XVII.

LETTER
XVII.

1587.

Dec. 20.

To Lord
Burghley.
From
Exeter.

the

Country; Proposals for the

Levies in
Devon and

TO THE LORD TREASURER BURGHLEY.

From the Original.

Domestic Correspondence: Elizabeth, vol. ccvi. § 40 (Rolls House). Holograph.

MY SINGULAR GOOD LORDE,

ACCORDINGE to your Lordship's and the rest of my Lords' directions, I have attended the Earle of BATH and conferred with the deputes of Devon and the citty of Exon for the drawinge together of 2,000 foote and 200 horse; and I finde great differences in oppinion amonge Defence of them. Some are of oppinion that this burden wilbe grevous unto the countrey, standinge att this tyme voyde of all traficque: the subside not beinge yet gathered, and the past musters having byn very chargable. Sir JOHN GILBERT, Sir RICHARD GRANVILLE, and the Earle hym sealf, beinge more zelous both in religion and Her Majesties service-who have allways founde a reddy disposicion in their devisions, and willingnes to beare whatsoever shalbe thought meet for Her Majesties service by their people-ar of oppinion that the matter and service wilbe very fesible. It is most asured that the carefull usage of the action by the deputes in their severall devisions will easely induce the inferior sort to whatsoever shalbe thought necessary for Her Majesties saufty and their own deferce. But sume other of the cummission of Devon (in my conscience before the Lorde) being bothe infected in religion and vehemently malcontent,-who, by how mich the more they ar tem

perat, by so mich the more dangerous, are secreatly great hinderence of all actions tendinge to the good of Her Majesty or saufty of the present State. Thes men make doubt that your Honor's instructions alone ar not sufficient and saufe warrant for their discharge; and that, if any refuse to contribute, they see not by what they should be inforsed; with a thowsand dillitory cavelacions.

For myne own oppinion, under your Lordship's correction, if it might, notwithstandinge, stande withe Her Majesties likinge to beare them half of the charge, being great, it would be very consonant to all good pollecy; and the countrey, as I judge, will willingly defrey the rest, which onles ther wear ministers of other disposicions will not be so saufly and easely brought to effect.

I have sent your Lordshipe an Estimate of the whole, with which I humblie pray your Lordship to acquaynt Her Majesty, and not otherwise to impart my letter, because I am bold to write my simple oppinion playnly unto your Lordshipe; the same beinge, as the Lord doth judge, without respect or parcialty,-havinge vowed my travaile and life to Her Majesties service only, and for ever.

I have writen to the deputes of Cornwale, and am reddy to repaire thither with all dillegence to performe the rest of Her Majesties cummande geven mee in charge by your Lordships.

And yeven so, humblie cummending my service unto your Lordship's favourable construction, I take my leve. From Exon, this xx of December, 1587.

Your Lordship's to do you all honor and service,

W. RALEGH.

LETTER
XVII.

1587. Dec. 20.

Inclosure ; being an Estimate of Forces for defence of the Western

counties.

LETTER

XVII.

1587.

Dec. 20.

[POSTSCRIPT.]-The cittisens of Exter, as yet, refuse to beare such part as was thought meet by the levetenants of Devon and the rest.1

Addressed:

To the right honorable my singuler good Lord, the Lord Highe
Tresourer of Ingland.

Endorsed, by Lord Burghley :

21 December, 1587.

Sir Walter Ralegh. Levy of 2,000 foot, 200 hors,

in Devon and Cornwall.

[INCLOSURE.]

THE CHARDG OF TRAYNING OF 2,000 FOOT AND 200 HORS IN
DEVON AND CORNWALL, FOR 16 DAYES,

1 The differences and controversies referred to in this letter grew, partly, out of separate jurisdictions; and partly, out of special burdens, the inci dence of which lay almost wholly upon the mercantile community of the coast towns. Hence, on the one hand, arose several disputes between Ralegh, as Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall and Lord Warden of the Stannaries (extending, it is to be remembered, into Devon as well as Cornwall), and the Earl of Bath, as Lord Lieutenant of Devon; and, on the other, the claims of the citizens of Exeter to be exempted, on the ground of their great charges in the defence of their trade against the Barbary and other pirates, from the proportion they must otherwise have borne of the burden of the general levies. The relative dangers of the two counties in respect of invasion; their relative means of defence; and the special circumstances which affected the Stannary population; are all treated of, by Ralegh, at great length and with conspicuous ability, in a subsequent letter (one of the many remarkable letters which are now printed for the first time), addressed to the Lords of the Council. That letter brings before the reader's mind, with like vividness, the physical configuration of the Western counties; their industrial character; and their relative shares in the wealth of nature.

This title is from Lord Burghley's endorsement. The inclosure is entirely in the hand of an amanuensis.

200 horse

O 10 O

LETTER
XVIII.

1587-1588.

To Sir Thomas Egerton. Renewal of his

588.

XVIII.

TO SIR THOMAS EGERTON, SOLICITOR-GENERAL ;
(Afterwards Viscount Brackley.)

As communicated to the Society of Antiquaries, March 2, 1854, by MR.
J. PAYNE COLLIER, from the Original, in the Library of the EARL of
ELLESMERE Bridgewater House'.

SIR,

WHEREAS the Quene's Majestie hath heretofore March given unto me, by her Letters patentes, aucthoritie to graunte Licenses for the sellinge of Wynes by retayle; her Highnes' pleasure is to revoke and make voyde the same, and by new Letters patentes to regraunte unto me the aucthoritie and benefytt therof for a further terme of yeres. Wherefore, I pray you hartely to peruse the drafte which this bearer, my servante, shall throughout bring unto you, and sett your hande thereunto, redie for England. her Highnes to signe, and I wilbe redie to requyte your courtesie. So hopinge your carefull dealinge for me, accordinge to my requeste, I bid you hartely farewell. Your lovinge Frende,

Patent for granting Wine

Licences

This 8th of March, 1587 [legal style].

W. RALEGH.

SIR,-Her Majesty her scalf cummaunded mee to acquaynt yow with the booke, and therfore yow shall not need to doubt; for yow may take knowledg of her plesure by thes my letters; beseechinge yow to frinde me so much to make expedition herein, and yow shall cummaunde mee in what I may stand yow in steede.1

1 In his reply to this letter, Sir Thomas Egerton, after answering its main subject, went into some further detail, which is not without its bio