LETTER 1608-1609. Jan. 3. Lease to document. There are several difficulties about it; arising rather from the contents than from any peculiarities of the writing, although these, also, are observable. On the subjectmatter, the reader is referred to Vol. I. chap. xxi. He may also be reminded that Ralegh stated on one occasion, in relation to lawsuits about Sherborne, that Meeres was so expert a forger as to be able, for a moment, to put him into doubt as to what he (Ralegh) had, or had not, himself written with his own hand. JOHN SHELBURY, I PRAY give JOHN MEERES a promis under your hand to make him a good and perfect lease of all Bishops Down, so soun as it shalbe known to whom the land doth belong, which I will that you performe unto him freely and without all question or cavill; and this shalbe your sufficient warrant. Written this 3 of Jano 1608. W. RALEGH. CXLIII. LETTER 1609? To Sir Robert Carr. TO SIR ROBERT CARR (AFTERWARDS EARL OF SOMERSET, From a nearly contemporaneous copy in MS. Addit. 4106, fol. 81 (British Museum). In another copy of this Letter (MS. HARLFIAN 6008, fol. 4), the following date is added: From the Tower. Jan. 2, 1608 SIR, AFTER manye great losses, and manye yeares sor rowes, of both which I have cause to feare I was mitaken in ther endes, it is come to my knowledge that [From the yourself (whom I knowe not, but by an honorable fame have bene persuaded to geve me and myne our last fatal blowe, by obtayninge from his Majestie the inheritaunce of my children and nephewes, lost in law for Tower.] want of wordes. This done, ther remayneth nothinge with me but the bare name of lief, dispoyled of all els but the tythe' and sorrowe therof. His Majestie, whom I never offended (for I ever helde yt both unnaturall and unmanlye to hate goodnes), stayed me at the grave's brincke; not, as I hope, that his Majestie thought me worthye of manye deathes and to beholde all myne cast out of the worlde with my selfe; but as a Kynge who, judginge the poore in truthe, hath retayned a promyse from God that his throne shalbe established for ever. And for yourselfe, Sir, seinge your daye is but now in the dawne, and myne come to the eveninge,-your own vertues and the King's grace assuringe you of manye good fortunes and muche honor,-I beseich you not to begynne your first buildings upon the ruyns of the innocent; and that ther greifes and sorrowes doe not attende your first plantacion. I have bene bounden to your nation, as well for many other graces as for the true reporte of my tryall to the Kings Majestie; against whom, had I been found malignant, the hearinge of my cause woulde not have chaunged enemyes into freindes, malice into compassion, and the greatest number present into a commiseracion of mine estate. It is not the nature of foule treasons to begett such fayre passions; neyther woulde it agree with the duetye and love of faythfull subjectes (especiallye of your nation) to bewayle his overthrowe who had conspyred against ther most liberall and naturall Lorde. I therfore trust, Sir, that you will not be the first that will kyll us outright, cutt downe the tree with the fruyte, and undergoe the curse of them that enter into the fieldes of the fatherles; -the which (yf it please you to knowe the truthe) are 1 So in MS., but probably an error of the transcriber LETTER 1609? farre lesse fruitfull in value then in fame; and that soe worthie a gentleman as yourselfe will rather bynde us to your service, beinge, Sir, gentlemen, not base in burth or allyance, who have interest therin. And my selfe with the uttermost thankfulnes will ever remayne readye to obey your commandments, Addressed : W. RALEGH. To the honorable and worthye knight, Sir ROBERT CARR, at the Courte. LETTER 1610? Oct. 9. To Sir W. 1 6 10. CXLIV. TO SIR WALTER COPE. As communicated to the Society of Antiquaries (June 2, 1853), by Mr. SIR WALTER COPE, You are of my old acquayntance, and were my familiar frind for many yeeres, in which time I hope you cannot say that ever I used any unkind office towards you. But our fortunes are now changed, and Tower.] it may be in your power greatly to bynde me unto you, Requesting if the bynding of a man in my estate be worth any thing. My desire unto you is, that you wilbe pleased to move my Lord Treasorer in my behalf, that by his grace my wife might agayne be made a prisoner with the Tower. me, as she hath bine for six yeeres last past. Shee being now divided from me, and thereby, to my great impoverishing, I am driven to keip to howses. A his inter cession for leave to Lady Ralegh to return to 1 two. miserable fate it is, and yet great to me, who, in this wretched estate, can hope for no other thing than peacible sorrow. It is now, and I call the Lord of all power to wittnes yt, I ever have bine, and am resolved that it was never in the worthey hart of Sir ROBERT CECYLL (whatsoever a Counceler of State and a Lord Treasorer of Ingland must do) to suffer me to fall, mich less to perrish. For what soever termès it hath pleased his Lordship to use towards mee, which might utterly dispaire any bodie else, yet I know that he spake them as a Counceler, sitting in Councill, and in company of such as would not otherwise have bine satisfied. But, as God liveth, I would have bought his presence att a farr deerer rate than those sharp words and these three moneths close imprissonment, for it is in his Lordship's face and countenance that I behold all that remaynes to me of comfort and all the hope I have, and from which I shall never be beaten till I see the last of evills and the dispayre which hath no healp. The blessings of God cannot make him cruell that was never so, nor prosperitie teach any man of so great worth to delight in the endles adversitie of an enemie, mich less of him who in his very sowle and nature can never be such a one towards him. Sir, the matter is of no great importance (though a cruell destinie hath made it so to me) to desire that my wife may live with me in this unsavery place. If by your mediation I may obtayne it, I will acknowledg it in the highest degree of thankfullness; and rest reddy in trew fayth to be commanded by you, October the 9 [1610?]. W. RALEGH. LETTER 1610? Oct. 9. ! LETTER 1610? To Prince Henry. [From the Tower.] Plans for building a war-ship. CXLV. TO HENRY, PRINCE OF WALES. As printed, in 1656-1657, in the Collection entitled Remains of Sir MOST EXCELLENT PRINCE, IF the ship your Highness intends to build be bigger than the Victorie, then her beams which are laid overthwart from side to side will not serve again, and many other of her timbers and other stuff will not serve; whereas if she be a size less, the timber of the old ship will serve well to the building of a new If she be bigger, she will be of less use, go very deep to water, and of mighty charge,—our channels decaying every year; less nimble; less manyable; and seldom to be used. 'Grande navio, grande fatica," saith the Spaniard. A ship of six hundred tuns will carrie as good ordinance as a ship of twelve hundred tuns; and where the greater hath double her ordinance, the less will turn her broadside twice before the great ship can wind once. and so no advantage in that overplus of guns. The lesser will go over clear, where the greater shall stick and perish; the lesser will come and go; leave or take: and is yare; whereas the greater is slow, unmanyable, and ever full of encumber. In a well conditioned ship these things are chiefly required: (1.) That she be strong built;-(2.) Swift in sail;-(3.) Stout-sided;-(4.) That her ports be so laid, as she may carry out her guns a!' |