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[fol. 54r] My right honorable good L. having Receved lres owtt of Heryford shire that a verey frynd of myne is lately decessed, who was Woodward in the sayd shire, of the forests of [Mocktre] & darbolld & of the chasse of Bryngewood I am most humbly bolld to beseche your good L. in respect that I was borne very nere those places, & that it may be of som credyt to me, to bestowe the sayd office uppon me, the fee wherof is butt iiijli by the yere, & yett is it more in fee & Revenew than I have in the worlld besyde, by the which I shalbe in habled the more to do yow humble & faithfull servyce duryng mi lyfe, nott dowtyng butt that as your L. hath of your goodnes norisshed me as a plant & creature of yowres, so yf your L. contynew your favor towards me, yow shall have good cawse beffore it be long to joye in me, & to Receve som further contentacyon & servyce than it becomes me to expresse tyll the tyme do com. And for the sayd offyce yf your L. do vowch save it unto me, I will putt in suffycyent suretyes to her majestie to discharge mi dutye trulye & substantially & therfore do presume to inclose this lre within to master Smith for a staye of the sayd offyce from your L. till the Awdytor do com to Towne, so far furth as your L. do lyke & allowe of mi sayd sute, whom God long preserve to his honor & glory. from London the xvj of september. 1575 your L. most humble & assured to pray for yow & serve yow forever. W. Herlleli.