Inédit

1. Inédit. La lettre est de la main d’un secrétaire; la formule finale, la signature et le post-scriptum sont de la main du comte d'Oxford.

to discharge them of all Incombraunces : And bycause I stande indebtid vnto her Ma‘° (as yo' Lo knowythe) many of y° said purchasers do greatly feare some troble likely to fall vppon them, by reason of her Ma said debt, & espesially if the Londes of y° Lo. Darey and S' William Walgraue should be extendyd for the same, who haue two seuerall statutes of greate som?nes for their discharge. Wheruppon many of y° said purchasers haue ben suters vnto me to procuer the discharginge of her Ma‘ said debt, and do seme very willinge to beare the burden therof, yf by my meanes the same might be stalled paiable at some convenyent dayes. I haue therfore thought good to acquaynte yo’ Lo. w' this their suyte, requierynge moste earnestly yo’ Lo. furtheraunce in this behalfe, wherby I shalbe vnburdened of a greate care, w° I haue for the savynge of my honor, And shall by this meanes also vnburden my wives Toincture of y* charge w° might happen herafter to be ymposyd vppon y° same, yf god should call yo’ Lo. and me away before her.

Youre Lordships.

Edward OxErorp.

My Lord, this other day yowre man stainner towld me, that yow sent for Amis my man, and yf he wear absent, that Lylle showld come vnto yow. I sent Amis for he was in y° way. And T thinke very strange y‘ yowre Lord. showld enter into that course towards me, wherby I must lerne y‘ I knew not before, bothe of yowre opinion and good will towards me. But I pray, my lord, leaue y‘ course, for I mean not to be yowre ward nor yowre chyld, I serve her magestie, and I am that I am, and by allyance neare to yowre lordship, but fre, and scorne to be offred that iniurie, to thinke I am so weake of gouernment as to be ruled by servants, or not able to gouerne my self. If yowre Lord. take and follow this course, yow deceyve yowre self, and make me take an other course then yet I have not thought of. whearfore thes shalbe to desyre yowre Lordship yf y° I may make account of yowre friendship that yow will leaue that cours as hurtfull to us bothe.

Au dos :

To the right honorable my very good Lorde the Lo. Theausorer of England.

xxx Octob. 1584.

The Erle of Oxford

by Amise his servant

For securing those y‘ had pur-

chased lands of him, his desire

to take a course to

pay his debt to y° Queen 1.

(British Museum. Lansdowne Mss. 42, n° 39.)