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Robert, Earl of Essex to the Bailiff and Brethren of the town of Leominster. |
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1590, Oct. 2. |
Desiring them to effect with expedition the granting of the office for which he had been suitor.—Windsor, 2 October, 1590. |
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Signed. 1 p.
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Engagement between Dutch and French Ships. |
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1590, Oct. 6. |
Declaration relating to five men of war of Holland and Zealand arrived at Portsmouth the 6th of October, 1590. Names of ships and captains given. |
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These ships were sent by the States at the request of the King of France to remain upon the coast of France for his defence and safe guard. They left Flushing with the French Ambassador about the 6th of Sept., and came straight to Dieppe, conveying certain supplies, which were delivered ashore on Sept. 13th. Being hired for 3 months they remained on and off the coast. On Monday the 5th Oct. about ten leagues from Newhaven, they met with the Admiral of the Leaguers, a ship of Newhaven about 250 tons burthen, with 24 pieces of brass and iron, etc., with two captains,—one of the soldiers numbering 80, 20 of them Spaniards, the other of the ship and mariners, being the number of 160 persons, well victualled for 6 months. After chase given and refusal to yield, they all five came aboard him and there grew into great fight for the space of an hour, in which the two captains of the enemy were slain and many others. The remainder retired into the hold under the hatches, where the Flushingers thought to remove them but that they suddenly found a great smoke to come up from the hold, and thereupon withdrew themselves to their own ships again, all saving threescore which they left aboard to keep the ship, till the fire burst out so vehemently on every side that it could not be quenched, and then they fetched them away in their boats. And then might see the Frenchmen leap out of hold, and so were all burnt and drowned with the ship saving 14 persons which came swimming aboard their ships in the night, piteously crying for mercy, which they saved and have them still in their ships here—a
surgeon, a gentleman, an Italian, and the rest mariners. They were in fight from 9 o'clock in the morning till 4 in the afternoon before she was quite vanquished, and they lost 16 men slain and 24 sore wounded. |
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As touching the news of France they say that they heard that the King had taken a town 12 leagues from Paris called Claramount thirteen days before their coming from Dieppe; that the King hath removed his camp into Picardy; that the Prince of Parma and the Duke (their persons only) be both now in Paris; that the town is rather worse than better for their being there by reason of the great want of victuals; and that the Duke's camp is now broken up by sickness. Also that the Prince of Parma's camp is divided into two, about 16 English miles from Paris, being also in great want of victuals, with much sickness from eating such abundance of the new grapes, and very many of them die of the bloody flux. |
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2½ pp.
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Levy of Men for Service Abroad. |
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[1590, Oct. 6.] |
Warrant to the Lord Lieutenant of the cc. of Essex for the levy of a certain number of men, properly accoutred, etc., “to be transported for our service into some parts beyond the seas.” |
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A similar warrant to the Lord Lieutenant of the co. of Suffolk. |
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Undated. |
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Lord Chamberlain (Lord Hunsdon) to Sir Thomas Heneage, Knt., Vice Chamberlain. |
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1590, Oct. 9. |
On the subject of the title to the stable [at the Savoy].—Somerset House, 9 October, 1590. |
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Signed. l¼ pp.
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The Privy Council to the Lord Deputy and Council of Ireland. |
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1590, Oct. 11. |
Formerly we have written unto you that all the lands, goods, and chattels of Jacques Wingfeild, deceased, late Master of the Ordinance there, shall be with expedition seized and sequestered from his administrators, or any other that doth hold any part thereof by administration or otherwise by Custodially to her Majesty's use; which we pray you may be speedily performed. And as we are informed by John Sheriff, late servant to the said Wingfeild, that the administrators have not returned a true and perfect inventory of all his goods and lands unto the Register appointed for those causes, but there are some part thereof concealed to deprive her Majesty of her right, we have thought good to require you to make forth presently sufficient commission to the said Sheriff, or such others as you shall think most fit, to find out the said lands and goods so concealed, and to that effect let him or them have a copy of the inventory delivered by the administrators, to be returned unto us with a true note of that which shall be found concealed, that her Highness may be the better answered of those sums Wingfeild shall be found to owe upon the foot of this account. Further we require you to consider what course shall be most convenient for the speedy perfecting of the accounts of the said Wingfeild, and thereupon to direct to Sheriff, or such others as you find meet to be employed therein, sufficient warrant for that purpose. And whereas Sheriff hath been an humble suitor to us, for his service in that realm, to have the Custodiam of some part of the lands of the said Wingfeild, we have
referred the same to your consideration, and do nevertheless pray you, if there be any part of the said land not granted which may be thought meet for him to have, that the Custodiam thereof be granted him for some convenient term, with assurance for the payment of the rent yearly to the Queen's Majesty.—From the Court at Windsor, 11th October, 1590. |
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Signed and addressed. 2 pp.
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On the same subject as the above.—From the Court at Richmond the of February . . . .[sic], 1590. |
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Endorsed :—“11 October, 1590.” |
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Unsigned. 1 p.
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Draft of the above, with corrections by Burghley.—From the Court at Richmond, the . . . . of January, 1590. |
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1⅓ pp.
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Francis Merburn to Lord Burghley. |
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1590, Oct. 15. |
I have been according to law appointed a preacher at Alford in Lincolnshire by my lord Bishop of that diocese now some years; in which function, not excusing any defect, I may in the word of a Christian man and under ample testimony affirm, that I .have been careful to sort the quality of my teaching to the holy nature of God's word, having both my conscience and that greater witness than con science to record, that I am not advised that I have delivered any un sound doctrine. The things that I professedly hold and am bold to impart to you are such, I hope, as may obtain a dispensation through the moderate and loving regard of those in authority. |
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Concerning the Communion Book I have subscribed to the use of it, and none other, in our churches; and although having never been beneficed it less urgeth me as a minister, yet to the uttermost extent of my private vocation I have long and still do exactly communicate in prayer, sacraments, and whatsoever rites em . . me or mine by law with the most exact observers of it. |
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The enemies of set prayer I do singularly mislike : a good construction of many things wrested to offence, I have, in desire of reconciling alienated affections, sought out. |
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Concerning the State I have always resolved, that the alteration of things therein of right dependeth upon the magistrate, whose authority is to be attended as the beck of God, and that in these matters only a dutiful and discreet intimation belongs to the minister; holding the punishment of these troublers (which in their new prejudicial elections teach the neglect of civil power) for sanctified from God to the magistrate, in suffering whereof without repentance they cannot have a good conscience; and where under colour of zeal there appeareth by consequent heedlessness of the sacred credit of princes, and the traducing of the body politic by indirect courses, I am so far from them that I have been a diligent adviser of men to take wise notice of things, and not to be without compassion of the temptations and perplexities of governors, whose good endeavours are often prevented by the importunity of those which profess friendship to the truth. |
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Concerning policies in high administrations, I hold them in reverent estimation, observing not only those for fools, with Solomon, which believe everything, but those for wise, by his counsel, which having espied a thing restrain their spirit till after more mature deliberation, when every fool (as he saith) will be meddling : enforcing also this,
that no man with a good conscience may malign a policy, though of evil semblance, except he can see into it without error. Thus I have taught as I am persuaded to the performance of some small duty to her excellent Majesty, and the peace of God's church, and this is the effect of my labours, as by further inquiry you may be competently certified; and yet have [I] been inhibited for causes to me utterly unknown by information often before attempted openly, but never prevailing till now that both cause and accusers are concealed, all suit to the contrary notwithstanding. Your lordship, as the Scriptures speak in like case, is as an angel of God, well knowing that we stand before a people partly impatient of all reprehension, and partly nourishing in themselves idolatrous affections, making insurrection against the truth, but coming in at the postern of supposed Puritanism. I humbly submit myself to the censure not misjudging the proceedings : nevertheless that your wisdom may apprehend much more by this little for a common good, I I have at the earnest desire of a multitude of her Majesty's most quiet and conformable subjects, though utterly unknown, made choice of your person to refer it to your consideration. With three petitions, from the chief gentlemen, the conformable preachers of those parts, and from the people my neighbours, hath some change of this accident in most humble manner been assayed; but my lord Bishop, being as he said otherwise not unwilling, yet having referred these causes to my lord Archbishop, cannot consent. |
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Endorsed :—“15 October, 1590.” |
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3 pp.
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The Low Countries. |
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1590, Oct. 16. |
“Th' accompt of Sir Thomas Shirley, knight, Treasurer at Wars of her Majesty's forces in the said Low Countries, for three whole years and 258 days ended the 16th of October 32 Elizabeth :” giving a note of the daily pay of all officers from the Lieutenant General, the Earl of Leicester, down to the Muster Master general. “Sum Total of the said head Officers per diem, 40l. 9s.” |
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Underwritten : “xi. Januarii, 1598, Examinatur per Jo. Conyers, Auditor.” |
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1 p.
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William Stewart to Archibald Douglas. |
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1590, Oct. 23. |
It pleased Her Majesty to require a note or memorial of my proceeding and answers. I have sent a just copy of all the pieces I brought with me, having had consent thereto, wherein may be seen the sincerity of His Majesty's good meaning.—Edinburgh, 23 Octobpr [15]90. |
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Signed. Seal. ¾ p.
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Earl of Essex to Sir Henry Unton. |
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[About 1590 ?] Oct. 24. |
You have of late been exceedingly “payd” to the Queen. She startles at your name, chargeth you with popularity, and hath every particular of your speeches in parliament without book (?). “as the anatomy, the pots and pans and such like” and generally she seems resolved to give none of Mr. Vice Chamberlain's offices in haste. Sir Robert Cecil is troubled to think that his cousin Stanhope and you should be competitors and that he could not please you both. I told him I was sorry for the competition but I must be
very partial one way as (had it not been for his promise) would be the other. He answered that he thought plainly neither of you both should carry it. Michael Stanhope hath entreated me to be a friend to his brother. I told him I would fain speak with his brother because I would somewhat better understand him and be understood by him, and desired him when he saw him to tell him I would speak with him. This is all the news I can send you. As things fall out you shall hear of the changes or proceedings.—In haste this 24th of October. |
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Holograph. Signed. 1 p.
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[Robert Parsons] to Dr. Barret. |
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1590, oct. 28/nov. 7. |
Those which are presently to go in missions are Mr. Cicil, Fixar, Yonger, Blunt, Dudly, Lockwood, Eooke, and Sal loway, and all do go with the faculties they brought from Rome and Rheims with them, given them either by my lord Cardinal or by yourself, at their departure; only Mr. Fixar hath a doubt whether you gave him any or no, but yet presuming that your intention was to give him as to other priests if he went into England, and that you will actually confirm the same presently upon receipt of this (which I pray you to do), he is like to pass to exercise the faculties that other priests do. These priests have well behaved themselves here and well reposed themselves, and done themselves much good many ways by this year's staying here, for they have had time to review their books and learn both the language and manners of this nation, and now at their departure do they edify them much and accredit our seminaries by the missions whereunto they show so great desire and courage. Three or four of them shall go by the ports of Viscay and Galicia, and the rest with me to Andaluzia, and in the way shall see the King and his council and have occasions to make speeches to divers great personages, chapters and the like, which will much notify and justify our cause that was utterly unknown heretofore; and if they did send me another such mission of priests from Home that would stay here and repose themselves for some months, and live in discipline as these have done, I would take them and help them from hence and add to the viaticum they bring from Rome if it be not sufficient to pass them from hence, as we have done to these, who I think verily would never have passed into England the half of them, nor with that alacrity as now they do, if they had not come this way; for their viaticum would have been spent long before they came to the seaside, and so some would have shrunk in Italy, others in France and Flanders, and others would have lain upon you as so many do. Wherefore when the subjects be good and able men and capable of discipline, I will offer to the Rector of Rome that if he will send three or four a year this way with the same viaticum that he sendeth them to France, that I will receive them here and cherish them and, after some months' refreshing, send them hence with much more commodity of safe passage to England than they can have from France or Flanders; and so we shall hold them in the spirit of their vocation and put them safely into England, and by their experience of this country make them more able men to serve and together edify well this people. But this is to be understood, that they be learned and of good life, and that they come as I have said and not in clusters or disorderly. I am right glad that you hold together in such unity, love and consort in these troublesome days.—From Valladolid, 7 November, 1590. |
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Signed : “You know the writer.” |
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Endorsed : “Parsons the Jesuit from Valliodid to Doctor Barrett at Rheims.” |
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2 pp.
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Bishopric of Durham. |
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1590, Oct. 29. |
Parcel of the possessions, late of the bishopric of Durham, retained in the Queen's hands by virtue of the Act of Parliament of the first year of her reign, borne in the account of John Clopton, Esq., the Queen's Receiver-General there. |
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The custody of these lands was granted during pleasure to successive Bishops of Durham at a rent named, which the then Bishop sought to have reduced for reasons here stated.—29 Oct., 1590. |
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Signed :—“William Fisher, Dep. Auditor.” |
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Partly Latin. 1 p.
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