CP 138, 18a

From Waalt

CP Vol 138 f.18

HMC Vol 1 p 175 No 607

Haynes Page 232 Number 213

Transcribed by Samuel Haynes in “A Collection of State Papers . . . 1542 to 1570” London, 1740

29 Jan 1559 From my Lord his Grace, to Mr. Secretarie

From the Duke of Norfolk's Book of Entries.

Mr. Secretarie,

I HAVE received thes Lettres this present Daie, from Mr. Croffts and Mr. Winter, which I send you herewith, wherby you may better consider in what Termes we stand nowe presently, then I cann declare: And what I have wryten presently to the seid Sir James and Mr. Winter you shall perceave by the Copyes of my Lettres sent herwith, wherein if you thinke any thinge meete too be amended, upon Advertisement thereof, I shall take Order accordingly. At the Arrivall of thes Lettres, ther was here with me, my Lord of Westmorland, my Lord Dacres, and my Lord Wharton: And because they should not myslyke that they were not made prevye to the Doings here, I told them by Mouthe, that I had received Lettres from Mr. Winter, the which did muche myslyke me of the creweltye of the Frenche shewed unto our Ships in shuting Canons, and all ther other great Artilarye, to our Annoyaunce, as muche as lay in them; (we using them no weys unfreendlye, but cam hyther onely, for the best Succour of our Shipps;) but yet neverthelesse thanked be Godd, I seid, we had suffycyent Pledgs for the greate hurte we had receaved, for Mr. Winter seing this Hostylytie unloked for, offred unto hym, did immedyatly take a Hoye and two Barks, to keepe, till he knewe further of their Intention. And moreover I thought good to tell them, that ther was fownd all things in the Hoye meete for Fortyfycation, with greate Store of Artilerye and Munycion. Wherfore seing that the two Barks, that were with here, were Men of Warre, I did rather suspecte they ment to carye the same, as fast as the Winde and Wether wold serve them, to passe out of the Haven, rather to Aymowthe or sum lyke Place nere us, Then any further to St. Andrews ward, or alongest their own Coost; seying that amongest themselfs, they, being Lords of that Side the Shore, where thes Ships laye, neade to feare no Ennemye. With these or like Words, they weying the Caase, thought good to wryte to my Lords of the Counsell, this as their Conjecture, the which I was well contented withall, fro ther better Contentacion; wyshinge indede that the Matter, shuld rather burst out, by lytle and lytle, then to make all here, with the Soodenness of Things, in a Hurlyburly. Yet nevertheless you may well perceave, by the Lettres of Advertisements, that in deede all thes Things were provyded by the French for the wynning and reenforcing of St. Andrews, and for non other Purposse. Thus wishing that you ther, wold nomore seeke to hide that, which here nowe is so manyfest; and therwithall desyrous to heir of your recoverye, I bidd you, &c.

Tho. Norffolk.