Reference: TNA, SP 84/42/296 f.296r-300v
Citation: DCB/001/HTML/0331/008
Date: 19 August 1591
Note: On fol.298v Burghley has inscribed a symbol (resembling 'op') in the margin at the word 'traffique'. On fol. 300r, there is a later administrative list (struckthrough).
Copies: 1068
addressleaf
fol.300vAddressed: To the right honorable my very singular good Lord the L. Burghley Lord highe Treasurer of England
Endorsed: 19 August 15[[9]]1 Master Bodeleie to my L The continuance of the [states] [[...]] towardes Sir [[Edward]] Norris. Divers other matters.
lettertext
fol.296r
May it please your good L. I have used towardes [In margin: Count Moryce.]
Count Maurice those gratulatorie complements, which her Highnes hath required, by your L. letter of the 25 of the last, which I receaved at Arnham the 12 of this present: and there presented that letter, which her Majestie writte unto him. He ac- cepted /it/ of me very cheerefully, as a singular token of her gratious favor: and so he protested with his humblest thankes, and with the offer of his service in all occasions wheresoever. Because his letter heerwith is an answear therunto, I re- ferre my self to that which he himself hath signified.
To the same effect as your L. hath writ- [In margin: Master Wyntar]
ten in favor of Master Winter, both Sir Francis Vere and I were in hand with the Count, the next day after that the Enemie was defeated. And as he promised then very willingly, so nowe againe he assured me, that Master Winter shall have any one or two of these prisoners, as he himself will desire: and that none shall be redeemed, till some order hath bin taken for his raunsome. Alwaies provided, that consideration may be had, for contenting of the Captaines, by whome these prisoners were taken. There are but three of them remaining: the rest are all de- livered. But these are the chiefest, and yet I doubt the Spaniardes will not give Master Winter [In margin: Alfonso Davalos]
for them all. Heere is Alfonso Davalos bastard brother to the Marquis of Guasto, who for ought we can heare hath but a pension of a 1000 crowns by the yere, and his company of horse. He is prisoner to one Captain Kintskie. The second [In margin: pedro francesco.]
is Don Pedro Francesco de Nicellj who is priso- ner to Captain Baxes and Balle. We can not understand, that he hath any stay of living, besides the benefit of that cornet, wherof he was fol.296v
Captaine, which was garde unto the Duke, and hap- pely some pay, for being general commaunder of the horsmen of provision. The third is Count [In margin: Count Decio]
Decio, who is prisoner to Sir John Pooley, but a yonger brother of those Countes of Italy, and as it is thought, and affirmed by himself hath nothing of his owne, but the bare intertenment of a lieu- tenant to Hieronymo Caraffa. The weal- thiest among them all was one Pradiglia, who [In margin: padiglio dead]
died in Arnham of his woundes. In effect I have told Master Winters servant, that whatsoever usage with reason, of those that are in custody, may stand his master in steede, for his speedier deliverance, I doe not doubt but the Count will willingly yelde unto it. And I will signifie as muche to the prisoners themselves, and gette their letters to Mondragon, to cause Master Winter to be better intreated. Wheras your L. doth require a description of the places, where any service is perfourmed, it is not possible ma- ny times, but by naming of suche places as are next adjoining: which I thought I had alwaies sett downe sufficiently. For heere are many Fortes in these contreis, aswell of the Enemie, as of ours, and in Groeninghen especially, that have bin made but of late, and are not expressed in any Cart of that contrey. And likewise for the plottes of growndes and formes of fightes, of which your L. is desirous, unles it were so that the Councel were present in the place of conflict, it can not be done very readily. For though the Councel of state be often at the campe, yet their usual residence is at the next and safest towne: and there they are informed howe any fol.297r
action doth passe, which is but summarily and by letters on the soddaine: which I doe certifie presently in as ample sort, as the intelligence is given. And if I should attend the returne of some captaine, to describe every circumstance, it would require a leasure time, and hinder her Highnes from speedy advertisment. There are some men heere sometimes that doe pourtraict suche services, of which I will not faile to send yow any that can be gotten of our later exploites: and for mine owne part heereafter, to use all endevor, for expressing all thinges more particularly. Moreover in any encounter or military action, that ether one Nation above other, or speciall per- ons above the rest, shall shewe any valor, to be noted a part, I will not faile to report it, as their service shall merit. But in the late de- feat of the Enemies horse, the most of our troupes, aswell of the horsmen as footmen, consisted of squadrons and devided companies, and no mans endevor which was muche more eminent then other. And as for leaders in the filde, and principal officers, there are scarcely any in the states Army, but suche as Count Maurice doth depute for the time. Only Monsieur de Fauma [In margin: Monsieur de Fauma]
governor of Hoesden hath a permanent office, being General of the Artillerie, and otherwise a gentle- man of singular experience. Heere is also Monsieur de Grise Commissary general of the victuals. But no mans advise is more respected and folo- [In margin: Sir Francis Ver]
wed then Sir Francis Veres, who is commonly used by the Count as Mareschall of the fielde, and doth content [.] the contrey exceedingly for his carefulnes in all thinges, aswell for direction as execution. Being come but newly to the Hage, where the Councel of state is re- [In margin: Matruit]
turned againe, I have spoken with Matruit the fol.297v
[In margin: Matruit the states Comisssary]
States Commissary, upon /whom/ Sir Edward Norreis doth relie for making answear in his behalf to all their imputations. I knowe /the/ party very well, to be a man of good discretion, and I knowe his affection to our nation in general and to Sir Edward in particular, to be more then ordinary. For which I see not howe the Governor could have sent a fitter for his purpose: albeit he was sent for by the states of Zeland, upon occasion of other buisnes. It is perforce in these affaires, that I must be plainer then I would be willingly, if her Majestie might be otherwise effectually served. The forsaid Commissary hath bin one of the chiefest, that hath from time to time informed this Councel of those abuses of the Governor, being bound thereunto by his office and othe, and not concealing from the Governor his proceedingly so roundly. Never- theles though he dealt in that order for discharge of his duty, yet I finde him very ready, to accom- pany his complaintes with his best construction, and to doe any good office, to make a quiet compo- [In margin: a Composition betwen the states and Sir Edward Norris]
sition between the states and the Governor. But his travail therein can not greatly steede the Governor. For the states are persuaded that all his letters and offers to her Majestie and to them, are but mere excuses and cunning devises, tending to no other, but to winne a litle time, which bringes a great deale of gaine, in those exactions and profits that he reapeth continually by usur- [In margin: great exactions]
pation upon the contrey. For at this very present they have intelligence from ostend, that those of Bridges have presented him with 12 [In margin: 12 silver Cupps]
silver cuppes, which he hath receaved, for the confir- mation of their entercourse. And this is certi- [In margin: new accusat tions]
fied hither with an other long list of newe accusations. fol.298r
I can not say upon certaintie, that every thing is true, that hath bin heeretofore, or is nowe imputed to him (albeit I can not yet in any thing con jure the informers of a wrongfull report) but of this I am assured, that the greatest pointes of im- portance are very maniest and true, of those that were comprised in this Councels letters to her Highnes. Moreover there is a fresher [In margin: a new accusa tion]
accusation then any of those former, that is newly sent hither from the states of Zeland to the Gene- rall states, but not imparted as yet to the Coun- cel of state. For which I can not yet certifie, what is written in particular: but in general I heare that the states of Zeland understanding that one [In margin: Peter Cortyken a Greffier]
Peter Cortiken Greffier du Franc, which is one of the 4 members of Flanders had special accesse and conference in secret with the Governor of ostend, and from him had recourse to the D. of Parma, going often in and out, with great offense to all the contrey, to knowe what practise was in hand, laid [In margin: Cortyken taken prisoner]
waite for the said Cortiken, and tooke him prisoner upon the way, and brought him to Middlebourgh. where they finde by his confession, that his treaty with the Governor was to contrive a peace between [In margin: a peace]
her Majestie and the Enemie, the Governor under- taking to persuade with her Highnes, and the Greffier promising to worke the Duke therunto. And this they say, he hath declared with every speciall circumstance: which when it comes unto my handes, I will send unto your L. Howsoever this mater hath bin handled by the Governor, I see it doth distemper this people not a litle. All that I doe feare is lest the troblesome fire of their wonted jalousies and diffidences, which was never quenched thorowly, albeit nowe of late it was not muche to be perceaved, will kindle nowe a freshe, and cause her Majesties servants, that are heere in these fol.298v
contreis to become more unprofitable, then they might be otherwise. For I am almost out of hope, that they will ever keepe any perfitte correspondence, with those they dare not trust. I knowe this mater er be long will be bitterly proposed, and what answear I should make, I am altogether doutfull, being ignorant, as I am, howe the Governor hath pro- ceeded, and with what intelligence from home. But for me there shall be nothing heere omitted, whereby any oversight wherewith he may be charged, may be ether coloured, or excused, or construed to the best. For many important causes, as of late I have written in a letter to your L. so nowe againe I am to signifie, that for the good conduction of these affaires of her Highnes there is nothing more expedient, then that suche as /are/ heere of her Majesties mi- nisters, should impart their dealing in some degree, with him that is heere of her Highnes Councel. For in all suche occasions, as are offered nowe, it is commonly to me that they addresse their first complaintes. And what credit I can have, to seeme to knowe nothing, or to heare that I would not, and yet be forced to excuse it, I leave to your L. to consider. Where I certified your L. that the states of Zeland were resolved to take some course among themselves, to redresse those disorders committed by the Governor, I doe learne by Matruit, that they were once deter- mined, (though he knowe not at this present howe they are disposed) to prohibit the carriage of any victuals to Ostend, without the paieng of Licent mony, which is only paied for victuals to the Enemie. And that in regard that the Governor himself doth traffique, and send those victuals to the Enemie that come out of Zeland. As your L. doth signifie, the states of Zeland have bin ear- nestly bent, to decay the contributions of the contrey fol.299r
of Flanders. But is is ordened by the General states, that they shall be continued with sufficient provisoes to meete with all inconveniences, which those of Zeland can pretend. In that your L. doth suppose that Holland and Zeland are but coldly inclined, to extend their boundes in Flanders, I can assure yow, that the enter- prise intended upon the land of Waes, wherof I made mention in my last from Arnham, is at the special motion of those of Zeland. And they would willingly of themselves, that the Provinces would concurre to assaile the Enemie in those quarters. But they of Frise, Guelders and overissel, and likewise Utrecht, have bin al- waies very vehement in opposing against it, refusing flatly to send any forces fo so farre from their Provinces, whereby the Enemie might be moved to take them unprovided. For though they knowe that in Flanders, the losse of any place of good account might annoy the Enemie very mightily, yet they thinke on the other side, that the assurance of their state, and the custody of that which they have in possession, is more to be respected, then the adding more unto it, by taking from the Enemie. Nowe that Deventer and Zutphen are recovered againe, if Nieu- meghen also could be gotten, the most part of these contreis should stand in good securitie, and there could be no excuse, for not imploieng their forces to the winning of other places.
The Enemie, we doe heare, is still in those partes, which I mentioned last unto yow. But the bruite is very constant of his going for France, and that he leaveth no part of his forces behinde. Whiche is also confirmed, by letters from Brussels: from whens they write, that the states have condescended to raise 2 regiments fol.299v
Later Addition: 19 August 91
upon their owne proper charges, to defend the contrey in the absence of the Duke. Count Maurice hath letters this day, that the D. of Parma is gone [In margin: the D. of parma at Namures]to Namures, and that the Princes of Germany have taken /suche/ order in their several territories, as his levies of horse will hardly gette unto him.
Sir Francis Vere is appointed with some 10 or 11 cor- [In margin: Sir Francis Vere sent to lynghen]
nets of horse to marche towardes Linghen by the Countie of Benthem, to spoile the contrey people, and as advantages are offered, to deale with those troupes of the Enemie that lie scattered in those quarters.
There be divers difficulties moved in the [In margin: Hulst]
enterprise of Hulst, which require good information, before the action be attempted. To that effect there are men imploied, and we expect every houre what word they will bring: which I will signifie to your L. With the first opportunitie. And so I take my humble leave. At the Hage. August 19 1591 Your L. most humbly bounden Tho. Bodley.
Postscript: I have answeared nothing to your L. about your motion for the states to depute some person to joine with Master Gilpin, for examining their complaintes, before the Governor in ostend. For truly maters are so cleere, that there needes no verification, and they, I am certaine, will never hearken to my motion. But I will consider what other course may be best, and, if I can, effect it otherwise, that your L. doth require.
fol.300r
Later Addition: Lowe Contries Sir Edward Norreys lettres from 96 till 99 Master Davise from 78 till 97 Doctor Perkins from 1589 till 1598 Master Winwods lettres from 24 July till 3 march 1603
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