|
|
592. Lord Cobham to Lord Burghley. |
|
1587, Oct. 2. |
I heartily thank you for the perusing of the articles, and for your good and necessary additions. My desire is answerable to yours, for I do wish myself often with you, and could content myself to spend the rest of my old age not to be far from your good company. |
|
Truly the late foul and cruel dealings of those of Nieuport, on her Majesty's subjects, for lack of ability to pay ransom, for they of late “dyd hange drownyd and famishyd som,” hath caused me to make this motion, that it may appear (if it pleases her Majesty) there may be easily (without her charges) a revenge had, and they put from the superiority in the narrow seas which now they hold; whereof by prescription of time and right her Majesty and her princely father had the name and title. Besides this preparation is no other than they did prepare along the coast, and at Antwerp and Ghent, so that it is equally with their actions nothing prejudicial to a peace. I do remember that I have read, Felix est ea respublica quæ tempore pacis bella tractat,—much more to be allowed in these our doubtful terms and times. What others do I partly hear. When I was a scholar I
read in Tully's Offices, that Nihil utile quod non honestum. and now in my old age I read in the Holy Scriptures, “That it is better to have a dinner of herbs with love than an ox with evil will,” and, that “It is better to have a little with righteousness than great riches wrongfully gotten”—which I hope to follow by God's good grace and favour. I must confess that my rheum has and is the worse by reason of an unquiet mind. The action is of great consequence, and requireth persons of credit, knowledge and experience, and finding myself void of all these properties, and under correction to yourself and my associates, to be of no better mettle and stuff, hath put me in such a fever that, after my long travail, danger, and experience of my poor patrimony, I do look for no other reward but her Majesty's high displeasure, and shame to me and my house for ever. Each person that respects her Majesty's service and his own credit ought to look to the end of his action, that it be good, and that there be apparent good means to bring it to that. Partly I have discovered unto your Lordship my griefs. The rest I will with your good favour acquaint you at my coming to London. This with my wishing unto your Lordship many happy days and this paper to the fire, I humbly take my leave.—From Cobham, the 2 of October. |
|
Endorsed in Burghley's handwriting : — 2 Octobris, 1587. The Lord Cobham. |
|
Holograph, 2 pp.
|
|
593. John Morley to Archibald Douglas. |
|
1587, Oct. 5. |
Amongst the things left of Sir Francis Englefield untaken, remaineth but little of any value, all which in my conceipt cannot be worth 5l., and therefore that is not for you. The quantity of the timber left cannot be known, nor the value, until the Surveyor of Her Majesty's woods doth return. There is a manor of her Majesty's of 80l. rent, 50 miles hence and more, wherein is an estate for one life without rent paying. And her Highness hath granted a lease in reversion for 21 years after her life, so as the same may seem the less, and is to be accounted but as a thing of 40l. by year in possession. This, I think, will serve your turn, if you can have it, and this motion I do wish were made.—5 October 1587. |
|
Holograph. ½ p.
|
|
594. George Briggs to Archibald Douglas. |
|
1587, Oct. 10. |
Has freighted a ship for Rochelle or Bordeaux. Asks for his friendship to procure the necessary pass from the Lord Admiral. — Newcastle, 10 October 1587. |
|
Holograph. ½ p.
|
|
595. Richard Douglas to Archibald Douglas. |
|
1587, Oct. 10. |
Recommends the bearer, desirous to return to his place in France by England, not being able to travel by sea for sickness. Answer for him to that suspicious nation that he is no dealer nor trafficker betwixt countries, nor one of whom they need to take any suspicion, for the gentleman is known to be none of that sort of people, but a plain and open dealer, and in one word a soldat. Doing for him will pleasure Lord Hamilton.—Edinburgh, 10 October 1587. |
|
Holograph. 1 p.
|
|
596. Philip, Count of Hohenlohe to the Queen. |
|
1587. Oct. 13/23. |
Letter of credence for Dr. Junius, the bearer.—De la Haye, 23 October 1587. |
|
French. 1 p.
|
|
597. The Earl of Bothwell to Archibald Douglas. |
|
1587, Oct. 18. |
In behalf of Robert Scott, merchant, who had had great loss of goods taken by English pirates, which were recovered by a pinnace of the Queen's, the captain thereof getting 200 marks for his share. Begs him to travail earnestly with the Privy Council, specially with Secretary Walsingham.—18 October 1587. |
|
½ p.
|
|
598. James Melvill to his brother, Andrew Melvill. |
|
[1587], Oct. 18. |
I send you two writings by Master Archibald Douglas, showing in what state your friends were, and how desirous to see you, specially your mother, who thinks if you come not shortly home, you will not meet with her but in heaven. I was commanded to be ready to pass in England with the confirmation of the bond, and to have received the Queen's Majesty of England's oath ('aith'), but was stayed upon divers considerations. We have heard of some troublesome enterprises to have been intended there, and were glad that you were free and clean. We look daily for you. William, your brother, is here, and is like to be sent into Flanders, if the King send any. Katherine, my brother's wife, is sick of a sore pap, which apparently will shorten her days—The Halhill, 18 October. |
|
Signed. 1 p.
|
|
599. [—] to Sir Francis Walsingham. |
|
1587, Oct. 20. |
Je vous ay escrit il n'y a que trois jours, et vous fay encore la presénte pour vous advertir de chose qui m'a semblé nevous devoit estre tenu. Un mien amy, quy est fort amateur du bien publique, et quy est tout freschement venu de Bruxelles, m'a dit hyer qu'il y a ressenty que sy tost que l'armée navale du Roy d'Espaigne sera arrivée, que le Marquis de Ste Croix avec la dite armée doit prendre la route d'Angleterre, et y faire descente s'il peut, et que pour la refraichir de vivres et la rendre puissante en nombre d'hommes, l'un et l'autre se chargeront à Dunkerke, à Nieuport et à l'Escluse, estimant le dit Marquis que le tout pourra passer et repasser librement en Angleterre à la faveur de ses navires de guerre quy tiendront la mer. Qu'à ces fins on fait en Anvers, Nieuport, et Dunkerke, grand nombre de moiens batteaux, et un fort grand en Anvers, avec un merveilleux nombre de selles et mors de “chlx” [chevaulx]. Il dit aussy qu'à Dunkerke et aux environs desa, se doit faire dix mille tonneaux de biscuit, et que c'est pour cela que le Roy d'Espaigne envoie tant de gens en Flandre afin de les passer de là en Angleterre. Et combien, Monsieur, que la Majesté de la Reyne peut estre advertie de tout cela, néantmoins je n'ay voulu faillir à ce mien devoir, pour le désir que j'ay que Dieu la préserve de touts malheurs et inconvénientz, de tant plus qu'il luy a pleu prendre notre deffence. Je vous ay mandé par mes dites précédentes qu'un gentilhomme que vous cognoissez bien m'avoit escrit le 13 de Septembre que dix mile Italiens et Espagnols passoient en Flandre. J'ay encore depuis reçeu de ses lettres du 27 du dit mois,
stile viel, dans lesquelles il y a ce que s'ensuit. “Vous pourez mander par dela comme il passe force Italien. Les premiers (quy doivent estre en Flandre) estoient trois mile Néapolitans et pkisieurs bannis, et autres ont passé depuis, quy sont à ceste heure au Comté de Bourgogne, et autres suivent. Ils seront bien huit mile. Davantage, il est arrivé en Alexandria trois mile Espagnols quy s'achemineront après. Its veulent vous endormir de paix, et cependant preparent une force pour vostre ruine et la nostre. Car tous ces gens estant arrivez en Flandre, feront bien vint mile, qu'Espagnols qu'Italiens, forces que l'Empereur Charles ne mit onques ensemble de ces deux nations là. Ils attendent la dissipation de nostre Estat, afin de se jetter sur ses grandes ruines, ou bien veulent ayder à le dissiper directement ou indirectement, et cependant vous tenir tousjours le joug estranger sur les espaules. Vous voycz comme en un mesme terns avecque mesme fureur et trés grosse puissance on traviiille à nostre et vostre commune ruine, et par là nos ennemis nous enseignent qu'il doit avoir entre nous quelque communité et intérest semblable, et qu'il faut que les prudens d'entre nous visent à la conservation commune. Les Anglois et nous ne devrions estre qu'un cors bien correspondant ensemble, et sy les princes protestans pouvoient pour nostre peril se reveiller et nous favoriser, nous pourrions monstrer les dens plus longues.” Je vous ay bien voulu redire ses propres mots, sachant que son advis vous est en bonne estime et opinion. Que sy j'ozois, Monsieur, y adjouster aussy la mienne, ce seroit pour approuver l'union qu'il désire estre entres les Anglois et les François à la ruine de l'ennemy common, lequel sans icell, avec les forces qu'il prepare, pourra faire du mal beaucoup, sy Dieu n'y donne empeschement. Je croy, que ce gentilhomme là ne rejettivoit point la proposition de celluy dont je vous ay escrit, demander un adveu seulement, et principalement sy la paix ne se fait point aux Pays Bas, parceque les desseings de l'ennemy en seroient fort interressez par la ruine et dissipation de ses forces quy en adviendroit, les emploiant (comme indubitablement il seroit) au recouvrement de sa perte. Cependant la Maté de la Reyne par ceste occasion disposeroit à loisir de ses affaires, et les estableroit sy bien qu'il ne luy pourroit faire aucun domaige. Je pense bien que sa Mate peut avoir des considérations (mes même pour le regard des entrepreneurs) quy luy feront peu gouster telles entreprises, et point du tout s'il y a apparence que la paix se puisse traicter. Mais à faute dicelle, je ne pense point que rien soit plus à soubaiter, car, comme j'ay (dit, l'ennemy sans doubt se mettra en tout devoir de recouvrer sa place sans souffrir qu'elle demeure aux executeurs. Et ainsy la chose estant comme non advenue s'en sera toutefois ensuivre la ruine de l'ennemy, la conservation des affaires de la Mate de la Reyne, et le maintenement de l'estat des Provinces Unies; l'esqueiles (ce dernier effort de i'ennemy failly) auroient choys (?) meilleures conditions de paix, quand il seroit question d'y entendre. Je vous suplie, Monsieur, de m'excuser sy je vous ose parler sy avant de ces choses, vous asseurant que la seule affection que j'ay au servir de la Reyne et des Provinces Unies me le font escrire. Quant aux nouvelles de ces curtiers, je passeray aucunes pour ne les oser fier au papier, et quy cependant ne sont que bonnes, et vous diray de ce quy se vont, que le Roy est à present à Gian, y faisant acheminer son armée quy s'assemblait à Montargis, Les reystres sont sur la rivière de Loire à Germian, Peruse, et au port de Bois de Per, quy est entre Nevers et La Charité. J'ay veu par des lettres escrites au lieu cù est le Roy, qu'ilz avoient tourné la teste vers Montargis, mais on estime (sy cela est vray) que c'est pour favoriser le passaige a leur bagaige, quy est fort grand, y a vans grand nombre de chariotz, de charettes portans du biscuit, quy sert de pain et comme de remède contre de flus de ventre. On
tient que Mons. de la Marke, frère de Monsieur de Buillon, est mort. Quant au Roy de Navarre, jem'en ay peu apprendre certeines nouvelles, et par ainsy, afin de ne vous abuser, je ne vous en diray rien pour le présent.—Paris, 20 Octobre. |
|
[P.S.] En voulant fermer la présente un mien amy m'est venu veoir, lequel m'a dit d'avoir veu et leu des lettres, escrites à Madril le 3e de ce mois, par lesquelles on mande que la flotte est arrivée des Indes, et que le Marquis de Ste Croix avec l'armée est à Lisbon ne : davantaige qu'un Cardinal Anglois est pour s'en aller en Flandre. Il m'a dit aussy qu'il vient d'entendre de fort bon lieu que quatre mile soldatz de Messieurs de Guise se sont allez rendre et joindre aux reystres, ce que n'est point facile à croire, encore que l'on dit qu'il est fort descrié parmy les siens. |
|
Name of writer effaced. Endorsed :—1587. Seal. |
|
3 pp.
|
|
600. Lord Admiral Howard to all Admiralty Officers. |
|
1587, Oct. 22. |
Warrant requiring them to suffer the Samuel of London, stayed at Bristol by the Privy Council order, and bound for Marseilles, to proceed on her voyage.—From the Court at Richmond, 22 October 1587. |
|
Signed and sealed. ¾ p.
|
|
601. Lord Burghley to Sir Francis Walsingham. |
|
1587, Oct. 24. |
As to the preparations against invasion, etc.—“From my house near the Savoy,” 24 October 1587. |
|
Signed. The postscript is in Burghley's handwriting. Seal. |
|
Endorsed :—“To Mr. Secretary Walsingham. Returned because of his sickness.” |
|
2 pp. [Murdin, pp. 539–591. In extenso.] |
|
602. James Hudson to [Archibald Douglas?]. |
|
1587, Oct. 24. |
Asks him to remind Mr. Secretary of his claim to Condon Grange, as acknowledged by Walsingham to the late Bishop of Durham, and to ask him to command John Barnes to put the writer in possession of the same, as part of his lease. Has to go nearer Scotland shortly, and asks what service he can render there.—York, 24 October 1587. |
|
3½ pp.
|
|
603. Lord Hunsdon to the Queen. |
|
1587, Oct. 24. |
At my coming to Newcastle, I sent for Sir John Forster, and as many of the gentlemen of that Wardenry as might at that time conveniently be spared from the borders, to whom I declared your displeasure against Sir John Forster for his misgovernment in that his charge, imparting their great losses and spoils to grow chiefly through his remissness and lack of care of his duty, and therefore your pleasure was to dismiss him of that charge, and to commit it unto me. I did also let them understand of your gracious favour and princely care over them, that you would not suffer them to be so spoiled without redress or revenge, which they took very comfortably. Hereupon Sir John Forster very humbly answered that as he was not unwilling to part with the said office, being now grown into such years as he was not able to execute it as heretofore, so was it the greatest grief that ever happened unto him that now in his last days after so long service, with the loss of his blood several times, he should incur your heavy displeasure against
him, procured by the sinister information of his mortal enemies, who have long sought his disgrace by sundry means and sundry times, desiring only his open trial either before the Privy Council, or any other open place where it should please you to appoint, and if he could not discharge himself of any crime that any man could justly charge him withal, to receive such further punishment as should be inflicted upon him, for he desired to live no longer than he might deserve and enjoy your favour. Hereupon I told him that I had certain articles to charge him withal before that presence, and so read the articles unto him, whereunto he answered severally to every article as I read them, which answers Mr. Doctor Gibson and Mr. Caverley, who were appointed to attend me there, did write, who were well acquainted with those articles long since. To the which answers neither Sir Cuthbert Collingwood nor any other there present did either gainsay or reply to any of them. And having answered them reasonably (as we thought), he required me that, forasmuch as he was an old man, and thereby his memory not so good as it hath been, that I would let him have a copy of the articles to answer in writing, which request I could not in honour nor equity deny, and so caused Mr. Gibson to deliver him a copy, which he returned to me the next day with his answers thereunto, which I have sent to my Lord Treasurer. But it appears plainly that these accusations have been long adoing, and the whole country examined what they could say against him, and began of long and ancient malice from Sir Cuthbert Collingwood and some few others his enemies, and prosecuted with extremity by such as have given too much credit to such malicious informations; for, knowing that these matters were sought and prosecuted against him, [he] required very earnestly to answer them openly, but was utterly denied the same until now. |
|
Touching the state of your Majesty's Middle March, I have also written at large to my Lord Treasurer thereof. Without some farther support for some time they will be quite overrun and spoiled, for of themselves they are neither able to defend or offend; for, beside their unableness by the continual spoil and incursions of the Scots, there are such dissensions and factions among them, as wheresoever the Scots do enter, unless it be they whose goods are taken, no man will rise to resist them, or help to rescue the goods, or at the least very few, though the goods be driven hard by their doors—which hath been, and is, the principal cause of all their spoils, and not to be helped by the Warden. |
|
Touching this young King, etc. [The letter from this point to the end is printed in extenso in Murdin's State Papers, p. 589.]—Berwick, 24 October 1587. |
|
Signed. 1¼ pp.
|
|
604. Attempt against Leyden. |
|
1587, Oct. 26. |
Indictments and sentence against Jaques Valmaer, Cosmo de Pescarengiis, and Nicolas de Maulde, for conspiring to betray the town, together with the letters of pardon granted by Maurice, Prince of Orange, unto the burghers and inhabitants thereof. |
|
Copy, Also printed. 5¾ pp.
|
|
605. Patrick Thompson to Archibald Douglas. |
|
1587, Oct. 26. |
Being arrived at Norwich, I have gotten intelligence of some commodity that will fall in your hand, whereof the bearer hereof will show you all by tongue, and that Dr. Cæsar (“Sasar”) will send down a warrant to the Vice-Admiral of Norfolk and Suffolk to the same effect, and that it may be pursued in my name, and what commodity and
profit shall be bad, you shall be privy (prewe) to, for the bearer hereof, Patrick Turner, has sought out the means by the justices in their parts, who bear him all great good will. And also I must show you for Patrick Turner s good will in taking of a pirate ship, which did rob a Scottish ship, the goods pertaining to John Makmorane, which ship was brought into Dover Haven to the use of the Admiralty, according as all pirates ought to be used. Therefore, you in all ways must have respect of the robbery that they have made upon our nation, and of the good will of him that took in hand for his nation's sake, that you may see the extremity against the committers, and specially against one called Eweings, who has a ship at this present in London, which if you do well [you will] cause to be arrested, and that he may answer to the laws, which shall be a great credit to you among our merchants in Scotland. I have spoken unto the bearer, Captain Turner, concerning my promise to you in his name, which you may be assured of his performance thereof, and therefore you shall use him as a friend, and fortify him in his suits at this time, for he had never greater “mester,” but if he were well shaped (scheipeit) in respect of the good will he has in these parts, you might be assured to have one that you might command.—Norwich (“Norrage”), 26 October 1587. |
|
Signed. 1 p.
|
|
606. Lord Hunsdon to Lord Burghley. |
|
1587, Oct. 26. |
I received your letter of the 21st this 26th, at 11 o'clock. I perceive you have with much ado gotten instead of 1,000, 300 more to make up 500. I am very loath to put her Majesty to any further charge than necessity requires, which since her Majesty is to be drawn no further, I must accept of what it shall please her, and I trust will do what may be done with them, and such others as I can get, but you shall see what reason I had to require so many. I was credibly advertised from some near about the King that, whatsoever was promised, nothing should be performed, but fair words and fair shews only, which I had reason to believe, when I knew most plainly that, after the taking up of Hawden Bryge, the principal doer thereof, which was Wyll a Kylmott, near 4 days after, was with the King, who after some mislike that it was done in that place, gave him 100 crowns, whereof I wrote to you, as also of the Council of Scotland's letter to me that the King had commanded Cesford to meet with me or my Deputy, and when I sent to Cesford about it, he answered me directly that he had no such direction. Since which time Cesford wrote unto me that he had direction to meet with me, so as we have appointed to meet at Kirkyattam (sic) in Scotland to receive redress for England, and the next day at Kirknewton, to make and deliver redress for Scotland, the first meeting the 2nd of next month, and so the 3rd. Since which time the Earl Bothwell was commanded by the King to ride to Liddesdale to be answerable to justice, as also proclamation was made for the King's going to the west borders, which journey holds for our first day of meeting, and is upon Thursday, and the King is to be at Peebles the day before [“Wednesday, November po” in margin in Burghley's handwriting] with all the nobility and others from 16 to 60, in warlike manner, in Stirlingshire, File, Lothian, Muirhouse, the Marske, East and West, Teviotdale and from Peebles to Dumfries, from thence to Howick, from thence to Jedburgh. Whether the appointment of the Warden's and mine, the 2nd and 3rd of the next month will hold, Cesford being commanded to attend the King this journey, you may easily judge. Besides this, notwithstanding the King's resolution of this journey, I was credibly advertised that there was of
Liddesdale 4 or 500 horse in readiness to do him great exploit within his charge, whereof I did advertise him presently, and how they were letted only by the waters. This morning my Lord Scroope wrote to me that I that good advertisement, “for there were . . of the Johnstones, who are no riders, was in readiness upon Monday and Tuesday to a met with 400 of Liddesdale and Buccleuch out of Teviotdale to a joined together, but were letted by the waters, but will not fail to do some great enterprise very shortly, and not without the King's knowledge and Bothwell's setting on.” I am also credibly advertised this morning that there is another company appointed to enter the Middle March, or this March, with 800 or 1,000 men within these two nights, for the resisting whereof I have taken the best order I can; but we are to look for at the King's hands, you may now see, whatsoever it pleaseth his Ambassador to dissemble, but the only way to cut his throat is to apprehend and stay all his merchant ships, until the King have made satisfaction to England for the spoils committed upon the Queen' s subjects. This is the way to bring them presently to do justice, for they are not able to endure that. All the maritime towns will cry out upon the King to do justice, and now is the time, for there is 100 sail gone to Bordeaux, the Low Countries, and other places of France. |
|
Touching where the 300 is to be levied, the last were so badly chosen and worse furnished, as unless they be better chosen and furnished I had rather have none; but I understand that my son Edmund's band is returned into England, and some other bands also, out of Flanders. They would do best service to be sent hither, if it were 500, and so these 200 may be returned into Yorkshire again. I pray God her Majesty do not wish she had sent 200 instead of 500, but I pray you let them be hastened with as much speed as may be, for I fear we shall every day have more need of them than other. And there must be money sent with them, for here is neither victuals nor anything else to be had but for ready money. And for the placing of them I trust her Majesty will refer that to my discretion. |
|
Sir Simon Musgrave hath promised me from day to day to deliver me a book of his expenditure of his last receipt out of the Tower, whereof at my coming hither I found a book in my closet, the fellow of that I received from your Lordship. I will call upon him to make haste of it, and will return it to you with all speed. |
|
The date of my last letter was the 12th, and I have written to you concerning some of these matters by Mr. Skipwith, who hath been here with me, I thank him, ever since my coming. I have also written by him to her Majesty at some length, both touching Sir John Forster, and what she is to look for at his hand, if it be not for fear.—At Fenham, Captain Reede's house, this 26 of October 1587. |
|
[P.S.]—Your packet hath been 5 days and more a coming. |
|
Holograph. 3 pp.
|
|
607. Robert Carvyle to Archibald Douglas. |
|
1587, Oct. 28. |
I sent you a packet which I received from Mr. Richard Douglas yesterday, which presently I delivered to my Lord to be sent unto you. It were good that you should sometime visit his Honour with a letter, for he looketh that you should sometimes write unto him; it will be an occasion that your packets and letters shall come unto you with the more expedition. Howsoever my Lord is incensed of late, he hath a very evil opinion of the Earl Bothwell, and suspecteth him to be a suborner of the wicked and evil doers for maintenance of disorder. I pray you forget me not to Mr. Secretary as opportunity
serveth; likewise to excuse the letter here inclosed to be delivered to William Hunter.—Berwick, 28 October 1587. |
|
Holograph. ½ p.
|
|
608. Lord Burghley to Secretary Walsingham. |
|
1587, Oct. 30. |
After my coming from you the other night, within your gate, a man of the Knight Marshal's and one or two more brought one to me, pretending him to be some seminary or Jesuit; whom, when I did behold, I knew what he was, and so took him a while into my custody, until they which brought him told me that there was in the house where they found him a portmanteau filled with writings and other “trumperie.” And, therefore, I willed them to take him again unto them, and to bring him to me with those things, which they did not. But your servant Watson, an officer, as I take it, in St. Katharine's, brought me such a budget full of trumperies, alleging that he had this party in his custody. And so I willed him to stay him, until he should hear further from me. His name is, as he saith and as I think, James Humfrey, of Devonshire, who of late was brought as a prisoner to Lord Cobham, pretending that though he had been a recusant and abroad in France, yet he was in conscience moved to come home, willing to discover the lewd dispositions of divers with whom he had been conversant beyond the seas. And being by Lord Cobham secretly brought hither to my chamber, we thought it good to permit him to go into London to his families, thereby to discover their dispositions. So it has happened that he has been taken as one ill-disposed, and now, he being in prison, has written a letter, by which it seemeth he is afraid to be so discovered, as he shall not be able to do us any service, as was meant. I have thought good to require you that he be secretly carried to Mr. Hamond or Mr. Beale to be examined, especially as to certain writings which Lord Cobham took from him, the more part whereof are letters obscurely written from persons beyond the seas, which I send unto you to look in them, or to send to Mr. Hamond or Mr. Beale, who may examine him as to the persons and matters in the letters. I enclose his letter, and send also the writings in a packet. If Mr. Hamond or Mr. Beale be not at leisure, I think the Master of St. Katherine's fit, considering he is lodged near him.—Richmond, 30 October 1587. |
|
P.S. in Burghley's own hand :—“The Queen's Majesty is very earnest to see Courcelles' writings, which Philipp's [sic], of whom I hear nothing.” |
|
1½ pp.
|
|
Enclosure :
|
|
[1587, Oct. 29 ?]. |
James Humfrye to [Lord Burghley].—The man that did prosecute the matter so earnestly against me, in my absence from my lodging, found the means to have my “male” and picked the lock, and by that means saw what was therein; whole month I have stopped now, and will speak no more. But, if this my apprehension should be known unto Catholics (as no doubt but it will be, if I be long absent from them), and then to be discharged, it will breed great jealousy in their heads, as some do conceive already by my dispatch from the Court, and the more for that some have already certified then that I brought great store of letters and books, which I have delivered to the Council, and one of the books promised to be brought to Mr. Tregian, which, how it should
come to pass, I know not; but I stand to utter denial thereof, alleging that I threw all letters and books overboard before my coming to Rye. Again, if your Honour should commit me to prison, I should be able to do nothing, neither for my books, which I expect daily, neither in other greater matters. Wherefore I think my speedy deliverance, before great speech thereof, to be the best.—Undated. |
|
[See State Papers, Domestic, Elizabeth, Vol. 205, No. 4, 4i., and 4 ii. P.R.O.] |
|
½ p.
|
