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144 ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS. rity, he prudently sends by the bearer ten gold rings and ten silver cups, substantial gages of his intention to pay. The conclusion of the epistle is curious ; the earl begs his woollen - draper " so to do that he may return unto him, as his friend and creditor, thanks and honom* with his money." It was a very common practice in the times in which this formula was prepared, the reign of Henry the Third, to obtain goods on deposits of jewellery or plate ; and when we recollect that the king himself was more than once reduced to the same strait, there is no room to suppose that the author of this " complete letter writer" of the thirteenth century has in the least degree attributed to his imaginary earl a procedure derogatory to his position, or opposed to the manners of his age. "B. Comes Glovernie dilecto sibi A. Pannario Lond. salu- tem et dilectionis affectum, Quamvis merita nostra non exi- gant (vel non processerunt) tamen de liberalitate vestra con- fidimus (ad vos in hoc instanti negocio confugimus) rogans at- tencius quatinus xx. ulnas de scarleta rubea et totidem de perso et totidem de minueto ad rationabile forum vel precium prout sustinere poteritis usque ad Clausum Pasca, absque pig- nore si vobis placuerit, mihi acomodetis, vel super x. anulos aureos et x. ciphos argenteos quos vobis transmittimus. Sci- atis enim pro vero quod ad diem prefixum omni occasione remota vobis bene persolvemus. Tantuni ergo faciatis ut vobis tanquam familiari et creditori nostro grates et honores cum denariis vestris referamus. Valete." The following evasive letter suggests a very simple con- dition of society ; for excepting in times when news travelled slowly the excuse proposed would scarcely have been generally apt. A fur-dealer is advised to reply to a friend who had asked him to purchase furs that a sudden fire had destroyed all liis means, and that he could find no one to trust him since. " Dilecto amico &c. literas vestras nuper accepi in quibus me petistis ut ego vos penulas et fururas perquirerem, quod libenter fecissem, scd ignis nupcr superveniens totam pecuniam meam redegit in cinerem. Unde vobis mittere non potui quod non habui ; ncc creditores inveni qui aliquid mihi cre- derent post incendium : dubitaverunt enim perdere totuni quod mihi acomodarcnt. Precor igitur ne moleste feratis quod petita vobis non misi, cum sciatis causam impedimenti. Valete." t. h. t.