182 



The Hertford Correspondence. 



LETTER XXII. 



Lord Hertford to Sir William Eyre, about the Service of Loan. 



Good Knight : — I perceive by your letters received this day, the 9th of this 

 November, 1611, I cannot have conference with yon before my going towards 

 London two days hence touching the service of loan, wherein I desire to have 

 the greatest care and diligence that may be used, for his Majesty's contentment 

 and the expectation of my lords of his Highness's most honourable Privy 

 Council ; wherein, by reason of my said absence, your continual readiness in 

 other services, besides the experience of the country, maketh me much rely on 

 you. And therefore I have sent by your servant all the directions that concern 

 the same, desiring you forthwith to appoint such times and places for expediting 

 this most necessary service, for the meeting of you my deputy-lieutenants. The 

 letter I last sent you was commanded to have been with you on Friday morning 

 very early, but it happened otherwise, through the negligence of him that I put 

 in trust to deliver you my said letter ; for instead of receiving it yesterday by 

 six o'clock in the morning, I perceive you received it not till twelve o'clock 

 after. Thus, with my hearty commendations, &c. From Tottenham 1 this 9th 

 of November, 1611.' Your very loving friend, 



HERTFORD. 



LETTER XXIII. 



The Deputy Lieutenants in answer to the above. 



Right Honourable, our very good Lord : — According to your lordship's letters 

 sent unto us, dated the 9th of this November, we have done our best endeavours 

 for the accomplishing what is required in the letters from the King's most 

 excellent Majesty to your lordship, concerning the collecting of the names of all 

 such persons within this county that are thought most fit to lend money upon 

 privy seals ; and with as much speed as the unseasonableness of the weather 

 and high waters in these parts would permit us to meet together ; and have 

 herewith sent unto your lordship a book containing the names and dwelling- 

 places of every particular person and the several sums that they may be thought 

 able to lend, with as much indifferency [impartiality] as we can. And as con- 

 cerning the late Lord Chief Justice's division, we have proceeded so far as we 

 could only by the note of the names sent unto us, but could not receive any 

 instructions from any of the commissioners of the subsidy of that division, they 

 being now all at London. So that if your lordship shall think fit to confer with 



1 The fact of his lordship dating from Tottenham proves that the present mansion of the Marquis 

 of Ailesbury is at least the third, and not as is commonly supposed the second, structure on that 

 spot. 



