I. BOOK "all that, meant hereby, that they should not be bound to "observe the laws or orders of the country whereunto they Anno 1549. " trafficked. For this liberty was only granted for the se 162 66 curity of their persons to go and come without impeach66 ment, and made not men, for all that, lawless. And "whereas further it was provided by our law, that in cer"tain things to be granted by the King, the same grant "must pass under the great seal, if any of those things "pass under any other seal, they be not of due force "until they have also passed the great seal of England. "Wherefore, added he, if the jeweller, either by negli gence or covetousness, of himself, or those he put in 66 trust, did not observe this order, but, for sparing a little "cost, did presume to bring in his jewels before his licence "came to the broad seal, methinks, neither he nor any "other can have just cause to say, that he was wronged, if 66 according to our laws he were censured to lose the same. "And yet after he was thus condemned," the ambassador proceeded, "more to gratify the Emperor, than for that I "took it to be reasonable, I myself was a suitor to my "Lord Protector's Grace for some recompence to be made "the jeweller's wife, whom we knew, and none other, to be "party. For she followed the suit; she presented the pe"titions; in her name were they made, and finally she, "and none other, was by the Emperor's ambassador com"mended unto us. D'Arras said, he had seen the sentence, ❝ and did mislike nothing so much therein, as that the man "was condemned, and named to have been present, at the "time of his condemnation, when indeed he was dead a "good while before. He was present," said the ambassador, "in the person of his wife, who was his procurator, and re"presented himself." And continuing his speech the more to clear this matter, "He knew, he said, that those before whom this matter "passed were men both learned and of good conscience, and "such as would not have done herein any thing against 66 right and order of the law. And finally, that the sen"tences given in our country by the justice and ministers “there, were just and true. And that therefore they nei- CHAP. "ther could nor would revoke them for any man's plea- XIX. 66 sure, after they had once passed the higher courts, from Anno 1549. "whence there was no further appellation, no more than 66 they there would call back such final order, as had been ❝in any case taken by their high court of Brabant." 66 66 66 ror's dan lost. And whereas the Emperor had declined comprehending The EmpeBoloign into the treaty, the ambassador said, "That if the ger if Bosame should happen to be taken from the King by force, loign were "which he trusted it should not, the loss would be com66 mon, and touch the Emperor almost as near as us. And "therefore it was that he thought good, for the better surety thereof, to move this comprehension; which was as necessary for the Emperor as it was for the King. And "whereas, as he added, they stuck so much upon their ho"nours in breaking their treaties with the French, he re"membered, he said, Monsieur Granvela, at his late being “with him, did not let to say, that he had his sleeve full "of quarrels against the French, whensoever the Emperor "list to break with them. D'Arras replied, they had so in"deed; but the time was not yet come; and that they "must temporize their things in this case, as the rest of "their affairs led them." reputation in the Em Court. With this faint answer Paget came home from his em- Paget gets bassy, leaving Sir Philip Hoby behind, resident, as he was on before. But though he succeeded not, he got great reputa-peror's tion in the Emperor's Court, and was spoken of very honourably, being gone. And Hoby wrote to the Protector, that he was grateful generally to all that Court, a few of England's back friends only excepted, who mistrusted much, lest he had compassed somewhat to their disadvantage. And the rather they were driven to conceive this opinion, because his entertainment had been such, and so respectful, as well with the Emperor as his Council. And he was so generally commended and well reported of by all, and the fame of his prudent handling himself so spread abroad every where, as they could not but think, but that of such toward likelihood some great effect must needs fol I. BOOK low. Hoby added, that should he not perhaps be suspected of adulation, he might find sufficient matter to consume a Anno 1549. long time in discoursing of his gravity and prudence, used as well in setting forth and well handling his charge towards the Emperor and his counsellors, as in his behaviour generally towards all others. Whereby he had purchased to himself love and credit with all men, and not a little for the King's Majesty's honour and estimation in those parts. The Emperor intercedes for It must not be omitted, because reference will be made to it hereafter, that upon Paget's last audience of the Emperor, the Emperor recommended the case of his cousin, liberty of the Lady Mary; praying the King that she might be faher religion. voured, and permitted to have her ancient manner of reli Mary for gion. Whereunto the ambassador considering he had no commission to treat of that matter, answered, with the advice of Sir Philip Hoby, that he would make report of his 163 request unto his master and the Protector, and to the rest of the Council, and doubted not but she should have that favour that was convenient for her, being the King's sister and the Emperor's cousin. Of which request and answer at his coming home he made report accordingly. treat with France. CHAP. XX. Matters with France. The Duke of Somerset's letter to Sir Philip Hoby, ambassador with the Emperor; shewing France's dealings with England. The English THE answer of the Emperor's commissioners mentioned above was somewhat cold, and not according to the desire and expectation of the English Court, though it were interlaced with plenty of good words: and as great plenty of the like had the English ambassador requited them with. The effect whereof (perceiving how little England was to expect from the Emperor) was, that the King and his Council did more seriously set themselves to make some conclusion with the French. For at this time Dr. Wotton was ambassador at that Court, being sent there to make XX. complaints, and to argue matters of difference between the CHAP. English and them; and to know the reason of those great, preparations for war that were making there: when the Anno 1549. commissioners appointed to treat with Wotton, were Monsieur de Rochepot, Monsieur de Chastilion, and one Monsieur de Mortier, one of the masters of the requests, all three of the Council. At the naming of whom the constable Montmorancy gave our ambassador very good words: yet for that the two chief of these men were officers upon their frontiers, fierce and haughty in their dispositions, and named by them contrary to the request made on the English behalf, it was doubted much, what would ensue of this meeting, notwithstanding all their fair words, of which they gave plenty. And indeed it proved of little effect, as we shall perceive presently. realm. Sir Philip Hoby was still at Brussels, to prosecute the Open hostiEnglish affairs with the Emperor. And in the month of lity with the August, the King and Council brake into open hostility with the French King, whose abuses and wrongs were intolerable. And now without warning attacking England by sea and land, himself appearing at the head of an army against Boloign. To keep the Emperor fast, Hoby had instructions from England to acquaint him herewith, and withal to shew him the whole state of our causes with France. Therefore at large, thus did the Duke of Somerset in the foresaid month inform the ambassador with these matters: which I the rather set down, because it will so elucidate the quarrel between England and France. 66 thereof. tor to Ho "After our hearty commendations: Albeit we think that 164 "the world, after so many examples, and so long experi- The reasons "ence, be in all places well acquainted with the French The Protecpractices and crafty proceedings; who, having respect by. Galba, only to the satisfaction of their own insatiable ambition, B. 12. "cease not, without respect to former leagues and confe"derations, yea, or without warnings, or any intimations, "suddenly to declare hostility, and by that means to take "by stealth the advantage of the time, and unlooked for, "to attempt all the displeasure they may against their BOOK "neighbours and confederates: albeit, we say, this be well I. "enough known to the world; yet for that we be the Anno 1549." last with whom they have renewed this feat; knowing "that they use to travail to colour with brags and fair "words all their doings, be they never so foul and dis"honourable: to the intent you may be truly informed of "the occasion of these wars, which the French King hath "now begun against the King's Majesty, we have thought "good to make some declaration unto you of the very "troth of theirs and our doings, since the death of the "King's Majesty, our late master. "First, where for taking away of all occasions of strifes ❝or contention for the limits of Bolognois, there were com"missioners appointed by our said late master and the "late French King, to treat upon those and certain other "differences, and to bring the same to some good appoint"ment; the said differences being almost agreed upon, it pleased God to call our said late master to his mercy. "After whose death new commissioners were made by the "late French King and the King's Majesty, by the advice "of us, the Lord Protector and the Council: by force of "which commission all those differences were well and rea 66 66 66 66 sonably agreed upon: the treaties drawn, sealed, and de"livered by the commissioners on both sides, and imme"diately after died the late French King. The French King that now is, not only refused to stand to this treaty, "but also seeking all occasions to encroach upon the King's "Majesty's ground, would never (although it hath been many times required) assent to have any certain order "taken for declaration of the limits. Upon occasion there"of, albeit the treaty of perpetual peace, made at the end "of the last wars, doth to every man's judgment set forth "the said limits plain enough; yet the French men cavil"ling with words, and pretending now this, now that, have "at one time claimed this piece of ground, and at an"other time another, being parcel of his Majesty's new conquests. And among all other, they have taken an "old castle, called Fiennes, expressly within the King's 66 |