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April 4.
Berwick. |
9. Francis Earl of Bedford, to Sir Nich. Throckmorton. One
Thornton, a rank papist, is on his way to the Court from the
Queen of Scots. He is to proceed from thence to France and other
places; the ulterior intentions for which he is sent are suspected. Scott,
one of the conspirators in the murder of Rizzio, has been tried and
executed. Lethington will receive no grace, and be driven in the
end to take refuge at Berwick. He has been divested of the Abbey of
Haddington, and a nun put in possession of it. The Queen of Scots is
with child, and intends to make Queen Elizabeth sponsor. Grainge
has come into favour. The Earl of Murray is expected at Court.
Desires to know the probable time of his recall. [¾ page, copy,
abstract, from the original in the collection of the Marquis of
Hertford.] |
April 7.
Dover. |
10. Elizabeth Lady Hoby to Sir Wm. Cecil. Words be small
recompence for your many benefits towards my husband and me,
yet I must tell you how comfortable your farewell was, and how
much I am bound to you for your fatherly care. If I used any
unfit words to you at Westminster touching my husband, consider
upon what point I stood, either to leave my husband's errand
undone, or to hazard offending you, which since years of discretion,
I have been loth to do. |
|
We sail at 3 a.m., if the wind holds, and as it is uncertain
whether we may meet again, I wish to you and my sister your heart's
desire, and beseech you to make the same account of me which you
do of any you may most command. |
|
P.S.—My Lord Montague and my cousin Wotton have just
entered this town. Send me word whether any child born beyond
sea shall inherit land in England, though I yet have no cause to
demand it. [1page.] |
April 7.
Midnight, Dover. |
11. Sir Thomas Hoby to Sir Wm. Cecil. After much rain and
foul ways, we came to Dover. My wife had a slight fall at Sittingbourne from her horse, and we have rested here all day. We find
difficulty for vessels, by reason of Lord Montague, Mr. D. Wotton,
and Mr. Haddon meeting with us here; to-morrow we set forward
for Dunkirk, Calais, or Boulogne, although the wind be not so
favourable. This day the Marquis of Baden passed over for Calais,
although the wind was not commodious; he came hither about
midnight. |
|
The compassing in of the haven here with such a bank of pebble
stones is marvellous to behold, and serves to a great purpose, if
they may be kept out of the mouth where the ships must enter;
without speedy remedy, they will choke up the haven. It pains
me to see the decay of so necessary and ancient a castle; the
chiefest rooms are not kept from rain, which has pierced the very
main timbers of the roof, although it has lead enough upon it, and
only lacks workmanship. Some offices have their roofs with the
lead and all fallen down, which, with small reparations, might have
been maintained, and more will fall shortly, if remedy be not had.
The Dean of Westminster, who has conducted us so far, and has
also been a witness of it, can testify thereto; if you do not mean
to re-edify, yet Her Majesty may sustain loss by the lead which
daily falls from the roof. [1 page.] |
April 27.
The Savoy. |
12. Sir Anth. Browne to the Earl of Leicester. On my return out
of the country this night, I received letters whereby I perceive that
Mr. Luke of Bedfordshire, son and heir of the late Baron Luke, died
last Friday, whose son and heir, being within age, is the Queen's ward.
If I could get the wardship at a reasonable charge, I would bestow
it upon my kinswoman, Jane Mordaunt, my wife's daughter, but I
know no way to obtain it but by you. If you get the preferment
of him, and grant it to me, and obtain some reasonable portion
during his nonage, I will give you 200l., and all your charges. If
this shall not like you, if you get the wardship, with an allowance
of 100l. a year, I will give you 700 marks; but get it at the
Queen's hands as cheap as you can; if you will do anything, it
must be done with speed; should you not like to do anything, let
me know by the bearer. |
|
P.S.—His lands in possession are 400 marks a year, and the
whole does not exceed 500. The age of the heir is 14 years.
[1 page. Copy from the original in the Marquis of Hertford's collection, with a folding sheet, original, addressed to the Earl of
Leicester, but labelled 27 April 1566, Anthony Browne to Sir
N. Thr(ockmorton).] |
April 28.
Carlisle. |
13. Henry Lord Scrope,
John Aglionby, and Geo. Lamplough to
the Council. By Her Majesty's commission, we were authorized to
inquire of all ports, creeks, and landing places in Cumberland; also
of the towns and inhabitants, what ships, boats, and other vessels
belong to them, with regard to the transporting of corn, victuals,
and other unlawful merchandise out of the realm, as also for the
receiving the like hither, brought by way of priacy, or in any other
unlawful manner, not having made any certificate, for that the
traffic to and from these places is very little; having lately received
your letters in that behalf, we have taken a view of all such ports
and places, and given order to our deputies for the just and due
execution of our commission. [1 page.] Annexing, |
|
13. i. Certificate by the same and Hen. Curwen. Bowstead
hill creek;—Deputies, John Pattison and Wm. Lyddall;
has 14 householders of the inheritance of Thomas Lord
Dacre. There has not been any one authorised to load
or unload, and there are no vessels nor mariners there. |
|
Skinburneas creek;—Deputies, Edw. Musgrave, Hugh
Stamper, John Hewet, and Guy Talyer; has 10 householders of the Queen's inheritance. No one authorised
to load or unload, and no vessels nor mariners. |
|
Ellnesfoot creek, and a small village;—Deputies, John
Senhouse, Robert and Thomas Thwates, and John Osmotherley, half a mile from Ellenborough; has 12 householders of the inheritance of John Senhouse. No one
authorised to load or unload; no vessels nor mariners. |
|
Workington creek, having a town;—Deputies, John
and Wm. Curwen, Hen. Hewetson, and Thos. Scale; 30
householders of the inheritance of Hen. Curwen, but he has
never given licence for the loading or unloading of
vessels. There are three vessels here called pickerdes, of
seven or eight tons, belonging to John Day, John Sybson,
and Leonard Hodgeson; their trade is to go to Chester
and Liverpool with herrings, and they bring back salt.
Their mariners are hired fishermen. |
|
Parton creek;— Deputies, Wm. Fisher, Wm. Gillyet,
Ant. Lawrence; no town, but inhabitants dispersed
along the coast, of the inheritance of Lady Knyvett. No
licences for loading or unloading; several vessels similar
to the preceding and trading similarly. |
|
Whitehaven creek, having a small village near;— Deputies, Robt. Saundes, Leonard Brisco, Edm. Ribton,
and Robt. Hebe. Six householders of the lands of the
late Sir Thos. Chaloner, parcel of the possession of
St. Bees; no licence for the loading or unloading.
One pickerde of nine tons, called the Bee of Whitehaven,
which goes with hired fishermen to Chester and Liverpool
with herrings, and brings back cattle. |
|
Ravenglass creek. Deputies Nicholas Moore, Thos.
Frere, Giles Walker, and Thos. Brownrigg; there are inhabitants near, and 10 householders of the inheritance
of Wm. Penington. The Earl of Northumberland is
chief governor, who, with Penington and Thos. Stanley,
licenses at the fair at St. James's tide to load or unload.
Four pickerdes, belonging to Walter and Wm. Cadye,
Wm. Coupland and Nicholas Harbet, who trade to Chester
and Liverpool with herrings, and bring back salt;
four fishermen serve for each vessel, there being no
mariners. |
|
Powsfoot creek. There is no town, but houses dispersed
along the coast, of the inheritance of Anthony Huddleston.
No licence to load or unload, nor any ships nor mariners
there. |
|
There are divers fishermen in several other towns and
villages more distant from the sea, who have boats of about
one ton, and occupied by four or five men, used in
fishing herrings and killings, but they do not haunt
the creeks or havens, but land at other places along the
coast. |
|
The Deputies before named have been sworn to execute
the instructions attached to the Commission. |
|
No ships frequent any of the said havens or creeks,
except in fishing time, when they come from chester and
Liverpool with salt and iron and refuse wines, and wines
from Scotland, bespoken for the provision of the houses in
that country. [3 pages.] 20 April 1566. |
| April ? |
14. Accompt of the debts of Lady Cecilia, Marchioness of Baden,
in the hands of [Geo.] North and [Walter] Bradford, in England;
total, 2,136l., whereof there remains 599l. 8s., so 1,536l. 12s. is
wanting, of which 272l. 4s. must be ready money. [¾ page. See
Dom. Eliz., Vol. XXXIX., No. 56.] |
