Reference: TNA, SP 84/44/185 f.184r-185v
Citation: DCB/001/HTML/0384/008
Date: 02 April 1592
Note:
Copies: 1118
addressleaf
fol.185vAddressed: To the right honorable my very singular good Lord, the L. Burghley Lord highe Treasurer of England.
Endorsed: 2 Aprill 1592 Master Bodeley to my Lo. from the Hage.
Endorsed: Sir Ed. Norris./
Later Addition: 2 April 92
lettertext
fol.184r
May it please your good L. touching that which yow require, for some favor to be shewed to the Governor of ostend, the smallest intimation of your pleasure therein, is sufficient to binde me to doe my uttermost endevor. But the occasion thus serving, I can contene my self no longer from informing your L. that I have bin so ill requited by the Governor and his frindes, for my frindly dea- ling towardes him, wherof this Councel of estate and many of our nation, will be witnesses unto me, as to tell your L. truly, I was utterly made careles what became of his causes. For besides his owne ill conceat and report of my doinges, his parents have inveied most bitterly against me, at their open table, and in the presence of divers gentle- men of mine owne acquaintance. Upon intelligence wherof I advertised Sir Edward of the wrong that I receaved, and refused there withall to make or meddle with his causes, that depende before this Councel. Onely that which her Majestie or my LL. should commaunde me, I told him I would prosecut, as their com- muandement should import. Your L. may remember, with what respect at the first to the Gover- nors credit, and howe warely I write in all my letters unto yow, and to no other but your L. to prevent this present trouble. Which I was sure must needes ensewe. And likewise to himself I writte as frindly as was possible, to persuade him to sur- cease, and to take some better course. Howbeit of as many of his lettres, as I receaved heere in ans- wear, of which I thinke I have the most, to shewe at this present, I had never any from him, that was per- tinent to the mater, or to any point of importance contened in my lettres. They were written every one fol.184v
in generall termes, That he had done nothing without very good warrant, That the Councell of estate did wrong him very muche, And that I should doe him a great pleasure, to thinke the best of his doinges. And likewise in his ans- wears to all the lettres of this Councel, of which the copies are reserved, of as many as have bin written of one side or other, sins the time of his admission, he gave them alwaies just occasion of great offense against him, with using continually a superficial forme of speeche, That they were ill informed of him, and that all that he did, was for the good of the contrey, without comming to particulars, to satisfie those maters of which they complained. This made them utter often times very passionat speeches, in ter- ming all his doinges a mere deluding and moc- king both of them and of the state: and also affir ming that the lest of many of his offenses, in a sub- ject of this contrey, should be capitally punished. And wheras divers were desirous, to decree against him with some rigor, it was doubted by some others, that it might be a meanes to make him mu- tine, and to doe as stanley did at Deventer. And that imagination, I am certaine, hath bin the chiefest occasion of their not proceeding to some hard resolution. His case standing thus, it was not possible for me, to doe him hitherto any pleasure. For maters were too evident, to speake in his defense, and to crave any favor, it was but in vaine: when he would never acknow- lege, that he had injured the contrey, and submitte himselfe unto them, but alwaies stand upon it, that he was wrongfully charged. In effect his fol.185r
owne ill handling of his maters, hath bin so highly displeasing to the Councel of state, as I knowe not howe thei can be ended, but to his or their dis- credit. But for my self, I protest unto your L. as I desire the continuance of your honorable favor, howsoever I am abused by him and his parents, I will sette it all at naught, in regar- de of advancing that yow have required. And if there be any meanes to pacifie these maters, there shall nothing be omitted, that I am able to devise.
As I receaved in charge from my LL. of the Councell, I have done this Councel to understand, that by her Majesties order Sir Edward Norreis will come hither, when- seover he shall be sent for, so the time be fitte for it in respect of the Enemie. They have made no answear yet unto me, nor I shal not be able to ghesse at their meaninge, till they among themselves have had some secret consultation. And thus I take my humble leave. From the Hage. April 2 1592. Your L. most humbly bounden Tho. Bodley
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