Sir,<187>

            Your strange message, first by my man, after by my son, now seconded with your speech to myself, did greatly trouble me. That I have undone you, overthrown your estate, disturbed your designs: that no man dare buy any land of you, be your feoffee, nor take any trust from you; so as that which you had ordained to good uses, and to redeem your sins, was now so encumbered, as you were scant master of your own; and all by means of a bruit<188> among your friends, raised as you supposed by me, "That you have made Duke Charles your heir, and the King your executor."

            Far be it from me to abuse, or misreport either so princely and pious an intention as I know his Majesty hath to further all good works; or so godly a purpose, as you intend to do some; but "God cannot be mocked," though we may dissemble with men. The letter is still extant which was my warrant. I have spoken nothing but within compass of that, and that very sparingly to your private friends; in which letter seeing you yourself would needs in your sense read a caveat to refuse honour because of age; which, in my construction, was an encouragement to take the honour due to your abilities and years; I have been since, and will be silent about it.—For the suit<189> you would make to his Majesty, (which I will not so much as guess at,) I will say what I think: you will make no suit; but such as will find favour and expedition; and, seeing you suppose I wronged you before, I would be glad to make you amends now by any endeavour of mine. Only, my old friend, you may not forget to be a benefactor to Bath church in your lifetime; for alms, in one's life, is like a light borne before one, whereas alms after death is like a candle carried behind one.

            Do somewhat for this church; you promised to have seen it ere this; whensoever you will go to Bath, my lodgings shall be at your commandment: the baths would strengthen your sinews, the alms would comfort your soul.

            The tower, the choir, and two aisles, are all ready finished by Mr. Billett,<190> executor to the worthy Lord Treasurer Burleigh: the walls are up ready for covering.

            The lead is promised by our bountiful bishop, Dr. Montague; timber is promised by the Earl of Shrewsbury, the Earl of Hartford, the Lord Say, Mr. Robert Hopton, and others.

            There lacks but money for workmanship, which if you would give, you should have many good prayers in the church now in your lifetime, when they may indeed do you good, and when the time is to "make friends of the mammon of iniquity, (as Christ bids us,) that we may be received into everlasting tabernacles;" to which God send us, to whose protection I leave you, &c.
            JOHN HARINGTON,
            From Greenwich this
            13th of June, 1608.

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