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Addressed: To my very loving Friend Master Thomas Bodley Esquier her Majesties agent wth the [Stat]es of the united provinces

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Master Bodley: I am verie sorie to have cause at this present to excuse my L. not writing to yow, by his indisposition of bodie whom nowe the Goute possesseth in his right hande: but beinge commanded by his Lo: to deliver yow the occasion of this silence, I trust it shall suffize to cleare any conceipt in yow, of any further neglect towardes yow. Yow shall understande, that some seaven or eight daies since, my LLes or the Counsell being togeither to take some present ordre for the composicion of a Navie, and thereby falling into an account, that some proporcion must be had from other Contries; they thought it fittt to send for Master Caron, to propownde to him a Request to be made to Thestates (agreable to some Condycions of the Contracte) This they should send to joyne with her Majestie, such convenient number of shippes, as shee might thereby the better be inabled to defend her selfe and them: wheruppon he made some difficultie; alleaging therunto besides, the great perturbacions they were in, by meanes of your ernest prosecution of her Majesties demaundes: the LLes having feelinglie perceaved by your wise and substantiall writing what yow conceaved would be the sequeale (as of them selves) did only use this speache. That if he could assure, that Thestates would straine them selves to any good proporcion of this assistance; they would become Intercessors to her Mayestie, to cease for the present her further importuning of the greater matter Commytted to your charg. Hee seemed hereuppon very ready to intimate it to Thestat, when the LL going to the Corte, found the Queene unresolved of this Course, and sent to him to stay any such overture to be made to Thestates, untill her Majestie might more fully determyne: He confessed he had already dispatched a Messenger to Comfort Thestates, that he hoped well of bringing it to passe, That for this seasonne the Queene would despence with them uppon that Condycion, and the LLes medyacion. Nowe Sir To thintent yow may not find it strang, if any such advertisemt have preceded this your authenticall dispatche, I have thought good to acquaint yow with all theise Circumstances, as a matter well knowen to my LLes, that dealt in it to be true, And nowe since that fol.202v
their last lettres of the xxviijth of October arryved, t[his resolucion] hath succeeded, which nowe yow receave: and as I may [well referre] yow to it, being large, and with the best warrant: so do[e I hope] yow will find by the stile varieng from the former, that s[uch good] Offices in your in your particuler have ben performed, as [your] Care, and dilligence hath deserved, and as your friendes [could] possibly procure yow: wherewith in haste, I recommend y[ow to Gods] favour, and wishe yow good successe thoughe I am not [hopefull] of the last Article, which her mayestie would needes have [inserted.] From my house in the Strande the seaventh of No[vember]1595. Your very loving and assured Friende. Robert Cecyll