|
| Dec. 5. |
Certificate, by the Commissioners for piracy, of pirate vessels set
out, pirates' goods received, and victuals furnished to them in
Suffolk. With note that the fines already assessed amount to 132
[Dom. Eliz., Vol. CXXXV., pp. 143–154.] |
Dec. 9.
Lisbon. |
48. Botulphe Holder to Lord Burghley. On 5 July, James Fitzmorris, of Ireland, cousin to the Earl of Desmond, came to Lisbon,
and said he would remain, and had sent for his wife, who was then
at Morlaix., He has been several times to Court, where he found
small entertainment, and was few times heard of the Prince. He
sent divers times to ask my leave to visit me for country's sake.
I did the best I could in going from home, or meeting him abroad,
but he waited his time, and came suddenly upon me; I shook him
off by saying that I was sent for abroad, whereby his tarrying was
very short, and never before nor since have we had any conversation,
nor did I desire it, as I understood he was a mover of differences
between Princes, and between Prince and subject, whereas I wish
peace and concord between all Princes in Christendom, but amity
between particular persons. Fitzmorris has freighted a French
barque of 80 tons, taken up 100 tinkers and other rascals for
soldiers, bought 200 calivers, and borrowed of the King's officers
here 14 pieces of ordnance, which with eight the ship had, departed
hence 17 Nov., he giving out that he was going for Brittany to his
wife; but as I am informed he goes for Ireland, with power from
Rome to animate all men to assist him against our Queen. |
|
I cannot think that he can do any great harm, yet advise you
and the Council hereof that his malice may be prevented. It is
said that Stuckley came here before Fitzmorris, and has gone with
him in the ship; but others say he is secretly in the Ambassador's
house of Spain. There also went with Fitzmorris a bishop lately
made in Spain, of the order of the Greyfriars; another had embarked
for Ireland before, and was robbed by the way, and returned hither,
where he yet remains. |
|
On Saturday night, 9 Nov., there arose out of the W.S.W. from
this place a great blazing star, with his beams towards the east,
inclining something towards the south; the like has few times been
seen, and still continues. The King here makes great preparation
for Africa against spring, because the Turk daily sends great power
thither. Pray command me; it will rejoice me for the time I
tarry here, which I hope will not be long, and yet longer than
I would, sinister fortune having so persecuted me by loss of my
substance, wherewith I thought to have returned home with enough
to live and serve Her Majesty and you, and pleasure my friends
and country. [3 pages.] |
Dec. 12.
London. |
49. Hen. Killigrew to [Wm.] Davison. I know nothing of
Mr. Randolph's journey to Scotland. Scottish causes are now
managed by Mr. Rob. Bowes, treasurer of Berwick. Our houses has
been infected with plague, so we were driven to Hendon, where are
my children, but my wife I have brought hither, for ease for her
weakness. I commend the hearer, my nephew Michell, as you promised
a place to some kinsman of mine, but I have thought otherwise of the
one I meant for the wars. Treat my nephew as your least servant,
for so shall he profit most. He will only be chargeable to you for
meat and drink; he is well furnished with apparel. I allow him
5 marks a year for it, and he has 20 nobles in his purse; his father
will help him, but he has many of them. Return him rather than
let him trouble you, but I want him to learn the tongue. |
|
For news I can write you none from Court, but refer you to
Mons. de Villiers, who is in his way towards you, with the King of
Navarre's ambassador. For Cornish news, an archpriest has been
hanged and quartered; one has been apprehended here in London,
whose confession I enclose, and others in Holborn within these 10
days. I think they are of the 24 priests you wrote of, sent here
from those parts to reconcile men to the Pope. If you have not
advertised of them to Mr. Secretary, learn what you can, and write
to him and my Lord of Leicester, as it may do much good. Sir
John Arundel is still at Court under arrest, because he will not
conform to the Queen's proceedings. All is quiet in Scotland, and
the Regent reconciled to the churches there, to their great comfort
and his own surety. My Lords of Warwick and Leicester are
ridden to my Lord of Pembroke at Wilton, to sport there awhile.
My wife sends her commendations to Mrs. Davison. [4½pages.] |
Dec. 15.
Lambeth. |
50. Edw. Cheke to his cousin, Wm. Davison, agent in the Low
Countries, at Antwerp. Esteeming you one of my best wellwishers, I must tell you the secret speeches of your service. Some
find fault with your slow advertisements, and mislike that they
are so general as they are commonly known to everybody. These
are such as are thoroughly acquainted with your secretest dealings.
The Marquis d'Haverie has declared to Her Majesty that you are
not able to do her so good service there as the place requires,
though he judges your good will and desire to be as great as any
man's. Thus much keep to yourself, and deal as you shall find best.
I was told there should be another sent in your place. The troubles
of my Lord [the Archbishop of Canterbury] have been such as
I could not come to you, as otherwise I would. I entertained
Mr. Wilkes with your letters, who wishes you good success, and will
often acquaint you with secret reports, which I should hardly come
to. [1 page.] |
Dec. 16.
Durham. |
51. Sir Geo. Bowes, and three other Commissioners for piracy for
Durham and Northumberland, to Council. At our late meeting at
Newcastle, we made diligent inquiries as to all offences between the
Tees and Tyne, and the havens and creeks within the same; and
appointed our deputies, and charged a jury of co. Durham to inquire
into these causes; which deputies and jury we met at Durham this
day, and had before us the most substantial men that dwell near
any haven or creek within this county, whom we examined, but
cannot find that any have offended within the time limited by our
instructions, neither is there any suspected of piracy living near
these coasts. [¾ page.] |
Dec. 18.
The Court. |
52. Edw. Horsey to Wm. Davison, ambassador to the Low
Countries. Mr. Leighton, who repairs for Her Majesty's service
into those parts, will relate all our proceedings, or I would write more
largely. I believe before Candlemas or shortly after, you shall see
my Lord of Leicester, well accompanied, in the Low Countries.
Mr. Wilkes is presently to go to Spain, and return with all speed,
at whose coming we shall know what cause to take. Meantime
order is given for mustering horse and foot. Your great expenses,
over and above your small allowance, is not hidden from Her
Majesty, and I doubt not it will be amended. This day my Lord
of Leicester is to return to the Court; he has been absent 10 days,
making merry with his nephew, the Earl of Pembroke, at Wilton,
and as I am now going to meet his Lordship, I am in haste,
[1 page.] |
Dec. 22.
York. |
53. Henry Earl of Huntingdon and five other Commissioners for
musters in co. York, to the Council. We have taken a muster of
all the able men, horses, armour, &c. within the county, and observed
your direction for avoiding such abuses and collisions as have heretofore happened, by mustering the same persons and furniture in
several divisions, especially in mustering the horsemen, of whom
we took a view at York. Having digested the books of the musters,
we inclose a brief certificate thereof, and hope it is made according
to the form received from you. [1 page.] |
Dec. 22.
York. |
54. Henry Earl of Huntingdon, and five other Commissioners for
matters of piracy in Yorkshire, to the Council. We before advertised
you that we had deputed honest men along the coast of Yorkshire
to inquire who were aiders and receivers of pirates within certain
havens, creeks, and landing places, and delivered them articles
extracted out of those which we received from you, according to
which they have severally certified to us, under their hands, what
they have found upon inquisition, copies of which certificates we
inclose herewith. [1 page.] Enclosing, |
|
54. I. Certificates made to the Commissioners by the deputies
appointed to inquire of pirates and the aiders of pirates
within the county of York, detailing the traffic carried
on with them on the east coast of Yorkshire, since 1574.
[14½ pages. Copies.] |
| Dec. 23. |
Certificate by the Commissioners for piracy, of goods brought
from pirates, and victuals furnished to them in Norfolk; with the
valuation, 26 Feb. 1578, of the lands and goods of some, the others
being not to be found or nothing worth. With note that the fines
already assessed in Norfolk amount to 184l. [Dom. Eliz., Vol.
CXXXV. pp. 125–134.] |
| Dec. 30. |
55. Receipt by Wm. Grice (?) for 3l. 3s. from Sir William Catesby,
in full of all demands. [Scrap.] |
| Dec. ? |
56. Petition of Jeffrey Priere, factor of Pieter Brise, merchant of
Rouen, to Council. On complaint of injury done by Sir Arthur
Champernowne to certain salt, you ordered the Admiral to treat with
Sir Arthur about recompense; but notwithstanding the Admiral's
entreaty, he will not do justice. The merchant will accept as much
salt as was landen at St. Uball, and sold by Sir Arthur, viz., 184
moys, though salt has much fallen in price. Sir Arthur had no
cause for the arrest, as there were 1,000 tons of salt at Plymouth,
Dartmouth, and thereabouts, and the salt was bought in Portugal
for provision of the King of France's salthouses. Request that
Sir Arthur be summoned before them to answer the premises. |
|
[¾ pages. Early in October 1577, Sir A. Champernowne stayed
15 sail of French shipping at Plymouth, and on 27 Nov., directions were given for sale of all their cargoes of a perishable nature.
Council Register.] |
| 1577 ? |
57. Petition of Wm. Desmoulins, factor to Nicholas de Hault,
merchant of France, and purveyor of salt to the storehouses of the
King of France, in Normandy and Picardy, to the Queen, for a
commission to the Lord President of York to arrest and examine
all such persons as have bought petitioner's salt, taken on the seas
by Wm. Winter the younger, brought to the coast of Yorkshire,
and sold in small parcels to sundry persons on that coast; also to administer justice to petitioner, so as to save the charges of his coming
to London, and that he may not return to France without recovering anything, having already suffered damage to the extent of 4,000l.
[½ page.] |
|
58. Petition of Bryan Machell of Hamsterley, co. Durham, to the
Queen, for her letter to the Bishop of Durham, to make a final end
of all matters concerning the petitioner's complaint. He and his
ancestors have long been tenants by lease under the Bishop of
Durham of Bedborne park, co. Durham, rent 40s., and to do
service for ten days, at his own charge, against the enemy. His
term having expired, the present Bishop, contrary to custom, and
notwithstanding petitioner and his ancestors have been at great
charges in repairing and reedifying the premises, granted them to
Richard Apelton, who sold his interest therein to petitioner for
100 marks, and although 10s. was paid as earnest, Apelton afterwards, by direction of the Bishop, refused to carry out the contract,
and assured the premises to William Barnes, the Bishop's servant,
and he passed his title to others. The Bishop has bound petitioner
and his friends in a bond for 400l. not to make any further suit thereupon to Her Majesty or elsewhere. Letters were sent by Council
to the Earl of Huntingdon to determine the controversy, but no
end can be made with indifferency, although petitioner has offered
a fine of 100l. for the premises demised at 40s. a year. Begs a
letter to the Bishop to end this complaint, as he has a wife and six
children, and is destitute of any other means of living. [½sheet,
endorsed with abstract of the contents.] |
|
59. Petition of Mr. Weston to Sir Francis Walsingham. Dr.
Dale uses delays in his suit against my mother, Mrs. Weston, and it
is doubtful whether he will suffer her to have judgment against
him. He says that 1,000l. is needed to repair two houses which my
father left in decay, and 500 marks for a chancel, mills, and bridges;
but he cannot prove that the deanery [of Bath and Wells] was
in decay. My father [Dr. Robert Weston] only held it four or five
years, and his conscience allowed him to let no leases, which is
so much to the advantage of Dr. Dale, that he should release my
mother from this long and costly charge. [1page.] |
|
60. John Calis to Sir F. Walsingham. I bewail my former
wicked life, and beseech God and Her Majesty to forgive me. If
she will spare my life, and use me in her service by sea, with those
she can best trust, either to clear the coasts of other wicked pirates
or otherwise, as I know their haunts, roads, creeks, and maintainers
so well, I can do more therein than if she sent ships abroad and
spent 20,000l. I send herewith particulars of the partakers of my
piracies, and the maintainers and victuallers of me and my companies. [2/3 pages.] Annexing, |
|
60. I. List by John Calis of the names and addresses of the
purchasers and receivers of goods, &c., belonging to two
Portuguese, a French, Spanish, and Scotch ship, captured
by him and Capt. Slurges of Rochelle. With note
that if he may have liberty, he will give a bond to
bring in the Denmark ship, and if life, his friends will
undertake to bring her in. [2¾pages.] |
|
60. II. Note of debts owing to Calis, and of 130l. which he left in
the Denmark ship. [¾page.] |
|
60. III. John Calis to Sir F. Walsingham. Take care that Sulivan
Beere of Beerhaven in Ireland, does not practise any
treason towards Her Majesty there, as he told me in his
castle at Beerhaven that James Fitzmorris and a number
of Frenchmen determined to land there, if they could get
pilots to conduct them thither, and persuaded me to join
them and be their guide, promising me large gifts; but
I would not join any rebel against Her Majesty, hoping
her mercy in time to come. |
|
Last March, while riding at anchor at Torbay, I met a
Frenchman commanded by Capt. Molloner, who came
aboard my ship, and conferred concerning the Irish
coast and the best harbours, which I said were Cork
and Kinsale; they then asked whether Beerhaven and
Dingell were not good places to land; they told me if
I would go over with them to France, I need not fear
the Queen for any offence I had done, and the King, his
master, would pardon me for anything I had done against
him or any of his nation, and would give me 3,000
crowns to become his subject and be sworn his man, as
also a yearly fee during life. I asked to what end he
would use me; he said his master shortly meant to do
some service on the coast of Ireland, and wanted pilots;
on my declining, he said I should never have the like
preferment offered me in England, and went his way.
[1¼ pages.] |
|
61. Suggestion for the constitution of a "corporation for manual
arts and artificial mysteries." That 40 persons be incorporated, and
have authority throughout England to make or work and export 28
descriptions of wares, leathers, &c., mentioned, usually made abroad,
whereby the decayed towns, and a great number of people, now vagrant for lack of exercise, may be set to work, and the Commonwealth
relieved. None to make any of the wares but those appointed by
this corporation, by which means they shall cause it to be truly and
well done, and so help and enrich the towns where those things shall
be wrought. |
|
150,000 sheep pelts, to be transported yearly, and as much yarn
as they shall spin of fell wool, whereby none will go out but what is
spun here, and the poor will thereby be set to work. |
|
The corporation to have a common seal, and also the searching,
sealing, alnaging, and measuring of all wares and merchandise made
by them, as also the whole profits and commodities thereof. |
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Also to have power to make rules for the government of their
fellowship, their servants, factors, deputies, &c. [1page.] |
|
62. List of 58 persons who paid on account of the subsidy granted
in 1576, in Weston and Hopton, giving the amount paid by each,
and whether in money or goods, from 6l. to 6d. [1 page.] |
|
63. Certificate of the value of lands and goods held by freeholders,
copyholders, and others [probably recusants], in various parts of
Suffolk, certified from the town of Ipswich. Signed by Jeffrey
Gilbard and John Moore, bailiffs, John Clenche, recorder, and Edw.
Grimston, viz.: |
|
Freeholders: value of lands by the year:— |
|
Phil. Parker of Arwerton, 300 marks, and 300l. goods; Thos.
Lewgar of Chelmondeston, 15l., and 12l. goods; Wm. Thompson of
the same, 10l., and 20l. goods; John Flick of Woodbridge, 5l.; and
Alice Huggett of Ipswich, 4l., and 10l. goods. |
|
Copyholders: like valuation:— |
|
John Flick of Woodbridge, 20l.; John Smith of Trimley St.
Mary, 4l. |
|
Names of those who have neither lands, goods, nor dwelling
places:— |
|
John Woodram of Ipswich, skinner; Thos. Bourman of
Southold, mariner. |
|
Names of those who have been presented but never came before
us, yet dwelling in the county:— |
|
Ralph Cromwell, George Skinner, —Hunston, John Cowper,
John Taylor. [1 page. Gilbard and Moore were bailiffs together
in the 8 th, and again in the19th year of Elizabeth, and Clench
was made recorder in the 16th year. Note by the late Mr.
Lemon.] |
|
64. "Remembrances to amend in the instructions for Wales."
Good instructions avail not unless executed. Imprisonment should
be in the porter's ward, except by licence of President and Council.
Some things are referred to discretion, which is not to be mentioned
where justice and equality are spoken of, which limit discreation. The
employment of the fines should be mentioned; they have hitherto
been spent on keeping the Prince's house in repair, &c. The grief
of the subject and burden to the country consists in sundry errors
crept into the government of the Council there, which should be
reformed. [¾ page. Endorsed by Lord Burghley.] |
|
65. Notes [by Lord Burghley] that the sacrifice of the mass is
to be rooted out of the Church as a thing altogether evil. With
answers thereto, arguing that it should be tolerated in those who
think the mass to be the service of God, as Christ kept company
with Pharisees, and meat offered to idols was not forbidden to be
eaten. [2 pages, draft corrected.] |
|
66. Particular of plenary indulgences, &c., granted by Pope
Gregory XIII., at request of Alphonso, rector of the English college,
for all parts beyond the Alps, to those having beads, coronals,
crosses, &c., e.g., anyone having one of the blessed grains put into
his beads, and praying for the conversion of the kingdoms of
England, Ireland, and Scotland, and of heretics to the Catholic
faith, shall obtain every time plenary indulgence, &c. [1¾ pages,
Latin.] |
|
67. Particulars of similar indulgences granted to beads, coronals,
grains, for England, Ireland, and Scotland. [2½ pages.] |
|
Plan endorsed [by Lord Burghley], "Hendrik's plat of my bay
windowe." [1 sheet. Case H., Domestic Addenda, No. 15.] |
|
"A plane of parte of the chase of Bringwood, and of certeyne
grounds adjoyning, leased to Mr. Walter of Ludlow," including
Ludlow castle, Riccard's castle and woods. Endorsed, "Also a partyculer or constat, under the auditor's hand, howe the same grounds
have been holden by lease." [1 sheet, Dom. Addenda, Case H.,
No. 16.] |
