Border Papers volume 2: March 1601

Calendar of Border Papers: Volume 2, 1595-1603. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1896.

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'Border Papers volume 2: March 1601', in Calendar of Border Papers: Volume 2, 1595-1603, (London, 1896) pp. 735-739. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-border-papers/vol2/pp735-739 [accessed 26 March 2024]

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In this section

1339. R. Musgrave to Edward Conyers. [March 9.]

"Mr Conyers—" I hear the lord governor and Sir William Bowes are disposing at their pleasure of the master smith's place, and it is like to be turned over from Hunte to another: the Lords' letter has no such meaning nor can I answer my oath and duty as accomptant, if the governor and Sir William so act. Therefore if they importune you for any man, you may answer I have directed you to the contrary: but that if his lordship will take the office and keys from you, you cannot resist him. Edw. Conyers.

½ p. Indorsed: "Coppy of the Mr Musgrave lettre to Ed. Coniers."

1340. Willoughby to Cecil. [March 12.]

"For the man that acted this late tragedy, I must confess I loved his person and good partes, being adorned with the favor of a wise prince and high fortune, as I should have don any other that had been seasoned with the same giftes, and in the same maner. I may more freely say I loved him, because it is not unknowne when I sought the master of the Ordenanship, he crossed me, and in my journy into France was most opposite against me: so that my affections to him were not dependances, but attributes to those I conceived his vertues. This opinion I held usque ad aras: but God the record of all inward consciences, knowes ther I would have left him: and the same God hath in nothing more shewed himself the Lord of Hoasts and armies, and testefyed the divinity of his worke, then making so glorious a satrapus to project so vainly, as even his owne desires, if he had attained them, must have beene his death; for how could he "imagin all England would have beene so besotted, that none durst have acted the like tragedy on him for the delivery of so gratious a prince, as was formerly effected on the Duke of Guise! And as he handled this, it was so far from resolution, as God is to be praised that took from him his spirit of understanding, courage and execution. I could have wished his religion had brought him to the provident humilitie of David: who soryed to have possesd himself but of the lapp of Sauls garment, though it were the wittnes of his fidellitie. But fall it out this to all her Majesties enemies, as to this precipitate and unfortunate earle, by fate, by wicked consaill, or ells by both: and send such like lions spirits no better courage to devoure inocent lambs! But I will leave him to his confused end, not wondring that he accused you, when his owne cariage hath accused himself most lamentably to the memory of all adges. And for my own parte, being the meanest member of all, I cannot but joine with you to pitty some of those you have vouchsafed to name: since yf they had not been putrefied in the place they held so neere the head, they were otherwise in their persons and giftes of nature qualefied for the service of the prince and state. But such is the ruyne of greate oakes, as straight smaller trees that grow by are comonly overthrowne by them: but this is discourse beyond my element. I beseech you pardon me that I take this boldness to deliniate some parte of my minde concerning these matters, to your so favorable a view." Berwick. Signed: P. Wyllughby.

pp. Addressed. Indorsed by Cecil: "Welsh."

1341. Christopher Pickering to Thomas Knevet. [March 19.]

I have been most earnestly entreated by many of the gentlemen and sundry of my kinsfolk and friends here, to take the office of deputy warden in Lord Scrope's absence: they have written by post, and his lordship has replied establishing me. I humbly desire you will talk with his lordship, and seeing the daily and nightly outrages both by Scots and Englishmen, that I may be furnished from time to time with munition, &c., necessary for revenge. They have of late spoiled great part of Bramton and many more places, also taken at least 30 prisoners, and at this present keep them in Scotland. Carlisle. Signed: Chris. Pykeringe.

¾ p. Addressed: "To the right worshipfull his very loving cosing Master Thomas Knevet esqre one off hir Majesties prevey chamber," &c. Indorsed by Cecil: " . . . Mr Christopher Pickering to Mr Tho. Knevytt." Fragment of wax signet.

1342. Outrages by the Scots. [March 20.]

West March: 20 March 1600.

The tenants, &c., of the townships of Newton of Irdington and Cammock—her Majesty's, leased to Lord Scrope, complain of the Johnstons, Armstrongs, Bells, Bayties, Yrwens, &c., Scotsmen, 300 in warlike manner, in a day foray, for burning houses, barns, corn, insight, &c., taking 20 horse and mares, 40 kye and oxen, 60 sheep and "gaytte," with prisoners, and mutilating others.

Same day at night: The Queen's tenants, &c., of Scotby township in the Queen's Haymes, complain of Christie Armstrong of Barnleyce, Will Armstrong of Kynmont, Davy, Will, and Geordy Kang, &c., 7 score Scotsmen, for burning, &c., as above, and taking prisoners, besides 60 kye and oxen, 50 horse and mares, &c.

The same night: The inhabitants of "Ricardgate of the suburbbs of Carlyle" complain of the above named to the number of 130 persons, with Thome Carlton and John Carlton "Inglish disobedientes," who after the attempt at Scotby, "brack and cutt upp the postes that conteyned the yron "cheyns (made for the keepeing and streingth of Eadenbrigg by night), and cutt upp their doores, toke prisoners, &c., and some of them came to the city walls near the the castle crying, 'upon them, upon theym, a Daker, a Daker, a read bull, a read bull,' with the naming of Johnston, Armstrang, Bell and Carlyll, forcing the citizens in their defencyve arrayes, for to repayre to the walls, and the beacon to be sett in fyre, for the warning of the wardenry."

1 p. Contemporary hand. Indorsed.

1343. The Queen to Willoughby. [March 21.]

Although We have forborne to write since your going down, we have from time to time directed our council and our secretary to signify our pleasure, and take notice of some "pryvat" good services by you and the treasurer in apprehending some you had great cause to suspect: We had also thought to have written to you on those differences in Berwick, but seeing some grow by misunderstandings between yourself and some of the council there, and for the most part are for some "petty rytes and incydentes," we will leave them to our council, and only touch points of more importance.

First: We know that you can well consider, in all governments, nothing more encourages "practyse," than dissensions in deed or opinion, of which there is so much there of late, that we rather wonder no bad effects have ensued: and dealing as plainly with you, as we have with the marshal, and assuring ourselves of your affection for our service, we have imposed on him to respect you in all things appertaining to your office, and mean after some months' respite (for which he has earnestly sued) to send him down so well informed of our resolution to have good agreement between you, that we know he will give you no cause of unkindness, or slackness in service. It is true we think it fit to admonish you, that strait command be given that no excess of resort of Scots be suffered in the garrison (except on marketdays and the like)—"if it be as is reported by the Scottes themselves, who doe not stycke to say that they may freely come into Barwycke, by one devyse or other, as into Edenburgh." Next we require you that bankrupts be not suffered to make a sanctuary there, or any one married with Scots allowed place. Farther concerning Musgrave and Selbie, we think fit to signify, that as we have and will plainly make appear to Musgrave our mislike of his factious and "lewde" petition here against you: so for things in question between you and our council there, we cannot allow that any council of war be made judges either of their authority or of their offences: though we are not unwilling in case of danger, or difficulties in inferior things, that you call to you under the article of our Establishment, such principal persons of discretion to consult with as time shall need. We have gone further into this particular than we meant to have troubled ourselves: not doubting but you will rather "dyspence" with the errors of private men, who forget themselves for some petty matter, than by making the dissensions so notorious, make the place a subject of scorn, which, while ruled by a person of your reputation abroad and at home, should rather serve for an example and bridle to maligners of our service.

Lastly—We pray you to believe that we are very sorry to hear of your indisposition of body, the rather as we know how apt you are to hurt yourself by over much care and labour in our services: wherein we would have you spare yourself—"consyddering howe long it is before men of servyce be bredd in this age. And nowe by the way, wee will only toutche this muche of that, wherof wee are sure an angell of Heaven could hardly have made you a belyever; this it appeareth nowe by ones example more bound then all or any others, howe lytle fayth there was in Israell"! At Whithall.

pp. Draft by Cecil's clerk Willes. Indorsed: " . . . M. of her Majesties lettre to the Lord Willoughbie."

1344. Willoughby to Cecil. [March 28. 1601.]

Of late years the Dunkirkers have so "hanted" these parts, that many of the Queen's subjects have been undone by their piracies, and these will not be stopped without speedy remedy. "Ther shipps have latly shewed them selves heere with in view, especially one of fower-score tunns, carying eight cast peeces on a side, built galliwise, with thirtie tow oares, having aboorde 140tie musketiers, besids gally-slaves, commanded by a Castillian. She rides now at the bay of the Maye, in the Firth, and laye further up in the river, whilst they bought wyne and other victualls of the marchants of Edenbrough. The respect of my contry, and the pitty of those so hurte by such, perswaded me to build a shipp, and moves me now to offer to serve her Majestie at as reasonable a rate as any shipp of 140tie tunns, with 16 peeces of artillery, and 100 men, cann be maintained with." I rather advertise this,' because my lord president of York motioned it to me at London. I will do my best to take some of them, "even in the Kings waters, yf I may be warranted not to be chiden above."

If this offer seem good to you and the Council, my ship shall presently be fitted: "yf not, I ame purposed to dispose otherwise of her, being not able to maintaine her." My wardenry is quiet, my deputy has held two days of truce with the "opposite of Tividall," where we had entry for 13 bills, 5 more filed "(thawrt out as wee tearme it)," and 7 conditionally. Berwick. Signed: P. Wyllughby.

1 p. Addressed. Indorsed. Fragment of wax signet.

1345. Willoughby to the Queen. [March 29.]

"Moste sacred Soveraine:" I would that God had made me so fortunate, "as to so gratious a prince (who accepteth my smale duties so favorably), I had been able to have multeplyed and increased my services as the heares of my head ... I moste humbly prostrate my self to beseech the grace of your beleefe, which only makes me happy in my life (so rare and precious a jewell is this to me, as I would under-goe all present tortures and punishments, nay whatsoever earth or hell could plauge me with, rather then suffer my devoires (in that behalfe) to be spotted, or blacked unto your Majestie: the power of Heaven is my wittnes of my entir protestation in this behalfe. Then moste gratious soveraine, spare me only but this justice (which you have never fayled to any) that meere calumny and false accusation, draw me not like innocent Appelles, with jugling trickes, and weaved netts before so devine a Ptolomy as your self." [Here he refers to the Queen's censure of differences with his officers, and declares if but part is true, he will take the whole blame. Accounts for the marshal's complaint against him, for holding a court in his absence—by the necessity of service: that in every other way he has controlled him in nothing, but "geiven him head." For the master of ordnance and the gentleman porter, he has done all he could towards quiet. The former obtained his office, contrary to statute in Henry 8th time, "pecuniaryly" and not by desert. He craves a public trial against the master's calumnious accusation, trusting that his honor will be repaired, "as one Lord Dacres was (calumniated by a Musgrave) in the like nature." Trusts "ut nulli juris beneficium denegetur, ut quisque jus suum libere prosequatur, ut nulli calumniam fieri patiatur." Denies the false report of the Scots free access to Berwick: for he has not only banished them hitherto from the wardenry and town, but within these few weeks thrust them out of the garrison "by the pole." Bankrupts have been too long connived at by "no meane persons": but the Council can testify his protests against the practice.]

"I ame infinit sory to be thus tedious unto your Majestie: but I moste humbly beseech you to pardon me; my harte nipped, cannot chouse but deliver the affection and innocency ther of: no otherwise then the eiey pricked, sheadeth teares. I praise Allmightie God for your sacred Majesties deliverance: angells fell through pride, when poore humble Moyses stoode faithfull in the house of the Lord: man being in honor hath noe understandinge, but is compared to the beast that perisheth. Lett them perish, and become as the dust of the earth, that hold not their duties and loyalties. The Queene of Sion, and the sweet land of promis, is happely ridd of such. The eternall God of Heaven long preserve your Majestie, the rare ornament of the earth, and lett my soule receive joyes, as I shall faithfully pray for the same, and only desire to live and dye, your moste sacred excellent Majesties humble vassall and servante." Berwick. Signed: P. Wyllughby.

pp. Addressed. Indorsed. Small wax signet: gem.

1346. Sir R. Carey to Cecil. [March 30.]

"I understand that Poury Ogleby is by the minesters or sum other occations, banisht his cuntry," and is in the East March, intending to come and lie here where he was before. As I understood from you at his departure, her Majesty's pleasure was he should not make any stay here: I beg your instructions hereon.

As in your last you said her Majesty gave me leave to come up next term to dispatch my business, I will prepare myself accordingly, unless in the meantime countermanded by yourself. Woodrington. Signed: Ro. Carey.

¾ p. Holograph. Addressed. Indorsed. Swan wafer signet.