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Jan. 6.
Enfield. |
1. E. Reynoldes to his brother, Owen Reynoldes, Westminster.
I perceive by your speech with Mr. Fowkes that Mr. Kerry relishes
my last offer better than the first, wherein you have with good discretion come short of the bounds prescribed, for I think 200l. in
hand and 200l. to be paid in two years,—provided we both live so
long, and the office yields 400l. or 300l. yearly,—to be very sufficient,
so you must assure Mr. Kerry or Mr. Pitt that you cannot draw me
to any higher rate. They may demand what I will give in case the
place yields but 200l. or under the rate of 300l.; let us first see what
he will offer. You might take occasion to resort to him at his return,
and yet not show any longing desire in me. My Lady came to
London on Saturday, as I understand. One argument more may
be that now it is a quarter of a year past the day, and therefore
you hope her Ladyship will soon take order. If asked where I now
am, say that I went into the country, and will shortly be at Enfield,
with Mr. Fowke; if she knew of my being here it might cause a
dilatory answer. Let Mr. Mathew pay Mr. Longston 30s. for this
quarter's rent, and I will repay you. If you have got any good
tobacco yet amongst your friends, remember me; but if you buy any,
I will not take it. [1 page.] |
| Jan. 10. |
2. Sir Hen. Brounker to Sec. Cecil. I was this morning at
Croydon with the Archbishop, and returned by 9 a.m. on purpose
to wait upon you, but have been prevented by the roughness
of the water; meantime the party is secure, and doubts nothing,
so that no care need be taken for his escape. I have returned
Mr. Nicholson's letter; by that, though very short, the greatness
of the wrong lately offered me appears. If I be unfaithful, I refuse
no torture, nor would longer live than I shall have your honour and
favour. |
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P.S.—I have sent the water for your eyes, carefully made; I hope
it will do them good. [¾ page.] |
Jan. 12/22.
Antwerp. |
J. B. [John Petit] to [Mr. Halins]. The King of Scots has
ended his parliament to his pleasure, putting down the Presbyterian
ministers, and the house and name of Gowrie. If it go forward, he
will put on foot his pretence to be declared heir to England,
and take the title of Prince of Wales. He has prepared friends,
munition, and armour, but little silver, to go through by hook or by
crook. Many Scots have told me they could take Berwick any
market day, but forbear till they are ready to go forward. Care
should be taken, for I wrote you that the governor was much
affected to the Scots. You may find out the truth by the light I
gave you. It is dangerous to deal with the Scots, for they keep
nothing secret. [Extract, Flanders Corresp.] |
| Jan. 12. |
3. —to—. I am prevented seeing you by sickness.
I entreat the furtherance of my petition and warrant; the suit is
equitable, and the like was allowed to Mr. Hatton, in a similar case.
I send you the petition; I want it by warrant rather than decree,
to save further suit and charges. If further reference is required,
let it be to my master, or Mr. Auditor. I am very earnest, because
having no doubt of its being allowed I have long since disbursed
the greater part. You shall have 5l. for your favour. |
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P.S.—If you like not the petition, do you suggest alterations.
[1 page.] |
Jan. 16.
Court. |
4. The Council to the Lord Treasurer. Sir George Carew,
treasurer at war in Ireland, requests stay of proceedings against
his brother Rich. Carew, committed as a recusant; he requires his aid
to finish his accounts, having committed his private affairs to him
whilst absent in Ireland. We request a supersedeas, or some other
course, to stay proceedings against him, he being a quiet man, and
not having any estates whereby Her Majesty might be benefited.
[Draft, ½ page.] |
Jan. 16/26.
Antwerp. |
J.B. [John Petit] to Mr. Halins, London [alias Thos. Phelippes].
The Scotch King forbids all his agents with Christian Princes
to return through England, lest they should be persuaded to utter
his secrets, especially to Sir Rob. Cecil, who, with the Lord Treasurer
and Admiral, he esteems the chief practisers in seeking his life, to
advance a pretender with whom some of them, especially Sir Robert,
are linked in alliance. The King is said to make more account of
the Puritan party in England, of the States of Holland, Denmark, and
some Princes of Germany, than any other, although for his purposes
he makes fair weather to all sorts of religions, and promises
mountains, hills, and dales. |
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Lord Eure's brother is brought prisoner to London; if he and
Guevara were used as they should, they could tell great tales of
the Scotch King's correspondence. They think that they could take
Berwick when they choose, but that it would be more labour keeping
it during Her Majesty's life than catching it. [Extract, Flanders Corresp.] |
| Jan. 17. |
5. Recognizance of Bryan Godfrey, of Westminster, yeoman,
and Alex. Banyon of London, haberdasher, in 20l. for the appearance
of Thos. Jackson, servant to the knight marshal, before Sec. Cecil,
to answer what shall be objected against him relative to the escape
of Geo. Kendall, late a prisoner in the Marshalsea. [½ page.] |
| Jan. 18. |
Grant to the Barons of the Cinque Ports and towns of Rye and
Winchilsea, of discharge of 500l. on every fifteenth granted to Her
Majesty, in respect of a like grant made them by Henry VII.
[Docquet.] |
| Jan. 18. |
Commission to the Lord Treasurer, Sir Rob. Cecil, Sir John
Fortescue, the Lord Chief Justice, and others, to allow to Sir Edw.
Dyer and Wm. Tipper such recompense as they think fit, for
services performed since 8 April 1600, or hereafter to be performed
about their commissions lately granted for concealed lands.
[Docquet.] |
| Jan. 18. |
Confirmation to Sir Hen. Guildford of lands and tenements in
East Guildford, cos. Sussex and Kent, conveyed by him to the Queen
that she might regrant them to him and his heirs, on the former
rent of 100 marks. [Docquet.] |
1601 ?
Jan. 19. |
6. — to G— N—. Pray send this letter with speed,
since I have done my diligence, as also acquainted your master with
somewhat touching your credit, and that I have borrowed 10l. of
you, for the better advancement of his services, which sum I know
he will allow, both in respect of the services, and that this time is
more dangerous than men believe. [¼ page.] |
Jan. 20.
Rose Castle. |
7. Henry Bishop of Carlisle to Sec. Cecil. Being informed on
the 17th that an evil-disposed person, probably a seminary, was at
the house of Pattinson of Bowsted Hill, to be conveyed into Scotland next low water, I sent faithful servants and tenants who knew
the place, but after diligent search they could not find him. I send
the examination of the person who gave the information, and end
with prayers for the preservation of the spring of our joy, and
breath of our nostrils, and for the discovery and disappointing of her
enemies. [1 page.] Encloses, |
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7. i. Examination of Thos. Sibson, curate of Wetherall, Cumberland, before the Bishop of Carlisle. Was desired by
his uncle, Michael James, of Scalby parish, Cumberland,
to write a secret letter requesting John Pattinson, alias
Laird Pattinson, to meet him and Geo. Skelton at Thos.
Warwick's house in Hereby, and there receive the man
he was told of, and safely convey him, when the tide serves. |
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Was told that Mich. James could not convey the man,
being ordered to stay at home till the return of John
Blettern, who was gone into the south on Lord Dacre's
business. That Fras. Daer, being very poor, wrote for
relief to the inhabitants of Burgh barony, promising not
to forget their kindness, and the most substantial men
sent him a purse of 30l. Thinks the party to be conveyed
is Rich. Tailor, a seminary priest, born at Hereby, near
Carlisle, because Tailor was at George Skelton's house last
harvest time, and took into Lancashire Skelton's eldest
daughter, a recusant, who has now returned with strangers.
Would have informed last harvest of Tailor's being at
Skelton's, but was prevented by Skelton and others coming
to spend the day with him, and next day heard that
Tailor was gone. Also was in fear of injury, if it were
known that he was the informant, having been assaulted
and in danger of his life from Skelton and his friends,
for a similar information given to the late Bishop of
Carlisle. Blittern is the only man who left England with
Mr. Dacre's sons, and has been with him all his voyages,
and does all his business in England. [1½ pages.] |
| Jan. ? |
8. List of Low Country residents in London from whom loans
are required: 23 merchants of the intercourse to pay 5,100l.; 11 free
denizens, 1,800l.; six born in England, 1,700l. [1½ pages.] |
| Jan. ? |
9. Similar list of three born in London, four denizens, and 18 of
the intercourse; total of the sums to be required, 3,000l. [1 page.] |
| Jan. ? |
10. Note of privy seals for loans from one Low Country man born
in England, and 15 merchants of the intercourse; sums from 50l. to
200l. [Scrap.] |
| Jan. ? |
11-13. Three papers of memoranda of names of Low Country men.
[Scraps.] |
| Jan.? |
14. List of six Low Country men, with order to enquire from M.
Caron whether they are denizens, merchants of the intercourse, or
born in England, that the letters may be addressed to them accordingly, and his notes opposite to the names in reply. [½ page.] |
| Jan. 21. |
15. Order in Council requiring privy seals to be sent to 18 Low
Country men named, resident in London, for payment of loans
varying from 2,000l. to 300l. each, to Thos. Low, alderman of
London, to be repaid in six months, noting some as born in England and some as denizens; total of the sums, 10,500l. [1page.] |
| Jan. 22. |
16. Serjeant John Hele to Lord Cobham. Never was poor subject
more bound to a gracious sovereign than I am. Touching the matter,
I have strained myself much further than my first intention was
with the Lord Keeper, all offices being far worse for profit now than
they were then, but it is not my profit nor anything else that I
respect so much as Her Majesty's favour. Pray carry it so that
no offence be given to her, upon whom all my good depends. You
have been the only means. I hope I have no cause to think ill of
any other that seemed to wish me well. If Her Majesty had not
extended so gracious a respect unto me, I would not undergo the
place nor the burden. Let me know the end, that I may prepare
myself to enter into the place as well as I can afford, having many
children, and my estate not so much as is reported. [1 page.] |
Jan. 22.
Tower. |
17. Examination of John Hayward before Sir John Peyton and
Att. Gen. Coke. The preface to the Reader was of his own inditing;
entitled it under the letters A.P., as other writers have done. Spoke
in it generally of histories, and intended no particular application
to present history. Read in Fox's book of Acts and Monuments
that King Henry II. never demanded subsidy of his subjects, that
he left in treasure 900,000l., besides jewels and plate. Inserted
the same in the History of Henry IV., because he takes it to be
lawful for any historiographer to insert any history of former time
into that history he writes, though no other historian has mentioned the same. The oath under the hand and seal required and
taken by Richard II. was to know what every particular man was
worth, that they might be taxed thereafter; no other oath was
intended by examinate. |
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Found in Walsingham that the forces sent into Ireland by
Richard II. were scattering and dropping, that those who did good
service were not rewarded, and that matters of peace were managed
by men of the weakest sufficiency, either ignorant or corrupt. The
complaint of Hereford to Mowbray implies that the King's Council
accounted ancient nobility vain, and virtue the ready means to
bring to destruction. This complaint is extant in Hall, Polydore
Virgil, &c. Read in Bodius [Boethius] and other authors, that
the subject was rather bound to the State than to the person of the
King; inserted it as spoken by the Earl of Derby and Duke
of Hereford to serve his own turn; it is a liberty used by all
good writers of history to invent reasons and speeches. Bodius'
distinction is that where the Government is democratical or
aristocratical, the subject is bound to the State rather than to
the Prince, but where monarchical, it is to the person of the Prince.
Did not invent the Earl's speech as it is, but found it somewhere. |
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In the Bishop of Carlisle's speech, set down that distinction,
and confuted the error himself, according to the example of the
best historians; being blamed for so doing, because the Earl that
held the error prevailed, and the Bishop that confuted it was
punished, says he did it after the example of the best historians.
Set forth the oration of the Bishop of Canterbury according to matter found in other authorities, and cannot affirm that he found these
eight stories in any oration the Archbishop made, but it is lawful
for an historian so to do; besides be confutes the same. Confesses it is his own speech, that it was not amiss in regard of the
Commonwealth that King Richard II. was dead, &c., because it
prevented civil wars through two competitors. |
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Being demanded the reason why he set forth the orations of the
Bishop of Canterbury and the Earl of Derby, seeing they tend to
things most unlawful, says that there can be nothing done, be it
never so ill or unlawful, but must have a shadow, and every counsel
must be according to the action. Selected out this single history
as Hall begins there, and Ascham, in his Schoolmaster, commends
that before any other. Followed Hall in his history, but supplied
it out of other histories, and intended to continue the history. As
for the words spoken by King Richard II., that princes must not
rule without limitation, &c., affirms that to be a true opinion if
rightly understood; did not intend it to be taken generally, but
that princes were to be limited by the law Divine and the law of
nature only; had this from a book written three years since, but
cannot remember the author. |
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Being asked where he had the sentence that oaths are commonly
spurned aside when they lie in the way, says the speech is his own,
as things done de facto and not de jure. Found from Walsingham
that Richard II. borrowed money by privy seals. For benevolence,
he found the matter, but does not defend the word; being asked
where he found the description of the Earl, as not negligent to uncover the head, bow the body, stretch forth the neck, arm, &c., says
he found in Hall and others that he was of popular behaviour, but
for the particulars, he took the liberty of the best writers. Gathered
the description of the Earl out of his actions; found the matter,
not the very form of words. Wrote of a history of 300 years past,
and acquainted none therewith before be brought it to the printer.
Began to write this history about a year before it was published,
but had intended it a dozen years before, although he acquainted no
man therewith. Had nothing from the printer for printing of the
book. [In Coke's hand. 4 pages.] |
| Jan. 22. |
18. Account of the annual value of the lands of the Earl of Derby
in places mentioned, in cos. Lancaster, Westmoreland, York, Chester,
Somerset, Warwick, Surrey, Essex, and Lincoln, whether in possession, or in reversion after the decease of Alice Countess of Derby
and Sir Edw. Stanley; total in possession, 2,136l. 15s. 10¾d.; in
right of Lady Elizabeth, 560l.; in leases redeemable, 187l.; in
reversion, 1,151l. 14s. 9½d.; total rental, 4,035l. 10s. 8¼d., beside
advowsons, stewardships, and bailiwicks. [5 pages.] |
Jan. 23.
Bishop Auckland. |
19. Tobias Bishop of Durham to Sec. Cecil. According to your
letter of 12 Dec., which by slow post reached me on the 20th,
John Gibson has been and rested a few days with me; we had much
discourse, and on parting he asked of me a gelding, which he said
you had promised him, but as you had not named it, I durst not
give him a horse, for fear of the statute, but contented him another
way. I enclose a letter from him, but have not heard from him
since. He protests his fidelity, though he has been hindered last
week. There has been great unkindness between the chief commanders in these parts, and no little matter to know what the gentlemen's business was. I have not this many a day spoken with
any one more able or glad to be employed by you; if he were
interrupted without your privity, it was more haste than good speed.
I want to know whether to continue intelligence with him. [1 page.] |
| Jan. 23. |
20. Serjeant John Hele to Lord Cobham. If you understand
any imptations against me, I entreat you to be a means to Her
Majesty to appoint committees to examine the truth, so shall he be
prevented of his purpose. [½ page.] |
Jan. 24.
Hereford. |
21. Thos. Coningsby to Mr. Cuffe, secretary to the Earl of Essex.
Thanks for your good opinions of me, which I would readily requite.
I have been informed how some would conclude my purse, as if they
had superintendency over me, for 50l., which, for reverence of that
Lord I most honour, I submitted to his disposition, yea above the
bargain, between Mr. R. N. and me, who drove me above the value
of the thing, not respecting the neighbourhood to my poor maintenance; but as it did not please his honour to order it, give me
leave to think myself quit therein. [1 page.] |
| Jan. 30. |
22. R. Williams to Lord Cobham. I send you my opinion on
this petition of the men who desire to buy Randall's wood, as they
press for an answer. I hold the price to be reasonable, but I cannot
advise you to accept conditions other than you and your father
have granted in like cases. That being amended, according to former
precedents of bargains, and good sureties given for the keeping
thereof and payment of the money, I think you have made a very
good bargain, as deferring the felling that wood brings more loss to
you every year. [2/3 page.] |
| Jan. 31. |
Grant to Thos. Newman, John Wise, John York, and Thos. Perycourt of pardon for horse stealing and burglary; subscribed by the
Lord Chief Justice before whom they were tried, and the Attorney
General. [Docquet.] |
| Jan. 31. |
Grant to Jas. Boland, seminary priest, of pardon for all treasons,
misprisions of treason, and other felonies, on condition of continued
good behaviour towards the Queen and State. [Docquet.] |
| Jan. 31. |
Like pardon for Martin Nelson, seminary priest. [Docquet.] |
| Jan. ? |
23. Satirical ballad of seven stanzas, upon some principal personages about the Court at the latter end of Elizabeth's reign; the
chief names mentioned are the Lord Chamberlain [Hunsdon], Pembroke, Little Cecil, Thomas Lord Burghley, Bedford, Grey, Fulke
[Greville ?], Raleigh, &c. Beginning, |
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"Chamberlain, Chamberlain, |
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"He's of her grace's kin." |
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Each verse ending— |
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"Lord for thy pity." [1 page.] |
