From Sheffield Castle, this 2nd of August, 1572. Your good Lordship's ever assured friend to my power, G. SHREWSBURY. To the right honourable my very good Lord the No. LXIV. (Howard Papers.) THE EARL OF SHREWSBURY TO THE QUEEN. May it please your Majesty, I RECEIVED lately your Highness's letters that I should see an indifferent jury impanneled for your Majesty in the county of Derby, to enquire of John Sacheverel, fugitive; whereupon I gave knowledge to the Sheriff of that shire of time and place which I thought metest for that matter, and with much ado the Sheriff at length met me, where we had some talk, of his part more stout and forward than in that matter was requisite. He would use no conference with me to the end your Majesty wrote; neither would he forbear or impannel any man at my motion; but departed, saying he would do as he thought mete; and so he did make and return a jury as himself liked best, without my assent. The jury indeed are very honest and discreet men; but for that I did well perceive Sacheverel and his friends bear such rule with that jury, and they were so near Norbury, and Sacheverel and his friends (and sundry ways in their danger) as great favour was like to be shewed to the fugitive, I thought not good to proceed therein until your Majesty were advertised, and your pleasure further known; for loth I would be that any notorious offender, or contemptuous person against your Majesty, should have any favour where I have to do; the example thereof might perhaps breed overmuch boldness in the like, or greater, offences. Mr. Rolston can report to your Majesty the further circumstances and handling of this matter, and therefore I cease to trouble your Majesty; praying to God, according to my bounden duty, ever for your most excellent Majesty. At Sheffield Castle, this 16th of August, 1572. servant, G. SHREWSBURY. To the Queen's most excellent Majesty. No. LXV. (Talbot Papers, Vol. P. fol. 589.) THE EARL OF SHREWSBURY TO LORD BURGHLEY. My good Lord, I MOST heartily thank your Lordship for your letter I received from Kenilworth, where I wrote unto your Lordship another since that. I thought to remove this Queen to my lodge. Now, finding the place where she is safer than I looked for, and considering if any practices shall be used, betwixt this and Hallowtide is the fittest time to put in use, therefore I mind not to remove her at all, unless it be for five or six days, to cleanse her chamber, being kept very uncleanly. She is desirous of new men, and send these abroad; which, if by the Ambassador's means may be obtained at the Queen's Majesty's hands, will bring new devices. Now she is mostly quiet, saving she mislikes she cannot go a hunting into the fields, upon horseback; which I trust the Queen's Majesty will not assent to, unless she minds to set her at liberty. And so, having no matter else of importance, I end with my most hearty commendations to your good Lordship. At Sheffield Castle, this 26th of August, 1572. To the right honourable my Lord Burghley, No. LXVI. (Howard Papers.) LORD BURGHLEY TO THE EARL OF SHREWSBURY. My good Lord, THE Queen's Majesty liked your letter brought to me by Sabran, the French Ambassador's man, and especially the continuance of your plain dealing in that your charge; and yet, upon the Ambassador's earnest motion, her Majesty is content, and would have your Lordship, if you think it not in convenient, to confer with that Queen upon her number of servants, wherein she findeth lack; and how she would have the same supplied, for the French Ambassador says she lacks servitors for her necessary service, in that some one serves in two or three rooms. And as your Lordship shall find the lack indeed necessary, so is her Majesty content that your Lordship shall of your own discretion supply the same, or otherwise advertise her Majesty thereof. Secondly, it is required that the said Queen might have some one of her servants come out of France, to inform her of her accounts there; and that she might send some letters into France for that purpose. Whereunto her Majesty is thus pleased;-that she shall write open letters of her instructions, to be seen by your Lordship, and sent hither with your letters to the Ambassador; and otherwise her Majesty will not that she shall send any persons hence. And thus I end, with my most hearty commendations. From Compton in the Hole (so well called for a deep valley; but surely the entertainment is very great, and here have I wished your Lordship), 23rd of August, 1572. Your Lordship's assured, W. BURGHLEY. My good Lord, I stayed this letter until this day that by my Lord Talbot I understood that he would send in the morning to you. Our news out Or offices. of France is strange. The Admiral,* having waited on the King to Tennis, at his return to Paris, was shot at out of a house belonging to a follower of the Duke of Guise, with a calibre, having three bullets, and his forefinger of his right hand struck off with one pellet, his wrist of his left arm shot through in two places; and hereupon he is fallen sick of a fever somewhat dangerously. The King of Navarre was married the last week at Paris; the Prince of Condé also married the week before that. In Scotland the abstinence continues hardly. The Prince of Orange has overthrown all the Almaines that were coming out of Germany to aid the Duke of Alva. Monsieur le Nowe has lately slain 1200 Spaniards at In Ireland the troubles of Connaught are pacified. Of the Earl of Northumberland's death I think your Lordship cannot be ignorant. The Earl of Huntingdon is appointed Lord President of the North. And thus I end, with my humble and hearty commendations both to your Lordship and to my Lady. * The famous Gaspard de Coligny, the Patriarch of the Huguenots. This attack on his person was made on the 22nd of August, by Nicholas de Louviers, Lord of Morevel, or, more properly, Maurevert, in Brie. It was the signal for the horrible massacre of St. Bartholomew, which began on the 24th, and which had been planned by Catherine de Medicis, and the King her son, amidst the festivities of the court on the nuptials of the King of Navarre, and the Prince of Condé, which are mentioned here. The former of those princes married Margaret of Valois, third sister to Charles IX., the latter, Mary of Cleves, daughter to Francis, Duke of Nevers. |