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A Letter to the Bishop of Ely upon sending his Writing, entituled, Cogitata et Visa.

[Inserted in this Vol. p. 90.]

A Letter to Sir Thomas Bodley, after he had imparted to him a writing, entituled, Cogitata et Visa.

[Inserted in this Vol. p. 91.]

A Letter to Mr. Matthew upon sending to him a part of Instauratio Magna.

[Inserted in this Vol. p. 92.]

A Letter to Mr. Matthew, touching Instauratio

Magna.

[Inserted in this Vol. p. 93.]

A Letter to Mr. Matthew, imprisoned for Religion. [Inserted in this Vol. p. 62.]

A Letter to Mr. Matthew, upon sending his Book De Sapientiâ Veterum.

[Inserted in this Vol. p. 29.]

A Letter of Expostulation to the Attorney General, Sir Edward Cook.

[Inserted in this Vol. p. 104.]

A Letter to my Lord of Salisbury, touching the

Solicitor's Place.

[Inserted in this Vol. p. 63.]

A Letter of like Argument, to the Lord Chancellor. [Inserted in this Vol. p. 106.J

A Letter to the King touching the Solicitor's Place. [Inserted in this Vol. p. 95 and 107.]

A Letter to the Earl of Salisbury of courtesy upon a New Year's Tide.

It may please your good Lordship,

Having no gift to present you with, in any degree proportionable to my mind, I desire nevertheless to take the advantage of a ceremony to express myself to your lordship; it being the first time I could make the like acknowledgment when I stood out of the person of a suitor; wherefore I most humbly pray your lordship to think of me, that now it hath pleased you, by many effectual and great benefits, to add the assurance and comfort of your love and favour to that precedent disposition which was in me to admire your virtue and merit; I do esteem whatsoever I have or may have in this world but as trash in comparison of having the honour and happiness to be a near and well accepted kinsman to so rare and worthy a counsellor, governor, and patriot. For having been a studious, if not a curious observer of antiquities of virtue, as of late pieces, I forbear to say to your lordship what I find and conceive; but to any other I would think to make myself believed. But not to be tedious in that which may have the shew of a compliment, I can but wish your lordship many happy years; many more than your father had; even so many more as we may need you more. So I remain.

A Letter of Thanks to the King, upon Mr. Attorney's sickness.

It may please your most excellent Majesty,

I do understand, by some of my good friends, to my great comfort, that your majesty hath in mind your majesty's royal promise (which to me is " anchora spei") touching the Attorney's place. I hope Mr. Attorney shall do well. I thank God I wish no man's death, nor much mine own life, more than to do your majesty service. For I account my life the accident, and my duty the substance. But this I will be bold to say. If it please God that ever I serve your majesty in the Attorney's place I have known an Attorney Cooke, and an attorney Hobert; both worthy men, and far above myself; but if I should not find a middle way between their two dispositions and carriages, I should not satisfy myself. But these things are far or near, as it shall please God. Meanwhile I most humbly pray your majesty to accept my sacrifice of thanksgiving for your gracious favour. God preserve your majesty. I ever remain.

A Letter to the King, of suit to succeed in the Attorney's Place.

[Inserted in this Vol. p. 97.]

A Letter to Sir George Carey in France, upon sending him his writing, " In Felicem Memoriam Elizabethæ."

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A Letter to my Lord Mayor, upon a proceeding in a private cause.

My very good Lord,

I did little expect when I left your lordship last, that

there would have been a proceeding against Mr. Barnard to his overthrow. Wherein I must confess myself to be in a sort accessary: because he relying upon me for counsel, I advised that course which he followed. Wherein now I begin to question myself, whether in preserving my respects to your lordship and the rest, I have not failed in the duty of my profession towards my client; for certainly, if the words had been heinous and spoken in a malicious fashion, and in some public place and well proved, and not a prattle in a tavern, caught hold of by one, who (as I hear) is a detected sycophant (Standish I mean) yet I know not what could have been done more than to impose upon him a grievous fine; and to require the levying of the same; and to take away his means of life by his disfranchisement; and to commit him to a defamed prison during Christmas; in honour whereof the prisoners in other courts do commonly of grace obtain some enlargement. This rigor of proceeding (to tell your lordship and the rest, as my good friends, my opinion plainly) tendeth not to strengthen authority which is best supported by love and fear intermixed; but rather to make people discontented and servile; especially, when such punishment is inflicted for words, not by rule of law but by a jurisdiction of discretion, which would evermore be moderately used. And I pray God, whereas Mr. Recorder, when I was with you, did well and wisely put you in mind of the admonitions you often received from my lords that you should bridle unruly tongues; that those kind of speeches and rumours whereunto those admonitions do refer, which are concerning the state and honour thereof, do not pass too licentiously in the city unpunished; while these words which concern your particular are so straightly enquired into, and punished with such extremity. But these things, your own wisdom first or last,) will best represent unto you. My writing unto you at this time is, to the end, that howsoever I do take it somewhat unkindly,

that my mediation prevailed no more; yet I might preserve that further respect that I am willing to use unto such a state, in delivering my opinion unto you freely, before I would be of counsel, or move any thing that should cross your proceedings; which notwithstanding (in case my client can receive no relief at your hands) I must and will do. Continuing, nevertheless in other things, my wonted good affection to yourselves, and your occasions.

A Letter to my Lord Treasurer Salisbury, upon a New-year's Tide.

It may please your good Lordship,

I would entreat the new year to answer for the old, in my humble thanks to your lordship; both for many your favours, and chiefly that upon the occasion of Mr. Attorney's infirmity, I found your lordship even as I could wish. This doth encrease a desire in me to express my · thankful mind to your lordship; hoping that though. I find age, and decays grow upon me, yet I may have a flash or two of spirit left to do you service. And I do protest before God, without compliment or any light vanity of mind, that if I knew in what course of life to do you best service, I would take it, and make my thoughts, which now fly to many pieces, to be reduced to that centre. But all this, is no more than I am, which is not much; but yet the entire of him, that is, etc.

A Letter to his Majesty, concerning Peacham's Cause, January 21, 1614.

It may please your excellent Majesty,

It grieveth me exceedingly, that your majesty should be so much troubled with this matter of Peacham's; whose raging devil seemeth to be turned into a dumb devil. But although we are driven to make our way through questions (which I wish were otherwise) yet I hope well the end will

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