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May it please your good L. The bearer heereof Master Brune, whose lettre unto me from Amsterdam I sent in my last the 16 of this moneth, upon the sight of my answear, is come hither to the Hage, and is very well contented, upon talke betweene us, to surcease his suite in these contreis, and repaire in parson to your L. without attending any passeport. For I have fully parsuaded him, that the cariage of my lettre to your L. and indorsed upon, For her Highnes special service, will be warrant good enough to protect him from his creditours: and though it were not sufficient, yet the occacion of his comming being knowen to your L. he might be well assured, that present order will be taken for his safe being there, with further consideracion for his charges and travail. And forasmuche as those maters, which he will signify unto you, concerne some great abuses, that are practised heere, he thought it very requisit, to discover them unto me: and I attend to knowe upon it, howe your L. will be pleased to command me to proceede.

What disorders are committed in the Mintes of these contreis, aswell in regard of the multitude of them, as of other badde courses, Master Brune can informe you, as muche as is needefull. The state of the contrey doth griefue at it greatly, and finde very hardely any meanes, as this gouvernment standes, to redresse it by autority. Nevertheles at their last assembly in November they resolved with this councel to establishe those orders, that were published by Placart, in the yere 86, wt consent of my L. of Leicester. Mr Brune hath wt him a copie of the Placart, and I have sent an extract heereinclosed of their last resolucion. Having lately bin enjoined, by a lettre from her Majestie to resume the cause fol.5v
of Coronel Sonoy, I have delivered he[r letter in]ithhnes [required] have touched them roundely for the sleight, [regard that] they have had to her instant intercession, [which I also] exhibited in writing unto them, and have sent [you the] transcript. I have also commoned in [such sort] with some in particular, that nowe I am in hope, [more than] ever heeretofore. Howbeit because it [is a] mater that can not be resolved but in a meet[ing of] the Deputies of all the townes of Holland, which as[semble] not heere til the 28 of the next, they have [differred] till then to determine upon it. In the meane [while] it will steede the Coronel very muche, if [her Majestie] will continue to speake to Master Caron in confor[mitie of] that which I have proposed. Whereof I knowe fr[om time] to time he will advertise those of Holland, [which will] quicken them muche against the time. [The] general States, who appointed to meete about [the middle] of this moneth, are not like to come togeth[er, till] the ende of the next. For some of the Provinces, [as it] seemeth, will not yeld to contribut, as it hat[h bin] required, to the next sommers service. Whereby [it is] supposed, it will be late er they beginne, and [happily] for this sommer they will doe very little. I[t is] the opinion of some, that they will onely attempt [the] blocking of Gertrudenbergh and make exc[ursions] into Brabant, without exploiting any thing [else:] albeit it is said, that the States of Friseland [will] endevour in like manner the blocking of Gr[oeninghen.]

The Count Solmes is come hither o[ut of] Zeland, to require some helpe of those of Ho[lland] for making a certaine roade, about the quarter [s of] Hulst, wherto they will graunt him a 1000 souldiers [.]

Whereas I have written heeretofore, that Master Buzenval had moved the States in the Kings behalfe, to aid him this sommer with 2000 men for 3 or 4 monethes, all fol.6r
the contributing Provinces, Utrecht excepted, have passed their consents to paye to that purpose 2500li sterling every moneth, for 4 monethes together, and to leave unto the King, to levie the men. But this is onely so concluded in the Provinces a part, which must be confirmed at their general meeting, where we hope that those of Utrecht will assent with the rest: albeit it is thought, if they should not, that the rest of the Provinces will supply their deffect.

They are greatly heere inquisitive, to knowe in what maner they shall be holpen by her Majestie in respect of the Contract. Which I signify is a mater unknowen unto me. But yet I speake, as of my self, that considering the importance of the actions of France, and that all that they doe heere, is to very litle purpose, if the King be overthowen, I thinke her Highnes will determine to imploye all her meanes, as well of her auxiliary forces in these contreis, as of others from home, to assiste the French King: and will endevour to induce the people of this contrey, to convert their charges also that way, and to maintaine heere at home but a defensive warre. There is a meaning thereupon, as is tolde me by some, if her Highnes give over to assist them any longer, to dissolve out of hand the Councel of Estate.

They beginne to renue an old complaint, as touching the service mony of the Cautionary townes, by reason they are surcharged with some bandes above the Tre/a/ty. And in the garrison of Flushing they will not allowe the companies of Sir Matthew Morgan and Sir Coniers Clifford to be of 200 till they sue their commission for it. Being written unto about it from Sir Edmund Udal, I have wished him in any wise, to give good speeches to the Burgmasters, and to intreate them to continue their accoustumed course in lodging all the souldiers till her Majestie shall be pleased to sette some other order: and if then thereupon they will not doe as heertofore, to shewe them in good termes, that he should be forced therein to use some autoritie for the avoiding of disorder that might growe by suche souldiers, as having no lodging would goe loosely straggling in the night.

The States of Holland have newly conferred upon the fol.6v
sonne of the Princesse of Orenge Henry [Frederick] of Nassau, a regiment of 20 companies, and [have] allowed him a pay of 80li sterling by the moneth [But] conditionally that it shall be to maintene him for a [while] at the schoole. It is also secretly repo[rted that] there is a matche concluded which shall be shortely [solem-] nised betweene the Count Palatin of the Rhine, a[nd the] eldest daughter of the Prince of Orenge, by hi[s wife] of the house of Bourbon, who is heere with the Pri[ncess,] of 18 yeres of age. It is thought that [this Easter] the Princesse herselfe with all her traine, and the res[t of the] sisters will bring her to the Palsgrave. [Of the] Enemies actions heere is very little notice, as [we have] never had it better. It is said notwithstanding, [that the] Count Mansfeld, with the Councel of estate [doth] direct all affaires: and that Count Charles his [son] doeth command the troupes that goe for France: which are [thought] to be 600 foote, and 1500 horse. But as yet w[e can not] heere, that they are passed the frontiers. And [thus I] take my humble leave. From the Hage [.]