I am very desirous to be informed in what _French_ author I can find any
account of John Jokyn (Joachim?), who was ambassador to England from
France during the time of Cardinal Wolsey. I have looked into the
greater part of the French authors who have written historically on the
reign of François I. without having found any mention of such
personage--_L'Art de vérifier les Dates_, &c., without success. He is
frequently spoken of by English writers, and particularly in the _Union
of the Famelies of Lancastre and Yorke_, by Edward Halle, 1548, folios
135, 136, 139, 144, and 149.; at folio 144., 17th year of Hen. VIII., it
is stated:--
"There came over as ambassador from France, Jhon Jokyn, now
called M. de Vaux, which, as you have heard in the last year,
was kept secret in Master Lark's house; and when he came into
England he was welcomed of the Cardinal (Wolsey), and there
between them were such communications at the suit of the said
Jhon, that a truce was concluded from the 13th of July for forty
days between England and France, both on the sea, and beyond the
sea," &c. &c.
This M. Jokyn, or Joachim, appears to have been a person of considerable
influence, and it appears his purpose on this mission was to bribe
Wolsey; and it seems that the Chancellor Duprat was aware of this, and
was much displeased on the occasion.
AMICUS.
Aug 3, 1850.
* * * * *