I will communicate to your Majesty what I can learn further on the point.Ħ9. Well to inform your Majesty, who may perhaps discover if it be true by enquiring in Antwerp or elsewhere, and inform his Majesty if you consider advisable. As this is a dangerous thing to write, unless it be true, I have not ventured to touch upon it in my letters to the Emperor, until I have been able to make further enquiries as to its correctness. I also wish to say that I have been informed from two quarters that the King is secretly warning his subjects and merchants abroad to secure their property in good time, whilst those who are in England are forbidden to export any merchandise. I am writing to the Emperor as per copy enclosed and as the matter is so important, I cannot avoid likewise advising your Majesty.

Whatever side, therefore, an enemy approaches, they have a great muster of men ready to receive him, and they are very confident of their strength in consequence of this, being delighted to see their enemy near.Įndorsed:-“From the ambassador in England 18 June received at Worms on the 25th of the same month.” By this organisation they say they can muster 25,000 or 30,000 men within two hours and even in a very short time they can have the whole country under arms.

Warning has been given here to all gentlemen burgesses and peasants, to be ready with arms to join the standards when the beacons are lit, as is the custom here, on the hill-tops, towers, and other eminences every three miles. The Dukes of Suffolk and Norfolk depart to-day, but I know not whither. Fresh ships are constantly being sent to sea here to join the admiral, who they say, will have 20,000 men, without counting victuallers. The merchants on 'Change here have news that 24 or 25 French galleys, with about 40 great warships, have come to Brittany. As he was ready to depart, I have begged him to lose no time, for the reason stated above. His mission is to solicit secretly the German princes to form a league with this King, which seems to me, Sire, to he a point of the highest importance, as touching the religious question, I have thought well, therefore, to advise your Majesty of it at once by the bearer, who is going also for the purpose of complaining to your Majesty of the seizure and detention of his merchandise, the same answer having been given to him as to the others, referring him to the Admiralty Court. Since writing the earlier letters which accompany this (such letters having been written to he sent by the first opportunity), I have learnt on good authority that a Secretary of the Queen of England named Richard Butler is in some part of Germany, where he must have been a month or six weeks before your Majesty left Brussels.

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