Transcript
Editorial comments:
BL MS Lansdowne 54 f. 150r - v, and (verso) f. 153r - v. William Herle to Lord
Burghley. This letter is accompanied by another in the letter-packet addressed to Queen Elizabeth (fol. 151r - 152v),
and the verso is placed after the two letters in the volume.
Address Leaf:
[Superscription:]
To the R. honorable mi verey good L the L highe
Thresuror of England &c. give these./
[Endorsement by unknown hand:]
6 Aug. 1587. master Herle to my L. Copie of his
lre to her majesty./.
Letter Text:
[fol. 150r]
Accordyng to this copye inclosed, R. honorable L. I writt to her majestie in Apryll
laste, which wrought so far in her, as that she sollicited master Secretory her sellf, to
provyde som convenyent staye for me, In the mene tyme I moved her for the
Clerckship of the casuall fynes, which she grawnted, butt the L. Chancellor vallewing
it to basse for me, bestowed it uppon his kinseman fr: flowre. Next I sued by lre for
Tussers office of the duchie, wherunto her majestie (as I was informed) condiscended,
wissheng the same with many good speches had of me, to be worthe muche more
than it was yett ones agaynst crossed by the L. Chancellor, in the sute lykewise, & so
was I by his L. in the Clerckship of the Cowncell.
[
Marginalia
(by Herle): first of all]
Butt now I understand that master
Stallenge is lyke to have it, on butt lately preffered to her majestie, from master
Staffords service, a yong man habler to staye for rewarde than I, provyded for allredy
in Cowrtt, wherby he hath many advantaiges riseng to him, & utterlye fitt for this
Rowne. Of the other syde I have served her majestie from the begyneng of her Raigne,
drawen only by your good L. therunto, from sir William Garrards howse, a gentillman I
am of honest linaige, & have consumed my yowth, mi fortune, & all that I had, to
expresse the duty of a faythfull servante, which I have performed in sondry actions of
good moment, I owe to your L. mi education & all the good that ever I Receved, &
now must, most humblye pray your L. seing that the L. Chancellor hath relinqwisshed
his motyon for the Clerckship of the duchye, that her majestie att your honorable
reqwest will vowchsave the same uppon me, & I will repute mi sellf sufficyently
recompensed, & provyded for, without cravyng of her majestie ani more, intendyng to
serve the office mi sellf to be nere when her majestie shall have ani use of me, & to
have matter of good exercise, by the cowntenance wherof (to the end your L. may se
into mi ynwarde purpose) I shalbe hable to gett som good marriage, for mi settled
staye. Her majestie gives nothing owtt of her coffers herin, nor doth master Stallenge
ani wrong wherfore yf she will staye me, by so easy a mene to her sellf, (ellse I most
utterly
[
Marginalia
(by Herle): with whom I hope I may seme worthye the eqwalling]
despayre of ani good) from fallyng. I shalbe beholldyng to your L. for ever &
[
deleted: I shalbe]
enhabled to do her service indeede, to the comforte of mani that have their
eyes bent on me, &
[
deleted: for]
^on^
the honor that is expected att her graciows hands. Butt
trulye mi state is so lowe browght that it can endure no delaye, for mi pencion, the
onlye staye & cowntenance of mi poore lyveng, is now forfeyted for wante of hellp,
that before was morgayged, for the expences of her service, & there is nothing lefte to
sustayne me with, nor had ani peny releef from her these .2. yeres. which in the
compassyon of your honorable favor, & your regarde to those that merite well off her
majesties service, I humblye with confidence comend
^me^
to your mediation & wisdom.
putting your L. humbly in mynde how unsemyng it is,
[
Marginalia
(by Herle): & unhable a matter]
for the servant to bere the
charge of his Soverains weightye comissions, which is mi case, & then the more
resonable to be repayed, wherwith I verey humbly fynisshe. The Cowrtt att your L.
howse Thiballdes. vjth of Awgust. 1587. hast. / your L. most Bownden. W Herlleli.