Beinecke MS 563
England, 1588
Sir Francis Drake, Letter signed to the Earl of Essex, Plymouth, 16 Febr. 1587-8

Right Honourable, this gentleman captayne Hart is so desirous to returne to your Lordship as I 
[wrote]  you touchinge our busynes ... Written at Plymouth this 16th of February 1587. Your 
good Lordship who will honour you, pray for you and alwayes  love you, Francis Drake.

[Post-script:] The imployment of Your Lordship's crownes and myne shal be in victualls, powder, 
small municion, sp[ades], shovelles ... God hath much trew honor to ** Your Lordship, for it is 
he that hath given you this true magnanimitie.

[On verso:] Sir Fr. Drake

Letter by the famous seaman Francis Drake (c. 1540-1596) to the young Robert Devereux, 2nd 
Earl of Essex (1566-1601), favourite of Queen Elizabeth, concerning a common plan for a raid 
against Spanish shipping. About Drake, see Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, v. 16 
(Oxford, 2004), pp. 858-870.


Paper, f. 1, 340 x 240 mm.

Written in Gothica Cursiva Currens (Secretary), the signature only in Drake's hand.

A. Huth Collection. Tudor Exhibition in London 1889-1890, reg. no. 71. Henry C. Taylor 
Collection. Bequest of Henry C. Taylor, 1971.

Bibliography: Taylor Collection, no. 8.

Albert Derolez

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