Disculpas de Leicester ante la perdida de Sluis.

LEICESTER to the PRIVY COUNCIL.

"My grief was great for the loss of Sluys, as for the thing whereof I had more care than of anything else which I have dealt in since I first came into these countries. But it much more troubleth me to understand that her Majesty should conceive as though it had been lost by some defect of the English here . . . or that we should have omitted anything that lay in our powers for the relieving of it.

It had been besieged a good time before I arrived in those parts ; yet at my coming found I no kind of preparation here for any succour towards it. Count Hollock had then a camp in Brabant, but he never had meaning to go towards Sluyse, neither could he or his men, being often sent for, be gotten hither till at length, and that very late, he sent three or four weak companies, being English and others, not 300 men.

After I arrived here, it was long ere the Estates deputies came to me. When they came, they neither brought money nor could appoint me any one band of their men to join with me. And for my authority to command men, money, shipping or anything else more than I brought with me, it was wholly in suspense till Sunday last, that the Estates have made publication of it (Act of Satisfaction of 5/15 August, passed at Middelburg) ; that I was able to command nothing, no, not so much as any vessel or mariner, without the signature of Count Morice.

I armed our men as soon as I possibly could, but it was long ere I could get armour for them ; yea some of them were unarmed when I attempted the relief. With those I could arm I lost not time but sent them, between three and four thousand foot and about four hundred horse, to pass from Ostend by the way of Blanquenberge to the enemy's quarter on that side.But their carriages were not twenty, and no pioneers at all ; none could be gotten. By reason whereof, and for other great causes which this bearer can inform your lordships, it was thought fit to leave that way.

Coming again before the haven of Sluyse, I required Count Morice and the Admiral to cause attempt to be made of that which they had undertaken by water, which they from tide to tide promised, but would indeed perform nothing. I meant to land men on both sides the river and required boats for landing. They said they had none, nor could have any without authority from the Estates, which must have been ten or twelve days before it had been procured.

Hereupon I protested against their dealings and sent for the Council of Estate and the Estates' deputies at Middlebourghe to come aboard to me, which they did the next day, where I declared to them with what forces her Majesty had sent me for the relief of Sluyse ; what I had done from time to time to succour it ; how little help I found at their hands ; how the Admiralty dealt with me ; protesting, if the town were lost, it was not our fault. And requiring therefore what they would advise me. They seemed to like delay till their 'Reytters' came, that so the forces joined might be stronger.

I told them the case suffered no delay, and since I could have no other advice nor help of them, I would surely see what might be done that night. And accordingly I took order that the ship of fire-works which ourselves had prepared, and hired men for the conducting of it, should be carried down, to try what effect it could work upon the enemy's bridge and shipping ; meaning, with the little boats we had, to have followed after with men and such small store of munition and other provisions for the town as we had very hardly gotten together.The said ship of fireworks, being at midnight well onward on the way where the exploit was to be done, was stayed by procurement of Justinian de Nassau, the Admiral, and the tide lost.

The next day the town was given over. I know not, nor any man of our side can truly say, I think, how strong or weak the bridge of the enemy was, to 'let' our entry ; but it is certain that without this country shipping, which we could not get, nothing could be done there, her Majesty's ships were not fit for it. The bearer will inform you further, and when her Majesty knows all, I hope she will lay the blame where it is and have better opinion of those who left nothing unattempted that might be done.

Berghes ap Zome, 12 August, 1587.

Postscript. This bearer was present with me and "heard both how the Admiralty was charged and how they answered." 

Signed. Add. Endd. 2 pp. [Holland XVII. f. 57.]