Feb. 15.

Feb. 15.

others, on behalf of the creditors, six of whom are named, against Edw. Chatterton, alias Thos. Pilkington, chapman, of Gloucester, broken 2 Nov. last, for 401. and upwards. (Docquet.) [ecxli.] Lease to Robt. Stephens, for 21 years, of Cheltenham parsonage and Charlton [Kings] chapel; rent, 751. (Docquet.) [ccxli.]

Commission of peace for co. Gloucester, renewed Westminster. for placing John Hungerford, sheriff last year. (Docquet.) [ccxli.]

[Feb. 23.]

Dispensation for Chris. Windle, B.A., to hold Bisley vicarage with Syde rectory, both in Gloucester diocese. (Docquet.) [ccxli.]

Mar. 4. Patent granting to Martin Smith and Walter Westminster. Vaughan, on surrender of Humphrey Michell, the office of water bailiff in the Severn. (Latin, damaged.) [ecxli. 93.]

Mar. 23.

June 6.

Protection for burning to Wm. Hamlyn, of Wickware, to gather in cos. Gloucester and Northampton, on testimonial of Sir John Poynts, Sir Richd. Berkeley, Mat. Poynts, and Nich. Thorp, justices of peace. (Docquet.) [ecxli.]

Bernard de la Laude, deputy of the inhabitants of Bayonne, to the Privy Council......In April, 1591, the ship of Peter de Hody, merchant of Bayonne, returning from Newfoundland, laden with 108,000 dry fish, 4,000 green, and 14 hogsheads of train oil, total value 6,000 crowns, was taken by a ship of war appointed by Sir Walter Raleigh, and brought to Uphill, near Bristol; and though Peter de Hody obtained letters from Madame, sister of the French King, to Her Majesty, for its recovery, and sent two men, who have been continual suitors these eight months, and spent 500 crowns, they were fain to leave off their suit and return to France to save their lives, being threatened by the owners and victuallers by the said ship of war, rich merchants in Bristol, who have received the proceeds of the merchandise, and still withhold the ship.

Martin de Crutehette and Matthew Dollines, also burgesses of Bayonne, in Dec. 1590, freighted a ship with pitch, linen, &c., worth 1,000 French crowns, which was also taken by an English ship of war, commanded by Capt. John Austin, of Southhampton. Martin Daguerre, last December, had a ship laden with 200,000 dry fish shot at by two other English ships, and was constrained to put into the port of Bayonne, so damaged that he was forced

June 17.

Sept. 26.

1593. Jan. 18.

March?

VOL. IV.

to relade the fish in another hulk; this was taken by three other English ships, and brought to Bristol, where it was sold, together with the fish, by the captains, owners, and victuallers of such ships of war, viz., Capt. Robt. Johnson, Capt. Wm. Fletcher, Hump. Lovell, and Sam. Lovell, owners and victuallers, dwelling at Bristol; the loss to Daguerre is 7,000 crowns, besides what he has spent in attempting its recovery, having kept a man in England at great charge ever since, by means whereof he is utterly undone. [ccxlii. 44.]

Declaration by John, Archbishop of Canterbury, that in 1571, 1572, and 1573, there was a cause in his Court of Audience, before Dr. Thos. Yale, between Tristram and Grisogan Holcombe, plaintiffs, and Edm. and Eliz. Catesby, defendants, in which, on account of the distance of some of Holcombe's witnesses, a commission was granted for taking their evidence, when it was proved that Ant. Porter left the lease of Mickleton farm, with 2007., to his wife Grisogan, his son William, and in default of their issue, to his daughter Elizabeth, and the child of his brother Edmund; that William Porter wasted the property and died in misery; that William and Grisogan Porter paid the heavy debts of Ant. Porter, as proved by receipts given; that Tristram Holcombe was not an executor, but married the widow Grisogan. Examinations as to the disposal of the lease of Mickleton by Wm. Porter, with consent of his mother, she reserving some portion for herself, for which cause she is sued by the Catesbys as next heirs. (3 sheets. Case E., Eliz., no. 7.) [ccxlii.]

Acknowledgment, by Nich. Porter, of Aston Subedge, and Giles Porter, of Clopton, of a debt to Nich. Overbury, of Nether Quynton, Gloucester, gentleman, of 201., to be paid on 13 Oct. next. With endorsement of the receipt, by Thos. Thurston, of 107. on account, on 13 Oct. [ccxliii. 18.]

List of gentlemen of property and ability residing in the several counties of England, alphabetically arranged, and in Wales, who are fit to serve Her Majesty, some in one function and some in another; giving from 2 to 12 names in each county. (12 pages; written by Maynard, Lord Burghley's clerk; with insertions and corrections by Cecil.) [ccxliv. 17.] Preamble of a [proposed] Act, confirming that of 35 Eliz. touching the breadth of white woollen cloths

TT

May 16.

May 31.

in cos. Wilts, Gloucester, Somerset, and Oxford. (Imperfect draft.) [ecxliv. 110.]

Wm. Hulbert to Lord Burghley. By his favour obtained 10 years since the customer's place inwards at the port of Bristol, but being unable, through infirmity, to perform service, wishes to resign in favour of John Dowlie, his near kinsman, recommended by the mayor and some of the aldermen ; will yield 100 angels for his lordship's favour therein. Encloses,

Thos. Aldworth, Mayor, and John Brown and Robt. Kitchen, Aldermen of Bristol, to Lord Burghley. Wm. Hulbert, one of the customers of that port, wishing to resign his office to John Dowle, they recommend the latter as fit for the place. Bristol, May 3, 1593. [ccxlv. 9.]

Indenture of lease, by Robt. Harward, of Mickleton, to Richd. Harris, Richd. Getway, Thos. Poole, and Robt. White, of the same place, of two yard lands arable, and two closes adjoining, for four years; rent, 231. [ccxlv. 22.]

May. The Council to the Mayor and Aldermen of Bristol. Nonsuch. Upon the earnest complaint of the French ambassador resident in England, of the taking of sundry ships belonging to Bayonne and St. Jean de Luz by English men-of-war, some being of Bristol, &c. [ccxlv. 25.]

Oct. 6. Renard de la Bere to Lord Burghley. Sir Anth. Southampton. Cooke, in consideration of the writer's having apprehended those who robbed him, obtained for him the comptrollership of customs at Gloucester, which he has ever since enjoyed. Is now less able to travel, by reason of sickness, and the place not answering the charge, he is willing to yield it up; holds the place with the good liking of that city, and in their behalf requests that Thos. Wankley may succeed him. [ccxlv. 123.]

Nov. 18.

John Taylor, Mayor, and five Aldermen of Gloucester. Gloucester, to Lord Burghley. Renard Delabere, comptroller of the port there, is willing to yield up his office to Thos. Walkely, a well-disposed and able man, born there, and of good parentage, who has always resided there, and has promised to continue to do so, and to exercise the office to the good liking of the magistrates. Request his appointment, and an order for his residence and due service there, as Her Majesty has hitherto been much deceived, and the city and country much abused, by

Dec. 15.
London.

Dec. 18.

Dec. 27. Standish.

1594.

Jan. 28.
Bristol.

Jan. 31.

substitutes and deputies in the Custom-house. [ccxlvi. 13.]

Wm. Bland, Lisle Cave, and J. Dowse, Surveyors of Ports, to Lord Burghley. Recommend John Collins for a waiter's place at the port of Bristol, he having been employed there in the time of Mr. Secretary's farm, and since. [ccxlvi. 34.]

Declaration of Robt. Webb, of Beckington, co. Somerset, clothier, of his surrender of a patent granted to Robt. Taylor, 31 July, 1590, and transferred by Taylor to him, 27 Nov. 1593, of the farm of the alnage of saleable cloths in Gloucestershire and Bristol, with the moiety of the forfeitures on those set to sale unsealed, on rent of 11. 68. 8d., to increase 208. yearly. [ecxlvi. 36.]

Sir John Poynts and three others to Lord Burghley. Recommend Thos. Walkley to succeed Rennard Delabere, as comptroller of the port of Gloucester. The mayor and aldermen have become suitors also on his behalf; know him to be of good parentage, of honest behaviour, and fit for the office, and believe he will prove a profitable member to the country. [ecxlvi. 44.]

Michael Pepwall, Mayor, and five Aldermen of Bristol, to Lord Burghley. Recommend Richd. Colston for the deputy waiter's place at that port, vacant by death of Mr. Shore. He acted as Shore's deputy, but the charge for his admittance was so great that, without his lordship's favour, he and his wife and six children are likely to be utterly undone. He was an honest merchant, but decayed through losses at sea. [ccxlvii. 24.]

Edw. Alye and John Bub, Bailiffs, and six other Tewksbury. Burgesses of Tewksbury, to Lord Burghley. Recommend Edw. Barston, deputy customs' officer for the port of Gloucester, as a fit person to succeed Mr. Conway, who is about surrendering the customs' officer's place. Barston has been greatly hindered by the hard suggestions of the mayor and aldermen of Gloucester, who intend to place a burgess of their city in the office, so as the more easily to gain to themselves the whole trade of the river, which they have practised many times before, to the great damage of Tewksbury. Think that the office was erected for easing the whole country, but the city of Gloucester surmises it to have been done only for their advancement. Sue for his favour towards their neighbour Barston, who has sufficiently demeaned

April 14.

himself in the service for five or six years; was
born in the town, bred in the trade of merchandise,
and had well profited therein, until through the
embargo of Spain he lost the greater part of his
substance. If Gloucester should be possessed of the
office for a burgess, they will bar the upper towns of
their trade upon the river, as much as in them lies.
[ccxlvii. 29.]

Grant to Hugh George, in consideration of the
services of Capt. Robt. Peacock in the wars of the
Low Countries, and in recompence of monies claimed
as due to him by the Queen for the same, of a lease
in reversion for 21 years, without fine, of the site
and lands of Bisleigh, alias Overcourt Manor, &c.;
total rent, 221. 88. 9d. (Docquet). [ecxlviii.]

May 30. Lord Burghley to John Douve, Deputy Customer of Bristol. Understands that Jaques Josselin and other Bonadventure merchants of Bordeaux agreed with Mr. Swinnerton, farmer of the impost for wines, that they should pay no interest for not having paid the impost, and that, upon giving good security, they should have three months' further time for paying the impost; Swinnerton intimated this to Douve as his deputy, who said he could not acknowledge other warrants than his lordship's. Orders him therefore to obey Swinnerton's letter. (Draft. Abstract.) [ccxlviii. 120.]

July 1.

July 8.

Warrant to strike a tally upon the customer of the port of Bristol, for 105 crowns of the double rose, for Thos. Aldworth and partners, merchants of Bristol, to be paid out of the customs on wares from their new ship, the Gabriel, of Bristol, of 105 tons' burden, as the Queen's reward towards their charges. (Docquet.) [ccxlix.]

Licence for 20 years to Richd. Lecavell and Valentine Harris, grooms of the chamber, to sow 100 acres with woad, in each of the counties of Berks, Wilts, Gloucester, &c.; prohibiting others to sow it in the said counties; rent, 50%. (Docquet.) [ccxlix.]

July 9. William, Lord Chandos, and six others, to Lord Gloucester. Burghley. Certify the sufficiency of Edw. Barston, deputy customer of the port there to Mr. Conway, for the office of customer in his own name, and request his appointment, with Conway's consent. [ccxlix. 25.] Pardon to Thos. King, of Avening, for burglary, with restitution of goods. (Docquet.) [ccxlix.]

July 19.

1