rum opinioni commendatus. Novam acturus personam, in novum prosilui theatrum, majori cum periculo, minori per multos annos commodo, etiamsi (Deo sint agendæ gratiæ) quod jam tempestas abierit, Castor appareat, et audita sit vox turturis in terra nostra. Sed cum idem in vobis adhuc amor maneat, facillime quidem adducor, ut credam academiam Cantabrigiensem, aut exemplo Pigmaleonis, concepta mente sui operis pulchritudine captam, et errore opinionis ac amoris incredibilis imbutam, in me sua contulisse suffragia, aut Deum præpotentem et immortalem in hoc saltem imitatam esse, quod sua in me coronet opera.

Mihi igitur e memoria nunquam excidet hoc tam immensum vestri erga me amoris argumentum; nam quamvis ego locum, animi corporisque statum sæpe cum fortuna mutaverim, æque tamen in ætatis meæ flexu ac in primordio vos mihi constanter, intrepide, fideliter astiteritis, nec tam levi apud vos momento mea apud vos adhuc pendet existimatio, ut ubi nunc sim, quam ubi aliquando fuerim, magis referat.

Vestrum igitur agnoscite discipulum, alumnum diligite, commilitonem in hac castrensi Musarum militia amplexamini, mihi etiam, vobis infinitis nominibus devincto, quodlibet imperate. Aut enim quod imponitis sustinebo, quod est officii, aut oneri officii succumbam, quod est infirmitatis; nullam aut vestri commodi aut mei officii declinabo rationem; nunquam committam, ut magis honoris cupidus, quam erga vos gratus videar, nec me fides citius quam vita deseret.

Hoc uno et vobis et mihi gratulor, quod sub illo vos floreatis, ego vivam, Mecænate, philosopho, theologo, Salomone, qui non modo universis sui temporis principibus ingenio, doctrina, et pietate præcellat, sed in promovendis etiam bonarum literarum professoribus suam exercet munificentiam, regiam more regio navet operam, et majorum suorum non modo æquet, sed longe superet et vincat in

dustriam. Ego interim gloriosissimam obtestabor Triadem, ut regem vobis diu Mecanatem, vos fideles diu regi ministros conservet incolumes, et ut mihi priusquam ex hac vita discedam aliqua detur occasio, qua erga utramque majestatem et academiam grati et devoti animi propensionem testificari valeam. Ex aula, Maii 2o, [29] 1612.

Vestro amori, humanitati, et indulgentiæ deditissimus, H. NORTHAMPTON.

JOHN CHAMBERLAIN TO SIR DUDLEY CARLETON.

[From MS. Sloan. no. 4173, p. 245.]

* Our University of Cambridge is likewise in a peck of troubles about choosing their chancellor after the lord treasurers death; for most voices going with the Earl of Northampton, he accepted it, and sent them a letter of thanks; but understanding afterwards that the duke of York was his concurrent and propounded in the election, he renounced the place and fell from them again: and the king was much displeased that his son should be put in balance with any of his subjects; but upon a fine letter of submission, and notice that it was done but by a few headstrong fellows, that are since bound over to the council - table, he was pacified again. In the mean time they knew not whither to turn them for a chancellor, for all the noblemen were resolved to refuse, unless the king commanded them to accept it. But I heard this day, that, going to a new election, they have chosen the same chancellor again; and the king hath promised he shall hold it.

June 17, 1612.

THE EARL OF NORTHAMPTON TO THE UNIVERSITY.

[From MS. Sloan. no. 3562, fol. 44.]

SYNCE the wrightinge of my last letter (reverend ffathers, and my deere and worthy ffriendes), I have heard that some persons in the world, that neyther understoode my simplicity nor your scope, have made very strange constructions of my prevaylinge in a matter wherin one of the sonnes of my most deere and gracious sovereigne was recommended. God knowes, and your selfes can wittnesse, how ignorant I was, both of your kinde affections, havinge never dealt with any person alive for my owne furtherance, and of the course which should be taken in a cause by me not so much as aymed at.

Wherfore, though never any prince alive hath done moore right to his humble servant then the kinge my master hath done in this to me, and though so many as know my discretion acquitt me of presumption, yet because all men that have eares open to heare what is sayd, have not, in like manner, mindes indifferent to judge uprightly and sincerely of that which is meant (no other meane by this strange accident beinge now left to me of suppressinge these blacke vapors that obscure fayre dealinges), I must now beseech you all to accept from your faythfull and thankefull servant a franck, a resolute, and voluntary resignation of all that right and interest which out of your owne free grace and favour, without any other meritt or desert of mine (exceptinge only a most cordiall and true affection), it pleased you to conferr on me.

Your meaninge, I know very well, was to doe me honor, as your predecessors have done to some other of my rancke before; but synce it falls out by this accident that I canot weare the badge of favour without moore stinges of harsh exception then a well deservinge minde is willinge to endure, and they that have layed downe this playne song

without colour will not cease to discant, and, which is worse, to play voluntarily, without eyther modesty or truth, geive me leave, I beseech you, by this thankfull letter, to put at one instant both my right and my heart into your worthy handes, that after you have, to your best use and advantage, transferred the first, you may, to the last howre of my lyfe, commaund the latter.

I writt not this as one that uppon any second consideration or earnest persuasion have any disposition to chang my thoughtes, which are as humble in avoydinge favours that breede scandall, as thankfull for affections that shewe love. Neyther can I doubt that you will hold me inconstant uppon this chang toward you, that shall ever finde, and have ever found, my resolution so strongly bent to honour you; but with a certayne and assured hope that you will dispence with my respective care, and thinke, that as no man can better feele then my self where the shoe doth pinch uppon the first assay, so no man is more sensitive of a slight imputation, much moore of a hard impression, that in steede of holdinge me officious wold make me eyther vaine glorious or emulouse; ffor, by the grace of God, I never meane to take hold of any kinde of offer unto which a person hath beine named that shall comaunde both me and what soever I possesse in this world, though moore sutable to those circumstances that are in this election to be considered. Your wisdomes beinge fixed upon certayne groundes, can hardly apprehende with what speede ill construction hath beine already spreade and published in many partes; which, though the persons that in this state are most eminent contemne, yet many swallowe. Wherfore, to leave the purpose and intent of those that cast this rubb into so smooth an alley, to the prejudice of an other manns good name (which, as God lives, did no moore dreame of this invention then he made labour for the place), to the chardge of their owne conscience, in respect of their ende,

in the sight of God, I must, once agayne for all, beseech you all, that insteed of sendinge up your officers and ministers about the manner of investinge me, you will vouchsafe to make an other orderly election of an other, congregatis vobis cum meo spiritu, with this assurance, that my heart shall be no lesse dedicated and devoted to you all and every one of you (though I rest your ffellowe regent), then yf I had beine setled in the state of your high chancellour. He that injoyes that place shall have one, for your sake, a servant, which is moore then an assistant, in all matters and uppon all occasions that shall concerne your good. As you have bounde me moore to you by this rare obligation, so will I be moore earnest and industrious so long as I have breath, yf it be possible to doe you that honor which you deserve:

Et cum frigida mors anima seduxerit artus,

Omnibus umbra locis adero.

I sent my servant this night, to prevent an inconvenience in case you had beine caused to loose your labour by cominge up unseasonably. God blesse you all, and prosper you accordinge to the zealouse and faythfull wishes and desires of

Your affectionate and constant friende,
to be comaunded by you ever,

I beseech you all once agayne

to accept of this resolution,
by that honor which I owe
to you, because upon just
groundes it canot be altered.
From the Courte, Monday

2.

H. NORTHAMPTON.