Reference: BL, MS Cotton Galba D IV f.195r-196v
Citation: DCB/001/HTML/0822/008
Date: 01 May 1589
Copy of: 0176
addressleaf
Addressed: To the R. worshipfull my verie loving frend Master Bodeleie Esquier Counsellor for hir Majestie in the Counsell of Estate in the Lowe Cuntries.
Endorsed: From my L Treasurer. First May 89. for the persuadinge the states to take the Charge and deffence of ostende or to so fortefye the same as maye be with bothe their [homores], to maintayne it, also to procure the delyvery of Sir John Wingfeeld & his Ladye and an Infante Child oute of Prisone in theLocontreyes, of the Scotyshe Rebelles that Adherd with the Prince of Parma to enter Scotland to [Suberte] Relygion & invad [England, and the surcese of the wars of Fraunce 31 Eliz.
lettertext
Later Addition: 1589 primo Maij To Master Bodly
Sir. Though I have verie litle Leisure at this tyme, yett the matter I have to write of, is of suche waight, to be expedited, as I maye not forbeare to write therof in some haste having Commoditie offred to send the same awaye by a servaunt of my L Willoughbies ready to take his passage to Graves end. I hope that yow have receyved lettres from hence for your dealinge with the States towching the towne of Ostend, althowgh by your lettres of the xxijth of Aprill, receyved this first night of May, yow make no mention thereof. But at this tyme I am Commanded by hir Majestie to renewe that matter in this sorte as Followeth, We have thought of longe tyme that the towne of Ostende, would prove either dangerous to be loste, or out of reason to Costlie to be kept, for we knowe that the ennemye, especiallie the whole Countrie of Flaunders have an earnest desire to Recover it wherebie all Flaunders, and namely the Sea Coastes should be free, And at this tyme we understand for certeintie that the greate townes offer large taxes to beseige, and recover it. And therfore as by former lettres, yow were dyrected to deale with the States, to take it into their Charge, ar to give allowaunce for the fortifying thereof, especially of the greate breaches, already made by the Sea, and more like to ensue this next wynter. And if the States would not assent to the one nor the other, her Majestie muste take some other course with it, for without verie greate Charge, aswell by fortifications, as by Reenforcinge with greater nomber of Souldyars the towne is not defensible against a Seige. And nowe therfore if yow have no answere in Certentie which yow were dyrected to require with speede, then yow shall withall Convenient spede propound this unto the States generall, and require their answere absolutely for the taking of the towne into their handes, or for the fortifying of it to make it tenable: to neither of which I thinke they will assent and performe in dedes. And if they shall refuse the same, wherof I pray yow require their answere, to be putt in some written Acte), then hir Majestie maye take some other course with hir honor, as cause shall move hir to acquite hir self of the towne, which is the thing that hir Majestie taketh mete as a grounde to answere the States, whatsoever she shall do. Thus muche for that matter of Ostende. And now to add somewhatt to this lettre yow shall understand that your lettres of the xxijth of Aprill, brought by Richard Hall, make mencion of the Quenes Majesties lettres to the towne of Gertrudenberch and another to your self both dated the xijth of Aprill, and 2 others from my self, the one of the xxviijth of Marche, and the other of the xiijth of Aprill, being hartely sory that hir Majesties lettres Came so late unto yow. I am gladd to perceve the Comminge hither of the three Commissioners named in your lettres, for by that meanes the L. of Buckhurst jorney may be stayd which I did especially advise, as one that shold have had Commission with yow fol.195vto have seene into the defectes of the goverment there, and of the yll effectes likely to followe uppon this notable mischief, and so to have reconcyled, and consolidated together all the broken members into some newe unyon. Uppon this Comminge of these Commissioners also I thinke the matter that was intended to be delt withall, by my L. Borough, your self, and Master Gilpin, for the hearing, and clearing of the Accompts wilbe putt over, at the leaste your Instructions will not Come unto yow before the xxth of this monethe, as was meant. I must end with a verie earnest request to praye yow to take care, and use all your Creditt yow can, to procure the deliverye of Sir John Wingfeild and his wife, wherein I knowe not how to dyrect yow. But for the deliverye of the poore younge Childe being an innocent, mooste barbarouslie against the Lawe of god and man, Committed to Common prison (as Captaine Hall saithe) I hope the case being so pitifull, and agreable with all humanitie, yow shall be able to releyve the poore infant: And so having no more Leisure to wryte, I do end with my hartie Commendacions and thankfull acceptance of your plentifull thankes Conteyned in theise your Laste lettres. In Scotland, the Kyng prospareth, in prosequutyng certen rebells that have had Intelligence with the D. of parma, to have brought in spanish forces, both to have rooted out relligion, and to have invaded England. the K hath parsonally with an army of vj [.] men parsued them, as far as [.], wher he now is. and the rebells ar fled into the montagnes of the North. I hope he shall cleare his Contrey, of these daungerooss [.]. In france also, the K. syde amendeth, by the means of the K of Navare, who hath lately defeated a part of the forces of the legars. and in paress they begyn to Cry at this present we heare nothyng of our Spanish army but they departed the xviij of Arill from Plymmoth. I hope to here some good, by the next westerly wynd. From my houss in westminster primo Maij 1589 Your assured loving frend William Burghley
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