Cecil Papers: December 1606 | British History Online

Calendar of the Cecil Papers in Hatfield House: Volume 24, Addenda, 1605-1668. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1976.

Citation:

'Cecil Papers: December 1606', in Calendar of the Cecil Papers in Hatfield House: Volume 24, Addenda, 1605-1668, ed. G Dyfnallt Owen( London, 1976), British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-cecil-papers/vol24/pp94-112 [accessed 15 October 2024].

December 1606



	Robert Hocknell and William Earle to the Earl of Salisbury.
[After December 3, 1606].	They submit this petition on behalf of themselves and the other tenants on the Queen's manor of Hanslope, co. Bucks. Two or three years ago, they were notified by the Queen's Council that it was intended to grant leases in reversion of their tenements, and that they should come to London to obtain them. This they did either in person or by means of their solicitors, and spent £50 in the business; but the Council finally decided to reconsider the matter. On December 3 last however, when the Council met, Lancelot Lowther, the Queen's Solicitor, obtained a grant of a lease in reversion of their tenements. If this grant be allowed to pass, at least 500 persons on that manor run the risk of losing all they have. Petitioners request that Salisbury stay the grant, and that they be allowed to have leases in reversion, paying in return what Lowther undertook to give for his.—Undated. ¾ p. (P. 1991.) [See H.M.C. Salisbury MSS, Vol. XVIII, pp. 358–9.]
	Sir Edward Phelips to the King.
[Before December 19, 1606].	In consideration of his services, he requests that he be granted the manor of Drayton. He appends full details of the constituent tenements and lands with their rents and profits.—Undated. Endorsed: "Mr Speaker of the parlement." 1 p. (193. 37.) [See H.M.C. Salisbury MSS, Vol. XVIII, p. 361 and Vol. XIX, p. 59.]
	Jane Boteler to the Earl of Salisbury.
[Before December 21, 1606].	Two years ago, Salisbury advised her to submit a petition to the King for a longer estate in the manor of Sunbury than she then held by lease of 13 years. Sir Thomas Lake, however, prevented her from doing so by obtaining the fee farm of the manor from the King. Sir Thomas is now endeavouring to deprive her of the lease of the parsonage, which she holds from the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's and which has still 12 years to run. Her late husband, Mr Yetsweirt, built her a house which will be all she has to live on, should she outlive Sir Philip Boteler. Although the Dean and most of the Chapter believe themselves in conscience bound to renew the lease for a reasonable fine, they are reluctant to do so for fear of incurring Sir Thomas Lake's displeasure. She requests his help and advice, and will gladly submit another petition to the King if Salisbury approves. Undated. Endorsed: "The humble petytion of Dame Jane, wyff of Sir Phillip Boteler, knight." (fn. 1) ½ p. (P. 269.)
	Thomas Churchman to the Earl of Salisbury.
[Before December 23, 1606].	He is submitting the petition on behalf of himself and the other clerks of the King's Chapel of St. George's at Windsor Castle. In the reign of the late Queen Elizabeth, the Dean and Canons were granted the profits of certain lands to maintain themselves and 13 poor knights as well as, "13 petticanons or ministers skilfull in song, and 13 clerks, singers also, and 13 choresters, being singing children". At present they number only 27, since six petty canons and six choristers are wanting, much to the hindrance of the daily services. He adds that during the reign of the late Queen the Earl of Salisbury's father, Baron Burghley, was instrumental in augmenting the wage of the clerks. However, the Dean and Canons have until of late detained from them money which rightly belonged to them by virtue of the original grant. Protestations and letters have been unavailing, even the letters and decisions of the Lord Chancellor of January, 1603; of the Lord Chief Justice of January, 1605; of Sir Julius Caesar commanding the Lord Chief Justice by the King's injunctions to give his absolute opinion in the case to the Earls of Northumberland and Worcester, which he did in April, 1605. The Dean and Canons have ignored all correspondence and appeals, and petitioner asks that Salisbury intervene to obtain justice for the clerks, and to enforce the observance of all the conditions of the original grant. (fn. 2) —Undated. 1 p. (197. 103.)
	Parliament.
[December, 1606 or after].	"A register of Parliaments busines", a list of subjects of legislative interest to Parliament, and covering such matters as the union of England and Scotland, commerce, religion and recusancy, the Gunpowder Treason, etc. Chronologically the latest entry is the "memoriall of the conference of the Committee of boath howses, 17th of December, 1606".— Undated. 15 pp. (243. 4.)
	The request of the Bishop of Worcester and the Dean and Chapter there.
[1606].	The Bishop, Dean and Chapter are opposed to the claims of the citizens which, "impeacheth the law and discretion of the Judges of the Circuit and Justices of the whole county in the administration of justice." They do so for six main reasons:
	(1) That the citizens profess such ambitions at the present time, when their ancestors never thought of doing so, is an affront to the Bishop, Dean and Chapter.
	(2) It is likely to generate hostility between the two parties whose relations have hitherto been most amicable.
	(3) If the citizens succeed in their claims, the Bishop, Dean and Chapter are likely to lose all their profits from deods, waifs, strays, felons, amercements, fines, etc., which they have hitherto enjoyed as lords of the leet court.
	(4) The citizens claim that they intend to improve city government by becoming Justices of the Peace, "so farr as the Foryat Street and Sanctuary side extend". But that is not likely to help matters, "if ther were so bad government as they pretend, for ther is much more housing adjoyning to the said liberty of Foryat Street, parcell of the manor of Clanes, and to the Sanctuary and suburbes, parcell of Whittington, wher (if anye) they shall finde the same inconvenience they doe now".
	(5) Reciprocal assistance would be more effective in overcoming problems, for it would permit the punishment of offenders who try to avoid it by passing from one liberty to another. The status quo of each liberty should therefore not be altered.
	(6) The Bishop, for his part, appeals that the ancient privilege enjoyed by him, his servants and tenants and their predecessors, should be observed; namely, immunity from arrest by the bailiffs of the city within their own liberty; and that it should be confirmed in a new grant.—Undated.
	Endorsed: "The Bailiefes of Worcester in the renewing of ther Charter going about to gett them selfes to be made Justices of the Peace within the fee and liberty of the Bishoprick and Church, wher heretofore they nor ther forfathers ever had anything to doe. The said Buishop and Dean and Chapter humbly pray ther said graunt (for the reasons within specified) may not passe the Signett till they reforme this wrong or untill his Ma^ties pleasure uppon contrarie to be had, which the said Buishop and Dean and Chapter be further knowen. To which purpose the said Buishop and Dean and Chapter intend with all convenient speed to become suitors to his Ma^ty." ¾ p. (197. 104.) [See H.M.C. Salisbury MSS, Vol. XVIII, p. 460.]
	Henry Saunder to the Earl of Salisbury.
[1606].	Upon Salisbury's report on him the King referred his suit to Sir John Fortescue, who has, however, for reasons best known to him, refused to give his consent, despite the King's favourable response to petitioner's request. Petitioner again begs Salisbury to support his suit, and to endorse his petition to the King in the manner which he thinks most apposite, "which I do the rather propound in this kind, for that I find by experience all other suites to be troublesome and uncertaine". He appeals to Salisbury to "have a feeling for my wantes and distresses", and to extricate him from them. But if his suit fails to elicit any sympathy or approval from Salisbury, then "I will give over and cease to strive with fortune any longer".—Undated. Endorsed: "1606. Mr Saunder to my Lord." ⅓ p. (P. 1920.)
	Henry Saunder to the King.
[1606].	The King referred the consideration of his services and of his recent suit to the Earl of Salisbury, but despite the latter's certificate he has not succeeded in his suit. He submits it for the second time, and asks for a pension towards his relief.—Undated. ½ p. (P. 1892.)
	Mary Barnwall to the Earl of Salisbury.
[1606].	Her husband, Sir Patrick Barnwall, agreed in August or September, 1602, with Gerrard Weslye of the Dingam, Ireland, deceased, for the wardship of his grandchild, Valerian Weslye, paying him £300. In May, 1603, Weslye, being seriously ill, conveyed certain lands to Barnwall as security for his part of the bargain. Upon Weslye's death, the Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer found that the articles of agreement and conveyance were valid in law. Nevertheless, Sir Thomas Ashe, to whom the late Lord Deputy had awarded the wardship, made every effort to dispute the agreement, and brought an English bill into the Court of Exchequer alleging that the conveyance of the land had been fraudulently made with intent to deceive the King, and that Barnwall had suppressed evidence which would have shown that Weslye had no good right to make it. In the absence of the Lord Chief Baron, the other Barons announced that if Barnwall did not produce whatever deeds and writings he had been given by Weslye, they would deprive him of the possession of the lands. At the time Barnwall was a prisoner in a house at Dublin, and bound in the sum of £1000 not to leave it or see anyone without the permission of the Lord Deputy, He informed the court that Weslye's deeds and evidences were at the Dingam, some twenty miles away, but that, being detained, he was unable to execute their commands. Upon complaining of the situation to the Lord Deputy, the latter ordered the stay of all proceedings. Since then, Barnwall has delivered the deeds to his attorney to be conveyed by him to the court, but the Barons with the advice of the Lord Chief Justice have deprived him of possession on the grounds that the conveyance was fraudulently made, and that he had not surrendered the deeds to them in person and on oath. Inasmuch as he was restrained, because of his detention, from delivering the deeds except through his attorney, and that he emphatically denies that the conveyance was intended to defraud the King, petitioner requests letters to be sent to the Lord Deputy that her husband be permitted to enjoy possession of the lands until he has been duly evicted by process of law, and that "the sayde warde maye be brought into the Coledge of Dublyn whereby he maye bee bettered in his education and learninge".—Undated. ¾ p. (P. 1896.) [See Cal. S.P. Ireland, 1603–6, p. 542.]
	The Bishop of Man to the Earl of Salisbury.
[1606].	His answer to the petition exhibited to the Privy Council by John Garret, William Lucas and John Tubman.
	As regards the party concerned, Lucas and Tubman are not privy to the said petition, nor have they any cause to complain. Lucas still detains the profits from petitioner who has obtained a judgment against him. Tubman, a son of one of his tenants, was given "meate, drinke and learninge" in the Bishop's house last winter, when he was in his minority. It is John Garret who initiated the petition to the Privy Council. He is a Londoner who obtained more than three quarters of the Bishopric by leases in reversion, some of which he assigned to Tubman's father. The latter having died, and the leases being judged void in law, Garret (who had been summoned by Tubman's executors to repay the money) combined with them to defend their challenged titles. Petitioner criticizes the motives behind the case of the Abbey lands in the Isle of Man, and berates Lucas who seeks relief of the Privy Council in London but holds its authority in contempt in the Isle, and "whoe seeth not what an unjust course theis Manishe men doe hold that make all this stirr clamor and such collections of money from poore men to come to petition here (as they saie) to keepe their ancient lawes a foote and in force, and yet themselves are the first that seeke to infringe the same and to bringe them under foote, as is manifest in this their petition against the Bishop, and that to overthrowe the prerogative belonginge to the right heires of the Isle."
	Petitioner enumerates examples of the illegality of some of his opponents' claims, and of the spuriousness of some of their charges against him. As for the invalidation by law of their leases, he experienced much difficulty in having the law pronounced on this point. "For the Deemesters there, by reason of allyance and kindred, denyed to adjudge this cause untill they had a com mission from the Lord Gerrard. Wherefore the Bishop was forced to adventure his life in the great storme the 15 of March to come to know the Lord Gerrards pleasure, who uppon appeale made to him very honorablelie commanded justice to be done and thereupon this judgment past". The Lord Gerard and his witness can testify to all these points, and petitioner therefore requests the Privy Council to censure his adversaries' petition.—Undated.
	Endorsed: "The answere of the Bishop of Man disprooving perticulerly the untrew suggestions of some few Mannish men in their petition lately exhibited to the Rt. Ho. the Lords and others of his Ma^ts most honorable Privy Counsell." 1 p. (P. 1672.) [See H.M.C. Salisbury MSS, Vol. XVIII, pp. 220 and 353.]
	John Thornton to the Earl of Salisbury.
[1606].	He is one of the clerks in the office of Sir William Fleetwood, Receiver-General of the Court of Wards. Three years ago, Richard Orde was granted the wardship of Isabel Manners, daughter of Nicholas Manners, of co. Northumberland, together with a lease of the ward's lands, as is shown by a schedule signed on February 18, 1603. Orde, however, has not paid any of the fines which were made a condition of the grant, and the Court of Ward's revenues have suffered as a consequence of his negligence. Petitioner requests that in view of this non-compliance with the express stipulations laid down by Salisbury, the wardship and lease be transferred to him.—Undated. ½ p. (P. 1449.)
	Bartholomew Mathewson to the Earl of Salisbury.
[1606].	In 1597 he was owner of a ship called the Sun, of 250 tons, and had prepared her for a voyage to the Baltic and had paid all customs dues. But by means of Lord Knollys and Lady Layton, the late Queen Elizabeth ordered that Sir Thomas Knollys should have command of the vessel and join the expedition of the late Earl of Essex to the Islands, Lord Knollys undertaking to compensate petitioner for the use of the ship and all victuals and provisions stored in her. For nine years petitioner has been a suitor to Lord Knollys for payment, but cannot obtain it, and this, together with other losses inflicted by the enemy at sea, has ruined him. He asks that Salisbury bring pressure on Lord Knollys to indemnify him.—Undated. ½p. (P. 1381.)
	Frances Cecil to the Earl of Salisbury.
[1606].	"Your displeasure hathe bene very greevous unto me, whearfore please you but forgive and forget what is past. My care shall be sutch as I will never heerafter offend you, but whear as it pleased your lordship to graunt my cosin the injoying of my company untill Michelmas, I hope of further favoue [sic] at your handes, assuring you then to part from her nothing can be more troblesom unto me, your lordships displeasure accepted. Whear fore I humbly desire you not to seperat those who do love as deerly I think as any can."—Undated. Holograph. Seal on silk. Endorsed: "1606. The Lady Francis Cecill." 1 p. (200. 123.)
	Robert Belman to the Earl of Salisbury.
[1606].	He was directed by Salisbury and the Privy Council in the reign of the late Queen Elizabeth to provide a barque at Padstow for the transport of such letters as were sent by them to Munster, and a promise was made that all his expenses would be met. He has applied for payment during the past two years, but his illness has prevented him from pressing the matter further. He spent £120 more than he received in the business, besides having to suffer the loss of a ship at sea, as Salisbury has already been informed by Lord Stanhope. He asks that some suitable indemnification be granted him for his services and losses.—Undated. ½ p. (P. 869.) P. 1254. is a duplicate of this petition. [See H.M.C. Salisbury MSS, Vol. XVII, pp. 263, 264.]
	John Haraneder to the Privy Council.
[1606].	Three or four years ago, the King gave permission, at the instance of the French Ambassador, the Count of Beaumont, for the goods of Sir Robert Bassett—who had left the realm without leave and so forfeited them—to be sold to pay £1500 due to petitioner in conformity with a legal verdict in his favour. Sir Robert's wife, however, has succeeded in delaying the execution of the decree on the grounds that her husband has not been recalled to England to deal with it. Petitioner asks that Sir Robert be summoned to appear before the Privy Council within a certain time, or to forfeit by default all his personal estate to the Crown.— Undated. French. Endorsed: "1606. A petition to the Lords by Haraneder, a French merchant." ¾ p. (P. 777.)
	Roger Marshall to the Earl of Salisbury.
[1606].	He refers to his disclosure of the affair concerning Studder and the Blounts to Lord Arundel abroad, and to his arrest of the traitor at Antwerp at great risk to his life, which Salisbury has already learned from the English Ambassador there. These services have proved costly to him financially as well, and he asks for some reward to offset his losses and relieve his wants; and also a warrant to arrest and bring before Salisbury such people as have been associating with Hugh Owen, Sir Thomas Studder and the Blounts.—Undated. ½ p. (P. 771.) [See H.M.C. Salisbury MSS, Vol. XVIII, p. 232.]
	Sir Robert Carey to the King.
[1606].	The King has copyhold lands in the Duchy of Lancaster, the tenants of which have a right of inheritance for ever. These lands, however, yield no other profit than those issuing from fee farm tenements, with the exception of a small fine upon the death or alienation of a tenant. He requests in fee farm as much of these copyhold lands as will amount to £300 or £400 a year, reserving the rent now being paid, and himself paying a reasonable rent for the present fines and profits, the sum to be assessed by the Chancellor of the Duchy or any other members of the Privy Council nominated by the King.—Undated. Endorsed: "Sir Robert Cary. 1606." ½ p. (P. 685.)
	Arthur Gregory to the Earl of Salisbury.
[1606].	He submits this petition in the name of his brotherin-law William Waltham and one Thomas Geary. In the reign of the late Queen Elizabeth, they let their ship to Edward Veale who had been given permission to take prizes at sea. He captured a French vessel and carried her to Barbary, where he sold the goods as well as the ship belonging to Waltham and Geary. The latter protested to the Court of the Admiralty, and when Veale returned to this country they arrested him and delivered him into the custody of that Court. He was prosecuted by the owner of the French ship, who was awarded the value of his commodities seized and sold by Veale. At the same time Geary and Waltham were condemned to pay the money for which Veale had sold their ship, in spite of the fact that they had neither victualled nor manned her, "but let her foorth as one that shold have let his horse or lent an emptie scabbord". Petitioner requests that Waltham and Geary should enjoy the benefit of the same law which others have lately had in similar cases. He asks Salisbury to recommend it to the Lord Chief Justice, since the fact that the contract was made in England is sufficient reason for the matter to be decided by Common Law.— Undated. 1 p. (P. 448.) [See H.M.C. Salisbury MSS, Vol. XVIII, p. 403.]
	Richard Barrett to the Earl of Salisbury.
[1606].	He is a prisoner in the Gatehouse where he was committed by Salisbury nineteen weeks ago. Seven of these he spent in close confinement, "xx^ti dayes of the same, in the extremetye of winter, in a dungeon without anie bread, fyer, candle or else to releeve him, with harde allowance of dyett dureing that tyme". He prays that he be given his liberty or allowed to answer the charges preferred against him.—Undated. 1 p. (P. 368.) [See Cal. S.P. Dom., 1603–10, pp. 278, 279 and 287.]
	Thomas Phelippes to the Privy Council.
[1606].	He regrets his indiscretions and errors, but denies that he is wanting in loyalty and devotion to the King. He has been imprisoned for more than six months, and hopes that the Council will consider his sufferings, and the misery endured by his family, a sufficient punishment. He prays to be allowed his liberty, and freedom to retire into obscurity.—Undated. Endorsed: "The humble petition of Thomas Phelips, prisoner in the Tower." ½ p. (P. 248.) [See Cal. S.P. Dom., 1603–10, p. 314, and H.M.C. Salisbury MSS, Vol. XVIII, p. 268.]
	Gabriel Horne to the Earl of Salisbury, Chancellor of the University of Cambridge.
[1606].	He requests his letters to the Master and Seniors of St. John's College, Cambridge, recommending him for a fellowship which has just become vacant. The fellowship is reserved for scholars from the school at Sedbergh in Yorkshire, where he was educated before proceeding to Cambridge. He fears that the statutes of the school regulating the bestowal of the fellowship may be overridden unless Salisbury intervenes.—Undated. Endorsed: "1606". ½ p. (P. 15.)
	Condemned Spaniards.
1606.	Francisco Garrido is a prisoner in Newgate and condemned to death, the execution to take place on the morrow. He continues to affirm that he is not guilty. Pedro de Vargas is in the same prison and is likewise condemned to death, the execution being fixed for the morrow.—1606. Spanish. Endorsed: "Spaniards Cutpurses." ½ p. (206. 32.)
	Wales.
[1606].	"Register of the papers of Wales", a list of references to notes, instructions and documentary materials concerning the authority and jurisdiction of the President and Court of the Marches of Wales. The latest item in the list is "the coppie of the instructions for Wales in anno 1606."—Undated. 2 pp. (243. 5.)
	The Hanse Merchants to the Earl of Salisbury.
[1606].	They are German merchants, late resident in the Steelyard. A year ago they submitted a petition to the King that they be readmitted to their "ancient howse called the Stilliard which their ancestors purchased with their moneyes, and hath bine inhabited by them and their successors many hundred yeares". Eight years have elapsed since they were displaced with the exception of two of their number, who have maintained possession of the house for petitioners' use. The house itself is occupied by all kinds of people—upon what authority petitioners do not know— who pay neither rent nor any other charge. The result is that the building is in a bad state of repair, and is likely to fall into ruins within a few years. Petitioners complain that despite the fact that they have received no rent nor been allowed to reside in the house, they have been forced to pay rent and charges for the building to the city of London, which amount to £50 annually at least. The King has referred their petition to the Privy Council, from whom no answer has been received as yet. Petitioners propose therefore to renew their suit to the Council, and ask Salisbury to support it when it comes up for discussion.—Undated. ¾ p. (P. 2044.) [See Cal. S.P. Dom., 1598–1601, pp. 5–6, 12, and Acts of the Privy Council, 1597–98. p. 614.]
	Accounts.
1606.	Bill of John de Creets, serjeant painter, for work undertaken by him at Salisbury House in 1606. Total £107:16:4. Countersigned: Simon Basyll and John Shaw. Note by Basyll: "There was a former byll signed for this woorke which the sarjent paynter sayeth was lost, which, if it bee found, lett it be counseled." 2 pp. (General 12/20.)
	William Gomeldon to the Earl of Salisbury.
[1606].	David Lloyd ap John ap Ievan of Montgomeryshire, (fn. 3) died 26 years ago seised of various lands in that shire. Petitioner is confident that he can prove that some part of the property was held in capite of the late Queen Elizabeth, which is now likewise held of the King, by Owen Lloyd, his heir. He asks to be allowed to substantiate the King's title to the lands which have been so long concealed, and that he be awarded the benefit of all profits which may be due to the Crown as the result of the inquiry.— Undated. ¾ p. (P. 1559.)
	James Faweather to the Earl of Salisbury.
[? 1606].	He served for seven years in the Irish wars, and was captured and forced to pay £50 for his ransom before being released. He came to England in the hope of obtaining some pension towards his maintenance, but failed in his object. He has remained in London a considerable time, and now has no money to defray his travelling expenses to Ireland. He asks Salisbury to help him to return to his family.—Undated. ½ p. (P. 1214.) [See H.M.C. Salisbury MSS, Vol. XVIII, p. 399.]
	Gregory Champante to the Earl of Salisbury.
[? 1606].	He has been summoned by the Privy Council for not complying with Salisbury's order to pay £20 towards the fine of a lease made by Hare to Conradus. Three years ago, he had offered to pay the money, but no agreement had been reached as regards the covenants of the lease. Since then the matter had been in abeyance until the widow of Conradus had taken it up again. He informs Salisbury that he has been impoverished by the suit to the amount of £800, and has been forced to sell his interest in the lease. He is almost 80 years of age, has little means at his disposal, many children, and is unable to pay the money demanded. He has entrusted his son, who is employed by Mr Mills of Southampton, to certify to Salisbury his poor state of health and finance, and to request consideration at his hands.—Undated. 1 p. (P. 303.)
	William Conradus to the Earl of Salisbury.
[? 1606].	Salisbury ordered his case to be brought up to date by Sir Francis Bacon who "penned the booke and caused the same to be engrossed by his clarke". But Hare, despite Sir Francis's request, has refused to seal it on the grounds that Champante has not paid him the £20 which Salisbury had ordered him to pay, and for the discharge of which Hare had accepted Champante's word. Hare has behaved evasively as regards the £40 which petitioner, in accordance with Salisbury's directions, has offered him, and now Champante has sold his lease and all the rents of his tenements to one of his tenants called Champion. Since neither Champante nor Hare have made over any estate to him, petitioner is in danger of losing all, which would utterly ruin him. He requests that Salisbury take further measures in the matter so that he may be saved further legal suits.—Undated.
	On reverse: "The effecte of Mr Secretaries order taken the 29th of June, 1601, betweene Conradus, Champant and Hare hereafter followeth" with details of the order. Copy. 1½ pp. (P. 1137.)
	Osmund Bushnell to —.
[? 1606].	Last August the Earl of Hertford issued warrants to levy a tax for two years' arrears on the Queen's tenants which were alleged to be due to Josias Kirton, secretary to the Earl, for his fees as Muster-master. (fn. 4) He protests that Kirton had never held a muster during these two years. The tenants refused to pay for this reason, and also because they thought themselves free from all impositions by charter. The Earl, by virtue of his Lieutenancy, committed one of the tenants to prison for 8 days, and charged him with the obligation to provide new armour. On behalf of himself and the rest of the tenants on the Queen's manor of Corsham, petitioner prays to be discharged of that expense, and to be free from imprisonment and provision of armour which they fear the Earl of Hertford will impose upon them. The Earl has already made out several warrants against petitioner, and threatens to commit him to prison.—Undated. ¾ p. (P. 351.)
	Wives of the Spanish prisoners to the Earl of Salisbury.
[? 1606].	Their husbands are sailors who are now captives in the galleys of the King of Spain. They were captured some five months previously. Some of them were thrown overboard by the Spaniards and the rest placed in Spanish galleys, where they are being treated like slaves. Since the outrage took place before the last proclamation prohibiting voyages to the West Indies, petitioners pray for measures to be taken for the liberation of their husbands.—Undated. ½ p. (P. 425.) [See Cal. S.P. Dom., 1603–10, p. 334.]
	John Birkett to the Earl of Salisbury.
[? c. 1606].	He is the King's Attorney for Munster. The Lord Deputy has granted him a concordatum of 5/- per diem while keeping the General and Quarter Sessions. This has interfered with his own legal practice, and he has submitted a petition to the King for a permanent pension of 5/- daily, to be paid to him out of the revenues or out of such fines and amercements as he shall bring into the Exchequer in Ireland. He also asks that he be given those perquisites and fees which his predecessors in that office enjoyed. He requests Salisbury to support his petition when it comes up for discussion at the Council table.—Undated. 1 p. (P. 542.) [See Cal. S.P. Ireland, 1603–6, p. 432.]
	Humphrey Covert to the Earl of Salisbury.
[? 1606].	When Salisbury with others found him employment at Lough Foyle, he was so harassed by his subordinates "whoe by poyson, bulletts and quarels sought to destroye me", that he begged to be relieved of his post. The request was granted, and he was permitted to draw his pay while another post was being found for him. But since the death of the late Queen his pay has been stopped by the Lord Treasurer, and he asks Salisbury to favour his suit to the King that he be paid the money due to him or allocated a pension for life. He repeats the words spoken to him by the Lord Treasurer at the time of Elizabeth's death: "Captain Covert, I will geve no farther allowance of your entertaynment as yet for I am now but in bene esse, but when the King doth com and restores me my staffe, wee (meaning your Lordship with hymselfe) would recommend my service to his Ma^ti."
	Enclosed: A copy of the letter dated May 22, 1602, in which members of the Privy Council, including Cecil, agree to relieve Covert of his duties at Lough Foyle, and to continue his pay while he instructs his successor in his duties and another post is being found for him. 1 p. (P. 727.) [See H.M.C. Salisbury MSS, Vol. XVIII, p. 389.]
	Eleanor Palmer to the Earl of Salisbury.
[? 1606].	She is a poor widow aged 70, and her father was the son of the sister of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk. She has a legitimate title to £50 of yearly rent in London bequeathed to her by her uncle, the late Christopher Mortimer, (fn. 5) but wrongfully detained from her for 17 years by Valentine Saunders. He is one of the Clerks of the Petty Bag, a man of wealth and a papist. She has no means either to bring a lawsuit against him or to maintain herself, and asks Salisbury for some financial help to supply her wants, and for assistance to prosecute a suit in forma pauperis which she has begun to establish her claim.—Undated. ½ p. (P. 804.)
	Thomas Carrow to the Earl of Salisbury.
[? 1606].	He is a merchant of Lynn, Norfolk. In October, 1605, he had a number of ships laden with wheat in the port of St Mary, in Spain, which were seized by the purveyor of the King of Spain's galleys for that King's provisions, the money for the same to be paid within 30 days. It has not been paid more than a year later.—Undated. ? Imperfect. ½ p. (P. 1478.)
	Adam Tanner to the Earl of Salisbury.
[? 1606].	This petition is submitted on behalf of himself and other mariners taken prisoner in the West Indies by Don Luis de Fajardo, Spanish naval commander. He complains that though the voyage to the West Indies was a purely commercial venture, their ship was seized, the cargo confiscated, and the crew ill treated and reviled. They managed to escape from the galleys to which they had been committed, and have since been informed that Salisbury had intervened for their release. They express their gratitude and beg him to act for the release of the rest of their company, who are still detained in the galleys, and to obtain for them some indemnification for their suffering and losses.—Undated. ¾ p. (P. 1171.)
	John Haraneder to the Earl of Salisbury.
[1606].	Some two months ago Salisbury promised the French Ambassador, the Count of Beaumont, to transmit to the AttorneyGeneral certain letters written by Sir Robert Bassett to the Privy Council. On the basis of these letters the Attorney-General would decide whether Sir Robert's goods were subject to confiscation for the King's use or not. Petitioner reminds Salisbury that he has been prosecuting his suit for the past four years and incurred great expenses in doing so. He asks that the letters be conveyed to the Attorney-General.—Undated. 1 p. (P. 1058.)
	Peter Bales to the Earl of Salisbury.
[? 1606].	He is "writing schoolemaster" to Prince Henry, and has taught the Prince to write for a year and three quarters without receiving any pension or allowance. Upon his suit to the King he was referred to the Lord Chamberlain, but met with no success. A second petition to the King was commended to the Earl of Northampton, with similar negative results. From time to time the matter has been placed before the Lords of the Privy Council, when they have discussed the household affairs of the Prince, but petitioner has not been able to attend the meetings very often. He appeals to Salisbury to intervene in his favour.— Undated. At bottom: "Ut precor inspiret Dominus cor nobile Vestrum, Et mihi nunc inopi tempore fertis opem." 1 p. (P. 1984.) [See H.M.C. Salisbury MSS, Vol. XVI, p. 402.]
	Mr Throckmorton to —.
[? 1606].	"The answere of Mr Throckmorton to the objections of the heires of the late Earle of Devonshire."
	His answer is directed against the objections raised by Henry Baker, the reputed heir of Charles Blount, Earl of Devonshire, to his bill submitted to Parliament, and is concerned with the sale of certain lands to Throckmorton but which are now claimed on behalf of Baker. Throckmorton answers, inter alia, that he was forced to purchase the lands because of a lease by which he previously held them, and had to borrow the money to do so. To lose the property would prevent him from discharging his debts.— Undated. 1 p. (P. 2146.)
	Francis Nicholson to the Earl of Salisbury.
[? c. 1606].	He is the orphan son of William Nicholson, who was a suitor to Salisbury when he was Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, (fn. 6) for remedy against Reddish, his landlord, about the lease of a farm in which petitioner's father and grandfather had been born. Petitioner's parents and some of their children died during the last visitation of the plague in London, where they were prosecuting their suit, and left five orphans behind them. After seven years' service petitioner has obtained the freedom of the city, but because of the death of friends and the undetermined suit of his father's, he is too poor to be able to follow his profession, although he is qualified to do so. He asks for one of two favours: either that Salisbury find him employment in his service, or intervene to procure for him the small satisfaction which Reddish agreed to give his deceased father, which has since been confirmed by Mr Brograve and Mr Bacon of Gray's Inn, who were appointed by Salisbury to hear the case.—Undated. ½ p. (P. 435.)
	Jane Adams to the Earl of Salisbury.
[? c. 1606].	She is a widow (fn. 7) and this petition is submitted not only by her but also by the inhabitants of Hoddesdon on her behalf. Petitioner became mentally affected by the many tribulations which she and her husband suffered during his life time, and after his suicide "she is fallen into a most miserable and desperate estate". His manner of death has resulted in the forfeiture to Salisbury as Lord of the manor of her goods and the money she brought her husband upon their marriage. The inhabitants of Hoddesdon appeal to Salisbury that she be allowed her goods, assessed at less than £10, to relieve her needs.—Undated. ¾ p. (P. 1752.)
	Katherine Thomson to [the Earl of Salisbury].
[? c. 1606].	Salisbury has formerly spoken kindly to her and her late husband of her son Robert, (fn. 8) Salisbury's godson, who has served him for seventeen years but without much material benefit. Recently she has been urged by some of the Company of Stationers and others, "consideringe what great abuse there is in the arte of printinge for want of some officer appointed to looke to the same, the which abuses, as the Stationers say, are cheefly comitted by thos that printe in secret", to solicit Salisbury for letters patent from the King appointing her son to some such supervisory post. Her son would also like Salisbury to buy off him certain acres of pasture and wood with a cottage which he holds by copyhold in the manor of Baas.—Undated. ¾ p. (P. 770.)
	[Katherine Thomson] to the Earl of Salisbury.
[? c. 1606].	Many abuses are being committed by authorized and unauthorized printers alike. The former are guilty of using unsuitable paper, of typing errors and of defective pagination. The unlicensed printers flout the law, produce Catholic books or arrange for them to be printed abroad and sold in England: they also compete with authorized printers in the publication and sale of books. Petitioner asks that Salisbury procure for her son letters patent which would entitle him, for twenty years, to (1) examine and approve the paper used in each printed work; (2) confiscate or pass books with an official stamp, receiving a fee proportionable to the number of sheets in every approved book, "provided that he take nothinge for the booke called the little abc nor hornebooke"; and (3) to search stationers' shops and houses, and all ships within English territorial waters, for unlawful books, and to seize all those not bearing the official stamp.—Undated. 1 p. (197. 47.)
	David Tannett to the Earl of Salisbury.
[? c. 1606].	By Salisbury's favour he was granted the post of Keeper of the King's game. He has spent more than £200 in maintaining the necessary staff and meeting other requirements, but has extracted little benefit for himself. In addition, he has discovered that the game suffers daily from the depredations of persons of wealth and quality, whom he cannot denounce or censure without incurring their displeasure and hatred. He has therefore decided to resign the post rather than continue to work in such adverse conditions. Having found a person who is not only desirous of taking it over but is influential enough to redress matters, he asks Salisbury's permission to dispose of the post by sale.—Undated. ¾ p. (P. 1064.) [Tannett was falconer to the Earl of Salisbury in 1606. See Bills 10.]
	Richard Shakerley to the Earl of Salisbury.
[1606 or before].	He complains that bargemen damage Salisbury's property by landing on it as they pass through. When he resisted them, they maltreated him and now threaten to kill him. Lord Burghley, in his life time, authorized his tenants at Cheshunt and Hoddesdon to keep the bargemen off his land. Since Sir Robert Wroth (fn. 9) and Sir Vincent Skinner have granted a warrant for preventing them from landing, he asks for a similar warrant for Salisbury's tenants at Cheshunt, Hoddesdon and Amwell.— Undated. ½ p. (P. 255.)
	Christian and Thomas Weech to the Earl of Salisbury.
[1606 or before].	Sir Henry Gawdy, Sir Edward Cleer, (fn. 10) Sir William Paston, Sir Miles Corbett, Sir Philip Woodhouse, Sir Thomas Barney, Dr Redmayne, William Yelverton, Richard Jenkinson, John Burm, Thomas Richardson, Bartholomew Cotton, Justices of the Peace in Norfolk, have written on behalf of Christian, wife of Thomas Weech, who is in prison under sentence of death for witchcraft. The King accordingly granted his letters of pardon to her, (fn. 11) but although these have passed the privy seal, they have been stayed from passing the Great Seal by the sinister means of her enemies, and she is still in prison to the great grief of her husband. The Justices of the Peace have again sent a letter to the Lord Chancellor in her favour, to effect her pardon according to the King's intent, and petitioners ask Salisbury and others of the Privy Council to lend their support to this appeal for her release.— Undated. 1 p. (P. 1067.)
	On reverse: "The true coppie of the honorable sute of diverse worshippfull knights and Justices of his Ma^ts peace for the county of Norfolk made on the behalfe of Christian Weeche, unto the right honorable Thomas, Lorde Ellismere, Lorde Chauncellor of England. Yt maye please your Lordshippe to be advertized at the requests and in the behalfe of a poore distressed gent, Thomas Weeche, whose wife and onely staye and guide, Christian Weeche, beinge in prison condempned to die for witchcrafte, the poore gent, by meanes of foremer advertisements geven by us under our handes became an humble suter unto the Kings Ma^tie for her pardon, who of his speciall grace graunted the same, and it passed under his previe seale, but before it coulde passe the great Seale his and her adversaries understandinge therof used means, as we are inforemed, to stay the same alledginge amongest many other allegations that the woman and her facte was utterly unknowne unto us; which is not soe. For her facte, we weare at her triall and harde suche testimonie and proofes as were then alledged against her, beeinge in our judgments to weake to have condempned her. And for our knowledge of the woeman, we knowe her to be a gentlewoman verie aunciently decended, and for the greatest parte of her life to have lived without any maner of note or suspition of exercizinge of the devilishe and detestable practize of witchcrafte untill some small time before her triall. And howsoever yt pleased God in his secret wisedome to sufer her to be founde guiltie and receive judgement for the facte, yet we are fully perswaded that she is cleare of that wherof she nowe remaine condempned. All which we have thought fittinge to advertize your Lordshippe of in respect of her owne modest religious and discreet cariage ever since her condempnation, and also to become humble suters to your Lordshippe that, seeinge it hathe pleased his moste excellent Ma^tie of his infinite goodnes and mercie to graunt her his pardon, which hathe passed the privie seale and staies onelye for the greate seale, that yt would please your Lordshippe, in whose power it onely rest, to yeelde your honorable favour soe farre to the said Thomas Weeche and his sayd wife as to suffer her said pardon to passe the great seale wherbye she may be delivered of her longe imprisonment which now by the space of three yeares she hathe induered to her housebonds and her great hinderaunce, yf not thier utter undoeinge. And so leave the same unto your honores grave consideration to doe therin as the poore gentlemans distressed estate and his wiffes may moove."
	Robert Pricket to the Privy Council.
[1606 or before].	Because of his military service to King and country, he has become so destitute that he can no longer maintain his wife and family, and is forced to seek a livelihood abroad. (fn. 12) He proposes to enter the service of the States General, and he requests permission to embark at Yarmouth with 200 volunteers if he can recruit as many in Norfolk and Suffolk from amongst those "whose idell and disordered manner of lyvinge makes them for the Common Weale unproffitable and therefore maie well be spared". If the request is granted, petitioner "hopeth in this next summers service, from the boasomes of Englands outside frends and inward enimyes, to fetche sufficient maintenance for him and his".—Undated. ½ p. (P. 445.)
	John Wynyard and Thomas Bond to the Earl of Salisbury.
[1606 or before].	By letters patent granted to him by the late Queen Elizabeth on July 17, 1573, John Wynyard, the elder, petitioner's father, was seised for life of ½ acre of ground outside the wall of the old palace of Westminster "sometymes called the Osyer plotte being then very noysome for her Ma^tie and the Lords comeinge to the Parliament house, was afterwards by great coste and charges reduced to a firme and sweet plotte of ground by John Dore, tenant to the said John Wynyard". Leases of the plot were granted in reversion over the years to William Synfold, John Wells and John Drewer, until finally it came into the possession of Thomas Bond, who erected a house on it. The validity of their title to the plot is now being questioned, and petitioners request that the matter should be referred to Mr Typper for examination, and that the plot should be granted to them in fee farm in return for an annual rent.—Undated.
	Endorsed: "The humble petition of John Wynyard, Keeper of his Ma^ties privy lodgings and standing wardroppe att Hampton Court, (fn. 13) and Thomas Bond, his Ma^ties servaunt in ordinarie in the wardroppe." 1 p. (P. 1269.)
	Jasper Strich to the Earl of Salisbury.
[1606 or after].	Refers to his previous petition in which he solicited Salisbury's assistance to recover arrears of pay due to him in the Island of Guernsey. Salisbury directed him to attend the Master of Requests for relief, which he did, but is still unable to obtain an order signed by the King, without which there is no possibility of obtaining redress. Hitherto letters from the Master of the Requests and the Privy Council signifying the King's pleasure in this matter have carried little weight, since the Captain of the Island's authority to punish the guilty party has been curtailed. He requests that Salisbury procure for him an order for the payment of his arrears signed by the King himself.—Undated. 1 p. (P. 1232.)
	John Lancelot to Lord Zouch.
[? Before 1607].	He is of Wrexham, co. Denbigh, and in 1599 was involved as defendant in a case brought against him in the Court of the Welsh Marches by David ap John David Lloyd and his wife Janet. Justice Shuttleworth, who presided, showed signs of mental instability "for when evydence was then delyvered he used ympertynent and idle speeches to ye no litle admiration of ye auditorie". There was also present Mr Broughton of the Council, a person "mightely wrought to appresse your orator". Petitioner alleges that through the influence of Broughton, Justice Shuttleworth was guilty of partiality in his verdict, for although he dismissed the charges of misdemeanours brought against him, he nevertheless made an order for the restitution of certain goods, an order which was so confused that it could not be executed. Since then petitioner has travelled to London for medical treatment, and is now apprehensive lest the plaintiff's wife should bring another action against him on the strength of the order of 1599, and even have him arrested. He requests that no process of attachment should be issued against him, only a summons to present himself, and that Lord Zouch (fn. 14) himself should determine the case.—Undated. ¾ p. (P. 1635.)
	[The King] to [the Chapter of Wells].
[Before 1607].	He refers to previous letters directed to the Chapter on behalf of Paul Methuen, (fn. 15) "a zelus preacher of long continuance with you and prebendary of your churche, by honorable personages commended to us", to be made canon of Wells. In a full meeting of the Chapter, it was decreed that no other single residentiaries should be admitted before him. Despite this decision, however, another residentiary had been admitted, and Methuen had been defrauded of his place and discredited by the reprehensible action of the Chapter. The Chapter is therefore commanded, notwithstanding any acts, ordinances or statutes of the church which are hereby dispensed with by Royal privilege, to convene and to admit Paul Methuen to be residentiary without delay. He is also to receive retrospectively all such allowances and benefits as other canons have been accustomed to enjoy. Undated. Unsigned. Unaddressed. ¾ p. (P. 2319.)