Page:Archaeologia volume 38 part 1.djvu/140

120 Addition* to the Biographies of F. 31 b. 11 Sept. 1548. hora fere 6 mane Die Martis. Elizabetha 2 genita. F. 34. xxxj Aug. 1549 Media Nocte. Sabbati. Thomas tertio genit. F. 34 b. 1550. 27 Septemb. hora secunda mane, Susanna 4'. At fol. 58 occurs the horoscope of Sir John Cheke, which Strype has inserted in his Life of Cheke. F.58b. 1514 Decemb. 23 ho. 8* ante Merid. fere Die Sabbati. Thomas Smithus, Waldini. (His own birth, a year later than before stated.) F. 78. 1483 22 Octob. ho. 10 post Merid. Martini Lutherj. E. C. genit. Cardanj Alt. pa. 44. Ibitl. Antonius Grene, 30 Noueb. 1555 ho. 8 m 25 mi. ante Merid. Mortuus est 16 Jan. 1556 ho. 6* noctu, q tepore tonabat valde, Egghamj. IV. SIR THOMAS SMITH'S DEFENCE OF ins CONDUCT AND CHARACTER, ADDRESSED TO Tin: DUCHESS OF SOMERSET. (MS. Had. GH89, fol. 111.) IF it please your grace, The furst and chief poinct in my myndc to be wisshed of a servaunt is faithful! v and truly to serve his master to his master's most honour and profit The next is that his master have a good opinion of him. The furst I take chief, for truthe is better then apperaunce, and, how long soever it be kept backe with enviouse or whispering tales, at the last it will appear. The other is next: for the cheafest comfort to bothe the master and servaunt is, the maister to have a trust and confidence of his servauntes well doinge, and the servaunt to thinke his service well accepted ; and this even the trustie and faithfull servaunt most desireth, the untrew and ev servaunt to have it most laborith. Your grace, peradventure, marvelith what I shulde meane thus to write. Yf I thought I might have had tymc to have declared the same bv wordes, without any troble or grief to your grace, 1 wolde more gladly, obteigning licence first, so have done it. Now I being at com- maundcment, and not able to attende my tymc, lest I shulde seame, by not answering to such thinges a< I hear say be objected unto me, to confesse them and graunt miself giltie ; orels it might be taken, if the thing appeare otherwise, as I doo not doubt it doth and will doo, that I shulde neglect and not esteme your grace's opinion of me, I am forced to write this my declaracion, simple in wordes, and true in effect, the which I will averre and justefie furst to God, and next to your grace and all the worlde, before those whisperers and tale-tellers, if it please your grace to call me to their rebuke, or let me die therefore. And, furst, I am gladde that I cannot lerne that either untruth, slaknes, or doblenes in my service was ever laide to my chardge, the which not being hable to be done somych as of myne enviers and enemies, as I trust never shalle, for the rest, I hope, I shall wade away. I doo remembre about th'ende of the last parliament your grace shewed me certain of my faultes, the which, ye saide, men noted in me. It was no litle discouragement unto me, after wache and