242 Longleat Tapers, A.B. 1553—1588. 



George 6th Earl of Shrewsbury and Henry Grey, Earl of Kent, 

 had been issued for the execution of the Queen. This was sent 

 down by the hands of Mr. Robert Beale, accompanied by the 

 following letter from the Council to the Earl of Shrewsbury then 

 staying at Orton Long ue vile, near Huntingdon. In the few lines 

 endorsed upon the letter, the Earl (not in his own handwriting, 

 but his Secretary's), records the receipt of the letter and his 

 immediate obedience to the orders sent. Perhaps no transaction 

 of such solemnity was ever registered in terms so brief, so dry, so 

 " business ''-like. 



It should be remembered that as the year was then reckoned 

 to begin on the 25th March, the date of February 6th, 1586, 

 (as given in the endorsement) signifies according to present 

 reckoning, February 6th, 1587. 



The Council to the Earl of Shrewsbury. 3. Feb. (1586-7) 

 " After 0'. right hartye comendations to your good L. This bearer Mr. 

 Robert Beale, whom your L. knoweth to be honest, wise and trustye, cometh to 

 your L. with a comission under Her Ma'"*^'. hand and seale, having bin directed 

 to shewe the same to our veary good L. the Erie of Kent, bycause his abode 

 was in his waye, and for that he ys the Second in Comission and your L. the 

 principall. And for that yt is convenient that S^ Amys Pawlett shold be 

 acquainted herewith, this bearer ys directed to come by him, and after toconferr 

 with your L. howe M'. Paulett may have knowledge of yo"'. L. (if his healthe 

 can serve him), and so also the Erie of Kent may be ready to attend upon yo'. 

 L. at eoche time as by you shalbe thought requisite : And so praying yo\ L. 

 to credit the bearer in soche things as he is willed to signifye unto yo'. L. on 

 our behalf, we bidd your good L. right hartly Farewell. From Grenewich Iq 

 hast the Z'^ of Februarye. 



Yo'. 1. assured loving Frends 



W. BuEGHLET H. Deebt R. Letcesteb 

 c. howabd hunsdon f. cobham 



Che. Hatton F. Knollts 



Fea. Walsingham W. Davison 

 \_Addressed'\ 

 To our veary good lord the Erie of Shrewsbury 

 Erie Marshall of England." 



[The Endorsement.^ 

 " Broughte by Mr. Beale with the Corny sion y' vi*^ of February 1586 



at Orton Longvile : with him came Sir Brewe Brewrye : and the 

 vif^ day went to Fothringham, and the viij of Februarie ?>& executed 

 the Scotts Quene accordinge to my said Comyssion. 



