DUKE 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2018 with funding from 
 Duke University Libraries 
 
 https://archive.org/details/stradlingcorresp01unse 
 
STRADLING CORRESPONDENCE 
 
LONDON : 
 
 PRINTED BY SAMUEL BENTLEY, 
 
 Bangor House, Shoe Lane. 
 
j'&Pu d . \lcdvrd 
 
 STRADLING CORRESPONDENCE: 
 
 A SERIES OF LETTERS 
 
 WRITTEN IN THE 
 
 REIGN OF QUEEN ELIZABETH; 
 
 WITH NOTICES or THE 
 
 FAMILY OF STRADLING OF ST. DONAf’s CASTLE, CO. GLAMORGAN. 
 
 EDITED BY 
 
 THE REV. JOHN MONTGOMERY TRAHERNE, 
 M. A. F. R. S. F. S. A. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 LONGMAN, ORME, BROWN, GREEN, AND LONGMANS 
 
 AND WILLIAM BIRD, CARDIFF. 
 
 1840 . 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
W-S.4-S, 
 
 S8S5T 
 
 TO 
 
 JOHN FREDERIC, EARL CAWDOR, F.R.S 
 
 AND A 
 
 FAMILY TRUSTEE OF THE BRITISH MUSEU.M, 
 THIS PUBLICATION 
 IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED 
 
 By 
 
 THE EDITOR. 
 
 45434ft 
 

 
 
 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The Manuscript from which the following 
 Correspondence is printed, forms a thin quarto 
 volume. It is a transcript from the original 
 letters; and, from the character of the hand¬ 
 writing, appears to be of the Elizabethan era. 
 
 The Editor has so far deviated from the ori¬ 
 ginal MS. as to print consecutively the letters 
 by the same writers, thereby obviating the con¬ 
 fusion of dates and names. He has endeavoured 
 to elucidate the publication by a few notes. 
 
 He takes this opportunity of acknowledging 
 his obligations to Charles George Young, Esq. 
 F.S.A. and York Herald, the owner of the MS. 
 for permission to edite the same, and for his use¬ 
 ful co-operation ; to the Rev. John Webb, F.S.A. 
 and the Rev. Joseph Hunter, F.S.A. for some 
 explanatory notices; and to Earl Cawdor, for 
 the inspection of that valuable collection of 
 Welsh Descents, in his Lordship’s possession, 
 known by the name of “ the Golden Grove 
 Book,” as also for the loan of the rare volume 
 of Sir John Stradling’s “ Epigrammata.” 
 
Vlll 
 
 INTRODl'CTION. 
 
 The letters must speak for themselves. They 
 contain much interesting matter, and much that 
 to many readers may appear unimportant. How¬ 
 ever, the Editor thought it expedient to print 
 the whole; and he trusts that his endeavour to 
 rescue from oblivion documents relative to the 
 history of the Stradlings in “ the golden days of 
 good Queen Bess,” may be generally acceptable. 
 
 Cuedriglan, Cardiff, 
 
 July 1, 1840. 
 
HISTORICAL NOTICES 
 
 OF 
 
 THE STRADLING FAMILY, 
 
 FROM THE REIGN OF EDWARD THE SIXTH TO THAT OF 
 CHARLES THE FIRST. 
 
 Sir THOMAS STRADLING, Knight. 
 
 Thomas Stradling was knighted February 17, 
 3rd Edward VI. He was Muster-master to the 
 Queen’s army, and a Commissioner for the 
 Marches. He represented East Grinstead in 
 Sussex in 1553, and Arundel in 1554. He was 
 on a commission for the suppression of heretics 
 with Sir Thomas Pope in 1558. His will bears 
 date 19th December 1566, and was proved in the 
 Prerogative Court of Canterbury in May 1571, 
 shortly after the death of the testator. He gives 
 to his second son David his great chain of Angel 
 gold, weighing three score and five ounces. In 
 the codicil he enumerates articles of silver plate, 
 weighing in the whole between seven and eight 
 hundred ounces. Then follow bequests of milch- 
 cows or steers to various poor persons in Llant- 
 wit and the neighbouring parishes. 
 
 454946 
 
X 
 
 HISTORICAL NOTICES OF 
 
 Sir EDWARD STRADLING, Knight. 
 
 Edward Stradling, eldest son of Sir Thomas 
 Stradling, Knight, by Catherine daughter of Sir 
 Thomas Gamage, Knight, was educated at Ox¬ 
 ford ; afterwards travelled, and spent some time at 
 Rome. Knighted in 1575. “ He became a very 
 
 useful man in his county; and was at the charge 
 of such Herculean works for the public good, 
 that no man in his time went beyond him. But, 
 above all, he is to be remembered for his singular 
 knowledge in the British language and antiqui¬ 
 ties.”—Wood’s Athenae Oxon. by Bliss, vol. ii. 
 p. 50. Dr. John Davys (commonly called John 
 David Rhys), Avho dedicated to him the “ Insti- 
 tutiones Linguae Cambricae,” 1592, speaks of the 
 large sums expended at St. Donat’s, on the sea¬ 
 wall, &c. and adds, “ Quid quantum virorum 
 forlium satellitium, quam generosos alas equos, 
 memorem ? Quid qualia memorem armamenta, 
 quot belli tormentis armisque referta, domi 
 habeas, quibus Principem patriamque tuearis: 
 ut quos tibi coinparem paucos, quos tibi prae- 
 feram paucissimos, reperiam.” Sir Edward died 
 in his eightieth year, May 15, 1609, and was 
 buried on the following day. His will was proved 
 in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury on the 
 19th of October following. He desires to be 
 
THE STRADLING FAMILY. 
 
 XI 
 
 buried in the chapel of St. Mary, built by his 
 father, adjoining to the parish church of St. 
 Donat’s, betwixt his great-grandfather and grand¬ 
 mother on the north side, and his father on the 
 south side. To his loving cousin, Sir John Strad- 
 ling, he gives his “ signet, or ring of gold,” which 
 he used “ to seal withal and that of silver with 
 his whole arms and crest ; and his armour, and all 
 manner of double bases, single bases, muskets, 
 calivers, pistols, &c. pikes, steel saddles, jacks, 
 hows and arrows, and other provision and fur¬ 
 niture touching and for the wars;” and all his 
 “ library of hooks and writings,” except fifty 
 copies of Dr. John David Rhys’ Welsh Grammar; 1 
 and his Roman and ancient coins. He leaves 
 600/. to the children of his cousin Lamorock 
 Stradling, to he taken and had in his “ iron chest” 
 where his “ ready money doth remain.” To his 
 “ yeomen servants, coat clothes of broad black 
 cloth ; and the rest to have, as well boys as men, 
 black clothes of frieze that shall he good,”—“ the 
 women servants to have gowns of the same.” His 
 “ body to he carried within twenty-four hours” 
 after his “decease, without pomp or great pre¬ 
 paration.” “ No common dole to he dealt” for 
 him; “hut 23/. to be doled” for him shortly 
 after amongst the poor people within such 
 
 Vide p. 315. 
 
xii HISTORICAL NOTICES OF 
 
 parishes only where he had “ lands,” “ except 
 Llangynor” where he was nursed: twenty-six 
 parishes in Glamorganshire are enumerated, and 
 five in Somersetshire. He gives to Sir John 
 Stradling his “ interest in a bond for six thousand 
 pounds from the late Earl of Pembroke and the 
 Lord Lisle, concerning my lady 1 his wife’s join¬ 
 ture, not doubting but that he will see himself 
 and his heirs discharged of the trust put in me.” 
 
 To the poor prisoners in Cardiff gaol, and the 
 poor people of the almshouse there, two bolls 
 and six bushels of wheat. He recommends that 
 his widow should continue to reside in the castle, 
 and gives to her and to Sir J. Stradling the use 
 of his stock, furniture, implements, &c. The will 
 contains many small bequests to various persons. 
 He appoints his beloved wife, Dame Agnes Strad¬ 
 ling, 2 executrix, and John Lord Lumley executor. 
 His wife Agnes, daughter of Sir Edward Gage of 
 Eirle in Sussex, was born in 1547, married in 
 1566, and was buried at St. Donat’s Feb. 1, 
 1624. 
 
 1 Barbara Lady Lisle. Vide p. 10, and note in Addenda, as to 
 the suit brought against Sir Edward in 1584. 
 
 2 In 1610 she erected a handsome monument in St. Donat’s 
 church to her husband’s memory. One hundred pounds were de¬ 
 vised by Sir Edward’s will for this purpose. 
 
THE STRADLING FAMILY. 
 
 Xlll 
 
 Sir JOHN STRADLING, 
 
 Knight and Baronet. 
 
 John Stradling, son of Francis and grandson of 
 Harry Stradling, who was great-uncle to the last- 
 named Sir Edward, was born in 1583; commoner 
 of Brasenose College 1579, ast. sixteen. In 1583 
 he graduated at Magdalen Hall, “ a miracle for 
 his forwardness in learning, and pregnancy of 
 parts.” He travelled on the Continent. He was 
 the friend of Camden, Sir John Harrington, Dr. 
 Th. Leyson, Sic. In 1607 he published a volume 
 of Epigrams, principally addressed to his relatives 
 and friends in Glamorganshire. Various historical 
 notices of interest may be gleaned from them and 
 the accompanying notes. 
 
 His poem, entitled “ Beati pacifici,” a pedantic 
 production, perused in manuscript by James the 
 First, was printed in 1623. 
 
 His Divine Poems, in seven several classes, pub¬ 
 lished in 1625, is a rare book. The following is 
 a stanza of a quaint poetical dedication to Theo- 
 philus, Bishop of Llandaff: 
 
 Loe ! here a childe of mine, in sacred font 
 Alreadie dipt, repairs for confirmation 
 
 To you, my Lord ; reflect your eye upon’t_ 
 
 1 ’m suretie for his Christian education. 
 
 b 
 
XIV 
 
 HISTORICAL NOTICES OF 
 
 The Lord Bishop’s answer: 
 
 I viewed your child, and I dare swear ’tis yours, 
 
 So plaine, so pithy, and so like the sire, &c. &c. 
 
 I poz’d him in our vulgar catechisme, 
 
 And thus confirme him : He is void of schisme. 
 
 Your true loving friend, 
 
 Theo. Landaven. 
 
 Sir John was created a Baronet 22nd May 1611. 
 In 1625 he was elected Knight of the Shire for 
 Glamorgan. He died on the 11th Sept. 1637, 
 leaving by his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Ed¬ 
 ward Gage, Esq. of Sussex, seven children. His 
 eldest son, Sir Edward Stradling, Bart, married 
 Mary, daughter of Sir Thomas Mansel, Bart, of 
 Margam. He was elected Knight of the Shire 
 in 1640. He died in 1644. The following ex- 
 tracts from Lady Stradling’s letters are copied 
 from the originals in the possession of C. R. M. 
 Talbot, Esq. M.P. 
 
 Extract from a letter, dated St. Donat’s Castle, 
 Oct. 1, 1642, from Dame Mary Stradling to “ her 
 dear sister,” the Lady Elizabeth Mansel, the 
 widow of her brother Sir Lewis Mansel, Bart, 
 and daughter of Henry Earl of Manchester. 
 Lady Elizabeth married secondly Sir Edward 
 Sebright, of Besford in Worcestershire, Knight 
 and Baronet. 
 
THE STRADLING FAMILY. 
 
 XV 
 
 “ M r Stradling wished me to tell y r La. that he 
 is y r most humble and obligid servant, and giveth 
 your La. many thanks for the musketts, with the 
 apurtenances, which he received from y u .” She 
 promises that “ M r Stradlinge will repay some 
 money as soon as possibly these times are blowene 
 over.” 
 
 Extract from a letter of Lady Stradling to 
 Lady Elizabeth Sebright, dated St. Donat’s, 26th 
 Nov. 1645. She refers to a sum of “one hun¬ 
 dred poundsand adds, “ I have sent y u six 
 musketts and some matches. As for tveathers, 
 heer are a great many fatt, but I cannot as yet 
 get such a settlement as to sell any of them ; butt 
 I hope before the end of Christmas I shall, for 
 God knoweth I should be glader that they 
 might serve y r turn than any bodies in the world ; 
 but I do yeat buy both my mutton, beef, and 
 bread corne, and otes, wch (in private to y r Lla. 
 only) doth almost undoe me, considering my great 
 family and resorted 
 
 ' When Sir Timothy Tyrrell, the governor, was obliged to 
 evacuate Cardiff Castle, his father-in-law, Archbishop Usher, took 
 refuge in St. Donat’s Castle, and remained there near a twelve- 
 month; quitting it, according to his biographer Dr. Parr, in 1646. 
 “ In the library he made many choice collections of the British or 
 Welsh Antiquities.” St. Donat's afforded an asylum to the friends 
 of Charles the First at this period. Vide Life of Archbishop Usher, 
 
 p. 60. 
 
XVI 
 
 HISTORICAL NOTICES. 
 
 “ I beg your Lla. pardon that I doe nott now 
 send y u y ur musketts ; for, since the writing of my 
 letter unto y u , I understand that they went 
 amongst others wch I sent unto Jack 1 for Cardif. 
 They will be back heer on Satterday next, and 
 by God’s leave I will send y m unto y u by Monday 
 or Tuesday next att the furthest.” 
 
 Abstract of a letter from the same to the same, 
 dated Dec. 1, 1645, as to 100/. belonging to 
 Lady E. Sebright, “ sent with other matters into 
 North Wales.” “ I have not heard from thence 
 since Christmas last, tho’ I have endeavoured it 
 by several messengers of mine that gone part of 
 the way ; but the temper of the souldiers of both 
 sides have caused them to returne withoutt finish¬ 
 ing their journy.” 
 
 1 Her second son, Major-General John Stradling, in the service 
 of King Charles the First.—Vide Pedigree. 
 
XVII 
 
 PEDIGREE OF STRADLING 
 OF ST. DONAT’S, 
 GLAMORGANSHIRE. 
 
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PEDIGREE OF STRADLING, ANCIENTLY LE ESTERLING, 
 
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 f Sir William Griffith had issue Edward Griffith, who married Jane daughter to Sir John Puleston. Sir Kice Griffith. John Griffith, 
 as also eight Daughters; 1, Grace, married Will. Stanley of Hooton ; 2, Catherine, to Sir Richard Bulkley of Beaumaris; 
 3, Anne, to Hugh Lewys of Anglesey; 4, Jane, to Thomas Mostyn; 5, Ellen, to Hugh Conway; 6, Dorothy to William 
 Williams of Cychwillan, co. Carnarvon; 7, Margaret, first to Piers Mutton, — secondly to S. Thelwal, of Place Newood ; 
 8, Elizabeth, to William Phillips of Picton co. Pemb. 
 
XXII 
 
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CORRESPONDENCE 
 
 OF 
 
 SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 I. 
 
 To the right worshipfull my very loving frind 
 S r Edwarde Stradling, Knight. 
 
 S r , A iii weekes synce I receavid a tre from you, 
 w ch Ire, as yt shoulde seme by the date therof, 
 was longe tyme wrytten before my receyt therof. 
 I have, according to yo r request in the same, ac¬ 
 complished yo r desyre, and have to that effecte 
 written a tre unto my daughter the Dowchesse, 1 
 the w ch I have hereinclosed presently sent you; 
 prayinge yo to see the same saffly sent unto her, 
 
 1 Jane, Countess and afterwards Duchess of Feria, was the 
 second daughter of Sir William Dormer, Knight, by Mary, daughter 
 of Sir William Sidney, Knight. She was maid of honour to Queen 
 Mary, and married the Count of Feria, who was afterwards created 
 Duke of Feria in Spain.—Collins’ Peerage by Brydges, vol. vii. 
 pp. 68, 69. 
 
 In the Burghley Papers, vol. ii. p. P28, is a letter from Lord 
 Burghley to the Duchess, written in 1571, respecting the projected 
 match of Queen Elizabeth with the Duke of Anjou. 
 
 B 
 
2 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 as shortly as you may. And yf in case you can¬ 
 not send yt by some assured messenger yo r selfe, 
 in suche wyse as yt may assuredly come to her 
 hands; then woulde I wyshe you to returne the 
 same unto me agayne, to thende I maye (yf I can 
 possible) get tbe same sent my selfe. And thus as 
 one willing to pleasure you in a greater matter, as 
 occasion shall serve, w th my righte harty comen- 
 dacons, I leave unto you my frindly farewell. 
 From my house Ethrope , 1 the xi th of February 
 1574. 
 
 Yo r very loving frend, 
 
 Wyllyam Dormer. 
 
 II. 
 
 [Probably addressed to Sir Edward Stradling.] 
 
 . . . . harty comendacons unto you and 
 
 to yo r good ladye yo r bedfellowe, doe comytt you 
 unto God, who pserve you in prosperous health. 
 From Crofte, the viii ,h of September. 
 
 Yo r loving grandmother, 
 
 Joys Gamage. 2 
 
 1 In Buckinghamshire. 
 
 2 Daughter of Sir Richard Croft, sister of Sir James Croft, and 
 second wife of Sir Thomas Gamage, Knt. Her will in the Prerogative 
 Office bears date 22nd Feb. 1586, and w as proved 30th April 1588. 
 She describes herself as the widow of Sir Thomas Gamage, and 
 secondly, of Griffith Leyson of Carmarthen, Doctor of Civil Law. 
 Probably she left no issue, as she devises her property to the Croft 
 family, and appoints Herbert Croft executor. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 3 
 
 III. 
 
 [Probably addressed to Sir Edward Stradling.] 
 
 .shall tender beer favor, 
 
 that you doe not suffer anie to have recourse unto 
 beer 1 touchinge mariadge tell yow know farder of 
 heer Ma: pleasur, and that you doe take great 
 care, as heer Ma: knoweth by your wisdome and 
 goode discresion you cane, and wherof heer Ma: 
 nothinge doubteth but you will yous all means to 
 perform heer pleasure. My good cosyne, I doe 
 my self recomend me most hartely unto you; and 
 as you knowe we are both as nere kine unto M rs 
 Gamedge as anye, soe we ought to have as great 
 care of heer well doinge as anie ought to have; 
 and I doe not doubt but you have so, and for my 
 parte she shall finde me a moste faythefull frende 
 and kinseman, not doubtinge butt my cossin wilbe 
 advised by us who tendreth so much heer well 
 doinge. Good cosyn, recomende me unto heer 
 most hartely, and lett heer knowe that M r Watkin 
 
 1 Barbara Gamage, only child of John Gamage by Gwenlleian, 
 widow of Watkin Thomas, subsequently married Sir Robert Sydney, 
 the second son of Sir Henry Sydney, K. G. and younger brother of 
 Sir Philip. Sir Robeit was born in 1563, and died in 1626. Eli¬ 
 zabeth and James the First employed him on several important ser¬ 
 vices. The latter Sovereign created him Baron Sydney of Penshurst, 
 Viscount Lisle, and Earl of Leicester. He was also a Knight of 
 the Garter. Barbara, Countess of Leicester, was buried at Pens¬ 
 hurst, May 26, 1621. Vide Sydney State Papers, vol. i. p. 120. 
 
4 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 Thomas 1 can tell heer I have byne a very deer 
 frende unto heer, and have stayede my cosyn 
 Gamedge from dowinge divers thinges to heer 
 great hinderaunce; and although he maed divers 
 convayaunce to have put the landes and lyvinge 
 from heer to his bastardes, I keept him in such 
 awe and feare as he durste never goo forwarde 
 w th all. It is very well knowen, vf I would have 
 reped swittnes by him, I might have donne; but 
 knowinge my r cossyn Barbara to be right and lafull 
 ayre, and none but heer self, moved me by nature 
 to have care of heer. And so I did, to the utter- 
 must of my power: and will doe in anie thinge 
 shall lye in me to dowe. I recomende my harty 
 love unto heer, prainge [her] not to be hastie in y* 
 wich cannot be called bake againe, but to yous 
 the advise of heer best and deerest frendes. My 
 good cosin, I will take my leave of you and my 
 goode cosyn vo r wife, recomendinge heer Ma: plea- 
 sur unto your wise diseresion. In hast, from the 
 Court at Otlandes the xxi ,h of September. [1584.] 
 Yo r loving kynsma and assured frind, 
 
 C. Howarde. 2 
 
 1 Perhaps son of Watkin Thomas, the first husband of Barbara 
 Carnage’s mother. 
 
 5 Charles Howard, second Lord Howard of Effingham, Lord 
 High Admiral of England, created Earl of Nottingham 1599 He 
 was the eldest sen and heir of William, first Baron Howard of Ef¬ 
 fingham (a younger son of Thomas second Duke of Norfolk) by his 
 second wife Margaret, daughter of Sir Thomas Carnage, of Coity, 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 5 
 
 IV. 
 
 To my cosyn S r Edward Stradlinge geve this. 
 
 Cossyn Stradlinge, I marvyll not a littell that 
 beinge so longe since the deathe of my cossyn 
 Gamedge, 1 and yow havinge my cosyn his dough- 
 ter in yo r custodye, that you could not fynde 
 some mense by your letter to gyve me knowledge 
 therof. I thinke you dyd forget what I was 
 unto heer, and that non of us that be of beer kyne 
 as neere as yo r selfe had care of heer well dowynge, 
 or have any suche interest in the sevnge and de- 
 syeringe of heer well bestowinge as you seem to 
 have, or else yo r dellinges wold have been other¬ 
 wise then it hathe byne. I had knowledge by 
 M r Watkyn Thomas, w ch I thanke him for, and 
 of some other good frend ; but it semis you de- 
 syered I shuld be a mer stranger unto it. Apon 
 the understandinge of it makinge heer Ma tle 
 aquaynted, I did wryght unto yow heer Ma: 
 pleasure, which I dowbt not but you will have 
 speciall regarde of. The strangnes of your dell- 
 inge towardes me in this cause hath moved some 
 other good frend of mynde to aquaynt me w th yo r 
 
 Knight. He died in 1624, aged 87. Ilis glorious services as a 
 naval commander form a prominent feature in the reign of Queen 
 Elizabeth. 
 
 1 John Gamage, Esq. died on the 8th of September 1584 ; bis 
 daughter and heir Barbara being of the age of 22 years and upwards. 
 —Vide original Inquisition in the Rolls Chapel, dated Cardiff, 10tn 
 Dec. 27 Eliz. 
 
6 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 manner of dellinge w th my cosyn, w ch I dowe no- 
 thinge at all allowe of, and so shall you well 
 knowe when I shall have oportunitie. Your 
 sekynge to matche heer w th on of your owne ne- 
 phewes, whiche albeit you weer in natur to dowe 
 anny thinge you might for yo r on kyne, yeet I 
 maed acounte I was not so far of allyed from 
 you as that [you] should thinke I should have mis- 
 lykin of yt, yf it had been any waye feete for heer. 
 Yo r takinge possession of the chyfe bowse 1 w th the 
 evidences. A fit thinge my thinkes for yow to 
 have had some other gentleman or frend of heers 
 to have been w th you at it, and most feetest of all, 
 my cosyn heer selfe to have beene there to take 
 possession of heer owne, consitheringe it was not 
 in that howse heer father dyed in, and shee beinge 
 of thos yers she is of. Well cause I have greatly 
 to thinke unkyndnes in yow in forgettynge me all 
 this whyll in this cause; and for the rest of yo r 
 dowinges, he cause there are hut reportes, whiche 
 I wishe w th all my hart maye not be trewe, I will 
 suspend my judgement tell I heere more. In the 
 meene tyme I pray you forgett not what I am, 
 and so I shalbe verry glad to thinke what you 
 are unto me. And so I leve yow for this tyme. 
 From the Courte, the xxvi th of Sep. [1584.] 
 
 Yo r lovinge cosyn and frend, yf you 
 geve not cause to the contrarye, 
 
 C. Howard. 
 
 Coity Castle. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 7 
 
 V. 
 
 To my welbeloved nephewe S r Edwarde Stradlinge, 
 Knighte, geve this. 
 
 Nephewe Stradlinge, I have receaved a letter 
 from you dated the xvi th of June, you dyd writte 
 unto me howe yo r syster had used you in her de- 
 layes of cominge home to you, and howe you 
 would have me to sende yow certeine worde whe¬ 
 ther she mente at this tyme to come home to you 
 or not. I sente for her uppon the sighte of yo r 
 letter, and delte very frendly w th her, and de¬ 
 clared unto her y‘ yt greved me, she heinge soe 
 nere a kynne unto [me], to see her goe from service 
 to service : she heinge soe yll used, as she declared 
 unto me, in the place where she was. I tolde her 
 there was nothinge more mete for her, and for 
 her reputation, then to come home to you, and 
 to he bestowed by yo r advise. She showed her 
 selfe to me very willinge and glad of yt; and yf 
 she doe yt not, she shewes hir selfe to disemple 
 very much w th mee. Since I began my letter 
 unto you, I have spoken w th my neice yo r syster, 
 who comes home nowe at this present, who like 
 a good lovinge syster puttes hir selfe holie [to] he 
 governed by you. Therefore I doe most hartely 
 desyre yow to shewe yo r selfe a good lovinge bro¬ 
 ther unto hir, and specially in this matter that 
 
8 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 she drawes her selfe unto; that is, that she is 
 contented to marie. And it is pyttye but that hir 
 frends shoulde be willinge to it, for that there 
 was none of all hir systers yet that did yelde hir 
 selfe to be rewled by there frends, butt hir selfe. 
 My good nephewe, I must make yow understande 
 what hath bynne declared unto me, bothe by my 
 brother Gwyne and by dyvers others. There is 
 a gentleman whose name is Glinne, of Sropshire, 
 a suter unto yo r syster: as I understand, he is of 
 a good howse, for he is cosen jermyne unto S r 
 James A Crofte, the Queenes Ma tes Counptrowler; 
 his levin is certeinly knowen to be a c 1 '. a yeare, 
 and besyds the c 1 *. a yere, there was xl u . a yere 
 w ch his father layed to morgage to Alderman 
 Haward, 1 or sold, and woddes upon it worthe 
 v c u ; it was layde out for ii c u , and I am credible 
 enfurmed that he may have his lande againe, soe 
 y* he maye have his mony. Therefore, my good 
 nephewe, consider all thinges, and shewe yo r selfe 
 a good and lovinge brother, and in specially to 
 hir, for that yow had noe more comitted unto yo r 
 chardge but she. And suerly I am glade as any 
 aunte can be, that she yelds hir selfe thus muche 
 unto yow in all thinges, and in all to be governed 
 by you ; and that makes me soe earnestlye to 
 
 1 Sir Rowland Hayward, Knt. an Alderman of London, and 
 Lord Mayor in 1570. He was of an ancient Shropshire family. 
 He died Dec. 5, 1592.—Lodge’s Illustrations, vol. ii. p. 244. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 9 
 
 writte to vow in her behalfe, not doubtinge but 
 that she shall fynde a greate deale of good at yo r 
 hands, and the sooner for my sake. Soe I ende, 
 w th my frendlye and lovinge comendacons unto 
 yow, and to my good neice my ladye yo r wife, w th 
 gevinge of her greate thanks for the good bring- 
 inge uppe of my neice Gamadge, and you also for 
 yo r greate care of her. And so 1 comitte you all 
 unto the custodie of the almightie and everlevinge 
 God. From Westiff, this laste of June, Anno 
 1577. 
 
 Yo r moste lovinge aunte, 
 
 Margrett Howarde. 1 
 
 Post script. —This gentleman meanes betweene 
 this and Michaelmas to come unto you, and then 
 yow shall knowe all thinges certeinelye of him all 
 his estate; but, good nephewe, on[c]e agayne I 
 pray yow for my sake, forslo not a good hap 
 when it comes. 
 
 VI. 
 
 To my very lovinge frend and cosen S r Edwarde 
 Stradlinge, Knight, geve these. 
 
 Good S r Edwarde Stradlinge, I understand by 
 Thomas Watkyn Thomas that you think I have 
 conceved some mislike of you for the bestow- 
 inge of my kinswoman Barbara Gamedge w th S' 
 
 1 Mother of Charles second Lord Howard of Effingham. Vide 
 Letter III. p. 4. 
 
 B 5 
 
10 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 Robert Sydney. As I have no cause to dislike of 
 her well doinge and preferment, soe have I no 
 reason to conceive hardlye of yow for makinge 
 suche a matche. And as I have hene ever bounde 
 by nature and good will to love and favoure yow 
 and yo r howse: soe shall you fynde me still 
 botli readye and willinge to stande you in what 
 steade I may, as any occasion may be offered. 
 I am enformed likewise that yow have in yo r 
 handes abonnd 1 wherin my Lo: of Pembrooke and 
 S r Robert Sydney stand bound for performaunce 
 of certaine conditions and covenantes, w ch bonnde 
 I understande is sought by meanes to be drawne 
 out of yo r handes ; and least you might therein be 
 over ruled by some of greater countenance, I have 
 thought good, for the care I have for the main¬ 
 tenance of that howse, to praye yow to send the 
 same bonnde unto me, in whose handes it shall 
 remayne in as safe and carefull sorte for the bene- 
 fitt of her and her kynred as yf it weare in yo r 
 handes, and peradventure in more safetie: for 
 assure yo r self there wilbe devises wrought to 
 pcure it from yow : soe, yf I have it, the benefitt 
 that may any waye come thereby to her or yow 
 shall as dewely fall upon yow, as the true intent 
 of the same bonnde dothe import. Thus, w th my 
 most hartie comendacons, I leave yow and yo r 
 good lady to the grace of the Almightye. From 
 
 1 This bond is noticed in Sir Edward Stradling’s will. Vide Preface. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 11 
 
 the Courte at Grenewiche, this last of Februarye 
 1586. Yo r assured lovinge kynsman 
 and verry frend, 
 
 C. Howard. 
 
 VII. 
 
 To my very loving frend S r Edw. Stradling, 
 Knight, Sherief of her Ma tes Countey of Gla¬ 
 morgan. 
 
 After right harty comendacons. There is, by 
 order of this Courte, proces adressed unto you 
 for thapprehecon of certen psons therin mencoed, 
 whose contemptes are suche, that it standeth w ,h 
 the honour of this house and my creditt to use 
 what wayes and meanes we can best devise for the 
 speedy attachinge of them. And althoughe I dare 
 presume, you will of duety shewe yo r good will to 
 execute the same, yet I am to desire yow to be 
 the more earnest for the accomplishment of the 
 tenor of the sayd proces the rather for my sake; 
 in the doinge wherof you occasion me to requite 
 the same w th like frendly good turne as may be 
 servinge. And thus, nothing doubting of yo r 
 diligence to be shewed herin, I byd you hartely 
 well to fare. From the Castle of Ludlowe, this 
 xiii" 1 of September 1571. 
 
 Yo r very loving frend, 
 
 H. Sydney. 1 
 
 1 Henry Sydney went to New College, Oxford, in 1543. Subse¬ 
 quently lie was employed in the service of Edward the Sixth and 
 
12 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 VIII. 
 
 To the right worshipfull my very loving frend 
 S r Edward Stradling, Knight, Sherif of the 
 County of Glamorgan. 
 
 After right harty comendacons, 1 have receaved 
 yo r Ires of the xxiiii th of September, the last of 
 the same at the handes of this bearer my servante 
 Capitaine Lloyd; and by the same doe perceive yo r 
 harty good will towards me in thaccomplishm 1 
 of my request, and otherwise, for w ch I hartely 
 thanke you, and allso for yo r curtesy and frendly 
 usinge of my sayd servaunte : Desiringe yow to 
 geve unto him what creditte you can in psecutinge 
 of this service ; and also to yeld yo 1 ' endevo r that 
 the money for suche armor and furniture w th 
 other necessaries as you w th the rest shall agree to 
 receave att my handes may be w th all expedition 
 sent bither, and the armor for the same shalbe 
 delivered furthw th as in my generall Ire I have 
 expressed : And even so byd you right hartely 
 well to fare. From the Castle of Ludlowe, the 
 seconde of October 1574. 
 
 Yo r very loving frend, 
 
 H. Sydney. 
 
 Queen Mary. In the second year of Elizabeth's reign he was 
 appointed Lord President of the Marches of Wales. He was made 
 K. G. four years afterwards, for his exertions in several embassies. 
 In 1568 he was constituted Deputy of Ireland. He died at Lud¬ 
 low in 1586, aged 57. Wood’s Athena; Oxonienses by Bliss, 
 vol. i. pp. 518, 519. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 13 
 
 IX. 
 
 To the right wor: my very loving frend S r Ed¬ 
 ward Stradling, Knight, Sherief of the Countey 
 of Glamorgan. 
 
 After right harty comendacons. Wher upon 
 first motion of my going into Ireland, an army of 
 men was appointed to gooe over w‘" me, for whom, 
 at the requestes of the Justices and other w ,h in 
 the counties where they are leavied, I have 
 pvided a masse of armor, because I wold have 
 them well furnished for that service, w ch armo r 
 and furniture I have in readines, and payd for 
 the same a great somme of money, and yf it shold 
 nowe be turned uppon me, and not taken awaye 
 accordingly my expectation, I shall therby become 
 a greate loser ; I am therefore to desyre yow to 
 conferr w th the rest of the comissioners, and to 
 certifye me, what peells and kinds of armo r and 
 furniture yow do agree uppon to receave at my 
 handes upon my sayd .pvicion, and for the same 
 to do what yow maye to hasten the mony to be 
 payd, as in my sayd Ires to yow and them I have 
 appointed : and I will not fayle, accordinge to 
 my <pmise, to cause the armo r and furniture to be 
 deliverid at suche tyme and place as yow and they 
 shall thinke convenient : And even so byd yow 
 
14 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 right hartely well to fare. From the Courte, this 
 xixth of October 1574. 
 
 Yo r verye loving frind, 
 
 H. Sydney. 
 
 X. 
 
 To the right worshipfull and my verye lovinge 
 frendes S r Edwarde Maunsell 1 and S r Edwarde 
 Stradlinge, Knightes. 
 
 After my verie hartye comendacons, Whereas 
 her Ma tes Ires and proces is addressed to yow and 
 others Justices of the Peace in the Countie of 
 Glamorgan, for the aydinge and assistinge of the 
 reverend father the Bishopp of Landaffe’s 2 substi¬ 
 tutes for the lawfull induction of one John Evans, 
 Clerke, M r of Arte, to the benefice of Coitie;" 
 althoughe I suppose that upon the receite of the 
 sayd tres yow will accordinglye doe yo r endevoures 
 as you be required and directed by the sayd tres, 
 yet for that I am desirouse that the cause should 
 
 1 Sir Edward Mansel, eldest son of Sir Rice Mansel of Oxwich 
 Castle and Margam, in Glamorganshire, was knighted in 1572. 
 He died August 5th, 1585, *t. 54. He married Lady Jane Somer¬ 
 set, daughter of Henry Earl of Worcester. She died in 1597, aged 
 67. The etymology of Mansel appears to be established in the 
 “ Roman de Rou,” translated by Taylor, p. 109, where Angevins 
 and Mausels refer to natives of Anjou and Mans. 
 
 2 William Blethyn, Bishop of LlandafF 1575 to 1590. 
 
 3 Coity is a parish in Glamorganshire, near the town of Bridgend. 
 There are considerable remains of the ancient castle, the inheritance 
 of Barbara Gamage. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 15 
 
 take his dewe effect w th out farther .ptract’ of tyme 
 or delaye to the ptie : I have thought it not amisse, 
 by my privat Ires, to praye you that the xxvii"' 
 daye of this present Marche, w ch shalbe Pauline 
 Sondaye next, abowt the howres of ix or x of the 
 clocke in the morninge, you will not fayle to be 
 at the pishe churche of Coitie, ther to asyst by 
 yo r presences the full execution of her Ma tes presses. 
 And even so, hopinge that yow will herein satisfye 
 my request, I byd yow hartely farewell. From 
 Ludlowe Castell, the xvi lh of Marche 1579- 
 Yo r assured lovinge fiend, 
 
 H. Sydney. 
 
 XI. 
 
 To the right worshipfull and my verye lovinge 
 frendes S r Edwarde Stradlinge and S r Wiftim 
 Herbert, 1 Knights, and to eytlier of them. 
 
 After my verye hartie comendacons. Whereas 
 there hath ben of late some brawles 2 and conten- 
 
 1 Sir William Herbert, grandson of Sir George Herbert of Swan¬ 
 sea, and eldest son of Matthew Herbert, by Mary daughter of Sir 
 Thomas Gamage, Knight, died in 1596. There is a monument 
 erected to his memory in the Church of St. John, Cardiff, with 
 figures of Sir William and his brother Sir John Herbert. The in¬ 
 scription, nearly illegible, commemorates their public services. 
 
 2 It should seem from the Penrice Papers, that the state of society 
 
 in Glamorganshire was very unsettled at this period. We may ad¬ 
 duce as an instance, a serious affray in June 1576, between the 
 Bassetts of Beaupi6 and the Turbervilles of Penlline, who fought in 
 the street of Cowbridge with swords. Legal proceedings took place 
 in the Star Chamber, but nothing is said of the result. In 
 
16 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 tions betwixt the surnamed Thomases and the 
 Johnes, and woundes receaved on either syde, and 
 greate harme done; and by reason thereof, by 
 meanes of ther kinred, w ch is great on both sydes, 
 ther is verie liklie to fawle out ptakinge, 1 and more 
 harme growe then were to be wished, and therfore 
 needfull in dew tyme to be prevented : for appeas- 
 inge whereof I mynded my self to have taken some 
 travell and to have harde and ended the matter, 
 and for that purpose stayed the Thomases and 
 sent for Johns: whoe by reason he came not as I 
 expected, I would not detayne the Thomases any 
 longer, but dismissed them. And since the Tho¬ 
 mases are gone, the Johns are come, and the 
 principall of them, whom the matter most con- 
 cerneth on that syde, excuseth him self that he 
 hard not that he was sent for before nowe, for 
 that he was in Glocester shire w th my Lady Ar- 
 nolde, soe that his frendes, not knowinge where he 
 was, could not geve him knowledge of myne in¬ 
 tention. Whereof to the intent the matter maye 
 take some good ende, the ptyes satisfyed, and the 
 peace henceforth observed; wherefore I require 
 
 In 1557, Sir George Herbert of Swansea marched his retainers 
 J nto Gower, and attacked the Castle of Oxwich, in the absence of its 
 owner, Sir Rice Mansel. During the fight, an aged relative, Mrs. 
 Ann Mansel, of Llandewi, was struck on the head by a stone, and 
 killed. An inquest was held, but there is no trace of punishment 
 having been awarded. 
 
 1 i. e. Combination. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 17 
 
 you to have speciall care, I desyre yow to call 
 both the ptyes before yow, and to treate w th them 
 to make them frends. And to examine the cause, 
 who gave the first occasion, and to deale soe by 
 your wisdomes and discressions as the matter may 
 take some good ende for the preventinge of the 
 mischife and inconvenience that otherwise by 
 tract’ of tyme may growe to the disturbance of 
 the peace and disquiet of the countye. Which yf 
 by yo r good endevours yow can not doe, certifie 
 me in whom the defaulte resteth, that then I may 
 take further order as the case shall require. And 
 even so I byd yow hartely farewell. From Breck- 
 noke, the xvii th of August 1580. 
 
 Yo r lovinge frind, 
 
 H. Sydney. 
 
 Postscript. —I praye you certifie me what you 
 have done, by the firste daye of October next. 
 
 XII. 
 
 To the right worshipfull and my verye lovinge 
 frendes S r Edward Stradlinge and S r William 
 Herbert of Swansey, Knightes, and M r Thomas 
 Lewis of the Van, Esquier. 1 
 After my very hartye comendacons. Wheras 
 the Q: Ma tes Ires of commission are from henc di- 
 
 1 Thomas Lewis, Esq. of the Van, Glamorganshire, sheriff 
 for that county in 1569, married first, Margaret, sister of Sir 
 
18 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 rected unto yow one the behalf of certein mer- 
 chantes of Bristoll my good frendes, and, namelye, 
 Johne Barker, who serveth me of divers necessaries 
 and pvicons for the use of this howse, to praye 
 and require yow to take some travell and care for 
 restitution to be made unto them of theire goodes, 
 w ch by shipwarke and casualitie upon that cost are 
 fallen into the handes of divers meane and base 
 people: And albeit I am geven to understande 
 by the sayd Barker, that he hath founde greate 
 frendshipp and courtesie from yo r selfFes, w ch he 
 acknowdedgeth and thankefullie remembreth ; yet 
 neverthelesseyf he be not eftsones furthered by yo r 
 frendly meanes, he and his ptiners are verie like to 
 receave greate detriment and losse ; w ch verie loth 
 I would be they should doe (if conveniently the 
 same might be remedyed) : I hartely therefore 
 praye yow that, like as frendlye and carefullye 
 yow have delt in the cause hitherto, for the w ch 
 I effectuallye thanke yow, so yow will continewe 
 that cowrse of favorable dealinge towardes the 
 sayd merchantes, that the rather by yo r goode 
 endevours and travell they may recover ther 
 
 Thomas Gamage, Knight; secondly, Catherine, daughter of Sir 
 George Matthew, Knight. His descendant, Thomas Lewis, left 
 an only daughter, Elizabeth, who married Other, third Earl of 
 Plymouth. His lordship died in 1732. The Honourable Robert 
 Henry Clive, who married the Lady Harriet Windsor, sister of 
 Other Archer, sixth Earl of Plymouth, is the present proprietor of 
 the Van estates. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 19 
 
 goodes, whiche are dispersed in those base peo¬ 
 ple’s hands, (as conscience and neighbourlie deal- 
 inge wold,) w th as littell difficulty e as may be : 
 wherin yow shall deserve both comendacons and 
 thankes: And even so recomendinge the cause 
 unto yow, and the ptyes as my lovers and frendes, 
 I byd yow farewell. From the Q: Castell at Lud- 
 lowe, the xxi th of Marche 1581. 
 
 Yo r assured lovinge freude, 
 
 H. Sydney. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 To the right worshipfull his very loving frende 
 S r Edwarde Stradlinge, Knight, at S' Donattes. 
 
 I have receaved yo r Ire of the xvi ,h of this 
 monethe the xxv th of the same, touchinge the con- 
 traversie dependinge betwine John Robertes and 
 Lamrocke Stradlinge ; wherin you must hold mee 
 excused, for that I beinge heere absent from the 
 Corte in the Marches, and but one alone, w th out 
 anie of the counsell there, can not of my self 
 give anie resolute aunswere therin : howebeit what 
 lyethe in me to doe I have done. I have written 
 to my cossen Henry Towneshend, one of the coun¬ 
 sell there, to consider thereof; and, savinge the 
 hono r of that house and jurisdiction of that courte, 
 
20 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 to graunte unto yo r request in all respectes. And 
 even thus at this tyme, w th my most harty comen- 
 dacons, I byd you right hartely farewell. From 
 my house at Pensherst, the xx tl! of February 
 1584. 
 
 Yo r assured frend and lovinge allye, 
 
 H. Sydney. 
 
 XIV. 
 
 To the right worshipfull S r Edwarde Stradlinge, 
 Knight, and my la: his wife, his most lovinge 
 allies. 
 
 I thanke you more hartely for yo r great love 
 and frendshippe showed unto my sonne, Robert 
 Sydney, in this matter of his mariadge, then I 
 am able to expresse w th my pen, beseechinge you 
 most hartelie of the connten a nce [continuance P] of 
 yo r well approved good will; assuringe yow that 
 albeit I dare not presume to offer anie just requitall 
 therefore, yet doe I bind me by this presents my 
 tres evermore duringe my life to be thankefull to 
 yow for it, and to save yow and either of [you] 
 harmelesse for anie thinge that yow have done, or 
 will doe in the same matter, notoffendinge the lawes 
 further then the same are transgressed alreadie. I 
 comitt you to the guidinge of o r moste gracious 
 God : Whoe evermore blisse yow and my good 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADUNG. 
 
 21 
 
 daughter whome yow have adopted to me. From 
 Wilton, the xxix ,h of September 1584. 
 
 Yo r verie assured loveinge frend 
 and faythefull allie, 
 
 H. Sydney. 
 
 XV. 
 
 To the right worshipfull his verie lovinge frend 
 and allie, S r Edward Stradlinge, Knight. 
 
 Wheras the Queenes Ma tle is resolved upon a 
 Parlamente to be holden this next monethe, to 
 w ch elide her Highnes’ writtes shalbe directed unto 
 yow of that shiere for the callinge of yow ther- 
 unto; and forasmuche as there is one to be 
 chosen whoe maye be the Knight 1 for that yo r 
 slieire; theis shalbe most hartelye to beseeche 
 yow, that sithe it hath pleased God of his gra¬ 
 cious goodness to matche my sonne Robert Syd¬ 
 ney w th an inheretrix of that countrie, (for w ch 
 I am, and will ever acknowledge my self muche 
 beholdinge to yow, and my good la: and cossen 
 yo r wife,) yow would in continuinge yo' good will 
 and favoure towardes him, helpe to prefer him 
 unto that place by procuringe the voices of soe 
 manie free holders as yow can pVaile w th . And I 
 doe assuer yow in his behalf, what soever his 
 
 1 Sir Robert Sydney was elected Knight of the Shire for Glamor¬ 
 ganshire in 1585. 
 
22 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 libertie shalbe, that he will be as willinge to 
 pforme anie office for the eomoditye of that coun- 
 trye as shalbe requisite; havinge soe good a pa- 
 trimonie therin as he hathe. And soe aeaine 
 beeseechinge yo r favo r , and promisinge my self 
 redie bothe to requite this and other yo r kind¬ 
 nesses as I maye, w ,h most hartye eomendacons 
 to my la: and cossen youi'e wife, I comitt yow 
 to the Almightie. From Wilton, the XX th of 
 October 1584. 
 
 Yo r most assured lovinge cossen, 
 
 H. Sydney. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 To the R. worshipfull S r Edward Stradlinge, 
 Knighte. 
 
 Sir Edwarde, Her Majestye hath nowe thrise 
 caused letters to be written unto you, that you 
 suffer not my kinsewoman to be boughte and 
 solde in Wales, without her Ma tles pryvetye, and 
 the consent or advise of my L. Chamberlayne 
 and my selfe, her father’s cosen germayns : con- 
 sideringe she hath not anie niror kyn nor better; 
 her father and my selfe came of twoe systers, S r 
 Phillipp Champnowne daughters : I doubte not 
 but, all othe r pswasion sett apte, you will satisfie 
 her Higbnes; and withall do us that curtesie as 
 
 O 7 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 23 
 
 to acquaint us with her matchinge. Yf you de¬ 
 sire anie matche for her of youre owne kynn, yf 
 you acquaynt us withall, you shall fynde us 
 readye to yeilde to anie reason. I hope, S r , you 
 will deale heerein moste advisedlie: and heerin 
 you shall ever fynde us redye to requite you in 
 all thinges to our power. And soe with my verie 
 hartye comendacons I end. In haste. From the 
 Courte, the xxvi th of September 1584. 
 
 Youre moste willinge frend, 
 
 W. Ralegh. 1 
 
 XVII. 
 
 To my very good cozen S r Edward Stradlinge. 
 
 My very good cosen, I cannot but thinke my 
 selfe very muche behouldinge unto yow for the 
 greate favor both yow and my la: yo r wife have 
 shewed my nephewe Sidney, by whose free con- 
 sente and fnrderaunce that matche was soe well 
 made uppe, w ch I hope shalbe verie happie to 
 them both. The frendshippe whereof as all his 
 frendes heare take as grete courtesye done unto 
 
 1 Sir Walter Raleigh, born in 1552, was the fourth son of 
 Walter Raleigh, who married Catherine daughter of Sir Philip 
 Champernoun of Modbury, Devon, relict of Otho Gilbert of 
 Compton, the father by her of Sir Humphrey Gilbert, the cele¬ 
 brated navigator. In 1568 he was sent to Oriel College, Oxford. 
 After an eventful life, he fell by the hands of the executioner, Oct. 
 29, 1618. He was an ornament to his country, and to the age in 
 which he lived. 
 
24 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 them selves, so will we be as redie to make yow 
 the best requitall any waye wee can, when oppor- 
 tunitye shall serve, wherein we may ; amonge w ch 
 assui'e yo r selfe yow shall fynde me moste willinge. 
 So w th my very hartye comendacons to yo r selfe 
 and yo r good ladye as unknowen, I byd yow har- 
 tely farewell. From the Courte att Otelandes, 
 this xxviii th of September 1584. 
 
 Yo 1 very good cozen, 
 
 Anne Warwyck . 1 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 To the right worshipfull my very lovinge frende 
 S r Edwarde Stradlinge, Knight. 
 
 After my very harty comendacons. I my self, 
 by reason of some sicknes, beinge absent from the 
 Corte, have sent yo r letter to the Clerke of the 
 Counsell to communicate unto their LL: from 
 whom you are forthw th to expect aunswere. I 
 doubt not but their LL: will take in very good 
 
 1 Anne, Countess of Warwick, was the eldest of the three daughters 
 of Francis second Earl of Bedford. She became the third wife of 
 Ambrose Dudley, Earl of Warwick, K.G. and was left a widow 
 without children in 1589. She was “ a lady of excellent character, 
 and of most refined parts and education, and one of Elizabeth’s few 
 female favourites.’’ She died Feb. 9, 1603-4-Vide Lodge’s Il¬ 
 
 lustrations, vol. iii. p. 220. She was related to the Stradlings, 
 through her great aunt, Margaret St. John, who married Sir 
 Thomas Gamage, Knight. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 25 
 
 parte yo r service donne herein, and signifie their 
 very harty thankes for the same. And soe I 
 cornytt yow to God. From my house at Barn- 
 elmes, the x th of Februarye 1583. 
 
 Yo r assured lovinge frend, 
 
 Fra: Walsingham. 1 
 
 XIX. 
 
 To the right worshipfull my very lovinge frende 
 S r Edwarde Stradlinge, Knight. 
 
 S r , I have receaved yo r Ire w th one enclosed 
 written unto you fr5 an Englishe prisoner in 
 Spaine, and will not fayle, as opportunitie serveth, 
 to acquainte hir Ma tle w th the contentes therof, as 
 also w th yo r dutifull carefullnes shewed in this 
 behalf. And although the matter it self is in my 
 opinion not to be feared, yet I praye you, as the 
 like occasions of advertism tes shall fall out, to con¬ 
 tinue yo r good endevo rs and readines in certefienge 
 the same hither. And so I comitt yow hartely 
 to thalmightye. From the Courte at Nonsuche, 
 the xxx th of July 1584. 
 
 Yo r very lovinge frend, 
 
 Fra. Walsingham. 
 
 * Sir F. Walsingham was of an ancient Norfolk family. By his 
 wife Ursula, daughter of Henry St. Barbe, Esq. of Somersetshire, he 
 
 C 
 
26 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 XX. 
 
 To his very lovinge frynde S r Edwarde Strad- 
 linge, Knight, in the countye of Glamorgan, 
 geve this w th speede. 
 
 After my harty comendacons. Whearas my 
 very good frend M r Doctor Aubrey 1 is for his 
 recreacon to make his repaier into Brecknoke 
 shiere, there to visite and make merye w ,h his 
 frendes ; for the accomplishment whereof he shall 
 stande in neede especiallye of veneson, and there¬ 
 fore hath requested me to writte unto you to fur- 
 nishe him of some. These are therefore to praye 
 yow, the rather at my request, to bestowe on him 
 one buck, w ch I will accept as thankefullye as 
 bestowed on my self, and not faile to requite this 
 courtesie as occasion shall serve. And soe I byd 
 you hartely farewell. From the Courte at None- 
 suche, this xxx th of Julie 1584. 
 
 Yo' very lovinge frend. 
 
 Fra. Walsingham. 
 
 had issue two daughters: one of whom, Mary, married Sir Philip 
 Sydney ; secondly, Robert Earl of Essex ; and thirdly, Richard de 
 Burgh, Earl of Clanrickard. Sir Francis was one of the ablest of 
 Elizabeth’s ministers. He died April 6, 1590, aged 54. 
 
 1 Dr. William Aubrey was a native of Brecknockshire. He held 
 various offices, and finally that of one of the Masters of Requests in 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 27 
 
 XXI. 
 
 To the right worshipfull my lovinge frends S r 
 Edwarde Stradlinge, Knight, and the Ladie 
 Stradlinge his wiefe. 
 
 After my hartie comendacons. Albeit by late 
 tres from my LLs: of the Councell to the She- 
 riffe of Glamorgan shire, S r William Harbert, 
 and others, her Ma tie apointed that the daughter 
 of M r Gamage, deceased, beinge in yo r house and 
 keepinge, should be deliverid to remaine w th some 
 of them ; yet since the writtinge of thes tres, hir 
 Ma" e for good causes hath thought yt verye re¬ 
 quisite that the sayd younge gentlewoma bee by 
 yow forthw th brought up hither to the Courte, 
 and to bee here delivered into the custodie of the 
 L: Chamberlaine. 1 Whereof hir Ma"' hath co- 
 maunded mee to give yow knowledg, to the end 
 that in case you have deliverid this gentlewoman 
 to the sayd sheriffe, or anye other of those gen¬ 
 tlemen to whom my LLs writt, you doe receave 
 
 ordinary to Queen Elizabeth. He died in 1595, and was buried in 
 old St. Paul’s Cathedral, London. Vide Dugdale’s St. Paul’s, 
 edit. 1658, p. 97. Ur. Aubrey was the ancestor of the Aubreys of 
 Llantrithyd in Glamorganshire, of whom Sir Thomas Digby Aubrey, 
 Bart, is the present representative. 
 
 1 Henry Lord Ilunsdon, nephew of Queen Anne Boleyn, created 
 Baron Hunsdon, 1559, K.G. died 1596. 
 
 c 2 
 
28 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 her back from them; to \v ch purpose I have nowe 
 by another ire to the sheriffe and rest signifyed 
 hir Ma tes pleasure, that no staye bee in them for 
 the redeliverie of hir to you. And moreover, hir 
 Ma tle hath willed mee in hir name to require you 
 to have speciall care that this younge gentle¬ 
 woman, after shee be redeliverid into your handes 
 to be brought upp as aforesayd, be not suffred to 
 have anye suche accesse to hir as wherby shee maye 
 contract or entangle hir self for manage w th anye 
 man. And for that some reports be geven owt 
 that she hath alreadie entangled hir self, hir Ma tle 
 would have you, by the best meanes you can, en- 
 forme youre self whether this be true or noe. 
 And yf it be soe, than in what sorte it is done, 
 that upon yo r repaire hither you may make report 
 thereof, and consideration bee had here whether 
 the gentlewoman have lawfully and orderly caryed 
 hir selfe in that behalf. And so I comend yow 
 hartely to God. From the Courte, the xx th of 
 September 1584. 
 
 Yo r lovinge frend, 
 
 Fra. Walsingham. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 29 
 
 XXII. 
 
 To the right worshipfull my very lovinge frend, 
 S r Edwarde Stradlinge, Knight. 
 
 S r , Wheras I wrotte in my other Ires that her 
 Ma tes pleasure was that you should take an es- 
 peciall care that the gentlewoman, younge M rs 
 Gamadge, should not any waye intangle her selfe 
 by promise for mariadge, but should be safely 
 conveyd up hether to the L: Chamberlayn : beinge 
 nowe secreatly geven to understande that for the 
 good will yow beare unto the Earle of Pembrocke, 
 you meane to further what yow may younge M r 
 Robert Sydney, I can not but incorage yow to 
 proceed therin, for that I knoweher Ma tle will noe 
 waye miselike therof: besyds the L: Chamber- 
 laine, M r Rawley, and the rest of the younge 
 gentlewoman’s kynsfolkes, doe greatly desyre yt. 
 For my particuler, in the respect of the good will 
 I beare to the younge gentleman amongest the 
 rest of his frends, I doe thinke my self greatly 
 beholdinge to you for your frendshipp shewed 
 unto him therin, w ch I shall be gladde anye waye 
 to requite. And soe in hast I comitt yow to Gode. 
 At the Courte, the xxi ,h of September 1584. 
 
 Yo r assured frend, 
 
 Fra. Walsingham. 
 
30 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 To the right worshipfull my very lovinge frend 
 S r Edwarde Stradlinge, Knight. 
 
 S r , What so ever blusteringe woords are geven 
 owt against you by younge M r Croftes 1 and his 
 frends there; you may be assured that you shall 
 not lacke frends to defend you, and to stande 
 betwine you and anye blame that may be layde 
 uppon you. The only advauntage they meane 
 to take against you, yf they might prove it, is, 
 that you receaved direction to bringe the younge 
 gentlewoman upp before the mariadge: but for 
 y* the messinger affirmeth that he came to your 
 howse two howres after the mariadge sollempnised, 
 there is no fault layde upon you by her Ma tie ; the 
 mariadge beinge generallye well liked of, savinge 
 by suche here as are partyes in the cawse. And 
 so w th most harty thankes, both unto yow and my 
 la: your wiefe, for yo r frendlie dealinge in this 
 cawse, w ch I will be glad w th any thankefullnes to 
 acknoledge duringe my liefe, I comitt yow to 
 God. At the Courte, the xxvii th of September 
 1584. 
 
 Yo r assured frend, 
 
 Fra. Walsingham. 
 
 Herbert, the grandson of Sir James Croft, was one of the 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADL1NG. 
 
 31 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 To the right worshipfull my very lovinge frend 
 S r Edwarde Stradlinge, Knight. 
 
 S r , I have receyved yo r Ire, and w ,h all have 
 seene the horse w ch you have sent to S 1 Phillipe 
 Sydney, 1 who I knowe will thankefully accept the 
 same at yo r hands. As for myne owne parte, I 
 can not but thanke you in his behalf, praeinge 
 you to make accompt that wherin either he or I 
 may stande you in steed, you shalbe assured of 
 any curtesye and pleasure we can shewe you : and 
 so I byd you hartely farewell. From my house 
 in London, the xi th of Januarye 1585. 
 
 Yo r very lovinge frende, 
 
 Fra. W alsingham. 
 
 XXV. 
 
 To the right worshipfull my very lovinge frend 
 S r Edwarde Stradlinge, Knight. 
 
 S r , You shall perceave by the generall tres 
 from my LL: of the Counsell in how good parte 
 
 competitors for the hand of Barbara Gamage. He became after¬ 
 wards Sir Herbert Croft. 
 
 1 Sir Philip was the eldest son of Sir Henry Sydney, K.G. and 
 
32 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 they take y* diligence used in the apprehension of 
 Lewes, that by the negligence of yo r servantes 
 was escaped. And for myne owne parte, I am 
 allso glade, in respect of the old acquaintaunce 
 that hath beene betweene us, and will be ready 
 uppon any occasion to advance yo r creditt to the 
 best of my power; whereof I praye yow to make 
 accompt: and soe byd yow hartely farewell. 
 From the Courte at Grenewiche, the x th of Maye 
 1585. 
 
 Yo r assured lovinge frend, 
 
 Fra. Walsingham. 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 To the right worshipfull S r Edwarde Stradling, 
 Knight. 
 
 S r , Wheras W ra Saunders, one of the mes¬ 
 sengers of her Ma tes chamber, was at the suite of 
 a Frenche marchant sent w th a warrant from my 
 LLs: of the Counsell to a place in Glamorgan 
 shiere, called Lantwitt, to bringe Adam Nichols 
 and Thomas ap Thomas before Gabrieli Hawley 
 
 was born at Penshurst in Sussex, 1554. He died, in 1586, of a 
 wound received in the battle of Zutphen in Guelderland, aged 32 ; 
 “ having attained, in that short period, more fame, admiration, and 
 esteem than any man of the sixteenth century.”—Chalmers’ Gen. 
 Biog. Diet. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADUNG. 
 
 33 
 
 and Edwarde Popham, Esquiers, Justices of 
 peace in the countie of Somersett; wherin the 
 sayd Saunders was employed two severall tymes 
 at his owne charges, w th out receyvinge anye 
 thinge, as is alleged, either from the Frenchman 
 or the parties that were sent for ; who nowe, as I 
 understand, have secretly agreed with the sayde 
 Frenchman, and soe refuse to satisfie the mes¬ 
 senger accordinge as in the like cases is and 
 ought to be don by others : These are to praye 
 you to call the sayd Thomas ap Thomas and 
 Adam Nieholls before you, and to take order w ,h 
 them both, beinge (as 1 am informed) men of 
 sufficient habilitie, that they answere and paye so 
 much unto the messenger as he ought by order 
 to have of them, as well for his fees as his ridinge 
 charges; for that otherwise the pooreman is likely 
 to be greatly adammaged by the jorney. And 
 in case they shall, not w th standinge yo r motion, still 
 deny to content the messenger accordinge to rea¬ 
 son, then that yow take bonde of them to appeare 
 here before my LLs: of the Counsaill to aunswere 
 the matter as appertayneth. And so I bidde you 
 hartely fare well. From the Courte at Grenewich, 
 the xvj th of Marche 1586. 
 
 Yo r very lovinge frend. 
 
 Fra. Walsingham. 
 
34 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OP 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 To the right worshipfull my very lovinge frend 
 S r Edwarde Stradlinge, Knight. 
 
 S r , I have receavid yo r letter at what tyme 
 beinge through my sicknes 1 absent from the 
 Courte, w ch hath broughteme to so great weakenes 
 as I shall not be able in longe tyme to repaire thi¬ 
 ther ; I cannot, as I desire, sollicitt yo r request to 
 be dispensed w"’all for not repairinge to yo r house 
 in Wales: and to comitt the same to the trust of 
 others, I knowe it will rather breed unto yowe 
 harme then good, otherwise I would have beene 
 glad to pleasure you therin the best that might 
 lye in my power. And therefore myne advice is 
 that it wilbe yo r best course to seeke by some 
 good meanes to reconcile yo r self to my Lord of 
 Pembroke’s favour and frendshippe. And soe I 
 comitt yow to God. From my house in London, 
 the xxix th of November 1587. 
 
 Yo r very lovinge frend, 
 
 Fra. Walsingham. 
 
 1 Vide Lodge’s Illustrations of History, vol. ii. 354-5, where Wal- 
 singham’s illness is particularly noticed in an anonymous letter to 
 the Earl of Shrewsbury, dated 11 October 1587. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADL1NG. 
 
 35 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 [Probably addressed to Sir Edward Stradling.] 
 
 .... aboute some necessarie causes that I 
 have treated of, and havinge not so muche spare 
 tyme as I can repayre to you before my goinge 
 to the Courte, my earnest desyre is that hit will 
 please you to come to Croft, 1 where you shall 
 fynd me the whole weeke after the feast of S' 
 Michaell; and, soe doinge, I shall thinke my self 
 much behouldinge to you, and be readie to re¬ 
 quite your courlesie. And so I comitt you to 
 God. At Carmarthen, thexxii" 1 of September 1582. 
 
 Yo r lovinge frend, 
 
 James Croft. 2 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 To the right worshipful! my very lovinge frend, 
 S r Edwarde Stradlinge, Knight, Sherieff of 
 the countey of Glamorgan. 
 
 After my very harty comendacons. Wheras 
 hit hath pleased the Queenes Ma tle to make choise 
 
 1 In Herefordshire. 
 
 3 James Croft, son of Richard Croft, by Katherine, daughter of 
 Sir Richard Herbert of Montgomery, Knight, was born about the 
 
36 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 of you to be Sherieff of the countie of Glamor¬ 
 gan, and understandinge therby the baliwicke 
 of Llantreissan 1 is in yo r gift, I am therefore 
 verye hartely to desyre you to bestowe the same 
 uppon my servaunt, George Woodnet, and to 
 accept of his sufficient deputie therin ; for the 
 w ch I am not onely to become thankefull, but 
 also readie to pleasure you in any think I maye. 
 Thus hopinge of yo r favo r herin, as yow shall 
 bynd [me] to requite you, I comitt you to God. 
 At the Courte, the of December 1582. 
 
 Yo r assured lovinge frend, 
 James Croft. 
 
 XXX. 
 
 To the right worshipfull my very good frend 
 S r Edwarde Stradlinge, Knight. 
 
 After my harty comendacons. Where [as] you 
 sente a prisoner byyo r servantes to be deliverid to 
 
 year 1520. In 1541, he was Knight of the Shire for the county of 
 Hereford. He was knighted in 1547. In 1551 he was appointed 
 Lord Deputy of Ireland. Sir James Croft was a member of the Coun¬ 
 cil of the North in Queen Mary’s reign. Elizabeth made him a Privy 
 Councillor in 1570, and in the same year Comptroller of her house¬ 
 hold. She entrusted to him the management of several important 
 affairs. Sir James represented Herefordshire in six parliaments of 
 Elizabeth. He died in 1591, and was buried in Westminster Ab¬ 
 bey. Vide Retrospective Review, New Series, vol. i. p. 469 to 491. 
 1 Llantrissant, a town in Glamorganshire. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 37 
 
 my Lords of the Councell, it happened (as you 
 have hard) that the prisoner is causuallye escaped, 
 w ch my lordes doe impute [to] a mischaunce that 
 mighte have happened amongest wise men ; and so 
 have I harde and knowen diverse licke escaps of 
 psons of greate accompte, and all borne w th all, when 
 all hath byn donne w ch in discretion semed to be 
 necessary, though the doinges beinge straightlier 
 handled mighte have wrought more securitie. 
 Therefore, I praye you, consider of yo r servantes’ 
 cases, who I doubte not have hearetofore searved 
 you lovinglie and dutifully, and heareafter will 
 serve you more consideratly. And so I pray 
 you lett thes fewe lynnes, w th my earnest request, 
 move you to be theire good master. And soe, w th 
 my comendacons to my good ladie yo r wife, I 
 eomitte you to God. At y e Courte, this x th of 
 Marche 1583. 
 
 Yo r assured lovinge frend, 
 
 James Croft. 
 
 Postscript. —You shall heare more from me 
 shortly ; but my staye hath byn for good purpos. 
 
38 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 To the right worshipfull my very lovinge frends, 
 S r Edwarde Mansel & S r Edward Stradling, 
 Knightes. 
 
 After my hartie comendacons. Wheras the 
 Queenes Ma" e hathe graunted unto me under liir 
 Highnes’ letters pattentes all concealed lands w th in 
 Englande and Wales, w ch my deputies, executors, 
 or assignes can fynd out w th in foure yeres nexte 
 after the date of the sayd graunte; theise shalbe 
 to signifie unto you that I have appointed Thomas 
 Walbye 1 to be my deputie w th in the countye of 
 Glamorgan ; and, for fyndynge out of suche 
 concealmentes comission is graunted to diverse 
 there, amongest the w ch I doe repose a speciall 
 trust in yow bothe, hartelie prainge you to take 
 some payne in the execution of the sayd comis¬ 
 sion, as I shalbe readie to requite every of yow 
 Av th any thinge that may lye in my power. And I 
 byd you hartelie farewell. From the Courte, this 
 xxiiii tle of Julie. 
 
 Yo r assured, 
 
 James Croft. 
 
 1 Probably of the family of Walbeoffe in Brecknockshire. Vide 
 Jones’s Brecknockshire, vol. ii. p. 583. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 39 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 To the right worshipfull S r Edward Stradling, 
 Knight. 
 
 After my hartie comendacons. Contynuinge still 
 in that opinion w ch I was in at yo r late beinge at 
 Croft, and my sister Gamage 1 sendinge for Hal¬ 
 bert Croft whom she hath not seene since he was 
 very younge; I thought good to take occasion 
 that the yonge man might have a sight of M“ se 
 Gamadge in goinge or cominge thorowe the con- 
 trey, and have written to M r Gamage to desyre 
 him that the parties maye have an interviewe; 
 and for better handlinge of the cawse, I do take 
 advise of my cozin Harbert 3 of S‘ Julyans, who 
 either in pson or by letters myndeth to have con¬ 
 ference w th you herein. S r William Harbert of 
 Swansey likethe of the motion, and my Lorde 
 Hawarde 4 is privye to my intente, w"'out whose 
 likinge I would in noe wise deale. And yf the mat¬ 
 ter be well handled, I hope God shall prosper our 
 doinges. Referringe all to yo r good consideration, 
 
 1 Joyce Croft married Sir Thomas Gamage, Knt.: vide portion 
 of a letter from her, p. 2. 
 
 2 The term Mistress was in those days synonymous with Miss. 
 
 3 Sir William Herbert, of St. Julyans, near Newport, Mon¬ 
 mouthshire, whose daughter Anile married Sir Edward Herbert, 
 afterwards the eccentric Lord Herbert of Cherbury. 
 
 4 Charles, Lord Howard of Effingham. 
 
40 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 remembringe the conferrence that I had w tt you at 
 Croft; and I comyt you to God. At y e Courte, 
 the XV th of December 1583. 
 
 Yo r lovinge frinde, 
 
 James Croft. 
 
 XXXIII. 
 
 To the right worshipfull my very lovinge frynde 
 S r Edwarde Stradlinge, Knight. 
 
 After my very hartie comendacons. I do not 
 thinke my self a litle behouldinge unto yow for 
 yo r kindnes shewed to my sonne, 1 the bearer hereof, 
 at his last beinge w th you ; for the w ch , I assuer 
 you, you shall fynde that I will not be unthanke- 
 full either to you or anye of yours when occasion 
 shalbe offred. I have hitherto rested in expecta¬ 
 tion of my cozin Gamage his cominge upp ; but 
 seeinge he is not yet come, neither for anie thinge 
 I heare hath anie intent to come, I thought good 
 (my sonne havinge occasion to travaile that waye) 
 to make bould once againe to troble you w th suche 
 a guest, hopinge that, as occasion shall serve, you 
 will contynewe yo r good mynde towards him in 
 furtheringe his cawse. I must entreate you to 
 thanke my good ladie yo r wiefe for him, to whom 
 
 1 Grandson. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 41 
 
 (as he enformeth me) he is verey muche bounde 
 for her favo r towardes him. Thus, accomptinge 
 my selfe as greatly indepted unto yow, I comytt 
 you to God. From the Courte at Otelands, the 
 iii de of September 1584. 
 
 Yo r verye lovinge frinde, 
 
 James Croft. 
 
 XXXIV. 
 
 To the right worshipfull S r Edward Stradling, 
 Knight. 
 
 S r Edwarde, You knowe that when I first mo- 
 cyoned a mariadge betwine Harbart Croft and 
 M ris Gamage, I asked yo r good will, and w th out yo r 
 prevetie and consent I did nothinge: the circum¬ 
 stance I will omitt, and only put you in remem¬ 
 brance that yo r hande writtinge is extant, and 
 likewise yo r weyve’s, geavinge consent and further¬ 
 ance. And nowe fyndinge that M r Gamage is dead, 
 yo r wiefe hathe taken the gentlewoma forceblie 
 from Herbert Croft, and as a prisoner dothe soe 
 detayne her as he cannot have accesse unto her : 
 w ch injurye, consideringe how the case standeth 
 betwixt them, is vereye strange. Whereof when 
 [you] shall advise yo r self, I hope yow will doe that 
 w ch shalbe for yo r worshipp and creditt in the face 
 
42 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 of the world. And, so doinge, I shall thinke my 
 self behouldinge to yow, yeldinge suche frindshipp 
 and courtesies as suche worshipfull and honest 
 dealinges deserveth: otherwise I must seeke courses 
 I would be loth to dooe to anye of yo r reputa¬ 
 tion. And so I comitt yow to God. At y e Courte, 
 the xvii th of September 1584. 
 
 Yo r lovinge frind, 
 
 James Croft. 
 
 XXXV. 
 
 To the right wor 11 S r Edward Stradling, Knight. 
 
 S', In steed of yo r favorable curtesyes sheAved me, 
 I returne you a few lynes as a meanes to yeld you 
 harty thankes for them. Howe farr I thinke my 
 selfe indepted to you, my readines to deserve those 
 favors, yf any occasion be offred, shall serve me for 
 a testimonye; being desirous to showe my selfe 
 thankefull in deedes rather then words. I Avishe 
 you noe troble to neede me, but I Avoid gladlv 
 gayne occasion to manifest my good Avill. I have 
 let my lorde my M r understand howe muche you 
 have made me bounde unto yoAv, in hope that he 
 will performe that requytall in actyon w ch I use in 
 Avoordes. My grandfather comendes him to yow, 
 and thinkes him selfe not alitle beholding to yoAv. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 43 
 
 Thus, restinge at yo r comaundement, I take my 
 leave. From the Courte, this xxvi th of Februarye 
 1583. 
 
 Yo r kinsman bownd in good will, 
 
 Herb. Crofte. 1 
 
 XXXYI. 
 
 To the right wor 11 S r Edward Stradling, Knight. 
 
 S r , I understand that S r James Whytney hath 
 byn in yo r country to gayne that 2 w ch I woold fayne 
 have, but what successe he hath had I knowe not: 
 wherefore I am most earnestlye to pray yow to 
 take the paynes to wrytte unto me thereof; for the 
 
 1 Herbert, eldest son of Edward Croft, and grandson of Sir 
 James Croft, born about 1571, (according to Cole’s Escheats, Bri¬ 
 tish Museum,) though it should seem that his birth must have taken 
 place before that period. lie represented the county of Hereford in 
 1592, 1601, 1603, 1614, and was knighted at Theobalds’ in 1603. 
 In the Cottonian MSS. are two letters from Sir Herbert; one of which, 
 written in 1617, is printed in the Memoirs of the Croft Family, 
 already referred to, p. 492. It is curious, as giving an account of 
 James the First’s behaviour toward such members of parliament as 
 dared to express their real sentiments in that assembly. Soon after 
 this period, Sir Herbert embraced the Roman Catholic faith, became 
 a monk of the Benedictine order at Douay, and died there 10th 
 April 1622. By his wife, Mary, heiress of Anthony Bourne of Holt 
 Castle, Worcestershire, he had nine children. His descendant, Sir 
 Archer Croft, Bart, is the present representative of this ancient 
 family. 
 
 2 The hand of Barbara Gamage. 
 
44 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 w ch curtesye, as I am already for a great many, 
 soe shall I for this thinke my selfe excessively 
 bounde to you. I hope I shall, ere ytbe longe, see 
 you, being bould to troble you : those to whome I 
 fynde my selfe behoulding I knowe not howe I 
 may, but I woulde be right glad to fynd any oc¬ 
 casion to deserve some parte of yo r curtesyes. 
 Thus, hoping that yow will contynew yo' favour 
 towards me in this matter, I comytt yow to God. 
 From the Courte, this fyfth of July 1584. 
 
 Yo r kinsman at cbmaund in what I maye, 
 
 Herb. Croft. 
 
 XXXVII. 
 
 To the right worshipfull and his very lovinge 
 cosen S r Edward Stradlinge, Knight. 
 
 Right worshippfull, My harty comendacons 
 used unto you and to my good ladye youre bed- 
 fellowe. I doe thinke my selfe very muche be¬ 
 holden to you bothe, for youre good willes towards 
 mee, and will be as glade to requite the same yf 
 occasion mought serve; in the meane tyme, thinke 
 my selfe to be youres in that I can doe. I under¬ 
 stand you have expected my cominge unto you 
 twiese or thriese, to your charges; I am sorie for 
 yt, the breache was not longe of mee ; 1 I thought 
 1 Not my fault. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 45 
 
 to have seene you fortenight paste, but my cosen 
 Gamedge his busines and leasure, as he signifyed 
 unto me by his Ire, would not serve to performe 
 my promise; and wheather my cosen hath altered 
 his determinacon, and meanes to detracte tyme, 
 and therby in eande to shifte me of, or whether 
 yt be bona fide he alleged his buisines greate both 
 in hande and before the Counsell in the Miches 
 aboutes the xxii th of this moneth, [he] hath 
 willed me to deffer tyme untell the springe. I 
 would I knewe the trouthe; I am very doubtefull, 
 and soe doe rest untill I heare from him againe : 
 there was noe wante of good will in me; there ys 
 noe man voyde of enimyes, speciallye in theis 
 causes. Thus I comend you to the tuycon 
 of thallmighty. Whyttneye, the fowerth of No¬ 
 vember. 
 
 By yo r assured cosen, 
 
 James Whitney. 1 
 
 1 Sir James Whitney, of Whitney, Herefordshire, was Sheriff for 
 that county in 1574 and 1586. His will was proved in the Prero¬ 
 gative Court of Canterbury, 1587. He appears to have possessed 
 considerable estates in the counties of Hereford, Radnor, Gloucester, 
 and Warwick. He died without issue, making his brother Eustace 
 his heir. This letter must have been written before 1584, the period 
 of Barbara Gamage’s marriage. 
 
46 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 XXXVIII. 
 
 To the right worshipfull and my very lovinge 
 frende S r Edwarde Stradlinge, Knight. 
 
 S r Edwarde Stradlinge, Havinge occasion to 
 come, at this present, thus neere yower howse as 
 Cowbridge, 1 whether although I have benne more 
 then two yeres past determyned to come, y* nowe 
 my departure att this present beinge for some 
 occasion very sooden, I have thought good to sig- 
 nifye you that I woulde too morrowe, yf it were 
 nott to your disease, some tymes betwine two and 
 fower of the clock in thafternoone, mett w ,h you 
 att S' Bryds neere Ogmoore, because some parte 
 of my busynes lyeth there aboutes, from whence I 
 should returne in my waye homeward to morrowe 
 night: and yf it shall not be for your ease to come 
 soe farre, then, yf I may understand by this 
 bearer that you will be att whome att two of the 
 clock in thafternoone to morrowe, I will come by 
 yo r house as I goe. And thus wishinge my right 
 harty comendacions to you and my lady, I co¬ 
 mitt you to Godes defence and keepinge. From 
 Cowbridge, this present Saterday the xvii th of Au¬ 
 gust. Yo r very lovinge frind, 
 
 James Mountjoye. 2 
 
 1 In Glamorganshire. 
 
 2 James Blount, Lord Mountjoy, died in 1593.—Banks’ Extinct 
 Baronage, vol. iii. p. 538. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 47 
 
 XXXIX. 
 
 To the right worshipfull and my very loving 
 frend S r Edward Stradling, Knighte. 
 
 Good S r Edwarde Stradling, with my most 
 harty comendacons unto you and to my lady. 
 Having the occasyon of this bearer, as I cannott 
 but geve unto you both my most harty thankes 
 for the courtesyes you shewed me at my late be- 
 inge in your contrey, so must I also desyre to 
 make both my excuse and M r Winslade’s to my 
 lady, for that the great conferrens that M r Win- 
 slad and I have had towchinge Mountejoy and 
 Joyesland 1 hath made us both somewhat beyond 
 good maners to bringe her horse thus farre as 
 Newporte. S r , yf yow might conveniently, in a 
 letter suerly sealed, convey the coppyeof the booke 
 you promised me to M r William Cam’s howse, 
 I have left order that one Butler, a man of myne 
 dwellinge in Ratcleffe Streate , 2 wher M r Carne’s 
 howse allso ys, shall see the same most safely con¬ 
 veyed to me. And I trust, before hytt be longe, I 
 shall eyther send you some of thes newe cronikles, 
 
 1 Joyes’ Land is noticed in the Compotus Roll of Henry Earl of 
 Pembroke for 1599, in the Editor’s possession. It was situate within 
 the Lordship of Ogmore, Glamorganshire, of which Lord Pembroke 
 was lessee under the Duchy of Lancaster. 
 
 1 Bristol. 
 
48 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 or other booke that shall also like you. And 
 thus I most hartely bed you farewell. From 
 Newporte, 1 this last of August 1577. 
 
 Yo r very loving frind, 
 
 James Mountjoye. 
 
 XL. 
 
 To the right worshipfull my lovinge cozyn S r 
 Edwarde Stradlinge, Knighte. 
 
 Worshipfull and my good coosen, I had 
 thought longe since to have written thankes unto 
 you and yo r good ladye for my greate cheare at 
 my late beinge theare w th you. But I deferred the 
 same untill I might have convenient messenger : 
 w ch fyndinge nowe at this presente, I cannot but 
 geveyow all hartie thankes, promisinge you that yf 
 any yo r occasions drawe you into these partes, not 
 to have the like good cheare, but to be noe lesse 
 Avelconi; and besyde, yow shall have me readye in 
 all good will to pleasure you in whate I maye. 
 And soe w th most hartye comendacons to your selfe 
 and my good ladye, I comitt you bothe to God. 
 From Carewe, the xxi th of November 1577. 
 
 Yo r assured and very loving cosen, 
 
 J. Perrot . 2 
 
 1 Monmouthshire. 
 
 2 Sir John Perrot of Carew Castle, Pembrokeshire. He is sup¬ 
 posed to have been a natural son of Henry the Eighth, by Mary, 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 49 
 
 XLI. 
 
 To the right worshipfull my very lovinge cozen 
 S r Edwarde Stradlinge, Knight, these be de¬ 
 livered. 
 
 Right worshipfull and my good cozen, After I 
 have sente you and yo r good ladye all hartye 
 salutations, w th thanks for my greate entertayn- 
 ment when I was at yo 1 house, wishinge that yow 
 would once make some jorney to these parties that 
 we might be merie heere. And in that I am geven 
 to understande that cattell is very good cheape in 
 that countrey, as it is generallie in eve^ye place, 
 1 have thought good to putt you in some paynes 
 there, as I would be readie to doe anie thinge for 
 you heere, to appointe yo r bailieff, or some trustie 
 on longinge to you, to helpe this bearer hereof to 
 buye me twenty milche kyne; the w ch yo r ser- 
 vauntes travell shalbe considered. I would wishe 
 that yo r man made a booke what the prices of the 
 kyne shuld be, and in some letter that you send me 
 a note thereof. Money this bearer hathe to make 
 
 wife to Thomas Perrot of Haroldstone, Pembrokeshire. He was 
 Deputy of Ireland ; but was eventually disgraced, and died in the 
 Tower, 1592. Sir John was distantly related to the Stradlings.— 
 Vide Lhuyd's Caradoc of Lancarvan, p. 139, first edition. 
 
 D 
 
50 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 payment therefore : and as I putt yow to paines 
 herin, soe will I not thinke it any troble for me 
 to doe ought for you in this countrey that in me 
 shall lye. And soe I byd you and yo r good 
 lady r e hartely farewell. From Carewe, this xv ,h 
 of September, anno 1578. 
 
 Yo r verye loving cosen, 
 
 J. Perrot. 
 
 XLIT. 
 
 To the R. wo r his verie lovinge cosen S r Edward 
 Stradlinge, Knighte. 
 
 After my hartie comendacons unto you. Whereas 
 the Quenes Ma tie , of her gracious favo r , hath here¬ 
 tofore graunted a patent of the gaylorshipp of 
 that countie to David Morgan, a gentleman of 
 good parentage, and servaunte to M r D. Lewis, 
 o r verie good frende, w ch he hath ever since en¬ 
 joyed ; I have thought good hereby to request 
 you to shewe him yo r lawfull favo r in the exercise 
 of his said office, either by himself or his deputie ; 
 and yow shall by sufficient suerties be saved 
 harmeles, accordinge to the wordes of his said 
 patent. And what favo r I shall here he dothe 
 repe by these my Ires I shall rest thankfull for 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 51 
 
 it, and wilbe redie to requite it as you shall have 
 occasion to use me. And so I bidd yow well to 
 fare. From the Courte, the xii th of December 1582. 
 
 Yo r assured loving cosen, 
 
 Tho. Perrot . 1 
 
 XLIII. 
 
 To the right worshipfull and my singuler good 
 cossens S r Edward Stradlinge, Knight, w th my 
 good ladye and cossen his wiefe. 
 
 I comend me unto yow most harty (my assured 
 good cossynes) w th full trust that yow are in good 
 healthe, w cl> I wishe to yow both as to my self; and 
 to yow, my good cossen, that felicitie and com¬ 
 fortable newes unto me from yow that at lengthe 
 yow are made a glad mother of a jolye boye, w ch 
 gladly shoulde drawe me to Glamorgan at one 
 instante, to be bothe a cossine assured and a joy- 
 full gossippe, w ch God graunte. In the meane 
 
 1 Sir Thomas Perrot, son of Sir John Perrot, married in 1583 
 Dorothy, eldest sister to the Earl of Essex. In 1592 Elizabeth 
 restored to him the estates forfeited by his father. He did not long 
 survive, for his widow married the Earl of Northumberland in 1594. 
 Nichols, in his Progresses of Queen Elizabeth, vol. ii. pp. 319, 320, 
 thus speaks of Sir Thomas at the Tilt-yard devices, in 1581. 
 “ Sir T. Perrot and Master Cooke were both in like armour, beset 
 with apples and fruit, the one signifying Adam, and the other Eve, 
 who had hair hung all down his helmet.” 
 
 d 2 
 
52 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 tyme I comende unto you this bearer, Wiltim 
 Griffith, w ch hath made choyse of all others to be 
 you re servaunte; for w ch purpose he hathe ,pcured 
 his frendes, suche as I doe like well of, to make 
 earnest meanes unto me for thees my letters: 
 and therefore I hartely pray yow twayne to ac- 
 cepte him into yo r service, and to consent in 
 continuinge yo r favo r towardes him in [such] sorte 
 [as] he shall deserve, and somewhat the more 
 favorable at my request. My wiefecomendeth her 
 self unto yow bothe. And soe I comitt you to God 
 w th all prosperous hapines. From my house at 
 London, the xxvi ,h daye of May 1577. 
 
 Yo r assured lovinge cossen, 
 and frend, 
 
 T. Buckehcrst . 1 
 
 XL1Y. 
 
 To the right worshipfull my very good cosyn & 
 frend S r Edward Stradling, Knight. 
 
 My very good cosen, w th my right harty co- 
 
 1 Thomas Sackville, Lord Buckhurst, K. G. was related to the 
 Gage family through Elizabeth, daughter of John Parker, of Ratton, 
 Sussex, by Joan, daughter of Sir Richard Sackville, of Buckhurst, 
 who died in 1523. Elizabeth Parker married Sir Edward Gage. 
 Vide Gage’s Hengrave, 236. Lord Buckhurst obtained his title in 
 1567. In 1599 he was appointed Lord Treasurer. He was created 
 Earl of Dorset in 1603, and died in 1608. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 53 
 
 mendaeons to my good ladye and your selfe, to 
 whome both my wiefe and I doe most hartely 
 wishe well. I understande that on John Hawkes 
 a carpenter, dwellinge in Lewis 1 towne nere me, 
 hath taken upon him a brydge 2 to make not fan- 
 from you ; and forasmuche as the man is well 
 knowen to me to be a very good workeman, and 
 suche a on as in my opinion will undoutedly 
 bothe honestly and skilfully performe that w ch 
 he taketh in hande; therefore I doe the rather 
 willingly recomende the man unto you. And soe 
 wishinge that we might ons [more] see you & my 
 lady amonge your frends and allies here in Sussex, 
 wheare we should be infinitly glad to have yow, I 
 ende. This X th of Marche 1582. From Lewys. 
 
 Yo r assured lovinge frend and 
 
 cosyn in all that I can, 
 
 T. Buckehurst. 
 
 XLY. 
 
 To the right worshipfull my very good cosyn 
 S r Edward Stradlinge, Knight, be these de¬ 
 livered. 
 
 My very good cosen, I can but wishe most 
 hartely well to yow and my cosyn yo r wiefe ; and 
 
 ' Sussex. 
 
 5 Probably the bridge at Cardiff, mentioned in page 70. 
 
54 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 as, in all occasions wherin I might pleasure you, 
 I shall for ever be founde most redye to stande 
 you in all the steede I can, soe am I likewise as 
 bould w th you in all occasions of anye of myne. 
 And nowe, at this present, understandinge that you 
 are Sherife of Glamorgan shere, where one M r 
 Anthony Morley remayneth, I am on the behalf 
 of John Vynill, this bearer, my servant, to praye 
 you that he may have his proces served upon 
 him: he is a poore man, but very honest, and all 
 that ever he hath lieth in the handes of the sayd 
 M r Morley, kept from him of a longe tyme; soe 
 as, w th out yo r helpe to have his proces served, he 
 shalbe utterly undoon, beinge come out of Sussex 
 into thos partes of Wales onely to seeke remedy 
 in this his injurye offred. And soe, not doutinge 
 but in this case of justice you will helpe him, and 
 the rather for my sake, I wishe you most hartely 
 well From London, this xvii th of October 1583. 
 
 Yo r assured lovinge 
 
 Frend & cosyn, 
 
 T. Buckehurst. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADL1NG. 
 
 55 
 
 XLVI. 
 
 To the right worshipfull my very lovinge cosin 
 S r Edward Stradlinge, Knight. 
 
 My very good cosin, I doe right hartely thanke 
 you for yo r great courtesie showed to this bearer, 
 Witlim Jones, for my sake; I would I had occa¬ 
 sion to requite the same to any frendes of yours 
 here in these partes, w ch you shall allwayes fynde 
 me most readye to doe. And soe, w th my very 
 hartye comendacons unto you, I wishe to you as 
 to my self. From the Courte, this last of Oc¬ 
 tober 1588. 
 
 Yo r very lovinge cosin 
 
 & frend assured, 
 
 T. Buckehurst. 
 
 XLVII. 
 
 To my very lovinge frend S r Edward Stradling, 
 Knight. 
 
 After my harty comendacons unto yow. 
 Wheras I perceave by my cosin, M r Wiltim 
 Brydges, who loste a soare tassell gentell in Lente 
 laste ; and beinge geven to understande that the 
 same ys happned into yo r handes, and taken upp 
 
56 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 eyther by yo r self or some of yo r men ; the 
 rather at this my request yow will deliver the same 
 unto this bearer, whom my sayd cosin hathe 
 sente of purpose for the same, upon such marks 
 as he shall declare unto yow that his sayd haucke 
 hathe. Herin yow shall pleasure my frende, and 
 use mee in the like to requyte youre curtesy. 
 And so I cornytt you to the tuytion of theHigheste. 
 From Ragland Castle, 1 the xxiiii ,h of J uly 1578. 
 
 XLVIII. 
 
 To my very lovinge frind S r Edwarde Stradlinge, 
 Knighte, geve this. 
 
 After my very hartie comendacons. Where my 
 good frende, Henry Sekeforde, Esquiere, one of 
 her Ma tes prevye chamber, did aboute Crismas 
 last wrighte his letters to S r Edwarde Mansell 
 concerninge a supposed fact comitted at sea, 
 agenste the Frenchmen, by some ill disposed 
 psons that used the same M r Sekefordes name in 
 those affayres, and brought the tvynes to Bristoe 
 and other partes of Wales, as I am geven to 
 un[der]stande, to be sowlde: the w ch letter I am 
 advertysed remaneth in yo r handes, althoughe the 
 
 1 This letter was probably written by William Earl of Worcester, 
 K. G. who died in 1589. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 57 
 
 Frenchmen that psecuted the matter there agenste 
 him have, by what sinister meanes I knowe nott, 
 obteyned a coppie of the same, that makethe 
 them the bowlder to vex my good frende here 
 in courte. I am therefore very hartely to praye 
 you, at this my requeste, to sende me up 
 the same letter under M r Sekefordes hande by 
 some messenger w th convenient expedition, \v ch 
 either you have in your keepinge, or maye at 
 yo r pleasure obteine for me, wherby I shall the 
 better deliver the same to my Lorde of Lecester, 
 who is partie towched in the matter. And yf yow 
 have nott the principall letter, I praye signifye 
 me what is become of it. And for that I nether 
 would have my Lorde of Lecester 1 towched 
 therin, nor any strange matter urged upon M r 
 Sekeford, makethe me the rather to crave the 
 letter to come unto my handes ; wherin you shall 
 nether be p>judised for deliveringe the letter, nor 
 fynde me unwillinge to remember yo r forwa r nes 
 to satisfie this my desyre. Soe for this tyme I 
 byd yow hartely farewell. From my lodginge in 
 Warrwicke Lane, this ix th of Maii 1579. 
 
 Yo r loving frinde, 
 
 W. Worcester. 
 
 1 Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, K. G. died in 1588. 
 
 D 5 
 
58 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 XLIX. 
 
 To my lovinge cosen S. Ed: S: K: Higlie Sherif 
 of y e com of Glamorgan. 
 
 After my hartye comendacons. I receaved yo r 
 letter ; and where yow wrote that the laste proces 
 I sent unto you came to late, I have att this 
 present hereinclosed sente other twoe, which I 
 hope shall come in good tyme. And shall desire 
 you to shewe me soe muche frendship as that they 
 maye bee searved effectuallye, wherby I maye 
 come by my owne soe longe detracted. And thus, 
 not doubtinge of youre frendlie dealinge herein, 
 I stande readye to requite, and soe take my leave. 
 Ragland Castle, the xxv th of Februarye 1582. 
 
 Yo r lovinge cosen, 
 
 W. Worcester. 
 
 L. 
 
 To my assured good cozen S r Edward Stradlinge, 
 Knighte, Highe Sherieff of the county of 
 Glamorgan. 
 
 After my harty comendacons. Wheras I 
 sente unto yow certen proces to attache Phillipp 
 Bowen and his suerties, they have made humble 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADL1NG. 
 
 59 
 
 sute unto mee to forebeare the execution therof 
 untell the next tearme, w th promis to see mee 
 satisfied, as this bearer, my servante Cowche, whoe 
 can farther att large declare unto you my mynde : 
 otherwise, if I shalbe forced heareafter to use yo r 
 frendshipp therin, as I have heretofore founde 
 you ready to pleasure mee, soe shall I desyre you 
 the continuaunce thereof, yf occasion soe recpiire, 
 w ch I wilbe ready to requite to any frende of yo rs 
 at all tymes. Thus I cornytt yow to God. From 
 my Castle of Raglande, the xvi th of Aprill 1583. 
 
 Yo r assured cosen, 
 
 W. Worcester. 
 
 LI. 
 
 To my very lovinge cosin S r Edward Stradling, 
 Knight, Highe Sheriefe of the county of Gla¬ 
 morgan. 
 
 After my very harty comendacons. Wheras 
 heretofore I requested youre furtheraunce for the 
 servinge of certen proces uppon Bowen and his 
 suertyes, wherin I have founde yow very ready & 
 willinge to pleasure mee: nowe, for that hee hath 
 not kept promise w th mee, I am by his owne desarte 
 forced to praye you to see these two processes to 
 be duly executed upon him and his sayd suertyes, 
 
60 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 as my trust vs in vow ; and, thus doiuge, vow 
 shall pleasure mee. w I will not bee unmindefull 
 to requite at all tymes. And soe I comitt vow 
 to God. From mv Castle of Raglande, the last 
 of Maye 1583. 
 
 Yo r loving cosen, 
 
 W. "Worcester. 
 
 LII. 
 
 To my lovinge cosin S r Edward Stradlinge, 
 Knight. SherifFe of the countie of Glamorgan. 
 
 After my harty comendaeons. I have sente 
 yow hereinelosed certeu processes, w I have here¬ 
 tofore trebled you w a : I prav you shewe me soe 
 much frendshipp, that it may be suerly servid: 
 and I shalbe readv at all tvmes to requite it. 
 And soe 1 byd vou hartelv farewell. From mv 
 Castle of Raglande. this siii“ of July 15S3. 
 
 Yo r assured cosen, 
 
 W "Worcester. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 61 
 
 LIII. 
 
 To my very lovinge cossen S r Edward Stradling, 
 Knighte, Highe Sheriff of the county of Gla¬ 
 morgan. 
 
 Aeter my hartie comendacons. Whereas yow 
 have severall writtes at my sute againste Phillipp 
 Bowen and his suertes ; theise are to geve yow 
 thankes for yo r good indevor in the executinge 
 of the same. And for that, uppon speciall sute 
 made for him, I am contented to suspende my 
 sayde sute against him for this tyme ; and shall 
 desire you to sende the same writtes unto mee 
 by the bearer hereof, and to proceed noe farther 
 therin. And soe, beinge ready to requite yo r 
 courtesye, I comitt you to God. Raglande Castle, 
 the xxvii th of August 1583. 
 
 Yo r assured cosen, 
 
 W. Worcester. 
 
 LIV. 
 
 To my very lovinge cosen S r Edwarde Stradlinge, 
 Knighte, Sheriffe of the county of Glamorgan. 
 
 After my verie hartie comendacons. Whereas 
 there ys due unto mee as a Lorde Marcher, w ,h in 
 
62 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 my Lordshipps Marchers and Lordshipps Royall, 
 the moitie of diverse yssues w th in the countye and 
 hundrethe counties, w ch I knowe is very well 
 knowne unto you; I have thought good to re¬ 
 quest you that youre undersheriffe, or some other 
 by you appointed, maye yelde and accompte unto 
 this bearer, Phillip Bowen, to my use, accordinge 
 to my warrante geven unto him ; wherin as I 
 hope to fynde you very frendly and ready to 
 yelde mee my righte, soe shall I bee alwayes 
 readye to pleasure you as I maye. And thus, 
 comittinge you to the tuieon of the Almightye, I 
 take my leave. Raglande Castle, the xxviii th of 
 October 1583. 
 
 Yo r lovin cosen, 
 
 W. Worcester. 
 
 LV. 
 
 To my verie loving frend S r Edward Stradling, 
 Knight. 
 
 Good S r Edward, Beinge geven to understand 
 of yo r curtesye in bestowinge yo r gifte of a bene- 
 fyce upon a chaplayne of myne, for the which I 
 am to yeild you moste hartie thanks; notw th stand- 
 ing, beinge at this psentt advertised of some si¬ 
 nister practyse made towchinge the same, I am 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 63 
 
 therefore most hartely to desire yow, the rather 
 for my sake, to contynew yo r good favor therin, 
 wherby he maye reape the benefytt thereof ac¬ 
 cording to yo r good meaninge, wherin I shall 
 not only be thankefull unto you, but requite yo r 
 curtesye in anie thinge I maye. And soe, with 
 my verie harty comendacons, I comitt you to the 
 tuicon of the Allmightie. From my howse in 
 London, the of Aprell 1593. 
 
 Yo r vearye loving frind, 
 
 E. Worcester. 1 
 
 LYI 
 
 To my very lovinge cosen and frend Edwarde 
 Stradlinge, Esquier. 
 
 Good cosen Stradlinge, For as muche as the 
 Queenes M tle intendethe to be att my howse at 
 Ramesburie, 2 the ix th of September next, att w ch 
 tyme I am desirous to have the companye of my 
 frendes and kinsemen there; wherfore, yf you 
 amongste other will take so muche paynes as to 
 come and be merie w ,h me then, after her Grace’s 
 departure thenc we will hounte. And I trust the 
 
 1 Edward, Earl of Worcester, K. G. son of William, Earl of Wor¬ 
 cester, succeeded to the title in 1589, and died in 1628. 
 
 2 In Wilts. 
 
64 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 next yeare, by Godes furtheraunce, to be merie 
 w th you in Glamorgan shire j and shall in the 
 meane tyme for yo r courtesye thinke my selfe 
 muche behouldinge unto you. And so, w ft my 
 hartye comendacons, I comitt you to God, whoe 
 sende you well to doe. In haste, att Downeton, 
 this ix th of Auguste 1572. 
 
 Yo r assured cosen & frind, 
 
 H. Pembrocke . 1 
 
 LYIT. 
 
 To my right assured frende and lovinge cosen 
 Edward Stradlinge, Esquier, at S' Donattes, 
 geve theis. 
 
 Cousen Stradlinge, After my harty comendacons. 
 Where I did by my letters requeste you to take 
 
 1 Henry, Earl of Pembroke, K. G. succeeded his father in 
 1569. He sat on the trial of the Duke of Norfolk, and on that of 
 Mary Queen of Scots. In 1586 he was made President of the 
 Council in the Marches of Wales. He laid out a considerable sum 
 of money in the repairs of Cardiff Castle ; and died at Wilton, 
 January 19, 1600-1. His third wife, Mary, daughter of Sir Henry 
 Sydney, is immortalized in Ben Jonson’s epitaph. — Collins’ 
 Peerage, by Brydges, vol. iii. p. 122-3. 
 
 The Marquis of Bute is the present possessor of Cardiff Castle 
 and the Glamorganshire estates, in right of his descent from Lady 
 Charlotte Herbert, who married Thomas, Lord Mountjoy of Eng¬ 
 land, and Viscount Windsor of Ireland. She was the only child of 
 Philip, Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery, who died in 1683. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 65 
 
 the paynes to have come to Remesburie when the 
 Queenes Ma tie thought to have made her «pgres 
 thether; and afterward receavinge other adver- 
 tisment of her alteration, and pceavinge youre 
 good readines of cominge thether, I willed myne 
 officers to advertise you of her Grace’s alteracon, 
 w 11 ’ thankes for yo r gentell readines, w ch I doe 
 thankefullie accepte ; I doe pceave that, either 
 by negligens or haste, myne officers dyd not so 
 pfectlye advertyze you hereof, as my meaninge 
 was they should. I doe praye you hartely to 
 thinke that I doe imbrace yo r willingnes as well 
 in that as in all other frendshippe towardes me ; 
 w ch I will not forgett, neyther at any tyme be 
 unthankefull yf occasion serve : and soe knoweth 
 thalmightie, whoe send you aswell to doe as my 
 selffe. Wilton, in haste, this vi th of October 1572. 
 
 Yo r assured frend & loving cosen, 
 
 H. Pembrocke. 
 
 LYI1I. 
 
 To my very lovinge cosen S r Edwarde Stradling, 
 Knight, geve thies. 
 
 Good cosen, Understandinge of some disagree¬ 
 ments and troubles latelye renewed betwene my 
 cosen Karne and you, and that ther is on bothe 
 syds greate pte-takinge, 1 to the grieff of your 
 1 Vide page 16, note 1. 
 
66 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 frends, and rejoysinge yo r ennemies, I have, as 
 one that wishethe well unto eyther pte, dealte w ,h 
 my cosen Karne for quietnes sake, as of my selfe, 
 not tofollowe any matter by sute of lawe, or com- 
 plainte unto the Counsell, untill suche tyme as I 
 maie heare from you ; hopinge that as he is con¬ 
 formable to any resonable end that I shall make, 
 so you will not be ageinst that w ch is soe requisite 
 and necessarye amongest neighboures and frendes. 
 And for my owne parte, rather then you should 
 contynew in this boylinge hatred, I will pur- 
 posslie, ife otherwise it can not be brought to 
 passe, make a jorney into the countrey to sett 
 yow att unitie, yf my cbminge may doe good ; and 
 that presentlye will I determyne, upon suche aun- 
 swere as I shall heare from you. And soe, w ,h 
 my right hartie comendacons, I byd you harte- 
 lye farewell. Wilton, this second of November 
 1575. Yo r assured loving cosen & frind, 
 
 H. Pembrocke. 1 
 
 1 “ In 1574 the Earl, and Countess his wife, accompanied with her 
 brother the Lord Talbott, and his lady, and divers other honourable 
 and worshipful personages, were honourably received into Wales by 
 the most part of the gentlemen of Glamorgan and Monmouth shires, 
 and with like entertainment brought to the Castle of Cardiff; where, 
 keeping a very honourable and sumptuous house to all comers, 
 
 they continued for the space of.days, riding abroad, and 
 
 visiting their friends, and viewing the country.”— Nichols’ Pro¬ 
 gresses of Elizabeth, vol. i. p. 408 ; from an unpublished MS. 
 —The Countess died in 1575. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 67 
 
 LIX. 
 
 To my very lovinge cosen S r Edward Stradling, 
 Knight, geve theis. 
 
 My very good cosen, In that yow were dealte 
 w th all by divers gentlemen of this countrie, and 
 my officers, to refraine yo r repaire to Cardif till 
 my cominge; I am nowe to request yow to take 
 the paynes to be here some tymes to morroe, and 
 that you will bringe the fewer companie, and those 
 of the most conformabliest myndes to quietenes, 
 and to leave behind you suche as have bene hurte 
 in the former frayes, for avoydinge suche farther 
 inconvenience as might ensue. To the like effect 
 I have written to the others, not doubting butt 
 that I shall have cause to thinke this my purposed 
 jorney well bestowed, when I shall so end thies 
 troubles as maye be for the quiet of the whole 
 countrie, and severally to yo r contentes. And 
 soe, w th my most hardest comendacons, I byd yow 
 farewell. Cardiffe, this xxvi th of November 1575. 
 
 Yo r assured lovinge cosen, 
 
 H. Pemerocke. 
 
 Postscript. —I thanke you, good cosen, for yo r 
 venison; desiring my hartye comendacons to my 
 cosen, yo r wiefe, may be remembred. 
 
68 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 LX. 
 
 To my very lovinge cosen S r Edwarde Stradlinge, 
 Knighte, geave thes. 
 
 With my moste harty recomendacons. Hav- 
 inge receavid yo r letter of the xiii th of this instante, 
 and perseyvinge by the contentes therof the tre¬ 
 bles, contrarye to my good meaninge and travell 
 taken, that are like to ensue w ,h out forsight had, 
 I have for preventinge thereof taken this course, 
 first to writte to my cosen Bassett in forme of the 
 copie of the Ire herin enclosed, w ch yf it take not 
 the effecte as I doe expecte, then I will assiste 
 you all I maye before my Lords of the Counsell 
 in the Starre Chamber; where I doubte not, yf 
 you and yo rs have geven no cause of newe offence 
 sythens I was at Cardiff, but that ye shalbe fa¬ 
 vorably harde, to the discreditt of yo r enemyes. 
 And so restinge further herin to prosead, as 
 by my sayd cosen Bassettes aunswere & other 
 pseedinges I shalbe forsyd, I end. At Wilton, 
 the xv th daye of June 1576. 
 
 Yo r loving cosen & frend, 
 
 H. Pembrocke. 
 
 After my harty comendacons. Wher I am 
 geven to understande that w th out any juste cause 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADL1NG. 
 
 69 
 
 newly geven, ye goe aboute to unryppe all the 
 contraversyes and varyances ag[r]eyd by me at my 
 laste beinge at Cardiffe, and have for those mat¬ 
 ters causyd <psses to be searvyd uppon sundrye 
 of my cosen Stradling’s frends and servaunts, I 
 wolde ye should knowe I take yt unkyndlye, con- 
 syderinge my travell, and that ye respecte not yo r 
 promyse that ye and yo rs wolde be to him and 
 his a faythefull frende, as he and his shold be 
 unto you and yo rs . Suerly, yf ye retracte not yo r 
 sute in the pmisses, I shall, as I have just cause, 
 bee a dealer therin to the discoverye of yo r un- 
 quietnes, and the preventinge of suche trobulsome 
 devyses as by the same ys ptendyd, to the vexinge 
 of the countrey. And soe, respectinge [expecting ?] 
 yo r present resolut aunsweare, I ende. Att Wil¬ 
 ton, the xv th daye of June, anno 1576. 
 
 LXI. 
 
 To my very lovinge cosens S r Edwarde Stradling, 
 S r Wilim Herbert, Knightes, and William 
 Mathewe, Esquiere, and to everye of them. 
 
 After o r right hartye comendacons. I have 
 written a letter to the justices of the peace of the 
 countye of Glamorgan, in answer of a letter sent 
 unto me from my cosen, S r Edward Manxell, and 
 
70 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 a greate nomber of the justices, gentlemen, and 
 freeholders of that countye, touchinge the re- 
 paringe of the decayed bridg 1 neare Cardiffe; 
 vv ch brydge, forasmuche as yt lyeth w th owt the 
 libertyes of Cardiff towne, thinhabitantes of the 
 same towne, as I thinke, are not otherwise to be 
 chardged for the reparinge of the same then after 
 the ordinarye rate of the whole shier, except of 
 their owne benevolence they wilbe contente to 
 strayne them selves further, as by statute made 
 for l-epayringe of decayed brydges, anno xxii do 
 Henrici viii vi , playlye appeareth. Wherefore 
 these are to praye you to geve yo r favorable fur- 
 theraunce in that behalf. Soe, wishinge unto you 
 as to my self, I ende. Wilton, this xviii"' of M$ch 
 1578. 
 
 Yo r loving cosen, 
 
 H. Pembroke. 
 
 1 In the Sydney Papers, vol. i. p. 274, is a letter from the Sheriff 
 and Justices of Glamorganshire to Sir H. Sydney, Lord President of 
 Wales, dated July 8, 1580, and signed by Nicholas Herbert, Ed¬ 
 ward Mansell, Leyson Pryce, Edward Stradlynge, and others, in¬ 
 forming him that, at a county meeting recently held at Cowbridge, 
 it had been “ agreed on all sides that a stone bridge should be built 
 at the common charge.” 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 71 
 
 LXII. 
 
 To my very lovinge cosen S r Edward Stradling, 
 Knight. 
 
 After my harty comendacons. I understande 
 by myne officers, Thomas Wiseman and Robart 
 Grove, of yo r frendlye sendinge them venison to 
 Cardiffe, for w ch I hartely thanke yow. And that 
 allso they have sythens written unto yow to be- 
 stowe one me some deare towardes the storinge 
 of my new parke, 1 w ch I pray you to accomplishe; 
 and I will not onelye requite yo r courtesye, butt 
 they shalbe readye to pleasure yow againe (the 
 grounde beinge stored) when yow shall have oc¬ 
 casion to use them. And soe I bydd yow hartelye 
 farewell. Saru, this xxii th of November 1578. 
 
 Yo r loving cosen, 
 
 H. Pembroke. 
 
 LXIII. 
 
 To my very lovinge cosen S r Edwarde Stradling, 
 Knight. 
 
 I thanke yow, my good cozin, for rejoysinge 
 w th me for the blessing 2 that God bathe bestowed 
 
 1 At Wilton. 
 
 2 William, eldest son of Henry Earl of Pembroke, by Mary 
 daughter of Sir Ilenry Sydney, was born at Wilton, April 8, 1580. 
 
72 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 uppon me; hartelye wysshinge yow the like sonne, 
 knowinge it woulde be unto yow, and my cozin 
 yo r bedfellowe, a greate joye and comforte, as this 
 is to my wyf and me. And soe, w th my wive’s 
 and my righte harty comendacons to you bothe, 
 I ende. At Wilton, the xxix ,h of Aprill 1580. 
 
 Yo r lovinge cosen, 
 
 H. Pembroke. 
 
 LXIY. 
 
 To my verie lovinge cosen S r Ed: Stradlinge, 
 Knighte. 
 
 My good cosen, I am verie hartelie to desire 
 you, yf this yeere 1 yow shall be appoincted Sherif 
 of the countie of Glamorgan, to bestowe the bay- 
 liwicke of Llantrissent upon this bearer, my ser¬ 
 vant, Edwarde Williams, whoe will (as I am 
 informed) geve yow sufficient assuraunce by good 
 suertyes for his honest discharge of y‘ service. 
 His wife was nurse unto my sonne, which maketh 
 me more willinglie to write, and more earnestlie to 
 desire youre frendshippe for him. And thus, as- 
 suringe you I shall moste hartelie thanke you for 
 the pleasure you shall doe him at this my requeste, 
 
 Sir Edward Stradling was Sheriff for Glamorganshire in 1581. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 73 
 
 comendinge my selfe moste hartelie unto you, I 
 bidde you farewell. Wilton, this xvi th of No¬ 
 vember. 
 
 Yo r very lovinge cosen, 
 
 H. Pembroke. 
 
 LXY. 
 
 To my very lovinge cosyn S r Edwarde Stradlinge, 
 Knighte, geve these w th speede. 
 
 Cosyn Stradlinge, Afterour liarty comendacons. 
 These are to desyre yow w ,h all the speed you cann 
 possibely to send hether to me a hundrethe of the 
 best calivers 1 you have for the contrey, w th there 
 furneture, and w th as many of the trayned men as 
 you can, to use the same peeces in the service of 
 her Ma ,e . Thus, hopinge that you w th all speed 
 dll sett forwarde the same, we ende in haste. 
 Oardiffe Castle, this xiii th of May 1582. 2 
 
 Yo r lovinge cosen, 
 
 H. Pembroke. 
 
 W. Harbert. 
 
 Thomas Lewys. 
 Anthonye Maunxell. 
 Nycholas Harbert. 
 
 1 A hand-guD. “ Tlie name is a corruption of Calibre ; the 
 name being given in the early part of Elizabeth’s reign to these 
 pieces, the bores of which were of one standard size.” — Skelton’s 
 Armour, plate cxv. 
 
 s Queen Elizabeth laboured under considerable anxiety at this 
 
 E 
 
74 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 Postscript. —Cosen, you are a comissioner for 
 marine causes; wherefore, good cosen,lett us have 
 youre companye heare to morroe by five of y e 
 clocke in the morninge, w th a dosen archers and 
 some spare bowes and arrowes, if you maye. 
 
 LXVI. 
 
 To my very lovinge cosen S r Edward Stradling, 
 Knight. 
 
 My good lovinge cosen, Wher I have harde a 
 sharpe complaynte of some misdemeanor against 
 Thomas Bassett and John Bassett, sones of 
 Richard Bassett, 1 Esquiere, whoe beinge accom- 
 panyed w th Edward Bassett, William Bassett, 2 
 and Thomas Xpkor Bassett, and others, about 
 ix or x psons, have offied suche enorme dealinges 
 to one Robart Spencer, and one Edwarde Johns, 
 as they stand in feare of their lives, and doe 
 therefore crave the peace against the sayd partyes, 
 their complices and servantes, I thought good to 
 referr the due examination hereof to yow and my 
 
 period. Her negotiations with France, Spain, the Netherlands, and 
 Scotland, were of a complicated character. 
 
 1 Richard, sixth son of Jenkin Bassett of Beaupre. 
 
 5 William Bassett and Thomas Christopher Bassett were sous of 
 Christopher Bassett of St. Athan, Glamorganshire, a younger bro¬ 
 iler of William Bassett of Beaupre. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 75 
 
 cosen Will a m Bassett whoe, beinge bothe in 
 comission of the peace, and neare to all the parties, 
 maye more conveniently try owt y e truth ; know- 
 inge that you will administer suche indifferent 
 justice as I may be saved harmeles, the inordi¬ 
 nate behavio r of y e offendo r s repressed, and the 
 complayn a ntes quiett soe fully pcured, as they 
 shall have no farder cawse of just greiffe heare- 
 after. And soe, w th my right harty comendacons, 
 I leave yow to the ptection of Allmightie God. 
 Cardiffe, the xix th of June 1582. 
 
 Yo r lovinge cosen and 
 assured frende, 
 
 H. Pembrocke. 
 
 LXYII. 
 
 To my very lovinge cosen S r Edward Stradlinge, 
 Knighte. 
 
 Righte welbeloved cozen, I am mocionid to 
 writte unto yow for the examination of a cause 
 
 1 William Bassett, Esq. of Beaupre, Glamorganshire, eldest son 
 of William, and grandson of Jenkin Bassett, married Catherine, 
 daughter of Sir Rice Mansel, Knt. He died in 1586, and was 
 buried in Combe Monkton church, near Bath. There is a quaint 
 epitaph on his monument from the pen of the learned Doctor Tho¬ 
 mas Leyson, who married his daughter Mary. Mr. Bassett was 
 Knight of the Shire in the Parliaments of 1563 and 1571. 
 
 e 2 
 
76 CORRESPONDENCE OP 
 
 betwene one Jevan Lten of Tyryarlt, and a daugh¬ 
 ter of Thomas ap Jevan ap Meredyth, one of my 
 ten a ntes of my sayd Lp: for that the sayd Lten is 
 deply chardged to have soe misused the daughter 
 of the sayd Thomas as shee is greate w th childe : 
 wherin the father seekethe that the sayd Lten 
 might marye his daughter, for satisfienge his 
 duetie towardes the world and God ; and wolde 
 geve them fower kyen and xl. sheepe in mariadge, 
 beinge more then he ys well worthe. If by yo r 
 meanes the partye may be brought to mary her, 
 or otherwise to susteyne punishment, and to keept 
 y e childe, w th some recompence to her father ac- 
 cordinge to the lawes of the realme, yf yow fynde 
 him faultye, the ould poore man will reken him 
 self bounde to praye for yow, and be readye to doe 
 any service that he cann. And soe, as my selfe, I 
 recomend yow to Almightye God. Cardiffe, the 
 xx th of June 1582. 
 
 Yo r lovinge cosen and assured frend, 
 
 H. Pembrocke. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 77 
 
 LXVIII. 
 
 To my very lovinge cozen S r Edward Stradling, 
 Knight. 
 
 My very good cosen, After my harty comen- 
 dacons. Thease are to requesteyow that yow will 
 geve yo r electione, w th such frendes as you can 
 procure, unto my brother Robart Sydney, that by 
 yo r meanes, w Ul the residue of my frendes and free¬ 
 holders there, he maye be chosen Knight of the 
 Shire of Glamorgan, for the w th he shall demaunde 
 noe chardges of the countrie att all ; and of yo r 
 frendshipp herin I assure my selfe. And soe I 
 leave yow. Wilton, y e xviii th of Octobe 1584. 
 
 Yo' very lovinge cosen, 
 
 H. Pembrocke. 
 
 LXIX. 
 
 To his righte worshipfull cosen S r Edwarde 
 Stradlinge, Knight. 
 
 After harty comendacons. Wheras there was 
 heretofore an office 1 founde uppon the deathe of 
 yo r late father for landes w ch he held in Penllyne, 
 wherin, as yo r selfe cannot deny, I receavid open 
 wronge ; and therupon an agreement made in that 
 1 An inquisition. 
 
78 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 behalf, and yow bounde for the trav’singe of y e sayd 
 office ; theis be to signefie that the not trav’singe 
 of the sayd office is nowe objected ageinst me, to 
 the pjudice of my inheritaunce, and the principall 
 thinge moost stoode upon : wherefore I hartely 
 pi aye yow to testifie soo muche in the premisses, 
 and deliv 1 the verye trewe state of the matter 
 w th indifferencye concerninge the sayd office and 
 traverse, as in equitye and conscience yow be 
 bounde. And soe, nothinge doubtinge of yo r 
 good dealinge in this behalf, doo byd yow hartely 
 farewell. Saru, this xxii ,h of February 1585. 
 
 Yo r lovinge frend and cosyn, 
 
 H. Pembrocke. 
 
 LXX. 
 
 To S r Edwarde Stradlinge, Knyght, and Wyllyam 
 Mathewe, 1 Esquier. 
 
 There were lately deliverid unto me by the LL: 
 of her Ma tes most honorable privey counsell cer- 
 v taine examinations taken by you, and letters writ¬ 
 ten from you concerninge Beere, a pyratt, ridinge 
 w th a prize in the harborough att Pennarth ; w ch 
 dealinge of yours, as in some sorte [it] caused me 
 
 1 Probably William Matthew, Esq. of Radyr, near Llandaff, who 
 married Margaret, daughter of Sir George Herbert of Swansea. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 T9 
 
 to rejoyes to see justices so carefull for dischardge 
 of those dutyes w ch they are bounde especially to 
 regard, so dyd it occasion me in like maner to 
 greive, because I coneeavid the same rather to 
 |)seede from malyce to me, or contempt of me, 
 then from an upright meaninge to redress offences 
 or to punishe offendors. The two later I hartely 
 desyre, and will earnestly endevour may be in due 
 sorte performed : the two former, as faultes in yo r 
 selves and abuses to me, I wish maye be (as they 
 ought) reformed. But that this may be in suclie 
 maner considered that neither I be deemed sus¬ 
 picious w ,h out reason, nor you blamed w th out 
 cause, let yt be respected what should move you 
 two only to entermeddle in this accion. Are you 
 alone carefully mynded to respect the good of yo r 
 countrey, or alone aucthorized to chasten suche 
 faultes, or continually accustomed to use such 
 integritie in yo r offices that neither you may be 
 thought for favour to wyncke att, or for malyce 
 to prye into, offences? Yf I should ymagyne the 
 two forifl, I must eyther blame all others for not 
 doinge what they ought, or thinke they have not 
 what aucthority they should : theire honestie for- 
 bides me to conceave thone, and the comendahle 
 and carefull indifferency followed in the gover- 
 ment of this state enforceth me not to suspect 
 thother. And when I enter into consideration of 
 
80 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 both your accions, I doe not fynd such singu- 
 larytie in the upright administration of justice, 
 that I maye justly thinke you eache way faultles ; 
 for it is reported that some ryottes, unlawfull 
 assemblyes, many frayes and bloodshedes, yea, 
 pad venture blodye accions, have not byne not 
 onely unpunished, but bowlstered bv you ; w ch yf 
 it be so, as I wishe the tryall prove the contrary, 
 you are not in deed what you seeme in showe. 
 But I am not willinge att this tyme to syfte yo r 
 doinges curiouslye, althought I am by dutve to 
 my countrey and my Queene most bounden not 
 heareafter to overpasse them carelesly. But, that 
 I may not enter in consideracons of other causes 
 then yo r late proseedinges, let the course be re¬ 
 garded w ch you have followed, and the matter 
 considered w ch yow have enformed. Yo r complaint 
 is to the Llo s ; and others of her Highnes p r vye 
 counsell, psons, as most carefull of theire owne 
 callinge, and most liable to reforme badd people’s 
 misbehavio r s, soe not willinge that others her 
 Ma ,es officers should be unaquaynted to suche 
 thinges w ch ,pperly concerne their pticular offices. 
 The cause complayned of is piracye; the place yt 
 is nowe bolstered, Wales: that one to be punished 
 by the Lord Ad mi rail, this other to be governed 
 by the Lord Presydent. Yf eyther of these had 
 denied or slacked behovefull justice, they [be] 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 81 
 
 blame worthy for not doinge their dutyes, you 
 worthy comendacons for complayninge els where : 
 hut not to make them privey to this matter, as 
 it doth pjudice their athoritye, soe it doth ma¬ 
 nifest yo r malyce; hut this I will passe over, 
 lest, for that it concerneth my self in regarde of 
 my vizadmirallty and {Jcidencye, some like 
 mynded to yo r selves may interprett the same 
 to he more for maynten a nce of myne aucthority 
 then for just blame of yo r dealinges. Yow 
 complayne that her Ma tcs comission to yow 
 graunted—I knowe none you have—is by the offi¬ 
 cers of Cardyffe contepned. Why so? They refused 
 to send certayne psons to such place as yow re¬ 
 quired, whom you would examyne, and to suffer 
 such watchmen whom you did appoint. I am not 
 only unwillinge to excuse them yf they have 
 offended, hut wilbe most willinge they shoulde he 
 punished when it shall he prooved ; and there¬ 
 fore, yf yow conceave what I shall saye for them 
 he to defend them, you doe me wronge, for I only 
 would have your selves see that you are in myne 
 opinion hardly effected towardes them, because 
 they seeke to defend their libertyes, w eh I must be 
 ready in orderly manor to uphould. You sent 
 yo r warrantes to the bailieffes to bringe before 
 you John Lewys and others: they answered, yf 
 it will please yow to come to their towne house, 
 
 e 5 
 
82 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 they shold appeare; yf not, they could not fullfyll 
 yo r comaundement w th out pjudice to their liber- 
 tyes. They had more reason, in my conceipt, to 
 geve this answere then you shewed indifferency to 
 mislike the same, for they dyd not hinder yow 
 from doinge justice, but yow dyd seeke to hurte 
 them for defendinge their charters. You ap¬ 
 pointed some to watch whom they forbad to 
 watch. They had reason nether to obbaye what 
 you had non aucthoritye to comaunde, nor to 
 allowe of them for fytt watchmen in the night, 
 of whose unruly blody behavio r s they had of late 
 certayne experience in the daye; for, but the for- 
 biddinge of yo r watchmen is a psumption that 
 they ment to geve unlawfull libertye for the vic¬ 
 tualling of the pyrat, you nether shewe charity 
 to conceave yt nor have reasone to proove yt: for 
 what is it to purposse two padventure lewde fel- 
 lowes, Gascoigne and Will a ms, were aborde and 
 dyd bringe victualles to the pyrates; shall the 
 lewdnes of those two proove the baylieffes dis¬ 
 honest ? I see non other reason for that but yo r 
 owne malyce, w ch makes you to affyrme ytt; when 
 even the confessions you alleadge tend no fur¬ 
 ther but to prove there w r as victualls brought for 
 the Fleminge, not for the pyrat ; but of this I am 
 to saye nothinge: yf any have offended, it is rea¬ 
 son they should, and suerly they shalbe severally 
 punished. And as I have longe sine written to 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 83 
 
 some for apphencon of this pyrat, soe I have 
 inowe geven chardge for examininge each tliinge 
 and eache pson conserninge any unlawfull ayde 
 geven unto him. Asyow wishe the LL: to consider 
 whome the townesmen’s bouldnes doth concerne, to 
 whome it may apperteygne,and what in tyme maye 
 ensue thereof, in w ch darcke speache yow may be 
 thought to have no good meaninge to me, soe I 
 would have you remember the same in yo 1 doinges, 
 in the w ch you ought to have honest intencons, 
 and for the w ch you must exspect to geve reason¬ 
 able answeres. At Baynardes Castle, the seconde 
 of Januarye 1586. 
 
 H. Pembroke. 
 
 LXXI. 
 
 To his right worshipfull frind S r Edward Strad- 
 ling, Knight, at S* Donattes, yeve these. 
 
 Salut’ in Cliro Iesu, &c. 
 
 As I am advertysed yo r psonag’ of Sully in Gla¬ 
 morgan sheere ys voyd, the tythes and comodityes 
 wherof ys liable to mayntaine a precher : where¬ 
 fore, according to my dutye, lest an unfitt man for 
 the roome shold attempt toptayne the same, I have 
 thought good to send unto yow this bearer, M r 
 Veyne, arcfton 1 of Brechen, who these many yeres 
 
 1 Archdeacon Andrew Vaen was a prebendary of Llandaff in 
 1575.—Willis’ Llandaff Cathed. 95. 
 
SA 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 hath taken greate paynes w th in this dioc; whom 
 I dere hazard to comend unto yo r worshipp, be- 
 seechinge the same to respecte his humble sute 
 in this behalf, whom yow are not to fvnd unthank- 
 full. And yow shall fynd mee ready to requit 
 yo r curteysye herin as occasion hereafter may 
 serve, as knoweth thalmighty, who ev 5 pserve yo r 
 worshipp. Matharne, the xxiii ,h of January 
 1574. 1 
 
 Yo rs in Christ, 
 
 W. Landavensis. 
 
 LXXII. 
 
 To his right wor frend S r Edward Stradling, 
 Knight, geve these. 
 
 After my harty comendacons, w th the like 
 thankes for your great curtesyes and gentlenes at 
 all tymes, and namely to this poore younge man, 
 beinge a syster’s sonne of myne, who lately by yo r 
 good furtheraunce maryed a wydowe that had 
 8taine landes, wherupon she is bounde (as I am 
 enformed) to dwell, w cl ‘ if she doth not, ys doubted 
 
 ’An error in the MS. William Blethyn was elected Bishop of 
 Llandaff, 13 April 1575, and died 1590. Mathern, near Chepstow, 
 was a palace belonging to the see of Llandaff. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADUNG. 
 
 85 
 
 lest yt shold be forfected, where (as I understand) 
 yow are steward to y e lord of the same. Where¬ 
 fore these are to desyre yo r worf good counsell 
 and help to my kynsman, that he, yf yt be pos¬ 
 sible, by yo r good meanes may dwell for a tyme 
 w th his father in lawe, who by coven a nt ys to 
 fynd him and his wyffe during their abode w‘ h 
 him in his howse; otherwise yt wilbe not only 
 troblesome unto him about the forfectur, but 
 also chargeable for him, being a young man hav¬ 
 ing but smale experience to keepe howse : wherin 
 beseeching yo r good advise and assistaunc, I comitt 
 yo r wor to the tuycon of thalmighty. 
 
 At Matharne, the vii th of January 1577. 
 
 Yo rs in Christ Jesus, 
 
 W. Landavensis. 
 
 LXXIII. 
 
 To his right worshipfull frend S 1 Edward Strad- 
 ling, Knight, at S* Donattes. 
 
 And please yo r worshipp, I receavid yo r Ire 
 dated the xvi ,h of this Aprill, 1581 ; and therin 
 enclosed a Ire fownde by Edward Rees by the 
 sea syde, w ch was sent by a scholar of Oxon to a 
 sworen brother of his (both beinge as ytt seameth 
 
86 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 of the family of love 1 ), w ch I will w ,h in these ii 
 dayes deliv 5 to one that goth t’Oxoh, that suehe 
 order there may be taken as shalle by the magis¬ 
 trates bee thought best, according to her Ma tes 
 ^cedinges in that behalf jrvided. Geving yo r 
 worshipp most harty thankes for yo r greate care 
 and diligence herein, I comytt the same to Godes 
 <ptection. Berthyly, the xvii th of Aprill 1581. 
 
 Yo r worship’s assured in Christ, 
 
 W. Landavensis. 
 
 LXXIV. 
 
 To his r. wo', frend S r Edward Stradlinge, 
 Knight. 
 
 Concerninge, right wo r , the psonage of S‘ 
 Tathans, 2 I told my mind to the pson of Sully, 
 sithens w ch time I hard nothinge from him of yo r 
 pleasure therin : and nowe that M r Popphams is 
 become a suter unto yow in M r Veine’s behalfe, 
 beinge archon of Brecfton, who is in comission 
 
 1 The name of an Anabaptist sect founded in Holland by Henry 
 Nicholas, a Westphalian, in 1555. Queen Elizabetli issued a 
 severe proclamation against them in 1580. In the third volume of 
 the Harleian Miscellany, p. 568, there is an account of their exist¬ 
 ence so late as 1641 ; and George Fox, the Quaker, denounced 
 them as “ a motley tribe of fanatics, who took oaths, danced, sung, 
 and made merry.” 
 
 3 St. Athan, near Cowbridge. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADL1NG. 
 
 87 
 
 w th others in all this clioc, who intendeth herafter 
 to exercise the same if he had a convenient dwel- 
 linge place, beinge a p oblique preacher lawfully 
 aucthorised ; therefore I am, beinge therunto re¬ 
 quested, to desire yo r wo r to bestowe yo r pntacon 
 upon him, who wilbe thankefull for the same all 
 the daies of liffe, and will not onlie sufficientlie 
 discharge yow therin, but also accomplishe the 
 message sent by the pson of Sully. Wherin if yow 
 doe plesure my frend, I shall not forgett to re- 
 quitt all yo r good cowrteysies as oportunitie shall 
 serve. And so comittinge yo r wo r to the tuicon of 
 the Almightie. Matharn, 5 Junii 1582. 
 
 Yo r wo r assured in Christe, 
 
 W. Landaven. 
 
 LXXV. 
 
 Saltern in Xpo. 
 
 To his right wof frynd S r Edward Stradling, 
 Knight. 
 
 I am right glad that yo r worship hath imployed 
 yo r diligence in her Ma teS service to so good effecte 
 as yt appeareth by yo r Ire ; wherby I doe not 
 doubte but that it will redounde to yo r great co- 
 mendacon, besydes the rewarde that yow are to 
 receave at the Lordes handes for yo r dutifull 
 
88 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 obedienc unto her Ma tle , being the higher power 
 ordeined by God to gwyd and governe us, whose 
 preevy counsell shalbe by me advertysed by the 
 first fitt messenger that I may understand of, that 
 travayleth towards London. In the meane tyme 
 I doe not doubte but that that suspected pson 
 shalbe in safe custodye. Yfyow happen to under¬ 
 stand of any that you may faithfully trust, yow 
 shall doe very well to certifye some one or other 
 of her Ma tes preevy counsell; for, the sooner they 
 be advertysed, the rather we shall knowe further 
 of their direction and pleasure therin. And thus, 
 congratulatinge w th all her Ma ,es faythfull pfessors 
 of the gospell the apprehencon of suche a pson 
 vehemently suspected to be a very disobedient 
 subjecte to her Highnes, a greate adFsary to her 
 pcedinges, I comytt yo r worshipp to the blessed 
 ptection of thalmightie. Caerlion, the iiii th of 
 February 1583. 
 
 Yo r worshippes assured in Christ, 
 
 W. Landavensis. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 89 
 
 LXXVI. 
 
 To the right worshipfull S r Edward Stradlinge, 
 Knight, att S ct Donattes. 
 
 I remember, right worsft, y‘ at the suite of a 
 minister of yo r countrey I signed a warrant for 
 this bearer’s apprehencion on suche suspicons as 
 yo r tres makes mention; but heetherto neither 
 the returne thereof, nor any thinge conserninge 
 the same, came to my handes : not w th standinge, 
 fyndinge yo r worsh. willinge to entertayne him, 
 and fyndinge him not, as he was suspected, a 
 counterfeit, but by me ordered, haveing bothe his 
 tres dimissories, and (as he enformes me) private 
 tres from Sir William Herbert, of S ct Julians, 
 for his behavio r , I shalbe not only content to 
 licens him to remayne in youre house, but shall, 
 having hereafter certificat from yow of his good 
 co^sacon, be willing to pleasure him accordingly. 
 And thus I comytt yo r worsh. to thalmighties 
 <ptection. Matharh, the xviii th of this December, 
 1588. 
 
 Yo r woff assured in Christ, 
 
 W. Landavensis. 
 
90 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 LXXVII. 
 
 To the right worshippfull S r Edward Stradlinge, 
 Knight. 
 
 All healthe wished unto yo r worshippe. Since I 
 was suiter unto yow for yo r psonage of Silly, 
 my L. of Landaffe 1 was advertized of div’se si- 
 monicall offeres made unto yo r worshippe for the 
 same; but assuredly my saide Lorde is fully 
 fixed in this psuasion that yow p’ferr yo r credite 
 before any worldly comoditie, and the peace of a 
 religioues conscience before the pv'se pelfe of this 
 transitory worlde. Yf yo r goodnes, w th out pjudic 
 eyther of conscience or credite, will bestowe yo r 
 benefice upon me, I will pmise yow a zealoues 
 care of the cure comitted, and allso a thanck- 
 full and servisable harte towardes yo r worshipfull 
 house while my pilgrimage shall laste here on 
 earthe. Yf yo r worshipp be disposed to conferr yo r 
 p’sentacon uppon Griffithe Prosser, the bearer 
 hereof (whose towardnes is comended by those 
 that are lerned and godlie), my L. of Landaffe 
 is to crave yo r teres, pmisinge that after his ad¬ 
 mission he will take paines to augment his tallent, 
 wherby he may be better able to discharge his 
 afunction ; and allso yerely allowe out of the 
 
 Bishop B!ethyn. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADL1NG. 
 
 91 
 
 benefice some reasonable pention, accordinge to 
 yo r grave discression, for the reliffe of some peher 
 that shall take paines duringe his absence or dis¬ 
 ability ; and in so doinge I thinke my Lorde will 
 admitt yo r psentacon. Thus, w th dutifull come- 
 dacon unto yo r worshipp, I cease; comittinge the 
 same to the tuicon of thallmightie, whoe graunte 
 us peace in Christe. Matharne, 28 M’tii, 1580. 
 
 At yo r wo r commaundem*, 
 
 And. Vayne, Clerke. 1 
 
 LXXVIII. 
 
 To my very loving cosen M r Edward Stradling, 
 these be geven. 
 
 My very harty comendacons being had unto 
 you, gentell cosyn Stradlinge. Theise shalbe to 
 desyre you to lett me understand by yo r letter 
 howe ye have speed w th yo r Bill of Complaint, 
 and also whoe hath shewid you frendshippe therin, 
 because I would geve them thankes accordingly, 
 and also what hope ye have of yo r proseding 
 therin ; and assure yo r self that what I may doe 
 for the furtherraunce therof I will. I doe heare 
 howe my Lord of Pembrok doth storme att me 
 
 1 Archdeacon of Brecknock, &c. Vide Bishop Blethyn’s letters to 
 Sir E. S. pp. 83—89. 
 
92 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 for joyninge w th you in this case ; howebeit I care 
 not, for the world shall never say of me that I 
 will sytt still and see myne inheritaunce take 
 harme and saye nothing. Thus, praing to God to 
 send our honest and just complaint good successe, 
 I end ; wishinge unto you as to my self. From 
 Bletstoe, the xxxi th of May. 
 
 Yo r loving cosen, 
 Olyver Seynt John. 1 
 
 LXXIX. 
 
 To the right wor: my loving cosen and frend 
 S r Edwarde Stradlinge, Knight. 
 
 Good cosen, my very harty comendacons being 
 had unto you. Whereas before this I have had 
 my tytle unto the psonage of Penmarke, pcell of 
 myne enheritaunce, as shall well appeare in tyme, 
 and have byne divers tymes delayed and kepte 
 
 1 Oliver St. John, created Baron St. John of Bletshoe, Jan. 13, 
 1558-9, married Agnes, daughter and heir of Sir Michael Fisher: 
 died 24 April 1582. His aunt, Margaret St. John, married Sir 
 Thomas Gamage of Coity. Lord St. John’s ancestor, Sir John 
 St. John, obtained a grant of the castle and manor of Fonmon 
 from Robert Fitz Hamon in 1091. The family subsequently ac¬ 
 quired by descent the neighbouring castle of Penmark. Fonmon 
 Castle is now the property of Robert Oliver Jones, Esq. whose 
 ancestor, the celebrated Col. Philip Jones, acquired it by purchase 
 in the days of Oliver Cromwell. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 93 
 
 from the tryall of lawe therin only by cavelles and 
 noe good matter, my hope is nowe to come to 
 tryall thereof att this next assises. And for that 
 I have seene the disposition of yo r countrey before 
 this hath byne muche led by affection rather then 
 equitye of lawe, w ch maketh me to trouble you 
 and others of my fiends and kinsmen for the 
 pcuringe of an indifferent and wyse jewrie, the 
 rather for that the matter in respecte of comoditye 
 towtcheth M r Maunseft, yo' neighbor and countrey 
 man, yet my trust ys you will rather further w th 
 yo r frendshipp and helpe your neere cosen and 
 frende before another. And soe therefore shall 
 most hartely desyre you to extende yo r frendly 
 frendshippe and furtheraunce of this my lawfull 
 triall and tytie of inherritaunce w th such good 
 advise and counsell as you may ; and my ser- 
 vaunte, this bearer, shall attende on you for the 
 same. Thus, hopinge to find yow a deare cosen 
 and frende, will ende, and be readie alwayes to 
 requitt you in any thing I maye. From my 
 litle howse at Riptoh, 1 this xv th of September 
 1574. 
 
 Yo r loving cosen and assured frind, 
 
 Olyver Seynt John. 
 
 1 Kipton Abbots, Huntingdonshire. 
 
94 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 LXXX. 
 
 To the right woor: my very loving cosyn S r 
 Edward Stradling, Knight, yeve these. 
 
 My very harty comendacons beinge had unto 
 you, w th the like thankes for yo r gentle Ire, and 
 for warninge of Henry Lewis’ doinges heretofore. 
 Theise shalbe to desyre yow not to myslike that 
 the sayd Henry may survaye Funmun, w th the 
 hamlettes of Aberthaw and Bretton, 1 accordinge 
 to my comission; because yt is donne for a cer- 
 teine purpose, w ch I will at lenght declare unto 
 yow the pVitie therof at our next metinge. But 
 for any further doinges in any other place I have 
 not authorised hym to deale w th as yett, and so 
 will leave any further to trouble you for this 
 tyme; butt shall wishe unto you, and my lady yo r 
 wiefe, as to my self. From my howse att Blett- 
 soe, in haste, the xxviii"’ day of January 1575. 
 
 Yo r loving cosen and assured frind, 
 
 Olyver Seynt John. 
 
 1 Perhaps Burton Bridge on the river Thawe, above Aberthaw, 
 Glamorganshire. 
 
Sill EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 95 
 
 LXXXI. 
 
 To the right wof: and my verie loving cosen and 
 frend S r Edwarde Stradlinge, Knighte. 
 
 Good cosen, My very harty comendacons beinge 
 had unto you, and to my lady yo r wife, although 
 as yet unaccquainted. Whereas I pceave by a 
 tre, w ch of late I receavid from my sonne, that you 
 have written unto him in the behalf of an Iryshe 
 man, one of my ten a ntes, who throughe his lewde 
 and disordered behavior hath forfeyted his cop- 
 pyeholde ; and for that he is an alyen borne, and 
 besydes no meete man of psonage to goe w th me 
 yf it should please the Queenes Ma tie to call me to 
 any service, beinge suche a one as I dowt woulde 
 rather leane to strangers than to o r countrey men ; 
 and further forasmuche as he is but a comon 
 pedler, and therefore discomodious to me for anny 
 good harryett yf it should please God to call him : 
 Thies be some of the causes w ch move me not to 
 be willinge to have any suche ten a nt. Wherefore 
 yf yo r request shalbe for any other of those coun¬ 
 trey men, I will gladly plesure any suche for yo r 
 sake. Marie, for this fellowe, I trust (considering 
 the causes aforesayd) you will beare w th me yf I 
 denye it unto him. I will make staye for graunt- 
 inge of it untill the returne of my bailieffes, al- 
 
96 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 thoughe there hathe byne earnest suite made unto 
 me for yt. And thus, wishinge that I might 
 pleasure you, will ende. From my howse att 
 Wakerley, where I yet lye, this first of Aprill 
 1575. Yo r lovinge cosen and assured frind, 
 
 Olyver Seynt John. 
 
 Postscript. — I mynde, God willing, yf other¬ 
 wise I shall not be letted by service of y e Prince, 
 to come into Wales against the tryall of my Quare 
 Impedit; and then mynde to see both you and 
 others of my kinsmen and frendes. 
 
 LXXXII. 
 
 To the right worshipfull and my very loving 
 cosen S r Edwarde Stradlinge, Knighte. 
 
 My very harty comendacons being had unto 
 you, good cosen. Wheras heretofore, upon earnest 
 request made unto me, I was contented to appointe 
 and nominate M r Kerne 1 for my highe and chiefe 
 steward of all my lands in Wales, and of late 
 heringe of his determination to travell beyonde the 
 seas, havinge also gotten leave at the Queenes 
 handes for the same, I wrote unto him what dis- 
 comodity and detry mt might happ unto my te- 
 n a ntes for want of assistaunce and advise in his 
 
 Commonly spelt Came. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 97 
 
 absence, and soe unburdened him of that chardge ; 
 wherfore, seeinge yow are both soe neare my 
 kinsmen as yow are, and also of so good gover- 
 ment, I therefore cannot thinke of any soe meete 
 for that roome of highe steward of all my lands 
 in Wales as you, yf it shall please you to accept 
 thereof; unto and by wliome both my under 
 steward, M r Smyth, and all other my bailiffes 
 and ten a ntes shalhe dirrected in all suche causes 
 as shall appteyne: most hartely prayinge you y* 
 if you shall fynde or here of any disorder, incon¬ 
 venience, or discomoditie likely to he in my landes 
 there, you will send both unto my haylliffes and 
 steward to attend uppon you, to he reformed by 
 yo r direction and order; and whosoever shall 
 shewe him self disobedient unto yow in the pre¬ 
 misses, you shall be assured shall have as smalle 
 curtesy at my handes as lawe will geve. And thus, 
 gevinge unto you most harty thankes for yo r 
 curteouse enterteynm 4 of my sonne at his beinge 
 in yo r countrey, will leave any further to trouble 
 yow ; but most harttely to pray you to make my 
 harty comendacons unto my lady yo r wif, as yet 
 unaccquaynted, will ende. From my lodge att 
 Rvpton, the xi <h of June 1575. 
 
 Yo r lovinge cosen and assured frind, 
 
 Olyver Seynt John. 
 
 f 
 
98 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 LXXXIII. 
 
 To the right woor my very loving cosyn and 
 frend S r Edward Stradling, Knight, these be 
 yeaven. 
 
 My very harty comendacons being had unto 
 you, good cosyn. I receavid vo r letter towchinge 
 the stewardshipp of m}' lands in Wales, beinge 
 very sorie that I cannot presently fullfill yo r re¬ 
 quest in the displacinge of the understewai'de as 
 yet, for that he hath byne privye unto all my title 
 and conveyaunces for my Quare Impedit, lest phaps 
 he might then dooe me some displeasure therin ; 
 butt, that beinge ended, yow shalbe assured to have 
 all att your comaundement. And further, good 
 cosen, I shall most hartelye desyre you to extend 
 vo r frendly furtheraunce and assystance unto me 
 in the tryall of this my tytle for the recovery of 
 myne inheritaunce, as my trust is you will; wish- 
 inge that I were my self any wayes able to plea¬ 
 sure yow. And thus, good cosen, beinge over 
 bolde of you in theis troublesome causes, will ende 
 for this tyme ; wishinge unto you and my lady 
 longe life, w th yo r hartes desyre. From my howse 
 att Wakerley, this fourth of September 1575. 
 
 Yo r loving cosen, 
 
 Olyver Seint John. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 99 
 
 LXXXIV. 
 
 To the right woor my very loving cosen and 
 frend S 1 ' Edward Stradlinge, Knight, these be 
 yeaven. 
 
 My verie good cosen, My very harty comen- 
 dacons beinge had unto you, and to my lady your 
 wyefe, although as yett unacquaynted. Howe* 
 beyt, I trust before Michaelmas, yf God doe geve 
 me health, to see you in Wales, and other of my 
 frendes; for that I thanke God nowe I have got¬ 
 ten out my pcedendo under the great seale, so as 
 all their delatorie devyses and practises will not 
 nowe serve, butt that they must needes stand 
 upon the tryall of y e countrey, and they that can 
 shewe the best cardes are like to Wynne the game. 
 And for that I am but a stranger in yo r countrey, 
 and allso the sheriff 1 is my neere kinsma, as you 
 knowe, so as I am sure the jurie must be em¬ 
 paneled by the coroners of yo r shire, to whom I 
 am a meere stranger ; and therefore I am most 
 earnestlye to desyre yow to helpe yo r cosen nowe 
 att the pynche, and to deale w th the corroners for 
 their lawfull favo r to have an indifferente jurye 
 retorned when the tyme shall come ; and also in 
 the meane tyme to labo r such frendes for me as 
 
 1 Sir VV. Herbert. 
 
100 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 you maye, for, yf I were sure of indifferencye, I 
 would not care. I pray yow, good cosen, when 
 my bailiefe shall come over hither unto me, that 
 you will send me the names in writtinge of xxiiii 
 substanciall and honest men, suche as you are 
 assured wilbe indifferent, that we may trust to; 
 so as then I may peruse them and seeke to gett 
 them retorned, w ,h yo r good helpe and others of 
 my frendes. I am in some doubt of one of the 
 coroners for beinge over much affected to the 
 Mauncells; howe beyt, I trust by yo r good helpe 
 and my other kinsmen and frendes. And looke, 
 what reward you shall promise in my behalf unto 
 the coroners for their favor, I will not fayle to 
 pforme the same. Thus may yow see howe bold 
 I am of you, whom I more trust unto then any 
 in that shire. From Bletsoe ; and soe will ende, 
 and wishe unto you as to my self. From Bletsoe, 
 this xviii th of Marche 1576. 
 
 Yo r loving cosen and assured frind, 
 
 Olyver Seint John. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 101 
 
 LXXXV. 
 
 To the right wor my very lovinge cosyn and 
 frend S r Edwarde Stradlinge, Knight, these be 
 yeaven. 
 
 Good cosen, My very harty comendacons being 
 had unto you, and to my lady yo r wife, although 
 as yet unacquainted. Whereas before this I have 
 directed my Ires unto you, havinge bynne very 
 desirous, yf it might please you to like therof, to 
 bestowe of you the office of stewardship and 
 goverment of my ten a ntes in that countye, my 
 self beinge soe farre of as that for want of good 
 oversight I doe susteyne many damages; and 
 pceavinge by suche aunswere as I receavid from 
 you that yo r only staye hitherto hath byne be¬ 
 cause of the misliking w ch you have of the under- 
 stewarde, I am therefore contented to referre unto 
 you the appointment of suche an understeward 
 as yow shall thinke good off, hopinge you will 
 assiffne suche a one therunto as shalbe bothe wise, 
 learned, and stowt; for that I have before this 
 byne di^sely abused, aswell throught Ceten con- 
 cealementes and encrochementes made upon my 
 lande, as also throught other disorders w ch have 
 byne wincked at, and not redressed, by such as 
 have exercysed that office before tyme. And fur- 
 
102 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 ther I shall desyre you that whosoever you shall 
 assigne for understewarde, he may yearly before 
 Michaelmas cause all the courte rolles to be en¬ 
 grossed in pchement, and to be deliverid unto 
 my bailieffes to bringe them unto me, soe as I may 
 keept them for presidentes alwayes, for yow knowe 
 the nature of coppye holde well ynoughe. And 
 thus, hopinge to come into that countrey soe sone 
 as I maye sewe fourth my .pcedendo for the tryall 
 of my right there in the psonage of Penifike, 1 and 
 also trustinge to fynde yo r frendshipp and good 
 advise when tyme shall serve, will ende, and 
 wishe unto you as to my self. From Bletso, this 
 XXV th of Aprill 1576. 
 
 Yo r assured loving cosen, 
 
 Olyver Synt John. 
 
 LXXXVI. 
 
 To the right wor and my very lovinge cosen 
 and frend S r Edward Stradling, Knight, these 
 be yeve. 
 
 My right harty comendacons unto you being- 
 had. Forasmuche as it is geven me to under- 
 stande that ther is certayne landes within my 
 mano r of Penmarke, w ch is concelid from me; 
 
 Near Cowbridge, co. Glamorgan. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 103 
 
 for the trewe understandinge thereof I have ap¬ 
 pointed M r Henry Lewis my comissioner to sur- 
 vaye my sayd manor, wherby a trewe tryall may 
 be therof made accordingly. Therefore I thought 
 good not only to advertyse yow of my meaninge 
 in the grauntinge of the sayd comission ; but also 
 to desyre you therw th to geve yo r ayde unto him 
 in all suche causes as shalbe thought good and 
 resonable for the execution of the same. I dyd 
 thinke it no mete travell to troble yoy so muche 
 a troblesome case as that is ; and soe I trust you 
 will thinke of it, that I doe it only for yo r ease. 
 And thus will leave any farder to troble yow, but 
 wishe unto you as to my self. From Blettisho, 
 the xxi th of June 1576. 
 
 Yo r loving cosen and assured frind, 
 
 Olyver Seynt John. 
 
 LXXXYTI. 
 
 To the right woof my very lovinge cosen and 
 frend S r Edward Stradlinge, Knight, at S* 
 Donattes, or els where, these be yeaven. 
 
 Good cosen, My very harty comendacons beinge 
 had unto you. I have receavid yo r Ire by my 
 sonne, in the behalf of him whoe is nowe reader 
 of the Temple, for a bucke to be bestowed of him ; 
 
104 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 whiche shalbe sent unto him at the tyme ap¬ 
 pointed, God willinge. I am nowe to desyre you 
 to extend yo r frendly furtheraunce and good will 
 unto this bearer, Will a m Skydmore, who hath a 
 good tytle unto certayne lands a litle besyde 
 Swansey, and hath had divers prosseces unto the 
 sheriffe, but can gett none of them to be duely 
 served and retorned ; the w ch he and I hope by yo r 
 good meanes will nowe at last have the dewe 
 course of lawe, so as his adversarie may aunswere 
 to his complaint. And thus, hopinge to bringe 
 myne owne causes in tryall shortly, and then do 
 mynde, God willinge, to come my self into yo r 
 countrey, and see you and others of my good 
 frendes, although I have had sondry delayes and 
 shyftes, and this sayd prayer I hope to be the last, 
 will soe nowe ende, and wishe unto yow and my 
 lady yo r wife as unto my self. From my litle 
 lodge in Ripton pke, this xxvi th of July 1576. 
 
 Yo r loving cosen and assured frind, 
 
 Olyver Seint John. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADL1NG. 
 
 105 
 
 LXXXVIII. 
 
 To the right wo? and my very loving cosen and 
 frend S r Edwarde Stradlinge, Knight, these 
 be yeaven. 
 
 Good cosen, My very harty comendacons beinge 
 had unto you, w th like thankes for yo r frendly 
 advertysrnent of the tyme of yo r great sessions 
 to be holden at Cardiff. Upon notice wherof I 
 have accordingly taken order to send this bearer 
 w th instructions requisit for the proeedinge in 
 my causes to bringe the same to some pfect ripe- 
 nes for the tryall of my right ; towardes whom I 
 am to crave yo r favorable furtheraunce, wherin he 
 shalbe occasioned to use yo r frendshipp. And 
 thus, {Jsuminge of you as of my very good cosen 
 and deare frend, will leave for this tyme any 
 further to trouble you. From my house at Blet- 
 soe, this xxiii th of Februarye 1577. 
 
 Yo r loving cosen and assured frind, 
 
 Olyver Seynt John. 
 
 f 5 
 
106 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 LXXXIX. 
 
 To my very lovinge cosen and frend S' 1 Edward 
 Stradlinge, Knighte. 
 
 My right harty comendacons unto yow beinge 
 had, w th thankes for yo r carefullnes in bookinge 
 and callinge me every leete the sutors to the 
 same, w ch heretofore hath byne ill looked unto, 
 and great cause geven for the losse of my sutors, w ch 
 I hope nowe shall [be] by this meanes better look¬ 
 ed unto. And as towchinge the newe placinge of 
 the understeward, my trust in you is suche that 
 he is suche a one as can better dischardge the same 
 by learninge, experience, and just dealinge. And 
 accordinge to yo r request in yo r letters for the 
 takinge up of the sute dependinge in the Chaun- 
 cery betwine mee and Margarett Spencer, I am 
 contented you shall ende the same, yf it please 
 you to take the paynes. And as for M r Maunxell 
 cbminge up to London, it maketh small matter to 
 thende of the cause, for the supced is of noe force, 
 but only a delaye of justice; for my Lord Dyar’s 1 
 opinion, and certen other j udges, is, that the judge 
 may lawfully pceed by warrant of the .pcedendo 
 w u, out danger ; for the judges in all their ex- 
 
 1 Sir James Dyer was Chief Justice of the Queen’s Bench from 
 1 Eliz. 1559 to 1582. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 107 
 
 perimentes, and as farre as they have reed, never 
 hard the like matter for the hinderaunce of justice. 
 And therefore I will «pseed by lawe as I maye, as 
 one nott myndinge to leave the matter till I have 
 brought it to ann ende. And thus, still cravinge 
 yo r frendly furtherance and assistaunce as tyme 
 shall serve, and that I may have understandinge 
 what kyn and allyance is betwine Anthony 
 Mauxell 1 and Thomas Lewes the coroner, to be 
 sett downe in writinge, wherby my councell may 
 take chalinge. And soe, leavinge any farder to 
 troble you at this tyme, will end. From Blettisho, 
 the v th of June 1577. 
 
 Yo r loving cosen and assured frend, 
 
 Olyver Seynt John. 
 
 XC. 
 
 To the right wor my very lovinge cosen and 
 frende S r Edward Stradlinge, Knight, these 
 be yeaven. 
 
 Good cosen, My very harty comendacons beinge 
 had unto you. Like as, before this, I have byne 
 sondrye tymes enforced to put you to sdme troble, 
 
 1 Anthony Manse), second son of Sir Rice Mansel, was born in 
 1530 ; and represented the county of Glamorgan in 1553. He mar¬ 
 ried Elizabeth, sole heiress of John Bassett, Esq. of Llantrithyd. 
 
108 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 and others of my frendes, by reason of my longe 
 and tedious sute in those ptes, so likwise am I 
 at this present to crave the contynuance of your 
 accustomed frendshipp towardes me when tyme 
 shall come for the tryall therof; at w ch tyme, God 
 willinge, I meane to come my self into that coun¬ 
 trey, and to see yow and others of my frendes 
 there. In the meane tyme I am to request you 
 to geve unto [the] gentleman who is of my cousell 
 suche instructions as you shall think requisit for 
 the empanellinge of an indifferent jewrie when 
 tyme servethe. Further, good cosen, I pray you 
 geve me some advertisment by your Ire whom you 
 would wishe me to make sute for to be pferred 
 unto the office of high sherife w th in the coutye 
 of Glamorgan, that I might make accompt of to 
 be an indifferent frend, not beinge of my kynne. 
 And thus, p’suminge of yow as of my very good 
 cosen and deare frende, will leave any further to 
 trouble you, but wishe unto yow as to my self. 
 From Ripton, this xxv th of Septemb r 1577. 
 
 Yo r loving cosen and assured frind, 
 
 Olyver Seynt John. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 109 
 
 XCI. 
 
 To the right wo? and my very loving cosen S r 
 Edwarde Stradlinge, Knight, these be yeven. 
 
 Good cosen, My very harty comendacons being 
 had unto you, w th most harty thankes for yo 1 
 frendly remembraunce and good advertisment 
 sent unto me conserninge my matters in Wales, 
 especially touchinge the election of a newe sherife, 
 wherein, God willinge, I mynde to followe yo' 
 advise yf I be nott pvented before hand. And 
 thus, beinge ready to requiteyo r frendely courtesye 
 in any thinge I may pleasure yow, will leave for 
 this tyme any further to trouble you, but wishe 
 unto you as to my self. From my bowse att 
 Blettsooe, this xvth of October 1577. 
 
 Yo r loving cosen and assured frind, 
 
 Olyver Seynt John. 
 
 XCII. 
 
 To my lovinge cosen, S r Edward Stradling, 
 Knight. 
 
 My right harty comendacons unto you beinge 
 had. Whereas yow wrote unto me in the behalf 
 of yo r servant for the renewinge of a coppye of 
 vii acr, i rode of medowe, and ii acr of pasture, to 
 
110 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 make upp two lives thre, w ch coppy is no longer 
 good but duringe my la: my motherlawes life, 
 because it is demayne land, and never graunted 
 by coppye afore; yett, at the request of you by 
 yo r Ires, I was contented to a lesse for iii lives in 
 the same to yo r servant, to make thestate of y e 
 three lives good, and required for a fyne but vi 11 
 for iii assured estates, and a harriot of the best 
 goodes, w ch yo r servaunte dyd not like of, but I 
 assure you I will not graunte the like to any 
 other. And as touchinge the lycense for David 
 Walter, I am contented at yo r request to graunte 
 the same for three yeres; but here was none for 
 him to compounde for the same. INI' Bawdripp 1 
 hath gevin his worde to my sonne John before 
 divers at London to abyde the judgment in lawe 
 of his councelor and myne, for his tenure of 
 knight’s service; at w ch tyme we will end also for 
 the suite and service of his ten a ntes to the leete, 
 w ch I have by graunte. I have sent herew ,h 
 certen articles of instructions for yo r under- 
 stewarde and my baliffes in Wales, for the re¬ 
 formation of divers abuses there, w ch I am desirous 
 to have reformid. And soe will ende for this 
 
 1 William Bawdripp of Penmark Place sold bis estates to Sir E. 
 Lewis, Knight, in the reign of Elizabeth. The family possessed a 
 considerable property in Glamorganshire. The name is spelt Ba- 
 gatripp in deeds of the fourteenth century. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 Ill 
 
 tyme. From Blettsoe, the xii th of Noveber 
 1577. 
 
 Yo r loving cosen and assured frend, 
 
 Olyver Seynt John. 
 
 XCIII. 
 
 To my very lovinge cosyn S r Edward Stradling, 
 Knight, these be yeven. 
 
 Good cosen, My very harty comendacons beinge 
 had unto you, w th like thankes for yo' frendly 
 advertisment geven unto mee by yo r letter. I 
 have had some speache w ,h my bailyffes, who 
 are and wilbe willinge to make reformation of 
 suche abuses and disorders as you mislike of; 
 w ch yf they will not pforme, and shewe them selves 
 duetifull unto you, I will take suche order as 
 they shalbe displaced. Further, I have, accord- 
 inge to yo r request, delt as frendly and favorably 
 w th the ptye in whose behalf you dyd writte unto 
 me, as reason would require. And thus, leavinge 
 for this tyme any further to trouble yow, will 
 wishe unto you longe life, w th good health and 
 youre hartes desyre. From Blettsoe, this xxviii ,h 
 of Maye 1578. 
 
 Yo rs assured, 
 
 Olyver Seynt Jhon. 
 
112 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 XCIV. 
 
 To the right wo? and my loving cosen S r Edward 
 Stradlinge, Knighte. 
 
 My right harty comendacons unto you being 
 had, advertesinge that I have receavid yo r Ires. 
 And as towchinge yo r advertisment for Willhn 
 Morgan Kernes, a ten a nt copy holder, w ch desireth 
 to dwell owte of my rnano 1 , I am contented soe 
 to licens him; upon this condition, that he, w th 
 sufficient sue'ltye, shall stande bounde to me by 
 obligation to make all his howses tenantable, and 
 soe to contynewe them duringe his liffe, and to 
 yeld unto me and my heires two heriottes, horses 
 or geldinges, after his death, or iiii' 1 for eyther of 
 the sayd heriottes, at my choyse. Thus I thinke 
 reason, because duringe his liffe he shall spare his 
 am’ciam', and geve nothinge to me for his lycens. 
 And as towelling James Bawdxipp, I am contented 
 to spare his am’cyam 1 , because he dwelleth in Oden 
 fee, beinge w thein the resiansye of my leete of Pen- 
 marke; upon condicon that he shall at every courte 
 aunswere as my ten a nte, and at every leete to 
 aunswere as a resyant to the same of Oden fee, 
 as it hathe byne accustomed. And also as towch¬ 
 inge Cristian Mason, widow, w ch you writte in 
 yo r Ire holdyth but one acre londe ; yow are tberin 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 113 
 
 wrongly enformed, for she holdeth a temte in 
 Penmarke Castell, and also a myll. I am con¬ 
 tented to spare her aiflciam*, and to lycens her to 
 dwell owte of the manor, soe as she will enter into 
 bonde w th suertye to make her repacons, and to 
 yeld iiii u for every herryott in suche order as the 
 sayd Morgan Kemys must doe. And as for 
 Cotton’s anicyam 1 , for this tyme I am contented to 
 spare, soe as he will come to dwell upon his tehte 
 by Maye day next, and so contynew upon the 
 same. And as for Katherin Hawkins’ aiScyam*, 
 I am contented to forgeve at this tyme, and also 
 to lycence her for iii yeres to dwell owte of y e 
 mano r , so as she will stande bounde to me w“‘ 
 suertye to newe builde her tente sufficiently 
 w ,h in that tyme ; and alsoe to aunswere me iiii 1 * 
 for her herriott yf she dye w th in the sayd iii yeres, 
 and doe not dwell upon the same tent soe newe 
 budded. Good cosen, I fynde by the making of 
 the strets of my courts, as also by the small pfittes 
 that riseth upon the same, and upon divers other 
 intelligences, that yo r understeward is a man 
 very unhable to serve in that place, both in re¬ 
 spect of learninge, or good experience, or stowt- 
 nesse of countenance to governe suche a greate 
 nomber of rude and frowarde people as appeareth 
 before him at every courte and leete, w ch dothe 
 require great goverment and skill in learninge to 
 
114 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 bringe my tenantes to good order ; desiringe yow 
 therefore to appointe some skillfull man able to 
 governe, wherby I may be the better servid, and 
 my ten a ntes better to knowe and lerne theire 
 duetyes. And so leavinge any farder to troble 
 yow, wishinge to you and my lady as to my self. 
 Blettsoe, the xxi th of November 1578. 
 
 Yo r lovinge cosen and assured frend, 
 
 Olyver Seynt John. 
 
 xcv. 
 
 To my very loving cosen S r Edward Stradling, 
 Knighte. 
 
 Good cosen Stradling, My very harty comen- 
 dacons beinge had unto you. I have receavid 
 yo r letter by my servant, Robert Cotton, who 
 shall geve yow advertisment of my dealinges in 
 that behalf. And vvheras enformacon hath byne 
 geven unto me by my sayd servant of the wrek of 
 [a] certayne boate w th in the lymittes of my mano rs 
 of Barry and P^ery, 1 w ch bye divers psons, of 
 w ch the greatest nomber hath byne of myne owne 
 ten a ntes, hath sinisterly byne imbeciled and con¬ 
 veyed awaye; I am therby occasioned (as p>sum- 
 inge of yo r assured good will towardes me) to 
 
 Porth Keriy, Glamorganshire. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 115 
 
 crave yo' favorable assystance unto my sayd ser- 
 vante, asvvell w th yo r good advise as alisoe w th yo r 
 frendly direction for the cominge to the true 
 understandinge of suche thinges as are hy my 
 sayd ten a ntes wrongfully deteyned, and in whose 
 possession they are, soe as restitution may be 
 made unto me accordinge to righte and equitye. 
 And thus, hopinge of the contyn a nce of youre 
 frendly good will towardes me, aswell in this 
 cause as all soe when tyme shall serve for the 
 tryall of my longe delayed suite for the psonage 
 of Penmarke, w ch I will never leave tyll I have 
 brought the same to some pfection, I ende, and 
 rest assured unto you wherin my poore frend- 
 shippe may be any meanes pleasure you. From 
 Blettso, this xviii th of November 1579. 
 
 Yo r loving cosen and assured frind, 
 
 Olyver Seynt John. 
 
 XCVI. 
 
 To my very lovinge cosen and frend S r Edwarde 
 Stradling, Knight. 
 
 My right harty comendacons unto you beinge 
 had. Advertesinge that this bearer, Hughe Haw¬ 
 kins, in whose favor yow have written to me for, 
 hath renied his old suite to me, as concerninoe v 1 ' 
 
116 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 w ch he sayeth lie hath lend forth aboute the de¬ 
 fence of my ten a ntes in lawe matters for payment 
 of the Chemse money, w ch was chardged uppon 
 all my ten a ntes there, and as yet not aunswearid 
 any one peny at theire handes : I thought good 
 therefore to desyre yowe to take so moch paynes 
 as to pswade w th my ten a ntes that some order of 
 leavinge [levying] maye be made amongst them for 
 the repayinge of his mony agayne, althoughe he 
 beare xx s for his pte, or more, as you yo r selfe 
 shall thinke reason. And soe, wishing to you 
 and my la: your wiffe as to my self, will ende. 
 Blettsoe, xii 01 of Maye 1580. 
 
 Yo r lovinge cosen and assured frind, 
 
 Olyver Seynt John. 
 
 XCVII. 
 
 To my very lovinge cosen S r Edwarde Strad- 
 linge, Knight, these be yeaven. 
 
 My verie good cosen, My very harty comen- 
 dacons beinge hadd unto you. Whereas upon the 
 late heringe of my sute in the Chauncery against 
 the Deane and Chapter of Glouc. towchinge the 
 psonage of Penmarke, order was taken by the 
 courte to graunte a comission into yo r shiere for 
 the examinacon of suche wittnesses as are on 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 117 
 
 eche pt to be pduced; and for that havinge 
 many wayes heretofore had sufficient assurance of 
 yo r good inclination and lovinge disposition to- 
 wardes me, and therefore psuminge ofyo r frendly 
 travaile therein on my behalf, (as I would my self 
 doe for you yf like occasion servid,) I have byne 
 bould to nomynate my cosen S r Will a m Herbert 
 and you my comissioners, and have sent herew th 
 unto you a coppye of the order made in the 
 Chauncery, wherby yow may have advertisement 
 aswell whoe be elected on the adverse pte, as also 
 of the lymitacon of the place and tyme to sytte 
 on the same, to y e ende you maye determyne the 
 same to be att suche convenyent tyme for yo r 
 owne leasures as you both may best be there ; w ch 
 I would willinglye wishe to be, yf it may soe 
 seeme good unto you, betweene Bartlemewetyde 
 and a fortnight before Michaelmas. And allso 
 that the comissiorfts on the other syde maye have 
 xx ,le dayes warninge before the sittinge therof, 
 accordinge to the effecte of the sayd order, for 
 w ch cause I have appointed my servant, Robert 
 Cotton, to attend uppon you for the knowledge 
 of yo r pleasures ; and, uppon notice of yo' ap- 
 poynmentes, he shall geve them to understande 
 thereof. Wherein also I would gladlie receave 
 from you some enformacon of your resolucon for 
 the certeintye of the daye soe soone as I might 
 
118 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 conveniently, so as I may take order to prepare 
 all thinges readie for that purpose. And thus 
 hopinge, as I have allwayes hetherto fownde yow 
 my very good cosen and frend, soe you will 
 pceed in the accomplishment of my request in 
 this behalf, (the rather for that yt towcheth my 
 auncyent inheritaunce, w ch hath byne longe w ,h - 
 bolden from me,) wherin you shall fynd me readie 
 to requite yo r frendly courtesye as it shall please 
 you to use mee, I comitt you to the Almightye. 
 From London, this vi th of June 1580. 
 
 Yo r lovinge cosen and assured frend, 
 
 Olyver Seynt John. 
 
 XCVIII. 
 
 To the right wor my very loving cosen and 
 frend S r Edwarde Stradlinge, Knight, these 
 be yeaven. 
 
 Good cosen, My very harty comendacons beinge 
 had unto you, w th most harty thankes for yo r 
 courtesye and frendly forwardnes to take paynes 
 in the comission w ch I have bye good advyse pro¬ 
 cured for the more spedye endinge of the con- 
 trav’sye betwine me and the Deane and Chapter 
 of Glocester (whereof hetherto I have by many 
 synister practises byne delayed). Wherin, as yo r 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 119 
 
 frendshipp dothe aunswere my expectacon and 
 opinion of yo r good disposityon towardes me, soe 
 shall you bynde me (by deserte of yo r courtesye) 
 to rest an unfeyned frend towardes you wherein 
 by any meanes I maye be able to pleasure you. 
 As towchinge the places of yo r lodginge and dyett, 
 for that I would willinglie have yt where yo r self 
 doe best like of, I have geven comaundem* to this 
 bearer, Cotton, my servant, to attend upon you 
 for the knowledge of youre pleasure in that be¬ 
 half, who shall accordingly make j^paracon ; 
 hopinge his diligent endevor shall not be want- 
 tinge to dischardge his duetye therein accordinge 
 to the trust I have reposed in him. And thus, 
 leavinge to be tedious w th supfluous writtinge, 1 
 remayne assured unto you, and wisshe you con- 
 tyn a nce of healthe, w ,h yo r hartes desyre. Blett- 
 soe, this xxv th of Julye 1580. 
 
 Yo r loving cosen and assured frind, 
 
 Olyver Seynt John. 
 
 XCIX. 
 
 1 o the right worshipfull and my very loving cosen 
 S' Edwarde Stradlinge, Knight, these beyeven. 
 
 Good cosen, My very harty eomendacons beinge 
 had unto you. As I havealwayes hitherto fownde 
 
120 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 you a frendlie furtherer of my cause when I have 
 byne occasyoned to use youre frendshipp towch- 
 inge my tedious sute for the psonag of Penmarke, 
 soe doe I not nowe doubt (the matter growinge 
 towardes some pfection of endinge) of yo r frendly 
 travaile to be employed in the true and effectuall 
 examynacon of suche matters as I am enforced 
 to prove by deposition of wittnesses, accordinge 
 to the p r porte of the Queenes Ma tes comission to 
 you and others in that behalf directed: in w ch 
 matter, as I am well assured there will be many 
 cunninge devyses practysed by the defend tes ; so 
 doe I hope of yo r good and provident circum¬ 
 spection to prevent the same as muche as yow 
 maye, wherein speciall regarde is chefely to be 
 had in the choyse of a clerke w ch will not be cor¬ 
 rupted for affectyon to the contrary pt, or by 
 other meanes, but deale plainely and truly in 
 settinge downe the depositions of the wittnesses 
 examined, w ch is my only desyre; wherof I 
 doubt not but my cosen S r Will a m Herbert and 
 you will have good consideration. And soe, w th 
 moste harty thankes for yo r sondrie courtesyes, 
 w ch you shall fynde me readye to requite wherein 
 I may by anny meanes be able to pleasure you, 
 I wishe yow contyn a nce of healthe, w th yo r hartes 
 desyre. Rypton, this xxiiii th of August 1580. 
 
 Yo r loving cosen and assured frind, 
 
 Olyver Seynt John. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 121 
 
 C. 
 
 To the right wor and my very loving cosen S r 
 
 Edwarde Stradlinge, Knight, these be yeaven. 
 
 Good cosen, My very harty comendacons beinge 
 had unto you. Whereas I would be very lothe, 
 aswell for kinred sake, as also in respect of the 
 longe contynued amytie and frendshipp betwixt 
 us and our auncestors untill this tyme, that any 
 contrav’sye should nowe aryse betwyne you and 
 me; whereof I have byne latelye enformed there 
 ys some likelyhood, uppon suche cause as, beinge 
 tedious to writte of at large, I referre to this 
 bearer, my servante, Robert Cotton, and Lewys 
 Davie, to make relation of unto you, who also 
 shall gyve you to understande of my determina¬ 
 tion and order taken w th them for further dealinge 
 in that behalf. I am therefore to require you 
 both to geve creditte unto their reporte, and also 
 to have suche consideration therin as that there 
 maye be no further matter donne or attempted 
 then shalbe agreeinge w th lawe and equitye, as my 
 trust is you will ; and woulde be sorye of y e 
 contrary, as lothe to have any cause of contention 
 w lh my frends yf I may avoyde the occasion. 
 Thus, ceassinge to troble you any further, I wyshe 
 
 G 
 
122 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 you healthe and happines. Blettsoe, this xvi 01 of 
 November 1581. 
 
 Yo r loving cosen, 
 
 Olyver Seynt John. 
 
 Cl. 
 
 To the right honorable my very good lord, the 
 Lord S‘ John of Bletisoe. 
 
 My very good L: my humble comendacons 
 beinge had unto you. Whereas I receavid by 
 Lewis David and Robert Cotton a Ire from you 
 touchinge my haven of Aberthawe, tbe relation 
 whereof yow referred unto them; whose de- 
 maunde att my hands, as it seemed verye strange 
 unto me, soe was I right hartely sorye that by 
 some unquiett psones meanes any contrav’sye 
 should arise betwine yow and mee; as well 
 for the nighe kynred sake (w ch I doe greatlye 
 accompt of), as also in respect of the longe con- 
 tinewede amitye and frendshipp betwene us and 
 o r auncestors tyll this tyme. For consideration 
 whereof I have thought good to laye downe unto 
 yow, for aunswere of yo r lre, the truth of my case, 
 the w ch is as followeth : I and my ancestors, ever 
 since the conquest of the corn of Glamorgan lords 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 123 
 
 of the manor of East Orchard, have bine the only 
 lordes and possessioners of the whole haven of 
 Aberthawe ; and duringe the same tyme had the 
 goverment and appointing of all passinge boates 
 usinge the same haven, the grauntinge of all 
 coekettes, and all other money for kyllage, shippe 
 mony, and all customes, comodityes, and royaltyes 
 whatsoever, rysinge, growinge, or happeninge in 
 all places w th in the psincte of the same haven, as 
 proper and only belonginge to mee and my sayd 
 ancestors, lords of the same manor, w ,h ont clay me 
 or contradiction of any pson or psones. I am to 
 put yo r L: in remembraunce that I as lord of the 
 manor of Sully, havinge the same by purchase 
 from the Prince, w th as lardge words as counsell 
 learned could devise, w ch manor was of longe tyme 
 in the possession of the Kinges of Englande, 
 (against whom noe Inscription could take place,) 
 am w ,h better colour to make tittell to the haven 
 of Barry, consideringe the same haven doth de- 
 vide yo r manor of Barry and my manor of Sully, 
 than you, against whom prescription will hold 
 place, to make clayme to my haven of Aberthawe. 
 This by yo r L: considered, I doubt not but you 
 will be satisfyed, and geve lesse credytte to suche 
 |)curers of contraversye. And soe, wishinge 
 unto yo r L: as unto my self, I humblye take my 
 
 g 2 
 
124 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 leave. 
 
 1581. 
 
 S‘ Donattes, the last daye of February 
 
 Yo r lovinge kinsman to 
 
 use in that he maye, 
 
 Edw: Stradlinge. 
 
 CII. 
 
 To the right wor and my very good cosen S r 
 Edward Stradlinge, Knight. 
 
 My good cosen, According to my promise, 
 though not worth the readinge, I have written 
 these fewe lynes, rather to assuer you that, if ther 
 had byne any thinge of more emportaunc, you 
 should as well have hard it as this tryffell. Also 
 hartely requiringe you to use me in any occasion 
 yowe shall have, wherin yow shall cause me to 
 think that yow make that accompt of me that I 
 doe of you, trustinge that yow shall not fynd me 
 to fayle in any poynt that appertayneth to a trewe 
 kynsman and assured frend. The latt brutt of 
 the Queenes Ma" es hasty returne towardes London 
 is nothing so, aswell appeareth both by Ires latly 
 written, as also by the reporte of S r Harry Port- 
 man, who did yesternight come hither directly 
 from the courte ; for yesterday her Ma ,ie dyneyd 
 at S r John Thyn 1 his house, that night to one 
 
 Longleat, Wilts. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 125 
 
 M r Hawker his howse, this day to my fellowe 
 Mervin his house, ther to rest untill Satterday, 
 and then to my L: of Perabroockes, where she will 
 remayne untill Twisday, from thence according 
 as it was first appointed. Sync me cominge 
 hether, my L: hath byne advertysed from iii barkes 
 w ch he hath abrode to discover, lying beyond the 
 Isles, that they cann heare nothinge of the K: of 
 Spayn’s navy more then they before advertysed, 
 w ch is, that the plague remayneth so great that 
 neither capytaine nor soldier will goe abroord ; 
 also that the Turke maketh suche preparation, that 
 all wold be lytle enoughe to be employed that 
 wayes yf it weare possible to sett forwardes. 
 The advertysments out of Fraunce are noe more 
 then yow dyd heare at yo r being in Bristoll. 
 The Queenes Ma tye hath dubvd vi knightes in 
 Soutsettshire, w ch are, Portman, Horner, Cliffton, 
 Rogers, Sydname, and Stowell. So, havinge noe 
 other matter worthy to be written, I will comytt 
 yow to God, wishinge unto yow as to my self. 
 From Exetter, in hast, this second of September 
 1574. Yo 1 assured cosen, 
 
 J. SeyntJohn. 1 
 
 1 Sir John St. John succeeded to the title of Baron St. John of 
 Bletshoe on the death of his father, Lord St. John, in April 1582. 
 He married Catharine, daughter of Sir William Dormer, Knight, 
 of Eythrop, and died October 23, 1596. He was one of the peers 
 who sat on the trial of Mary, Queen of Scots. 
 
126 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 Postscript. —Hast had almost mad me to forgett 
 my most harty comendacions unto yow and my 
 good lady yo r wiffe, w th like thanke for yo r gret 
 curteous entertainm tes and paynes yow dyd take 
 at the sea sydd. 
 
 cm. 
 
 To the right wor and my very good cosyn S r 
 
 Edwarde Stradling, Knight, at S'Donattes. 
 
 S r , This bearer, the parson of Portkery, hav- 
 inge a comission to be sette one betwixt him and 
 one Hopkin, servant to Hughe Griffyth of the 
 Chauncery, for his psonage howse and certen 
 grounde, I have thought good to nomynate for 
 his comission? my cosen Will a m Mathewe, and 
 one Hopkin Gwyn, thinking them the most fittest, 
 you and others of my deare kinsmen and frends 
 beinge refused. Wherefore, sythel have nogrete 
 accquayntaunce w th my cosyn Mathewe, also a 
 meere stranger to the other, I hartely pray yow 
 to deale with them to take paynes therein and ex¬ 
 tend theire lawefull favors; for that the matter 
 all together towchete my Lord’s inheritance, and 
 but a vexation w th out any juste tittell, as will ap- 
 peare upon the tryall. I am boulde to signifye 
 thus muche to you, for that my L: is not heare 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 127 
 
 to doe it him self. So, leavinge further to trouble, 
 w‘ h my most harty comendacons to yow and my 
 good lady yo r wyffe, I comitt you bothe to God, 
 wishinge unto you as to my self. From Fetter 
 Lane, in hast, this xxx th of June 1576. 
 
 Yo r assured cosen, 
 
 J. Seynt John. 
 
 CIY. 
 
 To the right worshipp 11 and my very good cosen 
 S r Edwarde Stradlinge, Knighte. 
 
 My very good cosen. Forasmuche as I doe 
 knowe that you do ptycipat w th me in greife for 
 the deathe of my deare father, yo r kinsman and 
 frend, who ever made accompt of yo r frendshipp, 
 beinge stewarde generall of all his landes in 
 Wales; so nowe I am earnestly to desyre you 
 that you woulde take the like paynes for me, for 
 that I do appoint you likewyse my high stewarde 
 in the same my lands; and this my Ire shalbe 
 a sufficient comission and warrant for yow in that 
 behalf. Also, for that my Lord and father had 
 great tryall of M r Smythes care he had in hys 
 affayres, my desyre is that he may contynue still 
 understeward under yow yf you thinke good. 
 And further, this is to advertyse you that I have 
 appointed John Spencer to have his bailliffwyck 
 
128 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 still of Funnmun and Penmarke, as also Robert 
 Cotton his baillifwyk of Lancadell, and Evans 
 Richardes his ballifwyke of Barrye, for that I 
 would be lothe to put out any officer that servid 
 my Lord and father ; not doubtinge but that you 
 shall fynde them readye to attend you re pleasure 
 in any thinge you shall comaunde them in my 
 behalf. And soe, w th my harty comendacons to 
 yow and my good la: I rest yo r frend assured, 
 and soe comitte you to God. From London, the 
 xviii th of June 1582. 
 
 Yo r loving cosen and assured frind, 
 
 J. Seynt John. 
 
 CY. 
 
 To the right worshipp 11 and my very loving cosyn 
 S r Edwarde Stradlinge, Knight, yeve these. 
 
 My very good cosen, My harty comendacons 
 beinge had unto you and to my ladye yo r wyfe. 
 I am geven to understande by my servant, John 
 Spencer, that my L: of Pembroock his officers 
 do demaunde of my ten a ntes a certen duetye out 
 of my lands, by the deth of my Lord and father; 
 and wherefore they shoulde so doe I knowe not. 
 I am therefore to request you that you would 
 talke w th them, and take suche order that I may 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 129 
 
 see the record wherfore they demaunde the same; 
 and then, upon the sight thereof, I will satisfye 
 them to there contentment, for I would be loth 
 to have my officers and ten a ntes molested by them 
 or any others; hopinge that you will have a care 
 over them in all ther honest actions, wherein I shall 
 most hartely desyre you to stande w th them. And 
 soe will leave any further to trouble you att this 
 tyme, but wishe unto you as to my self. From 
 my howse in London, this xiiii ,h of February 
 1582. 
 
 Yo r loving cosen and 
 
 assured frinde, 
 
 J. Seynt John. 
 
 CVI. 
 
 To the right worshipp 11 and my very loving cosen 
 S r Edwarde Stradlinge, Knight, these be yeven. 
 
 S r , Whereas I lately receavid from yow by 
 my servant, Thomas Gybon, a message of request 
 concerninge the returne of answere of yo r letter 
 heretofore sent unto me, w ch letter I having loste, 
 and beinge of late tyme soe busyed w th phisicons 
 and chirurgions as that I conveniently could not 
 consider thereof, by w ch occasion I have forgotten 
 the contentes of the same ; yf, therefore, it shall 
 please you by my bailliffes to signifye agayne 
 
 g 5 
 
130 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 unto me the effect of the matter therein con- 
 teyned, I will like wyse by them retorne unto 
 you suche aunsweare as the same requirethe, 
 prainge you to thinke no discourtesye in that 1 
 have not hitherto pformed the same. And thus, 
 w th my harty comendacons, I leave further to 
 trouble vou; comittinge you to Godes tuycon. 
 London, this xxiiii 11 ’ of Apryll 1584. 
 
 Yo r loving cosen and assured frind, 
 
 J. Seynt John. 
 
 CV1I. 
 
 To the right worshipfull and my very lovinge 
 cosen S 1 Edwarde Stradlinge, Knight, these be 
 yeaven. 
 
 Good cosen, Whereas by yo r late Ires sent unto 
 me, and instructions therew ,h receavid, I fynde 
 yow were aucthorysed by my Lorde my father to 
 determyne a contrav’sye betwine Thomas Spenc r 
 and my servante Robert Cotton, concerninge five 
 acres of lande in Penmarke ; for the w ch I my 
 self have comenced sute against the sayd Spencer 
 above a twelvemoneth sythens, havinge lawfull 
 right and tytle soe to doe : neverthelesse, foras- 
 muche as I pceave you have passed yo r jmiisse to 
 Thomas Spencer for the pformance of the order 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 131 
 
 heretofore made by yow in that behalf, and 
 therefore beinge willinge rather to unlinquishe 
 myne owne right then to doe any thinge whiche 
 might in any sorte impeache yo r creditt, I am 
 contented for yo r sake, as this bearer hath re¬ 
 quested me, whoeys desyrous to contynewe frend- 
 shippe w th him and all other of his wives kinred, 
 to surcease from any further .pcedinge in lawe 
 against the sayd Spencer; but that he shall quiet- 
 lye enjoye the same in suche maner as by yo r 
 former arbitrament hath bene awarded. And soe, 
 w th my harty comendacons, I committe you to 
 Godes tuytyon. London, this firste of June 158-1. 
 
 Yo r loving cosen, 
 
 J. Seynt John. 
 
 Postscript. — I praye yow make my hartie 
 comendacons to my good lady yo r wyfe, whom I 
 wishe by sdme god occasion I might see in this 
 countrey. 
 
 CVIII. 
 
 To the right worshipp 11 and my very lovinge 
 cosen S r Edwarde Stradlinge, Knight, these be 
 yeven. 
 
 Good cosen, Whereas a dewe seasure was made 
 lately to my use of the coppye holde of one Cor- 
 
132 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 rocke, 1 forfeyted by his misdemeano r in graunt- 
 inge the same for yeres, contrary to the custome 
 of the manor; w ch Corrocke hath sythens at¬ 
 tempted sute againste me in the courte of the 
 Marches. After which sute firste psecuted, he 
 made petycon unto me for my favor to be ex¬ 
 tended unto him ; w ch request heinge denied by 
 mee in respect he would first enter sute against 
 me, heinge his lorde; and the same beinge ob¬ 
 jected unto him by my receavo r as matter of 
 greate misbehavior, he answered my sayd receavor 
 that by yo r advyse he comenced his suite, w ch 
 otherwise he would not have attempted. To w ch 
 reporte allthoughe I give no great creditt, for 
 that yow were especially chosen by my Lorde my 
 father, and continued by me in the place of highe 
 stewarde of my small livinge in those ptes, as one 
 whom infrendshipp we ever accompted greatlye 
 off, and doe not doubt but that yow will rather 
 be a good instrumente of peace and union betwyxt 
 me and my ten a ntes then of dissention and stryfe; 
 yet I thought it appteyninge to the pte of a frend 
 and lovinge kinsman to geve you intelligence of 
 the speaches, trustinge you will have hereafter 
 soe greate a respecte to contynue frendly tran- 
 quillitye betwine me and my ten a ntes as I would 
 to pleasure yow in the like, or any other cause, as 
 
 Corrwg, an ancient family near Cowbridge, long ago extinct. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 133 
 
 occasyon may require. Whereof not doubtinge, 
 I comitt yow to God, leavinge further to trouble 
 yow, but w th my harty comendacons. Blettsoe, 
 this xxx th of November 1585. 
 
 Yo r loving cosen and frind, 
 
 J. Seynt John. 
 
 CIX. 
 
 To the right worshipp 11 and my very loving cosen 
 S r Edwarde Stradlinge, Knight, thes be yeven. 
 
 Good cosen, Yt hath bine enformed me that 
 sythens yo r cominge out of the countrey, great 
 oppression and bad dealinge hathe byne used 
 against some of my ten a ntes by meanes of youre 
 wante to assyst and speake for them ; w ch harde 
 course beinge like to continue towards them, yt 
 standeth uppon me to pvide for redresse thereof: 
 w ch occasion moveth me to entreate the intelligence 
 of yo r determination for yo r returne ; the which 
 the sooner it may be, the better it will corresponde 
 to my desyres, who would be loth to have the 
 place of my highe steward longe unfurnished, to 
 the hurte of my ten a ntes and pjudice of my selfe. 
 The effecte whereof I make some doubt of, w th out 
 yo r owne presence, or some other in that roome. 
 Thus, expectinge yo r aunsweare with what con- 
 
134 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 venient expedicion you may, I comitt you to God, 
 and wishe yow increase of health. Blettsoe, this 
 xviii th of September 1587. 
 
 Yo r loving cosen and sewer frind, 
 
 J. Seynt John. 
 
 CX. 
 
 To the right wor and my very lovinge cosen S r 
 
 Edwarde Stradlinge, Knight, thes be yeven. 
 
 My very good cosen, Beinge geven to under¬ 
 stand by the contentes of yo r last Ires of yo r deter¬ 
 mination to discontynue from the countie of Gla¬ 
 morgan, I am enforced, throughe the necessitye of 
 myne owne affayres, as well in regarde of my 
 selfe as of my ten a ntes, whoe have nede of some 
 present supporte against the hard courses lately 
 taken against some of them, to appointe a newe 
 officer in the roome of stewarde of my landes, 
 who may in my absence be assystant unto them. 
 In the doinge whereof I hope I shall not be dis- 
 courteouslie thought of by you, towardes whom I 
 beare no lesse affectyon then at any tyme hereto¬ 
 fore I have donne, as uppon any opportunitye 
 yow shall fynde me in all frendshipp readye to 
 joyne w ,h you, whom I comitt to Godes happie 
 ptection ; beinge desirous to see yow, w 01 my good 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 135 
 
 cosen yo r wife, when any occasion maye drawe 
 yow into these ptes. Blettsoe, this xxvii"’ of No¬ 
 vember 1587. 
 
 Yo r loving cosen and suere frend, 
 
 J. Seynt John. 
 
 CXI. 
 
 To the right wor and my very lovinge cosen S r 
 
 Edwarde Stradlinge, Knight, these be yeven. 
 
 Good cosen, Understandinge that uppon pticu- 
 ler grudg borne by M r Anthony Maunsell to my 
 ten a ntes of Penmarke, for pryvate respect of sutes 
 betwine him and me, he threateneth to use them 
 hardlye in the taxation of the subsedie. 1 In the 
 w ch I am most willinge they should be equally 
 delt w ,h in the imposition of such rates upon them 
 as any others of habilitye like unto them, so 
 would I be lothe that M r Maunsell’s malice should 
 effecte their undoinges w ,h burdeins unreasonable 
 beyonde the measure of indifferencye or justice. 
 For pVencon whereof I am drawen to solicit you 
 (beinge a comission? in the same divisyon w ,h him) 
 w th my Ire of request that they may fynd 
 equall favor w th other men of their degrees, w th out 
 pmission of any indirect course to be held against 
 
 A parliamentary aid to the crown. 
 
136 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 them: w ch reasonable demaunde, hopinge both 
 you, and others to whom I have likevvyse written, 
 will see accomplished, wherby I shall not be 
 enforced to complayne further, I comitt you to 
 God, and wishe you increase of health, with yo r 
 hartes desyre. London, this vii ,h of September 
 1589. Yo r loving cosen, 
 
 J. Seynt John. 
 
 CXII. 
 
 To the r. wor and my very lovinge cosen S r Edw: 
 
 Stradling, Knight. 
 
 Mv good cosen, As opportunytie serveth, I can¬ 
 not omytt the pformaunce of suche frendlye offices 
 as maye expresse my good affection towards you, 
 which moveth me (by this my readye messenger) 
 to salute you at this present; signifyinge the 
 amendement of my weake estate, w th hope of more 
 gfecte recoverye, wherin I have fownde a goode 
 furtheraunce by helpe of the Bathe. And thus, 
 wishinge unto you and my verye good ladye and 
 cosen yo r wife as greate happynes as I desire to 
 my selfe, I hartely leave you to God’s tuycon. 
 Bathe, this xiiii th of June 1592. 
 
 Yo r loving cosen 
 John Seint John. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 137 
 
 CXIII. 
 
 To y e r. wor and my very lovinge cosen S r Edw: 
 
 Stradlinge, Kniglite. 
 
 My good cosen, Wheras I latelie receaved 
 from you a note in writting abstracted out of an 
 ancient inquisicion of an office 1 fownde in the 
 countye of Glamorgan in the yere 1399, wherein 
 relacion is made of dyvers knightes of my name 
 then lyvinge in the same shiere, whiche recorde 
 would at this time doe me greate pleasure for 
 some especiall purpose, I doe moste hartelie 
 praye you to helpe me for the same originall hy 
 this berer to he sent in some hoxe sealid, which 
 I doe faythefullie promise to returne unto you 
 agayne verie shortlie and safelie. And for yo r 
 curtesie herein I will reste moste thankefull, and 
 readie to performe anie pleasure I maye unto you, 
 as occasion shall enhahle me. And soe I hartelie 
 leave you to Godes tuicion. London, this xiii th 
 of Auguste 1592. 
 
 Yo r lovinge cosen, 
 
 J. Seint John. 
 
 1 An inquisition of an office was an enquiry made by the King’s 
 officer, his sheriff, coroner, or escheator. 
 
138 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 CXIV. 
 
 To my lovinge frend and cosin S r Edwarde Strad- 
 linge, Knight. 
 
 My good cosyn, Havinge liarde of late of a 
 mariadge intendid betwine a syster of yours in 
 the Lowe Countrye, and a very well knowne frend 
 of myne, M r Robert Gyles, I have thought itt noe 
 lesse then the honest parte of my frendshipp to 
 lett you understand the grete honestye and every 
 waye good nature of that man ; so as I doe 
 suerly thinke her a happye woman that ys matched 
 w th a man qualefyed as I knowe him to be. And 
 I doe hartely wishe that he had as greate a ly vinge 
 to maynteyne them both as I knowe he ys worthy 
 off; and that I feare be the only thinge y* w r ant- 
 eth. And therefore both hope and earnestly wish 
 that of yo r good disposition you will shewe yo r 
 likinge, and also brotherly furtheraunce, to make 
 them somwhatt the better case. Yow shall 
 suerly doo a good deede, and wherof yo r self I 
 thinke will have noe cause of repentaunce. And 
 thus, w th my most liarty comendacons to yo r 
 selfe, w 111 my lady and cosyn yo r wife, do 
 comitt yow both to God. From my howse 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 139 
 
 att S‘ Mary Adys, the xxvi‘ h of January 
 
 1574. 
 
 Yo r very loving frend and allye, 
 
 Anthony Mountague. 1 
 
 cxv. 
 
 To my lovinge cosyn and frend S r Edwarde 
 Stradlinge, Knight. 
 
 Wyth my right harty comendacons unto yow, 
 good coosyn, and to my cosyn yo r wiefe. I am 
 att this presentt to move you (beinge, as I heere, 
 shiryff there) in a matter much against my will, 
 towelling a gentleman of yo r countrey, M r Carne, 
 att whose hands I am hardly dealt w ,h all. The 
 case is this: Christopher Morgan, his cosyn, 
 beinge my receyvo r , imployed my revenew at his 
 will; and the same over late fownde, and he 
 chardgid, and nott able to denye the dett, M r 
 Carne offrid him self to joyne in bonde w ,h him 
 for lx H parte of the deptt, requiringe me for 
 frendshippe to him to graunte them a yeres 
 
 1 Sir Anthony Browne, eldest son of Sir Anthony Browne by Alice 
 daughter of Sir John Gage, K. G. ; married, first, Jane daughter of 
 Robert Radcliffe, Earl of Sussex ; and secondly, Magdalen daughter 
 of William Lord Dacre of Gillesland. lie was created Viscount 
 Montagu 21 Sept. 1 Ph. et M. 1554, and died 19 Oct. 1592. 
 
140 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 daye more off payment. I refused to take M r 
 Carne, beinge lothe to sue my frend: he would 
 nott butt be bownde, and I graunted him his 
 owne daye; att the w ch nothinge beinge donne, 
 sute was made to forebeare in yett half ayere. I 
 graunted itt, receavinge assurid promyse nott to 
 fayle yt the Whichsentyd followinge: att w ch 
 tyme M r Carne beinge in London, twoo yeres 
 nowe past, made importune meane to be foreborne 
 till Michaelmas, and that upon his fayth and 
 honestye I should have it. From that day to 
 this I remayne unpayd, have every tearme causid 
 him to be warnid of the sute commensyd against 
 him att Michaelmas tearme shalbe two yeres, his 
 band forfeytid, and nowe he att outlawrye and 
 outlawid. His attachment I have stayed since 
 Hillary tearme, sentt him word by John Turbill 
 his cosen, my man, hereof; and further, that Mor¬ 
 gan affirmeth, beinge in pryson otherwise, that M r 
 Carne is allowed itt by him, and hath receavid 
 of sale of his to paye me. These thinges beinge 
 true, I am to [too] bad dealt w th all, and cosennid, 
 and never had answere of or from him these two 
 yeres. And y‘ att this tearme I have written my 
 self to him, and geven him notice what I must 
 and will doe, at his pill be it. And therefore, good 
 cosen, I am to request yow, and look for justice 
 at yo r hand, to execute the processe yf he will not 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 141 
 
 satisfye the deptt. And thus, wishinge all hap- 
 pines to yow both, and wishinge to see yow in 
 this countrey, rest ready in all frendshipp to 
 pleasure you. From Cowdrey, 1 my howse, the 
 v th of May 1583. 
 
 Yo r assurid frind and cosen, 
 
 Anthony Mountague. 
 
 CXVI. 
 
 To my assured lovinge frend and cosyn S r Ed- 
 warde Stradlinge, Knighte. 
 
 My good cosyn, Where I lately wrotte unto 
 you towchinge a matter betweene M r Carne and 
 me, requestinge of you the execution of justice; 
 havinge this daye by meane hard from him, and 
 most lothe to offer for such a tryfle (in respect) 
 so greate a daunger or disgrace to any gentleman, 
 I have thought good to pray you to staye the 
 execution till Michaelmas next, by w ch tyme yf 
 he satisfye me, 1 will hold my self content for 
 injurye past ; yf he doe not, I will presently send 
 you word to proceede in justice. And rest ready 
 to pleasure you in all frendshipp: and w th my 
 wiefes and my most harty comendacons to yo r 
 
 1 Cowdray, in Sussex, the ancient residence of the Browne 
 family, was destroyed by fire in the year 1793. 
 
142 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 self and my good cosyn, comitt you to God. This 
 Whitsonday, 1 1583. 
 
 Yo r assured frind and cosen, 
 
 Anthony Mountague. 
 
 CXVII. 
 
 To my very lovinge frend and cosyn S r Edwarde 
 Stradlinge, Knight, be these [given]. 
 
 My good cosyn, Understandinge by one James 
 Hobson, my neighbour att Battell, 2 that by his 
 meanes, and divers others, there was a comission 
 upon the statute of Banckrootes, about three 
 yeres past, directed to you and divers others, 
 against one Anthony Morley ; by force whereof 
 vou dyd then bargaine and sell all such goodes 
 and chattells as were by office fownde to be his 
 to one Thomas Mineffe, to satisfie the sayd James 
 Hobson and others his creditors, and tooke bonde 
 of him for the pformaunce of the same; w ch , not- 
 w th standinge yo r order, and the rest of her Ma ,es 
 comissioners, is not pformed, nor the sayd James 
 Hobson, and others in the same order mentioned, 
 satisfied: these are to requeste you eyther to 
 eomaunde the sayd Thomas Meneffe, according 
 to yo r order, to paye and satisfye the sayd James 
 
 1 29th of May. 
 
 2 In Sussex. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 143 
 
 Hobson, els to sett over to the sayd James, and 
 other the creditor, yo 1 sayd bonde taken from 
 the aforesayd Thomas Meneffe for the pfor- 
 maunce of yo r sayd order, that therby they 
 may have there debt truly payd accordinge to yo r 
 direction and order. And soe, \v lh my righte harty 
 comendacon, do leave yow to God. From my 
 house att Cowdrey, the xxv ,h of Julie 1589. 
 
 Yo r loving frind and cosen, 
 
 Anthony Mountague. 
 
 CXVIII. 
 
 To the right wor" S r Edward Stradling, Knight. 
 
 Right worshipful!, After our very harty comenda- 
 cons. Wheras by vertu of our precept tlier was cer- 
 teine brasell 1 of one Will a m Wykes stayed w th in 
 yo r manor of Sully, w ch was afterward by yo r officers 
 there receavid into their custodye: forasmuche 
 as, by due examination of the matter, we fynd 
 that the sayd partye dyd lawful! obteyne the 
 same, we thought good soe to certifye you ; and 
 as we have bene written unto by some of his 
 frinds for our lawfull favo r in the mate r , soe we 
 are to desyre the same at yo r hands in his behalf, 
 whoe enformed us of yo r most curteus ,pmys of 
 
 1 Brazil wood. 
 
144 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 frindshipp to cause the same to be redelyvered 
 upon our warrant of dischardge thereof, w ch theis 
 our Ires maye be. And, for your courtesye to¬ 
 ward the sayde ptye, we shalbe readye to requyt 
 when opportunitye maye serve towards anye of 
 youres; prayinge to knowe yo r pleasure herein by 
 this bearer. And soe we comytt you to God. 
 From Cardyffe, the xxiiii th of Maye 1575. 
 
 Yo r lovinge cosens, 
 
 Wyllyam Herbertt. Nycholas Herbertt. 1 
 
 CXIX. 
 
 To the right wof S r Edward Stradling, Knight. 
 
 S r , My most hartye comendacons premised. 
 Theas are to crave your frendship and favour in 
 the behalfe of this bearer, Thomas Spencer, who, 
 traveylinge in his mother’s causes, shall greatly 
 neede your ayde and assistance. His elder brother, 
 vexing his mother, against right, nature, and 
 reason, amongest divers other injuries witheld 
 from her a leas w ch had bene taken of S r John 
 Seyn Jones; but beinge forced by the counsell 
 of the niches to delyver the same unto her agayne, 
 beinge hers as executres, he signifyed to my 
 
 1 Nicholas Herbert of Cogan, near Cardiff, a younger brother of 
 Sir \Ym. Herbert, was sheriff for Glamorganshire, 1578—1587. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 145 
 
 Lord Seynt John that the leas was not good, not 
 for any good will he bare to my Lord, but for the 
 yll will he bare to his mother. Wherefore thes 
 shalbe humbly to desyre you to wrytt your 
 letters to my Lord Seynt John, to praye him to 
 stand good lord to this poore weake aged wydowe ; 
 and in soe doing you shall assyst the poore 
 woman againste the malyce of her unnaturall 
 chyld, and allso bynde me to requite yo r cour- 
 tesye yf it lye in my power. 
 
 Yo r loving cosen, 
 Wyllyam Herbert. 
 
 cxx. 
 
 To the r. wo r and my lovinge cosen S r Edward 
 Stradlinge, Knighte. 
 
 Right wo r cosin, After my hartie comendacons 
 to yow and to my good ladie, w‘ h like thankes 
 for my late intertainment. I perseve byyo r letter 
 what reportes hath risen of my late beinge at 
 Wennie; 1 the w ch , though it be agrienge to the 
 accustomed seditius practises of o r contremen, yet 
 is not a littel grevose to me, for that it seemithe 
 to alter yow somewhat from that good disposition 
 
 1 Ewenny Priory, granted to Sir Edward Came by Henry VIIT. 
 in the thirty-seventh year of his reign. Ewenny is now the resi¬ 
 dence of Sir Edward's descendant, R. T. Turbervill, Esq. 
 
 H 
 
146 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 to agrement that bye yo r frindes was wished : w ch 
 I praie yt maye not, for I assure yow I ame far 
 voieded from havinge used eney suche unhonest 
 offises (as is reported) towardes yow at my beinge 
 in Wenie; w'out that the declaringe ther to M r 
 Carne 1 that yow affirmed and stoode to the 
 wordes yow hard spoken at Cowbridge (w ch was 
 that he had used yow falselie and unhonestlie) may 
 implie in it as muche as is surmised by them ; w ch 
 is as liklie, as it is treuwe that John Kemis hard 
 me affirme the same, no man beinge in place where 
 I talked w ,h M r Carne concerninge that matter 
 (w ch was in his galerie) savinge mine unkell and 
 my brother, who I dowte not wilbe wittnesses of 
 sufficient creditte w* you to disprove that w ch is 
 brutted ; w ch I praie (as afore) maie not alter yo r 
 good disposicon to an honest and wo r agrement. 
 And so, wishinge to yow as to my selfe, I take 
 my leave. From Swansey, the viii th of June. 
 
 Yo r lovinge cosen, 
 Wyllyam Herbertt. 
 
 1 Thomas Carne, eldest son of Sir Edward Carne, Knight, Doctor 
 of Laws. Sir Edward was knighted by the Emperor Charles V ; 
 and enjoyed the confidence of Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary, and 
 Elizabeth. He died at Rome in 1561. Thomas Came married 
 Ellen, daughter of Sir Hugh Wyndham of Pillsden, Knight. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 147 
 
 CXXI. 
 
 To the r. wo r and my verie lovinge cosen S r 
 Edward Stradlinge, K. 
 
 Right wo r and my verie good cosen. The 
 secrett malice of some of my good neyghbo r s have 
 of late pcured the encrease of my troble in the 
 exchequier; so I thincke this verie tearme I 
 shalbe forced for redresse therof to be at chardges 
 in puttinge in of a plee: wherein as I shall have 
 greate neade of M r Atturneie’s favo r , so thoe I 
 doubte not therof in a juste cause, y‘if yt shall 
 please you to afurther me therein w th a few linaes 
 in a gerilall recomendacon of my causes there, I 
 shall the rather assure my selfe therof, and rest 
 as redie to stand yow in what steede I ame able, 
 as by my doings at this pnte yow maie easelie 
 peeve whate accounpte I make of yow; unto the 
 like wherof I would not, for the gaine of a mouche 
 better cause, descend unto enie man in Glamorgan. 
 Yf it shall please yow to write, I praye yow to 
 keept it secrete and deliv’e it to the bearer. And 
 thus, most hartelie comendinge my selfe to you 
 and to my good ladie, I take my leave. Swanzey, 
 the xvi lh of Januarie. 
 
 Yo r lovinge cosen, 
 
 W. Herbertt. 
 h 2 
 
148 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 CXXII. 
 
 To the r. wo r my verie lovinge cosen S r Edward 
 Stradlinge, Knighte. 
 
 My verie good cosen, My moste hartie comen- 
 dacons premised. Wheras I have ben adv'tised 
 that it hath bean reported unto yow that M r S. 1 
 should reporte in my hearinge at London, that, the 
 Earl of Penbroke standinge indifferent, he would 
 litle esteam of yow, with s5me other wordes most 
 undecent; for that treuth is a thinge we owght to 
 embrace, and slander a matter that we should all 
 detest, I could noe less doe then by thease my 
 tres assure you that neither at my howse at Lon¬ 
 don, nor in enie other place in my hearinge, enie 
 suche woordes weare uttered by him ; and for 
 mine owne pte soe conceave of the gentleman, and 
 that upon goode grownds,that theise same [appear] 
 unto me eyther to hate him verie mutch, or toe 
 knowe him verie litle, that imagine suche thinges 
 of him, beinge verie frea from suche indiscreatnes 
 and vanities as those woords doe importe. And 
 soe, ceasinge further to trowble you, I comite yow 
 to God. From my house at Neawport, the last 
 of Julie. Yo r loving cosen, 
 
 Wyllyam Herbert. 
 
 1 Stradling? 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 149 
 
 CXXIII. 
 
 To the r. wo r my lovinge cosen S r Edward Strad- 
 linge, Knight. 
 
 Right wo r and my verie good cosen, After my 
 hartie comendacons remembred to yow and my 
 good ladie. You shall understand that my Lorde 
 of Penbrocke, who restithe as muche yo r frinde 
 as to enie kinsman he hath on this side Severne, 
 willid me to doe his hartie comendacons unto 
 yow, and to desire you to accepte in good parte, 
 and as a wittenes of his good affection towardes 
 yow, the office of stewardship in his maner of 
 Lanttwit the w ch as, for the nernes of yo r neiebor- 
 hode thereto, no man can so well governe as yo r 
 selfe, so is he better contentid to have his te- 
 nantes in that ptes at yo r comaundement then 
 anie other, as w th sure time and occation he 
 <pmised me (who failed not to make motion for 
 an office more fitte for yow) to make knowen to 
 yow. In the meane time he requesteth yow to 
 thincke of hime as of one that derelie lovethe you. 
 And so, wishinge to yow as to my selfe, I take my 
 leave. Cardiffe, the iiii th of December. 
 
 Yo r loving cosen, 
 
 W. Herbertt. 
 
 1 Llantwit, near St. Donat’s Castle. 
 
150 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OP 
 
 CXXIV. 
 
 To the right wo r my verie lovinge cosen, S r 
 Edward Stradlinge, Knight. 
 
 Right wo r , After my verie hartie comendacons. 
 I am ernestlie requested by my cosen, George 
 Williams, to become herbie a suiter unto yow in 
 the behalfe of one Jenkin John, a s'lvant and well- 
 wilier of his, who, as I understand, hath of late 
 maried a tenate of yo rs . The some, therfore, of 
 my request is, that yt wold please yow to graunte 
 hime yo r good will, and to be a meane that he 
 maie likewise obtaine the good will of Jenkin 
 Rees, his wiefe’s unckle ; wherof he is verie de¬ 
 sirous, in respecte of theire present affinitie. 
 Herein yow shall pleasure me in suche sorte as I 
 shall have no cause herafter to be forgettfull 
 therof if yow have occasion to use me in the like 
 case. And soe, understandinge that yow and my 
 ladie are determined this wintter to ride to Car¬ 
 digan to make meerie, wherof I praie yow to lett 
 me understand of the time of yo r jorney, that I 
 and my wiefe 1 maie make o r sellfes redie to beare 
 
 1 The Herbert pedigrees make no mention of Sir W. Herbert’s 
 wife. It appears, however, by the Stradling pedigree, printed in 
 Sir John Price’s translation of Cradoc of Llancarvan, that Sir W. 
 Herbert married Catherine Puleston, second cousin to Sir Edward 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 151 
 
 yow companie, vv th our hartie comedacons to yow 
 bothe, I take my leave. Swansey, the second of 
 December 1590. 
 
 Yo r verye loving cosen, 
 
 W. Herbertt. 
 
 CXXV. 
 
 To the r. wo r my verie lovinge cosen S r Edward 
 Stradlinge, K. 
 
 Right worshippfull, After my verie hartie 
 comendacons. Yow shall understand that on 
 Mondaie next, beinge the ix th daie of this instant 
 Auguste, my sellf and my cosen Maunzell (God 
 willinge) doe intend to take our jorney towardes 
 our chardge. 1 My brother Turbill 2 mindeth to 
 
 Stradling, and grand-daughter of Sir W. Gruffyth, Knight, of North 
 Wales ; vide supra, p. 15, note 1. Her sister Jane married Sir 
 W. Herbert of St. Julians. 
 
 1 In 1590 Queen Elizabeth appointed Sir Edward Stradling, Sir 
 William Herbert. Knights; Thomas Mansel, and Richard Bassett, 
 Esquires ; deputy lieutenants of Pembrokeshire. This was done at 
 the instance of Sir Christopher Hatton during “ the troubles of Sir 
 John Perrot.”—G. Owen’s History of Pembrokeshire, in Cambrian 
 Register, vol. ii. p. 176. Elizabeth probably distrusted the gentry 
 of Pembrokeshire, as it was not till 1595 that Sir John Wogan and 
 others were made deputy lieutenants in lieu of Stradling and his 
 friends. 
 
 2 Jenkin Turberville, of Penlline Castle, Glamorganshire, married 
 Cecil, the sister of Sir W. Herbert. 
 
152 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 take some paines to sue for a pardon for on John 
 Jenkin, a servant of his, who receved verie hard 
 and straight measure this last assises at Cardif: 
 tor the better obteininge wherof, yt is thought 
 verie nesscesarie that the handes of some halfe 
 dozen of the justices of the peace should be sub¬ 
 scribed to the certificatt w ch shalbe deliv’ed yow ; 
 and therfore I have thoughte, for the pcuringe of 
 yo rs , heerby to entreate yow therunto. In re- 
 quightall wherof yow shall finde me willinge to 
 doe the like for anie frind or sfvant of yo re . And 
 soe for this time, w th my hartie comendacons to 
 my ladie, I take my leave. Swanzey, the viii ,h of 
 August 1591. 
 
 Yo r verie loving cozen, 
 
 W. Herbertt. 
 
 CXXVI. 
 
 To the righte wo r my lovinge cozen S r Edward 
 Stradlinge, Knighte. 
 
 Righte wo r , After my hartie comendacons unto 
 yow bothe. Wheras it pleazed you at yo r last 
 beinge heere to make offer unto us of a peice of 
 venuson when either of us thought good to send 
 for it, yow shall understand that about Sondaie 
 or Mondaie next 1 doe fain expecte the cominge 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADL1NG. 
 
 153 
 
 of some of my frindes hither ; wherfore, if it will 
 plaze yow to vouchesafe me a pece nowe, I shall 
 thinke myself greatlie behouldinge unto yow; 
 and this bearer, my frind, will see it conveied 
 unto me. Soe, hopinge to see yow shortelie 
 cominge this waie towardes yo r chardge, to w ch 
 time I refere the imptinge of my cosen Maunsell’s 
 dealinge and mine in Pembrokeshere, I hartelie 
 take my leave. Swansey, the xxv th of Auguste 
 
 1591. 
 
 Yo r lovinge cosen, 
 
 W. Herbertt. 
 
 CXXVII. 
 
 To the r. wo r my lovinge cosen S r Edward 
 Stradling, Knighte. 
 
 Righte wo r and my verie good cosen. In my 
 Lordesjorney to Harword, 1 his honor hath ben 
 desirous to be acompanied w th yow amonghst 
 others of his frinds, and for that end his L: 2 did 
 more then foure daies sythence take order to sende 
 yow warninge therof: and nowe, hearinge that 
 the messinger did mistake his wordes, and that 
 therbie yow have not as yet hard enie nods of his 
 
 1 Hereford. “ The common people call it Hariford.”—Gibson’s 
 Camden, vol. i. p. 491. 
 
 2 Lord Pembroke. 
 
 H 5 
 
154 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 pleasure, I have herbie thought good to adrtise vow 
 that his L: is fullie determined to take his jorney 
 thetlierward upon Thursdaie next in the after 
 nooue, and to lie that nighte at Sainte Jelliauns 
 to the end that, if yo r lesure will gmitte, vou may 
 ether be here on Thursdaie by noone for that 
 effecte, or ells to overtake his L: at S' Jellians 
 that night. And so, w ti my liartie comendacons, I 
 take my leave, this psent Teusdaie. 
 
 Yo r lovinge cosen, 
 
 W. Herbertt. 
 
 Yf yo r busines or lesure will pmitte you, I 
 praie you take this jorney, for his honor will 
 thankefullie receve it as the companie of him he 
 muche loveth. Fare ye well ! 
 
 CXXVIII. 
 
 To the r. wo r and mv verie lovinge cosen S r 
 Edward Stradling, K. 
 
 Right wo r and my verie lovinge cosen, W th my 
 right hartie comendacos unto vow, and to my 
 ladie youre bedfello ; beinge right glad to here of 
 youre bothe sounde retornes to Glamorgan, w^ 1 I 
 
 1 Saint Julians, near Newport, the seat of Sir \V. Herbert, a dis¬ 
 tant relative of the writer. Sir William probably wrote from 
 Cardiff. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 155 
 
 praie God to prosper to youre owne hartes de¬ 
 sire. The berer hereof, yo r cosea and mine, 
 Catheringe Turbill, beinge so importunate on me 
 as I could not be at rest untill I should writte 
 unto yow for youre lawfull favore to her ; it not- 
 w th standinge, for her better contentment I am to 
 praie yow to asyste her in her lawfull cawses as 
 muche as unto you shall seme necessarie for her. 
 And thus, w th my wiffes comendacons botbe unto 
 yow and to yo r ladie, of whose saffe retorne to 
 this countreie she is verie glade also, I comitt 
 yow boothe to Godes tuicion. At Swansey, the 
 xxvii th of Januarii. 
 
 Yo r lovinge cosen, 
 
 W. Herbertt. 
 
 CXXIX. 
 
 To the right worshipful! my very loving frend 
 and kinsman S r Edward Stradling, Knight. 
 
 After my very harty comendacons. You shall 
 understande that I am nowe at Sir Edwarde 
 Maunsell’s howse, 1 and doe purpose to supp w th 
 you this nighte; and doe intend, God willing, to 
 imbarke my self towards Devonshire in the morn¬ 
 ing : wherefore I pray yow to geve order that the 
 
 Margam, Glamorganshire. 
 
156 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 best boate w ch is in the passage may be stayed for 
 me onlye. And soe I byd you farewell, this xii th 
 of Auguste. 
 
 Yo r very loving frend and kinsman, 
 
 H. Gilbert . 1 
 
 cxxx. 
 
 To the right worshipfull and my very loving 
 kynseman S r Edwarde Stradling, Knight. 
 
 My good cosen, I have receaved yo r Ires by yo r 
 servaunte ; touching the contentes whereof I will, 
 for wante of tyme, omytte to discourse ; but desire 
 you, yf there be any thing wherin I may stande 
 you in steede, to imploye me: assuringe you I will 
 performe whatsoever shall lye in my power as 
 
 1 Humphrey Gilbert, son of Otho Gilbert of Greenway, Devon, 
 by Catherine his wife, daughter of Sir Philip Champernon, Knight, 
 was originally intended for the law, but was introduced into Eliza¬ 
 beth’s court by his aunt Catherine Ashley. He was knighted by Sir 
 Henry Sydney, then Lord Deputy of Ireland, for his exploits there. 
 He served in the Low Countries. In 1578, availing himself of the 
 Queen’s patent, he sold the estates of his wife Ann, only daughter 
 of Sir Anthony Aucher, of Otterden Place, Kent, and made two ex¬ 
 peditions. He took possession of Newfoundland in his second voy¬ 
 age, 1583. In the month of September of this year he ventured to 
 sea in the Squirrel, a vessel of ten tons’ burthen, and was lost. 
 Anthony a Wood calls him “ an expert seaman, a valiant warrior, 
 a good scholar, and a perfect gentleman.” Sir Humphrey was (as 
 has been elsewhere stated) uterine brother to Sir Walter Raleigh. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 157 
 
 willingly for you as for any frende or kynseman 
 that I have. And soe, w th my very harty com¬ 
 mendations to my good ladye, I comytt you to 
 God, the xxix th of Januarye 1573. 
 
 Yo r loving frend, that during lyfe 
 
 will remayne at yo r comaundement, 
 
 H. Gilbert. 
 
 CXXXI. 
 
 To the right worshipfull and his loving kynseman 
 S r Edwarde Stradling, Knyght. 
 
 Cosen Stradling, My servaunte having occa- 
 sione to come by you, of right I thoughte my 
 selfe bounde to wrytte my frendly commendacons 
 to you and yo r good wyfe ; assuring you ever to 
 fynde me most readye to doe you any pleasure or 
 frendly service that I may. From London, the 
 iiii th of Marche 1573. 
 
 Yo r lovinge kynseman, 
 
 H. Gilbert. 
 
158 
 
 CORRESPOXDEXCE OF 
 
 CXXXII. 
 
 To the riglite wor and his especyall good 
 frend and kynseman S r Edward Stradling, 
 Knight, &c. 
 
 S r , I receaved bv yo r servaunte yo r most frend- 
 ly Ires of the xxvi^ of October, wherin I founde 
 that yow are contented to imbraese and intertayne 
 me in the rancke of yo r cheefest frendes. In re- 
 specte of abilitie to pleasure vow, I muste geve 
 place to many ; but, in greatnes and readiDes of 
 goodwill, I will yelde my self seconde to noen. 
 Therefore, my good cosen, comaunde and imploye 
 me in all yo 1 occasions wherin my frendlv servises 
 maye stande vow in steed ; for my most worthve 
 lady, yo r good wvffe, dyd soe curteously use me 
 and cherys me in my sycknes, that I maye not 
 omvtt acknowledginge my selfe to be muche 
 bounde to her ladishipp for the same, w dl I will 
 endevoure mv selfe to requitt by remayninge 
 holelv at her ladishipp’s eomaundement. And soe, 
 w ta a myllion of comendacons to yo r good selfe, 
 and to my good lady yo r wiffe, I comytt yow 
 bothe to God ; thankinge yow for yo r Ires, w ch I 
 will from tyme to tyme requit by every conveni¬ 
 ent messenger. From my house in Lyttell Sente 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 159 
 
 Ellins, w th in Bishopes Gate, the iiiith of Novem¬ 
 ber 1573. 
 
 Yo r loving kynsman and faithfull 
 frend to comaunde, no man more, 
 
 H. Gilbertt. 
 
 CXXXIII. 
 
 To the right worshipfull and his especiall good frend 
 
 and cosen S r Edwarde Stradling, Knight, &c. 
 
 S r , In such pap 1 as my oste coulde spaer, I 
 have adventured to write unto you in, not soe 
 muche by the thousand parte for yo r selfe, as to 
 present my most humble comendacons to my 
 good ladye your wyfe. Truste to me, I doe 
 bothe honor and love her in the highest degree 
 for the noble and curteus intertaynment that I 
 founde at her handes when I was at yo r house; I 
 can never forgett yt, nor will duringe life be 
 founde unthankefull for the same : and yf yow 
 will intreyne yo r selfe in copersynery to be a 
 sharer, I will never bringe a wrytt of righte to 
 disaprove yo r tytell. And soe, my good cosen, I 
 comytt you and my good ladye to God ; resting 
 noe lesse ether of yo ls , then your greate curtey- 
 
 Paper. 
 
160 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 syes hath moste justly purched and bounde me. 
 Knell, the vi th of Marche 1580. 
 
 Yo r kynseman and most assured 
 
 frende to comaunde during life, 
 and no ma more, 
 
 H. Gilbertt. 
 
 CXXXIV. 
 
 To the righte worshipfull S r Edwarde Stradlinge, 
 Knight, be these delivered, 
 
 S r , The bearer herof, being one that dwelleth 
 somewhat neere me, hathe requested me to wrytte 
 these fewe lynes unto yow in her behalfe. That 
 wheras she hathe by the space of nyne yeares 
 byne maryed to one Richarde Love, by occupacon 
 a carpenter, the sayd Richard Love about Whit- 
 sontyde last was twelve monethes depted from 
 this poore woman his wyef, and tooke w th him a 
 lewde concupyne, who hathe a husband at this 
 present dwellinge at Bathe. This poore woman 
 hath byne enformed by some of her frendes that 
 the sayd Richard Love, her husbande, inhabiteth 
 in a pishe somewhat neere yow, called Cow- 
 bridge : yf, therfore, yt may please yow for 
 Godes sake, as allso according to the lawes of the 
 realme, to shewe yo r favo r to this poore woman in 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 161 
 
 takinge some good order w th the lewde fellowe 
 her husbande, no doubte you shall doe a most 
 godly deede ; and my selfe, in this poore woman’s 
 behalfe, will alwayes be readye to be employed in 
 these ptes, or in any place ells where I may stand 
 you in the like steed. Thus, as one unac- 
 quaynted, doe, w th my harty comendacons, take 
 my leave of you. Hasylburye, 1 this xviii th of 
 Marche 1573. 
 
 Yo r lovinge frend, 
 
 John Clyfton.* 
 
 cxxxv. 
 
 To the right worshipfull S r Edwarde Stradling, 
 Knight, at S‘ Donates in Wales. 
 
 I am at this instante requested to writte unto 
 you in the behalf of Johan Warman, the bringer 
 herof; who, as I understande, is muche charged w th 
 the maintayninge of her poore children, havinge an 
 unthrift unto her husband, not any thing consider¬ 
 ing their estate, nor using any meanes for redresse 
 therof, but rather practyseinge the contrary. 
 These are, therefore, hartely to desyre you in the 
 behalf of the sayde poor woman, her povertye 
 
 1 Probably Ilasilborough, near Crewkerne, Somersetshire. 
 
 3 Sir John Clifton, Knight. 
 
162 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 considered, to extend youre frindshipp unto her, 
 that by meanes wherof you may provoke her hus- 
 bande to be contributory to the sustentaeon of the 
 sayde children, as unto yo r wisdome shalbe 
 thoughte mete and convenient; wherin you shall 
 not only dooe a meritoryous deede, but alsoe fynde 
 me willinge to requyte the same in any thinge I 
 maye. Thus, not doubtinge yo r furtheraunce in 
 this respect, I leave any further to trouble you : 
 av " 1 my moste hartye comendacons unto you. 
 Morehayse, the xxvi th of September 1574. 
 
 Yo rs assured, 
 
 Jo. More . 1 
 
 CXXXVI. 
 
 To the right worshippfull and my very loving 
 cosen S r Edward Stradling, Knight. 
 
 Right worshippfull, After my verie hartye 
 comendacons. The cominge of our new justice 
 moveth me to molest certaine of my frends more 
 then otherwise I Avoid, amongest Avhome you are 
 one that I have chosen to be bould uppon, pray- 
 inge you to healpe me to a peece of fleashe at this 
 p>sent, suche as you shall thinke meate ; and, thus 
 
 1 The family of More was of some eminence in Devonshire. 
 Morehays is near Collumpton.—Sir W. Pole’s Collections, p. 186. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 163 
 
 doing, you shall fynd me allwayes readye to re- 
 quitt yo r courtesye when occasion shall serve. Soe 
 I conclud; w ,h my hartye comendacons unto my 
 good ladye yo r bedfellowe, as unaccquainted, 
 comitting you both to Godes .pteceon. From 
 Emllyn, 1 the xii th of September 1574. 
 
 Yo r loving cosen, 
 
 H. Johnes . 2 
 
 CXXXYII. 
 
 To the r. wo r my verie lovinge cosen S r Edward 
 Stradling, Knighte. 
 
 Righte wo r . My verie hartie comendacons to 
 yo r selfe and my ladie yo r bedfellowe remembred. 
 Whereas my sonne 3 and heere, this bearer, is de- 
 termened to be sueter in the way of marage unto 
 yo r nece M rs Barbara Gamadge, of whome he 
 hathe made chiefeste choice above all others; 
 and, havinge motioned the cause alreadie unto 
 
 1 In Carmarthenshire. 
 
 s Sir Henry Johnes, Knight, Sheriff for Carmarthenshire in 
 1574 and 1584, and for Brecknockshire in 1580, married Elizabeth 
 daughter of Matthew Herbert of Swansea. Sir Henry was the 
 son of Sir Thomas Johnes, Knight, of Abermarles, Carmarthen¬ 
 shire. 
 
 3 Sir Thomas Johnes, living in May 1599, Vide Meyrick’s 
 Cardiganshire, p. 358. 
 
164 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 her father, hathe obtained his goodwill to repaire 
 unto the gentlewoman and her frendes to talke 
 therein; and consideringe yo r intereste and my 
 la: in her to be suche (beioge yo r neare kinse- 
 woman) that, nexte unto her father, yow bothe are 
 those whose advise and counsell she is to use and 
 folio we in this case afore anie other, I am therefore 
 not onelie to crave and desier yo r owne good will 
 and my ladies likewise, but allso to requeste yow 
 to extende yo r frendlie assistaunce w* my sonne 
 towarde the obtaininge of the gentlewoman's 
 goodwill, in wliome consistethe the chiefeste suc- 
 cesse of his suete; and in thus doinge you shall 
 finde me and my frendes alwaies readie to pleasure 
 you. Thus, byddinge you hartelie farewell, I 
 end. From Porthamal, 1 seconde daie of Oc¬ 
 tober. 2 
 
 Yo r assured lovinge cosen, 
 
 H. Johnes. 
 
 1 Probably Porthaml in Brecknockshire, in Leland’s time the re¬ 
 sidence of the Vaughan family.—Vide Jones's History of Brecknock¬ 
 shire, vol. ii. p. 339. 
 
 , 5 This letter must have been written before the year 1584, when 
 Mr. Gamage died. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 165 
 
 CXXXVIII. 
 
 To the right worshipfull S r Edwarde Stradlinge, 
 Knight, yeve these. 
 
 My humble dewtie remembered. For as muche, 
 right worshipfull, as I ame assured by soundrye 
 credible gentlemen in these ptes of the greate care 
 yow have alwayse had to equitie and justice, re- 
 spectinge rather thestimacon of yo r worshipp and 
 credit than anie waise bente by will in the behalfe 
 of anie to wronge the leaste, I ame therfor 
 most desirouse to attende yo r pleasure ; and would 
 before this time, accordinge to my dewtie, have 
 seene yow, but that ptlie my deaffe eares so maym- 
 ethe me as I should two muche have trobled 
 yow, and specially for that 1 ame a meere stranger 
 as well to yo r worshipp as in this countrey : and 
 so, rather doubtinge yo r slvantes worste than anie 
 yo r indefferencie, his outradge at my howsse consi¬ 
 dered, and for that he is in those ptes well frendid 
 and akinned, and dwellethe nere my waye, darethe 
 me so muche as, I assure yo r wo r shipp, I ame 
 fearfull to travail that waise, least haplie I might 
 be by his meanes opressed; and, as one rather 
 glad to eschew all ocasion of quar e lles then to 
 seeke the leaste, am bolde to stey till yo r pleasure 
 therin be further knowen. And albeit I was 
 
166 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OP 
 
 served w ,h yo r warrante the vii th of this moneth to 
 be before yow; yet for that the counstable re- 
 fusethe to aide me, or otlierawise to warent my 
 saftie, psuminge upone yo r accostomed goodnes to 
 otherwardes, the pniises by yo r hable judgment 
 considered, I have rather thought better to stey 
 then so to endanger my selfe : and, evon so, be- 
 seching yo r wo r shipp to pardon my boldnes 
 therin, do by way of complainte moste humblie 
 beseche yo r worshipp herbie to understand 
 theffecte and treuth of the unconsidered behavio r 
 of yo r s?vant Morgan John and William Thomas, 
 done me the V th daie of October at my howse, w dl 
 was in forme followinge, &c. All w ch beinge, r. wo r , 
 trewe, (as I am well hable to prove,) I doubte not 
 but yo r hable judgment will hold me excused; 
 and beinge not trewe, nor hable to prove the same, 
 I do crave no favo r , but to be punished accord- 
 inge to .... of my deserts therin ; and beinge 
 moste true, as God is my judge it is, yet am I con- 
 tetid rather to committ my self in all to yo r order, 
 then otherwise (thoughe sure I were to wyn) to 
 seake my remedie by lawe againste anye that 
 weareth yo r cloathe, or otherwise bearethe yow good 
 will: and, evon so, w th all submission I do moste 
 hartelie praie yo r wo r , for triall of my trouthe 
 herin, to vouchsaffe to have the heringe of the 
 plnisses, and in dewe examination therof to take 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADL1NG. 
 
 167 
 
 souche order for ende as to yo r wo r shall seeme 
 good ; wherunto, or for other yo r comaundihtes 
 therin, I will, accordinge to the purporte of yo r 
 warrante, attende yow at yo r pleasure, so as I may 
 passe in safftie. Thus, comyttynge the circum¬ 
 stances (nowe to longe to write) to this gentle¬ 
 man, berer herof, I end yo r troble, and will praie 
 to God to graunte yow longe liffe in healthe, w th 
 all encrese of worshipp. At my poore abenige in 
 Castle Llougho 1 , 1 this ix th of November 1574. 
 
 All yo 1 w. at comaundm*, 
 Christopher Laurence. 
 
 CXXXIX. 
 
 To the right worshipfull S r Edwarde Stradling, 
 Knight. 
 
 If good will in deservinge your gentlenes and 
 civilitye towards me, w 1 ' 1 an earnest desyre to 
 fynde occatyone and opportunity to shewe the 
 effect thereof, were a sufficient recompence for the 
 same, then assuredly were I not farr in yo r debt; 
 but, wantinge occasion to putt good will in ure, 
 the desire must counfvayle the effect. Herein- 
 closed I send yo r worshipps booke, wherin the 
 state of Glamorgan for a longe tyme in many 
 
 Lloughor near Swansea. 
 
168 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OP 
 
 things ys ^served from oblivyon, and deserveth 
 thankefull acceptaunc. And, because I meane to 
 contynew yo r debter, I crave the lone of the re- 
 gester 1 of Neath, (wherin att my last being w th 
 you I found somewhat of Justyn,) and yt shalbe 
 safely kept and sent home at yo r pfixed tyme. 
 And seinge that yow refuce the things which 
 others most fervently crave and desyre, vz: 
 gaynes and pfytt; and althoughe by just meanes 
 due, yet in respect of the zeale ye beare to the 
 publique comodity of yo r country before yo r 
 owne pVate wealth, yow contemne and forsake 
 the same, I would wishe others to have but that 
 effectyon, not seeke extraordinary meanes to exact 
 more then due, as you have in forsaking yo r due, 
 although rated w th as much lenity and favour as 
 such matters were at any tyme: therefore I pray 
 yo r worshipp to send me by this bearer the ex¬ 
 tract, and I doubt not but others wilbe as glad 
 therof as yow were moved with pity. Leving 
 over longe to troble yow, I cornytt yow and yo r s 
 to God’s pservacon. From S‘ Nicholas, 18 De¬ 
 cern. 1574. At yo r commaundem*, 
 
 Rvs Mirike . 2 
 
 1 Vide Collectanea Topographica, vol. iv. p. 20. 
 
 2 Clerk of the peace for Glamorganshire. He resided at Cottrell 
 in the parish of St. Nicholas, near Cardiff. His daughter and 
 heiress, Barbara, married Miles Button, son of Sir Thomas Button, 
 Knight. Meyrick compiled a History of Glamorganshire, which has 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADUNG. 
 
 169 
 
 CXL. 
 
 To the right wor 11 S r Edward Stradling, Knight. 
 
 Right worshipfull, After most hartye comen- 
 dacons to you and my good ladye yo r bedfellowe. 
 Yt maye please you to understand that I am en- 
 formed that there ys come ov 1 into yo r countrye 
 from thes partes one Richard Pyperall Ansties, 
 a pavyor, and one Ralfe Pyperal Anstyes, a 
 smythe, whoe are brothers, and comitted a 
 felonye of late in thes partes ; and one of them, 
 that ys to saye, Richard, fled, not binge appre¬ 
 hended ; thother was apprehendyd, and comytted 
 to the keepinge of a poore neighboure of myne, 
 beinge a tythingman, from whome he escapyd, 
 and so rann his waye: by meanes whereof my 
 sayd poore neighbore ys leeke to be in pill of 
 lyfe, unles some speedye remedye be had nowe 
 before this next assisses. In consideration wherof 
 I shall most hartely request you to bestowe yo r 
 frindly helpe, furtheraunce, and advice by all 
 meanes possible that you maye, aswell by caus- 
 
 been printed by Sir Thomas Phillipps, Bart, from the original MS. 
 in Queen's Coll. Library, Oxford. It is entitled " A Book of Gla¬ 
 morganshire Antiquities, 1578.” He was the author of a volume 
 of pedigrees termed the “ Cottrell Book.” This manuscript was 
 in the possession of the late John C. Earl of Clarendon. 
 
 I 
 
170 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 inge secrete serche to be made, as anye other waye 
 w ch to you shall seeme beste for the spedye 
 takinge of them, yf ytt be possible ; and, yf they 
 or eyther of them may be taken, that by yo r 
 order and direction they maye be sent hether \v ,h 
 speede; further prayinge yow to pcure from other 
 justices there the leeke helpe and furtheraunce in 
 this matter : and in yo r soe doinge yow shall not 
 onlye pfett the coihon wealth, by rooting owt 
 suche yll weades, but allso bynde me, and other 
 my frends here, to pleasure you or anye other yo r 
 neighboures in that countrey in leeke case. And 
 so, referring to the reporte of this bearer, John 
 Jane, the resydewe w ch yow shall require to knowe 
 in this matter, doe comytt you and all yo rs to 
 Godes tuytion. Meryfeld, 1 the x th of Marche, 
 anno Domini 1575. 
 
 Yo r assured to comaunde, 
 
 John Wadham . 2 
 
 1 In Somersetshire. 
 
 - John Wadham, son of Sir Nicholas Wadham, Knight, married 
 Joan, daughter and coheir of John Tregarthin of Cornwall, who 
 died in 1581. His son Nicholas founded Wadham College, Ox¬ 
 ford, and died October 20, 1609, without issue ; devising his estates 
 to his sister Joan, the wife of Sir Giles Strangways, Knight, of Mel- 
 bury in Dorsetshire. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 171 
 
 CXLI. 
 
 To the right wor 11 S r Edward Stradling, Knight. 
 
 Right worshipfull, In most harty wise I comend 
 me unto you, yelding you most hartye thankes 
 for yo r frendshipp shewed to John Jane, my poore 
 neighboure, in taking the prisons w ch bracke from 
 [prison] in this country; assuringe you, yf I 
 may pleasure you or any frend of yo rs anye waye 
 in thes partyes, I shalbe most readye to accom- 
 plishe ytt. Further, I am hartelye to requeste 
 you to stand good frend unto this bearer allso, in 
 helping him to his gelding w ch was stollen from 
 him, pving the same to be his owne, as the 
 order ys in that behalf; wherin, I assure you, you 
 maye credytt him, for that he is my neere neigh¬ 
 boure I knowe him to be a very honest man. He 
 hath Ires to the highe shryve (from the judges) to 
 remove the pry son! s into Somers, to be tryed ther ; 
 by meanes wherof, and of other charges in 
 psecuting against the felons, the gelding will be 
 very deere unto him, thoughe he were better then 
 be ys. And so, boldening my selfe uppon yo r 
 gentyllnes, doe for this tyme comytt you to God, 
 restinge yo rs to use i’ that I maye. Meryfelde, 
 the xxiiii" 1 of Apryll 1576. 
 
 Yo rs to coiiiaunde, 
 
 John Wadham. 
 i 2 
 
172 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 CXLII. 
 
 To the right worshipfull S r Edward Stradlinge, 
 Knight, yeve this. 
 
 Right worshipfull, W tt my humble comenda- 
 cons unto yow. Not forgettinge your former pro¬ 
 mise unto me for a hawke of yo r eyrie, yt makes 
 me the more bould w th youe in cravinge a hawke 
 of this yeare, the rather for my necessitie who 
 ame at this present destituted, and wold faine 
 have my wante supplied therin, the rather to 
 keepe me from idelnes ; prainge youre worshipp to 
 sende her unto me by this berer, my brother in 
 lawe, whom I do sende unto youe of p r pose for 
 her. And any pleasure I maie doe youe ther- 
 fore, yow shall evermore finde me redie to pforme 
 towardes youe accordinglie; as o r Lorde God 
 knoweth yt, who alwaies presive yo r worshipp ! 
 Meere, this viii th of Julie 1575. 
 
 Yo rs moste assured to commaunde, 
 
 Edw: Wadham . 1 
 
 1 Edward Wadham of Mere, Somerset, nephew to John Wad- 
 ham of Meryfield, married, 1st, Margaret d. of John Young; 
 2ndly, Alice d. of . . . . Carew, county of Devon.—Hutchins’Dor¬ 
 set, 2nd edit. vol. i. p. 523. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 173 
 
 CXLIII. 
 
 To the r. wor. S r Edward Stradlinge, Knight. 
 
 Right worship 11 , My humble comendacons re- 
 membred, gevinge yo r worship most harty thankes 
 for yo r gent tresent unto the Lorde Tressurere for 
 his warant for me, the w ch nowe I have obtained, 
 beinge for iii hundreth quarters of wheat; desir- 
 inge you that, when the same warant shall come to 
 yo r worshipps handes, that you will accept the 
 same, and that I may receive the same without 
 any treble or molestation for the same, and that 1 
 may have yo r worshipes furtheraunce and helpe 
 that my man may have the same all as sone as may 
 be, for that my shipp doth goe unto Rochill, to be 
 reladen backe with salte from thence. Therefore 
 I meane to lade pte of the quantity in her nowe, 
 and the rest I meane to lade the next yeare, or 
 when occasion shall serve. And so, trustinge of 
 yo r worshipes favours and helpe herein, I rest 
 troblinge att this present: and, yf I may plesur 
 yo r worship or any frind of yo rs here, I pray you 
 make boulde of me, and you shall fynde me 
 readye to pleasur you in any thinge I may ; as 
 knoweth the Almighty, to whome I comitt yo r 
 
174 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 worshipp. From London, this p’sent xi th day of 
 Marche, anno 1575. 
 
 Yo 1 worship’s to comaund, 
 Thomas Pcllyson, Alderman. 
 
 CXLIV. 
 
 To the r. worship 11 S r Edward Stradlinge, Knight, 
 geve theise att S‘ Donnattes. 
 
 After my dewe comendacons to yo r selfFe and 
 my ladie yo r wife, with whom (for that I have not 
 hethereunto had acquentaunce) rekon my self in 
 some blame. I hope, ere this somere passe, to se 
 you both at S' Donnattes in helth, although I 
 have not before this; yeldinge you my hartie 
 thankes for that it pleased you to entertaine my 
 brother, worth to his proffite many waies. I was 
 not unmindfull that they weare dewe unto you, 
 but, lesst you might the rathere thereupon deter- 
 min to here with disorderes upon hope of amend¬ 
 ment longer then were resonable, I thought 
 good to forbeare: and nowe, trustinge that he 
 will demeane him selff towarde you to yo r likinge, 
 I hartely thanke yow for yo r goodnes shewed 
 unto him, and praie yow, if matter unknowen 
 unto me be not to the contrarie, that you will 
 employe him such way as he may pleasure you; 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADL1NG. 
 
 175 
 
 and therin shall he be most bounde unto you, and 
 my self and the rest of his frindes greately be¬ 
 holden. And so I leve you to God. Hunte- 
 worthie, 1 the xvii th of Maye 1575. 
 
 Yo r cosen to comaund, 
 
 Edward Popham. 2 
 
 CXLV. 
 
 To the right wof his loving 1 cozen S r Edward 
 
 O o 
 
 Stradling, Knight. 
 
 After my very harty comendacons. I pceave 
 that my man William is not well dealt w‘ h all in 
 the countrye there neere you, in that they force 
 him to use suite of lawe for the recovery at their 
 handes [of] that for w ch theye have noe coullor to 
 deteyne. For thadvoiding of expences in lawe, to 
 my man’s hinderaunce, (as allso thoccasion of his 
 non-attendaunce on me to my discomoditye,) I 
 praye you soe muche to be trobled as (yf amongst 
 them selves they cannot agree) to call them before 
 you and to pswad an end betwixt them, or to 
 request some frind of yours dwelling nere the 
 
 1 Near North Petherton, Somersetshire. 
 
 2 Edward Popham, son of Alexander Popham of Huntworth, by 
 Joan daughter cf Sir Edward Stradling, grandfather of the Sir E. 
 Stradling to whom this letter is addressed. 
 
176 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 partyes to doe soe muche in your behalf. And 
 thus, hoping theare maye be a tyme, er long be, 
 that I may vysitte you, doe leave you to Godes 
 tuycon. Huntworthie, the xv th of Apryll 1580. 
 
 Yo r cosen to use, 
 Edward Popham. 
 
 CXLVI. 
 
 To the right wor his loving cozen S r Edward 
 Stradling, Knight. 
 
 This bearer hath dealt w ,h an untrustie com- 
 panye neere about yow, w ch , upon my request 
 unto you, yt pleased you to be troubled w th , for 
 which I hartely thanke you ; and doe likewise 
 praye you nowe once againe to cause that ther be 
 some finall end betwixt him and his bad debtors : 
 he is willing soe to be dispatched of the countrye, 
 as he mighte not to have the like occasion againe 
 to be troubled there. And soe, w th my very 
 harty comendacons to you and my good ladye, I 
 comytt you both to the tuycon of thallmighty. 
 Huntworthy, the xxvii th of Apryll. 
 
 Yo r cosen to comaund, 
 
 Edward Popham. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 177 
 
 CXLVII. 
 
 To the right wor 11 S r Edward Stradling, Knight. 
 
 S r Robart Lynzey, 1 upon that he degted from 
 you, made his repayre unto me, and requested me 
 to wrytte unto you to make a farther proofe of 
 his servyce ; w ch , for that I dyd not knowe howe 
 greatly he hath mysbehaved him self towardes 
 you, I forheare to doe, and leave that to your 
 consideration. He sheweth me that throughe his 
 faulte he hath not onlye loste your servyce, w ch 
 he thought you would have bene contented to 
 have accepted suche waye as you required yt, as 
 he should not have bene destitute of entertain¬ 
 ment during his life, but allso ys likelye to loose 
 a preferment 2 in maryadge neare you, unles of 
 your goodnes (of him undeservid) you favor the 
 same : yf, therefore, his offence have not soe dis¬ 
 pleased you but that yt might stand w th your 
 lykinge to further him herin, I soe beseeche you 
 in his behalfe. And thus, not forgeting myne 
 appointment to see you and my ladyc, yf I can 
 bringe yt possiblye to passe, I make unto you 
 
 1 Robert Lindsay, second son of David Lindsay, eighth Earl of 
 Crawford, i he Earl died in 1588. Robert received a grant of 
 lands from his mother, the Countess of Crawford, in 1574.—Wood’s 
 Peerage of Scotland, vol. i. p. 201. 
 
 1 Probably he alludes to Barbara Gamage. 
 
178 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 and her my most hartye comendacons, and leave 
 yow both to God’s tuyccon. Huntworthie, the 
 xxiii th of Auguste 1580. 
 
 Yo r lovinge cosyn, 
 Edward Popham. 
 
 CXLYIII. 
 
 To the right worship" S r Edward Stradling, 
 Knight. 
 
 Right worshipfull, For soe muche as my cozen 
 James Redes 1 yo r servantes long absence might 
 geve you greate cause to mislike, unles the same 
 hath ben upon urgent occasion, I am in trewe ex¬ 
 cuse therof to advertes you, that the cause of his 
 hetherto staye was to gether certen money up due 
 to him by waye of anuitye at Michelmas last 
 past, w ch monye he could not receave untyll nowe 
 of late ; and therefore I beseeche you to consyder 
 of him accordingly, and in suche sorte acceptte 
 him from hence foorthe, as his diligent servyce and 
 pformaunce of dewty towards you shall occasyon, 
 w ch I hope wilbe in every respecte as he by your 
 sondrye goodnes [is] justly bounde. And thus, w th 
 my very harty comendacons, I leave you unto the 
 
 1 Perhaps James Rede of Boddington, near Cheltenham, who 
 appears to have been sixteen years old in 1513. See Escheat. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 179 
 
 tuytion of Almightye God, whom I beseeche 
 longe to contynew you in moche worshippe. 
 Dyxton, 1 2 * this xxii th of November 1575. 
 
 Yo ls assuredly to comaund, 
 
 John Hygford . 4 
 
 CXLIX. 
 
 To the right worshipfull and my loving kinsman 
 S r Edwarde Stradling, Knighte. 
 
 Seyinge there happenith some occasiones wher- 
 in I have cause to deale in the behalfe of some poore 
 neighbours of myne w th the beste sorte of insseesers 
 in yo r partes of Wales, I have beethoughte me 
 of you myne old acquaintaunce and kynseman, 
 wishing as well unto you as anie frind you have. 
 The cause that these bearers have ys, for that, at 
 this S‘ James’ fay re laste, as they came fromBrysto, 
 
 1 Dixton is a place close to Monmouth. It is noticed by IV. 
 Higford in a little tract published in 1658, entitled “ Institutions 
 or Advice to his Grandson.” 
 
 2 John Higford, son of W. Higford, who died 37 Hen. VIII, 
 
 was lord of the manor of Dixton and Alurington in the 3rd ofEdw. 
 
 VI. He was High Sheriff for Gloucestershire in the 15th and 28th 
 of Elizabeth. He married Elizabeth Fettiplace of Bessels Leigh, 
 Berks. Queen Elizabeth was at Dixton in 1592, and conferred the 
 honour of knighthood upon him. John Higford, Esq. of Newark, 
 near Gloucester, one of the coheirs of the late Duchess Dowager 
 of Norfolk, is of this family. 
 
180 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 they were robbed by a pyrate ; the w ch pyrate, 
 by the helpe of some of the countee of Walles, 
 [with] the same boet, was taken at the Mumels, 1 
 wherin they founde all there goodes before taken 
 from them ; w ch they claymenge as theire owne, 
 was afterwardes by the Welshe men taken from 
 them. You shall understand bothe their names 
 and dwelling places, w th a note of suche goodes as 
 they have taken from these men. My request to 
 you ys, that, accordinge to justice and equitye, 
 their goodes may be by yo r helpe the rather re¬ 
 stored to them agayne, soe as they have not more 
 cause to complayne on yo r neighbours then on the 
 pyrates. And I shalbe readye to pleasure anye 
 of yo rs in that I am able. Evin thus, w ,h my 
 harty comendacons, I betake yow to Godes keping. 
 From my house at Walston, this ix th of Septem¬ 
 ber 1575. 
 
 Yo r loving cosen and frynd, 
 
 R. Greynville . 2 
 
 1 The Mumbles, near Swansea, Glamorganshire. 
 
 s This gallant officer was of an ancient family in the West of 
 England. He was born about the year 1540. When a youth, he 
 served as a volunteer against the Turks in Hungary. Subsequently 
 he was employed by Elizabeth in Ireland. He was elected Knight 
 of the Shire lor Cornwall in 1576, soon alter was made High Sheriff, 
 and received the honour of knighthood. He entered into the 
 colonization schemes of his relative Sir Walter Raleigh. Early in 
 1585, he took the command of a squadron consisting of seven small 
 vessels ; sailed for Florida, where he established a settlement ; and re- 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 181 
 
 CL. 
 
 To the r. worship 11 S r Edward Stradlinge, Knight. 
 
 Right worship 11 sir, My dutie humbly used. 
 After my most humble thankes yelded unto the 
 same for so many benefites used and bestowed 
 upon me, for the leste wherof I am not liable by 
 any meanes to gratifie yo r worship, I am most 
 justely therfore to acknowledg my self at yo r 
 comaundement in that I or any frinde I have or 
 may pcure not only therefor, but also for that yo r 
 worship hath so by yo r great wisdome preserved 
 the goodes of this my deare frinde, w ch other¬ 
 wise had (as is credibly affirmed) ben uterly lost, 
 to his undoinge; beinge a man substantially ac¬ 
 counted of in this cittie, as in deade he is. The 
 whole cittie of Heref’ are much bounde unto you 
 for yo r good dealinges herein, by the w ch you have 
 preserved the estate of one nott of the simplest 
 
 turned to England. The Queen’s commands forbade him to quit 
 Cornwall during the war with Spain. In 1591, he was made Vice- 
 Admiral of a squadron fitted out for the purpose of intercepting a 
 rich Spanish fleet. The enemy’s convoy was too powerful for its 
 assailants. After a desperate engagement, Sir Bichard’s ship was 
 captured. lie died of his wounds three days afterwards. He has 
 been sometimes blamed for rashness, but his censurers appear to be 
 very imperfect judges. — Chalmers’ Gen. Biogr. Hist. vol. xvi. 
 p. 247. 
 
182 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 members therof; and I in the meane while, till he 
 may pcure you some thankes from them, do most 
 hartely thanke yo r worship, not only for the 
 benefites bestowed upon me, but also for yo r 
 great goodnes bestowed towardes him, for the w ch 
 he thinketh himself so much bounde to yo r wor¬ 
 ship that of himself he is not liable to signify: 
 and therfor, as he maketh meanes to knowe of yo r 
 worshipes frindes here, wherby he may by them 
 in his behalf yelde yow some thankes; so I, 
 psuminge of your worship’s curtesy, have in the 
 meane time enterp'sed (albeit not in any respecte 
 meate or worthy) to directe to yo r worship these 
 rude Ires of most humble and harty thankes. 
 And so, cessinge to troble yo r worship, 1 comitt 
 the same to the tuition of thalmightie. From 
 HereF, the xxii th of May 1576. 
 
 Yo r wo r allwayes at comaundem', 
 
 Edward Walwyn . 1 
 
 1 Probably “ Edward Walwyn, sixth son of Thomas Walwyn nf 
 Old Court, in the parish of Lugwardine, Hereford,” noticed in a 
 pedigree bearing date 1576. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADL1NG. 
 
 183 
 
 CLI. 
 
 To the right worshipfull S r Edward Stradling, 
 Knight, deliver these. 
 
 Right worshipfull, It may please yow to be 
 advertysed that of late I examined one Stephen 
 Stonne, who amonge other thinges confessed unto 
 me the sale of two mares in Walles about Allhal- 
 lautyde laste, and the chainging of one other 
 about five or sixe weekes since, and sayd that he 
 bought all those marres neere Netherbury in 
 Dorsett shere ; wheruppon I comytted him to the 
 keping of one of the tethinge, where he dwelte 
 untyll I might make tryall therof: and ther- 
 uppon sent to one Mr. Strowde, a justice of the 
 peace in Dorsettshire, dwelling neere Nether¬ 
 bury, 1 for the tryall of the troethe therof; w ch the 
 sayd Stonne understandinge, conveyed him selfe 
 from him to whom lie was comytted, and is fledd. 
 Sythence w ch tyme the sayd Mr. Strowde hathe 
 advertysed me that he boughte noe suche marres 
 at Netherbury, but that there have byne divers 
 mares stollen in that contry, wherof this bearer 
 hath lost twoo, and supposethe, as well by the 
 markes as the tyme, that they are the twoo mares 
 
 1 Parnham, in the parish of Netherbury, still the residence of Mr. 
 Strode’s descendant, Sir W. Oglander, Bart. 
 
184 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 w 0 * 1 the sayd Stonne about Halhallautyde solde in 
 Wales. I doe therefore desyre you to be a meane 
 that he maye see the same marres, and yfe they 
 be his, then doe pray yow that he maye have yo r 
 further a unce in atteyninge his goodes agayne; 
 wherin yow shall doe a good deed, and fynde me 
 readye to pleasure you w th the like as occasion shall 
 serve. And soe doe cbmytt you to God. From 
 Meryfelde, this ix th of Julye 1576. 
 
 Yo r assured, 
 Henry Portman . 1 
 
 CL 11. 
 
 To the right wo? and his very good cosen S r 
 Edwarde Stradling, Knighte. 
 
 Not longe synce I was bolde to troble you for 
 a neighbour of myne of Charde, 2 and rest moeche 
 behollding unto you for yo 1 frindshipp shewed 
 in helping him to hisgellding. Yo r frendlye readi- 
 nes therein hathe gotten you a customer of me; 
 for, beinge earnestly movid by a goodhonest man 
 
 1 Sir Henry Portman, son of Sir William Portman, Chief Justice 
 of the King’s Bench, married Joan, daughter of Thomas Michell of 
 Carrington. He died in 1590. His valuable Somersetshire estates 
 are now possessed by Lord Portman. 
 
 2 In Somersetshiie. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 185 
 
 of Wells called Thomas Tugle, 1 an apothecarye, 
 that hathe to doe w th some of yo r neighbours, for 
 my favorable Ire unto some of worshipp in thoese 
 ptes, I have thought good rather to become more 
 beholdinge unto you for him, then to seeke 
 further frindshipp ells where. He saieth that one 
 Mr. Rice Gwyn is indebtyd unto him in a good 
 rownde some of monv for charges bestowed on 
 him, lyeing a good space sicke in his howse; but 
 cheefely for that he became sewertie for him unto 
 others, and therby susteignethe greate losse and 
 hinderaunce. That his father, Mr. Richard 
 Gwyn, 2 before good wittnesses promysed and un- 
 dertooke to see him justly satisfied for all that 
 was betwine him and his sone; w ch notw lh standinge, 
 this bearer sayethe he is compelled by lawe to 
 sell his lyving to paye that he undertooke for 
 Mr. Rice Gwyn ; and, haveing humbleie desyred 
 satisfaction according to their fayre promises, 
 can not obteine the same. His desyre ys, that yow 
 will vouchsafe to cornone w th Mr. Rice Gwyn and 
 his father; and, as you fynde his cause mete to 
 be in honestie consydered, so to further the same. 
 Yo r order, yf they soe agree, he will abyde for any 
 
 1 Probably the same name as Tugwell, a respectable Somerset¬ 
 shire family at the present day. 
 
 2 Perhaps Richard Gwyn, second son of Richard Gwyn of Llan- 
 sannor, near Cowbridge. 
 
186 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 ende, rather then by sewte offend them to 
 whome he hatlie meante soe well. Yf yo r leasure 
 serve to heare this bearer at lardge, there will ap- 
 peare greate unthankefullnes for his greate good 
 will. Yf by your meane he may fynde ease, and 
 be relieved of his grieffe, he shall be bownde to 
 praye for you, and I remayne yo r debter untill 
 opportunitie will serve to reacquyte some pte of 
 vour curtesye. In the meane tyme, w th dewe 
 thankes and most harty comendacons to yo r selfe 
 and my cosen your bedfellowe, though unac- 
 quaynted, I comytt you to the tuycon of the 
 Almightye. Whitlackington, this xxv th of Au¬ 
 gust 1576. 
 
 Yo r loving cosen and assured frende, 
 
 George Speke. 1 
 
 CLIII. 
 
 To the right worshipfull my assured good frend 
 and cosen S r Edwarde Stradling Knighte. 
 
 My good Knight, The bearer hereof, being of 
 North Wales, having occasion to repayre hyther 
 
 1 Sir George Speke of Whitelackington, Somersetshire, was son 
 of Sir George Speke, and Elizabeth daughter of Sir Andrew Lut- 
 trell. He married Philippa, daughter of William Rouswell, Esq. 
 Solicitor to Queen Elizabeth. His ancestor John married Alice, 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADRING. 
 
 187 
 
 to my howse, where he remayneth my howsholde 
 chappleyne, passed, a yere past, in his jorney 
 hither, thorowe yo r countrey of Glamorgan, where 
 he was by certayne dishonest psons of that 
 country robbed, and had by them taken from him 
 iii h xiii\ The redresse of soegreate an injurye done 
 unto him I willingly referre to yo r good consi¬ 
 derations, and w th all his cause and the whole cir- 
 cumstaunce thereof, to be signifyed by him selfe, 
 who is liable to enforme you as well of their 
 names as of their dwelling places ; and therefore 
 have no doubt but that yow will for my sake see 
 him restored, being a poore younge man, of his 
 money : w cl ' I hartely pray yow to doe, as you 
 may at yo r will ymploye me in those ptyes in any 
 thinge I may stande you in some steede or doe 
 yow pleasure ; wherof I make some profe, as in this 
 cause and other. I presume of yo r frendshipp, 
 wherof as I have noe doubte, so I hartely pray 
 you to showe yt him at this my request, his cause 
 beinge honest; w ch , w"’out some good order therin 
 taken, shall [not] otherwise be pvided for. I be- 
 seeche you lett him during his aboade in the coun¬ 
 trey be under yo r salfe ptection, and returned w th 
 all convenient speede; as, w tb my right harty 
 
 daughter of Sir Thomas Arundel of Lanheron, Cornwall ; and, 
 through her, Sir George was distantly related to Sir Edward 
 Stradling. 
 
188 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 comendacons, I byd you as my selfe farewell. 
 Dartington., the xviii th of September 1576. 
 
 Yo r assured lovinge frende, 
 
 A. Champernowne. 1 
 
 CLIV. 
 
 To the right worshipfull my assured good frend 
 S r Edwarde Stradling, Knighte. 
 
 I thanke you, my good Knight, for yo r travell 
 taken at my request in the behalfe of my minister, 
 who duringe his life thinketh himselfe most 
 bownden unto you. Your servaunte, the bearer, 
 hath had occasione of very urgent busines to staye 
 here longer then his determination was, and there¬ 
 fore prayed me that I sholde by my Ires geve you 
 to understande thereof, to the ende yow sholde 
 conceave noe yll of him, havinge had some wares 
 in those ptyes upon credytt, by reason of his 
 longe tarynge he maketh nowe at his cominge to 
 dischardge his sayd credytt, in suche sorte as I 
 must in his behalf crave the contynuance of yo r 
 favoure towardes him ; w ch I beseeche yow showe 
 him, unlesse throughe his yll behavio r he geve 
 
 1 Sir Arthur Champernoune of Dartington, Devon, was second 
 son of Sir Philip Champernoune of Modbury, Devon. Dartington 
 is still in the possession of the Champernoune family. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 189 
 
 you occasione to the contrary. What yow will 
 have clone in these gties I beseeche yow imploye 
 me, and yow shall fynde me most readye to ac- 
 complishe yo r request; as knoweth God, who 
 have yow in his keepinge. Dartington, the vii th 
 of October 1576. 
 
 Yo r assured loving frend, 
 
 A. Champ’nowne. 
 
 I besecbe you p'sent my small comendaeons to 
 my la: yo r wife, as unacquainted ; hoping y e next 
 somer to see bothe you and her. 
 
 CLY. 
 
 To the righte worship 11 and his very good cosen 
 S r Edward Stradling, Knight. 
 
 My good Knight and cosen, This bearer, my 
 chaplaine, in whose behalfe I have good cause to 
 thanke you, having occasion to make his repaire 
 unto yo r ptyes, I would not oinytt to salute you 
 w th thes fewe lynes, wherin I have litle or rather 
 nothing else to signifye unto you but only the 
 aptnes and the readye good [will] that ys and 
 shalbe w ,h in me to be imployed in any thing wherin 
 I maye, to the uttermost of my litle power, stand 
 you in steade or doe yow pleasure. I have 
 written unto my nephewe Gamedg in the behalf 
 
190 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 of the bearer hereof, beinge your countryman; 
 and the somme of my request tendeth to this, that 
 he would for my sake bestowe upon him, beinge 
 moved w th a desyre to dwell in his owne country, 
 the advosom of the benefyce of Coytye, w ch , as I 
 am geven to understand, is of his gyfte. The 
 solicitinge of this my sute, and the furtheraunce 
 therof, I willingly comend unto yo r frendly dili¬ 
 gence ; w ch I praye you soe imploye, as both I in 
 movinge, and you in followinge, may bringe the 
 matter to good effect, as through both our 
 travells joyned in one the sayd advowsom maye 
 be bestowed uppon him, and that through your 
 good woorde he maye be pvided of some cure 
 against Michaelmas nexte; whose behaviour I 
 doubt not will prove suche as yt shall nethere re¬ 
 pent my nephewe to have yelded to my request, 
 nor you to have furthered the same, which is as 
 muche as in this matter is needfull to be sayd or 
 wrytten. For the rest, I have an earnest desyre 
 to see you heere in this country, yf any occasion 
 mighte leade you hether. Dartington, the last of 
 Julye. 1 
 
 Yo r loving kinsman 2 and assured frind, 
 
 A. Champernowne. 
 
 1 Vide p 164, note 2 : the same remark is applicable. 
 
 2 Joan, daughter of Sir Philip Champernoune, married Robert 
 Gamage of Coity Castle, the uncle of Sir Edward Stradling. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 191 
 
 CLVI. 
 
 To the r. wor. S r Edward Stradlinge, Knight. 
 
 Right worship 11 , My duety remembred. Havinge 
 occasion throught the death of my father to sue 
 out a comission to be directed for the retorninge 
 of certificatte of such landes as he was seysed of 
 in his life’s time, I have psumed so much, both 
 for the frindship and good will longe time conti¬ 
 nued bet wine you and him, and for the consider¬ 
 ation w ch therfore I doe repose in yo r worship 
 above the rest, to chouse you a comissioner for 
 the better and more favourable doinge of the 
 same on my behalf: but, since I must confesse 
 this much boldnes of myn in trohlinge you hath 
 not .pceeded of any defect further then the good¬ 
 will w cb most specially I bere to all those whose 
 faithfull frindlynes and curtesy hath byn tried 
 towardes my father, I canott therfor desire you 
 furthere to troble yo r self in this behalf then that 
 you may do with yo r very good leasure and con¬ 
 venience ; assuringe yow that I shall accompt my 
 self in all respectes fully satisfied with that what¬ 
 soever shalbe don with yo r lest troble and best 
 comodity. And thus, offeringe to employ my 
 self at al times and most willingly whensoev* yt 
 shall please you to use or comaunde me, and 
 
192 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OP 
 
 cravinge pardon for my boldnes, I comitt you to 
 God. From my mother’s house by Uxbridge, 
 this 20 th of February 1577. 
 
 Yo rs to comaunde, 
 William Griffith. 
 
 CLVII. 
 
 To the r. wo r my very lovinge frend S r Edw: 
 
 Stradling, Knight. 
 
 After my verie hartye comendacons. Whereas 
 I am informed that one William Wehbar and John 
 Wehhar werebroughte before you for suspicion of 
 felonye by hewe and crye made of one that sus¬ 
 pected them for the stealinge of a mare out of this 
 countie of Devon, you shall understand that one 
 John Webbar, uncle unto the sayd William and 
 John (nowe suspected), hath bene before me, and 
 affirmeth that he did lend the sayd mare unto the 
 sayd Wiffm, and delyvered her him selffe, and hath 
 his sayd mare agayne ; and as I understand by 
 the reporte of dyvers of the neighbors of the sayd 
 Webbars that they be and are of honeste beha¬ 
 viour, and have lyved amonge them without sus- 
 picon : wherefore you shall doe a charitable deede 
 to discharge them, excepte they are to bee bur- 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 193 
 
 thened anie farther. And soe bydde you moste 
 hartelie farewell. Wood, the xx th of June 1577. 
 
 Yo r lovinge frend, 
 
 Cha. Carewe. 
 
 CLVIII. 
 
 To the right wo r S r Edward Stradling, Knight. 
 
 Right worshipfull, My dutie reniembred ; and, 
 havinge a convenient messinger, thought good to 
 trouble yow with this my letter, to signifie unto 
 you that I have geven my cosen to understande 
 that I have sene a dede of yo r3 w ch dothe barr him 
 of suites and services, savinge onlie his rent of vi s 
 by the yeare dew for your lande holden of him ; 
 uppon w ch reporte he is therin satisfied. I gave 
 the like notice of yo r wo rs courtesie and greate 
 paines taken in his affaires, who yeldeth unto 
 you noe lesse thankes then the same dothe de¬ 
 serve, and in requitall resteth him selfe readye to 
 doe you anie service in theis pties, or to pie- 
 sure anie frind of yours in anie thinge he may. 
 Not forgettinge the greate entertaynement you 
 gave me, I shall hublie pray you to comaund 
 me in anie thinge I maie, to my simple power. 
 
 K 
 
194 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 Thus, althoughe in base sorte discharged of my 
 promise to yo r \vo r , I ame now to remember my 
 good ladie, concerninge the talke that yt pleased 
 her to ympte unto me at my depture towching a 
 gentel woman, of whose estate, aunswerable to her 
 ladieshippes mosion, I have enquired, and ame 
 acertained that she ys free from promise or anie 
 agrement of matche; so as, yf the like be in the 
 getleman, ther may be farther pcedinges, yf it be 
 yo r plesures. Her portion is knowen by her sister’s, 
 they be equall: her pson and conditions are semelie. 
 Now I rest yt in yo r likinges; and, as I am 
 bounde, wyshe the preservacon of you bothe in 
 muche worshippe, w th longe life to continew. 
 Stowgurse, this xxvi th of Marche. 
 
 Yo rs to cbmaunde, 
 George Carewe. 1 
 
 1 Piobably George Carew, son of Sir John Carew, and grandson of 
 Sir W. Carew, of St. Edmundsbury, co. Suffolk, who was knighted 
 after the battle of Blackheath, 1497. This George married Marga¬ 
 ret, daughter of Sir Thomas Englefield, of Englefield, co. Berks. 
 He died in 1604. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 195 
 
 CLIX. 
 
 To the right wo r S r Edward Stradling, Knight. 
 
 Right worshipfull, Wheare I determined nowe 
 from Maghen to come to visite you at S‘ Donattes ; 
 so it is that, as I was readye to take horse to you 
 warde, I was by Ires out of the counterye (where 
 I dwell) by some frends of myne earnestlye 
 called upon for some necessarye service to be 
 done, w ch I mought not omytt: therefore at this 
 tyme I praye you beare w ,h me, and heareafter I 
 wilbe bould at some other tyme to trouble you 
 and yo r howse, and in the meane tyme I shall re- 
 mayne readye for yow and yo rs to the uttermost 
 of my small power. And thus, w th remembraunce 
 of my most hartye comendacons unto yo r wor- 
 shipp and to my good ladye, I comytt yow both 
 and all yo rs to the tuycon of the Allmightye. 
 Att Maghen, 1 in hast, this Fridaye morninge, 
 being y e xvi th of August 1577. 
 
 Yo r assured cosen to his power, 
 
 Wyllyam Games. 
 
 1 Machen, a seat of the Morgan family in Monmouthshire.— 
 Cox’s Monmouthshire, p. 67. 
 
196 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 CLX. 
 
 To the right wor 11 S r Edward Stradling, Knight. 
 
 After all due order of comendacons. These 
 are most humbly to desyre yo r worshipp’s favora¬ 
 ble frendshipp to the bearer herof, my very frend, 
 whoe have ben well knowen, reputed, and taken, 
 amongest all men, even from his begininge, right 
 honest and of good behavio r , and for tenn or 
 twelve yeres a greate trader in merchauntes ware, 
 and then verie frindly to manye; who, by his to 
 kinde hart in trustinge the untrustye, in lending 
 his goods, and by suertieshipp, and robbinge, and 
 by other like mishappes (suche as it pleaseth God 
 to suffer the best sorte of his people manye tymes 
 to taste and feele), he is fallen nowe in greate de- 
 caye, and therby greatly indebted to his creditors, 
 and, nott havinge to content their greedines, is 
 every hower in greate daunger to be cast into 
 prison, to the utter undoinge of him selfe, his 
 wiefe, and eight smale children. Maye it please 
 yo r worshipp, therefore, for Goodes sake, in the 
 waye of charitye, and ptly aswell at this my 
 humble request, as allso for the old amide be- 
 twine us, to extend } r o r accustomed pitie and 
 charitye towards the recoverye of this poore man, 
 who hath the Counsailes Ires placcardes under 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 197 
 
 seale : in \v ch doing doubtles you shall doe a good 
 and charitable deed, wherby God will reward you, 
 and he and his for ever bownde to praye for you ; 
 yea, the countrey wherein he dwelleth, hearinge 
 therof, will yelde thanks unto you, and I for 
 ever most dutifull shall think me bownde unto 
 you in accomplishinge this my request as ife it 
 were done unto my self. I sent you a Ire by Mr. 
 Walter Baskervile' of Pontrilos; but I never 
 hard aunswere thereof. When you have occasion 
 to be in Hereford sheere, Bristoll, or Gloucester, 
 I beseeche you writte, and I will attend uppon 
 you; for I have to talke w th you of dyvers 
 things. Thus I comytt you to God. Glocest r , 
 the xxix th of Julye 1578. 
 
 Yo r wo r moste assured, 
 
 Lewys Vaughan. 1 2 
 
 1 Pontrilas, on the south-western part of Herefordshire, not far 
 from Abbey Dore.—Walter Baskerville was the natural son of 
 Thomas Baskerville of Pontrilas, fourth son of Sir Walter Basker¬ 
 ville, of Erdisley in the county of Hereford, Knight, who died in 
 1505. 
 
 2 Lewis Vaughan was the grandson of Lewis Vaughan of 
 Merthyr Tydvil, a natural son of Sir Roger Vaughan, Knight, of 
 Tretower, Brecknockshire.—Vide Jones’ Hist. vol. ii. p. 360. 
 
198 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 CLXI. 
 
 To the right worship" S r Edward Stradling, 
 Knight. 
 
 This bearer (right worshippfull) hath bene ever 
 an honest quiete man, and well able to lyve, untell, 
 nowe of late, by lendinge of his ware to sondrye 
 gentlemen, of whome some be dead, some other 
 are become as poore as he, not able to paye; 
 wherby he is soe farre indebted that he is never 
 able to come out therof, nor to avoyde the dainger 
 of lawe for the payment of his credytors, by 
 meane of a howse full of children he hathe from 
 one yere upwards to tenne, except the relife of 
 some good people may supplye his wantte : in w ch 
 respecte her Ma 163 honorable Counsaill in the 
 M’ches have graunted him a placcarde for pyttie 
 and charityes sake to the countyes of Glocester 
 and Glamorgan, to aske the devocon of suche as 
 shall please to geve him anie thinge ; where, yf it 
 may please you at this my suete to further him 
 w th yo r countenance and credytt amongest suche 
 of yo r frends as will geve, you shall doe undoubt¬ 
 edly a charitable deede, w ch God will rewarde, 
 and assuredlye bynde me (yf I maye be further 
 bounde then I thinke my selfe alreadye to be) at 
 your comaundeiht, eyther in this sheere or ells 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 199 
 
 where, in the like case for anye frende of yours 
 duringe liefe. And soe, w th due and most harty 
 comendacons to you and my good ladye, I wyshe 
 you eancrese of worrshipp in prosperous, happie, 
 and lovinge lyefe. Hyneham, 1 my poore howse, 
 neere Gloucester, the xxviii 41 * of July 1578. 
 
 Yo r poore kinsman ever assured, 
 
 N. Arnold. 
 
 CLXII. 
 
 To the very right wor 11 and my good cosen S r 
 Edward Stradling, Knight. 
 
 Right worshipfull, Althouge altogether unac¬ 
 quainted, yet by reason of fame, w ch leveth no¬ 
 thing unpublished, I am boulde to writte unto 
 you in the behalfe of my husband’s nephwe, 
 matched to yo r kinsewoman and myne, hardly 
 dealt w ,h al in youre countrey for his owne by Mr. 
 Carne. I hope by yo r good meanes he shall the 
 soner obteyne his right: I am earnestly to desyre 
 
 1 The manors of Highnam and Over, Gloucestershire, belonged 
 to the abbey of Gloucester, and were granted to John Arnold, Esq. 
 of Monmouthshire, who died in 1545 ; when livery of the manor of 
 Highnam was granted to his son. Sir Nicholas Arnold, who married 
 Margaret, daughter of Sir William Dennys of Dyrham, Gloucester¬ 
 shire. Sir N. was one of the Council of the Marches.—Sydn. 
 Papers, i. 137.—Atkyns’ Gloucestershire, 176. 
 
200 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 your lawfull frendshipp in his cause; for that I 
 have requested the younge gentleman to staye w th 
 me tyll my husband come from London, or ells 
 he had beene him selfe w th you. Good sir, make 
 me behouldinge unto you in shewinge him some 
 pleasure, w ch yow shall not fynde bestowed on an 
 ungratefull bodye; as knoweth God, whose good- 
 nes blesse you w th encrease of muche worshipp 
 and felicitye. From my house at Lantonye, this 
 xiii th of June 1583. 
 
 Yo r assured frend and cosen, 
 
 Margerett Arnold. 1 
 
 CLXIII. 
 
 To the right wor my especiall good frend S r 
 Edward Stradling, Knight. 
 
 Right worshipfull, My humble comendacons 
 most hartely remembrede. I have bene requested 
 by verie frynds of myne to recomende this bearer 
 to your wof, who, both for likinge of you and a 
 zeale he oweth the name (beinge him selfe a 
 Stradling by the mother), hath willed principallye 
 yo r worshipp’s enterteignment; his frends verye 
 honest and of a sufficient lyvelyhodd, his owne 
 behaviour well knowen to be sober w th out quar- 
 
 1 Wife of Sir Nicholas Arnold. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 201 
 
 rellinge from his childhood, and yet his mannodd 
 (where he hath served) verye well deemed of; soe 
 that, yf hytt stande w th yo r woo rs lykinge to ac- 
 cepte of him, I dare take upon me he will dis¬ 
 charge [the duty] of an honest and faythefull 
 servant. Thus, being bould to troble you herin, 
 I leave you as I maye. From Hereford, the 
 vi th of Maye 1579. 
 
 Yo r wo rs to use in y* he may, 
 
 John Breinton. 1 2 
 
 CLXIV. 
 
 To the right wor 11 S r Edward Stradling, Knight. 
 
 Right worshipfull, After my harty comenda- 
 cons. Thes are to signifye unto you that yt 
 pleased S r Thomas Esterling your father to geve 
 out unto my ouncle Powell of Parkehall, neere 
 Oswestrye, that the sayd S r Thomas should beare 
 a coote in his and nowe in yo r armis, w ch he 
 thought that of right my brother S r Andrew Cor¬ 
 bett* ought to bare; and since, throught dyvers 
 
 1 John Breinton of Stretton, co. Hereford, natural son of Simon 
 Breinton, married Mary, daughter and coheir of Humphrey Ashtield 
 of Heythrop, co. Oxon. 
 
 2 Sir Andrew Corbet, Knight, married Anne, daughter of Sir 
 Robert Needham, Knight. The family of Corbet is one of the most 
 ancient in the county of Salop. 
 
 K 5 
 
202 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 occasions that we have had since the death of my 
 sayd brother S r Andrew Corbett to travell in 
 searching out of o r pettigi’ee, we cannot as yette 
 come to the marke we shoott at ; and soe, by the 
 advise of my ouncle Maist r Powell, a gentillman 
 very well seene in harrolderye, who, remem- 
 bringe the gentell offer of the good Knight, S r 
 Thomas yo r father, dyd advise me to writte unto 
 you, yf you doe understand anye suchthinge, that 
 you would geve us some instruction, as allso your 
 pettigree, whereby we maye the better come to 
 o r purpose. And in soe doing, yf there be enye 
 thinge that we maye pleasure [you] wyth the like, 
 doubt you not but yt shalbe at yo r comaunde- 
 mentt. Thus God p’serve you and youres in per- 
 fett health. From Blettsoe, the Lord S‘ John’s 
 howse, the xxiiii th of Maye 1579- 
 
 Yo rs to comand and ould acquaintas, 
 
 Water Corbett. 1 
 
 Walter, brother of Sir Andrew, and son of Sir Roger Corbet, 
 Knight, by Anne, daughter of Andrew Lord Windsor.—Collins’ 
 Peerage, by Brydges, vol. iii. p. 670. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 203 
 
 CLXV. 
 
 To the r. wo r and my verie good cozen S r Edward 
 Stradling, Knight. 
 
 W th my best and most hartest comendacons. 
 Wheras I ame appointed by the Queene and the 
 Councell furthew th to go in to Ireland w th the men 
 owt of Southwales, w ch I doubt and feare I shall 
 finde excedinge rawe, yet my only trust and hope 
 is in yow that you wilbe carefull to helpe me to 
 suche men as shalbe able of bodie, wherby the 
 Queene may the better be servid, and I therbie 
 may gett fame honestlie ; and, w' h all, that yow will 
 see them aswell furnished as you can w th her 
 furniture, and, if it be not verie good and suffi¬ 
 cient, lettinge me have reasonable allowance, w th all 
 speade possible I will provide you of the same; 
 also prainge yow that they maie be well furnished 
 in there apell, and that their cottes may be reed, 
 w th a little lace of grene, yf they have not cdattes 
 reedie made, for I would be verie lothe to put 
 the countrie to anie double chardge ; and that I 
 may be adv’tised of the same at Penecoyd w th all 
 spede possible; and that they may have some 
 allowance of some convenient store of powder for 
 to traine their shotte while theie are of this side 
 the sea, and on the sea in goinge, for some of o r 
 
204 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 men have ben spoiled allredie for lacke of the 
 same. Thus once againe prainge you to have 
 care of the ablenes of the men, and, if it be possi¬ 
 ble, to helpe to some that hath served alredie ; be- 
 sechinge yow to consider some good allowance for 
 yo r ptes for my cunditt money, consideringe I am 
 driven to care for me and my officers, the w ch I 
 am driven to carie hence from London. Thus 
 comittinge yow to God, I take my leave. From 
 the Co r t, this xviii th of September 1579. 
 
 Yo r lovinge assurred cosen, 
 
 Wyllyam Morgan. 1 
 
 CLXYI. 
 
 To the r. wo r my especiall good cosen S r Edward 
 Stradling, K. 
 
 I have thought it good to send this bearer, my 
 chaplayne, unto yow, to knowe howe forward yow 
 are in the settinge forth of yo r men, and what 
 wantes yow have, eyther of halberdes or anie other 
 good furniture, and that we maye make all the 
 shifte we can to supplie those places. My otilie 
 trust is in yow for the choice of the men, bothe 
 
 ! Son of Sir Thomas Morgan, Knight, of Penycoed, Monmouth¬ 
 shire, by Cecil, daughter of Sir George Herbert of Swansea, Knight, 
 lie was knighted by Queen Elizabeth at Bristol in 1574. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 205 
 
 for their psonage and behavio r ; and that they 
 maie be reasonable furnished w th necessarie aparell 
 and furniture, and some suche that maie carie 
 some money w th them for their relife, or other¬ 
 wise they maie perishe for want. Also I praie 
 yow they maie have resonable allowance of pow¬ 
 der to traine them while they are of this side 
 the water, and on the sea in goinge ; for God 
 knowes what maie happen unto us, as it hath to o r 
 Devonshire men alredie, who have bought it deare, 
 as I here saie. Their cottes I would wishe to be 
 after the fashion as the coattes in this countrie 
 are ; the w ch if yow will, I will send yow an ex¬ 
 ample I thinke my man that was w ,h yow before 
 had on his backe. I have brought betwine xxx"' 
 and xl" e foot souldiers w th me from London, [who] 
 are resonable furnished, whome, if it will please 
 yow to allow some good allowance to furnishe them, 
 you maie have half a dosen or eight of them to 
 spare so manie of yo r countrey; and praingeyow 
 to have the best consideration yow maie for o r 
 coundith 1 money, seinge for that I have caried a 
 great manie of the best from London. Thus, 
 takinge my leave, I wishe unto you as to my self 
 owneharte. In hast. From Penecoid, this xxviii*' 1 
 of September 1579. Yo r loving and assured cosen, 
 
 Wyllyam Morgan. 
 
 1 Conduct. 
 
206 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 CLXVII. 
 
 To the' r. wor. and my very lovinge frinde S f 
 Edward Stradlinge, Knight. 
 
 After my right harty comendacon. Wheras 
 my very frinde, the berer herof, David Watkines, 
 hath a sute dependinge befor M r Sarjant Pop- 
 hame, 1 who, as I understande, is yo r kinsman, I am 
 therefor to request yo r favourable tre in the behalf 
 of the berer hereof to M r Pophame, to shewe him 
 his leafull favoure acordinge to the equity of 
 the case, and I shalbe ready to requit the same 
 when occasion shall serve. Thus biddinge yow 
 most hartely farewell. From Cardiffe, the xxvi th 
 of September 1579- 
 
 Yo r verye loving frend, 
 
 W. Leyghton. 
 
 1 Afterwards Lord Chief Justice Pophara. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 207 
 
 CLXVIII. 
 
 To the r. wo r and his singular good brother M r 
 Edw: Stradling, Esquier. 
 
 S r , Havinge receaved yo r curteous and gentle 
 Ires by my brother Edwarde Gage 1 (yo r late 
 thankefull gheste), and owinge you withall my 
 continuall desire of yo r well doings (in eche re- 
 specte), I longed not a litle to be thoroughlie 
 satisfied (concerninge you both) of the chiefest 
 earthlie care and onlie thinge wherby we have the 
 kindlie fruycon of whatever ells it pleaseth God 
 to blesse us in this worlde withall, namly, “ men- 
 tem sanam in corpore sanoeither of which 
 wantinge, what use have wee of oughte ells we 
 happ to have ? And albeit (God bee thanked) 
 you are both highlie bounden unto him, amonge 
 his other manifolde blessinges, for havinge afford¬ 
 ed the one of you both theis assured enoughe, 
 and the other of you the firste of theis in perfec¬ 
 tion (which is noe small gifte), yet the second and 
 later of the twoe (the sowndnes and good estate) 
 upholdeth his fellowe. For that my said brother, 
 
 1 Edward Gage married Margaret, daughter of John Shelley of 
 Michelgrove, Sussex ; and left a son, John, and a daughter, Eliza¬ 
 beth, who became the wife of Sir John Stradling, Knight and 
 Baronet. 
 
208 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 then, rather broughte me into some, then rather 
 could putt me out of anie doubte of my zeal¬ 
 ous and carefull conceyte, enboldened me forth¬ 
 with to move you by thes lynes to enter into noe 
 lesse consideracon of this one pointe thoroughlie 
 then to yo r knowen wisdome and good foresigbte 
 doth appertaigne, or doth importe you both soe 
 muche and manie waies to have; and that for 
 moe causes then should well beseme me to sett 
 downe to suche a one; whose sufficiencye for ad- 
 visinge yo r selfe (my good brother) as I both 
 reverence and cannot but acknowledge, neverthe- 
 les yet withall at this time will I (by yo r pa¬ 
 tience) somewhat touche what cometh in my hed, 
 by the waye, to put you in mynde of here¬ 
 abouts. Firste, sithensye bothe (I well knowe it) 
 alike hartelie joyne in dailie desire (and soe doe 
 all yo r frinds, and none but suche you maye be 
 sure,) that God would (whereof none dispaireth) 
 send betwine you dyvers yssues; (the same 
 beinge a verie naturall inclination and next neigh- 
 boure to ymortalitie, to desire to lyve alwayes 
 in our likes;) the stemes springinge out of 
 our owne roots, the shootes and slippes of our 
 owne stocks, the bowes of o r owne bodyes, the 
 braunches of our owne bows, the blossoms of 
 oure owne braunches, and the fruyts of our 
 owne trees, beinge unto us, above all other, moste 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 209 
 
 deeare and acceptable, and to our taste and 
 likinge moste pleasinge and saverie. Agayne, 
 sithens our children are to our younger yeeres a 
 pastyme, to our midle age a solace, and to our 
 elder a comfortable ayde and staye ; withall, a 
 present joye and ever a newe succeedinge hope ; 
 to o r frynds a gladnes, to our foes a confusion, 
 fynallie, the blessinge of God and the onlie beste 
 ende of mariadge ; — sithens, I saie, yo r owne 
 selves so well knowe, and soe muche desire, this 
 one thinge : eftsons, my instant request unto 
 you bothe is, that you would vouchesafe to take 
 suche good occasion, upon this my poore sclender 
 advice, as maye witnes in you (to the worlde) 
 the same carefull disposition to remedye suche 
 defaults or ympedyments as (anye of all our 
 bodyes beinge neglectede or unrepayred) sense- 
 ablie thretneth us, the hinderance and ympaire 
 in suynge of those proper and naturall frames 
 and courses of suche our bodilie institution as by 
 greate presumption were necessarilie requisite to 
 be better intended. Which albeit I shuld not doe 
 well to affyrme of my good syster (whome as yet 
 I never sawe), experiens yet of begettinge twoe 
 boyes makes me to psume to will you to remember 
 it is not for naughte that the verye beste husband¬ 
 men are forced religiouslie to observe the beste 
 and aptest mowlds, and soe (preciselie firste pre- 
 
210 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 paringe the same) to take theire timely season ; 
 before which husbandly regarde they would 
 thinke it in vavne to expecte theire bountefull 
 encrease ; for, as well herein as in oughte ells, it 
 is to be beleeved that God doth fewe thinges 
 without his ordered wisdome and due meanes (yf 
 we mighte comprehend them) : which secondarie 
 causes of his we then beste use and applie to his 
 goode pleasure when either our owne skill 
 showeth us by oure inserche, or otherwise ap- 
 peereth to our felinge and senses, that wee neede 
 the same. Which if my sayd sister shoulde hap- 
 pelie doe, (feare [for?] I meane some impayre or 
 impfection in her selfe latelie waxen by reason of 
 change of ayre, or of complexion, weaknes of 
 bodye, fayntenes of stomacke, ill disgestion, or 
 too greate habundance of theis badd humo r , 
 never lightlie but vicious,) yf all theis, anie of 
 theis, or other quite besides anie of theis signes 
 and tokens somewhiles shee happ to feele of, or 
 feelinge litle suspecte more, or suspectinge 
 somewhat be acknowen of nothinge (for beste 
 were it to take heede ere we feele) ; then, (my 
 good brother,) for that whiche may casuallie 
 growe to soone, and the repentance for it beinge 
 growne certenly come to late, beare, I beseeke 
 you, with this my vehement importunitie: thonly 
 some whereof is, shortly, that you will, w* open 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 211 
 
 eyes awake, afore all intendinge herein, (some¬ 
 what seriouslye while there resteth yet this greate 
 hope,) unto the good and gracious opportunityes 
 even God himself layeth open unto you, by the 
 full fraughte and large supplye of anye wants 
 allmoste you can recken. The present doubte of 
 more yminent perill then appeareth thunpleasant 
 lyves they leade that lacke theire healthes; the 
 hartye griefe it maye be hereafter (God willinge 
 yssue) to feare the naturall courses of theis latter 
 ages shall scareslye afforde yo r life to see them 
 staye them selves; and the more and greater 
 grief (which God sheilde) to dispayre almoste the 
 havinge of anye succession of yo r owne; and all 
 theis phapps but throughe the neglecting of 
 former occasion or opportunitye, the lacke of 
 some easye ordynarye considerations at the firste 
 beginninge, or rather thorroughe to careles an 
 accompte, or over moche securitye in wenynge it 
 to be still better with us then it is in deede. 
 Wherefore, that, in fyne, you maye aswell knowe 
 for what cause I make especiall choyse of this 
 tyme to urge you thus in, as partelie appeareth 
 what maketh me thus earnest, I muste tell you 
 (in conclusion) my brother aforesayde informynge 
 me what himselfe somewhat doubted by his 
 gesse; my selfe enoughe assured of bothe yo r 
 outwarde likelyhoodes (in apparaunce) w ,h the 
 
212 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 beste (unlesse some inwarde contrarye) ; consider- 
 inge allso that this waye litle taryaunce maye 
 doe greate harme unawares; withall, not un- 
 myndfull of the towardly season approching 
 with the springe, thonly beste tyme (for suche a 
 purpose) besides the quyette calme thereof, here¬ 
 to not unlikelie; my wife, againe, (owne syster 
 unto yo rs ,) after a like maner, in a like case foreci- 
 blie dryven (as it were) to make hir firste a newe 
 bodye before she could enjoye her old health (yea, 
 her liefe wellnye) or yet her younge sonne; and 
 lastlie, my selfe bounden (without observation) 
 to speake, where I love, as I thinke; and well 
 knowinge I could not possiblie handle a matter 
 more importinge you bothe everye waye then 
 this, unto which principall respecte yo r other 
 worldlye causes are but shadowes and accessaries 
 in deede, lent you but to be remembred by;— 
 this poynts, amonge other, inforced me to for- 
 gett yo r paynes in readinge over, as I have done 
 my small travell in exceeding the juste measure 
 of ordynarie Ires upon this extra ordinarye occa¬ 
 sion : which, if it (by theire good happ) mighte 
 some what move (more then they can pswade) 
 you wiselie to wey the nedefull and farder cir- 
 cumstaunces requisite, in suche sorte as yo r 
 frendes heere maye perswade them selves, you 
 have then assayed all possible and likely meanes 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 213 
 
 hereabouts to the fullfillinge of all the gladsome 
 contentacon good healthe and good children 
 bringe on everye side. And theis tedious lynes, 
 [read] you shall besydes the service of God in his 
 churche, and yo r countrye in the coihon wealthe, 
 have thoroughlie satisfyed the longe and generall 
 expectation of yo r selfe, and those that love you ; 
 and theis tedyous lynes shall likewise have full- 
 filled the escope of the well affected mynde they 
 were written w' h . Therewhiles, allsoe, lett me 
 cojure you bothe, I praye you, by thinviolable 
 bonde of unfeyned fryndshipp, neither to denie us 
 this reason of oure requeste in cbminge hither 
 bothe this next springe together unto this cittie, 
 —the choise time and onelie place, without anye 
 comparison, for all the phisicke helpes; nor 
 enjuriously to suffer youre selves to be thus 
 lingeringlie defrauded (a longer while) by this 
 protracted delayes of the blesfull benefitte and 
 joyefull possession of youre owne welhopinge 
 and good harts’ desires; w ch I praye God to send 
 you shortelie (by theis meanes or otherwise), to 
 his honor, yo r comforts, and our wishes. From 
 my chamber in the Inner Temple, the thirde of 
 Marche 1572. 
 
 Yo 1 loving brother assured to comand, 
 
 Edm. Sander. 1 
 
 Edmund Saunder, son and heir of Sir Thomas Saunder, Knight, 
 
214 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 CLXIX. 
 
 To the r. wor. S r Edward Stradlinge, Knight. 
 
 S r , As I have ben heretofor bolde to crave yo r 
 favour and paines about the exaicon of witnesses 
 to be pduced on the behalfe of Jenkin in a cause 
 of contraversy betwine him and me dependinge in 
 the Chauncery, so do I nowe instantly pray yow 
 that you will vouchsaf recevinge the Queenes 
 Ma tes comission, w ch shalbe delivered unto yow 
 by this berer for that purpose, to be at the exaiacon 
 of suche wittnesses as the same Jenkin shall cause 
 to be brought before you and othere the comis- 
 sioners, and to appoint some time for yo r and 
 their meetinge together, so as the same comission, 
 and the exaiacon thereupon taken, may be re- 
 torned in due form and order. On my pte ther 
 are no witnesses at all to be exained ; all that be 
 are on his pte to be pduced: for the indiffrency 
 of w ch exaiacon my desir is, y* yt may please yow 
 to be at it, who I am sure will se that al thinges 
 therein shalbe justly and rightly don ; for the w ch 
 I shall accompt my self greatly bounde to you, 
 and be readie at yo r comaundement in all y‘ I 
 
 by Alice, daughter of Sir Edmund Walsingham of Charlwood, 
 Surrey, married Philippa, daughter of Sir John Gage, and sister of 
 Agnes the wife of Sir E. Stradling. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 215 
 
 may. And so, with my dewe comendacons unto 
 yow, I take my leve. From London, the XX th 
 of February 1578. 
 
 Yo rs assuredlye to comaunde, 
 
 John Kempe. 1 
 
 CLXX. 
 
 To the right worshipfull my very loving frend 
 S r Edwarde Stradling, Knighte. 
 
 Good S r Edwarde Stradling, Whereas yt hath 
 pleased you heretofore to showe unto my brother 
 John Kemp soe muche curtesye and frendshippe 
 in his sute against Edmunde Jenkyn in Walles 
 for suche cattell as are dewe to him in the right 
 of my Ladye Harbarde his late wife, as sewerly 
 he remayneth greatly yo r debter for the same ; 
 and, in his behalfe, accompt my selfe soe muche 
 beholdinge to you as, yf yt lye in me any waye to 
 gratifye yo r curtesye, you shall find me as ready 
 as any frend you have. In the meane tyme, for as 
 muche as he is to call the same Jenkyn by ,pces 
 before my L: Chaunceller this next tearme for 
 the same matter, yf yt will please you to geve 
 this bearer, my brother’s man, yo r good direction, 
 and the assistaunce of some secrete trustie ser- 
 
 1 Brother to Anthony and Thomas Kempe. 
 
216 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 vaunt of yours to goe w th him and ayde him in 
 the executing of the same pees to effecte, you 
 shall bynde me whyle I lyve to requyte yo r 
 curtesye in any thinge I maye. And soe, w th my 
 very harty comendacons, as unacquaynted, for 
 this tyme I take my leave. O Lantighe, the 
 laste of September 1580. 
 
 Yo r very loving frend, 
 
 Thomas Kempe. 1 
 
 CLXXI. 
 
 To the right wor 11 my very good brother S r 
 Edward Stradling, Knight. 
 
 My good brother, Having suche a convenient 
 messenger, I could not but salute you and my 
 good syster w ,h these few lynes. My wife and I 
 were in hope to have seane yow in these ptes or 
 this tyme. I wilbe right glad to be yo r host 
 whensoev 1 you will take occasion to cum : there 
 be a great many of yo r frinds that would be glad 
 also to see yow. I am sorye the distaunce of o r 
 dwelling ys soe farr a sunder as we can meete noe 
 oftener. The good ould lady o r mother in lawe 
 hath her health resonably well, thankes be unto 
 
 Elder brother of Anthony Kempe. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 217 
 
 God; she lyeth at a litle howse called Awston, 1 
 where I harde from her w ,h in this two dayes. 
 My brother John Gage lyeth at London, and there 
 myndeth to contynew for a tyme. Thus, my 
 good brother, w th most harty comendacon from 
 my wife and me to yo r selfe and to my good 
 syster, I wishe unto yow both yo' hartes desyre. 
 Slyndon, 2 the xxix th of June. 
 
 Yo r assured loving brother, 
 
 Anthonye Kempe. 3 
 
 CLXXII. 
 
 To the right vvo r my very good brother S r Edward 
 Stradling, Knight. 
 
 Good brother, As I have byne bould to trouble 
 you for a matter touchinge a brother of myne, 
 soe nowe againe, being earnestly required by him, 
 I am to desyre you to shewe him your further 
 favour. Ther is a comission directed owt for the 
 heeringe of the matter in contraversye betweene 
 my brother and the other partye, and my bro¬ 
 ther was soe bould to nominate you w ,h an other 
 to be comissioners on his behalf; wherein, 
 
 1 Alsiston near Tevensey, Sussex. 
 
 2 Near Arundel, Sussex. 
 
 3 Anthony Kempe married Margaret, daughter of Sir Edward 
 Gage, Nov. 19, 1569.—Gage’s Ilengrave, p. 238. 
 
 I. 
 
218 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 althoughe he ys over bould to trouble you soe 
 niuche, yet he hopethe you wilbe content to take 
 some paynes, the rather at my requeste, wherby 
 he maye come by his right: and, soe doing, you 
 shall nott only bynde him to doe you anye plea¬ 
 sure or service he can, but I wilbe allso readye 
 to requyte yt anye wave I can. I have no newes 
 worth the sending. My brother John Gage re- 
 mayneth sorrowefull for the death of my syster 
 his wyfe : my ladye o r mother in law hath not 
 bene well this three monethes, but I hope in noe 
 daungerous disease. The rest of yo r frynds in 
 thes partyes be well. We were in hope to have 
 seane you and my syster the last somer. I praye 
 you determyne a jorneye hether the next yere, 
 and soe you shall make a greate manye here glad 
 of your good companye. Thus, w th moste hartye 
 comendacons from my wife and me to your selfe 
 and to the good ladye our syster, I comitt you to 
 the tuicon of Allmightye God. 
 
 Yo r assured loving brother to comaund, 
 
 Anthony Kempe. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADUNG. 
 
 219 
 
 CLXXIII. 
 
 To the right wor and her loving sonne in lawe S 1 
 Edward Stradling, Knight. 
 
 Good sonne Stradling, W ,h my harty comen- 
 dacons unto you and my daughter, being very 
 glad to understand by yo r letter sent by M r 
 Stuple of your good healthes, the w ch I beseeche 
 our Lord longe continew. I am moved by this 
 bearer my naybour, one Constances Matheman, 
 who is to request yo r lawfutl favo r for a crayer 1 
 of xiiii or xv tonnes, ner ther abouttes, w ch sayd 
 crayer ys arived in your partes neere aboute 
 you ; of the w ch one John Mardes of Pemsey 2 ys 
 owner, who hath made this berer his lawfull 
 auturney; the rather by yo r good helpe to recover 
 the sayd crayer, w th mast, anccar, cabetl, and 
 saylles therunto belongeinge; of the w ch crayer 
 was master Thomas Holton, and John Arye and 
 one Collene maryners, w ch maryners were of 
 thes partyes, and, as they sayed, had yo r pasporte 
 and yo r letter to me, w ch I receavid : wherfor, 
 good sonne, the rather at my request, showe yo' 
 lawfull favo r in this behalf to this bearer, who 
 is altogether unacquainted in those pties. And 
 thus, w th Godes blessing and myne to you bothe, 
 
 1 A small ship. 2 Pevensey, Sussex. 
 
 L 2 
 
220 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 I comytt you to the tuiceon of the Holy Trinitye. 
 W ritten from my house att Alsyton, this vi ,h of 
 September anno 1574. 
 
 Yo r loving mother, 
 
 Elyzabethe Gage. 1 
 
 CLXXIV. 
 
 To the r. wo r my verie lovinge brother S r Edward 
 Stradlinge, Knight, yeve these. 
 
 Alethough, my good brother, the distance of 
 place betwine us is suche as we maie dout how 
 our Ires maie come to eche other safely, yet cane 
 I not omitt still to writte, as I have donne; 
 although, by me not heringe from yow againe, I 
 have cause to fere the safe arryvall of my letters 
 w th you. But, brother, where such assured 
 knowledge is had of ether our goodwilles and 
 affections to other as is I trust betwine us, 
 writtinge often or sildome, or the myscaringe of 
 letters, wayeth littell; but thechefe sheowe of that 
 naturall and bi'otherlie affection that ought to be 
 betwine us shall for my parte consist in my 
 redines to pleasure yow by all the meanes I maie 
 when yow need to use me (makinge no difference, 
 I assure vow faithfully, betwine yow and the rest 
 
 Mother of Lady Stradling. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADL1NG. 
 
 221 
 
 that have matched w th my sisters then betvvine 
 my owne naturall brothers). And if I offend God 
 in vantinge of anny worldlie thinge, I will not 
 denie it is in the hapie matchinge of my sisters; 
 wherof I confesse I joye more then in any worldlie 
 thinge. And as God hath afforded me that com¬ 
 fort, so am I at this present to advertise yow of 
 the like good fortune to yow and yo 1 howse, a 
 happie match beinge concluded betwine yo r syster 
 M rs Wenchliane Stradlinge and a most deere frinde 
 of mine, M' Robert Gyles, a gentelfan I suppose 
 to yow right well knowen, and one of whose rare 
 worthines I have so good experience as that 
 howse wherin he matchethe maie justly thincke 
 they have gayned no smale matter in alliinge 
 tilers unto suche one, whose singular wisdotne 
 and great vertue, w th his sufficiencie to live w th no 
 smale worldlie credite and estimation, maie alone 
 sufficientlie peure yo r condysent and goodwill ; 
 w ch , notw th standinge, in his behalfe I doe most 
 hartelie require, w th suche yo r brotherlie and 
 favorable consideration of them as the case and 
 place they are p'sentlie in requirith ; wherby 
 youe shall not onlie give greate comffort to them, 
 but also plese God most highlie in bestowinge 
 some parte of the aboundance that he hathe given 
 yow to so good, naturall, and charitable an end. 
 Wherfore, my good brother, as this is the firste 
 
222 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 requeste ever made unto you, so doe I most 
 hartelie require yow (the rather for my sake) to 
 open yo r purse awide to the present awgmentta- 
 con of yo r sister’s portion ; w th now maie better 
 pleasure them (there case considered) then her- 
 after, paradventuer, when the time and world 
 shall better.favoure them, and they then redie w th 
 all sufficyencie to aunswer yo r brotherlie frend- 
 ship and love againe ; w ch surelie bothe yow and 
 yo r howse maie justlie hope of att the handes of 
 so worthy and good a man, of whose comfort and 
 frendship time shall better manifest to yow the 
 frute therof then this present time can well 
 suffer him to showe or declare. And so, re¬ 
 comending them bothe to your good favour and 
 brotherlie consideration, acknowleginge what soev 1 
 yow shewe to them a matter gratefull to my selfe, 
 I comitte you to the custodie of the blessed 
 Trinite. From Liege, the xxii th of October. 
 
 Yo r moste lovinge brother 
 
 and assured frinde, 
 
 John Gage. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 223 
 
 CLXXY. 
 
 To the right wor n my very good cosen S r Edward 
 Stradling, Knight. 
 
 Right worshipful! and my very good cosen. 
 As I am inforeed (even at this instant) sondring 
 wayes to moove, and, necessitye drivinge me to 
 proove my frendes, soe am I bovvlde amongest 
 manye our well willers to select and choose you, 
 as one whose frendshipp I assure my selfe of soe 
 farr foorth as the facte shall not be dangerous to 
 be done by you to yo r frende, nor anye dispayre 
 of yo r frende to requite the same agayne. So it is, 
 M r C: his lyvinge stondinge nowe in harde termes, 
 and we havinge receavid the more parte of the 
 comodytee and <pfvtt thereof, as right and reason 
 woulde, nowe in thende our frendes maye (by 
 rigor of lawe) be inforeed to repaye that w ch is 
 alreadye payd unto us; therefore, to pVent and 
 helpe this, hyt maye please you at this my request 
 (yf you fynde yo r selfe meete for yt) to affbord 
 me one hundred powndes, or soe muche as conve¬ 
 niently you can spare, uppon the bonnde of M r 
 C: and my brother John Gage, to be repayd to 
 you agayne by a daye, the perfoormaunce wherof 
 I trust you shall have noe cause to doubte : in 
 doinge of w ch as you shall gretly pleasure M r C: 
 
224 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 presently, soe shaft you bynde him to requitt 
 the same vv th the leeke or more to you as 
 tyme, place, and occasion maye serve herafter. 
 And as the forbearinge therof for a tyme, I 
 hoppe, shall nott muche hinder you ; soe, yf 
 you shoolde altogether lose yt, w ch God forbyd, 
 yt coolde not quite undoe you : but I trust 
 ther shalbe suche meane made as by God his 
 helpe none of both shall hapen. Thus, requir- 
 inge yo r psent aunswere and resolution therin, 
 wytli my very harty comendacons unto yo r selfe 
 and my good cosyn yo r wife, I end ; comittinge 
 you to the custodye of our Lorde. From Lon¬ 
 don, this vi th of Februarye 1573. 
 
 Yo r verye loving cosen 
 
 and assured frend, 
 
 Katherin C . 1 
 
 1 The Editor has not been able to ascertain the name of the 
 writer. She speaks of her “ brother John Gage but it appears 
 that he had no paternal or maternal sister of the name of Katherine, 
 so that the lady in question must have stood in that relation to him 
 by marriage. His second wife was a Copley, of Gatton in Surrey 
 Was the writer wife of a Copley ? 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 225 
 
 CLXXVI. 
 
 To the r. wor. S r Edward Stradlinge, Knight. 
 
 Right worship 11 , After my very harty comen- 
 dacons, with the like thankes for all yo r curtesyes 
 and gentlnes. And whearas in times past I have 
 felte your liberality for vensone, the same movetli 
 and rather boldeneth me at this psent to be a 
 cravere for one bucke, yf the same may be spared ; 
 for my neighbours and frindes here aboutes doth 
 looke to taste some of the wilde beste with me be- 
 for my departure, w ch may be shortly. I am 
 therefor to pray yo r gentlnes to take ordere for 
 me against Twisday next. And, doinge my 
 comendacons to my verie good ladie, 1 comitt you 
 both to the tuition of the Almighty, who sende 
 you both youre hartes desire. From S* Fagan’s, 
 the viii th of September 1580. 
 
 Yo r owne moste assured, whe he can, 
 
 Jo. Gybbon. 1 
 
 1 John Gybbon, Doctor of Laws, of St. Fagan’s Castle near Car¬ 
 diff, in the commission of the peace for Glamorganshire, 1565, 
 married Mary, fifth daughter of Matthew Herbert, Esq. by Mary, 
 daughter of Sir Thomas Gamage, Knight He was one of the ex¬ 
 ecutors to the will of Sir Thomas Stradling, Knight. 
 
 L 5 
 
226 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 CLXXVII. 
 
 To the r. wor. his lovinge frintle S r Edward 
 Stradling, Knight. 
 
 After my right harty comendacons. I finde 
 my self greatly indepted to my frinde M r 
 Robtes, your hoste and myne, for my good 
 hostage here. I ca’nott tell howe to recom- 
 pence him but by your meanes. I pray you to 
 bestowe on him for my sake a boocke 1 of this 
 season, to make him and his frindes merey 
 withall ; you or yo r frinde shall use me in a 
 fame greater matter. Thus, not doubtinge herof, 
 I comitt you to Godes blessed tuition, with 
 my harty comendacons to my ladie yo r wieffe, 
 as unaqueiented. CardifFe, this iiii th of August 
 1580. 
 
 Yo r assured frind, 
 
 H. Touneshend. 4 
 
 1 Buck. 
 
 s One of the counsel admitted to plead in the Marches Court— 
 Syduey Papers, vol. i. p. 145. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 227 
 
 CLXXVIII. 
 
 To the r. worship' 1 my verie lovinge frinde S r 
 Edward Stradlinge, Knight. 
 
 After my harty comendacons. Where co¬ 
 mission was awarded, at the sute of one Morgan 
 David, toutchinge the takinge a cowe of M r 
 Kernes 1 of Keven Mably; and, upon some ex¬ 
 ception taken by the def’ to the comissionere, a 
 counter maunde was graunted, and a newe comis¬ 
 sion of the same efect directed to you : wherin 
 albeit I do p>sume your proceedinge wilbe such 
 as noe party shall have juste cause to be greeved 
 therwith, vet, for that I here the matter is borne by 
 gent of good accompte, I hartely pray you to 
 have speciall care to foresee that revenge of 
 preevye malice be not sought to pjudice the 
 poore man under shadowe of her Ma tes service; 
 w ch , as I trust, neither p r tie shall have occasione 
 to suspecte. So I hartely byd yow well to fare. 
 Ludlowe, 9 Decembris 1580. 
 
 Yo r verye lovinge frind, 
 
 H. T OUN ESHEND. 
 
 1 Edward Kemeys, Esq. of Cefn Mably, near Cardiff, now the 
 property of his descendant Charles Kemeys Kemeys Tynte, Esq. 
 
228 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 CLXXIX. 
 
 To the r. wor. his verie lovinge frinde S r Edward 
 Stradlinge, Knight. 
 
 After my very hartie comendacons. Wheareas 
 there is matter of contrav'sy at this time, and 
 hath hanged longe in sute in this court, betwne 
 certaine distressed marchantes of Bristoll, and 
 some of yo r countreymen and neighbors of that 
 county of Glamorgan, toutchinge some wronge 
 and injury yo r said countreymen shoulde offre 
 unto them in their voiage by sea, as they allege; 
 w ch said matter is now put in comission out of 
 this house to M r John Crowthere of this towne of 
 Ludlowe, and others, for thendinge therof: I am 
 hartely therfor to desir you not only to geve 
 countenanc unto the said comissioners my 
 neighbors and frindes, and that they shall re- 
 ceve no discourtesy in that countrey att eny 
 manes hande,—as I wilbe carefull to se that no 
 frinde of yours comended by yo r tre shall take 
 discurtesy at any manes handes in this countrey,— 
 but also to lielpe and further a good end therein ; 
 for the w ch you shall finde me very thankefull 
 unto you, and ready to requite yt to any of your 
 frindes; and soe leve it to your good consideration. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 229 
 
 I bid yow hartely farewell. From my chamber 
 at Ludlow Castill, 22 Dec 1585. 
 
 Yo r very assured loving frend, 
 
 H. Touneshend. 
 
 CLXXX. 
 
 To the r. wor. S r Edward Stradlinge, Knight. 
 
 Right worship 11 , My dutie in humble manere 
 remembred. Althoughe I am uterly unknowne 
 unto your worship, yeat, notwithstandinge, such 
 force necessity carieth with it, that it maketh men, 
 otherwise by naturall inclinacon indued with 
 modestie and shamfastnes, to seeme impudent : 
 and doubtles two causes have constrayned me to 
 direct these rude and simple carecters or lines 
 unto you; videlicet, aegeslas, amonge scholors 
 durissimum telum ; tristequeet immutabile fatum, 
 not farr discrepant from the same. But for as 
 much as I am better able in writtinge to expresse, 
 then in barbarous wordes to pnounce, my want, 
 penury, and windreeven estate ; deeply consider- 
 inge that you [are], like a verteous Maecenas, with 
 most bountifull respectes to behold as well those 
 whom sinistere fortune hath dejected and cast 
 downe, as also such as have byn trained and 
 brought up in good letters, I am imbouldened 
 
230 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 to open my neade unto you: and, although it 
 be layede downe in sacred writt that “ Beatius 
 est dare quam accipere,” yeat my confidence is 
 you will have charitable consideration of the 
 premisses; as knoweth the Almighty, who al- 
 waies preserve yow. Raptim, xviii 0 die mensis 
 Octobris 1580. 
 
 Yo r w. moste bownden, 
 
 Wyllyam Huett, Clerke. 
 
 CLXXXI. 
 
 To the righte worshipfull my loving cosen S r 
 Edwarde Stradlinge, Knight, yeve these. 
 
 Righte worshipfull, my very good tossen, 
 Havinge receavid your frendly and curteous Ires 
 by one George Popham, whoe, as by yo r sayd 
 Ires I understande, had informed you that my 
 shippe of late beinge at Swansey, where the sayd 
 . George wolde (had not yow and S r William Her- 
 bart, my very good fryndes, used meane to the 
 contrarye,) have stayed my sayd shippe, suppos- 
 inge him selfe to have byne thereof disposcessetl 
 by indirect and unlawfull meanes: wheruppon I 
 thoughte yt good to signifye unto yow that the 
 same shippe was taken for comyttinge spoyle on 
 the seas; and soe, upon good prove and manye- 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 231 
 
 feste testimonye thereof, confiscated into her 
 Ma teS handes; and by direction from my L: 
 Thresero r , under her Highnes, comytted to my 
 custodye and use, renderinge accompte for the 
 same: all w ch notw th standinge, for that hyt hathe 
 pleased yow in frendshippe to shewe me yo r cour- 
 tesye, and to wrytte in the favo r and behalf of 
 the sayde Popham, I will (yf he can .pcure my 
 L: Thresero r is Ires for her deliverye) not only 
 use my best furtheraunce thereunto, but also 
 deale therin in suche sorte as yow shall fynde 
 yo r requeste to be accomplished, and he him selfe 
 fully satisfied. Soe, w th my very harty comen- 
 daeons, doe comytt yow to the tuycon of the 
 Highest ; restinge yo r " in all that I may. From 
 Talverne, 1 the xviii th of Julye, anno 1581. 
 
 Yo r lovinge cosen and 
 
 assewred frende, 
 
 John Arrundell. 2 
 
 1 Near Truro in Cornwall, praised by Carew for its “ pleasant 
 prospect, large scope, and other housekeeping commodities.” 
 
 2 Sir John Arundell of Talverne, a junior branch of the Arun- 
 dells of Lanhearne, from whom Sir Edward Stradling was de¬ 
 scended through his grandmother Elizabeth Arundell, wife of his 
 grandfather Sir E. Stradling. 
 
232 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 CLXXXII. 
 
 To the righte worshipfull and my very good frend 
 S r Edwarde Stradlinge, Knighte. 
 
 W th my verie hartye comendacons unto you. 
 Wheras this bearer, John Hawkes, hathe request¬ 
 ed me to signifye unto you my opynion of him as 
 touchinge his honestye and good workemanshipp ; 
 truly he ys taken in this countrye of Sussex to 
 be a very good workeman, and I have also 
 founde the same in him, and one that will doe 
 his bargayne accordinge to his agreement, soe as 
 pte of his mony be deteyned from him till his 
 worke be finished. So, w ,h my harty comenda¬ 
 cons to my good ladye youre wyffe, I comytt you 
 to God. London, theis xx th of Marche 1582. 
 
 Yo r verye lovinge cosen and frind, 
 
 Thomas Sherley. 1 
 
 1 Sir Thomas Shirley of Wistenton, Sussex, Knight, born May 
 9, 1549; married Anne, daughter of Sir Thomas Kempe, Knight : 
 he died in October 1612. Ilis eldest son, Thomas, was knighted 
 in 1589. He had two other sons, Sir Anthony and Sir Robert, 
 the celebrated traveller.—Nichols’ Leicestershire, vol. iii. p. 721. Ful¬ 
 ler, in his Worthies, speaks of the three brothers in the highest terms 
 of praise. The elder Sir Thomas was probably the writer of this 
 letter. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 233 
 
 CLXXXIII. 
 
 To the r. wor. S r Edward Stradlinge, Knight. 
 
 Right worship 11 , After my very harty comen- 
 dacons. Understandinge that your sheere doth 
 wante a convenient gaole to serve the shieriffe 
 alwayes as occation shall requir, I am mynded 
 to cause the Q. Ma tle to be moved to graunt the 
 keepinge therof to my servant David Morga, berer 
 hereof, by patent for term of his life, to thende 
 such a gaole may be provided as may serve al¬ 
 wayes for the purpose: neverthelesse, beinge loth 
 to attempte the same to your mislikinge, and 
 others the justices of peace of that countrey, I 
 have thought good to impt the same unto yow 
 and them befor hande, and withall to pray you 
 most hartely, the rather for my sake, to geve yo r 
 assent therto, like as M r Gerrarde 1 yo' justicer 
 hath donn. The gaioler shall serve no man but 
 the shieriffe for the yeare; and his patent shalbe 
 conditionally so as he doth finde sufficient suertyes 
 to save the shrieffe harmlesse, whearby all incon¬ 
 veniences that might eles ensue shalbe pivided for: 
 
 1 Churchyard, in his Worthines of Wales, A.D. 1587, notices in 
 the chapel of Ludlow Castle the armorial bearings of Sir William 
 Cierrard, Lord Chancellor of Ireland, and Justice of the three shires 
 in South Wales. 
 
234 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OP 
 
 and therfor I pray you eftsones do me this plea- 
 sur, and comaunde me duringe life. Whearewith 
 I leave yow to the tuition of thalmighty. From 
 tharches in London, this xviii th of July 1578. 
 
 Yo r owne assured in his power, 
 
 Da. Lewes. 1 
 
 CLXXXIV. 
 
 To the right wor 11 my very loving cosen S r Ed¬ 
 ward Stradling Knight. 
 
 After my very harty comendacons unto you. 
 Wheras the Queenes Ma ,le , of her gracious favour, 
 hath heretofore graunted a patent of the gayoler- 
 shipp of that countye to my kinseman Davyd 
 Morgan, w th he hath ever sence enjoyed: for 
 that he is a younger brother, and hath noe other 
 way of livinge, I have thought good to praye you 
 most hartely that he maye, w th yo r favo r and 
 lykinge, enjoye the same by him selfe or his de- 
 putye w th out troble; and you shall have suffi- 
 cyent suertyes to save you harmeles, according 
 as her Ma tes sayd graunte doth purporte; and 
 
 1 Dr. David Lewis, Judge of the Admiralty Court, Principal of 
 Jesus Coll. Oxford, a master in Chancery, &c. ; died April 27, 
 1584, and was buried in Abergavenny church, where there is a 
 monument to his memory.—Coxe’s Monmouthshire, p. 192. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 235 
 
 what favo r you shall shewe him I wilbe readye to 
 requytte. And soe, trustinge that he shall need 
 noe other helpe herein besyd my request, I byd 
 you hartely well to fare. From the Courte at 
 Windeso r , the xii th of December 1582. 
 
 Yo r assured loving cosen, 
 
 Blanche Pary. 1 
 
 CLXXXV. 
 
 To the r. wor. S r Edward Stradling, Knighte. 
 
 Understandinge that one Christian, the wiffe 
 of Awen 2 Lyddon, of the parishe of Lantwitte, 
 dwelleth not farr from you, whoe hath the graunte 
 of a litle tenemente of myne in reversion after the 
 deceasse of one of her systers (whoe is but twoe 
 yeeres elder then her selfe), the which lease by 
 lawe I maye easelye avoyde; and for that I 
 
 1 Blanch Parry, daughter of Henry Parry of New Court, Here¬ 
 fordshire, was chief gentlewoman of the Privy Chamber to Queen 
 Elizabeth, and keeper of the Queen’s jewels : she died Feb. 12, 
 1589-90, aged 82. A monument is erected to her memory in 
 Backton church, Herefordshire : vide Gentl. Mag. vol. Ixv. part i. 
 pp. 376, 378. The probate of her will bears date March 5, 1589. 
 She gives diamond rings to the Queen, Lord Burghley, and the 
 Lord Chamberlain, and sundry pecuniary legacies. Jones, in his 
 History of Brecknockshire, vol. ii. p. 556, states that she possessed 
 landed property in that county. Her grandfather, Miles ap Harry, 
 married a daughter of Sir Harry Stradling, the ancestor of Sir 
 Edward Stradling. 2 Evan. 
 
236 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 mynde to bestowe it some other waie, consideringe 
 what neede maye happen unto her here after, I 
 mynde to geve her iiii 11 or v u , upon condition that 
 she will make me a lawfull discleame of her title 
 and interest, which is more then ever she shall gett 
 yf she refuse. Prayinge you to send for the sayd 
 Awen Lyddon and his wide, and to take some 
 order herein; whereupon you shall fynde me wil- 
 linge to dooe you the like^leasure yf occasion 
 serve. For quietnes sake I will abvde suche 
 order as you shall thinke good, so that hit ex- 
 ceede not the some of v 11 . xiii s . iiii d . Thus, leav- 
 inge to troble yow, with my hartye comendacons 
 I comitte you to thallmightye. From Heanton, 1 
 the xvi th of Februarye 1581. 
 
 Yo r verye lovinge frind, 
 
 Arthcr Basset. 2 
 
 I praye you advertise me by this bearer what 
 the partye will dooe heerein. And I truste you 
 shall perswade youre neighbours, considering it 
 is for their owne benefitt. 
 
 1 Devonshire. 
 
 2 Sir Arthur Bassett, son of John Basset, Esq. of Umberleigh 
 and Heanton, married Elinora daughter of Sir John Chichester of 
 Ralegh, knt. He accompanied the Earl of Leicester into Holland 
 with the English auxiliary force in 1585. He died of the gaol 
 sickness 1586. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 237 
 
 CLXXXVI. 
 
 To the right wor. S r Edward Stradlinge, Knighte. 
 
 Good S r Edwarde, As I am to geve you harty 
 thankesfor yo r paynes latelie in causinge one Evan 
 Lyddon, a neighbo 1 of yo rs , and his wifFe, to yeelde 
 unto a composition concerninge the surender to 
 be made of a certeine mille and a cote, beinge 
 my lande, which the said Lyddon’s wifFe standes 
 in possibillitye to enjoye after the decesse of one 
 George Denys, her father, soe I am nowe allsoe 
 to desire you to geve yo r beste furtheraunce that 
 the same surrendo r maye be made perfect; for 
 w ch purpose the berer hereof hath nowe taken 
 this jorneye, and hath broughte w th him a 
 draughte of the same in paper, to thende you 
 shoulde firste puse yt for the parties, and then to 
 cause the same to be engrossed and sealid, to¬ 
 gether w th an obligation for performaunce of that 
 which therin ys conteyned. And what ther is to 
 be done on the contrarye partie in the 'behalf of 
 yo r neighboure and his wife, he, the berer hereof, 
 is in like maner readye to the accomplishment 
 thereof accordinge to the former agreemet, whose 
 abilitye and credyte ys suche as neyther they nor 
 anye for them neede to stande douptefull of; and 
 because they shall not make anie scrupull con- 
 
238 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 serninge tin's matter, as by surmysinge that the 
 sayd George Denys her father should bee deade, 
 I doe assure you upon my creadyte that he att 
 the writtinge hereof was lyvinge and in verie 
 perfecte healthe, and by all possibillitye likelye 
 of a longe time soe to contynewe. And thus, 
 beinge over bolde to troble you, (yet noe more 
 then yow shall have mee readye to pleasure you 
 in a greater matter,) doe, with my hartye comen- 
 dacons, cornytte you to the Allmightye. From 
 Heanton, the x th of A prill 1581. 
 
 Yo r verye lovinge frende, 
 
 Arthur Basset. 
 
 CLXXXVII. 
 
 To the right worshipfull my very good frend S r 
 Edwarde Stradlinge, Knighte. 
 
 Good S r Edwarde, I doe yelde yow my harty 
 thankes for your greate curtesye and entertain¬ 
 ment at my late being at S' Denys w ch to requite 
 I will not omytte soe farre fourthe as at any tyme 
 yow may have occasion to use me. S r , this bearer, 
 a ten a nt of myne, who not longe since was occa¬ 
 sioned to resorte unto yow for yo r frendly assist- 
 aunce in dealing for him w th a neighboure of yo rs 
 
 1 St. Donat’s. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 239 
 
 of Lantwitte, called Evan Lyddon, 1 ys nowe in 
 like sorte for his further assuraunce to have the 
 wyffe of the sayd Lyddon to confesse a f’yne, 
 w ch to doe her husbande standeth bounde. I am 
 hartely to desyre you to pcure her to accomplishe 
 the same ; the parties will defraye the chardge of 
 her repayre into this countrye. And therefore 
 the sooner the same ys done the better, because 
 wee have nowe a judge in o r countrye, before 
 whom the fyne may be acknowledged, w ch were 
 not good to have detracted. I seme bolde w th yow 
 in these triffles, and am enforced by other occa¬ 
 sions to be breefer then els I wolde, w ch I pray 
 you beare w ,h . And soe, my harty commendations 
 to yo r self, and my good la: yo r wyfe, doe ende. 
 Barnestable, the iiii th of September 1582. 
 
 Yo r very assured frend, 
 
 Arthur Bassett. 
 
 CLXXXVIII. 
 
 To the right worshipfull my very good frend S r 
 Edwarde Stradlinge, Knight, w th speed. 
 
 Good Sir Edwarde Stradlinge, I doe alwaies 
 thanke yow for yo r greate curtesyes, w th no lesse 
 
 1 Vide pedigree of Luddyn, alias Lyddon, of Llantwit.—Golden 
 Grove MS. Pedigrees, vol. ii. p. 70. Mention is made of Thomas 
 Luddyn, 16 Hen. VI; John Lyddon 1 Hen. VII ; and Edward 
 Lyddon, great grandson of J. L. 
 
240 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 to yo r good la. I am hereby to requeste you to 
 sende unto me, at any of my houses in Devon, yo r 
 servaunte, Thomas Richardes, by the last daye of 
 this instante moneth ; and to cause him to bringe 
 w ,h him bothe his instrumentes, aswell that w ch vs 
 stringed w ,h wyar stringes, as his harpe, bothe 
 those that he had when he was laste in Devon. I 
 have geven some comendacons of the man, and 
 his instrument w th wyars, unto sondry of my good 
 frinds, namelv, to my cosen S r Phellipp Sydney, 
 whoe dothe expecte to have yo T man at Salsbury 
 before the vii th of Marche next, where there will 
 be an honorable assemblye and receyte of many 
 gentlemen of good calling. So, hoping yow will 
 herein accomplishe my request, doe most hartely 
 comende yow to Godes good keepinge. From 
 London, the vi th of Februarye 1583. 
 
 Yo r very loving frend, 
 
 Arthur Bassett. 
 
 CLXXXIX. 
 
 To the right worshipfull my very good frend S r 
 Edwarde Stradling, Knight, Highe Sherife of 
 y e county of Glamorgan. 
 
 Good Sir Edwarde, I have bene earnestly' de- 
 syred by a good neighboure of myne of the towne 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADL1NG. 
 
 241 
 
 of Barnestable, one M rs Witchalse, to writte unto 
 you in her favoure. She dothe enforme me that 
 there are certaine psons w th in yo r sheriefweeke 
 that have bene indepted unto her of dyvers s5mes 
 of monye a long tyme, and for the attayning 
 therefore hath bene driven to greate charge and 
 many delayes before this used touchinge thexecu- 
 tion of processe against them. She nowe seameth 
 in that respecte to depende upon yo r uppright 
 and favorable dealing ; and my selfe likewise 
 doe hartely pray yow w ,h indifferencye to further 
 those her sutes soe muche as to yow may apper- 
 taine therein to doe. Tliere is one M r Morgan, 
 who ys her attorney, appointed to attend yow to 
 manifest those her causes, and to delyver processe 
 for the partyes according to order. So, restinge 
 alwayes readye to pleasure anye frynde of yo rs 
 here in that I maye, w th my liarty comendacons 
 to yow and yo r good la: doe comytt yow both to 
 God. Heaunton, the second of Julye 1583. 
 
 Yo r very assured frend, 
 
 Arthur Bassett. 
 
 M 
 
242 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 cxc. 
 
 To the right worshipfull my very good frend S' 
 Edwarde Stradling, Knighte. 
 
 Good Sir Edward Stradlinge, This bearer, a 
 servaunte to the right ho: the Erie of Bathe, 1 
 having some speciall suite unto yow, for the fur- 
 theraunce whereof he hath not only his lorde and 
 master’s Ire, but also hath requested me to writte 
 unto yow in his favoure; and for that I under- 
 stande the cause to be good and lawfull, the rather 
 am I willinge to writte unto yow in his behalf, 
 desyring yow to frynd him therin soe muche as 
 conveniently yow maye. Yow may assure yo r 
 selfe that my Lo: of Bath wilbe noe lesse thanke- 
 full for the same then yo r fryndly dealinge shall 
 deserve ; and my selfe, for this and many other 
 yo r curtesyes, wilbe redye to requite yow with any 
 thinge I canne doe. Soe, comending the partye 
 and his busines to yo r favourable assistaunce, doe 
 most hartely take mv leave of yow with many 
 salutacons. From Heaunton, the xii ,h of Sep¬ 
 tember 1583. 
 
 Yo r very loving and assured frend, 
 
 Arthur Bassett. 
 
 1 William Bourchier, Earl of Bath, succeeded to the title in 1560. 
 He died in 1623. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 243 
 
 CXCI. 
 
 To the right wor. S r Edward Stradling, Knighte. 
 
 After my most harty comendacons unto you, 
 good S r Edwarde. And understanding by my 
 priste, Hawkinges, that there is some contraversie 
 betwixt his father, Robert Hawkinges, and bis 
 ouncle, Hughe Hawkinges, for a small matter 
 touchinge a cockeshutt my request is unto you 
 that yt may please you, the rather at my request, 
 to take soe muche paynes as to call them both 
 before you, and uppon heering of the cause to 
 ende yt yf you maye. I fynde, by the reporte 
 made unto me, that one M r Button 2 may be a 
 furtherer to theire quietnes, w th whome it may 
 please you to use yo r discreation for hyt, (yf yt 
 shall soe require,) and I shalbe readye to plea¬ 
 sure any frinde of yo rs yf it lye in me. And thus, 
 wishing vou and youres as my selfe, doe cease to 
 troble you. From my bade howse at Cloforde, 3 
 this xxvii ,h of November 1583. 
 
 Yo r very loving cosen and assured frind, 
 
 John Horner. 4 
 
 1 A fowling net. 
 
 3 The family of Button was seated at Worlton, near Cardiff, 
 Glamorganshire. Sir Thomas Button, one of the early discoverers 
 in Hudson’s Bay, &c. in 1611, was an eminent member of it. 
 
 3 Near Frome, Somersetshire. 
 
 4 Sir John Horner. Knight, Sheriff for Somersetshire anno 6 Sc 
 15 F.liz. ; died 24th Sept. 29 Kliz. 
 
244 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 CXCII. 
 
 To the right wor my very loving frind S' Edwarde 
 Stradling, Knight, Sheryf of the countie of 
 Glamorgan. 
 
 My right harty comendacons unto you remem- 
 bred. Whereas a frind of myne, one M res Blunte, 
 hath an execution to be served upon one M r 
 Kerne, of the county of Glamorgan, wherin you 
 are Sheryffe; I am therefore hartely to desyre 
 you, in the sayd M res Blunte’s behalf, to see or 
 cause the sayd processe to be executed according 
 to lawe ; and in soe doing I shall thinke my selfe 
 pleasured at yo r handes, and will be readye to 
 further any frend of yo rs as occasion shall serve, 
 at yo r like lawfull request whensoev*. And soe, 
 wishing yow most hartely well to fare, I comytt 
 you to God. From Sallopp, the xxviii* 1 ’ of this 
 present June 1583. 
 
 Yo r olde acquayntance and frind, 
 
 G. Bromley. 1 
 
 1 Sir George Bromley, Knight, “Justice of the three shieres in 
 Wales.” His aimorial bearings ornamented the chapel in Ludlow 
 Castle.—Churchyard’s “ Worthines of Wales,” edit. 1776, p. 81. 
 The family was seated near the Hundred House, by Abberley Hill, 
 on the west of Worcestershire. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 245 
 
 CXCIII. 
 
 To the right worshipfull his very loving frend, 
 S r Edwarde Stradling, Knighte. 
 
 After my very harty comendacons. Whereas 
 I dyd wrytt unto you my Ire from Shrewsburie in 
 June laste for your furtheraunce in an execution 
 against M r Kerne, at the suite of my very frinde, 
 one M res Anne Blounte, 1 my Ladye Pawlettes 2 
 syster ; I am therefore to desyre yow by yo r tre 
 to advertyse me w th convenient speade to Beawd- 
 ley what you have done therin, and, yf yow have 
 not executed the same, the cause wherefore the 
 same was not executed, that I may advertyse her 
 therof; for that M r Waringes his servaunte, as I 
 am enformed, did deliver my sayede tre to yo r 
 owne hands. And thus, wishing to youe as to 
 my veary frende, doe in haste comyttyou to God. 
 From Beaw'dley, the xxii ,h of October. 
 
 Yo‘ verye loving frind, 
 
 George Bromley. 
 
 1 Her monument in Clerkenwell church is noticed in Stowe’s 
 Survey, edit. 1618, p. 81. 
 
 2 Elizabeth, daughter of Walter Blount, Esq. of Blount Hall in 
 Staffordshire, married in 1559 Sir Hugh Poulett, Knight, of Hinton 
 St. George, Somersetshire.—Vide Collins’ Peerage, by Brydges, 
 vol. iv. p. 5. 
 
246 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 CXCIV. 
 
 To the right wo? my very good frend S r Edward 
 Stradling, Knight. 
 
 My humble and hartye comendacons remem- 
 bred. That suche necessitye, s r , at this p>sent 
 hath made me soe boulde to trouble you, I hope 
 you will the rather accepte yt of ould acquaint- 
 aunce, and geve leave to psume no lesse then I 
 trust I maye of yo r speciall good favoure and 
 frindshipp towards me; wherin if you shall vouch¬ 
 safe me the same, I shall thinke my self most 
 bonden unto you. I have sent downe unto yo r 
 country my very frynds for the better executione 
 of a statute upon M r Karne his bodye and lands 
 in Glamorgan shier, whose dealinge is soe harde 
 and uncharytable w ,h me, in w th houldinge my 
 poore livinge and staye, that he inforceth me to 
 doe noe less, to recover by lawe and force that 
 w ch I oughte to have otherwyse pformed, as he 
 knoweth, as unto me. Howebeyt, for my desartt 
 heretofore towards him (to tell you the trewth), 
 he needeth litle to use me soe, havinge geven him 
 noe suche cause, but rather w th as much favour 
 as I coulde to have made him my better frynde 
 in affoarding my righte, wherin I appeale to the 
 testimognie of his owne conscience : but syth 
 
SIR EDWARD STKADL1NG. 
 
 217 
 
 nowe he is foregetfuli therof, as allso soe carelesse 
 of his owne securitye, my poore estate can suffer 
 me to forbeare noe longer ; and therefore I am 
 dryven to use my uttermoste remedye by this 
 course to extend both his bodye and landes. And 
 for that I have especyally assurede unto me his 
 mano r of Landoughe , 1 alias Langdouge, and S‘ 
 Marye Churche, I am humbly to desyre yow 
 for the extent thereof to continence this bearer, M r 
 Warninges, the doer for me ; beseeching yt of yo r 
 good charitye for my greate necessitye, and yo r 
 poore frende that will alwayes be readye to my 
 small power to requite yo r curtesye, as knoweth 
 the Allmightye, to whose blessed keeping I 
 comytt yow. Clarkenwell, this 
 
 Yo r poore frend to comaunde, 
 
 Anne Blountte. 
 
 1 The manors remained in the possession of the Carnes till the 
 marriage of Martha Came with Sir Edward Mansel, Bart, of Mar- 
 gam, in the reign of Charles II. Martha, and her sister Blanch, 
 were co-heirs of Edward Came of Ewenny, great grandson of 
 Thomas Came. 
 
243 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 cxcv. 
 
 To the right wor 11 my very good frynd S r Edward 
 Stradling, Knight. 
 
 Good S r Edward Stradling, Yo r charitable and 
 soe worshipfullye using me in the execution of her 
 Ma tes extent, w ch I was soe boulde to send unto 
 you as my very good frynd, for some recovery 
 of my poore living w th M r Karne, maketh me 
 bounde, soe sone as I cann, to thanke you most 
 humbly therefore, as also to acknowlege my selfe 
 yo r poore beadwoman to praye continually for 
 the requitall of yo r goodnes and curtesye towardes 
 me therin. The lacke of M r Karne 1 s good con¬ 
 sideration, soe voyd of all conscience and honestye 
 for a gentleman of his reputtacion and calling, to 
 drive his poore frynd, as my selfe, that have 
 wished him and used him soe well, to suche ex- 
 tremitiefor my owne, 1 am sorrye for his evell de- 
 sart ; wherin, albeytt, as touching me some whatt 
 neare, might justly move me, y* in charitye I 
 beseeche God to sende him a better mynde: not 
 doubting, as this is my fortune at his hands, soe y* 
 reposinge my selfe in you, and suche other good 
 frends whose curtesye I trust to accompte of, I shalbe 
 able to meete w' h his dealinge in soe just a cause; 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 249 
 
 wherin still cravinge the continence of yo r cha¬ 
 ritable good devotione and favoure towards me, 
 who will ever be thankefull in all dude and 
 service that I can doe unto you, I eommytt you, 
 w th most dewe and hartye comendacons, to the 
 blessed keeping of the Allmightye. Clarkenwett, 
 the third of December 1593. 
 
 Yo r most bounden loving frend 
 to comaunde, 
 
 Anne Blocntt. 
 
 CXCVI. 
 
 To the right woo r S r Edward Stradling, 
 Knight. 
 
 Right worshipfull, My humble dutye remem- 
 bred, as well to yo r self as to my good ladye your 
 bedfellowe ; w th humble thankes aswell for my good 
 venison, as allso for all other your frendshipp 
 towards me alwaies, not able to deserve the same 
 but only in good will, the w ch shall allwayes con- 
 tynew, God willing, to my lives end, and readye 
 to doe yow or anye of yours anye servyce or 
 pleasure I can, to the uttermust of my power. 
 And thus resting at your comaundement, as 
 knoweth God, who alwaies pserve you and all 
 
 m 5 
 
250 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 yours. Courtcarney, 1 * the xi th of this August 
 
 1583. 
 
 Yo rs to comaund, 
 
 John Pryce. c 
 
 CXCVII. 
 
 To the right worshipfull my very good frind S r 
 Kdwarde Stradlinge, Knighte. 
 
 After my very harty comendacons. There is a 
 servant of myn, one Jacob of Somersett, had 
 (about iiii monethes since) a hound and a brache 3 
 stolne from him ; w ch hound and brache he hath 
 intelligence are nowe in the possession of the 
 pson of Langan 4 in those partes: my desyre unto 
 you therefore is, that you wilbe a meane my sayd 
 servante maye have his sayd houndes agayne, for 
 w ch purpose he sendethe this bearer. In accom¬ 
 plishment wherof you shall have me readye to 
 requit you w th the like, occasion servinge. And 
 
 1 Near Swansea. 
 
 3 John Pryce, of Courtcarney, married Catharine, daughter of 
 Christopher Fleming, of Flemingston, Glamorganshire. Mrs. Ca¬ 
 meron, of Danygraig, near Swansea, is the present representative 
 of the family. 
 
 3 A bitch hound. 
 
 4 Langan, near Cowbridge, Glamorganshire. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 251 
 
 even soe I bid you hartely farewell. Hooke, 1 the 
 xix th of August 1583. 
 
 Yo 1 lovinge frinde, 
 
 WINCHESTER . 2 
 
 CXCVIII. 
 
 To the right wor. S' Edward Stradlinge, Knight. 
 
 Being requested by my neighbo rs and frends, 
 the iffchauntes of Barnestable, to wryte for the 
 furtheraunce of their lawfull sutes to you, the 
 good that I wyshe them forceth me to wrytte, 
 and the equitye of their cause putteth me in hope 
 that you will heere me and them. The matter 
 ys this :—The second of Januarye last, a barke, 
 frayghted by my frynds afore mencioned, de¬ 
 parted from Ilfardcombe bound for Byskay ; and 
 the next daye followinge, betwyxt Lands End and 
 Sylly, in Whytsande Baye, were robbed by an 
 Englishe rover, under the coullor of servinge Don 
 Anthonio. 3 The man’s name ys thought to be 
 
 1 Near Southampton. 
 
 2 William Powlett, Marquis of Winchester, married Ann, 
 daughter of William Lord Howard of Effingham. He died 1598. 
 
 3 Natural son of Lewis Duke de Beja, who was son of Emanuel 
 the Great; proclaimed King of Portugal 1580, died 1595. A 
 letter from Queen Elizabeth to this sovereign is extant in the Har- 
 leian MSS. 787. 14. 
 
252 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 Story; a full-faced man, w th a readd bearde, yf 
 hit be be : the shipp he sayled in is thoughte to 
 be threescore and ten [tons], or thereaboutes. 
 The marchauntes are enformed that he should 
 be about Ellye oose, 1 nare Cardyffe. My earnest 
 desyre ys, as any of you shall comaunde me in 
 any suche case, that yow will frynde me and them, 
 as occasion shall serve, according to justice and 
 equitye. The losse is great, some younge men 
 like to be undon, and they that may best beare 
 hit greatly hindred ; the facte wicked. For farder 
 circumstaunces to be used in this matter, I referr 
 to the bearers hereof. After my harty comen- 
 dacons to you all, I ende, beinge to pleasure yow 
 in any thing I maye. From my house att Yolston, 2 
 the thirde of Februarye 1584. 
 
 Yo r assured in that I 
 
 may pleasure you, 
 
 John Chichester. 3 
 
 1 Mouth of the river Ely. 
 
 2 In Devonshire, near Barnstaple. 
 
 3 Sir John Chichester, Knight, married Ann, daughter of Sir 
 Robert Denis, Knight; he died of the gaol pestilence at Exeter, 
 1585, s. p. He was the son of Sir John Chichester of Ralegh, 
 Knight, by Gertrude, daughter of Sir W. Couiteney of Powder- 
 ham, Knight. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 253 
 
 CXCIX. 
 
 To the right wor 11 S r Edward Stradling, Knight. 
 
 It is not the difference of tyme past, nor the 
 distaunce of place nowe, right worshipfull, that 
 doth or maye make mee ever to forgeett the lyneall 
 discent naturallye throwen on me by birth and 
 bloude from yo r worthy howse; butt as one 
 poore in powre, yet great in goodwill, I wishe 
 you aswell as a dyinge bodye to a synfull soule. 
 The bearer hereof, my sonne in lawe, Andrew 
 Cavell, as you maye by proofe perceave, hathe 
 bynne brought upp in service, whose honest be¬ 
 haviour I doe comend unto you, w che hath moved 
 me w ,h an especiall care that above all others he 
 should attend on you ; wherefore yf it maye 
 please you to accepte his service, at my earnest 
 request, untell suche tyme as he hath tryede a 
 title of his nowe depending in lawe, I shall thinke it 
 my wished fortune to enjoye yo r wonnted favoure, 
 and my selfe bounde to praye for you as longe as 
 I lyve. My husband gave him some portion to 
 mayntayne him, the keeping whereof hath bine 
 very chargeable unto him, notwythstanding the 
 thinge it selfe is well able to defraye the chargs, 
 yf he could enjoye yt w th quietness. The effecttsof 
 his estate I have unfolded unto you, and his 
 
254 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 diligent service shall yelde you and suerly showe 
 you his honest deameanour therin. I may not 
 omytt to yeld you harty and humble thankes 
 for yo r great bountie and exceeding curtesye 
 bestowed on my almost lost sonne, Richard Cowrt- 
 neye, 1 who ys (by yo r great healpe and favourable 
 furtheraunce) returned home to mee againe, to 
 his owne benefytt and my good keepinge. Thus 
 as I and myne are ever boulde to trouble you, soe 
 are we bounde to praye for you ; to whome we 
 wishe suche encrease of credytt in healthe and 
 happines as yo' owne harte dailye desirethe. 
 From S* Cadock, my howse in Cornewall, this 
 xiii th of June 1584. 
 
 Yo r bounden kyswoman 
 
 tyll her laste gaspe, 
 
 Dorothe Cavell. 2 
 
 1 The site of the ancient cell of St. Karabus, or Karokus, now 
 called St. Cadix, in the parish of St. Veep, Cornwall, was granted 
 to Laurence Courteney in the 37th of Henry VIII. In the church¬ 
 yard is a memorial of Nicholas Courteney, one of this family.—D. 
 Gilbert’s Cornwall, vol. iv. pp. 1V2, 113. 
 
 2 The family of Cavall acquired Trehavarike, or Trearike, in the 
 parish of St. Kew, Cornwall, by marriage with the heiress of the 
 name of Trearike in the reign of Henry VIII. It became extinct in 
 the male line about the year 1612.—Davies Gilbert’s Cornwall, 
 vol. ii. p. 338. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADUNG. 
 
 255 
 
 CC. 
 
 To the right wor. my very good cosen and assured 
 frynde S r Edwarde Stradlinge, Knighte. 
 
 After most harty comendacons unto you, and 
 to my good lady yo r wyfe, from me and myne. 
 Thes shalbe to praye you to extend your good 
 favoure and frindshippe unto this bearer, John 
 Waters, in his resonable request: you shall co- 
 maunde me in the leeke. So, wishing your hartes 
 desyre, doe ende. From Cothelestone, 1 the second 
 of Marche 1585. 
 
 Yo r verye loving cosen and assured frind, 
 
 John Stowell . 2 
 
 CCI. 
 
 To the right wor. my very good cosine, S r Ed¬ 
 warde Stradling, Knighte. 
 
 S r , These shalbe to geve you to understand 
 that a servaunt of myne, one Ellis Bagge, a 
 
 1 In the hundred of Carhampton, Somersetshire. 
 
 2 Sir John Stowell married Frances daughter of Sir Thomas 
 Dyer, Knight. He was the son of Richard Stowell by the Lady 
 Alice 1’oulett, daughter to William first Marquis of Winchester. 
 Lord Winchester died March 10, 1571-2, aged 97. 
 
256 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OP 
 
 younge man w th out a bearde, his left legge 
 memed, ys depted from me, contrary to lawe; 
 and, as I am enformed, he tocke boate this daye 
 seven night att Myned, 1 and is past into Walles. 
 These shalbe, therefore, earnestly to desire yow to 
 take suche order as you thinke good for the appre- 
 hendinge of him, and presently upon his appre- 
 hencon he may be broughte to my bowse at Co- 
 theleston, and I will very well consider their 
 paynes: herin yow shall doe me greate pleasure, 
 and shall use me in any thinge I maye doe for 
 yow or any of yours. So, w th most harty comen- 
 dacons to yow, and to my good lad ye and cosen 
 yo r wilfe, doe leave yow to the Almightye. Co- 
 theleston, the xxv th of June 1585. 
 
 Yo r loving cosen and assured frind to use, 
 
 J. Stowell. 
 
 CC1I. 
 
 To the right wor. my very good cosen S r Ed- 
 warde Stradling, Knight. 
 
 S r , Having soe fytt a messenger, 1 could not but 
 signifye unto you that my wife and I were very 
 glade to heere that you, and my good ladve your 
 wife, were in good healthe w th in these fewe dayes; 
 
 1 Minehead. Somersetshire. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 257 
 
 the w ch we pray God longe to contynew to yo r 
 hartes desire : and soe, w ,h many thankes for yo r 
 paynes, and my good ladyes, taken heere this last 
 somer, doe, w th most harty comendacons unto you 
 and to my sayd good ladie from me and my 
 wiffe, leave yow to the Almightye. Cotheleston, 
 the xxvi th of A prill 1586. 
 
 Yo r very loving cosen and assured frend, 
 
 John Stow ell. 
 
 CCIII. 
 
 .wheate, under ptence to make 
 
 <pvicon for theire famylie, and some of them ap- 
 parantly k no wen to be unlawfull engrosso r s, by 
 whose doinges of engrossinge the price of all 
 sortes of graine in the markettes w th us are greatly 
 enhaunced ; w ch notw' h standinge, we thincke rea- 
 sonable that suche as bona fide shall so make 
 pvicon them selves untill the time of harveste, 
 be pmitted so to doe. We pray yow note to 
 eonceve other then well of o r ptes to require suche 
 credible testymcny from yow, or some suche other 
 justice of the peace, that the ymploym* of cornne 
 to be boughtc w ,h us is so trulie mente, and not 
 to be transported out of her Ma Us domynions, 
 otherwise that we urge the pties buyeng to make 
 
•258 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 other credible pfe of theire lawfull doinges in that 
 behalfe, or not to be admitted to ymbote any. 
 And so we comitte yow to the tuicon of thall- 
 mightie. Bridgw r , the xiii th of July 1585. 
 
 Yo r loving frindes, 
 
 Tho. Pawlet. Edward Popham. 
 
 CCIV. 
 
 To o r verie good Lorde, the Lorde Thomas 
 Poulet, and o r lovinge cosen M r Edward Pop- 
 ham, Esquier. 
 
 After o r verie hartie comendacons. For aun- 
 swer unto yo r ires of the xiii* 11 of this instant, 
 touchinge the nomber of badgers, 1 and greate 
 concours out of this countye into the pties of 
 Soifiset, and ells where, for corne and graine, we 
 can doe no lesse then wittnes unto yow that the 
 dearth and wante at this phte is suche as it great- 
 lye urgethe the same. And if any were knowen 
 unto us to make pvision of any graine to be 
 transported into any foraine pties, trulie we would 
 not only sertifie vow therof, but use o r endevo r s 
 by bindinge the pties to forbeare that trade. And 
 if any be unto yow suspectid in that behalfe, we 
 thincke it verie reasonable that suche be restrained 
 
 1 Hucksters. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 259 
 
 untill they bringe from us or some of o r assocyates 
 a sertificat unto yow, w ch we of o r ptes will forbere 
 to graunt unto any w th out theire bondes and good 
 assuraunce that the same shalbe ymploied and 
 spent w th in this countie, and no where ells, and 
 in the meane time in the behalfe of this comon 
 welth, havinge consideration to this p'sent time, 
 we are to besech yow that yo r restraint extend 
 no further then towardes suche as carie some 
 proofe or stronge susspicon or psumpcon of yeveill 
 disposition in this behalfe. And thus, forberinge 
 yo r farther trobles for this time, we moste hartely 
 comitt yow to God. S‘ Donates, thes xx ,h of 
 Julie 1585. 
 
 Yo r lovinge fryndes, 
 
 Edw. Stradlynge. Wylliam Mathewe. 
 
 ccv. 
 
 To my very good frend, S r Edward Stradling, 
 Knight. 
 
 This bearer bathe entreated me to wrytte unto 
 you in his favo r , that whereas one William 
 Whytrowe bought certayne oxen of him, the price 
 amounting to viii u . xiii 3 . iiii d . whereof he receved 
 iii 1 '. the rest remayninge in the hands of the sayd 
 Whit rowe, who since fled his countrey w th a 
 
26‘0 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 woman servante of his, leaving his wyefe and 
 three children to the chardge of the pishe where 
 he dwelled, and ys nowe abydinge (as this bearer 
 is enformed) w th a gentleman not farr of from 
 yow; in as muche as this poore man ys my neigh- 
 boure, and knowing him to be of suche honest and 
 good behavio r as he will not enforme me w ,h an 
 untruth, I am to pray you to further him in 
 seekinge for his owne, sendinge for the ptie, and 
 ayding him as farr foorthe as lawe and the equitye 
 of his cause shall geve yow occasion ; wherein I 
 wilbe thankefull when the like shalbe offred in 
 these ptyes for any yo r neighboure or frynde. 
 Thus, not doubting your frindlynes towards the 
 poore man, I cornytt yow to God. From my 
 howse at Cadlegh, 1 the xxii th of July 1585. 
 
 Yo r frynd to use, 
 
 W. Courteney. 2 
 
 1 Neat Ottery Saint Mary ; an ancient mansion once the property 
 of the Mohuns, and subsequently of the Courteney family. Sir 
 William Pole, in his Collections towards a history of Devon written 
 before 1635, states that in his time it was possessed by Sir Simon 
 Leach. 
 
 s William Courteney, born in the year 1553 ; knighted about 
 the year 1576 ; High Sheriff for Devon 1581. He sent out settlers 
 to Ireland in 1585, and laid the foundations of the great estate in 
 that kingdom now enjoyed by his descendant, the Earl of Devon. 
 By his first wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Henry r Manners, Earl of 
 Rutland, he had nine children. He died in 1630, aged seventy- 
 seven.— Collins’ Peerage, by Brydges, vol. vi. p. 264. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADL1NG. 
 
 261 
 
 CCVI. 
 
 To the right wor 11 S r Edward Stradling, Knight. 
 
 Right worshipp 11 , I have receavid a comission 
 from my L: President and Counsaill in the M’ches 
 of Wales, addressed and directed to you and me 
 in a matter depending in contrav’s betwine Jenett 
 Wilfim, pi. and Wittim Morgan Lloyd, deff. ; 
 the effect of w ch comission I can not fully sett 
 downe, because I have not oppened the same. And 
 for that hit requireth a certificatt from us, yf 
 hit please yow to appointe a meetinge at Lancarva, 
 or ells where you will, at any daye the next weake 
 after this, saving Frydaye, I will be ready, and 
 bringe the sayde comission w th me, by Godes grace- 
 And thus, w th my hartye comendacons to yo r selfe, 
 and to my good ladye, I wishe you all felicitye. 
 Landaphe, the vi ,h of September 1585. 
 
 Yo r w r poore kinsma and frind to his power, 
 
 Wylliam Evans. 1 
 
 1 W. Evans, LL.B. in the commission of the peace for Gla¬ 
 morganshire 1565, Treasurer of the Cathedral, Chancellor of the 
 diocese of Llandaff for forty years, and distinguished for his generous 
 
 patronage of the bards, lie died in 1589_B. Willis’s Survey of 
 
 Llandaff Cathedral, p. 23. 
 
262 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 CCVII. 
 
 To the righte wor S r Edwarde Stradlinge, 
 Knight. 
 
 Pleaseth it yo to understand that I am desired 
 to entreate yo to givecreditt to my fellowe, Davye 
 Roberts, whom mi Lo: and M r thincketh very 
 well of, and to whom my selfe is greatlie behold- 
 inge, to be employed under yow in some office, 
 upon suche condicon as to yo r selfe shall seme 
 best, if yow be appointed her Ma tes Sheriffe for 
 the countie of Glamorgan. So, certefienge yow I 
 wilbe as ready in any of my dealinges to gratefie 
 any of yo rs whensoever yow shall require it, and 
 beseechinge the Almighty to blesse and keepe yow 
 and my good la: yo r bedfellowe, I leave to trouble 
 yow further. From Cardiffe, this xiiii ,h of Novem¬ 
 ber 1585. 
 
 Yo rs to commaund, 
 
 Tho. Wyseman. 1 
 
 1 “ An officer” of the Earl of Pembroke in 1578. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADDING. 
 
 263 
 
 CCVIII. 
 
 To the right worshippfull S r Edwarde Stradlinge, 
 Knight. 
 
 Pleseth it yow to understande. The bringer 
 herof, one well knovven of longe time unto me, 
 passinge this waie, and desirous to make staie in 
 this contry, and I beinge enformed that yow are 
 destitute at this time of one of his quallitie to 
 serve as yo r clercke, I thought good to beseche 
 yow, the rather at my request, to entertaine him 
 as yo r servaute for that purpose, w ch he cane very 
 well dischardge ; and will, I doubte note, everie 
 waie else cary himselfe so dilligente and dutifull 
 as shall apptaine, and as shalbe to the goode 
 likinge of yow and my good ladie yo r bedfelowe, 
 to whome, w th yow, I desire theis rnaie make my 
 moste hartie comendaeons. And so, beseeching 
 thallmightie to blisse and keepe yow bothe, I 
 leave to trouble yow further. Cardiffe Castle, the 
 xxv th of September 1539. 
 
 Yo rs to comaund, 
 
 Tho. Wyseman. 
 
264 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 CCIX. 
 
 To the right wor. S r Edwarde Stradling, Knight. 
 
 After my harty comendacons. Havinge oc¬ 
 casion to use some frende in Wales for a buke, 
 coulde not call to mynde anye there soe fytte for 
 my selfe to be bolde w th all as w ,h you, and in noe 
 other sorte then you shall comaunde me in Eng- 
 lande; and soe I prey you (uppon the i - eceipte 
 herof) to deliver this bearer a bucke, as I shall 
 requyte you w th the like when you shall have 
 occasion to sende unto mee, et cosi resto al co- 
 mando di vra s rla . London, the 12 of June 1581. 
 
 Yo r lovinge frind, 
 
 John Yonge. 1 
 
 1 John Young of Bristol was knighted there by Queen Elizabeth 
 in 1574. The Queen lodged at his house, St. Augustine’s Back, 
 for seven days.—Seyer’s Bristol, vol. ii. p. 245. Sir John died in 
 1603, aged 70. There is a tablet in the south side of the choir of 
 Bristol Cathedral to the memory of Sir John, Dame Joan his wife, 
 and eight of their children. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADEING. 
 
 265 
 
 CCX. 
 
 To the right worshipfull my very good cosen S' 
 Edwarde Stradling, Knighte. 
 
 I thanke you most hartily for yo' gentle re- 
 membraunce w th the doa, w ch 1 doe take as kindly; 
 thoughe conceiving not a little unkindnes in you, 
 I will not saye also to my ladye, for that she 
 is grow r ned [governed], that you woulde passe 
 throughe the cyttye w th her, and lodge heare towe, 
 and woulde not comaunde this house as yo' owne, 
 nor make me ptaker of yo r heare being. Hyt is 
 scant pdonable, nor may not be w ,h out suche satis¬ 
 faction as may redeme soe greate an offence, w cl1 
 cannot be w th out a psonall apparence ; yea, and 
 y* w‘ my ladye also, for y* her aunsweare shall 
 be yo r excuse. And so y e Almighty blesse yow 
 both w‘ health and all other felicitye. From 
 Bristoll, y e 28 of Januarye 1587. 
 
 Yo rs assuredlye, 
 
 J. Yonge. 
 
 N 
 
266 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 CCXI. 
 
 To the right wor" S r Edward Stradling, 
 Knight. 
 
 Right worship 11 , Littere non erubescunt; and 
 therefore what reason wold have me conceale w ,h 
 niodestie for feare of denyall, even that the ne- 
 cessitye of my case willeth me to reveale w u ' 
 audacitye in hope of obtayninge ; soe that what the 
 one by pswasion woulde drive me from, the other 
 by force doth dryve me to. And therefore suche 
 is my hope of yo r worshipp’s curtesye shewed me 
 at all tymes, and suche my urgent buisines at 
 this instant, that, quighte rejectinge all rocks 
 either of repulse or rigor, I will bouldly manifest 
 my matter; and because many words are su- 
 pfluous, and long circumstances tedious, and 
 neither necessarye, seinge to one willing one 
 worde is inough, but to the unwilling a thousand 
 to few, this is the case: I receavid a letter w th in 
 these iii dayes from a very frind of myne, the con- 
 tentes wherof was, that, yf I could by the iiii th of 
 October next prepare xx ,ie nobles, I should pre¬ 
 sently purchase xx tle marke by the yeare: &c. 
 His curtesye was greate, and I accepted yt; the 
 gayne not litle, and I licked yt; but the dis- 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 267 
 
 bursed mony ys somewh 4 , and that I wante; and 
 althoughe not all, yet the greatest parte. And 
 therefore, as yo r worshipp hath heretofore byn a 
 magnificent and worshipfull Meeenas unto me, 
 soe I beseeche you at this instante to enlarge and 
 amplifye the same towards me; and, that I may 
 the better manifest my willing and dutifull 
 mynde unto youre worshipp, extend yo r boun- 
 tifull liberalitie in as ample maner as you dyd 
 before, but not in the same forme. I only request 
 a certaine some of money of youre worshipp in 
 the waye of borroweinge, w ch , God willing, when 
 yo r worshipp shall appointe I meane to surrender; 
 and vv th vt (yf you accept yt) a harte readye at 
 all tymes to obay yo r hest: this is the greatest I 
 can render, and the greatest yow maye require : 
 and what the shine is I neither need nor will putt 
 downe; only signifiinge unto yo r worshipp that 
 the greateste quantitye I have is the least parte 
 of the total 1 some ; and soe lytle, that I may saye 
 w ih Terence, Id aliquid nihil est. And therefore, 
 yf charitye maye move yo r mynde, yf my pfer- 
 ment may anye thinge pswade yo r wo r shipp, then 
 I beseeche yow consider my case, and soe consider 
 yt that by this bearer I maye receave not a cor¬ 
 rosive but a comforte; in hope whereof I ende. 
 wishing yo r worship and all yours all thinges yo’ 
 
 n 2 
 
266 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 CCXI. 
 
 To the right wor" S r Edward Stradling, 
 Knight. 
 
 Right worship", Littere non erubescunt; and 
 therefore what reason wold have me conceale w ,h 
 modestie for feare of denyall, even that the ne¬ 
 cessitate of my case willeth me to reveale w th 
 audacitye in hope of obtayninge ; soe that what the 
 one by pswasion woulde drive me from, the other 
 by force doth dryve me to. And therefore suche 
 is my hope of yo r worshipp’s curtesye shewed me 
 at all tymes, and suche my urgent buisines at 
 this instant, that, quighte rejectinge all rocks 
 either of repulse or rigor, I will bouldly manifest 
 my matter; and because many words are su- 
 pfluous, and long circumstances tedious, and 
 neither necessarye, seinge to one willing one 
 worde is inough, but to the unwilling a thousand 
 to few, this is the case: I receavid a letter w^in 
 these iii dayes from a very frind of myne, the con- 
 tentes wherof was, that, yf I could by the iiii th of 
 October next prepare xx tie nobles, I should pre¬ 
 sently purchase xx ,le marke by the yeare: &c. 
 His curtesye was greate, and I accepted yt; the 
 gayne not litle, and I licked yt; but the dis- 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 267 
 
 bursed mony ys somewh 4 , and that I wante; and 
 althoughe not all, yet the greatest parte. And 
 therefore, as yo r worshipp hath heretofore byn a 
 magnificent and worshipfull Mecenas unto me, 
 soe I beseeche you at this instante to enlarge and 
 amplifye the same towards me; and, that I may 
 the better manifest my willing and dutifull 
 mynde unto youre worshipp, extend yo r boun- 
 tifull liberalitie in as ample maner as you dyd 
 before, but not in the same forme. I only request 
 a certaine some of money of youre worshipp in 
 the waye of borroweinge, w ch , God willing, when 
 yo r worshipp shall appointe I meane to surrender; 
 and w th vt (yf you accept yt) a harte readye at 
 all tymes to obay yo r hest: this is the greatest I 
 can render, and the greatest yow maye require : 
 and what the some is I neither need nor will putt 
 downe; only signifiinge unto yo r worshipp that 
 the greateste quantitye I have is the least parte 
 of the totall some; and soe lytle, that I may saye 
 w th Terence, Id aliquid nihil est. And therefore, 
 yf charitye maye move yo r mynde, yf my ptfer- 
 ment may anye thinge pswade yo r wo r shipp, then 
 I beseeche yow consider my case, and soe consider 
 yt that by this bearer I maye receave not a cor¬ 
 rosive but a comforte; in hope whereof I ende. 
 wishing yo r worship and all yours all thinges yo' 
 
 n 2 
 
270 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 CCXIII. 
 
 To my right worshipfull frind S r Edward Strad- 
 linge, Knight. 
 
 After my right harty contendacons. I under- 
 stande there is a matter in variance like to arise 
 bet wine you and David Morga touchinge the 
 keepinge of the gaol in the county of Glaihgan. 
 The truth is that her Ma" graunted him that 
 office uppon such speciall sute. and upon such 
 substanciall information, that it is verie like shee 
 will see her graunt metained, and will mislike that 
 it shoulde be in anywise impugned ; and therfor, 
 in respecte of the oulde frindship betwine us, I 
 would geve you advice not to stande therein, least 
 it might breede you more displeasure then the 
 matter is worth, namely, since it toucheth you but 
 for one yere, and his title beinge for terme of life 
 dotli constraine him to stande the more ernestly 
 in it for othere that may be moved to withstande 
 him by your example. And thus, knowinge yo‘ 
 
 He was sent by Elizabeth in 1588 to the Prince of Parma, Vice¬ 
 roy of the Low Countries, to expostulate with him against Cardinal 
 Allen’s book —Wood’s A then® Oxonienses, by Bliss, vol. i. p. 622. 
 [Syd. Pap. i. 325.J Dr. Dale died Nov. 17, 1589, and was buried 
 in St. Gregory's church, near St. Paul’s, London. His daughter 
 and co-heir, Dorothy, married Sir John North, eldest sou of Roger 
 second Lord Xorth. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING- 
 
 271 
 
 wisdom and experience to be such as can right 
 well consider what is best, I leve to use any fur¬ 
 ther pswasion unto you ; comittinge you unto 
 Almighty God. At the Court, the xi th of Jenuary 
 1582. 
 
 Yo r assured, 
 
 Valen. Dale. 
 
 CCXIV. 
 
 To the r. wor. S r Edwarde Stradlinge, Knighte. 
 
 Oi t r dutifull and moste hartye recomendacons 
 remembred. Of late I talked with my neigh- 
 boure and kinseman, Thomas Roscarroke, that 
 we both mighte have a convenient time to make 
 a longe pretended viage to see yo r S‘ Donatts, and 
 yo r good estate therein, which God longe con- 
 tynewe in m e worse condycion then we well 
 understand you have begonne. In the meane space ? 
 havinge for my parte byn earnestlie required by 
 the frends of one Richard Vyvyan, otherwise (by 
 reason of the house he was borne) called Treno- 
 witche, to wrytte unto you in his behalf; which 
 thinge 1 doe the gladlyer take in hande, for that, 
 as farr as ever I coulde pceave, he is of an honeste 
 disposition, naturallye dessended of an honeste 
 race, and that is to be cherished in our happye 
 
272 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 and prosperous estate. He is an honeste traveler 
 in the trade of marchandize by the seas, by whose 
 honeste trade manye poore bodye hath relieffe. 
 He havinge bene of late aboute the partes of Neath 
 in Wales, and ther makinge his shippe anevve, 
 which he accompted to doe with lesse charges 
 there then heere in our countye Cornewall, by 
 reason of the good store of tymber ther, which is 
 nott soe plentifull [here] ; at t the endinge of which 
 his buisnes he is dyversly molested there, arested 
 under pretence of debts, and other querells pickte 
 againste him, onely as lam enformed to poll him, 
 and to gett brybes of him, greatlie to his hinder- 
 ance and heavye loss, unles God and good men 
 send him the better ayde. I, thinkinge it a meete 
 matter for yo r vertue to be occupyed in mayn- 
 teyninge of justice, soycke [seek] now to crave 
 vo r helpe for the same Richard Trenowithe, and 
 therin as God the rewarder of juste dealinge and 
 mayntayner of justice shall putt into yo r mynde to 
 doe by yo r sellfe or yo r fryndes for the savinge 
 him from wronge and injuryous oppression ; 
 wherby yo r neighbours, cornynge into this angle 
 or anye pte therof, shalbe assured to fynde the 
 more humanitye, and yo r selfe the sooner and 
 longer remembred in thedevoute prayers of suche 
 as skape wrongefull oppressinge handes. I reced 
 yo r Ires howe the twoe stones, after mytche troble 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 273 
 
 of the carryers, were landyd for you, which I 
 wished had by tie better for you. Yf you lacke 
 anie suche or other things whatsoever lyinge in 
 myne habilitye, comaunde, and then see whether 
 I fayleyou. Allmightie God preserve you w th his 
 contynall grace, and make you to injoye for ever 
 thejoyes which the Saviour of the worlde, Christe 
 Jesus, hathe provided for them which love and 
 put theire truste and confidence onely in him. 
 Bockellye, this xviii th of Maye 1582. 
 
 By yo rs , Wyll’m Carnsewe. 1 , 
 
 ccxv. 
 
 To the right worship 11 and my verie good frinde 
 S r Edward Stradling, Knight, geve these. 
 
 S r , After my right harty comendacons, &c. 
 Whereas upon Sonday, the first daie of this in- 
 stande moneth of Marche, a mischaunce hap¬ 
 pened to your men, the herers hereof, that a 
 seminary priste escaped from them out of theire 
 lodginge, heinge the Whit Hart in the Strande; 
 for whome I my self went all that night, and 
 
 1 Carew, in his Survey of Cornwall, 1602, speaks of Master 
 Carnsew of Bokelly, in the parish of Saint Ludehon, and of Master 
 Roseairock of the same parish.—Vide Carew’s Survey, edited by 
 Lord de Dunstanville, 1811, pp. 297, 8, 9. 
 
 N 5 
 
274 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 made privie serche thorowe out all London and 
 Westrn, withe otlier suspicious places, and tooke 
 about nine score of suspected and masterlesse 
 psons, thinkinge to have taken that lewede prist 
 amongest them, but my happ was not soe good : 
 and truly yo r men have taken great paines and 
 travaile in makinge serches for him, besides the 
 great vexacon of their mindes, that truly I did 
 thinke that they woulde have benn distracted of 
 their wittes. And the Lordes of the Councell un- 
 derstandinge of the escape upon Wensdaie, beinge 
 the iiii ,h day of this moneth of March, sent for 
 your men to appere befor theire honors; and 
 thereupon they were sent into the Marshallseys: 
 and I, hereing of their imprisonment, went on 
 Sounday last, the viii th of this moneth, before the 
 Lordes of the Councell, and declared to their 
 honers what paines both I and your men have 
 taken in the serchinge for that lewed pson, and 
 upon ernest entreaty I gott the discharged. 
 Wherupon the L: of the Councell, beinge my Lo: 
 Chamberlyne, my Lo: Admirall, and my Lo: of 
 Hundesdon, sittinge then at the Councell table, 
 and no moe, desired me to wright unto you, and 
 to desir you that you will stand good master to 
 your men, and that you will not put them out of 
 service, for that they have shewed them selves 
 dutiful] servantes in this matter. I found y e 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 fault in the chamberlyn and tapster of the Whit 
 Hart aforsaid. Wherefor I most hartely desir yo r 
 worshipp to receve these your servantes into your 
 grace and favoure againe, and that you will not 
 put them to any further punishment, for that 
 they have ben imprisoned here in London to their 
 great greiffe and troble. Thus, nothing doubt- 
 inge of your good favour herein, I byd you har¬ 
 tely farewell. London, the ix 1 * 1 day of Marche 
 1583. 
 
 Your assured frind to my smale power, 
 
 W. Fletewode. 1 
 
 CCXVI. 
 
 To the right worship 11 S r Edward Stradlinge, 
 Knight. 
 
 S r , My most harty comendacons remembred. 
 I have receved such unkinde dealinge at M' 
 Carne’s handes for my good will, as I am forced 
 
 1 William Fleetwood, an eminent lawyer, educated at Oxford, 
 which he quitted without taking a degree. As a member of the 
 Middle Temple, he acquired a high reputation, in 1570 he was 
 made Recorder of London, and in 1592 Queen's Serjeant. 
 He was very popular with the Londoners. Stowe notices one of his 
 speeches in 1583 against the increase of buildings. He married 
 Marian, daughter of John Barley of Kinssey, Bucks, by whom he 
 had eight children. He died Feb. 28, 1594, and was buried at 
 Missenden, Bucks.—Lodge’s lllust. vol. ii. p. 334. 
 
276 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 to do contrary to my nature, and that w ch other¬ 
 wise I would have ben veri loth to do. I lent 
 him xx“ marckes the last at his beinge here to 
 finishe his accompte, and gave him time to pay 
 me att the last audite, wheare I had not so much 
 as a letter from him. Havinge since had occasion to 
 writt unto him for his favoure to my good frinde 
 Richard Morgan (for whom I ye!d you my harty 
 thankes), he not only denied flatly to do him 
 any pleasure, but said that Mathewe David, and 
 not he (whose bonde I have), must paie me. 
 Hereupon I have peured y e processe I sent you; 
 hartely prayinge you to cause it to be duly 
 executed and saff'ely returned, as you shall use me 
 in any service or pleasure I may do you. And so 
 I comitt you to the Almightie. At London, the 
 xxiiii th of Apprill 1583. 
 
 Yo rs in what I maye, 
 
 Robert Davy. 
 
 CCXVII. 
 
 To the right wo? S r Edward Stradling, Knight, 
 ceve these. 
 
 CD 
 
 S r , My humble duty premised. May it please 
 yo r worsh. to understand that, havinge noe better 
 meanes to testify my thankefullnes for all yo r 
 
SIR EDWARD SFRADLING. 
 
 277 
 
 worsh. goodnes, I have be ie bould to send yow 
 the copyes of my first tryall and labours in this 
 kvnde of profiting others. And I have also bene 
 bould in the greater of them to make my mone 
 in the Lord’s cause unto yo 1 wor. and others, 
 beseechinge yo r worsh. most humbly both to puse 
 and accept them as the testimonyes of my humble 
 duty and poore goodwill; and when you have 
 vewed what I wishe, and weghed well what in 
 deed wanteth, even for the Lord’s sake vouchsafe 
 to thinke of yt. The Lord hath made you able 
 to doe much good, and, his mercies considered, I 
 doubt not will make you willinge. Never yet 
 lyved y* man or woman that lost at the Lord’s 
 hand what to his honor he disbursed. Yo r worsh. 
 knoweth yt, and I nede not speake yt, Vertue 
 being furdred maketh her founders famous, — 
 famouse, I say, in this world, and renowned ever 
 in an other world; neither ever perisheth the 
 memory of the rightwouse. The Lord hath made 
 yow a pyller of this country, and, yf yo r godly 
 zeale shall ever make yow soe, allso of his king- 
 dome : his worde is past him already, and shall 
 not be revoked ; “lie that honoreth me, I will 
 honor him.” Thus, humbly beseching yo r 
 worsh. to pardon my bouldnes, to accept my 
 poore present, and to vouchsafe them readinge, 
 nothing doubting of all furtherance of yo r wordi. 
 
278 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 of Godes kingdom, I cease, and beseeche the Lord 
 to in riche you w th all his mercy es, to his prayse 
 and yo r owne profytt, both here and for ever. 
 Cardif, y e 19 of Febr 1584. 
 
 Yo r w r humble bownden, 
 
 Gerv. Babington. 1 
 
 CCXVIII. 
 
 To the right wor 11 S r Edward Stradling, Knight. 
 
 S r , All humble duty ptnised. Although I was 
 never able to doe your worsh. any service since I 
 cam into the countrey, yet have I divers tymes 
 bene most bould to sew to you for my wants; 
 and at this tyme am havinge noe other way to 
 supplye my necessity by: and yt is, that it 
 woulde please yo r worsh. to be soe good to mee 
 as to lend me sume playne horse that is taull, to 
 carye the ende of a litter that I have gott for my 
 poore childe to goe into Wilton ; w ch yf yo 
 worsh. will doe for me, I shall safly (God willinge) 
 returne him home agayne, and ever more stande 
 ready whilst I live at yo r comaundement. Thus, 
 
 1 Gervase Babington, Doctor of Divinity, Treasurer of tire Church 
 of Llandaff, and chaplain to the Earl of Pembroke, some time Fel¬ 
 low of Trinity College, Cambridge; consecrated Bishop of Llandaff 
 in 1591 ; translated to Exeter in 1594. In 1597 he was removed 
 to the see of Worcester. He died May 17, 1610. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 279 
 
 comending my want to yo r worsh. good pleasure, 
 I most humbly take my leave; wishing yo r selfe 
 and my good ladye ever more well to doe, and 
 beseeching the Lord to requite all yo r great good- 
 nes to me during my aboade here in this coun¬ 
 try. I wanted noe goodwill to have come to 
 your worsh. my selfe, to have taken my humble 
 leave ; but God knoweth what I wanted. The 
 Lord of heaven ever keepe yow and yours. 
 
 Yo r w r humble bownden, 
 
 Gervase Babington. 
 
 CCXIX. 
 
 To the right wor 11 S r Edward Stradling, Knight. 
 
 All bounden duty pknised. These are most 
 humbly and hartely to thanke yo r worshipp for 
 yo r horse, w ch I have sent backe againe by this 
 bearer, the man that fetched him, ever and ever 
 bounde unto yo r worshipp for soe great a pleasure 
 in soe great a want. And althoughe God knowes 
 I am nothing in this worlde to be ever able to 
 doe yo r worshipp any service, yett even that 
 nothing that I am is and shalbe at yo r owne co- 
 maundement whilst God bestoweth upon me life 
 and libertie; as knoweth He to whome in my 
 hartye prayers I most humbly comend yo r wor- 
 
580 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 shipp and my very good lady for ever. Wilton, 
 this ... of October 1585. 
 
 Yo r w r humble and ever bouden, 
 
 Gervase Babixgton. 
 
 ccxx. 
 
 To the r. wor. my very lovinge frend S r Edward 
 Stradling, Knighte, at his Castle of S‘ Do- 
 nattes. 
 
 S r , My very harty comendacons p’mised, with 
 hope of yo r wished health and my ladies’. Under¬ 
 standing by M r Fleminge that itt hath pleased 
 God to call the pson of Tathan 1 to his mercy, 
 and that the patronadge thereof appertaigneth to 
 you, I made bolde in the behalf of my selfe, in 
 that my lyvinge is smalle and my chardge greate, 
 and that it hath pleased her Ma tle upon due 
 regarde thereof, under her Highnes’ broade seale, 
 to aucthorize me for the better maintenance to 
 take in comendam any helpes which conveniently 
 I mighte attaine unto, to pray you to bestowe the 
 same on mee ; which if you doe, I shall not only 
 take greate care to see the cure carefully dis- 
 chardged, but allso shall remayne moste thanke- 
 full unto you for yo r frendly consent herein. 
 
 St. Athan, a parish near Cowbridge, Glamorganshire. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADUNG. 
 
 281 
 
 Thus, comittinge my suite to yo r frendly con¬ 
 sideration, I take my leave. From London, the 
 xvii th of Marche 1592. 
 
 Yo r loving frind assured, 
 
 Gerv. Landaven. 
 
 CCXXI. 
 
 To the r. wo r S r Edw. Stradling, K. at his Castle 
 at S* Donats. 
 
 S r , My righte hartie comendacons premised, 
 with bothe hope and wishe of youre healthe. 
 Beinge made acquainted by my good neighboure 
 here, M r Stradlinge, 1 with yo r desire, I presentlie 
 sent to my register for it, but fownde that as yett 
 none is broughte in ; a greate faulte in them, and 
 a greate negligence in my officer. The beste 
 speede that maye be made to have it broughte-in 
 shalbe made, God willinge; and then my selfe 
 will take care to procure you a copie. Soe, 
 restinge yo r greate debtor for manye oulde favo r s, 
 and nowe allsoe for yo r kinde remembraunce for 
 some venson these holydayes, which I understand 
 of by my good neighboure, I bidde you hartelie 
 farewell. From Landave, this x th of December 
 1592. Yo 1 loving frind assured, 
 
 Gerv. Landaven. 
 
 Probably of Roatb, near Cardiff. 
 
-'82 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 CCXXII. 
 
 To the right wor 11 his moste assured frende Sir 
 Edward Stradlinge, Knighte, at his Castle of 
 S' Donates. 
 
 Good S r Edward Stradlinge, This yo r kynde 
 letter, and soe lovinge acceptaunce of my poore 
 pamphlettes, increase my debte unto you verie 
 greatlie; and shall even more, yf more possibley 
 I can, stirre me upp, when I see you not, to 
 desire God to multiplye his favo r s towardes you 
 and all yours. The same daie you depted here- 
 hence I receavid them from London, and, seeinge 
 one of yo r servauntes in the shire haulle, intreated 
 him to conveye sumeof them unto you, havinge noe 
 leasure to writte anie thinge, \v ch I truste you will 
 pdon. Yf I shall gett tyme heareafter, my pen 
 shall be noe lesse myndefull of yow and yo r loving 
 farewell voutsafed me heere, then my harte is 
 of yo r kynde cominge to Landaffe, w th manie, 
 manie, favors mo. And, as neere as I am able to 
 remember what God inabled me to saye of late, 
 I will send you a written coppie; for I never 
 penned speeche in my life before I uttered it, 
 but onlye the firste coinon place, as we caull it 
 in the univ’site, that I made, w ch was before I 
 was minister, in the colledge chappell, for a triall 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 283 
 
 used of all younge masters of artes. Thus doe I 
 promise what I wishe mighte be worthe eyther 
 pmisinge or sending, because I see howe I am 
 beholden to you ; behoulden, I saye, even 
 above all desertt or meanes to deserve, I feare me, 
 heareafter. But God is able wher his serv a untes 
 be not ; and to y t riche treasurye of his I comend 
 both yo r selfe and all yo r lovinge testimonies to 
 my selfe, but specially to my ministerye and his 
 gospell : prayinge him in his infynite goodnes to 
 voutsalfe to remember his gracious pmise to any 
 suche as shall but geve a euppe of colde water to 
 any of his |)ffittes in the name of a pphett, that 
 is, for his function, office, and cauling sake ; and to 
 pforme that pmise in moste gratious abund a unee 
 to yow and all yo rs , knitting yo r harte faste unto 
 him and his truthe, against all deceitefull workes 
 and workers of the contrarie. Amen ! Cardyf, 
 this xxvii th of Aprill 15*. 4. 
 
 Yo r poore frind most assured, 
 
 Gerv. Exon. 
 
284 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OP 
 
 CCXXI1I. 
 
 To the r. worship 11 S r Edward Stradlinge, 
 Knight. 
 
 Right worship 11 , My verie hartie comen- 
 dacons remembred, with like thankes for yo r 
 greate courtesie shewed to this berere, my ne- 
 phewe, the continuaunce wherof I praye you lett 
 him have : if it might rest in my poore powere 
 to requit the same to yow or yo rs , you shall not 
 finde me unreadie. Thus, with my wife’s most 
 harty comendacons, I comitt yow to God, whoe 
 preserve yow in longe and perfect helthe, with 
 much encrease of worship. Builth, the xxvi th of 
 Julii 1583. 
 
 Yo r wo r ever assured to his power, 
 
 Ch. Walcott. 
 
 CCXXIV. 
 
 To the right worshipfull S r Edward Stradling, 
 Knight. 
 
 S r , After my hartiest comendacons. Whereas 
 Aunthony Wodvyle, the Erie Rivers, maryed 
 Margret his daughter to S r Robert Poyns, my 
 greate grandfauther, from whom I descende; and 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 285 
 
 whereas the haroulds woulde pswade me the same 
 Margrett to be a bastarde, and not begotten in 
 matrymony : knowing that yovv cann therin cer- 
 tifye me the troethe, because she was a daughter 
 to your anceto r , I beseeche yow, sir, signifye 
 to me the troethe by your Ire, w ,h suche circum¬ 
 stances as may induce hytt ; and for soe doinge 
 I shall thinke my selfe speciallye to you behold- 
 inge, taking my leave of you. At Tokington 
 Lodge, this xiii th day of June 1584. 
 
 Yo rs assured to comaund, 
 
 N. Poynz. 1 
 
 CCXXY. 
 
 To the right wor 11 S r Edward Stradling, Knight. 
 
 Suche is my hard fortune, right worshipp 11 , as 
 I am forced nowe in my latter dayes, by reasone of 
 some extraordinary chardges of late fallen upon 
 me, to requeste thayde, furtherance, and benevo¬ 
 lence of my good frynds, kynsemen, and well- 
 willers for the relife of my phte necessitie; w ch 
 course trewly is greatly repugnant to my harte 
 
 1 Sir Nicholas Poyntz of Tockington, in the parish of Iron Acton, 
 Gloucestershire, married Ann, daughter of Sir Ralph Verney, of 
 Penley, Herts. His second wife was Margaret, daughter of Henry 
 Earl of Derby. Sir N. was Sheriff for Gloucestershire in 1569. 
 
286 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 and licking: neverthelesse, being urged therunto, 
 
 I enboulden my selfe to call upon yow, and re- 
 queste yo r good furtherance herein, as one of 
 whose frendshipp I have allwayes assured my 
 selfe, althoughe I had small meanes to deserve 
 the same. Thus, w th humble comendacons unto 
 you, and to my good lady yo r bedfellowe, I cornytt 
 yow both to the blessed tuytion of thalmightie. 
 At my poore bowse Bedwellty, the xii th of Julye 
 1584. 
 
 Yo r poore cosen to comaund 
 
 in that he maye, 
 
 Edm. M. 1 
 
 CCXXVI. 
 
 To the right wor" S r Edwarde Stradling, Knight. 
 
 Right worshipfull, At the request of certen of 
 my neighbo rs I have enbouldened my selfe to 
 troble yow w th these fewe lynes, by the w ch I am 
 to signifye unto yo r wof that a barke of this 
 harbo r , named the Salamon, was robbed in Whyt- 
 sand Baye, neere about the Lands End, on the 
 thirde of January last ; from whome was taken 
 c. peces of sayes, fiftie peces of fyne whitt carsies, 
 
 1 Probably Edmund Morgan of Penllwyn and Bedwellty, Mon 
 mouthshire. the youngest son of Thomas Morgan, Esq. of Machei 
 in that county.—Vide Morgan Pedigree, Coxe’s Monmouthshire. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADL1NG. 
 
 287 
 
 and certen bayes, to the number of xx tie peces, or 
 theraboutes, besyds other things w ch cannot no we 
 be certenly layde downe, for that the barke ys 
 not as yet returned : w ch fact was comitted by 
 an Englishe pyrate of the burthen of 60 tonnes, 
 or theraboutes. And as hit is heere reported that 
 suche a shipp is nowe at Ellios, 1 and the eaptayne 
 therof comytted in Cardyff; the w ch yf it so be, 
 I humbly beseech yo r w: vouchesafe to use meanes 
 (yf yt be possible) that the same shipp may be 
 stayed and searched, and the company thereof 
 examined, for the better tryall of the trouthe in 
 the premisses. And I for my parte shall not only 
 be thankefull, and rest ready to doo yo r worsh: 
 the best service I may, but also yow shall bynde 
 my sayde neighbo rs to their powers, and w th all 
 doe an acceptable deede unto God, for that some 
 of them w ch have susteyned pcell of this losse 
 stande upon their utter undoing. This bearer 
 can signify unto yo r w: by mouthe more at lardge 
 touching the premisses, and therefore I cesse 
 troubling yow any farder at this instant ; beseech¬ 
 ing Almightye God to blesse yow, and prosper all 
 your good and godly enterprisses. From Barne- 
 stable, the third of February 1584. 
 
 Yo r w r most humble, 
 
 John Harris. 
 
 1 Mouth of river Ely. 
 
288 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 CCXXVII. 
 
 To the right wor 11 S r Edward Stradling, 
 Knight. 
 
 Right worshipfull, my very good cosen, Having 
 occasion to use some ancientt pedegrees of dyvers 
 howses in Wales, aswell from S r Richard Stacke- 
 pole, as from S r Rees of Wales, and one Turber- 
 vile, owt of some of w ch howses yo r selfe and I 
 are both descended ; and occasyoned also to use 
 the pedegree from Hawys Gaderne, the daughter 
 and heire of Owen Kyviliocke of Powys, married 
 to S r John de Charleton, Knight; in w ch name 
 the Lordes of Powys continued foure descentes, 
 and then divolved to two dauwghters of Edward 
 Charleton, (that is to saye) Jane married to S r 
 John Graye, Knight, and Joyce, the younger 
 daughter, to John Lord Typtoft. The discent 
 synce from Graye and his wife was to Henry 
 Lord Powys, their sonne and heire, and from 
 Henry to Richard, from Richard to John, from 
 John to John, from that John to Edwarde deade 
 w th out yssue. And nowe, what other children of 
 sonnes and daughters any of the Graves, Lordes 
 of Powys, had, ys to bee inquired. And for that 
 I am informed there remayne in yo r handes 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 289 
 
 dyvers pedegrees and notes, w ch may manifest 
 this matter, I make bolde to desyre and pray you 
 to lett me have a coppye thereof, signed w th yo r 
 owne hand ; w ch I trust yow will the rather doe, 
 for that you yo r selfe being of greate antiquitie 
 and worship, have a mynde to maintayne and 
 preferr suche psonages as are like unto yo r selfe ; 
 and, as occasyon shalbe offred, you shall fynde me 
 ready to pleasure you or yo rs in any thinge I 
 shalbe able to doe. Thus, wishinge contin a unee 
 of yo r good health, w th most increase of worshipp, 
 I comytt yow to y e tuycon of thalmightye God. 
 From the Courte, the xxix ,h of Aprill 1584. 
 
 Yo r loving cosen, assuredly yo rs , 
 
 H. Vernon. 1 
 
 1 Henry Vernon, Esq. who styled himself Lord Powis, died with¬ 
 out issue in 1606. He was the son of Thomas Vernon of Stocksey, 
 Derbyshire, and grandson of Thomas Vernon of Stocksey, living in 
 the 3rd and 4th of Philip and Mary, who married Ann, daughter 
 and co-heir of Sir John Ludlow of Hodnet, Salop, Knight, by 
 
 Elizabeth Gray, daughter and sole heir of Richard Lord Powis._ 
 
 Collins’ Peerage, by Brydges, vol. vii. p. 403. 
 
 O 
 
290 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 CCXXVIII. 
 
 To the r. wor. S r Edward Stradlinge, Knight. 
 
 S r , Although myn acquentaunce geveth me not 
 occasion to troble yow herewith, yeat beinge 
 mariede to yo r cosen jermynge, and as one gent 
 shalbe occasioned to use the frindship of another, 
 so am I at this p>sent to psume of yo r wor: curtesey 
 as to desir you to bistowe upon me a bucke against 
 the sessions to be holden for the county of Pem- 
 brocke, w ch begineth the xxiiii th of this August. 
 So doinge, you shall not fynde me ungratfull, 
 but ready my selffe (with any thinge I have) 
 att your comaundement, yf cause showld any way 
 hapen to serve you to use me; and, so ever 
 restinge, I comitt you to God. Bulston, 1 the 
 xvii 0 of August 1584. 
 
 Yo r moste assured to use, 
 
 J. Wogan. 2 3 
 
 1 Bolston, near Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, once the property 
 
 and residence of the Wogan family, and now of Robert Ack- 
 land, Esq. 
 
 3 Sir John Wogan of Bolston, Knight, Sheriff for Pembrokeshire 
 in the 16th and 40th of Elizabeth, son of Richard Wogan, by Eliza¬ 
 beth, daughter of Sir Thomas Gamage. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 291 
 
 CCXXIX. 
 
 To the right honorable the Earle of Pembroke, 
 Lorde President of the Marches of Wales. 
 
 Our duties used unto yo r lordshipp. The 
 pusingeof yo r L: Ires of the second of this instant, 
 w ch came to our handes the xxii th of the same, joint¬ 
 ly directed to us both, wrought in us grieft’e and 
 consolacon both together : the first in respect of 
 yo 1 L: heavye conceipt; the later in respect of yo r 
 goodnes and justice towards us in comittinge to 
 writtinge the reasons inducinge yo' honor soe to 
 conceave. Hopinge that the self same integritye 
 w ch moved yo r hono r unto the later, will in like 
 sorte, upon pusall of our aunswere, remove the first 
 out of yo r mynde; wherein yf we shall seme 
 tedious, the largnes of yo r L: Ire, consistinge of 
 84 lynes written in a verye smale hande of the 
 whole bredth of the papre, joined with our un- 
 scillfullnes, doth vendicat some tolleracon in that 
 behalf. Our late Ires unto the LI: of her Ma tes 
 most honorable Privey Counsaile seme unto yo 1 
 L: rather to pseed of malice or of contempte of 
 yo r L: then of any upright meaninge to redres 
 offences or punishe offendors ; for tryall whereof 
 yo r L: referreth to be respected what should move 
 us both only to entermedle in this action. And 
 
 o 2 
 
29 - 
 
 correspondence OF 
 
 soe in aumplifienge hereof yow doe interroga¬ 
 tively pseed to aske whether we alone be care- 
 fnllie mynded, or alone be aucthorised to chasten 
 suche faults, or continually have accustomed to 
 use suche integritye, &c. Truly, right honor¬ 
 able, for a briefe and plaine aunsweare of o r 
 intention, we affirme that there is one supreame 
 Judge, only mightie, and must be obayed ; only 
 wise, and cannot be deceaved ; only just, and [will] 
 doe us no wronge : He it is that one daye will 
 beare wittnes that we never caryed any intention 
 of malice or contempte towardes yo r L. And as 
 to the first interogatorye, whether we alone be care¬ 
 fully mynded, we aunsweare, that God forbidd 
 we should; we judge and hope the beste of o r 
 associates, and referr them to theire owne con- 
 siences. Touchinge the seconde, whether we 
 alone be aucthorysed to chasten suche faultes; 
 trulye we thinke it be so, we never hard anye 
 aucthoritie they eytlier had or used ; w ch is the 
 foundation and well springe, and breedeth some 
 stomacke towardes us, and yet can never be im¬ 
 puted to anye faulte in us yf the LI: of her 
 Ma tes most honorable Privey Counsayle have sent 
 us [alone] this authoritie under the broade seale 
 of Englande by a speciall messenger, and from 
 time to time have confirmed the same, and that 
 very lately this last sdmer under nyne of their 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 293 
 
 hands, whereof my L: Admirall him self that 
 nowe is was one ; y c true coppies whereof we have 
 sent yo' honor under our hands. We trust, for 
 executinge their comaundem tes , and endevo r im~ 
 ployed to o r owne daily chardges, we deserve 
 not to be thought malitious towards yo r honor. 
 Yf we have done any thinge att this pnte, or 
 since yo r L: callinge or late advauncement, w ch 
 we have not continually used thes 8 or 9 yeres 
 laste past, we are giltye of malice towardes yo r 
 Lo: and my Lord Admirall both : but thus we 
 delt in yo r father-lawe’s time, beinge L: Pre¬ 
 sident, and in my L: of Lincoln’s 1 tyme, beinge 
 Lord Admirall, and yet were never or accounted 
 malitious, or to prejudice theire aucthoritye. 
 The whole Counsaile table continually, as occa- 
 syon was offred, receavid our certificate, and can 
 wittnes the same. And where it is thought we 
 should certifye the L: Admirall and yo r L: in 
 respect of yo r severall aucthorityes by sea and by 
 lande: we aunswere that o r comission and instruc¬ 
 tions, beinge the only rule and leavell of o r .pceed- 
 inges, directed us to certifye the LI: above; 
 wherein yf we have erred, it was in followinge 
 our direction from the LI: and the wordes of our 
 comission. Another objection touchethe the bail- 
 
 1 Edward Clinton, Baron Clinton, created Earl of Lincoln 1.572. 
 Lord High Admiral, K. G. Ob. 1585. 
 
294 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 liffes of Cardyffe, whom your L: doth puiise not 
 to defend, but to see them punished yf they have 
 contemned; w ch scruple is easely resolved and 
 determined by point of charter. Yf thereby it may 
 appeare that they are thus enfranched, that they 
 neede to bringe or sende noe townsman before 
 any aucthoritye from her Ma tle any further then 
 the towne hall, or that they shall direct or pre¬ 
 scribe her J\la tes comissiorils a place to execute 
 theire aucthorityes, we willyelde and acknowledge 
 our error ; w ch prerogatyve yf they cannot she we, 
 then is their contempt unto o r aucthoritie unex- 
 cusable, and their pretence of libertye used for a 
 cloke both to cover their owne intentions and to 
 inflame yo r L: disposicion towardes us: wherein 
 it is to be regardede that if they have any suche 
 prerogative, wherof haply we be not altogether 
 ignorant, that hetherto untill this p*sent tyme it 
 was never put in practyse. Often tymes w'e 
 confesse we use the towne hall, but alwayes by 
 our owne accord and assents, and never by theire 
 Inscription. M r Fabyan [these] fewe yeres past 
 used the same aucthoritye that we have for the 
 space of three weekes or a moneth together; butt 
 allwayes eyther in M r Hawckins’ or John ap 
 Morgan’s house in the Highe Streate, at his elec¬ 
 tion. The Queenes Solicito r from the Marches, 
 latly sent hither by yo 1 father in law : e, exercised 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 295 
 
 his aucthoritye; but never in the towne hall, but 
 only at Baily Robert ap Evans’ owne howse. Yf 
 this had byne their first practyse and subernacon 
 w th suche pirates, it had bine the more tollerable; 
 but verily we never learned of anye pyrate ar¬ 
 rived in this roade wherein they have nott shewed 
 theire inclination : w ch as enformers we doe not 
 deliv* unto yo r honor, in w ch exercise we have no 
 delight; but as comissionls by good aucthoritie 
 we have certifyed the Lis: above, w ch they are to 
 credytte as unto theire wisdomes shall seeme 
 covenient. And where we wishe the LI: to con¬ 
 sider the townsmen’s bouldnes doth concerne, &c. 
 and yo r L: [doth] interpret the same to pseed 
 of no good meaninge towardes yo r L: we can 
 but wish to yo r honor all godlye wisdome to 
 decerne every spirite ; and then, notw th stand- 
 inge some privat unkindnes for pryvat causes, 
 yo r honor noe doubt woulde suspend and for- 
 beare suche conceiptes of us. We are not igno¬ 
 rant, but wee knowe well the nature of a con¬ 
 tempt, and to whom and what place it toucheth 
 and concerneth ; that is to saye, that place only 
 and that aucthoritie from whence it is derived. 
 And as unto yo r L: heavye conceipt of our boul- 
 steringe of blodie actions, only grounded upon 
 reporte of others; because we cannot, w th due 
 regarde of o r dutyes towardes yo r hono r , aunswere 
 
296 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 soe malitious reporters in due ^portion as the 
 qualitye of theire malice towardes us might re¬ 
 quire, wee forbeare att this tyme w th more tedious 
 discourse to pester yo r honor, and soe recomende 
 the same to Almighty God. S‘ Nicholas, the 
 xxvii th daye of Januarye 1586. 
 
 Yo r L: poore kinsmen, 
 
 Edw. Stradling. Wm. Mathewe. 
 
 ccxxx. 
 
 To the right worshipfull and their loving frind 
 S r Edwarde Stradling, Knight. 
 
 After our hartye comendacons unto yow, with 
 thankes for yo r curtesy bestowed upon us. As we 
 would be sorye that yo r travell to these present 
 assisses shoud hinder yo r health, soe yo r presence 
 (yf it may be had w th out pill to yo r selfe) is by 
 us loked for, bothe for the dischardge of yo r owne 
 dutie, and also for the better proceeding in some 
 causes depending before us, and especially touch¬ 
 ing the rape, wherein we doe expect to be fur¬ 
 nished by you and by yo r meanes w th suche evi¬ 
 dence at the least as was geven heretofore when 
 you were psonally psent at the open hearinge 
 therof in soiher last, wherby the prison? may 
 have his deliu?aunce on way or other, according 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 297 
 
 to justice: in respect of w ch matter, and for other 
 causes, we may not well pdon yo r psence accord¬ 
 ing to yo r requeste. Soe fare ye well. Cardyffe, 
 this xviii ,h of September 1581. 
 
 Yo r frindes, 
 
 Edmund Walter. 1 Tho. Escourt. 2 
 
 CCXXXI. 
 
 To the right worshipfull my very loving frind 
 S r Edward Stradling, Knight. 
 
 Good S r , I hartely comend me unto yow. Con- 
 sydering the late disorders and garboyles 3 comit- 
 ted w ,h in that county of Glamorgan, whereof is 
 like to ensue a greater inconvenience and daunger 
 then may well be endured w th out speedy refor¬ 
 mation ; and because the tyme of the greate ses¬ 
 sions there ys nowe at hand, when yt is fytt the 
 offenders should receave their des'lts, aqd the 
 causes of these differences by all good helps quali- 
 
 1 Churchyard, in his VVorthines of Wales, p. 76, noticing Lud¬ 
 low, speaks of “ a fayre house by the gate, of the making of Justice 
 Walter.” He was Chief Justice of three shires in South Wales, 
 and was buried at Ludlow in 1592. 
 
 2 Probably Thomas Estcourt, who died in 1598, whose tomb is 
 in Shipton-le-Magne church, Gloucestershire. There is a portrait 
 of him in the lobes of a Judge, dated 1570, at Estcourt, the resi¬ 
 dence of T. G. B. Estcourt, Esq. M.P. 
 
 3 Uproars. 
 
298 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 fyed; I have therefore thought good earnestly 
 to pray you to geve me meeting at the towne of 
 Cardyff uppon Sonday night the ix 1 * 1 of this 
 instant, for suche conferences to be had touching 
 the pceedinges in that behalfe as to justice shall 
 appertayne. And even soe I leave yow to the 
 Lordes tuytion. Ludlowe, the firste of Marche. 
 
 Yo r very loving frind, 
 
 E. Walter. 
 
 CCXXXII. 
 
 To the right worshipfull his very loving frend 
 S r Edward Stradling, Knight. 
 
 S r , My very harty comendacons remembred. 
 I have receavid yo r Ire, and therby doe under¬ 
 stand yo r mynde and purpose for our advertys- 
 ment to my L: Chauncellor of the sufficiencye of 
 suche gent of yo r countrey as have byn recom¬ 
 mended to his Lpe to be fytt psons for the office 
 of justices of peace there. From w ch , by other yo r 
 Ires, yt appearede you did altogether derogate; 
 refusing (as yt seemed) to joine in certificat 
 eyther w th yo r justices of assisses, or anny other in 
 the same cause, but rather to sever and single 
 yo r selfe from us, and by yo r pryvat Ires did 
 intend to acquaynte his Lp w th yo r opinyon of 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 299 
 
 them, and of yo r conscience therin: wherat I 
 more misliked then nowe 1 will utter; and, seeing 
 your better confirmity therin, doe, for my owne 
 parte, forgett my former conceyte had of yow in 
 that behalf, and doe thinke w th yow that our best 
 course ys to suffer yt to rest tyll o r meetinge at 
 the next assises, when, upon conferrence had 
 together, I hope the aunswere shalbe to his Lj5s 
 satisfaction, as he requireth; w ch was my deter¬ 
 mination before the receipt of yo r Ires, and soe 
 did I impte as muche by tre to M r Lewes. 
 And even soe I leave yow to the tuycon of the 
 Lord. Ludlowe, the xvii"’ of this August 1585. 
 
 Yo' verye loving frend, 
 
 E. Walter. 
 
 CCXXXIII. 
 
 To the right wor 11 his verie lovinge frind S r 
 Edward Stradlinge, Knight, High Shieriffe of 
 y e countie of GlarRgan. 
 
 M r Shrieff, I hartely comende me unto you and 
 to my good ladie. Wheare as one Thomas Jones, 
 esquier, nowe lately recovered by order of her 
 Ma tes Counsell here in the Marches of certaine 
 copphold landes, lienge within the lpe of Molton 
 in that county, against this berer my servant, 
 
300 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 and his mother in lawe; w ch matter, notwith- 
 standinge, was by M r Jones his assent referred 
 unto such order as I shoulde take therein : but, 
 for that 1 thinke my opportunitie will nott serve 
 me to ende the same before the next essises, I doe 
 therefore hartely desir you, that, ife M r Johnes 
 doth sue forth any pees from any her Ma tes 
 courtes above or here in the Marches to put 
 him in the possion thereof, you would shewe my 
 servant so much favo r as to stay the execution of 
 such pees untill y c next essises ; wherein you shall 
 much pleasur the yonge mann, and cause me nott 
 to be unmindefull of that and all othere your 
 courtsyes, and, as ocation shall serve, redie to 
 requite the same, as knoweth the Almighty, to 
 whose tuyeon I comitt you. Ludlow, the iiii ,h 
 of this Apprill. 
 
 Yo r verye lovinge frind to use, 
 
 E. Walter. 
 
 CCXXXIY. 
 
 To the right worshipfull S r Edward Stradlinge, 
 Knight. 
 
 Right worship 11 , After my right harty comen- 
 dacons and wiffes, yo r olde awnt, who dayly 
 prayeth for yo r helth and well doinges. She was 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADUNG. 
 
 301 
 
 verie glade of yo r Ire that you wrott unto me 
 toutchine the correeon of the genealogie of the 
 Stradlinges, sett forth by Doctor Powell; and I 
 do thanke you hartely for the same Ire. I am 
 required by a countrey man of myne, Rhutherth 
 Beaushin, 1 to writt unto you in the favoure of a 
 sonne of his, who hath served you this two or 
 thre yeres, as he informeth me : for the sonne I 
 do not knowe, but I can ascertaine you that his 
 father is a good honest man, and well able to live 
 in his countrey ; and, for the sonne, you can best 
 discerne, you se what disposition he is of if he 
 hath served you so longe. These, with my praiers 
 for the preservation of your helth, and with my 
 harty comedacons, and my wiffes, to my good 
 ladie as unaquented, I shall betake yow both to 
 the tuition of thallmighty. Plasward, the seconde 
 of June 1585. 
 
 Yo r assured cosen to use, 
 
 Si. Thelval . 2 
 
 1 Beauchamp. 
 
 2 Simon Thelwal of Plasward, Denbighshire, married the 
 third daughter of Sir William Griffith of North Wales, Knight, 
 by Jane, daughter of Henry Stradling, who was the second son 
 of Thomas Stradling, Esq. of Saint Donats, and great-uncle to Sir 
 Edward Stradling. Mr. Thelwal instructed Lord Herbert of Cher- 
 bury in the Welsh language. Vide Life of Lord Herbert, p. 35. 
 
302 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 ccxxxv. 
 
 To the right wor 11 S r Edward Stradling, 
 Knight. 
 
 My duty to yo r worshipp most humbly remem- 
 bred. I have nowe, S r , w th muche adooe ended 
 my jorney, and gotten agayne under my posses¬ 
 sion my fugityve servant ; for the w ch I must 
 needes acknowledg my self greatly bounde both 
 unto yo' worshipp and unto yo 1 county in gerilall, 
 soe farr as that the warst of them, yf they be 
 occasioned to use me, shall find me most ready 
 to make requitall therof to the uttermust I shalbe 
 able. And soe will I not remayne ungratefull to 
 the warste. Before I goe from yo r country, I will 
 wayte on yo r wof; and, wherin soever yt please 
 yow to comaunde me, yow shall fynde me most 
 willinge. And even so, leaving any farder to 
 troble your worshipp, I doe most humbly take 
 my leave. Kyltheligare, 1 this xvii ,h of Maye. 
 
 Yo r wo r alwayes at commaund 1 , 
 
 Ed. Halfacre. 
 
 Gelligaer, Glamorganshire. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 303 
 
 CCXXXYI. 
 
 To the right wor 11 S r Edward Stradling, Knight. 
 
 My duty to yo r worshipp most humbly remem- 
 bred. I cannot let passe any messenger w th out a 
 fewe words of thankesgeving, having noe other 
 matter to offer unto yo r worshipp for the greate 
 curtesye and frindshipp I receaved from yow, my 
 selfe beinge a stranger, and noe waye deserving 
 that favour w ch I fownd ; but yet in what soever 
 (because yo r worshipp shall [not] fynd me ungrate- 
 full) I may doe yow any pleasure or service, ey ther 
 in these ptyes or ells where, you shall w th an un- 
 feyned good will fynde me most ready, eyther 
 for yo r selfe or my good ladye, to the uttermust of 
 my simple power. And even so eftsoones, and 
 most humblie thanking yo r wo r , my dewty to my 
 good ladye in most humble wise remembred, 
 prayinge yow to pardon my bouldnes, I doe even 
 soe take my leave. My poore bowse at White- 
 stone in Cornwall, the xxv th of June 1585. 
 
 Yo r wo r alwaies most humbly to comaund, 
 
 Ed. Halfacre. 
 
304 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 CCXXXVII. 
 
 To the righte wo' S r Edward Stradlinge, 
 Knighte. 
 
 My dewtie to yo r wo' most humblie remem- 
 bred. Findinge this bearer in o r pts of Devon- 
 shere, and beinge alwaies glad to heare of yo r wo', 
 I thought yt also my dewtie contnewally to shewe 
 my selfe bothe dewtifull and thankfull for yo r so 
 greate curtesies shewed me, and to shewe my selfe 
 most thanckfull and redie at all times to doe yo r 
 wo', or anie frind of yo rs , anie servis I shalbe able ; 
 for suerlie I must neads acknowledge my selfe so 
 greatelie bownd unto yow as that I shalbe never 
 able to yeald sufficient thankes for the same 
 but in poore good will, w ch is alwaies redie to 
 serve yo r wo' in all that possyblye I maye. Yeven 
 so, cravinge pdon for my boldnes in writtinge, my 
 most dewtifull comendacons to my good ladie not 
 
 forgotten, I humblye take my leave. 
 
 the 24 of September 1586. 
 
 Yo' wo' awayes most 
 humbly to be comaunded, 
 
 Edw. Halfacre. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADL1NG. 
 
 305 
 
 CCXXXVIII. 
 
 To the right wor. my very good cosen S r Ed- 
 warde Stradling, Knighte. 
 
 S', I am entreated by Robert Hensley, the 
 bearer herof, to enforme you of the troeth of a 
 bargayne betwine him and one Thomas Sulley, 
 late of S‘ Athens of yo r neere neighbourhoode, 
 touchinge an anvyle w ch he did sett unto the sayd 
 Sulley for a yere. The bargayne is witnessed by 
 two psons, viz. John Wattes, clerke, minister of 
 Porlocke, and John Bearde of Selworthye, 1 who 
 sayeth that, about our Lady day last past, Robt 
 Hensley did sett to heire the sayd anvyle to the 
 sayd Thomas Sulley at a rent of iii 3 . iiii d . for the 
 yere ; w th further condition that yf the sayd Robert, 
 or any of his brothers, woulde require to have 
 agayne the sayd anvyll into theire possession 
 w th in the sayd yere, then, upon one q'ter’s warn- 
 inge, the sayd anvyle was to be restored, and he 
 to abate of the rente according to the tyme that 
 he possessed the same. The ptyes y‘ dothe tes- 
 tiHe this bargayne are honest and credible; wher- 
 fore I beseeche yow extend yo r lawfull favo r to 
 my honeste countreyman accordinge to the equitye 
 of his cause : soe shall you have me ever ready 
 
 1 Botli in Somersetshire. 
 
306 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 to requite you or any neighbour of yo rs in the 
 like cawse, or greater, as occasion shall move. 
 Thus, making to you and to my good ladye my 
 right harty comendacons, doe take my leave of 
 you. Att my house, Combsydenham, 1 this xxix ,h 
 of June 1586. 
 
 Yo r very loving frend and cosen, 
 
 George Sydnaham. 2 
 
 CCXXXIX. 
 
 To the right worshipfull my very good and 
 
 assured frende S r Edward Stradling, Knight. 
 
 Right worshipfull, My verie bounden dutie 
 used, &c. Havinge mynded more then xii° 
 monethes sithens to truble yo r worship with some 
 invention, thereby to shewe my gratfull rnynde 
 to the same for your singular benevolence so 
 bountifully at all times bothe in worde and deede 
 bestowed on me to my good ; in short time after, 
 occasion offeringe to be a suter unto you, &c. 
 moved the same by your faithfull servant, my 
 verie lovinge frind Jenkin Rice,w d ', I lerne sithens 
 
 1 Now in ruins, situate between Taunton andDunster, Somer¬ 
 setshire. 
 
 2 Sir George Sydenham, Knight, married Mary Blunt, sister to 
 Lady Poulett. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 307 
 
 by him, yt pleased your good worship and my 
 veri good ladie to like and accept of, &c. Ex- 
 pectinge my repair longe befor this, w ch for 
 busines, &c. I could not hither unto, or yet 
 well can ; yet knowinge my bounden dutie not 
 to frustrate your good expectation or my sute any 
 longer, but by one meane or other to manifest the 
 same, have nowe thought good humbly to shewe 
 your w. hereby that I rest and wilbe at yo r wor¬ 
 ship appointment to be imployed : in pawne where¬ 
 of I humbly beseach your w. and my verie good 
 ladie to accepte of a brother of myne, and take 
 him to your service, who hath served my verie 
 good and latt master decessed, Sec. and nowe per¬ 
 mitted to depart willinge. I am to have him nere 
 me in this countie, if it may be; and, pleasinge it 
 you so to doe, you shall have us both, as you have 
 me alreadie, dubly bounde to yo r good worshipps 
 duringe life ; as knoweth the Almightie, whoe I 
 besech ever to pserve you to yo r hartes good de¬ 
 sires. Porteynon, 1 18 Julii 1586. 
 
 Yo r wo r most humble, 
 
 Ro. Walle. 
 
 Glamorganshire. 
 
308 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 CCXL. 
 
 To the right worshipfull S r Edward Stradling, 
 Knight, these be geven. 
 
 S r , I recevid your Ires conserning yo r troble- 
 some guest, and have byn most willing to satisfy 
 your request therin, as in any other thinge, to my 
 power : the order taken by the courte will be to 
 your liking. For myne owne parte, I hold my 
 selfe, in respect of many good frynds who esteeme 
 greatly of you, bounde to pleasure you in what 
 I may ; and therefore I pray yow to make that 
 accompt of me where in honesty and duty I cann 
 or may. And soe, w ,h my most lovinge comen- 
 dacons, I beseeche the Almighty to receave yow 
 into his holly ptectyon. Att Hereford, this thyrde 
 of Marche 1587. 
 
 Yo r loving cosen to his power, 
 
 Ny. St. John . 1 
 
 1 Perhaps Nicholas St. John, of Lydiard Tregoze, Wilts.—Col¬ 
 lins’ Peerage by Brydges, vol. vi. p. 50. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 309 
 
 CCXLI. 
 
 To the right wor 11 and my good cozen, S r Edward 
 Stradling, Knight. 
 
 Right worshipfull, My very hartye comenda- 
 cons remembred, &c. The vearye necessitie that 
 I am [in] at this psent tyme causeth me to trouble 
 you and others my frinds; that is, to request 
 you to graunte mee yo r warrant to your keep by 
 this bearer for the deliverye of a season bucke 
 against this session : and in soe doinge you shall 
 not only pleasure me greatlye therin, butt allso 
 bynd mee to requytte the same in the like dis- 
 tresse w th thankes. And thus, wishinge you w th 
 us in the countrey , w th my comendacons unto my 
 good ladye, I hartely take leave. Cardyf, the vi th 
 of Julye 1587. 
 
 Yo r loving cozen and frynde, 
 
 Thomas Lewys. 1 
 
 1 Vide p. 17, note '. 
 
310 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 CCXLII. 
 
 To the light worshipfull S r Edward Stradlinge, 
 Knight. 
 
 Right worshipfull, I canot devise howe to be- 
 gine to yeld thankes unto yo r w. and my verie 
 good ladie for yo r curtesey to my brother, beinge 
 driven to extremitie in that pte. I praise God 
 that it was his hap to make an end of his liefe, 
 since God had so determined, in so worshipfull a 
 place. Well, S r , my harte will not suffer me to 
 troble yow longe : but, if the prayre of the poore 
 wydoe and her poore orfantes may stand yo r w. 
 in steed, they are bound dailie to beseche the 
 Almightie to requite yo r goodnes ; and my selffe, 
 and all the rest of our poore frendes, will alwaise 
 be redie to pleasure yo r worshippe in eny thinge 
 we maie. And so, besechinge yow to pardon my 
 rudnes and brevitie herein, consideringe my hard 
 hap for the losse of so good a brother, I comite 
 yow and my good la: to the custodie of God, who 
 ever pPserve yow and send yow longe liefe, w th 
 increse of muche worshippe. Uske, the xvi ,h 
 daie of Marche 1588. 
 
 Yo r w. moste humble to comaund, 
 
 Wa. Johnes. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 311 
 
 CCXLIII. 
 
 To hir loving cozen S r Edward Stradling, 
 Knight. 
 
 S r Edward, Yt is soe that, by meanes of my 
 husband his earnest entreatye, my nevyw Becham 
 and my brother Edward have ,pmised him to come 
 unto Walles to one M r Carne, whom my husband 
 hath made great reporte of; so that we meane, 
 God willing, to take yo r house by the waye, for 
 I will assure ye the bearer herof hath soe en- 
 formed us of sundrye comodytyes w cl1 you have, 
 that feawe or non hath the like in Walles. And 
 thus, w' 1 ' my verye hartye comendacons, I bvd 
 you farewell. From Canford Howse, 1 the xx th of 
 October 1589. 
 
 Yo r assured cosen in what she can, 
 
 Mary Senior. 2 
 
 1 Canford near Wimborne, Dorset, now the property of William 
 Baron de Mauley. 
 
 1 Probably Mary Senior of Shaston, Dorset, whose will is ex¬ 
 tant in the Prerogative Office, bearing date Jan. 13, 1620. She 
 desires to be buried at Motcomb, Dorset ; appoints her mother 
 Margaret executrix, devises property to her brother Thomas, and 
 “ ten shillings to Mary Senior to buy her a spoon.” 
 
312 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 CCXLIY. 
 
 To the r. wor. his very lovinge frind S r Edward 
 Stradlinge, Knight. 
 
 Good S r Edward Stradlinge, Whereas my sonne 
 Edward Aubrey is sheriff of the next sheere 1 
 adjoininge to you, where there are very fewe 
 pckes, I am dreeven to make bolde hartely to 
 desir you to bistowe a bucke upon him, w ch I will 
 readily requite with any kinde of pleasure or 
 curtesy that any way lye in me. And so, with 
 my right harty comendacons, I comitt vou to the 
 ptexion of the Almighty. From the Court att 
 Green wish, this first of July 1591. 
 
 Yo r assured lovinge frinde, 
 
 Wm. Acbrey. 2 
 
 CCXLV. 
 
 To my very lovinge frend S r Edward Stradlinge, 
 Knighte. 
 
 After my very hartye comendacons. Wheras 
 the berer hereof, a poore aged man, one Evan 
 Treheron, of the towne of Lantwitt in the countye 
 
 1 Brecknockshire. 
 
 2 Vide note *, page 26. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 313 
 
 of Glamorgan, hath exhibited a petition unto mee, 
 complayninge that, beinge her Ma teS ten a nte of a 
 small house which he demised to one Richard 
 Nicholls and John Rees for the rent of vi s . by 
 the yeare, and being by coven a nt bounde to the 
 repaeons thereof like as they have coven a nted 
 with him, they doe nev’theles suffer the sayd 
 howse to goe into ruin and decaye, to his undoinge 
 if he should repaire the same; wherefore I 
 verye hartely praye you to call the sayd Nicholls 
 and Rees before you, and to take suche order 
 with them as the sayd tenfht maye be resonabley 
 repaired : and hearin I am the bolder to use yo r 
 meanes to satisfye the desire of this poore man, 
 beinge otherwise unwilling to troble you in a 
 matter of so small importaunce. From the Corte 
 att Nonsuche, this last of Maye 1593. 
 
 Yo r vearye loving frind, 
 
 W. Burghley. 1 
 
 CCXLVI. 
 
 To the r. wor. S r Edwarde Stradlinge, Knighte. 
 
 My dutye retnembred to youre wof. You shall 
 understande that I am come home; but noe 
 
 1 William Cecil, Baron Burleigh, died in 1598, aged 77 ; the 
 favourite minister of Queen Elizabeth for forty years. 
 
 P 
 
314 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 sooner come, but that M r Justice Walter, hearing 
 that shortlie I was to departe from London, and 
 leavinge one att Brecknocke to solicitt my hastie 
 repayre to him to Ludlowe: upon this occasion, 
 and for that hee is the Justice of Assise in this 
 circuytt, and to be keapt in hande for manye 
 purposes, I am goinge this daie to Ludlowe, 
 havinge a farre greater desire (as God knoweth) 
 to resorte to my Maecenas. But after my returne 
 from Ludlowe I will (throughe God’s grace) he 
 shortlie there. The cause of my longe tarynge 
 in London was for the sure setlinge and placinge 
 of the hookes, and pusinge every one of them, 
 sheete by sheete, that noe impfection mighte he 
 fownde in them; which sheetes in xii hundreth 
 and odd hookes growe to a greate number and a 
 tedious pusall. Of these hookes theQueenes Ma" e 
 hadd one, my Lorde Tresorer 1 an other, and my 
 L: of Essex the thirde, for that these three hadd 
 juste cause to have a consideration of this excel¬ 
 lent language. From the Queene I knowe not 
 what aunswere was hadd, for that I came awaye 
 before I spake with M rs Skudamore, whoe did 
 deliver the booke; but at the cominge of M r 
 Skudamore 2 to Home-Lasye I shall knowe. There 
 
 1 Lord Burleigh. 
 
 2 John Scudamore of Ham-Lacy was Gentleman-Usher to Queen 
 Elizabeth ; received the honour of knighthood, and was one of the 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 315 
 
 is more worshipfull speeches concerninge youre 
 selfe about the settinge foorthe of that booke 
 then about anye one thinge that ever you dyd in 
 all youre life. And thus, with my humble dutye 
 to yo r selfe and to my singular good ladye, and 
 hartye comendacons to M r John Stradlinge, I 
 beseeche God to blesse and save you all. Breck- 
 nocke, this xii ,h of Julye 1592. 
 
 Yo r \vo r to comaunde 
 
 duringe liffe, 
 
 John Davys. 1 
 
 knights for Herefordshire in five several parliaments in that reign. 
 His first wife was Eleanor, daughter of Sir James Croft, Knight; by 
 whom he had James, who was knighted for his valour at the siege 
 of Cales. T. Warton imagines that the “Syr Scudamore” of 
 Spenser’s “ Faerie Queen” is a personification of this individual. 
 Lady S. was a favourite of Queen Elizabeth. 
 
 1 Commonly called John David Rhys. He was the son of David 
 Rhys who was in the service of Sir William Griffith of Llanfaithlu 
 in Anglesea. Here John Davys was born in 1534. Some accounts 
 state that his mother had been waiting-woman to Jane Stradling of 
 St. Donats, who about this period became the wife of Sir W. 
 Griffith. John Davys was sent to Oxford at the age ofeighteen. In 
 1555 he travelled into Italy, studied medicine at Sienna, where he 
 took a degree and acquired a profound knowledge of the Italian 
 language. He published his “ Cymrmcae Linguae Institutiones ” in 
 1592, and dedicated the book to Sir Edward Stradling. Sir Ed¬ 
 ward’s will, dated 10th May 1610, refers to this work: “Item, 
 whereas there were printed at my expense twelve hundred and fifty 
 British grammars, 1 do give fifty of them ready bound to my friend 
 Mr. Doctor Davys, the author of them ; and my will is, that the 
 rest of them shall be given and bestowed from time to time by my 
 cousin, Sir John Stradling, upon such gentlemen and others as he 
 
 p 2 
 
316 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 CCXLVII. 
 
 To my lovinge cosen M r Edward Stradling. 
 
 Cosen Edward, Because my Lord is nowe at the 
 Courte, I pray you to deliver [with] yo r owne 
 handes thes letters to his Lordshippe, w ch doe con- 
 serne yo r father. 1 1 have written to his L: my 
 opinion therin ; and yf yow shall see that no good 
 doe come on it presently upon my Lord’s dealinge 
 therin, then 1 praye yow w th speede advertyse 
 me howe hit standeth, and I will come mv self to 
 followe the sute on his behalf. My opinion in 
 the meane tyme is, that you shall gather instruc¬ 
 tions out of yo r father’s letter to complayne to my 
 Lordes and M r Secretory on yo r father’s behalf, 
 and not to showe yo r father’s letter but only to 
 my Lord ; but the complaynt and sute to be from 
 
 shall think fit, for the advancement of the British tongue.” Cam¬ 
 den, in a letter to Sir John Stradling, dated Feb. 13, 1593, says, 
 “ Clarissimum et eruditissimum virum D. Johannem David nrihi 
 ofticiosissime saluta.” Theophilus Jones observes that, according 
 to Wood, “ he died as he had lived, a Roman Catholic, about the 
 year 1609, at or near Brecknock, at which time he must have been 
 75 years of age ; but from the inscription on his wife’s tomb, who 
 is called ‘ Uxor Joh’is David,’ and not * Vidua,’ it should seem that 
 he was alive iu 1617, and that his son Walter Davids was a Pro¬ 
 testant, and at this time vicar of Brecon.”—Hist, of Brecon, vol. 
 ii. p. 51. 
 
 1 This letter must have been written before 1571, when Sir Thomas 
 Stradling died. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 317 
 
 you by yo r owne knowledg, because you may 
 have acsies to yo r father. I pray yowe comende 
 me as hartely to him as hart can thinke, and he 
 shall see that I will not slack his sute heare in 
 upon the next advertysment from yow after yow 
 have conferred w th my Lorde. Soe I comitt yow 
 
 to God, this. 
 
 Yo r lovinge cosen, 
 
 J. Lumley . 1 
 
 CCXLVIII. 
 
 To the right wor. my very loving cosen S r Ed- 
 warde Stradling, Knight. 
 
 Right worshipfull, As urgent busines hath byn 
 cause wherfore I have not taken my leave from 
 you before my depture towards London, soe I 
 trust, hit being dewly consydered, you will hould 
 
 1 John Baron Lumley. The attainder of his father, George Lord 
 Lumley, yas reversed in 1547 ; John being an infant. Queen 
 Mary conferred on him the order of the Bath in 1553. He was 
 held in high consideration by Queen Elizabeth ; sat on the trials of 
 Mary Queen of Scots, Secretary Davison, and Robert Earl of 
 Essex. At the accession of James, he was a commissioner for set¬ 
 tling the claims of the coronation. His first wife was Jane, daughter 
 of Henry Fitzalan, Earl of Arundel. He was one of the chief 
 mourners at Sir Thomas Pope’s funeral, and named as one of the 
 executors to the wills of Sir Thomas Stradling and his son Sir Ed¬ 
 ward. He died April 11, 1609. 
 
318 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 me for this tyme as excused. And because I wold, 
 as neere as I can, doe my endevour to prevent 
 that noe inconvenience or disorder may happen 
 in my neighboorhood during my absence, these 
 are right hartely to pray yow that yow will take 
 upon yow the ptectyon of my poore neighbors 
 and frinds in pventing that the riche shall not 
 oppresse the poore, and that the poore iniurye 
 not the wealthy: in doing whereof yow shall doe 
 a charitable deed, cause them to be bounde unto 
 yow, and fynde mee not only thankfull, but also 
 ready to be imployed in case like by yow or any 
 of yours. And thus, w th my right harty comen- 
 dacons unto yo r selfe and to my good ladye, I 
 comitt yow both to God’s tuycon. Lantrithed, 1 
 this 8 of November. 
 
 Yo r loving cosen, 
 
 Tho. Maunsell . 2 
 
 '• Lanlrithyd near Cowbridge, Glamorganshire, the seat of An¬ 
 thony Mansel, uncle of Sir Thomas. Vide p. 107. 
 
 2 Sir Thomas Mansel, Knight and Baronet, eldest son of Sir 
 Edward Mansel by Lady Jane, daughter of Henry Somerset Earl 
 of Worcester, was knighted 1581, created Baronet May 22, Hill ; 
 married Mary, daughter of Lewis Lord Mordaunt. He died in 
 1631, ®t. 75. Sir Thomas represented the county of Glamorgan 
 in the parliaments of 1597, 1601, 1603, and 1614. There is a por¬ 
 trait of Sir Thomas at Penrice Castle. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADL1NG. 
 
 319 
 
 CCXLIX. 
 
 To y e righte woof S r Edwarde Stradling and S r 
 William Harbart, Knightes, and to other her 
 Ma tes Justices of her Peace in the coin of 
 Glamgan. 1 
 
 Righte woof, Our humble dutyes remembred. 
 For as muche as by the helpe and meanes of our 
 very frendes and countrye neere adjoyninge, 
 knowing the greate griefe and hinderance that 
 we and they do daily fynd and sustaine by reason 
 of the decaye and uter ruine of our pere and 
 harbour, we do purpose (God willinge) to ,pcede 
 in ,pcuringe some helpe in the newe reedifiinge 
 and erectinge thereof; and are the more willinge 
 and redye, for that the righte wo' the justices of 
 the peace of our countrye beinge our very frends 
 and neighboures, who knowe our griefe and de¬ 
 cayed harbour, have taken upon them on our 
 behalf under their firmes to. 
 
 1 Perhaps this imperfect document has reference to the decayed 
 port of Colhow, near Llantwit Major. Sir John Stradling speaks 
 of it in a letter to Camden, 1594, “ Conveni ipse homines graudaevos 
 spectatae probitatrs et fidei, qui navem frumenti onustam ad ostium 
 rivuli Colhue inter duos colies tutissime religatam conspexerant.” 
 
320 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 CCL. 
 
 To ray very lovinge frynd S r Edwarde Stradlinge, 
 Knighte. 
 
 Good S r Edward, Albeyt my acquaintaunce 
 w th you is not verie greate, yet forasmuche as this 
 bearer, my servaunte, ys for some cawses to be 
 an humble suter to you, I coulde doe noe lesse 
 butt recomende him by tlies fewe lynes; prayinge 
 you, if soe be he doe request yo r fryndshipp, to 
 afford him your favo r in suche honest and lawfull 
 requestes as he shall make unto you : wherin I 
 shall nott onely accompte ytt done to one whome 
 I both love and favor, butt thinke my selfe great- 
 lie beholden to you, and be readie to requite yo r 
 courtesye towardes anye of yours yf the like oc¬ 
 casion be offred. And soe, hopinge I shall have 
 cause to geve yow thankes in his behalfe, I recom¬ 
 mend me very hartely to you, and bed yow 
 farewell. Towstocke, 1 the xi 0 * of September. 
 
 Yo r verye assured frind, 
 
 W. Bathon. 2 
 
 1 Tawstock, near Barnstaple, now the seat of Sir Bourchier Wray, 
 Bart, the descendant of the Bourchiers. 
 
 2 William Bourchier succeeded to the earldom of Bath in 1560, 
 on the death of his grandfather; and died in 1623. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 321 
 
 CCLI. 
 
 To the right wor“ S r Edward Stradling, Knight. 
 
 Right worshipful], After my right harty co- 
 mendacons jJmised. I am (at the earnest request 
 of dyvers this bearrer’s frynds) moved to writte 
 unto you in his behalfe for searvice: wherefore, 
 yf yo r worshipp be destitute of a servant, and ac- 
 cepte of him, I will assure you, you shall fynde 
 him quiett, tractable, obedient, and diligent; but 
 for his knowledge in searvice, (by reason he was 
 never trayned nor brought upp therein,) I thinke 
 him very rawe ; howeheit, in respectt of his good 
 nature and inclinacon, noe doubt he will soone 
 attayne thereunto : wherefore, yf his searvice maye 
 pleasure yo r worshipp, I doe bothe wishe and 
 desire you to accepte him, wherein (besyds him 
 selfe) you shall binde a nomber of his poore 
 frends beholding unto you, as knoweth God, to 
 whose tuition I comytt yo r worship. Tethigeston, 
 the xx th of Februarye. 
 
 Yo r lovinge assured cosen and frind, 
 
 Wa. Lougher. 1 
 
 1 Watkin Lougher of Tythegston near Bridgend, Glamorganshire, 
 married Catherine, daughter of Robert Gamage of Coity. He died 
 in the year 1607. Sir John Stradling addressed two epigrams to 
 him The Rev. Robert Knight is the present representative of this 
 family. 
 
322 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 CCLII. 
 
 To the right wor" S 1 Edward Stradling, Knight. 
 
 How subjecte to mutabilitie the slipperie wheele 
 of Fortune standeth, there is none soe meanelie 
 concerted but well knoweth. Y* base borne people 
 have bin exalted to the seate imperiall, and those 
 of greatest parentage descended to plaine beggery? 
 who that readeth histories doth not see? In 
 trouth, Fortune is onlie constant in inconstancye; 
 noe marveil, then, right worsh. yf my selfe have 
 tasted the same sauce as greatest parsonages have 
 bin servid w th all. Noe man's footeing is soe stayed 
 but may fall: “ Hodie mihi, eras tibi,” yow knowe 
 by whome yt was spoken. To justifie my selfe 
 I dare not, the worlde beinge wittnes against me 
 of my misbehaviour : if follies past mighte by 
 repentaunce be revoked, for what is past I am 
 hartely sory ; but, the horse being stollen, yt is 
 too late to shoot the stable doore. And, yf bet¬ 
 ter late then never, my owne rod hath nowe 
 sufficiently beaten me, misery hath taughte me 
 wytt: “ Semel insanivimus omnes.” In that, 
 therefore, what is past remedie is past hope, and 
 yestarday can not be recalled, nothing remayneth 
 but to apeale for succor unto yo r worsh. as to my 
 only sanctuary of refuge. Coinon curtesye, even 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADL1NG. 
 
 323 
 
 amongst meare strangers, should extorte from 
 Christians soe muche compunction as “ condolere 
 cu dolentibus,” and to helpe them that are in 
 distresse, w ,h out any respecte of psons ; muche 
 more then shoulde charitie be extended to such 
 as are of the houshoulde of faith, yssued out of 
 one Vyne, formed of like elementes, children to one 
 Father, ransomed w th one blod, and members of 
 one and the selfe same bodie. God, who freely 
 giveth to all men all things, respeeteth not man’s 
 desertes, but his mercy: noe more, good Sir, 
 doe yow respect not my offences, my name, my 
 actyons; onlye respecte Him in whose name I 
 demaunde yt, who doth accounte that geven unto 
 Him w ch is geven to the poore. I pleade not for 
 my selfe (thoe how my state standeth God know- 
 eth) ; but for those whome I love better then my 
 selfe, collups of my owne flesh, my poore children, 
 who are very shortly like to ronne a moste ruth- 
 full raseyf God will not vouchsalffe to styrre upp 
 yo r mynde mercifully to consider them. For 
 Godes cause, therefore, right worsh. extend yo 
 charitable hande, adopte some of them amonge 
 the nomber of yo r familie, helpe them, comfort 
 them, succor them : let not the children’s teeth 
 (as the pi’ophet sayeth) be set an edge for that 
 the fath.ers have tasted sowre grapes; let not my 
 offences be any p'judice unto them ; laye not my 
 
324 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 actions into their dish ; neither Peter-like crush 
 all the bees, for that one waspe hath stoonge yow. 
 Remember what Augustine sayeth, “ Ideo rogans 
 dives non exauditur in tormentis, quia rogante 
 pauperem non exaudivit in terris.” Vouchesalfe 
 only, I beseech yow, to account my children 
 Christians, and for Christianitye sake relyve 
 them ; and, in soe doing, God, who will render 
 to eCy man according to his works, will noe 
 doubte repay yow tenn hundred foulde, and my 
 selfe and my children duringe life wdlbe contynall 
 intercessors for yo r prosperous estate, w ch God 
 graunt longe to contynew. 
 
 Yo rs to comaund, 
 
 CCL1II. 
 
 To the right worship 11 S r Edward Stradling, 
 Knight. 
 
 Right worshipfull, Yesterdaye in my waye 
 homewardes, passing through S' Tathans, I hard 
 of the arryvinge of a bote of salte at Aberthaw : 
 wheruppon I repay red thether; and ther ques- 
 tioninge w th the m r of the bote, beinge owt of Por- 
 teynon, and the ifichants owt of Aberthawe heere 
 in yo r jurisdiction, I fownde by their owne con- 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 .325 
 
 fession that ther bote was neyther entered before 
 anve custon5 (as I claymeyt ought to be), neyther 
 before anye officer of yo r worshipp (clayminge a 
 priviledge w ,h in yo r 1: in that respect), neyther 
 had they any certificatt from anye customer that 
 the custome therupon due hath bene paid, ney¬ 
 ther anie cockett from anye officer for the trans¬ 
 porting therof. I soe take vt, the defectes and 
 wantes aforesaid being considered, that ther rest- 
 eth nothinge els to make the bote and the salte, 
 or anye other iflchandises therin conteigned, to 
 be forfeyted to the Queenes use. But my sey- 
 sure, wherin I meane to pceed,—w ch extreeme 
 dealing, other then being therto by reason of myne 
 office constrayned, I am loth to shewe to anye 
 neighboure you have; and therefore, least youre 
 worshipp should imputt to mooche hastines in 
 me in the doing therof, or that I had not unto 
 yo r worshipp that regard that of dutye I ought to 
 have, I have byne soe bould as to wrytt these 
 fewe lynes unto you touching the pmisses; wherin 
 I rest, in that apptaineth to lawe and equitye, w th 
 anie resonable and lawfull favo r I maye shewe, to 
 be by yo r worshipp directed, w ch I crave to re- 
 ceave in writtinge upon the backe syde of this 
 my letter w th this bearer. And thus, w ,h my 
 humble dutye premised unto yo r worshipp and 
 to my good ladye, w th leeke thankes for my good 
 
326 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 entertayment, I comytt the same to the tuycon of 
 Allmighty God. In hast, at Boverton 1 as appeth, 
 this eveninge. 
 
 Yo r wo r at comaundem 4 , 
 
 Na. Morgan, costomer. 
 
 CCLIY. 
 
 To the right wor" S r Edward Stradling, Knight. 
 
 Right worshipfull, My absence from London 
 at this present maketh that I can not presentlye 
 accomplishe yo r request; notw u 'standinge, the 
 next terme I will not fayle to cause the indenture 
 to be soughte for, and, yf yt can be fownde, to be 
 sent downe by somme trustye messenger. One 
 statute betwixt yo r father and you ys remembred 
 to be in my keepinge; that, and anye other that I 
 have, w ch may doe you pleasure, and is for you 
 to have, you shall comaunde, as one whom I re- 
 comytte [accompte ?] my good and specyall frende. 
 Thus, w th my hartye comendacons, I comytt you 
 to God. From Southlande, the laste of No¬ 
 vember. 
 
 Yo r frend to her small power, 
 
 Anne Griffyth. 
 
 1 In the parish of Llantwit Major, Glamorganshire. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 327 
 
 CCLV. 
 
 To the right wo r S r Edward Stradling, Knight. 
 
 Good M r Stradlinge, After my due comenda- 
 eons. I have thought good of my self to write 
 unto yewe as towchinge the election of a coroii! 
 upon the death of John Llh ; that like as I trust 
 there is a frendship for e^ betweene my Lord and 
 you, that theire may no mail? of ways be any oc¬ 
 casion mynstred that the same should any ways 
 be perished. That, as concerninge the same elec¬ 
 tion, yow will stay youre determynacon for gev- 
 inge yo r voyces untill my Lorde may somewhat 
 also consider of some w cb I hope shalbe booth able, 
 meete, and sufficient to s?ve the Prince and the 
 countrey, and shalbe resyant in that parte of the 
 shere as is most necessarie in that respect. My 
 Lord, as youe knowe, is a freholder, in comission 
 and custos rotulorum, and myndeth by Goddes 
 sufferaunce to inhabit amongest yow ; and I 
 doubte not, as yow have seene the experience, 
 myndeth good sivice, quietnes, and well meaninge 
 to the countrey ; therefore there is some cause that 
 bis consent and minde shuld be received in that 
 behalfe. I am so bold, therfore, (who of mine 
 parte from the begininge have ev* wished the 
 quietnes of yo r countrey, and goodwill to be 
 
328 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 betwene my L. and you alwaye,) to put yow in 
 remembraunce so to consider of it as no sparke 
 of unkindnes may breake oute in the matter; 
 and I hope my Lorde will nomynate suche choice 
 of psons as yow nor any man shall have cause to 
 myslike of. I pray yow alsoe, good M r Strad- 
 linge, to impart w th S r Edward Mansell youre 
 owne considerations in that behalf; unto whome 
 I wold also have writen if my hast away had 
 suffered me. And thus I ende, wishinge helth, 
 \t th increce of worshippe. From Cardiffe, this 
 xxvi th of September. 
 
 Yo rs assured, 
 
 Ro. Grove. 1 
 
 CCLVI. 
 
 To the right worship 11 and his very frinde, S r 
 Edward Stradlinge, Knight. 
 
 After dewe comendacons. I am ernestely re¬ 
 quested bv my neighboure, this berere, Harry 
 Haysam, to writt my Ires of comendacon unto 
 you in his behalf; whoe informeth me that he is 
 not well and faithfully delt with by one Richard 
 Morgan of Lantrissent, unto whom he sayeth he 
 
 1 An officer of Henry Earl of Pembroke. Vide his Lordship’s 
 letter to Sir E. Stradling, 22nd Nov. 1578. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 329 
 
 delivered in readie money the sdme of one hun¬ 
 dred and twenty poundes to be used in buyenge 
 cattell in suche sorte as he shall himself declare 
 unto yow ; and nowe, in demaundinge the same, 
 the said Morgan denieth the debte, so that this 
 berer, beinge in that countrey a stranger, is like 
 to receve greate hindraunce unlesse he may finde 
 some good helpe to furthere him in his right. I 
 shall, therfor, most hartely desire yow that yow 
 will, the rather for my sake, sende for the said 
 Morga to you, and to heere the matter betwine 
 this berere and him ; and to do that good to this 
 berere that you may helpe him to such money 
 as is dewe to him. It seemeth to me by his talke 
 that one of yo r ten a ntes of Sully knowelh the 
 delivery of the money : ife it may therefore please 
 you to sende for such witnesses as this berer can 
 name, and so to examine the matter to some good 
 ende, you shall not only do a dead of charity, but 
 shall also binde me to do what I may for any 
 your frindes whatsoe^ you shall comaunde me; 
 and so knoweth the Almighty, who sende you 
 longe life. At Donhed 1 my [house], this xxix ,h of 
 July. 
 
 Yo rs ever assured, 
 
 R. Grove. 
 
 1 In Wiltshire. 
 
330 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 CCLVII. 
 
 To the right wo? S r Edwarde Stradling, Knight, 
 give these. 
 
 Right worshipfull, I may be thought over 
 boulde that, uppon small acquaintaunce and lesse 
 desartes, I should adventure to interrupt yo r wor- 
 shipp w ,h the perusinge of my symple papers; yet, 
 nevertheles, an assured perswasion (springinge 
 from the laudable reporte w ch is geven your wor- 
 shippe by all sortes in generall) of yo r worship’s 
 curtesye, w ch carfullie respecteth the causes of 
 poore scholers and universitye men, did inboulden 
 me to addresse this petytyon unto yo r worshipp, 
 hopinge that vow will vouchesafe to peruse yt 
 paciently, and to consyder of yt charitably. Not 
 w th standing that synce my first repayre to Ox- 
 fourde I have imployed what paynes I coulde to 
 purchase knoweledge, therby to make my selfe 
 the more worthy of preferm 1 , and have two yeres 
 past entred into the ministerie, that soe I might 
 be capable of some eclesiasticall lyvinge ; yet the 
 worlde hath showen yt selfe soe ungratefull to¬ 
 wards me, and soe backewarde in requitinge the 
 greate charge w ch I have byn att for the obtayn- 
 inge of lerninge, that never yet was I in any 
 possibilitye of having anye resonable staye ; but 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 331 
 
 have byn enforced, to my great griefe, to relye 
 and depende altogether on the charity of my 
 frindes. But of late a frind of myne, a fellowe 
 of New Colledge in Oxen, hath laboured soe for 
 me, that (as he sayeth in his Ire w ch lately I re- 
 ceaved) the warden of the house and all the fel- 
 lowes are contented to admytt me for one of their 
 chaplens: but covctousnes raignes soe generallye 
 (as yo r worshippe knowes) amongst men at this 
 day, that the doore w ch leades men to any prefer¬ 
 ment, be yt never soe meane, can not be opened 
 w th out the sylver or goulden key ; yea, that kaye 
 w ch unlocketh the doore into the foresayd chaplen- 
 shipp must be soe ponderous, that, yf yt waye not 
 tenne poundes in silver, I shall have noe entraunce 
 thither ; but my trust is soe surely grounded on 
 Godes pvydence, that I hope He will move the 
 good myndes of worshipfull gentlemen to unite 
 ther helps to worke a scholer’s preferm*. I am 
 most humbly to beseeche your worship’s fur- 
 theraunce herin, and to afford me the comfortable 
 fruyte of youre charitie ; and soe miche the rather 
 for that vertue shall therby be advanced, lerninge 
 encreased, the churche of God in tyme better 
 edified, my countrey’s expectation satisfied, and the 
 glory of God celebrated : and what soever yo r wof 
 shall bestowe on me I assure you faithfully to 
 recorde yt in most firme remembraunce, and in 
 
332 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 token of thankfullnes I shall not cease to ac¬ 
 knowledge yo r worshipp for one of the chiefest 
 authors of my wellfare. Thus, prayinge yo r wor¬ 
 ship’s pardon for my bouldnes, I comytte yo r 
 worshipp to the tuytion of thalmighty. 3° Maii. 
 
 Yo r wo r to commaunde, 
 
 Wyleyam Flemmynge . 1 
 
 CCLVIII. 
 
 To the right worshipfull S r Edward Stradling, 
 Knight. 
 
 My duty, right worshipfull, humbly mynded. 
 Wher, upon the staye made of my poore stock of 
 brasill, yt pleased your goodnes to grante the 
 same shoold be redelyvered upon M 1 Harbart’s 
 dischardge (whych herew th all is sent), I am humbly 
 to crave yo r Ires to M r Williams by this bearer 
 for delyvery therof; and, as most bound to youre 
 curtesye therin, I shalbe always redye by anye 
 service I may to shewe my thankefullnes toward 
 yo r worshipp or anye of yo rs . Through a litle 
 troble abowt possess of a pasture, I have bene 
 forced to remayne in Glouc sheere eversythens; 
 
 1 The name of “Sir William Flemming, a priest,” occurs in the 
 pedigree of the Flemmings of Flemingston, Glamorganshire, in 
 Elizabeth’s reign. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 333 
 
 and am p’sently upon my returne to wayt on the 
 Ladye Barkley, syster to M rs Heneadge my m ris , 
 (wife to S r John Barkley of Beverston,) to Lon¬ 
 don, the rather to be excused for my longe ab¬ 
 sence, and for my farther favo r ; not doubting to 
 obteine my m r to thanke yow for yo r good doinges 
 towarde me, that most humbly doe rest at yo r 
 comawnd assurid. Cardyff, the xxiiii th of Maye. 
 
 VVm. Wykes. 1 
 
 CCLIX. 
 
 To the right worship 11 my verie good frinde S r 
 Edward Stradlinge, Knight, at Combehay. 2 
 
 Right worship 11 , My dutie and harty comenda- 
 cons premised to yow and my veri good ladie, with 
 like thankes [for] your many curtesee. I am sorie 
 that you are enforced to depart so sone, whose 
 good neighborhoode I accompte as the best parte 
 of my beinge here. I have of late byn sum while 
 
 1 There was a family of this name at Alorton, Herefordshire ; but 
 whether of Morton near Leominster, or Morton Jeffries near Brom¬ 
 yard, is uncertain. Walter Wykes, of that family, was living in 
 1569. 
 
 2 Combe Hay, near Bath. This property continued in the Strad- 
 ling family till the reign of Charles the First, when it devolved to 
 Sir Lewis Dyve, a royalist, who, in conjunction with the Earl of 
 St. Albans, had become security for the Sir Edward Stradling of 
 that day.—Cent. Mag. 1829, part ii. p. 321. 
 
334 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 at Bristoll, or elles had seane you oft erre this ; 
 wishinge I were as nere yo r neighbor where you 
 continew, as I am nowe wheare I sojorne. I have 
 sent you yo r booke againe, youres befor at co- 
 maundement, nowe in possession ; wishinge I had 
 a far better testimony of my unfained affection 
 towardes you, that am and wilbe readie at all 
 times hereafter, upon any oportunity, in a farr 
 greater matter to confirme the same if it please 
 you to prove it. And thus, wishinge you of 
 prosperitie a jorney as I desir a short retourne, I 
 comitt you, with your good ladie and all youres, 
 to God. Bath, y e 8 of December. 
 
 Yo r wo r assured to comaund, 
 
 Jo. Sprint. 1 
 
 CCLX. 
 
 To the r. wor. S r Edward Stradlinge, Knight. 
 
 Right worship 11 , My most harty comendacon 
 remem bred to you and my good ladie, with 
 thankes for my good cheare. I have sent yow 
 
 1 John Sprint of Christchurch, Oxford, 1574. He was Pre¬ 
 bendary of Winchester and Canon of Salisbury, a “ person famed 
 as an excellent preacher.” He was made Dean of Bristol in 1580 ; 
 in which city, or near to it, he was born. He died Feb. 1589.— 
 Wood’s Athens Oxon. by Bliss, vol. ii. p. 197. [Fasti.] 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADL1NG. 
 
 335 
 
 Guiccardin, 1 a story worth the readinge; w ch you 
 may use at yo r pleasure, as whatsoev 1 1 have, that 
 is and ev 5 shalbe at yo r eomaundement. God 
 blesse you and all yo rs . Wimsleighe, the . . . . 
 of October. Yo r wo r to comaund, 
 
 Jo. Sprint. 
 
 CCLXI. 
 
 To the r. wor. S r Edwarde Stradlinge, Knighte. 
 
 Good S r Edwarde, You maye thinke that I 
 have forgotten you, but in truthe I have remem- 
 bred you, althoughe I cannott effect yo r desire, 
 as I woulde; nether dyd I thinke it beste to 
 deliver the cause thereof but by suche a mes¬ 
 senger as this ys, who I knowe to be yours. 
 And to him I praye you geve credett, and be¬ 
 lieve that you shall never want my goodwill in 
 anie matter yf it maye lye in me to steede you. 
 Even soe, right hartely comendinge me unto 
 you and my good ladye yo r wife. At Glocester, 
 the firste of June. 
 
 Yo rs right assured, 
 
 Thomas Throicm?ton . 2 
 
 1 Francis and Lewis Guicciardini were Italian writers of note at 
 this period. 
 
 2 Sir Henry Sydney, in a letter to his son, Robert Earl of Leicester, 
 8th August 1568, speaking of his first visit to Kenilworth Castle, 
 
336 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 CCLXII. 
 
 To the righte worshipfull S r Edwarde Stradling, 
 Knight. 
 
 S r , This bearer, yo r kynseman, I have uppon 
 yo r tres entertayned to pceed in this actyon, and 
 doe hope yt shall turne to -his greate good. 
 The comendacons yow geve in his behalfe shall 
 cause me the better to regarde him, and to take 
 that care that shalbe meete for a man of his call- 
 inge. And soe, w th right hartye comendacons, 
 doe byd you farewell. Plymouth, this viii th of 
 August. 
 
 Yo r very loving frind, 
 
 Fra. Drake . 1 
 
 says, “ Sir Giles Poole and Thomas Throgmorton of Gloucester¬ 
 shire came together with me.”—Sydney Papers, i. p. 34. Thomas 
 Throgmorton was leader of the Irish levies from Gloucestershire, 
 Worcestershire, and Herefordshire in 1577. He was Sheriff for 
 the county in the 6th Ph. and Mary, and died in 1586. His son 
 Sir Thomas was Sheriff for Gloucestershire in the 30th and 43rd 
 of Eliz. and died 1607. He married, first, Elizabeth daughter of Sir 
 Richard Berkeley of Stoke ; and, secondly, a daughter of Sir Ed¬ 
 ward Rogers, Knight.—Collins’ Baronetage, i. 296, edit. 1720. 
 
 1 Francis Drake was born near Tavistock in Devon, in 1545. 
 He went to sea at the age of eighteen. Soon after his return to 
 England in 1572, he was introduced by Lord Chancellor Hatton to 
 Elizabeth. In 1577 he sailed with a fleet of five small vessels from 
 England on a voyage of discovery in the South Seas ; and, on the 
 29th of May 1573, passed through the Straits of Magellan, having 
 then only his own ship, being the first Englishman that had ever 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 337 
 
 CCLXIII. 
 
 To S r Edward Stradling geve this in tyme con¬ 
 venient. 
 
 Right worshipfull, Yf tyme, enimye to my 
 desyre, had not bene one cause of lett, I would 
 have written to yo r wof more at lardg: but this 
 shalbe to certifye you that I am heere, the Earle 
 of Toumnt in Barry ; and my good will is suche 
 towardes you, for the good reporte that I heere of 
 you, that above all the rest that I knowe I would 
 gladly be accquaynted w th you, yf you will so 
 accept yt; and so moche the rather, because that 
 you being of the borders of Wales, and I the said 
 Earle of Toumont of the borders of Irlande, I 
 doe not doubt but we should talke more at lardg, 
 yf yt be our fortune to meett. I have byne att 
 Bristol! these iii weekes last past, after cominge 
 from theQueenes Ma tle and her Counsayle: in the 
 
 a ttempted the enterprise. Having sailed round the globe, he re¬ 
 turned to Plymouth, Nov. 3, 1580, after an absence of two years 
 and ten months. He continued in active employment for the 
 remainder of his life, and greatly distinguished himself in the war 
 with Spain. He died Jan. 28, 1596, of the bloody flux on board 
 his ship, offNombre de Dios in the West Indies, lamented by the 
 whole nation. He married Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of Sir 
 Geo. Sydenham, by whom he had no issue. Lady Drake after¬ 
 wards married William Courtenay of Powderham Castle, Devon.— 
 Chalmers’ Bio. Diet. vol. xii. 305. 
 
 Q 
 
338 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 meane tyme that I staye heere for wynde, yf I 
 could learne the tyme convenient, I would be 
 glad to speake w th you. Leavinge off to troble 
 yo r wor any more w th my letter, I comitt yow to 
 God. Barry, 1 the xxv th daye of November. 
 
 Toumont . 2 
 
 CCLX1V. 
 
 To the right wo r S r Edward Stradlinge, Knight. 
 
 S 1 Edwarde Stradlinge, After most hartie co- 
 mendations unto yow. I am to crave yo r frende- 
 shipp, thoughe but a strandger unto you ; and I 
 doubte not but, the matter beinge reasonable, you 
 
 will use me w th that curtesye.for having 
 
 some occasion to come into thies ptes, and. 
 
 .for a tassell ientell I loste in. 
 
 .winter last past. I am let to under¬ 
 stand . 
 
 1 Barry, a small harbour on the coast of Glamorganshire, a few 
 miles west of Cardiff. 
 
 3 Probably Connor O’Brien, third Earl of Thomond, son of 
 Donough Earl of Thomond, by Helen daughter of Pierce Butler 
 Earl of Ormond.—Archdall’s Irish Peerage, vol. ii. p. 30. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 339 
 
 CCLXV. 
 
 To the right wor his very good cosen S r Edward 
 Stradling, Knight. 
 
 After my dutifull comendacons phnised unto 
 you, right worship 11 cozin, w th hartye thankes for 
 the manifould curtesyes w ch I have receavid at 
 your hands in the tyme of your worshipfull 
 father : and since hit hath not bene my chaunce 
 to gratifye as yet you in any respect, wherby to 
 woorke some recompence of extended curtesies : 
 but yf yt laye w th your pleasure to comaunde, 
 and in my power to pforme any thinge in our 
 quarters, you should fynd me not onlye readye 
 and willinge therunto, but allso thankefull for 
 occasion offred to showe my good mynde and 
 gratefull meaninge. The cause of my writtinge 
 at this tyme is in behalf of a sonne of myne, 
 whom, because I founde not very capable of 
 learninge, and therefore more enclyned to some 
 other course of life, I brought upp to London 
 to the entent to employ him in some good service 
 or other. I thought upon sundry of my ould 
 frendes in the Courte and els wheare ; but, resort¬ 
 ing to my good ladye and mistres the Duches of 
 Somerset, 1 I imparted my suite to my gracious 
 
 1 Ann, widow of Edward Duke of Somerset, and daughter of Sir 
 Edward Stanhope of Sudbury in Suffolk. She afterwards married 
 
 Q 2 
 
340 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE OF 
 
 cosen your good syster, and wished rather then 
 p'sumed to p>ferr him to yo r worshipp’s service; 
 but she, of her great kindnes towardes me and 
 confidence in you, as I found, embouldened me in 
 this attempt, w ch I psentlye pursue, assuring me 
 that, as I found you alwayes a most loving cosen, 
 soe my sonne should have of you a good m r . My 
 request therefore is, by mediation of my good 
 cosen yo r syster, that hit may please you to ac¬ 
 cept him as yo r poore servantt; who, althoughe 
 he can not as yet dischardge his dutye in service 
 towardes you in suche exquisytt sorte as were 
 expedyent a good serving man should doe (be¬ 
 cause of his small experience and homelye bring- 
 inge upp), yet I dare so farr psume upon his 
 nature and myne owne tryall that you shall find 
 him humble, tractable, and obedient at all tymes. 
 I have, uppon hope of yo r assent to this my 
 request, geven him in chardge to be serviceable 
 and conformeable to yo r comaundementes in all 
 respectes; yf he doe otherwise, he maye fullie 
 pswade him selfe of the losse of me his naturall 
 father. I hope you will beare w th his rudenes at 
 firste, upon hope of amendement in further tyme; 
 considering that noe desertt of his, but a speciall 
 
 Francis Newdigate, Esq. and died April 16, 1587. She was 
 buried in Westminster Abbey. Her will devises immense wealth, 
 and bears date July 14, 1586.—Nichols’ Progresses, ii. p. 525. 
 
SIR EDWARD STRADLING. 
 
 341 
 
 desyre of myne to have him trayned in yo r service, 
 moveth me therunto. I have left him heare in 
 London after my depture, to attend upon your 
 syster homewardes, and soe, by her furtheraunce 
 and helpe, to be admitted to your worshipp’s ser- 
 vyce. And thus, craving pardon for my bould 
 request, (not having satisfyed or dischardged any 
 one of those bondes of dutie w ch I doe owe you,) 
 and desyringe you most hartely to use me in any 
 thinge my poore habilitye can pleasure you, I 
 comytt you to the mightie and mercifull pitection 
 of our Lord. Dated at London, in hast, the xix th 
 daye of Maye. 
 
 Yo r bownden cosen to comaund during lief, 
 
 Wyllyam Lewys. 1 
 
 1 Probably William Lewis, brother to Thomas Lewis, Esq. of 
 the Van. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 I. 
 
 To the right worshipfull S r Thomas Stradling, 1 
 Knight, etc. 
 
 I wolde gladely excuse the sygnifyinge of soe 
 dolefull newes as the death of your daughter, 2 
 w ch geveth me as much paine to writte yt as you 
 to heare yt; yf I thought yt not better, since 
 knowen yt must be, ye understoode yt by me who 
 am partaker of your greifes, then by ane other 
 that ys noe part therto; for that in misery com¬ 
 pany doth asswage payne, as in fellicity yt aug¬ 
 mented! pleasure. And although I take upon me 
 to comfort you and the rest of her frends, I knowe 
 
 1 Vide Introduction. 
 
 2 Damasyn, second daughter of Sir Thomas Stradling, by Ca¬ 
 therine his wife. Vide Sir John Stradling’s “ Epigrammata,” lib. i. 
 p. 25. “ Tamasinae Stradlingae, prudenti & ingeniosissimae puellae, 
 olim Illustriss. Ducissae Feriensi a manibus, sepultae Cafrae in 
 Boetica Hisp.” 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 343 
 
 none that hath greater neede of comfort then my 
 selfe ; for yf you have lost a daughter by nature, 
 w ch fortune bringeth, I have lost one by election, 
 w ch of all others is the straightest bonde of frend- 
 shipp. Yf you did hope in tyme to come to re- 
 ceave comfort of her, I hoped noe lesse ; and for 
 vii yeres past my joyes have bene soe greate in 
 her, as I knovve not wheather in any earthly 
 thinge I have taken the like pleasure. For in her 
 tyme I knewenot what trobles ment; all my cares, 
 all my busines, all my lusts were discharged upon 
 her backe; she honored me like her mother, she 
 loved me as a syster, and served me w ,h such ficle- 
 litye and paynes as not woman lyvinge, I am suer, 
 could vaut them selves of soe wise, noble, ver- 
 tuous, lovynge, carefull, nor able a serv a nt as I. 
 Therefore, sens all thes desertes have wrought in 
 me the same operatyon that nature hath wrought 
 in you, and that, accountinge the present wante, 
 myne doth farre excede yours, I hope in the 
 handyworke of God ye will shewe yo r selfe noe 
 weaker then a woman, but prayse God w ,h me, 
 that, sens every bodye is mortall, and soone or 
 late we must dye, yt pleased Him to call her in 
 suche tyme as she prepared her soole well to 
 heaven, and in the worlde she left suche creditt 
 and estimation of her vertues as noe good man 
 
344 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 ther was that dyd not lament and wepe her 
 death. Synce that yt pleased God by her shorte 
 lyfe to take away the meanes of recompensinge 
 her soe greate deserts, me thinketh I am bounde 
 to shewe in them whome I knewe to be most 
 dearest w th unto her, those tokens of good will w ch 
 I would to God her longer life would have suf¬ 
 fered me to shewe in her. And for that I knewe 
 her syster Wentlen 1 to be the dearest unto her of 
 all her systers, and of whome she semed allwayes 
 to have particuler care above all others, my parte 
 ys to comend her unto you above all others ; de¬ 
 syringe you, wheras there wanteth alreadye noe 
 obligacyon, neither of nature nor vertus, for yow 
 to doe for her, from hence forwarde yt may be 
 augmented and dobled in such sorte as therby 
 may appeare the affection ye bore to your other 
 daughter, and the desyer ye have to doe me plea¬ 
 sure. I my selfe am separed into suche a corner 
 of the worlde, as by solicitinge her frendes in her 
 
 cause I am able to stande her in noe steede; vfe 
 
 •/ 
 
 my beatter fortune from hence forwarde bringe 
 me nearer my contrey, I will then travaile in 
 myne owne parson to excuse that troble w ch I 
 nowe am enforced to put my frendes unto. Yf 
 heare or any wheare els I am able to pleasure 
 
 Vide p. 221. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 345 
 
 you or any frend of yours, good M r Stradlinge, 
 thinke y* I am as readye to doe yt, as for any 
 man that I profes most frendshipp unto. God 
 bles you and all your children, and prosper 
 you as I desyer. From Cafra, 1 the xxv th of May 
 
 1567. 
 
 Yo r most assured frind. 
 
 The Contes op Feria. 2 
 
 II. 
 
 To the right worshipfull S r Thomas Stradling, 
 Knight, thes be delyvered. 
 
 Gentle S r Thomas, Havinge had sue fewe occa¬ 
 sions to writte unto you, I am hardly sory that 
 thes yll newes should geve me the first, w'" 1 ’ are to 
 bringe you advertysement that your deare and 
 good daughter M res Damascene hath by Godes 
 callinge chainged this life for a better, as by my 
 Lady Countesses Ires cominge herew th you shall at 
 more lengthe perceave. To your wisdome and 
 vertue all exhortations of well takinge this mat¬ 
 ter were superfluouse, of whose examples and 
 doinges all suche as I am may learne to speake to 
 our selves. In a better tyme for her selfe, and in 
 
 2 Vide p. 1, note 1 
 
 Q 5 
 
 1 In Spain. 
 
346 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 a worse tyme for her mistresse and company, she 
 could never have goone in ; for goone from them 
 she ys, to whome she was in dede (and not un- 
 worthely) a very mother, and governour, w ch 
 partes she did soe well parforme, that this whole 
 province testifyeth yt to her endlesse honour and 
 good fame. My Lady here (I assure you) by all 
 apparances would have byne as litle grieved w ,h 
 the lack of her only sonne; for she was to her an 
 eye, an eare, a tong, an hande, and all her breath 
 and spirite almost, as w ,h out whome nowe here ys 
 in effect noe life to be seene, in regymet I meane, 
 besydes houshold affayres and forrayne travelles, 
 all w ch restid in her head and hand : w th the great 
 griefe of all lefte behinde her ys she therefore 
 goone, and w th her owne imortall honour. To- 
 wardes God such was her ende, which you most 
 regarde I am suer, as her rare vertuouse life de¬ 
 served. A good life can never end yll. Yfmy 
 laysure were more (vv ch is here subjecte to pestes 1 
 pleasures) I wold saye more, but to you yt nedyth 
 not: God hath already so taught you, that you 
 may teach all almost. This tyme and matter 
 therefore requireth rather thankes, w th comfort 
 and joye, than any payne, grutch, or sorrowe. 
 And soe w th thes fewe [lines] I comende me right 
 
 1 Sic in orig. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 347 
 
 hartyly unto you, and to yo r good devotions, in 
 w th I desyre to be remembred. At Cafra, the 
 xxvi th of May 1567. 
 
 Yo r owne ever assured to my litle power, 
 
 J. F. 1 
 
 1 The Editor has not been able to discover the name of the 
 writer. 
 
ADDENDA ET CORRIGENDA. 
 
 Page 12, line 4 of not e,for “ Deputy,” read “ Lord Deputy.” 
 
 19, note ', for “ Sir Thomas Gamage, Knight,” read 
 “ John Gamage, Esq.” 
 
 49, line 12, for “ generallie,” read “ [not] generallie.” 
 
 66, note *, add “ The MS. has been published by Sir 
 Thomas Phillipps, Baronet. Vide p. 168, note 2 .” 
 
 145, note ', omit “ Sir Edward’s descendant.” 
 
 150, note ', for “translation,” read “edition”— for 
 “ Puleston,” read “ Gruffyth.” 
 
 194, expunge note *, and read “ Probably George Carew, 
 Dean of Exeter and afterwards Dean of Windsor, who 
 died in 1583 ; or his son, Sir George Carew, afterwards 
 created Earl of Totnes, born in 1555, died in 1629. 
 Stowgurse is perhaps Stoke Courcy, Somersetshire.” 
 
 204, note *, add “ Sir W. Morgan died without issue.” 
 
 216, line 6, “ O Lantighe ” is “ Ollantigh in Kent, then 
 the property of Sir Thomas Kempe, Knight.” 
 
 227, note, for “Edward Kemeys,” read “ David Kemeys.” 
 
 232, line 5, “ John Hawkes.” “ Vide p. 53.” 
 
 Introduction, p. xii. add “ After this work had been printed, 
 the Editor met with a detailed account of a suit in the 
 Court of Wards and Liveries, A.D. 1584, against Sir E. 
 Stradling for seizing an heiress and her lands; but 
 ‘ hardly,’ according to Strype, who adds that he was 
 ‘innocent.’ It is probable that Lord Burleigh was 
 influenced by the Crofts, or some other aspirant to the 
 hand of Barbara Gamage.”— Strype’s Annals of the 
 Church, vol. iii. p. 275. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Aberthaw, 94. 122. 324. 
 Ansties, R. Pyperal, 169. 
 Anthonio, Don, King of Por¬ 
 tugal, 251. 
 
 Arnold, Margaret, 200. 
 Arnold, my Lady, 16. 
 
 Arnold, Sir Nicholas, 199. 
 Arundel, Sir John, of Tal- 
 verne, 231. 
 
 Aubrey, Dr. 26. 
 
 Aubrey, Ed. 312. 
 
 Aubrey, Wm. 312. 
 
 Awston, or Alsyston, 217. 220. 
 
 Babington, Bp. of LlandafF, 
 278—283. 
 
 Bagge, Ellis, 255. 
 
 Barker, John, 18. 
 
 Barnelmes, 25. 
 
 Barnstable, 241. 251. 287. 
 Barny, 114. 123. 128. 337. 
 Baskervile, Mr. W. of Pon- 
 trilos, 197. 
 
 Bassett, Sir Arthur, 236—238. 
 Bassett of Beaupr6, 15. 
 Bassett, John, Thos. Richard, 
 Ed. Will. Thomas Christo¬ 
 pher, 74. 
 
 Bassett, my cousin, 75. 
 
 Bath (the), 136.160. 
 
 Bath, the Earl of, 242. 320. 
 Battell, 142. 
 
 Bawdripp, Mr. 110. 112. 
 Baynardes Castle, 83. 
 Beauchamp, Rhutherth, 301. 
 Becham (Beauchamp),311. 
 Beard, John, of Selworthy, 
 305. 
 
 Bedwelty, 286. 
 
 Beer, a pirate, 78. 
 
 Berkeley, my Lady, 333. 
 Berkeley, Sir John, 333. 
 Berthyly (Bertholly), 86. 
 Blethyn, Bp. of Llandaff, 90. 
 Bletso, 92, &cc. 
 
 Blounte, Anne, 247, 249. 
 Blunte, Mrs. 244, 245. 
 Bolston, Pembrokeshire, 290. 
 Boverton, 325. 
 
 Bowen, Philip, 58—62. 
 Brecknock, 17.314. 
 
 Breinton, John, 201. 
 
 Bristol, 18. 
 
 Bromley, Sir G. 244. 
 
 Brydges, Mr. Wm. 55. 
 Buckhurst, Lord, 52—54. 
 Builth, 284. 
 
 Butler, 47. 
 
350 
 
 INDEX 
 
 Burghley, Cecil Lord, 1. 313. 
 Burton, 94. 
 
 Button, Miles, 168. 
 
 Button, Mr. 243. 
 
 C. Katherine, 224. 
 
 Cadlegh, Devonshire, 260. 
 Cafra, 346. 348. 
 
 Canford, Dorsetshire, 311. 
 Cardiff, 67. 
 
 Cardiff Bridge, 58. 70. 
 
 Cardiff Castle, 73. 
 
 Cardigan, 150. 
 
 Carew of Wood, Charles, 193. 
 Carew, George, 194. 
 
 Carew, Pembrokeshire, 48.50. 
 Carmarthen, 35. 
 
 Came, Mr. Wm. 47. 65. 96. 
 139. 141. 146. 199. 244. 
 246. 248. 275. 311. 
 Carnseweof Bokelly.Wm. 273. 
 Cavell, Andrew, 253. 
 
 Cavell, Dorothy, 254. 
 Champernowne, Sir A. 188. 
 Champernowne, Sir Philip, 22. 
 Chard, 184. 
 
 Charleton (De), Sir John, 
 288. 
 
 Chichester, Sir John, 252. 
 Clifton, 125. 
 
 Clive, Hon. Robt. 18. 
 
 Cloford, 243. 
 
 Coity, or Coyty Castle, 6. 14, 
 15.190. 
 
 Colhow, 319. 
 
 Collene, a mariner, 219. 
 Combe Hay, 333. 
 
 Comb Sydenham, 306. 
 
 Corbett, Sir A. 201. 
 
 Corbett, Walter, 202. 
 
 Corwg, a family near Cow- 
 bridge, 132. 
 
 Cotheleston, 255. 
 
 Cotton, Robt. 113—130. 
 Courtney, Richard, 254. 
 Courtney, Sir Wm. 260. 
 Cowbridge, 46. 146. 160. 
 Cowche, 59. 
 
 Cowdray, 141. 
 
 Crofte, Sir James, Comptroller 
 of the Household, 8. 30. 35. 
 40. 41. 
 
 Crofte, Joyce, 39. 
 
 Crofte, Sir Herbert, 30. 41. 
 43, 44. 
 
 Crofte in Herefordshire, 2.35. 
 Croftes, Mr. 30. 
 
 Crowther, Mr. John, 228. 
 
 Dartington, 189. 
 
 Dale, Sir Valentine, 269. 271. 
 David, Matthew, 276. 
 
 David, Morgan, 277. 
 
 Davy, Lewis, 121, 122. 
 
 Davy, Robt. 276. 
 
 Davys, (John David Rees,) 
 315. 
 
 Denys, G. 237. 
 
 Donhed, 329. 
 
 Dormer, Sir Wm. 1. 125. 
 Downeton, 64. 
 
 Drake, Sir Francis, 336. 
 
 Dyar, Sir John, 106. 
 
 Dyxton, 179. 
 
 East Orchard, 123. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 351 
 
 Elizabeth, the Queen, 3. 38. 
 
 63. 65. 73. 124. 203. &c. 
 Ely-ooze, near Cardiff, 252. 
 287. 
 
 Emlyn, 163. 
 
 Essex, my Lord of, 314. 317. 
 Estcourt, Thos. 297. 
 
 Ethrope, 2. 125. 
 
 Evans, John, 14. 
 
 Evans, Wm. 261. 
 
 Evans (ap), Robert, Baily, 
 295. 
 
 Ewenny, 145. 
 
 F. J. 348. 
 
 Fabian, Mr. 294. 
 
 Feria, the Duchess of, 1. 345. 
 Fetter Lane, 127. 
 
 Fleetwood, Wm. 275. 
 
 Fleming, Mr. 280. 
 
 Fleming, Sir W. 332. 
 
 Fonmon, 94. 128. 
 
 Gage, Edward, 207. 
 
 Gage, Eliz. 220. 
 
 Gage, John, 217—223. 
 Gamage, Barbara, Countess of 
 Leicester, 4, 5. 9. 29. 39. 
 41. 43. 163. 177. 
 
 Gamage, John, 5. 
 
 Gamage, Joice, 2. 39. 
 Gamage, Margt. 4. 
 
 Gamage, Mr. 27. 38. 40. 45. 
 190. 
 
 Games, Wm. 195. 
 
 Gascoigne, 82. 
 
 Gelligaer, 302. 
 
 Gerrard, Mr. 232. 
 
 Gibbon, Thomas, 129. 
 Gilbert, Sir Humphrey, 23. 
 156. 
 
 Glinne of Shropshire, 8. 
 Gloucester, 197. 
 
 Graye, Sir John, 288. 
 Grenewich, 11. 32. 312. 
 Grenville, Sir R. 180. 
 
 Griffith, Anne, 321. 
 
 Griffith, Hugh, 126. 
 
 Griffith, William, 52. 192. 
 Grove, Robt. 71. 328, 329. 
 Guicciardini, 335. 
 
 Gwyn, 8. 
 
 Gwyn, Hopkin, 126. 
 
 Gwyn, Robt. 185. 
 
 Gybbon, John, 225. 
 
 Gyles, Mr. Robt. 138. 221. 
 
 Halfacre, Edward, 302—304. 
 Harris, John, 287. 
 
 Ilarword, ("Hereford,) 153. 
 Hasylburgh, 161. 
 
 Hawker, Mr. 125. 
 
 Hawkes, John, 53. 232. 
 Hawkins, 243. 
 
 Hawkins, Mr. 294. 
 
 Hawkins, Hugh, 115. 
 Hawkins, Catherine, 112. 
 Hawley, Gabriel, 32. 
 
 Haysam, Hariy, 328. 
 Hayward, Alderman, 8. 
 Ileanton, 236. 
 
 Heneage, Mr. 333. 
 
 Hensley, Robt. 305. 
 
 Herbert, Sir George, lo. 
 Herbert, the Lady, 215. 
 Herbert, Nicholas, 73. 144. 
 
352 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Herbert, Mr. 332. 
 
 Herbert, SirWilliam, of Swan¬ 
 sea, 15. 27. 39. 73. 99.117. 
 120. 146. 230. 
 
 Herbert, Sir William, of St. 
 
 Julian’s, 39. 89. 
 
 Hereford, 181. 308. 
 
 Hewett, Wm. 230. 
 
 Hobson, James, 142. 
 
 Hook, 251. 
 
 Hopkin, 126. 
 
 Horner, Sir John, 125. 243. 
 Howard, Charles, Lord How¬ 
 ard of Effingham, 4. 39. 
 Hunsdon, my Lord, 27. 274. 
 Huntworthie, 175. 
 
 Hygford, John, 179. 
 Hyneham, 199. 
 
 Jacob of Somerset, 250. 
 
 Jane, John, 171. 
 
 Jenkin, 214. 
 
 Jevan (ap), Thos. 76. 
 llfracomb, 251. 
 
 John, Jenkin, 150. 152. 
 
 John, Morgan, 166. 
 
 Johnes, Sir Henry, 163. 
 Johnes, Sir Thomas, 163. 
 Johnes, Wa. 310. 
 
 John’s, 16. 
 
 Johns, Ed. 74. 
 
 Jones, Thomas, Esq. 299. 
 Jones, Wm. 55. 
 
 Joyes Land, 47. 
 
 Ireland, 13. 
 
 Justyn, 168. 
 
 Kame, Mr.; see Came. 
 
 Kemeys, John, 146. 
 
 Kemeys of Cefn Mably, 227. 
 Kemeys,William Morgan, 112, 
 113. 
 
 Kempe, Anthony, 217. 
 
 Kempe, John, 215. 
 
 Kempe, Sir Thos. 216. 
 
 Knell, 160. 
 
 Kyveiliog, Owen, 288. 
 
 Lancadle, 128. 
 
 Lancarvan, 261. 
 
 Landaphe, 261 ; see Llandaff. 
 Landoughe, 247. 
 
 Land’s End, 286. 
 
 Langan, 250. 
 
 Lantony, 200. 
 
 Lantwitt, 32. 149. 313. 
 Laurence, Christopher, 167. 
 Leicester, my Lord of, (R. 
 
 Dudley,) 57. 
 
 Leighton, W. 206. 
 
 Lewes, 53. 
 
 Lewes, Mr. 299. 
 
 Lewis, 32. 
 
 Lewis, Dr. D. 234. 
 
 Lewis, Mr. D. 50. 
 
 Lewis, Henry, 94. 103. 
 
 Lewis, Thomas, of the Van, 
 17. 73. 107. 309. 
 
 Lewis, Sir Wm. 341. 
 
 Lewys, D. 29. 
 
 Lewys, John, 81. 
 
 Leyshon, Griffith, 2. 
 
 Liege, 232. 
 
 Lincoln, my Lord of, 293. 
 Lindsay, Sir Robt. 177. 
 Llandaff, Bp. of, 14. 84. 85. 
 
INDEX 
 
 353 
 
 Llandaff, 283. 
 
 Llandewi, 16. 
 
 Llantrissent, 36. 72. 
 Llantrithyd, 318. 
 
 Llewelyn, Jevan, 76. 
 Llewelyn, John, 327. 
 Lloughor, 167. 
 
 Lloyd, Capt. 12. 
 
 Lloyd, Wra. Morgan, 261. 
 Lougher, W. of Tythegston, 
 321. 
 
 Love, Richard, 160. 
 
 Ludlow, 11, 12. 15. 19. 227. 
 300. 314. 
 
 Lumley, John Baron, 317. 
 Lyddon of Lantwit, Chris¬ 
 tian and Evan, 235. 237. 
 239. 
 
 M. Edmund, 286. 
 
 Maghen (Machen), 195. 
 Mansel, Anne, 16. 
 
 Manxell, Anthony, 107. 135. 
 173. 
 
 Mardes, John, 219. 
 
 Mary, the Queen, 1. 
 
 Mason, Widow, 112. 
 Matheman, Constance, 219. 
 Matherne, 84. 
 
 Mathew, Catherine, 18. 
 Matthew, William, 78. 126. 
 
 259. 296. 
 
 Mauncells, 150. 
 
 Maunsell, Sir Edward, of 
 Margam, 14. 56. 69. 155. 
 338. 
 
 Maunsell, Mr. 93. 106. 
 Maunsell, Sir T. 318. 
 
 Maunzell, my cozen, 151. 153. 
 Meryfield, 170, 171. 184. 
 Meyrick, Rees, 168. 
 
 Mineff, Thomas, 142. 
 Minehead, 256. 
 
 Molton, 299. 
 
 Montagu, Viscount, Anthony, 
 139. 
 
 More, John, 162. 
 
 Morehays, 162. 
 
 Morgan, Christopher, 139. 
 Morgan, David, 50. 232. 234. 
 268. 270. 
 
 Morgan (ap), John, 294. 
 Morgan of Lantrissent, 328. 
 Morgan, Na. 326. 
 
 Morgan, Richard, 276. 
 Morgan, Wm. of Penycoed, 
 204, 205. 
 
 Morley, Mr. Anthony, 54.142. 
 Mountjoy, 47. 
 
 Mountjoy, Lord, James, 46. 
 48. 
 
 Mumbles, the, 180. 
 
 Neath, 168. 
 
 Netherbury, 183. 
 
 Newport, 47. 
 
 Nicholls, Richard, 313. 
 Nichols, Adam, 32. 
 
 Nonsuch, 25, 26. 313. 
 
 Oden fee, 112. 
 
 Ollantigh, 216. 
 
 Other, third Earl of Ply¬ 
 mouth, 18. 
 
 Otlandes, 4. 24. 
 
 Oxford, 330. 
 
354 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Parry, Blanche, 235. 
 
 Pawlet, my Lady, 245. 
 
 Pawlet, Lord, Thomas, 258. 
 Pembroke, Earl of, 10. 29. 34. 
 64. 72. 90. 125. 128. 148, 
 149. 291. 
 
 Peoarth, 78. 
 
 Penlline, 77. 
 
 Penmark, 112. 115, 116. 120. 
 Penmark Castle, 113. 
 Penshurst, 3. 20. 
 
 Penycoyd, 203. 
 
 Perrot, Thos. 51. 
 
 Perrot, Sir John, 48. 50. 
 Plasward, 301. 
 
 Popham, Ed. 33. 175. 258. 
 Popham, G. 230. 
 
 Popham, Mr. 86. 
 
 Popham, Mr. Serjeant, 206. 
 Porlock, 305. 
 
 Porteynon, 307. 
 
 Porthaml, 164. 
 
 Porthkerry, 114. 126. 
 Portman, Sir Henry, 124.184. 
 Poyns, Sir Robt. 284. 
 
 Poynz, Sir Nicholas, 285. 
 Powel of Parkhall, 201. 
 Powell, Dr. 301. 
 
 Powys, Lords of, 288. 
 Prosser, Griffith, 90. 
 
 Pryce of Courtcarney, 250. 
 Puleston, Catherine, 150. 
 Pullyson, Alderman, 174. 
 
 Ragland Castle, 56. 58. 
 Ramesbury, 63. 65. 
 
 Ratclyffe Street, 47. 
 
 Rawley, Mr. 29. 
 
 Raylegh, Sir Walter, 23. 
 
 Rede, James, 178. 
 
 Rees, Sir-, 288. 
 
 Rees, Edward, 85. 
 
 Rees, Jenkin, 150. 
 
 Rees, John, 313. 
 
 Rice, Jenkin, 306. 
 
 Richards, Evan, 128. 
 
 Richards, Thos. a harper, 240. 
 Ripton, 93. 97. 
 
 Robertes, John, 19. 
 
 Roberts, D. 262. 
 
 Roberts, Mr. 226. 
 
 Rochelle, 173. 
 
 Rogers, 125. 
 
 Roscarrock, Thos. 271. 
 
 S. Mr. 148. 
 
 Sarum, 71. 
 
 Saunder, Edm. 213. 
 
 Saunders, Wm. 82. 
 Scudamore, Mr. of Home 
 Lacy, 314. 
 
 Sekeford, Henry, 56,57. 
 Sekford, T. 269. 
 
 Senior, Mary, 311. 
 
 Sherley, Sir T. 232. 
 
 Skydmore, Wm. 104. 
 
 Slyndon, 217. 
 
 Smyth, Mr. 97. 127. 
 Somerset, Duchess of, 339. 
 Spain, 25. 
 
 Spain, King of, 125. 
 
 Speke, Sir George, 186. 
 Spencer, John, 127, 128. 
 Spencer, Margt. 106. 
 Spencer, Robt. 74. 
 
 Spencer, Thos. 130. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 355 
 
 Sprint, John, Dean of Bristol, 
 334, &c. 
 
 Stackpoole, Sir R. 288. 
 
 St. Athan’s, 86. 280. 305. 324. 
 St. Barbe, Henry, 25. 
 
 St. Bride’s, near Ogmore, 46. 
 St. Donat’s,. 124, &c. 
 
 St. Denys, (Donat’s,) 238. 
 
 St. Fagan’s, 225. 
 
 St. Helen’s (Little), 158. 
 
 St. John, Lord, John, 125. 
 144. 308. 
 
 St. John, Margt. 24. 
 
 St. John, Lord, Oliver, 92, 93. 
 St. Julian’s, 154. 
 
 St. Marychurch, 247. 
 
 St. Nicholas, 168. 296. 
 Stonne, Stephen, 183. 
 
 Stowed, Sir John, 125.255, &e. 
 Stradling, Damasyn, daughter 
 of Sir Thos. 342. 345. 
 Stradling, Sir Ed. 259. 296. 
 &c. 
 
 Stradling, Mr. 281. 
 
 Stradling, Lady, 41. 
 
 Stradling, Lamrocke, 19. 
 Stradling, Sir Thomas, 201. 
 Stradling, Wenllian, 7. 221. 
 344. 
 
 Strowde, Mr. 183. 
 
 Stuple, Mr. 219. 
 
 Sully, Thos. 305. 
 
 Sully, near Caidiff, 83. 90. 
 
 123. 143. 329. 
 
 Swansea, 104. 
 
 Sydney, Sir Henry, K.G. 11, 
 12, &c. 
 
 Sydney, Sir Philip, 31.240. 
 
 Sydney, Sir Robert, 3. 9, 10. 
 
 20, 21. 23. 29. 77. 
 Sydenham, 125. 
 
 Sydenham, Sir George, 306. 
 
 Tawstock, 320. 
 
 Thelwal, Simon, 301. 
 Thomas’s, the, 16. 
 
 Thomas, Gwenlleiarr, 3. 
 Thomas (ap), Thomas, 22. 
 Thomas, VVm. 166. 
 Throckmorton, Thos. 335. 
 Thynne, Sir John, 124. 
 Toumond ("I’homond), the 
 Earl of, 337. 
 
 Towneshend, 226, 227, &c. 
 Towneshend, Henry, 19. 
 Treheron, Evan, 312. 
 Trenowith, 271. 
 
 Tugle (Tugwell), Thos. 185. 
 Turbervill, Cath. 155. 
 Turbervill, John, 140. 
 Turbervill, Jenkin, 151. 
 Tuibervills of Penlline, 15. 
 Turbill (Turbervill), 288. 
 Typtoft, Lord, 288. 
 
 Vaughan, Lewis, 197. 
 
 Vernon, Henry, 289. 
 
 Veyne, Mr. Archdeacon, 83. 
 
 86. 91. 
 
 Uske, 310. 
 
 Uxbridge, 192. 
 
 Vynill, John, 54. 
 
 Vyvyan, Richard, 271. 
 
 Wadham, Edward, 172. 
 Wadham, JoliD, 170, 171. 
 
356 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Wakerly, 96. 98. 
 
 Walbe, Thos. 38. 
 
 Walcot, Charles, 284. 
 
 Walle, Robt. 307. 
 Walsingham, Sir Francis, 25. 
 28. 34. 
 
 Walston, 180. 
 
 Walter, David, 110. 
 
 Walter, Edm. 297—300. 
 Walter, Mr. Justice, 314. 
 Walwyn, Edward, 182. 
 Waring, Mr. 245. 257. 
 Warman, Johan, 161. 
 Warwick, Anne Countess of, 
 24. 
 
 Warwick Lane, 57. 
 
 Waters, John, 255. 
 
 Watkin, Thomas, 3. 59. 
 Watkins, David, 206. 
 
 Watts, John, the Rev. 305. 
 Webber, John and Wm. 192. 
 Westminster, 9. 
 
 Whitestone, 303. 
 
 Whitney, 44. 
 
 Whitney, Sir James, 43. 45. 
 
 Whytrowe, William, 259. 
 Williams, Ed. 72. 
 
 Williams, Jenett, 261. 
 Williams, George, 150. 
 Williams, Mr. 332. 
 
 W'illiams, my man, 175. 
 Williams, 82. 
 
 Wilton, 21, 22. 65. 68. 278. 
 280. 
 
 Winchester, W. Powlett, Mar¬ 
 quis of, 251. 
 
 Winslade, Mr. 47. 
 
 Wiseman, Thos. 71. 
 Witchalse, Mrs. 241. 
 
 Wogan, Sir John, 151. 290. 
 Woodnet, George, 36. 
 Woodvile, Earl of Rivers, 284. 
 Worcester, Wm. Earl of, 56. 
 59. 61. 63. 
 
 Wykes, Wm. 143. 333. 
 Wyseman, Thos. 262. & c. 
 
 Yolston, 252. 
 
 Yonge, Sir John, 264, &c. 
 
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