Cotton MS Otho E IX

Papers and letters relating to the Admiralty, Navy and shipping, 1513-1634. Including a report by Sir Francis Drake (1540-1596) of the raid on Cadiz, 1587, letters of Charles Howard, 2nd Baron Howard of Effingham (1536-1624), Sir Francis Drake, and Sir Walter Raleigh (1554-1618), and items concerning the Spanish Armada.

ff. 1r-6r List of admirals, east and west of the river Thames, and of high admirals. From 1263 to 1585. With dates of their patents.

ff. 7r-13r Notes on the jurisdiction of the Lord High Admiral. Latin.

ff. 14r-16v Declaration on the sovereignty of the narrow seas. Against Regnier Grimbauld, who held an office of the narrow seas on the part of France.

ff. 17r-18v Two fragments on affairs of the admiralty.

ff. 19r-20v Paper on the jurisdiction of the Lord High Admiral. Old or Norman French. Certified by Robert Bowyer.

f. 21r-21v Warrant of the Duke of Exeter [John or Henry Holland], Lord High Admiral, for apprehending several persons to be tried before the Court of Admiralty. c. 1505-1506. Latin.

ff. 22r-26r Four fragments on maritime affairs on parchment and paper.

ff. 27r-28v Letter from Edward Guldeffard to Thomas Cromwell. Concerning restitutions to be made to certain Spanish men. Dover, August 21 [1531].

ff. 29r-30v Letter from Thomas Audley, Lord Chancellor, to the Thomas Cromwell, Lord Privy Seal. Concerning the capture of French vessels. Berechrose, July 31 [1537].

ff. 31r-32v Letter from William Fitzwilliam, possibly to Cardinal Wolsey. Reporting some maritime affairs. May 24 [1522]. With another paper, not signed.

ff. 33r-34v Answers to objections concerning a treaty with Spain.

f. 35r List of ships in English ports, with their tonnage. [1524].

ff. 36r-27v Letter from William Gonson to Cardinal Wolsey. Concerning his conduct towards some French and Spanish ships. London, March 13 [1528].

f. 38r Order by King Henry VIII concerning the security of the coasts and shipping. [1 April 1528].

ff. 39r-40r Instructions from King Henry VIII to Sir John Dudley. To cruise between the Downes and Poole, for the security of the coast. [7 March 1537].

ff. 41r-43v Instructions from King Henry VIII to Sir John Dudley. Concerning the security of the coast. [31 July 1537].

f. 44r Order by Henry VIII for putting men in array to defend the kingdom, against the Pope.

ff. 45r-48v Two letters from Thomas Theyne to the Privy Seal. Instructions relating to his conduct concerning some sea affairs.

ff. 49r-54v Lists titled ‘The names of the ships and masters, with the number of soldiers as mariners, which be appointed to be an army royal’.

f. 55r-55v Letter from T. Batcock to Thomas Cromwell. Reporting a Spanish armament sitting in Biscay. March 6 1535.

ff. 56r-57v Statement of payments made by John Dance from 1513. By virtue of the King’s warrants, and for the use of the Navy. In the hand of Ralph Starkey.

ff. 58r-61r Receipts for sums received by William Gonson from Thomas Cromwell, treasurer of the King’s jewels. For equipping certain ships. [22 December] 1534-1535.

f. 62r Minutes of an indenture between Queen Elizabeth I and Edward Baeshe. For victualling certain ships. With notes of demands in consequence thereof.

ff. 63r-67r Accounts of victuals, stores and arms for several ships.

ff. 68r-69r List of ships with their portage and location. [22 October 1525].

f. 70r-70v Statement of some abuses in the keeping and ordering of King Henry VIII’s ships. [1524].

ff. 71r-72v Letter from Nicholas Kirkeham and others to the Privy Council. Concerning victuals. [Plymouth, 12 May 1545].

ff. 73r-79r Letter from William Fitzwilliam, Earl of Southampton, and William Paulet, Lord St. John, to the Privy Council. Reporting their proceedings in and about the Isle of Wight concerning foreign ships attempting to export corn. Portsmouth, March [1539].

f. 80r-80v List of harbours in England and Wales.

ff. 81r-82v Names of all the harbours, creeks and roads in Anglesey, Caernarvon and Merionethshire. [1524].

f. 83r-83v Letter from John Dawtrey to Thomas Wolsey. Concerning victualling and loading a ship. Portsmouth, May 11 [1513].

ff. 84r-86v Accounts of wages for several of the King’s ships having arrived in Ireland. With notes in the hand of Robert Cecil.

f. 87r-87v Proclamation of King Edward VI for the restoration of all French prizes. Westminster, October 26 1546.

f. 88r-88v Proclamation of King Edward VI against mariners and soldiers leaving the King’s ships without licence. Hayes, September 30 1547.

ff. 90r-92v Accounts of wages and victuals for several ships, during the summer and winter seasons. [January 1522].

f. 93r-93v Order of Queen Mary for equipping certain ships to bring Philip, her husband, back from Flanders. Greenwich, February 15 1556.

ff. 94r-95v Order sent to Sir John Clare, to scour the North Seas for the security of the Dantzick fleet. [1554-1558].

f. 96r-96v Order of the Privy Council. For the good ordering of the Cinq Ports during the vacancy of the office of warden. Draft corrected by Robert Cecil.

f. 97r-97v Order of the Admiralty. For putting the Navy into a better condition. September 24 1555.

f. 98r-98v Order for an embargo to be put on shipping. Court, February 1557.

ff. 99r-102v Indenture between Queen Elizabeth I and Edward Baeshe, surveyor general of her majesty’s victuals for the seas.

f. 103r-103v List of ships, with their tonnage and number in their crews.

f. 104r Account of charges in a dock yard.

f. 105r Account of the charges of the Bonaventure and the Antelope for two months.

ff. 106r-107r Order of Queen Elizabeth I to the magistrates of Sandwich. To support Thomas Smith, to whom she has farmed her customs. Rycot, September 8 1571.

ff. 108r-109r Estimate of callyvers and muskets for furnishing Queen Elizabeth I’s Navy.

ff. 110r-112v Estimate of wages for several ships in the Navy.

ff. 113r-114v Articles concerning the Navy, to be given to Queen Elizabeth I.

f. 115r-115v Estimate of wages and victuals for 1900 men. Signed by three officers of the Navy.

ff. 116r-119r Remainder of the indenture of Edward Baeshe, above (ff. 99r-102v).

ff. 120r-124r Four accounts of Navy expenses. Signed by Benjamin Tonson, William Winter, William Holstock and Edward Winter.

ff. 125r-128r Patent of Queen Elizabeth I. Constituting Benjamin Tonson and John Hawkins joint treasurers of the marine. Westminster, November 18 1579.

ff. 129v-132r Statements of receipts and payments made on account of the Navy, being sum totals for each year. 1578-1584.

f. 133v Order of Queen Elizabeth I. Preventing sailors from going abroad. Greenwich, June 9 1574.

f. 134r-135v Two lists of ships in different harbours.

ff. 136v-146r Four papers of officers of the Navy board. Concerning the tonnage and expenses of ships.

ff. 146v-149r Accounts of John Crooke, of Southampton, for the transportation of the Prince of Condé. 1585.

ff. 151r-152v Estimate of charges for keeping Queen Elizabeth I’s ships at Chatham.

ff. 154r-159v Two letters from John Errington, Mayor of Southampton, to Francis Milles, secretary to Sir Francis Walsingham. With an account about a Rochelle ship. 1585.

ff. 160r-161v Certificate of the number of ships and their crews belonging to the Cinq Ports and their members. 1587.

f. 162r Table of the number of ships in the realm. 1588.

f. 163v Forms of oaths of officers and soldiers.

f. 164r-164v Letter from Thomas Fenner, possibly to Robert Cecil. Recommending an expedition against Spain. Plymouth, February 4 1587.

ff. 165r-168v Two letters from Charles Howard, 2nd Baron Howard of Effingham and Lord Admiral, to Robert Cecil and Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. Reporting on the state and disposition of his own ships, and the armaments of the Spaniards. February 23, and one of an unknown date, 1587.

f. 169r Letter from Sir Francis Drake, possibly to Robert Cecil. Relating a short report of his expedition to Cadiz. April 27 1587.

ff. 170r-171r Letter from Thomas Fenner to an unknown recipient. Reporting a successful expedition against Spain. [April 1587].

ff. 172r-174r Instructions given to Charles Howard, 2nd Baron Howard of Effingham and Lord Admiral, for returning to sea. December 15 1587.

ff. 174v-176r Instructions sent from Charles Howard, 2nd Baron Howard of Effingham and Lord Admiral, to Henry Seymour. To serve in the narrow seas.

ff. 176v-179r Instructions sent from Queen Elizabeth I to Charles Howard, 2nd Baron Howard of Effingham and Lord Admiral, for returning to sea. August 1588. Latin.

f. 179r-181r Commissions of Charles Howard, 2nd Baron Howard of Effingham and Lord Admiral, sent to sea with the Navy. December 16 1587. Latin.

ff. 181v-182r Paper titled ‘The manner how the river Thames shall be kept assured against any attempt of the gallyes, by the care and good regard of Sir Henry Palmer, who is appointed to the charge of that service’.

ff. 183r-184v Two letters from Sir Francis Drake to William Cecil. Reporting some naval proceedings, a request he made for exchange of prisoners, and complaints of the misconduct over Burroughs. Cape Saker? May 17 and 21 1587.

f. 185v Letter from Charles Howard, 2nd Baron Howard of Effingham and Lord Admiral, to an unknown recipient. Reporting successes against the Spaniards and desiring a supply of ships. On board the Ark, July 22 1588.

f. 186r Order of Queen Elizabeth I to the Lord Lieutenants. To arm their counties, under the inspection of Sir John Norris. Greenwich, April 6 1588.

ff. 187r-188r Account of fees and other charges, signed William Winter.

f. 189v Letter from Charles Howard, 2nd Baron Howard of Effingham and Lord Admiral, to Robert Cecil. Reporting that Henry Seymour and Sir Francis Drake have joined him, and their plan to sail to watch the Spanish forces. Plymouth, May 23 1588.

f. 190r-190v Two letters from Sir Francis Walsingham to the mayor and aldermen of London. Conveying Queen Elizabeth I’s pleasure, and ordering that poor French refugees be exempted from payment of the subsidy. Greenwich, August 11 and 26 1588.

ff. 191r-192r Account of Navy expenses for the year 1588.

f. 194r-194v List of ships and pinnaces, and of their crews. With an account of their charges for one month.

f. 195r-198v Three letters from Sir Francis Walsingham to Henry Radclyffe, 4th Earl of Sussex, Captain of the town of Portsmouth. Enjoining the execution of Sir John Norris’s orders for the defence of the coasts and discussing the preparations of the enemy. Richmond, July 24, Savoy, July 30, and no location given, August 7 1588.

ff. 199r-200v List of ships fitted out against the Spanish Armada, 1588.

ff. 201r-204r List of ships with their crews and commanders.

f. 205v Letter from Edward Radclyffe to Henry Radclyffe, 4th Earl of Sussex. Acquainting him with Queen Elizabeth I’s visit to the camp. Burntwood, August 10 1588.

ff. 206r-207r Notes of regulations for raising men in the different counties. May 13 1574.

f. 208r-208v List of ships.

f. 209r-209v Queen Elizabeth, ‘On the Sailing of the Cadiz Expedition, May 1596’. Copy of Queen Elizabeth I’s private meditations upon the expedition. Sent to the generals of the army at Plymouth.

ff. 210r-211r Two letters from Charles Howard, 2nd Baron Howard of Effingham and Lord Admiral, possibly to Robert Cecil. Reporting a trip he took to sea, and being driven back by contrary winds. July 6 and 13 1588.

f. 212r Two letters from Sir Francis Walsingham to Robert Cecil. With news concerning the armada, and on the orders given for the defence of the coasts of Norfolk and Suffolk. July 23 and August 1 1588.

f. 213r Letter from the mayor of Plymouth to the Privy Council. Relating intelligence on two fleets.

ff. 214v-218v Four letters from Sir Francis Walsingham to Robert Cecil. Relating intelligence concerning the English fleets and the Spanish Armada. July 26 and August 13 and 15 1588.

ff. 219r-241r Paper titled ‘An estimate of the charges of her majesty’s army prepared against the Spaniards, from November 1 1587 to September 31 1588, together with the charges of coasters’.

ff. 242r-243r Account of the Spanish Armada and of the officers on board. Spanish.

ff. 244r-246v Regulations for the approving of mariners.

f. 247r-248r Statement of the number of men supposed to be remaining in certain shires. With the number of men which may be spared in fishing and other sea services.

f. 249r Statement of the number of masters, mariners and fishermen belonging to every shire throughout the realm. 1583.

ff. 250r-255r Notes of money disbursed by Sir Francis Drake and others, by his order, for the service, until 1 April 1589.

ff. 256r-259v Orders for the disposal of troops. With two accounts for the raising of troops, both English and foreign. 1589.

ff. 260r-261r Letter from Sir Francis Walsingham to an unknown recipient. Relating an account of Sir Francis Drake’s descent at Lisbon. June 29 1589.

ff. 262r-270v Notes of agenda and deliberations concerning troops. With an account of one month’s imprest to 1000, and to 3000 men, for 3 months. In the hand of Robert Cecil. 1590.

ff. 271r-272r Report by Queen Elizabeth I’s shipwrights. On the state of five ships. February 14 1590.

ff. 272v-275v Warrant sent by Queen Elizabeth I to the treasurer of the Exchequer. For the payment of £8973. 12s. 10d. per annum, to the treasurers of the Navy, for the keeping of her ships in harbour. Greenwich, March 13 1590.

ff. 276r-279r Brief of the provisions received from every county for the service.

ff. 280-283v Estimate of the charge of Queen Elizabeth I’s whole army, Navy and several merchant ships and hoys, for three months. 1589.

f. 284r-284v Estimate for the proportion of victuals to be provided for 2484 men.

f. 284r-284v Estimate of the charge of three great fly boats for the carriage of victuals, for ten weeks.

f. 286r-286v Estimate of wages for 12 of Queen Elizabeth I’s ships and 2 pinnaces, for 4 months.

f. 287r-287v Estimate of the charge of two months’ victuals, to be provided in the west country, for 825 men.

ff. 288r-289r Regulations for victualling, and other matters relating to the government of Queen Elizabeth I’s ships.

ff. 290r-291v Two warrants of Queen Elizabeth I. For issuing money for the service of the Navy. The second dated January 16 1589.

f. 292r Certificate of the ships and vessels in the ports of Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Kent and Sussex.

ff. 293r-294r Survey of all the ships and barks belonging to Pool, May 1 1591. With some remarks over whether a similar survey might be made in all the ports and creeks in England.

ff. 294v-295v Letter from Sir Martin Frobisher to Robert Cecil. Sending advice about intercepting a Spanish fleet. [1594].

f. 296r Letter from Queen Elizabeth I to Sir Martin Frobisher. Commending his zeal and diligence. Richmond, November 14 1594.

f. 297r-297v Letter from Sir Martin Frobisher, possibly to William Cecil.

ff. 298r-299v Proposal for taxes to be levied for the charge of finishing the castle newly built at Plymouth.

f. 300r An ordinary course for sailing at a certainty, by winds that are constant.

ff. 301r-302r Estimate for fitting out the Swiftsure and the Crane, for 4 months.

ff. 303r-307r Declaration for the application of £17342. 18s. 10d. to the service of the Navy. 1594.

f. 308r-308v List of English ships.

f. 309r-309v Fragment of a paper concerning rates or premiums to be allowed to certain ships.

ff. 310r-313v Warrant of Queen Elizabeth I. For a reward to be given to Richard Chapman, a shipbuilder. With a copy of the above warrant (ff. 272v-275v) sent by Queen Elizabeth I to the treasurer of the Exchequer. Greenwich, March 13 1590.

ff. 314r-321r A memorial of the voyage made under the charge of Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, and Charles Howard, 2nd Baron Howard of Effingham and Lord Admiral.

f. 322r-324r Commission of Queen Elizabeth I. Appointing Edward Seymour, 1st Earl of Hertford, Lieutenant General. With a specification of the powers thereby vested in him. Latin.

ff. 324v-325v Order of Queen Elizabeth I. Enjoining aid to be given to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, her Lieutenant General in the Low Countries.

ff. 326r-327r Commission of Queen Elizabeth I. Appointing Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, and Charles Howard, 2nd Baron Howard of Effingham and Lord Admiral, captains and generals of her forces, to serve against the Spanish forces in Brittany. Latin.

f. 328r-328v Account of an armament in preparation at Cadiz, under the command of Don Lewis; probably for America.

ff. 299r-333v Letter to the Privy Council from an unknown commander. Apologising for his conduct.

ff. 334r-335v Letter from Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex to Robert Cecil. On his dispositions concerning the army. Plymouth, April 30 [1596].

ff. 336r-338r Paper by Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex. Apologising for the proceedings at Cadiz.

ff. 339v-342r Two accounts of a Spanish armament. 1590. Spanish.

ff. 343r-348v Instructions sent to Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, and Charles Howard, 2nd Baron Howard of Effingham and Lord Admiral. On executing the commission given to them by Queen Elizabeth I.

ff. 349r-350r Letter from Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, and Charles Howard, 2nd Baron Howard of Effingham and Lord Admiral, to an unknown recipient. Relating an account of their expedition towards Cadiz. With a letter, signed G. Buc, on the same subject. 1596.

f. 351r-351v List of men in eight regiments, with the companies in each.

ff. 352r-355v Five letters from Queen Elizabeth I to Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, and Charles Howard, 2nd Baron Howard of Effingham and Lord Admiral. Forbidding their intended expedition to Cadiz; ordering troops; sending thanks; and expostulation. Greenwich, May 16, 17 and 21 1596.

ff. 356r-362v Instructions sent to Sir Ferdinand George, and three other commissioners sent to Plymouth. To prevent abuses in the allotment of the prizes made at Cadiz.

ff. 363r-364v Orders sent from Queen Elizabeth I to the generals. To return any forces taken from the Low Countries.

f. 365v Letter from Sir Walter Raleigh to Francis Walsingham. Reporting the state of the ships under his command, after the expedition to Cadiz. Plymouth, August 6 1596.

ff. 366r-368r Letter from Queen Elizabeth I to the Lords Generals. Thanking them for their services, probably after the expedition to Cadiz. 1596? With a letter from the Privy Council to the Lords Generals, on the disposal of the army after its return from Cadiz. August 10 1596.

ff. 368r-372v Two letters from the Privy Council to Charles Howard, 2nd Baron Howard of Effingham and Lord Admiral. Sending directions about the fleet. August 11 and 13 1596.

ff. 372v-373r Letter, possibly from Robert Cecil or Francis Walsingham, to George Carey of Cockington, Devon. Concerning Sir Anthony Ashley’s impositions on Queen Elizabeth I. Greenwich, August 26 1596.

f. 374r Account of navy charges, signed Howard and W. Borough.

ff. 375r-376v Instructions given to the Navy by Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, and Charles Howard, 2nd Baron Howard of Effingham and Lord Admiral. On going out on their expedition.

f. 377r Notes on the state and disposal of the fleet. 1597.

f. 378r Notes of 20 ships, their tonnage, and the number of men on board.

ff. 379r-381v Three Navy accounts.

ff. 382r-383r Instructions sent to an unknown naval commander, appointed for the service of Ireland and the coast of Spain.

ff. 384r-387v Reports on the state of the Navy. Partly in the hand of Henry Howard, Earl of Northampton. 1605.

f. 388r Contract with Matthew Baker, a shipwright. For building ships and boats. June 3 1589.

ff. 388v-391r Regulation concerning the casks used in the victualling of ships.

ff. 392r-393v Two accounts concerning victualling.

f. 394r-394v Regulations on the victualling of ships.

f. 395r-395v An account of the Navy.

ff. 396r-399r Three articles of regulations for the discipline of the Navy. The last signed Richard Leveson.

ff. 400r-401r An account of the Navy, with some observations about a dock. Partly in the hand of Henry Howard, Earl of Northampton. 1608.

ff. 402r-404v Report of repairs to be made to several ships. 1609.

ff. 405r-410r Royal proclamation, probably of King James I. Ordering several places on the Thames to supply men and provisions for an armament against pirates. October 20 [1612-13]. Latin.

ff. 411r-412v Notes concerning the state of certain ships. In the hand of Robert Cotton.

ff. 413r-416v Regulations for the redress of certain abuses in the payments of the Navy.

ff. 417r-418r Proposal for some regulation of the Navy, especially as to ship building. Signed by Robert Cotton.

ff. 419r-423v Paper on abuses in the Navy pay office, and proposals for remedying the same.

ff. 424r-425r List of ships to be supplied by the maritime towns in England and Wales. 1634.

f. 426v Account of the effects of a new invented engine for throwing shot.

ff. 427r-431v Observations, a caveat, and regulations for the defence of the coast.

f. 432r-436r Commission of Charles Howard, 2nd Baron Howard of Effingham and Lord Admiral, to Sir Julius Caesar, as commissary of judge of the Admiralty Court. November 2 1587. Latin.

f. 437 Fragment concerning some problems in the navigation of the Thames.

ff. 438r-439r Order of King Henry VIII. Concerning the ballasting of some ships in the Thames. Greenwich, February 25 1526.

f. 441r-441v Fragment of a rough draft concerning ship building. In the hand of Robert Cotton.

ff. 442r-444v Fragment concerning the Trinity House.

f. 445r Fragment concerning trade with Norway.

ff. 446r-453r Five papers. Petitions of vessel masters reports of pilots, and orders of the Admiralty Court, concerning the duty levied by the Trinity House for bouys, and beacons on the North coasts.

ff. 454r-458v Discussion of whether the City of London has the right of conservancy over the River Thames, and to what extent.