NOTE 2 2. 



luxuriant than was fit in his place, not willing to deny a suit but prone to 

 gratify all strangers, chiefly if any of his kindred brought them in his hand, 

 and was far more apt to believe them that asked him a favour, than those that 

 would persuade him it was not to be granted. These that haunted him without 

 shame, to have their suits recommended to great officers, made him quickly 

 weary of his faithful ministers that could not justly satisfy him. I had men 

 tioned none but that I am beholden to the cabal to fall upon one, the worst of 

 twenty. Sir John Michel, of whose unreasonableness the Lord Keeper writes 

 thus : God is my witness I have never denied either justice or favour (which 

 was to be justified) to this man, or any other that had the least relation to your 

 good and most noble mother. And I hope your lordship is persuaded thereof. &quot; 



The Lord Keeper to the Duke about the Lord Treasurer. 



My most noble Lord, That I neither wrote unto your lordship, nor waited 

 upon your lordship sithence my intolerable scandalizing by the Lord Treasurer, 

 this is the true and only cause : I was so moved to have all my diligent service, 

 pains, and unspotted justice thus rewarded by a lord, who is reputed wise, that 

 I have neither slept, read, written, or eaten any thing since that time ; until the 

 last night, that the ladies sent for me (I believe of purpose) to Wallingford 

 House, and put me out of my humour. I have lost the love and affection of my 

 men, by seizing upon their papers, perusing all their answers to petitions, casting 

 up their monies, received by way of fees (even to half-crowns and two shillings) 

 and finding them all to be poor honest gentlemen, that have maintained them 

 selves in my service by the greatness of my pains, and not the greatness of their 

 fees. They are, most of them, landed men, that do not serve me for gain, but 

 for experience and reputation ; and desire to be brought to the test, to show 

 their several books, and to be confronted by any one man, with whom they 

 contracted, or from whom they demanded any fee at all ; the greatest sum in 

 their books is five pounds, and those very few, and sent unto them from earls 

 and barons ; all the rest are, some twenty shillings, ten shillings, five shillings, 

 two shillings and sixpence, and two shillings. And this is the oppression in my 

 house, that the kingdom (of the common lawyers, peradventure, who have lost, 

 I confess, hereby twenty thousand pounds at the least, saved in the purses of 

 the subjects) doth now groan under. 



Now I humbly beseech your lordship to peruse this paper here inclosed, and 

 the issue I do join with the Lord Treasurer ; and to acquaint (at the least) the 

 king and the prince, how unworthily I am used by this lord ; who (in my soul 

 and conscience I believe it) either invents these things out of his own head, 

 and ignorance of this court, or hath taken them up from base, unworthy, and 

 most unexperienced people. Lastly, because no act of mine (who am so much 

 indebted for all my frugality) could in the thoughts of a devil incarnate, breed 

 any suspicion that I gained by this office, excepting the purchase of my grand 

 father s lands, whereunto my Lord Chamberlain s nobleness, and your lordship s 

 encouragement, gave the invitation, I do make your lordship (as your lordship 

 hath been often pleased to honor me) my faithful confessor in that business, 

 and do send your lordship a note inclosed, what money I paid, what I borrowed, 

 and what is still owing for the purchase. 



I beseech your lordship to cast your eye upon the paper, and lay it aside, that 

 it be not lost. And having now poured out my soul and sorrow into your lord 

 ship s breast, I find my heart much eased, and humbly beseech your lordship 

 to compassionate the wrongs of your most humble and honest servant, 



Sept. 9, 1622. J. L. C. S. 



The Lord Keeper to the Duke, concerning Sir John Michel. 



My most noble Lord, In the cause of Sir John Michel, which hath so often 

 wearied this court, vexed my lady your mother, and now flieth (as it seemeth) 

 unto your lordship, I have made an order the last day of the term, assisted by 

 the Master of the Rolls and Mr. Baron Bromley in the presence, and with the 

 full consent of Sir John Michel, who then objected nothing against the same ; 



