Acquired in 1970 from Hoffman and Freeman. Hoffman acquired X.d.502 (1) from Bernard Quaritch in 1962.
Processed by Folger Shakespeare Library staff.
[Item title and date], Papers of Nathaniel Bacon, Folger MS X.d.502 [(item number)], Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, DC.
Also available on microfilm, Film Fo. 2319 (reduction ratio 12:1, 13 feet).
Many of the papers have been transcribed in
Organized into 4 series: 1. Personal papers, 1574-1650, (bulk 1574-1621); 2. Justice of the Peace, 1590-1622; 3. Clerk of Methwold and Deputy Steward of the Duchy of Lancaster, 1591-1592, 1607; 4. Norfolk Militia, 1594-1595, 1603-1620.
Series 4 is further divided into 2 subseries: 4.1. Inquiry into Norfolk Militia, 1594-1595; 4.2. Norfolk Muster Papers, 1603-1620.
Papers are arranged chronologically within each series and subseries.
Bacon-Townshend collection, 1550-1640.
Reckoning of Nathaniel Bacon’s accounts with his cousin, Robert Blackman, 1577-1579.
Estate accounts of Sir Nathaniel Bacon, 1588-1598.
Estate accounts of Sir Nathaniel Bacon, 1598-1601.
Copy of the will of Sir Nathaniel Bacon of Stiffkey, May 10, 1614, copy 1614 June 4.
Letter signed from Sir Nathaniel Bacon, Stiffkey, to Sir Roger Townshend, London, 1619 June 7.
Autograph letter signed from Edward Bacon to Nathaniel Bacon, Cockthorpe, 1573/4 February 13.
Letter signed from Sir Francis Walsingham to Lord Cromwell and Nathaniel Bacon, 1583 June 18.
Tax roll signed from Nathaniel Bacon, Norfolk, to the Exchequer, 1589 May 2-5. Folger MS X.d.619.
Warrant concerning purveyance for the Queen’s Household, 1596/7 March 16.
Letter signed by Norfolk justices to officials of the several hundreds, 1598 September 5.
Legal document signed from the Kings Bench, Southwark, to Sir Christopher Heydon, Sir John Townshend, Dr. John Hunt and Nathaniel Bacon, Esq., Norfolk, 1600 July 2. Folger MS X.d.620.
Examinations by Nathaniel Bacon, Norfolk Justice, of Stephen Nichols and 5 other suspected cut-purses, 1607 May 27.
Sir Nathaniel Bacon (1547-1622) was the second son of Sir Nicholas Bacon, Lord Keeper to Elizabeth I, and Jane, daughter of William Fernley. He matriculated at Trinity College, Cambridge in Michaelmas term, 1561, and was admitted to Gray's Inn on December 16, 1562. In 1569, he married Anne Gresham, natural daughter of Sir Thomas Gresham, Royal Agent in the Netherlands, and Winifred Dutton, wife of Thomas Dutton. They had three daughters (Anne, Winifred, and Elizabeth), and two sons, both of whom died in infancy. Anne died in 1595, and in 1597 Bacon married Dorothy, daughter of Sir Arthur Hopton.
Bacon served as a justice of the peace for nearly fifty years, beginning in 1574, and was sheriff of Norfolk in 1586 and 1599. He was an M.P. for Tavistock in 1571 and 1572, was returned as knight of the shire for Norfolk for three parliaments (1584, 1593, 1604), and as burgess for King's Lynn for one parliament (1597). He was a subsidy commissioner, and served on numerous other special commissions. He was knighted in 1604.
Bacon was related to numerous court figures. His father-in-law was Sir Thomas Gresham, and his half-brothers were Francis Bacon and Anthony Bacon (through his father's second marriage, to Anne Cooke). Through his father's second marriage, he became a kinsman of William Cecil, Lord Burghley, Sir Henry Killigrew, Lord John Russell, and Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury. Through his sister's marriages, he was a brother-in-law to Sir Robert Doyly, Sir Henry Neville, Sir William Peryam, Sir Francis Wyndham, and Sir Robert Mansell.
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For two pieces of land.
Edward writes to his brother about the machinations of papists in the election of ancients at Gray's Inn, schemes which were frustrated by Sir Christopher Yelverton and Shuite. Gives full account of the knavery of one Nedam, who used nearly 60 forged letters to persuade the Lord Treasurer, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and others, of a plot to murder the Treasurer and the Bishop of Winchester. In a postscript, he reports the escape of Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford, to Flanders, which the queen did not take well.
Includes seal.
This Heydon is grandfather to the writer on astrology.
Writes on behalf of the bearer, Edward Balyston.
Written from "Greneland" [i.e. Greenland, either Yorkshire or Cornwall]. Concerning the sinking of the Revenge in a storm. Nevell will be pleased for his wife, Betty, to have the lease for a farm and expects that Sir Nicholas Bacon will give her 200 pounds towards it. Great provision has been made against the Spanish, but he is too lame to help in the defense. (See Acts of the Privy Council, xviii (1589-1590), p. 324 for the recovery of the Revenge by Sir Henry Palmer and Mr. Burrowes before 20 January 1590.)
Dated: Shrove Tuesday. Written from "Greneland" [i.e. Greenland, either Yorkshire or Cornwall.]
His wife may do as she pleased about the lease, because she wears 'the bryches.' In his opinion, the Duke of Mayne loses many followers by taking the 'Burgunyon Crosse', and the 'king of Spaine p[re]pares w[i]th all spede to eate us up.' Also includes some family news.
Concerning rentals due them in their wardship of Sir Roger Townshend, bart.
Edward Bacon is mentioned as a party to a conveyance.
Sir John Townshend died August 12, 1603.
Endorsed as sent to, and partially paid to William Mason.
On behalf of his neighbor/tenant, Nicholas House, who has only 60 acres and cannot supply a light horse for the musters, Heydon asks that a corslet and a pike be deemed a sufficient charge. To pay his debts, Heydon intends to sell certain rents and services and offers to Bacon the opportunity to purchase those due from Erminglond. Mentions the commital of Sir Thomas Overbury, the removal of Sir William Wade from his post at the Tower, and the arrival and departure of Lady Elizabeth.
Sir Roger Townshend was Nathaniel Bacon's grandson.
Signed: Will[ia]m Mason.
News from abroad about the movements of the armies of Spain, France, and the United Provinces around Pressburg; the requests made by the Duke of Mayne on his deathbed to the King of France; the horrible fate of the Prince of Poland at the hands of the Turks; the sea fight at Rochelle; Sir Edward Villiers' mission to the king of Bohemia; and the detention of English ships at Constantinople. On the home front, a controversy involving the archbishop of Canterbury; a dispute between the Earl of Arundel and the Lord Keeper; the assurance he has been given that the Spanish match has been concluded, and that three chapels are to be consecrated for the "Idolatrouse service of her and those of her Religion," including Westminster and Windsor; and the reactions at court to the book against the idolatry of papists written by Prince Charles' chaplain, George Hakewill, and the latter's removal from the royal service.
Concerning bargain and sale of land and houses in Hockwold and Witton.
Witnessed by Clippisby(?) Bacon.
Concerning the debts of George Barker, John King, and Robert Girdeler; a plea that their creditors should be persuaded to treat them reasonably and compound their debts.
Letter signed by James Croft (lord deputy of Ireland and controller of the queen's household, d. September 4, 1590), Francis Walsingham (secretary of state, d. April 6, 1590, 3 days after signing this letter), and J. Wolley (Latin secretary to the queen, d. February 28, 1596). Justices of the peace in Norfolk and Norwich including Lord Cromwell, Sir Edward Cleere, Sir William Heydon, Nathaniel Bacon.
Concerning George Barker's debts. Reports on the obduracy of two of Barker's creditors and explains that Barker fell into debt through ill-fortune on the Portugal voyage.
Date altered by Bacon from October 23. Signed by Nathaniel Bacon.
Gawdy was the judge who opened the case against Mary, Queen of Scots in 1586, and took part in the proceedings against Secretary William Davison.
They have been appointed to examine certain matters exhibited against Dr. Burman on Thursday in Easter week. Bacon should collect information from people living near him before that date.
Concerning a "bastardy" case. Skott says she was procured by John Crowe to say that Thomas Barrett was the father of her child. Then her mistress, Allen's wife, told her to charge her husband John Allen to be the father. When Skott refused, her mistress threatened her and beat her with a broom stick.
Signed by Bacon.
A claim against the widow of Richard Buntinge, late bailiff of the liberty (who had left his wife 10,000 pounds), for satisfaction of a debt made to her husband but in fact owed to them by Thomas Chambers, who had earlier escaped from Buntinge's custody, and for damages.
Endorsed by Bacon.
Appointing them mediators in the Ringolde case.
Signed by Julius Caesar, written from the court at Greenwich.
Concerning the Ringolde case. Informs Bacon of what he knows of the cause of Nicholas Ringolde and of his own part in it. He states that he had met Buntinge at Bacon's house.
An acquittance in Bacon's possession is mentioned.
Instructions relating to his commission as surveyor of the king's lands in Norfolk.
Written on behalf of John Williams, Lord Keeper, appointing Bacon mediator in the case of one Newby.
Having been informed by Bacon that Mr. Sidney and other lessees have entered upon court leets to the great prejudice of his office of steward of the Duchy, for which Bacon is his deputy, North states his intention to fight for his rights, since his patent was never called in. He asks Bacon to draw up arguments in favor of his cause. He knows he does not have a copy of Bacon's letter to Walsingham, since he saves all of Bacon's letters, and requests that one be sent.
Reasons why North may demand redress in the Duchy Chamber for the impeachment made to his high stewardship.
A copy endorsed by Bacon.
To his brother about business in the court at Methwold, transactions in land there, fines attaching to them and the customs of the Duchy manor at Hellsay. The sale of the house of Bacon's man Raymond has not proceeded because the title was doubted. Among other matters dealt with it is stated that Sir Edward Mountford gives countenance to the tenants against Bacon for the common.
Appointment of Nathaniel Bacon and other justices of the peace to inquire into the collection of money for the defraying of the charge of "armor Imprest, and conducte &c."
Copy, endorsed by Bacon (or of his clerk Martin Man).
Appears as "Mayor of Lynn."
Questions to be demanded of the Chief Constables, and extraordinary charges by one of the Constables of Holt.
Notes of things to be considered in the accounts of the Chief Constables of Norfolk touching the charge of soldiers, which were delivered to Sir William Paston, Sir Edward Coke, and others. A list of discrepancies between the numbers of soldiers provided by the county and the amounts of coat and conduct money paid in the years 1590, 1591, 1593, and 1594.
Possibly in Bacon's hand (or of Martin Man).
Consists largely of copies or retained drafts of letters between the lord lieutenant of Norfolk(Henry Howard, Earl of Northampton and later Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundel), the deputy lieutenants of Norfolk, the captains of the foot, and the Privy Council. The deputy lieutenants of Norfolk included Sir Henry Gawdy, Sir Arthur Heveningham, Sir Phillip Woodhouse, Sir Nathaniel Bacon, Sir Charles Cornwallis, and Sir Henry Bedingfield. (Six of these documents are calendared in Historical Manuscripts Commission, 11th Report, Appendix IV.)
In Bacon's hand.
In Bacon's hand.
In Bacon's hand.
In Bacon's hand.
In Bacon's hand.
In Bacon's hand.
Touching on the proportion of the muster Master's allowance.
On the subject of the musters. Since 1591, no muster had been held until this year (1611). The horse were 500 fewer in 1611 than the last muster, which Northampton attributes to the negligence of the Deputy Lieutenants and now require them to hold musters every year and to get the numbers back up to 1591 levels.
Appointing the Justices of the Peace commissioners for musters in Norfolk county: Woodhouse, Gawdy, Heveningham, Bacon, Bedingfield, Sir Thomas Hobbart, Sir Hamon Lestrange. Signed by Suffolk, Shrewsbury, Worcester, Knollys, Ralph Winwood, Julius Caesar, and Thomas Lake.
On the same subject as July 16 letter directing the commissioners not to remove any officers at present, holding commissions and expressing a high opinion of Mr. Curson muster-master of the County.
To appear before the deputies with an account of horse and foot.
In Bacon's hand.
With notes on leaf 2.
In Bacon's hand.
"Letters to the Captain of Foote." Probably a circular, with blanks for names and dates, to be sent to all the captains of militia regiments in Norfolk, requiring them to prepare for a general muster on the 15th September next and giving other instructions.