LETTERS FROM THE RESUSCITATIO. 161 



corrupt every man s nature ; which will, I fear, much hurt 

 her majesty s service in the end. I have been like a piece 

 of stuff bespoken in the shop : and if her majesty will not 

 take me it may be the selling by parcels will be more 

 gainful. For to be as I told you like a child following a bird, 

 which when he is nearest flieth away and lighteth a little 

 before, and then the child after it again, and so in infinitum, 

 I am weary of it: as also of wearying my good friends, of 

 whom nevertheless I hope in one course or other gratefully 

 to deserve. And so not forgetting your business I leave to 

 trouble you with this idle letter, being but &amp;lt;c justa et mode- 

 rata querimonia.&quot; For indeed, I do confess, &quot; primus 

 amor,&quot; will not easily be cast off. And thus again I com 

 mend me to you. 



To the Lord Treasurer Burghley. 

 Most honourable, and my very good Lord, 

 I know, I may commit an error in writing this letter 

 both in a time of great and weighty business ; as also when 

 myself am not induced thereto, by any new particular occa- 

 sion : And thereof, your lordship may impute to me either 

 levity or ignorance, what appertaineth to good respects and 

 forwardness of dealing; especially to an honourable person, 

 in whom there is such concurrence of magnitude honoris 

 et oneris as it is hard to say, whether is the greater. But 

 I answer my self first, that I have ever noted it as a part 

 of your lordship s excellent wisdom, &quot; parvis componere 

 magna,&quot; that you do not exclude inferior matters of access 

 amongst the care of great. And for myself, I thought it 

 would better manifest what I desire to express, if I did 

 write out of a deep and settled consideration of my own 

 duty, rather than upon the spur of a particular occasion. 

 And therefore, (my singular good lord) &quot; ex abundantia 

 cordis,&quot; I must acknowledge how greatly and diversly your 

 lordship hath vouchsafed to tie me unto you by many your 



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