BOOK I. 50 Thomæ Seymero (cui tu, Neptune, tridentem Huic peperit natam: a partu cum septimus orbem Ad D. Johan. Hoperum, extempore. Nota tamen probitas est tua, Hopere, mihi. De D. Tho. Wylsono. Si quisquam est doctus, prudens, et fidus amicus, Ad Bartholomæum Traheron. Ingenium, pietas, doctrina, modestia, candor; Quos peperit vario populosa Britannia nixu Hoc lucubravit opus doctissimus ille Balæus, Irradians patriæ sidus et aura suæ. Autori gratus sis, lector candide, vitæ BOOK I. Exoptesque pio stamina longa seni. In frontem libri D. Thomæ Cranmeri, archiepiscopi Can- Quem tibi Cranmerus scripserat ante rogos. Solvitur in cineres corpus, mens scandit ad astra, In quosdam avaros ecclesiasticos. Multi qui sunt pastores animarum, oviumque 51 Number XXV. The examination of one Blosse, alias Mantel; that reported king Edward VI. was alive, and queen Elizabeth was maried. Taken by Fleetwood, recorder of London: sent with his letter to the lord treasurer Burleigh. THE 20. of October, 1572, Robert Blosse, alias Mantel, MSS. Burghlian. examined before the recorder, saith, that he was born in London: that his father was a goldsmith. And being young I. BOOK he was brought up under Mr. Bale, the learned man, prior of the white friars in Ipswich. At his man's estate, he maried one Mr. Egelden's daughter, being town clark of Sandwich. And he confesseth, that at the time of his mariage, he was a gunner in the king's ships; and can shoot off and discharge great ordnance. His wife and he not well agreeing, he did depart from her; and she doth now live in Cambridge. And he saith, that about 16 years past, [that is, anno 1556,] one Walker, a scholar at Oxford, told this examinate, that king Edward VI. was living in Flanders; and if . this examinate did live, he should see him again within this realm. And he saith, that ever sithence he hath nourished in his mind that lewd and false matter, and hath reported it for a truth. For the which he saith, that he is sory from the bottom of his heart. And he saith, that the last time that he reported the same, was upon Wednesday at night last past, at one Tower's house, neer Aldersgate, in London. At which time Norris the pursevant, standing behind a cloth, did hear him, and thereupon did arrest him. And at the same time this examinate saith, that he did most wickedly report and say, that the queens highness was maried about eight years ago [that is, anno 1564.] unto my lord of Leicester. And that during which mariage, she had four children. And this false rumour he first conceived by a report of an old priest of Hampshire, about six years ago. And for his religion he saith and affirmeth, that he did never hear mass since Anne Askew was burned. And more he will not utter. This was the deposition set down. And underneath, in the same paper, was the recorder's letter writ with his own hand; and was as followeth : My very good lord. This is the examination of Robert Blosse. And because I had studied all the statutes of treasons, and could not find him within the letter or meaning of them; and for that the fellow, which was executed in queen 1. Maries time, did offend in saying, that he himself was king BOOK Edward; therefore I noted that cause to be treason: but not so of Blosses cause. I therefore yesternight did argue the case with Mr. Atturney General by the space of an hour 52 and more. And he resolved it for a clear case to be no treason. And for the second cause, he should have lost one of his ears, if he had been convicted within three months. But now that time is past. And therefore by the statute he ought to be set at liberty. And so thought Mr. Atturney. 17. Jan. Your Lordships, W. Fletewood. Number XXVI. An extract of the estate of certain mines in Cumberland, an. 1576. COPPER, silver, and lead, then made and contained in MSS. the ewrs [ores] thereof. At the melting house at Keswick, in copper мVCCCC quintails weight. In head ewrs above ground, containing therein fine silver by assay, 298 pound weight. More in the said ewrs, containing lead, to be made after the silver parted from it. Made in perfect copper (her majesties fifteenth part deducted) 533 quintals. More, in fine silver, delivered into the mint 87 pound weight, 4 ounces. More, in lead, sold at the mine. Burghlian. Number XXVII. Occurrents at the siege of Rochel; and of the election of monsieur king of Poland: sent from Dr. Dale, the queen's ambassador in France, to the earl of Sussex; in a letter dated May 30, 1573. ON the 13. of this present until this day, there hath Cott. Li brary, Ti tus, B. 2. I. BOOK been three divers exploits at Rochel, upon the bastilion L'Evangele. The first was done the 13th, when monsieur de Guaz entred at Sonwares, upon the said bastilion, with 500 harquebusiers; and did surprize those of the watch, and slew them without the loss of any one soldier. Notwithstanding he was constrained in the end to abandon the said place; by reason that the townesmen came upon them with a great number of harquebusiers, and did hurt some of them with artificial kinds of fire. The second was done on the 18th. In the which conflict monsieur de Guatz and De Colombes were sore hurt, and Stephano d'Urbin slain with divers of his soldiers. The third, the 20th and 21st of this present. And in this combate it is reported, that one Besme, who in the last massacre at Paris slew the admiral, had his thighs quite stricken off with a canon: monsieur de Puisgaillarde, governor of Angiers, sore hurt; or as some judge, dead: monsieur Polliac, collonel of his twelve ensignes, slain, besides a great number of soldiers. The 21st of this present, the Rochelois being advertised, that the greatest part of the king's camp was going to see the arrival of the Swisses, issuing forth and finding the trenches not so well furnished, they entred into them. And many they slew, and others they chased away. They did also cloye four great peeces of artilery, and brought away with them six ensignes: and they retyred themselves into the town. It is given forth, that monsieur intended to give the general assault the 28th of this present. The counte of Retz, and the counte of Filiasque departed from the camp the 22d of this present with twenty ships of war, and six 53 gallies, with intent to drive Mountgomery out of Belle Isle. Mountgomery being advertised of that coming, and perceiving the enemy to be too strong for him, hath forsaken the said Isle, and is retyred, as they say, either into England, or else into Flanders. The 28th of this present, those of Sanzerre pretending that they would gladly parlament with La Chastre, and, if it were possible, grow to some good agreement, issued forth |