Border Papers volume 1: December 1591

737. Bowes to Burghley. [Dec. 1.]

"This morninge James Hudson departed from this house at Barns nere Bishopp Warmouthe. . . and wher I ame with my soone to provyde for the repayre of the great ruyns of the saltpanns and colepittes hearaboutes, agreable to hir Majestes leave given me in that behalf. He purposeth to deliver hir Majestes lettre to morrowe to the King of Scottes, in which cause I have (accordinge to your lordshippes pleasure and dereccion signifyed by your letter delivered by him to me) put him in the beste waye I can to advance his errand to the kinge, that the Kinge maye bothe beholde hir Majestes affectionate mynde and care for his saftye and wellfare, and take profytt of hir Majestes wyse admonition and advise, and also so provydentlye regarde the disposition of the person, and condicion of the matter to be discovered quyetlye to him, as therbye he maye well prevent all danger, and reforme the course of the person and matter, as shalbe founde moste convenientlye." Since leaving Scotland, I have heard nothing from Roger Aston, George Nicholson my servant left there, or any other person. I learn by my servant Sheperson now at London, that your lordship was not pleased that I should have "allowance of myne intertaynment in Scotlande" while absent from that service. Also that you thought her Majesty would not have me to return to Scotland. As I have not only left my servant there, but retained others to send me intelligence from thence, and during my absence I pay 40s. weekly for my house in Edinburgh, where some part of the "poore stuffe and raggs" that I have, still remain, and my daily charges are far beyond my power to bear without relief from her Majesty, my humble prayer is that it may please her to allow me that entertainment granted under her privy seal, at least till I am fully disburdened of all the charges I bear for her Majesty's service in Scotland. And I beg your speedy answer herein, that I may recal my servant, break up the intelligences, and free myself from these burdens. And if I am not to return, that her Majesty would give me leave to come up and settle the assurance for the yearly payment of 1000l. to satisfy the garrison at Berwick, and my other accounts, wherein I have directed Sheperson to attend your lordship's orders.

I beseech your lordship to give M^r Vernon orders as to the disposal of the fee of my office in Berwick as her Majesty pleases, and the allowance to him for "portag" of the treasure, trusting he will demand no more than formerly allowed him. Also to pay the garrison for "the years paste," what treasure shall remain in his hands after payment of all "ordinaryes and extraordinaryes" in Berwick for the year last past. Beseeching you to send Sheperson to be present at these payments to see the books and reckonings, so that the balance due by me to her Majesty shall be certainly fixed, for which I shall give due assurance. Trusting all things at this pay shall be done to the contentment of the garrison, "in better sorte then before hathe fallen out.

At the makinge of thassurances to hir Majestie, I shall (God willinge) acquaint your lordship with thexceedinge decayes and hurtes comed to the saltepanns and colepittes to be assured for hir Majesties payment, wherin if this laste sommer and this former parte of winter had not bene verye drye, my power had not suffysed to have saved the colepittes from utter fall and drowninge. And I am scarslye able to recover the hurtes alredy comed, and prevent the dangers full lykelye to come into those workes, which ought to be roundlye handled and the beste tyme taken, otherwyse I shall not be able to avoyde the mischeiffe, as sondrye of the comissioners appoynted for thextendynge and seysure of them into hir Majesties handes can well testefye. By my labours and charges heare, I truste to bringe these thinges to suche effectes, as shall give hir Majestie good assurance for the porcion offred, and yelde large profytt for the common welthe, by the good quality and especiall qualitye of the salte which shalbe made and twyse refyned in this place. For my releiffe wherin, and in regarde of these benefittes growinge by my chardges, I muste sewe to hir Majestie for some favourable priveledge for reasonable tyme and maner, to be granted to me, to have power to utter and sell the salte thus made, in all markettes in this realme, at prices to be accorded with the byers, and that all others (for a season to be lymyted) shalbe restrayned to make lyke salte beinge not seyne in this manner before this tyme."

In which suit, I humbly pray your lordships help, as my chief hope and refuge next her Majesty. All else in my private petitions, I refer to Sheperson, for whom I beg your favourable hearing. Barnes. Signed: Robert Bowes.

2½ pp. Addressed. Indorsed.

738. Sheperson to Burghley. [Dec. 4.] [1591.]

"May it please your good lordship to gyve order for payment of suche mony as presently is due to my master Robert Bowes esquier her Majesties ambassador in Scotland, for his dyett there at xls. per diem, and for other chardges by hym defrayed for her Majesties services, and appearynge in the bill thereof signed by hym, redy to be delyvered to your lordship, accordynge to her highnes lettres of prevy seale, bearynge date the iiij^th of December 1589. Your lordships humble suppliant." Signed: Christofer Sheperson.

Holograph. Addressed. Indorsed: "4^th of December."

739. Forster to Burghley. [Dec. 16. 1591.]

I hear from Scotland for certain—"that the Chauncelor is somewhat devertede from his wountede credytt with the Kinge, and that others guydethe the Kinge besides him—such as my lord Huntlie, my lord of Spyne, and Sir James Sunderlandes, who hathe gotten sundrye turnes done at the kings hands, besydes (fn. 1) the Chauncelors expectatione. And that the Master of Glames hath gotten a gate and comethe to courte the xx^th of this instante December," to accuse the chancellor of treason against the king's person, offering to prove it by word and writing. At my house nigh Alnwick. Signed: John Forster.

½ p. Addressed. Indorsed.