Letter to Robert Beale from Lords of the Privy Council

Digital Record

Identifier: VMSS457_I6_O1

Staff Only

Image of Letter to Robert Beale from Lords of the Privy Council

Dates

Creation: 1576 May 11

Creator

England and Wales. Privy Council (creator, Organization)
Burghley, William Cecil, Baron, 1520-1598 (correspondent, Person)
Beale, Robert, 1541-1601 (correspondent, Person)

Biographical / Historical

The Privy Council of England and Wales was the British sovereign's private council. During Elizabeth I's reign, the Privy Council were a group of 19 powerful noblemen who advised but did not control the Queen. They met daily and advised on domestic and foreign issues.

Biographical / Historical

Baron William Cecil Burghley (1520-1598) was Lord High Treasurer from 1572 to his death.

Biographical / Historical

Robert Beale (1541-1601) served as ambassador to France starting in 1570, special envoy of queen Elizabeth to the German Lutheran princes 1576, Secretary of State 1578 and 1581-1583, and was in parliament from Dorchester in 1586 and 1588. In addition, he served under Leicester in 1588 in the Netherlands probably with the transport department. As a scholar he is known for two books which maintain the principle of toleration and for works glorifying marriage and women.

Extent

1 folded sheet (2 pages) ; 30 x 42 cm folded to 30 x 21 cm

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

General Note

Letter signed by William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, and other Lords of the Privy Council, with address to Beale on the second leaf. Written in English from Leycester House, London, 11 May 1576. The other signers of the letter were the Earls of Sussex and Leicester, and Francis Walsingham. They advise Beale that the Flemish ships seized in England were pirates, and that he should threaten reprisals unless the counter-seizures of English ships (see letter 5 in this collection) is cancelled.