LETTERS ON SCIENTIFIC SUBJECTS. I*J 



cost, and credit, in matters philosophicall and mathematical!) 

 yf no better or easyer way to serve my turn will fall to my 

 lot from her Majesties hands ; may not I than (I say) be 

 thowght to meane and intend good service toward the Q. 

 Majestie and this realme, if I will do the best I can at my 

 own costis and chargis, to discover, and deliver true profe of 

 a myne, vayn, or owre of gold, or silver, in some one place 

 of her graces kingdoms and dominions, to her graces onely 

 use ; in respect, I mean, of any my demaund or part to be 

 had therof. But uppon this comfortable consideration, that 

 her Majesty do frely give unto me, by good warranty and 

 assurance of her letters-patents, her right and propriety to 

 all thresor irouve, and such things commodious, as (under 

 that name and meaning comprised) by digging or search any 

 where, in her graces kingdomes and dominions, I, or my as- 

 signes shall come to, or finde : and with all good warranty 

 (for my indemnity) agayn all laws and persons, to make serch 

 by digging, or otherwise. And this to dure the terme of my 

 life. And in token of my hart fully bent to shew myself 

 thankfull to your lordship for compasing eyther of these two 

 wayes : (I mean eyther an easyer means of provision, for two 

 hundred pownds, yerely, during my life : or this casual marts 

 of paynfull search) ; before God, 1 promise unto your lord- 

 ship (or will by oth uppon the Evangelists be bownde) of all 

 thresor trouve (commyng to my hands) to impart unto your 

 lordship, or your assignes, the one half, during my life. 

 Moreover your Lordship may be most assured that any no- 

 table benefit (throwgh your L. meanes) bestowed uppon me 

 now in the very pynch and opportunytie, shall not, ne yet 

 can, be hid under a bushell : but is like with your L. famous 

 renown, very far immortally to be blazed. The third and 

 last principall point of this my present sute to your L., is for 

 your L. hand to a letter directed to Mr. Harly, keper of the 

 records of Wigmor castell, or to whome, in this case, it doth 

 appertayn. For that, at my late being there, I espied an 

 heap of old papers and parchments, obligations, acquittances, 

 accownts, &c. (in tyme past belonging to the abbay of Wig- 

 mor) and there to lye rotting, spoyled, and tossed, in an old 

 decayed chappell, not committed to any man's speciall charge : 

 but thre quarters of them I understand to have byn taken 

 away by diverse (eyther taylors, or others, in tymes past). 

 Now my fantasie is that, in som of them, will be some men- 

 tion made of noblemen and gentlemen of those dayes, where- 

 by (eyther for chronicle or pedigree) som good matter may be 

 collected out of them by me (at my leysor) by the way of a 

 recreation. And whatsoever I shall finde in them, eyther of 



