r 5- i/J 787 1 B14 18S5 Al ': Cornell University Library DA 787.A1B14 1895 Letters relating to Marv Queen of Scots 3 1924 028 150 518 BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME FROM THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND THE GIFT OF 1891 Uji?4^^- ■4;^//^^ Letters Relating to Mary Queen of Scots. Copipd by Lord Bagbt From the Original Letters in his possession, .and given to William Hamper, of Birmingham, in i8io. Birmingham : , , PRINTED FOR MR. C. E, SCARSE AT: THE '(JOURNAL" OFFICE, NEW STREET. 1895. A- \ ^'\'^03 This Edition is limited to 250 Copies, of which 22$ only are available for Subscribers. 1 HE following Letters relating to Mary Queen of Scots were copied by Lord Bagot from the originals in his possession and given to William Hamper, of Birmingham, in 1810. The Manuscript was purchased at the Hamper sale by Mr. Lawson Tait, F.R.C.S., and by him presented, with other volumes, to the Birmingham Library. Although an abstract of these Letters has already been published in the " Fourth Report of the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts " (page 339), yet they seem of sufficient interest to warrant me in printing them verbatim. A few notes, and a copy of a letter written by Sir Mamiaduke Darrell, one of the signatories, have been added, and will, it is hoped, add further interest to the publication. C. E. SCARSE, Librarian. Birmingham Libraryi /ammry, i8gj. No. I. Lord Bagot's own transcript Given to me by his Lordship^ of Letters in his possession in A.I). 1810. relating to Mary ^ueen of Scots. (Signed) Wm. Hamper. After my very Hartie Commendations, Whereas by the Queens Maji^s Speshall Comandment, the Oueen of Scotts is brought to remaine in this Castell of Tutbury, where&y the contry hereaboute Hath been and must need be trubled and charged, with the Cariages to Bring Hither wood, and coole, bricke, Lyme, Tymber, and other things for necefsary provysions of this place. The meenest ( ? nearest) to feche with carriages and Draughts, and others, Further of to contrybut, some convenyent money towards the same for the case whereof as much as may well be, and to thintent, that an order may be established, and a Certentie known, as well of the charge, as of the Service for every Parishe and Townshipp within your sevrall devycions, from henceforth, and to avoyde opynion of abuses by Offycers and murmuring of the people, which I wold helpe to avoyde by all the best means I can devise, I have thought it a good course to confer with some of you, howe this Service may be best done. Therefore I pray you, after you shall have conferred togather and consydered the numbers of the Parishes within your sevrall limits, and of theire abilities, the Stronger to Helpe the Weaker ; that two of you, for all the rest may be here with me upon Saturday the 20'^ ofF this month, on which day I have also prayed so many Like of Staff. Shire, to be here also, for that purpose, att which your meeting, you may togather consyder and learne what parishes and Townships of your devycions do owe any Service in this behalfe, to this House which is to be remembered, besides the General Services all which are to be extended Some Miles every way about this Castell. — And so doubtinge not of your forwardness, in accomplisment of this Service, I comitt you to God. From Tutbury Castell this I2tl> of February 1584. Your Afsured loving fFrende, R. Sadlerr. Post Dat, At your cominge hither you shall understande what the weeklie charge in this behalfe is like to be, by that which is past. To my very Lovinge ffrends, Thomas Trentham, Humphrey ffcrrers, John Chctwynde, Richard Bagott, John Lowes, and Richarde Adderley Justicies of the peace within the Countie of Staftorde to whome this perteyneth & to others of them. No. 2. After my very Harty Comendations. — ^Wheareas S^ Ralfe Sadler, having the charge of the safe Custodye of the Oueen of Scottes in this place, for the greater suretye of his said charge, and for the better satisfying of the Queens Majts expectation therein, hath by his letters of ' the 30* of January last past, recommended unto you amonge others your fellovire Justices of that Shere, certen speciall points, to be observed by you in Your severall divisions : Althoughe I doubt not but that you have had dewe regard to observe the same Effectually, according to the trust reposed in you, Yet beeing nowre repayred hethre, by her Majty* commandment to supply the place of Sf Ralph Sadler, in the charge before rehearsed, I have thought agreable w^ith my Dewtye to her Highenefs, to put you in remembrance of the said letters, and alsow to pray you to contynewfe your accustomed care and diligence as well therein, as in all things that may any vv^ay concerne this charge committed unto .me. Wherein beside that you shall deserve thanks at Her Maj'ies hands, I shall also thinke my self beholding unto you. — And thus I committ you to the Mercys of the Highest. From Tutbury the 3'' of Maye 1585. Your Afsured friend, A. POULET. To the right woorshipfuU Mr. Richard Bagot Esquier. "Sir Ralph Sadler's appointment had been provisional merely. He pleaded age and infirmity to escape as soon as possible from the ungracious office, and another guardian had to be found for her . . . The choice ultimately fell on Sir Amyas Paulet, who had preceded Stafford as Ambassador at Paris— a distinguished adherent of the sect which the Queen of Scots affected so much to hate and fear. Paulet came down to relieve Sadler in the middle of April." — Froude's ffistoiy of England, vol. 12, page 95. No. 3. Sir, We were in hope here to have receaved more from you uppon thursdaie last, being the first of this monethe a Hundred poundes ; whereof fayHnge, The Governor hathe advised me to wryte unto you, our wante of it ; which is somewhat great, in that since we receaved your first payment we have had no direction to receave any. Ells where. Which makethe the Governor here, to be of opinion that my Lord Treasorer dothe thinke we are sufEcienthe furnished from you. What your answere herein Shal be, I praie you signifie by this bearer ; If you canne and will paie this Dra'c which we now desire, then I beseche you lett my man deliver of it, to Mr. De la haye (a merchaunt that dothe come with him, and of whome we have bought for the service of this house, three toonnes of wyne) twentie poundes, being parte of the mony due to him for the same ; And at your mans cominge hither with the rest, I will procure you (as heretofore) the Governors acquittannce for the Whole. And, thus with my due commendations to your selfe and Mrs. Bagott as unacquainted, I rest at your Comaundement ; and so comitt you to God. ffrom Tutberye this 3'^ of Julie, 1585. — Yours, to doo you any pleasure, or Service of mine. Mar : Darell. " The office of Surveyor-General of victuals for the Navy was eventually filled by Marmaduke Darrell (afterwards Sir Marmaduke) with a few breaks, between 1587 and 1622. This knight was a cousin of William Darrell, of Littlecote, with whom he corresponded occasionally. One of his letters, reproduced here, gives a most graphic account of the execution of Mary Queen of Scots, at Fotheringay Castle, at which he assisted in an official capacity." — Society in the Elizabethan Age, by Hubert Hall, F.S.A., Svo., 1888. No. After my right Hartye comendations. I praye youe advertysc me by this bearer, If I shall have anye more money from youe, to the end that I may provyde my self other wayes, if I shall not receave it from youe ; And thus I take my leave of you comyttynge you, to the tuytion of the Almyghtye. from Tutburye the 12'^ of July 1585 — Your Afsuryd Friend, A. POULET. To the right WarshypfuU Mr. Rychard Bagott Esquyer at Blyfield.— No. 5. Sir, Wee expected from you uppon Sondaie last an Hundred pounds to be sente hither according to your promis. But faylinge of it, the Governor to whome you made the promis, hatha wished me, to putt you in'minde of it, and to desire you from him to send it this Daie ; Truelie I must say we have nede of it. for hitherto, since we beganne with you, we never receaved penny from any other but from you. — -And thus with my right hartie commendations to your selfe and to Mrs. Bagott as unacquainted. I leave you to the safe keeping of the Almightie. — At Tutbery Castle the 17th of Augs' 1585. Yours to comande, Mar : Darell. To the right woorshippl his very good frende Mr. Bagott Esquire at Blyfielde. No. 6. Sir, I am very desirous to see you here this hexte morninge, or at the farthest on friday nexte in the morninge, as may stande moste with your commodity, havinge to saye unto you some matters of importance which may endure no delaye : And with my right harty commendations, I commit you good Mr. Bagot, to the mercy of the Higheste. From Tutbury this 15'h of September 1585. Your Afsured Frende, A. POULET. I must praye yoiie to excuse me, that this to you sygned by one of my Servauntes, because I am Lame in my righte Hande. To the Right wo 'full My very good frende Mr. Richard Baggotte Esquire. No. 7. Sir, Upon some advertisemente of importance receaved from the Court this present morning, I am forced to praye you to take the paynes to be here with me this next morning as Earlye as You can. And thus wifshing unto you, as to myself, I committ you to the mercy and favour of the Highest. From Tutburye the 24'h of Septembre, 1585. Your Afsured friend A. PoULET. To the right WorshipU my verye good friend, Mr. Richard Bagot Esquier. No. 8. I have receaved direction from the Court to staye the felling of any Woode at Chartley, Upon an information given that the Lord Pagets vi^oodes are neere inoughe to serve that turne, and therefore, I pray you do me the pleasure- to geve knowledge forthe with to Mr. Newport my Lord of Efsex's Steward, to forbeare to fell any woode or tymber untill he shall heare from me agayne. — I thinke afsuredlye that this remove to Chartley will not hold, because I find by other advertisements that my Lord of Efsex hath no liking of yt. — I am now required to informe my selfe of the state of a House belonging to one Mr. Gifford a recusant ; praying you to do me the pleasure to advertise me by your letter to be sent by this bearer my footeman, Where this Howse Standeth, and in what Shere, How far distant from hence, and if you think yt to be sufficient to receave this greate familye, or no. — and this with my right Hartye commendations to Good Mrs. Bagot, with like thanks unto you and her, for my late good intertaynement, I committ you both to the mercy of the Highest. From Tutburye the 29'^^ of September 1585. Your Afsured friend, A. POULET. To the right woorshipH my very Good friend, Mr. Richard Bagot Esquier, No. 9. Sir, Understanding by my Mefsenger that you will not retourne to your house untill this night, and that this next Morrowe you must be at Stafford, I have thought good to advertise you that yt is novice resolved that this Q. shall remove to Chartley, and therefore I shall Hartelye praye you to take present order for the provision of Charkecoale, and Seacoale, According to your former agreement, with all pofsible speede, because I am commanded expreslye to use all diligence pofsible in this remove. I am to use your Afsistance and good advice in many other things touching this service, and therefore shall praye you to take the paynes to meete with me at Chartley this next morrowe, being Thursday, at night, and to that purpose to convey this letter inclosed to Mr. Newport, having left the same unsealed to the End you might Understand in what sort I have writen unto hym, and in what manner I wilbe receaved tliere, and thus with my right hartye commendations to you, & to good Mrs. Bagot, I leave you both to the charge & favour of the Lord Jesus. From Tutburye the 27 of Octobre — 1585. Your Afsured friend, A. POULET. To the Right worship'l my very good Friend Mr. Richard Bagot Esquier. — No. 10. Mr. Bagot, I receaved newes by John Briton that S"" A. Poulet was at Chartley to prepare for the Sc. Q. wherupon I sent with speed to the Court to some, who moved the O. for the stay thereof, which she most willingly graunted, and determined that yt was not a fit place for to keep her in. My Lord Tres : my Lord of Leycester, and Mr. Secretarry afsured, that this direction shold be given to S"" A. Poulet, what it is I know not, but to prevent the worst, and because I will have yt lefse fit for that use, I wold have you and Tho : Newport remove all the beddinge, Hanginges and such lyke stufFe to your own house for a while, and if she come to Chartley yt may be carried to Lichfield, or els (She being gone to Dudley or els wher) yt may be carried back againe. Lichfield men have sent unto me to excuse ther former faultes, and to crave some graunt of the milnes, and other things, within my Lease, at my handes, which I have absolutely denied referringe all matters in my absence unto you, who may as you see cause deale with -them. Thus with my harty Com'is \ bid you farewell. London this 4 of Novemb : 1585- Your Lovinge frend, R. Essex. Your son can advertise you of our speedy departure. To my Lovinge frend Ri. Bagot Esquier. No. II. I pray you good Mr. Bagot, to take the paynes to come hether unto me, being verye desirous to conferr with you in some matters concerning Her Mates service wherein I knowe not what course to take, without your good advice, by reason that I am a stranger in this Countrey, as you knowe. The matter I must write to the Court, and have answere agayne before we remove, and therefore I pray you come assone as you can ; I will not stay you here above one houre. And thus with my right hartie commendations, to yourself and to good Mrs. Bagot I committ you both to the mercie and favour of our Lord Jesus. From Tutburye the 5th of December 1585. Your Verye Afsured Friend, A. POULET. To the right WorshipH My verye good- friend Mr. Richard Bagot Esquier. No. 12. I remember at my last being at Chartley, that S^ Walter Aston and you, with Mr. Trentham and other Justice, agreed upon the parishes which should furnish the Watche there ; praying you to advertise me assone as you may, of the name of that parish, which shall begyn this watche, and to geve knowledge thereof to the Conestable of the sayd Parish to the End, he may obey my precept when I send yt. — I praye you if yt be pofsible to provide me of some money against the day of my cumming to Chartley or before, whereof this house hath so great neede, as yt not seemeley for a Queenes House. If you cannot spare so much as I would, yet I praye you let me have as much as you may. I trust to see you on Monday next att night. And so with all the thanks I can give you for your friendlye travell, and like furtherance of the businefs at Chartley, I commend me most Hartelye to you and good Mrs. Bagot, and so do committ you both to the mercye and favour of the Highest. From Tutbury the 15'h of December 1585. Your Afsured friend, A. POULET. To the right WarshipfuII my very good friend Mr. Richard Bagot Esijuier, (Since found & comes between Nos. 12 ^ 13.J Sir, Yt was concluded, at your being here with me, with Mr. Trentham that the watch and Ward here, should be furnished for seven dayes, whereof this night, and this next morrowe is the last ; and therefore I fynd yt verye strange that I heare of no watch, this night, which as was sayd by you and the rest of the Justice should come from Mr. Greisley for the last of the sayd watches — I praye you take order, that at the least the warde may be furnished this next morrow, and I will see, Yf Sr Walter Aston can fynd some means that a watch may be furnished this night. — I am sorye to trouble you but being forced by necefsitye I must praye you to excuse me. Also I must praye you to take order for the furnishing of the watch and ward this next morrowe at night, and for the daye folowing. God keepe you in Health. From Tyxsall this present Twesday at 8 of the clock at night. Your very Afsured Friend, A. POULET. To the Right woorshipfull my verye good friend Mr. Richard Bagot Esquier. At the hack of this letter are the following lines written. O Maria Scota meretrix, et omnibus nota Impura, illota, veneri deditifsima tota Preter hec ct ista, forsit et usque Papista Altera Mefsalina, semper recubans resupina. No. 13. Sir, It is intended that the Q of Scotts, shall remove froni hens to Chartley on Twesday the ai^t of this present monnethe, at which tyme yt shal be mete that she be conducted by some gentlemen of good creditt .and countenaunce, and therefore esteeminge of you, as of one, of this number, and being desii^ous of your Afsistaunce in this journey, I shall hartelie praye you to be at Tutburye the said 2ist at six of the clock in the morninge, accompained with some convenient number of your servants, wherein you shall do acceptable service to her Ma'^; and for my part I shall think my self, beholding unto you, for your cumminge. And thus trusting to see you shortlie, I committ you to the mercye of the Highest. From Tutburye the i6'h of December. Your Afsured Friend, A. POULET. Mr. Bagot. No. 14. Sir. Yt is intended that the O of Scotts, shall remove from heare, to Hartford Castle on Wedensdaye the 21=' of this present monnethe, at which tyme y' shal be meete that she be conducted out the Lymitts of the Shere by some gentlemen of good creditt and countenaunce and therefore esteeminge of you, as of one of them, and being desirous of your Afsistaunce in this journey, I shall Hartelye praye you to be at Chartley the sayd 2i=t at 11 of the clock in the morninge accompanied with 15 servants furnished with weapons of defence, wherein you shall do .acceptable service to Her Ma'y and for my part I shall thinke my self beholding, unto you for your comminge. And thus, with my verye hartye commendations, I committ you to the mercye of the Almightye. from Chartley the ig'^^ of September 1586. Your verye Afsured Friend, A. PouLET .You shall tlo well to be Jiere at 10 of the clock. To the right woorshipfull my verye good friend, Mr. Richard Bagott Esquier. No. 15. This letter inclosed coumeth Strangelye unto me because yt is addrefsed unto you, and commeth not to me from you, and therefore I say nothinge therein but do referr yt to your consideration, onlye I would praye you to advertise Dyott, that yf he be discharged of the matters^ which caused his late Apprehension, he shall do well to geve me to understand thereof, that I may restore hym to his place yf he shalbe found- woorthye to enjoye yt. — I praye you do me the pleasure to send immediatlye to my servant Bragge to require hym to send the two trunks wherein, is Apparell, and other stuffe for Nau and Curie, to London, by the next caryer to be- delyvered by hym there to my Servant Huckshawe. I trust Bragge hath done yt alreadye, accordinge to my order prescribed unto him in that behalf. And thus with my hartye thanks for all your friendlye curtesies, and like Commendations from me and my wyfe, to good Mrs. Bagot, I committ you both to the mercye and favour of the good God. From Fotheringhaye the i6th of October 1586. Your verye Afsured friend, A. POULET. The letter Inclosed directed to Bryne, was taken to have bene directed to you, and so mistaken, which fault I must praye yon to excuse. To the Right woorshipfuU my very good Frieni Mr. Richard Bagott Esquier. — No. i6. Sir, Understanding that this bearer is to pafse by Blithefeilde in his waie from hence homewarde ; And this place havinge yelded of late suche newes as maye well seme warthie the reportinge, I have thought good to signifie thus much to you brieflie of them. Uppon Wensdaie laste did this Honorable Afsemblie, hereunder written, mete togather in this Castle as commifsioners appointed by Her Majtie our Sovraigne, to inquire by all due meanes and proofe whither this Sco : Oueen hathe (since the ende of the laste parliament to date whereof this commifsion had altogather relation) attempted, compafsed or imagined, any thinge tendinge to the hurte of our Oueenes person ; After the ende of a Sermon made in this Castle to them all uppon the said Wensdaie morninge by The Dean of Peterborough ; Theis Lo : Comifsioners bestowed the residue of that Day, and all the next beinge Thursdaie in private counsell and consultation amonge them selves ; seekinge in that tyme by all the meanes they coulde, to persuade this O. to come out into the Chamber of state (where they were to sitt openly and judicially) and she to sitt there before them to here the proofes to be produced against her wherein they did Afsure her, that as the Q. Maj'i': our M'"' had not receaved any thinge that had happened unto her these many yeres with greater griefs then to here now that she should be a procurer of her deathe ; So woulde nothinge be more joyfull and acceptable to her, then to here that reporte to be untrue, and that she had clered herselfFe of yt. Which Speche uttered unto her I thinke by Mi'. Vice Chamberlayne, prevailed so much with her, as upon condition that her protestacion (which was, that this her cominge out to them should not be prejudiciall to the Sovraigntie and title of her sonne, and others that are to be her succefsors) maye be accepted and recorded ; She woulde come out to them the next morninge being fridaie, which was by their Ho : , after they had considered of it yelded unto. And thereuppon accordingely uppon fFridaie morninge they beinge all sett judicially in there places, she came forthe to them to a Chayre placed for her in the Upper ende of the Chamber ; At which tyme beganne, the Qnes learned counsell in the lawe ; (After the Lord Chauncellors oration ended, 'and the readinge of the Commifsion), to doe their partes in layinge open divers bad practises, and plotts, tendinge to the subversion of the whole state, which by the confefsion of divers, and her owne letters, which have bene intercepted, did manifestly appere to have bene contrived by her and her ministers. But the chiefest matter to bringe her within the compafse of the aforesaid statute, made the last parliament ; was that she had bothe receaved a letter from Babington touching this late conspired treason, and that she had also by her answere animated, and incouraged, him in it. The proofe whereof was bothe Babingtons confefsion alleaged, and also the coppies of bothe the said letters shewed, with Nawes and No. 1 6 — (continued). Curies handes to them, avouchinge them uppon their Othes to be true ; all which notwlthstandinge, she still stode in her denyall. In the producinge of their proofes, and her answeringe to them, was all ffridaie bestowed ; and all the afternoone uppon Satterdaie ; By which Tyme, Yt Seemethe all things bothe against her, and on her parte, had bene handled so at Large, as that there remayned no more to be done or sayd in yt at this metinge ; And so first the Q. and then they rose and departed, they going from hence after dyner to their severall lodginge ; And the next daye beinge Sondaie most of them retourned towards the Court, where yt is said they have appointed to mete all uppon Sondaie nexte. Thus have I brieflie, thoughe rudelye, sett downe unto you the substaunce and Effecte of as muche as my slender capacitie, and bad memorye, would suffer me to cary awaie, not doubtinge, but you will accepte it in good parte, as from one that is your playne and unfayned poore frende. I will not further trouble you at this tyme, and so with my due commendations to your selfe and good Mrs. Bagott, with the rest at Blithefelde, I committ you to the mercyefull protection of the Highest. From ffotheringhaye Castle this 17'^ of October. 1586. Your Afsured to comande. Mar: Darell. I have sente the twentie nobles which I had of you, for Monice to him to the Court, and will sende you his acquittaunce, for the receiptc of it, as soone as it shall come to my hands. — At fFotheringhaie. The Lordes and others that were here in comifsion, about the Sco : gueene. The Lord Chauncellor. Lord Treasorer. Earle of Oxeforde. Earle of Shrewsbury. Earle of Kent. Earle of Derby Earle of Woorcester. Earle of Rutlande. Earle of Cumberlande. Earle of Warwick. Earle of Pembrooke. Earle of Lincolne. Vicount Mountague. The Lord Aburgeynle. Lord Zouche. Lord Morley. Lord StafForde. Lord Greye. Lord Lumley. To the right WoorshippU Mr. Richarde Bagot Esquire at Blithefeilde, The Lord Sturton. hj Lord Sandes -="f^ Lord Weinfede* n Lord Morden ■Ss Lord S'- John. Lord Compton. Lord Cheynie Sir James Crofte. Is So Sir Xtofer Hatton. ^ W) Sir fFrauncis Walsingham. Sir Raufe Sadler. -a I, Sir "Walter Mildemaye. Sir Amyce Poulet. The twoo Lo : chiefe The Lo : chiefe Baron Justices, Two Judges. Earle of Arundell. Earle of Northumberland Earle of Bath. Earle of Sufsex. Earle of Bedford. Earle of Lecester. Earle of Efsex. Earle of Hartford. (•.'Lord Wcntworth, C.E.S.) No. 17. S". Thys bearer Mr. Dyott of Burton hathe bene here with me desyryng to be restoryed to hys OfFyce at Burton : But understandyng by hyni that he standythe yet upon Bayle and ys not clerely dischargyd, I may not admytt hym to anye publyke OfFyce. I wyll seke to understand from Mr. Secretarye Walsyngham the trewe state of hys cause and yf I may admytt him with my credytt I will not refuse yt. Yn thys meane tyme I praye you mayntayne Dethycke yn hys well doyng. — I trust youe shall heare from me very Shortly, for the discharge of your Neighbours at Chartley. My wyfe and I praye to be hartelye comendyd to you and good Mrs. Bagott. And so I comytt you to the mercye of the Almyghtye. From fotheryngay the 25'h of October 1586. Your very Afsuryd ffriend, A. POULET, To the Right Worshipful! my very good freind Mr. Kichard Bagot Esquyer. No. 18. S", I pray you take order with Mr. Fynnye to performe the contents of these letters inclosed to the good satisfaction of S"^- Walter Aston, wherein my letter to Mr. Fynnye, shall be his sufficient discharge. I trust you shalbe shortlye discharged of your troublesome neighbours, which I desyre to come to pafse the rather upon hope to be discharged, of this servyce by the same occasion. — Your late good Neigboure Hathe bound me greatlye, which I do and will always acknowledge, with all thankfulnefs. And thus with my right Hartye Commendations, with the like from my Wyfe to yourself and good Mrs. Bagott, I committ you Both to the mercye of our good God. From fotheringhay the 28^^ of November 1586. Your verye Afsured friend, A. PouLET. To the Right WoorshipfuU my verye good Friend Mr. Richard Bagott Esquier. In Richard Bagot's f Mr. fFynney, if your Leasure may serve, I pray hand writing at the^ you take the paynes to mete me to morrow at Bottom of this letter. ^^Lich'' I wold gladly conferr with you Herein, et ce : No. 19. I wryte by this bearer my Servant, to Mr. Griesley, for the returning hither of the Priest, and do not Doubt but that you shalbe discharged Shortlye of your combersome Neighbores at Chartley. — Yf the under BayliiFe at Burton, shall refuse to execute lawfull precepts comming from you, or any other, I trust you will not forgett to reward hym accordinge to his desert. Yt seemeth by the late proclamation made at London, that these greate causes growe towards their full ripenes. And thus with most hartye Commendations from me, and my wyfe, to your self and good Mrs. Bagott. I committ you both to the mercye of the Almightye. From fotheringay the 12'^ December 1586. Your very Afsured Friend, A. POULET. To the Right Worshipfull my verye good friend Mr. Richard Bagott Esquier. No. 20. I thanke you for your curteous letter, as I doo also for sundry other your good frendshippes towards me, for the which you shall comande me, whyle I live. I doubte not but you have longe since hearde, how resolutely, and in shewe quietlye, she wente to Her deathe, who in her lyfe time, had bene the auethor of so many troubles ; Wherein her Magnamitie and other good Gifts meete for so great a callinge ; no doubte did make us all, that were beholdeinge to pittie her wante of grace to use them ; In other points she shewed herselfe very obstinate, and farre from that which true religion dothe require at our Handes, at such a tyme. She hathe nowe ended her last tragicall parte ; which by reporte many doe threaten to revenge ; I beseche God, (by the continuaunce of our monstrous sinnes and wante of repentaunce) we procure not his wrathe ageinst us ; And then I hope wee shall withstande still as hitherto their malyce, well ynoughe. S^ Amyee our Honorable Governor, (and one to whome for myne owne parte I am very muche bounde) intendethe god willinge ; to returne towarde London, with his whole famylie uppon Mondaye nexte ; After whose departure I am comannded to staye here with the Housholde that shall remayne ; Consistinge most of the Sco : O. servaunts that are now come altogither untill her Maj'ies pleasure be further knowne ; The cawse of this there staye wee thinke to be, because yt is not yet fully agreed uppon where the dead body shalbe buried, neather wilbe untill the retourne of Mr. Carye out of Skotlande and until The funerall be ended, as you knowe this housholde cannot be difsolved. We all hope it wilbe shortle, for there is not I thinke any of us, that hathe not longe wished to be well freed from this kinde of prisoners lyfe. I beseche you that I may be hartely comended to good Mrs. Bagot, Mr. Walter your sonne and to your daughters ; And so with due salutations to yourselfe I comitt you to the mercefull protection of the Almightie. From ffotheringaye Castle the 25'^ of ffebruarye 1586. (*) Your Afsured to comaunde, Mar: Darell. I have not yet delivered your comendations to Mr. Melvill but will not forgett it. To the Right Woorshipp' my very good frende Mr. Richarde Bagot Esquire at Blythefeilde. [* A clerical error. Should be 15S7. C.E.S.] No. 21. The Charge of this Housholde by reason of the Governors departure liere yesterdaye towardes London, being now left unto me ; I am earnestly requested in the behalfe of twoo of them that came last from you, to wryte unto you, and to let you understande, of a kinde of complainte that they make to you, of one Jane Keynie used by Mrs. Curie as you knowe in her childebedd. That there were certaine tokens of no great valewe sente by her, betwene divers of them, when they were restrayned, from cominge togither, which she never delivered. As a Silver Spoone from Mrs. Curie to her Husbands Sister, a Silver whistle from Mrs. Cannidae to Mrs. Curie, and a gold ringe from John Loder to Lawrence ; all which things, yt seemethe she kepte to herself. Whereof Mrs. Curie hathe especially prayed me to advertise you, not that there is any restitution looked for, but that you maye henceforthe think no better of her then she deserves. The same Mrs. Curie dothe by this bearer sende unto Mr. Walter Bagot the kaye of his Quiver, and to the twoo little Gentlewomen eather of them a bowe ; Mr. Bastian Dothe also sende unto your wyfe and your daughters, by him 7 Glafses, and to Mr. Walters wyfe, a little Capp ; all as simple tokens of his good will. He dothe desyre at your hande that yt maye please you bothe to cawse his younge daughter to be presently brought hither to him, and also that you woulde wryte to Mr. Parker by Sheffeilde, for him to sende for his children that are thereabouts, either that they maye remayne togither at his owne House ; or Ells at some other place that he shall appointe, to the ende they may be in a reddines, with their apparell and Jewells, when uppon any soodeine he may be occasioned to sende for them. His youngest daughter that he desirethe you to see sente he saithe may be brought hither by the nurses Husbande and his Sister. — Bothe he, Mrs. Curie and divers other of them doo desyre to be commended unto you, as dothe also your gueste Mr. Melvill, who resalutethe, bothe vou and Mrs Bagot as yt seemethe righte hartelye ; They understandinge of this bearers cominge so neere you, woulde not be satisfied without my wrytinge to you in thees their troublesome cawses. And so hopinge you will excuse my boldnefs therein, I ende for this tyme with my most harty comendations to your selfe, good Mrs. Bagot, and to your Daughters ; comittinge you and them all to the mercyfull protection of the Almightie. From fFotheringaye Castle this zS^^ of February 1586. (*) Your Afsured to Comaunde, Mar: Darell. To the Right Woorshipp" Mr. Richard Esquire at BlythefeiltJe give theis. [* A clerical error. Should Le 1587. C.E.S.] No. 22. Since the wrytinge of my former letter dated also this present daie I have receaved a full direction from the counsell to provide for the Buryall of the Sco : Queene wherewrith I am willinge to acquainte you, as with all and the best newes that this place canne yelde ; The daye is appointed to be the first of August, The Place, Peeterboroughe, in the Cathedrall Church there. The Manner with greate state and solempnitye; The Companye that are to attende yt very great, and many of them Honorable as Twoo Earles, thre Countesses, Five Barons, Five Barons Wyves, Tenne Knightes, Tenne Knightes wyves, Twelve Esquires, Two Bisshoppes, One Deane, Thirtie Gentlewomen to attende the said Ladyes ; Threescore Gentlemen to attende the said Noble men, and Twoo Hundred Yeomen besides all the Skotteshe trayne here, her Servaunts. So that I am directed to provide for the Diett of 300 persons or thereaboute, to have there at Peterboroughe two meales at her Maj''=3 chardge. — Thus have you brieflie that which came to me not above an Hower sithence. And so beinge nowe withdrawn from this, to more serious cawses, I comende you once againe and good Mrs. Bagott to the kepinge of the mercyfull God. who hathe miraculouslye preserved her Maj'ie our Soveraigne, by bringinge theis thinges to this good passe. From fFotheringaye Castle This Sondaie nighte the 9'^ of Julye 1587. Yours to doo you any Service, Mar : Darell. Mr. Melvill comendethe himselfc most Hartely to yoursclfe & Mrs. Bagot, & restethe still thaiikfull for your curteses. — Marmaduke Darell to William Darell. " Sir, The conveniencye of this messenger w'^ the newes •w"'? this place dothe presentlye yelde; occasionethe me to trouble yo" w'!" theis few lynes. I doubte not but w'!' yoV as well as in the contrie hereaboutes ; there hathe bene of late sondrye straunge rumors bruted concerninge the Sco: Queene prisoner here ; w".'' all, as they have bene hitherto untrewe ; so now yt is most true, that she hathe endured that fatall stroke this daie, that will excuse her from beinge accessarye to any like maters that may happen henceforthe." " Betwene x and xj of the docke this present Thursdaie, she was beheaded in the hall of this castle ; there being present at y' as Comission^s, onely the Earle of Shewsburye and the Earle of Kentej fowre other Earles were joyned w* them in the Comission, but came not. The sherive of this shere, S^ Rich : Knightlye, S' Edward Mountague, w'!' div's other gentlemen of good accompte, wer also here at the execucon. Touchinge the manner of yt, all due order was most carefully observed in yt ; she her selfe endured yt (as wee must all truely saie that were eye wittnesses) w* great courage, and shewe of magnanimitye, albeit in some other respectes she ended not so well as ys to be wished. The order for her funerall, ys not yet determined uppon ; but wilbe very shortlye ; as also for her people, who (wee thinke) shalbe safelye conducted to their native contries. Thus have yoV brieflie, that w".'' wilbe no doubte very shortlie reported unto you more at large. In the meane tyme I beseche yo? accepte in good Jte this small shewe of my duetifuU remembraunce of yoT And so w".' my humble comendacons I leave yo" to the mercifull ftection of the Almightie. fFrom fFotheringaie castle this viij* of fFebruarye 1586." (*) "Yor poore kinsman to comaunde Mar: Darell." [Endorsed] "To the right woorshippf M^ Willm. Darell Esquire at his house at Littlecott." Society hi the Elizabethan Age, by Hubert Hall. 8vo., 188S, page 265-6. [* A clerical error. Should be 1587. C.E.S.] tCbe jflDanuscrtpts of tbe iRlgbt fjonourable %ovi> JSagot, at 3BIitbefiel5>, County Staffor&. " This is an important collection. The 11 volumes of Stafford Manuscripts contain a large mass of materials for personal and county history. The letters are numerous, and give valuable information, not only as to home, but also as to foreign affairs. We get glimpses of Queen Elizabeth, Essex, Ealeigh, and other notables of that time, and the doings of our troops in France. There are good letters from Ireland towards the close of the 16th century, and strong comments on the state to which bad governors had reduced the English Pale. A batch of letters from Tutbury and Fotheringay relate to the custody of Mary Queen of Scots, and her trial. There is also an account of the trial of Secretary Davison, who, it is well known, suffered merely for doing what his mistress wished to have done. Sir Thomas Lucy, of Charlecote, is named, and his lady gets a terrible character. "The Stafford MSS. are of various ages and descriptions. The two cartularies containing copies of Staffordshire deeds, creations of nobility, &c., are curious and valuable, particularly the volume which seems to have been transcribed from the smaller one in the time of Henry Lord Stafford (son of the last Duke of Buckingham), with additions by that nobleman, sometimes in his own handwriting, to one of which the date of 1537 is subjoined. Sixty years afterwards his son, Edward Lord Stafford, compiled another volume, under the title of 'Eegistrum factum memorandorum de rebus diversis,' not less curious than the former. Other volumes were e'S'idently formed by the union of miscellaneous papers from the muniment room at Stafford Castle, which were bound together confusedly, without regard to their respective subjects, though this has been in a measure effected in rebinding them. Several portions, relative to Thornbury and other Gloucestershire manors, must have been brought from Thornbury Castle, to which residence the Household Book of Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, has especial reference. In the year 1793 these volumes came into the hands of the Eev. Stebbing Shaw, then writing his History of Staffordshire. In the preface he says that he bought them at King's Auction Eoom, King Street, Covent Garden, April 20th, 1793, he thinks from a catalogue of the joint libraries of Dr. Speed (he thinks of Southampton), and another gentleman. Mr. Shaw died in 1802 ; his MSS. were announced in 1809 for sale in the following spring, by Leigh and Sotheby. Pope Wolferstone, of Statfold, County Stafford, examined the MSS., and found that many were things which had been lent to Mr. Shaw by various persons (one being Burton Abbey Eegister, the property of Lord Anglesey, others being Lord Talbot's Chetwynd MSS.) who afterwards received them again through his friendly medium. Mr. Wolferstone purchased from Shaw's representatives the whole of the remaining MSS., inter alia the 12 volumes of the Stafford collection (one of the 13 being missing) ; in 1812 he transferred them to William Hamper, Esq., of Birmingham, who, in 1820, gave them to Lord Bagot. The volume with coloured pedigrees, long separated from the other 12, was afterwards discovered in the possession of the Town Clerk of Stafford, and was purchased by Lord Bagot in 1825. It contains a long account of a visit to Stafford by James I. in 1617." — Fourth Report of the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts, folio, 1874, page 325; y^i m ■:y:£rmr,::.i. i -?.^¥,?"S^ ^■'^J^^^l^: L*^"'*&'< 'TjW:- E»'.i- :*• -t;* ;."*«' :•'.ln■•^^ -; •% .1 ■»»■ .\4t ' 'fi'i