Catalogue description LORD WYLLUGHBY to LORD TREASURER BURGHLEY.

--"I can not yield your Lordship thanks sufficient for your favorable entertaining me, and your sundry other kindness: but remembering my promise made your Honour to send you the exceptions taken to the States Instructions, I thought to mention my thankfulness, which is the least service I owe unto your honourable friendship. It pleased you also when I waited on you, to move me for my service in the Low Countries this summer, setting down a forcible reason of my reputation unto me. But my especial good Lord, having since thoroughly advised me, I see my state therein like the consuming sickness, which, though the patient take physic for, yet can he not live, and if he take none, he is assured he can but die. Whether I stay or go, I see my reputation every way engaged, yet because I find the question to arise of my going, though my desire is for my staying, I thought, as near as [I] can, to satisfy your Lordship or acquit my self. If therefore, my Lord, I should be called on to you, upon any sudden necessity, when it may be the world would blame me of pusillanimity to refuse present dangers, I have, as is sayd, chosen to let your Honour understand that I would refuse all offices and endure all punishments rather than go before those of the States that have blamed me in print should clear me in print. Likewise not to have my Lieutenant, upon whose discretion, faith, love to me and value my own life and honour depends, to be forced upon me, specially also being such a person as hath sundry ways published his malice to me. Also that the chief offices of the field may be distributed to such as, for the profitable service of her Majesty and the cause, may hold good correspondency with me. Lastly that my commission and forces that I shall have may be answerable to the name and place that I shall bear. For under humble correction, a general to be without authority, credit or men, is but a dangerous charge to his sovereign and an unrecoverable disgrace to himself. For the present numbers that are to be drawn to the field, there is Sir Francis Vere, Sergeant Major, able to take charge of twice so many. For them in the towns, the Governors are most sufficient. For the Council, Mr. Bodley and Mr. Gilpin. To win and retain the States wholly to be ours, no so fit a person as my Lord Buckhurst, most agreeable to them. Wherefore, good my Lord, in all humble earnestness, I beseech you that in this fit time, when all turns are served, I may be, as the manner is, called to resign my office, and receive my discounts (as my predecessors have done) for me and my own soldiers. Or else if I must needs go, that I may obtain in an action of such difficulty to have so much grace as to have the premises considered and advanced. And so most humbly beseeching God to continue all fulness of prosperity with you, I leave you unto him, and rest my self ready to do you all services."