Simancas: May 1574 | 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: May 1574', 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/pp478-482 [accessed 27 November 2024].

May 1574



3 May. B. M. Cotton, Galba, C. v. Original draft.	396. Letter of Intelligence from London (unsigned) to the Grand Commander of Castile (Don Luis de Requesens y Zuñiga), Governor of the Netherlands. I wrote to your Excellency on the 19th ultimo, and since then news of the glorious victory gained by your Excellency's troops has arrived, for which God be thanked, although the heretics are much cast down about it. (fn. 1) They are giving out, however, that their side remained in possession of the field, their object being to obtain more money from the churches here for Orange. They are also trying to raise troops here to send to Holland. The gentleman who went over with the English troops, as I wrote to your Excellency on the 8th ultimo, writes that Orange had returned to Dortrecht very sad after his defeat. The English soldiers were very much discontented, as they had not been paid anything since they had been there. 40 or 50 of these soldiers have returned hither, but others still go. It is reported on good authority that, in view of the coming of the fleet from Spain, a 1,000 more men will be sent to Zealand to help guard the island. Many of these will be gentlemen and others well versed in warfare. All the Queen's fleet, of 30 sail large and small, is also to be equipped, besides merchant ships which are in good order here. The Rochelle people and other French heretics, it is said, will provide 40 sail, and a minister from Rochelle came hither the other day with this intelligence, and to treat with Orange's Commissioners and the English. He left a week ago to see Orange himself, who, it is said, will find 50 or 60 sail, so that, with pirates, altogether a large fleet of 200 ships will be collected. It is intended to attack all ships that come up the Channel, and the fleet will only carry the English flag, the object being to prevent the passage from Spain of the needed force to Flanders. Our fleet should be well warned and prepared in order that these evil spirits may not frustrate us.—3rd May 1574. Note.—Much damaged by fire.
10 May. B. M. Cotton, Galba, C. v. Original draft.	397. Letter of Intelligence (unsigned) from London to the Grand Commander of Castile (Don Luis De Requesens y Zuñiga), Governor of the Netherlands. I wrote to your Excellency on the 3rd instant, giving an account from a good source of the armaments here. Twelve or fourteen ships of the Queen's fleet of 30 sail are powerful vessels of 400,500, 600, and 700 tons burden each, with little top-hamper and very light, which is a great advantage for close quarters, and with much artillery, the heavy pieces being close to the water. The rest of the ships are small vessels of 100, 150, 200 tons each, also in good order. The Admiral of the realm is to go in the fleet, together with a large number of gentlemen ; and most of the people will be well versed in maritime matters. Of Orange's 60 ships most are to be large powerful vessels well armed, many of them being sloops, and a great quantity of bronze ordnance is being carried. The French heretic fleet of 40 sail and the pirate ships, together with some merchantmen, will also be well fitted and armed, but they will not compare with the two fleets I have described. Their intentions are bad enough however, being to attack the Spanish fleet, unless it is very powerful. For this reason, and for his Majesty's own reputation, it is most important that the fleet should be prepared to frustrate them. I am working very hard to discover all their designs, but they are very changeable, and I have to use extraordinary efforts to give constant news of what is going on. If the fleets came to hostilities it would be well to give orders when they approach them, that the ordnance flush with the water should be at once discharged broadside on, and so damage their hulls and confuse them with the smoke. This is their own way of fighting, and I have many times seen them do it to the French 30 years ago. I advise his Majesty's ships to be beforehand with them, and they will then send to the bottom all that are opposed to them. This is a most important piece of advice. I am also advised that, if they find the Spanish fleet powerful and prepared, one of the principal instructions given to the captains is that they are not to attack but to go to Normandy or Guienne, where they may find the best shelter. There are many heretics in these two places, and they will be amongst allies. Much artillery has recently been sent to the islands of Alderney (?) and Guernesey, and some battery pieces. News comes from France that the King's governor in Normandy had beaten Montgomeri and surrounded an important castle. Montgomeri himself had fled, but had hopes of again entering, if these people go to France. Some of those who had conspired against the person of the King had been executed in Paris, whilst some of higher quality were expected to be released. God pardon such wickedness and inspire princes to confederate together to frustrate it.—London, 10 May 1574.
17 May. B. M. Cotton, Galba, C. v. Original draft.	398. Letter of Intelligence from London (unsigned) to the Grand Commander of Castile(Don Luis De Requesens y Zuñiga), Governor of the Netherlands. I wrote to your Excellency on the 10th instant, and on the 13th an English ship arrived in this city from Biscay bringing the news that the fleet now being prepared there for Flanders was very unsettled for want of m(unitions) ; 40 or 40 sloops which had been arrested having been disembargoed for this reason. This is confirmed by letters from Antwerp saying that their advices now mention nothing about this fleet, whereas they affirmed before that it was to come very powerful. They are very proud and glad of this news here, and have sent congratulating Orange about it. They feel sure, if things are as they say, that the fleet will not come. Without counting the Queen's ships and the English merchant vessels that were to accompany them, it is believed that the rest, consisting of some 200 ships, Orange's fleet, the pirates and the French rebels, will go to the coast of Spain and rob everything they can lay their hands upon, besides the ships that went out for a similar purpose recently. On the 14th news came from Bristol that a ship had arrived there from Madeira, saying that 16 corsair vessels had, sacked the island, and were still there when the ship left. I cannot believe that such a thing can have happened, but all the heretics are talking about it, and the French and Flemish rebels say that they are not only going to sack the Canaries, Cape de Verd, and San Thomé, but will also take possession of them and of the trade with the Indies and Brazil. An English gentleman named Grenfield, (Grenvile) a great pirate, and another called Champerknowne, Vice-Admiral of the West, a co-father-in-law with Montgomeri, with others, recently armed seven ships, four large and three small, with the avowed intention of going on a voyage of discovery to Labrador, but the real intention was to help Montgomeri in Normandy, which is very near the west coast. Since Montgomeri's defeat it is said they will be too late to help him, and they consequently assert that they are going to the straits of M(agellan?), their fleet being increased by three sail, making 10 ships in all, amongst which is the "Castle of Comfort," a celebrated ship of 240 tons, the largest of them. The fleet is very well fitted and found, and will carry 1,500 men, soldiers and sailors, 500 of them being gentlemen. The real design is not yet known, as there are so many plans afoot, but, as they are going in this guise, they probably mean to sack some of the islands and lie in wait for the ships from the Indies and other merchantmen. They say they are taking with them a store hulk of 600 tons, with provisions, but I believe it is more likely to carry their plunder than to take stores. They sail this month. It is to be hoped that measures of precaution will be taken in the Canaries and elsewhere, as so many ships are leaving, and it is very necessary that some remedy should be provided. Whilst things remain as they are these people will continue their present proceedings, which are the accursed result of their false religion. I have already written at length as to what the remedy should be, and especially in mine of 14th February, as these raids are increasing so greatly in consequence of the immunity they enjoy, and by-and-bye it will be too late for redress. These people are without powder ; all they had in the Tower, which is their magazine, having been only sufficient for six or seven ships of the many they have sent to Rochelle and Normandy. I am told that they are providing themselves with the powder they will require from Hamburg and Antwerp, whence it is brought very secretly between sacks of merchandise and large casks. They will doubtless do the same from Sluys and Dunkirk, so that, if vigilance is exercised, some good captures may be made. The Portuguese negotiation is being carried forward, notwithstanding the decided reply given by the Queen, on the 8th March last, that she would not surrender the point about Barbary. After this it is not dignified on our part to have resumed negotiations, and, looking at the way the matter is being dealt with by the man who has it in hand, it is clear the Queen will not give way, and he will waive the Barbary point in order to settle the matter. I cannot believe, however, that the King (of Portugal) will allow these English heretics to go there and trade with the Moors, carrying there, as they constantly do, great quantities of arms, to the prejudice of the King and his subjects. Nothing is being said now about mutual restitution of the merchandise seized on both sides, but the understanding is that both parties shall keep what they have taken, which will give the English an advantage of three to one. There are some evil minded people in Portugal, and particularly one worse still, living here, who will, if they can, arrange the matter to the King's prejudice.— London, 17th May 1574. Note.—Much damaged by fire.