Biography of Gaspard II de Coligny 1519-1572

1550 Peace of Boulogne

1550 Visit of the French Ambassadors

On 16 Feb 1519 Gaspard II de Coligny was born to Gaspard I de Coligny Count of Coligny (age 54).

In 1522 [his father] Gaspard I de Coligny Count of Coligny (age 57) died.

Diary of Edward VI. Aug 1549. Ther were also, in a skirmish between thre hundred English footmen and 700 French horsmen, six noblemen slain. Then the French king cam with his army to Bolein [Boulogne], wich thei seing raised Bouhnberg.1 But because of the plage he was compelled to retire, and Chastilion (age 30)2 was left behind as gouvernour of the army.

Note 1. Sir Nicholas Arnold, the captain of Boulogne berg (see note in p. 224), observing the success of the French, removed his artillery and stores into the high town of Boulogne, and set fire to the abandoned fort, whereupon it was seized by the enemy. Holinshed.

Note 2. Gaspard de Coligni (age 30), seigneur de Châtillon, who shortly after came to England as ambassador (see a subsequent page).

Peace of Boulogne

Diary of Edward VI. 25 Apr 1550. The lord Clinton (age 38) captain of Bolein [Boulogne], having sent away befor al his men saving 1800, and al his ordonnaunce saving that the treaty did reserve, issued out of the towne with these 1800, delivering it to mons. Chastillon (age 31), receiving of him the six hostagies English1, aquittaunce for delivery of the towne1a and save-conduyt to com to Cales [Map], whither when lie cam(e) he placed 1800 in the emperour's frontieres.

Note 1. These young noblemen, when released from their honourable and very agreeable duty, were desirous to prolong their stay in France, in order to visit the French court. On the 24th of April — "Mocion was made for license that our hostaiges, that is to wete, the duke of Suffolke (age 14), th'erle of Hertforde (age 10), the lorde Matraverse (age 12), the lord Talbott (age 22), the lorde Strange (age 18), and the lorde Fitzwaren (age 21), might make their repaire unto the Frenche corte to see the king, like as the French hostaiges have libertie here to come to the corte. Whereupon it was thought convenient, that, forasmuch as the appointment of the delivery of Boloigne is this present day, which being accomplissed our hostaiges must be restored home, therefore they shall not have license till the counsaill be advertised of their deliverance: that, if they go, they may go at libertie and not as hostaiges. And to that effect a lettre written to mr. Blount, requiring him immediately upon their delivery to advertise the lords here, and to lerne withall the time of the Frenche king's approche into those parties, to th'entent our younge lords may meet him as neere the confines as may be.

"April xxviij. Upon lettres receaved from my lord Clynton (age 38) and Richard Blount esquire, of the receipt of our hostaiges which are already retorned to Calays, it was agreed that, forasmuch as the French king's comyng downe into Bullonoys is uncertain, our young lords that had been hostaiges shulde immediately return home, notwithstanding their request and first determinacion that they shulde have licence to visite the French king." (Council Book.)

Note 1a. Boulogne was delivered to the seigneur de la Eochepot and the seigneur de Chastillon (age 31) on the 25th of April by the hands of Edward lord Clinton (age 38), sir Richard Cotton, and sir Leonard Beckwith: see the acquittance of the French commissioners, mentioned by King Edward, in Rymer, xv. 228; the treaty for its surrender having been concluded on the 24th March (ibid. 230).

Visit of the French Ambassadors

Diary of Edward VI. 23 May 1550. Mon. Chastil(lon) (age 31) and Mortier, and Bouchetel, accompanied with the Ringrave (age 46)1, Dandelot2, the constable's secound sone3, and Chenault the ligier4, cam to Durasme place, where in their journei thei wer met by mr. tresoror (Oheyne) and threscore gentlemen5 at Whulwhich [Map], and also saluted with great peales both at Whulwich, Dettford [Map], and the Towre [Map].1a

Note 1. The Rhinegrave John Frederick (age 46) was deprived of his electorate by the emperor after the battle of Muhlberg in 1547, and remained a prisoner at Innspruck until 1552. His nephew Otho-Henry, called the Magnanimous, whose proper title was only count of Neuburg until after his uncle's death in 1556, was at this time in the service of France, and was made a knight of St. Michael in Oct. 1550 (see Tytler, i. 325).

Note 2. The seigneur d'Andelot was François de Coligny (age 29), younger brother of the seigneur de Chastillon (age 31), already noticed in p. 250, and like him a zealous Calvinist and intrepid soldier. He became comte of Laval and Montfort in Britany; and in 1555 he was appointed colonel-general of the French infantry in place of his brother. He died in 1569. (Anselme, vii. 155; viii. 215.)

Note 3. The second son of the constable of France was Henry (age 15) afterwards duc de Montmorency, who now, during his father's (age 57) lifetime, bore the title of seigneur de Damville. (Anselme, Histoire Genealogique, vi. 229.) If the King writes with accuracy, he must have been one of the train; but if he meant one and the same person by "Dandelot, the constable's second sone," this may have arisen from d'Andelot being (by his mother's side) "the constable's nephew, and one of the (French) king's minions." (Tytler, i. 160.)

Note 4. Of Chenault no particulars have occurred. Among the illustrious visitors on this "occasion, or immediately after, appears to have been Claude de Lorraine, due d'Aumale, third son of the late due de Guise. On the 6th Oct. following sir John Mason (age 47) writes from Rouen to the council: "The due d'Aumale is much desirous to have a portrait of the King's person, which he says the King himself promised him at his departing out of England. He hath been in hand with me twice or thrice herein, praying me in my next despatch to desire your lordships to put his Majesty in remembrance hereof. If any shall be sent unto him, this is a very good time therefor, while yet he remaineth in Roan. He speaketh very much honour of the King and of the realm, and hideth not the courtesy he found the time of his being there. He is, as your lordships knoweth, of right good estimation, and therefore the remembring of him in this his request cannot be but well bestowed." (Tytler, i. 330.)

Note 5. In order that the court might make a good show of nobility when the Frenchmen arrived, the council had despatched, on the 17th of April, "Lettres severall to the earles of Rutland (age 23), Bathe (age 51), and Worcester (age 24), to the viscount Hereford (age 62), and the lord Fitzwalter, to repayre to the court out of hand, bringing with them their best apparell and furniture, for the receiving and entertaining of the ambassadors and noble men that came out of France."

On the 4th May, "For the receaving of mounsr Chastillion, and the rest of the Frenche ambassadors, the lord warden of the Cinque portes, thresorer of the King's Majesties household, was appointed to be the chief, and a nombre of lords and gentlemen apoincted to accompanie him by water with the King's barges, bicause th'ambassadors are determined to come from Bulloigne in their owne galleys up alongest the Teames [River Thames]."

"May xviij. A warrant to the master of the jewelhouse to deliver unto Benjamin Gonstone, threasorer of the King's shippes, one peir of potts, one peir of flagons, iij. nest of bolles, ij. basons and ewers, a garnish and a half of vessell, ij. dozen of plates, and ij. saltes of silver, for the furniture of the galley appointed for the lord wardeigne to mete the French ambassadors coming up by the Temes [Thames], to be restored again upon retorne of the same galley. A warrant to sir John Williams to delyver to the said John Gonstone xlli. in prest towards the furniture of the said galey." (Council Book.)

Note 1a. "On Friday was seven-night [May 23] the galley Subtle, with two other of the King's pinnaces, under the charge of sir William Woodhouse, mr. Brook, and others, were sent to the Thames mouth to meet with the French galleys, and to conduct them upwards, and at their first meeting received them with an honest banquet; so accompanied them along the Thames, where, passing by sundry of the King's ships, they were saluted by honest peals of ordnance; and, a little above Greenwich, I, the lord warden of the Cinque Ports (Cheyne), being accompanied with the earl of Worcester (age 24), the lord Grey of Wilton (age 41), the lord William Howard, with divers other young lords and gentlemen, to the number of sixty, in sundry barges, met with them upon the water, bade them welcome on the King's maties behalf, with other good words to the purpose, and so received them into those barges. They were conveyed by water through the bridge to their lodging, being appointed at Durham-place, which was furnished with hangings of the King's for the nonce: where, against their coming, was ready laid in a very large present of beer, wine, beeves, muttons, wild fowls, poultry, fish, and wax. By the way the King's ships at Deptford shot off; and at the Tower, as they passed, a great peal of ordnance was discharged to welcome them. As soon as they were landed, and in their lodgings, a gentleman was sent from the King's matie, willing me the lord warden, in the King's highness' behalf, to bid them welcome, and tell them that if they would aught, being signified, it should be provided; and so for that night left them." (Narrative of the council addressed to sir John Mason, the ambassador lieger in France, printed from Mason's letter-book in the State Paper office, by Tytler, i. 284.;

Around 1555. François Clouet (age 45). Portrait of Gaspard II de Coligny (age 35).

On 24 Aug 1572 Gaspard II de Coligny (age 53) died.