Lansdowne MS 91/49

49. A petition to the Lord Treasurer on the part or Edward Lytelbury, stating that one Wiseman who had preferred five indictments against him to bring him within the compass of a Præmunire for a debt of 30l. had, spread a report that the Treasurer, had offered him a bribe of 2000l. to buy the suit in question; and therefore praying a reference to some confidential persons who might examine and report the matter. At the bottom of this petition is a reference by the Lord Treasurer, who affects to despise the iniquity of these slanders, to Sir Hugh Beeston and Sir Michael Hicks Justices of Peace, to send for the party and hear how the information can be proved, that he may proceed accordingly, 1609. The 43rd and 45th articles of this Number will demonstrate that Hicks was a very improper person to act on this occasion; and it is certain that other articles among these papers contribute to justify very strong suspicions that neither of the Sectetary's masters was altogether innocent on the score of corruption.