persons and practices intendit, for which my director will engage his promise how soon he shall know his service to be agreeable by advertisement that your Honour will embrace this overture. But, whether the said original party fail or not in this last point concerning yourself, I shall be your traitor and betrayer, if any assassinate or assassinor come from that place of the enemy whereof I shall not give reasonable advertisement. Alway I have promised my director negative or affirmative answer before the 10 of February, wishing therefore in humility to know your pleasure with speed.

Concerning Bothwell, since I have sent one to attend his proceedings mentionate in my former, knowing your pleasure therein, I shall proceed or cease; wishing such limits in that and all other matters to be prescrivit unto me by her Majesty's prudent discretion as may most content her mind, for I am only to be rulit after her gracious pleasure as my most dread sovereign and saviour of my life. This last of Januar, 1599.

Holograph. Seal. Addressed: -“To the Right Honorable 60." Endorsed :—“ 1 Feb., '98." 2 pp. (59. 45.)

M. DE CHASTES, Governor of Dieppe, to the EARL of ESSEX.

Jan 31

1598-9, -Has received his letter by the Sieur Dale. Will always receive great content when occasion offers to do Essex service. Dieppe, 10 February.

French. Holograph. p. (176. 67.)

SIR FRANCIS and SIR EDWARD HASTINGS to the EARL of ESSEX. Immanuel.

[1598-9, Jan.]-Give us licence to renew our former suit on behalf of the bearer, Mr. Savile, who desires to serve under you in Ireland. He has long followed the wars, and was employed by you to view and train the forces in Rutlandshire.

In Sir Francis' handwriting. p. (59. 25.)

WILLIAM, EARL of DERBY to SIR ROBERT CECIL, his uncle.

[1598-9, Jan.]-Was wished by his wife to write for a letter to reprieve a poor young man for whom Cecil has already written once at her request. To-morrow the man dies unless reprieved. By his petition, his offence was stealing a little silver "skellett" out of her chamber; being the first fault she was loth to have him die, yet he was condemned before he could make any means. Is to wait on the Countess of Oxford home to her house, who lodged here at his house.-At Thisleworth.

Holograph. Endorsed:-"1598, January-without date." p. (38. 13.)

sta.. be able. he promiseth not to fall be attend his charge care, What por shall do for him, the rather for my sake. I in very thankrui part.—From the Court, the

Jar Jary, 1598.

Draft. 59. 35.)

of

SIR EDWARD HASTYNGS to the EARL of ESSEX.

1598-9, Jan.-I would not be burdensome to your Honour, but I have already been forced to pawn those few jewels of my wife's, which will not supply our present wants. Wherefore I beseech you be a means that her Majesty may understand my poor estate and bestow something upon me in this my latter age. Holograph. Endorsed by Reynolds :—“Janu. 98." Seal. §p. (59. 40.)

THOMAS IRELAND to SIR ROBERT CECIL.

1598-9, Jan. My Lord is gone to Ashby, my Lord Compton's house in Northamptonshire, or at my Lord Mordaunt's, eight miles from Ashby, and there will abide some two days. If it might stand with your liking, I would think meet the messenger went to-morrow with your letter, and if you wrote the least desire from my Lady of his Lordship's return, I think he will come back again. Holograph. (59. 41.)

Undated.

Endorsed:-" January, '98."

SIR ROBERT CECIL to the EARL of ESSEX.

p.

1598-9, Jan.-This gentleman, Mr. Done, hath made earnest unto me to recommend his suit unto you to have command of one of the companies that go now into Ireland. He saith he hath heretofore followed you in some of your actions, and that his name has been by Sir Richard Bingham and others set down among those who are fit to take charge into Ireland. Undated. Endorsed: January, '98."

Holograph. (59. 42.)

SIR FRANCIS VERE to the EARL of ESSEX.

1 p.

1598-9, Jan.-This honest man, Captain Wilford, is resolved to attend your Lordship in this voyage, as he hath done in all your former. Having also had experience of him as my officer, I can testify that he is for the ordering of men, for his skill in fortification and for other ingenuities appertaining to the war, as towardly a gentleman as most that I have met withal in my days. And such I doubt not your Lordship shall find him in the trial. Holograph. Undated. Endorsed :—“ January, '98." Seal. 1 p. (59. 44.)

R. WINGFIELD to [the EARL of ESSEX.]

[1598-9, Jan.]-Asking to be allowed to accompany him on his journey.

Undated. Signed. p. (58. 66.)

JAMES PERROTT to the EARL of ESSEX.

1598-9, Jan.-It is now six years since first I depended on your lordship, and now being desirous to attend you into Ireland, I understand there are certain gentlemen in the counties of Cardigan, Pembroke and Carmarthen which do determine to send horses with you for this service of Ireland, about the number of 30 and odd; whereof I crave I may have the charge. And although you may well suspect my sufficiency (especially to discharge this service, having not served before), yet I hope you shall find that in very short time I will enable myself to discharge this and to do you other acceptable service. If you think fit to do me this favour, I pray you give directions unto Sir Gelly Meyrick for my despatch, whereby I may repair into the country in convenient time to receive those horses, to see them well furnished, and to make as many more as I may of mine own and my friends.

Holograph. Endorsed:-"Janu. '98." 1 p. (176. 87.)

ELIZABETH, DOWAGER LADY RUSSELL to SIR ROBERT CECIL.

1598-9, Jan.-I hear of words passed between you and Mr. Comptroller and between the other two Earls. If you will have me to come to Court to do you any good offices, who have had ever a natural instinct to be honest and natural in time of trial, howsoever it hath been deserved, let me know your mind, and then, so you procure her Majesty to command my Lord Chamberlain that I may have a convenient lodging within the house, I will come when you desire. Otherwise, upon the least wet of my feet or legs by long clothes or cold, my pate is so subject to rheum that my hearing will be so bad as that I am fit for no company or other place than my own cell.-"Your aunt that ever deserved the best, E.R. Dowager."

Holograph. Endorsed :—“January, '98." 2 seals over green 1 p. (176. (176. 88.)

REMEMBRANCES for M. II[ARRIS].

silk.

[1598-9, about Jan.]-(1.) Upon what motives and at whose chief persuasion the King returned back that which her Majesty had sent by Mr. W. Foules touching Val. Thomas.

(2.) What the King conceiveth of her Majesty's proceedings in treaty with Spain by the means of the Cardinal of Austria, and whether Sir Walter Lindsaye and the Lord Bonneton have not disposed and drawn the King to treat with Spain. What was their creance, and the King's acceptance and countenance towards them, and upon what noblemen and councillors they do chiefly rely.

(3.) What is like to become of Father Gourdon, and whether the Scots Queen be not of late again wrought to dispose the King to Popery, and to have privy correspondence with the Pope by the "entermize" of some confident Jesuistes "?

(4.) Whether there be no "entremetteurs" and intelligence betwixt the King and Tyrone, and, if any, who?

(5.) How the King affecteth my Lord of Essex's employment into Ireland, and whether his jealousy towards him continue or be diminished.

What is the cause of the Earl of Mar's discontent, and whether it be near to grow to a head.

(7.) Whether the Spanish faction here have no secret plots in hand against the person and state of her sacred Majesty, and what instruments?

(8.) How it stands with the Lord Hamilton, and whether he increase or decay in wealth and creance.

(9.) What interest the new Chancellor, the Earl of Montrose, hath in the King's favour, and who combine with him.

(10.) Whether there hath been any overture made for the young Prince his marriage or any of his sisters.

Whether the King rely anything upon his new alli mee with France by the house of Lorraine, and what help he expecteth from thence.

Lastly, to inform yourself thoroughly and particularly of all that you shall in your judgment and discretion think to make for the advancement of her Majesty's service and to be meet for her knowledge.

Corrected draft. Endorsed:-" Remembrances for Dr. Harris going into Scotland." 2 pp. (67. 52.)

ANNE WHIGHT to SIR ROBERT CECIL.

1598-9, Feb. 2.-There has been a suit depending in law more than four years between my son-in-law Mr. Henry Welbey and his half brother William, who wrongfully withholds certain lands from my said son, being his inheritance. I pray you speak to the Lord Keeper, before whom the cause is to be tried, in my son's behalf. My Lord your father in his lifetime, about a year past, did speak unto my Lord Keeper concerning the same, and he found it to be a just cause on my son's side.— The 2 of February, 1598.

Signature. p. (59. 46.)

JOHN CAVE to SIR ROBERT CECIL.

1598-9, Feb. 2.-I desire to go to Turkey, in the journey which is now ready to go, for my better bringing up and experience in the world. Grant me your letter unto the owners of the ship, which is now ready to sail, for my passage.-This second of February, 1598.

Holograph.

p. (59. 47.)

WILLIAM TYPPER to SIR ROBERT CECIL.

1598-9, Feb. 2.-After my departure from your Honour, I went to Sir John Fortescue, signifying that you would gladly have conferred with him about Sir Edward Dyer's cause. Sir John cannot come to Court to-day, having taken a great cold, but to-morrow