Year 1583

Jan. 13th, on Sunday the stage at Paris Garden fell down all at once, being full of people watching the bearbaiting. Many were killed by it, many more hurt, and all amazed. The devout explained it as a deserved plague of God for the wickedness practiced there, and the Sabbath day so profaned. Jan. 19th, Mr. John Leonard Haller went to London and so to go toward Scotland. Jan. 23rd, the Right Honorable Mr. Secretary Walsingham came to my house, where by good luck he found Mr. Adrian Gilbert, and so talk began of the discovery of the North-west Straits. The Bishop of St. Davyd's (Mr. Middleton) came to visit me with Mr. Thomas Herbert. The Lord Grey came to Mr. Secretary, and so they went to Greenwich (?). Jan. 24th, I, Mr. Adrian Gilbert, and John Davis went by appointment to Mr. Secretary to Mr. Beale's house, where only we four were private, and we let Mr. Secretary into the secret of the N.W. passage, and all charts and rutters were agreed upon in general.

Feb. 2nd, Rowland Dee was baptized. Feb. 3rd, Mr. Savile, Mr. Powil the younger, travelers, Mr. Ottomeen his son, came to make my acquaintance. Feb. 4th, Mr. Edmunds of the Privy Chamber, Mr. Lee who had been in Moschovia, came to make my acquaintance. Feb. 11th, the Queen lying at Richmond went to Mr. Secretary Walsingham to dinner; she coming by my door graciously called me to her, and so I went by her horse's side as far as where Mr. Hudson dwelt. Her majesty asked me obscurely about monsieur's state: +I said that he would come to a violent end+. Roland went with his nurse to her house at Estshene. Feb. 18th, the Lady Walsingham came suddenly into my house very freely, and shortly after she was gone came Sir Francis himself and Mr. Dyer. Feb. 24th, Jane was churched. Feb. 26th, I delivered my book to the Lord Treasurer for the correction of the Calendar.

March 6th, Mr. Adrian Gilbert, John Davis and I met with Mr. Alderman Barnes, Mr. Townson and Mr. Yong and Mr. Hudson, about the N.W. voyage. March 17th, Mr. John Davis went to Chelsea with Mr. Adrian Gilbert to Mr. Radforth's, and so the 18th day from there toward Devonshire. March 18th, Mr. North from Poland, after he had been with the Queen, came to me. I received a salutation from Alaski, Palatine in Poland; a salutation by Mr. North, who had come before to the Queen, and next to me was his message, at 12 of the clock. Nurse Lydgatt at Estshene was paid for 5 pounds of candle, 6 pounds of soap, and the wages due from Rowland's birth.

April 18th, the Queen went from Richmond toward Greenwich, and at her going on horseback, being newly up, she called for me by Mr. Raleigh's putting her in mind, and she said "what is deferred is not taken away," and gave me her right hand to kiss. April 24th, the nurse was paid for Rowland all her wages until Monday the 22nd of this month, 16 pence a week: she had all her candle and soap before.

May 1st, Albertus Laski, a Pole, Palatine of Scrad, came to London. May 4th, Mr. Adrian Gilbert and Mr. Pepler went by water to Braynford, and so to ride into Devonshire. May 7th, E. K. went toward London, and so to go homeward for 10 or 12 days. The fortieth day from Good Friday. May 13th, I became acquainted with Albertus Laski at 7½ at night, in the Earl of Leicester's chamber in the court at Greenwich. This day my lease of the Devonshire mines was sealed at Sir Lionel Ducket's house. May 18th, the Prince Albertus Laski came to me at Mortlake, with only two men. He came in the afternoon and stayed for supper, and after sunset. Nurse Rowland was paid all until the 20th of this month.

June 15th, about 5 of the clock came the Polish Prince Lord Albert Laski down from Bissham, where he had lodged the night before, having returned from Oxford, where he had gone on purpose to see the universities, where he was very honorably received and entertained. He had in his company Lord Russell, Sir Philip Sydney, and other gentlemen: he was rowed by the Queen's men, he had the barge covered with the Queen's cloth, the Queen's trumpeters, etc. He came on purpose to do me honor, for which God be praised! June 19th, the Lord Albert Laski came to me and lay at my house all night. Nurse Rowland paid her wages ending the 17th day of this month.

July 1st, Master Mills's answer: no hope for my suit at Greenwich. July 7th, George was dismissed from my service and paid all accounts in the presence of goodman Hilton and Mistress Kelly in my study. July 10th, Thomas Hoke of Cranford came into my service, but he went away again the 23rd day of this month. July 30th, the Queen removed on Tuesday from Greenwich to Sion by water; coming by my door… July 31st, the Queen's gift of 40 angels sent by the Earl of Leicester's secretary Mr. Lloyd, through the Earl's speech to the Queen. Mr. Raleigh's letter to me of Her Majesty's good disposition toward me. Aug. 1st, John Halton, a minister dwelling in London with …, bowed in and looked, and the …, a Worcestershire man, a wicked spy, came to my house, whom I used as an honest man, and found nothing wrong as I had thought. I was sent to E. K. Aug. 7th, Mr. William Burrow passed by me. Aug. 14th, paid nurse Lydgatt for Rowland for two months ending the 12th day. Aug. 18th, a great tempest of wind at midnight. *Maxima era* [sic; perhaps a misprint for *maxima ira*, "the greatest anger"] E. K. with his wife. Sept. 21st, we went from Mortlake, and so the Lord Albert Laski, I, Mr. E. Kelly, our wives, my children and family, we went toward our two ships waiting for us, seven or eight miles below Gravesend.

Jan. 13th, on Sunday the stage at Paris Garden fell down all at once, while it was full of people watching the bearbaiting. Many were killed, many more hurt, and everyone was stunned. The devout explained it as a deserved plague from God for the wickedness practiced there, and for the Sabbath day so profaned. Jan. 19th, Mr. John Leonard Haller went to London to go on toward Scotland. Jan. 23rd, the Right Honorable Mr. Secretary Walsingham came to my house, where by good luck he found Mr. Adrian Gilbert, and so talk began about the discovery of the North-west Straights. The Bishop of St. Davyd's (Mr. Middleton) came to visit me with Mr. Thomas Herbert. The Lord Grey came to Mr. Secretary, and so they went to Greenwich (?). Jan. 24th, I, Mr. Adrian Gilbert, and John Davis went by appointment to Mr. Secretary, to Mr. Beale's house, where only the four of us were in private, and we let Mr. Secretary into the secret of the N.W. passage, and all charts and sailing directions were agreed on in general.

Feb. 2nd, Roland Dee was baptized. Feb. 3rd, Mr. Savile, Mr. Powil the younger, travelers, and Mr. Ottomeen his son, came to get to know me. Feb. 4th, Mr. Edmunds of the Privy Chamber and Mr. Lee, who had been in Moschovia, came to get to know me. Feb. 11th, the Queen, lying at Richemond, went to Mr. Secretary Walsingham's for dinner; as she came by my door she graciously called me to her, and so I walked at her horse's side as far as where Mr. Hudson lived. Her Majesty asked me obscurely about monsieur's state: +I said he will die a violent death+. Roland went with his nurse to her house at Estshene. Feb. 18th, the Lady Walsingham suddenly came into my house quite unannounced, and shortly after she had gone, Sir Francis himself and Mr. Dyer came. Feb. 24th, Jane was churched. Feb. 26th, I gave my book to the Lord Treasurer for the correction of the Calendar.

March 6th, I, Mr. Adrian Gilbert and John Davis, met Mr. Alderman Barnes, Mr. Townson, Mr. Yong and Mr. Hudson, about the N.W. voyage. March 17th, Mr. John Davys went to Chelsey with Mr. Adrian Gilbert to Mr. Radforth's, and then on the 18th set out from there toward Devonshyre. March 18th, Mr. North from Poland, after he had been with the Queen, came to me. I received a greeting from Alaski, Palatine in Poland; a greeting brought by Mr. North, who had come first to the Queen and then to me, and his message to me came next, at 12 o'clock. Nurse Lydgatt at Estshene was paid for 5 pounds of candle, 6 pounds of soap, and the wages due since Rowland's birth. April 18th, the Queen went from Richemond toward Grenewich, and as she got on horseback, being just up, she called for me because Mr. Rawly had reminded her of me, and she said "what is deferred is not taken away," and gave me her right hand to kiss. April 24th, the nurse was paid for Rowland all her wages up to Monday the 22nd of this month, 16 pence a week: she had all her candle and soap before.

May 1st, Albertus Laski, a Pole, Palatine of Scrad, came to London. May 4th, Mr. Adrian Gilbert and Mr. Pepler went by water to Braynford, and from there to ride into Devonshire. May 7th, E. K. went toward London, and so to go homeward for 10 or 12 days. The fortieth day from the Friday before Easter. May 13th, I got to know Albertus Laski at 7½ at night, in the Earl of Leicester's chamber in the court at Greenwich. This day my lease of the Devonshyre mines was sealed at Sir Leonell Ducket's house. May 18th, the Prince Albertus Laski came to me at Mortlake, with only two men. He came in the afternoon, stayed for supper, and stayed on after sunset. Nurse Rowland was paid in full up to the 20th of this month. June 15th, around 5 o'clock the Polonian Prince Lord Albert Lasky came down from Bissham, where he had stayed the night before, having come back from Oxford, where he had gone on purpose to see the universities, and where he was very honorably treated and entertained. He had in his company Lord Russell, Sir Philip Sydney, and other gentlemen: he was rowed by the Queen's men, he had the barge covered with the Queen's cloth, the Queen's trumpeters, etc. He came on purpose to do me honor, for which God be praised! June 19th, the Lord Albert Laski came to me and stayed at my house all night. Nurse Rowland was paid her wages ending the 17th day of this month.

July 1st, Master Mills's answer gave no hope for my suit at Grenewich. July 7th, George was dismissed from my service and all accounts were settled in the presence of goodman Hilton and Mrs. Kelly in my study. July 10th, Thomas Hoke of Cranford came into my service, but he went away again on the 23rd of this month. July 30th, the Queen moved on Tuesday from Greenwich to Sion by water; coming by my door.......... July 31st, the Queen's gift of 40 angells, sent by the Earl of Leicester's secretary Mr. Lloyd, through the Earl's speech to the Queen. Mr. Rawlegh's letter to me about Her Majesty's good will toward me. Aug. 1st, John Halton, a minister living in London with.........., bowed in and looked; and the......... a Wurcetershire man, a wicked spy, came to my house, whom I treated as an honest man, and found nothing wrong with him, as I thought. I was sent to E. K. Aug. 7th, Mr. William Burrow passed by me. Aug. 14th, paid nurse Lydgatt for Rowland for two months ending the 12th day. Aug. 18th, a great storm of wind at midnight. *Maxima era* [sic; perhaps a misprint for *maxima ira*, "the greatest anger"] E. K. with his wife. Sept. 21st, we went from Mortlake, and so the Lord Albert Lasky, I, Mr. E. Kelly, our wives, my children and family, went toward our two ships waiting for us, seven or eight miles below Gravessende.