[fol. 48r] I Comend me hartely unto yow, and do thank yow for your frendly advertisement, of such comen speches as yow have hard of me, most falsly utterd and most maliciously devised, and I hope in the judgment of honest gentlemen, most absurdly and improbably to be beleved. I have bene long acqueynted, and afflicted with such kynd of viporooss breathyngs. And I have long born the same paciently, in respect, I had no mynd to mak quarrells with some such, as I had cause to suspect to be the authors hereof. but yet I have shewed my self in many places to have mislyked and condemned these Injuriooss actions, wher also some persons of whom I had some dout of good frendshipp, have semed to condemn the authors or reportors, and have wished the reportors to be knowen. An so have I hertofore cessed to pursew the matters, remittyng allweyse the revendg to Almighty God, to whose defence I wholly remitt my self.
but now in a few words to this matter, I know that seguri the K. of Navarrs ambassador, was informed by some Connsellor as he told my frend, that I was a hynderor of his negociation, even whan I did my best to furder the same, being in Conscience moved therto, not only for my Zeale to the Courte of the K. of Navarr, but also in necessary consequencs for the [surety] of the Q. Majesty my soverayn and my [naturall] Conntrye. And, sence that tyme [fol. 48v] also, segure, hath confessed to my self, that he certenly knoweth how ernestly and frendly I have delt with her Majesty for hym. but yet the scarr of that falss report may remayn, and the untruth first uttred, Contynew. and the truth to hym revealed, notwithstandyng, remayning only with hym self for his satisfaction.
And the lyk hath bene uttered to the hollandors here now of my hyndrance of ther causes, and so I thynk falssly conceaved by them. but yet lately confessed by some of them, that they certenly know, the reports to be falss and maliciouss.
of my doyngs I have many testimonyes, first God that otherwise I wish to be Confounded if he that ^only^ knoweth all thyngs knoweth not that I am falssly slandered, next myn own conscience which otherwise shuld be a perpetuall styng to mee thyrdly the Q. Majesty who, might gretly condem me of unloyalte, if I did not concurr in all actions for hir [suretey] ageynst hir known enemyes papist and spainish. my third proves of mi actions ought to be such Counsellors with whom I do joyne. but in all these [cascs] I esteme more of the favour of God whom I call to wytnes than in all fleshly helps or defects. To end I pray yow [fol. 49r] advise the partyes, that make these reports, ether to speak with my self, or with master secretory walsyngham, who is best acqueynted with the truth of my actions in this tyme./
And for the actions concerning the states, both be and master Davison can tell in what ernest sort I have delt with hir Majesty, often to the offendyng of hir Majesty, with my ernestnes And I dare appeale to the report of any Counsellor, so as I may be present at the report. for I know non can be so voyd of grace, as dare saye any thyng of me herin that becometh not an honest faythfull and carefull Counsellor. but you may se how I travell herin, not to perswad yow to thynk of me otherwise than I thynk in honesty yow do. for I know that yow have many tymes knowen me hertofor in this sort falssly slandered. and I must content my self to follow my only heavenly [Master] Christ, that suffered also many such. and so [ ... ] do his best [ ... ] God send yow helth, and me some rest for I was never more [tuched] , nor less hable to do any good by reason of maliciooss bytors, whom God amend. 12. Julij 1585 your assured loving frend W Burghlei
