1594. [Feb. 28.] VOL. CCXLVII. where he meant to go after the treason had been committed, and had given directions for a house to be taken for him, meaning afterwards to go and live at Constantinople. Letters of credit were written by Gonzalo Gomes to take up the money, to be shown to Lopez, to encourage him to proceed, so that the King might have a merry Easter. Ferrera de Gama says these letters were so large that as much money as they liked to demand might have been taken up, and Ferrera thinks that if the Doctor (Lopez) had seen them, he would have poisoned the Queen. After Ferrera's apprehension, he wrote advising Lopez to send to Antwerp that no more letters should be sent to England, or they would be discovered; Lopez replied he had done so three times, and advised him to be quiet, for although it cost him 3007. he would do it. Tinoco was apprehended with the letters from Count Fuentes and Ibarra, as also the letters of credit for the money upon him; although Ferrera de Gama was then in prison and examined long before, and Tinoco since, without any conference with each other, both agree in all things concerning the plotting of the said treason. It was also observed at the trial that, in the handling of these treasons, Lopez was so careful that he never wrote anything himself, nor treated directly with Tinoco, but used Ferrera de Gama as a means between them, and never discovered any part of their proceedings or pretences to Her Majesty, or any of the Council. Being often charged with these treasons by his examiners, he, with blasphemous oaths and horrible execrations, denied that he ever had any speech with any person, or any understanding at all of any such matter, and yet with the same breath confessed to the contrary. All these things were plainly and fully proved, by witnesses, by intercepted letters, and by the confession of Lopez himself, to the great satisfaction of the judge, jury, and hearers. [7 pages.] 103. Report of the detestable treasons committed by Dr. Lopez, a physician; being in substance similar to the preceding; adding that all the letters were taken with Tinoco before he could have any speech with Ferrera, who was taken and committed before him upon suspicion; and that upon their several examinations, they confessed, and in an open assembly, at the arraignment of Lopez, confirmed in his hearing all the things herein-before alleged. Lopez also, though for a time he denied, with many oaths and execrations, these treacheries and treasons, after he had been confronted with Ferrera, who constantly avowed to his face all that he had said of him, and made manifest the sundry times and places of their conference, at length confessed all the aforesaid matters concerning himself to be true, as by his confession in writing, signed with his own hand, appears. proceedings against Lopez, and his conviction and attainder were at Guildhall on 28 Feb., by virtue of a commission under the Great Seal, to the Lord Mayor, Robert Earl of Essex, Charles Lord Howard, Lord Admiral of England, Thos. Lord Buckhurst, Robt. Lord Rich, Sir Thos. Heneage, Vice-Chamberlain, Sir John Pophamn, Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench, Sir Robt. Cecil, Sir John Fortescue, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Edw. Fenner, Justice of the Queen's The 1594. Feb. 28. Feb. Feb. Feb.? VOL. CCXLVII. Bench, Sir Rich. Martin, Sir John Hart, Sir Wm. Webbe, Wm. Daniel, Wm. Waad, and others, when he was convicted and attainted, after which the commission was adjourned to 14 March following. [5 pages.] 104. Benjamin Beard to Lord Keeper Puckering. Understanding by the bearer that he is desirous to know where Mr. Dingley is, and being the man who first caused Mr. Jones to deal for his liberty, has sought all possible means to get intelligence of him, amongst such of the writer's acquaintance as are recusants and Papists, but can hear nothing of him. Begs liberty, and then will undertake to find him, if he is in England. Has revealed to the bearer his knowledge of other persons of that faction, but is unwilling, during his imprisonment, to undertake any matter concerning those causes, lest, missing the performance, his Honour might conceive hardly of him. Has some inkling of two Jesuits lately arrived, and where and when they frequent, and if at liberty, as he expected to be, should have been present at their exercise. As the parties are apparelled in silk, and wear hair shirts underneath, judges them to be Jesuits. Was requested by the bearer to offer his services to his Lordship. Will undertake, if he may have his liberty, to perform such service in the aforesaid causes as that none has before been done better; will deliver some of those persons to his Honour before the beginning of next term, or be content to be committed to perpetual imprisonment; but in executing thereof, craves that such course may be followed as he shall set down, so that he may not be suspected, and that none may have knowledge thereof but his Lordship and the bearer, as it would be a great disgrace to him, his mother and all his kindred being Papists and recusants. 105. Warrant to imprest 1,000l. to Sir John Hawkins, for the rebuilding of the ship Bull, in Deptford Strand, according to an estimate by the Lord Admiral and other officers of the Admiralty, and also 1,7301. for provisions required to put the whole navy into serviceable order. 106. Note of four privy seals issued between Nov. 1591 and Jan. 1592, granting to John Vassall, Thomas Barnes, and Barthol. Matthewson, as Her Majesty's special reward, towards the charges of building the May-flower and the Dainty, of London, and the Gift of God, and the Joseph of Bristol,-58. upon every ton burden of each ship, out of such customs, subsidies, and other duties as should become due from wares and merchandise brought in or carried out by such ships, to be paid to them by the customs' officers at the port of London. With note that in such privy seals, a clause is usually inserted, that sufficient caution is taken in the Admiralty Court, that the owners do not alienate or do away with the ship, to any stranger or foreign person out of the realm. 107. List of 45 noblemen; opposite to each name, the numbers [of horsemen to be furnished by them]; total, 712. 1594. Feb. ? Feb. ? VOL. CCXLVII. 108. Intelligence relating to Spain. A person is going by Dunkirk and Boulogne to Rye, and will give intelligence about Don Antonio. The states of Flanders are very discontented, and contrast the tyranny of the King of Castile with the liberty under Count Maurice. M. de la Chatte, Governor of Dieppe, should be warned against a secretary of Don Stephen de Ibarra, who is offering 2,000 crusados to get the town. The King of Castile has 3,000 Spaniards in Flanders. Particulars of proceedings there and of those of the King of France. Secret information of the proceedings of the secretaries and ministers of the King of Castile, of King Antonio, and in Portugal, of Diego Botello, and the Duke of Braganza; efforts made to gain over Dr. Lopez, and to obtain intelligence of what passes in England, especially as to what ships are at home, what abroad, or in the Downs. It is much feared that the Portuguese nobility will be persuaded, the occasion being propitious, and that the Duke [of Braganza ?] asking help, he will obtain it, &c. [Portuguese. Imperfect. 4 pages. In the same hand as the following] 109. Information which it is important for the Queen to know. The King of Castile's designs are certainly against the kingdom of England. He accused the late Duke of Parma of corresponding with the Queen, and thus causing the loss of the Armada. It is said that there have come by way of Italy, 8,000 men and 800 horses, but the Castilians always increase the numbers. Many companies are forming in Castile, and ships and galleys preparing in Portugal. The King determines to kill the Queen by means of a clergyman, who is concealed in the Conde de Fuentes' house, and who will destroy her by casting artificial fire, on occasion of some festival, the object being on her death to raise divisions, in which some would take the King of Castile's part, that he might assume the kingdom; the clergyman is to act by counsel of a Jesuit, who will accompany him on his voyage to England; eight other Jesuits who were to come have been sent by way of Scotland. The King intends to send in some Flemish Catholics, to favour his designs, and hopes, by means of English Catholics, to gain the castles of the Downs. He is sending a friendly embassy to the King of Scotland, and will land some men in Ireland. He is also plotting to burn the Queen's ships, by means of a Portuguese pilot; therefore care should be. taken about the Portuguese on the ships. Further particulars of the King of Castile's designs. Conversation with Antonio Perez thereon. The King of France is blamed for not keeping his mutinous subjects in order. The King of Castile wants to make friends with the Governor of Calais, fearing the Queen will send new help to the King of France, and he is jealous of M. de la Mothe, Governor of Gravelines. Don Pedro Valdez has been a great correspondent from this kingdom, and received letters about Don Antonio's going into France, Count Maurice is treating the people with more favour than ever. The King of Castile is not at all sure of Portugal, fearing the Duke of Braganza and Donna Caterina, and many sigh after Don Antonio. [Imperfect. Portuguese. 3 pages.] 1594. Feb. ? VOL. CCXLVII. 110. Wm. Emro [alias Walter Orme] to Otwell Smith, merchant. Hopes Mr. Piston has imparted to him the printed letter of that Reverend Cardinal the Pope's Legate, wherein Smith may perceive the godly intent of the Pope. Those who desire repose in the common weal pray for peace, and others desirous of contention hope that another King [of France] may be chosen, of the Pope's liking. In Rouen, some Englishmen who desire and expect a change both of prince and religion in England, have received letters dated last month, wherein they are forbidden to give any intimation of any news. Hears the King of Spain is making great preparation to set out ships and men-of-war, and that they will shortly be ready; the banished Englishmen hope that he will change the state in England and alter the religion. There is a statute prohibiting the bringing into England of such books and libels as tend to the scandal of religion and contempt of the Prince, whereby many have been kept back. Saw not long since a written calendar about to be printed, containing reproachful matters against Lord Burghley and others; might procure a copy, but it is not worth the looking upon. The preachers in Rouen have long preached against the King [of France] and the Queen of England, which is neither well nor godly. Mons. de Villiers has forbidden it. Hopes to return as soon as he has despatched the business Smith sent him upon. 1594. March 2. March 2. March 2. March 2. VOL. CCXLVIII. MARCH-MAY, 1594. Otwell Smith to Lord Burghley. The speeches used by Capt York, Sir Edm. York's son, were suspicious; he has left the town, and is thought to have gone over to the enemy. Franklin and Capt. Rourke have also come over to him, and are thought no well willers to the State. [Extract, French Corresp., 2 March 1594.] 1. List of ships and men released from sundry ports to go on the Newfoundland fishery, viz., 36 for Newfoundland, four with all the fishing vessels of Soulde and Norfolk for Iceland, and eight for Wardhuys. 2. Account of monies paid to Sir Thos. Leighton, Captain of Guernsey, Capt. Anthony Paulett, Captain of Jersey, Sir Thos. Sherley, and Paul Ivey, engineer for five years past, for works and fortifications in Jersey and Guernsey, and for pay of 630 foot soldiers quartered there; total, 3,8437. 158.; with note that the powder and other munitions supplied from the Tower to the said isles during that time is to be certified by the officers of the ordnance. 3. Benjamin Beard to Lord Keeper Puckering. Thanks for The Fleet. favours; doubts not but to establish the contents of his former letter, and perform things of moment. Has an inkling of two 1594. March 3. March 3. VOL. CCXLVIII. men, but has not ventured to demand their names, being in hopes of surprising them in their haunt. Some of the seminaries he formerly knew, who always remained in his late grandmother Mrs. Tichbourne's house, as Fennell and Richards,-have gone over to Ireland, and Pixter has lately come over; will with the bearer so carry the affair as becomes the duty of a good subject, and show thankfulness. The warden of the Fleet is not to be trusted with these matters; will soon come to his Honour, when he will understand further; desires Mr. Trevor will be speedily set to come and discharge the execution, then doubts not but he will be presently set at liberty. 4. Sir Walter Raleigh to Sir Robt. Cecil. Capt. Davies was coming upon the writer's advertisement, but has been intercepted and brought up by the pursuivant. He is accused of some notorious villany, but the matter being examined by some of the best gentlemen in Devonshire, nothing was proved. Milburne, his accuser, is a fugitive and dissolute person, with nothing to lose; he has coined money, and it is thought will be hanged at the assizes. Asks favour towards Capt. Davies, and leave for him to depart as soon as he may, lest some other matters be laid to his charge, mere matters between subject and subject, and only fit to be tried by course of law and not by authority. Milburne, who accused John Davies, got his wife with child during his absence, and being brought in question for coining money, whereof the greatest proof rests on Davies, he vaunted that he would devise some matter against Davies, and tie him up, so that he might neither follow the matter of coining, nor his revenge against him for his wife. 5. Memorandum of additional clauses in Acts of Parliament, for continuance of statutes altered; also a list of 38 local statutes, passed during the reigns of Mary and Elizabeth. With various additions [by Lord Burghley]. Endorsed, "A note of matters concerning the bill of reviving and continuing of statutes." [34 pages.] March 4. 6. W. Waad to Sir Robt. Cecil. His prisoner earnestly desires a Wood Street. resolution, as protracting the time takes away the opportunity, and exposes him to danger of suspicion; some course must be taken to help him a little with his costs. Beseeches furtherance in his own suit also, will thereby be the better enabled to do Her Majesty service, and being known to be a suitor for it, a refusal would grieve his mind more than his estate, though the latter is but very slender. Misses from the writings received a passport given by Sir Fras. Drake to this party, as to a Scotchman, which the latter greatly desires to have. Endorsed "John Comyn's desire to be gone.' March 4. 7. W. Waad to Cecil. Thanks for his furtherance and good Wood Street. advice; did not acquaint his father (Lord Burghley) with the suit, because he was there when it was moved to Her Majesty, and had hopes that she had showed her inclination in his behalf; the thing is not of the profit supposed by the gentlemen that follow it. Has, as directed by his Lordship, drawn a narration of Dr. Lopez's treasons, |