Letter From Sir Humfrey Gilbert to Sir Francis Walsingham, 1578 1

S^r, As in my former letters I advertised yo^r hono^r by what strange accident Mr Knoles left the service he undertook w^th me before her Ma^tie, moved by such trifles as (under yo^r hono^rs correction) were meter to brake amitie among childeren then men. So bycause I do waye in equall balance w^th life yo^r hono^rs good opinion of me, I thought it good to send yo^r hono^r this certifycat, under the Maiors hand of Plymouth, and others of her Ma^tles servants and captaynes who were present when I publicly desired Mr Knoles to declare all the causes that moved hym to mislike. All w^ch he did or could allege are particularly set downe in the said certifycat, comitting myself upon the sight thereof to be judged, as the thynge itself shal gyve cause. But truly I can gesse noe other but that his pretence was to brake from the bygynninge, and ranne this course thereby to have color to arme to sea. And there w^th all either to learne my enterprise and so to undertake the discovery of hymself, as one moved thereunto through ambicion and disdayn, either els to runne some shorter course, w^ch I wishe to prove mete for his callinge.