MY Lord, within these fowre last moneths, I haue written many Letters to your most honorable & reuerend Lordshyp, the which I feare by reason of the great daun­gers of the wayes, are not so soone come to your hands as I would wish. Because I haue receyued no aunswer, but to those of the .xxviij. of Ianuary. I would not let slyp the occa­sion therof, for the vnderstāding of the trueth therof, finding soNot too sure for he was takē. sure a man as the Lord of Grobbendonk, sendeth into those parties, for his perticular affayres: to write this also, and to send therwith the copie of the last Letter written the xvij. of this moneth: whereby your Lordship shall sée the con­tinuance of my wryting from time to time, to this ende, that in case I may vnderstand the none receypt of my sayde for­mer Letters: I mightThe Abbot thinkes, that the Cardinal kepeth a Register of his Letters because they are of so great substaunce, learning and elo­quence. But he taketh not so much paynes as to reade them, ha­uing dr [...]wen out of the Abbot, the thing he preten­ded. also send after the Copies. Sithence my sayd last Letters we haue receyued, vnderstanding with great gréefe & meruayle, the departing of the Lord of Aussi, from my Lord the Prince of Parma, to goe and reioyne him selfe to the Prince of Orenge: Delyuering into his handes withall, his Castell of Liekerk lez Aloste. Also the deteining of the Colonell De heze, and other partakers, whome my Lordes of Risbourge and Mountigny haue layde holde on: laying to their charge, that they would haue wrought some treason, or slippery pranck to the Campe, lying before Tour­nay, and that by the intelligence and subornation of the sayd Prince of Orenge, they should haue spoyled the principall heades of our saydThe Mar­quesse of Ris­bourge & Mon­tigny, accused him of an other matter, to wyt, that he had intel­lygence with the Duke of Amon. Campe, and brought them by force to Tournay aforesayd, to the ende to haue sunke our Army af­terward. I am so much astonished, that I knowe not what to say, séeingYou shall see an other manner of one: when the Conspiracies of the Mōkes with the Spaniards shall be discoue­red. this wickednesse & lyghtnesse, which I feare much, will greatly diminish all our credites with his Maie­stie, (who I doubt not) will be highly offended therwith, and [Page] also augment his distrust, although theSuch as thou hast bene. stedfast setled, and well resolued sort, ought not to suffer any thing therfore.

I remember that I haue by diuers Letters represented like inconueniences to your most honorable Lordship, knowing the sleyghts and wyles of the sayde Prince, being soYet, thou thoughtest to be a more crafty Foxe, when thou diddest counter­mine with thy complices in the counsel of estate. And whē vnder shadowe of thy Ambassadorship, thou madest thy boasts with thy complices, to make him fall in­to the trap with, all the good coū ­treymen, special­ly, those of the Religion. But God hath pre­serued them. subtill and such a Foxe, and the inconstancy, & couetousnesse of some in the world: Quos merito leues iudicare poteram habentes etiam Wytnesses the foure thou­sand Duckats of Pencion, that the Duke of Terra noua, hath promised thee. animam venalem. Wherevnto great héede is to be taken. For they haue, A dextris et a sinistris, great Factors, to wyt, theWherfore then doost thou spread a rumor that he hath in­telligence with the Pope, and the King of Spayne. Duke of Alanson, & the sayd Prince, who accorde toge­ther in nothing, but in making sharp warre against the king of Spayne our Lord & Maister, to strippe him of that is his. Howbeit, the ouerthrowe of the Lord de La noue, lately hap­pened in Flaunders, and the victorie now newly wonne in Frizeland, vppon the sayd Prince of Orenge, his men ende­uoring to hinder the succors of Groeninghen, will giue great impediment to their desseins and purposes in this behalfe.

My Lord, I will pray the Creator to giue vnto your most honorable and reuerend Lordship, a long & happy lyfe, after I haue saluted the good graces of the same, with my most humble recommendations. Beséeching your Lordship, with­all, that the same would vouchsafe to present to his Maiestie my Letters comming with these. Wherby I send vnto the same, the continuance of my good wyll, and what hath passed touching my matter, the which I desire to be construed in good part.

MY Lord, although by my three former Let­ters last sent to your most honorable, & reuerend Lordship, the one of the first, the other of the .xij. of Aprill, and the last of the .x. of May, (which I think are surely conueyed by the meanes of my Lord, the Duke of Terra Noua) I had sufficiently informed your honourable Lordshyp, in what state the affayres stande in these parties, yet would I not fayle in my dutie, to sende vnto the same a­gaine at this present, what hath passed: Albeit, that since my last Letters, there hath not happened any great chaunge, sa­uing the good victorie that God hath giuen to the Marquesse of Risbourg, accōpanied with the Albanoys & Wallons, who haue surprised, ouerthrowen, put to flight and dispersed the Prince of Orenges men being in Flaūders, vnder y^e leading & gouernment of Mounsier de La noue, a Frenchman, who with many of his men, was taken prisoner. The which in good sothe, is a very good gyrde giuen to the enimie, and will coole his corage from enterprising hereafter according to his former custome. I vnderstand that a part of the glory of this victory may well be attributed to the sayd Albanoys, who by report played the men most valiauntly.

Notwithstanding this, we vnderstand from Antwerpe, that they doo notThey haue well shewed it vnto you, when they haue taken two Townes by force, and cutte in peeces your olde company of blood. greatly quayle at this ouerthrowe, but with all furie prepare them selues to gather together theyr spoyled and dispersed men, and to make a new leuie. Yea, and that they labour very dilligently in their estates. De ab­negando rege, et de transferendo imperio. As touching the mat­ter of renouncing his Maiesty, and declaring him to be fallen from his Ryghtes: I vnderstand they haue alreadyThou thy selfe hast bene a hundred tymes of this opinion. resol­ued vppon it, hauing taken a shewe and cullour vppon the person of the Duke of Alanson whome they fayne, that they will adopt, giuing to vnderstand to the simple and vnwyse [Page] sort, that the assumption of the sayd Lord Duke, would cause a warre against the Crowne of Fraunce. Presupposing that the most Christian King his brother (giuing vnto him fauour and support) would bende his forces vpon Italy, Bour­gundy, Haynault, and Artoys. And that by meanes thereof, the warres would be turned out of Flaunders, Brabant, and other Prouinces that will not be reconcyled. But knowing the subtylties and wyles of such as at this day are in credite amongst their Estates: I haue alwayes perswaded my selfe, that they willThe Monke thinketh y^t euerie man so dallyeth with Princes, as he hath done, denying thryse his Waye: and selling his fayth and honour, for the Abbay of S. Bartin, or a pencion in steede therof. set the sayde Duke in the féelde onely for a shadowe, that couering them selues with his cloake, they may the more easily attayne to theyr pretended, and desired renunciation. Which obtayned,My Lord the Abbot shall not be called to this counsell. (vsing an other strata­geme) they will bring into consideration, and delyberation, whether his person wyll be beneficiall, and profitable for the Countrey.

Not forgetting to sette the pride andIs there any greater lyghtnes and inconstancie, then in my Lord the Abbot, and his complices? lyghtnesse of the Frenchmen as a counterweight, against the crueltie of the Spaniardes. The small meanes and habillytie that he hath to succour the Countreyes, for asmuch as the Crowne is not fallen vnto him: and when he commeth to the same, that hée wyll be too mightie a King, and too néere a neyghbour: and that so he might easily degenerate into tyranny, (whereof they call them selues great enemies, although by theyrThese abho­minable actes be, that they take heede that they be not betrayed and solde by these Gentlemen Ab­bots, who accu­stoming to sell their God in the Masse, make no scruple to sell men to establishe their kettell. ab­hominable actes, a man might iudge them tyranny it selfe.) Therefore that it is in no wyse, to be counselled to accept him for theyr King: They may also set in concurrence, to make a fayre shew of the matter, the Emperour, the Quéene of Englande, and certayne other Princes neyghbours, not forgetting (though he come last) the Prince of Orenge.

Then comming to theThis Monke iudgeth all at his pleasure, of all the Princes of Christendome: as though he were our holy Father, and that he were theyr Scholemaister. estimation of the merites of eue­ry of them, the Emperour wyll be found too weake, and too young, yea, suspected because he is a Catholique, and of the house of Austriche. The Quéene of England scant capable, for that she is a Woman, and other Princes in no wyse to be lyked of. But hauing regard to the long experience of the Prince of Orenge, to the great and honorable seruices by [Page] him done, for the recouering of y^e liberty of the Coūtrey, the restoring of the Priuiledges: By reason whereof, he hath bene banished, depriued of his Estates, honors, and goods. Yea, they will not forget to place amongst his first quarters, and for the fayrest parte of his Armes, that he hathThis is as great an honour as can be. brought in and maynteyned, theIn deede it is new to the eares of these Asses and Coltes, that neuer heard the voyce of the Gospell. new Religiō, whereof they are so desirous, and farre in loue with all. That therfore of due desart, he ought to be chosē, elected, and accepted for King, giuing reasonable contentation to the others. The which I sée verie likely to come to passe. If it be so: his Maiesty shall thereby lose but the name a­mong them, Ad tempus: For the Prince in effect is the same already. As for me, I say the same, that I haue oftē repeated by my former Letters, that to haue peace, it isTo deceyue them. expedient to haue more: or to make better warre a­gainst them, then hath bene made hytherto. Otherwise, one whyle they will be beaten: an other whyle they will beate. As we fall out by the ouerthrowe abouesayd. And a lyttle after by the reconquering of Diest, and Malines before. They of Cambray, Tournay, and Bonchaim, con­tinue theyr excursions vpon theyr neyghbours, destroy­ing the Countrey, so that euery where is nothing to be séen butThis could not be seene without the trea­son of the heads and Magistrates of Artoys & Haynault, who haue perswaded the poore people, that they would graunt them peace, and in the meane while haue plunged them in the whyrle pytte of all the myseries of the warre, not regarding any other thing, sauing to gayne credite or recompence of the Spaniardes, and theyr ministers, with the whole ruyne of the people. myserie and pouertie. And it should be a godly déede to take héed aforehād, to other infinit euils y^t threa­ten vs. As touching the last Letters, that it pleased your honorable Lordship to wryte vnto me: I made my aun­swer the x. of May: And amongst other thinges, shewed vnto the same my complaynt and gréefe, that the Letter therin mencioned, which it had pleased his Maiestie to write vnto me, was not delyuered to my hands: And am constrayned to doo the lyke againe, for that I cannot yet recouer the same. Wherfore I am in extreme sorrow, for that I knowe not the contentes of it, nor can not or­der my selfe according to the same. Notwithstanding, I haue receiued a Letter of the .xx. of the moneth past, from my Lord, the Prince of Parma. Whereby he aduertised me, that his Maiestie had named me of his counsell of [Page] Estate. And that I should returne into Haynault, to be assystant in the sayde Counsell in proper person. I haue aunswered his excellencie, that I will not fayle to obey his commaundement, to employ my selfe with heart and affection, to the seruing of so principall a charge. But that by reason of the sicknesse of my Lady, the Duchesse of Arschot: my Lord the Duke her husband could not so soone depart. Who hath often required me not to forsake him, but to staye for his going to reenter into the Coun­trey together. Whervnto his sayd excellencie, forTo haue two at once. cer­tayne good respects hath condiscended. And I wyll not fayle to worke all manner of forwardnesse at our sayde returne, to procure in good earnest, with all sincerity and fidelitie the restablishing of the affayres. And although I haue vnderstoode, that touching the denomination of my Lord the Prelate of Saint Gertrude and me, there hath priuily bene moued some diffycultie: Specially, by certayneOne Traytor kno­weth another very wel. Ecclesiasticall persons, suspecting, or wrōg­fully quarrelling at our former actions, yet will not we therefore leaue of to mayntaine our selues in the order and degrée, wherein it hath pleased his Maiestie to sette vs for the feruent desire we haue to do seruice to y^e same, as good and better then they, & that we will not yéeld or giue place to such persons, ielous of our prosperitie. Ho­ping y^t our behauiours shalbe such as God, his Maiestie, the Countrey, Cobrethren, & others shall receyue accep­table seruice therby. In this behalfe, my Lord, I will re­commend my selfe, to your most honourable & reuerend Lordships good grace, praying y^t it may please the same to make me partaker of his maiesties good grace. Whervn­to to my great gréefe, I cannot write, for that hytherto I could not recouer his Letters. Wherfore I desire to be excused.

WHereas I haue by diuers Letters, giuen aduertisement to your Maiestie, that I desyred nothing more, then to haue the meane to yéelde all manner of obedience, and doo most humble seruice to the same in whatsoeuer it should vouchsafe to commaund me: As being of a most prompt and ready will to render my du­tyfull endeuour of fidelity and naturallitie. Besides that, I haue also giuen a more perticular accoumpt of my goodThat is to say, of my treasōs. For being Am­bassador to y^e States. I would with others lyke vnto me, haue enducet them vnder coulour of [...] peace, to haue letten thē selues to haue bene de­ceyued. intencions, to my Lorde the Duke of Terra Noua, being in this Cittie of Cullen, who at his depar­ture had assured me, that your Maiestie should be aduer­tised thereof, to giue me vnderstanding of the noble plea­sure of the same. Yet notwithstanding I haue not hy­therto, to my vnspeakeable gréefe, bene honoured with anyThe Spaniards looue treason, but no traytors. commaundementes by Letter, nor otherwyse.

By meanes whereof, I am, and haue bene in great perplexitie, hauing stayed in this CittieYou mu [...] say your Mattins, & sing Masse euery day. ydle, since the departing of the sayde Lord,Why go you not then to rule your Monkes, who will finde you e­nough to doo? But my Lord Abbot rather med­leth with matters of Estate, and of the Court then to feede his Hogs, Secundum illud ne Clerici se immisceant negotijs secularibus. For that I knewe not whereabout to employ my selfe, for want of charge or commission. Howbeit, the twenty of the moneth past, I receyued Letters from my Lord the Prince of Parma: whereby he aduertised me, that it had pleased your Maiestie, to name me of his Counsell ofIt must needes be that the Estate is well gouerned, for that froc­ked Monkes gouerne the same according to the olde prouerbe. Since decrees had wings, and Sergeantes carryed Mayles, and Monkes went a horseback: The world had nothing but all euyll. Estate. And that I should transport my selfe immediatly into Haynault, to assyste there in my proper person.

Wherat I reioyced greatly, vnderstanding thatHis Maiestie is ig­noraunt of it. But the Prince of Parma, vpon his blankes assigned, wryteth what he listeth. your Maiestie had not forgotten his so humble aChaplen & Oratour for the care he hath of his Chappel, and to say continuall prayers. Chaplen and Orator, wholy dedicated to his seruice, honouring him with so principall an Estate. For which I most humbly thanke the same: assuring your Maiestie that I wyll not fayle, according to my dutifull power, with allSuch as thou hast yeelded to Don Iohn, and since to my Lord the Duke of Aniou, & lastly to my Lord the Arch­duke. Whose Almonens thou hast bene, and for­saken them all three. fidelytie and integritie, to doo my dutie in the same charge. And wyll procure theMy Lord Abbot, we wyll take heede of you, and such as you are. reducing of the Prouin­ces, Citties, Commonalties, and particuler personnes, with all my possibillytie, that all thinges maye in short tyme beIt should be better for my Lord Abbot to reduce him selfe and his Monkes, to some good order and discipline. sette agayne in good order: for the better or­dering of the affayres in the seruice of God, your Maie­stie, and the Countrey.

Béeing most sorie that God hath not endued me withCertainly you haue great cause to be sory therfore. For you haue great neede of the same, least you be beguyled by the Spaniardes, who will mocke you as they haue done others, as is to be séene by the example of the prisoners euen to the most simple Gentlemen of these Coūtreyes, of the which they redeeme not one. But as for the Italiās and Albanoys, which are better for the Spa­niards, they leaue them not in prison. greater sence and experience, that I might be more able and fytte, to exercise the same charge with greater woorthinesse. Neuerthelesse, I wyll spare neyther paynes nor trauayle, to attayne to the premisses. And would not for all that, wyllingly giue place to any other whatsoeuer he were, that he could truly vaunt, that he would moreThy actions past, giue good witnesse of thy fidelity, the belly of thy playnes, and the f [...]ocke of thy frankenes. franckly, faithfully, and plainly, employe him selfe in the same then I: Although I vnderstand that certayne persons.To wit the Abbot of Hannon with his train, according to the nature of the Monks, which do alwayes grunt one against an other, as a droue of Hogs. Ielous of my good lucke, and enemies of my prosperitie, would haue impugned the sayde denomination, and my Lord the Prelate of Saint Gertrudes, synisterly quarrelling, and interpreting our actions passed. Wherin they shew them seluesThen it is a signe that what thou hast don heretofore, hath bene but fayning and treason. vn­aduised, and too full of passions: for as much as all that we dyd, was by theyr expresse charge. It béeing verie vnséemely for them, that they wouldSee how these hogs can one no more then an other, clense them selues of their filthynesse. cléere them sel­ues, to cast the fault vpon others: Considering that by the rule of equitie, no man is to be receyued to accuse an other, him selfe béeing guilty of the same matter. And for that by theHe confesseth himself with the rest, to haue ben faulty, and to haue stood in neede of grace. Mounsier the Monke sayth wel, y^t he repenteth of his offences. But he will receyue no disciplin [...] and mainteyneth that there is great reward due vnto him for y^e good seruices that he hath done. So shameles and impudent he is. clemency of your Maiestie, all matters paste are forgotten, it is impertinent to enter into con­tencion, vpbrayding, or any sifting with vs, which were but theyr associates. Otherwise, if there should question [Page] be had for the narrow examination of theyr behauiours: and all be interpreted to the worst, they would not be found cléere. For if we haue done amysse, they haue com­maunded vs otherwise then they ought to haue done.

It were best to set all these reproches asyde, and to stu­dy in good sadnesse, howe to sette vp that which is fallen downe, and procure by good vnanimytie, and mutuall assistaunce, the redressing of matters, in acknowledging our God, our King, and our Lawe. Which for mine owne parte I am determyned to doo, maynteyning my selfe in thatMy Lord Abbot wil forget neyther his ambi­tiō nor couetousnesse. degrée of honour, wherein it hath pleased your Maiestie to place me. For that I will neyther yéeld nor giue place vnto them: for they haue no occasion to be at debate with me. Sauing for that I would not agrée to their perticular appoyntment, hauing iudged it too burdensome, andHe betrayeth his companions, accusing them to the Spaniards. disaduantagious to your Maiestie. And that the fruite by them promised, would not come thereof. But that it were better to take payne, to come to a generall Peace. And I thinke that I haue not ther­by deserued to beThis Monke wyll become a souldiour, or peraduenture he feareth to be turned out of his frocke, as he hath bene put beside the myter of S. Bartin: for these be the Armes he speaketh of, and his honor is to be first set at the table and counsell, and to haue the Kitchen well furnished and the Kettell full. disgraded of Armes and Honour.

For your Maiestie may nowe easily sée, and the euentes wyll more plainly declare, what is to be hoped thereby, and what foundation may be layde with personnages, whichSee here how these good seruaunts of the King agree together, & what the Townes of Haynault & Artoys ought to expect at the handes of so good proc­tors of their owne cause, seeing that without any lymitation or restraynt, they meane to put them in subiection to the yoke of the Spaniards, with the prize y^t these Gentle­men Abbots, may saue their goods and credite with the king. Note also, how the peace of Artoys will be inter­preted by the Spany­ardes, seeing their owne Abbots make so goodly gloses vpon the some. lymitte the aucthoritie of the same, after their owne discretion: and wyll be séeking rather to aduaunce theyr perticular affayres, then to mayntayne eyther the CatholiqueVniuersall perticu­lar. Romishe Religion, or the aucthoritie of your Maiestie. And that if matter fall not out accor­ding to their pleasures: they might drawe men to wic­kednesse at euerie howre (the examples are already at the gate,) in doing more disseruise in a day: then all this appoyntment would bring profite to the same in a whole yéere.

And because some of them knowe, that I wyllHe will be styll vn­faithfull to his owne, to get the good will of the Spanyardes. hyde nothing, and knowe theyr desartes, and valours well inough, they loue not to haue me admytted into the sayd Counsell: Meaning them selues, to gouerne euery [Page] thing after theyr owne fashion. Your Maiestie wyll ordayne in that behalfe, as by his prouident discretion, the same shall Iudge most conuenient, for his better ser­uice.

Expecting the commaundement of the same, I wyll goe into Haynault, to my Lorde, the Prince of Parma, so soone as my Lord the Duke of Arschotte may depart from Aixe, after my Lady his Wife shall recouer her health, to dispose my selfe, according to his commaun­dement. And to set my selfe in actuall seruice, as well to preserue the aucthoritie of your Maiestie (which o­therwise, bothe nowe and hereafter, might receaue great diminution and hurt:) As to saue mine honour. For otherwise, I might be declaredThou art infamous enough, without other declaration. infamous, and vnworthy to receyue any benefite of your Maiestie.To wyt. In case we haue nothing to asswage his ambition and coue­tousnesse. He had rather become a Chaplen and bondman. Note the great humy­litie of this good Monk. Were it not for that, I would desire nothing more then that I might retyre into myThou shouldest haue bene there, to haue bene lead to Boncham, with the Lord of Selles. lyttle Monastery of Marolles, to my Cobrethren, to serue God in rest of bo­dy and minde: béeing sequestred and delyuered from all publyque affayres.

Herevppon I wyll praye the Creatour, to graunt your Maiestie, in prosperitie and health, a long and hap­py lyfe: Kyssing the handes of the same, in saluting the good graces thereof, with my most humble recommen­dations.

The superscription was thus.

To the King.

I Will not declare in woordes, (al­beit I might very well) the singuler ioye that I receyued, when I vnder­stoode that your Lordship had so pros­perous sayling from Fraunce, that the same arriued within thrée dayes at the Porte of Larede in Spayne, referring the iudgement thereof vnto you,Note the great freendship of these good men. For according to the olde prouerbe: Lyke wyll to lyke. according to the mu­tuall fréendship that is betwéene vs. But it lyketh me very well, to imagin that the most honorable Cardinall your Patron, hath not onely very courteously: But also with gratulation receyued you. Séeing that by his last Letters to me written, he signified vnto me, that with a feruent desyre he had long looked for you, in hope that you would vnburden, and discharge him of some parte of his labours: admonishing me also, that the care of my businesse should be committed vnto you: Then the which nothing more ioyfull or acceptable, could be brought vn­to me for newes. For I haue set all my hope in your be­neuolence onely.

It remayneth now, that your Lordship shew your selfe vnto me in effect the same, that you haue stedfastly pro­mised to me. Ye haue also my SupplicationTo wyt, to demaund money. that I de­lyuered vnto you at your departing: you haue y^e Articles of my peticions. I thinke you yet remēber some of those thinges which I declared vnto you by woord of mouth. Therfore I thought it not cōuenient to be tedious vnto you, with any long repiticion of the same matters. How­beit I thought it not altogether superfluous, bréefly to admonish you of it by the way, to the end that you should not forgette me.

I thinke also that the DukeAs long then as the Duke of Terra Noua, was at Cullen, the faythfull Schetz, who was Deputy to the States, sollicited his owne affayres, yea, with their most great enimy, and studied to betray the States. of Terra Noua wyll be present, who hath very lyberally promised me his fauor, as well in his absence by Letters: as in presēce by woord of mouth. And certainly he may in this behalfe, by his intercession, helpe and aduaunce, the good affection that you beare vnto me, and make the same more effectuall and of greater efficacie. I holde my selfe assured that you who are such excellent Patrones, not onely for the affection which you beare me, but also by the aucthority that you haue with the King: wyll helpe and assyst mée your Client, altogether depressed and brought lowe by the generall iniuries of the tyme, and the particuler ma­lice of mine enemies: to the ende, that at the least, béeing discharged of my debtes, which I haue runne and entred into, not by reason of my accoumpts, or particuler neces­sities: But by doing my ready seruice in all thinges to theAt the same tyme that being here, he false­ly fayned & dissembled whatsoeuer they would wishe at his handes. King: I might héereafter prouide for my chyldren that they fall not into extremity, and so with a setled & quiet minde, consecrate the rest of my lyfe vntoTo wit, to Vertu­ne and Mercurie, as he is accustomed. For the good man careth not whether God be hono­red or not. God: or if it shall please his Maiestie to employ me in his ser­uice: that then I might more promptly and chéerefully, (so farre as my age wyll suffer) execute the duty of my office.

But that can not be effected, except his Maiesty giue earnest and straight commaundement, that I may be payde without delay, whatsoeuer shall appeare vpon the due rendring of my accoumpts, to be due vnto me. The which howe it may most conueniently be accomplished: I thinke I haue set downe in my sayde Supplication.

Others that haue serued the King a long tyme, waxing ritch, accustome to be carefull, and procure that they may be honoured and encreased, with tytles of honour and great benefites,Yet so it is, that being not content with thy fortune, how prosperous so euer it were: Thou hast by Vsurie aspyred to gouerne the Kings Coffers. seruing as it were for recompences and thanksgiuing for theyr rewardes. But as for 6. me, I haue reaped thus much of all my continuall seruice for thyrtie yéeres, or thereabouts, that I finde that I haue not lost my goodes onely, but mine honour also.

Certainly, I féele at this present more want of mo­ney, then euer before. By reason of my harde Fortune, and my Creditors perceyuing it, I finde them more ry­gorous and hasty with me, then they were wont to be.

For which cause, I will estéeme it as a gratious good turne: if that which vppon the iust casting vp of my ac­coumpts, is manifestly found to be due vnto me, be payd to my handes, or at the very least, that the debt may be assygned with such assuraunce, that with all by this suf­ficient caution my Creditors béeing pacified, may cease from troubling me. Yet notwithstanding, I sollycite not this with such scrupulositie that I would, make any diffycultie to receyue, or neglect any goodFor couetousnesse is vnsatiable. benefice which might be offered vnto me by so great and mighty a Prince. But for that I desire principally before all o­ther thinges, to be released and fréeed from this trouble and tediousnesse. Wherefore at the last I shall desire your Lordshippe to procure me to be enrolled amongst them that haue deserued to taste of the kings beneficence and lyberallytie, when occasion shall serue thereto.

But my chéefe desire is that the same may be bestowed vpon my chyldren, whome I haue of purpose caused to be trayned vp in such instructions and learning, that they should growe to be apt and fitte to serue, as well Royall and publique affayres, as also Ecclesiasticall dig­nities. Some of them there be, that I haue destined & appointed to theTo wyt, to transferre to their owne vses great Reuenues, pertayning to the poore. For this is the Religion of Spayn and the duty they doo to the Church. Church, and which towardly frame them selues to adorne and aduaunce the same, as apper­tayneth. I haue others very fitte for any manner of Of­fices whatsoeuer they be. All the which I recommend to your Lordship, as a principall fréend, to the ende that they may be further recommended.

I will vse no moe woords vnto you, referring all other matters to my Letters the last of March, the .v. of April, and the .xx. of May also: all the which I thinke were in Spayne before your Lordshippe, wherein I then bréefly comprehended the course of all that hath passed héere, [Page] since your departing. The ayde so long sollicited and de­maunded, is sent to Groeninghen at last, & that verily by the dilligence of ourHe would say, Buffo, to wyt, a Toade, who vnder coulour of Am­bassadorshyppe, hath wickedly spread his poyson against his most innocent Countrey. Bucho, rather then by the sollicita­tion of the kingsWhat wyll the Prince of Parma say to that? Who careth not for any thing that may ayde the Countrey, so that hee procure the kingdome of Portugall for him and his? counsayle of Estate. The sayd Bucho hath so handled the matter, that eyther without any, or at the least with a very small expence of y^e kings money. He hath caused a iust army to be leuyed, & brought ouer the Rhyne, after that about sixe hundred horsemen, sent from the Prince of Parma for ayde, were ioyned to the footemen, which had soiourned a good whyle about the same Ryuer, but onely putting them in hope to receyue two months pay héere. And albeit they be disappoyntedBeholde the fayre promises, wherwith they haue hytherto fed the poore Malcontents. therof, yet hauing passed the Rhyne with the rest, they haue made haste in marching together with such dilly­gence, that hauing passed ouer all the riuers, where there was any daunger: It is thought y^t they be already safely entred into Frizeland. In déede there ran a rumor, that the Prince of Orenge would giue them impediment: but besides rumors, nothing else is yetCount not your Chickens before they be hatched. heard of▪ Sauing that certayne Shyps of warre, which peraduēture were sent to that effect & came too late, presented them selues before this Towne. The which after they had stayed héere a certayne tyme, hauing cōmaundement to depart: it is vncertaine whether they haue sayled. In the meane space we hope y^t the issue of the expedition will be prospe­rous, taking this for a good presage, that the Frizelanders at the onely report of their cōming, began to be more in­tentiue & carefull how to run away: then to stād to theyr defence. Further, they of Groeninghen, since the death of Bartholomew Ente, slayne in an excursion, who was in a manner the principall leader of the enimies, haue taken courage. Your Lordship very well knowing y^e scituation and importance of that Countrey, vnderstanding aswell with how great hope such as beare good affection to his Maiesty, doo now reioyce. Who by reason of Diest, lately occupied againe by the Statesmen; are tormented with a new doubtfulnes & feare, for y^t they perceyue y^t Louain [Page] therby standeth in emynent & present daunger, with all the Countrey of Brabant: which the Prince of Orenge would haue had ere this, if Bolseduke had not giuen im­pediment thereto. The report goeth, that the Abbot of S. Gertrude, with his presence, maynteyneth & kéepeth the men of y^e same Towne in theyr dutyes: who I think is not exempt from feare, whyle he cōsidereth with himselfe, that all the Kings men by such newes of the taking of Townes, lose courage, & waxe faynt, forBehold the prodi­gious and monstrous rytches, whereby they promised to defend them selues, without the charging of the inhab [...] ­taunts of Artoys and Haynault. great scar­city of money. For want of money, giueth pretence to neglygence & wicked dealing, & turneth from the wayes of dutifulnesse, the mindes of all such as remayne in so doubtfull an estate: I knowe too well, that the warre of Portugall consumeth the Treasure & Reuenues, and that it is not possible for them to furnishe all necessities.Schetz, hath in all respects, a Spanishe minde: to wyt, swelling and proude For that he thinketh th [...]t so florish­ing a kingdome may be so easily ouercome. But I am of this opinion, y^t it were expedient to take some order in it quickly, or that it had bene better neuer to haue beneFor the warre ought not to be tyran­nously moued, & against the priueledges of Por­tugall, by the enemy the Spanyard. enterprysed. The euent of this warre is of great importaunce, for our affayres in these quarters. Wherfore I beséech your Lordshyp, that the same would vouchsafe to wryte vnto me howe the matter standeth, concerning the same warre. And if after the ende therof, there should be want of corage, or meane to atchieue our matters in good order: I feare y^t I shall one day sée those thinges set foorth too late, which in fytte and conuenient time to cōclude Peace, peraduenture haue bene too hard­ly denyed. I will not deny, but that the exercise of diuers Religions is very vnconuenient, in a wel ordred cōmon wealth, as the most honorable Cardinall hathBut if thou speakest from thy heart, thou thinkest thy Cardinall very vnwyse for sugge­sting such foolish counsel to his King. wisely admonished me. But all men, specially these that are a­mongst these troubles, are perswaded that y^e thing ought to beTo wyt, tyll they shall finde occasion fytte to destroy vs. tollerated somtimes, which cānotFor they reserue that which should be consumed afterward, for the hote yron. immediatly be amended. And that it is requisite to auoyd the greater inconuenientes, with suffering the lesser, although that they which be far of, and no séeers of the euylles, but hea­rers onely: are not of the same opinion. To whome these woordes of the Comycall Poet, might fitly be obiected. [Page] If thou vvere in my case, thou vvouldest be of an other minde▪

But that I may make an ende, I beséeche your Lord­ship to procure that we fayle not in our dutyes, namely, to make Peace by what meanes so euer, or to make warre. Fearing least we doo that too late, which ought to be effected in conuenient tyme. Of all auncientie, the house of Austriche hath bene blamed with this spotte, that it hath accustomed to apply remedyBut now they of Austriche, although it be very late, giue no remedy. too late to the euilles therof. For the which cause it is expedient that your Lordship, by your counsayles preuent that the king stumble not againe at the same Rocke.

At this present there is a treaty at Antwerpe, touching the renunciation of the King, and the accepting of Alan­son: but as farre as I heare, the voyces neyther condis­cende, nor agrée together in so wicked a cause.Whether these deui­ners be true, the effect in the ende shall declare. All men for the most part presage that, by procuring the ab­iuration of the King aforehand, the way is opened and prepared for the Prince of Orenge. Howsoeuer it be, these counsayles are daungerous, and the King ought to haue great regard to the same. We léese that is ours more lightly (although vniustly,) then we recouer the same (albeit iustly.) But héere I will cease, hartily re­commending my selfe to your Lordshippe, to the which God graunt prosperity. Dated at Cullen, the .xvi. of Iune. 1580.

AFter I had writtē this Letter,Here it may be seene howe long the Abbot hath bene a Traytor. the Abbot of Ma­rolles béeing by chaūce then present, moued through my example, sayd that he would also write to your Lord­ship. And therwithall hath caused me to remember, to recommend vnto youThe Abbot hath a principall care of this: To wyt, the good father is enflamed with the loue of the Church. his matter, touching the Pen­cion of S. Bertin. I thinke you haue in remembraunce as béeing in the same company, when we were here to­gether, that the same was promised vnto him. And that you are not ignoraunt how much good fayth is woorth.

Therefore for as much as promise hath bene performed with him, touching the kinges denomination of him, to be in the counsell of Estate. It séemeth also to be very ex­pedient [Page] that the lyke were done cōcerning his Pencion. And therefore I recommend him to your Lordshippe as much as is possible. Wishing to the same agayne good health and prosperity. The yéere place and day aboue­sayde. This is the copy of my last Letter written to your Lordshippe, which I thought good to copy out and sende, if perchaunce by the iniurie of the tyme, it might so fall out, that the Letters were intercepted.

IT is not possible for me (most honora­ble Lord President (to expresse the desire that I haue at this present, to receyue Letters from you, the which might in a manner set before me bothe commodities and inconueniencies, together with the congratulatiō of your welcome to the Court. To this ende, that I might séeme as it were to talke with my fréend, as much as is possyble for one that is absent. The which in these most myserable troubles, might somewhat comfort a man that remayneth in perplexitie. For I haue not yet left this exyle of Cullen, because I could not hytherto set my affayres in such order as I might make them sure,The goods of Schetz haue bene the only cau [...] of his dissymulation. from the confiscation of the aduersaryes, notwithstāding that [Page] I haue assayed all meanes possyble therevnto, my en­terprises béeing alwayes hyndred by delayes, procéeding of the iniurie of the tyme. Where as many others ther­by séeke theyr gaine, and in lyke manner styrre & mooue from day to day, one whyle, one thing, & an other whyle an other thing.It is to be lamented, that thou wast not fallen before vppon a very hangman in deede. Who with a halter might haue stopped the way of all thy treasons.

My executioner Flemming, hath shewed him selfe open­ly abroade agayne, who alwayes lying in wayte for my lyfe & honour, at this present taking occasion by the time is reported to vse meruaylous practises against me, thin­king that he may with better successe, vse his wyles and deceypts against me that am absent, and haue euyll wyll there: and peraduenture he wyll obteyne what he lyst at the handes of the Iudges that wish me all euyll.What haue the Iudges more to do against a Traytor that confesseth his offence? And if it fortune that he worke many dommages against me, at the least: he shall delyuer me from this exyle, vnloosing the fetters wherewith I am in this place deteyned.

I expect good newes from your Lordshyp, of the Kings beneuolence, and aunswer touching my peticions, to the ende that at the very least, béeing discharged of my debts: I maye more patiently suffer the rest of the iniuries of fortune, and of my tormenter Flemming. I will no lon­ger kéepe your Lordshyppe occupied with my particuler callamyties, I will speake of matters pertayning to the common wealth.And this man who was sent by the States to treate the Peace: played an honest mans part. Touching the prosperous successe in Frizeland: My Lord the Prouost Aytta wryteth it. To whome as I yéeld the office of wryting, so I attrybute vnto him the glory, & dexteritie of that is done. Without all doubt he hath done a great 2 péece of worke: which your Lordshyppe should not forget.2. To wyt, a notable great Treason. It is not yet tyme to sing the triumphe, for the matter is not yet in any wise finished. A great prayse of Cullē that hath so many good Cittizens, and louers of equitie.

For he hath not atchéeued a woorke of so great impor­taunce, without expences and peryll, to the great gréefe of all such as fauour the aduersarie. Of the which there is a great number in this Cittie, as your Lord­shyppe well knoweth. What profite wyll come there­by to the Kinges men, the tyme wyll teache?

For if the Gouernours in Frizeland doo theyr dutyes,Where are the moun­taynes of golde that you promised to the Mel­contents? and that we fall not wholly into contempt, through lacke of money: Many presage, that a more happy procéeding of the warre wyll succéede this victorie, and that in the ende,Myserable Prophets who might see by the former warres, vpon how frayle a foundation they are stayed. Hollande maye be brought in sub­iection.

But this scantnesse ofWhere are the Milli­ons wherewith the Malcontents should be stored? money, dooth at this pre­sent presse vs in such sorte, that the Duke of Parma Gouernour, as an ydle personne, sitting at the Sterne, is dryuen to committe the Shyppe to the wyndes. So slowlie the warre goeth forewarde.

And by meanes thereof, the mindes of such as haue o­uer shewed them selues scant of a constaunt disposition, are brought to wauer. As for example, the Lorde of Aussi, is agayne reuolted to the States, I knowe not well other wise for what occasion: leauing his wyfe at Alost, who fayning her selfe angrie with her Husband, (as it is reported) went about to betray the Towne also to the States: the Lord de Heze, béeing of the same conspiracie of the which shée is kept prisoner at Alost.

And de Heze, when the treason that he pretendedBut the Marquesse and Montigny, accuse de Heze, by their Letters written to the States of Haynault & Arroys, that he would haue delyuered Cassell to the Duke of Amon. to execute against the Marquesse of Richbourghe was dis­couered, béeing apprehended by the same Marquesse was sent prisoner to Mons in Haynault.

With whose captiuitie, many of the principall Souldi­ours of his Regiment, béeing moued, fledde to Tournay. The report goeth, that these were solliceted by the Duke of Alanson, and ouercome by promises to attempt the enterprise, by the counsell of the Prince of Orenge.

And it is well knowen that he which kept a Garrison in Cassell a Towne of Flaunders, by the preferment of the Lord de Montigny, was of the same conspiracie. Who therefore (as it is sayde) was set vppon in the playne feelde, by certayne Cornets of Horses ouercome, andBut the same man perceyuing your disloy­alty and treason, hath ioyned him selfe to good men, and peraduenture ye shall feele him alyue one day, kylled in fighting: and so Cassell (which the aduer­saries thought they had holden already in theyr handes) was preserued for the king.

These newes wyll séeme very straunge to your Lord­shyp, as well as to me. But I thinke it a matter of desti­ny, that Heze andBehold the rewardes of those that are reuolted to the enemies, who care not for the prisoners, according to the Spa­nish fashion. The which is experimented, not onely by Elimes, but also by Egmont, the which onely cause suffi­ciently purgeth the sayd be Iussi from cryme, in that he hath followed better counsayle. Elimes his Lieuetenaunt, receyue the salarie of theyr Actes. I thinke also your Lordshyp hath styll in remembraunce, that de Aussi first brought the Prince of Orenges souldiours into Flaunders, all the whole Counsell béeing against it, and how he cléered his dooing withBut de Aussi sayes thou lyest. false Letters. Such rewardes are méete for such déedes. Amongst the whichLet the Malcontents iudge hereby what they are to looke for. Fresin also for his vehemencie, wherwith he was at the first so hote against the king, is peraduēture taxed to haue wrought some thing. And I thinke no lesse wyll one day befall to his brother Mounsier de Loyns [...], who depriueth the King of Cambray. I am sory onely for this, that the nobillytie of our nation, wyll be noted and accused of vnfaythful­nesse, in Spayne, and all other Countreyes, by reason of these Metamorphosies.He will beware of your treasonn.

But it is expedient for your Lordshyp to doo this duty to your Countrey, that the dispositions of those that haue bene the workers of these thinges may be noted and dis­cerned, for feare least the offence of such manner of men, which are but a fewe and most lyght,Countreymen, you see all hope of peace taken from you, except the Friers be kindled again and the Spanish In­quisition established. defyle not all o­thers with infamy. Further, séeing we must haue warre, for that there remayneth no hope to conclude Peace, by suffering the exercise of a straunge Religion, God graunt it may be ordered with lesse cost, and more profit then it hath bene hitherto. Which in my iudgemēt wyll be brought to passe, if there be as many souldiours enrolled as the money will suffise to pay, least for want of payment troubles aryse. Secondly, that Colonels & Captayns be taken and chosen,Ye see Countreymen, what manner of mode­rators of peace ye haue had: is not this as much as to commit the sheepe to the woolfe? with singular discretion, who are neyther raunsackers nor cowardes. We haue héere the Earle of Swartzenberg, whome your Lordshyp knoweth. He séemeth vnto me worthy to be recommen­ded and preferred for his lyberallytie, magnanymitie, and honorable representation of body, and household go­uernment, whereby he kéepeth all his retynew in theyr [Page] dutyes. Wherevnto is to be added his great kyndred that he hath in Germany, the acquaintaunce and fréend­shippe in a manner of all the Princes, without forget­ting the experience that he hath gotten by the affayres, wherein he hath bene a dealer. Whome lately in fa­mylliar talke I found very ready, and inclyned to serue the King. Wherfore, thinking that he is able to doo more then Focre, now deceased, or Fraunsberghe at this present altogether weakened, & without force,Fraunsberghe and Pouluyller, haue gottē great glory at the hands of the Spanished sort. For that they haue quitted them selues so well in spoyling the lowe Countreyes. or Poul­uiller regarding all thinges lesse then money: I haue by his owne consent declared his minde, to the most ho­norable Cardinall.

And I can not refrayne my selfe from recommending the same matter vnto you, not so much in respect that the sayde Earle is my fréende: as for that in my iudgement, it would greatly redound to the profite of his Maiestie.

I beséeche your Lordshippe, to obtayne me aunswere in this behalfe, to the ende I may not kéepe the honourable mans minde long in suspence. God graunt you the ad­uauncement of your enterprises, to your contentment.

A diew.

The feast of S. Iohn Baptist, at Cullen. 1580.

¶ The sayde Earle will kéepe a certayne matter, that he hath to treate with the Emperor, in suspence. Vntyll he receyue aunswer from the King. Therfore I beséeche your Lordship to vrge the same.

MY Lord, supposing that ye are already arryued in Spayne, I would not be be­hinde with my duty, to congratulate your prosperous arryuall, & to say the Proficiat, of the Estate that his Maiesty hath vouch­saued to honour you withall Beséeching God it may be to his honour, Et ad multos annos. The Abbot was al­ready a Traytor. For performance of that I made vnto you, when ye departed hence, to ad­uertise you from tyme to tyme of y^e state of our affayres. Maye it please you to vnderstand first of all, that since that tyme there hath not happened any great alteratiō, either good or bad, sauing that according to the vttermost of all worldly affayres,But lost a great deale more then they haue won: by wytnesse of the good Townes we haue taken. sometimes his Maiesties men haue triumphed, and otherwhyles haue lost:Such as are good to maintayne the Spanish tyranny. The good perseuere to procure the restablishing of the affayres.

But the necessity that they suffer through want of mo­ney, suffreth not that they can execute their good inten­cions.Where is the treasure of Peru, that they pro­mised. The wicked waxe obstinate more and more, preparing themselues with all furie, to offensiue and de: fensiue warre. And though they haue bene well gauled in Flaūders: and their principall Captaines, as theMaister Monke, ye haue no cause to be so ioyfull. For in steede of one prisoner of ours, we haue three of yours. Lord de La noue, and other taken prisoners. Nihil tamen sunt mutati ab illis, sed potius facti deteriores etBetter resolued then that they will sell▪ theyr lybertie and Countrey, for the Spanyardes rewardes.obstinatiores, tantum abest, vt cum piscatore icti sapiant, imò nunc seriò vi­dentur egisse de abnegando rege et transferendo imperium inNote, that the Abbot counselled this an infinit many of tymes, when the time serued not. But what else may be looked for at a Monks hands, that haue no other God but his belly.Alansonium: Sed, ni fallor, quidquid dicant aut pretexant, credo sterni Auriaco viam. Quod si fit, mutatio parua erit aut paene nulla, quia propter ipsorum dicere aut nominare, ni­hill mutabitur in re.

I haue written mine opiniō in that matter to my Lord the Cardinall: And sée to my great gréefe, that their ob­stinacie, wyll cause the whole ruine and destruction of our Countrey. And that this warre wyll be of long con­tynuaunce, with great charges, and small profite. For the featesThe Monk speaketh lyke a braue warrior, to mayntayne his fleshpot. of Armes must be better ordered to get the victorie, or more must be graunted for the conclusion of Peace.

The men of Cambray, Tournay, and Bouchain, make warre according to theyr custome, destroying the Coun­trey, to the great displeasure & detryment of theWho feele the smart of the folly of theyr Gouernours and wic­ked Magistrates. poore people. The Prince of Espinoy hath accepted the office of Generall. Mounsier de Ainsy, and they of Cambray. Iurarunt in verba Alanson. SoBy your infidelitie and treason. all goeth amysse.

I beséeche you my Lord to vouchsafe, by your wisedome and discretion to enforme his Maiestie: in what state at this present, the affayres in these parties remayne, ex­horting him to followe the healthsome wayes of myld­nesse and clemencie,As appeareth by the contynuance of the warres, he maketh with all extremitie against his owne subiectes. which he hath heretofore taken, and inclyning him rather to Peace, then to warre. Nam adhuc grandis restat via, quia illud vere quadrat in eos quod sole vulgo dici, vno salus victis nullā sperare salutem. I think you were a good whyle, ere this aduertised of our losse of Malines. And also that the Towne of Diest was surpri­sed in these dayes.Here he calleth vs ouercome, and before h [...] sayde, that they haue not yet got the match. So he singeth a triumphe before the victorie. Which wyll fall out very euyll for the poore Towne of Louain. These beEuents of the warre nay, rather fruites of your folly, which cau­seth this warre, vnder coulour of Peace., euents of y^e warre: And tyll there be some meane found to establish an assu­red Peace, each partie must prepare him selfe to beate, and be beaten. Touching mine owneWhich my Lord Abbot preferreth before the common wealth. particular af­fayres, I recōmend them vnto you, as to him y^t knoweth myThese seruices are secrete seruices, that by theyr right named are called Treason & Fel­lony, committed against his countrey, & against three Princes, whose Almo [...] he hath bene one after an other. seruices & good wyll, hoping that by your meanes y^t which hath bene fréelyThe Abbot, then whyle he named him selfe Ambassador to the States, had created with the enemies, being ouercom by such promi­ses, as are aduantage­able to his fleshpotte. promised me by the Duke of Terra Noua, shall be ratified vnto me by his Maiestie.

For a beginning whereof, I haue had some experience already, hauing receyued vnderstanding within these few dayes, by Letters from my Lord the Prince of Par­ma, that his sayde Maiestie had vouchsaued, to name me [Page] one of his Counsell of Estate, (notwithstanding, that there was a diffycultie raysed, by some of mine aduersa­ries ofThe Abbot of Han­non, as honest a man as he of Marolles: So one Woolfe will cyte an other. myne owne profession, whome I estéeme lytle or nothing,) which bringeth me in hope, that in short tyme shall be giuen vnto me, the assygnification of the Pencion ofSee that all is done for money, and accor­ding to the ordinarie trade of Monkes. Metuo danaos et dona ferentes. thrée thousand Duckattes, that the sayde Lord the Duke promised me, for giuing ouer myne acti­on, touching the Abbay of Saint Bertin. Besides the absolute forsaking of the administration that I had by the charge & ordenaunce of the generall Estates. Wher­vnto I beséech you to lay to your good helping hand.

Which shall make mée héeafter20. Note, that money maketh him wylling to serue the King ac­cording to that: Curio romana non querit oues sine lana. more wylling to procure the seruice of his Maiestie and the Coūtrey, and binde men to doo you all the seruice that is possyble for me. Héerewith my Lorde, I wyll ende this present Letter, with my most humble recommendations to your good grace. Beséeching the Creatour, to graunt you a prospe­rous and long life.

MY Lord, fearing least my Letters were in­tercepted by the way, I would not let slyp by thisIt was not too sure for thanks be to God by this meane the Rosepot was found out. assured meane of my Lord of Grobben­donkes man, to send you a copy of my former Letters: wherby your Lordshyp may sée what was then passed in these quarters worthy of aduertisement: and also to giue you to vnderstand at this present, the strāge Metamorphosies happened here sithence, by the incon­stancie of Malcontents, who are become euill mānered. [Page] I meane theThey haue seene with theyr eyes, in what a whyrle pyt, they were plundged by the false perswasions of cer­tayne Monkes. Lords of Heze, de Auxi, and theyr associ­ates, as my Lord of Grobbendonck, hath writtē at large vnto your Lordshyppe. But the victorie myraculously happened within these few dayes to our men, against the Rebelles, and Earle of Hollach with his men, endeuou­ring to stoppe the succours of Groeninghen (that you had soFlattery for the Malcontents of Frize­land, complayne aboue all thinges that they had no helpe from them of the Counsell. carefully and dillygently procured, whylst you were in this Cittie) causeth the losse of these personages to be forgotten. Specially, for that the sayd de Heze, & certaine Captaines prisoners. And as y^e sayd Lord Grobbendonk informed me, he aduertised your Lordshyp of the same: wherevnto I referre my selfe. Beséeching you to be a meane that his sayd Maiesty by this occasion, withdraw not hisHe should say, deceyuing. mercifull hand, nor distrust his goodAs is this maister Monke, who in hope to become ritch, hath forsa­ken but three or fowre tymes the Princes, to whome he was bounde by oath. And in the ende betrayed the States of his Countrey, beeing sent as their Ambassa­dour. stedfast, and constant vassalles: who by good reason are most sory for this fowle and vntollerable faulte. Further recom­mending, after y^e publique, my small particuler affayres. With thus much, my Lord I praye God graunt you a long & happy life, with my most humble recōmendations to your good Lordshyps grace. I wryte at this present to his Maiestie, what hath passed touching my denomi­nation in the Counsell of Estate. Béeing sure that my Letters wyll come to your hands. I pray you vouchsafe to giue good interpretation to the same, and to ad of your owne thereto, what you thinke may serue to my inten­cion: which is no other, but to further the seruice of his Maiestie, to saue his Aucthoritie, and my honour.

MY Lord, although I haue not presently a­ny Letter of your most honorable Lordships to make aunswer vnto. But my selfe, expect aunswer to those letters which I haue writ­ten: Yet for all that, séeing a matter of importaunce of­fred for the seruice of his Maiestie, I could not stay my selfe from wryting. And therfore, wheras since my last Letter, I thought more narrowly vpon the contents of your Lordships last Letter,We beleeue now, that no Prince can procure vs peace, vnlesse it bee with the rooting out of the Religion. For the Cardinall beeing cheefe of the Coūsell, knoweth the Kinges meaning well inough. wherby y^e same discourseth vnto me the exercise of two sundry Religions cannot be tollerated, where men pretend to haue vnitie and tran­quilytie, referring your selfe to theThe aunswer should be seene proouing the contrarie. declarations made in that respect, by the States of the Duchie of Burgundy. I was moued to saye vnto your Lordshyp hereby, that I perceyue verie well by such speache, that his Maiesties meaning is, not to graunt any more in the cause of Reli­gion, then hath bene already agréed vpon. AndIt is very rightly concluded. conse­quently séeing Peace can not be cōcluded, without a fur­ther graunt that his Maiestie mustTherefore we also must resolue the lyke, & seeke all meanes to de­fend our selues without spending any more time about treaties, full of deceypt. resolue to make warre, toNote, how these good Ministers presuppose & perswade the King that his Coūtrey is lost from him, except he can roote out all those of the Re­ligion, and gouerne the Countrey with a club, and without any contra­diction or intercession of the States. And there­vppon the King is fully resolued to the warre, without leauing vs any hope of Peace. recouer his Countrey, which vnder pretence of the sayde Religion they would take from him.

Now, my Lord, calling to remembraunce how the sayd warre hath bene ordered hytherto, with his Maiesties great charge, and small profite, I am sorie for it. And al­though it be a matter beside my profession, yet notwith­standing, for as much as the same is of so great impor­taunce to the common good, or euill of all in generall: I could not discharge my selfe of the care therof. Therfore I thought it my dutie, to aduertise your most honorable Lordship, that mine opiniō is, that heretofore they haue [Page] erred in two respects, to y^e ende that your Lordshyp may remedy the same hereafter.Then speakest better then the Duke of Alua, who had three score, and ten thousand men, and could not ouercome Holland and Zeland. To wyt, they haue leuied so many men, y^t they could not pay them: And that they haue taken Captains without good examination of their quallities & sufficiency. Wherof procéeded the disorder & destruction of all Milletary discipline: without y^e which no good effect can be hoped for. Praying the same ther­fore, to vouchsafe to ground him selfe rather vpō a small Campe well payde: then vpon a great one not payde, so much y^e rather.To burne vs in a small fyre. Quod bellum istud trahendū potius, quàm subito conficiendum, fore timeatur. And as touching the Captaines, Vt bonus habeatur delectus. And in this respect I may not hyde from your most honourable Lordshyp, that béeing the other day in company with theHe is one of them th [...] would iudge our con­trouersie, as the Fere dooth the Chickens. Earle of Swartzenberghe, Ambassadour to his Maiestie, we fell in talke of this matter so farre, that he complained vpon and lamented the small seruice that his Maiestie had re­ceyued of the men of his Nation, with so great charges,They shall see whe­ther he will doo any better then the rest. Taxing with all the slacknesse and couetousnesse of the heades and Colonelles, shewing him selfe verie sorrow­full, that the Germaine Nation, was in a manner defa­med thereby.

Wherevnto I made him aunswere, that he was to re­medy the same as much as laye in him. And if his Ma­iestie fell into the necessitie of this warre, then to set for­warde him selfe to the féelde, and to offer his seruice, so much the more, because the iustification of the cause was knowen to him.As with the cōtrary partie and enemie, and not as an equall Arby­trator: to wyt, such a one as his honour and promises commaunded him to be. As hauing dealt in it with the other Princes. And that for such he ought to helpe to defend it, and employ him selfe to restore vnto his Nation, the auncient reputation, which séemed vnto me the duty of a personage of his calling.

And after this talke was a whyle continued, at last he grewe to this resolution, that he would be content to en­ter into his Maiesties seruice, so that he knewe whether the same would be acceptable, and that he might haue a charge graunted him, méete for his calling.

Further, declaring vnto me that since the death of the Emperour Maximilian, he was not so farre bound to the Emperour that now is, but that it was lawfull for him to accept this seruice. And that albeit, he was sollicited by the Emperor, and also by the Duke of Bauiere, as ha­uing before this serued the deceased Duke his Father, he thought to pacifie them both, by meanes of the seruice of the King: And so to treate with the Emperour, that seruing the King, he should neuerthelesse remaine in his seruice,As good and faithfull as he. placing an other in his rowme, in his absence. And thereof he earnestly desired to haue your most ho­nourable Lordshyp aduertised: But vpon confidence and promise to haue the matter kept secrete, in case hisFor lyke an honest man he wyll haue two stringes to his bowe, according to the Pro­uerbe: If God will not haue mee, the Diuell prayeth mee. Maiestie haue no néede of his seruice.

Wherefore my Lord, for that it séemeth vnto me, that the sayde Earle procéedeth with good zeale, I thought it meete to aduertise your Lordshyppe very particularly of the same, in consideration that his sayd Maiestie maye reape good seruice at his handes, in case the same be con­strayned to make warre: For as much as he hath many good quallyties, requisite in a chéefe Captayne of men of warre. As that he is well Allied and estéemed in Germa­ny, and knowen of all the Princes, hauing already dealt in the affayres. Béeing of good representation,And grosse. Elo­quent in many languages,He meaneth, prodigall. and very lyberall: wherby he shall haue meane, not onely to leuie men, but also to prouide better Officers & Captaynes, and a good Lieue­tenaunt, which is no small matter in the warres. Your most honourable Lordship may thinke on it, & propound the same, where and in such sort as you thinke good. In my simple iudgement it would be very good, to employe such a one, rather then any other, for that his quallities serue not only for the exploytes of the warre, but also for counsell: and to haue in the Campe a personage, that with aucthority & good ground, can speake touching the iustification of the cause, béeing a thing of great impor­taunce in the warres, which Princes are constrained to [Page] make against their subiects. Referring the whole to your moste honorable Lordshippes wisdome, onely beséeching you moste humble, to vouchsafe to pardon me, if I haue gone too farre in a matter that is without the compasse of my profession, and that you would at your leasure send me some aunswer therunto, that according to the same I may order my selfe and frame my speache to the sayd Earle. Without saying any more hereby to your honorable Lordship, for that this Letter séemeth vnto me to be already too longe. I beséeche our Lord to graunt you my Lorde, long and prosperous life in health.

My Lorde Fonck will giue your Lordship part of the good newes of the succors sent from this Citie to them of Groeninghen, by meanes whereof it séemeth thatWe hope it shall not so prooue. all Friezland alreadie loste may be recouered.

MY Lord Gouernor I humbly recommend me to your good grace. This shalbe to aduer­tise you, that I haue béene with my Lord the Earle of Mansfeld. He is in hand to fynde all meanes to content all the Allemains which are in the Countrey of Luxemburghe. For he hath charge from [Page] the Princesse of Parma, by all meanes in the world to a­grée with them. My selfe haue béene with the Princesse. She tolde me that it is aboue a moneth since she sent, as­well to the Kinge her Maister: as to all Princes in the world that are his fréendes, to fynde MoneyThen shee hath not yet all those Millions that the Malcontents so much bragged of. the which mée thinkes, she cannot accomplish, as she desireth. Not withstanding the woords of the sayde Princesse, and the promises of the Earle of Mansfeeld: Our Regiment and Foncres menne, will not be content without they haue eight Monethes paie altogether, there are but thrée offe­red vnto them. I thinke that the sayd Princesse being at accord with vs, will send vs to the ayde of the Friselan­ders in default that nothing can be executed touchingeNote that there be yet some of the Spani­shed sorte in the Coun­trey that are the cause of our erre solutions, a wai­ting occasion to playe their parte. the intelling that my Lord Gouernour wotteth of. I haue shewed your letter to my Lady the Princesse, who thinketh it very straunge that the noble party of Gelder­land hath writtē nothing to vs since. Howbeit touching the other Personage. My Lady taketh him for an honest man, in assuraunce that for money all will goe well, though it be with leapes. When I departed from my Lady, shée gaue me one thing in commaundement, and not to me alone, but also to you and Captaine De Carpe, commaunding mée also to speake therof toThis is one of the Arbitrators of peace, Grand Criado to the Pope. the Elector of Cullen. He hath promised me to stand my fréend to my Lady the Princesse in this matter, and in all that he can besides in the worlde. The thing that my Lady demaū ­deth, is that by our meanes, we should fynde the meanes to practise by force of Armes, to take, browne, or burne the Vesselles of our enemies, which are néere to Bonne. The sayd Lady hath promised that if we can bring it to passe, shée will giue vs thrée thousand Crownes of golde. For that my men are but euill Armed. I pray my Lord Gouernour to ward the accomplishment thereof, to send me sixe and thirtie Souldiers with Musquets, and seauē or eight Pikemen, Then I will sée withThe Councellors of the Spaniardes. the Elector & [Page] Mounsier Lopez whether we can finde the meane to per­forme it. My Lady hath moste expressely commaunded me, that I should tell you by woord of mouthe, and spare for no Money to kéepe touche with thoseOf the Countrey of Gelderland. Noble men abouesayd. And that his Grace ofIt is a good Neigh­bour, but he is a Cardi­nall and beaten in a cor­ner of Rome. Liege for the effec­ting thereof will furnish you with the summe of a thou­sand Florens, of fyue and twentie Patars a peece. For that I am not well at ease you shall holde me excused, in that I am constrayned toSurely there is [...] great hurt in that. write vnto you, being very sory that I could not come to you my selfe: Yet notwithstanding, if you haue any matter of secretnes: ye may tell it to this present bearer my good fréende. Beléeue mée there is great pouertie that my men are so euill Armed. It is a horrible matter that there can no Armor be got­ten at Cullen nor Franckefort scate for any Money. If the affaires of England, There be enow sh [...] let him. and the French Kings brother goe forward, as the reporte goeth, it will goe euill for the King of Spaine our Maister. No more at this time, but that here I wyll end, praying God, my Lord Gouernor to graunt you a moste perfect longe and happie life.

I know not what to thinke of that Priest of Gelder­land, which kéepeth himselfe with my Lorde Conwer at Cullen: He is an euill man, for I can by no meane get the Armor of him.