Catalogue description Suggestions by LORD WILLOUGHBY.

--"Advauntages may be taken in the Lowe countreys, th'enemy having with dishonnour risen from Berghen employing his forces upon the over-quarters, and Sir John Norreys diverting him also on Portingal."

It is well known what losses the enemy received by his defeated fleet, "where the dead bodies, as it were sown in sundry coasts on which they lighted hath made it most apparent" ; and to this, God hath added a great blow in their attempts upon Berghen, Tertolle and Tergoos, in which, as the intercepted letters of their chiefs confess, not less than 8,000 were slain and drowned, or from misery abandoned the camp. Since this, their great army is divided, some to block the avenues in Brabant in miserable, new-made sconces, but the most marched near to Huesden, Geertrudenbergh and Utrecht, upon the first great frost to attempt something on Huesden, or to gain Utrecht "by the division made and the Catholic party in it assured."

Some regiments are said also to march for Spain, and "the Duke himself is thought to pass for Italy and thither, for the renewing the King's former journey for England with his authority, martial credit and conduct." In Dunkirk are said to lie a hundred sail, great and little, whereof four carry forty brass guns apiece.

First therefore, upon their fleet's defeat it has been most royally resolved to send Sir Francis Drake and Sir John Norris into Portingall, "to divert and entertain him there," from which nothing but good success is to be expected.

2. Considering the discouragement given to the enemy's forces at Berghen, their severance and the Duke's absence, there is good opportunity for us to assail some place, "such as may take all hope from him hereafter to send out any ships of war, either to impeach our merchants' traffic or invade our realm." The province therefore fittest to invade is Flanders, and for the season (the country being full of ditches and water), winter is better than summer, the frost making all places passable.

For the places, none so fit as Newindale, Neuport or Dunkirke ; for the manner, by surprise, battery or both. For if the first fall not out, in six days (God blessing us) we may batter, assault and win Dunkirke.

To the forces here already, being ill-treated by the States, might be joined from England and by voluntaries from these parts some four thousand men, whose arms (under colour of the Portingall voyage) may be provided here, under the conduct of such officers as he that is General here may appoint. A magazine of artillery &c. to be taken secretly to Flushing, and certain of her Majesty's crumsters or hoys to attend there to transport them as needed. Five hundred pioneers to be levied, with their implements.

The charge to be shared by all who receive benefit. "Many hands make quick works, and many sums of pence amount to great sums of pounds." Let the merchants that trade the narrow seas contribute, and likewise the port towns ; essay the bounty of the nobility, clergy and well affected gentry, as also of "the strange churches of the poor patriots of that country well-affected, which may serve as in France personally without pay, or else, with the widow, offer their mites. I doubt not but if I were in England, what with myself and friends that would adventure, in one shire, only to make ten thousand pounds ready," and the rest of England would make twenty thousand more, which would serve our turns, for this war must be suddenly enterprised and not long continued.

For entering into action, we will draw our forces, little by little, to Ostend, and whether we fail or speed (to follow a victory or settle a siege) must have those forces in a readiness. If God bless our enterprise the King of Spain shall never again use Dunkirk as a port to invade our realm or spoil our merchants, and the charge will easily be exceeded by what we shall save in merchants' goods and fishing and still more in the charge of shipping needed to oppose to Dunkirk, the chief hope of Spain's enterprise upon England. Besides, if we gain it or Newport, the contributions of the country will go near to maintain the supplies to be drawn out of England.

If some of the Low Countries object that her Majesty is bound by treaty to make no war without them and so might refuse the employment of her soldiers there (as being their auxiliary forces), I reply that the treaty has been so rent in pieces by them that they cannot mention it to her Majesty without reminding her upon what slippery ground she stands for the re-payment of her spent treasure, having now but two cautionary towns, which they want but opportunity to seize.

I will discourse only of my own time, this last twelve months. After her Majesty had refused the sovereignty and had travailed to re-possess them of their mutinous towns, so far from showing gratitude, how feeble was their help to Bergen (notwithstanding my earnest solicitations, as appears by my journal, and their own letters and speeches), how hard their dealings as regards garrisoning her Majesty's people, "saying, 'they can make shift, for they are good thieves.' If they be lost, they laugh at it ; if they, being destitute of all help, chance to lose anything, they take occasion of that which they only lie in wait for to exclaim of her Majesty and all hers, publish their faults to the uttermost they can to distaste the good country people of her and her subjects." They suffer libels and reproaches to pass without enquiry; alter the State of Council, put down her Majesty's lieutenant, leaving him without reputation, change governments without her knowledge, and take all hearts away from her. "They treat with Denmark for marriage, and brave by that confederacy to hold the Queen more in awe of them, by reason of the trade through the Sound. They practice with the King of Navarre to divert him and to weaken her Majesty's disposition that way ; all which showeth a disposition that they would pluck all feathers they may from her, and having flown with hers to the highest, throw away their wings."

But although many chief persons be lewd, yet many towns and good people are well affected, and if her Majesty would royally proceed, demand account of her money, and employ her forces for them that honour her, she would curb the ill-affected.

"The chief maritime towns will stand for her. Geertrudenbergh, in the bowels of Holland, will so plague their navigation as the proud must needs kneel" ; Westphrise will receive her garrisons, all the rich sea-coasts and harbours are at her command, to the Brill, and even to Vlishing. "Then from thence, if she join the coast of Flanders unto her, it needs not be set forth how much she shall thereby prevail."

"If any shall object they may make a peace advantageous with the enemy, it is frivolous, and invented but for a scare-crow. What diverted the people to leave the exceeding good course they ran in with the Earl of Leycester but peace ? Can it be supposed that they will leave the throats of the States uncut, whom they have already, if they were but once moved to a peace.

"A few lewd may betray a few inland towns, but not a whole country. If her Majesty hold those above-named, with Dordrecht and Rotterdam, which are offered unto her also, no peace can be harmful to her, having all the sea-coast, chief port towns and shipping. On the other side, no peace can be assured to those persons who never were faithful to their own sovereign, nor to no prince else." There can be no sure treaty for them with Spain, nor any other prince but her Majesty able to embrace so great a cause ; but if they have a head given them to practise with other princes, they may "hang a clog on that good fortune which otherwise runs after her." I pray God send her to take hold of those occasions fittest for her royal virginity, her secure estate and God's glory, and by an honourable war in Flanders "to avoid invasion and assure our traffic and navigation through the narrow seas and ocean."