Elizabeth I to Robert Devereux

Transcript

As distant as I am from your abowde, yet my eares serves me too well, to heare that terrible battery that methinkes sounds for relief at my handes; wherefore rather than for lacke of tymely aide it should be wholly lost, goe you on in God’s Blessed name, as farre as that place where you may soonest relieve it, with asmuch caution, as so great a trust requires. But I charge you without the mere losse of it, doe in no wise perill so faire an Armye for another Prince’s Town. God cover you under His safest winges, and let all perill goe without your Compasse. Believe Cecill in the rest.

From the Due Repulse, where this day I have ben, and render a myllion of thankes to Grove for his precious present.