Virtual Grub Street: George North to William Herle, January 3, 1581 [N.S.][Spelling Modernized].

Thanks to the Letters of William Herle Project¹ we have access to this letter from George North to the Elizabethan self-taught polyglot and spy William Herle (apparently pronounced hear-ly). As the result of her usual exceptional work, Nina Green informs us that George was the brother of Edward, the 1^st Baron North.² He is generally known, of recent times, for the manuscript entitled A Brief Discourse of Rebellions & Rebels (1576).³

William Herle was imprisoned and held in solitary confinement for an extended period of time for piracy. He was released after having been of use to Baron Burghley in a matter — a common pattern for recruiting spies. Upon being released he was rumored to have participated in conspiracies against Burghley and others in the government. Shortly after, Herle became an agent of the Burghley for the remainder of his life. It was shortly after that North finished A Brief Discourse.

The date of this letter is a particular benefit. At this point, North knows Herle well and is reporting the news at Elizabeth's court like so many agents of so many courtiers unable to be continuously present. He is likely living nearby — being too low in the hierarchy to merit or afford rooms in Whitehall or any of the other palaces — and attending regularly. The main item of court news at the time was Edward de Vere's scandalous accusation that Henry Howard, Charles Arundel and others were practicing Catholics plotting against the Queen. North is so familiar with the principals that he rehearses their nicknames for Herle. De Vere, the Earl of Oxford, is nick-named “ Monsieur Le Comte,” Howard “hasty,” and Arundel “fine” for the fact that he wears a lot of perfume.

My good & especial dear friend, master Herlle, how much these that love you do lack you, & specially in these dangerous times your own proof in oft pleasuring them, doth best know: The Portuguese causes be utterly quailed, for don Antonio is distressed & besieged in a Nunnery, which house the Spaniards will not violate till they have received license & pardon from their pope: notwithstanding Doctor Lopez giveth out to the contrary / it is thought John Young is gone for the Islands or else (being safe) he would not have missed all these fair winds / Master Stafford came to the court the 26. of December what news he brought may be supposed by the company and countenance he had here. For I saw him the 27. walk [***] on the Terrace, having no more to confer withal but his shadow. The 29. the L. hasty Haward, Charles Arundell, & fine Southwell powdered with perfumes, were examined at my Lord Chancellor's, (Monsieur Le Comte de O (as I hear) being their accuser) where they answered so discreetly for themselves, as they are ^closelie &^ safely looked unto, for losing: The L. [hastie⁴] at my L Chancellor's, Arundell at master Vice Chamberlain's, & Southwell at the Fleet but a stronger place provides for some of better countenance (as I hear) God send them in quickly if they be faulty, & to receive due reward to their deserts: now the spring is discovered I trust the head will be speedily found & their ^water^ course altered to their own destruction / My L. Chamberlain & my lady was not at the court on New Year's Day for his honor is sick at Barnsey, my L. Treasurer lieth lame of the Gout the more pity, & my L. of Lecestar with all your other honorable friends are in health: but specially the Queen's Majesty (God be praised for it) never more pleasant or lusty, which I hope the heavenly prince of all will long preserve, to the joy & comfort of all true hearted English men / and thus far for an orator / Our Irish actions remain as they were but nothing so dangerous as our papists hoped: Captain Peerce dwells in the same terms he did, [ ... ] fair, performed at leisure, & I your poor friend quails not so long as it is in question: I hope with others, though I cannot continue it so well, and puet etre we may be all deceived: But howsoever I rest in all fortunes your faithful & assured to command George North.

Master Ledsam as myself hath him commended unto you, love me still & let me hear again from you. London the 3 January 81.

[Postscript perpendicular in the left hand margin:] postscript. After I had ended this letter (as you see) news was brought in that John Young was come to the Court: who there I presently went to have spoken with him, & could not: yet spake with Captain Peerce my Cousin Roberts & with Ledsam who had the whole discourse of all, don Rodorico is returned with him as poor as may: they suppose Don Antonio is fled into France, he was once aboard an Englishman & offered 1000 Duckets with more for his passage hither, the faint hartyd varlets refused him, so as he was faint to enter into a frenchman who went a way with him) yet to what place he know[s] not: he made as he saith the vice admiral of the Spanish fleet strike unto him, & how the King hath at the Ora[ ... ] 30. armados 40. sail of tall ships & 40 sail of other smaller, the sea is full of them / 'tis more I heard at the court, for troth that the Earl of Kildar, the L. of Uprossar & one other L. is in hand: god confound all her Majesty's enemies.

1Letters of William Herle Project 2006 AHRC Centre for Editing Lives and Letters www.livesandletters.ac.uk

Transcript ID: HRL/002/PDF/068. Transcription of BL MS Cotton Vespasian C VII f. 383r - v.

2The National Archives Prob 11/48/64 http://www.oxford-shakespeare.com/Probate/PROB_11-48-64.pdf

3British Library MS 70520

4hastie] “[harine]” in transcription.

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