Catalogue description PEREGRINE BERTIE to the EARL OF LINDSEY at Willoughby, in Lindsey Coast.

--The Gassett gives you a full account of the taking the fort before Namur, soe that wee weere all mistaken in the releefe of the place, which was immagined by the ennimyes removing ther campe they weere quitting the seige through the want of forage, but it seemes they have had forage enough not onely to take the fort but wee beleeve likewise that the castle is taken, which is apprehended will have verry ill consequences in forcing the Dutch to a peace. The river is soe high that the King cannot passe it, and its immagined that Luxembourge will not come to a battle, having done his businesse in taking the towns, so that they will stay till towordes winter to presse upon Brusselles and the countrye of Leige, which with Mastricke will be in great danger.

"Our fleete is at Brest and about St. Maloes, but they find it verry impossible to burne there shippes in either place, and notwithstanding that wee are masters of sea, our desein seemes to coole, so that, being masters of sea is noe advantage to us as we manage itt.

"My Lord President declines apace, . . . yet makes a shift to goe abroad, but has leave, if the weather was good, to goe to Wimbleton for ten dayes. Its discorsed as if the King would come over suddenly, but thats not certaine.

"There is like to be a match betwixt my lady Katherin Manners and Sir John Luson Goore, who[se] estate is given in to be, 7,000l. a yeare, without joynture or any annuitys upon it, but Lord Rutland cannot be perswaded to give more than 15,000l. They demand 20,000l., soe that its uncertaine weither it will goe on. My Lord Fanshaw has bought an estate neere Hungerford in Wiltshire. Ferguson is turned out of his place. We expect our fleet presently home. Sir John Trevor is verry ill of an apoplexeye.

"My Lord Huntingdon crime is that upon receiving King James letter of invitation to come over to see the Queene delivered he sent it up to my Lord Nottingham with his duty to the Queene, and desired he might have leave to goe over for suche time as the Queene thought fitt, to see her Majesty delivered, and then would returne. The Queene has strucke out of the Councel, Lord Halifaxe, Lord Shrewsberry, Lord Malbury, and Lord Thorrington, the first for not comming to Councell, the tow last because she is displeased with them. Prince Waldeck is dead." The citadel has sent word it can hold out for 14 days. The Hannover forces have crossed the Rhine.