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fol.351r
Later Addition: Belgi[[a]]
Later Addition: 1590 29 December To my L. Treasurer
May yt please your good L. to bee advertised that I sent you the [[7 of]] this moneth, the long expected awnswere of the general states, which I find to bee negative too all her Majesties demaundes, not onely those whertoo they are not tyed by vertue of the Treaty, but too every matter els, whereunto they are bound by expresse conditions: To proceed thereupon by way of replie, & too specifie the wronges that they offer to her Majestie, I knowe to your L. it more then neadeth, & to them yt is in vaine, being bent to parsist in theyr obstinate cowrse. For yf it bee possible that either by mine owne experience, or by others informacion I should knowe the disposition & humor of this people, having stood so stiffly so long in a wilfull deniall of all that is required, I think they will rather hazard the state of theyr Countrey, then to bee drawen against theyr willes to alter theyr purpose. In which respect, & least my furder dealing should turne to her Majesties prejudice, I have resolved to bee silent, & too attend from your L. what her Highnes will commaund.We have certaine advertisement, that there are already Embassadors deputed from the Emperor to propose a generall peace to the states of these Provinces. It hath bin thought upon heer, what were fittest to bee don to prevent the Inconvenience, that may growe upon their coming. For though they stand not in dout of the peoples inclination to any such motion, yet they hold yt best to bee assured, & not to put yt in the choise of theyr unconstant disposition. Agayn they are affrayd as I am secretly enformed, that such conditions of peace may bee offred unto them, as being knowen unto her Majesty may make her desyrous to enter into Treaty. For prevention whereof & of all inconveni- ences, they have resolved to send expressly to the Emperor, & to desire him to forbeare from sending unto them, for that the matter of peace hath bin often debated, & they finde no security in any conditions, that the King can propose. they will also write to the D. of Saxony the Elector Palatin, the Marques of Brandebourgh, the D. of Brunsweke the Lantgrave of Hesse, & to the Bishop of Witzbourg, whose brother is sayd to bee one of the Embassadors, to entreat them very earnestly not to give any eare to the fraudulent offers of the Spaniard but to proceed to theyr late determination for cleering the Rhine from forreyn garrisons. all the dout that is conceaved is that the embassadors wilbee heer, before theyr lettres come to the Ennemyes handes, It is some mens opinion that too lett them come, but not remayne, & to awnswere to theyr motion with a flatt refusall were a better course then the other & not so subject to offence, Howbeyt they are minded to write as I have signified./
Wee are heer in good hope that the mutinies begon in the Enemyes garrisons of Diest & Herentals in the contrey of Brabant who demand as ys reported for 50 moneths paie, will extend to other places. For yt is sayd undoutedly that in the Enemies Camp, there are many discontentmentes, not for mony matters onely, but for sondry occasyons which are greater among the greatest then those of meaner quality. It is also given forth that the K. of Spaine, doth take unto himself the bestowing of such govermentes & offices of charge, as were accustomed before to bee given by the D of Parma, which will multiplie men think the matter of dislike, that is kindled already. We have also letters from Andwerp, that in the late assembly of the States of those fol.351v
Later Addition: [Bel]gia 1590
[Provinces, the Dukes demaunds for contribution have] bene flatly rejected. There ys no opinion that this winter there wilbee any great matter attempted by him. For his martiall people are not freed of theyr mortall diseases wherewith they were infected at theyr being in Fraunce./ For which hee hath dispersed them abroade, in the Land of Liege & other places of rest. Nevertheles wee have intelligence at this present. that to the nomber of 1200, have entred the Contrey about Utrecht, & don some small spoile upon the Boores, but retired again within lesse then 3 houres, I have sent your L. heerwith the copies of certain letters, which were lately intercepted, by the souldiers of Dergoes, & being written in cypher, were lately deciphred by Monsieur St Aldegonde. The contents of 5 lettres import not much, yet becaus in some pointes the Ennemyes estat is discovered by them, I thought your L. would willingly give them the reading. The original lettres were in Spanish but I have sent them unto you translated into French. and because I do presume that yt might be beneficiall to the city of Geneva, to see what was written I have sent other copies unto them. The vicount of Turen, who arrived at the Haghe the 17 of this moneth hath bin in the Assembly of the generall States. & shewed them the cause of his going into Germany & required theyr help for the intended levies. All his speeches of her Majesty were full of gratitude & honor, in respect of her favours /succors/ given to the King, which hee declared at some length & in very good termes. Howbeyt hee had no awnsweare from the states, but in generall woordes. That they would deliberate upon his demaundes & recommend them effectually to the Provinces, & about the beginning of the next moneth deliver theyr resolution to Monsieur Buzenval. By that that I can conjecture by private conference with my frendes, they will straine theyr estate to advaunce the action to the uttermoste. Also the Vicount hath delt wth mee in particular to yeeld what furderance I shalbee able, to which effect hee did supose I had bin charged by her Majesty, which I am not as yet. Though I dout not therin of her Majestyes pleasure & in that regard have signified, that my best endevor shall not want. Of all other matters that may concern these affaires, Sir Horace Pallavicine will advertise your L. for which I take my humble leave. Hage. December 29 1590.