Pages 293-298
Calendar of the Cecil Papers in Hatfield House: Volume 22, 1612-1668. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1971.
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Citation:
1638
[The Earl of Newcastle] to [the Earl of Salisbury]. | |
1637–38, January 3. |
I thank your Lordship for all your letters.
I return the Ambassador's, and think myself infinitely obliged
to you for the passing over that false and idle report. Good my
Lord, forgive the misfortune that I should be an occasion of so
much vexation to you.—Welbeck, the 3 of January, 1637. Holograph. 1 p. (131. 53(1).) |
Robert Crichtong to the Earl of Salisbury. | |
1637–38, January 12. |
Begs Salisbury to excuse him for writing.
"Were it my peculiar gayne whiche I did hunt after or the
encrease of myne owne privat fortune, I wold spare to molest
your Honour at this tyme with these my unseasonable sollicitationes. But it is Gods caus and his Churches whiche I cannot
relinquishe with a safe conscience. Fyve yeares are spent since it
pleased the Kings most royall Majestie to place me heare Tresorer
of the Cathedrall of Wells. In all whiche tyme I have not failed
to cast myself at your Honours feete, humblie showing to your
Honour, and to your servants whom it concerned, my right to
that small pension whiche my counsell advises me is payable by
your Honour and not by your tenants for the monasterie of Sene.
The world reports your Honour to be a great favourer of devynes
and a noble patron to scollars. Lett me be happie to fynd your
Honour as the world reports yow. Grant me the rightfullnes and
equitie of my caus, or be not offended ife I strive to redress my
self by the ordinarie course whiche the Lawes of this land do
affoorde me in the Spirituall court, where I am advised by my
counsell onelie to sue your Lordship and not your tenants. And
I most humblie entreate your Honour to take this into your
honourable consideratione, and be pleased to signifie your pleasure
unto me by your officers what your Honour determynes."—
12 January, 1637. Holograph. 1 p. (200. 14.) |
Sir Thomas Rowe to the Earl of Salisbury. | |
1637–38, January 13. |
I have received command from his
Majesty, Sovereign of the most noble Order of the Garter,
dated at Whitehall the 3 inst., that he has determined to restore
his most noble order to the primitive institution both in the
Statutes, robes and all other honours degenerated and corrupted
by time and in observance. To this end, having found that the
ancient colour worn by the Knights in their upper robe was a rich
celestial blue, and the undercoat of crimson, to begin his reformation in this part he has caused to be brought into his kingdom
velvets of both colours, now in the hand of Peter Richaut, merchant, and has resolved that every Knight of his Order shall buy
thereof as much as shall make new robes for himself to be ready
against the next feast of St. George, to be celebrated on the usual
days of 22, 23 and 24 of April next. And that your Lordship in
particular may obey his royal order, he has commanded me to
write unto you to provide and satisfy for so much as shall serve
your own use of the said velvets now in the hands of Richaut
dwelling near the Stocks in London, not doubting of your conformity herein to the Sovereign pleasure.—St. Martin's Lane,
13 January, 1637. Holograph. Seal of the Garter. 2 pp. (131. 53(2).) |
Gilbert Millington to Arthur Capell. | |
1638, April 9. | Recommends William Hewett to the living of Greasley, on the grounds of "his worth, his honesty, his conformity".—9 April, 1638. |
Holograph. Seal. Endorsed: "Mr Millington his letter in the behalfe of Mr William Hewitt to be vicar of Greasley." ½ p. (200. 115.) | |
Patricke Cocke to Arthur Capell. | |
1638, April 10. |
"Mr Tuke, as hee sayth, hath resigned all his
rights which hee had in the vicaridge of Greasley into the hand of
the Bishope, yet notwithstandeing I conceive yt is at your pleasure
to present whome you shall best approve of, so that you doe yt
within six moonthes. This gent., the bearer hereof, Mr Huett, yt
seemes is verie desirous of your favor and approbation. Hee hath
bene minister within two myles of Greasley for the greatest parte of
the time since hee came from the Universitie, in which time I have
not heard of any misdemeanor or disorder, but verie peacable, well
qualified and everie waie well deservinge that the parishioners
desier you maye accepte him if yt may bee pleasinge to you so
to doe. Ther is a tenant of Mr Longes within the parishe of
Selston who of late is questioned for a murder doane upon a booye,
beinge his apprentice, by the strikinge and harshe usage of him,
which the Coroner hearinge of ympanelled a jurie who with all the
testimonie that then coulde bee produced founde nothinge against
the man. Nowe Mr Longe beinge forward to make profitt hath
taken an inventorie of the goods of him questioned and seased
them; but presentlie after the booyes freinds beinge not satisfied
prevailed with the Coroner to enquier further who hath ympanelled
another jurie, veiwed the bodie againe, and have had further
evidence. This last jurie is to give in ther verditt to the Coroner
upon the Twesdaie in Whitsun weecke, in which time yt is
thoughte ther wilbe more evidence against him. Nowe, my desier
is you maye [be] pleased to appointe Mr Hamond to write to me
from London this terme what I shall doe in this busines if it bee
found against the man. I doe not conceive that Mr Longe hath
any righte to the goodes, for you are cheife Lord of the house and
lands wher on this man nowe questioned liveth, and I doe receive
of him 3s p annum cheife rent."—Newthorpe, Aprill xth, 1638. Holograph. Two seals. Endorsed: "Patricke Cocke his letter in the behalfe of Mr William Hewitt to be vicar of Greasley." 1 p. (200. 112.) |
Lemuell Tuke to Arthur Capell. | |
1638, April 11. |
"Such are the troubles of these tymes and
especially with us that to avoid a greater and future danger I am
constrained in a legall way to surrender up my vicaridg, which once
I loveingly and freely received from your worthy selfe. To relate
the occasion I presume to forbeare, as not willinge to trouble your
eares with that which is not most materiall to the purpose, but this
bearer can informe you with as much as is convenient. I most
humbly crave that your Worship will be pleased to afford my
sodaine and seemeingly rash proceedinges in a matter of this nature
a charitable interpretation. I well know that this is a tyme rather
of seeking than of surrendering of livings; yet you knowe that
the liberty and peace of conscience is to be preferred before all
thinges. My care hath beene in forgoeing my right to preserve
yours and, as soone as I could, to give you intelligence of what I am
constrained to doe, neither would I in the least measure intrench
uppon your prerogatives either by my selfe or by any other. The
last Thursday, being the 5th of April, as the usual manner is, of
resignations, I did resigne my vicaridge into the hands of the
Bishoppe of the diocese, there to bee preserved for you till such
tyme as you shall please to present whom you shall think meet,
so it bee within six monthes." On his own behalf and that of his
parishioners, presumes to recommend the bearer of the letter,
William Hewett, as his successor. Expresses his gratitude to
Capell for his kindness and generosity to him, and regrets that his
indisposition does not allow him to do so in person.—Greasley,
Aprill 11, 1638. Holograph. Seal. Endorsed: "Mr Tuke his letter concerninge his resignation of the vicaridge of Greasley." 1 p. (200. 113.) |
The Earl of Salisbury to Sir Charles Berkeley. | |
1638, May 1. |
The last survey of Cranborne Chase showed a
serious decline in the number of deer, there being only 1432 in
the five walks, and 90 at Chetterwood. There are two reasons
for this: (1) contrary to orders there has been little walking by
keepers of "Okeleywood in Cobley walk, Little wood in Burcistooke walke, and Gunvyle parke in the West walke."; (2) During
the last season 96 deer were killed of which 77 were bucks and all
but 18 killed without warrant, 60 of them being presented to the
borderers and keepers' friends. Berkeley is to understand that
henceforth no deer shall be bestowed by any keeper without
Salisbury's prior approval, and that he is expected to take
measures for the protection and increase of the deer.—Salisburie
Howse, 1 May, 1638. Draft. Unsigned. 1 p. (General 72/6.) |
The Privy Council to the Earl of Salisbury. | |
1638, November 18. | The express and usual directions of the Board heretofore given, and especially of late years, concerning the trained bands have been so full and exact as might make his Majesty and the Board confident both of the sufficiency of the arms and of the skill and readiness of the men that are to use them. Nevertheless, lest the aforesaid directions should not have been so effectually pursued as was required, his Majesty in his watchfulness for the defence of this kingdom and for the safety of his people in these times of action, has signified his express pleasure that instantly upon receipt hereof you cause an exact muster to be taken of all the arms and trained forces, horse and foot, within the county of Hertford, and to see that the arms be serviceable and complete; and that by the muster-masters and other experienced officers you cause all the trained soldiers of the county to be perfectly instructed in their arms, and the like course to be continued from time to time, and that the commanders and officers apply themselves to know and perform the duties of their several charges. And that you take especial care that both commanders, officers and soldiers be very able and sufficient men, that you take order that all the trained bands be so in readiness as to be fit to repair to their colours or rendezvous upon any occasion with their arms and provisions upon a day's warning: and that all the able men within that county (besides the trained bands) from the age of sixteen to threescore be listed and enrolled, that upon any sudden occasion such levies may be likewise made of them as shall be required, the copy of the said list to be forthwith returned to the Board. Deal seriously and effectually with the better sort of men to provide themselves with arms for their particular use, that with the help of those and such other arms as shall be found within the county, as many of the untrained men as possible may (as there shall be occasion and direction from his Majesty or the Board) be also exercised and reduced into bands under captains and officers. Take especial care that the proportions of powder, match and lead appointed for that county be forthwith provided and put in magazine. Cause the beacons to be forthwith made up and repaired with provision of wood and other materials requisite to be in readiness to give fire unto them, and to be diligently watched by discreet men. Appoint some able person to be Provost Marshal within the county for the apprehending and punishing such vagrant and idle persons as live not in any lawful vocation, and in times of suspicion and trouble may by tales and false rumours distract the people's minds or commit insolencies and outrages. And that we may be duly and speedily informed of all things concerning this service necessary for us to understand for the advancement thereof and applying of fit remedies where any defects shall be found, we pray and require you to give us an exact account of the state of the forces of the county and of the performance of these our directions with all possible expedition.—From Whitehall, 18 November, 1638. |
P.S. Where you shall find it inconvenient in respect of the
unseasonableness of the weather or any other considerable circumstance to draw together from remote places and to exercise
the trained bands in complete bodies, we leave it to your discretion (provided that the work be effectually done) to take view
of the arms upon the place or places, and to exercise the men
apart in smaller bodies within their several divisions. Fourteen signatures. 3 pp. (131. 63.) |
|
Order by the King in Council. | |
1638, December 16. |
This day, his Majesty being present in
Council, was pleased in his princely care for the safety and defence
of the realm to take into consideration, amongst other particulars,
the making complete and increasing all that conveniently may be
the number of horse in every county, as a most important part of
the strength of the kingdom. And for the better advancing thereof it was taken into deliberation what proportion of lands and
estate within the county ought to be chargeable with the finding
of horse; and upon mature advice thought fit and ordered that
every person having lands of inheritance of the clear yearly value
of two or three hundred pounds per annum within the county, or
other estate equivalent thereunto, should be chargeable with a
horse, viz, two hundred pounds per annum with a light horse, and
three hundred pounds with a lance at the discretion of the Lord
Lieutenant of the county. And whereas it was taken into consideration that the sparing of some persons opens a gap to excuses
and backwardness in others, to the weakening both of horse and
foot, and for that by letters under his Majesty's signature bearing
date 24 May, 1626, and by a minute of letters from the Board sent
with his Majesty's said letters to the Lords Lieutenant of every
county, it appeared that his Majesty's pleasure was then declared
to be that no man's purse should be spared in those services upon
any excuse whatsoever, and that his own servants and those that
attend them in Court should be privileged and spared from personal
and actual duties, but their lands and revenues to be as liable as any
others to the charge of finding arms in those counties where they
do lie: it was therefore (according to his Majesty's express pleasure
now again declared) resolved and ordered that the direction given
on that behalf by his Majesty's former letters should be put in
execution by the Lords Lieutenant of every county, and that the
like rule should be observed as well concerning the persons as the
lands and revenues of all the ministers and officers of any his
Majesty's Courts of Justice, or any others that pretend privilege
by reason of any relation to his Majesty's service or dependence
upon any great officer in respect of his office; which howsoever
it was not so particularly expressed in his former letters yet (as
his Majesty was now pleased to declare) the same was necessarily
implied, for if none of his own servants were to be exempted in
their lands and estates from being chargeable with arms, much less
was it intended that the Ministers and officers of his courts of
justice, or any other pretending privilege by his Majesty's service
or by dependence upon any great officers in respect of their offices,
should in a like case have any greater exemption allowed them.
Hereof a copy is to be forthwith sent to the Lord Lieutenant of
every county.—At the Court at Whitehall, 16 December, 1638. Underwritten: "Ex. Edw. Nicholas." 1¾ pp. (131. 65.) |
The Countess of Hertford (fn. 1) to Viscount Cranborne. | |
[1639 or before] February 12. |
Reproves him for not having
taken leave of her. Nevertheless, feels much affection for him,
because of the friendship which has always been between his
father and her.—Hertford House, the 12 of February. Holograph. Two seals on brown silk. 1 p. (200. 99.) |