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

Endorsed: 16 July 1592 Master Bodeleie to my L.

Later Addition: 16 July 92

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fol.106r
May it please your good L. The 10 of this moneth being come as farre as Swolle, in going towardes the campe, and there attending the arrival of the Councel of Estate, I receaved those letters and schedules, which her Majestie and my LL. and your L. sent unto me, bearing date the 1 and 2 of this present. When the Councel was come thither, which was the next day after, having commoned first with Sir Francis Vere, I procured an assemblie not onely of the Councel, but of the Deputies of the Provinces, and I offered them to open her Majesties letters to the states, in case they founde themselves thereto to be sufficiently autorised. Whiche I did for good respect, for that it had bin a question in their dealinges before, whether they in that place, or those at the Hage having both like commission from the generallitie of the contrey, were to exer- cise the power of the general states. But in this mater of her Majestie they disclamed that autoritie, and putte me over to the Hage for deliverie of my letters. Howbeit I omitted not to signifie the effect of those letters, and in all that I was able to amplifie the reasons, and to pray them not to hinder the exceution of my charge. For her Highnes promise was so past, that it could not be revoked, and I had order thereafter, to cause the troupes that were desired, to putte themselves in present readines. They were muche amased at the mater, and used great intreatie, that no sepa- ration might be made of the Englishe from the rest, till the campe were come to Coevoerden: upon hope that the Enemie, upon the viewe of their nombers, would come to present composition. fol.106v
But conferring upon it with Sir Francis Vere, and per- ceaving plainely by discourse, that it was but a motion to gaine a litle time, for that the Enemie is hardie and the place well provided: and finding therewithall that their marching first to Coevoerden, and then afterwardes to Flushing, might both weaken them in strength, and putte them farre out of order, when her Highnes would be served, I persisted precisely upon the pointes of my charge, and requested them earnestly, to graunt a patent to every com- pany to repaire to his garrison, and that there they might remaine, untill suche time as they were sent for. This I urged continually, as having no kinde of libertie, to dispose in other sort of her Majesties de- signe: which was also so confirmed by Sir Francis unto them: who continueth there in place, and hath resolved not to alter but to prosecut the mater, as I have begonne it. In the meane time, because they did refuse to determine there upon it, referring me hither to this assemblie of the states, I departed from thens the next day folowing, and came hither to the Hage with all possible speede. I left the campe at that time within a mile of Swolle, from whens I thinke they will not sturre, till they heare what is said by the states of this place. Yesterday morning I presented my letters in their publike meeting, whiche when I had heard, being openly read, (for I had no copie sent unto me) I noted a certaine clause, which I am very muche afraid will put me to some troble. For it goeth with condition, that if the armie of the states may be commodiously dissolved, and the forces of her Majestie which have served in the armie, conveniently re- turned, that then the French King shall have the use of those succors, that are promised unto him. But, as if I had not understoode it, I urged very earnestly fol.107r
the Kinges necessitie, and the importance of the ma- ter in respect of these contreis, and proposed all the pointes of the instructions sent unto me, without leaving to their choise, to denie her Highnes her demaunde. They saide but litle as then to any part of my speeche, but as their custome is commonly in causes of conse- quence, they required some time to signifie their answear. They had notice of the mater, before my comming to the Hage, and had receaved out of England a copie of the Contract between her Highnes and the King: which I perceave by some frindes, they doe highly dislike to have bin done without their pri- vitie, in regard of that Contract, which is made with them already. But if they seeme in that respect to complaine in publike place, I have mater enough for answear. I am onely nowe to seeke, which way I shall be able to reconcile the forsaid clause, with that which I proposed. For as I learne underhand by a frind among the states, they doe minde to take hold of those wordes of the letter, and will seeme to take no knowledge, that her Majestie meant otherwise, but to make her suite conditional. I will excuse it as I may upon the writers oversight, and keepe the course that is begonne in preparing the companies, and in declaring plainely to them, that both the Contract with the King, and her Majesties letter to my self, doth appa- rantly signifie that there must be no denial. Ne- vertheles if they chance to be so wilfull, as to stand in contestation, and to oppose against me, as they may, it will be greatly behoofull, that I be streng- thned from her Highnes with some plainer knowledge of her meaning. And because it is a mater of so great a consideration, I thought with all speede to advertise yow of it, and humbly to beseeche yow, to write about it with the soonest. I have certaine intelligence from the campe, at this very instant, fol.107v

Later Addition: 15 July 1592

Postscript: When the bearer was ready to depart with my letter, the states sent unto me a transcript of their answear: which I caused out of hand to be copied againe, and I send it heere unto your L. For it may chaunce to come before the originall letter, which they will send some other way. I see their answear is no other, then I expected at their handes, taking holdfast of that clause of her Majesties lettre. I should mervel not a litle, that they calle me not againe, to some further communication, but that they knowe well enough, that I will pro- secute that course, that I have hitherto proposed, and endevor what I can, to put the companies in a readines. Their answear is also general for the motion of Britaine: but no doubt in par- ticular, they will come to that which was their offer. And for the day of their letter, though they dated it for yesterday, it was signed but to day: which is the custome of their college, to put the date of the day, when they take their resolutions, and not of the time when their letters are signed. July 16. Your L. most humbly bounden Tho. Bodley