CP 152, 78
CP Volume 152 Folio 78
HMC Volume 1 Page 152 Number 572
Haynes Page 210 Number 187
Transcribed by Samuel Haynes in “A Collection of State Papers . . . 1542 to 1570” London, 1740
23 April 1559 Lord Paget, to Sir Thomas Parry Knight, Treasorer to the Quene's Houshold
Mr. Treasorer,
I COMMEND me hartely unto youe. And wheras ther was sumwhat treated, both in upper and nether Houses of the Parliament, toching my Licence for Wines, as I think youe know: Forasmoch has diverse Noblemen haue sent unto me for their Furniture for Wines, wherin I am not hable to satisfy them, for that I know not the Quein's Majesty's Pleasure therin, and I for my Part (saving for twenty four Pounds for Wines arrived at Bristow) haue neyther received any Comodite, nor know not how her Majesty is answered for the Quantite already arryued since the Beginnyng of my Licence, of which I think your Purveyors can enforme youe; and because I may (incase my Licence contynue in effect) make more certaine Furnyture and Prouision; and also (incase the same contynue not) the better satisfy the Noblemen, who wold elles loke to be served of Wines at my Handes, I shall hartely pray youe, as oportunite shall serve, to ioigne with Mr. Secretary for the Knowledge of her Pleasure, whether I shall enioy the same Licence or no. Mr. Treasorer, I am bold to make my Mone unto you, and crave your Advice, whether I shall complaine my self to the Quenis Majesty in particularite of such Men, as without my desert, raile upon me, and raise false Tales against me contynually: I meane specially the Lord Admyrall, and the Lord Hastings of Longborough, who cease not, if there be any maner Occasion of Grudge in tymes past betwixt any Nobleman and me, to renew it, but also to devise Matter of Malice of new, therby to raise fasle sklaunders and opprobrious Words of Reproche against me: The Lord Admyrall, for no cause I think, but for that I haue done him many a great good Torne; and the other, because the Qwene his old Mistress decessed hated me: And methinks the greatest Iniury they do, is to the Quein's Majesty, seing it is the Cause of the Kinge her Father and Brother, who furst did advance me for my Service to the Place wherin her Majestie did finde me; and it is also her Majesty's owne Cause, for that she mainteneth me in the same. The greatest Honor a Prince can haue is to raise Men of nothing, whome they think worthy, to Placis of Honor and Reputation, as the King her Father and Brother did me; and if her Majesty think me not a Man mete to contynue in the Place wherin I am, then I wold be a Suter unto her Majestie to haue a Writ of Dotage, wherby I shall haue liberty to absent my self from all Parliamentis, and other Functions of a Nobleman, and so live solitarily, and be no more an Eye sore to them. You know also that my Lord of Sussex and I be not all one; but I hope that Mater may be compounded by Frendship. Mary, that of the two others I think can not be ended but by Authorite, they be so maliciously bent against me, to verify the Italian Proverb, Chi offende non mai perdona, he that doth offend doth never forgive. I intend upon Friday or Monday to go from hence, before which Tyme I wold gladly haue some comfortable Answer from you. I praye youe communicate this Lettre to Mr. Secretary, and heare his Advise in the same. Youe may see how bold your Frendship maketh me, which because I can not requite with any Dedes, I shall as moch as in me lyeth satisfy with good Will. And so I take my leave of youe. From my House this St. Georges Day 1559.
Your very Frende,
William Paget.
To the Right Honorable Sir Thomas Parry Knight, Treasorer of the Quenis Majesty's Houshold.
