LETTERS ON SCIENTIFIC SUBJECTS.17
cost, and credit, in matters philosophicall and mathematicall) yf no better or easyer way to serve my turn will fall to my lot from her Majesties hands; may not I than (I say) be thowght to meane and intend good service toward the Q. Majestie and this realme, if I will do the best I can at my own costis and chargis, to discover, and deliver true profe of a myne, vayn, or owre of gold, or silver, in some one place of her graces kingdoms and dominions, to her graces onely use; in respect, I mean, of any my demaund or part to be had therof. But uppon this comfortable consideration, that her Majesty do frely give unto me, by good warranty and assurance of her letters-patents, her right and propriety to all thresor trouvé, and such things commodious, as (under that name and meaning comprised) by digging or search any where, in her graces kingdomes and dominions, I, or my assignes shall come to, or finde: and with all good warranty (for my indemnity) agayn all laws and persons, to make serch by digging, or otherwise. And this to dure the terme of my life. And in token of my hart fully bent to shew myself thankfull to your lordship for compasing eyther of these two wayes: (I mean eyther an easyer means of provision, for two hundred pownds, yerely, during my life: or this casual marts of paynfull search); before God, I promise unto your lordship (or will by oth uppon the Evangelists be bownde) of all thresor trouvé (commyng to my hands) to impart unto your lordship, or your assignes, the one half, during my life. Moreover your Lordship may be most assured that any notable benefit (throwgh your L. meanes) bestowed uppon me now in the very pynch and opportunytie, shall not, ne yet can, be hid under a bushell: but is like with your L. famous renown, very far immortally to be blazed. The third and last principall point of this my present sute to your L., is for your L. hand to a letter directed to Mr. Harly, keper of the records of Wigmor castell, or to whome, in this case, it doth appertayn. For that, at my late being there, I espied an heap of old papers and parchments, obligations, acquittances, accownts, &c. (in tyme past belonging to the abbay of Wigmor) and there to lye rotting, spoyled, and tossed, in an old decayed chappell, not committed to any man's speciall charge: but thre quarters of them I understand to have byn taken away by diverse (eyther taylors, or others, in tymes past). Now my fantasie is that, in som of them, will be some mention made of noblemen and gentlemen of those dayes, whereby (eyther for chronicle or pedigree) som good matter may be collected out of them by me (at my leysor) by the way of a recreation. And whatsoever I shall finde in them, eyther of
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