BL MSS La 109, 48

From Waalt

BL MSS La. 109, 48

Transcribed by Andrew Thrush

[Undated but c. July 1572]: Lord Henry Howard to Michael Hicks: ‘Good Mr Hicks, give me leave to put you to so much pain as to come tomorrow to this town to seek out the warrant for my annuity according to Mr Secretary’s direction, for upon sight of it he will take order for me in some kind, having compassion of my hard estate, because since the death of my lord treasurer the queen’s officers will pay nothing because the warrant was personally directed as they say to my lord treasurer and not extendable to his successors. I beseech you not to fail herein because the progress comes on apace and my provision is very scant to attend either there or anywhere. One day with me is at this instant a quarter of a year, and therefore the sooner you deliver the warrant the better I shall take my course and ever acknowledge myself the more beholding to you for the effect of old friendship and fruit of new courtesy. Good Mr Hicks speak of this to nobody because I am told that the queen’s assent having passed to the grant itself, and the question arising only about error in the point of form, I may be helped without the queen’s hand, which is the point whereof I am most desirous. Thus craving pardon for my boldness in molesting you thus far that am so little able to deserve your pains I commend you to God and myself to your good opinion, this Tuesday morning at XI, your very loving  and faithful friend, H. Howard’. P.S. ‘Mr Secretary would have you presently looks for it and willed me to advertise you’ (Lansd. 109, f. 111).

On f. 112v addressed ‘To his very friend Mr Hicks, fellow of Lincoln’s Inn, at London’. Endorsed ‘Lord Harry Howard’. [He presumably meant to write the word 'good' between 'very' and 'friend', but it is missing]

  • This letter was written sometime between the death of Lord Treasurer Winchester on 10 Mar. 1572 and William Cecil's appointment as his successor (on 15 July 1572). As it mentions that the queen is soon to go on progress, it was probably written in late June or the early part of July. It cannot have been written in March or April, because during that time Howard was a prisoner, first in the Fleet, and then at Lambeth, in the archbishop's palace, and there is no suggestion here that Howard was anything other than at liberty. On the contrary, Howard indicates that he is thinking of going on the progress himself. - Andrew Thrush