Border Papers volume 2: March 1595

34. John Carey to Burghley. [March 7.]

M^r Vernon and most of his officers and petty victuallers, including his chief officer "his cozen" William Vernon, "being gone from hence," with his purveyor of beef and mutton, who told me he would victual no longer than Lady day, unless some new order was taken, I caused. the controller and such officers of the palace as remain, to go in as secret manner as might be, and take a true view of the store now left. Not going myself, for so many would have gone with me, that it would have bred much talk and mutinous speeches if things had not been found there according to covenant. He has accordingly made the inclosed certificate, setting down the proportions, "being reasonable greate to shewe, but so badd indede as no man will take anye at his price: they will rather fast, yt is so ill," and not according to his contract.

I hear there is a ship at Holy Island, with provision for the palace, but the weather prevents her coming hither, so I know not what is in her.

It seems to me that being here in the Queen's service, I have lost my father and the rest of my friends, whether through malicious judges being unanswered, or by my own just deserts, I know not, God be my judge: and you my lord must stand my father and brother, and procure that her Majesty may stand my gracious and merciful good Queen, praying God when I shall deserve the contrary, "I may synke into hell presentlie." I hear you have been a "staye" for the passing of the captainship of Norham and the domains to my brother Sir Robert for a space, and thinking you have done it at my intercession, I let you understand how necessary it is for the Governor here, who "cannott mysse ytt." He has neither oats nor straw for his horses but from thence: for his house, he has his coals his geese and hens and all manner of "wyldefoole" out of Norhamshire. Besides whoever hereafter shall be governor of this town and warden of the East March, Norham and Islandshires being a liberty within itself, belonging to the house of Durham, will ever breed controversies and contentions—being in two men's hands. Also the captainship of Norham having neither castle nor house to lie in, it is requisite ever to be in the governor's hands, or her Majesty must be forced to lay out a great deal of money on the re-edifying of the castle, "that now ys flatt downe to the grounde," or the captain must lie elsewhere, which will be very "discommodious" for the countrymen who have daily and hourly suits to be decided by the captain. Besides as "my Lord" holds most of his salmon fishings as captain of Norham, few noblemen will hereafter seek the government of Berwick without Norham.

I would humbly move her Majesty through your lordship for leave to come up, were it but for one month. My first reason is, after serving her for at least 24 years, I have never before been "so longe weyned from the seight of her most sacredd presence." Second, I have lost my father's love and favour, who will scarce vouchsafe me to be his son, as his late treatment shows, and other letters confirm, and I would gladly clear myself before my enemies. Farther, I have great sums of money to pay, which will undo me unless I can come up to borrow and make shift. Also I would gladly take some care of my poor children, or they may do very ill, and the little living I have may be "imbezeled" or taken from me. And lastly, I would as gladly see your honour's self as all my other friends in the world. I would not ask this leave, but I see things were never so quiet, and Sir John Selby being here might be deputy governor for the time, and I assure you if any cause happen, while on my way, I would come back here at once even if I had reached Ware. But if I came only for a month or six weeks, I should show you and her Majesty some things worth hearing. Berwick. Signed: Jhon Carey.

I hope your lordship will so deal in this, that it shall procure me no farther displeasure at my lord's hands than I have already.

2½ pp. Postscript holograph. Addressed. Indorsed.

Inclosed in the same:—

Berwick, 29 February 1594. View of the store in the Old Palace in charge of Mr Vernon, taken that day.

Bread corn.—Wheat, white rye and meal, 330 qrs. in all, which will serve 16 weeks "od" days, baking 20 qrs. weekly, as now. Drink corn, viz., malt, 72 qrs. which will serve 8 weeks, brewing 18 qrs. every 14 days, as now. Horse provender—beans, "peasen," oats, none.

"Acates, viz."—butter, 50 firkins; lings, 100; cod fish, 5500; red herrings, 1500; white herrings, none; cheese, none.

1 p. Indorsed by Burghley: "29 Feb. 1594. A view of the store at Barwick . . ."

35. A Liddesdale Indenture. [March 7.]

"Indented at the Dayeholme in Cressoppe the vij^th daye of Marche 1594, betwixt Walter Scott of Gowdelandes, cosin and deputie to the right honorable Sir Walter Scott of Brauxholme knight, keaper of Lyddisdaill, and Thomas Carlton esquier constable of Carliell castle, servant to the right honorable my Lorde Scroppe, lorde warden of the West Marches of England."

English.—For Umfray and Herrie Dobson's bill against Eckye Armstrange of Tweden, &c. delivered Will Armstrange of Tweden upon his trial, to stay within Carlisle till Lord Scrope or Mr Carlton license him to depart.

Scottish.—The Laird of Maingerton's bill referred to the Laird of Buckclugh. "Request at my Lorde Scropes hande."

For John Ellott of Copshaw's bill, sworn, 5 kye, 2 oxen, delivered Ambrose Carlton. English.—John Routledge elder and younger, their bill, "done before the Lardes acceptacion." English.—For the three bills of Bewcastle, the Lairds of Maingerton and Whithaugh "denyes the recept," and Syme of Calf hill and Dick of Dryupp, alleged not to be within Liddesdale. James Routlege's bill, the same answer.—For Robert Tweddell and Leonard Corbett's bill against Hob Ellott, &c., sworn, 7 oxen, 1 cow, a spear, a dagger, delivered Wille Ellott, called "Cowfaughes." Scottish.—For William Ellott of Larestone's bill, offered Jock Grame "son to Rob," as foul—refused because Gowdeland says he is not worth the sum—therefore referred to the Laird of Buccleuch and my Lord Scrope. For William Scott of Thirleston and William Ellott of Faweneshe—not to be answered at this March. For the bill of Hobbie of the Belsies, turned "man" to Richies Will, upon the Laird of Buccleuch's letter, to be entered on trial. Walter Scott of Godelandes. James Scott in Quhyhope "clerk in this dataile."

1 p. Copy by Scrope's clerk. Indorsed.

36. Vernon to Burghley. [March 14.]

I humbly beg through your lordship, who knows my state, that her Majesty will grant me relief, considering my great losses, and it shall be a warning to me for life. I have sent to Hull to see the provision shipped this month, and what else is wanting. If I had laid in cheese and white berring, they would not have taken a "waie" of the one, or 3 barrels of the other without "compulltion." The cod is Island and Wardhouse, and as good as any in Lynn or Hull. Before I came, the surveyor and comptroller and "M^r Porter" and others had of it, and commend it, as well as "M^r Governor" himself, so they need not find fault with it. I laid it in because it is good, and will last; yet as the town is served commonly with fresh cod and other sea fish, they will take little from the store, as will appear when Lent is past. Signed: Robert Vernon.

½ p. Addressed. Indorsed by Burghley.

37. The Mayor, &c., of Berwick to Burghley. [March 15.]

We hear the customer of this town "is come upp to London, whose restles head and malicious mynde will not leave to troble," till he has hindered the Queen's profit and greatly prejudiced this poor town. He works by M^r Blande and one M^r Smythe "who is towardes the Lorde Buckhurste"—for we see by copies of some letters he wrote to them before his journey, that his friend Smyth told him, that if your lordship with M^r Chancellor and the surveyor, "did order" for the town on these proceedings, he would find means to have the cause brought before her Majesty. We can but wonder that this man receiving his office from your lordship, can dare do anything touching it except through you! A year ago he asked leave to make an illegal demand of the merchants never made before, which your lordship refused him. Yet this month he "boldelye receaved frome the marchauntes an extortt fee," and refused his warrant till paid. Now they wish to sue him on a statute, "whiche lawe will overtake him, and the same lawe (after we shall have indicted him upon extorcion) will put him frome his office, if it so maye stande with your lordshippes good pleasure. For his life in this place, he is a noted man for evill in sundrye grosse partes," which we forbear to correct or meddle with, till this controversy is ended.

These dealings of his have caused the Scots merchants to seek safe passage by means of Cesford and Buccleuch through Teviotdale, Liddesdale, and those parts, which will be costly to prevent. The last time we were excluded from the "ferme" by your letter, the customer devised with a factor here for the Scots merchants, to make a new form of entry for their packs for the factor's gain. "Surely he was verye tymelye therein!" We humbly pray that our rights and privileges under charter, statute, and orders from the Lords of the Council, may be upholden to us, whereby we have advanced her Majesty's custom here: otherwise there will be little benefit to her highness. Berwick. "The Maior and Aldermen." Signed: Thomas Parkinson, maiour, Will'm Morton, Robert Jaxson, (fn. 1) Edwarde Mery, Thomas More, Peter Fairley.

1 p. Addressed. Indorsed.

38. John Carey to Burghley. [March 20.]

I find by your letter of the 14^th that it is better to have an honourable friend than many kin, but leave the requital to God, having no means myself.

Your honour's postscript requires to know the profit my lord has by Norham. Though it is not a son's part to discover the secrets of his father's living, I will satisfy you, as in truth I can in this point, "which is no more then as his own greave, or otherwise as your lordshipe calles them in your country, his baylye," has heretofore told me, that he commonly makes to my lord's own purse yearly very near 400l., all rents and duties being discharged—some years more, some less, as corn rises or falls. This is only for the tithes of Norham and Islandshire, which he holds by lease from Durham; he renewed it lately from the Dean and Chapter at the change of the bishops, and has since "bestowed yt of" Sir Robert Carey. How they have agreed for it I know not, but I would have thought Sir Robert might have been content with 400l. a year "at one clape," without seeking what I possess.

My lord has never made any great commodity of the captainship and demeanes himself: for the most of his time, he let Sir John Selby a stranger, have it, till my brother William came, who got it for his maintenance till his death, when my father bestowed it on me, till Sir Robert Carey has gone about to get it from me. But I must tell you, when my lord was here himself he took the commodities, as oats and straw, wild fowl, &c., and coals for his house, besides "the ryaltye" and commandment, without which the governor has nothing to do over the bridge, but by leave of the captain. It seems by Sir Robert's earnest seeking of this, he desires to be near Scotland.

Your lordship refers to my note sent of the small store, and mislikes it. I must more earnestly entreat your lordship to take order therein, for nothing more is come, the stock decreases, and Vernon's men deal so ill, they make it bad. He greatly abuses your honour and us, in not confessing his insufficiency.

Your honour doubts getting leave for me to come up. I earnestly beseech you to further it, were it but for 12 days, for the reasons I gave in my last. If they may anything persuade her Majesty, I pray your furtherance.

You mention at the end of your letter that M^r John "Caulvyn" is in great favour with the King, and like to encounter with the Chancellor. It is true he is in good favour and lies in the Abbey. But the Chancellor is too great a man for him to encounter with—for "he dares not goe out of the Abbye to his owne house att Leeth, wheare his wiffe lyeth about his nedfull affayres, past once in xiiij dayes, and that very secretly, his enimyes are so great." I send herewith a letter which I received this day from "Calvyn" himself, but doubt the latter part touching my lord Bodwell, for not long since a merchant told me he saw him received into Duncarke by the governor there and but five in his company. "Praying your lordship to perdon all faultes, for that I ame forced to trust my sarvant with the writing of this, being myself forced to keepe my bed, as I have donn this foure or v dayes by extremity of a great ache or payne, which the surgeons here have not yet determined whether yt be a seatica or the stone—but so grevious it is that I can nether sett, goe, nor stand, but continually lying . . ." Berwick.

(fn. 2) "I hear a secret wiche I dare scares commit it to paper but onley to youer honer whoe I knoe cane yeues it weysley. This requeste of the Queenes to the Kinge for the kepinge her younge prinse was wonderfull ill taken bey the Kynge, and is judged to be the Chanselers devise bey Buckcleughes meanes, whoe is thoughte to be in to great faver withe the Queen. I dare say no moer, but ther is muche spoken of this in Scotland." Signed: Jhon Carey.

2½ pp. Addressed. Indorsed: "M^r Robert Carey to my Lord." Corrected by Burghley to "Jhon."

39. The Customer of Berwick to the Privy Council. [March 20.]

To prevent merchants evading custom at Berwick, he begs authority to place a deputy at Newcastle to take bond of all carrying goods over the Tyne, that they shall be discharged in Berwick.

Second.—Authority to proclaim in Morpytt, Hecsam, and Alnewicke, and all parish churches in Northumberland, that "no Scotch lynnen" pass into England unless sealed by the customer or his deputy at Berwick, on pain of forfeiture, one "moytie" to the Queen, the other to him who seizes it. Also that no goods pass into or out of Scotland, one mile from the highway to Berwick, under the like penalty. All such seizures to be brought forthwith to the Berwick custom house, that the customer may account to the Queen, as was done by Robert Ardinge late customer, by the Lord Treasurer's order. That "their honnours" would command the lieutenant governor of Berwick to assist the officers of customs when required for the Queen's service, and not to suffer the Mayor and "comynaltie" to molest the merchants passing through the town, or make any new tax or exaction on them under colour of privilege. Farther the said governor to charge the warders to prevent corn or merchandise passing the gates into Scotland, without the customer's warrant, on penalty of forfeiture as above.

Their honours to write in like manner to Sir John Forster lord warden of the "West" Marches, and Sir John Selby deputy warden of the East Marches, to assist the custom house officers at Berwick in the Queen's service.

Farther their honours should know that the farmer has paid no duties to the Queen "for theis two yeares come our Lady day next." Not signed.

2 pp. Indorsed: "20 Martij 1594. For the increase of the customes at Barwick."

40. Passport to James Clarke, &c. [March 22.]

Licensing the bearers, James Clarke "gentleman of Scotland," and John Anderson and James Kerswell "Scotsmen," repairing to London and foreign parts under their King's license, with one brown ambling nag 14 "handfull" high, one black ambling "stonde" nag 16 "handfull" high, and one gray ambling nag 13 "handfull" high, with their bag and baggages, to pass peaceably without let or stay. Berwick. Signed: Jhon Carey.

1 p. Addressed: "To all justices of peace, maiors, sheriffes, bayliffes, constables, hedboroughes," &c. Indorsed by Burghley: "Pasport." Oval wafer signet: indistinct.

41. Passport to George Towers, &c. [March 22.]

Similar for George Towers, William Addamson, and Walter Scote "gentlemen of Scotland," repairing to London and foreign parts, &c., with a brown ambling nag 15 hands high, a gray ambling nag 15 hands high, a sorrell ambling nag of 13 hands, and a dunne ambling nag of 13 hands, a spare ledhorse, &c. Berwick. Signed: Jhon Carey.

1 p. Addressed. Indorsed. Wafer signet as before: indistinct.

42. Scrope to Burghley. [March 23.]

Agreeable to Sir Robert Cecil's letter intimating her Majesty's pleasure, I met Lord Herries at Tordawathe last Thursday, and we conferred of justice for past and future offences. I offered to begin either from his or my own entrance on our offices, but as he required the King's authority before agreeing, we separated without doing more than freeing all unlawful prisoners on both sides and their bonds.

As for the "partie" who wrote the letters brought to M^r Curwen, I have been unable to accomplish your desire to apprehend him; but I hear on good credit, "that his name is (as he geveth oute) Cecill." He told his familiars he was with your lordship within this twelvemonth. It is bruited he is now gone to Spain, but if he returns hither, I trust to find means to bring him to your disposition.

I commend these Scots advertisements to your view. Signed: Th. Scroope.

1 p. Holograph. Addressed. Indorsed.

43. Account Between Vernon and Bowes. [March 25. 1595.]

Reckoning with M^r Vernon for victuals charged in his book delivered to M^r Treasurer for the first half year ended at the Annunciation 1595.

1 p. Written by Sheperson, Bowes' man. Indorsed by Burghley: "Money payable to M^r Vernon, Feb. 1595."

44. Provisions for Berwick. [March 25.]

In December 1594—Provided in Norfolk cod, butter, wheat, malt, &c., by John Collingwood, M^r Henry Sydney and others, 925l. 16s. 8d.; whereof paid 554l. 5s. and "oinge" 371l. 11s. 8d.

In January 1594—Provided in Hull, white rye, wheat, malt, beans and fish, &c., 943l. 6s. 8d.; whereof paid 407l. 6s. 8d.; "oinge" 536l.

Vernon appends a declaration that after making these payments, &c., there is a balance due him of 135l. 4s. 5½d.

2 pp. Written by his clerk. Indorsed.

45. Pay at Berwick. [March 28. 1595.]

1 p. Written by Sheperson. Indorsed by Burghley: "The manner of paye at Barwyk."

46. Lord Huntingdon to [Burghley]. [March 28.]

According to her Majesty's pleasure made known by your letter of the 17^th and received the 21^st instant, I send by this bearer, "Davyd Lawe who was takyn with Nicolas Wyllinson by M^r H. Lee." If he comes not with such speed as expected, yet immediately on getting your letter, I wrote to Carlisle for him, and have charged the bearer to make all the haste he can—thinking it best to send him in charge "the hole journey," having to pass so many different counties, who might not be so careful. I have taken the best course for his convoy I can, as you will see if my order is observed in other counties, as it shall be till he passes Yorkshire. "Thus commyttynge you to the Lord Jesus." York. Signed: H. Huntyngdon.

1 p. Holograph. Flyleaf and address lost.