206 



Wild Darell of Littlecote. 



sholde come where Mr. Darrell was to charge his pson, at whiche time he used 

 the verry speache and woordes as by this bill heere enclosed yo r honor maye 

 pceive. So Mr. Darrell thincking him selfe verry hardly and maliciously dealte 

 withall by Mr. Cater, brake out with sume woordes, the woorst wherof to my 

 remembraunce was, he called Mr. Cater promowter. Wherunto Mr. Cater 

 replied and saide he was as honest as him selfe, a gentleman and his fellowe in 

 any place in Englande : farther the saide George Essex did moste often and 

 verry earnestly requier the good aboringe ( behaviour ) against Mr. Darrell and 

 all his servavntes, and truly in my consience by that I oolde gather by the 

 reportte, the saide Mr. Essex withowt any greate cause deserved of Mr. Darrell. 

 Wherfore hit was thought verry hard to graunte the good abering uppon suche 

 causisse as were alledged beeing no greater. Neverthelesse the peace was 

 graunted against him, the coppye wherof is also heere enclosed. Thusse hum- 

 bly I take my leve of yo r honor, and beeseehe God to send you much encreace 

 of the same, ffrom my house at Aldermaston the xxvj th of December. 



" Your honners holy to comand, 



" WlLLM. FOESTEE." 



Directed. " To the right honorable S r James Croft,* Knight, Controler of the 

 Queens Ma tie housholde, and one of her most honorable privy counsaile these 

 be delivered." 



The next correspondence which we have been able to find rela- 

 ting to Darell, introduces him to our notice under circumstances, 

 not only unexceptionable, but favourable to his character. The fol- 

 lowing letters refer to his offer to serve the Queen for the defence 

 of her kingdom against the apprehended Invasion. No less a per- 

 sonage than Sir Francis Walsingham who, Cecil not excepted, 

 was the mainspring of her vigilant ministry, seems to have been 

 on terms of in timacy with Darell, on whom no suspicion of want of 

 integrity is cast, and the letters of such a man may therefore be 

 well worthy of being given in extenso. 



( Secretary Sir Francis Walsingham? s Letters to William Darell, Esq.) 

 S r . I comend me verie heartely unto yo r , and calling to mynde yo r Gentl- 

 manlike offer made to me of late to s e ve her Ma tie in case of necessitie w th 20 tie 

 men, furnished besides those otherwise charged uppon yo u in the Shire. I have 

 at this p'sent thought meete to wishe yo u yo r selfe to com upp hither to me, and 

 I will make her M tie aquainted w th that yo r comendable and voluntarie offer, 

 wherby yo u shall boath have accesse, and receave suche thanks as apteyneth at 

 her Ma ts hand, yo u shall not neede to stay at yo r coming at all ; in the mean 

 tyme I have sent yo vl suche newes of the Spanishe fleete as is newly com to the 

 Court. And even soe wishing yo u to be in readines w th that yo 11 are hable to 

 doe, I bidd yo" heartely farewell. Fro the Court this 23 th of July, 1588. 



' ' Yo r assured lovinge frcnd, 

 *' Mr. Darrell. " Fra. Walsynghani." 



Directed. " To my voric loving frend Willm. Darrell, Esq." 



• Died 1590. 



