LICENSE TO THE EARL OF LEICESTER.

[The Earl of Leicester went to the Low Countries at the latter end of 1585, and returned to England the 3rd December, 1586 (Camden in Kennett, ii. 512). He was in Holland again in 1587, but by the ensuing letter and accompanying document it is clear that he was at "the Court" again in February 1587-8. The draught of the License for exporting artillery follows the letter. It is throughout elaborately corrected in the hand-writing of Lord Ellesmere.]

Indorsed by Lord Ellesmere, "The Earle of Leicester touching her Maty license for 320 tonne of cast iron ordynance."

To my very loving frende Mr. Thomas Egerton, Esqr. Sollicitor Generall to the Q. Matie.

AFTER my right harty commendations.-Whereas it hathe pleased the Q. Matie to graunt me the making and transporting of three hundred and twentye tonnes of cast iron ordinance into the countryes of Hollande and Zealande, being in amitye with her Matie, to be transported at any tyme or tymes within the space of three yeares; for which purpose I have caused a booke to be drawen which I send you herewith. I hartily pray you that you will peruse the saide booke, and reducing it into due forme to the effect aforesaide, that you will sett your hande to it, that it may be offered to her Maties signature. For which I will right hartily thanke you. And so I bid you fare well. From the Court the xiij of Febr. 1587.

Elizabeth, by the grace of God, of England, Fraunce, and Ireland Queene, defendour of the faithe, &c. Whereas we have bene enformed by our lovinge cosen and councellor Robert Erle of Leicester, that divers of the cities, townes and places of Holland and Seeland, that are in amytie with us, doe stand in greate nede of Ordynaunce and Munition, aswell for the defence of their cities, townes, houlds and places of defence, as also for their navyes and shipps. And whereas the said Erle of Leicester hathe made humble and ernest suyte unto us, for and in the behalfe of the citizens and inhabitants within the said countries of Holland and Seland, and at theyr specyall instaunce and desyre, that we would vouchesafe to lycense him the said Erle of Leicester, and suche person or persons as he the said Erle under his hand and seale shall assigne or appoynte, full power and lawfull aucthoritye to transporte and convey over to any of the said cities, townes or countryes, being in amytie with us, thre hundred and twentye tunnes of cast iron Ordynaunce, to be made, bought, gotten and procured in our countee of Sussex, or elsewhere within any our domynions. We of our especiall grace, certeine knowledge and mere motyon, for us our heyers and successors, have gyven and graunted, and by theis our Letters Patents doe gyve and graunt full power and lawfull aucthoritye unto the said Robert Erle of Leicester, and to suche person and persons as he by writinge under his hand and seale shall in that behalfe assigne, aucthorize or appointe, for by and duringe the space of three yeres next ensuinge the date of theis our present Letters Patents, to transporte and convey over out of our countryes or domynions to any of the said cities, countryes or places beyond the seas, beinge in amytie with us as is aforesaid, cast Ordynaunce of iron to the weighte of three hundred and twentye tunnes, to be made, bought and procured within any of our domynions, cuntryes or territories, without any lett or interruption of any our customers, comptrollers, or searchers of any our portes, havens or creeks, or any other our offycers or

mynisters whatsoever. And also of our speciall grace, certeine knowledge, and mere motion, we have gyven and graunted, and for us, and our heyres and successors, doe by these presentes gyve and graunt, full power and aucthoritie unto the said Robert Erle of Leicester, that he the said Robert Erle of Leicester and such. person or persons as he shall in that behalfe assigne, authoryse or appointe, shall have full power and lawfull aucthoritye to make and caste, and cause to be made and caste, any Iron Ordynaunce to the waight of three hundred and twentye tunnes as is aforesaid, within any of our domynions and cuntries, by the space of three yeres next ensuinge the date herof, to be transported and conveyed to any of the said cyties, cuntryes and places beyond the seas, beinge in amyty with us as is aforesaid. And our expresse wyll and pleasure ys, and of our supreame authorytye and prerogative royall wee doe by these our present Letters Patentes straightly charge and commande, that noe other person or persons whatsoever shall, for by and duringe the said terme of three yeres, cary and transporte, or cause to be caryed and transported, any such cast Iron Ordynaunce aforesaid, uppon payne of our grievous and highe displeasure, and as they wyll answere the contrarye at their uttermoost. And further our mynde and will is, and we doe herby graunt for us and our heyres, that theis our present Letters Patentes shalbe of full force, valydytye and effect accordinge to the tenoure, intent and true meaninge therof, any law, custome, proclamation, ordynaunce or restreynt whatsoever to the contrarye therof in any wise notwithstandinge. In wytnesse wherof, &c.

[The following rough draft of a note of information to the Queen was appended by Lord Ellesmere.]

This conteyneth a licence by your Maty to the Earle of Leicester for the making and transporting into such cytyes and places in Hollande and Zelande as be in amytye with your Highnes, of cccxx tunnes of Cast Iron Ordynaunce within three yeares next commynge.

CROWN LEASE TO MR. LOVELACE.

[The nature of the lease granted by the Queen to Lady Warwick's "good friend, Mr. Lovelace," is not stated in the following communication.]

Indorsed by Lord Ellesmere, "My Lady Warwickes letter for Mr. Lovelace, 25 Junij, 1588."

To my assured good freind Mr. Thomas Egerton, Esquier, her
Matys Sollicitor Generall.

GOOD Mr. Sollicitor. My self having undertaken the procuring of a confirmation of a lease from her Matie for my good friende Mr. Lovelace, for the better dispatch thereof I am verie hartelie to pray yow to putt your hande to the newe draughte, for that the former, by some mishap that came by the negligence of one of his servantes, is so defaced as noe way fitt to be offered unto the Queene: wherein assuring my self of your friendlie readines for the furtherance of this Gent., whose cause I doe greatelie regarde, to be browght to some good ende, I wishe yow right well to fare. From the Courte, the xxvth of June, 1588. Your assured good friende,

ANNE WARWYCK.

KEEPER OF THE PARKS AT GRAFTON.

[This appointment as Keeper of the Parks, &c. at Grafton, preceded Lord Warwick's death rather more than a year.]

Indorsed "Mr. Secretaryes letter for my L. of Warwick for the offices, &c."

To the right worshipfull my verie loving frind Mr. Thomas
Egerton, her Maties Sollicitor.

SIR. Whereas her Matie is pleased to bestowe upon my verie good Lord, the Erle of Warwick, the keeping of the parks at

Grafton, with the Launes, Chases and Walkes belonging thereunto, in as large and ample maner as the late L. Steward held the same from her Highnes; theise are to pray you to peruse a booke, which his L. hath caused to be made readie, conteyning a graunt as aforesaid, and finding the same in due forme, to sett your hand thereunto, that yt may be presented unto her Maties signature. And so I commend me hartely unto you. From the Court at Richmond, the xxvijth Januarie, 1588.

Your verie loving frend,

FRA. WALSYNGHAM.

SIR C. HATTON'S ORDER IN CHANCERY.

[Sir Nicholas Bacon was only Keeper of the Great Seal, and Sir Thomas Bromley, who succeeded him, was not, as we have seen, at first made Lord Chancellor; but Sir Christopher Hatton, on the 29th April, 1587, was at once appointed to the highest dignity of the profession, "which (as Camden informs us) the lawyers of England took very great distaste at," he being merely a courtier. Stowe gives an account of his stately procession from Hatton House to Westminster, with Lord Burghley on one hand and the Earl of Leicester on the other. "What he wanted in knowledge of the law (adds Camden) he laboured to make good by equity and justice;" and the following “Order in Chancery" shews in what way, by the assistance of the Masters, he endeavoured to make up for his own deficiencies. He caused four of them sit daily in Court, and two of them attend at his private house three times a week.. The document is an office copy, and the words, not far from the close, "shalbe due perceyved," are evidently miswritten.]

Indorsed "Order in Chancery for Masters of that Courte."

ORDO CURIÆ.

Decimo viij die Aprilis, Anno Regni Elizabeth Reginæ xxx".

THE Right ho. Sir Christopher Hatton, Knight, Lo. Chauncelor of England, having bene enformed that of late yeres the