The Dutch port town of Flushing (Vlissingen) in the province of Zeeland was one of the three so-called cautionary towns.
On 10 August 1585, England and the Dutch signed the Treaty of Nonsuch. It was created in response to the Treaty of Joinville between the Catholic League led by Henri de Lorraine, Duke of Guise and Philip II of Spain. England would provide soldiers and money to the Dutch. In return, England received Briel, Flushing and Fort Rammekens, where it maintained a garrison at its own expense. In 1588 Robert Sidney became governor of Flushing. He was a nephew of Robert Dudley and the brother of Mary Herbert, Countess of Pembroke.
It was not until 1616 that the Netherlands again dissolved the cautionary towns.
Christopher Marlowe stayed in Flushing at the beginning of 1592. It was there that the first documented meeting with Richard Baines happened. Both accused each other of counterfeiting to Robert Sidney. Sidney sent them to Lord Burghley.
