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Oct. 10.
Topcliffe. |
25. Earl of Northumberland to the [Lord Treasurer]. I have
received Her Majesty's and your letters for the order of the tenants
of the lordship of Middleham, by the Commissioners appointed for that
purpose, and for the attendance of my deputy steward on the Commissioners. When time shall serve, I shall be most willing in those
affairs. Considering however how importunate I have been on the
tenants' behalf, for the establishment of their custom, I beg you to
have it in remembrance; what good liking it had been to them, and
commodity to Her Majesty, to have such custom established, you well
know by my report, and how much the former Councils respected
its antiquity; now I, thinking to do good service by staying the
suits of a multitude of the tenants to Her Majesty, took it upon me,
which I fancy you did not like, whilst they think I have not done
what they expected, and have lost what they could have secured, and
this may impair my credit with them. If this may not persuade,
and the contrary is to be used, rather than any delay of Her
Majesty's profits shall be imputed to me, I shall earnestly travail
therein. [1½ pages, copy.] |
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Endorsed "Copy of the Queen's Majesty's letters to the Earl of
Northumberland, touching the tenants of Middleham." |
Oct. 15.
Gunoldsby. |
26. Earl of Hertford to the Earl of Leicester, Master of the
Horse. Although these late mishaps have made me silent, yet do I
not mistrust but your noble nature continues your friendly working
for me. I must build upon your promise of most earnest friend
ship, and as I mean faithfully to perform the service of a perfect
well-willer, so I beseech God work in your heart to be earnest and
friendly towards me and my lamentable cause. |
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To make my new suit to you, I cannot but renew my old desire
of your aid to remove Her Majesty's heavy displeasure; no greater
comfort could happen to me than the recovering her favour, which
depends wholly on your honourable and friendly dealing with her
on my behalf. Besides my inward repentance, if my land or living
might purchase pardon for my offence, I would gladly part therewith. My weary cause provokes me to be tedious, and therefore I
end, hoping more in your good and noble nature to do good in my
cause, than in any deserts I have or am able to offer you. [¾ page.
Copy from the original, in possession of the Marquis of Hertford,
with the original cover.] |
Oct. 16.
Norwich. |
27. Edw. Gaston to Mr. Haddon, Master of Requests. Since your
departure from Norwich, the preachers from the city have taken in
hand,—both for their better exercise and also for the education of the
people,—prophecying, which is done once in three weeks, when one
first interprets a piece of the scriptures, which at present is Paul to
the Romans, for an hour, and then two others reply for half an hour,
when we end with prayer. My lord bishop, at his last giving
orders, admitted none that had no knowledge in the Latin tongue,
or that exercised any secular occupancy, by means whereof John
Cayme was not admitted, for he lacked the Latin, and was a butcher. |
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You have been acquainted with divers colleges in Cambridge
and Oxford, but I could never learn that you obtained any lease
for yourself til this day. Remember the old proverb "Better late
than never;" wherefore if you would try Trinity College, Cambridge, for the lease of the parsonage of Chesterton or Tampington or Barrington, you might not only pleasure yourself but your
friends. What need I to move you to consider the godly farmers
belonging to King's College or Christ Church, Oxford, which are
better known to you than to me? Friendship may do much, and if
there be want of money, it may be supplied. You see I look out
better for others than myself. [1½ pages.] |
| Oct. 18. |
28. Lord Treasurer Winchester to Sir Wm. Cecil. Since Lord
Scrope is come to the city, and will have to attend the Queen for
declaration of his charge of the West Marches, he is noted by all
the country for his favour to the noblemen and tenants, and for
applying his charge to her profit. He has mounted certain of her
ordnance in Carlisle castle at his own charge, has ridden with her
commissioners for the survey of her lands in that March, and has
seen faults redressed, and lands and rents restored within four
parcels of lands in Inglewood forest, claimed by the holders as their
own, which they must prove by writing, or leave. |
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The farmers and tenants are agreed to yield the Queen, for every
gressom at every change, two years' rent, and every third year a
year's rent, maintaining all repairs at their own charges, which is
their ancient custom, although other lords take more upon their
lands, as I did when I had land there. Tell this to the Queen, that
she may thank Lord Scrope. |
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Her gressoms there will extend to 2,000l., which money will repair Carlisle castle and citadel, and Penrith, and Bewcastle dale.
There is much land and rent restored to the Queen in this survey. |
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The citadel of Carlisle, charged yearly with 160l. fees, may be
kept by the city for 40l., if the Queen pleases. |
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The walls of the city be fallen down in divers parts, which the
city should amend. |
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Plumpton Park is rented at 160l., that was before but 50l. leased
to the captain during her pleasure, whereof his fee is allowed, and
he charged with rent, which lease the tenants would have discharged,
that they might pay their gressoms and duties to the Queen, and
have no other service to her farmer. |
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Pray inform her of these things; I have no time to repair to her;
but I will shortly, with the Lord of Hertford and Mr. Inglefield's
causes, amongst others. [2½ pages. Signed: W.] |
| [Oct. 24.] |
29. Interrogatories touching the character and conduct of Hen.
Searle, of Cambridge, viz.,— |
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1. What suits has Searle in the Chancery, King's Bench, Common Pleas, and the Prerogative and Delegates' Court, and for
what amount? |
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2. What sum has he diced and riotously made away with? |
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3. Whether he is not a common drunkard, and does not owe
more than he is able to pay? |
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4. Whether, being convened before the Vice-Chancellor for being
commonly defamed with his maid, he was not excommunicated,
and has so remained since Easter? |
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5. Whether, as mayor of the town, he did cut out one portion of
the records of the town, and insert another, to defraud the orphan. |
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Also like interrogatories for Roger Slegg,— |
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1. Whether in the time of his mayoralty he did not spend
above 200l. in suits, quarrels, and gifts, and leave the town 80l.
in debt? |
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2. Whether he did not borrow 20l. of the town, and has not
repaid it? |
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3. Whether he has not so carried his own quarrel that the town
bears out his charges? |
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4. Whether he and his do not now lie at the charge of the town,
and what money he had beforehand of the common purse? |
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5. Whether the whole university and town, a few light persons
excepted, do not take him to be a man of little honesty or truth,
and not worthy to bear authority? |
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6. Whether, being mayor, he did not take 30l. to convey a piece
of ground from the university and the town? |
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7. What has he got by marriages? |
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8. Whether, being mayor, he did not permit Hen. Creede, a
notorious thief, to remain in Cambridge? |
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9. Whether he is not a barrater and maker of sedition in the
university and town, and a companion of lewd persons? |
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10. Whether he has not been put out of the commission? |
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11. Whether he and Searle have not earnestly laboured that
the town may join them in this matter? |
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12. Whether Slegg has not kept a common dice house, and had
a comune box on the table for them that cast, as at Northumberland House, to the undoing of many young gentlemen?
[12/3 pages. See Dom. Eliz., Vol. XXXV., Nos. 9, 10.] |
