178 The Hertford Correspondence. 



time, the troop of horse lately under the conduct of Sir Walter Vaughan, Knight ; 

 and the store of powder and shot which ought to be in divers places of this 

 county laid up for a necessary provision, unviewed. Notwithstanding this your 

 great care (for the which I give you many thanks) and although it was much 

 better than in former times, yet many were absent both of horse and foot : and 

 of those that did appear, the greater part have not paid the muster-master his 

 small entertainment, a rate being allowed by yourselves with the accordance of 

 the most part of the justices within the county. Therefore, both for the refor- 

 mation of these neglects and for the advancement and future furtherance of this 

 martial service, and also to avoid the suspect [suspicion] of the vulgar of any 

 remissness of those that neglected their appearance, which they are apt to 

 conceive, I pray and require you to precept [warn] those horses which were now 

 omitted, that they may appear at some convenient time as you may think most 

 fit; and also those absent and deficient be at the same time called, you not 

 forgetting to take especial care of those which are to be newly raised to arms, 

 to make the regiment of Sir Edward Penruddoeke complete 600, a copy of whose 

 names I have here enclosed sent you, as they were presented unto me, that they 

 be sufficiently provided ; so as you make certificate of this your proceeding unto 

 me before Christmas next, that in the term following I may make, according to 

 my former use in these cases, acknowledgement to the lords of his majesty's 

 most honourable council. For any contempt or slackness in these services I 

 hope you will order and see due punishment inflicted upon them, according to 

 their natures and deserts, or return their names unto me, that the lords of the 

 council may be informed thereof. And so referring the premises to your own 

 care and consideration, craving your diligence and willing performance therein, 

 I bid you very heartily farewell. Amesbury, this 2nd day of October, 1610. 



Your very loving friend. 



HERTFORD. 



Postscript. — I pray you to be careful of the premises, and the rather because 



I am now going to attend upon the service of the parliament. 



LETTER XVII. 

 Sir William Eyre and Sir Henry Baynton to his Lordship, in answer. 



Right Honourable : — Our duties remembered : — According to your lordship's 

 letters of the 14th February last 1 we have sent our precepts for the warning of all 

 the absents and deficients in the regiment of John Hungerford, Esq., to appear 

 before us at Chippenham, the 14th of this month; and the absents and deficients 



1 Although, in the original packet, the letter here numbered XVII. follows letter XVI. and seems 

 in answer to it, yet the dates of the two indicate a large interval of time. Perhaps letter XVI. waB 

 not sent till February. 



