are recorded in the Preface to the Life of Ralegh. But I cannot commit this collection of his Letters to the indulgence of the reader without once again registering in this place my grateful and special thanks,—first, to the Marquess of SALISBURY, for his generous permission to draw so largely on the papers at Hatfield; and, next, to the Master of the Rolls, Lord ROMILLY; to the Deputy Keeper of Records, Mr. DUFFUS HARDY; and to his most able and zealous officers in the General Record Office, for the very liberal facilities which the Editor of these Letters-in common with other students of Records better able to turn them to public profit-has long enjoyed. The circumstance that the 'Calendars' of the State Papers of Elizabeth's reign, and the series of fac-similes entitled 'National Manuscripts,' have both been in active progress-at the Rolls House, and at Southampton-during much of the time in which my searches were carried on, inevitably made those searches occasionally obstructive to the due course of office business. And hence it is that many of the RALEGH Letters here printed are without precise references; the preparation of the new Calendars having required a re-numbering of the papers. But what, to the searcher, might well have proved an unavoidable and, for the 1 This circumstance will explain to the reader the occasional occurrence in this volume of the term 'Unarranged' or 'Unnumbered Papers' (as at pp. 21, 169, 174, 241, &c.), meaning papers which were in course of re-arrangement. time, an insurmountable hindrance, has, by the kindness of the officers, been turned into an occasion of more than common help. To ALFRED KINGSTON, to WILLIAM NOEL SAINSBURY, and to WILLIAM BASEVI SAUNDERS, Esquires, this Collection of Letters, and its Editor, are thus under special obligation. I am also indebted to the kindness with which Mrs. EVERETT GREEN permitted me to make occasional use both of the MS. and of the printer's proofs of her excellent Calendar of State Papers, for the years 1591 to 1596, now in the press. My best thanks are also due to the Reverend William HENRY STUBBS, .., late Librarian to the Archbishop of CANTERBURY, for many facilities afforded to me at Lambeth. In submitting this collection of Letters to public criticism, I am very conscious of some among its many shortcomings. A task of this sort is necessarily one which has to be spread over several years. Before an Editor reaches the last stage of the long road on which he has been journeying, he is pretty sure to find some omissions which ought to have been supplied at earlier stages, and something to have been said or done, in one way, -soon after the outset,-which he would fain have said or done in quite another way, when looking back from the final resting-place on the incidents of his task. On that head, all I will venture to add is this one remark: If any reader who may observe or suspect omissions or errors, and may have both opportunity and inclination to indicate them, will do so, with whatsoever of blame he may deem fairly attachable to the fault, he will confer on the Editor a favour which will be gratefully received, and sedulously turned to the right account, whenever opportunity may offer. NOTE TO INTRODUCTION. By the accident of a miscarriage of proofs in the Post Office, the three letters which have been already mentioned as addressed by RALEGH to the Senate of the University of Cambridge about Wine Licences were worked off, prior to correction of the press. These letters are here reprinted in the form in which they should have appeared at pp. 24, 27, and 28 of this Volume. LETTER IX. TO THE VICE-CHANCELLOR AND OTHERS, THE SENATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE. From the Original. University Registry (Cambridge). [Transcript in MS. Baker, xxix. 340.] I COMEND me to you, beinge lothe to greyve or discontent you, whome I love and am willinge any waies I LETTER IX. 1584. July 9. To the Senate of the University of Cambridge. From the Court. On the Vintners in Cam bridge. maye to pleasure. I have thoughte good to informe you of a late hard part and riotouse demeanor done by some of your Universitie, which I can as yet but take in contempte of her Majestics graunt to me, not dealinge further therby then lawfullie (as I am informed) I maye doe. Yf otherwise, the Conference offered by my Deputees to one BAXTER and others, your late dealers in that cause, for the spedie and quyett dissidinge the matter by your learned Councell and myne, shold have licensing of bene accepted. The abuse done was sutche, as yf I shall not understand of some reformacion or correction to be done to the Malefactors, wherby this bearer JOHN KEYMER, her Majesties Subjecte lawfullie lycenced by me to sell Wynes in your Town, doe quyetlye enjoye the same untill by lawe (that governeth us all) yt be otherwyse determyned, I will devyse some other course for reformacion herein. The barers haste awaye (to comfort his poore wife, who by violence offered was in case by sondrye soundes, and passions, likelie to have died) was sutche, as tyme served me not to move my verye good Lord the Lord Treasurer, for his Honor's letter in reformacion hereof, which I dowted not to have had, but I do rest assured that yourselves will take suche directe and lawful course herein, as neyther my selfe, nor yow, nor anye other that will comaund us, shall have occasion further herein to be trobled, which I hartelie wyshe: not desiringe so fullie and lawfullie to extend her Majesties graunt in your towne, as maye further greyve your Vynteners, the onlie styrrers herein, respectinge more their gayne then quyett government. I crave your spedie answere in wrightinge by this barer, for that the unlawful and riotous parties must not rest unpunyshed. And so I bidd you all hartelie farwell. From my lodging at the Cort, this ixth of Julie, 1584. Your very assured loving Frinde, Addressed: W. RALEGH. To the Worshipfull my loving Friends, Mr. Doctor HOWLAND, Vice Chauncelor of the Universitie of Cambridg, and others, the Maisters of the same. LETTER XI. 1585. TO THE VICE-CHANCELLOR AND OTHERS, THE From the Original. University Registry (Cambridge). [Transcript in MS. Baker, xxix. 341.] MR. VYCE CHAUNCELOR, LETTEK XI. Feb. 10. To the Senate University of Cambridge. From of the BEINGE (by informacion) perswaded, that your selfe, with the grave and well disposed of your Universitie, were so greved with the unseamelye owtrages 1584-1585. latelie comytted by the yonge and unbridled hedds of the same, in contempte of the Quenes Majesties prerogatyve and graunt unto me, and to my discredytt, as suffycyent order by yow had ben taken for this bearer's quyett, which caused me to reste from requyringe reformacion therin at my verye good Lord Threasurer's handes, who (by me) as yet understandeth not of those ryotts; And I did forbare, contrarye to the advyse of my learned Councell, in procedinge to enquyer by lawe of the same ryotts, of good wyll I beare to your Universitye; And ment so to deale with yow for the other foure Tavernes, as sholde have suffycyentlie contented Somerset House. On the licensing of Vintners in Cambridge. |