Stowe MS 147

TRANSCRIPTS of English State papers and letters; 1522-1571. They consist chiefly (1) of the correspondence of Cardinal Wolsey with Secretary Pace and the English Ambassadors at the Papal and Imperial Courts during the years 1522-1525, relating to the Cardinal's designs on the Popedom on the death of Adrian VI., and to the French war; and (2) of the correspondence of Sir Francis Walsingham, Ambassador at Paris, with Qu. Elizabeth, Lord Treasurer Burghley, Lord Leicester and others, relating to the negotiations on the proposed marriage of the Queen with the Duke of Anjou, 1570-1571. All the letters in the latter series are printed, in a more correctly chronological order, in The Compleat Ambassador, by Sir D. Digges, 1655. In the printed volume, however, the negotiations come to an end with the recall of Walsingham in March, 1572; whereas in the present MS. the correspondence breaks off in September, 1571. The earlier series are generally included in Brewer's Letters and Papers of the Reign of Henry VIII., vols. iii. and iv.

(1865-1876). The originals are mostly in the Public Record Office, but copies of many of the letters are also to be found in the Harley and Cotton collections in the British Museum. The contents are as follows:-

1. Thomas Wolsey, Cardinal, Archbishop of York, to [John Clerk], Bishop of Bath, Richard Pace, Secretary to Henry Vlll., Dean of St. Paul's, and Thomas Hannibal, Master of the Rolls, Ambassadors at the Court of Rome; [22 Dec. 1523, 25 Mar. 1524]. ff. 3, 19.

2. Henry VIII. to the Bishop of Bath; n. d. [circ. 1523]. f. 9 b.

3. Thomas Wolsey to Richard Sampson, Dean of Windsor and of the Chapel Royal, and Sir Richard Jerningham, Ambassadors to Charles V.; 31 Aug., 6 Nov. [1523], 13 Jan. [1524]. ff. 14, 95b, 101.

4. The same to the Bishop of Bath; [16 Jan. 1525]. f. 31 b.

5. The same to R. Sampson; [13 Feb. 1525]. f. 42.

6. The same to the Bishop of Bath and T. Hannibal; [28 May, 1524]. f. 54.

7. Sir R. Jerningham to T. Wolsey; [3 July, 1523]. f. 60.

8. R. Pace to Henry VIII. and to Brian Tuke; [26 Jan. 1525]. ff. 66, 67.

9. Instructions to [Cuthbert Tunstall] Bishop of London and Sir Richard Wingfield, on their special mission to the Emperor Charles V.; [26 March, 1525]. f. 67 b.

10. Henry VIII. to the Bishop of London, Sir R. Wingfield and R. Sampson; 8 Sept. [1525]. f. 86.

11. The same to Sir Thomas Boleyn, Treasurer of the Household, and R. Sampson; [10] Jan. [1523]. f. 107.

12. Instructions to the same, on their mission to Charles V.; [Dec. 1522]. f. 116 b.

13. Instructions to William Knight, LL.D., on his mission to Margaret of Savoy, Archduchess of Austria, Governess of the Netherlands; [June, 1523]. f. 119.

14. T. Wolsey to R. Pace; 1523-1524. ff. 128-153, 172 b.

15. Instructions to the same, on his mission to Venice; [2 Sept. 1522]. f. 159 b.

16. Instructions to the same on his mission to Switzerland; [19 Mar. 1523]. f. 166.

17. The Lords of the Council to Edward VI., against the Duke of Somerset; 6 Oct. 1549. f. 177.

18.[ William Paget, 1st] Baron Paget, Lord Privy Seal, to Qu. Mary; Brussels, 25 Apr. 1556. f. 178.

19. Sir William Cecil to [John Russell, 1st] Earl of Bedford; 2 Aug. 1560. f. 180 b.

20. Sir Henry Norris, Ambassador at the French Court, to Qu. Elizabeth; 1567-1568. ff. 185 b-212.

21. The same to Charles IX. of France; 6 Oct. 1567. Fr. f. 199 b.

22. Instructions to Sir Francis Walsingham, Ambassador to the French Court; 11 Aug., 9 Dec., 1570. ff. 214b, 230.

23. Correspondence of William Cecil, Baron Burghley, Lord Treasurer, with Sir F. Walsingham; 1570-1571. ff. 216 b-336 b passim.

24. Qu. Elizabeth to Sir F. Walsingham; 1570-1571. ff.. 217, 220 b, 256, 277, 285 b, 305 b, 316, 322.

25. Correspondence of Sir F. Walsingham with [Robert Dudley] Earl of Leicester; 1570-1571. ff. 219-338 passim.

26. Qu. Elizabeth to Sir Henry Norris; 23 Feb. 1569 [70]. f. 221.

27. Sir F. Walsingham to Sir Walter Mildmay, one of the Privy Council; 1571. ff. 232 b, 244 b, 255.

28. Sir H. Norris and Sir F. Walsingham to Qu. Elizabeth; 29 Jan. 1571. f. 233.

29. Sir W. Cecil to Sir H. Norris and Sir F. Walsingham; 28 Jan. 1571. f. 247.

30. Summary of Qu. Elizabeth's answers to the French Ambassador [Bertrand de Salignac de la Mothe Fénelon] and Mons. L'Archant [July, 1571]. f. 324.

31. Sir F. Walsingham to " Mons. Cretoy, Principall Secretarie of France " ; n. d. [1571-1572]. f. 338 b. Paper; ff. 341. Early xviith cent. Inside the cover is inscribed "Gilb[ert] Barrell [of Clifford's Inn], 1627 "; and on the fly-leaf, "Stamford, 1693," and " Thomas Astle, from Robert Gray Esq^r, June 5th, 1798." Small Folio.

England General Chronicles and History: Transcripts of State papers and letters: 1522-1571.

includes:

• ff. 3, 19, 54 Thomas Hannibal, LL.D: Letters to, when Ambassador at Rome, from Card. Wolsey: 1522-1524.
• ff. 3, 9 b, 19, 31 b, 42, 54 John Clerk, Bishop of Bath and Wells: Letters to, from Henry VIII. and Card. Wolsey: 1522-1525.
• ff. 3-166 passim Henry VIII of England: Correspondence of Card. Wolsey with Sec. Pace and others: 1522-1525.: Copy.
• ff. 3-166 passim Francis I of France: Correspondence of Card. Wolsey on the war in France: 1522-1525.: Copies.
• ff. 3-166 passim Richard Pace, Secretary to Henry VIII; Dean of St Paul's: Correspondence with Card. Wolsey: 1522-1525.: Copies.
• ff. 3-166 passim Adrian VI; Pope: Correspondence of Card. Wolsey on the death of: 1523-1525.
• ff. 3-166 passim Thomas Wolsey, Cardinal; Archbishop of York: Correspondence with R. Pace and others on his designs on the popedom, etc.: 1522-1525.: Copy.
• ff. 9 b-166 passim Henry VIII of England: Instructions to, and correspondence with, his ambassadors at the Papal and Imperial Courts: 1522-25.
• ff. 14, 42, 86, 95 b, 101, 107, 116 b Richard Sampson, Bishop of Chichester: Letters to, from Henry VIII and Card. Wolsey: 1523-1525.
• ff. 14, 60, 95 b, 101 Sir Richard Jerningham, ambassador to Charles V: Correspondence with Card. Wolsey: 1523.
• ff. 14-116 b passim Charles V; Emperor of Germany: Correspondence of Card. Wolsey, Henry VIII., etc., with the Ambassadors to: 1522-1525.
• ff. 66, 67 Richard Pace, Secretary to Henry VIII; Dean of St Paul's: Letters to Henry VIII. and B. Tuke: 1525.: Copies.
• f. 67 Sir Brian Tuke, Treasurer of the King's Chamber: Letter to, from R. Pace: 1525.
• ff. 67 b, 86 Cuthbert Tunstall, Bishop successively of London and Durham; Master of the Rolls: Instructions to, on his embassy to Charles V.: 1525.
• ff. 67 b, 86 Sir Richard Wingfield: Instructions to, on his embassy to Charles V.: 1525.
• ff. 107, 116 b Sir Thomas Boleyn, Treasurer of the Household, Ambassador to Charles V: Letter and instructions to, from Henry VIII.: 1523.
• f. 119 Netherlands, Spanish. Governors of. Margaret of Savoy: Instructions to Dr. Knight on his mission to: 1523.
• f. 119 William Knight, LL.D: Instructions to, on his mission to the Netherlands: 1523.
• f. 159 b Veniee: Mission of R. Pace to: 1522.
• ff. 159 b, 166 Richard Pace, Secretary to Henry VIII; Dean of St Paul's: Instructions to, on his missions to Venice and Switzerland: 1522, 1523.
• f. 166 Switzerland: Instructions to R. Pace on his mission to: 1523.
• f. 177 Edward VI of England: Letter to, from the Council, against the Duke of Somerset: 1549.
• f. 177 Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset: Letter of the Council against: 1549.: Copy.
• f. 178 Mary I of England: Letter to, from Lord Paget: 1556.: Copy.
• f. 178 William Paget, 1st Baron Paget; Lord Privy Seal: Letter to Qu. Mary: 1556.: Copy.
• f. 180 b John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford: Letter to, from Sir W. Cecil: 1560.
• f. 180 b Sir William Cecil, Baron Burghley 1571; Lord Treasurer 1572: Letter to Lord Bedford: 1560.: Copy.
• ff. 185 b-212, 221, 233 Elizabeth I of England: Correspondence with her Ambassador in France: 1567-1571.: Copies.
• ff. 185 b-212, 221, 233 Sir Henry Norreys, afterwards 1st Baron Norreys, of Rycote; Ambassador to France: Correspondence with Qu. Elizabeth: 1567-71.: Copies.
• f. 199 b Charles IX of France: Letter to, from Sir H. Norris: 1567.
• ff. 212, 230 Sir Francis Walsingham, Secretary of State: Instructions to, on his embassy to France: 1570.
• ff. 216 b-338 b Elizabeth I of England: Correspondence of Sir F. Walsingham on her marriage with the Duke of Anjou: 1570-71.: Copy.
• ff. 216 b-338 b Anjou, François, Duc d': Discourse and correspondence on his proposed marriage with Qu. Elizabeth: 1570-1571.
• ff. 216b-338 b Sir Francis Walsingham, Secretary of State: Correspondence on the proposed marriage of the queen: 1570-1571.: Copies.
• ff. 217, 220 b, 252, 277, 285 b, 305 b, 316, 322 Elizabeth I of England: Correspondence with Sir F. Walsingham: 1570-71.: Copy.
• ff. 219-338 passim Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester: Correspondence with Sir F. Walsingham: 1570-71.
• ff. 232 b, 244 b, 255 Sir Walter Mildmay, Chancellor of the Exchequer: Letters to, from Sir F. Walsingham: 1571.
• f. 241 Isle of Wight: Designs of Marquis de Spinola on: 1601.
• f. 243 Albert de Gondi, Duc de Retz; Maréchal: Death: 1601.
• f. 247 Sir Henry Norreys, afterwards 1st Baron Norreys, of Rycote; Ambassador to France: Letter to, from Sir W. Cecil: 1571.
• f. 247 Sir William Cecil, Baron Burghley 1571; Lord Treasurer 1572: Letter to Sir H. Norris and Sir F. Walsingham: 1571.: Copy.
• f. 324 Elizabeth I of England: Summary of her answers to the French Ambassador: 1571.
• f. 324 Bertrand de Salignac de La Mothe Fénélon, French Ambassador in London: Summary of Qu. Elizabeth's answers to: 1571.
• f. 324 L'Archant: Summary of Qu. Elizabeth's answer to: 1571.