Document 4

Transcript

Your Lordship’s letter sent by Mr Sommers I have received, and do

find to my great grief the answer, brought by him, such as I

looked for, having by experience seen that your long consultations

do most commonly end with the worst resolutions. By whose

advice her Majesty is directed to deal so hardly with those of

this country, depending as they do chiefly upon

her favour in their (extreme?) necessity, when a little treasure

may do more good than millions at another time, I know

not; but sure I am that the alienation of these people’s hearts

from her, which I see apparently already come to pass, will

breed so great peril to herself and so great mistrust to

the whole realm in time to come, that she will curse them that

were authors of the advice when she shall perceive that they

had more regard to some private profit (for that either by

 

corruption it comes to pass or that they are weary of her

government), than to her safety, as in duty they

are bound. For he that looks substantially into her majesty’s present

state, weighing as well things at home as abroad, shall see by

this decision so dangerous a storm drawing on

as is likely utterly to blemish the blessedness of her majesty’s former

course of government. And first to look into things abroad it is

over apparent how Spain and France (who are her

nearest neighbours) are affected towards her, and if any

think they may work her majesty’s safety by procuring a

reconciliation between her highness and them, as I know some

have been carried away with such conceits they will be

found to be authors of very dangerous and unsound counsel

building safety upon a reconciled enemy especially some of

them being so carried away with desire of revenge as they

spared not their own blood in the nearest degree. The

prince and states here who were altogether at her majesty’s

devotion seeing themselves abandoned in their (mission?)

cannot but withdraw their (former?) goodwill and affection and

of assured friends grow most dangerous enemies, and

therefore I will take upon me hereafter to give no

further assurance of the Prince’s friendship. And as for the

King of Navarre and Prince of Conde they are to learn by

the usage of those of the low country what they have to

look for as her Majesty (—?) How Duke Casimir does greatly

repent his repair into these countries seeing her majesty

taking that course that she does I suppose will appear

by his own letters unto her highness. To conclude Scotland

which is the postern gate to seeing the mischief and malice as is

borne and tended against us I see (though the matter may

be patched up for a time) disposed to take another course

for their safety and not to depend upon those whom they think

do make little attempt of them having dismissed their last

ambassador with so evil satisfaction as I perceive by a letter

received from Alexander H they were, who for the common

cause does greatly lament it and to heap up the mischief

in full measure I fear the Duke of Alencon’s ministers will

be returned with nill satisfaction. Now for the discontent at

home if her majesty would truly look into it and see the misliking

that reigns generally in all states theough men make outwardly a

fair show it would then appear unto her that the approach

 

of some dangerous alteration is at hand:  which I do rather fear

see that your lordship with the rest of her majesty’s council with whom her highness

has conferred touching these country cases have most faithfully

and substantially delivered your minds in that business, as Mr Sommers

inform me, who was present at the debate of the matter, and

therefore seeing good counsel cannot take effect it is an argument

that ministers likely to light on the realm is fatal

and cannot be avoided. The only remedy left unto us is

prayer. When consultation will take no place According to your

Lordship’s advice I have set down the reasons as moved us to allow

Or at least not to mislike of the number of the French

Forces agreed on in the account between them and the states.

Yes it would please her majesty to hear before the condemning

Her displeasure would be avoided and her ministers serve

With more courage and contentment. But I know these

Mislikes grow by practice of some to do not just the

Best affected toward me whereof I have received very hard

Measure since my repair hither. I am (—) by my

Wife to (–) your lordship my humble thanks for your (competable)

(The) sent to her, which among other benefits I (h— —)

At your lordship’s hand, I do not (—) the least. And so (—)

Your lordship to accept in good (part) (this — —) I

Most humbly take my leave.

 

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