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| July 12. |
22. Wm. Ridyng to Thos. Cateshy. I desire you to deliver to my
friend Mr. Clarke my lease of Henley-in-Arden Park, co. Warwick,
as also his own writing of annuity, and the obligation belonging
to the same. [⅓ page.] |
| July ? |
23. [Cornelius Lannoy] to the Queen. I know how grievous this
delay must be to you. I have nothing to offer you in this your
kingdom but my life, which would be a heavy loss to my innocent
wife. As to the business of transmuting metals and gems to
greater perfection, either the work has been disturbed, or some
wicked man has been present, or I have erred through syncopation. Pray permit me to write to my friends for help, for I can
indubitably perform what I have promised. [1 page, Latin. See
Dom. Eliz., Vol. XL. No. 29.] Annexing, |
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23. I. Directions [by Cornelius Lannoy] for employing a certain
medicine for converting base metals into gold. [1¼ pages,
Latin. See Dom. Eliz., Vol. XXXIX., No. 88, and
Vol. XL., No. 44.] |
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23. II. Translation of the above. [2½ pages, in the handwriting
of Armigail Waad.] |
| July ? |
24. Answer of Thos. Bishop to the Articles sent to him:— |
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1st. Twenty weeks since, having promised to take to wife an
English woman, and wishing to have it done secretly, I went
to Sir Patrick Frebarne, parson of Lothbury and an acquaintance, and having the Archbishop of Canterbury's licence, we
were married in that church. Since then I was ill with the
gout 10 weeks, when Mr. Killigrew was with me four times,
and Mr. Willok also often came and told me news. Since my
amendment, being in danger of debt through suits at law, and
not answered my rents for two years by two of my tenants and
an untrue bailiff, I kept house until I could make shift for
money. |
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2nd. I have had no important talk with Sir Patrick Frebarne;
he meddles with nothing save his charge, but I would tell him
general news out of Scotland, as of divisions, religion, &c., I
sent my son about my business, and to such as I was desirous
to hear news from, and once or twice to Mr. Nevill, but said
nothing of any moment. Last winter, one Seres sent for my
son, wishing to speak with me, but understanding by Wm. Leith,
now in your hands, that he had played the spy here, and was
a lewd man, I would not have anything to do with him. |
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I have known Mr. Lassells 18 years, and used him this year
past specially, because it is known what religion he is, and that
he is inclined to that faction, and I thought that I might discover
something to the service of the Queen, which cannot be done by
a Protestant; I have been licensed to serve in four Princes'
days, and always gave knowledge before it came to the finish.
Lassells has often talked of the title of the Queen of Scots and the
heir apparent, and objectionable words against religion. Since
his coming to the town, I heard that he was suspected for the
going away of Rugbin, his brother-in-law, and that search was
made for him in Yorkshire; having been surety for him four
years ago to Sir Rich. Thambley in 100l. for prosecuting an
Audito querelo against Leonard Dacre, in 40 marks to one Parkins, and in 60l. for payment of 40l. to the Queen,—which he
induced me to do on report of Mr. Secretary receiving me;—I tried to get a discharge, especially of the last two, which
he has daily promised; he travails with no suspected person.
With the departure of Melville, I intended to repair to Mr. Secretary and relate things worth opening, but found little to fear
save the rebels, who are prepared for. |
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3. I have only written two letters to Scotland this year, and
Mr. Killigrew coming to me when in the gout, at Lord Leicester's last
repair from the country, I delivered him two letters from the Earl
of Murray to the Count Palatine of the Rhine, at his departure
from Newcastle, with his good mind to be transported to that
country. Killigrew told me that Lord Seaton was to come here
embassing; I answered that I was sorry any papist should have the
handling of things, for little good would follow, and rather wished
Mr. Melville might be here, being of good religion and a quiet
gentleman, who would make the best between the Princes. He
answered that the Queen had a good opinion of him, whereupon I
determined to write to him for his revocation here, which I did, and
delivered it to Mr. Killigrew, with a copy that he might show to
the Earl of Murray, to induce the Queen [of Scots ?] thereto, with
which Earl I am great in honesty. The other letter I also wrote
to the Earl and gave to Killigrew, with a note of affairs in
Scotland, and would have given more if time had served, as I did
to Sir Nich. Throckmorton, when he went to Sir Walter Mildmay
at my Lord of Bedford's last year, and would to any other where
my poor talent could serve. I have received no letters from Scotland, the Earl of Murray being here, with whom in that godly
quarrel, having the Queen's licence, I would have gone and spent
my life. I gave him my best counsel, and was ready with my
body and poor purse. He received it in great friendship. After
his departure, the Duke [of Chatelherault] he, and the rest, with
John Willok, sent a blank letter for me to write at my discretion
for the collection of their poor afflicted sort, which I did in the
Scottish hand. The Earl wrote me two letters since from Newcastle, which I showed Mr. Killigrew, who serves the Queen
truly in his heart, whatever his outward practices be. The Earl
sent me a ring by Mr. John Wood and prayed me to travail to
stay his attainder, then pretended. I wrote him two letters to
Newcastle. |
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4th. After Mr. Melville on his last arrival had been with the
Queen, the Earl of Bedford, Mr. Secretary, &c., he openly talked
with me in the churchyard, excused his long absence, and said
that the occasion of his coming was to desire the Queen to be
gossip, and that he intended to tarry five or six weeks; that he
was occupied in Scotland between the Queen and the Earls of
Murray and Argyle for their reconcilement, and could not write
to me. He also brought me commendations from the Earls of
Murray and Glencairn; told me the evil government of the King,
and how he was hated, and the father also. He came again on
the Sunday following, when he said he had been burdened with
practices which he did not use, and of a letter that he gave to the
Earl of Northumberland from the Queen, his mistress, which the
Earl showed to the Queen. I told him if I had known it, he
should not have done it, for such things might cool the love
between the Princes; but he said there was no great matter in
it, saving the Queen, his mistress, thanked him for his good will
in her affairs, which was ill-interpreted; and further that he had
spoken by the way with sundry great persons, which he denied,
saving with Mr. Lassells. |
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Another time he told me he had talked with Lady Lenox, and
what answer the Queen had given him touching her, which he
had written to the Queen, his mistress; and that for all his true
labours touching her, yet she had written against him, and was
his enemy, and called him no good minister to his mistress; that
she was my enemy, as also her son and husband, and he willed
me to give her fair words, and not meddle, for she was unthankful. |
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Some days since, Mr. Melville brought his brother James to me,
booted ready to depart, to make my acquaintance; he told me
openly in the churchyard how the Queen, his mistress, was
brought to bed of a prince, and that he had talked with the
Queen, and had resolved her in certain points, which he did not
mention, but that she well liked thereof, and he thought there
should grow a good agreement between them, which his mistress
would seek by all quiet means; with commendations to the Earls
of Murray, and Glencairn, and Grainge, I took leave of him. |
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Since then, I spoke with Mr. Melville, who told me of money the
Earl of Northumberland kept, and asked my advice to get some
counsel what the Earl designed. I told him none here would
meddle for his mistress without commission from the Queen, and
therefore it was best for him to take what he could get by fair
means. He also said he thought my Lady Rutland would go to
the christening, and either the Earl of Leicester or Mr. Secretary;
he thought the latter, for if the Queen, his mistress, might speak
with Her Majesty face to face, she would show her other things
than she would send or write; and therefore desired such a one as
she dearly trusted, which was one of these, and he thought all
should come to good purpose between them, and that his mistress
would be brought to religion. He has told me many other things,
such as the killing of Dacre, the agreement of the Scotch lords,
and their estate there. In my opinion, he is an honest gentleman,
and seems as if he would have all things quiet, and yet pricks for
his mistress's title as heir apparent, to which he says Her Majesty
is more inclined than to any other title, so that his mistress please
Her Highness, and follow her opinion. |
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I have written what I intended in these and all other things
that I could gather, as they grew to ripeness, as also of things
worthy to be disclosed after Mr. Melville's departure. I wish this
trap had not been yet, for it may be a let to greater service, for
as I can learn, there is now nothing intended by force save practices, and Lassells does not meddle, and willed me not to frequent
Melville so often. I answered I was no suspected person, neither
would I refuse his coming, as he was an honest gentleman and
meant well in religion. I meant to have discovered and overthrown by policy what force will not now execute. You will
follow what is for the Queen's service. I have wrought many
good offices in this realm, as the papers which you have will show. |
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I have never dealt with papists but to their overthrow, nor
conferred these 20 weeks save with those before named. [6½ pages.] |
