42 Longleat Tapers, No. 3. 



castell, and more theu I wrat to you I know not nor cannot learn but by all 

 likeliode yt came by a lyttle negligence of moris, w"^'' yf ji: did was verye strange 

 and almost against reason : but iinder xx*. will repayre all that was don, yt we 

 might get but halfe a lode of tymber. You rested dowtfuU of H. Sarpsforde's 

 death ; flatlye and playnelye he was most abhomynabl3'e murderid, but yf there 

 were any search therin yt woulde be wrapt upp, as others matters ar and therfore 

 let god for me deale therin I fynde by my L. that my dischardge wil be shortly 

 w='' yf yoii come dowue before Whitsontyde I will staye the delyvering upp of 

 my accompt, yf not at Whitsontyde I will come upp and bring upp my 

 acuompt and make even with my L. but yf yt were soner I shuwlde be moche 

 gladder, and when I deale in any cause agayue I wil be fyrst torue in peces. 

 And so fare you well, and let spite and envyo work his worst. 

 " Kennelworthe, y* xxij"' of Marche 1579 



"3'o" to use Heney Besbeche" 



" To the worshipfuU M'. W-» 

 Beynham Esquire " 



1580, March 28th. The same to the same. 

 [About a brewer having come down to Kenil worth for hops. | 



" .... I received a. Ire from you that W" Edmunds warranted you to 

 sell suche hoppes as might be spared : he both denyeth it, and also refuseyth to 

 sell : and since your going away hath not holpen a chapman : but some meimes 

 woords is better husbandryc then others good doings. I am glad to se my credit 

 increase so fast that am not sufficient to waye a few hopps without W™ Edmunds. 

 Well, I fynde daylye and owrely my Lord's woords trewer and trewer I hope 

 shortlye I shall have ease. My Lord hath so conceived of me by some folks 

 good means as I am an aiTant knave. I trust I shall come to the triall and 

 then I knowe what I have to saye. My L. bathe willed me to sende you all my 

 books of the receipt of plate to Kennelwoiih from tyme to tyme and that I shall 

 have them safe delyverid me agayne saving that wh. is noted in the margeut 

 geven and lost, and that which now remaynithe, as a paper thcrof apparithe 

 Kennelworth the 28'''' of Marche 1580 



" Yo" not able to be a frende H. Besbeche " 

 " To the wourshipfull Mr Will" 



Beynham esquire." 



XXVI.— 1578, December 12th. Thomas Smythe (called " Cus- 

 tomer Smythe" as Farmer of the Customs) to the Earl of 

 Leicester. 



[Customer Smythe was owner of Corsham and built, in 1582, the 

 oldest part now remaiuiug" of Corsham Court. He removed to 



