Catalogue description GEORGE GILPIN to LORD WILLOUGHBY, at the Court.

--I received your Lordship's of March 17 only on the 2nd of this present, being most sorry that her Majesty's letter to Mr. Bodley concerning Geertrudebergh came no sooner. The act[see p. 156] you gave to Count Maurice, and which he sent to those of the town "put Sir John Winckfielde out of credit with the garrison, which caused that jealousy and desperateness in them that they would not hear any more speeches of her Majesty nor your Lordship, but so soon as the enemy had made his approaches and offered some small skirmishing with the Count's men, after their retreat from the breach, with the loss of divers men, not finding it saultable, the said Count, with the advice of his counsellors, thought good to withdraw his forces, ship the ordnance and raise the camp, which was done in good sort, though with dishonour.

The commissary Matruyt was afore the gate, employing himself by all means to get into the town, but would not admit him. The enemy hath been in parle with them and are agreed, so as he hath the town, payeth them certain months, and they that will serve shall be placed in Steenberghen. . . . A bruit goeth that Sir John [Wingfield], with my Lady and Captain Hunnings, are sent prisoners to Breda, where the Prince is in person and passeth thence towards Nimmeghen.

"They of Dort and other towns sent deputies to Geertrudebergh, making large offers, but all came too late. The enemy hath since summoned Sevenbergen and is thought will not leave it till he possess it. The Count Maurice is returned thither, sheweth a cheerful look, but as I hear, is not in full charity with the first Counsellors. The party who is taken to have been chief furtherer of this action, and will rule all, doth play a mauvais jeu bonne mine : and though in a manner all men cry out against it, yet nothing is followed, neither done. Mr. Bodly hath delivered her Majesty's letters to the States, with a proposition containing the cause of dislike her Highness shall have, that such a thing was attempted without the privity of any of her ministers or of the Council of State, concluding that they should do well to certify her Majesty of all etc. Whereto as yet is nothing answered. The said Count hath been at Heusden and thereabouts, to take order for the fortifying of the necessary places.

The Vice Admiral of Zealand died of his hurt, and so did the Marshall Villiers, who this afternoon ended his life and is gone to a better, which is no small loss to these countries, as your Lordship knoweth, having no fit man for the place nor that can well discharge it. There is talk of Schenck, but is thought he will not accept thereof and leave his governments, refusing to come hither unless some hostages be sent to his fort, where he abideth and looketh for the enemy, who prepare to have a fling at it, gathering his forces about Venlo and Nimmeghen, and hath already made a bridge over the Rhyn near to Wesell. This summer he will greatly prevail, if there be no other resistance made than by all likelihoods there will be. The General States, with some of the Council of State, are busied to make another state of wars, and is thought they will levy some new forces. If there be not another manner of government, all will to ruin. I have hereof written and said so much as maketh me loath to trouble any therewith further. And for the course that it seemeth will be taken to assist these men with money, if authority be not joined and established thereunto, it will be so much cast away ; and if the remedies be applied too late, it is sufficient discharge for them that have sincerely and particularly advertised the state and proceeding of matters from time to time. . . ."Mr. Bodly craveth your Lordship's patience for this time, being so busied in these causes with the States, that he could not write."