|
| Aug. 8. |
2254. John Marsh to Sir William Cecil. |
|
Sends a book set forth by the Prince of Orange of the
cause of his taking of arms. The Duke bestows his soldiers
in the towns. Much talk of the Prince setting forward.
Complains of the stay of their ships in the Low Countries.
Begs that the goods of the merchant adventurers may not be
searched, as it is a greater hindrance to them than commodity
to the Queen.—Antwerp, 8 August 1568. Signed. |
|
Add. Endd. Pp. 12/3. |
| Aug. 15. |
2255. John Marsh to Sir William Cecil. |
|
1. The Prince of Orange is in great forwardness for the field;
he has 7,000 horse and 20,000 foot, besides 2,000 horse which
the Duke of Brunswick sends at his own charges for three
months. There are many apprehended in this town in the
night, especially scholars. The Italians report that there are
coming to the Duke 2,000 horse out of Germany, and 3,000
Italians out of Italy. There have come to the Prince 5,000
Gascons. They proceed here very fast against Starkey and
Knightley, notwithstanding Her Majesty's letters. |
|
2. P.S.—Has received a letter from Cologne, where it is
reported that within ten days the Prince will set forward
to take possession of Breda.—Antwerp, 15 August 1568.
Signed. |
|
Add. Endd. P. 1. |
|
2256. Names of such as have charge under the Prince of Orange
and also of the German Princes who favour his cause. |
|
P. 1. Enclosure. |
| Aug. 20. |
2257. The Duke of Alva to Maximilian II. |
|
1. Does not think that any man under pretence and colour of
the Trierish cause may take just occasion with a whole warlike expedition of the Empire to assault and set upon him;
for he has not in anything meddled with that matter other
wise than by reason of his office and for the safeguard of the
King of Spain and his country it behoved him to do. As for
the evil and untoward will which all Germany as His
Majesty mentions conceive against him because of the execution done upon certain persons, he easily judges that as the
dangerous world now goes there is no lack of malicious men,
who, as their perverse nature is will construe everything for
the worst. Sends for his consideration the chief articles of
the transgression of the Counts Egmont and Horne, which
are well worthy punishment. No evil will should be borne
to him for that His Majesty would not extend his mercy to
all, neither let the chief authors escape, but rather show his
favour to the simple and ignorant common people who were
seduced by the authors of this rebellion. This matter, howsoever they go about to cloak it, may no otherwise be taken than
as a mere and manifest by the laws approved rebellion. Desires
that His Majesty as the chief protector of justice will see
those mandates heretofore published against those rebels put
in use by which none that love peace and justice may be
offended, and much less may this lawful execution give any
just occasion to conspire against these countries, for he trusts
that no man of high or low degree will be so void of reason as
to let such abominable vices pass without punishment. Moreover at the assembly at Augsburgh in 1548, it was made
manifest that the Low Countries were not to be subject or
contributories to any charges of the Empire, wherefore the
King of Spain as liege Lord, according to justice and equity,
has power to punish those rebels being his vassals and subjects. It seems to him very strange that certain of the
Electors take the letter to be very suspicious which he wrote
after the conflict at Dalhem to the Duke of Cleves. Assures
the Emperor that the same were not written without great
and urgent cause, for that these rebels were in Westphalia by
the said Duke maintained and supported, and by giving them
full and open passage they have been much furthered and
encouraged. Imputes not the least fault to the said Duke
because of his sickness, and also because at that time he rid
himself of the chieftainship of the said Westphalian circle;
whereupon the declarations of the Grafs of those countries
referred by Alva to a common assembly of the circle proceeded
so slowly that the rebels from day to day furnished themselves
with men of war, so that at length Count Ludovic of Nassau,
with the same vagabonds and unquiet persons encamped near
Groningen, and there did great hurt to the subjects. Complains
that the bailiffs and other officers of Cleves favoured these
adversaries too much contrary to the common peace and
friendly treaty between the Duke of Cleves and these
countries. Declares that he has no intention of meddling
with the Empire. Notwithstanding the unlawful and unneighbourly dealings of the Countess of East Friesland, in
arming Count Ludovic with munitions and victuals, and
suffering the adversaries to furnish their ships, fiercely discharging their ordnance from the Castle called North upon
the King's men and receiving the fugitive adversaries at the
last overthrow at Jemminghem, into the town of Emden,
though he might justly in his own defence have done so, he
has forborne forcibly to enter her country. |
|
2. Has no other commission from the King of Spain but to
use his power against his rebels and their adherents for the
maintenance of due obedience amongst his subjects, and trusts
that without great occasion given, none shall have cause to
complain of his men and soldiers. Notwithstanding that
according to the constitutions and ordinances of the Empire,
no man leigable to the same should attempt anything against
the Low Countries, the fugitive rebels by the help of their
friends in many places throughout Germany have gathered a
huge power to invade and annoy them. Humbly desires him
to take these afflicted Low Countries as other obedient
subjects of the Empire into his protection and tuition, and to
show his imperial power and authority against these manifest
disturbances of the common peace, and to prevent their unlawful and forcible enterprises.—Hertogenbush (Bois le Duc),
20 August 1568. |
|
Copy. Endd. Pp. 11⅓. |
| August 22. |
2258. The Prince of Orange to Sir William Cecil. |
|
The cruelties and notorious tyranny of the Duke of Alva
have compelled him to make use of such remedies as the
bearer M. Delhaim will inform him of, to whom he desires
Cecil to give credence, and if necessary procure for him an
audience with the Queen.—Romersdorf, 22 August 1568.
Signed. |
|
Add. Endd., with seal. Fr. P. 1. |
| August 29. |
2259. John Marsh to Sir William Cecil. |
|
Has caused the Spanish Ambassador's letter in behalf of
Randal Starkey and George Knightley to be delivered, whereupon there is granted to them four months to make their
repair hither. It is advertised that there are 8,000 reiters
and eighty ensigns of foot in the camp of the Prince of
Orange. The Bishop of Luke [Liege] has easily consented to
have a garrison of Spaniards, but the townsmen will not.
Duke Augustus of Saxony being put in remembrance of the
great friendship which the late Emperor showed him, has
withdrawn 2,000 horsemen from the Prince. The Duke of
Alva departed on Thursday from Hertogenbosch towards
Maestricht, "in a scarse and no cheerful countenance." The
Duke's preparation has been great, even to the disfurnishing
of most of his garrisons. There are arrived here 500
Spaniards, very young and rascals. The town consented on
Friday to give credit by their bond for 50,000l., but the
money cannot be found. Three ensigns of Spaniards making
spoil of the Boers about Groningen were every one of them
slain. It is reported that soldiers from Hesse daily come
towards Cologne.—Antwerp, 29 August 1568. Signed. |
|
Add. Endd., with seal. Pp. 1¾. |
