Elizabeth: March 1589, 21-25 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers Foreign: Elizabeth, Volume 23, January-July 1589. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1950.

'Elizabeth: March 1589, 21-25', in Calendar of State Papers Foreign: Elizabeth, Volume 23, January-July 1589, (London, 1950) pp. 169-177. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/foreign/vol23/pp169-177 [accessed 19 April 2024]

March 1589, 21–25



March 21/31.	The Magistrates of Flushing to Sir William Russel. Received his letters of February 21 and March 7. Thank him for his care for them and for his good offices with her Majesty. In his second letter he asks them to obtain payment of the arrearages due by Captain Richard Wyngfelde to a baker of the town. Their loyalty to her Majesty. Desire that those articles of the Treaty which concern them be observed. Desire the payment of Wyngfelde's entertainment from 12 April to 12 November, 1586, and of Captain Alferie Randolf's from 12 April, 1586, until 12 March, 1587, so that they may pay their debts to burghers of this town. Cannot persuade the Council of State to pay even these debts. They say that these companies came into this town on 29 October, 1585, and have stayed here ever since. Beale and Killegrewe can witness their vain suits. The captains give bills upon the States General to their officers and men. This contrary to the 9th article of the Treaty, of which a copy is enclosed. These pretentions, the small imprests, and the delay of pay, encourage disorder among the soldiers. The imprests should be increased, instead of decreased and paid partly in victuals, as it is said that they are to be henceforward, and as is already done at Bergen and Oostende. Remind him of how they are troubled with service money, or logisghelt, contrary to article 15 of the Treaty, of which they enclose a copy. The Council of State will take nothing into account outside the old establishment, when there was neither lieutenant-governor, minister, commissary of musters, nor extraordinary cannoneers: these, like the Governor's secretary, the sergeant-major, and the marshal or provost, receive no allowance. Nor will they allow service money for those absent or not of the garrison. Misunderstandings about fortifications. Before her Majesty's garrison came, the town was charged with no fortifications except those against the sea. Pray him to move her Majesty that those of her officers who are not entitled to service money may no longer demand it and that it be not paid for those absent. Also that she will undertake the charges of fortifications. The town seems destined to have a perpetual garrison. The late Prince of Orange, seeing this, relieved it of certain charges which other towns bear which have no garrison. Commend the suits of certain of their inhabitants, whose ships and goods have been stayed in English ports, etc., on their way to or from France with passport from the States. Part of their goods sold, part dispersed, for example, those of Leyn Bauwensz., Pieter de Wachter, Jan Pieterss. Cocq, Jan Bauwensz., Jaspar Bauwensz., Balten Adriaen Dane, Bouwen Bouwensz., merchants, and Martin Franss., Martin Simonss. Cleentken, and Aelbrecht Adriaensz., masters of ships. The late M. de Sidney, upon his entry into this government, promised in her Majesty's name that those of Flushing should pay only such customs as her own subjects pay. Desire him to obtain for Louis Verduyst, burgher of this town, such privilege, denied to him by the customer of London.—Flushing, 31 March, 1589. Postscript. Desire his favour to obtain for Jan Pieterss., first burgomaster of this town, licence to have made in and to transport from England twelve iron pieces with which to equip certain merchant vessels of this town. Signed, A. Oillarts. Add. Endd. French. 3 pp. [Holland XXXI. f. 171.]
	Enclosing: Extract of articles 9 and 15 of the Treaty between the Queen and the States General [some verbal differences from the version printed in Dumont, Corps universel diplomatique, V. 454–5]. French. ²/3 p. [Holland XXXI. f. 172.]
	Copy of the above letter to Russel, without the postscript. Endd. French. 3¼ pp. [Holland XXXI. f. 174.]
	Abstract of the requests contained in the above letter. Endd. April, 1589. 1¾ pp. [Holland XXXI. f. 176.]
March 22./April 1.	M. d' Eslandes to Walsingham. Desires to repay his honour's past courtesies. The troubles of the last four years have kept him very closely beside his prince. Misery of the state. They endeavour a reconciliation with the King so as to make war upon the Leaguers, their common enemies.—La Rochelle, 1 April, 1589. Holograph. Add. Endd. Seal of Arms. French. ½ p. [France XIX. f. 84.]
March 22.	John George, Elector of Brandenburg, to the Queen. In favour of his cousin, Philip, Count of Hohenlohe and lord of Langenburg, who has certain requests to make to her.—Coln, 22 March, 1589. Signed, “manu propria.” Add. Endd. 17 October, 1589. German. 1¾ pp. [Germany, States, V. f. 210.]
March 22.	Sir Thomas Morgan to Walsingham. The Grave Maurice laid his battery of 30 cannon by water against Gertruden Berghen on Thursday, and on Friday began to shoot. The besieged are determined to hold the town to the last man. They have filled the houses with earth. The Grave Maurice conceives hardly of Sir John Wingefeld, who is indeed in great fault if he has written to him as is reported, not merely using despiteful terms but threatening rather to deliver the town to the enemy than accord with his excellency. “Sir John Wingefeld's child is arrested in Dort for debt.” The enemy sends seven from every company hereabout towards Gertruden Berghen. Desires him to remember his former requests on behalf of his kinsman Captain Matthew Morgan.—Berghes, 22 March, 1588. Postscript. Grave Maurice expected to take the town in three days after coming before it. Signed. Add. Endd. with note of contents. 1 p. [Holland XXXI. f. 178.]
March 22./April 1.	Edmund Palmer to Walsingham. Sent his last letter of March 14 by Richard Dorchester of Excetter for his brother, Valentine Palmer, to deliver. William Pollyngton, servant of Thomas Pollyngton, of Brystowe, has made a ‘consarte“ with Julian de Ghastes, a Spaniard living near San Sabastyanes, to deliver to him in St. Jhones' road here within seven weeks a great quantity of lead and other merchandise, probably guns, or cast shot, or ‘cave’ [calf] skins and hides, or tar, ropes, cables, and tallow. Julian is dealer for the King's Provedor, Francisco de Harjola who is at St. Sabestyanes preparing a new army. Julian has bought up all the lead and ropes here and at Bayona. “It were good that no hulks should pass with these commodities, for the Spaniard is destitute of all these things, and must have them whatsoever they do cost.” William Pollyngton left Bayona on March 27, N.S., in a ship of Loo, in Cornwall, “in which ship went also Richard Dorchester and a very honest man. The Spaniard doth still make great preparation.” (fn. 1) They will not ‘disembargo’ the 70 ships of this town at the Passage. The court of Spain referred the matter back to the general of Fuenterabya, who demands of them five ships with their men and ordnance, and also half of all the other ships' ordnance and the five ships' victuals. The French have again sent both to the French and Spanish courts: they may give ships, but they will give no men. Piers Stronge and his fellows left San Sabastyanes 10 days ago: his threat to get Palmer burned. He got a merchant, Roger Jones, of Brystolle, and a Welsh tailor, imprisoned at San Sabastyanes. They mean to have no Englishmen in Spain. Thinks Stronge's brother is mayor of Watter-forde this year.—[Dated at head.] St. Jean de Luz, 1 April, 1589, stilla Espanja. Holograph. Add. Endd. Seal. 2 pp. [Spain III. f. 44.]
March [23?].	The Queen to Count Maurice. (fn. 2) Ortel presented the Count's letters of March 21 [recte 22]. Found his siege of Gertrudenberghe very strange, as neither Willoughby, Bodley, nor any of her servants were informed of it. At once bade the Council confer thereof in the presence of Willoughby and Ortel. Though Ortel can report fully of this conference, she has commanded the Council to write her reply. Copy. Endd. with note of contents. French. ½ p. [Holland XXXI. f. 186.]
March [23?].	Corrected draft of the above. Endd. with note of contents, and, in another hand, “news brought of the loss of this town, 8 April, 1589, the Court then being at Whytehall.” French. 1 p. [Holland XXXI. f. 184.]
[March 23]	The Privy Council to Count Maurice. (fn. 3) Received his letter of March 22, N.S., touching Gertuydenberch. Have also seen both the original of that sent to her Majesty, and the copy sent to themselves. Before receiving them, were deeply grieved by the news of the hazardous attack upon the town. By her Majesty's command “we have caused your letters to be read before us in Council in the hearing both of the Lord Willoughbie, her Majesty's Lieutenant-General there, and of Monsieur Ortell; and have, upon the most material points alleged in your defence, heard the answer of the Lord Willoughbie, wherewith he hath so satisfied us, not by speech only but by attestations of writings and acts passed both privately betwixt you and him and betwixt the States and you and him in treaty with the garrison of Gartrudenberche, as in very truth we see no cause that you should impute any lack or want in him for the reduction of the town to the obedience of the States” [and to the Count as part proprietor, crossed out]. Had Willoughbie's advice and offers of help in her Majesty's name been accepted, the States would have saved men and money [and the Count would not have needed to attack his own town and vassals, crossed out]. The allegation that they rested a great while upon Willoughbie's promise to deliver the town to them as soon as the garrison was paid what it demanded, is untrue. (fn. 4) There was no mention of money in his promise. The promise was made on June 4: the money was not spoken of or paid until late in July. [The Count and States then often refused Willoughbie's advice to proceed by force. The garrison heard of the advice, and would not admit him nor any from the States to command them, crossed out.] Then an agreement was made, and the garrison, trusting to her Majesty's favour and protection, agreed to obey Willoughbie as her Majesty's Lieutenant, and in his absence Sir John Wingfeild. [Have seen the articles of the agreement; also the States' act thanking Willoughbie, crossed out.] Later, certain articles of the agreement were broken. Willoughbie and Thomas Bodley, according to a special article therein, offered to go with deputies from the States to appease matters, as appears by his letters to them of February 18 and 21. This offer, made by her Majesty's command, was refused because some suspected that he meant to keep control of the government of the town through his brother-in-law Sir John Wingfeild. (fn. 5) Willoughbie's request, in his letter to the Count, of March 8, o.s., that his sister, Wingfeild, their young son, and all Englishmen, might now leave that town, was harshly refused. Many other arguments and proofs shown to the Council by Willoughbie. “This attempt hath been strangely conducted. Provisions made and men levied with pretence to have taken some town from the enemies, but the course hath been changed without knowledge of her Majesty's governor or councillor amongst the States, yea, without any privity of the Council of Estates: and all this bent upon a town serviceable for the country; and more spent to hazard the loss of a town of your own than this many years hath been to recover any from the enemy.” Whatever the result, they see no reason to allow of this attempt. Wish that, if possible, the town might be restored to obedience by the satisfaction of the garrison as far as is reasonable. In desperation they may yield it to the enemy, which would endanger Holland and Zeeland more than the loss of any town for many years.
[March 23]	On another sheet (f. 181) for insertion at (fn. 5) above: The Count complains that Wynkfeild refused to send horsemen to help him and that thereupon he altered his purpose and went against the town. It is, however, notorious that his preparations were from the first intended for this siege, and that the other alleged enterprise was only a device to draw out the horsemen and surprise the town. Wynkfeild and the garrison in their letters of March 11 refused to send out their horsemen because (1) the July articles bound them to go forth only at the command of her Majesty's Lieutenant, (2) they had not been accounted with for six months, and (3) they were informed that all these preparations were aimed against themselves. Cannot entirely allow of the third reason, but think that upon receipt of this answer her Majesty's Lieutenant, Bodeley, or the Council of State should have been consulted and negotiation used instead of force. Wynkfeild's letter of March 16 was somewhat raw, but he had cause to justify himself against the Count's accusations. Willoughbie says Wynkfeild knows no French at all, but that both these letters must have been written by such of the garrison as are chosen for that purpose. Copy, corrected by Burghley and endd. by him, with date. 4¼ pp. [Holland XXXI. f. 180.]
[March 24 last date.]	‘A breviate’ of the checks, Vlishinge and Ramykens, 12 October, 1588, to 24 March, 1589. Captains Fulforde, 62s. 10d., Richard Wingfeild, 7l. 11s. 2d., Degory Hender, 9l. 12s. 6d., Morrys Denys, 19l. 8s., Francis Darcy, 111s. 4d., Richard Harte, 211. 14s., William Browne, 42l. 6s. 4d., Alphrey Randolph, 211. 5s. 4d., Nicholas Erington, 115s. 8d., Sir William Russell, 17l. 4s. 8d., Sir Thomas Sherley, 13l. 9s. 4d., Sir William Drury, 16s. 8d., Captains Thomas Maria Wingfeilde, 10l. 8s., and Francis Litleton, 15l. 11s. 4d. Total, 199l. 17s. 2d. Signed. Arthur Heigham. ²/3 p. [Holland XXXI. f. 187.]
[March 24, last date.]	Declaration of Sir Thomas Sherley's Account as Treasurer-last date.] at-Wars of her Majesty's forces in the Low Countries, 11 October, 1587, to 24 March, 1588/[9].
	Received from Exchequer. 10 Nov., 1587, 10,000l.: 7 Jan., 1587/8, 10,000l.: 1 Feb., 1587/8, 4,577l. 8s. 6d.: Feb., for Camphier and Armewe, 600l.: 26 Feb., 1587/8, 34,686l.: 27 March, 1588, 10,200l.: 25 May, 18,000l.: 13 Aug., 12,000l.: 26 Sept., for the 1500 sent over with Norris, 3,306l.: 7 Oct., 12,000l.: 19 Nov., 21,100l.: 18 Dec, for apparel, 12,000l.: 20 Jan., 1588/9, for 2 months' lendings from 28 Jan., 12,525l. 18s. Sd.: 20 Jan., 1588/9, for payment of Dutch petitioners, 2,464l. 19s. 10d. Total, 163,460l. 7s.
	Disbursed. Officers general. Earl of Leicester to 30 Nov., 1587: Sir W. Pelham, lord marshal to 11 Oct., 1587: Lord Willughby: Sir Thomas Sherley: Sir William Read, lieut.-colonel, to 2 July, 1588: Sir Richard Bingham, master of the ordnance, to 2 Nov., 1587: Sir Thomas Wilford: Mr. Killigrewe: Mr. Guilpyn: Mr. Bodley: Mr. Hunt, auditor of the wars: James Spencer, provost-marshal-general: James Digges, overseer of musters: Thomas Digges, the elder, commissary: Arthur Higham, commissary: John Rogers, commissary at Bergen-op-Zome: Thomas Wyatt, commissary for Ostend: George Thorsby, commissary for Briell. Individual sums specified. Total, 11,830l. 16s. 1d. Officers of Flushing. Sir William Russell, governor: William Borlas, marshal: Henry Astell, gentleman-porter, to 11 Nov., 1587: Captain Denys, now gentleman-porter: Robert Manchester, provost-marshal: Edward Burneham, water-bailiff: Edward Germyn, clerk of the munition: the cannoneers. Total, 2,572l. 6s. 6d. Officers of Briell. Lord Burgh, governor: Thomas Knyvett, marshal, to 28 Feb., 1587/8: Captain Price, now marshal: Giles Raynsford, gentleman-porter, to 11 Nov., 1587: Barnaby Palmer, now gentleman-porter: Richard Payne, provost-marshal: Andrew Bassana, water-bailiff: James Moreton, clerk of the munition: the cannoneers. Total, 2,349l. 14s. Horsebands. Sir William Pelham and Sir Christopher Blount, for full pays to 11 Oct., 1587: lendings to 9 companies, to 11 Oct., 1588: pay to 9 companies 12 Oct., 1588 to various dates in March, 1588/9: ransom of Willoughbie's cornet: Sir Nicholas Parker, Sir Christopher Blount, Captain Morgan, Sir Robert Sydney, Sir John Burghe, various sums: Captain Asseliers and Mr. Allen, 3 pays each. Total, 25,028l. 10s. 7d. Footbands. Sir William Read, full pay, 4 July to 30 Nov., 1587: 75 weeks' lendings, to 24 March, 1588, to Willughby, Sir William Russell, Sir Thomas Morgan, Lord Awdley, Captains Lambert, Denys, Randolphe, Sir Thomas Sherley, Sir Charles Blount, Sir Walter Waller and Captain Pretherch, Browne, Sir John Conwey, Sir Thomas Knollys, Darcy, Sir John Scott, Thomas Maria Wingfield and Sir William Drewry, Erington, Helme and Salisburie, Sir Roger Williams and Champernowne, Sir Thomas Baskervile, Sir Francis Vere, Banaster, Hart, Anthony Wingfield, Powell, Sir Edmund Vuedall, Littleton, Hody and Deckham, Sir John Wingfeild and Buck, Sir Edmund Carye and Barker, Suderman: lendings, 12 Oct., 1587, to 7 Feb., 1588/9, to Anthony Sherley and Fulford, Richard Wingfeild, Hendar, Sir Edward Norreys: lendings, 1 Dec, 1588, to 22 March, 1588/9, Lord Burgh, Sir Henry Norreys, Vavasor, Price, Sir John Burgh, Brett. Total, 53,791l. 15s. Payments by warrant. Shoes and stockings for 13 Flushing companies, Dec, 1587: imprest of 360l. to Ostend companies, to appease mutiny, Oct., 1588: various sums to Willoughbie, Banester, Baskervile, Champemowne, E. Norreys, Powell, Salesburie, Sir J. Scott, Vere, Vuedall, R. Wingfeild, Barker, Awdley, Buck, Sir T. Morgan: lendings, etc, for troops brought over by Sir T. Morgan, Aug., 1588 (342l. 1s.): ransoms of Cornet Smyth and Dixon. Total, 2,828l. 17s. Imprests to extraordinary cannoneers at Bergen-op-Zome and Ostend. Total, 259l. 0s. 10d. Full pays for the 31 new companies, to 10 Oct., 1587. Captains Barker, Barton, Brewton, Cooke, Cosby, Catyline, Cheston, Dyer, Sir Henry Goodere, Goringe, Grey, Hovenden, Hitchcock, Huntley, Knyvett, Latham, Ley, Moore, Morgan, North, Noell, Pewe, Powle, Samson, Shelton, Smyth, Swan, Sir Robert Sydney, Tanner, White, Yonge. Total, 3,266l. 7s. 4d. [recte 3,326l. 6s. 6d.]. Payments on entertainments due before 12 Oct., 1587. Includes 5,000l. 9s. 3¼d. to creditors of divers captains and 2,464l. 19s. 10d. to divers Low Country creditors of captains. Total, 19,177l. 4s. 2d. For apparel, to Babington and Bromley, Feb., 1587/8 and January, 1588/9. Total, 24,000l. Imprests to victualler. Henry Coxe for Flushing and Ostend, George Leicester for a magazine and for the horsebands. Total, 10,100l. Beer for Ostend, to Mr. Campion, 18 March, 1587/8. Total, 72l. Sea-coal for Ostend, 175l. Martin Blavoet's annuity, year ending 24 Dec, 1588, 54l. 18s. Imprests to Sir John Norreys for companies going to Spain, 3,340l.Extraordinary payments. Lead and match for Briell, 26 Oct., 1587: Sir John Conwey, in consideration of service without entertainment, 3 Dec, 1587, 100l.: Camphire and Armuy, 600l.: Sir John Norreys: 100l. for Ostend fortifications, June, 1588: Sir Thomas Morgan, 30 Aug., 1588, for carrying letters between Buckhurst and Andreas de Lo in the summer of 1587, 25l.: for the 1,500 men sent over with Sir John Norreys last summer, 3,306l. Total, 4,589l. 2s. 8d. Total payments, 163,435l. 12s. 2d. [recte 163,495l. 11s. 4d.]. Remains, 25l. 14s. 8d. [recte 35l. 4s. 4d. short]. Memorandum. Sherley received from the Exchequer on 10 March, 1589, 12,525l. 18s. 8d. which is not charged in this account as it is to continue the lendings after March 24. Endd. 5 long sheets of paper. [Holland XXXI. f. 190.]
March 25.	Dr. Junius de Junge to the Queen. Her Majesty has witnessed his careful carrying out of his embassies, has compassionated his pains therein in his old age, and has listened graciously to those who reported his faithful government of Campher in Walcheren and his obtaining the surrender of Rammeken castle in less than a week. As chief burgomaster of Antwerp, he helped to cleanse the town of the execrable vermin who supported the Roman Antichrist. Was a Councillor of State both before and after the Duke of Anjou's arrival. The Earl of Leicester and the States General sent him to Germany to maintain correspondency with the German Protestant Princes. Upon Leicester's death, the States revoked their commission, although Junius had stipulated that he should be given six months' notice before his yearly entertainment of 1600 Brabant florins was cut off. Receives nothing from his Low Country property and that in the Palatinate is so ruined that its revenue is not enough to repair it. The States had never paid him according to his quality. The only reason which they give for revoking the commission is that it was given to please Leicester. Her Majesty's good offices would therefore doubtless lead them to renew their commission or to recall him to serve them in Holland or Zeeland. Desires her, therefore, to write to the States in his behalf. He is sixty-four years of age and has, as it is said, of those of his age, only three days to live. Appeals to her Majesty as a monarch ordained by the King of Kings to be the nurse of His church, the mother and refuge of the poor and afflicted who live uprightly.—Heydelberg, 25 March, 1589, stilo vet. Holograph. Marginal notes of contents, in French. Add. Endd. with brief note of contents. French. 1¾ pp. [Germany, States V. f. 212.]