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fol.5vAddressed: To the right honorable my very singular good Lord the L. Burghley Lord highe Treasurer of England.
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Later Addition: Galba DXII P. Plut: XIV D
May it please your good L. Upon the rea- ding of your lettre of the 15 of December which came to my handes the 28 before I did procure the meeting of the states, I founde it very requisit, to speake with Master Barnevelt: that if so be he could be wonne, to undertake his former offer, we might jointly cast a plotte, to sette the mater forward, and also make, if neede required some special addition, to the forme of that verbal which your L. had concea- ved. But I should use too many wordes to make a full report of his answears unto me. The chiefest were to this effect, That his forwardness and zele, to doe service to bothe sides had bin ter- med in England simulation and cunning: that the state of their affaires, since he and I talked, had bin notably changed, and that the college of the states was waxen very jalouse of his dealing in this mater (albeit he did not thinke, that they knewe the particularities) so as nowe the seconde time, to intermeddle in the same, it was to hasard overmuche his credit in the contrey, if it should not succeede to their general liking: which he had no reason to put in adventure sith it touched him no more, then every man besides. This was so in debate, for 2 daies together: but yet in the ende, with very much a doe, and many sortes of persuasions he made me this answear, That al- though it were apparent, that sins the time of that Ouverture, there had many thinges hapned heere, which were evident impeachments to the course that he proposed, fol.1vI had presently therupon some further talke with Master Bar- nevelt, by whome I was informed, that the answear made unto me, went currant in their meeting, as taken to be grownded, upon the very true reason and circumstance of thinges, as their state standeth nowe, and in the nature of this cause for which the mater yet required some time of digesting, which he would sette forward the soonest he could, and travel to effect it, with his greatest dexteritie. For it so be his collegues should be urged very hastely, he thought that out of question, they would ether not give eare, nor if thei should, and should not like it, it were no more to be renued wherupon he would endevor, not directly by persuasion, for that were too open, but by other kinde of preamble, to prepare underhand the humors of his felowes, which would be therfore the harder, because thei are not one mans children and hardly meete in one conceat, in the weightiest causes of the contrey. The lest con- tributing Provinces, as Guelderland, Overyssel, Utrecht and Groeninghen, are none of the stiffest in refusing a peace, and have nothing so muche feeling of her Majesties offense, as Holland and Zeland, that stand upon their trafficke, and can quickly make the reckning, to howe muche danger they are subject, if her Majestie would be drawen, to make trial of her puissance. fol.3v
Nevertheles because Holland and Z[eland by reason of their] their greatnesse, give the lawe in a ma[ner to all the rest,] he will first take upon him, to soun[d the chiefest] sort of them, and if they will comprehe[nd it as bene-] ficial for the state, he will make the les[s doubt of the] residewe of the Provinces. It comme[th happily to] passe, that he is newely nowe appointed [with certain] principals of Holland, to goe presently [for Zeland] about some publicke causes, which he doth ac[count will] keepe him away, some ten or twelve daies, [and give him] very good leasure, for maneging this mat[er with those] of that Province. And there will be then a[fter about] a fortnight, a full meeting of Holland, wh[ere he is] bent to doe his best, and thereafter as he fi[nds that these] are affected, he will /both/ in hande with some othe[r] lesser Provinces, and when the time shall b[e for it, he] will procure to have me called, to explicat [my mea-] ning, in my former proposition; and then a[fter to con-] clude, and determine upon it. So as I am [in good] hope, to knowe of or on, within fower or five [weekes.] once I hold my self assured, that there wil[be no de-] fect in Master Barneveltes endevors, who is v[ery earnest] with me, that there may be no speeches, of this th[at he intendeth,] nor no mention of his name, as of a plotte[r of this pro-] ject: which will rather disadvantage, then [advance her] Highnes service, and may peradventure pu[rchase him] a number of bitter foes. It may als[o en-] danger then further this mater, for me to [deal with others,] aswell as with him, unles that some men of the[mselves, will] give the first occasion, as hath bin done by /Master/ [Barnvelt] Againe I finde it not so easie, where men[s natures] are so jalouse, as they are in this Contrey, a[nd so feare-] full to listen to any newe devises, to ge[t them suddenly] fol.5r
to tast a point of suche consequence, as will bereeve them of the benefit of a singular Treatie, with a Prince of so muche power, whose counte- nance and aide hath maintained their estate so many yeres together, against the force of suche an Enemie. For which I take it to be best, till the mater shall be riper, to use the helpe of one alone, who is already gained for it, and for his credit and experience, doth serve in steede of many others: as likewise I must say, that for his soundnesse of dea- ling, I have had it in trial, for a number of yeres, in very many causes, in which I have found him often harshe, in regard of perfourmance, where his promise hath bin past: And so I trust I shall have cause, to report in this case: wherof I will advertise, as occasion shall be given, ha- ving nowe no other mater, for the affaires of this state, nor for forraine occurrence, that doth deserve to hold yow longer. For which I take my humble leave From the Hage January 4 95 Your L. most humbly bounden Tho. Bodley
Postscript: Theire purpose was heere, to have sent their [D]eputies for England, about the first [of] the next moneth, which is talked of no [m]ore, nor as farre as I can learne, [in]tended nowe not at all; for the speeche that I delivered in the name of her Highnes [u]nles that happely this be granted, [w]herein I am busied at this present.