Harley MS 6991

ff. 1r–139r: A volume of letters written by prominent individuals such as the Duke of Norfolk and the Earl of Leicester, from 1571–1574. With a modern index and notes on the individuals who wrote them.

ff. 1r–2v: Original letter from Gilbert Earl of Shrewsbury to the Earl of Leicester, concerning some enemies he had made at the assizes at Derby, trusting he will make them ashamed of their behaviour, 22 July 1571, Sheffield Castle.

ff. 3r–4v: Copy of what the Duke of Norfolk wrote in his bible to his son Philip, Earl of Surrey on 11 February 1571, the morning he was supposed to be executed. He was reprieved until 2 June 1572, when he was beheaded on Tower Hill.

ff. 5r–6v: Original letter from Thomas Howard Lord Viscount Bindon to Lord Burghley, complaining about his undutiful son, from whom he stood in fear of his life, 23 July 1572, Bindon.

ff. 7r–8v: Original letter from Francis Walsingham, Elizabeth I's ambassador in France to Burghley, showing the ill state of the Protestants, their messages to foreign protestant princes for assistance, and the need for Elizabeth and the German princes to join resolutely with the crown of Navarre in the cause, 23 July 1572, Paris.

ff. 9r–10v: Original letter from Edward Vere, Earl of Oxford to his father in law Burghley, resolving to take his directions in the regulation of his estate, and advising him to be wary of the papists in France, after the sad reports of the murder of the admiral of France etc. in the Parisian massacre, and the attempts having been made on his life by Mather and foreign persons, September 1572.

ff. 11r–14v: Original letter from Edmund Mather to the Earl of Leicester and Lord Burghley, on the strength, interest, alliance and factions between France, Spain and Scotland, particularly of Spain's project for surprising the King of Scotland, and contriving a match between the Queen of Scots and Don Juan, subscribing himself as their penitent servant. Seemingly written from prison, on two sheets. No date, but written in either 1571 or 1572. Mather was executed in February 1572.

ff. 15r–16v: Original letter from Sir Thomas Smith, Secretary of State to Burghley, on Elizabeth's unwillingness to sign anything in Burghley's absence; on Greene, a priest, and of Elizabeth's illness. Leicester had watched over her all night, and she was very well in the morning. 15 October 1572, Windsor.

ff. 17r–18v: Original letter from Smith to Burghley, on Elizabeth's approval of how he had restrained the strange ships that troubled the merchants; his fixing a reasonable price on wines, the merchants having paid seventeen pounds a ton for it, when it is now sold in Scotland for six or seven pounds a ton. 18 December 1572, Hampton Court.

ff. 19r–20v: Original letter from Smith to Burghley, on the Earl of Worcester's embassy to France concerning Elizabeth's match with the Duke of Alencon; her opinion of Walsingham, and how his expenses have reduced his fortune; her opinion of Dr Dale going over to France, and how the Queen Mother must comply in the matter of religion before the match goes ahead. 7 January 1573, Hampton Court.

ff. 21r–22v: Original letter from Smith to Burghley, on Elizabeth's slowness in sending Dr Dale; of the Earl of Worcester's instructions; desire to supply the Rochellers with ammunition, and also the behaviour of the Desmonds before her, when they were released from prison. 8 January 1573, Hampton Court.

ff. 23r–24v: Original letter from Smith to Burghley, on the Duke of Alencon; recalling Mr Killigrew from Scotland, and some foreign affairs. The Earl of Desmond's reason why the Duke of Ormond should go to Ireland with him, with some domestic affairs; also the difference between the Earl of Clanricard and Sir Edward Fitton, 10 January 1573, Hampton Court.

ff. 25r–26v: Original letter from the Earl of Shrewsbury to Burghley, concerning Mary Queen of Scots, whom he was keeping; of apprehending some priests and pretended conjurers, who had persuaded John Revel that he would gain the Earl's favour and be safe from all perils through some charmed plates of gold, etc., 20 January 1573, Sheffield Castle.

ff. 27r–28v: Original letter from the Earl of Leicester to Burghley, showing Elizabeth's dislike of Walsingham's suggestion that the Emperor should be arbitrator between her and the King of Spain; her disposition towards Burghley; inclining him to dispossess Elizabeth of an unkind conceit she seems to have harboured towards the Lord Chamberlein and his Lady. 12 February 1573, Hatfield.

ff. 29r–30v: Original letter from Smith to Burghley, of his having drawn up a letter to the Justices of Assizes, for their punishing certain priests, and of his conversations with Elizabeth about Scottish affairs, particularly Killigrew's desire that she would send over the peacemakers (that is, the canons). 19 February 1573, Greenwich.

ff. 31r–32v: Original letter from Smith to Burghley, on a letter sent to him from the Earl of Shrewsbury about Mary Queen of Scots, and the payment of her dowry here, that she might live like a queen on her own, etc., 24 February 1573, Mounthall (Hill Hall), Essex.

ff. 33r–34v: Original letter from Smith to Burghley, giving an account of Dr Goad's sermon preached at court, concerning matters in Ireland between Sarleboy and his son Smith, who had leave to plant a colony in the Ardes, 27 February 1573, Greenwich.

ff. 35r–36v: Original letter from Smith to Burghley, about an inquiry to be made of some Justices of the Peace, who were present at Mass, and concerning the settlement of the Ardes in Ireland. 2 March 1573, Greenwich.

ff. 37r–38v: Original letter from Sir Robert Catelyn Lord Chief Justice to Burghley, concerning George Brown, who was executed for the murder of Mr Sanders. 19 April 1573, Serjeants Inn.

ff. 39r–40v: Original letter from Henry Earl of Huntingdon to Burghley, about the musters in the North, and the good disposition of the Northern people. 26 April 1573, York.

ff. 41r–42v: Original letter from Catelyn to Burghley, concerning a record in which a fine is fixed for the erasure of a record, 28 April 1573, Serjeants Inn.

ff. 43r–44v: Original letter from Leicester to Burghley, on the Spanish merchants, and that the payment of the dividends upon the arrests might be made by some members of their own, for the satisfaction of the English merchants whose goods had been arrested in the Netherlands and Spain. 5 May 1573.

ff. 45r–46v: Original letter from Walter, Earl of Essex to Burghley, relating to his expedition in Ireland, 22 June 1573, Durham Place.

ff. 47r–48v: Original letter from Walter, Earl of Essex to Burghley, on his conference with Elizabeth at his departure for Ireland, 20 July 1573, Durham Place.

ff. 49r–v: Original letter from Dr Thomas Wilson, Secretary of State to Burghley, on his conference with the Portuguese ambassador about terms of amity, and of a French libel against the English and the Scots, which Buchanan intended to answer, 20 July 1573.

ff. 50r–51v: Original letter from Leicester to Burghley, concerning the division of 19000 pounds to be made among the Spanish merchants, 21 July 1573.

ff. 52r–53v: Original letter from Wilson to Burghley, on his conference with the Portuguese ambassador concerning the traffic with Barbary, 27 July 1573.

ff. 54r–55v: Original letter from Wilson to Burghley, on the Portuguese ambassador's attempt to obtain Elizabeth's seal to prohibit her subjects from trading in the Portugal Conquests, promising that the trade to Barbary would be overlooked by his king, 31 July 1573.

ff. 56r–57v: Original letter from Huntingdon, Lord President in the North to Burghley, concerning the militia in the county of York, 19 August 1573.

ff. 58r–59v: Original letter from Walsingham to Burghley, communicating a letter from Scotland; of Gordon's hypocrticial profession of religion, and the means of knowing whether the Low Countries mean well, 20 August 1573, London.

ff. 60r–61v: Original letter from Huntingdon to Burghley, clearing himself from the accusations of misconduct in his presidency; his opinion on a treacherous libel called a Treatise of Treason written against Burghley and the Lord Keeper of Tynmouth Castle, 18 September 1573, York.

ff. 62r–64v: Original letter from Huntingdon to Burghley, with notes on the recent rebellion, 9 October 1573, York.

ff. 65r–66v: Original letter from Huntingdon to Burghley, with a more particular account of the rebellion written by George Bowes, which he sends enclosed, 10 October 1573, York.

ff. 67r–68v: Bowes's account of the Northern Rebellion, in answer to Burghley's queries, with the precepts or proclamations of the ringleaders, the Earls of Northumberland and Cumberland, and of Christopher Nevyll, 1569.

ff. 69r–70v: Original letter from Smith to Burghley, concerning Vidames's advertisements of the French King's designs against Elizabeth, with some general apprehensions of a conspiracy, also of Burchett's wounding Captain Hawkins instead of Sir Christopher Hatton, 15 October 1573.

f. 71r: Letter from Thomas Earl of Sussex to the Lord Treasurer, that Elizabeth was able to sign a commission by martial law for the execution of Burchet, which some of the lords disliked, 28 October 1573. Copy in Strype's hand.

f. 71v: Letter from Thomas Earl of Sussex to the Lord Treasurer, on Elizabeth's order that Burghley should have Burchet thoroughly examined on certain points before his execution, 11 November 1573. Copy in Strype's hand.

ff. 72r–73v: Original letter from Huntingdon to Burghley, concerning a circumstance to be considered in conveying the rebels' lands, 20 November 1573.

ff. 74r–75v: Original letter from Catelyn to Burghley, showing his grief at Elizabeth's displeasure through the means of Mr Payne, 4 January 1574.

ff. 76r–77v: Original letter from Sir Francis Knollys, Treasurer of the Household to Burghley, showing Elizabeth's aversion to the Earl of Essex's being Deputy of Ireland, because he had lands of inheritance there, 24 January 1574.

ff. 78r–79v: Original letter from Catelyn to Burghley for the increase of his allowance and the other chief justices in their circuits, 12 March 1574.

ff. 80r–81v: Original letter from Walsingham to Burghley, of the resolutions of the admiralty as to the number of men to furnish her fleet, and the time of their being out, 10 June 1574, Greenwich.

ff. 82r–83v: Original letter from Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury to the Earl of Sussex, expecting that he would have used his authority with Mr Yate, as would reduce him to conformity, or confession that he was unworthy of the favour he had found. 13 June 1574, Lambeth.

ff. 84r–85v: Original letter from Walsingham to Burghley, of Elizabeth's not being resolved to send her fleet out to meet the Spaniards; of the Swordbearer's being displaced; of Elizabeth's not taking amiss the Earl of Oxford'ssecret departure to France, etc., 8 July 1574, Windsor.

ff. 86r–87v: Original letter from Smith to Burghley, on the ships to be sent out; Irish matters; O'Donnell's patent liked but not signed by Elizabeth; the arrival of Mendoza from Flanders, etc., 11 July 1574, Windsor.

ff. 88r–89v: Original letter from Smith to Burghley, with news from France, and that Elizabeth's grief after the departure of the Lord Oxford is somewhat mitigated, 13 July 1574, Windsor.

ff. 90r–91v: Original letter from Walsingham to Burghley, on the business of Mendoza the Spanish ambassador; the Queen's discharging the navy, and orders for the French king's funeral, 13 July 1574, Windsor.

ff. 92r–93v: Original letter from Walsingham to Burghley, on what he thought was the reason for Mendoza's coming and how the Protestants in France were discouraged through the delay in assistance; that this kind of loose government whereby we seek neither to conserve our friends nor to withstand our enemies, cannot last, and concluding with a proposal of means to dispose of his interest in an estate called Halyfield to Burghley at his own price. 13 July 1574, Windsor.

ff. 94r–95v: Original letter from Walsingham to Burghley, with orders from Elizabeth for him to agree with Mr Bash; orders for the Lord Warden to supply munitions to the Cinque Ports; on Ireland and Desmond's composition, and the arrival of a messenger from Scotland, bringing the regent's answer to the great matter, 26 July 1574, Woodstock.

ff. 96r–97v: Original letter from Walsingham to Burghley, on Elizabeth's dislike of Sir John Foster; orders to prosecute the Earl of Desmond with all extremity, though some questioned the grounds for it, and whether it was opportune, 26 July 1574, Woodstock.

ff. 98r–99v: Original letter from Sir Walter Mildmay Chancellor and Under Treasurer of the Exchequer to Burghley, giving his opinion on how uncertain it is to trust the propositions of a peace made by Spain; joy at Lord Oxford's return home, etc., 27 July 1574, Apthorp.

ff. 100r–101v: Original letter from Walsingham to Burghley, concerning letters of severe reprehension sent into Ireland; Elizabeth's inclination to be reconciled with the Earl of Oxford; and about apprehending certain persons suspected to be dealers in Mary Queen of Scots' cause, 1 August 1574, Woodstock.

ff. 102r–103v: Original letter in Latin from Johannes Sturm to the Earl of Leicester, asking him to forward Zoloferus' business, and his own letters to Elizabeth's council, concluding with an account of the Duke of Prussia's death by melancholy or poison, 3 August 1574, Northeim.

ff. 104r–105v: Original letter from Walter Earl of Essex to Burghley, on the condition of Ireland for lack of a governor, and his deterrents from accepting that office, 25 August 1574, Newry.

ff. 106r–107v: Original letter from Charles Earl of Westmorland to his Lady, wishing to accept the mediation Burghley and Leicester had promised to make for his return from exile, offering to submit to any pains her Majesty should inflict, saving his life and conscience in point of religion, 9 September 1574, Louvain.

ff. 108r–109v: Original letter from Smith to Burghley, informing him of a rebellion that was hatching. Berwick lies too open: if Philip II shrank from our rebels, the French would have enough to do at home, etc., 10 January 1575, Hampton Court.

ff. 110r–111v: Original letter from Walsingham to Burghley, on how Elizabeth should be spirited up from slumbering in security, seeing how her allies are, and how unsound her subjects, etc., 13 January 1575.

ff. 112r–113v: Original letter from Smith to Burghley, concerning the patent for the society for extracting copper out of iron, with his further advice for settling the project, 28 January 1575, Hampton Court.

ff. 114r–115v: Original letter from Walsingham to Burghley, for a copy of interrogatories in order for the examination of Harry Cockin, 2 February 1575, London.

ff. 116r–117v: Original letter from Walsingham to Burghley, having ordered Barriar to be apprehended, and examined Cockin but discovered nothing, 5 February 1575, London.

ff. 118r–121r: Original letter from Wilson, ambassador at Antwerp, to Burghley with advice concerning the King of Spain and the Spanish malice against Elizabeth; concerning the French King's marriage; the sway of the Jesuits in those parts, and the Turk, with a paper enclosed concerning some Englishmen at Antwerp who were working against their country, 14 February 1575.

ff. 122r–123v: Original letter from Walsingham to Burghley, on a person to be apprehended by the Earl of Shrewsbury and shut up; of employing a fit agent into Germany, and the revocation of one Pinard, who was sent into Swabia about a marriage. 20 February 1575, London.

ff. 124r–125v: Original letter from Smith to Burghley, complaining heavily that they could retain no resolution from Ulster; wishing someother in his room, who had more credit to get things resolved and signed; also of the articles against Sir Valentine Brown, and that Sir John Foster Governor of Berwick, is to appear tomorrow before the Lords on this matter, 6 March 1575, Richmond.

ff. 126r–127v: Original letter from Smith to Burghley, complaining he can get no letters concerning Ireland signed by Elizabeth, though they have been read and allowed by her; nor can he get a yes or a no to suits in matters, which increase so, they shall want a horse or an ass to carry bills after them. He also writes further of Medley and his project of extracting copper from iron, that he and Sir Humphrey Gilbert had paid him £400 towards, and of a letter received from Dr Chaderton, Master of Queens' College Cambridge, and concludes with intelligence of Lady Oxford being pregnant, wishing that it may be a boy, to continue that stock in the county of Essex, which is so beloved there. 7 March 1575, Richmond.

ff. 128r–v: Copy of a letter from Walsingham to Thomas Earl of Essex Lord Chamberlein, communicating to him a confession of some plotters, and whether they should be committed, as Elizabeth thought that the matters alleged against them were of no great consequence. 11 March 1575, London. Copy in Strype's hand.

Unfoliated index of contents.