Addenda, Queen Elizabeth - Volume 20: September 1571

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

'Addenda, Queen Elizabeth - Volume 20: September 1571', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Elizabeth, Addenda, 1566-79, (London, 1871) pp. 358-361. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/domestic/edw-eliz/addenda/1566-79/pp358-361 [accessed 24 April 2024]

September 1571



Sept. 3/13. Louvaine.	67. Wm. Holmes to George Smith. I am sorry to seem to neglect you in not writing, but I have to write when I should sleep. I have prayed for your spiritual comfort, and am glad to hear of your courage in God's cause. You may rejoice that you are thought worthy to suffer for his sake; walking on the seas tried Peter's love, but he was not suffered to drown. Drink the cup of persecution willingly, though bitter in taste, and your reward shall be everlasting life. [¾ page.]
Sept. 3/13. L[ouvaine].	68. Wm. Holmes to John Swinborne. I did not write, being warned that my letters might be hurtful, and that none could be sent, and I do not know sometimes when messengers leave, but it pinched me to hear of other men's letters passing; my good meaning towards you will never decay. Comfort yourself in God, while you tread the painful paths prepared for the chosen, to suffer injuries, &c. [1 page.]
Sept. 3/13. L[ouvaine].	69. Wm. Holmes to Brian Palmer. Excuses for not writing. I have gained you the good will and prayers of sundry wise and virtuous. Your case, though sorrowful, is the ready way to salvation. Those who live godly in Christ must suffer persecution. We must glory in the cross alone. This way our Saviour went himself, and led his mother and his servants.
	P.S.—If I can, I will send you a book entitled "Collectio consolationum vere aurea," and three pictures for yourself and two others. [1½ pages.]
Sept. 6. Nostal.	70. Sir Thos. Gargrave to the Earl of Sussex. This country remains quiet, and in the last watch, there were not found any suspected persons other than certain known beggars and vagabonds, who were punished according to law. I have travelled these three weeks and more, daily except Sundays, for the assessment of the subsidy, and was forced to sit in seven several places, for lack of commissioners, and have had more to do to bring it to any convenient sum than ever I had before, and I have not heard the complaint so general of poverty as it now is. They have been much touched with the late troubles, payments for armour, assessment for repairs of above a dozen bridges overthrown last winter, payment of fines, enhancement of rents, lack of traffic with Flanders, Commissioners for concealed lands and goods, and for sale of wines, outlawries, &c. They are much troubled when called on for the 15th, 10th, and subsidy, for in every parish there are some called before the said Commissioners. I wish they had stayed till the subsidy had been rated.
	At the last gaol delivery, Cuthbert Athye was attainted at York for stealing a mare. He has served long in Ireland, and hearing of your levying in Scotland, got leave of his captain to come to serve under you, but being at sea, was driven into Scotland, all he had taken from him, and by ill persuasion, took the mare, and was taken at Ferrybridge. He is reprieved till it is known whether you will procure his pardon, or he will be executed Allhallowtide.
	[Marginal note.—If this be true, it is charitable to procure his pardon, for he is no malicious offender.]
	A poor man's house was robbed in service time a year since, and last Christmas, a rich priest, being a great usurer; but no offenders could be found, though I awarded three commissions. At last Thos. Fairfax and other commissioners found it was seven poor men, and Gabriel Green,—a gentleman of 30l. or 40l. in land, well thought of, but who had overcharged himself by buying a piece of land,—was accessory. All the offenders have been indicted, and five executed; he that brought it to light reprieved, and Green and another fled. Green's friends, for his wife and children's sake, would raise 200l. for his pardon; and as they allege most of the land is entailed, and can only be forfeit for his life, the Queen could have no great commodity thereby. The wife is a daughter of Thos. Lister of Craven, kinsman to Lister, your servant. If you procure the pardon, the payment will be made, and I hear much good of the man.
	[Marginal note.—If the land is entailed it would be better for the Queen to have the 200l., either for her own use, or to bestow in reward on some servant.]
	If you procure a pardon for Athye, I will have it drawn, and send it you. There are certain felons in Hull gaol for whom I have apponted a gaol delivery for Sept. 13th, and hope Serjeant Wray will be there. [2 pages.]
Sept. 18. Antwerp.	71. Fras. Norton to Lord Burghley. I hoped at first you would be a means to obtain me the Queen's pardon, as you promised me through Mr. Fitzwilliams, but now it seems my dutiful submission does not appease Her Majesty's displeasure, or I am hindered by some new practice, though Mr. Lee can testify that I am most innocent thereof. I trouble you with these to avoid sinister reports, and beg your furtherance with Her Majesty. [1 page.]
1571? Sept. 29. Warwick.	72. Robert Earl of Leicester to the Queen. Thinking it long since I heard of your good estate, according to the duty of your bounden eyes (fn. 1) I have sent this bearer to understand of the same, meaning not to be long after in coming to give my attendance. Meantime it shall be most comfort to your poor eyes to hear that you continue your health.
	I also give you thanks for this small liberty granted; it had been no small hindrance, both for my brother and myself, if I had not been now here. All that we both have bath proceeded from your only goodness. God send us grace that we may, by our faithful services, acknowledge the great benefits of so gracious a mistress.
	I found my Lord Marquis [of Winchester?] here in the country, in marvellous weak state; a strange sight it is to see such a one travail in such sort with life; but I perceive, contrary to his determination, he came hither only to speak with me, thinking he should never else have seen me, nor had means to break his mind in such sort as now he hath done: yet I must say, before he entered into any cause of his own, he spent two hours only in questioning of your estate, and showing his good heart towards you. His very tears did witness his zeal; and though he be marvellous weak, yet in your causes I found his wit fresh, and much better than to talk of any private matter. God send him to recover for your service's sake, for he was a just gentleman and a faithful Councillor; but surely I fear he cannot long continue, and therefore if you send some comfort to him, it would greatly relieve him; if anything do him good it must come from you. The poor gentlewoman his wife has so behaved herself towards him in his sickness as she hath won great love among all his friends, and great commendment with others that hear of it; since his coming hither to me, it appears to be true that has been reported of her.
	Though upon so sudden change there can come but little hope, yet there is the greatest amendment in my Lord since he came hither that can be thought, and there cannot be a better place wished for him than this, both for good air and otherwise to content his disposition; but no physician in England would do him more good than the company of my brother of Warwick, whom he much longs to see. I tell him at my return I will procure his leave of you, but meantime pray send some express comfort from yourself, for he has long pined away with inward grief, thinking that he had been clean forgotten and forsaken of all the world, having made very hard shift to maintain himself and his family hitherto. [2 pages.]
Sept. ?	73. Robert Earl of Leicester to the Queen. It is easier for me to confess how much I am tied to you by innumerable benefits than to attain to my desire to be worthy of so great favour. I may not begin, lest I should not make an end, to tell of that I have received, but am ashamed that I have deserved so little; only I offer you a most faithful and loyal heart. God grant me no longer breath than it be most unspotted to you.
	And now to satisfy your over great care of my present estate, though I departed away in some pain, yet in no suspicion at all of what you feared, only it seems, for lack of use, my late exercise wrought some strange accident, through my own negligence, to take more cold than was convenient after such heat. I was well warned by you, but neither fearing or mistrusting any such cause as followed, I have felt some smart for my carelessness, whereby I am driven to use the commodity of a bath, to ease the pain, which is none otherwise than I have declared to this bearer to show you, and is not worth the troubling you with, but to satisfy your good pleasure, being more careful for me, poor wretch, than the loss of a thousand such lives are worth. [1 page.]