Cecil Papers: March 1610

Calendar of the Cecil Papers in Hatfield House: Volume 21, 1609-1612. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1970.

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'Cecil Papers: March 1610', in Calendar of the Cecil Papers in Hatfield House: Volume 21, 1609-1612, (London, 1970) pp. 206-210. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-cecil-papers/vol21/pp206-210 [accessed 17 March 2024]

March 1610

T[homas] Mewtus to the Earl of Salisbury
1609–10, March 3. I thank you for your last letters to the States and Ambassadors in my behalf for the standing of my company, if the truce chance to go forward. Yet some great personages amongst us feed themselves with an opinion to the contrary; and for my own part, so it prejudice not our State, I wish with all my heart that they were together by the ears again as soundly as ever they were. Hage, 3 of March, 1609.
Holograph 1 p. (127 8)
Sir Anthony Ashley to the Earl of Salisbury
1609–10, March 5. It is many days that I delivered my patent of the clerkship of the Council to the Attorney-General, so that I have nothing to show at the quarter day now at hand, either for my fee as formerly, or for a yearly pension to that value that you granted me. I let you understand thus much, that no blame be imputed to me for slackness. My poor house in Holburne, 5 March, 1609.
Signed 1 p. (127 9)
Lord Zouche to the Earl of Salisbury
1609–10, March 13. He has obtained from the King four days' leave of absence. Begs Salisbury to make his excuse at the House if there be occasion. Savoy, 13 March, 1609.
Holograph 1 p. (127 10)
Sir William Bowyer to Thomas Wilson
[1609–10] March 13. I have laden aboard the St Peter of Bergen, the master being Gart Lamersine, for my Lord Treasurer 3000 foot of stone in 1743 pieces, which makes your desired quantity, and have agreed with the merchant of the ship, Mr Thomas Bradford, for 10s the ton accounting 50 foot to the ton, which makes 60 tons amounting to 301 for his freight; which is the best cheap I possibly could get, considering the unproper place to lade them where they are won. Also myself and Mr Borell have given our bills to him of the payment of the said 301, which I pray you receive of him in discharging and paying him his freight. And we received of him 281 which I had disbursed for my Lord, which is 251 for the stones and makes with the former 501 received of Mr Major 751, which at 6d the foot is the sum they cost winning and working. Also for the carriage on men's backs and by boat to the ship side the sum of 31, which as aforesaid makes in all 281, for which also Mr Burrell and I have given our bills.
Sir, considering your desire to have them before Easter, I had no means to ship them but by the honest willingness of this bearer Thomas Bradford, who refused other employment of profit for his whole ship, being of a great burthen, to do my Lord service. Wherefore I desire you to stand his friend to my Lord in a matter he will acquaint you with for repairing of wrong done him in justice. If he may be helped I should be very glad; if not, I pray let him know I have moved you as for myself. Berwick, the 13th March.
Holograph Seal Endorsed: '1609.' 1 p. (125 51)
Sir Edward Bromley to the Earl of Salisbury
1609–10, March 15. I have had before me Cristian Wilsusan, a Dutch merchant of Dunkirk, Jacob Lam of Sandwich and Roy Henry of Feversham. Wilsusan confesses that three weeks past he landed 60lb. of pepper at Margate, and employed Lam as broker for sale thereof at Canterbury. After understanding that the same was discovered to Bussher, officer to the farmers of the custom, he discharged Lam thereof and sold it in Dover at 18d the pound. Lam confesses he offered it in Canterbury at 22d the pound. Henry confesses he was broker for Jeromy Tyson, shipper of Flushing, for the sale of pepper in Canterbury, but could not make sale thereof. They allege for excuse the not knowledge of his Majesty's proclamation. Serjeants Inn, 15 March, 1609.
Signed Endorsed: 'Mr Baron Bromley.' 1 p. (127 11)
Sir John Swinnerton to the Earl of Salisbury
1609–10, March 16. Defends himself from the charge that he interposed against Salisbury's letter in behalf of Mr Langley. The Court of Assistants can testify that he gave it due respect, and gave his voice to the rest that Langley should hold his place, as required by the letter. Afterwards Langley, being unwilling to continue the place, moved for the admission as his deputy of a young man who was touched in credit; and the Court of Assistants and he, as sworn to maintain the credit of the Company, opposed it. This opposition Langley now wrests to be as against himself, and consequently against Salisbury's letter. 16 March, 1609.
Holograph Endorsed: 'Sir John Swinarton.' 1½ pp. (127 13)
Viscount Cranborne to the Earl of Salisbury
[1609–10] March 19/29. He has been expecting Salisbury's letters concerning his further courses this summer, to which he will conform, but he cannot dissemble his desire to see Salisbury, his wife and his friends in England. If Salisbury resolves of his long stay abroad, he desires to embrace the occasion now offered to see the wars in Cleves this summer; the rather because this King is said to intend to go in person, to whom he much desires to offer his service; or if that fail, to meet there his cousin Sir Edward Cecil, who he understands is appointed by the King to conduct the forces to be sent thither for the aid of those Princes. Paris, March 29 st.no.
Holograph Endorsed: '19/29 March, 1609.' 1 p. (228 27)
Viscount Cranborne to the Earl of Salisbury
[1609–10] March 20/30. Mr Finet, who is departing, can certify Salisbury of what he desires to know. Nothing troubles him more than expectation of the wars in Cleves, and the uncertainty whether they will succeed or no. It is thought this King will not pass the frontiers; howsoever he is glad he will meet his cousin Edward Cecil there. For his other journey he refers himself to Salisbury's pleasure; yet except some good occasion call him, he would be glad to see the end of his voyage. Paris, March 30 st.no.
Holograph Endorsed: '20/30 March, 1609.' 1 p. (228 26)
The Earl of Essex to Viscount Cranborne at Paris
[? 1609–10] March 24. Mr Bush's sudden going makes me briefer than otherwise I would be. Yet although I am short in my letter, you have left never a friend in England that will be more true, constant and faithful when time shall appear. Whitehall, this 24th of March.
Holograph Seal ½ p. (129 50)
Sir Thomas Heigham to the Earl of Salisbury
[1610, March 26] The authors of the enclosed paper are of good understanding and worthily esteemed. They commend it to me as an honest and reasonable suit. If you will give me countenance I can draw them on to give more than any other shall do, and do myself some good by it. I could never yet find the way to get anything since the death of your father, by whom I received all my best fortunes. Undated.
Holograph Endorsed: '26 March, 1610.' ½ p. (128 106)
The Privy Council to the Earl of Salisbury
1610, March 27. Requiring the payment of 261: 13: 4 for the second payment of the third entire subsidy, being at the rate of 16d in the £ on 4001. The Court, 27 March, 1610.
Signed: T. Ellesmere, Canc; R. Salisbury; T. Suffolke; H. Northampton; Gilb. Shrewsbury; E. Worcester. 1 p. (195 141)
The Earl of Bath to the Earl of Salisbury
1610, March 28. I have taken the examination of two Englishmen of Weymouth and two Dutchmen of Ancusan in North Holland, who were on Saturday and Sunday last taken by Captain Sackwell at the Island of Lundy, where they say he lies and has landed his ordnance and other provisions with a full purpose to keep it against all men. The examination which I took and sent away hastily, you shall find in my letter to the Lords of the Council. Towstocke, 28 March, 1610.
Signed Seal, broken ½ p. (128 107)
The Earl of Bath to the Privy Council
1610, March 28. I enclose the examination of persons lately taken by Captain Sackwell at the Island of Lundey (a place so dangerous for all passengers to Barnestable and Bristowe, and again from thence and from other parts of England and Wales into any foreign country, as it is almost impossible for them to escape him). They assure me Sackwell is very maliciously bent to do some notorious act upon the poor inhabitants of this coast. Whereupon I have given warning to all the maritime towns and places of descent in these parts nearest to Lundey, to be ready to withstand sudden invasion of these pirates. I beseech you to take some course for suppressing them. I have caused notice hereof to be given to Sir William Saint John, who they say is now at Bristowe with one of his Majesty's ships, and to Captain Lambert, who is supposed to be at Plymouth in another. Towstocke, 28 March, 1610.
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The Enclosure
Examination of John Tanner and Thomas Clarke of Weymouth, mariners, taken before William, Earl of Bath, 27 March, 1610.
On their voyage from Weymouth to Swansea, coming near the Island of Lundey, they were taken by Sackwell, who took all they had from them. Details of their escape with their ship. Sackwell is strong in men and shipping, having 130 voluntaries and prisoners, and six or seven ships, besides small boats and others he takes daily. He has landed on the island 3 pieces of ordnance, 10 butts of sack which he took lately from a Welchman, and 100 'frailes' of raisins and other provisions. He is fortifying the place, compelling his prisoners to pull down the stones out of the rocks to make a platform for his ordnance, and means to build a fort in that place where in times past, by report, there has been a castle. He swears he will never leave the place till the King pardons his life, and gives him the island for his inheritance. He looks for a fleet of 10 sail of other pirates to come to him shortly. As soon as he takes any prisoner he holds his drawn sword to their belly, saying, If thou wilt not swear to be true to me and observe my articles, I will presently kill thee; and so he goes from man to man. He threatens to burn many houses on the coast over against Lundey, as he has already done at Milford, where they say he put some to the sword, burnt some houses and fired a church, the week before he came to Lundey. He means shortly to set up a pair of gallows to execute whom it pleases him. He has lately taken a ship of Barnestable and another of Bridgwater, and sent them to Ireland and other places for more men. He has a great company of Irishmen already. He took from the examinates and the two Dutchmen after mentioned, 10 pikes, 8 muskets, 181b of powder, 2 fowlers and a falconet. Yet they say his greatest want is powder and victual.
Examination of two Dutchmen, Deo Deolphus and Arison, of Ancusan in North Holland, who arrived at Ilfardcombe with the above examinates.
Going from Rochelle with salt to Bristowe, passing by Lundey they were taken by Sackwell, some of them imprisoned, and the rest compelled to go to sea with pirates of Sackwell's company in their own ships. They confirm the above examinates. March 27, 1610.
3 pp. (195 142)
Prince Maurice to King James
1610, March 30/April 9. Peter de Moucheron, merchant of Middelburgh, in Holland, has begged me to recommend his petition to your Majesty to obtain a decision in his action now before your Council against the widow of Sir Horatio Pallavicini, who is now remarried to Sir Oliver Cromwell. I am unwilling to trouble your Majesty with these matters, but I could not refrain from acceding to the request of one of the subjects of this country that I would intercede with you to obtain for him a speedy justice, that he may not be deprived of what is his due. La Hage, 9 April, 1610.
Signed: 'Maurice de Nassau' French Endorsed: 'March 31 [sic] April 9, 1610. To the B.Majesty.' 1½ pp. (134 139)
Lord Hay to the Earl of Salisbury
[1610, March] The assurance so shortly to see you is the cause of this short return of your letter, with this reply to your marginal note; that whatsoever Monsieur de la Vardin has spoken in his Majesty's name for his assisting of Genewe, that that same be seconded by his Ambassador to all, which he is resolute to make good if the necessity require it; concluding that using that same policy with this Duke which he did for the Venetians against the Pope, shall deter him from the siege of that poor town upon the lake, which I pray God to bless. Undated
Holograph Endorsed: 'March 1610.' 1 p. (195 145)
Oliver Cave to the Earl of Salisbury
[1610, March] A congratulatory letter. Undated
Latin Endorsed: 'March 1610. Mr Oliver Cave to my Lord.' 1 p. (128 108)
Ulster