LETTERS ON SCIENTIFIC SUBJECTS. 



RICHARD EDEN TO LORD BURGHLEY. 



[MS. Lansd. No. 101. Art. 5. Orig.] 



August 1st, 1562. 



only searcher of mens harts, the eternall God, I take 

 to wytnesse (right honorable) that never the greefes of 

 adverse fortune (wherof I have had my parte) dyd so muche 

 prostrate my mynde and pearce my harte with sorowes, as 

 the understondinge of your honours favour and goodnesse 

 towarde me in your lately ernest travaile in my behalfe (as I 

 was informed by the M r of Savie) hathe rejoised me and re- 

 vived my discouragied spirites, heretofore no lesse languysshed 

 for lacke of suche a patrone, then nowe encouraged by the 

 favoure of suche a Maecenas, as I have just cause to name 

 your honoure. Syth only the respecte of suche vertues as it 

 hathe pleased yow to thinke commendable in me, hath moved 

 your honour not only in maner to seeme carefull for me howe 

 I maye hereafter with quietnesse spende my tyme in studie, 

 as is my most desire ; but also to be more ernest in folow- 

 ing the same, then I might without presumption demaunde, 

 and muche lesse without desertes dequire. As touchinge the 

 which matter (right honourable) as it was no parte of my divise, 

 but suche as the M r of Savoy had then in hande, as I sup- 

 pose no lesse to pleasure hymselfe and his frende then for 

 20 therof to be lotted to me for an earnest penye to begyne 

 the booke (as he saith). Even so am I right sorie that for 

 so smaule a matter, and not so favorable a sute as I wolde 

 have wysshed, not only your honour hathe taken suche 

 paynes, but that also suche contention is rysen therof be- 

 twene the M r of Savoy and M r Baptist of the privie chamber, 

 that by reason thereof the pardon being steyed be your Ho- 

 nour, the younge gentleman his kynsman (as he hathe in- 

 formed me) is in daungiour of his lyfe. But under your 



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