37. ‹CROMWELL› TO THE ABBOT OF ST. EDMUNDS BURY.
Desires the farm of Harlowberry, in Essex, near Honysdon. Will do all he can for the monastery.
My lorde after my hartie man_er_ I com_m_ende me vnto you. Adu_er_tising you that for dyu_er_se considerac_i_ons I am verray desirouse To haue some house in essex nere vnto Honysdon. And forasmoche as yo_ur_ p_ar_sonage of Harlowebery shall shortly be in yo_ur_ Handes and Letting, By Reason that the lease whiche Malery and his Wyff hathe is nowe all moost expired, I shall desire and instantly pray you to lett yo_ur_ said Farme of Harlowebury vnto me by lease for terme of lx yeres for the same stokke Rent and Ferme that haithe byn of Olde tyme accustumyd paid and p_er_ceyuyd for the same. In doing whereof ye shall bynde me to do you and that yo_ur_ monastary suche pleasure as may ly in my Lytell power, in tyme to com. And what shalbe your towarde mynde herin I pray you to Adu_er_tise me in wrytyng by this berer my serv_a_unt. And as for the yeres that malery and his wyff haithe yitt to com ye shall vnderstaund that I haue Agred w_i_t_h_ theym for his lease Thus fare ye hartely well from Elth_a_m, the xxiiii day of Nouembre.
_Add._ To my Lord Thabbot of Seynt Edmound_es_ Bury geve this.
38. ‹CROMWELL› TO ‹THE EARL OF NORTHUMBERLAND›.
Congratulates him on the success of his last raid against the Scots, and assures him of the King’s favour. Urges him to keep on his guard against a surprise.
After myn humble co_m_mendacions please it yo_ur_ lordeship to be adu_er_tised that I haue receyued yo_ur_ l_ette_res the content_es_ wherof I haue right well p_er_ceyued And touching yo_ur_ prosperous fortune and victorie in yo_ur_ last rode agenst your enemyes Shewing therby yo_ur_ valiaunt courage glad hert and mynde to serue the King_es_ highnes and annoye his enemyes, I assure yo_ur_ lordeship there is no man lyuyng gladder to here thereof then I am yo_ur_ poure Frende, Wisshing to god that yo_ur_ lordeship did knowe and here as I do how louynglie and acceptablie the King_es_ highnes doth Regarde and take the same. which vndoubtedlie wold double the hardynes and courage of any man lyuyng to do his grace s_er_uice. And because it is to be thought that after this rode yo_ur_ enemyes the scottes will invente & studie to be reuenged to yo_ur_ like annoyance or more if they can, my poure aduise shalbe that by all the wayes meanes and polycies ye can, yo_ur_ lordeship do circumspectlie and w_i_t_h_ vigilant eye make such espialles and watches and so in most poletique and warlyke Facion will forsee studye and p_re_pare as in no wise by yo_ur_ saide enemyes ye be preuented But rather that yo_ur_ lordeship as ye alredy haue begon will so contynue endeuouring yo_ur_ self to greue and annoye yo_ur_ enemyes by doing of such valiant act_es_ and exploytt_es_ to thincrease of yo_ur_ high merite and worthie praise So as the Fame renowne and noble victorie which yo_ur_ lordeship hathe now won and obteyned be in no wise hurte blemisshed or defaced by any acte or exployte to be don hereafter for lacke of good forsight or p_re_uencyon Thus I am bolde to gyue your lordeship my poure frendely aduise beseching the same to excuse my boldenes and to thinke I do it onelie for that I bere unto yo_ur_ lordeship my hertie good mynde and will And no man more gladder then I to here tell of any thing which should sounde to yo_ur_ lordeshippes good Fame and hono_ur_, the increase and augmentacion whereof I doubt not but yo_ur_ lordeship will contynew to p_ro_cure w_i_t_h_ no lesse diligent propence glad hert and mynde to serue the king in his affairees there then as ye haue begon to the vtter grief displeasure and annoyaunce of yo_ur_ enemyes wherein I beseche o_ur_ lorde to sende you as p_ro_sperous fortune and good successe as yo_ur_ noble and valyaunt herte could wisshe or desire At london etc