Catalogue description The STATES GENERAL to HER MAJESTY.

This record is held by Lincolnshire Archives

Details of 8ANC5/70
Reference: 8ANC5/70
Title: The STATES GENERAL to HER MAJESTY.
Description:

--Having read the letters of credence given by her Majesty, heard the proposition made by Sir John Norris, her ambassador, and seen what he exhibited to them in writing, they declare their satisfaction that the Queen continues her good affection towards them, and has been pleased with what they have done against the Spanish fleet and the designs of the King of Spain to join with that fleet the men and ships of war assembled and equipped in Flanders by the Duke of Parma to invade England, and subdue both that realm and the United Provinces to the tyranny of Spain, thus extirpating for ever the word of God. And they pray her Majesty to believe that they have, against the said dangerous enterprise, done all that was in their power, having equipped a great number of ships of war, the greater part of which they have kept before the harbour of Dunkirk, and the rest on the coasts of Flanders, whence the Duke of Parma, with his great forces, had proposed to embark to join the powerful fleet of Spain. And although these ships had been obliged, in consequence of the bad weather and tempests, to keep within shelter of the havens a little before the appearance of the Spanish fleet, yet as soon as the tempests ceased, they again took up their place in front of the havens, in spite of contrary winds, so that they prevented the enemy from issuing forth from Dunkirk and Nieuport when the Spanish fleet came before Calais.

 

The States will not fail in the future to do all they can for her Majesty's service, in gratitude for her royal grace and benefits, and also, according to her recommendation, will endeavour to maintain that union amongst themselves which, with the grace of God and by her Majesty's help, will ensure their preservation. They rejoice that she has sent Sir John Norris as her ambassador, seeing that he well knows the state of these countries, and has always shown a singular affection for their preservation, and they hear with great joy of her resolution to attack the King of Spain in his own dominions, believing that the good God (who has so marvellously dispersed and ruined the presumptuous fleet of Spain after its purpose had been frustrated by the "singular providence" of her Majesty and her fleet, and by the aforesaid service of these States) will bless her Majesty's resolution and bring it to a happy issue.

 

And although, by the long and painful charges of the war, and the great cost brought upon the country by the mutinies and discontents of the soldiers, the equipping and entertaining of the ships of war, and the extraordinary expenses in the defence of Bergen-op-Zoom, the island of Tertole, and the forts belonging to it, the States are prevented from doing all that they could wish, yet, after consultation with the Council of State, they hereby consent and agree:

 

That for the next five months, there may be employed for the above-mentioned enterprise (out of the 1,000 horse and 5,000 foot of her Majesty's aid promised to this country over and above the garrisons of the cautionary towns) six hundred horse, at present mostly wanting in this country, and two thousand foot. Provided:--

 

That there remain in this country, of the said aid, 3,000 foot, in 20 companies, and 400 horse, in four troops; thirteen companies and two troops (of one hundred horse each) to be at Bergen op Zoom, seven companies at Ostend, and the other two troops of horse on the frontiers, where ever there may be need of them:

 

And that at the expiration of the five months, that is on the first of June next, the said thousand horse and five thousand foot shall be again complete and in the service of these countries.

 

They consent also that the three hundred horse and about four hundred foot, now in garrison at Geertrudenberghe, who are bound specially by oath to her Majesty, may be employed in the above-mentioned expedition, at her Majesty's own charges, they being in such order and mounted that her Majesty will have no expense in mounting them, whereas, otherwise, the raising and mounting of such a number of troops would cost her several thousand pounds sterling. And they also consent to allow other eight companies of foot, now in the service of this country, to enter into her Majesty's service and pay for the same employment.

 

As regards the transport of the said troops, they agree to the hiring, equipping and taking out of these countries by the said ambassador, at the charge of her Majesty, two, three or four and twenty vessels for this purpose. And as to victuals, forage, arms and munition of war, they agree that there be bought in these countries, on behalf and at the charge of her Majesty, all such provisions &c. as shall be necessary for the said period of five months, with twelve or fifteen thousand pounds of powder and as much match as the said Ambassador thinks good; item a thousand corslets for the foot, four or five hundred suits of harness for the cavalry, four thousand pikes and a thousand half-pikes, three or four thousand cullivers with their morillons and two thousand muskets with their furniture, fifteen hundred lances, two thousand swords and two hundred breasts; all of which may be carried out of the country free of charge. Although the States cannot at present (for the reasons shown to the ambassador) make any further levy of troops for her Majesty's service, without great prejudice to their country and the retarding of the intended expedition, yet if, by the said expedition, the charges of the war are reduced, they will not fail to assist her Majesty for the advancement of so Christian and heroic a resolution in every way possible. They pray her Majesty to receive their reply favourably, and beg her ambassador to make a good report in this and all other matters touching the state of their countries.

 

[There is only a short note of this in the State Papers.]

Date: 1588, December [6-] 16. The Hague
Held by: Lincolnshire Archives, not available at The National Archives
Language: French
Physical description: 5 pages.

Have you found an error with this catalogue description?

Help with your research