Catalogue description The PRIVY COUNCIL to LORD WILLOUGHBY.

--On receipt of your letter of October 29, we gave orders that divers ships should repair under command of Sir Henry Palmer to Cherbourg, to receive the whole of her Majesty's troops, according to your request, and on the 9th inst. we sent double letters to your Lordship (from Portsmouth and Weymouth) to give you notice hereof. By your letters of the 15th instant from Marson in Touraine, however, we sithence understand that you came not to Cherburgh, (whither her Majesty's ships had sailed, but were driven into Plymouth by an east wind, which also kept the other ships in the Thames), and that you now desire to know whether you shall stay or return, alleging your many wants and necessities and the King's inability to give you means for your continuance there. Her Majesty, "tendering the weal and safety of her good subjects," thinks it expedient that you return home with your charge, and we have therefore given orders for the ships to resort to Cherburgh to convey you hence. If all come not at one time, you are to embark some of the troops in those which first arrive, having due regard that they be furnished sufficiently for defence.

"Howbeit if the King shall desire to retaine anie parte of the said forces, and that anie of the Colonells, Captaines and companies to the nomber of some eight hundred or a thowsand (which we wishe to be of the regiment leavied in London) shall of themselves like to continue in the service, which her Majestie dothe wholie referre to their election, and therein (if they shall choose to remaine with the King) to content themselves with suche chaunce as may befall them for their paie and maintenance to be had from the King, and not to relye uppon her Majestie, or to looke for satisfaction at her handes in case the King shall not be hable to performe his promise or contract with them to be made in that behalfe : Her Majestie nevertheles wishing unto them, as to men that by their valure in their late actions there (notwithstanding the common miseries incident to warres, which for the tyme they have sustained) have wonne honour to her Majestie and their contrey, and to themselves no slender reputacion (wherein your Lordship's parte is the largest) cannot herein but showe herselfe carefull of them, which her pleasure is, you shall expresse unto them together with her gracious acceptance of their doinges."

Moreover, the Governor of Diep having made earnest suit to her Majestie for two hundred men to help in his garrison, promising to see them duly paid, you may select that number of able men, well armed and furnished, under a good and discreet captain, and ship them from your place of embarkation immediately to Diep, signifying by your own letters to the Governor that you send them by our direction. And for other matters concerning your return and the ordering of your troops, our former letters have sufficiently directed you in what sort to proceed. Signed:-Jo. Cant, Chr. Hatton, canc., W. Burghley, C. Howard, W. Cobham, J. Buckhurst, Jamys Croft, T. Heneage, J. perrot, J. Wolley, J. Fortescue. 1¾ pp.

[Printed in Acts of the Privy Council.]

Endorsed with note of contents, ending:- "Former letters mentioned, but none such received. Rec. 15 Dec., 1589, per Le Roye." [The "former letters," dated Nov. 8th and sent in Walsingham's of the 9th arrived next day. See p.294 above.]