my libertye to departe, that my necessaries should be restored, and advysed with all I shoulde make the most speede I coulde to avoyde out of the towne, to shone any vyolence that might hapen by those which were yett to come, beinge men of great mighte, and attended upon by whole armies (as he tearmed yt) whose dyspositions happelye were not soe inclynable to unitie, being dyfferente in religione, yet caried as great comaunde as himself, therefore not to be governed by him, and soe with my kinde salutations from his Mr. he departed.

The morrowe after he restored what he had taken, and willed me to come unto him. He intreated me verry kindly, and alleadged for excuse of my stay that I was sent unto him by the Governor of Dorpte as one ymployed in Princes affayres, and that he could not without mature deliberation and good advice suffer me to goe forward. He for himself was willing to entertaine love and ametye with all, and seemed to be much greeved that it was his happe to be an instrumente of my trouble, butt havinge no expresse order from the Kinge to make staye of any Englyshmen, thoughe he feared it woulde incurre the displeasure of his Maty and generall dyslike of the other Comissioners, yet woulde he rather hazarde all whatt coulde be objected against my liberty then by further restraint to urdge my dyslike or dysagreement betwixt the Queenes Matie and the Kinge his Mr. And for further proof therof hee there made proffer of himself to be at her Maties pleasure to effecte any matter with the Kinge his Mr. in her behalf, which shee might assuer herself of, yf hir Matie by her letters woulde make tryall of his service. And soe, with many intreties not to misconster his meaninge in my detainemente, with reverence done unto her Maty, he bade me farewell.

TENURE OF ROYAL MANORS, &c.

[The following instrument was not issued until some months after the date of the "Instructions" printed on a preceding page. It seems to have been rendered necessary by legal difficulties which had arisen. It is countersigned at the end by Sir Edward Coke, then Attorney General.]

ELIZABETH R.

WE are well pleased that all mannors, being under the cleere yerely valewe of xxli, not being restrayned by our former instructions for other respectes, shall (yf for the furtheraunce of our sales and our better service yt shall so seeme good to our commissioners in that behalf,) passe and be houlden in socage.

And that all mannors, being of the cleere yerely valewe of twentye poundes, and under the cleere yerely valewe of thirtie poundes, not being restrayned by our said instructions for other respectes, shall (yf for the furtheraunce of our sales and our better service, yt shall so seeme good to our comissioners in that behalf,) passe and be houlden by knightes service only, and not in capite.

And that all mannors, being of the cleere yerely valewe of thirtye poundes, and under fortye poundes, not being restrained by our former instructions for other respectes, shall (yf for the furtheraunce of our sales and our better service, yt shall seeme good to our comissioners,) passe and be holden in capite.

Wee are likewise well pleased that all landes and tenementes which are no mannors, nor parcell of anie mannors, being under the cleere yerely valewe of fortye poundes, nor being restrained by our former instructions for other respectes, shall (yf for the furtheraunce of our sales and our better service, yt shall so seeme good to our comissioners in that behalf,) passe and be holden in socage.

And that all landes and tenementes which are no mannors, nor parcell of anie mannors, being of the cleere yeerely valewe of

fortye poundes, and under the cleere yerely valewe of threescore poundes, not being restrayned by our former instructions for other respectes, shall (yf for the furtheraunce of our sales and our better service, yt shall so seeme good to our comissioners in that behalf,) passe and be holden by knightes service.

And that all landes and tenementes which are no mannors, nor parcelles of mannors, being of the cleere yerely valewe of threescore poundes, not being restrained by our former instructions for other respectes, shall (yf for the furtheraunce of our sales and our better service, yt shall so seeme good to our comissioners,) passe and be houlden in capite.

We are likewise well pleased that all tithes and rectories, being under the cleere yerely valewe of fiftye poundes, not being restrained by our former instructions for other respectes, shall (yf for the furtheraunce of our sales and our better service, yt shall so seeme good to our comissioners,) shall passe and be houlden in socage, and not in capite.

And that all tithes and rectories, being of the cleere yerely valewe of fyftye poundes, and under the cleere yerely valewe of three score and tenne poundes, and being restrayned by our former instructions for other respectes, (yf for the furtheraunce of our sales yt shall so seeme good to our comissioners,) shall passe and be holden by knightes service.

And that all rectories and tithes, being of the cleere yerely valewe of three score and tenn poundes, not being restrained by our former instructions for other respectes, (yf for the furtheraunce of our sales yt shall so seeme good to our comissioners,) shall passe and be holden in capite. Given the ninetenth daye of June, in the fortith and one yeare of our raigne.

EDW. COKE.

DEATH OF THE LORD KEEPER'S SON.

[The following is an exceedingly characteristic letter from Lord Essex to Lord Ellesmere on the death of his eldest son, Thomas Egerton, who accompanied the Earl into Ireland in March, 1599. The loss of so promising a young soldier, and so dear a friend, no doubt contributed not a little to the disgust Lord Essex seems at this period to have felt towards the country.]

To the right honorable my very good L., the L. Keeper of

the greatt seale of England.

WHATT can you receave from a cursed cuntry but unfortunate newes? whatt can be my stile (whom heaven and earth are agreed to make a stranger,) butt a stile of mourning? nott for my self that I smart, for I wold I had in my hart the sorow of all my frends, butt I mourne thatt my destiny is to over live my deerest frendes. Of your losse, yt is nether good for me to write, nor you to reede; but I protest I fealt myself sensibly dismembred when I lost my frend. Shew your strength in lyfe. Lett me, yf yt be Gods will, shew yt in taking leave of the world and hasting after my frends. Butt I will live and dy,

LETTER OF CONDOLENCE.

[The subsequent letter must have been sent to Lord Ellesmere very soon after the distressing news of the death of his son had reached him. It is to be observed that, although the body of the letter is written by Sir Robert Cecill, the superscription is in the handwriting of Lord Bacon. It is possible that he had something to do with the composition of it, and some of the expressions resemble others in his "Essays," printed not long before.]

Indorsed by Lord Ellesmere, "Mr. Secretarye."

To the right honble my very good Lord, the L. Keper of the great seale of England.

My good L. Discretion hath overruled my affectionate desire to have visited you er this time, knowing that the sight of freends do rather revive then suspend sorrowes. But, my L., I doubt not but your wisedome will abridge the time in which griefs are remedied, and your experience of the world make you compatible with these accidents, which are comon and unavoydable. It is not therfore (beyond Natures tribute, which flesh and blood can not withold in some proportion,) fitt for your place and your person to mourn when the blow is past, and not to be prevented, and the arm that strook it powerfull and not contented if it be repined at; especially when he that made him hath him, and lent him you so long, till he had don honour to his country and to his howse. I pray your Lp., therfore, pay those debts in which the expectation and experience of your moderation in all things have tyed you more then others (that are compounded of humours and passions), and thogh this stile of mine be full of weaknes in respect of other your wiser freends, yet let my affection make, by these defects, from whom you may build surely to receave all effects of an honest man, and one that in this request, and all other, will yeld you the just accompt of him that hath vowed him self unfainedly

Your Lp's trew fr. to com.,

CAMD. SOC. 12.

Ro. CECYLL.

2 R