hath spoken of late days many loving words towards your Lordship; howbeit every thing goeth not forwards as he would have it, as your Lordship shall perceive by the copy of this letter which I have sent by this bearer.

*

Here is great snarling among divers of them, insomuch my Lord Cardinal said unto Sir Henry Marney that the same Sir Henry had done more displeasure unto the King's Grace, by the reason of his cruelty against the great estates of this realm, than any man living.

My Lord, the saying is, such as be head officers of the King's household shall give attendance, and be nigh the King daily, here be so many things out of order. I fear me some there be would take a thorn out of their own foot, and put it in your's.

My Lord Cardinal and Sir William Compton + be marvellous great. The French Queen and her husband be out of the Court, and lie in Suffolk, like as I wrote to your Lordship heretofore. The

*Sir Henry Marney, of Layer Marney in Essex; where part of his mansion house is, or lately was, remaining. He was the King's first favourite, and was chosen a Privy Councillor in the late reign at his request. Henry, at his accession, appointed him Captain of the Guard, and, in 1522, Lord Privy Seal: he was created Baron Marney, of Bindon, in Dorsetshire, in the year following, and died May 24, 1524. Lloyd, who always praises profusely, speaks highly of this gentleman's abilities as a statesman; he is distinguished in history rather as one of the most magnificent and gallant courtiers of the time.

† Grandfather of the present Lord Compton, from whom the Earl of Northampton is lineally descended. He was brought up with the King from his infancy; served him in several departments of the household, as well as in the wars in Scotland; was knighted at the battle of Terouenne, and appointed Chancellor of Ireland for life in the same year. He died of the sweating sickness, May 31, 1528.

The Duke of Norfolk +

Lord Marquis, the Earl of Surrey, the Lord of Abergavenny were put out of the Council chamber within this few days whatsoever that did mean. very sore, and, as far as I can perceive is not likely long to continue. My Lord of Buckingham ‡ departed yesterday, towards home, and hath all his desires, with great thanks of the King. Master Comptroller's and Master Ursewick's mind is, your Lordship should not come here this time, if ye might conveniently otherwise do, and your Lordship write to my Lord Cardinal, and also another letter to Sir Richard Sacheverel, to help to make your excuse, I think it should do very well.

upon

Mr. Mondy is hasty in asking of his money, and says he will arrest Ralph Dodnor: I fear me he will so do before your Lordship can write to him. Robert Kyston departed towards Thursday last, and all things according to your commandment I have delivered unto him. I have sent by the bearer a copy of a letter that was sent to my Lord Cardinal out of Italy, which Mr. Ursewick would, after the sight thereof, your Lordship should break or burn it. Mr. Ursewick marvels greatly your Lordship appointeth not a day when shall be kept at Doncaster.

this

Thomas Grey, Marquis of Dorset.-Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey. He succeeded his father, and was third Duke of Norfolk.-George Neville, third Lord Abergavenny, died in 1535. †Thomas, second Duke of Norfolk, Lord Treasurer and Admiral, died in 1524.

Edward Stafford, last Duke of Buckingham of that great family, and last High Constable of England. He fell a sacrifice to the envy of Wolsey, and was beheaded May 17, 1521.

As knoweth our Lord, who ever hath your Lordship in his blessed governance. Written at Coldharbour, the last day of May.

Indorsed "Copy of the King's Letter."

RIGHT trusty and well-beloved cousin, we greet you well. And forasmuch as we understand that at the time of the late repair hither of our dearest sister the Queen of Scots, you according to our letters to you then addressed, right thankfully acquitted yourself in giving your attendance for her conducting and honourable conveyance, we therefore give unto you our special thanks: And, where it is appointed that our said dearest sister shall now return into the realm of Scotland, we will and desire you to put yourself, and our cousin the Lady your wife, in a readiness likewise to accompany and conduct her at this her said return, from our city of York, where she intendeth to be the 29th day of this month instant, so to attend upon her to Newborough: whereby you shall deserve our further thanks to be remembered accordingly. Given under our signet, at our manor of Richmond, 7th day of May.

HENRY NORTHUMBERLAND.

No. XI.

(Talbot Papers, vol. A. fol. 51. 1517.)

THE EARL OF NORTHUMBERLAND
TO THE EARL OF SHREWSBURY.

My own good Lord,

AFTER my most hearty recommendation I recommend me unto you. And, my Lord, I have sent you by my trusty servant, this bearer, the copy of my letter from the King's Grace: wherein his Grace's pleasure is that my bedfellow and wife should attend upon the Queen of Scots from York to Newborough. Wherein, my Lord, I ascertain you of surety she is not in case to ride; wherefore both she and I must beseech your good Lordship to make her excuse to his Grace to pardon her, seeing that she may not otherwise do; for glad she would have done if she might; and, as for myself, I shall, according to his Grace's commandment, give my attendance on her Grace notwithstanding. I have sent your Lordship the copy of my letter, which, as I take it, is to bring her Grace from York to Newborough; wherein I pray your good Lordship to send me your advice; for I mean by my said letter to meet her without York, and so to wait upon her Grace to Newborough, for eschewing of further charge, seeing I am not appointed to bring her into York. My Lord, I send you not my own letter, because I have sent it up to London already, a sennight ago, and have had no answer, for (to tell your good Lordship plainly) to be excused, if I may, from this business; but of a surety, my Lord, this copy is word for word. My

Lord, methinks I need not to be put to this business, if they would have pondered the charge that they have put of late unto me, and the payments I have made of late. Written at Leckingfield, the 24th day of May.

Your own assured,

H. NORTHUMBERLAND.+

*

To my own good Lord,

my Lord of Shrewsbury.

No. XII.

(Talbot Papers, vol. A. fol. 41. 1517.)

THOMAS ALEN

TO THE EARL OF SHREWSBURY.

PLEASE it your Lordship to understand that I have sent by Thomas Parr, carrier of Derby, one piece crane colour, content of the same 28 yards, for four shillings the yard, one black brigs hat, two black satin brigs, a little fardel sent to my Lady from my Lady Lucy, and two black bags for

An ancient manor house of the Percy family, which was pulled down early in the 17th century. It was situated two miles from Beverley, and is thus described by Leland, in his Itinerary. "Leckingfield is a large house, and standeth within a great moat in one very spacious court. Three parts of the house, saving the main gate that is made of brick, is all of timber; the fourth part is made of stone and some brick. The park thereby is very fair and large, and meetly well wooded."

+ Henry Algernon Percy, fifth Earl of Northumberland, died in 1527. This magnificent nobleman's household book, intituled "The book of all the directions and orders for keeping of my Lord's house yearly," is preserved in the Duke of Northumberland's library, and most curiously illustrates the domestic economy of great families in those days. A few copies of this MS. were printed in 1770, by order of the late Duke and Duchess, who distributed them in presents among their friends; and Dr. Percy, late Bishop of Dromore, to whom the work was committed, rendered it yet more valuable by the addition of many ingenious observations.