Stowe MS 170

Papers of Sir Thomas Edmondes (d. 1639), diplomat: Vol. 5: 28 Mar 1608-23 Mar 1609. Edmondes was in this period Ambassador to the Spanish Netherlands, to the Archdukes Albert and Isabella, at Brussels.

The great majority of the letters here are originals, with some drafts by Edmondes, usually to Robert Cecil. Earl of Salisbury, in England and sometimes to other ambassadors. there is also the occasional copy (noted as such below). Many of the items are from Salisbury or from other ambassadors: Sir Ralph Winwood at the Hague, Sir George Carew at Paris, Sir Charles Cornwallis at Madrid and Sir Henry Wotton at Venice. The letters of Sir Ralph Winwood, to Edmondes are evidently in his hand throughout, whilst the Earl of Salisbury's signature is appended to letters in the hand of a scribe. In the case of some ambassador's letters (Carew, Cornwallis or Wotton) the author's signature is clear enough but the hand of the body of the letter is less certain (though probably a scribe for Carew). The rare letters of Wotton's in his own hand throughout (ff. 274r-275v 294r-295v, 358r) stand out from the majority written in the hand of a scribe. The ambassadorial letters are full of news: the catalogue highlights individual points in letters but hardly does justice to their richness.

Edmondes's own drafts are evidently in his own hand (lots of corrections, but always in the same hand). The fair copies of the drafts as received in England are in The National Archives, SP 77/9/1 and 2 (State Papers Foreign, Flanders, 1608-1610, Parts 1 and 2).

The ambassadors often state whether the letter is dated old style or new style (though occasionally with suspicious inconsistency, as in some of Winwood's letters in February and March 1609). This has been noted. However, whilst the day and month are given as old style, the year has been taken to begin on 1 January for all items.

This volume is principally taken up with the Peace Negotiations at the Hague. Father Jan Neyen, Commissary-General of the Franciscans in the Spanish Netherlands and a Commissioner for the Archduke Albert, was sent to Spain at the end of March 1608 to procure ampler instructions on the disputed points: the sovereignty of the Provinces and trade to the Indies, During his absence the commissioners met only at intervals, the truce being extended till May and subsequently to July. In the meantime the question of a defensive league between England and the States was much discussed, and a league was signed on 26 June. No reply came from Spain up to the end of July, but Pedro de Toledo and Fernando Girono had been despatched to France and England respectively, to induce Henri IV and James I to desert the Dutch and form secret alliances with Spain. These attempts having failed, King Philip III, in August, at length sent his ultimatum - that he would give up the sovereignty of the Provinces, but only on condition that the Roman Catholic religion be tolerated there; and in return for this concession he expected the States to desist from any claim to trade to the Indies. The States peremptorily refused these proposals, and the Spanish Commissioners withdrew. England and France now strove to persuade the States to agree to a long truce, and though some of the States, notably Zeeland, were unwilling, ultimately, at the end of December, they agreed to the re-opening of the negotiations. The Commissioners met at Antwerp, and in April a truce for twelve years was concluded, which will be more fully referred to in vol. VI. The last letter of Edmondes, dated 22 Mar 1609, alludes to the death of John William, Duke of Cleves-Julich, and gives the names of intending claimants to the succession.

Contents:

ff. 1r-2v: Letter of Sir Henry Wotton to 'My very good Lord' [?Sir Thomas Edmondes], Venice, 28 Mar 1608. With Wotton's signature and postscript in his hand. Other letters address Edmondes, in his ambassadorial role, as 'My Lord'. Content includes the impending differences between the Emperor Rudolph II and his brother Matthias with reference to freedom of conscience in Hungary.

ff. 3r-4v: Letter of Sir Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes, The Hague, 29 Mar [1608], new style. With address and fragment of seas. On the departure of Friar Neyen to Spain, on the third point demanded by the States (intercourse of commerce in the Low Countries), and on the prolongation of the truce.

ff. 5r-6v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brusessels, 30 Mar 1608. Draft.

ff. 7r-8v: Letter of Sir George Carew to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Paris, 1 Apr 1608. With address and seal. Content includes the despatch of M. de Vaucelas to Savoy.

ff. 9r-10v: Letter of Sir Charles Cornwallis to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Madrid, 2 Apr 1608 (old style). Content includes the opinion in Spain of the Dutch claims. With Cornwallis's signature.

ff. 11r-12v: Letter of Sir George Carew to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Paris, 9 Apr 1608, old style. The letter discusses the French opinion of the peace negotiations, viz., that 'the intention from the beginning on the Spaniardes side was but deceypte, partly by the length of the treaty to gave a little respite to the confusion of theyre affayres, and partly to practise the disunion of them at home and to interrupt theyre correspondence abroade'. Content also includes reference to the discovery of a silvermine in Scotland.

ff. 13r-14v: Letter of Sir Henry Wotton to [?Sir Thomas Edmondes], Venice, 11 Apr 1608, new style ('style of the place'). Wotton discusses the relations between Venice and the Pope, and the general affairs of the Italian States.

ff. 15r-18v: Letter of Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Whitehall, 13 Apr 1608. Letter includes the proposed defensive league between Great Britain and the States; Whitehall, 13 April, 1608.

ff. 19r-20v: Letter of Sir George Carew to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Paris, 14 Apr 1608, old style. With address and seal. Letter includes the reception by King Henri IV of Sir Henry Guenterrode [?Heinrich von Günderrode], and the arrival of Lord Wemyss and Toby Matthew.

ff. 21r-22v: Letter of Sir Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes, The Hague, 16 Apr [1608], old style. The letter discusses the deadlock in the negotiations, and the objections of the Archdukes' Deputies to the league between James I and the Dutch States.

ff. 23r-25*v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brussels, 20 Apr 1608. Draft. Endorsed as [sent] by Sir William Trumbull.

ff. 26r-27v: Letter of the Privy Council ' to the officers of the Ports, for the remandinge of all suche persons beyond the seas as shall refuse to take the oath of Allegeance', Whitehallm n.d. [1608]. The quotation if from the endorsement. Copy.

ff. 28r-29v: Letter of Sir Charles Cornwallis to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Madrid, 30 Apr 1608, old style. With address. Amongst the contents, the arrival of one Mac Ogge with letters for the rebel Irish Earls, 'but they have had very cold acceptance', though 'our Irish here have not lost their hopes (before Christmas next) to treade uppon their owne soyle and recover their ould possession'.

ff. 30r-31v: Letter of Sir George Carew to Sir Thomas Edmondes, 3 May 1608. With seal; no address. With news of the French Court. This includes, 'The King hath now resolved to give his last sonne the title of Anjou and not that of Navarre (though he himself were the aucthor thereof) upon the advise of his Counsell, who wished that he would leave that pretence on him who shoulde have the most power to reclayme it, if hereafter the occasion should present itself'. the letter also mentions Swiss affairs and a proposal 'to have all the Catholike Cantons league themselfs entirely with the Spaniarde, and the other to remayne to the French'.

ff. 32r-34v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brussels, 4 May 1608. Draft.

ff. 35r-36v: Letter of Sir George Carew to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Paris, 5 May 1608. With address and seal. News, including the delay in the negotiations at the Hague.

ff. 37r-38v: Letter of Sir Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes, the Hague, 7 Mar [1608], old style. News reported includes how m 'tow Priests' are lately come from Rome, 'that there Tyrone is acknowledged King of Ireland', and asking that 'Mr. Sanford may goe to Antwerp to treate with Moret the Prynter about certayn greeke characters, whereof he shall have use for the prynting, of Chrisostoms workes'.

ff. 39r-40v: Letter of Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Greenwich, 18 May 1608. With signature and postscript in Salisbury's hand. Contents include notifying his appointment as Lord Treasurer, remarking of the proposed establishment of Jesuits near St. Omer, that it can only be 'out of a sett purpose from thence the easyer to disturbe the quiett of his maties gouvernement', and attributing a fresh outbreak of rebellion in Ireland to the protection afforded to 'Tyrone and that Crewe' by the Spanish at Milan.

ff. 41r-42v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brussels, 18 may 1608. Draft.

ff. 43r-44v: Letter of Sir George Carew to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Paris, 21 May [1608], old style. With address. News, including the peaceful condition of France, and on the projected marriage of the Duc de Vendôme with Mdlle. de Mercoeur.

ff. 45r-46v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brussels, 25 May 1608. Draft.

ff. 47r-48v: Letter of Sir Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes, The Hague, 28 May [1608], old style. With address and seal. News includes the extension of the truce and Spinola's desire for a rupture of the negotiations: 'There is a purpose to assyst Tyronne not only in Spayne but likewise in Italie, and some speaches are cast out as thoughe Sir Rob. Dudley should be employed in thys service by the D. of Florence'.

ff. 49r-52v: Letter of Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Whitehall, 31 May 1608. Contents include conferences in London respecting the proposed defensive league between King James I and the Dutch States.

ff. 53r-54v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brussels, 1 Jun 1608.

ff. 55r-56v: Letter of Sir George Carew to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Paris, 2 Jun [1608], old style. With address and seal. News includes the continuation of the truce, the reported despatch of Don Pedro de Toledo from Spain on a special embassy to France and Germany, and the suggestcd election of a King of the Romans: 'It is here thought that all the brethren are of consent for the declaring the Emperour incapable of gouverment'.

ff. 57r-58v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brussels, 8 Jun 1608. Draft.

ff. 59r-60v: Letter of Sir Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes, The Hague, 11 Jun [1608], old style. With address and seal. News includes Toledo's embassy and the departure of President Jeannin for France: 'He had not the manners to bydd us farewell . . . We are all here au bout de nostre Latin to pick out the constriction of thys irregular proceeding, which doth portend some strange practise, which now is proiected between France and Spayne'.

ff. 61r-62v: Letter of Sir Henry Wotton to [Sir Thomas Edmondes], Venice, 13 [possibly 23] Jun 1608, News includes report on the naval preparations of Spain in the Italian seas.

ff. 63r-64v: Letter of Sir George Carew to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Paris, 15 Jun 1608. With address and seals. News includes President Jeannin's return to France, and Toledo's embassy.

ff. 65r-66v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brussels, 25 Jun 1608. Draft.

ff. 67r-68v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Sir Henry Wotton, 18 Jun 1608. Draft. Date from endorsement.

ff. 69r-70v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brussels, 22 Jun 1608. Draft.

ff. 71r-72v: Letter of Sir Charles Cornwallis to [Sir Thomas Edmondes], Madrid, 25 Jun 1608. News includes the Spanish disclaimer of any approval of the entertainment of the Earl of Tyrone at Rome, and on Toledo's mission to arrange a marriage between the Dauphin and Philip III's second daughter: 'If this serve to none other ende, yet will it not be amisse to engealous the Hollanders of Fraunce and to worke a countermine to what the Kinge labours there. Much descant might be made uppon this playne songe, but to a musician of soe much skill I shall neede neither. to give clyffe nor tune'.

ff. 73r-74v: Letter of Sir George Carew, Paris, 27 Jun [1608], old style. With address. News of the French Court.

ff. 75r-76v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brussels, 29 Jun 1608. Draft.

ff. 77r-78v: Letter of Sir Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes, The Hague, 1 Jul [1608]. With address and seal. Content includes news on Toledo's mission.

ff. 79r-80v: Letter of Sir Charles Cornwallis to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Madrid, 3 Jul 1608, old style ('style Angl.'). Contents include on the peace negotiations : 'To continue the warre . . . we [sc. Spain] have noe meanes. Neither are we likelie to encrease them, the heade of this estate havinge (as here the publique voyce reportes) lost latelie at playe to the Marques of Languna and others . . . above 600,000 ducatts. Our sea forces were never soe lame, and for land services we were never worse furnished.'

ff. 81r-82v: Letter of Henry Howard, Earl of Northampton to [Sir Thomas Edmondes], 6 Jul 1608. In the letter, Northampton notes: 'Your archdukes seame to digest with some difficulty the Kinges princely intermediation to doo them good But I call to minde that Chaucers nunne was desirouse of the chickenes liver, but with a merciful condition that no creatur might bleed for her.'

ff. 83r-86v: Letter of Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Whitehall, 7 Jul 1608. With signature and postscript in Salisbury's hand. The letter includes a further conference with the Archdukes' ambassador on the proposed league with the Dutch States, and notifies of an increase in certain customs, and in the duties on 'such commodities as wee would be content to be lesse transported out of this realme, because of the dearth and scarsitie of them at home, such as tynne and lead, the later whereof we shalbe constrained ere long to forbidd absolutely to be transported'.

ff. 87r-88v: Letter of Sir George Carew, Paris, 9 Jul [1608], old style. News includes Toledo's arrival in France and his marriage proposals.

ff. 89r-90v: Letter of Sir Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes, The Hague, 9 [Jul 1608], old style. the letter includes the delay in the negotiations owing to the continued stay of Friar Neyen in Spain: 'The States doe peremptorilie resolve, yf he come not or send not satisfaction to the demands for the matter of trade to the Indies without longer attendance, to breake of thys treatie.'

ff. 91r-92v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Sir George Carew, 10 Jul 1608. Draft.

ff. 93r-94v: Letter of Sir Henry Wotton to [Sir Thomas Edmondes], Venice, 11 Jul 1608, new style ('stile of this place'). Reports include on the end of the strife between the Emperor Rudolph and his brother the Archduke Matthias.

ff. 95r-v: Letter of Andres de Prade, Lerma, 12 Jul 1608, new style. In Spanish. Copy. Endorsed as a copy of the Secretary of State's letter to My Lord (probably Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury).

ff. 96r-97v: Letter of the Lord Treasurer (Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury) in answer to the expostulatory letter of the Secretay of state to him, 1608. In Spanish. Copy. In reply to letter of Andres de Prade 9ff. 95r-v).

ff. 98r-100v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brussels, 13 Jul 1608. Draft.

ff. 101r-102v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Sir Henry Wotton, 26 Jul 1608. Draft.

ff. 103-104v: Letter of Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Whitehall, 18 Jul 1608. With address and seal. On the rebellion in Ireland: 'All Tirone is now the Kinges, so is all Tireconnell, Odogherties countrey, called Ennisowen, is also his, and in effecte those principall men that heretofore have bene comaunders of countryes are ether now in the duste or in the castle of Dublin. With an abstract (ff. 105r-106v) of a letter, dated 6 Jul 1608, from the Lord Deputies of Ireland enclosed.

ff. 107r-108v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brussels, 20 Jul [1608]. Draft.

ff. 109r-110v: Letter of Sir Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes, The Hague, 21 [Jul 1608], old style. With address and seal.

ff. 111r-112v: Letter of Sir George Carew to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Paris, 21 Jul 1608. With address and seal. News includes Toledo's reception in France.

ff. 113r-114v: Letter of Sir Charles Cornwallis to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Madrid, 22 Jul 1608, old style. The address to the letter says 22 Jul; at the foot of the page the date for the letter to the Ambassador in Flanders is given as 24 Jul. News includes the dislike in Spain of the league between Great Britain and the States, and on Toledo's mission.

ff. 115r-116v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brussels, 27 Jul 1608. Draft.

ff. 117r-118v: 'Relation of the entertainment of Don Pedro de Toledo' at Fontainebleau, Jul 1608.

ff. 119r-120v: Letter of Sir George Carew to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Paris, 31 Jul 1608, old style. With address and seal. News includes the reception of Toldo and Jeannin's return to the Hague.

ff. 121r-124v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brussels, 3 Aug 1608. Draft.

ff. 125r-126v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brussels, 10 Aug 1608. Draft.

ff. 127r-129v: Letter of Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury to Sir Thomas Edmondes. Holdenby, 10 [possibly 20] Aug 1608. With address and seal. Contents include his response to a letter notifying the arrest of Thomas Wilfourd, in the Low Countries, charged by Owen and Baldwin, the Jesuits, with practising with Salisbury to compass Owen's murder: 'I protest before the Maiesty of Almighty God I am farre from any soch dispositions, and consequentlie free from practise with Wilford and all other, for matter of that nature: alas, Sir, what were Owen's death to the state? Tirone's were of an other manner of importaunce. I think you will easely beleeve that I am not without daylie offers to have my choice of them cutt of, if I were so blooddilye disposed.'

ff. 130r-131v: Statement for the defence of Thomas Wilfourd [see ff. 127r-129v], n.d. In Latin.

ff. 132r-133v: Letter of Sir George Carew to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Paris, 14 Aug [1608], old style. With address and seal. News includes Toledo's mission, which is to persuade the French King 'that he would take a resolution more strictly to observe the treaty with Spain and abandon the protection of the Hollanders', Jeannin's return to the Hague, and on the French King's inclination to continue his protection to the Dutch States.

ff. 134r-135v: Letter of Sir George Carew to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Paris, 15 Aug [1608], old style. With address and seal. The letter includes Richardot's visit to Paris and return to Brussels.

ff. 136r-137v: Letter of Sir George Carew to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Paris, 19 Aug [1608], old style. With address and seal. News includes the intrigues of Toledo and. the Papal Nuncio at Paris, and a report that 'Spinola has receaved the King of Spayne's last resolution, which is that he will accorde no souveraygnty without exercise of the Romishe religion and that the Estates doe quitt the traffique of the Indies'.

ff. 138r-139v: Letter of Sir Charles Cornwallis to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Madrid, 20 Aug 1608, old style. News includes the distrust of Friar Neyen in Spain: 'Some there are who have putt him and Sr Anthonie Sherlie in a payre of couples and given them both the name and office of impostures and coosseners.'

ff. 140r-143v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brussels, 24 Aug 1608. Draft.

ff. 144r-146v: Letter of Sir Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes, The Hague, 27 Aug 1608, old style. With address and seal. The letter includes news of the imminent rupture of the peace negotiations consequent on the Spanish demands, and on the probability of a new truce.

ff. 147r-148v: Letter of Dudley Norton to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Salisbury House, 31 Aug 1608. With address and seals. The letter gives a detailed account of affairs in Ireland, including the execution of many of the rebels and the imprisonment of Sir Neill O'Donnell alias Neill Garvey [Sir Niall Garbh O'Donnell (O'Domhnaill)].

ff. 149r-152v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brussels, 31 Aug 1608. Draft.

ff. 153r-154v: Letter of Sir Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes, The Hague, 3 Sep [1608], old style. Contents include the proposed new truce for seven years: 'I think thissue of all thys business will be yet another surceance for the next yeare, which the president Jennin [Pierre Jeannin] doth profess to favour, who sence his last returne from France is so transported with violent passion that he hath lost in thys place all credit and reputacion and is deeply suspected to be towched with the mettall of Perou'.

ff. 155r-156v: Letter of Sir Henry Wotton to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Venice, 5 Sep 1608, new style ('the style of the place). Content includes news from Vienna and Florence.

ff. 157r-158v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brussels, 7 Sep 1608.

ff. 159r-162v: Letter of Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Salisbury House, 14 Sep 1608. Contents include Salisbury defending himself from the charge of inciting Wilfourd to murder Owen, and writing on the proposed truce.

ff. 163r-164v: Abstract of the English Commissioners' letter, on their efforts to persuade the States to accept the Archdukes' proposal for a truce of '2 or three yeares or (if the States did desire it) for seven', 5 Sep 1608.

ff. 165r-166v: Letter of Sir Charles Cornwallis to [Sir Thomas Edmondes], 17 Sep 1608, old style. Contents include the relations between Spain and Savoy, the depredations of 'our pirattes, Hollanders, and Englishe', and the failure of the Spanish 'great disseigne by sea', which 'ended onlie with makinge an approache and takinge a vewe of Allerache. Cominge thether they founde the sea soe distempered and the Moores soe furious as, havinge shott of a cannon of peace, they founde themselves immeditelie aunswered with three of warre, whereuppon thinkinge not good to approache nearer they turned themselves homewarde.'

ff. 167r-168v: Letter of Sir George Carew to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Paris, 17 Sep 1608. With address and seal. News includes the the declaration of the States 'that they would treate no farther with the Spanish Commissioners'.

ff. 169r-170v: Letter of Sir George Carew to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Paris, 19 Sep 1608. With address and seal.

ff. 171-172v: Letter of Sir Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes, The Hague, 19 Sep 1608, old style. In the letter he discusses the attempts of the English and French Commissioners to mediate between the Dutch States and Spain.

ff. 173r-176v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brussels, 22 Sep 1608. Draft.

ff. 177r-178v: Letter of Sir Henry Wotton to [Sir Thomas Edmondes], Venice, 25 Sep [1608], new style. News includes the disputes with the Nuncio.

ff. 179r-180v: Letter of Sir George Carew to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Paris, 26 Sep 1608, old style. News includes the progress of Toledo's mission, the arrest of Col. Simple [Sempill] near Calais.

ff. 181r-182v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Sir Ralph Winwood, Brussels, 26 Sep 1608. Copy or draft.

ff. 183r-186v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brussels, 28 Sep 1608. Draft.

ff. 187r-188v: Letter of Sir Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes, The Hague, 29 Sep 1608, old style. With address and seal. Contents include Winwood asking Edmondes to persuade President Richardot 'without further shuffling to send in his last mynd' on the conditions of the truce.

ff. 189r-190v: Letter of Sir Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes, The Hague, 1 Oct 1608, old style. News on the negotiations.

ff. 191r-192v: Letter of Sir Henry Wotton to [Sir Thomas Edmondes], Venice, 3 Oct 1608, new style ('style of the place'). Contents include the failure of the Spanish fleet and the 'new distaste' with the Pope.

ff. 193r-194v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brussels, 5 Oct 1608. Draft.

ff. 195r-196v: Letter of Sir George Carew to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Paris, 6 Oct [1608], old style. news includes Toledo's proceedings in France.

ff. 197r-198v: Letter of Dudley Norton to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Salisbury House, 6 Oct 1608. With address and seal. He encloses an account on the suppression of the Irish rebellion under Sir Cahir O'Doherty and refers to the forthcoming resolution of the Privy Council in Wilford's cause. The account of the suppression (copy) is ff. 199r-200r.

ff. 201r-202v: Letter of Sir Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes, The Hague, 10 Oct [1608]. On the negotiations. He writes of the resolution of the Archdukes to treat in the name of Spain, as well as for themselves, and the probability of a truce.

ff. 203r-206v: Letter of Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Salisbury House, 13 Oct 1608. With address and seals. Contents include Salisbury complimenting Edmondes on his management of the Wilfourd affair, and acquainting him with the progress of the negotiations at the Hague.

ff. 207r-208v: 'Copies of the Informations made to the Emperor by the Spanish Ambassador against the trade of the English merchants to Stode' [Stade, on the Elbe], 1608. In Latin. Related paper, also in Latin, ff. 209r-v.

ff. 210r-211v: Letter of Sir Charles Cornwallis to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Madrid, 15 Oct 1608, old style. News includes, 'We are here nowe in outward showe altogether resolved uppon the warre, 'but in the inwarde of our hartes (as I suppose) not soe martiallie inclined, if yet by this little sparke of hope that is left by meanes of the mediation of the Kinges there may be anie moderation founde in the States demands'.

ff. 212r-215v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brussels, 19 Oct 1608. Draft.

ff. 216r- 217v: Letter of Sir George Carew, Paris, 20 Oct 1608, old style. News includes the meeting of Protestants at Gorgeau.

ff. 218r-219v: Letter of Sir Henry Wotton to [Sir Thomas Edmondes], Venice, 24 Oct 1608, new style ('style of the place'). News includes the marriage of the eldest son of the Grand Duke of Tuscany.

ff. 220r-223v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brussels, 26 Oct 1608. Draft.

ff. 224r-225v: Letter of Sir Henry Wotton to [Sir Thomas Edmondes], Venice, 31 Oct 1608, new style (style of the place'). News includes the reception of the Patriarch, and the arrival of 'il Signore Fuggero, one of that pecunious race of Augusta', in Venice, intending to reside there for the Emperor but 'uppon his owne charge', having brought his whole family, for his wife is sayd to have with her some twenty woemen, which, according to the auncient proverbe, is bringing of owles to Athens'.

ff. 226r-227v: Letter of Sir George Carew to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Paris, 13 Nov 1608. With address. News includes on the negotiations at The Hague: 'Here they doe by reports and all other demonstrations seeke to mayntayne the opinion of the sway which this Kinges authority hath with those people' [the Dutch].

ff. 228r-229v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Sir Henry Wotton, Brussels, 4 Nov 1608. Draft.

ff. 230r-231v: Letter of Sir Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes, The Hague, 6 Nov [1608]. With address and seal. Includes news that six provinces are resolved to enter into a treaty of truce, but that Amsterdam and Delft and the province of Zeeland, 'wherin the C[ount] Maurice dothe rule the rest, will not as yet be intreated so muche as to harken to a treatie'.

ff. 232r-233v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brussels, 9 Nov 1608. Draft.

ff. 234r-235v: Letter of Sir Charles Cornwallis to [Sir Thomas Edmondes], Madrid, 12 Nov 1608, old style ('sti: Angl'). His news includes the Spanish preparations for renewal of the war, and on Sir William Stanley and Sir James Lyndesay, 'suing but not speeding' at the Spanish Court, and Lord Bothwell, 'who with his handekershife and his teares and other deiected gestures performed this other daie before the Sec^rie of Estate here the partes of a childe, to drawe and move compassion for the releiffe of the necessities of his nowe ripe age'.

ff. 236r-237v: Letter of Sir Henry Wotton to [Sir Thomas Edmondes], Venice, 14 Nov 1608. His news includes the arrest of 11 Venetian gentlemen 'accused to have lasciviously hanted the Nunnery of St. Anna'.

ff. 238r-240v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brussels, 16 Nov 1608. Draft.

ff. 241r-242v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brussels, 16 Nov 1608 (midnight). Draft.

ff. 243r-244v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brussels, 16 Nov 1608. Draft.

ff. 245r-246v: Letter of Sir Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes, The Hague, 20 Nov [1608], old style. With address and seal. His report includes 'that the archdukes have not power to treate in the name of Spaine unless libertie of relligion may be grawnted', and that 'Pasquin at Rome hath made the King of Spaynes testament, wherin the King bequeatheth his bodye aux dames, his soule aux Jesuistes, his braines a l'Italie, his state au duc de Lerma, and his honor aux estatz d'Hollande'.

ff. 247r-249v: Letter of Sir Ralph Winwood and Sir Richard Spencer to Sir Thomas Edmondes, The Hague, 20 Nov [1608]. With address and seal. Date from endorsement. Probably in Winwood's hand. On the progress of the negotiations.

ff. 250r-251v: Letter of Sir Wotton to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Venice, 21 Nov 1608, new style ('style of the place'). News includes the case of the nuns (see ff. 236r-237v) and of certain other gentlemen 'by one Celestina Semitecala, a gentlewoman, sister of the Nunnerie of St. Anna, who hath beene this weeke very severely tortured uppon the corde, a rare example without the case of treason, wherewith the Nuntio is much scandolized by cause the whole processe is formed by the civil arme'.

ff. 252r-253v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brussels, 23 Nov 1608. Draft.

ff. 254r-255v: Letter of Sir George Carew to [Sir Thomas Edmondes], Paris, 24 Nov [1608], old style. Contents include the execution of an Italian, 'who named himself Bartholomeo Borghesi', accused by the Nuncio of representing that he was 'the Pope's nephew or sonne'; the constancy of the Duke of Sully in the matter of religion; and the proceedings of Don Pedro de Toledo.

ff. 256r-257v: Letter of Sir Ralph Winwood to [Sir Thomas Edmondes], The Hague, 27 Nov [1808], old style. On the state of the negotiations.

ff. 258r-259v: Letter of Sir Henry Wotton to [Sir Thomas Edmondes], Venice, 28 Nov 1608, new style (style of the place'). Unsigned. General Italian news, and the sentences of those guilty of the 'debauchment' of the nuns.

ff. 260r-261v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brussels, 30 Nov 1608. Draft.

ff. 262r-263v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brussels, 7 Dec 1608. Draft.

ff. 264r-265v: Letter of Sir Charles Cornwallis to [Sir Thomas Edmondes], Madrid, 10 Dec 1608, old style. Contents include discussion of the negotiations: 'For mine owne particular, I hould still my first opinion that, although both parties, and especyallie we here, doe stande in extreeme neede of it, yet must the peace or truce that shall succeede be such as will appeare straunge to the world, and almost exceede mans understandinge. Some short time will open the locked coffers of secret intentions.'

ff. 266r-267v: Letter of Sir Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes, The Hague, 11 Dec [1608], old style. With address and fragment of seal. His report includes his report that 'I make no dowbt but we shall come to a treatie, but yf before the beginning of Marche, thease men must mend much their pace', with remarks on the report of M. de Préaux, sent by the French and English Commissioners oil a special mission to the Archdukes.

ff. 268r-269v: Letter of Sir Henry Wotton to Sir Thomas Edmondes, 12 dec 1608, new style ('style of the place'). With address and seal. News includes the flight to Rome of the Patriarch's Vicar, Ribetta.

ff. 270r-271v: Letter of Sir George Carew to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Paris, 14 Dec 1608, old style. With address. News includes the negotiations and the quarrel between M. de Balagni, 'a gentlemen of great reputation for his valour in duell' and [Henri de Lorraine] Due d'Aiguillon.

ff. 272r-273v: Letter of Sir George Carew to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Paris, 14 Dec 1608, old style. With address and seal. Includes reports on de Toledo's behaviour, and on the Papal Jubilee . 'It seemeth that it was not embrased with so great devotion as it was set on foote with earnestnesse and endeavour by the authors, who sought as much as they could to render the people by this occasion uncommunicable with the Protestants.'

ff. 274r-275v: Letter of Sir Henry Wotton to Sir Thomas Edmondes, 19 Dec 1608. With address and seal. In Wotton's hand throughout. On a projected league of the Pope 'with diverse Princes of his Churche, great and small, for the sustentation of the Catholique fayth, as they call it'.

ff. 276r-277v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brussels, 21 Dec 1608. Draft.

ff. 278r-279v: Letter of Sir Henry Wotton to [Sir Thomas Edmondes], Venice, 26 Dec 1608, new style ('style of the place').

ff. 280r-282r: Letter of Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Whitehall, 31 Dec 1608. Contents include a full account of the negotiations of Don Fernando Gyrone [Girono], sent on a special mission by King Philip III to King James I.

ff. 283r-285v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brussels, 4 Jan 1609. Draft.

ff. 286r-287v: Letter of Sir George Carew to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Paris, 4 Jan 1609, old style. With seal.Carew's letter includes Toledo's prolonged stay in France and Girono's employment in England. He also encloses (f. 288r, in French and Latin, copy) what he calls 'a little eschantillon of the verses, with which this towne doeth swarme, of Bartholomeo Borghesi's death. The partisans of Roome doe now very commonly blaze abroad, that this Bartholomeo was suborned by the Venetians to rayse a scandale to the Pope to geve himself out for his sonne'.

ff. 289r-290v: Letter of Sir Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes, The Hague, 5 Jan 1609, old style. With address and seal.A report on the negotiations. He announces the 'gladde tydings . . . . . . . . . that the States now at lengthe are resolved to treate even according to the proiect which the President Richardot himself did cowche in thys towne'. The English and French Commissioners have been entreated to meet in conference with the Archdukes' Deputies to understand from them of all the points contained in this proiect and their last and resolute intention.

f. 291r: Letter of Sir Ralph Winwood to [Sir Thomas Edmondes], [?The Hague, 5 Jan 1609, old style]. This letter follows on after ff. 289r-290v, which was sealed up. It asks that Antwerp may be chosen for the conference.

ff. 292r-293v: Letter of Sir Charles Cornwallis to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Madrid, 7 Jan 1609, old style. With address. His letter includes a report that the French King imputes the failure of the negotiations to the King of Spain, 'who soddainlie had withdrawne his commissioners when the matter was arrived at the greatest ripenes'.

ff. 294r-295v: Letter of Sir Henry Wotton to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Venice, 9 Jan 1609. With address and seal. In Wotton's hand throughout. The Pope has bestowed the rich abbey of Loredano on his nephew.

ff. 296r-299v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brussels, 11 Jan 1609. Draft.

ff. 300r-301v: Letter of Sir George Carew to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Paris, 19 Jan 1609, old style. With address and seal. Includes the intrigues of de Toledo and the arrival of [William Douglas] Earl of Angus in Paris 'upon his bannishment out of the Kinge's dominions'.

ff. 302r-303v: Letter of Sir Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes, The Hague, 22 Jan [1609]. With address and seal. On his expected departure with Sir Richard Spencer and the French Commissioners for Antwerp.

ff. 304r-305r: Letter of Sir Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes, The Hague, 24 Jan [1609], old style.

ff. 306r-307v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brussels, 24 Jan 1609. Draft.

ff. 308r-309v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brussels, 25 Jan 1609. Draft.

ff. 310r-311v: Letter of the Archdukes Albert and Isabella to the Provincial of the Jesuits, forbidding the reception of Englishmen into the Abbey of Watten [near St. Omer], Brussels, 28 Jan 1609. In French. Copy.

ff. 312r-313v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brussels, 1 Feb 1609. Draft.

ff. 314r-315v: Letter of Sir George Carew to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Paris, 3 Feb 1609, old style. With address. the letter includes a description of a bal masqué at Court and a quarrel there between tho Venetian Ambassador and Pedro de Toledo.

ff. 316r-317v: Letter of Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Whitehall, 4 Feb 1609. With address and seal. He encloses a copy of his letter to the English Commissioners at Antwerp, containing an account of Don Fernando Girono's proposals (ff. 318r-319r).

f. 320r: Letter of King James I to the Archduke Albert, [Feb 1609]. In French. Copy.

ff. 321r-322v: Letter of Sir Charles Cornwallis to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Madrid, 5 Feb 1609, old style. His letter includes comments on the prospects of peace: 'If the Estates wilbe content to admitt a tolleration of religion in all their provinces, the Kinge here will give them a renuntiation in what termes soever themselves will devise.' Enclosed is an account by Francis Cottington of an interview he had with the Spanish Secretary Prada (f. 323r).

ff. 324r-325v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Antwerp, 9 Feb 1609. Draft.

ff. 326r-327v; Letter of Sir Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Antwerp, 10 Feb 1609, new style. With address (to Edmondes at Brussels) and seal. On his reception at Antwerp.

ff. 328r-329v: Letter of sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brussels, 15 Feb 1609. Draft.

ff. 330r-331v: Letter of Sir George Carew to [Sir Thomas Edmondes], Paris, 17 Feb 1609. With address. News includes the Duke of Florence's death. He also reports that 'The King is here very much contented with the great care that was had in England to honour his Ambassador at the Queenes Maske, and so much the rather as it seemeth that the Spanishe Ambassadors were rebuted therein'.

ff. 332r-333v: Letter of Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Whitehall, 17 Feb 1609. With address and seals. Salisbury recommends the Queen's letter enclosed (f. 334r-335v) and urges Edmondes's support for it.

ff. 334r-335v: Letter of Queen Anne [Anna], consort of James I, to the Archdukes Albert and Isabella, London, 17 Feb 1609. Copy. In French. On behalf of [Henry] Hoens, merchant of Antwerp.

ff. 336r-337v: Letter of the Privy Council to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Whitehall, 19 Feb 1609. With Privy Councillors' signatures and with address. In favour of Thomas Albery, engaged in a lawsuit before the Archdukes' Privy Council.

ff. 338r-339v: Letter of Sir Richard Spencer and Sir Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes (at Brussels), Antwerp, 20 Feb 1609, new style. With address and seal. Letter in Winwood's hand. Contents on their experience at Antwerp, and Edmondes, at President Richardot's request, not to divulge the particulars of his (Edmondes's) interview with the Marquis Spinola at Antwerp.

ff. 340r-341v: Letter of Sir Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes (at Brussels), Antwerp, 21 Feb [1609], new style. With address and seal. On the progress of the conference.

ff. 342r-343v: Letter of Sir Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes (at Brussels), Antwerp, 22 Feb [1609], new style. With address and fragment of seal. On the progress of the conference.

ff. 344r-345v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brussels, 22 Feb 1609. Draft.

ff. 346r-347v: Letter of Sir Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes (at Brussels), Antwerp, 24 Apr [1609], new style. With address and seal. On the progress of the conference.

ff. 348r-349v: Letter of Sir Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes (at Brussels), Antwerp, 25 Apr [1609]. With address and seal. On the progress of the conference.

ff. 350r-351v: Letter of Sir Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes (at Brussels), Antwerp, 25 Apr [1609], old style. With address and seal. News.

ff. 352r-353v: Letter of Sir Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes (at Brussels), Antwerp, 25 Apr [1609], old style. With address and seal. Letter of support for the sister of Mr Michael the preacher.

ff. 354r-355v: Letter of Sir Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes (at Brussels), Antwerp, 28 Apr [1609], new style. With address and seal. On the progress of the conference.

ff. 356r-357v: Conference between Henri IV, King of France and Sir George Carew, Feb [after 14 Feb] 1609. On the intentions of Spain respecting the treaty negotiations.

ff. 358r-359v: Letter of Sir Henry Wotton to [Sir Thomas Edmondes], Venice, 4 Mar 1609, new style ('style of the place'). With general Italian news.

ff. 360r-361v: Letter of Sir Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Antwerp, 2 Mar [1609], new style. With address and seal. the contents include the controversy between Guillaume de Melun, Prince d'Epinoy and Anne Marie, wife of Lamoral de Ligne, Princesse de Ligne, concerning the restitution of certain confiscated estates in Holland: 'The States are resolute to have him comprised in the Treaty for restitution or not to treate, or yf they shall treate and neglect him, the Frenche have protested they will retire and refuse them their assistance'.

ff. 362r-363v: Letter of Sir George Carew to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Paris, 2 Mar [1609], old style. With address and seal. News includes report on the prospects of a truce.

ff. 364r-365v: Letter of Sir Richard Spencer and Sir Ralph Winwood, Antwerp, 2 Mar [1609], old style. With address and seal. Letter in Winwood's hand. On the negotiations. They are departing for Bergen op Zoom, where the States are assembled: 'We carry with us, yf we be not mistaken, full contentment to the States, who can have no pretexte of exception to the proiect signed by the Archdukes Deputyes, unless they will cavyll that the word Indyes is not expressed in the article for trade'.

ff. 366r-367v: Letter of Sir Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Antwerp, 3 Mar [1609], new style. The letter reports a sumptuous feast to which the Commissioners were invited, the cases of the English merchants at Antwerp and the Prince d'Epinoy.

ff. 368r-369v: Letter of Sir Henry Wotton to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Venice, 6 Mar 1609, new style ('the style of the place'). With address and seal. Contents include reporting on the relations between the Venetians and the Pope.

ff. 370r-371v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brussels, 8 Mar 1609. Draft.

ff. 372r-373v: Letter of Sir George Carew to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Paris, 9 Mar 1609. With address and seal. Contents include news that a new Spanish Ambassador is expected at Paris, and report of 'the tumult of the people' in Orleans.

ff. 374r-375r: Letter of Sir Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Bergen op Zoom, 10 Mar [1609], old style. With address and seal. The letter reports the truce is prorogued till the end of March, and that the States have resolved to treat upon the project signed by the Archdukes' Deputies.

ff. 376r-377v: Letter of Sir Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Antwerp, 14 Mar [1609]. With address and seal. Contents include the peace negotiations and the marriage of the earl of Dorset's son to Lady Anne Clifford.

ff. 378r-379v: Letter of Sir Ralph Winwood to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Antwerp, 17 Mar [1609]. With address and seal. Contents include the politics of the negotiations and more on the claim of the Prince d'Epinoy.

ff. 380r-381v: Letter of Sir Henry Wotton to Sir Thomas Edmondes, Venice, 20 Mar 1609, new style ('the style of the place'). With address and seal. Contents include the reception of the Duke of Nevers.

ff. 382r-383v: Letter of Sir Thomas Edmondes to Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, Brussels, 22 Mar 1609. Draft.

ff. 384r-385v: Letter of Sir George Carew to [Sir Thomas Edmondes], Paris, 23 Mar 1609, old style. News includes the arrival of the new Ambassador from Spain, Don Iñigo de Cardenaz.