LEGAL PROCEEDINGS. 387 



ROBERT EARL OF SOMERSET TO SIR THOMAS OVERBURY*. 

 FROM A COPY AMONG LORD BACON*S PAPERS IN THE 

 LAMBETH LIBRARY. 



SIR, 



I HAVE considered that my answer to you, and what 

 I have otherwise to say, will exceed the bounds of a 

 letter ; and now having not much time to use be 

 twixt my waiting on the king, and the removes we 

 do make in this our little progress, I thought fit to 

 use the same man to you, whom I have heretofore 

 many times employed in the same business. He has, 

 besides an account and a better description of me to 

 give you, to make a repetition of the former car 

 nages of all this business, that you may distinguish 

 that, which he did by knowledge of mine and direc 

 tion, and betwixt that he did out of his own dis 

 cretion without my warrant. With all this he has to 

 renew to you a former desire of mine, which was the 

 ground-work of this, and the chief errand of his 

 coming to you, wherein I desire your answer by 

 him. I would not employ this gentleman to you, if 

 he were, as you conceit of him, your unfriend, or an 

 ill instrument betwixt us. So owe him the testi 

 mony of one, that has spoken as honestly, and given 

 more praises of you, than any man, that has spoken 

 to me. 



* He was committed to the Tower on the 21st of April, 

 1613, and died there of poison on the 15th of September fol 

 lowing. 



