I.

BOOK he was brought up under Mr. Bale, the learned man, prior of the white friars in Ipswich. At his man's estate, he maried one Mr. Egelden's daughter, being town clark of Sandwich. And he confesseth, that at the time of his mariage, he was a gunner in the king's ships; and can shoot off and discharge great ordnance. His wife and he not well agreeing, he did depart from her; and she doth now live in Cambridge.

And he saith, that about 16 years past, [that is, anno 1556,] one Walker, a scholar at Oxford, told this examinate, that king Edward VI. was living in Flanders; and if this examinate did live, he should see him again within this realm. And he saith, that ever sithence he hath nourished in his mind that lewd and false matter, and hath reported it for a truth. For the which he saith, that he is sory from the bottom of his heart. And he saith, that the last time that he reported the same, was upon Wednesday at night last past, at one Tower's house, neer Aldersgate, in London. At which time Norris the pursevant, standing behind a cloth, did hear him, and thereupon did arrest him.

And at the same time this examinate saith, that he did most wickedly report and say, that the queens highness was maried about eight years ago [that is, anno 1564.] unto my lord of Leicester. And that during which mariage, she had four children. And this false rumour he first conceived by a report of an old priest of Hampshire, about six years ago.

And for his religion he saith and affirmeth, that he did never hear mass since Anne Askew was burned. And more he will not utter.

This was the deposition set down. And underneath, in the same paper, was the recorder's letter writ with his own hand; and was as followeth :

My very good lord. This is the examination of Robert Blosse. And because I had studied all the statutes of treasons, and could not find him within the letter or meaning of them; and for that the fellow, which was executed in queen

1.

Maries time, did offend in saying, that he himself was king BOOK Edward; therefore I noted that cause to be treason: but not so of Blosses cause. I therefore yesternight did argue the case with Mr. Atturney General by the space of an hour 52 and more. And he resolved it for a clear case to be no treason. And for the second cause, he should have lost one of his ears, if he had been convicted within three months. But now that time is past. And therefore by the statute he ought to be set at liberty. And so thought Mr. Atturney. 17. Jan.

Your Lordships,

W. Fletewood.

Number XXVI.

An extract of the estate of certain mines in Cumberland,

an. 1576.

COPPER, silver, and lead, then made and contained in MSS. the ewrs [ores] thereof.

At the melting house at Keswick, in copper мVCCCC quintails weight.

In head ewrs above ground, containing therein fine silver by assay, 298 pound weight.

More in the said ewrs, containing lead, to be made after the silver parted from it.

Made in perfect copper (her majesties fifteenth part deducted) 533 quintals.

More, in fine silver, delivered into the mint 87 pound weight, 4 ounces.

More, in lead, sold at the mine.

Burghlian.

Number XXVII.

Occurrents at the siege of Rochel; and of the election of monsieur king of Poland: sent from Dr. Dale, the queen's ambassador in France, to the earl of Sussex; in a letter dated May 30, 1573.

ON the 13. of this present until this day, there hath Cott. Li

brary, Ti

tus, B. 2.

1.

BOOK been three divers exploits at Rochel, upon the bastilion L'Evangele. The first was done the 13th, when monsieur de Guaz entred at Sonwares, upon the said bastilion, with 500 harquebusiers; and did surprize those of the watch, and slew them without the loss of any one soldier. Notwithstanding he was constrained in the end to abandon the said place; by reason that the townesmen came upon them with a great number of harquebusiers, and did hurt some of them with artificial kinds of fire. The second was done on the 18th. In the which conflict monsieur de Guatz and De Colombes were sore hurt, and Stephano d'Urbin slain with divers of his soldiers. The third, the 20th and 21st of this present. And in this combate it is reported, that one Besme, who in the last massacre at Paris slew the admiral, had his thighs quite stricken off with a canon: monsieur de Puisgaillarde, governor of Angiers, sore hurt; or as some judge, dead: monsieur Polliac, collonel of his twelve ensignes, slain, besides a great number of soldiers. The 21st of this present, the Rochelois being advertised, that the greatest part of the king's camp was going to see the arrival of the Swisses, issuing forth and finding the trenches not so well furnished, they entred into them. And many they slew, and others they chased away. They did also cloye four great peeces of artilery, and brought away with them six ensignes: and they retyred themselves into the

town.

It is given forth, that monsieur intended to give the general assault the 28th of this present. The counte of Retz, and the counte of Filiasque departed from the camp the 22d of this present with twenty ships of war, and six 53 gallies, with intent to drive Mountgomery out of Belle Isle. Mountgomery being advertised of that coming, and perceiving the enemy to be too strong for him, hath forsaken the said Isle, and is retyred, as they say, either into England, or else into Flanders.

The 28th of this present, those of Sanzerre pretending that they would gladly parlament with La Chastre, and, if it were possible, grow to some good agreement, issued forth

I.

of the same town at midnight, and did surprize a certain BOOK fort, and slew such as kept the same. Of late monsieur de Chastre took a certain gentleman, called Lantray, prisoner upon suspicion, that he was an espial, and sent him up to the court: who sithence being put upon the rack at two several times, hath confessed to the king's provost marshal, that there were certain gentlemen of good account in the camp at Sanzerre, who did advertise the townsmen from time to time of all their enterprizes: and that there were also that did the like at Rochel.

Of late the king is advertised, how that those of Nevarryne encrease daily in number; and that they of late have taken a castle from the count Carnaignan, brother to monsieur de Foix. And they do presently march forward, with intent to besiege S. Sever, a town of no small consequence.

It is written from the camp by such as are wont to make credible report, that there should be six ships entred into Rochel, in the mean time while that the king's navy was before Belleisle.

The king is appointed to remove toward Monceaux upon Monday next; and the clergy is to meet very shortly at Paris for the granting of their mony. There is a rate made, that they should pay threescore thousand millions of franks towards the payment of the king's debts. They are put in good hope to be discharged thereby of their tenths. But men think if it be once granted, they shall pay both notwithstanding.

They do impute the election of monsieur [to be king of Poland] to the worthiness of the dukes person, and unto the oration of monsieur de Valence. Upon whose oration, they do say, all men gave their consent una voce. But others do judge it to be by the reason that they feared, lest the emperors son, being so mighty, and so nigh a neighbour, should make the kingdom hereditary and no more elective, if he were once in possession. And that the authority, credit, and menace of the Turk do very much in the matter [of the election of monsieur.] It is thought that the

I.

BOOK king elected will pass to Polonia by sea to Dansig, and not through Germany. This extraordinary charge maketh the queen mother to try all her friends for mony. It is agreed, that the clergy shall contribute 300000 crowns to the charge of monsieur. She her self doth grant 300000 franks.

MSS.eccle

me.

A cousin of monsieur de Monluc arrived at the court the 29th of this present, with news that the election of the king of Poland was published the 13th of the same. The marshal of Polonia is looked for as ambassador from thence within very few days. There is an ambassador preparing to the king elect of Polonia of 2000 horse.

[Number XXVII.]

The consecration of Dermic O Clier, bishop of Maion, in the province of Tuam in Ireland. The instrument of cardinal Sanctorius; declaratory of the same, and of the oath of the said O Clier, of fidelity taken to pope Gregory XIII.

JULIUS Antonius Sanctorius, miseratione divina tisiast. penes tulo sti. Bartholemei in insula, stæ. Romanæ ecclesiæ presbyter cardinalis stæ. Severinæ nuncupat. universis et singulis præsentes literas inspecturis, lecturis, et audituris, sa54 lutem in Dno. sempiternam. Noveritis, quod nuper sanctissimus in Christo Pater et Dns. noster, dns. Gregorius divina providentia papa 13ius. vivæ vocis oraculo, nobis imposuit et commisit, ut aliquo die dominico, vel festivo, adhibitis nobiscum duobus epis. gratiam et communionem sedis aplicæ. habentibus, et uno ex magistris ceremoniarum, et in loco ad hoc condecenti, et nobis bene viso, reverendo patri dno. Dermicio O Cliera, electo Maionens. in provincia Tuamens. in Hybernia, consecrationis munus, impendere mus; eundemque juxta formam et ritum stæ. Roman. ecclesiæ, consecraremus. Post quas quidem commissionem et impositionem, nobis, ut præmittitur, vivæ vocis oraculo fact. Nos Julius Antonius Sanctorius cardinalis præfatus, adhibitis et assistentib. nobis reverendis patribus dnis. Joanne Baptista Sanctorio et Josepho Panphilo Aliphan et Siguin.