Wiltshire Preparations against the Spanish Armada. 243 



Mr. Androwes the Shereff of Northamp-sheere I sent to bring her 

 doione to execution, and so I charged him with her both lyvinge and 

 with her dead corpes.' 3 



VIII. — Wiltshire Preparations against the Spanish Armada, 

 A.D. 1588. 



1. The Queen to the Lord Lieutenant of Co. Wilts. 18 June, 1588. 



' ' By the Quene. 



ELIZABETH. R. 



Righte Trustie and righte well beloved cozen wee greete you well. Whereas 

 heretofore uppon the advertisements from tyme to tyme from sundrye places of 

 the great preparacions of forreyne forces with a full intencion to invade this our 

 Realm and other our Dominions, wee gave our directions unto you for the pre- 

 paringe of our subjects within your Lieutenancye to be in a readinesse and de- 

 fence againste any attempte that mighte be made againste us and our Realme, 

 which directions wee find so well performed as wee cannot but receave great 

 contentmente thereby, bothe in respecte of your carefull proceedings therein, 

 and allso of the greate willingnesse of our people in generall to the accomplish- 

 ment of that whereunto they are required, shewing thereby theire greate love 

 and loyaltie towards us which as wee accepte most thankfully at their hands, 

 acknowledginge ourselves infinitely bounde to Allmightie God, in that it hath 

 pleased Him to blesse us with so dutifull and lovinge subjects, so woulde wee 

 have you make it knowne unto them. Forasmuch as we finde the same in- 

 tencion not only of invasion, but of making a conquest allso of this our Realme, 

 now constantly more and more detected and confirmed, as a matter fully re- 

 solved on (beinge allreadie an army putt to the seas for that purpose) allthough 

 we doute not but by God's goodness the same shall prove frustrate, we have 

 therefore thoughte meete to will and require you forthwith with as moche con- 

 veniente speade as you maye to call togeather at som convenyante plaee, or 

 plaoes, the beste sorte of gentellmen under your Lieutenancye, and to declare 

 unto them, that considering thies great preparations and threatenings now burste 

 out in action uppon the seas, tending to a purposed conquest e, wherein every 

 man's particular estate in the highest degree is to be touched, in respecte of 

 Countrey, liberty, wife, Children, lands, life and (that which is especially to be 

 regarded) for the profession of the true and syncere religion, of Christe, wee do 

 looke that the moste parte of them shall have (uppon this instaunte extraor- 

 dinarie occasione) a larger proportione of furniture both for horsemen and foot- 

 men (but especially horsemen) then hath bin certified, thereby to be in theire 

 best strength against any attempt whatsoever, and to be ymployed both about 

 our owne person, and otherwise as they shall have knowledge gy ven unto them. 

 The number of which larger proportione, as soon as you shall knowe, wee re- 

 quire you to signify unto our Pryvy Counselle. And thereonto as we doute not 

 but by your good endeavours they will be the rather conformable : so allso woo 

 assure ourselves that Allmightie God will so blesse these her loyall harts borne 

 towardes us their lovinge Sovereign and their natural], countrey, that all tho 

 attempts of any enemys whatsoever shall be made voyd and frustrate to their 

 confusion, your comforte, and God's high glory. 



