Transcript

[fol. 109r] Most gracious Soveraigne may it please yow to be humbly advertised, That wheras I received my dispatche from your majestie towards the partes of east friselande some while sithence and was partly hindered in the course of my said jowrny by reason aswell of contrarie windes, as for wante of convenient shipping, that might cary me directly to Embden. I lastly was put in at the dangerous mouthe of the Moze in south Holland, with no small apparency of casting away by fowle wether, And thence directing my self, upwardes arrived at Dordrecht the best place to land in and surest. Where the death of the Prince of Orenge was then recent, yet without any astonishment at all either of the people or magistrate; by feare or division, but rather generally animated with a great resolucon of courage, and hatred ingraved in them to revenge the fowlenesse of the facte comitted in the persone of the Prince of Orenge, by the Tyrant of Spaine, as they terme him, and to defende their religion and liberties advisedly against hym and his adherents by all the meanes that God had geven them, even to the last dripp of their blood, and the uttermost porcion of their substance recommending them selves throughout the contrie, in their consultacons and assemblies, as also in their comon and private speches to the Quene of Englands only favor and goodnes, whome they call their Savior, and the Princesse of greatest perfection in wisedome and sinceritie that ever governed, [reculing] them selves no lesse in their disposition from the pointe to be governed by the frenche (notwithstanding their treaty in france now by their deputies) than to be tyrannized by the spaniard which they conclude equally to be a like, and even Commutare; non sortem: sed servitutem./

[ Marginalia (by Burghley): Dordrecht] The magistrates of Dordrecht with whome I have som nere familiaritie, understanding of my arrivall by their Gardes at the gates, (in the which parte of vigilancy, and in the rest of their present affaires, throughout Holland and Zeland, theie use great order more than ever I knew, and have put in souldiors in the Towne) repaired imediatly unto me; not as men condoling their estate, or craving courage to be instilled in them (wanting now a head) but irritated above measure to be revenged, and to defende all their heades, so apparantly sought for by the King of Spaine, in murthering their head the Prince of Orenge, Whose death with much grief they do not so muche attribute to destenie, as to the ambicion [ Marginalia (by Burghley): ag. Villiers] of Villiers the minister, becom master of the spies, and was intrapped, they saie, in his owne nett and over weening, by favoring this treacher and spie beyonde reasone or sence./ for by Villiers presumption, creditt and accesse was geven to the murtherer to execute that he intended, The wreche continuing this practize by the space of 13 weekes in and out, in the Princes courte, to seek opportunitie for his disseigne/ In which time there failed not both suspition and advertisement to be had, that he was not suche in name, nor in religion, as he pretended. Which was an error in Villiers, of imprudency and rashnes, (they say) considering his place and the trust reposed in him by the Prince, that could not be twise comitted, and the same had at the death of the said Prince, bin lyke to have cost all the frenche their lives, and the papistes theirs, that were in Delft, where the facte was comitted, but that Gods only mercy and providence, preserved their estate from subdaine, violent, alteracon and ruine./ Which the enemie laboured by all meanes to have brought to passe, by practizing immediatly, with sondrie townes of the provinces, and offering them what soever they would have or demaund, even till theie should repent (as may be suggested them selves)./ But none woulde harken unto them, which eche severall Towne and state sithence, have confirmed by their particular lres and protestacons to the generall Estates assembled at Delft; sending their absolute and irrevocable authoritie, by their deputies to stand to that, which theie [fol. 109v] theie the said states generall should dispose of their persons goods and contrie, A resolucon and agreement, that never concurred before among ^them^ to this day in what age or goverment soever, And hereof two things insued forth with (as effectes) first that the motion of anie accorde was forbidden to be had or made privately or publickly with the Tyrant of Spaine, under paine toe be reputed ill patriots / Secondly that they should be imediatly executed that broughte ether lre or message, from the enemie to any persone or purpose more within the provinces./

Dordrecht also set forth in writing and proclaimed it by sound of trumpett, how resloute theie were to dye and live in the cause now undertaken, which is an Acte Registred since and confirmed amongest the other provinces/

The copie whereof your majestie shall receive herewithinclosed./

But theie complaine still that the Prince being reputed so wise and Villiers so warie; (or rather presuming that ever theie would be deceived so childishe, as theie were, by a party unknowne, by a practize so repugnant in it self/ An attempt unpossible in reason, and in honor not to be imbraced / for this traitor Balthazar Gherarde of the age of 25 yeres, a contemnible persone in shew and stature, insinuated him self to be the sonne of one Guian at Bezanzon, that died for the religion, was persecuted (he said) for the same A servante in condicion, pore and obscure, And yet offred certaine signatures of the Count Ernest of Mantsfelt, which he had counterfetted, with the signatures and seales of other personages, that were governours of townes and provinces, under the King of Spaine, to the ende that the Prince should make his profitt of those impostures, and to be hable to seaze som townes therby, which was the entrie to builde his creditt upon, by Villiers intertaineng of it, A matter sufficient in gravitie, to have discovered [ deleted: him] ^the fellow^ to be a manifest lewd and counterfett persone, and no waies of the religion. But otherwise suerly he was the resolutest [ deleted: fellow] in so ill an action, that ever the earth dyd [ deleted: bere] bear with the daie of his execution, after so manie incredible torments susteined before, he well shewed, saieng at his coming out of prison, that he would that daie make a memorable proof, of his great pacience, and constancie, as in deed he did to the wonder and astonishment of all men.

He avowed his facte to be lawfull two waies, first for that the King of Spaine, Who by his proscription, had invited all men to kill a Rebell: much more was he invited therunto, that had his conscience prepared and assured, and was the said K. naturall subjecte borne in his Countie of Burgoine /

Secondarily, he might do it by the example of Judith in the Bible, a most holy and chaste persone, that notwithstanding her widowhead and holines, fained her self to becom a harlott, to the ende she might murther the irreligious tyrant Holophernes./ But when it was replyed un [to] him, that the example alledged of Judith and the proscription set forthe by King Phillipp; were both unlawfull, and that neither respecte of religion, nor justice, in him the murtherer, had moved him to attempt this wickednes, but the promises only of the Prince of Parma, and of Dassonville, to be rewarded according to the contents of the proscription hereat as vanquished or obstinate, he held his peace./

I am Right gracious Soveraigne the longer upon this pointe of verie humble duty, and not of tediousnes, for that it is certainely presumed and affirmed [fol. 110r] affirmed that this forlorne persone was a jesuite, and that it is a maxime among them, that theie be all Judiths, that kill princes, And are therfore stirred up and warranted by the Pope, to be canonized for the same, beside temporall advancements if theie escape, Lyke as maie appere to Your Majestie by the booke that Carter printed, within your owne Kingdome, of the self same matter, and worthelie suffered for it, this last winter at Tyborne./ To which race and vermine of jesuites, coming abroade, armed with obstinate malice and treason, this late example also most aptly deciphering them and their nature, It maie please your Majestie to have a speciall regarde and eie. I speak it in the humble depth of my loyaltie and zeale, for yow se how many Seminaries of them there are erected every where, and one even of Deep of Englishe and Scottes upon the brim of England, by your over presuming adversarie the Guise. / Besides that it is well knowne, that there are entred above vijxx lurking jesuites into the Realme of late, and theie do secretly repaire more and more, to sow infection and rebellion among your subjectes, and to conspire against your Roiall persone, whome God allwaies for his mercies sake, preserve./

I brought over hither in latin, frenche and Italian, a twoo dozen of those bookes which my Lord Treasorer is awthor of, touching the justice in England executed upon those jesuites and Seminaries not for religion but for treason/ Of which bookes, I have well distributed sondrie, and are marvailously lyked./ In so muche as the Archebishoppe of Coleine (A prince truely, well qualified and greately devoted to your majestie, whome I found at Delft) doth cause the same to be translated to high duche that it may be dispersed all Germanie over, and the same in uttering the truthe so wiselie, is lykely to do greate good./

Duke Augustus of Saxonie, doth now see so farre into the secte of the jesuits, and their inwarde mischeafes, as he is become their open enemy, and doth make his freindes against them in the Empire./ He hath also chased out of his contrie Jacabus Andreas and doth comande the Obiquitaries of Saxonie, as men of a condempned opinion, to silence./

I do inclose herein the Copie of the sentence translated into frenche geven against Balthasar Gherarde, also certaine collections of his speeches and actions before his deathe, whome they would not have so sone executed, but that theie feared he would have died under their handes, being weakened by unmeasurable tortures./ Herewith is the relacon also of the phisitions of Delft in latin, touching the wounde of the Prince of Orenge, But your majestie shall have a larger confession of the said Balthasar Gerards secretes, with the manner of the Prince funeralls, by this bearer, which shalbe holden solempnely on friday the 24 of this moneth, in the great chyrche at Delft / But it is intended, yf the worlde prosper with them, to translate hereafter the said Princes body to Breda or to some other place in Germany of his proper inheritance/ Upon whome living they had bestowed the Marqueshipp of Barrode, disinheriting the daughter of Merode and had elected him lykewise Earle of Holland and Zeland, which should have byn published within two monethes following yf he had escaped this trapp and heavy mischaunce./

Further the said magistrates of Dordrecht discoursed with me verie largely and freely of the present estate of their affaires, shewing that Pruneaus and their [fol. 110v] and their deputies in france were still at Roane without audience, and that the King would first se their instructions, before he proceded to treate with them, Which course thay held to be strange, and of small reputacon to their wardes, and tending rather to discover them, and to draw things in length, than to accept of their offers in the forme which they were presented. Which were the same offers and condicions, that Monsieur before should have had confirmed unto him, Holland and Zeland allwaies exempted.

But it semes hereby that the frenche K. in differring and temporizeng would have them fall into that necessitie and dainger, as that they should offer unto him simply, the possession of all their estates, or otherwise they to see as in a glasse their evident and hastie ruine./ At least wise he woulde be maister of the Ile of Walcherne and of the Sluse, which in dede (considering the saide K. puissance and nerenesse, with the importance of the places) were asmuche as to be maister and owner absolutely of the whole, And they to assure them selves of the other side, from both mischief and inconvenience, would geve the other parte of the iron from them ^to^ the frenche, and holde the colder by the staile fast./

The frenche K. inwarde intention being discovered in som manner to them, and his faith holden suspected, Paule Buis at Delft to this effect willed me under secresie and assurance, to saye unto your Majestie from him, that the said frenche K. had two monethes since sownded the Prince of Orenge by the Princesse his wife that in case he could be content to put into his hande the Ilande of Walchern, the said K. would immediatly declare Spaine his enemie, confirme to the States there privileges and unto the Prince of Orenge the Erledomes of Holland and Zeland with all his other landes and titles, and geve him over and above a Cm [crowns] yerely of perpetuall inheritance, well assured to him and his, where he would chuse the same, Or if he thought better, he should have in redy mony [ Marginalia (by Herle): 2000000. [crowns]] 20CM [crowns] to bestow at his pleasure, But saith Buis (his scope once sene) he shall never be trusted by us, what hasard and extremitie soever we ronn into, yet he excused the Prince that he was not frenche in mynde, but for necessitie and connivencie, to conserne the Churches in france, and to breed gelousy and pyke betwene those twoo great Kinges wherof the defence and releef of those contries and religion mighte ensue & be contynewed./

Those of Dordrecht proceeded further with me, that the states generall would provide som persone, to succeed the Prince of Orenge to be President over them, and would appointe Comissioners of good qualitie to be sent also to your Majestie to reveale their estate further, and to submitt it intirely to your gracious disposition and order./

They were assured they said to preserve Lyllow, wherat it is reported that Mondragon should be slaine, they provided Barrow with vij Ensignes of footemen more, which place being a good frontier towardes Holland, had xj ensignes in it before, and ij Cornetts of horse./

They have an eye that no vitaile should be transported to the enemy being marched from Lyllow to Howghstrate ^wheruppon ^ There were men and provisions dispatched imediately ^to^ Husedon, to [Worskam] , and to Gertrude Bergh, to entertaine those passages, yf the enemie should attemp any thinge. They [fol. 111r] They were offended with St Aldegondes goverment at Antwerpe, that he had so ill provided to suffer foure fortes to be lost on flanders side which he (they saide) was author of the building of ^them^ but more specially offended, in that he had caused Herentalles in Brabant to be abandoned without necessitie, wherby the enemie is maister now over all the flatt contrie, and Machlin, Villford and Bruxells [ deleted: strayned] / strayttned. Gaunt they said had wine corne and salt for vj monethes, but that it could not be vitailled any more, unlesse the forte of Themis, which lyeth betwene Dermond and Gaunt uppon the ryver, were first conquered and possest.

The freeing of Gaunt would easely recover Bruges and Flannders againe, for why the whole contrey they said was eaten and consumed, and could not hold out if Gaunt were sure, And the campe of the enemies doe allso, susteine extreme necessitie, and dearth, ill paide and wursse victualled, a pownde of butter being at 23 stivers, and all other things dere according to the rate./

They have executed in Gaunt an advocate and certaine others, having also framed Arnbysens processe and passed it wherupon it is looked, that he and Rowland Yorke should be executed forthwith./

The assurance of their present state (till the same may be assisted by some Prince of power consistes in three speciall and instant pointes viz In opening of the passage to Gaunt, in prevaileng against Zutphen, where hitherto their campe (which they have mustred and paced) hath done good devoir, defeating the enemies and their convoies sondrie times, but the issue is doubtfull, if the enemies march thither with intire forces, Owr forces decayeng dayly and those which remaine ar but tatters, and men of lyke valew and discipline./ The .3. is to be assured of the Towne of Emdon, wherby Groining might be reduced to order, the K. of Spaine excluded from haven, and shipping there, and the navy which the Hollanders do entertaine in those partes, with great charge and small purpose, be revoked and better employed./

But if Gaunt be unsuccoured, the enemies ar maisters of all flanders withoute hope of recoverie, and then do transporte them selves with all diligence into Gelderland, Where ether defeating or reculing our Campe they shall have free passage even to Utreight gates, possessing every place behinde them by Revolte, for there is noe hope of releef to the Townes of Overissell and Gelders, yf they be once abandoned, And consequently the enemie will seeke an entrie into Holland, by force or division, A case most dangerous./

Lykewise the said enemies maie be masters of friseland, without an assurance had of Embdon, Wherin I hope in God to do some good office and advancement at my arrivall there, which wilbe within these 3 daies yf the winde change having som further instructions from Paull Buis, with whome to deale in those partes most surely, and whome to avoide. Beside that I presume (knowing what I now know) to finde the Erle Isarde tractable in reason, and that a good accorde may follow betwene the two brethren, by your majesties authoritie and gracious interposition, Wherof verie speedily I will advertise yow at large of all thinges.

[fol. 111v] Yf the enemie may be enterteined for these two monethes following from prevalieng at Zutphen, as they were at Lillow (which considering his necessitie and other difficulties that he is incountred with, may be well hoped for) Then assuredly, Right Gracious Soveraigne, he is barred from all meanes and practises, that he had prejected uppon the Princes deathe/ And the States are assured till the next spring by reason of the waters that wilbe risen about Zutphen, and else where: During which interim, the enemy will partly consume him self, the K of Spaine may die, though these be weake and no politike foundacons, other accidents may grow, and the states are to provide by Gods grace of further remedie abroad and at home: Towarde the which they have private wealth inough, and better resolucon now, than at any time heretofore; [ deleted: only] ^only^ wanting a sufficient head of power and wealthe to comaund/ them And as they say, melior non maior pars vincit Deo in vanto./

After that I had Right gracious Soveraigne understood this farre of the state of thinges at Dordrecht, where I was well used and respected for your Majesties sake, whose servant they knew me to be, I repaired to Paul Buis at Delft, that hath presently the cheef administracon among the states and to whose creditt and dexteritie they attribute the dispache of most things, Who withall is as devoted a servant of your majesties, as any may be, which he referres to the highest proof it may please yow to employ him in, and so desired me to assure your majestie./

He was most gladd of my coming that way towardes Embdon, and of your majesties gracious opinion continued towardes him, shewing me frankly in what termes they stood at home, what a losse they had of the Prince, how they intended after his funeralls, to choose the Count Morris his sonn their superintendent, for that they most have som forme of a head amongest them, and that the said Morris should have the tytle and state of the Principalitie of Orenge, and of the rest of the Princes segniories, invested in him, as by his fathers will was appointed, till it might be knowne what sholde becom of his sonn in spaine, Albeit the said will was nott fully absolved, at the death of the said Prince, in respecte rather of the manner, than of the matter, yet was it a perfect and sufficient Will, and agreed upon long before./

He shewed unto me the state of the enemy throughout the provinces, and of the negociation in france by Asseliers, Mullerie, and Charon, wherof he had no opinion at all of successe, nor any will [ Marginalia (by Herle): of his own part] but to please the P. in his life tyme, to conclude with the frenche, for the reasons and difficulties before alledged./

They had certaine other things in consultacon, amongst the states to determine of, which they were sworne not to reveale to any, but he protested that nothing should passe but to your lyking and surety, and the same to be altered and disposed, as should seme good to your highnesse owne authoritie, affirming to me sincerely that Holland and Zeland with the rest of the provinces, for the estimacon they had of Your highe vertue and temperancie, would yelde them selves absolutely to your majestie and crowne [fol. 112r] and crowne for ever, or to none other, their liberties only reserved, wherof yow should have immediate possession, without reservacon of place or privilege and the meanes should be suche proceding from them, as your majestie might defend your interest therin with facilitie against the whole worlde, Or if it might please yow rather to deale with them by way of contraite, they were redie to obey yow in ether, and would under som pretence send persones of gravitie and good zeale, to treate with your majestie herein./

He herewith described unto me a platt, which those of Brabant had proposed to the states generall, for the having of an Army of xvC footmen and [ Marginalia (by Burghley): [pykes] 5000.] vjC horse, in the feild, with the which they should be hable to expulse the enemie, and to reconquer their townes and contrie lost, within three monethes following, the state and forme of things considered as they are, Of which army they reckoned to have vC English footemen and vC horse, for whose wages they would be humble suters to your Majestie to disburse the same to a Treasurer of your owne, that might distribute it monthly, to the English souldiors And your majestie should have delivered into your possession the Sluce and Ostend; as pledges, till yow were fully satsfied of the sayd summ, and of all other due unto yow by the states before, as also the garisons of these two places to be allowed at their charges.

The proposition caryed further, that D.Cassimirus had promised to bring two M horse, paid for his service, and was content to receve the contrey of Limberg and the towne of Mastricht when they were freed from the enemies, in pawne, [ deleted: of that] as well of that he should now disbursse [ ... ] ^of that he^ had disburssed alredie./

Touching the rest of the charges of the warres those of Antwerpe and Brabant offered to supply in redy mony iij C M [crowns] remitting to the other provinces their ratable portions, but this course seemed to be lame in many partes and St Allgond with Villiers and Ryhover; have greatly (though in vayne) urged them to rely upon the frenche and none other./ Paull Buis semed offended with one Grise greate Bailie late of Bruges and now is in England, that trustes him self in, to deale and intermedle in the affaires of the low contrey unadvowed, of whome he would gladly that knowlege were taken./

The said Buis is half of opinion that if the nobilitie of the low contrey were now sonnded by a thirde meane (the Prince being dead whome they envyed) some notable alteracon might follow, wherof the Erle of Howhstrate made an offer of conference to St Alldgond but that savored more of perill than suerty, and it wilbe ever suspicious trusting of them, unlesse they being in good ernest, to use the advantages they have in expulsing the spaniardes the contrey quite/

At Delft Right Gracious Soveraigne there is an other most faithfull servante of your majesties Meckerk president of flanders a man of lerning and sinceritie, who was in Comission with the Marquesse of Havory in England, he is seconde in reputation here for his wisedome, and not leste in zeale towardes your majestie and so doth he humbly comend his dutie and service to yow ever Buis [fol. 112v] Buis and he have one speciall care in all practizes that are discovered to examine how nere any thing may concerne your persone and kingdome wherof they will advertise as matter shall fall out in importaunce. They tolde me both that the Prince of Orenge had not in redy mony at his deathe, a hundred gildernes in store, which was a note of his popularitie./

His papers, and memorialls, Count Moris hath seazed, but he was prevented (as is presumed) by Villiers of the best of them:

And this is the sum Right Gracious Soveraigne, of that which passed betwene Paul Buis and me at Delft, towching whome and the premises or touching the state of the low contreyes yf it may please your majestie to directe me any thing further, when I am at ^Embden^ I will make my returne by Holland into England to obey that yow shall comaunde, humbly assuring your majestie that Paul Buis will attend with great devotion to here by me, how graciously yow take his service in these partes, and what particularly yow be pleased to use him in./

The reverent respect is great that is born to your majestie throughout these contries, and I having the creditt to be your majesties pore servant (though nott addressed to them) was with singular curtesie defrayed my charges at Delft, provided with free wagon hither, which for good dutie I could not omitt to signifie unto your majestie./

The Count Moris with whome I was, Right Gracious Soveraigne, is a gentleman of the age of xvij yeres, one of great towardnes, good presence and courage, flaxen heard, indued with a singular witt and no lesse lerned for his tyme,/ he holdes nothing of the frenche nor estemes them, but somwhat resembles the countenance and spirite of his graundfather of the mothers syde, Morris. He humbly desired me to signefie unto your majestie that he had in his mynde and determinacon, faithfully vowed his service to your majestie which should be continued in his actions with all dutie, and sealed with his blood, for he knew how much his father and the cause was beholding ever to your high goodnes./

I visited the Princesse of Orenge by her owne request, whome I found in a most darke litle melancholick chamber, which was a twise sorowfull sight to behold her heavines and apparaill, augmented by the dolefullnes of the place, and truely the perplexitie was greate that I found her in, not only for the consideracon of thinges past, but for that which might follow hereafter; her afflictions having bin great. She was accompanied with the Princesse of Cymai, who was newly com to Delft, and no lesse dolorous in an other degree than shew, But truly a vertuous and wise lady, whatsoever (under correction) hath otherwise bin interpreted of her. The Countesse of Swartenburgh the princes sister was there likwise, with the number of the Princes doughters, and they all with a most tender affection recommended their service unto your majestie, as to a Lady of all ladies, But especially the two Princesses in most humble and wise sorte, expressed a ceraine fervent devotion towardes your majestie/ The Princesse of Orenge complained somwhat of the undkindenes of the people, and [ Marginalia (by Burghley): flushing ] is to repaire after some time to Flushing to the new palace built there for the [fol. 113r] for the marqueshipp of Vere and certaine landes purchased in france is assigned to be her dowrye./

The Archbishopp of Colein after many grave and sincere wordes had of your majesties vertue, caling yow La fille unique de Dieu, & la bein heureuse Princesse desired of God that he might do yow service as yow merited./ He told me that the Prince of Orenge had acquainted him with a practise of the K. of Spaines, which was an offer made to the King of Navarrne of 400000 [crowns] in redy mony and a CM [crowns] monthly yf he would make warres with the frenche K wherunto I answered, that I thought it don with a Spanish mynde, and conning to draw the King of Naverne as Sebastian of Portingall was, to his ruine and losse of lief and Kingdome, and by this meane to destroy also the religion and churches in france./

The said Archbishoppe hath lost all his state, saving two townes Bergh and Uldernich, and his coming into these partes (wherunto he was drawne by the Prince of Orenge to serve the said Princes torne, and to save Gelderland by his forces, bringing him further to rely upon france hath alienated the princes of Germanie wholly from him, except it be Casimecus, yet the Bavarian his adversarie is not admited, and allowed by the Electors to the state of Colein, but is in som sorte distressed for lack of mony, the principall sinewe of the warres, and therupon his power is scattered and mutyned, and him self left with fewer./

Seguris could litle prevaile, on the behalf of the said Archbishopp with the Princes of Germanie for the reasons before alledged, a [nd o] thers of more pregnancie, notwithstanding that gage which he left in deposite at Breme. The said Seguris is now at Heidelburgh.

At this diett of Rotenburgh by the faction thatt the Emperor sent thither the intents of the protestants cam to no purpose, nor there is any better hope, that the good fundacon that the late Palatine layed to have bin proceeded on at Mullhowson can take anie other ^yssue^ The Princes do attend so to their particular pleasures and respects, leaving the care of the generall aside./

The Erle of Hollock was at the Hage to attend the tyme of the Princes [ Marginalia (by Burghley): Mewrs ] funeralls, who cannot well agree at the Camp with the Erle of Mewis but he semes to be reformed in sondrie things yf it hold, and desires humbly to be knowne for one, that will obey the comandement of your majestie, more than of any erthly Prince living besyde./

I doe herewith send unto your majestie a booke in figures colowred, of that which hath lively passed hitherto betwene the Archbishoppe. Truchses and the Bavarian of late./

I do beseche your majestie ^herewith^ in most lowly wise, even by the true duty and zeale that I do sincerely beare unto your service and state, that ye will vouchsave to pardon the length and tediousnes of this my rude writing, wherin I confesse my falt to have exceeded muche, the proportion and limittes of a lre [fol. 113v] of a lre to a Quene my Soveraigne, trobling your sacred eares and eies to farr. But these be my simple collections and observations made for my memorie by the way, written at sondrie tymes, as may appere by their coherencie, which when I had considered of, I thought not fitt to judge of them my self, ne yet to diminishe anie parte of the contentes, but to send them intyer (though prolix) to your self, to draw out what were fitt for your majesties service which your majestie may censure graciously, according to your accustomed clemency, and to my symple and lowly intention therin./

God the giver of all goodnes preserve and mainteine your Royall persone and State, and give yow the accomplishment of your high and vertuous desires. Amsterdam, staieng for a winde the xxij ^t^ of July./ Stilo antiquo/ Your majesties most humble devoted pore servante. W. Herllely.