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Nov. 5.
Westminster. |
Exemplification, at request of Thos. Thornton, of a decree made
that day between Mungo Stagg and other tenants of Bolton, Cumberland, plaintiffs, and Katherine, Countess of Northumberland, and
other defendants. [Docquet.] |
Nov. 7.
Alnwick. |
59. Sir John Foster, and six other justices of the peace, to the
Council. Since their last certificate of 5 July last, have met divers
times, and given warrants to the sheriff to attach all Recusants
found by the last inquisition, who would not be reformed. Enclose
their returns, by which it will be found that most of such recusants
have left the country, are lurking in secret places, or keep their
houses shut. |
| Nov. 11. |
60. List of captains of 15 companies serving in the Low Countries,
but appointed to serve in Brittany, with notes[by Burleigh] of
several changes in the appointments. |
| Nov. 12. |
61. "Remembrances from Sir Thos. Sherley," stating the weekly
imprests required for forces in the Low Countries and Brittany; the
sums advanced for the past six months by the merchants; the
sums unpaid for winter apparel; also his surplus in hand on his
four years' account, ending 11 Oct. 1590, viz., 5,487l. 19s. 7d.,
from which, deducting payments on the checks for 1591 and 1592,
2,659l. 4s. 3d., remains 2,838l. 5s. 4d. still surplus. [1¾ pages.] |
| Nov. 15. |
62. Note of the weekly charge of the Low Country forces, with
the garrison of Flushing and Brill, 965l. 2s. 4d.; total for eight
weeks, from 29 Nov. to 24 Jan., 7,720l. 18s. 8d. [4 pages.] |
Nov. 15.
Sawcey Lodge. |
63. John Wake to his brother-in-law, Rich. Oseley, Hertford.
Has had, with others, a commission to examine a cause between
Thos. Sambrook and Thos. Cowper, late Mayor, who has dealt ill
with Sambrook, a man of honest dealing in his office, worth 100
marks a year, to which he should be restored, and Coldwell, who
Has had the profits 12 months, should make restitution. |
| Nov. 17. |
64. Bond of Sir Horatio Palavicino, of Badburgham, co. Cambridge,
in 500l., that the Rouland of Bremen, now lying at Harwich, laden with corn for Venice, shall not have the said corn landed
in any country subject to the King of Spain, unless driven by
weather or taken in war, and not alienate nor allow it to be employed
for any person in the said King's service. |
Nov. 21.
Hampton Court. |
65. The Council to Peter Houghton, farmer of the imposts, or to
his deputies in Kingston-upon-Hull and 14 other seaports named.
Her Majesty having received advertisements of some ships of war
being prepared in Dunkirk, Newhaven, and other league towns, to
surprise the ships of her subjects in their return from Bordeaux,
Sherant, and Rochelle, has set out two of her ships for their better
defence; the charge is estimated at 1,282l., which is to be taxed
upon the goods of such as may be benefited thereby; therefore all
ships bringing any wines into this realm before 30 Nov. 1592, from
the dominions of the French King, or any other merchandise from
Bordeaux, Sherant, Nantes, Rochelle, or the islands thereabouts,
salt only excepted, shall rateably contribute and pay towards such
charge. Cannot conjecture what taxation will be imposed upon the
tonnage of those goods, before their arrival; but that Her Majesty may
be assured payment, and know where to demand it, Mr. Houghton
or his deputy is to collect 5s. on every ton of wine and other merchandise,
and account for the surplusage, if any, that satisfaction
may be made to the parties. This letter is to be shown to the
Customs' officers, so that none permit such merchandise to be landed
until the tonnage has been satisfied, on pain of payment of double
the value themselves. With note added by the Lord Treasurer, that
they are to certify from every port what is demanded, and what
collected. Also, |
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The Council to the Customs' officers of the same ports. For
avoiding attempts on English ships in Bordeaux river, by Mons.
Luzan, Governor of Blaye, the French King has moved Her Majesty
to furnish six ships of war for six months, to be sent into the river;
she, finding that the same will tend to the safety of her subjects, gave
order for putting such ships in readiness; but as it would be difficult,
in so short a space, to collect a sum requisite for this service,
Peter Houghton, farmer of the impost, has undertaken to defray
the charges, on promise of good satisfaction, which the French
King promised to be repaid by a collection made at Bordeaux,
without any charge to Her Majesty's subjects. Nevertheless, as
this promise may be neglected, and Mr. Houghton unsatisfied, Her
Majesty has commanded that wines and other merchandise, salt
only excepted, arriving from the dominions of the French King,
from the present date until Michaelmas next, shall be rateably taxed,
as Houghton shall give notice, for full satisfaction of his disbursements.
Charge them to further the same, and not to permit any
warrant to pass out of the Custom-house for the landing of such
goods, until Houghton is thoroughly satisfied. With similar note
from the Lord Treasurer to certify from every of such ports what is
demanded and collected. Endorsed, "Precedents of warrants from
the Council Board to lay impositions for setting forth of ships for
good of the coast." [Copies by Sir Edw. Nicholas, afterwards
Secretary of State. 3 pages.] |
| Nov. 26. |
66. Wm. Sterrell to Thos. Phelippes, Customs' officer, near Leadenhal.
Asks if any letters have come for him, or whether he need come
to London before his Lord [Worcester], who comes slowly, like a
family man, and will bring four marriageable daughters with him.
Wishes Phelippes could find some husbands for them. His Lord
has such an opinion of Phelippes's discretion that he desires to continue
his acquaintance. His Lordship thinks most friendly of the
Earl of Essex, and of the Lord Treasurer, as he should. Would be
melancholy but for hopes upon Cloudesly's coming and Fitzherbert's
letters, but there is something that hinders all. Conceives Phelippes
will know his meaning when he wishes that he were not
more desirous of money than of good parentage in the choice of his wife. |
Nov. 29.
Westminster. |
Commission of rebellion to Wm. Hill and five others, to attach
Anne Barlow, widow, at suit of Wm. Pecke. [Docquet, Nov. 5.] |
| Nov. 30. |
67. Account of Sir Thomas Sherley's receipts for the service in
Brittany, from 12 Jan. 1591 to 29 Sept. 1592; total, 57,817l. 10s. 2½d.;
of his payments for apparel, extras, &c., 12,847l. 0s. 5½d.; weekly
pay 53,641l. 8s. 4d., so that 9,670l. 18s. 7d. remains due to him.
Also of the expenses of 600 men sent to Dieppe, from 8 April to
1 Aug. 1591; total, 2,345l. 8s. Also of the charge in Brittany,
from 12 April to 11 July 1591, 7,191l. 7s. 8d., thence to 1 Aug.,
2,024l. 13s., and thence to 28 Sept. 1592, 42,079l. 19s. 8d. [12
pages.] |
| Nov. 30. |
68. Account of money received by Sir Thos. Sherley for the pay
of 4,000 men mentioned, who should have been in Brittany on
29 Sept. 1592, but were prevented by contrary winds, and by
directions given to Sir Thomas. On account of their not joining
together, he was forced to continue the former manner of
payment, which amounted monthly to 711l. 18s. more than it
otherwise would have been, whereby he has become a creditor
for 2,135l. 14s., for which he asks Lord [Treas. Burghley's] order, as
his officers have charged him with bills of exchange to that value,
payable 4 Dec. Sir Thomas hoped to have had great thanks for
this service, for if his care and credit had not served to take up
money for payment of the 16 bands in the Low Countries, and the
officers and six bands in Normandy, since 28 Sept., mutinies and
confusion might have arisen amongst the soldiers. As the money
destined for them, and delivered by his Lordship's order to him,
was sent to Caen, in expectation that those forces would before that
have been in Brittany, he hopes his Lordship will allow him some
competent extraordinary imprest beforehand, considering he must
render a perfect account for all his receipts, and he also hopes that
contrary winds and other casulaties may not be imputed to him.
[5 pages.] |
| Nov. 30. |
69. Bond by Frances Aunger, of Gray's Inn, Middlesex, to the
Queen, in 400l.,—in consideration of a grant of the goods, chattles,
and debts of Geo. Yorke, deceased, forfeited by outlawry, and for
relief of Marie Yorke, his widow, and her children,— to pay all
debts and duties owing at Yorke's decease, in such manner as shall
be appointed by the Lord Treasurer. |
| Nov. |
70. Memorandum [by a priest] of persons residing in Lancashire
who favour the Catholics, also names of certain clergymen fit to be
Commissioners; Mrs. Anderton of Lostock, a widow of great wealth,
and her son Thomas heard the writer's masses and sermons there,
and have sent him money. With notes [by Lord Burghley] of the
parishes in six hundreds of Lancashire. Endorsed, "Names of good
preachers in Lancashire, and of Popish persons and vicars." |
| Nov. |
71. Earl of Derby to the Council. In executing their directions,
as the calling together of the gentlemen appointed to search, and
dwelling in places far distant, could not be done without great inconvenience,
sent the Council's letters to such as dwell not far asunder,
but wrote private letters to each, and sent instructions as to how
they were to perform the search; all the passages were kept at the
time of the search, and for seven nights after. The apprehension
of priests did not take such good effect, because Bell's first repair
to his Lordship and their conversation being generally known, bred
suspicion, and the coming down of Waad also made men doubt.
Letters were written from Hertford, giving warning of the search.
The county lying 24 miles along the coast of the Mersey, there
being but two passages over the river from Cheshire to Lancashire,
and the Cheshire gentlemen bringing many servants, it gave occasion
of suspicion, and a special person employed in the search also gave
warning. Desires that the course begun may be continued; good
has already been wrought, by the men being for the most part conformable.
Secret and church Papists, being men of ability, are the
only dangerous people; asks their resolution about the wives, who
are in many cases so obstinate, that their husbands complain.
The widows apprehended have been sent to Radcliff Tower, which is
within land, and in the hundred where the people are well affected;
asks their Lordships' directions as to appointing gentlemen for their
safe keeping, and proceeding against them. Will take care that
such as have absented themselves are apprehended, and committed
like the rest. [Abstract.] |
| [Nov.] |
72. List of 13 parks in counties mentioned, granted to the Earl
of Essex, with the yearly rental of each; total, 52l. 13s. 8d. |
| Nov.? |
73. Lord Admiral [Howard] to the Queen. Gives his objections
to the demands of A.B. If a lease be made him of the herbage
and pannage of the forests, parks, and chases, he may use them all
as farms, and so surcharge them that the game must be starved;
the keepers cannot prevent it, for he reserves to her only so much
pannage and browse for the deer as the surveyors of the shires shall
think fit, and does not speak of any herbage, and their knowledge
for this purpose is very little; he and his assigns must have free
ingress to the lairs of the deer. Heretofore the herbage and
pannage in all parks have been reserved for the increase of the
game, and the keepers are stinted to a certain number of cattle,
because the grounds shall not be overlaid, and the feed be kept sweet,
without which the deer cannot prosper. No doubt the keepers have
more cattle than are allowed, yet not many, for fear of forfeiting
their patent; but if the herbage is leased, the parks can be but as
farms. |
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Most timber trees will be found to have a dead bough on the
top, or a hole in the body or root, so that the reservation made to
her of good timber trees will be of little worth; experience has
proved the utter destruction of woods, by warrants and grants for
the sale of dotards, under colour of which the soundest trees have
gone. Is grieved to think of the state her woods are now in, and
what want there is for building and repairing her ships, which are
the jewels of her kingdom. A. B. has promised to plant two for
every one that he shall cut down, but the writer's children's
children will not live to see them timber trees. As A. B. has also
a grant of all dead blocks, roots, windfalls, &c., the deer cannot lie
quiet, for the workmen and carriages must continually pass to and
fro. The general word of farming her woods and giving her 20,000l.
yearly for them, made a good show, but when his demands came to
be viewed, they seemed very strange, for to have the herbage of all
the parks for 40,000l. would be too little; trusts he shall not live to
see any such grant, and that Her Majesty, who has found such great
fault with the disparking and disforesting done by her predecessors,
will not now make her parks, forests, and chases farms. One of A. B's
articles, referring any fault committed by him or his assigns to the
Lord Treasurer, Chancellor, and Court of Exchequer, will be strange
to the justices in Eyre, who have always punished faults belonging
to forests and parks. If so, there will be no cause to keep a justice
court, nor to have verderers or regarders, for their office, which has
continued since the law of the forest, will be needless. There are
many more articles that seem strange, but has only answered
those that concern the two offices in which the writer serves. |
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Is sure Her Majesty does not think that a poor hound like A. B.
must do all this; he does but beat the bush. If the coppices in Clarington,
Guilford, the great park of Windsor, Nonsuch, and such like,
and the great oaks and beeches that have rotten boughs, &c. on them,
should be cut down, they would not please her as they now do, for
10 to 1 in those parks have perished, and yet have must for the deer.
Her Majesty has on this side. Trent and beyond, 180 parks, forests,
and chases, the herbage of which is so great, that if she grant it, it
will be the greatest farm of woods and lands ever let in the kingdom.
No man that ever lived desires more her profit; has delivered
his duty, and if she likes the grant, has done. Has delivered
objections to the Lord Treasurer, but knows not how they will be
liked. [1¾ pages.] |
| Nov.? |
74. Account of the number of men raised in 29 counties named,
between Sept. 1589 and February 1592, distinguishing those
sent to Lord Willoughby, the Earl of Essex, and Sir Roger
Williams, in Normandy, and to Sir John Norris in Brittany;
total, 12,700l.; also of 600 raised in Aug. 1592, to fill up the
bands sent out of the Low Countries into Brittany, and 1,000 in
Sept. to be in the French King's pay. With a note of 450 sent
out as pioneers and miners, and 498 volunteers. [2 pages.] |
| [Nov.] |
75. Account of monies received by Sir Thos. Sherley, 12 Jan.
1591, to 29 Sept. 1592, for the service of Brittany; total,
57,817l. 10s. 2½d.; of which he disbursed for coat and conduct
money, 1,123l. 15s. 8d.; for transportation of men and victualling
at sea, 1,638l. 11s. 10d., and delivered to Sir John Norris for victualling
certain bands, 3,242l. 10s. With a note of sums received
by Sir Thos. Sherley for coat and conduct money, transportation
of certain bands from the Low Countries to Brittany, &c., which are
also to be charged in his account. [2 pages.] |
| Nov.? |
76. Book containing the second certificates of the Commissioners
for the county of Warwick to the Council, giving the names of such
persons as have either been presented to them, or by their endeavours,
have been found out or suspected to be Jesuits, seminary
priests, fugitives, or recusants, in places named within the said
county; also of those who have been indicted for persisting in
recusancy. In the parish of Coughton and Samborn, occur the
names of Mrs. Mary Arden, widow, and John Brown, her servant.
[12 pages.] |
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Also of those recusants who have been in the county and are
now beyond the seas, or are vagrants in other parts of the realm.
[3 pages.] |
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Also of those now dwelling in other counties or gone out of
Warwickshire upon their just occasions, or who lurk unknown in
other counties. [3 pages.] |
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Also of those who have been presented for not coming to church,
and yet are thought to forbear through debt, fear of process or
other worse faults, or from age or sickness. Among the absentees
at Stratford-on-Avon, for fear of process of debt, are Mr. John
Shackespere, Wm. Fluellen, and George Bardolfe. [1½ pages.] |
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Also of those who have conformed or promised conformity, or
are content to have conference with men learned and well affected
in religion, appointed by the said Commissioners, to be resolved of
such doubts as make them forbear coming to church. Among
those, who have conformed or promised conformity, are in Edgbaston
parish, John Burbage, and in Packwood parish, Chris.
Shackspere and his wife. [7 pages. Every page in the book bears
the signature of the said Commissioners.] Annexing, |
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76. i. Certificate by Sir John Goodwin and George Throgmorton,
two of the Commissioners appointed to inquire
after seminaries, recusants, &c., in co. Bucks, that it
appears, by a certificate made to them, and to Lord Grey
of Wilton, by Richard Askew, minister of Middle
Claydon, that Lady Phillippe Gifford resorts to his
church according to law; dated 13 Nov. 1592. With
note by H. Goodere, one of the Commissioners for Warwickshire, that he received the certificate, 16 Nov. 1592,
and that Lady Gifford was first indicted at Warwick,
27 Feb. 1592. |
