hereabouts for all causes, as this bearer shall more shew you. As touch ing our other affairs, I ensure you there can be no more done, or more diligence used, nor all manner of dangers better both foreseen and provided for, so that I trust it shall be hereafter to both our comforts, the speciallities whereof were both to long to be writne, and hardly by messenger to be declared. Wherfor, till you repaire hydder, I keep something in store, trusting it shall not be long to. For I have caused my Lord your father to make his provisions with speed. And thus, for lake of tyme, darling, I make an end of my letter, writeing with the hand of him, which I would were yours,

H. R.

* LETTER VIII. Translated from the French, as follows.

THOUGH it does not belong to a gentleman to take his lady in the place of a servant, however, in following your desircs, I willingly grant it, that so you may be more agreeably in the place that you yourself have chosen, than you have been in that which I gave you. I shall be heartily obliged to you, if you please to have some remembrance of me. 6 N. R. 1. de R. O. M. V. E. Z.

HENRY REX.

LETTER IX. Original.

THE cause of my writeing at this time (good sweetheart) is wonly to understand off your good health and prosperity, whereof to know I would be as glad as in manner myne awne, praying God, that, and it be his pleasure, to send us shortly togydder, for I promise you I long for it, howbeit, trust it shall not be long to; and seeing my darling is absent, I can no less do, than to send her some fleshe representing my name, which is harts fleshe for Henry, prognosticating, that hereafter, God willing, you must enjoy some of mine; which, if he pleased, I wolde were now. As touching your sisters matter, I have caused Walter Welche to write to my Lord mine mind therein, whereby I trust that Eve shall not have power to deceave Adam. For surely, whatsoever is said, it cannot so stand with his honour, but that he must needs take her his natural daughter now in her extreame necessity. No more to you at this tyme, mine own darling, but that with a wishe I would we were togydder one evening, with the hand of your,

H. R.

LETTRE VIII.

NEANMOINS qu'l n'apartiene pas a ung gentilhomme pour prendre sa dame au lieu de servante toute fois en suivant vos desirs volontiers le vous cutroyeray si per cela vous pussies trouver moins ingrate en la place per vous choysie, qui avez este 'en la place par moy donne en vous mereiant trescordiallement si vous plete ancore avoir quelque souvenance de moy, 6. N. R. 1. De R. O. M. V. C. Z.

HENRY R.

* LETTER X. Translated from the French, as follows.

ALTHOUGH, my mistress, you have not been pleased to remember the promise which you made me when I was last with you, which was, that I should hear news of you, and have an answer to my last letter; yet I think it belongs to a true servant (since otherwise he can know nothing) to send to enquire of his mistress's health; and, for to acquit myself of the office of a true servant, I send you this letter, begging you to give me an account of the state you are in, which I pray God may continue as long in prosperity, as I wish my own; and, that you may the oftener remember me, I send you, by this bearer, a buck killed late last night by my hand, hoping, when you eat of it, you will think on the hunter; and thus, for want of more room, I will make an end of my letter. Written by the hand of your servant, who often wishes you in your brother's room.

H. REX.

† LETTER XI. Translated from the French, as follows.

THE approach of the time, which I have so long expected, rejoices me so much, that it seems almost ready come. However, the intire accomplishment cannot be till the two persons meet, which meeting is more desired by me than any thing in this world; for what joy can be greater upon earth, than to have the company of her who is my dearest friend? Knowing, likewise, that she does the same on her part, the thinking on which gives great pleasure. You may judge what an effect the presence of that person must have on me, whose absence has made a greater wound in my heart than either words or writing can express, and which nothing can cure but her return: I beg you, dear mistress, to tell your father, from me, that I desire him to hasten the appointment by two days, that he may be in court before the Old Term, or at farthest on the day prefixed; for otherwise I shall think, he will not do the lover's turn, as he said he would, nor answer my expectation. No more at present, for want of time; hoping shortly that by word of mouth I shall tell

LETTRE X.

TOUTE fois nia mestres qu'l ne vous pleu de souvenir de la promesse que vous me fites quant je estoy dernierement vers vous, c'est a dire de scavoire ce vos bonnes nouvelles & de scavoire responce de ma derniere lettre, neanmoins il me semble quil app'artienne au vraye serviteur [voyant que autrement il ne peut rien scavoir] d'envoyer scavoire la salute de sa mestres & pur me acquitter de l'office da vray serviteur, je vous envoye cette lettre, vous suppliant de me avertir de votre prosperite, la quelle je prie a Dieu qu'il soit aussi long comme je voudroy la mienne; & pur vous faire en corps plus souvent souvenir de moy, je vous envoye par ce porture ung boucke tue hier oir bien tarde de ma main: Esperant que quand vous en mangerez il vous souviendra du chas seur & ainsi a faute d'espace je feray fin a ma lettre. Escrite de la main de votre serviteur qui bien souvent vous souhaitte au lieu de votre frere.

H. R.

+ LETTRE XI.

APPROCHANT du temps qui m'a si longement dure me rejoye tante qu'il me semble presque deja venu. Neanmoins l'entier accomplissement ne se perfera tant que les deux personnes se assemblent, laquelle assemblé est plus desirè en mon endroit que nulle chose mondaine, car que re

you the rest of my sufferings from your absence. Written by the hand of the secretary, who wishes himself at present privately with you, and who is, and always will be

Your loyal

and most assured Servant.
H. no other (AB) seeks Rex.

* LETTER XII. Translated from the French, as follows.

THERE came to me in the night the most afflicting news possible. For I have reason to grieve upon three accounts. First, because I heard of the sickness of my mistress, whom I esteem more than all the world, whose health I desire as much as my own, and the half of whose sickness I would willingly bear to have her cured. Secondly, because I fear I shall suffer yet longer that tedious absence which has hitherto given me all possible uneasiness, and, as far as I can judge, is like to give me more. I pray God he would deliver me from so troublesome a tormentor. The third reason is, because the physician, in whom I trust most, is absent at present, when he could do me the greatest pleasure. For I should hope by him, and his means, to obtain one of my principal joys in this world, that is, my mistress cured; however, in default of him, I send you the second, and the only one left, praying God that he may soon make you well, and then I shall love him more than ever. I beseech you to be governed by his advices with relation to your illness; by your doing which I hope shortly to see you again, which will be to me a greater cordial than all the precious stones in the world. Written by the secretary who is, and always will be,

Your loyal

and most assured Servant,
H. (AB) R.

joyement peut estre si grand en ce monde d'avoire la compagnie de celle qui est la plus chere amye, sachant aussi qu'elle fait la pareille de sou coté, la pansé du quel me fait grand plaisir : Juges adonque, que fera le personage l'absence du quel m'a fait plus grand mal au cœur que ni langue di escriture peuvent exprimer, & que jamais autre chose exceptè cela peut remedier, vous suppliant ma Mestresse de dire a Monsieur votre pere de ma part que je luy prie d'avancer de deux jours le temps assiné, qu'il peut estre en Court devant le vieille terme, ou au moins sur le jour prefische, car autrement, je penseray qu'il ne feroyt point le tour des amoureus qu'il disoit, E accordant a mon expectation. Non plus d'asteure de faulte de temps. Esperant bientote que de bouche vous diray le reste des peines par moy en votre absence soustenires. Escrite de la main du secretere qui se souhaite d'asteure privement epres de vous & qui est & qui a jamais Votre loyal & plus assure Serviteur

sera

H. autre (AB) ne cherche R.

LETTRE XII.

NOUVELLES me sont en nuit soudonement venues les plus depiesantes qui me pourroient avenir. Car pour trois Causes touchant icelle faut il que je lamente: la premiere pour entendre la Maladie de ma mestresse, laquelle je estime plus que tout le monde, la santé de quelle je desire autant comme la mienne, & vouloys volontiers porter la moitié du votre pour vous avoir guery. La seconde pour la crainte que j'ay d' estre encore plus longuement pressé de mon ennuyeux absens qui jusques icy m'a fait toute l'ennuie a lui possible, & quand encore puis juger & deliberer de pys faire, priant Dieu qu'il n'en defasse de si importune rebelle. La troisieme pour ce que le medecin en qut plus me fie est absens asteure quant il me pourroit plus grand plaisir. Car j'espereroy par luy & ses moyens de obtenir une de mes principales joyes en ce

LETTER XIII. Original.

SINCE your last letters, myne awne darling, Water Welche, master Brown, John Care, Yrion of Brearton, John Cocke the pothecary, be fallen of the swett in this house, and thankyd be God all well recovered, so that as yet the pleague is not fully ceased here; but I trust shortly it shall by the mercy of God; the rest of us yet be well, and I trust shall passe it, either not to have it, or at the least as easily as the rest have don. As touching the matter of Wylton, my Lord Cardinal hath had the nunys before him, and examined them, master Bell being present, which hath certified me that for a truth, that she hath confessed her self (which we would have had abbesse) to have had two children by two sundry priests; and, furder, since hath been keeped by a servant of the Lord Broke, that was, and that not long ago. Wherefor

I would not for all the gold in the world clog your conscience nor mine to make her ruler of a house which is of so ungodly demeanour; nor I trust you would not, that neither for brother nor sister I should so destain mine honour or conscience: and as touching the pryoresse, or dame Ellenors eldest sister, though there is not any evident case proved against them, and that the pryoresse is so old, that of many years she could not be as she was named; yet notwithstanding, to do you pleasure, I have don that neither of them shall have it, but that some other good and well disposed woman shall have it: whereby the house shall be the better reformed (whereof, I ensure you, it had much need) and God much the better served. As touching abode at Hever, do therein as best shall like you, for you know best what aire doth best with you; but I would it were come thereto (if it pleased God) that neither of us need care for that, for I ensure you I think it long. Suche is fallen sick of the swett, and therefor I send you this bearer, because I think you long to hear tydings from us, as we do in likewise from you. Writeing with the hand,

De votre seul
(of yours only)

H. R.

LETTER XIV. Original

DARLING, these shall be only to advertise you, that this bearer, and his fellow, be dispatched with as many things to compasse our matter, and to bring it to passe as our wits could imagine or devise; which brought to passe, as I trust, by their diligence, it shall be, shortly, you and I shall have our desired end, which should be more to my

monde ; cest a dire, ma Mestresse guerie. Neanmoins en faute de luy je vous envoye le seconde & le tout. priant Dieu que bieptot il vous peut rendre saine, & adunques je l' aymeray plus que jamais, vous priant etre gouverné par ses avis touchant votre Maladie, en quoy faisant j'espere bientot vous revoire qui me sera plus grand Cordiale que toutes les pierres pretieuses du monde, Eacrite du secretere qui est, & a j'amais sera Votre loyal & plus assuré Serviteur,

H. (AB) R.

hearts ease, and more quietnesse to my minde, than any other thing in this world, as with Gods grace shortly I trust shall be proved, but not so soon as I would it were: yet I will assure you there shall be no tyme lost, that may be wone, and further cannot be done, for ultra posse non est esse. Keep him not too long with you, but desire him for your sake to make the more speed, for, the sooner we shall have word from him, the sooner shall our matter come to pass; and thus, upon trust of your short repair to London, I make an end of my letter, mine awne sweetheart. Writne with the hand of him which desyreth as much to be yours, as you do to have him.

H. R.

LETTER XV. Original.

DARLING, I heartily recommend me to you, assertaining you, that that I am not a little perplexed with such things as your brother shall on my part declare unto you, to whom I pray you give full credence, for it were too long to write. In my last letters I writ to you that I trusted shortly to see you, which is better known at London than with any that is about me, whereof I not a little mervelle, but lake of descreet handling must needs be the cause thereof. No more to you at this tyme, but that I trust shortly, our meeting shall not depend upon other mens light handlings but upon your awne. Writne with the hand of him that longeth to be yours,

H. R.

LETTER XVI. Original.

MYNE awne sweetheart, this shall be to advertise you of the great ellingness that I find here since your departing; for I assure you, methinketh the tyme longer since your departing now last then I was wont to do a whole fortnight. I think your kindness and my fervence of love causeth it; for otherwise I would not thought it possible, that for so little a while it should have grieved me. But now that I am comeing towards you, methinketh my pains been half released, and also I am right well comforted, insomuch that my book maketh substantially for my matter, in writing whereof I have spent above 111 hours this day, which caused me now to write the shorter letter to you at this tyme, because of same payne in my head, wishing myself (specially an evening) in my sweethearts arms whose pritty duckys I trust shortly to kysse. Writne with the hand of him that was, is, and shall be yours by his will.

H. R.

LETTER XVII. Original.

TO informe you what joye it is to me to understand of your confor mableness with reasone, and of the suppressing of your inutile and