were burut sixteen towns; and won a booty, or spoil, of 280 neat, and 1000 sheep, besides many horses, and some prisoners.

This day an aid of 600 men of the Bishoprick is repaired towards Berwick; which, being placed as my Lord Wharton shall appoint, I doubt not but shall be able, by God's grace, to withstand the enemy; and the same considered, upon conference therein had with my Lord Wharton, I do, for sundry my Lord my brother's and mine own much necessary business, depart hence to-morrow towards Prudhow. And thus, remaining, as I am thereto most bound, your Lordship's assured to command at all times, I shall beseech the Eternal God long to conserve your good Lordship, with continuance and increase of much honourable estate. From Alnwick, this 6th of August, 1557. Your Lordship's most bounden at command, HENRY PERCY.+

I desire your Lordship of pardon in the direction of these letters with such speed; the only cause is that the posts be so slow.

To the right honourable his most singular good Lord, my Lord of Shrewsbury, Lord President of the King's and Queen's Majesties' Council in the North, and one of their Highnesses' most honourable Privy Council. Haste post, haste, haste, haste, haste, for thy life, for life, for life.

* Prudhow Castle, situated near the Tyne, a few miles west of Newcastle. It was formerly a seat of the Umframvilles, from whom it descended to the Percy family towards the end of the fourteenth century, and is now possessed by the Duke of Northumberland, to whose only brother, Algernon, the title of Baron Prudhow was granted in 1816, and who now enjoys it.

Brother and heir, by a special entail, to Thomas Earl of

No. XLI.

(Talbot papers, Vol. D. fol. 98.)

THE EARL OF NORTHUMBERLAND TO
THE EARL OF SHREWSBURY.

I SEND here enclosed unto your Lordship the copy of a letter of intelligence which I have received from my brother Henry Percy, Sir John Foster, Knight, and John Swinbourne, whereby the state of these weighty affairs here may the better appear unto your Lordship which shall understand that as I perceive from the Captain of Norham that place will be hastily besieged, and as he has learned by credible intelligence it will be this present week, he is like to lack both powder and guns necessary for the defence thereof; and for relief therein I have already written to the Master of the Ordnance at Newcastle, and the Mayor of the said town to send with all possible speed to Norham, if they are able to furnish the same, two barrels of powder, and two guns. And so I commit your Lordship to Almighty God. From Alnwick, the 17th of August, 1557.

Your Lordship's assured loving cousin,

T. NORTHUMBERLAND. *

Northumberland. He was accused of a design to liberate the Queen of Scots in 1585, and committed to the Tower, where he was found in his bed, on the 21st of June in that year, shot through the heart, seemingly by himself, but with some circumstances which occasioned suspicions of treachery. The Supplement published in 1750 to Collins's Peerage gives a long and tolerably correct account of this noble person, and an incorrect transcript of this letter.

*Thomas Percy, restored to the Earldom of Northumberland this year, and, by a patent dated August 2, joined to Lord Wharton in the Wardenry of the East Marches. He was beheaded at York, August 22, 1572.

Postscripta. I have received from my Lord Wharton the copy of a letter of intelligence sent to him from Sir William Ingleby, Knight, and Rowland Foster, who are placed at the castle of Wark; which copy I have sent to the Privy Council, for that it touches the said castle and fortress. The effect whereof is that the Scottish Queen, herself in person, sets forwards with great ordnance to lay siege to the same; and has proclaimed, in the most parts of Scotland nigh unto the frontiers, that all men between the ages of 60 and 16 shall come forwards with 40 days' victuals, for the better achieving of this her pretended enterprise.

THE LETTER INCLOSED.

(Talbot Papers, Vol. D. fol. 99.)

Right honourable, my very good Lord, May it please your Lordship to perceive that I have received such perfect intelligence that I think your Lordship may trust on, that the Earl of Huntley, the Earl of Cassellis, accompanied with divers other nobles of Scotland, intend to be in England upon Wednesday next, the 18th of this instant August; purposing to take in hand to cast down Cornwall Tower, Twysell Bridge, and also Ford Bridge, if power will so serve them, for victualling the castle of Wark, where the Queen of Scots intends to be the 25th of this instant to lay siege to the same castle of Wark; and thereon has commanded, throughout all Scotland, all men to bring 20 days' victuals with them. She presently is at Dunbar; and her battery, being six cannons,

and demy cannons are all ready landed at Aymouth. Further news there is among the Lords of Scotland, that our ships have landed in Fife, and there have burnt one town. As knows the Blessed Trinity, who preserve your Lordship with much increase of honour. From Chillingham, this night, being Tuesday morning, in haste, 1557.

Your Lordship's humbly at commandment,

HENRY PERCY.

JOHN FOSTER.+

JOHN SWYNBORNE.

We think very meet your Lordship to write unto my Lord Wharton for to set forward the ordnance to be at Norham this Tuesday, by 4 of the clock; and, further, for the garrisons of footmen as your Lordship before has written; which garrison, and ordnance if we shall want, their purposes we are not like to prevent

To the right honourable my very good Lord the Earl Shrewsbury, Lord Lieutenant in the North. Post haste, for thy life, life, life, life.

* It appears by this, and several other passages in the papers of this year, that the assault of Wark by the Scots was not entirely unprovoked. The conduct of the Queen Regent in that matter has been somewhat misrepresented.

Sir John Forster, second son of Sir Thomas Forster of Ederston in Northumberland. He was afterwards a Warden of the Marches and Governor of Berwick, and was slain on the borders in 1575.

John Swynborne was probably the son of Roger Swinburne of Nafferton, descended from the ancient Swinburnes of Capheaton.

No. XLII.

(Talbot Papers, Vol. D. fol. 93.)

THE EARL OF SREWSBURY TO

THE PRIVY COUNCIL.

Ir may please your good Lordship to be advertised. that I have presently received letters from my very good Lord the Earl of Northumberland, the copies whereof herewith your Lordship shall receive. And, although I have heretofore received from your Lordship sundry directions for the aid of the frontiers, as occasion shall require, and also authority from the Queen's Majesty, by her Grace's letters patent and otherwise, for that purpose, yet, wanting money, I can do nothing to any effect, be the necessity ever so great. And if, according to my Lord of Northumberland's letter, I should raise the whole force, and carry them forwards, having neither money nor victuals to relieve them, I should thereby drive the people, as I fear, rather to mutiny and grudge, than, otherwise, to retain them willing to serve; and therefore I fear to raise and bring them forwards without surety of money; but I have written letters, as well to the Earls of Westmoreland, Derby, and Cumberland, as also to all others within the shires of York and Nottingham, to be ready to march forwards upon any sudden warning by proclamation or other munition. If money could have been had in these parts, either for bond or otherwise, I would assuredly for the present need have mortgaged or sold