Reference: TNA, SP 84/45/134 f.130r-131v
Citation: DCB/001/HTML/0406/008
Date: 25 July 1592
Note:
Copies: 1168
addressleaf
fol.131vAddressed: To the right honorable my very singular good Lord the L. Burghley Lord highe Treasurer of England.
Endorsed: 25 July 1592 Master Bodeley. loss of fauma
Later Addition: 25 July 92
lettertext
fol.130r
May it please your good L. Upon my letters unto yow of the 15 16 and 19 of this present, I doe onely nowe attend, what her Majestie will commaund, for dispatche of the companies. It is advertised hither that the Enemie on the soddaine hath passed the Rhine, between Berke and Wesel, with a 1000 foote, and 300 horse. Their purpose is yet unknowen: but it seemeth by conjecture, that they are called by Verdugo to the castell of Grolle, who being there in person, hath a meaning, as is thought, to doe somwhat by surprise in the quarters of Zutphan, which are very ill provided of men and munition, or to seeke to distresse the campe before Coevoerden. The Councel at Swol are somwhat troubled with this occurrence, and have written earnestly unto me, that the Englishe enseignes might be suffered to repaire unto the campe: or at lest to come from Hattem, Harderwicke, Elbourgh, and those other places re- mote, where they lie nowe in garrison, and be placed at Disbourgh, for the assurance of that towne, and of the contrey joining to it. The self same motion hath bin made by the states that are heere, with urgent speeches of persuasion, to drawe me to allowe their comming to the campe. But both mine answear unto them, and to the Councel of estate, hath bin to this effect, that my Commission was precise to put the Companies in a readines with all expedition, and to send them presently from hens, when her Highnes should re- quire it. This could not be perfourmed, nor I excused in my dealing, if her Majestie having notice of their being in garrison, and we expecting fol.130v
every houre for their calling from hens, they should be sent abroad againe, to doe some service at the campe. Howbeit for that other point of their de- maund, to have them placed in Disbourgh, because I was assured that the good estate of the contrey was highly tendred by her Majestie and that to send the troupes no further, could impeache but very litle their continuance in a readines, I would write about it to Sir Francis Vere (who remaineth at Utrecht) and his opinion therein concurring with mine, wherof I doubted not at all, their turne in that respect should be presently served. I knowe not howe the Coun- cel will accept of this answear, but the states are not pleased, that their power should be restrained in commaunding the companies. We have newes at this present that Count Maurice, having left Count William at the siege of Coeveorden, was gone himself with some troupes, and certaine peeces of bat- terie, before the sconce of Oetmaersen, which belongeth [In margin: otmarsen [rendre]]
to the Enemie in the southerly part of Twente. There were not within above a 100 souldiers, which after the discharge of two or three volies, surren- dred the place, upon promise to depart with their wea- pons, and bagage: but taking an othe, as those of steenwicke, not to serve the King of Spaine, for the space of six monethes, on this side the Rhine.
The fort, it is thought, doth cost us over deere, having lost before it, by the shotte of a muskette, Monsieur [In margin: Monsieur de Fauma]
de Fauma, the gouvernor of Huesden, and generall of the artillerie, a gentleman of good qualities, of great experience in the warres, and for advise in all attemptes the most sufficient of this countrey.
Right nowe this bearer hath brought me a fol.131r
letter from Sir Francis Vere, whereby I am infor- med that the Councel of Estate hath written unto him, to the self same purpose as to me: to whome his answear and mine accorded all in one, and so I thinke by this post he hath written to your L. Thus I take my humble leave. At the Hage. July 25 1592. Your L. most humbly bounden Tho. Bodley
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