‘Reverend Sir,—I had wayted on you before this tyme, but that I have been punished with Lamenes, both for my owne advantage to learne of yu and to acquaint yu with some orders I have received from his matie and to give yu ye summe of ye last chapiter as I conceived it.’

GARTER RECORDS.

Sundry particulars follow, and he promises a record of the members of the Garter from its foundation. The King, he says, is anxious that every ‘chapiter of the Order’ should be fully recorded. Sir Thomas asks for ‘the papers of Sir John Fynnet’ in order to send them to King Charles, ‘who is very curious of them.’ ‘On all occasions,’ the letter concludes, ‘I shall be glad to give yu ye testimonye of my desire to be esteemed and to be yr affectionate friend to serve yu,

‘Tho. Rowe.

‘Cranford, 9 Jan. 1636 (O.S.)’

The Dean’s answer comes promptly:—

‘Jan. 10, 1636 (O.S.)

‘Honorable Sir,—How much you obliged me I shall endeavour to demonstrate to you upon better opportunities. For ye present I returne yr books and promise you ye sight of another somewt of them(?) wch phaps you will not dislike, though I begin to think your exact diligence hath lefte none of those monuments lye undiscryed, where they might be gained. I send back likewise Sir John Finet’s Paps; whereof I reserve ye copyes. And now that I begin to finde a little respiration, I will draw ym up into acte. Till I had ym I could not well begin, and now that you are pleased to send me ye last, drawne up into forme, I shall ye better accomplish ye whole business of my little time. Whereof I will send you ye whole contextures, Deo dante, ere longe. I should however give you a formall thanks that you imploy yourselfe soe largely, soe nobly for me in present, and in promise more. Knowing your reality in all worth, I abstain from other compliments then those wherein Affection must pforce speake yf she speake at all. Once for all, that branch of our comon oath is never out of my minde: Sustentabis Honores hujus Ordinis atq. omnim qui in eo sunt. Of wch omnim you are Pars Magna and shall ever be to your affectionate ob: servant friend,

‘Chr. Wren.

‘To the Honble Sr. Tho. Row Chancelor of ye most Honble Order of ye Garter.’