Transcript

[fol. 239r] 1571

As your wisdom mi Lord is grett & noble, so now shew it or never. for I am this mornyng comitted to close prison for Charles cawses, & am charged with hevye Irons, being serched for wrytngs, butt as God wold, whiles I was putt aparte, & they seking another chamber, I brake Charles lre as ye se & putt it in a darke chincke, wherof consydering affterwards that it might serve you for som Instrucyon, I send itt herin enclosed, beseching your L. for that vertue sake, which is lodged in an invincible mynde to stand fast in on thing, thatt I never was with you, nor that ones ye knowe me, nether that you be privey to ani lres or participatyon that shold passe by me in these affayres, otherwise there is grett wrong don to me, & I most crye owtt on fayth & constancye. Ones I have byn examyned by the clerk of the Cowncell to daye, & by on wynnnebank very straytly, and threttned to the rack, butt I deffye that spirite which is subject to ani pusillanimity though 5000 dethes laye there on, & in this purpose remayne I, & so decree unchangeably. Invita Enim fortuna, maior sum quam cui fortuna nocere potest quod nunc ipse exitus docebit. Only I desire your L. to know your mynde herin, & whither you have bin urged to say ani thing of me, for I have expressed how they have proceded here, & whatt I mene to stand in, & yff you ad som comffortable cowncell & advice, how to welld mi self the better, I am fully satisfyed & armed com whyte or com black, & then am I conffirmed in these promises & good words allso, wherby your L hath won me to be your pore frind perpetually & in good will shall even dye with this memorye. I lye on the strete syde & may have wryteng conveyed to me by mi man, butt no speche, thus attending your answer & som newes whatt you here, I comend yow to the highest. Ex Pedore Carceris raptim. 26 ^o^ aprilis 1571 your L. verey humbly. w.h.