1 82 Appendix I 



my service to you by letter all this while ; but in good faith, my Lord, 

 the reason was, I daily heard you were going. I give your Lordship 

 humble thanks for your noble and kind counsel ; the truth is, my Lord, 

 I have waited of the King the Scottish journey both diligently, and, as 

 Sir Robert Swift said of my Lord of Carlisle, it was of no small charge 

 unto me. I cannot find by the King but he seemed to be pleased with 

 me very well, and never used me better or more graciously ; the truth 

 is, I have hurt my estate much with the hopes of it, and I have been put 

 hi hope long, and so long as I will labour no more in it, but let nature 

 work and expect the issue at Welbeck ; for I would be loth to be sick 

 in mind, body, and purse, and when it is too late to repent, and my reward 

 laughed at for my labour. It is better to give over in time with some 

 loss than lose all, and mend what is to come, seeing what is past is not in 

 my power to help. Besides, my Lord, if I obtained what I desire, it would 

 be a more painful life, and since I am so much plunged in debt, it would 

 help very well to undo me ; for I know not how to get, neither know I 

 any reason why the King should give me anything. Children come on 

 apace, my Lord, and with this weight of debt that lies upon me, I know 

 no diet better than a strict diet in the country, which, in time, may recover 

 me of the prodigal disease. By your favour, my Lord, I cannot say I 

 have recovered myself at Welbeck this summer, but run much more in 

 debt than ever I did, but I hope hereafter I may. The truth is, my Lord, 

 for my court business, your Lordship with your noble friends and mine 

 have spoken so often to the King, and myself refreshed his memory in 

 that particular, so that I mean not to move my friends any more to their 

 so great trouble ; but whatsoever pleases his Majesty, be fully contented, 

 and look after some other httle contentments within myself, which shall 

 well serve me during my life, and if the King command me, I am at all 

 times ready to serve him ; if no commands, pray for him heartily. 

 For, by my troth, my Lord, I know no man in the whole world more 

 bound unto his Majesty than myself. For that point to try your Lord- 

 ship's friends in my behalf, I humbly thank you for the motion, and I 

 desire your Lordship to follow it. For the King's particular liking of 

 my proper person, I think my Lord of Carlisle would do best, or what 

 doth your Lordship think to his Lady, for further I would not willingly 

 have it go ; but I assure your Lordship I am most confident of the King's 

 good opinion of me : and about my Lord Savile's business and mine, his 

 Majesty pleased me extremely, being never moved by me or any friend 

 in my behalf that I desired. My Lord Treasurer used me extreme well 

 and extraordinary kindly ; my Lord of Carlisle for your Lordship's sake, 

 but the greatest news is my Lord of Holland courted me extremely ; 

 and so to conclude with this business, I intend to be quiet, and not press 

 the King at all, but to leave his Majesty to his own time, and rest quietly 

 here in the country ; and this I assure your Lordship is my resolution 

 and my full intention, and except it be to the purpose, their greatest 

 friendship is to let me rest here. I humbly thank your Lordship for 

 your noble favours to my old servant ; for my groom, my Lord, I beseech 

 you keep him, and I am sorry your Lordship will use such ceremony with 

 me. For La Roche, I always told your Lordship my opinion of him, and, 

 in good faith, he is no such horseman, neither for anything I ever saw, 

 but got a great reputation with doing httle : I would your Lordship had 



