6 Sept. [1519] Calig. D. VII. 148. B. M. 446. Boleyn (age 42) To Wolsey.

Wrote his last on the 14th Aug. The King tells him that he has heard from his ambassador that the king of Castile will go next summer into Flanders, thence to Frankfort. He thinks Charles will go to Rome to be crowned, and must pass through France or the Venetian territory; but neither the Pope nor the Venetians wish him to go to Rome. He thinks also the Emperor will not be able to pay for his coronation. Had a long talk with the King's mother respecting Don Ferdinand and his prospects. She thinks it will be a long time before his brother Charles can have children; and Madame Charlotte, the King's daughter, is only three years old. She said she heard he had few folks of honor about him, "and said how Bouton was put to him." Her son will be this winter at Lyons, near the king of Castile, the Swiss and the Pope, the Venetians and Milan. The King has been curious to know what sort of a man the English ambassador in Spain is. The Queen will, in the course of a fortnight, send a gentleman to England with a token to Queen Catharine, and another from the Dauphin to the Princess. The Venetian ambassador is on his return here from England, of which he gives a good report. The Pope's legate and the ambassador of Venice have more communication than usual with the King, and the Spaniard less. William Pa[wne] has been despatched with a letter to Loogis, governor of Tournay, commissioning the latter to buy such material of him as may be needful for the repair of the castle. Seigneur Marcantoyn de Coloigne (Colonna) is here, in great favor with the King, "and is of the order of France." He is sick, but not dangerously. The Admiral is still sick. The Legate will have the Bishopric of Coutance. The cardinal of Roussy died lately at Rome. Great sickness reigns here. Blois, 6 Sept. Signature burnt off.

Mutilated, pp. 3. Add.

16 Nov. [1519] Calig. D. VII. 158. B. M. 514. Boleyn (age 42) To Wolsey.

Wrote his last on the 31st Oct. Yesterday se'night the King and Queen came hither from Amboise. On Wednesday Mountpesat arrived from England, praising his entertainment there. My Lady told him that Mountpesat had informed her "how the King my master had put off his beard, and axed me if I knew not of it. I said that Mountpesat had been with me at my lodging, and towlde me likewise; and further said that, as I supposed, it hath been by the Queen's desire; for I told my Lady that I have here afore time known when the King's grace hath worn long his beard, that the Queen hath daily made him great instance, and desired him to put it off for her sake." Thinks that she had taken some offence at him because he had shown a letter from Wolsey of the 28th of July, in which the King promised to wear his beard till the meeting. She also "axed" him "if [the] Queen's grace was nat awnte to the king of Spain." Boleyn answered he was her sister's son, but that the king of England had greater affection for her son than any King living. She was well appeased, and said, "Th[eir love] is nat in the berdes, but in the harts."

Next day the King asked him if he had heard any news from England. On his replying in the negative, Francis "laid his hand on his breast, and said, By the fay[th] of a gentleman, that, but for the very trust he had of the said meetin[g and] entrevieu, he would have been at this day at Myllan."

There is a talk of the duke of Albany going to Scotland; but my Lady assured Boleyn he should not, though he was much desired there. He is now in ... with his wife, but at the court no one is so familiar with the King. The Pope's legate, who had received the Bishopric of Coutances and great presents, has returned to Rome. If the Pope die it is thought Francis will help the legate to the papacy. An ambassador is expected from Denmark for new aid for the adventurers th[at went] thither this last summer. Many of them are in prison. The king of Denmark detains their captain, brother of the seneschal of Normandy. The bastard of Savoy has been made Grand Master. He perceives by Mountpesatt, that French gentlemen are much better treated in England than Englishmen in France. Blois, 16 Nov. Signature burnt off.

Mutilated, pp. 3. Add. Endd.

[Dec 1519]. Calig. D. VII. 161. B. M. 530. Boleyn (age 42) To Wolsey.

Wrote his last on the 22d Nov. Received on the 27th a letter from Wolsey, another in French for the King, and a certificate signed by the Cardinal of the losses sustained by the English merchants in the affair of La Fontaine. It has been referred by the King to the Admiral. Boleyn has pressed the latter to send the money at once, but is answered the Treasurer is out of the way. Yesterday, was assured that the money should be sent shortly; that the Admiral does not know "whether Marynyx, which came yesterday, shall carry yt with hym whan he goyth into England, or that he shall cawse marchaunts, being there, to pay yt; for he and the treasourers be styll abowt the same to depeche yt." He then retired with him and Robertet into a secret chamber, and told Boleyn that, on his departing from England, he promised to inform the King of anything he heard detrimental to the alliance of the two crowns; that when he went from Paris to Almayne to secure the election of his master, La Bastye had been told that England had promised all the aid it could to the cause of Francis; but when Master Pace went as ambassador to Almayn, "he was with the marques of Brandingborow in the town of Mayance, in the said Marques lodg[ing] ayenst the great chirch of Our Lady, where he was behind a tapett; [and] there he sayth he hard Master Pace, in his oracion that he made [unto] the said Marquis, desire that noone might be accepted to the digni[tee] imperiall that was [not] of the nacion or tong Germanique, but rath[er] to be preferred oon of their own princes of Almayn, and finally he hard hym speke for the advancement of the King Catholic, which he thought straunge; and further said that, forasmuch as he made [this] request, which he hard, to the marques of Brandingborow, he is [sure] that he made semblable to all other of the Electors." Mar[ynyx] will state more of this when he comes to England. Robertet finds great fault with Bouton's being allowed to stay there. The King still expresses great anxiety for the meeting. The cardinal of Bourges is dead. The King's confessor will have his Bishopric, and the legate of France the abbey of Fécamp. Seynt Marsault is lately come from the Pope, and the talk is that the King will go to Lyons; the King himself says to Coygnac, before Christmas. The four eldest hostagers in England are to be replaced by four others. Signature burnt off.

Mutilated, pp. 3. Add.