Calendar of the Cecil Papers in Hatfield House: Volume 14, Addenda. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1923.
This free content was digitised by double rekeying. All rights reserved.
'Cecil Papers: March 1602', in Calendar of the Cecil Papers in Hatfield House: Volume 14, Addenda, (London, 1923) pp. 210-214. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-cecil-papers/vol14/pp210-214 [accessed 12 April 2024]
March 1602
| Captain Ridgway to Sir Robert Cecil. | |
| 1601–2, March 5. | There have been few occurrences since his last letters, for the enemy and they lie exceeding quietly. Gives details of the great damage done to the fortifications by the tempest of the 23 and 24 February. Ten days' battery on all parts of the town could not have hurt it more than these three tempestuous tides. On the 1st. inst. there came before Ostend 50 ships, with men and provisions needful, whereupon the enemy, thinking the ships would come into the haven at night, brought a cable to chain up the haven, and so to cast away all shipping that should come in; but they discovered it and cut the cable, and so their plot proved nothing. "His Excellency and the States have sent for our General to the Hague; and all we English expect but wind and ships to carry us to garrison, for our relief is come."—Ostend, March 5, 1602, stilo novo. |
| Endorsed:—"March 5, 1601. Captain Ridgway to my Mr." In another hand: "Captain Wigmoor, Captain Enfield, Sir Ch. Blunt, Sir Oliver St. John, Sir Ric. Morrison, Sir John Scott." 1 p. (98. 21.) | |
| Scotch News. | |
| 1601–2, March 12. | Hearing of your remaining by South till this present hath caused me to surcease, not knowing how to send the occurrences. The landing of the Spanish forces in Ireland caused great admiring here, most men hoping and expecting their good success. The King standing and looking on did carry always a fair show towards England. The Catholic lords and the Spanish faction received no small hope, in the meantime combining themselves together. Now hearing of the bad success of their friends' affairs, they are frustrate of that hope. The King took his journey to Dumfrise the 22 February to apprehend certain papists that is discovered in those parts. The queen was brought to bed of her third son the 18th January and [it] remains yet unbaptized. There hath within this half-year an intercourse been entertained between the King and Sir Robert Cissell, and yet his Majesty privately speaks and thinks as hardly of him as heretofore. There was of late a libel found in the King's bed which did mightily inveigh against the Cissell's government in England and against the sending of the 2000 Scots Irish [sic] that was pretended to have been sent into the North of Ireland to serve against Twrown (Tyrone), with very vehement persuasions to the King that it would better become him to invade than assist because the country of right belonged to him; which resolution of the King is broken off because the Spaniard is dispersed. The Earl of Twrown is rumoured to be in great distress and hath taken a castle with a few with him in the North called the Shannon; Sir Edward Dockry with the Queen's forces is besieging him, so there is good hope he cannot hold out long. It is in motion that at the King's retreat from his journey [remainder of the page cut off; the writer continues] Mr. James Hamilton, the King's agent, is returned from England 2 months since and keeps house here in Edinbrowgh with his wife, Alice Penicwck, who for ought I can learn doth carry herself very modestly towards her husband and neighbours. Mr. David Fowlls was employed as agent since but hath returned, so the king hath none there now. The Scots begin to ride on both the Wardenries, it is to be doubted that there will hold no good correspondence betwixt Sir John Carree and the Lord of Roxbrowghe, yet daily day truce and meetings and great interchange of good speeches but no performance. Sir George Hewm continueth in special credit with the King. He made him Treasurer of late and discharged Sir James Elpheston. The emulation between the King and the ministers continues. Mr. Robert Brwee hath obtained leave to come home, but can be neither admitted to come to the King's presence nor to preach. There is no more love betwixt him and them as yet than between St. Peter and the poor.—From Edinbrowghe, 12 March, 1602. |
|
[P.S. in another hand]. I hope you will peruse this whole
letter and timely bethink yourself whether you or poor I be the
most beholden to them that speak us fair and love us not.—
T. Duresm. (fn. 1) Endorsed:—Ab ignoto. From Dureym concerning the affair in Scotland and the discontentment. Holograph. Unsigned. 2 pp. (92. 21.) |
|
| Scotch News. | |
| 1601–2. March 13. |
I deferred to write being resolved long
ere this to have seen you, but my purpose being crossed by my
friend who now is advanced to the office of Treasurer, I am
compelled to alter my resolution. Finding Mr. Louther's
servant, this bearer, coming towards you I could do no less
than send you this short letter. I delivered your desire to your
nephew Mr. Richard, who has assured me that he has performed
it. I have also withholden Abimilek Heich from taking any
other course but to come to serve you. If he continues in that
mind, I will either bring or send him to you. I am loth to write
the secrets of our estate which can profit neither of us, and
therefore I remit them to better occasion. Your nephew, Mr.
Thomas Cranstone has gotten his port now at his house of
Malistone so that of our unlucky society I am last destitute
of all comfort. My competitor, the Controller, with some others,
rules our whole country and court. The nobility are now their
followers: there is great quietness. His Majesty has been of
late in the West Borders, has pacified a great trouble betwixt
the Lord Maynell and the laird of Johnstone, and all men have
submitted themselves to him. The Lord Maynell shall not
come within the Wardenry. The maister of Herres is warded
in Newbottell. Young Lowchinwar "enterit" in Edinbrugh
Castle. The Armstranges given in pledges these excepted,
the slayers of Carmichell. So his Majesty has prevented an
imminent disorder. The King is to baptise his third son if
this visitation at Edinburgh, Glasco and other parts impede
it not. The Earl of Angus shall be graced with the title of
Marquis, to little purpose. The Earl of Mar has bought the
lordship of Simmerwell, the only nobleman whose affairs and
houses is most in respect now. His Majesty is to remove all
the "warrances" in Scotland, and to begin to take first
away the feared, being Huntlie and Murra, and thereafter to
proceed with the rest, till he have left none. My writing to
you is to small purpose, for I never receive answer again; and
if you should I can see no way by which you can pleasure or
comfort me, for Sir George's credit here has quite quenched
their pity with you; and I see your own service smally
regarded. My Lord Daliers has gotten from his Majesty 2,000l.
Scottish by year, and Harry Leich as much. I delivered a book
to Harry Purwais to be sent to my wife; I neither hear of the
book nor from him. Let him tell the bearer what he has done
with it. You were pleased to grant me your right to the silver
contained in the charter of Tailye. If you think meet I will
make it in form and bring it at my coming.—13 March, 1602. Add.—"To ye very honorable Mr. Archinbald Douglas at Maister Harvass in Lym streitt." Holograph. 1 p. (92. 30.) |
| George Nicholson to Sir Robert Cecil. | |
| 1601–2. March 15. |
For this estate I can give you nothing
but good, the good health of the King and Queen and their
children and their good agreeances. The Oglevies and Lyndsaies are agreed among themselves and so saved the King's
intended travel therein. The next will be the Cuninghams
and Mugouwries for the late Earl of Eglinton's slaughter. For
Crawford and Glames the King will end it, the Lord Glames
having cast his part into the King's hands to do as he pleases
for him and Maxwell; and Johnson's agreement is then meant
to [be] wrought, when the King can get time. On Friday the
hunting match holds and the next week the King goes and carries
the Fr[ench] amb[assador] into the North with him, and the
Queen to Dalkeith as before I wrote. The Lord Treasurer
hath shewed me that the King's occasions will be such
this year for reducing his isles to his full obedience,
as he will need her Majesty's favour, and would desire that at
midsummer he might receive the whole gratuity for that time
and Christmas beforehand. The King said not much himself
to me, but prayed me to confer with the Treasurer, whom he had
appointed to shew his mind therein. If your Honour remember
there is in Mr. Walter Mowbraie's and John Anderson's
excommunications mention made of an Italian (Corsini) that
should have come to Fra. Mowbray and hither with money,
anent whom was the letters of Mr. Hudson's that came by your
convoy the 7 hereof—this Italian and his coffers are this night
taken, the King tells me. If he discovers anything of moment
he shall either give it to me to write or send it himself to her
Majesty.—Edinburgh, 15 March, 1602. Holograph. Seal. 1 p. (92. 372.) |
| Thomas Hesketh, Attorney of the Court of Wards, to Sir Robert Cecil, Master of the Court. | |
| [?Eliz. or Jas. I.] [After 15 March, 1601–2] |
As to the lands
of the late Robert Sefton, in Hawerden, Yerclare, and Mancote,
Flint, and Mallington &c., Cheshire; which are concealed by
the heir, Robert Kirkes, and others. He prays that Sefton,
Kirkes and the rest may be commanded to appear to answer
the premises.—Undated. Draft. 2 pp. (214. 48.) |
| George Nicolson to Sir Robert Cecil. | |
| 1601–2. March 19. |
My Lord Ambassador here hath sent
me the enclosed packet to my Lord Ambassador of France.
Yesterday the hunting match was run and Mr. Lepton's horse
won, the King being at it. The accustomed musters of the
King's household should have been this week, but are put off;
likewise the King's journey north is like to be deferred and
turned only to a Stirling journey to see the young prince. The
Archduke's messenger Nicholas Cossina, before the Treasurer
Sir Thomas and Lord of Kinlosse, not knowing them,
enquired for the Treasurer and Sir George Hume as if they had
been two persons, saying he had a commission to them, and did
the like for Sir Thomas Erskin saying also he had a commission
to him from the Archduke, which was to commend him to him
and pray him send the Archduke a pair of Scotch pistols. He is
to-morrow to have presence of the King, who will acquaint her
Majesty if there be aught. The Laird of Spott (James Dowglas)
is now the King's subject and agreed with the Treasurer.—
Edinburgh, 19 March, 1602. Holograph. Seal. 1 p. (92. 47.) |