wee greete you well, &c. Wheras ther hath been made unto us, aswell by Sir John Swynarton, Knight, as by Wm. Garraway and Nic. Sallter, sundry offers for the impost of the French wynes (synce that farme was questioned), which we have refused, for that neither of them did untill of late offer neere the trew vallewe. Theis are to give you to understand, that the said Garraway and Sallter have very lately becom humble petitioners unto us to accept of an offer (not altogether so good as this inclosed) which wee, having considered of, do like; and the rather for that comparing it with Sir John Swynarton's last and best offer, wee find it equall yf not better then his, besides it consisting of part ready money by way of fyne, and an increase of rente, it doth better fitt owr present occation, and therfore, aswell for the respectes aforesaid, as for that in equitye they have yet one yeare in the first 7 yeares, and for that we have been ever accustomed to myngle mercy with justice, we are resolved to accept of theis conditions herinclosed. Yet remembring yow have been by us formerly imployed in this affaire, wherin you have proceeded with such integretye and judgment, as you have not only added an increase of revenue unto our Crowne, farre beyonde our expectation or hope, but in the manner of it have expressed so much affection, as wee will never forgett. And that you maye in som measure perceave how acceptable your service hath been to us in this behalfe, wee have concealed our resolution from them, and are pleased to do you the honnor to comyt the concluding of this bargen unto you, giving you herby to understand it is our pleasure that you doe forthwith call before you the said Garraway and Sallter, and propound unto them theis conditions hereinclosed, which yf they shall accepte wee will that you presentlye give order to our Attornye and Solicitor to drawe up a boocke accordingly for our signature. What our further pleasure is concerning this buysines wee have made knowne unto our servaunt Sir Lionell Cranfeild, unto whose reporte wee referre yow. Gyven under our signett, at Salisbury, the fift day of August, 1613. MANOR OF CRESSINGHAM, NORFOLK. [How the subsequent letter came into the possession of the Lord Chancellor does not appear. It relates to a proposed, but abandoned, purchase by Sir Edward Coke of the manor of Cressingham, and possibly Sir Henry Windham requested the advice of Lord Ellesmere on the occasion.] To my very loving frend Sir Henry Wyndham, knight. SIR. Whereas I intended to have purchased the lease of the manor of Cressingham in Norfolk, made by the Deane and Chapter of Norwiche to the late Queene for one hundred yeares. Soe it is that I ame constrayned to borrowe greate summes of money to furnishe paimentes for thinges which of late I have entred into, by meanes whereof I ame at this present unprovided to undertake the buying of the lease aforesaide. Nowe, because I will no longer entertayne this your offer to your prejudice, doe set you at liberty with my good liking to sell the lease aforesaid to any to whom you will, and doe promise you to satisfye any with whom you shall deale about it, that it is a good lease in law and any may safely buy it. Soe I bidd you farewell. Your loving frende, 14 9bris, 1613. EDW. COKE. LORD ESSEX AND HENRY HOWARD. [The date of the following extract of a private letter is only to be ascertained from its remarkable contents, which fix it in 1613. The duel between Mr. Sackville and Lord Bruce, mentioned in the last clause, took place in August of that year. The paper is without address or indorsement.] My Lo. of Essex and Mr. Henry Howard are gone over to fight, and taken two seconds a peece with them, Mr. Walter Devoreux and Sir Thomas Beomount with my Lo., and Huntingdon and Ned Ball with Mr. Henry Howard. It is thought the quarrell did arise about my La. of Essex, but what or how it was I cannot learne. My La. of Essex came up to my Lo. of Northampton upon Saterday last in very great hast, but what the busines was I know not; but he hath lately writt a letter to her by the name of the La. Frances Howard. My Lo. of Bedford is exceeding ill, and not like to recover, yet if he may be able he doth purpose to trie what good the bathe will do him. I heare other newes which is too true, that my Lo. Harington is dead. My Lo. of Rutland and my Lo. Danvers are fallen out at Bathe, and gone likewise to fight. Mr. Sackvill hath wounded my Lo. Bruce twise in the body, and received but one hurt in the arme: my Lo. was caried out of the field, and Mr. Sackvill did goe away himself. PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES REWARDED. [The subsequent Privy Seal shews in what way James I. did not scruple to interfere with the regular course of equity, for the purpose of favouring a suitor who had been of use to him in the House of Commons. The nature of the proceeding, which was thus to be delayed at the royal instance, is not hinted at, but the indorsement of Lord Ellesmere gives the name of the plaintiff.] Indorsed by Lord Ellesmere, "Rec. 23 Aug. 1614. His Maty signifies his pleasure in the cause inter Skyllicorne et Woolfreston." To our right trustie and welbeloved Councellor Thomas Lord JAMES R. RIGHT trusty and welbeloved councellor, wee greet you well. Wee have heretofore recommended to you the case of Robert Wulverstone depending before you in Chauncery, because he had in the Parliament house shewed himself forward in our service, and our desire was, that either so much favour might be shewed him as with equitie might stand, or that nothing were done against him till the next terme; since wee have been informed from him that his adversary presseth him now out of terme, whereupon wee have thought good to require you, that because he hath other busines to attend in the vacation, he may not be urged to any thing till the terme, and that then a day certaine be given for the hearing of his cause, which wee must leave to the equitie of the Court, not doubting but that you will regard one, of whose service wee are pleased to take notice, so farre forth as in justice you may. Given under our signet, at Leicester, the eighteenth day of August, in the twelfth yeare of our raigne of England, France and Ireland, and of Scotland the eight and fortieth. SKYLLICORNE v. WOOLFRESTON. [We may perhaps conclude from the ensuing letter from Sir Thomas Lake that even the Privy Seal had produced little effect upon the Lord Chancellor, and it certainly is not in favour of the defendant that, though so favoured by the King's interference, he could get no counsel to undertake his cause.] Indorsed "Rec. 27 Octob. 1614. Sir Thomas Lake signifies the Kinges pleasure concerninge Mr. Wolverston."' To the right honorable my singuler good Lord, the Lo. Ellesmere, Lo. Chancellor of England. My duty to your Lo. remembred. His Matie hath commaunded me to let your Lo. understand, that whereas in his late progresse he directed his owne letters to your Lo. in favor of Mr. Robert Wolverston, requiring your Lo. that no prejudice might be done to him by importunitie of his adversary during the vacation. The said Wolverston hath now bene with his Matie with a new petition, which his Highnes findeth somewhat strange, for he alleadgeth that he can get no counsell to plead for him, an allegation whereof his Matie hath not heard the like before, and knoweth not what construction to make of it. But because the time of his Maties returne to London is now so short as no great prejudice can grow to either side by deferring the cause so long, his Matie wisheth your Lo. to lett it rest till then, and at his coming to informe him in the cause, and what you find of this new allegation of his that he can get no counsell, if so be it be true. And so I humbly take my leave. leave. From the Court at Royston, this 25 of October, 1614. Your Lo. humbly to command, THO. LAKE. LORD BACON'S CHANCERY SUIT. [We hear of the “suit in Chancery,” spoken of in the indorsement to the following letter, nowhere else, but it respected part of Lady Bacon's property derived from her wealthy father, Alderman Barnham. It is wholly in Lady Bacon's handwriting, but it was probably dictated by her husband.] Indorsed by Lord Ellesmere, "The Lady Bacon, touching hir husbandes sute in the Chauncerye. Sir Fra. Bacon." CAMD. SOC. 12. 30 |