4 o6 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 55. confidence which, we place in him, we trust he will ap- prove of my own marriage with the Queen of Scots. Half the realm desires it as well as I. We bind our- selves to renew the league between England and Spain, and to restore, as we should have long ago done but for the late troubles, all the property of the King which is detained in this country. His Majesty will find us ready to do our own parts. The nobles and the people promise to take arms with myself at their head, and to adventure themselves in battle ; yet, being im- perfectly provided, we cannot do all of ourselves. We ask his Majesty for money, arms, ammunition, troops, and especially for some experienced soldier to lead us ; l we on our part providing a place upon the coast where his army can land, entrench itself, and keep its stores. ' We can ourselves on the spot provide 20,000 foot and 3000 horse ; besides those many others who have pledged themselves afterwards to take the field upon our side. ' In my own opinion, the most convenient port will be Harwich, where I can myself be present with the forces of the country. If Portsmouth be thought better, I will be there in strength enough, for a time at least, to hold in check the Queen of England's army. From his Majesty and his Holiness we ask for 6000 harquebuss-men, with 4000 additional harquebusses to 1 ' Sc digne assistcr nos lo mas pronto que pudiese, assi con dincros como con el numcro de gente, arm as y rauniciones, y principalmente con un personage de experiencia para guiar un exercito.'
