28 Apr 1515. Shrewsb. MSS. A. F. 27. Coll. of Arms. Lodge's Illust. I. 7. 1832. TH. ALEN to [the EARL OF SHREWSBURY].

This day, in company with the Earl's chaplain, delivered his lordship's letter to the Cardinal, which he read in his barge. Showed his credence touching the sickness of the Earl's servants, which daily continues, and desired to know when his presence would be required. The Cardinal said the King wished to have him up at Whitsuntide on account of the coming of the Queen of Scots, and the many ambassadors who are now here, "for that ye were the great officer of the King's household." Replied that this was impossible, considering the "contagious plague" among the Earl's servants. Was commanded to wait on the Cardinal again on Friday: "at which time I doubt not but ye shall have respite to the next term, for before his going to the King I will speak with him eftsoons." Has arranged this day with Lord Conyers that the Earl shall pay him £240, viz. £100 in hand, the rest at Martinmas; and Conyers will make the land as sure to the Earl as can be devised. My Lord of Buckingham¹> has asked him how the Earl fared, and says he intends to remain here all Whitsuntide.² "He takes his barge every day at Coldharbert when he cometh by water." A bill has been set upon Paul's door, and another on Lady Barkyn's, which touched the King and his Council, implying that strangers obtained much money from the King, and bought wools to the undoing of Englishmen. "Great displeasure is taken with the same: insomuch that in every ward one of the King's Council, with the alderman of the same, is commanded to see every man write that can; and further hath taken every man's book and sealed them, and brought them to Guildhall, there to examine them." The Bp. of Hertford (sic) is departed, and Dr. Bothe put in his place. The Master of the Rolls is departed, and Tunstall succeeds. The Abbots of St. Alban's and Bermondsey are dead. "They begin to die in London, in divers places, suddenly, of fearful sickness." Reminds the Earl to send up the obligation of Sir Wistan Browne³. Coldharbert, 28 April.

P.S.—"I have sent your lordship by this bearer one lb. of manus Christi, with corall, and halfepound of pouder preservatyve⁴."

Pp. 2. Add.: To my lord.

Note 1. Misread "Suffolk," by Lodge.

Note 2. What follows is in Allen's own hand.

Note 3. Om. in Lodge.

Note 4. The P.S. inaccurately printed in Lodge.

16 May 1515. Shrewsb. MSS. P.f.13. Coll. of Arms. 1893. SIR RIC. SACHEVERELL to the EARL OF SHREWSBURY.

Was asked to dinner today by the Duke of Buckingham, along with Lord Hastings and Master Vowse. "At supper I was with his grace, where it liked him to walk into ys garden, and to take me by the harm, and began to break with me as followeth: 'Sacheverll, the cause that I sent for you is to let you know part of my mind. The last day at the court it fortuned my Lord Cardinal and me to sit together without any company, [w]here he brake with me that I should let my son come to the King and the Queen, and to be acquainted. And I said to him that I had but one son, wherefore I would be loth he should come...browed, specially for dread of contageous...if he had once a wife and a child he would no[t]...him.' And he axsed, 'Why do ye not marry him' ... said he wist not where. And he answered, say[ing, 'My La]dy Salisbury has a good young lady to her [daughter.' A]nd I said I thought it were not ... [he]r daughter that I would axke, and if she did, she must leve (live) the more barly monny yerres. Then my Lord Cardinal should say, 'What sai[th he] be my Lord Steward's? Else I know none within these parts.' Then said my Lord of Buckingham, 'Nay, my lord, I know my Lord Steward's mind, that he will never marry his son without the advice of the King's grace, and there as shall be his pleasure.' 'Why, my lord,' saith he, 'this dare I promise you, that if my Lord Steward were here, the King's grace would speak to him with all his heart; and if he come not shortly, his grace will write to him with all his heart. It were both to the King's honor and surety to see you two knit together. And this shall I say that if ye vary in anything the King shall give the stroke betwixt you himself.'"

The Duke then proposed to Sacheverell cross marriages between his son and the Earl's daughter, the Earl's son and his daughter; "and to meddle with you 1,000 marks [better cheap than] with any other. And when all this wa[s]...done, his grace moved me to write and...your lordship, and he would bear my ma...And I answered that I knew not whether I should find...shortly I trust to be delivered, and then I w[ould spea]ke with you in all the premises, but my owns[war he would not] accept, but needs that I should send without delay; and he is content to tarry till Monday come se'nnight for to have knowlege of this matter."—No news but that "my Lord of Nor[thum- berland] came forth of the F[l]eet on Saturday," and was with the King on Wednesday in his privy chamber.

The jousts are to be on Monday and Tuesday: challengers, the King, Suffolk, the [Earl of Essex, Sir George] Carewe; "the defenders who w ... I here no thenc ... [b]ehond the se(beyond the sea ?) nother of the Fr[ench] King nor of the ... not lately, but I hear that my Lord of Sowthfoke with t[he French] Queen depart shortly into Northfowke and Sow[thfowke, there to rest much of this summer. I hear nothing ... the King's grace will this summer. My Lord Cardinal is [disea]sed and has been this two days, so [that] he comes not abroad nor my Lord of Durham, but no da[nger]."—Buckingham is in great favor, and says the Earl is as much beholden to my Lord Cardinal as he can be.—Is glad the Earl, my lady and the little, are so well escaped the foul sickness. "My lord, I beseech you, come no more there this summer. Your lordship is wise, and if ye should go thither again many would speak of it." London, 16 May.

Hol., pp.4, mutilated. Add.: To my singular ... my Lord ...

31 May 1515. Shrewsb. MSS. A. f. 39. Coll. of Arms. Lodge, I. 21. 1959. TH. ALEN to the EARL OF SHREWSBURY.

Was with Master Comptroller (Ponynges) and Master Ursewick yesternight. A bill has been made by the Council, waiting the King's signature, commanding the Earl to come up. Has heard nothing of it from the Cardinal, who is a great friend to the Earl. "Howbeit everything goeth not forwards as he would have it, as your lordship shall perceive by the copy of this letter which I have sent by this bearer. Here is a great snarling among divers of them, insomuch my Lord Cardinal said unto Sir Hen. Marney that the same Sir Henry had done more displeasure unto the King's grace, by the reason of his cruelty against the great estates of this realm, than any man living. My lord, the saying is, such as be head officers of the King's household shall give attendance, and be nigh the King daily, here be so many things out of order. I fear me some there be would take a thorn out of their own foot and put it in yours." The Cardinal and Sir Wm. Compton are marvellous great. Suffolk and the French Queen are out of the court and in Suffolk, as he wrote before. The Lord Marquis, the Earl of Surrey, the Lord of Abergavenny were put out of the Council chamber "within this few days, whatsoever that did mean." The Duke of Norfolk is very sick, and not likely to continue long. Buckingham went home yesterday; hath all his desires, with great thanks from the King. Advises he should write to the Cardinal and Sir Ric. Sacheverell to excuse his not coming up. Rob. Ruyston¹ left for Tournay on Thursday. Has delivered all things to him according to the Earl's commands. Forwards copy of a letter sent to the Cardinal out of Italy, "which Mr. Ursewick would, after the sight thereof, your lordship should break or burn it." Ursewick wonders the Earl does not appoint a day for the pilgrimage to Doncaster; "as knoweth our Lord, who ever hath your lordship in his blessed governance." Coldharbour, last day of May.

Hol. Add.: To my Lord.

Note 1. Kyston, in Lodge.