11 May.

THE BAITING OF THE TRAP, 1585-1586

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Sunday. I came to Leipzig, and was at Peter Hans Swartz his house lodged. I found Laurence Overton (with much ado), an English merchant: to whom my wife (the last year) had showed no little friendship to himself, and Thomas, his partner's servant, in the time of his lying sick in our house, &c., at Prague. He came from England at mid-Lent. He confessed that Edmond my servant had been oftentimes with him at his house, and that he did think that he would come with the next ships after his coming from England, then to come within 16 days. I perceived by his divers express sayings that he was but a hollow friend unto me, and seemed half-afraid to deal either wi~h me or my man. There also I found a courteous gentleman called Mr Francis Evers, the Lord Evers his son of the north. And of all other matters omitting the rehearsal in these records (those matters I mean which at Leipzig and in this journey happened notably unto me, or I did myself), I cannot omit or pass without memory the copy of one letter which I wrote to the Queen of England her Secretary, the Right Honourable Sir Francis Walsingham, as followeth. Right Honourable SIR, Albeit I have (almost) in vain come a hundred miles (from Prague to this Leipzig Mart) hoping either to meet my servant there, with answer to my former letters, sent in November last to her Majesty (when also I wrote unto your Honour, and divers other). And now, I find, neither servant, neither letter from him, neither word of mouth. I am forced to be brief That which England suspected was also here, for these two years, almost (secretly) in doubt, in question, in consultation Imperial and Royal, by honourable espies, fawning about me, and by other discoursed upon, pried and peered into. The Apostolic Nuncio (Germanicus Malaspina), after his year's suit unto me to be acquainted with me, at length had such his answer that he is gone to Rome with a flea in his ear,6 that disquieteth him, and terrifieth the whole state Romish and Jesuitical. Secretly they threaten us violent death, and openly they fawn upon us. Sir, I trust I shall have justice for my house, library, goods and revenues, &c. Do not you disdain, neither fear to bear favour unto your poor innocent neighbour. If you send unto me Master- Thomas Digges, in her Majesty's behalf, his faithfulness to her Majesty and my well liking of the man shall bring forth some piece of good service. But her Majesty had been better to have spent or given away in alms a million of gold than to have lost some opportunities past. No human reason can limit or determine God his marvellous means of proceeding with us. He hath made of Saul (E.K.) a Paul:? but yet, now and then, visited with a pang of human frailty. The Almighty bless her Majesty both in this world and eternally: Your Honour's faithful well-willer John Dee