BL MSS Cotton Titus b ii 449
BL MSS Cotton Titus b. ii, 449
Wright Vol 1, 13 Page 28
Transcribed and notes by Thomas Wright, ‘Queen Elizabeth and her times,’ London, 1838
Lord Clinton (1) to the Earl of Sussex. The Court, June 17 1560
My good Lord, the newis that ar come synce your lordship's departure, is off the deth of the Quene Dowager of Scottland, (2) which is wrytten from my lord of Norfolk's grace. The lose of twenty-seven galleys and thirty grete ships of the king of Spaynes in this voyage of Trypolie, which ar taken by Dracont, (3) first lieutenant to the Turke. The Duke of Medyna Cely forced to flie in to a smale hole newlie fortifyed in those parts by the Spanyards, with seven soldyers in his company, which are all that is lefte of twenty thousand, the rest slayne and takyn by the sayd Dracont. And it is thought that for lack of vytell the sayd Deuk of Medyna shal be distressed ere the sucours from Spayne may come to hym. We here nothing of any conclusion between Mr. Secretary, (4) Mr. Wotton, and the French, for that they ar but now newly met But the lykelihod is grete of a good conclusion very shortly. The Frenche in Leth are in grete penury, which is certenly advertised hyther.
When more shall come to my knowledge, I wyll advertise your Lordshipp. God grant you long lyff in much honor. From the corte, the 17th of June, 1560.
Your Lordship's assured to command,
E. CLYNTON.
(1) Edward, ninth Lord Clinton, created in 1572 Earl of Lincoln. He was appointed Lord High Admiral by Queen Mary, and was confirmed in that office by Elizabeth, on her accession. He married thrice, his third wife being Lady Elizabeth Fitzgerald, celebrated in song by Lord Surrey as the ' fair Geraldine.'
(2) She died on the eleventh of June, according to a letter of Cecil printed in Lodge.
(3) The persecution raised by King Philip drove the Moors of Spain to rebellion, and they were aided by their brethren of Africa, who infested the seas, and did much hurt to the shipping of the Christians. Dragut, a native of Natolia, and a person of mean birth, had raised himself in the Turkish service to be a great admiral, and had long been the terror of Italy and the Mediterranean. He had fortified Tripoli, and made it his head quarters. When Philip returned from the Netherlands, he fitted out an expedition under the Duke of Medina Celi against Tripoli and the isle of Gerba, while Dragut was absent. Gerba was taken, and the Spaniards lost their time in fortifying it, instead of hastening to Tripoli. In the mean time Dragut, aided by a great fleet from the Sultan Solyman, came upon them and destroyed their fleet. The Duke, with part of the fleet, did not fly to Gerba, but escaped under cover of the night, and returned to Spain. Gerba, which was held by Don Alvaro de Sande, was immediately besieged by the infidels.
(4) Cecil, who was in Scotland with Dr. Wotton, to negotiate with the French commissioners, for the evacuation of Scotland by the French troops.
