Reference: BL, MS Cotton Galba D IV f.199r-v
Citation: DCB/001/HTML/0823/008
Date: 05 May 1589
lettertext
Later Addition: Belgia 1589 2 May To Master Bodly
Sir. the lettre included from her Majesty, procedeth, uppon dayly reportes that are here, of La Motes sollicitation to have ostend beseged, wherof her Majesty seeth, ether hir honor or hir tresor greatly interessed. for suerly without some good succours it can not be keptt ageynst a sege. nether are we allweiss sure, how to releve it with men and vittells if the ennemy do once aproch it./ our opinion is here, that it war better to abandon it this sommer, than to contynew it to wyntar, for them if ther be not present repayre this wyntar ageynst the seas, the lower town will be lost.yesterday I hard from bruxells, that the D. maketh accompt of a disposition of a nomber of towns in holland to yeld them selves to the kyng. yow shall do well to deale herin with such as ar confederates to serch into it, and to stopp that Courss.
by my next yow shall here of the [Commission] that was intended for my L borogh your self and Master Gilpyn to deale with the accomptes between hir Majesty and that Contrey, The barbaroos dealyng of them of Dort, ageynst the Innocent nursslyng of sir John wingfeld, increaseth the hatred conceaved agaynst the states. but suerly I thynk the generall states nor the Counsell will allow it./ from westminster the v of May. 1589 Your assured loving frend William Burghley
Postscript: Master secretary absence bredeth me more busynes than at this tyme I am mete for
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