Transcript

[fol. 69r] 27 April: 1571 From William Herle to the Lo: Burghley

I hope my Lord that theis thinges will proceed well for yesterday I writt to the B: enclosing Charles cipher all to torne in the same and this morning he receaved them making great nicenesse to answere me But in the end he hath writen with his owne hand as you may see herein & I presently sending another lre doe attend for his replye whereby your L: shall perceave howe far he deales with me & where he may halt with you and the Councell, for by this presente you have the Copy of all thinges passed betweene us desirous to knowe your L: liking as I goe forward & to be holpen & amended where the same may seeme necessary./

The Irishe B: woulde fayne goe into the comon gaole pretending some want of money as this bearer can tell you (yet I am privy) to xxli he hath in his purse, but your L: must see to that, either in taking order with the Keeper or removing him to the Tower, for otherwise great matter wilbe discovered, Likewise there is one Dethick a very ranck & buisy Papist is continually conferring with Muckinson the Scott & sending abrode, So as for example sake either by words or worke, he is to be restrayned, for he blusters out whatsoever he thincks & carryeth a very ill minde to the state, I tooke a payer of shackells on yesterday of purpose, whiles I went into the garden & that hath astonied the Scott & all those of the house mervaylously, The Scott told John Pole in secrett that Charles had 3 or 4 ciphers by rote and one principle he used to keepe noe writinges by him, so as he feared noe interception either of lres about him or of any disovery of his Alphabet which rather was untitled then in my paper, which partly might appeare in that he was serched at Dover & the same not found, But yet it may please your L: to serche his cap well, & that I may knowe yf your L: so vouchsafe, what writinges were found about him I have no money neither to feede my man nor to send him to & fro the B. much lesse to use in other necessary partes apperteyning to this service, having sent your L: yesterday in the bundell[fol. 69v] bundell that Master Tremayne and Master wynnibanck had, a reckoning howe the later 50li was bestowed whereof there is some surplusage coming to me, Thus humbly taking my leave, from Close Prison, the 27 of Aprill, 1571 / Your L. most humbly W Herle