Harley MS 6997

ff. 1r–184v: Letters on state affairs from many prominent individuals, including William Cecil, Lord Burghley, Sir Thomas Heneage, John Puckering, the Stanhope brothers, and Francis Walsingham, for the years 1595–1596. The majority are addressed to Puckering in his capacity as Lord Keeper.

ff. 1r–2v: Original letter from Mr Gerard Lowther to the Lord Keeper Puckering and Sir Thomas Heneage Vicechamberlain, on behalf of the widow and children of Mr Ralph Rokeby, who had been a very industrious and useful person in Elizabeth's service, that he would recommend them to her princely clemency. 25 March 1595, Penrith.

ff. 3r–4v: Original letter from the Earl of Essex to Puckering, on behalf of Mr Yetsweirt one of Elizabeth's servants, who had a cause before him which gave him a great deal of trouble from the stationers. 27 March 1595, from the Court.

ff. 5r–6v: Original letter from the Earl of Huntingdon to Puckering, on behalf of Rokeby's widow and children.

ff. 7r–8v: Original letter from Margaret Countess of Cumberland to Puckering, on behalf of Mr Ryther, whose enemies proceeded against him only upon malice, and not from any just cause. 8 April 1595, Greenwich.

ff. 9r–10v: Original letter from Puckering to Huntingdon, about Sir Walter Ralegh's portion with his wife, 27 April 1595.

ff. 11r–v: A modern copy of the previous item.

ff. 12r–13v: Original letter from John Whitgift, Archbishop of Canterbury to Puckering, giving his opinion on a draft of a commission he received from his Lordship, 28 April 1595, Lambeth.

ff. 14r–15v: Original letter from Essex to Puckering, on behalf of William Gerrard, concerning the observation of an order, whereunto he hath conformed himself, but wants means to perform the same by reason of some hindrances which he received from others in his estate. 6 May 1595, from the Court.

ff. 16r–17v: Original letter from Essex to Puckering, on behalf of Yetsweirt's widow. 7 May 1595, Whitehall.

ff. 20r–21v: Original letter from Jane Yetsweirt to William Cecil, Lord Burghley, concerning the trouble she has been left in with the stationers after he husband's death, as they disputed the validity of his patent for printing the law. 7 May 1595, Whitehall, Sunbury.

ff. 22r–23v: Original letter from Essex to Puckering, in favour of Mr Francis Courteney, that his Lordship would grant an injunction for the maintenance of a former order to stay the proceedings of his adversaries at common law, and appoint a day for hearing the cause in chancery. 7 May 1595, from Court.

ff. 24r–25v: Original letter from Lord Hunsdon to Puckering, praying him to put off the cause between Paget and Laneto a faurther day, for the sake of Mr Lane, whose counsel cannot attend at the time appointed, and his whole estate depends upon the issue of the trial. 20 May 1595.

ff. 26r–27v: Original letter from Francis Bacon to Puckering, on his leaving the solicitorship, 26 May 1595, Twickenham Park.

ff. 28r–29v: Original letter from Lady Francis Chandos to Puckering, begging his favourable regard on the issue of her father-in-law's alteration of his will during his lifetime, 29 May 1595.

ff. 30r–31v: Original letter from Sir Robert Cecil to Hunsdon, signifying Elizabeth#s pleasure that the Earl of ? must be commanded to Puckering' house and not his own, 2 June 1595, from Court.

ff. 32r–33v: Original letter from Essex to Puckering, in favour of Mr Eture an elder of the French church, drawn into difficulties by being unacquainted with the course of our laws, 10 June 1595, from Court.

ff. 34r–35v: Original letter from Bacon to Puckering, excusing his not attending court on account of an ague, which he hoped he had chased away with medicine; as much as he desired promotion, it was by no means to supplant any man, etc., 11 June 1595, Gray's Inn.

ff. 36r–37v: Original letter from Essex to Puckering, on behalf of the poor Cappers of Litchfield, 14 June 1595, from the Court.

ff. 38r–39v: Original letter from Essex to Puckering, on behalf of Mr William Carew, who had a case to be argued before his Lordship. 14 June 1595, from Court.

ff. 40r–41v: Original letter from Essex to Puckering, desiring him to give the vicarage of Horsley, Northumberland to Mr William Benson, 16 June 1595, from Court.

ff. 42r–43v: Original letter from Essex to Puckering, on behalf of one Taylor who has a controversy depending before his Lordship, with one Nicholls. 16 June 1595, from the Court.

ff. 44r–45v: Original letter from Essex to Puckering, further on behalf of Eture, 17 June 1595, from the Court.

ff. 46r–47v: Original letter from Essex to Puckering, on behalf of Mr Francis Saunder, who desires Puckering's favour because his adversary is under Puckering's authority, and has means by the space of five years to defer the trial to his great prejudice, 25 June 1595, from the Court.

ff. 48r–49v: Original letter from Essex to Puckering, on behalf of Mr Humphrey Wall of the Town of Leominster, who is committed to the fleet upon action of debt, that he may be enlarged upon sufficient security in order to attend a cause of great importance at the next assizes at Hereford, 26 June 1595, from the Court.

ff. 50r–55v: Original letter from Essex to Puckering, on behalf of Robert and John Waterhouse and Thomas Simson, who have causes in chancery, and Mr Vowel who is marked to be displaced out of the commission of the peace for the county of Devon, 29 and 30 June and 3 July 1595, from the Court.

ff. 56r–57v: Original letter from Bacon to Puckering, recommending Mr Richard Kemp, a Reader of Gray's Inn, to be put into commission for the subsidy. 3 July 1595, Twickenham Park.

ff. 58r–59v: Original letter from Burghley to Puckering, on behalf of Mr John Daniel against Mr Thomas Brooke, who had taken the profits of certain tithes by colour of a lease said to be void in law, 5 July 1595, Westminster.

ff. 58r–59v: Original letter from Burghley to Puckering, on behalf of Mr John Daniel against Mr Thomas Brooke, who had taken the profits of certain tithes by colour of a lease said to be void in law, 5 July 1595, Westminster.

ff. 60r–61v: Original letter from Huntingdon to Puckering, on behalf of Thomas Bosvylle who had a cause before him, 9 July 1595, from the Court.

ff. 62r–63v: Original letter from the Archbishop of Canterbury to Puckering, recommending Mr Merrick for the vicarage of Westhythe, 10 July 1595, Lambeth.

ff. 64r–65v: Original letter from Lord Chief Justice Popham to Puckering, concerning a trial at Guildhall in the city of London, 19 July 1595.

ff. 66r–67v: Original letter from Sir John Norreys to Puckering, concerning the troubles in Ireland, 20 July 1595, Dublin.

ff. 68r–69v: Original letter from Lord Buckhurst to Puckering, that Lord Shresbury will be left to remain at his own house, 23 July 1595.

ff. 70r–71v: Original letter from Thomas Egerton to Puckering, signifying Elizabeth's pleasure in the Shrewsbury affair, 23 July 1595.

ff. 72r–73v: Original letter from Bacon to Puckering, complaining of his Lordship's deserting of him and failing him just in the conclusion of this affair, when friends are best tried, 28 July 1595, Gray's Inn.

ff. 74r–75v: Original letter from Essex to Puckering, in favour of the justices in Wales that they may not be displaced, since to his knowledge they are all able and sufficient gentlemen, July 1595, from Court.

ff. 76r–77v: Original letter from the Earl of Lincoln to Puckering and Burghley, concerning a libel written and published by Sir Edward Dymock, and an answer to it by an unknown person, which provoked him to a challenge, 7 August 1595, [Tattershall?].

ff. 78r–79v: Original letter from Essex to Puckering, on behalf of his chaplain Mr Roberts, that his Lordship may be pleased to give him the living of Chettington in the county of Buckinghamshire, in pursuance to a petition in the name of the whole parish, 8 August 1595, from Court.

ff. 80r–81v: The petition of the Chettington inhabitants on behalf of Mr Roberts.

ff. 82r–83v: Original letter from Essex to Puckering, on behalf of Mr Thomas Wye, who had been a long time in controversy with Mr Thomas Combes for the parsonage of South Sarum, that a sequestration of the goods may be continued until the midst of next term, 17 August 1595.

ff. 84r–85v: Original letter from Sir Francis Drake and Sir John Hawkins to Burghley, upon their going out to sea upon an expedition to the West Indies, 18 August 1595, Plymouth.

ff. 86r–87v: Original letter from Bacon to Puckering, apologising for his manner of writing in a former letter, 19 August 1595, Twickenham Park.

ff. 88r–89v: Original letter from the Earl of Bath to Puckering, desiring that Mr Hugh Ackland may be restored to the commission of the peace in the county of Devon, there being a great lack of good justices there. 2 August 1595, Tavistock.

ff. 90r–91v: Original letter from Thomas Lord Scroope to Puckering, desiring him to replace in the Commission of the Peace Mr John Sowthike and Richard Sandford in the county of Westmorland, 29 August 1595, Carlisle.

ff. 92r–93v: Original letter from Essex to Puckering, recommending him to send for Bacon, as a ready expedient to remove the jealousy between them. 31 August 1595.

ff. 94r–95v: Original letter from Essex to Puckering, encountering the request of the Earl of Bath, 3 September 1595, from Court.

ff. 96r–97v: Original letter from the Lord High Admiral to Puckering, wishing that Mr Sey of Adlington may be put into the Commision of the Peace for the county of Surrey, 8 September 1595, from Court.

ff. 98r–99v: Original letter from the Lords of Council to Puckering, recommending for Deputy Lieutenants in the County of Kent, chosen by Lord Cobham, Sir Thomas Wilford, Sir John Leveson, Thomas Fane and Thomas Walsingham, 12 September 1595, from the Court at Nonsuch.

ff. 100r–101v: Original letter from the Earl of Kent to Burghley, on the muster in Bedfordshire, and how well the soldiers were approved by the Lord General at Tilbury, 15 September 1595.

ff. 102r–103v: Original letter from Essex to Puckering, strongly on behalf of his chaplain Mr Roberts, 17 September 1595.

ff. 104r–v: Original letter from Puckering to Essex, in answer to the above item, no date.

ff. 105r–106v: Original letter from Burghley to Puckering, desiring him to restore Mr Manwaring and Mr Warren to the commission of the peace in Cheshire, 19 September 1595, Theobalds.

ff. 107r–108v: Original letter from the Earl of Worcester to Puckering, concerning the examination of two witnesses about his man Lloyd for the death of a man, 20 September [1595], Ragland.

ff. 109r–110v: Original letter from the Lords of Council to Puckering, desiring his lordship to grant a licence to Hans Bredow, a poor Dutchman, to crave the charitable devotion of Elizabeth's people, and so to relieve himself by such collection as he can make, 21 September 1595, from the Court at Nonsuch.

ff. 111r–112v: Original letter from the Archbishop of Canterbury to Puckering, praying him to seal a commission for causes ecclesiastical, 22 September 1595, Croydon.

ff. 113r–114v: Original letter from Burghley to Puckering, in favour of Manwaring and Warren, 22 September 1595, Theobalds.

ff. 115r–116v: Original letter from Bacon to Puckering, excusing Mr Attorney and himself for putting off a cause until the next week, which should have been brought before him immediately, 25 September 1595, Gray's Inn.

ff. 117r–118v: Original letter from Bacon to Puckering, suggesting that as Elizabeth had appointed a solicitor, he should retire to Twickenham, though he would be ready to do her willing service whenever she would like to employ him. He writes this to his Lordship lest he might think that his silence proceeded from disgust with him. 11 October 1595.

ff. 119r–120v: Original letter from Bacon to Puckering, telling him that he perceived now that he was at the beginning of his good fortune, whereas if he had been an ambitious man, it would have overthrown him. But minded as he was, he could trust Elizabeth, who was not running, and he hopes that she will live and reign long, 25 September 1595, Twickenham.

ff. 121r–122v: Original letter from Lady Essex to Puckering, on behalf of John Daniel, that his Lordship would appoint the hearing the beginning of next term, 20 October 1595, Barn Elms.

ff. 123r–124v: Original letter from Huntingdon to Puckering, concerning a foul robbery committed by one Christopher Hammond and others in Yorkshire, entreating him to prevent a pardon, and to have them tried and judged by the law, 20 October 1595, York.

ff. 125r–126v: Original letter from Sir Robert Cecil to Puckering, informing him that Elizabeth does not wish to interfere in the selection of the Recorder of the City of London, so as to make a prescription, yet seeing they have in dutiful respect nominated six people, there are three (Mr Crook, Altham and Foster), any one of whom would be indifferent to her. 10 November 1595, from Court.

ff. 127r–128v: Original letter from Charles Mountjoy to Puckering, on behalf of Mr William St John, that he may be restored to the commission of the peace in Hampshire, 16 November 1595.

ff. 129r–130v: Original letter from Egerton, Sir Richard Shuttleworth and H. Towneshend to Puckering, desiring that Richard Grovesnor of Eaton Esq. may be placed in the commission of the peace in the county of Chester near Wales, 17 November 1595.

ff. 131r–132v: Original letter from Lincoln to Puckering, concerning the unnatural practices continued against him for many years by Sir Edward Dymocke and his confederates, 21 November 1595, Cannon Row.

ff. 133r–134v: Original letter from the Archbishop of Canterbury to Puckering, recommending his chaplain Mr Gravett to him as a very deserving man, 24 November 1595, Lambeth.

ff. 135r–136v: Original letter from Mr Justice Walmsley and Mr Justice Fenner to Puckering, recommending Mr Thomas Snell to be replaced in the commission of the peace for Wiltshire, 26 November 1595, Serjeants' Inn.

ff. 137r–138v: Original letter from Burghley to Puckering, desiring that the Earl of Derby may be heard by his counsel concerning his right to the stewardship of Macclesfield in Chester, 27 November 1595, Lambeth.

ff. 139r–140v: Original letter from Mr Arthur Throckmorton to Puckering, desiring a recovery from the Earl of Huntingdon, after so many failed promises to his brother Sir Walter Ralegh, of his sister's portion in the Earl's hands, 27 November 1595, Lambeth.

ff. 141r–142v: Original letter from Mr John Stanhope to Puckering, concerning an information against William Michelot and Michael Antromley, Merchant Strangers, for conveying a ship of seventeen hundred tons with a hundred thousand weight of English ordnance for the use of the King of Spain, 29 November 1595, Charing Cross.

ff. 143r–144v: Original letter from Howard and Buckhurst to Puckering, recommending Mr Thomas Lewkener to be put in the commission of peace for Sussex, 1 December 1595, from court.

ff. 145r–146v: Original letter from Robert Cecil to Puckering, recommending Mr William Treffrye, who at the last invasion of the Spaniards showed himself to be very vigilant, to be put into the commission of peace for Cornwall, 1 December 1595, Richmond.

ff. 147r–148v: Original letter from Burghley to Puckering, advertising that in the last roll for Wales Elizabeth had erased out Mr Prine and pricked Mr Robert Salisbury for sheriff for Merionethshire. In the postscript he mentioned unverified news that the King of Spain is dead and that the Duke of Parma was poisoned, 5 December 1595, Hampton Court.

ff. 149r–150v: Original letter from Lord Stafford to Puckering, complaining of a jury being unduly imposed to his great prejudice, and keeping him out of the immediate possession of an estate which ought not to be delayed, 6 December 1595, Stafford.

ff. 151r–151*v: Original letter from Essex to Puckering, recommending Mr Hugh Ackland to be put into the commission of the peace against his own former advice, being very well satisfied as to the point for which he then dissuaded from it, 7 December 1595, Richmond.

ff. 152r–153v: Original letter from Burghley to Puckering, in favour of Mr Michelot and Mr Antromley, who were accused of shipping off iron ordnance for the use of the King of Spain, 16 December 1595, from court.

ff. 154r–155v: Original letter from Essex to Puckering, in favour of Mr George Rotheram to be relieved against the oppression of his adversaries who felled down his timber, with other injuries, contrary to an order from his Lordship, 31 December 1595, from court.

ff. 156r–157v: Original letter from Robert Cecil to Puckering and Burghley, that Elizabeth had signed the warrant for the Earl of Hertford's delivery by eight o' clock the next day, and that their lordships might order their speech not as a discharge, but as a mitigation, 3 January 1596, from court.

ff. 158r–159v: Original letter from Robert Cecil to Puckering and Buckhurst, informing them that it is Elizabeth's will that the Earl of Hertford may be removed from the Tower to the Archbishop of Canterbury's, 23 January 1596, from court.

ff. 160r–161v: Original letter from Robert Cecil to Puckering, sending the Earl of Hertford to him to be released upon bond, and recommending Mr Fleetwood to be put into such commissions as he deserved, no date.

ff. 162r–163v: Original letter from Robert Cecil to Puckering, desiring him to settle his cousin Richard Spencer, Lady Derby's brother, in a place. No date.

ff. 164r–165v: Original letter from Lady Essex to Puckering, returning him thanks for appointing her cousin Stuart clerk of the peace in Leicestershire, 17 January 1596, London.

ff. 166r–167v: Original letter from Humphrey Puresey and E. Stanhope to Puckering, with thanks for his care of so good a Lady as the Countess of Huntingdon the widow of so worthy a noble gentleman, who lived and died most careful of God's, Elizabeth's and his country's service, and praying his Lordship to be a means to Elizabeth for furnishing another president and lieutenant. 9 January 1596, York.

ff. 168r–169v: Original letter from Essex to Puckering, in favour of his chaplain Mr Buckeridge for the benefice of Bradfield, 12 January 1596, from court.

ff. 170r–171v: Original letter from Essex to Puckering, desiring him to stand firm with him, in order to procure Francis Bacon to be solicitor, 15 January 1596, from court.

ff. 172r–173v: Original letter from Lady Essex to Puckering, further in favour of Mr Daniel, 15 January 1596, Walsingham House.

ff. 174r–175v: Copy of the order for the City of London to furnish certain ships in warlike manner to join with Elizabeth's royal navy for the defence of the realm, 15 January 1596, from court.

ff. 176r–177v: Original letter from Essex to Puckering, to obtain relief for Mr Markham prisoner in the King's bench, 15 January 1596, Walsingham House.

ff. 178r–v: The petition for the aforesaid Robert Markham.

ff. 179r–v: The case of Markham against Hugh Hare.

ff. 180r–181v: Original letter from Pembroke to Puckering, praying the grant to be made out for the custos rotulorum in Sarum, and that Mr Gregory Price and Mr Henry Vaughan, his deputy lieutenants in Brecon, may be in the commission of the peace, 20 January 1596, Wilton.

ff. 182r–183v: Original letter from Essex to Puckering, a third time in favour of Mr Waterhouse, 21 January [1596].

ff. 184r–185v: Original letter from Essex to Puckering, concerning the commission of sewers for Romney Marsh, etc., 21 January 1596, London.

ff. 186r–187v: Original letter from Essex to Puckering, on behalf of Henry Slyfield, carried into the Star Chamber by Stone, for a contract with his daughter without his privity, 27 January 1596, from Court.

ff. 188r–189v: Original letter from the Lords of Council to the Constable of the town of Midhurst in Sussex, ordering to bring up Robert Dyer who was in his custody for certain words he spoke, which concerned the Lord Montague. 27 January 1596, London.

ff. 190r–191v: Original letter from the Earl of Derby to Puckering, on behalf of the plaintiff William Griffith, in a cause in the Star Chamber against Richard Bowles, to stay a fine of £106 13s and 4d and imprisonment, until it receives a hearing. 28 January 1596, Russell House.

ff. 192r–v: Original letter from Lady Frances Howard Viscountess Byndon to Puckering, concerning a cause of hers referred to three judges, and the Chief Baron, that his Lordship would please also join the Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench, 31 January 1596, Russell House.

ff. 193r–194v: Original letter from Essex to Puckering, on behalf of his chaplain Dr Meyrick, that he may receive preferment according to his merit and long expectation, 5 February 1596, from court.

ff. 195r–196v: Original letter from Lord Charles Willoughby and George St Poll to Burghley, concerning the musters in the diocese of Norwich, with an account of the muster book of the clergy. 8 February 1596, Knaith.

ff. 197r–198v: Original letter from Essex to Puckering, in favour of some servants of Lady Knollis cited to the Star Chamber, that they may pass examination by people of credit in the country, and have them transmitted to London in the first place. 12 February 1596, London.

ff. 199r–200v: Original letter from Essex to Puckering, about Mr Allen and Colman, no date.

ff. 201r–202v: Original letter from Essex to Puckering, for Mr Vaughan to be justice of the peace in Carnarvon, no date.

ff. 203r–204v: Original letter from Essex to Puckering, in favour of Mr Broughton, no date.

ff. 205r–206v: Original letter from Essex to Puckering, further in favour of Francis Bacon, no date.

ff. 207r–208v: Original letter from Essex to Puckering, in favour of the Bishop of Llandaff, who is about to be removed to Exeter, that he may hold two prebends in commendam. No date

ff. 209r–210v: Original letter from Thomas Egerton, the Master of the Rolls to Puckering, concerning a bill that was signed by Elizabeth as sufficient warrant for him to pass the seal, though written again in chancery hand, having no words commanding him to pass it. No date.