A copie of a certaine letter written by a person of reputation, to a prelate of brabant, being at Brussels. The 25. of Februarie. 1599.

A copie of a certaine letter, written by a person of reputation, to a prelate of Brabant, being at Brussels.

The 25. of Februarie 1599.

HOnorable, noble, high learned, wise, prudent, and most discreete Lorde.

I haue receiued your letters, dated in Brussels the xvi. of Nouember last, with the inclosed copie of the gift of the deceased king of Spaine, to the noble princesse Isabella Clara Eugenia, his eldest daughter: of the Nether∣lands, and the Countrie of Burgundie, in respect of the marriage betweene the aboue named illu∣strious princesse, and the illustrious Prince Alber∣tus, Archeduke of Austria, hir cosin, with your re∣quest, that I should sincerely wright vnto you my opinion thereof: to wit, vvhether according to my iudgement and feeling, the same be a meete meanes to quenche the Netherlandish warres, and to reduce them to a quiet and peaceable e∣state: wherevpon I haue at diuers times con∣sidered, and notwithstanding that I haue been in great suspence, in vvhat sorte and what imported, to giue my iudgement and aduise in so weighty a matter: yet in respect of the reue∣rence

I owe to your honor, I haue been forced to resolue & to accomplish your wil vpō a sure trust, that this my advice should remaine betvveene vs, and not to bewled to the hinderance and scandall of other I cannot bide from your honor, but that vpon this matter in the last moneth, diuers aduises haue bin sent me, aswell out of England, France, & Germany, as out of some quarters of the Nether∣lands, vvherof some are of this opinion, and other of other, that the deceased king conside ring his great age and desiring to leaue his sonne, the new •…•…ing a peaceable estate, should haue faithfully and in good meaning proceeded herein: other that it is without any apperanne that the Spanish coū∣sell should as any time find good indue meaning to seuer the Netherlands from Spaine, as hauing more commodities requisite to the greatnesse of a Prince, then all the realines of Spaine, & that ther∣fore the said dealings did onlie tend and stretche to attaine and being that to passe, vvhich by armes or other means can hardly be done. Besides that, a certaine person of no smascredit vvith the great, writeth, in confirmation of this last opinion, to knovv certainly, that by the high borne Princesse & Prince, counter letters should haue been giuen. And also that for securitie of their promises ther∣of,

of it is agreed, that foure of the cheefest places of the Netherlands should remaine in the possessi∣on of the Spaniards. But without, to build vppon any foundations of these deuises, I will onely by manner of a glose, coate what I finde to be consi∣derable, and finallie to set downe my feeling, to vnderstand the true ground thereof, hoping that your honour the better will consider in what sort ought to be dealed for the common quietnesse & tranquillitie, vnion and wel fare of the Nether∣lands, and to bring and maintaine them in their olde right splender, respect and prosperitie, be∣seeching your honor, according to your wisdom and bountifull discretion, to vnderstand and in∣terpret the whole to the best: and the Lord God Almightie preserue your honour able, noble, high learned, wise, prouident, and most discreet Lord∣ship, in a long and prosperous gouernement.

Written the 25. of Februarie. 1599.

Your Honors most humble seruant.

Superscription.
To the honorable, noble, high learned, wise, prouident and most discreet Lorde, Abbot of Saint, &c.
At B••••ssels.