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to them, and is, as in former parts of the calendar, of a very varied character. Of what remains hitherto unnoticed, the following may be chosen for mention merely, namely, coinage, and included in this, a lengthy argument by Arthur Hall setting forth the advantages to be derived from the issue of debased coin (p. 394), in the course of which the phrase "the sinews of wars" as applied to gold and silver occurs; medical and surgical matters, with allusions to the leading physicians of the time and to "an excellent book on medicine" printed in English at Dort by a Dutch bookseller, who came over to England to promote its sale; the system of taxation of individuals for special purposes; private quarrels such as that between Lord Southampton and Lord Grey; and a reference to "tobaca," showing incidentally that it was a luxury not to be procured very easily or in large quantities in London in the year 1600. Then, as regards persons, the names of the following, among many others, will be found in the index: Thomas Arundell, afterwards Lord Arundell of Wardour; Earl Bothwell; John Colville; Henry de Clinton, Earl of Lincoln; Sir Horatio Palavicino, who died this year; and Genebelli, the engineer.

In the preparation of this volume, the Commissioners have had the assistance of Mr. R. A. Roberts, the Secretary of the Commission, Mr. E. Salisbury, Mr. C. G. Crump, and Mr. J. V. Lyle (all of the Public Record Office), and of Mr. R. T. Gunton, private secretary to the Marquis of Salisbury, the first named having edited it and passed it through the press and supplied the introduction. Mr. Salisbury is responsible for the index.

CALENDAR OF THE CECIL MANUSCRIPTS

PRESERVED AT HATFIELD HOUSE,

HERTFORDSHIRE.

PART X.

A.D. 1600.

JOHN HILTON to SIR ROBERT CECIL.

1599-1600, Jan. 1.-Prays that the wardship of the son of Edward Aglionby of Carlisle, murdered by Thomas Carleton, be granted to the widow.

Endorsed:-"1 Jan., 1599." p. (P. 750.)

JOHN [WHITGIFT], Archbishop of Canterbury, to SIR ROBERT CECIL.

1599-1600, Jan. 2.-The mastership of Clare Hall in Cambridge being void by the death of Dr. Byng, and the fellows of the College not agreeing in the election of anyone, the nomination of the master is devolved for this time upon the Chancellor of the University, the Earl of Essex. I do not think either of the competitors named by the fellows to be fit for that government, the one professing Law, the College Statutes requiring a divine; the other very young, not above 25 or 26 years of age. Be pleased to move her Majesty to stay her resolution in this matter, until it be her pleasure to speak with me. Mr. Byng, one of the competitors, is my godson and chaplain, and the other, Mr. Boys, near of kin to divers of my good friends. If I did not prefer the good of the University before private affection, I would not write anything to the hindrance of either of them.-From Lambeth, the 2 of January, 1599.

Signed. p. (67. 89.)

RICHARD TOMSON to SIR ROBERT. CECIL.

1599-1600, Jan. 3.-My debts and goods are in the possession of one John Waring, sometime servant to Mr. Beecher, a man that for his debts and other demeanours hath taken Barbary for his sanctuary. He came thither by secret conveyance of one

Wt. 9388

A

Ralph Sootherne, dwelling in Middlebro', and arriving there but two months before the decease of Gilbert Sootherne my partner, intruded into the executorship and possession of all the goods, debts and business of the said deceased; and under a false suggestion that I am indebted to my partner, withholdeth from me all that I had in the country. There is no means for my relief but the gracious regard of her Majesty into my cause, and by her princely letters [to] require at the King's hands the stay of the debt in his hands until we have accounted, and to have them referred hither, with their accounts and demands, being all her subjects. I beseech you to suspend your opinion of my cause till leisure permit you to take an overture thereof, for our speeches before you were confused, and very invective against me by one nothing interested in the cause, but [who] liveth in hope of a good legacy. I pray command the merchants may set down in writing their reasons, and I will in writing make answer. -3 January, 1599.

Holograph. 13 pp. (178. 104.)

RICHARD HAWKYNS to THOMAS EDMUNDS, Secretary to the Queen for the French tongue.

1599-1600, Jan. -Expresses his joy upon seeing a letter from Flanders advising that Edmunds was there, sent by the Queen to Prince Alberto for determination of the place where the commissioners should join for the treaty of peace. Congratulates him on his preferment. Of his own long imprisonment and manifold misfortunes. His wife has been a long time negotiating his liberty: begs Edmunds to further it. In the conclusion of the peace with France in the first years of the Queen, the prisoners were forgotten, and his father being prisoner was forced to compound his ransom, and had paid 10,000 crowns if he had not broken prison and escaped. Urges that the article for the prisoners should not be omitted from the present treaty. Hopes by this peace to find a remedy for his evils.--The Carcel de Corte in Madrid, 13 Jan., 1600, Spanish computation. Holograph. 1 p. (75. 119.)

HENRY, LORD COBHAM to SIR ROBERT CECIL.

1599-1600, Jan. 3.-In favour of Captain Wiatt, for the wardship of Samuel Wrotte, Wiatt's brother-in-law. His house in the Blackfriars, 3 Jan., 1599.

1599-1600, Jan. 4.-Remembrance for Mr. Gascoigne, touching the wardship of Arthur Longvile, son and heir of Thomas, Longvile, deceased.-4 Jan., 1599.

1 p. (2162.)

SIR THOMAS SHERLEY to his son, SIR ANTHONY.

1599-1600, Jan. 6.-Your mother and I take much comfort in your letters, which import your filial regard and your remorse. I rejoice at your fortune, which I advise you to use with a temperance that may prove warrant of your discretion. If you intend any good to your parents, do it speedily, or it will not do the good it otherwise would. You do not use to date your letters, whereby no man can judge which were foremost written. By your next I desire to know the names of the ports of Persia that adjoin to the South Sea within the Capa de Bona Speranza. Then, with what safety or warrant merchants may come thither; what English wares are most in the request there; whether there be any good means to renew victuals there; what commodity there is of new repairing of ships with cordage. Then, how far the Court, or place of the King's chief resiance, is from those maritime parts, and, generally, anything for the better undertaking of that trade or voyage.

I very earnestly recommend to you these two gentlemen, Mr. Toplyffe and Mr. Fitz William, who have undertaken the adventure of this voyage to follow your fortune.-London, this 6 of January, 1599.

My cousin Anthony Bacon doth accompany this letter with his, and to his I refer you for larger discourse. We both have written to you by the way of Venice and Germany. Holograph. Addressed, "Persia." Seal. 2 pp. (67.90.)

DR. CHRISTOPHER PARKINS to SIR ROBERT CECIL.

1599-1600, Jan. 8.-The bearer hereof, Richard Babington, servant to Mr. Barton at Constantinople when Lancome, the French "Imbassad," was delivered to him, came to me this morning from Mr. Stapers with letters to your Honour from Constantinople, and with order to offer himself to give information of the French controversies, and I perceive he hath some pretty particulars of the matter that I hitherto have not heard.This 8 of January, '99.

SIR HORATIO PALAVICINO to SIR ROBERT CECIL.

1599-1600, Jan. 8.-You told Giustiniano that her Majesty took to be mine the suit brought against the City of London by my brothers for their shares. I am much grieved at this. In whatever fashion her Majesty may have come to this belief, I cannot argue against it, but I am so much troubled at it that I have come to a conclusion which I will state later. But first, I must beg you to assure her Majesty that I have too much sense of honour to ever think of opposing a Queen in whose service I have spent the best part of my life and seen some danger; neither shall I ever trouble the City of London or any citizen of it for my own private interests. And as a proof of this I am ready to quit England, leaving my lands as a pledge