132 LETTERS FROM THE RESUSCITATIO. 



backwardness than my negligence. He said, as soon as I 

 should understand that the rest were ready, he would not 

 be long after with his opinion. 



For I. S. your majesty knoweth the day draweth on ; 

 and my Lord Chancellor s recovery, the season and his age 

 promising not to be too hasty. I spake with him on Sun 

 day, at what time I found him in bed, but his spirits strong, 

 and not spent or wearied ; arid spake wholly of your busi 

 ness leading me from one matter to another. And wished, 

 and seemed to hope, that he might attend the day for I. S. 

 and it were (as he said) to be his last work, to conclude his 

 services and express his affection towards your majesty. I 

 presumed to say to him, that I knew your majesty would be 

 exceeding desirous of his being present that day, so as that 

 it might be without prejudice to his continuance ; but that 

 otherwise your majesty esteemed a servant more than a 

 service \ especially such a servant. Surely, in mine opinion 

 your majesty were better put off the day than want his 

 presence, considering the cause of the putting off is so no 

 torious ; and then the capital and the criminal may come 

 together the next term. 



I have not been unprofitable in helping to discover and 

 examine within these few days a late patent, by surreption 

 obtained from your majesty, of the greatest forest in Eng 

 land, worth 30,000/. under colour of a defective title, for a 

 matter of 400/. The person must be named, because the 

 patent must be questioned. It is a great person, my Lord 

 of Shrewsbury ; or rather (as I think) a greater than he, 

 which is my lady of Shrewsbury. But I humbly pray your 

 majesty, to know this first from my Lord Treasurer ; who, 

 methinks, groweth even studious in your business. God 

 preserve your majesty. Your majesty s most humble and 

 devoted subject and servant. 



The rather in regard of Mr. Murray s absence, 

 I humbly pray your majesty to have a little 

 regard to this letter. 



