Transcript
Editorial comments:
SP 12/150/59 f. 108r - v. William Herle to the Earl of Leicester.
On the address leaf of this letter after the endorsement is a symbol of a flower, possibly a florilegium.
Address Leaf:
[Superscription:]
To the R. honorable mi verey good Lord the Erlle of Lecester &c. gyve these att the Cowrtt.
[Endorsement by unknown hand:]
7
^o^
November, 1581. William Herle.
Letter Text:
[fol. 108r]
my R. honorable good L. ytt may plese yow to consyder well of the speches that I
delyverd yesternight unto yow, of the mene I have to decipher the sp: ambassadors
actyons by an ynstrument of his owne, who allso can advertys the secrett menes that
he conveyes into the Lowe contreys his lres of practises, which somtymes is by a
woman & somtymes by others, of whose departures we shalbe advertised att
the ynstant, & in whatt certayn place abowtt the sayd messengers, their lres be placed,
which is somtymes conveyed into a plumett of lede, hangyng by a stryng from the
womans waste next her skyn downwards & somtymes in the man messengers pomell
of his sword, & his scawbord, which devises may be mett with ether here, or for more
clener handlyng att donkerk or flusshyng where they arryve, which may serve our
Tornes & the prince of Orenges allso. The sayd partye will bryng me allso the first
packett of lres that comes to his hands for the ambassador, without suspycyon or
knowlege where the same is becom, Butt to procede in this, unles ytt plese your L.
ether by your own Awthoritye, or makyng her majestie acqwaynted therwith, ytt is
nott convenyent for me (whatt zele soever I carye to her majesties service) to presume
heryn butt by lykeng & warrante. The sayd Ambassador dare nott att ani tyme
negociate with her majestie & Cowncell, beffore he be first well shryven, absollved,
& hollyewaterd, & att his comyng ynto the Cowrtt gate, to arme his forhed, brest
& back, with the Tripell signe of the crosse./ He hath (as ytt wilbe proved by his own
speche) a Cm. li. credite, for mony to serve here to corrupte Instruments of
yntertaynment & practises for his master agaynst her majestie./ I know advisedlye
whatt I saye, & som of his Brokers. And now uppon monsieurs comyng, he brethes
nothyng elles butt hotte passyons of threttnyngs of warre & revenge, yf I had hability,
her majestie sholld knowe hym throwly & all his secretts: & whatt soever practis or
practiser, that he & others have. her majestie hath mi zele & dutye that doth with
all humble dilygens watche for her securitye, & mi harte blood redy to be spylled yn ani
actyon that may conserne her servyce. ytt may plese your L. to lett me understand by
this berer, how I shall behave mi sellf in this spaynish actyon, for yesternyght the
partye was with me att x of the clock after that I was retorned from your L. wherwith I
humbly fynissh. vij novembris. Lambhithe 1581. your L. most humbly. W. H.