THE TRESHAM PAPERS

BELONGING TO

T. B. CLARKE-THORNHILL, ESQ.,

OF RUSHTON HALL, NORTHANTS.

ISABELL TRESHAM.

1451, October 22. Sywell.-"The Awarde of William Vaus squier, and Mayster Thomas Salesbury clerke, Arbitrors indifferently chosen betwene Isabell late the wyfe of William Tresham And Thomas Tresham squier, son and here of the same William Tresham and Isabell, as for playne satisfaccion to the same Isabell of the some of 1,000 mares for all maner goodes, catetelles and divers mevables to hyr be the seyde Willyam in eny wyse longyng, made at Sywell the xxij day of October the yere of the regne of kyng Herry the vjte. aftur the conquest Xxxte.."

The award sets forth that the said Isabel hath received and is content of the value of certain given sums in goods and jewels, in money appointed for the marriage of Ric. Tresham, in the price of certain muttons to her delivered, in sacks of wool, in corn and in plate of silver, some gilt and some white. Also in certain sums of money "to be contente by certein persones aftur specified chosen by the seyde Isabell, that ys to sey of (sic) Thomas Wake shirefe of the shyer of Northampton of suche duete as ys due to the sayde William Tresham for hys knyghtes spences as for the same shier And of Robert Tanfelde for duete owyng to the same Willyam as well of hys owne duete as for the duete of Thomas Taylor of Burton werfore the same Robert bycame borow [i.e. surety] And of Warroks late of Northampton of suche duete as he oweth to the seyde William. And in case the seyde Robert Tanfelde shewe any lawful cawse of discharge then the seyde Isabell to be contente at her eleccion of the dettes of the seyde William due by oure soverain lorde the kyng by Thomas Clypsham, syr William Trussell knyght, Eustace Burneby and Croston receiver to the Lords Lovell" according to a bill formerly made by the same Isabell. "Also the seyde Isabell hathe receyvyd beddyng, costeryng,* a masboke and a chalice." One sheet, indented, three seals.

Hangings, properly the side hangings, of a bed.

[1451] 30 Herry VI., October 26.-Acknowledgment that Isabell, late the wife of William Tressham, squire, has received of Thomas Tressham and Thomas Merton, xxli. vjs. viijd. in part payment of lvj marks for wool and corn. Scrap of parchment, indented. Sealed.

THOMAS TRESAME to LADY

1576, December 28. Rushton.-A long letter of thanks for kindness shown to his brother, "who of himself is unable to wade through the thwarts and storms in court," but whose fortune-or rather the direction of hers-will now permit him happily to continue what he has begun, being shrouded under her safe conduct, and having the sound and provident advice of so dear a patroness. To pray her to continue her zeal and kindly care is needless, and "as the poet well warneth that in hasty pursuit, too fast spurring causeth the speed to be the slower," he humbly commits her to God's good keeping, and with duty to his good lord, her husband, takes his leave. 3 pp. Draft.

EDWARD DALLYSON.

[1576-7], 19 Eliz., March 17.-Bond of Edward Dallyson of Orlingberie, co. Northampton, gent., to Thomas Leylam of Brixworth in the same county, in twenty marks, conditioned for the payment of 81. 8s. on the 1st of May next. Signed and sealed.

P.

ROTHWELL CROSS.

1578, July 2.—"A note of a bargain for certain works to be done at Rothewell Cross by W. Grombalde." The agreement [which evidently relates to the market or sessions house built by Sir Thomas at Rothwell, ride Gotch's Buildings of Sir T. Tresham] stipulates that Grombald shall erect a "house" with seven arches, seven windows of various sizes, seven "gablins, with seven beasts of a full yard high or better, holding a scutcheon of arms," and a chimney six feet wide. There are to be three "pair of arms with the crest, helmet and mantling . . . large and very fair done" to be set under the east and west windows, and on the north side under the porch window; also "fifty scutcheons with arms embossed upon them that must stand round about the house of the inside with an architrave under and a cornice over them." The stone is to be found for him, and the lime, sand, scaffold, timber and other things necessary for the work are to be provided at the charge of the inhabitants of Rothwell. The work is to be finished by St. Michael's Day, and the sum of 60l. is to be paid for it, at the rate of 15l. per month. Signed by Sir Thomas Tresame and William Grombald.† 1 p. Also draft of the same.

* Knighted in 1577,

↑ See Introduction, p. xxxiii,

The BISHOP OF LONDON and MR. MERBURY.

1578, December 5.-" The conference between me and the Bishop of London], in the presence of Sir [Owen] Hopton," Dr. Lewys, Mr. Recorder and Archdeacon Mullins, High Comissioners, in the consistory of Pawles, the 5th of December last past, 1578, much people standing by.

Bishop]. Merbury, where were you since your last enlarge

ment?

Merbury. At Northampton.

B. That was the place where you were specially forbidden to go, for there you did all the harm.

M. I neither was nor may be rightfully inhibited the place, neither had I done harm but I trust good.

B. As you say, Sir.

M. Not so, but I refer me to the judgment of God's church there.

B. The last time you found more favour than you deserved, and more than possibly you shall find hereafter, and yet you vaunted that you had rattled up the bishop of Peterborough and so you would me.

M. Sir, if your ears be open to every sycophant you shall have such slanders enough, but for proof bring forth mine accuser, for if bare words will serve you may as well accuse me of high treason.

B. Well, Sir, you are come; what have you to say to my Lord of Peterborough or to me?

M. Nothing but God save you both.

B. Nothing! why you were wont to bark much of dumb dogs, are you weary of your part?

M. I came not to accuse but to defend, but because you urge me for advantage, I say that the bishops of L[ondon] and Peter [borough] and all the bishops of England are guilty of the death of as many souls as have perished by the ignorance of the ministers of their making whom they knew to be unable.

M. I accuse you not particularly because I know not your estate, if you have you shall bear your condemnation.

B. Thy proposition is false, if it were in Cambridge it would be hissed out of the schools.

M. Then you had need to 'here' [?hire] hissers.

B. If I finding one well qualified with learning admit him and he after play the truant and become ignorant and by his ignorance slay souls, am I guilty of their death?

M. This is another question. I distinguish. I speak of them that were never able.

B. Distinguish! thou knowest not a distinction, what is a distin [ction]?

M. It is a severing of things which seem to be the same.
B. Nay, that is a difference.

* Lieutenant of the Tower.

M. Differunt quæ non sunt ambigue; but we distinguish those things only which are ambiguous. As you differ not from the bishop of London] but I may distinguish between you and the bishop of London] because you remain a man without the bishopric.

B. Here is a tale of a tub; how many predicaments be there? M. I answer you according to your question, if I say there are enow of seven, for why do you ask me questions so impertinent. B. How many predicables be there, where did thou learn thy logic?

M. The last time you spoke much of To pwтov but this is το παρεργον. I am no logician.

Recorder. Merbury, use my Lord more reverently, he is a peer of the realm. I perceive your words are puffed up with pride. M. Sir, I speak but the truth to him. I reverence him so far as he is reverend and I pray God to teach him to die.

B. Thou speakest of making of ministers. The bishop of Peterborough was never more overseen in his life, than when he admitted thee to be a preacher in Northampton.

M. Like enough in some sense, I pray God those scales may fall from his eyes.

B. Thou art a very ass, thou art mad, thou art couragious, nay thou art impudent, by my truth I think he be mad, he cared for nobody.

M. Sir, I take exceptions against swearing judges, I praise God I am not mad but sorry to see you out of temper.

B. Did you ever hear one more impudent?

M. It is not I trust impudence to answer for myself.

B. Nay, I know that thou art couragious, thou art foolhardy. M. Though I fear not you yet I fear the Lord.

Recorder. Is he learned?

B. Learned! he hath an arrogant spirit, he can scarce construe Cato I think.

M. Sir, you do not punish me because I am unlearned, how be it I understand both the Greek and Latin tongues, assay me to disapprove or disgrace me.

B. Thou takest upon thee to be a preacher but there is nothing in thee; thou art a very ass, an idiot and a fool.

M. I humbly beseech you, Sir, have more patience, give this people better example. I am that I am through the Lord, I submit the trial of my sufficiency to the judgment of the learned. But this wandering speech is not logical.

Sir Owen Hopton. Mr. Merbury, how prove you all the Bishops] of England to be guilty of the death of as many souls as have perished by ignorancy of unable ministers which they have made.

M. If it please your worship, if they order unable and unmeet ministers they give imposition of hands over hastily to those men which, too, the apostle saith, is to be partakers of other men sins.

[B. The] Greek word Taxsw importeth nothing but the examination of their lives.

M. [It] is general enough to conclude both for it is set down before in the epistle as a positive law. A Bishop, which word was then more general, must be apt to teach. If he be not so approved to your consciences, this is Κοινωνει ταν αμαρτιαν (sic), after the apostle, to communicate with his sins in those respects. B. What sins are those I pray you?

M. Soul murdering.

B. How provest thou that?

M. They are in a manner the words of the prophet, [Margin, Hosea Iv., 6], my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, but who should teach them knowledge?

B. Have they not the homilies and the catechism. That is more than they will learn, me thinketh.

M. Yea, or their parish priest either to any purpose in many places.

B. Why then, by like, they by thy saying have too much of it already.

M. And too little of the other.
B. What other?

M. I mean preaching. What can an ignorant minister see more in those things than a book learned poor. (Imperfect.)

THOMAS POunde.

1580, September.-Correspondence, &c. of Thomas Pounde, prisoner in the Marshalsea, during this month. With one exception there are copies of these documents amongst the State Papers at the Public Record Office (S.P. Dom. Eliz.: CXLII., 20), from which they were printed in Foley's Jesuits in Conflict, p. 102 et seq. The documents are as follows:

Sept. 7. "Six reasons set down to show that it is no orderly way in controversies of faith to appeal to be tried only by scripture" &c. Ends "Hoc est fides mea, quia est catholica."

Sept. 8. Thomas Pounde to Mr. Tripp. Begins "Forasmuch Sir as at my request to you yesterday and to Mr. Crowlye, if he* be worth the naming."

Sept. 8. Thomas Pounde to the Lords of the Privy Council, on behalf of all the Catholics in England. Begins "Right honourable, whereas our Catholic prelates and pastors are and long have been either in prison, put to silence, or else in banishment."-[A challenge for a public disputation, worded much like that which Campion had written and given into Pounde's care.]

*

This copy appears to be more accurate than that amongst the State Papers, which here has if ye be worth." Also, in the latter copy, on p. 2. confidence" should be

feel your

seal your confidence" and "as before I require you" should read as before God I require you."

+ Dated Sept. 10 in the S.P. copy, but this must be a mistake, as it was enclosed in the letter to Tripp.