LORD DERBY AND THE SOLICITOR GENERAL. [The "French Occurrences" mentioned below was probably some tract containing news (a substitute for a newspaper), which the Solicitor General had forwarded to the Earl of Derby, who died in 1593, and whose brother's widow Lord Ellesmere married in 1600, after the decease of his second wife in 1599. The intelligence from France at this period was of great interest, and Lord Derby was far from London. Newspapers were unknown in 1589, as Mr. Watts has recently proved in his "Letter to Mr. Panizzi;" the relics in the British Museum, purporting to be newspapers of the year 1588, being merely forgeries. Lord Ellesmere's "brother Brereton " brother-in-law, and was a candidate for some office connected with the musters.] was his To my assured lovinge frende Thomas Egerton, esquire, her SIR. I doe verie thankefullie accepte your late kynde letters and Frenche occurrences thereinclosed, desireinge still that wheresoever you become, I maye, at your conveniente leasure, receyve some lynes from yow. For your brother Brereton, his muster, I will, uppon his repaire to me, proceede with Sherington as shall apperteigne and contente you bothe; and accordinglie, by my letters to their Lordshipps (which I will inclose in a fewe lynes to yow) certifie the cowrse I helde. And soe, with my hartieste commendations, doe, with all my harte, weshe you well. Rocksavage, this xjth of September, 1589. You're assured Toring & frenale athroyd's faythe fully to use itt betty ALL SOULS' COLLEGE, OXFORD. [This is the second letter from Secretary Walsingham respecting Stanton Harcourt (vide p. 117 of this Collection). Although an interval of more than three years had occurred between the two letters to the Solicitor General, the wording is extremely similar. It seems likely that the first communication was not effectual for its purpose, and that, for some unexplained cause, the matter was postponed. There is a material difference in Lord Ellesmere's indorsements of the two letters, that printed below specifying that it was only "for parcell of the parsonage," while both letters of Secretary Walsingham speak as of "the parsonage of Stanton Harcourt."] Indorsed, by Lord Ellesmere, "27 Octbris, 1589. Mr. Secretaryes letter for Alsoules Colledge, for parcell of the personage of Stanton Harcourt." To the right worshipfull my verie loving frend Mr. Thomas SIR. Her Matie being gratiously pleased to passe a newe unto the Warden and Fellowes of Alsouln Colledge, in Oxford, the parsonage of Stanton Harcourt, with the other thinges conteyned in the inclosed supplication, as she hath been alreadie to divers others standing in like state for other lands as that Colledge doth for this parsonage, I am to pray you, according to her Highnes pleasure, to cause a booke to be made readie conteyning such a graunt, and the same, subscribed with your hand, to send unto mee, together with the inclosed petition, as sone as you can, to thend yt may be presented to her Highnes signature. For your better instruction in this cause, the Warden of the Colledge will, eyther by him self or some other, presently attend you with their evidences. And so I comend you to God. From my howse at the Savoy, this xxviijth of October, 1589. Your verie loving frend, FRA. WALSYNGHAM. LORDSHIP OF THE ISLE OF MAN. [Blackstone (Comm. I. 104, edit. 1829) gives an account of the separate rights of the Kings and Lords of the Isle of Man, and refers to the disputes which arose after the death of Ferdinando Earl of Derby, in 1594, between his three daughters and William, his surviving brother. His materials he derived from Camden, An. Reg. Eliz. 37. The following is the copy of a pardon granted by Henry Earl of Derby as “Lord of Man and the Isles," to a felon of the name of Neven, and it was possibly used as evidence during the contest which arose subsequent to 1594.] Indorsed, "The Copy of a Pardon graunted by Henry Earle of Derby to one of the Inhabitants of the Isle of Man." HENRIE, Erle of Derbie, Lo. Stanley and Strange, Lo. of Manne and the Isles, Knighte of the noble Order of the Garter, one of the Lordes of her Maties most honourable Pryvye Councell, Lo. Lieutenante of the counties of Lancaster and Chester, and of the Cytie of Chester and countye of the same, and Chieffe Chamberlyne of the Countye Pallatyne of Chester afforesaide. Whereas I understande that one Robert Mark Neven, uppon stealthe, to the value of ten pens, was (accordinge to good order and the lawes of that my Isle for the due execution of justice by a Jurie beinge charged and sworne to enquire after the same facte,) evicted of fellonie and thereuppon abjured my Isle; the which notwithstandinge, knowe yee me, the said Erle, of my mere motion and accorde, and at the earnest sute and humble petition of the said Robert Mark Neven, to have pardoned, remitted, and released, and by these presentes (for and on the behalfe of me and myne heires) do pardon, remitt, and release the saide Robt. Mark Neven, by whatsoever name, surname, addition or tytle soever he be otherwise termed, of and from all judgmentes, executions, paynes of death, paynes corporall, imprisonmentes or banishmentes, due in any wyse or lyable uppon his bodie onely by the lawes of that my Isle, for or by reason of the saide fellonie; soe as from henceforth he the said Robt. Mark Neven shall in noe sorte be chargeable therewithall by me the saide Erle, or myne heires, but shall and maye live in peace and quyetnes within that my Isle as thoughe this fellonie hadd never bene done or committed by hym, he usinge hym selfe in suche honeste and orderlie sorte hereafter as apperteignethe. Willinge and commaundinge all and everie of you my cheiffe officers afforesaide, accordinglie to allowe and accepte of this my pardon and clemencie extended towards the saide Roberte Mark Neven. Geven under my hande and seale at my Mannor of Latham, the of Februarie, in the twoe and thirtythe yeare of the reigne of our moste gratious Soveraigne Ladie Elizabeth, by the grace of God, Queene of England, Fraunce, and Irelande, Defender of the Faithe, &c. 1589. H. DERBY. UNNAMED APPOINTMENT. [It is to be regretted that the subsequent letter is without indorsement or address : it is impossible, therefore, to state to what appointment it relates, but from the terms of the letter we may perhaps conclude that it was conferred upon the then Solicitor General. Windebank, in 1590, was Clerk of the Signet, an office he procured, according to Bishop Goodman ("Court of King James I." by Brewer, I. 175), through the interest of Lord Burghley. Windebank had been travelling tutor to Thomas Cecil, and in Burgon's "Life and Times of Sir Thomas Gresham," I. 422, et seq., are some interesting letters from Windebank when in Paris, Antwerp, &c., giving no very favourable account of the conduct and character of the Lord Treasurer's eldest son. Windebank probably died in 1599, in which year his will was proved.] SIR. As I was very glad that it wolde please you to commytt any thing to my care, measuring therby your good will toward me and the trust you reposed in me, so have I bene carefull to answear and discharge the same, that therby I might shew my honest and duetifull good mynde towards you, wherin it hath pleased God so to assist me that I have bene hable to send you, by this bearer, her Maties bill signed that you sent me. Wher uppon I must allso saye that I am bounde in duety to let you knowe that her Matie did signe it with as great ready willingnesse as ever I knew her doo in any matter whatsoever, which I take my self bound to signifie unto you, both for your owne comfort, and for that (knowing thus much by me) you may give her Matie thankes for her most gracious and good opinion and favour towardes you. And so, Sir, remayning as ready as you can wish to any thing being in my power to pleasure you, I humbly take my leave. At Grenewich, this last night of Aprill. 1590. Sir, Yours humbly at commaund, THO. WINDEBANK. DEAN NOWELL'S LAW-SUIT. [The subsequent letter is printed (though not quite accurately) in Churton's "Life of Nowell," App. 426; but the "Casus," as Lord Ellesmere calls it, to which it relates, and which is here subjoined, is not found there. The letter is wholly in Nowell's hand-writing, and the "Casus" is indorsed by him, "Betweene the Deane of Pawles and Mr. Faryngton :" it is also corrected in several places by him. It is not usual now for counsel to give an opinion unless the case be sent through a solicitor.] Indorsed by Lord Ellesmere, "From Mr. Deane of Powles-Casus." To the right woorshyppfull Mr. Thomas Egerton, Esquire, principal Sollicitar to the Queenes Matie, my speciall good frende. RIGHT WOOrshyppfull, I am verie hartely to pray you to be of my counsell in a matier the effecte wherof is conteyned in the articles inclosed. For I doe feare that the covetousnes of a tenant in pluckinge downe and buyldynge for hys gayne wyll toorne me to greate losse: by whose offence I woote not howe muche may be |