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Dec. 2.
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411. WALSINGHAM to DAVISON.
I have received your two letters, and understand that you have
some hope of a reconciliation between the Prince and Duke Casimir ;
a matter very requisite considering the designs of the enemy discovered
in the letters which I last sent to the Prince. I shall
therefore be very glad to hear of an agreement, and you will do
well to further it as the only means whereby those divisions may
be extinguished and good service done to her Majesty. Within two
or three days my lord of Leicester means to send over Mr Rogers
to Casimir with an answer to the letters he wrote to her Majesty
and his Lordship ; both to maintain the substance of the speeches
you made to him in her Majesty's name and to assure him of corresponding
good amity from hence so long as his actions tend to
the furtherance of the Gospel, with good unity with them who seek
the increase of the same ; which his Lordship doubts not but he
will perform as belongs to a prince of his quality.
Of Spinola or his letters I have heard nothing, and I marvel at
his strange dealing towards you. You will do well to have a watchful
eye upon him ; and for such stay as is requisite from hence, you
may be sure I will be careful of it.
Touching your own private suit, I am not unmindful, but these
ten or eleven days I have 'moved nothing,' by reason of her Majesty's
indisposition, caused by the toothache, by means of a catarrh
descending from her head. There is no danger, nor is her Majesty
in a worse state of health, thank God, whatever some evil-disposed
give out to the contrary ; of which you may have heard some
'sinistrous' reports.Richmond, 2 Dec. 1578.
Add. Endd. 1 pp. [Ibid. X. 52.]
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Dec. 3.
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412. REPLY of the ESTATES to the IMPERIAL AMBASSADOR.
His Highness and the States having considered the proposals for the
furtherance of the negotiations for peace made by Count Schwarzenberg,
thank his Majesty for his liberal offer of mediation, recognising
the more than paternal affection that he has always borne to these
countries, and begging him to continue in the same.
They are highly satisfied with his Majesty's choice of the abovementioned
as his ambassador, whose many good offices have shown
his sincere affection to the public weal, and who has more experience
of the affairs of this country than any other.
They consider it would be highly convenient if peace were begun
by an armistice for a month or six weeks ; on the understanding that
there be during that time no trade or intercourse take place between
the two sides, and that the limits of the two shall be defined, and not
allowed to be overstepped on any pretext of ordinary jurisdiction or
otherwise. Also the proceedings shall be commenced at once in
some suitable place, where the negotiations lately begun at Louvain
may be continued.Antwerp, 3 Dec. 1578.
Copy. Endd. Fr. 2 pp. [Holl. and Fl. X. 53.]
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Dec. 3.
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413. DAVISON to the SECRETARIES.
As soon as I 'had my dispatch' at Bruges, which was last
Wednesday(having obtained the grant of their particular obligations
for the 45,000 lent last summer to the States, and being promised
that they should at once be sent to their Deputies at Antwerp to be
handed to me together with the bonds of Ghent, without which,
and till they had the States' indemnity, they made a difficulty about
giving me theirs)I returned to Ghent, where I found things
reasonably well appeased in regard to what had happened while
I was at Bruges. Immediately upon my arrival I sent for the
burgomaster Hembize to know what they had resolved in their
assembly both as to my bonds and as to the other points. He told
me that for the bonds, they had agreed and taken order for them to
be sent to Antwerp, to be delivered to me by their Deputies there
as soon as they had the States' indemnity. When I pressed to
have them before my departure he excused the matter on the
ground of the absence of their pensioners and secretary who
were gone to the Prince at Dendermonde ; but assured me I should
not fail of them at Antwerp within two or three days. Finding
that my stay there would be of little profit, and thinking it besides
not very safe, in respect of some news I had received, I thought it
not amiss to depart with that answer.
As for the other points propounded to them by me and the other
commissioners, he told me that they had resolved : (1) To permit
the churches for the Catholics ; (2) to give the churchmen enough
to live upon, according to their qualities, during their lives, minding
to apply the rest of their livings to the maintenance of the wars ;
and (3) touching the prisoners to bind themselves by a solemn oath
that no violence should be done to them during their detention,
holding it inconsistent with their safety otherwise to release them
before the troubles were at an end. This resolution they have sent
to the Prince ; who considering that their limitations would not
satisfy the malcontents nor agree with the drift the States and he
had for establishing the religions freidt, has since sent the Deputies
back to procure them to accord the matter in general terms, so that
they might by that means have wherewith to stop the mouth of the
revolted Walloons and their adherents, or at least a better colour to
declare themselves against them if they would not be paid with
reason. But what their success in this behalf will be is the more
doubtful, because the malice and the faction of Hembize is increased
since the late difference between him and Ryhove ; who on Tuesday
the 18th ult. (upon letters received from the Prince) sent to request
him to come to his lodging to confer on some matter of importance.
Being there, after some speech in reproof of his proceedings, he told
him that he should not leave his house till some order were taken for
the redress of things ; and so leaving a good guard within and placing
some companies of his own without to guard the street, went out
and caused the people to assemble in arms in divers parts of the
town, persuading such as would have the Prince for their governor
to follow him. But when he saw that the people, marvelling at
this sudden innovation and ignorant of the cause, made no great
haste after himthough for the most part approving the government
of the Princeand finding that some of those who knew of
the apprehension of Hembize began to form a 'partiality' against
him and demand the ground of his doings (wherein he left them
altogether unsatisfied, save that he told them he had orders from
the Prince), and seeing that some disorder was likely to arise, he
returned home ; where he was compelled to release his prisoner,
who next day at the assembly in their town house called upon him
to answer what he had done. After showing his authority, means
was found to reconcile them, and so ended that tumult, very headily
begun, and as fondly executed ; save that for two or three days
after the people contended in arms and their gates were kept shut.
Since then Hembize, notwithstanding the outward reconciliation, has
so strengthened his cause with the base multitude that Ryhove,
being now at Dendermonde, hardly dares to return to Ghent ;
where the Monday before my return from Bruges they
had taken arms anew, and expelled all strangers, chiefly
the Walloons and French. Among them was the Vidame of
Chartres, who has been there these five or six months, and
M. de Bonivet the Duke of Alenon's ambassador ; who being forced
to leave the town at 4 P.M. without any answer to his negotiations,
was by the time he had ridden a mile or two overtaken by some of
Duke Casimir's reiters to the number of a dozen horse ; and being
assailed by them, a gentleman of his company slain and two of his
horses taken, escaped very hardly with his own life and 'recovered'
Dendermonde, where I left him. This outrage was so much the
more noted and condemned that it is conjectured to have been
purposely committed at the instigation of some there ; among whom
because Hembize had by chance let fall certain speeches 'arguing
such a pretence,' and had informed himself what way Bonivet would
take and would by no means allow him to tarry a single night longer
in the town, there is a vehement suspicion that it was not done
without his privity, this fact being accompanied by others of no
better quality, such as the murder of the bailiff and greffier of
Haxelle lately committed by one Meghen, formerly an outlaw and
'ronnygate,' but now a chief captain at Ghent and a principal
counsellor to Hembize. Under the sole pretext that those men had
passed through Meenen in coming from Lille, he apprehended them
by the way, cut their throats, plucked the hearts out of their bodies,
and 'conveyed their carcases aside' ; where being in a day or two
found, and Meghen apprehended for the murder, notwithstanding
that the friends of the parties murdered tried earnestly for justice,
yet he is now set at liberty by the means of Hembize, who in respect
of his avowing and excusing the deed is not a little suspected of a
share in the directing of it. It may thus appear how much this
civil dissension has overcome the respect of natural charity and
duty.
The morning after my return to Ghent, finding M. de Famars
arrived from the Prince to entreat Duke Casimir to meet him at
Dendermonde, and understanding that the Duke, in spite of his
promise and the Prince's great instance, seconded by the request of
the Gantois themselves, made some difficulty, I thought it not amiss to
repair to him ; partly to signify my return to Antwerp and to take
my leave, but chiefly to find some occasion to remind him of his
promise to me before I went to Bruges touching that interview, and
persuade him to the performance of it. But perceiving his mind to
be altered and himself utterly indisposed to the journey, excusing
the matter with no other reason save that the Prince was come to
Dendermonde not only with his own guard, but had also caused two
companies of 'Temple's' regiment, in garrison at Brussels, to meet
him there, having secluded and shut out as suspect certain Gantois
that were sent thither, but arrived a quarter-of-an-hour too late. I
did the best I could to remove his difficulties and persuade him
to continue his first purpose ; laying before him not only his
promises to me and to the Prince, but also the great jealousy and
discontent which might grow of his refusal, since it would be
thought either that he had some plot in hand whereby he meant to
give the law to the Prince, or else that he had conceived some
diffidence of him, when having agreed to go to Dendermonde when
the garrison was of Gantois at the devotion of Hembize, and as
might be construed, of himself, he should now refuse when the Prince
is the stronger. I told him he did himself and the Prince the more
wrong ; because it was his manner to be well guarded wheresoever
he 'became,' and it was both lawful and ordinary for him, being
lieutenant-general and the second person in the state. The Duke
could not therefore find it new or suspicious, especially examining
what he was both in religion and in the obligation of friendship
towards him. I prayed him also to consider what might follow
of his refusal if the Prince and States should be driven to run an
extraordinary course with those of Ghent. For seeing that they
must either approve or disapprove their actions and consequently
take part either with or against them, and that to take part
with them would be the way to draw upon their shoulders under
colour of religion a war of infinite peril, not only against those
of Hainault and Artois, but also against the French and Spaniards
who were in a good way to unite, and that it would nourish a civil
division almost in every town and so breed endless confusion in the
whole state, I thought they would be forced to take some extraordinary
course to reclaim them if they would not otherwise conform
to reason. If this happened, as there was some appearance, I
prayed him to consider what extremities he would draw himself into
when he would have either to leave them or take part with them.
If he left them, it were better done unconstrained, if only for
reputation's sake ; while if he took part in their action, I wished
him to consider what difficulties he would fall into, having to
defend those that had no means to maintain one month's war being
abandoned by some of their neighbours and assailed by the rest,
nor was he able to supply them. So he would 'in common discourse'
embark both (sic) his honour, his state, and his person in
a desperate cause, of which he could expect nothing but a miserable
issue unless by miracle. I therefore besought him to consider well
what he did.
He answered that the alteration of things since he last spoke with
me had made him alter his resolution. He could not 'let men to
imagine' what they list, and he did not mean to meddle or make
further in their causes than for the satisfying of his army ; which
obtained, he was resolved to return home. Finally since going
to Dendermonde could profit him nothing, when he already
understood the Prince's mind in full, he thought it impertinent
to take the pains. This was in sum the answer I obtained
from him, though I found his counsellors Languet and Junius in
favour of the journey and only Beutrich opposed to it ; who foreseeing
as it seems that the Prince, being a man able to decipher the ill
counsel wherewith he has hitherto enchanted and possessed his
master, to the great hazard of his honour, might break the neck of
his dangerous practices, dissuades the interview all he may. In
this he has, in my judgement, done a notable disservice to the cause
of religion, and prejudice to the necessary amity and good intelligence
between those princes, whose heart-burning, nourished by his
ill offices, cannot well be repaired but by an interview. Of this I
have the less hope, because the Prince has as good ground to refuse
to go to Ghent, where the Duke by the fashion of Hembize esteems
himself the stronger, as the other has to make difficulties, contrary
to his promise, about coming to Dendermonde ; unless he think it
more reasonable for the Prince to trust than to be trusted. But
what the event will be, we shall be able to give some guess when
the deputies return to Dendermonde, where, with the commissioners
from the other Members of Flanders, they were expected on Saturday
or Sunday last with a full answer to the points of difference. I
hold it more than high time the matter were compounded ; because
it has already wrought such an incredible confusion in the country
as has changed the former hope of their good success against the
Spaniard into a desperate opinion to the contrary. The frontier
provinces are undoubtedly revolting from the rest, and 'in terms'
of reconciling themselves with the King. Lille, Douay, Orchies,
Tournay and divers places in Flanders are like to take the same
train. The Walloons by the industry of la Motte are already won.
The enemy are strengthened by a new levy of 4,000 horse and 8,000
or 9,000 landsknechts ; a good part of them having newly entered
Luxembourg. The States' forces are disbanded and discontented
for want of pay, and the means to satisfy them utterly diverted by
these troubles of Flanders. The chiefs have retired, leaving their
artillery as a 'pawn' in the hands of the reiters and landsknechts,
and I fear it will soon be a prey for the enemy. The people are
generally discontented, both with the fruitless effect of their huge
army and with their great contributions towards its maintenance.
Of all which I wot not what good end to hope, if they do not all
the sooner obtain a peace. This is now being again brought forward
by the Emperor's ambassador, upon letters received from his
master by a gentleman of his ; which was the solemn embassy said
to be on the way, though his Majesty promises to send again soon
to second him. But having done the like before, men suspect both
his sincerity and the effect of his overtures ; the rather because
all his former pretence of care and goodwill to preserve the
tranquillity of this country is as yet unaccompanied by any material
effect. Howbeit, to prick him forward to effect it in better earnest,
and to incline the King to a peace, they seem here to be in hand
with a new resolution, not only to change their master, but to take
the Duke of Alenon in his place, if they do not come to some
agreement with him within three or four months. Into this traffic
they seem to be carried rather upon an imagining they have to
divert the Duke by that means from embracing the cause of the
malcontents than by any great opinion of thriving otherwise by
the bargain.Antwerp, 3 Dec. 1578.
P.S.I understood at Ghent that Duke Casimir feeling grieved
with my negotiation had written to her Majesty complaining of me as
a man that had exceeded his limits. I think if my proceeding be
well examined it will be found I have not much overshot myself on
that behalf, how heinous soever his secretary Beutrich may make it ;
having delivered nothing that I cannot justify with better reason than
can be brought to the contrary, if I be called to my purgation. But I
am infinitely sorry that such occasion was offered me to use that
roundness with his Excellency which the honour of her Majesty,
already greatly 'interessed' by his proceedings, his own reputation,
and the state of this poor country urged me to. Howbeit, not having
exceeded the limit of either duty or reason, or done anything else in
that matter to the disservice of her Majesty, I doubt not but she
will justify me. Wherein because Beutrich makes great vaunts to
the contrary and meantime it touches my credit, having undertaken
the journey in her Majesty's name, I should be glad to have some
satisfaction.
[From copy : I am even now given to understand that the
Prince left Dendermonde as yesterday for Ghent, at the earnest
instance of the Gantois, who offer to conform to his advice, and
have for his better security removed the soldiers and strangers and
such others as he thought good from the town and allowed him to
bring in what guard he liked.
To-day the Emperor's ambassador, of whose overture I send you
a copy, goes to the Prince of Parma, to 'set abroach' our new treaty
of peace ; wherein I pray God send better success than I hope for.]
Draft. Endd. 7 pp. [Holl. and Fl. X. 54.]
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Dec. 3.
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414. Copy of above, endd. in hand of Burghley's secretary.
6 pp. [Holl. and Fl. X. 54a.]
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Dec. 3.
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415. Rough draft of above, with corrections, P.S. &c. in Davidson's
hand. Endd. 13 pp. [Ibid. X. 54b.]
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Dec. [3.]
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416. DAVISON to BURGHLEY.
On my return from Bruges to Ghent I learnt that Duke Casimir
had in his private letters, both to the Queen and to you, 'found
himself' grieved with my negotiations, as if I had exceeded the
limits of my duty, and, as he says, nearly touched his honour. You
have, I think, seen what I delivered to him, and can judge whether
my error be as it is 'painted forth' by his councillor Beutrich, the
penner of that complaint, in revenge of my roundness in his private
respect. Surely I should be loth to forget myself so far, especially
towards a Prince of his quality, whom I have always respected, as
either to give him just cause to condemn me, or her Majesty
occasion to disavow my doings. But that I have been plain with him
I must confess ; yet if that have offended him, he does me the more
wrong, seeing the respect of her Majesty's honour, his own
reputation, and the weal of this perplexed state justifies me ; all of
which have been prejudiced by the train of his late proceedings,
through his addicting himself to the counsel of him that preferring
his own passions has made 'portesale' of his credit, as I am able
'very particularly to decipher, if I were called to the reckoning.'
Therefore I beg you not to conceive my doings to be other than
justifiable till the contrary is proved, using me with your accustomed
equity and favour, which I have so often tasted ; though fallen of
late into a 'jealousy' of some alteration in your respect toward me,
because in 6 or 7 months you have not vouchsafed to honour me
with one line, either in directing my course here, or commanding
my poor service. Therefore, I must beseech you to continue my
good lord, and if my 'jealousy' be without cause, to pardon and
excuse it as proceeding from the zeal I have to maintain your good
opinion.Antwerp, Dec. 1578.
P.S.For your more information of the 'success' of things here
since the return of my cousin, Cheek, I send you a copy of my
general letter, whereby you may see the token of a miserable
confusion, if God do not miraculously help them.
Draft. Endd. 1 p. [Ibid. X. 55.]
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Dec. 3.
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417. DAVISON to BURGHLEY.
Letter covering copy of his 'general letter.'
Add. Endd. by Burghley's secretary. 7th. [Ibid. X. 56.]
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Dec. 4.
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418. BENEDETTO SPINOLA to WALSINGHAM.
As you may remember, I asked you some time ago to favour me
with a letter to the commissioners for Portugal causes. I should
certainly have had it, had I been as diligent in soliciting it as your
courtesy was prompt in granting it. Now I make bold to have
recourse to you again, asking you to aid me with that letter, in
virtue of which the commissioners may have power to execute their
decision already given, and that I may have the moneys which
Mr. George Smythe has for so long unreasonably detained with no
pretence to a just claim upon them. This appears by the declaration
I made to you before, a copy of it will be exhibited to you by this
bearer ; to which, that I may not be too foolish, I refer you, and
shall ever be at your service to the best of my ability.London,
4 Dec. 1578.
Add. Endd. by Walsingham. Ital. 1 p. [Holl. and Fl. X. 57.]
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Dec. 5.
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419. WALSINGHAM to DAVISON.
To satisfy Duke Casimir touching the offence he seems to have
conceived against you, my lord of Leicester has thought meet to
dispatch this bearer Mr. Rogers to him ; since her Majesty by
reason of her pain in her teeth might not be dealt with in the
matter. He has charged him to lay before the Duke that having
entered upon an action of such consequence without the consent of
the States or her Majesty's privity, by whom he was brought into
the country, from which so great a wound has ensued to her
reputation and no less hindrance to the common cause, she could
not but in discharge of herself turn the blame of his own miscarriage
of himself upon him. It falls out very well that she does not send
herself, for she has conceived such offence against the Duke that if
she had sent, it would perhaps have been some sharp message such
as might have wrought an alienation of mind in the gentleman,
whom, notwithstanding his error, it were not good altogether to
lose ; considering that, as you know, the Walloons and divers of
the nobility there are 'bent to grow to' a peace with the Prince of
Parma, so that his service may stand those countries in good stead.
Mr. Rogers has also in charge to mediate a reconciliation between
the Duke and the Prince of Orange, as a matter necessary for the
maintenance of religion and the defence of the liberties of the
country, both which are likely to be hindered, and themselves
'ruinated' ; wherefore you will do well to assist him with your best
advice. I have willed him to acquaint you with his charge and to
hold good correspondence with you, forbearing to continue his
strange manner of dealing towards you ; considering how necessary it
is for her Majesty's public ministers, all private passions set apart,
to concur together for the better furtherance of her service.
Richmond, 5 Dec. 1578.
Add. Endd. 1 pp. [Ibid. X. 58.]
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Dec. 5.
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420. Affairs of HAINAULT and ARTOIS.
(1). The nobles and clergy of Lille and the castellanies
thereof, of Douay, and of Orchies to the Archduke.
Seeing the villages of this district in such wise oppressed by the
compositions, brandscathes, and assessments [quotisations] which
for no excuse they have, to our great regret, long suffered at the
hands of the Walloons in Menin, we could not but send our deputies
to their colonels and captains, in order to represent to them, with
our governor M. de Willerval, the total ruin which was in view.
Whereupon M. de Hze made a certain agreement with us, which
we accepted on certain conditions, as your Highness may see by the
enclosed copies. We beseech you nevertheless to be sure that what
we did was done with no intention of favouring their designs, which are
unknown to us ; but only under constraint, to obviate the total desolation
of the castellany of Lille, which without it would have been
certainly wasted, many people having left their houses. We
beseech you to believe that we have no intention of severing ourselves
from the general union of these Low Countries, whatever
reports to the contrary may have been made to your Highness or
the States General.Lille, 5 Dec. 1578. (Signed) Desfontaines.
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(2) Undertaking by William de Hornes Baron of Hze, that in
consideration of furnishing pay from the 6th Nov. onwards for
three companies of Walloons, at the rate of 1,736 florins per
company, per mensem, the castellanies of Lille, Douay and Orchies
shall not be liable to 'brandscathe or composition' at the hands of
the garrison of Menin, and shall be under the protection of the
writer. 'Actum par nous, le 4 de Novembre 1578.'
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(3) Acceptance of the above by the estates of the above districts
(clergy and nobles). The sum to be paid is recited as 1,725 livres at
40 gros per livre ; and it is stipulated that the agreement shall include
the garrisons of Halewyn, Lannoy, Esterre, Warneston and other
places as well as that of Menin. Also that all moneys received
under it shall be duly counted and paid pursuant to the letters to
that effect given by M. de Montigny to the local authorities.
Copies. Endd. Fr. 4 pp. [Holl. and Fl. X. 59.]
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Dec. 5.
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421. W. ZULEGER to DAVISON.
I put off writing to you till I had spoken to Duke Casimir, which
I have done this evening. On the arrival of the Prince the Duke
went to meet him outside the town and got into his coach (se mit
sur la gotsche). In the evening he supped at the Duke's lodgings,
who took a great glass of wine and drank to the Prince as his father,
calling him father all the evening in token of gratitude. After
supper the table being cleared and mention being made of Beutrich
the Prince says out loud before all the nobles and lords : 'That
villain, that liar, has decried me for an Atheist and if he had called
me madman or anything, I should have said nothing ; but laying
such a crime on me, and wishing to divide me from you, that is in
no way reasonable. I will have' he says 'my rights of him ; and
you, sir' he says, meaning the Duke, 'you hear my complaint, and
will do me justice ; which if you do not, I have got to have my
rights of him anyhow.' He repeated this remark several times.
Since then the Prince has not spoken to him but has treated with
those of the town ; where there is a fair show of accord.
This evening I have spoken with him at length and freely, and
can assure you that I found him very gentle, and ready to do all
that the Prince advises. I explained (dciffr) well to him how
Beutrich has been deceiving him. He said that he would not be
responsible for him ; he should be spoken to directly and might
answer for himself. So I can assure that good may be hoped from
this side ; and it will be well if you are here next week to help to
assure this good work. Or if you like to stay at Antwerp till the
Duke goes there, it will be at your discretion so to do.Ghent,
5 Dec. 1578.
Add. : (Monsieur d'Avizon). Fr. 1 p. [Holl. and Fl. X. 60.]
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