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Endorsed: 2 May 1589 Copie of a lettre to Master Bodeley.

Later Addition: 27 May 87 q 89

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Sir, though I have verie litle leisure at this tyme, yett the matter I have to wryte of is of suche waight to be expedited, as I may not forbeare to write thereof in some hast, having Commoditie offered to send the same awaye by a servaunte of my L. Willoughbies ready to take his passage to Gravesend. I hope that yow have receyved lettres from hence for your dealing with the States towching the towne of Ostend, althought by your [In margin: 1 May]
lettres of the xxijth of Aprill receyved this first nighte of Maye yow make no mencion thereof but at this tyme I am commaunded by hir Majestie to renewe that matter in this sort following. We have thought of Longe tyme that the towne of Ostend would prove either dangerouse to be loste, or out of reason to Costlye to be kept. For we knowe that the ennemye especially the whole Countie of Flaunders have an earnest desire to recover it, whereby all Flaunders and namely the Sea Coastes should be free, and at this tyme we understand for Certeintie that the greate townes offer large taxes to beseige, and recover it. And therfore as by former lettres yow were dyrected to deale with the States, to take it into their Charge, or to give allowaunce for the fortifying thereof, especially of the greate breaches already made by the Sea, and more lyke to ensue this next Wynter, and if the States would not assent to the one nor the other, her Majestie muste take some other Course with it: for without very greate charge, aswell by fortifications as by reenforcing with greater nombers of Soldiars, the towne is not defensible against a Seige: And nowe therefore, if yow have no answere in certeintie, which yow were dyrected to require with spede, then yow shall withall Convenient spede propound this unto the States generall; and require their answere absolutely for the taking of the towne into their handes, or for the fortefying of it to make it tenable to neither of which I thinke they will assent and performe in dede: and if they shall refuse the same, whereof I praye yow procure their answere, to be putt in some written act, then hir Majestie maye take some other course with hir honor, as cause shall move hir to acopmte hir self of the towne which is the thinge that hir Majestie taketh mete as a grounde to answere the States Whatsoever she shall do/ Thuse muche for that matter of Ostend. And nowe to adde somewhatt to this lettre, yow shall understand that your lettres of the xxijth of Aprill, brought by Richard Hall, make mencion of the Q majesties lettres to the towne of Gertrudenbergh and a nother to your self both dated the xijth of Aprill and two others from my self, the one of the xxviijth of Marche, and the other of the xiijth of Aprill, being hartely sorye, that hir Majesties lettres Came so Late unto yow. fol.155v
I am gladd to perceive the Comminge hitherward of the thre Commissioners named in your lettres for by that meanes the L of Buckhurst [wrides] may be stayd which I did [.] did specially advise as one that should have had Commission with yow to have seene into the deffect of the goverment there, and of the yll effect likely to Followe uppon this notable mischeif, and so to have reconcyled and Consolidate together all the broken members, into some newe Unyon. Uppon this Comminge of these Commissioners also, I think the matter that was intended to be dealt withall by my L Borrough your self and master Gilpin, for the hearing and Clearing of the Accomptes, wilbe putt over, at the Leaste your instructions will not Come unto yow before the xxth of this monethe as was ment. I muste end with a verie earnest request to praye yow to take Care, and use all your Credit yow can to procure the delivery of Sir John Wingfeild and his Wife, wherein I knowe not how to dyrect yow, but for the deliverye of the poore younge Child being an Innocent, moost barborouslie against the Lawe of god and man Committed to Common prison (as Captain Hall saithe) I hope, the case being so pitifull, and agreable withall humanitie, yow shalbe able to releyve the poore infant; And so having no more leisure to wryte I do end with my hartie Commendacions, and thankfull acceptaunce of your plentifull thankes Conteyned in these your Laste lettres.