of her comyng nor of her aboade, I have thowght good to praye you that this bearer my servaunt might understond what you knowe therin; and yf it be trewe, then that I might understond your advise what you thinke to be the best waye for me to deale in this matter: ffor, in very deede, no man is more rawe in suche a matter then my selfe. And thus wisshing to yo' L. as to my self, I leave any further to trowble you at this tyme. From my Howse at Gorhamburie the xijth of Julie 1572.

Yo L. assured

N. BACON.

I have wreten thys bycause I wold gladly take that cours that myght best pleas her Matie which I knowe not how better to understond then by yor help.

To my very good L.

the L. of Burghley.

LETTER CCIII.

The Earl of Bedford to Lord Treasurer Burghley.

[MS. LANSD. N°. xiv. art. 80. Orig.]

AFTER

my

hartie comendacions to yo1 good Lord

shippe, here enclosed I sende you a Lettre of M! As

shetones which shuld have bene delyvered some dayes sythens.

I am now going to prepare for her Maties coming to Woborne, which shalbe done in the best and most hartiest maner that I can. I trust yo' L. will have in remembraunce to provide and helpe that her Mats tarieng be not above two nights and a daye; for, for so long tyme do I prepare. I pray god the Rowmes and Lodgings there may be to her Mats contentacion for the tyme. If I could make them better upon suche a sodeyn, then wold I, be assured. They should be better then they be. So wt my hartie thanks to yor good L. remayning alwayes as I have just cause yors, do so committ you to Gods keping. From Russell House this xvjth of July 1572.

To my

verie good Lord the

Lord Burghley, Highe

Treasurer of England.

Yo' L. right assured

F. BEDFORD.

LETTER CCIV.

Archbishop Parker to Lord Treasurer Burghley. [MS, LANSD. N° 17. art. 44. Orig.]

S!

GLADLIE Woulde I doe all the service I coulde

to the Quenes Matie and to all her Nobelles, with the

rest of her most honorable householde. I have no other counsell to followe, but to searche out what service my Predecessors have bin wont to doe. My ofte distemperance and infirmitie of bodye, maketh me not to doe so muche as I woulde. If her Matie would please to remayne in myne house, her Highnes shoulde have convenient roume: and I coulde place for a Progresse-tyme yo' L. my L. Chamberlaine, my L. of Leicester, and M: Hatton, if he come home: thinking that yor LL. will furnishe the places with yor owne stuffe. They saye myne house is of an evill ayer, hanging upon the churche, and having no prospect to loke on the people: but yet I truste the convenience of the building would serve. If her Highnes be mynded to kepe in her owne Pallace at St Austens, then might yor LL. be otherwise placed in the Houses of the Deane and certaine Prebendaries. M: Lawse, prebendarie, would faine have yo' L. in his convenient house, trusting the rather to doe yo' L. now service, as he did once in teaching a Grammer schole in Stanford by your appoyntment; M: Bungey also would be glad to have your L. in his lodging, where the French Cardinall laye; and his house is fayer and sufficient. M Peerson would as gladlie have yo' L. in his fine house, most fitt for yo' L. if you thinke so good.

The Custome hathe bin when Princes have come to Caunterbury, the Bishopp, the Deane, and the

Chapter, to waite at the West end of their Churche, and so to attend on them: and there to heare an Oration. After that her Highnes may goe under a canapie, till she commeth to the middest of the churche, where certaine prayers shalbe sayde: and after that to wayte on her Highnes through the Quier, up to the Traverse next to the Communyon table, to heare the Evensonge, and so afterwardes to depart to her owne lodging. Or els upon Sonday following, if it be her pleasure, to come from her house of St Austens by the newe Bridge, and so to enter the West end of the Churche, or in her Coche by the streate. It would much rejoyce and stablishe the people here, in this Religion, to see her Highnes that Sondaye (being the first Sonday of the moneth, when others also customablie may receive) as a godlie devoute Prince, in her chiefe and metropoliticall Churche, openly to receive the Communyon: which by her favor I would minister unto her. Plurima sunt magnifica et utilia, sed hoc unum est necessarium. I presume not to prescribe this to her Highnes, but, as her trustie chapleyn, shewe my judgement. And after that Communyon, yt might please her Matie to heare the Deane preache, sitting either in her Traverse, or else to suffer him to goe to the common Chapter, being the place of Sermons, where a greater multitude should heare. And yet her Highnes might goe to a verie fitt place, with some of her lordes and ladyes, to be there in a con

venient closett above the heades of the people to heare the sermon.

And after that, I would desier to see her Highnes at her and myne house for the dynner following. And if her Highnes will give me leave, I would kepe my bigger hall that daye for the Nobelles, and the rest of her trayne. And if it please her Matie she maye come in throughe my gallerie, and see the disposicion of the Hall, in dynner tyme, at a windowe opening thereinto.

I pray yo' L. be not offended thoughe I write unto my L. of Sussex as L. Chamberlayne in some of theis matters as may concerne his office.

I am in preparing for three or fower of my good Lordes some geldinges, and if I knewe whether woulde like you beste, either one for yo1 owne saddle or a fine little white gelding for yo' fote clothe, or one for one of yor gentlemen or yomen, I would so appointe you. And thus trusting to have yo counsell, as M Deane cometh purposelie for the same, I commyt yo1 honor to Gods tuycion as my self. From my house at Beakesborne nighe to Caunterburie, this xvijth of Auguste,

1573.

Yo' L. assured in Christe.

To the right honorable his ́verie good L. the L. Burleigh, Highe Treasouror of England.

MATTHUE CANTUAR.