Egerton MS 2074

Papers relating to charges against Philip Howard, 13th Earl of Arundel, and Henry Percy, 8th Earl of Northumberland, for treason in 1585; consisting of examinations and bonds of witnesses, interrogatories, memoranda and comparisons of evidence, some of which are in the handwriting of Sir Christopher Hatton; together with private letters and papers found in the chamber of the Earl of Northumberland, in the Tower, after his death on 20 June 1585.

J.H. Pollen and W. MacMahon, eds., The Venerable Philip Howard Earl of Arundel, 1557-1595: The English Martyrs, Vol. II, Catholic Record Society, Vol. 21 (1919), pp. 118-127, reprinted some of these items. They regarded this volume as 'really the dossier' kept by Thomas Wilkes, Clerk of the Privy Council, 'most of the papers being written, or endorsed by him, or are addressed to him' (p. 118). Wilkes's hand does indeed match many of the papers here, including a number of the examinations.

The Earl of Northumberland had been a prisoner in the Tower of London since 9 Jan 1584; he was found dead with a gunshot wound to his heart, and his pistol still in his hand, on the night of 20-21 Jun 1585. The papers found in his chamber after his death form ff. 89r-128v. Many endorsements share a common hand with many in the first part of the volume, whilst contemporary sub-headings in the earlier part of the volume match those relating to Northumberland's papers (ff. 85r, 86r and 120r).

Pollen and MacMahon also reprinted ff. 81r-82v: ' The Treasons severaly attempted from the xi yere of her Matys ragne against her Royal state and person by. her traiterouse subiects on this syde and beyond the seas' (at pp. 289-295). They regarded it as a brief for Sir John Popham, Attorney-General for the posthumous hearing on the earl of Northumberland on 23 Jun 1585, but ff. 81r-82v say nothing explicit about the Earl, and even allowing that Popham deliberately omitted some evidence of conspiracy, the case remains at best unproven and arguably a stretch too far.

All but two of the papers, relating to the Earl of Northumberland's estate management, date to 1584-85 (some minor undated items amongst the Earl's papers might also be from earlier).

Contents:

f. 1r: 19th-century title-page: 'Examinations etc: relative to a Plot in the time of Queen Elizabeth, said to have been encouraged by the Duke of Guise, the King of Spain, & others'.

ff. 2r-v: Examination of Edward Poo, servant of Anthony Fortescue, 20 Apr 1585. Taken before Richard Lewkenor [Lewknor].

ff. 3r-4v: Examination of Anthony Fortescue, gentleman, 20 Apr 1585. Taken before Richard Lewkenor [Lewknor].

ff. 5r-6v: Letter of Sir Francis Walsingham to Thomas Wilkes, Clerk of the Privy Council (at his house at Downton, near Salisbury). Barn Elms, 21 Apr 1585. With damaged seal.

ff.7r-8v: Examination of Anthony Fortescue, gentleman, 20 Apr 1585. Taken before Richard Lewkenor [Lewknor].

ff. 9r-10v: Letter of Henry Middelmore and Anthony Wingfield to Sir Francis Walsingham, St James, Thursday night, 22 Apr 1585. With seal. The bearer of the letter is William Waad.

ff. 11r-12v: Letter of Henry Middelmore to Sir Christopher Hatton, n.d. [?22 Apr 1585]. The endorsement may be in Robert Beale's hand.

f. 13r: Memorandum: 'Pointers for the examining of the E[arl] of Arundel', 4 May 1585.

ff.14r-15v: Articles to be administered to the Earl of Arundel. With endorsement, 'Bateman to be forthcoming'.

ff. 16r-17v: Interrogatories to be administered to Mr [?Charles] Tilney, 7 May 1585.

ff. 18r: Examination of Ralph Bickley, priest, 9 May 1585. Taken before the Attorney-General (Sir John Popham), the Solicitor-General (Sir Thomas Egerton) and Thomas Wilkes.

ff. 19r-20v: Examination of John Chamberlain, gentleman, 9 May 1585. Taken before the Attorney-General (Sir John Popham) and the Solicitor-General (Sir Thomas Egerton).

f. 21r: Examination of Thomas Gifford, 9 May 1585. Taken before the Attorney-General (Sir John Popham), the Solicitor-General (Sir Thomas Egerton) and Thomas Wilkes.

f. 22r: Examination of Luke Bateman, 9 May 1585. Taken before the Attorney-General (Sir John Popham), the Solicitor-General (Sir Thomas Egerton) and Thomas Wilkes.

ff. 23r-24v: Letter of Sir Nicholas Bacon, Sir William Spring and Sir John Heigham to the Privy Council, Redgrave [Suffolk], 10 May 1585. On the examination of Lord Henry Howard.

ff. 25r-26v: Examination of Lord Henry Howard, Redgrave, 10 May 1585. Taken before Sir Nicholas Bacon, Sir William Spring and Sir John Heigham by authority of letters from the Privy Council.

ff. 27r-28v: Re-examination of Roger Townshend, 11 May 1585. Taken before the Vice-Chamberlain (Sir Christopher Hatton).

f. 29r: Examination of Lord William Howard, 11 May 1585. Taken before the Lord Chamberlain, the Vice-Chamberlain (Sir Christopher Hatton) and Sir Walter Mildmay.

ff. 30r-31v: Examination of Henry Percy, 8th Earl of Northumberland, 11 May 1585. Taken before the Lord Chancellor (Sir Thomas Bromley), the Vice-Chamberlain (Sir Christopher Hatton), Sir Walter Mildmay, etc. Against five answers on ff. 30v-31r are pointing fingers.

f. 32r: Examination of Edward Astlowe, Doctor of Physick, 11 May 1585. Taken before the Lord Chancellor (Sir Thomas Bromley), the Vice-Chamberlain (Sir Christopher Hatton), Sir Walter Mildmay, etc.

ff. 33r-34v: Bond for appearance of Thomas Gifford of Middle Claydon. Buckinghamshire, gentleman, for appearance before the Privy Council (surety: John Chamberlain of Charlbury, Oxfordshire, esquire), 13 May 1585. Signed and sealed in the presence of Thomas Wilkes and Robert Browne. Endorsement that Chamberlain's bond is delivered to him by order from Mr Secretary (evidently by William Waad). With seals.

f. 35r: Bond for appearance before Privy Council of Laurence Banastre of Easington, Yorkshire, esquire, 13 May 1585. Signed and sealed in the presence of Thomas Wilkes and Robert Browne.

f. 36r: Bond for appearance before Privy Council of Christopher Haynes of Arundel, Sussex, gentleman (sureties: John Haynes of Lilistone Green, Middlesex, esquire and William Haynes of Old Fish Street, London), 13 May 1585. Signed and sealed in the presence of Thomas Wilkes and Robert Browne. With seals.

f. 37r: Bond for appearance before Privy Council of Henry Tichborne, eldest son of John Tichborne of Portchester, Hampshire (sureties: Roger Tichborne of Romsey, Hampshire, gentleman and Richard Lea of Heriott, Hampshire, gentleman, 13 May 1585. Signed and sealed in the presence of Thomas Wilkes and Robert Browne. With seals.

f. 38r: Examination of Nicholas Burlacy, 13 May 1585. Taken before the Lieutenant of the Tower (Sir Owen Hopton), the Attorney-General (Sir John Popham), the Solicitor-General (Sir Thomas Egerton) and Thomas Wilkes.

ff. 39r-40v: Matters charged by Philip Howard, 13th Earl of Arundel, against Henry Percy, 8th Earl of Northumberland, Lord William Howard and Dr Edward Atselow, and the response of Northumberland, Howard and Atselow to the matters charged. Endorsed as 'Contrarieties between the Confessions of the E. of Arundell and The e. of Northumb. The L. William D. Ateslow'.

f. 41r: Bond for appearance before Privy Council of Rowland Barker of Wolverton, Shropshire, gentleman, to appear before the Privy Council, 13 May 1585. Signed and sealed in the presence of Thomas Wilkes.

f. 42r: Bond for appearance before Privy Council of Luke Bateman of Charterhouse Lane, London, gentleman (sureties: Richard Garrett and John Slater, merchant tailors of London), 14 May 1585. Signed and sealed in the presence of Thomas Wilkes, Francis Serle and Nicholas Delabere. With seals.

f. 43r: Bond of George Blanche of Swallowfield, Berkshire, yeoman, to appear before the Privy Council and give notice of the whereabouts of George Tettershall of Beaulieu, Hampshire, 14 May 1585. Blanche's mark and seal in the presence of Thomas Wilkes, Francis Serle and Nicholas Delabere.

ff. 44r-45v: Letter of J. Williams to Thomas Wilkes, Howard House, 14 May 1585. With address and seal.

f. 46r: The names of the servants of Philip Howard, 13th Earl of Arundel, remaining at Howard House, 14 May 1585. With brief notes on each servant.

f. 47r: Bill for surgeon for curing the hurts of Sidrake Veere and William Warde (servants to the Earl of Arundel).

ff. 48r-49v: Examination of Alice Waller, wife of John Waller of Shepton Mallet, Somerset, 15 May 1585. Taken before Sir Christopher Wray and Sir Edmund Anderson.

ff. 50r-51v: Memorial of things to be presently ordered and done, 16 May 1585. Including preparing examinations for the Earl of Arundel and Lord William Howard against tomorrow. In the hand of Thomas Wilkes.

ff. 52r-53v: Letter of Francis Walsingham to Thomas Wilkes, Barn Elms, 17 May 1585. With address and seal.

f. 54r: Re-examination of Lord William Howard, 17 May 1585. Taken before Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon and Sir Christopher Hatton.

ff. 55r-56v: Letter of Sir Christopher Hatton to Thomas Wilkes, 18 May 1585. Holograph, with address and seal.

ff. 57r-58v: Letter of Sir Christopher Hatton to Thomas Wilkes, 20 May 1585. Holograph. With address and seal.

f. 59r: Bond for appearance of John Bateman of London, gentleman, to appear before the Privy Council (sureties Philip Jones, yeoman and John Bostock silkweaver, both of London), 21 May 1585. Signed (or marked in Jones's case) and delivered in the presence of Thomas Wilkes and Francis Arendas.

f. 60r: Bond for appearance of Thomas Smithe of London, yeoman, to appear before the Privy Council (surety: Richard Curwin of Charterhouse Lane, tailor), 22 May 1585. Smithe marks his name. Signed (or marke) in the presence of Thomas Wilkes and Francis Serle.

f. 61r: Bond for appearance of Thomas Bennet of London, carpenter, to appear before the Privy Council (surety: William Tailor, carpenter), 22 May 1585. Both Bennet and Tailor mark their names; with their seals. In the presence of Thomas Wilkes and Francis Serle.

f. 62r: Bond for appearance of George Harry of Deane, Hampshire, yeoman, to appear before the Privy Council (surety: John Lowe of Charterhouse Lane, merchant tailor), 11 June 1585. Signed and sealed in the presence of Thomas Wilkes and Francis Arenda.

f. 63r: Bond for appearance of Thomas Allen of Gloucester College, Oxford, MA, to appear before the Privy Council, 13 Jul 1585. Signed and sealed in the presence of Thomas Wilkes and Francis Arenda.

ff. 64r-65v: Letter of Sir Christopher Hatton to Thomas Wilkes, the Court, 20 Jun 1585. Holograph, with address and seal.

ff. 66r-67v: Examination of Sir Robert Stapleton, 25 Jun 1585. Taken before Sir Christopher Hatton.

f. 68r: Re-examination of Sir Robert Stapleton, 25 Jun 1585. Taken before Sir Christopher Hatton.

f. 69r: Examination of John Phillippes, servant to William Gorges, 25 Jun 1585. Taken before Sir Christopher Hatton.

ff. 70r-v: Examination of John Smythe of Fetter Lane in London, 25 Jun 1585. Taken before Sir Christopher Hatton. Signed by Hatton and Thomas Wilkes.

f. 71r: Bond for appearance of Roger Townshend of East Raynham, esquire before the Privy Council, 19 Jul 1585. Signed, sealed and delivered before Thomas Wilkes and William Dey.

f. 72r: Memoranda on the actions of individuals under suspicion, n.d. The note bears dates of 5 Nov, 7 Nov and 17 Sep, but these seem to be looking back at certain events.

ff. 73r-74v: The case of William Shelley, how he standeth charged with treason, Nov 1585.

ff. 75r, 76r: Interrogatories for Philip Howard, 13th Earl of Arundel against William Shelley and Shaftey.

ff. 77r-78v: Notes on the charges against William Shelley, Dec 1585.

ff. 79r-v: Memorandum: ''The E[arl of Northumberland?] to be drawen to confesse the truthe' and 'Before he be dealt w[I]t[h], some meaner persones to be reexamined'. Amongst the other heads, 'And those to be drwne to it, by the presence of some of the commissioners and the shew of the Rack'. Verso, the endorsement reads 'Mr Michel: an Attorney of the Law' and 'Lodgers at the [illegible] and the roase w[i]thout Templebarre, at a combemakers'.

ff. 80r-v: Memorandum on evidences against Henry Percy, 8th Earl of Northumberland, March 1585. Noted on endorsement to 'Mr Secretary', i.e. Sir Francis Walsingham.

ff. 81r-82v: Memorandum of ' The Treasons severaly attempted from the xi yere of her Matys ragne against her Royal state and person by. her traiterouse subiects on this syde and beyond the seas'. The heading here comes from the endorsement.

ff. 83r-86r: Notes of the rents due to Philip Howard, 13th Earl of Arundel at Lady Day last and lands to be sold to pay off his debts.

ff. 87r-88v: List of debts owing by Philip Howard, 13th Earl of Arundel, and how they are to be paid.

f. 89r. As well as an endorsement to the contents of the letter (ff. 89r-v), 'L[ett]res found in the E. of Northum: cham: in the Tower at the tyme of his death.'

ff. 89r-v: Letter of Allen Kyng, 19 Oct 1584. There are two addresses, to Mr Stanley and (evidently in another hand) to the Earl of Northumberland. With seal.

f. 90r: 19th-century heading: 'Letters found in the Earl of Northumberland's Chamber in the Tower, at the time of his Death'.

ff. 91r-92v: Letter of Thomas Cecil to Henry Percy, 8th Earl of Northumberland, 23 July 1585. With address.

ff. 93r-94v: Letter of William Hargill to Katherine Percy, Countess of Northumberland, Clementhorpe [Yorkshire], 10 Dec 1584. With address.

ff. 95r-v: Letter on behalf of Katherine Percy, Countess of Northumberland, to Thomas Mortimer, his children's tutor in Paris, 9 Apr 1585. Copy. The date comes from the endorsement. On their upbringing and education abroad, and on the unprofitable behaviour of two eldest children at home, whom he wishes would 'carye a harquebuse upon their necke to serve a Worthye Prince then to Live as they doe'. The date comes from the endorsement. The author is unstated in the copy, which speaks on behalf of the Earl; that it is the Countess is confirmed by Mortimer's explicit reference to her letter of this date in his reply at ff. 104r-105v.

ff. 96r-97v: Letter of William Hargill to Henry Percy, 8th Earl of Northumberland, Nun Monkton [Yorkshire], 24 Apr 1585.

ff. 98r-99v: Letter of Thomas Smithson to Henry Percy, 8th Earl of Northumberland, Arlingham, Gloucestershire, 25 Apr 1585. With address and seal.

ff. 100r-101v: Letter of William Grayme to Henry Percy. 8th Earl of Northumberland, Topcliffe, 25 Apr 1585. With address and seal,

ff. 102r-103v: Letter of Sir Edward Stafford [English Ambassador in France] to Katherine Percy, Countess of Northumberland, Paris, 3 May 1585. Promising to have a special care of her sons and to advise their tutor as he sees fit. In the letter he notes that, 'It is some part of my charge here in this place to have an eie to Noble mens children and to their well doinges'.

ff. 104r-105v: Letter of Thomas Mortimer to Katherine Percy, Countess of Northumberland, Paris, 5 May 1585. With address.

ff. 106r-107v: Letter of Thomas Mortimer to Katherine Percy, Countess of Northumberland, Paris, 16 May 1585. With address.

ff. 108r-109v: Inventory of such goods as are left in the chamber of Henry Percy, 8th Earl of Northumberland, 21 Jun 1585.

ff. 110r-111v: Letter of Edmund Nialles [Nyales] to Henry Percy, 8th Earl of Northumberland, Topcliffe, 25 Feb 1585. With address.

ff. 112r-v: Letter of William Wicliffe to Thomas Fitton (at Trentham), Stoour [?Stour, Staffordshire], 19 Mar 1585. With address and seal.

ff.113r-v: Notes on the measure of hale corn, at which the tenants of Tynemoth grieve that they shall be forced to pay it, n.d. [1585]. Year from the endorsement.

ff. 114r-v: Notes delivered to Henry Percy, 8th Earl of Northumberland by unnamed supplicant who is his tenant how he is unjustly turned out of his house and desired to be returned.

ff. 115r-v: Letter of Thomas Stanly and Francis Moore to Henry Percy, 8th Earl of Northumberland, 26 Apr 1585. Concerning a motion to be made in Star Chamber for the staying of a matter in suit at Common Law over Spofforth Park until a controversy with Johnson, Goldsborough and others in Star Chamber be ended. With note by the Earl added.

ff. 116r-v: A note of the tithes of Northland and Tynemouth.

ff. 117r-v: A note delivered to Henry Percy,8th Earl of Northumberland by Francis Moore, showing manors and lands in Kent that ought to appertain to the Earl by reason of an office of the said lands, dated 14 Henry VIII (1523): how the truth may be understood and all doubts concerning the same be cleared.

ff. 118r-v: Notes and petitions of Henry Percy, 8th Earl of Northumberland, touching the office of Tynemouth.

ff. 119r-v: Remembrances of Henry Percy, 8th Earl of Northumberland, touching certain of his lands in Northumberland,

ff. 120r-126v: 'Small tiquets and notes of moment'. So described in the heading on f. 120r. These notes include on the profits of Derwent Fells (f. 121r); a note of the contents of a bag containing £20, signed by William Wicliffe; a note to the Countess of Northumberland about a dial; and a receipt or invoice relating to a rectory (f. 124r); a note of the lease of two mills near Alnwick to Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford, 24 Sep 1566, signed by William Wicliffe (f. 125r); inventory of utensils, including old and melted dishes (ff. 126r-v).

ff. 127r-128v: Instructions of Henry Percy, 8th Earl of Northumberland, to divide and lease a farm in Ullock between the bearers Randall Warde and Hugh Tyckell, 12 Oct 1576.