Catalogue description G. DE PRUNINCQ to MONS. KILLIGREW.

--The captains here sent one of their number to England to procure, by means of the Earl of Leicester "lettres d'induction" to the Comte de Moeurs and myself, which have now arrived, both from the Queen and his Excellency. But although these letters speak very favourably of me, the said Count has summoned both the States and Magistracy, and complained to them of the injury done to his rights and authority (which he believed was due to practices of mine) and after desiring me to withdraw, made the magistrates declare on oath whether they had any knowledge of such practices. They all bore witness to my honour and innocence, but in spite of this, I find he has since been questioning the captains. I forbear to tell how I was locked into the room to which I retired, or how, when I went to my house, I found the place in front of the hotel full of our adversaries, who seemed astonished to see that I was allowed to depart; but I must tell you that I have had warning that the Count means by night to seize me, my cousin Bacx, Col. Claerhagen and three of the best captains of this town. I have this from good sources, and when a mutual friend spoke of it to the Countess, she neither confessed nor denied, but only said "Qui ne se sent coulpable n'a de quoy redoubter monsieur mon mary, lequel ne fera rien dont et [sic ? il] ne sache respondre, adding that I had tried to maintain myself by force, and that she had been very differently informed concerning her Majesty's letters. They spread all sorts of lies about me, sometimes that I am going to sell this government to Holland, sometimes to the Spaniards, and the Count declares positively that so long as I stay here, Holland and Utrecht will never agree. I thank God that all they can say against me are calumnies and old women's tales ("fables de quenoille") but the great evil is to see the desolation and sadness of this church and of all who are still true to her Majesty who fear that she may imagine that all are envenomed against her, and so may withdraw her favour from us. I pray you if possible to arrange for Lord Willoughby to come this week.

Postscript.--I have just heard that last night three of our ministers went to remonstrate with the Count, but he spoke so strangely in contempt of her Majesty and all the English, that he made the poor men's flesh creep, and they could not sleep all night. The garrison of Bonn capitulated very honourably, marching out to Bercq with all their ammunition, bag and baggage, flags flying, matches alight and ball in bouche.

Endorsed "Le dernier de Septembre (sic) stilo novo."