BOOK I. MSS. epist. Heref. pen. me. Number XLI. Scory, lord bishop of Hereford, to the lord treasurer: against some clarks of the exchequer, intending to suppress, under the name of colleges, divers parsonages in his dioces. RIGHT honourable, may it please your lordship to be R. Joe, advertised. That whereas leud persons, being clerks of the exchequer, by colour of their office, and countenance of the court, have attempted to overthrow certain parish-churches in my dioces, (of whose leud and wicked practices I certified your lordship heretofore,) nevertheless, either favoured by the court, or maintained by the officers, cease not to vex and molest the poor incumbents of the said churches. Their purpose is, that such parish-churches as are divided into portions, where are two or three parsons, should under the name of colleges be suppressed, and come to the prince by the statute of Suppression. Which if they bring to pass, not onely many parish-churches in my dioces, but very many throughout the whole realm, both parsonages and vicarages, should be overthrown. The overthrow whereof were the slandering of the gospel, the defacing of religion, and the disquieting of the quiet estate of this realm. For what a slander were it unto the church of England, to have the parish-churches destroyed? And what a grudge would it breed in the hearts of the people, to see their churches spoiled, their ministers and preachers defaced, and their lands and tiths abused? I beseech your lordship remember, how we are already slandered by Dorman and others, that our churches in England, some are made houses of private men, some stables, and other some thrown down and made flat with the earth. God grant we suffer not these unjust reports of the popish Lovainists to be justly reported of us. There are in present suit in the exchequer, three great parish-churches of my dioces; and more, as I understand, shall come in very 78 shortly. But, I trust, your lordship, by whose wisdom the church of England hath hitherto been defended, will not I. suffer this spoil: that the parish-churches, where was never BOOK any sign of college, should be overthrown under the name of colleges. The church of Bromyard hath been long in suit, and the parsons thereof greatly impoverished, being from time to time delayed. They seek nothing but justice. I beseech your lordship that they may be heard, and have tryal according to order of law, without any farther delay. Thus committing their cause unto your lordship, I most humbly take my leave, commending your honour to the gracious protection of the Almighty, this 24th day of January, 1574. Your honours most humbly to command, Jo. Heref. [Number XLI.] Mr. Rafe Lane's account of his offer to go into the Levant in the king of Spain's service, against the Turk, from his An account of my procedings touching my intended Levant service, (by the favour of God,) as well toward her majesty, as otherwise, the 19. of Jan. 1574. FIRST, drawn on by mine own particular occurrences, MSS. Polit. having thought of sundry employments of my self by her penes me. majesties licence for certain years, reason and mine own affection, before all others, recommended unto me a Levant service against the Turk, if the same from hence might by her majesty be favoured, and of the king of Spain well entertained. Whereupon I made Anthony Guerrasse [the Spanish agent] to be asked his opinion, if a bulche of Englishmen, being of service either for sea or land, or both, were offered unto the king his master from hence, whether the same would be well accepted with pay, or not. His answer was directly, that if the same might be with her majesties favour, he knew assuredly that they should not only be largely entertained for their payes, but also otherwise most honourably used, and most heartily welcomed to the king: yea, and would open a greater gate of kindness between BOOK these two great princes, her majesty and Spain, than yet there hath been any liklihood of. I. 79 By the Hereupon in summer I entred my secret unto her majesty for two years leave to seek mine own aventure by service. Which in the end obtained by honourable friends. same means I obtained her majesties letters of the 15th of January, 1574, unto the commendador, testifying her majesties desired liking unto the service intended; and assured, that my offers, sent by the bearer of her said majesties letters, with the conditions being accepted by the said commendador, the same should on my part with all sincerity be performed. And thus mych until the 19th day of January, 1574. There resteth now for me to make my offers of service, with the conditions, unto the commendador. Which offers will of his part be either refused or accepted. If refused, then the matter is at an end; and her majesties uttered good conceipt of me in this resteth without spot or blemish, &c. But if the commendador do accept the conditions, then shall I be as able as willing, and both able and willing to perform the same. Then follow the conditions. Lane's letter to Dr. Wylson in Flanders. I requested him, as my singular good lords, my lord treasurer, my lord of Leicester, and my lord of Warwick had addrest their honourable letters in my favour unto him: and to move him to take knowledge of my offered service against the Turk unto the commendador: so also, that it would please him, at my poor request, to take some favourable regard unto it. And that as Mr. Dygby was directed unto him with the conditions of contract, so it would please him to countenance those, especially such as concerned a sort of allowance of four things, &c. Number XLII. BOOK I. A true certificate and perfect note of fees and duties paid heretofore, and now be paid at this present, for citations, and all other ecclesiastical instruments, concerning my [i. e. he bishop of Norwich's] consistory court. FIRST, every citation for writing and cItem, Every allegation 8d. 11d, 3d. too much. Not many 12d. 4d. too much. years agon 2d. 4d. but 4d. b Nothing before. • Nothing Sentences, examinations of the parties principal, or of wit- before. nesses, are used as they have been heretofore. Sir Thomas Smith, and the earl of Leicester, to the lord treasurer Burleigh, members of the society of the new art, for transmuting iron into copper: Medley, the chymist, undertaker. WEE have now commoned with William Medley, mer- Int. MSS.D. vailling why he stayeth here, and goeth not down to the T. Smith, works. He layeth excuses, part for wanting of mony to cret. D. reg. mil. a se Elizab. BOOK defray his charges here, and part too, for his charges in I. tryals making, now these two years and more, and his build ings and vessels, 4007. allowed him. Of which 150l. wee had once commoned for his vessels, housing, and casting up of 80 earth, and other such necessaries, which the society shall receive of him. Whereof I, sir Thomas Smith, was content that the 100%. which I have already payd for him to Mr. Jobson, should be part; and going in hand with the work, I was always content for such portion ratable as my lords do contribute, to allow of and give an acquittance for it. Or if each partner do contribute an 1007. to redeliver the obligation, wherein Mr. Dier standeth bound to me for the whole. I, the earl of Leycester, have given already to sir John Hybbord one 1007. and also order to him for iron, cask, and lead, to the setting forward the work. He saith, that your lordship was content that part of your mony should go to the payment of the said vessels, and the rest you would send to sir John Hybbord; who should have the chief charge of provisions, for all things necessary for the work, and of disbursing of mony by accounts. The which to keep at the works, I, sir Thomas, have sent down a trusty man; and will send also down part of sir Homfreys [Gilbert] mony out of hand, to pay the workmen he shall find there; and will send the rest after. For I long to have it go in hand without delay: and will take order, if I can, to hear every fourteen days what is done. Other notes we have sent here to your lordship to have your advice therein; especially in such as we have not yet ascertained. Or if there be any other thing that you think meet to be considered, we pray you to write unto us. And so we commit your lordship to Almighty God. From Richmond, the 7th of March, 1574. W. Burleigh, Your loving friends, Who writ his name to this letter, to R. Leycester. |