Catalogue description LORD WILLOUGHBY to the EARL OF ESSEX.

--"Your Lordships paper of congratulation was to me letters patentes of better content then all the world save God and her Majestie could yeald mee, that you would at this tyme further heere from mee can bee noe other but that song I have alwaies soung of my uttermoste devotions to you, which though I have not roared out like a lyon nor warbled like a nighingale, yet have I with the solitarie swallowe (sic) chirped on the house top after one constant and self same manner.

"I have partly understoode beyond sea a newe Englishe secret, that noe lame man is able to serve his prynce, though hee have never so muche strength of mynd, but one only creature in this worlde. But I hope it is permitted that wee honour and love our prynce as well as suche rarest criple, and maie live to creepe after so true and worthie a member of our State as you the worthiest, which God maie make appeare, whoe wounderfully overwhelmeth the hugest buildinges and rayseth up the lowest moldehills."

Postscript.--"I have written to your Lordship in other letters long before this to renewe my sute for Barwick, but I am afrayd Saturn's revolutions this yeare, of whome all the Dutche almanackes write portendeth much mischief to men of warr, will thruste mee out of the twelve houses of her Majesties giftes, if your Lordships worthie hande drawe mee not in." Signed.

*Probably an allusion to Sir Robert Cecil.