BL Caligula, c. iii, 381

BL MSS Cotton Caligula, c. iii, 381
Wright: Queen Elizabeth and her Times Vol 1, 1838, No. 209 page 432
Sir Thomas Gargrave to Lord Burghley, York, 23rd of August, 1572

Transcribed by Thomas Wright

My bounden duty humbly remembered to your Honor, it may please the same to be advertised, that so farre as may appeare by any talk or doings of the late Earl of Northumberland, at or before his deathe (1), he contynued obstynate in religion, and declared he would die a Catholicke of the Pope's churche. He accompted his offences nothing, and especially after he heard he should die, but before he seemed to confesse he had offended, and would greve lyke it, saying, he dyd that he dyd by compulsion, and for fear of his lyfe.
He confessed he was reconcyled to the Pope : he affirmed the realme was in a schisme, and there all were sysmaticks, he said there was neither pity nor mercy. In his talk with dyvers, he named himselfe Simple Thome, and said, "Simple Thome must dye to set up cruel heresy." At his death he wished his brother (2) to be of his religion, and that if he had his lyvings he trusted he wold pay his detts, and helpe his children and servants.
He dyd not there either pray for the Quene's Majestie, nor even wyshed her well, nor yet wold confesse he had offended her Majestie, wherat many was offended, and thought he had no dutiful consyderation of her Majestie, and on the other syde the stiff-necked Papists rejoiced much of his stedfastness in their crede of popish religion (3), I beseeche the Almighty to preserve the Quene's Majestie, and all good subjects from their deceitfull and cruell practises, the which, in my opinion, they intend, if tyme wold serve. They have too muche lybertye and scope, and wax hard-hearted, wylfull, and stoborn. The Lord resist their malyce, and defend his elect and all the good and Christian people.
And thus beseeching your Honor to beare with my boldnes, I cease to trouble you, humbly beseeching the Almighty long to preserve your good Lordship in helth and honor. From Yorke, in hast, the 23rd of August, 1572. Your Honor's ever humble to commande,

Thomas Gargrave

(1) The Earl of Northumberland was delivered by Morton for a sum of money to the English, who, since the discovery by the letters in Lord
Seaton's ship, of the practises for his escape into Flanders, had been more eager to obtain possession of him. He was immediately conveyed to York, condemned of high treason, and executed there on the 22nd of August. A ballad on his delivery to the English is printed in Percy's Reliques. In MS. Cotton. Calig. B. iv. p. 243, are preserved the following verses by a partisan of the Earl : “The copie of a ryme made by one Singleton, a Gentleman of Lancashire, now Prisoner at York for Religion.
“A dolefull time of weping tears
To woefull plaintes do best agree,
But nowe suche time my song requires
As never erst was wont to be.
Such heavie hap of cruell spite
More than my hand and pen can write
. I lothe to tell howe nowe of late
That cruell Scotland hath procurde
The slander of their realme and state
By promise broken most assurde :
Which shamefull act from mynde of man
Shall not departe, do what they can,
The noblest Lord of Percie kinde,
Of honour and possessions faire,
As God to him the place assigned,
To Scottishe grounde made his repaire ;
Who, after promise manifolde,
Was last betrayed for Englishe golde.
Who shall hereafter trust a Scott,
Or who will do that nation good,
That so themselves do stayne and blott
In selling of suche noble blood,
Let Lordes of this a mirror make,
And in distresse that land forsake,
Their lordes and limmors are forlorne,
Their people cursd of each degree,
Their faith and promise all to-torne,
And rumor ring it to the skie,
How they for money sold their gest
Unto the shambles like a beast.
Loughleven now is lost for aye,
Sithe Duglasse did so fowle a dede ;
Thus will all men hereafter saye ;
When we are gone they shall it rede,
That Scotland is a cursed ground,
The like I know cannot be found.
The Pearcie's storke, an ancient foe
To Scottish lowndes in fielde,
Yet did he still relieve their woe
If once the man did yelde
Unto his Prince and contrie's praise,
As noblemen have noble ways.
O cruel envie with thy stinge,
O great desire of heapes of golde,
Ye shulde before have weighed this thinge,
The cause of mischiefe manifolde ;
For envie makes men do amisse ;
Croked covetise did all this.
The Scottes have done the worst they maye,
And now did frame some grief therefore,
But whatsoever they thinke or saye …."

(2) Sir Henry Percy.
(3) Saunders says, that the Earle "suffered martyrdom."