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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 December 2009
MS 1 in Richard Wyatt's catalogue consists of two drafts of a treatise upon the security of Calais, and one copy of a covering letter addressed to Lord Cobham, Lord Warden of the Cinq Ports, and dated 5 December 1593. All three documents are in George Wyatt's hand. The second draft is clearly a revision of the first, and several verbal alterations made by the author upon the latter are incorporated in it. The document printed here is the second draft, supplemented from the first where the MS is damaged or defective. It is a complete work, consisting of 9 closely written foolscap folios. The covering letter is written on one side of a single foolscap sheet.
page 31 note 1 Cal. Ven., IX, 113.Google Scholar
page 31 note 2 For example, in May 1591. SP78/XXIV/159.
page 32 note 1 He made no attempt to correspond with the English government until the town was actually under attack. Historical Manuscripts Commission. Salisbury MSS, VI, 147.Google Scholar
page 32 note 2 Piero Duodo (Venetian Ambassador in France) to the Doge and Senate, 9 December 1595. Cal Ven., IX, 384.Google Scholar
page 32 note 3 Same to same, 20 April 1596. Duodo added, ‘Should the Spanish succeed in this enterprise, it would undoubtedly be more prejudicial to the English than to France.’ Ibid., 193.
page 32 note 4 April 23. Ibid., 195.
page 32 note 5 According to another source, Vidossan was killed at the fall of the citadel, not of the town, ‘le 17 (avril), après un premier assaut, le gouverneur Bidossan et les habitants avaient rendu la ville et s'étaient retiré dans le chateau, en promettant de se rendre sous six jours, s'ils n'étaient secourus … le gouverneur de Calais avait refusé de rendre son château à l'expiration des six jours; mais il ne put réparer ses fautes qu'en mourant pour les expier; le château, mal fortifié, fut emporté d'assaut des le 24 avril, et tout ce qui s'y trouva fut tué ou pris.’ Henri Martin, Histoire de France, X, 394–5.
page 32 note 6 The Privy Council records are missing from 26 August 1593 to October 1595.
page 33 note 1 William Brooke, Lord Cobham, was a nephew of Elizabeth, George Wyatt's grandmother. As Sir William Brooke he had been involved in the younger Sir Thomas Wyatt's rebellion, and had narrowly escaped punishment (TTC, 118Google Scholar). He was Lord Warden of the Cinq Ports and Lord Lieutenant of Kent from 1558 to 1596. He died on 6 March 1597.
page 33 note 2 See p. 12.
page 34 note 1 There were frequent alarms over the security of Ostend. One had occurred about the beginning of November 1593, which may have been caused by the attempt on Calais, and was probably identical with the one referred to here. Cheyney, E. P., The History of England from the defeat of the Armada to the death of Elizabeth, I, 293.Google Scholar
page 34 note 2 The key town of Ostend had been garrisoned by English troops since the summer of 1585. Cal. For., XIX, 674 etc.
page 35 note 1 Henry IV was formally reconciled to the Roman Catholic Church on 23 July 1593.
page 35 note 2 De Gourdain; see p. 31.
page 36 note 1 From draft 1; part of the last line of f.1v is missing.
page 36 note 2 A son of Thomas Wilford of Hartridge, Kent. Born about 1530, he had seen extensive service in the Netherlands between 1585 and 1589, being knighted by Lord Willoughby in 1588. In 1590 he was in charge of harbour works at Dover, and in 1593 became governor of Camber castle. From then until his death in 1604 he was repeatedly employed in Kent raising and equipping troops, or supervising musters. The work referred to here was not published, and does not seem to be extant.
page 38 note 1 From draft 1; part of the last line of f.2v missing.
page 40 note 1 From draft 1; page damaged.
page 40 note 2 Ibid; part of the last line of f.3v missing.
page 43 note 1 Fretted, exasperated.
page 44 note 1 ‘… my natural disposition leads me to do so’. Draft 1.
page 44 note 2 This must refer to Gourdain. Vidossan showed no sign of ‘willing and frank entertainment’, and had occupied his position for only about a month when this was written.
page 45 note 1 This is presumably a reference to the agreement signed on 30 June 1592, whereby 4000 English troops were promised in Henry's support. APC, XXIII, 9–10Google Scholar; SP78/XXVIII/199, 208.
page 46 note 1 Peise, a counter weight or counterbalance. OED.
page 49 note 1 It is not clear whether ‘far rather’ or ‘farther off’ is meant here. The sense seems to make the latter more probable.
page 50 note 1 Page damaged.
page 50 note 2 In 1588 Lord Cobham had been employed as a commissioner in the peace negotiations. On his way back he had stayed at Calais, and wrote from thence to Walsingham on 1 August 1588, recommending him to send Gourdain thanks for their good entertainment. Cal. For., XIX, 97.Google Scholar
page 50 note 1 Tyrocinium—a first experience, or novitiate. OED.