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BOOK all I ever have given answer, (as my duty was, and my stomac served me thereto,) for the honour of my natural and dread sovereign, for the time, here reigning, &c. The value of a mine is matter for a king's tresure, but a pot of two or three hundred pounds hid in the ground, jarr, or tree, is but the price of a good book, or instrument for perspective, astronomy, or some feat of importance, &c.

He proffered to do his endeavour the best he can, at his own cost and charges, to discover and deliver due proof of a mine, or owre of gold or silver, in some one place of her graces kingdoms and dominions, to her graces only use: upon this consideration, that her majesty give him, by her letters patents, her right and propriety in all tresure trové, by digging and searching any where in her kingdomes, and his assignes. And this to dure the term of his life. And in token of my heart fully bent to shew my self thankful to your lordship for compassing either of these two ways, I mean, either by provision for 2007. yearly, or this casual mart of painful search (before God I promise unto your lordship, or will by oath upon the evangelists be bound) of all tresure trové, coming to my hand, to impart unto your lordship, or assure one half, &c.

Thirdly, The last and principal point of this my present suite to your lordship is, for your lordships hand to a letter, directed to Mr. Harley, keeper of the records of Wigmor castle, or to whom in this case it doth appertain. For that at my late being there, I espied an heap of old papers and parchments, obligations, acquittances, accounts, &c. in time past, belonging to the abby of Wigmor, (and there ly rotten, spoiled, and tost in an old decayed chapel,) not committed to any man's special charge. But three quarters of them I understand to have been taken away by divers, either taylers or others, in time past. Now my phantasy is, that in some of them will be some mention made of noble men, or gentlemen in those days: whereby either for chronicle, or pedegree, some good matter may be collected out of them by me, at my leisure, by way of a recreation. And whatsoever I shall find in them, either of your lordships

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auncestors, in direct line, branch, paternal, or match, (where- BOOK in I am not utterly ignorant,) either of any other matter worthy your lordships knowledge, I will make true report, and deliver the same to your lordships ordering, &c. Dated the 3d of October, 1574.

Your lordships most bounden,

John Dee.

Number XLVI.

A proclamation for the redress of inordinate apparel, anno

1559.

Proclamat.

penes me.

THAT although the queen might levy great sums of Collect. of mony at this present, by due execution of sundry wholsome laws upon great numbers of her subjects, for wearing of such excessive and inordinate apparel, as in no age had been seen the like: whereby also should ensue such notable benefit to the commonwealth, as hard it were by any other 84 ways to devise the like: yet the singular goodness of her majesties nature was such to forbear the extending of any sudden and unlooked for extremity. That in these cases her majesty thought rather by this proclamation to notify her highnes determination with her privy council, among many other her weighty affairs, for this that followeth, than suddenly to extend the penalties of her laws.

First, Her majesties said council shall and will presently take order, that the statute made in the first and second year of king Philip and queen Mary, and certain other branches of another statute, made in 24 H. 8. against excessive apparel, shall be put in execution, both within her majesties court, and in their own houses; with a certain favourable proceding touching such as cannot presently, without their over great loss, change their unlawful apparel; which they presently have. Wherein, because her majesty trusteth that the example shall induce the rest of her subjects to reform their disorders, her majesty willed her said privy council to publish their decree and order in this behalf.

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And for like toleration towards such as live in the country out of her court, her majesty chargeth forthwith all maiors and governours of cities and towns corporate, all sheriffs and justices of peace in shires, all noblemen of the state of barons; and, above all, governours and heads of any societies and companies, either ecclesiastical or temporal, forthwith, or at the furthest within the space of twelve days after the publication hereof, to devise, accord, and take order for the execution of the foresaid statute and branches, specified hereafter in a brief abstract and draught annexed to this proclamation, within the limits of their charge: so as her majesty may take some comfort of her toleration, and the commonwealth some relief of the great damage hereby sustained.

And because the tolerations of these abuses shall not be drawn into a sinister occasion of the continuance of this abuse, she charged, that there be no toleration had, or excuse allowed, after the 20th day of December next, as touching all the contents of the said statute in the first and second year of king Philip and queen Mary: neither after the last of January next, as touching the branches of the other statute of the 24th of Henry VIII. except it be for certain costly furrs and rich embroideries, bought and made by sundry gentlemen before this proclamation, to their great cost, &c. Yeven at the palace, Westminster, the 21st of October, in the first year of her reign.

Int. literas ep'ales.

Number XLVII.

Cox, bishop of Ely, to the queen: upon her requiring his house in Holborn for Mr. Hatton, her vice-chamberlain.

SCRIBUNT quidam: Jupiter nutu totum tremefactat Olympum. Serenissima regina, ita literæ tuæ in Hattoni tui gratiam scriptæ me non parum turbarunt et terruerunt. Quod enim prius subtimui, cum in gratiam tuæ pietatis ædium mearum partem Hattono tuo cessi, jam evenire palam est. Constantiores, fateor, fuerunt patres mei. Poten

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tissimus rex, pater tuus, non obtinuit pro cancellario suo BOOK Wriothesleo, nisi ad tempus, ædes Elienses. Magnificus ille Northumbriæ dux non valuit illo tempore episcopum ab ædibus illis exigere. Neque ego charissimo tuo servo magistro Parris vel tua majestate interpellante ædes meas concessi. Ipse vero tandem precibus fatigatus trepido quidem animo, ne ingratitudine majestatem tuam lædere viderer, locari partem ædium mearum tuo Hattono ad annos viginti unum. Jam vero postulatur, ut in perpetuum cedam. Cedam, inquam, non solum ea, quæ tunc temporis cedere nolui, sed etiam alia subduntur et postulantur, quibus ægre admodum cedere possum. Navigo inter Scyllam et Charibdim. Optarim enim (Deus testis est) magis mori, quam majestatem tuam merito offendere. Verum si Deum nos-85 trum temere offendero, mors secunda timenda est: et si unum ex Christi pusillis offendero, expedit, ut mola asinaria, &c. Dignetur tua pietas mecum perpendere, quo in loco me posueris, et quo me vocaveris. Episcopum me voluisti esse: nimirum ad bonum opus obeundum, ad veri Dei gloriam propagandum, ad regni tui non infimum ornamentum ad ecclesiæ ministros in ordine continendum, ne scilicet schismata et contentiones subinde orirentur, ad subsidia principum opes nostras conferendum, quoties res ita postulat, et ad miseros oppressosque pro viribus juvandum. Tu vero Deo longe charissima et devotissima, data es ab ipso Deo ecclesiæ tuæ ministra, nutrix indulgentissima, et defensatrix fortissima. Episcoporum vero ordinem tu sola foves et sustentas, eo quidem zelo, quo avi tui divino Spiritu ducti instituerunt et conservaverunt. Quorum quidem pium ardentemque in veram religionem affectum, absit ut ego, misellus homuncio, vel extinguere vel minuere videar. Si qui ante me in hac re peccarunt, non mea referre debet. Mea cura est quidque Deo imprimis, deinde quid majestati tuæ præstandum sit. Accepi ego prædia, ædes et alia hujus generis, quæ pientissimi principes judicarunt functioni nostræ necessaria. Hæc ego accepi (te donante) a prædecessoribus meis, quorum custos, non dissipator esse debeo. Ab

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BOOK sit enim, ut ego solus in tanto episcoporum numero successoribus meis ea, quæ bona fide accepi, mala fide tradam, et sacrilegii reus evadam. Absit autem, ut pias principum regumque voluntates sciens et prudens violem, sacraque testamenta rescindam: quam ipsi ea in tam pios usus tradiderint, quorum profanationem ulcisci solet justus Dominus: cavendumque in pia et Christiana repub. ne quis ulli ullam afferat injuriam maxime vero in hiis, quæ Christo sancte consecrata sunt. Sed unde petam subsidium nisi a tua eximia pietate, quæ in ecclesia Christi Dei vicaria es. Verum longe pientissimum est de amicis et charis servis bene mereri. Sed ea naturæ et Christi regula firmissimo clavo in cordibus nostris figenda est perpetuo: Non facias alteri, quod tibi non vis fieri. Non ullius commodum alieno incommodo augendum est. Magnos vero sumptus fecit tuus Hattonus in ædibus meis. Aiunt legisperiti non satis firmam esse locationem ædium Hattono factam. Ego vero ut firmior reddatur opto, si id per me confici possit. At ut perpetua fiat alienatio, nondum induci potest timida mea conscientia. Nec libenter me et successores meos nudos relinqui velim, ut horto pomario et pastura muro cincta, destituantur, et ædes meæ in nimis arctum comprimantur. Ignoscat, nobilissima heroina, liberæ sacerdotis tui voci: vix justificare audeo eos principes, qui in vere pios usus collata in usus minus pios transferunt. Denique, si ulla ratio excogitari possit, quæ justa et æqua videatur, qua pietati tuæ gratificari possim, non læso Domino Deo meo summo omnium judice, in me mora non erit ulla: qui majestatem tuam per multa secula beare dignetur. Ex ædibus meis Eliensibus. 20 die Aug.

Tuæ majestati a sacris et mista humillimus.