178 LETTERS FROM THE RESUSCITATIO. 



give law to all the world by sea without her charge. Be 

 sides, this fearful enemy which is now a terror to all Chris 

 tendom, should be so weakened in strength, reputation, and 

 purse, as her majesty should forever after have an easy enemy 

 of him. It may be your lordships will desire to know the 

 place that should be attempted ; the means, first to take it, 

 then to hold it ; the commodity or advantage that might 

 grow to this estate by it, but that with your lordships leave 

 shall be reserved till my next. This is only to beseech you 

 for our dear sovereign s sake, for the glory and welfare of 

 her, and her estate, that you will think upon this general 

 proposition ; and if your lordships find it reasonable, that 

 you will move it to the queen ; by whom if I be commanded 

 to set down the hypothesis, or to descend unto particulars, I 

 will offer my project with this condition, that if I advise any 

 thing that the council of war shall think dangerous it may be 

 rejected ; or if myself be actor in any thing belonging to this 

 project, wherein her majesty receives dishonour, that I may 

 answer it with my life. And yet your lordships know I am 

 matched with those in whom I have no particular interest ; 

 but I must attribute their assenting to me to my good hap, 

 to take the better part. In my lord with whom I am joined 

 I find so much honour and service as I doubt not but our 

 unity in affection will make an unity in council, action, and 

 government. I have troubled your lordships with a tedious 

 letter, begun in a day of leisure, and finished in the midst of 

 our troublesome business. I pray your lordships pardon the 

 errors in it, and keep so honourable an opinion of me as I be 

 not condemned by you upon any complaints, advertisements, 

 or reports, till I have given answer to them. For as the 

 nature of my place is subject to envy and detraction, so a 

 little body full of sharp humours is hardest kept in temper; 

 and all the discontented humours of an army do make their 

 greatest quarrel to him that commands the army, not so 



