No. XVII. (Talbot Papers, Vol. C. fol. 187.) THE EARL OF SHREWSBURY TO SIR HENRY SAVILE. AFTER my hearty commendations, these shall be to signify unto you that I have received your letters, by my servant, the Bailiff of Rotherham,* with examinations of certain persons for counterfeiting the King and Queen's Majesty's coin. For your diligence and pains therein I give you my most hearty thanks; and, for the committing of them to the gaol, I refer that to your discretion, to commit such of them as you shall think meet; and to take order with the rest, not so committed, for their personal appearance at the next gaol delivery, and at all other times when they shall be commanded. And as touching Robert Savile, I send two several letters to be served upon him, for his immediate appearance before me, which, as I understand, as yet is not executed; perceiving by your letters you have better knowledge of his being than I have, I send unto you here enclosed the King and Queen's Majesty's letters for his appearance forthwith before me; I pray you to get the same served accordingly. And thus I pray God send you well to do. From Sheffield, the 9th of November, 1555. Sir Henry Savile. The manor of Rotherham, near Sheffield, was part of the Talbot estates in Yorkshire which fell to Alathea, Countess of Arundel. Henry, sixth Duke of Norfolk, settled it upon his second Duchess (Jane Bickerton) and her issue male; and Lord Frederick, her third son, left it to the Effingham branch, in which it remains. VOL. I. S No. XVIII. (Talbot Papers, Vol. C. fol. 191.) JOHN CRYCHE TO THE EARL OF SHREWSBURY. PLEASE it your Lordship to be advertised that as yet I cannot obtain the rest of your Lordship's fees, howbeit I trust I shall have it shortly, for Fawnshaw has promised to help with all the speed possible for the obtaining of the same. Mr. Rokeby would have your Lordship to sue forth the certiorari for the prisoner at Nottingham from the Justices in the court there, and so to remove him at your pleasure; for it is not, as he says, to be sued forth here. As for other of your Lordship's business, Mr. Long can instruct you of better than I by writing. My Lord of Winchester,* whose soul God pardon, is departed, and his bowels were buried at St. Mary Overy's in Southwark, but his body, as the saying is, shall be carried to Winchester, to be buried there. What time he departed is not yet certainly known, but most men say he died on Tuesday, at night, being the 12th day of this instant, about two o'clock after midnight, at Westminster, and was brought in his barge thence to his house in Southwark. Thus I beseech Almighty God to prosper your good Lordship long, in honour and Bishop Gardiner. He died on the 12th of November. † A house belonging to the see; the grounds about which, long since covered with buildings, are still called Winchester Park. health. From London, the 14th day of November, 1555. Your Lordship's humble and obedient Servant, JOHN CRYCHE. To my Lord. No. XIX. (Talbot Papers, Vol. C. fol. 203.) SIR THOMAS GARGRAVE TO THE EARL OF SHREWSBURY. Right honourable, and my singular good Lord, Ir may please the same to be advertised that I trust the Parliament will end this week, for now that the bill for first fruits and tenths is past the Commons House, I trust there is nothing else that will be any stay. My Lord Talbot told me that he trusted my Lady of Northumberland should do well in her suite. It is said the King's Majesty returneth not until after Christmas, nor as yet I know not where the Queen's Grace will keep her Christmas, but at the end of the Parliament, as I hear, she removes to Greenwich. My Lord Archbishop of York has not yet received the bulls from Rome, and he does continue President in Wales, and no other appointed. It is not yet known who shall be Lord Chancellor, Lord Privy *This was the fourth Parliament of this reign. It was remarkable for the restitution of the Crown impropriations, and the first fruits and tenth's, to the clergy, which was done at Mary's express request, and affords a stronger proof of her bigotry than the burning of thousands. This measure met with much opposition in both Houses; the Members dreading that the lay impropriations, most of which were in their hands, might follow; and foreseeing the hatred which they were likely to incur by keeping their share of the spoil, after suffering the Queen to relinquish hers. Seal, Bishop of Canterbury, nor Bishop of Winchester. My Lord Cardinal lies much at the court. It is said that there are divers evil books cast by night in the city, conveyed from beyond the seas, but I have not seen any of them as yet. And thus, trusting shortly to wait on your Lordship, I humbly take my leave of the same, beseeching our Lord God long to preserve your good Lordship in health, with much increase of honour. At Hoddesden, the 4th of Dec. 1555. Your good Lordship's humbly to command, THOMAS GARGRAVE. Postscripta. The commission for the subsidy shall come forth immediately. To the right honourable and his singular good No. XX. (Talbot Papers, Vol. C. fol. 229.) LORDS OF THE COUNCIL TO THE EARL OF SHREWSBURY. AFTER our right hearty commendations to your good Lordship. Whereas we have been lately informed that certain lewd persons, to the number of six or seven in a company, naming themselves to be servants unto Sir Francis Leek, and wearing his livery, and badge on their sleeves, have wandered about those North parts, and represented certain Cardinal Pole, who had returned to England a few months before to assist in restoring the old religion. He was consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury on the 22nd of March following, the next day after Cranmer's execution. Some historians erroneously state that the Cardinal was in possession of this dignity at the opening of the Parliament in October. plays and interludes, containing very naughty and seditious matter touching the King and Queen's Majesties, and the state of the realm, and to the slander of Christ's true and Catholic religion, contrary to all good order, and to the manifest contempt of Almighty God, and dangerous example of others; we have thought mete to pray your Lordship to give order forthwith unto all the Justices of the Peace within your rule that from henceforth they do in no wise suffer any plays, interludes, songs, or any such like pastimes whereby the people may any ways be stirred to disorder, to be used by any manner of persons, or under any colour or pretence, within the limits of your charge. Praying you also not only to write unto Sir Francis Leek, willing him to cause the said players that name themselves his servants to be sought for, and sent forthwith unto you, to be farther examined, and ordered according to their deserts, but also to give him strait charge and commandment, in their Majesty's names, that he suffer not any of his servants hereafter to go about the country, and use any plays, songs, or interludes, as he will answer for the contrary. And in case any person shall attempt to set forth these sort of games or pastimes at any time hereafter, contrary to this order; and do wander, for that purpose, abroad in the country; your Lordship shall do well to give the Justices of the Peace in charge to see them apprehended out of hand, and punished as vagabonds, by virtue of the statute made against loitering and idle persons. And thus we bid your good Lordship most heartily well |