36. Robert Pett to Thomas More (10 November 1612 (NS)) (AAW A XI, no. 200, pp. 575–6.)

Extract

My very Reverend good sir althought the week past I have geven yow notice of my retorne from Colon and have withall answered souch of yours as expected me here in my absence soe that noe great occation doth rest which should move me this week to write yet to shew my self willinge to make some satisfaction for my former silence in tyme of my absence I have ben induced to breake my ordinary coustome of 15 dayes and this weeke alsoe to send yow thes few lines and the rather to certefie yow of the arrivall of don pedro de suniga from out of England unto this towne some six dayes past beinge now alsoe yesterday departed from hense towardes spayne. our kinge is sayed to have very honorably intreated him in his one [?] particuler and at his departure to have geven him in plate to the valew of 1500^li stirlinge and at his request to have granted liberty unto 7 priestes wherof 3 are of our bretheren secular the 4th is f: Harington the franciscan frier and the other 3 are of the society and two of them thos which were taken in mrs Vaux her house, yt is alsoe sayed that he hath the grant and promise for the delivery of f: Baldwin upon condition diat one now in the inquisition at Rome who was sometyme tutor to my lord Rosse may be alsoe set at liberty, his chaplaine tould me that exception was taken agaynst the benidictans soe that he could not procuer liberty for any one of them nether for souch of our seculer as he demanded, but only for three best pleasinge to them selves, there names as yet I know not but m:^r Musket is none of them thought [sic] he was demanded, 6 are arived to S:^te Omers as m^r: cape writeth unto me but I here nothinge what is become of f: Harington; the busines of the Embassador wrth the kinge is sayed to remayne very secret only to his maiesty two of his counsel and one interpreter as alsoe in spayne yt is only to the kinge, the duck of Lyrmo, one secretarie and the Embassador which was sent, from whose chaplaine I had this narration who althought he confesseth great extremity to be in England now used towards catholicks yet doth he withall indevor to insinuate great hopes of some speady redress, and for confirmation hereof they now geve forth that the mach of our prince with florence is broken of and that our kinge doth rather inclyne for the daughter of savoy and doe insinuate great hopes for Cadioliks hereby.