lettertext

fol.118r
May it please your good L. Soe longe absence of the Deputies of Guelderland, and Overissel, is greatly wondred at heere: and till all the Deputies be mette, they can take no resolution upon my proposition. It is feared very much that some alteration of thinges at home hath stayed their commming, or at the least their present passadge: by reasons of the great inundations in sundrie places of these Provinces: as the lyke was never seene, of the rivers and land waters in the memorie of any. For all the Bettue, and Bommels wert are overflowen, and a great parte of the Contrie round about Utrecht, and Amersfort; in soe muche as the very gates of the towne of Amersfort, the suburbes of Vianen, and ma- ny Dorpes and villages are caried cleane awaye, and mul- titudes of people, to the nomber, it thought, of 3000 souldes, are drowned. And the lyke is reported of the land about Collen, where the waters are risen higher by six foote, then hath bin hitherto knowen by any recorde, which is supposed to proceede of the great abundance of raine and snowe, that hath fallen in these, and in the upper Contreis: and of the long continuance of this bositrous wynde at west, which hath forced the rivers to swell out of measure.

I fynde by conferring with some of the Scottish nation, that they are informed out of Scotland, that Coronel Stuart is enjoyned by some secret instruction, to sollicit the States for 1000 foote, and 500 horse for sixe monethes, or rather for the loane of soe muche mony, as may serve for the levie of soe many men, requesting 3 monethes paye to be de- livered out of hand, which is imparted unto me by suche persons of credit, as I in my conceat have reason to be- leeve it. Nevertheles the Coronel himself will not no- tifie soe muche, not onely to me, but as farre as I per- ceave it none of the States: proposing all as yet in ge- nerall tearmes, and referring to themselves to yealde what succor they thincke best, which is thought to be done upon a hope that he hath, that they of themselves will offer more, then he hath in charge to presse them unto. For myne owne part, the more that I consider of his imploiment hither, and of the qualitie of his message, the more me thinkes it doth tend, to some dessigne to be dislicked. fol.118v
For in proceeding with these Provinces, the King hath gone by suche degrees, to winne upon their amitie, as I feare somewhat els then this purpose pretended of joining in alliance and of craving their assistance.

If your L. calle to mynde, in February laste was two yeares, the States were moved by Stuart, beyng sent by the King, to intertaine from tyme to time a reciprocal intelligence in all affaires that should concerne the religion and weale, of his and their contreis: which was presently obtained. They were after sought unto, to renue the ancient League, that had bin in former times between Scotland and them: wherunto they yealded by their Deputies, at the tyme of the Baptesme of the young Prince. Now thirdly, they are in- treated to assist him with men and /or/ mony, whearof the summe is so smal, not amounting to 8000li sterling for 3 monethes, as he might very well presume, that they would not refuse him. And when this shalbe accorded, whether it be not to be thought, that he hath yet an inten- tion, to geve some further footing in their love and affection, and to serve some other turnes with their aide and support, as his occasions shall require, and as it wilbe very easie, when the people of these contreis are once engaged in his actions, I leave it as /a/ motion to your L. wisdome.

The Coronel pretendeth that the state of the King must be presently relieved, and if it should be neglected by his frindes and allies, it would engender ere be long some irreparable in- convenience, both to him and to them, And this he doth inculcat in every companie where he cometh, with a fearefull declaration of the wantes of the King and of the strenght of his Enemies: in soe much as the States by that as I can gather, would willinglie doe for him, if my aunswear unto them whereof your L. had notice, in one from me of the 20 of the last, doe not stoppe their proceeding. For soe the Coronel hath tould me, that he thought the States resolution would de- pend very much upon her Highnes allowance, or onely upon me, that if I would but signifie, that her Highnes would be pleased with their aiding of the King, there would be no stoppe, and he saw no just cause for me to be scrupulous, sith every man might see the extremitie of the King, and that part fol.119r
of the benefit would redound unto her Majestie and all the bur- den of the aide upon the people of these Provinces. I will not trouble your L. with long rehersall of my answers and other speeches betweene us: but in effect they were to pray him, to pardon my refusall, unles my warrant were better. For said I, to speake of maters roundly and famililarly between us, I may very well presume upon the reasons you alleage, that her Majestie would be willing to advance the K. desyre, but yet it may be perhaps that she will soe much mislike of his forme of proceeding, as she would have the States made acquainted with her manifold endevors to free the K. of his troubles. Let it be as yow give out, that his State is reduced to pointes of extremitie, wherof I know very little either one way or other (though there be that will avouch that both his perill is not suche, and that it might have bin lesse, if he himself had listed) howe can you reporte it heere, but they will presently aske the question, why, the King having soe largely and soe long tasted of her Majesties bountie, and the danger beyng neere to Englandthen to them, he should not rather in this case, have recourse unto her Highnes, or at the least make her privie, and request her advise, before he sent to move the States? In your answear heere unto I know not how you will acquyte your selfe: but yow must without offence give me leave to suspect, that yow will speake very little in her Majesties behalf, but rather secretly complayne in the maneging of your businesse, that she hath not, or will not doe the part of a neighbor, which may be soe amplified in places where you come, as I doubt it may alsoe tende, to worke some alienation in the hartes of this people, from their devotion to her Highnes. And these are suche suspitions, or causes of suspitions, as they force me to forbeare, and not to meddle of or on, unles I had commission. And therfore onely as before, I wish the States in these proposals, to hold a sound correspondence by advising with her Highnes.

As a man touched neere and guiltie, as it seemed of some sinister dealing (wherof I heare but to muche) he made a frivolous replie, full of speeches as randon: which not beyng worthie of your L. reading I leave unrehersed, very humbly beseeching, that if you thincke it expedient, I may know fol.119v

Endorsed: Copie of my lettre to my L. Tresurer March 14 1594

Later Addition: Dr Birch's Memoirs Vol Pag 219 [.]

I finde by a lettre written by the French King to Monsieur Buzanval that he hath sent her Majestie certaine lettres intercepted, which were written in cipher by father Gordon, and an other Scott to their correspondence in Spaine, which the K. hath caused to be deciphred. Gordon is one that is often named in Cryttons Latin lettre, which I sent your L. last: and I should conjecture that the notice of such a mater, as he hath written into Spaine, may easilie laide to decipher the lettres of Crytton in Latin: which if it be not done already, if your L. thincke fitte to send me the Copie of Gordons lettre, and the others, I will doe my best endevor to discover that of Crytton: which I doe very much presume, upon certaine conjectures, containe important mater, as the conferring of some princely state or dignitie, or contrey, upon some special person, upon whom the chiefe hope of those fugitives dependeth: wherein it also seemeth that certaine great personages are nominated actors: And thus &c./.