by Thomas Wyatt
My conjectures might be more certain, if it pleased your Highness that I might be so much trusted as to have some advertisement of your other intelligences, and other men’s conjectures, for upon them I might note some such things as should import, which else, peradventure, I should neglect. I say this same in service of your Majesty, to whose good consideration I remit the same.
This far had I written at Loches, in evil-favoured lodging and worse bedding, when I was dislodged. And it vailed not to send to the Constable, for I had for answer, that there was no Ambassador should tarry, and scant I could get a bill for to command the posts to give me horse. So was I fain these letters unfinished to come before to Amboys, where I found my Lord of London, that likewise the day before was commanded to depart. I write this to the end your Majesty may consider how much in such case our diligence in travail may avail. And it is not only with us, but with all Ambassadors likewise, and with the Nuncio also, who thought greatly to have been privileged, by reason specially of the coming of Cardinal Farneze, that as they say is at hand coming in Legacy to both these Princes; and as I suppose rather for the Bishop’s demonstration, than any stroke that he shall have in these matters; for it is thought that these Princes do that they do by themselves, and it seemeth not far unlike, the neglecting of all other Ambassadors and Princes agents.
By this means I cannot be present at the meeting, which is the Friday the 11th of this present, in which thing shall be little to be noted but the accustomed ceremonies. And if I may by all means possible, I would seek at the least to tarry here; nevertheless it is said that the Emperor would not [be] two days in one place before he come to Fontainbleau; but howsoever the matter goeth, I will not be far.
The Duke of Lorrain and his son is coming hither to the Court, and as I suppose, he pursueth his demand of Guilders still. Other occurrence come not yet to my knowledge; but as matter shall rise., I shall not spare your Majesty’s cost for your further advertisement, as our Lord knoweth; who send your Majesty long prosper with your heart’s desire. At Amboys, the 12th of December, late. [1539]
LETTER XXVII. SIR THOMAS WYATT TO THE KING.
PLEASE it your Majesty to be advertised; that forasmuch as my Lord of London would dispatch this bearer upon such intelligence as he hath gotten of the ceremonies of these Princes meeting, I thought also to write, having that occasion. Also in my last letters of the 13th of this present, I excused me of such matters of small importance to give your Majesty trouble.
Nevertheless I judged it not unmeet for your Majesty’s knowledge the arrival at Ambois of Mr. Tate, by the posts on Sunday last, on which day also the Emperor and the Court came thither, which being so near upon this Prince’s meeting (that was on Friday before) considering the commandment given in Spain, that no man might go before the Emperor; and that he knew not of my being here for your Majesty, judging it unmeet for him in such case to be absent, I cannot but commend unto your Highness both his diligence and good consideration. And for as well as in the foyle of this press we are all driven still before, and that we cannot but in corners lie hidden, where we may hear or see any thing, I see not nor how, nor where to have handsome commodity for the said. Mr. Tate to take his leave before we come, to Paris. And although he might have his leave, he should not prevail to get horses; here is so small respect to any man at this hour. And I doubt not but that the same Mr: Tate would amply advise your Majesty of his occurrences. His great haste shall not be greatly necessary till his horse come; which shall not be long. And if it seem not other ways to your Highness, I do think his industry in this Court awhile shall not be out, of purpose to your Majesty’s service. I mean in parsing without sojourning, unless he may see handsome commodity for his leave. Of this it may please your Majesty advertise your further pleasure-
And further, it may please the same to call to your Grace’s remembrance, that out of Spain I wrote once my opinion for the staying of Robert Braucetour, as he passed through France with Pole. I eftsoons advise your Majesty now of the same, and that he followeth now here the tail. Assure your Majesty it were for your service greatly to have him: and I think the Emperor would not excuse him by being his; for once Grandvela told me that he marvelled what he made in that Court: and that he had been rewarded for his pain. And beside that, the French King hath no colour to deny your Highness the delivery of him, so newly upon the delivery of Adrian Cappe’s: unless it be under colour of the Emperor. Therefore it may please your Majesty to give order for this purpose; for as I say, I suppose it greatly for your service. And I heard such a word, that ere this he was secretly once in England, with the Marquis of Exeter, and returned. Upon this, beside many other knowledges that might come out of him, your wisdom may judge how necessary his apprehension were.
And for this purpose my devise should be that your letters, both to the one, and to the other of these Princes should be made, requiring of the one the delivery, and of the other the not supporting. Which if I may know once to be coming, I would assay before the overture of the same, secretly to trap him in my hands: and forthwith to secure the apprehension of him, or commandment to all officers for the assistance thereof, if in ease I can find him. And if I deemed that, (if your Majesty command not otherwise) he shall never escape my hands. Of this also I beseech your Highness I may know your pleasure with speed.
Of all other things I remit to my Lord of London, and to Mr. Tate, for in my last letters I wrote unto your Majesty at large, as much as was then worth the writing. And since that time I know no alteration, save that Monday all day the Emperor, contrary to the first determination, tarried at Ambois; and I, with Mr. Tate, came that Monday at night to Blois. This day he cometh hot fully to Blois; but to a castle in the way, called Chalon.
And thus I beseech our Lord send your Majesty long to prosper. Amen. At Blois, the 16th Day of December, [1539.]
LETTER XXVIII. SIR THOMAS WYATT TO THE KING.
PLEASE it your Majesty to be advertised: at Orleans now at our return, we had it in a right good place that the Queen of Navarre advertised a friend of hers, that the Emperor and the French King, the Constable, the Chancellor of France, and Grandvela, had been at Blois in council three hours together, and that there was no appearance of conclusion, as the French King looked for, and he thereof assured him very earnestly. In which thing it is doubt whether he conceived the name of the place right or no, for that at Blois they sojourned not but one night, and at Amboys, as I wrote in the letters of the 16th, they tarried a day whole and two nights, whereas it seemeth more likely that consultation was bad.
This we write, for that these Princes affirmed both that nothing should be treated here; which is almost impossible on the Frenchmens behalf to contain by direct or indirect means, to hunt for the tiling that they SO much desire. But that the advertisement above should be apparent, it seemeth by the according with many likelihoods. Ode is, that the glory of the Constable, and the very nature of the Frenchmen, would not hide the conclusion, if there were any, or any likelihood thereof; but rather to, make one way or other a devulgation of a bare likelihood for a certainty, if there were any likelihood at all.
Another is, that forthwith from Blois, Grandvela came the right way before to Paris, which if so be that that consultation proceeded and no approaching to conclusion, might be done of purpose to avoid in the mean time further communication in the matters, having with him no man of council but Grandvela, and be then not present.
Add to this, that as we learn the Emperor presseth neither the French. King nor the Constable with no requests, not so much as Very trifles, not that he would add one of his servants to be lodged above the number that he first appointed, as we take it to be not bound unto them in any thing more than in that, that they of their selves do.
But chiefly of all is to be noted in the manner of the Imperialists proceeding, that when they would win time for delays, or have a colour to scat, they would depend the matter upon a third person not present, as they did in treating with your Majesty for the Dutchess
of Milan, sometime depending the matter upon the Queen of Hungary, sometime upon Duke Frederick, sometime upon hearing from their Ambassador, till they, saw their purpose, and then quailled the matter with that excuse that was long before in sight, and had nothing to do with the dependings that they pretended likewise with the Venetians, likewise with the Almains, and with other; so now, is to be supposed, they do with these Frenchmen, protracting the matter upon the coming of the King of Romans into the Low Countries, which cometh forth straight after these holidays, more to win time, till they have wound themselves honestly out of France, than for that it were so requisite his presence, although it have a wonderons [appearance] of an honest pretence, for that the King of Romans must be a party therein. But it is well known that his consent is but the Emperor’s will, whereby if that were not a plain delay, little more or less, they might approach the thing now.
We cannot yet, in this point, frame unto your Majesty any other certainty, but as your Highness seeth, whereby (notwithstanding these apparents) in our opinions we had rather your Majesty did yet doubt the worst, that is to say, their conclusion, that to conceive uncertain hope of their disagreement; not that either the one or the other could we suppose be hurtful to your Majesty, although their disaccord might peradventure be more to purpose.
The dryness of this interview, as far as we can other learn or guess, have been the necessity of the Emperor and the Constable, that would not suffer him to go the other way into Italy, and the Constable that took occasion at that to get him this way iuto Flanders. Which Constable abhorreth from the war; for that himself is rich, desiring his pleasure and ease, and now hath the stroke alone. And though as some think he is not so abused, but that he seeth the nonconcluding of these things, yet he had rather willingly so be holding his Master being sickly given to ease, and not of apparent long life, in hope of his purpose, than to shew desperation thereof, and then for his Honour to be driven to revenge the mock. Beside that men think the Constable well wone Imperial that Which would hardly be sped yet; but sure a Papist he is without suspect. And as for the Emperor’s necessity, it was manifest that the things of Flanders, and your Majesty’s sudden alliance with Guilders, always to him suspicious, must needs draw him thither, and the way thither by sea, besides the danger of the winter, must be to him suspected, by landing peradventure where he would not. And it is out of doubt, that the Bishop of Rome could not allow his coming through Italy, for then must he have come through Almain; whereas he might peradventure have caught a persuasion not best for the Bishop’s purpose. And yet the Bishop had well other matters to allege, whereby to dissuade his coming into Italy; as the extreme dearth, and the vehementest persuasion of all, thé Emperor’s poverty, that might not sustain the great charges to pass that way, and avoid the cryers on for their rewards and payments. So that there was left him no way but other to come through France, or to see the revolting of Flanders, and leave his great desire of Guilders.
Thus in our opinion been coming these matters about, for we can see no likelihood yet of the Bishop of Rome doing or any other.
And as we suppose, after their departing, they intend to do as they have done, that is, to dissemble out the matter till they see time, and that the Emperor would do nothing else, unless necessity further constrain him, and in the mean time no doubt he will strain himself for Guelders.
But we see not for all these entries, for all these joining of arms, knitting of crowns, and such ceremonies, that they should determine to part the world between them.
These Princes came to Fontainbleau on Christmas evening, with great triumph of skirmishes., between a band of the Dauphin and another of Orleans, which may be about thirty or forty horse each band, and it would be new year’s day before they make their entry into Paris., These been the occurrence for this present we can advertise your Majesty of, and so from time to time we shall not fail of our duty, with the grace of our Lord, who send your Highness long to prosper in truth and honour. At Paris on Christmas day. [1539.]
LETTER XXIX. SIR THOMAS WYATT TO CROMWELL, LORD PRIVV SEAL.
PLEASE it your Lordship, Mr. Tate and I had written our letter to the King’s Highness, when Gowgh, my Lord of London’s servant, passed through Paris on Christmas day in the morning early, to Melun, to his Master, who did send back that same night your Lordship’s letters unto us and him, directed of the date of the 21st of this present with the doubles of the King’s letters to these Prince’s, and the next day at night my Lord of London came hither; aid on the 27th day at night we received again your letters of the date of the 24th of this present, by Henage, with the doubles and letters again to these Princes.
And as touching the first letters, we hold yet that matter in good order; but there is no time where now the French King is to do the matter, for that the party is here, and besides, that it is hard to get their audience; yet as the Constable hath written to my Lord of London, yet I would be loth to give them so much leisure after the overture, as betwixt Fontainbleau and Paris.. And whereas it pleaseth the King’s goodness to have my jeopardy more dear than his traitors distraction, I roost humbly thank his Majesty. And nevertheless he shall employ the same hazard (I trust for better purpose) whensoever it shall please him to command. For I do not think (although I be of small effect) but that I may some time do his Majesty better service, than such a wretch’s malice may do hurt.
And whereas I had thought to have trapt him before the overture of this purpose, I do intend to forbear that way yet for two causes. One is, because in attempting the thing, if it quail, the man is warned, and all is lost, and then I am not without blame. Another is, that they afterward might pick a quarrel not to deliver him for my enterprise against the order of the treaty. Therefore I determine this way, I have sure watch over him, both where he lodgeth, whither he goeth, and what he intendeth, and for because he tarrieth here till the Emperor’s departing, I suffer him to assure himself. And to cut off all excuses of his supportation by the Emperor, I have, in presence of Mr. Tate, handled so Mons de Grandvela, that he hath remembered that I spake to him before of his keeping in the Emperor’s Court, whereupon he repeated again that he was not supported by the Emperor or him, nor that he dare come into his sight? and that four year ago the Emperor told him, that when he had need of him he would send for him, in the mean time he might go whither he would, and that he practiseth here with the Nuncio, and for Pole. Other thing he knoweth not of him, but that assuredly he is not of the Emperor’s train, nor shall have of him no supportation, so that the matter being both close and in so good train, I intend here to assay the French king at his coming, not as though die party were here in the town, but that he were in his realm, desiring to have an officer to go with one of mine there, as I shall assign him, declaring before that he is a man of small condition, and I would add to him the secretness of the handling thereof; and in this visiting of Mons de Grandvela he affirmed frankly unto us, that there was no innovation of any thing; nor should be, till the coming to Flanders.