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903. Christopher Hoddesdon to Lord Burghley. |
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1580, Nov. 6. |
In Friesland the English Companies are in mutiny, and will not be pacified unless their arrears for service in Mechlin and Lire be paid them. Meanwhile the enemy has environed the town where they lie, and think for want of victual to distress them, “but
the river of Rhine running alongest of that place will rencontre their purpose.” M. de Liegnes, Governor in Louvain, understanding of the Scots' mutiny in Vilnoorde, offers them all their arrears and six months' pay in advance, if they will yield the place to the Prince of Parma, and accept service under him. The Scots made show to hearken thereunto, drew 400 of the enemy with M. de Liegnes unto the town walls, and after issuing out with good force of horse and foot forced them to flee, &c. In Ninone this week has been discovered a practice to surprise the town. Sixteen of the faction having been taken were executed, the ringleader, a corporal, being drawn in pieces with four horses. The malcontents about Flanders roam the country to and fro with show to besiege sundry places, but do nothing. The commons in Artois and Henegon are so weary of these wars that insurrection is feared. The chief malcontents sue the Duchess of Parma to be means to the King for peace with the States. Captain Morrow overthrew this week a band of their horsemen near Dixmenden. In this town the Protestants have so wrought that another of the papists' churches shall be given them for their exercise; the number daily increases.—Antwerp, 6 Nov. 1580. |
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1½ pp.
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904. Lord Grey to Lord Burghley. |
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1580, Nov. 15. |
Having employed Captain Vaughan and his mariners since the 5th inst., on the service of the fort, so that he could not proceed as he was bound to Limerick, asks Burghley to hold Vaughan cleared. Also for the loss of 60 “crowes of iron” brought in his ship from England, which have been lost, partly by the negligence of the trench, and partly by the pilfering of the mariners.— Camp at Smerwyck, 15 Nov. 1580. |
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½ p.
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905. [Sir Fras. Walsingham] to the Earl of Shrewsbury. |
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1580, Nov. 27. |
Am sorry I cannot procure from the Queen such resolution touching the allowance for the Scottish Queen's diet as I think her Majesty ought to yield. Her Majesty acknowledges herself as much bound unto you as a Prince may be to a subject. I find her rather disposed to gratify you with some suit. Two causes at present move her to deal more straitly, the one, her great charges about Ireland amounting to £10,000 a month, the other, a request made a good while since by Scotland to borrow money for discharging the King's debts. From Ireland the next news we hope for is the taking of a fort lately built by some 500 strangers in the West, mostly rascals.—Richmond, 27 Nov. 1580. |
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Endorsed :—“M. to the Earl of Shrewsbury.” |
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Copy, unsigned. 1 p. [Murdin, p. 346. In extenso.] |
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906. The Duke of Anjou to the Queen. |
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[1580 ?] Nov. 30. |
No pen could be sufficiently eloquent to thank her Majesty for the honour she has conferred upon him by sending M. de Stafford with such kind letters and credentials “que le seul souvenir rant mes sans eblouis et ma pleume confuze.” Informs her of the good terms in which they stand with regard to the peace which he has brought to such a point that all the parties being agreed it
awaits only the ratification of the king, which he expects within four days, in order to be immediately proclaimed by the parliaments of Toulouse and Bordeaux. |
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Expresses his extreme joy that there is no longer any obstacle to the arrival of the Commissioners at her Majesty's Court. He has with this object already sent his cousin the Maréchal de Cosse to entreat the king to expedite whatever may be necessary for their voyage. Has seen from her letters the remembrance in which she holds Simier. Her goodwill towards him would be sufficient “non seullemant de luy fayre baller un pardon mais de luy randre lame si elle estoit hors de son cors.” Begs her to let him know her wishes by M. de Stafford which he will carry out whatever they may be.—Contras, 30 November. |
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French. 4 pp.
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