Isabel de Inglaterra a su embajador en Flandes, Lord Buckhurst.

Whereas we have of late used your service about an intended treaty of peace between the King of Spain and us, dealt in by the Duke of Parma, to the end you may now perceive how far forth the matter hath since proceeded we send you herewith the copies of such letters as have lately been written, both to ourself by the said Duke, and by Champigny to the Controller of our house in that behalf ; by the contents whereof, finding that the gravest difficulty like to be by them stood upon will be the point of religion, we think it necessary for the better removing of the same, to dispatch one to the said Duke with a copy of such letters as we have lately received from the States ; by the which it may appear how peremptorily they do specially stand upon the said point of religion, to the end that upon knowledge of such their resolution, he may the easilier be persuaded to employ himself to dispose the King's mind to relent therein, in some convenient sort.

And for that purpose, we have taken order that the said Duke, by the party whom we mean to send unto him shall be put in mind of the treaty held at Gaunt in anno 76, called the Pacification of Gaunt, which being afterward confirmed by the King himself was published at Brussels in anno 77. And that in a later treaty, held at Cologne in anno 79, it was, among other articles also agreed that the said treaty...should in all points be duly observed and executed ; which giveth just cause to hope that if the said King be willing to embrace peace, and the said Duke to further the same, as he pretendeth he may be induced to such a toleration as in the said pacification is contained.

"Now it resteth that you should seek to frame the minds of the people of these countries...to content themselves with the said toleration, for which purpose you shall of yourself, as one that wisheth well to the Countries, deal with some well chosen persons there...good patriots, void of ambition and covetousness and not desirous of the continuance of the war, in respect that thereby they draw private gain...laying before them how impossible it is for them, by means of the contributions...to continue the war and to make head any long time against so mighty and puissant a prince as the King of Spain ; and how unable ourselves shall be to supply them still with such relief as the necessity of their state doth require...the consideration whereof, you may tell them, moveth you...to advise them to dispose both their own minds and the minds of that people to a sound peace, which, in your opinion, they cannot at any time treat of with greater advantage than at this present ; the King of Spain being, as he is, at so low an ebb both at home and in these countries, for want as well of victuals as of other necessary things to continue the wars ; which occasion being not now taken hold of, they shall not perhaps hereafter happen upon the like again ; with such other pertinent reasons and persuasions as yourself may devise and find necessary to prepare their minds to hearken to a peace.

"Nevertheless, if you shall find that the using of these reasons and persuasions in our name may further the cause by moving them the rather to hearken unto peace, we leave it to yourself to use in such case, your own advice and discretion therein. And for that some ill-affected persons there, upon speeches that may be given out touching our dealing with the said Duke (whereof, as we understand, they have some inkling) may be some ground to breed some unnecessary jealousies in the peoples' heads of the countries, we think it meet that you should assure them,... that whatsoever shall pass between us and the said Duke, we will not fail to have the care of them that appertaineth, considering how greatly their surety standeth with our well-doing (?). 

Endd. "April, 1587. M[inute] from her Majesty to the Lord of Buckhurst, touching the proceeding in peace." 3 pp. [Holland XIV. f. 228.]