BOOK" abide any longer." The king of Spain's pension, it seems, II. Anno 1577. queen to pardon him. now grew 66 but low. About half a year after we have this fugitive gentleman again the gone to Bruges. And thence in the month of August he continueth his solicitation to the said lord Burghley. Which was to this tenor; "That, not daring to presume to write to "her majesty, his lordship's virtuous inclinations did em"bolden him to move him to stand his good lord, in being a means to her majesty for him: that it would please her, "of her accustomable clemency, to pardon those faults, by "which, through ignorant youth, and not of malice, (God "was his judge,) he had offended her majesty. Which now riper understanding and further grace did cause "him to be most heartily sorry for; and prostrate at her "majesty's feet, humbly craved pardon for the same: hoping her majesty's pitiful nature would follow the precept 498" of our Saviour Christ, who willeth no forgiveness to be "refused to him, who with humility and repentance craveth "it. For which most gracious benefit he promised to God "and her majesty, his life should be ready at all times to "be yielded in any service it should please her majesty to employ him; as well to repair his former fault, as also to "win of her majesty a degree of credit. And he hoped "these few years of tribulation had taught him to know "good from evil, and increased his ability to serve his prince and country: which above all things he most de"sired." Words be tween him in Spain about the queen. 66 66 66 And that he had been in Spain likewise it appears by what and Stewkly he addeth; "That what had passed between Stewkly and "him in Spain in defence of her majesty's honour, for that "he spoke most villainous words of her majesty, his lordship had, he thought, already heard. And that he minded "to take no entertainment of any prince in the world, be"fore he knew her majesty's pleasure: whose favour he "esteemed more than any worldly preferment. If he did 66 not, he assured his lordship on his faith, he could have very sufficiently to maintain him there, according to his 66 VIII. "calling, as it was well known to many. And so waiting CHAP. "her majesty's resolution, to be by his lordship's favour "known, &c. Dated August 18. from Bruges in Flan- Anno 1577. "ders." 66 66 from Calais. What fair hopes the next message from England brought His letter him, I know not, but it produced this letter from him now at Calais, the next year, 1575, as though ready to come for England: "That if small benefits did bind good natures, "how much ought he to think himself bound unto his honour, since by his only friendship he had recovered grace "at her majesty's hands, and good liking of my lord his "brother. Which, God was his judge, he esteemed more "than his life: as he trusted to give sufficient testimony by "his faithful service in all it should please her majesty to employ him. And that undoubtedly his lordship might "assure himself of his service, during his life, with no less "fidelity and affection, than if he were his own child. He "besought his honour to continue so; and so by his good "lordship's favour to intercede with his brother, that he "was sure he would at his request support him with suffi"cient maintenance, until such time as it should please her "highness to license him to come home. And for fear he "should ignorantly offend, he humbly craved of his lord"ship, that he might have some place appointed him, where "he should serve. And if it should not displease her ma 66 jesty, he should be glad to go against the Turk, where " he thought he should see best service." And he trusted his endeavours should be such, as neither her majesty, nor my lord his brother, nor his honour should mislike it. This was dated from Calais, March the 25th, 1575. without lowed. The next tidings we hear of him was, that he was come Comes over over into England with a merchant: and with protestations leave. of his duty repaired to the lord Burghley, in order to that What follord's recommending him to the queen. Of his access to him, he sends word to secretary Walsingham. The queen understanding his coming and request, shewed herself displeased, and orders Walsingham to tell that lord, "that he II. BOOK "should, as of himself, advise Radcliff to slip away; for "that he understood secretly from his friends in court, that Anno 1577.❝ her majesty was greatly displeased with his presumptuous 499" manner of coming over. And that otherwise (as Wal singham proceeded in relating the queen's commands, "that he should say) he doubted, her majesty, as in justice "she was bound, should be driven, for example sake, to ex"tend the punishment towards him, that for his former of"fences was due." And for that the queen was doubtful of his lingering in the realm, whatsoever promises he had made to him, [the lord Burghley,] her pleasure was, that he should so offer the matter, that Reins, the merchant, with whom he came over, should see him embarked: whereby she might be assured that he was departed the realm. But not taking this seasonable warning, he was committed prisoner to the Tower. And what befell him afterwards in another land was related before. But this is enough to have remembered of this unfortunate gentleman and penitent rebel, but of a turbulent spirit, Egremond Radcliff. CHAP. IX. The queen's progress. The lord treasurer, and others of the court, at Buxton Well. The earl of Leicester at Chatsworth, entertained there. The queen's letter of thanks to the earl of Shrewsbury upon that entertainment. The mortality at Oxford. The plague breaks out. The diligence of Fleetwood, the recorder at London. Sessions at Newgate. An intention of robbing the lord treasurer's house. A privy search in Smithfield. Cozeners and cheats, &c. Phaer a notable coiner. His offer; to discover all the coiners, and such as practised magic. AND now let us turn our eyes to more domestic matters. The queen this summer took her progress into Kent, this year. Surrey, Sussex. Where, according to her custom, she re The queen's progress IX. ceived the entertainments of the nobles, and persons of the CHAP. best quality, at their houses: who were glad of the honour, and made very expensive preparations for her. hurst's. Anno 1577. Now was the lord Buckhurst to receive her at his house In Sussex she is enin Sussex and therefore sent to the earl of Sussex, lord tertained at chamberlain, to understand when her majesty's pleasure was lord Buckto come into those parts: that as the earl of Arundel, the lord Mountagu and others, expecting her presence with them, and had made great provisions for her and her retinue, so he might not be wanting with his: being fain to send into Flanders to supply him, the others having drawn the country dry before him. And in what concern that nobleman was on this occasion, his letter will shew, written in the beginning of July: "That he beseeched his lordship Titus, B. 2. "to pardon him that he became troublesome unto him, to "know some certainty of the progress, if it might possibly "be, the time of provision was so short; and the desire he "had to do all things in such sort, as appertained, so great, "as he could not but thus importune his lordship to pro- 500 "cure her highness to grow to some resolution, both of the "time when her majesty would be at Lewes, and how long "her highness would tarry there. For that he having al66 ready sent into Kent, Surrey, and Sussex for provision, " he assured his lordship he found all places possessed by my lord of Arundel, my lord Montagu, and others: so as "of force he was to send into Flanders. Which he would "speedily do, if the time of her majesty's coming and tarri"ance with him were certain. He beseeched his lordship "therefore (if it might be) to let him know, by his lord"ship's favourable means, somewhat whereunto to trust. “For if her highness should not presently determine, he "saw not how possibly they might or could perform that "towards her majesty which was due and convenient. He "trusted his lordship would measure his cause by his own: "that would be loath her highness should come unto him "before he were ready to receive her: to hazard thereby "his dishonour, and her majesty's dislike." And then (fearing that his house might not be agreeable to such a II. BOOK guest) he added, "That he could not but beseech God, that "that house of his did not mislike her. That, he said, was Anno 1577.❝ his chief care. The rest should be performed with that "good heart as he was sure it would be accepted. But that "if her highness had tarried but one year longer, we had "been, said he, too, too happy: [his house by that time "more fitted for her entertainment.] But God's will and "hers be done." This was dated July the 4th, 1577. Many of the court go to Buxton Wells. The lord treasurer there; And lord Shrewsbury; And the earl of Leicester. Divers great persons of the court took this opportunity to repair to Buxton Wells for their health; as sir Thomas Smith, secretary, sir William Fitz-Williams, Mr. Mannors, lady Harrington, and among the rest, the lord treasurer Burghley. I find him here, August the 7th, "when he 66 began," as he said, "the day before to be a lawnder, hav❝ing ended his drunkenness the day before," as he affected merrily to express himself in the homely language there, for the method then used, first of drinking the waters, and then bathing. This account of himself he gave in a letter to the earl of Sussex; who was now, notwithstanding a hurt in his leg, following the court, wishing him, the said earl, long there, as a very useful man to attend the queen in her progress: who had wished himself at Buxton with the treasurer. In answer to which wish, "the said treaἐσ surer wished the same, (had he not been so necessarily at"tending the queen,) as he knew no nobleman in the earth "more to his heart's contentation. And this, he said, he "wrote even with the best vein in his heart.” The earl of Shrewsbury was likewise there for a gouty hand and both drank and bathed diligently. But upon some warning from court concerning an attempt, either to rescue the Scottish queen, or some other danger relating to her, he was forced to leave the place, and to be gone to his charge. The lord treasurer set out from his house, Theobalds, about July 22. Thence to Burghley house. Thence by Darby and Ashborn in the Peak, to Chatsworth, the earl of Shrewsbury's house, to lodge there. And so to Buxton. The earl of Leicester was at Buxton also the month be |