were born. For it is infinite that Her Majesty hath been robbed, and that of the most rare things. Whereas I wrote to your Lordship for £2,000, if we load the same ships with the goods, we shall not need to pay but part, and the rest at London. So I think one thousand will serve. Thus, in haste, I humbly take my leave. From Hartelbery, this Sunday morning. Your Lordship's humbly at commandment, W. RALEGH. If it please your Lordship to send commission to myself, Sir JOHN GILBERT, Sir FRANCIS DRAKE, Mr. KILLIGREW, Mr. CHRISTOPHER HARRIS, and Mr. PAYDEN, the customer; and TRISTRAM GEORGE,-because none1 other dwell upon Saltashe river,—we [?] shall be able among their tenants to find out other things. LETTER XXX. 1592. Sept. 17. As printed by STRYPE (Annals, vol. iv. p. 177), from his own transcript of the Original. LETTER XXXI. 1592. Sept. 21. To Lord THE particularities of all done your Lordship shall receive from Sir ROBERT CECIL. If the like diligence had been used at Plymouth, where the Earl [of CUMBERLAND]'S ships arrived: at Portsmouth, where the Foresight arrived; at Harwich, where the Dainty Burghley. arrived; as hath been here, their value of the Carack Dartwould then have resembled itself in some sort. But if the Earl were presented, of voluntary gift, with so many thousands of pearls and diamonds, and these only from 1 Misprinted by Strype 'some.' 2 Strype reads 'and.' [From mouth.] On the Spoils of the Madre de Dios.' LETTER 1592. Sept. 21. such of his men as were abiding in the Carack, what is to be thought of the rest remaining? His own ships I leave to your Lordship's discretion: and what was unpresented was of some account, if it had been recovered. For mercenary men are not so affectionate or religious, but that they can, with safe conscience, lick their own fingers. What will be done hereafter, I know not; but I dare give the Queen ten thousand pounds sterling for that which is gained by Sir ROBERT CECIL'S coming down; which I protest before the living God, I speak of truth, without all affection or partiality, for (God is my judge) he hath more rifled my ship than all the rest; and yet she, only, stayed by the Carack, lost most men, most of all spoiled; and only remaineth here under commandment. The rest are gone every one his way. And truly, my Lord, CROSS1 was most to blame, and dealt lewdly to leave the Carack, and afterwards to steal from Sir MARTIN [FROBISHER]. I have always served him to my power; but his mad behaviour is too insolent in this action. Thus, with remembrance of my duty, I humbly take my leave, and remain most ready to do your Lordship all honour and service. W. RALEGH. 1 Robert Crosse, afterwards a captain in the Cadiz expedition, and knighted. XXXII. SIR ROBERT CECIL, SIR WALTER RALEGH, AND From the Original. MS. Lansdowne, lxx. No. 93. (British Museum). Wee have examined Captain CROSSE'S brother, whom the messinger wee did send for him did meet on the way betweene Bridgwater and Exeter; we have examined him uppon theise Interrogatories, and finde no more then here is sett downe. Sir JOHN BOROGHE arryved here yesternighte, whose chests voluntarilie he LETTER XXXII. 1522. Sept. 27. hathe shewed, hearing of our diligent searche for them in his absence; and thoughe wee finde them no common chests, yet finding in them nether Pearle, Amber, Stone, Jewell, Hangings, Tapestrie, or riche stuffe, wee have lefte them in his owne keping, bothe because he assured us he had tolde Her Majestic of them, and also because wee finde he thinkes himselfe hardlie dealt withall, being Her Majesties Generall there, and a Gentleman of qualitie, not to be suffred to choose out and send from himselfe some suche present of them as may be acceptable to Her Majestie, to which wee founde reasone to assent, seing they were nothing in them but certaine China Taffataes and Damaskes, with painted Caffard for Quiltes, some Quiltes of White Callicute stitcht, and 2 or 3 parcells of suche white China Taffatae imbrodered with China golde as Mr. CANDISHE broughte home; with certaine course gilt boxes, and a bunch of seede pearle. Within 3 or iiij. dayes, wee shalbe able to give some estimat of the state of this Carricke, and wee shall knowe whither the iiij. chests spoken of be ether gone or ryfled; which being done, I, ROBERT CECILL, doe purpose to come away, with your Lordships' good favour; and thus for this tyme we most humblie take our leaves. Ffrom the Tonne of Dartmouthe, the xxvijth of September, 1592. Your Lordships most humblie to commaund, RO. CECYLL. W. RAI EGH. FRA. DRAKE. WILLM. KILLYGREWE. Addressed: RICH. CARM'DEN. THOMAS MYDDELTON. To the right honorable our very good Lords, the Lord Treasurer and Lord Admirall of England XXXIII. TO THE LORD TREASURER BURGHLEY, AND THE LORD BUCKHURST. From the Original. Domestic Correspondence: Elizabeth, vol. ccxliii. § 89 (Rolls House). In the hand of an amanuensis, with autograph subscription and signature. MY VERIE GOOD LORDS, I UNDERSTAND by Mr. MIDDLETON of your Lordships' proceedings in the cause between CORSINA1 and us; and although it be prejudiciall unto us, yet in reguard your Lordships have so prescribed, I am contented to submitt my selfe thereunto. And do humblie pray your Lordships that theis enclosed articles may (if you shalbe so pleased) be performed by such as particularlie are nominated therein by your Lordships' order. Thereby CORSINA is to have the benefytt of making sale of the goods, which are valued at £12,000, and the use of the money, which wilbe worth unto him £3,000. In my opinion, if your Lordships will allow thereof, it were more fytt that the goods might remaine, as presently they do, in sequestracion, untill your 1 Filippo Corsini, plaintiff in an Admiralty cause respecting the ship Uggera Salvagnia. The enclosed "Articles" (eleven in number) referred to in, and returned with, Sir Walter's letter, are both too long and of too little interest to be here printed. The only article in which Ralegh is expressly mentioned runs thus: "And that Sir Walter Rawley, in the behalf of Captain Davies, shall enter into like bonds unto Corsini, in double the value of such goods as the said Davies can be duly charged to have taken forth of the said ship." The date of this Inclosure is 10 Dec. 1592. These articles are followed by a series of charges and answers in the case, also of great length and minuteness. |