Addenda, Queen Elizabeth - Volume 19: December 1570

Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Elizabeth, Addenda, 1566-79. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1871.

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'Addenda, Queen Elizabeth - Volume 19: December 1570', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Elizabeth, Addenda, 1566-79, (London, 1871) pp. 328-336. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/domestic/edw-eliz/addenda/1566-79/pp328-336 [accessed 26 March 2024]

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December 1570

1570 ?
Dec. 5.
Magdalen College, Oxford.
43. Francis Baker to his mother, Bridget Langley, at Flintham. Thanks for the crown of gold I received from you by Raggisdale for a token. I wrote you when Master President came down, certifying what kind of living I would apply myself to, as you willed me in your letters sent by Master Jackson, and desired you to help me to a farm, or other temporal living, as I was more inclined that way than for a priest, on account of my infirmities, but you have not sent me any answer, which I impute rather to your great business than your forgetfulness of me.
P.S.—Send me some hose, clothes, &c. by your next messenger. [1¼ pages, damaged.]
1570.
Dec. 8.
Carlisle.
44. Henry Lord Scrope to Sir Wm. Cecil. The bearer Lockwood my servant, upon some good words of Her Majesty for his service in the late rebellion, hopes some reward, and has prayed my letter in his favour. I will not say he has deserved benefit, for he has done but his duty, nor will speak of his just and honest dealings, but, as he is my man, leave the report to others; yet I cannot but testify his towardness in the late rebellion. He first disclosed the repair and purpose of Thomas Hussey into this country, whereby the same was overthrown, and has to his uttermost, without wages or reward, served against the rest and their receipters all this year. As you and others of the Council have well aceepted his service, and as he is the first and only man that ever I sued preferment unto, pray obtain him some sufficient commodity, whereby he and such others may be encouraged to continue their dutiful service. I have also written to the Earl of Leicester, who is well inclined towards him. [1 page.]
[Dec.] The Queen to the Lord President of the Council in Wales. We have appointed Sir John Perrott as president of Munster, and he should take 50 men and officers to attend him. You are to furnish 20 horsemen with horses from those chargeable by law in the compass of your commission, and send them to Haverfordwest, where he will receive them. Also you are to commission Sir J. Perrott to raise 50 among his own servants or tenants, or in Haverfordwest, 33 being well furnished, and take them into Ireland. [Warrant Book, Eliz., No. 1, p. 87.]
1570 ? Discourse by Lord Keeper Sir Nich. Bacon on the Queen's marriage with the Duke of Anjou.
She should marry without delay, for causes relating to the person and to the realm.
First, for the person.—If she continues single, and past the age of hope to have children, she will be in danger of such as may be tempted to desire her end, to bring some other to her state. She would lose the love of a multitude of her subjects, for the natural care in those that have possessions and families is to see to the preservation of themselves and posterity, and that must be her care, otherwise it will be left to others to determine the succession.
A great number of her subjects already infected with factions towards others mislike her prosperous continuance, and will be ready to assist in any invasion or rebellion, and thus for lack of children she will have a perpetual torment of her life.
Second, for the realm. Her marriage will much profit it, for upon the hope of issue, all honest subjects will continue constant, and hope that the crown will remain in the right line of Henry VIII., and so the curious questions of succession, now the ground of all mischief, will be buried. For the other sort, during the time of hope of her having children, most subjects that have not yet manifested themselves over much dedicated to a future Prince will be afraid to give ony open change of mind towards any other, so that many dangerous practices will be forborne, of which the principal are:—
1. The intention to advance the Queen of Scots' title.
2. To revive the marriage between her and the Duke of Norfolk, which shall be no way so well stayed as by the Queen's marriage.
3. The comforters of discontented subjects and rebels (whose whole hope of prosperity depends upon the success of the Queen's reign, in respect of papistry, and of their former rebellion), thereby to be restored to their estates and country.
When the Queen has issue, the joy will be so great to good subjects, and the grief to the evil, that she will see a new life put into both, and will be freed from inward care. Nor will she then have occasion to fear any matches of the Queen of Scots, nor practices of rebels or discontented persons within the realm, nor attempts of foreign Princes, if amity be observed towards them, which may be easily kept, considering there will not be much need to use the devices and preparations that have hitherto been prepared, for fear of annoyance of the realm by foreign enterprises.
The second consideration is with whom it may be meet for her to marry, what person is meetest for her, for the realm, and for both jointly. For the first, that the party should be such as she may best like, and if many respects be required, and all cannot be fulfilled, yet the marriage is so necessary as it may not be deferred for lack of some of those respects, but to allow of the person that may bring content to her with most or the best of them. If she shall disclose her mind in these respects, then consideration must be had of their number, weight, and value, and therewith to make choice of the best that may be attained. No man can conceive what shall be best, but herself. Yet conjecturably it may be said that by marrying at home, she may be most assured beforehand of the qualities of the person. She may also, with more facility, direct such a person in all his actions, for although by matrimony he be her head, yet by the laws of this realm, and by policy, he will be in the nature of her subject, and she will thereby avoid the mislike that this nation commonly has of a stranger. Besides this, she may so order her proceedings in marriage with her subject, as she may procure that her estate may well allow of it.
To marry a foreigner, and one of the King's blood, and particularly Henry Duke of Anjou, the French King's second brother, it is good first to remember its discommodities and commodities.
Discommodities.— 1st. His age is inferior to hers, his conditions not known, his estate and constitution of body not well understood, his disposition in religion contrary to hers and to the order of her realm, whereof without reformation there cannot but follow notable perils.
2nd. As a stranger, and especially a Prince and heir of the crown of France, he will be misliked of the English.
3rd. If he should not have children by the Queen, he might, with help of his brother, the King of France, encroach the crown to himself, by colour of gift from the Pope.
4th. If he should have sons, and his brother, the King of France, should die without issue, then both the Kingdoms should come to Her Majesty's son by the Duke, whereof though the Queen should have cause of comfort, yet her subjects of England shall perpetually rue it, and for fear of such accident, shall mislike this marriage.
5th. If the Duke shall not have children by the Queen, and the Scottish Queen should remain unmarried, it might be dangerous to the shortening of Her Majesty's life, lest some insinuation might light in the heart of the Duke to attain to the marriage of the Queen of Scots, thereby to continue possession of the crown of England and conjoin the kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland in his own person.
6th. By this marriage will ensue coldness of amity with Spain and Burgundy, and a fear that the French King, having many titles and challenges to countries possessed by the King of Spain, as Naples, Milan, Flanders, and Burgundy, the Queen may be brought to war with France against Spain, as Queen Mary was with King Philip against France, whereby Calais was lost.
Answers.—1st. It were to be wished that he were older, and yet his stature and person is manly and comely; but as it is, he shall have cause to esteem Her Majesty as shall become him, both because she is in person, beauty, and all gifts of nature the best and goodliest Princess in Chistendom, and also in sight to behold not inferior to any other Princess of the Duke's own age, neither is her age to be judged by her visage, but thereby she may be esteemed of equal age with him. She is also a Queen of a realm, and such a one as all Christendom nor the rest of the known world has the like to be married, considering her person, her gifts, and her kingdoms; she is also so wise as it is probable she shall always provoke and direct him to love and honour her, besides that he has no kingdoms or countries to resort to, nor war to maintain, as King Philip had, who by pretence thereof, absented himself, and by absence abated his love.
2nd. Things either liked or misliked alter with time. It is a proverb that a wonder lasts not nine days; this marriage cannot have such a mislike as King Philip's justly had, when the Emperor Charles, his father, lived,—a Prince feared for his attempts and conquests,—and King Philip was invested in a great part of his father's kingdoms and dominions, and by the Emperor's death approaching, was to be a monarch of as great puissance as any in Christendom. The offence conceived against him at first was chiefly by Protestants, partly in respect of religion, partly because some of them were not in the estimation they had been, but the example of that attempt, with the sequel, is sufficient to make others beware of the like.
3rd. The necessity and the long desire of her subjects to have her married will stay the misliking of this Prince, considering also that he is to come hither but as a King's youngest brother, and not a monarch, so as he must procure the good will, first of Her Majesty, and next of all her estates, and being a stranger, shall be constrained to use himself favourably towards all sorts, without difference.
4th. In the compacts of marriage, order may be provided that until further proof be had of him, and until he have a son by the Queen, he shall not meedle with any part of the government of the realm, nor move but as requisite to ease the Queen of her care of government.
5th. This is an unlikely accident, for the King his brother is newly married to a wife likely to have issue, but it may be provided by law of both realms that if Her Majesty of England shall have two sons, the one may be King of France and the other of England; and if there should be but one son, then the case must be suffered, with provision that if the Prince, being King of England and France, shall afterwards have two sons, the kingdom may be divided. If the Queen has no sons, but daughters, then considering the crown of France is not descendable to daughters, the peril is avoided. It were good that the Scottish Queen were married, and it is likely that being young, it will not be long before she is.
6th. It is more likely that hereby the King of Spain will more courteously use the Queen, for by hard dealing he will gain nothing, but rather provoke harm to himself and his countries.
The commodities that might ensue upon the marriage with the Duke of Anjou.—The marriage is honourable, for he being a son and brother to Kings of France, the children will be princely, and comfortable by amity with the crown of France, with which the wars of England have been most cruel and hurtful. Her Majesty's mind will be more satisfied, in that she has always professed that if she married, it should be like a King's daughter, in the rank of Princess. By this marriage she will be delivered of the continual fear of the practices with the Queen of Scots, on whom depends almost the only prosperity of her whole life and reign, so that she may deliver her if she pleases, and permit her to marry whom she lists; and indeed it were convenient she were married after Her Majesty has been.
Hereby the King of Spain shall be made more conformable to revive the treaties of intercourse with the Queen, whereof the doubt is now such; as how to recover and keep them depends upon his pleasure.
The Pope's malice with his bulls and excommunications, and the spite of all his dependents shall vanish like smoke, and the Emperor and his brother will hereby have the Queen in more estimation than they have had, with all their fair words.
With note that on the matter of religion, which is the greatest, the writer has said nothing, and as to the rest, the answers are not so weighty as the objections. [5 pages, copy. Domestic James I., Vol. LXXXVI., No. 150, pp. 8–12.]
Proclamation.—The Queen is informed that, during this time of civil war, her subjects arm vessels and enter into service on both sides, and thus spoil not only the princes of France and the Low Countries, but her own subjects, decreasing customs, and hindering traffic. Also that fishermen and seafaring men exercise acts of hostility without licence, and thus many piracies are committed, even in her own ports, and her subjects, by persuasion of English fugitives, are drawn to enter into foreign service, and have their loyalty withdrawn from her. She therefore orders all who without written licence serve foreign princes, to surcease and return to their accustomed occupations, on pain of being accounted rebels; and commands all admirals, captains of ships, and other officers on sea, and all justices of peace, mayors, customs' officers, &c., to commit such to prison, and stay their ships during pleasure.
As divers officers, for the sake of gain, have winked at these disorders, whosoever are now found guilty of negligence or corruption in apprehension of these malefactors shall lose their offices and be punished at pleasure; if they be officers of any corporate towns the Queen shall have cause to seize the liberties of the town for their disobedience. [Copy. Dom. Eliz., Vol. XLV., pp. 37, 38.]
45. Articles touching the suppositions made by Thos. Leighton, captain and governor of Guernsey:—
1. To be answered that the commissioners appointed have always proceeded faithfully, and certified their doings.
If more particular answer be needed, Mr. Carew, captain of Hurst, I, the Dean, and others yet surviving will confront our accusers before Council. The money accruing from sales and fines is to be answered by Nich. Carey, receiver of the isle, to whom it was committed, and 300l. was issued to him and Thos. Effard, who can give good account of it.
As to me, the Dean, by the Queen's commission, 25 May 1563, I had granted for my office 100 quarters of wheat, Guernsey measure, being 33 English measure; also the fee-farm of Arme, which was uninhabited, on fine of 5l. and rent of 2l.
As the Captain summoned all who held fee-farms or mills to appear before Council to defend their right, I have attended four months at great cost, and beg Her Majesty to allow me to hold what I have, in reward of my 10 years' service, with losses and dangers, my living being only 300l., or to grant me some other reward. [1½ pages.]
46. Note of such lands of the Queen as appertain to the captaincy of Guernsey, which are let below their value, and of the rent which they are worth yearly, being between two and ten times the present rental. [¾ page.]
Endorsed [by Sir Wm. Cecil] "Guernsey, Mr. Leighton."
47. Note that in 5 Eliz., a commission was issued for survey of lands, rents, &c. in Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, Arme, and Gythowe, which had become waste, decayed, or concealed and withdrawn from the Queen, with authority to grant the same in fee-farm. That the Commissioners have not only granted away three of the isles, to the great prejudice of the Captain, but also a manor of Her Majesty's, three mills, and other things needful for his use. With note [in another hand] that the Dean was procurer of this commission, and by virtue hereof, got for himself 100 quarters rent corn for life; the island of Arme for ever; the isle of Gythowe for life; and 75l. 8s. ready money. [1page.]
Endorsed, "Guernsey, Mr. Leighton" [by Sir Wm. Cecil.]
48. "A copy of Her Majesty's bill, signed, procured by the Rt. Hon. the Earl of Leicester, constable of Her Majesty's castle and forest of Windsor, by virtue of which you may deny the purveyors of all such things as in the bill is prescribed."
As our deer and game within our forest of Windsor have a great part of their feeding within the corn fields, meads, and pastures of our subjects dwelling in the forest, and thereby do great damage; we, tendering the maintenance of our subjects, grant unto the dwellers within the parish of Purbright, co. Surrey, in the said forest, during pleasure, discharge from all provision of victuals for our household; and we command all purveyors, &c. not to purvey or take to our use any manner of victuals, save hay or straw, but suffer our said subjects quietly to enjoy their farms, grounds, and livings, without disturbance, as they shall answer at their peril. And we command that the officers of our household cause order to be taken with our said purveyors for the full obtaining of this our pleasure. [¾ sheet. Copy signed Hen. Nevill.]
49. Draft of the above. Docqueted, "A discharge for the parishes within the bounds of Windsor forest, to be exempted from purveyors, saving of hay and straw for your Majesty's stable, to continue during your Majesty's pleasure." [¾ sheet.]
50. Statement made to the Queen. You gave Lord Wentworth certain concealed lands in fee-farm remaining in the Earl of Hertford's hands, value 80l. a year, towards repairing his great losses in service. After the grant thereof, Lord Wentworth, to obtain the same, caused an information to be preferred in your name, according to the course of the common law, whereupon the Earl of Hertford, finding the case would go hard with him, made suit to you to have the matter determined in the Exchequer Chamber, before the Lord Treasurer, Sir Walter Mildmay, the Barons, &c., where, after four years, it was decided that the said Earl had no right to the lands, but they should belong to Lord Wentworth, and the rents thereof to Your Majesty. As Lord Hertford refused the common law, and now will not have those judge the title whom at his earnest suit Your Majesty appointed, it were hard for Lord Wentworth and prejudicial to you that, after so long a time spent, he should be driven to any further suit, as by the order delivered from Your Majesty by the Lord Treasurer he would be ; but rather he should receive order for the title, or at least for the possession, which he purchased at great charge, and which will be to your profit 80l. a year. [1 page, copy. See Dom. Eliz., Vol. LXXV., No. 28.]
51. Certain remembrances for Alford's counsel to move the Lord Chief Justice and other justices of the King's Bench for judgment against Porter. Porter not having settled a debt of 150l. due to John Pierce of London, the latter sued me, being surety in 300l. for the debt, obtained judgment, and issued execution, whereupon I sued Porter, who had promised to save me harmless, and obtained a verdict last Michaelmas term. It may be alleged that I am not so much damnified, and that Pierce will not take the forfeit, yet it is to be answered that I was not saved harmless, but arrested and condemned. Pierce has the execution out against me, and may extend it when he likes. Porter besides this owes me 150l. by recognizance lent out of my purse; also 120l. paid for him to Stoddard, for which I stood bound. I also stand bound for him in 390l., to Augustine Grafigna, merchant stranger, for payment of 180l. next June. I have no assurance from Porter which is not encumbered with conveyances, &c., and as he is laid for by the Council, he dares not appear, so that I am like to have to pay all these sums, and having sufficient bail for this matter is all the relief I have towards recompensing my other debts. Besides, he has commenced divers actions of vexation against me, to the value of 5,000l., upon device of false assumpsit, and having false men feed to aver anything. When I joined issue, and would have had these actions tried, he discontinued them all. With particulars of the said actions, in which Austen Porter, Stoddard, and Ludovic Greville were concerned. [1¾ pages, damaged.]
52. [Wm. Porter] to Fras. Alford. I know not whether it be the slackness of the bearer, or your own mistrust of me, or my honest dealing towards you, but I rely only upon your last promise for aiding me in this necessity, to avoid the great danger and shameful loss I must otherwise enter into. Do not mistrust me, nor let me incur such a shameful bargain as I may enter into; think me not importunate in craving your friendship so many ways, for I am all yours whilst I live, and so use me in this case. I am now a suitor to your counsel, in other cases to yourself, but I put my trust only in you.
Endorsed, "Porter entereth with Mr. Alford for fear of shameful loss, and hasteth the assurance." [2/3 page, damaged.]
53. Brief instruction touching matters between Fras. Alford and Wm. Porter. Alford last Easter term brought an action upon an assumpsit against Wm. Porter, viz., that on 9 May, Porter promised to put Alford in sufficient sureties to save him harmless from an obligation for 300l., wherein they both stood liable to John Pierce of London, for the debt of the said Porter of 150l.
Porter in his answer confessed the assumpsit, and pleaded a concord, viz., that on 8 July last, it was agreed between him and Alford that in consideration of one obligation of 40l., wherein Alford stood bound to Wm. Bote for Porter, also of 150l. more to be lent by Alford to Porter, also of his saving Alford harmless of the bond of 150l. to Pierce, Porter should acknowledge a statute to Alford of 2,000 marks, which he did on 13 July, and therefore pleaded that Alford had no cause of action.
Alford pleads that there was no such concord, and there is no proof of it, except they bring in suborned witnesses. Ludovic Greville will depose upon his oath for it, but untruly. Particulars for disproof of the concord. Causes for acknowledgment of the statute; and reasons to impair the credit of Greville. [3 pages, damaged.]
54. Copy of the above. [3 pages, damaged.]
55. Articles of concord whereby Wm. Porter agrees to transfer to Fras. Alford, the manor of Aston-under-Edge, with 12 messuages, 10 cottages, a dove house, 12 gardens, 12 orchards, 24 acres of meadow land, 200 of pasture, 10 of wood, &c. [½ page, Latin, damaged.]
56. Bill of Francis to [Mr. Oseley], for bridles, saddles, and other furniture for horses; total, 1l. 10s. 4d. [Scrap.]
57. Note, that in 3 Eliz., a patent was granted during pleasure to Sir Hen. Percy, and in 12 Eliz., to him and his sons Henry and Thomas, of the captaincy of Tynemouth castle, with the forts, havens, &c., as also of the monastery, the demesne lands, keeping of courts, wind and water mills, saltpans, coal mines, corn tithes of 19 villages, tithe lamb and wool, and all other petty tithes of the parish of Tynemouth, in consideration of their exercise of the said office, and well defending the castle, &c., but the deputies must be such as Her Majesty shall have no cause to dislike.
The Receiver of Northumberland is to pay the following fees at Lady Day and Michaelmas, Viz.:—
£ s. d.
The captain 100 0 0
The master gunner at 7d. per diem. 18 5 0
8 other gunners at 6d. per diem. 73 0 0
11 household servants each at 6l. 13s. 4d. per annum 73 6 4
£264 11 4
Rent reserved upon the grant of the monastery, &c., 165l. 11s. 5d. [1 page.]
58. Information of the illegal proceedings of Thos. Rous, of Denington, Suffolk, to whom and his accomplices special regard is to be had. In the time of the rebellion in the reign of King Edward, he became captain of a great number of traitors. Having the gift of three benefices lately fallen void, he declines disposing of any. Neither he nor any of his family have attended church for some time; he and his accomplices have been indicted for it, and refusing to subscribe under the Act of Uniformity, he was bound by a recognizance of 200l. to be of good bearing, which when he was asked to sign, he said, "I am assured as soon as I put to my hand that my bond is forfeited," which has been done. He maintains his brother beyond the seas, as a doctor of civil and canon law, who is lately passed to Rome, where he now remains, doubtful whether to good purpose, considering his religion, and his brother's ill disposition. [¾ page. See Domestic Eliz., Vol., LX., No. 62. III.]
59. Copy of 31 inscriptions from the tombs of knights, lord mayors, merchants, ladies, &c., chiefly of London, who died in the 14th and 15th century. The numbers 1, 2 and 3 are used in most cases for the surnames of the deceased. [1¼ columns, soiled.]