Miscellaneous volume of letters, chiefly from members of the Thynne family. 1586...

Miscellaneous volume of letters, chiefly from members of the Thynne family. 1586 - 1794. With 14 autograph letters of Francis Thynne, Lancaster Herald, etc. to his cousin Sir John Thynne and others. 1573 - 1606.

The principal contents are: -

1. Sir John Norreys to "His Excellencie" [perhaps Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester] that he has made his brother acquainted with his "Excellency's pleasure towching the Count Hollocks comynge, and yt nothing shold be attemptid for any revenge during this sarvice, who desyrous to conforme hymeself vnto yor Excies pleasure craveth yor Excies leave to absent hyme self for a tyme as yor Excie semedd to like of at Utrecht": "From the Campe at Old Sevennes this 26th of August, ao 1586." f.1.

2. Joane Thynne [née Hayward] wife of Sir John Thynne to her husband: "Causecastell" 17 Apr. s.a. f.6.

3. Thomas Thynne of Bidston to Francis Thynne his brother and others: 1595-1615. ff.20,22,26.

4. Egremont Thynne, [son of Sir John Thynne sen.,] to his nephew Sir T. Thynne: 3 Apr. 1628. f.33.

5. William III of England to [John Somers, Lord] Somers, on the subject of the succession by the King of Spain, and the advisability of the suggested understanding with France concerning it: Dated at Loo, 15/20 Aug. 1698. With Lord Somers' reply: Tunbridge, 28 Aug. 1698. Both copies. ff.48,50.

6. Lady E. Oglethorpe to --------- acknowledging letter wherein you say that a daughter of mine has surrendered herself at your office. I had a daughter, that was perverted to the roman religion and because her father,I and the rest of her relations did not like it she went away from us about four years ago. I cannot beleive that it is she" etc. 15 Sept. 1704. f.55.

7. Letters of Francis Thynne, Lancaster Herald, 1573 - 1606 viz: -

(a) To Sir J. Thynne, sen., complaining of his malice towards him, and of Mr Eynns [his wife's guardian] who keeps his "lyvyng" from him - is in great distress and debt and threatens suicide "I had rather abandon my life to myne awne hurte and shame of the world than lyve everyday in feare of imprisonment as I doo": "Barmesey streate", 2 Feb. 1573[4]: (b) to the same, written from prison, thanking Sir John for a gift of £20 towards his deliverance, "I am turned into the comone gayle, I ame utterly despoyled yf you bee not good vnto mee. Wherefore I beseche you vppone the knees of my harte to consider of mye myserye or ells I am lyke to famyshe." "From the White lyone"[prison], 16 July. 1575. f.71: (c) to the same, on the proposed arrangements for selling Erith rectory to Sir John and the payment of £80 annuity to Francis and debt of £40, etc. "From the White lyon" [Prison], 5 Feb. 1575[6]. f.73: (d) to the same, "Sir I most humbly beseche you that thee bookes may goo in hande since I am contented to yeld vnto all thinges you wolde have mee. My Keper will not truste mee noo longere and vppon my faythe, Sir John Thynne, I have not money to tynde mee. Wherefore I beseche you to have some present care over mee that I may not sterve" etc. "From the Whyte Lyone", 20 Feb. 1575[6]. f.75: (e) copy of letter from Sir J. Thynne to his son John concerning Francis Thynne's inprisonment, etc. 1 June, 1576. f.76: (f) F. Thynne to Sir John Thynne, concerning his case with Mr Young and his willingness to sell "the lease" for an annuity of £100: "From my coosine Beechers", 6 June, 1576. f.78 (g) "Elizabethe Thin" wife of Francis Thynne to Sir John Thynne asking for a favourable answer to her suit: York, 5 July, 1576. f.80: (h) F. Thynne to Sir J. Thynne, further as to his dealings with Mr. Young, and his own destitute state "You canne, Sir Johne Thynne haue no moore of mee then an honest and faythefull kinsmanne whiche I alwayes wilbe vnto you, I crave but smale thinges I beseche you to helpe mee to somme money to apparell mee": 22 July, 1576. f.83: (i) the same, to John Thynne, son of Sir John, hoping he will stand his friend, and requesting "a lease in revercione of the parsonage of Tame" for which he offers 600 marks a year: London, 10 June, 1583. f.87: (k) the same to the same, "Newes I have noone to sende you but that the erle of Essex one tuesdaye the 27 of this monthe went out of London towardes Yrlonde accompanyed with a mightye streme of reyne, hayle, thunder and lightnynge whereof I am not so supersticious as to dyvine ..... the people as fare as Higate went oute to see hym as though the godde of the yerthe had byn new come emongest us": Clerkenwell Grene, 23 Feb. [1598]. f.88: (1) the same to the same, that he is sending his horses to run in the park at Longleat for the winter: "The Tower", 24 Oct. 1598. f.91: (m) the same to the same, on the great expense he has been put to in travelling in the country "whither I came in houpe to have seene Cardington Courte rooles to fynishe the pedegrees I have begonne": 24 sept. 1599. f.93: (n) Lord Chancellor Ellesmere to Sir Thomas Thynne Knt. of Longleat, enclosing a petition which he received from Francis Thynne in the life time of Sir Thomas's father Sir John Thynne II. respecting the losses F. Thynne has undergone with respect to the sale of Erith rectory to Sir J. Thynne I. and asking Sir Thomas to enter into a friendly conference with F. Thynne whom he knows "to be so honest and reasonable a gente" that he doubts not some friendly agreement may be come to: York House, 29 May, 1605. Signed and sealed. f.96: (o) Francis Thynne to Sir Thomas Thynne, concerning the ceremony of the funeral of Sir J. Thynne, "I thought good to lett you vnderstand that I will employe my best travayle therein as carefullye and frugallye as I maye to his and your best credit": Clerkenwell Grene, 23 Nov. 1604. f.103: (p) the same to the same, on the latter's neglect to act on the Lord Chancellor's suggestion (v. above), and making now a final offer of settling the matter, namely, that he will give him a general release of Erith rectory "yf you will within two dayes of the termes ende paye me £50 and £30 uppon your bande that day twelmonthe or at Midsomer next ..... and gyve you one pedegree which will at least cost me xviii li": Clerkenwell Grene, 30 June, 1606. f.107.