[The Commission mentioned by Lord Burghley in the following letter was probably for the relief of certain poor debtors. It seems to have been drawn up by the Attorney General, and not entirely approved by the Lord Treasurer, who sent it to the Solicitor General (in the absence of the Attorney General from London) for revision.]

Indorsed "6th Martij, 1585; my L. Treasurers letter touching the Commission for the prisoners in the Kynges Bench."

To the R. worshipfull my verie loving frend Mr. Egerton, her
Maties Solicitor.

SIR. This bearer shall deliver unto you a draught of a Commission for the poore prisoners in the Kinges Benche sent unto mee the other daie by Mr. Attournie Generall, with which I knowe not wheather you have been acquainted or not. But seeing he is nowe out of the towne, and some thinges in the booke that weare fitt in mine opinion to be further considered of before the passing thereof, I hartelie praie you to take the paines to revewe the same, and if yowe shall shortlie have any occasion to cum to the Court, to bringe the Commission with you hether to me, that I maie conferre with you touchinge the same, or otherwise to advertise mee your opinion in writinge. Soe fare you hartelie well. From the Court this sixt of Marche, 1585.

Your verie lovinge frend,

W. BURGHLEY.

THROCKMORTON'S ATTAINDER.

[Francis Throckmorton was tried for high treason on 21st May 1584, but he was not executed, according to Stowe, until 10th July. The following letter refers to certain manors, &c. conveyed to Throckmorton by William Wygmore upon his marriage (as well as to the sum of £2000 in money), in danger of becoming forfeit to the Crown by reason of the attainder. The Queen relinquished any right she might have acquired in favour of Wygmore in 1585. The day of the month is omitted by Sir F. Walsingham.]

Indorsed by Lord Ellesmere, "15 Marche, 1585, Mr. Secretaryes warrant for Mr. Wyllm Wygmore's boke."

To my verie lovinge frende Mr. Thomas Egerton, esquior, her
Maties Sollicitour Generall.

AFTER my hartie commendations.-Whereas William Wigmore, of Lucton, in the countie of Heref., esquior, upon the mariage between him and Anne, his wife, did, by indenture between him on the one partie, and Francis Throgmorton, late of highe treason attainted, on the other partie, conveigh the manors of Lucton, Kinton, Aston, Nether Kinsham, and Lytton, in the countie of Hereford, and certeine other lands expressed in the said indenture, unto the said Throgmorton to certeine uses in the indenture appearing: and whereas, also, the said William Wigmore dyd, by statute, dated, &c., become bounden unto the said Francis Throgmorton in the somme of 2000, and afterwards the said Throgmorton was attainted, and the attainder had relation to the first day of October in the xxj yeare of her Maties raigne, which was before the said indenture made. Forasmuch as there is some question growen whether the manors and lands before mentioned are forfeyted unto her Matie by the attainder of the said Throgmorton, theise are to pray you, for the clearing of all doubtes, to cause a booke to be drawen and engrossed for a graunt to bee made in fee simple from her Matie of the said manors and all other the lands mentioned in the said indenture,

as also a release of the said statute of 2000li before specified unto the said William Wigmore and his heires. And so I comitt you hartely to God. From the Court the of March, 1585.

Your verie loving frend,

FRA. WALSYNGHAM.

SHERBURNE HOSPITAL, DURHAM.

[DR. Valentine Dale, in whose behalf the following letter was written, was much employed abroad both before and after its date. He had been collated to the Mastership of Sherburne Hospital 22nd March, 1584. (Vide Surtees' History of Durham, i. pt. ii. p. 141.) In 1588 he was sent to expostulate with the Prince of Parma upon the publication of a tract by Cardinal Allen.]

To my very worshipfull assured good frend Mr. Egertone,
Esquier, her Maties Solliciter.

SIR. Hir Matie beeing moved lately touching Mr. Doctor Dale his byll for his ryght of presentation in the hospitall of Sherburne, is gratiously contented to sygne the same, so the proviso contayned therin be as full and ample as it ought to be; which, yf you shall fynde to be so, her Maties pleasure is, you shall subscribe his byll with present expedition that it may be returned ymmediately, for such is her hyghnes dyrection. And so I committ you to God. From the Court at Grenewich, the xyth of Aprill, 1585.

Your very lovinge assured frend,

CHR. HATTON.

Sir. Yf you fynd not this bill formally drawen according to the law, you must presently make upp an other, and delyver it to Mr. Dale subscribed with your hand.

CAMD. SOC. 12.

CHARTER OF WINCHESTER.

[It is not mentioned by the biographers of Sir Francis Walsingham that, among other appointments, he held that of High Steward of the City of Winchester. This fact is established by the subsequent letter to the Solicitor General for a renewal of the charter of that Corporation, with certain additional powers not particularly specified. The charter did not pass until 23rd January, 1587, and a translation of it may be seen in the History of Winchester, 1773, iii. 99. It is dated from his house at Barn Elms, which he had held under the Queen since 1581, and where her Majesty visited him in 1589, about a year before Sir Francis died almost in poverty, increased, no doubt, by expenditure for the due entertainment of his royal visitor.] Indorsed, by Lord Ellesmere," Wynchester."

To my verie loving frend Mr. Thomas Egerton, Esquier, hir
Maties Sollicitor generall.

SIR. The Citie of Winchester having verie earnestly desired mee to bee a meane to hir Matie for the renewing of their Charter, by which, as you may see by the articles inclosed, there shall in effect no great matter passe unto them more than alreadie eyther by former Charters or by long custome and prescription they doe enjoy, and being my self desyrous, for that I am Highe Steward of this Citie, to doe the same what good I can; theise are hartely to pray you, according to the said articles, to cause a new Charter to be made readie for them and subscribed by you, which I have no doubt but hir Matie will willingly signe when I shall enforme hir of the poore estate of this Citie, and the need yt hath of this new Charter. And so I commend you hartely to God. From my howse at Barnelmes, the xxvijth of May, 1585.

Your loving frend,

FRA. WALSYNGHAM.

This bearer shall further by word acquaint you with the matter of the sute of the Citie, and at the beginning of the next terme some of the Citizens them selves wayte on you, against which time I hope you will have made readie their booke.

MARKET AND FAIR AT HALIFAX.

[This letter refers to a former one, dated in Nov. 1584, on the same subject (vide p. 107). The patent then drawn was objected to, and the question was referred to the Master of the Rolls; who prepared another instrument, in which "Mr. Waterhouse's adversary" concurred, for the settlement of matters in difference. It was transmitted to the Solicitor General that it might be engrossed and signed by him, and a note of the contents added for the information of the Queen. In the Histories of Halifax by Watson and by Wright, no information is given respecting the application by the inhabitants or its resistance by Waterhouse. Perhaps no patent was ever granted, in consequence of the dispute; as we are told by modern authorities that the market is held by prescription.]

Indorsed, by Lord Ellesmere, "Mr. Waterhouse boke for Halifaxe Markett."

To my very loving frend Mr. Thomas Egerton, Esq., her
Maties Sollicitour Generall.

SIR. Whereas, a good while since, I writt to you for a patent to be made for Mr. Robert Waterhouse to keepe certayne fayres in Hallifax, which you dyd make readie accordingly for hir Maties signature. So it is that some objection beeyng made agaynst that patent, and the consideration thereof by hir Matie beeyng referred to the Master of the Rolles, he hathe, after the hearyng of all objections, made a draught of a newe by assent of Mr. Waterhouses adversarie in this cawse, which draught I send you subscribed by the Master of the Rolles, praiying you the same may be engrossed and subscribed by you, with some short docquet of the effect of the byll. And so I commend you hartely to God. From the Court the fyrst of December, 1585.

Your very loving frend,

FRA. WALSYNGHAM.