Cecil Papers: December 1588 | British History Online

Calendar of the Cecil Papers in Hatfield House: Volume 3, 1583-1589. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1889.

'Cecil Papers: December 1588', in Calendar of the Cecil Papers in Hatfield House: Volume 3, 1583-1589, (London, 1889) pp. 376-386. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-cecil-papers/vol3/pp376-386 [accessed 24 April 2024]

December 1588



	771. Beer and Wheat for the Low Countries.
1588, Dec. 1.	Warrant under the Privy Signet, for the transportation to the Low Countries of two thousand tuns of beer and three thousand quarters of wheat.—Greenwich, 1 December 1588.
1588, Dec. 1.	1 p.
	772. Thomas Mills to Archibald Douglas.
1588, Dec. 3.	Has spoken with Lord Cobham as his lordship willed him, and shewed him that, if he would give for delivery the 80l. that is stayed for the relief of the Scottishmen, it would content them though the debt were 160l. His lordship told him that he knew of no such sum stayed, and that if he, Douglas, could tell him where it was to be heard of, he would cause delivery thereof to be made, or else of the body of Bate or such other as he should be charged with.—3 December 1588.
1588, Dec. 3.	1 p.
	773. Sir John Selby to Archibald Douglas.
1588, Dec. 5.	Forwards letter received from the ambassador's nephew.—From Berwick, this 5th of December 1588.
1588, Dec. 5.	¼ p.
	774. [ ? “G. S.”] to Archibald Douglas.
1588, Dec. 16.	Writes again upon advertisement received from Flanders, “that the best soldiers the Prince of Parma has, to the number of 7,000 men, with Count E., their general, are in readiness to be embarked at Dunkirk or Gravelines, to pass to Spain, and thence to journey with the King's army. The commanders, Italians who were with the Prince of Parma, are already passed into Italy. Those of the League triumph Monsieur the Prince is made Great Constable of France, and has the management of all affairs committed to him.” Remains in suspense of his journey till he gets answer.—Paris, 16th day of December 1588.
	Signed : “876 H.”
	1p.
	775. Richard Stoneley to Lord Burghley.
1588, Dec. 20.	Being this day at Westminster, there were divers persons to pay money to me as they have been accustomed, but Mr. Peter saith I may do nothing there before he hear from your honor. There will be also divers poor men to receive their fees and pensions shortly, which if they have not, they will exclaim. I desire no more but the receiving of the money, and Mr. Peter to lock it up presently, whereby her Majesty can take no loss. And I would to God it had been so from the beginning. And if I may not do this my credit is lost, and I shall be hereafter the less able to pay in my debt. I have this day paid in 100l., and this afternoon will pay 100l. more. Mr. Secretary hath faithfully promised to pay before Christmas 280l. Sir Thos. Cecil will take order with you for 100l. I would ride into the country to sell my lands at East and West Ham, and other places. I beseech you show me this favour, that I may keep my credit with you, which I mean to do, though I lose 1,000l. by the sale thereof.—20th December 1588.
1588, Dec. 20.	½ p.
	776. Sir Thomas Cornwaleys to Lord Burghley
1588, Dec. 20.	I have lived too long to see nothing but new troubles and griefs to disquiet my old years, being lately made to understand you are displeased with my son for the bargain made with my Lord of Oxford, wherein, if he do not satisfy your lordship, when he may avail upon you, he hath deceived me, but most himself. But for my part I mean not to enter the defence of my son's action, as one not privy [to] what hath passed in the matter, and therefore hope you will not impute his rashness and want of regard to me, who in all my life did never adventure upon a matter of less weight than this without much longer time to look into it. I did dissuade both my son and daughter for dealing with the purchase; but when their will and fancy prevailed against my advice, I kept my purse from the loan or gift of any penny towards it. Besides this, to show my indisposition to the bargain, I protest that I never saw nor heard any part of the assurance which hath passed between the Earl and my son, though some of the same were offered me to view. This is the plain and simple truth of my knowledge, assent, or advice in the matter. If it be otherwise, let me feel as much of your displeasure as I have done ease and comfort of your favour. And, good my Lord, have your wonted opinion and conceit of me, and think me not so doting and foolish in my age that for the attaining of Fishers folly, I would once put in adventure to lose the goodwill and favour which I have ever found towards me, since our first acquaintance, but especially in the change of time when I most needed it.—At Mr. Taylors' house in Wood Street, 20 December 1588.
1588, Dec. 20.	1 p.
	777. Robert Petre to Lord Burghley.
1588, Dec. 20.	By my certificates herein included your honour may see what money at this present remaineth in the Receipt of the Exchequer; and by another brief also it may appear what will be due to be paid forth presently, and what will be in my opinion required before any money will come in (saving eight thousand pounds, which is to be paid by Mr. Carew Sadleir for spices, January 4). Poor men seek to the Receipt for payment of their fees and annuities to be due at Christmas, of the which usually they have had a two or three days' advance for payment of their rents, and making of their provision against the time. Some of them are paid by Mr. Stanley and Mr. Taillor. If it stand with your good pleasure, they may be paid by delivery of money forth of the Chest, as the same shall be required without loss or prejudice to her Majesty.—This 20th day of December 1588.
	778. Sir William Stewart to Archibald Douglas.
1588, Dec. 31.	Thanks him for furthering his suit against the Low Countries, and craves continuance of his good offices. Begs to be informed of the event and success thereof.—From Edinburgh, the last of December 1588.
1588, Dec. 31.	1 p.
	779. Sir Thomas Cornwaleys to Lord Burghley.
1588, Dec. 31.	Has received his lordship's letters with more comfort to himself than he can now answer them. Finds his son and his wife too addicted to living about this city to lead a country life. Has acquainted his son with certain parts of his lordship's letters, but he will not confess any intent or knowledge to defeat any purpose of his lordship. For the secrecy he used he allegeth some reasons, but for the hasty conclusion, he layeth it wholly upon my Lord of Oxford.—Wood Street, New Year's Even, 1588.
1588, Dec. 31.	1 p.
	780. The Council to Sir John Wogan and others.
1588, Dec. —.	Desiring them to take pains for the restitution of eertain salt and other goods taken by pirates from one Robert Brown, a Scottishman, in Milford Haven.—Greenwich, December, 1588.
	Copy.
	1 p.
	781. Captain Adrian Ost to the Privy Council.
[1588] [December ]	(i.) Begs ratification of the late Earl of Leicester's warrant for his entertainment of two lancers under Sir William .Russell, the Governor of Flushing, which Sir Robert Sidney, the present Governor, is content to allow if the Council will ratify the same.
	French.
	¾p.
	(ii.) Petition to like purport in English, enclosing
	1. Copy of Lord Leicester's warrant.
	2. Confirmation thereof by Lord Willoughby.
	3 pp.
	782. John Greenway to the Privy Council.
1588.	The quantity of victuals may appear by a note under the Victualler's hand, which hath delivered the same and the several prizes, to be rated as to your lordships it shall seem reasonable. There hath been always 20l. weekly delivered unto every company of her Majesty's treasure. When that hath failed, every company hath had, sometimes the like proportion, sometimes less, as my credit served to supply them. There is no money due for lendings to the garrison.
	The mutiny began the 25th of August, continued 14 days, and was pacified the 7th of September. For that time they had their accustomed allowance of victuals; the 8th of the same month came one week's landings to the town, the which, although they had the day before their ordinary allowance of victuals for a week, was paid unto them for their better contentment, &c.
	The soldiers which have complained that six months' pay has been withheld from them by their officers, either cannot or will not make proof thereof, though oft required thereto by Mr. Fulke Greville, employed by her Majesty; and your lordships for the full appeasing of all troubles here.
	1 p.
	783. P. Tournet to Archibald Douglas.
1588.	Since my departure we have taken a ship bound to Dunkirk, laden with salt, and we purposed to come to M. Buzenval to see if she could be made good prize. They say they have the King of Navarre's pass, but I can have no sight of it. The ship is threescore and odd tons burden, and will carry 18 cast pieces. But if M. Buzenval or M. de Moye is to do any service, they may have gone both to do their pleasure withal. At this present the weather has been so evil that the ship Yal is taking is passed to the sea, and till the next fair weather we shall know where she is, &c.
1588.	1 p.
	784. John Colville to Archibald Douglas.
1588.	Sends Douglas's nephew and one George Wilson, servant to Lord Hamilton, from whom he will perceive that for very necessary occasions, tending to his Majesty's service and his lordship's honour, he has familiarly burdened his lordship as his special friend with the furnishing of certain stuff and plate, which they cannot have at home, and for which he has sent his obligation for payment of the same at any day he pleases to assign. The cause wherefore his lord has used him in this matter the nephew can show. Hopes this will be a beginning of a greater kindness betwixt his Lordship and your honour, &c. —From Edinburgh, this — of —1588.
1588.	½ p.
	785. Instructions given to the Captains of the Spanish Fleet.
[1588.]	“Don Martin de Pachilla, Adelantado, Maio^r of Castile, Earle of St^a Gadea and of Buendia, Captain Generall of the Gallies of Spaine, and of the Navie Koyale of the Octian sea, and the Catholick Kinge's armi.
	Instruccions to be kept, as well by the lande captaines, as by the captaines that hath charge of shippinge, which are to be kept by themselves, as also to cause to be kepte by them that are under them, until they have order to the contrarie from me.
	Imprimis, all servitors, as well by sea as land, of what estate or condicion soever they be, shalbe ahvayes readie to keepe and observe these orders that are delivered them, to live a Christian and vertuous lyffe uppon the penalties that are contayned in these articles.
	You shalbe readie, as well lande as sea captaines, with your officers and compagnies, to shipp yourselves without any delay when you shall here the Admirall to shoat [sic] of to call your companies aboarde; you shall muster your people and make readie your shippes to sett sayle at that hower that the Admirall doeth sett sayle, and so to follow the Admirall, as well you sea captains as lande captaynes that shalbe in any such shipp; [such] as shall fayle to doe the same shalbe punyshed with all rigour, and the mariner or officer or soldier that shall tarrie behinde the fleet I doe from this present time condemn him or them in the losse of all such wages as shall be dewe unto them, and to serve the Kinge at an oare in the gallies fower yeares, and the officer to be condemned to, and to be deprived of office for ever.
	As soon as ever you be out of harbour, as well the sea captaynes as the lande captaynes of everie shipp shall muster their sea and land men, and shall make a lyste, as well of the men as of their armour, and they shall give order that they that hath noe armour may be provided. The harquebusiers and muskettiers that have noe shott you shall cause them to caste shott presentlie. You shall provide their match readie. You shall carefullie see your soldiers powder drie in their flaskes, and they readie as if it were presentlie to fight, this readiness must you be in at all times : their touchepowder, also their muskets and harquebusses must be very cleane, and that they neither want vicepynes, skrewes nor syers, their cockes and panes very cleane and in good order. And if in the muster that you make you want any of those soldiers or mariners that you had alande, then lett me have notice thereof, that they may be sought out and punished.
	The captaynes of landmen shall exercise his muskettiers and harquebushiers by their captaynes [sic], as the first with powder in their panes, and afterwards to shoot at a white from their faces, at a boarde sett by the foremast, with a weight in yt, and shoote at yt by levell. Your sergeants and corporalls must be verie carefull to see them exercised, and to keepe their weapons very cleane.
	Everie lande captaine shalbe verie careful to make his soldiers knowe how to serve in shipping, and so to quarter them that they may know their places to come to or to go from, if need be, that he may perfectlie knowe his place, wheare he shall stand to fight, so that at the tyme of neede they may not goe thwarting one of another in the shipp. The captaine of the sea likewise shall make his great ordinaunce readie at their portes, loaden without shott, the which shott must be in lockers fast by the peeces, in lockers in like manner your spykes, and soynes, and lanthernes readie, carterages readie made to be used at an instant, when it shall be needful. Your armours readie at eyerie instant, your corsletts cleane, and everie man to have his owne.”—Undated.
	2 pp.
	786. The Case of Gilbert Sherington, of Gray's Inn.
[1588.]	In Trinity Term, 28 Elizabeth, Gilbert Sherington was convicted in the Star Chamber of riot in causing Styrroppe's house, standing on land in controversy between Richard Brereton and him, to be pulled down, &c.; and of conspiracy in causing Anne Styrroppe to be arrested for felony; and upon her death he accused her husband of murdering her. For this offence he was fined 420l., and committed to the Fleet.
	In Easter term 31 Elizabeth, he was convicted of procuring one Joan Scolcroft to retract a deposition by her made on behalf of Richard Brereton, and also one William Houghton to do the like. Upon this he was fined 200l., sequestered from practice till submission, &c. Refusing submission he was further fined 1000 marks, adjudged to be expelled out of Gray's Inn, and sequestered from his practice for ever. And moreover that he should go about Westminster Hall one day in the term time (the Judges sitting in the Courts there) with a paper on his head declaring his offences, for example and warning to others.
	Endorsed : 1588.
	1 p.
	787. C. de Nassau to Archibald Douglas.
[1588.]	Apologises for not coming to take his leave in person, but has received news which compel him to go to find the Count de Soissons with all the diligence he can. Hopes to return soon to London.
	French
	1p.
	788. [Richard Douglas] to Archibald Douglas.
[1588.]	I have not had since my last no great conference with the King, nor cannot have, till I receive answer from you The advices given by you to his Majesty in your last letters, he follows some of them, for that only letter has been the cause of continuing the Lord Maxwell; some other points were likewise followed. Suppose that secrecy and discretion in dealing, that is required in so great matters, be not kept, you put yourself surely in a great hazard to write so plainly to the King, for he is very unsecret in these matters, and has revealed to sundry a great part of them, which are come to my ears. I dare not accuse his Majesty, suppose he promised to me the contrary. The King has said that your advertisements touching this man's instructions were not all true, for he had further to say nor you wrote, but for all this his Majesty confesses that he has nothing with him but driving off time and fair promises in general. Carmichael has been very earnest with him to discredit you, but the gentleman, so far as I can perceive, is your very friend. He hears all, but credits few. I haunt him very familiarly, and make him general advertisements, and quietly advertise him of the dealings of them that seek to draw his Majesty the contrary way. I fear me he shall stay here longer nor I would wish, for I see no appearance of his departure, except this news come yesterday of the coming of the Spanish navy to the Narrow Seas, shall haste his Majesty to “licenciat” him. There is one to be directed quietly to France to seem to be doing somewhat there. It is whispered secretly that it shall be one of the Earl of Crawford's brothers that are here with the King, but I think not that meet, for they are known to be his Majesty's familiar servants. Some person less known were fitter for that purpose.
	James Hudson has written to me a letter, wherein he regrets the evil estate whereunto his Majesty's service is about this time in that country, and the cause thereof he attributes specially, as I am not far from that same opinion, to the unkindness that is betwixt our Chancellor and you, and for that cause he would have that matter taken away. I wish that same, and I know it would do great good if it could be done. James is not out of hope that he might do good therein, and offers himself, if I think it meet. Surely in that I refer myself to you, but for my part, if he should come here, and were willing, it might be that he might . . . . that matter. Advertise me what is your mind of this motion. I have written to him again my opinion. If the King should command him, and you [would] concur in his service, I think it might do good. For, so long as his credit lasts, matters between you and the King can never go soundly except you were friends.
	For all that you do suppose it be never so well done, he trains and “exponses” it to the contrary, and against his Majesty's weal. If James come into Scotland I care not, suppose he essay to do it, but not as from you.
	[Clerval ?] d'Amboise, that came hither from the King of Navarre, suppose he said that fortunately he was cast on this coast, yet it is thought he had express command to come hither first. He had large conference with his Majesty, who likes him very well, and it is whispered that he desired his Majesty's aid and assistance to his master, and propounded somewhat also, in passing, touching the princess. His Majesty caused him to be well entertained by sundry noblemen, to be defrayed of all his charges, and gave him at his departure a jewel of 14 or 15 hundred crowns. He goes, too, out of England, to be Governor of Sedan. —Undated.
	The writing is indistinct; it is written with some light fluid (? lemon juice) which has been held to the fire to make it legible.
	No signature.
	2 pp.
	789. R. Grahame to Archibald Douglas.
[1588 ?]	Beseeches him to have a little patience, and, with the help of God, he shall be satisfied to his contentment.—Undated.
[1588 ?]	1 p.
	790. St. Michael's Mount.
[1588 ?]	Petition of Mr. Harrys, Captain of St. Michael's Mount, to be supplied with some pieces of ordnance and, in regard of the present danger of the time, with a reasonable quantity of powder and shot for the defence of the same; and also that he may have authority to make choice of the fittest men of the three next parishes to be trained and exercised for that purpose, upon extraordinary occasion.— Undated.
[1588 ?]	1 p.
	791. Ireland.
[1588 ?]	Articles exhibited to the Privy Council by Mr. Christopher Peyton, Her Majesty's Auditor in Ireland, against Sir Henry Wallop, the Treasurer at War there, concerning certain points in the administration of his office by which the said Auditor is aggrieved.
[1588 ?]	6½ pp.
	792. Instructions for an Answer to be made verbally to the Ambassador of Scotland.
[1588 ?]	The Lords and others of her Majesty's Council have well considered the Answer, reported by the Ambassador to have been made by the King of Scots to certain letters written to him, signifying their lordships' great and first misliking of certain sharp speeches, reported to have been publicly uttered to the King in his parliament concerning the death of the Queen his mother. For Answer they state that they are very well satisfied with his Majesty's answer, so far as concerns his own person and expressing the honorable and princely opinion conceived by him of themselves and others the noblemen and good subjects of England. Yet they may not forbear, until they and the other aggrieved states of the realm are better satisfied respecting the spesches used to the King by his Chancellor and others joined with him; accounting it very strange that any states of that realm, or of any other Kingdom, being in amity with them, should in such sort condemn or tax them for any matter of state without some due inquisition, and answer made, or some orderly good proof to maintain their cause. In conclusion, therefore, they are bold to maintain that there hath been nothing done concerning the process and state of the Queen of Scots, but the same is, and shall be maintained to have been, done, “sincerely, justly, honorably, and by good warrant of the laws of God and of all Christian nations,” whensoever the justification thereof shall be reasonably and honorably required.
	[Murdin, p. 633. In extenso]
	1 p.
	793. Sir J. Selry to the Lord Justice Clerk.
[1588 ?]	Arrived in this town half an hour after his lordship's departure, and received the letters left for him, amongst which was one from Mr. Secretary, directing him to hold conference with the Lord Justice Clerk touching certain of his, the Secretary's, affairs. What the Secretary has appointed him to do, shall be carefully and diligently executed.
	Copy.
	1¼ p.
	794. State of Scotland.
[1588. (fn. 1) ]	For remedying of the apparent troubles like to fall out in Scotland, it will be necessary that the perfect state thereof should be understood and laid before her Majesty, which doth consist in one point of a number of nobility almost equally divided anent their religion in Protestant and Papist, with a number of indifferent religion, that die sometime profess their obedience to the authority of the Queen, thd King's mother, and now are joined to the Papists, for the better furtherance of their intended malice makes that party both greater in number of nobility and stronger in force.
	The King as yet doth remain indifferent to both parties, and giveth equal favour to both.
	The Papists with their associates are not idle in practising, by all the means they can, that the King may be drawn to declare himself to be no enemy to them, and, for the better performing thereof, they do what they can to make him believe that the accident that fell out against his mother was for no offence committed by her, and that it tends to no other end but to defraud him of any succession he might claim to the crown of England as heir to her, and to ruin himself, if it might be in their power to do it, and they would persuade him to believe that this matter cannot be helped, unless he shall join himself with them as Catholics, when he may have surety and means to acquire his right and preserve himself.
	As they travail with him by the means aforesaid, so are they busy to persuade other princes that, if they shall offer him assistance, and send forces into his realm, the hard dealing used by her Majesty towards him shall be able to cause him, assisted by them, to seek revenge for his mother's death. As for religion, they do affirm that no further will be required of him, but that they may enjoy liberty of conscience, which they persuade him will be expedient to be granted for dives respects.
	The Protestants consist of a few number of the nobility and of the meanest sort of gentlemen called Lairdis, whose second sonsand brethren are for the most part become merchants and travellers by sea, and of the great body of merchants dwelling in the towns.
	The noblemen Protestants are become careless for the preservation of their religion, because they esteem that the King will never change his religion, whose favour they think to possess, by keeping of themselves quiet at their houses.
	The state of merchants and mean gentlemen are so wounded with the infinite number of piracies [“pyraties”] committed by some of their countrymen, that in this matter that toucheth them so near as their customs and religion, they keep themselves silent, and rather wish matters so to fall out, that they may recover their losses what way so ever. They endeavour themselves anywise to keep matters in quiet state betwixt these crowns, whereby they may recover their losses by way of justice, whereof they are destitute of all hope.
	If advertisements given shall be found true, forces of “unfriends” are to be landed in Scotland, and what may be looked for in so troubled and confused a State may be easily conjectured, with the ill that may follow thereof, if “timous” remedy shall not be provided.
	The apparent remedies are these :—
	The King is to be won by her Majesty to declare himself for the Protestants, and to desire their assistance for the suppressing of the insolence and force of the Papists, by executing the laws of the realm against them, and imprisoning their bodies for avoiding of greater inconveniencies.
	The noblemen and gentlemen must be put in remembrance of their own state, whereby they may provide for their surety.
	And the state of merchants must be by some means satisfied, whereby they may be drawn to set apart their revenging mind, and assist to procure their surety, which may be done by these means.
	That the King may be answered directly, according to her Majesty's accustomed love and favour at all times extended towards him, to such instructions as were sent to his Ambassador in July last, and by all appearance this form were best to be observed therein.
	Since her Majesty cannot be moved to publicly declare him second person, that privately she may do it under her own hand.
	If her Majesty shall not like thereof, that under her own hand she may acknowledge him her nearest cousin and kinsman, and shall never prejudge, directly or indirectly, any title that he may thereby claim to this crown, notwithstanding any process against his mother, which she shall [have] the judges and rest of the jury to affirm by a testimony of their handwriting [under] her Highness's Great Seal.
	Item, for the performing hereof, it will be necessary that a letter under the Great Seal, and the handwriting of those that were upon the jury, shall be made concerning her Majesty's innocence in that procedure, and yet affirming the lawfulness of the procedure, bearing this narrative :—
	That some malevolent persons, desirous to stir up seditions amongst parties, have slanderously given out that the lawful proceeding against the Queen of Scotland did tend to no other end but to the disinheriting of her posterity in any right they might claim to the Crown of England.
	For declaration of the sincerity of Her Majesty's meaning in that matter, and for a manifesting of the contrary thereof, her will and pleasure is that all princes and nations be informed of her and their meaning thereanent, which is, &c.
	And for the more sure testimony of her meaning, she can be contented that her [the Queen of Scots] son, the King of Scotland, nearest cousin to her Majesty, shall be honoured with the inheritance of one Dukedom, under provision, &c.
	Item, that Lady Arabella, his near “cousyngness,” shall not be bestowed in marriage, but by her good liking and advice.
	Item, that satisfaction shall be made for piracies, according to divers promises made heretofore, whereof Acts of Court are extant.
	These premisses being performed, the King will enter into whatsoever sort of strait amity shall be thought convenient to be performed.
	Modern copy : carelessly made.
	4 pp.
	795. News from Scotland.
[1588 ?]	“The message to the King from the Pope, Spain, and other Princes, to have the King alter religion, and pretend title to England, with assurance of 40,000 crowns monthly.
	The King and the courtiers make their profit of these treaties to draw money from her Majesty.
	A maxim concluded on all parts, that money will be welcome, but men they will none.
	When her Majesty shall happen to decease, or any troubles or invasions shall fall out, then great forces to be looked for out of Scotland.
	The whole people, and nobility, besides some few courtiers excepted, and the ministers, and the boroughs, extremely offended to see themselves so absolutely tyrannised by England, that who they will have racked, banished, or put to death, must be done. They mean therefore to use all dissimulation, and humiliation, till time may serve for revenue.
	Bowes will strain with his mistress to please his master.
	L. T. [Lord Treasurer's] designs tend to the subversion of the nobility, and to establish a democracy.
	The King and courtiers seek English angels, and desire not to see a hasty end of this traffic.
	The King hates the ministers for their malapertness, loves the nobility, but dares not avow it; what he will do, if he saw “a Backe” [? aback], none but God and himself doth know.
	The minister[? s], Bowes, and the boroughs, will draw all to a popular government.
	The Catholic nobles seek liberty of conscience; the rest, revenge, some few excepted.
	Richard Douglas had frustrated all foreign hopes, if he had not been prevented.
	They only fear, as the Queen hath one party with her angels, so she do win the other with offer of peace and liberty of conscience, and so cut off all plots abroad.
	Angus, a right Douglas, inclined to England.
	The dealing of Bowes and the ministers, utterly rejected.
	The drawing on the Lords to bandy with England, counted a stratagem of the L. T.
	If the 'E. of E.' [Earl of Essex] interpose himself, he will be able to hinder the foreign negotiations.
	The rigorous dealing of Bowes and the ministers has made the contrary faction greater.
	(A friend of yours may seek a great stroke in these matters) is meant by the E. of E.
	The ministers offer the Lords peace, either by entering into ward, with security of their life, or to avoid the realm, giving security not to trouble the State.
	He will advertize if assistance be admitted, or if they enter into bond.
	Desireth answer.”
	Endorsed :—“Dyvers particuler memorials from Scotland.”
	2½pp.
	796. Five Masters of five Lives of Ipswich to Sir Robert Cecil.
[1588 ?]	Were commanded to Plymouth by the Serjeant of the Admiralty to serve the Queen in this last action. Pray for recompense for their services and charges.— Undated.
[1588 ?]	½p.
	797. Expedition to the Low Countries.
[1588.]	Certain points to be resolved touching the Earl of Leicester's Instructions, and the Governors of the towns.
	How far forth his government shall stretch over her Majesty's subjects there, as well serving in the army as in the towns.
	Whether he shall exercise any further authority of the inhabitants of the United Provinces than is contained in the treaty; or whether he shall not accept of so much authority as they shall be disposed to yield unto him, whereby he may be the better able to establish some good order of government amongst them.— Undated.
	½ p.