Addressed: To the right honorable our verie good Lordes, the Lords of her Majesties most honorable privie Counsell. Endorsed: 18 March 1593. Justices of Peace of Essex to the Lords. Edward Conniors (apprehended with letters, comming by sea from Scotland) his examinacion. A dutche lettre found upon Thameside. With this is enclosed the following: The examynayion of Edward Conyers, gentleman, passenger from beyonde the Seas, landed at Harwyche the xiijth of Marche 1593. This examynate sayeth thatt he was borne at Ravensthrepp in Yorkshyre and is nowe of the age of xxxv yeers or thereaboutes, and is of the howse of the Lord Conyers that sumtyme was. He sayeth furder howe he was browghte up a studentt in Seint John's Colledge in Cambridge and was there by the space of iiij yeeres, and did commence Bachelor of Artes there; and also marryed with a gentlewoman of Yorkshyer, being the daughter of one Thomas Bishopp, a Scott, who was atteynted of treason for the rebellion in the Northe. By which wyfe he hadd a xxli, by the yere, which by the deathe of his sayd wyffe this examynate loste. Afterwards by the reason of sum tytle this examynatt did pretend to have unto certyn lands in Scotland, in the ryght of his sayd wyffe, he went into Scottland and made swytt unto the Kynge to have recompence for the same. The Duke of Leannox being his meane to the kynge, and in the end, after he hadd bene a suter a yeere and more, the Kynge gave him fower hundred markes Scottyshe, which is neere upon xxixli. Inglyshe. And abowte this Marche was a twelve moneth paste, when as the Lord Burghe was Imbassydor there, Mr Robert Bowes leger, Imbasyder dyd prefer this examynate to sarve his Lordship in his charge at the Bryll in Holland, and at September laste this examynatt by the appoyntmentt of the sayd Lord Burghe wentt over unto Bryll and ther hathe served ever sythence as a common soldyer in his Lordships Bande, and nott being able to lyve upon that interteynment, by passport from Captayne John Price, Lyvetenantt Governor under the Lord Burghe, wentt from thence agayne into Scottland to Mr Bowys, the Imbasyder, to procure his letters to the Lord Burghe or the betteringe of his Interteynment. And after he had obteyned these letters he came from thence by sea into Ingland towarde the said Lord Burghe, and landyd at Harwich in Essex, hauyng aboote hym all these letters to delyver from Edinboro here in Ingland. This examynat sayeth furder howe as he passed the Seas from the Bryll into Scotland, as is aforesayd, he was spoyled of his apparell and of his money by the Dunkyrkees, and by the reason he was in a Scottyshe shypp, and thowght to be a Scott, he escaped death as he thynketh. EDWARDE CONVERS, Endorsed: The examinacion of Edward Conyers. Henry Punter, the hero of the following letter, matriculated as a pensioner of St John's 10 June 1573; he was admitted a scholar of the College on the Foundress'. foundation 12 November 1575, when he gives Bedfordshire as his county, and was admitted to the B.A. degree in 1576. John Hatcher, the writer of the letter, was admitted a fellow of the College 31 March 1533. He became Regius Professor of Physic, and at the date of this letter was Vice Chancellor of the University, being one of the very few persons who have held that office without being Master of a College. My dewtie most humbly remembred to youre honor. Whereas of late Mr Drywood, a Mayster of Arte and one of the fellowes of Trinitie Colledge, gave me to understand your lordshipps great goodness towards him in a case of controversie betwene him and one Punter, late Scholler of St John's Colledge (for the which your Lordships travayle I am most humbly in the Universities behalfe to thancke your honor) and yet further complained of the subtile and faigned submission of the sayd Punter before youre honor, whereby he feared that it might com to passe lest the same Punter (under the coloure of penitencie, the rather because he had protested before youre honor his greate innocencie as is sayde, otherwise then in this one case betwene him and Drywood) findinge favour, should take the fitter opportunitie hereafter to do greater displeasure, as well to this Drywood as to other. Whereuppon he requested my letters to youre Lordship, as in way of reporte, what I had hearde or knowen touchinge the sayd Punter's demeanor here in Cambridge. May it therefore please youre good Lordship to be advertised that albeit of myselfe I have not binne much acquainted with the conversation of the sayde Punter, yet my hap was to heare at large how my predecessor in this office, the last yere, did examine him. In which examination he was detectid of much disorder, as namely that he had uncased (as they call it) one of the stagekeepers of Caius Colledge, pluckinge of his visor; and at the first playes the same yeare at Trinitie Colledge had violently pressed to com into that Colledge, even against the wills of such Maysters of Arte as were there appointed to see good order kept, insomuch that he had almost set that house and St John's together by the eares. And afterwards to revenge himselfe for that repulse there sustained, had prively crept into Benet Colledge, and taking upon him the habit of a stagekeeper, there to the greate disturbance of the whole assembly did assaulte one of Trinitie Colledge, whom also he afterwards chalenged into the fields. Thus much I heard he was charged withall and himselfe not able to denie it. And notwithstandinge for these his doinges he was sharply rebuked by the officers, and he so humbled himself that all the heades thought he would not againe offend in that manner, yet I understand soone after at the second plaies at Trinitie Colledge his outrage was much worse, as youre honor (as I am enformed) hathe binne advertised by lettres from hence, subscribed by my predecessor and others, the heades. Surely this opinion is generally with us conceived of him, that all his submissions are dissembled and counterfeict, used to serve his turne to worke furder mischief. And unlesse his shamefull dealinge against Mr Drywood (who for his parte only besecheth order for his safegarde) be severely punished, and after some extraordinarie sorte, it is feared least som unruly youthes will take example therby to wreeke theire malice on such as in the Universitie have justly corrected them for theire defaultes. Youre Lordships determination touchinge that one man may be singularly beneficiall to a greate many, and as an authenticall president to this Universitie, against the dissolute insolency of unbridled stomackes. I most humbly and hartely thanke your Lordship for your honorable gratulation and gentle remembrance, with your loving lettres of the first of this moneth, whereby I am fully encour aged so that what paines soever I shall take, I shall thincke them to little in this my function and office this yeare, for I ensure your good Lordship I will nether spare purse nor paines, that all thinges may go well to be accepted of your Lordship, and to the honor of the Universitie. Thus humbly takeinge my leave I committe your Lordship to God's most blessed tuition this 9th of December, Anno, 1579 Your Lordships obedient JOHN HATCHER Addressed: To the right honorable my especiall good Lorde Burleigh, Lorde high Treasuror of England give theise. Endorsed: 9 Dec. 1579. The Vicechancelor of Cambridge. The hurt by Punter to one Drywood a Master of Art. R. F. S. (To be continued.), THE COMMEMORATION SERMON. BY THE MASTER. GALATIANS iii. 28. Neither bond nor free. HE College is now within four years of the completion of the fourth century from the date of its charter, the 9th April, 1511. It took the place of an earlier institution, then nearly as old as the College is now, Henry Frost's Hospital of St John the Evangelist, which in its later years sometimes styled itself the College of St John. This new Chapel preserves a structural relic of that ancient House, the arched piscina which may be seen built into the south wall of the sacrarium. At this annual special service the College commemorates its Foundress and other Benefactors, having regard to the purpose and effect of their gifts, the maintenance of a succession of men qualified to serve God in greater or less spheres of work and influence in Church and State. "There be of them that have left a name behind them, that their praises might be reported. And some there be which have no memorial." Since the beginning of the present century we have been accustomed to centenary reminiscences. Day by day we are reminded of what was news of the day a hundred years ago. The year 1807 was made for ever memorable by the Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade. Passed by the Lords first and then by the Commons, the bill received the Royal Assent at a |