“My sister and myselfe have seene a letter writt from you to Sir John Keyesley concerning my Brother Purbeck, by his ma^ties command and doubt not but his ma^tie hath bin informed with the most of his distemper.  Wee have bin with him the moste parte of this weeke at London, and have found him very temperate by which wee thinke hee is inclining towards his melancholye fitt, which if hee were in, then hee might be perswaded any wayes, which at this instant hee will not, he standeth so affected to the cittee and if there should be any violent course taken with him, wee thinke he would be much the worse, for it, and drive him quite besides himselfe.  Therefore wee hould it best to intreat Sir John Keysley and som other of his friends to beare him companie in London and kepe him as private as they can for three or four dayes till his dull fitt be upon him, and then hee may bee had any whither.  This in our judgment is the fittest course at this present to be taken with him which we desire you will be pleased to let his Ma^ty. knowe and I shall rest.

“Your assured loving friend,
“(Signed) K. BUCKINGHAM.”

From this it would appear either that when Purbeck was in one of his “melancholye fitts,” he was quite tractable, but, at other times, he was rather unmanageable; or that, when well, he refused to be ordered about, but when ill, was too poorly to make any resistance.  Conway[54] replied as follows:—­

“MOST GRATIOUS,

“I have represented to his Ma^tie. your Letter, and he doth gratiously observe those sweete and tender motions which rise in your minde, suitable with your noble, gentle and milde disposition, in which you excell your sex:  especially where force or restraint should be done to the brother of youre deare Lorde.

“And I cannot expresse soe finely as his Ma^tie. did, how much he priseth and loveth that blessed sweetness in you, and you in it.  But I must tell your Grace his Ma^tie. prays you, not to thinke it a little distemper which carryed him to those publique actes, and publique places, and to consider how irremediable it is, when his intemperance hath carryed him to do some act of dishonour to himselfe, which may, and must, reflect upon his most noble Brother, beyond the follies and disprofits which he dayly practiseth.  And that your Grace will not only bee to suffer some sure course to bee taken for the conveying of him into the country, but that you will advise it and assist it with the most gentle (yet sure) wayes possible.  That he may be restrayned from the power and possibility of doing such acts as may scorne him, or be dangerous to him:  which these wayes of acting can never provide for.  For his Ma^tie. sayeth there cannot bee soe much as ’whoe would have thought it,’ which is the fooles answere, left for an error in this:  for whoe would not thinke that a distempered minde may doe the worst to be done.  His Ma^tie. therefore once more prayes you that his former directions to Sir John Ersley may bee put in execution and the safest and surest for the goode of the unfortunate noble person, and honor of youre deare Lorde, his Ma^ties. dearest servant.