28 MUSTER FOR SPANISH INVASION. 



great contentmente thereby, both in respecte of your careful! 

 proceedinge therein ; and also of the greate willingnes of our 

 people in generall to the accomplishment of that wherevnto they 

 were required ; shewinge therby their great love and loyaltie 

 towardes vs ; w''"' as wee accepte most thanckfullye at their hands, 

 acknowledging our selves infinitely bounde to almightie god in 

 that it hath pleased him to blesse vs with so louinge and dutifuU 

 subiects, so wee woulde haue youe make it knowne vnto them : 

 fforasmuche as wee finde the same Intention not onlye of invad- 

 inge but of making a Conqueste alsoe of this our Realme, nowe 

 constantly more & more detected & confirmed, as a matter fullye 

 resolued on, an armie allreadie beinge put to the Seas for that 

 purpose, althoughe we doubt not but by gods goodnes the same 

 shall prove frustrate ; wee haue therfore thought meet to will and 

 require yo" forthwith with as nmche conveniente speed as yo" 

 may, to call together at som convenient place or places, the beste 

 sorte of gentlemen vnder yo' Lieutenancie ; and to declare vnto 

 them, that, consideringe those great preparacions and threatnings 

 nowe burste out in accon vpon the seas, tendinge to a purposed 

 Conquest, wherein everie manes particular estate is in the highest 

 degree to be touched in respecte of Contrie, Libertie, Wife, 

 Children, Lands, Lyfe, and that w'^'' is specially to bee regarded 

 for the profession of the true & sincere Religion of Christ, wee 

 doe looke that the most parte of them should haue, vpon this 

 instante extraordinarie occasion, a larger proportion of furniture 

 both for horsemen and footemen (but specially horsemen) then 

 hath been certified ; therby to be in their best strenthe againste 

 any attempte whatsoever, & to be employed both about our owne 

 person and otherwise as they shall haue Knowledge given them. 

 The nomber of whiche larger proportion, as soone as yo" shall 

 knowe, wee require you to signefie to the rest of our privie 

 Councell. And herevnto as wee doubt not but by yo' good 

 endevo' they wilbe the rather coformable ; so also we assure 

 o'self, that Almightie god will so blesse those their loyall harts 

 borne towards vs their lovinge Soveraigne, & their naturall 



