LETTER 1602. Nov. 3. To Sir R. Cecil. From of the CXIII. TO SECRETARY SIR ROBERT CECIL. From the Original. Cecil Papers, Pillar C, b ii. § 102 (Hatfield SIR, SINCE I wrate unto yow, out of Cornwale, of the agreement with the Tynners, I have not hard from yow. I miche desire to know how our labors ar accepted of, and how the world farethe. Sherborne. I linger here as longe as I cann, to dispach my Regulation private affaires; except ther be cause to hasten me up. I will herein be directed by yow, and in all things elce disposed att your pleasure. I can write yow from hence tion by no other newse, butt that we ar all-littell and greatprivate affairs at in good health, and ever yours faythfully to cummande Sherborne. wherinsoever, Sherburne, the 3 of November [1602]. W. RALEGH. CXIV. LETTER 1602. To Sir R. Business of the Wine Office. TO SECRETARY SIR ROBERT CECIL. From the Original. Cecil Papers, vol. xcvii. § 104 (Hatfield). Holograph. SIR, Without date. I HAVE perswaded all the poore Taverners of Inglande that I would not depart the Court until they were assured to injoy their estates and free them from the Promoter. If I shalbe sent away1 before it be finished, I shall not only be thought a cussener; butt, in my absence, I know ther wilbe a thowsand famylies at 1 I. c. be sent to his government of Jersey. LETTER 1602. the Court. The matter is nothinge to her Majestye. Shee that hath justified all her actions, words, and intents, to all the yearth, will not finde me out to make example of the contrary. The Queen may take advan- Queen's tage of the acts of her awncestors; but neather prince disfavour. nor private man denieth hyme sealf. Her Majestye used this grace to Sir HENRY LEG for £400 lande, and yet not of her Majesties gift. It greves mee to find with what difficulty and torment to my sealf I obtayne the smalest favor. Her Majestye knowes that I am reddy to spend all I have, and my life, for her in a day; and that I have but the keping of that I have. For all I have I will sell for her in an howre, and spend it in her service. Lett the Queen, then, break their harts that ar none of her's. Ther is littell gayne in losinge her own. Thes things should not torment mee if I were as other ar. But it is trew,‘Ubi dolor, ibi amor; exue amorem.' Wheras it pleaseth her Majesty to promis to do it hereafter, although it may be certayne that 'Miser est qui ex futuris pendet,' yet I protest, before God, for my sealf I never care to have it other wize. Butt I cannot live, nor shew my face out of my doores, without it, nor dare ride thorrow the townes wher thes Tavernerss dwell. I beseich yow to offre it. I hope her Majestye will not refuse it; or thinck it a gayne to send mee away hartbroken and disgraced.1 Your's to do yow service, W. RALEGH. Addressed: "To the right honorable Sir ROBERT CECYLL, Knight, Principall Secritorye, &c." Endorsed, in Sir Robert Cecil's hand: "Sir Walter Ralegh;" and, in another hand, "To my Master. 1602." 1 I am, at present, unable to explain the precise suit to which this letter on the business of the Wine-licensing Patent directly relates. It is probable The CXV. TO THE QUEEN. From the Original. Cecil Papers, vol. lxxxiii. § 35 (Hatfield). Holograph. **The scription of this letter, like its style, bears the characteristic marks and stamp of Ralegh; but its extreme precision and neatness of hand-so entirely unusual with the writer at this period of his life--are such as might excite at least a momentary misgiving as to its genuineness. They appear, at the first glance, to exceed that natural amount of care and deliberation which would mark a courtly subject's deference to his Sovereign. On the whole, however, there seems to be no ground for questioning its authenticity, as an original letter in Sir Walter's autograph. In subsequent years, careful-almost elaborated-penmanship became characteristic of Ralegh's letters, whenever the subject was important. I regret that I am not, at present, able to put before the reader a fac-simile of this later style of |scription, as well as of those early scrawls of which he has already seen a specimen in the Letter to the Earl of Leicester, of October 1587. that some technical irregularity in the terms of the Patent had been discovered, and that an attempt had been made-during Ralegh's passing cloud of disfavour with the Queen-to injure him, and, through him, the "poor Taverners" or Vintners, by disturbing in sɔme way the licences he had granted. [See the Letter of the Solicitor-General Egerton, quoted above, p. 41.] It would also appear that the thing proposed to be done was expected, in some degree, to benefit the Queen's Exchequer; and of course it was also expected not to injure that of the promoters, who— under such circumstances -- would much rather have heard of Ralegh's banishment to his command at Jersey than have continued to see him at Court. I PRESUMED to present your Majestye with a paper, contayninge the dangers which might groe by the Spanish faction in Skotland. How it pleased your Majesty to accept therof I know not. I have since harde that divers ill-disposed have a purpose to speak of Succession. If the same be suppresst, I am gladd of it; yet, fearinge the worst, I sett down sume reasons to prove the motive meerly vayne, dangerus, and unnescessarye. And because I durst not my sealf speak, in any matter, without warrant, I have sent your Majestye thes arguments, which may perchance put others in minde of sumewhat not impertinent; and who, beinge graced by your Majesties favor, may, if need require, use them amonge others more worthy. Without glory I speake it, that I durst ether by writinge or speach satisfye the worlde in that poynct, and in every part of their foolish consaytes which, for shortnes of time, I could not so amplely insert. This beinge, after one hour's warninge, but one houre's worke, I humblie beseich your Majestye not to acquaynt any withall, unles occasion be offred to use them. Your Majestye may, perchance, speake hereof to thos seeminge my great frinds, but I finde poore effects of that or any other supposed ametye. For, your Majesty havinge left mee, I am left all alone in the worlde, and am sorry that ever I was att all. What I have donn is out of zeale and love, and not by any incoragement: for I am only forgotten in all rights, and in all affaires; and myne enemis have their wills and desires over mee. Ther ar many other things concerninge your Majesty's present service, which, meethincks, are not, as the ought, remembred; and the they. LETTER CXV. [1602?] tymes pass away, unmesured, of which more profitt might be taken. But I feare I have alreddy presumed to1 mich, which Love stronger then Reason hath incoraged; for my errors ar eternal, and those of other mortall, and my labors thanckless, I mean unacceptable, for thancks belongeth not to vassalls. If your Majestye pardon it, it is more then to great a rewarde. And so most humblie imbracing and admiringe the memory of thos celestial bewtyes, which with the people is denied mee to revew, I pray God your Majestie may be eternall in joyes and happines. Your Majesty's most humble slave, Addressed: "For the Queen's most excelent Majestye.” W. R. LETTER [1600 ?] To Sir R. Embarkation of the Duke CXVI. TO SECRETARY SIR ROBERT CECIL. From the Original. Cecil Papers, vol. clxxxvi. § 132 (Hatfield). Holograph SIR, Without date. THER came unto mee a gentelman from Flushing who saw the Duke DON VIRGINIA URSINI ther. It is trew that hee was imbarked in a Fleminge att Dovor; the winde not servinge for her Majesties shipp to cum about. Now wher this Zelander did carry hyme thither perforce, or whether hee desired it, hearing of the Peace of |