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fol.206r

Later Addition: [Nove]mber [.]Cecill

They have secretly discoursed, about the sending of [some] fol.208r
persons to give her Majestie more content, then hath bin done by their answear delivered to me; and if it chance to be resolved, it is lyke to be declared, in their lettre to her Majestie wherof in lyke sorte, to interpose my opinion, without note of presumption, I should thinke that suche a message would make very muche for the service of her Highnes for that in this case when they can not be persuaded, to assent to her demande, both the sending of their Deputies, will seeme more respective in the judgement of the worlde, then their bare kinde of writing, and it may be at their comming they will make some fruitefull motion, or be wonne by good remon- strance to recomend heere at home some speciall purpose of her Majestie or if neither of both should happen, yet me thinkes in these sturres, and turbulent tymes, where the cause is so common be- tweene the two contreys, her Highnes cannot but be holpen by the conference, and counsaile, and presence of suche persons, as I presume they will depute. And where her Majestie maketh mention of Master Barnevelts ouverture, wherin there was good hope both of this and greater maters, I have moved him about it, and debated it at length, but he putteth me in mynde, that the tyme is farre other, and their State more afflicted, and that they have bin at the change, sins he and I talked of 20000li disbour- sed to the French Kinges use, and at great expenses in the field, where they had not then their armie, at the tyme of that ouverture, nor yet in 3 moneths after: and had perhaps, as he supposeth, if this plotte had bin accepted, remained still in garrison (withall he doth maintaine (as I have formerly declared, to be the opinion both fol.208v
of him and of dyvers heere besydes) that there is no po[ssi-] bilitie to induce the Common sort, to condescend to resitutio[n, by] vertue of the Contract, for that they will not understand [it] but as a mater of right, and a just stipulation, a[nd] that it ought to be continued: for which of force th[ey] must be wonne, by presenting unto them some oth[er] forme of Treatie, with some suche covenants and [con-] dition, as may not charge her Majestie, and yet tie [the] Contrey to those paiments, which her Highnes wil[l] require in regard of her dboursementes.

And heere I can not by the way, but advertise your [H.] that sins my last coming hither, I have found M[aster] Barnevelt farre out of temper, partly through th[e] speeches of some of his Collegues which dislyke of hi[s dea-] ling, as if his Ouverture to me, had bin a moti[ve] to her Majestie when she sawe that of themselves, they w[ould] yeeld to some good portion, to cast upon them the bour[den] of a greater demande: wherewith they crushe him, as [he sai-] eth very often, in their meetings: partly also he [is] grieved with somewhat written out of England of the op[inion] and cunning, to winne time of her Majestie. Whi[ch is] also a touche to me in particular, in respect of [my credulitie,] or some other kinde of weakenesse, in that I could [not] see the pracise. But for my self, I could [wishe] that the mater then proposed, had /come/ aswell in s[ome] forme which her Majestie could have lyked, as it w[as] cleere and out of question, that there was no diss[imula-] tion. For as for any abuse that Barnevelt co[uld] offer, by the meanes of his ouverture, it was so hard [for him] to doe it, and so many must concurre, and it [had] steede him so litle, as if the circumstance of [thinges] in the nature of that cause, and in the forme of this g[o-] vernement, and in the maner of conferring an[d] proceeding heere with me, be duely weighed with all [his] fol.207r
pointes, I doe not thinke to finde any, that will stande in that opinion. It is advertised hither from very good place, that the Administrator of Saxonie, the Elector of Mayence, the archebishop of Saltsburghe and the rest that are elected, to worke the feate of Pa- cification, have concluded among themselves, to goe in hand with that attempt, about February next: which yet we thinke will be differed, till the coming of the Archeduke, who many men thinke will be longer in coming because they say, he hath in Province many yrons in the fire, and is in hand with Casot the Consul of Marseilles, to deliver that towne to the King of Spaine. But for the mater of Pacifica- tion, this people is inabled by an excellent late token of gods goodnesse unto them, to choake the Enemie very soundly, and to dashe that practise altogether.

For there hath bin very happelie intercepted of late in the Mediterrane Sea, a special packet of lettres, which were written by the Marquis of Havrey, and Jo. Baptista Taxis, to the K. of Spaine, and sent hither to the States, by Monsieur D'Esdignieres. By that of Taxis is disco- ered a double a falsehood in their meaning, both towardes the Emperor and the States: and also his lre otherwise is full of fraudulent courses.

They were written both in Cypher, and deciphred in suche sorte, as I have sent yow the transcript, by Monsieur de St Aldegonde: and were by the States deli- vered to me, with an earnest request that they might not be divulged, but to her Majestie and my LL. to the end, in tyme convenient, they may serve to be produced, to the best advantage of their purpose. Heere is secret notices given, and as is thought, over true, that the Co. of Hohenlo, who is nowe in Germanie, doth fol.207v
imploy all his meanes to the advancement of a [peace] and is wholly busied among the Princes, in maters prejudiciall to the State of this union: all proceeding of dislyke betweene him and Co. Maurice. Moreover it is reported, that he w[ill] meete the P. of Orenge in his way to these Con[treis] and what his dealing may be furt further it [is] feared of divers. It is undoubtedly [heere] beleeved, that there will be a truce between S[pain] and France: at the least for a yere.

We have also heere intelligence, that the Gouv[er-] nor of Boullen by Calais, hath suche doing[es] of late with the D. D'Espernon, as many men s[ee] cause to doubt of his loialtie. As they [doe] in lyke maner of the holding out of Calais [which] is not well provided, as the Common voice go[eth] and sith we heare that de Fuentes maketh [great] preparation, it is suspected of many, that h[is] dessigne is to besiege it. The [F.] Kinge hath written to the States, to knowe w[hat] kinde of warre they will make the next y[ere,] whether offensive or deffensive, to the end h[e may] thereafter direct his owne affaires. An[d their] answear thereunto, he desyreth to receav[e by] his Ambassador Monsieur Buzanval: to [whome] he hath written to returne with the same, a[nd to] give him information of their state in [many] maters. But I can not yet well per[ceave] that the States can well determine what answ[ear to] make as touching their warre. Som[e of] those in these quarters, that have best intellig[ence] out of Spaine, give out for certaine, that the b[rui-] ted preparations, are nothing so great, a[s] heere they did imagine. To co[me] fol.209r
to that last, which toucheth my self, I am to sue unto your H. very humblie and earnestly, that her Majestie may be moved, to grant me licence to returne: wherin before I went from home, my L. Tresurer promised to favor my petition, and I hope my L. of Essex, will put his helping hand to it. For I protest unto your H. if I might have but the leasure, to set some order in my State, which is charged with expences, more then most men doe imagine, and is many waies wracked, to my very great detriment, by reason of my jorneys it would to me be all a mater, to live at home, or abroade, either heere or wheresoever, as her Majestie may be pleased to thinke me fitte, to serve her turne. And so &c/ From the Hage 26 November 95.