Catalogue description JOHN SPARHAUK to LORD WILLOUGHBY.

--On my return, I found the magistrates in rather worse humour against the English than before, they refusing to receive into the ports the small number of Englishmen of Capt. Champernowne's company which came from Bergen, and had lain outside the ports four days. I delivered your Lordship's pleasure to Capt. Champernowne's lieutenant, "who made choice of any peril rather than disobedience," and showed to certain captains of the burgers that you were not "in any sort privy to the departure of the English, as the Count [de Moeurs] had liberally given out, whereupon the captains went to the Count protesting to him and his faction that the English soldiers should continue their garrison," and received into the town and billeted the soldiers that were without.

The Count hath removed Capt. Villiers' company of foot from Utrecht to Amersford, where they were only admitted on the Count's own persuasions. Utrecht is very weakly guarded. The Count has given out that there should be ten companies of Hollanders and Scots garrisoned here. Capt. Blunt's company remain, paying for their lodging and other necessaries as before. All companies of soldiers and burghers have their several quarters to repair to in case of alarms. Wakendowne [Wachtendonck] remains still on the same terms, but if a frost come and continue, it must yield to the enemy; he is increasing his strength in the towns near Arnam. There lieth a house called the Dorewarde, between Wagenen and Arnam, on the Rheane [Rhine], strong and of great importance, but slenderly guarded. It may easily be taken by the enemy, who are making a sconce over against it on the Bettowe side, and if so, the passages upon the Rheane would be taken away from all towns and strengths above the said house, "all which remain as beleaguered."

Sir Robert Sydney's and Capt. Ball's troops, with certain of other English companies, to the number of three-hundred and fifty horse, on the 17th inst., defeated a convoy of the enemy "of two cornets of horse and four hundred foot; taking prisoners four Spanish captains, one lieutenant, one ancient; one cornet slain, two burgo-masters and the scout of Deventer, certain gentlewomen, 150 soldiers and a very rich convoy of merchandize [captured]."