ed 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
marchand