Cecil Papers: 1612

Calendar of the Cecil Papers in Hatfield House: Volume 22, 1612-1668. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1971.

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'Cecil Papers: 1612', in Calendar of the Cecil Papers in Hatfield House: Volume 22, 1612-1668, (London, 1971) pp. 1-9. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-cecil-papers/vol22/pp1-9 [accessed 19 March 2024]

1612

John Dackombe to the Earl of Salisbury.
1612, May 29. Protests against the slanderous statements made about him to Salisbury by the steward (Roger Houghton) and his friends, and requests to be allowed to confront his detractors and "to prove that I have gayned to your fathers estate above 35000l and 1000l per annum in land, and that I have setled 40000l worth of land wherein his Lordships titles were defective, which service may meritt (if a servant can meritt from a master) some parte of his Lordships bountifull legacie without malice. I came not unbred nor without meanes (which I ever vailed with humilitie) into my Lord my masters service, and was not ignorant howe to augment myne owne estate somwhat that knewe how to advauntage his Lordships soe much. Wherein I beseech your Lordship, pardon my presumption to importune your noble disposition to appoint me a tyme (when I may dare everie mans malice to tax me) of examination of my lief and creditt." Otherwise he may feel obliged to take legal proceedings against his calumniators. 29 of May, 1612.
Holograph. Endorsed: "1612". ½ p. (General 16/17.)
Household Book.
1612, June 11 to October 19. Household expenses at Hatfield, in the hand of S. Stillingfleet. The book gives the daily purchase of provisions, and the consumption and cost of dinners and suppers daily. Many guests are named, including: Lord and Lady Walden; Mrs Fynes; Sir Edward Capell; Lord Compton; the Countess of Essex; Sir Thomas Havard; Mr Henry Howard; Captain Fortescue; Captain Butler; Mr Lytton; Mr Garner; Mr Houghton; Mr Dackombe; the Countess of Suffolk; Sir William Woodhouse; the Earl of Montgomery; Mr Ball; Lord and Lady Clifford; Sir Edward Cecil; Sir Henry Capell; Sir Anthony Forest; Sir John Butler; Lord Wentworth; Sir Henry Riche; Mr William Lytton; Mrs Houghton; Mrs Hamonde; Lady Norris; Lord and Lady Knowles; Sir Francis Knollis; Lord Hayes; the Dean of Westminster; Mr Kirkham; Captain Knightlye; Doctor Lyster; Mr Bradberrye; Mr Garrett; Sir Goddarde Pemmerton and Lady; Mr Arthur Capell; Sir John Ferris; Sir Ralph Coninsbye; Mr Finnett; Mr Duke Terrett; the Lord Chamberlain; Sir William Buddon; Sir Thomas Monson; Lady Wrothe; Sir Charles Howard and Lady.
The ordinary number of the household at Hatfield varied between 60 and 70. It was usual for guests to bring retinues and followers, and the largest recorded number of these in one day is 120.
(Accounts 160/2.)
Certificates.
1612, June 14. "Theis are to certefie any which shall make question herof, That wheras we are geven to understand that one Mr Luke did undertatake (sic) the cure of Thomas Pope of a tumour in his leggs, who by application of his medicines was excoriated and ulcerated withe muche paines and inflamation to the detriment of the patient, and beinge left so to his farther danger was by the appoyntment of the chiurgions to the Lord Treasurer for cure therof comitted to the hands of William Preist, chiurgion, who hathe through his endevors not only taken away the said tumor, and inflamations, but also hath skyned and sealed the same, and sett the said Thomas free of that paine and accident. And so much our certaine knowledge we do certefie ffrom Bathe this ffourtenth of June."
Signed: Jo. Sherwood; Ralph Bayley; Walter Chapman; Thomas Ireland. Endorsed: "The letter of the phisitions of Bath about healing the boyes legg."
Note at bottom: "This buisnes was undertaken by Mr Preist the Thursdaye before my Lords death, which was the 21 of Maye, so continuing till the 16 of June: itt is about some 24 dayes. Mr Preist stayd uppon purpose to heale this soare." Signed: John Bowle.
Further note at bottom: "Wheras we have beene earnestly entreated by Mr Preist to certifie our opinions concerninge this busines comitted to him by my Lords assignement we whose names are underwritten doe thinke that for his paynes and charge in stayinge at the bath longer then otherwayes he would have done he hath very well deserved twenty nobles." Signed: Joseph Fenton; Ric. Mipes.
Further endorsement: "vil: xiiis: iiiid paid to Mr Prest for cureinge of a boy at Baith by my Lo. appointment."
Receipt for £6:13:4, dated May 3, 1613, signed on behalf of William Preist by Robert Holland, the money being received from Thomas Brett, Esq. 1 p. (200. 179.)
Lady Mary Wroth to the Queen.
[Before June 30, 1612]. Begs her to commend to the King this petition of Mr Wroth's for the grant of a longer estate in "it", to avoid having it taken over his head. If he obtains it, he will build the house (fn. 1) for both their Majesties to rest in, and will make his chief dwelling there; otherwise the house being so old and decayed as it is likely every day to fall down, he must settle himself elsewhere. As the King has sometimes visited it, Mr Wroth knows how necessary it is to be mended, the King's sports lying so about it. Mr Wroth offers a fine of 600l which he will bestow there upon building, if he may have longer term granted for his Majesty's service, which sum is as much as the commissioners let leases for in reversion; besides the loss he willingly suffers by letting the deer feed in his best grounds. If he removes, his absence will bring decay to the deer and to the readiness of the King's sports. It will do much for her good, as Mr Wroth has promised to add it to her jointure, all the rest of his land being entailed, and he cannot conveniently mend it with any land so well as with this.—Undated.
Holograph. Endorsed: "La: Southampton [sic] to the Queen." 2 pp. (130. 174.)
Accounts.
1612, July 2. Receipt for £10 signed by Henry Oxford, the money being a free gift from the Earl of Salisbury.
Endorsed: "July 2, 1612. xl paid to Henry Oxford, as my lords gifte to him." ½ p. (Bills 71.)
The Earl of Salisbury to Roger Houghton.
1612, July 26. "My Lord of Shrewsbury hath written a letter to me to desire me to lend him 4 or 5 dozen of silver dishes against the Kings comming to his howse, which I would have you deliver to his man (if you have so many)." Aulyend, this 26 of July, 1612.
Holograph. Seal. Addressed: "To my lovinge friend Mr Roger Houghton att Enfelde Parke." ½ p. (General 76/16.)
Hatfield House.
1612, September 22. "A note of all the particular workes that the workmen are to doe by bargaine, and allowed in the last reckonings made up ffrom the begininge of the worke untill this 22 of September, 1612, as ffolloweth:
The Mason hath to doe by his bargaine the garnishing of the 12 pedistalls with stone on the 4 gable ends
Collins over the gallery that ffronts the cort. And to sett up 4 lions that are carved on the ffront over the porch coming into the house. And to carve two pennells under the gallery window in the sayd ffront, and to carve 8 keystones under the arches. More he is to carve two spantrills [spandrels] in the arch of the dore going into the great chamber. Also he is to carve two other spantrills in the arch of the porch going out on the North side of the house. All theesse workes to doe are in his last reckonings made up.
Jenever The Joyner is to doe by his bargaine which he is reckoned withall for he is to turne and sett up all the drops under the cantilabors in the ffreeses of the gallery, and to glew on all the billections of the pannells that wanteth. And to ffurr up the cornish with thin wainscott cloose to the seling where it wanteth, and to glew some of the pannells that are sunncke. All theese workes are in his last reckoning made up.
There is an order begun ffor the garnishing of all the pannells & ffreese in the gallery, and the vause and pedistalls, with a kinde of morrice worke and turning which was none of his bargaine, but that which is done was done by the day, and it is at your Honours pleasure wheather it shall be all ffinished or not.
Wood The Carpenter hath ffinished all the carpentary worke, sawing and turning, that he was bargained withall ffor, and sett downe in his last reckoninge.
Taulcott The Bricklayer hath ffully ffinished all that he was barganed withall ffor, and is payd except it be ffor the hewing of two ffreat [fret] shafts of chimneys which should have stood at the lodges coming into the iner cort, which he was never reckoned withall ffor.
Peele The plumer did cast and lay all his lead by the ffodor [fother] which he is reckoned withall ffor in the last accompts made up, and he is to dresse downe the lead straite throwout the house and to make caules of lead in the water courses about the housse that the rubish gett not into the pipes.
Buckett The painter is to doe in his bargaine which he is reckoned withall ffor the heighteing and shaddowing the ffigures upon the two peeces of the lower chapple at the west end of it. And to lay in ffaire coulour all the posts, rayles and ballesters etc., standing at the dell. The Plasterer hath done all the plasterers worke & ffreat selings & ffreeses which he is reckoned withall ffor in the last accompts. I know not what bargaine Mountayne Jenings made ffor the worke done in the lower part of the East garden, but ffor all the rest he is accoumpted withall ffor them.
Bickford The smith made all the lockes & staples & bolts by the peece which he is reckoned withall ffor in the last accoumpts.
Edlitt The smith made all the casments by the peece. And the barrs, hocks & hinges & crosse garnits by the pound, which he is reckoned withall ffor in the last accoumpts."
1 p. (143. 123.)
Enfield Chase.
1612, September 25. Warrant from the King to the Earl of Salisbury, "our Leiutenant of our Chace of Enfeild". The deer there have diminished in number because of excessive hunting and the "morren". To replenish the herds, hunting is to be rigorously prohibited for the space of three years, except by personally written dispensation by the King. "Given under our Signet at our Honor of Hampton Court the five and twentieth day of September in the tenth yeare of our raigne of England."
Ex. per Lake.
1 p. (Deeds 236/28.)
Public Revenue.
1612, September 29. Public accounts. "Quarter book. 1 Sept. 1611." This account gives the income and expenditure between 29 September, 1611 and 29 September, 1612.
10 pp. (211. 3b.)
The Bailiffs of the Guild or Fraternity of the Weavers of the City of London to Sir James Pemberton, (fn. 2) Lord Mayor, and the Aldermen.
[Before October, 1612]. In the nineteenth year of King Henry VII an Act of Parliament prohibited the importation of any manner of silk, wrought by itself or with any other stuff, or in any place out of this realm, in ribands, lace, points, or any such like small wares, upon sundry pains and forfeitures, the scope of which Act did wholly tend to the employment of our nation using that art of weaving, and setting them on work, and to encourage and bring in such kind of manufactures into this kingdom.
For every one that then used the said trade in or about this city, or within this kingdom, there are now above forty for one of our own nation. And there are many hundreds of aliens and strangers that use this trade, and many of these newly come into this kingdom since his Majesty's reign, besides those that were settled here in the Queen's time, and came then over for religion's sake, so that by reason of their excessive number which do, as it were, eat the bread out of our people's mouths, as also by reason of a non obstante granted upon the said statute as your petitioners are informed, those smaller wares before-mentioned are now in great abundance daily brought into this kingdom from foreign parts; by which means our own people are grown into most extreme wants, and know not what to do in winter-time when work will fail and be more scant.
They pray therefore, fearing what the event may be when so many are hunger-bit and want work, meat and means of living, that some course of prevention may be taken, and that his Lordship will be pleased to recommend their suit to the Privy Council, that the statute provided in this case may be put in use. And for the benefit to the customs of these wrought wares brought into the land, they do undertake it shall be countervailed in the custom of silk which will be brought the more into this country.— Undated.
2 pp. (197. 20.)
Anthony Abbington to the King.
[Before November, 1612]. He is Gentleman Usher to the Prince. (fn. 3) He requests a warrant for a pension or other reward for his services to the late Queen.—Undated.
½ p. (P. 1420.)
Sir Amyas Preston to the King.
[Before November, 1612]. He refers to his services to the King, and his yielding up his whole estate as an example to others, for the good of Prince Henry. Prays for a patent for the search and measuring of all fustians, taking twopence for each whole piece sealed, and paying a rent of 100 marks a year.—Undated.
½ p. (P. 1187.)
John Wright to the Privy Council.
[Before November, 1612]. Was charged by one Bird with conspiring the death of the King and Prince Henry. His innocence appeared by his late examination, and yet he was kept prisoner, fettered and manacled, and many times locked and chained to a post, for 17 weeks, so that he lost the use of his left arm, and is deprived of maintenance. Prays for relief.—Undated.
1 p. (P. 1854.)
Grant.
1612, November 4. Robert, Earl of Salisbury, erected almshouses in the parish of Cheston [Cheshunt], co. Herts, to accommodate a number of poor and impotent persons. Following upon the purchase of Theobalds by the King, the said houses were required as lodgings for the King's servants. Since the Lord Treasurer did not live to make other provisions for the occupants of these almshouses, William, Earl of Salisbury, grants herewith to William Horne, one of the occupants, an annuity of £10 for the term of his natural life. If, however, the Earl provides another almshouse or alternative accommodation, the recipient is bound to accept it, and the annuity is thereby cancelled.
1 m. (Deeds 153/4.)
Accounts.
1612, December. Particulars of expenses for the month. Inter alia:
15th Paid for boathire for my Lady to Whithall and back againe the day of the Princes funerall. iis
17th Given to Ned, my ladyes page, to buy toothpeeks. xiid
26th Given to the Princes drummers by my lo: command. xxiis
30th Paid for a purse to put the xxl in that was given to the Kinge for a Newyeers guift. vs
Signed: Tho. Rouper. Endorsed: "Decemb. 1612. Expences this month." 2 pp. (Accounts 12/22.)
The Nobility of England to the King.
[? 1612]. Petition of the Nobility of England to his Majesty complaining that they are prejudiced by the King's conferring upon "some natural subjects of this realm" honours, titles and dignities "peculiar to other of your Majesty's dominions".— Undated.
1 sheet. Copy. (211. 12.)
The Dean and Canons of Windsor, Chaplains of the Garter, to the King.
[1612, or earlier]. King Edward III, founder of his Majesty's free chapel of Windsor, gave for the maintenance of the Dean and Canons thereof the patronage of the rectory of St Stephens juxta Salte Ashe, in Cornwall, to be impropriated to their use, which was done anno 1351.
Henry VIII took by way of exchange from them the manors of Ivor and Dammerye Court, with divers other lands of great value, and enjoined his son by his will to give recompense for the same. Edward VI among other lands gave them the impropriation of Bradninch in Devon.
The patronage of the rectories of St Stephen's and Bradnynch is supposed to be parcel of the Duchy of Cornwall and belonging to Prince Henry, whereby it is thought that the estate of the said Dean and Canons in the impropriations is imperfect.
They pray that they may not be drawn into any question for these impropriations, but may be secured of them by some good assurance to be devised by his Majesty's counsel learned.— Undated.
1 p. (197. 102.)
William, Earl of Salisbury, to the King.
[? 1612]. Requests a warrant to the farmers of the customs of the silks to pay arrears of an annuity granted to him on his surrender of the customs to the Earl of Northampton and others for the King's use.—Undated.
1 p. (P. 1751.)
Legal Proceedings.
[? 1612]. "Stephen Higgins, apothecary, plaintiff versus William, Earl of Salisbury, Sir Walter Cope, George Calvert, ar, Roger Houghton, ar, John Dackombe, ar, executors of Robert, Earl of Salisbury, defendants.
Bill. That the plaintiff manie yeares before the death of Robert, late Earle of Salsburie, deceased, and untill his death was imployed as apothecarie to the said Earle, who used him the plaintiff soe honorablie that he addicted himself more to him then to anie other whatsoever.
That during all that tyme he bought most costlie, cheife and excellent materialls for medicines according to the advice and directions of his phisitions, and from tyme to tyme tooke extraordinarie paines in attending and watching with the said Earle, and in the making, mixinge, working and compoundinge of medicines and other things applied to the said Earle.
That the plaintiff in his respect and care which he had of the health of the said Earle, did spend soe much tyme in watching with and attending upon his Honor that by meanes thereof he did much neglecte his other patients to the greate losse and hinderance of the plaintiff in his trade.
That the said Earle did soe well accept thereof that for manie yeares together he did satisfie and paie the plaintiff not onlie for the medicines and other things ministred but alsoe for his care and paines in watching and attending.
That afterwards in November 9 Jac. the said Earle fell sicke and then sent for the plaintiff to attend him in the tyme of his sicknes.
That in the tyme of his sicknes, vzt, from the beginning of November 9 Jac. untill 24 May following the said Earle became indebted to the plaintiff for medicines and other things directed by phisitions and chirurgions minystred and applyed, and for the plaintiffs travell and attendance of his Honor to the Bath, the some of 337l 5s 10d, and likwise for his watching and attendance before his going to Bath, vz, 6 monethes.
That of 3371 5s 10d the defendant Roger Houghton, by appoyntment of the said Earle, paid him 100l, and soe remained 237l 5s 10d besides his paines in watching and attendance untill his going to Bathe, vz, for 6 monethes.
That 24 May, 10 Jac. the said Earle made his will in writing and thereby made the defendants Sir Walter Cope, George Calvert, Roger Houghton, and John Dackombe his executors and died.
That the plaintiff hath ben an humble suitor to the now Earl of Salisburie for whose use the said executors were trusted, and used the best meanes he can to the executors for payment of the 237l 5s 10d and satisfaction for his neglect of his other patience (sic), and watching and attendance aforesaid: which the said executors refuze to doe.
That the said Earle hath assents (sic) by discent of divers honors, castles, mannors, lands, tenements and hereditaments from the said late Earle in fee simple. And the said executors have in theire hands sufficient assetts by jewells, silver vessell, plate, leases, howseholde stuffe and other goods and chattells sufficient to satisfie the plaintiff.
And therefore prayes in regard he hath noe remedie at the Common Lawe the aide of this court.
To this bill there is yet noe answere putt in. But the now Earle and executors are and ever were willinge to satisfie and pay the plaintiff if he would but shew them a bill of particulers which the plaintiff refuzeth and will not shew. Therefore the said defendants desire that the plaintiff may be ordered to shew a note of particulers in Cort. And thereupon the defendants will submitt themselves to the order of the Cort."—Undated.
1½ pp. (Legal 223/10.)

Footnotes

  • 1. Apparently referring to Loughton Manor, co. Essex, bought by Sir Robert Wroth in June, 1613. He died before 17 March, 1613–14. See Cal. S.P. Dom., 1611–18, p. 227. The probability is that this letter was written before 30 June, 1612, when the manor house was officially described as newly built at the expense of Sir Robert Wroth. See Essex Archaeological Society, Vol. VIII, p. 163 and note 2.
  • 2. Sir James Pemberton was Lord Mayor until October, 1612.
  • 3. Prince Henry died on 6 November, 1612.