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Later Addition: XVII.55. Master Bodley 11 September 1595. [.]eadde

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May it please your good L. Till the Deputies be re- turned from Co. Maurice and the Councel, (which is expected every houre) I shall have no other mater, to imparte unto your L. about mine owne negotiation, then hath bin formerly advertised. For all that I can yet signifie is by way of con- jecture, and by collecting heere and there, by privat mens speeches, howe my message wilbe taken, when it cometh to the multitude. Wherein to make report, how I finde them yet inclined, I never sawe lesse apparance of a good answear towardes. To be pressed to acknowledge that the Treatie is expired, they may by no meanes endure: much lesse to be required to make anie remboursement, in which respect they also pleade extreme unabilitie. And though it were not so great as they give it out, but that their State might affourd some present good portion, yet there are of them that say, that to obtaine it of the Contrey, they must fitte their persuasions according to their humors, and as the people may disgest it: and that is by proposing some other new Treatie, under color thereof to drawe somewhat from them, and not by clayming it directly by force of the former Contract, which appointed no paiment till the ende of their warres. Moreover I per- ceave by circumstance of talke, that their bent is altogether, to send unto her Majestie some principal persons, to declare by worde of mouth a flatte impossibilitie, as their state standeth yet, to accomplishe her demande: but whether withall they will determine upon making any ouverture, of some other kinde of Treatie, it is more then I can ghesse by their speeches unto me. For my self I goe forward in urging fol.2v
them to that which her Majestie hath willed, and I dissuade them what I can, from all other plottes and courses of their owne. Nevertheles I thought it meete, to foresignifie these conjectures, because it may be that your L. may turne it to some profitte, in the ser- vice of her Highnes. The successe of the siege of the Towne of Cambray, is very much hearkened after, by all the people of this Contrey: who are pressed very hard, to helpe the King out of hand, with some stoare of foote Companies: not at all, as I heare, by any lettres yet written from the King him self, but form the Count of St Paul, the D. of Bouillon and others. Wherein there should not neede any spe- cial intreatie, if the Enemie heere with us were not lodged so neere, as they can not for the present spare that succor as they would. Nevertheles the States have accorded, if Co. Maurice at the Campe finde no reason against it, to send suche nombers for that service, as I thincke will amount to 2000 at the least: because they holde it as a place of extraordinarie consequence for the state of these Provinces.

For if it be relieved, and the Enemie beaten from it, it will abate his reputation, and weaken him other wise, to his very geat prejudice: but if for want of assistance the towne should be surrendred, both the credit of the Spaniard, and the courage of their armie, together with their meanes, to endomage these contreis, wilbe greater then ever. And for cer- taine we shall finde, and that shortly upon it, that those of Artois and Henault will contribut very lar- gely to the conquest of those places, that lie upon the Some, as Amiens, Abbeville, and others: albeit some men thincke, that they will presently to Calais.

But this is feared most of all by the chiefest of them heere, in the F. Kinges proceedinges, that if the Enemie fol.3r
should speede in his present attempt, it will force him in the end to grow in amitie with Spaine. For their thinke that for him that hath already leapt over such blockes of offence, with such notable case to obtaine a kingdome full of trouble, it were but scrupulositie, when his state is somwhat desperat, to make a stoppe at the leaving of his neighbors in the briars, to enjoy all his kingdome in peaceable maner.

And though it may be replied, that the Spa- niard hath no reason, to falle to termes of peace in a case of such advantage, and when the shewe is so faire, that the Kingmay be subdued by some other endevors: yet this is thought by these men heere, that when he findes by that meanes that he may readilie re- cover the possession of these Provinces, both a peace will be proposed, and as plausible con- ditions, as the King can desire. And if they chance to be embraced, either France must be the Instrument, to persuade with these contreys to come to some agreement, or the Enemie of himself, and by meanes of his greatnesse, will compasse his dessigne. For when his armies are together, which are nowe so farre a sunder, he shall easely be able to assault at one instant, so many of their townes, as the force of this Contrey wilbe farre insufficient to make head against him. And what in such an exigent, will become of their courage, when they see themselves redu- ced to their first poore Estate, and when their ancient ringleaders, suche as hated the Spaniard not as nowe the younger sorte, because they fol.3v
heare of his tirannie, but because they sawe and felt it in their persons and goods are almost all consumed, it is greatly to be doubted. The more a great deale, for that hitherto they have used by turnes the helpe of all their neighbors, and those of dyvers nations, and are perhaps within themselves distasted of them all, whereby it may be feared, that when they knowe not heereafter to whome to have recourse, they will ra- ther adventure upon a fraudulent accord, then fight without hope of any ende of their miseries. Howseover in such a case they may chance to be affected, the doubt of this agreement betweene the two kinges, hath bin ever in a maner the principal motive, to sett them forward in this contrey, to support the French King both with men and with money: which had bin els imployed by themselves heere at home, to a lesse degree of profit, as they understand it. Co. Maurice and Mondragon are still encamped, as they were in the land of Cleve, but that Mondragon, we heare, is somewhat removed to a fitter place for fourage. Withall it is advertised that Mondragon and his forces must depart out of hand, to fortifie de Fuentes. Certaine companies of ours have attempted of late to surprise the Fort of Moers, which is adjoining to our Leaguer, but approching the walles to late in the morning, they were discovered by the watche, and so returned as they came. I thinke it not amisse to lette your L. understand, that the chiefest fol.4r
marchants heere that trafficke for Spaine, do affirme upon knowledge, that there is not come home of the Indian treasure eight hundred thowsand poundes sterling; which hath caused in Spaine a great scarcitie of money, and the lyke is also heere through the want that is there: by reason whereof, and the stay of their shipping and gooddes there of late, there are many marchantes heere fallen soddainly bankroutes. And thus I take my humble leave. Hage 11 September 1595.