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

Endorsed: 9 September 1591 Master Bodeley to my L. The enterprise of Hulst by Count Mawrice. The Towne of Anholt taken by Captaine Lambert and his companie. but not the Castle.

Later Addition: 9 September 91

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May it please your good L. I can not cer- tifie as yet, howe Count Maurice hath spedde in the enterprise of Hulst: For there is nothing yet written to the Councel of state. And I trust yow are informed of some that are present, and may sooner advertise. It is nowe, as we conjecture, that he doth execut his purpose. But our hope at the Hage is muche diminished, for that the Enemie, we heare, was forwarned of his com- ming. There hath bin lately some treaty between the general states and the Lady of Anholt of the house of Battenbourgh, that her towne of Anholt, upon the frontiers of the Countie of Zutphen towardes Cleveland, which hath alwaies hitherto taken part with the Enemie, might heere- after be permitted to keepe it self neutral. The state at her instance will yelde unto it, upon condition that an other place of strength adjoining unto Anholt, which is called Bredevoord or Breefoort, belonging to the said Lady, but of more importance to the Enemie, may hold the same neutrallitie. Whiles this motion is in treaty, about 4 daies agoe, Captain Lambert with certaine Englishe companies of Duisbourgh, not knowing, as I suppose, what mater was in hand, upon certaine intelligence with some in Anholt, went soddainly thither, scaled the wales, and possessed the towne. Which was done with the losse of some fower of the souldiers. But the towne hath a castel of greater force, which they could not then surprise. The next day after that the towne was taken, there were certaine Englishe men missing of the better sort, among which were bothe the brothers of Sir Francis Vere: which were knowen fol.18v
to be there, when the Alarme was given, but not to be found, when the towne was taken. This was so written hither the next day after: and sins I have heard no more. The towne was hardly worth the taking, being full of poore people, and not to be defended against the Enemies forces. Because they were in parley about a neutrallitie, they are not yet resolved heere, what course they should take with the Lady of Anholt. The Enemie lieth still in his former places. But all our adver- tisments signifie, that he goeth certainly for France about the end of this moneth. And thus I humbly take my leave. From the Hage. September 9 1591. Your L. most humbly bounden Tho. Bodley