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

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. He is generally known, of recent times, for the manuscript entitled A Brief Discourse of Rebellions & Rebels (1576).²

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 & especiall dear frend master Herlle, howe much these that love you do lack you, & speciallie in these dangerous tymes your owne proufe in ofte pleasuring them, doth best knowe: The Portinggale cawsis be utterlie qwalid, for don Antonio is distressid & beseegid in a Nonnerie, which howse the spaniardes will not violat till they have receavid lycence & pardon from theyr pope: notwithstanding Doctor Lopus gevith out to the contrarie / it is thought John Young is gone for the Ilandes or else (beeing safe) he wold not have missed all these fayer wyndes / Master Stafford came to the court the 26. of december what newse he brought may be supposid by the companie and countenance he had hear. For I sawe him the 27. walke [1 word expunged] on the Tarris, having no more to confeer with all but his shadoe The 29. the L. hastie Haward, Charles Arundell, & fine Southwell powdrid with parfumes, wer examenid at my Lord Chauncelars (Monsieur Le Comte de O (as I hear) beeing theyr accusar) wher they answerid so discreetlie for them selves, as they ar ^closelie &^ saflie lowked unto, for losing: The L. [hastie³] at my L Chauncelars Arundell at master vice chamberlaynes, & Southwell at the fleet but a stronggar place provydes for som of bettar countenance (as I hear) God send them in qwycklie if they be faultie, & to receave due reward to theyr desarts: nowe the spring is discoverid I trust the hed wilbe speedelie found & theyr ^water^ course alterid to theyr owne distruction / My L. Chamberlayn & my ladie was not at the court on new yeers daye for his honor is sick at Barnsey, my L. Treasurar lyeth lame of the Goute the more pittie, & my L. of Lecestar with all your other honorable freendes are in hellthe: but speciallie the Quyens Majestie (God be praysid for it) never more pleasant or lustie, which I hope the heavenlie prince of all will long preserve, to the joye & comfort of all true hartid Englyshe men / and thus farr for an orator / Our Iryshe actions remayne as they were but nothing so dangerous as our papists hopid: Capten peerce dwells in the same termes he did, [ ... ] fayer, performid at leasure, & I your poore frend quayles not so long as it is in queston: I hope with others, thoughe I cannot continewe it so well, and puet estre we may be all deceavid: But howe so ever I rest in all fortunes your faythfull & assurid to comaund George North

Master Ledsam as my self hath him comendid unto you, love me still & let me hear agayn from you. London the 3 Januarie 81

[Postscript perpendicular in the left hand margin:] postscrip. After I had endid this lettar (as you see) newse was brought in that John Young was com to the Court: who ther I presently went to have spoken with him, & could not: yet spake with Capten peerce my Cussin Roberts & with ledsam who had the whole discourse of all, don Rodorico is returnid with him as poore as may: they suppose Don Antonio is fled into Fraunce, he was once abourd an Englysheman & offerid 1000 Ducketts with more for his passadge hyther, the faynt hartyd varletts refusid him, so as he was faynt to entar into a frentchman who went a way with him) yet to what place he know[es] not: he made as he sayth the vice admirall of the Spanishe fleet stryke unto him, & howe the Kyng hath at the Ora[ ... ] 30. armadose 40. sayle of tall shippes & 40 saylle of other smaller, the sea is full of them / tis more I herd at the court, for troth that the Erle of Kildar, the L. of Uprossar & one other L. is in hand: god confond all her Majesties enemis

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.

2British Library MS 70520

3hastie] “[harine]” in transcription.

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