A Holy Death-bed

Abstract

Huntingdon’s health, never very good, had not seemed much worse than usual in the autumn of 1595: had been ill in October for ten days at York but recovered quickly and resumed his customary command over northern politics. Towards the end of November he faced the hardship of a journey to Newcastle at that time of the year in order to make an enquiry in person into the decay of government in the Border Marches. Once there he attempted to examine the delinquent Sir John Forster, he attended the installation of the new Lord Warden, and tried to impress upon the gentlemen of Northumberland their duties to the crown. For one day his strength gave out, and he had to keep to his chamber, but he publicly received the Northumberland gentlemen again on 29 November and heard their proposals for reforming the administration of the Marches before he set out wearily on his return journey to York. He intended, after a short rest there, to go down to London almost immediately to inform the queen and Burghley of all that had passed at Newcastle and to explain his own ideas about the reorganisation of the Border defences.¹