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Addressed: To the right honorable my very singular good Lord, the L. Burghley, Lord highe Treasurer of England.

Endorsed: 27 february 1590. Master Bodeleie from the Haghe./

Later Addition: 27 February 90/1

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May it please your good L. Heere is great expectation of her Majesties resolution, about the companies intended to be drawen from hens. The states have assem- bled their chiefest governors and commanders in martial affaires, with whome they purpose to determine, howe their forces this sommer may be best imploied. They seeme to make account, that if the Englishe men remaine, they will be able for the space of 7 monethes, to bring 8000 foote, and to- wardes 2000 horse into the filde. And this they thinke will suffice, ether wholy to divert the Enemie from France, or to endommage him otherwise very mightily at home. As yet they have not mette to consult of any thing, attending, as it seemeth, howe her Majestie will proceede. For unles they be assisted by the Englishe troupes, as farre as I can perceave, their meaning is this sommer, but to fortifie their places, and to assure their owne estate, without medling any further. In effect the want of understanding howe her Highnes is af- fected for the 20 companies, doth put us all that are heere in continual care. The more a great deale, for that the Deputies of Sir John Norreis, not knowing of themselves the condition of this state, and requiring no advise from us that are heere, take a dangerous course in the execution of their charge. For without respect to the fittest opportunities, or other necessary circumstances, they commaund the captaines by their letters, to discharge the souldiers out of hand, as they will answear the contrary to their uttermost perils. Withall they enjoine the Trea- surers Deputy, to surcease the paiment of their weekely lendinges. Which being certified of late to the sould- iers of Breda, they came immediatly and required the governor, to grant them licence to begonne, or to give them intertenment. The governor being charged by the states, to suffer none to depart, for the fol.198v
avoiding of a mutinie, or some other inconvenience, was forced to deliver them vittailles, from out of the Magasin of the Garrison. Complaintes comming hither against this disorder, I writte unto the Cap- taines, to beare a better hand among the souldiers, and to provide for the indemnitie of the publike ma- gasine. What hath ensewed upon it, I doe not yet understand: nor I am not certaine whether the captaines ether there, or els where, have actually pro- ceeded to the cassing of their companies. But for mine owne part, for as muche as her Majestie hath vouche- safed both in that Commission which Sir John Norreis receaved, and in her letters to the Councel of state, as likewise to my self, to specifie precisely, that in the conduct of this action my advise should be used, and because I have considered as carefully of it, as is possible for me, and doe finde it every mans opinion, for the reasons I alleaged in my former Letters to your L. that this course of cassing is full of inconvenience, I have counsailed all the Captaines and officers of the forsaid bandes, to innovat nothing in their Garrisons, till her Majesties pleasure shall be notified further. For this will folowe of necessitie, that after they are cassed, because the states have provided, that they shall not be transported, with any shipping of these contreis, they must be forced to attend for meanes out of England. And in that case Berghen being but half a daies voiage from Flushing, Breda but one day, and Duisbourgh but 4 or 5 at the most, to dissolve the companies so long before, would serve to litle purpose for their speedier transportation. Moreover considering howe the winde hath stoode for this fortnight, and continueth at this present, it was muche to be feared, when the troupes had bin discharged, so ma- ny men, for so long a time, and all at libertie, would fol.199r
never keepe together, without some notable diminution of their nombers, and great confusion and dis- order otherwise: espeically when the people of the contrey shall both refuse to admitte them to their townes, and minister no assistance for their vittailles and passage. And though it may be presumed, that to be ridde of suche ghestes, the contrey will ordene, that thei should have have meanes to depart, yet undoubtedly they are so bent, that thear is nothing to begotten at their handes but by violence, and untill they see by a second charge, that her Highnes doth determine to over rule them heerein, they will [[cutte greatt]] possibilitie for the souldiers to be [[...ed]].

The consideration herof, and of divers other pointes, that I have written of before, doth move me to endevor for mine owne part, and to advise the captaines in like sort, to proceede as orderly and quietly, as conveniently they may, without ether troubling the state, or prejudicing other- wise her Highnes designe. And thus submitting all my actions to your L. good construction, and expecting every day for some further direction, I take my humble leave. From the Hage. February 27 1590. Your L. most humbly bounden Tho. Bodley