Reference: Hatfield, MS 34/36
Citation: DCB/001/HTML/0713/008
Date: 17 August 1595
Note:
Copy of: 0486
lettertext
fol.36r
May it please your good L. I had my audi- ence with the States, the 14 of this present: where I presented unto them her Majesties lettres, and added so muche more, as I had either in charge, by vertue of my Instructions, or was otherwise enjoyned from her Majestie by worde: wherupon they required to have my speeches in writing, which I exhibited the next daye after, and send heere inclosed the copie to [In margin: see fol 27]
your L. Other answear I had none, more then they give commonly, at the first proposal of a mater, That they would take advise upon it: which yet they uttered unto me with signification of their grief, that her Highnes would proceede so directly a- gainst her Treatie, and that in suche a season, as if their State were throughly sifted, it would be found in greater danger, then it was at the tyme of the making of the Contract. They have mett very often about the mater, and yester afternoone, because I pressed them hard to knowe to what effect I should write unto her Majestie they deputed one to tell me, that I must needes have the patience to attend a little longer: for that they had not yet concluded, what answear they might make, but found it every waye a mater full of infinit danger, if they should not proceede with very great circum- spection: for which they were agreed, to imparte it out of hand to Co. Maurice and Co. William, and to the Councel fol.36v
of Estate, which are together at the Campe, to the end, with their advise, they might determine for the best. As farre as I can conjecture, they are fullie bent to sa- tisfie her Majestie in sending to the Provinces but I can not yet perceave in what sort they are inclined, to propose the mater to the Provinces. For if they doe it effectually, by imparting their advise, and by persua- ding with the people, to assent to a certaine summe, ether that which I have signified, or that they shall sette downe, I may hap- pelie have an answear with some expedi- tion. But if they will not determine to give direction to the Provinces (as I finde them that way very backward) but shall barely make request, to knowe their reso- lution upon her Majesties lettres, and my propo- sitions, suche a generall kinde of writing will occasion great varietie in returne of their answears, which are of force to be re- duced, by often sending too and fro, to a full accord of all in one (because they goe not in suche cases by pluralitie of voyces) and then what time it will require, your L. will conjecture. I will therfore endevor by all meanes I can devise, to drawe them heere before hand, to agree upon a portion worth her Highnes acceptation, and to move fol.27r
the generallitie to condescend therunto. I have publikely proposed as her Majestie willed a hundred thowsand poundes, but they shew so litle token of hearkning unto it, as I must grow to other termes in my privat communication, or els expect to be denied. For to informe you roun- dly what I finde, with humble suite unto your L. to make it knowen unto her Majestie I see the chiefest heere among them full of silence and sadnesse, for the trou- bles and discomfortes, which they declare to come by heapes upon the people of this contrey, and to minister muche mater to discouragement and danger. They alleage in dealing with me, their losses in winter, by the great inundations, wherof a great contrey complaineth continually; the contention of the Provinces, about their contributions, which are not yet appeased; the consumption of their troupes, which they sent to the D. of Bouillon; the foiles they had at Huy, and at divers times sins, in smalle encounters with the Enemie; the dangerous consequence of the overthrowe in France; their ill successe at Grolle, and the generall puissance of the Enemie both heere, and in France, having presently a foote fower severall armies, in Britaine, Burgundie, fol.37v
Cambresie and heere. To this they adde the soddaine want, that is noted of all men, of zele in religion, in the people of this contrey; their excessive dommages sustained by the stayes made of late of their shipping in Spaine, the spoiles that have bin done upon their marchants shippes, by Dunkerkers, who are saied within these two monethes, to have taken at the least a 100 shippes of this contrey, and not so a litle as the value of 150000li sterling. They also put unto the reckning of the conti- nual detriments, which they receave by Englishe sea men; and the smalle assurance that they have, to hold her Majesties forces, ether those that her Highnes or the Contrey intertaineth, but are most of all moved with this message of mine for restitution of her monies: in so muche as they affirme, that if there come not in somwhat some amendement of their Estate, to keepe the people from despaire (wherof they doe pro- test that their hope is very slender) they are very muche in doubt of some soddaine alteration: which is also feared will be- ginne among the mariners and sea men: that as they were the chiefest in delive- ring the Contrey from the bondage of the Enemie, so they doubt that nowe againe fol.38r
they wilbe readiest to revolte, if their trafficke be impeached, which the Spaniard, out of que- stion, will omitte no practise to effect.
And very nowe heere is newes from St Lucar in Spaine, that the K. hath prohibited by publicke edict, the paiment of any debt to any person of these Provinces, which is sup- posed will extend to the undoing heere of many. There was a lettre intercepted about this time twelve monneth, written by one Frideri Spinder (as it seemeth a sea- man) to Yvarra at Bruxelles; by whome a question had bin moved about the use of galleys upon the coast of Flanders, for cutting of the trafficque of Holland and Zeland, because I am not certaine, that your L. hath seene it, and we heare that the Ene- mie is busie againe about it, I have sent you a transcript of it. It was written in ciphers and deciphred by Monsieur St Aldegonde.
Upon the siege of Cambray by the Co. de Fuentes, there goeth already a great feare among some, that it will be carried er be long. For Monsieur Baligni, they say, is very ill beloved both of the Bourghers and souldiers, who are doubted to be /no/ more then seven or eight hundred, wheras the towne doth re- quyre 3000 at the lest, to make good resistance with a great deale greater stoare of warlicke fol.38v
provision, then is there to be founde by all report.
It is also commonly spoken, that if La Motte had lived, de Fuentes first intention was to goe in hand with Calais: in so muche as those of Zeland upon request of the Governor, were determined to send thither 6 or 7 com- panies, having sent already upon the bruite, a certaine quantitie of powder. There is a general conceat among the wisest of these contreys, considering howe de Fuentes is both gouvernor by provision, and Financier, wher- by he hath autoritie to undertake what he list, and the meanes in his handes to perfourme his designes, which was nether graunted to Ernestus, nor to the Duke of Parma: considering also his sufficen- cie, for the managing of his businesse, and his victories of Late, in the moste of his attemptes: and that the K. hath no occasion, to be so jalouse of his doinges, as it seemed he was ever of the D. of Parma before: that the comming of the Cardinal will be stayed for all together, and an absolut Commission conferred on the Count. Co. Maurice with his Campe is sayde to be about Bislike a place adjoining unto Wessel in the lande of Cleve, and the Enemie neere unto him, within two houres marche: but heere is nothing reported of any thinge lately done, of one side or other. The States are very willing, that the Co. should returne, and put his people in garrison, for that they finde it a heavy fol.39r
charge to continue him there: but doubting lest the Enemie, who is saied to be strong 5000 foote and 1500 horse, should repaire to de Fuentes at the siege of Cambray, they stand doubtfull what to doe. Having seene certaine copies of intercepted lettres, which Master Gilpin of late hath sent unto your L. by a clause in a lettre of William Creighton, That a certaine English man should be taken in the Northpartes of England, with one David Lawe a Scottish Priest, I calle to minde what was written to Tyrius at Rome, by the selfe same Creighton in a former lettre intercepted, which I sent unto your L. at my last being heere, to witte, that he had sent a man with David Lawe, who had undertaken to effect, by waye of persuasion, some speciall mater in 429 which I ghesse to be Scotia, as me thinkes it is also manifest that 428 is Anglus, and 427 Anglia, and perhaps some man els could ayme at the rest, containing somwhat in my opinion of very good moment: which may perhaps be discovered by the examination of Williamson, who I learne was the man that was taken with Lawe, and is meant, as I thincke, in the lettre of Creichton.
Though your L. may have noted this mater before, yet I thought it not impertinent to remember you of it, and to send you the copie of that part of the lettre, which toucheth that mater.
I frowe sawe a lettre right nowe from Morlaix in Britaine, that all along the coaste betweene that and Brest, the Spaniard is buised in making of fortes, so as if he may be suffered for two mo- nethes together, it wilbe founde very harde fol.39v
Later Addition: XVII.49.
Endorsed: Copie of my lettre unto my L. Tresurer 17 August 95.
to chase him away. Though your L. wantes no meanes to knowe those occurences, yet the lettre being freshe, and comming so fitly at the writing hereof, I thought to touche it in a worde. Heere is also notice at this instant, at the mutined Italians are lyke to come to com- position: which will adde a great strenghth to the Enemies forces. And thus I take my humble leave./href="http://www.livesandletters.ac.uk/cell/Bodley/transcript.php?fname=xml//1595//DCB_0713.xml"