ADVERTISEMENT.

THE following seven Letters, written by King Edward the Sixth to his Favourite Barnaby Fitz-Patrick, were first announced to the Public by Dr. Fuller in his Church-History,* in which he printed one whole Letter, and part of another. Strype in the second Volume of his Memorials likewise mentions them, but probably on the sole Authority of Fuller.

The Originals having been carefully preserved in the Family of Fitz-Patrick, the present Earl of Upper Offory has permitted me to print a certain number of Copies at my own Prefs.

These Letters and the young King's Diary † indicate That Application to Government from which so much was expected by his Subjects and Cotemporaries. There is nothing puerile in either, nor the flighted Symptoms of a Mind perverted by Flattery, or taught to feel the arrogant Royalty of his Condition. He speaks with Modesty of the Acts of his Government, as directed by his Guardians, and says, it was fettled, it was appointed, &c.---perhaps still more Glory is due to his Tutors and Servants for not having corrupted him.

In

* Book 7, Page 409.

† Printed in the second Volume of Burnet's History of the Reformation.

[ iv ]

In one Point he seems to have missed an Opportunity of conciliating our Affection. I allude to the cold Indifference with which he speaks of the Death of his Uncle the Protector, as he has done too in his Journal, where with the fame unfeeling Exactness he notes down the Condemnation and Death of his other Uncle the Admiral.* In a Journal this may be excused---in a private Letter to his dearest Friend, there is methinks a strange Want of Tenderneſs, at least of Compassion for so near a Relation, that does not pre-judice one in Favour of the Prince. If one may be allowed to form Conjectures on a Character from such advanced Bloſsoms, I should fuppect that his Humanity was not so mature as his Understanding. It is at least a strong Prefumption that Fuller had no Reason for fupposing that the King's Conſumption was occasioned by Grief for the Death of his Uncle.†

It is more to the Honour of the Favourite, that though his Hopes were dashed so early by the Death of his royal Patron, he proved a brave, useful and loyal Subject to the two next Successors, and of unshaken Attachment to the Protestant Cause in his own Country.

Barnaby

* "Also the Lord Sudley, Admiral of England, was condemned to Death and died in March ensuing." P. 6, of the Journal in the Appendix to Burnet's Hift. of the Reform. Vol. 2.

† Page 425.

[ v ]

Barnaby Fitz-Patrick was the Heir of a most ancient and
illustrious Race, being eldest Son of Bernard, Barnaby, or
Brian Mac Gill Patrick, Chief of Upper Offory, and Head
of a Family who boats a Descent from the first Milesian King
of Ireland. The very remote Date of the Pretenfion is a
Prefumption of the greatest Antiquity. This Mac Gill Pa-
trick making his Submission in 1537 to the King's Commif-
fioners for the Settlement of Ireland, it was indentured with
him that he should be Baron of Cowchill or Castleton, and
have the Lands of Upper Offory granted to him at the yearly
Acknowledgment of three Pounds to the Crown. He was
created Baron of those Lands 33d of Henry VIII.*

By the Lady Margaret, eldest Daughter of Pierce Earl of
Ormond, he had four Sons, of whom Barnaby his Heir was
the Favourite of King Edward, and the Person to whom the
following Letters are addressed. We are told by Fuller that
He used to be beaten for the King, when the Latter deferved
it: an Evafion more destructive in a royal Education than
even in that of a common Child of Quality, as leading di-
rectly to that pernicious Maxim, a King can do no Wrong—
a sure Leffon for teaching him to do a great deal; and not
compensated by making his Minifters responsible, who in
their Turn find other Proxies to receive the Stripes. To
Fitz-Patrick at least the Correction was salutary, and laid
b
the

* Lodge's Peerage of Ireland. Vol. 2, p. 241:

[ vi ]

the Foundation of those excellent Qualities by which he afterwards distinguished himself.

From the King's own Journal we learn that Sir Robert Dudley*, and Barnabe [by which Name alone his Majesty always mentions him] weresworn two of the ordinary Gentlemen [of the Privy Chamber]. The Latter was soon after sent to France to accompany the Lord Admiral Clinton, who was to represent the King as Godfather to a new-born Son of Henry II. At that Court King Edward destined him to stay a Year, to learn the Language, to inform his Majesty of Events, and to improve himself in the Art of War. The King gave him Instructions drawn up with his own Hand, very sober and very singular, for he allows him to take a Pension from the French King, if it should be offered to him. † Barnaby went to France in October 1551, and in December was presented to the King, who treated him with Distinction, as may well be believed, since that Court was earnestly seeking to engage Edward in their War with the Emperor. In September of the following Year Edward ordered his favourite to return, having in the Interim bestowed on him two Abbeys, and confirmed to him the Grant of his Father's Lands.

The Death of his royal Master did not enervate the Spirit of Fitz-Patrick: he distinguished himself against Sir Thomas Wyat, who, I am sorry for the former's Sake to say, fell in as

* Afterwards Earl of Leicester.

† Fuller, p. 411.

[ vii ]

as good a Cause as that of any more successful Revolution; his Insurrection being levelled against the Queen's Match with Philip II. the most destructive Plan ever formed against the Laws and Liberties of this Country.

In 1558 Fitz-Patrick was knighted by the Duke of Norfolk, for his Bravery at the Siege of Leith; and the next Year was present in the first Parliament of Queen Elizabeth, held at Dublin.

His Behaviour during her Reign in support of her Authority against the great Irish Chiefs, who fought to shake off the English Yoke, is celebrated with the highest Encomiums by the Lord Deputy Sidney.* His Activity and Prudence kept the Districts under his Care in perfect Tranquility; his Caution and Valour procured the Overthrow and Death of the great Rory Oge O More, who had given so much Disturbance to the English Government. His distinguished Generosity would accept no Reward but one hundred Pounds which he distributed amongst the victorious Soldiers of his Kerne.

In 1579 Barnaby, who [I ought to have said] had succeeded to the Honour of Upper Offery, marched with the Lord Deputy against another Irish Chieftain, James Fitz-Maurice, who had brought over some Spaniards. For this Service he received a Pension from England and other Gifts, and

* V. Lodge ubi supra.

[ viii ]

and the Lord Deputy represented him to his Successor as a
Model and Exemplar of a perfect Commander.

He married Joan, Daughter of Sir Roland Euftace, Vis-
count Baltinglafs, and dying about September 1581, left
only one Daughter and Heirefs, Margaret, first Wife of
James Lord Dunboyne. His Barony defcended to Florence,
his Brother.

These few Notices of a Man who made so great a Figure
by his Merit, after he had miffed making a more ſhowy
one by Favour, would I thought be ſatisfactory to ſuch as
ſhall perſufe the Letters. For them probably no Apology
will be thought neceſſary. On the contrary I will conclude
with a Paſſage from Fuller, pointed out to me by an eminent
Antiquary* and Friend of mine;

" If Papifts ſuperſtitiouſly preſerve the Fingers, Teeth, yea, Locks of Hair, of their pretended Saints; wonder not if I prize the ſmallest Reliques of this gracious Prince."

H. W.

Sept. 30, 1771.

* The Reverend Mr. William Cole, who tranſcribed the Letters and added the Notes.

Original

Original Letters from King EDWARD VI.
To BARNABY FITZ-PATRICK.

LETTER I.

Suo charissimo &
amantissimo Barnabæ.

TIBI ingentes Gratias ago, mi charissime Dñe Barnaba,
quia ad me scripseris. Verumetiam ut tibi referrem
Literas quanq Tempus vix sufficiat, ne ingratus viderer ad te
scripSI Literas has, ut ætiam tibi dicerem me rogavisse Avun-
culum meum ut vos accerfere poſſe, eumq velle te adefſſe
Cras. Saluta D. Or. & D. Br. dicaſq Tempus mihi deefſe
ut ad eos ſcriberem. Vale 90 Maij, Die Mercurii Vefperi
Hora octava Secundo novæ Lunæ.

Tui amantissimus

.E. REX.

On the Back of this firſt Letter, which was probably written be-
fore Mr. Fitz-Patrick left England, are theſe different Sentences,
all ſeemingly in the fame Hand with the Letter and Direction :
but *Lytere Regis* is in another Hand. W. C.

Meq mei Cauſa Doloris.

Meaq mecũ porto.

Icidit in Syllam qui vult evitare Carybden.

Tu ventre extenta judica de pingui Polenta.

Nonne Diavol Amor, nonne eſt mala Coda Cupido?

Que facit favios Hoies tot habere Pazzias.

A

[ 2 ]

LETTER II.

EDWARD.

WE have received your Lettres of the 8 of this present
Monthe, whereby we understand how yow are well
entertained, for which we are right glad, and also how yow
have been procured once to goe a pilgrimag. For which Cauſe
we have thought good to advertize yow, that hereafter if any
such Chaunce happen, yow ſhall desire Leave to goe to Mr.
Pikering, or to Paris, for your Buſineſs, and if that will not
ſerve, to declare to some Man of Estimation, with whome
yow are beſt acquainted, that as yow are loth to offend the
French King bicauſe yow have bene ſoe favourablie uſed, ſo
with ſaſſ Conſcience yow can not doe any ſuch Thing, being
brought up wt me, and bounde to obey my Lawes. Also
that yow had Commaundmēt from me to the contrary.

Furthermore yow ſhal remember, whē yow may conveni-
ently be absēt from the Court, to tary wth... Pikering,
and to be inſtructed by him, how to uſe yourſelf. For Wo-
men, as farforth as yow may, avoyde their Company. Yet
if the French King commaunde yow, yow may ſomtime
daunce, ſo Meaſur be your Meane. Els aplie yourſelf to
riding, ſhoting or Tennes, wth ſuch honeſt Games. Not
forgetting ſometim, whē yow have Leaſur, your Lerning,
chefely reading of the Scripture. This i write, not doubting
but yow wold have done ſoe though i had not written, but

to

Yet if yow be  
vehemently  
procured yow  
may goe as  
waiting on  
the King, not  
as intending  
to the Abufe,  
nor willingly  
ſeing the Ce-  
remonies, and  
ſo yow loke  
on the Maſse,  
but in the  
meane Seaſon  
reade the  
Scripture, or  
ſom good  
Boke, and give  
no Reverece  
to the Maſse  
at all.

[ 3 ]

to spurre yow.................. Y..................
of 1200 Crounes yow shall receive either Monthly or Quarterly by Bartholomew Campaigns Factor in Paris. He hath Warrant to receive it by here, and hath written to his Factor to deliver it yow there.

We have signed your Bill for Wages of the Chamber
which Fizwilliams hath. Likewise we have sent a Lettre
into Irland, to our Deputy, that he shall take surrender of
your Fathers Landes, and to make again other Lettres Pa-
tentes that these Landis shall be to him, yow and your Heires
lawfully begotten for Ever, adioyning thereto tow Religious
Howses yow spake for.

Little hath been done here fins yow went, but the Duks of
Somerset Arraignment of Felonious Treason, and the Mufters
of the new erected Gendarmery.

The Duke the first of this Month was brought to West-
myster Hall, where fate as Juge, or High-Stuard, my Ld
Treafaurour. 26 Lordes of the Parliement went on his Tri-
all. Enditemet was redd. which were several. Some for
Treason. Some for traiterous Felony. The Lawers redd
how Paulmir had confessed, that the Duke once minded, and
made him prevy, to raife the North, after to cal the Duke
of Northumberland, the Marquis of Northampton, and th'
erle of Penbroke to a Feaft, and so to have flaine them. And
to doe this thing (as it was to be thought) had levied Me 100
at his House at London. Wich was scanned to be Treason,
bicaufe

[ 4 ]

bicaufe unlawful Affembleis for such Purpofes was Treaſon
by an Act made in the laſt Sefſions. Alio how the Duke of
Somerſ: minded to ſlay the Horſes of the Gendarmes, and to
raife London. Crane confefſed alſo the murdering of the
Lordes in a Banket. &amp; Miles Partrig confefſid the raiſing of
London. Hammon his Man having a Watch at Grenwich
of 20 weaponed Mē to reſiſt, if he had be arrestid. And this
confefſed both Partrig and Paulmer. He anſwerid, that whē
he levied Men at his Houſe, he mēt no ſuch Thing, but only
to defend himſelf. The Reſt very barly anſwerid. After
debating of the Matter from 9 a Cloke to three, the Lordes
wēt together, and there wayyng that the Matter ſeamed only
to touche there Lifes, although afterward more Inconveni-
ence might have followed, and that Men might thinke they
did it of Malice, acquitted him of High Treaſon, and con-
demned him of Felony, wich he ſeamed to have confefſid.
He hearing the Judgment fell down on his Knees, and
thanked them for his open Triall. After he aſked Pardon
of the Duke of Northumberland, the Marquis &c. whom
he confefſid he mēt to deſtroy, although before he ſware ve-
hemently to the contrary. The next Day after he confefſid,
how he had promiſed Bartiville to deliver him out of Prifon,
if he wold kill the Duke of Northumberland.

The Muſtars was of 1000 Men of Armes the 7 of this
Prefent. They had noe Pages, Queſtrells nor Demilaunces,
but al wel armed, and ſoe horſed as was never ſene, i dare
fay,

[ 5 ]

say, so many good Horses, and so well armed Men. We thinke yow thal see in Fraunce none like.... Thus fare yow well. From Westmyfter the 20 of December A°. Dni. 1551.

No Direction appears to this second Letter, which is partly printed by Fuller, from Little hath ben done here to the End. W. C.

## LETTER III.

To our welbeloved Sarvaunt Barnabe Fizpatrike, one of the Gentlemen of our Prevy Chamber.

dd'

### EDWARD.

WE have received your Lettres of the 28 of December, wherby we perceive your Conftancy, both in avoyd-ing al Kind of Vices, and alſo in following all Thinges of Activite, or otherwife, that be honeft and mete for a Gen-tleman, of the wich we ar not a little gladde, nothing doubt-ing your Continuaunce therin. We understand alſo by cer-tein Lettres you ſent to th'erle of Penbroke and Mr. Vice-chamberlain, that ye have ſome Lakke of Mulettis, and that ye deſire to have ſent to yow ſome of ours. Wherupon we have confiderid that our Mulettis being old and lame, will doe you but little Service, and at leaſt leſſe than good ones

B

bought

[ 6 ]

bought there. For which Caufe we have willed Bartholomew
Campagne to deliver you 300 Crounes, by Exchaung, for
the bieng of your tow Mulettis, over and befides your for-
mer Allowance. Hier we have little Newes at this Prefent,
but only that the Chaleng that ye hard of bifor your Going,
was very well accomplished. At Tilte there came 18 De-
fendauntis, at Tournay 20. At Barrieres the fought 8 to 8,
a Twelf Night. This laft Chriftmas hathe bene well and
merely paft. Afterward ther was rone a Match at Tilte, 6
to 6, which was very well ronne.

Also bicaufe of the L. Riches Sikenes, the Bishop of Ely
was made Chauncellour of Englaunde, during the Parlie-
ment.

Of late here hath bene fuch a Tide heire as hath over-
flowen al Medowes and Marſhes. Al th'ifle of Dogges, al
Plumſted Marſhe, al Sheppey Foulnes in Eſſex, and all the
Sea Coaſt was quite drouned. We here that it hath done no
leſſe Harme in Flandres, Holland and Zellaund, but much
more. For Townes and Citeis have ben their drouned.

We are advertized out of Almaine, that Duke Moris is
tourned from th'emperour, and he with the Proteſtauntes
levieth Men, to deliver the old Duke of Sax, and the Landf-
grave out of Prifon.

The Caufe of our Slownes in writing this Letter, hath ben
Lake of Meſſangers, els we had written before Time.

Now

[ 7 ]

Now shortly we will prove how ye have profited in the French Toung, for within a While we will write to youe in Frenche. Thus we make an Ende, wifhing you asmoch Good as ourself. At Westmifter the 25 of January 1551.

I have since received your Lettris of the 19 of this In-Itaunte, affuring you that i ame the gladder, the oftener i here frome yow.

The Addrefs or Direction is in the King's Writing. On the Outside of the Letter, in another Hand, is this, xxvth of January 1551. from the King's Matie.

## LETTER IV.

To our welbeloved Servant
Barnabe Fizpatrike.

### EDWARD.

WE have received your Lettres, dated at Paris the 12 of this Inſtaunt, and also Mr. Pikeringes Letter written to our truſti and welbeloved Couſen the Duke of Northumberland, on your Behalf, wherby we parceive both the great Preparacion for the Warres wich the French King . . . . . . maketh, and also how . . . . . . . . . . . . . ſhed of al Things me . . . . goe ſuch a Jorney, ſo that he . . . . . h that your Coſtes wil not be bo . . . under thre Hundred Pounds.

Wher-

["[ 8 ]", "Wherupon we have given Order to Bartholomew Cam-\npaigne for to deliver yow in Paris 800 French Crounes over\nand befides al Moneys fent yow heretofore, and befide your\nDiet. Also wheras yow feme to find a Lake for the Moilet-\ntis, ther was apointed to yow 300 French Crounes, for the\nbieng of the fame, bicaufe they could not be wel transfported.\nAlso Order is gevin for your Horfis to be caried over to yow\nw't Diligence, wich we truft ſhal like yow wel.", "We . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[ 9 ]

LETTER V.

To our trutie and welbeloved
Servaït Barnabe Fizpatric,

dd'

EDWARD.

THE Caufis whi we have not hitherto writen unto you,
have partly bē the Lakke of a convenient Meffanger,
partly bicaufe we ment to have fome Things worthie writing
erere we wold write any Thing. And therfor being now al-
moſt in the Middel of our Journey wich we have undertaken
this Somer, we have thought good to advertife how fins our
laſt Letters dated at Grenwich, we departed from and to-
ward a Thing far contrary to that wherin, as we perceive by
your diligēt Advertisemēt, you, and al the Country you ar
in, ar occupied. For wheras you al have bē occupied in
killing of your Enemies, in long Marchings, in peined Jour-
neys, in extreme Heat, in ſore Skirmifhings, and divers Af-
faultes, we have bē occupied in killing of wild Beftes, in
pleasāt Journeyes, in good Fare, in vewing of fair Countries,
and rather have fought how to fortifie our owne, thē to
ſpoyle another Mans.

And being this determined cà to Gilford, frome thēs to
Petworth, and ſo to Coudray, a goodly Houſe of Sir Antho-
ny Brounes, where we were marvelouſly, yea rather excef-

C

ſively

[ 10 ]

fively banketted. From thēs we went to Halvenaker, a
prety Houſe beſides Chicheſtir. From thēs we went to
Warblington, a faire Houſe of S- Richard Cottons, and ſo
to Whaltā, a faire great old Houſe, in Times paſt the Bifhop
of Wincheſtirs, and now my L. Treaſaurours Houſe. In al
theis Places we had both good Hunting and good Chere.
Frome thēs we went to Portifmouth Toune, and there view-
ed, not only the Toune itſelf, and the Haven, but alſo di-
vers Bulwarkes, as Chatertons, Haſelford, wt. other. In
vieuing of wich we find the Bulwarkes chargeable, maſſe,
wel rampared, but il ſacioned, il flanked, and ſet in unmete
Places, the Toune weake in Compariſon of that it ought to
be, to houge great, (for w'tin the Wallis ar faire and large
Cloſis, and much vacant Rome,) the Haven notable great,
and ſtanding by Nature eaſie to be forteſed. And for the
more Strenght thereof we have deviſed two ſtrong Caſtellis
on either Side of the Havē, at the Mouth therof. For at
the Mouth the Havē is not paſt tenſcore over, but in the
Middel almoſt a Mile over, and in Lenght for a Mile and an
hauſ hable to beare the greateſt Ship in Chriſtendome.
Frome thēs we wēt to Tichfeld th'erle of Southāptons Houſe,
and ſo to Southampton Toune. The Citeſens had beſtowed
for our Comeng great Coſt in peinting, repairing and rem-
paring of their Wallis. The Toune is anſome, and for the
Bignes of it, as faire Houſes as be at London. The Citeſeins
made

[ II ]

made great Chere, and many of thē kept costly Tables.
Frome Southampton we came to Beuley, a little Village in
the Middel of the New-Forreſt, and so to Chriſtchurch,
another little Toune in the fame Forreſt, where we now be.

And having advertised you of al this, we thinke it not
good to trouble yow any further wth Newes of this Countrye,
but only that at this Time the moſt Part of Englād (Thankis
be to God) is clere of any daungerouſe or infecciouſe Sike-
nes. We have received al your Lettres of the 26 of May, of
the 19 of June, and the firſt Auguſt. Thus fare yow wel.
From Chriſtchurch the 22 of Auguſt.

On the Outſide of this fifth Letter, (which is printed by Fuller) in
another Hand from the Direction and Letter, both in the King's
Writing, is this, *From the King*. W. C.

LETTER VI.

To Barnaby Fitzpatrick.

EDWARD.

AFTER our right harty Recommēdacions unto you, this
ſhal be to ſignifie to you, how yth aswel upō Confide-
racion of your long Abſence from us, one holle Yere almoſt
being expired, as alſo for divers other Caufes us therunto
moving,

[ 12 ]

moving, which yow fhal the perfectlier know at your comming
hither, we have thought good to call you Home again at this
Prefent, with as much Expedition, as yow w't your Eafe cā
conveniently make. And for that Pourpofe, you, or Mr.
Pikering for you (if you ſo thinke good) to declare to the
French King, that wheare yow have waited on his Maiesty
for this Yere paſt, now confidering the dead Time of the
Yeare for Warris draweth nere, yow ar determined to re-
paire Homward to your Countre, to viſit your Frendes, de-
claring that for your Part, yow wil at any other Time, whē
he fhal have Nede, w't Leave of your Maſter, ſearve him w't
al you can make, w't other ſuch good Wordes, requiring
his Maiesties good Leave for the fame Purpofe. Wich whē
you have, you fhal repaire to our Prefence w't as much Haſt
as conveniently yow can make.

For Occurrences here, we leave to write the bicaufe of
your ſoone Acceſſe hether, ſave only that we, fins our laſt
Lettres dated at Chriſtchurch the 7 of Auguſt, we have ſeen
our Tounes of Salisbury and Winchefter, Newbery and Red-
ing, and ſo returned to this Caſtel in good Helth.

Further for Siknes, i heare of no Place whear any Sweat
or Plage hath reigned, but only in Briſtow, and in the
Countre nere about. Some ſuſpected it to be among a few
in the Toune of Poole in Dorſetfhier, but i thinke rather
nat. For i was w'in three Mile of it and leſſe, and yet no

Mā

[ 13 ]

Mā feared it. And thus God have yow in his Keeping.
Writtē at our Caſtel of Windſour the 24 Day of Septēber,
the Sixt Yere of our Raigne. A°. Dñi 1552.

Query, if his Majesty did not make a Miftake, when he ſays, as
above, that his laſt Letter dated from Chriſtchurch, was of the
7 of Auguſt? I am ſatisfied it is dated Auguſt 22, as the ori-
ginal Letter is before me. It is hardly probable that he con-
tinued there from Auguſt 7 to the 22d: and even then, the 7th
could not be the laſt Letter, as this of the 22d was later.

On the Back of this Letter, but not in the King's Hand, no more
than the Direction, is The Kinges Matie. Letters by Franc) ye. Poſt
ye. of Septembre. W. C.

LETTER VII.

To our welbeloved
Sarvañt Barnabe
Fizpatrik.

EDWARD.

HAVING now diſpacht one to our Embaſſadour for cer-
tein our Affaires, we have thought by him to write
unto yow, how we hitherto hearing that the French King
rather ſeaketh to kepe Home the to reſcue his Townes, do
now loke for yow here ſhortly. And we therfor writ this
Lettre to yow, bicaufe yow might understand that we geave
D yow

[ 14 ]

yow Leave to cum Hō at such Time, and upon such Occa-
fion, as unto yow, and our Embassadour, shall be thought.

Sēde me Word, or bring Tidinges yourself wither our
Lettres of the last Month sent by Monf Villandry becūme to
your Handes. And thus we bidde yow Farewel. Frō West-
mifter, the 14 of November, A°. Dñi 1552.

On the Back of this seventh and last Letter is wrote, in a different
Hand from the Direction and Letter, both of which are in the
King's own Writing, *From the Kinges Majesty*. The Seal of red
Wax is rubbed off. W. C.

F I N I S.