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fol.173vLater Addition: To my L. Treasuror 31 May 90.
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fol.173r
Later Addition: Belgia: 1590: May
Later Addition: Belgia 1590 31 May To my L. Treasurer
Later Addition: 31 May 90
It may please your L. to bee advertised that I have Rxd by Persivall hir Majestyes lettres & one from your L. & I have made her Majesties excuse both to the Coun- sell & to Co. William for that their lettres were not aunswered, but for that I am acquainted with their over suspitious & imagining humors I feare they will surmise that there is some matter in that silence that will turn to their prejudice. Co. William who is now in Friseland is sent unto from hence to declare his opinion for our furder proceding. The siedge of Nieu- meghen is a lett unto us, for yt is not thought expeident that hir Majestyes lettres should be sent into Groeninghen, but when we can present sufficient forces before the towne of the English nation in spetiall, the better to concurr in confirmacion of the letters & to add a greater courage to her Majestyes friends, who ar thought to be so manie among the inhabitants as wee are in good hope yf faire meanes faile to winne the towne parforce./. Howbeit at this present almost all the forces of these countrys that may bee drawen to the field are before Nieumeghen, from whence they cannot well be spared till their fortifications be ended about 3 weekes hence. I have also written to my friends in Embden to give them notice of the letter to make the waie more easie, for though I have had good assistance of Persivall, in respect of his aventures & travell too & fro, & also otherwise, yet the minister of Embden Mentius & one Joest van Cleve in tyme past & Burgmaster of Groneingen have bin farr greater instruments: and what other meanes have bin used to bring the matter to this passe it would be to tedious to discourse to your L. It was not possible to accomplish her Majesties desire to have yt secretly caried, for when her Highnes refused to take the enterprise upon her, there could nothing bee done without the privity & liking of the Councel of state, the States of Frise, & Co. William. Besides the opinion is heer that the matter being published, yt hath made a greater preparation among many, which the ennemies forces can by no meanes empeache. In my last to your L. I signified that which was written to the Counsell, as well as to my self that the Spanish Councell of Groeninghen was willed to depart & that the towne was in parle with the states of Frise. Wee are since informed that there was a publick conference, & hostages delivered but yt concerned only an agreement, about the exchange of prisoners: & some were expelled the towne, but men of meaner qualitie then counsellors. wee are at this present advertised by Co. William that Verdugo hath failed of a late attempt that hee made to enter parforce the Towne of Groeninghen, & to have put in garrison, wheretoo he had many assistants within the Towne, which being notified hath put the place in a great garboile./ There is at this present a certain agreement made between Co Maurice & Co. William with consent of the Councell of state, that Co. William assisting Co. Maurice with all his forces of Friseland in the siege of Nieumeghen he shall after be assisted by Co Maurice with all the forces of these quarters in the enterprise of Groeninghen. At Nieumeghen there hath bin nothing yet exploited on either side, our fortifications go forward, which notwithstanding the Enemy hath endevoured to disturb with shott of great artillery but prevailing nothing yt is supposed he doth but seke to furnish the towne with souldiers, & vittailes, & will after passe the Rhine to assault some townes of Guelderland, therby to divert our forces from Nieumeghen. There have bin lettres of the Enemy lately intercepted written from Cullen to Zutphen Deventer & other places of which I send your L. the copie of one, the rest contene matter to like effect. The occurrences heer do not signifye as yet of any succours sent from the D. of Parma to those of the Ligue the souldiers being unwilling to marche unles they may bee paied for 3 moneths before hand & go with greater forces then the Duke hath yet appointed, which wee cannot learne to bee more then 800 horse & 2500 foote which many men conjecture this enterprise of Nieumeghen will divert upon our selves. Certain troupes of Breda have defeated of late 120 lances of the Enemy of which they tooke 30 prisoners & toward 500 head of horses, now that the Enemy is occupied elsewhere yt is thought good we should attempt the revittailing of Breda. which either succeeded or failed yesterday. And thus &c. Our letters out of Zeland report for certain that Richardot is come to Bruxelles & hath comission to offer large conditions of peace./