To his most honorede freinde Sir John Egerton, geve these.

THE Duke of Florence hath sent an armada of shippes against the great Turke for Cipres: the report is they are landed in five severall places, but yet nothinge else donne. There are a thowsand and more pioneres lyinge at Livornia ready to goe for Cipres to fortifie what they gett. The Duke of Thoscanye hath concluded a match between his sonne and heyre and the Kinge of Spaine his wifes sister.

He is also makinge the Kinge of Englandes armes every colour of naturall stone without any art but carving, which being finished he will send the Kinge.

There is suche league now between the Venetians and the Pope, that so the Venetian makes earnest sute to the Pope for the tenthes of the tithes in their owne cuntrie, in consideration of their

charges heretofore against the Turke. The Jesuites are quite banished their cuntrie, but their livinges are yet undisposed of. Their peace is absolutely concluded of between the Pope and them, with the same conditions that were before (as they say), only the tolleration of Jesuites excepted.

There is an Englishe man whose name is Warde, a pirat, on the coast of Italy, who hath spoyled and gotten the valew of three hundred thowsand crownes from the Venetians, besides others which he hath robed, and is now growne very stronge.

The peace is not yet concluded between the Emperour and the Turke: the Turke is growne weake; his bashaws rebell, and he geven altogether to his pleasure, led and guided by eunuches.

The Duke of Mantua hath sent to the Pope to crave license to sett up a house of religious knightes of the order of St. Martha, which granted he will furnish out tow galleyes and these knightes against the Turke. There are in Millaine gathered together fortie ensignes of soldiours, most of them Spaniardes, which are yet undisposed of, either to goe to the Low Cuntries if the peace doe not

hold, or els to Naples to the assistance of the Duke of Thoscanie. There is in Millan a governor under the Kinge of Spaine called Conte Fuentos, who, by his wisdome and justice, hath reduced the whole cuntrie of Lumbardie into that subjection as now it is as safe a cuntrie to travell in as anye cuntrie in Italie, where before, both in the cittie and cuntrie, there was more robbinge and cuttinge of throates then in any cuntrie of civile government in the world. In this towne I was when I saw the castle, an invincible fortification. He hath five hundred soldiers only in pay in the towne and castle, whereof there are some foure hundred in the castle. These men keepe the towne and whole cuntrie in awe. The towne is rounde, very populos, and, by their estimation, is twelve Italian mile about; all kinde of trades, the people very industriouse; in brief, the best furnished towne that ever I saw. There is an Hunn which singes there so excellent as she doth astonishe all her herers. This Hun when I was there was sicke, by which meanes I heard her not, but by report both in towne and since confirmed by diverse Englishmen I have mett withall.

To conclude, Baronius is dead: he hath written fully 12 tomes, and was come to the 13th. He hath treated of 1200 yeres since Christ, and hath left 400 yeares yet unwritten, but such directions are behinde left by him, and such order taken for the finishing as all his ecclesiastical story shall be compleat accordinge as he had intended. There is a frier of the house of Nova Chiesa in Rome hath undertaken it, and hath the libertie to goe into the Vatica, the Pope's library. So much of such newes we have brought every weeke: these, beinge brought some fower howers before the night (this leaves goinge away the next morninge), I wrote out in some hast, which I commend to your handes.

Your servant,

HENRY TWEEDY.

THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE.

[The schedule, stated to have been inclosed in the following warrant from six of the Privy Council, has not been preserved. They were to be extraordinary Commissioners for administering the Oath of Allegiance to persons arriving from abroad.]

AFTER our right harty commendations to your good Lop. Whereas the lawes of the realme have ordeyned punishment, by imprisonment and other meanes, for such of his Maties subjects as, coming from beyond the seas and arriving at any port or creeke in this realme, shall refuse to take the Oath of Allegeance, when the same shalbee offred unto them according to the statute made in that behalfe. Forasmuch as the audaciousnes of divers persons of disloyall affection and malitious entention toward his Matie and the State, in presuming (notwithstanding the said statute) to come into this realme with mindes corrupted by traitors and fugitives beyond the seas, hath geven his Matie greate cause to require a very straight observance and execution of the said lawe, and thereupon hath not onely declared his pleasure for the due perfourmance of the said statute, but also (for supply of other fitt persons, besides the justices of the peace, to bee alwaies at hand to minister the said Oath,) hath geven warrant to your Lop. to graunt commission from time to time, to any the officers of such portes as any sixe of us of his Privy Counsell should, under our handes, signify unto your Lordship, thereby to authorise them to minister the said Oath in manner and forme agreeable to the said statute. Wee doe therefore pray your Lop. (according to the authority geven you by his Matie in that behalfe) to graunt commission unto the persons mentioned in the schedule hereinclosed and signed by us [def. in MS.] thereby they may bee authorised to minister the said Oath to any persons [def. in MS.] coming from beyond the seas shalbee unknowne, or otherwise shalbee suspected to bee dangerous and perverted in pointe of theire loyaltie and due allegiance. And these letters, agreeing with his Maties foresaid war

rant, shalbee unto your Lop. sufficient discharge in that behalfe. And soe we wish your good Lop. right hartely well to fare. From the Corte at Whitehall, the 26th of May, 1608.

Your good Lp.'s assured loving freindes,

SALISBURY.

T. SUFFOLKE.

E. ZOUCHE.

Lo. Chancellor.

H. NORTHAMPTON.

E. WORCESTER.

JUL. CESAR.

NEW CHARTER FOR CANTERBURY.

[The subsequent documents relate to the granting of a new charter for the city of Canterbury: first, the petition of the mayor and commonalty; secondly, the direction of the Lord Chancellor; thirdly, the approbation of Dr. Bancroft, Archbishop of Canterbury; fourthly, the consent of the Marquis of Northampton, as Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports; fifthly, a note of accordance by the Mayor of Canterbury and James Chamber, the King's Serjeant; and sixthly, the reference of the subject by Sir Thomas Lake to the Attorney General.]

Indorsed "The humble Petition of the Maior and Commynaltie of the Cittie of Canterbury."

Articles humblie desired by the Maior and Commynaltie of the Cittie of Canterbury to be inserted in their newe Charter.

1. That they maie be newlie incorporated by the name of Maior and Commynaltie of the cittie of Canterbury.

2. That the Maior and Recorder of the saide Cittie, and such of the Aldermen as heretofore have bene or hereafter shalbe Maiors of the saide Cittie shalbe Justices of the Peace within the saide Cittie, and the Maior and Recorder to be of the quorum, and that

the Maior may have aucthority to give the othe of Justice of Peace unto the Recorder and thother Justices.

3. Wheras the Maior and Aldermen have authoritie by their Charter, graunted by Kinge H. the 6, to make sesses within the Cittie. That now they maie have power to levie them by dis

tresse.

4. That they may choose their Maior and Aldermen of anie such persons as are naturall borne subjectes of this realme of England, wheras by their former Charter they might not choose any but such as were borne within England, which they desire to alter, for that they have now one for an Alderman, being a verie sufficient man, but was borne in Antwerpe of English parentes.

5. That no forreyner shall keepe anie shoppe or trade within the Cittie, except it be in tymes of faires and markettes.

6. That for the more countenance and creditt of his Maties service there, the Maior maie have a sword caried before him.

7. That they maie have authoritie to take statutes merchantes, as they did before, and that they maie appointe one to have the custodie of the lesser peece of the seale, which was imperfect in their former graunte.

8. That all their former landes and liberties maie be confirmed unto them, to be holden by such rentes and services as the same were formerly holden.

9. That they may purchase landes in mortmaine of the yearlie value of xlli, not being holden in chiefe or by knightes service.

10. Wheras by their former Charter they were exempted from apparance out of the Cittie before the Justices of Assize for felonies done within the Cittie, they desire that they maie also be exempted from apparance before the Justices of the Kinges Bench, or anie other Justices, for felonies or other criminall causes done within the said Cittie, all treasons excepted.

11. With a proviso that this Charter, or anie thing therein conteyned, shall not be prejudiciall to the Lord Archbishopp of CanCAMD. SOC. 12.

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