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539. Bartolomeo Bruti to the Queen. |
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1587, June 1. |
La gran grandella di V. M., non solamente del Potentissimo Regno d'Ingliterra, ma molto piu del suo Regal animo, sfuorla a tutto il mondo de esser con fidissima et buona volunta verso V. M. come per questa humillissima mia lettera offerisso a V. M. fidellissima et perpetua amicitia del Clementissimo Principe delle due gran Provincie di Moldavia et Valachia Petro per Iddio gratia Dominator, et in sieme le mie fidelissime servitù, prometendo a V. M. quando per sue Regal lettere vora servirsa dell'amicitia del detto mio Sr et della mia fidellissima servitù in occasione degna di tanta gran Regina ni trovara prontissimi et a V. M. restiano con animo fidellissimo di servirla et preg'al Iddio, &c.—A di primo Jugno 1587. |
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2 pp.
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540. R. Douglas to Archibald Douglas. |
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1587, June 1. |
His Majesty longs to hear that which you promised by your last letters concerning the offers that should be made to him. He marvels of your great delay, and esteems it as a contempt, daily
augmented, which will not fail to produce greater inconveniences. Therefore for your own discharge, as I am sure you are earnest enough, yet I pray be importunate for the performing of that point, or if you cannot bring it to the point ye would gladly wish, at least by frequent letters let his Majesty understand your diligence in giving sufficient reasons for your dealing, principally since now, notwithstanding the malice of your unfriends, he avows you his servant, and will be glad to hear your letters. The 27 of May he went to Falkland, accompanied by Mons. Du Bartas, of whom he makes a very great account, as his rare virtues deserve. I remain in this town only awaiting some word from you, that thereafter I may go over where I will hear his Majesty at greater leisure, and may the more easily understand his meaning. |
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There was an Englishman taken by my lord Bothwell, and brought to the Secretary's chamber, with whom the King spake very privily about midnight, only before the Secretary, the Earl Bothwell, and Mr. George Young. And because upon this there went divers foul bruits, which peradventure might have come to your ears and done evil, I write to you the truth thereof, not for the importance of the matter, because it tended to nothing. He confessed to the King that he and certain others were suborned by my Lords of Leicester, Huntingdon, Treasurer, and one Mr. Spenser, to kill his Majesty, and that for that cause he was come into this country; and thereupon the King caused him to be examined upon certain other points concerning the matter, but finding him to be inconstant in his answers, he perceived him to be but a cozening knave, who for hope of some reward forged the lie, or else was moved by malicious papists to put his Majesty in a fear and jealousy, &c. |
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The Master of Grey upon the 24th of this month (May) was brought to the Tolbooth of Edinburgh, and there, in presence of the Justice and some of the nobility, confessed a part of the matters laid to his charge. His benefice was adjudged to fail into his Majesty's hands, and himself within a month thereafter to leave this country, England and Ireland, during his Majesty's pleasure. I see not how he shall be able at this time to discharge his debt at your hands. He says he will send one into England to sell his jewels at the utter price, and therewith pay you, &c. |
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His Majesty is heartily offended with this late incursion made by Liddisdale upon the Borders, and minds verily to see it repaired, and ye may assure all where you are that it is not done by any privy command, nor by any promise of tolerance or oversight, but only for plain need and necessity; not having wherewith to relieve themselves in this season, when victuals are scant, the people will not, if they may, for any fear of punishment, be kept from taking, &c. |
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I am informed that the Secretary and Mr. David McGill are in dealing about the mines with Eustace, and are agreed to part the profit betwixt them, and give Eustace some contentment for his pains. If this may anywise prejudice you, and the contract which you had before with Mr. David, you may judge; I know not the particulars thereof. Carmichael has been with me, very earnest about the horses Carvell promised in your name to his 'Majesty, saying the King marvels they come not. Surely, as it was against my will they were promised, so, since the King looks for them, I would they were sent. But I would not you should lose your thanks. If you send them, let them come to me, that they may be presented by me in your name, not delivered at Carlisle as Carmichael desired. |
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While writing this, Robert Kirktown came to me with your letters, which as yet I have not read, but shall the more early in the morning
take my journey to Court. Your process betwixt your lordship and the minister for your re-possession is yet lying over undecided.—From Edinburgh, this 1st of June 1587. |
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2½ pp.
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541. Robert Carvyle to Archibald Douglas. |
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1587, June 3. |
This day I received a letter from Mr. Richard Douglas, and thereinclosed a letter directed to your lordship, which presently I sent away. By my last I sent you a packet from the laird of Lesterick. I pray you haste away the answer of it. Also I pray you be a mean to Mr. Treasurer of this town to take order with his man that I may have some imprest here of mine own pay, whereby I shall be the better able to employ myself in her Majesty's service here and in Scotland, both for her affairs and yours, for money is very scarce and hard to come by. And further I am to request you, if it be needful that a through post should come up, to write to Mr. Richard that it may be myself, for I would gladly be at the Court to follow my suit, although I know you do not forget me.—Berwick, 3 June 1587. |
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½ p.
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542. R. Douglas to Archibald Douglas. |
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1587, June 7. |
Your letters of the 28th May were delivered to me by Robert Kirktoun on the 1st June, whereupon immediately I went over to the Court, and found his Majesty very busy with the agreeing of Huntley and Atholl, who were both there, so that hardly could I find opportunity for sufficient conference with his Highness upon your letters until the 5th of this month, at which day, soon after his rising, I had large conference upon the discourses ye writ ye had with her Majesty and counsellors touching offers to be made to his Majesty by them. He esteemed very well of your diligence and earnest travail to bring matters to some good point, and in advancing of his service as ye do, but could not but marvel of this long delay, &c. He cannot see that they are minded to make him such offers as may carry with them any appearance of satisfaction in honour, whereby he cannot imagine that there is any good meant to him hereafter from the country. Always he approves your opinion in saying ye know nothing able to satisfy him, unless it were a public declaration of his succession to the crown, failing issue of that Queen's own body. He is not so disprovided of means at home, nor of foreign friendship (seeing he is sollicited both by France and Spain with great promises), but he were able to repair the wrong offered to him, if the love and affection he bears to her Majesty and the realm, together with zeal in religion, did not somewhat hold him back. But ye may be assured he cannot be long restrained, for such kind of delays, with the contempt daily increased, will at length compel him to hearken to the counsels of those who would persuade him the Queen means nothing towards him, but the worst she may. His Majesty is sufficiently persuaded of the good will of some of those counsellors towards him and the weal of both realms, namely of Lord Leicester and Sir Francis Walsingham, and attributes the fault only to the Queeu herself, and some of her near favourites. |
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The means that were devised to help and hasten her to come to some resolution pleased his Majesty very well, and he has promised to write the letter to you within three or four days, and has commanded me to come to court for that effect; as also his Highness is to write to Lord Leicester, to whom in the meantime his Majesty desires you to give
thanks in his name, both for his courteous letter and the favour and assistance he affords you in matters concerning his service, as also to assure his lordship of his favour and good will, and, if he continue in his purpose to Holland, he will at all occasions write to him, &c. |
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The King is highly offended with this late incursion made by Liddisdale upon the border of England, and has commanded the Earl Bothwell, under pain of incurring his displeasure, to see the matter redressed. In all other things our estate remains peaceable, and in great quietness and obedience to his Majesty and his laws. The Lord Chancellor has written a letter to the King, wherein he excuses himself that he cannot enter in ward by reason of his' enemies, but will be content to avoid the country. His excuse is rejected, and he to be forfeited. |
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To that part of your letters wherein ye write that, at sundry conferences between the Queen and you, she alleged that, if it pleased her to deal with some others who were about his Majesty in better credit nor you, she might have him at her devotion upon the same conditions that she had already offered to you, and that thereupon she had their own promise, which gave you occasion to think there were some privy dealers, who by indiscreet dealing did hurt and hinder the advancement of his Majesty's service, his Majesty assures you none have any such authority from him, nor does he know any but yourself and the Secretary. He thinks it is but a forged matter by herself or some one about her, to make her slow to perform anything to his contentment, and therefore desires you for all that to continue as ye do in such courses as you think may best serve him. |
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Du Bartas is with his Majesty in very good credit. He makes daily very honourable report to his Highness of you and your actions. I pray you give him thanks by letter. I enclose his to you in a matter concerning some of the Bells, who are prisoners with Lord Scroope, for no other cause but the envy of the Grahams, their enemies. The King wrote for their deliverance, but there was no account made of his letter. Purchase a letter from the council for their delivery, and the King will think you have done him good service, and you will pleasure the Provost and Dumlerwick, whose men the Bells are. |
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Sir Robert Melvill, also a very honest gentleman, to whom ye are bound for his friendship, requires you to move the Queen and some of her Council in favour of his brother, that he may be put at liberty. His Majesty himself is very desirous to know what order is taken with his mother's body, if it be buried or not, or where. Therefore by your next letter let me understand the truth thereof.—From Edinburgh, this 7 of June 1587. |
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2 pp.
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543. Prospero Pellegrini to Giacopo Manucci. |
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1587, June 8/18. |
This ordinary I have nothing out of Spain, other than the making of soldiers, either for defence or for the fortification at La Raccia, as in my former I wrote, or else, as most likely, for the countenance of the fleet from Peru, this being all this year can be done, although much talk of greater matters. From Naples and Sicily the same expedition for soldiers, yet more slowly than before. All the ships for the provision of victual and other munitions are also departed for Spain, and hitherto no news of their arrival there, either of them or of the four galleazzi. The last week came back from Barcelona the four galleys with 80,000 crowns, and they are passed through for Germany. The squadron of Genoa, that is 24 galleys that should have gone to Naples, are departed the 14th of this month for Barcelona, likewise
for a million and a hundred thousand crowns more, and three of the principal bankers here have already taken upon them the building thereof also for Germany, whereby they gain extremely, for, as Capponi told me, that before these payments arrive at Frankfort and Coln, they shrink in the weting above 30 in the hundred, and this proceedeth of the breach the King of Spain made with the Genoese the year '69, for never since hath he had credit in Italy of a quatrain, but is fain in Spain to pay down ready money, or to send it hither by his galleys. All these provisions merchants tell me are for Flanders and Germany. Out of Flanders is come and passed through this city yesternight Biagio Capilucchi, a captain of light horse there, brother to Camillo that hath there a terto of Italians. They are both Romans, and somewhat allied to the Duke of Parma. This Biagio is come to levy 4,000 Italians, which levy shall be made in the State of the Church and Abbruzzi. A countryman late come out of Spain from St. James tells me that Galizia and Biscaia do suffer much from want of corn. I have hitherto heard nothing of my Fleming. Every ordinary out of Germany by way of Venice talketh full loudly of the breach of the King of Denmark with England for money, as is said, these being preparations and dispositions to great matters for the next year. This is the common voice. |
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I have not failed every ordinary to deliver a letter to Corsini; how they are come safe to your hands I know not, for he tells me that about the late mislike between France and England, things pass with great difficulty. Wherefore doubting the worst, I thought fit to reply that which in one I wrote above two months agone, which was, that in sending and going to and fro I had spent of mine own 60 crowns, and that, to have more light of the matters of Spain and Portugal, I was fain to send thither a Fleming, and to take up 100 crowns to give him for his voyage, with sufficient order to send letters to me, and already I have had two from him. I talked with Corsini about this money, and would have had it of him, for he had largely offered unto me before that, upon any occasion for Her Majesty's service, I should come to him, and he would furnish me with that should be necessary; yet, when it came to the pinch, he was so cold as I sought this other expedient, borrowing 100 crowns of another for three months, which, to keep my credit, I desire you to cause Corsini there to make hither, for the nature of all these merchants is not to depart with coin unless they have surety or pawn. I would also be well content to hear how safely so many of my said letters be come to your hands, this being the sixth since I heard from you.—18 June 1587 (new style). |
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2 pp.
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544. Lord Grey to the Queen. |
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1587, June 11. |
Being repaired hither by the commandment of certain my lords in your Majesty's name, by whom also being given to understand your pleasure and will that I should presently prepare myself to go over and attend my Lord of Leicester in the Low Countries' service, I have chosen rather by writing to present to your Highness my most true declaration and humble submission in that behalf than by speech to deliver it, calling to mind what offence it brought your Highness at my last access about the same, than which again to cause or see, any bodily punishment shall be welcomer unto me and choice made of, so deeply wounded doth my poor amated mind rest still therewith. And now in humblest and submissivest sort that the basest subject can beseech his Prince and dread Sovereign, so I
your Majesty, that you will have a merciful, compassionate, and just regard of me and mine, and let not the not performing of an impossibility without utter undoing throw into disgrace and indignation him that ever hath, doth, and will, to the uttermost hour, honour and serve you, as oft hazard of life, with shedding of blood, loss of limb and wasting of substance, hath testified. Vauntless, God is my record, I speak it. The same God I call to witness that my state is no less wretched and miserable than to sundry of your Highness' Council and your Majesty's self I have often about this same cause declared. Besides my debt to your Majesty, I owe 4,000l., for the greater part whereof dear friends in great penalties stand bound for me, and have nothing of force for their indemnity but the thread of my life (the endanger of my land to your Majesty weighed), a matter how near touching me in credit and conscience, to your Majesty's just and compassionate consideration I refer. |
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For the rest of my estate, before the Almighty God I protest, scarcely have I to maintain my silly family but from hand to mouth. This being my plight, what possibility rests there in me to appoint myself in any sort for such a service : two only means are there for me to do it, credit; or parting with land. What credit may do for me the former declaration of my state telleth; and as for the other, how little so ever I have (and though with reverence and duty I speak it, a rare ensample it be), yet to shew further how much the respect of your Highness' displeasure and willingness to serve you weigheth with me, I would not spare, to how great prejudice soever of my poor house and posterity, to sell of it, if it were free, for as it rests tied, no man will deal with it. Therefore with all humbleness I am to crave that either your Majesty will thus or any other way enable me, or else in your just and pitiful consideration release me. Otherwise, as becometh me in all dutifulness, I must prostrate and submit my carcase to what censure your Highness' best liking shall determine. The Almighty God bless your Majesty in age with Nestor's years, in reign with Octavi[anus]. Cæsar's happiness, and in the world to come with Christ's inheritance! |
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Endorsed :—“11 Junii 1587.” |
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Copy. 1¾ pp.
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545. John, Bishop of Ossory, to the Queen. |
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1587, June 11. |
Thanks her Majesty for his appointment to the Bishopric of Ossory by letters patent of 25 March 1586/7. When he went with Sir Edmund Butler and a few others to take possession, one Bedo, servant to Thomas Perrot, kinsman of the Lord Deputy, called for a peece, and swore blasphemously that the Bishop should have nothing there for all his patent, save what he could win by the sword, and would have slain him, but Sir Edmund Butler pulled away the peece. Complained to the Lord Deputy, praying as well for the mean profits of his living, received by Thomas Perrot, upon the Lord Deputy's warrant of custodiam, as also for the condign punishment of Bedo. For the former, was appointed to sue Thomas Perrot in the Exchequer, where, to his intolerable charges, he has long sued to small purpose : for the latter, was referred to the Castle Chamber, where by no possibility he may have remedy (the number of persons of whom he complained not being sufficient to commit a riot). Because he presumed to enter his house quietly, a riot was brought against him by Bedo, and a number of his tenants, whom he never saw before, and who were so poor that they had no other sustenance in their travail but
water and a little oaten meal, were, upon very view of them, presently discharged by the Lord Chancellor and others of the Council. Complained to the Privy Council, who directed the Lord Deputy to yield him the benefit of her highness' pleasure. Has since found his Lordship of greater heavy countenance, and was told by him that he weighed neither the Bishop, nor any on whom he depended; to which he answered, he depended of none but of her highness. The strange riot is not surceased, nor anything else done to his benefic, but he himself is brought by continual attendance, suit, and expenses, to extreme beggary, and, but for the pitiful consideration of Lord Ormond's Steward, had been well near in such point of poverty as were unfit to be related to her highness. By occasion whereof, omitting his own private misery, he may say, with many other of his calling there so discountenanced, percussi sunt pastores, et dispersi sunt greges, qui ut plurimum nec verbo nec exemplo nee cibo pascuntur. And where the Saviour would have them his disciples to be sal terræ, to season the flock committed unto them, such is for the more part their general discountenance, as they may be rather said versi in statuas salis (as was the wife of Lot, though not for like occasion), sed ut sapiant alii ex miseria nostra not to look into the irreligious life of the people there, with hope of any reformation, unless the Lord Deputy were better affected towards them (the pastors). Prays that God may preserve and guide her highness.—Kilkenny, 11 June, 1587. |
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Signed :—“John Byshop of Ossory in Ireland.” |
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2 pp.
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546. The Earl of Leicester to Lord Burghley. |
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1587, June 15. |
I understand her Majesty is pleased to let me have 6,000l. of loan, upon assurance of payment of the same at certain days. I have thought it my part to offer unto your lordship such security as I trust will not mislike you, as also for the time to be as short as shall be possible for me to make money in. For the assurance I will pawn my two leases I have of her Majesty, the one for the sweet wines, the other for fines and alienations for the time. If it may please her Majesty to accept of the one half at our Lady Day next, and the rest at the other Lady Day next following, I shall think myself much bound to her Majesty, and whether I live or die I trust her Majesty shall not fail of this payment. Praying your good lordship to know her pleasure the soonest that may be, for that you know the cause of my haste.—15 of June. |
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Endorsed by Burghley :—“15 Junii 1587.” |
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1 p.
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547. Cloth for the King of Sweden. |
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1587, June 21. |
Licence for the free transport by John Hasse of one thousand broad English cloths for the use of the King of Sweden.—Greenwich, 21 June 1587. |
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Sign Manual. Addressed to Lord Burghley. |
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1 p.
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548. The Earl of Westmoreland's lands. |
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1587, June 21. |
Note of what money hath been paid out of the Earl of Westmoreland's lands, as well of the 1,000 marks granted for the Lady Mary's portion, as for the 100l. a year granted for the finding of the three young ladies, daughters to the late Earl. |
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1 p.
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549. W. Shute to Sir Francis Walsingham. |
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1587, June 24. |
On sight of the king's letters of the 10th June, the governor offered him liberty, but, on his demand for an attestation, referred him to the Justice, who gave him an act, confirming his enlargement, and also prohibition to abord in Rochelle or any like place bearing arms against the king, enjoining him to return by sea into England. Is in St. Jehan-de-Luce, attending the first commodity. His imprisonment had lasted 53 days, and he had been at great and extraordinary charges. As he was unknown himself, he took up 50l. on the credit of his father-in law, Richard Hewson. Asks that his second bill of exchange (unless the first has been presented) may be paid to the latter. On the 16th May, a courrier from Paris into Spain passed by Bayonne, and was assailed a league from the town. To save his person, he left his mail, and raised a hue and cry after his assailants. The letters were found scattered abroad, with the exception of a packet from the Spanish ambassador to the king of Spain. Upon complaint unto the governor, attestation was granted to the courrier of the taking away of the said packet. As he was leaving the governor's, he met one of those who had assailed him, and challenged him before the governor, but being persuaded that he was deceived, was put off. Again the courrier met him, and would have caused him to have been stayed, but being persuaded to leave his enterprise (lest he should put himself in pain) he went on his journey. So it is thought that the said packet was carried back again. In Spain it seems that they are in hope of peace with her Majesty, and along the coast adjoining France it is much desired, insomuch that the 10 great ships that he gave Walsingham advice of, which were a rigging in the passage with great diligence, are of late but slowly advanced. And whereas it was prohibited in all the ports of La Provence and Biscay, that none should go forth unto the Newfoundland a fishing, of late it is permitted, and they are a preparing for it, as of custom they have done heretofore. This is what he has learned since his arrival in St. Jehan-de-Luce, whence he means to ship for the first port he can get to in England. Will repair to Walsingham with all diligence.—St. Jehan-de-Luce, 24 June, 1587. |
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Seal. 2 pp.
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550. Articles between General Norris and the States. |
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1587, June 26. |
Fragments of a draft of the said Articles, and of General Norris' reply to the States' answer. |
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Imperfect. 2¼ pp.
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551. The Earl of Arundel to Lord Burghley. |
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1587, June 29. |
Whereas I understood by William Dix that Sir Walter Mildmay's kinsman was a suitor to your lordship for certain woods about Framlingham Castle, and that it pleased you of your honourable favour towards me to make stay thereof : as I am most bound to yield your lordship humble thanks for your great goodness in this behalf, so am I bold to advertise your lordship that I am very willing, if it may be with your good pleasure, that he should go through for two of the same. And forasmuch as there be certain other woods, adjoining so near both to my house at Keninghall and Norwich as I cannot well forbear them, and will be shortly sued for (as I fear) by some others, I am humbly to beseech your lordship that it would please you so far to extend your
favour towards me that I might have in lease the preferment of them. I have understood from my Lord Admiral that the Queen remaineth in that gracious disposition towards me, wherein your lordship did both settle and leave her at Nonsuch, and my lord of Leicester, if he wanted time or forgot to further my suit, hath no will, as I hope, in respect of his promise, and less opportunity (I am sure) by reason of his absence, to hinder me than he hath bad heretofore. Wherefore although I am loth to trouble you with many suits, (who hath always been as ready to do me good as I could be forward to desire), yet since the hope of all my good dependeth principally upon your lordship, and the length of my imprisonment, together with the daily weakening of my body, and appairing (sic) of my health, will shortly put me in danger of my life (which is in this world my greatest good of all), I humbly beseech your lordship to move her Majesty for my liberty, and that it will please her to take compassion of that miserable and wretched life, wherein I have now two years and a quarter remained. And so, beseeching God to bless your lordship with all honour and happiness, and to give me grace ever while I live to acknowledge with all duty and thankfulness your lordship's fatherly care of me, &c.—This blessed festival day of St. Peter and St. Paul, 1587. |
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1 p.
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552. Gecffroy de Brumen. |
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1587, June 30. |
Licence for Geoffroy de Brumen, stranger, to transport freely out of the realm fifty cast pieces of iron.—Greenwich, 30 June 1587. |
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Sign Manual. Signet. |
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1 p.
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553. Pirates. |
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1587, June. |
Means whereby pirates may be altogether cut off, or at the least mightily diminished. |
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Endorsed :—“Junii, 1587.” |
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3 pp.
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