Reference: BL, Harleian 287 fol. 203r-206v
Citation: DCB/001/HTML/1367/008
Date: 01 June 1592
Note:
Copy of: 1145
addressleaf
fol.206vEndorsed: To my L. Tresurer June 1 1592
lettertext
fol.203r
Later Addition: Belgia A 1592 primo Junij To my Lord Treasurer
May it please your good L. The 24 day of May within a daies jorney of Steenwicke, I receaved her Majesties lettres to the General states, and to my self, with one from your L. which were dated the 8 and the 9 of the same. Advertised thereby of the pleasure of her Highnes, that I should deale with the Councel, and Count Maurice, aswell as with the states, for sending further succors to the service of the Kinge, I parted presently upon it, and came the same day, where the Count was encamped. Having signified there unto him her Majesties desire, and used requisit persuasion, to move him to ad- vance it, he made me this answear, that he was very well assured of the states resolution, not to send for this present any more into France: for that the Countrey had assented to a large contribution, for the atcheiving heere of those attemptes, which are determined this sommer: which also tende to the assuring of the Province of Frise, and that their honor was engaged in the enterprise of Steenwicke. Wherupon for himself, as it wa[[s]] not a matter, that belonged unto him, but to the states of the contrey, so he thought it very hard to be pressed therunto, not willing to intermeddle ether one way or other. And as touching the troupes, which her Majestie required of her owne interte[[n]] ment, he was fully persuaded, that assoone as they were gone, the states would revoke their forces out of France: and that besides it would occasion a great discontentment among the people of these Provinces, and cause that nothing wold be done ether heere or in France: which would prejudice exceedingly both her Majestie and them. This was the substance of his answear unto me: Wherunto I replied, that howsoever the states had already resolved, to imploie there forces heere at home, both her Majestie and they had but onely one designe, which was to ruine the Enemi[e] by all the meanes they could devise. And seing in all apparance he was already reduced to suche termes of extremitie, as an opportunitie nowe served, to precipitat all his power, and that very shortly, by assisting the Kinge with suche strength as they were able, they could not answear in reason to their friendes and allies, for their wilfull neglect of a notable advantage. And fol.203vto that which he objected that they had levied a subsidie, in regard of their owne estate, and were nowe in suche an action, as they could not well give over, with the credit of the contrey, or the peoples satisfaction, it importing the deliverance of a principal Province, from subjection of the Enemie, her Majestie in her lettre had made sufficient answear, That if the Enemie in France prevaile of his designe, his losses heere at home of a fewe little townes will soone be recovered. And for contenting of the people, which cannot happely conceave, how the expending of their mony, to support a forraine prince, can redounde unto the contrey muche more beneficiall, then it may doe heere among themselves, in these intended exploites, wch are done before there eies, are understoode of them all and carie a kinde of certaintie of that successe that they desire, That I signified was a point, in which his owne good endevor, with the rest of the Gouvernors, and those that have the maneging of the affaires of their state, was specially required, For if they would resolve to concurre in some good forme of a publicke Remonstrance, and travel in suche sorte, as they were able with the people, it would undoubtedly prove easie, to compasse their good liking. But howsoever they weare inclined, for withholding of their owne forces, her Majestie did expect, that they would not refuse her, for the enseignes demanded of the Englishe assistanc[e] For they might drawe out of Holland, for a present supplie, as good as 15 companies of their owne pay, wch were [reseaved] heere behinde, for defense against the Enemie, while the armie is at Steenwicke. They have also lately intertened as I writte unto your L. the 17 f the last, 2000 men of Juliers, to be imploied in their service upon certaine weekes warning: so as nothing can impeache, but that the intention of her Majestie for the use of those that she requireth, should be willingly accorded. There was nothing saide to this that was greatly material, nor to divers other pointes, that I proposed to like effect. But he concluded all his answear, that for his owne particular, he would nether make noe marre the mater, but leave it to the states. fol.204r
To the self same purpose, as I had deal/t/ed with the Count, I dealt the next day after with the Councel of state: who thought the motion out of season, their campe being setled in the siege of Steenwicke: the taking wherof would free the land of Frise of a great Contribution amounting yerly at the lest, to 24000li sterling, which is paied to the Enemie by the frontier inhabi- tants: for which they thought it impossible to gette the states to yeld unto it. They also urged therewithall that the affaires of the King did alter very muche, and were nowe in an other state, then at the time of the date of her Majesties lettre. For they had letters from sondrie places, that Parma was re- turned, and in all probablitie, would give some onsette at his comming. And where her Highnes did require 2000 of her owne subjects, to be shipped out of hand, they stoode upon the Contract, that they could /not/ in equitie be otherwise disposed then the contrey shall appoint: for that her Majestie hath caution[[ed]] for the answearing of her charges. In conclusion they tooke it for a matter appertening to /the/ states, of the contrey and so remitted me to them. As I had formerly replied to the Countes allegations, I delivered the same to the Councel againe, to witte in suche pointes, as their speeches agreed; and declared besides to their further objections, that they knewe well enough they were able for a time, to spare of good power to the assisting of the King, and yet retaine sufficient strength, for defense of all their places. And as for that which they had pleaded upon the mater of remboursement, it was not greatly pertinent. For in a manifest case, of suche advantage to the cause, they should deale very strictly with her Majestie if having suffered those of Holland to send certaine Regiments into France, without asking the advise of the rest of the Provinces, they would sticke at her demaund which is so orderly imparted and desired at their handes. Againe albeit they were unwilling to take any order in this mater, but putte me over to the states, they were not ignorant notwithstanding, that the fol.204v
states intermedling in a cause of this qualitie was a flatte usurpation and that all the actions of these warres, by graunt of the Contract, were belonging onely to her Majestie and to the Colledge of the Councel wherby her Highnes had autoritie, as muche as all the Councel, to appoint the imploiment of their forces for the service of the Contrey. I wished them at last that although they would not send any more of their owne, they should not stand with her Majestie for the 14 English bandes, which if they would not permitte to be presently sent being most of them there, and engaged in the siege, yet because it was hoped that in 10 daies after, the service would be ended, and because they had besides them, sufficient forces of the Contrey, to perfourme the rest that they intended, for the attemptes of this sommer, they should not make any further question, when Steenwicke was re duced. To which effect I did desire, that they would falle in consul tation, and give the states their best advise. But to that they would not answear. I had this conference with the Councel the 25 of May, in the Campe before Steenwicke. But because they left me to the states, to whome her Majesties lettre was addressed express ly, and were residing at the Hage, I came hither therupon with all possible speede: where I found their assemblie dissolved for a time, and divers of the Deputies departed home into their Provinces, so as those that were remaining, made some doubt of breaking open her Majesties letter, for want of their being in competent number. But when I had declared to some in particular, that this Recesse of the states, at suche a time as the Contrey had greatest neede of their service, would seeme a practise for the nones, to defeate her Highnes of her purpose, and that I thought she would goe forward, without attending their meeting, they assembled then as many as were abiding heere in place, and used divers communciations and comminges too and fro, to debate the mater with me: which was all to one effect, wth the speeches of the Count, and Councel of Estate. But this they added more, that for their levies in Juliers, they were for that provision, which they made for Britaine, and not to be imploied in any other part: for which also their shippes, which they promised for their portion are in a readines: so as nowe they doe attend what her Highnes will resolve. Moreover for the companies in Holland, which I alleaged they might use in lieu of the Englishe, they had freshe intelligence fol.205r
Later Addition: Belgia B 1592 primo Junij to my L Treasurer
out of Brabant, that Mondragon was in feeld with 1500 footemen, and towardes 400 horse and had taken Sgravenwesel, which was a place of good strength appertening to these Contreis. From thens as it seemeth he marcheth towardes Tournehoult/hoult/ and Westelo, which are also castels in one possession: and as his forces shall augme[[nt]] as by report they doe daily, they feare some greater mater. For prevention whereof they might not suffer those troupes to be sent out of Holland. Lastly they told me, that they had newly given leave to their Coronels in France, who they thought at this present had scarce in all 1000 men, to raise their numbers to two thousand foure hundred: which they were in /good/ hope woulde satisfie the Kinge, considering their estate: as they doubted not also, but her Majestie would be moved not to presse them any more upon notice of as muche, as they had declared, which they praied me to certefie. For as yet they were uncertaine, w/h/ether in a mater of that consequence, being fewer then they should be, and therefore not autorised to assemble as a college, they might answear her Majestie by way of a letter: which yet they meant to putte againe in further deliberation. I am borne in hand by Master Buzenval, that he hath dealt very earnestly, to helpe this mater forward, being so commanded by the Kinge: but hath had no other answear then that which I have signi- fied. To give your L. some notice of my privat persuasion, If her Majestie at first, as she requested them to yeeld some greater aide unto the King had required therewithall in absolut manner, that the 14 Englishe bandes should be presently embarked, I thinke they had not made any great opposition, and I am sure it had impeached the composing of their Campe, wherby there had bin hope, that in the ende they would have spared some enseignes of their owne. More over I hold it my duty to certefie your L. that where her Majestie doth account that the 14 foote companies should make 2000 men they will not reache to that number in common conjecture, by seven or eight hundred at the lest. For there are almost 300 comprehended in the allowance of the dead paies, and of suche persons in every company as never come to service. It is also supposed that their other defectes, for want of renforcement out of England, and by fol.205v/divers/ other accidents, and their losses in this siege, together with the numbers that will runne from their captaines before they come to be embarked will stretche in all likelihood, to twice as many more. For there were slaine and hurt, before I parted from the Campe, not so fewe as a 100 Englishe: of which there were 60 in one day sent to Campen, Horne, Enchusen, and Amsterdame. And no doubt they have decreased conti- nually sins, and will doe more and more as they come to harder servce in assaulting or otherwise. Upon this weaknes of the Companies both the states and the Councel did earnestly insist that being drawen away from hens, they should be forced out of hand to dissolve their armie, the king should receave, but a smalle relief of men, and at last by that meanes nothing would be done of the one side or the other. Because I doe presume, that Sir Francis Vere, and Sir Robert Sidney will advertise your L. of all that hath passed, sins their first sitting downe, I should but overtrouble you with my particular relation. There is very good hope, that we shall carie awaie the place: and we looke to un- derstand it within foure or five daies. At my being there the towne was blocked one every side, aproches made unto the counter- scarffe and the most of their gabbions placed already. And by this time I suppose, they have planted their artillerie: of which there were 47 great peeces, and a 11 of the felde: wherewith the purpose to batten in 4 several places, for the making of two breaches. They have also made a cavallier, upon which they appoint to place some peeces of ordinance, for stouring the rampartes, at the time of the batterie /assault./ Besides they have sette certaine pioners a worke to sappe the walles, and divers ingenors to devise artificial fires, and are de- termined to putte all in execution in one day, for the more astonishment of the Enemie. The towne is very litle, and what garrison is in it we can not conjecture. For they have carried themselves very souldierlike, and having made many sallies, never left us a prisoner by whome we might learne the state of the towne. Sir Francis Vere hath bin shotte with a harquebuze in the smalle of his left legge and his brother Horace Vere in one of his armes: but I hope they will bothe recover it quickly. The hindrance of that which was intended at Enchusen, proceeded of the Enemie, who not fullie contented with fol.206r
the persone alone of the principal party, that was continuer of the practise, required him to bring some other pledges besides, and more then could be well perfourmed, but with losse of longer time, then could conveniently be spared before the siege of Steenwicke. But the partie doth yet continue in the handes of the Enemie, and his pollicie undiscovered. In the Marchants busines, which her Majestie recommendeth, I have travellled as muche as is possible for me and I thinke they doe rest indifferently well pleased. The decision of certaine pointes was differred by the states with the companies good liking, to the end of certaine monethes, which when they be resumed I will helpe to end to their content. And so beseeching your L. to acquaint her Majestie with my dealinges, I take my humble leave. Hage June 1 1592.
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