w^{th} a bull head, affirminge and
protestinge he was yo^r L[=p]'s s'[=v]t, and that S^r Henrie
Harrington, verye late the night before, had obteyned that favour of
yo^r ho^r in his behalfe; and muche bemoned his former undewtifull
cariage towards yo^r L[=p], w^{th} a remorsive remembrance of many most
ho. favours receaved from yo^r L[=p] and yo^r house, towards his
auncestors, him, and his; and, recommendinge his former suite to be one
of oure Burgesses, being demanded whether he had any letter from yo^r
L[=p], answered, that this (poyntinge at his coat and cognizance) he
hoped was a sufficient testimonie of y^r L[=p]'s favour towards him,
and of his submission towards yo^r ho^r; and further, that it was so
late before S^r Henrie cold [p=]cure yo^r L[=p]'s said favour, as that
you cold not well write, and, for the truth of the [p=]mises, he
offered his corporal oathe. Whereupon we, thinkinge all this to be
true, made choyce of him, w^{th} Mr. Will[=m] Herricke, to be o^r
Burgesses. And now, this evening, wee are credibly certified that y^r
L[=p] hath geven him no suche entertaynem^t; and thus by his said lewde
and most dishonest dealinge, being much abused, we thought it o^r
dewties forthew^{th} to signifie the same unto yo^r L[=p], humbly
cravinge yo^r L[=p]'s most ho^rable favor for some reformacon of this
vile practize. And thus, w^{th} remembrance of oure dewties, wee humbly
take o^r leaves. From Leic^r, this xx^{th} day of October, 1601.

"Youre honor's most humble to co[=m]aunde,
Signed by "Will[=m] ROWES, Maior,
ROBERT HEYRICKE,"
And ten others.

An angry and characteristic reply from the earl follows, but with which, as
it is printed in Thompson's _History of Leicester_ (p. 318.), I will not
trespass upon your valuable space. It may be sufficient to say, that he
tells the mayor that--

"Notwithstanding this treacherous devise of that cunninge practisore, I
feare it will appeare, upon due scanninge of this accydent, y^t there
remaynes a false brother amongst you.... And as for y^e p'sone hymself
whoe hathe thus shameleslye sought to dishonoure me and deceave you, I
will, by the grace of God, take suche order as in honor and lawfullye I
maye, bothe {572} for y^e better unfouldinge of this, as also for suche
punnyshm^t as the law will inflict."

In pur