SIR THOMAS EGERTON to SIR ROBERT CECIL.

1599, June 2.-I acknowledge as a great favour the advertisement of the despatch you have received out of Ireland. I must pray your protection for a few days' sparing of me here, to prepare for the heat of the term, for so I shall think myself covered from any storm that shall fall. This barren place yieldeth me spare diet, good air, and convenient exercise, the best preservatives for my weak health.-At Pyrfourd, 2 June, 1599.

Holograph. Seal. p. (70. 74.)

JOHN CROOK, Recorder of London, to SIR ROBERT CECIL.

1599, June 2.-I was to have waited on you to have made declaration of my proceedings in the cause concerning the French Ambassador. I made known to him her Majesty's commandment to have all disorder committed toward any of his severely punished, and your honourable regard and direction which I had instantly received from you. He took in most thankful part her Majesty's most gracious respect toward him, saying he would make it known to the King, his master. I made diligent enquiry of the principal authors of the tumult, and committed divers of the neighbours that were not aiding to the suppression of it as became them, to Newgate, and detained them there till it pleased the Ambassador to desire their enlargement, and yet did respite the delivery of them but upon great bands and sureties to be further answerable to justice at her Majesty's pleasure, which hath given him very full contentment. The principal offenders being fled, I have learned their names and made out straight warrants to search and apprehend them. The fray, I do perceive, did begin between a boy of his and a butcher and brewer miscalling one another, and so more partakers came in on both sides; but it is hoped no peril of life will follow to any by reason of any hurt there received.-2 June, 1599.

Holograph. 1 p. (70. 75.)

NICHOLAS HILLYARD to SIR ROBERT CECIL.

1599, June 2.-This bearer, Mr. Charles Antony, graver of her Majesty's Mint, sheweth me that you have some opinion that I am a competitor with him in suit for that office wherein he hath long served, and sued to have a patent of the same. I thank you for your remembrance of me, assuring you I never spake word for that office but once to Sir Tho. Henage, who motioned it to her Majesty, and my lord your father stayed it, having given his word to this bringer. Wherefore I will not hinder him in any degree, but rather further him. I hope you will stand my friend in some other matter, which am now brought into great extremes through missing of so many suits this eight years, and never received but £40 in all that time, and for that I thank

your Honour. I think it came partly by your means at your guing over ambassador into France last. This 2 June, 1599. Signed. 1 p. (70. 76.

JOHN SEDON to SIR ROBERT CECIL.

1599. June 2.-Prays Cecil. in return for his services to the late Lord Burghley in his great sickness, to grant him cloth as a retainer, for his credit in the country where he lives.— Endorsed:-2 June, 1599.

1 p. 2347.)

SIR. EDWARD FITZGERALD to SIR ROBERT CECIL.

1599, June 3.-Pardon me this boldness in presuming on your favour to my cause and suit to her Majesty, attended now with some danger and extremity, as by this enclosed paper may better appear. I was enforced, through the miscarriage of the late William, Earl of Kildare, to make my repair hither to Court, having brought letters to her Majesty from the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, which as yet I have not delivered, nor presented myself to the Queen, finding no meet opportunity, which I request might be done by your means.

Holograph. Endorsed :—3 June, 1599. Seal. 1 p. (70. 78.) The Enclosure:

The contents of Sir Edward Fitzgerald's humble request.

Garratt, Earl of Kildare, having gotten certain lands by Queen Mary's time, then married to one of the ladies of her privy chamber, which lands were given to the said Earl and lady and their heirs male, with remainder to the Queen and her successors. Parcel of the which lands George Fitzgerald, father to the now Sir Edward and himself, did by great sums of money acquire of the said Earl and his son Henry, deceased, as well leases for many years to come as other lands conveyed to him and his heirs. The issue male of the said Earl being extinct by the miscarriage of the late William, the last of that line, the lands and possessions all, after the decease of the now Countess Dowager of Kildare, revert again to the Crown. Touching the lands acquired by Sir Edward Fitzgerald and his father, he humbly beseecheth her Majesty, in consideration, partly of his father's death not long since slain by rebels in her Highness's service, and of his own service likewise, to grant unto him his possessions in fee farm by gift to himself and the heirs male of his father, yielding 20 nobles rent yearly, hoping her Majesty will not advantage herself in this case against him, which would be the undoing of his estate, these being the chiefest stay and portion of his living, though now waste and despoiled by the Irish rebels during the wars.

Unsigned. 1 p. (70. 77.)

JOHN THROGMORTON to SIR ROBERT CECIL.

1599, June 3.-Your most rightful acquitting me in these unjust and ungodly practices against me, would expect from me an acknowledgment far beyond my ability. Whatever is wanting in me, I hope you will be paid in this-my ever willingness to do you honest service.

Holograph. Endorsed :-3 June, 1599. Seal. 11 pp. (70.

79.)

The COINAGE in DEVON and CORNWALL.

1599, June 4.-Letter to the Warden and all other her Majesty's officers for the Tin.

Forasmuch as the Warden, Sir W. Ralegh, Lieutenant of Cornwall, cannot make his repair down so as to be there by the day prefixed for the coinage in Devon, her Majesty hath commanded us to signify her pleasure that she would have the present time of coinage in the county of Devon deferred until 2 July, by which time the coinage in Cornwall being ended, they may both receive signification of her pleasure in Devonshire and proceed to the said coinage afterward.

Corrected draft in Cecil's hand. Endorsed:"4 June, '99. Signed by the L. Threr, Mr. Secretary and the Lo. Chief Justice." 1 p. (70. 80.)

WILLIAM, EARL of BATH to SIR ROBERT CECIL.

1599, June 4.-The bearer hereof, Thomas Bradshawe, being lately returned from Bayon, and intending to make his repair unto you concerning the conversaunce of Stanley, Duffill and Bridges at Bayon before their coming into this realm, hath prayed me to write unto you in his favour. I have the rather yielded my consent, because he had formerly discovered those persons and signified the same unto me.-From Towstocke, 4 June, 1599.

Signed. Seal. p. (70. 81.)

WILLIAM STALLENGE to SIR ROBERT CECIL.

1599, June 5.-This last day in the afternoon, Mr. Nicholas Slaning of Shaue [Shaugh] and Mr. John Fytes of Tavistock, with others of their consorts, upon a former quarrel, did meet about 8 miles from this town, where the said Mr. Slaning was slain by Mr. Fytes and divers others hurt. The said gentleman, as I understand, was a widower, and hath left 2 sons, the eldest of them being about 12 years old. His living is here esteemed to be so good as any gentleman's in these parts. Mr. Fytes is fled.-Plymouth, the 5 of June, 1599. Holograph. Seal. p. (51. 87.)

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DR. JOHN DUPORT, [Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge], to
SIR ROBERT CECIL.

1599, May 28.-May it please you, in the throng of such weighty affairs and of so many congratulations for this late advancement, to vouchsafe the leisure to look upon a poor man, who as one of the multitude in the common applause cannot keep silence, but must needs show some sign of gladness for the same. From Jesus College in Cambridge, 28 May, 1599. Holograph. Seal. 1 p. (70. 64.)

The WAR IN IRELAND.

1599, May 28.-The rebels' forces consist of:-Leinster, 3,230, including 182 horse; Ulster 8,922, including 270 horse; Munster 5,272, including 292 horse; Connaught 3,290, including 220 horse; O'Donnell, to strengthen the rebels of Connaught, is daily in the province, sometimes with 1,500 foot and 300 horse, with the aid of Maguire and others. Total, 20,704.

Her Majesty's army consisteth of 16,000 foot and 1,300 horse. Upon a proposition made by the Lord Lieutenant to the Council there for the invading first of Ulster, the root whence all the rebellion has sprung, it was resolved by an universal consent to forbear for a while that expedition, and in the meantime to prosecute the rebels of Leinster to see if those inner parts of the kingdom may be freed thereby and have a clearer passage into Ulster, and so to make a thorough attempt upon the arch-traitor Tirone in his own country. The difficulties are these there is there neither grass nor forage to be had for horses, neither will be till the summer be further advanced; it is impossible to lead so great a part of the army into so remote a part without a great preparation of beeves to be carried on foot for the sustenance of the soldiers, which in no sort could be levied, for all the Irish countries in Leinster, Munster and Connaught where the state was wont to be furnished with beeves, are all in effect revolted. The Lord Lieutenant having sorted and laid the companies in place meet to give correspondency one to another, and having placed garrisons upon the North borders to impeach Tirone's incursions, purposeth in person, with 3,000 foot and 200 horse, to pass into Leinster and to place his garrisons in the further parts where the enemy are now masters of the field. He will not go out of the way as the custom there hath been; he hath set down every night where he will lodge, whereof he hath already sent them word. He is resolved not yet to take in a man of theirs whereby their strength or number should be lessened. On the other side, the rebels have sworn that if there were an Earl of Essex upon every English churl that was come over, they should be fought withal. Not one rebel of note hath sent unto his lordship in 15 days, yet they know all of his coming in few hours. The rebels draw all their strength to two heads, namely-Tirone, with all the O'Neyles, the McMahons, and all his other complices in those parts of Ulster, having 6,000 or 7,000