Pages 29-32
Analytical Index to the Series of Records Known as the Remembrancia 1579-1664. Originally published by EJ Francis, London, 1878.
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Books.
I. 62. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord Mayor,
informing him that there had been of late printed and published
within the City a certain libel entitled 'A Discovery of the Gaping
Gulf,' &c. (fn. 1) wherein the author had not only very contemptuously
intermeddled in matters of estate touching Her Majesty's Person, but
had also uttered certain things to the dishonour of the Duke of
Anjou, (fn. 2) brother to the French King, the intention evidently being
to cause a suspicion of Her Majesty's actions, as tending to the prejudice of the realm and the subversion of the estate of true religion;
and directing him, attended by the Aldermen and Sheriffs, to publish
the Proclamation issued by Her Majesty upon the subject, in the
accustomed places; and also to call before him the Masters,
Governors, and Wardens of the several Companies, and in Her
Majesty's name command them to assemble in their several Halls
the members of their Company, and to have the proclamation openly
read and published; and to charge all persons having copies of such
books to bring in the same, to be delivered to the Lord Mayor with
the names of the parties, and the manner how they came into their
possession, except in cases where any person should willingly bring in
the same themselves to be destroyed, according to the Proclamation,
and to certify to the Council the particulars of each case, in order that
steps might be taken to punish those found culpable.
Dated from Giddyhall, (fn. 3) 27th September, 1579.
[Vide"Provisions," Vol. I., No. 66.]
I. 98. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lord Bishop of
London, (fn. 4) enclosing a copy of a letter, with a copy of a printed pamphlet sent to Mr. Levesey, a justice of the peace for Surrey, by Mr. John
Newman, a Papist; by which letter it appeared that the writer had
absented himself from England, and had travelled in foreign parts and
Rome for Papistry, which he called "Truth oppressed and driven into
corners." As the matter concerned religious doctrine, it had been
thought better to forward the document to be dealt with by Her
Majesty's Commissioners for Ecclesiastical Causes. In the mean time
order had been taken by the Wardens of the Stationers' Company,
that both the printer and the persons from whom he received the
pamphlet might be forthcoming.
10th June, 1580.
I. 450. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lords of the Council,
acknowledging the receipt of their instructions to apprehend and
examine two of the inhabitants of the City, William Humberston
and Robert Foster, touching the shipping of a dry-fat (fn. 5) of books
from London to Calais, under the colour of worsted yarn, and stating
that he had immediately appointed Mr. Alderman Webbe (fn. 6) and Mr.
Norton, together with Mr. Town Clerk, (fn. 7) to make search for Humberston
in Buttolph Lane; and Mr. Alderman Martin, with Mr. Norton, to
search for Foster in Paternoster Row. Humberston had been apprehended; but Foster could not be found. Humberston, who had been
examined, denied the charge, although his servant Hutton stated to
the contrary, that he had directed the shipment of the books. In
searching his counting-house, certain suspicious letters had been found:
one written on the 12th of December, from one Beake, whom Humberston stated to be a prisoner at Canterbury for Papistry, to send him
such Popish books, and making special mention of Mr. Kirkham, from
whom this dry-fat of books came. This letter, with the others and his
examination, had been forwarded for the information of their Lordships. Humberston remained a close prisoner in Newgate until their
further pleasure should be made known.
5th December, 1582.
I. 453. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord Mayor,
informing him that there had been intercepted at the sea-coast a
certain drifat full of Popish and superstitious books, directed, under
the pretence of a barrel of worsted yarn, to certain inhabitants of
the City, and requiring him in the most secret manner to send for
Mr. Norton and some others whom he could trust, and to give orders
to them, with the assistance of the Alderman's Deputy of the Ward,
or the constable or officers, to enter at one instant into both their
houses and to apprehend and commit them to close custody, without
their having conference with any one until they had been examined
and their houses searched; the parties should be afterwards examined
touching the sending of anything to fugitives beyond seas, or receiving
anything from them, and to ascertain from whom the said books had
been sent, and to whom they should have been delivered. Certificate
to be made to the Council of the steps taken to carry out these
instructions.
30th December, 1582.
II. 327. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lords of the
Council, concerning a search to be made for some persons about the
City, busied in translating a scandalous book against the State, and
reporting the capture of two books which were sent, sealed up in a
canvas bag, for their inspection The books were entitled 'Elizabethœ
Angliœ Reginœ,' &c., 'Sœvissimum in Catholicos Edictum,' &c., with a
translation in twenty-three double sheets of paper, written; also
"Cartewrights" in English, and a Genealogie of the King's Majesty,
and a written treatise. The two men apprehended were called
William Rustate and William Valence, the translator, who had been
committed to prison until their Lordship's pleasure should be known.
14th August, 1608.
IV. 8. Letter from E. Morley (fn. 8) to the Lord Mayor, informing
him that the King, having caused to be compiled a book for the
breeding of youth in their due allegiance, entitled 'God and the King,' (fn. 9)
had committed the sole dispersing of it to his care, and requesting
the Lord Mayor's assistance within his jurisdiction.
Dated Step: 4th January, 1615.