Acts of the Privy Council, 1578 - 1590. Edited by John Roche
Dasent. (Eyre and Spottiswoode.)—There are many interesting and significant entries relating to both public and private affairs in this volume. Relations with Spain were becoming strained, though there is an evident anxiety not to give offence. Prepara- tions were made for defence, especially of the South Coast. Seamen were pressed, and there were musters in the counties. Some mischievous person had fired the beacon on Portsea Down He is to be punished—unless it was an accident—but her Majesty thanks the country for the zeal with which it answered the call. We hear very little of France ; one demand for reparation is made. Cases of piracy are not uncommon. A complaint is made against the inhabitants of Waileston, in Norfolk, for spoiling the goods of a ship cast away. One of the most curious items is a letter concerning one Mantel', who had been condemned for giving out that King Edward was alive, had been reprieved, and had afterwards escaped from Colchester Castle. How minute the supervision of the Council was may be seen from the fact that a twenty-ton smack, with" 2 men, a boy, and a master," is specially licensed for a voyage to Flushing to fetch fresh fish ; the license is dated March 20th, and the Lenten demand was doubtless great. Persons have "placarts " given them entitling them to have horses for journeys, exactly after the fashion of the Roman diplomata. The call for men for Ireland goes on pretty con- stantly. On August 3rd, 1579, we hear of two thousand men from the S.W. counties and from Wales ; in the same month three hundred soldiers from the garrison of Berwick, and two hundred cavalry from York. The " diette and transporting of 60 horsemen and 300 footemen " cost £123 4s. Three per- sons, one of them a vicar, are accused of having taken bribes and used other dishonest practises in changing of soldiers ap• pointed for the service of Ireland. It is quite possible that Shakespeare drew a portrait from life when he shows us Falstaff recruiting.
Previous page
