| May 19/29. | Maximilien de Hornes to Walsingham. |
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| I send the bearer, Capt. Zuderman, with instructions which he has orders to communicate to you, praying you to give him credit and to favour him. My confidence in your affection for the common welfare of all these countries leads me to make this request and also to ask you to move the Queen, by her succour, to preserve them from the Spanish yoke, which cannot but redound to her greatness and to the good of her crown. For myself, I desire nothing more earnestly than to see us all English and the subjects of her Majesty. The continual hope of all these peoples to have her for their sovereign princess and to be united to the crown of England shows sufficiently their affections in this regard. May God guide all to his glory and the good of both countries.—Ostend, 29 May, 1585. |
| Signed. Add. Endd. “From M. de Lockre.” Fr. 1 p. [Flanders I. 25.] |
| Enclosing, |
| Instructions for Capt. Zuderman, sent to the Earl of Leicester and Mr. Walsingham by M. de Locre and the garrison of Ostend. |
| To represent the state of the town, which is expected shortly to be besieged, it being impossible for the States to provide it with what is necessary, by reason of their great charges on all hands. |
| To beg them to intercede with her Majesty to send them five or six hundred men levied at her expense, to be distributed amongst the companies in the garrison; also munitions of war, victuals and money, without which they can hardly maintain themselves. |
| To say that these requests proceed both from the necessity in which they find themselves, and also and chiefly from their hope that God will inspire her Majesty to take these countries under her protection and be their sovereign princess, for which end they know that the General States will shortly make suit to her. And if she will succour this important place, which may well be called the citadel of Flanders, they will, in return, employ their lives in her service.—Ostend, 29 May, 1585. |
| Signed, Maximilien de Hornes. Endd. Fr. 1½ pp. [Ibid. I. 25a.] |
| May 19/29. | The Spanish King to “Licenciado Scobar,” his Corregidor of the Signory of Biscay. |
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| I have caused a great fleet to be put in readiness in the haven of Lisbon and the river of Seville; and there is required, for the transport of the soldiers, arms, victuals and munitions to be employed in the same, great store of shipping of all sorts against the time of service. |
| That choice may be made of the best, I require you, upon sight of this letter, circumspectly and secretly to take order for the stay and arrest of all shipping found upon the coast and in the ports of the said Signory; without excepting any of Holland, Zeeland, Esterland, Germany, England and the other states and seignories that are in rebellion against me, saving those of France, which being little, of small burden and weak, are thought unfit to serve the turn. The stay being thus made, you shall have a special care that all the merchandise brought by the said ships be taken out and the ordnance, arms, munitions, tackle, sails and victuals safely bestowed; as also that it may be well foreseen that none of the said ships or men may escape away. These things being done, you shall advertise me of your proceedings and send me a plain declaration of the number of ships you have stayed, whence they come, which belong to my rebels; their burden, number of men, what quantity they have of ordnance &c. [as above], that on sight thereof, having made choice of such as shall be fit for this service, we may further direct you what to do. You shall presently see this put in execution, and if there come any more ships thither, you shall stay them also, using such care and diligence as shall answer the trust I repose in you, wherein you shall do me great service.—Barcelona, 29 May, 1585. |
| Signed, Yo el Rey. Countersigned, Antonio de Erasso. |
| Add. Endd. Spanish. 1 p. [Spain II. 38.] |
| Three translations into English of the above. Endd. Each1 p. [Ibid. II. 39–41.] |
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