Reference: BL, MS Cotton Galba D XI f.64r-65v
Citation: DCB/001/HTML/1250/008
Date: 23 April 1595
Note: On fol.64r there is the signature 'Q', written once in pencil and once in ink. From the beginning of the letter to the underlining on fol.65r, the text is marked with a perpendicular line in the margin.
Copy of: 0772
lettertext
fol.64r
May it please your good L: A contrarie wynde hath kepte me from your lettre of the 22 of Marche, till the 14 of this moneth. I also then recea- ved an other from her Majestie to the generall States by the addresse of Sir Robert Cecill, and in favor of the debt which is owyng Sir Horatio Palavi- cine, which I exhibited out of hand, and also pleaded his cause as- well as I could. Their aunswear thereunto, and to my generall proposition about the mater of remboursement is delivered unto me, but nothing sayed to that effect, as when I writte my laste the 13 of this present, I well hoped to have heard in regarde of a further offer of some actuall satisfaction to be made unto her Majestie. For although they were in talke how somewhat might be done, yet doubting in parte howe the Contrey would perfourme it, and partly also howe her Majestie would accept of a little, they grewe to no conclusion. All their aut answear in a maner, some certaine pointes excepted, is the same that I signified the 22 of February when I reported againe in lyke maner what was replyed againe by me, and I know not what more can be added now unto yt. Againe I am persuaded that nothing will prevayle whatsoever I say besydes, because the mater is so fitte for replies and rejoinders, that there would be no ende of disputing upon yt. That which they have alleaged of their detrimentes receaved by meanes of fluddes and water breaches, I suppose to be no lesse then they seeme to insinuat. For there have bin some committed to take particular information, of all the harme that hath bin done in every parte 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 laste day of January or immediately upon it, and now it soe falleth out that only 3 Provinces Holland Utrecht and Guelderland have accorded their portions.
Where in the knitting of their aunswear they requyre, that I would signi- fie what they had sayed by word of mouth, and is omitted in their writing, I take no great pleasure in telling their tale, but yet to discharge my duetie therein, this is all that I remember that resteth unsignified. They say, they had oftentymes 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 so muche in any other mater, yet they founde yt impossible to doe that which was required, and they thought very muche to be pressed unto yt. We do all, say they, confesse that we are bounde to her Majestie nexte to god for this shewe of assurance. Wherto our Contrey is reduced, for which it doth not becomme us to contest with her in wordes fol.64v
about the equitie of our cause, but yet to say as the trueth is [and every man] knowes we are farre from that tranquilitie, wherupon we [concluded] Treatie with her Highnes. It is also to be shewed at sins e [very first year] we could never enjoy enjoy those forces and nombers, F[or which we are] contracted and pawned our townes. And that which payneth us [most, is] to see that her Highnes doth continually disbourse very great sommes of [mony] for the payment of her people, and yet maters are soe [carried that neither] shee nor the Contrey, hath that use of theyr service as in [reason were] behooful. For many more might be spared from the [cautionary towns,] and from that of Ostend, then we could ever obtaine by any [instant entrea-] ty; and of those that have bin sent us, we were evermore [uncertain] what account to make of them, through their often revocation[s and] cassinges and countermandes, and other doubtfull messages, [which put] us cleane out of course of an orderly proceeding, both for cas[ting our] plottes and atchieving our attemptes. Againe her Hig[hnes may] remember at in the yere 85 before the Treatie was concluded w[e did] flattly then refuse, as the preface thereunto doth expresse very [plainly] to contract for a lesser ayde then 5000 foote and a 1000 hor[se. ] For we knew a lesser nomber would but drawe our warres at [lengthy] and cause the people to dispayer when they sawe that their troub[les would ] never have an ende, whereof we looked for no other but a [sudden] composition and agreement wth the Enemie. All this notw[ithstanding] we cannot at this present, nor could not these two yeres bring [2000 men] of her Majesties companies to the service of the fielde. T[hese and] other lyke speeches were delyvered unto me by worde of mou[th, but] in very humble termes and dutifull sorte. To make [your L.] partaker of my aunswears agayne, were to troble you in[discreetly] with a tedious recital. But after I had spoken what was [meet for her] Majestie, I lette them understand, that wordes and writinges, w[ere good] cheape, and that needes they must determine to make so[me other] payment. For though their state was not so good, a[s was com-] monly supposed, they were not yet to seeke of a competen[t means] to satifie her Majestie. And if they should not by somewhat [show] their thanckefulnes unto her, I doubted of the sequele in [regard of] her displeasure. But whatsoever I could alleage they [were won-] derfull vehement in all their protestations that they were [destitute of] meanes to satisfie her Highnes and that they could /not/ yelde unto [her] not onely that summe of a hundred thousand poundes, which your L. doth requyre to be payed every yeere, but not a farre lesser sume without incurring the perill of their utter confusion. And where they understood that I meant to convey her aunswear to her Majestie and not to cary it my selfe, as they had Imagined I would, soone after it was delyvered in writing unto me, they sent of purpose fol.65r
to call me into their publicke assemblie, and there they intreated or ra- ther conjured me (they spake with such affection) that in a mater of that moment whereon soe muche depended for her Majesties good aswell as theyrs I would take the paynes my selfe 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 self directly with the full estate of their affaires, and that in every particular, which could not be expressed to be perfectly conceaved but by verbal demonstra- tion, which would cause her, they were certaine, to runne some other cause, then suche as might ocasion the flatte subversion of the Contrey. They would willingly have sent some Deputie of their owne, but that it could not be done wthout wryting to the Provinces, which would make but a longe worke, and was not soe convenient. Having made my excuse for dyvers causes, but chiefly for want of her Majesties licence, they urged me soe earnestly and promised me to write soe effectu- ally unto her, as I should not neede to doubte but that it would be well construed. At which their instant desyre, because I doe consider, that heere I can doe litle, till I see how her Highnes will proceede upon their aunswear, and that I may at her pleasure re- turne againe assoone as any messenger, I have thought it fittest for her service not to stand upon denial. But at which mooveth me most unto yt, it is an ouverture 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 pro- testeth unto me with earnest assertion that he dooth it altogether without the privitie of his collegues, and although I doe beleeve it, yet I cannot but conjecture, that somewhat hath bin spoken in the meeting among them, wherby he hath good knowledge howe the rest are affected, and doth direct himself there after. His drifte in this ouverture is soe to proportion her Majesties demaunde with the Contreis abilitie, as it may be brought to passe with the lyking of the inhabitants, and both be very honorable and beneficial to her Majestie. Because the mater is but rawely imparted, and hath many pointes in yt to be duely considered, it may happily hold me heere some 7 or 8 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 whatsoever hath bin further said unto me, then their writing hath declared I will signifie at my coming. Your L. being advertised of the troubles at Embden by Master Gilpin, I have sent you heerein inclosed the proposition of their Deputie to the generall states, contayning the reasons of their taking of armes. It should seeme by his speeches had with me, that the towne is resolved to wryte fol.65v
unto her Majestie to crave her favor in their [cause or at least to] intreat her not to hearcken to the Count, who [prepareth as they] say to subdue them by force. By a very good [means] among the Scottish nation heere I am certainely adver[tised that] the K: hath bin mooved by Coronel Stuart, to pray her [Majesty, to] enjoine me not to crosse his request. Howbeyt [it is thought] that the King will not wryte, I know not howe the [Coronel meant] it, whether indeede as conceaving that I oppose against [him, or] whether it be but a practise to make tryall how, her [Highnes is] affected in his suite (which perhaps he is loath to [use, but indi-] rectly and by circumstance. Once to me he will [not seem] to thincke amisse of my proceedings in any other sorte [but that I] wished the States to deale in that mater with the mater the privitie of [her Highnes.] And sins I have made yt knowen, that she can be well [pleased] that the K: should be assisted. Neverthles I am sure that [they] have made him no graunt. But of this kinde of [dealing] and other lyke maters, I will signifie somwhat 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 [short] wherby her busines is not letted, and because I [am assured] will benefit her service. And thus I take [my humble] Leave. From the Hage 23 Aprill 1595.
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