II. thren, gent. In Northamptonshire, Robert Mallery, Ro- BOOK bert Harrison, and two gentlemen more. In this city [i. e. London] out of Kent, Jerom Brett, gent. sir Warham St. Leger: and moved to sir John St. Leger; and to have an island of his in the sea. Beaumont and others in Suffolk. Bray and Tiler of London, and Thomas Hains. And moved to deal with one Mr. Greenfield in Devon, and Somersetshire one Ellis. And offered to be placed by captain Chester in Holland. One Browning neer Colchester. And another confederacy of John Prastals: and an alchymist. And were about to deal in Essex, about Candlemas last, with a justice of peace; which I could soon sift out. I have been willed to Ireland by divers, as James Haydon, gent. Thomas Eden, and others. Thus, my lord, I have reveled the onely names unto your honour, and no matter at all. Neither is it to any purpose, if I should accuse the most of them. For none of all these but have heard of my trouble, and would flatly deny me: and those whom I could not touch with sufficient matter, would go free away. And so by fending and proving shall I never be able to shew the service which I fain would. But assuredly, my lord, if it may please the queen's majesty to give me life, and some reasonable maintenance, &c. and to be preserved for some quality of mine, to be used in the mint, &c. (for that way I must do service, and not openly,) will find ways and means enough to catch them that deserve thereafter: yea, twenty against one the other way. And so, is it not the most of these men, but a great multitude of others, (now unknown,) would help me for that purpose. And further, I would insinuate my self with all workmen, as smiths, gravers, and alchymists: so that I suppose nothing should escape my reach in that craft. And most sure I am, that no subtil device or invention can blind me, if it ply in that work. And so might they be taken in season, and with the manifest proof it self. And without some such special watch, undoubtedly they will still be doing, unknown, passing any magistrates understanding. I say not here commendation of my instruments and working 115 Your ho BOOK tools, which be of great speed and of fine handling. To the use whereof I am to give place to no man. nour is to consider thereof, as it shall please you. For magic, I can find out as many that way. And if I might speak with my old companions, (and many of them are in this town,) I would hunt out a mervailous pack of them, with their books and reliques. Yea, and with their art goeth many a filthy ceremony, as mass, sacrifice, and their service of the Devil: also, my acquaintance, supposing me to be the same I was before, would disclose their minds unto me. Whereby I should understand that which now my conscience and bounden duty would not permit me to concele: and thereby save many a true man his goods. Thus your honour doth understand the sum of my pretence: that which, upon my salvation, I have shewed of zele and of good will towards my country; and am ready to perform full as much as I have said, and more, in every respect. For one thing brings on another. He that seeketh shall find. And first, a name, then a man's own commendation, and a liberal tongue to discourse, is a sufficient credit to any master of these arts, to bring him customers enough. I am sure these things and many other have I had light of in my time. And now I am both further known, and thought much more cunning: which would bring treble acquaintance. So should your honour by my life have all the intelligence I were able to learn, unfeignedly, by all possible means. And certainly, that should be both much and needful. My hope is verily to weed and cleanse this country of coining. And for other matters, all the good I can to purge it. Your honour hath preserved many to amendment of life. God well knoweth, I would not live to be a stay and hindrance to all those which are to find favour and mercy for their deserts, coming after me. 1 desire none, but a sufficient true living by the day. For, God be judge, I wish not otherwise to live; and 1 ask it of her highness; for that I determine to serve her majesty faithfully. Mine own ability is nothing. And if I had grace and liberty, yet II. I could not do this service altogether with empty hands. BOOK For I must seek some that look not for me, and keep company with the rest as fall out, for that purpose: not doubting, but I shall endeavour my self, so as should well merit my reward. Or for default thereof, I shall be content to loose life and all, my duty not supplied. And by my death shall be but presented the example of all evil members. And so shall dy with me all the light and evidence before spoken. For if I do suffer the extremity of the law, it will be too late for me to shew this my well affected service. Neither am I in that mind, by death to do it. But if I go thereto, I am fully determined, that every man shall bear his own sins; praying to God for their amendment. And for my own part, my perfect hope is to be saved at the Almighty God's hand: unto whose high mercy I commit my self. And so I end; praying to the Lord for the long life, health, and happy days of your honour to endure. Your honours humble and poor captive, Edward Phaer. Number XII. George Buchanan to Mr. Randolph, concerning publishing his history: and his distemper. dolph. MAISTER, I hauf resavit divers letters from you, and Epist. Ranyet I hauf aunswered to naine of them. Of the quhyllz Foxii MSS. albeyt I hauf mony excusis, as age, forgetfulness, and disease; yet I will use naine now, eccept my sweitness and your gentleness. And geif ye think none of thoise sufficient, content you with ane confession of the falt without fear of punition to follow on my own peculiar kindness. As for the present, I am occupiit in writing of our his- 116 tory; beying assurit to content few, and to displeasure mony tharthrow. As to the end of it, if ye get it not or this winter be past, cippin [look] not for it, nor none other writing from me. The rest of my occupation is with the gout, quhyllz haldys me besy both day and nyt. And quhair yee say, ye haif not lang to lyif, I trust to God to was master BOOK go before you; albeyt I be one fut [foot] and ye ryd the II. posta. Praying you als not to dispost the post at Newerke Randolph tone of Kelsterne. This I pray you partly for the awne of the posts. quhame I thought ane gud fallow, and partly at request of lyk, as I dare not refuse. And thus I take my leave shortly at you now, and my lang leif quhen God pleasis : committing you to the protection of the Almighty. At Sterling the 25th of August, 1577. Yours to commaund with service, G. Buchanan. MSS. Burg. Number XIII. Sandys, archbishop of York, to the lord treasurer: concerning his enquiry into the holy orders of Whittingham, dean of Durham. For which some complaint was made of him at court. MY very good lord; I have great cause to thank you your most friendly answer for me. You shall never receive dishonour by me. For my doings tryed, shall ever be found sincere, and not in right to be blamed. Neither shall there any man be more ready to charge me, than I to answer it, if I may be called and admitted to it. Verily, my lord, I receive great wrong. My faithful and upright service is ill requited. I have given no occasion of offence in word or in fact. Whosoever shall charge me with either shall greatly wrong me. This Durham matter breedeth a great broyl. The dean hath gotten mo friends than the matter deserveth. The discredit of the church of Geneva is hotly alledged. Verily, my lord, that church is not touched. For he hath not received his ministry in that church, or by any authority or order from that church, so far as yet can appear. Neither was there any English church in Germany that attempted the like, neither needed they to have done; having among themselves sufficient ministers to supply the rowne. But yf his ministry without authority of God or man; without law, order, or example of any church, may be current, take II. heed to the sequel. Who seeth not what is intended? BOOK God deliver his church from it. I will never be guilty of it. And yet I trust that I shall never swerve from the truth of God, nor shrink in matter of religion. But I shall ever mislike of confusion. If her majesty had liking of it, or yf the lords had called me, I would have attended after Easter. But seeing that no such order is taken, I dare not leave my charge. Neither have I further to deal in Durham matter. For I trust the lords will not make me a party. Yet yf I shall be burthened with matter worthy to be answered, yf the lords call me thereunto, I will readily and gladly come. But to intrude my self into the action, I mind not. I shall humbly pray, that I may be clearly acquitted of it. It hath created me much displeasure, as I hear. But I bear it more quietly, having the testimony of my conscience, that I have dealt uprightly, and have given no just offence to any man. I have written to the lords somewhat more at large to the like effect. I would wish your lordship should be at the board, when those letters shall be read. Thus acknowledging, how much I am bound unto you, for your honorable constant favour towards me, I humbly re- 117 commend your good lordship to the good direction of God's holy Spirit. Bushopthorp, this 4th Aprilis, 1579. Your lordships most assured, E. Ebor. Number XIV. Cox, bishop of Ely, to the queen. His letter congratulatory to her, now in her progress; and excusing himself for not waiting upon her. R. Richar. episc. Elien. INDIGNUM facinus me admisisse arbitrabuntur inter- Int. epist. pretes parum æqui, augustissima regina, quòd in hac `tua peregrinatione, obsequium tuæ majestati non præbeam. Verum modo nec Deo, nec tuæ sublimitati ulla detur offensa, aliorum judicium susque deque fero. Si autem intelligerem |