Endorsed: To my L. Tresurer October 27 1591.
lettertext
fol.237r
Later Addition: 27 October To my L. Treasurer
Later Addition: Belgia: 1591 Octoberr
May it please your good L. to be advertised that uppon the sight of a letter from the LL. of the Counsell of the 7 of this moneth and of an other from your L. of the 8 which I found at the Hage, at my returne from Nieumeghen, I have had some conference with the States about the amendement of their Placart, for their trafficke with the Ennemie. Howbeit they consulted uppon it before I returned, having had from Master Caron the considerations of the pointes which were delivered from the LL. And as in every other matter, that is of any weight, it is the course of their government, not to take a resolution without the privitie of their Principals, so they say in this matter, they will impart it to the Provinces, and answear it assoone as conveniently they may. And because their present answear doth import nothing els, which is not worthy of a letter, to the LL. of the Counsel, I shall humblie beseeche you to report it for me. Moreover I am required by the LL. to demaund a fuller answear, to all suche matters as were proposed at Master Wilkes being heere: which I have not yet perfourmed, desiring by your L. to understand once againe their pleasures therin. For I knowe they will calle uppon me, to signifie what pointes are most misliked by her Majestie and will require a full replie to every article of their answear. For in effect, it was all rejected whatseover was demaunded. And if that be the meaninge of their LL. that I shall make that Replie, I will first contrive it heere, and after send it home to be changed in suche sorte, as their LL. shall see cause. Nevertheles if your L. will be plea sed to heare my opinion, I doe assure my selfe, that I shall never prevaile by replieinge unto them, unles her Highnes withdrawing some part of her assistaunce from hens. Before which time, for her Majestie to attempt any one thinge often, and to obtene nothinge at any time, but still to be refused, and to beare it wth patience, it is to encourage them greatly, to persist in their courses. Moreover to my simple seeminge, it is no fitte opportunitie, to enter farre with this people in any bitter contestation, by reason of these motions, whiche are towardes about a peace. So as for mine owne part, consideringe that their warres are happely conducted, I shoulde earnestly incline, to recommend unto her Majestie some littell longer tolleration. God hath blessed of late their martial endeavours, in a wonderfull manner, that if the townes of Steenwicke, Boisleduke , and Gertrudenberghwere recovered, wherof the hope is very great in the next Sommers service, undoubtedly these Provinces would rest in great assurance. And if it sould so happen, or also otherwise, the Frenche Kingesaffaires going prosperously forward, her Majestie in my conceat, may spare all the charges of her forces heere in feilde: and ether put them over to be paied by the States, in part or in whole, or if the States be unwilling, to be presently cassed. For when the Country is once assured, there is no suche daunger of the Enemy, but that with those forces, which they have nowe in esse, they wilbe able well enough to defend their Country: or if they be not, their generall meanes will suffice to increase their nom- bers, to as many as her Majestie will defalke. This day fol.237vLater Addition: Belgia: 1591: October
there is made by the Counsell of State an earnest proposition to the general States, which is to be imparted to every Province and towne, for an extra ordinary Contribution, to the summe of nintie thowsande poundes sterling for the levieng of newe forces the next spring; and that the mony may be receaved, by the General Receavor of the Countrey, to be dispensed by the Councel of State. They doe not make any doubt, but that the Provinces will yeelde unto it. I have bin written to of late by Joes Van Cleve(which is the party by whose practise and meanes I dealt the last yere with those of Groeninghen) who informeth me as muche as I write unto your L. the 4 of this moneth, that the people within the towne are greatly distracted, not knowing which way to bend their course. For some are very willing to present themselves unto her Majestie and some are more desirous to accord with the States, as also the Spaniard hath a great many favourers. In this their perplexitie I have followed the advise of Joes Van Cleve, who hath wished me to addresse an other letter to the Magistrats and Commons of the towne; which I have don to suche purpose, as your L. may see by the copie in Englishe, which I sent to them in Dutche; which I trust is so indited, as if it turne her Majestie to no benefit, it cannot prejudice her honor or service in any thing. I have not imparted it heere to any of the States, findinge heeretofore by their jalouse proceedinges, that neither they are desirous, that the towne shoulde come under her Majesties obeissance, nor that themselves should recover it by her Majesties autoritie. Concerninge the affaires at touche the Gouvernor of Ostend, I followed that direction that your L. gave, which was to signifie to himselfe, wherwith he was charg[ed] by the States. Now it seemeth by your letter of the 8 of this mon[th] that your L. doth require e particular verifications of the pointes at I proposed. But as I writte unto your L. when I sent you the copie, of that I writte unto the Gouvernor, I did but certefie suche matters as I conceaved of my selfe to be most materiall, thinkinge if his [answer] had bin any thinge pertinent, to have done my best endeavor for appe[[as]] ing the States. To set downe every proofe, of every matter in partic[ular] I could not conveniently without the privitie of this Counsell, who had the custody of all suche notes. Againe to say truly, I never thoug[ht] that the Gouvernor woulde have stoode uppon denial of any mater of Fa[ct] but excused rather his proceedinges, with his good intention and well mean[ing] But nowe that your L. hath receaved his answear, the truthe of every point will appeare upon replie. Whiche if your L. will be pleased to require of this Councel, I shall not be so subject to some privat displeasures [of] the Gouvernor or his frindes. Nevertheles I must crave of your L. to pardon in this case my confident writing: for I must say, as I doe finde by very manifest proofe, that unles there be some error in a peece of an arti[cle] or in a matter of circumstance, the substance of the whole, wherwith he is cha[rged] will never be reprooved. And this I knowe in the end will so appe[are] unto your L. For I am otherwise of my self so thouroughly acquainted with the clamorous humor of the Officers of the States against the [actions] in speciall of those of our nation, as I credit them in nothing, unles I [finde it] evident, as there can be no evasion. Of the Enemie[s endeavors] we learne by a letter of the Duke of Parma, which was lately [intercepted, being] fol.238rLater Addition: Belgia: 1591: Octoberr
written to Verdugo, that the mutines of Diest have receaved contentment. And by letters from Brussels we are newly advertised, that the Duke is willed, by a freshe commaundement out of Spaine, all exceptions sett a part to goe presently for Fraunce. It is signified with all, that the Ambassadors of peace, have bin at Collen already, and are expected now at Brussells. There is come out of Zeland advertisment, that the Enemy doth fortifie neere unto Hulst: in a dorpe which is called St Jans Steen. Wherupon the States of Zeland have sent hither for some succor of horse and foote. For the Enemie, doth intend, if his purpose be not letted, to barre us wholy from comming to the Land of Waes. &c./