howe that a naughty person of Andwarp resorted to this towne of Barowe this Pasche marte, with Images and Pictures in cloth to sell: among the which clothes he had the Picture of our soveraigne Lord the Kyng, (whom our Lorde preserve). And this day settyng up the same Picture upon the Burse to sell, he pynned upon the body of the said Picture a Wenche made in cloth, holdyng a paier of balance in her hands; in th'one balance was fygured too hands to geder, and in th❜other balance a fether, with a scripture over her head, saiyng that Love was lighter then a fether, whereat the Spanyards and other of the Duche nacion had greate pleasure in deridyng, jestyng, and laughyng therat, and spekyng sondry opprobrious words ayenst his moost noble Grace and moost gracious Quene his bedfelowe. Wherupon immediatly and with all diligence and haast possible (after I had knowleige therof) I resorted to the Scowte, borowmaisters, and skepyns of the said towne of Barowe, declaryng unto them the maner of this naughty person, and facion of the Spanyards and other, who, incontinent, sent for the said person, and examyned hym streightly therof, which excused hymself, allegyng that he meaned therby no hurt. Nevertheless he said that a certeyn Spanyard (to hym unknowen) desired hym to lette it stande, and he shuld be borne out: wherupon they commanded hym to commytte no suche like thyng eftsones upon payne of forfaiture of all his merchandises, and further

to be punyshed in exemple of other. And thus after my humble servys presented unto your moost honorable Maistership, with my daily praier, I lowly beseche the Holy goost to sende the same th'accomplisshyng of your noble desires. Written at Barowe the xxijth day of May Anno xvc. xxxiijti.

by the hand of your

moost humble servant

JOHN COKE, Secretary unworthy to

the Merchants Adventurers.

To Mastr. Thomas Cromwell

of the Kyngs most honorable Cownssell

soit dd. at

London.

LETTER CVIII.

Mathew Kyng to Thomas Cromwell, upon the raising of the Siege of Coron by Andrew Doria.

[MS. COTTON. MUS. BRIT. NERO. B. VII. fol. 91. Orig.]

This specimen of the foreign correspondence with Lord Cromwell acquaints us with the particulars of the relief of Coron by Andrew Doria, one of the greatest Sea-Captains of the sixteenth Century, who having quitted the French service in disgust in 1528, was now the Admiral of the fleet of Charles the Fifth.

Coron, one of the most ancient towns of the Morea, had been taken from the Venetians by Bajazet the Second in 1500; and by Doria from the Turks in 1532. Doria quitted it in 1534, that it might not be an obstacle to his negotiations with the Sultan. Coron, in the sixteenth Century, from its situation, was considered a place of great defence.

In Venys the 1 day of October ano 1533. RYGHT worshipffull Syr, my dewty consyrynga in most humble wyse I recommende me unto yowr goodnes, ever more desyryng to herofb yowr good welfare whiche I pray Jhesu long to contynewe unto his plezure. Moreover plesyth yt yowr Mastership to have onderstonding of the newis here in thes parties: as upon the Fryday the xij. day of August last the Turks Armado was before Coron; by water lxj. galy and xx. foysts, and by lond xij.M. men of armes Turks. And the same Fryday Androwe Dory come to geve socours to yt with xxvj. galyes and xxiiij. ships, and fought with Turks with ther ordenaunce, in so moche the Crysten men slew of the Turks xvj. or xvijC. and ther was not slayne of Crysten not xx. persons: this persevyng the Turks, that thay wayr so sore beten with ordenance, fled toward Muddowne, and in fleyng thay met with ij. of Doryes ships that was behynd ther ffelows, and the Turks toke on of them, and the other wolde not yelde. This seyng Dory, he retornyd agayne, but with ix. of his Galyes, and rescuyd the ship that was not taken, and toke her agayn that was taken, with ij.C. Turks in her, and then with all his ships and galyes wentt and geve socours to Coron, vytell for ij. yere with ordenaunce and all other necessaryes. Now this seyng the Campe of the Turks by lond, that the galyes and foysts ware fled, in lyke

⚫ considering.

b hear of.

e a pinnace or little ship.

maner thay fled lyke bests, and left ther ordenaunce and vytells behynd them; which Androwe Dory had, all pesably and so Dory remaynyd in Coron v or vj. dayes to fet ords, a and put in wages iiij.M. men of armes, and then departyd with his ships and galyes, and went back agayn to Myssyna. This is all that has ben done this Somer in this parties. Other newis I have none to wrytt unto yow Mastership, but that ther ys great deth in Constantynople. No more unto yowr Mastership at this tyme, but that I pray Jhesu save yowr lyfe in helth and prosperite long to endure. Amen. Wrytten ut supra

LETTER CIX.

Lord James Butler to Mr. Rob. Cowley in London, censuring the conduct of the Earl of Kildare, then Lord Deputy, and others, in Ireland.

[MS. COTTON. TIT. B. XI. fol. 406. Orig.]

I HAVE receyved your Letters and am right glad of the bringing to light of suche matters as was falsly surmýsed and reaported of my Lord Prive Seall in this land; whiche to prove, ye knowe that I ernystly indeworid myselfe, as to my dwetie dud appertaine.

My Lord Deputie is the Erle of Kildare newly borne againe, not oonly in distruyng of thoos that alway have servid the Kinges Majestie, but also in mayntenyng the hole secte, band, and aliaunce of the said Erle, after so vehement and so cruell a sorte as the like hath not been seen to be bydden by.

O Connor, that evyr hath bene the oonly scourge of the Englishe pale, who hath maried the erle of Kildares doghter, is his right hand; and who but he.

O Karroll, nowe called Fargananym, that hath maried the said Erles other doghter, and was alway the conductor of the traictor Thomas Fitzgerald to the Irishrie, is nowe in favor with him, noo man like, nexte O Connor;