PREFACE. XVn 



&quot; singular ; especially in Henry the Seventh, where 

 !t he may exercise the talent of his divine under- 

 &quot; standing.&quot; 



After the completion of the work, there seems 

 to have been a demur with respect to its publication, 

 in a letter from Sir Thomas Meautys,* he says, 

 &quot; May it please your lordship, I have been at- 

 :t tending upon my lord marquiss minutes for the 

 &quot; signing of the warrant.&quot; 



The letter then continues, and, in the conclusion, 

 says, f Your books are ready, and passing well 

 &quot; bound up. If your lordship s letters to the king, 

 &quot; prince, and my lord marquiss were ready, I think 

 &quot; it were good to lose no time in their delivery ; for 

 &quot; the printer s fingers itch to be selling.&quot; 



It seems by the following letter, that there was 

 another letter from Sir Thomas Meautys complain 

 ing of this demur. 



&quot; Good Mr. Meautys, for the difference of the 

 &amp;lt;c warrant, it is not material at the first. But I may 

 &quot; not stir till I have it ; and therefore I expect it 

 &quot; to-morrow. 



&quot; For my Lord of London s stay, there may be 

 &quot; an error in my book ; but I am sure there is none 

 &quot; in me, since the king had it three months by him, 

 &quot; and allowed it : if there be any thing to be 

 &quot; mended, it is better to be espied now than here- 

 &quot; after. 



c I send you the copies of the three letters, 

 which you have , and, in mine own opinion, this 



* Birch, 310. 

 VOL. 3. 



