


ELIZABETH I Warrant signed ("Elizabeth R") at head and headed "By the Queene", Windsor Castle, 21 February 1564 - 'FOR SEEING IT UPON THE ARRIVAL OF HIM THITHER, WE BE NOT DUBBLE CHARGED'
Sold for £19,000 inc. premium
Looking for a similar item?
Our Books & Manuscripts specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.
Find your local specialistAsk about this lot

ELIZABETH I
Footnotes
'FOR SEEING IT UPON THE ARRIVAL OF HIM THITHER, WE BE NOT DUBBLE CHARGED': Queen Elizabeth replaces a catholic with a protestant in a key strategic post and keeps a tight rein on the finances.
Berwick was the so-called 'listening post' for Scottish affairs, ideally placed for keeping the Queen and her council informed about developments across the border. Here she replaces the catholic Thomas Dacre (d.1565), who had served Queen Mary, with the staunch protestant and loyal servant to Henry VIII and Edward VI, Sir William Drury (1527-1579). Dacre had held the post since 1561 but '...His sojourn there was unhappy and he complained bitterly of arrears of payment. Described as 'old and weak' in June 1563... he was probably glad to be replaced on 26 February 1564...' (Henry Summerson, ODNB). Drury remained at Berwick until 1576 during which time he found himself in the thick of tensions in the borders – responsible for the region's security, he acted as special ambassador during the quelling of the northern uprising in 1569-70, escaped two assassination attempts, took part in punitive border raids, and headed the army that brought the siege of Edinburgh to a close (see Sean Kelsey, ODNB). His reports to Cecil on Scottish affairs are among the most important state documents of the period.
Saleroom notices
It has been pointed out that, whilst Thomas Dacre's kinsmen were staunchly catholic, it is believed he might have been protestant in religion.