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Thomas Moffet to the Earl of Essex. |
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1591/2, Jan. 6. |
I could not but impart my cousin Reinall's mind unto you, according as he imparted it unto me, by letter. For it seemeth tending to your good, whereof we are all desirous. As for mine own part, I am neither able nor willing to advise you any thing, save for your health, because therein I am most sufficient. Nevertheless the wisest warrior that ever we read of had this wish often in his heart and lips; ὀικαδε τ' ελθεμεναι και νοστιμον ἠμαρ ἰδεσθαι. And yet (for aught I remember) the causes drawing him homeward were nothing so great as those which are now offered to yourself. The Lord direct you for the best, and prosper you in all your attempts according to your good heart's desire.—Dieppe, 6 January 1591. |
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Headed with Greek couplet invoking the Divine aid for Essex. |
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Holograph. Part of seal. 1 p.
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Lease to George Barith. |
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1591/2, Jan : 7. |
Warrant for a lease, in reversion, to be made to George Barith of certain parcels of land, tenements and hereditaments in the bishopric of Durham, in the county of York, which already he holdeth of the Queen by former lease, bearing date 4 Jan. 1581, (the same parcels being heretofore given for the sustentation of certain priests within the free chapel of Stockton), and of certain portions of tithes of grain in the parish of Norton (of the like nature), within the said bishopric, amounting together to the yearly value of 53l. 3s. 6d.; to hold the same for the term of thirty years, without fine, immediately from and after the expiration of the above mentioned lease.—Richmond, 7 January, 1591. |
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Privy signet. Sign manual. 1 p.
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Maur[ice] Kyffin to the Earl of Essex. |
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1591/2, Jan. 8. |
After your departure hence, Sir Thomas Leighton and Sir Roger Williams, calling me to them, advised me in any wise to pay some money to the relief of the sick soldiers, which was ordered to be 2s. a piece to every soldier. It may please your lordship to sign a warrant for the same, as also one other warrant for some pay to Sir Roger Williams; both which I do send here inclosed.—Rouen, 8 January, 1591. |
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Holograph. Part of seal. ½ p.
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Edmund Palmer to Lord Burghley. |
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1591/2, Jan. 16/26. |
These days past, being in Bayonne, I was sent for to the Governor who did importunate me so much to write that I could not do the contrary. The Governor's request was that Burghley would let pass some two hundred tons of wheat and beans for the city, which is in all obedience to the French King, and no part thereof should be carried to the Spaniards or the King's enemies, whereof those that brought it should carry back sufficient testimonial. If the request is granted, I will see that the same shall not be transported for any other place; and those that bring it should give good security in England for its due delivery. Grain is scanty hereabouts by reason that the bottoms do not come as they were wont, and without beans they cannot keep their iron mills going. Of which commodity great store is laden from Bayonne for England. Our nation is very well used by the Governor : these days past he has commanded that no man shall carry copper, lead nor cables for Spain and has put watch and ward by sea and land; as has also been done here. They cannot abide the Spaniards more than for their private gain. I beg that you will grant the Governor's request, being so small a matter and not hurtful unto her Majesty's commons.—St. Jean de Luz, 26th January 1592, Stila franzia. |
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Holograph. Seal. 1 p.
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John Moubray to “My Lord Ambassador in London.” |
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1591/2, Jan. 22. |
The Laird of Nydrie and John Edmestone of Vowmat had appointed a day to fight upon, whereunto His Majesty agreed that they should fight at Kelso the 20th of this month, at which part were convened the Laird of Westernhall, the young Laird Sesfourd and David Edmestone of Burnhouse, with a number of other outlaws. Wherefore his Majesty in great secrecy (not known to any before he was on horseback) did ride the night before at 11 hours in the night, accompanied only with the Duke and my lord Home, that his Majesty might take them all in their beds before they came to the field, but they have escaped narrowly—with great search everywhere thereabouts and chiefly in Sesfourd's house, accusing the Laird for the receipt of his son since the slaughter of William Kar of Ancrum, but the Laird purged himself by an oath to his Majesty enterprised of his own head which is commended by many.—Edinburgh, 22 January 1591. |
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Signed. 1 p.
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Mr. Harper to —. |
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1591/2, Jan. 24. |
I am privately advertised that there is much evil intended against you and your family for recusancy, and that Robert
Bainbrigg was put into the commission of purpose to sift you. The proceedings in this country are set down very sharp, and the presentment to be made for the hundred wherein you dwell upon the 11th of February, before which time by my advice you shall not come at Sawley. We received this Christmas special letters from the Council to four of us, whereby we are to certify their honours whether any be in the commission who hath in his house or towards him brother, sister, child, servant or sojourner who is a recusant, to the intent the same may be put forth, and others added whom we thought meet, which letter we have returned, whereupon a new commission is to come forth. My desire further herein you shall know by certain articles my cousin Needham will shew you, wherein you must assist him what you can. Mr. H. Cavendish thinketh you a slow solicitor and my credit very small, otherwise he needed not to have gone up again. I have with much ado entreated Mr. Pilkington to go up to abide my Lord's order. I pray you deal inditferently and make a quiet end which he will be glad of.—24th January, 1591. |
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Holograph. Signed :—“H.” Endorsed :—“Harper's letter.”
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1 p.
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Henry Ashe and Wm. Harryman to the Queen. |
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1591/2, Jan. 27. |
For leases in reversion of the parsonages of Kyrton and Donnyngton, Lincolnshire, of which they are tenants. |
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Note by J. Herbert that the Queen grants the petition.—The Court at Whitehall, 27 January, 1591. |
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1 p.
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Thomas Hudson to the Queen. |
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1591/2, Jan. 27. |
Petition. Prays for lease in reversion of certain woods of which he is tenant, for his services as yeoman of the chamber.—Undated. |
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Note by J. Herbert that the Queen grants the petition.—Whitehall, 27 January, 1591. |
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1 p.
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Edmund Palmer to Lord Burghley. |
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1592, Jan. 29./Feb. 8. |
My last was of the 30th of the last and kept till the 4th hereof, in which letter I wrote your honour at large, whereunto I do refer me. I had thought to have sent the same by the way of Brygwalter [Bridgewater]; but, by reason that there is no water for the bark to get over the bar, for the more speedy delivery, I do now send the same by the way of Plymouth by one Mr Wm Dackes of Lo[ndon], whom God send in safety. |
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In this my former letter, I wrote your Honour how one Anthony Standine and Anthony Bollestone, abiding in Fuenterabia for the King of Spain, had written here to certain English merchants for the providing of a thousand five hundred quintals of lead for the King of Spain, and the delivery hereof to be here or in Fuenterabia. Unto which letter they were answered accordingly as they are. So [it] seems the 6th hereof, came hither to this town Anthony Rollestone with a sergeant of a band of soldiers procuring with certain English merchants all that ever they could, to have the same brought within six months, or as soon as possible might be, and they should be paid 18 “tialles” of plate the quintal, and giving in sureties to accomplish this their purchase
that then they would release Mr Alderman Ratclyffe's son, that they have prisoner in Fuenterabia. Eollestone had an answer not according to his expectation; he would be now in league and friendship with the English merchants here; but none desires his company but one Miles Savery, an Englishman, married in Fuenterabia; and his wife dying, he again married with a Frenchwoman. This Miles goes when he pleases into Fuenterabia; his good will is good to do all that ever he can against his Princess and country, and what he can learn among merchants of the proceedings in England he advertiseth the Governor of Fuenterabia of all, and these two villains and he are all one. In divers others of mine I have written at large touching lead and other things, not to be sent hither, Rochelle, Bordeaux and Bayonne, and so thereunto I do still remit me. |
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At the request of the Governor of Bayonne, I wrote on the 26th ultimo for certain wheat and beans for this place or Bayonne for the great want that is here and likely to be. So two days past I was at Bayonne again and had occasion to speak with him, who asked if I had fulfilled his request. I told him that I had written to your Honour about it, and he told me that he had done the like; and requested me to write again, and that he would anew request your Honour for the same. So that my other letter I sent to Brygwalter to be sent to you thence and this I do send by the way of Plymouth. Good my lord, so it be not hurtful to the poor commons of her Majesty to grant him this request, for so small a matter, and we all Englishmen here shall find it and be bound to pray for your Honour; and those that shall bring it hither shall carry back good certificate that none of it was sent for Spain. For at St Sebastians and Fuenterabia it is better cheap by much than it is here, by reason of the bottoms that do go thither and none hither as they were wont for to do; and as much as may be that comes into St Sebastians is taken up for the King and made into biscuit, and he proceeds still in making all the provision he can against the spring in all the coast of Spain as within the country. Except it be in St Sebastians, wheat and other grain is extreme dear, but the coming home of the treasure doth make them partly to forget the misery and dearth. But the poor do pay for all, a just plague of God for their sins ! |
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If you do not give order in time to the Lord Deputy of Ireland, the Irishmen will altogether feed Spain with grain, saying that they do go for Rochelle and this place, where they have not come this 6 or 7 months. They are for the most part ill members, especially those of Waterford and Cork, those of Develline little better. The trader merchants are the best and most constant. |
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Of the Spaniards' proceedings, as nigh as I can, I do mean to write your [Honour], not being costly unto me, for that heretofore I am far out of purse.—St. Jean de Luz, 8 February, 1592. |
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Holograph. 2 pp.
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Advertisements of the unrestless State of Scotland. |
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[1591/2, Jan. ?] |
First, for the late attempt and enterprise of the Earl of Both well and “Netherye” with four score persons entering into Court and upon the King and the Chancellor, is over old to write you, for that before this it may be you have heard the news thereof, as not for that now needful more writing to you. So as since there is hanged of them at Court gate eight persons, whereof Mr. John Colven['s] brother one that is handed, and Mr. John Colven himself was at it and he with
the Lord of Spott, Earl Morton's son was at it, and the devisers that laid the plot. The King is bent very surely doing justice upon all these offenders in that action; he of late was as far as to Haddington and thereabouts seeking after Earl Bothwell and his company, so as the King with his horse did fall under the water and was near danger of drowning, so as they were forced into a poor man's house, getting fire, and Sir James Sandilands stripped himself, and the King got upon him his shirt and other apparel. He was accompanied with Lord Hamilton, Earl of Montrose, Lord Seton and 500 horse thereupon. For all their labours they returned not prevailing, but the day after one Robert Hoborn, near by Lynton Brigg, was taken at his house and convened to the King, for harbouring in his house the Earl eight days. In all this time the King and these were upon this journey, the Chancellor durst not stir out of Court, but keeping himself, with his strong guard about him. There is a great search for the Lady Bothwell as for the Earl, but not known where they be. Proclamation is proclaimed this Parliament now to be . . . . . third of April next, at same time Duke of Lennox proclaimed Lord Admiral, with all offices and degrees “was” before Earl of Bothwell's. The State so now stands as there is but the King and Queen and the Chancellor, that the King must forsake and leave the Chancellor, or leave the Queen, for the Queen blames wholly the Chancellor “cause” of this disturbance The King is in that strait, as not knowing of the nobility nor within his Court whom he may trust. Yet strangely I am to write you now as the Court rules, for these were the King's contraries in all the Regent's times; they be now altogether courtiers, as the Hamiltons, the Grahams, Lord Seton and Setons, Sir Robert Melven and Melvens, the Gordons, as Earl Huntley, Sir James Chisholm, with sundry others nameless, so as for present not one of the other faction was, but the Clerk Register and Carmichael. They have of late restored Hamilton of Bothwellhaugh against the Clerk Register's good will, the party's son that slew the Regent, James Stewart. “And as you have heard” of Harry Hume of Hutton slain, about a piece of land he pretended against the bastard son of the Lord of Iddington, whereupon the friends of Harry Hume most sinfully have burnt many stacks of his corn, and the party for slaughter is in Berwick banished, and hath brought in his goods. |
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Damaged by damp. 2 pp.
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