Reference: BL, MS Cotton Galba D XI f.54r-v
Citation: DCB/001/HTML/1247/008
Date: 1595
Note: On fol.54r there is the signature 'O'. It is drawn twice, once in pencil, and once in ink.
Copy of: 0709
lettertext
fol.54r
May it please your good L. Upon hope every day to receave aunswear of the States to her Majesties demaundes, I have refrained from wri- ting somewhat longer, then I was willing albeyt I had not mater since I sent you my last that might in my opinion deserve the adverti- sing, and the lesse a great deale, because I have not yet receaved any lettre from your L: whose direction I attend to some pointes of impor- tance. The answear of the States is both fully concluded and [sette] downe in writing, but not contributed yet unto me. For knowing as I thincke what the tenure will be, That they are not yet in State to satisfie her Majestie, I have dealt to such effect with some of the chiefest of them, as I am done to witte upon it, that they bethincke themselves further what special offer they may make, that would be [gratefull] to her Highnes, whereof I heare by secret meanes, that they will make an ouverture unto me, within fower or fyve dayes: so that I trust with my nexte both to send theyr aunswear unto her, and to signifie that withall which they shall determine for better contentation. Coronel Stuart is very earnest in requrying his dispatche, which yet as farre as I perceave they doe purposely delay, till they heare what I will say upon my lettres out of England: which I thincke are kept backe by this Esterly wynde, which hath continued heere with us for these five weekes to- gither. He is also very diligent in preferring the suite of the Earle of Orkney to the La: Emilia sister to Co: Maurice. But the Count hath referred him to the Generall States, and the Assemblie of the States to the Ladie her self, who hath aunswered flattly that she will not dwell so farre from her brother Co: Maurice and the rest of her kindred. Sins the death of Ernestus, there have bin lettres addressed from the Assemblie of the States, but in very secret sorte to the Marquis of Hanery, and to such of nobilitie in the Enemies[co] ntry as were commonly reputed to be most discontented wth the gou- [v]ernment of the Spaniard to insinuat unto them, at if they were desy- rous to cast of that yoke of their Spanish servitude, thei had the fittest [o]pportunitie that could be expected, and they might make good account of the uttermost assistance, that those of this union could in any kinde affourde. They retourned this aunswear by a messenger of purpose. That they would willingly joyne with us, if soe be they might obtayne the graunt of these pointes, of their accustomed re- ligion, of a peace in France, and of any course of proceeding for bannishing the Spaniard, whether the same were directly or indirectly procured. It was replyed by the States by the self same messenger, That for mater of religion, they had never no intention to be[reeve] any Province of the libertie of conscience: that for France they made no doubt of inducing the King to accord a good peace: and that lastly they could lyke to have the Spaniard chased home, by all the meanes they could devise. The Marquis upon yt with the rest of that syde, sent a couple to Co: Maurice, who repayred unto him about eight dayes agoe in the towne of Middlebourgh, the one was Monsieur [Lilsvelt] who hath bin heeretofore a chauncelor in Brabant: and fol.54v
the other was Monsieur Maute, which hath in tyme past [been an] Huissier in the Chancery. In the deliverie of their [message] it was apparant to Co: Maurice that the Marquis [had acquainted] de Fuentes with this practise in soe muche as w[hen they spake of] expelling the Spaniard, they proposed how to doe it [with content of the] King of Spayne, and by the meanes of De Fuentes [being] perceaved by the Count to bidde them presently de[part. And] this he hath tould me all himself, being very [desirous that it] should not be published, least a mater well meant [but per-] haps misreported by passing many mouthes might [turn to] their rebuke by whome it was conteyned. T[he] Duke of Pastr[ava] be arryved at Brussels, it is supposed [not] withstanding that he hath brought no Commission to c[ommand] the Contrey. For it is written from Brussels that [when he] came to de Fuentes, the upper hand being offred to [him, he] would not accept it. Having no other [mater to signi-] fie presently, I take my humble leave. from the Hage.
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