lettertext

fol.49r
After my hartie Commendacions. [I] heare have [recevid] hither the xiijth of the moneth at one time sondrie your letters of divers dates, viz of the xiijth the xxijth the xxiiijth and xxvjth of the last moneth, and the last of the forthe of this moneth, all which have been imparted to hir Majestie, and for awnsweare to so much of the same but as are thowght fitt to be answered, yowe shall under- stand hir Majesties pleisure to be as followeth./

Hir Majestie liketh vearie well of your manner of dealing with the States, in the demaund of Remboursement, of such monies as have been expended by hir Majestie for them thes many yeres withowt rendringe anie satisfacion to hir Majestie by repaiment of anie part, and althowgh theie did alledge manie Cawses of their dishabillitie, yet your perticular awnsweres made unto their objections, appeare so sufficient to hir Majestie, as the same being [included] unto them theare is noe apparance of reason for them to replie against the same, for wheare theie alledge that theie are [at charges] of Reparacions and Garrisons of the townes lately reduced unto them, that was well awnswered by yowe in that theie have nowe in Contribucion divers partes in Brabante, Flanders, the Omeland: the Drent, and other Cuntries, whoe doe yeld them monethlie Contributions. As also an increase of theire subsidies in Gelderland, Zut- phen, and Overissel, and besides that they have [Impo-] [sicions] [indirectlie] awnswered owt of the townes latelie wonne as in Newmegen,Zutphen,Deventer & Stenwick Breda, Hulst, Stenberg, Groninghen, and other places: all which Augmentacions have accorded unto them since theire first Treatie by [them] with her Majestie. Soe as yt maie be plainelie said that their state is increased almost to the doble of that theie had before, and of the wealthe of the Contrey theare can be noe better [Argument] made, then that which yowe have alledged that the whole Cuntrye [is replenished] with Inhabitantes, and frequented with Strangers, as yt fol.49v
[is hard to hire howses for habitation at any price. But touching the last objection [.] which theie made [alledging] [it] [to] [be very] dowbfull and dangerows to make [a] [resolute] awnsweare, withowt the privitie of the Pro[vinces] and people, least the same might discontent them [and comfort] the Ennemie: In which respect theie desire to be for[borne] untill theie might [levie] their [allegacions] layd open to hir M[ajestie] before theie showld publishe hir message to the P[rovinces] hir Majestie is of your opinion that this is but a devise [of a] [dilatorie] awnsweare, for that hir Majesties demand is [grownded] uppon justice and reason, and the same beinge soe [opened] by the Deputies of Provinces to the people, hir Majestie not but the people, will allowe better therof than [of other] the late demawndes made for monie to be seene in F[rance upon] the Frenche K.to whome theie weare not bownd by [anie] Contract as theie are unto hir Majestie, nor from who[m they] had recevid anie succor in their necessities of menn [.] Therefore hir Majestie would have yowe require a new [audience] and to lett them understand howe much hir Majestie [disliketh of] their awnsweare [in] delaie and consideringe [her de-] mawndes are just and honorable, she dowbteth [not, but] the [same] beinge sincerelie and plainelie open[ed to the] Provinces, then will yeld by reasonable Contri[bution to] satisfie hir Majestie some good portion of the [debt due] unto hir, yeldinge for the same [yearly] a por[tion at every] half yeare, and bicawse yowe did alledge, th[at yowe] could not saie in certaintie howe much hir M[ajestie presently] demawnded to be [restored] yowe maie saie that s[eeing the] whole charges of hir Majesties paimentes are above, [.] would yeld for this first yeare one hundred th[owsand] powndes to be paid in two paimentes vt [by equal] por[tions] everie half yeare, and so to continewe, hir Majestie would beare with the rest, to be paid yearelie accordinge to that rate fol.50r
By your last letters yowe have Certified of certaine letters intercepted, written by the old Fox and Jesuit William Creighton whereof one hath some Ciphers, which wee heare hope shall be deciphred, and yowe shall doe well to use all meanes here- after to intercept the like.

After that I had written thus farre for awnsweare of your former letters theare came letters of yours of the [xiiij]th of this moneth, whearebie yowe doe advertise the lacke of resolucion to be geven unto yowe to be the [long absence] of the Deputies of Gelderland and Overissel, which yowe write is greatly wondred at theare, and yet by the report you made of the great inundacions made in these Contreis, with great Cala- mities both to the townes and people, maie probably seem sum Cawse of their staie.

The next matter of this lettre, is your report of some Intelligence yow have had, by Conference with som of the Scottishe Nation, that Collonell Steward should have some secrett Instrucion to sollicitt the States for the 1000 foot and 500 horse, for 6 monethes, or rather for so much money as maie serve for them, with request to have 3 monethes pay owt of hand, and yet yowe cannot perceive by the Coronel Steward, that he hath moved anie such thing to the States, [but] in generall termes to require succor. Upon this case you have entred into sum probable conceipt, that you have reason to dislike it, uppon divers reaons that yowe do allege and for that the Coronell hath told yowe, that he thowght the States resoluc[on would depend upon hir Majesties allowance or your owne, so as if yowe would signifie hir Majesties [liking] herof theare would be noe stoppe so as you have forborne to geve him anie direct awnsweare but do require what corse yowe might observe, when yowe shall speak of thes affayres. Of all which hir Majestie hath been duelie informed by hearinge of your [.] lettres read. And for awnsweare hir Majestie would have yowe, if you be pressed ether by him or the States to declare that she hath given unto the K. of Scottes these [late] years good summes of monye spetiallie to be [emploied] to subdue his rebellious subject[s] fol.50v
[wherein she hath seen him so directed by partiality of Coun sell favoring the] [.] [.] [.] Rebells,, as little hath been done [ether with] the Q. aide or with his owne charges: And in the [end, she] standeth out of Scotland, that the principall Rebells [have in] sum sort compownded with the K. of remitt[all] of the[ir offence] and to have license to goe owt of the Realme, and [to enjoy] theire Liveloodes, so as hir Majestie seeth noe cause for th[e K.] to raise upp anie further forces against them: And therefo[re she ] thinketh that this Composicion made by the Rebells with the [K. hath] been concluded since Collonell Stewart came owt of Sco[tland] yet nevertheles if he shall having knowledge of that [composition] betwixt the K. and the Rebells have anie newe Co[mmission] from the K. to require this succor, hir Majestie woulde w[ell like] the[reof] to have the K. gratefied: and this is hir Ma[jesties] [pleasure], that if yowe be moved to showe hir opinion, [yowe] may give awnsweare accordinglye./

I feare that thes great Inundacions and wast of [the Countries] will increase the Allegacionns of the States for delay [of paiment] wheare yowe wright, you might be hable to [decip[her the letter] of Creigton, I doe send unto yowe hearewith the [copie] therof as I received it [from] yowe. From the Cor[t this 22] of Marche 1594. Your assured lovyng frend William Burgh[ley]

Postscript: I praie yowe thanke Master Guilpin from mee for his lettres of the 15 heareof, to whome my healthe, nor lesiure [serveth] mee at this time to write, which I meane God willinge to doe at my next dispatche./