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Monsieur St. Luke hath this day passed the Somme with his troops of horse and foot and is marching to Bulloyn and Muntrell, for those are the garrisons assigned him by the King.--Cratoy, xx Januarii, '96.

Holograph. Seal. 2 pp. (173. 16.)

ADAM [LOFTUS], LORD CHANCELLOR OF IRELAND, to
SIR ROBERT CECIL.

1596-7, Jan. 20.-Has received his letter concerning the couches, that by polishing them here they might be made more portable than otherwise they would be, and, if any ships should go hence to Chester, they might be sent thither, but rather to London if any were bound that way from hence.

They might have been transported to Chester at every passage, but what a trouble it would be to convey them thence, especially by land. And now that the Lord Deputy and Council have written to Lord Burghley that ships might be laden from London with grain for Her Majesty's army in Ireland (who otherwise will perish for want of food), and have despatched this bearer to attend that charge, he could wish (unless Cecil have some present use for them) he might send them at the return of these London ships back again, otherwise he can at all times send them to Chester. And because they must be only for ballast in the vessel, he has forborne the polishing of them.-Dublin, the 20 January 1596.

Signed, Ad. Dublin Canc. 1 p. (173. 17.)

SIR ROBERT SYDNEY to the EARL OF ESSEX.

1596-7, Jan. 21.-- Since coming from the journey to Turnhaut, has received a letter from Mr. Secretary announcing that the employment he was appointed to is deferred. Is glad of it, hoping the easier to get his leave to return into England; but rather grudges that others are entrusted with negociations with the States that are easy and wherein, therefore, they are likely to content the Queen, whereas he seems to be reserved for such as are likely to fail. Asks Essex to get him leave to return for a short time. Hears he is "about another journey." Wishes him success and proffers service.-Flushing, 21 Jan. 1596.

Holograph. 2 pp. (37. 83.)

SIR ROBERT SYDNEY to the EARL OF ESSEX.

1596-7, Jan. 21.-" The 12 of this month was the day appointed for the assembly of our small army at Gertrudenberg. Thither came, by order order from Count Morris, the counts of Holloc and Solms, Sir Fr. Vere, with his regiment and some other English troops, Mouray, with his regiment of Scots, Broderode and Broghiere with some troops of the garrisons in those quarters, and some companies of the Zealand regiment. Myself also brought 300 men from Flushing, which marched with the rest of the English. In all there were 45 ensigns, making towards 5,000 men and 27 cornets of horse which were scarce 850 strong." His Excellency explained that he purposed to attempt the enemy's camp in Turnhaut, which is not walled but has a castle in it. The 13th, after marching all day and most of the night, reached

the village of Rauell two hours' march from Turnhaut. The enemy did not detect our fires until towards morning. "The 14, which was Friday, we rose very early and, having recovered an ill-favoured passage of a water where we thought that perhaps the enemy would have staid our coming, we put our men in battle and marched towards the town, but, by the way, understood that the enemy was dislodged that morning towards Herentales. Hereupon the Count made haste up with the horse, and when we were once at the townsend we might see the rearguard of the enemy, which had not fully passed a bridge, and now were breaking of it down and had left only one piece of timber that one man might go over, when Sir Fr. Vere coming down with some musketeers of the van guard began in the meadows where we were to pass a skirmidge with them. The Count Hollox went down with some horse but there was no way to pass but a long narrow lane where the tallest horse almost went up to the skirts of the saddle in water." Count Holloc staid to collect the horse while Vere and a few musketeers followed skirmishing with the retreating enemy some three English miles. This kept them in play and led to their final overthrow, "of which truly Sir Fr. Vere is to have the reputation for the fastening upon them at the bridge." This had lasted two or three hours, and the enemy were like to reach a strait and escape, when Holloc appeared with half the horse. Sydney urged him to charge, and his Excellency coming up, with the rest, sent Vere three cornets of horse under Captain Edmonds, the Scotsman, with orders to charge. "The manner of the enemy's retreat was this, the Marquis of Trenico's regiment of Neapolitans had the rear guard, the regiments of La Burlotte and Achicourt, which was La Mote's old regiment, were in the battle, the regiments of the Count of Sultz of Almains had the van guard, and the horsemen, which were five companies, Nicolo Basta, the most esteemed captain of horse, on (sic) of them which the King of Spain hath, and was there in person, Don Juan de Cordua, Alonso de Mondragon, Gusman and Grobendonck were in the head of all but somewhat on

66

the right hand. The baggage was gone before conducted by 50C Almains." Describes the attack. In less than a quarter of an hour the rout was complete. On the field were slain 2,200, among them the Count of Waras, who commanded, and was a general of the artillery, "slain by a private soldier not knowing who he was." 225 died of their wounds before reaching Herentales, where only 400 arrived, disarmed and mostly wounded. The Almains who escaped took their way to the Maze and will not look behind them till they come unto Germany. The horsemen mostly escaped; only Mondragon's cornet was taken by Sir Henry Parker's company. There are 500 or 600 prisoners, 15 or 16 of them captains; none of the colonels were with their regiments. Lost only 8 or 10 and no officer hurt, only Sir Francis Vere had a blow of a musket upon the leg but it entered not." This is the fairest day the States have yet had in the field. Under 850 horse did it, for the foot could not come up; and they which came upon the heath were only the guards of his Excellency and Count Hollock with 3 companies of Dutches which had the vanguard, and the two English troops, i.e., the band of Flushing and the companies in the Queen's pay of Captains Brown, Throckmorton, and Morgan, and the band from the Briel with Vere's regiment. In all 2,400 or 2,500 men. Next day the castle of Turnhaut surrendered and they returned homewards, lodging the first night at Chame and the next at Gertrudenberg. -Flushing, 21 Jan. 1596. P.S. Prisoners say they were 3,500 or 4,000 in all.

Holograph. 6 pp. (37. 84.)

DEER.

1596-7, Jan. 21.-The examination of John Lane and Henry Heath, taken by Mr. Auditor (Walter) Tooke, touching John Girton, late servant to Richard Mercer and now abiding with William Norries, keeper of the walk sometime called Bulls Walk, relative to the killing of the " great fat buck" in Lady Warwick's little park at Northall.Dated 21 January, 1596.

1 p. (139. 64.)

W. WAAD to SIR ROBERT CECIL, Principal Secretary.

The

1596-7, Jan. 22.-"There is a priest taken this morning by means of a notable fellow of late that I have retained, who hath discovered divers matters unto me. Because I would not be seen in it myself, Mr. Skeffington searched the house where the party left him yesternight and hath apprehended both him and others very lewd persons.' "party" informs of another at Chingford in Essex, who, if you sign the enclosed warrant, will doubtless be taken. The bearer was at the taking of this priest in Holborn and has done well. There is 1007. in money in a bag, collected of Papists, to be used as you think good and partly to relieve the "party that informeth." "The priest hath confessed unto me that his name is Harbert and that he is a seminary. It may please your honour to give order for his commitment unto some private house in London as I know he cannot be kept secret in any prison; and already he doth suspect the party who is cause of his apprehension, by whose means 3 or 4 others more about London will be taken within these few days."

Endorsed:-22 Jan. 1596.

Signed. 1 p. (37. 88.)

P., LORD DUNSANY to SIR ROBERT CECIL, Principal Secretary.

1596-7, Jan. 22.-Understands that a servant of his, named James Boyle, is this day apprehended by Mr. Skevyngton. Knows not for what cause. He had a trunk containing 1007. of the writer's in his keeping, which is seized. Begs that the money may be kept safely until the truth of this is proved, and that himself may not be prejudiced by any default of his servant." From my lodging at one Gubbyns house near the Abbey in Westminster this present Saturday."

Endorsed:-22 Jan. 1596.

Signed. 1 p. (37. 89.)

SPANISH PREPARATIONS.

1596-7, Jan. 22.-Plymouth, 22 Jan. 1596. George Rosett, of St. Malo, examined, says he left St. Malo seven days ago, where were arrived divers ships of the place from St. Lucar and Malaga, which reported that at St. Lucar, Sheris, and thereabouts, were 15,000 men ready, and 10 galliasses and 30 galleys had come out of the Straits to convey them to Ferroll; also that at Malaga were 3,000 men, and great provision made for the army at Ferroll, which would be ready about the end of April. The shipping at St. Lucar being stayed, three ships of St. Malo "stole away leaving their sails behind them, and furnishing themselves again with such canvasses as they had in their ships." Endorsed:-" Concerning Spanish preparations."

1 p. (37. 90.)

O 94110.

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SIR FRANCIS VERE to the EARL OF ESSEX.

1596-7, Jan. 22.--Since he wrote five days ago of the fight with the enemy has no other especial matter to trouble Essex with, these serving only to accompany the messenger he has despatched with his Excellency's letters to her Majesty and his Lordship. Knows not what to write concerning the enterprise of Callis, having twice, without answer from Essex, written liberally. Both the States and his Excellency are thoroughly bent to follow this late victory with some other attempt, and speedily; it is very necessary, therefore, that her Majesty's intent be known out of hand to the end these men may fit themselves accordingly. Entreats Essex that under the speech of some other employment he be not removed elsewhere.-Haghe, this 22 January 1596.

Holograph. Seal. 1 pp. (173, 18.)

Jan. 22.

Feb. 1.

to the QUEEN.

1596-7, "Notwithstanding the lamentable estate of that kingdom obliged me to leave it many years ago to profess more freely abroad the Catholic faith, and to become subject of another commonwealth, thereby to fulûl my duty to Almighty God to Whom all creatures owe obedience, yet have I not lost the love of my country, nor the affection and respect to your Majesty to which nature and religion do bind me." Begs her acceptance and perusal of the book he sends herewith. In spite of past successes in war against Spain the stronger must eventually win; no man knoweth the estate of England and Spain but evidently sees why the more potent suffereth so many and great injuries of the weaker, and withal that it cannot endure; things perforce must come to their natural course. Her Majesty's conversion to the Catholic faith would be the universal pacification of Christendom and a most effectual mean for the remedy of all those countries like to be lost. Concludes: "Your Majesty hath no forcible successor whose advancement you ought to respect with danger of your own person and present estate, and so your greatest care with reason should be (according to wordly prudence, though no other were) to procure to live and die a Queen, with the prosperity and quietness that hitherto you have enjoyed, and to seek how to leave an honourable memory of yourself after your death. For the effecting whereof, seeing you have no other assured means left but to protect the Christian Catholic truth, which these late years hath been oppugned under your name and authority, it seemeth that God will use some notable way with your Majesty, having shut up all other gates for your remedy and left this only open; by which if it pleases you to enter to your salvation and eternal honour and felicity, amongst many other commodities your Majesty shall prove what great difference there is between the love and fidelity of your Catholic subjects (who for no injuries have we left off to seek your good) and the flattery of others who for their own particular profit and interest have procured the dishonour and destruction of our country, using your Majesty as an instrument of their advancement, with your own danger and the evident ruin of your commonwealth, if God put not to his helping hand in time. Whom I beseech to give your Majesty light to see the truth of all these things and courage to put the remedy that is necessary.-Dated the first of February, 1597.”

Signature illegible. 3 pp. (49. 20.)

WILLIAM VUEDALE to his brother, RICHARD MORTON, High
Sheriff of co. Southampton.

1596-7, Jan. 23.-On receipt of his letters, rode to Robert Woddes' house in Langstone and found two French sailors keeping the bark, but their master and the rest were gone. Woddes says they lay one night last week at Mr. George Cotton's at Warblington. Encloses the Frenchmen's confession, taken by interpretation. Woddes says they intend to buy horses of 401. or 50l. apiece, and that last year the same company bought 9 or 11 horses, and they brought money to pay Cotton for horses. Has stayed the bark and taken away their sails till he hears further.--Wickham, 23 Jan. 1596.

Signed. 1 p. (37.94.)

The Enclosure :

Examination of Zoonlazena (?), a Frenchman, 23 Jan. 1596, before William Vuedale. To the effect that M. Lalore, deputy lieutenant of Normandy, who is now at Court to get a licence to transport horses, came over in his bark from [Caringto]ne in Normandy, that his coming was only to buy horses, and that [before] "the end of this week his master will be returned unto the said Robert Woodes."

Slightly mutilated. 1 p. (37. 91.)

2. A copy of the above in the hand of Cecil's clerk, who reads the Conlazena.

name as

1 p. (37.91.)

SIR H. COCKE to SIR ROBERT CECIL.

1596-7, Jan. 23.-At the latter end of Christmas, received his letters of 14 Dec., by lady Bacon, who evidently has made a very kind and favourable report to Cecil's father and himself of the writer's willingness to do her service. Is bound to do his utmost, both for the love he bears to Cecil's father and himself, and for the kindness he always found in her ladyship in the lifetime of her "most grave and wise husband," to whom he was also bound.-Broxborne, 23 Jan. 1596.

Endorsed: ·--- "S" Ha. Cocke."
Holograph. 1 p. (37.96.)

SIR WALTER RALEGH to SIR ROBERT CECIL.

1596-7, Jan. 24.-" Sir, because I know not how you dispose of yourself I forbear to visit you, preferring your pleasing before mine own desire. I had rather be with you now than at any other time if I could thereby either take off from you the burden of your sorrows or lay the greatest part thereof on mine own heart. In the mean time I would but mind you of this, that you should not overshadow your wisdom with passion but look aright unto things as they are. There is no man sorry for death it self but only for the time of death, every one knowing that it is a bond never forfeited to God. If then we know the same to be certain and inevitable we ought withal to take the time of his arrival in as good part as the knowledge and not to lament at the instant of every seeming adversity; which we are assured have been on their way towards us from the beginning. It appertaineth to every man of a wise and worthy spirit to draw together into suffrance the unknown future to the known present, looking no less with the eyes of the mind

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