Lettre autographe

lament, I will think the greves of tymes past, but pastymes. I wold have wayted on vo’ Ho : wer I not trobled w* the Cort cough-thought, that is to gepe so long for a suit & cough w'out it.

Offices in Reuersion are forestalld, in possession ingrost, & that of y° Reuells countenaunced vpon Buck, wherin the J'ustic of an oyre shewes his affection to y° Keper, & partialty, to y° sheppard a feint fauor. I hope I shall not be vsed worse then an old horse, who after seruic done hath his shoes puld of & turnd to grass, not suffered to sterve in y° stable. I will cast my wittes in a new mould, & turne the water course by a contrary Sluce, for I find it folly that on foot being in the Grave, I shuld have the other on the stage. Yf her ma‘° in Comeseration of my estat, in remembraunc of her gracious promises, will vousalf, but any hope of fauor in my declining yeres, I shall then w‘ the Snake cast of my skynne, & my Byil w‘ the Eagle, renuing my tyme running it over, & reviving my wittes by spending them. In this I humbly entreat yo" H : fauor, & Counsell, being destitut both of frends & Conceipt, being my self a miserable example of misfortune that have no companion to complayne w* me, I only being he y‘ can be rekoned, to whome her ma‘° hath promised much & done nothing. Thus humbly remembring my duety, I commend yo ho : to the Almighty, praing for your Long lif w‘° encreas of hapines. De : 22. 1597.

Yo’ H in all duety 1 hane

Au dos :

For y° right ho : Sir Robt : Cecil Knight Principalle Secretary to her Ma‘.

1597 22. Decem : Mr. Lyllie to my M.

(Record Office, State Papers. Dom. Eliz., vol. 265, n° 61).