[Extract from a letter to Sir Robert Cecil]

"Men say that the king of Spain is making great preparation to come for England this next summer, where if it pleased your honor to advise me I would most willingly lose my life against them, most humbly beseeching your honor to pardon my ill writing... and to think that I desire to serve my country, and hope to hear of your good opinion of me

From Nuremberg, this tenth of November 1595

Your honor's most bounden forever

John Dowland"