Letter ID: 1255
Reference: BL, MS Cotton Galba D XI f.104r-105v
Citation: DCB/001/HTML/1255/008
Date: 14 May 1595
Note: Fire damage. There is a pen mark at the end of the endorsement on the address leaf.
Copy of: 1253

addressleaf

fol.105v

Addressed: To the Queenes most Excellent Majestie

Endorsed: [[.]] with the effecte of Thestates Overture./


lettertext

fol.104r

Later Addition: 14 May 1595

Most gratious souveraigne, I send your Majestie heer- inclosed the effect of that ouverture, with which for sundrie great respectes aswell for winning of time, as for cleering of doubtes, and for the framing of it fully to your Highnes contentation, I thought it most expedient to re- turne my self in person. And if your Majestie will ac- cept it, I make no more doubt, to conduct it to your li- king, then whatsoever other service may seeme excee- ding easie: as I am also in some hope, that when the ma- ter is once a foote, I shall compasse their consents, for augmentation of the offer. True it is, it is but knowen to some fewe of the states (for so the project doth require, and the nature of their government) but yet those are the chiefest, and their worde in this case hath the force of a warrant. The common sort thinke no other, but that I went to make report of the state of their affaires, and to come backe againe with your final resolution. For that was their desire, and I did gladly yelde unto it, to give some coulor to my depar ture. And where your Majestie supposeth, they will impute it unto me, for a simple part, But I would be their messenger: and that it might be some touche to your Majesties wisedome, for sending unto them so weake a person, Your Highnes if yow please, may vouche safe with good reason a more favorable construction. For first the principall among them, were acquainted altogether, with the hidden cause of my returne: and esteemed it so requisit, that it could not but redound to your singular satisfaction. And for the generalitie they did not so muche hope (though it be not so speci- fied in their lettres unto yow) that their answear would fol.104v
persuade yow, to accept their refusal, as th[[.]] Highnes by it might the sooner be induced to qualifie [[. de-]] mandes: whereby they have not that conceat, that [[.]] onely returned with their answear unto yow, [[.]] by meanes of their answear, and their /my/ relation [[.]] upon, yow will applie your resolution to the st[[.]] their Provinces. They have made a long [[.]] for many yeres together, of my proceedinges in [[.]] vice: of which I am assured their persuasion is g[[.]] and when they see that effected, which your Majestie [[.]] in this mater of suche moment, both I trust it [[.]] crease my credit among them, and binde them [[.]] certaine, to incline heereafter more easely, [[.]] motions for your Majestie. But were it so mas[[.]] ons souveraigne, that I had erred in the forme [[.]] my comming unto yow, if I present yow so g[[.]] so honorable mater, as will put yow in p[[.]] that which yow desire, I had undoubtedly ju[[.]] to conceave assured hope, that both in regard [[.]] endevor, and of ten yeres together of my [[.]] age consumed in your service, and that without[[.]] pense, [[.]] the utter neglect of my domestical [[.]] I should not in this mater have founde my w[[.]] so bitter, so farre from your usage to other of your ser- vants, and from your Highnes wonted maner, both [[.]] your lettres and speeches used to my self. Wherein [[.]] thing moves me more, then that your Highnes should ac- count me too great a frind unto the States: whose cau- ses when I further, it is to serve your turne the better and was never yet to prejudice, any jote of your designes. fol.105r
And for my courses in suche cases, I could remember your Highnes of my very last cariage, in the King of Scot- tes proposal to the General States, wherein if I adven- tured for the advancing of your service, though I had no just commission, to purchase his displeasure (wher- of I am advertised, as in trust I did expect it) it were too grosse a fault in pollicie, to preferre the pleasuring of the states (who this mater ended must be stangers unto me) above your Majesties contentation, whose liking or disliking, is /all/ my making or undoing. For which I falle before your Majestie withall humblenesse of dutie, and I beseeche yow most submissely to use your excellent insight in discerning what is told, or discour- sed against me, and to put it out of question, that if it derogat any white to my diligence and care, to serve yor Majestie syncerely, there is ether joined with it an ill affection to my person or want of knowledge howe to deale in the causes of that contrey, or that usual im- perfection which is readier to detract, then to allowe of others actions. And so in hope that your Highnes of your singular bountie, will examine my proceeding with a gratious respect to my desertes heeretofore, and to my present painefull service, I most humbly take my leave. From London 14. May. 1595. Your Majesties most obedient subject and faithfull servant Tho. Bodley


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