31 - 4 Apr. To William Smyth, warden of Wadham College Oxford

Summary

Sir:

I thanke your love for your Care both of your Colledge and mye selfe. I Continue verye weake in mye legg still, yett full of more busynes then I can attend. I find bye Mr Gotheridge Mr Harrington hath bestowed liberallye upon me, and more then was ever given me that I knowe of, or I hope ever deserved. But Sir since that bye the Wensdaye Carryer he hath sent me a most submissive Leter, and soe full of discretion as that I cannot beleeve it to be his owne doinge. In that, he acknowledges some words slipped from hime in passion and discontent (but Names them not) and offers to give me anye satisfaction I shall aske. He offers in thiss Leter to paye the Monye, to undergoe the punnishment which you and the fellowes thought good to inflict upon hime; and upon more advised thoughts to subscribe to the acknowledgment which you desyre of hime. Onlye He desyers to be spared in that against which he hath taken his Oath in Chauncerye.

I praye thearfore Convent hime againe. Tell hime What I have written heare as from his late Leters which I have receaved. Take his Monye or securitye for it. Lett hime subscribe to the acknowledgment. And submitt himselfe fairlye to you and the fellowes with promise of Amendment. And take notice of such particulars as he saith he hath sworne to in Chauncerye: Then send to me, and if it shall appeare he hath farlye sworne them, I will give soe much to his Oath (notwithstandinge his Carridge towards me) as to take them into farther Consideration before they be pressed upon hime.

Onlye saye nothinge to hime about his Submission to me, but send me, the words he spake, the place and tyme, and under the hands of such as will wittness them. Then, thoughe perhaps then I shall skorne them, yett then I doubt not but I shall worke your peace, and his good out of them. Mye Credit I hope is not soe lowe that such a Mouth can staine it. Though I must tell you they which gave instance in me when they sawe hime in that heat, did not the wisest act they ever did to putt mye Name to hime. Soe in great hast I leave you to the Grace of God and rest.