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John Roche to Sir Robert Cecil. |
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1599, June 1. |
Hitherto have I always found a light horse and its appointment, and now nominated to find a “demilawnce” furnished (and some my betters not urged so to do), and I, being neither getter nor gainer but now sickly, old and weak, do live upon the poor patrimony to me left. I humbly beseech you, therefore, to tender my inability therein.—London, this 1 June, 1599. |
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Holograph. ½ p. (70. 72.) |
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G. Buck to Sir Robert Cecil. |
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1599, June 1. |
I understood by a friend of mine, not many months since, that you were very well affected to mine old long suit, and of your own disposition offered to move the Queen in my behalf. Ever since I reckoned myself in your good favour till yesterday that I heard you had given your goodwill to another, and besides had persuaded one of my chiefest friends to be solicitor for him. My interest therein accrued out of frank almoin, and therefore I can claim no estate but during pleasure, yet I hoped, as other poor, true tenants do, not to be turned out so long as I performed my honest duties.—1 June. |
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Holograph. Endorsed :—1599. Seal. 1 p. (70. 73.) |
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Henry IV., King of France, to the Governor of Newhaven. |
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1599, June 1/11. |
Monsr. de Villars, puis qu'il a pleu a Dieu me donner la paix, par le moyen delaquelle le trafficq se remet peu a peu dedans et dehors le royaume, Je desire coupper chemin a tout ce qui le peult alterer et en empescher la seureté. Car c'est le bien et advantage de mon service et le profit de mes subjects. Et par ce qu' une des choses qui y donne aultant d'empeschement et ruineroit a la fin le dit commerce s' il n' y estoit remedié, c'est la liberté que prennent les navires et vaisseaux armez en guerre qui courrent la mer pour voler et depreder les marchants, d'entrer en mes ports et havres et y avoir acces soit pour se rafreschir ou pour executer plus commodement leurs larrecins; et desirant y pourveoir, je veux que doresnavant vous ne lassiez entrer et aborder aux ports et havres de 1' estendue de votre charge et gouvernement aucunes navires armez en guerre, de quelque nation qu' ilz soient, pour y avoir retraicte et rafreschissement, ny pour y vendre aucuns choses par eulx depreder sur mes subjects ou autres. Ce que vous ferez entendre par tout ou besoing sera affin qu' estans advertis de mon intention chacun s' y accommode et n'en pretende cause d' ignorance.—Escript au bois Mallesherbes, le xj Juin, 1599. |
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Endorsed :—“French king's lre to the Gouvernor of Newhaven.” |
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Unsigned. Copy. ½ p. (70. 92.) |
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Sir Thomas Egerton to Sir Robert Cecil. |
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1599, June 2. |
I acknowledge as a great favour the advertisement of the despatch you have received out of Ireland. I must pray your protection for a few days' sparing of me here, to prepare for the heat of the term, for so I shall think myself covered from any storm that shall fall. This barren place yieldeth me spare diet, good air, and convenient exercise, the best preservatives for my weak health.—At Pyrfourd, 2 June, 1599. |
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Holograph. Seal. ½ p. (70. 74.) |
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John Crook, Recorder of London, to Sir Robert Cecil. |
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1599, June 2. |
I was to have waited on you to have made declaration of my proceedings in the cause concerning the French Ambassador. I made known to him her Majesty's commandment to have all disorder committed toward any of his severely punished, and your honourable regard and direction which I had instantly received from you. He took in most thankful part her Majesty's most gracious respect toward him, saying he would make it known to the King, his master. I made diligent enquiry of the principal authors of the tumult, and committed divers of the neighbours that were not aiding to the suppression of it as became them, to Newgate, and detained them there till it pleased the Ambassador to desire their enlargement, and yet did respite the delivery of them but upon great bands and sureties to be further answerable to justice at her Majesty's pleasure, which hath given him very full contentment. The principal offenders being fled, I have learned their names and made out straight warrants to search and apprehend them. The fray, I do perceive, did begin between a boy of his and a butcher and brewer miscalling one another, and so more partakers came in on both sides; but it is hoped no peril of life will follow to any by reason of any hurt there received.—2 June, 1599. |
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Holograph. 1 p. (70. 75.) |
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Nicholas Hillyard to Sir Robert Cecil. |
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1599, June 2. |
This bearer, Mr. Charles Antony, graver of her Majesty's Mint, sheweth me that you have some opinion that I am a competitor with him in suit for that office wherein he hath long served, and sued to have a patent of the same. I thank you for your remembrance of me, assuring you I never spake word for that office but once to Sir Tho. Henage, who motioned it to her Majesty, and my lord your father stayed it, having given his word to this bringer. Wherefore I will not hinder him in any degree, but rather further him. I hope you will stand my friend in some other matter, which am now brought into great extremes through missing of so many suits this eight years, and never received but £40 in all that time, and for that I thank
your Honour. I think it came partly by your means at your going over ambassador into France last.—This 2 June, 1599. |
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Signed. 1 p. (70. 76.) |
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John Sedon to Sir Robert Cecil. |
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1599, June 2. |
Prays Cecil, in return for his services to the late Lord Burghley in his great sickness, to grant him cloth as a retainer, for his credit in the country where he lives.—Endorsed :—2 June, 1599. |
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1 p. (2347.) |
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Sir Edward Fitzgerald to Sir Robert Cecil. |
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1599, June 3. |
Pardon me this boldness in presuming on your favour to my cause and suit to her Majesty, attended now with some danger and extremity, as by this enclosed paper may better appear. I was enforced, through the miscarriage of the late William, Earl of Kildare, to make my repair hither to Court, having brought letters to her Majesty from the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, which as yet I have not delivered, nor presented myself to the Queen, finding no meet opportunity, which I request might be done by your means. |
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Holograph. Endorsed :—3 June, 1599. Seal. 1 p. (70. 78.) |
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The Enclosure :
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The contents of Sir Edward Fitzgerald's humble request. |
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Garratt, Earl of Kildare, having gotten certain lands by Queen Mary's time, then married to one of the ladies of her privy chamber, which lands were given to the said Earl and lady and their heirs male, with remainder to the Queen and her successors. Parcel of the which lands George Fitzgerald, father to the now Sir Edward and himself, did by great sums of money acquire of the said Earl and his son Henry, deceased, as well leases for many years to come as other lands conveyed to him and his heirs. The issue male of the said Earl being extinct by the miscarriage of the late William, the last of that line, the lands and possessions all, after the decease of the now Countess Dowager of Kildare, revert again to the Crown. Touching the lands acquired by Sir Edward Fitzgerald and his father, he humbly beseecheth her Majesty, in consideration, partly of his father's death not long since slain by rebels in her Highness's service, and of his own service likewise, to grant unto him his possessions in fee farm by gift to himself and the heirs male of his father, yielding 20 nobles rent yearly, hoping her Majesty will not advantage herself in this case against him, which would be the undoing of his estate, these being the chiefest stay and portion of his living, though now waste and despoiled by the Irish rebels during the wars. |
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Unsigned. 1 p. (70. 77.) |
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John Throgmorton to Sir Robert Cecil. |
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1599, June 3. |
Your most rightful acquitting me in these unjust and ungodly practices against me, would expect from me an acknowledgment far beyond my ability. Whatever is wanting in me, I hope you will be paid in this—my ever willingness to do you honest service. |
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Holograph. Endorsed :—3 June, 1599. Seal. 1½ pp. (70. 79.) |
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The Coinage in Devon and Cornwall. |
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1599, June 4. |
Letter to the Warden and all other her Majesty's officers for the Tin. |
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Forasmuch as the Warden, Sir W. Ralegh, Lieutenant of Cornwall, cannot make his repair down so as to be there by the day prefixed for the coinage in Devon, her Majesty hath commanded us to signify her pleasure that she would have the present time of coinage in the county of Devon deferred until 2 July, by which time the coinage in Cornwall being ended, they may both receive signification of her pleasure in Devonshire and proceed to the said coinage afterward. |
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Corrected draft in Cecil's hand. Endorsed :—“4 June, '99. . . . . . Signed by the L. Threr~, Mr. Secretary and the Lo. Chief Justice.” 1 p. (70. 80.) |
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William, Earl of Bath to Sir Robert Cecil. |
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1599, June 4. |
The bearer hereof, Thomas Bradshawe, being lately returned from Bayon, and intending to make his repair unto you concerning the conversaunce of Stanley, Duffill and Bridges at Bayon before their coming into this realm, hath prayed me to write unto you in his favour. I have the rather yielded my consent, because he had formerly discovered those persons and signified the same unto me.—From Towstocke, 4 June, 1599. |
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Signed. Seal. ½ p. (70. 81.) |
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William Stallenge to Sir Robert Cecil. |
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1599, June 5. |
This last day in the afternoon, Mr. Nicholas Slaning of Shaue [Shaugh] and Mr. John Fytes of Tavistock, with others of their consorts, upon a former quarrel, did meet about 8 miles from this town, where the said Mr. Slaning was slain by Mr. Fytes and divers others hurt. The said gentleman, as I understand, was a widower, and hath left 2 sons, the eldest of them being about 12 years old. His living is here esteemed to be so good as any gentleman's in these parts. Mr. Fytes is fled.—Plymouth, the 5 of June, 1599. |
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Holograph. Seal. ¼ p. (51. 87.) |
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The Earl of Essex's Campaign in Ireland. |
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[1599], 5 June. |
“The occurrences in the Camp from the 21st of May until the last of the same month, and continued until the 5th of June.” |
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A portion of the narrative printed in the Calendar of Careiv MSS., 1589–1600, pp. 301–304, down to the paragraph ending, “on 4th June his lordship reached Limerick where the President came to him.” |
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Undated. 5½ large pp. (139. 105.) |
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Edward Wythes to Sir Edward York. |
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1599, June 6. |
I have perused your note and think it very false in many points, and especially concerning his name, but since you desire my opinion, the truth is, there was one Grymstone of Nydd, who was executed at York of late for the maintenance of a seminary. He married the daughter of my uncle, John Wythes of Copgrave, and had divers sons by her, whereof, as I have heard, there is two or three of them beyond the seas, and I do verily think this is one of them that hath heard of his father's death and is now come in. I can with leisure give you more perfect instructions.—6 June, 1599. |
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Holograph. Addressed :—“To Sir Edward Yorke at his house at Myddleton.” ½ p. (70. 82.) |
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Sir Edw. Denney to Sir Robert Cecil. |
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1599, June 6. |
Not yet so well recovered from a long sickness that without danger I may travel, I am enforced by writing to present my suit, pressing no further for favour therein (which my Lord Burghley in my behalf hath commenced concerning my debt to her Majesty) than your good pleasure shall vouchsafe.—Written this 6 June, 1599. |
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Holograph. Seal. 1 p. (70. 83.) |
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The Earl of Nottingham to Sir Robert Cecil. |
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1599, June 6. |
It was 4 o'clock this afternoon before your letter came unto me, so as the offering of the hatchments was done 5 hours before, for all the ceremonies are done in the morning service, so as now it is not to be remedied, but there was no more done to his than to the others. Her Majesty knows well that I moved her in it, and many times heretofore I wished that it should have been taken down, for that the K. of Spain had sent her back the order, but she said he never sent it back, but I knew how it was, but it became me not to contrary her. I do assure you that the lord hath used great honour in this as I have seen. I pray let her Majesty understand that the Count Anolte was here with M. Carron and hath been honourably used, and that he is much worthy of it, for he is the most properest and the best brought up gentleman that I have ever seen of that country or of any other. I know her Majesty will like him
well, for he hath been brought up in Italy. I am sorry of your Irish news; it is an ill beginning. I am now in the great park to make sport to the Count, and so I bid you farewell.—This 6 at past 4. |
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Holograph. Endorsed :” 1599, 6 June . . . from Windsor.” Seal, 1 p. (70. 84.) |
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Nicholas Williamson to Sir Robert Cecil. |
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1599, June 6. |
Not daring to come to Court without your Honour's warrant, I presume to present a suit delivered unto me by a friend, to whom I have promised liberal dealing from you if it please you to undertake it. I have procured counsel to peruse the indenture of exchange, who assures me of the law for the Queen's recovering of the lands. The issues of the lands are thought to amount to £5,000, and twelve manors at least are included in the grant, besides the dispersed lands.—6 June, 1599. |
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Holograph. 1 p. (179. 23.) |
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The Enelosare :— |
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Edw. the 6th, in consideration of certain lands conveyed unto him in the 5th of his reign in exchange by Edw. Lord Clinton, granted to the said Lord Clinton and his heirs the manor of Knesall in Nottinghamshire and other lands in Norfolk, Lincolnshire and elsewhere. |
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Some of the lands which were to be conveyed to the King, to the value of fifty pounds a year, were not in being or ever to be found; so that the consideration failing, the grant from the King is void, (179. 24.) |
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John [Whitgift], Archbishop of Canterbury, to Lord Buckhurst. |
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1599, June 7. |
I will be ready to confer with your lordship whensoever you shall think good. I purpose to be at Lambeth to morrow, Friday. I did think that her Majesty had been resolved upon the B. of Bath and Wells, for whom she commanded me to send, which I have done accordingly.—From Croydon, 7 June, 1549. |
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Holograph. Seal. 1 p. (70. 85.) |
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Patrick Tipper, Agent of the County of Kildare, to the Queen. |
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1599, June 7. |
Prays for payment of money due for beeves and other cessments levied for the Queen's service.—Undated. |
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Note by J. Herbert that the Queen refers the matter to the Earl of Nottingham and Mr, Secretary.—7 June, 1599. 1 p. (1679.) |
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Lord Buckhurst to Sir Robert Cecil. |
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1599, June 8. |
I send you herewith the form of the agreement which I have made with Mr. Dorrell and Jolles for the provision of 2 months' victual more for 2,000 men. I pray you return the same to me this night either allowed or altered as you see cause. Thereupon I will conclude the same with them. |
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I send you also a copy of the whole 7 months' victual provided and already sent by them to Ireland, viz., for Feb.—Aug.; also a collection of the state of the victual issued and remaining, whereby you may see that of the victual provided for March—May, there is yet unspent the better half. And besides that, the whole victual for June—August remained then untouched. When my Lord shall have 2 months' victual more for 2,000 men, it is likely he shall have no want.—8 June, 1599. |
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Holograph. 2 pp. (70. 49.) |
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Enclosed :— |
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An estimate of the remains of victuals in the several magazines in Ireland provided for March—May, 1599. |
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The Commissioners named are :—Dublin, for Leinster, Robart Newcomen; Cork, for Minister, Allen Apslen; Galloway, Thomas Smith; and in Carrickfergus, John Traves. |
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Endorsed :—“24 May, 1599.” 1 p. (70. 50.) |
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Theodosia Lane to Sir Robert Cecil. |
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1599, June 8. |
I beseech you to think it no presumption in me to crave your favour, whereof I assure myself upon your promise after the decease of my best lady. My father-in-law, Sir William Lane, is visited with a grievous sickness in such sort that the physicians much doubt of his recovery. He hath, therefore, written to Sir John Stanhope to move her Majesty, that whereas of late she granted to him the receivership of the revenues of four shires in the Marches of Wales, she would be pleased to grant the same now to my husband his son; he putting in sufficient security to answer her Majesty justly and truly. Otherwise it will turn to his [Sir W. Lane's] greatest hurt, by reason of the short time he has enjoyed the office.—From my house at Charing Cross this 8 June. |
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Endorsed :—1599. Holograph. Seal. 1 p. (70. 86.) |
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Sir Henry Lee to Sir Robert Cecil. |
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1599, June 8. |
Though my occasions be small to trouble you, yet my desire is much to hear of your well doing. I could not suffer this honest gentleman to part from me without remembering my duty, and though I be old, lame, and not easily able to travel much, yet am I ready to perform my best service when you please to command me.—From Dychelee, 8 June. |
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Holograph. |
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Endorsed :—99. Seal 1 p. (70. 87.) |
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Th. Smith to Sir Robert Cecil. |
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1599, June 8. |
I make bold by my man to send you the enclosed letter, signed by such hands as you addressed me unto. Please hold me excused for staying behind some little time myself, by reason of business I have of great importance to my poor estate. I will be there as soon as I can. I sent to Mr. Dorrell for the note, and he returned me answer it would not be ready till this evening, and by this means the despatch signed doth stay.—This 9 June. |
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Holograph. Endorsed : '99. 1 p. (70. 88.) |
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Lucy, Marchioness of Winchester to Sir Robert Cecil. |
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1599, June 8. |
My Lady of Warwick lately moved Mr. Fleetwood for renewing a composition between my Lord and the base sons of my Lord Marquess, deceased, and their mother. My brother Denys, the bearer of this, was chosen to articulate an agreement, and upon conference, no conclusion accepted, but referred over by counsel of either part this term to be considered on. Presuming on your kindness towards me, and knowing Mr. Fleetwood to be an officer under you in the Court of Wards, your power may the sooner draw him and the rest to a conclusion. My request is that you would send for Mr. Fleetwood before the conference and gain his consent for reconciling all matters, on whose judgement both the mother and the children do principally refer themselves. I find my Lady of Warwick disposed to make an end for the good of my Lord, which, with your good furtherance, will more advantage us than any hope I have to relieve ourselves by course of Law.—Basing, 8th June, 1599. |
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Holograph. 1 p. (179. 25.) |
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Sir Charles Davers to the Earl of Southampton. |
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1599, June 10. |
I have been this month absent in the country on very urgent business of my own, and am newly returned within these two days. At my coming to the town I understand that the order hath been taken touching your place, the particulars whereof will come soon enough to your ears. Your friends here find her Majesty possessed with a very hard conceit, and as they doubt not but your deserts in time will be sufficient to cancel a greater displeasure, so do they wish you in the meantime not to omit to hasten the return of her favour by such means as you judge will be most pleasing to her humour. You have many friends that love you, but among those best able to do you service I fear there are few that will prove so good pleaders as your own pen. My Lord of Rutland is come over, and from the Bath, where he remains to cure himself of a swelling fallen down into his legs, hath written to the Council to know their pleasure whether he shall come up or be dismissed. The Tower and the Star Chamber
have been spoken of, but the Fleet we fear will be his punishment. My Lord of Cumberland hath been dealing with Sir Ed. Carye for Grafton, and, as Carye affirms, hath offered £500. I spoke with Mr. Chamberlen and let him know your desire to have it. He fears the place will not yield you sufficient commodity of wood for the maintenance of such a house as you must keep. Notwithstanding, I have dealt with my mother to stay the sale till I understand what you will have done, but if you list to defer it you may possess my Lord of Essex beforehand, without whose consent I think no man will undertake to buy it. I find Sir R. Sydney willing to be rid of his government, and desirous that you should have the offer of it before all others. Sir Ed. Stafford, Sir Jo. Stanhope and D. Harbert are named to the Chancellorship of the Duchy, and Sir W. Eauley to be Vice Chancellor. The Earl of Hanno, who married one of the Prince of Orange's daughters, is come over privately to see England, and was this day very graciously entertained by the Queen. The Spaniards are retired from before Bomell, but are still lodged within a mile, with purpose, as it is thought, to divide their army, and with one part to besiege Huseden [Heusden] or Breda, and thereby make a diversion of the States' forces, that with the other part they may carry Bomell the more easily. A progress is appointed to begin thet 12 of July to Wimbledon, and so through part of Surrey and Hampshire to Windsor.—From London, 10 June, 1599. |
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Holograph. 2 seals. 2½ pp. (70. 89.) |
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Writ-serving at Totteridge. |
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1599, June 10. |
Sunday, 10 June, 1599, Richard Paulfreyman and George Harryson, having a writ from the High Sheriff of Hertford, accompanied with William Brystowe, did repair unto a town near to Barnett called Totrich, to serve upon one Robert Mabbe a writ of outlawry. Knowing that he was in the parish church at time of service before noon, they did attend the end of the service to have taken him coming from the church. But Mabbe, doubting of his estate, acquainted his neighbours of his fear, and in coming out of the church was guarded with one Richard Cage and one other, as I think, his man, and behind near unto him 4 others, and after them 20 others at the least. When one of the parties approached to have arrested him, young Cage and his man drew their daggers upon him, and they and many others laid hands on him and offered to stab him, and tare his cloak and the band from his neck, and cried out to Mabbe, “Now run, run, and make shift for thyself.” With that Richard Paulfreyman made such haste as he could and drew his rapier to give succour, but John Cage the elder, himself the constable of the town, and the rest of the townsmen wrested from him his rapier and threatened to stab him, notwithstanding they certified them all it was at her Majesty's suit. |
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Unsigned. 1 p. (70. 91.) |
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Roman Catholics in England. |
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1599, June 10/20 |
Letter of permission from Brother Gerard Jacean of the order of Minors, to Friar Henry Collier, priest, to go over to England and promote the Catholic cause there, subject to the rules and regulations of his order.—From the convent at Brussels, 20 June, 1599. Signed, Fr. Gerardus Jaceanus. |
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Holograph. Seal. Latin. ½ p. (70. 105.) |
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[See Cal. of S.P. Dom., Eliz., pp. 226, 254.] |
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Dr. Jegon, Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University, to Sir R. Cecil. |
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1599, June 11. |
At my coming from London I did forbear to pray your pleasure concerning preachers to be nominated for the County of Lancaster, thinking to have conferred here first with Dr. Clayton, and whereas he is still from home, to whom you referred jointly the nomination of the men, advisedly I have resolved to present to your wisdom one Mr. Richard Stockdall, B.D., Fellow of Caius College in Cambridge, and a man of very good esteem among us, both for preaching and discretion, who is willing to sort himself to this course. So it may please you to assist him in retaining his fellowship for a time, till he hath made some trial of the place, ready to preach now at the Savoy, where he hath some times preached before, or at St. Clement's, the church of Dr. Webster, or where it shall please you to have trial made of his gifts and sufficiency. Furthermore, it may please you to vouchsafe us your countenance in joining yourself in the commission of the peace with us of this body, as the Earl of Leicester and other our High Stewards have usually done, and to make known your pleasure to the Lord Keeper, whom it pleaseth to renew the commission, and to insert the Earl of Essex, our Chancellor, and some others.—Cambridge, this 11 June, 1599. |
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Siqned. 1 p. (136. 74.) |
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The Bailiffs and others of Colchester to Sir Robert Cecil. |
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1599, June 13. |
According to the direction in our late suit returned us from your Honour, we have agreed upon a petition to her Majesty's Privy Council. We beseech your furtherance to obtain a mitigation of the burdensome charge of armour and men now imposed upon us. There be in this whole division 116 parishes, and upon the same is allotted 1,000 armours and men, which is under the rate of 10 in every parish. And albeit Wyttham hundred, being a chief member thereof and containing in itself 16 parishes both very populous and rich, and by that proportion should send about 160 armours and men, yet notwithstanding the separation of the same from the division, the whole number is still laid upon the residue. The town of
Colchester (having but 16 small parishes, inhabited with, for the most part, very poor Dutchmen, handicrafts and labouring men) is charged with more than 100 men and armours above the due proportion, viz., with 260 men instead of 160.—Prom Colchester, 13 June, 1599. |
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Signed : Richard Symnell, Robt. Wade, Bailiffs; Eobt. Mott, John Bird, Marten Bessell, Thomas Raynes, Thomas Hecford, Henry Osborne. |
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Seal. 1 p. (70. 93.) |
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Francis Barneby's Confession. |
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1599, June 13. |
At the Marshalsea, 13 June, 1599. Francis Barneby of Yorkshire, 22 years of age, of personage tall and slender, fair complexion with a fresh colour, his hair reddish, no beard, confesseth :—That he came out of Borne, 8 April, 1599; hath been 8 years beyond the seas, and was of the English college at Rome, where he was made priest before Christmas last; before coming from Rome he spake with the Pope and kissed his foot; the Pope said he would pray for him for he went about an apostolical work; the Pope gave orders he should have 50 crowns for his viaticum; Parsons propounded to have his book of succession read in the English college; and in conference with Barneby told him he inte [nded] to meet with the Infanta and the Archduke at Milan upon [their] return, and would come along with her into the Low Cou[ntries]. |
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A note of Jesuits, priests and students in the college at Rome, 1599. |
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Jesuits |
Father Robert Parsons. |
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” Thomas Owyn. |
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” Harris. |
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” Tichborne. |
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” Medcalfe. |
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” Ellis. |
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Lay Brethren |
Gervas Poole, priest. |
Frauncis Zeland. |
Gouldby. |
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Mr. Madder. |
John Hyde. |
Palmer. |
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” Owlde. |
Thomas Vahame. |
Willson. |
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” Grandye. |
Conyers. |
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” Leake. |
William Nuttry. |
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” Harrison. |
Henry Walker. |
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” Smythe. |
Thomas Robinson. |
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” Feilde. |
Robert Turner. |
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” Flynte. |
William Jennings. |
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” Erasmus. |
John Frauncis. |
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” Humpton. |
Nicholas Thwynge. |
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” Savill. |
Worthington. |
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” Alabaster. |
Colyer. |
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” Fynchame. |
Frauncis Kirkeman. |
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Floyde. |
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Corneforthe. |
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Marlebury. |
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Unsigned, 1 p. (70. 94.) |
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Edward Seymour to Sir Robert Cecil. |
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1599, June 14. |
One Nicholas Bugans, merchant, dwelling in Totnes, is lately come from Spain, whose examination I have sent your Honour hereinclosed.—From Berrye Castell, 14 June, 1599. |
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Holograph. Seal. ½ p. (70. 95.) |
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Enclosed :—Examination of Nicholas Bugans, taken before Edward Seymour, 14 June, 1599. |
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Saith he hath been in Spain ever since the king made his last stay of the Flemish shipping, and abode most in St. Lucas; left there 1st May last in a French ship; landed in Brittany and there stayed some 15 days, and thence came in a ship of Dartmouth, arriving there the 11th of this month. Saith also the king's force at his coming out of Spain urns not great, but such as follows : At St. Lucas, 50 ships; at Cales, 40 ships; and 50 galleys out of the Strait daily expected; and 6,000 soldiers in St. Lucas and Cales ready to be shipped. The shipping could not be ready to put to sea till about this time at the nearest. And it was given out that it was prepared only to resist the Flemish fleet. The king makes great preparation against next year, as well of his own as from others, namely out of Italy, and from Biscay 30 sail of galleons furnished for 8 months at the charge of the merchants there, to be ready by the last of March next. 16 or 18 galleons, moreover, went from St. Lucas in January last for the conducting of the Indian fleet, which they expect will arrive in Spain in Nov. or Dec. next. There is also another fleet of merchants bound for the Indies in July next. Lastly, the sickness hath been so violent in Lisbon that a third of the people are dead, and it began to be very hot in Seville and had already entered into Madrid. |
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Signed :—Edw. Seymour. 1 p. (70. 96.) |
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Edmund Standen to Sir Robert Cecil. |
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1599, June 14. |
In that your Honour vouchsafed of late to cause your coach to be stayed and speak to my wife and poor self, I presume now to render our lowly thanks therefor, and will ever be ready to do any dutiful office I may. |
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And so would now (the poor place I serve requiring it) inform you of some points meet to be reformed in Escheator's doings, and some other matters proper to be known to you as Master of the Court of Wards.—14 June, '99. |
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Signed, 1 p. (179. 26.) |
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Thomas Arundell to Sir Robert Cecil. |
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1599, June 15. |
Commending Mr. Thimblethorp. He desires to serve you, as he did your father, as a retainer. He is a gentleman of Norfolk, well known to me, and a pretty lawyer.—Prom my lodging in Holbourne, 15th June. |
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Signed. Seal. 1 p. (52. 18.) |
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— to — |
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1599, June 15. |
I have written often unto you, but it seemeth it came not to your hands. I desire to live in quiet with all men, especially cum domesticis fidei, but I cannot obtain so much. When Doctor Bagshaw was sent for as guilty with the assassins suborned in Spain to kill her Majesty, I was put in amongst them, and this last week I was admonished of a warrant to fetch me up for the “Book of Titles” whereof I was accused, but letters were intercepted above a year ago containing my mislike and condemnation of the book, which happily delivered me from peril at this time. Not three days before our first trouble we had received letters full of gall from Mr. B [lackwell], unjustly charging us with great disobedience and contempt of his authority, to whom we made answer that since we knew not his authority to be other than subreptive, we appealed formally to the supreme power, yet as though all that is past were nothing, no peril nor trouble in the realm, Car[dinal] Cajet[an], by the instigation of F[ather] P[arsons], hath written to the archpriest and to his 12 consultours 12 letters, willing them viriliter to go forward and subdue all the priests of this realm to the new authority, and those that will not subscribe, to signify to him in Rome their names, that he may be revenged of them. He doth unto us as Phormio did before Hannibal, read de re militari before him that was master of all chivalry. We are soldiers that in these whole wars have been in the forefront and should know more perfectly than he what is expedient for England. Currebamus bene, cur nos impedit. We were towards peace with our Prince; why doth he provoke her sword against innocents by bringing into the realm novelties not only against the late parliamental laws, but also the fundamental catholic laws of our country established 300 years ago? As in France they have their Pragmatica, in Spain their Concordata, so we have the Præmunire, before which law all the country was full of troubles, the bishops bearded in their own chairs by clerks that came from Rome with privileges, preventions, donations and exemptions; the great lords lost jus patronatus by preventions, so that learning decayed, the churches were without pastors, ruinous and dilapidate, until the law was made in magnum reip. bonum, as Polidore Vergil saith. If a bishop do come in jure divino without my consent, without peril of præmunire he may preach and minister sacraments, so he take no title to any bishopric in the realm, nor challenge external jurisdiction, and men may without any peril converse with him as with any other priest, saving only the peril of the later laws. But this other obtruded authority is conjoined with matters of state in the highest degree. |
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The same men that procured the last tragedy of killing her Majesty wrought this new office at the same time. This kingdom hath been put to sale three times to three divers nations within 16 years. First unto the Scot, as appeareth by the book called “Greenecoate,” made against the Earl of
Leicester, where the author laboureth to prove the Scot coming lineally from renowned Henry VII. is in remainder to her Majesty, and that diversity of religion should not hinder succession. But finding cold entertainment in the North, he saileth over into the East, and conceiveth another book and a better title for Alexander of Parma, whose son Eenutius was bv the House of Portugal right Duke of Lancaster and King of England, so that if he would take Lady Arbella to wife, there remained no more but to defeat the great Armado coming from Spain in '88 and all should be his. But whereas Parma durst not or could not effect the desire of this great merchant, and finding that Cardinal Alane was now dead, who was like to hinder this sale, he chanteth a third sonnet, Deus ex austro veniet et dominus de monte Pharan, cashiers the Scot for a wrangler and Parma for a drawlatch, setteth out a third sale, not to the King of Spain but to the Lady Clara Eugenia Isabella his daughter, who is Queen of England almost ever since the Conquest : as for Henry VII. and all his posterity, they were but usurpers. So our profession and religion is brought to a temporal quarrel, and this kingdom must no more be called regnum Britannicum but regnum Jesuiticum, which is the only scope of our archpresbitery. If we, the secular priests, had required any such over us, reason good that we should obey it, but whereas the Jesuits, to further their own designments, have suborned a demi-Jesuit to creep fraudulently unto the Pope in the names of us secular priests, there is no law divine or human that can bind us, unless it were “Lidforde law,” that will first hang a man and return a jury of 12 men to try his cause. What but their insolent challenge to the whole realm was the cause of all the hard laws and edicts made to the undoing and death of so many Catholics? The archpriest will fly from us into Spain, as Persons did heretofore, and laugh at our miseries, and if any of the priests of the seminaries do offend them, procure secretly their despatch for England under colour of an honourable mission, but when the poor souls are near to enter, he will cause their faculties to be revoked, and so infamy shall enter into the land before them, as Persons dealt with the eight which came last from Rome. And if I had not a copy of his letters written from Borne to his copes-mates in Spain to testify this, I durst not thus write of him. Consider therefore the depth and peril of the assassins lately suborned. Her Majesty and Essex on the one part were in their warrant to be despatched, on the other side D[octor] B[agshaw], with some few other poor priests, seemed to stand in their way; these being done away with, the realm had been without guides, the Scots would have entered with no small power, and the party vanquished would have called in the Spanish army from Flanders, and so bring all into the issue designed in the “Book of Titles.” Then Mr. Bl[ackwell] must have resigned his cap and pall to Persons, as Perkin Warbecke should have yielded England to the young Earl of Warwick then in the Tower of London, not once thought of but only of the Duchess of Burgundy who devised the
plot. Wherefore, the premises deeply considered, I would gladly learn whether we are bound to admit these novelties before we hear from his Holiness truly informed of all things, as we hope by our messengers he is. Secondly, whether, having appealed, anything may be done against us before the appellation be either allowed or disallowed. Thirdly, whether these canons briefly quoted do not altogether disannul this obtruded authority. Thus as heretofore premising of your friendship, wisdom and counsel, I have opened myself boldly, most desirous to know your mind and judgment. |
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Holograph. Endorsed by Cecil :—“15 June '99. A letter brought me by Mr. Wade.” |
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Unsigned. 2¼ pp. (70. 102.) |
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Sir George Carew. to the Earl of Nottingham and Sir Robert Cecil. |
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1599, June 15. |
Immediately after the departure of the Earl of Essex for Ireland I procured from your Lordship and the other commissioners of the Ordnance a commission to take the remainder of the munitions in store, fearing that owing to the service of Ireland the defect would be great. I now enclose a list of the things needful, without which no ship can be fitted for sea or any army march.—“Mynorits,” 15 June, 1599. |
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Signed. Seal. 1 p. (179. 27.) |
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Enclosure :— |
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A note of certain principal munitions remaining in store, which presently are needful to be supplied and will require some reasonable time in providing. Powder, match, long pikes, short pikes, muskets, calivers, cordage, timber planks, naves, felloes, spokes. (179. 28.) |
