Sir Edward Cecil to the Duke.
May it please your Excellency,
THis Gentleman Sir George Blundel hath now cleerly quitted the service of the States, for this especial reason (as he assures me) to be the more absolutely imployed in your Excellencies service. This I know, his friends here that love him (which are many) are very sorrie to part with him, for there is no melancholy where he goes. And therefore considering the condition of this place, we shall be great losers, being upon a melancholy place, and service, ill payed, sick of all diseases in the world, in a place that is next neighbour to hell, if the book printed say true, which saith, that the Low-Countrie∣men are next neighbours to the devil. And I am sure, we are now seated lower then any part of these Countries; for the waters are above us, and about us, and we live in more fear of them, then of the enemy; for we may be drowned at an hours warning, if we do not continually work against it, and yet, and it shall please your Excellen∣cie, this is the Seat for a Winter War. Many more inconveniencies we are daily sensible of, of which I have endured so much, as I dare say without vanitie, that few of my rank and fortune have suffered more, or longer then I have done in these Countries; having ser∣ved these 27. years together without intermission; and all this for no other end (for I am 900 l. a year the worse for the Wars) then to make me able to serve my Prince and Countrie when occasion should be offered.
But since the time is come, that opinion doth so govern, as stran∣gers get the Command, and new Souldiers imployed, which was ne∣ver heard of before amongst men of our occupation, It is high time for me to retire, and wish I had been of any other profession then this. For if long service can get no honour, nor reward, nor im∣ployment, but the contrary; it would touch a mans discretion to be Page 130more and more unfortunate: All my comfort is, that I shall have the honour and good fortune in my retreat, to draw neerer to your Ex∣cellencies service, if not in my profession, (which I desire above all) yet in something whereof your Excellencie may make use of me. For I am ambitious of nothing more, then to prove my self by action, and not by recommendation,
Your Excellencies most faithful devoted, and humble servant, Ed. Cecyl.
From our Army at Wallike the 4thof Decemb.
