appointed to be with the troops at Flushing, attending there your further directions. Sir Francis Vere hath thought it good to divide the number into companies of 150 apiece, and for mine own to deliver me 200; at which rate I must be an humble suitor, as well for my own particular as in behalf of the rest of the captains, that they may be continued upon the list; and most part of them having quitted their old companies of long continuance, which were now to have been reduced to 200 apiece, only out of their desires to attend your lordship. If it please you, moreover, if the shortness of the time may permit it, to send over to the treasurer that shall be appointed to meet us at Flushing that some little sum of money be disbursed to the accommodating of the ships for lodging the soldiers at more convenience, I think it will much ease them in their journey, and you shall find them in better ability for service at their landing; for which if there come not special order, I will presume in mine own discretion to get it done. What kind of men you shall be served withal from hence I cannot yet tell, but I fear they will require time to be trained little less than the others which are but new levied. In the meantime my endeavours shall not fail in anything to the making of them serviceable, being the height of my ambition to do you faithful and acceptable service. From the Hague, this 12th of January,

1598.

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THOMAS PERCY to the EARL of ESSEX, Earl Marshal of England. 1598-9, Jan. 12.-I am emboldened by your lordship's command of my best endeavours in this matter to be troublesome to your more weighty affairs with my simple proceeding in this business, which you may best perceive by these letters.

I do not importune the man with haste in this matter lest he should grow suspicious: but seeing his settled inclination to effect this purpose, I do by my letter encourage him with assurance that nothing shall be wanting which on my part may or can be performed. He hath brought to pass divers small matters on the Border with such ease as he holds no doubt of prevention in any his attempts; and therefore nothing can stay his determination but a plain discovery of the plot; which I hope your wisdom will prevent, and safe keep it from all them which may give notice of it into this country. I have reasons to urge this which I may not commit to writing, but will make known to your lordship when it shall please you to hear me speak.-Alnwick, January 12.

Endorsed by Essex's Secretary:-"Mr. Thos. Percy, at Alnwick. 12 Jan. '98."

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SIR EDWARD CONWAY to the EARL of ESSEX.

1598-9, Jan. 12.-By my humble letters I made offer of my service to you, seeing more light to good fortune through that window than all other ways could shew me. To come to you

Underlined in the original.

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RALPH FOX to

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bonourable report to her From my poor distressed Surtour the harbourless.

EDVARD Barytos. Secretary to the
Earl of EsseL

1598-9, Jan. 20.—I have before ormplained to you against Mr. Udall for the lead part he played with me in secusing me to the L. Chancellor of writing to my Lord against him. Now lately he hath told one Weston, an alderman of this City, whom he met at Chester coming from the Court, that I had striven to cross his, Weston's, suit to be merchant for provi ling apparel for the army, by writing tomy Lord and you an i saying that Weston was a Frenchman and not fit to be trusted. I doubt not but you will roundly tell him of his dishonest dealing in accusing me with that false and devised matter. If I had not carried myself well, I could not have continued upwards of 20 years in favour in this office. From Dublin the 20th of Jan., 1598.

P.S.This gentleman, Capt. Devoroux, from anything I could learn, hath carried himself very well in his charge. How I have used him for my Lo. sake, I leave to his own honest report. The Lord Justices, as may appear, do conceive well of him, on whose behalf they wrote to my Lord.

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The EARL of NORTHUMBERLAND to the EARL of ESSEX.

[1598 9, Jan. 20.--These great stirs at Court of yours came hither unto this country. The alarm was hot, but when I understood the enemy, I feared small danger. If I might know when you are ready to go forwards this journey, I would come and bid you farewell. Your brother to be disposed of as you may have occasion to use me, Petworth, this 20 Jan.

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SIR RICHARD MOLYNEUX to SIR ROBERT CECIL.

1598-9, Jan. 20.-A little before Xmas last a certain nobleman of Scotland, the Lord Johnson, came to stay at Dalton in Furness, with but four in his company. Hearing that a man of such quality was staying so privately in so paltry a town, I would have stayed him, being in your government of the Duchy, for your directions. Before I could do so, my house being near threescore miles from the place, he had removed to Cockermouth in the Lord Scroop's Wardenry, where he now remains. At the end of last Michaelmas term, I received by one Peter Hale directions from you to give Hale warrant to search for Popish and Seminary priests. I have not seen Hale since the delivery of the letter, some seven or eight weeks ago.-This 20th of January, 1598. Holograph. Seal. 1 p. (59. 6.)

[JOHN COLVILLE] to [the EARL of ESSEX.]

1598-9, Jan. 8.-At my being there the original party came to (65) the Mayor of Boulogne, marvelling much of his long delay, and informing him in manner following; that the piece of . merchandise shall be had without loss of a hair, but he will in no cause deal with (68) the States nor with any that served them, his mind carrying him either to (69) England or to (70) France, but rather to (69) England because the other may not attempt. And whereas before my power was limitate only to deal with (60) your lordship, now I may at his direction deal with any (58) Protestant, the former excepted, and the matter be prosecuted as merchandise, avowed or not avowed by (41) the Queen, as they think safest. The dispense will be small and the danger less, as the merchant, if I can find one, may see with his eyes.

Secondly, Bothwell shall have entertainment of 1,000 men to be lifted and used in manner following. Three ships with three hundred of Stanley's regiment to go with him to Caithness, the Earl whereof is his brother. Arriving there, he shall lift his men and sail to Orkney, where he intends to force the castle of Kirkbay, and is to possess all the small Oread isles easily, because the inhabitants dislike their natural Lord, and are well inclined to Bothwell. His purpose then is to lift the men he can that speak the Irish tongue and by the west seas, where he will be out of danger of your ships, to go to Ireland, leaving a garrison in the said castle and islands to collect stores and munitions there from the East countries, and to be a receptacle for their hurt and deceased persons, the passage suiting well for Danish and Hamburgh [men] to go to Spain and Ireland.

Item: he was the month of November last in Paris, where he has debauched sundry Scotchmen to go with him; one of them, a friend of mine, has revealed all to me, and is willing (if you will) to go and attend on Bothwell and keep me advertised of him.

To frustrate this design, I suggest that letters be written to the King warning him that Bothwell intends to enter Caithness to seize the Orkneys, that the King may take good order with the Earl of Caithness and his brothers Ja. and Jo. Sinklers; also that

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154-9, Jan. 21.-As one day in hearen is better than a Morand, wo one letter like this if youre may stan i for a million. Your Lordenip hath mounted me high with so particular favour, which walleteth my covetings more than a horse company or band of ordnance of my late Lori Treasurer's angels. Not to have asked, had been to be ignorant of what I had been and what I am; to be denied is not strange to me, who in his life had but one grant, not without long grief to amplify the same. This denial prejudiceth the service, not me, and so I leave it. I pass my leave to come up in like manner, for when it shall not be that i may attend you there, I have no extraordinary comfort there. I shall seldom see the Queen go to Chapel, and for other saints, I am already too crooked to creep to them, yet, as I am, I would willingly follow your baggage in the camp in a horselitter and be your carriage master. Would God I had so exchanged my government! I fear I shall carry hoary bad reputation hence, such is the ancient ill-condition, and irreparable amendment since we are deprived of hope of means by your absence. You should take all your followers to die happily with you in Egypt, rather than unhappily leave them to live in the dearth of Canaan behind you. For the changing of the garrison, the charge of levying new supplies is quitted in the arms and furnitures of those other companies set forth. The charge to transport from hence into Ireland will be a small matter, and, if it please her Majesty that I appoint captains, and levies for those men shall

come hither, I will see the charge cleared rather than live "puseld," as I do, and the town in danger, as it is like to be. The dilemma is thus resolved. Soldiers marred with ease in towns, having good bodies, arms and clothes, will prove excellent in the field though very bad for the town, with whose frontier neighbours they have had too much practice, wherein they have had so much head and liberty. These have forgot what they have learned, are mutinous, obstinate where there is no danger, and humbly mindful of their duties presented before a fearful enemy. In a town, again, new soldiers are like new scholars, willing to become proficients, and so, in time, masters. Sooner will a simple clown in a quiet garrison prove a soldier indeed, than a conceited ill-trained bravo that hath forgot his bad lesson. Thus these good men the town may well be disfurnished of, because they are not good for it, but for the field. New soldiers, tender and unacquainted with the field, will have humbler spirits and less acquainted with disorders, than such fellows of all waters, and so fitter for the town. But where your repeated reasons prevail not, I think it reason to leave the argument to the final construction, when I hope in God I shall so behave myself for the bearing of my part, as I shall not stand stammering it memoriter as some unlucky did for Calleis in Westminster. I have said the best I could for this service, and I will do my best, so upon my "Quietus est," I care not what Auditor Hunt or hunting auditors cavil. I have obtained much in that my reasons have been accepted and defended by you, and I rest myself more supplied on your true report than if I had horsecompanies, foot, munition, engineers and whatsoever else. These are but trifles, oaten pipes. When I turn myself to your great work, I am enchanted with your sweet harmony of discords, admire your forecasts, and bemoan myself to be divided from such a fortress of fortitude, whereunto I am in mind so morticed as I desire of God to stand and fall withal. Who flowed so much as could supply to this your project, might well be held another ocean, whereof our world hath but one. You have made already the conquest your own, you have encountered evil itself, subdued it to your virtuous self, the other conflicts are but light skirmishes, your trophy is already advanced, and death itself is fallen at your feet. Hanno is subdued alive, Hannibal from the senate throws his trifling enemy to the stairs' foot, Cato his poison ends himself, you victorious shall see these new acted. But glory and safety! Though Ireland calls you, Satyrs can hear that England cries out for you. Is peril present there in eye, it is here imminent in heart. But must you needs go, yet, noble lord, bestride us down, firm one foot there but rest the other here, that, when you step to us again, it may be without slipping. For fear of it you are sure to have the hands and hearts of honest men. I though I be minimus apostolorum will pray my part, with the widow ever ready to pay my mite.-Scribbled lamely from Berwick, the 21st of January.

Signed. 23 pp. (59. 10.)