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| Aug. 10. |
24. Grant to Sir James Crofts, Comptroller of the Household, for
four years, of power by himself, deputies, or executors, &c. to search,
try, and find out lands, tenements, parsonages, tithes, advowsons,
leases, &c., which by attainder, forfeiture, escheat, conviction, &c.
ought to appertain to Her Majesty, and are now concealed or
detained. |
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Also to compound with any person or body politic who shall
enjoy such premises, for all rents and profits due, as also for grants
and confirmations to be made by Her Majesty to such her subjects.
Sir James Croft to have the money or other consideration rising
by such compositions, &c. without account. |
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Upon every such grant, ratification, or confirmation, there shall
be reserved to Her Majesty so much rent as the premises shall be
rated at by former records, or as shall be certified by special inquisition, or other record; with particulars of reservations to be made
from premises passing in fee simple, and by compositions with or
grants to strangers; houses and premises within three miles of any
of Her Majesty's residences not to be compounded for without leave
of the Lord Treasurer and Chancellor of the Exchequer. Orders for
passing grants and the fines thereon; viewing and copying of
records, issuing commissions, and allowing processes, plaints, and
pleas. [2¾ pages, abstract.] |
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Endorsed with a query, date 1588, as to who is owner of Shelton
manor in Marston and Wotton, lately belonging to Rich. West,
and statement that in Tittenghanger, Burston, and Park, co. Herts,
there are 140 acres of land, 6 acres of meadow, 35 of pasture, 10 of
wood, and 8d. in rent, and other lands at St. Albans, which were
entailed by Thos. West to Richard, his son, and Elizabeth his wife.
29 Oct. 5 Hen. VIII. |
Aug. 11.
The Court, Oatlands. |
25. The Council to the Commissioners on the Borders. Her
Majesty—having sent you her commission to inquire of the decays
of the castles, fortresses, &c. upon the Borders, according to the
statute made 2 & 3 Phil. & Mary, revived in the last session of
Parliament,—wishes that before any reparations are made, you should
send a certificate of your surveys, and receive directions for your
further proceeding. You are first to survey and inquire by jury
of the ruin and decays of the old castles in cos. Northumberland,
Cumberland, Westmoreland, and the Bishopric of Durham, where
you, the Lord Bishop, especially, if cause require, shall give out a
commission, under the seal of your county palatine, to the commissioners mentioned in Her Majesty's commission, agreeable with the
latter. |
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You shall be informed how and by whom they have been decayed,
and how many of them are necessary for defence of the Borders,
and estimate the charges, and certify by whom they are to be
borne. |
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You may also survey and inquire what parts of the said counties
and bishopric are most apt to be enclosed and converted to tillage,
or how the same may be converted, for the better strength of the
Borders, with the good liking of the inhabitants and owners, and
send a perfect certificate of all particulars aforesaid, when we will
consider and give directions therein. We enclose a writ of dedimus
potestatem, whereby you may receive the oath required by statute,
before you proceed to the execution of the said commission.
[1½ pages, copy.] |
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25. i.Statement of the principal points which the Commissioners
for fortifying the Borders are directed to inquire into,
viz:— |
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What tenements and houses, since 27 Hen. VIII.,
are decayed, and not occupied by men able to serve as
horse or footmen, and where they are situated ? |
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What are the causes of those decays, and of the wants
and evil furniture of horse and foot, and what number
of the latter existed in former times ? |
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Where they find such defects or default of furniture,
they are to treat with the landlords and others whom
it concern, that order may be given thereon. |
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Where anything is to be done to the furtherance of
this service on Her Majesty's own lands, they are to
certify to the Lord Treasurer, Chancellor, and Barons
of the Exchequer, the state of the decays, names of the
tenants or farmers, and what rents are payable to Her
Majesty, whereon order will be given for reformation. |
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They are also to summon the sheriffs, bailiffs, stewards,
&c. before them, and to execute their command. |
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They shall also inquire what landlords and owners
upon the Borders have, for more gain than they could
have of natural subjects, let their lands or feedings to
Scotchmen, and what increase of rent or service such
Scotchmen yield, and how many of them are denizens.
[1 page.] |
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25. ii. Special points to be inquired of by the Commissioners,
viz.:— |
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Whether the default of the ruin and decays has
been only in the landlords and owners, or their
principal officers, and the farmers of Her Majesty's
manors; and whether they can rectify and repair,
at their own charge, and restore the lands as they
were occupied in 27 Henry VIII. ? |
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What penalties they think should be set upon
default? |
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How order may be taken between the Lords and the
tenants, by mutual consent, for renewing the ancient
services ? |
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What help they think the Lords and others under
them, and Her Majesty's farmers and their assigns,
may be enjoined to give, upon default found ? |
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How the tenant may be furnished and able for
service, and how the duty can be continued and
executed ? |
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What bonds are fit to be taken for the performance
hereof, and what fines assessed and pains set down, for
defaults or want of furniture ? |
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If the unableness have grown by the tenants' own
default, within what time they may be enjoined to
furnish themselves with horse, armour, and weapons,
or with the two latter, according to their ancient
usage, at their own charge ? |
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What inconvenience may arise by expelling any
such tenants, and placing others who will furnish for
the service ? |
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In default of placing such a tenant within a month,
or certifying the same to the Commissioners or Waror certifying the same to the Commissioners or War
dens, what fine ought to be assessed upon the landlord,
and what inconvenience may arise by placing such
new tenants by the Commissioners and Wardens, if
such can be found, and what fine ought to be assessed
on the Lords and others, to find such if possible ? |
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Where the under-tenants have been the cause of such
decay, how they may be compelled to contribute towards
the re-edifying or repairing of the tenements, and help
to the furniture of the party decayed ? |
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What landlords and others having estates under
them, to be charged towards the said contributions,
are absent, and if they should not appear upon
summons, what lands and tenements they have within
the jurisdiction of the said Commissioners, to satisfy
what may be imposed upon them ? [12/3 pages.] |
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25. iii. List of 14 Commissioners appointed for the East Marches,
of 12 for the Middle and 12 for the West; also of four
who are to join the number upon renewing the Commission. [1¼ pages.] |
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25. iv. List of seven castles in the East, Middle, and West Marches
and fronting upon the Borders, in the hands of the
Queen, the Earl of Arundel, and Sir Simon Musgrave.
[¼ page.] |
Aug. 12.
Hoggesdon. |
26. Sir Valentine Browne to Sec. Walsingham. I wish your
journey prosperous, and so write that you may understand the
matters, and make a better report on your return. Therefore,—not dealing with the behaviour of the people who will resort to you
after you have passed the Tyne, or before, nor their long speeches,
tending to the praise of themselves and their great services to the
realm, I mean of those parts on this side Scotland,—I crave, for the
good of Her Majesty and our country, that in your passage or
returning, you will visit Newcastle and Her Majesty's house there,
with the river and the fort standing upon the mouth of the haven,
which was called Tynemouth Abbey, and so along the sea coast:
where, besides the castles of Alnwick and Warkworth, belonging to
the Earl of Northumberland, and other houses of gentlemen kept in
good repair, you will see the great and ruinous castles of Dunstanborough and Bamborough, with the towns adjoining, that were of
great receipts for Her Majesty's forces in my time, but now laid
waste for sheep and husbandry, and the people clean driven away
that should have been succours to such as might be placed there.
I do not mention the towns and villages by the west from the sea,
likewise laid waste for profit of cattle, where the armies have had
victuals and lodging, but which is now as dear there as any from
foreign parts. |
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These parts are little out of your highway to Berwick, where of
courtesy they will show themselves to the uttermost, and in better
order than, when time may be required, they be able, and yet the consideration of the place itself, and that which shall be in the best part
brought to you, must induce you to a good understanding thereof. |
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West of Berwick, four miles, is Norham castle, with a proper
town, which was until lately in the Bishop of Durham's hands, and
was kept by a captain and crew, with a good family of strength,
and the town well peopled, and always able to serve the Queen and
Warden with 40 good horsemen, and as many more footmen; but
all now left to husbandry of hinds, for the most part Scottish lowns.
In like estate is Etal castle, with the manor and town, five miles
from Norham, both which were houses and towns well peopled,
and able to receive the Lord Warden and 1,000 persons, but now
not able to lodge and victual 200 men. As these are, so are many
other towns and villages on the Borders, far out of your way, being
all in the keeping of those countrymen that would have cried out
of the decay of the Borders, if themselves had not had the government of the same, in which number, if the Governor of Berwick had
had not well weighed the sequel of the rule of those countrymen,
Berwick itself might have been accounted. Nevertheless, those
countrymen be both wise, able, and stout men, so long as they be
governed by others that are not allied to their affections, I will
make a plan of the device spoken of at Barnelms by the time of
your return, and serve you in any other way you shall demand.
[1½ pages.] |
Aug. 26.
Whitehall. |
27. The Queen to the Bishops of London, Peterborough, Lincoln,
Norwich, Sarum, and Gloucester. The Dean and Chapter of
Canterbury having by our permission elected John [Whitgift]
Bishop of Worcester to the archbishopric vacant by the death of
Edm. Grindal, we require you to confirm him in the said office, and
to do all that belongs to the pastoral office therein. Interlined with
notes of a similar letter from James I. to the Bishops of Durham,
Rochester, St. David's, Chester, Chichester, and Ely, for the confirmation of Richard [Bancroft] Bishop of London, on the death of
John Whitgift. [2½ pages, Latin.] |
| Aug. 31. |
28. Oath taken by George Poulett on his admission to the office
of bailiff of the isle of Jersey, before Sir Amias Paulet, captain and
governor, and 10 jurats of the island, to maintain the rights of
Queen and Church, execute justice, obey the captain, &c. [1¾ pages,
French.] |
