Mr. Edward Clark to the Duke.
May it please your Grace,
I Have been hitherto very unfit (by reason of my sicknesse) to give your Lordship any account of my time at Madrid. So that with∣out your Lordships favourable construction, I may be thought forgetful of the trust committed to my charge, and the rather, in that as yet your Lordship hath only heard what I have done, but not why. I presume I have faithfullie followed the Princes directi∣on, and on such probable inducements, as will I hope both in your Highnesses and your Lordships opinion plead my excuse at least. The verie day the Prince arrived at St. Anderas, my Lord of Bristol, see∣ing me verie weak, told me he was verie sorrie, I was not able to per∣form the journie for England, for that now there was an extraordina∣ry occasion of a dispatch, not only in respect of the ratification come the night before; but because also they were almost come to a fi∣nal conclusion of all articles, which were to be engrossed, and sign∣ed the next day. Hereupon I was inquisitive to know what assu∣rance he had the Ratification was come: He answered, that, that verie day, he had been summoned to attend the Junto, and that there they had earnestlie pressed him, that the Articles might be speedilie drawn up, and signed, since they had now received full warrant to authorize them to proceed; And that the next day was appointed accordingly. Thereupon unwilling to omit the present opportunitie, conceiving withal the purpose of the Princes Letter to be, either to expresse his Highnesse further pleasure before the meeting of the Junto, or to prevent the concluding of some other particular Article they might otherwise fall upon: I delivered his Letter to his Lordship (pretending it came to my hands amongst other Let∣ters that same day) I found him exceedinglie troubled in reading it, nor did he forbear to tell me, it must for a time be concealed; for he