314 



Charles, Lord Stourton, 8fc. 



you which toucheth me so near as I cannot leave it unanswered. And wher(as) 

 in your said letters ye say 'ye received the Queen's Majestie's Letters for the 

 publishing of Her Highness' just title to the Crown of this Realm of England, 

 France and Ireland, with all dignities belonging unto the same, as also for the 

 charge of iij Shires, that is to say, Wiltshire, Somerset and Dorset, the good 

 order of the same and Raising, levying and arming the powers of the said 

 countries against all Her Highness' enemies, as the case shall require, doing 

 your duty therein causing Her Majestie's just title and name to be published 

 by the officer of Warminster, (as ye say) 1 most traitorously, as ye are credibly 

 informed, did not only rebuke, revile, but also threaten the said person to hang 

 him, and indeed had slain him if good hap had not been, because he so did,' 

 which I answer is most false and untrue, for I made no quarrell to him there- 

 fore as all the town and country can and will testifie, but my doings there to be 

 to the setting forth to the uttermost of my power of Her Highness' most just 

 title to the Crown, and sure I am that neither myself, nor any of mine, nor 

 any other to my knowledge, drew any weapon upon him, or offered to strike 

 him, nor yet threatened to hang him (although I once saved him from hanging) 

 but indeed I told the varlet I would make him know me (and so I will) to be 

 High Officer there, and not in this troublesome time, or at any other time, to 

 proclaim any lieutenancy there without shewing commission from the Queen's 

 Highness, or other sufficient warrant for the same, as he did now, neither 

 showing commission, copy of commission, nor yet letters of your hand to declare 

 the same, but only his own credit which, being so vile a knave, methought to 

 sklendre * in such a case, all things considered. And wheras ye call me ' not 

 only traitor but also arrant rank traitor,' without cause, my duty of allegiance 

 resyrved, I therein dene you and all others, and when time may serve I will 

 purge myself of that vile name to your and all others' shame that shall 

 charge me therewith. Wher ye let me to wit also in your said letters that there 

 shall be found more troth in you without spot either of affection or flattery as 

 both are to be found in me, yea, than have been in ' my great master, whom ' 

 (ye say) 'I do so much extol : ' I let you to wit as for my troth and duty to 

 my Soverayne I will compare it to be as much and as unspotted as yours or 

 any other's, and I pray to God that when others shall be sifted as I have been, 

 their's be found no more spotted nor blotted than mine hath been ; and as for 

 flattery hitherunto, I never flattered you, and Master have I had none but the 

 King's Majesty sithens (since) the death of the Duke of Somerset, nor have 

 depended or sought to extoll any one subject before another, nor whom ye 

 should mean thereby I know not. Farther, wher ye command and require me 

 in the Queen's Highness' name, that I neither stir nor call together any person 

 or persons to arm or levy in battle for any intent without your consent and 

 knowledge (denying me the copy of your commission), assure yourself I will 

 do nothing without good warrant and authority to bear me in that (be)half. 

 Either let me have a copy of your Commission by this bearer, or else to adver- 

 tize me to whom I may send for the same, which soon I will according to my 

 duty obey with as obedient hearty and humble good will to the uttermost of 



*"To sklendre," i.e. too slender. In a Proclamation by "Jane the Quene," and therefore 

 precisely of this date, the word « sklanderous " is used two or three times, for slanderous. (Loseley 

 MSS. p. 125.} v J 



