Addenda: Miscellaneous 1566-1567 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers Foreign: Elizabeth, Volume 17, January-June 1583 and Addenda. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1913.

Citation:

'Addenda: Miscellaneous 1566-1567', in Calendar of State Papers Foreign: Elizabeth, Volume 17, January-June 1583 and Addenda, ed. Arthur John Butler, Sophie Crawford Lomas( London, 1913), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/foreign/vol17/pp430-431 [accessed 6 October 2024].

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Miscellaneous 1566–1567



[A.D. 1566–1567?] Jan. 29.	403. Instructions sent to George Gilpin. (fn. 1)
	You are to learn where the Duke of Brunswick is, and, by all indirect means in your power, inform yourself of his estate and means to serve her Majesty in war; after which you are to repair to the said Duke (if he be near Antwerp) with her Majesty's letters, and use yourself towards him as you shall see cause. And if you find that he is a fit man to serve her Majesty, you are to say that you come from her to confer with him.
	First, being informed by other means what pension he had from King Philip, you are to ask what he would demand, and if he mention a greater sum, you shall say that he had less, “noting also the pension of King Philip to have been great because he intended at that time to outbid the French King,” and so you shall induce him to a reasonable demand.
	Next you shall ask with what number of men he would serve; how many he could levy of his own and how many in other countries and of what sort; and what their least charges would be of all sorts, both for horse and footmen, “pretending always that you have been acquainted with less 'solds' and pays.” You shall also enquire by what means (if there were cause) he could lead his charge into France, and how he could be provided of victuals and carriages.
	And after this is ended, you shall say that her Majesty hath had very large offers of great princes of Almayne to serve her, either in France, elsewhere, or in her own realm, “and with some you may pretend that you think we have accorded, three months past,” yet because this offer of his has come without expectation, and that she has heard great praise of his valour, she purposes to accept it and that upon your advertisements of his demands, you doubt not that you shall receive answer for his contentation. To avoid delay you are to advise her Majesty by post, abiding there yourself for the answer.
	If, however, you find by due enquiry that he is not meet to serve her Majesty, either from lack of power or of good-will, you shall merely give him the letters with her hearty thanks, and say that at this time, her Majesty “is rather growing toward some end with her neighbours than to fall out by war,” but if they do not shortly satisfy her reasonable demands, although she has had very large offers made by great princes of Almayne, yet, his offer being so frank, she will not spare to give further ear thereunto; and therefore pray to know where to send to him within these two months, in which time her Majesty will certainly know what is meet for her to do. And so you shall end with good words and either abide there or return as you think the negotiation shall require.
	Endd. “Instructions,” and in Cecil's hand “29 Januar. Sent to George Gilpin from the Queen's Majesty by Sir W. Cecil.—D. of Brunswick.” Draft, corrected by Walsingham. 5¼ pp. [S.P. For. Eliz. CXLVI. 3.]