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dors abroad, g^j^^^-^j^ the Regent, the Bishop of Norwich, Sir Richard

Morison, and Sir Philip Hoby, ambassadors with the Em-

peror : who laboured the confirming of the amity with Eng-

land, and did sincerely favour him against the French ;

though more privily, because of the peace with France :

where our ambassadors were, Dr. Wotton, Sir William

Pickering, and Sir Thomas Clialoner : whose office was, to

mediate a peace between that King and the Emperor. Now

because we have no history extant, as I know of, that gives

any sufficient account of these concertations, but are very

defective, nay, say nothing at all thereof, therefore I will,

by the help of the letters of these ambassadors, and of the

Council to them, declare this at some more lengtli.

A design to It must be known, that a great intrigue now driving on

ka^Aie with^ ^J these ambassadors with the Emperor was, to open a door

the Pro- to Strike a league with the Protestant princes of Germany :

princes. ^^^ ^^ ^^^ l^ft to the discretion of the ambassadors, to take

their opportunity to move the matter. They sent letters,

April 28, to the Council, being an answer to letters that had

been before sent from the Council to them : therein they

signified, that as yet there had been no good opportunity to

utter, especially in those parts, any piece of the matter of

the Council's letters, until more time and further intelli-

gence might give light for the manner and order of entry.

By the next letters of the Lords, wrote May 5, they or-

dered the ambassadors to forbear to say or do any thing

therein ; that is, for entry of any practices touching the

league, whereof they wrote before. Yet it was their will.

OF KING EDWARD VI. 79

that the said ambassadors should devise, both with Mr. CHAP.

Mount, the Enghsh agent at Strasburgh, at his coming to ^^-

them, and by all other ways, to understand as much as they Anuo 1552.

might, in all things mentioned in their former letters ; and

especially to consider this one point, viz. with what princes

of Germany, in what degrees, and after what sort, it were

best to enter and break first, when the King, upon further

intelligence and occasion, should think good to proceed fur-

ther in this matter. And in these points they desired to

understand the ambassadors opinions, who had all three

great and long experience of those princes, and had been

privy, as they thought, with what commissions, and under

what sort, the covenants had passed heretofore with the

princes of Germany, both in the league for the defence of

the Low Countries, and in some other like considerations

made in those parties in times past.
The Emperor still remained very sickly, and in more like- 404

lihood to die than to live. In case of whose mortality and instruc-

departure, the Council instructed the ambassadors, that it case of the

was the King's pleasure, that they should use such words of ^'"P'^'"'""**

lamentation as might seem meet ; and to declare to the Re-

gent, that considering, that by the said Emperor"'s death the

end of their embassy was come, and their commission ex-

pired, he, the Bishop of Norwich, and he. Sir Richard Mo-

rison, were minded to take their leaves, and to make their

returns to the King''s presence; and he. Sir Philip Hoby,

according to his Majesty ""s letters, of late written to the Re-

gent for that purpose, did mind to make his abode and con-

tinuance in those parts, to attend upon her the said Regent,

according to the charge committed unto him.

The Emperor"'s party were, this April and May, besieging The Em-

Therwin, but with no great hope of success ; any more than P.^''"' ^^' ^

' _ or ' ./ sieges Ther-
there was in the latter end of the last year, when the Em- win.

peror besieged Metz, and was forced to raise the siege. He

was now greatly distressed for money: for his subjects of

the Low Countries slunk back, and made terms, in case a

tax were levied upon them ; and the bankers refused to lend

any more For, as Chamberlain wrote to the Lords, that

for the last demand from Holland, the people stood with the

80 MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

BOOK President there residing, desiring, that if they should yield

thereunto, they might be unburdened of an impost of toll

Anno 1352. upon the hundred, put upon them for all fish and merchan-

dise, since the beginning of these wars, towards the furnish-

ing of a navy of ships, which, they were made believe, the

Emperor would find upon the same, for a sure convoy of

their merchants' ships between this and Spain, from time to

time. And instead of such a navy, they Avere compelled to

double man their own ships, and double furnish the same

with ordnance, at their own cost, and not to depart till thirty

or forty ships were ready together : and yet was the im-

post, nevertheless, gathered of them. So that they standing

hereupon, the President wrote to the Regent, that he could

not induce them to condescend, otherwise than with promise

to take away the said impost. Finally, it was known that

the Regent wrote to the President, that if he could do no

better, he should promise as much as they asked ; which

should be performed as other the like had been.

The people The people did murmur, and thought that money already

Countries gi^eu illy bcstowed ; and had no better hope of the enter-

murmur, prise upon Therwin, than they had of Metz. When they

were required for this last grant, one of the presidents, to

allure them to condescend, was commanded to shew unto

divers, certain accounts of the charges of the last year ;

that it might appear how much the last did amount unto,

and yet was not enough by a great deal, and that Cesar

should yet be in debt unto divers persons, five or six mil-

lions. It was reported, that among the rest, one gentleman

of Holland said merrily to the President, " What shall it

" boot me to see the accounts, seeing I do know, that if

" there be not enough, more will be asked ; and being too

" much, none shall be restored .''"

Money very The nobles, the abbots, and others of the clergy, did

be raised**' ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^ Commons, devising upon the easy levying

of this last grant in Rrabant ; which they could not levy

upon meat and drink, as they were wont, there being

already so many new imposts and gabels, beside the ordi-

nary excise, as the poor commons were not able, and worse

405 willing, to bear it ; so that as yet they could not agree ; and

OF KING EDWARD VI. 81

the money was unready vvlicn Cesar had present need CHAP,

thereof.

The Fuggars, and other merchants in Antwerp, wovild^""" '^^^•

lend no more upon interest, until the old were paid; which ^ii^nts in

some mean merchants did exclaim for, being not able other- Antwerp

wise to pay their debts : but naught could they get, and yet lend any

still more was craved of them. The Fuggars would lend no '"°''''-

more at interest, but by exchange; whereby they meant,

both to make more gain, and also to stand in more surety of

their payment. For that delivering money here by ex-

change, they would drive the Prince to seek out another

merchant, that might promise them payment in Spain or

Italy : and so thought themselves better able to obtain the

payment of others, merchants, as they themselves were, than

there of Cesar's receivers ; whose bills, and none other, they

were wont to have for their money.
The people found themselves shrewdly wronged: for The people

where the last year they disbursed their ready money to re-„j^„gy

ceive yearly rents upon the demeans of these countries, wronged.

when the year came, that they looked for payment, they

were half paid, and forced to tarry until the end of the se-

cond year : and then they looked for as little, by reason all

the demeans, and other things there, were set to pledge, and

the money faster spent than it was gathered.

The cause of this scarceness of money did proceed from The cause

the ffreat mistrust that now went of the merchants' weak- scarceness

ness, stepping daily aside : so that the gentlemen, burgesses, ^^ money.

widows, and others of those countries, that were wont to

put forth such money in banks, as they did spare to spend

of their yearly revenues and other gains, did now think

better to keep it in coffers, without gains, than to put it in

hucksters' hands, and lose the principal.

The Emperor's own condition was now, in April, such. The Eng-
,,,,.,„¦, 1 V lish ambas-
that he kept hmiself close, and gave no audience to any sudors' au-

man, nor was seen abroad. The reason whereof was thought ff "" ""'*';

' , ... the Recent.
to be, that the despite of his ill successes had bred m hmi a

melancholic humour, not much differing from a phrensy : so

that the English ambassadors (who came for confirmation
VOL. II. PAET II. G

82 MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

BOOK of the amity, and to offer a mediation for peace between the

^^' Emperor and France) remained as yet without access to

Anno 1552. his presence. Of this want of admission, the said ambassa-

dors informed the Lords ; who authorized them, for lack of

access to the Emperor''s own person, to declare unto the

Regent, his sister, the effect of their ambassage. Where-

upon they agreed, that Sir Richard Moris(m should repair

to Monsieur de Arras, to have audience spoken for accord-

ingly. The said Arras said, he would declare it to the Em-

peror ; assuring him, that if the Emperor had been in any

ability to have given them audience himself, they had not

been thus long delayed. And because they should not

think the time long, he therefore sent his secretary B. unto

them, to pray them to resort unto the Regent : which, Arras

I said, proceeded only of the Emperor''s debility ; for had he
been in case able to have given them audience, they should

most thankfully have been received by him. After this,

D'Arras sent the secretary unto them, to tell them, he de-

clared this matter to the Emperor, who took it in very good

part, and was determined nevertheless, within two or three

days, to give them audience himself, if he were able. It was

406 May 7, in the morning, when two of the Emperor's Coun-

cil came to them, telling them, that the Queen was ready to

give them audience : with whom they repaired unto her pre-

sence, and there declared the effect of their message, accord-

ing to their instructions; and withal delivered unto her,

first her own letters, and afterwards the Emperor's letters ;

praying her, that like as she had always shewed herself an

augmenter of amity between the King's Majesty and her

brother the Emperor, so she would now do what good in her

lay, to the furtherance of the King's Majesty's godly intent

and purpose, as well to the honour of both Princes, as to the

profit of the universal state of Christendom. Whereunto

she made as gracious and loving answers as might be de-

sired ; promising continuance of her good-will towards that

amity, which she knew the Emperor tendered much ; and

that for the rest, she would declare it to the Emperor, and

let them know his mind therein, as shortly as might be, not

OF KING EDWARD VI. 83

doubting but that they should be answered to, their con- CHAP,

tentation. _^_1_L_

After having paused a httle, they further declared unto Anno 1552.

her, that like as the King's Majesty had sent them thither

unto the P2mperor for that good intent, even so had the

King sent the like ambassadors to the French King, with

commandment to do their best : and as matters might grow

to any good purpose, so to advertise them [the ambassadors

with the Emperor] of it; offering themselves to employ

their utmost diligence to do good in this behalf : which the

Regent accepted most thankfully.

After this audience with the said Queen, (which was at Talk be-

Brussels,) on May 10, Mons. d' Arras came to the ambas- ^.^^rras

sadors' lodgings to visit them ; and after much courtesy and -I'ld the

gentle words, they fell in talk of the state of their army at jors.

Therwin, and out of that, into a discourse of the peace':

wherein D"* Arras said, that the Queen deferred their answer

only, for that the Emperor was desii'ous to make them an-

swer himself. And further, said he, " Whereas you re-

*' quire to understand the occasions of these wars, the

" Emperor knoweth none other cause, but the French

" King's ambition : who hath taken the Emperor's ships at

" Barcelona, spoiled his merchants upon those seas, stirred

" his subjects against the Emperor, and taken towns be-

" longing to the empire : which was both begun and done,

" when his ambassador did affirm and swear, that his master

" the French King meant nothing but good peace." Then

speaking of the high and unreasonable demands the French

intended to make, in order to peace, he added, that these

were rather the means to irritate them that were already

pricked; and that the mediators should do their best to

stay those demands. " Nay," said Sir Richard Morison,

" it may be, for saving their honour in speaking first, they

" will demand unreasonable things, and nevertheless, in the

" end be contented with reason : for if the French be will-

" ing to have peace, they will speak, and yet, peradventure, '

" their speech shall be high." " The French willing to

" have peace .?" said D' Arras. " Yes, I wiss," said he,
G 2

84 MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

BOOK "I know they have sought peace of us by several ways,
' " and have propounded certain particular demands for the
Anno J5S2. " same. Howbeit," said he, " the French trust not you;
** because they. know you be our friends: and therefore, if
" you should tell them this, they would deny it. Neverthe-
" less," as he proceeded, " since all the world knoweth the
" beginning of these wars, and the French King''s doings,
407 " the Emperor needeth not to utter them. Which things,"
said he, " the French King ought to be put in remem-
" brance of by them that be mediators; that the French
" King might be thereby moved to make such offers as are
" reasonable. And when that shall be offered, the world
" shall well know the Emperor to be affected to such a rea-
*' sonable peace, as ma}' serve to avoid the occasion of new
*' wars, and be for the quiet of all Christendom."
This was the sum of the talk that passed between Arras
The state and the ambassadors. Touching the estate of the Emperor's
peror's per- person, the ambassadors sent word to the Lords of the Coun-
so"- cil, that they could by no means learn assuredly how it was
with him : for it was kept so, that there was no man came
abroad that was able directly to say, the Emperor is in this
or that case.
As for the state and government of the Low Countries,

after the Emperor's death, which the Lords willed the am-

bassadors to understand, they caused Chamberlain, one of

them, to make as diligent search as he could : whose dis-

course they sent to the said Lords, together Avith the adver-

tisements out of Italy.

And of his The Said discourse was to this tenor: " That he had

after his ' " learned, that the government of those covmtries belonged

decease. u Qf right to the Emperor's son, after his decease, although

" the people did bear him small affection ; so that it was

" thought, that if Maximilian would make any offer of him-

" self, when such opportunity should serve, that he might

" be the rather and willinger received before the other. It

" was also thought, that then Ferdinando might make ques-

" tion for the portion of his father's goods; wherein he

" would say, he was not indifferently dealt with, alleging

OF KING EDWARD VI. 85

the partage or repartition to be wrong made: whereof his CHAP

brother had promised him recompence, as yet unper-

" formed. For Spain, it was thought, that if the mother Anno 1559.

" should outhve Cesar, that Ferdinando should be nearer
" than Philip, by the laws of that country. Although some
" said, that Cesar, to make that sure, had gotten his mother
" to grant beforehand unto the inheriting of his son her
" nephew: which, for all that, was counted of no more
" value than the act of a madman. That country would
" by no means have the Spaniard to govern or bear rule
" over them ; which they fear to have, if Cesar's son be
" their head, niey thought that rather, by accepting of
" Maximilian, they should not only be quit of Spaniards to
" rule them, and bear stroke in those parts, but also they
" should, by such means, unite themselves faster with the
" Germans, who did bear him good-will : and so be out of
" fear of the Germans' revenge upon that country ; for that
" they conceived, that Cesar could never have done to them
" that he had, without the assistance of those Low Coun-
" tries with their money."
As to the Regent, thus he discoursed: " That if Cesar The Regent

" should take his leave [of the world] or ever his son

" [Philip] did arrive, he did not learn, that the Regent

" were like to sit long in governance, the people did so

" much mislike her former proceedings divers ways. For

" whereas in times past, the use had been at all times, when

" any loan or tax should be demanded of those countries,

" for to call together all the states thereof, parliament-wise,

" and openly to propound the demand, with all gentleness

" and loving exhortations, the Regent had taken an use for

" to call but the deputies of Bruges for Flanders, and the

" hke of Antwerp for Brabant, stoutly willing them to con- 408

" descend unto such sums as she had demanded : which, if

" they had sought to qualify, making any good demonstra-

" tions of the weakness of the commons, she would bid

" them leave their merchandises or bargaining with her,

" saying, that Cesar must and will have it.'''' These, and
63

86

MEMORIALS ECCLESIASTICAL

BOOK

II.
Anno 1552

The em-

bassy to

the Em-

peror, to

join with

the Em-

olher things, did Morison write to the Lords, concerning

the posture of things there.
By letters from the Council, dated May 24, it appeared

to be their intent, to take the occasion that the time mi-

nistered, as well for the proceedings with the Emperor, as

also for the matters of Almaine, to join the King"'s Majesty

both with the Emperor, and also with other princes of Ger-

throrrman many, in a straiter amity : and that Sir Richard Morison

princes. should open unto his colleagues the particularities of those

things that he had knowledge of. Accordingly they con-

ferred together, and perused such articles of discourse as the

said Sir Richard had delivered in writing to them. The

copies whereof were sent to the Lords, to the intent that

they might the better consider the same ; with which also

vent the ambassadors' letters. Wherein they wrote, " that

according to their Lordships'* device, they thought that

svich a league and amity would serve to very good pur-

pose, as well for the King's Majesty, as for the defence of

those Low Countries. But how this communication might

be entered into, they were in doubt ; because the Em-

peror's sickness seemed to be such, that it was thought he

would not give audience himself, but refer this, as he did

other things, to the Queen : so that of likelihood Mons.

D' Arras, and others, should be made privy to it. And

because the matter required so great secrecy, they mis-

trusted it could not be kept so secret, when it was opened

to the Queen, and by her to others. This made them

doubt how it might be broken, unless they had audience

of the Emperor himself. If the Emperor grew better, and

were able to give them audience, and should like this

league, as in reason he ought, the ambassadors signified

to the Lords, that they thought it good to be followed

with the princes of Germany, after such order as in the

articles of discourse was contained, or otherwise, as should

seem best to the Lords : which might also be the occasion

to bring those unto accord, that then by their strife trou-

bled all Germany. But in case, as the ambassadors fur-

OF KING EDWARD VI. 87

" ther shewed their minds, the Emperor should not hke CHAP.

" this confederation, as princes'' hearts be unknown ; then, '__

" after the opening of the matter unto him, they thought it Anno 1552.

" a matter to be feared, that he would practise to disappoint

" the King for making any league at all with the Germans.

" Wherefore they thought, that this matter was so to be

" moved to the Emperor, as he might not know the King''s

" full mind herein, until the Emperor's own inclination there-

" unto were first felt. They added, that after they should

" have spoken with Mr. Mount, (the agent employed with

" the German princes,) they should be more able to say fur-

" ther herein, and would thereof advertise their Lordships.""

Here follow the articles of discourse mentioned above :

It shall be thought good, that the King''s Majesty should 409

enter into a straiter amity with the Emperor, jointly

with the other princes of Germany.
1. Fiist, Whether the Emperor can be contented, that

a foreign prince should join in league, having heretofore

shewed himself averse to suffer the like.
2. Also, whether he could be contented, that the King''s

Majesty, our master, should be in confederation with the

Germans : because he may fear, that their religion, which

he misliketh, might by these means the better be established,

and the harder to be altered by him.
3. And whereas the empire, by the league that the Em-