Master Carleton,

Your letters of the 23th of the last came sixe or eight dayes since, and I have staide the longer to aunswer them in hope somwhat wold fall out worth the writing, and withall I had another lay on my handes for want of cariage, for though with much search I found out where the post of Sandwich lay yet not having any body there to direct yt unto, or that wold take care to send yt over I wold not commit yt altogether to hap hasard; upon inquiry I learne there is one Master Robinson might do yt very conveniently yf either of us had any acquaintaunce with him. Our court causes are still in statu quo prius, and no more certainty what will become of any of those places then when I wrote you last. Only they have resolved upon Master NevillHenry Neville (c. 1564–1615), diplomat and MP for Berkshire. Despite his earnest suit to the contrary, he was confirmed as ambassador to France and given orders to make himself ready before Christmas. He was knighted after his appointment; see Letter 9 for his earlier nomination. for Fraunce and (for all his earnest sute to the contrary) he hath warning to make himself redy this and Christmas. The Frenchman that is come is de robbe longueLe Sieur Thumery de Boissise, who arrived at Dover on 14 October 1598 and remained as ambassador until 1601. De robbe longue means of the long robe — a civilian lawyer rather than a military man; see Letter 9. He was brother-in-law to the president of the Parlement of Harlay., brother in law to him that was here this time twelvemoneth having maried two sisters daughters to the president of Harle. We heare the French king is sicke of a caruncle or carnosite in his yard which is thought wilbe a very difficult cure.A caruncle is a fleshy morbid growth; "his yard" is the penis. Henri IV was suffering from a urogenital complaint in autumn 1598, a detail Chamberlain relays with characteristic anatomical candour. When I wrote you last we did but suspect the kindling of a fire in Ireland which is since broken out into an open flame, so far foorth that unles there be present help yt is feared all wilbe gon; for we heare of new conspiracies every day, and there was a plot layde to betray Dublin; and besides that the people are generally (as well in respect of religion as for other alliances) inclined to the rebells, the townes begin to stagger and refuse to receve garrison. Those of Mounster have set up a new DesmondJames Fitzthomas Fitzgerald, who assumed the title of Earl of Desmond with backing from the Pope and the Irish confederacy; see Letter 9. He was known as the Súgán Earl, from the Irish súgán (a straw rope), implying the illegitimacy of his claim. (by the Popes meanes as is saide), and persecute our English undertakers that were planted in those partes with all manner of villanie and barbarous crueltie. The erle of OrmondThomas Butler (1531–1614), tenth Earl of Ormond, known as "Black Tom Butler." The most powerful Anglo-Irish magnate loyal to the crown, and a long-standing favourite of Elizabeth I. His county of Tipperary was directly exposed to rebel incursions by autumn 1598, giving him personal as well as political motives to act. hath sent over in post for 2000 men which are making redy with all possible haste, and yt is looked he shold do other manner of service then he hath don hitherto now that yt toucheth his freehold and that the fire is come so neere him that yt hath almost consumed his countie of Tipperare. Yt is generally held that the erle of Essex shall go thether towards the spring as lieutenant generall, and the Lord Mountjoy as his Lord Deputie with divers other younge lordes and noble men: and that he shalbe accompanied with the most part of those knights that be his creatures, for yt is thought fit they shold not come too easilie by theyre honor, but that in this case as well as in many others yt should be graunted for service don and to be don. We looke to morrow for the arraignment of Stanly, Rolles, SquireEdward Squire (d. 1598), a ship's steward who had been captured by the Spanish and converted into an agent. He confessed to attempting to poison the pommel of Essex's saddle and to infecting the Queen's chair-arm with a poisonous ointment. He was hanged and quartered on 23 November 1598. (Cal. S. P. Dom., 1598–1601, pp. 107–110, 111–112; Camden, Annales, pp. 498–499.) and the rest of that crue.

The report goes of very fowle matters discovered, and some part attempted by them; as theyre trialls fall out you shall heare more by my next. The Imperiall Count ArundellThomas Arundell (c. 1560–1639), son of Sir Matthew Arundell of Wardour Castle. Created Count of the Holy Roman Empire by the Emperor Rudolf II in 1595 for his service against the Turks in Hungary — a title that proved controversial in England. He was now committed for having held conversations with Stanley; he was later created Lord Arundell of Wardour in 1605. is committed, who had some conferences with Stanly; [he is committed] to the keping of Dr. Harbert at his first arrivall. The new Countesse of Southampton, my Lady,Elizabeth Vernon (c. 1572–1655), maid of honour to Queen Elizabeth, who had secretly married Henry Wriothesley, third Earl of Southampton, earlier in 1598 while pregnant. Their clandestine marriage had incensed the Queen; see Letter 6. The child, a daughter, was Penelope Wriothesley. is brought a bed of a daughter, and to mend her portion the erle her father hath lately lost 18000 crownes at tennis in Paris.The phrase "the erle her father" most likely refers to Southampton himself, as father of the newborn daughter. Southampton was in France at this time, and the 18,000 crowns lost at tennis would be characteristic of the financial recklessness that kept his affairs unsettled throughout this period.

Sir Robert SouthwellSir Robert Southwell (1561–1598), soldier and diplomat; served in Ireland and the Low Countries. He died in late October 1598. His widow, Elizabeth, was daughter of Charles Howard, first Earl of Nottingham. is dead and hath left his lady a rich widow. The Quene hath geven the Countesse of KildareFrances Howard (d. 1628), daughter of Charles Howard, first Earl of Nottingham, and widow of Henry Fitzgerald, twelfth Earl of Kildare (d. 1597). Her jointure from the Kildare estates had been disrupted by the Irish rebellion, prompting the Queen's award of an annuity. 700li a yeare out of the exchecquer in recompence of her jointure spoyled in Irland. The warden of Marton ColledgeHenry Savile (1549–1622), scholar, editor of Chrysostom and Tacitus; Warden of Merton College, Oxford, from 1585, and Provost of Eton from 1596. He was engaged throughout the 1590s in a contentious disciplinary struggle with certain Merton fellows; knighted in 1604. hath got a great victorie of his fellowes and raunsommed the rest expelled and punished amongst them, of whom Master ColmerJasper Colmer, proctor of Merton College; expelled in the course of the warden's disciplinary proceedings. According to Chamberlain, he died within five days, of grief or — as Chamberlain puts it — "curst hart." died within five dayes after of greife or curst hart. Dr. RaynoldsJohn Reynolds (also Rainolds; 1549–1607), Puritan divine, theologian, and biblical scholar. Elected President of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, in 1598; later a principal instigator of the King James Bible (1611). Chamberlain notes that he exchanged his position at Lincoln College with Dr. William Cole. is head of Corpus Christi Colledge having exchaunged Lincoln with Dr. Cole.William Cole (d. 1600), clergyman; took up a position at Lincoln College, Oxford, when Reynolds moved to Corpus Christi. The king of Spaine is saide to have staid all the Hollanders, and all Irish ships that have not the earle of Tirons passe. I had almost forgot to recall the killing of Sir Samuell Bagnoll, for yt falles out to be nothing so, and yet was yt current both in court and countrie above ten dayes together. Ortelius his Thesaurus GeographicusAbraham Ortelius (1527–1598), Flemish cartographer and creator of the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum (1570). He had died in June 1598; Chamberlain refers to his Thesaurus Geographicus (expanded edition, 1596), a geographical dictionary that Rowland Lytton is sending to Carleton. The book's bulk made it impossible to send by ordinary post. is too bigg to be sent by an ordinarie messenger, and therfore yt must stay till your boat come or that you send other order; your cousen Lytton will needs bestow yt on you, wherin I made no longe strife. I sent your letter to the Lady NorthesAnne North (née Rich; d. 1616), wife of Roger North, second Baron North, of Kirtling Hall, Cambridgeshire. Carleton evidently had ties to the North household, though Chamberlain found them socially exacting: he complains that they return his letters rather than forwarding them, and give him no direction for sending his own. because she lies far of, and the wether hath ben so exceding fowle that I stir litle abrode, neither am I overhastie to come there, they be so apt to take toyes and become so numerous that they send backe your letters when I desire they wold convay them, or geve me any direction how I might send myself. But I will find a time to visit them, because you wish yt, and for the auncient goodwill and kindly affection that hath past betwene us, in which respect I will alwayes be redy to do them the best service I can. And so wishing you all health and welfare I commit you to God.

From London this 8th of November 1598. Yours most assuredly, JOHN CHAMBERLAIN.

To my very goode frend Master Dudley Carleton attending on the Lord Governor of Ostend geve these.