Queen Elizabeth – Volume 245: June 1593

Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Elizabeth, 1591-94. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1867.

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'Queen Elizabeth – Volume 245: June 1593', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Elizabeth, 1591-94, (London, 1867) pp. 352-359. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/domestic/edw-eliz/1591-4/pp352-359 [accessed 24 March 2024]

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June 1593

June 5.
Theobalds.
27. Lord Burghley to Thos. Phelippes, Custom House, London. Forwards him a letter from Parry, at Dieppe, known to be a bad affected person, and often resorting to the enemy and going to mass; would not open it, being assured of his good affection to the State and service, and that if there is any matter therein fit to be discovered, he will not keep it secret. Asks him to send him back his opinion of Parry, and the substance of his letter.
[June 6.]
Gains Park, Wednesday after Whitsunday.
28. Wm. Sterrell to Thos. Phelippes, at Leadenhall Gate. Asks what news there is of letters. Suspects Painter lost those he carried, or some other accident happened to them. Suffers for other men's negligence. It is hard if the Earl [of Essex] considers his service according to the handling of the matter. Hoped that upon some good advice in the expected letters, the Earl would have given him the furnishing of his chamber, which is all he looked for until the upshot of his endeavours; if not considered, will be driven to want, and 10l. more would have discharged all. Has written to the Earl, but shall not send his letter until he has heard from Phelippes. Some course must be devised for his going to Dieppe, or there will never be any passage found for their letters. Other men have no care of the matter; would then take order for the Earl to have intelligence weekly. If he had a horse, would come to him, and soon as he has wherewith, will buy one; meantime expects his friendly answer.
June 9.
Exchequer, Chester.
29. John Johnes to John Daniell, Dewsbury. The Court will pass an order against him, at Mr. Ierland's suit, about Dewsbury tithes, the opinion of the judges being against him, unless he show cause to the contrary before 16 June.
June 12. 30. [W. Sterrell to C. Paget]. Thinks the man he wrote of might be an instrument of service. Hopes himself and the person will be rightly understood, as they desire not consideration without merit. He thought he could meet Paget at Middleburgh without suspicion, yet acknowledged his error, and highly commended Paget's providence, but insinuated a dislike that Paget should seem to fasten any such suspicion upon him; he will pass over and meet Paget in an indifferent place; as there are spies in corners, he thinks the country of Liege will be best to go to for both parties, considering the season of the year. The talk for a great while has been of the likelihood of the King of France being a Catholic, and of a peace by means of a treaty between the King and the League. This has detained all resolution with the Vidame of Chartres, his ambassador here. The Queen stormed at first, but it is believed that nought would come of the matter. My Lord of Cumberland's voyage and his petty preparations for the sea have been long in hand. The plague is very hot in London and other places of the realm, so that a great mortality is expected this summer. Penry, son of Martin Marprelate, was hanged lately, as two of the principal Brownists, Barrow and Greenwood, were hanged before, so that that sect is in effect extinguished. [Draft suggested by T. Phelippes. 1¾ pages; the italics are in cipher.]
June 19.
Plymouth.
31. John Gayne, mayor of Plymouth, on behalf of himself and his brethren, to Lord Burghley. They received the Council's letter, and are glad that the Queen has left the fortifications just begun to the town's government. It bred some scruples before, but now the inhabitants have resolved to contribute towards the work; seeing the charge will be great, and the chiefest help will be the impost upon pilchards, and understanding by Sir Fras. Drake that some exception is taken to the insufficiency of that grant, ask a new grant, and send the bearer to solicit it, and deliver up the old letters patent.
June 21.
Antony village, 40 miles from the Bay of All Saints, Brazil.
32. John Vincent to the Rev. Rich. Gibbon, Jesuit, of the college of Madrid. Received letters mentioned, with one from Sir Fras. Englefield, and sent some for Father Wm. Good, Wm. Gifford at Rheims, Sir F. Englefield, and Father John Howling, but has no intelligence what has become of them; marvels not, seeing the seas so full of pirates; will give an abstract of them. Cannot remember if his reverence is the same person with whom he talked in the college previous to his departure from Rome in April 1575; after his departure, went to Portugal, where he stayed two years, chiefly at Coimbra, ending his noviceship, and renewing the Latin tongue. Being ordained for Brazil, after spending half a year in Lisbon, in hearing cases of conscience, arrived in Dec. 1577, at the Bay of All Saints, the chief city of the province, with many fathers and brethren of their society, but was the only Englishman. Their chief college of the province is there; after three weeks, was sent to a native village to learn their language, one of the most easy and well ordered under the sun. After spending three years therein, in 1581 took Holy orders, and since has exercised his talents in the ministry of the company, catechising, giving sacraments, exhorting, preaching, in perils of rivers and fierce people; had a mission up to the woods and mountains, 500 miles off; returned thence after 10 months, with 200 infidels, and would have brought 1,000 if the Portuguese there had not hindered him with their lies, thirsting more for the bondage of the people than their salvation; such is their unsatiable covetousness.
In the 15½ years spent in this equinoctial region, has had good health, save two dangerous agues, and now lives with a companion in a little village, not in converting Gentiles, who are very rare in the circuit of that city, the Portuguese having utterly consumed them, but in counselling the new Christians in the faith they have received; only exercises a curate's part, but is content in his vocation, unless his superior shall think fit to call him thence. Thanks for his news, which did not differ from Father John Howling's, four months since. The necessities of the church are always detailed to them; uses a particular devotion daily, as desired, for the reduction of the same to the Catholic faith; is glad to see his zeal for the remedy of their nation, whence heretical pirates sometimes come into those parts, to exercise their piracy and irreverence to the churches and images, but hitherto He that says "vengeance "is Mine, and I will repay," has chastened them with the loss of most of their ships and men.
Wants certain new books made by the English, touching the persecution of the Catholics in England, the articles proposed to them, and such like, either in the Latin or Spanish tongue, to communicate to the fathers and brothers there, who wish to understand such matters. Father Good sent him two in Latin, viz., De Persecutione Anglicanâ, and Rationes decem of the glorious martyr, F. Campion; with another in English, about twelve martyrs that suffered there. Father Howling, two years since, sent him another in the Spanish tongue, of certain new martyrs, compiled by Father Rob. Parsons. Wants an English grammar, if not prohibited, to aid in finishing a Portuguese grammar which he has composed in Portuguese, of the people's speech there, and which Father Procurator Lodwick da Fonseca carried with him, with the ordinary catechism that they use, to get it printed. There is such poverty there that he is not able to send more than letters, although Father Fras. Somes has perhaps signified the contrary; but since his going thence, things have changed with the writer.
Gives an abstract of his work from taking his priesthood in 1581 until 1592; the baptisms are almost 700, and are so few from lack of Gentiles to be converted; the confessions 27,400; partakers of the Holy Sacrament of the Altar, 16,700; of the Sacrament of Matrimony, 580; burials, 1,560; extreme unction, 520. Asks pardon for his faults in the writing of English, for want of exercise for 19 years. [3 pages.]
[June 21.] 33. John Vincent to Sir Fras. Englefield. Received his letter of July 1592 in the middle of April 1593, with great joy, it being so copious of consolations, notwithstanding the miserable state of Europe, and especially of England. Thanks for his affection; has not been forgetful of him in his prayers. This is the third letter he has written since his arrival at barbarous Brazil; sent one by Father Christopher Gonnea, visitor of that province in 1589, who, though robbed by pirates, came safely to land with all his letters, and is at present rector of the college of Ennora in Portugal. Details of other letters received and sent. Is in his 43rd year, with a white head, but never had better health, and enjoys exercising his ministry amongst these silly souls, in their language; understands and speaks it almost as well as his native tongue, or Portuguese. Regrets the death of Father Wm. Good, from whom he received two or three letters, the last dated 30th Nov. 1584, full of spiritual comforts, and various news of Europe, with divers images of the English martyrs, and a book of the new martyrs in England, in the English tongue. Was regenerated by him in Christ, for entrance into this their religion. Heard nine years since from Wm. Gifford at Rheims, who knew him at Louvaine in Brabant, that Edward Yate, the writer's eldest brother, (and not Andrew as his worship called him), had married Gifford's sister, had three or four children, and was living at Buckland; and that his youngest brother, Thomas Yate, after living some time beyond seas, had come back to England; he also gave him news of the death of his [the writer's] father, and of his mother, after her second marriage; obtained for their souls the alms of the fathers and brethren of the college in the Bay of All Saints; his father dying in prison, or upon sureties for the Catholic religion, supposes his soul went straight to Heaven. Father Wm. Good wrote him that one of his aunts was a prisoner in Oxford, and one of his sisters a nun of Sion. Left in England two sisters married to Catholic gentlemen, Mr. Plore and Mr. Arden, and three unmarried; one of them may be the one mentioned by Good, but his worship may easily know the truth from Rouen. Has a printed letter in Spanish, written to his worship by one of the sisters of that Holy convent, touching her imprisonment in England, and deliverance from thence, set out by Father Robert Parsons.
Commends to their continual prayers the blinded Queen of England, and lamentable estate thereof, that God may avert His wrath, and they may enjoy the true prosperity and peace of body and soul, obtained by the onel only Catholic and Roman faith, and not by so monstrous and heretical divisions as the devilish ministers have between themselves, void of temporal and eternal peace. The like remedy is to be used for Scotland, and other heretical regions; happy be they that suffer for the Catholic faith and justice, but most happy those that have died in that cause, and not for treason, forged and imagined by stark traitors and seekers of their own profit in this life only, and not of the perfect dignity of their prince and country. Has had no news of the Carthusians since coming out of Flanders.
As to what he writes of the Earl of Cumberland, the seas are so full of rovers that they issue into and about Brazil, and as far from thence towards the South Pole as England is from Brazil. The first was the famous Drake. Another, in 1587, called Rob. Woddington, with three ships, who, after he had done all the harm he could in that city, without going out of his ship, was after two months forced, with the loss of many of his soldiers, to seek a better fortune. The third was Thos. Cavendish, who departed England, 26 Aug. 1591, with five ships of his own, to sail into the South Seas, where he took a great ship laden with gold, silks, and much riches, as also three boys of Japan, and returned rich to England, upon the words of the Japanese boys, to lade there, and come back. After three years, he came 150 leagues from thence; last Christmas he took a village called St. Vincent, misused and violated the churches and relics, and then went towards the straits of Magellan, but before he got there, he lost two of his ships in a storm; not being able to sail through contrary winds, he turned back to St. Vincent, on his passage lost two more great ships, and arrived there with only two ships, and his men dying with hunger; he sent a boat on shore with 26 soldiers, who, except two or three, were all slain by the Portuguese. Thereupon he sailed to another village called Spiritu sancto, where he lost 40 persons, and eight of his men were taken alive; and seeing water and earth fighting against him, he burnt one of his sails, for lack of mariners and masts, and went his way, but whither no man knoweth; being well whipped with the scourge of God, for the irreverence he committed against His Divine Majesty and His saints, especially against a holy head of one of the 11,000 virgins of England.
One of the eight prisoners taken is an Irishman; another, Robert Arundel, an Englishman, calls himself of kin to Sir John Arundel, and states that Sir John died a Catholic in London, and that his body was carried to Cornwall with great pomp, to be buried. Asks if it was so; cannot believe that a Catholic would be suffered to be buried after that sort. Robert Arundel, who is a youth, has little knowledge of the Catholic religion; has written him good advice.
Encloses a list of the names of dead captains and masters, as some of them may be known in that country. Abedenella, the father of their society, did not come into the province; supposes he went to New Spain and Peru, whither the Spaniards used to go, and the Portuguese to come to Brazil. Having been 19 years absent from Flanders, has forgotten the names of the priests and gentlemen he knew there, except the Earl of Westmoreland and a few others. Asks news of them; wants some books in Latin and Spanish, formerly requested, and the Revelations of Saint Bridget, as they would much comfort him in his banishment; is content with his vocation, and will not change that for any other region, as he would be unfit for it. [4 pages. Unfinished.]
June 25.
Portsmouth.
34. Estimate by Geo. Nevy, surveyor of Portsmouth, of the cost for a stone wall between the quay and dock there, and a stone travers at the point of the Green bulwark; total, 552l. 17s. 8d. Endorsed, "To be considered by your Lordship [Burghley], and allowed as your Lordship shall see cause, being very needful."
June 30. 35. List of ordnance stores required for Portsmouth. With endorsement similar to the preceding.
June 30. 36. [Earl of Sussex ? Governor of Portsmouth, to Lord Burghley]. When last in London, saw, on the Tower wharf, four demi-cannons and six culverins of castiron, which had been taken' out of some ships as too short, yet are excellent ordnance; asks for them to flank without the Brays at Portsmouth, as those that are there are so old that he dares not shoot out of them, for fear of breaking them, and hazarding the lives of the men; these are lighter and finer than those in the town; the ordnance officers will further his having them. With note of the ordnance already there, and its defects. With similar endorsement to the preceding.
June 30.
Oatlands.
37. The Queen to [Sir Thos. Sherley], treasurer at war. Sir Charles Blount having been stayed to attend upon her, was forced to be absent from his charge in Brittany, and has therefore, by established orders, been checked for the absence of himself and some of his servants, from 12 April until this day. Orders payment to him, out of the check of her forces in Brittany, of 200l., and his usual entertainment of himself and such a number of servants as has been allowed and checked, from 14 April 1593, during pleasure. [Copy.]
June ? 38. Geo. Dingley to Lord Keeper Puckering. Stayed a fortnight about the city, hoping to meet with some of his acquaintance, but did not do so until last Monday night, when he met one Watts alias Robert Gray. Complained of the small respect the Catholics seemed to have of him, seeing that he could not speak with any since he had had his liberty; he replied that they shunned him, as suspecting he did not mean well; that there was no precedent of a like case in Her Majesty's time; that the Council would not have spoken so often with him unless he had promised to perform somewhat against Catholics; that Mr. Young had reported that he knew him by means of a merchant; and that he remained about town so long, which he would never do, lest he should be taken again, except he were warranted by some of authority. Watts frequents Southampton House, Holborn; after they parted, followed him and lost sight of him thereabouts, it being late at night. Asked him if there were any other Catholics about town, but he only knew of Standish, whom he described, who resorts to Mrs. Gardiner in Fleet Street. It will be hard to do good service here, seeing they have entered into this suspicion. Wishes to ride down to the North, the better to stay this rumour, but expects to find trouble there, unless granted a protection to go where he likes, without the encumbrance of officers. Asks how to send his letters. Requests an interview.
June. 39. [The Queen to the Lord Lieutenants of Counties]. Wishes to have certain forces of foot raised and armed, to be used as required with other forces in France; authorizes them by virtue of this letter, and their commissions of lieutenancy, to cause a certain number to be levied, armed, and mustered; if there is any special person in that county who has served as captain, and is able to take such charge, he is to be at the muster and have the charge of conducting the men, according to orders from Council; if there is no captain in the county, Council will give further directions. No men are to be chosen out of infected places, but a reasonable charge by contributions allowed, answerable to other towns and places of like condition; allowances for coat and conduct money will be made by Council as usual. [Draft by Burghley. With notes of difference to be made in the letters for Middlesex and London.]
June. 40. Earl of Essex to Thos. Phelippes. Hears Walton is not gone; the day for the appointed meeting is near, and the matter not to be played with. Asks him to wake him up, as besides the duty they all owe, his own reputation is engaged in it; will not endure that the negligence of such a fellow should turn to Her Majesty's unquietness and his disgrace.
June ? 41. Earl of Essex to Thos. Phelippes. Has appointed Justice Young to deliver and receive letters, under such names as Phelippes shall deliver them, as to the Earl himself.
June ? 42. Notes sent [by the Earl of Essex] to Thos. Phelippes. The informer must be extraordinary careful in getting all the news he can of Antonio Perez, what is the end of his coming hither, and how he has been dealt with. He may advertise that Perez did not come the first or second time when the Vidame [of Chartres] had audience, and that when he did, he came privately, and kissed the Queen's hand, but had no great speech with her; and that he has had two private conferences with her since. He never came publicly to Court, when the French ambassadors attended, except at the feast of St. George, and is unwilling to speak with many here, and the Queen unwilling to hear him; he has only spoken to the Lord Treasurer once, and then privately, and to the Earl of Essex once or twice; both have received great satisfaction in him, and much commend his sufficiency. It is not yet known whether he will stay here or return to France; nobody else is likely to deal with him; the Treasurer only desires to compare his judgment with his own experience, but the Earl seeks to get somewhat out of him upon which he may found some foreign action, for all his plots are to make the war offensive, rather than be driven to make it defensive.
June. 43. "The state of the castles and forts in the county of Kent," being an account of ammunition, guns, and other stores required at Dover Castle, by Thos. Fane; Mote's bulwark, by Thos. Fyneux; Arch-cliff, by Hen. Guildford; Sandgate, by John Warde; Sandown, by Aaron Windebank; Deal, by Peter Hamon; and Cumber, by Sir Thos. Wilford. [11 pages.]
June ? 44. Account, signed by Sir Thos. Sherley, of the amount required for the pay of officers, and imprest for 100 lances and 4,000 men serving in Brittany, for 14 days; total, 1,926l. 7s. 4d. [1¾ pages.]
June. 45. Instructions for musters to be observed by the officers and men about to be sent to Picardy for the aid of the French King, to be put in execution by Wm. Lilly, commissary of musters; being directions about the holding of musters, keeping the muster book, reception or dismissal of men, &c. [11 pages.]