CP 133, 150

CP Volume 133 Folio 150

HMC Volume 1 Page 274 Number 898

Haynes Page 403-404 Number 404

Transcribed by Samuel Haynes in “A Collection of State Papers . . . 1542 to 1570” London, 1740

2 Aug 1563 Mr. Vicechamberlayn to the Queen's Majesty

From the Original.

ACCORDYNG to your Majestie's Commawndment by your Letters dated yesterdaye, I shall forthwith sygnefye unto my Lord of Warwyke (who presently is gone to Sowthewyke to Mr. Whytes for better Ayer) and also to all the Kaptaynes of Nwehaven, howe gratefully your Majesty doth accepte theyr valyant and faythfull Servyce, to be remembred to theyr Contentations; and I shall, from the Hyghest to the Lowest, sett forthe your Hyghness harty and abundant Thankes, accordyng to theyr Degrees and your Majestie's Direction. And syns it is your Hyghness Pleasure that I shall medle with the Commawndment of Payments of the Souldears; after I have recevyd my Lord of Warwyk's Advyce in that behalffe, I shall therin obeye your Majestie's Comawndment in the lest Sarte of Servyce to your Hyghnes Honor and Profett, that shall lye in me. As towching youre Majestie's Pleasure to be advertysed, what Somes of Money are wysyte for defraying of Wages and to make an End theroff; it semethe by the Conference with Hugh Cownsayle that nine thousand Pounds is suffycyent to dysrge the Hoole: But bycawse the staying of the Numbers of Men here, untyll the hoole and full Paye maye be made, wold aryse and growe unto a great Charge to your Hyghness thorowe the Contynwance of the dayly Sould; therfore I thynk, yf my Lord of Warwyke shall alowe theroff, the best and shortest Ways to be, to yre the Payment of the Kaptaynes and Offycers owne Wages, untyll the Trea Bookes and the Victuallers may be justly cast and answered: And yet, bycawse the comon Souldears Dwe is bothe knone to the Kaptaynes, and is indede very lyttle, after the Victualles and other Prestes for Apparylle shalbe deducted, yf my Lord of Warwyk's Advyce shall agree therunto, I thynk it good, for the endyng of your iyghnes Charges, that the Kaptaynes (as soone as the Nombers of theyr Men be veued by some convenyent Parson) may have a Prest delyverd theym for the Payment of theyr Souldears Dewe, and also for theyr Conductyon home; and that afterwardes, when Sir Morryce Dennyce Bookes and also the Victualler's Bookes, with the Bookes of the owlde and newe Musters shall have Tyme to be conferred together, than the Kaptaynes and Offycers to receave the full Paye at Mr. Dennyce Handes accordyngly: But least the Wynde should force any Nomber of the sayde Souldears to Land at Rye or Dover, some Order wold be taken, howe the sayde Souldears myght in that Case be best dyscharged. I shall sygnefe unto my Lord of Warwyke your Hyghnes Pleasure for his Repayre unto the Cowrte, as soone as his Helthe woll suffer hym, and the cassyng of your Hyghnes Armye doth not withholde hym. And thus besekyng God long to prosper your Majestie in motche Honor and contynuall Felycytye, I shall with most harty Prayer commyt the same to God. From Portsmowthe the 2d of Awgust 1563.

Your Majesties most humble and faythfull Servant,

F. Knollys.

To the Quene's most excellent Majesty