BHO

Cecil Papers: May 1590

Pages 32-35

Calendar of the Cecil Papers in Hatfield House: Volume 4, 1590-1594. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1892.

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Citation:

May 1590

William Ducke, Surveyor of the Queen's Ways.
[1590, May 8.] Petition to the Queen. Prays for execution of his grant of a lease in reversion of 20l.Endorsed, 8 May 1590.
Note by J. Herbert, that the Queen orders the lease to be drawn.
1 p.
Henry IV. to the Earl of Essex.
[1590, May 11/21.] He will understand from the bearer all that has befallen him (the King) in pursuit of the Spanish, &c. Is sure the Earl on hearing the recital will regret he is not engaged in such grand actions.—Buhy, 21 May.
French. ½ p.
Fran. Zouche to Lord Burghley.
1590, May 12. Keeper of the Queen's park of Meer, Wilts. As to repairs required for the lodge and hedges.—Anstye, 12 May 1590.
Note by Lord Burghley referring the matter to Mr. Taverner, surveyor of the woods on this side Trent.
Sir Robert Sydney to Lord Burghley.
1590, May 14. In reply to letter of 3rd May containing instruction that those companies in Flushing which are not of the cautionaries are not to be refused to the States when they call for them. The old cautionary companies being only five, gives his reasons for believing them to constitute too small a garrison. If any stranger come through this town and see it guarded with 750 men he will think it little assured for the Queen's money.
I find no trouble in this town hitherunto but only about the debts of Capt. Wright's and Capt. Randolph's companies when they were in the States' pay and yet were here as cautionary companies. The debt is to many poor artificers who say they are broken by it. The officers of the town allege that Her Majesty is bound to pay the garrison. It comes not to above 400l. sterling. I would to God there might some good order be taken in it, for it is a matter will greatly disquiet this government. The Deputies of the States have been with me again and have propounded many things which I have desired to have in writing. They took hold of three points in my letters patent. The first that the Queen should term it, “Our town of Flushing,” but there being no such word indeed in the letters, it seemed to have been the fault of the writer of the copy, so it was easily decided. The second, was that Her Majesty gave me authority over those resorting unto the town, comprehending all sorts of strangers, and that by the contract I should have to do only with the garrison, leaving others to the magistrate of the town. I answered, I understood no other but to observe the treaty; neither would I meddle with anything beyond my charge except it imported the safety of H.M. Caution. With this they seemed satisfied; and so went to the third which was, that I was commanded to obey any directions from her Majesty or of six of the Privy Council, whereby they seemed to infer that I might be commanded to do things against the treaty. I answered that if I did anything of mine own head against the treaty, they knew where to complain of me. If I did it by warrant, they were to go to those who made the treaty, for I was to stay here as long only as it should please her Majesty, and in the meantime to obey her commandments. “Mary,” I protested, that I had neither had nor looked for any commandment prejudicial to the contract—for I found they were in doubt whether I had any secret instruction or no. For this sudden they were thus satisfied. If they stand more upon it hereafter I will humbly crave to know how I must answer. The men that were with me were Valck, President Peter de Rick and one Iftleman.
I have sent over as much of the artillery as I could get shipping for which is at this time very scant. The Queen's ship was not able to carry it over, and I could not get Sir Thomas Shirley's deputy to lay forth a penny for the freight of the ships though he saw it was for her Majesty's service. Only upon mine own bit he did disburse the money which I think comes to 30l.—Flushing, 14 May, 1590.
Holograph. 3 pp. [Murdin, p. 642.]
John Douglas to John Douglas, in the house of the Ambassador of Scotland.
1590, May 15. This few lines is to pray you to help my brother Sandy Douglas with some clothes and a passage home to Scotland, for he has been robbed in France and all that he had taken from him. I met with him here by chance and have, bestowed upon him all the money I had. I will pay you to the uttermost. I would not have my wife nor none other of ray friends see him in this case.—Dover, 15 May, 1590.
Holograph. 1 p.
J. Wolley and J. Fortescue to Archibald Douglas.
1590, May 19. Being appointed by the Privy Council to hear and take order upon divers disorders arisen between Nicholas do Gazzi, merchant stranger, and “Your,” we pray you to meet us at the Treasury' Chamber this afternoon.—19 May, 1590.
Signed. ¼ p.
Thomas Holdfort to Archibald Douglas.
1590, May 20. As to the production and retention of deeds relating to property of his dear friend, Mr. Fowler, who is dead. Gives various instructions and particularly in respect of a deed made by Mr. Fowler to Mr. Tanfield, relating to Settrington lands in the co. of York.—Northwich in Cheshire, 20 May, 1590.
Holograph. 1½ pp.
Henry Martin, one of H.M. Trumpeters.
1590, May 22. Warrant from Lord Hurghley to the Auditors of H.M. Revenue in her Exchequer, requiring them upon the production of such notes as Henry Martin, one of Her Majesty's Trumpeters, shall bring, to make forth a particular or particulars to the value of 10l. or thereabouts, Her Majesty having granted him a lease in reversion of. certain of her lands within the survey of her Exchequer.—Westminster, 22 May, 1590.
Signed. ½ p.
T. Cranstoun to the Scotch Ambassador.
1590, [May] 24. I have earnestly insisted with my lord the Chancellor to have had his goodwill that I might have sent the principal bond which I shewed your lordship that the Secretary [Walsingham] had given to him, written with his own hand, to your lord ship in England. Nevertheless I could not obtain licence thereto, by reason he himself had instantly to do with the principal thereof, because he has caused inform his Majesty of the unworthiness of that man who has so shamefully violated his bond given to him. Also he said to sundry noblemen that he had such a bond, having also promised sight thereof to sundry of them; so if it should happen to be forth of the realm when either his Majesty or any of these noblemen should require him therewith, it would prejudice his estimation if he had it not then to shew; with greater reasons than these which I may not commit to writing. Alwavs, at my fervent request he has granted me licence to shew it to any Englishman it will please you to desire me, here within Scotland, if any there be in Berwick who can judge upon his hand writing and further if there be not one such, that I shall upon your letter, when any Englishman of credit repairs thither who either can of himself judge upon his handwriting and acknowledge it, or otherwise shall bring some letter of his to confer with it, to take trial upon the handwriting. To be short he will not grant that it go forth of my hands and this realm, for that it may prejudice him after this, as he says : but what way you think good I am able to shew it within this realm, upon your advertisement two days before you would have me so to do; bat I cannot move him to grant licence to carry it into England. Remember to write to Lord Scrope (for we are mindful to cause your servants to go in at the west hand), that this placet may be effectual and the users thereof credited to be your servants, whose names you may insert into your letter, calling them Robert Fairbairne and John Young, your servants, users of a placet given you for trans porting as many horses as are contained therein. Obtain another placet having a greater number of horses than four, with some mares and colts if need be. His Majesty has sent for Bothwell, who refuses as yet to repair towards him. I shall advertise you farther of our estate by sending to Captain Carvell. Wishing your lordship a prosperous voyage and happy returning, I commit you to God.—From Edinburgh, the 24th of this instant [May].
Signed : “Your lordship's nephew to be commanded, . . . T. Cranstoun.”
Addressed :“To the right honourable and his special good lord, my lord Ambassador to the King's Majesty of Scotland.”
pp.
Duke of Pomerania.
1590, May 25. Warrant under the sign manual, addressed to Lord Burghley, containing licence for the Duke of Pomerland to export from the realm 600 broad clothes free of duty.—Given under the signet at Greenwich, 25th May 1590.
1 p.
Allowances for Messengers and others.
1590, May 26. “The copy of the warrant granted to the Lo. Treasurer for the signing of the bills and warrants for the messengers and others.”
Warrant from the Queen to Sir Thomas Heneage, Knt., Vice-Chamberlain and Treasurer of the Chamber, to make payment upon bills, letters, or warrants for allowances for messengers and others subscribed by Lord Treasurer Burghley, as heretofore he was accustomed to do upon such bills, &c., subscribed by Sir Francis Walsingham, deceased, late Principal Secretary.—Greenwich, 26 May, 1590 (anno 32).
Copy. 1 p.
Archibald Douglas and the late Sir Francis Walsingham.
1590, [May.]. The 13th December last, 1589, Mr. Archibald Douglas brought Mr. Richard Martin and John Taylor in Coleman St. a counterbond of Sir Fra. Walsingham's to save them harmless of a bond they had given the same day for Mr. Douglas in 315l., due June 13 next. Mr. Martin it is said hath the bond, and John Taylor a letter of thanks in Wilford's handwriting for doing Mr. Douglas that pleasure, as though it had been to himself. Whether Mr. Secretary had any bond of Mr. Douglas to save him harmless Mr. Taylor knows not. If this 315l. be not paid the 13th June next the double thereof is forfeit. Mr. Archibald Douglas had besides the above sum 200l. more, the one of Mr. Alderman Martin, the other of Thomas Lakes, which makes him in debt to Mr. Secretary with that bond 515l. This is supposed to be the 500l. acknowledged by Mr. Douglas in the writing showed to the Lord Treasurer to be owing as a private debt to Sir Fra. Walsingham : the rest of the money contained in the said writing was, as he knoweth, employed for service otherwise. Of these 500l., only 200l. are set down in Lady Walsingham's accounts for Scottish affairs, which if Mr. Archibald repay are to be defaulted from them and to answer other debts.
Lady Walsingham desireth care may be had of the repayment of this 515l., and especially that Mr. Taylor may be so dealt with that the day of payment being so nigh there may be no forfeiture of her late husband's counterbond; and that Mr. Douglas would procure that the same may be re-delivered unto her and the rest paid in convenient time.
1 p.