Catalogue description THE QUEEN "to the COUNT MORYCE" [and the STATES GENERAL].

--"We ar moved to thynk somewhat strangly of some late actions procedyng from you as ar reported to us, for we here that in very secret manner and soddenly, without any knolledg geven ether to the Lord Willoghby, our Lieutenant-Generall of our forces ther, or to our mynister and servant, Thomas Bodely, beyng one admitted as a counsellor on our behalf in the Counsell of Estates, ther is an army leved under the conduction of the Count Moryce and other principall captayns, and the same brought befor the town of Gertrudenberg and ther encamped with purpose by force to take that town, a matter very strang ether to be attempted at all or to be doone without our knolledg, consideryng first how the attempt may dryve them which ar garrisoned in the town to yeld the town to the enemy, who we dout not will with lardg offers tempt them therto, and secondly beyng doone without us or any knolledg to our Governor or to our counsellor ther, it must nedes argue that you have small estimation of us, by whom you ar so manny wayes protected and preserved, and so much the more in this speciall cause for that town, as it is known how carefull we have bene to stay that town from revolt to the enemy ; and for that purpose it is notorious how our Governor, the Lord Willoghby, aventured his own person in that town, to reduce them from revoltyng to the ennemy, and to that end placed ther in no small daunger a gentleman of good accompt, his brother-in-law, Sir Jhon Wyngfeld, to beare the name of governor, to th'intent by good perswasions both to stay them from the ennemy and to reduce them to the service of the countrey, for performance wherof ther war certen articles propounded by the garrison of the town for ther demandes, to the most part wherof [you, inserted above] the States did agre, as hath bene to us manifestly demonstrated by the accord made about the 26 July last sommer, amongst which was specially conteaned that the garrison shuld remayne within the town, unless they shuld be employed in any service for us and the countrey, uppon commandment of the Lord Willoghby, and if he war absent, by Sir Jhon Wyngfeld's, contrary to which accord as assented to by yourselves we manifestly think thes your violent procedynges do tend.

Wherfor we have signefyed our plesur to be communicated to you by our servant, Thomas Bodeley, requiryng you to gyve hym creditt and to surcease all violent actions ageynst that town, untill uppon conference with you in our name it may be quietly considered and resolved how, with resonable offers on your partes and conditions to be demanded and prescribed to the sayd town, the same may be preserved from the ennemy and reduced to be under your government, with resonable satisfaction to the captayns and men of warr to mayntain them to contynew in the service and defence of the common cause ageynst the common ennemy. And if you shall herin follow our counsell and direction, we shall thynk our care and expences for your suerty well employed; otherwise you shall justly provocque us to thynk of some other course more mete for us and our state, and not to have our honor and reputation to be empayred by your small regard of our counsells and requestes. Draft by Lord Burghley.

Endorsed, "16th Marche, 1588. Draught of a letter to the States Generall in English, concerning the attempte against Gertrudenberghe."

And by Lord Burghley, " 24 Martii, 1588. Hugo Billott."