Cecil Papers: Miscellaneous 1598

Calendar of the Cecil Papers in Hatfield House: Volume 23, Addenda, 1562-1605. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1973.

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'Cecil Papers: Miscellaneous 1598', in Calendar of the Cecil Papers in Hatfield House: Volume 23, Addenda, 1562-1605, (London, 1973) pp. 74-76. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-cecil-papers/vol23/pp74-76 [accessed 18 March 2024]

Miscellaneous 1598

Survey.
[Before March, 1597–98]. A description of the extent, value and bounds of the demesne land of Walterstone, and of certain pasture and arable closes adjacent to the property of Lord Abergavenny and William Cecil (fn. 1) of Altyrynys.—Undated.
Endorsed: "Mr Hopton". 1 p. (P. 2251.)
Paul de la Hay to Sir Robert Cecil.
[c. May, 1598]. About a year ago petitioner's father-in-law, William Cecil, was given to understand that his son, Matthew, had agreed with his brother-in-law, John Parry, for the reversion of Cecil's lands to the latter, upon which Parry had named his child Cecil. William Cecil therefore offered to come to terms with petitioner about the land, but he had preferred to postpone the matter until Sir Robert Cecil had expressed his views concerning a previous bargain between him and William Cecil. Meanwhile, to prevent the rifling of his goods and the spoliation of his house by Matthew's wife, William Cecil made a will appointing petitioner as his executor. However, upon Cecil's death, Matthew's wife and her brother-in-law, Valentine Pritchard, encouraged Matthew to contest the will. Petitioner went to Lord Burghley who ordered him to procure the will, and wrote to Matthew that its stipulations should be observed. Matthew chose to ignore this order until petitioner had surrendered to him goods worth 500 marks, and it was agreed between them that the copyhold lands belonging to the demesne of the house at Alt-yr-ynys, as well as the household goods, should come to Sir Robert Cecil. Under the influence of his wife Matthew transferred the copyhold lands to her, and when he died he was "obscuriously buried", and the cattle taken away by his widow's brother-in-law, Valentine Pritchard. Petitioner refers to the fact that the widow is now thinking up other schemes at the expense of himself and other members of William Cecil's family, and begs Cecil to take measures to counter them.—Undated.
1 p. (P. 1208.)
[See H.M.C. Salisbury MSS, Vol. VIII, pp. 83 and 165.]
Gilbert Wakering (ex parte Margaret Vernon) versus Henry Townshend, Dorothy his wife, John Manners, John Vernon and others.
1598, June 6. "A Certificate of the proceadings in the cause inter Wakeringe, gen: Mannors, Townsehend et al, defendants." —6 June, 1598.
1 p. (P. 2144.)
[See H.M.C. Salisbury MSS, Vol. VIII, p. 196.]
The Eastland Merchants to the Privy Council.
[After December, 1598]. They complain of injustices in the Sound where they are forced to pay customs duties on wraps, etc., and where errors in ships' entries lay them open to the confiscation of vessels and cargoes. A forfeiture of their goods occurred last year, as a consequence of which the Queen sent an ambassador to the King of Denmark. He attended the investigation of the case in the presence of many members of the Danish Privy Council and found their proceedings to be unjust, but his protests availed little. The King of Denmark offered to restore 30,000 dollars of confiscated goods, but the Queen decided to despatch another ambassador to demand justice, or alternatively, that the case be heard by the Princes and Kings, his neighbours. This proposal was rejected, but the King of Denmark's original offer was raised to 40,000 dollars. This was accepted by Dr Parkins. Since then, however, the King of Denmark has sent an envoy to England to resuscitate old unsettled businesses, and appears so unsatisfied with the results that petitioners fear a further seizure of their goods in the Sound. They ask that Cecil and the Queen take appropriate measures to find a remedy for this state of affairs.—Undated
On reverse: A summary of the principal points in the petition. ½ p. (P. 2102.)
[See Acts of the Privy Council, 1598–99, pp. 71–2, and The Letters of John Chamberlain (ed. McClure), Vol. 1, pp. 40, 57–8.]
Lord Sandys.
[1598]. "The declaration of the Lord Sandys abilitie."
1 p. (P. 2148.)
[In its details this petition is a duplicate of CP. 186/139. [See H.M.C. Salisbury MSS, Vol. XIV, p. 94.]
Theobalds.
[1598 or before]. Plan of the porter's lodge at Theobalds, co. Herts.—Undated
Endorsed by Burghley: "The outward porters lodg." 1 sheet. (CPM supplementary 36a–s, General 12/29.)
[See H.M.C. Salisbury MSS, Vol. XIV, pp. 76–8.]
Thomas Fovell to Sir Robert Cecil.
[1598 or later]. Lord Burghley granted him the wardship of the daughter and heiress of David Morgan (fn. 2) on the condition that he could prove the Queen's title to it. This he has done and procured evidence to show that three acres were held of the Queen in capite within the honour of Brecknock, the remainder of Morgan's land being held in socage. Her Majesty is therefore entitled to the wardship of the daughter who is five years of age, and to the three acres worth five shillings annually. The ward's mother is to be endowed with the third part of the remaining patrimony which altogether is worth £6 a year. Petitioner is entitled only to the marriage of the ward, which is of little value. He requests that a reasonable rate be decided upon for the sale of the ward.—Undated.
On reverse: another copy.
½ p. (P. 120.)

Footnotes

  • 1. Buried on March 6, 1598. [See H.M.C. Salisbury MSS, Vol. VIII, pp. 82–3.]
  • 2. Probate of his will granted in 1598. [See Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, Vol. IV, 1584–1604, p. 294.]