Archbishop Parker was one of the few who seemed thoroughly pleased at one of these intended Visits. A thought struck him to make it subservient to the promotion of the Protestant Religion. His Letter will be read with peculiar interest.

Lord Leicester writing to the Earl of Sussex in 1577 says, "We all do what we can to persuade" her Majesty "from any Progress at all."

It is quite evident that the Queen was fickle: and frequently gave but short notice of what part of the Country she chose to visit.

Lord Buckhurst, who expected to receive her Majesty at Lewes in 1577, was so forestalled, in respect of provisions, by other noblemen, in Sussex and the adjoining counties, that he was obliged to send for a supply from Flanders.

When Mr. Hickes, Lord Burghley's Secretary, was married, the Queen hinted that she would honor him. Hickes wrote to a friend at Court to ask the Lord Chamberlain what preparation he should make, evidently fearing the expense. The Lord Chamberlain's advice was, to go out of the house and leave it to the Queen. He simply wished that M" Hickes should present her Majesty with some trifling present. But the Letters will speak for themselves.

It is not generally known, that much as these Visits sometimes put the Queen's subjects to expense, the cost of them to the public Treasury was also a matter of deep concern. Lord Burghley's calculations upon this subject, fairly amounting to a remonstrance, are still extant.

Among the Lansdowne Manuscripts in the Museum, Num. 16. art. 52. is "An Estimate of increase of Chardgies in the time of Progresse which "should not be if her Majestie remeynid at her Standing Howses within "xx. myles of London; collected out of the CREDITORS of the last Progresse Anno xvto. Reginæ Elizabeth." A. D. 1573. It is altered and corrected in Lord Burghley's hand. The increase of charges caused by the Progress appears to have amounted in the whole to £1034. Os. 6d.

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Lord Burghley, it is probable, would have been personally glad if the Progresses could have been altogether dispensed with. The Queen's visits to him were extremely frequent. His Lordship's treatment of the Queen's suite when she went to Theobald's, seems not to have been generally acceptable to the Visitors. In more than one Letter we find the writers vexed when they learned they were to go there.

AFTER my hartie comendacions, understonding by comen speche that the Quenes Matic meanes to come to my Howse, and knowyng no certentie of the tyme

of her comyng nor of her aboade, I have thowght good to praye you that this bearer my servaunt might understond what you knowe therin; and yf it be trewe, then that I might understond your advise what you thinke to be the best waye for me to deale in this matter: ffor, in very deede, no man is more rawe in suche a matter then my selfe. And thus wisshing to yo' L. as to my self, I leave any further to trowble you at this tyme. From my Howse at Gorhamburie the xijth of Julie 1572.

Yor L. assured

N. BACON.

I have wreten thys bycause I wold gladly take that cours that myght best pleas her Matie which I knowe not how better to understond then by yo' help.

To my very good L.

the L. of Burghley.

LETTER CCIII.

The Earl of Bedford to Lord Treasurer Burghley. [MS. LANSD. N°. xiv. art. 80. Orig.]

AFTER my hartie comendacions to yo' good Lordshippe, here enclosed I sende you a Lettre of M: As

shetones which shuld have bene delyvered some dayes sythens.

I am now going to prepare for her Maties coming to Woborne, which shalbe done in the best and most hartiest maner that I can. I trust yo' L. will have in remembraunce to provide and helpe that her Mats tarieng be not above two nights and a daye; for, for so long tyme do I prepare. I pray god the Rowmes and Lodgings there may be to her Mats contentacion for the tyme. If I could make them better upon suche a sodeyn, then wold I, be assured. They should be better then they be. So wt my hartie thanks to yor good L. remayning alwayes as I have just cause yo13, do so committ you to Gods keping. From Russell House this xvjth of July 1572.

To my verie good Lord the

Lord Burghley, Highe

Treasurer of England.

Yo' L. right assured

F. BEDFORD.

LETTER CCIV.

Archbishop Parker to Lord Treasurer Burghley. [MS. LANSD. N° 17. art. 44. Orig.]

S!

GLADLIE Woulde I doe all the service I coulde

to the Quenes Matie and to all her Nobelles, with the

rest of her most honorable householde. I have no other counsell to followe, but to searche out what service my Predecessors have bin wont to doe. My ofte distemperance and infirmitie of bodye, maketh me not to doe so muche as I woulde. If her Matie would please to remayne in myne house, her Highnes shoulde have convenient roume: and I coulde place for a Progresse-tyme yo1 L. my L. Chamberlaine, my L. of Leicester, and M: Hatton, if he come home: thinking that yo' LL. will furnishe the places with yo' owne stuffe. They saye myne house is of an evill ayer, hanging upon the churche, and having no prospect to loke on the people: but yet I truste the convenience of the building would serve. If her Highnes be mynded to kepe in her owne Pallace at St Austens, then might yo' LL. be otherwise placed in the Houses of the Deane and certaine Prebendaries. M: Lawse, prebendarie, would faine have yo' L. in his convenient house, trusting the rather to doe yo' L. now service, as he did once in teaching a Grammer schole in Stanford by your appoyntment; M: Bungey also would be glad to have your L. in his lodging, where the French Cardinall laye; and his house is fayer and sufficient. M Peerson would as gladlie have yo' L. in his fine house, most fitt for yo' L. if you thinke so good.

The Custome hathe bin when Princes have come to Caunterbury, the Bishopp, the Deane, and the

Chapter, to waite at the West end of their Churche, and so to attend on them: and there to heare an Oration. After that her Highnes may goe under a canapie, till she commeth to the middest of the churche, where certaine prayers shalbe sayde: and after that to wayte on her Highnes through the Quier, up to the Traverse next to the Communyon table, to heare the Evensonge, and so afterwardes to depart to her owne lodging. Or els upon Sonday following, if it be her pleasure, to come from her house of St Austens by the newe Bridge, and so to enter the West end of the Churche, or in her Coche by the streate. It would much rejoyce and stablishe the people here, in this Religion, to see her Highnes that Sondaye (being the first Sonday of the moneth, when others also customablie may receive) as a godlie devoute Prince, in her chiefe and metropoliticall Churche, openly to receive the Communyon: which by her favor I would minister unto her. Plurima sunt magnifica et utilia, sed hoc unum est necessarium. I presume not to prescribe this to her Highnes, but, as her trustie chapleyn, shewe my judgement. And after that Communyon, yt might please her Matie to heare the Deane preache, sitting either in her Traverse, or else to suffer him to goe to the common Chapter, being the place of Sermons, where a greater multitude should heare. And yet her Highnes might goe to a verie fitt place, with some of her lordes and ladyes, to be there in a con