God's work. I think a wise and constant man ought never to grieve while he doth play, as a man may say, his own part truly, though others be out; but if himself leave his hold because other mariners will be idle, he will hardly forgive himself his own fault. For me, I cannot promise of my own course, no, not of the ..... because I know there is a higher power that must uphold me, or else I shall fall; but certainly I trust I shall not by other men's wants be drawn from myself; therefore, good sir, to whom for my particular I am more bound than to all men besides, be not troubled with my troubles, for I have seen the worst, in my judgment, beforehand, and worse than that cannot be.

If the Queen pay not her soldiers she must lose her garrisons; there is no doubt thereof; but no man living shall be able to say the fault is in me. What relief I can do them, I will. I will spare no danger, if occasion serves. I am sure no creature shall be able to lay injustice to my charge; and, for farther doubts, truly I stand not upon them. I have written by Adams to the council plainly, and therefore let them determine. It hath been a costly beginning unto me this war, by reason I had nothing proportioned unto it; my servants unexperienced, and myself every way unfurnished; but hereafter, if the war continue, I shall pass much better through with it. For Bergen up Zome, I delighted in it, I confess, because it was near the enemy: but especially having a very fair house in it, and an excellent air, I destined it for my wife; but, finding how you deal there, and that ill payment in my absence thence might bring forth some mischief, and considering how apt the Queen is to interpret everything to my disadvantage, I have resigned it to my Lord Willoughby, my very

friend, and indeed a valiant and frank gentleman, and fit for that place; therefore I pray you know that so much of my regality is fallen.

I understand I am called very ambitious and proud at home, but certainly if they knew my heart they would not altogether so judge me. I wrote to you a letter by Will, my Lord of Leicester's jesting player, enclosed in a letter to my wife, and I never had answer thereof. It contained something to my Lord of Leicester, and counsel that some way might be taken to stay my lady there. I, since, divers times have writ to know whether you had received them, but you never answered me that point. I since find that the knave delivered the letters. to my Lady of Leicester, but whether she sent them you or no I know not, but earnestly desire to do, because I doubt there is more interpreted thereof. Mr. Erington is with me at Flushing, and therefore I think myself at the more rest, having a man of his reputation; but I assure you, sir, in good earnest, I find Burlas another manner of man than he is taken for, or I expected. I would to God, Burne had obtained his suit. He is earnest, but somewhat discomposed with consideration of his estate. Turner is good for nothing, and worst for the sound of the hackbutes. We shall have a sore war upon us this summer, wherein if appointment had been kept, and these disgraces forborne, which have greatly weakened us, we had been victorious. I can say no more at this time, but pray for your long and happy life. At Utrecht, this 24th of March, 1586.

Your humble son,

PHILIP SYDNEY.

I know not what to say to my wife's coming till you resolve better; for if you run a strange course, I may

take such a one here as will not be fit for any of the feminine gender. I pray you make much of Nichol. Gery. I have been vilely deceived for armours for horsemen; if you could speedily spare me any out of your armory, I will send them you back as soon as my own be finished. There was never so good a father found a more troublesome son. Send Sir William Pelham, good sir, and let him have Clerke's place, for we need no clerks, and it is most necessary to have such a one in the council.

LETTERS

OF

SIR PHILIP SYDNEY, KNIGHT.

From the unpublished originals in the British Museum.

LETTER I.

FROM THE COTTONIAN MS. GALBA, B. XI. F. 370.

N. B. The edges of this volume are so burnt, that some whole words at the ends of the lines are lost. These we have endeavoured occasionally to supply within brackets.

To the Right honorable and my singular vnkle, the earle of [Leicester.]

RIGHTE HONORABLE

AND MY SINGULAR GOOD LORDE AND VNCLE,

Allthoughe I haue at this presente . . little matter worthy the writinge vnto your Lordeshippe, yet beinge newlie returned frome my poll[ish] iournei, I woolde not omitt anie ocasion of humbly perfoorminge this dutie. Wherefore I hum[bly] beseeche your L. to take these few lines in good parte, Whiche I wryte rather to continew this [duty] I ow vnto yow, then for any other thinge they may conteine in them. The Emperour* as I wrate.. laste vnto your L. hathe these two yeeres continuallie pretended a iourney to Prage, wh[ich] it is

* Maximilian the Second of Hungary.

thoughte shall in deede be perfoormed, to the greate contentacion of that kingedome, wh[ich] otherwise seemed to bende to disobedience. There it is thought his son shall very shortlie be [elected] kinge, whome likewise the Emperour seekes by all meanes possible to aduance to the kinged[om] of the Romaines, and for that purpose desyres to call an imperiall diett in Francfort, the [place] appointed for the elections, but it is thoughte the Electours will rather choose an other. . for this nexte ensuinge diett whiche is saide shall be sommer followinge at the furthest,] and then there is no hope of election. Not beinge at Francfort, it is likely it shal [be held] at Regenspurg, where I beleue the Emperour will demaunde fur greater summes of mo[ney] then will be grawnted unto him. Thoughe the peace betwixte the Turke and him [is not] as yet, as fur as it is knowne, perfittlie concluded, yet it is thoughte the Turke will rath[er] proceede by sea then this waie, and as the Frenche ambassadour hathe writtne, meane ... insite the Pope's territorie, perchaunce his conscience moueth him, to seeke the benefitt of.... Jubile. I hope as the Spanierdes allreddy begin to speake lower, so the Pope's holiness will haue lesse leasure to ministre suche wicked and detestable counceills to the chris[tian] princes as hetherto he dothe. Owt of Frawnce yowr L. hathe the aduertisements fu . . . . the Prince of Conde is retired to Basill where he liuethe in companie withe the Adr. children, beinge frustrate of a greate hope he had conceaued of suckowr owt of Jerma[ny] wherein many and wise men do impute greate faulte to the prince Casimire, the Cow[nt] Palatines seconde son, in so muche that to write to yowr L. plainely, he is heauilie sus[pected] to be corrupted by the frenche. His father

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