is, the Count Maurice will go thither and attempt some service (as I touched in my former) upon the enemy. The Cardinal lieth still in Bruxels, where there is a very great court, but can do nothing for want of means; the Spaniards refusing to stir out of the places they lie in unless they be satisfied. It is thought by those of best judgement here with us that if matters be well handled and followed against the King of Spain this summer he will be brought very low and put to a plunge, having too many irons at once in the fire to make good work of them.From the Haeghe this 12th of February 1596.

Signed. Seal. 2 pp. (173. 42.)

SIR HORATIO PALAVICINO to SIR ROBERT CECIL.

1596-7, Feb. 12.-Some time ago he invited a nephew who was at the Court of France to come and see him before returning to Italy. His nephew, however, in attempting to do so has been driven back to France by contrary winds and has now decided not to embark again. Hoped through him to have found some one who could do the Queen service in Spain, for he is an enemy of the Spaniards, and his brother is a prelate and a person of consideration in the court of Rome. Sends his letter to let Cecil see what kind of a man he is, and also to let him see what an Italian in Paris writes to him about one Rizza Casa, whom the writer knew in Germany. If what he writes about the Queen is only by conjecture of the stars it is of little moment, but if it has a better foundation nothing in a matter of such importance should be overlooked. Asks for these letters back to-morrow that he may answer them by a messenger who leaves the day after.-Saturday night.

Endorsed:-" 12 Feb. 1596."

Italian. Holograph. 1 p. (173. 43.)

FRANCIS CHERRY to SIR ROBERT CECIL.

1596-7, Feb. 13.-Vouchsafe the despatch of our so important suit, that this privy seal now to be obtained from her Majesty may give warrant that all our money due for cordage may be presently paid us; for else we shall not be able to proceed in providing the cordage bespoken, nor uphold our credit, strained to the uttermost by this long forbearance. From London, 13 February 1596.

Holograph. Seal. p. (38, 29.)

HUMFREY FOUNES, Mayor of Plymouth, SIR FERD. GORGES, and WILLIAM STALLENGE, to the Privy Council.

1596-7, Feb. 13.-This last day we received your letters of the third hereof, whereby we are commanded to send up the pipe boards and iron plates for hoops unto Mr. Quarles and Mr. Dorell, which we mean to do so soon as convenient shipping may be had. The rest of the goods shall be sold to the most value that can be made of them, which we think will not exceed the rates already set down, but rather less, by reason of another Biscayan ship brought in here of late with good store of the like commodities. Her Majesty's third part of the prize sent in by Captain Harper is sold according to the schedule we sent you; except the planks we valued at 18d. are sold for 2s. the plank. In the Biscayan ship we have placed English mariners and allow them for keeping her 14s. every week. Whereas we are commanded to send away the mariners of the said ship into France and to send up the Spaniards

taken in her, it may please you there were brought home in the said prize 19 men and one boy, of which there is one Frenchman and 17 Biscayans all mariners. The other two were passengers, one a merchant and owner of the most part of the goods, and the other a boy that went for Seville to seek service. We pray further directions; as also what shall be done with the Spanish mariners sent home by Capt. Harper and Capt. Leggatt.--Plymouth, 13 February 1596.

Signed. Portion of seal. 1 p. (38. 30.)

JOHN FERNE to SIR ROBERT CECIL.

1596-7, Feb. 14-His letters of the 9th inst. were delivered to him the 13th at 8 in the night, with two several letters from the Council to Mr. Scudamore, collector of the loan in co. York, and Mr, Clopton, collector in the bishopric of Durham. Is informed they are now at London to make up their accounts, so returns the letters. Craves pardon for not in person attending him when at London in January; Cecil's sorrowful accident gave him just cause to deny all access of suitors for the time. At York, 14 February, 1596.

Holograph. p. (38. 31.)

SIR ROBERT SYDNEY to the EARL OF ESSEX.

1596-7, Feb. 14.-I beseech you not to be displeased with the letters I wrote unto you in behalf of Sir Edmund Uvedale. He is my lieutenant governor and kinsman, and urged me to do so much as I did. But Sir John Shelton hath the company as fully as Sir Coniers Clifford had it with all consent from me; and in this as in everything else be assured I will very faithfully perform whatsoever I shall say unto you. And for writing to anybody else but unto you about the 50 men, I did refuse to do it, though I were much requested to. I give you very humble thanks for your favourable report of the last action of Turnholt, wherein it was my fortune to be. If you think I did deserve anything in it, I would it would make you think me the abler to do you service. The Queen hath in a letter of hers given me thanks for it, wherein I rejoice very much; but withal hath given me also a caveat of not venturing myself, considering the charge I have of this place. Truly, my lord, I will not idly hazard myself nor her men; but I must think it a hard fortune unto me if at those times that I know there is no danger of this town I may not go forth when I am sent for, somewhat to increase my experience and reputation. I see my lord Burrow, who is in equal charge with me, can be sent for many years many hundred miles off to the greatest commandment the Queen can give, and yet retain his government here. And if I may not be suffered for some few days to go abroad where in three days I shall ever be able to be at home again, I must think it is not the place but myself who am too near looked unto. If any mishap fall unto me her Majesty hath a great many more able to discharge this place; and I will never leave it but in such sort that no accident of mine shall do her Majesty any disservice.

Touching my leave her Majesty writes that after some short time is overblown (for so be the words of the letter) she will have care of my request; and in the said letter toucheth some practices upon this town which are known, she saith, unto her, in respect of which it seems she cannot dispense with my absence hence. But to me her Majesty doth leave them unknown, and in so doing it is all one almost where I be, if I may not know what to fear and how to prevent. If it cannot be attained I will lay it up among my other crosses; only I must complain that I

am suffered to be eaten up with interests, and of mine own may not be allowed to deliver myself.

I shall be glad to hear the certainty of your sea journey because here we are blown up and down now with one report then with another. I will pray that both the setting forth and the return may be to your safety, honour and contentment; and, for myself, offer what I am unto you rather to employ my hands with you than mine ears to hear what you have done. At Flushing, the 14th of February, 1596.

Holograph. Seal. 3 pp. (38. 33.)

SIR HORATIO PALAVICINO to SIR ROBERT CECIL.

1596-7, Feb. 14.-The letter to the ambassador is to contain only that if, to facilitate the repayments of the Queen's money, there is need of any private person, Tomasio Chauvini of Roano, bearer of the letter, is a fit person, and is to be furnished with particulars of the debt and with assistance. Will write to him to be careful to commence the practice as of himself without introduction from our Court. Asks for the letter before midday, because there is a messenger leaving. Desires to know whether the Duke of Bouillon and M. de Sancy are bound in their own names for the 20,000 crs. As for Rizza Casa, Cecil has not said whether he is to be invited to come or dissuaded-From my house, 14 Feb., 1596.

Italian. Holograph. 1 p. Seal. (173. 44.)

1p.

OTWELL SMITH to LORD Burghley.

1596-7, Feb. 16.—I have shipped in a ship of London the rest of her Majesty's munition which I found in the storehouse; the particularities are here enclosed. I have agreed for the carriage of the same, 91. Since my coming over there is a letter of marque granted against Englishmen, the which you have heard of, and many more are like to follow, for the Frenchmen do daily complain against Englishmen, and the Constable is sore against us; and we that be traders hither cannot agree amongst ourselves, for its richest men will lay all the burden upon the poorest sort because they can deal covertly under Frenchmen's names and ship their goods in strangers' ships, which is a great hindrance to the navigation, so if you do not take some order the poor young men shall be undone and we shall enrich strangers and impoverish ourselves. For at our last pursuit there is one Mr. Campbell, one [of] the richest that trades hither, would not contribute to the charge for the drawing out of the last letters for the staying of the letter of marque. At my last being in London I did propound unto the merchants the way to prevent any letters of marque to be executed upon the land in giving about 1007., and the said Campbell would do nothing nor give one penny towards it, so he was the cause of the breaking off of all things. So that without it please her Majesty to grant us a corporation, as others have in Flanders and other places, where the French King is contented to grant it us and will give us his town of "Henery Carville" to trade in and great privileges-for at Rouen they do misuse us greatly and will not let us live in the liberty of our conscience nor to serve God as we ought to do-and being a company joined together, we shall be able to make our parts good against the daily complaints of the French, or otherwise we shall never be able to trade quietly, but still be in danger to lose our goods. Here be Frenchmen come hither from Dunkirk that were of Calais and came about two days ago from Calais, and they say there hath died of the plague in Calais above 1,800 soldiers, and yet there be

2,000 men in the town, and do fortify it greatly towards the sea, but have not fortified Rysbank. The Cardinal is looked for to come to St. Omer and all his camp is in garrison. His credit is lost with the merchants because his bills of exchange were not paid. Here be letters come from Danske and they write the Turk is in Polony, hath 300,000 men, hath taken a town called Hallye (Halitz), and caused five hundred women to be slain before his face, and now hath besieged Cracow. If he take it he hath the two frontier towns, so they fear greatly he will come this summer to besiege Danske. I pray God to convert him or confound him, for it is to be feared he will do great hurt to Christendom.-In Dieppe, 16 February, 1596.

[P.S.]-The Governor of Dieppe hath sold to Mons. Bonyface the government of the castle of Arques for 4,000 crowns, which doth grieve very much them of the religion, for he doth not love our religion and hath been a great leaguer, and was governor of the fort St. Catherine, which is now razed. They are preparing a great army in Spain against the spring, but not known for what place. I pray God save England from them. God defend us from traitors in the land.

Holograph. Seal. 1 p.

Encloses:-"A note of the rest of her Majesty's munition remaining here in Dieppe, shipped for London in Lucas Barefoot's ship the 14th day of February, 1596, English style." p. (38. 34.)

SIR ANTHONY MILDMAY to the EARL OF ESSEX.

1596-7 Feb. 16.-These negotiations are too troublesome and unfit for my poor capacity, the times and persons are much changed since your being here, where there are now daily so many alterations as it is hard for a man to lay hold upon any resolution of theirs. I am sorry I must report unto you the likelihood of their inconstancy in one principal point, in respect that I cannot express it without touching the chief of this country in honour if that should come to pass which all wise men men here greatly fear. I mean the peace with Spain, which, what assurance soever is given to the contrary, is at this present greatly practised and much desired. There is no want in their wills, but in the means to effect it with reputation, which if they regard it will be a sufficient let, being a manifest breach of the late alliance made with her Majesty, which how many reasons there are, besides her Majesty's goodness towards him in his greatest necessity, to move him religiously to observe, and how many arguments on the contrary of his ruin if he forsake it, I know you can judge, and therefore I forbear to enlarge it any more. The Assembly, for anything I can learn, hath effected nothing; it seemeth it was but a stale to bring on the peace with Spain. They pretend now to assemble the Three Estates to confirm such things as the Assembly giveth not sufficient authority to; I suppose that a general reformation as might follow of this great convocation will not be well endured here of the great ones, and therefore likely to be suppressed also, for want whereof this country must of necessity continue still in misery. For other matters I pray your lordship to be referred to Mr. Secretary's letter.-Paris, 16 February, 1596.

Holograph. 1 p. [Birch, ii. 281. In extenso.] (38, 36.)

The EARL OF THOMOND to SIR ROBERT Cecil.

1596, Feb. 17.-I pray you make known to her Majesty the desire I have to do her service with the adventure of my life, lands and goods, and as hitherto it pleaseth God to give her victory over her enemies so I

trust ere long to see overthrown those that unjustly have rebelled against her Highness in this land. To which service-my willingness therein-I refer to the Lord Deputy and Lord General, whether I have been as forward as any man for the performance thereof to my power; assuring you that I am shot at by the enemy most of any in this land, to be first cut off. For I have been the first that brought her Majesty's revenue to a certainty in this province, amounting hard on 5,000l. by the year, but now altogether waste save only this county of Clare wherein I dwell, which I thank God I have kept free from rebellion, and yields her Majesty full rents in as ample manner as ever hath been, and yielded to the victualling of her Majesty's forces in Connaught this last summer the number of 1,000" beefes" over and above their rent. It pleased her Highness in regard of my service done and to be done to grant me a pension of 2001. per annum, to be paid of the revenue of this province, the impost of Galway, or at the Receipt of her Exchequer in this realm; and now, understanding that some do procure letters that my pension be not paid here, in that the province is waste, myself having endeavoured the best I could to keep this country free from rebellion, and that mine own lands answer her Majesty yearly by composition rent 2001. and upwards, assuring you that I have foregone of my ancient inheritance above 5007. yearly, preferring only the enlargement of her Majesty's revenue before mine own private commodity-for your better satisfaction hereof I wish so it might be with your good liking to appoint two of the council here or any two gentlemen of the English birth learned in the laws, at my charge, to enquire what rents and service my ancestors were seised of and lineally descended to myself until the establishment of this composition to her Majesty's behoof. It would please you to write to my Lord Deputy that I may be duly paid my said pension according to my letters patent, as also I might be licensed to go into England to do my duty to her Majesty and to acquaint you with the estate of this province. From Bonratty, 17 February 1596.

Signed. 1 pp. (38,37)

SIR ROBERT SYDNEY to SIR ROBERT CECIL.

1596-7, Feb. 17.-The 15th of this February I did receive your letter of the 11th in which I find I am to answer unto two points; the former a dislike of my not performing unto your liking the charge given me in your letter of January 22, delivered unto me the 26 of the same, touching the arresting of certain ships laden with corn and bound westward, which had been by contrary winds forced into this river; the other a fresh commandment to arrest the same if they were here still at the receipt of the said letter or should be by any occasion put back again, or in like sort, if any other the like ships should come in hither, to stay them also, and to deliver unto the States of Holland and Zealand a message from her Majesty concerning her pleasure therein.

Herein it may please you to be advertised that the 2nd and 3rd of this month the said ships did all make sail from hence, and have not since come in again nor any other laden with corn come hither that I can hear of, the winds having served well to carry them out of Holland and the east countries without any need to come unto this river. But as any shall come I will seek to stay them and will make her Majesty's will known unto the States of this province, according to your letter. For I do not well conceive whether it be your will or not that I should of purpose go into Holland to deal with the States there about it, or expect till they upon any such action should write or send unto me. Touching the former part of your letter, wherein you show not to be satisfied of my proceeding in the charge given me in your former, in that after

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