|
Dec. 21.
York. |
103. Henry Earl of Huntingdon to Lord Burghley. I have been
so bold as to write to Her Majesty, and of her like or dislike
thereof I shall be glad to hear. I could not make such a certificate
as she may expect, but hereafter I trust to be better informed.
Pray excuse such faults as she may find with my writing. As I
lately wrote to you, severity in justice, next to preaching of the
gospel, which truly does greatly want in these parts, will prove the
best bridle for this people. I will not find fault with things past.
God grant me grace to perform my duty. This is a sore and subtle
people, but casily to be ruled if they find their rulers sincere and
severe. Pray help me to keep promise with the Papistry, if they
keep not theirs with me. I received the enclosed from Lord
Morton, which I rashly opened, thinking it was from one of the
Wardens of the Marches; I dare not send it to Her Majesty but by
you, as I do not know what her pleasure shall be for me to do in
such cases. |
|
The archbishop truly certifies in all matters ecclesiastical, and is
both diligent and severe, so far as his commission will suffer.
[1page.] |
| Dec. 21. |
104. Sir Thomas Gresham to Lord Burghley. I have been informed
by the Clerks of the Signet that, upon motion made by them
to you for some consideration for their pains in the bonds, you
desired a note from me of their number; they amount to 606 since
my last account, which are to be accounted double, and some of the
bonds treble. [½ page]Annexing, |
|
104. I. Proposed clause in a warrant that, as there has been no
reward paid to such as have taken pains in writing bonds
both for the Queen and the city of London, there shall be
paid, for all expedited since the last and until the next
account, according to such rates as subjects usually pay
for writing the like sort. Endorsed, Copy of Mr. Gresham's
article of instructions, touching allowance for writing of
the bonds. [Scrap.] |
Dec. 22.
Carlisle. |
105. Henry Lord Scrope to Lord Burghley. You inquire about
the estate of Pickering. He is a younger son of Wm. Pickering of
Threlkeld, a man of 100 marks of land; the elder son Christopher
is dead, but he has left male issue, so the man has neither land nor
the prospect of any, nor other living than the service of the Dacres.
I have sent him by Council's direction to the Lord President at
York, with Smith, Hen. Hetherington, and their examinations.
Pickering knows all the Dacres' practices, but would confess nothing
to the sheriff till I sent him Hetnerington's examination, which
drew him on, and now I think the rest will utter to the end.
Thanks for allowing the repairs done to the castle this last year,
which were most necessary, but being done without warrant, you
could allow or disallow them. There are other repairs of the bridge,
&c., needed, but I will not deal in them without your direction.
[1¼ pages.] |
| Dec. 22. |
106. George Pringle to Sir W. Drury, Marshal of Berwick. I am
informed from Flanders that the English noblemen and gentlemen
there travail to the overthrow of their country and reformation of
religion; that their enterprize takes effect both at the Pope's and
King of Spain's hands, and that certain of them have brought a
commission to the Duke of Alva, to further their credit with the
French King; the enterprise is to be put in execution in spring.
Chamberlain, who was with Sir Fras. Englefield, is a great dealer
therein. Egremont Ratcliffe, and Thos. Jenny have returned from
Spain to Flanders. |
|
I have spoken with one who came from John Hamilton, the
Queen of Scots' man who follows her affairs in Flanders, and he
says they are making great preparations, and the Pope and King of
Spain are sending 30,000 men before Candlemas. Letters have
been brought to Edinburgh castle from the Duke of Alva. I tell
this from duty to my country and because I want my pardon.
Thanks for your help, but the money is all gone, and I have not
wherewith to maintain myself. [1½pages.] |
Dec. 27.
Antwerp. |
107. Thomas Copley to Lord Burghley. Things there go so
violently against me that my friends have little hope that justice
will take place, unless timely help be sought. I fly to you for aid
in suppressing the great wrong offered me. The particulars of my
case I need not open, having done so in my letter enclosed to the
Queen. I thought it best to go to the Well head, lest you might
be loath to be the direct mover of my suit; so I wrote that letter,
which (if upon perusal you allow) you may cause to be delivered
to her, or license my servant, Dunold Sharples, to present it, and
prosecute with your assistance the procuring of the answer. |
|
Three causes have moved me first to address myself to you.
One because I have ever loved and commended your rare wisdom,
incorruption, temperance, &c., and that love seems to promise me
lawful favour. |
|
Secondly, the bond of nature whereby my poor house is straightly
linked to you gives me hope that you will stay up the same
which my adversaries seek to spoil and ruin; and though your house
is now mighty, it can be never the stronger by the fall of mine,
being a member thereof, and by the loss of friends that for love or
compassion would lament its overthrow. |
|
Thirdly, the ability you have, by your singular credit with Her
Majesty, to defend me from wrong and do me good, wherein I have
hitherto found in you an honourable and courteous inclination. |
|
My case requires present remedy, and admits no longer delay.
I have not had one penny's relief out of England since May twelvemonth. I owe above 400l. in this town, as I live exceedingly
chargeable, and cannot avoid it. This debt has grown by forbearing thus long, for love to my Prince and country, the binding my
duty to any other Prince, by accepting foreign pension, which I may
have, and that to maintain me honourably, as shall soon appear if
necessity force me to take the same. The time may come (for
histories teach us that Princes' councils alter exceedingly, upon less
events than have happened this last year in Christendom) that it
may be wished that so dutiful a subject as I am had been kept in
store to serve an honest turn at a need. Loath am I to be cut off,
but if it so falls out without my desert, resting satisfied in my
conscience by having discharged the duty of a true subject, I will
comfort myself with hope that God's providence appoints it for the
best. If I be favourably used, my doings shall give sufficient faith
to my profession of willingness honestly to serve my Prince and
country, in all offices that may be performed by a Catholic Christian;
and to you I trust to give abundant show of a thankful mind. You
will take little benefit by the spoil of me; then make not yourself,
by permission of the evil, partaker of their sin who intend nothing
less than to make you partaker of the profit. |
|
P.S.—If the rigour of that strange statute lately made should
be executed, yet is my wife, by the same, to enjoy the third part of
my living, for the sustenance of herself and our small children. Then
is this only to be considered; whether it be better for Her Majesty,
or for such on whom she would bestow the same, to have out of my
living 100l. a year during my absence, with my consent; or by pretence of a new law lately made, to defeat a lawful conveyance executed
two years before such law was thought of. A speedy answer is the
thing wherein I chiefly require your favour, for such is my necessity
that I must very shortly resolve upon some means how I and mine
may live. [1¾ pages.] Encloses, |
|
109. I. Thos. Copley to the Queen. If innocency were sufficient
to defend the absent against standerous enemies, I should
not have been forced to trouble you; but hearing by this
night's post that the extreme persecution continued against
me and mine for three years is freshly begun,—with a new
charge given by a commission for the confiscation of my
small goods and revenues, which began in Southwark the
11th of this month, and is returnable the 10th of the next,—I see no hope for staying the presentment likely then to be
made, but to flee to your clemency. I care not so much
for myself as the poor jury who, depending more on lordly
looks than right respects, are like to run themselves by
perjury headlong into the bottomless pit, together with
their suborners and abettors, if you have not speedy pity
of their poor miserable souls. To avoid these many inconveniences, pray accept at my hands, for my liberty to
remain here, to the quiet of my conscience in matters of
faith, 100l. a year, to be duly paid out of my poor living.
I trust you will find it better to have less in that sort, by
my free consent, than the whole wrested into your coffers
by perjury procured by evil men. Your profit or safety is
not the mark they regard, but their insatiable desire to
enrich themselves by my spoil. |
|
My conversation was peaceable and dutiful at home
the 12 years of my chargeable and faithful service to you
in my poor calling; I never omitted, in any public
charge, ought that might tend to encourage the people to
love and wish the continuance of so happy a Government,
under so gracious a Queen. How far I have been from
entering into practices since my coming thence may appear in that I have never been to the Court, never saw the
Duke, and never treated with him. Though since May
twelvemonth I never received a penny out of my country,
yet I have forborn a foreign pension, though I may have
such as far surmounts my deserts. I mean to keep
myself free to you and my country's service, till necessity,
which has no law, shall force me to the contrary. I have
on my hands (which I trust will move in you the more
compassion of my estate) my poor wife and seven small
children, of whom my eldest boy, not 12 years of age, is
your godson, dedicated to you, and if the advices be true
which I receive from the University of Douay, where he is
brought up, he may prove able in time to do you and his
country good service. |
|
My seal and dutiful affection to you have abundantly
appeared, being so great as, though God reduced me back
from the errors whereunto my unskilful youth was misguided, to the embracing the true Catholic faith, yet never
could I enter into any practice or conspiracy against
you, whom I beseech our Lord long to preserve. |
|
If my enemies object that I am not worthy of such
favour as to remain by licence, having departed without
it, I did nothing therein unlawful, for the law of nature
teacheth every creature to flee imminent peril. The law
of nations permits every free man to go where he lists,
and therefore that wise gentleman, the Duke of Alcala,
late viceroy of Naples, making sport with the simplicity of
a silly gentleman that sued to him for licence to go forth
of the kingdom, asked him whether he were a man or a
horse; if he were a horse, then there was indeed a restraint
for him, but if he were a man, he might bestow himself
where he listed. Further, the very laws of England, by
an especial proviso in that old servile statute, gave me
liberty to pass and repass the seas at pleasure, being free
of the staple, though I have chosen to live after my better
calling. Yet I had not attempted to come without licence,
considering the general restraint by that old Act, if the
malicious practices of my enemies had not overtaken
me, denying me leisure to follow such a suit, unless I
would have tarried with manifest hazard, as at my departure I signified by letter, both to you and the Council,
being sorry to be forced to any act that might be drawn
to be offensive to you. |
|
I trust that these causes will move you to take compassion of my case, and to set your authority for a buckler between me and my enemies, who seek my ruin and
that of my house, without regard to the slander of the
Government by note of injustice and cruelty, the peril of
the precedent, which may be drawn to the shaking of all
estates and conveyances within the realm, or to any other
respect to God or to you. In granting me this licence,
you shall save a jury of souls, stop the raving mouths
of my greedy adversaries, and bind me (whom necessity
is like otherwise to draw to foreign service) to be a loving
subject and faithful servant, which I trust to testify by
some notable service, if you like to employ me in any
cause wherein a good Catholic Christian may, without
hazard of his soul, serve his temporal Prince. [2¼ pages.]
Antwerp, 26 Dec. 1572. |
1572 ?
Dec. 28
Gloucester. |
110. Robert Anfyld to Edmund Catesby. Thanks for your letter
and 20s. Holcombe's inhibition came from the Court of Audience,
to which he had appealed. I must be certified at the next Consistory
Court at Gloucester. Bid your proctor search what Holcom be
avouches against you, and send down a demission, if he prosecute
not the appeal. |
|
P.S.—The next court in Gloucester is Jan. 15. [¾ page.] |
1572.
Dec. 28.
York. |
111. Henry Earl of Huntingdon to Lord Burghley. That you
may see how I have begun to deal for better order to be kept in
this country, I send you a copy of the letters and articles drawn up
and sent, in the name of Her Majesty, to the justices of every
riding, and to all the towns named in the commission. Let me have
your advice whether to stay or proceed. I have a willing mind to
serve, and if my skill were answerable to my will, Her Majesty
should be well served. Tankard is much grieved at his displacing,
and they will labour to bring him into the commission of the peace
again, but I trust you will not hear of it. It were better to displace
more of the papists still in the commission than to bring him in
again; if all be true that I have heard of him, he has escaped well.
You willed me to hold it for a principle that propery and treason
went always together, and I hope you will always have it in mind.
[1 page.] Enclosing, |
|
111. I. Articles drawn up by the Council of the North to the
justices of the peace. You are first to inquire and certify
to us the names and addresses of all known and suspected papists within your rule, the enemies of God and
of good order, especially of such as do not come to church.
To stay the spreading of false and seditious rumours
and the sending of messages from the late rebels to trouble
the quiet of the realm, order is to be given in market
towns and other places, that all suspected passengers,
vagabonds, beggars, and rogues be punished with severity
and celerity, according to the late statute. |
|
You shall also provide for the relief of the poor, aged,
and impotent, and certify your proceedings to us within
one month. |
|
All superfluous alehouses to be put down, and none
suffered to be kept outside the towns; those in the towns
and open streets to be kept by such only as are of honest
conversation, and upon good bond with sureties for
keeping good order, you certifying us monthly of defaults
and disorders. |
|
You shall take order for maintenance of artillery, that
exercising with the long bow may be used, for better defence of the realm. |
|
You shall take order for avoiding unlawful conventicles and conferences of suspected persons, viz., such as
were in the late rebellion and have not received their
pardons, and certify their names, and the names of those
who have obtained their pardon, and have since led a
proper course of life. Also of those who occupy the lands
and houses of attainted rebels; of those who are fugitives
and have fled the realm for religion or crime; and of
those who lurk about and are kept secretly, and if possible
apprehend and bring them to us at York. |
|
You shall not fail to inquire of them that keep retainers, or retain any of Her Majesty's servants or tenants, or
any that were in the late rebellion, and have not their
pardon. [1 page, copy.] Dec. 1572. |
Dec. 30.
York. |
112. Henry Earl of Huntingdon to Lord Burghley. After I had
sealed up my other letter, certain men of Hull sent me a bill,
declaring that, under colour of licences for transporting corn, a
great quantity there of, and of other things, is carried away in
strangers' vessels, out of divers creeks in the Humber, to the decay
of navigation and hindrance of the customs,—there being no officers
resident in the said creeks,—and to the impoverishment of the
country, by making excessive prices of corn, leather, &c.; they required
reformation at my hands, but I do not mean to deal therein until I
have your answer. [¾ page.] |
Dec. 31.
Hampton Court. |
113. Warrant under sign manual to Sir Wm. Dansell, receiver of
Wards and Liveries, to pay to such person as Lord Burghley shall
appoint, 1,000l. to be employed to the Queen's use. [2/3 page.]
Annexing, |
|
113. I. Lord Burghley to Sir Wm. Dansell. By the Queen's warrant you are to pay 1,000l., as appointed by me; and
knowing Her Majesty's intent, I require you to pay it in
gold to the Earl of Worcester, taking his obligation in
1,500l. to repay it to you. Her Majesty desires that none
be made privy of this but his Lordship and your deputy,
and the party that shall tell or receive the money. Thanks
for my fee. [1 page.] Hampton Court, 31 Dec. 1572. |
|
113. II. Receipt by William Earl of Worcester for the said 1,000l.,
on bond to repay it next All Saints' day. [2/3 page.] 3 Jan 1573. |
|
114. Petition of the Bowyers of London to the Council. We have
often been suitors to Parliament, &c. for execution of the statutes
for bringing in bowstaves, but in vain, so that artillery is decayed
and we undone; for whereas bows were plentiful and cheap, 40s. a
hundred and less, and four marks a high price, yet within 40
years, two Stillyard men, one of whom, Melchior Millen, is living,
have got the trade, and raised the price to 6l. 10s. the hundred,
which was the price given by Henry VIII. for those selected for
his service, made in the Tower, yet not good; so the King sent two
men of the science into the country where they grow, who chose
10,000, which were marked with the crown and rose, and were the
goodliest ever brought into England. The owners of the wood
offered him 10,000 or 20,000 yearly at 6l. 10s. the 100, but he
kept his bargain with Harmon Welborne of the Stillyard. for 20,000
for the realm, chosen in bundles in the Stillyard. With the fall of
money, the prices have risen to 14l. the 100, to the decay of artillery.
Besides he prevented two English merchants, who brought in
6,000 a year and sold them at 3l. to 5l. the 100, by inducing the
Emperor not to let them pass through his country on pain of confiscation, some being actually seized, but released on the King's
letter to the Emperor. We beg you not to release them from
execution of the statutes for bringing in bowstaves, unless they of
the Stillyard will sell bowstaves at a reasonable price, viz., 11l.
the 100, when trade is free. [¾ sheet.See Dom. Eliz., Vol. XC.,
No. 26, which is an abstract of this paper.] |
|
The Queen to the Justices of Peace [of Cumberland]. Our
servant, John Thornborough of Shotfield, co. Hants, complains that
having recovered at law of Roger Kirkby of Croshouse, co. Lancaster, the manor of Stanton, co. Cumberland, he is impeached by
Kirkby and his adherents in possession of the same. We therefore
require you to assist him in recovering and keeping peaceable
possession of the said lands. [Warrant Book I., p.p. 15.] |
|
Grant to M. P—of the office of master carpenter of the
ordnance in the North, in which office he has served 26 years; fee,
12d. a day for himself and 8d. for his man, to be paid by the
Treasurer of Berwick. [Warrant Book I., p.114.] |
|
Grant to R. B. of the office of porter of the citadel at Carlisle;
fee, 8d. a day. [Latin. Warrant Book I., p. 128.] |
|
115. Note of the number of men composing the select and general
bands [in the Cinque Ports, &c.]; viz., at Dover, 117 and 255;
Sandwich, 154 and 255; Folkstone, 55 and 50; Romney, 56
and 72, and 4 horses; Lydd, 64 and 175, and 10 horses; Tenterden, 100 and 148, and 4 horses; Faversham, 110 and 91; St. John's,
St. Peter's and Birching, 170 and 204. With the names of the
captains of each band. [3 written and 5 blank pages.] |
|
116. Notes from an inquisition in the Queen's Remembrancer's
office of Caythorpe and other lands in Lincolnshire, formerly
belonging to Thos. Howard, Duke of Norfolk, attainted for high
treason, which on 1 June 1569, he had transferred to John Bleuerhasset and three others, for 16 years, on rent of 231l. 3s. 6½d.
[1½ sheets, Latin.] |
|
Endorsed, with an address to the Warden and Society of the
Clothworkers of London. |
|
117. Brief statement of a Chancery suit between Edw. Stanhope,
complainant, and Hen. Welbie, defendant, which was referred to
Justice Wray, relative to the forcible removal of several loads of
peas deposited by the defendant in the plaintiff's barn. [¾ sheet.] |
|
118. Abstract of a lease to Thos. Smith of the customs, subsidies,
and duties within the ports of London, Chichester, Sandwich,
Southampton, and Ipswich, with the creek of Woodbridge, in consideration of the great increase of Her Majesty's profits by two late
demises; exceptions are made of all subsidies of tonnage, prisage,
butlerage, imposts, &c. for all wines, and all forfeitures; to hold for
four years, from Michaelmas next, rent 20,000l., one moiety to be
paid on 1 June next, and the other on 10 Jan. then next following. |
|
Covenant that Smith may detain out of the rent all sums due for
customs, &c. and dispensed with by Her Majesty to any person, the
same being proved before the Lord Treasurer; also that no officers,
by colour of their office, shall withhold any customs. |
|
Her Majesty commands that for wares brought from beyond seas
into any of the ports, havens, or creeks within this realm or Wales,
and afterwards transported by certificate to any of the ports within
this demise, a certificate shall be delivered to Smith and his assigns
before unlading. With other customary covenants and provisoes.
[3 pages.] Also, |
|
List of orders to be observed at the custom house for the port of
London; with particulars of the duties of the officers, the modes of
making entries of customs, &c. [7 pages.] Also, |
|
Suggestions how many ways the Farmer of the Customs ought
to be charged, since Her Majesty's pardon was granted to him.
For allowing prohibited wares, which ought not to be customed but
confiscated; seizures of uncustomed goods which he will not allow
to be entered; diminishing subsidies and not entering them justly;
not keeping true books; issuing privy warrants without the office
seal, for which he is fineable 10l.each; breaking the Council orders
of 7 Eliz. By his privy warrants, strangers escape bonds to
employ money made by their imports on exports, by which the
poor were set on work. |
|
He gives great fees to the officers to keep his counsel, and thereby
their offices are void. It were best to threaten that unless he at
once pays 6,000l., his friends shall all be dismissed from office, and
then himself dealt with at pleasure. He will then gladly accept
what is offered, for he has confessed that he gained 6,000l. yearly
by his farm. [2 pages.] Also, |
|
Statement of what constitutes a concealment, and who are concealers of the customs and subsidy. [These entries form a small
book of 13 written and 3 blank leaves.] |
|
119. Reasons assigned by John Johnson for the better confirming
and establishing a staple in the city of London, for making woollen
clothing and drapery by strangers, after the manner of the Low
Countries; showing that it will be profitable for Her Majesty,
honourable for the State, and beneficial for the common weal, in
giving much employment to the poor, and raising this country to
the same state of affluence as was thereby enjoyed by the Low
Countries, so famous for wealth during peace, yet now ruined by
troubles and loss of traffic. [3¼ pages.] |
|
120. Reasons offered by the Merchant Adventurers to prove that
no place on the river Elbe, in the King of Denmark's dominions, is
fit to be selected as a mart, no town being large enough, or having
buildings to receive them, and the river being often frozen in
winter. [1 page, Latin.] |
|
121. Discourse on the present state of the realm of England:—The realm is divided into three parties, the Papist, the Atheist,
and the Protestant. All three are alike favoured; the first and
second because, being many, we dare not displease them; the third
because, having religion, we fear to displease God in them. All
three are blamed, the Papist as a traitor, the Atheist as godless, the
Protestant as a precisian. The last should not be feared, as he obeys
in God's fear; the other two know no obedience. |
|
Government must either tread down the bad, or let them devour
the godly. Whilst the Queen lives, the godly will be preserved, but
the hereafter should be provided for; three proposals thereupon:— |
|
1. To associate the nobility and others in a society for defence of
the gospel, and preservation of the State, and the Queen's person. |
|
2. During the next five years, for 100 gentlemen of religion, in
the 20 counties near London, each to have in charge 10 horsemen,
five for lance and five for pistol, and 20 calivers, in all 1,000
horse and 2,000 calivers, with proper officers, to be always ready
in case of peril; their pay to be 21,312l. a year. |
|
3. That such Protestants as do no not like the Queen's form of
religion be encouraged to go to Ireland, and settle in Ulster;
this would deliver the realm from the precise ministers and their
followers, numbering 3,000, &c. [62/3 pages.] |
|
Endorsed, [by Burghley], "Discourse sent from Tho. Cecil to me,
wrytten by Mr. Carleton, concerning a power of 1,000 horssme[n] and
2,000 calivers. To suffer the precise sort to inhabit Ireland." |
|
122. Remembrances for the University of Cambridge, addressed to
Lord Burghley:— |
|
1. There are divers young men there who, to seek credit and
be allowed to preach, abuse the same to the discredit of the more
ancient and best of the University, and profanation of the office
of preaching, dealing with the greatest matters of statutes very
offensively, rather tending to contention than instruction; and
this under pretence of the spirit of God, which they say may not
be repressed. We require your authority to repress them, or
rather to contain them in seemly terms and the limits of charity;
but you can best judge how far this young disordered affection
may reach, if left unbridled. |
|
2. We also desire that the Universities may have two burgesses
in Parliament, which Mr. Speaker and others think requisite, as
they will not always have such as your Lordship to assist them;
not having any burgess in the House who can so aptly answer
objections against the Universities as they that remain in them,
and best know their present state. |
|
3. We desire that either the last Act made for the privilege of
both Universities, for taking purveyors within five miles, may be
continued for ever; or else that the first Act made in Queen
Mary's time for purveyors may be repealed, so that, by your good
means, we may rest in Her Majesty's good pleasure to grant to
the Universities the like privileges, by her prerogative. [¾ page.] |
|
123. Pedigree to prove the Queen of Scots' interest in the
crown of England, on the decease of Queen Elizabeth without issue.
With note that, for the better understanding of her title, the writer
has set forth a pedigree of the whole house of England, from
Edward III. to the present time; whereby may be seen how in
all respects of blood, descending directly and lincally from the
eldest sister of Henry VIII., she is to be preferred before all other
competitors; and looking into the ground of the quarrel that continued, so deadly and long, between the Houses of York and Lancaster, the realm will be cast into miserable calamity "if, upon
wilful humour or fond respect, we should be content to swerve from
that due order of succession that nature, law, and custom has
always assigned us." [1 sheet.] |
