from your
Lordship's so little appearance at Court: some concluding thence
their disfavour thereby, to which purpose I have had questions asked
me, and endeavouring to put off such insinuations by asserting the
contrary, they have replied, that your Lordship's living so beneath
your quality, out of the way, and declining of Court attendance,
hath been more than once discoursed about the King. Others, my
Lord, when the chief ministers of State, and those most active of
the Council have been reckoned up, wherein your Lordship never used
to want an eminent place, have said, touching your Lordship, that
now your turn was served, and the King had given you a good estate,
you left him to stand or fall as he would, and, particularly in that
of the Navy, have enlarged upon your letting fall all service there.

Another sort, and those the most, insist upon the bad report of the
house wherein your Lordship, now observed in perfect health again,
continues to sojourne, and by name have charged one of the daughters
for a common courtizan, alledging both places and persons where and
with whom she hath been too well known, and how much her wantonnesse
occasions, though unjustly, scandal to your Lordship, and that as
well to gratifying of some enemies as to the wounding of more
friends I am not able to tell.

Lastly, my Lord, I find a general coldness in all persons towards
your Lordship, such as, from my first dependance on you, I never yet
knew, wherein I shall not offer to interpose any thoughts or advice
of mine, well knowing your Lordship needs not any. But with a most
faithful assurance that no person nor papers under Heaven is privy
to what I here write, besides myself and this, which I shall be
careful to have put into your owne hands, I rest confident of your
Lordship's just construction of my dutifull intents herein, and in
all humility take leave, may it please your Lordship,

Your Lordship's most obedient Servant, S. P.

The foregoing letter was sealed up, and enclosed in this that follows

MY LORD,

If this finds your Lordship either not alone, or not at leisure, I
beg the suspending your opening of the enclosed till you shall have
both, the matter very well bearing such a delay, and in all humility
remain, may it please your Lordship,