Reference: Hatfield, MS 31/103
Citation: DCB/001/HTML/0710/008
Date: 23 April 1595
Note:
Copy of: 0772
addressleaf
Later Addition: XVII. 22
Endorsed: Copie of my lettre
Later Addition: Master Bodley
lettertext
fol.103r
May it please your good L. A contrarie wynde hath kept me from your lettre of the 22 of Marche, till the 14 of this moneth: I also then receaved an other from her Majestie to the generall states, by the addresse of Sir Robert Cecill, and in favor of the debt, which is owing Sir Horace Pallavicine: which I exhibited out of hand, and also plea- ded his cause aswell as I could. Their answear thereunto and to my generall proposition, about the matter of remboursement, is delivered unto me but nothing sayed to that effect, as when I writte you my last the 13 of this present, I well hoped to have heard in regard of a further offer, of some actual sa- tisfaction to be made unto her Majestie for although they were in talke, how somewhat might be done, yet doubting in part, howe the contrey would perfourme it, and partly also howe her Majestie would accept of a litle, they grewe to no conclusion. All their aunswear in a maner, some certaine pointes excepted, is the same that I signified the 22 of February when I re- ported in lyke maner what was replyed agayne by me, and I know not what more can be added nowe unto it. Againe I am persuaded that nothing will prevaile, whatsoever I say besides; because the mater is so fitte for replies and rejoinders, that there would be no ende of disputing upon it.
That which they have alleaged of their detriments receaved by meanes of fluddes and water breaches, I suppose to be no lesse, then they seeme to insinuat.
For there have bin some comitted, to take parti- cular information of all the harme, that hath bin done in every part of these Provinces, and their losses doe amount to a very great summe: which is a principall cause of their slackenesse in assenting to this yeres contributions. For the Provinces doe commonly passe their consents by the last day of January or immediately upon it, and nowe it soe falleth fol.103v
out, that only 3 Provinces, Holland Utrecht and Guel- derland have accorded their portions.
Where in the knitting of their aunswear, they requyre that I would signifie, what they had sayed by word of mouthe, and is omitted in their writing, I take no great pleasure in telling their tale, but yet to dis- charge my duetie therein, this is all that I remem- ber that resteth unsignified. They say they had often tymes debated this mater of my message, and were exceedingly perplexed in devising how to deale, that both her Majestie might be pleased, and their owne Estate preserved: but although they had bin busied, as never soe much in any other mater, yet they found it impossible, to doe that which was requy- red, and they thought very muche to be pressed unto it. We doe all, say they, confesse, that we are bound to her Majestie next to God, for this shewe of assurance wherto our Contrey is reduced: for which it dooth not becomme us to contest with her in wordes, about the equitie of our cause, but yet to say as the trueth is, and every man knowes, we are farre from that Tranquillitie, whereupon we concluded our Treatie with her Highnes. It is also to be shewed that since the very first yere, we could never enjoy those forces and nombers, for which we had contracted and pawned our townes. And that which payneth us most, is to see that her Highnes doth continually disbourse very great summes of money, for the payment of her people, and yet maters are so caryed, that neither she nor the Contrey, hath that use of their service, as in reason were behoofull. For many more might be spared from the cautionary townes, and from that of Ostend, then we could ever yet obtaine by any instant intreatie: and of those that have bin sent us, we were evermore uncertaine, what account to make of them, through their often revocations, and fol.104r
cassinges, and countermandes, and other doubtfull messages, which put us cleane out of course of an orderly proceeding, both for casting our plottes and atchieving our attempts. Againe her Highnes may remember, that in /the/ yere 85 before the Treatie was concluded, we did flattly then refuse, as the preface thereunto doth expresse very plainely, to contract for a lesser aide then 5000 foote and a 2000 horse. For we knowe a lesse number would but drawe our warres at lenght, and cause the people to despayre, when they saw that their troubles would never have an ende. Where of we looked for no other, but a soddaine composition and agreement with the Enemie. All this notwithstanding, we can not at this present nor could not these /two/ yeres, bring 1000 /men/ of her Majesties Companies to the service of the fielde. These and other lyke speeches were delivered unto me by word of mouthe, but in very humble tearmes, and duetifull sorte. To make your L. partaker of my answears againe, were to troble you indiscretly with a tedious recital. But after I had spoken what was meete for her Majestie, I lette them understande that wordes and writinges were good cheape, and that needes they must deter- mine to make some other payment. For though their state was not so good, as was commonly suppo- sed, they were not yet to seeke of a competent meanes to gratifie her Majestie. And if they should not by somewhat shewe their thanckfulnes unto her, I doubted of the sequele, in regard of her displeasure: But whatsoever I could alleage they were wonder- full vehement in all their protestations, that they were destitute of meanes to satsifie her Highnes, and that they could yelde unto her only that summe of a hundred thousand powndes, which your L. doth requyre to be payed every yere; but not a farre fol.104v
lesser summe, without incurring the perill of their utter confusion. And where they understood that I meant to convey their aunswear to her Majestie and not to cary it my self, as they had imagined I would soone after it was delivered in writing unto me, they sent of purpose to calle me to their publicke assemblie, and there they intreated or rather conjured me (they spake with suche affection) that in a mater of that moment, wherein soe muche depended for her Majesties good aswell as theirs, I would take the paines my self to returne with their answear, and laye before her Majestie not onely those reasons, which advance her demaunde, but sith I knowe in lyke maner, howe it stoode with these contreis, acquaint her also of my selfe directly, and sincerely, with the full estate of their affaires, and that in every particular, which could not be expressed to be perfectly conceaved but by verbal demonstration: which would cause her they were certaine, to runne some other course, then suche as might occasion the flatte subversion of the Contrey. They would willingly have sent some Deputie of their owne, but that it could not be done without writing to the Provin- ces, which would but make a longe worke, and was not so convenient. Having made my excuse by dyvers causes, but chiefly for want of her Majesties licence, they urged me so earnestly and promised me to write so effectually unto her, as I should not neede to doubt, but that it would be well con- strued. At which their instant desyre because I doe consider, that heere I can doe litle, till I see howe her Highnes will proceede upon their aunswear, and that I may at her pleasure returne againe assoone as any messenger, I have thought it fittest for her service not to stand upon deniall. fol.105r
But that which moveth me moste unto it, is an ouver- ture made unto me in privat communication, by a Deputie of Holland: which whether it proceede from the partie alone, or with some notice of the States, I am not well assured, For he protesteth unto me with earnest assertion, that he doth it altogether without the privitie of his collegues: and although I doe beleeve it, yet I can not but conjecture, that some- what hath bin spoken in the meeting among them, wherby he hath good knowledge howe the rest are affected, and doth direct himself thereafter. His drifte, in this ouverture, is so to propotion her Majesties demaunde with the contreis abilitie, as it may be brought to passe with the lyking of the inhabi- ants, and both be very honorable, and beneficial to her Majestie. Because the mater is but rawely imparted unto me, and hath many pointes in it, to be duly considered, it may happily hold me heere some seven or eight dayes, before I take my voyage. I have sent the meane whyle their aunswear before, with their lettres to her Majestie, and the LL. of the Councell, of which one doth concerne Sir Horatio Pallavicines debt; wherein whatseover hath bin further said unto me then their writing hath declared I will signifie at my coming. Your L. being advertised of the trou- bles at Embden by Master Gilpin, I have sent you heerwith inclosed the proposition of their Deputie to the general Estates, containing the reasons of their taking of armes. It should seeme by his speeches had with me, that the towne is resolved to write unto her Majestie to crave her favor in their cause, or at least to intreate her not to hearcken to the Count, who prepa- reth as they say, to subdue them by force.
By a very good meanes, among the Scottish men heere, I am certaynely advertised, that the King hath bin mooved by Coronel Stuart to pray her Majestie to enjoine me not fol.105v
to crosse his request. Howbeit it is thought that the King will not write, I know not howe the Coronel meant it, hether indeede, as conceaving that I oppose againste him, or whether it be but a practise, to make tryall how her Highnes is affected in his suite, not by the way of a plaine request (which perhaps he is loath to use) but indirectly and by circumstance. Once to me he will not seeme, to thincke amisse of my proceedings, as in trueth he hath no cause, not having bin thwar- ted in any other sorte, but that I wished the States to deale in that mater with the privitie of her Highnes. And sins I have made it knowen, that she can be well plea- sed that the King should be assisted. Nevertheles I am sure, that they have made him no graunt.
But of this kinde of dealing, and other lyke maters, I will signifie somewhat more, at my coming to your L. which I trust I shall not finde unpleasing to her Highnes both because my abode shall neede to be but shorte, whereby her businesse is not letted, and because I am assured it will benefit her service. And thus I take my humble leave. From the Hage 23 of Aprill 1595.
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