II.

PART the end of April, there should be made an anticipation of the subsidy of London, and of the lords of my council, which should go near to pay the same with good provision.

20. The French ambassador brought me a letter of credit from his master, and thereupon delivered me the articles of the league betwixt the Germans and him, desiring me to take part of the same league; which articles I have also in my study.

23. The merchants of England having been long staied, departed, in all about 60 sail, the woolfleet, and all to Antwerp. They were countermanded because of the mart, but it was too late.

24. Forsomuch as the exchange was staied by the emperor to Lions, the merchants of Antwerp were sore afraid; and that the mart could not be without exchange, liberty was given to the merchants to exchange and rechange mony for

mony.

26. Henry Dudley was sent to the sea with four ships, and two barks, for defence of the merchants, which were daily before robbed; who, as soon as he came to the sea, took two pirats ships and brought them to Dover.

28. I did deny, after a sort, the request to enter into war, as appeareth by the copy of my answer in the study.

29. To the intent the ambassador might more plainly understand my meaning, I sent Mr. Hobbey and Mr. Mason to him, to declare him mine intent more amply.

31. The commissioners for the debatable of the Scotch side, did deny to meet, except a certain castle, or pile, might be first razed; whereupon letters were sent to stay our commissioners from the meeting till they had further word.

10. Duke Maurice mustered at Artnstat in Saxony all his own men, and left duke August, the duke of Anhault, and the count of Mansfield, for defence of his country, chiefly for fear of the Bohemians. The young Lantsgrave, Reiffenberg, and others, mustered in Hassen.

14. The marquess Albert of Brandenburg mustered his men two leagues from Erdfort, and after entred the same, receiving of the citizens a gift of 20000 florins; and he

II.

borrowed of them 60000 florins, and so came to Steinfurt, BOOK where duke Maurice and all the German princes were assembled.

April.

2. I fell sick of the measels and small pox.

4. Duke Maurice, with his army, came to Augusta; which town was at the first yielded to him, and delivered into his hands, where he did change certain officers, restored their preachers, and made the town more free.

5. The constable, with the French army, came to Metz, which was within two days yielded to him, where he found great provision of victuals, and that he determined to make the staple of victual for his journey.

8. He came to a fort wherein was an abbey called Gocoza, and that fort abide 80 cannon-shot; at length came to a parley, where the Frenchmen got in and won it by assault, slew all, saving 115, with the captain, whom he hanged. 9. He took a fort called Maranges, and razed it.

12. The French king came to Nancy to go to the army, and there found the dutchess and the young duke of Lorrain.

13. The mareschal St. Andrew, with 200 men of arms, and 2000 foot-men, carried away the young duke, accompanied with few of his old men, toward France, to the dolphin, which lay at Rhemes, to the no little discontentation of his mother the dutchess. He fortified also divers towns in Lorrain, and put in French garisons.

14. He departed from Nancy to the army, which lay at Metz.

7. Monsieur Senarpon gave an overthrow to the captain of St. Omers, having with him 600 foot-men, and 200 horse

men.

15. The parliament broke up, and because I was sick, and not able to go well abroad as then, I signed a bill containing the names of the acts which I would have pass; which bill was read in the house. Also I gave commission to the lord chancellor, two arch-bishops, two bishops, two dukes, two

PART marquesses, two earls, and two barons, to dissolve wholly this parliament.

18. The earl of Pembrook surrendred his mastership of the horse, which I bestowed on the earl of Warwick.

19. Also he left 50 of his men of arms, of which 25 were given to sir Philip Hobbey, and 25 to sir John Gates.

21. It was agreed that commissions should go out for to take certificate of the superfluous church plate to mine use, and to see how it hath been embezeled.

The French ambassador desired, That forasmuch as it was dangerous carrying of victual from Boleign to Ard by land, that I would give license to carry by sea to Calais, and from Calais to Ard, in my ground.

22. The lord Paget was degraded from the order of the garter for divers his offences, and chiefly because he was no gentleman of blood, neither of father-side nor motherside.

Sir Anthony St. Leiger, which was accused by the bishop of Dublin for divers brawling matters, was taken again into the privy-chamber, and sat among the knights of the order.

23. Answer was given to the French ambassador, that I could not accomplish his desire, because it was against my league with the emperor.

24. The order of the garter was wholly altered, as appeareth by the new statutes. There were elected sir Andrew Dudley, and the earl of Westmoreland.

26. Monsieur de Couriers came from the regent, to desire that her fleet might safely, upon occasion, take harbour in my havens. Also he said, he was come to give order for redressing all complaints of our merchants.

25. Whereas it was appointed that the 140007. that I owed in the last of April, should be paid by the anticipation of the subsidy of London, and of the lords, because to change the same over-sea, was loss of the sixth part of the mony I did so send over. Stay was made thereof, and the paiment appointed to be made over of 20000l. Flemish,

which I took up there 14 per cent. and so remained 60007. BOOK to be paid there the last of May.

30. Removing to Greenwich.

28. The charges of the mints were diminished 14007. and there was left 6007.

18. King Ferdinando, Maximilian his son, and the duke of Bavaria, came to Linx, to treat with duke Maurice for a peace; where Maurice declared his griefs.

16. Duke Maurice's men received an overthrow at Ulms; marquess Albert spoiled the country, and gave them a day

to answer.

31. A debt of 14000l. was paid to the Foulcare.

May.

2. The stiliard-men received their answer; which was, to confirm the former judgment of my council.

7. A letter was sent to the Foulcare from my council to this effect; That I have paid 630007. Flemish in February, and 14000 in April, which came to 770007. Flemish, which was a fair sum of mony to be paid in one year, chiefly in this busy world, whereas it is most necessary to be had for princes. Besides this, That it was thought mony should not now do him so much pleasure as at another time peradventure. Upon these considerations they had advised me to pay but 50007. of the 45000 I now owe, and so put over the rest according to the old interest, 14 per cent. with which they desired him to take patience.

4. Monsieur de Couriers received his answer, which was, That I had long ago given order that the Flemish ships should not be molested in my havens, as it appeareth, because Frenchmen chasing Flemings into my havens, could not get them because of the rescue they had, but that I thought it not convenient to have more ships to come into my havens than I could well rule and govern. Also a note of divers complaints of my subjects was delivered to him.

10. Letters were sent to my ambassadors, That they should move to the princes of Germany, to the emperor, and to the French king, That if this treaty came to any effect or end, I might be comprehended in the same.

[1.

PART

II.

Commission was given to sir John Gates, sir Robert Bowes, the chancellor of the augmentation, sir Walter Mildmay, sir Richard Cotton, to sell some part of the chauntry lands, and of the houses, for the paiment of my debts, which was 251000l. sterling at the least.

Taylor, dean of Lincoln, was made bishop of Lincoln. Hooper, bishop of Glocester, was made bishop of Worcester and Glocester.

Story, bishop of Rochester, was made bishop of Chichester.

Sir Robert Bowes was appointed to be made master of the rolls.

Commandment was given to the treasurer, that nothing of the subsidy should be disbursed but by warrant from the board; and likewise for our Lady-day revenues.

14. The baron of the exchequer, upon the surrender made by justice Leicester, was made chief-justice, the attorney chief-baron, the sollicitor-general attorney, and the sollicitor of the augmentation, Gosnold, general-sollicitor, and no more sollicitor to be in the augmentation-court. Also there were appointed eight serjeants of the law against Michaelmass next coming.

16. The muster was made of all the men at arms saving 50 of Mr. Sadler's, 25 of Mr. Vicechamberlain's, and 25 of sir Philip Hobbey's, and also of all the pensioners.

17. The progress was appointed to be by Dorchester to Pool in Dorsetshire, and so through Salisbury homeward to Windsor.

18. It was appointed mony should be cried down in Ireland after a pay, which was of mony at Midsummer next; in the mean season the thing to be kept secret and close. Also the pirry, the mint-master, taking with him Mr. Brabamon, chief treasurer of the realm, should go to the mines and see what profit may be taken of the oar the Almains had digged in a mine of silver; and if it would quit cost, or more, to go forward withal, if not, to leave off and discharge all the Almains.