Henry Howard 1st Earl of Northampton 1540-1614

Letters of the Court of James I 1613. 24th June 1613. London. Reverend Thomas Lorkin to Thomas Puckering 1st Baronet [aged 21].

If these letters did not assure you to the contrary, you might judge me dead; at least that some strange accident hath befallen me, who have kept so deep silence so long a time; for to imagine that either I could forget or neglect your so infinite merits towards me, were a censure too hard and rigorous once to enter into the conceit of so generous a disposition. None of these therefore have been the occasion, but only a mere necessity, first of drawing forth my journey into a longer tract than ever I propounded to myself, and then of making a farther abode in France, than at the beginning I intended, thereby to accommodate certain businesses of your brother [Note. brother-in-law] Newton's [aged 33]¹, which began through my absence to grow into some untowardly disorder. But now that I am safely arrived here, I shall promise to dedicate myself wholly to your affairs, and will hope to improve my industry and diligence such as you shall find no fault to complain that ever you reposed in me that trust which you have done. Touching your design in the prince's' service, I had already communicated it with Mr. Newton, who giveth small encouragement of proceeding farther in it, at least till his highpess grow near upon the point of his creation [as Prince of Wales], which is yet likely to hold us in expectance three years longer.

There hath been already some contestation had between your brother and Mr. Murray², the prince's tutor, touching the place of secretaryship, this man making it, as your brother formerly did, the chief end of his hopes; so that at length Mr. Newton hath been content to relinquish his right thereunto, upon condition to be made his highnesses Teceiver»general, which is like to be no less beneficial than the former. The mastership of his highness's horse hath divers competitors. Sir Thomas Howard is the most importunate suitor; and Ramsey, who is first escuyer to the prince, thinks it great wrong if he do not enjoy it. In the bedchamber, you know there are already two, Sir Robert Carey and Sir James Fullerton [aged 50]: David Murray sues to be the third, hoping by that means to recover himself of what he is so much cast behind in, having made a very weak and uncertain estate unto himself, notwithstanding all his former service. But he is like to meet with difficulty enough before be obtain it, notwithstanding all the furtherance he finds from Mr. Murray, his kinsman.

Among the grooms, Sandilands began the suit first, and had procured the king's grant for his present entrance into that charge: but this giving occasion to Gibb and Ramsey to do the like, their importunity hath been a means to revoke and cross that which the other made sure reckoning to have before fully effected for himself.

The first day of this next month the prince begins to keep house at Richmond, where Sir Arthur Mainwaring [aged 33] and Sir Edward Varnam [aged 23] (so I think they call him, for I am a bad treasurer-up of names) are like to exercise their former places, though they both sue to exchange them with being gentlemen of the privy-chamber. Mr. Alexander likewise shall be pat again into the possession of his. So shall Mr. Peter Newton and his fellow Shaw also. Few others shall be admitted above stairs at this present; and for them below, the first clerks in every office shall execute their proper charge as before.

The great places of the court are not yet disposed of. The manifest faction which is between the family of the Howards on the one side, and the Earl of Southampton [aged 39] and Viscount Rochester [aged 26] on the other, is supposed to be the cause thereof. For the treasurership, the general voice confers it still upon Northampton [aged 73], as it did that of the secretaryship upon Sir Harry Neville; though, for this latter, I suppose his hopes quite dashed; for merely depending upon my Lord Rochester, he wants not opposition; and then, besides, Overbury [aged 32] being fallen into disgrace³, he is thereby deprived of his best instrument. The most likely man to carry it, in the judgment of those who are not altogether unacquainted with those businesses, is Sir Charles Cornwallis, late treasurer to the prince deceased, who is reported very sufficient for foreign affairs: and with him it is thought shall be joined Sir Thomas Luke, though in a far meaner condition than were their predecessors, by reason of the lord treasurer's present greatness.

There hath lately come forth a proclamation against one Cotton, a west-country gentleman and a great recusant, charging him with high treason against the king and State, for having published a very scandalous and railing book against his majesty; and promising a very large reward to whosoever could apprehend him and bring him in. At the very self-same time, this Cotton being to cross the Thames, and inquiring of the watermen what news, they, not knowing the man, told him what was newly happened concerning himself. Whereupon being landed, he muffled himself in his cloak, thinking thereby to pass unknown to any of his acquaintance that he might haply meet. But he had not passed thence many paces, when one Maine, a follower sometimes of the late Lord of Devonshire, and a sure friend of his meeting him in the street and discovering well what he was, [warned] him likewise of danger, with protestation nevertheless not to make any benefit of the discovery of his friend, but wishing him to provide for his own safety. Thereupon Cotton demanding his opinion what he thought fittest to be done, he advised him to submit himself to the king's mercy: whose counsel he followed, and presently went and surrendered himself into my Lord of South* ampton's hands, and so rests at his majesty's mercy.

Your brother Newton, Mr. Southcot, and one Mr. Wood, have all, jointly together, lately obtained letters-patents for the putting in practice of an invention of the said Wood's, who by steeping all kind of com and grain in a certain liquor, undertakes thereby to render it more fruitful with five shillings' cost, than would ever have been before done with forty. They are now very busy in projecting a course for the [spread]ing of it throughout the realm, and hope to reap no small profit and advantage by it. When that is settled, your brother meaneth to make a journey to Durham⁴, whither Sir Thomas Grantham and his lady purpose to accompany him. He despatches away before great store of provision by sea, both of wine, beer, and divers other commodities, and means to be at the charge of a very honourable entertainment. Only Mrs. Newton stays behind, being hindered by a very happy occasion, finding herself quick with child.

Sir Thomas Mildmay⁵ keeps Whitehall close, not daring to venture abroad, for Sir John Wentworth's debt. He intends [to sell] Moulsham away shortly, and so to procure his own liberty.

About four or five days since, the Duke of Savoy's [aged 51] ambassador took his leave, who hath been here honoured with a very royal entertainment. The occasion of his ambassage, I suppose, is well enough known unto you, namely, to treat of a second motion of marriage between our prince and one of the daughters of Savoy. His offers are very great, and such as none other cometh near to. His wars upon the Duke of Mantua do, in a manner, furnish the whole subject to the Frenchmen's discourse. To write anything of them, I hold it needless; for, being much nearer, you cannot but understand those things likewise, much better than myself. Only I shall, in a word or two, inform you in how doubtful a deliberation the state of France stands, touching those affairs. The Prince of Conde [aged 24] and the Duke of Bouillon press both very earnestly for the relief of the Mantuan against the Savoyard. The Duke d'Espemon, on the contrary, travaileth all he may to overthrow and hinder it. And not long since, this point being debated in open council. Monsieur le Prince, in the heat of his contestation with the said duke, spared not to tell him that there was now carried so much respect to the affairs of Spain, as in the mean time they quite forgot that natural affection which they owed unto France, threatening therewithal that, in case they continued to reject the wholesome counsel which he gave in a matter of that importance, he would go and make his protestations to the Court of Parliament. It is that which keeps the adverse part somewhat in bridle, though yet the queen seems rather inclined to authorize the advice of the others than his. For, as touching the little aid which the Chevalier de Guise hath lately carried over, it is rather by permission than any commission from the queen, and is wholly composed of mere voluntaries.

The Duke de Vendome having lately retired himself from court to a certain house of his, not far from Paris upon a discontentment taken in the behalf and favour of the Prince of Conde, and there threatening never to return again so long as the regency of this queen lasteth; the queen, being advertised thereof presently, sent and confined him to his house. But the said duke, not able to brook any such confinement, contrary to the queen's injunction, made a journey into Bretagne, and there put himself into a very strong castle, named Ansenis. Whereupon, the queen presently despatched Monsieur de la Yarenne towards him, to command him to return; and, in case of his refusal, threatened to deprive him of his goyemment. The duke thereto made a very humble and submissive answer, yet no way disposes himself to obey her commandment Hereupon, the queen hath renewed it a second time by letters; but these are thought will as little avail as the former. And yet, nevertheless, the Prince of Conde, employing himself very earnestly in favour of the said duke, it is not like that there will be any rigorous proceeding against him, as is threatened.

Note 1. Adam Newton, Esq. He is styled by Dr. Thomas Smith, "Vitre quorandam eruditise et illost. virorim," printed in 4to., in 1707, vir elegantissimi ingenii."

Note 2. This appears to refer to Mr. Thomas Murray, who was tutor to the Duke of York, Charles I [aged 12].

Note 3. He had ventored to remonstrate with the favourite respecting his intimacy with the Countess of Essex [aged 23].

Note 4. See the letter of Letter August 12. Mr. Newton was, as we have stated, Dean of Durham, though a layman: such an appointment being allowable at this period.

Note 5. Knighted by King James I., at his majesty's arrival at Whitehall from Scotland, July 23, 1603, and created a baronet, Jane 29, 1611.