A Declaration of the Causes, which mooved the chiefe Commanders of the Nauie of her most excellent | Page 4

all the inhabitants of the Hanse Townes are very good fauourers of the reformed Religion, and mortall enemies to the Romish errors. And would any man then beleeue, that men so well instructed, coulde more respect their priuate gaine, I will not say their filthie lucre, then their owne securitie, the preseruation of their Countrey, and the propagation of true Religion?
[Sidenote: The Citie of Hamboroughs letters to the Queenes Maiestie.]
But what? will the inhabitants of the Hanse Townes pretend that they knewe not the Queene of Englands pleasure? The Citie of Hamborough by their letters written vnto the Queenes Maiestie, the 21. of September, in the yeere 1585 hauing besought her, that their ships might passe quietly vnto Spaine and Portugal, without stop or hindrance either in their passage or repassage, by her Maiesties Captaines at Sea, receiued not they answere to this effect?
[Sidenote: The Queenes Maiesties letters to the Hamburgers.]
We doubt not, but you haue heard what occasions of discorde are lately fallen out betweene vs and the king of Spaine, whereof wee cannot throughly coniecture what troubles are like to ensue. If peace arise, we meane to deny you nothing, being our ancient confederates: but if it grow to a warre, we wish you aduisedly to consider, that it standeth not with the safetie of our kingdome, to suffer our enemies to bee ayded with corne, and prouisions for warre, thereby to be armed against vs. Which things, according to your accustomed wisedomes you calling to minde, wee hope you will demaunde nothing at our handes, which may be hurtfull to our state: as for the transporting of other sortes of marchandise into those partes, whereby our enemies may neither bee ayded with victuals, nor necessaries of warre, we will not hinder you, but will permit your shippes to ride on our coastes, and to passe long with all fauour for the performance of their intended nauigation: with which our answere, we hope you will be fully satisfied and contented, the present state of things considered.
[Sidenote: The Hamburgers petitorie message to the Queenes Maiestie.]
Secondly, whereas two yeeres after that, to wit, the last yeere the saide Burgomasters of Hamburrough sent Sebastian Berghen their Secretarie and Agent with letters vnto the Queene of England, desiring that vnder the colour and title of Newtralitie, they might freely passe into Spaine and Portingal, and repasse againe with al kind of marchandise whatsoeuer, was not the said Sebastian answered in this wise by the Lordes of her Maiesties Counsaile?
[Sidenote: The answere to the petition of ye Hamburge messenger.]
Whereas the King of Spaine, hauing sent out his Nauie to inuade this Realme, to roote out the Christian Religion, & to worke the ruine & destruction of the Queenes Maiestie, hath declared more clearely then the light it self, what he would haue the Queene of England to thinke of him, she deemeth it not reasonable vpon any colour to graunt either to the Hambourgers, or any other the Haunse Townes whosoeuer, to carry corne, gunnepowder, and other appurtenances for the warre to so obstinate and manifest enemie of the true Christian Religion. That such as presumptuously durst attempt the contrary, should suffer the punishment of their vnbrideled licensiousness, if they fell into the handes of the Captaines, or other Subiects of the Queene of Englande, their goods and marchandises whatsoeuer thus transported against her Maiesties will to be made good prises to any man that can take them, no excuse of Newtralitie preuailing to the contrary.
[Sidenote: The Alderman of the Stilliard in London, commanded to aduise the Hanse Townes.]
Moreouer it is not to be omitted, that the Lords of her Maiesties Counsell aforesaid, hauing called for Maurice Tymberman resident in London, and Alderman (as they call him) of the Stilliard, commanded him to giue warning to all the Haunse Townes that her Maiestie willed, and according to her Soueraigne auctoritie in her Dominions, commanded that they shoulde forbeare from thenceforth, from the beginning of the moneth of Ianuarie last past from carying of corne, and generally of all prouision of warre, cables, mastes, and like marchandise into Spaine and Portingall, whereby the enemie of her Kingdome might be the better furnished, vnder the paine of losse both of ships and goods, to be inflicted vpon such, as should violate this her princely commandement.
[Sidenote: The letters of the Lubeckers, Hamburgers, and Dantiskers.]
That the Haunse Townes were not ignorant of this inhibition, appeareth by the letters of the Cities of Lubecke, and Hamborough, written afterwarde to the Queenes Maiestie, the 26. of March, and from Dantiske, the 13. of the saide moneth, before those ships set out from home, which are now taken. The same in like maner is apparant, by many bils of the hiring, and freyghting of their ships, wherein among others, this