and of them are seven brothers. This I think her Majesty will not neglect if your lordship consider the former discourses, for that it will bring the seat of the wars into those parts. This lord will execute his King's commandment so far as his means will stretch, having 2,000 gentlemen attending his coming, but the King's means are so small as they will not suffice to carry it out. If it will please her Majesty, seeing the commodity will be great to all Christendom and particularly to herself, to help with some money and other provision, she cannot but reap particular benefit thereby. The Turk will not fail for the many benefits he shall receive herein. Now if this man lack money he shall fail in much, but yet his spirit is so great that he will do much; he is brave in his own person, so allied in all the great houses, and generally so beloved of the whole country. This war will begin in Abrezzo and Puglia, and as well in the gulf as on the Tyrhenian sea will he have port towns. This is as much as the Secretary recommended unto me, which I have related truly, leaving the consideration thereof to your wisdom; desiring most humbly that I may have some resolution from you that he may see how I have discharged the trust he reposed in me. He is now or will be shortly in Italy and may there do you great service, and hath given me means from Paris to write to him always when it shall please your lordship. Endorsed in a later hand :-' "Wm. Lille's hand to E. Essex." Holograph by Lylle, but not signed or addressed. The words in italics are in cypher, having been deciphered by Essex's secretary. 1 p. (49. 10.) M. de LA FONTAINE to the EARL OF ESSEX. [1596-7, Jan.]. Hier sur le soir arriva le Sieur de Verger avec des lettres du Roy fort ample. Je desire fort vous communiquer le tout devant l'audience, laquelle, toutesfois, je ne puis differer de demander vers le soir pour lors qu'il sera agreable à Sa Majesté. Je crains d'aultre part qu'il soit trop suspect de me voir chez vous sur la venue de ce messager. Je vous supplie donc, Monseigneur, me faire scavoir quand et ou je pourray avoir l'opportunité de vous baiser les mains des ce soir, s'il est possible. Endorsed:-" M. de la Fontaine, Jan. '96." ROGIER de BELLEGARDE to the EARL OF ESSEX. [1596-7, Jan.].-Desiring his favour with the Queen to procure liberty for a poor quillebois, named Marguerin Millet, now a prisoner in London. Having loaded his ship at Yarmouth for Henriquartville, Millet was carried by bad weather to Calais and was there forced to place himself in the hands of the enemy. They, however, had pity on him and pardoned one whom the fury of the sea had pardoned after he had cut down his masts. Leaving Calais, he returned to Yarmouth where he has been arrested with his ship and merchandise. Bellegarde can answer for his fidelity, being in command of the place whereof the latter is a burgess. Endorsed by Essex :-"Monsr. Le Grand, rec. '96. In favour of Millet a Frenchman." Undated. French. Holograph. Seals. 1 pp, (173.34.) The QUEEN to the KING OF FRANCE. [1596-7, January].-Les lettres qui dernierement me mandastes me firent escouter en bonne diligence les instructions que votre tres fidel la Fontaine m'expliqua de vostre part, important une fort grande et necessaire enterprinse selon que le temps conviendra avec l'action. Mais, quand j'entendis que vous me disiez l'autheur de telle offerte, je m'estonnis, ayant pour monstrer la copie de tels mandemens que M. de Reaux me laissa a son partement, ou il appert bien clairement comme vous m'invitastes a tel dessein par plusieurs signalées raisons et bien probables arguments, vous confessant vivement que, me voyant si mesprise quand vos forces ne suffirent ou ne l'ozerent entreprendre, les miens estant tout prests et prompts a la parfaire, que en mesme temps aymeriez mieulx que l'ennemi en eust la proye que vostre tres approuvée en eust la victoire. Je desdaignois d'en faire plus mention et n'eust esté par votre solicitation n'en eusse oncques faict recit, nonobstant que je ne puis nyer que, si elle ne se prenne premier qu'on la fortifie trop, et que l'havvre s'eslargie comme ils la figurent, je y voy bien grande difficulte a la regaigner. Si est ce que pour le present me voyant environné par trois endroits et par leurs flottes destinés a Irlande, la Bretagne, et peult estre quelques coigns d'Angleterre, mes sujets me cuyderoyent insensé si quelques aultres desseins me destourneroient les yeulx tant de leur salut que je ne postposasse toutes autres pensées à la nuire de si pres touchant nos estats propres, et pour ce je ne vous ose tant abuser a attendre de ma part presentement tel ayde qui conviendroit necessairement a si grand affaire, et vous supplie croire q'naultre raison que ceste plus que necessaire occasion ne me retarderoit a si honorable action, espérant que me trouverez tousjours prompte et jamais tardifve a vous seconder en negoce qui vous touchera. Pour le demourant je l'ay communiqué a mon ambassadeur, a qui il vous plaira donner favourable audience. Endorsed:-" Copy of Her Majesty's letter to the French King, January 1596." (133. 145.) ROBERT WHITE, Mayor, and the Citizens of LIMERICK to the QUEEN. 1596-7, Feb. 1.--It may please your most excellent Majesty to be advertised of the thankful and faithful hearts which we your true subjects the mayor and citizens of your city of Limerick within your realm of Ireland, do bear unto you our true, natural, and magnificent Empress. The benefits which we and our ancestors have found by the bounty of your Majesty and your progenitors have been so infinite and excellent as we cannot express nor conceive, for the which upon the knees of our hearts we most humbly yield all the thanks we are able, and for the manifestation of our faithfulness and true subjection to your Highness we do here most willingly, before the face of Almighty God, vow and promise that no threats of foreign invasion, no fear of death or bondage, nor terror of torture or trouble, shall move us to any disloyal offices; but will according to our most bounden duty discharge the parts of faithful subjects. And although our substance be already consumed and our poverty discovered, yet we will not spare to spend the uttermost penny of our patrimony before we slake any whit in furtherance of your service, as lately we have (upon notice given by the Lord Deputy of a journey into Ulster) furnished out a hundred men of our citizens at our own charges without respecting our disability or regarding our privileges whereby we are freed from any such service. For this ground we have laid and concluded upon, that we hold them not only unworthy of franchise but also of life that would plead privilege in time of need against her service by whom we have all our liberties. And forasmuch [as] we see shows that we shall be driven shortly to make proof by deeds of that we now promise by words for the keeping and defending of this city for your Highness, that it may stand with your princely pleasure for our better help to give order that this bearer William Stridek, one of our citizens, may have for our use 100 armours, 100 murions, 100 muskets, 2,000 weight of powder and 1,000 weight of match of your store, and for lack of money, to accept for the payment thereof so many bills and tickets as the price of them shall amount unto, which we will deliver here to your Highness's Treasurer or to any other as we shall be commanded. Live for ever, most dear Sovereign, that God of His goodness confound all your enemies without exception of any. At your Highness's city of Limerick, this first day of February, 1596. 1 p. (38. 14.) HUMFREY FOUNES, Mayor of Plymouth, SIR FERDINANDO Gorges, and WILLIAM STALLENGE to the PRIVY COUNCIL. 1596-7, Feb. 1.-This last day here arrived the bark Pearce wherein Capt. Crofts went forth, having lost seven of her men which were overthrown with their boat in the boarding of a Spanish carvell, and left over five aboard a Biscayan ship laden with iron, wherein the said bark Pearce and their company are to have their shares with a ship of Hampton and a Frenchman of Rochelle, but, as we suppose, the Frenchmen being the greater number in the prize have carried her for Rochelle, where there will be small hope to recover any part thereof. We will forthwith discharge the bark and company that are come home in her, and satisfy what shall be due unto them, although as yet we have not sold any part of the goods brought home by Captain Crofts whereby to defray the charges, neither can we receive of the customer that which is owing for the victualling of her and the carvell at their going forth. By the master of this bark, as by others lately arrived which departed from the coast of Galicia about 14 days past, we understand that of the King's fleet there remained at Ferroll 140 sail, whereof 30 galleys, and that their soldiers remained lodged abroad in the country within 30 leagues of Ferroll, where they have caused a great dearth of victuals and especially of bread: that the sickness continueth still among those at Ferroll; that the Adelantado had been sent for by the King, but excused his going by reason of his sickness; that the King hath caused to be prepared at Lisbon 20 small carvells to join the rest of his fleet, and as it was generally reported, the army would be ready to depart in April next. We daily expect the coming of Captain Harper, by whom we hope to receive more certain intelligence, whereof your lordship shall be advertised. We have made stay of a Frenchman, supposing him to be a spy, but as yet can find nothing to prove the same. about 30 years, and departed from his dwelling place, being, as he said, near unto Marseilles in France, about four years past; whence he went to Geneva, thence into Hungary and so through Germany into the Low Countries, and thence to London, where he arrived about thirteen months past, since which time he hath travelled the most part of England and Wales along the sea coast, and is now come to this town from Dartmouth to seek passage for his country. His apparel is very bare, and money he hath not but what is given him. If upon further examination we find any matter in him you shall be advertised, but as yet he seemeth unto us not to be of capacity fit for any such service. We are daily He is called on by those which pretend interest in the goods brought home by Capt. Crofts, and the ship and company of Spaniards lie here at great charges, wherefore we pray your pleasures what further course shall be taken therein.-Plymouth, I February, 1596. Endorsed:-"Received at Whitehall the 3rd of the same." SIR ROBERT SYDNEY to the EARL OF ESSEX. 1596-7, Feb. 1.—I must renew my suit unto you that I may bestow the 50 men of Sir Coniers Clifford's company upon Sir Edmund Uvedal. He is my lieutenant governor and to follow the service here doth forsake all other fortunes. And indeed, if I had not thought upon the resignation of Sir Coniers Clifford that the said 50 would have been cashed as I have seen done in divers other companies before, ere I had passed my promise to you for Sir John Shelton I would have disposed of them to Sir Ed. Uvedal. You may herein make two gentlemen be-holden to you; Sir John Shelton for the company of 150, and Sir Ed. Uvedal for the rest, and me for a third man, who would be glad to gratify my lieutenant.--At Flushing, 1 February, 1596. Holograph. Seal. 1 p. (38. 16.) ANNE, LADY COBHAM to SIR ROBERT CECIL, her Nephew. 1596-7, Feb. 1.--Understands there are some who go about to obtain a suit which she is in good hope is already obtained, or by his furtherance very shortly to be obtained, for her son John, who is employed in her Majesty's service and cannot attend his own cause. It cannot well pass without his grace of Canterbury's consent or by Cecil's procurement; his grace has promised as he hath already set to his hand her son's bill for the obtaining thereof, so he will not give his consent to any other. Prays that if any such matter be by any other intended he will not only be a hinderer of the same, but as soon as convenient will obtain it for her son, if not already obtained. The urgent necessity of the occasion excuses her rash writing to him in his heaviness.-" From my house in Holborn," 1 February, 1596. Signed. p. (38. 17.) ROBERT STRACHEY. 1596-7, Feb. 1.-Order of the Lord Mayor, Billingsley, that Sir John Spencer, Mr. Bennett and Mr. Holliday, aldermen, calling unto them the late Master and Wardens of the Company of Minstrels, shall have consideration of the petition of Robert Strachey, minstrel, and report thereof.-1 Feb. 1596. p. Contemporary copy. (209. 7a.) MONSIEUR DE CARON to the EARL OF ESSEX. 1596-7, Feb. 2.-Has obtained of the Queen leave to depart. She would have detained him three or four days longer, not having yet come to an absolute resolution in the matter (whereof Essex is informed); but, on his showing her the great desire he had to start and the great loss which delay would cause him, she has agreed that her resolution shall follow him. May God direct it to her glory and honour! His duty was to have come once more to Essex to receive his commands, but being anxious not to lose this morning's tide, he has been bold to take leave by this little word.-London, 2 February, 1596. Signed-Noel de Caron. French. 1 p. (173, 35.) SIR WALTER RALEGH to SIR ROBERT CECIL. [1596-7?] Feb. 2.-Sir. If my news be stale it cost me but the labour to write it. A townsman's son of Sherborne hath been in Spain in a French bottom, and is now returned. He departed Lisbon the 15 of January (which is late) and reporteth for certain that the fleet of treasure is returned; all but one great ship, which is doubted of. They had by common fame seventeen million. He spake with divers soldiers at Cascales, where there are assembled 2,000 ready to be embarked in thirty sail cf ships. Those soldiers knew no other but they were bound for Flanders, it may be for Ireland or for some other purpose. They take up our small men-of-war very fast, not only with the good sailing Dunkirks, but "cussen" them with French bottoms, which the English suspect not. This that I write you you may assure yourself to be true. Yours as your servant W. Raleigh. Candlemas day. P.S.-I never received one word from my Lord Cobham, neither of his suit, or of his coming or other matter, this three weeks. You have many letters of mine, pray return some answer. Holograph. Part of Seal. 1 p. (173. 36.) SIR JOHN STANHOPE to SIR ROBERT CECIL. 1596-7, Feb. 3.-I left the Queen at six very quiet, and as I guess will not stir till it be very late, but I will attend the time and present it if she do but breathe a little while afore her going to bed. It may please you this night or in the morning to give order for your letter to the Bishop of Carlisle for admitting, inducting, and instituting of Mr. Lowther, minister, to the parsonage of Greystock according to the tenor of her Majesty's advowson, granted to him heretofore under the great seal. Likewise remember the poor prisoner Sir Griffin Markham; I hope it will do good towards this charitable time of Lent.-3 February. Holograph. Seal. p. (38, 18.) JOHN DANYELL to SIR RORERT CECIL. 1596-7, Feb. 3.-Immediately after it pleased her Majesty by letters patent to grant him 407. pension by the year, he was forced to pawn the same for 120l. to pay some of his creditors. Since which time has received no part of his pension but the 207. Cecil made good to him, is farther indebted, wanting apparel, and stands secure only by his means from imprisonment. Beseeches him to entertain his enclosed suit to her Majesty which draweth nothing out of her coffers-and to procure her command according to its tenor, in hope that he may thereby quit his pension, pay his debt and do her Majesty service. Once he may receive his pension and be out of debt will leave his letters patent in Cecil's hands and will into France to spend it in her Majesty's service; seeing he cannot go into Spain, will procure instruments, with little charge to her Highness, to travel into Spain and the Low Countries and send the occurrents of those places, which he will continually send him |