Reference: TNA, SP 84/48/281 f.269r-270v
Citation: DCB/001/HTML/0445/008
Date: 24 June 1594
Note:
Copies: 1371 0039
addressleaf
fol.270vAddressed: To the right honorable my very singular good Lord the L. Burghley Lord highe Treasurer of England.
Endorsed: 24 Junij 1594. Master Bodley to my L:
Later Addition: 24 June 94
lettertext
fol.269r
May it please your good L. having nothing to negotiat till I heare from your L. which I have not done as yet, sins I came out of England, I am humbly to beseeche yow, if yow thinke it so meete, to lette me knowe assoone as may be, to what effect I shall addresse my further dealing with the states. They have taken suche order for supplie of the garrisons, as it is not to be doubted, but that the Enemies forces being presently dispersed, they are very well provided: and yet their meaning is further, as occasions shall require, to see them fournished as fully, as they have bin at any time. I have also earnestly solici- ted, to knowe an answear about the shipping, whiche the Provinces will send to the enterprise of Brittaine: wherein I doe perceave by privat communication with some of their Deputies, that they have full commission sent unto them, to take what order they thinke meete. But forasmuche as I my self am utterly ignorant, bothe of the number of shippes that her Majestie will arme, and of the time that is assigned for their putting to sea, and of other besides very necessary pointes to be knowen to them heere, before they can resolve, I am forced to forbeare from dealing further with them, till her Highnes final pleasure be notified unto me.
From the Campe before Groeninghen we are thus advertised: That the 13 day of this moneth the bourghers made offer to capitulat with Co. Maurice, requesting him to send his Deputies unto them: which he promised to doe, so that they would send him hostages, till the Deputies returned. Wherunto when they had yelded the Co. sent his trompette, to conduct the hostages unto him. But while the trompette was within, the souldiers of Verdugo, which lay entrenched in the suburbes, and were, as is thought, 700 in number, fol.269v
by the practise of Jesuites, and with the assistance of certaine mariners, and suche others of the towne, as disliked to ca- pitulat, had a gate sette open to them, by which they entred unwares to the contrarie faction, put many to the sword, that were in consultation, advanced their enseignes about the walles of the towne, and committed besides divers insolent actes. This was done the 15 of this present, but was unknowen to our armie, till a bourgher that escaped and lept over the walles, came to tell it Co. Maurice. Wherupon the next day after, he sent them a drumme to require his trompette, and to knowe their resolution. In the time of their parley, it was accorded on bothe sides, that the great artillerie should not play, which was a singular furtherance to the finishing of our workes, having perced by that meanes into 4 several places of their dicke, which nowe they labor to fille up. The 17 day at night the trompette being returned, Co. Maurice was certified, that the bourghers had prevailed against the souldiers of Verdugo, and had driven them againe into their trenches in the suburbes, which is called there the Schuytendiep. And presently upon it they renu- ed their former suite by a letter to the Co. requesting him againe to capitulat with them: wherunto he con- descended, but refusing to be bounde as he had bin before, not to use his great artillerie: which he perceaved by some prisoners, did more terrifie the bourghers, with their firie bullettes, then any other force, or practise of the armie. They required in like maner, that although they should conferre, and agree upon conditions, they might yet be permitted to take 14 daies respitte, to see what succor would come to them. Which they seemed to demaund, because Co. Maurice once before had made them suche an offer. Howbeit by his lettre of the 19 he replied unto them, that thinges were nowe in an other fol.270r
state, and sith that before they rejected his offer, he would not graunt so muche againe, but in the worde of a Prince he would assure them, that there was no succor towardes, using speeches of persuasion to drawe them to compounde without further delay. Howe this lettre is accepted we doe not understand: but every man supposeth, and their maner of proceeding doth insinuat no lesse, but that they purpose to surrender.
Having had the sight of an Abstract of the Emperors pro- position in the diet of Ratisbone, I thought that if your L. had not seene it before, I should not doe amisse to impart it unto yow: for which I send it heere inclosed. And so I take my humble leave. From the Hage. June 24 1594. Your L. most humbly bounden Tho. Bodley.
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