The Copie of a Letter from the Staple at Middleborough in Holland, to Mr. VANRODE a Dutch Marchant in London.
SIR, the ſixty odde pounds of Bever amounting neere upon 400. Rix Dollers J lately ſent you being intercepted and ſeiz'd on by the Kings Fleet, J ſhall be contented to beare an equall ſhare of the charge of Cuſtome, or by any other loſſe you ſhall ſuſtaine through the default of my Ship-maſter or any of his in this behalfe, more J hope you will not deſire conſidering my unwillingnes in hazarding it in theſe troubleſome times of danger, &c. wee might very well have ſtayed the tranſportation therof for one Moneth longer, which then might be ſafely tranſported and convoyed by five or ſix States men of Warre, which are all ready for the bringing over of an Ambaſsador from the King of Denmarke to the King of England, he came to the Queens Court at the Hague upon the 20. of December, the Prince of Orange being at Breda, accompanied the Ambaſsador all through the Countrey, and brought him to the Queenes Court, who was royally entertained, and intends forthwith to come for England, his Embaſsage to his Majeſty is privately concealed, onely this the K. of Denmarke deſireth the States of Holland, that they would bee pleaſed to aſſiſt the King with ſuch forces by Sea as ſhall be anſwerable to thoſe which he ſhall provide by Land, in warring againſt Tunis, Argier and other places, concerning a late breach of Pacification in detaining our Countrimen ſtill Captives and Slaves, though their Ranſomes have bin payd in a very large contribution. Colonell Goring is travelled into Ortoys and Flanders to raiſe forces of Men and Armour, he having a Commiſſion from the King of France to take a certaine number from each Garriſon, for the Queene and preſent ſupply for England. Colonell Gage who is Colonell over the Engliſh in Flanders, gave Colonell Goring a Challenge for preſuming to beat up his Drums to flock away his Officers and Souldiers, nevertheleſse the ſouldiers being poore and long behind of their contribution mony agreed, and five or 600. Engliſh followed Colonell Goring to Dunkirke, Newport, Oſtend, and Graveling, where they now remaine, till they be Shipt for England, there hath bin great meanes to the States that theſe Souldiers might bee permitted to paſſe through their Country and ſo take ſhipping for England, but the Queene nor the Ambaſsador can prevaile with the States for their conſents therein. J have alſo here ſet you downe the ſummes of money raiſed amongſt the Prieſts, Jeſuites, Seminaries, Friers, Nuns, and holy Siſters through the land, and paid in to the Jeſuites of St. Omers his Colledge towards the maintenance of his Majeſties warres. And firſt as in order the Engliſh Cloyſter at St. Omers, the Jeſuits have raiſed 3000. pounds, beſides the Taxes they have impoſed upon every Scholler 5. l. a man being about 400. and that if any ſhall refuſe the payment thereof to loſe their Degrees in the Houſe, and be for ever diſcharged for having any future beneſit therein: in which Colledge the ſumme collected amounts about 3500. l. Secondly at Ayres, the ſumme collected amounts unto 500. l. Thirdly, at Beteone, the ſumme collected amounts unto 500. l. Fourthly at Arras, the ſome of 2000. l.
Fiftly at the Univerſity of Doway, 1000. l.
Sixtly at Gaunt, betweene the Colledge of Engliſh and Jriſh Prieſts, and the Matron of the Nunnes there, was Collected 500. l.
Seventhly at Durmount, 50. l. Eightly at Bruzels, from the Counteſſe of Weſtmorland, and the Lady Babthorpe, Matrons of the holy Nuns, and the three Cloyſters Engliſh, Jriſh, and Walloons, 3000. l. Ninthly at Lovain, 1000. l.
Tenthly at Bridges, 300. l. Eleventhlily at Caſteele, 200. l. Twelfely at Newport, 200. l.
Thirteenth at Oſtend, 100. l. Fourteenth at Graveling, 100. l. Fifteenth at Dunkerke, 500. l. all which ſummes amounteth about 15000. l. have bin Collected and in the hands of Father Browne the Head of St. Omers Colledges, beſides 5000. l. more gathered from the Governours of every Towne, Village, or petty Dorpe, which makes the ſumme of 20. thouſand pounds, all which is intended to be tranſported to his Majeſty from Dunkirke, beſides the weekely allowance the Colledges will disburſe towards the maintenance of the five hundred Souldiers under the command of Colonell Goring, during his Majeſties warres with the Parliament.
The Rebels of Jreland have had alſo nere upon ſixty thouſand pounds already ſent them, & an Jriſh Ambaſſador is again ſent to Bruzels intreating the ſtate for more monies, which as yet we heare nothing of a ſecond ſupply. The great Biſhop of Cullen is lately dead, which puts the Country in a great diſorder, an Jtalian is ſince Choſen. And thus much as J have ſet downe is the common diſcourſe at the Queenes court, and whither her Majeſty intendeth to goe over with the Denmarke Embaſsador is not certainly knowne, here is a great diſcention betweene the States and the Prince of Orange, which makes the Prince leave his Court at the Hague and continueth at Breda with One thouſand of horſe and foot, & ſeldome or never comes to the Queenes Court though her Majeſty have often ſent for him, J cannot certifie more as this we ſhall remoove our Staple from hence to Delph.