ell do it, for he has two of the best offices in
my kingdom."

The following letter, addressed to sir Henry as lord-president of
Wales, discloses an additional trait of his character, which cannot fail
to recommend him still more to the esteem of a humane and enlightened
age;--his reluctance, namely, to lend his concurrence to the measures of
religious persecution which the queen and her bishops now urged upon all
persons in authority as their incumbent duty.

* * * * *

_Sir Francis Walsingham to sir H. Sidney lord president of Wales_.

"My very good lord;

"My lords of late calling here to remembrance the commission that was
more than a year ago given out to your lordship and certain others for
the reformation of the recusants and obstinate persons in religion,
within Wales and the marches thereof, marvelled very much that in all
this time they have heard of nothing done by you and the rest; and
truly, my lord, the necessity of this time requiring so greatly to have
these kind of men diligently and sharply proceeded against, there will
here a very hard construction be made, I fear me, of you, to retain with
you the said commission so long, doing no good therein. Of late now I
received your lordship's letter touching such persons as you think meet
to have the custody and oversight of Montgomery Castle, by which it
appeareth you have begun, in your present journeys in Wales, to do
somewhat in causes of religion; but having a special commission for that
purpose, in which are named special and very apt persons to join with
you in those matters, it will be thought strange to my lords to hear of
your proceeding in those causes without their assistance; and therefore,
to the end their lordships should conceive no otherwise than well of
your dealing without them, I have forborne to acquaint them with our
late letter, wishing your lordship, for the better handling and success
of those matters in religion, you called unto you the bishop of
Worcester, Mr. Philips, and certain others specially named in the
commission. They will, I am sure, be glad to wait on you in so good a
service, and your proceeding together with them in these matters will be
better allowed of here, &c.

"P.S. Your lordship had need to walk warily, for your doings are
narrowly observed, and her majesty is apt to give ear to any that shall
ill you. Great hold is taken by your enemies for neglecting the
execution of this co