Ther was a command layed on me [latly] to stay on [m]r [Ba]yns which did use to resort vnto
me which I did persve [ ] in tym allthoughe then I did not ons so much as Immagin where he
was I found him ought and got the desyered secrit at his hand. for which the sytty of london
promysed as allso by proclymasion was promysed a hundered crownes but not a peny parformed
and a fine evasion made
After ther was a lybell by my men[e]s fou[n]d ought and delyvered a vyld bocke allso by my
desyfering taken and a notabell vylayn or toe which ar close prysonnars and bad matters
agaynst them of an exceding natuer and it no reward but all the credit puled ought of my
mouth and I robbed of all
Then after all this ther was by my only means sett doun vnto the Lord Keper the Lord of
Bucurst the notablyst and vyldist artyckeles of Athemisme that I suppose the lyke was never
known or red of in eny age all which I can show vnto you they were delyvered to her hynes and
command geven by her selfe to prosecut it to the fule but no recompense no not of a peny
Sithens that tym there is ould hold and shoue for to gett the bocke that doeth mayntayn this
damnabell sect which bocke I presum ther wold be geven great somes for and larg promysis
offered in lyke manor but [ ] non of thos will I trust but if I may secrytly confer with you
I and on that I haue brought with me a marchent will geue you such lyght as he and I can
bring you to the man that doeth know who did wryght the bocke and they to howe it was delyvered
as allso who red the lecture and whe[r] and when with dyverse such other secrytes as the state
wold spend a thousand poundes to know and a better peny as him selfe affyrmeth which man him
selfe I can bring forth in loue to you if he may be but buckled and rewardid I can in lyke
manor revell vnto you an Alderman or too that doe convay over mony to the enymy and get named
vnto you ther poysoned factors
In lyke manor I can tell you of such a devyse intendid agaynst the state by a captayn as
never was hard of the lyke as I thinke
I know I am not gras[iu]s in the syght[e] of your brother therfor if it please you eyther to
[R]ake your coch or nage I will attend you and declar the rest of my mynd and bring a Ryght
honest marchant with me which shal Iustify vpon his othe all that I haue sett doune [&] I
presum you shall know such a secryt if you please to hear me a lyttel and goe on my way
because I know the natuer of the party as you haue not bin posessed of a good whyle
now sir I haue vsed a faythfull hart to you geuen you the onsett of this acsion which is
notably sought after so vse me and my frend as we may haue cause to pray for you and after you
shall be posessed of the matters so recommend our servysis to the Lord Tresurer as we may
receyve sum reward and fauor in his syght and thus praying to god for you with a vnfyned
hart vntill I speake with you or know your plesuer I [am] staying at the watter syd vntill
I hear from you in Rychmond syd the first August
Yours in all duty
Thomas Drury
2pp. Holograph. Endorsed: - "1593"
Sir the trew loue that I haue euer born to your honorabell father as allso to all his house
hath forced me to singell you ought for many vertus acsions and desiors that I know and hear
to be in you to vnfold s[um] latte accidentes which ar with in my knowledge and for brevite
sake and for avoyding your farther trubell with ought cycumsta[u]ns thus standeth the matters
to command
LETTER FROM THOMAS DRURY TO SIR ROBERT CECIL (1)
(HMC Cecil Volume IV pp.366-7)
1593, Aug. - I am committed from my Lord Chamberlain for abusing him unto you, as also for
wicked speeches that could say I was able to to make any counsellor a traitor: only this I
do presume, that I told your honour it was others' practices and lies also and not my own,
neither did so name it but that exempli gratia, how it might be so done to all mortal
men, and so I presume it will be said by you. If I have done you anything worthy of this
rebuke, or have said or done that might deserve imprisonment, let it come with death rather
than with favour. If my deserts be thus rewarded it will teach others more wit. Alas Sir,
why was I not committed by your own good hands which would have delivered me upon true cause?
My Lord Chamberlain is too continually bent against me; his displeasure is everlasting and
so is my misery. Banish me forever as my lord thinketh meet, and I shall be bound to you, for
if truth may take no place nor true meaning, farewell country, life and all.
Endorsed: - "August, 1593."
1 p.
LETTER FROM THOMAS DRURY TO SIR ROBERT CECIL (2)
(HMC Cecil Volume IV pp.357-8)
[1593,] Aug. 17. - In all duty and lowliness of heart I most humbly thank your Honour for
your liberality, as also for my liberty . My lord's pleasure was that I should be freely
discharged from the prison; howbeit, they stay my "cloak" for the charges of the house. I
received your honourable letter, but if my lord Chamberlain do detain my writings, I cannot
anyway make an end. The stay of my writings hath been my utter undoing. I most humbly beseech
your Honour to speak unto my Lord for them, for I dare not speak unto his Lordship, nor any
friend I have. It pleased your Honour to promise me to speak unto the Lord Keeper that I
should sue in forma pauperis; which licence I would most humbly beseech your Honour
to procure me, now before my departure. In like manner, I humbly pray your Honour to speak
unto my Lord Chamberlain, to speak unto Sir Edmond and his son, to pay me the hundred pounds
I lent him, as also the forty pounds I lent unto my lady his wife. Besides, I paid for
velvet and other silks thirty pounds for him and my lady. I have, upon his entreaty,
because I would not hinder the sale of his land, delivered him all his assurances again,
and in my life I never received back again the value of twenty pounds. And, gracious Sir,
I do but desire to have but one suit of apparel of his old, and a couple of shirts, and
what money either my lord his father, or yourself, shall judge, and I will give him a
general acquittancefor, so God help me, I have borrowed my cloak, and neither have shirt,
doublet nor hose, that scant will cover my nakedness, and only that money I have had by your
honourable means, is that must be my greatest comfort, under God, for a great season. Thus,
presuming of your honourable inclination to pity my miserable estate, because it hath pleased
my Lord of Buckhurst and your Honour, that I should by writing acquaint your Honour with my
bad and ruinated estate, and not by coming, I humbly present my suit, in all humility craving
your honourable speedy answer; for this town will consume me, it is so excessive dear. -
This 17th August.