By the Rev. Canon J. E. Jackson, F.S.A. 



35 



humble to sencle these few woordes unto yowr Lordeshippe, thoughe my wrytynge 

 at this prescnte unto yow by an Englisshe gentleman that dothe now returne, 

 take away any other cause of enlarginge the same. This bearer hathe promised 

 me to k'tt no man see that whiche he cariethe untill he have showed them unto 

 yowr Lordeshipp, If they may seeme unto yowr Lordeshippe unworthie of 

 whiche I shoolde wryte unto yow, I do most humblie beseche yow to con- 

 demne therein nothinge but my ignoraunce, whiche bendinge it selfe wholie 

 to content yow, if it do erre, I hope yowr goodness will sufEer the dutiful! mynde, 

 to recompenca the wante of judgemcnte, whiche beinge all that I have at this tyme 

 to trooble yow witheall, I will most lowlie committ yow to the eternalls protection. 

 Frome Francforde this 18"> of Marche A" 1572. 



"Yowr moste humble and moste 

 " obediente nei^hew 

 Addressed: "Philip Sidney." 



" To the ryghte honorable and my 



singular unkle, the Earle of Lecestre " 



1573, March 23rd. The samr to the same, prom Frankfort. 



" There being nothinge of whiche j am so desyi-ouse (ryghte honorable and my 

 singular good Lorde and unkle) as to have continuall and certaine knowledge 

 what your pleasure is by whiche I may governe my little actions. I can not be 

 withcout some grief, that neder since I came into Jermanie I coold by anie 

 meanes understande it. Wherefore I have moste humblie to beseche your 

 Lordeshippe that if in any of my proceedings I have erred you will vouchesafe 

 to impute yt to the not knowinge youre Lordshippes and their pleasure, by whose 

 commaundemente I am lykewyse to be directed. I was uppon Thursdaie laste 

 withe Count Lodowick the prince of Oranges seconde brother, whose honorable 

 usage was suche towardes me, and suche goodwill he seemes to beare unto your 

 Loi^eshippe, that for wante of f urdre habilitie, I can but wishe him a prosperouse 

 success to suche noble entreprises as I dowte not he will shoiieley (w'"^ the helpe 

 of God) put in execution. I founde one Shambourg an AUmaine vrithe him, a 

 gentleman whom I knew in y' courte of Fraunce, allways very affectionnate to 

 the Kinge's service. I dowte not but that he assaiethe to draw the Cownte to 

 serve the Kinge, but I hope he laboureth in vaine. All mens eys are so bente to 

 the affaires of Fraunce and Flaundres that there is no talke here of any other 

 contrey. I have an humble requeste unto your Lordship which is that it will 

 please you to thanke Maister Culverwell the bearer hereof, for the coui-toisie he 

 showed unto me, in employinge his creditt for me, being drivne into some 

 necessitie. Thus craving pardon for the contine\^nce of my wonted manner in 

 valnely trobling your L. I will moste lowlie leave you in his garde who ever 

 preserve you. Frome Francfort this 23"' of Marche, 1572 



" Your most humble and most obedient nephew 

 Address: "Philip Sidney." 



" To The moste honorable and my 

 very good Loi-de and unkle 

 The Earl of Lelcestre, etc." 



D 2 



