Cecil Papers: April 1608 | British History Online

Calendar of the Cecil Papers in Hatfield House: Volume 24, Addenda, 1605-1668. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1976.

'Cecil Papers: April 1608', in Calendar of the Cecil Papers in Hatfield House: Volume 24, Addenda, 1605-1668, (London, 1976) pp. 141-148. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-cecil-papers/vol24/pp141-148 [accessed 25 April 2024]

April 1608



	William Edlett to the Earl of Salisbury.
[Before April 15, 1608].	Petitioner spent four years at Kensington working for Sir Walter Cope, who recommended him to Salisbury's undertakers in Hatfield to do the iron work there. He was accepted by them, and spent much money in setting up a forge, buying iron and charcoal, and providing other necessary things for himself and four men. Having completed work to the value of £50, a Mr Bickford is now trying to supplant him, and Salisbury's officials at Hatfield have decided to divide the work between petitioner and Bickford. Bickford has refused and demands to be allowed to take over all the iron work. The officials are now requesting security from petitioner for the performance of work, and he is prepared to give it. He asks Salisbury to order them to accept a bond from him as security.—Undated. ¾ p. (P. 449.) [Edlett signed the bond on April 15, 1608. (See C.P. Bills 25.)]
	John Rutlinger and John Duher to the Earl of Salisbury.
[Before April 19, 1608].	They have long requested to be undergravers in the Mint. With the consent of the Lord Treasurer (fn. 1) and all the officers of the Mint, they have recently been granted their request by the King. They understand, however, that the grant has not passed the Signet and the Privy Seal by order of Salisbury. They request that he show them favour in this matter.—Undated. ½ p. (P. 443.)
	Frances, Lady Burgh, to the King.
[Before April 19, 1608].	She refers to previous petitions from which she has obtained no relief for her present distressed condition, "neither by the suite of ffreedenizens or Recusants". She asks for £2000 or £3000 to be recovered by her out of recusants' lands at her own charge.—Undated.
	Note by Sir Thomas Lake: "The Kings Ma^ty is pleased that out of the penalties and forfeitures of Recusants not yet in charge to his Ma^ty, but to be convicted by hir meanes and at hir charge, the Lord Treasurer, Lord Chamberlain, Earles of Northampton and Salisbury may consider what somme of money shalbe meet to be allowed hir and thereof certefie his Ma^ty." 1 p. (P. 262.) [See H.M.C. Salisbury MSS, Vol. XX, p. 293.]
	Richard Granwall to the Earl of Salisbury.
[Before April 19, 1608].	He has served for almost forty years as one of the Gentlemen of the King's Chapel. The late Queen Elizabeth granted him the forfeitures of recusants, and the present King is willing to confirm the grant. The Lord Treasurer too is prepared to pass the grant, but not without first hearing the opinions of the other members of the Privy Council. Petitioner begs Salisbury to expedite the passing of the grant by sending a letter to the Lord Treasurer which would have the effect of waiving this condition.—Undated. ½ p. (P. 523.)
	Richard Granwall to the Earl of Salisbury.
[Before April 19, 1608].	Repeats the details given in a previous petition regarding the benefit of the recusancy of Arden Waferer, which was granted him by the late Queen Elizabeth and confirmed by the present King.—Undated. 1 p. (P. 535.)
	Thomas Chambers to the Earl of Salisbury.
[Before April 19, 1608].	He is submitting the petition on behalf of himself and the copyhold tenants of the King's manor of Holme Cultram, Cumberland "aborderinge againste Scotland". The farmers to the Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of Oxford University for tithe corn have subjected petitioners to vexatious suits concerning the tithe, and overcharged their lands contrary to manorial custom. They have also demolished the chancel of the parish church of Holme Cultram "a bewtifull churche", and sold the lead and timber, so that the parishioners have no church in which to worship. At the hearing of the case in the Exchequer, the Lord Treasurer dismissed it and referred it to the ordinary course of law. But, at the same time, he ordered that the tenants should pay four years' arrears of tithe at the Temple Church, London, to Lady Atye, the farmer, at a certain date. Failing the presentation of adequate sureties for such payment to Baron Saville at the next Assizes in Carlisle, process of attachment was to be awarded against any tenant who defaulted in this respect. Petitioners request that the process of attachment should be stayed since many tenants are prepared to pay as directed, and that the poorer tenants should be given reasonable time to pay at a certain place in the country. They also ask that there should be an impartial hearing of the whole dispute between them and Lady Atye but outside a court of law, so that all parties "maye be righted accordinge to equitie."—Undated. ¾ p. (P. 1463.) [For the background to this petition, see Register and Documents of Holme Cultram, ed. Grainger and Cullingwood, pp. 197–201.]
	Lord Roxburgh and Sir Robert Carey to the King.
[Before April 19, 1608].	In various Parliaments during the reign of the late Queen Elizabeth and the present reign, the Crown has been granted tenths and fifteenths, out of which there has always been deducted £6000 towards the relief and discharge of the poor cities and towns of the realm. In the 18th year of Henry VI commissioners were directed to each shire for the distribution of the £6000 according to the need of each town, as shown by the records of the Court of the Exchequer. From that time onwards, however, the deduction of the £6000 has not been effected, neither has it been given in charge to the collectors. Nevertheless, certain officers have collected part of the deduction and converted it to their own use, under colour of the above-mentioned tenths and fifteenths. Petitioners request that they be granted so much of the deduction as has been unlawfully collected and detained by these officers since the 34th year of the late Queen's reign to the present time. With part of it they propose to relieve the poor town of Cullompton in Devon whose inhabitants have petitioned for assistance. Petitioners request also that their suit be referred to the Lord Chancellor, the Earl of Dorset, Lord Treasurer, and the Earls of Suffolk, Nottingham, Salisbury and Dunbar, as well as the Chancellor of the Exchequer.—Undated. 1 p. (P. 1519.)
	Henry Jernegan to the Earl of Salisbury.
[Before April 19, 1608].	He is cupbearer to the King, who referred his petition concerning concealments and encroachments on the King's waste to the Attorney-General. By the latter's direction, petitioner exhibited various information to that effect, and the tenants involved have committed themselves to paying composition to the King. All this was done at petitioner's expense, and the Attorney-General has commended his suit to the Lord Treasurer who, however, will not act without the approbation of Salisbury and the Privy Council. Petitioner asks that Salisbury further his suit, since it benefits the King and will relieve the tenants of the uncertainty of their tenure.—Undated. ½ p. (P. 1867.)
	William Blake to the Earl of Salisbury.
[After April 19, 1608].	He refers to a previous petition for a reward for his services in surveying certain of the King's manors. He spent four years as a commissioner in this work, and received only twenty marks towards the expenses of keeping a horse. The late Lord Treasurer intended to remunerate him, as can be proved by Mr Hercey's certificate, but this did not materialize. He asks Salisbury either to grant him the rent of a lease which has 19 years to run and is in the possession of Anthony Sands, or to find some other means to indemnify him.—Undated. ½ p. (P. 453.)
	Lisle Cave to the King.
[After April 19, 1608].	For the past two years he has been a suitor for some reward for his services during 28 years, and recently received the grant of a recusant before the death of the late Lord Treasurer. Despite the fact that he had allowed himself to be advised and directed in the matter by the Lord Treasurer, he had been twice prevented from benefiting by the King's favour owing to a prior interest in the same recusant by the Queen. He now requests that order be given by the new Lord Treasurer that petitioner may enjoy the fee issuing from the office of one of the surveyors of the outports, as formerly he did, and as two of his associates, Allington and Dawes, still do. Or, alternatively, that he be given a warrant to the farmers of the Customs for the immediate payment of enough money to discharge his debts. Whereas he has to maintain a wife, 8 children and other dependants on £100 a year, he owes £600 in debts to Christopher Blackall, Elizabeth Burnham, Hugh Hare, Edward Devereux and Richard Waldron.— Undated. 1 p. (P. 1033.) [See H.M.C. Salisbury MSS, Vol. XX, p. 191.]
	Lisle Cave to the Earl of Salisbury.
[After April 19, 1608].	His prosecution of recusants, as directed by the late Lord Treasurer, has been very unsuccessful. He had the King's bill to seize one after two years of legal proceedings, but the Queen took the recusant for herself. Besides recusants "are so hardly found, casuall by prevention being found, and will sodainely conforme themselves, that there is scant any hope of good in pursueing them. Ffurther, Mr Spiller telleth me, since I was with your Lordship, that he cannot nor knoweth not where or when to furnish me with any, so as I am hopeles that way." He requests that he be granted by the King so much wood in Leicestershire as would give him £600 to pay his debts.—Undated. Endorsed: "Lisle Cave. This most humble petition." ½ p. (P. 492.)
	The Lord Marquis's Petition.
[After April 19, 1608].	He complains of the harm done to his family by the disloyalty of Ughtred, executor to John, the late Marquis, which has aggravated the problem of discharging debts and legacies. The late Lord Treasurer and the Exchequer were instrumental in postponing the money instalment due to the Queen. Petitioner is hampered by the alienation of lands by his father and by the withdrawal of his mother's dower, besides her own inheritance; so that he has little more than £1400 to support his estate and face debts and legacies to the amount of £8000, in addition to the Queen's debt which is as much. Since the Queen is obliged to sell her own lands to meet expenses, petitioner will be ready to dispose of his own property in three years to satisfy her claim on him unless she decrees otherwise.—Undated. ¾ p. (P. 494.)
	Robert Robinson to the Earl of Salisbury.
[After April 19, 1608].	He asks to be allowed to be bearer to the Commissioners for Leases of all particulars and transcripts to be signed by them, according as he enjoyed the same under Lord Burghley and the Earl of Dorset.—Undated. ½ p. (P. 454.)
	Sir William Waad to—.
[After April 19, 1608].	"There was a wrytt dyrected to the Sherife of Middlesex out of the Court of Exchequer, as he affirmed, to deliver the possession of certeyne howses on the dytch syde by the posterne to the gentleman porter (fn. 2) in a suite depending betweene him and one Hemynge.
	When the Sherife dyd acquaint me with the sayd wrytt and desyred leave of me that he might execute the same, I sent the steward of the Tower and certeyne of the warders to assist the executyon, and to see there might be no disorder comitted, but when they came there the Sherife could produce no wrytt. Nevertheless there was that dysorder, tumult and hurt done as grew to very greate inconvenyence, ffor the posterne being a narrow passage, there is greate concourse of people, and so unusuall a matter made them flock thither in greate numbers.
	The Sherife comming agayne another tyme to attempt the like, I desired him to forbeare the same, and by order from the late Lord Treasurer, out of his owne judgment, and from Mr Chauncellor of the Exchequer, to whome I gave a note of the matter in writing, the executyon of the wrytt was stayed untill the terme, which his Lordship dyd the rather injoyne knowing (as he told me) the vaynesse of the suite of the Gentleman Porter, and willed me to move it when he was in court, and he would take order it should proceede no further. Ffor his Lordship formerly in open court had caused both the leases of the gentleman porter and Hemyng to be taken from them, and an order to be set downe that information of intrusyon should be brought against them both.
	I doe conceave the wrytt ought not to be directed to the Sheryfe (this being his Ma^ts principall house and castle royall), but to the Leiuetenant and the Steward, as in the pallace of Westmynster is used to the garden of the sayd pallace, etc.
	I finde in cases of like nature here in the records, the Kinges wrytt directed to the Leiuetenant to deliver the possession of a house to such a partye, etc., within the Liberty. But I presume there can no presydent be shewed that ever any wrytt was directed in former tyme within the liberty of the Tower to any sherife to such purpose.
	It is a difficult questyon whether the Towar be in the countye of Middlesex or of London, or in neither. Though of late tyme, for indightments of ffellony, the common opinyon hath gone that it is in London, and so overruled at sessyons.
	After this the undersheryfe of Middlesex tooke possessyon of the posterne house in my absence and delivered it to a captayne who kept the same with half a dozen men, and sent me messages of defyance which was not with the dutie of my place to suffer. Neither shall any (with favor of his Ma^ty I speake it) under the degree of a councellor remayne within that liberty that shall refuse to come to me when I send for him, as this captayne dyd and sent me worde he was there by better authority then I had any, and was there expressely to see if I would fetch him forth.
	The posterne is parte of the ffortificatyon of the Tower under my charge and disposing, as much as any part of the Towar. And if Hemyng say truly, the same never was in questyon in the Exchequer nor mentyoned in the wrytt, for which I hope, with favor of that honorable court, to call the Sheryfe to accompte.
	The howses on the dytch syde are buylt by meere intrusyon to the defacing of the fortificatyon of that place of strength. The dytch is also both under my charge, and by charter that benefytt which is convenyent to be taken apperteyneth to the Leieutenant, which in duty of my place I may not suffer to be defaced.
	By othe I am expressly tyed to mayntayne the libertyes of the Tower, and by the charters from divers kynges they use these wordes: Nos omnia et singula jura et libertates Turr. nostre ne deperiant seu illicite subtrahuntur manutenere volentes Mandamus, etc.
	Therfore my humble suite is that there may be a stay of these proceedings untill those differences may be consydered of by the Lordes, the Judges of the Realme, or his Ma^ts counsell learned, as shall seeme most convenyent by his sacred Ma^tie and the right honorable the Lordes of his Ma^ts privy counsell, to whose good pleasure I humbly appeale in this case.—Undated. Signed: W. Waad, locumten. Turris." Endorsed: "The Lieutenant of the Towre." 2 pp. (129. 23.)
	Simon Willis.
[? April, 1608].	He appends a list of English knights and gentlemen who were in Italy at the time that he was there, and who also, to his knowledge, paid a visit to Rome.
	Sir Charles Moryson.
	Mr Storay.
	Mr Askeworthe, with two or three servants.
	Theise were in the company of Sir Charles Morrysson.
	Sir William Dormer.	Theise were in the company of Sir William Dormer.
	Mr Anthonye Tracye.
	Three servants of Sir William Dormer.
	Sir Georg Peter.	Allone.
	Sir Robert Chamberlaine.	With theis I kept company at Rome and at Naples, never being out of their company night nor day.
	Sir Edmund Hampden.
	Sir Thomas Crompton.
	Mr Baskervyll.
	Mr Boughton.
	Mr D. Moore, and a servant of Sir Robert Chamberlaynes.
	Mr Gyfforde, a servant of my lord of Shrewsburyes.	This man was allone and in his returne from Rome mett me at Padoa, presently after my first aryvall in Italy.
	Mr Barrett.	Theis were Mr Barretts company.
	Mr Leveson and Mr Ffytzwylliams, with three servants.
	Mr Cholmley.	Theis were an other company.
	Mr Hopkyns.
	Mr Ffroome.	Allone. He is a vyntners sonne about Newgat markett, and hath lyved long abroade, specyally at Rome.
	Mr Partherydg.	A Kentysher gent, allyed to Sir Ha: Wotton, his Ma^ts Ambassadour at Venice.
	Mr Ffynch, son to Sir Moyle Ffynch.	Theis two travayled togeither and Mr Ffynch wrytt to Persons to have leave to come to Rome, having shewed his letter to dyverse and Persons answere.
	Mr Doncombe.
	Mr Toby Mathewe.	Theise travayled togeither.
	Mr Eston.
	Mr Rooke.	A servant of Sir Henry Wootons.
	Mr Hunt, an organyst.	Servant to my l. grace of Canturbury.
	Two sonnes of Sir Edward Moore of Odiam in Hampshire with their tutor.
	Mr Ffryer, sonne to Doctor Ffryer, the phisician.
	Mr Mychele, secretary to my lo. grace that dead is.
	Mr Purfrey.
	Mr Rhenells, nephew to my L. Chamberlayns secretary.
	Mr Gorg, sonne to Mr William Gorg nere Plymmoth.
	Mr Gage and Mr Wenman.	Theis were an other company.
	Mr Chalcrofte.	This is a servant of his Ma^tys.
	Of the Scottishe nation
	Mr 1. of Marres sonne.	Theis were an other company.
	Mr James Colvyll.
	Mr L. of Murray.	Theis three kept togeather.
	Mr Mongo Murry, and an other Scottyshe gent whom I knew not.
	Endorsed: "The names of sondry knights and gent., that in their travaylls into Italy have ben at Rome." 2½ pp. (129. 110.) [See H.M.C. Salisbury MSS, Vol. XX, p. 126.]