Sir Dudley Carleton to the Duke.

IT were a sin against the publique service, in which your Grace doth imploy your self so much to the common good, and your own honour, to molest you with Letters in this busie time: which must serve me for excuse of silence, since the beginning of the Par∣liament. What I write now is by Commandment of the Queen of Bohemia concerning this Bearer Captain Gifford an old Seaman of our Nation, who having a private suite to the States, hath made a jour∣ney over hither with recommendation to me from our two Secreta∣ries for advancement thereof, but with a further purpose to be im∣ployed by the Queen against the Spaniard in a matter of no lesse mo∣ment, then taking of a Gallion, which usually bringeth the treasure over the Gulph of Mexico, from Nova Spagna to the Havana. Which he designs after this manner: To go out with two Ships and a Pin∣nace, Page  344onely fitted for fight, without more in number, because of the Alarum would be taken at a greater Fleet, and to lie under Covert of a small Island in the entrie of the Gulph of Mexico: where the Gallion coming usually alone, unlesse it be accompanied with some Merchants ships, which he sets light by, and which incumbred with goods and Passengers, he think may be mastered, and taken, build∣ing upon the securitie in which that Gallion, with the rest of that Nova Spagna Fleet, do sayl scattering in the Gulph, till they meet with the Fleet of Terra Firma at the Havana, where he having been here∣to fore a prisoner made this observation, and doth now offer himself to put the design in execution, with a demand of betwixt 10000 and a 11000 l. for the whole equipage.

The Queen in recompence of his good will returns him with this addresse to your Grace as a man fit for imployment, for so he is ge∣nerally reputed; but for the particularitie of the Exploit, she doth not entertain any thought thereof, but refers it wholly to your Gra∣ces Consideration, and to the opportunitie according as affaires shall succeed betwixt his Majestie, and Spain.

Here are come Letters from some of the King and Queens servants on that side, and one to my self from a private friend, advertizing, That there is a readinesse in divers of his Majesties Subjects of good abilities, to put to Sea with Letters of Mart in the name of this Kind and Queen against the Spaniard, and of a likelihood, that if such Commissions were given by these Princes, they would not be ill un∣derstood by his Majestie.

Mounsieur Aertsens hath likewise written hither in a private Let∣ter to the Prince of Orange, that he hath been spoken with to move the States to increase the number, he and his Colleague have men∣tioned of 10 or 12 Ships to joyn in any good occasion with his Ma∣jesties Fleet to 20: And that the purpose is to set out 50 sayl on that side, and that both shall go under the name of the King and Queen of Bohemia. Wherein though the motion be not directly made, yet the Prince of Orange hath discoursed enough, that when it shall come to issue, they will stretch themselves to furnish to the full what is required on this side. In both these businesses, as well the granting Letters of Mart by these Princes, as their lending their names to any greater Action, they intend to govern themselves onely as they shall understand to concur with his Majesties pleasure, and therefore hope they shall receive advice from his Highnesse, and your Grace, what is fit for them to contribute to such occasions as Page  345they see much to their Comforts, you advance with so great care and vigilance. Thus I most humbly take leave,