BL MSS Cotton Galba c. i, 50
BL MSS Cotton Galba c. i, 50
Wright Vol 1, 3 Page 5
Sir Thomas Chaloner (1) to Sir William Cecil, Ghent, Aug. 1559
Transcribed by Thomas Wright, ‘Queen Elizabeth and her times,’ London, 1838
Sir, after my moste herty and due commendations, by the contents of my letters and other papers sent herewith to the Quene's Majestic, you shall perceive the summe of myne advertisements which here therefore to repete were superfluous. Although the King himself and Monsieur d' Arras (2) use me with very good words, yet I know otherwise what opinion secrete they have. And in very dede there is no more amitie to be loked for at their hands then respect of their private utilitie endureth.
I humbly beseach you, sir, have good remembrance unto the shortnes of the tyme and helpe, I may the soner have retorne of letters for signification of the Queue's pleasure to me, seing the King here embarqueth so shortly. I have not yet discovered to any man her Majestie's pleasure touching my abode here as she promised me, trusting before that tyme I shall have speciall letters in her behaulf. Nevertheles, if the same come not in tyme, whiche God forbidd, I must be faine to frame some good invencion to the . . . for myne accesse at the King's embarking. Thus in health and welfare I pray God send you all things prosperous. From Ghent, the . . . August 1559.
Alwayes assured at your good commandement,
THO. CHALONER.
Beseche you, sir, lett me heare somewhat from you, whether ye have received my . . . and somewhat of our newes there . . . I beseche you, sir, help that the warrants for my diet may something be amended, so as I may receive a two or three monthes diets afore. All things here are outrageously dear beyond measure.
Your worship's again and very friend,
THOMAS CHALONER.
(1) Sir Thos. Chaloner had been sent as envoy to the Emperor Ferdinand, then at Cambray, to announce the accession of Elizabeth, on the 26th of November, 1558. He was afterwards, July 17, 1559, sent into the Low Countries to be ambassador resident to King Philip, to whom he presented himself at Brussels in that character at the beginning of August. This letter must have been written very shortly after his arrival, when the King was already making preparations for his return to Spain. In spite of his professions and his apparent honesty in the transactions at Gateau Cambresis, Sir Thomas seems to have quickly seen through the hollowness of the friendship which the Spanish king pretended to entertain towards his mistress. Sir Thomas, who was by birth a Londoner, and had been educated at Cambridge, had attended Sir Henry Knevet's embassy to Charles V. in 1541, and accompanied that monarch in his expedition to Algiers. In the passage he had a very narrow escape " for the galley wherein he was, being either dashed against the rockes, or shaken with mighty stormes, and so cast away, after he had saved himself a long while by swimming, when his strength failed him his armes and handes being faint and weary, with great difficulty laying hold with his teeth on a cable, which was cast out of the next gally, not without breaking and losse of certaine of his teeth, at length recovered himselfe, and returned home into his countrey in safety." Hakluyt.
(2) The Bishop of Arras.
