SURVEYOR OF THE WORKS AT BERWICK.

[This is another official note of the same kind from the Earl of Leicester in favour of his servant William Spicer, who was to succeed Rowland Johnson as surveyor of the works and fortifications at Berwick. It is the earliest extant communication between the great favourite and the Solicitor General, but it has no indorsement. At this date Leicester had recovered from the disgrace into which he fell with the Queen for marrying the widow of Walter Earl of Essex, whom Leicester was suspected of having poisoned, and of the circumstances of whose death a particular account is preserved at Bridgewater House, agreeing precisely with that in Harleian MS. 392. In 1584, Leicester was engaged in getting up Associations for the defence of Elizabeth's person, and in the latter end of the next year he was dispatched into the Netherlands. According to Lord Burghley's Memoria Mortuorum, at the end of Murdin's State Papers, p. 783, John Carey, Esq. was appointed Chamberlain of Berwick in September 1585.]

To my verye loving frende Mr. Egerton, her Maties Solicitor Generall.

MR. Solicitor. Her Matie is mynded to bestowe upon my servant Willm Spicer the office of surveior of her Highnes workes and fortifications at Barwyke, for the tearme of his lief, to be exercised by himselfe or his sufficient deputye, with such fees and profittes as Rowland Johnson deceased, her Maties surveyor there, latelie had. Wherfore, I praye you, cause a bill to be drawen to that end with your hand sett to the same, ready for her Matie to signe, and to send me the same bill with as convenient spede as you maye. And so fare you hartelie well. From my house at Wanstede, this ixth of Aprill, 1584.

Your verye lovinge frende,

R. LEYCESTER.

CORPORATION OF COLCHESTER.

[Sir Francis Walsingham, the writer of the subsequent letter, was Recorder of Colchester, and was therefore the fit medium of communication for a renewal of a grant by Henry VIII. of certain lands. Lord Treasurer Burghley and Sir Walter Mildmay both concurred in what was sought; but it may serve to shew how carefully Lord Ellesmere was in the habit of looking into these matters when Sir F. Walsingham thought it necessary not only to send the petition, and the Lord Treasurer's "note thereupon in his own hand," but the original patent, as a warrant for the course he recommended.]

Indorsed by Lord Ellesmere, "Colchester."

To my verie loving frend Mr. Egerton, Esqr, her Maties
Sollicitor Generall.

AFTER my hartie commendations.-By the inclosed you may see as well the sute which the Towne of Colchester hath to hir Matie for the surrender of an old graunt unto them from King Henrie the viijth, of certaine landes which they desire to take a newe of hir Maties gift, and to such uses only as by K. Henries graunt were expressed, as also the cawse moving them to surrender. Herein long since I moved hir Matie and my L. Treasurer, and Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer having been made acquainted and well likyng of the cawse, I pray you cawse a newe grant to bee made readie with all convenient speed for hir Maties signature, to theffect of the inclosed petition and my L. Treasurers note theruppon under his owne hand. For the better dispatch wherof this bearer, one of that towne, is to attend on you and to shewe you the patent it self from K. Henrie. And so I byd you hartely farewell. From the Court the xijth of Aprill,

1584.

Your loving frend,

FRA. WALSYNGHAM.

CONSTABLE OF SCARBOROUGH CASTLE.

[We find from what follows that Elizabeth refused to sign warrants of the kind referred to, without the previous approbation of a law officer of the Crown; and no doubt she had good ground for caution. The rough draft of Lord Ellesmere's approbation is appended to the letter of the Secretary of State, and it shews how express and distinct was the information required by the Queen.]

Indorsed by Lord Ellesmere "Mr. Secretaryes letter for the offyce of Scarborough Castell to Ed. Gate, Esq'."

To the right worshipfull my loving frend Master Thomas
Egerton, hir Maties Sollicitor Generall.

SIR. This bearer, Sir Henry Gate, hathe to deliver unto you a byll for his Soon towching Skarborow Castell, which her Matie is well pleased to signe, and so had she done yesternight, yf it had bin subscribed by anie of hir learned Councell in lawe, a matter which, for order sake, hir Matie will have observed, though shee be allreadie resolved of the matter it selfe. And therfore I hartily pray you to peruse the sayd byll, and seying it to have due forme, to subscribe and testifie it accordingly. And so I commend you hartely to God. From the Court the xvijth of Aprill, 1584.

Your loving frend,

FRA. WALSYNGHAM.

[The following is appended in Lord Ellesmere's handwriting.]

The manor of Northstede, in the countie of York, was annexed to the Castell of Scarburghe, and usuallye graunted together with the offyce of Constabularye and keepership of the same Castell, at the yerelye rent of xxiiijli to your Maty for the same.

In the xjth yere of your Highnes reigne, your Maty graunted the said Manor to Raffe Morete for xxj yeres, to begynne after the death of Sir Rycharde Cholmeley, who then had the same manor

annexed to the said offyce for terme of his lyfe. Sir Richarde Cholmeley dyed.

This byll conteyneth a graunt to Edw. Gate, Esqr. of the said offyce for terme of his lyfe, and an yerelye fee of xvjli for the same, during the contynuance of the same lease to Morete.

And after thende of the same lease [it] doth re-annexe the said manor to the said offyce, with a graunt therof to the said Edward Gate for the terme of his lyfe, yelding to your Maty a yerelye rent of xxiiijli, and from thenceforth the fee of xvjli to cease and determyne.

SECOND JUDGE IN NORTH WALES.

[Fabian Phillips was a lawyer of some eminence, and was probably grandfather to the Fabian Phillips who was also a lawyer, and bold enough to print and publish a protest against the execution of Charles I. By the subjoined letters it appears that, in 1584, Fabian Phillips, then second Judge of North Wales, wished to resign his office in favour of a Mr. Reynoldes. Fabian Phillips acknowledges his peculiar obligations to Sir F. Walsingham in obtaining the situation.]

Indorsed, by Lord Ellesmere, "Mr. Reynoldes, for the offyce of Justyceshippe in North Wales.'

To the right worshipfull my very loving frend Mr. Sollicitour
Generall.

SIR. I send you herenclosed a letter I receaved from Mr. Fabian Phillips, wherin he seemeth willing to resigne upp into the handes of Mr. Reynoldes his place of second Justiceshipp in North Wales, requesting my consent therunto. And therfore you may nowe proceed to the drawing of his booke for the same accordingly. And so committ you to God. From the Court at Greenwich, the xvth of Maye, 1584.

Your very loving frend,

FRA. WALSYNGHAM.

[The following is the Letter enclosed.]

Indorsed, by Sir F. Walsingham, "1584. Mr. Fab. Phellips, to have my consent in the resignation of his Justiceshippe to Mr. Renoldes."

To the right honorable Sir Frauncis Wallsingham, knight, chief Secretary to her Matie, and of her highnes most honorable Privy Cownsaile.

RIGHT honorable, my duty most humbly remembred, so hit is that I am ernestly pressed by some frendes on the behalf of on Mr. Reynolls, being, as I heare, a very honest gentleman, to relinquish and geve up myne office in Northwalles, being the second Justiceship ther, to the behof of the said Mr. Reynolls, if by his good frendes he may obtayne the same. And for that I have not my health most commonly in traveling into those parties, I am the more willing to depart with the same, so as hit may cum to his use, or otherwise not. Yet, notwithstanding, for that your honor was the chief procurer therof for me at the first, and sithens the only maynteyner of me in the same, and generally my sole patron in all, I thought hit my duty to aske leave and to make your ho. privy therunto, lest I, that am bownd by your manifold benefites to serve your ho. in all, may not in any wise seme to offend you in any on jott of my bownden duty. And even so eftsones remembering my humble duty for all your ho. goodnes, I humbly pray the Allmighty long to prosper you and all yours. Oxeton, the 2 of May, 1584.

Your ho. ever bownden and at commandment,

F. PHILLIPS.

CAMD. SOC. 12.

P