SIR,
ALthough the bearer hereof, Mr. Norris, your Son, is well able to satisfie you of all our Occurrents here, both because of his con∣tinual attendance about the Court, and for his understanding; yet in one onely thing I am most fit to inform you; That his stay here of long time hath been principally by my occasion, whom I have at all times, of late, when he hath desired to come over unto you, moved to stay, upon expectation to have some matter of more weight to be by him im∣parted unto you; but finding the same not so to fall out, and perceiv∣ing him the more importune to resort unto you, since the repair of Harcourte, by whom he understood of your sickness, I have thought it good no longer to defer him; and therefore without any other great matter, but to send him where he would be, he now cometh; and if I should enter into writing of any particular things here past; he is as well able to express the same, of his own knowledge, as I am by writing; and therefore you shall justly hold me excused, if I forbear my writ∣ing, having so sufficient a person to make report of all things, as well such as are meet for letters, as also not meet, for some respects. Of the matters of Ireland, he shall make you full report. Of Scotland he can do the like; of our Trade to Hamburgh, he is not ignorant; of the matters betwixt us and France for Arrests of Merchandizes, I have made him Privy; and for the matters in this Court, he hath seen and un∣derstands as much thereof as I doubt not but shall satisfie; so as he shall serve you at this time in stead of many long letters: And so I end, with a good hope that he shall finde you well amended; whereof I shall also be glad to hear, wishing that the same might be joyned with the win∣ning of Poictiers, of which we here live, on all sides, in no small expectati∣on, though with sundry meanings.
Your assured friend at command, W. Cecil.
Southampton, 9. Sept. 1569.