LETTERS OF FATHER PERSONS, S.J.
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Dio lo faccia a gloria sua , et compensi largamente in cielo la grande benignitàet munificentia di Sua Aa et la charità segnalata di V. S. verso la Natione. Tutte l'altre cose rimetto alla rilatione delli stessi padri, particolarmente quanto grande et ardente desiderio Cardinale ha di trovarsi con Sua Aa per servirle in tutta la vita ilsua, il che se V.S. l'aiuterà a procurar che sia presto , sarà il più grato ufficio de tutti l'altri che se gli potranno fare. Ne mi resta altro a dire, se non di supplicar a V.S. di far humillissma riverenza da parte mia a Sua Aa con la prima commodità come , anco di raccomandarmi alla Sigrs Laura, Sigor Giovan Battista, et a tutta la casa di V.S. alla quale prego ogni abondanza di benedettioni dal cielo. Da Roma alli 24. di febraio 1588 . Di V.S. molto Illustre servo affett mo in Christo Giesù Rob. personio . Illtre Sigor il Sor Cosimo [Addressed ] Al molto Massi Secretario principale del Seremo
di Parma et Piacenza,
Burges.
Translation. PERSONS TO MAST, SECRETARY TO DUKE OF PARMA .
Rome, 24 February, 1588 .
Most Illustrious Lord,
There will be no need for me to be very lengthy in writing to your Excellency on behalf of these fathers , (1) seeing that you will have sufficient information about them from the letters which they are carrying from other people to His Highness and yourself, and from the account of them which our friend Mr. Hugh will give, and from actual intercourse with them. This much can say, that they go with the object of serving His Highness and your Excellency with great devotion, if they find that they can be useful in any matter ; otherwise they are to proceed on their journey, as they will tell you more at length with their own mouths. May God our Lord grant that they find you in England and in that case they will be able to be of greater service to you, and our Cardinal and shall hope to follow them soon and so make good anything that is lacking and give some demonstration of our respect for His Highness and our obligations to him. May God direct the matter to His glory and may He reward his Highness generously in heaven for his great kindness and munificence and your Excellency for your signal charity towards our nation. leave all other matters to be told by the fathers themselves, in particular the Cardinal's keen desire to be at His Highness's side and serve him all the days of his life ; and if your Excellency will help him to bring this about soon, that will be the most welcome service of all others that can be done him . And now have no more to say save only to beg your Excellency to give my most humble respects to His Highness at the first opportunity, as also to remember me to Donna Laura, Signor Giovani Battista, and to all your Excellency'shousehold , for which beg from heaven an abundance of all blessings. From Rome on the 24th of Feb.,
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Your Excellency's most devoted servant in Jesus Christ, Rob. Persons,