To the ryght honorable my
very good frend Sir Francys
Walsingham knyght her majestys
prencypall secretarye./
1584
6 April
The Countesse of
Shrewsbury.
Syr to vnfould my strange meserys shall but troble you so well
knowing them, to tell you her majestys gracyus words frome
tyme to tyme shalbe also nedeles, nether to declare the
fassyon or cause of our delays or to remembar how by
Letters from her selfe and others I was promysed defence
from all opressyon what saruyce I haue done how
absolutly without feare proceded multettuds can Iudge
for many eyes behoulds me but yf my harte had not
ben parfyete as becomes me thys trauell had not nead
I could haue made my owne peace./ now my desyre
ys being no Longar able to hould thys course that I
may know what her magjesty ys detarmened in thys
case and that yt wyll please you to bynde me so
much more as to be a meanes to [p]urchas Lysence of
her magjesty for my sonnes to seke ther Leueings in some
other place and that only ther deets may be
prouided for which the Lande wyll hardly doe in
my lord's Lyffe and myne for synce they may not
peacable inioy ther owne necessetye makes me
sue for that which heretofore I would haue hendared
by all means, and ther banyshment I trust wyll
pacyefye hys indygnatyon, for my selfe I shall
fynde some frend for meate and drenke and so
end my Lyffe, Sir I beseeche you be earnest for
vs and so I take my Leaue./ thys monday./
your dystresed dessolat frend./
EShrouesbury