Border Papers volume 1: March 1588

Calendar of Border Papers: Volume 1, 1560-95. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1894.

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'Border Papers volume 1: March 1588', in Calendar of Border Papers: Volume 1, 1560-95, (London, 1894) pp. 317-322. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-border-papers/vol1/pp317-322 [accessed 24 March 2024]

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In this section

598. Bowes to Walsingham. [March 1.]

Having obtained leave from my lord Governor of Berwick to come to this country in pursuit of my causes in law to be tried at next York assises, and other private affairs, I have received some letters from Scotland, sent after me from Berwick. They were carried to and fro by the posts, and at length left at my house, where I came last night. "It is strange to me that after so long discontinuance of writing, and without any occasion ministred by me, the Lord Hammilton should ether write unto or breake with me, in the causes mencioned in his lettres. But remembring that William Walker (in his late being in Scotland for some private affaires, and there meting with Mr John Colvile) did tell him that many merveiled greatlie to heare that the Lord Hammilton had joyned him self in societie with suche as were muche suspected to seeke the hurt of religion, and of th'amitie with England; wherupon Mr Colvile largly excused and acquited the Lord Hammilton from any suche course or accion, and required William Walker to signifie to me that the said lord was wrongfullie charged, and remayned of the same mynde in religion and in devotion to her Majestie, as he was at his departure out of this realme,—therefore I thinck verily that upon this cause and ground, he hath ben moved thus to send these lettres to me, which I have thought good immediatly to recomend unto you, to dispose thereof as shalbe thought best." Ask. Signed: Robert Bowes.

¾ p. Addressed. Indorsed by Walsingham: "From Mr Rob. Bowes."

Inclosed in the same:—

(Memoranda on the letters.)

"The latter subscribed with the worde Secundus, is sentt from Mr John Colvile, which I do right hartly pray you to kepe to yourself. The letter (b) signyfieth the Lord John Hamylton, and (T) thErle of Huntley.

What effectes may come by those offers and occasion profered, and what trust may be geven to them, cheyffly in respect of the dangerouse dispositions of the socyetye wherwith the Lord Hamylton hath joyned hym self, I chose rather to leave to wyse consideracion, then anywyse to commend the same further then I have warrantt. And albeytt that Mr Colvile is so certaynly persuaded in the sounde meanynge of the Lord Hamylton, and of his power to drawe the rest of his followers to imbrace and followe his owne curse, for the benefytt of religion, and of thamytye with Inglande: yett fynding alwayes that the frutes of papistes do ever kepe the tast of the tree, I dare gyve no further judgmentt or commendacion, then may be gathered by those lettres, which for that purpose I thought gud spedily to send to you. And howsoever the matter shalbe receyved and intertayned, I do most humbly besech you to be meane, that I be nott imployed in the same, especyally seyng that these thinges are of such weight, as they require the caryadge of stronger then my self.

Wher Mr Colvile seketh dyrection and advise from me, in sondry partes in his lettre, and that I fynd ytt inconvenyentt to the service and to my self to deale therin, the rather att this tyme, when matters of such quality are well governed, and may be best guyded by myghtyer then I: therfor I referr his satysfaction in all his desires therin, to your order, resolving to fly from this (and all lyke matters) which now is commed upon me farre agaynst my will."

1 p. Holograph of Bowes.

599. Hunsdon to Burghley. [March 6.]

"I have recevyde your lordshypes letters of the fyrst, the 4 at nyght, and your lordshypes of the 2 thys mornynge at 4. It ys a greate comforte unto me that hyr Majesti doothe accepte so gracyusly of my servys heere, and accordynge too your lordshypes letter, I have wrytten hyr Majestis thankes too the Commyssyonars, who I am seure wyll reyoyse greatly att ytt.

The cawse why I wrott too Mr Secretary of the letter beynge sent too me too be seene, was apon a poste scrypte which Mr Secretary wrott to me with hys owne hande yn a letter of the 20 of the laste monthe, whyche I sende your lordshyp herwith worde by worde—wherby yt seemes that Mr Secretary was made acquayntyd with that letter beleke by A. D., or els I hade nott wrytten too Mr Secretary therof, for I mad hym nott acquayntyd therwith byfor A. Duglas nevew, who came thysway latly yntoo Skotlande, browght me a letter from hys unkell, wheryn he wryghtes too me of those matters, and partly of the letter. I anserde hym that I hade advertysd hyr Majesti of hys uncles dysmyssyon, accordynge too my dewty, beynge so credably assuryd therof by Mr George Younge who was present whan the Master of Gray by the Kynges commandment, dyd dyscharge hym of hys ambassytorshype, and for anythynge that ever he cowlde heare, the kynge never hade any dealynge with hym syns, nor he with the kynge; and for a farther confyrmacyon therof, I saw the Chancelars letter fully too the same effecte, with thys addycyon, that he durste nott returne home. So now he knew of whom I hade ytt, he myghte euse ytt as he thowght goode, and seke too dysprove them yf they informyd me wyth an untrothe. Towchynge the letter, I towlde hym that I hade harde of suche a letter, butt wolde nott lett hym know how or by whome."

As for the 400 soldiers, I have sent John Crane, who was under Thomas Barton, to muster them, when they shall be paid and discharged, defalking such armour and munitions as they have had from the store at Newcastle. Before your letter reached me, I had written for, and received from the Mayor of Newcastle, a book of his disbursements to the captains till 20th ultimo, amounting to 1949l. 15s. 10d., besides 60l. from myself in prest to the first two captains. I have written to Lord Scrope to send me a reason why his 100 men should not be discharged, and to write to your lordship therein.

"Towchynge your lordshypes uther letter, I wyll presently wryght chefly the contentes of your lordshypes letter, and therwithall towche sume uther matters which Carmychell requyerde me too towche, as yt werr by advyse, consernynge the lordes late assembly att Lythko, and theyr assembly at Synt Jhonstons, and for the removynge of the papystes from about hym. I have alreddy wrytten the letter, and wyll send ytt away presently, wherof I hope too have answer very shortly.

The Kynge hathe stayde hys jorney too Dumfryse for 15 dayse apon the Lorde Harrysys promes too brynge yn bothe the Maxwels, hys owne brother, and the Lorde Maxwels brother, and sum uthers; which yf he doo, as yt ys thowght he wyll, then the kynge stayse that jorney altogyther.

Ther paste thys way latly a brother of Collonell Stewardes, who hathe byn yn France thys 3 yere. He ys accowntyd a very shrewde fellow. I ment too have stayde hym but for Mr Secretarys pasporte. Apon Weddensday next I have appoyntyed a warden cowrte att Alnwyke for bothe the Marchys, nott without grete nede; byfor which tyme I looke for anser of my letter, and that I wolde be glade too returne, beynge no cawse of hyr Majestis servys too detayne me heere any lengar." Berwick. Signed: H. Hunsdon.

pp. Holograph. Addressed. Indorsed by Burghley.

600. Hunsdon to Walsingham. [March 9.]

"Whatsoever letters or otherwise that you sent me in your laste pacquett yt is better knowne in Scotland than I doe—for yesteruighte after x of the clock, the poste of Morpett cam hither unto me, who declared unto me that uppon Weddensdaie at night, hee sent awaye your pacquett hitherward; and his boye being not paste towe or three myle from the towne, was taken by certaine Scottes, and carryed awaye, pacquett and all, and threatned him to kill him, but one man amonge them woulde not suffer them. And so carried him 9 or 10 myle with them, and sett him downe uppon the fells; who cam not back unto his master untill yesterdaie morning. Who cam presentlie awaye unto me, to lett me knowe therof; but by good hape I do understand who they wer, and so do send presentlie to lett the King understand of it, and also will send to the partie. It is the Lairde of Hunthills brother and certaine of his men. It should seme that they cam for some suche matter, for I have not hard that they tooke any goods that night within the Middell Marche. I praye you lett me here from you what was in your saide pacquett, for I would be glad nowe to here of my leave to come upp.

Yesterdaie I recevid a lettre from Carmighell, wherin hee writtes unto me that the King dothe requier me that if any pacquett or letters come from Mr Archibald Dugglas to his nephew or any man ells in Scotland, that I woulde send them to the king; and that if any letters be sent by his nephewe or any man ells in Scotland, to him, that I will likewise returne them to the king. So as it seemes the King would fayne have his lettres—and belike for no good to him ! And it appeers that his being their dothe her Majestie smale servis, and I praye you lett me knowe your pleasure what I shall do therin.

Carmighell also wrote unto me that one John Chessam, who as I take it was once one of the masters of the howshold aboute the King, is returned owt of Fraunce with a greate cheane worth ijc mark starling, given their. I was also yesterdaie advertized credibly by sondrie Scotysh gentilmen which mett me a huntting in the Bowndes, that the Lorde Maxwell is returned hoame, but not yet come to the King." Berwick. Signed: H. Hunsdon.

"Postscript.—Sens the signing herof, I understand that they that took the pacquett had taken a nage and 3 or 4 kine in a towne, therby so as it should seme they cam rather for the poste boyes nag than for the lettres; and I think their wer some Englishmen with them, which I will find owt well inough."

pp. Addressed. Indorsed.

601. Hunsdon to Burghley. [March 15.]

"I came to thys towne apon Munday nyght beynge the 11 day, to kepe a warden cowrte for bothe the marchys, wher I have hade a grete apparance; and accordynge too sum of my formar lettars, bothe Wyllyam Rydley of Wyllymans weeke, and Renolde Herron, refusynge too stande too theyr tryall for marche treason, hathe submyttyd themselves too hyr Majestis marcy. Rydleyse seconde brother ys fledd, and too more of the Rydleyse. Yett one more ys also condemnyd nott only for the burnynge of Hawden bryges, but for uther dyspleasures dun too gentylmen yn thys cuntrey, by bryngyng yn of Skotes. Yt was lyttell thowght that I wolde a delte with suche men, or cowlde a gotten any matter agenste them. But I dowght nott but thys marche wylbe the quyetar thys seven yere. For horssellyng I have condemde sundry, and yf I wolde a delte so hardly with Syr Cutberde Collyngwoode as he and uthers have delte with the Selbys, I cowlde a browght bothe hys lyfe and landes yntoo hyr Majestis handes, for sellynge of horsys yntoo Skotlande; but yt wolde a byn thowght I hade dune yt for revenge. The last weke sum Skotes havynge stollen a nagg and two or thre kowse, yn returnynge home, mett with the post boay of Morpett by chanse, and tooke away hys horse and pakkett, which pakkett was bowght me owt of Tyvydall at my fyrst cummyng hyther, as I satt at supper. The pakket was opende and one of my wyves, and made up agayne, but never a letter yn them opende.

Apon Fryday last I recevyd a letter from thys Kynge, of grete thankes for the letter I sent hym, and wrott too me that the Weddensday folloynge he wolde sende a specyall gentylman untoo me with anser of my letter. Apon Weddensday I recevyd a letter from Carmyghell, that accordynge too the kynges promes, the Kynge had sent hym untoo me, and that hearynge of my beynge cum hether, he stayde at Hewtun halle. Yf I dyd nott returne too Barwyke, he wolde cume hyther too me,—yf I dyd returne, he wolde stay there my returne. Too whome I returnde anser that I wold be there thys nyght—and so now havyng endyd thys warden cowrte, I am returnynge too Barwyke." Alnwick. Signed: H. Hunsdon.

1 p. Holograph. Addressed. Indorsed.

602. Hunsdon to Burghley. [March 31.]

"Yf I hade thowght the amyty of thys Kynge hade byn no better worthe then yt semes too be, I wolde have forborne too have travelyd theryn as I have dune. But I dyd thynk that I hade dune hyr Majesti acceptable sorvys yn procurynge of hym too be contentyd too accepte a letter from me, and then too be contentyd too anser the sam, wherby ther myght follow sum farther goode cowrse betwene hyr Majesti and hym; wherof I am seure he dyd looke for anser er thys. He made more haste yn sendynge of Carmychell too me after the receyte of my letter, then hyr Majesti hathe duue after the pereusynge of myne ! I made the more haste too brynge these matters yntoo sume goode termes, knoy[nge] that now ys the tyme of makynge or marrynge, for thohe yt semes that of hymselfe he ys rather inclynyd too the amyte of Inglande then too any uther nacyon, yett ys ther nott one mane aboute hym of accownte or awtorryte, that doothe harten hym therontoo, or sekes too annymate hym theryn, but all too the contrary. For as he hathe from uther forren princys sundry grete offers, bothe of mony, men, artylery and all uther thynges too mayntayne hym too anoye hyr Majesti, and too troble thys realme, so hathe he solycytars (too many) that ar never owte of hys eare, too perswade hym too accepte of the same—and I am gretly affrayde that fyndynge us to daly the tyme with hym yn thys sorte, yt wyll hasten hym too harken too uthers, and too be sorry that he made any anser too my letter, or recevyd myne. Ther ys att thys present, a grete cowrte of nobell men, wherof Hambelton and Huntley arr the chefe, to whome the Chancelor fearynge hys owne lyfe hathe joynde hymselfe, and doothe rune theyr cowrse. Ther wylbe withyn thys 4 dayse, sundry uthers of the nobyllyte at the cowrte, too what ende ys nott yett knowne. I recevyd a letter latly from Carmychell aboute sume Border cawsys, and yn the ende of hys letter he wryghtes, that we ar very slow aboute our busynes, butt the Devyll slepes nott amonge them. Well, I pray Gode we repent nott the forslowynge of tyme.

I perceve by your lordshypes letter of the 23, that hyr Majesti myslekethe with sum thyng eyther yn my letter, or eles yn the Kynges instruccyons too Carmychell. Whan I know what they arr, I truste I shall satysfy hyr Majesti. Towchynge the requyerynge too have that parson sente whome byfor he refusyd too receve, beynge sent exprestly from hyr Majesti—these be the cawsys that Carmychell allegyd too me for the same, havynge reasonyd sumwhat with hym aboute the same—fyrste, he wolde rather receve and admytt hym too hys presence then any uther, yn respecte that he thynkes that he dyd my sunne sum injury in refusynge of hym then, and therfor wolde recompense the same now by acceptynge of hym byfor any uther, wherof I wrott too your lordeshyp before; secondly, bycawse my sune beynge with hym, the Kynge wolde deale more inwardly with my sune yn those matters betwene hyr Majesti and hym, then with any uther mane yn Inglande, exepte sume uther of myne. I wrott bothe too your lordeshype and Mr Secretary, about 3 matters, but as yett have recevyd no resolucyon of eyther of them. The one was towchynge the placynge of Syr Jhon Forster yntoo hys formar place, untyll hyr Majesti dyd resolve apon sum uther, for I am lothe too inyoy an offyce that I shall nott, too hyr Majestis contentacyon and myn owne credytt, be able too dyscharge the sam; which noman shalbe able too doo, that shall nott remayne amouge them. The seconde was for a plakarde for 6 or 10 horsys for the Kynge for hys mony, beynge utterly destytute of huntynge horssys. The thyrde and laste, for my leave too returne, havynge fully fynysht that I came for. Trewly my lorde, at my cummynge hether, I made my accownte too a returnyd withyn two monthes, and made my provysyons accordyngely. I tooke up 1000 li. for 6 monthes, for the which my frendes stande bownde, and fyndynge syns that I saw no leklyhod of my returne, I sent [to] take order with them for a farther day—but for any frendshype or offer I cowlde make, I cowlde gett no lengar day then too the mydste of the nexte terme. So as yf I be nott there, tyme inowhe too provyde for the payment therof, I shall nott only be utterly dyscredytyde, but my frendes that ar bownde for me too be forcyd too pay ytt, too theyr greate hynderance, and my gretar shame. Besydes Syr Rowlande Haywarde hathe a lordshype of myne of 100 li. a yere in Norfolke, which I bowght of Syr Edwarde Clere, too morgage for 1800 li., which yf I doo nott redeme aboute that tyme, ys lekwyse too be forfetydd. How thys mony wyll be gotten, and I heere, your lordeshype can judge ! These thyuges towche me very neare, and therfor I beseche your lordeshype move hyr Majesti for my leave too returne, who I hope wyll consyder so gracyusly of me as nott too have me remayne heare, these matters consernynge me so gretly, bothe for my poore estate and credytt. Yf hyr Majesti shall have any occasyon to euse my servys heere, havynge taken order for these paymeutes, I wyll alwayse be reddy apon any sudden, too returne hether agayne by poste. Thus havynge troblyd your lordeshype over longe, beyuge hartely sorry that you showlde be troblyd eyther with the gowte or any other dysease … Att Barwyke thys laste of Marche 1587." Signed: H. Hunsdon.

" My lorde I understande that notwithstandynge that hyr Majesti hathe bystowde Mr Jennysous offyce heere apon Nycolas Erryngton, who I assure your lordeshype ys worthy of ytt, yf yt wer farr better—yett one Arden, who servyd heere under Syr Valentyne Browne, tyll all the towne was wery of hym, doothe make grete meanes for the same. I hope hyr Majesti wyll nott cale bake hyr grante, and yf yt wer nott grantyd, it werr my dewty too lett hyr know that he ys farr unfytt for ytt, onles she wyll pay a grote for every pennyworth that shalbe wrowght heere, wherof I ouse wrott to your lordeshype byfor, whan I harde he was a seutar for ytt."

2 pp. Addressed. Indorsed by Burghley: "Ult. Martij 1588. L. Chamberlen."