Cecil Papers: September 1588 | British History Online

Calendar of the Cecil Papers in Hatfield House: Volume 3, 1583-1589. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1889.

Citation:

'Cecil Papers: September 1588', in Calendar of the Cecil Papers in Hatfield House: Volume 3, 1583-1589( London, 1889), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-cecil-papers/vol3/pp354-361 [accessed 16 November 2024].

September 1588



	725. James VI. of Scotland to Archibald Douglas.
1588, Sept. 7.	Requesting him to secure further redress for David Gordon, and to procure him access to the Queen. [See 21 April 1587.] —Edinburgh, 7 September 1588.
1588, Sept. 7.	1 p.
	726. James Colvill (of Eshlennes) to Archibald Douglas.
[1588], Sept. 7.	Desires him to give his humble thanks to my Lord of Leicester and to Mr. Secretary for their great courtesy to him. My lord will hear shortly from his Majesty, whom he has let to understand, as far as in him lies, his Highness's goodwill. Doubts not that his lordship will remember that he has been assured that her Majesty will not be ungrateful, seeing that he has ever freely spent his own to do her service. Begs him to let him know by the first commodity what he may look for. —Edinburgh, 7 September.
[1588], Sept. 7.	1 p.
	727. Munitions at Cork.
1588, Sept. 8.	An inventory of all munitions and other artillery (as well serviceable as unserviceable) in the charge of John Fagan, Clerk of her Majesty's munitions at Cork, taken the 8th of September 1588
1588, Sept. 8.	2½ pp.
	728. Barges en the River Lea.
1588, Sept, 8.	A list of masters of barges, with their place of abode, the names, burden, and complement of each barge, beginning :
	“Richard Broke, of Ware, hath two barges, the Great Blue Lion, the burden whereof is 42 quarters and worketh with five men, and the Little Blue Lion, of 28 quarters with three men.”
	Ends :—
	“Robert Doe, of Enfield, hath one barge the Maltesacke, the burden whereof is 38 quarters, and worketh with 4 men. The Masters of the barges are in number 44, the servants working in them are seven score and odd.”
	Appended are Lord Burghley's notes, as follows :—
	“The burdens of the barges ar l^m l^c. The nombers of men occup. i^cxxiii. A gret barg costeth xl¹ with all furnitur. A small barg costeth x1 marks with all furnitur.
	The gretest bardg laden draweth xvj ynches.
	The lest bardg draweth also xvj ynches.
	A cart loden holdeth at Ware viij quarters of malt, 5 quarters of whet. For on quarter of wheat xij^d, for v bushels of whet viij^d. V bushels of whet meal is as heavy as viii bushels of whet.
	They tak for every hundred iiij^d, and per I ton vj³ viij^d, for a chaldron of coles, or a way of salt, vj^s viij^d, for carriadg of I person vj^d.
	The Masters do gyve to ther barg men : to the steare man x³ or viij³ or ix^s, to every other viij^s.
	They lade on Satyrday, on Monday go down to the Boo bridge to tarry the tyde. From ye Boo with the tyde they will pass in 4 houres, if they roo away. They com on to London with fludd, and return at an ebb to the creke mouth, and than with a flood. The lock at y^e Boo do open at the first begyning to flow. They shutt it at the highest of the flood.
	They come from the Boo to Waltham in 6 houres, and from Waltham to Ware in other 6 houres.
	Endorsed :—“8 September 1588.”
	729. William Rudhall, Thomas Smalman, and Edmund Coles, to Lord Burghley.
1588, Sept. 8.	According to your letters to us directed, dated July 18, 1587, we did meet together at Hereford, and there did our endeavours to have ended all controversies between the Lord Bishop of Hereford and Silvan Scorie, Esquire; but, nevertheless, the matters being many, and the matters concerning dilapidations resting unto us very doubtful, we could not make any final end between the said parties. And yet, being willing to accomplish the effect of your honourable letters, we did afterwards persuade the parties to give us meeting in Lent last past, at the house of the said Lord Bishop at Whitburne. At which time, upon the further deliberating and considering of all causes, we determined to have set down orders between the said parties to this effect : viz., that the said Lord Bishop should enjoy the whole demesnes of Whitburne, discharged of the lease which Mr. Scorie pretended to have of part thereof; and that Mr. Scorie should quietly enjoy the lease of Collwall Park then in controversy between them. And in respect of the dilapidations, wherewith the executors of the late Bishop were chargeable, for that it rested doubtful unto us whether the same executors were to be charged touching the pulling down and decaying of an ancient house in Bosburie, which amounteth to the sum of 600l. or thereabouts, (as it was affirmed), we determined to leave the same to the judgment of the ecclesiastical laws; and, on satisfaction of the rest of the said dilapidations, we were minded (notwithstanding the said Mr. Scorie would assent to give but 250l.). to have awarded to the Bishop 275l., for that one Swithin Butterfield, a solicitor for Mr. Scorie, did promise the same should be paid, if we did so order it. And being thus determined, and using conference as well with the said Bishop as with Mr. Scorie, how the said dilapidations of the house in Bosbury might with some expedition receive judgment, the said Mr. Scorie would not assent to have the same receive judgment before Dr. Aubrey, the judge of the court where the same suit did then depend ; and the said Bishop did refuse to have the same tried and adjudged before Dr. Gierke, Dean of the Arches, for that the said Dr. Gierke had shown his opinion on the case, and subscribed his name against the said Bishop. And so, for that we could not agree in what court the case should be tried, we departed without making any final end between the said parties.—From Hereford, this 8th of September 1588.
1588, Sept. 8.	Copy. 1½ pp.
	730. Richard Douglas to Archibald Douglas.
1588, Sept. 9.	Thanks him for his favour shown to the bearer hereof, David Game by name, who is now returning with his Majesty's letter of commendation to his lordship to do for him, and begs for a continuance of his help.—Edinburgh, 9 September 1588.
1588, Sept. 9.	1 p.
	731. —to Lord Cobham.
1588, Sept. 11.	His lordship's man, having returned to this country, has informed him of the death of his Excellency, and also of the probability of something being done in the matter of the treaty so universally desired. It may seem strange to think of agreement, but now that fortune has favoured the Queen's just cause, it is hoped she will show greatness of mind in re-opening the negociation.
	The difficulty is that the Duke [of Parma] objects to be the first to propose it, seeing that the negotiation was broken off by the Queen, and especially because he is much blamed by the Spaniards for not having consented to the English enterprise, and for not having given due succour to the Spanish Armada.
	He believes, moreover, that in Spain they will be still more hard on him, and is therefore unwilling openly to show himself in favour of peace.
	Consequently it is necessary to induce the Queen to re-open the negotiation, which can easily be done without loss of credit, but it should be done as secretly as possible.
	Prays for an armed ship to conduct him safely to Dover. They of Holland and Zealand are friendly to him, and frequently stay at the mouth of this port. Is not without peril from the ships of Dunkirk, as the Spaniards wish him great evil, and bear him most mortal hatred for having spread it among them that if the agreement be made they will have to depart.
	Italian. 1 ¼ pp.
	Endorsed :—“11 Sept. 1588.—Copia d'una littera scritta al S^r Barone de Cobham alli xj. Settembre, stilo vechio.”
	732. R. Douglas to Archibald Douglas.
1588, Sept. 11.	Has deferred writing to his lordship this long time partly because such as he was commanded to write, and promised, was not kept, being promised one day and forgotten, at least refused the next, and partly because, seeing the king commits all things to the Chancellor, he thought it better to be beside him, and so to make “moyens and intelligence” to Mr. Richard, than by open dealing to be “bothe” from his company. Has often been in talk with him touching removing of particulars from amongst them, and in the end has had him more toward than in the beginning. Thinks this gentleman, Sir Robert Sidney, if he had not been called away by this unfortunate accident of his uncle's death, would have brought it by the king's help to a good point.
	The last answer he had of him was, that when he had seen self evident proof of his lordship's good-will (as he had seen and perceived how earnest he was to seek his disgrace, both by letters direct to the King and by speeches to sundry), then he should be willing to forget all bygones. 'Therefore in his opinion it would be best (seeing that whatsoever his lordship writes the King communicates to him) to let alone these private nips and indirect language against him, and now, seeing that by the death of my Lord of Leicester matters are as they were of new to begin, plainly to set down to him some good advice for the furtherance of his Majesty's service in that country, and the course into which his lordship will proceed with him ; or, if his lordship will not write to him directly at first, he may send to the present writer a letter testifying his inclination from time to time, together with his advice how matters shall be handled in times coming, which letter shall be shown to him and likewise to his Majesty; whereupon he hopes to send his lordship his answer, and so to begin further friendship.
	Was ready to have come to my Lord of Leicester, but hearing that the Spaniards were coming northward, thought he could not leave this country, until he saw what their enterprise was. If his lordship thinks any good can be done by his coining, will not spare himself, but has no great desire to do so, seeing his good lord is dead.—Spote, 11 September 1588.
	3 pp. [Lodge, ii., p. 379. In part.]
	733. William Raven to Lord Burghley.
1588, Sept. 11.	“Mr. Taillor ten years since let to me his office with the profits thereof usual to be taken, (paying to him 200l. a year, which for 10 years I truly paid him,) & promised within one year to deliver unto me all his remaine, being then 23,000l., and that I should have the full scope thereof, & never performed the same, but still retained it in his hands, and reaped profit thereof at the least 600l. yearly, which in ten years is 6,000l. I spent of my poor living in that time 2,000l., he having sometimes 15,000l., 12,000l., 10,000l., & never without 5,000l. or 6,000l., which lesser sums were always between Midsummer and Michaelmas term, & then gleaning from me again until he had his full course as before, which in his absence I have supplied on my credit as occasions of payments have urged, & paid interest for the same, & never had any recompence made, nor know not how to be eased, until such time as I had recourse to the chest, which I found open for the payment of such money assessed to be paid, which I truly paid to her Majesty's use. And not having sufficient abroad by reason of his miserable dealings, which heretofore I have concealed, & taken the burden upon myself, to my now utter undoing, in hope, when I had so done (he reaping the profit & I never laying it open to your lordship,) he would have dealt well with me, which is turned to the contrary, & now he hath so much procured me your lordship's disgrace, & used such daily thundering of threatenings against me from your lordship, thereby to constrain me to set over unto him such things as I have, with such conditions as all that ever I have will not serve him (although the same be such as will pay him, & leave somewhat for me, my poor wife & her two children to live on), but still I shall be in his debt, & afterwards, he saith, he will take my body, & let me die in prison. My offer unto him is this : my debts being 1,700l., & my land & leases offered unto him cometh to 10,400l., which I will absolutely set over unto him & his heirs for ever, & so to pay himself, & refer the rest to his conscience, for otherwise I shall never be in rest for him, & pressed to follow him at London, when I shall have no cause to be, nor any maintenance to maintain my charges. Good my Lord, let me upon my assurance made to Mr. Taillor be discharged from him. In my simple opinion & under your lordship's correction, I am to be relieved; for where a man letteth a farm, & taketh the rent & the profit thereof also, there is but small conscience in that, & this is my case.”
	Note by Burghley :—“Letten out by M^r Taylor to Alderman Martyn, M^r Bechar, a merchant, M^r Denham, a goldsmyth, M^r Dixon, the goldsmyth.”
	Endorsed :—11 September 1588.
	1 p.
	734a. George Beverley to the Lord Deputy of Ireland (Fitz william).
1588, Sept. 12.	Where you requireth presently to be advertized of the store of victualling, these are to signify that by reason your lordship caused all such money as was last assigned by the Lord Treasurer in England for the victualling of the garrisons here, to be wholly reserved and issued for the victualling, the whole garrisons are victualled unto the last of this month; and there remaineth so much money as will victual them all unto the last of November next; at which time I will deliver unto your lordship a particular note how every parcel of the same treasure is issued, and to what bands. So as if your lordship should have occasion to increase bands or to raise forces, the victualling money remaining will yield small help towards the same. I have also thought it my duty to signify that if any store of her Majesty's treasure remain in your custody, there is at this time store of corn, beef, and such like victuals to be had in this realme, much better cheape (sic) than any part of England.—Dublin, the 12th of September 1588.
	At foot :—“I humbly beseech your Lordship there may be some money sent for the victualler, and that it may be so in your lordship's letter willed, as it be not other ways disbursed.—W. Fitzwilliam.”
	1 p.
	734b.—William Raven to Lord Burghley.
1588, Sept. 14.	For relief from the hard conditions Mr. Tailor would tie him to, for payment of his debt to the Queen.—14 September 1588.
1588, Sept. 14.	1 p.
	735. M. Ortell to Archibald Douglas.
1588, Sept. 15/25.	J'ai perusé l'escrit lequel il a pleu à V. S. m'impartir, et le renvoye joinct cestes à icelle. Je ne fauldray d'en escrire à Messieurs les Etats généraulx avec aultant de dilligence qu'aulcunementme sera possible, comme à ceulx ausquels l'affaire touche en général, et nullement aulx Provinces en particulier, ce qui aussi j'espère que sa Majesté d'Escosse entendra et considérera de plus près et (au regard de son particulier service) la conséquence de ce faict; ensemble les insupportables charges que les dits Provinces (pour le présent en si petit nombre) soustiennent encores journellement, et, comme à dire, miraculeusement contre l'effort de si puiseants ennerais, si qu'il seroit quasi impossible à plus grands de porter de pareilles; et en oultre icelles satisfaire encores à chasque demande particulière. Je ne veulx pas entrer en dispute de ce qu'est deu au dit Colonel et aulx siens, mais seulement prens à ma charge d'en advertir mes supérieurs, leur envoyant la copie du dit escrit, et de tenir la bonne main à quelque bonne et briefve résolution, Jaquelle ayant reçeue ne fauldray d'en advertir incontinent à V. S.—Ce xxv de 7bre 1588.
1588, Sept. 15/25.	1 p.
	736. Richard Douglas to Archibald Douglas.
1588, Sept. 16.	As for Rogers, his Majesty affirmed unto me that he had never given him any commission good or evil, only, because he had to do for his particular affairs to go into that country, he gave him letter to bear to that Queen, which otherwise he had sent by her ambassador resident here, by pacquet. If he had spoken other thing in his name there, he had [not ?] done the same by any direction of him, and should be answered for the same at his back-coming. That he had never commanded him to speak of you but honourably, and as to haunt (?) your company or not, he left it in his own choice. As for that which he has given out of me, that I both abused the King and you, I promise you, so soon as I can see him in this country, as I have already complained of it to his Majesty, so shall I take him by the hand before the King, and ask wherein I have abused either of you, and let him understand he is but a knave, and lacks nothing but wit to be the greatest abuser in this isle. He is ingrate both towards you and me, for where you had taken, and justly as appears now, an evil opinion of him, I did what lay in me to remove the same from you, as my letters will testify. Well, I hope he shall for his pains neither at one hand nor other reap that he looked for, and at his returning be known for a knave, if not worse. And thus far to your letters received since I wrote any unto you. The cause was the uncertainty I was driven unto, and the resolution I had taken to write nothing until I should be assured what to write. In this mean time when matters, not only in my opinion but in his Majesty's, [were] brought to a very good point, and his Majesty purposed to [return to] a solid course with my Lord of Leicester, behold the unlooked for report of his death came, which both caused the ambassador depart upon the sudden, and has altered all our determination, and put his Majesty in that case that he is, as it were, even now to begin with that country. The state of service was in these terms. Suppose as well by your letters as by Sir Robert's own declaration, his Majesty knew perfectly that he had no great matter to offer him from that Queen, nor nothing that would satisfy him from her, yet he was resolved, thinking that was not his principal errand, that the gentleman should depart well contented of his part. His Majesty had bound up both with himself and my lord of Leicester, by him, a sure and perpetual friendship, thinking him the meetest and only man in England to serve his purpose, hoping surely at the backgoing of this gentleman that greater matters by the said lord's procurement should have been performed unto him nor any yet promised. And this course his Majesty followed, and had laid this ground specially by your lordship's advice. When, now, this unfortunate accident has dissipated all these counsels, and shaken loose all these grounds that his Majesty laid, securing only the friendship of the gentleman, whereof his Majesty, as indeed for many respects he deserves well, makes no small accompt. Immediately after the advertisement of that accident sorrowful, as he had good occasion, he came to and took leave of his Majesty to depart, whereupon I took new occasion, that since that gentleman was to depart and you altogether ignorant of his Majesty's mind, that he would resolve and certify me what he would command you to do for his service. That I was to await upon the ambassador a little of his journey, and there to write to you, and therefore besought his Majesty to resolve me. His Majesty there showed me in what perplexity he was drawn unto by that accident, how all his resolutions thereby were altered, and now he was to begin some other new course; and, therefore, he would needs have me to go to you in all possible haste to know your opinion and mind upon these accidents. I answered, I would be contented for his Majesty's service to spare no travail nor pains whatsoever, and therefore I would bring the ambassador but a little on his way, and return to receive further direction. The next day, after their departure, his Majesty entered with me in a long discourse upon the present state of his service, and showed at length in what doubtful terms it was brought into by this accident, which he was assured could not but produce dangerous effects in that State. That he was altogether ignorant what was able to fall out thereupon, neither would he take any course with himself until he should be resolved thereof by you. And, therefore, commanded me, with all diligence, to go to you, and there first to learn the state of that country now since this accident, or what was like to fall out upon it. Next, who was like to succeed to my Lord of Leicester in handling of the affairs of that State, and to brook his place in credit and authority, and then, upon these two to crave your opinion, such like as you thought meetest that his Majesty should enter in dealing with in place of him, whom you thought meetest and most effectual and most able to do him service. In like manner, to crave your opinion whether you thought it meetest for his Majesty, in dealing with that Queen upon offers to be made to him, to insist upon these made already by her ambassador, which he would now seem to go from, or rather, since they were never accepted, to seek them, and further, by his own ambassador. These were the principal points of my instructions to you, together to assure Mr. Secretary Walsingham of his Majesty's unfeigned affection towards him, and that since he esteemed him both zealous in religion and constant in friendship where he promised, he could but assure himself of his goodwill towards him, which he would now look for to be performed by doing of all good offices for the weal of his Majesty. To do his commendations to my Lord of Essex upon two letters written to him by his Majesty, the one by Sir Robert, the other by Mr. Fairfax, and to report unto him my lord's mind towards him. Upon all these his Majesty desired me to bring your answer, and then, what course you directed him he would follow, and therefore send you instructions and commission to deal openly in his service. Upon the end of this matter, I took my leave of his Majesty, commanded to haste my [return] with all diligence, and came the next day to my . . . . house, where, finding myself unable for that journey by reason of a flux wherewith I was then and am yet troubled, I was forced to send back to his Majesty, praying to be excused of that journey by reason of my sickness, promising to send to you by post all such directions as I had received, and to request you to return their answer with all expedition. Which his Highness accepted in good part, and commanded that I should send them to you with all diligence. Therefore, I request you in his Majesty's behalf to consider of these premisses, and to set down in writ your opinion. If it be known that your credit be nothing diminished by the death of that nobleman, it will do well also for your credit here, for you know we esteem most of them that may do most.
	As for your difference with the Chancellor, his Majesty himself will take it up, and command every one of you to write to another. His Majesty, upon the next day after I took my leave, which was the 14th of this month, departed from Edinburgh to Stirling, where he is to remain this season. The Chancellor is come back to Ledington here, where he remains presently, and is not minded to stir before he be sent for, as I hear. There has been in a house of the lord Ogilvie in Angus (?) at the marriage of Sir John Seton, a number of noblemen, as is thought, malcontented of the present state, but I think, surely, it shall produce nothing but show their own folly. The Earl Bothwell remains your constant friend ; he has been sought by the English ambassador, but keeps himself, not giving any resolute answer until he knows your mind entertain (sic). I pray yours by your favourable letters, and write to me what course you would him follow, and he will do it.—Whittingham, 16 September 1588.
	Imperfect; apparently 4 pp., the first sheet missing.
	737. Jane Hay to Archibald Douglas.
1588, Sept. 20.	Informs him of her recent marriage with a young gentleman called William Carmichael.—Dysart, 20 September 1588.
1588, Sept. 20.	1 p.
	738. William Kaven to Lord Burghley.
1588, Sept. 20.	Complains of the cunning dealing of Mr. Taillor, who intends by misinformations to cause the Chancellor to conceive a hard opinion of the petitioner, and begs that he may be satisfied with his offer [see No. 733] or if that will not content him, he may have his body.
1588, Sept. 20.	1 p.
	739. Anthony Bacon to [Lord Burghley?].
[1588], Sept. 28.	After having waited for about seven months for the return of M. Lauzun without having any news of him, has been constrained to make use of the good will of the present bearer, Mr. Allen, who has kindly offered to hazard his life for the relief of his great and pressing necessity, and to prevent the dangers by which he is threatened on all sides, if he should remain longer in this uncertainty, without being able to recover his means and the passport of the King to enable him to leave.
	His Highness, considering the strange and sudden change which has taken place in France since the departure of the said Lauzun, can judge by the past what may be hoped for in the future, nothing less in fact than the depth of all misfortune and misery, unless God should display his mercy by softening the heart of the King, and presenting some unexpected opening to the Assembly of the States on either side for their extrication from the present chaos of confusion. Begs him, however, to believe that all the hardships and misery he has undergone during his most unfortunate sojourn are supportable compared with his regrets at not having been able to better perform his humble duty. Remits it, however, to his Lordship's wisdom to consider whether certain notable events which have occurred since his last have not justified a part of his statement. Messieurs du Plessis and du Pin have at any rate got wind of it, and “l'eschauffent fort en leurs pourpoints” to find themselves by his advertisement known, as well on that side as on this, for other than they pretend to be ; that, is to say, as being more careful and attentive to their own welfare than well affected to the public good, or to the advantage of their master the King of Navarre, “qui, pour un bénin et tres valleureux prince qu'il est, n'avance ses affaires que par un heur peculier, dont il plaist à Dieu accompagner sa personne, sans que ces deus Messieurs sus-nommés soyent recogneus par les gens d'antandement [exceptés quelque peu à leur suitte et dévotion] d'avoir beaucoup merité du public par leur conduitte et conseil.”—28 September.
	French. 2 pp.