Catalogue description Notes by LORD WILLOUGHBY.

--"If it shall be her Majesty's and their Lordships' pleasure that I must return, albeit I look not for like conditions as my Lord of Leicester, whom I acknowledge every way my superior, yet I confidently repose myself so much upon their honourable considerations that they will not offer me less than my inferiors or equals have had, namely, Sir John Norreys, Sir Francis Drake, and divers others."

And whereas a thousand foot and six hundred horse of the auxiliary forces, and seven hundred foot in the cautionary towns, have lately been withdrawn from the Low Countries for "the Portingale voyage," so that if the States required any in the wars, not more than five or six hundred could be spared, leaving two thousand in Ostend and fifteen hundred in Bergen, with seven hundred in the cautionary towns, besides the cautionary companies themselves; this will amount to the six thousand (and above) which is her Majesty's army there, and there would not be a man left "either to observe the contract with the States, to keep the field, or to save any town; any of which misfortunes, if it shall fall out whilst her Majesty hath a general, will be more dishonourable than if she had none; and besides, it is but chargeable for her Majesty to entertain one that hath no soldiers to serve with." Prays that the forces may be restored according to the treaty that he may be able "to make a head for the field" of 2,000 foot and 500 horse, without those obstacles often interposed by the governors of places, and that such officers as ought to attend the field may be resident to assist him and to discharge their duties, "receiving oath and performing obedience, that her Majesty's service and the honourable discipline of wars may be maintained, which is much decayed by diversities of governors supporting of disorders and factions, and through the looseness the soldiers learn in their garrison towns, every governor, like the Dukes of Greece, using their own laws."

Desires further: That for the great abuse the States have offered him in print, they may likewise in print clear him:

That there may be some certain ground whereon he may work with the States, since in council they will suspect him, and in war he cannot supply the 5,000 foot and 2,000 horse which, at least, they will look to have by the treaty, for which defect they "will never leave complaining" of himself and the English nation:

That to furnish himself for the summer's charges, he may (as Sir John Norreys had upon his return) have at least some part of his count and reckoning paid; the rather as he has raised three companies of horse "without any penny of the Queen saving ordinary imprests weekly," while Norreys received 4,000l. imprest for raising one company; and also that he may have allowance for his horses lost in honourable service, "as Captain Sherley had for his which were negligently cast away whilst they were drinking and sleeping at Swolle portes":

That his lieutenant may receive such pay as others have enjoyed, "considering both the chargeable and valiant services that he hath done":

That he may have allowance for intelligences and espials:

That he may have consideration from the States for house-rent and travelling charges, as others have had; and also that they may pay him what he laid forth "for them and to their uses, both before and at the siege of Berghen."

Endorsed, "Notes set downe by my Lord Willughbie for to be considered before he shalbe able to hould the place of generall."