Catalogue description Correspondence of Lord Robert Dudley, cr. Earl of Leicester 29 Sept. 1564, beginning...

Correspondence of Lord Robert Dudley, cr. Earl of Leicester 29 Sept. 1564, beginning with five letters from himself; 1559-1571. The more important letters are as follows:-

1. Lord Rob. Dudley to "Mr. Shrives" [? the Sheriff], asking that his servant Langam, in prison on a charge of felony, may be released on bail, being prevented from serving the Queen under the Duke of Norfolk in the north; 30 Dec [1559] Holograph f.2.

2. Lord Rob. Dudley to "Mr. Sheldon", refusing a certificate of musters as insufficient, and complaining that the Queen "is more skantly servyde under me than any other in all Englande"; Richmond, 1 Aug. [1560] Holograph. f.4

3. Lord Rob. Dudley to Benedict Spinola, sending "Justice Grimes" for "the letter to your brother as touching the horsses"; at the Court, 6 May 1564. Signed. f.6

4. Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, to Sir John Zouche, Sir John Thinne and their Commissioners for "the Survaye of Fugetives Landes", asking them to expedite the survey of Wootton Basset, late Sir Francis Englefield's lands; from the Court, 7 July, 1572. Signed. f.8.

5. Draft of a letter of the same to Lord --, concerning the entertainment of ambassadors; no date. Imperfect. f.10.

6. George Gilpin, English Agent in the Netherlands, to Lord Rob. Dudley, (a) on the prospects of peace, etc.: "Some of the wysyste of them too be of oppynyon thatt, yf a peace be made and Callesse lefte in the Frenchemens handes, ytt wyll never be kepte ii yeares"; Brussels, 6 Mar., 1558. f.11; - (b) on the death of Henry II of France, "whiche the Kynghe of Spayne dothe take very heavely.... The priestes and other relegius persones arre very soory for his deathe, dowtynghe thay have laste one of thayre cheffe pylloures", etc.; Antwerp, 15 July, 1559. f.31; (c) on the election of a Pope, the projected attack on Tripoli, etc.; Antwerp, 22 Oct. 1559. f.88.

7. Sir James Croft, Governor of Berwick, to the same, (a) in favour of the bearer, "a gentelwoman wyddowe", trusting to the goodness of his nature," which I have knowen all wayes to be favorable to women"; 10 Apr., 1559. f.13;- (b) on the peril of reducing the garrison of Berwick; 7 July, 1559. f.21

8. Katherine Hastings [sister of Robert Dudley and wife of Henry Hastings, Lord Hastings, Earl of Huntingdon in 1561], praying her brother to esteem her husband, "thoughe peradventure he useth not soche flateryng behavyour as many wyll do unto prosperyte"; Sonnyng Hyll, 5 May, [1559] f.14. See also below, art. 58.

9. Edward [Hastings, Lord] Hastings, [of Loughborough], praying Dudley to move the Queen that he may enjoy his offices in the West, where he had served her sister; [endorsed May, 1559]. f.16.

10. [William Herbert, Earl of] Pembroke, excusing himself for not having been at court, "having bene somewhat ackrased sithens my comming hiether"; Hendon, 18 May, 1559. f.18.

11. Lord John Grey, (a) thanking Dudley for a "taulbut, wyche thoghe he be not of the swyttest, yet wold I be lothe at tys tyme to commend him unto you for the shurest, unlest yt be when he hathe the dere in his mouthe", and asking him in amends to send "a good shure flyte", also praying that the Queen "wold not so moche presume of her owen strenthe as to be let bludde bothe in the fute and arme all at won tyme"; Haufnaked, 2 July, 1559. Printed, Wilts Arch. Mag. XVIII, 1879. p.23. f.20;- (b) against a projected exchange of lands between the Queen and the Earl of Arundel, by which the former "shalle gyve for everey peney of that exchange XII d" [cf. art. 50]; Halfenaked, 30 Oct. [1560]. Pr. ibid. p.24. f.168.

12. Sir Richard Lee, Surveyor of Fortifications, asking Dudley to inspect the works at Berwick, so as to "be hable uppon viewe of the platt to lett her Majestie understande frome tyme to tyme howe her workes goeth forwardes"; Barwike, 9 July, 1559. f.23.

13. Elizabeth Darcy, widow of Thomas Darcy, Lord Darcy, of Chiche (d.1558), thanking Dudley for taking her son Robert Darcy into his service; Wevenho, [Wyvenhoe], 11 July, 1559. f.25.

14. Sir Nicholas Bagenal, late Marshal of Ireland, on his services in Ireland etc; Llanver beside Carnarven, 12 July, 1559. f.27.

15. William [Eure, Lord] Eure, asking Dudley to be his friend with the Queen to obtain for him the stewardship of Wardell, parcel of the temporalities of the Bishop of Durham, "credybly hearyng sey that he will not sear"; Wytton, 14 July, [1559]. f.29.

16. Edward [Stanley, Earl of] Derby, (a) on his inability to send Dudley a "lyomé" hound, but promising to send "the grehowndes.... when the Quenez highnes shalbe in progresse" and "a sparhawke.... so good, I trust, as any is withyn this shier"; Knowseley, 15 July, 1559. f.33;- (b) in favour of his servant Robert Dalton, a suitor for the purchase from the Crown of the manor of Cokerham; Lathom, 9 Jan., 1559[60]. f.98;- (c) asking Dudley to be "good lord" to Geffrey Morley, his servant and late tutor to his children, in his suits with Lord Wharton; Lathom, 31 Jan. 1559[60]. f.112;- (d) thanking Dudley for his services in his "doghetr Sturtons causes; and asking him to obtain the Quenes leave for his absence on St. George's Day; Lathom, 31 Mar. 1560. f. 123:- (e) praying Leicester to join with Lord Burghley in procuring the Queen's licence for him to be absent from Parliament on the ground of ill health; Knowseley, 16 Apr. 1571. f. 226.

17. Sir Ambrose Cave, as Joint-Lieutenant of co. Warwick and Commissioner to administer the Oath of Supremacy, recommending Sir Richard Varney to be an officer under him, and adding; "The great, takynge light at the late Bisshopps and from Oxfforde preistes in the Countrey, contynew in their accustomed obstinacie, behavinge verie ill and disobediently ..... The Deanez of Worcester [Seth Holland] and Lichefeld [John Ramridge] are hidde or fledde and so parson Comberforde", etc.; Duddeston, 16 July, 1559. f.36.

18. Donato Rullo, on an alleged demand of Dudley for two of his horses for the Queen's stable; London, 16 July, 1559, f.39.

19. Henry [Stafford, Lord] Stafford, (a) on a dispute, as Deputy Keeper of the royal parks and forests in co. Stafford, with Mr Littleton, keeper of Teddesley park; Stafford Castle, 18 July, 1559. f. 40;- (b) sending a "rude booke" of precedents "againe the usurped colour of lawes to condempne men without their aunswer"; Drurie place, 1 Dec, 1560. f. 173.

20. Sir Henry Paget [Lord Paget in 1563] (a) with political news from France; Paris, 18 July, [1559]. f. 42:- (b) from Venice, 2 June, 3 Aug, 1560. ff. 144, 153.

21. Thomas Benger, on his anxiety to serve the Queen - "Althowghe I lyve from her highnes, as I take yt, Lyke a banysshed man, yet wolde no worme fayner creype to his ffoode then on the knees of my harte desyer to serve and ffollowe her"; Barkehampstede, 23 July, 1559. f. 46.

22. Thomas [Butler, Earl of] Ormonde, in favour of the bearer for the "rome of a grom of the stable"; Bristow, 24 July, [1559]. f. 48.

23. Bernardin de Granada, as to hounds for the Duchess of Lorraine and the purchase of horses; Gawnte [Ghent], 27 July, Flushing, 23 Aug. 1559. ff. 50, 72.

24. Dominico Conncino, asking Dudley to use his influence to obtain for him the renewal of a pension of £200 granted to him by Edward VI; Genoa, 28 July, 1559. Italian f. 52.

25. Sir Thomas Cornwaleys, late Comptroller of the Household to Queen Mary, sending his servant Waterhouse "to be a sewter to my Lordes for my furder liberty"; London, 29 July, 1559. f. 54.

26. W[illiam Brooke, Lord] Cobham; Cobham Hall, 1 Aug. 1559. f.57.

27. Sir Nicholas Throkmorton, Ambassador to France, (a) asking instructions as to the purchase of "mulets" for the Queen; Paris, 2 Aug. 1559. f. 58:- from Amboise, 27 Feb. 1559 [60]. f. 116.

28. H[enry Neville, Earl of] Westmorland, (a) asking Dudley's interest to obtain the pardon of one Captain Brode concerned in the slaying of "one James Babbington"; York, 4 Aug. 1559. f. 59;- (b) from Raby, 21 Jan. 1559[60]. f. 100.

29. Henri de Foix, [Comte de Candale], sending Dudley a "garniture doyseaulx" and "des coleurs de mamye, lequel je vous prie porter pour lamour delle"; London, 5 Aug. [1559]. Fr. f.61.

30. [William Paulet, Marquis of] Winchester, recommending a footman for the Queen's service; 6 Aug. 1559. f.62.

31. Lord Ambrose Dudley [Earl of Warwick in 1561]; 9,15,17,-Aug. 1559, n.d. ff. ff. 64, 68, 70, 82, 177.

32. E[dward Clinton, Lord] Clinton [Earl of Lincoln in 1571], announcing the death of Sir Thomas Carden; 29 Aug. 1559. f. 76.

33. Sir N[icholas] Poyntz, excusing his departure on the ground of "extreame wantt", and praying Dudley to be his "solicitar" to the Queen; [Aug. 1559], f. 77.

34. Elizabeth, [wife of Lord Ambrose] Dudley; [Aug. 1559, Apr. 1560], ff.80, 140.

35. E[dward Sutton, Lord] Dudley, to his "cosen" Lord R. Dudley; [1559], 30 Jan. [1560], 25 Nov. [1560]. ff. 84, 108, 171.

36. F[rancis Hastings, Earl of] Huntingdon, (a) thanking Dudley for news of the Queen's health, etc.; Kyrby, 2 Oct. 1559. f. 86;- (b) in favour of William Stokes (cf. art 47); Ashby de la Zouche, 9 April, 1560. f. 135.

37. K[atherine, widow of Charles Brandon, Duke of] Suffolk, (a) excusing her absence from court on account of "sekenes", and praying "her Maiestes mercy for me ingnorant cossene", with a reference to "Boner, layte Beshope of Londone, be hos [sc. whose] wyling cruelte no five nomber of the saynctes of God hathe loste ther lyves, no feve nomber ther soles", etc.; [Oct., endorsed]. f. 90;- (b) praying Dudley to "help that my poor cossen was but out of the Tower", etc.: [Mar. 1560?]. f. 125. Pr. in Wilts Arch. Mag. XVIII. 1879, pp.28, 26

38. Sir R[alph] Sadleir, (a) in favour of Thomas Lovell, "an olde servant of my lorde your fathers", for the office of Clerk of the Council at Berwick; Berwick, 4 Dec. 1559. f. 92;- (b) on his suit to the Queen for the fee-farm of the manor of Hunden, with a reference to his having been "overmoche pynched by her sister"; Stonden, 24 Jan. 1560[1]. f.181.

39. F[rancis Russell, Earl of Bedford, (a) asking interest with "Mr. Treasurer for the purchasing of a smale pece of land at the Que Maiesties handes", Chenys, 3 June [1559-63]. f. 94;- (b) in favour of "Mr. Elmer" for the Deanery of Windsor; 29 Jan [1559-60]. f. 106.

40. Thomas Lucy [Shakespeare's "Justice Shallow"], sending his servant Burnell to do Dudley service in shooting matches; Charlcot, 8 Apr. [1559-63]. f. 95. Printed in Notes and Queries, 1867, p.349, and Wilts Arch. Mag. XVIII. 1879. p. 25.

41. Thomas Kyrven, Mayor of Coventry, on the case of one Stephen Benet "lackkee to your Lordeshippes servant Owen", accused of having "certayne clippinges of gold"; 22 Jan. 1559[60]. f.102.

42. P. Chowte, (a) with news from France; 27 Jan. [1559-60]. f.104;- (b) sending Dudley a sapphire as a gift, "wisshing it to be an oryent diamonde, and so it were worthe gramercie, but as it is, King Henrye the eight wore it in a Ring"; "At the Castell of the Cambre" [co. Sussex], 10 June. f.202.

43. Elizabeth [Butler, wife of Thomas, Earl of] Ormonde and Ossory, desiring to know why Dudley is offended with her; [Jan. 1559-60]. f.114.

44. [John Astley?], excusing himself for not having followed his "advyce in fulfyllynge my duty to have waytyd thys Crystmas", being "more then halff drownde in dett", etc.; Melton in Norfolk, 30 Jan. [1559-1560, endorsed]. f.110. Printed, Wilts Arch. Magazine, XVIII. 1879, p.23. See art. 66.

45. John Legh, on the progress of [Jane Dormer], Countess of Feria, through the Netherlands, etc.; Antwerp, 5 Apr. [1560]. f.127.

46. Thomas Keys [? afterwards husband of Lady Mary Grey], as to restrictions on the export of horses; Sandgate Castle, 5 Apr. 1560. f.129.

47. H[enry Hastings, Lord] Hastings, in favour of a "sute which Mr. Wyllyame Stokes hathe unto the Quens Maiestie for the confyrmacyon of hys lease in Bewmanner" [Beaumanoir, co. Leic.]; Ashbey, 9 Apr. 1560. f.133;- (b) as Earl of Huntingdon, on "the woofull daye of buryall" [of his father], etc.; 30 June, 1560. f.147;- (c) on his suit for the Mastershypp of the Harte houndes" late held by his father [and granted to him, 27 Jan. 1560-1561]; 13 Oct. 1560. f.166.

48. Nynyan Menvelle, on his arrival at Newcastle, "attendinge uppon the Scotes hostages", and offering a report on "the situacion of the most notable places" along the Scotch coast; Newcastle, "this Ester Even" [?13 Apr. 1560]. f.137.

49. Edwin [Sandys, Bishop of] Worcester, praying Dudley to maintain his "honest and righteous causes" ..... "If I may be indifferentlye hard, the defense of me shall not turne to youre dishonor, let the maliciouse report what thei list"; London, 14 Apr. 1560. f.139.

50. [John Lumley, Lord] Lumley, thanking Dudley for the "furderance of my L. sute for Halfnaked" [Halnaker, in Boxgrove, co. Sussex]; Stansted, 16 May, 1560. f.142. With a postscript by his father in law, the Earl of Arundel.

51. [Henry Manners, Earl of] Rutland, sending "one of the best doges that ever hath ben in this contry. Yet notwithstanding, for thenmytie that some berith your L, but specially towardes me, they found meanes to stele the same dog, so as in tenne daies he culd not be hard of, and besides that they did die him of sundry cullers", etc.; Belvoir Castle, 4 June, 1560. f.146.

52. [Henry Fitz Alan, Earl of] Arundel, as to the ratification of the French treaty, the Queen's progress, etc.; Stansted, 21 July, 1560. f.151.

53. Sir Thomas Gresham, agent at Antwerp, (a) saying he has sent the Queen's "turcke horsse" to Dunkirk.... "As licke wysse I have maid dew serche for sylke howsse [sc. hose] for the Quenes Maiestie, but here ys nowen to be gotten", etc.; Andwerpe, 18 Aug. 1560. f.155;-- (b) on the news of the death of the Emperor and the King of France and the prospects of "moche quyettnes thorowe-owght all Cristendome", etc.; Andwarpe, 16 Dec.1560. f.175.

54. The Privy Council, as to the prevention of disorder by disbanded soldiers; Basing, 30 Aug. 1560. Signed by the Marquis of Northampton, Earl of Arundel, Edward, Lord Clinton, William, Lord Howard of Effingham, and others. f.159.

55. Sir Thomas Chamberlayne, Envoy to Spain, asking Dudley's "favour to helpe to unburden me of this charge"; Toledo, 6 Sept. 1560. f.161.

56. Lord James Hamilton, [3rd Earl of Arran, 1575], acknowledging his esteem for Dudley's friendship, "the mare for that it is altogidder undeservit for ony thing that evir I was able to do to youre plesar"; Edinburgh, 28 Sept. 1560. f.164.

57. The University of Cambridge, praying Dudley to defend its privileges as his father had done; 19 Aug. [1559-63]. Lat. f.179.

58. K[atherine Hastings, Countess of] Huntingdon [see art.8], on her husband's impoverished state, "I assure you when he shall goe [to court] he shall not be hable to carrye fortye poundes in his pursse to beare his charges the hole iourney"; Kerbye, 7 Feb. [1560-1]. f.183.

59. Henry Killigrew, on the mission of the Earl of Bedford to France, a sale of the king's horses at Paris, the decay of the credit of the house of Guise, etc.; Bollen [Boulogne], 1 Feb. [1560-1]. f.185.

60. Ja. Baskerville, on the suit of Mr Knolles "unto younge mistres Lyngen"; Hereford, 7 Mar. [1560-1]. f.187.

61. Sir Raphe Bagenall, on the trial and acquittal of Edward Dekesone, "your L. man", at Stafford assizes; Stoke upon Trent, 18 Mar. 1560 [1]. f.189.

62. Anthony [Browne, Viscount] Mountague, expressing his ernest desire to please the Queen and promising to come to Court after Easter; Cowdrey, 25 Mar. 1561. f.191.

63. Fargus Grayme, on his imprisonment by Lord Dacre and his anxiety to be brought to London for trial; Carlisle, 26 Mar.1561. f.193.

64. G[eorge Talbot, Earl of] Shrewsbury, on abuses in the forest of High Peak; Sheffield, 10 Apr. 1561. f.197.

65. John Johnson, on abuses in the customs of wools and fells; [Apr. 1561]. f.199.

66. [Kath.Asteley], on the disgrace of her husband "Jhone Asteley" at Court....."The quines magesti sayd unto me....that sche coude never forgeve my husbond nor never love hym", etc.; no date. f.201. Pr. in Wilts Arch. Magazine, XVIII. 1879, p. 21. See art. 44.

67. Sir W[illiam] Drury, when under the custody of Sir Rich. Sackville, thanking Dudley for being a suitor to the Queen for his liberty, acknowledging his offence towards him, and begging him to intercede further on his behalf with the Queen, who "hathe taken with dysplesure thofse rasche woordes which only I ment and spake of your L[ordship]"; no date [endorsed "July" 1559?]. f.204.

68. Thomas Trollope, offering to write in defence of the memory of Dudley's father; no date. f.207.

69. Barbara de Lannoy, petitioning the Earl of Leicester that her "pore husbande may be delyuered out of his most miserable captiuitie and longe imprysonement"; no date. The petition probably refers to the case of Cornelius de Lannoy or de la Noye, who undertook to turn any metal into gold, 1566-1567. (see bal. of State Papers, 1547-1580, pp.275-277, etc.). f.209.

70. Nicholas [Bullingham, Bishop of] Lincoln, expressing his intention not to depute to any other the collection of the Queen's tenth with which he was charged by statute; no date [1560-1570]. f.211.

71. "The newes out of Fraunce" on the meeting of the Diet of Spires, the proceedings of the Duke of Alva, etc.; [1570]. f.212.

72. Claudio Corte, asking Leicester for payment of money due to him when he left his service; Paris, 4 Feb. 1571. f.214.

73. William Maitland of Lethington, imploring Leicester's "patrociny" to reconcile him with the Queen, etc.; Balmany, 21 Feb. [1571]. f.216.

74. Count Louis de Nassau, in behalf of Guillaume Dembize, who, after seizure of his ships, had been arrested and imprisoned in London; La Rochelle, 9 Mar. 1571. f.218.

75. H[enry] Goodere, asking aid in a suit to the Queen, touching the validity of certain letters patent; London, 14 Mar. 1570[1]. f.220.

76. Henry [Berkeley, Lord] Berkeley, praying Leicester to be "a meane to the Quenes Maiestie that her grace maie licence me to be absent som part at the begininge of this parliament", in order to put himself under the care of "Mr. Michell the phisicion", who "is not mynded to make eny longe abode here in England"; Callowghdon, 24 Mar. 1570[1]. f.222.

77. William Tucker, Mayor, and the Aldermen of Bristol, against the statute for "the incorporating of the merchauntes adventurers of Bristowe"; 28 Mar. 1571. f.224.

78. Thomas Sutton, asking interest with Sir John Foster, whose daughter he is seeking in marriage; Berwick, 6 May, 1571. f.228.

79. Henry Cobham, Envoy to Spain, on his entertainment in Spain and the doings of Thomas Stukely; Madrid; 2 May, 1571. f.231.

80. Leonard West, on the "unnaturall dealenges" of his nephew Lord La Warr; London, 13 May, 1571. f.234.

81. W[illiam] Overton, chaplain to the Earl of Leicester, [Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, 1579], complaining of neglect, etc.; Chichester, 22 May, 1571. f.237.

82. Guido Cavalcanti, on the progress of [Walsingham's] negotiations in France; Gaglione [Gaillon], 23 May, 1571. f.239.

83. Matthew [Stuart, Earl of Lennox], Regent of Scotland, saying that he has sent James Cunningham his servant to the Queen "to declare unto hir.....the estaitt of this cuntrie", etc.; Stirling, 26 May, 1571. f.242.

84. [James Douglas, Earl of] Morton, on the troubles in Scotland and the defection of [William Kirkcaldy] the Laird of Grange, who "haith maid the castell [of Edinburgh] a receptacle and defence to all thase that ar suspectit to be the murtherairs of bath the king and regent", etc.; Dalkeith, 29 May, 1571. f.247.

Folio; 248