Border Papers volume 1: October 1590

689. Acrigge to Hunsdon. [Oct. 20]

Reporting that he has taken order for the immediate repair of the "gaithouse" at Norham, under the rate of 20l, as commanded—and the "newe gaite" will be done within 10 days. With respect to needful repairs at Berwick—as the days are short, the weather uncertain, and the season of year not good, while most of the workmen there are slow and slack in their duty, he recommends that nothing of effect should be done before March, by which time his estimate of these will be forwarded. Berwick. Signed: Will^m Acrigge.

1 p. Addressed. Indorsed. Wafer signet: a chevron engrailed between three towers, 2 and 1; "W.A." at sides.

690. Bowes to Burghley. [Oct. 24.]

"In the poscript of your lordshipes lettre of the vj^th hereof, I perceive that her Majestie in no wise will accept of myne offers for morgaging of my manour of Aske and my salt workes—saieng that I ought to sell outright somewhat to make present pay to the garrison, for otherwise the garrison may not live without present paye—and that her Majestie hathe so muche to do with monie, as she will not imprest any. Wherein I find your lordship most sorie that you can not remedie this my hard case. That I might take spedie and full order in these behalfes for her Majestes contentment and th'accomplishment of my duetie, I have called hither to me my sonne Raufe Bowes, who upon my conference with him, is readie ather to assure any part of th'inheritance of his wife, for the suertie of payment of suche imprest as should please her Majestie to vouchsafe to let me have for satisfaccion of the garrison (which landes and assurances wilbe founde verie sufficient for the sowme required),—or otherwise if her Majestie please not to imprest any monie for this use, that then he will sell outright for me (according to her Majesties mynde therein) landes of the yearlie value of c^li, wherein before this he assaied with good deligence to make sale thereof for this purpose: but my necessitie constrayning him to sell these landes is so well knowne, and putteth every purchaser in hope to have the bargane at so lowe rate, as he can not finde any man willing to give him the half value, or to agree to any assurances, other then suche as shall overthrow him self his wife and children, by the bondes to be made for the conveyance of these landes, so chardging him self, wife, and all their other inheritance, as afterwardes they can never safelie dispose of any part of their possessions, to the extreme prejudice of them selves, and all the issues coming of them. The somme also to be thus levied at this rate will not suffice to satisfie the garrison—so as it exceedeth my powre to give due and reasonable satisfaccion as I wold and ought to do, unleast it might please her Majestie in some degree to releive me. Wherein I dare not adventure to offend her Majestie any further with any sute, but rather in my poore and miserable estate, to yeald my life to her Majesties will, my libertie to be limitted, and my possessions to be disposed, as shall please her Majestie to determyne. Wishing with my wholle hart, that all these or any of them to be chosen at her Majesties pleasure, may pacifie her Majesties just displeasure against me, and give satisfaccion to the garrison, whom I have never wronged otherwise then in this sort, onelie by my povertie, growen by th'accidentes knowne to your lordship and others; and whereupon I do with all humilitie yeald to end my life in povertie, as shall in all thinges please her Majestie to dispose of me. I do most humblie thanck your lordship for the great care and good will that your lordship hathe to remedie my hard case, wherein my servant Cristofer Sheperson can informe your lordship of some meane thought of, and readiest with least hurt to her Majesties coffers, to work the satisfaccion of the garrison and my releif, this I commend to your lordships consideracion, to be moved or suppressed as your lordship thincketh best." By my former letter I asked your help in payment of what is due me to Michaelmas last, in this present service, also for an imprest of 200l., if it pleases her Majesty to continue me here. My servant thinks your view is I should ask nothing from her Majesty while in her debt, in which I concur, and will serve as she pleases, leaving the "sommes growing due to me" to answer such amount as her Majesty will imprest to me. But for what is now due, which I have assigned to certain Scottish creditors, I earnestly beg your lordship to let me have it, and your mind as to the other sums hereafter to fall due to me.

According to your letter of 30^th ultimo, I have sent M^r Vernon my acquittances for the money now to be received for the pay at Berwick from the receivers of York, Lincoln and Durham, and will see him satisfied in all ways.

I beseech your lordship to hear the cause between George Nicolson my servant and John Laiton, for the lands of East Laiton in the county of York, depending in Exchequer, and much concerning myself—which I trust shall be so clear in Nicolson's favour, as to be easily determined by the court, according to justice measured by your lordship and the others. Edinburgh. Signed: Robert Bowes.

2 pp. Addressed. Indorsed. Wafer signet as before.

691. Bothwell to Burghley. [Oct. 29. 1590.]

Being informed that Sir Cuthbert Collingwood has been complained of to her Majesty and council, of stopping all redress by the wardens on the Borders, I thought it needful to let you understand, that his honour is noways in fault, but that he could not have mutual justice of 8 or 10 attempts done, wherin I was commanded by the King, the last of which, a bill of Titlington, has been therefore amended by me. And I can assure you there was no hindrance of justice on his part, and commend him to your favourable courtesy. Off Kelso. Signed: Bothuell.

1 p. Addressed. Indorsed.

692. Woddryngton and others to Hunsdon. [Oct. 30.]

On completing the first half year's pay here, to prevent the garrison conceiving any doubt of the coming of the two years' pay (as was very likely when they saw the half year's pay coming first), we caused the trumpets and drums to sound about the town, declaring to the garrison, town and country, both her Majestys bountiful care, and your lordships' great good will towards them, also promising you would hasten the arrears with all possible speed,—which put them in great hope of a full settlement very shortly. But the delay since makes them despair of its coming at all. So that unless we had stayed them by persuasions, the whole, including our companies, would have joined in a complaint to her Majesty, and will do so if present comfort do not come. Considering the poverty of this town and county round, who have given so long credit to the garrison, "the generall crye wherof is petifull to be hearde," as also our discredit with our companies, we humbly beg your lordship to be a mean to her Majesty that this poor garrison may be paid as promised. Berwick. Signed: Henry Woddryngton, Wyllyam Reed, Jhon Selbye, Edward Woode, Rychard Pyckman, Wyll^m Walker, Rychard Haynes, Robart Carvill.

2 pp. Addressed. Indorsed: "M^r Marishall and the captens, about the two yeares paye behynde." Wafer signet: a bull's head and neck affronté. Legend: "H. Woddrington. Foy sans fine."

693. Petition to Burghley. [1590. Oct. .]

The "poore garrisone" of Berwick beseech him to be a mean that the "remayne of the two yeares paye, viz., for annis 1588 and 1589 may be had," the want of which has nearly undone them, as also the town and country about, who have given them long credit in hope of its speedy arrival—referring farther details to the bearers. Signed: Henry Woddryngton, Jhon Selbye, William Carey, John Fennick, Ector Woodrington.

1 p. Addressed. Indorsed.