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Endorsed: 26 Maij 1594 Master Bodeley to my Master Lord. From the Haghe.

Later Addition: 26 May 94

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May it please your good L. to be advertised, that I arrived at Flushing the 15 of this moneth, and the next day after came to Middelbourgh, where I thought it very requisit to tary that day, to com- municat in privat with the chief of that Province, and to feele their inclination to her Majesties demandes, whereby I might conjecture howe the rest would dis- gest it, when I came to this place. I founde that my comming was foreknowen unto them, and also what I would propose: wherewith they seemed by their talke to be very muche moved: especially that her Majestie would drawe away those troupes, which they had armed, and paied, and newly sent to service. What passed on both sides in our con- ference together, it is but needeles to reherse, be- ause it tendes to that effect, which I will signifie to your L. in my dealing with the states. I came to the Haghe the 19 day, and had audience the 21 but no answear at that time to the mater of my message. For they observe their wonted maner in affaires of any moment, not to answear to the soddaine. Onely so muche they signified, that her Majesties motion was exceeding prejudiciall to the state of these contreis, not offering at that time to debate it further with me. Howbeit the second day after there were two deputed by the rest to communicat with me privatly, Master Barnevelt, and Master Cromstrien: who gave me plainely to understand that for the troopes which they had raised, they might not by any meanes forgoe them at this time. They had bin very long sutors to her Majestie for them, their expenses had bin great in the onely transporting fol.220v
and arming of them to the field, they had cast the project of this yeres exploites, according to the nom- bers which they receaved from her Majestie and if all of them nowe should be sent for away, considering they are come to handie stroakes with the Enemie, there could nothing come of it, but an evident overthrowe of their enterprise on Groeninghen, and of all their designes for all this yere, with the losse of all their charges, with many apparant inconveniences to her Majesties great detriment aswell as their owne, and the Enemies most advantage: wherat the people of this contrey would murmur out of measure, having strained this yere more then ever before, to contri- but to the warres. To this effect they discour- sed with very great earnestnesse, alleging divers other reasons, but concluded in substance in the former: which I endevoured to avoide by urging the importance of succouring Brest, and by mani- festing to them, that the benefit of that went farre before this of their present exploit, and that aswell in respect of the trafficke of their people, as of her Majesties subjectes: proving also unto them, that the Enemie at this present is farre weaker in field, then he hath bin these many yeres, and the Provinces armie every way stronger, whereby the companies demaunded might be spared well enough, and no suche danger come of it, as they did pretend. But in conclusion, upon shewe that they made of no sa- tisfaction, howsoever I replied, although it were with intimation, that there would be order taken for rembour- sing their charges about the 1500 men, I lette them plainely understand, that for the Normandie companies and the rest that were heere in her Majesties pay, she had fol.221r
fully determined to have them placed in Ostend, Flushing and the Brille, for supplie of those bandes which were to goe away presently. And as for those that they had raised, and were paied by the Provinces, if they had an intention to continue them heere, the best way to obtaine it at her Majesties handes, was by ar- ming out of hand some good quantitie of shipping to accompanie that navie which her Majestie prepareth, which I thought they might perfourme very largely and with ease, being bound therunto by vertue of the Treatie.

After conference in this maner for a good while together, they returned to their college with report of my speeches, and resolved there among themselves, to make that answear by letter, which I send heereinclosed, with a transcript of it to your L. Wherein they offer for ostend some companies of Dutche, whiche they of Zeland shall send thither, and a companie of Englishe to be put into Flushing, which they will send from the Campe. The Brille, they are persuaded, hath the lest neede of all. But yet they promise to fournishe both it and the rest, with greater nombers from the Campe, as their necessitie shall require. And as touching shippes of warre, for as muche as their autoritie will not stretche to take order without their superiors, they have written about it to every seve- rall Province, whome they promise to solicite so often and so earnestly, as they hope to have their answear in lesse then a fortnight, to her Majesties good liking. In the meane season they will send some shippes of warre, to the coast of Brittaine, which shall presently put to sea, to take good information of the Enemies proceeding, whereby they may be able to direct their course the better, in joining their forces with her Majesties fleete, and in making their provision. fol.221v
For mine owne opinion of this answear, conside- ring that the peacemakers heere are so busie among them, that they growe in great hope of recovering Groeninghen, that her Majesties garrisons are indifferently provided by suche meanes as they propose, and that they yelde to come with shipping to joine with her Majestie whereunto they are not tied by strict construction of the Contract, although they except not yet against it, I can not but surcease to presse /them/ any further, untill I heare howe her Majestie doth accept of their letter, intending till then to remaine at the Haghe, hoping also by that time, to understande from this assemblie, what assistance by sea will be granted by the Provinces: in which regard I would be glad toreturne with some answear to her Majesties content. But it will be very requisit to be signified unto me, what nomber of shippes of warre are to goe from her Majestie because I doe insist, that according to the Treatie, they should arme as many more, so the nomber exceede not the P. of Orenges offer made to Master Diar, in the yere 84. And because it seemed by the speeches which I had last with your L. that yow wanted a copie of that which passed at that time, I have sent yow one heerein. Those lettres of credence, which I had from her Majestie to Co. Maurice and Sir Francis Vere, I have sent to the campe, with sufficient adver- tisment of her pleasure about the companies, whiche I thought very necessary to be presently imparted, to the end they may not thinke, that the warning is too soddaine, if heereafter they be moved, to send some greater nombers, then the states at this present are willing to dismisse. I doe not certifie your L. howe the motion of Peace hath hitherto succeeded, nor of the occurences of Groeninghen, with divers other maters, of which Master Gilpin hath written before fol.222r
and will informe yow at this present in parti- cular maner. Yet I can not in duty for- beare to make knowen, that at my comming to Flushing I founde that all the Captaines were ab- sent in England, Sir Edmund Udal excepted: which I thought in a garrison of that charge and account an exceeding great disorder. And thus be- seeching yow most humbly, to acquaint her Majestie with the course, which I have held in my businesse, and to make me alwaies as happy, as yow have done heeretofore, with protecting my proceeding with your honorable favor, I take my humble leave. From the Haghe. May 26 1594. Your L most humble at commandement Tho. Bodley

Postscript: The bearer herof Master Chamberlaine had very smalle occasion to goe into England, but yet at my intreatie, because I wanted a messenger, he hath promised to deliver this letter to your L. with all the speede that may be.