1603 March 24. Deceased Queen Elizabeth at her Manor in Surrey. James the first. God make us thankful!

Divers prisoners touching the late Essex rebellion were delivered out of the tower namely Earl of Southampton. 10 of April 1603.

APPENDIX III

EXTRACTS FROM ROWLAND WHYTE'S CORRESPONDENCE, VOLUME II

(From Sidney Papers and Memorials of State.)

The following extracts cast a curious light on the Essex conspiracy and show how many of the Queen's courtiers were implicated therein. The writer was a protégé of Sir Robert Sidney, Philip's elder brother, Warden of the Cinq Ports and consequently resident in Flushing, where these letters were addressed. Rowland Whyte was his paid agent, with the mission of keeping him informed of Court happenings, and also to remind those in high office that his patron was in quest of any perquisites, which might be induced to 'come his way." Rowland Whyte seems to have transacted his delicate business with zeal and tact; it is quite amusing to see how suddenly he becomes indiscreet towards her sacred Majesty after his Lord's assurance that his letters would be immediately burned! Unfortunately, just as we approach the crucial point of the correspondence, the actual outbreak of the revolt, the letters abruptly cease, for the very ex

cellent reason that Robert Sidney himself had to be on the scene of action and his faithful agent obtained him leave of absence from his post during this thrilling time.

14 January, 1597.

. . . I hear that My Lord Southampton goes with Mr. Secretary to France, which course of his doth exceedingly grieve his Mistress that passes her time in weeping and lamenting.

19 January, 1597.

I was told by one that knows much that Sir Walter Rawleigh labours mightily to have something done for him before Mr. Secretary's going away and that he doth importune Lord Essex to be a furtherer of yt. My Lord Essex stands firm to you.

I heard of some unkindness should be between My Lord Southampton and his Mistress, occasioned by some report of Ambrose Willoughby, My Lord Southampton called him to an account for it but the matter was made knowen to my Lord Essex and my Lord Chamberlain, who had them in examinicion: What the cause was I could not learn, for it was but new, but I see My Lord Southampton full of discontentments.

21 January, 1597.

The Quarrel of my Lord Southampton and Ambrose Willoughby grew upon this. That he, with Sir

Walter Rawleigh and Mr. Parker, being at Primero in the presence chamber the Queen was gone to bed and he, being there as Squier of the body, desired them to give over, soon after he spake to them again that if they would not leave he would call in the guard and pull down the board, which Sir Walter Rawleigh seeing, put up his money and went his ways: but My Lord Southampton took exception at him and told him that he would remember it, and soe finding him between the tennis court wall and the garden, strooke him and Willoughby pulled off some of his locks. The Queen gave Willoughby thanks for what he did in the presence.'

28 January, 1597.

My Lord Southampton is now at court, who for a while, by her Majesty's command, did absent himself.

The allusion to the quarrel between Southampton and Ambrose Willoughby has made me wonder whether this may not furnish us with the key to the name of "Willobie" as applied to Southampton in the scurrilous pamphlet called Willobie his Avisa, ordered out of print in 1596. I believe that Southampton travelled like his illustrious prototype "Prince Hal" incognito, under the name of Henry Willoughby. This would explain many of the knotty points in the poem, which deals with his Oxford adventure, especially the end, which refers to the licentious young noble as being "deaded," but "whether dead or no, the author cannot tell-certainly he hath passed beyond any inquiry that he could make."

There is, I think, no doubt that Ambrose Willoughby was the "suborned informer spoken of by Shakespeare, as well as the person who had " played unfriendly parts toward Southampton," of Rowland Whyte's letters.-C. L. C.

30 January, 1597.

My Lord Cobham, Rawleigh and Southampton do severally feast Mr. Secretary before he departs, and have plaies and banquets.

1 February, 1597.

Lord Southampton is much troubled at her Majesty's straungest usage of him, some body hath played unfriendly parts with him. Mr. Secretary hath procured him license to travel. His fair Mistress doth wash her fairest face with many tears. I pray God that his going away bring her to no such infirmity which is, as it were, heriditary to her name.

(At night) 28 February, 1597.

For that man you writ about to the Earl of Essex, I do not know what success it will take, seeing him so indisposed with malincholy, it may be about that.

14 May, 1597.

It is given out that the intended preparacion is for Ireland, and for the defense of that land against Spain. The Earl of Essex seems not to be an actor in it, only setts it forward with all the favour he hath. 2 June, 1597.

My Good Lord,

Yesterday My Lord Essex ryd to Chatham. My Lord Northumberland is much grieved at the death of the Lord Percy, his sonne; he was once resolved to