Cotton MS Vespasian C VIII

This is a collection of transcripts and original documents. A number of documents are identified as gifts, or translations from the papers of, the Spanish Ambassador (Gondomar) in 1615 ((ff. 11*r, 276r-v, 281r-284r, 289r-293v). Some of the documents probably came from Robert Beale.

The documents concern relations between England, Spain and the Spanish Netherlands between 1587 and 1603. Two events dominate the collection: the negotiations at Bourbourg in 1588 in the months preceding the Spanish Armada and the abortive peace conference in Boulogne in 1600.

Contents:

ff. 1r-9v: A consideration how a peace may be made between Her Majesty and the King of Spain, and if not how a war may be maintained, 1588. Incomplete. Copy.

ff. 10r-11v: Letter of Cardinal Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle to Queen Elizabeth I, Bourbourg, 1 Jul 1588. In French. With signature and address. Concerning the treatment and exchange of his nephew Monsieur de Thouraise.

f. 11*r: Letter of Philip II to Don Pedro de Valdes, admiral, San Lorenzo [de El Escorial?], 28 Jun 1588. In Spanish. With signature, counter-signature and seal. Sir Robert Cotton notes that this was 'ex dono Legato regis Hisp. 1615'.

f. 12r-17v: A paper in the hand of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, 25 Feb 1588. The draft of a consultation upon certain questions relating to a treaty with Spain.

ff. 18r-20r: Instructions for Henry Stanley, 4th Earl of Derby, William Brooke, 10th Baron Cobham, Sir James Crofts, Sir Amias Paulet and Valentine Dale, Commissioners authorized to treat of a peace between Queen Elizabeth I and the King of Spain, Jan 1588 (ff. 18r-v) with 'Answers to the first question', 25 Feb 1588 (new style) (ff. 19r-20r).

ff. 22r-23r: Response of the Spanish Commissioners to the reply of the English Commisisoners,30 Jun 1588. In Latin.

ff. 24r-25v: Letter of Valentine Dale to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, Bourbourg, 26 Jun 1588. With signature, address and seal.

ff. 26r-27v: Letter of Valentine Dale to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, Bourbourg, 26 Jun 1588. With signature, address and seal.

ff. 28r-29v: Letter of Sir James Croft to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, Bourbourg, 17 Jun 1588. With signature; address and seal. Endorsement in the hand of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley.

ff. 30r-31v: Letter of Henry Stanley, 4th Earl of Stanley to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, Bourbourg, 17 Jun 1588. With signature and address.

ff. 32r-33v: Letter of Valentine Dale to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, Bourbourg, 17 Jun 1588. With signature, address and seal.

ff. 35r-59r: Letters of the English Commissioners about the Treaty of Peace with the King of Spain to Queen Elizabeth I and the Privy Council. Copies:

• f. 35r: Letter to the Privy Council, Mar 1588.
• ff. 35r-39v: Letter to Queen Elizabeth I, Ostend, 14 Mar 1588.
• ff. 39v-43r: Letter to Privy Council, 19 Mar 1588.
• ff. 43v-45r, 46r-v: Letter to the Privy Council, 6 Apr 1588.
• ff. 45r-v: Articles which Sir James Croft has thought good to propound to the Duke [of Parma] in behalf of Queen Elizabeth I, 30 April 1588 (old style).
• ff. 46v-49r: Letter to the Privy Council, 12 Apr 1588.
• ff. 49r-51r: Letter to the Privy Council, 17 Apr 1588.
• ff. 51v-53r: Letter to the Privy Council, 26 Apr 1588.
• ff. 53r-54r: Letter to the Privy Council, 5 May 1588.
• ff. 54r-58v: Letter to Queen Elizabeth I, 9 May 1588.
• ff. 58v-59r: Letter to the Privy Council, 13 May 1588.

ff. 60r-61v: Projects for cessation of arms, 28 May 1588. The project of the English Commissioners (in Latin) is ff. 60r, 61v; the project of the Spanish Commissioners (in French) is f. 60v.

ff. 62r-74v: Letters of the English Commissioners about the Treaty of Peace with the King of Spain to Queen Elizabeth I and the Privy Council. Copies:

• ff. 62r-v: Letter to the Privy Council, 24 May 1588.
• ff. 62v-65r: Letter to [?] the Privy Council, 29 May 1588.
• ff. 65r-v: Letter to 'My good Lord', 1 Jun 1588.
• ff. 65v-67v: Letter to [?] the Privy Council, 4 Jun 1588.
• ff. 67v-71r: Letter to [?] the Privy Council, 7 Jun 1588.
• ff. 71r-73v: Letter to [?] the Privy Council, 8 Jun 1588.
• ff. 73v-74r: Letter to [?] the Privy Council, 21 Jun 1588.
• f. 74v: Letter to the Privy Council, 27 Jun 1588.

ff. 75r-v: Account of the ships, ordnance, and stores at Dunkirk. 13 Jun 1588. In English.

f 76r: List of places which Secretary [Flamont] Garnier [a Spanish Commissioner] said were not under the commandment of her Majesty to keep during the cessation of arms. 1588. Heading in English but text in French.

ff.78r-79r: Schedule of the Spanish Commissioners, of 14 Jun 1588 (f. 78r), and one of the English Commissioners, of 15 Jun 1588. In Latin.

ff. 80r-v: Positions of the English Commissioners ('Postulata legatorum reginae Angliae'), ." Bourbourg, 17 Jun 1588 (old style). In Latin.

ff. 81r-82v: Response of the English Commissioners to the reply made by the Spanish Commissioners to their Positions ('Replicatio legator. reginae Angliae ad responsionem factam per legatos regis Cath. ad postulata dictorum legator. reginae Angl.'), Bourbourg, 20 Jun 1588 (old style). In Latin.

ff. 83r-v: Response of the Spanish Commissioners to the Positions of the English Commissioners, 28 Jun 1588. In Latin.

ff. 85r-88v: The quintuplicate of the Spanish Commissioners, 3 Jun 1588 (ff. 85r-86r) and sextuplicate of the English Commissioners, 4 Jun 1588 (ff. 86r-88r), touching the cessation of arms. In Latin. Copy.

ff. 88v-92v: 'Questions upon seven articles for the peace'." June 10, 1588. In English. Copy.

ff. 93r-94r: 'The best conditions for a peace, 10 Jun 1588. In English. Copy.

ff. 95r-96v: Letter of Sir Francis Walsingham to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, the Court, 5 May 1588. With signature and address. original. Directing him to examine Colonna, a prisoner.

ff. 97r-v: List of the ships, their crews and equipment, under the command of the Duke of Medina Sidonia, 1 May 1588. In English.

ff. 98r-99v: Rough memoranda, out of treaties concluded at Cologne and Brussels. In Latin.

ff. 100r, 102v: Letter of Henry Stanley, 4th Earl of Derby to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, Ostend, 28 Feb 1588. With signature and address. Enclosed is intercepted letter, f. 101r.

f. 101r; Intercepted letter of Thomas Worthington, priest, to John Smyth at Murchem[?] Castle, 27 Feb 1588. Copy, in same hand as Derby's letter, ff. 100r-102v.

ff. 103r-105v. Commission of Queen Elizabeth for treating with the Spanish deputies, Jan 1588. In Latin. Copy.

ff. 106r-107v: Safe conduct of Queen Elizabeth I for the King of Spain's Commissioners, 1588. In Latin. Copy.

ff. 108r-v: Safe conduct of Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma, for Queen Elizabeth's Commissioners, Ghent, 25 Jan 1588. In Latin.

ff. 109r-v: 'The beginning of a summary of the actions of the Queen's commissioners, for a project of recessus', 1588. 1588 appears in the heading; the date of 26 Feb 1597[/98] must be a clerical slip for 1587[/88], as it has the Duke of Parma (d. 1592) alive at that point.

ff. 110r-113v: Memorial of Valentine Dale, Jan 1588. Endorsement in the hand of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley.

f. 115r: The style of the English Commissioners sent to the Duke of Parma (for a safe conduct). Copy.

f. 116r: Doubts to be resolved by the Lords of the Privy Council, concerning the treaty with Spain, 1587.'1587' is the year at the head; if old style it may, of course, possibly mean the first three months of 1588. Copy.

ff. 117r-131r: Instructions for the Queen's Commissioners at the treaty, Dec 1587. Copy.

ff. 131v-132v: A proportion of two months victuals for the garrison at Flushing [Vlissingen].

ff. 133r-146r: A summary report of the whole proceedings of the English and Spanish Commissioners in the treaty of peace between the Queen of England and king of Spain in Flanders in 1588.

ff. 146r-148r: . A conjecture, whereby it appears that the Duke of Parma doth determine very shortly to invade England. 1588.

ff. 149r-153r: A paper of the English Commissioners; concerning their demands, partly concerning the Queen Elizabeth's loan to the States of the Low Countries.

ff.155r-164v: Considerations on the propriety of making peace with Spain. Copy. Although at the head it has been dated 1588, this cannot be right as the text refers explicitly to the events of 1588. It concludes with a section, 'Reasons declaring the necessitie of a Peace'. Copy.

ff. 165r-170r: Copy of the report of Valentine Dale to Queen Elizabeth I of his proceedings, 12 Jul 1588.

ff. 171r-172r: Notes of the insufficiency of the answer of the Spanish commissioners, to the reply of the English commissioners, 26 Jun 1588.

ff.173r-v: Propositions of the English Commissioners, with the answers of the Spanish Commissioners, 12 Jul 1588. In French.

ff. 174r-180r: Letters of the English Commissioners about the Treaty of Peace with the King of Spain. Copies:

• f. 174: Letter to your Lordship, ,5 Jul 1588.
• ff. 174r-v: Letter to the Privy Council, 5 Jul 1588.
• ff. 174v-175v: Letter to the Privy Council, 12 Jul 1588.
• ff. 175v-180r: Letter to [?] the Privy Council, 26 Jul 1588.

f. 181r: Points in variance between the K. of Spain and the States of the Low Countries, concerning religion: seemingly the beginning of a treaty.

ff. 190r-201r: Observations upon Valentine Dale's report of the proceedings of the English commissioners at Bourbourg; in which several omissions and misrepresentations are pointed out, Whitehall, 5 May 1589.

ff. 202r-v: Valentine Dale's report of words spoken by the Duke of Parma of Parma and Jean Richardot, at the colloquy at Bourbourg, on the coming forth of the Armada; and the observations of Queen Elizabeth I thereupon, 1588.

ff. 203r-204v: The number of the companies, both of horse and foot, reported by Flamont Garnier to be in wages with the Duke of Parma. Two copies. 1588.

ff. 205r-v: Relation of the Spanish Armada as it departed Lisbon on 30 May 1588: number and type of ships, commanders (f. 205r) with on f. 205v: A note of what shipping the King hath in the Low Countries. (Tite, Early Records, p. 180 identifies this as in the hand of Sir Robert Cotton, who notes that the relation is 'as it is certified from them'). f. 206r is an endorsement, of uncertain reading, which may relate to this.

ff. 207r-208v: Letter of Mr Hunter out of Spain, about his imprisonment as a spy, and intelligence concerning a Spanish fleet, 10 Feb 1589. For a signature, a horn has been drawn.

ff. 209r-222r: Letters intercepted in the Low Countries, 1594:

• f. 210r: Letter of Antonio Fernández de Córdoba y Cardona, 5th Duke of Sessa to [?Ernest] Archduke of Austria, Rome, 28 Feb 1594. In French.
• ff. 210v-215r: Letter of Antonio Fernández de Córdoba y Cardona, 5th Duke of Sessa to Philip II, King of Spain, Rome, 1 Jan 1594. In French.
• ff 215r-217r: Letter of Antonio Fernández de Córdoba y Cardona, 5th Duke of Sessa to Philip II, King of Spain, Rome, 11 Feb 1594. In French.
• ff. 217v-219r: Letter of Antonio Fernández de Córdoba y Cardona, 5th Duke of Sessa to Philip II, King of Spain, Rome, 14 Feb 1594. In French.
• ff. 219r-v: Letter of Antonio Fernández de Córdoba y Cardona, 5th Duke of Sessa to Lorenzo Suárez de Figueroa y Córdoba, 2nd Duke of Feria, Rome, 28 Feb 1594. In French.
• ff. 219v-220r: Letter of Antonio Fernández de Córdoba y Cardona, 5th Duke of Sessa to Pedro Henriquez de Acevedo, Count of Fuentes, Rome, 28 Feb 1594. In French.
• ff. 220r-221r: Letter of Josephe d'Alcuna '(a ce que ie puis Juger)' to Pedro Henriquez de Acevedo, Count of Fuentes, Milan, 13 Mar 1594. In French.
• ff. 221r-v: Letter of Juan de Zero, Constable to Pedro Henriquez de Acevedo, Count of Fuentes, 22 Feb 1594. In French.
• ff. 221v-222r: Letter of Juan de Zero, Milan, 22 Feb 1594.
• ff. 223r-230v: Copy of intercepted letter noted as from Count Taxis (Juan Baptista de Tassis) to King Philip II. In French.

ff. 231r-v: Letter of Jean Richardot to the English Privy Council, Brussels, 25 Nov 1594. With signature and seal. In French. About some difference between the Queen Elizabeth I and the Archduke Ernest, concerning their titles.

f. 232r: Letter of the Archduke Ernest to Queen Elizabeth I, Brussels, 14 Oct 1594. With signature and counter-signature. On sending her a passport for Sir Thomas Wilkes.

ff. 233r-240r: Instructions of Queen Elizabeth I to Sir Thomas Wilkes, sent to the Archduke Ernest, Governor of the king of Spain in the Low Countries, 18 Sep 1594. Copy. Chiefly to remonstrate against the treasonable practices of certain Spaniards in England (Sir Robert Cotton summarizes in the top left-hand corner of f. 233r).

ff. 240r-v: Minute of a letter from the Archduke Ernest to Queen Elizabeth I, 14 Oct 1595, with the Queen's answer, complaining of the style of the above letter, 30 Oct 1595. For both letters the year is written as 1595, but probably 1594. Copies.

ff. 243r-246v: Intercepted letter of Pedro Henriquez de Acevedo, Count of Fuentes to [?] Archduke Albert, Brussels, 16 Jan 1596. In French.

ff. 247r-248v: 'A strait proclamation made by the King of Spain prohibiting the importation of all English commodities', and also restraining the trade of all English, Hollanders and Zeelanders from trading in his dominions, Madrid, 20 Jan 1596, with express order of Regent and Chamber for obeying this proclamation, 4 May 1596, ff. 248v-249r. In English. Other copies are ff. 255r-257r, 263r-266r.

ff. 253r-254r; Declaration of the King of Spain for raising money, 29 Nov 1596. In Spanish.

ff. 255r-256v: 'A strait proclamation made by the King of Spain prohibiting the importation of all English commodities', and also restraining the trade of all English, Hollanders and Zeelanders from trading in his dominions, Madrid, 20 Jan 1596, with express order of Regent and Chamber for obeying this proclamation, 4 May 1596, ff. 256v-257r. In English. Other copies are ff. 247r-249r, 263r-266r.

ff. 261r-262r: Addresses of the States of Artois to King Philip II (ff. 261r-v), the Prince and the Archduke cardinal [Albert]. On the intended marriage between Albert and the Infanta Isabella, and the cession of the Lows Countries to them; also representing their necessitous state, Arras, 9 Jan 1598. In French.

ff. 263r-265v: 'A strait proclamation made by the King of Spain prohibiting the importation of all English commodities', and also restraining the trade of all English, Hollanders and Zeelanders from trading in his dominions, Madrid, 20 Jan 1596, with express order of Regent and Chamber for obeying this proclamation, 4 May 1596, ff. 165v-266r. In English. Other copies are ff. 24rr-249v, 255r-257r.

ff. 267r-272v: Intercepted letter of President Jean Richardot and two others, Commissioners of the Archduke Albert [to Archduke Albert?], Vervins, 10 Feb 1598. With signatures, address and detailed summary in endorsement. Reporting their negotiations with the Papal and French commissioners. In French.

ff. 273r-275r: Letters of the Cardinal-Archduke Albert to Philip II, King of Spain. In English. Three letters: Concerning his marriage with the Infanta Isabella and the renunciation of the Low Countriesfrom Brussels, 6 Jan 1598 (ff. 273r-v); 18 Feb 1598 (f. 274r); from Brussels, 218 Feb 1598 - an abridgement or abstract (f. 275r).

ff. 276r-v: Letter to the Cardinal-Archduke Albert from the Court of Spain by a principal servant of Philip II, 9 May 1598. In English. At the foot of the letter Sir Robert Cotton has written: 'Hec transtuli ex cartis Amb; Regis Hispan 1615'.

ff. 281r-282v: Extracts out of the Instructions of the Cardinal-Archduke Albert to his Commissioners, 30 Jan 1598 (ff. 281r-v); 'Owte of the Instruccions for England' (ff. 281v-282r); 'Owte of the Instruccions for treating with the States' (f. 282v). In English. This and the following item form one set of translations in the same hand, noted (by Sir Robert Cotton?) as 'Ex collectionibus Amb. regis Hisp. 1615'.

ff. 282r-v, 283r-284r: Letters from his Commissioners to the Cardinal-Archduke Albert: 12 Feb 1598 (ff. 282r-v); 16 Feb 1598 (extract) (f. 283r); n.d. given (ff. 283r-284r). This and ff. 281r-282v form one set of translations in the same hand, noted (by Sir Robert Cotton?) as 'Ex collectionibus Amb. regis Hisp. 1615'.

ff. 289r-293v: Instructions to, correspondence between the Cardinal-Archduke Albert and his Commissioners and other letters concerning the Treaty of Verrvins. At the bottom, and possibly only applying to ff. 290r-293v, is noted: 'Collecta ex cartis Legati regis Hisp mihi communicates 26 August 1615':

• f. 289r: Summary of the Instructions of the Cardinal-Archduke Albert to his Commissioners, 30 Jan 1598. In French.
• f. 289r: Points of another instruction for treating with Queen Elizabeth I, 30 Jan 1598. In French.
• f. 289r: Further instructions, 30 Jan 1598. In French.
• f. 289v: Extract from letter from the Commissioners to the Cardinal-Archduke Albert, 12 Feb 1598. In French.
• f. 289v: Extract from letter from the Commissioners to the Cardinal-Archduke Albert, 16 Feb 1598. In French.
• f. 289v: Extract from letter from the Commissioners to the Cardinal-Archduke Albert, 22 Feb 1598. In French.
• f. 290r: Abstract of letter from Cardinal-Archduke Albert to Philip II, King of Spain, 6 Jan 1598. In English.
• ff. 290r-v: Letter of the Commissioners to the Cardinal-Archduke Albert, 12 Feb 1598. In English.
• f. 290v: (Second) Letter of the Commissioners to the Cardinal-Archduke Albert, 12 Feb 1598. In English.
• ff. 290v-291r: Answer of the Cardinal-Archduke to the Commissioners' letters of 10 [?] Feb, 14 Feb 1598. In English.
• f. 291r: Answer of the Cardinal-Archduke to the Commissioners' letters of 12 Feb, 16 Feb 1598. In English.
• ff. 291r-v: Letter of the Commissioners to the Cardinal-Archduke Albert, Vervins, 16 Feb 1598. In English.
• f. 291v: Letter of the Commissioners to the Cardinal-Archduke Albert, Vervins, 16 Feb 1598. In English.
• f. 291v: Letter of the Commissioners to the Cardinal-Archduke Albert, Vervins, 16 Feb 1598. In English.
• ff. 292r-v: Letter of the Commissioners to the Cardinal-Archduke Albert, Vervins, 17 Feb 1598. In English.
• f. 292v: Letter of the Cardinal-Archduke Albert to Philip II, King of Spain, 18 Feb 1598. In English.
• f. 292v: Another answer of the Cardinal-Archduke Albert to the Commisisoners' letter of 10 Feb, Brussels, 21 Feb 1598. In English.
• f. 292v: Letter of the Cardinal-Archduke Albert to the Commissioners, Brussels, 21 Feb 1598. In English.
• ff. 293r-v: Letter of the Commissioners to the Cardinal-Archduke Albert, Vervins, 22 Feb 1598. In English.
• f. 293v: Letter of the Cardinal-Archduke Albert to the Commissioners, Brussels, 27 Feb 1598. In English.

ff. 297r-309r: Divers reason to move Her Majesty (Queen Elizabeth I) to send some special agent to the Archduke Ernest, lately come into the Low Countries, 1593. Copy.

ff. 313r-314v: Letter of Cardinal-Archduke Albert to Philip II, King of Spain, Brussels, 6 Jan 1598. With signature and address. Largely in cipher, with deciphering (into Spanish) over the cipher.

ff. 315r-316v: Letter of Cardinal-Archduke Albert to Philip II, King of Spain, Brussels, 18 Feb 1598. With signature. Almost wholly in Cipher. At the end [?Sir Robert Cotton] has glossed its content: that it touches a conference with the Elector of Cologne touching the succession of the Empire and an overture of the treaty made from the [Dutch] States.

ff. 317r-318v: Letter of Carlos Clocman to Count of Arenberg, Madrid.9 May 1598. With signature; address and seal. In Spanish. With summary in English as endorsement.

ff. 319r-320v: Letter of Cardinal-Archduke Albert to Philip II, King of Spain, Brussels, 6 Jan 1598. In cipher, deciphered. With signature, address and fragment of seal.

ff. 321r-337r: Journal of an English Commissioner (probably John Herbert) at the Conference at Boulogne with the representatives of Spain and the Spanish Netherlands, 12 May - 7 Aug [1600].

ff. 341r-342v: Instructions of Queen Elizabeth I to her Commissioners for a treaty with Spain, Greenwich, 24 May 1600. There are a number of marginal comments, including that it was received 26 May, presumably in the hand of a Commissioner, probably John Herbert.

ff. 343r-344rv: Despatch from the English Commissioners at Boulogne, 29 May 1600. Copy.

ff. 345r-348v: Despatch from the English Commissioners at Boulogne sent to Sir Robert Cecil, 12 Jun 1600. Copy. Endorsement notes as delivered by Mr Winwood.

ff. 349r-350v: A memorial from the Commissioners at Boulogne sent over by Thomas Edmondes [to the Privy Council], 20 Jun 1600.

ff. 351r-352v; Answer of the Privy Council to the memorial sent over by the Commissioners at Boulogne by Thomas Edmondes, 30 Jun 1600.

ff. 343r-354v: Letter from the English Commissioners at Boulogne to Sir Robert Cecil, Boulogne, 6 Jul 1600. Copy.

ff. 355r-356v: Letter from the English Commissioners at Boulogne to Sir Robert Cecil, Boulogne, 12 Jul 1600. Copy.

ff. 357r-358v: Letter of Sir Robert Cecil to Sir Henry Neville, John Herbert and the other Commissioners at Boulogne, Greenwich, 14 Jul 1600. Copy.

ff. 359r-362v: Letter from the English Commissioners at Boulogne to Sir Robert Cecil, Boulogne, 16 Jul 600. Copy. the text says 16 Jul, but the endorsement says 17 Jul.

ff. 363r-364v: Letter of Queen Elizabeth I to the English Commissioners at Boulogne, Greenwich, 19 Jul 1600. Copy. Charging them to demand a categorical answer.

ff. 365r-366v: Letter of Sir Robert Cecil to the English Commissioners at Boulogne, Greenwich, 20 Jul 1600. Copy.

ff. 367r-368v: Letter from the English Commissioners at Boulogne to Sir Robert Cecil, Boulogne, 21 Jul 1600. Copy.

ff. 369r-370v: Letter of the Privy Council to the English Commissioners at Boulogne, Greenwich, 23 Jul 1600. Copy.

371r-374r: Letter of the Privy Council to the English Commissioners at Boulogne, Greenwich, 25 Jul 1600. Copy.

ff. 374r-v: Letter of Sir Robert Cecil to the English Commissioners at Boulogne, the Court, 25 Jul 1600. Copy.

ff. 375r-376v: Letter of Jean Richardot, President of the Privy Council in the Spanish Netherlands to Robert Beale and John Herbert, Brussels, 16 Nov 1600. in French. With signature and address. Recapitulating some parts of the proceedings in the negotiations.

ff. 377r-378v: Letter of Robert Beale and Thomas Edmondes to Jean Richardot, President of the Privy Council in the Spanish Netherlands, London, 12 Dec [1600]. In French. Copy.

ff. 379r-386v: Instructions of Queen Elizabeth I to Sir Henry Neville, Robert Beale, John Herbert and Thomas Edmondes, Commissioners to treat with the King of Spain and Archduke of Burgundy, delivered at London 12 May [1600]. The date comes from the endorsement. the endorsement and marginalia which flag up the instructions in the paragraphs are evidently in the hand of John Herbert. The endorsement also refers to a letter of the Queen of 24 May with further instruction, but the enclosed letter is from Sir Robert Cecil, dated the Court at Greenwich, also 12 May [1600] (f. 384r).

f. 384r: Letter of Sir Robert Cecil to the English Commissioners, the Court at Greenwich, 12 May 1600. on sending them their commission, the above instructions, and divers other papers.

ff. 387r-388v: Letter of Thomas Edmondes to [?] Sir Robert Cecil, Boulogne, 20 Jun 1600. Copy.

ff. 389r-392v: Instrument of Archduke Albert for his sub-delegation of the commissioners appointed by the King of Spain to treat with England, the king's commission being inserted in the instrument, 20 May 1600. In French and Spanish.

ff. 393r-394v: A paper exhibited by the English Commissioners to the Spanish Commissioners, 21 May 1600 (old style). In Latin. Concerning some alterations in the style of their public instruments. (Lat.) May 21-June 2, 1600. 393.

ff. 395r-396v; Commission of the Archdukes Albert and Isabella to Jean Richardot, President of the Privy Council, and Louis Vereykin, Audiencer, to treat with the English Commissioners, Brussels, 20 May 1600. In French.

ff. 397r-398v: Remonstrance of four Spanish and Flemish Commissioners, concerning some informalities in the negotiations, Boulogne, 1 Jun 1600. In Latin.

ff. 399r-400v: Letter of Marquis of Ayamonte to King James I, June [7 Calends July], 1603. In Latin. Original.