Letters: Earl of Oxford to Sir Robert Cecil; June 19, 1603. [Spelling modernized.]

Cecil Papers 100/108, Oxford to Cecil; 19 June 1603. [Click here for original spelling.]

My Lord I understand how honorably you do persevere in your promised favour to me, which I taking in most kind manner, can at this time acknowledge it but by simple yet hearty thanks, hoping in god to offer me at some time or other the opportunity whereby I may in more effectual manner express my grateful mind. I further also understand that this day Mr. Attorney is like to be at the Court. Wherefore I most earnestly desire your Lordship, to procure an end of this my suit in seeking whereof I am grown old and spent the chiefest time of my age. The case as I understand by your Lordship, Sir E. Coke his Majesty’s Attorney has reported, the Justice thereof I do not doubt, but does appear, there remains only a warrant according to the king’s late order to be signed by the six Lords in whereby Mr. Attorney general may proceed according to the course usual.

The King I hear does remove tomorrow towards Windsor, whereby if by your Lordships especial favour ^you^ do not procure me a full end this day or tomorrow, I cannot look for anything more than a long delay. I do well perceive how your Lordship, does travail for me in this cause of an especial grace and favour, notwithstanding the burden of more importunate and general affairs, then this of my particular. Wherefore how much the expedition of this matter concerns me I leave to your wisdom, that in your own apprehension, can read more than I have written. to conclude I wholly rely upon your Lordship’s honorable friendship, for which I do vow a most thankful and grateful mind. This 19 of June.

Your most loving assured friend and Brother-in-Law

E. Oxenforde

 

Addressed (in Oxford’s hand): To the right honorable my very good Lorde the Lord Cecil of Essendon. [seal]

 

Endorsed: 19 June 1603 Earl of Oxford to my Lord

 

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• On the Question “Who knew Edward de Vere was Shakespeare?” December 14, 2020. “But was the word going around that his wife, the Countess of Oxford, conceived two children in his absence?”
• A 1572 Oxford Letter and the Player’s Speech in Hamlet. August 11, 2020. “The player’s speech has been a source of consternation among Shakespeare scholars for above 200 years.  Why was Aeneas’ tale chosen as the subject?”
• Shakespeare’s Funeral Meats. May 13, 2020. “Famous as this has been since its discovery, it has been willfully misread more often than not.  No mainstream scholar had any use for a reference to Hamlet years before it was supposed to have been written.”
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