Reference: BL, MS Cotton Galba D IX f.11r-12v
Citation: DCB/001/HTML/1095/008
Date: 27 January 1592
Note: This document is badly fire damaged.
Copy of: 0373
lettertext
fol.11r
May it please your good L. The Emperors Ambassador, of whose arrival at the Hage, I advertised your L. the 23 of this moneth, hath surceased his suite to have audience of this Councel, and intendeth to expect the meetinge of the states. In which respect, and for the better dispatche of certaine deputies, which are heere residinge from the Bishop of Liege, complai- ning of the daily incursions and cruelties, that are committed by certaine garrison souldiers appertening to the states, upon his neutral places and also to the ende it may be knowen in time convenient, what the Provinces have resolved as touching the Councels Proposition made unto them the 5 of November last (wherof at that time I sent your L. the copie) for the Fournishing of nine hundred thowsand florins extraordinarie, to be imploied in the next sommers warre, there are letters newly written from the Councel of Estate, to everye Province a part, to hasten the sending of their deputies hither. So as nowe it is supposed, that they will be heere to assemble within this fortnight at the furthest. By this course of the Ambassador, the Councel of Estate is somewhat overtaken. For wheras they had presumed, that he woulde not attend the comming of the states, but addresse himself to them, wherby they thought, to that effect, as I have formerly written, to make him some answear to the contreis advantage, their hope in that regard is altogether frustrat. He hath taken suche advise, as he will deale with noe others, but the states of the Contrey. Nevertheles by all that I can conjecture, there is no suspi tion to be had, that the states will be wrought to admitte any Treaty. To tell your L. a truth, for mine owne particular I did flately oppose and so did others of this Councel against the giving of a pasport, to licence his comming so farre as the Hage. For albeit he professeth religion, and is a frinde as they say to the cause of these contreis, yet I thought it was not otherwise to be scann/e/d, but that he would alwaies be faithfull to his Master the Emperor, and that he might not happi ly be acquainted with the Enemies mysteries, and with the mischiefe intended to the ruine of this state. Wherupon they were to thinke, that before he would depart without an absolut answear to the matter of his message he would not onely sojorne heere, till the states were assembled, but would deale by his ministers and letters with the single Provinces fol.11v
with the principal townes, and with all those persons in parti[cular] might steede him in his purpose. And what effectes his [long abode] and secret practises might produce among a ticklishe peop[le that] have bin alwaies in those actions inconstant and credulous, [it was] muche to be considered. For I thinke your L. doth knowe [it, and I] see it heere before mine eies, that howsoever the opinion i[s commonly] conceaved, and they would have it heere conceaved, that the [point] of religion is a principal occasion of their taking armes, [it is ap] parantly knowne, that the generalitie of the Provinces of G[ueldres] Utrecht and Overissel, are addicted to poperie exceeding [ly and] likewise this of Holland to all maner of religions: that [even here] at the Hage, which is the court of the Contrey, and should [be best] disposed, in all probabilitie to the cause of religion, there [is not] in the judgement of those that doe observe it, a quarter part of [the] multitude well affected to religion: which I also meane, not [onely] in hart and in deede but not so muche as in shewe, and [in outward] profession. By reason wherof, and to eschewe the perill [of the] peoples soddaine inclination to accept of a Treaty, in ca[se that] in France the D. of Parma should obtene any notable [victory] I moved them rather to assigne a meetinge at Berghen o[r Breda] and to licence the Ambassador to come thither, or to some [other] frontier towne, to negotiat with suche persones as they mig[ht appoint] and not to suffer him to enter into the hart of the contrey: [or other] wise to addresse their letters to the Emperor himself, and [to his] Ambassadors at Brussels, and without any walking in c[repusculo] wherin they take a great delite in all their formes of pr[oceeding] to shewe directly the causes, that have moved them hithe[rto to] disesteeme the Emperors offers, and to signifie plaine[ly what] they thinke, that if the motion were made for a general [peace, and] that the Enemie would be brought to revoke his forces [out of] France, they will then be very willing to come to some [conference] But notwithstanding this remonstrance, it was thought [ex] pedient, to permitte him to come hither. I was with him s[ince his] comming, but then there passed nothinge but complementes [between us] Howebeit he hath sent unto me sins, that wee might m[eet again] tomorrowe meaninge as it seemeth, and as I see by some [circumstance] fol.12r
[to] breake his minde about e Treaty, and to note what I will answear. As his dealing shall require, I will be very diligent to advertise your L. And so I take my humble leave. Hage January 27 1591.
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