Elizabeth: December 1576

Calendar of State Papers Foreign: Elizabeth, Volume 11, 1575-1577. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1880.

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'Elizabeth: December 1576', in Calendar of State Papers Foreign: Elizabeth, Volume 11, 1575-1577, (London, 1880) pp. 459-462. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/foreign/vol11/pp459-462 [accessed 21 April 2024]

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December 1576

Dec. 6. 1101. Negotiations between the States General and Don John of Austria.
Copy of document already calendared under the same date.
Endd. Enclosure. Fr. Pp. 4¼.
Dec. 6. 1102. Reply of the Deputies of the States General to Don John.
Accepting his answers to their demands.—Luxembourg, 6 Dec. 1576.
Endd. Enclosure. Fr. Pp. 1¾.
Dec. 7. 1103. Copy of letter of the deputies to the States General already calendared under this date.—Luxembourg, 7 Dec. 1576.
Endd. Enclosure. Fr. Pp. 2.
Dec. 8. 1104. Copy of letter from M. de Ruissinghen to the Duke of Arschot already calendared.—Luxembourg. 8 Dec. 1576.
Endd. Enclosure. Fr. Pp. 1⅓.
Dec. 16. 1105. Don John of Austria to Escovedo.
Copy of a letter calendared under same date. The important passages are marked in the margin.—Bastogne, 16 Dec. 1576.
Endd. Enclosure. Span. Pp. 4¾.
1106. French translation of the above.
Endd. Enclosure. Pp. 5.
Dec. 17. Dr. Wilson to Jeronimo Rodas.
Complains that in contravention of his promise the English merchants have not been suffered to depart or send their goods from Antwerp. Is informed that this is done by the order of Don John. Desires him to let him know if this is true, in which case he will have to protest against it as a breach of faith, and send a special courier to the Queen of England with the news.—Brussels, 7 Dec. 1576. Signed.
Copy Endd. Enclosure. Lat. P. 1.
Dec. 15. 1108. Dr. Wilson to Don John of Austria.
Was sent over by the Queen of England to the Duke of Arschot and Jeronimo Rodas, to procure the liberation of the English merchants at Antwerp, and the restitution of their goods, which demand Rodas readily agreed to; and further, gave passports for their free passage with their goods and ships. Understands from Rodas that by his Highness' orders they are not allowed to depart; and is further informed that the Governor of the merchants, with his wife and family and other English merchants, have been stayed at Lierre by Julian Romero. As he thinks he has regard to the mutual friendship between the King Catholic and the Queen, which cannot long continue under such circumstances, he sends the bearer to him to know his pleasure for the release of the said merchants.—Brussels, 15 Dec. 1576. Signed.
Copy. Endd. Enclosure. Ital. P. 1.
Dec. 17. 1109. Don John of Austria to Dr. Wilson.
Has received his letter of the 15th inst., by which he is glad to hear of the goodwill of the Queen towards the King of Spain, and her desire for the pacification of the Low Countries. As for the English merchants, as the other foreign merchants remain in order to obtain restitution of their losses, he wishes them to do so too, until he can hear from the King.—Bastogne, 17 Dec. 1576.
Orig. Add. Endd. Enclosure. Ital. Pp. 1½.
Dec. 19. 1110. Don John to the Deputies of the States.
Express his satisfaction at the contents of their letter of the 15th inst., which is the true way to bring about peace.— Bastoyne, 19 Dec. 1576.
Copy. Enclosure. Fr. P. ½.
Dec. 23. 1111. The Deputies to Don John.
Inform him of their arrival at Namur, in accordance with his wishes. Have brought with them the attestations touching the Catholic religion, and the due obedience to the King for his further satisfaction.—Namur, 23 Dec. 1576.
Copy. Endd. Enclosure. Fr. P. ½.
Dec. 30. 1112. Affairs of the Low Countries.
The names of such as for this present are of the Council of the States and of the Privy Council, with the number of the men of war, as well of the States' side as Don John's. List of the forces of the States, with their leaders, amounting to 36,000 footmen and 2,500 horse. Also a list of the officers serving under Don John, and the names of his Council and such noblemen as are about him.
Endd. by Burghley: 1576, Dec. 20; from Mr. Horsey. Enclosure. Pp. 5½.
Dec. 30. 1113. Occurrences from Brussels.
1. On the 28th, M. de Ruissinghen arrived at Namur and declared the invention of Don John to the States, who, with much ado, granted eight days for attending his final answer. Escovedo and Octavio Gonzago have taken the way of Maestricht, being conducted by 400 horsemen, and it is affirmed that they carry unto Don John 100,000 crowns. Don John has in Luxembourg 8,000 men. The Duke of Arschot affirms that the States have 180 ensigns of foot in pay, besides 2,500 horsemen. M. de la Motte affirmed that by the end of the month they would have 5,000 horsemen. On the 21st, the States sent 16 ensigns of Scots under Colonel Balfour to lie in garrison about Limburg. The 20th, at night, escaped Hamilton out of the prison at Brussels, and came to Marche on the 28th inst. Don John begins to be greatly suspected. Stephen Battori, King of Poland, has driven them of Dantzic to extremity, and proposes eight conditions to the effect that they send away their soldiers and swear to be loyal to him, and humble themselves, when he promises toconfirm their privileges, and to remove certain grievances.
2. The States have sworn to one another to drive the Spaniards out of the country.
Endd. by Burghley: 30 Dec. 1576. Occurrences from Dr. Wilson. Enclosure. P. 1.
Dec. 30. 1114. Monsieur to the Queen.
Writes in behalf of Captain Nipiville, who has been taken prisoner and his ship seized while he was in one of her ports. Prays her not to believe the evil reports about him, and assures her that her favour to him will make him her faithful servant during life.—Blois, 30th December 1576. Signed.
Add. Endd. Fr. P. ¾.
Dec 31. 1115. Henry III. to the States of the Low Countries.
In behalf of the Count of Mansfeldt, who, notwithstanding their promise, is still kept in prison.—Blois, 31 Dec. 1576.
Copy. P. 2/3.
Dec. 31. 1116. Henry III. to M. de Monducet.
Directing him to do his best with the States to procure the liberty of Count Mansfeldt.—Blois, 31 Dec. 1576. Signed.
Copy. Endd. Fr. P. 1.
Dec. 31. 1117. Henry III. to the States of the Low Countries.
Copy of the above.
Endd. Fr. P. 2/3.
[Dec.] 1118. Troubles in France.
Supplication by the Protestants and the Catholics united with them to the King of France, drawing attention to the grievous state of France after 17 years of wars, and praying him to preserve the Edict and use his authority with the Estates to prevent them attempting to set it aside.
Endd. Fr. Pp. 2½.
Dec. 1119. Loan to the States of the Low Countries.
Note of different documents connected with M. Swevenghem's negotiations for a loan of 100,000li to the States.
Endd. P. 2/3.
Dec. 1120. Forces in the Low Countries.
List of forces, with the names of their commanders, in the employment of the States and the Prince of Orange.—Dec. 1576.
Endd. Fr. Pp. 3.
1121. Summary of the above, the whole forces amounting to 29,990, whereof 7,225 are horsemen and 22,765 are footmen, besides 35 ensigns of footmen under the Prince of Orange.
Endd. P. 1.