Stowe MS 167

Edmondes Papers, volume 2, 26 October 1597-20 March 1605.

Thomas Edmondes had been English agent at the French Court from 1592 to 1595 (he was also Secretary there before and after). He had returned to England in May or June 1596, returning to France on special missions in late March and early May 1597.

The papers here begin with his second extended stay in France as agent, from September 1597 to May 1599. His first letter here after his return to Paris is dated 28 October 1597 (his first letter received in London was dated 19 October, as noted on f. 1r). His draft letters provide a rich source for the political and military situation in France. With the exception of one or two short visits to England, he stayed abroad till June 1599, when he was recalled. In December 1599 he was sent to the Archduke Albert, Governor of the Netherlands, with instructions to treat for peace, and was one of the commissioners at the Boulogne Conference in May-July 1600. On his return he was appointed Clerk of the Privy Council, and, beyond two short journeys to France in 1601, he remained in England till April 1605, when he went to Brussels as Ambassador to the Archduke.

At Paris Edmondes was succeeded by Ralph Winwood, whose original letters form the bulk of the latter half of this volume, and again are a rich source of news and gossip on the international and French situations. From 1598 Winwood was, secretary to the Ambassador, Sir Henry Neville and with him a commissioner at the peace talks at Boulogne; from late July 1600 until the arrival of a new resident ambassador in Aug 1602 he was agent at the French Court, and then stayed on until February 1603. He was appointed Resident Ambassador at the Hague following the death of George Gilpin in January 1603, arriving in the Netherlands in July 1603. His last seven letters are written from that place. The principal events touched on in this volume are:

(1) The initiatives of Henri IV, King of France, for a separate accommodation with Spain, which culminated in the Treaty of Vervins, 2 May 1598.

(2) A project between the 'Legatt and the Englishe' to encourage James VI, King of Scots to allow the Roman Catholics in Scotland a toleration.

(3) The rumours, at the end of 1598, of James VI's inclination to Catholicism, and the attempts to injure him in the eyes of Elizabeth.

(4) The designs of the exiled Francis Stewart, 1st Earl of Bothwell.

(5) The intention of Philip III, King of Spain, to assist the Irish Rebels against England.

(6) The Boulogne Conference in 1600.

(7) Military operations in the Netherlands, including the sieges of Ostend, Grave, Sluys.

8) The Conference on depredations on English merchants by the French, at which Edmondes was a Commissioner;.

(9) The proposals of Jean de Grusset, sieur de Richardot, counsellor to Archduke Albert, for peace between Spain and England in 1602.

Below, where the recipient is not stated in Edmondes's drafts, where he opens a letter to 'your honour', it is taken to be probably Sir Robert Cecil (this is his salutation where the recipient is named).

Contents:

ff. 1r-2v: Letter of Sir Robert Cecil to Thomas Edmondes, the Court at Whitehall, 11 p.m., 26 Oct [1597]. With signature and address. Cecil reports a Spanish fleet at sea ('this very day advertysement is come to the Queene of the Fleet of Spaine, which is issued from Feroll and the Groyne [Coruña], the viiith of this moneth, beinge 120 sayle, wth 10,000 souldyers, 2000 maryners, and many Mylles for Corne', and Edmondes to explain this is why the Queen is recalling English troops from Picardy.

ff. 3r-v: Letter of Thomas Edmondes to (?) Sir Robert Cecil, Paris, 28 Oct 1597. Draft. Possibly incomplete.

ff. 4r-5v: Letter of Thomas Edmondes to (?) Sir Robert Cecil, Paris, 5 Nov 1597. Draft or Copy.

ff. 6r-7v: Letter of Thomas Edmondes to Sir Robert Cecil, Paris, 14 Nov 1597. Draft.

ff. 8r-9v: Letter of Thomas Edmondes to (?) Sir Robert Cecil, Paris, 26 Nov 1597. Draft.

ff. 10r-11v: Letter of Privy Council on suit of Richard Kelley, merchant, concerning a licence for bringing into France 200 tons of alum. Signatures and address.

ff. 12r-13v: Letter of Thomas Edmondes to Sir Robert Cecil, St Germain, 11 Dec 1597.

ff. 14r-15v: Letter of Sir Robert Cecil to Thomas Edmondes, at court at Whitehall, 31 Dec 1597. Signature; address. On the embassy to England from Henri IV of André Hurault, sieur de Maisse.

ff. 16r-17v: Letter of Thomas Bramley to Thomas Edmondes, London, 12 Jan 1598. Signature; address; seal. On behalf of traders whose goods have been detained in Marseilles.

ff. 18r-20v: Letter of Thomas Edmondes to Sir Robert Cecil, Paris, 18 Jan 1598. Draft.

ff. 21r-22v: Letter of Thomas Edmondes to Sir Robert Cecil, Paris, 21 Jan 1598. Draft.

ff. 23r-24v: Letter of Thomas Edmondes to Sir Robert Cecil, Paris, 23 Jan 1598. Draft.

ff. 25r-v: Letter of Thomas Edmondes to (?) Sir Robert Cecil, Paris, 8 Feb 1598. Draft.

ff. 26r-27v: Letter of Sir Robert Cecil to Thomas Edmondes, Dieppe, 18 Feb 1598. With signature, postscript in Cecil's hand, address and partial seal. At Dieppe with Mr Herbert and sir Thomas Wilkes and plans to pass through Paris on the way to Henri IV.

ff. 28r-29v: Letter of Thomas Edmondes to Sir Robert Cecil, Pontoise, 23 Feb 1598. Draft.

ff. 30r-31v: Letter of Sir Robert Cecil to Thomas Edmondes, Magny, 28 Feb 1598. In Cecil's own hand throughout, with address and seal. On his movements and coming to Paris.

ff. 32r-33v: Letter of Thomas Edmondes to Sir Robert Cecil, Paris, 28 Aug 1598. Draft.

ff. 34r-35v: Letter of Thomas Edmondes to Sir Robert Cecil, Paris, 28 Aug 1598. Draft.

ff. 36r-37v: Letter of Sir Robert Cecil to Thomas Edmondes, Greenwich, Aug 1598. With signature and postscript in Cecil's hand, address and seal. On a suit before the French Privy Council between two English merchants, Richard Kelley and Ottowell Smith

ff. 38r-39v: Letter of Sir Robert Cecil to Thomas Edmondes, Greenwich, 3 Sep 1598. A hasty letter: Edmondes that Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton, is come to France and Edmondes knows 'what he hath done' (his marriage to the pregnant Elizabeth Vernon, Maid of Honour). 'for which the Queen is much offended'. By this letter Edmondes sees what he has to do.

ff. 40r-41v: Warrant of Queen Elizabeth I to Thomas Edmondes, Greenwich, 3 Sep 1598. With the Queen's signature. To enquire out Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton, and make him return to England.

ff. 42r-v: Letter of Thomas Edmondes to unnamed peer, Paris, 9 Sep 1598. As it concerns maritime matters, possibly Charles Howard, 2nd Baron of Effingham, Lord Admiral. Draft.

ff. 43r-45v: Letter of Thomas Edmondes to Sir Robert Cecil, Paris, 12 Sep 1598. Draft.

ff. 46r-47r: Letter of Thomas Edmondes to Sir Robert Cecil, Paris, 13 Sep 1598. Draft.

ff. 48r-49v: Letter of Thomas Edmondes to Sir Robert Cecil, Paris, 22 Sep 1598. Draft.

ff. 50r-51v: Letter of Sir Robert Cecil to Thomas Edmondes, at the Court, 3 Oct 1598. With signature and address. Cecil gives news of Thomas Butler, 10th Earl of Ormond in Ireland, and of the capture of Puerto Rico in the West Indies by George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland.

f. 52r: A letter of accreditation for the bearer, of the city of Frankenthal, described as a subject of the King of Bohemia, n.d. The document is torn. The reference to Frankenthal, in the Palatinate being under the King of Bohemia, and the papal bull in support of the King extirpating heresy there, would put the document into the period after the fall of the Calvinist Elector Palatine Frederick V, briefly King of Bohemia and deprived of both during the Thirty Years' War. In French.

ff. 53r-54v: Letter of Thomas Edmondes to Sir Robert Cecil, Paris, 13 Oct 1598. Draft.

ff. 55r-v: Letter of Sir Robert Cecil to Thomas Edmondes, n.d. [? Oct or Nov 1598]. In Cecil's hand. Cecil entreats Edmondes to procure for him some Spanish gloves 'of the same perfume' which he sent to Sir John Stanhope for the Queen: 'For of all the gloves that ever I saw come out of Spaine these ar the most delicate and do the most please the Q[ueen], as I believe Mr. Stanhop will shortly write unto you, for she is much pleased that an English man (as she sayth) had the witt to gett any good thing from a French man [Oct. or Nov. 1598]. More on gloves and 'moyles' [?mules].

ff. 56r-57v: Letter of Thomas Edmondes to Sir Robert Cecil, Paris, 26 Oct 1598. Draft.

ff. 58r-59v: Letter of Thomas Edmondes to Sir Robert Cecil, Paris, 8 Nov 1598. Draft.

ff. 60r-62v: Letter of Sir Robert Cecil to Thomas Edmondes, Court at Richmond, 6 Nov 1598. With signature, address, seal. A lengthy letter, which includes the reception of the French Ambassador [Jean de Thuméry, sieur de Boissise], the Queen's intention to send 'Mr. Hary Nevyle, a gent. well languaged and of a Noble House',as Ambassador to France, the rebellion in Ireland, and the attempts on the Queen's life by Edward Squire and - Stanley.

ff. 63r-64v: Letter of Sir Robert Cecil to Thomas Edmondes, the court at Richmond, 10 Nov 1598. On the case of Otwell, or Ottowell, Smith.

ff. 65r-66v: Letter of Thomas Edmondes to Sir Robert Cecil, 12 Nov 1598. Draft.

ff. 65r-66v: Letter of Thomas Edmondes to Sir Robert Cecil, 12 Nov 1598. Draft. A covering letter and reflections on the information provided by the anti-Catholic informer Philip Tompson (ff. 67r-70v).

ff. 67r-70v: Particular relations of Philip Tompson of Shropshire, anti-Catholic informer. ff. 67r-68v 'Particular Relations' (endorsed Oct 1598), and ff. 69r-70v 'Relations from the Jesuits'. Both under the Tompson's name, and both addressed 'A Mr Monsieur Edmonds'. On Jesuit intrigues in Spain, France, England and Flanders.

ff. 71r-72v: Letter from Thomas Edmondes to Sir Robert Cecil, Paris, 18 Nov 1598. Draft. This alludes to the memorial of Patrick Gray [later 6th Lord Gray], Master of Gray.

ff. 73r-74v: Memorial of Patrick Gray, Master of Gray to Thomas Edmondes, Nov 1598.

ff. 75r-76v: Letter of Privy Council to Thomas Edmondes, Whitehall, 24 Nov 1598. With signatures and address. In favour of John Foster, merchant of Dublin, whose ship has been plundered by a French man-of-war.

ff. 77r-78v: Letter of Queen Elizabeth I to Thomas Edmondes, Palace of Westminster, 4 Dec 1598. With royal signature at the head and address. A response to an offer by Patrick Gray, Master of Gray to keep her informed of plots against her in Spain or the Netherlands (ff. 71r-72v).

ff. 79r-80v: Letter of Sir Robert Cecil to Thomas Edmondes, at the Court, 4 Dec 1598. With signature, address and seal. the letter includes news, the Queen's response to Patricl Gray, Master of Gray and Edmondes's negotiations over 'moyles' [?mules] for cecil.

ff. 81r-82v: Letter of Sir Robert Cecil to Thomas Edmondes, at the Court, 4 Dec 1598. With signature and address. On the Queen's response to the offer of Patrick Gray, Master of Gray.

ff. 83r-84v: Letter of Thomas Edmondes to Sir Robert Cecil, Paris, 12 Dec 1598. Draft. Edmondes reports that 'the lord Bothwell [Francis Stewart, 1st Earl of Bothwell] hath ben latelie seacretlie here from Brussells accompanyed with one Andrewe Clarcke, a most pernicious instrument, ... their errand being to seeke to drawe all those that they could assemble of their nation, both of Captens and others to follow the said Earle in an enterprize . . . The lord of Weymes telleth me that he thincketh one of their desseings is to attempt the surprizing of Barwicke [Berwick]'.

ff. 85r-86v: Letter of Queen Elizabeth I to (?) Thomas Edmondes, Westminster Palace, 20 Jan 1599. A lengthy letter, including on the Spanish preparations by sea, and a suggested understanding between France and England as to trading vessels.

ff. 87r-88v: Letter of Sir Robert Cecil to Thomas Edmondes, the Court at Richmond, 24 Mar 1599. With signature, seal and address. The letter includes the appointment of Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex as Lord Deputy of Ireland, and overtures from Spain.

ff. 89r-90v: Letter of Sir Robert Cecil to Thomas Edmondes, n.d. Incomplete. with signature. A lengthy letter, including a conference of the Privy Council with the French Ambassador on the subject of a trading treaty. Cecil reflects on the proud and choleric nature of the French Ambassador [ [Jean de Thuméry, sieur de Boissise].

ff. 91r-92v: Letter of Sir Robert Cecil to Thomas Edmondes, the Court, 26 Mar 1599. Signature, address, seals. On the restitution of goods taken in a Venetian vessel.

ff. 93r-94v: Letter of Sir Robert Cecil to Thomas Edmondes, the Court at Richmond, 27 Mar 1599. Signature, address, seal. He recommends 'Mr. Lock, whome I do much desire to use in the frontiers between Spayne and France, especially to this intent, that he may be hable to advertise me of the state of shipping and preparations in the portes of Biscay, Wch are the portes from whence any forces for Ireland must most properly goe. Asks for reports from him to come overland rather than by sea for speed.

ff. 95r-96v: Letter of Thomas Edmondes to Sir Robert Cecil, Paris, 30 Mar 1599. Draft.

ff. 97r-98v: Letter of Sir Robert Cecil to Thomas Edmondes, [between 27 Mar and 8 Apr] 1599. On the articles agreed upon between France and England relating to trading vessels. He also reports the going of Robert Devereux, 2nd. Earl of Essex to Ireland ['he left London on 27 March], and that sir Henry Neville will forward in Easter week [w/c 8 Apr].

ff. 99r-100v: Letter of Thomas Edmondes to Sir Robert Cecil, Paris, 13 Apr 1599. Draft. The long letter reports the death of [Gabrielle d'Estres] Duchesse de Beaufort, the King's mistress, and the King's intention to marry within six months; on religious politics in France; and on a notable practise to 'suborne a woaman to pretend to be possessed with a dyvell, to th'end by the curing of her to geine their relligion the authoritie & creditt of doing myracles'.

ff. 101r-102v: Letter of Thomas Edmondes to Sir Robert Cecil, Paris, 13 Apr 1599. Draft. On advices from Patrick Gray, Master of Gray that the Spaniards have 'changed their resolution' to send troops into Ireland and are again resolved to employ Francis Stewart, 1st Earl of Bothwell, 'with whom they were before distasted',by sending him into Scotland to seize the havens of Taymouth, Leith and other places; he reports a speech of the Bishop of Glasgow [James Beaton], that 'the King of Scottes must of necessitie be forced to range himself to the partie of the Catholickes, first for that they are the strongest and best able to assist him of forraine allyes, and secondlie for that the protestants in England, having ben the instrumentes of his mothers death, wilbe ever irreconciliable to him'.

ff. 103r-104v: Letter of Thomas Edmondes to Sir Robert Cecil, Paris, 26 Apr 1599. Draft.

ff. 105r-162r: Correspondence of Queen Elizabeth with Philip III of Spain, Henry IV of France, the Archdukes Andrew and Albert, Governors-General of the Spanish Netherlands, and others, most relating to the appointment of Commissioners to negotiate a peace, Jun 1599-Feb 1600. Copies. The endorsements of the letters vary between being in English and French.

• ff. 105r-106v, 107r-108v: Letter of Queen Elizabeth I to Cardinal Andrea [i.e. Andrew of Austria, Margrave of Burgau and temporary Governor-General of the Spanish Netherlands]. Two drafts of the same letter, the second revised, 30 Jun and (from Greenwich Palace) 1 Jul 1599. In French.
• ff. 109r-110v: Letter of Philip III, King of Spain to Andrew of Austria, Margrave of Burgau and temporary Governor-General of the Spanish Netherlands, Barcelona, 28 Jun 1599. In Spanish. Copy.
• ff. 111r-112v: Letter of Queen Elizabeth I to Henri IV, King of France, Greenwich Palace, July 1599. In French.
• ff. 113r-114v: Letter of accreditation for Queen Elizabeth I to the Dutch States-General for [Sir Robert?] Sidney, n.d. In French.
• ff. 115r-116v: Letter of Queen Elizabeth I to the Dutch States-General, Wimbledon, 29 Mar 1599.
• ff. 117r-118v: Letter of Queen Elizabeth I to the Council of State in the Low Countries, Nonsuch Palace, 4 Aug 1599.
• ff. 119r-120v: Letter of Queen Elizabeth I to [? Andrew of Austria, Margrave of Burgau and temporary Governor-General of the Spanish Netherlands, n.d. In French. The letter addresses him as 'Mon Cousin' and calls the Archduke Albert and the King of Spain his cousins.
• ff. 121r-122v: Letter of Queen Elizabeth I to Andrew of Austria, Margrave of Burgau and temporary Governor-General of the Spanish Netherlands, Nonsuch Palace, 7 Aug 1599. In French.
• ff. 122r-123v; Letter of Queen Elizabeth I to Henri IV, King of France, 15 Sep 1599. Copy. In French.
• ff. 124r-125v: Letter of Archduke Albert to Queen Elizabeth I, Brussels, 20 Sep 1599. Copy. In French.
• ff. 126r-127v: Letter of Queen Elizabeth I to the Dutch States-General, Richmond Palace, 15 Oct 1599. Copy. In French.
• ff. 128r-129v: Drafts of letters to the Dutch States-General and Maurice of Nassau, n.d. In French.
• ff. 130r-131v: Letter of Queen Elizabeth I to Archduke Albert, Richmond Palace, 10 Oct 1599. In French.
• ff. 132r-133v: Letter of Queen Elizabeth I 'to me' [so endorsed], 1599. Presumably to Thomas Edmondes. but the letter is in French.
• ff. 134r-135v: Letter of Queen Elizabeth I to Maurice of Nassau, Richmond Palace, 6 Nov 1599. In French. Carried by Sir Francis Vere.
• ff. 136r-137v: Letter of Queen Elizabeth I to the Dutch States-General, Richmond Palace. 6 Nov 1599. In French. Carried by Sir Francis Vere.
• ff. 138r-139v: Letters of Queen Elizabeth I to Henri III, King of France, Catherine de Medici, Queen Mother, and Louise de Lorraine, Queen Regnant, n.d. [1585]. In French. On the presentation of the garter to the King by Henry Stanley, 4th Earl of Derby.
• ff. 140r-141v: Letter of Queen Elizabeth I to Archduke Albert, Richmond Palace, 24 Dec 1599.
• ff. 142r-143v: A relation of 'my' [Thomas Edmondes's] first negotiation in the Low Countries, Jan 1600. In French.
• ff. 144r-146v: heads of Thomas Edmondes's ['my'] speech to the Archdukes, Jan 1600.
• f. 147r: Letter of (?) Thomas Edmondes concerning the conference at Boulogne, In French.
• ff. 148r-149v: Letter of Jean de Grusset, sieur de Richardot, President of the Privy Council of the Spanish Netherlands, to Robert Beale and Thomas Edmondes, Brussels, 11 Jan 1601. In French.
• ff. 150r-151v: Letter of Archduke Albert to the Admiralty at Dunkirk: to release English prisoners, 26 Jan 1600. This may be new style, so possibly 1601. In French.
• ff. 152r-153v: Letter of Archduke Albert to the Spanish Ambassador in Paris, Lille, 7 Feb 1600. In French.
• ff. 154r-155v: Instructions of Her Majesty's proceedings, 1600. This includes a set of heads, by date, of points at issue between England and Spain. In French.
• ff. 156r-157v: Letter of Archduke Albert to Queen Elizabeth I, Lille, 7 Feb 1600. In French.
• ff. 158r-159v: Letter from Henri IV, King of France to Queen Elizabeth I, Paris, 18 Feb 1600. In French.
• ff. 160r-161v: Letter from Queen Elizabeth I to Henri IV, King of France, n.d. Draft. In French.
• ff. 162r-v: Letter from Queen Elizabeth I to Henri IV, King of France, n.d. Draft. In French.

ff. 163r-167v: 'Instructiones form Mr. Edmondes, being sent to the Archduke Albert', Richmond, 11 Mar 1600. Signed 'Elizabeth R.'

ff. 168r-205r: Copies of memorials, despatches and other papers referring to negotiations with Archduke Albert, including a full relation of Thomas Edmondes's' negotiations.

• ff 168r-169v: Memorial of things to be instructed by the Privy Council to 'me' [Thomas Edmondes] on his journey to Archduke Albert, Mar 1600.
• ff. 170r-171v: Memorial of such points as 'I' [Thomas Edmondes] as I was to be concerned of for my second journey to Archduke Albert, Mar 1600.
• ff. 172r-173v: Letter of Thomas Edmondes to the 'Audiencier' [Louis Verreycken], n.d. In French.
• ff. 174r-175v: Letter of Queen Elizabeth I to Archduke Albert, n.d. Draft. In French.
• ff. 176r-177v: Letter of Queen Elizabeth I to Archduke Albert, Richmond Palace, 11 Mar 1600. Draft. In French.
• ff. 178r-179v: Letter of Queen Elizabeth I to Archduke Albert, Richmond Palace, 11 Mar 1600. Draft. In French.
• ff. 180r-181r: Representation of Thomas Edmondes. In French.
• ff. 182r-183r: Representation of Thomas Edmondes. In French.
• ff. 184r-185r: Representation of Thomas Edmondes. In French.
• f. 186r: Representation of Thomas Edmondes, addressed to 'Your Highnesses'. In French.
• ff. 187r-188v: Speech had by Thomas Edmondes with Jean de Grusset, sieur de Richardot, President of the Privy Council of the Spanish Netherlands and with the Audencier, Louis Verreeycken, at Brussels, Mar 1600.
• ff. 189r-190v: A memorial to be presented to Archduke Albert. In French.
• ff. 191r-v: Paper of position of Queen Elizabeth I. In French.
• f. 192r: Torn page: two lines. In French.
• ff. 193r-195v: Letter of Louis Verreycken to Thomas Edmondes, 10 Mar 1600. In French.
• ff. 196r-201v: A relation of Thomas Edmondes's ['my'] second negotiation at Brussels, Mar 1600.
• ff. 202r-v: Letter of Archduke Albert to Queen Elizabeth I, 11 Apr 1600. In French.
• f. 203r: representation of Thomas Edmondes. In French.
• f. 204r: Letter of Queen Elizabeth I to (?) Henri IV, King of France, Greenwich Palace, 18 Apr 1600. In French.
• f. 205r: Letter of Queen Elizabeth I to (?) Henri IV, King of France, Greenwich Palace, 18 Apr 1600. In French.
• ff. 206r-v: Letter of Queen Elizabeth I to Archduke Albert, Greenwich Palace, 18 Apr 1600. In French.

ff. 207r-211v: Report of English commissioners at the Boulogne conference to Sir Robert Cecil, 20 May 1600. Draft.

ff. 212r-213v, 214r-215v: Commissions of Archdukes Albert and Isabella for treating a peace with Queen Elizabeth I for the Low Countries, 20 May 1600 and n.d. In Latin.

ff. 216r-v: Address of the Commissioners of the Spanish Netherlands, Boulogne, 24 May 1600. In Latin.

ff. 217r-219v: Reply of the Commissioners of Queen Elizabeth I, Boulogne, 26 May 1600. In Latin.

ff. 220r-221v: Report of the English Commissioners at Boulogne to Sir Robert Cecil, 29 May 1600.

ff. 222r-223v: Intercepted letter of Philip III, King of Spain (by Don Luis de Carillo) to the Governor of the Groyne [Coruña], 20 Jan 1601. In Spanish.

ff. 224r-225v: Letter of Ralph Winwood to Thomas Edmondes, Paris, 6 Jan [1602?]. 1601 is a possibility, but in a postscript Winwood states that he is sending La Censaure de L'Evesque d'Evreux to Edmondes a work which was only published in 1601. 'We say here that the K. of Spayne doth come this spring into Italy. His preparacions are great both by land and sea. . . . The Princes of Italy doe beginne to quake, and this King to lay his hand on his conscience, for the Spanish doblons are verie current in Province, Bearne and those parts wch have nearest affinitie wth Spaine'. With address (to Edmondes at Court) and seal.

ff. 226r-227v: Letter of Ralph Winwood to Thomas Edmondes (at Court), 12 Jan [1602]. No year, and 1601 is possible, but 1602 more likely in the light of reference to the defeat of the Irish rebels, probably Tyrone's defeat at Kinsale, 24 Dec 1601: 'I am sure you are become a good Chaucerist and therefore I speake unto you in his language and say that, yf all the earthe were parchemin scribable, all water inck, and all trees pennes, and so the rest i n proportion, yet were there noe meanes fully to declare the contentment which I doe enioy by the happie tydinges of the late defaict wch those rebells receaved in Ireland'

ff. 228r-229v: Letter of Ralph Winwood to Thomas Edmondes (at Court), Paris, 23 Jan [1602]. He reports on the prospects of the war, including 'of mightie preparacions for Spayne in Italy, Germanic and Spayne yt selfe', and 'assuredly yt is verie likely that this wilbe a critique yeare of that warre, for both sydes are brought to a low ebbe' [in the Low Countries]. The murder of his wife by the Comte de Cheverny puts the letter in 1602.

ff. 230r-231v: Letter of Ralph Winwood to Thomas Edmondes (at Court), 25 Jan [1602?]. On the assistance given by France to the States against the Archduke and Spain.

ff. 232r-233v: Letter to the States of Holland, Jan 1602. In French. Draft. In favour of the Count of Egmont.

ff. 234r-235v: letter of Queen Elizabeth I to the Dutch States-General. in French. Draft. In favour of the Count of Egmont.

ff. 236r-237v: Letter of Ralph Winwood to Thomas Edmondes (at Court), Paris, 3 Feb [1602]. In a lengthy letter on the international and French situation he notes reports of 'a mutinie in the campe at Ostend, and a purpose to seaze on the Person of the Infanta and Archeduc, sence Wch tyme he [the King of Spain] is fallen, as he was saying his prayers, into an Epilepsie and in danger to loose those poore sences and understanding he has'.

ff. 238r-v: Letter of Ralph Winwood to Thomas Edmondes (at Ely Court), 27 Feb [1602]. On the journey of the Duc de Nevers and the Vidame de Chartres to England, and the former's intention to visit Scotland, which he fears will be displeasing to the Queen. With address ans seal.

ff. 239r-240v: Letter of Ralph Winwood to Thomas Edmondes (at Court), Paris, 17 Mar [1602]. The letter includes the conference concerning the depredations on English merchants, the death of Philippe-Emmanel de Lorraine. Duc de Mercoeur. With address and seal.

ff. 241r-242v: Letter of Ralph Winwood to Thomas Edmondes (his house in Ely Court), Paris, 28 Mar [1602]. Included are the movements of the French king, the siege of Ostend and Federico Spinola's 'desseigne upon the Isle of Wight'.

fff. 243r-244v: Letter of Ralph Winwood to Thomas Edmondes, Paris, 20 Apr [102]. On the King's departure for Blois and the death of Albert de Gondi, Maréchal de Retz. With address and seal.

ff. 245r-246v: Letter of Queen Elizabeth I to 'Monsieur Mon Cosuin', n.d. Name of recipient in endorsement lost. Draft.

ff. 247r-266r: Correspondence of Thomas Edmondes and Robert Beale with Jean de Grusset, sieur de Richardot, President of the Spanish Council at Brussels, May-Jun 1601.

• ff, 247r-248v: Letter of [Thomas Edmondes and Robert Beale] to Jean de Grusset, sieur de Richardot, London, 3 May 1601. In French. Draft.
• ff. 249r-250v: Letter of [Thomas Edmondes and Robert Beale] to Jean de Grusset, sieur de Richardot,1601. Draft. In French.
• ff. 251r-252v: Letter of Jean de Grusset, sieur de Richardot to Thomas Edmondes, Brussels, 10 Jun 1602. In French. In Richardot's hand throughout.
• ff. 253r-254v: Letter of Letter of Jean de Grusset, sieur de Richardot to Thomas Edmondes, Brussels, 10 Jun 1602. In French. to Robert Beale and Thomas Edmondes, Brussels, 10 Jun 1602. In French.
• ff. 255r-258v: Letter of Thomas Edmondes to Jean de Grusset, sieur de Richardot, 21 Jun 1601. In English. Draft. With annotations by Sir Robert Cecil, dated 29 Jun 1601, A further draft of this letters is ff. 259r-262v. The letter alludes to the death of Robert Beale.
• ff. 263r-264v, 265r-266v: Drafts of letter of Thomas Edmondes to Jean de Grusset, sieur de Richardot, 29 Jun 1601. In French. For drafts of the same letter in English, see ff. 255r-258v, 259r-262v.

ff. 267r-v: Letter of Queen Elizabeth I to Henri IV, King of France, 25 Jun 1601. In French. Copy. Endorsed as sent by [Thomas] Edmondes. On the ill-treatment of English merchants.

ff. 268r-269v: Letter of Gaspar Carre. Giving intelligence on the situation in the Spanish Netherlands and the despatch of Spanish troops to Ireland. With signature.

ff. 270r-271v: Letter of Sir Robert Cecil to Thomas Edmondes, 29 Jun 1601. Cecil reports the Queen's satisfaction with Ralph Winwood's services.

ff. 272r-273v: Letter to the Dutch States-General, 14 Aug 1601. In French. the corrections may be in the hand of Sir Robert Cecil.

ff. 274r-275v: Letter of Gaspar Carre to Jean de Grusset, sieur de Richardot, Calais, 15 Aug 1601. With signature and seal.

ff. 276r-277v: Letter of Ralph Winwood to Thomas Edmondes, Paris, 20 Aug [1601]. With address and seal. The letter includes the siege of Ostend, the proposed conference on depredations and the despatch of a French Ambassador to Scotland.

ff. 278r-v: Letter of Ralph Winwood to Thomas Edmondes, [Paris] n.d,[1601-1602]. Much on the abuse of Edmondes at a drunken dinner-party by the Bishop of Boulogne [Claude d'Ormy].

ff. 279r-280v: Letter of Queen Elizabeth I to Henri IV, King of France, 22 Aug 1601. On the conference on depredations.

ff. 281r-282v: Letter of Ralph Winwood to Thomas Edmondes (at Court), 1 Sep 1601. In Winwood's hand throughout, with seal and address.

ff. 283r-284v: Letter of Ralph Winwood to Thomas Edmondes (at Court), Paris, 18/28 Sep 1601. He announces the birth of a French Prince [Louis XIII], and begs for an order for his 'ordinarie provision'.

ff. 285r-286v: Letter of Ralph Winwood to Thomas Edmondes (at Court), Grenoble, 23 Sep 1601. Thanks Edmondes for passing on what 'affectuous remembrance' Mrs. Killegrew has of him, and asks him to deliver his reply.

ff. 287r-290v: A collection of the proceedings with the Spanish commissioners, Sep 1601. Account of the negotiations for the re-opening of the Conference of Boulogne, broken off on a dispute of the English and Spanish Commissioners as to precedency.

ff. 291r-292v: Letter of Ralph Winwood to Thomas Edmondes (at Court), Paris, 25 Oct 1601. On his negotiation with the King of France, the conference on depredations, and the situation in France.

ff. 293r-294v: Letter of Ralph Winwood to Thomas Edmondes (at Court), Paris, 22 Oct 1601. With address and seal.

ff. 295r-296v: Letter of Ralph Winwood to Thomas Edmondes, Paris, 29 Oct 1601. With address and seal. He complains that he cannot live upon his allowance 'ike unto her Majesty's mynister', and reports the birth of a son to the Marquise [Henriette de Balzac d'Entraigues, Marquise de Verneuil, the King's mistress].

ff. 297r-298v: Letter of Ralph Winwood to Thomas Edmondes (at Court), Paris, 8 Nov 1601.

ff. 299r-300v: Letter of Ralph Winwood to Thomas Edmondes (at Court), Paris, 17 Nov 1601. With address and seal.

ff. 301r-302v: Letter of William de Vic (Deveyke) to Thomas Edmondes, Guernsey, 21 Nov 1601. With address and fragments of seals.

ff. 303r-304v: Letter of Ralph Winwood to Thomas Edmondes (at Court), Paris, 22 Nov 1601. he writes that he has 'sollicited the King againe for mony, and now he doth acknowledge his promise' and that the Queen shall 'wthout faile or delay' receive by his Ambassador ' what his estat will permitt'

ff. 305r-306v: Letter of Ralph Winwood to Thomas Edmondes (at Court), 1601. Relating to the suit of [Thomas] Philipps and his son against M. de St. Luc, in France. With address and seal.

ff. 307r-308v: Letter of Ralph Winwood to Thomas Edmondes (at Court), [Dec] 1601. With address and seal. M. de Beaumont [Christophe de Harlay, Comte de Beaumont] is to be the Commissioner at the conference on depredations instead of M. de Messe; also comments on Sir Thomas Parry.

f. 309r: Letter or representation, in French, on depredations on named London merchants, n.d.

ff. 310r-311v: Letter of Henri IV, King of France to Queen Elizabeth I, Paris, 11 Dec 1601. In French. Signed by King Henri. Announcing that he has appointed Jean de Thuméry, sieur de Boissise and Christophe de Harlay, Comte de Beaumont Commissioners at the conference on depredations.

ff. 312r-313v: Declaration by Jean de Grusset, sieur de Richardot, President of the Council in the Spanish Netherlands, Brussels, 2 Mar 1602. In Spanish. Endorsed as brought by 'Furtado the Portugall'. Proposals for a peace between England and Spain.

ff. 313r-317v: Translation of letter of Jean de Grusset, sieur de Richardot, President of the Council in the Spanish Netherlands, Brussels, 2 Mar 1602 (ff. 312r-213v).

ff. 318r-319v: Letter of Thomas Edmondes to representative of the Spanish Netherlands [not President Richardot], London, 28 Mar 1602. Draft. In French.

ff. 320r-325r: Letter of Thomas Edmondes to representative of the Spanish Netherlands [not President Richardot]. This is evidently a draft, in English and with significant differences, of the letter in French, ff. 318r-319v.

ff. 326r-327v: Letter of Queen Elizabeth I to Henri IV, King of France, Apr 1602. In French. Copy. Letter in favour of Sir Thomas Parry as Ambassador., 2who is also the bearer. Copy.

ff. 328r-v: Letter of Queen Elizabeth I to Henri de Montmorency, Comte de Damville, Constable of France, Apr 1602. Copy. In French. Letter in favour of Sir Thomas Parry as Ambassador, who is also the bearer. Copy.

ff. 329r-v: Letter of Queen Elizabeth I to Henri de la Tour, Vicomte de Turenne and Duc de Bouillon, Apr 1602. In French. Copy. Letter in favour of Sir Thomas Parry as Ambassador, who is also the bearer. Copy.

ff. 330r-v: Letter of Queen Elizabeth I to the Dutch States-General, May 1602. In French. Copy. In favour of Thomas Grey, 15th Baron Grey of Wilton.

ff. 331r-332v: Letter of Ralph Winwood to Thomas Edmondes (at Court), Paris, 21 Jul [1602]. Subjects include the execution of Marshal Biron and the siege of Grave by Maurice of Nassau. With address and seal.

ff. 333r-334r: Letter of Queen Elizabeth I to the Dutch States-Genera, Greenwich Palace, Jul 1602. In French. Copy. On behalf of sir Robert Sidney.

ff. 335r-336v: Letter of Queen Elizabeth I to the Dutch States-General, Oatlands, 13 Aug 1602. In French. Draft or copy. On the operations against the Spanish in Flanders

ff. 337r-340v: Letter of Queen Elizabeth I to the Dutch States-General, Oatlands, 13 Aug 1602. Draft of ff. 335r-336v in English.

ff. 340r-341v: Letter of Queen Elizabeth I to Count Maurice of Nassau, Oatlands, 13 Aug 1602. In French. Draft or copy. On the operations against the Spanish in Flanders.

ff. 342r-343v: Letter of Queen Elizabeth I to Count Maurice of Nassau, Oatlands, 13 Aug 1602.Draft of ff. 340r-341v in English.

ff. 344r-345v: Letter of Ralph Winwood to Thomas Edmondes, Paris, 22 Aug [1602]. After news of the French court and of sir Thomas Parry, he asks to be recalled: 'I must intreat your favour to hasten my returne. You may remember what I sayd once in jest, that I would runne away. I speake in earnest; I must return, thoughe to returne. I am here unprofitable to god and the world'.

ff. 346r-347v: Letter of Queen Elizabeth I to the Dutch States-General, Sep 1602. In French. Draft. On the capitulation of Grave [18 Sep].

ff. 348r-349v: Letter of Queen Elizabeth I to Count Maurice of Nassau, Sep 1602. In French. Draft. On the capitulation of Grave [18 Sep].

ff. 350r-351v: Letter of Ralph Winwood to Thomas Edmondes (at his lodging in Holborn), Paris, 17 Oct [1602]. News of the French political situation. He repeats his request to be recalled, 'for what doe I here but wast out myselfe gaigning nether witt nor wealthe, and now we are soe dead in this dull season that we shortly shall grow wearie of ourselves', and mentioning a report that he [Edmondes] is to go to Holland as Ambassador.

ff. 352r-353v: Letter of Dudley Carleton, Secretary to the English Ambassador, to Thomas Edmondes, Paris, 8 Oct 1602. Subjects on the French and international situation include the Comte d'Auvergne's and the Due de Bouillon's complicity with Marshal Biron, and on the mutiny in the Archduke's army, adding, 'The Count Maurice, we heare, hath putt up his pipes for this yeare . . . They say here of his summers service, as was sayde in Esops fables at the sheering of hoggs, A greate deale of crie for a little woll'. He congratulates Edmondes and his wife on the birth of their son.

ff. 354r-355v: Letter of Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes (at Court), The Hague, 16 Oct [1603]. The letter includes the movements of the Dutch and Spanish armies, the occupation of Bois-le-Duc ['s-Hetogenbosch] by the Archduke Albert.

ff. 356r-357r: Letter of Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes, The Hague, 5 Feb [1604]. With address and seal. On the political and military situation in the Netherlands.

ff. 358r-359v: Letter of Ralph Winwood to [Sir Thomas Edmondes], The Hague, 27 Jun [1604]. On the military situation in the Netherlands, noting, 'I have beene the greatest part of this spring a souldyar, both by sea and land, and have endured the discommodities of both'. He writes of the operations at Ostend and Sluys: 'Ostend is not soe fortunat as to be relieved, thoughe you see yt hath beene admirably defended; yt is the modell of the spiritt of this state, which will never yeald, but rather choose not to be, then not to be a full and absolut state'. He asks for an advance for his provision.

ff. 360r-361v: Letter of Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes (at Court), The Hague, 1 Aug 1604. With address and seal. On the military situation.

ff. 362r-363v: Letter of Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes (at Court), The Hague, Sep 1604. With address. On the reported sending of Edmondes as Ambassador to Brussels, and on the military situation.

ff. 364r-365v: Letter of Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes, The Hague, 15 Nov 1604. With address and seal. On the staying of Edmondes's appointment to Brussels, and on diplomatic and naval matters.

ff. 366r-367v: Letter of Louis Verreycken, Spanish Envoy, and Auditor of the Spanish Council at Brussels, to Thomas Edmondes, Brussels, 16 Nov 1604. With address and seal. On the ratification of the treaty between Spain and England.

ff. 368r-369v: Letter of - Saint Sauveur to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Ambassador's lodgings [Paris], 14 Dec 1604. In French. With address and seal. Letter of intelligence.

ff. 370r-371v: Letter of Louis Verreycken, Spanish Envoy, and Auditor of the Spanish Council at Brussels, to Thomas Edmondes, Brussels, 26 Dec 1604. With address and seal. On the ratification of the treaty between Spain and England.

ff. 372r-373v: Letter of King James I to the Dutch States-General, n.d.. Draft in English.

ff. 374r-373v: Letter of Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes, The Hague, 20 Mar [1605]. With address and seal. On Edmondes and his mission, and on the military situation. It is reported that Ambrogio Spinola, will command the Spanish in the Netherlands, who 'will more avance th'archdukes affayres then any hath done sence Parma's tyme, for, thoughe his sword be not so sharpe as a Spanysh blade, yet his purse is heavier and his creditt can command the banes of Europe'.

ff. 376r-377v; Letter of - St Sauveur. Incomplete, n.d. [1604]. In French. A lengthy letter of intelligence.

81. - St. Sauveur, on the relations of Henry IV with the Marquise de Verneuil, and the latter's conspiracy in conjunction with the Seigneur d'Entraigues, her father, and the Comte d'Auvergne; [1604-5]. Fr. Imperfect. f. 376.

ff. 378r-382v: Indexes to the Edmones volumes, 17th- or 18th-century. The Indexes are described as for Volume 2 of the Edmondes papers. At least there has been refoliation and re-organization of the papers generally. Also (either because of this re-organization or clerical error) , ff. 379r-380r, though headed as for Volume 2, are for entries covering the period 1616-1625, well after the current Vol. 2.