In October of the same year Sir THOMAS sent an elaborate account to the Earl of ARUNDEL of the progress made by PETTY, and of his own exertions to provide him with every possible facility. [Sidenote: THE PROPOSED PARTITION OF ANCIENT MARBLES BETWEEN ARUNDEL AND BUCKINGHAM.] He told the Earl of the difficulty of his own position towards the Duke of BUCKINGHAM, and besought him to admit of an arrangement by which the product of the joint exertions of ambassador and agent should be divided between the competitors. PETTY, he reports, ‘hath visited Pergamo, Samos, Ephesus, and some other places, where he hath made your Lordship great provisions.... I have given him forceable commands, and letters of recommendation from the Patriarch. I have bene free and open to him in whatsoever I knewe, and so I will continue for your Lordship’s command. But your Lordship knowing that I have received the like from the Duke of BUCKINGHAM, and engaged my word to doe him service hee might judge it want of witt, or will, or creditt, if Mr. PETTY, who could doe nothing but by mee, should take all things before or from mee. Therefore to avoid all emulation, and that I might stand clear before two so great and honourable patrons, I thought I had made agreement with him for all our advantages. Therefore we resolved to take down those sixe mentioned relevos on _Porta Aurea_, and I proceeded so far as I offered 600 dollars for four of them, to bee divided between his Grace and your Lordship by lotts. And if your Lordship liked not the price, Mr. PETTY had his choice to forsake them. But now, I perceave, he hath entitled your Lordship to them all by some right that, if I could gett them, it were an injury to divide them.... But I am sorry wee strive for the shadowe. Your Lordship may beleeve an honest man, and your servant, I have tried the bassa,—the capteyne of the Castle,—the overseer of the Grand Signor’s works,—the soldiours that make that watch,—and none of them dare meddle. They [the sculptures] stand between two mighty pillars of marble, on other tables of marble supported with less pillars, uppon the cheife port of the Citty, the entrance by the Castle called “The Seaven Towres,” which was never opened since the Greeke Emperour lost it, but a counterscarfe and another wall built before it.... There is butt one way left in the world, which I will practice.... [Sidenote: Roe to Arundel, 30 Oct, 1625; _Negotiations_, pp. 444–446.] If I gett them not, I will pronounce [that] no man, no ambassadour, shall ever bee able to doe it;—except, also, the Grand Signor, for want, will sell the Castle.’