Reference: TNA, SP 84/45/243 f.243r-251v
Citation: DCB/001/HTML/0419/008
Date: 21 September 1592
Note: Letter annotated by Burghley. On fol.240v there is a mark in the margin at the words 'Lastly it is some grief'. On fol.242r at the words 'deale lesser summe' there are three crossed spheres in the margin. The final part of the subscription and the postscript are inscribed perpendicular in the left hand margin.
Copies: 1189
lettertext
fol.240r
May it please your good L. I have sent with this letter the abbreviat of a muster, which was lately taken of the companies, that are under Sir Francis Vere. They have bin many waies diminished by the service of this sommer, as will be written to your L. by Sir Francis himself: but by no- thing so muche, as by their running away, sins warning was given for their going into France. For which I am persuaded, that they will be many fewer, at their comming to Flushing, and have taken therfor order, that they shall at their arrival be mustered againe. Sir Francis Vere, and the Captaines are gone thither already, and attend the comming of the companies: which have bin stopped these 12 daies, through the roughnes of the winde, which is against them at this present: which I thinke in like maner is the stay of my letters, that have bin written in that behalf. I have signified in my last, what order I have taken, for supplie of the companies, that are appointed out of Berghen. [In margin: Berghen]
As yet I doe not knowe, howe the states of Ze- land doe digest it. But I make full account, that they will use but smalle delay. Having sent to the campe, for Sir Nicholas Parkers officers to prepare his horseband for Britaine, as yet I have [In margin: Sir Nicholas parkers band of horss men]
receaved no answear againe, but Sir Nicholas himself in comming out of England, hath passed by the Hage, and I have signified unto him her Majesties pleasure: who is also ready to perfourme as muche as is required. He doth onely request to have some fol.240v
time for his souldiers, having bin in the field for 5 monethes together, to repare their furniture. He alleageth besides that many of his troupe being Dutche, and divers of them maried (as there [In margin: Dutch marryed men]
are in like maner, in Sir John Poleis company) he shall hardly be able to induce them to goe with him: and those that shall be wonne, will be craving of time, to make their provision. And where I have persuaded him, to exchange with Sir John Poley, and to [In margin: exchanged of Sir John Polly]
take some others in the places of those that are maried, and are lothe to depart, he affirmeth that the most of the horses, which are of his company, are bought by himself, as he thinkes Sir John Poley will pretend the very same, and that in comming to exchange, they shall hardly come to agree, in the valuing of their horses one against an other. Moreover there is no imprest appointed to be given to his [In margin: an imprest /]
company to make provision for their victuals, and all other necessaries, as there is unto the footmen. For nothing hath bin written, to my self about it, and the officer of the Treasurer hath receaved no order. Lastly it is some grief to Sir Nicholas Parker, that ha- ving alwaies commaunded under Sir Francis Vere, he should falle in his credit to a lower degree, and having no charge be commaunded by an other, whome he thinkes he must serve but for a garde of assurance. I have answeared these ob- jections aswell as I could, and I have written to the Councel, and to Count Maurice, to graunt him a Passeport to come unto Berghen, to put his troupe in order, and to make their provision. I have fol.241r
also promised, if neede shall require, to be an indifferent arbiter between him and Sir Poley, in the passing of their horses from one to an other: that I trust I shall prevent all occasion of contention.
Heere is nothing yet concluded, for any further imploiment of their forces in the field: albeit they have bin long in consultation about it. Their opinions, I heare, are very divers therein. Some doe hold it best, to send the souldiers for a time to refreshe themselves in their garrisons. Others would proceede to the taking of Grolle and Oldenzeel, and other smalle townes in the Twente and Drente. Their are also some that would endevor to blocke up all the passages that laid unto Groeninghen, which they make an easie mater. It is proposed by some others, that they should give an attempt upon the towne of Bolduke: or make a bridge to passe the Rhine by Sgravenwert and so by skouring that coast, to hinder the returne of the Enemies forces, which are thought to be as yet, with the chiefest of their strength, about Oldenzeal: attending, as it seemeth, what we will resolve.
The state is somwhat troubled with Count Mau- rices courses. For although it be so that he hath spedde very happely in this enterprise of Coe- voerden, yet the expense of time and of mony hath bin excessive, and might have bin lessened in many respectes, if he would have obeied the states resolution. For which I finde by their speeches, that if he had missed of taking the place, they would have shortned his autoritie in sundrie special pointes: as fol.241v
it may be peradventure they intend to doe as yet. For sins the winning of the castel he hath committed the custody of it to the states of Friseland: against an expresse charge to the contrary from the Coun- cel of estate, and directly, as thei say, against his othe as gouvernor of Overyssel, to whome, as all men affirme, it ought in all reason, to have bin delive- red. Wherat not onely they, but the rest of the Pro- vinces doe greatly repine, reputing it an act both inconsiderat and daungerous. For besides the putting of variance betweene the two Provinces, which have lived of late, for other like occasions, in very badde neighbourehood, it will sette the Province of Frise in so great a securitie in regard of the Enemie, that suche as are acquainted with the humor of the people, doe thinke assuredly, that being men full of stomacke, opposit in their dealinges, over sparing in their charges, and in all their proceedinges very wilfully bent, they will not for heereafter be con- tributors to the warres, but in suche a proportion as they list themselves. I am half of opinion, and many men thinke it certaine, that upon this departure of the Englishe companies, and the contreis pretense, that the Contract is broken, they will not long continue this Councel of Estate, but take some other forme of gouvernment. Howbeit because they stand in some hope, that her Majestie doth but purpose to withdrawe them for a time, they may happely differ their intended innovation. Moreover I am persuaded, that they would be well contented, to make a motion to her Majestie or to hearken fol.242r
rather to her Majestie if it should in her behalf be proposed unto them, that they might heereafter be as- sisted, with the imprest of some mony, and with a great deale lesser summe, then is spent by her Highnes at this present: or in some suche other sort, as bothe her Majestie may be eased in the burden of her charges, and the contrey relieved with a competent aide. Whiche I write unto your L. but onely by conjecture, not having bin moved in the mater by any. And astouching the dissolving of the Councel of estate, considering howe farre their autoritie is abrid- ged, it can be nothing prejudicial to any purpose of her Majestie. For where the Treaty doth ordene, that the Gouvernor general for her Majestie and the Councel of estate shall order all affaires appertaining to the warres, and to the gouvernment of the contrey, her Majestie undoubtedly by that course might receave, be- ing duly put in practise, a very singular bene- fit. But there is nothing nowe perfourmed of all that was contracted, but onely in an outward formal shewe, the states assuming to themselves the direction of every action. I receave at this instant a letter from Count Maurice wher- [In margin: Cont Mauryce lettre for Sir Nicholas parker]
in is signified unto me, that he hath retained the horseband of Sir Nicholas Parker, upon hope that her Majestie being informed of the great discommoditie, which the contrey shall receave, through the losse of his company, wherof he praieth me earnestly to advertise her Highnes she will change her forsaid purpose. I have sent heere withall the copie of his letter: and by one of the Councel, which came from Swol unto the Hage, I have bin instantly moved in the name of all the rest, fol.242v
to the same effect as the Count hath written. Wherupon considering with my self, howe muche the contrey is grieved already, that the footmen are with- drawen, I have thought it very meete for her Majesties better service, to give them some content, and to stay the urging of the mater, till I heare once againe howe her Majestie is affected: which I am also constrained to attend of necessitie, for that the company till then, will be hardly put in readines. Howbeit as your L may perceave by the writing of the Count, if her Majestie in her purpose, to have the company away, con- tinue still resolut, there will be no resistance.
There are also sent unto me, from the Councel of estate 3 intercepted Englishe letters, [In margin: 3 English lettres]
of which I have sent yow the originals heerewith. They were taken from one, that was comming from Collen, with divers other Spanishe and Italian lettres, of which one was from Rome from the Spanish Am- bassador, and was written in ciphers, and is com- mitted to one that will travel to decipher it: and likewise those wordes, that are written in cipher in the Englishe letters. Whatsoever shall be found, shall be signified to your L. The rest of the letters in Italian and spanishe contened litle mater, but of the comming to Paris of the D.of Fe- ria, of the election towardes of the liguers kinge, and of cartels gone abroade between Parma and Mantua, and the Marquis of Guasto. There was one of Collen among the rest, that had written divers letters to Andwerp, and Brussels, without putting to his name, and used those wordes, which I send your L. in a schedule, in 3 of his letters, which me thinkes may import, as if they looked out of England, for some newes extraordinarie. And thus I take my humble leave. From the Hage. 7ber 21 1592. Your L most humbly bounden Tho. Bodley
Postscript: Heere is a constant bruite at this present, that the Lantgrave of Hesse is deceased./
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