Source:
Original letters illustrative of English history, series 1, volume 2, page 260, edited by Henry Ellis, 1825
Above: Elizabeth I, queen of England, painted by George Gower.
The letter:
ELIZABETH R. By the Quene.
Right trusty and welbeloved we grete yow well, and fyndyng in the traytoroos attempts lately discovered that nether Barker nor Bannister the Duke of Norfolks men have uttred ther knolledg, nother will discover the same without torture; forasmuch as the knolledg herof concerneth our suerty and estate, and that they have untruly allredy answered, We will and by warrant herof authoriss you to procede to the furder examynation of them uppon all poynts that you can thynk by your discretions mete for knolledg of the truth. And, they shall not seme to yow to confess playnly ther knolledg, than we warrant yow to cause them both, or ether of them, to be brought to the rack: and first to move them with feare therof to deale playnly in ther answers, and if that shall not move them than yow shall cause them to be putt to the rack, and to find the tast therof untill they shall deale more playnly, or untill yow shall thynk mete. And so we remitt the whole procedyng to your furder discretion, requiryng yow to use spede herin and to require the assistance of our Lieutenant of the Toure. Gyven under our signet the xv.th of Septemb. 1571.
To or trustie and right well beloved
Counsellors Sr. Thomas ..yth Kt. and
to or. .... tie and welbeloved Doctor ... son of one of the Masters of our
Requestes.
Indorsed
Receaved at the Towir the xvj. daie of 7ter, at eleven
of the clocke in the forenoone 1571.
With modernised spelling:
ELIZABETH R. By the Queen.
Right trusty and well-beloved We greet you well, and finding in the traitorous attempts lately discovered that neither Barker nor Bannister the Duke of Norfolk's men have uttered their knowledge, neither will discover the same without torture; forasmuch as the knowledge hereof concerneth Our surety and estate, and that they have untruly already answered, We will and by warrant hereof authorise you to procede to the further examination of them upon all points that you can think by your discretions meet for knowledge of the truth. And, they shall not seem to you to confess plainly their knowledge, then We warrant you to cause them both, or either of them, to be brought to the rack: and first to move them with fear thereof to deal plainly in ther answers, and if that shall not move them than you shall cause them to be put to the rack, and to find the taste thereof until they shall deal more plainly, or until you shall think meet. And so We remit the whole proceeding to your further discretion, requiring you to use speed herein and to require the assistance of Our Lieutenant of the Tower. Given under Our signet the XVth of Septemb. 1571.
To our trusty and right well-beloved
Councillors Sir Thomas ..yth Kt. and
to our [right trus]ty and well-beloved Doctor ... son of one of the Masters of Our
Requests.
Endorsed
Received at the Tower the XVI day of September, at eleven
of the clock in the forenoon 1571.
Notes: The rack was a device, incorporating a ratchet, used to torture victims by stretching their limbs beyond their natural limits.
meet = appropriate, proper.
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