(120.) The Council to the Gentlemen and Captains that have the leading of the infantry out of Surrey. The forces appointed for the guard of her Majesty's person grow to such numbers that they cannot be conveniently victualled and quartered about London. The leaders of the bands from Surrey are ordered to march them back into the county, taking order that they be in readiness to set forward with armour and weapons on a second warning. After or hartie comendac'ons. Wheras you were directed to have the conduction of those companies wch are sent hither out of the countie of Surrey, forasmuch as the forces wch are to repaire hither out of divers other counties of the realme, to furnish those armies wch her Matie hath p'pared as well for the resiting and wthstandinge the attempts of the enemie, as for the safe gard and defence of her Mats person, doth growe to so great nombers as that speedy provision cannot bee made for the victelling of them here, and convenient lodginge as so great a number will require, in so short time as was first lymitted by o' l'res for their repaire hither, We have thought good to lett you understand yt it is her Mats pleasure, and so by vertue hereof doe require yo" uppon sight of theise our l'res, to retourne againe unto the saide countie, wth those forces you have brought from them, and that nevertheles order bee taken that they maie bee in good readines wth all their armor and weapon uppon such direction as you shall re ceive from hence uppon a new warninge to repaire hither. Wherin prayinge you not to faile, wee bid yo' hartelie farewell. From the Court at St. James, the 8 of August 1588. The Lord Treasurer Burleigh to Sir William More, relative to her Majesty's intention of bestowing some cost in building on the site of the dissolved friary at Guildford. Shews the attention of this great man to the most minute subjects. Sr, 17 August 1591. This other daie at my being at Guilford, when I vewed the Friorie theare, I made a rude trick thereof, in manner of a platt wth mine own hand, at wch time a servant of yors or Mr. Wolleis beinge present, and being a mason, as I remember, he offered him to mak the same more parfitlie, and to Lorde Wyllin Howard H wo Lorde of buchurste Lady Lyncolne Wyllm Moreequire thje Vynteners the dyers B Specimen of Swan Marks, from a Roll preserved at Loseley, vide p.305. bringe or send yt to mee. Since wch time, havinge not herd from the partie nor knowinge whoe he is, I hertelye praye youe to inquir for him, and if the platt be made by him to send yt to mee, or yf yt be not done to cause him to hasten yt, for that I finde hir Matie to continue hir good purpos to bestowe som cost thear. And so I commend mee hertelie to youe. From the Cort at Cowdraie this xvijth of August 1591. Yor vearie loving frend, I pray you cause ye height of a spryng to be taken of water being in a corn feld, under a hedge north-est fro' ye Freary house. To the most worshipfull my verye lovinge frend Sr Will❜m Moore, knight. Office of Master of the Swans for Surrey. The following documents relate to the privileges of the above office, to which Sir William More was appointed. An original roll of swan-marks has been found among the MSS. The beaks of the swans were notched with stars, chevrons, crosses, the initials of the owners' names, or other devices. Hence some have inferred, with very little reason, when the monstrosities of heraldry are taken into account, that the sign of the swan with two necks implied nothing more than a swan with two nicks, or distinctive notches on its beak. In the roll of swan marks extant at Loseley are given the marks used for the swans of Lord William Howard, Lord Buckhurst, Sir Henry Weston, Francis Carew, Esq. William More, Esq. and other principal persons resident in Surrey. Also the marks of the Dyers and the Vintners Com X |