Cotton MS Galba D XII

Records and papers concerning England and the Low Countries, mainly between 1596 and 1607.

ff. 1r-4v Letter from Thomas Bodley to William Cecil, Baron Burghley. Reporting on his conferences with Johan van Oldenbarnevelt and the States General, concerning the war. The Hague, January 4 1595/6.

f. 5r Letter from Thomas Bodley, possibly to Prince Maurice of Orange. Expressing respect and regard. January 1595/6.

f. 6r-6v Letter from several captains at Ostend to Thomas Bodley. Requesting that he relate their petition to the States General, concerning slander. Ostend, January 5 1595/6.

ff. 7r-8v Two letters from Thomas Bodley to Sir Edward Norris. Concerning charges of treason against Norris. The Hague, January 9 and 12 1595/6.

f. 9r Letter from William Cecil, Baron Burghley, to Thomas Bodley. Requesting information on English forces joining the Spanish, and the conduct of Prince Hohenloe and Prince William of Orange. Court, January 13 1595/6.

ff. 10r-12v Letter from Sir Edward Norris to Thomas Bodley. On rumours concerning Norris. Ostend, January 20 1595/6.

ff. 13r-16r Letter from Thomas Bodley to William Cecil, Baron Burghley. Reporting on a conference with Johan van Oldenbarnevelt concerning the war, and answering the letter above (f. 9r) concerning Prince Hohenloe and Prince William of Orange. The Hague, January 25 1595/6.

ff. 17r-19v Letter from Thomas Bodley to William Cecil, Baron Burghley. Reporting a deputation to him from the States General. The Hague, January 1595/6.

ff. 19r-20v Letter from Sir Edward Norris to Thomas Bodley. On rumours concerning Norris. January 26 1595/6.

f. 21r-21v Letter from Sir Thomas Bodley to Sir Edward Norris. Advising him on the rumours. The Hague, February 5 1595/6.

f. 22r-22v Letter from Thomas Bodley, possibly to Prince Maurice of Orange. On the reports respecting Sir Edward Norris, and intelligence on the war. The Hague, February 14 1595/6.

ff. 23r-24v Two letters from the Privy Council and William Cecil, Baron Burghley, to Thomas Bodley. Sent to Holland with Sir Francis Vere. Richmond and London, February 18 1595/6.

ff. 25r-26r Letter from Thomas Bodley to the States General. Emphasising the object of his negotiations. The Hague, March 8 1595/6. French.

ff. 27r-29r Letter from Thomas Bodley to William Cecil, Baron Burghley. Concerning his negotiation. The Hague, March 21 1595/6.

f. 30r-30v Letter from Thomas Bodley to Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury. Concerning his negotiation. The Hague, March 22 1595/6.

ff. 31r-32r Letter from Thomas Bodley to William Cecil, Baron Burghley. Concerning his negotiation. The Hague, March 24 1595/6.

ff. 33r-38r Two letters from Thomas Bodley to the States General. The Hague, March 31 1596. French.

f. 39r Extract from a letter by Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury, to Thomas Bodley. Instructing him to urge on his negotiation. April 2 1596.

ff. 40r-41r Letter from the States General to Queen Elizabeth I. On the poor state of their affairs, particularly the enormous expense of defending Ostend. [1596]. French.

f. 42r Plot by Mr Hayes for a commissary general for musters in Ireland.

ff. 43r-44r List of English troops in the garrison at Ostend.

ff. 45r-46r Two copies of a proposition presented by George Gilpin to the States General. For sending deputies to Queen Elizabeth I. French. June 1 1596.

f. 47r Letter from the States General, answering Gilpin’s proposition above (ff. 45r-46r). The Hague, June 15 1596. French.

ff. 48r-50r Letter from the Privy Council to Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, and Charles Howard, Earl of Nottingham. Sending directions concerning operations at sea. Greenwich, August 7 1596.

ff. 51r-54r Paper concerning the extent of every man’s office in the army.

ff. 55r-56r Letter from Thomas Bodley to one Leoninus. A friendly and complimentary letter. London, October 9 1596. Latin.

ff. 57r-63r Letter from the Privy Council to the deputies of the States General. Answering their propositions. October 11 1596. French.

ff. 64r-66v Two copies of a letter from the deputies of the States General to the Privy Council. October 14 1596. French.

ff. 67r-69v Letter from the deputies of the States General to the Privy Council. Answering their propositions. London, October 14 1596. French.

ff. 70r-73v Memorial of a negotiation between the Privy Council and the deputies of the States General. Signed by Robert Cecil. French, with an English translation.

ff. 74r-74v Letter from the States General to the Privy Council. On breaking off the last negotiation. The Hague, October 21 1596. French.

f. 75r-75v Letter from an English ambassador at the Hague, possibly George Gilpin, to the States General. Remonstrating against their chilliness towards England. French.

ff. 76r-77v Letter from the States General to Queen Elizabeth I. Reporting their accession to the offensive and defensive league. The Hague, November 5 1596. French.

ff. 78r-80r Abstracts of state papers, concerning the Low Countries. 1596.

ff. 80v-82r Queen Elizabeth I’s ratification of a treaty between the United Provinces and King Henry IV of France. January 13 1596/7.

ff. 82v-83r Paper on trade and navigation in the Baltic.

ff. 83v-85r Abstracts of state papers, concerning the Low Countries. 1596/7.

f. 86r Note intended for Mr Bourdelet, counsellor to Queen Elizabeth I. Reminding him of his promise to intercede for people banished from Leiden. [1597].

f. 87r Notes on some practices of Roman Catholics in England. French. Annotated by Sir Thomas Cotton (b. 1594, d. 1662), 2nd baronet.

f. 88r-88v Discussion on traffic between the States and the Spanish provinces. French.

ff. 89r-90v Brief account of the successive governors and forms of government in the Low Countries. French.

ff. 91r-92r Regulations concerning the musters of the English troops in the Low Countries.

ff. 92v-98r Memorial or journal of Thomas Bodley’s negotiations in the Low Countries. March-October 1596.

ff. 99r-108r Two papers concerning the demands of the Merchant Strangers. Concerning packaging, transport and porterage. With answers from the packers, and the reply of the mechants

ff. 109r-118r Memorial for an instruction to Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury, J. Herbert, and Thomas Wilkes. On a voyage to France to negotiate for peace. [1597].

ff. 119r-120v Instructions for Mr Barkley. Concerning his message for Queen Elizabeth I on behalf of Prince Maurice of Orange.

f. 121r-121v Memorial from an English ambassador, possibly George Gilpin, to the States General. Encouraging them to join the league between England and France against Spain. French.

ff. 122r-133v Abstracts of state papers, concerning transactions between England and the Low Countries. 1597.

ff. 134r-137v Letter from Sir Robert Sidney, governor of Flushing, to Queen Elizabeth I. Reporting the state of the fortress, and of the castle of Ramekins. Flushing, May 12 1597.

f. 138r Letter from King Sigismund III of Poland to the States General. Sending credential in favour of Paul à Dtialyn. Warsaw, May 19 1597. Latin.

f. 139v Queen Elizabeth I, ‘On the Sailing of the Azores Expedition, July 1597’. Copy titled ‘A prayer made by Q. Elizabeth for the prosperous success of the journey begun’. 1597.

f. 140r-140v Paper on the provision of victuals for 9,200 men for one month. July 11 1597.

f. 141r-141v Letter from the States General to Queen Elizabeth I. Concerning a difference between them and the States of Zealand. The Hague, July 13 1597. French.

ff. 142r-144v Letter from the States General to Queen Elizabeth I. Refusing to take responsibility for any part of Sir Horatio Palavicino’s debt. The Hague, September 13 1597. French.

ff. 145r-149r Letter from William Davison to Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury. On Queen Elizabeth I’s debt to Sir Horatio Palavicino. November 21 1597.

f. 150r-150v Letter from the States General to Queen Elizabeth I. Concerning an alternative proposed by King Henry IV of France. The Hague, November 1597. French.

f. 151r Letter from Queen Elizabeth I to the States General. Commending their forces that went with Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, to the coast of Spain. November 23 1597. French.

ff. 152r-153v Letter from Sir Robert Sidney, governor of Flushing, to Queen Elizabeth I. Advising her to command her merchants to reside at Flushing. Flushing, December 31 1597.

ff. 154v-156v Two letters to Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury, from Hildebrand, Rolteman, and Jacob Van Cleve, deputies from Groningen. Requesting to be speedily dispatched. London, January 6 and 8 1598. Latin.

ff. 157r-163v Copy of an instrument by King Philip II of Spain. Concerning the Netherlands, the Infanta of Spain, and Archduke Albert of Austria. Madrid, March 5 1598. French.

ff. 164r-165r Letter from three unnamed members of the Privy Council, to the States General. In answer to the propositions of peace made by King Henry IV of France. March 1598.

ff. 166r-173r Instructions from Queen Elizabeth I to be communicated to George Gilpin, through Sir Francis Vere, sent to the States General. June 7 1598.

ff. 174r-175v Directions given to Sir Francis Vere. June 1598.

ff. 176r-179r Memorial by Sir Francis Vere and George Gilpin, to the States General. Concerning the proposals made by King Henry IV of France. The Hague, June 29 1598. French.

f. 180r-180v Preface added to the States General’s ratification of the treaty. June 29 1598. French.

ff. 181r-182r Letter from Sir Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury, to William Cecil, Baron Burghley. Concerning the offers made by the States General. Court, July 23 1598.

ff. 183r-184r Brief summary of the first offer made by the States General to Queen Elizabeth I. July 1598.

ff. 184v-186v Offer made by the States General for the continuance of war, augmented from the first offer. July 25 1598. French.

ff. 186v-191v Two copies of a paper considering peace with Spain or a continuance of the war. July 1598.

ff. 192r-198r Paper considering peace with Spain. July 1598.

ff. 199r-201v Negotiating points to be used by George Gilpin with the States General. For obtaining a special act acknowledging a debt of £800,000 to Queen Elizabeth I, according to the third article of the last treaty. July 1598.

f. 202r Considerations concerning the States General’s offers. July 1598.

ff. 203r-208v Treaty between Queen Elizabeth I and the States General. August 6 1598. French.

ff. 209r-210v Paper establishing the garrisons of the cautionary towns of Flushing and Brill. With the appointment of a counsellor in the States General on behalf of Queen Elizabeth I. August 18 1598.

f. 211r-211v Letter from the States General to Queen Elizabeth I. Protesting against some articles of the treaty, but ratifying it. The Hague, September 20 1598. French.

f. 212r-212v Paper concerning the obligations of the States General. November 9 1598. French.

f. 213r-213v Questions for the commissioners of the States General, about peace. Fragment. 1598.

f. 214r Letter from King Henry IV of France. Answering a remonstrance from the Catholics concerning the establishment of their religion.

ff. 214v-215r Extracts from two letters concerning King Sigismund of Sweden and Duke Charles, his uncle. The first from the Admiral of the States General, Elsineur, October 10. The second from an unknown sender, Amsterdam, October 12 1598. French.

ff. 216r-221v Paper titled ‘Offers fitt for the States to use to her Majesty to keape her frome makinge peace with the Kinge of Spaine’. With material on a negotiation in France, and articles concerning a treaty of peace, at the end of which is added a note of sums received by Sir Thomas Shirley from the exchequer, for the service of the Low Countries, between February 1 1586 and September 20 1596.

ff. 222r-223r Memoranda and instructions of matters to be put to Queen Elizabeth I by the States General. French.

ff. 223v-224r Paper containing offers for the States General to use in order to keep Queen Elizabeth I from making peace with Spain. June 3 1596.

ff. 225r-231r Instructions from Queen Elizabeth I to Sir Robert Sidney. Concerning a reimbursement. 1598.

ff. 232r-234v Offers from the States General to Queen Elizabeth I. For a treaty of mutual defence. 1598. French.

ff. 235r-236v Observations on the offers of the States General, and the proposed treaty. The end wanting.

ff. 237r-240v Project concerning obligations for sums of money agreed upon by treaties, and those now required of the States General. Latin.

f. 241r Paper concerning the levy of troops for Holland.

f. 242r Note on fixing the place of residence for English merchants in Holland. 1598?

f. 243r-251v Memorial or speech by the ambassadors of the States General to Queen Elizabeth I. To persuade her to persevere in the war for the defence of the Low Countries. 1598. French.

ff. 252r-257v Abstracts of state papers. Concerning the transactions between England and the Low Countries. 1598.

f. 258r-258v Letter from an English commander to the States General. About the prosecution of the war, and demanding more forces. The end wanting. French.

ff. 259r-266v Report on the state of the provinces ceded by the King of Spain to the Infanta Isabella and the Archduke Albert. No date.

ff. 267r-271r Abstracts of state papers. Concerning the transactions between England and the Low Countries. 1599.

ff. 271r-275r Brief discourse on the means of reducing, and containing by sea, the rebels of Holland and Zealand. Spanish.

ff. 276r-279v Discourse by Sir Robert Sidney. Concerning peace with Spain. Flushing, December 26 1599.

f. 280r List of the deputies from the United Provinces who are coming to Queen Elizabeth I. French.

f. 281r-281v A cypher, with directions for use. French.

ff. 282r-287v Two letters from George Gilpin to Sir Robert Cecil. Concerning his negotiations in Holland, and sending intelligence. The Hague, January 12 and 19 1600.

ff. 287r-289r Letter from George Gilpin, possibly to Sir Robert Cecil. On the trade with the Low Countries, and peace. The Hague, March 1600.

ff. 290r-291v Letter from the States General to Queen Elizabeth I. Concerning the motions of the armies in West Flanders. Ostend, July 3 1600. French.

f. 292r Proclamation by the State General. For raising money. The Hague, June 13 1600.

f. 293r-293v Draft paper on means for arriving at a good peace. French. June 1600.

f. 294r Letter from Queen Elizabeth I to one of her ministers abroad. Sending instructions. Greenwich, July 19 1600.

ff. 295r-299v Abstracts of state papers. Concerning the transactions between England and the Low Countries. 1600.

ff. 300r-304r Summary of the ordinary charges which the state of war will amount to, for the respective provinces. With an assessment of sums paid by several United Provinces for the maintenance of their troops. 1600.

f. 305r-306v Proposal for regulating the contributions of the Provinces, for the support of the army. 1600.

ff. 307r-307v Extract from the examination of Thomas Hull, imprisoned for treason.

ff. 308r-309v Paper titled ‘Reasons wherefore the marchauntes not being of the United Provinces but of Brabande Flaunders and of the Walon Provinces residente in London doe make difficultie to accomplishe the Queenes Majesty’s privie seales, to them presented in February 1601’.

f. 310r Letter from the States General to Sir Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury. Recommending one Schoonessalle, their agent. The Hague, May 19 1601. French.

ff. 311r-316v Remembrances sent from Sir Robert Sidney to Queen Elizabeth I. Concerning her cautionary town of Flushing. Flushing, August 3 1602.

f. 317r-317v Letter from Sir Francis Vere, possibly to Sir Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury. Sending intelligence from a besieged town, possibly Ostend. August 9 1601.

ff. 318r-320v Letter from Sir Francis Vere to Sir Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury. On the state of the armies in the Low Countries. Middleburgh, September 3 1601.

f. 321r Letter from Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland, to Sir Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury. Sending intelligence concerning the siege of Ostend. Ostend, September 8 1601.

ff. 322r-325v Abstracts of state papers. Concerning the transactions between England and the Low Countries. 1601.

ff. 326r-330r Tariff of the prices of provisions in Holland, compared with the same in England.

ff. 330v-335r Two copies of instructions sent by Sir Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury, to George Buck. On being sent to Sir Francis Vere to assist in his negotiations. The latter copy authenticated by Buck. August 19 1601.

f. 336r-336v Answer given by the Council of Zealand to proposals made by Robert Mansel, on the part of Queen Elizabeth I. Middleburgh, 1602. Latin.

ff. 337r-338r Paper containing the principal points to be proposed on the part of the States General. Towards the continuation of a treaty of peace. 1607. French.