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Sept. 12.
K. d. L. x. 821.
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249. SUSSEX to WALSINGHAM.
I received yours of the 28th ult. and 8th inst. sent from the Court
in a packet from Mr Secretary Wilson. Owing to my absence I
could not speak with the messenger to whom you referred me ; but
Wroth being dispatched from the Court before the coming of your
messenger, but not departed, brought the report of your advertisements
among which I was glad to hear that there was hope of
furthur dealing in the peace, a matter which if it take good effect
will be of great moment and benefit to her Majesty. Unless she
can incline her heart otherwise than hitherto she has done, it is I
believe the only way to defend her from most imminent perils ; and
therefore for the honour, safety and benefit both of her person and
her state, I wish it and always have done so.
It is likely that Don John will not yield to the States so far as
they require, nor they to him, the diffidence and mislike being great
on both sides ; but it may be if the ambassadors of the three princes
earnestly join together that they may partly by persuasion and
partly by bold speeches draw either side to decline somewhat from
their own will, and yield to what may in all respects be convenient.
Such force I am persuaded those ambassadors' speeches and advice
may have, if they be strongly warranted by their princes, and such
good faith meant as the honour and justice of the case require. You
see how bold I am to write my simple opinion upon every occasion
when I may discharge my duty to her Majesty or the part of a
friend to you in delivering the bottom of my thoughts ; which I
wish may prove as well in all the causes you deal in, as I would
they should in any wherein I had the like duties.
My wife has been here 8 days and has both drunk the water and
gone into the bath, but hitherto finds herself nothing altered from
the stone she brought with her. What further time will work,
God knows. I rest here myself without the use of either, doing
nothing but attend her, and make good cheer with my friends, of
whom I have good plenty here. So having no other matter to
write from this poor 'spyttell,' I take my leave.—Bath, 12 Sep.
1578.
P.S.—My wife finding me writing to you, prayed me to remember
her most hearty commendations.
Add. Endd. 2 pp. [Holl. and Fl. IX. 20.]
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Sept. [13?]
Lettres de
C. d. M. vi. 37.
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250. QUEEN MOTHER to WILSON.
I am writing to M. de Mauvissière to bid him impart certain
matters to you from me. Give him credit as to myself, and do your
best in the matter. You will never have to do with a more grateful
prince, or one who can more worthily recognise it.—Cognac, 8 [sic,
but probably of even date with the following] Sep. 1578. (Signed
in autograph) Caterine ; (countersigned) Brulart.
Add. Endd. in a later (?) hand. Fr. ½ p. [France II. 71.]
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Sept. 13.
Lettres de
C. d. M. vi. 36.
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251. QUEEN MOTHER to WALSINGHAM.
I hear that the Queen of England finds herself again willing to
enter upon the marriage between herself and the Duke of Anjou.
No more agreeable news could have reached me ; for as I never
wished more for anything in the world, when I see it accomplished
I shall have attained the greatest satisfaction I could receive. As I
know that you have hitherto been well-affected to this matter,
recognising the help it will be to the two realms and the two houses,
I write to ask you to use your good offices in the business, as M. de
Mauvissière will request you.—Cognac, 13 Sep. 1578. (Signed as
the last.)
Add. Endd. by L. Tomson. Fr. ½ p. [Ibid. II. 72.]
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252. Recent copy of the above letter. [France II. 73.]
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Sept. 15.
K. d. L. x. 822.
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253. THE QUEEN to the AMBASSADORS.
We have received your letter of the 9th inst., and upon consideration
have thought meet to command you to deal with the States,
that forasmuch as a pacification is offered, and it is in the power of
the Emperor's deputies by order from our good brother King Philip
to make it ; you will (sic) so deal with the States and with those
from the Emperor that both parties may be content to lessen their
forces, that the number being 'qualified,' they may with less charges
take the longer time to deal for agreement. Monsieur also should
be dealt with not to summon more forces than may be required if
the States and Don John agree to the lessening of their forces. And
where the cause of religion is the chief matter by which the accord
is likely to be hindered, we would wish that an Interim might be
agreed upon until the general assembly of the States might arrange
it. Therein we wish that you employed your best 'indebvoirs' with
the States and others to bring it to pass ; whereby upon more
deliberation hereafter the doctrine may be better established and
the religion by common consent more certainly agreed upon.
For your return to our presence we leave that to your consideration,
that if your abode there be for our better service then 'you to tarry'
a longer time ; otherwise make your undelayed repair homeward.—
Little Hadham, 15 Sep. 1578.
Draft. Endd. : Sent by Henry Burnet, Mr Davison's servant.
2/3 p. [Holl. and Fl. IX. 21.]
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Sept. 15.
K. d. L. x. 825.
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254. DANIEL ROGERS to WALSINGHAM.
It grieves me not a little that your honour having been so long
out of the realm it has not been my fortune to be present, that
I might have shown you some service for the manifold courtesies I
have received at your hands. Having been stayed here ever since
your departure and hindered from doing such duties to you as I would
gladly have done, I have not ceased to pray for your prosperity, for
the compassing of your designs and for the preservation of your
health ; which I have done with the more earnestness, understanding
that you have to do with Don John, of whom I was more afraid that
he might cause you to be presented with a Spanish fig, than I was
afraid of the plague at Louvain. I doubt not that Don John, who
has good advertisements out of England from such as favour him,
knows which are his friends and which are his foes, and was well
aware that you were none of them that desire his designs to take
effect. God be praised, we understand you have been in good health ;
and yesterday came Captain Cokburne to Haddam, where the Court
is, at Mr Cappelle's, who affirms that you were never in better
health that when he left you. Mary, he alleges a reason, which
is that he counselled you to drink nothing but Rhenish wine, which
he affirms to be the best physic you can find for your body. For the
rest, please bear in mind how you wrote to me in April last,
being then beyond the seas, that I should deal with Zwevengham
or some other to obtain a copy of Bernardo Mendoza's instructions
which he had of the Commendator Maior at his first coming to
England about four years ago. If you speak to 'Boscott' or cause
the Prince to deal with him herein, I am persuaded he can and will
satisfy your request.—From the Court at Hadham, 15 Sep. 1578.
P.S.—The bearer of this, Zolcher, desires he may carry your
letter to Sturmius. He had no allowance from here for such letters
as he carries.
Add. Endd. 1 p. [Holl. and Fl. IX. 22.]
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Sept. 15.
K. d. L. x. 823.
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255. WILSON to the AMBASSADORS.
Upon the receipt of your letters yesterday, I not only delivered to
her Majesty that directed to her, but also read her those to my
Lords, together with Don John's answer, and the Emperor's letter
to the States. After a little consideration of affairs she commanded
me to send them to the Lord Treasurer, who, not more than two
hours before had gone to 'Tybaldes,' and to ask his judgement.
His opinion is as may appear by her Majesty's letter. As for the
bonds, both Mr Vicechamberlain and I did what we could, and my
Lord Treasurer also wrote that for the money, for which you gave
your credit, he thought it very reasonable you should be discharged ;
but her Majesty would not alter from her determination
sent by Mr Somers. Further I was to say to you that for the
money borrowed and to be had, whether for necessity or pleasure—
if for necessity, why did they not deliver gages to help themselves
in extremity, seeing they have good store ? if for pleasure, then the
lending may be spared. Moreover when the Marquis charges her
Majesty with breach of promise, you are to tell him that the States
and he have broken promise ; who stipulated that upon the first
money received of the £100,000 bond the £20,000, and what the
Marquis himself received here, should be repaid, which has not been
performed. This is what most offends her, and she is therefore loth
to lend any more now but upon better security than ink or paper.
If you knew what has been done here for more liberal lending,
I dare make you judge of their innocence who have been chief
dealers. But you shall understand more upon your return.
I send herewith certain writings which came from our Ambassador
in France and are meet for your reading there, and to be communicated
to whom you shall fit.
If the news be true that the King of Portugal was wholly destroyed
in Africa the 4th of August last, I think a peace will be the sooner
concluded.—Little Hadham, 15 Sep. 1578.
Add. Endd. 1 p. [Ibid. IX. 23.]
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Sept. 15.
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256. Paper in Wilson's writing containing (1) draft of the
Queen's letter to the Ambassadors (No. 253) and (2) notes for his
own letter (No. 255). Endd. 1 p. [Ibid. IX. 24.]
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Sept. 15.
K. d. L. x. 824.
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257. WILSON to DAVISON.
I send back your servant, whom I know you have long looked
for, and would be glad to write by him in my own hand and more
at large, if I were not overwearied with business ; which pray
you take for my excuse, referring you to Mr Secretary Walsingham
in whose letters I have written more amply, and doubt not you will
be made acquainted with their contents.—From the Court at
Mr Capel's house, 15 Sep. 1578.
Add. Endd. ½ p. [Holl. and Fl. IX. 25.]
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Sept. 17.
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258. THE STATES-GENERAL to the AMBASSADOR.
Whereas Councillor Meetkerke having been to the ambassador
the Queen of England, has reported that the merchant of
adventurers of that realm have complained that they are injured by
the duties which the Estates levy on all goods entering or leaving
the country, as being directly contrary to traffic [? entrecours] ; and
that the ambassadors have requested that the States would nominate
deputies to hear these complaints ; the Estates having heard his
report, and desiring only to maintain good relations with the
ambassadors, have appointed the said Meetkerke, Councillor of
State, and Boischot of his Majesty's Privy Council, with the
Pensionary of Bruges, Yemans, or any two of them who are most at
leisure for the purpose.—At the meeting of the States-General,
17 Sep. 1578. (Signed) A. Blyleven.
Endd. by L. Tomson : Deputation—Boischot—Hyman. ½ p.
[Ibid. IX. 26.]
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Between
Sept. 15 &
18.
K. d. L. x. 826.
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259. DAVISON to [WILSON].
I forbear to write in answer to your letter which I received yesterday
concerning the bonds and conditions to which the delivery of
them is tied, because I think my Lords have acquainted you with the
difficulties in that behalf. Among the most important events which
the time has brought forth since my last is the apprehension of
Count Lalaing, which happened on Wednesday last, at Valenciennes,
upon this occasion. They have there a watch tower upon which
they always keep one to observe what horsemen come into their
town, and according to their number to summon [?] the watch.
Count Lalaing coming thither with 40 or 50 horse and entering
without any such warning given, the bruit went immediately about
the town that he was come to surprise them, and that they were betrayed ;
whereupon the burghers put themselves generally in arms,
and coming to the market-place found the Count retired into the
Town-house to avoid the fury of the people, which was not a little
augmented by the folly of one of his men, who had struck a burgher
in the face. The magistrates hearing of this tumult came to the
Town-house, where they sought by all means to appease the
people, excusing Count Lalaing and blaming the negligence of
the watchman ; who being sent for by certain burgesses and
examined why he had not done his duty in giving warning
of the entry of these horsemen, answered, he had been charged
to the contrary by the magistrates themselves. Whereupon the
people, crying on all sides 'Treason, treason,' laid hands on the
magistrates also, and committed them to prison in the Town-house
with the Count, where they yet remain, awaiting the issue of this
popular tumult, of which this is as much as we yet understand.
The towns of Quesnoy and Landrecies will by no means yield to
receive the French, who are awaiting the delivery of those towns
and a resolution of the States for their joining with the rest of their
forces ; in both which they find no 'harte' satisfaction.
Certain companies of French employed by Madame de Bouillon
have this week surprised the castle of Saney [? Chiny] in Luxembourg,
some time belonging to the Duke of Bouillon ; in which
they have found great quantity of wheat and wines of Don John's
provision. Our camp is now about Waveren, almost midway
between Louvain and Gemblours, in full mind to seek out the
enemy and give him battle. He, as we hear, has intrenched himself
not far from Namur, awaiting his succour out of Germany,
both of horse led by the Duke of Lauenburg of the house of
Saxony, and footmen levied by Polweiler and others.
Duke Casimir, Count Bossu, the Viscount of Ghent and M. la
Noue, choosing certain shot and halberds out of every company,
and taking sundry cornets of reiters and lances, to the number of
5,000 or 6,000 in all, went on Wednesday last, on a remove of the
camp, to view Louvain, and skirmished with the garrison hard under
the walls ; and having beaten them into the town, retired without
loss.
Religionis freidt, as they term it, is now generally consented to
by the States, to the singular contentment of the Protestants, who
begin everywhere to discover themselves more frankly. At Bois-le-duc,
upon some difference between the Papists and them, they were
two or three days since expelled the town, though upon this act of
religionis freidt it is thought should be restored without any
difficulty. The remove of the Court and States to Brussels which
should have been last week is now deferred to an uncertain term.
There is a constant bruit of the defeat, and some say slaughter, of
the King of Portugal by the Moors, confirmed by letters from Spain
and France. If it be true it will be of no small consequence to these
countries.
Draft, apparently superseded by letter of the 25th, No. 276, 1½ pp.
On the back of the sheet, the beginning of a draft of a letter to Burghley :
Monsieur has sent hither two acts signed with his hand, one declaring
the cause of joining the States against the Spaniards, the other
for assurance of the towns ; copies of both which I send. He
desires that two other ministers be admitted to assist in council
with the States.—The taking of two castles.—The Gauntoys.
Endd. 6ll. [Holl. and Fl. IX. 27.]
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Sept. 20.
K. d. L. x. 831.
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260. WALSINGHAM to [BURGHLEY].
I have received yours of Aug. 31 and the 8th inst. Touching
the first, from which it appears that her Majesty, by certain
by-advertisers, is drawn to deal the more hardly with those of this
country, we are sorry that the reports of such companions should
carry more credit than those of such as she uses in places of trust.
For if we saw the state of this country so desperate as perhaps they
'inform,' we should in concealing it offend either in lack of loyalty
by not truly advertising, or lack of judgement in not discerning the
state of their affairs. But whatever they give out, I dare assure
you this country, notwithstanding divers imperfections in their
government, is in much better state for defence than I looked for
before my repair hither. And if her Majesty had taken the
protection of it, with no other meaning but in the end to have
handed it to the King of Spain, I see great reason to think that
those imperfections both in martial and civil government might
have been reformed. What her Majesty seems most to mislike,
namely the progress of religion, is the thing that is like to breed
their greatest strength and surety ; since thereby the treasonable
dealing which it was otherwise to be feared would have grown by
the practice of the clergy and their adherents, is now likely to be
met in some good sort ; and the friendship between this country and
the Crown of England knit more assuredly, no union carrying so
great assurance as that grounded on consent of religion. And as
for the mislike that grew here when the matter of religion was first
set abroach, thank God it is now well assuaged, a toleration of the
exercise of religion being granted by the general assembly of the
States, which takes good effect in all the provinces except Hainault
and Artois. Even in those there are certain towns that incline to
receive it ; so that if her Majesty instead of misliking the matter
would countenance their proceedings freely, its progress would be
very effectual and no less beneficial than in Scotland. But I know
not how it comes about that always, or most commonly, the persons
that wish best and the causes that work best are the most misliked ;
and therefore to persuade her Majesty to enter into any further
dealing in this cause, considering the strange proceedings that have
been lately held in it, especially since our repair to these parts, for
my own part I do not mean ; being infinitely sorry to see her
Majesty so unapt to do what tends to her safety. I would that by
the mediation of the Emperor some good peace might be concluded.
It is like to receive furtherance by the overthrow given the King of
Portugal, a matter that greatly imports the King of Spain.
Touching yours of the 8th, by which it appears that her
Majesty's pleasure is I should repair to Monsieur in case he sends
for me, to acquaint him either with the articles of marriage formerly
treated on, or to tell him their substance, I mean accordingly to
stay here till I hear from him ; though touching the articles or their
contents I can say nothing, for I neither have the one, nor
remember the other. I am sorry to stay here to entertain a cause
from which by former experience I have so little hope of good
result ; though no man has more cause to desire her Majesty's
marriage than myself.
Touching the state of this country, both for martial and civil
government, I refer you to Mr Davison's letters.—Antwerp, 20 Sep.
1578.
Holograph. Endd. by Burghley's secretary. 3½ pp. [Holl. and
Fl. IX. 28.]
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Sept. 20.
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261. The ABBOT of MAROLLES to the PRINCE of ORANGE.
You will hear by the discourse which I have sent to the
States what happened on my journey touching the delivery of
the towns of Quesnoy and Landrecies, as also the ill will and
risk that I incurred in setting forth my errand to the soldiers
and burghers ; whom I found so desperate that rather than
submit to the French they will die one on the other, and will
be reconciled with Don John. This it is more than necessary
to obviate by using prompt remedies to prevent any further
alteration or occasion for the disaffected, of whom there are a good
number to effect their evil designs, to the irreparable injury
of the common cause. It seems to me, under correction, that we
ought as soon as possible to consider means for reassuring
those towns and giving the Duke of Anjou some equivalent ;
for it will never do to irritate that prince, nor to press those
towns further for fear we should lose both. The matter is so
important that in order to keep both his Highness and the towns
at our devotion I have decided to remain here till further
orders, in order to parry blows, and ensure that the discontent
may not become more bitter and so cause a greater loss to us. I
am assured that my stay in these parts will not be fruitless,
especially in respect of the towns, being certain that they have
not a bad opinion of me, though much vexed that I have
not been able to obtain from them what the States commanded,
notwithstanding all my good offices ; which will ever be at
the disposal of the States when required.
P.S.—Since this was written the Duke has told me that he has
no intention of replying to the letter making mention of the pacification
which I brought from the States, if the delivery of the towns
and 'publication de défenseur' are not completed. Towards which I
beg your Excellency to take good steps, that all men may see that
you are not the cause of this delay, as many here are of opinion ;
some individuals at Landrecies and Quesnoy even boasting of the
same.—(Signed) Friderich abbé de Maroles.
Copy. Endd. Fr. 2 pp. [Holl. and Fl. IX. 29.]
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Sept. 20.
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262. PETITION of the WALLOONS to the STATES GENERAL.
Awaiting your decision upon our last letter we have been
spending our time now in one village, now in another. But seeing
that you take to heart nothing that we write, and that not deigning
to reply to our repeated letters you hold in contempt the service
which we owe you, not summoning to the camp nor to any military
duty we are forced to write and find out what you mean to do with
us. We have freely left our friends and our property in Luxembourg,
voluntarily exiling ourselves to cleave to your service,
and by no means as it seems to us deserve the ill treatment
which is all that you give us in recognition of our good deeds
and of the promises you made to us when at two several times
we quitted the Spaniard to embrace your cause. We did not apprehend
any such bad fortune nor so unmeet recompense as to be
attacked by the men of Ghent who have twice tried to drive us out
of their territory, though they were well received, and to their own
loss. We think it more than strange, seeing we never did them any
harm. We have not even eaten up their lands. Nor can we believe
that a subject can set companies in the field, move artillery, and
obtain all that credit against the will of his master ; if indeed he be
not tacitly favoured and instigated to do it. Wherefore to avoid
certain disaster and all covert practices we have withdrawn from the
townships of la Sorgue and Ether, to wait till we know the truth and
till what we have done well is not reckoned to us a misdeed. If
you want to be rid of us and are tired of our service, there is no
need to have us cut in pieces and hound every one on against us.
Only give us back the property and country we have lost, and set us
free from our oath ; we shall perhaps find some one less discourteous
and ungrateful. We do not want to leave you, nor do anything
against our oath, but to attack us without our knowing our enemy
and to pretend we are malefactors when we defend ourselves does
not look to us like requiting our deserts and recognising our loyal
service in your utmost need. Humble soldiers as we are we deserve
a hearing. If we are led by despair or guided by fantasy, I (sic)
fear that a common disaster is inevitable.—Gauvairdin [Coeweerden],
20 Sep. 1578. (Signed) The Captains, Officers, and Soldiers of
Baron Montigny's regiment.
Copy. Endd. by L. Tomson. Fr. 2 pp. [Holl. and Fl. IX. 30.]
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