other purpose thus etc. than to come to Coldingham.* And From Berwick, the 1st of December. Postscript; my son sends your Lordship a letter of such news as he hath obtained. Your Lordship's at commandment, To the right honourable and my very good Lord the Earl of Shrewsbury, the King's Majesty's LieutenantGeneral in the North parts. No. XXXI. WILLIAM EURE. (Talbot Papers, Vol. A. fol. 199. 1544.) TO THE EARL OF SHREWSBURY. PLEASETH your Lordship to be advertised that, where the King's Majesty has commanded me to see my Lord of Lennox conveyed to Carlisle, and there to remain with him till his Grace's pleasure be further known; and also his Highness's pleasure was, your Lordship being near the way, my said Lord of Lennox should speak with your Lordship, and so make your Lordship privy to his directions; forasmuch as your Lordship is past further into the North, and my said Lord of Lennox is weary, The Regent, attended by the noblemen mentioned in this letter, and with an army of 8000 men, proceeded to Coldingham, according to Sir William's expectation; but had scarcely opened his batteries when he suddenly retreated, as it were panic struck, to Dunbar. He alleged in excuse that he had discovered a mutinous disposition among his troops, but the fault was generally ascribed to his own effeminate disposition. and cannot be well served with horses, his Lordship intends to go the next way to Carlisle. His Lordship has written unto your Lordship, and sent also the copy of his instructions; and, forasmuch as I am commanded by the King's Majesty's counsel, I shall not part from him, but be privy to all his proceedings. And also Mr. Secretary Paget commanded me to go with speed, and would not suffer me to tarry to receive any money, but said to me he would write to your Lordship to take order to see money delivered to me here; that is to say, twenty shillings by the day, from the time I parted from the King's Majesty, which was the 9th of December, until such time I come to his Majesty again; desiring your Lordship I may be advertised of your Lordship's pleasure herein. And thus, beseeching God to send your Lordship good health, with increase of honour. From Dorton, the 16th of December. Your Lordship's to command, To the right honourable the Earl of Parts. THO. HOLCROft.* Sir Thomas Holcroft, of the Vale Royal, son of John Holcroft, of Holcroft in Cheshire. This gentleman, who had been chiefly employed in military services in this reign, held the office of Receiver of the Duchy of Lancaster under Edward VI. and fell with the Protector, (see papers of June, 1551) to whom he was firmly attached. Mary, who in her first promotions forgot none of Northumberland's enemies, gave him the post of Knight Marshal, in which his noble conduct to Dr. Sandys, afterwards Archbishop of York, who had been committed to his custody by Gardiner, is celebrated HENRY R.* No. XXXII. (Talbot Papers, Vol. A. fol. 215.) Instructions given by the King's Majesty to his right trusty and right well-beloved Cousin, the Earl of Shrewsbury; his trusty and well-beloved servants Sir James Folgeam, Sir George Gresley, Knights; and to others, his Majesty's Commissioners within his County of Derby, for the purpose ensuing. FIRST, where his Majesty, upon sundry great and urgent considerations, touching his person, and the whole state of this his Grace's realm, some specialties whereof shall be touched hereafter, has, by the deliberate advice of his Highness's Council, resolved to require at this point a loving contribution of such his most loving and obedient subjects as may, and will, gladly strain themselves, both to gratify his Majesty and to bear part of the common burden which must be sustained for their own defence and surety; having a special trust and confidence in the fidelity, wisdom, and circumspection of the aforesaid Commissioners, his Majesty has by Fox, and others. He married Julian, daughter and heir of Nicholas Jennings, Alderman of London; by whom he had issue Isabel, wife of Edward Manners, Earl of Rutland; and Thomas, who married, first, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Fitton, of Gosworth; secondly, Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Sir William Reyner, of Overton-Longville in Huntingdonshire; which lady, surviving him, married Henry Talbot, third son of George sixth Earl of Shrewsbury. The last edition of Collins's Peerage erroneously transposes her two husbands. A branch of Sir Thomas Holcroft's family was settled in Hampshire, and had certain estates in Wilts, in 1623. * Done with a stamp cut in imitation of the King's signature. He was now so inactive, through extreme corpulency and other infirmities, that it gave him great trouble to write, and he soon after became incapable of applying the stamp with his own hand. appointed the same to be his Commissioners for the practising of the said loving contribution in the county of Derby; and, therefore, his most gracious pleasure is that the said Commissioners, immediately upon the receipt of such letters, instructions, commission, and writings, as are prepared for their proceeding in the same, shall, with all convenient diligence, travail for the grant and levying of the said loving contribution, in manner and form following. First, the said Commissioners, assembling themselves together, shall peruse these instructions, with the book of the names of divers persons, within the limits of that shire, which are thought meet to be contributors; with the rates also of their lands, and substance, as they were taxed at the last subsidy. And, for the conducing of their charge to the better effect, according to his Majesty's expectation, they shall first come together, with such as they shall think meet, and, after a apart dividing themselves by two and two, they shall commune with the rest, that is to say, every of them with such men with whom they are best acquainted, or can by any other means induce to an honest conformity; to the intent they may the more certainly proceed with them, and the better to induce them to be frank and loving herein as appertaineth. And his Majesty is pleased, if they shall perceive that any of the persons contained in the said book of names and taxation for the subsidy be such that time notably decayed, they shall, by their discretions, either take that which they, being so decayed, may reasonably bear, or clearly dismiss them at their discretions; having regard that if any be left out of the book sent unto them herewith, such as were meet to be contributors, they shall enter them among the others after their estimation, or as they were last taxed, to the intent they may in this contribution bear with their neighbours accordingly. And, to the intent the said Commissioners may the better and more certainly know how to proceed, and with whom to treat in this matter, his Majesty does them understand * that, minding of his clemency and goodness to have the said contribution levied of such his good and loving subjects as may conveniently bear it, his Grace's pleasure is they shall press no man to advance any thing unless he may dispend in lands, fees, and offices, forty shillings by the year, and upward; or that they shall think him worth in goods fifteen pounds, the best to be taken for his Majesty. And, to instruct them after what rate they shall require it; albeit his Highness doubts not but his said Commissioners will endeavour themselves to advance this contribution to as good a sum as the present necessity requires, yet his Majesty and his Council have thought that the least rate that can conveniently be made, to levy any thing at all to the purpose aforesaid, is of £10 land, and upward, four pence of the pound in every month, for the space of five months next ensuing; and of every pound of £15 and upward * i. e. Doth inform them. |