Calendar of the Cecil Papers in Hatfield House: Volume 6, 1596. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1895.
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'Cecil Papers: June 1596, 1-15', in Calendar of the Cecil Papers in Hatfield House: Volume 6, 1596, (London, 1895) pp. 208-216. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-cecil-papers/vol6/pp208-216 [accessed 25 April 2024]
June 1596, 1–15
| Sir Harry Knyvett to Sir Robert Cecil. | |
| 1596, June 1. | Presenting “the copy of a brief fancy of mine, the which, by you perused and allowed, I hope I may be some mean, both to move her Majesty to renew her good opinion of me and to employ me so in her service as neither she may longer lose the benefit thereof, nor I hold the time ill spent which I have carefully and painfully bestowed only to enable myself to do her highness as sufficient and effectual service as most others of my sort.” A “fair written book” (of the fancy) will to-day be ready to be presented to the Queen, if Cecil approve.—My lodging, 1 June, 1596. |
| Endorsed :—“Sir Ha. Knyvett to my master, with a book to be presented to her Majesty.” | |
| Signed. ½ p. (41. 44.) | |
| Sir Ferdinando Gorges to Sir Robert Cecil. | |
| 1596, June 3. | Towards evening, on the 2nd June, the Fleet was enforced to put into the Sound again, but they sailed again about 11 a.m. on the third, and are now out of sight. A ship of London which spent her topmast has gone with the rest; but a fly-boat is so disabled that she must transfer her provisions to a hulk, which will be ready in five or six days. No other news since Sir Henry Lea and Mr. Fooke Grivell left. Considering the defenceless state of the country here, of which their lordships wrote to Cecil's father, asks that the 50 men for the guard of this place may be despatched, for it lies as a prey to the enemy. Begs that his own charges may be considered.—Plymouth, 3 June. |
| Signed, Fard. Gorges. | |
| Endorsed :—“1596.” 1 p. (14. 46). | |
| The Fellows of Winchester College to Sir Robert Cecil. | |
| [1596, about June 4]. | We have received her Majesty's letters directed unto us for the electing of Mr. Henry Cotten, one of her chaplains, unto the fellowship of this house, to make him capable of a farther preferment, and that notwithstanding Mr. Cotten, for the effecting thereof, procured a conditional resignation, with a revocation in case he were disappointed. Yet upon sundry and divers reasons specified in the acts of our proceedings, we could in no case consent unto a new election, without the entangling of one of our own fellowship, being an aged and silly old man, within the lists of manifest and inexcusible perjury, to the great dishonour of our house, the breach of our own oaths, and his utter undoing. We were willing, considering her Highness's care for the preserving of regularity in our proceedings, if just opportunity had been offered, to have done whatsoever the statutes of our house would have permitted us in this case; but because we took it not only to be a thing besides her Majesty's meaning, but also offensive unto her to bring in a man so greatly favoured of her by such indirect means, or any manner of ways to have her intention blemished with the touch of such an inevitable inconvenience, we beseech you to present our humble duties, and signify our willing readiness to have proceeded according to her letters and our statutes if any place had been void or might have been avoided without open and manifest perjury of him that should have resigned, as by our statutes we have made it evident to Mr. Cotten himself already. |
| Signed :—George Ryves, Subwarden, Anthony Beeley, Thomas Jefferey, John Boles, John Tilbero, William Watkyn, Robert Smythe, Guido Dobyns, George Blount. | |
| 1 p. [See Calendar of S. P. Dom. under date.] (136. 52.) | |
| W. Waad to Sir Robert Cecil. | |
| 1596, June 4. | Since the articles that concern O'Connor Sligo were lastly corrected by my honourable good Lord, O'Connor Sligo desired some little alteration in some places, and by your commandment I have written out the articles minutewyse, and have noted with interlining the alteration that he doth desire, being matter of no great substance. But his Lordship as yet (as your Honour told me) had not perused the same because they were deferred upon such occasion as your Honour knoweth. |
| Thus excusing myself that I do not wait upon you, having taken physic to rid me of the relics of my ague, I rest &c.—From Belsize the iiijth of June, 1596. | |
| Holograph. Part of Seal. ½ p. (173. 82.) | |
| Sir W. Fytzwilliam to Sir Robert Cecil. | |
| 1596, June 5. | Hopes to wait on him before the end of the month if the weather be dry and warm, for his joints are much amended since May ended. Is urged by a good friend to ask Cecil's and my Lord Treasurer's favour for the Queen's solicitor in Ireland, “for his repair into England for a time upon the ending of the causes with the undutiful Earl and the rest of that sort in Ireland.” The solicitor's brother, Mr. Wilbram, will wait upon him for this.—My house by Aldersgate, 5 June, 1596. |
| Signed. Seal. 1 p. (41. 47.) | |
| J. Battista Giustiniano to Sir Robert Cecil. | |
| 1596, June 5. | On speaking last with Mr. Fortescue, was appointed to come to him at his coming to this city. Waited on him yesterday and he said he had, the day before, communicated the whole business to the Lord Treasurer and they had decided to speak of it to the Queen at their coming to Court. Begs Cecil's favour in it, and to know the Queen's answer and what Signor Horatio will have to do.—London, 5 June, 1596. |
| Italian. Holograph. 1 p. (41. 48.) | |
| Sir Ferdinando Gorges to Sir Robert Cecil. | |
| 1596, June 5. | The townsmen being assembled to consult about the defence of their town, sent a serjeant to summon the writer to come to them. Scorned such a manner of sending for, and made answer that if Mr. Mayor and his brethren had anything to say he prayed them to come to his lodging. They broke up their Council in a great fury and Mr. Mayor came to tell him he did them great wrong, “in so foolish and so braving a manner” as would hardly be believed. Details further wrangling with the mayor. Desires a commission sufficiently ample to exclude “all cavil or contradiction of so ignorant and stubborn a people,” who, poor men, are altogether unable to provide for their own safety.—Plymouth, 5 June, 1596. |
| Signed, Fard. Gorges. | |
| 1 p. (41. 49.) | |
| Charles, Lord Mountjoye to Sir Robert Cecil. | |
| 1596, June 5. | Has moved the Queen to this effect, and desires him to signify her pleasure to the judges of assize of the West, Mr. Fennor and Wameslye, that (learning that, although most of lord Mountjoye's inheritance in Cornwall, Devon and Dorsetshire, was entailed upon his ancestors by special Act of Parliament, an invention has been put in practise “to demise the greatest part of the said lands by fines for 300 years or more, reserving a small yearly rent, scarce to the tenth part of the value,” which fines have been deliberately found in the Common Pleas and Queen's Bench to be void, and the principal parties have desisted from further claim, but that suits are still brought upon the selfsame title) her Majesty, in “the especial care she hath of his estate and some services wherein she otherwise employed him,” commands them, if they find suits brought upon the said title, to proceed to “the speedy determining of them by calling such before them as the matter concerneth.” Will see him before his departure.—5 June, 1596. |
| Holograph. Seal. 1 p. (41. 113.) | |
| E. Wyngate to the Lord Treasurer. | |
| 1596, [June 5]. | Asking him to further the petition to the Queen of his fellows the yeomen of the Chamber for their pay, to be received from the treasurer of the Chamber, which is two months now, 5 June, unpaid. |
| Endorsed :—1596. | |
| Holograph. 1 p. (48. 62.) | |
| William Waad to Sir Robert Cecil. | |
| 1596, June 6. | Has been threatened with an ague, or would have waited upon him to thank him. “I assure your honour, what other want there may be through my disability, there never shall be found want of good will and sincerity. I confess the letter your honour hath procured will be some benefit unto my poor estate, but the obtaining of it by your honourable means, with so great favour, is far greater comfort unto me.”—My house in Wood street, 6 June, 1596. |
| Holograph. Seal. 1 p. (41. 50.) | |
| Lord Cobham. | |
| 1596, June 6. | Note of the blue livery remaining at Cobham Hall and what is to be delivered to the household servants. List of “retainers” at foot, among them John Martin, a surgeon, and the Town Clerk of Dover. |
| 1 p. (145. 219.) | |
| R., Lord North to Sir Robert Cecil. | |
| 1596, June 7. | Writes to tell of a strange thing that has happened to him. Since he left Court there has been delivered to him a paper, without superscription, “containing the form of a prayer, compounded in such divine, religious, and most christian manner, so briefly, effectually, and apted with words of such force as no creature living, neither with wit or art, can put to pull from or remove any word in it, without the defacing of the must heavenly prayer I ever heard.” [Describes the prayer (containing but a dozen lines) in most rapturous strain.] It were worthy of a councillor like Cecil to boult out the author of it, that “such poor men as I am, knowing where the saint is shrined, may come to worship in Jerusalem and then pray with Simeon.” Longs to hear of her Majesty's well doing and of the state of the Navy; “at Harrow Steeple we see far and hear nothing.”—Harrow Hill, 7 June, 1596. |
| Holograph. 1 p. (41. 53.) | |
| R., Lord North to Sir Robert Cecil. | |
| 1596, June 7. | A brief note accompanying the preceding letter, asking him to show it to her Majesty or suppress it as he thinks best; and to burn or tear this.—Harrow Hill, 7 June, 1596. |
| “If there be good, I beseech let me hear from you. I do not acknowledge the having but seeing of a prayer.” | |
| Holograph. 1 p. (41. 53.) | |
| Lords of the Privy Council to Lord Burghley. | |
| 1596, June 7. | Considering that the Queen's navy is now sent out of the Narrow seas into the Spanish seas, under the Earl of Essex and the lord Admiral, to withstand hostile attempts intended by the King of Spain against England and Ireland, some small attempts may be made by the enemy upon unguarded places on the coast. Direct him as lieutenant of Essex to see to the coast defences and notify the Queen what is done. He shall also forbid persons whose usual habitations are upon the coast, to withdraw inland, (as it is reported that some intend) upon pain of forfeiting their goods and lands; and see that captains of forts and castles on the coast are resident in them.—Court at Greenwich, 7 June 1596. |
| Signed :—Jo.Canty.: Tho. Egerton, C.S.: W. Burghley : J. Hunsdon : W. Cobham : T. Buckehurst : Ro. Cecyll : J. Fortescue. | |
| A circular letter addressed to the lieutenants of maritime counties. | |
| 2 pp. (41. 55.) | |
| The Archbishop and Council at York to Lord Burghley. | |
| 1596, June 7. | Sending copy of an information from Sir William Mallorie and other justices against one Richard Atkinson of Ripon, who about ten years ago was by them committed to ward for divers contempts and lewd behaviours : yet hath the said Atkinson commenced suit in the court of Common Pleas against the gaoler for false imprisonment, who did nothing but as he was commanded by the whole Bench. |
| In Lent last, he was convented before the Council here, where he so likewise abused himself that with one consent they committed him to the castle. Being set at liberty within four days, he has since procured process forth of the same Court against the tipstaff attending on the Council for carrying him to the Castle, and against Mr. Redhead, her Majesty's servant, the keeper of the Castle, and brags that he looks for great recompence. | |
| The like disgrace hath not been offered to this Council in man's memory and they, having no Lord President, are bold to inform Burghley of these disorders and to crave redress. The man is passing heady and wilful, and makes small account of authority. If he do not now receive rebuke, it is like that he will prove very intolerable, and if this Council may be brought in question by every bad fellow, it must shortly grow into great contempt. | |
| The tipstaff, to avoid charges, was content to enter bond to answer; but her Majesty's servant lieth in prison because he will not relinquish the privilege of her household servant, whereof he made certificate to the Lo. Chamberlain. Mr. Ferne, her Majesty's secretary here, will attend to know Burghley's pleasure.—From York, the 7th of June, 1596. | |
| Signed :—Matth. Ebor., Humfrey Purefey, E. Stanhope, Jo. Gibson. | |
| 1 p. (173. 83.) | |
| Thomas Ferrers to Lord Burghley. | |
| 1596, June 8. | “My last was dated the 15th May per post, his order over land, in which I advertised your honour, that Robert Smith was come hither, whom I have under arrest and per next convenient mean of passage will send him under sure guard unto your lordship, according to your honour's Commission. This present day the lord Willowby is come to this town, who is very weak in body, and not able to go alone. His lordship doth mean to depart for England with first convenient passage. Unless the Lord do strengthen his honour, his lordship cannot long endure. ThAlmighty send strength! Although it was reported that the Duke of Mekelborche was dead, who is the King of Denmark's grandfather, I, having diligently enquired the same, do find it was but a mere report. The coronation of the Prince or King of Denmark is to be holden the xth August next, which is St. Lawrence. Four days past the Lantzgrave of Hessen sent to me one of his honour's servants willing me to certify his Grace whether I understood of any ambassador to be coming out of England from her Majesty unto his honour, and also to certify what I understood concerning his Grace's ambassador who was sent unto her Majesty, of whom his Grace hath not heard a long time. I certified his Honour that we attended daily on cloth ships, which God sending, I would advertise his Grace more at large. His Honour's child is still kept unchristened.”—Stod, 8 June '96. |
| Addressed :—“To, &c., the lord High Treasurer of England.” | |
| Endorsed :—“From Stoade.” | |
| Seal. Holograph. 1 p. (41. 60.) | |
| Garrison of Flushing. | |
| 1596, June 8. | Warrant to Lord Burghley under privy signet, to cause the officers of the Ordnance to deliver to Sir Robert Sydney, governor of the Queen's cautionary town of Flushing, four last of good powder for the use of the garrison there, the charge “to be defalked again upon the pay of the garrison” by the treasurer of wars in the Low Countries.—Greenwich, 8 June 1596, 38 Eliz. |
| Sign Manual. 1 p. (41. 61.) | |
| John Lee to Sir Robert Cecil. | |
| 1596, June 8. | In reply to his letter; no armour was delivered out of her Majesty's store to Sir Francis Drake, who however had powder, shot, &c., out of the office of Ordnance, as doubtless Mr. Surveyor has certified to Cecil's father and himself. |
| Signed :—Jhon Lee. | |
| Endorsed :—“8 June 1596, no armour delivered out of the Store for the voyage of Sir Francis Drake and Sir John Hawkyns.” | |
| 1 p. (41. 62.) | |
| Sir John Fortescue to Sir Robert Cecil. | |
| 1596. June 8. | Is too unwell to attend Court to day; and the certificates from the offices of Admiralty, Ordnance, &c. are not yet returned. Thinks the Queen should appoint Midleton to deliver 1,000 mks., for the soldiers' parts of the silver and gold, to Sir Thos. Baskervill for “the present despatch of the poor company” for to deliver specie would colour the purloinings, for “pearl and bullion is abroad in good quantity and if any be delivered all will be coloured.” Prays him to show the Queen that his health is such that he dare hardly venture by water. Will wait upon him to-morrow.—8 June 1596. |
| Holograph. 1 p. (41. 63.) | |
| Sir John Fortescue to Sir Robert Cecil. | |
| 1596, June 9. | “Sir, with my most heartiest commendations, if you saw the number, being 200 poor miserable creatures, hanging at my gate who neither have meat nor clothes it would pity your heart. They say they were imprested in her Majesty's name, and show a warrant under the hands of all the lords, and served not for any shares; and that, upon that ground, all pillage was taken from them. They require wages.” They are but 400 besides the captains. Their wages at 6s. 8d. a month would be only 1,600l., and their sixth part would surpass that sum; but they must be paid by the poll and not by the captains. They have all either seen or heard the quantity of plate and bullion, “and so for any gain to be made thereof there is no suspicion.” Has sent for Sir Thomas Baskervile and Mr. Carmarthen and will see her Majesty's will performed, whose honour so it may be preserved, the rest importeth not. It grieveth me not a little that for my lady of Southampton my lord your father should be blamed, whose carefulness for her Majesty therein I can be a witness of, and trust her Highness will not lay grief upon him for others' fault. Thus, almost confused in these business, I commit you to God.”—9 June, 1596. |
| Holograph. 1 p. (41. 64.) | |
| Frances, Countess of Kildare to Sir Robert Cecil. | |
| 1596, June 9. | “Good Sr Robard Ciscell I find your love to my father is in ciche true honnorabell affickcone that I am very glad he dud commit me to the rule of so worthy a kind frend as by manny proufs you have manny fasted cincs his abcenes to him slefe and his. My Lo. is not yut come hether nor to London, as I here, but I have sent to him to let him know of my gre (?) of his coming and howe glad I shulld be to see him here, with my honnorabell kind mother and his one datur, and if not I will mete him if he plese at the Cort or eles were.—Rigaet,” 9 June. |
| P.S. “I pray salut your lady with my loveing commandacons to hur.” | |
| Holograph. 1 p. (41. 65.) | |
| Richard Topcliffe to Sir Robert Cecil. | |
| 1596, June 10. | As to a half book in paper sent to him to peruse. Promises the residue as soon as it comes from the Lord Chief Justice of England.—10th of June. |
| Endorsed :—“1596.” | |
| Holograph. 1/8 p. (51. 107.) | |
| Sir Edward Stanley to Sir Robert Cecil. | |
| 1596, June 11. | Sir, there is one would give me two hundred pounds to get her Majesty's warrant to make a Serjeant at the Law, who shall be such a one as the lord Keeper shall give a good allowance of. Begs him to move her Majesty for him in this. It would enable him to furnish himself for her service at home or abroad. |
| Endorsed :—“xjmo Junii 1596,” and also, in Cecil's hand, with the following list :—Sir Edw. Stanley, Sir W. Constable, Sir Tho. Morgan, (fn. 1) Sir Ch. Heydon, Sir Sa. Bagnall, Sir Ben. Berry, Sir Ric. Warbortun (?), Sir Tho. Vavasor, Sir Ch. Wilmott, Sir Christopher St. Lawrens, Sir W. Udall. (fn. 1) | |
| Signed. ½ p. (41. 66.) | |
| Richard [Fletcher,] Bishop of London, to Sir Robert Cecil. | |
| 1596, June 12. | In favour of his brother Dr. Fletcher, to have “the place extraordinary of the Requests” void by the death of Mr. Rookeby. Cecil has long known him and, to use a commendation given in Holy Writ, dignum est cui benefacias. The Queen has acknowledged his past services in the “affairs of Scotland, in Germany for the privileges of the English merchants obtained at Stoade, in Russia for the renewing of the English intercourse then interrupted and in a manner dissolved. For all which his travel hath been the recompense of his pain. Your honour knoweth well what kind of people he serveth—a popular multitude naturally jealous of all dealing and intercourse with the Court, yea of their own solicitors though never so faithful in their affairs, especially in matters of charge imposed upon them; as if the negligence and subornation of their own agents were the cause thereof. It pleased Her Majesty at his going into Russia to make him her sworn servant in that place of the Requests” and if he be granted more nearness to that service he will be found faithful and sufficient.—Fulham, 12 June. |
| Endorsed :—“1596.” | |
| Holograph. 1 p. (41. 69.) | |
| The Earl of Essex to the Lords of the Council. | |
| 1596, [June 13]. | Contemporary copy. [The original is in the Public Record Office. See State Papers, Domestic, Eliz., Vol. cclix, No. 12.] |
| Endorsed :—“Copy of the Earl of Essex' letter to the Lords. Received and presented to them the xiijth. of June at Greenwich.” | |
| 5 pp. (41. 70.) | |
| Thomas Myddelton to Sir Robert Cecil. | |
| 1596, June 14. | Has been with Mr. Chancellor, who is now past the worst. There is yet no distribution made of the 200l. to the soldiers. Asks him to confer with Sir Thomas Baskerfield in this and send instructions. Mr. Chancellor thinks the bullion should be coined, out of hand, it being to no purpose to keep it as 'it is. Please “move her Majesty and signify her pleasure to his honour therein” also what answer to make to the captains by sea who attend daily for their pay, and what allowance will be for those that are slain and absent, some sick and some with lords Essex and Admiral, for none are paid as yet but such as appeared in person. “If there be no pay then the sooner they are answered the better; and without they be paid there will be wonderful exclamation.”—London, 14 (altered from 13) June 1596. |
| Holograph. 1 p. (41. 73.) | |
| Elizabeth, dowager Lady Russell to her nephew, Sir Robert Cecil. | |
| 1596, June 15. | “Sir Robert Cecill, this night I hear that Mr. Rookby is dead. If you will get yourself credit, do your best to place Mr. Dale for, a temporal lawyer, a master of the Requests; for want whereof there is exceeding want and complaint by the subjects, poor suitors, and this man very much desired of my lord Chief Baron and the rest of the chief judges, as a most sufficient man for that place, being so learned, grave, and of such experience. Therefore, since his white hairs show him to be so ancient a lawyer, so wise men think him most fit, and himself cometh to you in your mother's name, macta virtute, with God's blessing. And let not Doctor Caesar, a civilian, deprive him of the fee, due by patent to a temporal lawyer and not to a civilian, who, besides, hath enough already, if these days could acknowledge what is enough. So, loath to trouble you further at this time, I humbly thank God for the heavenly breath proceeding from a saint so sweet and gracious to me as you write.”—15 June. |
| Holograph. 1 p. (41. 74.) | |
| Richard Staper, governor of the “Company of the merchants trading the Levant,” to Sir Robert Cecil. | |
| 1596, June 15. | Presents to him, by bearer, on behalf of the Company, two Turkey carpets, a long and a short, as a return for his favour in obtaining the Queen's letters to the Grand Signor.—London, 15 June 1596. |
| Signed. 1 p. (41. 75.) | |
| The Middle Marches. | |
| 1596, June 15. | Warrant to Lord Burghley under the privy signet, to command the general receiver of Yorkshire to continue, for three or four months longer, payment of 130l. monthly to 80 light horse under the Warden of the Middle Marches, which payment was heretofore ordered to be made “for certain months.” Also to cause the receiver of Kent to pay the captains and ordinary retinue of the forts in Kent and in the Cinque Ports, from the time that Lord Cobham shall signify their entry into that service, “foreseeing that in case of their absence their ordinary wages may be detained.”—Greenwich, 15 June, 1596, 38 Eliz. |
| Sign Manual. | |
| Seal. Signed, on the back, by Lord Burghley. 1 p. (41. 76.) | |