatches of all things concluded the wâ—…cke before Prouided that they be present at common praier 5 That on Sunday night the Secretaries or one of them deliuer to the King a memoriall of such things as are to be debated by the priuy counsaile and he to appoint certaine of them to be debated vpon seuerall daies viz. Munday afternoone Tuesday wensday Thursday and Friday beforenoone 6 That on friday afternoone they shall make a collection of such things as haue beene done the fower daies before what they haue concluded and what the time suffered not to peruse Also the principall reasons which moued them to conclude of such matters as seemed doubtfull 7 That on Saturday before noone they present this collection of the King and enquire his pleasure vpon all things which they haue concluded and also vpon all priuate suits 8 That none of the priuy counsell depart the court for longer time then two daies vnlesse eight of the counsell remaine behind and vnlesse the King haue notice thereof 9 That they make no assembly in counsell vnlesse they be to the number of foure at the least 10 That if they assemble to the number of fower and vnder the number of sixe then they may reason or examine the commodities or inconueniences of matters proposed and make things plaine which seeme diffused at the first opening and if they agree then at the next full assembly of sixe a perfect conclusion thereof shall be made 11 That if there be vnder fower and a matter arriseth requiring expedition they shall declare it to the King but not giue answere vnlesse it requires extraordinary hast 12 That if such matters shall arise as it shall please the King to heare the same debated warning shall be giuen that the more may be present 13 That if such matter arise as cannot be ended without long debating the counsaile shall not intermeddle with other causes vntill they haue concluded the same 14 That no priuate suit be entermedled with great affaires but shall be heard on Mundaies only 15 That when matters for scantnesse of time be only discussed and not brought to an end then it shall be noted to what point the businesse is brought and what haue beene the principall reasons that when it shall be treated againe it may the sooner come to conclusion 16 That in tedious or difficult matters two or three or more may be appointed to prepare and report the same that being lesse cumbrous and defuse they may the more easily be dispatched 17 That no warrant for reward aboue 40 l or businesse or affaires aboue 100 l passe but vnder the Kings signet 18 That if vpon aduertisements or other occasions matters of great importance appeare which require hast such matters shall be considered and determined notwithstanding those Articles which appoint businesse for seuerall daies so as this order be not generally or commonly broken Assuredly albeit the King declared both his iudgment and his diligence and care of affaires of the realme Yet is there one rule more and not by him neglected for all great officers which if it be not sufficient in itselfe to hold matters in order yet are no rules sufficient without it And this is to choose persons both for ability and integrity well reputed albeit happily they be not alwaies vsed For besides that these will be a rule to themselues it is a great satisfaction to the people and keepeth them both from murmuring and curious enquiring into counsailes of State which is neuer good and often dangerous when they know or at least suppose matters to passe vnder such mens iudgements In theese times it was conceiued by many that by erecting of a Mart in England the realme would be much enriched and made more famous and lesse obnoxious to other countries The time was then esteemed fit by reason of the warres betweene the Emperor and the French King The places deemed most meete were Hull for the east countries and Southampton for the South London was thought no ill place but Southampton was iudged most conuenient for the first beginning This matter detained the Lords of the counsell in a deliberation both serious and long with great strength and variety of reasons on both sides which because they may giue some light to the like question which in times ensuing may happily againe be set on foot I will here declare them in the same manner as they were collected by the King Against the Mart these octiections were made 1 That strangers could haue no accesse into England by land which they had at Antwerp where the Mart then was 2 That the ill working of English cloaths made them lesse esteemed abroad 3 That the great quantity of English cloathes in Flanders would make them lesse desired from hence 4 That the Merchants had then established their dwelling places at Antwerp 5 That other Nations would forbeare their resort into England for a while vpon commandement of the Emperor 6 That the deniall of the requests of the Merchants of the Stilliard