Queen Elizabeth - Volume 200: April 1587

Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Elizabeth, 1581-90. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1865.

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'Queen Elizabeth - Volume 200: April 1587', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Elizabeth, 1581-90, (London, 1865) pp. 401-409. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/domestic/edw-eliz/1581-90/pp401-409 [accessed 25 March 2024]

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April 1587

April 1.
The
Dreadnaught.
1. Capt. Thos. Fenner to Walsyngham. Assembly of the whole fleet at Plymouth under Sir Fr. Drake, well victualled. The general does all he can to hasten the service, and sticketh at no charge to further the same, and layeth out great store of money to soldiers and mariners, to stir up their minds. Names of all the ships now in Plymouth Sound, in number twenty-three.
April 2.
On board the
Elizabeth
Bonaventure.
2. Sir Fr. Drake to Walsyngham. They had been joined by some other ships of the London fleet. There never was in any fleet more likelihood of a loving agreement. The captains appointed to serve with him are discreet, honest, and most sufficient gentlemen. Some men have deserted within the last two days. Desires his good opinion through all reports, not only of himself, but of all joined with him in this action. Hopes the enemy will have cause to say that God doth fight for Her Majesty as well abroad as at home.
April 2. 3. Hugh Offley to same. Has received his letter to him and Mr. John Bodleigh. Desires further time to consider with the clothiers of a good place for the venting of their goods. Names of merchants to be consulted.
April 5.
Wrest.
4. Henry Earl of Kent to the Council. Proceedings in his commission of lieutenancy for Bedfordshire. Names of the gentlemen chosen as officers for the field. The Justices of Peace desire to be excused from the finding of petronels. The county is not able to furnish the 1,000 men required, but offer to furnish 400 footmen and 60 horse.
April 6.
Bath.
5. Earl of Leicester to Walsyngham. In favour of Count Culenbourge. Great decay of trade, and distress in the country. Bristol, Hampton, and other of the best towns are fast falling to decay. Measures must be taken for the revival of trade. Great credit is due to the clothiers, who keep many of the poor on work, to their own loss.
April 6.
Greenwich.
6. Charles Lord Howard to Burghley. The charges of the Navy grow very great. Desires payment of 2,000l. to Mr. Hawkyns. Has given order for a great quantity of cordage and canves.
April 6. 7. Memorial of things resolved on in Council touching depredations committed against French and English merchants. Directions to the Judge of the Admiralty in causes of piracy and detention. Letters to be written to Sir Ric. Greynvile.
April 6. 8, 9. Survey of the Dikes about the works and fortifications now in hand on the north side of the town of Portsmouth. [In duplicate.]
April 6. 10. Richard Charnock, Sheriff of Bedfordshire, to the Council. Sends certificates of the Justices for the stay of the dearth of grain. Incloses,
10. i. Certificate by Ralph Astry, Richard Conquest, and Chr. Hoddesdon, of rates and orders for provision of grain and relief of the poor within the three Hundreds of Manshed, Flett, and Redbornestoke. 15th February.
April 6.
Bath.
11. Earl of Leicester to Lord Burghley. The Earl of Warwick and Sir Wm. Pelham have received benefit from the waters of Bath. Leicester himself cannot yet say any good of it; he is always worse the day he goes into the bath. Great decay of the towns and distress of the people from want of work.
April 7.
London.
12. Sir Tho. Pullyson, John Bodleigh, and Hugh Offley to Walsyngham. Their opinions concerning some meet place for vent of the northern and western cloths in the parts beyond seas. Recommend Guernsey and Jersey for that purpose.
April 7.
Portsmouth.
13. Earl of Sussex to Burghley. Report on the progress of the works at Portsmouth. 400l. sent to Mr. Cotton out of the new warrant. Report, by a Frenchman arrived from Rouen and Newhaven, that the King of Spain was making a huge army for England, but they were not yet ready. Desires that the artificers may be sent to complete the works at Portsmouth.
April 8.
Portsmouth.
14. Same to Walsyngham. Desires to purchase the two leases of the farm and lands called Morralls. Requests that the artificers of the Tower may be sent down to Portsmouth. Spanish preparations. The vicarage of Tichfield is vacant, and in Burghley's gift, by the minority of the Earl of Southampton.
April 8. 15. John Popham, Att. General, to Walsyngham. Has dealt with Mr. Webbe touching the venting of cloths, and opening a trade to Muscovy. The trade to Turkey to be encouraged. The action for Ireland is so discouraged, that if he does not take a journey westward he fears it will be much quailed.
April 8. 16. Certificate of Nathaniel Bacon, High Sheriff of Norfolk, touching the proceedings of the Justices for relief of the scarcity of grain. General abstract of the returns from the several hundreds and market towns, with the prices of grain.
April 9. 17. The Council to Sir Fr. Drake. Causes of setting out the fleet under his command. Information that the preparations of the King of Spain were not so great. Overtures from King Philip for settling the differences between the two kingdoms; and therefore Her Majesty desires Drake to confine his operations to the capture of ships on the open sea, and to forbear entering any of the ports or havens of Spain, or to do any act of hostility on land.
April 10.
Colt's Hall.
18. George Colt, Sheriff of Suffolk, to the Council. Transmits certificates from the Justices of Peace for stay of the dearth of corn. Incloses,
18. i.Certificate made by Arthur Hopton, Bassingborne Gawdy, and Tho. Colby, of the grain remaining in the Hundreds of Wangford, Mutford, and Lothingland, in Suffolk. 18 Feb.
18. ii. Certificate of corn in the Hundreds of Hoxne and Hartismere, with the prices of the same; signed by Sir Nicholas Bacon, Bassyngborne Gawdy, and John Thruston. 21 Feb.
18. iii. Certificate by the Justices of Peace within the franchise of Bury of the prices of grain during the month past in the several market towns. 27 March.
April 10 ? 19. The Council of the Marches of Wales to Lord Chanc. Bromley. Detail of the case of William Mathew, a justice of peace, accused of murder, who had refused to appear on alleged ill health, but who had immediately gone off to London to avoid the due course of justice, and had insinuated partiality against the Lord President. Inclosing,
19. i. Information by the Queen's Attorney of the Court of Wales against William Mathew and others, accused of the murder of Roger Phillips at Cardiff fair. March 10?
19. ii. Wm. Mathew to the Lord President and Council. Excuses himself, on account of ill health, from personally appearing to answer the information of the Queen's Attorney. Cardiff, March 11.
19. iii. Deposition of William John; that Wm. Mathew was not able to appear before the Court without peril and danger of his life. March 17.
April 16. 20. Elizabeth Lady Cobham to Burghley. Offers her services and friendship. Her Majesty continues discontented, and settleth herself to wear mourning garments. Desires his speedy return to the Court.
April 12. 21. Lord Burghley to Sir Fr. Walsyngham. Sends him a packet of papers received from the Earl of Leicester, amongst them a memorial from Mr. Wylkes to the States General, complaining of the offences committed by them against the Earl's authority. The Earl's return is both generally desired and thought necessary. Imagines the Queen has some further intention, to Burghley's misliking, and requests him to let him know the worst. Desires to know her intention as to the Chancellorship.
April 12. 22. Capt. Hubberde to Walsyngham (?) News by a ship lately come from Spain, that a hundred sail of ships were ready to start for England or Ireland.
April 14. 23. Loys Ramon (or Raymond), a French refugee, to Walsyngham. Desires him to present his petition to the Council, and to favor his suit for the execution of justice. French. Incloses,
23. i. Petition of Lewis Raymond to the Council, praying that the controversy between him and Nicasius De Glas, for a matter of debt, may be committed to two men of their own nation.
April 15. 24. Details of the manner of proceeding in Commission of Oyer and Terminer in Wales, with the fruits and commodities it carrieth.
April 16. 25. Report on the case between René Tardiff, merchant stranger, and John Saunders, one of Her Majesty's waiters, as to the seizure and payment of customs on certain new devised silk called "plushes."
April 16. 26, 27. State of the whole case between John Saunders, plaintiff, on the information in the Exchequer, and René Tardiff. Drawn out of the whole course of the proceedings by William Daniell. [Two copies.]
April 16. 28. Examination of Mary Cocker, wife of Robert Cocker, of Braughing, co. Hertford, taken before Tho. Sadleir and Tho. Leventhorp, justices of the peace, touching a vision or ghost that appeared to her in the night season, and warned her to tell the Queen that there was a jewel in making for her which if she received would be her destruction.
April 16. 29. Petition of William Roch and John Pettye to the Council. That Evangelist Constantyne, of meer obstinacy, refused to pay the 200l. as ordered by their Lordships. They desire, therefore, that certain ordnance belonging to him at Ilfordcoome may be sold for the payment of the same.
April 16. 30. Petition of Alice Smalwood to the Council, against the Bishop of Chester and others. Desires their Lordships' letters to Mr. Brook and the Bishop, that they shall not proceed against her at common law, as she might be put out of possession.
April 16.
Carnarvon.
31. William Gruffythe to Archbishop Whytgift. Informs him of the secret meeting of priests at a hidden place in the county of Carnarvon; in a cave by the seaside about three fathoms deep, the haunt of Recusants, Seminaries, and Jesuits.
April 20 ? 32. Arthur Massinger to Walsyngham (?). Particulars of the case of William Mathew, who declined appearing before the court of the Marches of Wales, to answer a charge of murder, on the plea of sickness, and had procured a person to make a statement on oath to that effect. Refers to the letter of the Council of Wales to the late Lord Chancellor.
April 20.
Basing.
33. Marquis of Winchester to the Council. The Deputy Lieutenants for Dorsetshire have required a supply of ordnance and munition for the better strengthening of the defences of the seacoast. Incloses,
33. i. Deputy Lieutenants of Dorset to the Lord Lieutenant. Observations on the defenceless state of the coasts, and facilities for the landing of an enemy. Places meet to be fortified. The chief strength of the county consists of archers and bowmen, of whom they have requested Mr. Howard to inure and train two or three hundred of them. Basing, April 10.
33. ii. Note of munition and ordnance required to fortify the most exposed landing places on the coast of Dorset and Portland Road.
April 20. 34. Account of the quantities of provisions provided by Mr. Baeshe for victualling the Navy.
April 20. 35. Estimate or declaration of Edw. Baeshe touching the employment of the warrant of 12,512l. 11s. 8d., for the victualling of Her Majesty's ships.
April 22. 36. Examination of Edw. Campion, taken the 22nd of April. Confesses that he was born at Ludlow; was brought up at Jesus College, Oxford, and is now a Catholic priest. Denies the Queen's supremacy.
April 22. 37, 38. Brief abstract of the charges of the works of fortification at Portsmouth, for the month ending April 22, 1587. [In duplicate.]
[April 22.] 39. Necessaries appertaining for fireworks, and now wanting in Portsmouth.
April 23.
Caresbrook
Castle.
40. Sir George Carey to the Council. His proceedings in the musters and survey of the trained bands of the county of Southampton, appointed for defence of the Isle of Wight. Suggestions as to the mode of appointing the captains of the trained bands. Incloses,
40. i. Certificate of the Hundreds appointed for the relief of the Isle of Wight, containing the number of men and their furniture of arms.
April 23.
Caresbrook
Castle.
41. Same to Sir Fr. Walsyngham. His proceedings in the musters mis-reported by Sir Henry Knevette. His proceedings as to the trained bands appointed for the defence of the Wight. Has been unable to obtain an audience of the Marquis of Winchester The parsonage of Freshwater vacant by the death of Parson Kempe: the place is fit for Mr. Browne, Mr. Edes, or some good preacher.
April [23]. 42. Names of the Sovereigns and Noblemen elected into the Order of the Garter, from the 12th to the 29th year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth; with the names of those Knights who acted as the Sovereign's Lieutenant in each year.
April 25.
The Court.
43. Sir Fr. Walsyngham to the Lord President of Wales. Signifies Her Majesty's pleasure that he should not trouble Mr. Mathewe or his friends, on account of actions determined in his predecessor's time. Incloses,
43. i. Substance of Mr. Mathewe's complaint against the Lord President of Wales.
April 26. 44. ii to Walsyngham. Secret advertisements of Papists of the North. Has brought Mr. Wharton, a kinsman of Lord Wharton, to London, who is a great practiser in the designs of the Papists. This man, John Taylour of Newcastle, John Gastell, and others, are the men that carry on correspondence between the Papists in England and those beyond seas. All the Papists are of opinion that the course taken by the Queen against Mr. Davison is to convey herself in a cloud.
April 27.
St. Stephen's,
Canterbury.
45. Sir Roger Manwood, Lord Chief Baron, to same. The Romish priest William Chadock states that his fellow stayed at Sittingbourne (calling himself Campion), is beyond sea called Edwards. Has sent Chadock up to be further examined and tried at Newgate
April 27.
On board the
Elizabeth
Bonadventure.
46. Sir Francis Drake to same. Adventures on their voyage from Plymouth to the Road of Cadiz, where they sunk 33 ships preparing for England; burnt one of 1,500 tons belonging to the Marquis of Santa Cruce, and brought away four laden with pro- visions. Great preparations made by King Philip for the invasion of England. Intends, by God's help, to intercept their supplies.—P.S. Urges England to be prepared strongly, and most of all by sea. Stop him now, and stop him ever.
April 27.
Elizabeth
Bonadventure.
47. Drake to Mr. Secretary Wolley. Narrates their success in Cadiz Road over the Spanish galleys. Intends to intercept the fleet coming out of the Straits before it joins the King's forces. Great preparations are making for the invasion of England, but what has been performed will breed great alterations. Urges him to prepare for the worst.
April 26.
[Paris.]
48. 4 [Gilbert Gifford] to Phelippes (?). Has, according to his wishes, repaired to Paris. Wishes to settle with Mr. Waad for some mode of correspondence. The "Old Man" is not now to be depended on, nor the English Ambassador. Transactions between Dr. Gifford, Nau, and Throgmorton. Morgan is labouring with Cordaillot. Allen, Parsons, Owen, and other, lend all their force for the King of Spain, and Don Bernadino openly calls him King of England. Morgan intendeth a seminary in Scotland, &c. [A great part in cypher.]
April 27. 49. Copy and decypher of the above, by Phelippes, or of some letter of the same date, to some other person, containing other passages than in the above.
April ? 50. Another decypher, by Phelippes, containing many passages of the above. Has talked much with Morgan, who greatly desires to continue for the King of Scots that which he had begun for the the mother. Division between him and Dr. Allen. Morgan intends to found a seminary in Scotland, whereof Dr. Gifford should be Principal. Wants an apt correspondent for Rome, &c.
April 28. 51. William Mathew to Lord Burghley. Describes the lamentable state of Wales through the misgovernment of the Lord President and Council. A temperate, prudent, and learned judge is required, not a great and mighty lord to terrify. Evil effects of the Commission of Oyer and Terminer. Incloses,
51. i. The manner of proceeding in the Commission of Oyer and Terminer, with the effects it "worketh." [Similar in substance to the paper of April 15.]
April 28. 52. Certificate of the Justices of Peace, directed to John Fleetwood, now Sheriff of Lancaster, of the order taken for stay of the dearth of grain in the hundred of Blackburn, Lancaster.
April 28. 53. Petition of the Flemish Merchants to the Council. Praying that sentence may be stayed in the Court of Exchequer in the suit of Edward Bodye, an informer, against Charles Van Peene, a Flemish merchant, for bringing pins into England from the Netherlands.
April 28.
Greenwich.
54. The Council to the Court of Exchequer. Directions to stay the suit against Charles Van Peene, for importing pins from the Low Countries.
April 29. 55. Certificate by John Cottesforde of the quantities of Gloucester, Wiltshire, and Somersetshire cloths brought to Blackwell Hall in the week ending 29 April 1587.
April 30. 56. Rafe Lane to Burghley. Proofs, by particular demonstration, that the plan presented to Her Majesty for the defence of the coast, by the erection of sconces or ramparts along the whole line of coast accessible to an enemy, could be completed in 31 days.
April 30.
On board the
Lion, off Cape
St. Vincent.
57. Capt. Wm. Burroughs to Sir Fr. Drake. Disapproves of his manner of holding a council of war, which was chiefly to declare his own previous resolution without consulting his officers. Complains of personal neglect, and that he was acting contrary to his instructions. Danger of making a landing for the surprise of the Castle of Cape Saker. Strongly protests against making such an attempt.
April 30.
Off Dunkirk
Haven.
58. Henry Palmer to Walsyngham. Has been informed by Sir Edw. Stafford that the French King was about to send 600 soldiers for the defence of Boulogne and Calais. Hopes to intercept the Dunkirkers on their return. Has sent several ships into the Thames laden with corn, for the relief of the poor.
April 30. 59. Names of many gentlemen, recusants and others, bound by recognizance to appear or to answer, under various conditions.
April. 60. Deposition of Hugh Catlyn (?), of Hammersmith. Protests that he earnestly embraced the established religion. Knows no harbourer of Jesuits or seminary priests, but one Sharpe, a singing man of St. Paul's who received into his house Mr. Martyn of Suffolk, two gentlemen of Kent named Greene, and Mrs. Snatchpoole. Is acquainted with one Worrall.
April. 61. Abstract of the certificates of the money assessed upon the Recusants; distinguishing the amount charged, the sums received, and the excuses for non-payment.
April.
Sheldisley.
62. Francis Walshe to Sir Fr. Walsyngham. Answers to the complaint of the now Bishop of Hereford [Westfaling] as to possession of the house and demesnes of Whitborne, which the Bishop pretended Walshe did wrongfully hold from him in the right of Sylvanus Scorye, his son-in-law, the son of the late Bishop.
April ? 63. Suit of Robert Beale, Clerk of the Council, to the Queen. Solicits a grant of 60l. a year for 30 or 40 years, in consideration of his poverty and services; or leave to resign and serve in some other place; for being in debt he is not able to continue in it any longer. [On the 7th of May 1587 Daniel Rogers was sworn Clerk of the Council, probably in the place of Beale, in whose hand that minute of Council is entered.]
April ? 64. The names of the captains who have the charge of the 6,000 footmen furnished by the county of York, with the number of men appointed to every captain.
April ? 65. 4 [Gilbert Gifford] to . His arrival in this town on the 20th April. In his way from Rheims he met with Woolseley. Has had an ample conference with Morgan, who said he never would forsake the King of Scots: discourse thereon. Dream of Pope Sixtus V. that Pope Gregory XIII. had appeared to him and talked with him a whole hour. Masses to be said for Pope Gregory's soul, for it seems he was not yet out of Purgatory. Cannot write anything of importance, as all parties are yet in a gaze about the late accident in England.