Catalogue description COUNCIL OF STATE to LORD WILLOUGHBY.

--We have just received yours of the 26th, stating that the companies destined for Bergen were not yet arrived, which we impute to the bad weather, for we despatched the patents and letters to the captains and gave orders for ships and provisions. We hope that Trayl's and Cristal's companies are now with you, and that the Frisons and Harrogiere's are on the way and will arrive in a few days. As to the shallops, the Admiralty write that they have done as you wished, and we believe that the boats are at or about Vossende, so that if you communicate with the Comte de Solms, he will no doubt assist you with them. The clerk with the lendings for the companies of this province has started, and we do not think that they have any cause to complain, seeing that they have been paid hitherto. We again earnestly pray you to husband your stores, and consume as little powder as possible, "sans tirer ou user le canon, que sert de peu de service, s'il ne soit en urgente necessité; et ne cherchera l'ennemy riens plus que de vous faire dependre l'amonition, oultre ce, comme n'est incognu a vous les moiens qu'avons sont petites, et si consumons lesdictes moiens aultrement, ce seroit retomber au mal.... Les salies qu'entendons estre faictes par les gens de guerre ne peuvent estre que dangereuses, tant pour la perte des gens, comme aussy que l'ennemy, prenant quelque prisonnier, peut entendre l'estat de la ville, et quelles sont les forces et provisions que y en a; et pour ce nous semble estre mieulx de guarder les gens et les tenir en bon ordre, et pourveoir les forts et places necessaires pour estre bien emploiez en temps de necessité."

We desire to know how many soldiers are now in the town, and to have an exact list of the English. The Governor of the Briele writes that if you need more men, he will let you have (in addition to those already sent) as many as he can spare.

The engineer, Maitre Pierre, is ill and cannot leave his bed, and we do not know Capt. Monjon; but we have written to Count Maurice to send you some captains and others skilled in sieges, mines &c. We have also given order for sending more powder and other provisions so far as our means will allow.

Postscript.--Since writing the above, we have heard that certain boats, going to Bergen with provisions, have been detained there against their will. We do not know the reason, but if ships are kept, or forced into other services, it will make their owners less willing to serve us in case of need, as was found yesterday; when, our clerks being at Delf to hire boats, could only procure them by paying double price and giving assurance for their return.

As it is the nature of this people and the custom of this country not to serve by compulsion, we pray you to give order that no ship be detained, or treated otherwise than with courtesy. You would do well to publish that all boats bringing provisions can come and go as they will, which will make them more ready to serve us at a reasonable price. Signed Meynertsen; G. Gilpin.