Reference: TNA, SP 84/34/247 f.247r-248v
Citation: DCB/001/HTML/0217/008
Date: September 1589
Note: Instructions. There is a wide left hand margin of approx. 3 inches.
Copy of: 0862
lettertext
fol.247r
Especiall poinctes to bee speedely performed by Master Bodiley Assistant for her Majestie in the Councell of Estate in the Lowe Countreis.
Fyrst that you peruse all sutch Actes as were procured by the Assistantes in Councell before you and committed unto you by your predecessor at hys departure, and of those which shall concerne the Musters, Lystes or Rates for pay of her Majesties Forces, to deliver Copies to the MusterMaster for his better direccion in Conference with the States or the Committies towching the affaires of his office nowe in question for her Majesties treasure disbursed in the tyme of the Earle of Leicesters goverment.
And wheras the States deputes here now seeme to disallowe the Rates of paymentes for horse and Footebandes established by the Earle of Leicester, with all deadd payes, by his Lpp allowed to bee distributed amonge Corporalls, gentleman, Muske- tiers and other officers for encrease of their paye, as matters different or repugnant to the Contract, wherby her Majestie should in the Rembursement loose Fourty thowsand powndes at the least of her Treasure expended for theire Service: yf the Assistantes have not procured sufficient Actes of Councell there or otherwise kept perfect Recordes and good Memorialls to testifie the consent of the States generall or Councell of Estate, It is allso required that you doe furthwith Certefie what hath byn doone in this important matter. The MusterMaster that was in his Lps tyme averring playnly that they did accord unto all those Rates esta- blished by his Lpp: and that him self did both by Mowth & letters often putt the said, Assistantes in Remembrance to sett downe actes in Councell to testifie there said consent, the which is likely they have doone accordingly, Considering the Importaunc[e] thereof & how mutch her Majestie might otherwise bee damnifide upon the Rembu[rsement]
And whereas allso the Lo: Willoughby upon the signyng of the last warrau[nt] unto the xijth of October 1588, Cessed no further Checque then the inferiour Commissaries resident of Musters presented, Respiting all other observacions & Intelligences discovered by the MusterMaster generall untill farther consideracion might bee had thereof. for that the said MusterMasters advertizementes are likely to prove very beneficiall to her Majestie and the States allso complayne of greater weakenesse then hath byn discovered by the most strict Musters. Wee thincke yt convenient that the said MusterMaster in examynacion therof use the assistance of some other of her Majesties chief officers there. which have no bandes them selves in such matters as ex officio hee cannot safely of him self determyne: Wherin wee require you (upon Request) to aide him, and to caull unto yow such others as you and hee shall Fynde most sufficient and Fytt for the purpose &c./
Moreover whereas yt is concluded with the States, that (upon the ending of those warrs) her Majestie shalbee repaied all such charges as her Hi: shall sustaigne for the mayntenance of her Forces there: Yt shalbee most convenient for the service & the better keaping of orderly Courses hereafter in theis ymportant affaires, that no difference may happen betwixt her Majestie and the States (what theise Charges expended may amount unto) that Indented Recordes, Listes, abreviates, & other Remembrances bee carefully kept betwixt her Majestieses MusterMaster and some other like officer of theires to bee appointed by the States, aswell for that purpose, as the diligent examinacion, conference, and Comptrollment of the Muster rolles, bookes for demaunde of paye and other advertizementes presented: whereby the present doubtes and difficulties may bee indifferently determyned & nothing passe without their pryvitie and consent according to the Contract, as theire Deputes fol.247v
Deputes have vehemently Ymportuned: the which if it have not byn hitherto [[.]] parformed, them selves have byn chiefly to blame as will plainly bee proved her Majestie desiring to have them no further charged upon Rembursement the[[n]] with the principall somes only disbursed, according to such autentick R[ecord] as shalbee mutually kept by officers aucthorized on both partes &c.
And for that there is great presumption of Corrupcion & abuse in some Com- missaries untollerable, whereof wee have receaved manye Complaintes Wee further desier yow to assist the said MusterMaster, in discipheringe therof upon Information geven, and by the pryvitie and Consent of the Councell of Estate, to allter or displace sutch as shalbe found Faulty that others more sufficient may bee appointed to their Roomes as hat[h] byn accustomed for prevention or reformation of sutch Enormities an[d] disobedience as hath byn used for the better service of her Majestie hereafter Certefyeng us under your handes what shalbee doone therein./
Finally for that the MusterMaster shall have contynuall occasion of Conference with the States generall & Councell of Estate concerninge her Majesties Service in theis intricate affaires of Musters. aswell for the matters past as the present confused Accomptes: Wee fynde yt convenient for many serviceable respectes that hee have Free accesse unto the Councell of Estate to propounde and Communicate with them such pointes as he shall fynde con- venyent for her Majesties benefite and Service according to the Contract and orders established, wherwith you shall acquaint the said Councell.
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