Letter from Sir Francis Walsingham to the Lords of the Privy Council

f [1] (26 May)

After my veary hartie comendations wher as by meanes of a double conveyence made by one Iohn Napton ther is a matter nowe incontrouersie betwene Mr Edwarde Bowes master of her maiestis game of Parryes garden, and one Diggs and Gape, towchinge a lease of certaine grounde, and other things in the saide garden, which matter hathe hertofore bin harde by certaine of her maiestis Councell, whereof my self was one appointyd in that behalf, at which tyme ther was suche order takin in the same, as the truthe and equitie of the cause then requird, since when I am infurmyd the saide Diggs, and Gape hathe comensid a shewett by action of trespas in the kings bench againste one Glover, a man of Mr Bowes, who hathe not otherwaies to do in the cause then comynge on the grounde as any other man might do, and prosedinge to tryall Mr Bowes being in the countrye and not made acquaintyd withall, theie with vearye fewe and as I am infurmyd veary vnsuffitient witnes hathe gotten a verditt againste the saide Glover, wherby theie meane to disturbe the quiett possession of the saide Mr Bowes, and quiett beinge of her maiestis game ther; for remedy wherof, I vnderstande ther was (before the verdict paste) a bill framyd in the behalfe of Mr Bowes, and exhibetid into your Courte, whervppon as it seamith vppon reasonable cause and good consideration an Iniuntion was awardid, wherin it was allowed, that the saide Diggs and Gape might procede if so theie woulde in their shewett againste Glover at the comon Lawe but ther with inioynd, that theie should not do anythinge that should disturbe the quiett possession of the saide Edwarde Bowes vntill suche tyme as the matter might be harde befoore yow at large, wher in all indifferencie might be vsid, and eyethers right vppon good examynation might well appeare, which beinge comune nowe almost readie to the hearinge, the Saide Diggs, and Gape fearinge as it seamithe so good and indifferinte tryall as might be had before yow, haue mouid (as I learne) to be dismissid againe to the common Lawe; Thes are therfore ernistely to intreate yow to contynewe the Iniunction, and houlde the cause still before yow, vntill the same be fully harde, and witnises produced, and examynid of bothe parties, by meanes wher of the truthe of the cause being knowen vnto yow, Yow maye tacke suche further order, and good ende according<.> to lawe, and equitie, as the same shall requier, wher in yow shall do a veary good deade by avoydinge suche licke strife and quarrels as to the hurte, and daunger of the lifes of many aboute the saide possession heretofore hathe happend, wherto intreting yow to have good regarde I bed yow right hartely farewell from the Courte this xxvj^th of Maye

Your vearye Loving ffreind

(signed) Francis Walsyngham