General Correspondence of Sir John Thynne.

The more important writers and letters are as follows: -

1. Sir Henry Nevell or Neville, son in law of Sir John Gresham: 6 Aug. 1573 - 2 Oct. 1578. ff.1,3,7,21,107,111,147,170,184. Among the subjects mentioned are, the surrender of Haarlem to the Spaniards (6 Aug. 1573. f.1): the Queen's progress to Dover and the favour of Hatton, the cruelty of Alva at Haarlem, etc. (12 Aug. 1573. f.3): the rumour of a great battle "and mayny of our Inglyshemen slayn" (24 Aug. 1573. f.7): the death of his wife Eliz. Gresham (22 Nov. 1573. f.21): the queen's progress, foreign news etc. (13 July 1576. f.115 f.111): "I mervyl you wyl not looke for a husband for Besse Thinn, I dare say she wyl be as good a wiff as the best withyn your shire", etc. (8 July, 1577. f.147): "we ar buisye with huntyng of papistes and fynd out diuers lewd fellows in serving mens apparell", the visitation of Exeter College, Oxford, "and neuer a Protestant found in it", etc. (2 Oct. 1578. f.184).

2. K[atharine, Countess of] Pembroke: Wilton, 24 Aug. 1573. f.5.

3. Michael Mashart on the election of a Warden of New College, and other Oxford news: New College, 28 Sept. 1573. f.9.

4. Henry Knolles: (a) on the death of Sir Thomas Wroth, the suspension of "Mr Yale" from his ecclesiastical offices on suspicion of papistry, an assault upon "Master Hawkyns" by a student of the Temple, etc. Blackfriars, 18 Oct. 1573. f.11: (b) on the Queen's intended progress into the west, "Your howse hathe bene named as fytt to come yn to the reckynyng", the wars in France and the Netherlands, etc., with a postscript on "the maner of the escape of Mareshal Dauville": 22 May, 1574. f.33: (c) on the difficulty of finding a cook "so qualified bothe yn skyll and good behavour as were convenyent for your howse", with French and other news: 29 Nov. 1574. f.54: (d) on the marriage of the King of France, the capture of Aguemortes by the Huguenots, the efforts for a "composition between Spain and the Prince of Orange: 22 Feb. 1574. f.63: (e) on his inability to find for Sir John a French boy "somwhat lerned yn the Latyn tonge", the peace in France, the Queen's progress into Northamptonshire, the death of "good Deryng", etc. 6 July 1576. f.113.

5. Richard Young: (a) on the trouble about the "presisions" [precisions] and the papists, the sending of Dr Yattesly to the Tower, etc. London, 4 Dec. 1573. f.25: (b-h) on a match between John Thynne jun. and Sir Rowland Hayward's daughter: 18 June-10 Oct. 1575. ff.69,73,77,82,87,89,91: (i) on business with Francis Thynne, the sack of Antwerp by the Spaniards and the ill-treatment of the English there, etc. 20 Nov. 1576. f.138.

6. John Lane, with Italian news: Padua, 4 March, 2 Aug. 1574, 9 Dec. [1574]. ff.28,41,58.

7. John Paulet, 2nd Marquis of Winchester, requesting Sir John to join a commission to enquire into his right to woods at Edington: Chelsea, 16 May, 1574. f.32.

8. T[homas Ratcliffe, Earl of] Sussex; (a) enquiring as to the continuance of infectious disease at Longleat and in Wiltshire with a view to the Queen's progress: 8 June, 1574. f.35: (b) remonstrating with Sir John on his dealing and that of his son in the matter of the suit of Lord Stafford: 16 June, 1578. f.176.

9. H[enry Herbert, Earl of] Pembroke: (a) on the same subject: Ramsbury, 11 June, 1574. f.37: (b) requiring Sir John by the Queen's order to the bearers John Lovell and Thomas Mathew two of his servants: 29 Apr. 1579. f. 200: (c) promising to further his election to Parliament: 19 Apr. [1580]. f.220.

10. Sir Thomas Smith: (a) on the Queen's visit to Longleat and Sir John's gift to her of a "great jewel", and on the delay of a suit of Sir Joh to her: - Sept. 1574. f.44: (b) on the Queen's unwillingness to part with some land wanted by Sir John: 4 Nov. 1574. f.48: (c) "I moved the Quenes Maiestie at Tibalds for the fee ferme or buying of that which you wold haue but I cowld obtayne neither," etc: Kenilworth, 13 July 1575. f.71: (d) thanking Sir John for sending him the date of birth and christening of his godson John Thynne by which he is able to detect a forgery, and on a lease of land from the Queen: Worcester 18 Aug. 1575. f.80: (e) on the uncertainty in the matters of France and Flanders, "nether pease nor war, nor good agreament," and on his own health, etc: Canon Row, 14 Apr. 1576. f.103: (g) on the failure of the Bath waters to benefit him and his inability to visit Longleat on his way home: Bath, 18 Sept. 1576. f.118. These letters are printed in the

11. A[mbrose Dudley, Earl of] Warwick, on Lady Mervyn's efforts to persuade John Thynne to marry her daughter: 4 Dec. 1574. f.52.

12. R[oger North, Lord] North, to Lord F. Seymour, stating the terms on which he will match his son with Sir John Thynne's daughter: 29 Jan. 1574[5]. Copy(?). f.61.

13. Sir Christopher Hatton, declining to give a living to Thomas Courte, servant of Sir John Thynne: St James's 9 Apr. 1575. f.67.

14. Sir John Thynne: (a) to Sir Rowland Hayward, on a match between his son and Sir Rowland's daughter: 12 Aug. 1575. f.79: (b) to the Justices of Assize, reporting the arrest of "thelder Warley" etc. 20 Oct. 1578. f.191.

15. Sir Rowland Hayward, on the marriage of his daughter to John Thynne, the birth of a son to them, etc. 27 Aug. 1575 - 23 Apr. 1580. The last letter, written a month before Sir John Thynne's death [21 May, 1580], states that his death had already been reported at Court. ff.88, 119, 154, 144, 166, 174, 178, 218, 221.

16. Sir Thomas Leighton, Governor of Guernsey, promising to supply Lady Thynne with "Normandye canvas and dyaper" and thanking Sir John for his offer of some "lyve deare to store a lytell parke": Guernsey, 4 Sept. 1575. f.85.

17. Edm[und Gheast, Bishop of Salisbury, on a commission for assessing and collecting a subsidy: 17 Apr. 1576. f.98.

18. Henry Norreys, praying Sir John to repair the chancel of the church of Thame: "From my howse at Brokin Wharfe": 11 May 1576. f.101.

19. W[illiam Cecil, Lord] Burghley: (a) ordering Sir John, as surveyor of crown possessions in Wilts, to survey property in Warminster of Will. Burd, late collector of customs, and to offer the same for sale to satisfy Burd's debts to the Queen: 17 Sept. 1576. f.116: (b) on the redemption of lands sold by Lord Stafford to Sir Rowland Hayward and others: 14 Nov. 1576. Copy. f.134.

20. Edm[und Grindal, Archbishop of] Canterbury, requesting Sir John to repair the chancel of Thame church: 16 Nov. 1576. f.136.

21. Margaret, Countess of Derby, to Lady Thynne, warning her of evil speeches against her by her daughter in law [Joan Hayward]: 3 Mar. 1576-7. f.142.

22. Richard [Cheyney, Bishop of] Gloucester, refusing to revoke his sequestration of the fruits of the rectory of Buckland: 13 July, 1577. f.151.

23. The Privy Council: (a) in the matter of the suit between Lord Stafford and Sir J. Thynne: 18 May, 1578. Signed by the Earls of Leicester and Sussex and Sir Christ. Hatton. f.169: (b) summoning Sir John to appear at Court on 8 July with his son: 2 June, 1578. Signed by the Earl of Sussex and Sir C. Hatton: f.172.

24. Sir Henry Sidney, regretting his inability to come to Longleat on his way to Wilton, where his daughter wishes him to arrive before the Earls of Warwick and Leicester: Lacock, 10 Oct. 1578. f.188.

25. Sir Henry Knyvett: (a) requesting Sir John to procure his servant Mr Bonham "moste effectually to examine his sister to change her vsage at Will. Dorrells [sc. "Wild Darell" of Littlecote] the berth of her children, howe many they ware and whatt becam of them", etc: Charlton, 2 Jan. 1578[9] f.195: (b) on Sir John's disagreement with the Earl of Pembroke: Hanwell, 25 Oct. f.255.

26. Sir Thomas Chamberlayn, on a proposed marriage between his son and Sir John's daughter [Elizabeth]: London, 5 May, 1580. f.223.

27. Instructions from Sir Nich. Throckmorton, high butler of England, to Sir John Thynne for the "exercising the butlershipp in the port of Southampton": no date. f.268.