Catalogue description LORD WYLLUGHBY to the EARL OF ESSEX.

--"I have written sundry letters unto your Lordship out of Italy and the while I had helth and strength to do it, but I feare fewe of them came unto your handes. Synce my sicknes I have not byn able to write, and was in hope to have byn nerer you before your Lordship went your journey then nowe I will speake of. I have byn heere at Stoade thies twelve weeks wynde bounde and manie tymes dryven back from sea not without some dangers, three frenche shipps of our consort beinge cast away, and heere we are like to lye God knowes howe long. Wherefore I beseeche your Lordship in the meane while that now in this tyme when other meanes faileth mee, and the only occasion is offred to recompense my former tyme and services, your Lordship would performe for mee those honorable and lovinge partes which it hath pleased you by your wourd and letters to assure mee of and wheron I have with all hope and confidence espetially builded. My sute is not great nor newe, I meane the government of Barwick, which her Majestie must bestowe on one, and whether I bee as sufficient as another for that chardge I refer to you, the compotentes judge we have in martiall causes of anie that serve her Majestie and State. It is not unknown unto your Lordship what somes of money I should receave, disbursed by mee, besides a great deale more was never put to accompt, which in my conceit should further mee, at least to a good torne, before an other that hath not don so muche, espetially since it maie come with such ease from her Majestie. Yf your Lordship nor theis cannot prevaile I shall a thousand tymes wishe rather to have buried my bones in Cadis malis under your Lordship then retorne home unto England so ill-regarded.

"And so commendinge that service which synce I knewe you hath byn and ever shalbee moste devoted unto you, I humbly take my leave, from aboord shipp, havinge lyne ther this moneth and mended, which putteth mee in good hope I shalbee able yet once agayne to wayte on you some honorable voyage of yours." Signed. Seal of arms.