Summer in Lyon

You know me I love to show exploit bilingualism and this is pretty much a golden occasion as today we will talk about Henry Carey in summer 1564 visit to France essentially to give the order of the Garter to Charles IX, but also act as witness that the French swore to observe to the treaty of troyes (this isn't the one that ended the 100 years war, but while this is a peace treaty, it mostly for war reparation and the handling of war prisonner, Source)  accompanying him was Thomas Smith (I think its this one, though not 100% sure) and some entourage of people to serve the two.

The meeting took place in Lyon, apparently at the moment King Charles IX was going around the various part of country after his crowning in something called the grand tour of france (not I'm not kidding). One french source say that Catherine de médicis made a good choice picking the place because it showed off France Wealth (source). Amusingly enough when Smith write to the queen about the trip she describe the place has riddle with plague and fever (Source, entry 524). I find rather particular entry 384.5 mainly cause the british side seem to have no real confirmation in May of that year that the King will be there, probably a side effect of 16th century communication. Point 13 of the same entry, is talking about Louis Prince of Condé, a hugenot leader, Henry being asked essentialy to give money to him.  He pop-up later in the visit at june 15, source, where (If I am understanding correctly) Condé actually with Elizabeth)

While the official visit seem to have taken place from june 22 to june 26 (you can find the description of the trip at entry 522),  Henry was apparently in France by May of that year (Source 427) and met with official at Boulogne on june 1 (source 449)

Feel sorta said, but I can quite understand the meaning of entry 487 (which is a shame cause its one by Lord hunsdon, slap himself) part 4 in particular.

The order of the garter was given in the oldest church of Lyon l'église Saint-Jean.  Apparently there was a promise that they would be no mass given (considering this a time of great trouble between catholic and protestant, you can guess why, also the ceremony of the church are sung and use no icon, which I feel was probably a way to be more polite toward the protestant). Interestingly the calendar tell us that should he have to go through mass during that time, that he should stay for as long as long as his conscience allow him, but to return as soon as possible afterward(entry 433).

aside from the diplomatic talk from that you mostly have supper (both with the king and the cardinal de guise), though that probably is diplomacy too.  The de guise apparently giving them celebration of a venetians style and there was a ball for the occasion. I actually counted all the time they occasion where they eatin the description of the trip and they are about seven of them)

According to entry 523, no ambassador was better liked than Hunsdon, well that's nice, though apparently his partner though he let other take his place too much. (If I get it correctly). THe last entry about the trip (566) seem to mention that George Carey was actually part of the trip (he'd be about 17 by that time) but seem to have let him go back to England at some point because of the fear of plague.

Catherine de Medicis own paper refer to the trip. Sending people to meet him by may 26. It is further mention at page 201, though not much detail are given (though I guess I get a positive feeling from this). Also she apparently discuss the situation of war prisonnier with him (page 209)

Diplomat

In the Edward VI and Mary Tudor, the place where Henry Carey pop-up the most is in the foreign paper, though for the most part he still something of a secondary player (like always) though its something worth looking over, if only so that only people know (if any other people other than me are reading this).

our first one I' shall bring is from Edward VI foreign paper calendar at page 123 (sadly Henry doens't pop in his domestic paper at least during his reign). its  a tiny referefence of nothing, but I do find it interesting. It is about the 1551 Marquess of Northampton ( I think it is William Parr, brother of Catherine Parr) diplomatic expedition to France.  The reason of the expiediton was apparently to give the Henry II the order of the Garter. 

As you can see Henry pop-up on the list of the member of the expedition, what he did is unknown, but at least I think it gives us a small idea of his level of living at the time, which is definitively above the average to the point he has four servant, a rather comparable to most of the other guy, but unremarkable.

The other one more interesting as it seem the first time Elizabeth directly enter our story, this is in the foreign paper of spain.

It has been said here that the Duke of Savoy is coming hither to wed the Lady Elizabeth, and the nobility have intimated that they would be glad to see this match concluded, and the right to the succession confirmed in her and the Duke in case the Queen were to die without issue. And Elizabeth has sent abroad a cousin on her mother's side called Millord Quarre  to visit the Duke, and he has brought back a report so favourable that it has made the Duke popular with the nobility and awakened feelings of love and hope in the Lady Elizabeth. I have been spoken to on the subject, but have said nothing for the reasons your Majesty may conjecture.

A you may guess there wasn't much of an actual marriage. I sorta wonder how thing went down since its seen from the point of the view of Mary Tudor court and i can't help but think that the might have been some sort of double dealing going on, if we consider the opposing religious view of Mary and Elizabeth, but who know really, I'm probably wrong.

Coming of age

It was in the year 1547 that Henry Carey was considered having his majority, apparently at the age of 21. A rather interesting thing if you consider that in the January of that year Henry VIII died leading to his son Edward VI taking the throne. 

Allow me to wax philosophy here, as it indeed a pretty important year for Carey overall, while he is yet to be Lord Hunsdon,  the rule of Edward and Mary are relatively obscure one for him (you can see how much the fact he was Elizabeth cousin played in his favour, because had he not been elevated at the time of her crowning he probably been confine to obscurity). Still in that year he inherited the possession of his family, both his father and grandparents. He would become a deputy of Buckinghamshire and it is likely the birthdates of his first child George Carey. I think these three will be our next topics for the coming days.

Also I'm giving a hoot to the website  All things robert Dudley who told me on facebook that Henry Carey was an horse officer and was indeed not involve in the navy in 1545, so check them out it seem a most interesting site and quite well research. (They at least seem better than me when it come to writing article). 

http://allthingsrobertdudley.wordpress.com/

(Yes this is me making this article a bit on the fly here as I wasn't able to properly gather information for a more focus article today, Henry Carey a lot more under the radar during the next ten years)

Portsmouth bound

Still not leaving 1545 people. Apparently the honeymoon didn't last for long if L&P are to believe. In august 2 1545 (entry 16), Henry Carey was apparently in Portsmouth.  Shortly after the battle of the Solent. 

By Mr. Constable, received Paget's letter showing that Constable is to be placed in one of the fair hulks when they come from London; and, by his letter delivered today to the Great Master, perceives that, because of the disease of Sir Wm. Wodhous, Englos, and other captains who have lately fallen sick, the King will have other gentlemen, as well attending in Court as others, named as meet for the vacant places. In this army knows none meet to be named captains save young Mr. Carye and Mr. Constable. Will tomorrow send a book of the ships now ready to serve, with the captains' names and how many ships lack captains, that the King may determine his pleasure. Have much ado with the Mary Rose The worst is that they must forbear and empty two of their greatest hulks during the business. Where Paget writes that, in crossing Porche Downe yesterday, the King found fault with the lying of the ships, and wished that they should repair to the strait on this side Saynct Elyns Point; requires him to signify to the King that all lie as they anchored by his Majesty's command the day his Highness departed, save that the Great Venezian is brought nearer the haven to take in ballast, and the two hulks Jesus and Sampson are brought to the Mary Rose to weigh her up. Scribbled at Portchemouth, 2 Aug.

Its not surprising that Henry would find himself at Portsmouth, considering there were chance of a french invasion of Britain at the time. However the fact he ended up named as a replacement captain is a little bit more surprising if you consider, how so far he has show no nautical skill whatsoever and in fact he will continue to do so for the rest of his life and his soldiering day.

Is there possiblity that this is not our Carey? I mean aside from the fact Henry is commonly refered to as Young master Carey in L&P, its not real clear (I was draw to this entry because of a reference to it in british parliment entry on Henry Carey). However further reinforcing the idea is that shortly after Henry Carey will join in John Dudley in his trip to france. Also John Carey seem to have been in a position that related to the sea as the volume for 1543, refer to him as a ship captain and a vice-admiral. 

I've tried to find the ship list Dudley speak about, but so far no avail, or at least it don't mention which ship Henry was posted on.

Here additional link on the battle of Solent.

http://www.hampshire-history.com/southsea-castle-and-the-battle-of-the-solent/