42 



Longleat Tapers, No, 3. 



castell, and more then I wrat to you I know not nor cannot learn but by all 

 likrliode yt came by a lyttle negligence of moris, w ch yf yt did was verye strange 

 ami almost against reason : but under xx s . will repayre all that was don, yf we 

 might get but halfe a lode of tymber. You rested dowtfull of H. Sarpsforde's 

 death ; ilatlye and playnelye he was most abhomynablye murderid, but yf there 

 were any search therin yt woulde be wrapt upp, as others matters ar and therfore 

 let god for me deale therin I fynde by my L. that my dischardge wil be shortly 

 w ch yf you come downe before Whitsontyde I will staye the delyvering upp of 

 my accompt, yf not at Whitsontyde I will come upp and bring upp my 

 accompt and make even with my L. but yf yt were soner I showlde be moche 

 gladder, and when I deale in any cause agayne I wil be fyrst torne in peces. 

 And so fare you well, and let spite and envye work his worst. 

 " Kennelworthe, y e xxij th of Marche 1579 



" yo rs to use Heney Besbeche " 



" To the worshipfull M r . W m 

 Beynham Esquire " 



1580, March 28th. The same to the same. 

 [About a brewer having come down to Kenil worth for hops.] 



" .... I received a Ire from you that W m Edmunds warranted you to 

 sell suche hoppes as might be spared : he both denyeth it, and also refuseyth to 

 sell : and since your going away hath not holpen a chapman : but some mennes 

 woords is better husbandrye then others good doings. I am glad to se my credit 

 increase so fast that am not sufficient to waye a few hopps without W m Edmunds. 

 Well, I fynde day lye and owrely my Lord's woords trewer and trewer I hope 

 shortlye I shall have ease. My Lord hath so conceived of me by some folks 

 good means as I am an arrant knave. I trust I shall come to the triall and 

 then I knowe what I have to saye. My L. hathe willed me to sende you all my 

 books of the receipt of plate to Kennelworth from tyme to tyme and that I shall 

 have them safe delyverid me agayne saving that wh. is noted in the margent 

 geven and lost, and that which now remaynithe, as a paper therof apparithe 

 Kennelworth the 28 th of Marche 1580 



« y 0 r 8 no £ aD j e t 0 be a frende H. Besbeche " 

 " To the wourshipfull Mr Will m 



Beynham esquire." 



XXVI.— 1578, December 12th. Thomas Smythe (called "Cus- 

 tomer Smythe" as Farmer of the Customs) to the Earl of 

 Leicester. 



[Customer Smythe was owner of Corsham and built, in 1582, the 

 oldest part now remaining' of Corsham Court. He removed to 



