Reference: BL, MS Cotton Galba D XI f.27r-28v
Citation: DCB/001/HTML/1236/008
Date: 05 February 1595
Note:
Copy of: 0466
lettertext
fol.27r
Later Addition: [Stilo] Romano [To the] Lord [Treasurer]
Maye it please your good L. to be advertised, that when I came to the Hage the 27 of the last, I found the most of the States away, beying all invited by the Co: of Hohenlo to be at his mariage, with the Countesse of Bueren, which was solemnised at Bueren, a little towne with a Castell appertaining to the Countesse, beetween Culemborg and Tiel. I doe finde in like manner, that the Provinces have not yelded as yet to the Councels propositions, for the extraordinarie contribution of this yeere; for which they have demaunded eight score thowsand poundes sterling: which /is/ seventie thousand more then was ever yet required, the last yere excepted: Howe it will be ob- tained it is very uncertaine: but yet all men are in hope that it will be raised in the ende: albeit I am tould that my comming heere so soone will rather hurt then helpe it forward. For I doe serve my selfe of divers reasons, to drawe them on to paye their debtes, of which some will take hould to excuse their contributing; that if their graunt had bin past before I had come hither, it had bin undoubtedly a farre fitter opportunitie. Yesterday morning I had my audience of the States; of whome I was heard in a full assemblie: but I had no other aunswear then they are wont to deliver in all suche affaires, That they will take some tyme to thincke upon it, requring to have my proposition in writing, whereof heere inclosed I send the Coppie to your L: I will hasten their aunswear as muche as I may, and solicit them the while to give her Majestie content. First by some good portion of mony in hande, secondly by some annual payment till all be discharged: and lastly by abating a part of her present ex- pences. They are very muche trobled with this matter, and waxe so silent upon it, as I can not yet imagine what successe I shall have, but am in good hope, to learne out somewhat of their purpose, and to write it in my nexte. This daye I am to deale with the Councel of Estate, to whom I will deliver her Majesties lettre, and par- ticipat as muche as I proposed to the States. But Co: Maurice is in Gelderland, with whome I must deale altogether by lettres, if I see any lykelihood that he will staye in those quarters. Coronel Stuart is come hither from the Scottish King and hath delivered his message, whereof all that I can learne is that he seeketh to renue the auncient amities and alliances between the twoe contries: and withall is a suitor to be assisted by them against his rebels at home. Whether the K: desire be for money or men I shall not be able to signifie fol.27vdirectly, till I have spoken with the Coronel or with some of th[e States,] which I purpose with the soonest and will advertise accordin[gly]. The report that hath gone of the Germane Ambassadors, that shoul[d come to] treate of peace, is still a foote in these contreis. It is deter[mined,] they saye, that of 12 speciall persons deputed therunto, there sha[ll 6] repayre to Brussels, and 6 to this place, to witte, two from the [Ecclesia-] sticall State, two from the Princes, and other two from the to[wnes,] and that certaine Heraldes wearing their coates, shalbe sent [before, to declare to the people in places where they passe the occasion [of their] comming. But I can not yet perceave, that they have yet r[esolved] heere, what cause they will take for admitting or stopping [their coming,] though I see no inclination that they will enter into treati[e.] Heere hath gone a speeche of late, of 3 townes taken by the [D. of Bouillon] in the Lande of Luxembourgh, Juois, La Frette, and Cherian[cy which] lye upon a branche of the Mose, withall it is said, that he [hath defeated] 11 cornets of the Ennemies horse, but though the newes c[ame hither] about 6 dayes sins, it is no further yet confirmed. About the same time we were also advertised, that the Ca[stle of Huy ] a strong place in the land of Liege, lieng upon the M[ose, near] the Citie of Liege, is surprised by certaine soliders of [the states, which] were presently seconded by divers other troupes: but ho[we they will] speede it is doubted very muche, because the contrey there [is populous,] and full of gentlemen, which are very well provided of [warlike fur-] niture. But yf they chaunce to hould the place, con[sidering that the] Duke of Bouillonis there at hande with his armie, [which are said,] together with the States forces, to make 9000 foote, and [1500 horse, it] will proove a very speciall annoyance to the Ennemies [actions.] It is held for certaine heere, at the mutined Italians [have accorded] with Ernestus, for which many men blame the Sta[tes of these con-] treis, that they cutt them not in peeces, when it was [in their] power. It is written from Andwerpe, that Richardot, [Assonville] and Vasseur principall persons of the Spanish Councell at [Brussels,] are displaced by the King, but there are that doubt the certaintie. They are greatly grieved heere that they can not stand assured of [these] English troupes which they entertaine, being hindered by it mu[ch] in making their designes, for not knowing what forces they m[ay] fol.28r
employe in any enterprise. At my being in Middleborgh I receaved a letter from Sir Robert Cecill with a second discourse of the Scottish affaires, whereof in as muche as no other matter is yet offered unto me, to write to his Honor I humbly beseeche you to give him some intelligence. And so I take my humble leave. From the Hage February 5 1594.
href="http://www.livesandletters.ac.uk/cell/Bodley/transcript.php?fname=xml//1595//DCB_1236.xml"