[fol. 93r] I thank yow for your lre sent by this bearer and perceaving therby the continuance of lewd humors of riotous tongues, that ar seasoned with nothing but with ga ^w^ lles, I content my self to beare their malice, knowing that God, whom I serve with trewth and sinceritie, will abate their canckred furies, when it shall please him, and will comforte me in meane tyme to conteyne my self rather in feare to offend him, than ^in^ anie feare of harme they shalbe hable to do me. And yet it seemeth that malice is so setled, as I think no bodie also must be beleeved butt the authors of the untrewthes, And yet such is my case as it may be that some, that were in some sorte the authors or abettors, shall scantly be beleeved in reproving the first untrewth. But of this ^an^ end.
For that which yow desire to be answered how I can be tempted with allowance of a devise to gaine to hir majestie ten mli monethly, and to my self one other ijli, so as hir majestie will help the states, I think I know the matter verie well, having hard therof a moneth past, and have within these few dayes sene and read the project. What I think therof, I cannott but pronounce doubtfully therof, untill I shall speake with the partie that offreth it. In my opinion yf the matter may appeare feisible, (which I most doubt of,) and reasonable as being feisible, I think it allowable, with some correction of some pointes, I were to blame yf I would not assent to hir majesties profitt therby to enter into defence of the low Contries, seing I am perswaded and do mainteine it, that hir majestie for hir owne suretie ought to charge hir self with the defence of them against the comen enemye, without which attempt, hir majestie shall not be hable with expense of thowsandes to defend hir self, that [fol. 93v] now she may wth Goddes assistence do with hondredes But for ani offer to my self, I do utterly refuse either such, or a less sum, thinking it more charitie to yeild of myne owne to the comen Cawse, than to receave a penye./
For your self I have ernestly spoken, but I wishe your health, that yow might be here your self, for so should I be more hable to do yow good. In deede I do verie seldom speake with hir majestie, butt when I com accompanyed with the rest of the Counsell and yett I will nott omitt any opportunitie. God send yow health, and me sownder eyes, for I am muche troobled with an humor. So as I assure yow, I have not written so much a good tyme with myne owne hand. From the Courte at Nonsuche xxiiijth of Julie 1585. Your assured loving freind W. Burghley.
