Catalogue description SIR FRANCIS COKE to ROBERT, LORD WILLOUGHBY.

--"Right honnarable, being this morning with Mrs. Jacksone about Sir Peregrine his bissenesse, she has absolutlie comanded to advertise your Lordship, in all hast, that Sir Oleferr Saint Jhons, Lord Depotie of Ireland, has lost his place upon sume certen wronge that he did to one Sir James Hamilton, and that ther is a gryt many suters for the place, to witt, the Earle of Castolhaven and my Lord Davers hes offered four thusen pounds apeice to the Countesse of Buckinggame to obteine the place, to the which the Countesse did answer that for five thusen pounds the Earle of Castelhaven sould have it, all this passings without the kuoledge of his Majestic. How soune it cam too his Majesties heeringe, he sent for the Marques of Buckinggame and askt him how his mother+ D durst offer to sell such a place without his Majesties knoledge, to the wich the Marques could answer nothinge ; upon the wich the Kinge comanded that nether he nor his mother sould never be hard any more to spaak for that place. Forder, one Mr. Raff Manard has beene a spaker for your Lordship, both to the Kinge and Quene in sayinge that your Lordship was the fittest nobillman in all England for such a place and that both the, Marques of Hamiltone and many other good frendes hes given information of your Lordship in so farr that his Majestie did answer no thinge of your Lordship but silence, wich is thoght a concent indeed, and forder that the Quene did say to my Lady Ruthen that hir Majestie did wyshe that my Lord Willoughbie sould rather have that place then any man whatsumever, for he hes doune good service to my brother. These are the Quenes owne wordes for certaintie, and forder Mrs. Jackson sayes that the Marques of Hamiltone did say toe hirself that he had hard so much of your Lordships worth, that he wold doo all that possible he could, to have your Lordship to enjoy that place, so that this woman doth say absolutlie that your Lordship hes so many good frendes at courtt, that if your Lordship will presentlie cum up, for certentie your Lordship will obtene the place. Lykwyes the beerer herof can informe your Lordship, for he was a witnesse to hir speches and a gryt daell more then I can say for lack of [time]. The Earl of Oxford cums to Lundon this night and lyes at his sisters the Countesse of Darbie her hoose. I did lykwyes advertese Captaine Sackford, how did think it very fittinge your Lordship sould be advertesed. I have given the beerer tuantic sillinges."

*Lady Compton was created Countess of Buckingham in July, 1618. The Queen became fatally ill at Christmas, 1618. Cf.letter from St.John of Nov. 24, 1618. Fortescue Papers (Camden Society), p. 66.

+The words "mother," "nether," "rather," &c., in this letter are written with a y (i.e. old English th), a late instance of its employment in the middle of a word.