BOOK" should, as of himself, advise Radcliff to slip away; for II. "that he understood secretly from his friends in court, that Anno 1577.“ her majesty was greatly displeased with his presumptuous 499" manner of coming over. And that otherwise (as Walsingham proceeded in relating the queen's commands, "that he should say) he doubted, her majesty, as in justice "she was bound, should be driven, for example sake, to ex"tend the punishment towards him, that for his former of "fences was due." And for that the queen was doubtful of his lingering in the realm, whatsoever promises he had made to him, [the lord Burghley,] her pleasure was, that he should so offer the matter, that Reins, the merchant, with whom he came over, should see him embarked: whereby she might be assured that he was departed the realm. But not taking this seasonable warning, he was committed prisoner to the Tower. And what befell him afterwards in another land was related before. But this is enough to have remembered of this unfortunate gentleman and penitent rebel, but of a turbulent spirit, Egremond Radcliff. CHAP. IX. The queen's progress. now let us turn our eyes to more domestic matters. The queen this summer took her progress into Kent, this year. Surrey, Sussex. Where, according to her custom, she re The queen's progress IX. ceived the entertainments of the nobles, and persons of the CHAP. best quality, at their houses: who were glad of the honour, and made very expensive preparations for her. Anno 1577. she is en hurst's. Now was the lord Buckhurst to receive her at his house In Sussex in Sussex and therefore sent to the earl of Sussex, lord tertained at chamberlain, to understand when her majesty's pleasure was lord Buckto come into those parts: that as the earl of Arundel, the lord Mountagu and others, expecting her presence with them, and had made great provisions for her and her retinue, so he might not be wanting with his: being fain to send into Flanders to supply him, the others having drawn the country dry before him. And in what concern that nobleman was on this occasion, his letter will shew, written in the beginning of July: "That he beseeched his lordship Titus, B. 2. "to pardon him that he became troublesome unto him, to "know some certainty of the progress, if it might possibly "be, the time of provision was so short; and the desire he “ had to do all things in such sort, as appertained, so great, "as he could not but thus importune his lordship to pro- 500 "cure her highness to grow to some resolution, both of the "time when her majesty would be at Lewes, and how long "her highness would tarry there. For that he having al“ ready sent into Kent, Surrey, and Sussex for provision, " he assured his lordship he found all places possessed by my lord of Arundel, my lord Montagu, and others: so as “ of force he was to send into Flanders. Which he would "speedily do, if the time of her majesty's coming and tarri“ ance with him were certain. He beseeched his lordship "therefore (if it might be) to let him know, by his lord ship's favourable means, somewhat whereunto to trust. "For if her highness should not presently determine, he saw not how possibly they might or could perform that "towards her majesty which was due and convenient. He "trusted his lordship would measure his cause by his own: "that would be loath her highness should come unto him "before he were ready to receive her: to hazard thereby "his dishonour, and her majesty's dislike." And then (fearing that his house might not be agreeable to such a II. BOOK guest) he added, "That he could not but beseech God, that "that house of his did not mislike her. That, he said, was Anno 1577." his chief care. The rest should be performed with that "good heart as he was sure it would be accepted. But that "if her highness had tarried but one year longer, we had "been, said he, too, too happy: [his house by that time 66 more fitted for her entertainment.] But God's will and "hers be done." This was dated July the 4th, 1577. Many of the court go to Buxton Wells. The lord treasurer there; And lord Shrewsbury; And the earl of Leicester. Divers great persons of the court took this opportunity to repair to Buxton Wells for their health; as sir Thomas Smith, secretary, sir William Fitz-Williams, Mr. Mannors, lady Harrington, and among the rest, the lord treasurer Burghley. I find him here, August the 7th, "when he began," as he said, "the day before to be a lawnder, hav❝ing ended his drunkenness the day before," as he affected merrily to express himself in the homely language there, for the method then used, first of drinking the waters, and then bathing. This account of himself he gave in a letter to the earl of Sussex; who was now, notwithstanding a hurt in his leg, following the court, wishing him, the said earl, long there, as a very useful man to attend the queen in her progress: who had wished himself at Buxton with the treasurer. In answer to which wish, "the said treasurer wished the same, (had he not been so necessarily at"tending the queen,) as he knew no nobleman in the earth more to his heart's contentation. And this, he said, he "wrote even with the best vein in his heart." : The earl of Shrewsbury was likewise there for a gouty hand and both drank and bathed diligently. But upon some warning from court concerning an attempt, either to rescue the Scottish queen, or some other danger relating to her, he was forced to leave the place, and to be gone to his charge. The lord treasurer set out from his house, Theobalds, about July 22. Thence to Burghley house. Thence by Darby and Ashborn in the Peak, to Chatsworth, the earl of Shrewsbury's house, to lodge there. And so to Buxton. The earl of Leicester was at Buxton also the month be IX. fore, viz. in June. And being in those parts, visited the CHAP. earl of Shrewsbury at Chatsworth. Where the earl with his lady gave him a most splendid and noble reception, and Anno 1577. likewise made him some extraordinary present; and when 501 he was at Buxton, discharged his diet. This that earl might the rather do, since he knew what a favourite Leicester was with the queen, and what service such an one might upon occasion do him with her. When Leicester returned, he acquainted the queen with the great respect shewn him at Chatsworth. Which was so highly acceptable to her, that she thought fit to write him a gracious letter of thanks for the same. And withal had in her mind the great dependance she and the whole state of her kingdom had upon his vigilance over the Scotch queen, in his keeping. The letter is worthy the repeating: which was in these words, (with her own name on the top of the letter,) viz. "ELIZABETH. to the earl "Our very good cousin. Being given to understand from The queen "our cousin of Leicester, how honourably he was not only of Shrewslately received by you our cousin, and the countess at bury. "Chatsworth, and his diet by you both discharged at Bux"tons, but also presented with a very rare present; we "should do him great wrong (holding him in that place of "favour we do) in case we should not let you understand "in how thankful sort we accept the same at both your "hands, not as done unto him, but unto our own self: reputing him as another our self. And therefore you may "assure your self, that we taking upon us the debt, not as "his, but our own, will take care accordingly to discharge “in such honourable sort, as so well deserving creditors as “ye are shall never have cause to think ye have met with "an unthankful debtor. "In the acknowledgment of new debts we may not for"get our old debt, the same being as great as a sovereign 66 can owe to a subject, when through your loyal and most "careful looking to the charge committed to you, both we "and our realm enjoy a peaceable government; the best II. 66 BOOK good hap that to a prince on earth can befall. This good "hap then growing from you, ye might think your self Anno 1577." most unhappy, if you served such a prince as should not "be as ready graciously to consider of it, as thankfully to acknowledge the same. Whereof make full ac"count to your comfort, when time shall serve. Given "under our signet, at our manor of Greenwich, the 25th "day of June, 1577, and in the 19th year of our reign. The lord treasurer to court. 66 you may I find the lord treasurer now following the queen, she the earl of being in the beginning of September at my lord admiral's Shrews- house. Whence the said lord treasurer wrote to the earl of bury: advice from Shrewsbury, how that at his coming to the court he found loud alarms by news, written from France and the Low Countries, of the queen of Scots' escape, or in likelihood ere long to be rescued. On which occasion, what his grave and good advice was hath been before shewn. He continued his thanks for all the earl's liberal courtesies when he was with him at Chatsworth: praying his lordship to assure himself of his poor but assured friendship, while he lived. The interest The earl, for his generosity and hospitality in his late entertainments of the earl of Leicester and lord Burghley, and likewise for his faithfulness to the queen in his most important charge, had great favour at court. And there being a controversy in those parts among some gentlemen, and wherein himself was concerned, it was provided by 502 these great men, that none should be in the commission of the peace, but whom he approved: as there was great reason, in respect of any that might secretly favour that queen. There was a controversy now between sir John Zouch, and sir Thomas Stanhope, and other gentlemen in that country. The lord Burghley imparted to the queen his opinion, that the fault would be in Zouch, if he were misliked either of the earl of Shrewsbury, or others: telling her, “that he "took upon him more than was meet, in opposing himself "against his lordship, without any cause given him by the "earl." And upon this, as he told the earl, he found in her majesty a great disposition to have all matters ended |