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 THE FIRST EARL OF EXETER 81

released from strict supervision. His father was suspicious from the first. Before Thomas had been in Paris a month, he writes wishing him God's blessing, though " how he inclines himself to deserve it, he knows not." He complains that he receives no account of expenses, and exhorts his son to " begin by time to translate in French. Serve God daily. Take good heed of your health, and visit once a week your instructions." He adds, " write at every time somewhat to my wife," and from phrases in other letters we gather that one of his causes of annoyance was that Thomas sent no messages to his stepmother.

In August he writes to Windebank that he " has had a watchword sent him out of France that his son's being there shall serve him to little purpose, for that he spends his time in idleness." He threatens to call him home, a threat which is repeated a few weeks later, when, writing on the subject of expenses (September loth), he says " Let me understand if the default be in my son ; for if I see him so untoward and inconsiderate, I will revoke him home, where he shall take his adventure with as mean bringing up as I myself have had. Surely I have hitherto had small com- fort in him, and if he deserve no better by well- doing, I will learn to take less care than I have done."

In the autumn Thomas had two attacks of ague, and was rather seriously ill a circumstance which provoked not a word of sympathy, or even acknow- ledgment, from his father. On his recovery, he settled down for a time to a more industrious life,

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