18 LETTERS ON SCIENTIFIC SUBJECTS. 



your L. ancestors (in direct line, braunche, collateral!, or 

 match) wherin I am not utterly ignorant : eyther of any other 

 matter worthy your lordships knowledg; I will make true 

 report, and deliver the same to your L. ordring ; but els they 

 ar to unclenly (som of them) for your L. eyes to behold. 

 Thus, in the perswaded security of your L. favorable inter- 

 preting of all the premisses, I ende this long letter, beseech- 

 ing the blessed Trinity that this florishing kingdome may 

 long enjoye the great talent committed to your L. (from 

 above) and, on your L. behalf, moste wisely employed to the 

 welth and tranquilitye of this kingdome. 

 This 3 of October, 15 74. 



Your L. most bownden, 



JOHN DEE. 



To the right honorable and my singular 

 good lord and patron, the L. Burgh- 

 ley, Lord High Threasorer of England. 



HUMPHREY COLE TO LORD BURGHLEY. 



[MS. Lansd. No. 26, Art. 22. Orig.] 



4th December, 1578. 



Righte Honourable, Whereas Mr. Edwarde Dyer pre- 

 sented to your honour a peece of greene owre which he had 

 of me, yt was your honour's pleasure that I should make 

 serche for it at my goinge into the northe, which I accom- 

 plished according to your honnour's appointemente, and have 

 brought some of it with me from the place where it was got- 

 ten ; the whiche I woulde have presented to your honnour 

 longe before this tyme, but for that I dwell in London, I 

 durst not presume to come to the courte unto you. Where- 

 fore I have nowe sente the same unto your honnours by Mr. 

 Walter, one of your gentlemen, certefienge your honnour 

 that it was founde in the digging of a quarry in the grounde 

 of Mr. Robert Bowes of Aske in the Countie of Richemonde, 

 soe neere unto his house there (upon the which he is nowe 

 bestowinge greate coste in buildinges) that in the digging 

 for the same owre his howse may be undermined. Howbeit 

 there be other places thereaboute wherein the same owre, or 

 the like, in good plentie might be serched and founde ; for 

 there was plentie of it in that place where I had this, but I 

 perceave the said gentleman dare not digge for it, for that he 

 feareth thereby to undermyne and hurte the foundacion of 



