Cecil Papers: October 1588

Calendar of the Cecil Papers in Hatfield House: Volume 3, 1583-1589. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1889.

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'Cecil Papers: October 1588', in Calendar of the Cecil Papers in Hatfield House: Volume 3, 1583-1589, (London, 1889) pp. 362-366. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-cecil-papers/vol3/pp362-366 [accessed 25 April 2024]

October 1588

740. P. Tournet to Archibald Douglas.
1588, Oct. 5. Complains of the loss of three prize-ships, which he had taken the day before, and begs an advance of 40l., which he and others will enter into bond to pay.—From Yarmouth, the 5th of October 1588.
1 p.
741. The Queen to Lord Scrope.
1588, Oct. 5. Authorizes him to raise 100 light horse to accompany him to the Borders to meet the Laird of Carmichael, who has been assigned by the King of Scots to meet the English Commissioner for redress of Border disorders.
Addition by Lord Burghley :—“On further consideration we think that 50 horse shall be sufficient.”
Draft. 2 pp.
742. Anthony Bacon to [Lord Burghley ?].
1588, Oct. 8. His lordship will perceive, as well by his letter of the 28th September as by the present, how impossible it is for him to effect anything, however well planned, when the carrying out of his resolution depends on the will of others, for having prepared both despatches for Mr. Allen, God has willed that for very good reasons he should retain him here ; seeing that Mme la Verdin has changed her intention of going direct to Niort, and proposes to visit the King of Navarre en passant, at whose Court he knows that Mr. Allen will be in considerable danger from the animosity of Messrs. du Plessis and Du Pin, who are much irritated by what Allen has written so freely to Walsingham concerning his dislike of their contempt and ingratitude.
Has been therefore compelled by the urgent necessity of his affairs to send the present bearer, his servant, which he could no longer defer doing, as he has been informed by people of importance that an English gentleman returning from England on his business has been made prisoner, which he could not do less than notify with all diligence,— 8 October.
Endorsed by Lord Burghley:—“8 Octob. 1588.—Mr. Anthony Bacon, from —.”
French. 2 pp.
743. Gomaer van Ostyrwick, one of the Queen's musicians, to [Lord Burghley].
1588, Oct. 9. Prays him to further the exchange of his patent of 20l. for a lease in reversion.
Endorsed:—9 October 1588.
[Note by Burghley that the suit seems reasonable, and note by Sir T. Heneage that the Queen grants the suit.]
1p.
744. Lord Audley to Lord Burghley.
1588, Oct. 14. Since his lordship refused the small piece of plate which he offered him, bought a horse which he knew would have contented him, and was fully resolved to have sent him a brace, but the said horse having suddenly died, is forced to entreat him to accept of one.—Whitefriars, 14 October 1588.
1 p.
745. The Master of Gray to Archibald Douglas.
1588, Oct. 17. I render your Lordship hearty thanks for the good will you have to do some good offices for me, as I understand by your letter and at great length by this bearer. I accept no less your good will nor if your pains had effectuate, and confess myself a . . . obliged. But this I assure you before I effectuate, your pains shall not be in vain. Thus I remit to the bearer to show you at great length. I am marvellous sorry to hear ratified by your letter, that I have writ of before, of the Queen's hard dealing towards the King our master. He has ever carried so good a mind to her amity as the effect has sufficiently declared. I believe they account him more tied by a necessity to them than indeed either he is, or minds to be, if he handle himself aright by the rule of good reason. And if such as are now about him be indeed tied to a necessity, themselves are able first to feel it, for princes' ears are not given to men in life rent. As for myself, I shall abide to see what matters shall turn to by working of time. I can not pass not letting you know what my brother James wrote from Scotland to me : that in a letter of late you did write to his Majesty you remitted all proceeding of Spanish matters to such letters [as] his Majesty had received from myself; which his Majesty construed (as justly he might) as written for scorn of me. If so your meaning was, it is more than I looked for, and more than any advertisement I shall make his Majesty shall deserve ; for whatever I shall write to his Majesty shall deserve as good credit, and no scorn, as any. advertisement he shall receive from any subject he has. Not that I can think your meaning to have been according to the construction his Majesty gave it; but, however it was, I cannot marvel enough why you should have remitted any credit to letters written by me, seeing it was hard to you to know what was contained in them. This I write, not so much for anything past, as to pray you that in time to come it may please you make no mention of me in your letters, and so no construction can be made. I remit all other things to the bearer, &c.—From Paris, this 17th of October 1588.
1 p.
746. “G. S.” to Archibald Douglas.
1588, Oct. 22/Nov. 1. Since my last writing out of Eouen, I . . . . ly sick unto this present, and was never in Court be . . . I could not serve, but, God willing, I am to enter . . . . the month of December, and to remain in Court g . . . . your lordship's service. The King is in Blois, for the present, and is minded to remain unto the time he . . . . order unto his realm. He has holden the Estate . . . . Blois, and began them the 16 of October, and made . . . . to all his subjects that were present, as you shall receive . . . . letter. Of the princes that were present, the Cardinal of . . . . . the Cardinal of Vendôme, the Count of Soissons, the . . . ser, of other noblemen Mons. de Guise, Mons. de . . . . “Denne Mouris,” the Duke of Riess, the Cardinal of . . . . , Cardinal Linancourt, the Bishop of Lyons, the . . . . Bruges, with sundry other of the clergy, and the King h . . . . law, called the law fundamental, that after the . . . . shall none brook the crown of France but them that . . . . postolic Roman, and have sworn and holden up the King . . . . and all the whole princes that were there present have s[worn] . . . manner and all the whole estates, to observe and defend . . . . made law fundamental unto the death, and that the King . . . . his estates shall make war upon the . . . . of Navarre, and that the King of Navarre shall never brook the Crown of France. And the King presently by this law is “to deseris” . . . . Navarre and has sent Mons. de Nevers with a great . . . . Poitou to make war upon the King of Navarre ; and Mo . . . . demen is in Dauphiné with another great army to make war . . . . country. The Church has promised to the King that he shall . . . . to make the wars against the King of Navarre their est . . . . ill Gennewar [? Genoa]. There is upon the 20th of October 8 . . . . s declared, that they will have peace, that is to say, Normandy . . . . Champagne, Languedoc, Provence, Poitou, and Burgundy . . . . . Highness remains still in Court, and the King sees that . . . . nothing without his advice. As all things take . . . . their parts your Lordship shall know as far as comes to our knowledge, from time to time, and shall be delivered to the ambassador, Mr. Stafford.—Paris, I November 1588.
Much damaged, the margin eaten away, 1 ½pp.
747. Spanish Pistoletts.
1588, Oct. 22 and 24. Received by me Charles, Lord Howard of Effingham, Lord Admiral of England, of the Lord High Treasurer the day and year above written the number of four thousand six hundred threescore and seven pistoletts, amounting, at vjs. the piece, to the sum of xiiijc li.
“Howard.”
To be distributed in way of reward to certain captains and others serving on the sea under the charge of the said Lord Admiral and Sir Francis Drake.
Annexed is note of their weight as follows :—
1. Draught 240 oz.
2. Do. 240 oz.
3. Do. 240 oz.
4. Do. 240 oz.
5. Do. 240 oz.
6. Do. 240 oz.
7. Do. 155 oz. 3 gr. d.
1595 3 d.
The weight of certain Spanish pistoletts, taken by Sir Francis Drake, Mr. Alderman Martin, Sir John Hawkins, &c. The 24 of October 1588.
4 pp.
748. Thomas Hodgeson to Lord Buckhurst.
1588, Oct. 23. Petition for payment of 313l. 13s. 2d. for shot delivered by his Lordship's appointment to the Lord Admiral at sea and to the Ordnance Office, as by his debentures appeareth.
½p.
749. Thomas Arundel to Lord Burghley.
1588, Oct. 25. If I importune your Lordship in the behalf of the Earl of Southampton as concerning the New Forest, my love and care of this young Earl enticeth me, and your wonted good acceptance of reasonable requests emboldeneth me to undertake the suit. Beaulye, the most ancient house that he hath, is so near to the Forest, and the Forest so convenient for it, as that (to your Lordship who knoweth them) the very situation may be of sufficient force to persuade. Your Lordship did help the Earl of Rutland in his nonage to the forest of Sherwood, as I have been credibly informed; your Lordship, being the same in bounty, may now, if so it please you, show as great favour to this your ward, an Earl, not of the smallest hope. Your Lordship doth love him, and then, even out of the common nature of love, must needs desire to be requited with love and thankfulness; such as have good wills together with great minds are not so soon won any way as with favour, neither is any favour so thankfully taken, and so long remembered of men, as that which they receive in their minority.
That my lord of Pembroke (his most feared co-rival), having neither land nor house near thereto, should, as it were by a perpetuity, bear the forest from him in his own sphere and joining to his doors, were a great discourtesy, I may more truly say a wrong, &c. — From Ilchell, this 25 of October 1588.
1 p.
750. T. Fowler to [Archibald Douglas].
1588, Oct. 29. Received his letter, together with one to the Earl B., by his Lordship's nephew Mr. Archibald, and returns his humble thanks for the same.
Has had some disputes touching his Lordship since he came hither, and, whatever comes of it, will maintain him to be the best able, the worthiest, and the wisest to do the King's service.
Sir James Hume is coming to speak with him, and the Chancellor also is very desirous of a conference. This is more than he desires, but will use all matters as wisely as God will give him grace, and will always run a course best for his Lordship's turn.
Has written a letter to the Lord Treasurer, and another to Mr Secretary, copies of which he sends his Lordship herewith. If he will deliver them, and show the letter in which they are enclosed, it will stand him in so much the better stead.
Since Aston came home there is great discontent amongst many of the best affected to England. What will come of it knows not yet, as he understands it his Lordship shall know.
If he would give himself to it could do them as good service here as their Ambassador; but wishes that all his business at home were brought well to pass, and that he might dine and sup with my Lord Ambassador of Scotland in Mr. Harvey's house. Begs his Lordship, if he should be asked what matters he (Fowler) has to do, to give evasive answers.
This day the Chancellor sent for him, and entertained him with much friendly discourse, being very open with him in all matters touching the amity between these countries and the King's marriage, “as if he had been acquainted with him seven year.” He used also a long speech to the effect that he was sure the King would not touch any man in England in revenge of his mother's death, “if he came to that crowne never so sone,” and gave reasons why ; so that by his account the King will seek no farther. Upon farther speech he assured him (Fowler) that he owed his Lordship no malice, for he was allied to him in some way, but he desired not to have any dealings with him, because he would not be partaker of the hatred which so many men bear his Lordship here, as he, Fowler, would find.
The Lord Bothwell and the Chancellor agree well; the Lord Hamilton on Friday last came to his house and they are fallen to a perfect agreement. Sir James Hume, who bears now great sway with the Earl Bothwell. is assuredly the Chancellor's.
Begs to be directed what his Lordship will have him do, for if he will have him estrange himself hereafter from the Chancellor, he will do so, or, if his Lordship prefers, will understand his mind and advertise him thereof, for he can be great enough with him; but prays his Lordship to keep secret what he writes; or else not to let him write at all of these things.—29 October 1588.
5 pp.
751. A. Durham to Archibald Douglas.
1588, Oct. 30. Has returned to Denmark after despatch in France of matters with which he was entrusted upon the death of the King of Denmark. Offers his services in respect of communicating intelligences from Denmark.—Amsterdam, this 30 October 1588.
pp.