|
1571. Jan. 1. Carlisle. |
1. Henry Lord Scrope to Sir Wm. Cecil. Being informed by
Wm. Carlisle that Christ. Danby had come into these parts to be
conveyed into Scotland, I examined Carlisle, when it appeared that
he had lodged in Danby's house as a serving man, and that Danby
was at John Scott's house, at Colbeck in Cumberland, 20 miles from
hence. Thereupon I sent servants to apprehend any strangers found
thereabouts, and to bring Scott before me; finding no strangers,
they returned with Scott. He utterly denied receiving Danby or
knowing where he was; I have committed him, and Carlisle for
letting him pass. I hear that Danby has landed at Liverpool, and
may yet be lurking about. The Borders are quiet. [1 page.] |
Jan. 15. Antwerp. |
2. John Lee to Sir Wm. Cecil. On the 10th, the Earl [of Westmoreland] with all gentlemen of his faction were at North Carmes, who
was appointed by the Duke to take order about the monthly pensions
granted them by the King. There is some misliking among them, for
some have not all they looked for, and blame their solicitors for
hindering their cause to advance their own. Fras. Norton is slenderly
considered, partly for want of language to advance his cause, but
mostly for dislike, because he has sued his pardon. He has 10 crowns
a month, and would have refused it had it bound him to any kind of
service prejudicial to Her Majesty. He hopes you will sue for him,
and he will be a dutiful subject. I have no interest in his restitution, but his repentance is sincere, and he will amend hereafter. |
|
North Carme has told the Earl and the rest that the Duke wishes
some of them to go to some other place of the King's dominions, to
satisfy the Queen, who mislikes their remaining here. Several have
pensions, though misliked by the rest, as not being of the first
faction. Leonard Dacre has come from Malines to-day. [1½ pages.] |
Jan. 20. Little Dunham. |
3. Edm. Morton, clerk, to Mr. Mynne, London. I am yet unpaid
for serving your cure at Sporle, which I have now done for a year.
All I received was 4l. 10s., so that there remains 5l. 10s. due, which
I require you to give the bearer, or some warrant for it, or I cannot
serve you any longer. I have borne with you a good time, and
therefore ought to have the more favour; if you discharge my debt,
you shall have my best service. [1 page.] |
Jan. 24. Magdalen College, Oxford. |
4. Law. Humfrey, president, to Dr. Haddon and Mr. Sackford,
masters of Requests. Roger Quatremain and Wm. Wigan having
to appear before you at Whitehall, in a matter concerning Magdalen
College and me the president, at the suit of Thos. Wigan, an unquiet
busybody, I have thought good to open the matter. |
|
The question is whether a tenant that has but an estate for his
own life, after the custom of a manor (where all the customary
tenants hold but for term of lives, and not by inheritance), may
surrender his own estate without the lord's leave, and thereupon
the lord be compellable to transfer such estate. |
|
Wm. Wigan, tenant for life at our manor of Chalgrave, was circumvented by Thos. Wigan to surrender his estate, presuming that
I must needs admit him tenant. The surrender being passed, I
was unwilling to admit him, being an unquiet and busy person, and
a lewd and perverse fellow. Yet I thus much relented in open court,
that if from two to six honest men would affirm that he would be
quiet, and was fit to be a tenant to Magdalen College, I would
hearken to him; but no man among all the tenants would say one
word in his behalf, all were against him. Whereupon, the surrender of Wm. Wigan being passed, I bestowed the copyhold upon
Rich. Ball, schoolmaster of our Song School, minding to prefer Wm.
Wigan otherwise, and Ball was admitted accordingly. Nevertheless
Thos. Wigan by force withstood him, whereupon suit was made by
Ball to the Lord Chief Baron, being justice of assize in Oxfordshire,
who was fully resolved that I might dispose of the copyhold as I
saw cause, and sent for Thos. Wigan and Ball to appear before him,
at the Oxford assizes, intending to have made a quiet end; but as
Wigan would not appear, my Lord misliked him, and willed me to
use the advice of other learned counsel; upon their advice, I gave
Ball leave to make an under tenant of the premises, for term of
years, and he granted them to Quatremain, the now defendant. He
by virtue of his lease entered, and shortly after was ejected, and
thereupon sued his action de ejectione firma. Perceiving the law is
against him, he seeks to try what he can obtain at your hands. He
pretends a promise from me to colour his enterprise, but I assure
you he much abuses me, and I therefore desire you, considering the
matter is clear, to dismiss it out of Court, and remit it to the common
law. |
|
P.S.— (Holograph.) As the parties are both poor, and law is
chargeable, I beseech you to end it according to your discretion. |
|
Signed by Simon Parret, bailiff, and Wm. Standish, steward,
witnesses. [1½ pages.] |
Jan. 25. |
5. Robert Braham to Paul Gresham. I have sent up my
brother to make my accounts. Pray favour him. He will pay all
that is due this year, save only for part of Farneham's lands,
which is Staughton. The occupiers, Sir Geo. Turpin, and Nich.
Beaumont, have fallen out for the occupation, so that the house is
neither inhabited nor the grounds occupied, and distress cannot be
taken. They are both in London, and I have willed my brother
to talk with them, that the rent may be paid in before his coming
down. |
|
I have not yet received Crisp's rents of Burrows, but as to those
lands, I will charge myself for the last year, for I received it after
this day twelvemonth, and after my brother was gone to make my
accounts, and for the year before also, if he will show my acquittance to you, which I would gladly have seen, as it does not appear
in any book to have been received, so that there are no more arrears
grown in my time but my own. I trust to pay part now and 80l.
between this and next term. Pray give me that time, and if you
will use me, you shall find me as sure as any friend you have in
England. [¾ page, damaged.] |
Jan. 26. Antwerp. |
6. John Lee to Sir Wm. Cecil. The Earl of Westmoreland has
talked with me on a report that I was here as an advertiser for
England, but I persuaded him to the contrary, except that if I
understood anything prejudical to Queen or country, I was bound
to reveal it. He showed himself repentant of his late undutiful
proceedings, and would submit to Her Majesty and sue for pardon,
but he despairs of it, notwithstanding her great clemency. I persuaded him to try to regain what he had lost, and told him he
would find friends with Her Majesty. I asked what the Queen
and Council thought of him before his rebellion, and which councillors would best aid him. He said all were well inclined to
him, but he was most beholden to you, and your friendship would
stand him in most stead. His sister Lady Elinor, Mr. Pelham's
wife, has written him a friendly letter to submit to Her Majesty,
and he seems very willing, if you will be his friend. He wants
to speak to Mr. Fuwilliams [Fitzwilliams] by him to win your
favour, or he thinks his suit will have no effect. I would not have
written for him and Norton, but for their repentance and desire to
be restored to favour. |
|
Prestall is returned from Scotland, well inclined to Her Majesty. He is waiting to speak with the Duke and Council, and has
written through me to Secretary Courteville; if I should be interpreter between them, you shall know what passes. |
|
I hear that several of the chief of the Council in England think
ill of me, but I can prove that I have served Her Majesty faithfully,
and lament if you think ill of me. I beg consideration towards my
charges, that I may settle my affairs in England. [3 pages.] |