Catalogue description THE COUNCIL OF STATE to LORD WILLOUGHBY.

This record is held by Lincolnshire Archives

Details of 8ANC5/2
Reference: 8ANC5/2
Title: THE COUNCIL OF STATE to LORD WILLOUGHBY.
Description:

--Secretary Gilpin has arrived, and has laid before us the proposals with which your Lordship charged him. We thank you in the first place for the great care you take for our country and pray you to return as soon as possible to consult with us. We are doing our utmost for Bergen op Zoom, and have written to the Governor of Flissinges to send you six, or at least four, of the best pieces taken from the Spaniards. As to re-inforcements, we gave orders, as you know, that the soldiers coming from our fleet should be thrown into Bergen and Ter Thole, but finding that meanwhile they have slipped away to their own garrisons and commands, we are giving other orders for the needful recruits. The point concerning a levy of men in her Majesty's pay we cannot settle without conference with the States. We are writing to the Admiralty to send as many ships as may be required. We do not think that the fort on the north side of the harbour should be demolished, as you seem to advise, but will consult with the Conte de Nassau and Messieurs de Villers and Famars; meanwhile the fort is to be kept well guarded.

 

As regards your request that orders shall be given to all the men sent to you, to obey you or the commander there, without respect to nationality, we beg to say frankly that this is the custom of war and of these nations, and we have never known our soldiers to disobey the orders of their superiors. Signed Van Zuylen.

 

Seal.

 

Endorsed as received on the 7th O.S. at Middelbourg.

Date: 1588, September [4-] 14. The Hague
Held by: Lincolnshire Archives, not available at The National Archives
Language: French
Physical description: 2 pages.

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