1590/1 1590 February Burghley to Bodley 33 ElizabethEndorsed: London bis 1590/1 1590 February Burghley to Bodley 33 Elizabeth
lettertext
fol.188r
Later Addition: Belgia 1590/1 stilo Romano Februaria [T]o Master Bodly London
Later Addition: February 1590/91
Sir. The Argument of my letter will appeare to yowe to require hast. Uppon the knowledge frequentlie had from thence of the Accesse of certaine Commissioners from the Emperor that weare come to Antwerpe to move the States and Cuntrie to a peace, with large offers from the K. of Spaigne, it hath been thowght vearie necessa- rie for the weale and savetie of the Cuntries, that the people theare showld not be abused with the offers of a dissimiled peace, whearebie theare might fall sum deffeccion to the weakninge of the strength of thos Cuntreis united, and so be subject to a [furthre] ruin, whom the K. of Spaigne showld have made himself stronger by that collored peace, than he nowe can doe by his warre. And thowgh hir Majestie heare thinketh, that the wisedome of the states is such as they will not suffer anie Ouverture of such infeccion to the [unlge] people, but will persist in their former refusall, wheareof yowe did send hither the Copie of a writinge, as an awnsweare to the Emperor: yet it is heare thowght meete that sum good advise showld be geven to the States, and to the Counsell of Estate also in what forme and manner the awnsweare might be made, to be such as might be allowable in the sight of the world, and acceptable to all others that are not confe- derated perticulerlie with the K. of Spagine: and to this ende I have sodenlie made a drawght by waie of Project in writinge, to geve forme to such an awnsweare, as for mine owne part, doe thinke the same agrea- ble with reason, with trewthe, and Comlines: whearewith hir Majestie beinge acquainted, she hath soe well allowed thereof, as she hath commaunded mee with all dilligence to send it unto yowe, with intention that yow showld im art the same, to such of the Generall States, or of the Counsell, as yowe shall thinke capable of such a matter: and as of your self, withowt anie expresse auctoritie in hir Majesties name, otherwise than to thinke yt agrea- ble with hir likinge, to procure it or the like to be delivered for awnswere. And if it maie cum in seasonable time to your handes, before anie awnswere geven to the Commissioners, yowe shall doe well speedelie to putt it into cawse to varrie for the reasons growinge of their owne part, as thowgh theie would add more perticuler [greefes] of their owne to warrant their refusall to heare Treatie, yowe maie thearein leave the fol.188vLater Addition: February 1590/91 London
vareance from the perticuler writinge to themselves: But for the rest of the matters that concerne the Quenes Majestie, or the French K. or the Princes of the Empire, or other the Christian Kinges, or the states of Italye, yow maie doe well to admitt none, or small alteration thearein, bicawse hir Majestie hath vearie well allowed of the Argumentes deduced, to make it appeare, howe manie Princes and States are thowght to be oppo: site to the aspiration of the K. of Spaignes greatnes./.Further more if before the project can cum unto your handes, the States shall have made sum awnsweares unto the Emperors Commissioners: yet bicawse yt is likelie by the Commissioners Replie the States shall have nowe cawse to mainteine theire Refusall, yowe maie finde meanes to have the scoape of this Project observed in their second awnsweare, or otherwise in sum other forme to procure the substance therof to be published both in the Frenche and the Dutche tongues: And after that to be made more common to the world in sondrie other languages, & so to be printed./. It is here for mee to direct yowe howe to proceade in this matter, but Consideringe the scoape hereof is vearie well liked of hir Majestie and fownd necessary to be expedited, I doe leave the manner for your proceadinge hearein to your owne discretion. And bicawse a former letter of mine with the said Project might miscarry; I have verbatim cawsed both to be dowbled, for more suretie, and for your direcion thearein. And so veary hartelie commend mee to yowe. From my howse in the Strand this of Februarye 1590. Your vearie lovinge frend./ William Burghley