'Albeit ye shall be sufficiently with your Collegys, by such instructions as be given to Monk Vincent, informed of the King's minde and mine, concerning my advancement unto the dignity papelle, 'Not dowtting but that for the singular devotion which ye bere towards the Kinge and his affaires, both generall and particular, and perfyte love which ye have towards me, ye will omitt nothing that may be _excogitat_ to serve and to conduce to that purpose, 'Yet I thought convenient, for the more fervent expression of mine in that behalf, to wryte to you, as to the person whom I most entirely do trust. And by whome this thing shall be most Rightly set forth these few wordys followyng of mine own hande. 'I dowt not but ye do profoundely consider as well the state wherein the Church and all _C'tendome_ doth stand now presently, as also the state of the Realme, and of the King's secret Matter, which if it shoulde be brought to passe, by any other Meanyes than by the Authority of the Church, I accounte this Prince and realme utterly undone. 'Wherefor that is expedient to have such one to be _Pope and Commyn Father to all Princes_, as may, can, and wold geve remedy to the premises. 'And albeit I accompt myself much ounabill, and that shall be now incommodious in mine old age to be the said Commyn Father yet when all things be well ponderyd, and the qualitys of all the Cardinalls well considered, _absit verbum jactantiœ_, ther shall be none found that can and will sett remedy in the forsaid things, but only the Cardinall Ebor; whos good will and holi ys not to you of all men unknowne. 'And were it not for the re-integration of the state of the Churche and See Apostolique, to the prestine dygnite, and for the conducinge of peace amongst C'tian princes, and especially to relieve this prince and realme from the calamities that the same be now in, all the riches or honor of the world should not cause me--_nedum aspirare sed ne consentire_--to accept the seid dignite, and altho' the same with all Commodytes were offeryed unto me. 'Neverthelesse, conforming myself to the necessity of the time and the will and pleasure of these two princes, I am content to appone all my witt and study, and to set forth all meanys and ways, _et bene faciam rebus C'tianitatis_, for the atteyning of the said dignite. 'For the atcheving and atteyning whereof for as muche as thereupon dependeth the health and wealth, not only of these two princes and their realms, _but all C'tendome_, nothing is to be omitted that may conduce to the said end and purpose. 'Wherfore, Mr. Stevins, since now ye be so plainly advertised of my mind and intent, I shall pray you to extend, Omnes nervos ingenij tui, ut ista res, ad effectum perduci possit, nullis parcendo sumptibus, pollicitationibus sive laboribus, ita ut horum viris in genia, et affectiones sive ad privata sive ad publica ita accomodes actiones tuas.