London and the Kingdom - Volume 3 / A History Derived Mainly from the Archives at Guildhall in the Custody of the Corporation of the City of London.

by Reginald R. Sharpe

ELIZABETH R.

Right Trustie and welbeloved we grete you well. Because we certaynly understand that notw^thstandinge our desire and good contentacõn at diverse tymes declared to have a treatie w^th the frenche for the redresse and staye of the notable Iniuries and attemptes commytted agaynst us and the right of our Crowne and for the w^thdrawinge of their forces out of Scotland the whiche can not be permytted there as they be w^thout greate daunger not onlie to o^r towne of Barwick but also to the state of o^r realme consideringe the false pretence made and certeyne other depe practises by them agaynst this Realme. To the furderaunce of whiche treatie they offer in speche and good wordes accesse of personages to mete w^th somme of ours; yet their preparations to the seas be daylie so great as greater can not well be whiche surely with convenient providence on our parte and by goodes goodnes we nede not feare. Thearfore meanynge to be ready for the defense and honour of o^r Realme aswell to treate w^th the frenche for accorde and quietnes as for w^thstandinge of there furder attemptes specially by sea we have by advyse of our Counsell thought convenient to send our navie furthw^th to the seas, and therw^th o^r right trustie and right welbeloved Counsellor the lord Clynton our highe Admirall to governe the same, and w^th o^r said Navie to w^thstande suche force as he shall fynde on the frenche parte upon the seas to damage either our owne subiectes and marchauntes tradynge the seas or the subiectes of any other our frendes or to invade or attempte to lande upon any parte of o^r sea costes. And for the better furnyture of o^r said navie w^th souldiores we will that there shalbe levyed w^thin that our Cytie of London and the liberties of the same the nomber of two hundred and fyftie hable men whereof o^r meanynge ys, that the one halfe shoulde be archers and thother harquebuttiers, and as sone as ye have levied the same, our pleasure is that ye shall commytt them to several captaynes for every hundred, and cause them to be arrayed w^th armoure and weapon mete for that service to be redy in o^r Cytie of London the xxiiij^th of this monethe and to departe to o^r navie w^th o^r Admirall at suche tyme as he shall prescribe and for their conducte money the same shalbe delivered to you by order of o^r Treasorer of Englande. And theise o^r lettres shalbe yo^r sufficient warrant for the levyenge of the said nomber of two hundred and fyftie men accordinglie. Yeoven under o^r signet at our mannor of Grenewiche the xvij^th of Maye the seconde yere of o^r reigne [1560].

No. 46.

Letter from Queen Elizabeth to the City, desiring that Sir Thomas Gresham might be discharged from serving the offices of Mayor, Alderman and Sheriff. Dated Westminster, 7 March, 5 Eliz. [1562-3].

Journal 18, fo. 137.

Trustie and welbeloved we gret you well; And wheras our faythfull servante S^r Thomas Gresham knighte is one of the citizens and fredome of o^r citie of London, and by reason therof maye perchance hereafter be called upon or elected to serve in the office of maio^r alderman or shref w^thin our saide citie of London or countye of Middlesex. Forasmuche as the same S^r Thomas Gresham not onlye in tymes past hathe ben employed in o^r service about our weightye affayres in the partyes of beyond the sea concerninge the state of o^r Realme, But also hereafter duringe his lif muste and shalbe employed aboute o^r like weightye affayres in o^r service concerninge the state of oure realme from tyme to tyme as our pleasure shalbe to appoynte. These ar to signifye unto you that those & other speciall consideracõns us movinge our request and expresse pleasure is that at yo^r nexte comen assembly or comen counsayle daye to be holden w^thin our saide cittye ye do cause it to be fyrmely and perfectley ordered and of recorde emongest yon regestred by an absolute acte of comen counsell that o^r saide servante S^r Thomas Gresham from hensfourth duringe his life shalbe free and clerely discharged of and from the saide offices of maio^r, alderman and shriff afore mencõned and of and from every of them and not at any tyme to be elected or charged w^th the same offices or any of them. And that ye fayle not herof as ye tender o^r favo^r. And of yo^r procedinges in observacõn of this our request, that ye do furthwith after yo^r nexte comen counsell daye assertayne us by writing from you to the intent we maye have consideracõn of the same as shall appertayne. And sowe bidd you fare well from o^r palace at Westminster the vij^th daye of Marche in the fyveth yere of our reigne [1562-3].

No. 47.

Proclamation against the Earls of Northumberland and Westmoreland for their rebellion against the Queen's Majesty. Dated Windsor Castle, 24 Nov., 1569.

Journal 19, fo. 202b.

By the Queene.