Simancas: September 1575 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers, Spain (Simancas), Volume 2, 1568-1579. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1894.

Citation:

'Simancas: September 1575', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain (Simancas), Volume 2, 1568-1579, ed. Martin A S Hume( London, 1894), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/simancas/vol2/pp502-504 [accessed 27 November 2024].

September 1575



3 Sept.	420. Antonio De Guaras to Zayas. On the 27th ultimo I sent my last report and there is little fresh to say. A friend of mine has arrived from Holland and reports that the prince of Orange received news in Dortrecht that, on the 20th of August, Condé and his friends were arranging in Germany to provide means of getting into marching order and that they had raised three thousand horse to be commanded by Duke Casimir, son of the Palatine, besides four thousand foot and that Condé was leaving to see the Palatine, in order to arrange a day for their departure and the particulars of the enterprise. It would seem by this that some time in August they will try to enter France and endeavour to join M. D'Anville, who has fourteen thousand harquebussiers and four thousand French horse, besides which they will leave the strong places which are held by the King's enemies well protected. He tells me too, that the Englishmen who accompanied them were Captains Stafford, Bingham Villiers (?), and Hopton My friend gives me these news as certain, but they do not appear to me to be entirely so. Captain John Morgan tells me that, if his Excellency will send him a patent and permission, such as has been granted to other Englishmen, he will, at his own cost, fit our four good ships to pursue his Majesty's rebels. He is certainly a brave lad and will do good and faithful service. Captain Martin Frobisher has decided to go to Flanders to see his Excellency about the great services which he hopes to render, and he will leave in a week. He is the best seaman and the bravest in this country, and his great name and valour will be already known in Flanders. I have promised him a safe conduct to go and come free from debt and the consequences of part events, if no arrangement is made there. The good news of the surrender of Schoonhoven has arrived at Court, and it is expected that Orange himself will leave the States in despair before Christmas, convinced, as all must be, that he will get no help from France and less public aid from England. As I have reported, two of the Queen's ships were being fitted and they have now begun to equip two more. Three private ships are sailing from the North, and the presumption is that they are all intended for the enterprise, as well as the army which is being raised in Germany. It becomes every day more evident that the people here are making great efforts to obtain possession of the prince of Scotland, His good mother is well.—London, 3rd September 1575.
17 Sept.	421. Antonio De Guaras to Zayas. My last report was dated the 10th, and I have since received his Excellency's letter of the 11th, with that enclosed for the Queen, who is now fifty miles from here. In accordance with his Excellency's orders, as soon as news arrives of the appearance of our fleet on the coast, I will at once go to the Queen and deliver the letter personally. I will also endeavour to get a letter from her to all the justices of the ports, so that our men may be supplied, by purchase, with such victuals as they require, and be welcomed as friends. This order I will take or send to wherever the fleet may be, and will serve the commander personally to the best of my ability. In the meanwhile, not a word shall be whispered on the subject. I wrote on the 10th that the Queen and Council knew of the coming of the fleet, and had consequently raised eight hundred soldiers to send to the Isle of Wight, prompted by their unnecessary suspicion, the King being as affectionate to this Queen as ever, and as desirous of maintaining old friendship. When certain news comes of the arrival of the fleet, I will write advising his Excellency thereof, as well as taking the necessary steps at Court. News from Holland and Zealand make us hope that our army will prevail in Dortrecht, and that that bad town will soon be confounded. All the news received at Court and by the rebels here is that Orange and his friends are so routed that they cannot resist much longer. It is said that fifteen thousand souls of these rebels met in their congregations yesterday, and, as I am told, were directed to offer up their prayers for Orange and his supporters, who were in great danger of Spanish tyranny ; using these words and worse. They were told it was therefore necessary to help them with money, as they certainly will do again. On the 10th I wrote that the English Colonel Chester had been sent back to Orange from this Court with a curt reply, but they sent after him and he returned. I do not know whether it was for the promotion of the enterprise I have mentioned, or whether it was to provide help for Orange. I have been told that they have collected two sums, one of sixty thousand crowns in cash, which has been sent abroad, and the other of forty thousand, which they have sent to Antwerp through Thomas Smith. A person who knows tells me that the cash is going to the Englishmen in Condé's army, and the other money to be remitted to Orange, which is to be repaid from the sum collected from the rebels here. Every day more clearly is it proved that they are in earnest about the enterprise I have mentioned, and a man who is concerned in it has hinted to me (he could do no more, as they had sworn him to keep the secret) that they had a great business in hand which he could not tell me about. It appears he had especially to swear that he would refrain from telling me anything. Circumstances show, however, that Condé's army is being raised with the aforementioned end in view,—London, 17th September 1575.