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April 21. May 1. Antwerp. |
18. B.[Thos. Barnes to Phelippes]. A service has been propounded
to me by Fathers Holt and Owen, which will be grateful to the best
sort of Catholics here, and a commodity to myself, when an alteration
happens in England, as is probable shortly; that is to return to
London or about Court, advertising of matters demanded, and
executing what Card. Allen, Owen, and Holt think necessary. At
first I seemed unwilling, but finding that matters of moment would
be committed to my charge, I told Father Holt I would undertake
the service, though I knew there were others more sufficient. He
said he wished me to accept it for old acquaintance, because it was
important, and he feared an Englishman who had lately gone over
and come again, whom you know I have cause to fear. C. Paget
brought news from France that the Master of Gray and his man
made special inquiry where I was, as they had letters of importance to send me, which Paget interpreted to be from Mr. Secretary, but that matter is salved by friendship. To frame a more
colourable answer, I would I had known of any such letter sent
when I was with you. |
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There is a friar called Arthur with you in London, of whom
you make great account; take heed of him, for he corresponds with
a Portuguese in Antwerp. Send me instructions; this is an opportunity to enter on a great matter. I want money according to
your promise; address it to St. Clares St., Antwerp. [1 page. The
passages in italics are in cipher, deciphered by Phelippes.] |
April 23./May 3. |
19. [T. Phelippes? to Barnes]. I have received yours of the 1st,
but not of the 23rd ult. If letters miscarry, it should be provided for.
E. allows you to accept that overture, and has sent you 20l. for your
expenses hither. Come by Middleburgh, and bring the things? you
have ready, as I cannot send expressly for them. If you cannot come
soon, send them to E. who will see them conveyed to us; write that
they are for the Queen's service, and require him to send them to
D. at London. If it be not safe to address an Englishman, direct to
him in Dutch, as John Whytsand. Have ample instructions for your
addresses in Court or elsewhere for intelligence. I will put them
in mind for supply of maintenance. I repose so on your discretion
that I will not trouble you more. [Draft by T. Phelippes, much
corrected.] |
May 6. The Court. |
20. The Council to Mr. Rugby and Mr. Herbert, Masters of Requests. Half a year since, we recommended to you the cause of
one Cross, a poor aged minister, who had long importuned us concerning a cause between him and Edmond Hall, of London. Understanding that you had done nothing, we commanded one of our
clerks to remind you to hear it, whereby the party might surcease to
be troublesome to us; nevertheless he still daily follows us with
great importunity. We think that in reason you ought to have such
care of those causes of poor supplicants addressed from us to you
as to examine and end them, or advertise us of your proceedings,
that we may know how to answer the parties. [1 page.] |
May 14. |
21. Note of the distribution, between the officers and men, of
24l. 6s. appointed for a weekly imprest to a company of 150 men.
[1¼ pages, noted by Burghley.] |
May ? |
22. Notes [by Lord Burghley] upon the payment of a band of
150 men, by lendings or otherwise, and the differences accruing
from sundry modes of payment. [¾ page.] |
May 29. Alnwick. |
23. Sir John Forster to Sec. Walsingham. You have been informed that I continue an extreme dealing towards Sir Cuthbert
Collingwood, and desire to be satisfied therein. I protest that I
never used any persecution to him or his, but have been as equal
towards him as to any friend I have, especially for your cause. I
marvel what cause he has to complain, considering I never did him
any harm, and have never seen him since my coming from London,
nor had to do with any matter touching him or his, wherein I have
not been upright. If you will have trial hereof, I shall either discharge myself, or never have credit. These informations will prove
as false as others that he made before, and if you will direct your
letters to any friend he has in Northumberland, I shall either prove
his informations false, or else you will think of me as I deserve;
and until such time, I beseech you to trust me as well as him. |
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P.S.—If you will write to Sir Thos. Gray, whose sister your
servant, Thomas Collingwood, has married, I shall either discharge
myself or take discredit. [1 page.] |
May 31./June 10. St. Malo. |
24. M. Fontaines, Governor of St. Malo, to Sir Thomas Leighton,
Governor of Guernsey. As a quantity of arquebuses and muskets
are necessary for the preservation of this place, I have charged
Jas. Beauvoir, of Guernsey, to buy them in London, and bring them
over. I beg you to allow them to pass your island without interruption. [1 page, French.] |
May 31. |
25. Report of B[arnes]. Was forced, for fear of offence, to come
hither, though he could have done better service there. Has brought
instructions from Owen, Holt, Lord Paget, Charles Paget, and
Morgan, and has several alphabets, and directions for conveyance of
letters. The service is laid on him with the privity of Cosmo, the
Duke's secretary, whose passport he has, and wishes to repass as
speedily as he may. The Duke imputes last year's ill success to the
want of intelligence in England. Lord Paget made things difficult
and doubtful, while others promised assured conquest, and thus won
great reputation of the Duke. |
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There is little money stirring for the English, unless they can get
ready payment of pensions by service. |
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The English hope the King of Spain will be able to weary us out
with expense, having led him to think the effecting what he pretended concerns him in honour, while they laugh in their sleeve at
having embarked him in their quarrel. Lord Paget dreams we
should yield to a peace, with reasonable conditions for the Catholics
at home and abroad, and wishes it in conscience, to avoid the misery
ensuing on conquest. |
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They have little intelligence, or such as makes them condemn the
enterprise of Sir John Norris and Sir Fras. Drake; they have none
but by Twing at Calais, and another at St. Omer. They can trust
none in England, as all platforms fell to the ground on the death
of the Queen of Scots. Their next design will be built on other
ground than religion; and they harp much on Lady Arabella,
despairing of the King of Scots, whom Father Holt calls the
cunningest young man ever bred. |
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Col. Simple was blamed for ordering his man to pass through
England. |
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The last ambassador to England was met on his return at Enchuysen by a Scot, who brought him a secret commission to treat
with the Duke of Parma. He spoke discontentedly of his usage
here, complaining of our acting, &c. |
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The Duke [of Parma] was at the Spa, discontent, and in disgrace,
because the Duke of Medina imputed the ill success of the fleet
to him, as he did to Medina. The Dukes of Pestrana and Prince of
Ascoli are at Antwerp, and have a grudge against Parma. The
soldiers in field and garrison are 28,000, but the Duke has no money
for them. The Marquis de Burgo, with some troops, is going to
assist the leaguers in France, and more are to be levied at the King
of Spain's charge. The Duke has 120 ships, and they are preparing
300 small boats, seemingly for surprise of some town. |
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He (Barnes) was asked to win for money the keeper of some
castle on the coast of Flanders (sic), especially Vane of Dover castle.
[1¾ pages, copy.] |
May 31. |
26. Draft of the above [by Phelippes]. [2 pages.] |
May. |
27. Instructions by Charles Paget to B[arnes]. To learn why
the King of Scots was not established heir apparent to the Crown,
according to promises, and how he takes the non-performance.
What conceit Queen and Council have of his marriage with
Denmark; who of the Council favour him, and on whom he relies
for settling the Crown. How the late division amongst Council,
about the Protestants and Puritans, is compounded. What party
Arabella and her favourers adhere to, and how they mean to bestow
her in marriage, seeing Leicester's intention to match his bastard
with her is by his death made frustrate. How the realm endures
the continual oppressions laid upon them by subsidies, loans, and
setting forth of soldiers; and what principal men seem most to
repine at it. Whether they would be content to hearken to a
peace, on some tolerable conditions for Catholics at home and
abroad. If you find this, send an answer by letters if you can, but
I fear this, by reason of the often search of the posts and interruption of letters; therefore you had best hire a boat to convey you
secretly to these parts. |
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Certify what ports and havens in the realm are fitted to land in;
which are most negligently kept; what number of soldiers, horse,
and foot they have for defence; who are the generals and captains;
and what store of armour, munition, &c. |
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Advertise what ships are now at sea, and how appointed, and
victualled; their number of soldiers and mariners, &c., and what
success you hear Drake has. [½ page; the italics are in cipher
deciphered.] |
[May.] |
28. Petition of Peter Newall to John Wolley, [Latin] Secretary
of State, to hear himself the cause between him and David Lloyd,
a retail draper, relative to a licence for shipping calf skins obtained
for relief of Chester merchants, hearing from Mr. Waad, clerk of
the Council, that the cause is referred to the Master of the Rolls
and Mr. Solicitor, who are influenced in Lloyd's favour. Lloyd,
usurping the name of a merchant, and assisted by his father-in-law,
Mr. Bavand, an ironmonger, vintner, mercer, and retailer of many
commodities, has exhibited a complaint, coloured as a city's cause,
against petitioner, inferring slander against petitioner concerning
the licence, and has also laid a plot to work the confusion of the
merchants, and of all traffic to and from that city. [½ page.] |