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| Nov. 1. |
46. Agreement between Anthony Borne of Saresden, Esq., and
John Chamberlain and Elizabeth, his wife, of Godstow, both co. of
Oxford, whereby the Chamberlains agree to sell to Borne for 1,700l.
the manor of Cuddeslow—purchased by them of Hen. and Oliver
Coxhead, and Hen. and John Clarke, reserving a rent charge of 50l.
and 28s. tithes due to the Queen, subject to certain conditions,
one of which is, that if the said Elizabeth do not give a release of
her title before Midsummer, 100l. a year is to be paid in lieu
thereof, beside discharge of the rent. [1¾ pages.] |
Nov. 19.
Antwerp. |
47. Thos. Copley to Lord Burghley. I send you for perusal a
letter to the Queen answering my enemies, and I beg you to favour
its presenting to the Queen. It is my greatest grief that the Queen,
to whom I have ever been loyal, should so mistake me. If I knew
how to live elsewhere, I would withdraw from these States, where
occasion is taken to raise jealousies against me, but I trust time will
discover my innocence. Pray continue your goodness, and appease
the Queen's displeasure. I only intended to help the King against
his rebels, whom I thought she and the Council would mislike, for
the ill precedent they give to other subjects, and the little respect
they have to her merchants, whom they spoil exceedingly. I
thought no harm to my Prince and country. [1 page.] Enclosing, |
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47. I. Thos. Copley to the Queen. I hear from M. de Boiscot, the
advocate fiscal newly arrived in this Court, that you are
offended with me for drawing some of your mariners to
serve the Catholic King against his rebels, without your
knowledge, and for taking greater titles than belong to
me. As to the first, I saw so many arguments of your
amity to the King Catholic, and of your preference for
your subjects to serve him rather than against him, that I
gave letters of marque (having a commission therefor) to
such of my conntrymen as—from love to the King, desire
of gain, or revenge for losses from the Flushingers,—wished
to serve the King against his rebels; but all the letters had
clauses forbidding any attempt against you or your subjects, and my substitutes were bound thereto in bonds of
1,000l. If any have done spoil on your subjects, I claim
no favour for them or myself. The Commendador of Castile, governor of these States, asked your favour to this
service, and it was willingly granted. My friends dealt
openly with the wherrymen of London, to get the King
rowers for the 20 new galleys built this summer. I did
not mean it to be without your knowledge. |
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As to titles, I called myself nobilis Anglus and dominus
de Gatton, Roughey, &c., which are my lordships. I used
nobilis to signify a gentleman, generosus only means it
in the gross Latin current in Westminster hall; generosus Anglus would mean a gentle Englishman, not an
English gentleman; by armiger, the world abroad would
have understood a cutler, page, or sword-bearer, rather
than a gentleman of the better sort, as custom has made
it understood in England. As to naming my Lordship,
it is the usage here in public instruments for
a gentleman to leave out none of his seigniores, and if he
has none, he is reputed an obscure person, a simple hidalgo.
This I trust you will allow me to do when needful. |
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It is said I fish in troubled waters, but all the waters
in Christendom are troubled with faction. I had much
rather fish in the calm streams and sweet waters of my
own goods in my dear country, when you take compassion on me; but I will withdraw to some State farther
off, where I may have no likelihood of service offensive to
you. [1½ pages, unsigned.] Antwerp, 18 Nov. 1575. |
