reign states, that imparted not so much out of affection as they exchanged upon necessity.

Some things I confess do comfort me more than I can deliver, and do ease a great part of the burthen that a man must undergo, that in this charge seeks to give due satisfaction to your desert, or his own duty. The first is the great value which it hath pleased you out of your abundant grace to set upon your servant, that one out of humour could not have sought to be so great and eminent, as by election you have esteemed him. In the next place I accompt the quickening of those poor faculties, which I received from nature by your gracious encouragement, to construe and interpret in the best part whatsoever error may commit or negligence omitt in discharge of the trust that is left to me. To these I add a happiness which the poets attribute to Jason, sayling in a ship which in respect of resolution and skill was said to contain as many persons fit to be masters as it held mariners. I must not forget another obligation as great as any of the rest in my own reckoning, that is, in making the world see by so clear an evidence in your opinion in what sort I behaved myself in that place during my non-age whilst I was a scholar, whome in my white age you have esteemed neither unworthy nor unfit to be your officer..

But the thing which joys me most of all is the circumstance

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circumstance of time present falling out under the blessed reign of the most learned King, the best experienced, the most just, the most sweet, the most deeply judging, the most eloquent, and significantly uttering, the most judicious in esteeming worth, the most bountiful in rewarding deserts, the most tender of your privileges and liberties, the most sensitive of your vexation and wrongs, that ever wore the crown of so powerful a monarchy. In other princes times, men held it a great fortune, if youre names were only sounded in those sacred ears by gracious reports, with a kind of preparation for your future good but our deare Sovereign knows many, hears many, loves all, and out of his deep judgment, without respect unto recommendation, alone prefers persons of laudable deserts to proportions of more or less, as occasions occur, to places that are fit for them.

Wherefore since my heart which was be stowed on you could not return to me upon the first election, and by the next election the way is now laid open by your favour so redoubled, as I may come to it, my greatest care and study shall be, after this my cordial and grateful, acknowledgment of so confident a zeal, so to dispose my whole endeavours and desires, as my heart and I, thus fastened by the binding knot of your inestimable love, during the time of my life, shall never part again.

It remains then for a fair exchange between terms and acts, that I, your chancellor, and, by consequence, under his Majesty, your head, obey, and that you, the worthy members of that same graceful body (though subordinate), command, sith nothing can fall fitly within the com-> pass of your discreete deserts, that shall not consequently fall within the list of my devotion.. God bless youre studies, increase youre comforts, and reward youre pains; and grant that I may but once, in some such measure, express my thankfulness, as you have declared your con-, stancy.

From the Court at Whitehall, the 13th of June 1612.

Your affectionate, constant,

And thankful friend, to do you service,

H. NORTHAMPTON.

Ex MSS. Caii Coll. Cant.

See Lord Brooke's Five Years of King James; Strype's Life of Archbishop Grindall; Bishop Hacket's Life of Archbishop Williams.

THE END OF VOL. I.

S. GOSNELL, Printer, Little Queen Street, Holborn

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