<P_396>

<heading:edcomment:CLII>

It maie please yor honor . (EDMONDES-E2-P1,396.3)

I sent yor honor heretofore a memoriall of diuers reformations p~pposed
here to haue ben put in execution after the publishing of the peace ,
in the wch amonge other thinges it was mentioned to restraine the
receiving into the realme of forraine manufactures , to raise the
better their owne , (EDMONDES-E2-P1,396.4)

but it was then onlie meant to exclude the bringing in of silkes in
respect of being of farre greater expence , then of necessitie to the
realme , (EDMONDES-E2-P1,396.5)

but since som~e to vallue their enventions haue suggested that it $will
$be {TEXT:wilbe} as necessarie to interdict all forraine manufactures
wch $will $be {TEXT:wilbe} a meanes to sett their people a wourke , and
to hinder the dailie transporting of their monie out of the realme ,
(EDMONDES-E2-P1,396.6)

and if the K. should thincke fitte to graunte tollerations to p~ticuler
p~sons that by those lycenses he should raise a great p~fitt to himself
This was receiued for so plausible as an edict was p~pared to passe for
the same , uppon knoweledge whereof I addressed myself to the Kinge ,
and p~ticulerly to Monsr de Villeroy , Monsr de Bellieure , Monsr de
Rhosny , Monsr de Maisse , and Monsr d Incaruille whome the K: doth
spatiallie use in these affaires , and prayed them to consider duelie
of whatt importance the said matter is wch under a specius p~text
tendeth to the great offence of their neighbors , & allyes , and
spetialie of her matie , for excluding the <P_397> trade of her
subiectes dyrectlie against the antient treaties of Confederacie
betweene the twoe Crownes , and that it is a veerie unthanckefull
requytall of her maties benefittes and good offices towardes them wch
deserued rather imunities for her subiectes then to p~iudice them at
this tyme that her matie is incommodated by the burthen of the warre of
Spayne for others interest as they knowe (EDMONDES-E2-P1,397.7)

That her matie $can $nott {TEXT:cannott} but be verie sensible of such
p~ceading wch doth so deepelie concerne the Interest of her subiectes ,
and in them , declaring a manifest neglect of her against their faith
often reitterated both-1 by publicke & privatt p~fessions , wch will
therefore force her matie to resort also to privatt Counsells &
resolutions , wth other p~ticularities whereof the recytall would be
too troublesome to yor honor . (EDMONDES-E2-P1,397.8)

It was answeared me that in respect of the afflicted state of the
people of ffrance at this tyme , it imported the K: to seeke by all
meanes to p~cure their relief , and therefore among other thinges to
restablishe their manufacture wch ought not to be offensiue to us &
others , for that we exercise the like for the benefitt of our Countrie
, (EDMONDES-E2-P1,397.9)

and insisting that their necessitie & the great pouuertie of the people
ought to iustifie them for taking the said course yett it was sayd in
the end , that if anie thinge therein should be repugnant to their
treatie wth her matie , that there should be consideration had thereof
, (EDMONDES-E2-P1,397.10)

and I was requyred by Monsr de Villeroy to delyuer for that pourpose my
request , in wryting , to be communicated wth the Counsell .
(EDMONDES-E2-P1,397.11)

Because I found them to stand uppon stiff tearmes in p~sisting to
mainteyne their first resolution I was forced to make my declaration
the sharper , and the rather for that our marchantes at Roan make
knowne unto me , that they should be undonne , if the said order should
take place , (EDMONDES-E2-P1,397.12)

but when I delyuered my declaration to Monsr de Villeroy he tould me
uppon the p~using of the same , that it was wrytten in so sharpe
tearmes as he could not p~sent it in that manner , praying me therefore
to refourme it , for that it might otherwise breede offence , but that
in my speache I might enlarge myself as I should thincke good , as
alreadie I had begoune . (EDMONDES-E2-P1,397.13)

Yor honor shall herewth receiue the Coppie of my said declaration
(EDMONDES-E2-P1,397.14)

and the note wch I haue annexed thereunto sheweth the difference of
that wch I first p~sented . (EDMONDES-E2-P1,397.15)

I dealt with them also about the tolleration geiuen to transport Corne
into Spayne wch themselfes did not p~mitt to their allyes before they
had made their peace , albeitt they nowe denye it .
(EDMONDES-E2-P1,397.16)

They lay the burthen of <P_398> all their faultes uppon their
necessitie , (EDMONDES-E2-P1,398.17)

and mainteyn that they will not be barred the libertie of that
trafficque , (EDMONDES-E2-P1,398.18)

and Complaine that the Ambassador doth not receiue satisfaction in
matters of iustice in England , and that it were as good for them to
lyue in warre wth us as to be subiectes . (EDMONDES-E2-P1,398.19)

I tould them that their Ambr $can $nott {TEXT:cannott} denye that her
matie hath appoynted spetiall p~sons to joyne wth him to examyne the
Complaintes of both sides , and that there is speedie order taken by
her matie & her Counsell to right the plaintifs , but for the
compleintes of her maties subiectes , wch are manie and great , that
there is no other prouision , then to referre them to the most tedious
, chargeable & Corrupt iustice of their Parlementes , where after much
losse of tyme & expence , they loose more causes then they gayne ,
howesoeuer they be well grounded in equytie . (EDMONDES-E2-P1,398.20)

They answeared me that they desier nothing more then to come to a
reformation of these thynges , and to establishe a better iustice but
that it will not be hearkned unto in England . (EDMONDES-E2-P1,398.21)

I understand that the leaue to transport Corne into Spayne receiued
much debating in Counsell before it was accorded
(EDMONDES-E2-P1,398.22)

and it was alleaged that the p~hibition wch the K: should make would
not serue to hinder the same , but rather to p~cure a p~fitt to the
Gouuernors , who underhand would notw=th=standing geiue lycences for
monie , the which benefitt it were more fitt the K. should receiue ,
(EDMONDES-E2-P1,398.23)

and thereupon it was concluded to geiue publicke p~mission , paying to
the Kinge three Crownes for euerie Tonne that is shipped ,
(EDMONDES-E2-P1,398.24)

And I understand that Monsr Zametta and others that load great
quantitie of Corne are warranted that all englishemen's goodes $shall
$be {TEXT:shalbe} arrested for their recommpence , if their shippes be
staied by her maties subiectes . (EDMONDES-E2-P1,398.25)

I haue ben delayed these six or seven daies uppon the answeare of the
memoriall wch I delyuered , (EDMONDES-E2-P1,398.26)

and Monsr de Villeroy hath declared to me <paren> hauing pressed him
for a resolution thereof </paren> that the King will take further tyme
to aduise of the said matter and in the mean season that we haue no
cause to complain , sithe there is nothing donne therein to our
p~iudice . (EDMONDES-E2-P1,398.27)

But other Counsellors haue tould me that it is resolued to haue a
Carefull regard to their treaties wth her matie and to Innovatt nothing
against the same (EDMONDES-E2-P1,398.28)

And it appeereth their drift is , fynding howe deepelie this matter
doth concerne her maties' subiectes , to keepe us in awe of the
execution of the said lawe against us , untill a better order be
established for the assurance of a quyett <P_399> intercourse of
trafficque , being so insensed by reason of the contynuall newe
complaintes wch they p~tend are made unto them , as I assure yor honor
I know it is meant to p~ceade to the staying of our marchantes goodes .
(EDMONDES-E2-P1,399.29)

Yor honor can consider therefore how necessarie it is to p~vent
speedelie these great inconveniences and for that pourpose that her
matie be pleased to send hither a mynister of greater aucthoritie , to
inforce effectuallie the interest of so important necessities .
(EDMONDES-E2-P1,399.30)

The Duke of Sauoye sent one latelie hither to the K. whereof I
understand that the coulorable occasion was to pray the K. to presse
the Pope to p~ceade to the determyning of the difference of the
Marquisatt , & to open himself , what composition he would be content
to take , or ells to geiue him leaue to make him offers .
(EDMONDES-E2-P1,399.31)

He p~pounded also a marriage betweene one of his sonnes and the Kinges
daughter , (EDMONDES-E2-P1,399.32)

and make great shewe of desier to come hither , saying that it ought to
be as well p~mitted to him as to the Duke of lorrayne .
(EDMONDES-E2-P1,399.33)

lastlie he complained against Monsr Dedignieres , for that his
garrisons doe still rauage his Countrie , (EDMONDES-E2-P1,399.34)

but the true cause was to discouer whether the K: doe make anie
p~parations to assyle him as the bruite runneth .
(EDMONDES-E2-P1,399.35)

The Swisse of the Canton of Berne wch are contrarewise pressed by the
duke to restore that wch heretofore they tooke from him ; And those of
Geneva also , haue both sent hither to praye the Kinge to stipulatt in
his peace , the comp~hending of their differences ,
(EDMONDES-E2-P1,399.36)

but they doubt that these men , whatsoeuer p~mises they nowe make them
, will in the ende only p~uide for their owne interest .
(EDMONDES-E2-P1,399.37)

It is aduertised out of Spayne that the Kinge is assembling the States
of Castile to p~cure him a Contribution of monie , whereof it is sayd
that there is a generall great scarcetie at this tyme in Spayne and
that it is thought he will not p~fourme the voyage of Barcellone .
(EDMONDES-E2-P1,399.38)

The Queene his wief and the Archeduke are at Myllan attending untill
the winter be past to embarque themselfes for Spayne .
(EDMONDES-E2-P1,399.39)

Since their being there , the Pallace where they lye hath ben thrice
set on fyer , and the Queen once in great payne howe to saue her self .
(EDMONDES-E2-P1,399.40)

The Prince of lorrayne is arryued here intending to p~ceade in his
marriage notw=th=standing the inhibition of the Pope , who $can $not
{TEXT:cannot} but be much scandalized at so great a neglecting of his
aucthoritie . (EDMONDES-E2-P1,399.41)

It is appoynted to p~fourme the said marriage at ffountainebleau wthin
fifteine daies . (EDMONDES-E2-P1,399.42)

The Counte Soissons is retourned to his house to be absent while this
is a doing . (EDMONDES-E2-P1,399.43)

The Duke of lorraine hath geiuen the <P_400> K. aduertisement wthin
these twoe daies , that one wch heretofore serued his sonne as a
lacquey , and being since become a Capuchin hath ben practised as it
should seame by the Jesuittes to kill the Kinge , and hauing undertaken
the same , is come hither for the execution thereof , whereuppon there
is great search made here for the fynding of him out .
(EDMONDES-E2-P1,400.44)

The K: hath straightlie enjoyned the Parlement to passe the edict for
those of the relligion this weeke wthout further delaie ,
(EDMONDES-E2-P1,400.45)

and it is one of the spetiall causes that doth hould him in the Towne
to see the same p~fourmed before his dep~ture . (EDMONDES-E2-P1,400.46)

The gentallmen that is to come out of Spayne hath wrytten to the Postes
to haue fortie horses in a readiness for him , whereby there is an
expectacion that he $will $be {TEXT:wilbe} shortlie here
(EDMONDES-E2-P1,400.47)

Yor honor shall herewth receiue the names of the newe knightes of this
yeure (EDMONDES-E2-P1,400.48)

And so I most humblie take my leaue . (EDMONDES-E2-P1,400.49)

ffrom Paris (EDMONDES-E2-P1,400.50)

the second of Januarie 1598 (EDMONDES-E2-P1,400.51)

yor honors most humble Tho Edmondes . (EDMONDES-E2-P1,400.52)

{COM:endorsed}

1598 . 2 Jan . (EDMONDES-E2-P1,400.54)

M=r= Edmondes to my M=r= . (EDMONDES-E2-P1,400.55)

That w=ch= passed betweene some of the Kings counsell and him
concerning the manufacteures . (EDMONDES-E2-P1,400.56)

Rc y=e= ix=th= at Whithall . (EDMONDES-E2-P1,400.57)

To the right honorable S=r= Robrt Cecyll knight Principall Secretarie
to the Queenes Matie and Chancelor of the Duchie of Lancaster .
(EDMONDES-E2-P1,400.58)