Cecil Papers: 1635

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: 1635', in Calendar of the Cecil Papers in Hatfield House: Volume 22, 1612-1668, (London, 1971) pp. 280-287. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-cecil-papers/vol22/pp280-287 [accessed 19 March 2024]

1635

Accounts.
1634–35, January 30. Bill for books.
Cotgraves French Dictionary, fol. 0 16 0
French scholemaster. 0 1 0
— Alphabet. 0 0 10
— Verbs. 0 0 6
Biblia lat: 12 with Psalmes. 0 7 0
Childrens dictionary 8°. 0 1 8
Aesopi fabula 8°. 0 0 8
At bottom: Receipt signed by Henry Seyle, stationer, and dated 30 of January, 1634.
Endorsed: "30 Janu. 1634. Henry Seyle, stationer, his bill for bookes for Mr Phill[ip Cecil]." 1 p. (Bills 210/16.)
Accounts.
[1635] April 2. Bill for books
Aesops Fables in English. 0 0 6
Bible in 4° French. 0 12 0
Janua linguarum 8°. 0 2 0
French Alphabet. 0 1 0
—Verbes. 0 0 9
Lullies Rules. 0 0 6
At bottom: Receipt signed by Henry Seile and dated May 29, 1635.
Endorsed: "29 May, 1635. Henry Seile his bill for bookes for Mr Phill[ip Cecil]." 1 p. (Bills 210/15.)
The Earl of Cork to the Earl of Salisbury.
1635, June 28. The many obligations your deceased father vouchsafed me in my younger years and continued until his last, with addition of some later respects from your Lordship and new alliance with your family, give me boldness to write unto you and my Lord Chamberlain out of a sense of my own sufferings occasioned by an unlooked for and, I conceive, undeserved prosecution set on foot here against me in his Majesty's name by his Attorney-General in the Court of Star Chamber. This was sudden and sharp, the rather because it is said to be done by directions from thence. But as well as I could I collected myself, and standing resolute that I had never willingly or wittingly offended my most gracious master, I have put in a fair and true answer to the information, which I am ready to make good in every particular. But in regard my duty to his sacred Majesty instructs me how unnatural and unfit it is for me to stand in opposition or justification of anything wherein his Majesty by his officers is pleased to declare himself a party, be my innocency never so pure and entire, I have with advice of my best friends here taken the liberty to entreat you and my Lord Chamberlain jointly and effectually to move his Majesty that, in regard of my 48 [? years] service in this kingdom endeavouring my best to be useful in all that may concern the benefit of the Crown and commonwealth, having not in all that time spared my purse in all public works neither been impeached in any crime, his Majesty would give order unto his Lord Deputy to withdraw that information, which otherwise may remain on record as a mark of his disfavour towards me and my posterity, which above all things is a grief unto me; and further to license my repair to his royal person to submit myself, upon due consideration of the merits of my cause, to his own high wisdom and mercy; which suit, if his Majesty vouchsafe me, I shall esteem it a full reward of all my former services, and the greatest happiness that can befall this period of my life.—Dublin, 28 June, 1635.
Signed. Seal. 1⅓ pp. (131. 49.)
The Earl of Cork to the Earl of Salisbury.
1635, September 9. I find the noble disposition of your father is with his virtues, titles and patrimony descended upon you, by your acceptance of my letters and request and propensiveness to mediate his Majesty in a better manner than my want of judgment in the ways of Court propounded.
After Sydenham's return with the joint letters from you and the Lord Chamberlain, together with Secretary Windebank's letters signifying his Majesty's pleasure to the Lord Deputy, I accompanied Lord Clifford to the Earl of St. Alban's house at Portumney in Connaught where the Lord Deputy did then reside; and upon delivery of the letters (whereof I had no copy) his Lordship said he could not make any full certificate of the state of the cause for no witnesses were then examined, neither on the King's part nor mine, and so he would presently write to Mr Secretary to make known to his Majesty, and that so soon as the witnesses were examined he would make a true certificate. Whereupon I entreated him that by those his letters he would be pleased that Mr Secretary might move his Highness as from him, that I might be licensed to bring over the certificate or come along therewith, which his Lordship promised to propound as a suit of mine, but not of his own. Give me liberty so far to press upon your favour as to entreat you once again to move his Majesty that the Lord Deputy be directed to license my coming over with his certificate (which I am confident will free me of all guilt), and that you will interpose your entreaties on Mr Secretary, through whose hand that letter must pass and whose favour may be very available unto me, that such direction may come to my Lord Deputy as I may be the messenger to bring the certificate or come along with it, to submit myself and cause to his Majesty's consideration.—Lismore, 9 September, 1635.
Signed. Seal. 1 p. (131. 50.)
Lord Deputy Wentworth to [Lord Clifford].
1635, November 27. The bearer must not come into Yorkshire without my letters, and at this time principally when I am to certify your Lordship that my Lord of Cork has proved well the consent of Warden and Fellows; and it rejoices me very much in regard I know now I shall be able to preserve him from shame if the fault be not his own. My Lords Chamberlain and Salisbury, out of their affection to your Lordship and my Lady Dungarvan, had like to have spoiled all by labouring for his coming over, which they had obtained under certain conditions; yet had he come over we should have had him treating for his son Lewis, and have thought the fine better to be given to him and gained by such a treaty albeit upon great assurances of land upon that noble youth than to have left it behind him in the King's Exchequer. It contents me above measure that me thinks now I see a way forth of this business, if the devil owe him not a shame, and I will contribute all I ever can to save and preserve his honour; but I cannot his purse. My Lady Dungarvan grows very big; God speed her well and send her a son, that so there may be some noble blood inheritable to that great estate. My Lord, my humble duty to my Lord, my faithful service to my Lady, and to you all increase of all happiness with health to enjoy it.—Dublin, 27 November, 1635.
Copy by Lord Clifford with PS.: "I had forgot to seal this copy up within your Lordship's letter. H. Clifford." Endorsed: "Copy of my Lo: Deputy's letter to my Lord, of the 27 9r 1635." 1 p. (131. 51.)
Thomas Kellegrew to [—].
1635, November 27/December 7. On Thursday last they went, by accommodation of the Archbishop of Towers, to the monastery of the nuns that were possessed. In the Chapel there were five of them, and with each of them a priest praying. They heard nothing but praying, and thought they had lost their journey, for they had been told they should see the horridest faces, beyond a tumbler's imitation, and hear strange cries. Describes the devotions. Suddenly two of the nuns grew unruly. One of them abused a friar, and then catching him about the neck, sought to kiss him. The other struck her priest and got from him, and ran roaring to the priest who was saying a mass, and committed some extravagancies.
Afterwards they went to the Church, and in a little chapel there saw a friar and one possessed at the exorcism. They found the possessed one in her shift upon her back raving mad, her strength above a woman's; and at the request of the priest Killegrew held one of her hands. Describes her hideous appearance. The priest stood treading on her breast, and holding the Host over her, commanding the devil to worship it, calling him dog, serpent and other names. Killegrew saw in her no obedience for he was driven away with variety of strange noise to another chapel. There also was one possessed, the priest leading her by "the sanctified stringe". She lay on her back, her heels under her breech and her mouth kissing the boards, howling and talking and ever as the priest struck her with the brush and holy water she roused, as if she felt new tortures. The priest set his foot on her throat and commanded the devil to tell him why he lay in that strange posture. When he charmed the devil by the Host, which he held over him, the devil (or the woman) stood up, shook at the sight of the box, and answered, "because he would not see such base things as these Huganettes were, which he feared would be turned at the sight of these miracles".
Describes another miracle of the devil, or woman, being compelled to put on a body of iron. "To tell you truth I only felt firm flesh, strong arms, and legs held out stiff; but others that felt affirm that she was all stiff and heavy as iron; but they had more faith than I, and it seemed the miracle appeared more visible to them than me."
He would have missed one miracle if Mr Mountague had not sent for him, which was for the devil to obey what the priest commanded mentally. The devil (or the woman) lay apparently in a great deal of torture, but "in all his actions I saw little above nature or a tumbler's expression". The devil refused to obey the priest's thoughts, but fell to cursing the head of Rome and praying for Calvin and his sect; but when another Jesuit came in and laid a purse of relics on her head she grovelled on the ground and said, "Let me kiss your thumbs," which it seems was the priest's thought. Describes further proceedings, which confirmed him in believing nothing this devil had said. The friar then laid the devil and the woman was within a minute well. Describes the efforts of the devil to prevent the woman from taking the Sacrament. He then went to the third possessed woman, a very young and handsome one, and describes the exorcism, similar to the previous cases.
They then dined at the inn, and were thence called by two friars to see the exorcism in the nunnery. The possessed lay down on a couch, and helped the priest to bind her to it with two ropes. The priest then exhibited the Sacrament to her. Meanwhile another possessed woman fell into extravagant talking, violent beating of herself, her face drawn into horrid postures, her belly filled to the bigness of one with child, and her breasts swelled to the bigness her belly was. On the application of the relics the swellings removed to other parts of her body. Then the priest commanded the devil to pay an adoration to the Sacrament. At first she refused, but by prayers and touching her with relics she at last obeyed; and as she lay on her back she bent her waist like a tumbler, and went so, shoving herself with her heels to her bare head all about the chapel after the friar for about an hour altogether. The things he saw her do confirmed his opinion that there are fewer devils in Loudon ("if it be as they would have us believe") than there must be of these religious counterfeits. At last, with a start and screech, she spake the word "Joseph", at which all the priests cried out, "That is the sign; look for the mark." She held out her arm, and he and Mr Mountague looked very earnestly, and on her hand he saw a colour rise, a little ruddy, and run for an inch upon her vein, and into many red specks, which contracted into letters and made the distinct word "Joseph". He could not find the least argument to question the reality of this miracle. He then went to see the exorcism of the one bound on the couch, which was "strange and above nature". The miracle respecting Joseph, he, Mr Mountague and all the priests have set their hands to, and it is sent to the King of France, and will be printed. "Then I hope you will believe it, or at least say that there be more liars than myself."
"If you intend me the honour of a letter, send it to Mr Mountague, and he will convey it to me to Venice, where I shall remain all this winter."—Orleans, 7 December, 1635.
? Holograph. 8 pp. (253. 4.)
Expenses at Hatfield.
1635, December 14. (1) "That for my Lords honor and service, his Lordships owne table be furnished rather with more then with less plenty and variety then heretofore, and that according to the use in my Lords fathers time, as they shall find cause, one or 2 dishes of the first course and one dish of the second course may be removed after it is taken of my Lord's unto the stewards table, soe much as shall sufficiently furnish it.
(2) Ffor that purpose the steward to sett downe a good space after my lord is satt.
(3) That the Clark be sure to provide store of ordinarie and cheapest provision for inferior servants in the Hall, in case company increaseth, and those provisions to be served in att the lower end and the provisioning from my Lords table att the upper, for which the usher of the Hall to be directed.
(4) That as soone as the doore is shutt immediately after the bell hath runge unto prayers, the porter lett in no stranger unles he be a man of quality, and the usher of the hall before he calles to the dresser and after bring word to the steward of all strangers which shalbe in the hall before the tables there be sett.
(5) That for breakefaste and all other extraordinaryes in the howse the Cleark of the kitchen to be carefull.
(6) Ffor servants, offered to his Lordships consideration whether two gent. be not fitt to be reduced to one chamber for the saving fewell, lights, linen, etc, to the value of xxxl per annum. To which of his gent. his Lordship will allowe servants to lodge and diett in the howse.
The writer reviews all the expenses of the house and estate and suggests various reductions in the current expenses.
Endorsed: "Touching expenses att 800l p ann to be lesned." 4 pp. (Accounts 32/6.)
Accounts.
1635. Expenses of Charles, Lord Cranborne and Robert Cecil at St. John's College, Cambridge. They are divided under the various headings of: furniture of their rooms and that of Daniel Marrett, gentleman in attendance on them; expenses of admission and tuition (the date of admission being 14 October, 1634); household stuff; Men's commons; kitchen; wines and beer; fruit, cakes and sweetmeats; tennis and other games, and visits, when they were in London, to a "french comedy" and an "English Comedie, Mr Philippe being there"; rewards, groom's expenses; stable charges, horse hire between Cambridge and Hatfield, London and Newmarket; carriages; clothes; and books. The last named contains this list:
Seatons Logic, 2 0 1 6
Molineus Logic 0 1 0
Hippius Problems 0 1 2
Golius Ethics 0 1 4
Aphthonius 0 1 0
Bankett of Jests 0 0 8
Cupids Scooles 0 0 2
Scoggings Jests 0 0 3
Theognis 0 0 8
Poete minores 0 1 8
Hundred merry tales 0 0 3
Sent. Cicer. 2 0 2 0
Byfeild Oracles 0 1 8
Goodwine Melissa 0 1 0
Orat. Cicer. 3 0 4 6
Lucan 0 1 0
Servius on Virgil 0 10 0
Swingley Log. 0 7 0
Tresor D'Amadis de Gaule 0 1 8
Lips. Polit. 2 0 3 4
Plin. Epist. 0 1 8
Lips. Epist. 2 0 9 0
Golius Eticks 0 1 6
Common Prayer book in French 0 4 6
Golius Eticks 0 1 4
Magirus Ehysicks 0 2 6
74 pp. (Box H/2.)
A duplicate in Daniel Marret's hand. (Box H/3. 30 pp.)
Another duplicate entitiled Servants Cash Book of Cambridge, 1634[–1635]. (Box H/1.)
Accounts.
1635–45. Bills and receipts including details of taxes paid by the Earl of Salisbury for the maintenance of various armed forces in 1644, e.g. the Earl of Manchester's army, the forces of the Associated Counties, the militia raised for the defence of the county, and horsemen for the Lord General and the regiment commanded by Colonel Cromwell. Also receipts for £5 contributed in April, 1644, towards Sir Thomas Middleton's expedition to Wales; and for £4 paid in October, 1644, for the "weekly meal" according to an ordinance of Parliament. There are also a receipt for William and Algernon Cecil's expenses (at Westminster School) including "Calumnies Chatechisme with Becketts nots", 4/6, dated 8 February, 1644–45; and a receipt dated 8 January, 1644–45, signed by Edward Cecil for part payment of a legacy left him.
(Bills 219.)