Transcript

[fol. 65r] xxvj ^to^ Aprilis 1571. From William Herle to the Bp: of Rosse

As your wisdome My Lord is greate and noble So now shewe it or never for I am this morninge comitted to Close prison for Charles Causes and am charged with heavy Irons beinge searched for writings But as god would whiles I was put a parte & they sekeing an other Chamber I brake Charles lre as ye se and put it in a darke Chinck wherof consideringe afterwards that it might serve yow for some instruction I send it hereinclosed, besechinge your Lp for that vertue sake which is lodged in an invincible minde to stand fast in one thinge that I never was with yow nor that once ye knewe me neither that yow be privye to any lres or participacion that should passe by me in these affayres otherwise there is great Wronge done to me & I must crye out on fayth & constancye Once I have bene examined by the Clerke of the Counsell to daye and by one Wynnebank verie straightlye and threatned to the rack But I defie the spirit which is subject to ani pusillianimity though 5000 deaths laye therein And in this purpose remayne I and decre so unchangeably Invita enim fortuna, maior sum quam cui fortuna nocere potest quod nunc ipse exitus docebit Onely I desire your Lp to knowe your minde herein, and whether you have bene urged to saye any thinge of me for I have expressed howe they have proceded here & what I meane to stand in And if you ad some comfortable [ deleted: aunswere] Counsell & advise howe to weld my self the better I am fully satisfied and armed Come White or Come black And then am I confirmed in these promises & good words also whereby your Lp hath won me to be your pore freind perpetually & my good will shall even dye with this memorye. I lye on the strete side & may have writenge conveyed to me by my man, but no speche Thus attending your aunswere & some newes what yow here I Comende you to the highest Ex pedore carceris raptim 26 April 1571. Your L very humbly W:H: