said county, with all the demi-lances and lighthorsemen, be in readiness at all times, according to such commandment as you have received already from the King's Majesty, or his most honourable Council, without failing of the premises, as you tender the King's Majesty, the wealth of this his realm, and will avoid the danger of not doing the same at your uttermost perils. From Sheffield, the 19th day of May.

I send you

For Derbyshire; Postscripta. herewith a bill, as I have thought meet, where the 200 men shall be levied, and who shall be captains of the same; praying you, and also in the King's Majesty's name, to see it accomplished.

For Salop and Staffordshire; Postscripta. I send you here-inclosed a copy of the book sent me from my Lord Protector's Grace, of the names of such as are appointed to furnish demi-lances and light horsemen, which I pray you (and in the King's Majesty's name straitly charge and command you whose names are mentioned in the indorsement of these my letters, or two of you at least) to see that all the said demi-lances and lighthorse are mustered for you with all possible diligence, so that they may set forwards upon the next warning, without delay, accordingly.

To my very loving friends, the Sheriff of the county of Salop; to Sir George Blount, Sir Richard Manwaring, Knights; Thomas Leghe, Esquire; and all others the King's Majesty's Commissioners last appointed for the musters within the said county, and to every of them.

No. II.

(Talbot Papers, Vol. B. fol. 3.)

THE DUKE OF SOMERSET

TO THE EARL OF SHREWSBURY.

My Lord,

AFTER our right hearty commendations to your Lordship; calling to our remembrance how desirous and willing you shewed yourself at our late being with you to go forwards with us, and do the King's Majesty's service with your person in this present journey into Scotland; and considering, since our arrival here, besides your known propensities thereunto, of what moment it should be to have a nobleman such as your Lordship with us, as well to have the charge of some one of the wards of footmen, as also to see, for experience, the order of things which may, God willing, be worthy of memory; therefore, albeit we were loth before to have accepted your offer, thinking it should have put you to a trouble and disquietness that we would ye should forbear where the greater need pressed not, yet at this present we have thought good to require you, that if so be you can put yourself in order (we pass not with how small a number of your own servants) to be with us at Berwick by the 6th day of September* next, and that it shall not be too great a discommodity unto you to be there by that day with us, you shall so do, which we shall take very thankfully. But in

The battle of Musselborough, or Pinkey, in which the Scots lost 10,000 men, happened on the 10th.

case you cannot have your carriage, or other necessaries to come thither so shortly, which should be impeachment of your setting forth, we require you in either case to advertise us, by your letter, of that ye may do herein conveniently. And thus we bid your Lordship right heartily well to fare. From Newcastle, the 18th of August, 1547,

at noon.

Postscripta. If so be ye cannot conveniently be there by that time, we would ye should not make forward, but tarry still at home.

Your Lordship's assured friend,

E. SOMERSET.

To our very good Lord, the Earl of Shrewsbury, besides Doncaster. Haste, post, haste for thy life, for thy life. Post of Doncaster, see this letter delivered according to the direction, for thy life. Haste.

No. III.

(Talbot Papers, Vol. B. fol. 15. 1547.)

SIR RALPH SADLEIR

TO THE EARL OF SHREWSBURY.

PLEASE it your Lordship to understand that presently arrived here these letters, closed in this packet, from the South, and, according to such commission as your Lordship gave me at your departure, I opened the letter addressed to your Lordship from my Lord Protector's Grace and the Council. The devices contained in the same for the fortification at White-Castle, or Aberlady,* I

A large village on the coast, with convenient harbour' about three miles N. W. of Haddingtoun.

VOL. I.

L

refer to your Lordship, not doubting but, upon the view of the places, your Lordship, with the rest of the Council there, will resolve the best; and if I could give any counsel therein that might tend to the advancement of the King's Majesty's affairs, and your honour, it were my duty to do it. Surely it is most expedient that some fortification be made, either at Aberlady, if the ground will serve, or in some other place about the Pethes, or between the Pethes and Hadington; or else I see not, in my poor opinion, how we can keep Hadington, unless we are able to bear the charge to victual it twice a year with an army; which your Lordship can consider by your wisdom, and will do, I doubt not, as much as may be done conveniently.

We have much ado here to get the victuallers out of the haven, but I have made them believe that some of them shall be hanged if they go not out at this tide, which is at this instant, and I have already made them draw to the haven's mouth; so that at this tide they shall depart to the sea, and, as the wind will serve, shall repair to Aberlady, where I trust they shall be some time to-morrow. Those which were at Holy-island are already passed by here this morning towards Aberlady.

As yet your carts are not arrived here; but the garrison of this town is gone this night passed to meet them at the Pethes; and when they come, Mr. Stonehouse has promised me to despatch them hence again to your Lordship with speed, wherein all diligence possible shall be used. And

thus Almighty God send your Lordship health, with much honour.

At Berwick, the 23rd of August, with the rude hand of your Lordship's most assuredly to com mand,

To the right honourable and my very good Lord the Earl of Shrewsbury, Lieutenant-General of the Army in Scotland.

R. SADLEIR,

No. IV.

(Talbot Papers, Vol. B., fol. 23. 1547.)

SIR RALPH SADLEIR

TO THE EARL OF SHREWSBURY.

It may please your Lordship to understand, that upon receipt of your letters by Mr. Fisher, both he and I conferred with Mr. Stonehouse upon the same, who answereth that more than he alleged by his letters last addressed unto your Lordship he is not able to perform; that is to say, to victual 3000 or 4000 men to fortify at the Pethes, and also the navy, with the supply of

men more

now appointed unto the same; so that if your Lordship will now have the whole army to remain eight or ten days longer, he says plainly that he is not able to furnish the same unless the navy be disappointed; and all for lack of millage, for he has grain enough, and drink sufficient, with also beefs enough, but for lack of millage, he is not able to furnish you with bread, except, as is aforesaid, you disappoint the navy; and this is his plain and resolute answer, so that your Lordship has