Catalogue description J. VAN HOUTE to LORD WILLOUGHBY.

--After my arrival at the Hague, I notified your Lordship of the passages here, and especially of Sir Francis Vere's victory before Berck, by which he has won great esteem and reputation, not only with the Count of Hohenlo and other nobles, but with the public, who confess that without the valour of the English and wise conduct of Sir Francis, we and the town should have been lost.

The States have requested Sir Francis to take up his abode here, and have put the companies who were with him into their best garrisons in Holland, i.e., his own company at Dordrecht, and Captain Bucq's at Alcmaer in North Holland.

I have spoken with Sir Pierce Persyn, the owner of your house, telling him that he was at liberty to make any profit out of the house that he could, seeing that you were gone to France and would not be returning here, and also that I was charged by Mr. Colman to say that Lancelot Bourton would give him all due satisfaction. He answered that the contract was for two years, with a proviso that your Lordship (if you wish to give it up) is to keep it three months after giving notice of such wish, so that he expects to be paid for the two years, which expire on the 25th of March next. When Mr. Bourton comes, Mr. Gilpin and myself will give him the best advice and assistance that we can.

In case Sir Francis Vere, on coming here, is not provided with lodgings, he has taken "le petit quartier" of the house, with the express condition that he does not wish to be in any way prejudicial to your Lordship, and that if you dislike his coming there, he will pay the owners a hundred and twelve florins and ten pats., up to March 25 next, this sum to be defalked from your Lordship's charges.

M. Richard Alin has arrived in Zeeland, as I hear. I have offered him any assistance he may need, and have desired the present bearer, who goes by way of Zeeland, to speak with him, and acquaint your Lordship with his business.

The deputies of the States arrived from England on October 28, English style, having heard that Lord Bouchorst [Buckhurst] will follow. And on the 30th there also arrived the deputies who have been in France, but as the King had left Dieppe, "ils sont este a Rome sans avoir veu le Pape."

I have been delighted to hear of the honourable reception which your Lordship has received from the King of France, and have published it here (with discretion) as also the demonstrations of kindness which you have received from her Majesty, especially the favour of her own glove and the ring.

Sir John Norritz may yet be General here, and he has sent a hundred florins by Mons. Valck to his secretary Danckaert, as a "gentilesse," and has also granted him certain arrears which Barnevelt has promised to pay each month. One of Norritz' household has written that your Lordship had gone to France in very beggarly fashion, without means to pay your own servants ; but I see plainly that these are all jeers at me, because they see that I have returned without means, having spent, during my six months' journey, much more than I shall receive for my entertainment. Yet God keep me from ingratitude for all the honour and favours which I have received from your Lordship, whom I pray only that my services may be rewarded by the payment of what you meant to be given me by Mr. Stubbes, the order for which I have left with M. Pierre Van Walle in London.

Postscript.--I am writing to the Sieur Alin, that if he needs to go to law, he had better come here and consult some of the jurists. I wonder your Lordship does nothing in regard to your moneys to be discounted, for unless diligence is used, the States will pay nothing.

News has come that the enemy has taken a fort near Rees, in the country of Cleve, after the English were withdrawn, by which Sir Francis Vere and other men of judgment give up the town of Bercq for lost, as it was the only means by which that town could be assisted.