Stowe MS 179

RELATION Of the negotiations for peace between England, Spain, and the Archduke Albert, Governor of the Spanish Netherlauds, carried on at Brussels and subsequently at Boulogne; Jan. 1598[9] -Dec. 1600. The narrative commences with Sir R. Cecil's account of the arrival in London of Geronimo Coomans, an Envoy from the Archduke, and describes his interviews with the Queen and himself, which lasted till Dec. 1599. This is followed (f. 14) by copies of the correspondence between Queen Elizabeth and Andrew, Cardinal of Austria, Governor of the Netherlands in the absence of his brother Albert, who had gone to Spain to marry the Infanta Isabella. Thomas Edmondes, English Agent in France, was ordered to Brussels to arrange for a conference, and his instructions, dated Dec. 1599, are given on f. 24. Edmondes at this point takes up the relation (f. 28) and describes his reception at Brussels, and the proceedings of each day until his return to France at the end of Jan. 1599 [1600]. Then follow at f. 48 the instructions, 11 Mar. 1599 [1600], to Edmondes for a second journey to Brussels, and the account of further interviews with the Archdukes. At f 63 are given the instructions to Sir Henry Neville, Ambassador at Paris, John Herbert, Secretary of State, Robert Beale, clerk of the Privy Council, and Edmondes, who had been appointed commissioners to negotiate the treaty at Boulogne, followed by the history of the negotiations, which, however, never passed the preliminary stage in consequence of a dispute for precedency between England and Spain. The arguments, etc., relating to the dispute will be found on f 107 seqq. Interspersed are copies of letters between the various powers and their secretaries, etc., of which other copies are given above in 167 ff. 103-207. Paper; ff. 147. xviith cent. With bookplate of Algernon Capell, Earl of Essex, 1701. Folio.

Bookplates: Capell (Algernon), Earl of Essex: 1701.

Algernon Capell, 2nd Earl of Essex: Book-plates.

Netherlands, Southern Provinces, Governors of. Albert, Archduke of Austria: Relation of the negotiations with England and Spain at Brussels and Boulogne: 1599-1600.

Elizabeth I of England: Negotiations with Spain and the Netherlands at Brussels and Boulogne: 1599-1600.

Philip II of Spain: Negotiations with England: 1599-1600.

includes:

• f. 1 Geronimo Coomans: Negotiations in England, as envoy from Archduke Albert, etc.: 1599.
• f. 2 Robert Cecil, Viscount Cranborne; 1st Earl of Salisbury: Account of the negotiations, etc., of the envoy from Archduke Albert: 1599.
• ff. 14-19 Netherlands, Spanish. Governors of. Andrew, Cardinal Archduke of Austria, Acting Governor: Correspondence with Qu. Elizabeth: 1598-1599.: Copies.
• ff. 14-23 b Elizabeth I of England: Correspondence with the governors of the Netherlands: 1598-1599.: Copies.
• ff. 24, 28 Sir Thomas Edmondes, diplomatist: Instructions to, for the Conferences at Brussels: 1599, 1600.: Copies.
• f. 28 Sir Thomas Edmondes, diplomatist: Journal of proceedings at Brussels: 1599-1600.: Copy.
• f. 63 Robert Beale, Clerk to the Privy Council: Instructions to, as Commissioner at the Boulogne Conference: 1600.: Copy.
• f. 63 Sir John Herbert, Secretary of State: Instructions to, as Commissioner at the Boulogne Conference: 1600.: Copy.
• f. 63 Sir Henry Neville: Instructions to, as Commissioner at the Boulogne Conference: 1600.: Copy.
• f. 63 Sir Thomas Edmondes, diplomatist: Instructions to, as Commissioner at the Boulogne Conference: 1600.: Copy.
• ff. 107-147 Boulogne: Dispute for precedency at the Conference at: 1600.
• ff. 107-147 Precedency: Dispute of the English and Spanish Commissioners at Boulogne as to: 1600, 1601.