Reference: BL, MS Cotton Galba D VIII f.319r-320v
Citation: DCB/001/HTML/1229/008
Date: 31 December 1591
Note: On fol.319r there is the signature 'F F'.
fol.320v
Endorsed: Copie of a letter to my L. Tresurer December ultimo 1591.
lettertext
fol.319r
Later Addition: 1591 31 December To my L Treasurer
Later Addition: Belgia 1591. December
May it please your good L. there is an other Messenger come hither from D. Cassimir, with divers letters of credence, to the General states, to the Count, to Monsieur Busenval, and to my self and others. The copie of that to me I have sent hereinclosed, and of that which he was willed to signifie uppon it, the effect is this. That the D. had bin earnestly urged by the Empe- ror, and by the Archbishop of Ments in speciall, to use his credit in these Provinces, for persuading the states to accept of a Treatye. That though he had often refused to intermeddle therin, yet at last he was wonne upon the faire presentacions and promises made unto him, of all good conditions and faithfull perfourmance, to write that letter to the General states, wherof heertofore I have sent your L. the transcript. But the letter being brought when the Deputies were departed there was yet no answear made unto it. Nevertheles wheras his letter was written the last of October he writte unto the Emperor the 24 of November as if the states had made an answear, and had acquainted him with certaine causes, for which they coulde not with their safetie yelde to any Treaty: supposing by that meanes to drawe some further matter from the Emperor, upon his answear to his objections. His letter was written in Dutche but translated into Frenche and exhibited unto me, wherof heerinclosed I have sent the copie. The rest of this Deputies speeches tended to assure me, that the Dukes affection was sincere, and wholy bent to advance the cause of these Contreis, intending also to doe nothing with out her Majesties good liking. Howbeit for himself he was persuaded, although it might carry much matter of daungerous consequence, to come to a Treaty with the Enemie, yet to graunt a first accesse to the Emperors Ambassadors and to take their Proposition: not within the Provinces but upon the Frontiers, yet could not prove prejudiciall to the state of the Contrey. In which respect he was fol.319vLater Addition: Belgia: 1591 December
desirous, to knowe her Majesties inclincation in these causes, to understand my advise of his proceedinges and to keepe correspondence with me by letters, desiring some cipher, for the better securitie of writing too and fro. Not to troble your L. with any [.] repetition, I tolde him in my answear, that I woulde certifie her Majestie of this carefull dealing of the Duke his master: that I coulde not signifie unto him what her Hignes did resolve for that I did not understand, that ether the Emperor or the stat[es] had written unto her about it: but of this I was assured, that if an unfained peace were proposed, with good conditions of assu rance, her Majestie would embrace it. But unles the motion were generall, and that the K. of Spaine might be wrought to withdrawe his forces out of France, it was wholy in vaine to talke of any treaty. I coulde not satisfie his desire by any advise from my self for that a servant and subject of my qualitie might easily passe his boundes, in so weightie a cause, without very good warrant and instruction from home Nevertheles upon further notice of her Hignes pleasure I did hope to give him some better contentment. At our first meeting there was littell other saide: but yet it seemed by his talke that he referred somwhat to his next comminge to me. It may please your good L. to pre scribe me in your next, what libertie I may use in writing to the Duke, and what report I shall make of her Majesties disposition to hearken to a Treaty. There is a letter brought hither by a Trompet from Monsieur de Bylan one of the Emperors Ambassadors, addressed to the Gener[al] states, Councel of state, and to Count Maurice: requiring a Passeport for himself alone to come hither, and to pro- pose suche matter unto them as doth concerne their specia[l] good, and is highly by the Emperor commended unto them wishing them to take a course that may not seeme too contemptuous towards the person of the Emperor. [[It is]] presumed that his errand would be, to prepare [[.]] fol.320rLater Addition: Belgia: 1591 December
by persuasion, for the rest of the Ambassadors to come hither The saide partie himself professeth the reformed religion and being Baron of Reide, and of divers other places in Juliers and Cleve, mainteneth the same religion among his subjects, being also, as is supposed, well affected to theis contreis. But heere is nothing yet resolved for the answearing of his letter. At the earnest suite of the French Kinge and upon demonstration of his present necessitie to be relieved with further forces, it is accor- ded by the states of Holland, that they will send him out of hand between two and 3000 footmen, all of their owne repartition, excepting some 4 companies, which are appointed out of Zeland. And these they thinke they may imploy out of these Contreis, being troupes of their owne interteinment, without demanding or attending the consent of the other Provinces. If their resolution hold as I thinke it will, they wilbe ready to be imbarked with the first winde, which is westerly at this present. They have deputed Count Philippe of Nassau to command in chief: and the next unto him is Coronell Bulford with the regiment of Scottes. And thus no other matter being offered, I take my humble leave December Ultimo 1591.href="http://www.livesandletters.ac.uk/cell/Bodley/transcript.php?fname=xml//1591//DCB_1229.xml"